Do you see how Pastor Adams is leading his readers to a wrong conclusion to cause them to reject the SRod? He quoted the Bible that says there is "blasphemy" upon the "seven heads" (Rev. 13:1); then he quoted the SRod that says the seventh head is the Seventh-day Adventist church; then he quoted Sis. White who said the Seventh-day Adventist church is not Babylon; and then he wrote that "blasphemy" and "Babylon" are "similar" to imply that the SRod teaches the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon! And yet, he produced no statement from the SRod which teaches this as a fact. Instead, the SRod teaches exactly the opposite; because it is not written anywhere in the its literature, nor do the Davidians teach that the church is Babylon, as noted in the following SRod quotations:

"The reason that the {Seventh-day Adventist} church is figuratively not 'Babylon' is that it is called Jerusalem (Ezek. 9:4, 8), and from among the good therein, the wicked (the tares) are destroyed {by the slaughtering angels in Ezek. 9}."--3 Tract, pg. 71:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Furthermore, for them {Seventh-day Adventists} to persist in accusing us {Davidians} of calling the church Babylon, when they know all too well that we not only cannot be driven from the denomination, thus proving that we do not call it Babylon, but also that our every publication proves that it cannot be Babylon,--thus for them to persist in this accusation is to engage themselves in misrepresenting us to the people and tempting us to commit wrong--leave the denomination."--7 Tract, pg. 57:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"The Seventh-day Adventist church may be in an even worse condition,--so much worse, in fact, that she does not even know that she is 'wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked' (Rev. 3:17); yet in spite of it all, she is called 'Laodicea,' not Babylon."--4 Answerer Book, pg. 79:1 (bold emphasis added).

"As for their charge that the 'Rod' teaches that the church is Babylon, we challenge them {Seventh-day Adventists} to produce the statement. And if they do not know what Babylon is, then they better read 'The Shepherd's Rod.'"--1 Timely Greetings, No. 3, pg. 10:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

The fact that the SRod does not teach the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon, and the fact that Pastor Adams could not find any such statement in the SRod, proves that he is using Seventh-day Adventist tradition as a false accusation against the message of the SRod to cause the readers of his brochure to refuse to study with the Davidians.

Did you note that Pastor Adams is not comparing two doctrines and then leaving the reader to choose what is right and wrong, as he said he would do. Instead, he inserted above his false accusation that the Davidians are doing the work of Satan by charging that the Seventh-day Adventist church is Babylon. That means his untrue allegation is founded upon Seventh-day Adventist tradition, not according to the "law and the testimony;" because he does not prove what "blasphemy" really means, nor does he want his readers to know its meaning. Instead, he wants his readers to believe that there is a similarity between the words "blasphemy" and "Babylon," so that he can say they mean the same.

Yet, he gives absolutely no proof whatsoever that they are synonymous in meaning. Therefore, it will be necessary to learn what "blasphemy" really means, according "to the law and to the testimony" (Isa. 8:20); because we already know that "Babylon" means the fallen "Protestant churches...Babylon--confusion" (G.C. 383:1. Webster's Dictionary does not say that the word "blasphemy" means Babylon. Instead, it says it is "the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God;" which does not describe the saints, but only those professed Christians who are hypocrites! And here is what the Bible says the word "blaspheme" means as the SRod noted:

"To blaspheme is for one to speak lightly of God, to work hypocrisy, to profess to be something other than what one actually is. Inspiration's definition is this: '...I know the blasphemy of them {hypocrites, not the saints} which say they are Jews {Christians}, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.' Rev. 2:9."--2 Timely Greetings, No. 18, pg. 17 (bold emphasis, braces added).

It was Jesus who spoke these words (Rev. 2:9) through His prophet John. Therefore, the "Jews" whom He spoke of can only be those who joined the Christian church; but were not true Christian Jews. Instead, they were hypocrites, which is "blasphemy"! Today, Jesus depicts the Christian churches as "seven heads" on the leopard-like beast (Rev. 13:1). They are:

(1) The wounded head (papacy).

(2) The 5 fallen Protestant Churches (heads) of Babylon.

(3) And Laodicea, the seventh and last head, which represents the Seventh-day Adventist church!

All heads alike have the "name of blasphemy" over them; which means that the hypocrites in their midst, as the dictionary says, are "insulting" God and "showing contempt" to Him. And there is not one of these heads (churches)--Catholics or Protestants, that can boast they have no hypocrites in their membership who do not blaspheme God's name; especially in the Seventh-day Adventist church! This fact proves irrefutably that "blasphemy" upon the seven heads does not mean they are all "Babylon;" instead, it means that all of these Christian churches have members who are hypocrites, which blasphemes God! Surely, Pastor Adams knows that every Seventh-day Adventist church has their hypocrites; so he must admit that Jesus knows this fact, and that is why He put "blasphemy" upon all "seven heads" (Rev. 13:1).

So why has Pastor Adams invented the idea that "blasphemy" means "Babylon"? Because he wants the readers of his brochure to believe that the Davidians teach the Seventh-day Adventist church (seventh head) is Babylon, to make it appear that they teach error. His object, of course, is to prejudice their minds against the SRod so they will not investigate its message! And since the word "blasphemy" does not mean "Babylon," then there is "no light" (Isa. 8:20) in what Pastor Adams is teaching in his brochure about this subject. It is, therefore, not only hypocritical blasphemy, but worthless tradition as well!

Now do you see why John the Revelator was inspired of the Lord to put the "name of blasphemy" (Rev. 13:1) not only upon the wounded "head"--the papacy, as well as upon the five protestant "heads" of the churches of Babylon, but also upon the seventh and last "head" of Laodicea? because the remnant church of Seventh-day Adventists have many hypocrites in their midst who blaspheme God?

Pastor Adams abuses the quotation above to make his readers believe the entire "first beast" is the papacy; because he ignores the sentence above his quotation. It says the "first beast" (Rev. 13:12) is the "nations represented by the...leopard-like" (G.C. 445:2); it is the world today ruled by "ten horns"--Protestant "Nations" (G.C. 442:1). Thus, only its wounded "head" (Rev. 13:3) can be the papacy. The six unwounded heads are the Protestant Churches led by Luther in protest against the papacy. It broke his power and separated these churches from the Protestant Nations. The leading nation today is another power--Protestant America.

America today is the beast with two horns (Rev. 13:11) who is leading out today to enforce "some observance" (Sunday) as an "act of homage to the papacy." And since Catholics have always worshiped the pope on Sunday, which has always been an "act of homage" to the papacy, then they do not need a law to enforce Sunday worship. Thus, the obvious reason for the Sunday law is not only to enforce worship, but also to stop commercialism and other activities on that day by unbelievers; such as the heathens, athiests, infidels, Mohammedans, Buddists, Hindus, Israelies, Protestants, etc., in the Catholic countries! And this is what the Protestants will do in the Christian countries. This is also the purpose of the New World Order even now in the year 2000--to unite the churches with the states into a world-wide confederacy. But Pastor Adams wants his readers to believe that the papacy symbolizes the entire leopard-like beast; and that he will gain control of America and the entire world, to enforce a Sunday law as an "act of homage to the papacy."

Instead, the pope can only force all Catholics and other peoples under their domination to keep Sunday; while America and the Protestant Nations will force all Protestants and other peoples under their domination to do the same. And then all the countries of the free world will be forced to submit their sovreigntry to the New World Order, who will force everyone to keep Sunday--an "act of homage to the papacy." But this "homage" does not mean that the papacy is to rule the entire world through this power. Instead, the papacy must submit with the others to be ruled by the New World Order, whose obvious purpose is to unite together to protect themselves from Communism. During this time America leads out to set it up. Later, America will again lead out to set up the image of the beast.

"The professed Protestant world {with America as the leader} will form a confederacy with the man of sin {papacy}, and the church {apostate Protestantism} and the world will be in corrupt harmony."--7A Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, pg. 975:2. (bold emphasis, braces added).

It will be the Protestant world, with America leading out, that makes the image of the beast, not the papacy; otherwise the papacy would lead out. That is the reason why Sis. E. G. White stated that America, not the papacy, will lead out; and not only spiritualism and Catholicism, but all the countries will follow "her example," as noted below:

"As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false sabbath {Sunday}, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her {America's} example."--6 Testimonies, pg. 18:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States {of America, not the example of the papacy}. Though she leads out, yet the same crises will come upon our people in all parts of the world."--6 Testimonies, pg. 395:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"When the nation {of the United States of America} for which God has worked in such a marvelous manner, and over which He has spread the shield of Omnipotence, abandons Protestant principles, and through its legislature {by enacting a Sunday blue law} gives countenance and support to Romanism in limiting religious liberty, then God will work in His own power for His people that are true."--Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 206:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Pastor Adams is trying to make his readers believe that Sis. White's statement above supports his traditional teachings that the entire leopard-like beast is "--the papacy." But he can't do this because her previous statement on pg. 442 (which he ignored) stated this irrefutable fact: "the nations represented by the dragon and the leopard-like beast" (Rev. 13:1)! These "nations" with "ten horns," having "crowns" of authority, and the churches (six heads) are Protestant. Thus, the only part left of the leopard-like beast that can refer to the papacy is the wounded "head" (Rev. 13:3). This "deadly wound" is proof that the church state confederacy of the Dark Ages was broken. That is, Luther's reformation caused the papacy (wounded head) to be separated from the other six "heads" and "ten horns."

So if we were to "study the characteristics of the beast" concerning "--the papacy" with a "deadly wound" to be "healed" (Rev. 13:3), it would show what the image is like after the wound is healed--another church state confederacy to arise--the New World Order! But it will not be ruled by "--the papacy;" instead, Protestant America will work to unite Catholics with spiritualism (5 Test. 451:1), to be ruled together by the New World Order. And since Seventh-day Adventists know the "deadly wound was healed" in 1929, and since they know America is leading out to set up a church-state confederacy--the New World Order, then this is what their study of this leopard-like beast (the "nations") would reveal to them concerning "--the papacy."

Pastor Adams teaches more Seventh-day Adventist tradition, which leads his readers to a wrong conclusion; because he quotes Sis. White's statement above that says the "beast...represents the papacy" (G.C. 443:2), while he ignores her other previous statement which says the "nations {are} represented by the...leopard-like beast" (G.C. 442:1). Perhaps he has not read this statement. But if he has, it's obvious that he wants his readers kept ignorant of it; so they will believe the entire leopard-like beast is the papacy, and also believe that this error is pure Seventh-day Adventist doctrine.

True and faithful Seventh-day Adventists, however, have the Testimonies of Sis. E. G. White as their guide, not worthless tradition. Therefore, they know that "the papacy" is only the wounded "head" (Rev. 13:3), while the "ten horns" on the leopard-like beast represents the "nations." These horns have "crowns" (Rev. 13:1) of authority, which represents the Protestant Nations ruling the people of the world and the churches (12 Tr 23:0). And that's because the papal "head" had previously received a "deadly wound" (Rev. 13:3) by Luther's Reformation, which raised up the Protestant Churches (six heads) and strengthened the Protestant Nations (ten horns) to break away. This ended the power of Papal Rome in 1798, and these "nations" (G.C. 442:1) have been independent of these churches to this very day (year 2000). And that is why they have "crowns" of authority and the churches do not. To ignore this fact would not only make Sis. White teach Pastor Adams' tradition--that the entire leopard-like beast is "the papacy," but it would also discredit her and say that the papacy never did fall in 1798; that he never received a "deadly wound;" and that the Protestant Nations of today do not have "crowns" of authority over the churches!

Pastor Adam stated above that the papacy received his "deadly wound" in 1798 when he was taken captive by Berthier and died. But the papacy was inflicted with a "deadly wound" by Luther about 1500, which continued to weaken the power of the papacy. It was this infliction that "pointed to the downfall of the papacy" in 1798, because he had no power to resist Berthier the French General who took him captive in that year. And this fact proves that without Luther's reformatory infliction in about 1500, the pope would not have died in captivity in 1798! Read where he said so:

"I {Luther} will preach, discuss, and write; but I will constrain none, for faith is a voluntary act. See what I have done. I stood up against the pope, indulgences, and papists, but without violence or tumult. I put forward God's word {the just shall live by faith--Rom. 1:17}; I preached and wrote--this was all I did. And yet while I was asleep,...the word that I had preached overthrew popery {not Berthier} so that neither prince nor emperor {Napoleon's general} has done it so much harm. And yet I did nothing; the word alone did it all."--Great Controversy, pg. 190:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

Surely Pastor Adams has read that God's word, "the just shall live by faith," is the truth that inflicted the "deadly wound" to the papal "head" (Rev. 13:3), by what Luther preached. He wrote "the word that I had preached overthrew popery," and "the word alone did it all."  By these words he gave God's word the credit for the infliction, not Berthier; because Luther said that "neither prince nor emperor has done it so much harm"! These facts cannot be denied by what other Seventh-day Adventists teach; or by Pastor Adams' tradition. Neither Berthier or any other state power could have done anything to the papacy if Luther had not preached the word to inflict him with a "deadly wound." This is the truth which the SRod teaches, and it cannot be controverted by Pastor Adams or anyone else. To teach otherwise, is to teach worthless tradition!

Now read how Pastor Adams joined the two statements above to make them ignore Luther's infliction: "the infliction of the deadly wound points to the downfall of the papacy in 1798" (G.C. 759); "at that time, the pope...received its deadly wound" (G.C. 439). Thus, he gives credit for the infliction to a man, Berthier the French general, rather than to the word of God through the reformation of Martin Luther. To do this, though, he had to leave off part of what Jesus' "testimony" stated through Sis. White, which has been underlined: "the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was fulfilled, 'He that leadeth in captivity shall go into captivity'." You see what he did? He put a period in place of a comma, and left off the rest of the sentence about the pope's captivity, to deceive his readers into believing that this was all Jesus said about it.

And how did Pastor Adams get away with this for so many years? By creating prejudice in the minds of the readers of his brochure, so that they would not investigate the message of the SRod, and see where he manipulated and misapplied her writings. This proves, of course, that his misquoting her writings was a deliberate attempt to change her meaning in the minds of his readers to fit his false doctrines and worthless traditions! Thus, the truth proves that when God led Martin Luther to teach the truth which inflicted the papacy with a deadly wound (G.C. 190) in 1500, its divine purpose was to weaken the power of the papacy, so that he would finally fall at the dissolution of his church state confederacy at the end of the 1260 years in 1798, as Daniel predicted (Dan. 7:25).

Therefore, as long as the papacy continued in power from 1500 up to the end of the 1260 years (Dan. 7:25), he could not fully receive Luther's deadly wound until 1798, at which time Berthier was sent there to take him captive. These facts prove that this is what Sis. White meant when she wrote (3rd paragraph above): "the papal power received its deadly wound" (G.C. 439); but not because Berthier took the pope captive in 1798, but because Luther's reformation in 1500 had already inflicted the papacy with a deadly wound! This means that when the captivity of the Christians by the papacy had ended in 1798, then they were freed from captivity, while the papacy went into captivity. And Berthier was there, not to inflict a deadly wound, but to take the pope captive which fulfilled John's prediction, as Sis. White stated above (G.C. 439), regarding the captivity of the Christians for 1260 years: "He {the pope} that leadeth {Christians} into captivity shall go into captivity" (Rev. 13:10). It is this truth that the message of The Shepherd's Rod defends, as is stated below:

"This statement {G.C. 439} says that verse 10 of Revelation 13 ('He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity'), and not verse 3 ('wounded to death'), was fulfilled in 1798! An interpretation other than this cannot be made without disregarding all the aforequoted statements on the subject. The Bible, moreover, plainly shows that the taking of the pope captive was not what inflicted the wound, for whereas the pope never recovered from his captivity {in 1798}, but died in it, the 'head' {Catholic Church} did recover from its wound {began to be healed in 1929--Rev. 13:3}, and lived."--7 Tract, pg. 36:1 (bold emphasis, braces added).

"Still further, John saw {in Revelation 13} the event of verse 3 (the wounding of the head) take place before the one of verse 10 (the taking captive of the pope). The wound to the head, therefore, represents the blow as inflicted by the Protestant Reformation {started by Luther, not by Berthier}."--7 Tract, pg. 36:2 (bold emphasis, braces added).

It is very obvious that Pastor Adams left off part of Sis. White's words not only to justify the traditions of the Seventh-day Adventist leaders (that Berthier, not Luther, inflicted the wound), but also to deceive the readers of his brochure and discredit the message of The Shepherd's Rod! The above irrefutable facts prove, therefore, that what the SRod teaches is not an assertion, but the truth. It also proves conclusively that what Pastor Adams is teaching is nothing but pure assertions based on worthless traditions, not the truth!