The 4 Generations of Adventism

Four Steps in Rebellion

(Based on the Oct. 2013 Future News)

 

1st Generation                           2nd Generation                          3rd Generation                            4th Generation

 

#1. Pride & Jealousy                  #2. Spiritualism                          #3. False Message               #4. Closed Door

-Lucifer                                       -Self above God’s Word            -Accusing God                             -Cast out

-Wanting a king                          -Saul                                         -Offers own sacrifice            -Kingdom rent away

-Image of Jealousy                     -Secret Chambers                   -Weeping for Tammuz           -Bowing to the sun

(false latter rain)

 

-Manasseh                                -Jehoiakim cuts up roll              -Jehoiachin                                 -Zedekiah

(false call out of Babylon)      (goes to Babylon)

 

-1863,                                        -1888,                                    -1888 to 1919,                  -1989 to the Sunday Law

Organization = State                 Cuts up EGW’s authority      (false teachings come in,          Generation of Vipers

GC President = King                                                               esp. “new view” of ‘daily’)

 

 

Robert H. Pierson could see our present crisis coming already in 1978:

 

An Earnest Appeal from the Retiring President of the

General Conference (presented to Annual Council on

October 15, 1978)

 

“This will be the last time that in my present role I shall stand

before the world leaders of my church, your church, our church,

and I have a few words to leave with you.

I take my thoughts from something that Elder and Mrs. Ralph

Neall have written describing how typically a sect evolves into a

church. They say a sect is often begun by a charismatic leader

with tremendous drive and commitment and that it arises as a

protest against worldliness and formalism in a church. It is

generally embraced by the poor. The rich would lose too much

by joining it, since it is unpopular, despised, and persecuted by

society in general. It has definite beliefs firmly held by zealous

members. Each member makes a personal decision to join it and

knows what he believes. There is little organization or property,

and there are few buildings. The group has strict standards and

controls on behavior. Preachers, often without education, arise

by inner compulsion. There is little concern about public

relations.

And then it passes on to the second generation. With growth

there comes a need for organization and buildings. As a result of

industry and frugality, members become prosperous. As

prosperity increases, persecution begins to wane. Children born

into the movement do not have to make personal decisions to

join it. They do not necessarily know what they believe. They do

not need to hammer out their own positions. These have been

worked out for them. Preachers arise more by selection and by

apprenticeship to older workers than by direct inner

compulsion.

In the third generation, organization develops and institutions

are established. The need is seen for schools to pass on the faith

of the fathers. Colleges are established. Members have to be

exhorted to live up to the standards, while at the same time the

standards of membership are being lowered. The group

becomes lax about disfellowshiping non-practicing members.

Missionary zeal cools off. There is more concern over public

relations. Leaders study methods of propagating their faith,

sometimes employing extrinsic rewards as motivation for

service by members. Youth question why they are different from

others, and intermarry with those not of their faith.

In the fourth generation there is much machinery; the number

of administrators increases while the number of workers at the

grass-roots becomes proportionately less. Great church councils

are held to define doctrine. More schools, universities and

seminaries are established. These go to the world for

accreditation and tend to become secularized. There is a

reexamination of positions and modernizing of methods.

Attention is given to contemporary culture, with an interest in

the arts: music, architecture, literature. The movement seeks to

become ‘relevant’ to contemporary society by becoming

involved in popular causes. Services become formal. The group

enjoys complete acceptance by the world. The sect has become

a church!

 

 

Brethren and sisters, this must never happen to the Seventh-day

Adventist Church! This will not happen to the Seventh-day

Adventist Church. This is not just another church—it is God’s

church!

But you are the men and women sitting in this sanctuary this

morning on whom God is counting to assure that it does not

happen.

Already, brethren and sisters, there are subtle forces that are

beginning to stir. Regrettably there are those in the church who

belittle the inspiration of the Bible, who scorn the first 11

chapters of Genesis, who question the Spirit of Prophecy’s short

chronology of the earth, and who subtly and not so subtly attack

the Spirit of Prophecy. There are some who point to the

reformers and contemporary theologians as a source and the

norm for Seventh-day Adventist doctrine. There are those who

allegedly are tired of the hackneyed phrases of Adventism.

There are those who wish to forget the standards of the church

we love. There are those who covet and would court the favor of

the evangelicals; those who would throw off the mantle of a

peculiar people; and those who would go the way of the secular,

materialistic world.

Fellow leaders, beloved brethren and sisters—don’t let it

happen! I appeal to you as earnestly as I know how this

morning—don’t let it happen! I appeal to Andrews University,

to the Seminary, to Loma Linda University—don’t let it happen!

We are not Seventh-day Anglicans, not Seventh-day

Lutherans—we are Seventh-day Adventists! This is God’s last

church with God’s last message.

 

You are the men and women, the leaders, whom God is counting

on to keep the Seventh-day Adventist Church God’s remnant

church, the church God has destined to triumph!

The servant of the Lord says, ‘Fearful perils are before those

who bear responsibilities in the Lord’s work—perils the

thought of which makes me tremble.’ (Selected Messages,

volume 2, p. 391) And in Ezekiel 22:30 we read, ‘I looked for a

man among them who could build a barricade, who could stand

before me in the breach to defend the land from ruin.’ (NEB)

I believe this morning, fellow leaders that God is looking for men

and women, intrepid leaders, men and women who love God’s

church and God’s truth more than they love their lives, to see

that this church under God goes through to the kingdom. The

task ahead of us is not going to be easy. If I understand the Bible

and the Spirit of Prophecy aright this morning, ahead lies a time

of trouble, a time of challenge such as this church and this world

have never before known.

The servant of the Lord tells us: ‘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

changed. The 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,

which, without God, is worthless.’ (Selected Messages, volume 1,

pp. 204, 205)

The Seventh-day Adventist Church had its alpha years ago. You

and I are the leaders who will face the omega that will be of the

same subtle, devilish origin. Its effect will be more devastating

than the alpha. Brethren, I beg of you, study, know what is

ahead, then with God’s help prepare your people to meet it!

‘God calls for men who are prepared to meet emergencies, men

who in a crisis will not be found standing on the wrong side.’

(Review and Herald, November 5, 1903)

‘We are pressing on to the final conflict, and this is no time for

compromise. It is no time to hide your colors. When the battle

wages sore, let no one turn traitor. It is no time to lay down or

conceal our weapons, and give Satan the advantage in the

warfare.’ (Review and Herald, December 6, 1892)

And then I call attention to a vision the Lord’s servant had, in

which she saw a ship heading toward an iceberg. She said:

‘There, towering high above the ship, was a gigantic iceberg. An

authoritative voice cried out, “Meet it!” There was not a

moment’s hesitation. It was a time for instant action. The

engineer put on full steam, and the man at the wheel steered the

ship straight into the iceberg. With a crash she struck the ice.

 

There was a fearful shock, and the iceberg broke into many

pieces, falling with a noise like thunder to the deck. The

passengers were violently shaken by the force of the collisions,

but no lives were lost. The vessel was injured, but not beyond

repair. She rebounded from the contact, trembling from stem to

stern, like a living creature. Then she moved forward on her

way.

Well I knew the meaning of this representation. I had my

orders. I had heard the words, like a voice from our Captain,

“Meet it!” I knew what my duty was, and that there was not a

moment to lose. The time for decided action had come. I must

without delay obey the command, “Meet it!” (Selected Messages,

volume 1, pp. 205, 206)

Fellow leaders, it may be that in the not too distant future you

will have to meet it. I pray God will give you grace and courage

and wisdom.

Finally, ‘What a wonderful thought it is that the great

controversy is nearing its end! In the closing work we shall meet

with perils that we know not how to deal with; but let us not

forget that the three great powers of heaven are working, that a

divine hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His purposes

to pass. He will gather from the world a people who will serve

Him in righteousness.’ (Selected Messages, volume 2, p. 391)

What a wonderful assurance we have this morning, brethren

and sisters that you and I are in God’s work. This work is not

dependent on any man; it is dependent on our relationship with

Him. There is only one way for us to face the future, and that is

at the foot of the cross. A church with its eyes upon the Man of

Calvary will never walk into apostasy.

Thank you, brethren and sisters, for giving me the privilege of

serving you for the past 45 years, and may God bless every one

of you.”