What role does the church play in the present truth, according to the Shepherd's Rod?
In the Shepherd’s Rod message, the church plays a central and prophetic role in the unfolding of present truth. The Rod teaches that while the Seventh-day Adventist Church is God’s appointed church, it is currently in need of reformation, purification, and restoration—a key part of the present truth for this time.
Here's a breakdown of the church’s role in the present truth, according to the Shepherd’s Rod:
1 Peter 4:17:
“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God...”
The Shepherd’s Rod identifies the “house of God” as the Seventh-day Adventist Church, where the judgment for the living begins—this is a major component of present truth.
Ezekiel 9 is interpreted as a literal purification of the church, where the faithful are sealed (the 144,000) and the unfaithful are slain by the angels with slaughter weapons. This is seen as the first phase of the judgment of the living.
The Rod teaches that before the Gospel can be proclaimed with power (Loud Cry), the church must be cleansed from sin and unfaithfulness.
Isaiah 52:1:
“Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion... for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.”
➡️ This purification prepares the church to become the purified instrument God will use to finish the work on earth.
The 144,000 are the firstfruits (Rev. 14:4) and are to be sealed from within the SDA Church.
Testimonies to Ministers, p. 445 (quoted by the Rod):
“The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out…”
➡️ The Rod insists that God will not start a new movement—He will cleanse and use the existing church to accomplish His final work.
Just as ancient Israel often drifted into apostasy, so too has the modern SDA Church, according to the Rod.
The Laodicean condition (Rev. 3:14–22) is described as lukewarmness, pride, and blindness, which must be remedied by heeding the call of present truth.
The Rod compares the church to ancient Judah just before Babylonian captivity—still God’s people, but in danger unless they repent.
Micah 6:9:
“Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.”
The Rod teaches that this command is a divine summons to the SDA Church to listen to the message of reproof, warning, and reform.
The “Rod” is seen as the voice of Christ through the writings of the Shepherd’s Rod, calling the church back to faithfulness.
After the purification, the church—now composed of the 144,000—will go forth in the Loud Cry, calling others (the “great multitude” of Rev. 7:9) out of Babylon.
The purified church becomes the living demonstration of God's power, reflecting His character and bringing in the final harvest.
According to the Shepherd's Rod, the church’s role in present truth includes:
Being the focus of the judgment of the living
Undergoing purification and reformation
Producing the 144,000 sealed servants
Becoming the instrument through which the Loud Cry is given
Fulfilling its prophetic destiny as the true Zion
The Rod does not reject the SDA Church—it calls for its reform and revival, emphasizing that God is still leading it, but will cleanse it before using it to finish the work.