A study into how the concept of rape and neutering has parallels with the doctrines of the church being removed.

1. Neutered
The Laodicean Dilemma

2. Nehemiah 13 and Numbers 25 are two
fascinating passages of scripture in the light
of current events.
Numbers 25 outlines apostasy in the camp of
Israel and the baleful results
Nehemiah 13 outlines the principles of
reform that occurred when “the repairers of
the breach” decided to “restore the paths to
dwell in.”
A little Background

3. In the work of reform to be carried forward
today, there is need of men who, like Ezra and
Nehemiah, will not palliate or excuse sin, nor
shrink from vindicating the honor of God.
Those upon whom rests the burden of this
work will not hold their peace when wrong is
done, neither will they cover evil with a cloak
of false charity. {PK 675.1}
Present Application

4. They will remember that God is no
respecter of persons, and that
severity to a few may prove mercy to
many. They will remember also that in
the one who rebukes evil the spirit of
Christ should ever be revealed. {PK
675.1}
Mercy to Many

5. The Method of Work
In their work, Ezra and Nehemiah humbled
themselves before God, confessing their sins
and the sins of their people, and entreating
pardon as if they themselves were the
offenders. Patiently they toiled and prayed
and suffered. {PK 675.2}

6. That which made their work most
difficult was not the open hostility of the
heathen, but the secret opposition of
pretended friends, who, by lending their
influence to the service of evil, increased
tenfold the burden of God's servants.
{PK 675.2}
The Most Dangerous of Foes

7. These traitors furnished the Lord's
enemies with material to use in their
warfare upon His people. Their evil
passions and rebellious wills were ever at
war with the plain requirements of God.
{PK 675.2}
The Most Dangerous of Foes

8. If God abhors one sin above another, of
which His people are guilty, it is doing
nothing in case of an emergency.
Indifference and neutrality in a religious
crisis is regarded of God as a grievous
crime and equal to the very worst type
of hostility against God. {3T 280.3}
The Most Dangerous of Foes

9. If the leaders in the cause of truth
show no zeal, if they are indifferent
and purposeless, the church will be
careless, indolent, and pleasure-
loving; but if they are filled with a holy
purpose to serve God and Him alone,
the people will be united, hopeful,
eager. {PK 676.1}
The Leaders Influence

10. Industry in a God-appointed duty is an
important part of true religion. Men
should seize circumstances as God's
instruments with which to work His
will. Prompt and decisive action at the
right time will gain glorious triumphs,
while delay and neglect result in
failure and dishonor to God. {PK
676.1}
The Leaders Influence

11.  The sins of Israel are not merely the sins of the
leaders. It is the sin of the people
 It is vital that when the sins of Israel are
revealed we do not merely point fingers but in
deep contrition confess them even as we would
our own.
 Daniel, Jeremiah and Isaiah are very good
examples of persons who had cooperate
confession
Confession – The Cooperate Variety

12. The word of God abounds in sharp and
striking contrasts. Sin and holiness are
placed side by side, that, beholding, we may
shun the one and accept the other. The
pages that describe the hatred, falsehood,
and treachery of Sanballat and Tobiah,
describe also the nobility, devotion, and
self-sacrifice of Ezra and Nehemiah. {PK
676.2}
WE Have a Choice

13. We are left free to copy either, as we
choose. The fearful results of
transgressing God's commands are
placed over against the blessings
resulting from obedience. We
ourselves must decide whether we will
suffer the one or enjoy the other. {PK
676.2}
WE Have a Choice

14. Dinah diyn judgment
 Name means Judged of Jehovah
Genesis 34:1-2 And Dinah the daughter of Leah,
which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the
daughters of the land. And when Shechem the
son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country,
saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and
defiled her.
Dinah

15.  Name Dan=Judge and el=God
 Name means God is Judge.
 Daniel 1:7 Unto whom the prince of the eunuchs
gave names: for he gave unto Daniel the name
of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach;
and to Mishael, of Meshach; and to Azariah, of
Abednego.
 Eunuch - A male of the human species castrated
(Websters 1913 dictionary)
Daniel

16.  Luke 15:13 And not many days after the younger
son gathered all together, and took his journey
into a far country, and there wasted his
substance with riotous living.
 Luke 15:30 But as soon as this thy son was
come, which hath devoured thy living with
harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
The Prodigal Son

17.  Comes from two greek words Laos (people)
and dike (judgement)
Means “people of judgement”
 Revelation 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich,
and increased with goods, and have need of
nothing; and knowest not that thou art
wretched, and miserable, and poor, and
blind, and naked:
Laodicea

18. When the law of God is made void the church
will be sifted by fiery trials, and a larger
proportion than we now anticipate, will give
heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of
devils. Instead of being strengthened when
brought into strait places, many prove that
they are not living branches of the True Vine.
. . . {Mar28.3}
A Solemn Warning

19. But when the world makes void the law of God,
what will be the effect upon the truly obedient
and righteous? Will they be carried away by the
strong current of evil? Because so many rank
themselves under the banner of the prince of
darkness, will God's commandment-keeping
people swerve from their allegiance? Never! Not
one who is abiding in Christ will fail or fall. His
followers will bow in obedience to a higher
authority than that of any earthly potentate.
{Mar28.4}
A Solemn Warning

20.  Hermeneutics is a word of greek origin applied
to the interpretation of literary works.
 Herme – Hermes (the greek god of the
underworld also known as the messenger God.)
 Neut. – Neuter (to take the potency out of)
 -ic – Bearing the character of
 Bearing the Character of the god of the
underworld in order to neuter
Hermeneutics

21. Hatred of the Sanctuary message
Teaching that sin is not a transgression of
the Law
Teaching against Perfection of Character
Rejection of the Spirit of prophecy
Confederating with those of other faiths
Neutered: The Message

22. "Sin is the transgression of the law." This is
the only definition of sin. Without the law
there can be no transgression. "By the law
is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20. The
standard of righteousness is exceeding
broad, prohibiting every evil thing (MS 27,
1899). {7BC 951.3}
Neutered: The Message

23. Influenced by the translation of 1 John 3:4 in the
King James Version (“sin is the transgression of
the law”), many restrict sin to the violation of
the Ten Commandments alone. However, a more
literal translation is: “sin is lawlessness” (NKJV)
(anomia). Anything that goes against the
principles of God is sin. Hence, although the Ten
Commandments had not yet been formally
revealed when Adam ate the forbidden fruit, he
violated a command of God (Gen_2:17) and was
consequently guilty of sin. (Sabbath School
Quarterly Adult [2nd Quarter Christ and His Law]
Lesson 7 May 10-16, 2014. Sunday May 11)

24. "Sin is the transgression of the law." This is
the only definition of sin. Without the law
there can be no transgression. "By the
law is the knowledge of sin." Romans 3:20.
The standard of righteousness is
exceeding broad, prohibiting every evil
thing (MS 27, 1899). {7BC 951.3}
Psalms 119:96 I have seen an end of all
perfection: but thy commandment is
exceeding broad.
Neutered: The Message

25.  Romans 14:23 [W]hatsoever is not of faith is sin.
 Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.
 Exodus 20:1 And God spake all these words,
Thus we recognize that the foundation of faith is
the spoken words of God. The commandments
are the spoken words that God expects to be
obeyed. Whatever is not in obedience to the
commandments is sin.
Biblical Analysis

26. James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to
do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and
the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Knowledge of what the commandment
requires and remaining in disobedience to the
plain requirements of God is sin.
Biblical Analysis

27. Christ is the ladder that Jacob saw, the
base resting on the earth, and the topmost
round reaching to the gate of heaven, to
the very threshold of glory. If that ladder
had failed by a single step of reaching the
earth, we should have been lost. But Christ
reaches us where we are. He took our
nature and overcame, that we through
taking His nature might overcome. {DA
311.5}
Truth

28. Made "in the likeness of sinful flesh"
(Rom_8:3), He lived a sinless life. Now by
His divinity He lays hold upon the throne of
heaven, while by His humanity He reaches
us. He bids us by faith in Him attain to the
glory of the character of God. Therefore
are we to be perfect, even as our "Father
which is in heaven is perfect." {DA 311.5}
Perfection by Faith

29. Many fall into the trap of interpreting texts in
isolation from other texts. One such text is Mat
5:48, where we are told to be as perfect as our
Father in heaven. How does the interpretation
of this text in its immediate context (Mat 5:43-
48) demonstrate the importance of careful
Bible study? How would you respond to a
person who claimed that this text was teaching
sinlessness? What is the text really teaching,
and why does this teaching reveal the true
meaning of being a follower of Jesus?
(Discussion Questions SSQ 2014 Friday April 25)

30. God's ideal for His children is
higher than the highest human
thought can reach. "Be ye
therefore perfect, even as your
Father which is in heaven is
perfect." This command is a
promise. {DA 311.2}

31. The plan of redemption contemplates
our complete recovery from the
power of Satan. Christ always
separates the contrite soul from sin. He
came to destroy the works of the devil,
and He has made provision that the
Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every
repentant soul, to keep him from
sinning. {DA 311.2}

32. The enemy of souls has sought to bring
in the supposition that a great
reformation was to take place among
Seventh-day Adventists, and that this
reformation would consist in giving up
the doctrines which stand as the pillars
of our faith, and engaging in a process
of reorganization. {1SM 204.2}

33. Were this reformation to take place, what would
result?
1. The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has
given to the remnant church, would be discarded.
2. Our religion would be changed.
3. The fundamental principles that have sustained
the work for the last fifty years would be
accounted as error.
4. A new organization would be established.
5. Books of a new order would be written.
6. A system of intellectual philosophy would be
introduced. {1SM 204.2}

34. The founders of this system would go into the
cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of
course, would be lightly regarded, as also the
God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to
stand in the way of the new movement. The
leaders would teach that virtue is better than
vice, but God being removed, they would place
their dependence on human power, which,
without God, is worthless. Their foundation
would be built on the sand, and storm and
tempest would sweep away the structure. {1SM
204.2}

35. There is to be no compromise with
those who are worshiping an idol
sabbath. We are not to spend our time
in controversy with those who know
the truth, and upon whom the light of
truth has been shining, when they turn
away their ear from the truth to turn to
fables. {2SM 385.1}
The Warning

36. I was told that men will employ every policy
to make less prominent the difference
between the faith of Seventh-day
Adventists and those who observe the first
day of the week. In this controversy the
whole world will be engaged, and the time
is short. This is no time to haul down
our colors. {2SM 385.1}
The Warning

37. At first there was little intercourse
between the Israelites and their
heathen neighbors, but after a time
Midianitish women began to steal into
the camp. Their appearance excited no
alarm, and so quietly were their plans
conducted that the attention of Moses
was not called to the matter. {PP
454.2}
On the Borders of the Jordan

38. It was the object of these women, in their
association with the Hebrews, to seduce
them into transgression of the law of God,
to draw their attention to heathen rites and
customs, and lead them into idolatry. These
motives were studiously concealed under
the garb of friendship, so that they were
not suspected, even by the guardians of the
people. {PP 454.2}
On the Borders of the Jordan

39. Our people have been regarded as too insignificant
to be worthy of notice, but a change will come; the
movements are now being made. The Christian
world is now making movements which will
necessarily bring the commandment-keeping
people to notice. There is a daily suppression of
God's truth for the theories and false doctrines of
human origin. There are plans and movements
being set on foot to enslave the consciences of
those who would be loyal to God. --Letter 12, 1886.
{2SM 386.2}
Were they too much for us?

40. The law-making powers will be against God's
people. Every soul will be tested. O that we
would as a people be wise for ourselves and
by precept and example impart that wisdom
to our children! Every position of our faith will
be searched into, and if we are not thorough
Bible students, established, strengthened,
settled, the wisdom of the world's great men
will be too much for us.--Letter 12, 1886. {2SM
386.2}
Were they too much for us?

41. In this age, just prior to the second coming
of Christ in the clouds of heaven, such a
work as that of John is to be done. God
calls for men who will prepare a people to
stand in the great day of the Lord. The
message preceding the public ministry of
Christ was: "Repent, publicans and sinners;
repent, Pharisees and Sadducees; 'repent
ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.' "
{8T 332.3}
The Work for this Time

42. As a people who believe in Christ's soon
appearing, we have a message to bear--
"Prepare to meet thy God." Amos 4:12. Our
message must be as direct as was the
message of John. He rebuked kings for
their iniquity. Notwithstanding that his life
was imperiled, he did not hesitate to
declare God's word. And our work in this
age must be done as faithfully. {8T 332.3}
The Work for this Time

43. In this fearful time, just before Christ is to
come the second time, God's faithful
preachers will have to bear a still more
pointed testimony than was borne by John
the Baptist. A responsible, important work
is before them; and those who speak
smooth things, God will not acknowledge
as His shepherds. A fearful woe is upon
them. {1T 321.2}
More Pointed Testimony

44. You should bear a living, pointed
testimony. … God is correcting, and
proving, and purifying His people. ... He will
not accept a smooth testimony. Ministers
must cry aloud, and spare not. The Lord has
given you a powerful testimony, calculated
to strengthen the church and arouse
unbelievers. ... Let your influence be to
correct wrongs in your family and in the
church." {1T 215.2}

45. I have been shown that the Lord is
reviving the living, pointed testimony,
which will develop character and purify
the church. {1T 216.1}