HAS_OUR _RELIGION _BEEN_ CHANGED ?

[E.G.White stated that our religion would be changed if certain things took place. See Special Testimonies Series B, No.7, page 39-40.

This statement has ONCE AGAIN been proved to be inspired by it's fulfilment as shown in the following report:-

"Return of the Cosmic King" was especially painted for the S.D.A. Ministry Magazine and appeard on the front cover of the August 1990 edition. The title that is given is the same as was given on a radio program explaining the New Age Theory.

Ministry Magazine is an official organ of the S.D.A. church. The printed explanation in part reads as follows:-

"R E T U R N_O F_T H E_C O S M I C_K I N G"

"Ministry magazine commissioned Mark Stutzman to paint this distinctive portrayal of Christ's second advent. The painting is based upon the descriptions of Christ and His literal, personal return contained in Matthew 24:27-51; Luke 21:25-27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 1:12-16; 6:14-17; 14:14; and in Ellen G. White's The Great Controversy pages 636-652....."

*** [Notice 1Thess. 4:16-17; This Scripture indicates that Christ does not set foot on the earth at The time of His Second Coming. Those who portray Christ as walking on this earth at that time are presenting a false Christ. We are admonished to believe them not; this is the devil's counterfeit. The picture they claim represents Christ at His second coming, gives the impression that He is walking among the people on some paving stones. He has one foot above the other and the knee bent indicating that he is walking on the paving stones. To see the picture, open the "False Christ.pdf " file from Adobe Reader.]

Revelation 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. (the picture shows His naked chest)

Revelation 1:14 His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire; (the picture shows dark hair and beard)

Revelation 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

Revelation 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.

[Note:- The picture certainly does not indicate a bright countenance; it is nothing like the description that Christ gave of His second coming whenever He referred to it, or whenever His disciples or the prophets referred to that event. The picture displays dark hair and complexion, dark eyes, half naked without the girdle mentioned in the Scripture.

Rev.6:15 states that the great men of the earth hid themselves from His face while the Ministry picture gives no evidence of His great Majesty.

S.D.A. Ministry magazine claims that it's picture represents the story outlined in Great Controversy! What a misrepresentation to the ministers of other religious bodies of what S.D.A's believe! - or more correctly what the true people of God believe, as it is evident what the "Ministry" now believes.

This behaviour is a challenge to the intelligence of all who support the perpetrators of such actions which involves them in ‘corporate responsibility.’]

The Great Controversy 641

"Before His presence, "all faces are turned into Paleness;" upon the rejecters of God's mercy falls the terror of eternal despair. "The heart melteth, and the knees smite together," "and the faces of them all gather blackness." [ JER. 30:6; NAH. 2:10.] The righteous cry with trembling, "Who shall be able to stand?" The angels' song is hushed, and there is a period of awful silence. Then the voice of Jesus is heard, saying, "My grace is sufficient for you." The faces of the righteous are lighted up, and joy fills every heart. And the angels strike a note higher, and sing again, as they draw still nearer to the earth.

The King of kings descends upon the cloud, wrapped in flaming fire. The heavens are rolled together as a scroll, the earth trembles before him, and every mountain and island is moved out of its place. "Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people." [ PS. 50:3, 4.]

The Great Controversy 645

"The living righteous are changed "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye." At the voice of God they were glorified; now they are made immortal, and with the risen saints are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. Angels "gather together the elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Little children are borne by holy angels to their mothers' arms. Friends long separated by death are united, nevermore to part, and with songs of gladness ascend together to the city of God.

On each side of the cloudy chariot are wings, and beneath it are living wheels; and as the chariot rolls upward, the wheels cry, "Holy," and the wings, as they move, cry, "Holy," and the retinue of angels cry, "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty." And the redeemed shout "Alleluia!" as the chariot moves onward toward the New Jerusalem."

[Note:- This quotation indicates that Christ does not set foot upon the earth at His second coming. - The saints are caught up to meet their Lord in the air. According to the following two quotations, it would seem out of order to attempt to paint or draw pictures of Christ, or other heavenly things.]

Counsels to Writers and Editors 171

Correctness Important.--"Should we not make investigation in regard to the matter of illustrating our books so largely? Would not the mind have clearer, more perfect ideas of angels, of Christ, of all spiritual things, if no pictures were made to represent heavenly things?"

S.D.A. Bible Commentary Vol. 7 920

"I know something of the glory of the future life. Once a sister wrote to me and asked if I would not tell her something about the city of our God, further than we have in the Word. She asked me if I could not draw something of its plans. I wrote her that I would have to say to her, "Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." "No," said I, "you cannot paint, you cannot picture, and the martyr tongue cannot begin to give any description of the glory of the future life; but I will tell you what you can do: you can ‘press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’...."