A Temcat study
“Saying,
Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name?
and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend
to bring this man's blood upon us.” Acts 5:28
What Could Have Been
After
much study of the Spirit of Prophecy, denominational history and other
history, one comes to see a picture that is truly amazing. This
picture is what we could have had—it is what God handed to us in a
basket as it were—but we didn’t want it!
Millennia ago, the
children of Israel made a similar choice. God had a plan for them. He
wanted to bring them out of Egypt, teach them about Himself, give them
the finest system of Government that any nation ever had, actually
having God as supreme authority—a truly infallible leader! He planned
to plant them as a shining light at the crossroads of the world in one
of the finest areas, a country of milk and honey, and wait—while the people of the world gradually saw what God was all about and
came marching in, begging to be taught and to become part of this
miracle nation.
But
when he marched them to the borders; lo and behold—they refused to go in! They had seen His power and His miracles—they
had heard His promise that He was about to drive the heathen out of
that land and they could just walk in and possess it. They would not
even have to fight at that point. But they would not go in and instead
began howling to high heaven that they were all about to be killed.
Forty
years later, their children and two of the original bunch did go into
the land. They were given very clear instructions; they were to have
nothing to do with the heathen. They were not to make any agreements
with them. They were not to learn their ways and they were not to have
anything to do with their gods or religion. They were not to settle
down in their ease until they had purged the entire area from all the
heathen. God had promised He would be with them and nothing could
stand up to them.
They
went part way, they drove out enough heathen to have a place to live
and then kept putting off finishing the job and going all the way with
God. Then someone got a great idea! Instead of going to all the bother
to drive out and destroy these nations, why not get them to pay money
to Israel and then the people could get rich from disobeying God?
God
told them, ‘Look, you are to be separate; you are to be entirely
different; you are not even to resemble the heathen in any way. I have
something far better for you.’ He also warned, that if they did not
listen, His plans to make them the head of the world would fall
through and instead—they would end up the tail. He warned that if they compromised even a
little—they would go on and on until they would be as wicked as the heathen,
or worse!
You
know the story—they were not in the land very long after having found a way to get
rich by taxing the heathen instead of destroying them—before they decided that the heathen ways were pretty good after all
and they wanted to do what the heathen did. So they did. Then came the
day—an angel showed up and told them that because they had chosen to
disobey God, He was withdrawing the special promise that He would help
them drive out the heathen—from henceforth the heathen would be a torment to them forever! The
special niche of time when they could have the Special Dream in its
fullness—had
passed away.
The
people wept—they did not want the Dream when it was offered, but now
they had lost it forever—they wept and brought offerings. Maybe they thought like the heathen
that they could buy back the promise—but they couldn’t. God is not a man, to be trifled
with.
Quickly
skimming through history we see them later deciding that they wanted
to be even more like the heathen—they didn’t want God to be the head and direct them—they wanted a human being, a king like the rest of the nations.
Then
after many centuries of war, trouble, ups and downs—we see them gathered in the courtyard of an enemy palace. The very God
they had rejected was standing there in the garb of humanity. They are
so determined to get Him out of their way that they shout, “Let this
man’s blood be on us and our children! We have no king but
Caesar!” Thus ended God’s Special Dream for that nation.
In
the 1800s, God called out a people. He had a Special Dream for them.
He wanted to give them something so unique, so remarkable that no
other people on earth would have anything like it. So he sent the
needed information through the Spirit of Prophecy. I am going to
describe as near as can be done what this Special Dream was to be. I
will have to tell it as if it really happened.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Starting
first with a few small buildings in a large tract of land in the
country, Adventists established a most remarkable educational center.
It was entirely self-supporting and was to train self-supporting
missionaries, who would in turn go out into the world and start other
small centers,
also in country settings where they could raise all their own
foodstuffs and have enough to sell and pay for what they could not
raise or make themselves. These centers were never to go into debt;
but rather were to grow only as fast as the means was in hand to be
used. Small industries producing worthwhile products would help to
support the centers and provide work experience for the students.
All
available practical skills were taught and students were expected to
learn a wide variety of occupations, by which they could find manual
labor to support themselves in mission work anywhere in the world.
Last but not least, they would all know the basics of agriculture,
accounting, household management, physiology, and cooking etc.
All these were taught in a setting of spiritual richness with
the Bible truths the center and foundation of all other studies.
The
usual classical studies and philosophies associated with the regular
colleges and universities of the world were not found here. All that
was taught had a practical purpose to it. The blessing of the Lord on
these centers was almost palpable and there was a peaceful joyousness
seldom encountered in the world these days. These schools turned out
some of the best equipped people ever seen—able to turn their hands
to almost any task needed. Like the missionaries from the island of
Iona centuries before, they were a blessing and benefit wherever they
would go.
Used
to simple and almost austere living standards, with faith and hard
work considered the greatest blessings, graduates could succeed in
establishing missionary centers in areas where people used to the soft
life would never venture.
Each
main educational center had a unique health institution called a ‘Sanitarium’,
where a special form of medicine was taught and practiced called
‘sanitary’ or ‘Hygienic Medicine.’ This system was drug free,
and used water and the simplest means to treat and heal the sick. It
also taught the patients how they could treat themselves in their own
homes for many if not most ailments. It also emphasized the Laws of
Health, which included proper diet, fresh air, exercise and sunshine
and other blessings and just how to use them to promote well being and
heal illness. No costly equipment was required and the system could be
adapted for all areas of the world.
Students
were all taught the unique methods by experienced instructors and they
put into practice what they were learning at the small sanitariums
found near each educational center. By the time they would leave the
centers, they had enough knowledge and practical experience to be able
to set up their own treatment rooms, sanitariums or schools elsewhere.
Patients
flocked to these centers, because finally they had discovered a source
of help that was not only simple and reasonable in cost, but really
gave results! It was like nothing ever seen on earth before! Using
water treatments, massage, a few of the simplest remedies such as
powdered charcoal and common garden herbs, along with a vegetarian
diet, people went home cured—even many that came in having been told they were hopeless by the
regular doctors.
Early
in the new 20th century; when the huge chemical barons set up
organizations to try and bring all medicine under their system of
allopathic drug use and surgery, the Hygienic system had been able to
obtain a special charter as a unique form of therapy. And so, along
side of Osteopaths and Chiropractors, they have the ability to train,
license and self-govern their own training schools and Sanitariums,
and grant the title of Dr. of Hygienic Medicine, Hygienic Medical
assistant, and Hygienic Nurse.
This
was not particularly difficult because the dramatic success of these
methods and the low cost and self-supporting nature of the centers,
made them very desirable for any government to have them in their
midst.
All
over the world the name Seventh-day Adventist was associated with
these helpful centers where the afflicted could find help for their
problems. Even most churches operated small treatment rooms to serve
the community and teach nutrition, home health care and God’s laws
of health to all who were interested. Thousands with more severe
problems would spend some time at the country sanitariums with very
good results.
The
missionary character of these people and the advanced practical nature
of their education, result in few of them having any problem to obtain
employment. Most are involved in their own self-supporting health or
educational centers. Wherever they go into foreign lands these
resourceful people are welcomed for the special skills for which they
are world famous.
Although
Allopathic medicine under the auspices of the AMA has done its best to
encourage the use of drugs and surgery as the only sensible way to
treat sickness—still many people opt out for the friendly atmosphere, reasonable
cost, and simplicity of the Adventist Hygienic System. The very high
level of success the Sanitariums have in treating, even cases declared
hopeless by the Regular system, has Allopathic doctors and surgeons
shaking their heads in amazement.
The
willingness of these people to be of service to their fellow man and
to teach their unique form of health care to all who wish to learn,
has made them much respected—even though some feel their religious standings are rather strange.
The way they truly practice what they claim to believe in, has won
many to their faith and the Adventists have churches and
health-educational centers in most countries today.
Although
they have no very large or showy centers and have a surprising simple
system of organization with local directors free to make almost all
decisions, their overall impact on the world cannot be measured. When
asked how they ever learned their incredible systems of Health and
Education, they are quick to respond, “It was a gift from the Lord,
through His special messenger for these last days! God has richly
blessed us because we have followed His guidance.”
Because
they are entirely self-supporting and neither receive any moneys from
government nor ask for any for either their schools or health centers,
Adventists have an independence from government interference that is
the envy of many larger organizations.
Debt
is almost entirely unheard of among them—either privately or institutionally and although they
are not rich people, rather content to keep to themselves, live
plainly, and serve wherever needed, their country life-styles afford a
high quality of life. Because they also practice what they teach about
health, the common diseases that plague mankind are almost unknown
among them.
Anyone
investigating the amazing simplicity and wisdom of the Adventist
system has to admit, “Surely this great nation is a wise and
understanding people.” Deuteronomy 4:6.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In
ancient Israel the rejection of God’s Special Dream resulted in much
suffering and oppression. Thinking they knew a better way than God by
trying to get rich by disobedience, they ended up grievously oppressed
by the very heathen nations they admired and wanted to be like.
The
oppression and burdens pressed upon them and the yoke was galling and
heavy. How much loss and suffering resulted—only the omnipotent God of Heaven can calculate!
Finally at the end, the special knowledge God had given them was
almost unknown and people thought that what they saw before them—was what God had wanted for them.
Even
the disciples came to Jesus to point out the wonders of the Roman
subsidized and controlled temple and religious structure. Solemnly He
told them, “Not one stone will be left upon another!” So sure were
they that all was well, they had no concept of how soon this would
actually happen.
How
much suffering and distress has been caused by Adventists rejecting God’s
Special Dream only the omnipotent God of Heaven can calculate! Now
among us only a few know what was meant to be—the bits of special
knowledge that have survived are so mixed with so called worldly
‘wisdom’—that it bears no semblance to the unique system we
were to practice. Our people think our hospitals and doctors are
‘special’—but
they are mirror images of the world and dare be nothing else or they
will loose their license.
Our
worldly imitating schools and hospitals are chained to associates,
linked to other denominations, controlled by worldly mixed boards,
harnessed by government demands, staffed by many non-Adventists,
threatened by unions, and smothered by an incredible load of debt—that well may drag the whole church down with it
someday soon.
Struggling
to meet demands of worldly accreditation boards, our systems are not
thousands in debt, not millions, but billions in debt. And why should
they cumber the ground? They are not in the tiniest sense fulfilling
what God really gave us to do any more than the Greek and Roman
corrupted Sanhedrin was God’s plan for Israel!
Jesus
made an interesting and solemn statement; “Then came his disciples,
and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended,
after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant,
which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let
them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead
the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” Matthew 15:12-14.
When
our leaders decided that they would have the ‘best the world could
offer’ instead of God’s Special Dream, they chose slavery,
suffering and oppression instead of beauty and freedom that God was
offering them. Why? We may well ask. For one thing, they were sure
they knew better than God. Most still think so as they try and
convince you that this monster that has been sucking the means meant
to evangelize the world is actually what God intended. We should not
add sin to sin, by claiming we have followed the Dream and what is
there today is what the Lord wanted us to have—It just is not so!
God
was giving them something unique, which would have made them the envy
of the world. Potentates would have beaten a path to our doors and we
would have been a wonder on the face of the earth. But there was
something it would not have given; it would not have given the massive
incomes, the worldly degrees, the haughty pride of status, and the
kingly rule over the little guy. It would not have satisfied the
proud, disobedient heart of the unconverted among us. But they could
have left and sought what they wanted out in the world and the
truehearted would have been freed of their blighting company.
God’s
simple, natural way of treatment is life and health to all who find
it. The world’s method of drugs and surgeries, which has now been
imposed on all people because of the incredible power of the chemical
barons, is cruel! People, who are victims of disease brought about by
the breaking of the laws of health, suffer wretchedly and die—when God’s special methods could have restored them
to health and their voices instead of expressing curses and groans of
misery would have been lifted in praise to our great and merciful
Saviour!
Health
cannot be restored by poisoning our bodies with drugs. Health cannot
be purchased in a bottle. Health is found by drawing near to the Life-giver, learning His ways, obeying in His strength His Laws,
whether moral or physical.
This
is the fact that seems almost unknown among men today; the fact that
the system of medicine the world uses now—and is often forced on us—is not there because it has been proven best and most effective! Oh
no! It is there because the money and power of the chemical barons was
behind the accreditation boards, the Carnegie foundation, and the AMA,
and they were used to force natural healers out of business and impose
themselves in their place.
Many
perfectly practical colleges of natural healing went down because they
could not or would not comply with the demand to promote and develop
chemical medicine. The survivors were not there because they were
best; but because they would make the most profit for the chemical
barons.
Look
at it this way—if I have five dogs and I feed two of them and beat
and starve the rest, after a while only the two will survive—but that does not mean they are the best dogs. It does not mean that
the dead dogs were not just as worthy.
No
group that refused to promote drug medicine and do massive research to
develop it, was going to be allowed to exist. But there was a window
of opportunity and God opened it and tried everything short of force
to get us to go through it. We could have made our own rules! The AMA
would never have got its hooks into us! Some groups seized the
opportunity and went through, but not us. We chose to spend the time
following the AMA around, begging to be allowed in. Even they could
not understand it!
The
time passed, the monster grew in power; the chains were fastened in
place and the Dream faded away. No angel came to announce it was too
late, but once when a group of our leaders, in trouble from going
contrary to what God had directed, went to consult with the prophet—she solemnly left the room in silence—and
closed the door behind her.
The
oppressive power of the drug industry and corruption that goes with it
grows daily. God’s Dream would have given the people of the world an
alternative whereby they could escape into a haven of rest from the
misery of this dying planet. The chemical barons could not have
fastened their chains as tightly upon the masses if we would have been
there, showing the people a way out! Oh, there
would always be plenty who would choose the fancy chemical medicine,
because there are many that will not accept any restrictions on their
indulgences; but it was not our business to ever supply it to them!
The
Special Dream can never be what it could have been; but individually,
those who are willing to turn to the Lord and follow His ways with an
undivided heart and no compromise can still see His blessing in their
lives. If they will reach out to learn His ways and use them to serve
others—He will bless their efforts with success.
God
does not change—he
told us we were not to teach and practice drug medicine. He meant what
He said. Friends don’t you see? He told us that because it is inferior
to what he gave us! He did not want to take a good thing from us and
force us into second-rate status just to be arbitrary. He was giving
us the very best—and
it is still the
very best!
It
is not easy today to learn the Special Dream as it long ago ceased to
be taught among us in any purity and much knowledge and skill has been
lost. The early programs in our medical school were all forced out
decades ago by the accreditation boards. But information is available.
For example—Harvestime
Books sells a Natural Health Encyclopedia, and a Medical Missionary Manual, and Leaves of Autumn
reprints valuable textbooks. Those who truly chose to redeem the past
will be helped and guided by the Holy Spirit. God is waiting for us to
do His will using only His methods.
“Thus
saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old
paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest
for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set
watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But
they said, We will not hearken.” Jeremiah 6:16,17
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