I have never believed in compromise. In my personal opinion, no, my personal conviction, we have nothing to be ashamed of. This 3 angel's message and the doctrines that our church has come to believe from the Bible are solid and meaningful.

I just know that there are some incredible leaders in our colleges and yes even GC building. I know of thousands of evangelistic cammpaigns that loudly proclaim the 3 angel's messages which are coordinated both by the GC (yes by the GC), ASI, Amazing Facts (which by the way the evangelists are paid by the california conference) and various other conferences (and I could name them) which directly sponsor, coordinate, and hold many prophecy/doctrinal/relevant evangelistic series a year. I know of many thousands of lay run evangelistic series, even here in North America. I know of one conference alone that had 700 campaigns (both big and small, both in churches and in people's homes) in the last couple of years. (and no that isn't hear-say...it is confirmed first hand known fact). No they aren't the "Daniel and Revelation Seminars" with notebooks that we used to have but the content, the message, is the same. It is just more "old fashioned evangelism" preaching evagngelism than what we did in seminars with notebooks. And the evangelism is working. People are coming to know Jesus as their forever friend and are accepting the end time message for their lives.

I also, am a Seventh-day Adventist because of deep conviction, not because of what the leadership does or does not do. But I personally know leaders that I am very thankful exist and I know members and pastors who are on-fire for Jesus. I know of conferences who's entire goal in life is to reach others with the gospel...not to entertain themselves to death, but to truely reach others with the incredible unique message that God has given this church. This makes me excited. Yes, there are problems, but there are so many blessings and so much to be thankful for.

Yesterday I spoke to Dr. Beach about meeting the pope and the circumstances and events surrounding it. I asked him specifically about the above reference and he quite emphatically said he did not refer to or address the pope as "Holy Father".

Similar to that misquote, others continue to circulate the misinformation that he kissed the pope's ring, which is of course also untrue. Dr. Beach said it was quite significant that he greeted the pope simply with a handshake just as is customary for any ordinary man greeting another man.

As for the medallion, on similar equal terms of greeting, the pope likewise gave Dr. Beach a papal commemorative medallion customarily given to guests at such an audience with the pope. As Dr. Beach pointed out to me, if his giving the medallion to the pope is to be interpreted as a "wandering after the beast" than the pope must have been "wandering after" Dr. Beach and the Seventh-day Adventist Church that he was representing!


Tom

ROFL that last statement is simply too funny Tom!

This post exactly points out what I have always had a problem with websites or people or organizations or magazines that are critical of the SDA church. (And that can also be from secular sources.) Things are taken out of context, down right un-truths are spoken and then it becomes a huge issue for people to read or hear and believe as truth.

I don't think anyone on this website has tried to speak an untruth about this situation, they have simply taken what was printed or reported as the truth. That is why we must be slow to judge because since we weren't there we can't be sure what actually happened, and since we aren't Dr. Beach we can't be positive what his motiviations and thoughts were at the moment unless he were to tell us. I am grateful you had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Beach and get the true story on what happened. I think this should clear things up for many.

It figures... Some 'righteous idiot' wants to make mountains out of mole hills ah-gain...And we got a bunch of other 'small minded idiots' followers who want to believe in some conspiracy theorys who want to spread thier small mindedness around...

Lord, isn't there anything You can do with these vermin? They give Your church a bad name, promote paranoia and general distrust! Can't you just wire thier mouths shut? Or better yet, strike them mute?

I am sorry, Lord...I am a part of them....I can't control them, but I can control myself. And I will not say more about this....but Lord, the passion that I feel is enough to cause a stroke in me....Forgive my anger....Forgive my people....

Amen....

LOL Attendence at Catholic Churches and Cathedrals is at an all-time low, Europe is a very secular society, hardly anyone goes to church there anymore. Here in America - and all around the Western world, the Catholic church has a huge shortage of seminarians and ordained priests, and it is getting worse. Attendence at Catholic Universities and schools continues a steep decline. Yeah, they are certainly gaining in power. Meanwhile, the US continues to become more and more secular - which is great by me! BTW, the US has never been, nor will it ever be, a 'Christian' nation. It was established as a completely secular nation, always has been, no matter what revisionists try to imply otherwise.

In times of global crisis Maitreya will declare the world that the problems are caused by the Godless society. This will enforce political powers to restore religion. Demons will especially inform the political leaders with the keeping holy of sunday. Don t think that because the Catholic Church nowadays loses power and the US is becoming more secular, that this means the predictions of Ellen White will not come to pass...