Athen's Library

Who or what constitutes Protestantism?

November 2006

Ellen White writing about the seventh day Sabbath and the coming Sunday laws says, “By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.”  5T pg. 451.

In the above quote we are told before the time when Satan works his wonders, our beloved and God blessed country is going to enforce a decree, a decree in support of an institution of the papacy.  It also says that the only thing keeping her true to her high calling of being “One Nation under God” with a Constitution guaranteeing religious freedom for all, is the work of Protestantism in her midst.  If Protestantism is so powerful as to keep Sunday laws from being enforced, wouldn’t it be prudent for us to understand what it is and who is doing it?

“Protestantism resulted chiefly from the Reformation, a religious and political movement that began in Europe in 1517. The word Protestant comes from the Latin word protestans which mean one who protests. It was first used in 1529 at a Diet (special assembly) in Speyer, Germany. At the Diet, several German leaders protested an attempt by Roman Catholics to limit the practice of Lutheranism, an early Protestant movement. The leaders became known as Protestants because of their protest. The name protestants soon came to include all of the Western Christians who had left the Roman Catholic Church.” World Book Encyclopedia

In the year 1500 Martin Luther gained access to a Bible and in a short time, with God leading, the foundation for the first step in the Protestant movement was laid.  In the year 1530 the sword of truth in the hand of Martin Luther inflicted a wound upon the head which represents the papacy. “...and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns... I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast. Rev 13:1-3.  Each successive message came as a step in the stairway of truth that God sent to lead us out of the dark ages.  With the sword of truth in the hand of the next reformer the wound was kept open and not allowed to heal. 

“It is widely understood that during the period from the canonizing of the New Testament Scriptures to the call of Martin Luther, the Truth was cast to the ground (Dan. 8:12), and that it then began to be lifted, first by the Lutherans’ preaching the doctrine of Faith -- the beginning of the Reformation; then followed by a portion at a time, successively by the Presbyterians’ (Knox) preaching the doctrine of the Holy Spirit; by the Methodists’ (Wesley) preaching the doctrine of Grace; by the First-day Baptists’(Campbell) preaching the doctrine of Baptism; by the First-day Adventists’(Miller) preaching the doctrine of the 2300 days (Dan. 8:14), leading to a correct understanding of the Sanctuary truth; and by the Seventh-day Baptists’ preaching the Sabbath truth.   Finally the Seventh-day Adventists (White), and they only, embraced all these doctrines, but Divinely illuminated.

These six doctrines, along with their interrelated subjects, are the only ones which came to the church from 1500 to 1930.  And as no honest Bible student would deny the fact that each in turn has been defiled by man’s private interpretations, additions and subtractions (baked on dung fire (Ez. 4), the fact stands out even more clearly that the six grains are symbolical of these six doctrines, and that they have in succession been preached since the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.” S R Tract 1, pg. 81.

“Note that the beast has “seven” heads; the “one” was wounded but the “six” are not.  The head which received the wound is being interpreted to be the papal head, wounded by “Martin Luther.”  The stroke being delivered by the true Biblical doctrine taught by Luther, the result was that Protestantism came on the stage of action in opposition to the “head.”  This is what made the “wound.”  The statement being true, then as long as Protestantism remains loyal to Bible principles, and the head in existence, that sore (wound) would remain open.  But if Protestantism should depart from their pledge “the Bible, and the Bible only,” or refuse new light the wound would be healed, and the world would wonder after the beast (apostasy). S R Vol. 1 pg. 215

The church of the sixth step not only had for its foundation the truth of the Sabbath but also the truths from all the preceding steps.  With this mighty sword of truth in the hand of its leaders there should not have been any problem keeping the wound open, but in 1888 a message from God concerning the times and laws the man of sin would think to change was rejected.  Sister White informed the leadership that if the message had been heeded the church could have been in the City of God within two short years.

Taylor Bunch wrote a book paralleling this rejection with ancient Israel and called it “Forty years in the wilderness”.  The truth is that after the church rejected this message God did not send another message for forty more years.  At the end of the forty years the message God sent not only explained how and why the wound had been healed, but also brought new instructions and duties for the church.  And again that message was rejected. 

Although the Seventh-day Adventist church rejected these messages from God allowing the wound to heal, she continued in her protest against the papacy and its claim of having divine authority.  That is until this year.  This year, 2006 a book was written, “The Ten Commandments twice Removed”.  In this book it says that only the time (day) mentioned in the Ten Commandments is necessary to observe, and the times (days) governing the work of our Mediator in the Heavenly Sanctuary are no longer necessary to observe. This view is in essence stating that the prophecy is wrong, that the man of sin thought only to change “time and law”.  By taking this stand and passing out hundreds of thousands of these booklets they have, and are presently teaching others to, accept the authority of the papacy when it thought to change “times and laws” as in changing Passover to Easter.  Ellen White says,  “The Passover was to be both commemorative and typical, not only pointing back to the deliverance from Egypt, but forward to the greater deliverance which Christ was to accomplish in freeing His people from the bondage of sin.”   Patriarchs and Prophets, pg. 277.   “When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power”.

“I saw the Father rise from the throne, and in a flaming chariot go into the holy of holies within the veil, and sit down. Then Jesus rose up from the throne, and the most of those who were bowed down arose with Him. I did not see one ray of light pass from Jesus to the careless multitude after He arose, and they were left in perfect darkness. Those who arose when Jesus did, kept their eyes fixed on Him as He left the throne and led them out a little way. Then He raised His right arm, and we heard His lovely voice saying, “Wait here; I am going to My Father to receive the kingdom; keep your garments spotless, and in a little while I will return from the wedding and receive you to Myself.” Then a cloudy chariot, with wheels like flaming fire, surrounded by angels, came to where Jesus was. He stepped into the chariot and was borne to the holiest, where the Father sat. There I beheld Jesus, a great High Priest, standing before the Father. On the hem of His garment was a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate. Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, “My Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace.  I turned to look at the company who were still bowed before the throne; they did not know that Jesus had left it. Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Satan’s object was to keep them deceived and to draw back and deceive God’s children.” EW pg.55.

Through this vision given to Mrs. White we are privileged to look into the Most Holy place in Heaven and behold our High Priest standing before His Father, dressed just like Aaron of old in His priestly attire right down to the bells and pomegranates around the hem of His garment.  Using separate means of transportation we saw Them leave the throne room and travel to the Holy of Holies.  Now I ask you what day is this when the High Priest inters into the Most Holy Place?  How or by what reference material do you use to draw your conclusions?  Are we not told that the Tabernacle in the Wilderness was a model of the Heavenly?  Did God the Father, Jesus and the company of believers just by happenstance know it was time to leave the throne room?  Are the ones who continue to pray before the now vacated throne the same as those who accept the authority of the papacy when it thought to change “times and laws”?  If Jesus continues to be our High Priest in the Heavenly Sanctuary, how can we as Christian believers teach that the laws governing His work for our salvation in the Holy of Holies came to an end at the cross?

Daniel writing about the Papal power tells us, “And he shall speak [great] words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.”  Daniel 7:25.  Think, future tense from Daniel’s time, thought, past tense from our time because all these things took place prior to1798 the time when the Papacy lost its power.  Notice that the prophecy does not say the times and laws were changed but rather he would think to change them.  The reason the Papal power could not change the times according to the law is because God wove them in the heavens when He created their lights and hung them in place.  Moses tells us the sun, moon and stars are “...for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years...” Gen 1:14.  Adam Clarke commenting on this verse says “[For seasons] uwlmow`ªdiym, For the determination of the times on which the sacred festivals should be held. In this sense the word frequently occurs; and it was right that at the very opening of his revelation God should inform man that there were certain festivals which should be annually celebrated to his glory. Some think we should understand the original word as signifying months, for which purpose we know the moon essentially serves through all the revolutions of time.” Adam Clarke’s Commentary Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) The men of God from Adam to Jacob were able to read these signs and knew when to offer their sacrifices to God.  After hundreds of years in slavery God’s people needed a refresher course on their sacred duties.  In Chapter 23 of Leviticus we find God’s reiteration of all His special times and how they are reckoned by the lights He hung in the sky.  The time spoken of in Daniel 7:25 was for us like the slavery for Israel.  Ever since 1798 God has been reiterating to us the special times, according to the law, Jesus will officiate on our behalf in the Heavenly Sanctuary.  Just like Israel of old though we have dragged our feet and hindered the work.  We are told that at the commencement of the time of trouble, the time when the angel of Revelation 18:1 speaks, we “went forth and proclaimed the Sabbath more fully”.

“In this prophecy we find there are only six portions, and only six steps. The number “six” is not a perfect number. It is evident then, that there is still another portion to follow, and a step to climb. “Seven” is the perfect, Biblical number. The question is, Why was not the seventh portion included in this prophecy? Because the six were polluted; defiled with man’s preparation, man’s thoughts, and plans have been injected and followed, which, in God’s sight are as “dung.” It is not to be so with the seventh, for it is the last; it must be pure. This last portion, pure and undefiled, is represented by the angel of Rev. 18:1, “And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.” It is at this time that Isaiah’s prophecy will be fulfilled. Isa. 52:1, 2: “Awake, awake: put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the Holy City: For henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: Loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion [God’s pure church].”  1 S R pg. 126

The appearance of the angel of Revelation 18:1 brings us to the time when the seventh seal is to be opened, but the seventh seal will not be opened until “Protestantism stretches her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power”. With the printing and distribution of “The Ten Commandments twice Removed” it appears that the Seventh-day Adventist church, the last grain in Ezekiel’s prophecy, is ready to stand with the rest of the Christian World, and accept the man of sin’s claim of divine authority to make changes to God’s laws.  Now all the obstacles are removed and the way is clear for the seventh seal to be opened. We have not been told what year this will take place but we have been told that it opens with the Jubilee. The Jubilee according to the law is when the slaves are set free; all of humanity is in slavery to sin and death and are longing to be set free.

“And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” Revelation 8:1, 3-5

What made the silence? As the judgment opened, John states: “And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunderings and voices;” and the four beasts “rest not day and night, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” (Rev. 4:5, 8.) The voices are continuous day and night while the judgment is going on. But sometime after the seventh seal was opened these voices were silenced for about half an hour. After the angel offered the prayers of the saints, and cast the fire upon the earth, the voices resumed. “And there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.” Evidently the judgment, for some reason, had stopped, and half an hour later it resumed. It cannot be otherwise, for, if the judgment was going on, and the beasts and the elders kept silent, it would indicate that there was something wrong -- something to which they could not say “amen” and praise God. Therefore, the only proper conclusion is, that for some reason the judgment retired for half an hour. What made the interruption and brought about the change? Let us first determine the length of the prophetic half hour’s time. A day in prophetic time stands for a year. (Ezek. 4:6.) One hour is a twenty-fourth part of a prophetic year, and figuring thirty days to a month, it would be about two weeks. Half an hour would be half of two weeks; therefore, seven literal days. Seven days were used for purification. (See Ex. 29:35, 37; Lev. 12:2; 13:4, 5; 1, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 21, etc.) From these references we conclude that the “half an hour” or seven days stand for the purification of the church, pointing forward to the fulfillment of Malachi 3:1-6. But we have a more definite proof, which will clear all doubts. In observance of the Passover, the Lord commanded Israel to celebrate that occasion seven days. (See Lev. 23:5-8.) Surely no one would say that God commanded His people to commemorate that event seven days with no object in view. Israel after the flesh going into Egypt, then out of Egypt to Mount Sinai, the passover in Egypt on the night when the death angel smote the first born of man and beast at the departure of Israel, are types of the church at the present time -- the church going out of Egypt -- worldliness, the purification of the church, the separation of the tares from the wheat -- the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9. (A complete explanation of the subject is given in “The Shepherd’s Rod,” Vol. 1, pp. 64-113; see also chart on page 224.) The Spirit of Prophecy bears witness of this by the following statement: “The Passover was to be both commemorative and typical, not only pointing back to the deliverance from Egypt, but forward to the greater deliverance which Christ was to accomplish in freeing His people from the bondage of sin.” -- “Patriarchs and Prophets,” p. 277. Thus the silence of half an hour points forward to this great event for the church of God. Its fulfillment would bring us to the time of the harvest, or as it is called, the Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message of Revelation 18 -- the last message for the world. Thus, while the five men with the slaughter weapons are taking away those represented by the tares within the church, there will be silence in heaven for about half an hour (seven days), after which the judgment will commence again for those who shall be sealed in the time of the great harvest, which is the end of the world. Said Jesus: “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn” -- the church. (Matt. 13:30.) 2 SR pg. 215-217.

Through out the ages there have always been two distinct groups in the church, those that accept truth and put it into practice in their lives and those that like to hang out where truth is but find it inconvenient and cumbersome to put into practice and so are always trying to hinder the advancement of truth for fear they will be left too far behind.  These two groups will continue to exist together up until the day God separates the tares out from the wheat.  “They will feed upon the errors and mistakes and faults of others, “until,” said the angel, the Lord Jesus shall rise up from His mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary and shall clothe Himself with the garments of vengeance and surprise them at their unholy feast, and they will find themselves unprepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Their taste has been so perverted that they would be inclined to criticize even the table of the Lord in His kingdom.”  5T pg. 689.  For those who are living in the Faith of the Third Angel’s Message there is still time to accept the messages sent to the church.  Soon though and without warning the seventh seal will open.  It is during this time that there is a one half hour recess in the proceedings in Heaven and our Lord will remove His Priestly garments and change into His garments of vengeance.  When Jesus comes to this earth will He find you observing His ordained Passover, or will He find you observing Easter as ordained by the papal power?

Protestants stand in opposition to the Papacy and its man ordained doctrines.  As long as protestants stood strong and opposed the Papacy’s claim of divine authority to change God’s laws, Protestantism was keeping God’s people free.  The Seventh-day Adventist church put down it’s sword in 1888 and the wound was allowed to heal, but Protestantism continued until this year when it announced to the world that this church, the last church in Ezekiel’s prophecy, would now accept some of the changes the Papacy thought to make.  Jesus said man can not serve two masters.  By observing a festival one gives honor to, and recognizes the authority of, the one who set that day apart. 

Yours to be ready for the coming of our Lord,

Athen Slawson