Adventism's General Conference the highest authority of God on earth
By Robert K. Sanders
1875: Yes, "I have been shown that no man's judgment should be surrendered to the judgment of any one man. But when the judgment of the General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth, is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be maintained, but be surrendered." 3T p. 492.
Note: Should SDA church members give up their private judgment and independence when they are convicted by the Holy Spirit of truth to man or group of men? Never! Seventh-day Adventists still quote this 1875 statement today, and believe the General Conference is their holy authority in all matters. They meet every four years to update their holy 27 Fundamental beliefs. What is the difference in this and the Papal authority of the Catholic Church?
1889: No, "The question of the great need of the soul deserves in these meetings of the [General] Conference far more attention, and many questions that are tossed into the Conference should never appear, be worked out in your State Conferences. It has become habit to pass laws that do not always bear the signature of heaven." November 4, 1889, Ms. 6-1889.
Note: EGW's highest authority on earth, the GC, does not at times "bear the signature of heaven."
1890: No, at the 1888 GC session; "the opinion of men was looked to as the voice of God. The enemy took possession of minds and their judgment was worthless, their decisions were evil, for they did not have the mind of Christ. They were doing continual injustice to the persons they talked about, and they had a demoralizing effect upon the conference." February 1890, Ms. 37-1890.
Note: Why was the "opinion of man looked to as the voice of God?" Was it not Ellen that told them that idea in 1875 when she said, "the General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth,?" Did Satan indeed take possession of the minds of the men at the GC and was their decisions evil? That same year1890 Ellen wrote to the GC president: "I do not expect to be at your General Conference. I would rather run the other way." EGW to O. A. Olsen, May 8, 1890, O46-1890.
Note: Why would Ellen run from God's highest authority on earth? Shouldn't she yield her private judgment to them as she advised others to do? She was disobeying God according to her 1875 vision. This is good advice for all Seventh-day Adventists members, to run away from the authority of the General Conference of SDAs. In fact it would be better yet to run away from the Seventh-day Adventist Church with all their non biblical teachings and corruption.
1898: No, "It has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God." August 26,1898, in 1899 GC Bulletin, p. 74.
1901: No, "It is working upon wrong principles that has brought the cause of God into its present embarrassment. The people have lost confidence in those who have the management of the work. Yet we hear that the voice of the Conference is the voice of God. Every time I have heard this, I thought it was almost blasphemy. The voice of the Conference ought to be the voice of God, but it is not, because some in connection with it are not men of faith and prayer, they are not men of elevated principle." April 1, 1901, Ms. 37-1901.
Note: Where does the Bible ever tell us that the leaders of the church are the voice of God? Never, it is only by the uninspired Ellen G. White!
1909: Yes, "When in a General Conference, the judgment of the brethren assembled from all parts of the field is exercised, private independence and private judgment must not be stubbornly maintained, but surrendered. Never should a laborer regard as a virtue the persistent maintenance of his position of independence, contrary to the decision of the general body." 9T, p. 260.
Note: EGW reverted back to her 1875 statement in 1909 requiring those attending the 1909 Conference to surrender their private independence and private judgment.
- In 1875, when God showed Ellen, "But when the judgment of the General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth." Why was private judgment required to be surrendered to the GC? Was it because the Holy Spirit gave a group of church leaders a higher authority with God than the individual church members?
- In 1889 the GC passed laws that did not bear the "signature of heaven." Should a person be required to submit private judgment to God's highest authority on earth that makes laws contrary to God's will? Ellen insists that a person must submit private judgment to the GC.
- In 1890, at the 1888 GC Session Ellen tells us, " The enemy took possession of minds and their judgment was worthless, their decisions were evil," why would any Christian want to relinquish their independence and private judgment to the General Conference members who's judgment is worthless and the enemy (Satan) is in possession of their minds? How does a church member know for sure that the state of the General Conference is any different today than in Ellen G. White's day?
- In 1909, Ellen said, "Never should a laborer regard as a virtue the persistent maintenance of his position of independence, contrary to the decision of the general body." How can the individual church member know for sure when the General Conference makes laws that is the "voice of God or the voice of Satan?
- Is it safe now for the church member to rely on guidance from the Holy Spirit to lead them into truth or do they still need to submit to the General Conference?
- "The General Conference, which is the highest authority that God has upon the earth," according to Ellen G. White's "I have been shown" vision in 1875, make them above the leadership of any denomination and government.
- Is not the Holy Spirit God's highest authority on earth? Mrs. White has promoted the General Conference to take the place of the Holy Spirit. This again proves her to be a false prophet.
A readers response to number #7.
"I was rereading your section on "The General Conference the Highest Authority on Earth. You said something very amazing to me in your statement #7. 'Is not the Holy Spirit God's highest authority on earth?' Mrs. White has promoted the General Conference to take the place of the Holy Spirit." When Christ was on earth in bodily form, teaching his disciples, He was the Highest Authority on Earth. When He went back to Heaven, He appointed a Vicar to take his place, the precious Holy Spirit. The Catholic Church says "No, but the true Vicar of Christ is the Pope" This statement is blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and is not forgivable. For anyone or any organization to claim to do this thing, the worse curse in the Bible is pronounced against them. Revelation 14:9-12."
When Ellen White promoted the General Conference above the Spirit, she was following the instruction of the devil, blasphemed the Holy Spirit and would have all of her followers do likewise. Can you think of a quicker way for the devil to make sure of his prey than to get people to do this?
There were many honest Seventh-day Adventists that did not sell their souls by yielding their beliefs to the General Conference or to the "testimonies" of Ellen G. White. Men such as the Kelloggs, Ballengers, Conradi, Canright, Waggnor, Jones, and thousands of others. I thank God for men that were honest with God and did not surrender their God given right to free independent judgment. They would rather be free from the bonds of the Seventh-day Adventist hierarchy than be paid to uphold non-Biblical beliefs and lose eternal life.