News Letter: HKM NL 2015-3 (1) (1)
For more than eight decades the Seventh-day Adventist denomination has demonized a group of church members in her midst who have been calling for revival and reformation. She has gone as far as disowning them and setting State and Federal Law enforcers against them purely for reasons of intimidation, because the denomination is unable to answer their Biblical positions–dubbed “new light.”
You may have had family members and friends who have been so alienated by the local church, in the name of “protecting the church from embarrassment,” without knowing the truth behind the more sinister purposes and aims of our theologians. You may have heard that the Shepherd’s Rod is here to draw you out of the organized church, to become a member of theirs, or that they plan to slay Adventists who do not agree with their teachings, or some other bit of propaganda. The fact of the matter is that all these reports are lies! Yes, lies from men and women who have taken the oath to be agents of “truth.”
In recent months, as a result of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the same-gender marriage case last June, the Adventist songbird of prophecy has been chirping a new chyme: “Away with the nefarious Shepherd’s Rod but Love and inclusion for the LGBTQ community!” What we are seeing is that Bible believing Christians who are calling for a spiritual revival and reformation expelled from mere church attendance, while the church goes out of the way to welcome into membership and leadership homosexuals!
While we welcome the fact that the church is a hospital for sinners, including the LGBTQ individuals, we simultaneously deplore as unchristian the denomination’s double standard. For on the one hand it sees Rod believers as beyond God’s grace for salvation, while it actively opens its arms to the Gay and Islamic communities in a bid for political correctness and “inclusion.”
Follow this link — https://sdaprophecies.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/hkm-nl-2015-3-1-1.pdf — to our most recent news letter describing for you current events that are sign posts for the Judgment of the Living in the house of God.
The Adventist's Understanding of Prophecy 
The Adventist Church has not opened its doors, or arms, to gay leadership. This is a church, within the denomination, that has opened its doors. Don’t lump an entire church together with the sins of a few. That is like saying that all blacks are thugs just because there are some that act thuggish. It is easy to demonize the entire church for the actions of a small minority. It is well known that the Adventist Church as a denomination is not in agreement with homosexuals in leadership. Our stance has not changed just because a liberal church in California decides they want to align itself with the rest of society. As a matter of fact, a lot of the “liberal” teachings, that find their way into the church, come from the West. That doesn’t mean the rest of the church feels this way. Also, Shepherd’s Rods are trying to pull members from the Adventist Church. That is a fact that nobody can deny. That is why they stand outside of Adventist events handing out literature to other Adventists, instead of trying to evangelize those outside the church. They believe that the church is Babylon and that “we” must be saved from it.
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Dear Pastor West:
I appreciate your courage for responding to my blog, and I want to now demonstrate that your response demonstrates a high level of ignorance you currently possess about the doctrines of the Shepherd’s Rod, as well as the current developments in SDA theology. I shall first deal with the church’s position on Gays, then on to your comments regarding the Rod.
1. Pastor West said: “It is well known that the Adventist Church as a denomination is not in agreement with homosexuals in leadership. Our stance has not changed just because a liberal church in California decides they want to align itself with the rest of society.”
2. I respond: Pastor, you are perhaps not aware of the latest developments in Adventist theology on the question of homosexuality, and your answer further demonstrate that you perhaps have not read my linked article on the subject. Let me share this fact with you:
a. All persons, including practicing homosexuals, should be made to feel welcome to attend our churches while non-practicing gay persons should be welcomed into membership and church office. All should receive spiritual care from the Church (Gal 6:1).”
b. Those who struggle with temptation to sin should be treated the same way as other members who struggle with sexual sin (Matt 18:4; Mark 2:17; Luke 5:31; 19:10). We strongly affirm that homosexual persons have a place in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”
3. It is clear, pastor, that you have been under informed on the current theology of the World Church of Seventh-day Adventists, as espoused by the Biblical Research Institute at the General Conference. Your contention that this is only the actions of a few, is not founded on fact, but demonstrates that you have been lied to by your sources. You’ll need to stay apace with the new normal in the church. Maybe this is not the new normal in your local church, but soon, you will be called upon by those who sign your pay check, to solemnize a “Seventh-Gay Adventist” marriage! Mark my words, those days are not far away.
4. Pastor West says: “Shepherd’s Rods are trying to pull members from the Adventist Church. That is a fact that nobody can deny.”
I Respond: Pastor, there are many before you who have made this false claim, and the only proof they have provided is their own lying testimony. Please do not follow in that path. Let me now share with you the truth of these things:
“The primary purpose of The Shepherd’s Rod is to unlock the long-concealed mystery concerning the ever-challenging and much discussed subject of the 144,000 (Rev. 14:1), with the central object in view of bringing about among God’s people that “thorough reformation” foretold by the Spirit of Prophecy (Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 251)… No new denomination is advocated, on the contrary, such is unmitigatedly opposed. And finally, irrefutable proof is brought forth that the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination has been the instrumentality of God since 1844 to carry on His work on earth, and that the Rod adds “power and force” “to the third message.” – Early Writings, p. 277.”—V.T. Houteff, 1930, The Shepherd’s Rod Volume 1, Pocket Edition, pp. 5. 6.
Here again, you will note that the Rod opposes the formation of a new church/ denomination. I have been a member of the SDA church for over 30 years and still am, although I have accepted the advanced light of the Rod. The Rod is not calling you out of your church, but out of darkness into greater light, so you can take that light back into the pulpit and illuminate your congregation. Rod believers support the promulgation of present truth with their tithes and offerings, rather than paying it to the church to lie against its teachings, and misinform the world of the seriousness of this truth. So from a purely faithful stewardship point of view, rather than paying pastors to throw out the truth from the churches, like Christ who had a treasury amongst his disciples, the Davidians also have a treasury from which the cost of producing its messages can be funded. This is not forming a new church, otherwise you’ll need to shut down It is Written, Voice of Prophecy, 3 ABN etc, because they too are collecting tithes and offerings.
Pastor West teaches of the Rod: “They believe that the church is Babylon and that “we” must be saved from it.”
I respond: This is one of the oldest lies manufactured by SDA leaders, an after over eighty years and with the availability of the Internet to fact check these contrived lies, the lying continues from the pulpits on a regular basis. Think of how many people you have lied to with that statement. Now please see what the Shepherd’s Rod actually says, and I hope you will repent and confess that you have been lied to about the teachings of the Rod, and that you will personally investigate for yourself to know what is truth.
“This being the dreadful experience of the tares in Babylon, in the second section of the harvest, there must, as a type, be a similar and precedent experience for the tares in the Laodicean church, in the first section of the harvest, a parallel which shows conclusively that The Church Is Not Babylon.
“The reason that the church is figuratively not “Babylon” is that it is called Jerusalem (Ezek. 9:4,8), and from among the good therein, the wicked (the tares) are destroyed,taken out, by the six men with the slaughter weapons (Ezek. 9:6-9), and then afterward the good (the wheat) are gathered in “the barn;” while from among the wicked in Babylon, the just (“My people”) are called out and gathered into the barn, and then theseven angels pour out the seven last plagues, and the remaining wicked are destroyed.”— V.T. Houteff, 1934, The Judgment and the Harvest, pp. 70-71, also found here: http://davidiantoday.org/en/publication/book/show/3c830ac3fa3d969cf35d4eabe1a2e2e1
Observe that the Rod is clear that the church is NOT Babylon. And here’s another for good measure: “As for your charge, however, that the “Rod” teaches that the church is Babylon, we challenge you to produce the statement.”
So while the Rod has made every effort to prove that the SDA church is NOT Babylon, the church leaders, including yourself, have been systematically spreading this rumor as a fear tactic to scare off the investigating laity. Now let’s see how Ellen White fare on this question of “Babylon”.
“ Those who assert that the Seventh-day Adventist churches constitute Babylon, or any part of Babylon, might better stay at home…
“My brother, if you are teaching that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Babylon, you are wrong, God has not given you any such message to bear…
“The world must not be introduced into the church, and married to the church, forming a bond of unity. Through this means the church will become indeed corrupt, and as stated in Revelation, “a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.”—Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, pp. 37, 60, 265.
The term “a cage of every unclean and hateful bird,” is used in the Bible to exclusively represent Babylon. So while on the one hand Sister White says the church is not Babylon, one can easily make a case against her, in the same book, that she actually demonstrates that the church will become Babylon. But not so with the Rod. It categorically teaches that that the SDA church is not Babylon, and proves why from Scripture.
Pastor given that I have dismantled 100% of your views on these two subjects, it is a clear demonstration that you and your congregation are totally in the dark on these vital points, and must be enlightened soon. Please make arrangements to welcome me at your local church for a weekend seminar orientation/workshop on the Shepherd’s Rod. This is the message that will lift the church out of her apostasy. The Rod has accurately predicted this apostasy for over 80 years now, and the lying has continued against it for as long, by the leaders of this great church. I urge you to please contact me and schedule such a symposium that the world church may know that there are 7000 who have not bowed the knee to Baal.
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This is misinformation. Shepherd Rods do not believe that the church is Babylon, nor do they intend to take Adventists out of the church. We need to be informed before making such generalizations. Just as there are different views in the Adventist church re: homosexuality as you pointed out- I imagine there are within the Rod movement. The point is that the church’s hatred of this group surpasses any other- homosexuals, adulterers, fornicators, etc are more readily accepted than the pious Shepherd Rod
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Well stated, and that’s the point I hope all to receive–the SDA leaders go out of their way to show “love” and “respect” for the LGBTI community, while sowing “hatred” against all adherents to the Shepherd’s Rod. The church is even courting members of Islam–a community notorious for destroying human life in the most brutal ways, yet still musters the courage to condemn as “evil”, those who embrace the Shepherd’s Rod! This double standard is not of Christ.
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It’s interesting that when we already have our mind made up we will do whatever it takes to find something to back that opinion. That being said, this is the official statement of the church on homosexuality. “Seventh-day Adventists believe that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman. This was the design established by God at creation. The Scriptures declare: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Gen 2:24, NIV). Throughout Scripture this heterosexual pattern is affirmed. The Bible makes no accommodation for homosexual activity or relationships. Sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden (Lev 18:5-23, 26; Lev 20:721; Rom 1:2427; 1 Cor 6:911). Jesus Christ reaffirmed the divine creation intent: “‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,” and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?” So they are no longer two, but one'” (Matt 19:46, NIV). For these reasons Seventh-day Adventists are opposed to homosexual practices and relationships.”
As you can see, nowhere does it say anything different than what I said. But because we already have our minds made up, we will twist statements and proof text Ellen White’s writings to prove a point.
Understand that homosexuality is a sin just like every other sin. And although I detest it, I can’t treat the homosexual any different than I treat the liar, cheater, etc. They are all welcome in God’s church, yet are not expected to stay in their condition. It kills me that we are so arrogant to think that everybody else’s sins are greater than ours. We are all in need of Jesus.
Will I accept a homosexual into the church? Yes. Will I preach and teach that it is a sin? Yes, just like I will preach that covetousness, gossiping and fornication are sins.
As a matter of fact, in my last district I had a homosexual in the church. He didn’t know that I knew he was one. And because he didn’t come regularly, one Sabbath I preached a sermon on it. After the sermon he pulled me aside and told me he was a homosexual. After that sermon, and our conversation, he would call me to talk because he needed someone to hold him accountable as he tried to come out of that lifestyle. If he was never in the church, he would have never known it was a sin; because the world has made it look as though it’s acceptable now.
As far as the Shepherd’s Rods are concerned, I have spoken with, dealt with, and read books about them. (A book by a former Shepherd’s Rod.) So I know what their plan is. It is not to do evangelism, which you didn’t address. Their goal, from everybody I’ve spoken to and read about, is to pull Adventists out of the church. That is a fact, whether you want to accept it or not. And I don’t expect you to say anything different because the ones I run into at GC, and other events, say the same thing as they’re handing out their bags of false doctrine.
If they are so right then why don’t they “Go ye therefore” like Christ called us to do? They can’t because their goal is not to do what Christ said to do, but to follow the teachings of some ex-disgruntled Adventist who left the church to start a cult that would eventually get people killed. (Branch Davidians/David Koresh/Waco, Texas)
Oh yeah, we also don’t need someone telling us who the 144,000 are. The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy are clear that they symbolically represent the great multitude who will enter into heaven. They are not some literal group of believers.
Is the Adventist Church God’s remnant church? Without a doubt. Will there be many within the Remnant who will be lost? Without a doubt. Will the church seem as though it will fall? Without a doubt. Will it fall? Never.
“Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths…. The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy.
I know that the Lord loves His church. It is not to be disorganized or broken up into independent atoms. There is not the least consistency in this; there is not the least evidence that such a thing will be. Those who shall heed this false message and try to leaven others will be deceived and prepared to receive advanced delusions, and they will come to nought.
I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel is still guiding His people, and that He will continue to be with them, even to the end.
We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth.
The church, soon to enter upon her most severe conflict, will be the object most dear to God upon earth. The confederacy of evil will be stirred with power from beneath, and Satan will cast all the reproach possible upon the chosen ones whom he cannot deceive and delude with his satanic inventions and falsehoods. But exalted “to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins,” will Christ, our representative and head, close His heart, or withdraw His hand, or falsify His promise? No; never, never.” Maranatha, pg. 203.
Finally, if you need me to come and do a seminar on the remnant, the 144,000, accepting the sinner but not the sin, etc., let me know. God Bless!!!
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Dear Pastor West,
Praise God for your courage to dialogue with me, a Seventh-day Adventist Shepherd’s Rod-believing reformer. Your prompt response demonstrates shared interest in this vitally redemptive topic.
Let me first suggest that our denomination should cease and desist from the double standard of extending “love and acceptance” to the homosexuals who are seeking to change the church for the worst, while preaching hate and handing out letters of disinvitation to believers of the Shepherd’s Rod who are seeking to reform the church for the better. I hear the overture of “love” from pastors who have dismissed me from their church doors, even while advertising on their church’s bill boards “A place where all are welcomed…”
But there is more, notice the dates of both statements: Your statement was written, October 17, 2012
“This statement was voted during the Annual Council of the General Conference Executive Committee on Sunday, October 3, 1999 in Silver Spring, Maryland. Revised by the General Conference Executive Committee, October 17, 2012.” https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/homosexuality/
Mine [the statement I cited] was written on October 9th 2015—three years later! Does this mean anything to you? This again proves the point I made in my article that the church is conforming to the gay agenda. At this rate you need to decide how you will respond when two Seventh-gay Adventists approach you to solemnize their homosexual marriage! May Heaven grant you the courage to remain in your firm and resolute convictions. If they should censure you from the Conference Office by threatening your pay check, you can come to share your ministry with us, reformers; we will not turn you away.
To your response at hand, I was rather concerned that you would make statements such as these: “when we already have our mind made up we will do whatever it takes to find something to back that opinion”… “because we already have our minds made up, we will twist statements and proof text Ellen White’s writings to prove a point.” Those statements are outside of the scope of my conversations with you, for I did not approach the subject with preconceived notions about the denomination’s teachings on homosexuality, rather I cited credible source from the General Conference—“A Position Paper” which was released immediately after the 60th General Conference Session, which material is more recent that the one you referenced.
If you understand how the Jesuits work, they play “good cop” and “bad cop” but are working for the same master. Similarly, what our denomination is now doing is to speak from both sides of their mouths, so to speak, thereby leaving both of us to argue amongst ourselves. But I have not “twisted” nor appealed to Ellen White’s writings for any “proof text” but to the denomination’s own Position Paper. This, of course, you cannot deny. And even as I write this response, I am aware that changes are happening so rapidly that you truly can’t keep up to know that the effect of a warming trend towards homosexuals is not simply a California apostasy, but let the test of time be the final judge of both our perspectives, as our readers look on.
You went on to asking and answering your own question: “Will I accept a homosexual into the church? Yes.” Now over to you, Pastor: “Will you accept a Shepherd’s Rod believer into your church without prejudice?” May Heaven anoint your ministry for so doing.
In another remark you stated: “As far as the Shepherd’s Rods are concerned, I have spoken with, dealt with, and read books about them. (A book by a former Shepherd’s Rod.) So I know what their plan is.” Now pastor, would you recommend a Baptist get their firsthand knowledge about the Seventh-day Adventist Church from a “former Seventh-day Adventist”? I hardly think you would, else you ought to send them to Dirk Anderson’s Website: http://www.truthorfables.net ! There is also a book out by a former Seventh-day Adventist—“It’s OK Not To Be A Seventh-day Adventist.” Be sure to send the earnest inquirer to these sources for first-hand information about what our church actually teaches. When you are comfortable doing so, I would recommend that at that time you depend on the views of apostates from a church or teaching to be its spokespersons. Soon, however, you will be able to read my book—What Every Seventh-day Adventists Should Know About The Shepherd’s Rod. Stay tuned…
You went off into citing some overworked statements form Sister White about staying with the ship, don’t draw away from the body etc. I have demonstrated to you in my previous response with citations from the Rod itself that it is not geared toward that goal, yet you still convince yourself that it is, and for that I could not be sorrier.
I was gladdened, however, with your counter offer: “if you need me to come and do a seminar on the remnant, the 144,000, accepting the sinner but not the sin, etc., let me know.”
YES, Pastor, we will be honored to have you and others to come to our facilities and have you share your views with us on the topics you mentioned above. In order to make this fair and balanced, we will host you on our ministry site and make the invitation to all so that you will have as large an audience as can be made available. Correspondingly we will ask of your to reciprocate the same gesture to us, for the same measure of time, with the same level of public exposure to your parishioners. Since my offer was first, I believe, to be fair, that we should come to your church first, but if this is not agreeable with you, we are flexible to have you come to us first, and then we will share your pulpit, last.
This must be carefully planned to allow sufficient time for announcements, as well as negotiating other calendared events, but it is achievable and Heaven will be well pleased to see this exchange in Christian courtesy. I shall be honored to hear from you on these matters herein discussed. God bless.
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Thank you for such a comprehensive, educating, eye- opening and enlightening response.
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We find our post here on the byways of the Internet, standing in the gap, as it were, sighing and crying against the abominations that are being fostered within the churches in general, and the SDA church in particular. We offer not only the eye-opening revelations of apostasy, but commensurate eyesalve of truth, which will make one wise unto salvation, the white robe and the tried gold of truth, faith and love. So the more we are evil spoken of, the greater our love and effort in reaching our brethren who have yet, not appropriated the eyesalve of the Faithful and True Witness to the eye of their soul. Thanks for praying and sharing.
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Bro. Garrick,
It is unfortunate that you still have not addressed, or have misinterpreted some of the statements I’ve made. I am specifically talking about “evangelism.” You guys don’t do evangelism. The reason I know is because I have spoken to current Shepherd’s Rods members. I have also read a book by a former member. Therefore I’m not getting secondhand knowledge.
I actually had one come to one of my former churches while I was not there. He tried to give my members some of his material, which was not a good idea. The next Sabbath he came back and we had a talk. During that conversation he tried to act as if he was part of a sister conference, which I had never heard of. I hadn’t heard about it because it was not an Adventist Church. When I asked about people who could validate what he was saying, he brought up names of individuals that were not connected to any of our churches.
I’ve also spoken with individuals at GC session in Atlanta and San Antonio, who stood outside handing out there literature. I asked them why they didn’t do evangelism, instead of trying to “pull Adventists out of their churches,” and they had no response. I spoke to one and asked what church he was from and he looked at the person next to him to get an answer. That tells me something isn’t right.
And to answer your question, yes I would welcome a member of your church into my church, just like I would welcome anybody else. We welcome all sinners. Yet, just like we would not allow the homosexual to spread false teachings, we would not allow a Shepherd’s Rod to spread their false teaching.
Finally, you all contradict yourselves when you say that you all aren’t trying to pull Adventists from their church. If that wasn’t the case then you wouldn’t talk as if you are “outside” the church. Also, you wouldn’t make all these statements about “the church” instead “our church.”
Let me be clear, I know without a shadow of a doubt our church (I mean my church) isn’t perfect; no church is. Has my church accepted some things into it that are not of God? Yes. Does that negate the fact that it is still His church? Not at all. As Sis. White says, “I know that the Lord loves His church. It is not to be disorganized or broken up into independent atoms. There is not the least consistency in this; there is not the least evidence that such a thing will be. Those who shall heed this false message and try to leaven others will be deceived and prepared to receive advanced delusions, and they will come to nought.
I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel is still guiding His people, and that He will continue to be with them, even to the end.
We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth. “Maranatha, pg. 203.
Notice she says, “Those who shall heed this false message and try to leaven others will be deceived and prepared to receive advanced delusions, and they will come to nought…We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth.”
My suggestion to you, and all of your followers, is to be careful. Oh yeah, I don’t allow people with questionable doctrine to preach in the pulpit that God has called me to be responsible for. No offense.
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Dear Pastor West:
Thanks again for the continued dialogue, and although you suggest that I have taken you out of context, it would be helpful for you to point out such instances. It is of interest to note that our conversation started on the premise that I was incorrect in my conclusions that the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination now embraces a pro-homosexual agenda. You protested to my findings, and I actually challenged your assumptions and demonstrated that the information you had was at best “dated” given the new and revised “position paper” published with General Conference imprimatur on October 9, 2015, only three (3) months ago, as opposed to the statement you cited which was from three (3) years ago!
You further projected the view that the Rod calls the SDA church “Babylon” and “draws members away from the SDA church” to theirs. After completely silencing your claims, which are unfounded, rather than conceding the point that you were wrong, you have instead shifted the conversation to now one of “evangelism”, stating that Rod believers do not believe in “evangelism,” and disparage the usage of the terms “the church” versus “our [my] church,” etc. Using your method of describing “evangelism”, let me allow you to now judge Jesus Christ Himself:
“5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Matt. 10: 5, 6.
Did you notice that Jesus sent his first disciples not to the uninformed “Gentiles” but to the informed Jews—“the house of Israel”? There is a purpose behind this directive of his which has been true in EVERY reformatory movement. The Shepherd’s Rod did not come to form a new church, but to revive and reform the existing Laodicean church, knowing that “The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of the church members who have never been converted and those who were once converted but who have backslidden. What influence would these unconsecrated members have on new converts? Would they not make of no effect the God-given message which His people are to bear?” 6T, p. 371.
What you call “evangelism” God sees as the “dragon’s flood” (read with understanding Rev. 12: 15-17). What I see today with my very own eyes, and have demonstrated in my posts, is the type of “evangelism” that our beloved Seventh-day Adventist church is engaged in, one which is reaping a harvest for the slaughter (Read and study Ezekiel 9). Why? They with open arms welcome homosexuals to church membership and church leadership while they simultaneously cast out as evil, those members who see light in the teachings of The Good Shepherd’s Rod. I encourage you to read and study Micah 6:9, as well as Micah 7: 14, and see who the Rod is primarily directed to, in its first appeal.
Look at Micah 7: 14, for example, in parallel versions, including our very own Clear Word Translation of the Scriptures:
• NET Bible: “Shepherd your people with your shepherd’s rod, the flock that belongs to you, the one that lives alone in a thicket, in the midst of a pastureland. Allow them to graze in Bashan and Gilead, as they did in the old days.”
• GOD’S WORD® Translation: “With your shepherd’s staff, take care of your people, the sheep that belong to you. They live alone in the woods, in fertile pastures. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead like before.”
• Young’s Literal Translation: Rule Thou Thy people with Thy rod, The flock of Thine inheritance, Dwelling alone in a forest in the midst of Carmel, They enjoy Bashan and Gilead as in days of old.
• The Clear Word (Adventist) Translation: “Lord, be a Shepherd to your people and guide us with your staff. Guide the flock you have chosen to your own. We feel like sheep, alone in the woods, not knowing where to go to find pasture. Lead us and let us go to the fertile pastures of [Carmel is missing] Bashan and Gilead as our people did long ago. The Lord answered, ‘I will work miracles for your as I did when I brought you out of Egypt’” Micah 7: 14, 15.
Have you noticed a single thread in all these translations, including the Adventist CW translation? They recognize that God’s truth lies in His Shepherd’s Rod. He is the Good Shepherd, and his Rod and Staff—His holy word as “meat in due season,” comforts us. Further, these various translations I cited, most of them did not exist in 1930, when the Rod was unveiled to our church.
The unfortunate experience you recounted of an encounter with a Rod believer, seems far-fetched, for we (Rod believers) are unabashedly clear and confident in what we believe and teach. What you need to realize is the persecution that the SDA ministry levels against Shepherd’s Rod believers, has caused some individuals to become insecure in their responses, being too afraid of being cast out of the church is a public display. This is a disgrace, pastor. The acts of the Jewish leaders leading Christ and His followers from the temples of Judea have repeated themselves in the SDA church almost every Sabbath. You no doubt have read the letter issued me from the Stafford SDA Church, on account of my hosting this website! Yet, we (our SDA Church) go around the world “evangelizing” and making two-fold more a child of hell those converts than they were before! These are not my words, as you know, but those of the Good Shepherd. What is your take on the letter the Stafford SDA church issued me, banning me for life from placing foot in that church again? Please let the international body of readers appreciate your perspective her on this public forum, and also state whether or not your would have followed a similar course in your pastorate.
There will be a time when The Shepherd’s Rod will conduct public evangelism, just as there arose a time when the early disciples did public evangelism, but all things in order. After the latter rain Pentecost of our day, such a moment will have arrived, similar to the former rain Pentecost of their day. God is trying to save His church and the world, and it does Him no good to bring the dry devils from the world, and wet them up to become members of the church, while inwardly they are unchanged. He wants consecrated members who will make His Law their chief study, and His Son their constant example. What we have in Laodicea today, is a system of tyrannical rulership over the people—a sort of popery, which tramples on the religious liberties of all under their control. While homosexuals have the right to now marry, and soon you will be called upon to solemnize such an unholy union, Davidians are denied the basic right of church attendance! Please speak to this point. For while the Gays are coming with an agenda to accept them as they are, and they are willing to remain as they came, not so with the Rod.
In the interest of all readers, let’s get to the real substance of the matter. Let’s discuss some of the distinctive teachings of the Shepherd’s Rod in contrast with what the SDA ministry teaches. Let’s take for example the subject of Daniel 2. Please document for us (all readers) our denominations position on the stone, based on the following questions:
1. Where did the stone come from?
2. What did the stone become”
3. What is the stone?
4. When will Dan. 2: 44 be fulfilled?
Please support your answers with Bible and Spirit of Prophecy citations, not your personal views; also you may cite relevant SDA theological manuscripts on the subject, such as Sabbath School Lessons, Bible Commentaries, etc.
Pastor West: “Finally, you all contradict yourselves when you say that you all aren’t trying to pull Adventists from their church. If that wasn’t the case then you wouldn’t talk as if you are “outside” the church. Also, you wouldn’t make all these statements about “the church” instead “our church.”
Pastor, you are right that Rod believers talk as if they are “outside the church,” because your ministering brethren, maybe you are included in this too, have systematically disfellowshipped all members who embrace the advanced light enunciated in the Rod’s writings. So you dismiss us from membership and want us to lie that we are not! When CNN gets a waft of the double standard that has been fostered in “our church” over these past 85 years, it will cause a colossal embarrassment to the world leader of “Religious Liberty.” Your complaint that we do not use the inclusive phrase “our church” rather than “the church,” I now ask you to judge Jesus Christ by the same measuring stick you use to judge the Rod:
1. “Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.” Matt. 23:38
2. “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” Mt 13:54
By your standard, Pastor, we should reject Christ as an “outsider”, because he spoke of the temple as “your house,” and “their synagogue,” rather than “my house” and “my synagogue.,” even while the Bible says he went “into His OWN country,” rather than “their country.” Please cast the first stone!
Pastor West: “Oh yeah, I don’t allow people with questionable doctrine to preach in the pulpit that God has called me to be responsible for. No offense.”
Pastor, this is cowardice, for it is the most effective way to silence error, by using its own words to pronounce it in the wrong. You speak of “questionable doctrines,” so I challenge you in the open public forum to produce your cause and silence the Rod with its own erroneous claims, through this dialogue. For this reason I have invited you to examine in an open way our church doctrine on Daniel chapter 2—the stone/mountain/kingdom aspects. From my responses you will be quite justified in publicly exposing my “questionable doctrine.”
On my Bible program, I have invited others who believe they have “new light” to share with me, and allowed my audience to discriminate between truth and error. I have never interposed between the people and purported light. I will do the same with you. I am confident enough that error must be revealed on its own merits, and truth on its own. Since you have shied away from my coming in your pulpit, my invitation to your coming to speak form my pulpit is still open. Please let me know and I can arrange for you to come and present on my Bible Conference. At the end of which we will ask you questions on the topic(s) presented. As you can see, I am going beyond what you and our denominational leaders are willing to do, and it would be truly disappointing if you should say NO to this. Myself and the over 13,000 readers are eagerly awaiting your reply and acceptance.
Shalom in Messiah
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