The formation of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists took place in the year 1863. It was an effort put together by pioneers of the Seventh-day Adventists to establish church order.
What is the Church?
The church comprises of the whole family in heaven and earth, with Jesus Christ as our head. (Ephesians 3:10,14,15)
Ephesians 1:10
Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him.
The church of God below is one with the church of God above. Believers on the earth and the beings in heaven who have never fallen constitute one church. (6T 366)
What is God's end-time Church on earth?
The Laodicean church is the last of the 7 churches found in Revelation chapter 2 and 3. And since there is no more church mentioned after the Laodicean church, it would be considered God's end-time church.
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; Revelation 3:14
When did God's end-time Church came to be?
According to Sister Ellen White, in the year 1852. 11 years before the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists is formed.
Many who profess to be looking for the speedy coming of Christ, are becoming conformed to this world, and seek more earnestly the applause of those around them, than the approbation of God. They are cold and formal, like the nominal church, that they but a short time since separated from. The words addressed to the Laodicean Church, describe their present condition perfectly. See Revelation 3:14-20. They are “neither cold nor hot,” but “lukewarm.” And unless they heed the counsel of the “faithful and True Witness,” and zealously repent, and obtain “gold tried in the fire,” “white raiment,” and “eye-salve,” he will spue them out of his mouth. (Review & Herald, June 10, 1852)
As you can see, God's last day church on earth, the Laodicean church existed long before the General Conference is organized and will continue to exist when the General Conference is set aside by God.
What will happen?
God will set the Seventh-day Adventists in the order of Melchizedek. This order is independent of the General Conference. Thus saith the Lord: "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." (Jeremiah 3:15)
The pastors the Lord set up will be different from majority of the apostate pastors set up by the General Conference.
Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. (Jeremiah 12:10)
For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered. (Jeremiah 10:21)
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:1-2)
The General Conference
Since inception, the purpose of the General Conference is to set in order God's church on earth so that it reflects the church in heaven. However, through the numerous apostasies by the General Conference in these last days, God will take the organization of His church OUT OF the General Conference's hand and into His own hand.
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. 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.—Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 300 (1885).
The LARGEST MISQUOTE of General Conference
The most popular quote used by the General Conference to supports its infallibility is this: “The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out…” Selected Messages 2, p.380, (1886). However, as you can see clearly, the Laodicean church existed long before the General Conference is organized. Therefore, the General Conference cannot be described as the church that does not fall.
The RELEVANT quotes of General Conference
“It has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God.” (GCDB February 24, 1899)
At times, when a small group of men entrusted with the general management of the work have, in the name of the General Conference, sought to carry out unwise plans and to restrict God's work, I have said that I could no longer regard the voice of the General Conference, represented by these few men, as the voice of God. But this is not saying that the decisions of a General Conference composed of an assembly of duly appointed, representative men from all parts of the field should not be respected. God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority. The error that some are in danger of committing is in giving to the mind and judgment of one man, or of a small group of men, the full measure of authority and influence that God has vested in His church in the judgment and voice of the General Conference assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of His work. (9T 260)
That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be,—that is past. What we want now is a reorganization. We want to begin at the foundation, and to build upon a different principle. (GCB April 3, 1901)
The role of the Church
Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:27-28)
Under various circumstances, an individual is called by God to take up multiple roles. In the year 1863, the General Conference was established to play the role of church governance and helps. But government and helps that were once set up are not free from removal by God. Just as apostles and prophets are not infallible, the General Conference is not infallible neither, and it has fallen.
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