PREPARING FOR JESUS CHRIST'S RETURN BY KEEPING PAGAN HOLIDAYS?

CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS SERIES – 7 Are 7th-Day Adventists celebrating Easter? 1)file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/CHRISTIAN%20SERVICE/My%20Documents/Holidays%20-%20Articles%20and%20facts/EASTER/photo.php.htm 2)http://www.lightministries.com/SDA/id619.htm 3)http://adventist.org.uk/events/2013/2013-sec/londonlives-easter-celebration 4) A Prelude to Easter Saturday, March 23, 2013 5:00pm East Pasco Seventh-day Adventist Church (7333 Dairy Road, Zephyrhills, FL) https://www.fhzeph.org/news/florida-hospital-zephyrhills-celebrates-easter-with-free-community-events 5) http://www.atoday.org/article/1109/news/2012/april-headlines/hundreds-of-adventist-churches-plan-easter-events-this-coming-weekend This is nothing new either! "Bob Hunter, pastor of the Stone Mountain, Georgia, [SDA] church, delivered the Easter message at the sunrise service atop Georgia’s Stone Mountain. The Service was attended by some 4,000 people and was covered by three of the local Atlanta television stations. The service was videotaped and aired on Stone Mountain church’s television program, ‘Discovery.’" Southern Tidings, August, 1985, p 19. · "Good Adventist news for Easter--For the first time in denominational history a television network--CBS--will broadcast an Easter Sunday service from a SDA church. The program, ‘Festival of Hope,’ will originate from the Camarillo Adventist Church in California. The speaker will be Elder Roger Bothwell, pastor of the College Church at Pacific Union College. WCBS, New York City, will carry the service this Sunday [April 22] at 11 a.m (8 a.m. Camarillo time) as will CBS affiliates in Roanoke, Boston, Tampa, Bismark, Minot, Madison, Williston, Cincinnati, Champaign, San Antonio, Columbus, Huntsville, St. Louis, La Crosse and Tuscaloosa. Some 20 other affiliated stations will carry the program on a delayed basis. Unfortunately, the CBS affiliate in Washington, D.C., WDVM, will not carry the program." General Conference Weekly Press Relations Newsletter, Spring, 1984. (See also Adventist Review, March 29, 1984, p 31.) · "72nd annual Easter Sunrise Service at the Hollywood Bowl." This Sunday Sunrise Service was "televised internationally by the Trinity Broadcasting Network, and was carried by the Armed Forces Radio and Television Network" (Pacific Union Recorder, July 20, 1992, p 16). · Other Profs: · http://www.christianforums.com/t4972772/ http://www.celebrationsda.com/event-items/the-christian-life-ive-just-seen-jesus-easter-celebration-mary-lou-cummings-john-20/ Church Of The Advent Hope is a diverse Seventh-Day Adventist Christian community ... Take part in an Easter meal with us on March 28. ... On Saturdays Church of the Advent Hope gathers to celebrate the Sabbath ... 'It Is Written' Coming to Advent Hope in MayFebruary 02, 2013 | Advent Hope ... Easter Sunrise Service ...https://www.facebook.com/events/429215340498500/ http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_important_holidays_and_traditions_of_Seventh-day_Adventists Church services lead up to Easter | The Tennessean | tennessean.com 1 day ago ... His House Church, 5306 Main St. in Spring Hill, will celebrate ... To register, visit www.clearview.org/all/happenings/2013/01-21/ ... Another Easter service will be held at 10:45 a.m. No evening services will be held. .... Easter Sunrise Service in the Prayer Garden at 7 a.m. March 31; ... Seventh Day Adventist ... http://www.nhillschurch.org/ [sunrise service] http://www.tennessean.com/article/20130329/WILLIAMSON01/303290115/Church-services-lead-up-Easter?nclick_check=1 So… How close to Catholic traditions can we get and yet remain Adventists? “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1John 2:15 –18 “Meaning of Antichrist to Be Understood—Those who become confused in their understanding of the Word, who fail to see the meaning of antichrist, will surely place themselves on the side of antichrist. There is no time now for us to assimilate with the world. Daniel is standing in his lot and in his place. The prophecies of Daniel and of John are to be understood. They interpret each other. They give to the world truths which every one should understand. These prophecies are to be witnesses in the world. By their fulfillment in these last days they will explain themselves.” E. G. White Bible Commentary, {7BC 949.6} The Lord is about to punish the world for its iniquity. He is about to punish religious bodies for their rejection of the light and truth which has been given them. The great message, combining the first, second, and third angels’ messages, is to be given to the world. This is to be the burden of our work. Those who truly believe in Christ will openly conform to the law of Jehovah. The Sabbath is the sign between God and His people; and we are to make visible our conformity to the law of God by observing the Sabbath. It is to be the mark of distinction between God’s chosen people and the world (Manuscript 10, 1900). IBID, {7BC 949.7} [Just yesterday (the 7th day – the true Lord’s Sabbath) we were passing out literature containing these warnings to be given to the world. It is pleasing to see a church that is not ashamed of “Present Truth”! Books such as: The Great Controversy, National Sunday Law, ETC.] “In the New Testament, language very similar is addressed to professed Christians who seek the friendship of the world above the favor of God. Says the apostle James: “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Great Controversy, {GC 382.1} The woman (Babylon) of Revelation 17 is described as “arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness:...and upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery,Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots.” Says the prophet: “I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” Babylon is further declared to be “that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth.” Revelation 17:4-6, 18. The power that for so many centuries maintained despotic sway over the monarchs of Christendom is Rome. The purple and scarlet color, the gold and precious stones and pearls, vividly picture the magnificence and more than kingly pomp affected by the haughty see of Rome. And no other power could be so truly declared “drunken with the blood of the saints” as that church which has so cruelly persecuted the followers of Christ. Babylon is also chargedwith the sin of unlawful connection with “the kings of the earth.” It was by departure from the Lord, and alliance with the heathen, that the Jewish church became a harlot; and Rome, corrupting herself in like manner by seeking the support of worldly powers, receives a like condemnation. IBID, {GC 382.2} Babylon is said to be “the mother of harlots.” By her daughters must be symbolized churches that cling to her doctrines and traditions, and follow her example of sacrificing the truth and the approval of God, in order to form an unlawfulalliance with the world. The message ofRevelation 14, announcing the fall of Babylonmust apply to religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt. Since this message follows the warning of the judgment, it must be given in the last days; therefore it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone, for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries. Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon. According to this scripture, many of God’s people must still be in Babylon. And in what religious bodies are the greater part of the followers of Christ now to be found? Without doubt, in the various churches professing the Protestant faith. At the time of their rise these churches took a noble stand for God and the truth, and His blessing was with them. Even the unbelieving world was constrained to acknowledge the beneficent results that followed an acceptance of the principles of the gospel. In the words of the prophet to Israel: “Thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God.” But they fell by the same desire which was the curse and ruin of Israel—the desire of imitating the practices and courting the friendship of the ungodly. “Thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown.” Ezekiel 16:14, 15. IBID, {GC 382.3} Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome’s example of iniquitous connection with “the kings of the earth”—the state churches, by their relation to secular governments; and other denominations, by seeking the favor of the world. And the term “Babylon”—confusion—may be appropriately applied to these bodies, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects, with widely conflicting creeds and theories. IBID, {GC 383.1} Besides a sinful union with the world, the churches that separated from Rome present other of her characteristics. IBID, {GC 383.2} What is happening to SDA Churches today? DO THEY WORSHIP ON SUNDAYS? http://www.sdaapostasy.org/SDAstatements.htm http://sdrministries.org/sda/sabbath.html Listen to what insiders have to say: Bill Hughes - 06 - Adventism in Apostasy (false doctrine in todays SDA General-Conference Church) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzIpx7MYYa4&feature=share Walter Veith on A warning to the Remnant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VilAZ2EV7ns&feature=related Walter Veith on SDA Apostasy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPbkm_Q8RaA&feature=related A WARNING GIVEN TO THE CHURCH: “The words of God to ancient Israel have a solemn warning to the church and its leaders today. Of Israel the Lord said, “I have written to him the great things of My law; but they were counted as a strange thing.” Hosea 8:12. And to the priests and teachers He declared, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee; ... seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” Hosea 4:6. Christ Object Lessons, {COL 306.2} Shall the warnings from God be passed by unheeded? Shall the opportunities for service be unimproved? Shall the world’s scorn, the pride of reason, conformity to human customs and traditions, hold the professed followers of Christ from service to Him? Will they reject God’s word as the Jewish leaders rejected Christ? The result of Israel’s sin is before us. Will the church of today take warning?” IBID, {COL 306.3} “Perilous times are before us. Every one who has a knowledge of the truth should awake, and place himself, body, soul, and spirit, under the discipline of God. The enemy is on our track. We must be wide awake, on our guard against him. We must put on the whole armor of God. We must follow the directions given through the Spirit of prophecy. We must love and obey the truth for this time. This will save us from accepting strong delusions. God has spoken thus through His word. He has spoken to us through the testimonies to the church, and through the books that have helped to make plain our present duty and the position we should now occupy. The warnings that have been given, line upon line, precept upon precept, should be heeded. If we disregard them, what excuse can we offer? Gospel Workers, {GW 308.1} I beseech those who are laboring for God not to accept the spurious for the genuine. Let not human reasoning be placed where sanctifying truth should be. Christ is waiting to kindle faith and love in the hearts of His people. Let not erroneous theories receive countenance from the people who ought to be standing firm on the platform of eternal truth. God calls upon us to hold firmly to the fundamental principles that are based upon unquestionable authority.” IBID, {GW 308.2} Hope to the faithful -- The last message will be given by the “Remnant”: “Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority,the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power,—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from heaven.—The Great Controversy, 606, 607 (1888). As the time comes for it [the message of the third angel] to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to His service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open.The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority,the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power,—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these.—The Great Controversy, 606 (1888).