Say Ye Not, “A Conspiracy”
Before we come fully to the front, let us see to it that the Holy Spirit is poured upon us from on high. When this is the case, we shall give a decided message, but it will be of a far less condemnatory character than that which some have been giving; and all who believe will be far more earnest for the salvation of our opponents. Let God have the matter of condemning authorities and governments wholly in His own keeping.
— E.G. White, 6 Testimonies, p. 397
Below is a quote showing how we should deal with human ordinances, suggesting that we ought to wear a face covering when such ordinances are in place. It shows that we are to obey Sunday laws and not rail against them. We should not be like the political right and protest to uphold our liberties. Any kind of politics is a curse to us; our only role is to pray, not protest.
We cannot help the Christless by finding fault with them. We have not been given the work of reproving or giving personal thrusts in our periodicals…
“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” This is to be looked upon as lawful and right for us to do. We should be careful to avoid leaving an impression on human minds that will cut off our influence with them, and hedge up our way. We may tie our hands and hinder our work because by some unadvised word or action of ours, we have awakened prejudice…
There must be no sharp retaliating between brother and brother, or against those who know not God, or Jesus Christ whom He has sent. These men are in darkness and error, and what we as a people restrain from doing, that we may leave a correct impression upon their minds, will do more to give a correct knowledge of the work in which we are engaged, than all efforts to maintain the liberty given us by God. But when any requirement is made that shows disrespect to the Seventh-day Sabbath, we are to refuse compliance. Here eternal interests are involved, and we are to know the ground we should occupy.
Those who compose our churches have traits of character that will lead them, if they are not very careful, to feel indignant because, on account of misrepresentation, their liberty in regard to working on Sunday is taken away. Do not fly into a passion over this matter, but take everything in prayer to God. He alone can restrain the power of rulers. Walk not rashly. Let none boast unwisely of their liberty, using it for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.”
This advice is to be of real value to all who are to be brought into straight places. Nothing that shows defiance, or that could be interpreted as maliciousness, must be shown.
— E.G. White, Manuscript 46, 1898
Decided proclamations are to be made. But in regard to this line of work, I am instructed to say to our people: Be guarded. In bearing the message, make no personal thrusts at other Churches, not even the Roman Catholic Church. Angels of God see in the different denominations many who can be reached only by the greatest caution. Therefore let us be careful of our words.
Let not our ministers follow their own impulses in denouncing and exposing the “mysteries of iniquity”. Upon these themes silence is eloquence.
Many are deceived. Speak the truth in tones and words of love.
Let Christ Jesus be exalted.
Keep to the affirmative of truth. Never leave the straight path God has marked out for the purpose of giving some one a thrust. That thrust may do much harm and no good. It may quench conviction in many minds. Let the Word of God, which is the truth, tell the story of the inconsistency of those in error.
People cannot be expected to see at once the advantage of the truth over the error they have cherished. The best way to expose the fallacy of error is to present the evidences of truth. This is the greatest rebuke that can be given to error. Dispel the cloud of darkness resting on minds by reflecting the bright light of the Sun of Righteousness.
— E.G. White, Manuscript 6, 1902
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the Light-Bearing One arise in your hearts:
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of GOD spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.— 2 Peter 1:19-21
(Preaching the news is a private interpretation of prophecy. It is taking the things of the news and trying to make it fit with the Bible. But the Bible never speaks about the hidden things that take place in darkness, and it has no message telling us that we should study these things. The Bible tells us to fear GOD and tells us what the signs of the times are; it speaks of His wrath, which is greatly to be feared. That is all we need to know. Those who are preaching more than this are not being moved by the Holy Spirit but a spirit from beneath. Of course, I’m speaking in general terms here; there may be a few exceptions.)
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious [destructive] ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not …
The Lord knoweth how to deliver the pious out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; …
For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, “The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.”— 2 Peter 2:1-3, 9-12, 20-21
Also, the Book of Jude repeats the same things that we read in Peter. I will let you read that on your own, but here are a couple of good passages from it:
These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage. …
But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.— Jude 16, 20-21
There is nothing new under the sun. The false teaching we are seeing today, was happening in apostolic times. There was complaining about governments. Today many are complaining about the powers behind the NWO, but what they are really doing is complaining about GOD—the One who has placed, by His permission and providence—all who are in power. Many of them are evil men, but that has always been the case. It was the case with Rome, yet when CHRIST was here He spoke not a word of accusation about this corrupt government and its men.
It is not the business of the householder, whom God has appointed, to bring before the people subjects that may be found in the publications of the world…
The work of keeping before the people the common things transpiring around us, the news of the day, is not the work of present truth.
— E.G. White, Manuscript 95, 1898
Let men preach and write the precious things of the Word of God. Let those who teach remember that they are working as God’s householders. If Christ’s worker will attend to God’s orders, he will depend upon God and not upon human intelligence—the great men whose wisdom is foolishness with God. Mind and heart will receive the things of God, and he will be persuaded that the message that God has sent He will direct. The things of nature will provide him subjects for consideration. The science of nature will be a treasure house of knowledge. As he contemplates the beauties of nature—the cultivation of soil, the trees, the water—a new perception of truth will come to him. These teachings of God’s great lesson book will bear testimony to the truth of God’s Word.
— E.G. White, Manuscript 95, 1898
What the people need is not a representation of the seductive arts of Satan, but a presentation of the truth as it is in Jesus. The less we handle these objectionable subjects, the purer, cleaner, and less tainted will be our minds and our principles.
— E.G. White, Letter 377, 1904
Present news preaching and presenting conspiracy theories are not presenting Bible prophecies but worldly principles; they are causing people to fear Satan instead of GOD, preparing them for hell rather than heaven. These things are a disgrace and should have never been named among us. Let the evangelical world have it and act like fanatic fools; then we can give them something different to deliver them from darkness, showing them that it is JEHOVAH who rules. We have the third angel’s message and we do not need to know what is being plotted in secret, as it is none of our business. We do not need to know why things are the way they are in this world or why certain events are happening other than what the Bible tells us.
For the love of GOD, let us get back to His simple Word, and treasure its truths rather than the news. Our message is about the glorious gospel of CHRIST; it is light and not darkness. Light will expose the darkness. Explaining the Law of GOD, with CHRIST in it, will lay out the sins of Babylon, without us having to bring darkness to people who need the light. Then we will not look like fools to the common thinking people; they will not see our sensationalism and false predictions and turn away from GOD and His truth, which we could have shown them. Present truth is what CHRIST is doing, not Satan; never forget that.
Here are a couple of articles I recommend reading for more on these things:
The End Time and Conspiracy Theories
Conspiracy Theories or Prophetic Facts?
Say ye not, “A conspiracy,” concerning all whereof this people shall say, “A conspiracy;” neither fear ye their fear, nor be in dread thereof.
Jehovah of Hosts, Him shall ye sanctify; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread.— Isaiah 8:12-13 (ASV)
Related: Present Truth = Present Duty