Read Zech. 13:1
The focal point of this Scripture is that there shall be a fountain opened to the purified church (the House of David) for sin and uncleanness.
To what time does Zechariah’s prophecy apply?
2SR 290
“It was previously explained that Zechariah's prophecy is applicable to the church in the time of the "Loud Cry." Thus it becomes present truth. We quote from Zechariah 12:8. "In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them" -- before the great multitude of Revelation 7:9. {2SR 290.1}
What is one of the names of the church in the time of the Loud Cry?
2SR 290
“The church in her purity is called by these Scriptures, "The house of David." Therefore, this term becomes one of the names of the church in the time of the "Loud Cry." Thus the church under this name shall be as God before the people… {2SR 290.2}
What two things will this fountain wash away?
2SR 290, 291
“"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanliness." (Zech. 13:1.) Note that this fountain is able to wash away two things; first sin, and second uncleanness. What is the difference between the one and the other? "Sin is the transgression of the law." (1 John 3:4.) And the result of sin is the decay of the body. "Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue out of his flesh, because of his issue he is unclean." (Lev. 15:2.) The Biblical term for sickness is, "Uncleanness."…
“…God is able to heal the soul and the body; but He will not heal the latter before He has healed the former -- "sin" first, then "uncleanness." "I will also save you from all your uncleanness: and I will call for corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you." (Ezek. 36:29.) The power that is able to wash away the filthiness of any man, is "opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem" and is represented by the "fountain" of Zechariah's prophecy. {2SR 291.1}
When will this fountain open?
8T 18
“When this fountain "for sin and for uncleanness" is finally opened "to the house of David," the crowning evidence will be seen that the consolidation of the two kingdoms is an accomplished fact, and that the time has come for the proclamation of the gospel in all the world.” {8T 18.3}
1TG 18: 13, 14
“The phrase "in that day" points back to preceding events, back to the twelfth chapter. There we find that the event is the great mourning in Jerusalem (chapter 12, verses 12- 14). So "in that day," in the day of that great mourning, this fountain is to be opened.
“…that the house of David must come into existence before the cleansing fountain is opened;..” {1TG 18 14.3}
2TG: 44: 48
“The revival and reformation herein presented (Zech. 12:5-14; 13:1-5) -- mourning and heart searching caused by appreciativeness of God's great mercy and goodness -- shall be in the day the governors of Judah say, "The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my strength," in the day the Lord makes even the most feeble among them as David, and the house of David as God, as the angel of the Lord. {2TG 44: 48.1}
“When this thorough reformation takes place then the cleansing fountain shall be opened to the whole house of David…” {2TG 44: 48.2}
The work that this fountain will do and the time this work will be accomplished is also seen in Ezek. 36: 25, 29 and Ezek. 37: 23.
9Tr. 48, 49
At this nearing time, when the Lord's people who have been scattered will be gathered "from among the heathen," and brought into their "own land," their hearts will be changed; then it will be said in effect: "whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for His seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." 1 John 3 :9. Then shall the law of sin, now dominant in the natural heart, no longer exist. Thus freed from sin's tyranny, the "stony heart" shall be
replaced with a "heart of flesh" with the law of God inscribed upon it forever.
1TG 51: 11, 12
(Ezek. 36:25) This thorough and final cleansing, you see, is obtained only after the Church triumphant moves into the Promised Land...
2TG 3: 6
(Ezek. 36:23-26) Plain it is to see that before you and I can be ready for translation, we must first be ready to go into the Promised Land, there to be cleansed, there to have our stony hearts removed. Yes, the only way to have this heart operation performed upon us is to let the Lord first gather us from among the heathen and bring us into our own land. For "then will I," says the Lord, "sprinkle clean water upon you," and "a new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you."
2TG 4: 15
(Ezek. 37:23) After the subjects of the kingdoms of Judah and Israel are gathered from among the heathen nations and they themselves become a nation and a kingdom "then" they are to be cleansed, and not before say the Scriptures.
2TG 23: 12
(Ezek. 36:24-28) …"Then," at that time, says Inspiration, not before, will He sprinkle clean water upon us, cleanse us from all filthiness, and from all idols. Also, a new heart will He then put in us (Ezek. 36:26). He will give us His Spirit and cause us to comply with His statutes, and to keep His judgments (Ezek. 36:27).
2TG 33: 13
(Ezek. 36:24-29) None of the living can actually be cleansed from all their marks of sin while among the Gentile nations, you see. They must first be separated from the hypocrites and Gentiles, then brought into their own land, there to be sprinkled with clean water, cleansed from all their filthiness and from all their idols, when they get to their own land, not before. Even a new heart is to be given them there, and a new spirit also. Thus will the Lord cause them to walk in His statutes and keep His judgments forevermore. Thus shall they return and dwell in the land of their fathers, Palestine, and thus shall they be God's people eternally.
2TG 42: 35
(Ezek. 36:23-25) We are here told that the final cleansing of the saints, the cleansing that removes all the marks of sin, is performed after God takes His people from among the heathen and from all countries, and brings them into their own land.
2TG 43: 13
(Ezek. 36:22-28) …All of us should carefully note that the Lord is to sanctify Himself by taking His elect from among the heathen, and out of all countries, and bring them into their own land, into the land of their fathers. "Then," when they return into their father's land, says the scripture, will He sprinkle clean water upon them, and thus shall they be cleansed from all their filthiness and from all their idols. Then and there they are to be given a new heart, and a new spirit, and be made to walk in God's statutes and to keep His judgments.
2TG 44: 45, 46
(Ezek. 36:23-28) Here are additional signs, signs which are displayed within and without the man himself: the scars and defects which sin has written upon the bodies of God's people are washed away;…
When does this take place? -- After God takes His saints "from among the heathen," "out of all countries," and brings them into their "own land," say the Scriptures. Thus shall they dwell in the land that God anciently gave to their fathers, and thus shall they be His people and He their God. Here you see that no one can meet God face to face and live with Him eternally without first having this body-cleansing and heart-changing experience.
2TG 46: 37
(Ezek. 36:22-28) Note how clear these verses make the picture -- that what God does for His people, He does, not because they are worthy of it, but for the sake of His own name; that He does it not before, but after, He takes them out of all countries and brings them into their own land; that He then and there cleanses them and changes their hearts. All of which shows that as long as His people are commingled with the tares, and live among the Gentiles, they can never be fitted for translation. Obviously, therefore, the land of our fathers is to be our final and superb dressing chamber to fit us for the society of pure, sinless, eternal beings.
Is not the fountain already opened, before the Kingdom?
DA: 646; PK 695; PP 413; SD 221; TM 450
In these and other references, Sis. White applied Zech. 13: 1 to Christ and His cleansing blood. The Rod applied the prophecy of Zech. 13: 1 to the purified church or kingdom, in the time of the Loud Cry, the context in which it is used in the Bible. Sis. White, not having light regarding the work of this fountain in the kingdom, made these references in incidental terms of truth as it was at the time seen or commonly understood (2Ans. 78). Therefore, these references should not be used to make a case for the opening of the fountain, either in part or in full. When the power represented by this fountain is opened in the Kingdom, it will do a special work for God’s people which was never done in the past nor is currently being done. A work in which the marks of sin, the causes of disease will be removed, allowing God’s people to live forever without cause to repent. All of us who are beneficiaries of Christ’s cleansing blood are still sinning and getting sick. Thank God this will all end when the House of David comes into existence.
2Ans. 74
“…we are not given license to harmonize the Bible with any other writings, but are charged to measure all others by It.”
1Ans. 48
Remember, too, that the practice of comparing statements stripped of their context is fundamentally disingenuous, and leads today to as many perversions and misapplications of truth as does the deliberate wresting practiced in Satan's challenge to Christ:..
2Ans. 78
Of necessity, any statements relative to a subject which is still out of sight in the unfolding of the Scroll, are made only in incidental terms of truth as it is at the time seen or commonly understood. And if the common understanding of these incidental
statements be wrong, the writer cannot be held responsible for that which he has borrowed from others or seen but very dimly and therefore expressed very indefinitely. 2TG 8: 27
Our final cleansing is to be in our own land. The Scriptures, you see, are correlated; one truth explains another. Verses and chapters, therefore, cannot be isolated from their context if they are to be rightly understood. A correct idea cannot be built upon any one verse when isolated from its continuity. And only when we take God at His word can we in truth study the Scriptures.
As students of the Rod, we cannot say that the fountain of Zech. 13: 1 is opened, either in part or in full because Sis. White applied it to the cleansing power of Christ’s blood. The blood of Christ is indeed cleansing us from sin now but the fountain is not now opened because the work it is to do is not being done at this time.
Since the fountain is not now opened, how will we be cleansed “from sin” as a pre- requisite for entrance into the kingdom?
1SM: 367
Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of His Son to the sinner's account. Christ's righteousness is accepted in place of man's failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as He loves His Son. This is how faith is accounted righteousness;… {1SM 367.1}
Christ’s Righteousness through faith cleanses us.
2 Ans. 34
Therefore, as the sealing message makes its way through the church, only those who awake and reform (sigh) and endeavor to share with others (cry) the light that is shining upon them, receive the seal. They are then accounted sinless through the perfection of Christ imparted in their behalf until they are given the "new heart" promised in Ezekiel 36:26, after which they will be forever sinless--forever without cause to repent.
We’re accounted sinless by Christ’s imparted righteousness.
2TG 42: 36
When the saints get to the Promised Land, then the sin-indulgent heart, the stony heart, is taken away and a heart of righteous desires, a fleshy heart, is given. No longer will God's people fight temptations from within in order to do righteousness. To them, in the period of the fleshly heart, it will be natural to do righteousness whereas now during the period of the stony heart it is natural to do unrighteousness.
We are cleansed from sin before the Kingdom by the impartation of Christ’s righteousness. The cleansing from “sin” is the same as the removal of the “stony heart” which is our sinful nature. This takes place, of course, in the land of Palestine.
"Take Heed Lest Ye Fall"
See 2 SC 11.p.3 par 1-2
" Vol. 2, p. 81.
Gospel Workers," p. 105
"Testimonies for the Church," Vol. 5, p. 97. See 2 SC 11.p.3 par 9-
Vol. 1, pp. 188, 189, 190.
Vol. 1 Symbolic Code No. 16.p. 5 par7-9
The Lord commands the angel with the writer's ink horn to go and "set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof" -- in the church -- so that when the men with the slaughter weapons start slaying they may pass by those who have the mark. To sigh and cry for the abominations is a sign of reformation and as reformation never takes place without a revelation of some new truth, it is evident that the message must be brought to every one's attention and if the individual does not reform at the moment he is convinced of the truth, neither will he do it later. Therefore, as the sealing message makes its way through the church, those who awake and reform (sigh) and endeavor to enlighten others by the light that is shining upon them (cry), he receives the seal.
Says the Lord: "When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand."
Therefore, if such an individual can not live without sinning now, neither will he later, and as he cannot deceive God, he is left without the seal though he may acknowledge the truth in the message. However, a true Christian never boasts of having attained perfection, but will rather exclaim with the prophet: "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eye have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." (Isa. 6:5.)
If any sin be committed by such an one, it will not be a known or willful sin. "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (Jas. 4:17), and not to the other. Consequently, he who avails himself of every opportunity to know the truth and zealously does all he knows, it is "counted unto him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3) living without sin.
The Fountain is the source of the River in Ezekiel 47
AA 13
Wonderful is the work which the Lord designs to accomplish through His church, that His name may be glorified. A picture of this work is given in Ezekiel's vision of the river of healing:.. {AA 13.1}
6T 227
From this fountain flows the mighty river seen in Ezekiel's vision… {6T 227.3}
Read Ezek. 47: 1-12
2SR 292, 294
It will be noticed that as Ezekiel first saw the waters by the side of the altar, they were of little significance in comparison with that which he saw outside the gate. As the tiny rivulet immediately swells into a mighty river, it represents something of very rapid growth. These waters denote the same as the waters in Revelation 17:15, "Peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues." For the angel said to Ezekiel: "Which being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed." (Ezek. 47:8.) Therefore, these waters represent a very great multitude "which no man could number" that shall be healed from sin and disease, saved in the time of the "loud cry" through the ministry of the "house of David" (the church). As Ezekiel could not swim this river, the symbol is in perfect harmony with Revelation 7:9, "A great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues... clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands."
2SR 296, 297, 298
"Then said he unto me, These waters issue out towards the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea." (Ezek. 47:8.) It is remarkable to note how perfect these symbols are in each instance. This direction of the compass denotes that the message of the "loud cry" is to start eastward when it is first revealed. The church membership being largely east of California and across the Atlantic, naturally the message must start toward the east. This symbolical prophecy reveals that the message of the "loud cry" is to originate in California. Thus fulfilling the prophetic words of the "Spirit of Prophecy" in a letter to Elder E. E. Andross: "I feel confident Elder Andross, that the brethren in Southern California will find a blessing in reviewing the teachings of the Scripture concerning the 144,000…"
"And it shall come to pass, that the fishers shall stand upon it from En-gedi even unto En- eglaim; they [the two cities] shall be a place to spread forth nets." (Ezek. 47:10.) These two cities reveal that the fish are caught in two places, En-gedi (S.D.A. church) where the 144,000 are gathered -- the first fruits. En-eglaim (Babylon or the world) where the great multitude of Revelation 7:9 are gathered. The diagram on the chart, page 294, represents the S.D.A. church (En-gedi) as it becomes the "House of David," and the place of the river (En-eglaim) denotes the world. The stream from the fountain where it first starts to he east gate, represents the 144,000, and the river stands for the great multitude…"
Since the power represented by the fountain is opened to the kingdom church in the time of the Loud Cry, then the 144,000 and the Great Multitude, represented by the stream
and river respectively, can only benefit from this cleansing power during the Loud Cry time.
HEADQUARTERS LOCATION
In which country is God’s Headquarters to be established?
8TR: 24
And as according to Daniel 4:20-22, trees are figurative of rulers, therefore the trees in this instance represent "the ancient men...before the house" (Ezek. 9:6) -- a fact which reveals that in this period, the church's headquarters are in the two-horned beast's dominion -- the New World, "the earth."
1TG 5:9, 10
Isa. 2:7 -- "Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots."
The house of Jacob to which God is here speaking is again identified by the fact that it dwells in a land that is full of silver, of gold, and of chariots, that there is no end to the number of them. Since there is no land in all God's world that is as rich with silver, gold and motor vehicular traffic as is this land of the United States of America, very obviously America, the land where the headquarters of the gospel is, is the land to which God refers…
11SC 8: 9
And it was after Jonah came on shore that God met him the second time and told him to take a message to Nineveh. This shows that a message was due to arise sometime in the new world with a prediction concerning Nineveh. And the fish was a type of the providential circumstances which God used to bring His people to the new world. The message Jonah was to bear to Nineveh is a type of our message arising in the new world, America.
Exactly where in the USA is God’s Headquarters to be established?
12SC 5: 18.
But the Jacobites are not yet on Mt. Zion with the Lamb. Instead, they are in antitypical Padan-aram where God is sustaining them apart from the Esauites in the church. That is why one part of the Adventists are in Washington, D.C. and the other part is in Texas.
They are unable to get along together.
1SC 10: 1
In order to fulfill the call we must build the "fort," cast the amount," set the "camp," and the "battering rams against it round about -- "This shall be a sign to the house of Israel." (Ezek. 4:3.) Hence, the first question to be asked is, Where shall we build? The answer comes from Him Who "is taking the reins in His own hands" (Testimonies to Ministers, 300): "In that day shall Israel be...even a blessing in the midst of the land." (Isa. 19:24.)
Consequently, the Lone Star state, being in the midst of the land for both Americas, North and South, is the place where we must set the "camp," so that the light may be equally diffused east and west, north and south. Moreover, the "camp" from where the "battering rams" are to be sent, naturally must be centrally located so that the distance between the "rams" and the "camp" may be cut down to one half, thus reducing the time and the cost for transportation and supplies as well as for mailing. We thank God for such a wise plan as this.
Therefore, He has given us one of His beautiful lakeside hills adjacent to Waco, Texas, a city of about 60,000, yet far enough from it to be away from the world and its evil environment -- about 5 miles from the center of the city, and about 2 1/2 miles from the city limits. There lies 189 acres of land for our "camp."
1SC 16: 1
We are happy to announce that the headquarters office of the sealing message moved from Waco to Mt. Carmel Center on September 29 to its new and permanent home location for the proclamation of the message of the "True Witness to the Laodiceans." -- "Testimonies for the Church," Vol. 3, p. 253.
Observe that Isaiah. 19: 24 is used to determine the location of Headquarters in Waco, Texas. This scripture is also applied to the location of the kingdom. See:
14Tr 17
Indeed, it is for "a blessing in the midst of the land," even to all nations, that He is to effect THE CHURCH'S LIBERATION FROM "ASSYRIAN" YOKE.
Why did the prophet move the Headquarters from California to Waco, Texas? What direction was followed to get to Texas?
3SC11, 12: 3
…in 1935 when, for lack of room, and to be more centrally located for the two Americas, the Association removed to its present location--Mt. Carmel Center, Waco, Texas.
1SC 10: 3
It has been evident for some time that it would soon be necessary to seek a more central location for the office in order to serve the whole field efficiently, so those at headquarters have been praying very earnestly over this matter for many months, and as they kept on praying for light, the Lord finally indicated definitely that beautiful Southern California was no longer to remain the center of His work for the "lost sheep of the house of Israel," but an eastward course was to be seen in the stream from that "fountain" which is to swell Into the great river of Ezekiel's prophecy, and plans were soon formulated whereby a thorough search could be made In the territory indicated by the Lord where the future headquarters were to be found.
Observe that a direction is seen in the stream flowing from the fountain, not a location
for Headquarters.
Other references pointing to Mt. Carmel:
2SC 8:7
We believe with all our hearts that God led in the establishment of Mt. Carmel Center, "in the midst of the land," and that from that divinely ordained hill should flow the "milk and honey" for the "remnant of Jacob."
1SC 11, 12: 2
In His significant number, seven days almost to the hour, we arrived the very spot where, with the help of the Lord we are now endeavoring to erect the "camp" of Ezek. 4:2, from which the burden of the work is to be carried for the church in all the world, as explained in the April "Code." It was on this sacred spot that we ate our lunch at about 1 P.M. Friday, praising God for His tender care over the group on the entire journey.
2 SC 5, 6: 3
Inasmuch as Present Truth believers are faithfully straining their ears in an anxious endeavor to catch all the news waves from this anti-typical hill of "green pastures," to which the prophet Micah's attention was called long ago (Micah 7:14), we fear they will be greatly disappointed if we say nothing of its activities; therefore, we are happy to send forth a few lines of greeting from Mother Nature at Mt. Carmel.
1TG 28: 16
This Rod of God not only speaks, but It feeds, too. And what can It be if not "meat in due season"? if not the message of the hour? The people, explains the scripture, are those who dwell solitarily in the woods, in the midst of Carmel. Prophecy, for this day and hour recommends the message which the Rod contains, and which Carmel puts out, none other.
Carmel is a literal place. Its address is printed at the beginning of each study in the Timely Greetings. It also has a spiritual mission, which is to feed and nourish God’s people. The under-mentioned reference shows that some people want us to spiritualize Mt. Carmel Center.
5SC 6-12: 12
Because we have held to the symbolical key of interpretation on the subject of the seven trumpets, concerning which subject you confess that you "cannot refute the explanation," you want us to symbolize everything we read in the Bible, or it amounts to that, for you tell us that we must interpret the "camp" of Ezekiel 4:2 to be symbolical.
When will Carmel whither and become deserted?
2TG 41: 7
Amos 1:2 -- "The Lord will roar from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the habitations of the shepherds shall mourn, and the top of Carmel shall wither."
This scripture, you see, reflects the tragedy which took place on the top of Carmel in the days of Elijah. Here we are given the hint that there is to be another show-down between the prophet of God and the prophets of Baal…
At the Showdown for the Church. This must be Ezekiel 9, which is yet future
1SR Tr. 75
"Set the camp also against it"; that is, make a temporary lodging place for your workers, Headquarters from which to carry on the work, and make preparation to remain there until you have conquered the city. This is the devout purpose in building Mt. Carmel Center, this is its given goal.
When the city is conquered.
11 SC 12: 30-34 or 1 SC 14: 5-7.- Here Brother Houteff gives a double application to Amos 1:2. He shows that the closing of probation for the church and the world is symbolized by the withering of Carmel. That both events are yet future.
What was the purpose of the extra piece of land which brother Houteff brought?
2SC 10: 2.
We are happy to announce that Mt. Carmel's area is now nearly doubled by the purchase of another tract of land adjoining our original holdings of 189 acres, making a total of 375 acres; and we feel certain that all Present Truth believers will be delighted to know that the acquisition of this additional acreage will make it possible, for those who wish to live independently of the regulations governing Mt. Carmel, to build dwellings for themselves on a most beautiful lake-view frontage, overlooking Lake Waco from an elevation of about 200 feet, besides giving us a better road system, lake water-edge, and about two and one-half miles of highway frontage.
Why did Brother Houteff decide to sell the excess land in 1954?
10SC 1: 6
Be it, therefore, known that part of Mount Carmel property is being subdivided for high class residences beginning at the old peach orchard near the Mount Carmel entrance.
Then who knows, but the Lord, that this heart stirring example may soon turn into a sounding alarm and be followed by every faithful Davidian believer throughout the land. Even now, the Lord’s example to raise funds by disposing of His possessions, is a loud cry to every Davidian to awake to the fact that he is privileged to join the campaign with faithful tithe and offering at first, and at last to swell the funds by giving everything so that the work may be finished and the saints be gathered home!
10 SC 2: 11.
Still ringing in the ears of Mt. Carmel was the starting announcement in July, telling of the beginning of the sale of Mt. Carmel property and of the preparation for an all-out effort to recapture the Church from the hands of the Enemy.
To acquire extra funds to send more fishers and hunters into the field, the land was being sold a portion at a time as the need arose. This was according to the program outlined by the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, in which the Lord was teaching us when to sell and how much to sell (10SC 1: 3-5)). All of Mt. Carmel’s property would eventually be sold when the ‘city is conquered’ (1SR Tr. 75), then we go to the Kingdom.
Thus the sale of Mt. Carmel’s property commenced with the Old Peach Orchard (10 SC 1: 6) because it was the nearest area to the city. On this piece of land, the Davidian Association was building high class residences to keep the city proper from coming any closer to the camp (10 SC 2: 12). The name of the first street in the subdivision was and still is “Charboneau Drive.”
The Davidians during 1955 to 1960 did not receive any command to sell all off Mt. Carmel’s property. Those who ran ahead and sold the whole camp were unfaithful. They subsequently denounced the message. While the excess property was being sold, a large new print shop was being built on the property:
10 SC 2: 19.
The finishing touches are being placed on the new printing building, and before long it should be ready for occupancy, thus giving more needed office space in B-8, the central office building, which now houses the printing and publishing departments as well as the correspondence department.
There is no evidence that Brother Houteff was selling the land because he wanted to relocate the Headquarters on the East Coast or anywhere else. There is no command from the Lord to move Mt. Carmel out of Texas. There are indications that the devil wants to tear down old Mt. Carmel Center.
3SC 11, 12: 2
It will be seen by the following paragraphs that the enemy of truth is determined that light shall not reach the people ("Testimonies to Ministers," p. 411), also that he is doing everything to tear down Mt. Carmel Center and the work she is carrying on.
GC at Takoma Park Washington, DC and Mt.. Carmel at Waco, Texas
LS 394, 395
During the latter part of July, 1903, representative brethren from many parts of the field met in Washington, D. C., and proceeded at once to inspect the outlying portions of the District of Columbia for suitable properties. Morning by morning, before going out, they met to pray earnestly for divine guidance. And their prayers were signally answered. In Takoma Park, one of the most attractive and healthful of the towns near Washington, was found a tract of fifty acres, which seemed to meet all requirements. With an altitude of about three hundred feet, the tract was only seven miles from the capitol building, and within the limits of Takoma Park, thus having the advantages of postal services, gas, water, sewerage, and streets; and at the same time it was sufficiently isolated by dense forests to have the added advantages of a retired country estate. The property was covered with hundreds of native trees; and across one side of it, yet inside the boundary line, ran a picturesque stream fed by living springs. {LS 394.3}
1SC 10: 1
Therefore, He has given us one of His beautiful lakeside hills adjacent to Waco, Texas, a city of about 60,000, yet far enough from it to be away from the world and its evil environment -- about 5 miles from the center of the city, and about 2 1/2 miles from the city limits. There lies 189 acres of land for our "camp."
New GC Location
Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, since 1989, the church headquarters building, known as the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, houses and supports the administration of one of the world's fastest growing churches.
The church purchased 26 acres of land in 1969 as an option for their future needs. The land was part of a farm owned by a Colonel Connelly and was beyond the major urban areas at the time. The old headquarters had been located in Takoma Park, Maryland, since 1904 and the growing needs of the church had resulted in a mix of old buildings, additions to buildings and newer buildings, all squeezed into what had become a crowded urban area. In addition, the street in front of the old General Conference building was the boundary between Washington, D.C. and Maryland and consequently some buildings had a Maryland address and others were in Washington.
The Lord choose for the Headquarters of the GC, a place that was within the limits of Takoma Park and just seven miles from the nation’s Capital building. Surely, He must have known that it would become a crowded urban area. Yet He choose it for the Headquarters of the GC.
The city of Waco has extended since Bro. Houteff’s time but the Headquarters is in a peaceful and quiet location. The Lord gave us no instruction to leave before the completion of the work for the church. He knows exactly what He is doing. Who are we to question Him?