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INTRODUCTION
TWO KINDS OF UNITY
TRUE UNITY – OUR GREAT NEED TODAY
WE MUST BE UNIFORM IN SUBJECTS OF MAJOR
DOCTRINES
DIFFERENCES MAY EXIST IN SUBJECTS OF MINOR
IMPORTANCE
NON-ESSENTIAL AND UNIMPORTANT SUBJECTS
OF HARLOTS, FOOLS—AND THE FATHER OF LIES
THE WORLD AND THE COUNTERFEIT REFORMATIONS
IN FALSE UNITY
HOLINESS
THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST
A SOLEMN COVENANT
GOD’S HOLY LAW AND HIS CALL FOR UNITY
GOD’S COMMAND AND CALL
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HARLOTS, FOOLS—AND THE FATHER OF LIES
Who is the father of lies?
“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your
father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode
not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh
a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father
of it.”
John 8:44
Who is the center of false unity?
“Men are taking sides, according to their choice. Those
that are feeding on the word of God will show this by their practice;
they are on the Lord's side, seeking by precept and example to
reform the world. All that have refused to be taught of God, hold
the traditions of men. They at last pass over on the side of the
enemy, against God, and are written, "antichrist." The
people of God, who understand our position in this world's history,
are, with ears open and hearts softened and subdued, pressing
together in unity -- one with Jesus Christ. Those who will not
practice the lessons of Christ, but keep themselves in hand to
mold themselves, find in antichrist the center of their union.
While the two parties stand in collision, the Lord will appear,
and shine before his ancients gloriously. He will set up a kingdom
that shall stand forever.”
Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers, No. 09; Series
A# 9, p 55-56
Who is the mother of harlots?
“And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON
THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”
Revelation 17:5
“A virtuous woman represents a pure church, a vile woman
an apostate church. Babylon is said to be a harlot.”
Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, p 233
“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?
shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members
of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined
to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.
But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. “
I Corinthians 6:15-17
How does God regard our relationship with Him if we were
united with a harlot or a babylonian church?
“Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?
shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members
of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which
is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he,
shall be one flesh. But he that is joined unto the Lord is one
spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without
the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his
own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the
Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not
your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God
in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.”
1 Corinthians 6:15-20
What action was taken by God when Israel committed adultery
or harlotry?
“The LORD said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king,
Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is
gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and
there hath played the harlot. And I said after she had done all
these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her
treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes
whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away,
and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah
feared not, but went and played the harlot also.”
Jeremiah 3:6-8
How did Israel or the Jewish church become a harlot or Babylon?
“Babylon is also charged with the sin of unlawful connection
with "the kings of the earth." It was by departure from
the Lord, and alliance with the heathen, that the Jewish church
became a harlot..”
Great Controversy, p 382
Likewise, did the Roman and Protestant Churches become a
harlot?
“...and Rome, corrupting herself in like manner by seeking
the support of worldly powers, receives a like condemnation.”
Great Controversy, p 382
“Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome’s
example of iniquitous connection with ‘the kings of the
earth’—the state churches, by their relation to secular
governments; and other denominations, by seeking the favor of
the world. And the term ‘Babylon’—confusion—may
be appropriately applied to these bodies…”
Great Controversy, p 383
What has become of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?
“In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist
church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges
and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does
not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost,
has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified
her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced
the sentence: "Found wanting..."
“The heavenly Teacher inquired: "What stronger delusion
can beguile the mind than the pretense that you are building on
the right foundation and that God accepts your works, when in
reality you are working out many things according to worldly policy
and are sinning against Jehovah? Oh, it is a great deception,
a fascinating delusion…”
“Who can truthfully say: "Our gold is tried in the
fire; our garments are unspotted by the world"? I saw our
Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness.
Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then
He said to me: "Can you not see how they have pretentiously
covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? 'How
is the faithful city become an harlot!' My Father's house
is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence
and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and
strength is lacking."
Testimonies, vol. 8, p 247-250. (1903)
(For further study email us for a copy of the booklet “ICHABOD”—the
Glory is Departed, a study on the rise and fall of the Seventh-Day
Adventist Church)
Who is a fool?
“In the Old Testament the word "fool" is used
to designate an apostate, or one who has abandoned himself to
wickedness.”
Mount of Blessings, p 57
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!.. Ye
fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple
that sanctifieth the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar,
it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon
it, he is guilty. Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater,
the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?”
Matthew 23:15, 17-19
What would happen if we walk with fools?
“He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion
of fools shall be destroyed.
Proverbs 13:20
What are affected by our choice of associates?
“It has been truly said, "Show me your company, and
I will show you your character." The youth fail to realize
how sensibly both their character and their reputation are affected
by their choice of associates.”
Messages to Young People, p 411
What was the religious experience of professed Seventh-day
Adventists which was a curse to the cause of God? FANATICISM!
“The experience of some had been obtained among a class
of religious fanatics who had no true sense of the exalted character
of the work. The religious experience of this class of professed
Seventh-day Adventists was not reliable. They had not firm principles
underlying all their actions. They were self-confident, and boastful.
Their religion did not consist in righteous acts, true humility
of soul, and sincere devotion to God, but in impulse, in noise
and confusion, spiced with eccentricities and oddities. They had
not felt, neither could they feel, the necessity of being clothed
with Christ's righteousness. They had a righteousness of their
own, which was as filthy rags, and which God can in no case accept.
These persons had no love for union and harmony of action. They
delighted in disorder. Confusion, distraction, and diversity of
opinion were their choice. They were ungovernable, unsubdued,
unregenerated, and unconsecrated, and this element of confusion
suited their undisciplined minds. They were a curse to the cause
of God and brought the name of Seventh-day Adventists into disrepute.”
Testimonies, vol. 2, 553-554
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