“Yet gleaning grapes shall be left in it, as the shaking of an olive tree, two or three berries in the top of the uppermost bough, four or five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the Lord God of Israel.”48 The Adventist Church was shaken mightily during the bitter crisis of World War I. Only about 2% of the members continued to travel on the old historic path of Adventism.
This chart depicts the separation that took place during World War I. There are two roads that lead in different directions.
Let’s summarize by answering a few questions.
1. Who left the church?
2. Who left the truth?
3. Who left the narrow road?
4. Who were the faithful?
The church that supported the open and willful transgression of the fourth and sixth commandements could no longer claim to be guardians of the sacred law nor the remnant people of God.
On the other hand, those who obeyed the ten commandments, and did not participate in or support the destruction of human life can be considered “God’s faithful.”
John the Revelator clearly describes the characteristics of the faithful.
“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”49
Perhaps the following statement found in a German newspaper published in 1915 will shed additional light on the subject of separation in the Adventist church.
“Since the beginning of the war there has been a division among the Adventist people. During the duration of the war, the majority wanted to see the fundamental teachings set aside, by force if necessary. The others asked that the sanctification of Saturday (Sabbath) be allowed them, even in these times of stress. The opposing faction finally brought about the disfellowshipment from the Organization of the followers of the original principles of their faith.“50 The Pen of Inspiration records a description of the shaking that takes place from time to time. Such a shaking always causes a separation.
“I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God’s people.
“The number of this company had lessened. Some had been shaken out and left by the way.”51
At the close of the war, liberty was restored in Europe and the members who had been persecuted and disfellowshiped from Seventh-day Adventist churches all over Europe for refusing to participate in the war, found one another. Their primary concern was to seek reconciliation with those who had left the original platform of truth. Petitions were sent to the Adventist leaders expressing the Reformers’ desire for a hearing where the General Conference representatives would be present.