"LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
Volume #26 January - June, 2021 Issue #117
"There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is 'PRESENT TRUTH' that the flock needs now." Early Writings, p 63.
Elder: robert sessler
E-mail address: lightmin@terragon.com
SDA CATHOLIC CHURCH!, part 2
Last time we learned that just as every Catholic owes their spiritual allegiance to the Vatican and the Pope and not to Christ, and since the SDA church has been formed into "another universal and truly catholic organization," then we saw that every member of the SDA church owes their spiritual allegiance to the General Conference and not to Christ!
We also discovered that any who refuse to disconnect themselves completely from any Romanist church, whether the beast itself or one of its images--including the SDA church–then they will fall with their harlot church into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone suffering the second death! While any who choose to separate from their harlot Romanist church will be gathered into the loving arms of Jesus who waits outside and calls His own sheep to come directly to Him.
For those who may find it hard to believe that the SDA church has been converted into another Catholic organization, we will begin examining over 40 major similarities between the Roman Catholic Church and organization and the SDA church and organization.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
Roman Catholic Church
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
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"The Church is both visible and spiritual, a hierarchical society and the Mystical Body of Christ."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Article 9, Paragraph 1, Section III, #779, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/207/, accessed 7-12-21.
“The state of life which is constituted by the profession of the evangelical counsels, while not entering into the hierarchical structure of the Church, belongs undeniably to her life and holiness.'”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Article 9, Paragraph 4, Section III, #914, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/242/, accessed 7-12-21.
“THE HIERARCHICAL CONSTITUTION OF THE CHURCH”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Article 9, Paragraph 4, Section I, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/232/, accessed 7-12-21.
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"The plain and undeniable fact is that the Seventh-day Adventist church is most assuredly not a ‘congregational’ one (although it contains elements of congregationalism) but is clearly of the...‘hierarchical’ variety."
Neal C. Wilson, Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Reply Brief for Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, parentheses in original.
"...the church governs by a method of organization...which embraces exactly, from a legal standpoint, the same kind of organization (in opposition to ‘congregationalism’) as is embraced by the term ‘hierarchical’."
Neal C. Wilson, Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Reply Brief for Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025, p 29, parenthesis in original.
"The Seventh-day Adventist Church is essentially a hierarchical system..."
Bruce Manners, Associate Editor of the Record (the Official Paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, South Pacific Division), in the Record, June 23, 1990, p 2.
"The session [55th General Conference Session in 1990] has demonstrated the hierarchal nature of the church's administrative structure."
Gary Krause, Associate Editor of the Record, in the Record, August 4, 1990, p 2.
"...the official hierarchy of the (SDA) church..."
Walter Douglas, chair of the SDA Church History Department at the Andrews University Theological Seminary, in Adventist Review (the Official General Paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church), Special Edition, October, 1994, p 51.
"...the structure of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is essentially hierarchical...The pyramid of church organization maintains equilibrium and sustains growth..."
Walter Scragg, President of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in the Record, June 23, 1990, p 4-5.
"The Seventh-day Adventist Church... maintains ...a hierarchical structure of church authority."
Neal C. Wilson, in the Court Transcript of the United States Secretary of Labor vs Pacific Union Conference and General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church, Case CV 75-3032-R, presided over by Judge Manuel L. Real, February 6, 1976.
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ORGANIZATIONAL ARRANGEMENT
Roman Catholic Church
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
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“‘The ministerial or hierarchical priesthood of bishops and priests, and the common priesthood [laity] of all the faithful participate, 'each in its own proper way, in the one priesthood of Christ.' While being 'ordered one to another,' they differ essentially.’[LG 10 # 2.]...the sacrament of Holy Orders."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Chapter Three, The Sacraments at the Service of Communion, Article 6, Section II, # 1547, at
https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/388/, accessed 7-12-21.
“The very differences which the Lord has willed to put between the members of his body serve its unity and mission. For "in the Church there is diversity of ministry but unity of mission. To the apostles and their successors Christ has entrusted the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing in his name and by his power. But the laity...have therefore, in the Church and in the world, their own assignment in the mission of the whole People of God." Finally, "from both groups [hierarchy and laity] there exist Christian faithful who are consecrated to God in their own special manner and serve the salvific mission of the Church through the profession of the evangelical counsels."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, #873, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/232/, accessed 7-12-21.
"The term 'laity' is here understood to mean all the faithful except those in Holy Orders and those who belong to a religious state approved by the Church."
Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section II, # 897, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/238/, accessed 7-12-21.
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"The Seventh-day Adventist Church follows a model of organizational order in the church which is modified from the orders of Roman Catholicism, but it retains the same notions of clerical order which separates the members of the Church into two classes--clergy and laity."
Douglas Devnich, president of the Canadian Union of Seventh-day Adventists, in the Messenger (Official Journal of the Canadian Union Conference), December, 1993, p 2.
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ORGANIZATIONAL ADMINISTRATION
Roman Catholic Church
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
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Highest Church leader is termed "supreme (first) pastor (minister)”
"'The Roman Pontiff, head of the college of bishops...supreme pastor and teacher of all the faithful...’”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section I, #891, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/236/,
accessed 7-12-21.
Highest Church leader is termed "leader, shepherd, guardian, guide, and captain (head)" of the entire Church
“I promise and swear that I will always be not only your helper and supporter, but your chief and leader.”
Pope Pius VII, in Diu Satis (On A Return to Gospel Principles), Encyclical promulgated on May 15, 1800, #17, at https://www.papalencyclicals.net/pius07/p7diusat.htm,
accessed 7-12-21.
"...this power of jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff, which is truly episcopal, is immediate....once the unity of communion and the profession of the same Faith has been preserved with the Roman Pontiff, there is one flock of the Church of Christ under one supreme shepherd."
Pope Pius XII, Ad Apostolorum Principis (On Communism And The Church In China), Encyclical Promulgated on June 29, 1958, #46, at
accessed 7-12-21.
“...the supreme pontiffs....the supreme pastors and teachers of the Church of God, the guardians and interpreters of the patrimony of the faith...”
Pope Paul VI, in Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (The Celibacy of the Priest), Encyclical promulgated on June 24, 1967, #36, at
accessed 7-12-21.
“Two months have already passed, months of anxiety and toil, since God conferred on Us, despite Our weakness, the burden of this high office of guiding the entire Church.”
Pope Pius VII, in Diu Satis (On A Return to Gospel Principles), Encyclical promulgated on May 15, 1800, #1, at
accessed 7-12-21.
"Catholics hold that the Church, which is a visible society, must have a visible head. Christ before His ascension into heaven, appointed St. Peter to act as his representative...hence to the Bishop of Rome, as head of the Church...”
Our Sunday Visitor, (Catholic Weekly) Bureau of Information, Ind., April 18,1915.
“...'the Roman Pontiff...is the Successor of Blessed Peter the Prince of the Apostles and...the head of the whole Church..."
Pope Pius IX, in Amantissimus (On The Care Of The Churches), Encyclical promulgated on April 8, 1862, # 3, at
accessed 7-12-21.
Has Nuns
“By force of their vocation, which sets them at the heart of the [Catholic] Church, nuns undertake in a special way to have ‘the mind of the Church (sentire cum Ecclesia)’, with sincere adherence to the Magisterium and unreserved obedience to the Pope.”
Verbi Sponsa (Instruction on the Contemplative Life and on the Enclosure of Nuns), Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life, Pope John Paul II approved, and released by the Vatican on May 13, 1999, at
accessed 7-12-21.
Has Cardinals
"’The college or body of bishops (or cardinals) has no authority unless united with the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, as its head.’ As such, this college has ‘supreme and full authority over the universal Church; but this power cannot be exercised without the agreement of the Roman Pontiff.’"
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section I, #883, at
accessed 7-12-21.
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Highest Church leader is termed "supreme (first) pastor (minister)”
"Elder Robert H. Pierson is the President of [the] General Conference and, as such the first (or supreme) minister (or pastor) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church."
Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for the Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025, p 45, December 4, 1974, parentheses added to show meaning.
"...the leadership of the church, including myself as its first minister for the time being..."
Affidavit of General Conference President Robert H. Pierson, Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, November 30, 1974.
Highest Church leader is termed "leader, shepherd, guardian, guide, and captain (head)" of the entire Church
"Many church members would say that the power in the Seventh-day Adventist Church resides with the president...He has authority to decide and act....he does have considerable power....
"He's the spiritual leader of the community of faith....He's shepherd, guardian, guide and captain (or head)."
Walter Scragg, President of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in the Record, June 23, 1990, p 4, parentheses added to show meaning.
"Many church members would say that the power in the Seventh-day Adventist Church resides with the president...He has authority to decide and act....he does have considerable power....
"He's the spiritual leader of the community of faith....He's shepherd, guardian, guide and captain (or head)."
Walter Scragg, President of the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, in the Record, June 23, 1990, p 4, parentheses added to show meaning.
Has Nuns
“Those who work for the Seventh-day Adventist Church respond to a religious vocation in exactly the same sense as does a cloistered nun.”
Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for the Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025, p 90, December 4, 1974.
Has Cardinals
“Division and General Conference officers form a critical area of church leadership around the world. Vice presidents (and you understand that division presidents are first vice presidents of the General Conference) report to the General Conference president. According to the Bylaws, while they serve a division they are vice presidents of the General Conference...
“If you compare vice presidents to ‘cardinals,’ we already have a ‘cardinal’ from Africa, and before this [1985 General Conference] session ends, I predict we will have two African ‘cardinals’ among our 15 vice-presidents...there is no ‘cardinal’ from all the countries of the Far East, while there will probably be two ‘cardinals’ from Africa.”
General Conference President Neal C. Wilson, in Adventist Review, July 3, 1985, p 11.
Please note: As all division presidents are only vice presidents of the General Conference, and these vice presidents are likened to “cardinals”, then that makes the General Conference president the one supreme leader of the entire Seventh-day Adventist Church – or the pope of Adventism!
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ORGANIZATIONAL ELECTION
Roman Catholic Church
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
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“The Church [hierarchy] confers the sacrament of Holy Orders [church position by election] only on baptized men (viri), whose suitability for the exercise of the ministry has been duly recognized. Church authority alone has the responsibility and right to call someone to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Chapter Three, Article 6, Section VII, #1598, brackets supplied for clarity, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/400/, accessed 7-12-21.
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"At the local conference level the Seventh-day Adventist church has a representative form of government, above that level the polity of the Seventh-day Adventist is hierarchical: authority flows downward and members in local congregations have virtually no voice....the Seventh-day Adventist church is a closed, self-operating, and self-perpetuating system, similar to the Roman Catholic church, in which those in authority are not responsible to lower echelons. Above the local conference level, those in authority are not elected by, representative of, or administratively accountable to, local congregations or the membership at large."
Raymond F. Cottrell, former Associate Editor of the Adventist Review and the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, in Spectrum (Journal of Association of Adventist Forums), vol 14, #4, March, 1984, p 42.
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ORGANIZATIONAL AUTHORITY
Roman Catholic Church
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
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Pope and priests as mediators between God and man
“The liturgy of the Church, however, sees in the priesthood of Aaron and the service of the Levites, as in the institution of the seventy elders, a prefiguring of the ordained ministry of the New Covenant....
“In the ecclesial service of the ordained minister, it is Christ himself who is present to his Church as Head of his Body, Shepherd of his flock, high priest of the redemptive sacrifice, Teacher of Truth. This is what the Church means by saying that the priest, by virtue of the sacrament of Holy Orders, acts in persona Christi Capitis:...Christ is the source of all priesthood: the priest of the old law was a figure of Christ, and the priest of the new law acts in the person of Christ.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Chapter Three, Article 6, Section II, # 1541 & 1548, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/386/ & https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/388/, accessed 7-12-21.
“Only to the apostles, and thenceforth to those on whom their successors have imposed hands, is granted the power of the priesthood, in virtue of which they represent the person of Jesus Christ before their people, acting at the same time as representatives of their people before God....
“The priest is the same, Jesus Christ, whose sacred Person His minister represents. Now the minister, by reason of the sacerdotal consecration which he has received, is made like to the High Priest and possesses the power of performing actions in virtue of Christ's very person....
“The people, on the other hand, since they in no sense represent the divine Redeemer and are not mediator between themselves and God, can in no way possess the sacerdotal power.”
Pope Pius XII, in Mediator Dei (on the Sacred Liturgy), Encyclical promulgated on November 20, 1947, #40, 69 & 84, at https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_20111947_mediator-dei.html, accessed 7-12-21.
“Finally, the priest, in another way, follows the example of Christ. Of Him it is written that He 'passed the whole night in the prayer of God' and 'ever lives to make intercession for us'; and like Him, the priest, is public and official intercessor (mediator) of humanity before God...”
Pope Pius XI, in Ad Catholici Sacerdotii (On the Catholic Priesthood), encyclical promulgated on December 20, 1935, #28, at http://www.papalencyclicals.net/Pius11/P11CATHO.HTM, accessed 7-12-21.
Church has supreme and full authority over the entire membership
"'The college or body of bishops has no authority unless united with the Roman Pontiff, Peter's successor, as its head.' As such, this college has 'supreme and full authority over the universal Church...’"
Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section I, #883, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/236/, accessed 7-12-21.
The clergy rule over the membership
“In defining the limits of the obedience owed to the pastors of souls, but most of all to the authority of the Roman Pontiff...the duties of Christians, [is] that they allow themselves to be ruled and directed by the authority and leadership of bishops, and, above all, of the apostolic see.”
Pope Leo XIII, in Sapientiae Christianae (On Christians as Citizens), Encyclical promulgated on January 10, 1890, #24, at https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_10011890_sapientiae-christianae.html, accessed 7-12-21.
The membership must obey the clergy
“Wherefore, let the faithful also be on their guard against the overrated independence of private judgment and that false autonomy of human reason. For it is quite foreign to everyone bearing the name of a Christian to trust his own mental powers with such pride as to agree only with those things which he can examine from their inner nature, and to imagine that the Church, sent by God to teach and guide all nations, is not conversant with present affairs and circumstances; or even that they must obey only in those matters which she has decreed by solemn definition as though her other decisions might be presumed to be false or putting forward insufficient motive for truth and honesty. Quite to the contrary, a characteristic of all true followers of Christ, lettered or unlettered, is to suffer themselves to be guided and led in all things that touch upon faith or morals by the Holy Church of God through its Supreme Pastor the Roman Pontiff, who is himself guided by Jesus Christ Our Lord.”
Pope Pius XI, in Casti Connubii (On Christian Marriage), Encyclical promulgated on December 31, 1930, #104, at https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_19301231_casti-connubii.html, accessed 7-12-21.
The spiritual or religious allegiance of the membership is to the Church
“And in this special context, when We recall that every imaginable artifice was employed, that all the power and vexatious tactics of our adversaries had but one purpose, to alienate both the clergy and people from their allegiance to the hierarchy and to this Apostolic See...”
Pope Pius XI, in Iniquis Afflictisque (On the Persecution of the Church in Mexico), Encyclical promulgated on November 18, 1926, #22, at https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_18111926_iniquis-afflictisque.html, accessed 7-12-21.
“There seems ground for fear that in the near future still greater hardships will befall those who refuse to betray their sacred religious allegiance [to the Catholic Church]. For that reason we even now exhort you in the Lord, beloved sons, to be terrified by no menaces or injuries, to be moved by no danger of exile or risk even of life ever to abjure your faith and your fidelity to Mother Church.”
Pope Pius XII, in Orientales Omnes Ecclesias, Encyclical promulgated on December 23, 1945, #62, at https://www.vatican.va/content/pius-xii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_23121945_orientales-omnes-ecclesias.html, accessed 7-12-21.
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Pope and priests as mediators between God and man
“We see here that his (Aaron’s) principle responsibility was to act as a mediator, as a link between the holy and profane, between God and man...an incarnation of the people, and the spiritual representative of all Israel....In like manner the minister of the gospel today is the high priest....Today we (SDA ministers) are the high priests....God desires that we who are His high priests today learn the same lesson....What a tremendous responsibility to act as mediators between God and man!”
M.S. Nigri, president of the South Brazil Union Conference, in Ministry Magazine (official journal of the Ministerial Association of the Seventh-day Adventist Church), December, 1961, p 27-29.
Church has supreme and full authority over the entire membership
"Church documents that prescribe the church's structure and governance confirm that all parts of the church are parts of a single entity. Next to the Roman Catholic church, the Adventist church is the most centralized of all the major Christian denominations in this country. The General Conference, as the world wide governing body of the Adventist denomination, is the church's highest legislative, judicial and ecclesiastical authority."
Legal Decision of Judge William T. Hart of the U.S. District Court, North District of Illinois, East Division, Court Transcript of Derrick Proctor vs the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Case #81 C 4938, Findings of Fact, Section B, Church Objective and Structures, p 22, October 29, 1986.
"People expect the General Conference to have the last word and to speak for the Church with ultimate [or supreme] authority....The General Conference is the highest [or fullest] authority and the sum of all the parts, not only philosophically, but also (1) organizationally, (2) legislatively, (3) administratively, (4) judicially, (5) in terms of policy and (6) Church standards.”
General Conference President Neal C. Wilson, Commission Report on Role and Function of Denominational Organizations, 140-85GN, p 22-23, April 30, 1985, brackets added to show meaning.
The clergy rule over the membership
"Seventh-day Adventist Church leadership is a function of the church’s organizational structure....
“A twofold task faces the church: (1) train and inspire good leadership, and (2) train and inspire good followership....Leadership will lead in love and understanding, and followership will support the church leadership unfailingly, even though necessarily critical of some decisions of leadership."
Walter R. Beach, past vice-president of the General Conference, in Adventist Review, October 25, 1979, p 13-14.
The membership must obey the clergy
“It is our responsibility to study the Scriptures for ourselves, to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to submit our understandings to those in the church who are able to judge our findings, and then to abide to the decisions of the church...”
Seventh-day Adventist Church Adult Sabbath School Quarterly, Lesson 13, March 28, 1987, p 92, or p 153 in the Teacher’s Edition.
The spiritual or religious allegiance of the membership is to the Church
"The General Conference, then is the Seventh-day Adventist church....the embodiment of the Remnant Church as a Christian denomination, in a unified worldwide organization, to which all baptized Seventh-day Adventists owe spiritual [or religious] allegiance..."
Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for Defendants, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, p 17, brackets added to show meaning.
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ORGANIZATIONAL POWER
Roman Catholic Church
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Seventh-day Adventist Church
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Organizational Church leadership and structure represents the Church
“Since the beginning, the ordained ministry has been conferred and exercised in three degrees: that of bishops, that of presbyters, and that of deacons. The ministries conferred by ordination are irreplaceable for the organic structure of the Church: without the bishop, presbyters, and deacons, one cannot speak of the Church (cf. St. Ignatius of Antioch, Ad Trall. 3,1).”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Chapter Three, Article 6, Section VII, #1593, brackets supplied for clarity, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/400/, accessed 7-12-21.
Church leadership speaks for the entire Church
“...we, the Fathers (Catholic Church leaders) of the 21st ecumenical council of the Catholic Church...On this solemn day when she closes the deliberations of her 21st ecumenical council, the Church offers you through our voice her friendship, her services, her spiritual and moral forces....Today, as yesterday, the Church needs you and turns to you. She tells you through our voice: Do not allow an alliance as fruitful as this to be broken....The Church is grateful to you for this and thanks you through our voice.”
Pope Paul VI, Second Vatican Council II Closing Speech, December 8, 1965, at https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/speeches/1965/documents/hf_p-vi_spe_19651208_epilogo-concilio-governanti.html, accessed 7-12-21.
Only Church leadership can safely interpret the Bible
"’The task of giving an authentic interpretation of the Word of God, whether in its written form or in the form of Tradition, has been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church alone. Its authority in this matter is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ.’ This means that the task of interpretation has been entrusted to the bishops in communion with the successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part One, Section One, # III, Article 2, Sub-section III, #85, at https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/28/, accessed 7-12-21.
Only Church leadership can modify Divine doctrine
“The Roman Pontiff and the bishops, as authentic teachers, preach to the People of God the faith which is to be believed and applied in moral life. It is also encumbent on them to pronounce on moral questions that fall within the natural law and reason.
“The infallibility of the Magisterium of the Pastors extends to all the elements of doctrine, including moral doctrine, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, expounded, or observed.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 3, Section III, #2050 & 2051. https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/496/, accessed 7-12-21.
People must submit to teachings of Church leaders
“When the Church through its supreme Magisterium proposes a doctrine 'for belief as being divinely revealed,' and as the teaching of Christ, the definitions 'must be adhered to with the obedience of faith.'...when, without arriving at an infallible definition and without pronouncing in a ‘definitive manner,’ they propose in the exercise of the ordinary Magisterium a teaching that leads to better understanding of Revelation in matters of faith and morals. To this ordinary teaching the faithful ‘are to adhere to it with religious assent’ which, though distinct from the assent of faith, is nonetheless an extension of it.”
Catechism of the Catholic Church, The Profession of Faith, Section Two, Paragraph 4, Section I, #891 & 892. https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/236/ & https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/238/, accessed 7-12-21.
Those who protest against the Church are disfellowshipped and declared heretics, schismatics, or dissidents
“The Church, founded on these principles and mindful of her office, has done nothing with greater zeal and endeavour than she has displayed in guarding the integrity of the faith. Hence she regarded as rebels and expelled from the ranks of her children all who held beliefs on any point of doctrine different from her own....they were declared heretics [schismatics or dissidents] and banished from the bosom of the Church...”
Pope Leo XIII, in Satis Cognitum (On the Unity of the Church), encyclical promulgated on June 29, 1896, #9, brackets added. https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_29061896_satis-cognitum.html, accessed 7-12-21.
Those who separate from the Church are declared heretics, schismatics, or dissidents
"For the tabernacle of the Lord is the Holy Church spread throughout the whole world. Heretics [schismatics or dissidents] , separating themselves from the Church's tabernacles, have set up tabernacles for themselves....a tent outside the Church, wherein God will not delight."
St. Augustine, in St. Augustine on the Psalms, Psalm CXLVII, #15, found in Early Church Fathers, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, Vol. VIII, brackets added, at https://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf108.ii.CXLVII.html, accessed 7-12-21.
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Organizational Church leadership and structure represents the Church
"...so the Seventh-day Adventist church came into being [in 1863], as the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists....the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, which is the Seventh-day Adventist church..."
Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for the Church, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, p 15.
"In the Seventh-day Adventist denomination the term ‘church' has a very comprehensive and broad meaning. It is used to apply to the general organization and headquarters for Seventh-day Adventists under the name of General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists."
Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Affidavit of Neal C. Wilson, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, Nov 27, 1974, p 4.
Church leadership speaks for the entire Church
"People expect the General Conference to have the last word and to speak for the Church with ultimate authority.”
General Conference President Neal C. Wilson, Commission Report on Role and Function of Denominational Organizations, 140-85GN, p 22-23, April 30, 1985.
Only Church leadership can safely interpret the Bible
“Only a committee appointed by the General Conference can interpret prophecy.”
Adventist Review, June 5, 1986, p 2.
Only Church leadership can modify Divine doctrine
“...the General Conference of the Church (in session), the only body having authority to alter the structure of the church either in doctrine or organization.”
Court Transcript of United States vs the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission vs the Pacific Press Publishing Association and the General Conference, Opening Brief for the Church, Civil Case #74-2025 CBR, December 4, 1974, p 17.
People must submit to teachings of Church leaders
“It is our responsibility to study the Scriptures for ourselves, to ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to submit our understandings to those in the church who are able to judge our findings, and then to abide to the decisions of the church...”
Seventh-day Adventist Church Adult Sabbath School Quarterly, Lesson 13, March 28, 1987, p 92, or p 153 in the Teacher’s Edition.
Those who protest against the Church are disfellowshipped and declared heretics, schismatics, or dissidents
“Q.: What about the 1,400 Hungarians who were disfellowshipped for protesting the Church’s membership in the Council of Free Churches?...
“Wilson: A good question...The members of this group do not recognize any world authority in the Church....We have advised the dissident group to recognize the world Church organization to place their churches in the world Church.”
General Conference president Neal C. Wilson, in Pacific Union Recorder (official paper of the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists), February 18, 1985, p 4.
Those who separate from the Church are declared heretics, schismatics, or dissidents
“The local church where I was speaking – and others as well – are being scandalized by dissident ‘ministries’ whose leaders claim that ‘mainstream’ Adventism is in apostasy....several dissident ‘splinter groups’ that now plague the church...”
Douglas Devnich, president of the Canadian Union Conference of SDAs, in Visitor, March 15, 1992, p 5.
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We have seen uncontrovertable proof, from both Catholic and Adventist sourced documents, proving that the Adventist church has adopted Roman Catholic beliefs and practices in 19 different areas dealing with church Structure, Arrangement, Administration, Election, Authority, and Power.
But 19 different areas of stark similarity between the Catholic and the SDA church is only half of the 40+ similarities we promised to reveal. So what about the remaining 21+ areas showing that the SDA church images the Catholic church? This is what we will discover in our next Newsletter, and if you think this first 19 different areas was quite shocking, wait until you see what the remaining areas reveal!
MINISTRY NEWS
HEALTH - MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK
The Health and Medical Missionary work in the Central African nation of Zambia is progressing forward. To the glory of God, precious souls are receiving valuable instruction on health, as well as natural treatments for various ailments. Praise God that His healing grace is being manifested, and testimonies are being given to the glory of God. Some of these can be read in the Zambia section of our Correspondence From Foreign Workers.
We again solicit and greatly appreciate your prayers and continued support in furthering this great Medical Missionary work, especially for precious souls to be won to Jesus Christ through this mighty entering wedge of Health Reform.
ONLINE VIDEOS
Many of our present truth videos are currently on the world-wide web for anyone to freely watch and study through. All these videos can be found listed on our website under Online Videos (http://www.LightMinistries.com/SDA/id1245.htm). You can also find these present truth videos on our YouTube channel - Let There Be Light Ministries (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqfJdqkw4QDXEuSyEQe7SgQ).
Currently we have over 5,700 people who have viewed these videos, and over 72,000 minutes have been logged, and with God’s blessing and your prayers many more to come. Please keep this great evangelistic outreach endeavor in your thoughts and prayers, and may God lead 1000's more precious souls to watch these and become convicted on the Present Truth before it is too late!
HOME CHURCH
You are invited to come and join with us in fellowship, and you can do so over your computer, smart phone, iPad or even Kindle. To fellowship with us, type or paste the following link into your browser: https://zoom.us/ and download the Zoom App. Once it is downloaded, then go to: https://zoom.us/j/4663248724, follow the simple instructions and you should be logged into the room - it's that simple! But if you happen to have outdated computers/devices then instead use this link: https://zoom.us/wc/join/4663248724?pwd=. If you have any problems, visit our Technical Support page at: http://www.lightministries.com/HC/id20.htm.
For those who have no computers or who are unable to access the internet, you can also join our live Home Church fellowship over the phone, and we will be able to hear you speak to us! In the USA dial 1-408-638-0968 or 1-646-558-8656 or 1-669-900-6833 or 1-929-205-6099, or if you are in Canada dial 1-647-558-0588. After being prompted punch in the Meeting ID code: HOMECHURCH# (466-324-8724#). You will then be automatically connected to listen to our live Church Service. Please be aware that these are NOT Toll Free numbers. If you live in a different country and would also like to join with us over the phone, then please contact me for a number to dial within your country.
We praise God for allowing us to gather together as one Home Church family in Christ Jesus, and look forward to having you also join with us!
TO OUR READERS AND SUPPORTERS:
"Let There Be Light" Ministries is not using your prayers and donations to build itself into a kingdom, but is concerned with getting the Present Truth into the hands of the common people quickly, effectively, and wisely. Instead of working towards acquiring expensive video and T.V. production equipment, satellite or shortwave facilities, we would rather use the Lord's money in publishing and distributing materials which give the full present truth gospel, as well as supporting many full-time foreign ministers and workers around the world who have proven themselves to be reliable and stable. With their monthly support and present truth materials supplied them, these ministers and workers then have the ability to more effectively spread the spoken and printed truth, establish the people in it, and carry this precious truth into the very homes of those who sit in darkness. This is how the Loud Cry of the Third Angel will be spread, and is now being spread! If the Lord impresses you to help in these endeavors, your donations will be greatly appreciated--not just by this Ministry, but by many others as well! MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU!
MINISTRY NEEDS
"Let There Be Light" Ministries is committed to the spreading of the full present truth gospel message worldwide, and has been doing so since 1986. This Ministry has operating expenses covering the areas of: printing, publishing, and writing of present truth books, booklets, tracts, and other literature; DVD, video and audio taping, production, and distribution; supporting several ministers and workers in foreign Countries; mail order – both domestic and foreign; traveling to hold meetings – both locally, nationally, and internationally; answering correspondence and questions regarding the message of truth; offering National and International Bible studies; sending free present truth literature to contacts in many poor Countries; etc.
Your gracious prayers and support is greatly appreciated and needed. Without the Lord's guidance, blessings, and your support, this Ministry could not continue to reach out worldwide with the precious message of Revelation 14:6-12 & 18:1-5.
May our God and Saviour continue to lead and guide all those who have helped us reach souls who sit in darkness with the precious light of gospel truth. May our supporters remember that they share in each and every soul who has been reached by this Ministry and converted to the Lord and His present truth!
GENERAL FOREIGN MISSION WORK NEEDS
We are currently supporting several workers in many different Countries on a monthly basis. We check into the economy of each area and supply a base support which is adequate depending on their situation, but not extravagant. This base support is to ensure that the monthly needs of each worker and family is met for that month so that the worker may devote full time to the ministry work. In addition to this, we are sending extra materials for evangelism, and money for printing, publishing, holding meetings, traveling, and other necessary areas in spreading the Present Truth in their Country. And as the work extends, especially will the expenses for evangelism expand. Whatever you can send to help in this necessary and vital area is greatly appreciated.
The work of spreading God's present truth is not to be limited, but must extend world-wide to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people before our Saviour can come (Matthew 24:14). What better way of spreading the Present Truth Gospel than by having workers who speak the native language, who reside in that particular Country, who can live and preach the truth, visit the interests in their homes, and spread the printed truth translated into their native language!
"Our publications should be printed in other languages, that foreign nations may be reached. Much can be done through the medium of the press, but still more can be accomplished if the influence of the living preacher goes with our publications....The Lord has moved upon men of other tongues and has brought them under the influence of the truth, that they might be qualified to labor in His cause." Testimonies, vol 3, p 204-205.
Please financially help us to continue supporting our current ministers and workers on a consistent basis, so that the spreading of the truth will not be interrupted but can quickly lighten this dark world with the glory of God.
"Every opportunity should be improved to extend the truth to other nations. This will be attended with considerable expense, but expense should in no case hinder the performance of this work. Means are of value only as they are used to advance the interest of the kingdom of God. The Lord has lent men means for this very purpose, to use in sending the truth to their fellow men." Testimonies, vol 3, p 208.
SPECIFIC MONTHLY FOREIGN MISSION WORK NEEDS
KENYA, East Africa:
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Kenya.
M Printing of booklets and tracts in Kenya.
M Projector, screen, and evangelistic film for non-SDA outreach.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Purchase of printing machine to aid in publication of present truth--$3,500.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA:
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to PNG.
M Printing of booklets and tracts in PNG.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Used SOP books.
M Clothes to pass out to naked villagers.
PHILIPPINE Islands:
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Printing of booklets and tracts in Philippines.
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Philippines.
M Printing 100,000 tracts in Philippines--$1,450.
UGANDA, East Africa:
M Monthly operating expenses for the publication work already established there.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
ZAMBIA, Central Africa:
M Monthly operating expenses for the publication work already established there.
M Donations of any amount to help with construction of a home–$12,000 total cost.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Monthly operating expenses for Herbal and Health Clinic.
ZIMBABWE, Africa:
M Printing and mailing expenses for booklets and tracts to Zimbabwe.
M Printing of booklets and tracts in Zimbabwe.
M Donations of any amount to help with construction of a home–$12,000 total cost.
M Mailing cartons of KJV Bibles and Spirit of Prophecy books.
M Donations of any amount to help purchase a vehicle–$6,000 total cost.
Please be sure to mark all donated monies for any of the above Ministry or Foreign Mission needs. 100% of all donated monies will go where specified. Unspecified donations will go where needed. Thank you very much for making this evangelistic work possible, and may God's richest blessings attend you and yours.
LETTERS to "LET THERE BE LIGHT" Ministries
Dear brother and sister,
I am very much grateful to greet you through the mighty wonderful name of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ.
Firstly, thank you very much for being so faithful in the Lord Jesus Christ; you are surely showing us great love of God working among you. Here we are doing so fine through the grace of our Lord...
Thank you very much and we would be very much glad to receive from you soon through how God can help you through the mighty wonderful name of our Lord Saviour Jesus Christ. We would be very much glad to receive from you soon as you directed by the Holy Ghost of our heavenly God the Father. We love you so much more than beyond measure.
Yours in Christ Jesus. B.A., Internet.
Good morning Christian overseas...
I need to give you a little background of myself. My husband and I were raised Catholic and Lutheran. So we know the trappings and teachings of the system. We stepped outside of these religious systems and became Adventists at age 35. We tried to correct our family and bring them out of this system to our view of right. We caused alienation, strife, contention and retaliation by our standing for truth and arguing to show them the TRUTH. We were taken out of their hearts, their lives and they would no longer associate with us. We were lost people they thought. God told us to go home and just love them. To paint their house, clean their attic, love and respect them and not say a word about Jesus to them. Just live it. We did and their hearts were won back to us and we never changed our standards or lifestyle. In time we became the family favorites and had the opportunity to share Jesus and righteous living. Our 2 boys were the best of the families children, but they were offended that we didn’t raise them as we were! Love rekindled. Why?
Because we sought the Lord what He would have us to do on each occasion, we learned to not put God in a box of what we think we should do, but dependent upon Him to direct us. He knows how to deal with hearts and to draw all people unto Him. Our family never changed to our religion but we were united in KNOWING Christ and doing His will not our own....
My name is sister ____, l am writing to you to thank you because sometime back you provided a friend of mine useful answers to a Bible question she asked about the Bible as the answers you gave proved useful, informative to both of us and other colleagues in our area!
You are very good to strings words together...in these articles which makes it easier to understand and clear away confusion on that subject. Well done!...
May Jesus bless you and your family...and please pray for me too, as well as my family. PLEASE, I NEED YOUR PRAYERS!
S.R., Nigeria.
Dear brother Robert, and all of those who love the coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven; hope you are doing well in God's vineyard faithfully....
I write to you because...(of) the apostacy; the hypocrisy of the church denomination demonstrates the unfaithfulness of God's professed people who calls itself the SDA church, who has rejected the call unto the righteousness of our Saviour Jesus Christ: the righteous.
The professed church who's sins have reached unto heaven is not God's church for these days, it has become a part of Babylon! For she refuses to be made clean and white, with the robe of Christ's righteousness; for Jesus will not cover the sins in His professed church which she refuses to give up; so the SDA church will be judged for her works of unbelief. The SDA church organization has apostatised and joined the Catholic church in rejecting Jesus and have excepted the man of sin in the teachings of Satan. So the teachings of the SDA church, that all you have to do is to stay with the old ship; for it is going through: which is the same teaching that the Jews had in Christ's day. They were Abraham's children so Jesus could not take it away from them. This teaching is the same as Babylon has today, this is the deception of Satan and as he would have it....
Satan is very cunning in his deceptions to this world and especially to those who think that they are saved....ARE we worthy to (be) the bride of Christ? This is a high calling!!
We are having a lot of rain here, but not like on the Northern part where they are having a big flood with loss of homes and livestock, costing a lot of money. With all that is taking place in the world right now, surely the end is not far from here now; are we ready?
May God's blessings be poured out on you all over there to the glory of GOD.
E.C., Zambia.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM FOREIGN WORKERS
FROM KENYA, EAST AFRICA
(Combination of 2 letters) Dear brother Bob,
1 Jn. 3:1.
Greetings in Christ's name. Praise God for we have seen yet another day, and our day of salvation hasteth apace.
Glory be to Him that supplies all our needs; He surely has a thousand ways by which to provide for us, of which we know none. Thanks be to Him.
I received the support with thanksgiving as it came to us at our lowest. Ps. 136: 23. Suffice it to say, glory be to God....
We had a good Sabbath here, I hope you too. The lockdowns made the elderly members of 58 and above not to congregate, though there are bold ones that sometimes do. We are doing fine. With God's blessings we may have a week-long evangelistic campaign next week. There are those beginning to see events as they are unfolding....
Num.6: 22-4. Be blessed. B.I., Kenya.
FROM PAPUA NEW GUINEA
(Combination of 2 letters) Hello elder Bob, I hope and pray that all is well at your end.
1 John 3:1.
“In the miracle of feeding the multitude with a few loaves and fishes, the food was increased as it passed from Christ to those who accepted it. Thus it will be in the distribution of our publications. God's truth, as it is passed out, will multiply greatly. And as the disciples by Christ's direction gathered up the fragments which remained, that nothing should be lost, so we should treasure every fragment of literature containing the truth for this time. None can estimate the influence that even a torn page, containing the truths of the third angel's message, may have upon the heart of some seeker after truth.” Pamphlet #927.1.
This is the update from the Bibles and the LOTB study distribution at the December 2020 camp
Firstly, thank be to God for all His marvellous love and wonderful care that He has bestowed to every one of us. He has been so good to us all through the years that gone by and given us a New Year to go.
Again I would like to appreciate and say thank you so much to the Let There Be Light Ministry (elder Sessler) for continue in supporting the work in Papua New Guinea....
This is brother ____ from ____ District, ____ province – living near the mountainous border of the Indonesia. He is a leader of the home church group over 500 church members which moved away from the SDA conf…Church last year in March 2020.
I share with him some KJV Bibles and LOT Bible studies booklets with other Tok Pidgin brochures on the 26th January 2020. He is requesting for more Bibles and SOP books for his believers....
As usual, good number of brethren all over the country has made their way to ____ where the camp is. The folks has been camped at the foot of the highest mountain in PNG; Mt William and is the hub of the tourists and world climbers.
Number of faithful workers has leads out the Bible studies and daily sessions and accompanied with the melodious songs from the different singing groups.
Four new pastors from the different provinces have been ordained into a ministry because of work demand. This ministry is growing rapidly as into all the remote areas as well as coastal villages. Fifty seven souls went into the water of baptism while more than 70 souls commit their lives to Jesus for next baptism.
Three Angel’s tracts and booklets have done a wonderful work and convincing number of souls to the truth. We are looking forward to print more tracts for distribution....
Ninety five (95) students from all over PNG have attend 19 days workers training from 10th – 28th January 2020. Including pastors, local Church leaders and other field workers too. It was a great experience and blessings we shared together. Please we need your prays and financial support to help these workers to stand firm in their own respective fields.
Among these students we were blessed to have a Pilipino (Manila) man who an Adventist is doing business in PNG. He was converted from the 3 Angel Tracts explaining the SDA logo sign. He has been rebaptised in ____ camp and attending training so I accommodate him to my home during this training days. He discovered a lot of truth from us...He is more than a happiest person today and promise to share this truth when he returns back to Manila.
“The church of Christ on earth was organized for missionary purposes, and the Lord desires to see the entire church devising ways and means whereby high and low, rich and poor, may hear the message of truth.”--Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 29.
“Time is short, and our forces must be organized to do a larger work.”--Testimonies, vol. 9, p. 27.
“The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort has been presented to me by One who cannot err.”--Testimonies, vol. 7, pp. 21, 22.
“Let there be in every church, well-organized companies of workers to labor in the vicinity of that church.”--Review and Herald, Sept. 29, 1891. (Christian Service, p 72).
Mathew 28:19-20, B.K., PNG.
FROM THE PHILIPPINES
(Combination of 3 letters) Dear brother Bob,
3 John 2.
Hi! brother Bob, how are you? I am hoping and praying that you are well, healthy and strong. You are always in my prayers that God will continually give you good health and strength.
Anyway, we too are doing well by the help of God. Through the guidance and help of God we continue doing what we have started. We are now establishing our brethren who are newly come to the faith in our faith and our belief, patiently giving them instructions and helping them to walk in the light as little children and encouraging them to be stronger in the faith. We have our regular schedule of visitation to their house, and there we study together. We also have our weekly schedule of Bible study with the young people who are also new to the faith and are doing missionary training for some young people who are old to the faith and wants to enter into the missionary field. Along with these we continue doing house to house work, sharing and giving Bible study to those that are still in darkness and a lot of medical missionary work. There's a lot of people who are sick that needs to be taught in the natural way that they may healed. Also, we visited from time to time our different churches here, giving them encouragement to continue to move forward serving the Lord.
Brother Bob, thank God that through the help of God we were able to established our new church here. We were able to established Gospel Order and appoint officers in the church that will be a great help in planning for the progress of the work here. Please pray for these brethren. [Editor’s note: you and the work there are always in my prayers!]
Also brother Bob, because of these Covid19, the proposed camp meeting in ____ which was supposedly scheduled last April was postponed. We were scheduled to go there because our brethren there wanted us to help them to established them in the truth and to established Gospel Order in their church. We already purchased our tickets going to ____ and back, but because of lockdown we were not allowed to travel. These brethren in ____ are from different independent groups, but they saw that our group are the one truly standing for the whole truth. So they want to be united with us, and they asked favor to us to help them know the whole truth. They are so zealous in their faith and in doing missionary work. They have a lot of new converts from the native people that are living in the mountain. And from time to time, if there are some light that they needed and some troubles arises in them they asked for additional light and counsel from us from the word of God.
Just this October, our brethren in ____ decided to pursue the postponed campmeeting and it was being held this last Oct 10-17. Although I was not present physically there, but still they wanted me to share and speak to their campmeeting via zoom. Thanks God I was able to give study to our brethren there about Gospel Order and about Fanaticism. These are the meat in due season there because a lot of false and fanatical shepherd and brethren are entering their church there. And they are very happy and blessed with the studies. At the end of the camp meeting, after hearing the study on Gospel Order, the brethren there held a meeting and they established Gospel Order in their church there, and electing officers in their church that will help guard and protect the church from the false shepherds and brethren and especially from false and fanatical doctrines. As of now they are actively laboring to reach more people of the truth we have.
Please include in your prayers our brethren in ____ and also their work there and also that they will stand firm to the truth. They also planned for another camp meeting there this coming April. Hopefully we will be allowed then to travel that we may help and meet the brethren there.
Brother Bob, please pray for us. The storm is coming, a super typhoon and will hit our place today. We already feel it now, there's a strong wind. May God help and protect us from this storm and keep us safe and all the brethren here in ____. The Lord is really coming soon. The calamities are now more frequent. Just last week, we were also hit by the storm Quinta, and now two tropical storm (Rolly and Siony) will hit ____. But I know that our merciful God will protect and save us. May God help us to get ready for the coming crisis that we may found faithful....
I thank and praise the Lord for all His goodness to us all through the year especially during this time of crisis. The Lord has been our help and guide. This year has been tough for us but it turns into blessing because we become stronger in the faith. It also encouraged us to be more zealous in His work now that we are seeing the fulfillment of the signs of the times all around us and we are getting to the end.
Brother Bob, during this Covid crisis, we really did aggressive evangelism especially in our country site area, here in ____, where we stayed during lockdown, and thank God that He guide and blessed all our efforts. It brings many souls and new converts to the church. You know our church become full every Sabbath because of the new converts.
You know brother Bob, we have a lot of work to do now, a vast field that is ready to harvest are waiting for our labor. There's a lot of calling for us in different places now but it really hard to travel now. There's a lot of documents needed. But you know, we discovered the secret for us to travel freely. We used motorcycle even in long distance. The armies in the checkpoint allow those in the motorcycles to pass without checking. And through this we are able to move freely wherever we wanted to go for missionary.
As of now brother Bob, we are laboring ____ and ____, where there's an opening also for our labor. We already spend 2 Sabbaths here in ____ now because there's new souls that we are laboring here. But during other days we visited also some interests in other places and go home to the country to also visit and make follow up to those that we are laboring there and to encourage new believers there to continue in the faith. We are just following the leadings and the opening providences of the Lord, where to work, where sometimes confused us where to go because there's a lot of calling for us.
Brother Bob, please pray for our work here. A lot of people are now receiving the truth. The message is really swelling into a loud cry, and soon what happened during Pentecost will be repeated with greater power than that and much more abundantly in result. The Lord is really soon coming. The prophecies is fast fulfilling that we never imagined. Soon we will face the time of trouble such as never was, and we pray that God will help us prepare for that time and help us to be strong. May God help us to do quickly the work that He entrusted us, that no one will perish but all must hear the message and be ready also for what is coming upon the earth.
Brother Bob, please pray that we will able to buy an ink for our printer, it cost 12,000 pesos for a set with 4 colors. And also hope that we still can find where to buy it, because during this crisis we hardly find it. We really needed to print more tracts to be used for our aggressive evangelism. We are giving away our tracks about the Law of God and the Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast....
You know brother Bob, the enemy is really mad at us as he sees that people are awakening to the truth. This past two months, we continue doing the work of the Lord. We go back and forth here in ____ because there's some souls here that we left during the lockdown who are still interested to continue to know the Lord and to keep the Sabbath.
We divided our schedule during the week, half of it we spend in ____ and the other half we spend in ____. And sometimes if needed I visited also some other churches here. In ____, we have our regular schedule of house to house and Bible study there with the people there. Some of them are now spending Sabbath with us, and some are still hesitant and same here in ____.
Brother Bob thank God that we already bought an ink to our printer, we can now print again our tracts that we can use in our work. During this lockdown, its hard to find the ink for this printer, always not available. Thank God that its available already even though in much higher price. We can now print also the materials that we will be using for our home schooling.
We are happy and thanking God also because for the long time, we were able to held our fellowship with the brethren here. And all are happy and excited to see each other for the long time. I will send to you some of the pictures of this fellowship.
Till here for now brother Bob. Please continue to pray for our work here, that God will continue to guide, help and bless us in doing His work that more souls will be brought to His feet and that we may all prepare for Christ’s near appearing. The Lord is soon to come, may get all ready.
God bless you brother Bob, and your ministry. Be strong and keep safe always.
In Christ, s.b., Philippines.
FROM UGANDA, EAST AFRICA
(Combination of 2 letters) Dear Elder Sessler.
Christian greeting from this way, happy new year and Christ's coming is much nearer than we first believed.
Thus far the Lord of hosts hath led us through earth's turbulent moments. The prognosticated or foretold dangerous diseases - Covid 19: it looks be one of the several works of Babylonian Brotherhood for pharmaceutical industry which are owned by the same brotherhood are now above ten billion dollars richer after approval to make the vaccines....
“There are many ways of practicing the healing art, but there is only one way that Heaven approves. God’s remedies are the simple agencies of nature that will not tax or debilitate the system through their powerful properties. Pure air and water, cleanliness, a proper diet, purity of life, and a firm trust in God are remedies for the want of which thousands are dying; yet these remedies are going out of date because their skillful use requires work that the people do not appreciate. Fresh air, exercise, pure water, and clean, sweet premises are within the reach of all with but little expense, but drugs are expensive, both in the outlay of means and in the effect produced upon the system.” 5T 443.1
The Australian Aboriginals considered lemon (juice and) eucalyptus (oil) a fever-reducer, a solution for gastric problems, and a remedy for infectious diseases. This has also proved effective in reversing the progress Covid 19 mostly when one has lost sense of smell and helping in respiratory difficults, with entreating the Lord Jesus Christ some people have recovered.
By His grace we are still circulating the good news. We missed the western Kenya camp-meeting due to Covid 19 restrictions. Elder we still await our request for pick-up mobile out reach....
Since our nation was going through a political reset and elections, the network has been off. The incumbent feared riots and protests from the opposition. The American Political chapter, the foreign policies, affects the whole world - most especially Africa. We had expected Trump would've continued for his policies were not promoting evils, i.e. homosexuality, abortion....
After a long season of prayers the Lord hath answered, the Risography was repaired though the drum may need replacement, but at least we can let go the leaves of autumn. There is a great need/ demand of the booklets on Fanaticism and SDA and World Council of Churches. It's our prayers that someone comes along with help in this tract evangelism line of ministry....
By His grace we are sharing the good news, we appreciate every moment we share the gospel. I know whom I have believed that He will make good of humble efforts.
Thanks so much for the support and prayers. God bless thy labours.
I remain yours in the blessed Saviour. B.K., Uganda.
FROM ZAMBIA, CENTRAL AFRICA
Dear Elder Bob,
Greetings from the faith family members.
Am thankful for the email and the inquiry to you the specific report on the clinic. First and foremost am so happy to appreciate the spirit that lend you to help us start the clinic operation.
When I just opened the services many people got a lot of help especially with the Covid19 situation. The ginger, garlic, turmeric and cinnamon treatment helped some brethren, new people in faith and my family to keep our bodies strong with immunity.
Praise God one of the closet friends has been really helped after his Covid19 case. We had many that were hit by colds and coughing through this same treatment the Lord has given us life.
Elder Bob, I want to report to you that for the past 4 months I don't have any herbs or supplements as l didn't receive any support for the same. Sometimes I did charge little amounts to replace some supplements, but staying in a rural area where most people are vulnerable, this didn't do much well. If ever the Lord will provide some means for the clinic now, I have a different way to work in order to continue with out shortage. A small amount shall be charged and books to be given on top freely as usual.
This is the current status at the clinic. Waiting to harvest my ginger, then sale for the continuation of the project. Through this clinic others have learned to use natural remedies to help them keep their immunity strong.
Your prayers and usual support for the medical missionary will be highly appreciated....
Thank you, B.M., Zambia.
FROM ZIMBABWE, SOUTHERN AFRICA
(Combination of 3 letters) Dear elder bob.
I hope I find you well this time of the year. Although religious meetings have been allowed a bit, we have since managed to meet freely with our brethren more often in my home for religious meetings. Still movements are being restricted, but looks (like) the church is gaining more ground. Most of our efforts this time have been entirely devoted to visiting our local brethren and distribution of materials.
We are not able to travel to far places due to government restrictions. However because last time I had to endure answering questions that have to do with the prevailing situation in world, I have done a lot of work in translating some of the LTBL Ministries tracts into our native tongue that our people may read for themselves. I have also prepared some which I am attaching together with this report.
I encourage you Elder that let us have more time with the Lord in prayer. I don’t know how you are faring that side....
For the past two months )since December),I have seen the marvelous hand of the Lord as I have continued with the thrust of taking the gospel to the rural areas. I have witnessed that most people in the rural areas are hungering and thirsting for the word of life. There are great turn outs of people on each and every Sabbath meetings and consequently a promising field to work in. I have since managed to present the First and the Second Angel’s messages and currently presenting the Third Angel’s message. Those who are invited continue to increase in number who come to listen to the word of God besides our good and regular standing followers. ]Editor’s note: praise the Lord! Please keep up the good work dear brother![
The Lord has in a great measure lifted religious prejudice which the devil often cast in the pathway of those who wish to break the bread of life to needy souls. As I compare this field in which I am working in now and the previous fields, I can happily testify that this current field is a potentially fertile one.
...the Lord has blessed us in our evangelistic work in ____ district....My prayer is that the Lord may work through His Holy Spirit for the conversion of many in this region. However my greatest challenge in this field of work is that most of these souls do not read English and yet most of our literature is in English. It therefore behooves me to translate most of our literature into local languages that we may feed our )their( souls with the message for this time. In fact I have since managed to print other copies which I have already translated and some are found on the LTBL Ministries website. But printing costs have risen to unprecedented levels these days.
To a greater degree lockdown restrictions had been relaxed by the government and this gave us a lot of liberty to carry our duties until December 2020 only to resume once again this January. We have since resorted to WhatsApp evangelism. Church gatherings have been banned for the coming 30 days. Despite this we are however making some intermittent visits to our fellow believers in order to prop them up in the Lord in word and prayer. I am sending together with this report some unedited posts that we make on the WhatsApp group platform entitled “THE NEW WORLD ORDER” and “CHANGING TIMES AND THE LAW”....
Despite that we have been locked up for more than a month since January due to Covid 19 pandemic, the Lord enabled me to brave myself to visit our brethren in ____ in the month of February. I was very elated to see the living faith shown by our brethren. The home church is now stronger than before and due to the effects of Covid19 pandemic, they are now putting efforts to leave the city to locate in the country site. I stayed with the brethren for close to two weeks and the brethren greatly enjoyed my stay as we shared a lot with regards to our faith.
The brethren‘s mission to leave the city for country living has too greatly encouraged me and my family to consider doing the same. However as a family we had quite some challenges during this time of lockdown as we were not able to meet with our brethren or not allowed to gather for worship services.
WhatsApp evangelism is still going on very well and this gives me the consolation of interaction with my fellow brethren in the Southern African region despite the restrictions imposed on us by the threat of contracting Covid19. Steadily the brethren are planning to consolidate their efforts to see how we can evangelize the region through finalizing issues to do with Gospel Order. Please remember this work in your prayers. I hope you will continue remembering us in your moral support as I do the same here.
Fare ye well in Jesus Christ. Many greetings from the Zimbabwean church.
Yours faithfully, B.N., Zimbabwe.