Lamentations 1:10
The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom thou didst command that they should not enter into thy congregation.
The Desire of Ages, p. 489
The True Witness says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock." Rev. 3:20. Every warning, reproof, and entreaty in the word of God or through His messengers is a knock at the door of the heart. It is the voice of Jesus asking for entrance. With every knock unheeded, the disposition to open becomes weaker. The impressions of the Holy Spirit if disregarded today, will not be as strong tomorrow. The heart becomes less impressible, and lapses into a perilous unconsciousness of the shortness of life, and of the great eternity beyond. Our condemnation in the judgment will not result from the fact that we have been in error, but from the fact that we have neglected heaven-sent opportunities for learning what is truth.
Those involved in the For My People Ministry and the various authors of this book have learned much in the process. We pray the same for those who have read it.
The Signs of the Times, August 27, 1894
You have many things to learn, and much to unlearn. You will have to sit at the feet of the great Teacher and learn of him concerning themes that are higher and nobler than the themes which now engage your attention. I am free to address you who have shut yourselves away from the light, because I know that a higher Teacher than man is calling you. You have lost much in your religious life, because you have failed to improve the opportunities that have been presented to you from the Father of lights. Fresh rays of light from heaven are always given that the character may be transformed, that the soul may be able to contemplate truth in a new relation. When Jesus is welcomed into the heart, he will refine and mould and fashion the character. Those who receive him more fully, will not have less energy in their religious life, but their religion will be of a higher, holier type than ever before. They will work in such a way that their usefulness will be increased. God would have his professed children reach a higher standard, and ever go on, still reaching up to that which they have not attained. They should cherish every divine inspiration, for as his property he requires this of them.
Our prayer is that in this generation God will guide His faithful home. We pray that those who are guilty of the sins described not only in this chapter but the rest of this book will repent before the chance is lost. Yes, it will be difficult, but the Creator of the universe waits with open arms to accept you back. He does not want any of His children to die the eternal death. He wants you home. Will you respond to His invitation? We pray that you have been blessed as you have read the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth!
Please see Appendix A and B for a concise list of some of the apostasy that pervades the leadership, institutions and publications within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
