I recently watched a video where a man I deeply respect—and who has been mightily used by God—reapplied to the future the old Millerite 2520 prediction (found on the 1843 Millerite chart), the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9:24-27, the 1335-year prophecy in Daniel 12:12, and the 42-month prophecy of Revelation 13:5. Then he asserted that the final seven-year countdown to the Second Coming may start this fall.

He wasn’t positive, but said it was “probable.”

After watching his video, I knelt down and prayed for this man.

In these closing hours of earth’s history, when every satanic wind of doctrine is blowing, one of the most valuable lessons God has taught me is the importance of sticking with solid Bible truth and avoiding speculation. Notice this carefully:

Amidst the confusing cries, “Lo, here is Christ! lo, there is Christ!” [Matthew 24:23] will be borne a special testimony, a special message of truth appropriate for this time, which message is to be received, believed, and acted upon. It is the truth, not fanciful ideas, that is efficacious. The eternal truth of the Word will stand forth free from all seductive errors and spiritualistic interpretations, free from all fancifully drawn, alluring pictures. Falsehoods will be urged upon the attention of God’s people, but the truth is to stand clothed in its beautiful, pure garments as the Spirit of truth. The Word, precious in its holy, uplifting influences, is not to be degraded to a level with common, ordinary matters. It is always to remain uncontaminated by the fallacies that Satan fabricates to deceive, if possible, the very elect (SDA Bible Commentary Vol. 7A, p. 428).

Here we are warned against “fanciful ideas,” “seductive errors,” “fancifully drawn, alluring pictures,” and “fallacies that Satan fabricates to deceive, if possible, the very elect.” In contrast, the safe path is revealed as “The eternal truth of the Word.” “It is written,” was Jesus Christ’s weapon against the Prince of Lies.

In addition, we are also warned against speculation:

Satan is constantly at work to divert the mind into wrong channels, so that the truth may lose its force upon the heart. And unless ministers and people practice the truth and are sanctified by it, they will allow speculation regarding questions of no vital importance to occupy the mind. This will lead to caviling and strife; for countless points of difference will arise (Gospel Workers, p. 312 (emphasis added).

One online dictionary defines “speculation” as: “the forming of a theory or conjecture without firm evidence.”

Today, many ideas are being urged upon God’s people that are often called “new light.” At first glance, these theories may look correct. What makes things more confusing is that the advocates of these views are often firm believers in the Advent message. They also make use of inspired quotes—one here, one there, and then another. Their conclusions often appear to be based on “evidence.” But upon closer analysis, what is lacking is “firm evidence.” In a nutshell, there’s something ‘iffy’ about their interpretations and conclusions. Something isn’t quite right, impresses the Spirit of God.

We must learn to discern that still small voice.

This next quote is very plain, with no iffy-ness about it:

In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import—the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention (9T, 19 (emphasis added).

Here the Lord’s messenger declares that “Seventh-day Adventists” have been “entrusted” by God Almighty with “the last warning for a perishing world.” That last warning is found in “the word of God”—in Revelation 14:6-12—not the speculations of men. God Himself has given us “a work of the most solemn import,” which is “the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages.” There is “no other work” of such magnitude. This should be our focus. We should “allow nothing else to absorb [our] attention.”

“Nothing else” means exactly that. Let me stress this again: “Nothing else.”

We are to notify the world that “the hour of His judgment is come” (14:7), about the importance of worshiping our marvellous Maker, that Babylon has fallen (14:8), about the beast, its image, and its deadly mark (14:9), and about the coming wrath of God (14:10,11), with our ultimate focus being the development of a godly people that “keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus” (14:12). The only way this people can be developed is through “the everlasting gospel” (14:6) or Good News of Jesus Christ’s love, atoning death for our sins, resurrection from the dead, and transforming grace. This should be our focus. If Satan can divert or distract us from this high and holy mission, we will prove unfaithful to Him who has called us.

Back to reapplying time prophecies and date-setting. In the last few years, I have received many emails, documents, and links from sincere Adventists that include many EGW quotes. Such information often stresses how important it is that I accept the reapplication of past time prophecies to the future. But there are two primary reasons why I always steer clear from delving deeply into that information.

1) I realize that if I accept these earnestly advocated views, and begin to teach them myself, that I will be diverted from my primary mission of spreading the three angels’ messages. Remember, “nothing else” must absorb my attention. Nothing.

2) While there are some EGW statements that seem to suggest the possibility of reapplying some of the past fulfilled time prophecies of Daniel and Revelation to the future, there are many other very plain statements that clearly warn against doing this. Many of these quotes are conveniently located within the pages of one book—Last Day Events, in Chapter 3, entitled, “When Shall These Things Be?”

Before you read these quotes listed below (all from Last Day Events), I encourage you to say a prayer that God will open your heart and impress you by His Holy Spirit with His inspired counsel. These quotes are very clear and convicting. If we ignore this counsel, we do so at our own peril.

We are not of that class who define the exact period of time that shall elapse before the coming of Jesus the second time with power and great glory. Some have set a time, and when that has passed, their presumptuous spirits have not accepted rebuke, but they have set another and another time. But many successive failures have stamped them as false prophets. P. 34
God gives no man a message that it will be five years or ten years or twenty years before this earth's history shall close. He would not give any living being an excuse for delaying the preparation for His appearing. He would have no one say, as did the unfaithful servant, “My lord delayeth his coming,” for this leads to reckless neglect of the opportunities and privileges given to prepare us for that great day. P. 34 (emphasis added)
Because the times repeatedly set have passed, the world is in a more decided state of unbelief than before in regard to the near advent of Christ. They look upon the failures of the time-setters with disgust, and because men have been so deceived, they turn from the truth substantiated by the Word of God that the end of all things is at hand. P. 34 (emphasis added)
I understand that Brother [E. P.] Daniels has, as it were, set time, stating that the Lord will come within five years. Now I hope the impression will not go abroad that we are time-setters. Let no such remarks be made. They do no good. Seek not to obtain a revival upon any such grounds, but let due caution be used in every word uttered, that fanatical ones will not seize anything they can get to create an excitement and the Spirit of the Lord be grieved. P. 34 (emphasis added)
We want not to move the people's passions to get up a stir, where feelings are moved and principle does not control. I feel that we need to be guarded on every side, because Satan is at work to do his uttermost to insinuate his arts and devices that shall be a power to do harm. Anything that will make a stir, create an excitement on a wrong basis, is to be dreaded, for the reaction will surely come. P. 35 (emphasis added)
There will always be false and fanatical movements made by persons in the church who claim to be led of God—those who will run before they are sent and will give day and date for the occurrence of unfulfilled prophecy. The enemy is pleased to have them do this, for their successive failures and leading into false lines cause confusion and unbelief. P. 35 (emphasis added)
I plainly stated at the Jackson camp meeting to these fanatical parties that they were doing the work of the adversary of souls; they were in darkness. They claimed to have great light that probation would close in October, 1884. I there stated in public that the Lord had been pleased to show me that there would be no definite time in the message given of God since 1844. P. 35 (emphasis added)
Our position has been one of waiting and watching, with no time-proclamation to intervene between the close of the prophetic periods in 1844 and the time of our Lord's coming. P. 36 (emphasis added)
The people will not have another message upon definite time. After this period of time [Revelation 10:4-6], reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844. P. 36 (emphasis added)

Don’t miss this: “The people will not have another message upon definite time.” That settles it for me.

Based on this counsel, I don’t need to spend many hours reading or studying long, drawn out documents from other sincere Adventists that quote Bible verses and EGW statements trying to support “another message upon definite time.” The Lord has already spoken on this matter. We are told that:

The enemy is pleased to have them do this.

It is too late in the day for any of us to unwittingly please the devil. Can you imagine it? Thinking we are serving God, and advancing His will, but being led by Lucifer and his angels! What a frightening thought.

FYI, White Horse Media has just secured a new domain name, www.HelpForTheRemnant.com. The website is now being developed, and our goal is to make it a valuable resource center for Seventh-day Adventists worldwide that clarifies clear truth about our Advent Message, Historicism, The Three Angels’ Messages, “the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus,” and other topics, and which also contains links to material from other solid SDA believers on such subjects as time-setting, calling the church Babylon, mandatory feast-keeping, anti-trinity, the 2520, higher criticism, and other winds now blowing.

Pray for us, that God will bless this project.

In conclusion, the world is now locked in midnight darkness. In this time, like no other, people need to know Jesus Christ, His tender love, and God’s final message of truth, mercy and warning found in His holy three angels’ messages. May this be our focus.

In the Name of the Lord, I urge you to follow God’s counsel: Don’t let your “attention” be “absorbed” by anything else.