Chapter 6: God’s Church is not Confined to an Earthly Organization

Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

God’s church is not confined to an 8″10 box built by men. For us to take that title, “God’s church,” and apply it to a club or organization confined to earth, is blasphemy. The church of the firstborn is written in heaven.

Why was the General Conference organization created? It was designed to aid in the work of the gospel. It was designed to help the church. It was designed to serve the church. It was never the church of God as a whole, but rather an organization that was designed to help the church. It still is not the church according to scripture and never will be since the church of the firstborn is written in heaven. We can’t confine the church to a small organization built by a few men.

Read this testimony. Please, note that our pioneers did not call the General Conference “the Church.”

The General Conference Organization Was Part of the Church

Please read this carefully:

“At times, when a small group of men entrusted with the general management of the work have, in the name of the General Conference, sought to carry out unwise plans and to restrict God’s work, I have said that I could no longer regard the voice of the General Conference, represented by these few men, as the voice of God. But this is not saying that the decisions of a General Conference composed of an assembly of duly appointed, representative men from all parts of the field, should not be respected. God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority. The error that some are in danger of committing, is in giving to the mind and judgment of one man, or of a small group of men, the full measure of authority and influence that God has vested in His church, in the judgment and voice of the General Conference assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of His work.

When this power, which God has placed in the church, is accredited wholly to one man, and he is invested with the authority to be judgment for other minds, then the true Bible order is changed. Satan’s efforts upon such a man’s mind would be most subtle, and sometimes well-nigh overpowering; for the enemy would hope that through his mind he could affect many others.” Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, pages 257-261.

They were placed “in the Church” not to rule, but to be subject. To be “in the Church” only makes it part of the Church, and not the Church as a whole. This is what Ellen White taught. You did not have to be a member of the general conference to be a member of the Church.

Brethren and Servants Not Rulers

This is why Christ made it clear, “all ye are brethren”(Matthew 23:8), “one is your master,” and no one else.  All that the Church is called to do is to be a “servant.” The Bible tells us that, “For three things the earth is disquieted, and for four which it cannot bear:” The first of these things is, “a servant when he reigneth;”(Proverbs 30:21, 22).

For over 12 centuries during the period known to many as “the dark ages,” a church which was called to be a “servant” by Christ reigned and ruled the world.  For that, the earth was disquieted or troubled.  This is the very first thing that God has said disquieted the earth, “a servant when he reigneth” or rules.

It is forbidden of the Church to reign and rule and use authority against those it deems heretics when Christ has said, “It shall not be so among you.” The Church cannot force anyone to believe as it says or command obedience and exercise authority over any whom it does not agree with. It cannot go to State power and use the State to stop others from misusing the name “Christian,” “Catholic,” “Seventh Day Adventist,” or any other name.

If we have read carefully, we see a danger. Ellen says that there is an “authority and influence that God has vested in his church,” and the danger is giving this full measure of authority to this organization known as the General Conference which was placed “in the church.” This organization was never the church but rather an organization which “God…placed in the church.” To reiterate:

The General Conference was Not and is Not “The Church”

general conference seventh day adventistNever in the all the pages of Sister Ellen White’s writings do we see the words, “General Conference Church.”  When she was alive she could say, “I could no longer regard the General Conference as the voice of God.”

This is not saying that organization is not a good thing. It’s very necessary. God is not a God of disorder. But this particular organization is never to be called “God’s church.” The Church is much broader than any organization on earth can ever be. God’s church covers heaven, earth and its base which is in heaven.

Galatians 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

Yes, its location “is above,” and this is the mother of God’s children. Babylon and her daughters are earthly organizations which have taken the title of “God’s church.” It was brought down from its heavenly position, and they have applied it to their man made organizations whose builder and maker is men.

Builder and Maker God Through Christ

Abraham sought out a heavenly whose builder and maker is God (Heb 11:10), place of worship that was not made with hands.

Zechariah 6:12-13  And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD:  Even he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.

This temple or church is not built by man, but Christ is the builder alone. Neither it is built with hands.  Stephen had to point this out to the Jews as the Jews thought that the church was an earthly organization.

Acts 7:48-49  Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest

The temple of the most high is not a temple made with hands. We are not the builder of the church or tabernacle. The temple is built without hands.

Mark 14:58  We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.

Now, Christ is the only builder of the Church. No man can build this Church. It is Him alone.  He will build it and it’s not a temple made with hands. It’s not some church down the street that calls itself, “God’s church.”

Hebrews 9:11  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building.

Where is the church located? We already were told:

Hebrews 12:22 -23 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.

Christ is the invisible head of his invisible body.

Ephesians 1:22  And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

This has reference alone to his church. He is the head; we are the body, the members in particular. He fills us with the fullness of him, his Holy Spirit, which is the presence of God, and therefore the church is not filled with men who are unconverted, but rather men who are converted, men who have Christ living in them by the Holy Spirit. These men may be defective, but they are still God’s church. Defects are in its members and the stones need polishing.

1 Corinthians 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

1 Corinthians 6:15-17  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and makethem the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh.  But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

Therefore, God’s church is a spiritual body. If we don’t have spiritual eyes, we will not see the church. Many must be born again because they can’t see the kingdom of God. Thus, they will desire a visible church and a visible head.

Desiring a Visible Head (Give us a King)

Back in Samuel’s day, the people of Israel came to Samuel desiring an earthly king.

1 Samuel 8:5  And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.

The Israelites did not recognize Christ as the invisible head of the church. Thus, they wanted to be like the other nations and they desired a visible head.  Today like Israel of old, our people, instead of recognizing Christ as the head of the church, have taken the General Conference out of its position of “servant.” They placed the General Conference into the position of the “King.”

They have through carnal eyes not seen the head of the church. Thus taken members of the body, those who were to serve the Church (The General Conference), and placed them at the head of the body.

The people of the Conference, modern Israel, have requested a visible head. The reason we require a visible head is because we must be born again. We cannot see the invisible head.

The World Doesn’t see the Head, But You See Him

The world doesn’t see their head as Christ. “The world seeth him not, neither knoweth him.” (John 14:17.)

Looking through the eyes of the world, the people in the Conference don’t see Christ as the visible head. Thus, they call the Conference the head, but there is only one head to the church.

organizationsMatthew 23:8  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

In putting more heads on the church, they have created a monster. This monster has done exactly what sister White warned about in seeking to control the work.

A Monster Created

So what have we done?

We mistakenly assigned the title “God’s church” to an earthly organization.

  1. We mistakenly assigned the headship of “God’s church” to an earthly organization.
  2. We have left off the invisible head Christ
  3. We requested a visible head in the General Conference.
  4. We requested that conference to be King over us. Thus putting more heads on the church and creating a monster.
  5. The Conference assumed this role and now considers itself “God’s church” when in fact it was only a part of “God’s church”

Finally after having this power and after blasphemously accepting the term “God’s church” and applying it to an earthly organization,  they have taken our God given name “Seventh Day Adventists” and trademarked it with the United States(Second Beast of Revelation 13). Thus they created an image of the first beast of Rome.

They are using this trademark to force those who come out of her to give up the name “Seventh Day Adventist.”

“Romanists have persisted in bringing against Protestants the charge of heresy and willful separation from the true church. But these accusations apply rather to themselves. They are the ones who laid down the banner of Christ and departed from “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3.” {Ellen White Great Controversy Page 51}

Romanist Adventists persist in bringing the accusation against Protestant Adventists the charge or heresy and willful separation from the true Church.  These accusations apply rather to themselves as we read in the last chapter about the deadliest heresy in Seventh Day Adventism.

They are the ones who laid down the banner of Christ and departed from “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” God’s true Church has not laid down the banner.  An earthly organization has assumed the role of the true church claiming to be Christ on earth.

The Charge of Heresy- Leaving the True Church – Faith Delivered to the Saints

Are they not guilty of accepting the “omega of deadly heresies?”

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for THE faith which was once delivered unto the saints…” (Jude 3, 4) …The exhortation to contend for the faith delivered to the saints, is to us alone. And it is very important for us to know what for and how to contend. In the 4th verse he gives us the reason why we should contend for THE faith, a particular faith; “for there are certain men,” or a certain class who deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.… The way spiritualizers have disposed of or denied the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ is first using the old unscriptural Trinitarian creed, viz., that Jesus Christ is the eternal God, though they have not one passage to support it, while we have plain scripture testimony in abundance that he is the Son of the eternal God.”(James White, January 24, 1846, The Day Star)

They are guilty of leaving the true Church, and going out and building a new organization on sand.  We’re still on the platform praying for them.

The Church is above and it is not an earthly organization.  The roll is in heaven.  The General Conference has put itself in place of God.  It is in a blasphemous position as there is one head to the church.  There is much more to be said about this.  This is merely an outline.
Many can’t see the invisible church of God, and this is why they require a visible church.

Regarding the invisible Church:

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

We can’t see the Church through carnal eyes.  The Church is heavenly.  Where two or three are gathered in his name, there he’s among them.   Many will desire an earthly organization for their carnal eyes since they have yet to see through spiritual eyes. the Kingdom of God.  They will create new organizations and call them “God’s church,” not knowing that God’s church is not confined to an 8×10 box, but it covers heaven and earth.

This is a mistaken view we have taken in regards to the church.  God forgive us.  Let us come to your temple, on your foundation, without hands whose builder and maker is God.

Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

He is the builder, not us which is built on the foundation which is Chris. It is not built with hammer and nails.

Hebrews 3:3-6  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verilywas faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

We are his house.  Not because we are part of an organization.  Ask Luther, or Wesley, or any of the other reformers. They came to understand that the church was not an organization or building made with hands.

commandmentsGod has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20).Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the High and Holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church” (The Upward Look, p. 315).

It was prophesied that a “new organization” would be created if we did not learn our lesson from history.  This “new organization” would not be built on the rock.

“The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changedThe fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power [such as protecting their corporate wealth with a trademark], which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.’ Selected Messages, vol. 1, pp. 204, 205.

This “New Organization” has been developed by the General Conference.

Next Chapter: The True Seed of Abraham

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Book: “God’s Church Organization – The House Built on the Rock”

Chapters:

1: The Counterfeit Church Organization and the True Building
2: Reformers on the Church
3: Man Appoints a Head to the Organization
4: Foundation and Pillars of our Faith Changed
5: Deadliest Heresy in Seventh Day Adventism
6: God’s church is not confined to an Earthly organization
7: The True Seed of Abraham
8: The Elijah Message
9: Philadelphia – The 144,000
10: A Great Danger Right Before the Plagues are Poured Out
11: The Principles of Separation
12: Not to go and Listen to Error
13: Abomination and 25 Men A Prophecy by Ezekiel
14: Rebuilding That Which is Fallen – Reorganization

15: Church of the Firstborn – The Name of God’s People

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