THE ETERNAL
VOL. 6 NO. 3
“CONTENDING FOR THE FAITH WHICH WAS ONCE DELIVERED UNTO THE SAINTS.” JUDE 3
Church and State Unite to Enforce Sunday Law
Adventists Participate in a Multi-faith Worship Service Ventura Worshippers Give an Early Thanks By Sue Davis Ventura County Star (vcstar.com) November 25, 2009
Several hundred people got an Germany's highest court passing its decision that early start on Thanksgiving at all shops must remain closed on Sundays. an interfaith worship service German Court Enforces Day of Rest Tuesday night in downtown Ventura. By Siobhan Dowling ABC News December 3, 2009
The Ventura Center for Spiritual Living’s stained-glass windows glowed in the darkness as members of different Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and other congregations came together to sing, pray and give thanks.
Many visitors to Germany can find themselves standing outside a closed department store, perplexed to find that they cannot do a bit of shopping during their weekend trip. This is a result of Germany's long-held resistance to Sunday shopping even in the face of “Gratitude is something all faith growing consumerism. traditions have in common,” Yet many of Germany's 16 states have already made said the Rev. Bonnie Rose of some exceptions, allowing stores to open a few Sun- the Center for Spiritual Living. days a year. And in Berlin the city government had gone the furthest in chipping away at the ban on Sun- The 11th annual Thanksgiving day trading. In 2006 the German capital gave the service was sponsored by the green light for retailers to open on 10 Sundays a year, Ventura Interfaith Ministerial including the four Advent Sundays preceding Christ- Association. Choirs and musicians from participating congremas. gations performed separately and However, Germany's Constitutional Court has now —continued on page 6 upheld a complaint made by the country's Catholic and Protestant churches, based on a clause in the German constitution that —continued on page 5
Buddhist monk Sutadhara Tapovanaya chants as ministers and others from various Ventura churches gathered on Tuesday, November 24, at the Ventura Center for Spritural Living in Ventura for a Thanksgiving interfaith service.
Sunday Debate Renewed in Britain
Retailers Urge Ministers to End Sunday Trade Limits By Jon Swaine, Dec. 29, 2009, telegraph.co.uk Retailers have urged ministers to scrap the historic restrictions on Sunday trading in time for next year’s Christmas sales. Bosses from some of the country’s leading shopping centres have said that the limit on Sunday opening hours is outdated and is “lunacy” during a recession. They fear that their revenues will be severely dented because Boxing Day, one of the busiest days in the retail calendar, falls on a Sunday in 2010. But campaigners argue that Sundays should be kept special out of respect for Britain’s Christian heritage. Among those thought to be lobbying the Government are managers at Westfield in London, Manchester’s Trafford Centre and Meadowhall in Sheffield. Gordon McKinnon, operations director of the Trafford
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The Remnant Church and the Three Angels’ Messages By C. J. Ritchie, Review and Herald, March 16, 1950 Roman Catholic Cardinal George Sterzinsky (left) and Protestant bishop Markus Droege (right) celebrating inside the German Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, southern Germany. They were instrumental in pressuring the court to uphold the Sunday law. They were swarmed by the media.
The Bible clearly teaches that God, by His Holy Spirit, selects, prepares, and directs chosen messengers for carrying forward the great movements of His work on earth. When the hands of God’s prophetic clock pointed to the hour for the emergence of the remnant church, she came upon the stage of action unmistakably identified. But what is of equal significance and wonder is that nearly two thousand years —continued on page 4
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the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 3
The Churches in Political Action —by Pastor Raphael Perez
Religious persecution and intolerance will very soon be seen here in America. That is what we read in the prophecies of Revelation 13. Faced with grave political and economic turmoil, both religious and political leaders will seek to bring solutions to the problems of mankind. Prophecy describes that a totalitarian, welfare state will soon be set up here in America. “And he [USA] had power [from the Dragon] to give life [to develop a reflection of the papacy] unto the image of the beast [this will be reproduced by the Protestant churches as they unite with the state], that the image of the beast [Protestant America] should both speak [pass laws], and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast [accept the false doctrines given by the Papacy] should be killed. And he [USA] causeth all [within and without its jurisdiction], both small and great [without class or distinction], rich and poor [every social class], free and bond [those in prison and those free], to receive a mark in their right hand [paying homage to the institution of the papacy], or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell [even food], save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Rev. 13:15-16. And just as Sunday laws have been enforced in different countries around the world, Germany being the most recent, so too will America pass laws in order to unite the political and religious realms of society. The general aim will be to supposedly create a new world of lasting peace and security for all men. “The kingdom of God and His righteousness will not be brought in by preaching alone,” religious leaders say today, “but by legislative action also.” The church wants to be heard in legislative halls. Protestants and Roman Catholics have joined together in their effort to “solve the problems of the world.” This is what will very soon set the stage for the fulfillment of Revelation 13 in America. It is already happening as we speak in different parts of the world. Have we not noticed the growing power of the state with the banks, corporations, automobile industries, and healthcare? Have we not seen the rising influence of the Papacy in America? Are we not now witnessing the increasing unity among Protestant churches, including Seventh-day Adventists? Are we not seeing the political interest and ambitions on the part of both Protestants and Catholics? All these events are helping to bring about the final act, the setting up of the image of the beast here in America. This will also lead to the persecution of God’s faithful Sabbathkeeping people who will be raising up their voices in protest to the mark of the beast. There is no doubt that Protestants and Catholics in recent years have been pressuring legislative bodies around the world to enforce Sunday observance. They want the state to pressure politicians, bankers, economists, and businesses to abstain from Sunday trade. They want to revive the old Sunday laws. This is how the prophecy of Revelation 13 will be carried out. The
THE ETERNAL GOSPEL HERALD PO Box 15138 West Palm Beach, FL 33416 1-800-769-2150 eternalgospel@att.net Subscription: FREE If you wish to receive a free subscription of this publication, please contact our office at: PO Box 15138, West Palm Beach, FL 33416 | 1-800-769-2150 email: eternalgospel@att.net Online Edition: www.eternalgospelherald.com Editor Raphael Perez Copy Editors Patricia Rocco Ana Veloso
Contributors Miriam Ponce Norma Perez Peter Prestol Maria McGinty
The Eternal Gospel Herald is published from West Palm Beach, Florida, USA, by the Eternal Gospel Church, a ministry that was founded in 1992 by Seventhday Adventist believers to bring true, genuine, world-wide revival and reformation by proclaiming the Third Angel’s Message. The Eternal Gospel Herald is sent to you free of charge, with much love, work, and sacrifice. Every effort is made to insure the accuracy of the information contained herein. This publication is printed to communicate the issues and subjects pertaining solely to the development and fulfillment of the third angel’s message and the advance of Christ’s character in the lives of God’s faithful people. We hope and pray that you will not only enjoy it but that it will be informative and spiritually enlightening to all of you. It is only by the grace of God and the support of each of you that we are able to participate in publishing, radio, newspapers, billboards, and foreign missions.
true Sabbathkeepers, those who adhere to the fourth commandment of God’s law, will find themselves standing against all the political and ecclesiastical powers of the world. This little group of faithful men and women must stand united against the world but united to Christ. Who shall be able to stand in that trying hour? This is the question that all who desire to be faithful to the truth of God must seriously consider. God has declared in Revelation 14, that the work of the beast, the image of the beast, and the mark of the beast will not go unchallenged. God’s faithful people will be giving a stirring warning message against the beast, the image, and the mark as foretold in Revelation 14. Praise the Lord! When Revelation 13 is seen to be fulfilling, as we are not yet seeing it, Revelation 14 will also come to pass at the same time! John the Revelator saw them. God declared to the Revelator that His people, though in the minority, will stand up against the tidal wave of apostasy and rebellion by they so-called Christian world. The will fearlessly give the warning. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. We should desire with all our hearts to be part of this faithful company found in Rev. 14 who are not bowing to political or religious leaders during the fulfillment of Rev. 13. We are inviting you dear brother to join forces with us with your prayers and financial support so that we can see the work of Rev. 14 finished once and for all. Let’s make 2010 a year in which we can place our Sabbath Message in a very distinctive way through newspapers, billboards, radio, literature distribution, and of course with our own personal testimony and witnessing. As you may remember, we recently published our two-page “Liberty of Conscience Threatened” ad in Hawaii. We want to continue to reach millions of people both here in America and abroad with the final warning message. We have an important work to do. Let us be faithful and be found doing it. God bless you and prepare to meet thy God.
Letters
Dear Eternal Gospel Church, My name is _______ and I am a student at Walla Walla University. I have been a Seventh-day Adventist my whole life, with Adventism running back several generations on both sides of my family. I saw one of your billboards outside my little town of Mount Vernon, Ohio. Thank you for putting that there. I am sure your group is more than well aware of the awful things happening with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ohio. I was very refreshed reading your articles on your website. I am very interested in continuing to read more of your writings. Thanks for being a group that believes in the fundamental tenants of the Adventist Faith. Keep on fighting the good fight, and thanks for helping to equip the rest of us to do likewise. Sincerely, _______ College Place, WA. The following letter comes from an individual who read our billboard and called back to request the free book. Dear Brethren and Sisters in Christ, Thank you for the information that you sent me. I hope and pray for your ministry that God will bless you so that more people will come to find the truth about the Sabbath day. May God bless you and your loved ones. With Christian love, Ronald Strauch, Ohio. To whom it may concern, My name is _________, I am incarcerated in Arkansas. Yesterday members of the Seventh-day Adventist faith came by the unit and distributed some cards and some literature. After reading them I came across a free book offer. I had been wondering for years why the church changed over to Sunday, instead of keeping the true Sabbath. I now feel the need to start observing Saturday as the Sabbath. Pray for me. Any information you can send to help, I would appreciate it. Your brother on Christ, _________, Arkansas. Dear Sirs, Thank you very much for sending me the book “Antichrist.” I have skimmed over it and was about to start reading it when my friend saw it and asked if he could read it first. He said that he has researched the material and that everything checks out with what the Bible says. Please send me an extra copy so that I can give him mine. Sincerely, Greg Shepard, Indiana. Dear Eternal Gospel, I have heard a lot about your publications and missionary work. I’m interested in taking your Bible study course so that I can stay close to God. I want to know everything there is to know about our faith. I am a Seventh-day Adventist. God bless, Juan Wilson, South Carolina. Dear Eternal Gospel Church, This letter is to let you know that I received a copy of your paper entitled “Earth’s Final Warning.” I have changed my religious beliefs to Seventh-day Adventism. Prior to changing my beliefs I was a Baptist for 28 years. Again, thank you for sending me your literature. Your brother in Christ, Terry Katt, Michigan.
the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 3 page 3
Spiritualism is Alive in the Church Pope is the World’s Spokesman Pope Says November Feasts Highlight Tie Between Living, Dead By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service Noc. 2, 2009 VATICAN CITY (CNS) – Underlining people's connection with those who have gone before them, the annual commemorations of All Saints and All Souls remind Christians that "we are never alone," Pope Benedict XVI said. "We are part of a spiritual fellowship in which a deep solidarity reigns" through the prayers of the living for the eternal repose of the dead and through the intercession of the holy deceased on behalf of those still living, the pope said during his Sunday Angelus address Nov. 1, the feast of All Saints. On the Nov. 2 feast of All Souls, the pope paid an evening visit to the grotto of St. Peter's Basilica where he knelt in silent prayer before the tombs of some of his deceased predecessors. "How beautiful and consoling is the communion of saints [dead]," the pope told people gathered in St. Peter's Square Nov. 1. The connection between the living and their deceased loved ones is a mysterious reality of sharing where the good one person does benefits all, the pope said. The best way to honor those who have died, the pope said, is "to pray for them, offering acts of faith, hope and charity." "We can intercede for their eternal salvation and experience the deepest communion while waiting to be with them again to enjoy forever the love that created us and redeemed us," the pope said.
Does Death Exist? New Theory Says 'No' Dr. Robert Lanza Huffington Post December 8, 2009 Many of us fear death. We believe in death because we have been told we will die. We associate ourselves with the body, and we know that bodies die. But a new scientific theory suggests that death is not the terminal event we think.One mainstream explanation, the "many-worlds" interpretation, states that each of these possible observations corresponds to a different universe (the 'multiverse'). A new scientific theory - called biocentrism - refines these ideas. There are an infinite number of universes, and everything that could possibly happen occurs in some universe. Death does not exist in any real sense in these scenarios. All possible universes exist simultaneously, regardless of what happens in any of them. Although individual bodies are destined to self-destruct, the alive feeling - the 'Who am I?'- is just a 20watt fountain of energy operating in the brain. But this energy doesn't go away at death. Editors Note: We have been told that this doctrine on the immortality of the soul would be an important issue during these last days. “Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former (death) lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter (Sunday) creates a bond of sympathy with Rome.” Great Controversy, p. 588. We are now offering this 32-page missionary booklet that answers all the question from the Bible on this important topic. Call our office to obtain your free copy. These are good for missionary work. If you would like to have multiple copies call for pricing at 1-800-769-2150.
on the Environment Pope: Rich Nations Must Assume Environmental Duties By Philip Pullella Reuters News Tue Dec 15, 2009 VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Industrialized nations must recognize their responsibility for the environmental crisis, shed their consumerism and embrace more sober lifestyles, Pope Benedict said on Tuesday. The pope's call for more environmental commitments came in his message for the Roman Catholic Church's annual World Day of Peace, to be marked on Jan 1 and whose theme is "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect Creation." The message is traditionally sent to heads of state, government and international organizations and its importance this year is more significant because its release coincided with the U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen. "It is important to acknowledge that among the causes of the present ecological crisis is the historical responsibility of the industrialized countries," he said in the message. While saying that developing countries "are not exempt from their own responsibilities with regard to creation," and had a duty to gradually adopt effective environmental measures, the bulk of his criticism was aimed at rich nations. Speaking of the need for all nations to address the issue of energy resources, he said: "This means that technologically advanced societies must be prepared to encourage more sober lifestyles, while reducing their energy consumption and improving its efficiency." He said no nation or people can remain indifferent to problems such as climate change, desertification, pollution, the loss of biodiversity, the increase of natural catastrophes and the deforestation of equatorial and tropical regions.
C a t ho l i c s a n d O t h e r A m e r i c a n s ‘Overwhelmingly’ Favorable Towards Pope Benedict XVI CatholicNewsAgency.com May 19, 2009 Both American Catholics and their non-Catholic countrymen have an “overwhelmingly” favorable view of Pope Benedict XVI, a new poll commissioned by the Knights of Columbus says. About 78 percent of practicing Catholics had a favorable or very favorable view of Pope Benedict. Non-practicing Catholics were only slightly less likely to profess a favorable view. Among all Americans, about 59 percent had a favorable or very favorable view of the pontiff. According to the survey results, about 65 percent of Americans in general and 85 percent of Catholic Americans said they had a favorable view of the Catholic Church. Of practicing Catholics, 92 percent had a favorable view of the Church while only 73 percent of non-practicing Catholics did. The poll reported that about half of Americans said they would like to hear Pope Benedict XVI on issues like abortion and stem cell research, while 57 percent wanted to hear his views on marriage and the family. Supreme Knight of Columbus Carl A. Anderson, commenting in an column for Zenit news agency, said the positive responses were “a great testament to the Pope’s ability to communicate the Gospel directly to people.” “It is an unswerving commitment to the truth -- and the ability through his own prayerfulness to introduce people to Jesus Christ -- that has made Benedict XVI a beacon of moral courage whose message the American people and people worldwide respect and wish to hear. We might call it a triumph of truth over television,” he wrote.
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the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 3
—continued from page 1 “The Remnant Church” ago the Lord outlined her work for these last days. The messages that the remnant church is to preach are recorded in the book of Revelation. They constitute God’s last warning to the world and His last earnest appeal to the world before the Second Advent of Christ. Three messages are recorded under the symbol of three angels flying “in the midst of heaven.” Not only is the symbol significant, but the metaphor of flight is undoubtedly used to indicate both the urgency and the speed with which these messages must be communicated to “them that dwell on the earth.” The First Angel’s Message The first angel is pictured as “having the everlasting gospel.” Since this proclamation of the gospel immediately precedes the second coming of Jesus (Rev. 14:14), there can be no doubt that it is the same work outlined by Jesus in Matthew 24:14. In Revelation we are told that it will be preached to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; and in Matthew, Jesus states that it will be preached to all the world for a witness unto all nations.
that command these Babel builders decided to build a city from which they would rule the world, and erect in it a tower so high as to be safe from another Flood. They thus demonstrated their disbelief in God’s covenant that He would not destroy the world a second time by water. God showed His disapproval of the project and His disfavor of their unbelief by confounding their language and scattering “them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth.” Gen. 11:8. The term Babel, or Babylon, hence came to mean “confusion.” We meet “Babylon” again in Revelation 17. Here she is presented as a symbol of the Papacy, “the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth.” In the second angel’s message more than the Papacy must be involved. She had already fallen long before. But Babylon is a family name, for the Papacy is termed the “mother.” Her daughters must, therefore, be those churches that cling to her doctrines and traditions, and following her commands or example disavow allegiance to the God of heaven, forming an alliance with the world. The fall here, then, must refer to religious bodies that once were sincere and pure, but have now become corrupt by partaking of the wine of Babylon. Though apostasy, in a degree, permeated the Protestant churches before 1844, it was by their rejection of the judgment hour and the Second Advent messages that the fall of these churches came out.
The first angel’s message opens with a call to “fear God, and give glory to him.” Undoubtedly the absence of the fear of God and the widespread disregard of His presence and requirements are responsible for the terrible situation in the world. When the fear of God is lost the last great barrier to sin in all its forms is removed. Not only infidelity but blasphemy and a host of kindred evils follow.
It would be well for us now to study the sins that comprise the cup of Babylon’s fornication, for the fall is not yet fully complete. Apostasy has not yet developed to the full extent of its defiance against God, and as yet “all” nations have not become drunk with her wine.
As an added reason for fearing God and giving glory to Him, our attention is called to the judgment now in progress. “For the hour of his judgment is come.” What a sobering influence the consciousness of a case pending against us in a human court has upon us! How much more sobering should be the knowledge that we have a case pending in the courts above, a court already in session, and our case is either already in review or just about to be called!
Having outlined positive truth in the first message and identified and condemned apostasy in the second, the Lord now proceeds clearly to define the principal issue in the great controversy between Christ and Satan, between truth and error. “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God.” Rev. 14:9, 10.
I shall leave the proof of the time of the judgment hour to others, but shall only state here that inasmuch as it was begun in 1844, there is every indication that the work of the heavenly tribunal nears its completion. Now is the time to place our individual cases in the hands of man’s only Mediator, Jesus Christ. The last great announcement to be made by the first angel is to “worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:7. If there is one truth more than another that the evil one has sought to obscure, it is the creatorship of God. By the teachings of evolution and modernism he seeks to accomplish his purpose. Evolution is diametrically opposed to the Bible account of creation. The fabled missing link is still vainly sought for, and rock and fossil call loudly to those who will guide their study by the Word of God to “worship him that made heaven, and earth” in six days of time. The very language of this announcement directs our attention to the fourth commandment and the Sabbath. Since the great memorial of creation is the Sabbath, it becomes the bulwark against evolution and idolatry. How very important, therefore, Sabbathkeeping becomes when viewed in the light of the first angel’s message! The Second Angel’s Message The remnant church is also to bear to the world a second pronouncement, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Here is brought to view the great apostasy that will seek to oppose and counteract the truth of God. Dealing as we are with spiritual and religious matters, the fall here referred to must be a moral or spiritual declension, and since this message follows the first it must have a special application after 1844 and not before that year. The term “Babylon” now becomes our theme of study. The law of first reference carries us to Genesis 10:9, 10. Here the beginning of Nimrod’s kingdom was called Babel, and the marginal reference explains that Babylon is the Greek word derived from the Hebrew word Babel. The location of this city is given as the plain of Shinar or the land of the Chaldees on the banks of the river Euphrates. In this first mention of Babylon, or Babel, we find present the spirit of rebellion against God. The divine command to men had been to disperse throughout the earth, to replenish, and to subdue it; but in opposition to
The Third Angel’s Message
This is the most solemn warning found in the pages of the Holy Bible. This must of necessity be so, for it is the last call and warning of God to the inhabitants of earth. In contrast to those who worship God as Creator, we are here brought face to face with those who worship the beast and his image. The numerous proofs in Revelation 13 identifying this beast as the Papacy cannot be restudied here; nor is there provision in this article to enter into a detailed study of the image and the beast. But just as the marks identifying the beast are numerous and conclusive, so are also the proofs that the image to the beast “represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas.” Great Controversy, p. 445. What is the Mark? And what is the mark of the beast? John was called to behold a people distinct from those who worship the beast or his image by keeping the first day of the week. “The observance of this day is the mark of the beast.” Testimonies to Ministers, p. 133. One of the clearest statements on the reception of the mark is found in The Great Controversy, page 449: “When Sunday observance shall be enforced by law, and the world shall be enlightened concerning the obligation of the true Sabbath, then whoever shall transgress the command of God, to obey a precept which has no higher authority than that of Rome, will thereby honor popery above God. He is paying homage to Rome, and to the power which enforced the institution ordained by Rome. He is worshiping the beast and his image. As men then reject the institution which God has declared to be a sign of His authority, and honor in its stead that which Rome has chosen as the token of her supremacy, they will thereby accept the sign of allegiance to Rome— ’the mark of the beast.’ And it is not until the issue is thus plainly set before the people, and they are brought to choose between the commandments of God and the commandments of men, that those who continue in transgression will receive ‘the mark of the beast.’” No wonder a dire twofold punishment is inflicted on those who thus reject God. They receive the unmingled wrath of God poured out during the seven last plagues. (Dan.12:1) This is after Christ has ceased to intercede for man, for it is only then that God’s wrath is unmixed with mercy. (Eze. 9:5, 10) These also receive the final punishment for sin in the “second death.” Surely we ought to appreciate our wonderful privilege as those to whom the great final warning has been entrusted, and urge sinners to “flee from the wrath to come.”
the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 3 —continued from page 1 “German Sunday Law” Sunday should be a day of rest and "spiritual elevation." The court on Tuesday decided in favor of the churches, saying that Sunday opening should not take place four weeks in a row. The ruling will not affect shopping this December, but would come into force next year. However, the ruling did not overturn completely the principle of limited Sunday store opening. The labor unions had joined the churches in their campaign to ringfence [set aside] Sunday as a day off for the nation. However, their focus was not on protecting the right to practice religion, but rather on protecting workers in the retail sector from having to work on Sundays, sometimes the only day they might get to spend with other members of their family. The services union Verdi greeted Tuesday's ruling with "relief and joy," saying this was a boon to shop workers and their families. German papers on Wednesday are broadly in favor of the ruling, though their reasons for supporting the court's decision are strikingly different. A Day to Synchronize Society The center-right Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung writes: "The Constitutional Court had to overthrow the Berlin law. ... The judgment was not 'out of touch with reality,' as the Berlin Chamber of Commerce claims, but is actually very closely in touch with real life. The great diversity of working lives brings with it the fact that members of a single family are forced into different and sometimes incompatible working hours. If the state does not use some of its regulatory power to give a dependable rhythm to at least one free day -- and that is still Sunday -- then the family faces the threat of being pulled further apart." "If they have no time with each other and for each other, then the formal notion of belonging together loses value. This danger faces many families in society. The fact that in the face of growing commercialization and fewer jobs hardly any employee ever dares to ask for a free Saturday, led the labor unions to join the churches in their campaign -with noticeable success." The conservative Die Welt writes: "The churches have argued correctly that employees in the retail sector are not given the possibility of organizing their Advent Sundays according to Christian principles: going to church, being involved in the community, singing and reading aloud. It is part of religious freedom to be able to do these things." "The judges did not just endorse the division of time marked by Christianity, but also the necessity for this division. There is no ambiguity about this weekly rhythm. We people as social animals are duty bound and justified in dividing our time together. It is good to have free time together, it helps us to live as the social beings that we are." The center-left Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: "The judgment sounds antiquated, maddeningly unmodern and pretty patronizing. It tells citizens when they are allowed to shop, and when they are not. It makes shopping on a Sunday an exception. It is a ruling that goes against the economic liberal zeitgeist and is a ruling against the round-the-clock commercialization of life." "Yet, the ruling is humane. It is an act in favor of the public spirit. Those who regularly go shopping on Sundays today will have to work regularly on Sundays tomorrow." "It may sound old fashioned but it is still correct: Sunday is Sunday because it is unlike other days. This is not about tradition or religion or a social heritage. Sunday is more than just a day off for individuals. It that were so, then it wouldn't matter if someone took a day off on Tuesday or Thursday. It is a day to synchronize society, that is what makes it so important. Without Sunday, every day would be a working day and a fixed point in the week would disappear. Of course there can be exceptions, there have always been particular professions who work on Sundays. But when the exception becomes the rule, then the commercialization of Sundays will not end at the department stores." "The court has given everyone the right to a day off on Sundays. You don't have to take it. Everyone can do what they like with it. But it is good to have it." An Interference in Individual and Economic Freedom? The Financial Times Deutschland writes: "The ruling by the Constitutional Court has revived the emotional debate about opening hours of shops on Sundays. That alone is annoying. But even more annoying is that with its strong emphasis on the religiously based day of rest on Sunday, it is interfering in individual and economic freedom. Without a doubt the freedom to practice religion is of great value. However, in an increasingly secular society with more and more individualized
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rhythms of living, it seems an anachronism for the country's highest court to use retail of all things to save the day of rest." "In the public debate there is too little mention of the freedom of shop owners to keep customers through opening on Sundays, who would otherwise order online. And the freedom of towns to use Sunday opening hours to attract tourists. Or the freedom of customers to decide for themselves if they would rather spend Sundays amidst the crowds in the shopping malls or walking in the forest." "Appreciating these rights does not mean throwing away the country to the false god of consumerism. It means allowing a debate about what Sunday really means to us. That includes protecting the rights of salespeople, paying them extra for working on Sundays and not putting anyone under pressure to work on Sunday." The left-leaning Die Tageszeitung, which is based in Berlin, writes: "Sunday as a day off is a great gift. The treadmill is closed for 24 hours. The court has given relaxation, rest and 'spiritual elevation' precedence over the thirst for profit and the right to a consumer fix. However, it made it clear in its ruling that Sunday was not just for those who wanted to practice their religion undisturbed. It is also to play cards, go for a walk or simply to laze around. After all even the strictest atheist needs the switching off that Sundays allow." —continued from page 1 “Sunday Debate Renewd in Britain” Centre, said: "Next year Boxing Day falls on a Sunday, it is going to be an absolute nightmare unless something is done. "Turning people away in the current economic climate is just lunacy. "The Government could take a real positive step to support the hard hit retail sector to eliminate this ridiculous situation on Sundays.” Rules allowing shops to open on Sundays were introduced in the Sunday Trading Act 1994. While small stores are free to open all day, those with floor space of more than 280 square meters may only open for six continuous hours between 10am and 6pm. On Easter Sunday they must remain closed. Campaigners claimed that a majority of the public oppose a change to the rules. A spokesman for Keep Sunday Special said: “Sundays should be a day for relationships with friends and family. A day of rest in our 24/7 culture with its pressures and stresses. “But keeping Sunday special also respects our Christian heritage as a country and the faith of those who want to worship on that day. “Sundays should be a day we look forward to – to read, walk, play, worship, eat, rest and spend time together.” A spokesman for the Business Department said: "The Government has no plans to review or change the laws on Sunday trading. "We carried out a wide ranging and thorough review in 2006 and concluded that the current laws strike the right balance between all the interests involved." Millions of Britons continued to flock to post-Christmas sales around the country yesterday, highlighting the period's importance to retailers. Shopping centres claimed they had enjoyed yet more unprecedented figures after a record-breaking Boxing Day. Bosses at Bluewater in Kent said that more than 200,000 people had visited and that yesterday was likely to have been the shopping centre's busiest day of the year. The Brent Cross centre in north London reported that 16,000 shoppers had come through its doors in the first hour of trading – a record for a bank holiday – and that about 90,000 people in all had visited. The Trafford Centre said that it had 115,000 visitors in six hours on Sunday – 25 per cent more than last year. Meanwhile Bristol's Cabot Circus had a footfall of 150,000 people – a 10 per cent rise compared with last year. The number of shoppers on Britain's high streets on Sunday was 17.9 per cent higher than a year ago – the highest rise on record, according to the market data firm Experian. Richard Dodd, a spokesman for the British Retail Consortium said: "Its been the strongest start to the post Christmas sales we have seen for a number of years – if not ever." However, he added: "The big question is, to what extent this momentum continues into the New Year and to what extent it is just an interlude in the gloom."
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Legitimizing False Religions “The proclamation of the third angel's message is our work. We are to present the truth in regard to the Sabbath of the Lord. God's memorial of creation has been torn down, and in its place there stands a false sabbath.” Review and Herald, August 5, 1902. “My brother, our work is to teach the third angel's message. Stick to the message.” Manuscript Release, Vol. 21 p. 412. In the last couple of decades we have sadly witnessed in Adventism an overemphasis on “common ground” with other religions. This kind of thinking is corrupting the minds of our people into thinking that doctrinal difference don’t matter as long as we share some “common ground” with other religions. What kind of impression are we giving by doing this? The message that Ministers and others from various Ventura churches, including is conveyed is that, “Well, if the leaders do it then they are OK with Seventh-day Adventists, gathered on Tuesday, November 24, at the those churches. Everyone’s OK. You’re OK and we’re all OK.” We Ventura Center for Spiritual Living in Ventura for a Thanksgiving give the impression that we understand, accept, and appreciate what everyone stands for. interfaith service. —continued from page 1 “Adventist Multi-faith Worship”
Could that be the reason why so many Seventh-day Adventists don’t take seriously our own beliefs? Well, why defend our beliefs if after all then as one big choir of more than 50 singers. we have so much in common? What’s the big difference. If there are many roads to heaven, then maybe it’s not that important which one I “We’ve been practicing together for three or four weeks,” said soprano take. Chrys Cortright of Ventura. “There is so much great energy in one room.” Cantor Michael Anatole of Temple Beth Torah blew the shofar, a ram’s “There is a great difference in our faith and that of nominal professors, horn traditionally used in Jewish services on high holy days, and later as the heavens are higher than the earth.” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, p. 300. taught the audience a rousing Hebrew song of praise. In reality, once you get beyond the vague generalities, this illusion of The Rev. Mary Birgelaitus of Ventura’s First United Methodist Church “common ground” with other religions disappears right away when one gave the Thanksgiving message, saying that for people of faith, giving considers the great mission and the present-truth messages that have made us who we are—Seventh-day Adventists. Let us look at the last thanks is about more than what or whom we have in our lives. day apostasy that is alive today and consider God’s answer to this uni“To count blessings is a delight, but it isn’t Thanksgiving,” said Birgelai- versal problem. tus. “The only true gift is life itself, and the giver of life is God. The only true thanks is to worship God.” “The fallen denominational churches are Babylon. Babylon has been fostering poisonous doctrines, the wine of error. This wine of error is Venerable Sutadhara Tapovanaya of the An Lac Buddhist Temple in Ven- made up of false doctrines, such as the natural immortality of the soul, tura presented a devotional chant in Pali, the language of many early Bud- the eternal torment of the wicked, the denial of the pre-existence of dhist scriptures. Christ prior to His birth in Bethlehem, and advocating and exalting the “The truth is that we are of so many different religious backgrounds, first day of the week above God’s holy, sanctified day. These and kindred errors are presented to the world by the various churches…” but with one god,” said Tapovanaya. Evangelism, p. 365. Part of the chant translates as “just as a mother would protect her only child with her life, even so let one cultivate a boundless love toward all There is no “common ground” with Babylon. When we use words like “common ground,” “shared interests,” “mutual respect,” “confessional beings.” similarities,” and “joint statements” with these fallen churches, it lends Those who attended said they appreciated the service. a certain legitimacy to what they believe. Can we legitimize the workings of the Mark of the Beast or the wine of Babylon? It makes it look “This is the first interfaith service I’ve been to,” said Ray Olvera of Santa as though these fallen churches were in good standing with God. Paula. “It felt great to have such a diversity of faiths.” When our church leaders unite with other leaders of “Babylon” they Mike Shaffner of Ventura said he attends the Ventura Seventh-Day Ad- use the defense of “seeking-common-ground” as a justification. ventist Church but considers himself simply a Christian. “We need to How can we unite with those who are pushing for Sunday laws? What concentrate on the similarities, not on the differences,” said Shaffner. common ground is there? This is sowing confusion among Adventism with regards to our prophetic teaching. By uniting with religious leaders who are hostile towards the work of the third angel we are placing ourselves on very dangerous ground. The fact is that this wide spread apostasy matters to God. That’s why He raised us up as a movement. That is why God has given to Seventhday Adventists a special work to do before the Second Advent of our Lord. Historic Seventh-day Adventists do want to find unity and common ground with others. But notice the kind of unity we must achieve. “Christ calls for unity. But He does not call for us to unify on wrong practices. The God of heaven draws a sharp contrast between pure, elevating, ennobling truth and false, misleading doctrines...I urge our brethren to unify upon a true, Scriptural basis.” Manuscript Release, Vol. 17, p. 306.
Combined choirs sing "Let the Words of My Mouth" as ministers and others from various Ventura churches gathered on Tuesday, November 24, at the Ventura Center for Spiritual Living in Ventura for a Thanksgiving interfaith service.
Do we really accept Mary worship, speaking in tongues, Sunday sacredness, rosary beads, and a host of other traditions not found in the Bible? How does one build “common ground” with a system of beliefs that negates the core beliefs of Seventh-day Adventism? When we speak too much of “common ground” with the churches of Babylon, we tend to lose respect towards our unique and —continued on page 7
the eternal gospel herald — volume 6, no. 3
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—continued from page 6 “Legitimizing False Religions” distinctive message. God has raised up a movement to prepare the world for the final events that are taking place before our eyes. We are seeing Sunday laws being passed. And because the world is getting ready for the Mark of the Beast, it must be warned. “A world is to be warned, and when the third angel's message goes forth with a loud cry, minds will be fully prepared to make decisions for or against the truth.” Selected MesThe pictures on this page are taken from the small town of Tully in Queensland, sages, Vol. 3, pp. 389, 390. Australia. The message is “that they all may be one” (John17:21). It sounds like God have given us the Sanctuary Message, the Investigative a nice theory, but God’s people will not fare well in this unity because, “Satan Judgment Message, the 2,300 days prophecy, the Three An- determines to unite them in one body and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping gels’ Messages, the Health Message, the Righteousness by all into the ranks of spiritualism” (GC 588). Multiply this incident by a thousand Faith Message, and other distinct messages to help people similar ones occurring across the globe and you will have a picture of what is prepare for translation and to live with God, forever. These happening in Adventism and in the rest of the churches. doctrines and the work of preparation are summarized in the third angel, for they are the different “features” of his work. “Every feature of the third angel’s message is to be proclaimed in all parts of the world. This is a much greater work than many realize.” Upward Look, p. 277. When we begin to think about the solemn work we have to do and the short time we have, we come to the realization that the world is in mortal and eternal danger. For the world and the fallen churches of Babylon reject and deny the claims of the work of the third angel. How can we then reach these souls? Notice how it will be done. “Those who engage in the solemn work of bearing the third angel's message, must move out decidedly, and in the Spirit and power of God, fearlessly preach the truth, and let it cut. They should elevate the standard of truth, and urge the people to come up to it. It has been lowered down to meet the people in their condition of darkness and sin. It is the pointed testimony that will bring up the people to decide. A peaceful testimony will not do this. The people have the privilege of listening to this kind of teaching from the pulpits of the day. But God has servants to whom he has entrusted a solemn, fearful message, to bring out and fit up a people for the coming of Christ.” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 2, pp. 299, 300. The truth is that true Seventh-day Adventism is by nature a criticism of Babylon—a criticism to its doctrines, its practices, and its claims. It is also a criticism to fellow Seventhday Adventists who are open to every kind of relationship with Babylon. “He [our fellow Adventist believers] is not a man who will entertain what he believes to be special light without imparting it to others; therefore it is not safe to give him influence that will enable him to unsettle other minds. It is opening a door through which Satan will rush in many errors to divert the mind from the importance of the truth for this time. Brethren, as an ambassador of Christ I warn you to beware of these side issues, whose tendency is to divert the mind from the truth. Error is never harmless. It never sanctifies, but always brings confusion and dissension. It is always dangerous. The enemy has great power over minds that are not thoroughly fortified by prayer and established in Bible truth.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 292. May God help us wake up in such a time like this. May we also realize that probationary time is almost finished, and may we do all we can to finish the work God has given us. “The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands his servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world. They cannot remain silent, except at the peril of their souls.” Great Controversy, p. 609. —The Editors
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Vol. 6 No. 3 Florida Mission The Eternal Gospel Herald P.O. Box 15138 West Palm Beach FL, 33416
Africa Now has 1 Billion People (December 28, 2009 guardian.co.uk) The baby's name and nationality are not known. The child will grow up innocent of having a place in history. But somewhere, this year, that child became the billionth person in Africa, the continent with the fastest growing population in the world. By 2050, the population is projected to almost double, to 1.9 billion.
Police to Use Mobile Biometric Scanners and Credit Card Readers, Mobile Units Could Scan Passports, Credit Cards and Eyes (Oct. 15, 2009, computing.co.uk) The Metropolitan Police wants to buy £3m of handheld units for law enforcement agencies that would be capable of capturing facial, iris and fingerprint biometrics as well as reading chips held on credit cards and passports.
“So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.” Matthew 24:33
Russia May Send Spacecraft to Knock Away Asteroid (Associated Press, Dec. 30, 2009) Russia is considering sending a spacecraft to a large asteroid to knock it off its path and prevent its collision with Earth — a collision NASA considers highly unlikely — the head of the country's space agency said Wednesday. When the 270-meter (885-foot) asteroid was first discovered in 2004, astronomers estimated the chances of it smashing into Earth in its first flyby in 2029 were as high as 1-in-37.
China Might Buy More Gold Than America Owns (The Business Insider, Dec. 23, 2009) China has a long way to go before coming anywhere near America's gold reserves. Yet apparently it's on their to-do list and a must, at least according to the country's China Gold Association. In 1981, China had 395 tons of gold holdings; it increased to 500.8 tons in 2001, and 600 tons in 2002. In April 2009, China officially announced that it has increased its gold holdings to 1054 tons. Since then, Chinese officials and People’s Bank of China have been meticulously chalking out plans to build up gold reserves in the next decade.
December 11, 2009—Pope Benedict XVI welcomes Vietnam's President Nguyen Minh Triet. “The Holy See expressed its pleasure at the visit, a significant stage in the progress of bilateral relations with Vietnam,” the Vatican said in a communique. (AFP/Christophe Simon)
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Tap Water Is Legal but May Be Unhealthy (New York Times, December 16, 2009) - This Los Angeles reservoir contained chemicals that sunlight converted to compounds associated with cancer. The city used plastic balls to block the sun . Only 91 contaminants are regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, yet more than 60,000 chemicals are used within the United States, according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates. Government and independent scientists have scrutinized thousands of those chemicals in recent decades, and identified hundreds associated with a risk of cancer and other diseases at small concentrations in drinking water, according to an analysis of government records by The New York Times.
Obesity More Deadly Than Previously Thought (The telegraph.co.uk, by Rebecca Smith, December 23, 2009) A study of one million father and son pairs found that being overweight may increase the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease by 82 per cent.
Mexico City Legalizes Same-sex Marriage, Adoptions (December 21, 2009, CNN) Mexico City, one of Latin America's largest metropolises, on Monday legalized same-sex marriage and adoption by same-sex couples. By a vote of 39 to 20, the city's legislative assembly approved revisions to the civil code to permit same-sex marriages. Five legislators abstained. In a separate motion, the assembly voted 31 to 24 in favor of legalizing adoption by same-sex couples, with nine abstentions.
Radio Chip Coming Soon to Your Driver's License? Homeland Security Seeks Next-generation REAL ID February 28, 2009, by Bob Unruh, WorldNetDaily) Privacy advocates are issuing warnings about a new radio chip plan that ultimately could provide electronic identification for every adult in the U.S. and allow agents to compile attendance lists at anti-government rallies simply by walking through the assembly. The proposal, which has earned the support of Janet Napolitano, the newly chosen chief of the Department of Homeland Security, would embed radio chips in driver's licenses, or "enhanced driver's licenses."