The Good News in the Spirit of Prophecy

Fort Bragg, Nov. 24, 2012

A Prophet in our midst…Since Dec. 1844, (19 years before there was a Seventh-day Adventist Church) our church has had the benefit of a prophet in our midst. What is the benefit?

2 Ki. 6:8-12 – Elisha vs. Benhadad II of Syria “Elisha, the prophet that is in Israel, telleth the king of Israel the words that thou speakest in thy bedchamber.” vs. 12

Amos 3:7 - “Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.”

The church is to “come behind in no gift” (1 Cor. 1:7)2 Chronicles 20:20 - "believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed"

Foundation for modern prophets:28 prophets and prophetesses are mentioned in the bible.The gift of prophecy is among the 9 gifts of the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:8-11, 27-31) which exist as long as the church needs them (Eph. 4:11-15)The SDA Church sees it’s existence as being the fulfillment of Rev. 12:17: “And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 19:10 – the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy)

The relationship between a modern Prophet and the Bible“The Bible stands alone as the rule of faith and practice for Christians… The Ellen White writings… are intended to serve three basic purposes: (1) to direct attention to the Bible, (2) to aid in understanding the Bible, and (3) to help in applying Bible principles in our lives.”

- T.H. Jemison, in his Book “A Prophet Among You” p. 371

“The testimonies of Sister White should not be carried to the front… And never do we want any soul to bring in the Testimonies ahead of the Bible” Ellen G. White, Evangelism, p. 256

As a Writer: Although almost all of her life was lived in the 19th century (1827-1915), her impact upon the 20th century has been profound. Her writings have been published in more languages, and are circulated more than any other woman author.

She is the most translated woman writer in the entire history of literature and most translated author of either gender.Steps to Christ has been published in nearly 150 languages, with well over 100 million in circulation.

During her 7 decades of public ministry she produced more than 100,000 pages, totaling more than 25 million words – 5,000 periodical articles and 49 books.

She often wrote 20 pages or more a dayHer writings, including compilations, include more than 100 books; more than two thirds published since her death.

In depth writing on religion, education, health, prophecy, social relationships, evangelism, publishing, and management.

Bible Centered: 8 of her leading books discuss 14,000 texts (nearly one half of the total number in the Bible).

The Desire of Ages alone discusses 3,955 verses, some more than once. Matthew 5:14-16 “Ye are the light of the world” is her most often used text (264 times)John 3:16 is quoted 118 times.

“The written testimonies are not to give new light, but to impress vividly upon the heart the truths of inspiration already revealed.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 665

“The Bible, and the Bible alone, is our rule of faith.” Testimonies on Sabbath School Work, p. 32

Lover of Children: Whenever her grandchildren would go to see her in her writing room, she would lay down her pen and greet them with a kiss, hold them on her lap and give them a big hug.

She considered the training of children the most important work, of which we have only begun to touch with the tips of our fingers.1 The need for good books for children was the subject of her last vision given on March 3, 1915

One of the last photos of her, July 15, 1913, speaking to the church school children in Sanitarium, CA

Her deep interest in children:Mrs. H. E. Rogers, (who lived in EGW’s home for a while when a child) remembered: “She took such interest in our childhood games. At night she would tell us Bible stories and pray with us, then off to bed we would go. Once a week she would let us have a pillow fight. She was warm and human.”1

She studied children. Alma McKibbin, early Adventist church school teacher and pioneer Bible textbook writer remembered EGW telling her:

“That little fellow that’s so restless, he is a very important person, and you should seek to understand him. Watch what he does when he is alone. Study the expression on his face. Don’t forget to look in his eyes…Don’t ever be discouraged. It may seem today that they are not listening, but they are. Sow the seed in the power o f God, and it must bear fruit.”2

Children’s Ministry:In the summer of 1852, children’s ministry began in the SDA Church with a new journal The Youth’s Instructor.1

James White, a teacher and lover of children, fought for right for children to be baptized2

Ellen White published articles/books on the importance of good Child Training:

475 articles in the YIAn Appeal to Mothers (1864)An Appeal to Youth (1864)Christian Education (1893, 1894)Compilations:

Education (1904)Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students (1913)Fundamentals of Christian Education (1923)Messages to Young People (1930)Counsels on Sabbath School Work (1938)Adventist Home (1952)Child Guidance (1954)

A total of 3,546 pagesSince the 1850s Ellen began collecting books, articles, prints for special children’s books…

The Sabbath Readings for the Home Circle contained 194 stories; The Scrapbook Series contained nearly 200 stories; The Sunshine at Home series; and the Golden Grain Series…

Ellen White encouraged… In 1891 a you society was organized

in Antigo, WI under the leadership of Meade MacGuire In 1893 a Young People’s Society was organized in Lincoln, NEIn 1894 Sunshine Bands were launched by Luther Warren in South DakotaIn 1899 the Ohio Conference became the first to officially organize it’s young peopleIn 1901 Iowa began explosive growth in youth ministry until soon they had 14 groups with 186 youth, some of which would become missionaries in China and Portugal.Also in 1901 the General Conference took steps to forming a young people’s society.

The church to take action for it’s children. - from Melbourne, Australia, December 19, 1892:

“We have an army of youth today who can do much if they are properly directed and encouraged. We want our children to: believe the truth… to be blessed of God… to act a part in well-organized plans for

helping other youth… be so trained that they may rightly represent

the truth, giving them reason of the hope that is within them,

and honoring God in any branch of the work where they are qualified to labor” General Conference Bulletin, January 29, 30, 1893, p. 24.

Then in 1893 she encouraged all to: form companies “somewhat after the order of

the Christian Endeavor Society, and see what can be done by each accountable

human agent in watching for and improving opportunities to do work for the Master” Counsels on Health, p. 537, October 2, 1893

The Church responded…

Children & Youth groups:History:

1907 MV society was founded1950 JMV Pathfinder Clubs launched1960 1st Union Camporee in Lone Pine, CA1994 International Pathfinder Camporee in

Denver Colorado2014 next International Pathfinder Camporee in Oshkosh, WI (36,000 Pathfinders)

Now: 1 ½ million Pathfinders (age 10-15) in 38,000 clubs worldwide; and a very vibrant Adventurer Club for children age 5-9.

JMV Reading Course Books

Church Educational Institutions:EGW urged upon the church in the 1850s & 1860s, to do something for the youth, but it took them until the early 1870’s to make it happen 2012 Statistics:

Elementary Schools = 5,813 / Enrollment = 1,034,052Secondary Schools = 1,823 / Enrollment = 494,324Worker Training Institutions = 59 / Enrollment = 8,862Universities = 111 / Enrollment = 131,516TOTAL SCHOOLS = 7,883 schools / Enrollment = 1.7 million

GRADUATE SCHOOLS:History:Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College 1901 it moved to Berrien Springs and name Emmanuel Missionary CollegeOn the 1930s the Theological Seminary located at PUC, moved to Potomac University in Washington DC, In 1959 it joined EMC which was quickly renamed Andrews University In 2011 Griggs University joined AU as the School of Distance Education.

Students/Staff:3,551 enrollment272 Faculty13% are international studentsOffering

130 undergraduate majors70 graduate majors

Schools:Arts & SciencesAgricultureAviationArchitecture, Art, DesignBusiness AdministrationEducationHealth ProfessionsGraduate StudiesTheological Seminary

Discussion…Such amazing results…

Resulting from the “word” of God’s modern day prophet

coming from the heart of God to his people…also right from James and Ellen…

How can you explain it?What memories and wonders do you recall from growing up as a child benefiting from these Children’s Ministries within the remnant church?

How is this “good news”?

Now, the Good News about Health:

Adventist’s in the 1800’s were, like most people of that day - very unhealthy!

America was a sick and dirty nationSanitation and personal hygiene were non-existentDietary habits included gargantuan amount of meatFruits, and green vegetables were seldom servedFoods that did appear were saturated with butter or lardSicknesses were treated with bleedings or often poisonous medicines

Health: “The Adventist Advantage”EGW predicted: “If Seventh-day Adventists practiced what they profess to believe, if they were sincere health reformers, they would indeed be a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.” (Counsels on Health, p. 575)

100 Years later:This phrase first appeared in the Oct. 28, 1966 Time magazine. Reporting Adventists had 1/4th the lung disease as other Californians, andThere were twice as many SDA’s alive between ages 80-85 as non SDA’s in the state.

Then the November 2005 National Geographic reported that residents of Okinawa, Sardinia, and Loma Linda, California live longer and healthier than anyone else on the earth. And that it was because of lifestyle choices that made the difference. “Residents of these three places

produce a high rate of centenarians, suffer a fraction of the diseases that commonly kill people in other parts of the developed world, and enjoy more healthy years of life. In sum, they offer three sets of ‘best practices’ to emulate. The rest is up to you.”

HOW DID IT HAPPEN?

In 1895, Dr. David Paulson, just completing his medical training in New York City was asked by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, “Do you

know how it is that the Battle Creek Sanitarium is able to keep five years ahead of the medical profession?”

Dr. Paulson said he did not know. Kellogg explained:

“When a new thing is brought out in the medical world I know from my knowledge of the Spirit of Prophecy whether it belongs in our system or not

“If it does, I instantly adopt it and advertise it while the rest of the doctors are slowly feeling their way, and when they finally adopt it I have five years start on them.

“On the other hand,” he continued, “when the medical profession is swept off their feet by some new fad, if it does not fit the light we have received, I simply do not touch it. When the doctors finally discover their mistake, they wonder how it came that I did not get caught.”

Dr. PaulsonDr. Kellogg

This display sums it all up…

Loma Linda University & the AMA1905 – The Committee on Education from the AMA told our leaders that with such small numbers, and so little resources and facilities, and the lack of trained men, they could never hope to successfully operate a medical school. A C-grade rating would be the best they could give. Then went on to say they were closing all C-grade schools.

What should they do? They asked Ellen White…

“The light given me is, We must provide that which is essential to qualify our youth who desire to be physicians…. The medical school at Loma Linda is to be of the highest order… And for the special preparation of those of our youth who have clear convictions of their duty to obtain a medical education that will enable them to pass the examinations required by law of all those who practice as regularly qualified physicians, we are to supply whatever may be required.”1

Elder I. H. Evans from the General Conference put it this way: “The question is, Will we follow the counsel given?“I can conjure up many reasons why at this time we are ill prepared to establish and operate a medical school. It is not hard for any man to say that we have not the money at hand. Any man need not be very wise to say, “We do not know where we shall get medical men trained and qualified to take up this work.” But the question is, Will we establish this medical school, when the Lord has indicated so plainly our duty?”Then in words of confidence he declared:“When the statement from Sister White is read, I am sure the majority of our brethren will feel as we feel tonight – that the Lord has spoken, and we will obey.”2

Challenged to greatness:

The vote was…When the vote was taken, every hand was raised in affirmation to go ahead.

However, when news reached Ellen White that they planned to sell some of the land to raise money for the school, she replied: “Don’t do it...we will need more land.”

They pointed out that the conference could not afford money for more land,

EGW contacted Adventist businessmen, physicians, and farmers to help by buying up hundreds of acres to be held till the Medical School could take it over.

Ellen White speaking at LLU dedication

In 1962, at the end of a visit from the AMA Committee on Education, the representatives stood on a hill overlooking the campus, and the dean of a medical school of a large state university stated: “What would I give for a campus like this for my medical school?” and then he thoughtfully observed: “Years ago, someone must have had vision.”

Today LLU is: • among the largest private medical educational centers in the United States. • Most of the Medical Center's 550-physician staff also teaches at the School of

Medicine. The strong bond between treating and teaching makes LLUMC physicians among the most highly-trained and cutting edge physicians in the region.

• The Medical Center is also the only Level 1 Regional Trauma center for four inland Southern California counties.

• With nearly 900 beds available, it serves more than 33,000 inpatients and 650,000 outpatients annually.

A dream come true…

In October of 1984, Loma Linda University made world-wide headlines when Dr. Leonard Bailey performed the first cross species heart transplant between a baboon and little baby Fae. No one at that time was volunteering dead babies hearts for transplant-ation. Newborn baby goats were used as models and actually grow them to be adults to have their own babies. That encouraged them to believe transplantation might have a place with newborn human infants. Baby Stephanie Fae lived 21 days, dying because of multiple complications.

In the 20 yrs. following that transplant, over 6,000 successful transplants have been performed.

Infant heart transplants:

LLU a blessing to all:Dr. Bailey brought world-wide recognition to Loma Linda University through his pioneering work on infant heart transplants. But when Leonard Bailey applied to LLU to start his medical training he was turned down. He wasn’t giving his studies his best. Luckily for him and the University that they accepted him the second time. More than that, Dr. Bailey became the beneficiary of a second marvel at LLU, the proton accelerator, that cured him of cancer.

How has the Spirit of Prophecy been a blessing to you?

"believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established;

believe his prophets, and you will succeed“

2 Chronicles 20:20