Measuring The Strength of Israel

 The Book of Numbers begins with a divine command for a particular census:

“And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first [day] of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of [their] names, every male by their polls; From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies” (Num. 1:1-3).

This was the way of measuring the nation's combat readiness and capacity. Of course, God Himself was the ultimate Strength of His people.

Today, it is very evident, based on the many signs now manifest, that spiritual Israel is facing imminent mortal combat with all of the forces of evil, both human, and angelic, on a scale none of us can presently conceive of:

 “Said the angel, "They will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth."” EW 254

“Satan has a thousand masked batteries which will be opened upon the loyal, commandment-keeping people of God to compel them to violate conscience.” LDE 147

As the 2022 General Conference session has come to it's close, let's ask ourselves 'what is God's measure of the strength and battle readiness of His remnant army'? How prepared are we for what is soon to break upon us all 'with blinding force' (2SM 142)? After having attended these meetings in person, I would like to give my own assessment.

WEAKNESSES:
1. General Conference Administrative Committee (ADCOM) Vaccination statement

Thanks to our dear president's call to vote down the motion, this important issue (to discuss the propriety of having this committee issue a statement on behalf of the world church which doesn't reflect the convictions of  many of us regarding our stance on vaccinations as related to religious liberty ,and especially the MRNA-based 'vaccines') was denied a place on the agenda. On an issue which has negatively affected so many of our worldwide church family members, it is appalling to essentially be told “what we have written, we have written”. See Bro. Jonathan Zirkle's Fulcrum 7 article for more information on the gravity of this matter.

2. Compromised stance regarding female church overseers .

At least two church manual votes effectually add further solidity to the already compromised position our church has been in for decades since the 1975 and 1984 annual council decisions to permit the ordination of female local elders.
On a strictly human level, one can understand the incessant efforts of those advocating for full ordination to all offices currently restricted to males when the proverbial camel's nose has been in the tent, (and now much more than his nose) for so long. (i.e. 'commissioned pastors'). It is evident that our church will remain bitterly embattled on this matter because it has already taken the first few steps to authorize what inspiration so clearly forbids, (Isa. 3:12; 1 Cor. 11:3-12; 14:34-38; 1 Tim. 2:11-15; 3:1-5) yet wants to withhold permission for the last half of the camel's body to enter the tent! We must determine either to abandon our stance that the Bible is to be interpreted literally, unless an obvious reason exists in the text to interpret it otherwise, in favor of culturally-influenced Biblical interpretation, which would also endorse the cause of those arguing for official recognition and acceptance of those engaged in sexually deviant behaviors (LGBTQ+), or return to a full submission to the Bible as our only rule of faith and practice, and reverse all previous policies which have departed from this our divine constitution, be the price what it may.

3. Tabled motion to return to the Biblical model for church pastors/ministers

A motion that would have inserted a new section into the church manual emphasizing the need for church ministers to cease hovering over one or two churches already informed of the truths committed to us, and instead, train the elders and members for Total Member Involvement active ministry and go on to plant new churches was not allowed to pass, but sent back to the committee for various reasons of protest. One minister actually scorned this item as impractical, and a practice to be left to the 19th century. I wonder, did he stop to think that the same vain argument could have been made when the testimony of Jesus urged this very course upon the church in the early twentieth century? (“O Sis. White, that is an idea to be left to the 1st century!?”) See 7T 255; TM 230, etc.. Now let us look at some signs of strength.

STRENGTHS

1. Statements of affirmation on the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy writings

Although it required a certain amount of voting and re-voting, we can thank God that at a time when unbelief and 'higher criticism' is so prevalent, these two statements were finally approved, affirming that the Bible is our creed, and the writings of Ellen G. White are an authoritative prophetic source of divine instruction for the church. May we all rise to the occasion of living lives that reflect the efficacy of these stated beliefs! Otherwise, these statements are but empty platitudes.

2. Authorization for discipline of defiant leadership

A motion was passed which would enable the General Conference Executive Committee, which operates on behalf of the world body between G.C. Sessions, to remove officers from the Committee for “persistent failure to cooperate with duly constituted authority in substantive matters and with relevant employment and denominational policies”. Will this power be used to remove those division and union presidents which have been violating the will of the world church in it's three Session votes, the last of which took place in 2015, disapproving the full ordination of female church overseers (church pastors)?
Notwithstanding the aforementioned compromised church stance, rebellion and defiance is a very serious matter in leadership, and cannot be tolerated once appropriate efforts have been made to reconcile the disaffected parties unsuccessfully:

“Christ gives power to the voice of the church. "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." No such thing is countenanced as one man's starting out upon his own individual responsibility and advocating what views he chooses, irrespective of the judgment of the church. God has bestowed the highest power under heaven upon His church. It is the voice of God in His united people in church capacity which is to be respected.”  3T 450, 451

3. The ongoing global penetration of the three angels' messages

In spite of the feeble and defective state of Christ's bride - the church militant – it is always encouraging to see how God is working around the world field to bring sons and daughters to the precious light of Bible truth to make their stand on the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. May we all do our part to hasten the end of the great controversy, by perfecting holiness in the fear of God, and putting our hands to the gospel plow without looking back.
In our efforts to grapple with the internal crises which confront us, let us not become so embroiled with these, that we neglect this essential work to enlighten and bless the perishing millions who need to be warned and prepared, as do the Shepherd's Rod cult members who could be seen there, as always, making Seventh-day Adventists their exclusive field of labor via the dissemination of their false teachings.
  In conclusion, the current strength of spiritual Israel is a very 'mixed bag' at best. The words of Jehu spoken to king Jehoshaphat come to mind:

“And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore [is] wrath upon thee from before the LORD. Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.”  2 Chronicles 19:2, 3

Divine wrath will soon fall upon many within our ranks who persist among us as tares and foolish virgins, and there will soon be a 'changing of the guard' as the result of the mighty sifting just ahead of us, while at the same time we can take courage that there are good things found in Israel:

“Those who have rendered supreme homage to "science falsely so called" will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view.” 5T 80, 81

While there were many other items of note of both weaknesses and strengths that could be mentioned, consider the following statement:

“God has promised that where the shepherds are not true He will take charge of the flock Himself. God has never made the flock wholly dependent upon human instrumentalities. But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. God will have a people pure and true. In the mighty sifting soon to take place we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor.” 5T 80

What a solemn thought! I am convinced that the incredible upheavals, turmoil, uncertainties and calamities we are now seeing across the world signify that the time for this statement to be fulfilled has now arrived. The shaking and sifting of the church militant will continue to intensify going forward, and it will accomplish what our Lord has designed it should – a thorough separation of wheat and tares, gold and dross – as we progressively descend into the greatest time of trouble the world will ever experience. Let us all soberly contemplate whether we are truly in the faith we profess. Let us all engage in a daily application of the counsel of the True Witness to our personal lives, for we have been notified that we will each be tried and tested singly and fully. Of those of us who do this Christ says:

“And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not” (Mal. 3:17, 18).

Maranatha,

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Adam currently serves as a lay pastor in Tennessee. He and his wife minister in national/international evangelism, and medical missionary work: In His Image Ministries.