In what is known as the “alpha deception,” Ellen White (1) wrote in October 1903 the following in growing concern over the "sentiments" of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg expressed in his book, The Living Temple:

During the past night, I have been shown more distinctly than ever before that these sentiments have been looked upon by some as the grand truths that are to be brought in and made prominent at the present time. I was shown a platform, braced by solid timbers, the truths of the word of God. Some one high in responsibility in the medical work was directing this man and that man to loosen the timbers supporting this platform. Then I heard a voice saying, “Where are the watchmen that ought to be standing on the walls of Zion? Are they asleep? How can they be silent? This foundation was built by the Master Worker, and will stand the storm and tempest. Will they permit this man to present doctrines that deny the past experience of the people of God? The time has come to take decided action (SpTB07 38.1).

The medical work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church was designated its "right arm." Adventist medical institutions’ mission of healing, when concurrently introducing people to Christ, is truly a noble and worthy work. This unique opportunity to care for and heal people that seek our care, as well as teach people to treat their bodies according to Biblical ideals (particularly diet), has historically been unmatched. Though often there is opportunity to provide basic spiritual comfort and hope to those with compromised health, rarely is it appropriate to proselytize patients with unique doctrines within Adventist medical institutions. The Seventh-day Adventist Church was given a unique message, born out of the Biblically correct understanding of Christ’s work in the heavenly Sanctuary, including judgment and His intercessory role as our High Priest (Hebrews 8:1-6; Revelation 8:1-4; Daniel 7:9-10). Since 1844, the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12 has not been understood by any other religion on earth. With this blessing, comes great accountability, coupled with grave consequences for not sharing this vital truth.

The insidious nature of a partnership between the Adventist corporate church and a legally separate medical church entity, under the banner of "Adventist," has deluded the "great proportion" (5T 136.1) of those who claim to hold fast to the message of the third angel.

Too harsh? Too provocative? The essence of a new policy has emerged as follows:

Church communication/evangelism to the public (if located in the vicinity of an Adventist medical institution) must now have Conference pre-approval and adhere to the guiding mission of the Adventist church’s North American Division (NAD), "Hope and Wholeness."(2) It must avoid visual cues and statements that might be interpreted as provocative, polarizing, or offensive to varied people groups.

It appears the public can no longer be directly advised by some Adventist churches of all elements of the three angels’ message, as well as the wider prophetic gift of understanding made the responsibility of the church, unless the public happens to show up for Sabbath worship, and if the sermon happens to cover God’s distinct warnings at that time. Content within a church building is not currently being censored, though conference pastoral selection significantly determines message emphasis. Sadly, and most concerning, is that this policy won’t represent change for many Adventist churches. A great number have abandoned, or banned, the third angels’ message from their pulpits long ago, in favor of an attractive “Jesus only” or a “love, joy, peace, and hope” message. Politically incorrect (3) facts? Inconvenient truth? Certainly!

What's wrong with a message of "Hope and Wholeness"? At first glance, nothing, until we consider it could be adopted by any Christian religion, and unlikely to get the attention of people as a unique, distinct warning. When applied to the Seventh-day Adventist Church, it is a "partial-truth." Ellen White was shown;

“A company was presented before me under the name of Seventh-day Adventists, who were advising that the banner, or sign, which makes us a distinct people should not be held out so strikingly; for they claimed that this was not the best policy in order to secure success in our institutions.” {6T 144.1}

White was told:

“I am instructed to speak plainly. “Meet it,” is the word spoken to me. “Meet it firmly and without delay.” But it is not to be met by taking our working forces from the field to investigate doctrines and points of difference. We have no such investigation to make. In the book Living Temple, there is presented the Alpha of deadly heresies. The Omega will follow and will be received by those who are not willing to heed the warning God has given” (Lt277-1904.14).

Shared with the “oil of grace” and coupled with the righteousness of Jesus, His message is one of saving grace and urgent warning, not one of “peace and safety” (Jeremiah 4:10; 6:14; 29:9; Ezekiel 7:25; 13:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:3). Those standing firm concerning fundamental truth will be derided, vilified, and accused of not having the "love" and "Spirit" of our Savior. Expect to be viewed as aligned with an evil spirit (Mark 3:30; John 10:20). Of course, few who testified of Jesus in the Bible were treated with respect and dignity.

Seventh-day Adventists, are all "watchmen." There are two groups:

The “shaken watchmen" (LSMS 154.1),

"His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber," (Isaiah 56:10).

And Jeremiah 6:17: “Also I set watchmen over you, saying, hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, we will not hearken.”

The "watchmen" who stand firm with “faces as a flint,” (LSMS 153.3) (Ezekiel 3:9),

"I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence" (Isaiah 62:6).

Our actions, or lack thereof, determine which group we fall into. Matters of personal trespass are to by guided by Jesus’ counsel in Matthew 18:15-17. “But that which had been reproved publicly was public wrongs which threatened the prosperity of the church and the cause. Here…is a text applicable to the case: 1 Timothy 5:20." (2T 15.2).

These texts point out the temptation of “willful ignorance” as a so-called “middle ground,” sounding a lot like the “watchmen” of the Laodicean church era. Church leaders at all levels, by “avoiding knowledge” of errors of commission or omission, do NOT escape their accountability to call sin by its right name, or their accountability to God (Ezekiel 3:17-21; 33:1-20). Many believe the distinct “banner, or sign” of our faith is the Sabbath, and are diligently watching for legislation to that effect. While true, the Sabbath distinction and term is not exclusive to our church, and continues to be intermingled with Sunday observance to such a degree that the vast majority of Christians today cannot be convinced with the “Sabbath” truth, especially those devotedly keeping Sunday. What message is unmistakably distinct?

In the final analysis, this most recent step away from the foundational, unique Sanctuary doctrine differentiating the Seventh-day Adventist Church, may serve as a “wake-up” call to individuals to prepare, prepare!

What words shall I use that will arouse individual members of the church to become one with Christ? Prepare, prepare, every church member and every youth, prepare to meet thy God! The great Head of the church, the living Presence of a living Being announced Himself to John as the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Under the proclamation of the third angel, great power is to come to the church (Ms93-1903.21).

Prepare! Prepare! should be sounded in the ears of the people. For the great day of God’s wrath is coming, and who shall be able to stand; and while messengers cry to God to prepare and get ready, they must be awake and have energy themselves and let it tell to all that hear them that they are standing between the living and the dead. Preachers and people who believe the third angel’s message should set a holy, lively example. Their conversation and actions should show that they are looking for the appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" (Ms1-1855.4).

Pray for the Holy Spirit to transform our characters, in order to be permitted to proclaim what is truly the unique, and final, message:

The third angel’s message is to lighten the earth with its glory; but only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it when it shall have swelled into the loud cry (RH November 19, 1908, Art. A, par. 9).

Mark writes from Daytona Beach, Florida.

1 The references contained here are the writings of Ellen G. White, found at egwwritings.org.

2 The NAD mission statement is “To reach North America and the world with the distinctive, Christ-centered, Seventh-day Adventist message of Hope and Wholeness.” The NAD, and some of its Unions, is immersed in a protracted and distracting battle over women’s ordination with the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

3 “Political Correctness” here defined: listening, always saying “yes,” and never asking questions or expressing concerns.