“My message to you is this: No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth.” – Special Testimonies (Series B, No. 2, p. 15)
“My message to you is this: No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth.” Special Testimonies” – Series B, No. 2, p. 15
Written by Slawomir Gromadzki
THE STRATEGY OF JESUITS
“The order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery…Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the re-establishment of the papal supremacy.” (The Great Controversy, p. 234).
Although many Adventist theologians would like to be seen as guardians of our doctrines it is very interesting that there are some articles and videos available online accusing some of them of promoting Catholicism in the SDA Church by attempting to alter our well-established biblical interpretations which disclose the truth about papal Rome. Because of that some authors even suggest they are Jesuit implants in the SDA Church.
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This thought-provoking assumption comes from the fact that the obvious ambition of the Vatican is to take religious control over all protestant churches and eventually religious and political supremacy over the entire world. This hostile to God and His Church heretic system is hoping to achieve this goal by gaining our sympathy through ecumenism and by infiltrating the General Conference of the SDA Church in order to eliminate or at least gradually undermine certain doctrines and beliefs that separate us from the Catholic Church.
This effort is extremely important for the Vatican because without distinct theological and doctrinal differences, it is possible for them to promote ecumenism and finally unite all churches under their supervision and control. In this way, the Vatican is hoping to achieve the final goal in the form of gaining global spiritual and even political leadership and authority.
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JESUIT OATH
The best proof, which reveals the true intentions of the papacy, is the following quote from the still valid and binding today Jesuit oath which enslaves them to obey the following orders: “…Among the reformers, to be a reformer; among other protestants, to be a protestant, and obtaining their confidence, to seek even to preach from their pulpits, and to denounce with all the vehemence in your nature our Holy Religion and the Pope… You have been taught to insidiously plant the seeds of jealousy and hatred between communities that were at peace, to create revolutions and civil wars in countries that were independent and prosperous… You have been taught your duty as a spy, to gather all facts and information from every source; to ingratiate yourself into the confidence of the family circle of Protestants and heretics, as well as that of the banker, the lawyer, among the schools and universities, in parliaments, for the Pope’s sake, whose servants we are unto death… I promise that I will, when the opportunity presents, make and wage relentless war, secretly or openly, against all heretics, and protestants, to exterminate them from the face of the whole earth; and that I will spare neither age, sex or condition… When the same cannot be done openly, I will secretly use the poisoned cup, the strangulating cord, the leaden bullet, regardless of the honor, rank, dignity, or authority of the person, as I at any time may be directed so to do by any agent of the Pope or Superior of the Brotherhood of the Holy Faith, of the Society of Jesus.” (>)
LEROY EDWIN FROOM & ROY ALLEN ANDERSON
The best example of practical implementation of the devious papal strategy is what the Catholic-Adventist trio called “Freda” (Froom, Anderson and Reed) accomplished for the Vatican in the 1950s.
Below I have included the link to the shocking video interview by Danny Vierra providing evidence that the two Church leaders who were responsible for that apostasy, Leroy Edwin Froom and Roy Allen Anderson, who were also among the authors of the deceptive book Questions On Doctrine that sold Adventism to the Evangelical Apostate Ministers like W.R. Martin, were both Jesuit implants! They were there to destroy the previously widely accepted in the Seventh Day Adventist Church belief according to which Jesus took our sinful human nature.
Link to the video “JESUITS IN THE SDA CHURCH” >
The video includes information about a certain catholic lady who was invited to one of the SDA sanatoriums where she saw the two SDA leaders Leroy Edwin Froom and Roy Allen Anderson (who were responsible for the infamous apostasy of altering the truth about Christ’s incarnation) and the catholic lady recognised both of them as former catholic (Jesuit) priests she saw many times celebrating masses in her catholic church!
Being Jesuit priests they became Adventists, studied in our schools, got promoted and became the most influential leaders in the SDA Church. And as soon as they found a good excuse they altered the truth of Christ’s incarnation in favour of Roman Catholicism thus promoting the Catholic doctrine of the immaculate conception of Mary.
It is also very interesting that Froom, who died at Washington Park Hospital on February 20, 1974 in Takoma Park, Maryland, is buried in George Washington Cemetery, 9500 Riggs Rd., Adelphi, Maryland in a Masonic graveside B, Plot 860 (GPS coordinates for his location are N 39°, 00.667’, W 76°, 58.133”). He is buried in the section that is allocated for Freemasons, a front organization controlled by the Jesuits (>). Jesuits of Rome have perfected Freemasonry to be their most magnificent and effective tool, accomplishing their purposes among Protestants (>). On Froom’s grave there is a symbol of Masonic education, Aladdin’s lamp. The graves around him contain other, more famous masonic symbols, like the square and compasses, with letter “G” in the middle and also the occult inverted pentagram.
MORE JESUIT IMPLANTS
But that was only the first step as there are other truths that must be changed by new Jesuit implants in order to make possible our ecumenical union with the Catholic Church. Since we seem to be the only truly protestant denomination left now, we may be certain the enemy is doing his best to make us deny the Adventist and protestant credo and follow the example of other denominations who were seduced by Catholic ecumenism. But since the Vatican couldn’t achieve more through “Freda” so obviously they must attempt to continue its efforts to “catholicize” the SDA Church using other clever and high-rank messengers who are expected to alter or gradually modify other Adventist doctrines and interpretations of the popular Biblical truths in favour of Catholicism, thus leading to complete apostasy and union.
ANGEL M. RODRIGUEZ
There are many good reasons why Angel M. Rodriguez has been suggested as the one who also fits the model of a Jesuit implant. Although he would like to be seen as a guardian of our doctrines and theology it is very interesting that there are some articles and videos available online accusing him of promoting Catholicism in the SDA Church by attempting to alter our well-established biblical interpretations which disclose the truth about papal Rome. Because of that some authors even suggest Angel M. Rodriguez might be another papal tool sent to catholicize some of the key Adventist well-established biblical doctrines.
My suspicion of Angel M. Rodriguez started growing many years ago after reading his articles opposing the truth about our corporate salvation in Christ but only recently I decided to express my concerns as for some reason this idea was constantly coming back to my mind.
I was trying to find detailed information about his background and education that would disclose some catholic connotations but there is no detailed biography of Rodriguez available online to find out whether he was attending any catholic schools before studying theology at Andrews. We only know he was Born in Puerto Rico (85% Catholic), and that he had served as president of Antillian College and academic vice president of Southwestern Adventist University.
There are, however, some articles and videos available online which suggest he might be another Jesuit implant in the SDA Church. So it seems I am not the only person who was inspired by distrustful thoughts about him.
For instance, it is thought-provoking that Rodriguez is a member of the American Society of Biblical Literature of which president is Fernando F. Segovia: a former president of the Academy of Catholic Hispanic Theologians in the United States. >
Rodriguez is also a member of the American Academy of Religion established by Ismar J. Peritz: author of A New American Catholic Translation of the New Testament.
ATTEMPT TO CHANGE ADVENTIST INTERPRETATION OF 666
A. M. Rodriguez has been suspected to be another Vatican’s tool used to achieve its supreme goal, because apart from keeping Adventists away from studying and accepting the most important aspects of the fully recovered Gospel, Angel M. Rodriguez has been trying to change or modify certain Adventist doctrines and teachings in favour of Roman Catholicism. The best example is his attempt to change the true meaning of the symbolic number 666 from pointing to the papacy to a general meaning indicating the sinfulness of humankind! >
The following written by Dr Alberto R. Treiyer passages from the review of the book “Reflections on the Number 666” (link >) explain how Rodriquez together with some other well-known Adventist theologians attempt to stop identifying the prophetic number 666 with the papal Rome:
“For as long as I can remember, Seventh-day Adventist evangelists have applied the number 666 to one of the Latin titles of the Pope, namely, Vicarius Filii Dei. They have claimed that this title (which means ‘Vicar of the Son of God’) is one of the official titles which have traditionally been used by the popes. Some of our evangelists have also affirmed that the title is (or has been) inscribed on the papal tiara or on his mitre…
Recently, however, several of our ablest scholars have decided to oppose this very strongly established in Adventist theology interpretation. A new view has appeared on the horizon with defenders of the calibre of Dr William G. Johnsson, Dr Beatrice Neall, Dr Samuele Bacchiocchi, Dr Jon Paulien, Dr Ranko Stefanovic and Dr Angel M. Rodriguez. These theologians have challenged the traditional view and have proposed a new one. The traditional view is very specific. It applies the name and number of the beast directly to a succession of Roman Catholic popes. The new view has removed this specific meaning from the Roman Catholic papacy and has applied it in general terms to an end-time alienation of man from God!
This new rather philosophical, conjectural, if not speculative definition of the number six has been picked up and simplified also by Dr Angel M. Rodriguez: “The Greek phrase translated ‘It is a man’s number’ (Revelation 13:18) could be also rendered ‘it is the number of humanity.’ In that case, it is not referring to a particular person (papacy) but to a characteristic of humanity separated from God. Since God created humans during the sixth day, it could stand as a symbol of humanity, but humanity not yet at rest with God and without the joy of a harmonious relationship with God during the seventh day. The number reveals the rebellious nature of the enemies of God and His remnant. That seems to be the best available interpretation.” (Angel M. Rodriguez, Future Glory, p. 122.)
This change has upset some in the church who feel like the traditional view is more than adequate to explain the mystery of the number 666. Many feel that the new view has taken what is definite and clear and has made it indefinite and fuzzy. Others have gone so far as to believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been infiltrated by Jesuits who have the hidden agenda of destroying our distinctive prophetic roots with a view to ultimately destroy the Seventh-day Adventist Church itself… The conspiracy flames have been further fanned when a medal was given to the pope by the religious liberty department of the General Conference and also when the flag of the Holy See was paraded on stage at the 2005 General Conference session in St. Louis during the March of Nations.
Professor de Kock’s volume of 874 pages had its origin in the shock he received when he read in the Sabbath School lesson quarterly for 8 June 2002, prepared by Dr Angel M. Rodríguez, the negation of what our church has been teaching for a century and a half. When he started gathering materials to refute A. M. Rodríguez, former director of BRI, he discovered that many pastors and doctors of theology were also disgusted by the changes which Rodríguez had introduced.
Rodríguez took these changes, consciously or unconsciously, from Catholics, spiritualists, and Protestants who had tried to oppose the historicist interpretation adopted by the Adventist Church or who simply had lost the prophetic faith of earlier Protestants.
In the Sabbath School quarterly for 7 and 8 June 2002, Angel Manuel Rodríguez summarized the problems he encountered in maintaining that which our church, through Uriah Smith, took from Protestantism in 1865 (p. 456). A. M. Rodríguez adopted the method which was used in Alexandria to resolve difficulties in the Word of God, i.e., allegory. Instead of a concrete name associated with the number 666, he decided that it would be better to spiritualize that term.
Before Angel Manuel Rodríguez a certain controversy had arisen in our church concerning the title Vicarius Filii Dei, due to Catholic criticism especially, but also due to other symbolic interpretations, both spiritualist and Protestant, which were being introduced. The conflict between liberals and conservatives began in our church long ago, and the liberal wing gained ground with the publication that the Biblical Research Institute of our church prepared on the subject at the end of the decade of the 80s. But the main thing for Angel Manuel Rodríguez, who in general is considered a conservative, is that he was the first who set forth all those liberal arguments that had come from outside, in a Sabbath School quarterly which goes throughout the world. Although the Seventh-day Adventist Church does not consider itself infallible (only God and His Word are infallible), when the Sabbath School quarterly goes through a special committee appointed to review it, and it is published, people interpret that as the official voice of the church!
The result was that, from then on, ministers and laymen all over the world drew on that testimony to stop identifying the Roman papacy by its most specific blasphemous name. It is appropriate, therefore, that this discussion should receive further attention in our church, from its origins, to note the result of not having published a well-documented official response which it gave at its moment, due to the dogmatic and close-minded attitude of the liberal wing.
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At the beginning of the XX century, Adventists were practically the only ones who continued identifying the Roman papacy by the name Vicarius Filii Dei, in fulfilment of the prophecy of Rev 13:18. Consequently, the attack now turned against them.
The Catholic author who most strongly attacked the interpretation of our church concerning Rev 13:18 was a Jew who had converted to Catholicism. He was named David Goldstein. His attacks on Judaism were especially strong after his conversion, and later he took a turn at our church. His aversion to the Adventist Church manifested itself especially after receiving police authorization to visit an inmate in a Texas prison, a convicted murderer who was awaiting the death penalty. To his surprise, Goldstein learned that Adventists had gathered him to their party, and that the prisoner had been approached by Adventists and that he had been converted to our faith. He saw there various pamphlets of our church with the papal title mentioned above, and drawings that our brother had been making of the papal crown with the inscription Vicarius Filii Dei. In vain our imprisoned brother tried to convince the Judeo-Catholic of that interpretation, who left the prison greatly annoyed. After that he dedicated himself to attacking the Adventist Church in articles and books, and even had an imprimatur from the archbishop of Boston for doing so.”
If you wish to read this entire very interesting review here is the LINK >
FANATIC OPPONENT OF THE BIBLICAL TRUTH OF THE CORPORATE SALVATION IN CHRIST
Apart from the pro-ecumenical tendencies and the fact that he seems to be one of the Vatican’s favourite Adventist theologians, there is another possible reason to assume Rodriguez has the potential to follow the example of Froom and Anderson. It is a fact that no other Adventist theologian opposes the most vital truth of the fully restored gospel as strongly as he does.
Unfortunately, since most of our pastors and Church members today are effectively kept in darkness and are not acquainted with the most important aspects of the fully restored gospel, such as universal legal justification, they aren’t also able to recognise Rodriguez as the enemy of the Gospel. And few pastors who know the truth and accept it as biblical usually avoid preaching on it out of fear of getting into conflict with the leadership while members keep quiet as they are afraid of being regarded as troublemakers.
Unfortunately, Like Froom and Anderson, who were Jesuit implants used by papal Rome, also Rodriguez seems to be very successful in his efforts of making sure the most important biblical truths which were unique to the SDA Church are still being kept overboard. That is the reason why he so eagerly opposes the truth of the legal justification of sinful humankind in Jesus, which is the very foundation of the Everlasting Gospel.
At the same time, he uses very clever ways of keeping other most vital truths such as Christ’s humanity at bay. Although it is obvious he agrees with Froom’s and Anderson’s deceptive view He doesn’t seem to openly attack the post-Fall position because he knows that the Bible, Spirit of Prophecy and statements of Adventist theologians prior to the change which took place in the 1950s is so strong that it would be foolish to deny them. For this reason in his articles he attempts to discourage Adventists to study or discuss this most vital for the Gospel and our salvation truth of Christ’s incarnation by using taken-out-of-context statements by Ellen White and presenting this issue as a mystery we will never be able to grasp. In this way, he implies that any member or minister who tries to preach on this subject or discuss it in the Church might be considered unwise, fanatical, arrogant, disrespectful or presumptuous.
By his efforts to discourage Christ’s followers from increasing their knowledge about His human nature, however, he proves he must have been inspired by a different spirit than the one who prompted Sister White to encourage us to study the very same truth as deeply, prayerfully and carefully as we can: “The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden chain that binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. This is to be our study… We should come to this study with the humility of a learner, with a contrite heart. And the study of the incarnation of Christ is a fruitful field, which will repay the searcher who digs deep for hidden truth.” (Selected Messages Book 1, Page 244)
As a result of the efforts made in the past by Froom and Anderson and currently by Rodriguez and others, such negative or even hostile attitude toward those who believe that the Lord took our sinful human nature, this most precious truth about Christ’s humanity continues to be very unpopular and unwanted in our churches subject, although we are instructed to study it as thoroughly as we can because it is “a golden chain which binds our souls to Jesus” and because it is “everything to us”.
The negative attitude toward those who try to share their belief in the post-Fall position is also caused by the fact that this view is taught by most of the major independent ministries such as Hartland (“Our Firm Foundation”) and by some conservative Adventists, who use it to promote a subtle form of legalism as they promote the example theory suggesting that because Jesus had our fallen nature and overcame sin then we also can and must do the same.
It is true the victory over sin is possible through faith and the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, and there is no doubt it is also very important to follow Christ’s example. The problem, however, is that Hartland (Standish brothers) and some other independent ministries use the truth according to which Jesus took our fallen nature to stress the importance of Christ as our example in gaining victory over sin before Jesus becomes our Saviour. And since they emphasise Jesus as our example before He is our Saviour they prove that in this way they promote legalism as Jesus can never become our true example before He is first our Saviour.
In order to have a better understanding of the wonderful truth about Christ’s humanity the best book I could recommend for you to study is “The Saviour of the World” > by Jack Sequeira.
OPPOSITION AGAINST THE UNIVERSAL LEGAL JUSTIFICATION AND THE “IN CHRIST” MOTIF
Finally, and as expected, also the third most crucial and magnificent component of the holy Gospel truth, the “in Christ motif”, is not only forgotten in our Churches but even attacked, especially by some independent ministries such as Hartland represented by Colin and Russell Standish. Below I have included the link to their short and very poorly reasoned article opposing the biblical truth of the corporate salvation of all of us in Christ. They try to deny this message, originally presented by inspired Apostle Paul, and at the present time promoted in our Church, especially by Pastor Jack Sequeira >, using a few primitive arguments which are based on taken out-of-context Bible verses: >
Much more deceptive, however, and complex arguments against the truth of corporate salvation of sinful humanity in Jesus are presented in articles written by, mentioned before, Angel Manuel Rodriguez and available on the website of the Biblical Research Institute (BRI) of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Church. >
I was astonished when years ago after reading these articles I discovered they are in open opposition to the most beautiful and holy truth according to which on the cross in Jesus God “reconciled the world to Himself” (2Cor 5:19) and that when Jesus died on the cross then “all died” (2Cor 5:14).
A few years ago I wrote to Angel Manuel Rodriguez proving his arguments didn’t have biblical ground and demanding from him to remove his full of misleading errors articles from the BRI website, but unfortunately, and as expected, he refused using arguments which couldn’t be sustained by the Word of God. So finally I had to direct him to the most beautiful but unknown in our Churches sermon “The Word Became Flesh” which was presented in 1895, in the presence of Ellen White, by the leading Adventist theologian – Professor William Warren Prescott.
According to the concept of the gospel presented by him, Jesus didn’t take human sinless nature, He didn’t take the holy nature Adam had before he sinned, but He took the same sinful nature we all possess. And this act gave Him the right to become us, to be our representative. Then, in our flesh, as us and as our great representative Jesus perfectly obeyed God’s law, and finally, He took this our representative flesh of sin to the cross, where it was condemned by God and destroyed forever in Him (in the “flesh“ He took) (Romans 8:3).
According to the clear teaching presented by Professor Prescott, we were in Jesus when He perfectly obeyed the law as us, and we also were in Him when He died experiencing the second death. Thus we actually were obedient in Him and were punished (with the second death) in Him! And that, by the way, is the only way God was able to save us legally (according to the demands of His holy and changeless law). When we accept this true gospel message, then also Romans 3:26, according to which God remains righteous while justifying sinners, is not deprived of its meaning anymore because this way of salvation, unlike the vicarious one, vindicates the law (Romans 3:26). It uplifts the law because instead changing it or bypassing its demands God saved us respecting all of them in spite of the fact that it involved unimaginable sufferings of His beloved Son.
This most beautiful sermon was delivered by Professor Prescott in 1895 in Armadale (Australia). According to Ellen White, who listened to the sermon, it was inspired by Holy Spirit. The following quote from that most beautiful message, which was later published in the Bible Echo, proves Professor Prescott accepted and preached the very same glorious truth of the everlasting Gospel which has been now rejected and attacked by M Rodriguez and the BRI:
“Jesus Christ had exactly the same flesh that we bear, — flesh of sin, flesh in which we sin, flesh, however, in which He did not sin… We were all in Jesus Christ… He was our representative; He became flesh; He became we… All humanity was brought together in Jesus Christ. He suffered on the cross, then, it was the whole family in Jesus Christ that was crucified“.
Below I included the link which will give you the opportunity to read the entire most beautiful and inspired message presented by Professor Prescott including some extremely enthusiastic follow-up comments by Sister White: THE WORD BECAME FLESH >
Unfortunately, Rodriguez didn’t get the message and responded that Professor Prescott in his sermon didn’t mean that the entire world was included in Jesus but only believers.
First of all, it was a very hypocritical answer because in his articles Rodriguez never promotes the truth according to which believers were in Jesus but gives a strong impression that nobody was in Him, neither unbelievers nor believers. If he agrees believers were in Christ why then he does not clearly vindicate this great truth it in his articles in which he opposed the universal legal justification?
Secondly, the claim made by him that Professor Prescott in his sermon didn’t mean that the entire world was included in Jesus but only believers is false and the above quote from Prescott’s sermon proves it as he said, “All humanity was brought together in Jesus Christ. He suffered on the cross, then, it was the whole family in Jesus Christ that was crucified”. Also in another passage taken from the same sermon, Professor Prescott wrote that Jesus, “gathered all humanity unto Himself, embraced it in His own infinite mind, and stood as the representative of the whole human family.”
Like Apostle Paul, Prescott sometimes suggests in his sermon that the entire world was included in Christ and sometimes he states that only believers were present in Him simply because although it is true all sinners (including unbelievers) were in Christ when He lived a holy life and died on the cross yet in reality only those who accept this gift can enjoy it and will be actually saved.
Following Paul’s inspired example, Prescott interchangeably places all sinners or only believers in Christ because although all sinners were included in the holy life and death of Christ and were saved by Him yet in reality only believers can enjoy the gift because the historic fact of the salvation of the world in Christ requires acceptance through faith: “What we want in our experience” says Professor Prescott, “is to enter into the fact that we did die in Him. But while it is true that Jesus Christ paid the whole price, bore every grief, was humanity itself, yet it is also true that no man receives benefit from that except he receives Christ, except he is born again.”
Let me repeat it again, the Bible makes it clear that the salvation of the entire world (including all sinners past, present and future) was already accomplished once and for all on the cross over two thousand years ago! (2Cor 5:19) This salvation of the sinful world is complete, perfect and finished and nothing can be added to it! But it is also true that this already accomplished redemption also needs to be “activated” and it is made active and real in our lives only when we truly accept it through genuine faith.
Unfortunately, and strangely, BRI, Rodriguez, Hartland (Standish brothers) and some other Adventist writers pretend to not see it and they constantly keep on creating a false impression that Jack Sequeira and other proponents of this great biblical truth are promoting heresy of universalism! In order to confuse the minds of SD Adventists even more they sometimes call it federalism although it is not the same as universalism.
Here is, for example, what Colin and Russell Standish (Our Firm Foundation) wrote in the article “The Dilemma of the In Christ Motif”: “To imply that we were in Christ mystically when He died so that in that sense we paid the penalty for our own sins is surely an abomination and blasphemy.”
Colin D Standish
When I read that statement I couldn’t understand how someone who must have noticed the very frequently present in Paul’s epistles “in Christ universal motif” and who must be acquainted with the previously mentioned and adorned by Ellen White sermon by Professor Prescott, could write that the idea according to which we were in Christ and were saved in Him is a blasphemy!
This very hostile attitude toward this truth is an unexplainable mystery to me all the more since there is no reason to oppose it, unless this enmity is inspired by the most dogged enemy of Jesus and His Gospel. This opposition expressed by BRI and Hartland is unexplainable and unjustified because it is very clear in the inspired Paul’s writings that we all were in Christ and that we were punished and died in Him (Rom 6:6,8; Rom 7:4; 2Cor 5:14: Gal 2:20).
Pastor Sequeira was once invited by Hartland leaders for a public discussion. As a result of that debate, ten young pastors changed their views and couldn’t identify themselves anymore with Hartland’s teachings as they realised that their leaders were opposing the truth of the gospel using Bible verses and Ellen White quotes out of context instead of proving their point in a systematic biblical way. The above video is the best example of how they manipulate the Bible and the writings of Ellen White. Read or watch Sequeira’s seminars on Romans and you will see a huge difference.
Manuel Angel Rodriguez
But let me give you an example to prove articles by A. M. Rodriguez contain false and confusing arguments as he often accuses the biblical truth about the corporate salvation of humankind in Christ of certain assumptions that actually don’t even exist in this concept!
For instance, in his article “Some Problems with Legal Universal Justification” Rodriguez claims that, “Legal universal justification separates God’s justifying act from the reception of the gift of the Spirit, or the new birth.”
This assertion is complete nonsense and only someone who either doesn’t know this truth or is dishonest and intentionally wants to discredit it could write something like that.
According to the Word of God, it is true this legal universal justification, as some call it, means Jesus on the cross actually and legally saved the entire sinful humankind (2Cor 5:19; Rom 5:18; Rom 8:1-3; 2Cor 5:14). However, since God is love this historic fact of legal salvation of all sinners in Christ is not imposed on any sinner but it is offered by God in the form of a supreme free gift. And as it is with any gift, in order to enjoy this gift of already accomplished salvation it must be also accepted. It means that the salvation of a sinner, although already accomplished by our Lord two thousand years ago, is not a compulsory or automatic process. In order to make this salvation effective sinners must accept this gift of salvation in Christ with genuine faith. And if this reception of the gift of salvation in Christ is truly accepted through sincere faith the immediate result is always the new birth!
Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is therefore not I who lives but Christ lives in me.” According to Paul, the entire sinful humankind was in Christ and we all were crucified with or in Him and if we only accept this wonderful good news by faith we always experience the new birth, which means now Holy Spirit and Lord Jesus start dwelling in us enabling us to live a truly sanctified life.
Therefore, the gospel message popularised by mentioned above theologians and in the SDA Church, especially by Pastor Jack Sequeira (attacked by M Rodriguez) does not “separate God’s justifying act from the reception of the gift of the Spirit, or the new birth”!
VIOLATOR OF RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Unfortunately, Adventists who try to share either the message associated with the in Christ motif or His true incarnation often experience opposition or even hostility. One of them is Pastor Jack Sequeira who by the grace of God has been travelling all over America and the world proclaiming the good news of the gospel including its three most vital aspects (Christ’s experience of second death, His true incarnation and the universal salvation in Him). And during those years the SDA Biblical Research Institute (especially its former director – Angel Manuel Rodriguez) desperately tried to silence him. For example, on one occasion the pastor of the Spencerville SDA Church in Washington DC, who was Sequeira’s predecessor at the Capital Memorial Church (also Washington DC), asked him to be the main speaker at the annual Spencerville’s camp meeting because he wanted “his people to hear the true gospel”. The Spencerville Church, however, is attended by most of the GC brethren, including A. M. Rodrigues. Therefore, when everything was already arranged and elder Sequeira was supposed to be the main speaker at that camp meeting, Rodriguez, using his position, forced the Spencerville pastor to choose another speaker. When he asked for the reason, Rodriguez only explained he couldn’t allow Sequeira to speak there because he preached federalism. But when pastor Sequeira was told about that humiliating news and asked for a meeting with Rodriguez and the pastor of the Spencerville Church (to witness the conversation) Rodriguez refused to give him the opportunity to defend himself and his teachings.
It is true that we are not to allow heresies and false ideas to undermine the fundamental truths found in the Word of God but no one, including the leaders of the Church, has the right to threaten or deprive our pastors or members of the freedom of expressing their beliefs without proving that their ideas can’t be sustained by the Word of God. The Lord never gave leaders, pastors and men like A. M. Rodriguez authority to use their position in order to silence members because the ideas they try to share do not match their own preconceived understanding!
Using the authority of his position Angel M. Rodriguez committed the very same sin of the violation of religious freedom. He dared to deprive thousands of Adventists of the opportunity to hear the most wonderful message of the gospel of freedom that could had been presented to them by the SDA ordained Pastor (Jack Sequeira) who repeatedly risked his life while standing for the truth in Uganda under Idi Amin as well as in countries ruled by communist governments and religious leaders such as Abuna (patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church) who tried to kill pastor Sequeira for not submitting to his demand to refuse to hold an evangelistic crusade. As a result of that blessed and protected by God effort, seventy students were baptised and joined the Seventh Day Adventist Church.
Jack Sequeira
Pastor Sequeira’s Christian experience is blessed with numerous extraordinary stories proving God’s inspiration, guidance and protection while with regard` to Angel Manuel Rodriguez no such evidence is available.
When Apostle Paul was accused by false brothers (legalistic Judeo-Christians) of being a self-appointed apostle and proclaiming heresies, to prove he was called and guided by God Paul often denied those accusations by telling Christians how miraculously God protected him whenever he risked his life proclaiming the gospel. The same is true with regards to elder Sequeira who also risked his life while proclaiming the fully recovered everlasting gospel and was always protected by God.
Unfortunately, like two thousand years ago some Judaizers attacked Paul and the gospel he preached also today pastor Sequeira and the gospel he proclaims is opposed by some Adventists (modern Judaizers) such as Angel M. Rodriguez, Larry J. Kane, or Colin and Russell Standish.
CONCLUSION
Although it is still impossible to prove Angel M. Rodriguez is actually another Adventist Jesuit yet the evidence presented above is sufficient to assume that, like Froom and Anderson in the 1950s, he has been trying for a long time to keep Adventists away from studying and accepting the most important aspects of the fully recovered Gospel and he also attempts to change or modify certain Adventist doctrines and teachings in favour of papal Rome. Being aware of this we are not supposed to keep quiet, but I am sure the Lord expects us to stand for the truth by sharing this as well as other articles from this website with as many Sisters and Brothers as possible, praying at the same time and asking the Lord to stop the enemies from distorting His Truth and wounding His own Church.
Since articles by Angel M. Rodriguez and other authors, opposing the biblical “in Christ motif” and corporate salvation of the sinful world in Christ (known also as the “Universal Legal Justification”), are full of false accusations and lies, they should be removed from the BIR website as it represents the Seventh Day Adventist Church which was brought into existence by God, and God’s Church is not supposed to promote lies but pure truth!
We may not have much influence on Hartland as they are kind of separated from the Church (that is why they are a part of the ”independent miniseries”) but if we are true followers of Jesus and if we love His Truth and His wounded Church it should be our solemn duty to impose on GC and BRI, to finally acknowledge this obvious and glorious biblical fact of the corporate salvation of all sinners in Christ (as presented in the writings of Apostle Paul and mentioned above prominent theologians and preachers) and remove the misguiding, confusing and deceptive articles by Angel M. Rodriguez and others from BRI website, as they prevent honest believers from accepting the most beautiful and fully restored truth of the Gospel and thus delay the worldwide spiritual revival, outpouring of Holy Spirit in the latter rain and the return of our Lord.
The more of us study this most holy truth, understand its value, share with others, and fervently and continuously pray asking the Lord to convince the leaders about the most vital importance of these three glorious aspects of the Gospel the sooner they will make right decisions and the closer our Church will be to the final fulfilment of its mission.
“My message to you is this: No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth.” Special Testimonies” (Series B, No. 2, p. 15)
RELATED ARTICLES
In order to understand why Angel M. Rodriguez so strongly opposes the truth about the in Christ motif and the universal legal justification please read the rest of this article.
– FULLY RESTORED GOSPEL UNDER ATTACK >
– THEOLOGIANS ON CORPORATE SALVATION IN CHRIST >
– HISTORY OF THE CHANGED VIEW ON CHRIST’S HUMANITY IN THE SDA CHURCH >