| Author | Message | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 9486 Registered: 12-2003  |
Gotta share this! This morning Richard and I were reading through Ezekiel 13 (we're actually reading through the book of Ezekiel together), and this particular chapter just riveted us. It's entirely about God's judgment on the false prophets who prophesied to Jerusalem. They see falsehood and lying divination who are saying, 'The Lord declares,' when the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope for the fulfillment of their word" (v. 6). And here's verses 9-11: "So My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will have no place in the council of My people, nor will they be written down in the register of the house of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel, that you may know that I am the Lord God. It is definitely because they have misled My people by saying, 'Peace!' when there is no peace. And when anyone builds a wall, behold, they plaster it over with whitewash; so tell those who plaster it over with whitewash, that it will fall. A flooding rain will come, and you, O hailstones, will fall; and a violent wind will break out." (Get it? they build a wall and whitewash it?! Ha!) And even more interestingly, this passage seems to focus on women who see visions and prophecy in God's name but actually utter false prophecies. Notice the ending of the chapter: I will also tear off your veils and deliver My people from your hands, and they will no longer be in your hand to be hunted; and you will know that I am the Lord. Because you disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief, but have encouraged the wicked not to turn from his wicked way and preserve his life, therefore, you women will no longer see false visions or practice divination, and I will deliver My people out of your hand. Thus you will know that I am the Lord" (vv. 21-23) You've got to read the whole chapter. It a judgment against the false prophets and what they build and create, and it ends with the promise that God will deliver His own people out of the hands of the false prophets. It's an amazing, affirming, comforting passage. It also is clearly an indictment against false prophets who claim to speak in God's name when God did not tell them to speak. The Bible is clear about God's judgments toward the Ellen Whites and Joseph Smiths of the world. And He knows and rescues His people from grief, falsehood, and spiritual death. God is Good! Colleen | ||
| Pnoga Registered user Username: Pnoga Post Number: 222 Registered: 1-2007  |
You know I have read that chapter a few months back and noticed the whitewash part, but you have just pointed out much more than my eyes have first caught. Awsome, I am going to go home and read that chapter again. thanks Colleen | ||
| Bb Registered user Username: Bb Post Number: 359 Registered: 7-2004 |
What also stands out to me is "Because you have disheartened the righteous with falsehood when I did not cause him grief"!! That she surely did! | ||
| Esther Registered user Username: Esther Post Number: 465 Registered: 5-2004 |
Bb, that's exactly what stood out to me too! We all know how disheartening Adventist doctrines are... | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 674 Registered: 7-2007 |
The "disheartened the righteous with falsehood" stood out to me too! When I was an Adventist, I could never "put my weight down" on Ephesians 2:8,9 where it tells a believer that they "have been saved." I would always remember Ellen White saying that no one should say or feel that they are saved. I would therefore take a position halfway between the Bible and her, and get a partial assurance of salvation that maybe would last half a day at the most. There are no halfway measures with God though. Either a person accepts Jesus' FINISHED work entirely, or they are lost. It's as simple and as tragic (for people in cults), as that. | ||
| ~angel~ Registered user Username: ~angel~ Post Number: 490 Registered: 3-2008  |
Wow Colleen! Thank you for posting this! I'm going to read the whole thing too. Several times lol Interesting! What Bible translation are you using? My NLT dosent read that way (whitewashed) ~Angel~ (Message edited by ~angel~ on March 04, 2009) | ||
| ~angel~ Registered user Username: ~angel~ Post Number: 491 Registered: 3-2008 |
oops! Sorry I didn't read far enough before I posted last. I read it and it does say whitewashed. How strainge! | ||
| Mommamayi Registered user Username: Mommamayi Post Number: 758 Registered: 12-2007  |
This is just making me think of a new question to pose to my SDA loved ones, based on their tendency to be fearful. Ask them to read Ezekiel 6, and then consider what the bible says the consequences of following a false prophet are. Doesn't it seem wise to thoroughly investigate someone who is considered a prophet, to insure that you agree that they are? Following the interpretations of a false prophet could prove fatal. Perhaps that question would give them food for thought. I hate to use their same tactics on them (scare), but maybe that's what it would take to shock some people into investigating the very valid charges against EGW from concerned and informed Christians outside Adventism. | ||
| Mommamayi Registered user Username: Mommamayi Post Number: 759 Registered: 12-2007 |
Ooops, I guess that was Ezekiel 13, and I really didn't read the post carefully enough, as God was promising to deliver his people from the false prophet.  Still gives me food for thought though! | ||
| Scarred4life Registered user Username: Scarred4life Post Number: 21 Registered: 1-2009 |
Until the VEIL is lifted from there eyes no text in the Bible will make them see EGW as a false prophet, a typical response would be that these texts are talking about the false prophets which cannot be EGW because she is Gods last day TRUE prophet. It's extremely frustrating, I showed my parents 1 Timothy 4:1-5 and they completely ignored the last part about forbidding people to eat the meats/foods given to us and then turned around and pointed out that the first couple of verses were what I am doing by leaving the SDA church. A wise man once said that until an Adventist can accept that EGW is a false prophet the chances of showing them Bible truth about Covenants, Sabbath Keeping, Eating Meats etc.. is near on impossible. | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 755 Registered: 11-2007  |
I want to claim the promise of deliverance from false prophets for my friends and family. I am writing this one down for intercession. Great insight, and love the ironic similarities! Thank you Colleen!! Sondra | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 676 Registered: 7-2007 |
If God were going to raise up a true prophet for His end times church, wouldn't He have said so? The Bible doesn't say a thing about an true prophet for the end times. It DOES though, have plenty of warnings about FALSE prophets. This verse in Matthew 24:24 warns about false prophets: "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect." During the 18 hundreds when preachers like Charles Spurgeon, Dwight L. Moody and Charles Finney were preaching to great multitudes and great numbers were coming to the Lord; the devil was also busy raising up "prophets" to bring in false "gospels." Every person has a solemn responsibility to check out what they believe by the Bible. There will be a lot of people in the end to whom Christ will utter those fearful words: "I never knew you." The apostle Paul warns in Galatians 1:8,9 (see also 2nd Corinthians 11:4): "...if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed." | ||
| 8thday Registered user Username: 8thday Post Number: 761 Registered: 11-2007 |
Just had to read this chapter this morning - and I noticed something interesting. The poorly built walls are built by the people, but the PROPHETS whitewash them - make them look strong and hide the imperfections. How many times did a vision "confirm" a false assumption or teaching? How many false prophets today are comforting people in their own false sense of security? Seems one role of a false prophet is to keep people blinded to their own faulty thinking. It gives the alleged stamp of God's approval on whatever people are already wanting to believe. Then the passage says the walls will be torn down, and the foundations laid bare. The foundations, according to the words of Jesus, determine if the house stands or falls. The wall that is not built on HIS Words will fall, and the real foundation will be revealed. I praise God He is using this ministry here to do just that. Sondra |
