An Open Letter to Pastor Jan Marcussen

Please Note: As of the date this was submitted, no response had been received.

Dear Pastor Jan: May 2002

Greetings in the blessed name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have received and read your newsletters for many years. I have also passed out many of your National Sunday Law books. Undoubtedly they have helped many all around the world to see the significance of God’s holy Sabbath and to turn from Satan’s false sabbath. But I can’t help wonder pastor Jan, whether all your good work will be overshadowed by the erroneous and misleading message that you promote in your newsletters. What will the judgment show?

In the latest issue [Mid May Y2K + 2] you stated that “I am sending this letter to many thousands of SDAs in 67 countries around the world.” That is a lot of souls to be accountable for if the message you are giving is wrong. Oh yes, you do expose many of the wicked things that are going on in front of and behind the scenes. You are faithful in giving the warning, but there is more to it than that.

Just like you, many years ago, another man was faithfully warning the corporate, SDA church of his day. We read: “For seven years a man continued to go up and down the streets of Jerusalem , declaring the woes that were to come upon the city. By day and by night he chanted the wild dirge, "A voice from the east; a voice from the west; a voice from the four winds; a voice against Jerusalem and the temple; a voice against the bridegroom and the bride; and a voice against all the people." This strange being was imprisoned and scourged; but no complaint escaped his lips. To insult and abuse he answered only, "Woe to Jerusalem ! woe, woe to the inhabitants thereof!" His warning cry ceased not until he was slain in the siege he had foretold.” 4SOP:31,32.

This “woe, woe” man faithfully gave the warning for 7 years, and yet he was still slain in the end. Why? We have the answer in the very next paragraph: “Not one Christian perished in the destruction of Jerusalem . Christ had given his disciples warning, and all who believed his words watched for the promised sign. After the Romans had surrounded the city, they unexpectedly withdrew their forces, at a time when everything seemed favorable for an immediate attack. In the providence of God the promised signal was thus given to the waiting Christians, and without a moment's delay they fled to a place of safety,--the refuge city Pella , in the land of Perea , beyond Jordan .” Ibid: 32.

You see pastor Jan, as faithful as this man was in giving the warning, undoubtedly he with all the others that refused to flee––refused to separate “had no fear that Jerusalem would be destroyed, for it was God’s own city...To the last, multitudes held fast to the belief that the Most High would interpose for the defeat of their adversaries.” Ibid: 30,31. Even so today, pastor Jan, in nearly every one of your newsletters you make it a point to state that God’s world-wide

SDA church will soon be purified and cleansed, so there’s no need to literally separate, to flee. God is going to have a pure and holy church, but He is NOT going to cleanse the corporate, SDA denomination as you constantly state.

Any distinction you may make between the corporate denomination and God’s true remnant church is very blurred, for haven’t you told us that you hold membership in several [3 or 4?] conference churches? And even though you may advise people to go to those churches that are “preaching the truth,” do the tithes from those churches support the cause of truth, or serve to further the apostasy? “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matt.6:21. Also, what about their literature and study helps such as the quarterlies? Aren’t they all tainted with the heretical doctrines of the 27 Fundamental Beliefs which every SDA must submit to in order to remain a member in good and regular standing? And it cannot be denied that in just about every issue of your newsletters a reader mentions going back to, joining, or attending the local SDA church because of your book, and never once have you advised against it. You simply encourage all to remain with “God’s worldwide SDA church” because He’s going to prune and purify it.

Before we get back to get back to the cleansing of the church, because so little attention has been given to some small but exceedingly significant words, I must first let the dictionary define one of these words for us. The word is “from.” The dictionary defines it thusly” “from: prep. Indicating outward movement; indicating a point of departure.”

The reason I bring this up is because you refuse to follow or acknowledge the many plain and clear statements that tell us directly the opposite of what you are proclaiming. For example: “I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, "Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention." EW: 118. What things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention?––the selection or separation process, as we shall see. [More on this angel later.] [By the way, wheat from tares in not the same as chaff from wheat––that is what happens during the 2nd separation, the sifting process!]

You emphasize that God is going to cleanse and purify the church, but here we are plainly told that the third angel is to “select the wheat FROM the tares!” The wheat is removed and the tares remain where they are! But according to your teaching God is going to do just the opposite, cleanse the wickedness and sin and apostasy from around those who remain faithful––separate the tares from the wheat! Please, pastor Jan, please show me a “thus saith the Lord” for that. Please show me just one instance in the Bible or the Spirit of Prophecy where God has told any individual or any group to remain in the midst of sin and apostasy and He would cleanse it, purify it from around them.

The Bible tells us God always works the same way praise His name, because we know that we can count on that divine consistency. We can rely on His word and be assured that we are not subject to a fickle and changing God. But now you are preaching that He is going to act in a totally opposite way than He has ever acted before. The Bible tells us that God cannot lie. It tells us that He does not change. What message are you giving about God then when you maintain the position you have taken? Ever since God created the world He has worked on the same principle of literal separation––the light FROM the darkness, Abraham FROM Ur, Lot FROM Sodom, the sheep FROM the goats, the gold FROM the dross etc., and finally, the righteous FROM the wicked at the end of time.

In fact, directly contrary to what you, and others like you, [the Standish’s, the Rosenvold’s, Laurence Nelson, Ralph Larsen, Ron Spears, etc.] are preaching, we read: “There was a coming out, a decided separation from the wicked, an escape for life. So it was in the days of Noah; so with Lot; so with the disciples prior to the destruction of Jerusalem ; [so with the Reformers, and so with the pioneers of the Advent movement] and so it will be in the last days [now]. Again the voice of God is heard in a message of warning, bidding His people separate themselves from the prevailing iniquity...As in the days of Noah and Lot, there must be a marked separation from sin and sinners.” PP:166-7.

Has God changed His mind since He gave us this message through His messenger? From the time of Noah till the last days––now, we are told that not only will there be a coming out, a separation, but a decided and marked separation. The dictionary defines “decided” as thus: “de-cid-ed adj. Clearly marked, distinct, vigorous and determined.” And it defines “marked” thusly: “Marked adj. Noticeable.” [Leaving no doubt whatsoever!]

Pastor Jan, by influencing your readers to join with the corporate, SDA conference church, aren’t you in essence telling them to “come out of your apostasy into my apostasy––leave your Babylonian whore and come associate with my 8T:250 SDA harlot”? Can you give me any evidence that the corporate, SDA church has ceased to be a harlot? And how can anyone be associated with a defiled and defiling harlot and yet be one of the 144,000 who are “not defiled with women; for...These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.”?

And speaking of following the Lamb, we read these statements specifically concerning the SDA church: “But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel . Although many still continued the forms of religion, His power and presence were lacking.” 5T:210. In 8T:250 we read: “How is the faithful city become an harlot!' My Father's house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed!” And in 1SM:205 we read: “…but God being removed they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless.” My question to you pastor Jan is, again, can you give me any evidence that God’s presence has returned to the SDA denomination? If not, how then can the 144,000 remain within the corporate SDA church, and still follow the Lamb when the Lamb is not there?! And further pastor Jan, if God is not there, then how can that possibly still be His church? If God is not there, then WHO are the many still continuing the forms or religion worshipping, WHO are they praying to, and WHO is answering their prayers? Would you please give me a “thus saith the Lord” for your answers to these vital questions?

But going back to the 3rd angel that is to do the separating, let us let the words of inspiration clarify this issue for us as we read: “I was shown that the third angel, proclaiming the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, represents the people who receive this message and raise the voice of warning to the world..” 1T:76.

And again: “The angel represented in prophecy as delivering this message, symbolizes a class of faithful men, who, obedient to the promptings of God's Spirit and the teachings of his word, proclaim this warning to the inhabitants of earth. This message was not to be committed to the religious leaders of the people. They had failed to preserve their connection with God, and had refused the light from Heaven.” 4SP:177.

And once more: “No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order.” 2SM:387.

And what about the reapers? We read: “All the members of the church, as reapers in the great harvest field, are to be earnestly praying and diligently working. Not once should they think or speak of failure. They are not to rely on their human ability, but wholly on the divine agency.” ST:03/07/92

“We are not only to look upon the fields, be we are to reap, and gather fruits unto life eternal.” 3RH:327.

“And he will reveal his power through us, making us as sharp sickles in the harvest field.” 6RH: 02/14/99.

By the way pastor Jan, are you aware of these statements regarding the wheat and the tares, in light of those that are saying that we should beware lest we pull up the wheat with the tares because we cannot tell them apart? The Lord tells us: “The tares closely resembled the wheat while the blades were green; but when the field was white for the harvest, the worthless weeds bore no likeness to the wheat that bowed under the weight of its full, ripe heads. Sinners who make a pretension of piety mingle for a time with the true followers of Christ, and the semblance of Christianity is calculated to deceive many; but in the harvest of the world [at this very time] there will be no likeness between good and evil. Then those who have joined the church, but who have not joined Christ, will be manifest.” COL :74. That is why we are given the following words of admonition:

“The world is leagued against the truth, because it does not desire to obey the truth. Shall I who perceive the truth close my eyes and heart to its saving power because the world chooses darkness rather than light? Shall I bind myself up with the bundles of tares because my neighbors refuse to be bound up with the wheat? MR.14:21.

“Every one will reveal the character of the bundle with which he is binding himself. The wheat is being bound up for the heavenly garner. The true people of God are now bound up for the heavenly garner. The true people of God are now pulling apart, and the tares are being bound in bundles ready to burn. Decided positions will be taken.” 1888 Messages:995.

“Christ requires personal faithfulness of his servants, and we are to show that we have no fellowship with the secret, hidden things of darkness. The wheat is not to sow itself among the tares;” 4RH:01/10/93.

“Those who have sought an excuse to avoid the cross of separation from the world, will, with the world, be taken in the snare. They mingled with the tares from choice. Like drew to like in transgression. It is a fearful assimilation. Men choose to stand with the first rebel, who tempted Adam and Eve in Eden to disobey God. The tares multiply themselves, for they sow tares, and they have their part with the root of all sin--the devil.” TM:235.

Do you deny pastor Jan, that we are in the harvest process right now [it is a process, not an event, just as the atonement is a process rather than an event as the “New Theology” teaches]? If you do, then you are denying the very urgency in your own newsletters, and furthermore, if you read 2SM: 36, it states: “The things you have described as taking place in Indiana , the Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. And this is called the moving of the Holy Spirit...in camp meetings.” 2SM:36 This of course is the statement referring to the present Celebration activities which have been pointed out by many as occurring in the SDA church today, including yourself, and as SDA’s we know that immediately after probation closes the plagues will begin to fall, so then the term “just before the close of probation” is synonymous with the time just “before the plagues shall be poured out.”

Which connects us to another time indicator found in EW:261 which states: “I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out [today, “just before the close of probation”], ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth.” What else can explain the separation movement that is going on all around the world right now pastor Jan? Can you deny pastor Jan, in view of these inspired statements, that we are at the end of probationary time right now––the time of harvest, and that after probation closes the next event will be the falling of the plagues.? And yet you keep putting the cleansing of the church sometime in the future, when all around you the wheat is being separated FROM the tares, right now!

Another question pastor Jan. Please tell me which Spirit is it that compels an individual to separate from sin and apostasy and stand for unadulterated truth, righteousness and God’s honor? And which spirit is it that beckons one to remain within, or go back into a denominational entity that is in an ever-increasing apostate and sinful condition––a church that claims to have the authority to change fundamental doctrines and beliefs, that upholds the Church Manual above the Bible, that patterns itself after the papacy, and that seeks to intertwine itself with the Sunday-keeping churches of Babylon? Can that possibly be the same spirit, pastor?

Pastor Jan, I’m sure you’re familiar with 5T:211 that tells us that the 7 last plagues are going to fall on the SDA church first. If the church is going to be purified and only the righteous remain, then why are ALL the “men, maidens and little children” going to be slain? How can you then insist that anyone remain within that 5T:211 church? Are you familiar with the statement that says: “The angel is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated FROM sin and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and young.” 5T:505. Here we are clearly told that the sealing angel cannot place his mark upon any until they first separate from personal AND corporate sin––sin AND sinners.” Then the destroying angel follows to slay all the “Men, maidens, and little children” who have refused to separate––those who adamantly maintain that God is going to separate the tares from the wheat, never mind that inspiration and fact tell us that the wheat always separates FROM the tares. [“Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled.” 10MR:261.]

Pastor Jan, I would like to share this inspired statement with you that tells us what spirit is truly behind the idea that none should separate but should instead remain with the apostate, SDA organization. “I saw some who were not standing stiffly for present truth. Their knees were trembling, and their feet were sliding; because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they were thus trembling. Satan was trying his every art to hold them where they were, [within the apostate SDA church] until the sealing was past, and the covering drawn over God's people, and they left out, without a shelter from the burning wrath of God, in the seven last plagues. God has begun to draw this covering over his people, and it will very soon be drawn over all who are to have a shelter in the day of slaughter. God will work in power for his people; and Satan will be permitted to work also.” EW:44.

On the other hand we have the opposite statement that tells us what Spirit it is that is behind the call to separate, as we read: “I saw that God had honest children among the nominal Adventists, and the fallen churches, and ministers and people will yet be called out from these churches, before the plagues shall be poured out, and they will gladly embrace the truth. Satan knows this, and before the loud cry of the third angel, raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think God is with them. He hopes to deceive the honest, and lead them to think that God is still working for the churches. [“Don’t separate, this is God’s church––stay with the ship, the ship is going through.”] But the light will shine, and every one of the honest ones will leave the fallen churches, and take their stand with the remnant.” EW:261.

My final question pastor Jan. Do you resolve, by God’s grace, to henceforth faithfully bring your message into line with all of God’s truth––or are you determined to be no more than just another “woe, woe” man? What will the record show?

With deepest concern for your soul and those who are influenced by you,

Sincerely,

Clarence Settle