The Fallen and the Elect
Page 32
Ellen G. White, of the Seventh Day Adventist movement, was in touch with an ‘accompanying angel' (Present Truth, pp. 21-22, 1849), who revealed to her the hidden truths of the Bible. On June 27, 1850, her accompanying angel said, the “time is almost finished ... that the last seven plagues were going to be poured out before the rapture” (Early Writings, p. 64). Many of her followers believed in the imminence of these events during their lifetime. They did not...
As the Church attempts to move forward with an ecumenical collaboration between many of these religions, and if these religions are based upon the revelation of angels, we must question the authenticity of such manifestations in religious history in establishing the tenants of faith. Either one of two answers exist. First, one religion is correct in their revelation by the angelic messenger and the other religions are incorrect; or, they--that is, all religions--are incorrect...
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so in summation, a proposed angelic visit and declaration don’t warrant the accuracy of a subsequent message. They could be deceiving recipients from a greater truth.
Father Hernandez was the first to react. “I bet some of this is considered somewhat controversial in the Church and to some of its doctrines.”
“His research and writings were why he was selected to determine the truth of the event down here ten years ago. What you read is just a small fragment of his works.”
“Really,” Father Dominguez commented.
Sister Justine continued. “He wrote a detailed treatise on the order of angels, their existence as seen in other religions, and their influence on those who experienced them. Michael at one point was highly interested in angels and somewhat prolific with the subject in his writings. When a seminary student showed such a high level of devotion to a subject, the Church took notice.”
“Are most of his works similar to this?” Father Dominguez asked. Father Hernandez already knew some of Michael's background based on what Bishop Grielle had told him but not to the level of detail Sister Justine had just introduced in the fragments of his writing.
Rolling back in the steel-framed chair to address both men, she continued. “Many are similar, some even more or less controversial. There’s a couple Bishop Grielle wouldn't even allow me to read. Many in the Church leadership, especially after reading his writings, felt it best if we came down here to see if there was anything to the angel story. Even though he hadn’t completed seminary, the Church hierarchy felt he was far advanced on the subject and could come back with a plausible explanation.”
“What did he determine?”
“We attempted to interview to the primary witness but only got a quick chance to talk to him once we got to the clinic. We were going back to follow up the next day but we were recalled to the States. Then there were the mass disappearances; there was panic all over the world. After that, Michael lost his faith, with the vanishing of his family.”
“So he didn’t fall into the rapture theory either?” Father Hernandez queried.
“No.”
“So how did you end up going with him the first time down here?” Father Dominguez asked curiously.
“He requested that I assist.”
“You have a background in angelology?”
“Not really, though I became more interested after we began the investigation. Then when the angelic eulogies started, I became more involved.”
“So then why’d he request you to begin with?” Father Hernandez continued with intensity after sensing the Sister was still holding back.
Sister Justine changed the subject to the investigation at hand. “So what time should we plan to head out to the El Refugio area? Someone will need to let Michael know.”
“I can do that,” Father Dominguez responded, noticing her deliberate maneuvering around Father Hernandez's question. “I'm going to finish up a homily series I've been working on. Then I’m gonna call it a night. You both get some rest.”