Article

# The Book of Daniel - Number Seventy-Nine

Incwadi kaDaniyeli – Inani Amashumi Asixhenxe anesiThoba

Unveiling the Rebellion of 1888: Lessons from the Second Generation of Laodicean Adventism

Ukutyhilwa Kovukelo Lwango-1888: Izifundo Ezivela Kwisizukulwana Sesibini Se-Adventism yaseLawodikea

Author

Jeff Pippenger

Published

February 12, 2024

Formats

PDF
Word
Song MP3

The second generation of Laodicean Adventism arrived in 1888, and that generation is symbolically represented in Ezekiel chapter eight, as the second abomination, which is represented by the “chambers of his imagery.”

Isizukulwana sesibini sobu-Adventism baseLawodike safika ngowe-1888, yaye eso sizukulwana simelwe ngokomfuziselo kuHezekile isahluko sesibhozo, njengezothe zesibini, esimelelwa “ngamagumbi emifanekiso yakhe.”

> So I went in and saw; and behold every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, pourtrayed upon the wall round about. And there stood before them seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel, and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, with every man his censer in his hand; and a thick cloud of incense went up. Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the earth. Ezekiel 8:10–12.

> Ndingena ke ndabona; nanko zonke iintlobo zezinto ezirhubuluzayo, neenkomo ezinezothe, nazo zonke izithixo zendlu kaSirayeli, zibhaliwe eludongeni ngeenxa zonke. Kwakumi phambi kwazo amadoda angamashumi asixhenxe kumadoda amakhulu endlu kaSirayeli, yaye phakathi kwawo kwakumi uYazaniya unyana kaShafan, indoda nganye inesitya sayo sesiqhumiso esandleni sayo; kwenyuka ilifu elingqindilili lesiqhumiso. Waza wathi kum, Nyana womntu, ukubonile na oko kwenziwa ngamadoda amakhulu endlu kaSirayeli ebumnyameni, indoda nganye emagumbini emifanekiso yayo? kuba bathi, UYehova akasiboni; uYehova uwushiyile umhlaba. Hezekile 8:10–12.

The chambers of imagery represent the wicked secrets within the hearts of those represented as the ancient men, and they have brought that very wickedness into not only the chambers of their minds, but also into the chambers of God’s sanctuary.

Amagumbi emifanekiso amele iimfihlelo ezingendawo ezisentliziyweni zabo bamelwe njengamadoda amandulo, yaye baye bazisa kanye obo bubi kungekuphela emagumbini ezingqondo zabo, kodwa nakumagumbi engcwele kaThixo.

> Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. Proverbs 23:6, 7.

> Musa ukutya isonka salowo uneliso elibi, ungakunqweneli nokutya kwakhe okumnandi; ngokuba njengoko ecinga entliziyweni yakhe, unjalo: Yitya usele, utsho kuwe; kodwa intliziyo yakhe ayikho kuwe. IMizekeliso 23:6, 7.

The wickedness of the chambers of imagery is written both on the walls of the temple and the walls of the ancient men’s minds. The secret chambers of imagery of the second abomination of Ezekiel chapter eight, represent the second generation of Laodicean Adventism, and of the four abominations the second abomination takes more time to emphasize a corporate rebellion, although all four abominations are represented as being carried out by the men who were supposed to be the guardians of the people.

Ubungendawo bamagumbi emifanekiso bubhaliwe kokubini ezindongeni zetempile nasezindongeni zeengqondo zamadoda amakhulu. Amagumbi afihlakeleyo emifanekiso esikizi sesibini sikaHezekile isahluko sesibhozo amele isizukulwana sesibini soBugqobhoka bama-Adventist baseLawodike, yaye kwizikizi ezine, isikizi sesibini sithabatha ixesha elingakumbi ukugxininisa uvukelo oludibeneyo, nangona zonke izikizi ezine zimelwe njengezisenziwa ngamadoda awayefanele ukuba ngabagcini babantu.

> “The mark of deliverance has been set upon those ‘that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done.’ Now the angel of death goes forth, represented in Ezekiel’s vision by the men with the slaughtering weapons, to whom the command is given: ‘Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.’ Says the prophet: ‘They began at the ancient men which were before the house.’ Ezekiel 9:1–6. The work of destruction begins among those who have professed to be the spiritual guardians of the people. The false watchmen are the first to fall. There are none to pity or to spare. Men, women, maidens, and little children perish together.” The Great Controversy, 656.

> “Uphawu lwenkululeko lubekiwe phezu kwabo ‘bancwinayo bakhale ngenxa yazo zonke izinto ezinezothe ezenziwayo.’ Ngoku ingelosi yokufa iyaphuma, imelwe embonweni kaHezekile ngamadoda anezikhali zokuxhela, awanikwayo lo myalelo: ‘Bulalani niphelise ngokupheleleyo abadala nabaselula, neentombi, nabantwana, nabafazi; kodwa ningasondeli nakuwuphi na umntu okuphezu kwakhe kukho uphawu; niqale ke engcweleni Yam.’ Utsho umprofeti: ‘Baqala kumadoda amakhulu awayephambi kwendlu.’ Hezekile 9:1–6. Umsebenzi wentshabalalo uqala phakathi kwabo baye bazibanga bengabagcini bomoya babantu. Abalindi bobuxoki ngabokuqala ukuwa. Akukho bani wokubabalelwa okanye wokusindiswa. Amadoda, abafazi, iintombi, nabantwana bayatshabalala kunye.” Imbambano Enkulu, 656.

The rebellion that marks the arrival of the second generation is specifically associated with the leadership of Laodicean Adventism, as fulfilled at the 1888 General Conference meeting in Minneapolis. It is represented by the expression “ancients of the house of Israel” and also by the “seventy men.” It was seventy elders that were associated with the work of Moses, and Jesus’ second group of disciples consisted of seventy men. “Seventy” represents leadership, as does “the ancients.” The second abomination places an extra emphasis upon the leadership, and in so doing it places the emphasis upon the abomination as being associated with a corporate rebellion of the leadership.

Imvukelo ephawula ukufika kwesizukulwana sesibini inxulunyaniswa ngokukodwa nobunkokeli be-Adventism yaseLawodike, njengoko yazalisekayo kwintlanganiso yeNkomfa Jikelele ka-1888 eMinneapolis. Imelwe libinzana elithi “amadoda amakhulu endlu kaSirayeli” kwanangabo “amadoda angamashumi asixhenxe.” Yayingamadoda amadala angamashumi asixhenxe anxulunyaniswa nomsebenzi kaMoses, yaye iqela lesibini labafundi bakaYesu lalineqela lamadoda angamashumi asixhenxe. “Amashumi asixhenxe” amela ubunkokeli, njengokuba “amadoda amakhulu” esenza njalo. Isikizi sesibini sibeka ugxininiso olongezelelekileyo phezu kobunkokeli, yaye ngokwenjenjalo sibeka ugxininiso kwisinyeliso njengokuba sinxulunyaniswa nemvukelo yobumbano yobunkokeli.

In the midst of the seventy ancient men stood “Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan.” The name “Jaazaniah,” means “heard of God”, and he represents a leadership that rebelled at the very time that God was speaking, for he heard God, but refused to listen, for he professed that God had forsaken his people, and that God did not see what was happening in the secret chambers. Jaazaniah was the “son of Shaphan,” and the name “Shaphan” means “to hide”. The setting of the second generation represents a rebellion of the leadership that rebelled in the very time when God was speaking, and they believed that God did not see or care about their actions.

Phakathi kwamadoda amadala angamashumi asixhenxe kwakumi “uYahazaniya unyana kaShafan.” Igama elithi “Yahazaniya” lithetha ukuthi “uviwe nguThixo”, yaye umele ubunkokeli obavukelayo kanye ngexesha uThixo awayethetha ngalo, kuba wamva uThixo, kodwa wala ukuphulaphula; kuba wavakalisa ukuba uThixo ubashiyile abantu bakhe, nokuba uThixo akakuboni okwenzekayo emagumbini afihlakeleyo. UYahazaniya wayengunyana kaShafan, yaye igama elithi “Shafan” lithetha ukuthi “ukufihla”. Isimo sesizukulwana sesibini simela uvukelo lobunkokeli obavukela kanye ngexesha uThixo awayethetha ngalo, yaye bakholwa ukuba uThixo akaziboni okanye akazikhathalele izenzo zabo.

Sister White recorded that she was shown the conversations of the leadership of Laodicean Adventism during the 1888 General Conference. At the 1888 General Conference God showed Sister White the meetings of the leaders which they had among themselves when they thought God was not listening. There in the secrecy of their rooms they spoke evil against Sister White, her son, and Elders Jones and Waggoner. They believed they could speak freely, for God could not see them in their private quarters, but God showed these very conversations to the prophetess. They were in a corporate meeting, and according to inspiration they were hearing the message of the latter rain, but they refused to hear.

USister White wabhala ukuba waboniswa iingxoxo zobunkokeli bobu-Adventist baseLawodike ngexesha leNkomfa Jikelele ka-1888. KwiNkomfa Jikelele ka-1888 uThixo wabonisa uSister White iintlanganiso zeenkokeli ababezibambe bodwa xa babecinga ukuba uThixo akamamelanga. Apho, emfihlweni yamagumbi abo, bathetha okubi ngoSister White, ngonyana wakhe, nangabaDala uJones noWaggoner. Babekholelwa ukuba banokuthetha ngokukhululekileyo, kuba uThixo wayengenakubabona kwiindawo zabo zabucala, kodwa uThixo wazibonakalisa kanye ezi ngxoxo kumprofetikazi. Babekwentlanganiso yebandla iphela, yaye ngokokuphefumlelwa babesiva isigidimi semvula yamva, kodwa bala ukusiva.

What was it that had produced a leadership that manifested such open rebellion in 1888, that Sister White compared it to the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram?

Yayiyintoni eyayivelise ubunkokeli obabonakalisa uvukelo oluvulekileyo ngolo hlobo ngo-1888, de uDade White waluthelekisa novukelo lukaKora, noDatan, noAbhiram?

> “When you are enlightened by the Holy Spirit, you will see all that wickedness at Minneapolis as it is, as God looks upon it. If I never see you again in this world, be assured that I forgive you the sorrow and distress and burden of soul you have brought upon me without any cause. But for your soul’s sake, for the sake of Him who died for you, I want you to see and confess your errors. You did unite with those who resisted the Spirit of God. You had all the evidence that you needed that the Lord was working through Brethren Jones and Waggoner; but you did not receive the light; and after the feelings indulged, the words spoken against the truth, you did not feel ready to confess that you had done wrong, that these men had a message from God, and you had made light of both message and messengers.

> “Xa ukhanyiselwe nguMoya oyiNgcwele, uya kukubona konke oko ukungendawo okwaseMinneapolis njengoko kunjalo, njengoko uThixo akujonga. Ukuba andisayi kuphinda ndikubone kweli hlabathi, qiniseka ukuba ndiyakuxolela ngenxa yosizi, nentlungu, nomthwalo womphefumlo enindizisele wona ngaphandle kwesizathu. Kodwa ngenxa yomphefumlo wakho, nangenxa yaLowo wakufelayo, ndifuna ukuba uzibone uze uvume iziphoso zakho. Wena wahlangana nabo babemchasa uMoya kaThixo. Wawunabo bonke ubungqina obabufuneka kuwe bokuba iNkosi yayisebenza ngoBazalwana uJones noWaggoner; kodwa akuzange ulwamkele ukhanyiso; yaye emva kweemvakalelo enazivumelayo, namazwi athethwa ngokuchasene nenyaniso, akuzange uzive ukulungele ukuvuma ukuba wenze okungalunganga, ukuba la madoda ayenomyalezo ovela kuThixo, nokuba wena wawuyenze into encinane yomibini, umyalezo nabathunywa bawo.”

> “Never before have I seen among our people such firm self-complacency and unwillingness to accept and acknowledge light as was manifested at Minneapolis. I have been shown that not one of the company who cherished the spirit manifested at that meeting would again have clear light to discern the preciousness of the truth sent them from heaven until they humbled their pride and confessed that they were not actuated by the Spirit of God, but that their minds and hearts were filled with prejudice. The Lord desired to come near to them, to bless them and heal them of their backslidings, but they would not hearken. They were actuated by the same spirit that inspired Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Those men of Israel were determined to resist all evidence that would prove them to be wrong, and they went on and on in their course of disaffection until many were drawn away to unite with them.

> “Andizange ndibone ngaphambili phakathi kwabantu bakuthi ukwaneliseka ngesiqu okungaka nokuqina, nokungafuni ukwamkela nokuvuma ukukhanya, njengoko kwabonakaliswa eMinneapolis. Ndaboniswa ukuba akukho namnye kwelo qela owawugcinile umoya owabonakaliswa kuloo ntlanganiso owayeza kuphinda abe nokukhanya okucacileyo kokubona ubuxabisekileyo benyaniso eyayithunyelwe kubo ivela ezulwini, de bazithobe ikratshi labo baze bavume ukuba babengashukunyiswa nguMoya kaThixo, koko iingqondo neentliziyo zabo zazizaliswe lucalucalulo. INkosi yayinqwenela ukusondela kubo, ukubasikelela nokubaphilisa ekubuyeleni kwabo umva, kodwa abazange baphulaphule. Babeshukunyiswa nguloo moya mnye owaphembelela uKora, uDatan, noAbhiram. Abo bantu bakwaSirayeli babezimisele ukuchasa bonke ubungqina obabunokungqina ukuba babengalunganga, baza baqhubekeka, baqhubekeka endleleni yabo yokunganeliseki, kwada kwarhoxa abaninzi ukuze bamanyane nabo.

> “Who were these? Not the weak, not the ignorant, not the unenlightened. In that rebellion there were two hundred and fifty princes famous in the congregation, men of renown. What was their testimony? ‘All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?’ [Numbers 16:3]. When Korah and his companions perished under the judgment of God, the people whom they had deceived saw not the hand of the Lord in this miracle. The whole congregation the next morning charged Moses and Aaron, ‘Ye have killed the people of the Lord’ [Verse 41], and the plague was upon the congregation, and more than fourteen thousand perished.

> “Babengoobani na aba? Babengengababuthathaka, bengengabangenalwazi, bengengabangenakukhanyiselwa. Kolo vukelo kwakukho iinkosana ezingamakhulu amabini anamashumi amahlanu, ezazidume ebandleni, amadoda adumileyo. Yayiyintoni na ingqina labo? ‘Lonke ibandla lingcwele, ngalinye kubo, yaye uYehova uphakathi kwabo; yini na ke ngoko ukuba niziphakamise ngaphezu kwebandla likaYehova?’ [Numeri 16:3]. Xa uKora namaqabane akhe batshabalalayo phantsi komgwebo kaThixo, abantu ababebakhohlisile abazange basibone isandla sikaYehova kulo mmangaliso. Ibandla lonke ngengomso lammangalela uMoses noAron, lisithi, ‘Niwabulele abantu bakaYehova’ [Verse 41], saza isibetho sehla phezu kwebandla, kwatshabalala abangaphezu kweshumi elinesine lamawaka.”

> “When I purposed to leave Minneapolis, the angel of the Lord stood by me and said: ‘Not so; God has a work for you to do in this place. The people are acting over the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. I have placed you in your proper position, which those who are not in the light will not acknowledge; they will not heed your testimony; but I will be with you; My grace and power shall sustain you. It is not you they are despising, but the messengers and the message I send to My people. They have shown contempt for the word of the Lord. Satan has blinded their eyes and perverted their judgment; and unless every soul shall repent of this their sin, this unsanctified independence that is doing insult to the Spirit of God, they will walk in darkness. I will remove the candlestick out of his place except they repent and be converted, that I should heal them. They have obscured their spiritual eyesight. They would not that God would manifest His Spirit and His power; for they have a spirit of mockery and disgust at My word. Lightness, trifling, jesting, and joking are daily practiced. They have not set their hearts to seek Me. They walk in the sparks of their own kindling, and unless they repent they shall lie down in sorrow. Thus saith the Lord: Stand at your post of duty; for I am with thee, and will not leave thee nor forsake thee.’ These words from God I have not dared to disregard.

> “Xa ndandizimisele ukumka eMinneapolis, ingelosi yeNkosi yema ngakum yathi: ‘Hayi ke; uThixo unomsebenzi afuna ukuba uwenze kule ndawo. Abantu benza kwakhona uvukelo lukaKora, noDatan, noAbhiram. Ndikubeke endaweni yakho efanelekileyo, abangekho ekukhanyeni abangayi kuyivuma; abayi kusiphulaphula isingqino sakho; kodwa ndiya kuba nawe; ubabalo lwam namandla am aya kukuxhasa. Asinguwe abawudelayo, koko ngabathunywa nomyalezo endiwuthumela ebantwini Bam. Bayibonakalisile indelelo ilizwi leNkosi. USathana ubamfamekisile amehlo waza wagqwetha isigwebo sabo; yaye ngaphandle kokuba wonke umphefumlo aguquke kwesi sono sabo, oku kuzimela kungangcwaliswanga okuhlazisa uMoya kaThixo, baya kuhamba ebumnyameni. Ndiya kusisusa isiphatho sezibane endaweni yaso, ukuba abaguquki baphenduke, ukuze ndibaphilise. Bayenze mfiliba imbono yabo yokomoya. Abafuni ukuba uThixo abonakalise uMoya waKhe namandla aKhe; kuba banomoya wokugculela nowokunyanya ilizwi Lam. Ukungakhathali, ukungayithathi ngqalelo into, ukuqhula, nokudlala ngamazwi kwenziwa imihla ngemihla. Abazimisanga iintliziyo zabo ekundifuneni. Bahamba ngeentlantsi zokuzibasela kwabo, yaye ukuba abaguquki baya kulala phantsi entlungwini. Itsho iNkosi ukuthi: Yima esikhundleni sakho somsebenzi; kuba ndinawe, yaye andiyi kukushiya, ndingayi kukulahla.’ La mazwi avela kuThixo andizange ndibe nesibindi sokuwatyeshela.

> “Light has been shining in Battle Creek in clear, bright rays; but who of those that acted a part in the meeting at Minneapolis have come to the light and received the rich treasures of truth which the Lord sent them from heaven? Who have kept step and step with the Leader, Jesus Christ? Who have made full confession of their mistaken zeal, their blindness, their jealousies and evil surmisings, their defiance of truth? Not one; and because of their long neglect to acknowledge the light, it has left them far behind; they have not been growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. They have failed to receive the needed grace which they might have had, and which would have made them strong men in religious experience.

> “Ukukhanya bekukhanya eBattle Creek ngemitha ecacileyo, eqaqambileyo; kodwa ngoobani kwabo bathabatha inxaxheba kwintlanganiso yaseMinneapolis abaye beza ekukhanyeni baza bazamkela iindyebo ezityebileyo zenyaniso awabathumela zona uYehova zivela ezulwini? Ngoobani abaye bahamba inyathelo nenyathelo kunye neNkokeli, uYesu Kristu? Ngoobani abenze ukuvuma okupheleleyo ngenzondelelo yabo ephosakeleyo, ngobumfama babo, ngomona wabo nangezikrokro ezimbi zabo, nangokuchasa kwabo inyaniso? Akukho namnye; yaye ngenxa yokungahoyi kwabo ixesha elide ukuvuma ukukhanya, kubashiye kude kakhulu ngasemva; abakhulanga elubabalweni nasekwazini uKristu Yesu iNkosi yethu. Basilele ukwamkela ubabalo oluyimfuneko ababenokuba nalo, nolwaluya kubenza amadoda awomeleleyo kumava enkolo.”

> “The position taken at Minneapolis was apparently an insurmountable barrier which in a great degree shut them in with doubters, questioners, with the rejecters of truth and the power of God. When another crisis comes, those who have so long resisted evidence piled upon evidence will again be tested upon the points where they failed so manifestly, and it will be hard for them to receive that which is from God and refuse that which is from the powers of darkness. Therefore their only safe course is to walk in humility, making straight paths for their feet, lest the lame be turned out of the way. It makes every difference whom we company with, whether it is with men who walk with God and who believe and trust Him, or with men who follow their own supposed wisdom, walking in the sparks of their own kindling.

> “Isikhundla esathatyathwa eMinneapolis ngokucacileyo saba ngumqobo ongenakoyiswa owathi, ngomlinganiselo omkhulu, wabavalela phakathi kwabathandabuzayo, ababuzayo, naphakathi kwabagatyi benyaniso namandla kaThixo. Xa kufika enye ingxaki kwakhona, abo bathe ixesha elide kangaka bamelana nobungqina obuqokelelene phezu kobunye ubungqina, baya kuphinda bavavanywe kwezo ndawo basilela kuzo ngokucacileyo kangaka, yaye kuya kuba nzima kubo ukwamkela oko kuvela kuThixo nokwala oko kuvela kumandla obumnyama. Ngoko ke eyona ndlela yabo ikhuselekileyo kukuhamba ngokuthobeka, benza iindlela zabo zibe ngqo ezinyaweni zabo, hleze isiqhwala sijikwe siphume endleleni. Kwenza umahluko omkhulu kakhulu ukuba sihlalisana nabani na, nokuba ngamadoda ahamba noThixo, akholwayo nathembela kuYe, okanye ngamadoda alandela obabo ubulumko abucingelayo, ehamba kwiintlantsi zokuziphembelela kwawo.”

> “The time and care and labor required to counteract the influence of those who have worked against the truth has been a terrible loss; for we might have been years ahead in spiritual knowledge; and many, many souls might have been added to the church if those who ought to have walked in the light had followed on to know the Lord, that they might know His going forth is prepared as the morning. But when so much labor has to be expended right in the church to counteract the influence of workers who have stood as a granite wall against the truth God sends to His people, the world is left in comparative darkness.

> “Ixesha nexesha, inkathalo, nomsebenzi okufunekayo ukuze kuthintelwe impembelelo yabo basebenze ngokuchasene nenyaniso ibe yilahleko eyoyikekayo; kuba besinokuba besiphambili ngeminyaka eliqela elwazini lokomoya; yaye imiphefumlo emininzi, emininzi ngeyathi yongezwa ebandleni ukuba abo babefanele ukuba bahambe ekukhanyeni baqhubela phambili ukumazi uYehova, ukuze bazi ukuba ukuphuma kwakhe kulungisiwe njengokusa. Kodwa xa kufuneka kuchithwe umsebenzi omninzi kangaka kanye ngaphakathi ebandleni ukuze kuthintelwe impembelelo yabasebenzi abemi njengodonga lwegranite ngokuchasene nenyaniso uThixo ayithumela kubantu bakhe, ihlabathi lishiywa ebumnyameni obuthelekisekayo.

> “God meant that the watchmen should arise and with united voices send forth a decided message, giving the trumpet a certain sound, that the people might all spring to their post of duty and act their part in the great work. Then the strong, clear light of that other angel who comes down from heaven having great power, would have filled the earth with his glory. We are years behind; and those who stood in blindness and hindered the advancement of the very message that God meant should go forth from the Minneapolis meeting as a lamp that burneth, have need to humble their hearts before God and see and understand how the work has been hindered by their blindness of mind and hardness of heart.” Manuscript Releases, volume 14, 107–111.

> “UThixo wayethetha ukuba abalindi mabavuke baze, ngamazwi amanyeneyo, bathumele umyalezo ocacileyo noqinisekileyo, benike isigodlo isandi esithile, ukuze abantu bonke batsibele kwindawo yabo yomsebenzi baze benze isabelo sabo kulo msebenzi mkhulu. Ngoko ke ukukhanya okunamandla, okucacileyo kwengelosi leyo yimbi eyehla ivela ezulwini inamandla amakhulu, ngekwakuzalise umhlaba ngozuko lwayo. Sisalele ngasemva ngeminyaka; yaye abo bema ebumnyameni baza bathintela ukuhambela phambili kanye kwalo myalezo uThixo awayethe ukuba mawuphume kwintlanganiso yaseMinneapolis njengesibane esivuthayo, banesidingo sokuzithoba iintliziyo zabo phambi koThixo baze babone baqonde ukuba umsebenzi uthintelwe njani bubumfama bengqondo yabo nobulukhuni bentliziyo yabo.” Manuscript Releases, volume 14, 107–111.

What was it that had produced a leadership that manifested such open rebellion in 1888, that Sister White compared it to the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram? The answer no doubt lies in the rebellion of 1863, that prepared the way for what Ezekiel was told would be even greater abominations. Rejecting the “seven times,” of Leviticus twenty-six, and introducing a counterfeit chart, would produce the necessity to uphold the counterfeit of 1863. Thus, Miller would watch his jewels get scattered and covered up with rubbish and counterfeit jewels and coins. The worldly saying says, “history is written by the victors.”

Yintoni eyavelisa ubunkokeli obabonakalisa uvukelo olucace kangako ngowe-1888, kangangokuba uDade White waluthelekisa novukelo lukaKora, uDatan noAbhiram? Impendulo, ngaphandle kwamathandabuzo, ilele kuvukelo lwango-1863, olwalulungiselela indlela yoko uHezekile waxelelwa ukuba kuya kuba zizenzo ezicekisekayo ezinkulu ngakumbi. Ukulahlwa “kwamaxesha asixhenxe” eLevitikus 26, nokungeniswa kwetshathi yomgunyathi, kwakunokuvelisa imfuneko yokuxhasa umgunyathi wango-1863. Ngaloo ndlela, uMiller wayeza kubona amatye akhe anqabileyo ethe saa, egutyungelwe yinkunkuma nangamatye anqabileyo omgunyathi neengqekembe zomgunyathi. Isaci sehlabathi sithi, “imbali ibhalwa ngaboyisileyo.”

Though not actually the victors, those leading the Laodicean Adventist church have spent time and effort to construct a historical narrative that upholds the increasing rebellion through the four generations, in an attempt to place that rebellion in a light that is far from the actual history recorded by the heavenly angels. The revision of history is a hallmark characteristic of the Jesuits of the Catholic Church, and historical revisionism has been a stock and trade of Laodicean Adventist historians. What is written these days by Laodicean Adventist “historians” about the Minneapolis General Conference session is a classic example of historical revisionism.

Nangona bengengabo ngokwenene aboyisi, abo bakhokela ibandla lama-Adventist laseLawodike basebenzise ixesha nomgudu ukwakha ibali lembali elixhasa imvukelo eyandayo kwizizukulwana ezine, ngelinge lokubeka loo mvukelo ekukhanyeni okukude lee kwimbali yokwenene eyabhalwa ziingelosi zasezulwini. Ukuhlaziywa ngokutsha kwembali luphawu olusisazisi samaJesuit eCawa yamaKatolika, yaye ukuguqulwa kwembali kube sisixhobo neshishini leembali zababhali-mbali bama-Adventist baseLawodike. Oko kubhalwa kule mihla “ngababhali-mbali” bama-Adventist baseLawodike ngeseshoni yeNkomfa Jikelele yaseMinneapolis ngumzekelo oqhelekileyo wokuguqulwa kwembali.

There may have been a few of the rebels from that conference that eventually repented, but the exception to the rule, does not deny the rule. Sister White was commanded to stay and record the meeting, for the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram was being repeated. For Adventist historians to construct the testimony around whether the message of righteousness by faith was understood, not understood; rejected or not rejected, or thereafter accepted is to avoid the inspired testimony of a rebellion that was typified by Korah, Dathan and Abiram.

Kusenokwenzeka ukuba kwakukho abambalwa kubavukeli baloo nkomfa abathi ekugqibeleni baguquka, kodwa ukungaqhelekanga komzekelo akuwutshabalalisi umgaqo. USisi White wayalelwa ukuba ahlale aze abhale ingxelo yentlanganiso, kuba uvukelo lukaKora, uDatan noAbhiram lwaluphindwa. Ukuba iimbali zama-Adventist zakha ubungqina zijikeleze umbuzo wokuba isigidimi sobulungisa ngokholo saqondwa na okanye asaqondwanga; salahlwa na okanye asalahlelwanga, okanye samkelwa emva koko, kukuphepha ubungqina obuphefumlelweyo bovukelo obabumelwe kwangaphambili nguKora, uDatan noAbhiram.

Which of those three rebels did Moses’ record show was afterward repentant and accepted back in the leadership with Moses?

Ngowuphi kwabo bavukeli bathathu owathi ingxelo kaMoses yabonisa ukuba kamva waguquka waza wamkelwa kwakhona kubunkokeli kunye noMoses?

> “Korah, the leading spirit in this movement, was a Levite, of the family of Kohath, and a cousin of Moses; he was a man of ability and influence. Though appointed to the service of the tabernacle, he had become dissatisfied with his position and aspired to the dignity of the priesthood. The bestowal upon Aaron and his house of the priestly office, which had formerly devolved upon the first-born son of every family, had given rise to jealousy and dissatisfaction, and for some time Korah had been secretly opposing the authority of Moses and Aaron, though he had not ventured upon any open act of rebellion. He finally conceived the bold design of overthrowing both the civil and the religious authority. He did not fail to find sympathizers. Close to the tents of Korah and the Kohathites, on the south side of the tabernacle, was the encampment of the tribe of Reuben, the tents of Dathan and Abiram, two princes of this tribe, being near that of Korah. These princes readily joined in his ambitious schemes. Being descendants from the eldest son of Jacob, they claimed that the civil authority belonged to them, and they determined to divide with Korah the honors of the priesthood.

> “UKora, umoya okhokelayo kule ntshukumo, wayengumLevi, engowosapho lukaKohati, yaye eyinzalelwane kaMoses; wayeyindoda enobuchule nenempembelelo. Nangona wayemiselwe inkonzo yomnquba, wayesele enganelisekanga sisikhundla sakhe, aza wanqwenela isidima sobubingeleli. Ukunikelwa kuAron nendlu yakhe kwesikhundla sobubingeleli, esasikade siwela kunyana wamazibulo entsapho nganye, kwavusa umona nokunganeliseki; yaye kangangexesha elithile uKora wayeliphikisa ngasese igunya likaMoses noAron, nangona wayengekazami nasiphi na isenzo esivulekileyo sovukelo. Ekugqibeleni waqulunqa icebo elinesibindi lokuwisa phantsi igunya lasemthethweni nelonqulo ngokunjalo. Akazange asilele ukufumana abo babemxhasa. Kufuphi neentente zikaKora nabaKohati, kwicala elisemazantsi omnquba, kwakukho umkampi wesizwe sakwaRubhen, iintente zikaDatan noAbhiram, iinkosana ezimbini zeso sizwe, zikufuphi naleyo kaKora. Ezi nkosana zakhawuleza zamanyana naye kumaqhinga akhe okunqwenela ukuphakama. Njengokuba zaziyinzala yonyana omkhulu kaYakobi, zathi igunya lolawulo lwasekuhlaleni lelazo, zaza zagqiba kwelokuba zahlulelane noKora iimbeko zobubingeleli.”

> “The state of feeling among the people favored the designs of Korah. In the bitterness of their disappointment, their former doubts, jealousy, and hatred had returned, and again their complaints were directed against their patient leader. The Israelites were continually losing sight of the fact that they were under divine guidance. They forgot that the Angel of the covenant was their invisible leader, that, veiled by the cloudy pillar, the presence of Christ went before them, and that from Him Moses received all his directions.

> “Imeko yeemvakalelo phakathi kwabantu yayixhasa amacebo kaKora. Kubukrakra bokudaniswa kwabo, amathandabuzo abo angaphambili, umona, nentiyo zazibuyile, yaye kwakhona izikhalazo zabo zajoliswa kumkhokeli wabo onyamezelayo. AmaSirayeli ayehlala elahlekelwa kukuyibona into yokuba ayephantsi kokukhokelwa nguThixo. Alibala ukuba iNgelosi yomnqophiso yayiyinkokeli yawo engabonakaliyo, nokuba, ifihlwe yintsika yelifu, ubukho bukaKristu babuhamba phambi kwawo, kwanokuba kuYe uMoses wafumana yonke imiyalelo yakhe.

> “They were unwilling to submit to the terrible sentence that they must all die in the wilderness, and hence they were ready to seize upon every pretext for believing that it was not God but Moses who was leading them and who had pronounced their doom. The best efforts of the meekest man upon the earth could not quell the insubordination of this people; and although the marks of God’s displeasure at their former perverseness were still before them in their broken ranks and missing numbers, they did not take the lesson to heart. Again they were overcome by temptation.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 395, 396.

> “Babengafuni ukuthobela isigwebo esoyikekayo sokuba bonke bamele bafe entlango; ngoko ke babelungele ukubambelela kuso sonke isizathu sokuzikhohlisa ngokukholelwa ukuba yayingengoThixo, koko yayinguMoses, owayebakhokela nowayebhengeze intshabalalo yabo. Ezona nzame zilungileyo zaloo ndoda ithobekileyo kunazo zonke emhlabeni azizange zikwazi ukucinezela ukungathobeli kwaba bantu; yaye nangona imiqondiso yokungakholiswa kukaThixo ngenxa yokuphambuka kwabo kwangaphambili yayisesabonakala phambi kwabo kwizintlu zabo ezaphukileyo nakumanani abo anciphileyo, abazange basamkele isifundo ngentliziyo. Kwakhona boyiswa sisihendo.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 395, 396.

Laodicean Adventism began in 1856, and in 1863 it became the legally registered Laodicean Adventist church. As previously addressed in prior articles, there is no inspired testimony that Laodicea is ever saved. It cannot be saved unless it repents of its condition, and accepts the experience represented by Philadelphia. Laodicea is a people that is judged, by being spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. As the Laodicean church, inspiration identifies that the church was destined to wander in the wilderness as did ancient Israel.

Ubu-Adventist baseLawodike baqala ngowe-1856, yaye ngowe-1863 baba yibandla laba-Adventist baseLawodike elabhaliswa ngokusemthethweni. Njengoko sele kuthe kwachazwa ngaphambili kwamanye amanqaku angaphambili, abukho ubungqina obuphefumlelweyo obuthi iLawodike iya kusindiswa nanini na. Ayinakusindiswa ngaphandle kokuba iguquke kwimeko yayo, yamkele namava amelwe yiFiladelfiya. ILawodike ngabantu abagwetywayo, ngokuba bagabha baphume emlonyeni weNkosi. Njengebandla laseLawodike, impembelelo ephefumlelweyo ichaza ukuba ibandla lalimiselwe ukuzulazula entlango njengoko kwenzayo uSirayeli wamandulo.

Which of the rebels of ancient Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years and then entered into the Promised Land? Not a single soul, and their wandering typified the wandering of modern Israel.

Ngowuphi na kwabavukeli boSirayeli wamandulo owabhadula entlango iminyaka emashumi mane waza wangena eLizwe leSithembiso? Akukho namnye, yaye ukubhadula kwabo kwakungumfuziselo wokubhadula kukaSirayeli wale mihla.

The rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram (that typified the rebellion of 1888), was premised upon their unwillingness to accept the judgment upon the people assigning them to wander for forty years in the wilderness. The rebellion of 1888, was premised upon the leadership’s rejection of the pronouncement identifying them as Laodicea and assigning them to wander many more years in the wilderness because of their insubordination.

Uvukelo lukaKora, uDatan noAbhiram (olwalungumfuziselo wovukelo luka-1888), lwalusekelwe ekungavumini kwabo ukwamkela isigwebo esabekwa phezu kwabantu esabamisela ukuba babhadule iminyaka engamashumi amane entlango. Uvukelo luka-1888 lona lwalusekelwe ekwaliweni ngubunkokeli kwesibhengezo esabachaza njengeLawodike kwaye sabamisela ukuba babhadule eminye iminyaka emininzi entlango ngenxa yokungathobeli kwabo.

> “The message given us by A. T. Jones, and E. J. Waggoner is the message of God to the Laodicean church, and woe be unto anyone who professes to believe the truth and yet does not reflect to others the God-given rays.” The 1888 Materials, 1053.

> “Umyalezo esiwunikiweyo ngu-A. T. Jones, no-E. J. Waggoner, ngumyalezo kaThixo ebandleni laseLawodike, yaye yeha kuye nabani na othi uyayikholelwa inyaniso, kodwa angabonakalisi kwabanye imitha ayinikwe nguThixo.” The 1888 Materials, 1053.

The ancient men, who were to be the guardians of the people in 1888, believed they were “rich and increased with goods”. We will consider what produced this condition in advance of 1888, in the next article.

Amadoda amandulo, awayefanele ukuba ngabalindi babantu ngo-1888, akholelwa ukuba “atyebile, andisiwe ngezinto eziphathekayo”. Siya kuqwalasela oko kwavelisa le meko ngaphambi ko-1888, kwinqaku elilandelayo.

> “My soul is made very sad to see how quickly some who have had light and truth will accept the deceptions of Satan, and be charmed with a spurious holiness. When men turn away from the landmarks the Lord has established that we may understand our position as marked out in prophecy, they are going they know not whither.

> “Umphefumlo wam uzaliswe lusizi olukhulu kukubona indlela abanye abathe banokukhanya nenyaniso bakhawuleza ngayo ukwamkela iinkohliso zikaSathana, baze bathabatheke bubungcwele bobuxoki. Xa abantu bejika bemka kwiimpawu zendlela iNkosi ezimisileyo ukuze siqonde isikhundla sethu njengoko sichaziwe kwisiprofeto, baya apho bangazi khona.”

> “I question whether genuine rebellion is ever curable. Study in Patriarchs and Prophets the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. This rebellion was extended, including more than two men. It was led by two hundred and fifty princes of the congregation, men of renown. Call rebellion by its right name and apostasy by its right name, and then consider that the experience of the ancient people of God with all its objectionable features was faithfully chronicled to pass into history. The Scripture declares, ‘These things … are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.’ And if men and women who have the knowledge of the truth are so far separated from their Great Leader that they will take the great leader of apostasy and name him Christ our Righteousness, it is because they have not sunk deep into the mines of the truth. They are not able to distinguish the precious ore from the base material.

> “Ndiyabuza enoba imvukelo yokwenene inokusoloko inyangeka kusini na. Funda kwi *Patriarchs and Prophets* ngemvukelo kaKora, kaDatan, noAbhiram. Le mvukelo yanda, iquka abangaphezu kwamadoda amabini. Yayikhokelwa ziinkosana zamakhulu amabini anamashumi amahlanu zebandla, amadoda aziwayo. Biza imvukelo ngegama layo elifanelekileyo, nokuwexuka ngegama lako elifanelekileyo, uze emva koko uqwalasele ukuba amava abantu bakaThixo bakudala, kunye nazo zonke iinkalo zawo ezichasayo, abhalwa ngokuthembeka ukuze angene embalini. IsiBhalo sithi, ‘Ezi zinto … zabhalelwa ukusiluleka thina, esifikelwe ziziphelo zamaphakade ehlabathi.’ Kwaye ukuba amadoda nabafazi abanolwazi lwenyaniso bahlukene kangako neNkokeli yabo Enkulu de bamthathe inkokeli enkulu yokuwexuka bayibize ngokuba nguKristu Ubulungisa Bethu, kungenxa yokuba abangazange bentywilisele nzulu emigodini yenyaniso. Abanakho ukwahlula intsimbi exabisekileyo kwizinto ezingento.”

> “Read the cautions so abundantly given in the Word of God in regard to false prophets that will come in with their heresies, and if possible will deceive the very elect. With these warnings, why is it that the church does not distinguish the false from the genuine? Those who have in any way been thus misled need to humble themselves before God, and sincerely repent, because they have so easily been led astray. They have not distinguished the voice of the true Shepherd from that of a stranger. Let all such review this chapter of their experience.

> “Fundani izilumkiso ezinikwe ngobuninzi eLizwini likaThixo ngokuphathelele kubaprofeti bobuxoki abaya kungena neembono zabo eziyimfundiso ephambukisayo, baze, ukuba kunokwenzeka, balahlekise kwanabakhethiweyo ngokwabo. Ngezi zilumkiso, kutheni na ibandla lingahluli ubuxoki kweyinyaniso? Abo bathe nangayiphi na indlela balahlekiswa ngolu hlobo kufuneka bazithobe phambi koThixo, baze baguquke ngokunyanisekileyo, kuba balahlekiswe ngokulula kangako. Abalihlulanga ilizwi loMalusi oyinyaniso kwelomhambi. Mabenze bonke abanjalo uphononongo kwesi sahluko samava abo.”

> “For more than half a century God has been giving His people light through the testimonies of His Spirit. After all this time is it left for a few men and their wives to undeceive the whole church of believers, declaring Mrs. White a fraud and a deceiver? ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’

> “Ngaphezu kwesiqingatha senkulungwane uThixo ebebanika abantu baKhe ukukhanya ngezi bungqina boMoya waKhe. Emva kwalo lonke eli xesha, ngaba kushiyelwe amadoda ambalwa nabafazi bawo ukuba akhulule lonke ibandla lamakholwa ekukhohlisweni, esithi uNksz. White ngumqhathi nomkhohlisi? ‘Niya kubazi ngeziqhamo zabo.’”

> “Those who can ignore all the evidences which God has given them, and change that blessing into a curse, should tremble for the safety of their own souls. Their candlestick will be removed out of its place unless they repent. The Lord has been insulted. The standard of truth, of the first, second, and third angels’ messages has been left to trail in the dust. If the watchmen are left to mislead the people in this fashion, God will hold some souls responsible for a lack of keen discernment to discover what kind of provender was being given to His flock.

> “Abo banokungahoyi bonke ubungqina athe uThixo wabanika bona, baze baguqulele eso sikelelo sibe sisiqalekiso, mabangcangcazele ngenxa yokhuseleko lwemiphefumlo yabo. Isiphatho sezibane sabo siya kususwa endaweni yaso, ngaphandle kokuba baguquke. INkosi ihlaziyiwe. Umgangatho wenyaniso, wemiyalezo yengelosi yokuqala, eyesibini, neyesithathu, uyekelwe ukuba urhuqe eluthulini. Ukuba abalindi bayekelwa ukuba balahlekise abantu ngolu hlobo, uThixo uya kubamba eminye imiphefumlo inoxanduva ngenxa yokuswela ukuqonda okubukhali kokufumanisa ukuba luhlobo luni lokutya olwalunikwa umhlambi waKhe.”

> “Apostasies have occurred and the Lord has permitted matters of this nature to develop in the past in order to show how easily His people will be misled when they depend upon the words of men instead of searching the Scriptures for themselves, as did the noble Bereans, to see if these things are so. And the Lord has permitted things of this kind to occur that warnings may be given that such things will take place.

> “Ukuwexuka elukholweni kuye kwenzeka, yaye iNkosi iye yavumela izinto zolu hlobo ukuba zivele kwixesha elidlulileyo ukuze ibonakalise ukuba kulula kangakanani na ukuba abantu baYo balahlekiswe xa bethembele emazwini abantu endaweni yokuphengulula iziBhalo ngokwabo, njengoko benzayo amaBereya ahloniphekileyo, ukuze babone ukuba ezi zinto zinjalo na. Yaye iNkosi iye yavumela izinto zolu hlobo ukuba zenzeke ukuze kunikwe izilumkiso zokuba izinto ezinjalo ziya kwenzeka.”

> “Rebellion and apostasy are in the very air we breathe. We shall be affected by them unless we by faith hang our helpless souls upon Christ. If men are so easily misled now, how will they stand when Satan shall personate Christ, and work miracles? Who will be unmoved by his misrepresentations then—professing to be Christ when it is only Satan assuming the person of Christ, and apparently working the works of Christ? What will hold God’s people from giving their allegiance to false christs? ‘Go not after them.’

> “Uvukelo nokuwexuka kusemoyeni kanye esiwuphefumlayo. Siya kuchatshazelwa zizo ngaphandle kokuba, ngokholo, sixhome imiphefumlo yethu engenakuzinceda kuKristu. Ukuba abantu belahlekiswa ngokulula ngolu hlobo ngoku, baya kuma njani xa uSathana eya kuzenza uKristu, aze enze imimangaliso? Ngubani oya kuthi angashukunyiswa ziinkcazelo zakhe ezibubuxoki ngelo xesha—ezibanga ukuba unguKristu, kanti inguSathana kuphela othabatha ubuntu bukaKristu, yaye ngokubonakalayo esenza imisebenzi kaKristu? Yintoni eya kubamba abantu bakaThixo ekubeni banikele ukunyaniseka kwabo kubakristu bobuxoki? ‘Musan’ ukulandela bona.’”

> “The doctrines must be plainly understood. The men accepted to preach the truth must be anchored; then their vessel will hold against storm and tempest, because the anchor holds them firmly. The deceptions will increase, and we are to call rebellion by its right name. We are to stand with the whole armor on. In this conflict we do not meet men only, but principalities and powers. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. Let Ephesians 6:10–18 be read carefully and impressively in our churches.” Notebook Leaflets, 57, 58.

> “Iimfundiso zimele ziqondwe ngokucacileyo. Amadoda amkelwayo ukuba ashumayele inyaniso amele aqiniswe angashukumi; ngoko inqanawa yawo iya kumelana nesaqhwithi nesivuthuvuthu, kuba iankile iwabambe nkqi. Iinkohliso ziya kwanda, yaye simele ukubiza uvukelo ngegama lalo elifanelekileyo. Simele ukuma sinxibe sonke isikrweqe. Kolu ngquzulwano asihlangani nabantu kuphela, kodwa neenkosana namagunya. Asilwi nenyama negazi. Makufundwe Efese 6:10–18 ngenyameko nangokundileka emabandleni ethu.” Notebook Leaflets, 57, 58.

Back to Articles