Visible apostasy of the “last church of God,” but entirely in keeping with the Old Testament model and its many examples from northern Israel and Judah. The way the voices of warning are dealt with is as much a reflection of this type as the consequences that are initiated.
Laodicea, like Israel and Judah
The current state of affairs surrounding the “people of Laodicea” is a striking indication that biblical history will repeat itself sooner or later. In this case, it will even repeat itself “punctually,” as it marks the process, also foretold elsewhere in the Bible, of widespread apostasy from the Gospel and the associated embrace of the dictates and philosophies of modern-day Babylon.
This is connected to the fact that thought patterns, philosophies, and leadership styles no longer correspond to the Gospel, but rather, as the US preacher Dr. Conrad Vine put it, to the authoritarian, absolute form of the papacy. This is particularly evident, and simultaneously serves as “empirical proof” of his thesis, in the reaction to any critical discussion. In short, one is silenced, removed from office, and ousted. Although, and this is easily verifiable for anyone, the nature and extent of the deviation from biblical precepts could not be clearer.
Laodicea is the last of the seven churches (Revelation 2 and 3) to receive a letter from John. Literally on site at the time, from a prophetic perspective, it depicts the development of the Church of God from its beginning to the present day and beyond, up to the “bitter end” (Info).
Top down
“The fish rots from the head down,” as the saying goes, and it applies here as well. Historical precedents are the developments among the ancient peoples of (Northern) Israel and, in the south, also in Judah. The latter is even more pronounced than in the (symbolic) “elder daughter,” already punished by God into non-existence, with Samaria as its capital at that time (e.g., Ezekiel, chapter 23, sisters Oholah and Oholibah).
Also noteworthy is the description of the almost typical spread of apostasy and the turn to pagan idolatry from “top to bottom.” Whether it began with the respective king or with the council of elders, it was these who initially practiced their actual idolatry in secret, but ultimately, step by step, transformed it into the norm for the general populace.
The prophet Ezekiel received a vision from God revealing the unspeakable activities of the responsible religious leaders in secret. Seventy of the elders of the house of Israel gathered together in a dark chamber in the temple building and practiced idolatry. This number represented exactly all of the elders (Ezekiel 8:9-13).
Problems are inevitable
The same pattern continues today. The reactions to any daring criticism, or rather, admonition and references to the Word of God, are the same. Even one of the “most harmless” responses is a phrase like, “Why are you judging me?!” This is a learned, misguided hypersensitivity, based on the assumption that it constitutes “discrimination.” Calculated nonsense. This is precisely the task of every sincere Christian: to clearly point out to those who have strayed from the path their deviations from God’s standard. This call is also unequivocally made in Ezekiel 18, for example:
“Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?” (Ezekiel 18:28-29)
But it didn’t stop there. Prophets, those who exhorted people to return to the word of God, were branded as troublemakers, persecuted, imprisoned, tortured, and killed.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matthew 23:37).
Jesus Christ, not just a simple prophet, but the incarnate Creator and Owner of all things (John 1:9-11), had to find a way to escape the Pharisees’ ongoing murder plots before the time was right. As is well known, the time was fulfilled after 3.5 years and culminated in the prophesied conclusion on Golgotha.
A reminder today
One such admonisher is Conrad Vine. Even during the period of the declared pandemic, he addressed various injustices perpetuated and subtly imposed by the leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA). This particularly concerned the implementation of directives issued by organizational bodies that lacked the authority to do so. However, subordinate organizations accepted these directives as binding guidelines, with all the consequences for their employees. As a result, several employees lost their jobs because they followed their own conscience, as commanded by God, rather than the instructions “from above.”
An authoritarian style, such as that practiced in the papacy. Conrad Vine denounced this unequivocally, going into detail and sparing no evidence by presenting the corresponding written directives of the presumptuous officials. This did not go unnoticed, especially after Vine also addressed the use of tithe funds and the enormous financial contributions from the US Department of Health. A challenge to the “sacred cow.”
The “immediate” consequences
Vine lost his position as a licensed pastor in the Michigan area, USA. Since this decision falls under the jurisdiction of the local leadership, not the “highest authority,” it demonstrated how far these structures have already spread “downwards.” He subsequently resigned as chairman of the international missionary organization. Further cooperation beyond the limits of tolerance was no longer possible there either.
Nevertheless, the pastor, a native Englishman, was not deterred from continuing to openly address the still progressing convergence with the philosophies of the UN and thus with papal structures, in clear words, always accompanied by evidence.
This also includes the exposé of the long-standing power structures in contrast to the precepts of the Gospel. Ultimately, Conrad Vine was not an isolated case, but received support from a number of other pastors, who likewise faced corresponding reactions and sanctions. Vine recently highlighted these again in a lecture (Source). In this lecture, the pastor illustrated the massive clashes.
The obvious negative development
The following is a list of the serious transgressions by the “elders” of the congregation, as reprimanded by Pastor Vine. These transgressions, apparently carried out in secret beforehand, have now been brought to light and are being vigorously enforced.
| SDA Administrative State | Bible-faithful Adventists |
| The GC has jurisdiction and authority over the liberty of conscience of members worldwide, and can suspend your ability to act in harmony with the convictions of your conscience at any moment. | The conscience, as the meeting place between God and man, sacred, outside of denominational control, and the responsibility of leaders is to encourage members to listen for, and be obedient to, the voice of Jesus. |
| Conscience is subject to the “common good” as defined by the UN or the Papacy. Members can act in harmony with the convictions of the Holy Spirit only insofar as the Holy Spirit agrees with the UN and the Papacy. | Conscience is subject to the Word of God. |
| Members can never question, rebuke, or call for reform among leaders. | God calls present truth preachers and reformers to give the “Straight Testimony” which includes “reproofs and warnings” to the entire Church, including leaders (2T p. 440) |
| Unions and Conferences can meet in secret Executive Session and impose bans on members without the members being informed of, or invited to, the process. | Secret judicial hearings, such as the Spanish Inquisition or the Star Court in the UK, lead to emotional and spiritual alienation, withdrawal of financial support, and disengagement among members. |
| Unions and Conferences, when banning an individual, are not required to share the specific provisions of the ban in writing with the member being banned or with the wider membership. | Secret courts and hidden decisions deny justice, and violate an individual’s right to know the charges against them, make their defense, and to know what the final decision is. Biblical justice is never hidden, but is always transparent. |
| Conferences have the right to publicly ban a local elder from preaching or teaching within their local congregation without ever specifying the actual nature of the disagreement, despite repeated written requests for the charges to be put in writing by the local elder. | If the Conference refuses to bring formal charges against an elder, the case should be dismissed by the local constituency, and the elder continue in their God-given responsibilities as an elder. Said Festus to Agrippa, “It seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.” |
| Conferences can unilaterally override the decisions of local congregations in duly-called business meeting. | If a conference disagrees with a local business meeting vote, it must present its case to a subsequent business meeting vote and let the constituency decide the matter. |
Completely in keeping with the times
A sad development? Yes, definitely! A surprising development? No, it was predicted!
With mixed feelings, for this also demonstrates how far the biblical prophecies, which seem to arrive with uncanny certainty, have already progressed. As foretold, so it will come to pass, even if, from today’s perspective, this appears utterly impossible. This is precisely what humanity, mocking and laughing at Noah, thought, until the first rain fell.
It’s high time to prepare, and that involves much more than just assuming a “crouching position” – Info
Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, O son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose.
Ezekiel 8:17
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
