| Author | Message | ||
| Susan |
As a kid in the SDA church I had a real fear of end-time events. I've read similar experieces by some of you. Once I became a Christian I avoided the book of Revelation for a long time.(what a mistake, it's really an awesome book!) Just today I came across a booklet from my childhood. It's a story entitled "Now!". Is anyone else familiar with this? It's a fictitious story about two SDA young people during the end. It's full of SDA garbage! As I read it, I can't help but say "this is totally unbiblical! How could anyone buy into this?" And to think this was actually performed as a play at Camp Blue Ridge about 20 years ago! There I sat with so many other 10-12 year olds, being absolutly FREAKED out. I think it's a shame that a church would or could inflict this kind of spiritual abuse on it's members. Especially the children! I think it's downright inexcusable!!! Thank God I found the TRUE God of the bible. Thank God that His word alone, is all I'll ever need. Thank God for Jesus, and the cross. Love to hear from any of you! Your friend in Christ, Susan | ||
| maggieb |
Susan, I'm ashamed to admit, my children said to me, at various times, "Mommy, when are the bad men going to come and try to kill us and we will have to run away?" Doesn't that say it all? I think things like that started to wake me up. Even in my deep Adventist Trance, alarms started going off. Yes, it's spiritual abuse, and it's child abuse when we poison our children's minds that way. Now THERE'S something to repent of, huh, David? Maggie | ||
| Morgan |
Susan, I remember "NOW"! I think I was in the fifth grade when it was written, and that was about 35 years ago! It's been kicking around for a long time! It freaked me out, too. I had a copy of it which I read, certain that it was a prophecy of my future, and all the while wondering if I'd really be able to "stand firm" even at the point of death. Of course none of us had any conception of the Holy Spirit empowering us through the "time of trouble" because we all knew Jesus would have left the Holy Place by then and we'd be left fending for ourselves with no mediator, hoping and praying that our characters reflected Christ's character perfectly enough that we would be able to stand. The idea that the Holy Spirit will stay with me through whatever happens to me makes such a difference in the way I perceive the future. I don't live in constant, subliminal fear anymore. "End Times" is one of the biggest paradigm shifts since becoming a true Christ-follower, isn't it? | ||
| Susan |
Listen to this, (the main character, Alice is going to be executed because she wouldn't stop keeping the sabbath) sitting in her cell she's thinking "I had to know for sure that I had no sin on the books, but how could I? Elder Brown had talked of the many times I'd been in trouble at school. How could I know that all these things were forgiven? Day and night I cried to be forgiven. If only I could remember some sin that needed forgiveness, but my memory was blank. Death wouldn't be half so terrifying if I could be sure that I was prepared to meet my Lord." (Now! p.26) How tragic! No wonder we were all so scared! But truth will always win. Praise God we have a mediator in Christ. The battle has been won. The victory is the Lord's. There is no need to ever fear again! "But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast." Eph.2:4-8 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."Eph.1:7,8 "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him." 1Thes.5:9,10 Halleluiah!!! | ||
| BRUCE H |
When I was in school at Loma Linda I had a teacher put the number 144,000 up on the chalk board and he asked what this was. He said it was the amount of people that would make it to heaven in the last days. He then put 143,000 up on the chalk board and said what does this number mean. He stated that this is the number of Adventist that would be going to heaven, you see God in his infinate mercy would save about 1,000 of those babylon guys. He then stated that there are nine million Adventist in the world so that meant that maybe one or two in the whole school would make it to heaven. When I heard this I almost gave up on Trying to make myself perfect for God because I knew there were a lot of others that were better then me. Boy Im I in Love with Jesus for giving his perfection and his word to me, and then teaching me what it says. | ||
| Thomas |
PRAYER ALERT! We need to pray for our brothers and sisters still in the SDA church. I was just included on a specia information alert, from some SDA members. They are sharing information on a speach made by Atty Gen. Reno where she is supposed to have said that "cultists" are people who believe in the second coming, stock pile food for the end of times and believe in the second amendment. This speach was made in 1994 AND THEY ARE JUST NOW TALKING ABOUT IT. Then I get a response down the "pipeline" quoting EGW and showing how the end of times, persecution, and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit CAN NOT happen until specific things are accomplished! The things to happen must be for the "truth" to be preached to all the world! I grieve so for them. 1. The truth IS being preached to all the world in so many ways. The Jesus film project is a great example of millions who are hearing about and accepting Jesus! 2. The Holy Spirit IS being poured out on the world in such a powerful way. There are too many examples to mention. 3/ The church is being persecuted all over the world NOW. It has been for the last 2000 years. Just because it isn't happening according to EGW's pattern, they can't see or accept it. This is all happening and they are MISSING IT! How sad. Let's target them in our prayers. We can discuss the wrongs that have been done to us until Hell freezes over (literally!) but Jesus said to Love those who hate us and pray for them who despitefully use us. I believe that even means SDA's Love them as we would have them love us. They won't listen because they are blinded, but through prayer, the Holy Spriit can do what we can't do. I grieve for them because many of them are family and friends. But more I grieve for them because they, too are God's children who in so many cases are only believing what they have been taught. | ||
| Bamboozled |
To all The kind person's who sent e-mail..Thanks! Yes we must forgive all our Brothers and Sisters in the SDA Church for any wrongs real or imagined. Only through the Master's Saving Grace can it be done. I know that I realize that. Onward and ever Upward. Let us all pray that the fog will be removed so that eyes can be opened. That the blind and halt may go free. Shall we claim a victory in Christ Jesus, that we may know that prayer will be answered for all those dear souls! Master the Tempest is raging ............. The winds and the waves obey Thy will, Peace, be still! Whether the wrath of the storm tossed sea, Or demons or men, or whatever it be No waters can swallow the ship where lies The Master of the ocean, and earth, and skies; They all shall sweetly obey Thy will, Peace, be still! Peace, be still! They all shall sweetly obey Thy will, Peace, peace, be still! Only Jesus can give all our dear beloved friends the peace that they so desire. Glory to God in the Highest. Rom 8:1-4 1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do: sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (RSV) Praise God That I am no longer Bamboozled!!! |
