IMS – Calgary, Canada

All through history God has had a people who were willing to uphold His truth and do His work. In these “last days,” this special people are those who believe in the message of the Great Second Advent  Movement. This Movement originated when true men of God from various faiths and different countries began to preach that Christ would soon return to earth. In America, the dedicated work of William Miller,

a respected New England farmer who became a minister in the Baptist Church, spearheaded the great evangelical thrust of the Nineteenth Century. Based on the understanding of the prophecy of Daniel 8:14, he and some 3,000 pastors of various Protestant denominations preached that Christ would come on October 22, 1844.

This glorious expectation was dashed to pieces when the time passed and nothing happened. Only a small handful of Millerites held fast to the message taught by William Miller and searched for additional light. They were rewarded by the revelation that the sanctuary of the prophecy referred not to this earth, which was the popular belief, but to the heavenly sanctuary, which is so clearly described in the book of

Hebrews. Christ is there pictured as our heavenly High Priest performing the final mediatorial service for His people before the throne of His Father .

Seventh-Day Adventists Called By God

This small group of faithful Adventist believers formed the nucleus of what is today the Seventh-day Adventist Church. New light was given to them concerning Christ’s work in the sanctuary, the Sabbath, health reform, and organization. A marvelous system of Bible truth gradually unfolded-a system which supplies everything needed in our time. The central doctrine of the Movement was Christ’s imminent, visible coming. All the trials, deprivations, and sacrifices that faced the early pioneers of the Advent Movement were borne gladly, because they firmly believed that Jesus would come very soon. The high spiritual standard maintained by them was due to this living hope.

The Movement grew, prospered, and spread. Property was acquired, and the membership increased. Slowly the Movement became a church. During these early years, the Seventh-day Adventists were a special, distinct people with a specific message. But as the anticipated second coming of Christ was delayed year after year, and as younger generations replaced the older ones, the bright hope and

urgency of the message began to dim. God, through His special servant, Sister E. G. White, sent warning after warning and reproof after reproof to a church that was beginning to resemble the world more and more. At one point, the messenger of God stated: “The line of demarcation between worldlings and many professed Christians is almost indistinguishable. Many who were once earnest Adventists are conforming to the world, to its practices, its customs, its selfishness. Instead of leading the world to render obedience to God’s law, the church is uniting more and more closely with the world in transgression. Daily the church is becoming converted to the world.” – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, pp. 118, 119. This was only one of many messages sent to the people of God, but the warnings were not heeded. The message of “Christ Our Righteousness,” when presented at the 1888 General Conference session, was not received, except by a few individuals. This failure to submit to the Holy Spirit inevitably led to open apostasy when  obedience to God’s law became an issue. Year after year the messages of warning became more specific and more pointed, until the prediction of fearful tests to be applied to God’s people began to appear. “Fearful tests and trials await the people of God. The spirit of war is stirring the nations from one end of the earth to the other. But in the midst of the time of trouble that is coming-a time of trouble such as has not been since there was a nation-God’s chosen people will stand unmoved.” -Testimonies for the

Church, Vol. 9, p. 17. From 1914 on, this world has been in this time of trouble. From one political crisis and war to another, the nations have been and still are in trouble. This will continue until the end of time, and God’s people will continually be tested.

The Church Is Tested

The fearful tests and trials facing God’s people were to be coupled with war, a time of trouble for the nations. The people of God would be tested on their loyalty to Him and His commandments in this setting of war . The Advent Movement had already been confronted with this question once, and then only on a national level-during the American Civil War (1861-1865). At that time the believers had to make a decision as to what stand they would take in the face of this conflict involving the 4th and 6th Commandments. The Movement passed this first test well, under God’s guidance. Even though the article of James White, appearing in The Review and Herald, August 12, 1862, entitled “The Nation,”

advocated joining the army to help abolish slavery, the church took the correct stand after God gave Sister White a clear vision concerning the issue. She wrote: “I was shown that God’s people, who are His peculiar treasure, cannot engage in this perplexing war, for it is opposed to every principle of their faith. In the army they cannot obey the truth and at the same time obey the requirements of their officers.

There would be a continual violation of conscience. Worldly men are governed by worldly principles. They can appreciate no other. Worldly policy and public opinion comprise the principle of action that governs them and leads them to practice the form of right doing. But God’s people cannot be governed by these motives. The words and commands of God, written in the soul, are spirit and life, and there is power in them to bring into subjection and enforce obedience.

The ten precepts of Jehovah are the foundation of aII righteous and good laws. Those who love God’s commandments will conform to every good law of the land. But if the requirements of the rulers are such as conflict with the laws of God, the only question to be settled is: Shall we obey God, or man?” – Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1, p. 361.

Three alternatives were placed before the Seventh-day Adventist at the time of the Civil War. The first was to work in a hospital; the second was to care for the Freedmen (slaves who had been freed); and the third was to pay $300 as exemption money. Their official position was set down in a letter sent to the Governor of Michigan in 1864, a portion of which follows: “The denomination of Christians calling themselves Seventh-day Adventists, taking the Bible as their rule of faith and practice, are unanimous in their views that its teachings are contrary to the spirit and practice of war; hence, they have ever been conscientiously opposed to bearing arms. If there is any portion of the Bible which we, as a people, can point to more than another as our creed, it is the law of ten commandments, which we regard as the supreme law and each precept of which we take in its most obvious and literal import. The fourth of these commandments requires cessation from labor on the seventh day of the week, the sixth prohibits the taking of life, neither of which, in our view, could be observed while doing military duty. Our practice has uniformly been consistent with these principles. Hence, our people have not felt free to enlist into the service. In none of our denominational publications have we advocated or encouraged the practice of bearing arms; and, when drafted, rather than violate our principles, we have been content to pay, and assist each other in paying, the $300 commutation money. And while that provision remained of universal application, we did not deem any public expression of our sentiments on this question called for.” -Seventh-day Adventists in Time of War, p. 58.

During the Civil War, this position was called “noncombatancy.” The meaning of the term “noncombatant” has changed several times since then. Today, “noncombatant” means someone who will serve in the army and perform all duties except the bearing of arms. In the early days, this term meant refusing induction into the milftary service, no matter what the capacity. Today we would call this “conscientious objection against military service.”

Thus the early Adventists understood this truth and observed it, as shown in their repeated statement of 1865: “Resolved, that we recognize civil government as ordained of God, that order, justice, and quiet may be maintained in the land, and that the people of God may lead quiet and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty.

“In accordance with this fact, we acknowledge the justice of rendering tribute, custom, honour, and reverence to the civil power, as enjoined in the New Testament. While we thus cheerfully render to Caesar the things which the Scriptures show to be his, we are compelled to decline all participation in acts of war, and bloodshed, as being inconsistent with the duties enjoined upon us by our divine Master toward our enemies and toward all mankind.” -Seventh-day Adventists and Civil Government, pp. 10, 11.

The Lord blessed their stand, and they were granted the right to object to war in all its forms.

The Test Repeated

About 50 years later, the same test came for the second time to the people of God only this time it was on an international level. World War I erupted in Europe, and the believers there had to make extremely difficult decisions. The various countries put pressure on the S.D.A. leadership, threatening loss of life and property if they did not join the war effort. The leaders in Europe yielded and told their members to take up arms and fight, even on the Sabbath day, to defend their fatherland.

Some members saw clearly that this was grave apostasy, and sorrow gripped their hearts; but they resolved to be faithful to Christian principles. The result was that approximately two percent of the  membership refused to obey the commandments of men and were disfellowshipped from the church. They did not desire to leave their church because they were devout Seventh-day Adventists and believed this was God’s church. They continued to pay their tithe and attend services whenever and wherever possible. But they were not tolerated and were even persecuted by the Adventist leaders and members for refusing to take up arms.

The testimony of these faithful people was written in blood. They were martyrs for the precious Advent hope, and many gave their lives in concentration camps and prisons. Their blood still cries to God for retribution.

The Prophesied Reformation Was Born

As early as 1875 (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, p. 474), God began calling for a reformation in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 1904, the calls became stronger-”Unless there is a decided reformation among the people of God, He will turn His face from them. . . .”

“The time has come for a thorough reformation to take place.” -Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 8, pp. 146, 251.

“A revival and reformation must take place, under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices.” -Selected M e s s a g e s , Vol. 1, p.128.

The many faithful believers who were disfellowshipped in the various European countries found themselves alone, persecuted, and without a church home. The S.D.A. General Conference changed their principles so as to go along with the transgression of the European leadrs . Where as before

( 1865 ) they said, “. . . We are compelled to decline all participation in acts of war and bloodshed, as being inconsistent with the duties enjoined upon us by our divine Master toward our enemies and toward all mankind” (Seventh-day Adventists and Civil Government, p. 11), in 1917 the stand was broadened – “We petition that our religious convictions be recognized by those in authority, and that we be required

to serve our country only in such capacity as will not violate our conscientious obedience to the law of God as contained in the decalogue, interpreted in the teachings of Christ, and exemplified in His life.” -Seventh-day Adventists and Civil Government, p. 11. Now they said their members were willing to serve their country in certain qualified positions. This differs from the 1865 statement in which they declined all participation in acts of war.

After the horrors of the war subsided in 1918, the disfellowshipped ones in the different countries managed to make contact in 1919, the Reformers, as they were called, organized and dedicated themselves to preaching and upholding the original Adventist standards. This did not prevent them from appealing to the General Conference in America to correct the error of transgression. Meetings were held, one of them in Friedensau, Germany, in 1920, and an appeal and request for hearing were made

to the General Conference Session in 1922 in San Francisco; but every effort to correct the terrible error failed. Finally in 1925 the Reform Movement set down its Principles of Faith, containing the original Adventist doctrines. Thus the prophecies of God’s servant, who died in 1915, when her counsel and warnings were openly trampled upon and discarded, concerning a reformation were fulfilled. God’s last

people are identified in the Scriptures as the remnant church. Just as every church of the seven in Revelation 2 and 3 had a remnant of faithful overcomers, so the last church of Laodicea also has such a remnant. It is this remnant which keeps the commandments of God and follows the instruction of the Spirit of prophecy (Revelation 12: 17) . Their only safety lies in the divine guideline, “To the law and to

the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20.

Liberty To Transgress

The same test was repeated in World War II, for the third time, with the same and even more disastrous results. Today the Seventh-day Adventist principle published and defended everywhere is: “We grant to each of our church members absolute liberty to serve their country, at all times and in all places, in accordance with the dictates of their personal conscientious convictions.” – European Division

policy statement, Gland, Switzerland, January 2,1923. In May 1934, the General Conference confirmed this stand, as it has many times since then-”The church does not attempt to dictate to its members individually, but each person must stand upon his own conscientious convictions.” -Seventh-day Adventists and Civil Government, p. 12. As Reformers, we protest this presumption on the part of Adventist leaders in granting people liberty to trespass God’s law. “Were men free to depart from the

Lord’s requirements and to set up a standard of duty for themselves, there would be a variety of standards to suit different minds and the government would be taken out of the Lord’s hands. The will of man would be made supreme, and the high and holy will of God-His purpose of love toward His creatures-would be dishonored, disrespected.” -Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, p. 81.

In harmony with the inspired word, we must speak out against the many transgressions, neglect, or open rejection of the various aspects of the precious light which God has given to His people. This protest is not lodged with a “holier than thou” attitude. We are all sinners, sorely in need of the righteousness of Christ our Saviour. But He has entrusted His last people with the unique present truth to be brought to the world. What will happen if the Advent people permit this precious light to be dimmed, distorted, or even extinguished?

The Result Of Apostasy

Most sincere Adventists agree wholeheartedly that a reformation is needed in the large denomination, but they cannot see that such a reformation leads to a separation. Often this Reform Movement of 1914 is labeled by Adventist leaders as an offshoot. But, in reality, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s departure from the firm platform of present truth and their ousting of the faithful members at that time caused this Reformation to be born. Thus the needed and anticipated reformation within the church has already occurred. It stands consistently on the platform of truth throughout the entire world.

Our sincere concern is for the honest Adventist, who believes the Advent message and wants to live it out. God has a people, a church, where you may grow and develop; a church where Christ and His truth are elevated and where you may rejoice in the pure truth that was given to Adventists by God’s own Spirit. You may learn more about this Reform Movement by writing for the free Reformation Study

Course, a most important, documented correspondence course on Reformation or take it online at the address below, or visit our website where you will find additional resources.