Why has Jesus delayed His coming?

• Good question: 1st off- Jesus loves us, and wants to save us,
more than what we know.
• Romans 3:21, 22
• What is justification by faith? It is the work of God in laying
the glory of man in the dust, and doing for man that which it
is not in his power to do for himself. When men see their own
nothingness, they are prepared to be clothed with the
righteousness of Christ. {FLB 111.2}
• Those whom heaven recognizes as holy ones are the last
to parade their own goodness. The apostle Peter became a
faithful minister of Christ, and he was greatly honored with
divine light and power; he had an active part in the
upbuilding of Christ's church; but Peter never forgot the
fearful experience of his humiliation; his sin was forgiven;
yet well he knew that for the weakness of character which
had caused his fall only the grace of Christ could avail. He
found in himself nothing in which to glory. {FLB 111.3}
Who is the enemy here? Or what is the enemy here?

• Can we learn any lessons from what happened in 1888? Wasn’t it then, that
Jesus could have come in 2 years? There was a Sunday law in the Congress,
the Christ our righteousness message was going forward amongst God’s
people, and the world was ripe, even then, for destruction.
• So what went wrong? What was going on amongst God’s people? Pride,
unbelief, the betrayal of sacred trusts. EGW warned them faithfully- In July
of that year, she wrote:
 Before the 1888 conference- continued.
• The solemn question should come home to every member of our churches,
How are we standing before God, as the professed followers of Jesus Christ?
Is our light shining forth to the world in clear, steady rays? Have we, as a
people solemnly dedicated to God, preserved our union with the Source of
all light? Are not the symptoms of decay and declension painfully visible in
the midst of the Christian churches of today? Spiritual death has come upon
the people that should be manifesting life and zeal, purity and consecration,
by the most earnest devotion to the cause of truth. The facts concerning
the real condition of the professed people of God, speak more loudly than
their profession, and make it evident that some power has cut the cable
that anchored them to the Eternal Rock, and that they are drifting away
to sea, without chart or compass. {RH, July 24, 1888 par. 1}
When you’re drifting you cannot always
wait for the perfect time, sometimes
you just have to take the leap of faith,
so that you will not continue to drift.

History is repeating. With the open Bible before

them, and professing to reverence its teachings,
many of the religious leaders of our time are
destroying faith in it as the word of God. They
busy themselves with dissecting the word, and set
their own opinions above its plainest statements.
In their hands God's word loses its regenerating
power. This is why infidelity runs riot, and iniquity
is rife. {DA 258.1}
Could this be also, why Jesus is delaying His
coming? We’re not learning from our mistakes of
the past?
 Do we know and feel our sins, this morning? Do you remember
how it was when your sins were first forgiven by the Lord? How
you felt? The grass was greener, the sky bluer?
• I was drifting away on life’s pitiless sea, • 3. The good captain commanded a boat to be
low’red,
And the angry waves threatened my ruin to be, And with tender compassion He took me on
When away at my side, there I dimly descried, board;
A stately old vessel, and loudly I cried: And I’m happy today, all my sins washed away
Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy! In the blood of my Savior, and now I can say:
And loudly I cried: Ship ahoy! Bless the Lord! Bless the Lord!
From my soul I can say: Bless the Lord!

• 2. ’Twas the old ship of Zion, thus sailing along,
All aboard her seemed joyous, I heard their
sweet song;
And the captain’s kind ear, ever ready to hear,
Caught my wail of distress, as I cried out in fear:
Ship ahoy! Ship ahoy!
As I cried out in fear: Ship ahoy!
• 4. O soul, sinking down ’neath sin’s merciless
wave,
The strong arm of our captain is mighty to save;
Then trust Him today, no longer delay,
Board the old ship of Zion, and shout on your
way:
Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout and sing on your way: Jesus saves!
Sounds very much like our conference Motto, doesn’t it? Is
this why the Lord is delaying His coming?

• How many of the leaders accepted
the message of the righteousness
of Christ in 1888?
• Why didn’t they accept the
message, which was so clear and
powerful, that Jesus was the only
way we could obey?
• Well, certainly they had many
spiritual problems, but it really
comes down to one thing.
• Unless those who can help in ----- are
aroused to a sense of their duty, they
will not recognize the work of God
when the loud cry of the third angel
shall be heard. When light goes forth
to lighten the earth, instead of
coming up to the help of the Lord,
they will want to bind about His work
to meet their narrow ideas. Let me
tell you that the Lord will work in this
last work in a manner very much out
of the common order of things, and in
a way that will be contrary to any
human planning.
 Matthew 9:11-13
And when the Pharisees saw [it], they
said unto his disciples, Why eateth your
Master with publicans and sinners?
But when Jesus heard [that], he said unto
them, They that be whole need not a
physician, but they that are sick.
But go ye and learn what [that]
meaneth, I will have mercy, and not
sacrifice: for I am not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance.
What is the attitude of an unwell person?
Humble, teachable? At least, listening for
the voice of the Doctor?
Did this happen when
the Loud Cry went
forward?
Could history be
repeating?
Yes, for man keeps making
the same mistakes over
and over again….
Why is Reform often
passing the ones in high
places by, so that it is the
humble, the lowly, the
needy that receive it?
• There will be those among us who will
always want to control the work of
God, to dictate even what movements
shall be made when the work goes
forward under the direction of the
angel who joins the third angel in the
message to be given to the world. God
will use ways and means by which it
will be seen that He is taking the reins
in His own hands. The workers will be
surprised by the simple means that He
will use to bring about and perfect His
work of righteousness. TM 300
 What was the real problem in 1888?

• 1) The light didn’t come in just the way that they had expected.
• 2) God chose young men, instead of the older workers.
• 3) G.I. Butler, the President of the GC said to “Hold to the old
landmarks” and tried to accuse EGW of making him sick due to
all the stress she had caused with these new ideas.
• 4) EGW said that he and the others didn’t know what the “old
landmarks”were. And that there wasn’t a whits worth of value in
that kind of faith that he was manifesting.
 You could say that the majority of the leaders in
1888 were unconverted, and you would be right.
• But the vast majority didn’t
even understand what the
real issues were at that time,
and some, even years later,
still didn’t understand.
• What is it that blinds people’s
minds to the working of the
Holy Spirit?
 And we all have unconverted elements about
ourselves, don’t we?

• The real question is: what will

we do with those unconverted
elements when the Holy Spirit
points them out to us? • Story of Sr. White’s
• Will we yield them, or granddaughters receiving a
stubbornly hold on to them testimony
and demand our own way,
refusing the light that comes
on our pathway?
 So why didn’t Jesus come back in 1890 or so?
Could we say that they didn’t prove faithful to the
sacred trusts of which God entrusted them?
• Perhaps it will be helpful to us to consider
some of these sacred trusts, to which we will
also be held accountable.
• “To each of us God has committed sacred
trusts, for which he holds us accountable. He
designs that man shall be so educated as to
develop his mental and moral powers, that he
may have a well-balanced mind and a
symmetrical character. But education alone
will not prepare him to answer the object of his
creation. He needs the grace of God, and
divine aid awaits his demand. Divine power
united with human effort will enable him to
do good and glorify his Creator.” ST, April 3,
1884
What is a betrayal of sacred
trust?

Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised,
saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
And this [word], Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those
things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those
things which cannot be shaken may remain. Wherefore we
receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace,
whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly
fear: For our God [is] a consuming fire.
Heb. 12:26-29
We all, as Christians, are given trusts by God.
What are we doing with them?
Will He hold us accountable for these trusts?
 The most well known betrayal of sacred trust-

• Brethren sometimes associate together for years, and think they can trust
those they know so well, just as they would trust members of their own
family. There is a freedom and confidence in this association which could
not exist among those not of the same faith. This is very pleasant while
brotherly love continues; but let the “accuser of the brethren” gain
admittance to the heart of one of these men, controlling the mind and the
imagination, and jealousies are created, suspicion and envy are harbored;
and he who supposed himself secure in the love and friendship of his
brother, finds himself mistrusted, and his motives misjudged. The false
brother forgets his own human frailties, forgets his obligation to think and
speak no evil lest he dishonor God and wound Christ in the person of his
saints; and every defect that can be thought of or imagined is commented
upon unmercifully, and the character of a brother is represented as dark
and questionable. {GW92 443.4}
 Now perhaps you are thinking that this is the only
way of betraying sacred trusts, but there are others,
as well.
 How far does this trust on the part of God towards
us, go?
• For the conversion of one sinner, the minister should tax his resources to the
utmost. The soul that God has created and Christ has redeemed is of great
value, because of the possibilities before it, the spiritual advantages that
have been granted it, the capabilities that it may possess if vitalized by the
word of God, and the immortality that it may gain through the hope
presented in the gospel. And if Christ left the ninety and nine that He might
seek and save one lost sheep, can we be justified in doing less? Is not a
neglect to work as Christ worked, to sacrifice as He sacrificed, a betrayal of
sacred trust? {GW 465.2}
• I feel intensely over the needs of foreign countries, as they have been
presented before me. In all parts of the world angels of God are opening
doors that a little while ago were closed to the message of truth. From India,
from Africa, from China, and from many other places is heard the cry, "Come
over and help us." {GW 465.3}
 I believe this missionary gave his life in trying to
share the faith with some natives in Ecuador about
50-60 years ago
 This pamphlet urged that the SDA church was
Babylon due to the fact that it was organized and
was collecting tithes.
• It was a betrayal of sacred trust to take that • This is a work that is neither honorable
which Jesus designed should be kept secret, nor righteous. In compiling this work,
and publish it to others, and bring upon the they have used my name and writings
cause of truth reproach and injury. The Lord for the support of that which I
has given to His people appropriate messages disapprove and denounce as error. The
people to whom this pamphlet will come
of warning, reproof, counsel, and instruction,
will charge the responsibility of this false
but it is not appropriate to take these position upon me, when it is utterly
messages out of their connection and place contrary to the teachings of my writings
them where they will seem to give force to and the light which God has given me. I
messages of error. In the pamphlet published have no hesitancy in saying that those
by Brother S. and his associates, he accuses the who are urging on this work are greatly
church of God of being Babylon, and would urge deceived. {TM 36.1}
a separation from the church.
 How did she define the church called “Remnant”

• Has God no living church? He has a church, but it is the church militant, not
the church triumphant. We are sorry that there are defective members. . .
.While the Lord brings into the church those who are truly converted, Satan
at the same time brings persons who are not converted into its fellowship.
While Christ is sowing the good seed, Satan is sowing the tares. There are
two opposing influences continually exerted on the members of the church.
One influence is working for the purification of the church, and the other for
the corrupting of the people of God. . . . {FLB 305.2}
• Although there are evils existing in the church, and will be until the end of
the world, the church in these last days is to be the light of the world that is
polluted and demoralized by sin. . .
 Has there ever been such a thing as an infallible
organization? Or infallible people?

• There is but one church in the world who are at the present time
standing in the breach, and making up the hedge, building up the old
waste places; and for any man to call the attention of the world and other
churches to this church, denouncing her as Babylon, is to do a work in
harmony with him who is the accuser of the brethren. . . .The whole
world is filled with hatred of those who proclaim the binding claims of
the law of God, and the church who are loyal to Jehovah must engage in
no ordinary conflict. . . .Those who have any realization of what this
warfare means, will not turn their weapons against the church militant,
but with all their powers will wrestle with the people of God against the
confederacy of evil. {FLB 305.4}
• Those who start up to proclaim a message on their own individual
responsibility, who, while claiming to be taught and led of God, still make
it their special work to tear down that which God has been for years
building up, are not doing the will of God. Be it known that these men are
on the side of the great deceiver. Believe them not.
 Why did the SDA church
lose its balance?

They stopped , spiritually, and

refused to see their need of God’s
grace to be made manifest to
overcome every sin.
 What EGW had to deal with in 1888.
• A burden was upon my soul. I knew that the Lord would manifest his power.
I was urged by the spirit of God to make strong appeals to my brethren who
were to cross the Rocky Mountains to attend the general conference at
Minneapolis. I urged them to humble themselves before God, and receive
the assurance of his grace, to be baptized with the Holy Ghost, that they
might be in a condition to impart light, and strength, and courage to those
who should assemble in the conference, and that there might be a union
between the east and the west. I knew that there must be a renewal of the
grace of Christ; life and power must be infused into the work. Little did I
think, when making these solemn appeals, that a letter had gone forth from
one present at that meeting stating things he thought were true but were
not true and which preceded us and built up a wall of difficulty, placing men
prepared to fight everything those who crossed the Rocky Mountains should
introduce.
 Was this prejudice between brother and brother,
right?
• For long years prejudice had existed with those at Battle Creek without cause
against the laborers on the Pacific coast and Satan used his influence to have that
letter do a work which will prove to the loss of souls. God never prompted that
letter. I was shown into the room where the letter was received. I stepped up and
read the name distinctly and afterward asked Eld. Butler if Bro. [Healey] did not
write to him certain things. He said he did. I asked if he would let me see the letter. I
wanted to know what testimony was given to create such a state of things as we
met at Minneapolis. He said he burned the letter, but the impress had made an
indelible impression on his mind and on the minds of others which are still as if bed
in the rock. At this period of time when the powers of darkness were moved from
beneath to take the field, and in wily, crafty movements, to outgeneral the church
to which God has committed sacred, holy trusts. Although through the voices and
pens of many, the trumpet had given a certain sound, others of the watchmen
were asleep, and knew not the time of their visitation. {1888 55.1}
 Another example of a betrayal of sacred trust- Solomon
• Solomon's entire history might have been in
accordance with this inspired prophecy. Exalted
to a position of sacred trust, he for a time
heeded the wise counsels of David, and brought
glory to the name of the God of Israel. But the
later years of his reign were marred by pride,
self-sufficiency, self-exaltation. Desire for
political power and self-aggrandizement led him
to form alliances with heathen nations. The silver
of Tarshish and the gold of Ophir were procured
at a terrible expense, even the sacrifice of
integrity, the betrayal of sacred trust.
Association with idolaters corrupted his faith.
One false step led to another, until there was a
breaking down of the barriers that God had
erected for the safety of his people. {RH, August
17, 1905 par. 15}
• Sad as is the story of Solomon's apostasy, it
portrays the result of separation from God.
One false step prepares the way for a second
and a third, and every additional step is taken
more easily than the last. It is our privilege to
take heed to the God-given warning of
Solomon's life. As followers of Christ, we are
to honor our Master by studying and obeying
his teachings. We are to manifest our love and
fear of God by refusing to conform to the
world's standard of right. Let us beware of
departing from the simplicity of our faith. The
Christian's standard of right must ever be the
standard that is given in Holy Writ. Constantly
we are to guard against every worldly
influence that would weaken us in moral
power.
 How sad, that the wisdom and grace shown by
Solomon in his early years, was not matched in his
later years
 • By Christ's death on the cross, human beings
What a high trust have been raised in the scale of moral value.
"God so loved the world, that He gave His
and calling we have, only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
as Christians in Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life." Christ looked into the mind of man, and
He saw that it was debased and corrupted by
sin. He determined to present in the most
attractive light the principles of the Gospel,
that man might receive and obey them. He
desired to refine, purify, ennoble the powers
He had given to man, that they might act the
part for which they were created. If
permitted, the lower passions will obtain the
mastery over the whole being. Christ would
have these passions subject to the higher
powers of the mind. {ST, March 1, 1899 par. 7}
 The cross will either
lift us up, or cast us
down, depending on if
we are willing to fall
upon the Rock, and be
broken.
• It is to bring sin to a close, that the divine
And whosoever shall fall
on this stone shall be
broken: but on
whomsoever it shall fall, it
will grind him to powder.
Matt. 21:44
• Christ presented the cross to His disciples. "If
any man will come after Me," He said, "let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me." The cross must be lifted by all
who receive Christ as their Saviour. God does
not forgive sin to encourage us to continue in
sin.
nature may take possession of the being, and
the riches of heaven be poured into mind and
heart. God has made every provision that the
divine resources may flow freely, and we are
to deem no sacrifice too costly in order that
the treasures of truth may be given to the
world. To fall short of this is a betrayal of
sacred trust. {ST, March 1, 1899 par. 8}
In the cross of Calvary we find the science and song
of every sinner- Defense, justification and grace
 We think of SDAs
filing law suits
against other
believers.
In fact, anytime that we
open the things of the
Lord towards those who
are not members of the
church, and thus should
have no right to know,
isn’t this also a violation of
sacred trust?
• Much pride of heart has been revealed
by the professed people of God. Many
selfish opinions have been cherished. It
has been regarded as justifiable to
appeal to lawyers to adjust difficulties.
Thus God's people have shown, as did
ancient Israel, that notwithstanding He
has led and prospered them, they will
dishonor Him by seeking help from
unbelievers. . . .
 • From this we see that the Lord requires
Yes, for unbelievers His people to be particular in carrying
cannot and will not out right principles. When they are in
know the truths to trouble He would have them call upon
which God has Him, in the place of betraying the
entrusted His people cause of God into the hands of
unbelievers. It is a betrayal of sacred
trust to open before unbelievers the
working of God's institutions. In this
way false statements are made, and
these statements are reported to
others. Those who do this counterwork
the cause of God. They are adversaries
of the truth.- Ibid.
 The question we
have to ask
ourselves is: are we
living our lives this
way?
Is our life so filled with the
joy of the Lord, which is
our strength, that
unbelievers are motivated
to seek after that same
kind of life?
 What if we betray
sacred trusts to
unbelievers? And here
is why, in a nutshell,
Jesus delays His
coming.
With their distrust of God,
with their pride and unbelief,
they were not prepared to
enter Canaan. They would in
no way represent that
people whose God is the
Lord; for they did not bear
his character of purity,
goodness, and benevolence.
{ST, July 22, 1886 par. 4}
 To misuse or abuse any of His gifts is a betrayal of sacred trusts.

• The talents which the Lord gives to His servants are varied, but all are to
blend in a perfect whole. God desires us to regard money as His gift, and to
use it accordingly. To abuse any of His gifts is a betrayal of sacred trust.
And in misusing his Lord's entrusted capital the steward does harm to his
own soul and blocks the way so that truth cannot do its appointed work.
{21MR 352.6}
Hear the words of the Lord: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for
your miseries that shall come upon you. . . . Ye have heaped treasure
together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped
down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of
them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye
have lived in pleasure on the earth and been wanton; ye have nourished
your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just;
and he doth not resist you" [James 5:1-6]. {21MR 352.7
Is money the root of all evil? NO, the love of
money is----
And how often did Inspiration say this betrayal
of sacred trust would be repeated?
• The school faculty held private consultations to consider what
was best to be done. There was a voice in these councils that
tried to counter-work the plans introduced to keep discipline and
order. By this sympathizing voice indiscreet words were dropped
to the students in reference to the matters under consideration in
the council. This was and will be oft repeated, a betrayal of
sacred trust. These things were caught up by the students. They
thought that such a teacher was all right; that she was a clever
teacher. She would have sympathy for the wrongdoer.
 What is a grievous sin against God?

• Thus the hands of these carrying a heavy load were not

strengthened, but weakened. The efforts made to repress evil
were looked upon as harsh and uncharitable. "Young folks must
have their jolly times" was repeated, with other insipid speeches.
A word dropped here and a word there left its baleful impression,
and the wrongdoers knew that there were those in the school
who did not think that their course of deception and falsehood
was a great sin. But to continually take up the cause of the
wrongdoer, making of no account his departure from righteousness
and truth and steadfast integrity, is a grievous sin against God. {KC
62.2}
 Any betrayal of His cause in the Earth, grieves His heart terribly
And we must determine to make Christ Lord of all, or He is not
Lord at all. Only in this way, can we bring about the coming of our
dear Lord and Saviour, Jesus.
 So, if all these things are true about the betrayal of
sacred trusts- how can we no longer delay His
coming?
• There will be no confusion,
• The time has come for a thorough because all will be in harmony with
reformation to take place. When this the mind of the Spirit. The barriers
reformation begins, the spirit of prayer separating believer from believer
will actuate every believer and will will be broken down, and God's
banish from the church the spirit of servants will speak the same
discord and strife. Those who have not things. The Lord will co-operate
been living in Christian fellowship will with His servants. All will pray
draw close to one another. One understandingly the prayer that
member working in right lines will lead Christ taught His servants: "Thy
other members to unite with him in kingdom come. Thy will be done in
making intercession for the revelation of earth, as it is in heaven." Matthew
the Holy Spirit. 6:10.
 Will anyone ever be converted by what the preacher
preaches?
• God is leading out a people to stand in perfect unity
• The world will be convinced not so
much by what the pulpit teaches
as by what the church lives. The
preacher announces the theory of
the gospel, but the practical piety
of the church demonstrates its
power. {HP 324.7}
upon the platform of eternal truth. Christ gave Himself
to the world that He might "purify unto Himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works." This refining
process is designed to purge the church from all
unrighteousness and the spirit of discord and
contention, that they may build up instead of tear
down, and concentrate their energies on the great
work before them. God designs that His people should
all come into the unity of the faith. The prayer of the
Christ just prior to His crucifixion was that His
disciples might be one, even as He was one with the
Father, that the world might believe that the Father
had sent Him. This most touching and wonderful
prayer reaches down the ages, even to our day; for His
words were: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for
them also which shall believe on Me through their
word." {4T 17.1}
 What will be our test in the future? (Perhaps
even now…)
• When the religion of Christ is most held in
contempt, when His law is most despised,
then should our zeal be the warmest and
our courage and firmness the most
unflinching. To stand in defense of truth
and righteousness when the majority
forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord
when champions are few--this will be our
test. At this time we must gather warmth
from the coldness of others, courage from
their cowardice, and loyalty from their
treason.--5T 136 (1882). {LDE 180.4}
If we want to change where we’re going, we have to know where we’ve been
• Have you ever met someone who
keeps blaming all their problems
on everyone around them, but can
never see how they themselves
have contributed to the problem?
Such is the human condition. May
we be saved from the betrayal of
sacred trusts, no longer delay His
work in our lives, and truly make
ready for Christ’s Second Coming.
This will only be possible if we
humble ourselves to receive what
God has for us, that He can open
our eyes to our complete need of
Him. (Story of Richard as a child
manifesting pride.)
 True or False?

We don’t really have to pay any attention to what is

a betrayal of sacred trust, for it is only the grace of
God that will save us.
 True or False?

All we need do is wait for the Latter Rain to fall

so that we can overcome and may not be
guilty of a betrayal of sacred trust any longer.
 Complete the sentence:

When this ___________begins, the spirit of ________will

actuate every believer and will banish from the church the
spirit of ________and _________.
 True or False?

Gen. 26:5
Abraham was faithful to the sacred trust
committed to him by God.
 Summary/Conclusion
• 5. Why is it important for us to deal faithfully with sin in the church?
• 6. How did God’s servant define the “Remnant Church? Has the true
church fallen?
• 7. What if we fail to sacrifice as He sacrificed for us, is this a betrayal
of sacred trust? Why or why not?
• 8. Can we say that if we fail to use our gifts and talents for God’s
honour and glory this would be a betrayal of sacred trust?
• 9. Why can we not go to unbelievers with the affairs of the church?
How would this be a betrayal of sacred trusts?
• 10. What is the main thing that is the cause of the delay of Christ’s
Second coming?