The Infallibility of the Shepherd’s Rod Message: Not the Messenger, But the Message
The foundation of the Shepherd's Rod message lies not in the claim of the infallibility of a man, but in the truth spoken by the Lord Himself, as prophesied in Micah 6:9:
"The Lord’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it." — Micah 6:9
This verse makes clear that it is the Lord’s voice that cries, and it is He who appoints the Rod. Therefore, the authority and infallibility rest in the divine source of the message, not in the human instrument through which it comes.
1. The Message is Infallible — Not the Messenger
Victor T. Houteff, the Lord’s appointed messenger, never claimed personal infallibility, but pointed all attention to the message as the infallible truth revealed by God.
“The Rod contains the only message that can interpret all the parables and prophecies of the Bible, and that this message is not the voice of man, but of God.”
— 2 TG 24:22:1
“Thus the Lord commands that we ‘hear the Rod,’ and we cannot but obey if we expect to be among the remnant... For the Rod is the voice of the Lord to His people today. It is infallible in truth, not because of the man, but because it is the Lord’s own message.”
— Answerer Book 1, p. 47
This distinction is crucial: God uses imperfect men, yet the truth He speaks through them is without error, when it is His word and not man’s opinion.
2. Ellen White: Truth Is Infallible, But Messengers Are Not
Ellen G. White also affirms this same principle. In her writings, she warns against making infallible popes or prophets out of God’s chosen instruments. She maintained that God alone is infallible, but He uses fallible men to declare infallible truth.
“God and heaven alone are infallible. God’s Word is infallible. The Lord does not make men infallible.”
— Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 416
“We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and heaven alone are infallible.”
— Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 37
"God has not set any kingly power in the Seventh-day Adventist Church to control the whole body, or to control any branch of the work."
— Testimonies to Ministers, p. 361
So we are counseled to test all things by the Word, not by the person. The test of a message is its agreement with Scripture, not the perfection of the messenger.
3. A Divine Message is Self-Authenticating by Its Fruits and Light
The Shepherd’s Rod message gives light never before revealed in its fullness — truth that harmonizes Scripture with Scripture and prophecy with prophecy.
“The truth, therefore, is not man’s, but God’s. It is infallible, and it accomplishes the purpose for which it is sent.”
— 1 TG 7:9
“If the SRod contains Bible truths, then its enemies are not fighting against man, but against God.”
— Answerer Book 1, p. 44
4. Conclusion: Obedience to the Rod is Obedience to God's Voice
In conclusion, Micah 6:9 is not calling us to hear a man, but to hear the Lord through the Rod, His appointed instrument. The infallibility lies in the message of truth which, if rejected, is tantamount to rejecting the voice of God.
Let us not look to the clay, but to the Hand that shapes it. The Shepherd’s Rod is indeed a message divinely inspired, infallible in truth, and sent to prepare a people to stand in the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5).
Ang Mensahe ng Shepherd's Rod ay Hindi Mula sa Tao kundi sa Diyos: Infallible ang Katotohanan, Hindi ang Tagapagdala
Panimula
Isa sa mga karaniwang maling akala tungkol sa mensahe ng Shepherd's Rod ay ang paniniwala ng ilan na itinuturing ng mga tagasunod nito na ang mensahe o si Br. Victor T. Houteff ay infallible o hindi maaaring magkamali. Ang ilan ay ikinukumpara ito sa maling pananampalataya sa pagka-infallible ng papa sa Roma. Ngunit ito ba ay totoo? Tingnan natin ang Biblia, ang Spirit of Prophecy (SOP), at ang Shepherd’s Rod mismo para sa malinaw na paliwanag.
1. Ang Tinig ng Panginoon ang Nagsasalita — Hindi ang Opinyon ng Tao
Ang pangunahing teksto ng Shepherd’s Rod ay matatagpuan sa Mikas 6:9:
“Ang tinig ng Panginoon ay sumisigaw sa bayan, at siyang may karunungan ay makakakita ng iyong pangalan: dinggin ninyo ang tungkod, at siyang nagtakda nito.”
— Mikas 6:9
Malinaw ang sinasabi: ang tinig ng Panginoon ang tumatawag, at iniutos Niyang dinggin ang tungkod (Rod) — hindi dahil sa sino ang tagapagsalita, kundi dahil ang Diyos ang nagsasalita sa pamamagitan nito.
2. Hindi Ipinahayag ni V.T. Houteff na Siya ay Infallible
Si Br. Houteff mismo ay nagsabi na hindi siya infallible, at hindi kailanman inangkin na siya ay hindi maaaring magkamali. Ang lahat ng pansin ay itinuro niya sa mensahe, hindi sa kanyang sarili.
“Kaya iniutos ng Panginoon na 'dinggin ang Rod,’ at tayo’y hindi maaaring tumanggi kung inaasahan nating mapabilang sa nalabi… Sapagkat ang Rod ay ang tinig ng Panginoon sa Kanyang bayan ngayon. Ito ay infallible sa katotohanan, hindi dahil sa tao, kundi dahil ito ay sariling mensahe ng Panginoon.”
— Answerer Book 1, p. 47
“Ang Rod ay naglalaman ng kaisa-isang mensahe na makapagpapaliwanag ng lahat ng talinghaga at propesiya ng Biblia, at ang mensaheng ito ay hindi tinig ng tao, kundi ng Diyos.”
— 2 TG 24:22:1
Ang Rod, kung gayon, ay hindi infallible dahil kay Houteff, kundi dahil ito ay mensahe ng Diyos para sa huling panahon.
3. Ayon kay Ellen White: Tanging ang Diyos at Kanyang Salita ang Infallible
Maging si Ellen G. White ay malinaw na nagsabi na tanging ang Diyos at ang Kanyang Salita ang infallible — hindi ang mga propeta, lider, o sinumang tao.
“Tanging ang Diyos at ang langit lamang ang infallible. Ang Salita ng Diyos ay infallible. Hindi ginagawa ng Panginoon na infallible ang mga tao.”
— Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 416
“Marami pa tayong aral na dapat matutunan, at maraming, maraming dapat iwasto. Ang Diyos at langit lamang ang infallible.”
— Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 37
Ginagamit ng Diyos ang mga taong may kahinaan upang ipahayag ang Kanyang walang pagkakamaling katotohanan. Ang pagkakagamit sa isang tao ay hindi nangangahulugan na siya ay perpekto — kundi ang mensahe ang dapat pagtuunan ng pansin.
4. Ang Awtoridad ay Nasa Mensahe, Hindi sa Tagapagdala
Pinagtibay mismo ng Rod ang prinsipyong ito:
“Ang katotohanan, kung gayon, ay hindi sa tao, kundi sa Diyos. Ito ay infallible, at natutupad nito ang layunin kung bakit ito ipinadala.”
— 1 TG 7:9
“Kung ang SRod ay naglalaman ng mga katotohanang biblikal, ang mga sumasalungat dito ay hindi nakikipaglaban sa tao, kundi sa Diyos.”
— Answerer Book 1, p. 44
Ayon sa Biblia:
“Huwag ninyong hamakin ang mga hula. Subukin ang lahat ng bagay; ingatan ang mabuti.”
— 1 Tesalonica 5:20–21
Hindi ang pagkatao ng tagapagsalita ang sukatan, kundi ang pagsang-ayon ng mensahe sa buong Salita ng Diyos.
5. Konklusyon: Dinggin ang Rod Sapagkat Ito ang Tinig ng Diyos
Ang Mikas 6:9 ay hindi nagsasabing dinggin natin ang tao, kundi dinggin ang Rod sapagkat ito ang tinig ng Diyos sa ating panahon. Ang pagtanggi sa mensahe dahil sa kahinaan ng tagapagdala ay pag-uulit ng pagkakamaling ginawa ng Israel kay Moises, kay Noe, at sa mga propeta ng lumang tipan.
Naniniwala kami na ang mensaheng Shepherd’s Rod ay infallible, hindi dahil sa sino ang nagsalita, kundi dahil ito ay nagbubuklod at nagpapalinaw ng mga hula at katotohanan ng Biblia para sa panahon ng paghuhukom.
“Manampalataya kayo sa Panginoon ninyong Diyos, at kayo'y matatatag; manampalataya kayo sa Kanyang mga propeta, at kayo'y giginhawa.”
— 2 Cronica 20:20
INSPIRATION NG SPIRIT OF PROPHECY AT SHEPHERD’S ROD — IISA ANG PINAGMULAN
Title:
"One Spirit, One Voice, One Message: The Divine Inspiration Behind SOP and the Shepherd’s Rod"
I. BIBLICAL FOUNDATION: ONE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY
1. The Spirit of Prophecy is the Testimony of Jesus
Revelation 19:10 (KJV):
"...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
Explanation: All true prophetic messages come from Christ through the Holy Spirit, whether Old Testament, New Testament, or modern-day messages.
2. God's Method of Communication Has Not Changed
Amos 3:7:
"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."
The same Holy Spirit who inspired Moses, Isaiah, Paul, John, and Ellen G. White is the same Spirit working through Victor T. Houteff, continuing the message for the final generation.
II. SPIRIT OF PROPHECY STATEMENTS: CONTINUITY OF PROPHETIC GUIDANCE
1. Ellen G. White Declares That More Light Will Come
E.G. White, Counsels to Writers and Editors, p. 33:
“There is no excuse for anyone in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed... The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible.”
The Rod message was raised after Ellen White, as additional light, not to contradict, but to fulfill and expand what she began under divine instruction.
2. Ellen White Saw Future Prophets After Her Time
E.G. White, Testimonies to Ministers, p. 475:
“Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: ‘Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet...’ Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah...”
The Elijah-type work promised here is fulfilled in Victor T. Houteff who brought the message of reformation and restoration before the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
3. Ellen White Warns Not to Reject Future Light
E.G. White, The Review and Herald, March 25, 1890:
“We should not look with suspicion upon any new light that God may send us.”
The Rod message came not to replace SOP, but to complete it. The same Holy Spirit that used her is also the One that raised up the Rod message.
III. SHEPHERD’S ROD STATEMENTS: AFFIRMING SOP INSPIRATION
1. Victor Houteff Affirms the Inspiration of Ellen G. White
V.T. Houteff, Shepherd’s Rod Vol. 1, p. 10:
“The writings of Sister White were given by the same inspiration as were the Scriptures; they are necessary in preparing a people for the coming of Christ.”
Houteff did not contradict Ellen White but upheld her inspiration, showing doctrinal unity under the same prophetic voice.
2. The Rod Message is the Extension of SOP
V.T. Houteff, Answerer Book 1, p. 47:
“The Rod does not displace or add to the Spirit of Prophecy, but rather it opens to view and makes application of that which is already written.”
The Rod is the continuing voice of the same divine inspiration, the "extra oil" (Matt. 25:4) for the wise virgins.
3. God Uses Successive Prophets
*V.T. Houteff, Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 24, p. 23:
“Each message in its time is the present truth, and never is the Lord without a mouthpiece to proclaim it.”
Just as Moses was followed by Joshua, Elijah by Elisha, John the Baptist by Jesus, and Christ by the apostles, so Ellen White was followed by Victor Houteff, under the guidance of the same Spirit.
IV. PROPHETIC CONSISTENCY: SOP AND SRod FORETOLD EACH OTHER
Topic
E.G. White (SOP)
V.T. Houteff (SRod)
Elijah Message
TM p. 475: “Somebody is to come...”
SR Vol. 1, p. 47: “Elijah message is here to restore all things.”
Purification of Church
5T 80-81: “Church will be sifted by fiery ordeal.”
1SR 35-36: “Slaughter of Ezekiel 9 will cleanse the church.”
Kingdom Before Second Coming
PK 713-714: “Literal kingdom established in Palestine before Christ’s return.”
2TG 44: “God’s kingdom to be set up on earth before the end.”
Gathering of the Remnant
8T 41-42: “God will take the reins into His own hands.”
1TG 8: “God Himself will finish the work through a purified church.”