THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, PG.

45
To secure peace and unity
they were ready to make
any concession consistent
with fidelity to God; but
they felt that even peace
would be too dearly
purchased at the sacrifice
of principle. If unity could
be secured only by the
compromise of truth and
righteousness, then let
there be difference, and
even war.
OFFSHOOTS By

Lantano Nabaala
Who are they?
The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 1
 OFF-SHOOTS

Who are they?

Since this is an English word, let us first get the English meaning od the
English of this word!

OFFSHOOT
1. “That which shoots off from a main stem.”
2. “One who Apostasizes from the main believe”

Christ is the Stem. Christians are the branches. Connected to him by

his words.

Jn. 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me,
and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can
do nothing. 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall
ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 15:8 Herein is my
Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Through Christ’s words, we get the church! HIS FULNESS!

Eph 1:22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the
head over all things to the church, 1:23 Which is his body, the fulness
of him that filleth all in all.

Eph 4:4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one
hope of your calling; 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 4:6 One
God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

I have been shown that, as a people, we are departing from the

simplicity of the faith and from the purity of the gospel. Many are in
great peril. Unless they change their course, they will be severed from
the True Vine as useless branches. Testimonies for the Church, vol.5.
pg. 18.2

The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 2

(The fullness of God, is the only qualification that makes any church, his
church!)
If offshooting is cutting yourself off from the main Stem, then, spiritually
then, Offshooting is those who refuse, or neglect, the fullness of the
faith of God in their operations and worship!

What is Apostasy? The Dictionary defines it thus;

1. Apostasy is a falling away from the original faith,
2. Withdrawal, or abandonment of Faith.
3. An act of refusing to continue to follow, obey, or recognize a
religious faith.
4. The abandonment of a previous loyalty in faith.

Let us see the same from the word of God! The definitions above have
been used.
Acts 21:21And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews
which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought
not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.

The reason of Falling away, is brought by deception!

Matt24:10And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one
another, and shall hate one another. 24:11 And many false prophets
shall rise, and shall deceive many.

2 Thes2:2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither

by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ
is at hand. 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall
not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be
revealed, the son of perdition;
Eph. 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men,
and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

SLEIGHT.
1. Use of dexterity or cunning, especially so as to deceive.
The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 3
 2. Deceiving through logic!
3. Logical deception
"except by sleight of logic, the two positions cannot be harmonized"
i.g.
1. Where is their names, or membership?
2. Do you know where they come from?

Do we have people who abandoned their faith in the bible?

Jn 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said,
This is an hard saying; who can hear it? 6:61 When Jesus knew in
himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this
offend you? 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For
Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and
who should betray him.

Gal. 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you
into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

1 Tim 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and
doctrines of devils;

2 Pet3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before,

beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall
from your own stedfastness.

2 Tim4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound
doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears; 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears
from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 4:5 But watch thou in
all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full
proof of thy ministry.
Examples of turning away in OT
1 Sam 15:11 It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is
turned back from following me, and hath not performed my
The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 4
commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all
night.

From Elijah's experience during those days of discouragement and

apparent defeat, there are many lessons to be drawn,--lessons
invaluable to the servants of God in this age, marked as it is by general
departure from right. Prophets and Kings, pp. 170, 171.{Christian
Service, pg. 57.2
When there has been a departure from the right path, it is difficult to
return. Barriers have been removed, safeguards broken down. One step
in the wrong direction prepares the way for another. … The least
deviation from right and principle will lead to separation from God and
may end in apostasy. . . {Counsels on Health, pg. 240.3}

Satan and his angels will appear on this earth as men, and will mingle
with those, of whom God's Word says, "Some shall depart from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils" (1
Timothy 4:1).--Letter 147, 1903. {3SM 409.3}

Is offshooting/apostasy the coming out of the church assembly? No!

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from Him that called you into the grace of
Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble
you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Acts of the Apostles, 384.1

By departing from the plain precepts and commandments of God, and giving
heed to fables, the minds of many are preparing to receive these lying wonders.
{Counsels to the Church, pg. 331.4}

Now, as never before, we need to see the danger of being led unguardedly away
from loyalty to God's commandments. We need to realize that God has given us a
decided message of warning for the world, even as He gave Noah a message of
warning for the antediluvians. Let our people beware of belittling the importance
of the Sabbath, in order to link up with unbelievers. Let them beware of
departing from the principles of our faith, making it appear that it is not wrong to

The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 5

conform to the world. Let them be afraid of heeding the counsel of any man,
whatever his position may be, who works counter to that which God has wrought
in order to keep His people separate from the world. { Counsels on Health, pg.
237.2}

By departing from the plain precepts and commandments of God and giving
heed to fables, the minds of many are preparing to receive these lying wonders.
We must all now seek to arm ourselves for the contest in which we must soon
engage. Faith in God's word, prayerfully studied and practically applied, will be
our shield from Satan's power and will bring us off conquerors through the blood
of Christ.--Testimonies for the Church, vol. I, p. 302 (1862). (462) {CH 461.2}

The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the doctrine that there is no
sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there will be a departing from the
faith. Where shall we find safety unless it be in the truths that the Lord has been
giving for the last fifty years?--Review and Herald, May 25, 1905. {Ev 224.3}

Whom does satan prefer to work with?

Through this mammoth system of deception the prince of evil achieves
his purpose of bringing dishonor to God and wretchedness to man. And
as we see how he succeeds in disguising himself, and accomplishing his
work through the leaders of the church, we may better understand why
he has so great antipathy to the Bible.
The Great Controversy, 88 pg. 570.1

Apart from the leaders of the Church, who else does satan works with?
Is there a possibility of being in the church membership register and
miss heaven?
Joining the church is one thing, and connecting with Christ is quite
another. Not all the names registered in the church books are registered
in the Lamb's book of life. Testimonies for the church, vol. 5, pg. 278.2

Many names on the church record are not on the record of heaven--not
in the Lamb's book of life. ….. They are not bringing their will into
subjection to Christ. Youth Instructor, March 1, 1894 par. 5

The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 6

While Christ would lead his servants out into the highways, into the
homes of men, to seek and save the lost, Satan is employing his agents
to lead souls to ruin. His most effective agents for this work are those
whose names are on the church records but who fail of a record in
"the Lamb's book of life." {Review & Herald, December 26, 1912 par.
3}
It is a solemn statement that I make to the church, that not one in twenty
whose names are registered upon the church books are prepared to
close their earthly history, and would be as verily without God and
without hope in the world as the common sinner.  – Christian Service,
pg. 41.1 

Is everyone driven out of the church fellowship also cut off from
God??

Others have been cut off for no cause except bitter enmity because they
did not act in harmony with the wishes and ideas of the leaders. Such a
spirit has taken possession of those leaders who have ever been
determined to rule, that they have been controlled by Satan rather than
by the spirit of Christ. Some who have been deprived of the fellowship of
the church were far more worthy of a place in it than are those who with
their longer experience have been so overbearing and so anxious to
drive out their brethren. Manuscript Release, vol. 15. Pg. 138.3

Can a church as whole depart from the faith?

The church has departed from the light, neglected her duties, abused
her high and exalted privileges of being peculiar and holy in
character, and thereby dishonored her God, like ancient Israel. …. His
Spirit has been quenched in the church. Satan works side by side with
Professed Christians; yet they are so destitute of spirituality and
discernment that they do not detect him. … The solemn truths they
profess to believe are not a reality to them. They have not genuine faith.
Men and women will act out all the faith they in reality possess. By their
fruits ye shall know them. Not their profession, but the fruit they bear,

The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 7

shows the character of the true. Many have a form of godliness, their
names are upon the church records,.{PH011 4.2} Appeal to the Battle
kreek church, 1870.

Let us look at previous examples. Who went out of the assembly?

Abraham!
Gen 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy
country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land
that I will show thee: 12:4 So Abram departed, as the LORD had spoken
unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years
old when he departed out of Haran.

Did God remove the Egyptians from among the Israelites?

Exo 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that
thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.
At the time of King Ahab, did God remove King Ahab, or Elijah?
1 kings 18:46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded
up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

The going out of the children of Israel away from God, was not
physically, but spiritually.
Deu 29:25 Then men shall say, Because they have forsaken the
covenant of the LORD God of their fathers, which he made with them
when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt:

Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one
to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jer 50:6 My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused
them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they
have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.

The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 8

Those among the children of Israel, who did not go spiritually astray,
could ONLY keep their faith and true worship, by PHYSICALLY going
away! Or being send away by their brethren!

1 kings 18:46 And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded
up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they

drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the
Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into
Egypt.

In all ages God's appointed witnesses have exposed themselves to

reproach and persecution for the truth's sake. Joseph was maligned and
persecuted because he preserved his virtue and integrity. David, the
chosen messenger of God, was hunted like a beast of prey by his
enemies. Daniel was cast into a den of lions because he was true to his
allegiance to heaven. Job was deprived of his worldly possessions, and
so afflicted in body that he was abhorred by his relatives, and friends;
yet he maintained his integrity. Jeremiah could not be deterred from
speaking the words that God had given him to speak; and his
testimony so enraged the king and princes that he was cast into a
loathsome pit. Stephen was stoned because he preached Christ and
Him crucified. Paul was imprisoned, beaten with rods, stoned, and
finally put to death because he was a faithful messenger for God to the
Gentiles. And John was banished to the Isle of Patmos "for the word of
God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ." Acts of the Apostles, pg.
575.1

Do you remember what happened during the dark ages? It was

supposedly the Church that killed his faithful people!

So, what does the Spirit of Prophecy direct Church Leaders especially
the Pastors?

The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 9

Review & Herald, Jul. 23, 1895.1-7
God has not appointed any man guide, nor made any man conscience
for another; therefore let human hands be withheld from restraining his
servants who feel the burden to enter his vineyard to labor. Let God
work with his own chosen agents by his Holy Spirit. No human being is
to sit in judgment upon his brother. Neither are any to feel that they can
handle roughly the precious pearls for which Christ gave his life.

All discourtesy, all pain, all neglect, which these souls suffer at your
hands, is charged against you as inflicted upon Jesus Christ. They are
not to be treated in a lordly, commanding manner. Laws and rules are
being made at the centers of the work that will soon be broken into
atoms. Men are not to dictate. It is not for those in places of authority to
employ all their powers to sustain some, while others are cast down,
ignored, forsaken, and left to perish. But it is the duty of the leaders to
lend a helping hand to all who are in need. Let each work in the line
which God may indicate to him by his Holy Spirit. The soul is
accountable to God alone.

None are to exercise their human authority to bind minds and souls of
their fellow-men. They are not to devise and put in practice methods and
plans to bring every individual under their jurisdiction.

If the cords are drawn much tighter, if the rules are made much finer, if
men continue to bind their fellow-laborers closer and closer to the
commandments of men, many will be stirred by the Spirit of God to
break every shackle, and assert their liberty in Christ Jesus.

How much better it would be if all would cease speaking of their own
good works and ways, indulging their self-esteem; refrain from the
putting forth of the finger, imagining evil, and using their influence to
weaken, oppress, and destroy. If men will not come to the terms made by
the leading workers, they will not entertain them, they do not care what
results may follow their injustice. With them it is rule or ruin. God has
not appointed any man to do such work.
The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 10
Many may ask, "Who is sufficient for these things?" The responsibility
rests upon every individual. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to
think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God." The
scheme of salvation is not to be worked out under the laws and rules
specified by men. There must be no fixed rules; our work is a
progressive work, and there must be room left for methods to be
improved upon. But under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, unity must
and will be preserved.
EXERCISING OF HUMAN AUTHORITY
Christ foresaw that the undue assumption of authority practiced by the
scribes and Pharisees would not cease with the dispersion of the Jews.
He had a prophetic view of the work of exalting human authority to rule
the conscience, which has been so terrible a curse to the church in all
ages. And his fearful denunciations of the scribes and Pharisees, and his
warnings to the people not to follow these blind leaders, were placed on
record as an admonition to future generations. The Spirit of Prophecy,
vol. 4. Pg. 414.3{Review & Herald, June 7, 1906 par. 9}

It is a mistake to make men believe that the workers for Christ should
make no move save that which has first been brought before some
responsible man. Men must not be educated to look to men as to God.
While it is necessary that there be a counseling together and a unity of
action among the laborers, one man's mind and one man's judgment
must not be the controlling power. Review & Herald, Aug. 7, 1894

Do we just accept anything rule or order, because so and so said?

Do not accept the words of any man, unless you can see that he is
conformed to the divine image, because if you do, you sustain him in
doing wrong; you sustain him by asking his counsel and following his
directions. The Upward Look, pg. 159.5

The Lord has shown me that men in responsible positions are standing
directly in the way of His work because they think the work must be
done and the blessing must come in a certain way, and they will not
The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 11
recognize that which comes in any other way. My brethren, may the
Lord place this matter before you as it is. God does not work as men
plan, or as they wish; He "moves in a mysterious way His wonders to
perform." Why reject the Lord's methods of working, because they do
not coincide with our ideas? God has His appointed channels of light,
but these are not necessarily the minds of any particular set of men.
When all shall take their appointed place in God's work, earnestly
seeking wisdom and guidance from Him, then a great advance will have
been made toward letting light shine upon the world. When men shall
cease to place themselves in the way, God will work among us as never
before. Testimonies for the Church, book 5. Pg. 726.1

What is Strange Fire in the Church today? What was the penalty for
it?
Lev. 10:1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them
his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered
strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. 10:2
And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they
died before the LORD.

But strange fire has been offered in the use of harsh words, in self-
importance, in self-exaltation, in self-righteousness, in arbitrary
authority, in domineering, in oppression, in restricting the liberty of
God's people, binding them about by your plans and rules, which God
has not framed, neither have they come into His mind. All these things
are strange fire, unacknowledged by God, and are a continual
misrepresentation of His character. Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 357.4

You will not carry with you any yokes to bind men to your plans, nor
will you attempt to make the Lord's workers amenable to any finite
mind. The maxims and precepts of men are not to control His
laborers. Let no man be placed in a position where he can lord it over
God's heritage; for this imperils alike the soul of him who rules and the
souls of those who are under his rule.--Manuscript 140, 1902 (Nov. 6,

The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 12

1902 Principles for the Guidance of Men in Positions of Responsibility).
{ChL 32.2}

The Desire of Ages, pg. 826.1

In the commission to His disciples, Christ not only outlined their work,
but gave them their message. Teach the people, He said, "to observe all
things whatsoever I have commanded you." The disciples were to teach
what Christ had taught. That which He had spoken, not only in person,
but through all the prophets and teachers of the Old Testament, is here
included. Human teaching is shut out. There is no place for tradition,
for man's theories and conclusions, or for church legislation. No laws
ordained by ecclesiastical authority are included in the commission. …
Christ's name is their watchword, their badge of distinction, their bond
of union, the authority for their course of action, and the source of their
success. Nothing that does not bear His superscription is to be
recognized in His kingdom.

Review & Herald, Nov. 1, 1906

In this age, just prior to the second coming of Christ in the clouds of
heaven, God calls for men who will prepare a people to stand in the
great day of the Lord. Just such a work as that of John is to be carried
on in these last days. The Lord has given messages to his people,
through the instruments he has chosen, and he would have all give heed
to the admonitions and warnings he sends.

I will close this study, with this letter by the prophet of God!

What manner of persons ought we to be to whom all this rich light of

inheritance has been given? Concentrating all the influence of the past
with new and increased light of the present, accrued power is given to
all who will follow the light. Their faith will increase and be brought
into exercise at the present time, awakening an energy and an intensely
increased earnestness, and thorough dependence upon God for His
power to replenish the world and send the light of the Sun of
Righteousness to the ends of the earth. God has enriched the world in
The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 13
these last days proportionately with the increase of ungodliness if His
people will only lay hold of His priceless gift and bind up their every
interest with Him.—Letter 74a, 1897. {CTr 357.4}

========== The end of the Study =========

By Lantano Nabaala,
lantanonab@gmail.com
0722105446 / 0733361723
Glory to God!

The Offshoots, By Lantano Nabaala. 14