There are many things which constitute the True Remnant Church, but limiting it to a membership within the confines of the General Conference is not one of them. To prove this let’s go to the very credible source of the book of Revelations. After all, doesn’t the book the Revelation of Jesus Christ define the Remnant Church?
Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
So the Bible defines the Remnant Church as keeping the commandments of God and having the testimony of Jesus Christ, but nowhere in the book of the Revelation nor in any book of the Bible does it define the Church as being confined to a membership within the General Conference. Let’s take another look at the book of Revelations to get some more insight about how things can be legitimately defined.
Revelation 22:18-19
18 If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Neither adding to nor taking away from the prophesy of the book of Revelation are mutually exclusive. For instance, if you add the characteristic of being a member within the membership of the General Conference to the definition of the Remnant Church, then you are taking away from the limitations that the Bible has placed on the Remnant Church. It seems that the Bible strictly prohibits adding anything to the definition of the Remnant Church which does not come from the Bible itself.
What does inspiration say about the Limits of the Church?
Now lets take a look at something Mrs. White wrote about the limitations in the operations of the Church.
Special Testimonies, Series B
The Lord does not set limits about His workers in some lines as men are wont to set. In their work, Brethren Magan and Sutherland have been hindered unnecessarily. Means have been withheld from them because in the organization and management of the Madison school, it was not placed under the control of the conference. But the reasons why this school was not owned and controlled by the conference have not been duly considered. SpTB11 31.3Manuscript Releases vol. 8 202.3 – 202.4 The Lord has instructed me that, from the first, the work in Huntsville and Madison should have received adequate help. But instead of this help being rendered promptly there has been long delay. And in the matter of the Madison school, there has been a standing off from them because they were not under the ownership and control of some Conference. This is a question that should sometimes be considered, but it is not the Lord’s plan that means should be withheld from Madison, because they are not bound to the conference. The attitude which some of our brethren have assumed toward this enterprise shows that it is not wise for every working agency to be under the dictation of conference officers. There are some enterprises under certain conditions, that will produce better results if standing alone. {8MR 202.3}
When my advice was asked in reference to the Madison school, I said, Remain as you are. There is danger in binding every working agency under the dictation of the conference. The Lord did not design that this should be. The circumstances were such that the burden bearers in the Madison school could not bind up their work with the conference. I knew their situation, and when many of the leading men in our conferences ignored them, because they did not place their school under conference dictation, I was shown that they would not be helped by making themselves amenable to the conference. They had better remain as led by God, amenable to Him, to work out His plans. But this matter need not be blazed abroad.{8MR 202.4}
Testimonies vol. 8 pg. 174.2.4
The Lord’s church is composed of living, working agencies, who derive their power to act from the Author and Finisher of their faith. They are to carry forward in harmony the great work resting on them. God has given you your work. But He has other instrumentalities, and to them He has given their work, that all may become, through sanctification of the truth, members of Christ’s body, of His flesh and of His bones. Representing Christ, we act for time and for eternity; and men, even worldly men, take knowledge of us that we have been with Jesus and have learned of Him. 8T 174
There are several statements here which point out a more specific definition of the Church. Here is one:
The attitude which some of our brethren have assumed toward this enterprise shows that it is not wise for every working agency to be under the dictation of conference officers. There are some enterprises under certain conditions, that will produce better results if standing alone. {8MR 202.3.5}
These sentences show that it is not wise to place every working agency of the Church under the general conference and under certain conditions some enterprises will produce better results standing alone. Mrs. White begins that paragraph with the words, “The Lord has instructed me,” revealing that the instructions come directly from the Lord.
Again a second statement says the following:
There is danger in binding every working agency under the f the conference. The Lord did not design that this should be. {8MR 202.4}
So not only does the Church extend beyond the General Conference, there is a danger in binding every working agency under the dictation of the conference. And, once again, Sister White brings out the fact that these were not the Lord’s design. These designs are coming from the Lord.
Here is another:
I was shown that they would not be helped by making themselves amenable to the conference. They had better remain as led by God, amenable to Him, to work out His plans.
Once again Mrs. White says she was shown, meaning that heavenly agencies specifically brought this understanding to her attention. The message was that in this case Madison was better off being led by God rather than the General Conference. This shows that one of the reasons to work outside of the Conference is because the Conference is not always led by God. It could be said that these conditions exist today more so than any other time in Adventist history. If, at the time, the Conference were acting in submission to God there would have been no need to work outside of the Conference.
She also says, “But this matter need not be blazed abroad,” indicating that there was not to be a movement to organize outside the conference or divide the Church, but in some cases it is best to work outside the Conference.
The fourth statement reinforces a previous one which says, “They had better remain as led by God,” and here it is:
The Lord’s church is composed of living, working agencies, who derive their power to act from the Author and Finisher of their faith.
This is another way of saying the Church is composed of those who are led by God. So it is not the Conference that defines the Church, but it is a body of individuals who are active, empowered and led by God, and who are sanctified by and settled into the truth.
Romanism does not define the Church
Did you know that our capitalistic society was originated in Rome? Some will say that it was derived in Europe in the Middle Ages, but Europe was under the auspices of Rome during that time and European law was derived from Roman law. Our modern day capitalistic legal system was derived from Roman law including corporations for profit and non profit organizations.
The Seventh Day Adventist Church was organized under these Romanistic corporate laws, but those laws don’t define who the Remnant Church are. God operates outside of Roman law. Satan is legalistic, but Satan and his agencies cannot limit God’s church under their definition. God defines His Church in the Bible. To say that the laws which incorporate the Church are what defines the Church would be to make an image to the Beast. Uniting Church authority with the state is an image to the Beast.
Beware of Blasphemy Agains the Holy Spirit
Some independent ministries could actually be part of Babylon if they are teaching and living in error. Especially if they were an independent ministry that keeps Sunday for example. On the other hand, calling them Babylon when they are one of these ministries which Mrs. White defined as being led by God could very well be blasphemy against the Holy Ghost. Lets take a look at the Bible to define the blasphemy I am referring to.
Matthew 12:24 But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils.
Matthew 12:30-31
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.
31 Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
Notice that when Jesus did a miraculous work the Pharisees said it was the work of Beelzebub, yet in truth it was the work of the Holy Spirit. If someone is being led by God this is also the work of the Holy Spirit. Notice also that Jesus said, “he that is not with me is against me.” There is no middle ground in this Great Controversy. You are either with Jesus or against Him. Therefore if someone was to say that a certain independent work is not part of the Church, then you are indeed saying that they are Confusion, Babylon and being led by Beelzebub. If someone was to say that about an independent Church which was indeed being led by God and the Holy Spirit, that would indeed be Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.
God Winked at Their Ignorance
But don’t despair. There is hope. Paul, while speaking to the Athenians, revealed God’s manifold grace. He said that God winked at their ignorance, but commanded all to repent.
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
You see, God loved everyone so much that He sent His only begotten son to die for their sins, but if we continue to sin willfully after gaining the knowledge of the truth, then there is no more sacrifice for sins. So be sure to humble yourselves and confess your sin. The Lord longs to forgive you, but you must repent.
Hebrews 10:26-27
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.