Where is the danger? Is it within or without? This is very important to know. By nature, everyone protects his life and hides himself for his safety. The same applies even to animals. Each one wants to prevent death and to hide his life from hurt. But “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3

In part one, we read that God has only one church, the only true church, which is under His guidance, giving light to the whole world and preparing the people to meet Jesus who is coming soon. It is not safe to come out of the Church of God. This is why Christ asked the twelve “Will ye also go away?” But they answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” God has only one true Church in the world. Those who come to the church out of curiosity, earthly interest, or ambition will go away. However, we need to know that there will be a time when separation is the only way, the only right solution.

It is true that there are fallen churches. Christ said to a Samaritan woman “ye worship ye know not what.” This shows that some have a zeal for the Lord but do not have knowledge (Romans 10:2). However, in those apostate churches and fallen denominations, there are true Christians. In this article we shall concentrate on the question as to whether the true, faithful follower of Christ should remain in the fallen churches or come out and unite with God’s remnant people. “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” the psalmist asked. We believe this question is of the greatest importance in this last time. The call of God to true believers has always meant a separation for His faithful people, a coming out. This is seen not only in the experiences of His ancient church, but also today.

Does it matter where I am and what I believe or practice?

“Every church has candidates for heaven” claimed two women in the group where we were addressing the pamphlet I had given them, entitled, “Are all denominations in error?” Is what they say true? What do you think? What does God’s word say?

God has a church and a message to deliver to the perishing world. There is only one way to heaven, one true church. There is one kingdom of God; the principles and laws of the kingdom cannot be modified without consequences. Can one separate from the church of his parents? What if you discover that you belong to an apostate church? When Christ comes again, where shall He meet you? Where shall you be? Doing what? Believing what? “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Psalms 11:3

The three angels’ messages (Revelation 14:6–13) will climax with the Loud Cry, the final call for all humanity to come to Christ (Revelation 18:1–4). This is the final invitation to come out of Babylon before the plagues (Revelation 18:4, 8; compare with Revelation 16:1–21). Just as Satan’s counterfeit “three evil spirits” go to the whole world (Revelation 16:12–16, NIV), so the three angels’ messages will culminate with the Loud Cry. “I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them.” –Early Writings, p. 261 (emphasis mine)

Is it ok if there are only one or a few mistakes mingled with truth? ““It is one of Satan’s devices to combine with falsehood just enough truth to give it plausibility. The leaders of the Sunday movement may advocate reforms which the people need, principles which are in harmony with the Bible; yet while there is with these a requirement which is contrary to God’s law, His servants cannot unite with them. Nothing can justify them in setting aside the commandments of God for the precepts of men.” –The Great Controversy, p. 587

Reformation and Separation

Is separation necessary? We read: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Amos 3:3. Some may say: “What about all the good and righteous people that are in the church? Surely God will not destroy the righteous just because their membership is found within an apostate church? “Son of man, set thy face toward Jerusalem. . . . And say to the land of Israel, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I am against thee, and will draw forth My sword out of his sheath, and will cut off from thee the righteous and the wicked.” Ezekiel 21:1–3

The reason why the righteous are destroyed along with the wicked is because they refused to separate themselves from the company of the wicked and remove their membership from the fallen church. So, what does God want His people to do if they find themselves connected to, any part of a church, belief or corporate body that is polluted with sin and wickedness? “Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the Lord.” Isaiah 52:11

The same situation was shown to Ezekiel. “Son of man, thou dwellest in the midst of a rebellious house, which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not: for they are a rebellious house. Therefore, thou son of man, prepare thee stuff for removing, and remove by day in their sight; and thou shalt remove from thy place to another place in their sight: it may be they will consider, though they be a rebellious house. Then shalt thou bring forth thy stuff by day in their sight, as stuff for removing: and thou shalt go forth at even in their sight, as they that go forth into captivity Dig thou through the wall in their sight, and carry out thereby. In their sight shalt thou bear it upon thy shoulders, and carry it forth in the twilight: thou shalt cover thy face, that thou see not the ground: for I have set thee for a sign unto the house of Israel” Ezekiel 12:1–6

Moses called for a reform when the Israelites were found to be dancing around the golden calf. “Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. . . . Consecrate yourselves to day to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.” Exodus 32:26, 29. The faithful people had to separate from those that worshipped the calf. Reformation required separation and the cleansing of the camp by killing all who worshipped the calf.

If we are members of an apostate church, can we be saved because of our good works? No, because in that situation we are no longer two entities, but are of one flesh with the fallen church. You cannot be a member of an organization without giving your consent. If you make a conscious choice to remain a member in an apostate church,  you are held responsible for their harlotry. The apostle Paul says there is no relation between light and darkness. No concord hath Christ with the devil. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:17

Lot was told to flee from Sodom, not that he was guilty, but lest he be destroyed with the wicked. What will be our punishment if we choose to remain connected with an apostate church? We will be destroyed along with her. It was not just Achan who was destroyed, but everything connected with him—including his whole family. (Joshua 7:24–25).”He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools [those who depart from God and His wisdom] shall be destroyed.” Proverbs 13:20

It is not easy to separate. Every separation brings worries. But, it is the only solution that the Lord is pleased with in the presence of apostasy. This is the only way for salvation: “come out of her My people,” is our message today, and it was the same from the beginning.

If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? “Therefore Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the people who had been instructed in the law, and turned to another class to proclaim His message, and to gather out those who should carry the gospel to all nations.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 232 (emphasis mine)

When separation is absolutely  necessary

Christ Himself, with His followers, was compelled to separate from His once chosen people; therefore, the Lord Himself led the little flock out of the fallen, rejected Jewish church. After Christ ascended to heaven, the apostles remained separate from the Jewish organization. “And being let go, they [Peter and John] went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.” Acts 4:23

Regarding the early Christians: “After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that the separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God.” –The Great Controversy, p. 45

Still further on in the history of the Christian church we encounter the same adherence to the call for separation.

“… Of those who resisted the encroachments of the papal power, the Waldenses stood foremost. . . . For centuries the churches of Piedmont maintained their independence; but the time came at last when Rome insisted upon their submission. After ineffectual struggles against her tyranny, the leaders of these churches reluctantly acknowledged the supremacy of the power to which the whole world seemed to pay homage. There were some, however, who refused to yield to the authority of pope or prelate. They were determined to maintain their allegiance to God, and to preserve the purity and simplicity of their faith. A separation took place. Those who adhered to the ancient faith now withdrew.” –Ibid., p. 64 (emphasis mine)

“… It was not without a terrible struggle with himself that Luther decided upon a final separation from the church.” –Ibid., p. 143

“Wesley had no thought of forming a new denomination, but he organized them under what was called the Methodist Connection.” –Ibid., p. 257

Coming closer to our time, we can study the experience of William Miller. For a time the churches looked with favor upon his work; but as the various ministers and religious leaders rejected the Advent message and attempted to suppress the truth he taught, the believers had to make an important  decision.

“They loved their churches, and were loath to separate from them; but as they saw the testimony of God’s word suppressed, and their right to investigate the prophecies denied, they felt that loyalty to God forbade them to submit. Those who sought to shut out the testimony of God’s word they could not regard as constituting the church of Christ, ‘the pillar and ground of the truth.’ Hence they felt themselves justified in separating from their former connection. In the summer of 1844 about fifty thousand withdrew from the churches.” –Ibid., p. 376 (emphasis mine)

Separation—unhesitating, positive, and complete—is indeed an important law of the kingdom of God. Today, this is extremely important.  In this solemn day, the prophecy about divine separation written of by Ezekiel will be fulfilled wonderfully.  “For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, even I, will both search My sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Ezekiel 34:11–12

This seeking of the flock by the True Shepherd has always resulted in a distinct separation between His followers and the world, or those who do not follow Him. Isaiah wrote: “And they shall call them, The holy people [or set apart], The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out [or separated], A city not forsaken.” Isaiah 62:12

Identifying modern Babylon

Ancient Babylon typifies modern “Babylon.” It is revealed by prophecy and confirmed by history that ancient Babylon was characterized by religious confusion. One would think that after the Flood man would have wished to remain in the closest fellowship with the true God and to avoid the kind of apostasy that led to the ruin of the antediluvian world. But it was not so. Instead of learning from history, postdiluvian humanity sought to exalt human achievement once more. By choosing their own gods and implementing their own religious fantasies, they withdrew from Jehovah’s love and protection. This resulted in the falling apart of human society who abandoned the patriarchs’ spiritual ideals. Modern “Babylon” also contains a confusion of religious ideas and spiritual commitments. Unity of religion on any other basis than Bible truth constitutes Babylon. The decision confronting every human being on earth will soon be, to whom should I give my loyalty, to Christ or to Babylon?

There are some errors accepted by the established church in the Middle Ages such as Sunday sacredness, the doctrines of the immortality of the soul and eternal torment, the teaching that tradition and the authority of the church are above the Bible, infant baptism, the worship of Mary and the saints, the doctrine of transubstantiation, the confession of sins to a priest, penance, purgatory, the infallibility of the pope, and salvation by faith plus works. The sixteenth-century Reformers—Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Latimer, and many others—rejected some aspects of these papal teachings and returned to the Bible.

Modern “Babylon” consists of the false religious union that opposes God’s truth and people. Because the characteristics of Babylon are outlined in God’s Word, we need not be deceived.

In rejecting many of the teachings of the papal established church, the sixteenth-century Reformers accepted the Bible only as the rule of their faith and practice. The church, they said, is not superior to the Bible. Tradition is not authoritative in matters of doctrine. Salvation is by grace alone, not by grace plus works. Good works and obedience to God’s law are the result of His saving grace in the life. Confession of sin should be made to God, not to people (unless one sinned against a person). The doctrine of transubstantiation is unbiblical. Penance, purgatory, the worship of Mary and the saints, and the infallibility of the pope are unscriptural teachings.

Modern “Babylon” began with the false teachings that came into the early Christian church and into the papal church, and continues today. Revelation 17 does not apply only to the Dark Ages. Babylon the great is a harlot and has daughters. She is the “mother of harlots and of earth’s abominations.” Revelation 17:5, RSV. The daughters of the papal church are those modern churches that identify themselves with some of its teachings. Near the end of time, the powers represented by the beast and its ten horns will hate Babylon and destroy her (Revelation 17:16, RSV). Babylon “is the great city which has dominion over the kings of the earth” (v. 18, RSV). Babylon is destroyed at the end of time along with her supporters (Revelation 18:21; 19:20). Any church is part of modern Babylon when it joins itself with churches teaching nonbiblical doctrines. Some errors were accepted by the established church in the Middle Ages:

  • Immortality of the soul: Because of their acceptance of the natural immortality of the soul, many churches today are open to the influence of spiritism. (See Revelation 16:13–14; 2 Thessalonians 2:8–12)
  • Sanctity of the Sunday
  • Worship of Mary and the saints
  • Confession to pastors, bishops, priests, pope, etc.: There is no Bible support for confession of sins to a priest. Only Christ is our Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 9:15).
  • Trinity and deity of Jesus: The Bible teaching on the Godhead is clear: Other churches deny the full deity of Jesus Christ, asserting that He is either an inferior deity or merely a human being. The Bible teaches that Christ is God, equal in authority and power with the Father and the Holy Spirit (Colossians 1:19; John 5:18; 8:58; compare Exodus 3:14).
  • Purgatory and state of the dead. The Bible teaches that the dead sleep until the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51–54).
  • Other churches teach that the saints are secretly raptured to heaven before Jesus comes. The Bible teaches that not until Jesus appears with His angels are the saints taken to heaven (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Corinthians 15:51–54).
  • Predestination: there are those who believe that God predestinates the people to be saved. This is not biblical. God’s word is clear in John 3:16.
  • Second Chance during the 1000 years: many believe that during the 1000 years, Christ will reign on earth and a second chance or another probation will be given them to believe during the great sorrow which, according to that teaching, will occur after the secret rapture.
  • Reincarnation is also another doctrine, especially for those who do not believe in the resurrection.
  • Invalidity of the Ten Commandments: salvation is by faith/grace alone releasing believers from the requirement of obeying God’s law of the Ten Commandments. (James 2:10–11; 1 John 5:2–3; Revelation 14;12). The Ten Commandments remain God’s great standard of righteousness to which He asks us to conform to with divine help. (Romans 3:31; 7:7, 12, 14; 8:3–4; Revelation 12:17).

Last warning to the world

“Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and alienation from God that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body of Christ’s true followers are still to be found in their communion. There are many of these who have never seen the special truths for this time. Not a few are dissatisfied with their present condition and are longing for clearer light. They look in vain for the image of Christ in the churches with which they are connected. As these bodies depart further and further from the truth, and ally themselves more closely with the world, the difference between the two classes will widen, and it will finally result in separation. The time will come when those who love God supremely can no longer remain in connection with such as are ‘lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof’. . . . the people of God still in Babylon will be called upon to separate from her communion. This message is the last that will ever be given to the world; and it will accomplish its work.” –The Great Controversy, p. 389–390

“Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.” –Ibid., p. 587–588

Coming out or staying in?

“Be not deceived: Evil communications corrupt good manners.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion

hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

While many Christians do understand that salvation depends upon their being free from all personal sin through the blood and grace of Jesus Christ, they do not understand that they must also be free from corporate sin.  Some ignore the fact that they can be accounted impure just by their union, membership, or association with impure apostate or fallen churches—even though they may be overcoming all known personal sin.  In this case, no one can be completely free from the stain of sin if they are connected with fallen churches.  This can be considered a corporate responsibility.  It is true that we are not saved by groups, but it is also true that we can be lost by belonging to corrupt churches.

Why? Remember, Achan disobeyed God’’s commandment by taking some of the spoils for himself, and hiding them under his tent, thus committing sin. Even though Achan alone had committed the sin, because he was a member of Israel, God considered the whole corporate body of Israel responsible. So, for the sin of one man, the whole church was held accountable and suffered (see Joshua 7:1, 11–12).

Thus if we are members of any of the apotate churches which have departed from Christ and united themselves with evil, then we are corporately responsible for the terrible sins of our church. As long as we knowingly remain connected with our harlot mother church, then we cannot be completely clean and pure in God’s sight, and God will not have mercy upon us.

God looks with displeasure upon all members who willingly remain in the harlot churches. Even if they are speaking against the sins and abominations within the church, if they remain connected with her they are one with her. Thus they are not children of God, but are children of whoredoms. “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What? know ye not that he which is joined to an harlot is one body? For two, saith He, shall be one flesh.” 1 Corinthians 6:15–16

Our message is a message of separation. The conditions of eternal life are not hard to understand—separation from all personal and corporate sin in order to be completely free and hid in Jesus. Yet many choose to rebel against God’s will, especially in regards to complete separation from their harlot church—membership and all—and they walk another pathway. How foolish to believe that we can rebel against God and walk a different pathway than He has specified, and still be on our way to heaven. Yet, unfaithful ministers are leading multitudes of trusting souls down this broad road towards destruction.

May God help all of us to fully realize our accountability and responsibility, and then to choose to follow only God’s will. May He help us to voice only the words of the “faithful watchmen”, and to follow the only pathway set out for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in—the same pathway that Christ Himself chose to walk. “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach.” Hebrews 13:12-–13. Let us make sure that we are out of the fallen and corrupted churches and help others to do the same. As Lot separated from Sodom; we need to save our lives.

“It is the first and highest duty of every rational being to learn from the Scriptures what is truth, and then to walk in the light and encourage others to follow his example. We should day by day study the Bible diligently, weighing every thought and comparing scripture with scripture. With divine help we are to form our opinions for ourselves as we are to answer for ourselves before God.” –The Great Controversy, p. 598

From what we have learned in this article (part one and two) about the decision of coming out or staying in for God’s people, we conclude that in accordance with the law and testimony this Seventh-day Adventist Reform Movement is God’s remnant church today. Its origin was divinely prophesied. Its teachings are in full accordance with the Bible. doctrines

Therefore, the Reform Movement calls you to, “Come out of her,” and appeals to you to unite with the faithful remnant.

Dear reader and friend, stand for the truth and join the ranks of the International Missionary Society of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Reform Movement, which is God’s remnant church in these last days. Amen

Victor Shumbusho, DR Congo