Article

# The Book of Joel and The Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist Church - Number Thirty

Knjiga proroka Joela i laodicejska Adventistička crkva sedmoga dana - Broj trideset

Number Thirty

Broj trideset

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

January 16, 2026

Formats

PDF
Word
Song MP3

The Messianic fulfillment's in the book of Matthew include the waymark of the time of the end, the waymark of the message being formalized, two witnesses of the waymark of 9/11, one a witness of the internal message to Laodicea and the other the external message of Islam’s terrorism. It is fitting that the waymark of 9/11 is represented by two of the twelve Messianic fulfillment's in Matthew, for 9/11 includes the message of the second angel, where there is always a doubling. The death of July 18, 2020, was the fifth waymark we considered, and then the voice in the wilderness in July 2023, was the sixth and the resurrection of 2024 was number seven. The eighth Messianic fulfillment is the Midnight Cry.

Mesijanska ispunjenja u Evanđelju po Mateju uključuju razmeđe vremena svršetka, razmeđe formaliziranja poruke, dva svjedoka razmeđa 11. rujna, od kojih je jedan svjedok unutarnje poruke Laodiceji, a drugi vanjske poruke terorizma islama. Prikladno je da je razmeđe 11. rujna predstavljeno s dva od dvanaest mesijanskih ispunjenja u Mateju, jer 11. rujna uključuje poruku drugoga anđela, gdje uvijek postoji udvostručenje. Smrt 18. srpnja 2020. bila je peto razmeđe koje smo razmatrali, a zatim je glas u pustinji u srpnju 2023. bio šesto, a uskrsnuće 2024. sedmo. Osmo mesijansko ispunjenje jest Ponoćni poklik.

## The Eighth Messianic Waymark is the Midnight Cry

Osmi mesijanski putokaz jest Ponoćni poklik.

> All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Matthew 21:4, 5.

> A sve se to dogodilo da se ispuni što je rečeno po proroku koji govori: Recite kćeri sionskoj: Evo, tvoj Kralj dolazi k tebi, krotak i jašeći na magarcu, i na magaretu, mladuncu magaričinu. Matej 21,4.5.

## Prediction

Proročanstvo

> Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass. Zechariah 9:9.

> Klikni veoma, kćeri sionska; podvikuj, kćeri jeruzalemska: evo, kralj tvoj dolazi k tebi: pravedan je i donosi spasenje; ponizan, jaše na magarcu, i na magaretu, mladunčetu magaričinu. Zaharija 9,9.

> “Five hundred years before, the Lord had declared by the prophet Zechariah, ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem. Behold, thy King cometh unto thee. He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.’ [Zechariah 9:9.] Had the disciples realized that Christ was going to judgment and to death, they could not have fulfilled this prophecy.

> „Pet stotina godina prije Gospodin je po proroku Zahariji objavio: ‘Raduj se veoma, kćeri sionska; viči, kćeri jeruzalemska. Evo, tvoj Kralj dolazi k tebi. On je pravedan i donosi spasenje; ponizan, i jaše na magarcu, na magaretu, mladunčetu magaričinu.’ [Zaharija 9,9.] Da su učenici shvatili da Krist ide na sud i u smrt, ne bi mogli ispuniti to proročanstvo.“

> “In like manner, Miller and his associates fulfilled prophecy, and gave a message which inspiration had foretold should be given to the world, but which they could not have given had they fully understood the prophecies pointing out their disappointment, and presenting another message to be preached to all nations before the Lord should come. The first and second angels’ messages were given at the right time, and accomplished the work which God designed to accomplish by them.” The Great Controversy, 405.

> „Na sličan način, Miller i njegovi suradnici ispunili su proročanstvo i iznijeli poruku za koju je nadahnuće unaprijed navijestilo da treba biti dana svijetu, ali koju oni ne bi mogli iznijeti da su u potpunosti razumjeli proročanstva koja su ukazivala na njihovo razočaranje i predočavala drugu poruku koju treba propovijedati svim narodima prije nego što Gospodin dođe. Poruke prvoga i drugoga anđela bile su dane u pravo vrijeme i izvršile su djelo koje je Bog namjeravao izvršiti po njima.” Velika borba, 405.

The misunderstanding of God’s prophetic Word was involved with the history of Christ’s triumphal entry, and also with the parallel history of the proclamation of the Midnight Cry message in 1844. The one hundred and forty-four thousand are required to understand “the prophecies pointing out their disappointment.” John in Revelation ten is told in advance, that the message of the little book that was going to be sweet in his mouth, would turn bitter.

Pogrešno razumijevanje Božje proročke Riječi bilo je povezano s poviješću Kristova slavodobitnog ulaska, a također i s usporednom poviješću objavljivanja poruke Ponoćnog pokliča 1844. godine. Od sto četrdeset i četiri tisuće zahtijeva se da razumiju „proročanstva koja ukazuju na njihovo razočaranje”. Ivanu je u Otkrivenju deset unaprijed rečeno da će poruka male knjižice, koja će mu biti slatka u ustima, postati gorka.

> “We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history.” Life Sketches, 196.

> „Nemamo se čega bojati za budućnost, osim ako zaboravimo put kojim nas je Gospodin vodio i Njegov nauk u našoj prošloj povijesti.” Life Sketches, 196.

The “Lord’s leading” in the past is represented among other providential acts, as His hand covering a mistake in the figures, for it was not best for the Millerites to understand their disappointment in advance, any more than it was for the disciples to understand all the elements of their disappointment at the cross. But the history of the proclamation of the Midnight Cry is identified as the very light that leads to heaven, and this is noted in Ellen White’s very first vision. The one hundred and forty-four thousand must understand the disappointments of the disciples and the Millerites. To refuse that light is to fall off the path.

„Gospodnje vodstvo” u prošlosti prikazano je, među ostalim činima providnosti, kao Njegova ruka koja prekriva pogrešku u brojkama, jer nije bilo najbolje da mileriti unaprijed razumiju svoje razočaranje, kao što nije bilo ni za učenike da razumiju sve sastavnice svojega razočaranja na križu. No povijest naviještanja Ponoćnoga poklika prepoznata je kao upravo ona svjetlost koja vodi u nebo, i to je zabilježeno u samom prvom viđenju Ellen White. Sto četrdeset i četiri tisuće moraju razumjeti razočaranja učenika i milerita. Odbiti tu svjetlost znači pasti sa staze.

> “They had a bright light set up behind them at the beginning of the path, which an angel told me was the ‘midnight cry.’ This light shone all along the path, and gave light for their feet, so that they might not stumble.

> „Iza njih je, na početku staze, bilo postavljeno sjajno svjetlo, za koje mi je anđeo rekao da je ‘ponoćni poklik’. To je svjetlo obasjavalo cijelu stazu i davalo svjetlo njihovim nogama, da ne bi posrnuli.

> “If they kept their eyes fixed on Jesus, who was just before them, leading them to the city, they were safe. But soon some grew weary, and said the city was a great way off, and they expected to have entered it before. Then Jesus would encourage them by raising His glorious right arm, and from His arm came a light which waved over the advent band, and they shouted ‘Alleluia!’ Others rashly denied the light behind them, and said that it was not God that had led them out so far. The light behind them went out, leaving their feet in perfect darkness, and they stumbled and lost sight of the mark and of Jesus, and fell off the path down into the dark and wicked world below.” Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, 57.

> „Ako su svoj pogled držali uprtim u Isusa, koji je bio upravo pred njima i vodio ih prema gradu, bili su sigurni. No ubrzo su se neki umorili te rekli da je grad još vrlo daleko i da su očekivali da će već prije ući u nj. Tada bi ih Isus hrabrio podižući svoju slavnu desnu ruku, a iz njegove je ruke dolazila svjetlost koja se valovito širila nad adventnim zborom, i oni su klicali: ‘Aleluja!’ Drugi su brzopleto nijekali svjetlost iza sebe i govorili da ih nije Bog doveo tako daleko. Svjetlost iza njih ugasila se, ostavljajući njihove noge u potpunoj tami, i oni su posrnuli, izgubili iz vida cilj i Isusa te pali sa staze dolje u tamni i opaki svijet ispod.” Christian Experience and Teachings of Ellen G. White, 57.

The eighth waymark is the Midnight Cry as typified by Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Osmi orijentir jest Ponoćni poklik, kako je predoznačen Kristovim slavodobitnim ulaskom u Jeruzalem.

> “The midnight cry was not so much carried by argument, though the Scripture proof was clear and conclusive. There went with it an impelling power that moved the soul. There was no doubt, no questioning. Upon the occasion of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, the people who were assembled from all parts of the land to keep the feast, flocked to the Mount of Olives, and as they joined the throng that were escorting Jesus, they caught the inspiration of the hour, and helped to swell the shout, ‘Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord!’ [Matthew 21:9.] In like manner did unbelievers who flocked to the Adventist meetings—some from curiosity, some merely to ridicule—feel the convincing power attending the message, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh!’” Spirit of Prophecy, volume 4, 250, 251.

> „Ponoćni poklik nije se toliko pronosio argumentacijom, premda je biblijski dokaz bio jasan i neoboriv. S njime je išla pokretačka sila koja je dirala dušu. Nije bilo sumnje ni propitivanja. Prigodom Kristova slavodobitnog ulaska u Jeruzalem, narod koji se sa svih strana zemlje okupio da svetkuje blagdan pohrlio je na Maslinsku goru, i kad se pridružio mnoštvu koje je pratilo Isusa, bio je zahvaćen nadahnućem toga časa te je pridonio jačanju poklika: ‘Blagoslovljen koji dolazi u ime Gospodnje!’ [Matej 21,9.] Na isti su način i nevjernici koji su hrlili na adventističke sastanke — neki iz znatiželje, a neki samo da bi ismijavali — osjećali osvjedočavajuću silu koja je pratila poruku: ‘Evo, zaručnik dolazi!’” Spirit of Prophecy, volume 4, 250, 251.

To be a wise virgin in the latter days, would of prophetic necessity require that those wise virgins suffer a disappointment, that in turn ushers in the tarrying time of the parable. Without the tarrying time experience you are not a wise or a foolish virgin.

Biti mudra djevica u posljednjim danima, po proročkoj bi nužnosti zahtijevalo da te mudre djevice pretrpe razočaranje, koje zauzvrat uvodi vrijeme odgađanja iz prispodobe. Bez iskustva vremena odgađanja niste ni mudra ni luda djevica.

> “The parable of the ten virgins of Matthew 25 also illustrates the experience of the Adventist people.” The Great Controversy, 393.

> „Prispodoba o deset djevica iz Mateja 25 također prikazuje iskustvo adventnog naroda.“ Velika borba, 393.

Either way, the wise virgins of the last days must experience a disappointment that paralleled April 19, 1844, for the experience of the parable is the experience of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, who John in the Revelation identifies as virgins.

Kako god bilo, mudre djevice posljednjih dana moraju doživjeti razočaranje koje je bilo usporedno s 19. travnja 1844., jer iskustvo iz prispodobe jest iskustvo sto četrdeset i četiri tisuće, koje Ivan u Otkrivenju prepoznaje kao djevice.

> These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. Revelation 14:4.

> To su oni koji se nisu okaljali sa ženama, jer su djevice. To su oni koji slijede Jaganjca kamo god ide. Oni su otkupljeni od ljudi kao prvine Bogu i Jaganjcu. Otkrivenje 14,4.

How many parables of Christ are directly and specifically identified as being fulfilled to the very letter? Every parable will be fulfilled to the very letter, but the parable of the ten virgins is specifically set forth as being fulfilled in the past and the future “to the very letter.” It is compared to the third angel that is to remain present truth from 1844 onward until Michael stands up and human probation closes.

Koliko je Kristovih usporedbi izravno i posebno označeno kao ispunjeno do u najsitnije pojedinosti? Svaka će se usporedba ispuniti do u najsitnije pojedinosti, ali usporedba o deset djevica posebno je izložena kao ispunjena u prošlosti i u budućnosti „do u najsitnije pojedinosti“. Ona se uspoređuje s trećim anđelom, koji od 1844. nadalje ostaje sadašnja istina sve dok Mihovil ne ustane i ljudska kušnja ne završi.

> “I am often referred to the parable of the ten virgins, five of whom were wise, and five foolish. This parable has been and will be fulfilled to the very letter, for it has a special application to this time, and, like the third angel’s message, has been fulfilled and will continue to be present truth till the close of time.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

> „Često mi se skreće pozornost na prispodobu o deset djevica, od kojih je pet bilo mudrih, a pet ludih. Ova se prispodoba ispunila i ispunit će se do najsitnijeg slova, jer ima posebnu primjenu za ovo vrijeme i, poput poruke trećega anđela, ispunila se i nastavit će biti sadašnja istina sve do svršetka vremena.” Review and Herald, 19. kolovoza 1890.

Until the close of time, the parable of the ten virgins is present truth, and the Midnight Cry will be fulfilled again to the very letter.

Do svršetka vremena, prispodoba o deset djevica jest sadašnja istina, a Ponoćni poklič ponovno će se ispuniti doslovce do posljednjega slova.

> “There is a world lying in wickedness, in deception and delusion, in the very shadow of death,—asleep, asleep. Who are feeling travail of soul to awaken them? What voice can reach them? My mind was carried to the future, when the signal will be given. ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.’ But some will have delayed to obtain the oil for replenishing their lamps, and too late they will find that character, which is represented by the oil, is not transferable.” Review and Herald, February 11, 1896.

> „Postoji svijet koji leži u zloći, u obmani i zabludi, u samoj sjeni smrti,—uspavan, uspavan. Tko osjeća duševne muke da ih probudi? Koji ih glas može dosegnuti? Moj je um bio prenesen u budućnost, kada će biti dan znak. ‘Evo, Zaručnik dolazi; iziđite mu u susret.’ No neki će odgađati pribaviti ulje za dopunjavanje svojih svjetiljaka, i prekasno će otkriti da karakter, koji je predstavljen uljem, nije prenosiv.” Review and Herald, 11. veljače 1896.

The Midnight Cry is the next waymark on the horizon in the movement of the one hundred and forty-four thousand. That waymark is accompanied by the persecution that begins against the faithful in advance of the Sunday law. That persecution is external, and internal, and the internal persecution includes two distinct symbols. One of those symbols is Judas, the other the Sanhedrin.

Ponoćni poklik sljedeći je orijentir na obzoru u pokretu sto četrdeset i četiri tisuće. Taj je orijentir popraćen progonstvom koje počinje protiv vjernih uoči zakona o nedjelji. To je progonstvo vanjsko i unutarnje, a unutarnje progonstvo uključuje dva različita simbola. Jedan od tih simbola jest Juda, a drugi Sinedrij.

## The Ninth Messianic Waymark is the Betrayal for 30 Silver Pieces

Deveti mesijanski putokaz jest izdaja za 30 srebrnjaka

> Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; And gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord appointed me. Matthew 27:9, 10.

> Tada se ispuni što je rečeno po proroku Jeremiji: I uzeše trideset srebrnjaka, cijenu Onoga koji bi procijenjen, kojega procijeniše sinovi Izraelovi; i dadoše ih za lončarevu njivu, kako mi odredi Gospodin. Matej 27:9, 10.

## Prediction

Predviđanje

> And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord. Zechariah 11:12, 13.

> I rekoh im: Ako mislite da je dobro, dajte mi moju plaću; a ako nije, odustanite. I izvagaše mi kao plaću trideset srebrnika. Tada mi Gospod reče: Baci ih lončaru; krasna li je cijena kojom me procijeniše. I uzeh trideset srebrnika i bacih ih lončaru u Domu Gospodnjemu. Zaharija 11:12, 13.

The betrayal of Judas represents the betrayal of the counterfeit priests, for the number 30 represents the age of the priests. The priests, who are also Levites are purified as gold and silver by the Messenger of the Covenant. Judas’s thirty pieces of silver represents the purging of the false priests at the Sunday law, though Judas died just before the cross, it was still the same day. Judas is not the symbol of the Sanhedrin; he is a symbol of one who was thought to be among the disciples of Christ.

Judina izdaja predstavlja izdaju krivotvorenih svećenika, jer broj 30 predstavlja dob svećenika. Svećenike, koji su ujedno i leviti, pročišćuje kao zlato i srebro Glasnik Saveza. Judinih trideset srebrnjaka predstavlja čišćenje lažnih svećenika pri nedjeljnom zakonu; premda je Juda umro neposredno prije križa, još uvijek je bio isti dan. Juda nije simbol Sanhedrina; on je simbol onoga za koga se smatralo da je među Kristovim učenicima.

As a disciple of Christ, you were a disciple of the anointing of Jesus. The anointing at His baptism changed Jesus’ name unto Jesus Christ, for Christ means—the anointed one. His name then changed, for He was then to confirm the covenant with many for one week, and a premier symbol of covenant relationship is a changed name. Jesus was anointed with power at His baptism. To be a disciple of Christ, meant you were a disciple of His baptism. It was at His baptism that He was anointed with power. The statement by Peter in Matthew 16:18 is known in the Christian theological world as the “Christian Confession.” It is one of the great themes for discussion among theologians and scholars. Generally, a discussion of the theologians and scholars identifies something of no, or perhaps minor importance, but the point remains, that Christianity understands that when Jesus was anointed, He then became the Messiah.

Kao Kristov učenik, bio si učenik Isusova pomazanja. Pomazanje na Njegovu krštenju promijenilo je Isusovo ime u Isus Krist, jer Krist znači — pomazanik. Njegovo se ime tada promijenilo, jer je tada trebao potvrditi Savez s mnogima za jedan tjedan, a vrhunski simbol savezničkog odnosa jest promijenjeno ime. Isus je na svome krštenju bio pomazan silom. Biti Kristov učenik značilo je da si bio učenik Njegova krštenja. Na Njegovu je krštenju bio pomazan silom. Petrova izjava u Mateju 16,18 u kršćanskome je teološkom svijetu poznata kao „kršćansko ispovijedanje”. To je jedna od velikih tema rasprave među teolozima i znanstvenicima. Općenito, rasprava teologa i znanstvenika utvrđuje nešto što nema nikakvu, ili možda tek manju važnost, no ostaje činjenica da kršćanstvo razumije kako je Isus, kada je bio pomazan, tada postao Mesija.

> He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:15, 16.

> Reče im: A vi, što vi kažete, tko sam ja? A Šimun Petar odgovori i reče: Ti si Krist, Sin Boga živoga. Matej 16,15.16.

Peter’s original name conveyed that very truth, for Simon Barjona means “one who hears the message of the dove,” which was the message of His baptism. His baptism aligns with 9/11, and Judas represents those who at some point professed an understanding of 9/11, but lose their way along the path. Judas is not a symbol of the Sanhedrin, for they represent the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist church. Judas provided a witness for the Sanhedrin, but the symbolism of the Sanhedrin’s rebellion is different than the rebellion of Judas. The Sanhedrin’s rebellion is expressed in the following dream.

Petrovo izvorno ime prenosilo je upravo tu istinu, jer Šimun Barjona znači „onaj koji čuje poruku goluba”, što je bila poruka Njegova krštenja. Njegovo se krštenje podudara s 11. rujna, a Juda predstavlja one koji su u nekom trenutku ispovjedili razumijevanje 11. rujna, ali su usput na putu zalutali. Juda nije simbol Sinedrija, jer oni predstavljaju laodicejsku Adventističku crkvu sedmoga dana. Juda je pružio svjedočanstvo za Sinedrij, ali simbolika pobune Sinedrija drukčija je od Judine pobune. Pobuna Sinedrija izražena je u sljedećem snu.

> “I gathered up my writings, and we started on our journey. On the way we held two meetings in Orange and had evidence that the church was profited and encouraged. We were ourselves refreshed by the Spirit of the Lord. That night I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: ‘This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order.’ Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: ‘If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done!’

> „Skupila sam svoje spise i krenuli smo na putovanje. Putem smo održali dva sastanka u Orangeu i imali dokaz da je crkva bila okoristena i ohrabrena. I sami smo bili osvježeni Duhom Gospodnjim. Te sam noći sanjala da sam u Battle Creeku, gledajući kroz bočno staklo na vratima, i vidjela skupinu kako dolazi prema kući, po dvoje i dvoje. Izgledali su strogo i odlučno. Dobro sam ih poznavala te sam se okrenula da otvorim vrata salona kako bih ih primila, ali pomislih da još jednom pogledam. Prizor se promijenio. Skupina je sada poprimila izgled katoličke procesije. Jedan je u ruci nosio križ, drugi trsku. I kad su se približili, onaj koji je nosio trsku načinio je krug oko kuće govoreći tri puta: ‘Ova je kuća zabranjena. Imovina mora biti zaplijenjena. Govorili su protiv našega svetog reda.’ Obuzeo me užas, pa sam protrčala kroz kuću, izašla na sjeverna vrata i našla se usred skupine, od kojih sam neke poznavala, ali im se nisam usuđivala progovoriti ni riječi iz straha da ne budem izdana. Pokušavala sam pronaći osamljeno mjesto gdje bih mogla plakati i moliti se a da ne susrećem željne, radoznale oči kamo god se okrenula. Često sam ponavljala: ‘Kad bih samo mogla razumjeti ovo! Kad bi mi samo rekli što sam rekla ili što sam učinila!’”

> “I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated. I tried to read sympathy or pity for me in the looks of those around me, and marked the countenances of several whom I thought would speak to me and comfort me if they did not fear that they would be observed by others. I made one attempt to escape from the crowd, but seeing that I was watched, I concealed my intentions. I commenced weeping aloud, and saying: ‘If they would only tell me what I have done or what I have said!’ My husband, who was sleeping in a bed in the same room, heard me weeping aloud and awoke me. My pillow was wet with tears, and a sad depression of spirits was upon me.” Testimonies, volume 1, 577, 578.

> „Mnogo sam plakala i molila dok sam gledala kako nam oduzimaju imovinu. Nastojala sam u pogledima onih oko sebe pročitati suosjećanje ili sažaljenje prema meni i promatrala lica nekolicine za koje sam mislila da bi mi se obratili i utješili me kad se ne bi bojali da će ih drugi promatrati. Jednom sam pokušala pobjeći iz mnoštva, ali vidjevši da me motre, prikrila sam svoju namjeru. Počela sam glasno plakati i govoriti: ‘Kad bi mi samo rekli što sam učinila ili što sam rekla!’ Moj muž, koji je spavao u postelji u istoj sobi, čuo me kako glasno plačem i probudio me. Moj je jastuk bio mokar od suza, a na meni je ležala turobna potištenost duha.” Testimonies, volume 1, 577, 578.

Applying the principle that the prophets speak more about the latter days than the days in which they lived, raises a very solemn question for the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist church. Sister White “gathered up” her “writings” and began a return journey to Battle Creek. Battle Creek was then the heart of the work, as is Tacoma Park today, or Jerusalem in the days of Christ. She gathered up her writings for the trip, after she set forth a struggle she had been having concerning her writings. The context of her dream is about her writings. The struggle took place in the town of Wright.

Primjena načela da proroci govore više o posljednjim danima nego o danima u kojima su živjeli, otvara vrlo ozbiljno pitanje za vođe Crkve adventista sedmoga dana. Sestra White „sakupila je” svoje „spise” i započela povratno putovanje u Battle Creek. Battle Creek je tada bio središte djela, kao što je to danas Tacoma Park, ili Jeruzalem u Kristovo vrijeme. Svoje je spise sakupila za put nakon što je iznijela borbu koju je vodila u vezi sa svojim spisima. Kontekst njezina sna odnosi se na njezine spise. Ta se borba odigrala u gradu Wright.

> “While in Wright we had sent my manuscript for No. 11 to the office of publication, and I was improving almost every moment when out of meeting in writing out matter for No. 12. My energies, both physical and mental, had been severely taxed while laboring for the church in Wright. I felt that I should have rest, but could see no opportunity for relief. I was speaking to the people several times a week, and writing many pages of personal testimonies. The burden of souls was upon me, and the responsibilities I felt were so great that I could obtain but a few hours of sleep each night.

> „Dok smo bili u Wrightu, poslali smo moj rukopis za br. 11 u izdavački ured, a ja sam gotovo svaki trenutak izvan sastanaka koristila kako bih pripremala gradivo za br. 12. Moje su snage, i tjelesne i umne, bile teško iscrpljene dok sam radila za crkvu u Wrightu. Osjećala sam da mi je potreban odmor, ali nisam mogla vidjeti nikakvu priliku za olakšanje. Govorila sam narodu nekoliko puta tjedno i ispisivala mnoge stranice osobnih svjedočanstava. Teret za duše ležao je na meni, a odgovornosti koje sam osjećala bile su tako velike da sam svake noći mogla dobiti tek nekoliko sati sna.

> “While thus laboring in speaking and writing, I received letters of a discouraging character from Battle Creek. As I read them I felt an inexpressible depression of spirits, amounting to agony of mind, which seemed for a short period to palsy my vital energies. For three nights I scarcely slept at all. My thoughts were troubled and perplexed. I concealed my feelings as well as I could from my husband and the sympathizing family with whom we were. None knew my labor or burden of mind as I united with the family in morning and evening devotion, and sought to lay my burden upon the great Burden Bearer. But my petitions came from a heart wrung with anguish, and my prayers were broken and disconnected because of uncontrollable grief. The blood rushed to my brain, frequently causing me to reel and nearly fall. I had the nosebleed often, especially after making an effort to write. I was compelled to lay aside my writing, but could not throw off the burden of anxiety and responsibility upon me, as I realized that I had testimonies for others which I was unable to present to them.

> „Dok sam tako radila govoreći i pišući, primala sam pisma obeshrabrujućega sadržaja iz Battle Creeka. Dok sam ih čitala, osjetila sam neizrecivu klonulost duha, koja je prelazila u duševnu agoniju i koja je, činilo se, nakratko gotovo paralizirala moje životne snage. Tri noći gotovo uopće nisam spavala. Misli su mi bile uznemirene i smetene. Svoje sam osjećaje, koliko sam god mogla, prikrivala od svoga muža i suosjećajne obitelji kod koje smo bili. Nitko nije znao za moj trud ni za teret moje duše dok sam se s obitelji ujutro i navečer pridruživala pobožnosti i nastojala svoj teret položiti na velikoga Nositelja tereta. Ali moje su molbe dolazile iz srca izmučena tjeskobom, a moje su molitve bile prekinute i nepovezane zbog neobuzdane žalosti. Krv mi je nadirala u mozak, često uzrokujući da zateturam i gotovo padnem. Krvarenje iz nosa imala sam često, osobito nakon napora da pišem. Bila sam prisiljena odložiti svoje pisanje, ali nisam mogla sa sebe zbaciti teret tjeskobe i odgovornosti koji je bio na meni, jer sam bila svjesna da imam svjedočanstva za druge koja im nisam bila u stanju iznijeti.“

> “I received still another letter, informing me that it was thought best to defer the publication of No. 11 until I could write out that which I had been shown in regard to the Health Institute, as those in charge of that enterprise stood in great want of means and needed the influence of my testimony to move the brethren. I then wrote out a portion of that which was shown me in regard to the Institute, but could not get out the entire subject because of pressure of blood to the brain. Had I thought that No. 12 would be so long delayed, I should not in any case have sent that portion of the matter contained in No. 11. I supposed that after resting a few days I could again resume my writing. But to my great grief I found that the condition of my brain made it impossible for me to write. The idea of writing testimonies, either general or personal, was given up, and I was in continual distress because I could not write them.

> „Primila sam još jedno pismo u kojem me se obavještavalo da se smatra najboljim odgoditi objavljivanje br. 11 dok ne napišem ono što mi je bilo pokazano u vezi sa Zdravstvenim institutom, budući da su oni koji su vodili to djelo bili u velikoj oskudici za sredstvima i trebali utjecaj moga svjedočanstva da pokrene braću. Tada sam napisala dio onoga što mi je bilo pokazano u vezi s Institutom, ali nisam mogla iznijeti cijelu temu zbog navale krvi u mozak. Da sam mislila da će br. 12 biti tako dugo odgođen, ni u kojem slučaju ne bih poslala onaj dio građe sadržan u br. 11. Pretpostavljala sam da ću nakon nekoliko dana odmora ponovno moći nastaviti svoje pisanje. Ali na svoju veliku žalost ustanovila sam da je stanje moga mozga onemogućavalo da pišem. Odustalo se od pomisli na pisanje svjedočanstava, bilo općih bilo osobnih, i bila sam u neprestanoj tjeskobi jer ih nisam mogla pisati.“

> “In this state of things it was decided that we would return to Battle Creek and there remain while the roads were in a muddy, broken-up condition, and that I would there complete No. 12. My husband was very anxious to see his brethren at Battle Creek and speak to them and rejoice with them in the work which God was doing for him. I gathered up my writings, and we started on our journey. …” Testimonies, volume 1, 576, 577.

> „U takvu stanju stvari odlučeno je da se vratimo u Battle Creek i ondje ostanemo dok su putovi bili blatni i raskvašeni te da ću ondje dovršiti br. 12. Moj je muž silno želio vidjeti svoju braću u Battle Creeku, govoriti im i radovati se s njima u djelu koje je Bog činio za njega. Skupila sam svoje spise i krenuli smo na put. …” Testimonies, volume 1, 576, 577.

In the latter days, the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist church, represented as Battle Creek and those she “knew well,” changed into a Catholic procession. The leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist church changed into a Catholic procession. In the dream they came “two by two,” one with a reed, another with a cross. They drew a circle around the house and proclaimed three times, “This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order.” What are the “goods” in the “house” which the Catholic leaders of Battle Creek “confiscated?” What “holy order” of the Catholic church was “spoken against?”

U posljednjim danima, vodstvo Adventističke crkve sedmoga dana, prikazano kao Battle Creek i oni koje je ona „dobro poznavala“, promijenilo se u katoličku povorku. Vodstvo Adventističke crkve sedmoga dana promijenilo se u katoličku povorku. U snu su dolazili „dvoje po dvoje“, jedan s trskom, drugi s križem. Ocrtali su krug oko kuće i tri puta proglasili: „Ova je kuća zabranjena. Dobra se moraju zaplijeniti. Govorili su protiv našega svetog reda.“ Koja su to „dobra“ u „kući“ koja su katolički vođe Battle Creeka „zaplijenili“? Protiv kojega se „svetog reda“ Katoličke crkve „govorilo“?

More directly the question might be, “what order of Catholicism led out in the inquisition?” The inquisition began with the order of Dominicans, before the Jesuits arrived in history, but once involved they became the order that championed the cruelty and bloodshed.

Izravnije bi pitanje moglo glasiti: „Koji je red katolicizma predvodio inkviziciju?” Inkvizicija je započela s redom dominikanaca, prije nego što su isusovci stupili na povijesnu pozornicu, ali kada su se jednom uključili, postali su red koji je prednjačio u okrutnosti i krvoproliću.

> “Throughout Christendom, Protestantism was menaced by formidable foes. The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut off from earthly ties and human interests, dead to the claims of natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silenced, they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power. The gospel of Christ had enabled its adherents to meet danger and endure suffering, undismayed by cold, hunger, toil, and poverty, to uphold the banner of truth in face of the rack, the dungeon, and the stake. To combat these forces, Jesuitism inspired its followers with a fanaticism that enabled them to endure like dangers, and to oppose to the power of truth all the weapons of deception. There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume. Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy.

> „Diljem kršćanstva protestantizmu su prijetili silni neprijatelji. Pošto su prošli prvi trijumfi reformacije, Rim je pozvao nove snage, nadajući se da će ostvariti njezino uništenje. U to je vrijeme ustanovljen red isusovaca, najokrutniji, najbešćutniji i najmoćniji od svih zagovornika papinstva. Odsječeni od zemaljskih veza i ljudskih interesa, mrtvi za zahtjeve naravne privrženosti, s razumom i savješću posve utišanima, nisu poznavali nikakvo pravilo ni nikakvu vezu osim one svojega reda, niti ikakvu dužnost osim da šire njegovu moć. Evanđelje Kristovo osposobilo je svoje pristaše da se suoče s pogibelji i podnose patnje, neustrašeni pred hladnoćom, glađu, trudom i siromaštvom, da uzdignu stijeg istine pred spravom za mučenje, tamnicom i lomačom. Da bi se borio protiv tih sila, isusovština je svojim sljedbenicima ulijevala fanatizam koji ih je osposobljavao da podnose slične pogibli i da sili istine suprotstave sva oružja obmane. Nije bilo zločina prevelika da ga počine, nije bilo obmane previše niske da je primijene, nije bilo prerušavanja odviše teška da ga preuzmu. Zavjetovani na trajno siromaštvo i poniznost, njihov je promišljeni cilj bio domoći se bogatstva i moći, posvetiti se rušenju protestantizma i ponovnoj uspostavi papinske prevlasti.“

> “When appearing as members of their order, they wore a garb of sanctity, visiting prisons and hospitals, ministering to the sick and the poor, professing to have renounced the world, and bearing the sacred name of Jesus, who went about doing good. But under this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were often concealed. It was a fundamental principle of the order that the end justifies the means. By this code, lying, theft, perjury, assassination, were not only pardonable but commendable, when they served the interests of the church. Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations. They became servants to act as spies upon their masters. They established colleges for the sons of princes and nobles, and schools for the common people; and the children of Protestant parents were drawn into an observance of popish rites. All the outward pomp and display of the Romish worship was brought to bear to confuse the mind and dazzle and captivate the imagination, and thus the liberty for which the fathers had toiled and bled was betrayed by the sons. The Jesuits rapidly spread themselves over Europe, and wherever they went, there followed a revival of popery.

> „Kada su se pojavljivali kao pripadnici svojega reda, nosili su odjeću svetosti, posjećivali tamnice i bolnice, služili bolesnima i siromašnima, ispovijedajući da su se odrekli svijeta te noseći sveto ime Isusovo, koji je prolazio čineći dobro. No pod tom besprijekornom vanjštinom često su se prikrivale najzločinačkije i najsmrtonosnije nakane. Temeljno načelo reda bilo je da cilj opravdava sredstva. Po tom pravilu laž, krađa, krivokletstvo, umorstvo nisu bili samo oprostivi nego i hvale vrijedni, kada su služili interesima crkve. Pod raznim prerušavanjima isusovci su se probijali do državnih službi, uzdižući se do položaja savjetnika kraljeva i oblikujući politiku naroda. Postajali su sluge da bi kao uhode motrili svoje gospodare. Osnivali su učilišta za sinove knezova i plemića te škole za običan puk; a djeca protestantskih roditelja bila su privlačena na obdržavanje papističkih obreda. Sav vanjski sjaj i raskoš rimskoga bogoštovlja bili su stavljeni u službu toga da zbune um te zaslijepe i zarobe maštu, i tako su sinovi izdali slobodu za koju su se očevi trudili i krvarili. Isusovci su se brzo proširili po Europi, i kamo god su išli, slijedila je obnova papizma.“

> “To give them greater power, a bull was issued re-establishing the inquisition. Notwithstanding the general abhorrence with which it was regarded, even in Catholic countries, this terrible tribunal was again set up by popish rulers, and atrocities too terrible to bear the light of day were repeated in its secret dungeons. In many countries, thousands upon thousands of the very flower of the nation, the purest and noblest, the most intellectual and highly educated, pious and devoted pastors, industrious and patriotic citizens, brilliant scholars, talented artists, skillful artisans, were slain or forced to flee to other lands.

> Kako bi im se dala veća moć, izdana je bula kojom je ponovno uspostavljena inkvizicija. Unatoč općemu gnušanju s kojim je bila promatrana, čak i u katoličkim zemljama, to je strašno sudište ponovno bilo uspostavljeno od papističkih vladara, te su se u njegovim tajnim tamnicama ponovila zvjerstva odviše strašna da bi podnijela svjetlo dana. U mnogim su zemljama tisuće i tisuće samoga cvijeta naroda, najčišći i najplemenitiji, najučeniji i najobrazovaniji, pobožni i odani pastiri, marljivi i rodoljubni građani, izvrsni učenjaci, nadareni umjetnici, vješti obrtnici, bili pogubljeni ili prisiljeni pobjeći u druge zemlje.

> “Such were the means which Rome had invoked to quench the light of the Reformation, to withdraw from men the Bible, and to restore the ignorance and superstition of the Dark Ages. But under God’s blessing and the labors of those noble men whom He had raised up to succeed Luther, Protestantism was not overthrown. Not to the favor or arms of princes was it to owe its strength. The smallest countries, the humblest and least powerful nations, became its strongholds. It was little Geneva in the midst of mighty foes plotting her destruction; it was Holland on her sandbanks by the northern sea, wrestling against the tyranny of Spain, then the greatest and most opulent of kingdoms; it was bleak, sterile Sweden, that gained victories for the Reformation.” The Great Controversy, 234, 235.

> „Takva su bila sredstva kojima se Rim poslužio da ugasi svjetlo Reformacije, da ljudima oduzme Bibliju i da vrati neznanje i praznovjerje mračnoga srednjeg vijeka. Ali pod Božjim blagoslovom i trudovima onih plemenitih ljudi koje je On podigao da naslijede Luthera, protestantizam nije bio oboren. Svoju snagu nije imao dugovati naklonosti ni oružju knezova. Njegova su uporišta postale najmanje zemlje, najskromniji i najmanje moćni narodi. Bila je to malena Ženeva usred moćnih neprijatelja koji su kovali njezinu propast; bila je to Nizozemska na svojim pješčanim sprudovima uz sjeverno more, boreći se protiv tiranije Španjolske, tada najvećega i najbogatijega među kraljevstvima; bila je to sumorna, neplodna Švedska, koja je izvojevala pobjede za Reformaciju.” Velika borba, 234, 235.

The Catholic church did all they could to hide the Bible from men, by claiming their pagan traditions and customs are above God’s Word. The leaders of Laodicean Adventism will not take dissenters to court over the writings of Ellen White, but Catholics professing to be the leaders of Battle Creek will. The very essence of the beast of Catholicism is employing secular power to accomplish religious purposes. When Adventism sought the legal secular power to manage its institutions, the fruits of their ”holy order” can be seen.

Katolička crkva učinila je sve što je mogla da sakrije Bibliju od ljudi, tvrdeći da su njezine poganske predaje i običaji iznad Božje Riječi. Vođe laodicejskog adventizma neće izvoditi neistomišljenike pred sud zbog spisa Ellen White, ali hoće katolici koji tvrde da su vođe Battle Creeka. Sama bit zvijeri katolicizma jest uporaba svjetovne vlasti radi ostvarenja vjerskih ciljeva. Kad je adventizam posegnuo za pravnom svjetovnom vlašću kako bi upravljao svojim ustanovama, mogu se vidjeti plodovi njihova „svetog poretka“.

In the context of the Spanish Inquisitions auto-da-fé (act of faith) ceremonies, the reed and cross appear as symbolic elements tied to Christ’s crucifixion. The reed refers to the mock scepter placed in Jesus’ hand during his crowning with thorns, used by Roman soldiers to strike him, symbolizing mockery, suffering, and scorn.

U kontekstu obreda auto-da-fé (čina vjere) Španjolske inkvizicije, trska i križ pojavljuju se kao simbolični elementi povezani s Kristovim raspećem. Trska se odnosi na podrugljivo žezlo stavljeno Isusu u ruku tijekom krunjenja trnjem, kojim su ga rimski vojnici tukli, simbolizirajući porugu, patnju i prezir.

The cross is prominently featured in auto-da-fé processions. A green cross (often veiled in black crepe) served as the emblem of the Inquisition, carried in a separate preparatory procession the day before and displayed during the event. It symbolized the tribunal’s authority.

Križ je istaknuto prisutan u procesijama auto-da-féa. Zeleni križ (često prekriven crnim krepom) služio je kao znak inkvizicije; nošen je u zasebnoj pripremnoj procesiji dan prije te izložen tijekom samoga događaja. Simbolizirao je vlast suda.

Proscribing of goods refers to the confiscation (sequestration or proscription) of a convicted person’s property, a common Inquisition penalty to fund the tribunal and punish heresy. This was publicly announced in the auto-da-fé sentences, emphasizing public humiliation and deterrence.

Proskripcija dobara odnosi se na konfiskaciju (sekvestraciju ili proskripciju) imovine osuđene osobe, uobičajenu kaznu Inkvizicije radi financiranja tribunala i kažnjavanja hereze. To se javno objavljivalo u presudama auto-da-féa, naglašavajući javno poniženje i odvraćanje.

The writings of Ellen G. White clearly and conclusively condemn the leadership that will proscribe her writings in an attempt to silence the song of the vineyard being sung, but it is the last action of an unholy order, just before they manifest their characters openly at the Sunday law. A “Catholic procession,” aligns with 25 ancient men bowing to the sun. In the following four paragraphs, the first paragraph sets forth the “professed people of God,” in the “last days.” The passage clearly teaches that in the last days, Seventh-day Adventist ministers will in “churches and in large gatherings in the open air,” “urge upon the people the necessity of keeping the first day of the week.”

Spisi Ellen G. White jasno i nedvojbeno osuđuju vodstvo koje će zabraniti njezine spise u pokušaju da utiša pjesmu vinograda koja se pjeva, no to je posljednje djelo jednog nesvetog poretka, neposredno prije nego što otvoreno očituju svoj karakter pri nedjeljnom zakonu. „Katolička procesija” usklađuje se s dvadeset i petoricom starješina koji se klanjaju suncu. U sljedeća četiri odlomka, prvi odlomak iznosi „priznati Božji narod” u „posljednjim danima”. Ovaj ulomak jasno uči da će u posljednjim danima adventistički propovjednici sedmoga dana po „crkvama i na velikim skupovima na otvorenom” „navaljivati na narod nužnost svetkovanja prvoga dana u tjednu”.

> “The Lord has a controversy with his professed people in these last days. In this controversy men in responsible positions will take a course directly opposite to that pursued by Nehemiah. They will not only ignore and despise the Sabbath themselves, but they will try to keep it from others by burying it beneath the rubbish of custom and tradition. In churches and in large gatherings in the open air, ministers will urge upon the people the necessity of keeping the first day of the week. There are calamities on sea and land: and these calamities will increase, one disaster following close upon another; and the little band of conscientious Sabbath-keepers will be pointed out as the ones who are bringing the wrath of God upon the world by their disregard of Sunday.”

> „Gospodin ima spor sa svojim narodom po ispovijesti u ovim posljednjim danima. U tom će sporu ljudi na odgovornim položajima zauzeti put upravo suprotan onomu kojim je išao Nehemija. Oni ne samo da će sami zanemarivati i prezirati subotu, nego će je nastojati uskratiti i drugima zatrpavajući je pod ruševinama običaja i predaje. U crkvama i na velikim skupovima na otvorenom ministri će narodu nametati nužnost svetkovanja prvoga dana u tjednu. Na moru i na kopnu događaju se nesreće; i te će se nesreće umnožavati, jedna će katastrofa slijediti drugu u brzom nizu; a mala skupina savjesnih svetkovatelja subote bit će prokazivana kao oni koji svojim nepridržavanjem nedjelje navlače Božji gnjev na svijet.”

This is clearly identifying Seventh-day Adventists as the “professed people of God” who will encourage Sunday keeping, and that they will also point “out” “the little band of conscientious Sabbath-keepers.” The next paragraph she emphasizes that the persecution of past ages will be repeated. The previous paragraph ended with her identifying the professed people of God in contrast with those she says are conscientious Sabbath-keepers. She then introduces past histories, and warns those histories will be repeated in the latter days. She is very clear.

Ovo jasno označuje adventiste sedmoga dana kao „narod Božji po ispovijesti“ koji će poticati svetkovanje nedjelje te da će također ukazivati „na“ „malu skupinu savjesnih svetkovatelja subote“. U sljedećem odlomku ona naglašava da će se progonstva minulih vjekova ponoviti. Prethodni je odlomak završila tako što je označila narod Božji po ispovijesti nasuprot onima za koje kaže da su savjesni svetkovatelji subote. Potom uvodi povijesti iz prošlosti i upozorava da će se te povijesti ponoviti u posljednjim danima. Vrlo je jasna.

> “Satan urges this falsehood that he may take the world captive. It is his plan to compel men to accept errors. He takes an active part in the promulgation of all false religions, and will stop at nothing in his efforts to enforce erroneous doctrines. Under a cloak of religious zeal, men, influenced by his spirit, have invented the most cruel tortures for their fellow-men, and have inflicted the most awful sufferings upon them. Satan and his agents have the same spirit still; and the history of the past will be repeated in our day.

> „Sotona promiče ovu laž kako bi svijet odveo u ropstvo. Njegov je plan prisiliti ljude da prihvate zablude. On aktivno sudjeluje u širenju svih lažnih religija i ni pred čim neće stati u svojim nastojanjima da nametne pogrješna učenja. Pod plaštem vjerske revnosti ljudi, pod utjecajem njegova duha, izmislili su najokrutnija mučenja za svoje bližnje i nanijeli im najstrašnija stradanja. Sotona i njegovi zastupnici imaju i dalje isti duh, i povijest prošlosti ponovit će se u naše vrijeme.“

> “There are men who have set their minds and will to accomplish evil; in the dark recesses of their hearts they have resolved what crimes they will commit. These men are self-deceived. They have rejected God’s great rule of right, and in its stead have erected a standard of their own, and comparing themselves with this standard they pronounce themselves holy. The Lord will permit them to reveal what is in their hearts, to act out the spirit of the master that controls them. He will let them show their hatred of his law in their treatment of those who are loyal to its requirements. They will be actuated by the same spirit of religious frenzy that goaded on the mob that crucified Christ; church and State will be united in the same corrupt harmony.

> „Postoje ljudi koji su upravili svoj um i volju na to da čine zlo; u mračnim skrovitostima svojih srca odlučili su kakve će zločine počiniti. Ti su ljudi sami sebe obmanuli. Odbacili su veliko Božje mjerilo ispravnosti, a na njegovo su mjesto podigli vlastito mjerilo te, uspoređujući se s tim mjerilom, proglašavaju sebe svetima. Gospodin će im dopustiti da otkriju što je u njihovim srcima, da očituju duh gospodara koji njima vlada. Dopustit će im da pokažu svoju mržnju prema njegovu Zakonu u svojem postupanju prema onima koji su vjerni njegovim zahtjevima. Pokretat će ih isti duh vjerske pomame koji je gonio svjetinu što je razapela Krista; crkva i država ujedinit će se u istom iskvarenom skladu.״

> “The church of today has followed in the steps of the Jews of old, who set aside the commandments of God for their own traditions. She has changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant, and now, as then, pride, unbelief, and infidelity are the result. Her true condition is set forth in these words from the song of Moses: ‘They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation. Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? is not he thy father that hath bought thee? hath he not made thee, and established thee?’” Review and Herald, March 18, 1884.

> „Crkva današnjice pošla je stopama Židova iz davnine, koji su zapovijedi Božje stavili po strani radi svojih predaja. Promijenila je uredbu, prekršila vječni savez, i sada su, kao i tada, oholost, nevjera i bezbožnost posljedica. Njezino pravo stanje izneseno je u ovim riječima iz Mojsijeve pjesme: ‘Pokvarili su se, više nisu njegova djeca, na njihovu je sramotu; naraštaj su opak i izopačen. Zar tako uzvraćate Gospodu, narode ludi i nerazumni? Nije li on otac tvoj koji te stekao? Nije li te on načinio i utvrdio?’” Review and Herald, 18. ožujka 1884.

There is passage after passage in the Spirit of Prophecy identifying the latter-day persecution of God’s faithful, and the “church of today” which she is identifying is not Christianity in general, it is the church she repeatedly identifies as being typified by the Jewish church. Those clear passages in her writings are the motivation for the Seventh-day Adventist church to attempt to place restrictions upon the writings of Sister White, as her dream so aptly identifies. Their actions against her writings, which were the obvious goods of her house that are to be proscribed by the leaders of Battle Creek who changed into a holy order of Catholicism. Their attack upon her writings is also represented by the attack upon Jeremiah’s writings. Ellen White’s dream is a second witness to Jeremiah’s writings being burned.

Postoji odlomak za odlomkom u Duhu proroštva koji prepoznaje progonstvo Božjega vjernog naroda u posljednje dane, a „crkva današnjice“ koju ona pritom označuje nije kršćanstvo općenito, nego crkva za koju ona iznova i iznova kaže da je prikazana židovskom crkvom kao slikom. Ti jasni odlomci u njezinim spisima poticaj su Crkvi adventista sedmoga dana da pokuša nametnuti ograničenja spisima sestre White, kao što to njezin san tako prikladno prepoznaje. Njihovi postupci protiv njezinih spisa, koji su očita dobra njezine kuće što ih trebaju zabraniti vođe iz Battle Creeka koji su se preobrazili u sveti red katolicizma. Njihov napad na njezine spise također je prikazan napadom na Jeremijine spise. San Ellen White drugo je svjedočanstvo o spaljivanju Jeremijinih spisa.

In the third generation of Laodicean Adventism compromise was the predominant theme. The third generation is represented by the church of Pergamos. Beginning with the publication of W. W. Prescott’s book titled The Doctrine of Christ in 1919, through to the publication of Questions on Doctrine in 1957, marks a period of transition represented by an alpha publication and ending with an omega publication. The first book represented W. W. Prescott’s rejection of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, for the apostate Protestant view of Christ. Prescott’s book, aptly titled The Doctrine of Christ, gutted the Millerite prophetic message, leaving the empty definition of Jesus that is worshipped by Catholicism and apostate Protestantism. The last book in that generation defines a sanctification and justification that destroys God’s law, His justice and mercy. Ancient Israel was given the responsibility to be the depositaries of God’s law, and Adventism was to be the depositaries of not only God’s law, but also His prophetic Word. In 1919 a book that rejected the defense of God’s prophetic Word, marking the beginning of the third generation of Laodicean Adventism that ended with a book that rejects God’s law.

U trećem naraštaju laodicejskog adventizma kompromis je bio prevladavajuća tema. Treći naraštaj predstavljen je crkvom u Pergamu. Počevši od objavljivanja knjige W. W. Prescotta pod naslovom The Doctrine of Christ 1919. godine, pa sve do objavljivanja knjige Questions on Doctrine 1957. godine, obilježava se razdoblje prijelaza predstavljeno alfa-publikacijom i završeno omega-publikacijom. Prva je knjiga predstavljala odbacivanje Lava iz plemena Judina od strane W. W. Prescotta, radi otpaličkog protestantskog gledišta o Kristu. Prescottova knjiga, prikladno naslovljena The Doctrine of Christ, iznutrila je mileritsku proročku poruku, ostavljajući praznu definiciju Isusa koju štuju katolicizam i otpali protestantizam. Posljednja knjiga u tom naraštaju definira posvećenje i opravdanje koje razara Božji zakon, Njegovu pravdu i milost. Starom je Izraelu bila povjerena odgovornost da bude čuvar Božjega zakona, a adventizam je trebao biti čuvar ne samo Božjega zakona nego i Njegove proročke Riječi. Godine 1919. pojavila se knjiga koja je odbacila obranu Božje proročke Riječi, označivši početak trećega naraštaja laodicejskog adventizma, koji je završio knjigom što odbacuje Božji zakon.

> “If you indulge stubbornness of heart, and through pride and self-righteousness do not confess your faults, you will be left subject to Satan’s temptations. If when the Lord reveals your errors you do not repent or make confession, his providence will bring you over the ground again and again. You will be left to make mistakes of a similar character, you will continue to lack wisdom, and will call sin righteousness, and righteousness sin. The multitude of deceptions that will prevail in these last days will encircle you, and you will change leaders, and not know that you have done so.” Review and Herald, December 16, 1890.

> „Ako ugađate tvrdokornosti srca te zbog oholosti i samopravednosti ne priznajete svoje pogreške, bit ćete prepušteni Sotoninim kušnjama. Ako se, kada vam Gospod otkrije vaše pogreške, ne pokajete niti ih priznate, njegova će vas providnost iznova i iznova vraćati na isto tlo. Bit ćete prepušteni tomu da činite pogreške slične naravi, i dalje će vam nedostajati mudrosti te ćete grijeh nazivati pravednošću, a pravednost grijehom. Mnoštvo prijevara koje će prevladavati u ovim posljednjim danima opkolit će vas, i promijenit ćete vođe, a nećete ni znati da ste to učinili.” Review and Herald, 16. prosinca 1890.

Pergamos, the third church led to Thyatira, the papal church, which is the fourth generation, when the 25 men bow to the symbol of Thyatira’s authority.

Pergam, treća crkva, doveo je do Tijatire, papinske crkve, koja je četvrta generacija, kada se dvadeset i pet ljudi klanja simbolu Tijatirine vlasti.

> “The regulation adopted by the early colonists, of permitting only members of the church to vote or to hold office in the civil government, led to most pernicious results. This measure had been accepted as a means of preserving the purity of the state, but it resulted in the corruption of the church. A profession of religion being the condition of suffrage and officeholding, many, actuated solely by motives of worldly policy, united with the church without a change of heart. Thus the churches came to consist, to a considerable extent, of unconverted persons; and even in the ministry were those who not only held errors of doctrine, but who were ignorant of the renewing power of the Holy Spirit. Thus again was demonstrated the evil results, so often witnessed in the history of the church from the days of Constantine to the present, of attempting to build up the church by the aid of the state, of appealing to the secular power in support of the gospel of Him who declared: ‘My kingdom is not of this world.’ John 18:36. The union of the church with the state, be the degree never so slight, while it may appear to bring the world nearer to the church, does in reality but bring the church nearer to the world.” The Great Controversy, 297.

> „Propis što su ga usvojili rani kolonisti, prema kojemu je samo članovima crkve bilo dopušteno glasovati ili obnašati službu u građanskoj vlasti, doveo je do najpogubnijih posljedica. Ta je mjera bila prihvaćena kao sredstvo očuvanja čistoće države, ali je njezin ishod bio kvarenje crkve. Budući da je ispovijedanje vjere bilo uvjet za biračko pravo i obnašanje službe, mnogi su se, potaknuti isključivo razlozima svjetovne politike, pridružili crkvi bez promjene srca. Tako su se crkve u znatnoj mjeri sastojale od neobraćenih osoba; a čak su i u službi propovijedanja bili oni koji ne samo da su zastupali zablude u nauku, nego su bili i neupućeni u obnoviteljsku silu Duha Svetoga. Tako su ponovno bili pokazani zli plodovi, tako često viđeni u povijesti crkve od Konstantinovih dana pa sve do sadašnjosti, nastojanja da se crkva izgrađuje uz pomoć države, prizivanja svjetovne vlasti kao potpore evanđelju Onoga koji je izjavio: ‘Kraljevstvo moje nije od ovoga svijeta.’ Ivan 18:36. Savez crkve s državom, ma kako neznatan bio njegov stupanj, premda se može činiti da svijet približava crkvi, u stvarnosti samo približava crkvu svijetu.” Velika borba, 297.

The “union of the church with the state, be the degree never so slight, while it may appear to bring the world nearer to the church, does in reality but bring the church nearer to the world.” On May 18, 1977, Bert B. Beach (a director in the church’s Northern Europe-West Africa Division and involved in interchurch relations) presented a gold-covered medallion to the antichrist, Pope Paul VI during a group audience in Rome. It was part of a meeting of the Conference of Secretaries of World Confessional Families. The event was reported in the Adventist Review (August 11, 1977) and noted by Religious News Service as the first time an official SDA representative met a Pontiff.

„sjedinjenje crkve s državom, ma koliko neznatnog stupnja bilo, premda se može činiti da približava svijet crkvi, u stvarnosti samo približava crkvu svijetu.” Dana 18. svibnja 1977. Bert B. Beach (direktor u crkvenoj Diviziji Sjeverne Europe i Zapadne Afrike i uključen u međucrkvene odnose) uručio je zlatom optočenu medalju antikristu, papi Pavlu VI., tijekom skupne audijencije u Rimu. To je bio dio sastanka Konferencije tajnika svjetskih konfesionalnih obitelji. O tom je događaju izvijestio Adventist Review (11. kolovoza 1977.), a Religious News Service zabilježio ga je kao prvi put da se službeni predstavnik SDA susreo s jednim pontifom.

> “The Lord has pronounced a curse upon those who take from or add to the Scriptures. The great I AM has decided what shall constitute the rule of faith and doctrine, and he has designed that the Bible shall be a household book. The church that holds to the word of God is irreconcilably separated from Rome. Protestants were once thus apart from this great church of apostasy, but they have approached more nearly to her, and are still in the path of reconciliation to the Church of Rome. Rome never changes. Her principles have not altered in the least. She has not lessened the breach between herself and Protestants; they have done all the advancing. But what does this argue for the Protestantism of this day? It is the rejection of Bible truth which makes men approach to infidelity. It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy.

> „Gospodin je izrekao prokletstvo nad onima koji od Svetoga pisma oduzimaju ili mu dodaju. Veliki JA JESAM odredio je što će sačinjavati pravilo vjere i nauka te je odredio da Biblija bude knjiga svakoga doma. Crkva koja se drži Božje riječi nepomirljivo je odvojena od Rima. Protestanti su nekoć bili tako odvojeni od te velike crkve otpada, ali su joj se sve više približili i još su uvijek na putu pomirenja s Rimskom crkvom. Rim se nikada ne mijenja. Njezina se načela nisu ni najmanje promijenila. Ona nije umanjila jaz između sebe i protestanata; oni su učinili sav napredak prema njoj. Ali što to govori o protestantizmu ovoga vremena? Odbacivanje biblijske istine navodi ljude da se približavaju nevjeri. Crkva koja je otpala smanjuje udaljenost između sebe i papinstva.“

> “It is souls like Luther, Cranmer, Ridley, Hooper, and the thousands of noble men who were martyrs for the truth’s sake, who are the true Protestants. They stood as faithful sentinels of truth, declaring that Protestantism is incapable of union with Romanism, but must be as far separated from the principles of the Papacy as is the east from the west. Such advocates of truth could no more harmonize with ‘the man of sin’ than could Christ and his apostles. In earlier ages the righteous felt that it was impossible to affiliate with Rome, and, though their antagonism to this system of error was maintained at risk of property and life, yet they had courage to maintain their separation, and manfully struggled for the truth. Bible truth was dearer to them than wealth, honor, or even life itself. They could not endure to see the truth buried under a mass of superstition and lying sophistry. They took the word of God in their hands, and raised the standard of truth before the people, boldly declaring that which God had revealed unto them through diligent searching of the Bible. They died the cruelest of deaths for their fidelity to God, but by their blood they purchased for us liberties and privileges that many who claim to be Protestants are easily yielding up to the power of evil. But shall we yield up these dearly bought privileges? Shall we offer insult to the God of heaven, and, after he has freed us from the Romish yoke, again place ourselves in bondage to this antichristian power? Shall we prove our degeneracy by signing away our religious liberty, our right to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience?

> „Duše poput Luthera, Cranmera, Ridleyja, Hoopera i tisuća plemenitih ljudi koji su bili mučenici poradi istine, pravi su protestanti. Oni su stajali kao vjerni stražari istine, izjavljujući da protestantizam nije sposoban za sjedinjenje s rimokatolicizmom, nego mora biti od načela papinstva odijeljen onoliko koliko je istok udaljen od zapada. Takvi zastupnici istine nisu se mogli uskladiti s ‘čovjekom grijeha’ ništa više nego što su to mogli Krist i njegovi apostoli. U ranijim su vjekovima pravedni osjećali da je nemoguće povezati se s Rimom, i premda je njihovo protivljenje tomu sustavu zablude bilo održavano uz opasnost za imetak i život, ipak su imali hrabrosti održati svoju odvojenost te su se muževno borili za istinu. Biblijska im je istina bila draža od bogatstva, časti, pa čak i od samoga života. Nisu mogli podnijeti da vide istinu pokopanu pod gomilom praznovjerja i lažljive sofistike. Uzimali su riječ Božju u svoje ruke i podizali stijeg istine pred narodom, odvažno objavljujući ono što im je Bog otkrio marljivim istraživanjem Biblije. Umirali su najokrutnijom smrću zbog svoje vjernosti Bogu, ali su svojom krvlju za nas otkupili slobode i povlastice koje mnogi koji tvrde da su protestanti olako prepuštaju sili zla. No hoćemo li se mi odreći tih skupo plaćenih povlastica? Hoćemo li vrijeđati Boga nebeskoga te se, nakon što nas je oslobodio rimskog jarma, ponovno staviti u ropstvo toj antikršćanskoj sili? Hoćemo li pokazati svoju izopačenost time što ćemo potpisom predati svoju vjersku slobodu, svoje pravo da štujemo Boga prema diktatima vlastite savjesti?“

> “The voice of Luther, that echoed in mountains and valleys, that shook Europe as with an earthquake, summoned forth an army of noble apostles of Jesus, and the truth they advocated could not be silenced by fagots, by tortures, by dungeons, by death; and still the voices of the noble army of martyrs are telling us that the Roman power is the predicted apostasy of the last days, the mystery of iniquity which Paul saw beginning to work even in his day. Roman Catholicism is rapidly gaining ground. Popery is on the increase, and those who have turned their ears away from hearing the truth are listening to her delusive fables. Papal chapels, papal colleges, nunneries, and monasteries are on the increase, and the Protestant world seems to be asleep. Protestants are losing the mark of distinction that distinguished them from the world, and they are lessening the distance between themselves and the Roman power. They have turned away their ears from hearing the truth; they have been unwilling to accept light which God shed upon their pathway, and are therefore going into darkness. They speak with contempt of the idea that there will be a revival of the past cruel persecution on the part of Romanists and those who affiliate with them. They do not recognize the fact that the word of God fully predicts such a revival, and will not concede that the people of God in the last days shall suffer persecution, although the Bible says, ‘The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.’

> „Lutherov glas, koji je odjekivao po gorama i dolinama, koji je potresao Europu kao potres, pozvao je u boj vojsku plemenitih apostola Isusa, i istina koju su zastupali nije se mogla ušutkati lomačama, mukama, tamnicama ni smrću; i još uvijek glasovi te plemenite vojske mučenika govore nam da je rimska vlast prorečeni otpad posljednjih dana, tajna bezakonja za koju je Pavao vidio da počinje djelovati već u njegovo doba. Rimokatolicizam brzo zadobiva tlo. Papinstvo je u porastu, a oni koji su odvratili uši od slušanja istine slušaju njezine zavodljive bajke. Papinske kapele, papinski kolegiji, samostani redovnica i redovnika sve se više umnažaju, a protestantski svijet kao da spava. Protestanti gube obilježje razlikovanja koje ih je razlikovalo od svijeta te smanjuju udaljenost između sebe i rimske vlasti. Odvratili su uši od slušanja istine; nisu bili voljni prihvatiti svjetlo koje je Bog obasjao na njihovu stazu, i stoga odlaze u tamu. S prezirom govore o pomisli da će doći do oživljavanja nekadašnjeg okrutnog progonstva od strane rimokatolika i onih koji s njima pristaju. Ne prepoznaju činjenicu da Božja riječ takvo oživljavanje posve jasno pretkazuje i ne žele priznati da će Božji narod u posljednjim danima trpjeti progonstvo, premda Biblija kaže: ‘I razgnjevi se zmaj na ženu te ode zaratiti s ostatkom njezina potomstva, koji drže zapovijedi Božje i imaju svjedočanstvo Isusa Krista.’”

> “Popery is the religion of human nature, and the mass of humanity love a doctrine that permits them to commit sin, and yet frees them from its consequences. People must have some form of religion, and this religion, formed by human device, and yet claiming divine authority, suits the carnal mind. Men who think themselves wise and intelligent turn away in pride from the standard of righteousness, the ten commandments, and do not think it is in harmony with their dignity to inquire into the ways of God. Therefore they go into false ways, into forbidden paths, become self-sufficient, self inflated, after the pattern of the pope, not after the pattern of Jesus Christ. They must have the form of religion that has the least requirement of spirituality and self-denial, and as unsanctified human wisdom will not lead them to loathe popery, they are naturally drawn toward its provisions and doctrines. They do not want to walk in the ways of the Lord. They are altogether too much enlightened to seek God prayerfully and humbly, with an intelligent knowledge of his word. Not caring to know the ways of the Lord, their minds are all open to delusions, all ready to accept and believe a lie. They are willing to have the most unreasonable, most inconsistent falsehoods palmed off upon them as truth.

> „Papinstvo je religija ljudske naravi, a velika većina čovječanstva voli nauk koji im dopušta da čine grijeh, a ipak ih oslobađa od njegovih posljedica. Ljudi moraju imati neki oblik religije, i ta religija, oblikovana ljudskom zamisli, a ipak koja polaže pravo na božanski autoritet, odgovara tjelesnom umu. Ljudi koji sebe smatraju mudrima i razumnima u oholosti se odvraćaju od mjerila pravednosti, od Deset zapovijedi, i ne misle da je u skladu s njihovim dostojanstvom raspitivati se o putovima Božjim. Stoga idu lažnim putovima, zabranjenim stazama, postaju samodostatni, naduti samima sobom, po uzoru na papu, a ne po uzoru na Isusa Krista. Oni moraju imati oblik religije koji najmanje zahtijeva duhovnost i samoodricanje, a budući da ih neposvećena ljudska mudrost ne navodi da se gnušaju papinstva, oni su po naravi privučeni njegovim odredbama i naukama. Oni ne žele hoditi putovima Gospodnjim. Oni su odviše prosvijetljeni da bi Boga tražili molitveno i ponizno, s razumnim poznavanjem njegove riječi. Budući da ne mare upoznati putove Gospodnje, njihovi su umovi posve otvoreni zabludama, posve spremni prihvatiti i vjerovati laži. Spremni su da im se kao istina podmeću najnerazumnije, najnedosljednije laži.“

> “Satan’s masterpiece of deception is popery; and while it has been demonstrated that a day of great intellectual darkness was favorable to Romanism, it will also be demonstrated that a day of great intellectual light is also favorable to its power; for the minds of men are concentrated on their own superiority, and do not like to retain God in their knowledge. Rome claims infallibility, and Protestants are following in the same line. They do not desire to search for truth and go on from light to a greater light. They wall themselves in with prejudice, and seem willing to be deceived and to deceive others.

> „Sotonino remek-djelo obmane jest papinstvo; i premda je pokazano da je razdoblje velike intelektualne tame bilo pogodno za rimokatolicizam, pokazat će se i to da je razdoblje velike intelektualne svjetlosti također pogodno za njegovu moć; jer su umovi ljudi usredotočeni na vlastitu nadmoć i ne žele zadržati Boga u svojoj spoznaji. Rim polaže pravo na nepogrešivost, a protestanti slijede istim putem. Oni ne žele istraživati istinu i ići od svjetla k većoj svjetlosti. Ograđuju se predrasudama i čini se da su voljni biti prevareni i varati druge.

> “But though the attitude of the churches is discouraging, yet there is no need of being disheartened; for God has a people who will preserve their fidelity to his truth, who will make the Bible, and the Bible alone, their rule of faith and doctrine, who will elevate the standard, and hold aloft the banner on which is inscribed, “The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” They will value a pure gospel, and make the Bible the foundation of their faith and doctrine.

> „No premda je stav crkava obeshrabrujući, ipak nema potrebe klonuti duhom; jer Bog ima narod koji će sačuvati svoju vjernost Njegovoj istini, koji će Bibliju, i samo Bibliju, učiniti svojim pravilom vjere i nauka, koji će uzdignuti stijeg i visoko držati barjak na kojemu je napisano: „Zapovijedi Božje i vjera Isusova.” Oni će cijeniti čisto evanđelje i učiniti Bibliju temeljem svoje vjere i nauka.

> “For such a time as this, when men are casting aside the law of the Lord of hosts, the prayer of David is applicable,—‘It is time for thee, Lord, to work; for they have made void thy law.’ We are coming to a time when almost universal scorn will be heaped upon the law of God, and God’s commandment-keeping people will be severely tried; but will they lose their respect for the law of Jehovah because others do not see and realize its binding claims? Let God’s commandment-keeping people, like David, reverence God’s law in proportion as men cast it aside and heap upon it disrespect and contempt.” Signs of the Times, February 19, 1894.

> „Za ovakvo vrijeme kao što je ovo, kada ljudi odbacuju zakon Jahve nad vojskama, Davidova je molitva primjenjiva: — ‘Vrijeme je da djeluješ, Jahve, jer su ukinuli tvoj zakon.’ Dolazimo u vrijeme kada će se na Božji zakon svaliti gotovo opći prezir, a Božji narod koji drži njegove zapovijedi bit će teško iskušan; no hoće li izgubiti svoje poštovanje prema zakonu Jahvinu zato što drugi ne vide i ne uviđaju njegovu obvezujuću snagu? Neka Božji narod koji drži zapovijedi, poput Davida, štuje Božji zakon razmjerno tome koliko ga ljudi odbacuju i obasipaju nepoštovanjem i prezirom.” Signs of the Times, 19. veljače 1894.

Two years before the antichrist was given a golden medal by a leader of the Laodicean Seventh-day Adventist church, in 1975, a lawsuit was brought against the Seventh-day Adventist church; EEOC v. Pacific Press Publishing Association (Case No. C-74-2025 CBR in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California), where the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued the church’s publishing house on behalf of two female employees—Merikay Silver (a former editor who had left by the time of the suit) and Lorna Tobler—alleging gender-based discrimination in pay and benefits. The church defended its practices partly by invoking religious exemptions and discussing its governance structure.

Dvije godine prije nego što je vođa laodicejske Crkve adventista sedmoga dana dao zlatnu medalju antikristu, 1975. godine pokrenuta je tužba protiv Crkve adventista sedmoga dana; EEOC protiv Pacific Press Publishing Association (predmet br. C-74-2025 CBR pred Okružnim sudom Sjedinjenih Država za Sjeverni okrug Kalifornije), u kojoj je Komisija za jednake mogućnosti zapošljavanja tužila crkvenu izdavačku kuću u ime dviju zaposlenica — Merikay Silver (bivše urednice koja je do vremena podizanja tužbe već otišla) i Lorne Tobler — navodeći diskriminaciju na temelju spola u plaći i naknadama. Crkva je djelomice branila svoju praksu pozivajući se na vjerska izuzeća i iznoseći svoju upravljačku strukturu.

In a sworn statement dated February 6, 1976 (part of a defense brief submitted to the court), Neal C. Wilson (then president of the church’s North American Division, and later General Conference president from 1979–1990) addressed the church’s historical views on Roman Catholicism. The statement was made in the context of arguing against characterizations of the church as having a “hierarchy” similar to the papal system. The full relevant quote is: “Although it is true that there was a period in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church when the denomination took a distinctly anti-Roman Catholic viewpoint, and the term ‘hierarchy’ was used in a pejorative sense to refer to the papal form of church governance, that attitude on the Church’s part was nothing more than a manifestation of widespread anti-popery among conservative protestant denominations in the early part of this century and the latter part of the last, and which has now been consigned to the historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned.”

U ovjerenoj izjavi od 6. veljače 1976. (kao dijelu podneska obrane predanog sudu), Neal C. Wilson (tada predsjednik sjevernoameričke divizije Crkve, a kasnije predsjednik Generalne konferencije od 1979. do 1990.) osvrnuo se na povijesna stajališta Crkve o rimokatolicizmu. Izjava je dana u kontekstu osporavanja prikaza Crkve kao one koja ima „hijerarhiju” sličnu papinskom sustavu. Cijeli relevantni navod glasi: „Premda je istina da je postojalo razdoblje u životu Crkve adventista sedmoga dana kada je denominacija zauzimala izrazito anti-rimokatoličko stajalište, te se izraz ‘hijerarhija’ rabio u pogrdnom smislu kako bi se označio papinski oblik crkvenog upravljanja, takav stav Crkve nije bio ništa drugo doli očitovanje raširenoga antipapizma među konzervativnim protestantskim denominacijama u ranom dijelu ovoga stoljeća i u kasnijem dijelu prošloga, te je sada, što se tiče Crkve adventista sedmoga dana, odložen na povijesno smetlište.”

This reflects a shift away from the church’s traditional prophetic interpretation, which identified the papacy as the ‘beast’ or antichrist in Revelation. Critics within and outside the church have interpreted it as downplaying or abandoning that anti-Catholic stance to align with modern ecumenism or legal defenses. Wilson, in 1985 identified the Presidents of the various Divisions of the church as “cardinals,” when he stated, “… there is no ‘cardinal’ from all the countries of the Far East, while there will probably be two ‘cardinals’ from Africa.”

To odražava odmak od tradicionalnog proročkog tumačenja Crkve, koje je papinstvo poistovjećivalo sa „zvijeri” ili antikristom u Otkrivenju. Kritičari unutar i izvan Crkve protumačili su to kao umanjivanje ili napuštanje toga protukatoličkog stajališta radi usklađivanja sa suvremenim ekumenizmom ili pravnom obranom. Wilson je 1985. predsjednike raznih divizija Crkve nazvao „kardinalima” kada je izjavio: „… nema nijednog ‘kardinala’ iz svih zemalja Dalekog istoka, dok će iz Afrike vjerojatno biti dva ‘kardinala’.”

Sister White stated that it is a backslidden church that lessens the distance between itself and the pope! The compromise of the third generation is represented as weeping for Tammuz in Ezekiel eight, and by the compromise of Pergamos. The first generation from 1863 unto 1888 represented the church of Ephesus, a church that lost its first love, and the Millerite movements first love was the prophetic message, and the first chapter of that prophetic message was the “seven times” that were set aside in 1863.

Sestra White izjavila je da je otpala crkva ona koja smanjuje udaljenost između sebe i pape! Kompromis trećega naraštaja prikazan je kao plakanje za Tamuzom u osmom poglavlju Ezekiela te kompromisom Pergama. Prvi naraštaj od 1863. do 1888. predstavljao je efešku crkvu, crkvu koja je izgubila svoju prvu ljubav, a prva ljubav mileritskog pokreta bila je proročka poruka, a prvo poglavlje te proročke poruke bilo je „sedam vremena”, koja su bila odložena 1863.

From 1888 unto 1919, the second generation represented by Smyrna and Ezekiel’s secret chambers, witnessed the death of the Spirit of Prophecy, as Sister White was laid to rest in 1915. More details of the four generations are necessary to complete the testimony, but the progressive rebellion must be understood to fully appreciate how an apostate people could “proscribe” the writings of Ellen White, or how they could promote the first day of the week as acceptable. Judas works with the “drunkards of Ephraim” that “rule this people” in Jerusalem, and those that rule Jerusalem and bow to the sun, are represented by the Sanhedrin.

Od 1888. do 1919. godine, drugi naraštaj, predstavljen Smirnom i tajnim odajama Ezekielovim, posvjedočio je smrti Duha Proroštva, kada je sestra White položena na počinak 1915. godine. Potrebno je više pojedinosti o četiri naraštaja da bi se svjedočanstvo upotpunilo, ali progresivna pobuna mora se razumjeti kako bi se u potpunosti shvatilo kako je otpadnički narod mogao „zabraniti” spise Ellen White, ili kako su mogli promicati prvi dan u tjednu kao prihvatljiv. Juda djeluje s „Efrajimovim pijanicama” koje „vladaju ovim narodom” u Jeruzalemu, a oni koji vladaju Jeruzalemom i klanjaju se suncu predstavljeni su Sinedrijem.

We will continue this study in the next article.

Nastavit ćemo ovo proučavanje u sljedećem članku.

> “Among the professed children of God, how little patience has been manifested, how many bitter words have been spoken, how much denunciation has been uttered against those not of our faith. Many have looked upon those belonging to other churches as great sinners, when the Lord does not thus regard them. Those who look thus upon the members of other churches, have need to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God. Those whom they condemn may have had but little light, few opportunities and privileges. If they had had the light that many of the members of our churches have had, they might have advanced at a far greater rate, and have better represented their faith to the world. Of those who boast of their light, and yet fail to walk in it, Christ says, ‘But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. And thou, Capernaum [Seventh-day Adventists, who have had great light], which art exalted unto heaven [in point of privilege], shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.’ At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent [in their own estimation], and hast revealed them unto babes.’

> „Među onima koji se izjašnjavaju kao Božja djeca, kako se malo strpljivosti očitovalo, koliko je gorkih riječi izgovoreno, koliko je osude izrečeno protiv onih koji nisu naše vjere. Mnogi su na one koji pripadaju drugim crkvama gledali kao na velike grešnike, premda ih Gospodin ne smatra takvima. Oni koji tako gledaju na članove drugih crkava trebaju se poniziti pod moćnom rukom Božjom. Oni koje osuđuju možda su imali tek malo svjetla, malo prilika i prednosti. Da su imali svjetlo koje su imali mnogi članovi naših crkava, mogli su napredovati mnogo brže i bolje predstaviti svoju vjeru svijetu. O onima koji se hvale svojim svjetlom, a ipak ne hode u njemu, Krist kaže: ‘Ali kažem vam: Tiru i Sidonu bit će podnošljivije na dan suda nego vama. I ti, Kafarnaume [adventisti sedmoga dana, koji su imali veliko svjetlo], koji si uzdignut do neba [po prednostima], bit ćeš bačen u pakao; jer da su se u Sodomi dogodila silna djela koja su se dogodila u tebi, ostala bi do današnjega dana. Ali kažem vam da će zemlji sodomskoj biti podnošljivije na dan suda nego tebi.’ U ono vrijeme Isus progovori i reče: ‘Hvalim te, Oče, Gospodaru neba i zemlje, što si ovo sakrio od mudrih i razboritih [po vlastitoj procjeni], a objavio malenima.’”

> “‘And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the Lord, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim.’

> „A sada, jer ste učinili sva ta djela, govori Gospodin, i premda sam vam govorio, ustajući rano i govoreći, vi niste slušali; i premda sam vas pozivao, vi niste odgovarali; stoga ću ovoj kući, koja se zove mojim imenom, u koju se uzdate, i mjestu koje sam dao vama i vašim ocima, učiniti kao što sam učinio Šilu. I odbacit ću vas ispred svojega lica, kao što sam odbacio svu vašu braću, sav rod Efrajimov.“

> “The Lord has established among us institutions of great importance, and they are to be managed, not as worldly institutions are managed, but after God’s order. They are to be managed with an eye single to his glory, that by all means perishing souls may be saved. To the people of God the testimonies of the Spirit have come, and yet many have not taken heed to reproofs, warnings, and counsels.

> „Gospodin je među nama ustanovio ustanove od velike važnosti, i njima se ne smije upravljati onako kako se upravlja svjetovnim ustanovama, nego po Božjem redu. Njima se treba upravljati s pogledom uprtim jedino u njegovu slavu, kako bi se svim sredstvima spasile duše koje propadaju. Narodu Božjemu došla su svjedočanstva Duha, a ipak mnogi nisu obratili pozornost na ukore, opomene i savjete.

> “‘Here now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: fear ye not me saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual degree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it? but this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone. Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest. Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you. . . . They judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge. Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord; shall not my soul be revenged on such a nation as this?’

> „Čujte sada ovo, narode bezumni i nerazumni, koji imate oči, a ne vidite; koji imate uši, a ne čujete: zar se mene ne bojite? govori Gospodin; zar ne dršćete pred mojim licem, koji sam postavio pijesak za među moru, vječnom odredbom, da je ne može prijeći; i premda se valovi njegovi podižu, ipak ne mogu nadvladati; premda huče, ipak je ne mogu prijeći. Ali ovaj narod ima srce odmetničko i buntovno; odmetnuli su se i otišli. I ne govore u srcu svojemu: Bojmo se sada Gospodina, Boga svojega, koji daje kišu, i ranu i kasnu, u njezino vrijeme; on nam čuva određene tjedne žetve. Vaša su bezakonja odvratila ovo, i grijesi su vaši uskratili dobra od vas.... Ne sude parbe, parbe sirote, a ipak napreduju; i pravo ubogih ne sude. Zar da ne pohodim za ovo? govori Gospodin; zar da se duša moja ne osveti nad narodom kao što je ovaj?“

> “Shall the Lord be compelled to say, ‘Pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee’? ‘Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain. . . . Wilt thou not from this time cry unto me, My father, thou art the guide of my youth?’” Review and Herald, August 1, 1893.

> „Hoće li Gospod biti prisiljen reći: ‘Ne moli za ovaj narod, niti podiži vapaj ni molitvu za njih, niti posreduj kod mene: jer te neću uslišiti’? ‘Stoga su daždevi bili uskraćeni, i nije bilo kasne kiše.... Nećeš li od ovoga časa vikati k meni: Oče moj, ti si vođa moje mladosti?’” Review and Herald, 1. kolovoza 1893.

Back to Articles