The need for the spiritual awakening and reformation today is more than apparent. Many become aware that mystic rituals and teachings which flatter the arrogant and self-righteous heart cannot satisfy the thirst of a soul. The attempts of religious reformation appear within the frame of traditional churches as well as beyond them.

Dissatisfied by the formalism and coldness of traditional Christianity, many turn their face to new ideals contained in a smiling face which, instead of worry and sorrow, shines with a joy of salvation and new life in Jesus Christ.

But, false theories about sanctification which are the consequence of neglecting God's Law, have produced people not being aware of their spiritual needs, that having opened the door to deceit and false reformation.

By neglecting God's moral Law, man loses the ability to discern good from evil; he is not able to discern Christ's righteousness from human righteousness,

A simple Christ's appeal from the God's Word directed to common sense induces a sinner to humiliate himself with confession of the stoniness and sinfulness of his own heart. The sinner usually reacts indifferently to the appeal of the Spirit. The awareness of that call is being suffocated in time, and so a graceful chance passes. Soon, the Satan appears with his fanatical appeal which flatters the motives of the man's non-reborn nature and his sentimental feelings. Such an appeal does not require from man to humiliate himself by throwing his righteousness and glory into ashes, but just flatters man's self-righteousness and therefore is accepted by him.

False religious reformation, which comes to being as reaction to the weakness of traditional Christianity and modern Protestantism, is a characteristic of the Pentecostal movement in the Protestantism, Charismatic movement in the Catholic Church and Godpraying movement in the Orthodox Church.

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FALSE REFORMATION

"But many of the revivals of modern times have presented a marked contrast to those manifestations of divine grace which in earlier days followed the labors of God's servants. It is true that a widespread interest is kindled, many profess conversion, and there are large accessions to the churches; nevertheless the results are not such as to warrant the belief that there has been a corresponding increase of real spiritual life. The light which flames up for a time soon dies out, leaving the darkness more dense than before.

Popular revivals are too often carried by appeals to the imagination, by exciting the emotions, by gratifying the love for what is new and startling. Converts thus gained have little desire to listen to Bible truth, little interest in the testimony of prophets and apostles. Unless a religious service has something of a sensational character, it has no attractions for them. A message which appeals to unimpassioned reason awakens no response. The plain warnings of God's word, relating directly to their eternal interests, are unheeded.

With every truly converted soul the relation to God and to eternal things will be the great topic of life. But where, in the popular churches of today, is the spirit of consecration to God? The converts do not renounce their pride and love of the world. They are no more willing to deny self, to take up the cross, and follow the meek and lowly Jesus, than before their conversion. Religion has become the sport of infidels and skeptics because so many who bear its name are ignorant of its principles. The power of godliness has well-nigh departed from many of the churches. Picnics, church theatricals, 464 church fairs, fine houses, personal display, have banished thoughts of God. Lands and goods and worldly occupations engross the mind, and things of eternal interest receive hardly a passing notice.

Notwithstanding the widespread declension of faith and piety, there are true followers of Christ in these churches. Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth, there will be, among the people of the Lord, such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. The Spirit and power of God will be poured out upon his children. At that time many will separate themselves from those churches in which the love of this world has supplanted love for God and his Word. Many, both of ministers and people, will gladly accept those great truths which God has caused to be proclaimed at this time, to prepare a people for the Lord's second coming. The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work; and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it, by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. Multitudes will exult that God is working marvelously for them, when the work is that of another spirit. Under a religious guise, Satan will seek to extend his influence over the Christian world.

In many of the revivals which have occurred during the last half century, the same influences have been at work, to a greater or less degree, that will be manifest in the more extensive movements of the future. There is an emotional excitement, a mingling of the true with the false, that is well adapted to mislead.

Yet none need be deceived. In the light of God's Word it is not difficult to determine the nature of these movements. Wherever men neglect the testimony of the Bible, turning away from those plain, soul-testing truths which require self-denial and renunciation of the world, there we may be sure that God's blessing is not bestowed. And by the rule which Christ himself has given, "Ye shall know them by their fruits," (1 Matt. 7:16) it is evident that these movements are not the work of the Spirit of God." (EGW GC 1888. 463-464)

Differently from Christians of the real reformation who retain the feeling of sinfulness of their nature but by Christ's grace and Christ's power live righteous lives, the bearers of false reformation retain their old sinful lives but feeling to be righteous (accepted by God). Jesus calls us to discern the really faithful ones from those being that just by name:

"Enter by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is easy, that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? So, every sound tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears evil fruit. A sound tree cannot bear evil fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits. Not every one who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.'" (Matthew 7:13-23)

THE THREE ANGELS' MESSAGE

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, as a testimony to all nations; and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14)

In the chapter 14 of the Revelation we find the repeating of this Jesus' prophecy with stressed order for preaching of those truths which are neglected during great apostasy of the Church and which represent a reprimand against the false religious reformation of today, which neglects the demands of God's law.

"Then I saw another angel flying in midheaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give him glory, for the hour of his judgment has come; and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water.'

Another angel, a second, followed, saying, 'Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, she who made all nations drink the wine of her impure passion.'

And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, 'If any one worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also shall drink the wine of God's wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.'

Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." (Revelation 14:6- 12)

The message "Fear God and give Him glory", spoken about by the first angel (Revelation 14:7), is a right message for our time. It induces us to face our life responsibility, to use our common sense and reexamine our relationship with God. The truth about God's judgement should induce us to become aware of the need for the Redeemer and His robes of justice. The First Angel's message also invites us to express the neglected respect for God as the Creator of Heaven and Earth in the way defined by Him through His moral law (Genesis 20:8-11). In that way the news of the first angel elevate the neglected authority of God as the One who had created the world in six days, contrary to the accepted belief in the evolution theory which denies God's creative power and God's character.

Many, when speak of the way of expressing of love toward God and neighbor, claim that "one should not be formalist". They say: "It is all the same what way you express your love, if you are sincere about it!" However, is our love really a love if it in its expressing does not take into consideration the volition of the one we love? Some say: "What God is it if He does not accept me with the service I like to offer to Him?"

We must have in mind that God's commandments are not given to represent the test of God's love toward us but they represent the test of our love toward God. They help us to see the weakness of our own righteousness in order to rely upon God's righteousness.

Man did not give the commandments to God, but God gave the commandments to man and therefore they are called God's commandments and not man's commandments.

Regarding many who consider themselves godly, their stories about great love toward the One Who has saved them from the slavery of sin are only the stories. When they should confirm it by the obedience to God's will expressed through His law, their hearts remain indifferent. To calm their conscience before their disobedience, they give an excuse that the form of obedience is not what is important so much. Thereby they reveal, contrary to their claims, that the form is actually very important to them. It is hard for them to renounce their form for the sake of the form defined by God's word as an expression of their love toward Him. They have other gods to whom they are more obedient both essentially and formally.

Without the call of the First Angel's Message many could not become aware of the sinfulness of the motives making them religious. The First Angel's Message, dealing with the form of the love toward God, touching the authority of people's customs and tradition, induces man to examine himself whether he really listens to and believes in God's or man's word.

The Second Angel's Message (Revelation 14:8) speaks of the spiritual fall of Babylon, the false religion which "quenched the thirst of all peoples". Instead "the water of life" it gave "poisonous wine of its whoredom".

The Third Angel's Message (Revelation 14:9-11) declares damnation over those who has, by rejecting the authority of God's word, acknowledged the supreme authority of political and religious system which had put itself in the place of God and dared to have changed God's law (Daniel 7:25).

God's word speaks that apostatized churches will unify in the common points of their teachings, relying upon the political power (Revelation 17:2) and persecute those who are really faithful to God and the authority of His word. The majority of the world will have the form of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5) while those who are really faithful to God will be in minority (Luke 18:8).

Jesus says:

"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation, and put you to death; and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake." (Matthew 24:9)

The trial rock will be in keeping of all of the Ten God's commandments. The temptation will be the accepting of the changed commandments and thus paying homage to the Anti-Christ. (Daniel 7:25)

God will interfere in the last moment by His Second coming and thus save His people (2 Thessalonians 2:8).

The acceptance of the call of The Three Angels' Message results in faithful God's remainder "who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).