Tribe After Tribe

TimeWatch Editorial
March 25, 2016

Jim Meyers, describes Newsmax as the #1 Conservative Site in the Nation. Newsmax Media, commonly called Newsmax, is a conservative American news media organization founded by Christopher Ruddy and based in West Palm Beach, Florida. It operates the news website Newsmax.com, publishes the Franklin Prosperity Report and Newsmax magazine, and runs a conservative cable news channel Newsmax TV.

The founder of Newsmax, Christopher Ruddy, was born January 28, 1965. He is a citizen of the United States and received his Bachelor’s degree in 1987 from St. John’s University, followed by a Master’s in public policy. Mr. Ruddy is a journalist, businessman and is a catholic.

On Thursday, 02 Apr 2015, Newsmax published an article that reveals an understanding of Adventism that truly validates the fact that there are many today, who are completely aware of what this church stands for. The presentations of the facts are not abrasive or accusatory, but simply delivered in a manner that is clear and concise. Compared with the presentation of our beliefs as presented by many of those who stand in our pulpits today, the truths here stated are truly direct and accurate.

The six day creation, the virgin birth of Christ and the existence of satan are mentioned first of all, then follow five other beliefs:

1. Ellen White is recognized by the Seventh-day Adventist church as having received the gift of prophecy as outlined in Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12. SDA sees the written works by Ellen White as "a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.
   
   
2. SDAs believe when a person dies, they remain unconscious until they are resurrected. Eternal life is a gift which God only grants to those who have accepted the sacrifice of Christ on their behalf. By an act of mercy on the part of God, the wicked will be destroyed by fire. Thus, Seventh-day Adventists do not believe that a person goes to heaven for an eternal reward or to hell for never-ending torture immediately upon death.
   
   
3. SDAs believe in salvation by faith in Christ alone. Good works are seen as evidence of that faith. The investigative or pre-advent judgment, which takes place in heaven before the return of Jesus, reveals to heavenly intelligences who among the dead are asleep in Jesus and will have a part in the first resurrection and who among the living are abiding in Christ and are ready for translation. This judgment vindicates the justice of God in saving those who believe in Jesus.
   
   
4. SDAs believe that the second coming of Christ is near and believers should be ready for it at all times. When Christ does come, the righteous Christians who had previously died will be resurrected at that time and taken to heaven. For the following 1,000 years, only Satan and his fallen angels will be living on earth. A second resurrection will occur at the end of that period. At that time Satan and his evil angels, as well as the wicked, will be destroyed. The righteous will then return to a cleansed earth, and establish the New Jerusalem.
   
   
5. When it comes to lifestyle, Seventh-day Adventists hold the belief that the human body is the temple of God and thus should be cared for properly. Because of this, Adventists abstain from harmful substances like alcohol and tobacco, and maintain a vegetarian diet. Abortion is acceptable only when a woman's life is in danger and in cases where a pregnancy poses a serious moral dilemma.

This is indeed a fairly accurate description of what we represent. It is clear therefore that the prophecy concerning the future is also accurate. The book Testimonies for the Church Volume 8, page 41 and paragraph 1 says:

“In vision I saw two armies in terrible conflict. One army was led by banners bearing the world's insignia; the other was led by the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel. Standard after standard was left to trail in the dust as company after company from the Lord's army joined the foe and tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of God. An angel flying in the midst of heaven put the standard of Immanuel into many hands, while a mighty general cried out with a loud voice: "Come into line. Let those who are loyal to the commandments of God and the testimony of Christ now take their position. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch not the unclean, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters. Let all who will come up to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty." {8T 41.1}

Already tribe after tribe is being prepared to unite with the commandment keeping people of God. We can certainly be assured of the accuracy of God’s Word.

Cameron A. Bowen