It is very likely that nearly everyone who has ever attended a
denominational SDA church has heard this assertion proudly sounded from
pulpit and read it in publications. Indeed it seems that leaders and
ministers who openly do all in their power to destroy confidence in the
Testimonies of the Lords Messenger, still wave this statement around as
a banner. Many honest in heart have been led by this to stifle the
convictions of conscience and continue to support, or at least refrain
from denouncing, apostate and corrupt leaders and practices in the
conferences and churches, feeling that, because of this assurance, somehowthrough
some miraculous working of Godwicked doing will still receive the
support and blessing of God.
Is there something more we need to know about this statement? Yes,
indeed there is. There has been a deliberate cover-up and
misapplication of this statementtaken out of context and
falsely applied.
First, I want to direct your attention to the time of the first advent
of Jesus. The corrupt leaders of those days had pet statements too,
drawn from misapplications and taken out of context. They had taken
the prophecies that spoke of the glory of the second coming and applied
them to the Messianic hopecausing all to look for a mighty conqueror
that would destroy their enemies and place them on the throne of the
entire world. The clear explanations of scripture as to the Messiahs
mission as a suffering sacrifice for sinwere conveniently kept out of
sight or ignored.
They had their does not fall statements alsotaking the
promises of Gods promise of blessing to their nation as unconditionalteaching
that because of these promises, (actually conditional upon their
obedience)that there was no way their nation and temple could be
destroyed. But we all know what happened in AD 70!
Do you realize that even when the Roman hoards were surrounding the
city and pleading with the leaders to surrendereven when people inside
the walls were killing and eating their own childrenleadership were
still chanting to the people that their church could not fall and
that somehow God was going to work a miracle and save them. But their
misplaced confidence in promises they had forfeited all right to claim, did
not help them. They were slaughtered like rats in the very temple they
trusted in and worshipped. Worshipped the Temple? Yes, for centuries the
Jews had forsaken loyalty to God and His words and turned their worship
towards human leaders, structures, rituals, and even buildings.
As Jesus ministered to the people, thousands were moved at His words,
and yet by far the majority ended up rejecting Him and were lost! Why?
Some try to tell us that Jesus presented a completely new religion to themthis
is a grievous falsehood! He presented only the Original Advent
Message as had been given by their own prophets though the centuries
and was clearly to be seen in Scripture. Why then when their hearts
were so stirred and their consciences moved powerfully by the teachings of
Jesus, did the majority turn back and follow Him no more?
To know the answer, we have to look to what they turned back tothey
turned back to their leaders, and the leaders brainwashed them with their
church cannot fall statements and they confidently continued to
support these apostate and corrupt leaders until they perished in their
sinseternally lost! It is interesting to note that in those days,
ONLY those who were willing to search the scriptures and study for
themselves accepted Jesus and were savedthose who trusted leadership to
tell them the truthwere lost.
Even Jesus own disciples were so leavened with these false
applications used by the leadership of those days, that they did not even
understand or accept the words of Jesus as He tried so hard to get
them to see that their ideas were false and they were in for a terrible
shock! The false promises of a corrupt leadership sounded so much more
attractive than the straight, cutting truth Jesus was telling them. They
refused to open their mind and listen.
I urge you today to open your mind and listen prayerfully to the rest
of the story that you were never toldof the church will not fall
statementthe context and meaning, which were kept hidden away from
the lay people for decadesbut now, in the mercy of God, is published
and available! (webservant)
Now hear Elder Vance Ferrell present:
