Blessing and Curse.

(Excerpt)

Blessed with Abraham

"So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham." Mark the close connection between this and the preceding verse.

Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 

Gal 3:9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 

The Gospel was preached to Abraham in the words, "In thee shall all nations be blessed." (It should be remembered, in passing, that the words "heathen," or "Gentiles," as in the Revised Version, and "nations," in verse 8, come from the very same Greek word.) This blessing is the blessing of righteousness through Christ, as we learn from Acts 3:25,26: "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." Because God preached the Gospel to Abraham, saying, "In thee shall all the nations of the earth be blessed," those who believe are blessed with the faithful Abraham. There is no blessing for any man except the blessing which Abraham received, and the Gospel preached to him is the only Gospel there is for any people under heaven; for besides the name of Jesus, in whom Abraham believed, "there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved." In Him "we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins." Col.1:14. The forgiveness of sins carries with it all blessings. 

A Contrast: Under the Curse

Note the sharp contrast in verses 9 and 10. "They which be of faith are blessed," but "as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse." Faith brings the blessing; works bring the curse, or, rather, leave one under the curse. The curse is on all, for "he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18. Faith removes the curse.  Who are under the curse?--"As many as are of the works of the law." Note that it does not say that those who do the law are under the curse, for that would be a contradiction of Rev.22:14: "Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city." "Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord." Ps.119:1.  So, then, they that are of faith are keepers of the law; for they that are of faith are blessed, and those who do the commandments

are blessed. By faith they do the commandments. The Gospel is contrary to human nature, and so it is that we become doers of the law, not by doing, but by believing. If we worked for righteousness, we should be exercising only our own sinful human nature, and so would get no nearer to righteousness, but farther from it; but by believing the "exceeding great and precious promises," we become partakers of the Divine nature (2Pet.1:4), and then all our works are wrought in God. "The Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore?--Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling-stone; as it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a Stumbling-stone and Rock of offense; and whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed." Rom.9:30-33. 

What the Curse Is

No one can read Gal.3:10 carefully and thoughtfully without seeing that the curse is transgression of the law.

Gal 3:10  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 

Disobedience to God's law is itself the curse; for "by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin." Rom.5:12. Sin has death wrapped up in it. Without sin death would be impossible, for "the sting of death is sin." 1Cor.15:56.

1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 

 "As many as are of the works of the law are under the curse." Why? Is it because the law is a curse?--Not by any means. "The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Rom.7:12. Why, then, are as many as are of the works of the law under the curse?--Because it is written, "Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." Mark it well: They are not cursed because they do the law, but because they do not do it. So, then, we see that being of the works of the law does not mean that one is doing the law. No; "the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." Rom.8:7. All are under the curse, and he who thinks to get out by his own works, remains there. The curse consists in not continuing in all things that are written in the law; therefore, the blessing means perfect conformity to the law. This is as plain as language can make it. 

Blessing and Cursing

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; a blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day; and a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God." Deut.11:26-28. This is the living word of God, addressed to each one of us personally. "The law worketh wrath" (Rom.4:15), but the wrath of God comes only on the children of disobedience (Eph.5:6). If we truly believe, we are not condemned, but only because faith brings us into harmony with the law--the life of God. "Whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." Jam. 1:25. 

Good Works

The Bible does not disparage good works. On the contrary, it exalts them. "This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable." Titus 3:8. The charge against the unbelieving is that they are "unto every good work reprobate." Titus 1:16. Timothy was exhorted to "charge them that are rich in this world," "that they do good, that they be rich in good works." 1Tim.6:17,18. And the apostle Paul prayed for us all, that we might "walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work." Col. 1:10. Still further, we are assured that God has created us in Christ Jesus "unto good works," "that we should walk in them." Eph.2:10. 

He has Himself prepared these works for us, wrought them out, and laid them up for all who trust in Him. Ps.31:19. "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent." John 6:29. Good works are commended, but we can not do them. They can be performed only by the One who is good, and that is God. If there be ever any good in us, it is God who worketh in us. There is no disparagement of anything that He does. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." Heb. 13:20,21. 

The Glad Tidings

By E. J. WAGGONER

(Excerpt-  To be continued)

*******

(Excerpt)

1978 May -- Special Report -- Audience with Pope Paul VI -- RE: - Audience with Pope Paul VI by Official Representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church -- Introduction -- On May 18, 1977, Dr. B. B. Beach, Secretary of the Northern Europe-West Africa Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, along with other representatives of the religious bodies which form the Conference of Secretaries of the World Confessional Families [Churches] had an audience with Pope Paul VI. The Pope welcomed these men as "representatives of a considerable portion of Christian people" and he sent the greetings of the Papacy through them "to your confessional families." (Religious News Service, May 19, 1977. See p. 8 of this Special Report) Elder W. Duncan Eva, a vice president of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, reported that on this occasion, Dr. Beach presented the Pope a medallion which "was a gold-covered symbol of the Seventh-day Adventist Church." (Review, Aug. 11, 1977, p. 23) Concerning this meeting, Religious News Service (RNS) stated that Dr. Beach "noted that the audience with the Pope marked the first time in history that the Seventh-day Adventist Church, through an official representative, had met with a Roman Pontiff." The leadership of the Church is seeking to play down this event. The Editor of the Adventist Review, Kenneth H. Wood, in a letter dated Feb. 22, 1978, wrote to a layperson stating - "I am personally very well acquainted with Dr. Bert Beach and have discussed with him this visit. Even though the visit may look sinister ... the visit was entirely innocent and meaningless so far as any relationship goes between SDA's and the Catholics." In this Special Report, we shall present documented facts - primary, not secondary - concerning the background of this audience between Pope Paul VI and Dr. B. B. Beach - then leave with you, the reader to draw your own conclusion. These documents will consist of official publications of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Catholic newspapers, Letters addressed to me personally, and Letters and Statements from the files in the General Conference offices.

                                  ~~~~

"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." - II Timothy 2:2

This admonition of Paul to Timothy - "commit thou to faithful men" - is basic if the message given to any people or movement is to remain pure and viable. To this Church was committed the trust of the Three Angel's Messages of Revelation 14: 6-12. Of this fact it is written:

P 2 -- In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchman and light-bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning message for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import, - the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels' messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention. 

The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God's people are to be true to the trust committed to them. (9 Testimonies, p.19)

The Second Angel's Message declares -      "Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." (Rev. 14:8)How was this understood by the spiritual fathers of this Church to whom the giving of this message was committed? We read:      This message was understood by Adventists to be an announcement of the moral fall of the churches in consequence of their rejection of the first message... 

The term Babylon, derived from Babel, and signifying confusion, is applied in Scripture to the various forms of false or apostate religion. But the message announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to some religious body that was once pure, and has become corrupt. It cannot be the Romish Church which is here meant; for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries. But how appropriate the figure as applied to the Protestant churches, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects. (Spirit of Prophecy, IV, pp. 232-233)

The Third Angel's Message warns -      "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. 14:9-10a)       How was this understood by our spiritual fathers? We read:     The image is made to the first or leopard-like beast, which is the one brought to view in the third angel's message. By the first beast is represented the Roman Church, an ecclesiastical body clothed with civil power, having authority to punish all dissenters. The image to the beast represents another religious body clothed with similar power. The formation of this image is the work of that beast whose peaceful rise and mild professions render it so striking a symbol of the United States. Here is to be found an image of the papacy. When the churches of our land, uniting upon such points of faith as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and sustain their institutions, then will Protestant America have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy.(Spirit of Prophecy, IV, p. 278)

Here in this quotation is a sentence which needs to be pondered long - "When the churches of our land, uniting upon such points of faith as are held by them in common, shall influence the State to enforce their decrees and sustain their

p 3 -- institutions, then will Protestant America have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy."

This does not exempt any church - "the churches of our land" - but does picture an ecumenical movement - "uniting upon such points of faith as are held by them in common."

Certain direct results are pictured - "shall influence the State to... sustain their institutions" - government aid.

These are the messages and warnings entrusted to the Church. Our spiritual fathers committed this heritage to those whom they thought to be "faithful men." How is this commitment being handled by the church leadership today?

STEPS TO ROME -- In 1973, the World Council of Churches (WCC) published a paperback book entitled - So Much in Common (SMC). This book contained "Documents of Interest in the Conversations Between the World Council of Churches and the Seventh-day Adventist Church." (p. 1) One of these "Documents" outlines the history of the conversations from their inception in 1965 through 1969. It will be seen that the events which transpired during these years finally led to the meeting of the Conference of Secretaries of the World Confessional Families in Rome, which in turn provided the setting for the audience which Dr. B. B. Beach had with the Pope as an official representative of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Step One:  Strange as it may seem, these yearly consultations were an indirect byproduct of Vatican II. In fact, while in Rome in connection with the Vatican Council a WCC staff member and an Adventist representative came to the conclusion that an informal meeting of a small group of Seventh-day Adventists with an equal number of representatives from the World Council of Churches would fulfill a useful purpose. (SMC, p. 98)

Step Two:   The first meeting was held in 1965, the participants being selected by the two organizers. Thus, the conversations got under way on a completely informal basis and were held under the sole responsibility of the participants. (Ibid.)

It should be carefully noted that up to this point the conversations between the Seventh-day Adventists and representatives of the WCC were strictly an individual matter, and did not carry any official recognition from the Adventist Church nor the WCC.

Step Three:   Subsequent meetings have become somewhat more formal, in the sense that the employing bodies of the SDA participants have authorized and financed their presence and the executive committees of the three Adventist Divisions involved have given their blessing by facilitating the selection of the SDA representatives; the World Council of Churches has defrayed the expenses of its group. The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has been kept informed regarding the meetings, though it has taken no direct, active part

p 4 -- in the Consultations, except through its three European Divisional branch offices.(Ibid.)

Herein is a very subtle situation which permits the leadership in Washington to say to the laity of the American Church sector who might inquire, that the General Conference is not involved with the WCC. But through their divisions in Europe, direct consultations were being carried forward with the full approval and financial blessings of the respective executive committees who were chaired by a Vice President of the General Conference voted to serve as President in their respective divisions. From fifteen to twenty participants have taken part in the five Consultation meetings from 1965 - 1969. The Adventist members have included "SDA church leaders and educators." (Ibid. p. 99) "The Consultations [were] held on the basis of equal footing, each yearly meeting taking place part of the time at the WCC headquarters in Geneva and the rest of the time at the nearby Seminaire Adventiste at Collonges, just across the border in France." (Ibid.)

Step Four:   A very useful product of the Conversations is the statement regarding the SDA Church which was published in January, 1967, issue of the Ecumenical Review. [A journal of the WCC]

With this began a very interesting series of events. Following the publication of this document prepared by the assistant director of the WCC Secretariat on Faith and Order, R. F. Cottrell, an Associate Editor of the Review - the "Official Organ of the Seventh-day Adventist Church" - reviewed this document and then told why the Church did not officially join the WCC in a series of three editorials (March 23; March 30; & April 6, 1967). But in the concluding editorial, Cottrell invited the Church into the back door of the WCC. Here is what he wrote:       It is with no small measure of regret that SDA's do not find it possible, as an organization, to be more closely associated with others who profess the name of Christ. On the other hand, if the Secretariat on Faith and Order, for instance, were to invite SDA's to appoint someone competent in that area to meet with their group from time to time and represent the SDA point of view, we could accept such an invitation with a clear conscience. (Review, April 6, 1967, p. 13)

This "back door" was quickly opened. Dr. Earle Hilgert, then Professor of New Testament at Andrews University was appointed by the WCC Central Committee to serve as a Seventh-day Adventist on the Faith and Order Commission. His place is now filled by Dr. R. Dederen, also of Andrews University. Herein is a tricky relationship that must be carefully worded to give the whole truth and nothing by the truth. The SDA Church did not appoint the Adventist representative to the Commission, but it did approve the selection by the Central Committee of the WCC. Thus the leadership of the Church can say, we are not members of the Faith and Order Commission.

Step Five:   Since the Conversations got under way, it has become the accepted procedure for the SDA Church to be represented at various WCC meetings, including the Assembly, by observers. These observers have not been present pro 

p 5 -- forma, but have taken an active interest in the meetings attended. An additional step was taken when the General Conference, as a world confessional body or church, was represented by an advisor in Canterbury at the 1969 meeting of the WCC Central Committee. (SMC, p. 101)

The hierarchy in Washington can write in the Adventist Review, and in letters to the laity that the Church does not belong to the WCC - and technically this is true - but how can we honestly leave the impression that we are not deeply involved in the work and procedures of the WCC when we attend the General Assemblies not pro forma, but as active participants, and when we have an advisor present at the meeting of the Central Committee of the WCC. And if we send advisors to the Central Committee meetings, what should prevent the WCC from sending advisors to the General Conference Committee meetings? It should be noted further that "As a kind of corollary to the Geneva Consultations, Consultations began in 1969 in the United States between Seventh-day Adventists and a WCC appointed group." (SMC, p. 101) Have the laity been given a report of these meetings in the Review?

These Consultations are filtering down to the national level in Europe. The same document reports:       It is interesting to note that the contacts on the WCC level have, to some extent, filtered down to certain national levels. As examples one can mention the SDA contacts with the British Council of Churches, the Finish Council of Churches and the office of the German Arbeitsgemeinshaft Christlicher Kirchen in Deutschland. (SMC, p. 101)

Step Six:   Since 1968 the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists have been actively represented at the annual meetings of "Secretaries of World Confessional Families." This participation is largely the result of the WCC/SDA Conversations and contacts that were made at the time of the Uppsala Assembly. (SMC, p. 100)

What is this "organization"? What is its relationship to the World Council of Churches? We shall answer the second question first. Robert Welsh of the Commission on Faith and Order of the WCC wrote under date, April 1, 1975 from Geneva, Switzerland - "With regard to Dr. Beach, he is the Secretary of the Annual Conference of Secretaries of the World Confessional Families. Faith and Order relates to that conference in a consultative manner." Dr. Beach himself states "The bodies represented there [at the Conference] are between 12 and 15 world organizations such as the Lutheran World Federation, the Baptist World Alliance, the World Methodist Council, the World Reformed Alliance, the Roman Catholic Church, the Salvation Army, and the Anglican Consultative Council." (Letter to Pastor A. G. Brito, dated, Nov. 15, 1977) In another paragraph in the same letter, Beach declares - "I would like to make it clear that this conference is not a part of the World Council of Churches." However, RNS (May 19, 1977) quoted the president of the Conference, Bishop John Howe, as stating - "we have been able to decide how we shall work together more with the World Council of Churches in understanding the ecumenical role that all of us have."

Now to the first question - Beach denies that this conference is an organization

p 6 -- since he states it doesn't have a constitution, nor are dues paid into it. However, he writes:       I have been representing our church at this meeting for 9 years now and our involvement consists simply in attending the meeting and participating in the discussions and exchange of information. For the past few years I have served as Secretary of the Conference (this means that I am responsible for preparing the agenda and handling the minutes or report of the Conference). There is no useful purpose in giving any publicity to this fact, but I do mention it for your information." (Letter to A. G. Brito, op. cit.)

We shall let the reader decide the question as to whether there is an organization - officers, agenda, minutes! But please do not give publicity to this fact, it will serve no useful purpose!

Step Seven:   It was our involvement in the Annual Conference of "Secretaries of the World Confessional Families" that led to the audience with the Pope. The Catholic Church joined this conference the same year as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and it has been represented at these annual meetings through the Vatican Secretariat for Unity. Beach, himself has written - "Since this year's meeting [1977] was held in Rome, it was felt that it might be appropriate to have a meeting with the Pope, who is the head of Vatican State and the religious leader of well over 500 million people in the world." (Letter to Brito, op. cit.) In a letter dated, March 3, 1978, Elder W. Duncan Eva noted in a very clear manner - "The Northern Europe-West Africa Division Committee authorized Brother Beach's trip to Rome and it understood that the visit to the Pope with representatives of the World Confessional Families was a probability." This "probability" was so sure that the medallion given was "paid for from Departmental expense funds of the Northern Europe-West Africa Division."

Summary:   Thus the beginnings of what appeared to be an "innocent" dialogue between individuals of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and persons connected with the WCC ended up in a formal audience with the Pope by an official representative of the Adventist Church who presented to the Pope as a "symbol" of the Church, "a gold-covered" medallion. (Review, August 11, 1977, p. 23). Well did the servant of the Lord write:      Who can truthfully say, "Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world"? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: "Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? 'How is the faithful city become an harlot?"'(8 Testimonies, p. 250) 

It was by departure from the Lord, and alliance with the heathen, that the Jewish church became a harlot. (GC, P. 382) 

p 7 -- Footnote - Every quotation in the preceding topic - Steps to Rome - from the book - So Much in Common - is from a single document entitled - "The World Council of Churches/Seventh-day Adventist Conversations and Their Significance." It was written by none other that Dr. B. B. Beach, himself. The book - So Much in Common carries an "Introductory Statement" signed cojointly by Dr. Beach and Dr. Lukas Vischer of the Faith and Order Secretariat of the World Council of Churches. This book may he obtained by writing either to WCC, 150 route de Ferney, 1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, or Room 439, 475 Riverside Dr. New York, NY 10027. (Keep in mind that these addresses were current as of date of publication in 1973.)

SOME QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS -- On January 18, 1978, 1 wrote to Elder W. Duncan Eva, Vice President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and asked:

1) What committee, or church official authorized the audience with Pope Paul VI, and the presentation of the medallion overlaid with pure gold? 

2) It is my understanding that all gold and silver issues of this medallion were serially numbered. What was the serial number given to the Pope? 

3) From your article, and the RNS press release, this audience and presentation was made in conjunction with Dr. B. B. Beach's attendance at the Conference of Secretaries of the World Confessional Families. Who gave the authorization for this trip and paid the costs of travel to attend? 

4) While the cost of the medallion was only nominal - $45.00 as stated by Miss Hetzell - from what funds was this taken?

On March 3, 1978, I received the following reply regarding these questions from Elder Eva: He wrote: Now to the questions of your letter of January 18. 

1. The Northern Europe-West Africa Division Committee authorized Brother Beach's trip to Rome and it was understood that the visit to the Pope with representatives of the World Confessional Families was a probability. 

2. Dr. Beach does not know the serial number of the medallion presented to the Pope and I am not able to ascertain it here. 

3. This question is covered in the reply to your question 1. 

4. The medallion was paid for from Departmental expense funds of the Northern Europe-West Africa Division.

"The papacy is just what prophecy declared that she would be, the apostasy of the latter times... shall this power, whose record for a thousand years is written in the blood of saints, be now acknowledged as a part of the church of Christ?" Great Controversy, p. 571.

p 8 --                                              RELIGIOUS    NEWS    SERVICE

FOREIGN SERVICE                                                - 9 -                              THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1977

Addresses World Confessional Families Group

UNCEASING PURSUIT OF UNITY IS PLEDGED BY POPE PAUL

By Religious News Service (5-19-77)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) -- Pope Paul, receiving participants of the Conference of Secretaries of World Confessional Families, urged unceasing pursuit of the goal of "full unity in Christ and in the Church," despite "all obstacles."

"It is a joy for us to receive such an important group and to welcome you to the See of Peter," said the Pope. "In you we greet representatives of a considerable portion of Christian people and through you we send greetings of grace and peace in the Lord to your confessional families."

The Conference, a grouping of Anglican, Protestant, Orthodox, Old Catholic, and other Christian church bodies, which was formed in 1957, met in Rome (May 16 - 18) for the first time.

The Vatican Secretariat for Christian Unity and the Seventh-day Adventists became regular participants in the Conference in 1968.

"'We are pleased," Pope Paul told the Conference participants, "to give expression in your presence to our common faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the one mediator with the Father, the Saviour of the world.

"Yes, brothers, with the Apostle Peter we proclaim that there is salvation in, none else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

The pontiff went on to remark that "on her part," the Catholic Church is solemnly committed by the Second Vatican Council to "an ecumenism based on increased fidelity to Christ the Lord and on conversion of hearts.

"At the same time she realizes that nothing is so foreign to ecumenism as a false conciliatory approach. Strengthened by the power of God's work," he urged, "Let us then, despite all obstacles, pursue the goal of full unity in Christ and in the Church..."

Later, in Vatican Radio interviews, two officers of the Conference of Secretaries of the World Confessional Families, expressed satisfaction with the Rome meeting. Bishop John Howe, secretary general of the Anglican Consultative Council, who is president of the Conference, said it had been "a satisfactory meeting" because "we had secretaries here from the world organizations of nearly all the Churches, including the (Vatican) Secretariat for Unity." "It was a brotherly discussion," said the Anglican prelate, "and we have been able to decide how we shall work together more with the World Council of Churches in understanding the ecumenical role that all of us have."

p 9 -- Dr. Bert Beach, the Conference secretary, who is secretary of the Northern Europe-West Africa Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, noted that history that the audience with Pope Paul marked the first time in history that the Seventh-day Adventist Church, through an official representative, had met with a Roman pontiff. Dr. Beach also said it had been "a pleasure" to be able to attend the Conference meeting in Rome, and that the meeting had provided "a good opportunity" for reflecting on "the work that has been accomplished" by the Conference since its founding.

Picture of Adventist Review August 11, 1977 (847) page 23; The article about the Book, Medallion Presented to Pope is written out below.

Book, Medallion Presented to Pope ( script from article above) -- In connection with a recent consultative meeting of secretaries of World Confessional Families held in Rome, B. B. Beach, secretary of the Northern Europe-West Africa Division, one of the 15 participants and the only Adventist in the group, presented a book and a medallion to Pope Paul VI on May 18. 

The book presented was the Adventist missionary book Faith in Action, and the medallion was a gold-covered symbol of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The medallion is an engraved witness to the Adventist faith in Christ as Creator, Redeemer, and soon-coming Lord, in the cross and Bible, and in the lasting validity of the Ten Commandments. While the other commandments are represented simply as Roman numerals, the words of the fourth - "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy" - are written out.

The Conference of World Confessional Families usually meets once a year. It is not an organization, but an informal, unstructured forum for consultation and the exchange of useful information. W. D. EVA (Review, August 11, 1977)

p 10 -- GLAS KONCILA -- ADVENTISTI PRIVI PUT KOD PAPE -- Translation: ADVENTISTI (Adventist) PRIVI (First) PUT (Time) KOD (By or To) PAPE (Pope)

On Wednesday, the 18th of May, Pope Paul received in Separate audience participants of the Secretarial Conference of the United Church World. The group was accompanied by Bishop John Howe, Chief Secretary of the Anglican Assembly Council and Mr. B. B. Beach, Chief Secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This is the first time a representative of this religion has met with the Pope who was thus presented with a gold medal. Upon their greeting, Paul VI answered:

"I am happy that we may receive such an esteemed group and express welcome from the Throne of Peter. In you, we greet representatives of the greater part of Christian believers and through you send greetings of God's mercy to your religious churches. I am glad that we may express in your presence our common faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only Intercessor with the Father and Redeemer of the World. Yes, brothers, with the apostle Peter we proclaim that there is salvation in nothing else. 'For there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved'(Acts 4:12.) As concerns us, at the 2nd Vatican Council, the Catholic Church has sacredly engaged itself in ecumenicalism, established in and arisen out of faith in Christ our Lord and in the conversion of hearts. (UR 6-7) Strengthened by the power of God's word, let us continue, in defiance of all obstacles, to walk toward our goal of complete unity in Christ and in the Church."

p 11 -- The Secretarial Conference of the United Church World was established 20 years ago by Bishop John Howe, Chief Secretary of the Anglican Assembly. The present Secretary of the Conference and Chief Secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist church, Mr. Beach, submitted to Radio-Vatican an announcement in which he distinctly emphasized the importance of that first meeting of an Adventist with the Pope. He is quoted as saying, "It is a distinct honor to be present as Secretary of the Conference in an audience here in Rome with the Holy Father upon which I presented to the Pope a book describing the work of the Adventist Church throughout the world."

Observations and Comments -- This article taken from the Catholic Biweekly published in Zagreb, Yugoslavia, gives the Catholic version of what took place. The name of the newspaper - Glas (Voice) and Koncila (Council) - can be interpreted as the Voice of the Council. In the upper left corner of the "Slag" which appears on page 1 of the newspaper are the words - Novo Lice Crkve - (only a blur on the copy as printed on page 10). A literal translation reads - "New Face Church" - but in conversational English - "The New Image of the Church." In other words, this newspaper reflects the spirit of Vatican II, and gives from that viewpoint how the Catholic Church viewed the audience with the Pope by the Secretaries of the World Confessional Families, which included Dr. B. B. Beach of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

One notes that the newspaper referred to Dr. Beach as "Chief Secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church." This is not strictly correct, but an allowable technical error in the light of how Dr. Beach is presented in the publication of the WCC - So Much in Common. In two different places (pp. 92, 102) the notation appears - "Dr. B. B. Beach, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, is secretary of the Department of Public Affairs, Northern European Division, United Kingdom." This was in 1973, and in the 1976 Yearbook, he is listed as carrying the additional responsibility of Secretary of the Division. From the Catholic viewpoint, there is no question but they considered B. B. Beach as speaking for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in an official capacity. This event was also covered in L'Observatore Romano, the official Vatican newspaper. (This is confirmed by a letter dated, October 11, 1977, written by Azenilto G. Brito, San Paulo, Brazil, to the General Conference. We have not been able to secure a copy of this news item appearing in the official Vatican daily. Any help will be appreciated.)

Naturally, the hierarchy in Washington are doing everything in their power to play down this event as something "entirely innocent and meaningless." These are the very words of the Editor of the Adventist Review, Kenneth H. Wood, in a letter previously quoted. He wrote to a layperson - "I am personally very well acquainted with Dr. Bert Beach and have discussed with him this visit [to the Pope]. Even though it may look sinister ... The visit was entirely innocent and meaningless so far as any relationship goes between SDA's and Catholics." 

This does not square with the following facts:

1) RNS in its report of the audience with the Pope noted - "The Vatican Secretariat for Christian Unity and the Seventh-day Adventists became regular participants in the Conference [Secretaries of the World Confessional Families] in 1968." (See

p 12 -- p. 8 of this Special Report) Thus the representative of the Adventist Church is in yearly fellowship with the representative from the Vatican Secretariat for Unity. Only heaven, and the parties themselves know what has been discussed between them. Further there must be kept in mind that Pope Paul told the Secretaries of the World Confessional Families (Churches) that despite "all obstacles" these leaders should unceasingly pursue the goal of "full unity in Christ and in the Church." And the Pope meant the Catholic Church! It dare not be overlooked that the Catholic Biweekly - Glas Koncila - quoted Beach as stating over Radio-Vatican that it was a distinct honor to have had "an audience here in Rome with the Holy Father." Beach did not have to refer to the Pope as "the Holy Father."

And there remains the nagging question - How was it that when the Gregorian Pontifical University - the alma mater of popes and cardinals - opened its doors to a first non-Roman Catholic in its 425 year history, that individual was enrolled as a Seventh-day Adventist? And why is it that a Jesuit - with all that that Order has stood for in its history - signed the Preface to the published edition of that individual's dissertation?

2) The former Associate Editor of the Review wrote in an editorial about a conference he attended at Notre Dame University following Vatican II. He stated:      The new ecumenical climate is opening up countless opportunities for dialog with people of other faiths, both for a clearer understanding of their point of view and for sharing our own convictions with them ... 

It has been my privilege to participate in several such conferences. One of these was the International Conference on Theological Issues of Vatican II at Notre Dame in March, 1966. There for an entire week the leading theologians of the Catholic Church from North America and Europe, with a liberal sprinkling of Protestant, Orthodox, and Jewish theologians, shared their mutual convictions. My seatmates to the left were Henri de Lubac, leading French theologian, and Archbishop John F. Dearden of Detroit, since then elected president of the National Council of Catholic Bishops. To my right were Father Bernard Cooke of Marquette University, and Yves Congar, another French theologian.(Review, March 23, 1967, pp. 12-13)

3) In the Silver-Tobler legal case involving the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the legal counsel for the Church submitted to the court a Brief which stated:      Although it is true that there was a period in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church when the denomination took a distinctly anti-Roman Catholic viewpoint, and the term, "hierarchy" was used in a perjorative sense to refer to the papal form of church governance, that attitude on the Church's part was nothing more than a manifestation of widespread anti-popery among conservative protestant denominations in the early part of this century and the latter part of the last, and which has now been assigned to the historical trash heap so far as the Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned. (P. 4, footnote #2, Docket Entry #84: EEOC vs PPPA C-74-2025 CBR)

Further in the same brief:       While, however, Adventist doctrine continues to teach that church government by one man is contrary to the Word of God, it is not good Seventh-day Adventism to express... an aversion to Roman Catholicism as such. (p. 30)

Think it through - Can you conceive of the associate editor of the Review sharing his conviction that the Pope was the "man of sin" - the antichrist of prophecy with Archbishop Dearden? Or had he lost this historic Adventist conviction? If he truly held to it, he would not have been there in the first place. There is no record of Christ being present during theological conferences involving the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the Herodians. Maybe Cottrell's attendance at the Notre Dame conference was only "entirely innocent and meaningless" as Wood asserts.

p 13 --

Medallion - - -- --- - --FRONT - - -- -- -- -- - -- -- -- -- -- -- --- -- -- -- BACK -- -- -- --

The above is a photocopy of the gold medallion given by Dr. B. B. Beach to Pope Paul VI, along with the Adventist missionary book - Faith in Action. This medallion was designed and sculptured by Ralph J. Menconi of the Presidential Art Medals, Inc., of Vandallia, Ohio. It was issued by this company in 1973.

The suggestion for the Seventh-day Adventists to be included among the "great religions of the world" in the series planned by the Presidential Art Metals, Inc., was made by Miss M. Carol Hetzell of the General Conference Department of Communications. Mr. Menconi "visited our world headquarters here and talked with our committee that had been set up to suggest what the medallion might incorporate (Letter from M. Carol Hetzell, Dec. 29, 1977)

As can be seen from the above pictures, an attempt was made to incorporate certain basic Adventist teachings. The front in depicting the Second Coming of Christ does not portray the usual representation of His coming - when He shall send His angels to gather together the elect to meet the Lord in the air. Rather the angels are pictured in "Catholic" fashion adoring a risen Lord. On the back the IV Commandment is abbreviated, while the other commandments are only numbered. We must keep in mind that the true Adventist emphasis in regard to the Fourth Commandment is "the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God." The Catholic Church in its catechisms - while noting it as the Third - admonishes - "Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day." (The Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine, by Peter Geirermann, p. 49) Thus the testimony on the medallion is somewhat muted.

The medallions of the Great Religions of the World were issued as follows:

Bronze - Unnumbered - Special Patina Finish - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - -- - - - $ 4.50/medal

Silver - Antique Oxidized Finish - 5000 complete sets; 5000 individual medals (Total 10,000 Silver of each religion) - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -$ 20.00/medal

Gold Filled - 1/10 14 kt. G. F. 24 kt. Gold Finish Limited issue - 500 pieces - -$ 40.00/medal

p 14 -- This is quoted from the brochure - "Great Religions of the World" - prepared by the Presidential Art Medals., Inc. The prices represent the 1973 figure. The price in 1978 as quoted to us via telephone was - Bronze, $5.00; Silver, $35.00; and Gold, $95.00. The Silver and Gold issues were serially numbered.

Again the cost of this medallion is being played down by the editorial voice in Washington. The Editor of the Adventist Review would have the laity believe that all Beach did was to obtain a trinket from a Dollar Store for the Pope. In his letter dated February 22, 1978, he wrote: "Representatives of the General Conference have given this medallion to heads of state and other dignitaries all around the world. We have one here in our office. It costs somewhere between $5 and $10, I believe." Either the Editor is naive; or else he is "sloppy" in his research of facts; or else he is seeking to mislead the laity. Yet he tells this layperson - "When questions are raised do not depend on secondary sources such as (WWN) newsletter. Write directly to us or the General Conference and we will be happy to give you the facts." We will let the readers of this Special Report determine where the documented primary sources are to be found, and where they will obtain managed news releases.

We freely admit that when we first read of the gold medallion being presented to the Pope, we thought it was struck for the occasion, and wrote asking questions from this assumption. We were told that it had been produced by the Presidential Art, Medals, Inc., but were not told where in Ohio to locate the company. We used available research procedures and obtained the information direct. We found when supplied with brochures from the company that the prices vary depending when purchased. If the medallion given to the Pope came from the medallions first purchased by the Church in 1973, then the price would have been $40.00; but if ordered for the occasion of the presentation to the Pope in 1977, then the price would have been in the neighborhood of $95.00 as was quoted to us. Thus the price was nominal and the issue is simply that this gold medallion was presented by Beach to the Pope as a "symbol of the Seventh-day Adventist Church." (Review, Aug. 11, 1977, p. 23.)

SOME UNANSWERED QUESTIONS -- In the letter which Dr. B. B. Beach wrote to A. G. Brito in Sao Paulo, Brazil, dated November 15, 1977, he stated:      I am enclosing a brief statement regarding the meeting with the Pope. This statement (with one or two small modifications) appeared some time ago in the Review and Herald.

We have reproduced this statement on the next page. (You will observe that the word, "audience" - is struck through and over it is written - "meeting.") By carefully comparing this brief statement with the news item appearing in the Review for August 11, 1977, p. 23 (p. 9, Special Report), it can be seen that this is the basis for the Review news item. In a letter to Elder Eva, dated February 24, 1978, we sent a copy of this statement, and asked him - "Who made the change from "audience" to "meeting"? Did Beach in submitting the material to you, or did you do it,

p 15 -- or authorized it done?" Eva refused to answer this in his letter dated March 3, 1978.

STATEMENT REGARDING MEETING WITH THE POPE -- In connection with a recent consultative meeting of Secretaries of World confessional Families held in Rome, a group of fifteen participants had a special audience ( this was crossed out and put "meeting" in its place) with the Pope on May 18. Among the participants was one Seventh-day Adventist, Dr. B. B. Beach of the Northern Europe - West Africa Division. This was not the first time that an Adventist has met a pope. In meeting with the head of the Vatican State and leader of some five hundred million Catholics, Dr. Beach had the unusual opportunity of presenting to the Pope the Adventist missionary book Faith in Action and a gold-covered medal (this was crossed out and put "medallion" in its place) of the SDA Church. The latter represents an engraved witness to the Adventist faith in Christ as Creator, Redeemer and soon-coming Lord, in the cross and Bible and the lasting validity of the ten commandments. While the other commandments are listed as roman numerals, the words of the fourth "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" - are especially highlighted.

The Conference of World Confessional Families meets usually once a year. It is not an organization but simply an informal, unstructured form for consultation and the exchange of useful information.                               

We asked one further question in our letter dated February 24, 1978:       Why was the sentence - "This is not the first time that an Adventist has met a pope" - omitted? What were the other times, and under what circumstances? Have there been frequent audiences involving officials of the church in their official capacities? If not frequent, what contacts have been made between our church leaders and the Pope and for what purposes? Since the official newspaper of the Vatican has noted this audience in regard to the Seventh-day Adventist participation as of special note, and RNS through its Vatican correspondent marked it as "the first time in history" that the Seventh-day Adventist Church through an official representative met with the Pope, have the other contacts been secret and private

p 16 -- so that only certain members of the hierarchy know of them? These things need to be clarified.

In his reply, Elder Eva refused to answer these questions. He stated - "We feel no burden to give you the detailed information you ask for and I have not tried to do so nor to answer the further questions of your letter of February 24." Thus it has neither been affirmed nor denied in regard to other contacts between the Adventists and the Pope or Vatican officials. Beach writes in his "Statement Regarding Meeting with Pope" - "This is not the first time that an Adventist has met a pope." The Review news item deleted this sentence. Yet Beach as reported by RNS in a Vatican radio interview declared, the audience "marked the first time in history that the Seventh-day Adventist Church, through an official representative, had met with a Roman Pontiff," How does one put this all together?

We know of one other recorded meeting with the Pope that appeared in the Review with pictures. (May 30, 1968) It shows Pope Paul VI giving a souvenir medal to Dr. Lief Kr. Tobiassen. Pictured with Tobiassen are Elders R. R. Hegstad, Editor of Liberty, and Pierre Lanares, Religious Liberty Secretary of the Southern European Division. These men were a part of "A 34-member International Church-State Study Commission, sponsored by Andrews University, the International Religious Liberty Association, and the Religious Liberty Department of the General Conference." (Review, May 16, 1968, p. 16) Hegstad in telling of the meeting with the Pope writes:      While in Rome the Adventist Study Commission experienced the pomp and ceremony of a papal audience in St. Peter's. It was hardly a private audience: some 5,000 shouting and clapping pilgrims were around us. Members of our group were seated not far from the high altar, which is in the midst of the serpentine Bernini columns, which, in turn, are under the central dome of St. Peter's. After the general audience, during which the Pope spoke for some 20 minutes on his year-old encyclical Populorum Progressio, L. Kr. Tobiassen, Pierre Lanares, and I were introduced to the pontiff. Dr. Tobiassen told him of the purpose of our study commission and of the countries we were visiting. I then mentioned our pleasure at finding material progress toward religious liberty in Spain, where the religious liberty schema of Vatican II is having good effect. (Ibid. P. 17) --- (1978 May -- Special Report -- Audience with Pope Paul VI) ---END ---

How Abraham Was Saved.

(Excerpt)

Experience in the Gospel

"Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" These questions show that the experience of the Galatian brethren had been as deep and as real as would be expected from those before whose eyes Christ was openly crucified. The Spirit had been given to them, miracles had been wrought among them, and even by them, for the gifts of the Spirit accompany the gift of the Spirit; and as the result of this living Gospel among them, they had suffered persecution; for "all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." 2Tim.3:12. This makes the case the more serious. Having shared the sufferings of Christ, they were now departing from Him; and this departure from Christ, through whom alone righteousness can come, was 104 marked by disobedience to the law of truth. They were insensibly but inevitably transgressing the law to which they were looking for salvation. 

Abraham Believed God

The questions asked in verses 3, 4, and 5 suggest their own answer.

Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 

Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 

Gal 3:5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 

The Spirit was ministered, and miracles were wrought, not by works of law, but by "the hearing of faith," that is, by the obedience of faith, for faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Rom.10:17. Thus Paul's labor, and the first experience of the Galatians, were exactly in line with the experience of Abraham, whose faith was accounted for righteousness. Let it be remembered that the "false brethren" who preached "another gospel," even the false gospel of righteousness by works, were Jews, and claimed Abraham for their father. It would be their boast that they were children of Abraham, and they would appeal to their circumcision as proof of the fact. But the very thing upon which they relied as proving them to be children of Abraham, was proof that they were not; for "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Abraham had the righteousness of faith before he was circumcised. Rom.4:11.

Rom 4:11  And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also

"Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Abraham was not justified by works (Rom.4:2,3),

Rom 4:2  For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 

Rom 4:3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 

 but his faith "wrought righteousness."  The same trouble still exists. People take the sign for the substance, the end for the means. They see that righteousness reveals itself in good works; therefore, they assume that the good works bring the 105 righteousness. Righteousness gained by trusting, good works wrought without working, seem to them impractical and fanciful. They call themselves "practical" men, and believe that the only way to have a thing done is to do it. But the truth is that all such men are highly impractical. A man absolutely "without strength" can not do anything, not even so much as raise himself up to take the medicine that is offered him; and any counsel for him to try to do it would be impractical. Only in the Lord is there righteousness and strength. Is.45:24.

Isa 45:24  Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength: even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed. 

"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass. And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light." Ps.37:5,6. Abraham is the father of all who believe for righteousness, and of those only. The only practical thing is to trust, even as he did. 

The Gospel to the Gentiles

Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 

"The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Gospel beforehand unto Abraham." This verse will bear much reading. An understanding of it will guard one against many errors. And it is not difficult to understand; simply hold to what it says, and you have it.

(a) For one thing, the verse shows us that the Gospel was preached at least as early as the days of Abraham.   

(b) It was God Himself who preached it; therefore, it was the true and only Gospel.    (c) It was the same Gospel that Paul preached; so 106 that we have no other Gospel than that which Abraham had.

(d) The Gospel differs in no particular now from what it was in Abraham's day; for his day was the day of Christ. John 8:56.

Joh 8:56  Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. 

God requires just the same things now that He required then, and nothing more.  Moreover, the Gospel was then preached to the Gentiles, for Abraham was a Gentile, or, in other words, a heathen. He was brought up as a heathen, for "Terah, the father of Abraham," "served other gods" (Josh.24:2), and was a heathen till the Gospel was preached to him. So the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles was no new thing in the days of Peter and Paul. The Jewish nation was taken out from among the heathen, and it is only by the preaching of the Gospel to the heathen that Israel is built up and saved. See Acts 15:14-18; Rom.11:25,26.

Act 15:14  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. 

Act 15:15  And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, 

Act 15:16  After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: 

Act 15:17  That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. 

Act 15:18  Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. 

Rom 11:25  For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 

Rom 11:26  And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

The very existence of the people Israel always was and still is a standing proof that God's purpose is to save a people from among the Gentiles. It is in fulfillment of this purpose that Israel exists.  Thus we see that the apostle takes the Galatians, and us, back to the fountain-head,--to the place where God Himself preaches the Gospel to us Gentiles. No Gentile can hope to be saved in any other way or by any other gospel than that by which Abraham was saved. 

The Glad Tidings

By E. J. WAGGONER

(Excerpt-  To be continued)

Crucified Christ.

'Christ Crucified before Us

"Who did bewitch you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth crucified?" Jesus was set forth before the Galatians, when Paul preached to them, as openly crucified before their eyes. So vivid was the presentation, that they could actually see Christ crucified. It was not skilful word-painting on the part of Paul, nor imagination on the part of the Galatians, for then it would have been only deception. No; it was an actual fact; Christ was there, crucified, before their eyes, and Paul by the Spirit enabled them to see Him. We know that it was not Paul's skill in making beautiful word pictures that enabled them to fancy that they saw the crucifixion, for elsewhere Paul says that he determined 101 to know nothing but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and that he purposely and carefully refrained from using the wisdom of words, for fear that he should make the cross of Christ without effect. 1Cor.1:17,18; 2:1-4.

1Co 1:17  For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God

1Co 2:1  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 

1Co 2:2  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 

1Co 2:3  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 

1Co 2:4  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

The experience of the Galatians in this matter was not peculiar to them. The cross of Christ is a present thing. The expression, "Come to the cross," is not an empty form of words, but an invitation that can be literally complied with. Christ is crucified before us, and each blade of grass, each leaf in the forest, reveals the fact. Yea, we have the testimony in our own bodies, in that, although sinful and corruptible, we yet live. Not until one has seen Christ crucified before his eyes, and can see the cross of Christ at every turn, does one know the reality of the Gospel. Let those scoff who will; the fact that a blind man can not see the sun, and denies that it shines, will not deter one who sees it from talking of its glory. Many there are who can testify that it is something more than a figure of speech, when the apostle says that Christ was crucified before the eyes of the Galatians. They have had the experience. God grant that this study of Galatians, before it is finished, may be the means of opening the eyes of many more, so that they may see Christ crucified before their eyes, and know Him crucified in them and for them. 

A Good Beginning

The question, "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?" admits of but one answer. It was by the hearing of faith. The Spirit is given to those who believe. John 7:39; 102

Joh 7:39  (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) 

Eph.1:13.

Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise

The question also shows that the Galatians had received the Holy Spirit. There is no other way of beginning the Christian life. "No man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." 1Cor.12:3. In the beginning the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, begetting life and activity in the creation; for without the Spirit there is no motion--no life. "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zech.4:6. The Spirit of God alone can carry out the perfect will of God, and no works that a man can do can bring Him into the soul, any more than a dead man can manufacture the breath by which he can be made to live and move. Those to whom Paul addressed this Epistle had seen Christ crucified before their eyes, and had accepted Him through the Spirit. Have you also seen and accepted Him? 

Hold Fast the Beginning

"Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now perfected in the flesh?" Foolish is but a feeble term for it. The man who has not power to begin a work, has strength to finish it! He who has not strength to put one foot before the other, or even to stand alone, has strength enough in himself to win a race! Impossible. Who has power to beget himself? No one; we come into this world without having begotten ourselves; we are born without strength; and, therefore, all the strength that ever manifests itself in us, comes from another than ourselves. It is all given to us. The new-born babe is the representative of man. "A man is born into the world." All the strength that any man has 103 of himself is found in the infant as it utters its first cry with its first breath. And even that feeble strength is not of itself. Even so in things spiritual. "Of His own will begat He us with the Word of truth." Jam.1:18. We can no more live righteous lives by our own strength than we could beget ourselves. The work that is begun by the Spirit, must be carried to completion by the Spirit. "We are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end." Heb.3:14. "He which hath

begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Phil.1:6. And He alone can do it. '

The Glad Tidings

By E. J. WAGGONER

(Excerpt-  To be continued)

*******

(WWN- EXCERPT)

1978 Dec -- THE BATTLE OF THE GREAT DAY OF GOD ALMIGHTY -- Part 3 -- The Sixth Plague is the pouring out of the vial of God's wrath upon "the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared." (Rev. 16:12) The cause of this plague is that the "spirits of devils" symbolized by frogs had gathered the leadership of the nations of earth to "a place called in the Hebrew tongue - Armageddon." (Rev. 16:13-14, 16) To understand the significance of what this gathering together means, we must first determine the place to which they are gathered by correctly identifying the word - Armageddon in the Hebrew language. Thus we must work back from the English, through the Greek to the Hebrew. The English word Armageddon in the KJV - is merely a transliteration from the Greek. In the ARV, this transliteration is more accurately reflected - Har-Magedon. The Greek is - 'Armagedwn.

The first part of the word - 'Ar - is easily identified. Har is a transliteration of the Hebrew -(Hebrew written) and means "mountain." The second part of the word Magedon - has been popularly identified with Megiddo. But the Bible refers to Megiddo as a "valley" and not a mountain. (Zech. 12:11) And a valley is not a mountain by any stretch of language or imagination. Thus we must turn to a deeper study of the language to determine what mountain is referred to in Rev. 16:16.

In the Hebrew language there are twenty two letters. These are all consonants and are written from right to left. To supply the lack of vowels, since the alphabet contained no vowels, a system of vowel-signs was introduced. However, before the introduction of vowel-signs, certain feeble consonants - Aleph, He, Waw, and Yod - were used to indicate the vowel sounds, and hence were called vowel letters. Therefore, in seeking a word in the Hebrew to equal - Magedon - we must consider only the consonants in the word - Mu (m), Gamma (g), and Delta (d). (The final "n" or Nu (n) is merely a paragogic letter, not unknown in English in such words as "solemn" and "condemn.")

The word in the Old Testament which most clearly meets the requirements of the Greek transliteration - Magedon - is the Hebrew word, Mo'ed (Hebrew written). On the surface there is one problem - the middle consonant, Ayin (Hebrew written). This does not appear to answer to the Greek gamma (g). However, Gesenius states:    "While the Hebrew was a living language, this letter [Ayin], which is peculiar to the Semetic tongues, and extremely difficult for our organs to pronounce, seems to have had ... a two fold pronounciation" - a soft and a hard sound. "The harder Ayin, which the Arabs call Ghain, was a harsh sound uttered from the bottom of the throat, accompanied by a certain whirring or whizzing, so as to resemble the letter r when uttered abruptly with a strong rolling. This the Seventy

p 2 -- have usually represented by the letter g [gamma]" in the Greek translation of the Old Testament. (Gesenius, Hebrew & English Lexicon of the Old Testament, p. 737) This can be illustrated by the familiar name - Gomorrah. In the Hebrew it is - (Hebrew written). In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, it is Gomorra. [G is the capital of g(gamma)] Thus the first letter of Gomorrah in the Hebrew (Hebrew written) is transliterated by the gamma (g) in the Greek. So the Hebrew word - Mo'Ed - would be transliterated into the Greek as Maged(on). The following diagram illustrates the above:

The English -

The Greek -

The Hebrew -

Illustration using "Gomorrah"

The Waw in the Hebrew word is a vowel letter.

The Hebrew word, Mo'id (symbol written), which transliterates into the Greek - Magedon - is used nearly two hundred times in the Old Testament and means - "Congregation." In Isaiah 14:13 it is associated with "Mountain" - "the mount of the congregation." Here God reveals through Isaiah the heart and intention of Lucifer - He would seek to "sit also upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north." This refers to "Mt. Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King." (Ps. 48:2) In the book of Revelation it is revealed that the "spirits of the devils" will gather the kings of the earth to the mount of the congregation (HarMagedon) the battle for of the great day of God Almighty. What is to be understood by the symbolism of "frogs" in representing the "spirits of devils"? This we will discuss in the next thought paper.

Two great opposing powers are revealed in the last great battle. On one side stands the Creator of heaven and earth. All on His side bear His signet. They are obedient to His commands. On the other side stands the prince of darkness, with those who have chosen apostacy and rebellion.(Review, May 7, 1901)

p 3 -- Letter from "Watchman What of the Night" to Elder Pierson --

October 26, 1978

Elder R. H. Pierson, President General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists

Takoma Park, Washington D C 20012

Dear Elder Pierson;

All is not well within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and thus when there is a sudden change in leadership, whether for health reasons or not, questions arise. One Review(October 19, 1978) reports your trip to the U.S.S.R, and the next Review (October 26, 1978) announces your resignation.

In my twenty-five years of ministerial service in the Church, I observed two things. When a Union Conference hierarchy wished to control the succession in a local conference where the constituency of the conference could not be taken for granted, the change was made between sessions by the Conference Committee so that when the time for the regular session came around a new face was in the presidency. I have also observed - it was in the Indiana Conference - where I served for seven years, and sat on Nominating committees, that a Union President working through the local ministers had plans all laid to unseat the president upon his return from an extended trip out of the conference. These experiences observed first hand, and knowing that all is not well within the hierarchy of the Church causes me to write direct to you asking that the leadership come clean with the laity, and stop playing games which are only deceptive devices to try and keep everything status quo.

The very nature of the article which you wrote concerning your trip to Russia only complicates the picture. You indicated that "the fortunes of the church ebbed and flowed through the decades that followed" its establishment in southern Russia. "For some years the church was banned under the Czarist regime, with the organization dissolved and our churches closed. . . In more recent years many of our churches have been opened, and Seventh-day Adventists have been permitted to worship in their sanctuaries on Sabbath and on other appointed midweek days." (Adventist Review, Oct. 19, 1978, p. 4) Surely you know that the Czarist regime ended in 1917. What about the half century till "recent years"? Did not the Communistic government of Russia ban our churches also? What about the underground church in Russia? What was your objective in covering the communistic atrocities? Were you playing "public relations" with the Russians, or seeking to deceive our people? This kind of a "cover-up" makes one wonder if something else is not also a cover-up- Do you fear an enlightened laity?

p 4 -- Pierson - 2

Then in the October 26, 1978, Adventist Review, there appeared on pages 10 and 11, your appeal presented to the Autumn Council. You took your thoughts from what an Elder and Mrs. Ralph Neall had written describing how a small group of believers evolve from a "sect" into a "church." After outlining the process through four generations - descriptive in every way of our history from 1844 to 1978 - you state:

Brethren and sisters, this must never happen to the Seventh-day Adventist Church! This will not happen to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Elder Pierson, it has happened! Only one made totally blind by the disease of Laodiceanism cannot see that it has happened. And the sad truth, which I am sure that you wish to avoid, is that during your years as chief administrator of the church, you have contributed to this picture as outlined by the Nealls.

And it is not that you have not been warned. You placed your imprimatur on the book written by the late Dr. Froom - Movement of Destiny. This book contained deadly heresies contrary to the historic teachings of the Church, besides misrepresentation of the position of Elder E. J. Waggoner, one of the Lord's messengers in 1888. I wrote to you concerning this, and I am sure that others called these things to your attention. What did you do about it? Did you confess to the church that you placed your approbation on apostasy, and have the book withdrawn?

Last year, Dr. B. Beach as an official representative of the Church had a special audience with the late Pope, Paul VI, and presented to him a gold medallion as a symbol of the Church. Did any of the laity read where your voice and pen was raised against this betrayal of sacred trust? You surely are aware that the servant of the Lord wrote:      It is the rejection of Bible truth which makes men approach to infidelity. It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy. (Signs of the Times, Feb. 19, 1894)

Yet you say, this must never happen to the Adventist Church - my brother, it has happened, and during your administration!

Further in your appeal, you counsel the Council in warning that the "omega" is coming. You quote as to what would have happened if the "alpha" had been successful. But the "omega" is here. It has come to full bloom under your administration. Our religion has been changed. A new organization has been established as per briefs smutted in the California litigation involving the Pacific Press. Books of a new order have been written. A system of intellectual philosophy has been introduced. The Sabbath is being mitigated as evidenced in the writings of Bacchiocchi of Andrews University. In other words - the "omega" is here! Isn't it time to come clean with our laity and stop the cover-up?

Yours for Truth, (Signed WWN)

p 5 -- A CONUNDRUM -- In the August, 1978, issue of The Sabbath Sentinel, Mr. Eugene Lincoln, the editor, writes:       Few Christians take note of the seventh day of each week as being unusual and important. It is not unique at first glance - simply a 24-hour day. But it is important because our Creator called it "my holy day" and He put a bit of His holiness in it. It is the One whom we should honor that makes it important.

This is well stated. But the lead article follows, entitled, "Sunday: Holy Day or Holiday!" It is written by none other than Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi, Associate Professor of Church History and Theology at Andrews University. Observe very closely what he has written. [So far such an open supplanting of the Sabbath of the Lord, and the advocacy of the observance of Sunday, has not as yet appeared in official Seventh-day Adventist publications to the knowledge of this writer.] It reads:       The growing availability of leisure time made possible by the technological achievements of our age has altered not only the cycle of six days of work and one of rest but also traditional religious values such as the sanctification of the Lord's Day. For many Christians God's holy day has become a holiday, a day to seek for personal pleasurerather than for divine presence. This trend has been apparently strengthened by the reduction of the Sabbath day of rest to the hour of worship. Even the latter, in some churches, has been anticipated to Saturday night, in order to accommodate those who intend to spend their Sunday time in uninterrupted recreational or business activities. 

This prevailing trend raises crucial questions: Should Sunday be viewed as the holy day of rest to the Lord or rather as an hour of worship, after which Christians can freely engage in any type of activity? Is the Biblical notion of the 24-hour Sabbath-day dedicated to the service of God and of humanity a relic of a superseded religious superstition, no longer relevant to modern Christians? It is hard to believe that in our materialistic age, when the tyranny of things enslaves our lives, we no longer need a divine institution whose very function is to free us from the world of matter in order to enable us to freely enter into the peace of God for which we were made. The greatest need of our tension-filled and anguished-compressed lives could well be for that Sabbath rest and peace which can restore and renew us physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

Essentially the Christian life finds its fulfillment in a growing relationship with God. That this relationship is enriched especially through the experience of worship and service provided by the Sabbath day is a self-evident truth. This means then that a proper observance of the Lord's day reflects a healthy relationship with God, while a disregard for it bespeaks spiritual decline or even death. If the holy day of rest and worship does play such a vital role in the life of Christians,

p 6 -- then its widespread non-observance must be regarded as a most crucial problem confronting Christianity today. (Italics his; underscoring mine) From this point Bacchiocchi asks - "What can be done to help us solve this problem?" He cites the history of legislation to force proper Sunday observance, and rejects this approach. He suggests by way of question - "Might not more hopeful results be expected from educating our Christian communities to understand the profound meaning and religious experience of Sabbath keeping?" But then he writes this - "presupposes, however, the existence of Biblical and historical theological motivations which provide an adequate rationale to justify Sunday rest and worship." This he denies, and quotes numerous historical references. Then he asks and answers: Is there a way out of this predicament? Our proposal - which may appear radical to some - is to revitalize both the worship and rest content of the Lord's day, by educating our Christian communities to understand and experience the Biblical meaning and obligation of the seventh-day Sabbath . . . . [This is just plain double-talk.] 

Our proposal is not to reproduce sic and simpliciter the rabbinical model of Sabbath keeping which the Lord Himself rejected, but rather to rediscover and restore those permanent values so well expressed by Christ's Sabbath teaching and ministry.

Then Bacchiocchi concludes:       In our cosmic age the Sabbath could well be the fitting expression of a cosmic faith, a faith which embraces and unites creation, redemption, and final restoration; the past, the present, and the future; man, nature and God; this world and the world to come; a faith that recognizes God's dominion over the whole creation and over human life by consecrating to Him a portion of time; a faith that fulfills the believer's true destiny in time and eternity; a faith that would treat the Lord's Day as God's holy day rather than as a holiday. (Italics his; underscoring mine)

There is only one society that teaches that the end justifies the means!

"After the truth has been proclaimed as a witness to all nations, every conceivable power of evil will be set in operation, and minds will be confused by many voices crying, 'Lo, here is Christ; lo He is there. This is the truth, I have a message from God, He has sent me with great light' Then there will be a removing of the landmarks, and an attempt to tear down the pillars of our faith. A more decided effort will be made to exalt the false sabbath, and to cast contempt upon God Himself by supplanting the day He has blessed and sanctified. This false sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law." Review & Herald, Dec. 13, 1892 

p 7 -- INTRIGUE ON THE TIBER? -- "Pope John Paul I died at approximately 11:00 p.m., Thursday, September 28 of an heart attack, the Vatican Press Office announced early Friday morning. His reign lasted thirty-three days, the shortest since Leo XI's 26-day reign in 1605." (RNS, Sec. 1, Sept. 29, 1978) The circumstances surrounding the Pope's death caused The Courier Journal, news weekly of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, N. Y., to publish an editorial critical of the Vatican's failure to order an autopsy. This editorial stated:      Common sense would have dictated such in the light of the stunning aspect of John Paul's death. It would have satisfied a natural curiosity but more importantly would have headed off the even more ugly rumors of possible foul play that have arisen in some circles.(RNS, Oct. 13, 1978, p. 14)

While the editorial placed the blame for the "ugly rumors" on "those who take some kind of odd satisfaction in manufacturing the most scurrilous rumors about the Church and her leaders," calling them "gossip mongers," it did not tell the readers that leading Catholics in Italy and Spain were the sources of the charge of "foul play" in the Pope's death.

Blas Pinar, president of Fuerza Neuva, a staunchly anti-Communist, proFranco Roman Catholic organization in Spain also called for an autopsy "as a way of quieting the growing controversy surrounding the different versions of the Pope's death." ( Spotlight, Oct. 23, 1978, p. 4) Franco Antico, the secretary general of Civilta Christiana, an Italian conservative group, is reported to have considered bringing charges of murder against the Curia, claiming - "We have concrete evidence to back our demands." (Ibid., p. 5) [But neither this suggestion of Pinar or action contemplated by Antico will occur. Pope Paul VI in 1975 decreed that no autopsies could be performed on church dignitaries of the Vatican, and Vatican City itself is an independent state controlled by the Curia.]

There are "different versions" concerning the death of Pope John Paul I which have given rise to the rumors of foul play and intrigue on the Tiber. In its first report, Religious News Service (RNS) stated: (Sept. 29)      The Pope's body was discovered by Father P. John Magee, who entered the papal bedroom at 5:30 Friday morning to find out why Pope John Paul was late for the usual morning service in one of the Vatican chapels. The light in the bedroom was still on and the body of the Pope lay in bed looking, a Vatican press release said, "like a person intent upon reading." In his hand was the 15th century spiritual classic of St. Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ.

Then on October 2, this same source quoting Vatican Radio filed the following news release:      "After due investigation," Vatican Radio said, "we are in a position to specify that the Pope when he was found dead on the morning of Sept. 29, was holding in his hands some sheets of paper containing

p 8 -- his personal writings," not a copy of the 15th Century spiritual classic of St. Thomas a Kempis.

Following this release, RNS (October 9) quoted ANSA - the Italian News agency which had questioned the official Vatican version that the Pope's body had been found by his secretary, "Irish born Father John Magee." ANSA declared that Sister Vincenza, a nun of Child Mary Institute and an old associate of the pope's since his days as Patriarch of Venice, and who was now one of the papal household nuns, discovered the body. This was based on information "confirmed" in part by the Pope's brother, Eduardo Luciani.

Time (September 11, 1978) featured an article in its "Religion" section, telling "How Pope John Paul I Won." It revealed that on the third ballot, the name of Luciani, Patriarch of Venice, "burst to the fore, falling just short of a majority." Then the article in Time related:       The main resistance came from a bloc of ultraconservatives who favored Siri, a fact that encouraged fence sitters to swing to Luciani. So the fourth and final vote was fast - and was speeded further by the Cardinals' decision to dispense with the ritual declarations that were required during the earlier sessions as each man deposited his ballot in the chalice. As the count went on, no other name but Luciani's was read out. There were a number of blank ballots cast by Curialist and conservative bitter-enders.

Herein is the basis for the suspected "foul play" on the Tiber, and the charge that the Curia was involved. Pope John Paul I, prior to his election, had stood virtually alone among the Roman Catholic hierarchs of Italy in his refusal to reach an accommodation with the Communists which during the reigns of John XXIII and Paul VI had become known as "Ostpolitik." "As a matter of fact, while an archbishop, John Paul I had disbanded a Catholic university group which began espousing the Marxist line." (Spotlight, Oct. 30, 1978, p. 3) Time observes further, Luciani "had never drafted documents from the dry heart of the Vatican" neither had he "served in the Papal diplomatic service."

The reaction of the Communist leaders of Eastern Europe to the election of John Paul II in contrast to their reaction to the election of John Paul I should tell us something. RNS in its "Week in Religion" for November 3, 1978, makes the following interesting summary:      The ascendancy of a Polish prelate - the first in history - to the papacy had an immediate impact on Poland's Communist regime. The top leadership joined rejoicing Polish Catholics in hailing the choice of "a son of the Polish nation" as the new Pope and said it looked forward to improvement of relations with the Vatican. ... 

The Soviet Union, the power behind Poland, took special notice of the new Pope, in contrast to the way it handled the news of the election of his predecessor, Pope John Paul I. Soviet television gave full coverage to the newly-elected Polish Pope's first public appearance. ... When John Paul II's predecessor, John Paul I, was elected, Soviet television confined

p 9 -- itself to a terse announcement. Several newspapers in the Soviet Union also published stories about the selection of John Paul II, again, in contrast to the way they handled the election of John Paul I, either ignoring it or simply mentioning the bare fact. 

Significantly, Soviet Communist Party Chief, Leonid I. Brezhnev, who took no official notice of the election of John Paul I, sent a congratulatory message to John Paul II, expressing wishes "for fruitful activity in the interest of the relaxation of international tensions and of friendship and peace among peoples."

In the next thought paper, we shall discuss John Paul II and "Ostpolitik."

SANDOR PALOTAY UPDATE - A RUN AROUND -- In the October issue of "Watchman, What of the Night?' we published a letter from Elder Eugene F. Durand, assistant to the Editor of the Adventist Review, regarding Sandor Palotay, president of the Council of the Free Churches of Hungary. In the letter we were told that Palotay was no longer a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, though at one time he had been a Literature Evangelist. In our reply to Elder Durand, we asked - "What do the records state was the cause for his dismissal from the work and the Church?" In a letter dated, September 21, 1978, he replied - "As to the cause of his dismissal, I would suggest you write to Elder Alf Lohne of the General Conference. We do not have this information, but he might. I would suggest that you also write to him regarding our relationship to the Council of Free Churches and Sandor Palotay."

This we did quoting the above from Elder Durand. On October 31, Elder Lohne replied to our letter as follows:      The information I have on Sandor Palotay is just about the same as you have already received from Elder Durand. 

The Euro-Africa Division, in whose territory the Hungarian Union is located, would be the best source of information regarding our church's relationship to the Council of Free Churches in Hungary.

Is the General Conference unaware of what the Church is doing in Hungary? Does the editorship of the Adventist Review, who still consider the paper as the official organ of the Church, lack the knowledge of what is taking place in the worldwide Church? Perhaps, the answer can be found in part in what Elder Durand stated in his letter of September 21 - "You ask why the Review did not explain the false information carried by the Voice of Prophecy News and the Southern Tidings. It is simply because it is not our job to police other publications. We have our hands full trying to keep the Review accurate." And we must sympathize with the editors in this when every wind of doctrine is blowing through the Church at the present time.

But we still must wonder - what is being covered up, and what does the leadership of the Church not want the laity to know?

p 10 -- SIGNS OF THE TRENDS -- POLISH CATHOLICS GREET BILLY GRAHAM WARSAW (CP) - American evangelist Billy Graham was welcomed yesterday by the Polish Catholic Church, which is opening its doors for the first time to his crusade for Christ. "We are happy that you will preach in several cities in Catholic churches, where the overwhelming majority of listeners will be Catholics," Bishop Wladyslaw Miziolek told Graham at Okecie Airport. Miziloek is chairman of the committee on ecumenism of the Polish Catholic Church.Toronto Star, October 7, 1978

MASONIC LODGES GIVE TO CATHOLIC NUNS -- DUNEDIN, N. Z. (RNS) Masonic Lodges in Otago Province have given $5,000 to aid the Roman Catholic Order of the Little Sisters of the Poor in its campaign to build a hospital and a new home for the nuns. It was not the first donation to a Roman Catholic cause by the lodges here. They have previously given a television set to the sisters' home, made a grant to Catholic Social Services, and helped Roman Catholic children through a school bursary system set up in 1922 to assist the families of World War I soldiers.Religious News Service, Oct. 13, 1978

ANGLICAN, EASTERN ORTHODOX, AND PROTESTANT LEADERS RECEIVED BY JOHN PAUL II VATICAN CITY (RNS) -- Pope John Paul 11 ended a meeting here with over 40 Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant church leaders by asking them all to clasp hands in two circles of silent prayer. "This should symbolize the unity we seek," the newly invested Polish Pope told the group.

At this meeting following his investiture, the Pope told the Church leaders to convey to all those they represent "that the Catholic Church's commitment to the ecumenical movement as solemnly expressed by the Second Vatican Council is irreversible.... Your presence here demonstrates in effect our common determination to establish ever closer links among us and to overcome the divisions inherited from the past -- divisions which are, as we have already said, an intolerable scandal and an obstacle to the proclamation of the Good News of the salvation given in Jesus Christ.

The Pope prayed that the "Spirit of Love and of Truth may give us the gift of finding ourselves often and ever closer to one another in profound communion in the mystery of Christ our one Saviour, our one Lord. May the Virgin Mary be for us an example of this submission to the Holy Spirit, who is the most profound Mover of the ecumenical attitude. May our answer be like hers, 'I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let what you have said be done to me."' Religious News Service, Oct. 23, 1978

p 11 -- NOVEMBER DEVOTION SCHEDULE OF ADVENTIST HOSPITAL --BRUNSWICK, ME (ALFNS) Parkview Memorial Hospital is owned & operated by the Northern New England Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Morning Devotions schedule follows: 

PARKVIEW MEMORIAL HOSPITAL - MORNING DEVOTIONS - NOVEMBER

Ten O'Clock

Wednesday I     Pastor Earl, French, Assembly of God, Brunswick

Thursday     2    Chaplain Odell, Parkview Hospital

Friday         3     Pastor Peter Inchcombe, Glorious Gospel Church, Topsham

Sabbath      4     - 

Sunday       5     Rev. Nellie Lane, retired Baptist minister

Monday       6    Chaplain Odell

Tuesday      7    Chaplain Odell

Wednesday 8    Associate Pastor Paul Guertin, St. John's Roman Catholic Church

Thursday     9    Pastor Joe Beardsley, United Baptist Church, Topsham

Friday         10   Pastor Paul Scherzer, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Brunswick

Sabbath      11   - 

Sunday       12   Omitted

Monday       13   Chaplain William Hunter, U. S. Navy, retired

Tuesday      14   Chaplain Odell

Wednesday 15   Pastor James Knox, St. Charles Roman Catholic Church, Brunswick

Thursday     16   Chaplain Odell

Friday         17   Pastor Paul Scherzer, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Brunswick

Sabbath      18   - 

Sunday       19   To Be Announced

Monday       20   Pastor Ehrmann Bennett, Baptist Church, Freeport

Tuesday      21   Pastor Donald Nickerson, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Brunswick

Wednesday 22   Pastor Gerard Demers, St. John's Roman Catholic Church, Brunswick

Thursday     23   Omitted - Thanksgiving Holiday

Friday         24   Pastor Philip Palmer, United Methodist Church, Brunswick

Sabbath      25   - 

Sunday       26   To Be Announced

Monday       27   Pastor Paul Mitche1l, Second Baptist Church, Bowdoinham

Tuesday      28   Chaplain Odel1

Wednesday 29   Chaplain William B. O'Connor, Brunowick Naval Air station

Thursday     30   Chaplain Odell

p 12 -- ADVENTIST INVOLVEMENT IN GRAHAM'S CRUSADE IN POLAND -- Christianity Today (Nov. 3, 1978, "News" section) told of tensions between the Catholics and Protestants over the Billy Graham meetings in Poland. "A historic attitude of distrust between the two groups" was noted. But as the meetings progressed, Protestant leaders seemed to change their minds. Protestants had interpreted Catholic involvement as "an intrusion and an attempt to dominate." "The Catholic attitude in the past has been 'unfriendly' according to Seventh-day Adventist president Stanislaw Dambrowski, but he said the situation looks better in the light of the Graham visit." The Seventh-day Adventist church has an "observer status" in the Polish Ecumenical Council, one of the sponsors of the Graham Crusade. The article in Christianity Today reported that the church "supported the Graham campaign."

According to Edward Plowman, author of the Christianity Today report, the high point for the evangelistic tour was reached in a meeting held in the modern Catholic Cathedral in Katowice. Before a near capacity crowd, Diocesan bishop Herbert Betnorz welcomed Graham, and called the rally "the greatest ecumenical gathering ever held in the region." Commenting on the meeting itself, Jozef Danch who heads student work in the diocese stated that "what happened at the cathedral tonight was of the Holy Spirit."

Was this "Spirit" truly the Holy Spirit, or was it of the spirits mentioned in Revelation 16:14? The editorial staff of the Adventist Review owes the laity of the church a full disclosure and an unadulterated report of the church's participation in the Billy Graham Crusade in Poland. What contacts and involvements took place between the Adventist leadership in Poland and the Catholics so that the President of the Polish Adventist church could be quoted in Christianity Today as an authority on the improved Catholic-Protestant relationships?

A COMPARISON OF CORRESPONDENCE FROM THE CURIA ON THE SLIGO --

"Dear Brother "A"

"It is Elder Pierson's wish that I reply for him to your letter of June 20. We are always pleased to do our best to answer questions that come to us from different parts of the field.

"First, you inquire concerning a visit by Dr. Beach to Pope Paul. This was not an official visit by the church. The church did not ask him to make this visit, . . .

"Very cordially yours,

(Signed)

F. C. Webster

Assistant to the President

p 13 -- Letter to WWN:

"Now to the questions of your letter of January 18.

1. The Northern Europe-West Africa Division Committee authorized Brother Beach's trip to Rome and it was understood that the visit to the Pope with representatives of the World Confessional Families was a probability....

"Sincerely your brother,

(Signed) W. Duncan Eva

Vice President

Comment:    Perhaps, Elder Webster is correct in the light of Elder Pierson's sworn affidavit in EEOC vs PPPA case before the United States District Court of Northern California. Elder Pierson swore - "I am Robert H. Pierson, an ordained minister of the gospel, and president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, which is the Seventh-day Adventist Church, ..." Perhaps the Northern Europe-West Africa Division Committee was acting unilaterally, and not for the Church. Perhaps! --- (1978 Dec)

Rely On Christ.

When sin entered the human race- everything was altered in an instant.

We were glorious beings of flesh- clothed with the light of God's righteousness. We knew no sin. Sin is the opposite of God's righteousness. Sin is the taking away of God's righteousness. Sin took away our clothing of light.

When we were created - we were sinless, and we were sinless because we lived in the righteousness of God.

When angels were created they too were sinless, and they too lived in the righteousness of God- yet they bore no flesh. Angels were not created in the likeness of their Creator, they were not made in the image of their God. Some might argue that angels are more like God than we are in that they were made spirit beings and God is spirit. 

Some believe our having flesh is a hindrance that needs to be done away with, and will be done away with. Yet, our Savior retained His scarred flesh after He was resurrected.  However, that scarred flesh was changed- it was no longer sin tainted flesh.

Yes, Jesus was born with our sin corrupted flesh, or else He would NOT have been able to redeem us through His sacrifice.  He had to have all our propensities towards temptation or else being tempted would be meaningless. He resisted the temptations, all of them and never let sin be conceived within Himself, but HE felt the temptations - the pull towards sin that our flesh inherited with sin's inception in our human race.  If Jesus was going to be God with us, live and die for us, it had to be accomplished with true purpose or else there was no reason for it to happen at all. God putting Himself into a flesh body that held none of our inherited tendencies, would be meaningless because it could not prove that a human being could- through reliance upon God the Father alone and God's righteousness- remain sinless. We right now, today must RELY upon God's righteousness ALONE, upon the righteousness of our SAVIOR who took on FLESH and conquered that flesh.  The ability to RELY upon God through Jesus IS possible, the ability is faith to RELY upon God through Jesus is possible, our relying upon ourselves is IMPOSSIBLE. Salvation is found in Christ alone.

Heb_4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

How could this be a true statement if JESUS wasn't born with our flesh after the fall?

If He'd been born with the flesh of Adam before the fall, He would NOT have been able to be tempted in ALL points like we are.

If I take a starving man and put him in a room with a banquet and tell him he can't eat, and then take a man who has just recently eaten a full and hearty meal and put him in a similar room with a banquet and tell him he can't eat….   Is their temptation the same?

No.  The only way for the temptation to be the same for both men is for them to live in similar conditions prior to the temptation.

The full man presented with a banquet would not be as tempted to eat, and the starving man would be desperate to do so.

If Jesus were NOT really tempted by the sins we face, how could we read that He was tempted in ALL POINTS like we are? He WAS tempted and HE prevailed against the temptation by resisting it, and NOT letting it become conceived within Him.  That flesh Jesus was born with was dying flesh…aging flesh…. Not the flesh of Adam who's flesh upon creation was not aging, not dying, not tainted in any way at all. The flesh of Adam was clothed with light and that light was the righteousness of Adam's Creator- our Savior. Our Savior- took OFF His power of Creating-- 

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

(ASV)  but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men;

(CEV)  Instead he gave up everything and became a slave, when he became like one of us.

(LITV)  but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave, having become in the likeness of men

Jesus EMPTIED Himself.

Jesus brought with Him- NO reputation.

Jesus HUMBLED Himself.

Jesus took on the form of a SLAVE.

Jesus could of Himself do NOTHING.

Joh_5:19  Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

Joh 5:30  I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 

Joh 8:28  Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. 

Joh 9:4  I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. 

Joh 12:49  For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 

Joh 12:50  And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. 

Joh 14:10  Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 

Joh 14:20  At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 

Jesus did NOT come to earth in the form of a full grown man clothed in the righteousness of God's light, whose flesh was that of perfection in all ways- ways we scarce can imagine- because it certainly was NOT the flesh we have today. Sin altered us instantly. As soon as we were removed from the light of God's righteousness we reverted to complete creature form- and this is why Adam and Eve suddenly comprehended their nakedness. They had no nakedness before they sinned, their clothing was the righteousness of God in a pure form of perfection beyond our full comprehension- a form we will once more obtain when we are changed…

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 

1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

Do you honestly believe we were meant to have all the absurdities of our current form of existence? No, not by a long, long, long, infinitely long shot.

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 

Rev 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 

1Jn 2:1  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous

Heb 1:8  But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 

Rom 3:22  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference

1Co 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 

1Co 1:31  That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

2Co 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

The Righteousness of Christ Through Faith.  We must rely solely upon Christ's righteousness not try to manufacture the impossible - a righteousness of our own.