Historical Documents Related to the Advance of the Shepherd’s Rod Message

During the research to restore the Shepherd’s Rod message to its original estate a number of documents related to the establishment and progression of the message were discovered in various locations including libraries, church archives, and personal collections. These documents, many of which are now available for the first time, can be downloaded at the links listed below. They reveal some interesting facts such as the Seventh-day Adventist church’s changing position on many doctrines that they once held as true, but then later changed in counter the light brought to focus by the subject from teachings published in the Rod. Also brought to light is the hostility of the church leadership to the Rod message and their open warfare against those church members who exercise their liberty of conscience to investigate its claims.

Doctrinal Teachings:

• Letter from EGW Estate, December 2, 1971 (PDF, 68 KB). An official reply from Arthur L. White, Secretary to the White Estate, to an inquiry regarding inspired statement(s) about the teaching of the “stone” in Dan. 2:45.
• Isaiah 65:20, The Little Season: SDA Documents (PDF, 4.4 MB). A collection of records from official SDA publications (ST, RH) around the 1900′s regarding the church teaching on the 100 years of Isa. 65:20, also known as the short space/little season found in Rev. 17:10, 20:3.
• The Test and Trial at Minneapolis, 1888 (PDF, 468 KB). A 10 page track containing a reprint of a letter written from Ellen White to Elder O. A. Olsen dated Sept. 1, 1892. It concerns the problem of the church attitude in rejecting the message brought by Elders Jones and Waggoner which revealed a lack of love to Jesus and for one another.
• Review and Herald, Centennial Special, 1844-1944 (PDF, 973 KB). A brief history documenting the rise of the three angels messages introduced to the church by William Miller (1st), Charles Fitch (2nd), and Joseph Bates/James Whites (3rd). These facts disprove the Roden-Branch theory about the five angels in Revelation 14.

Letters from V. T. Houteff and other Davidians to S. D. A. church leaders/members:

• Study on Leopard Beast in Revelation 13 by Bro. E. T. Wilson, sent to his ministerial brethren in 1946 (PDF, 164 KB)
• The Shepherd’s Rod–What Is It? (PDF, 57 KB) This two page document, sent to the General Conference in November 1940, described the purpose of The Shepherd’s Rod Publications, listed two books for sale, and the literature available for free distribution at that time.
• Insert Letter for Reporting Un-Adventist Activities (PDF, 34 KB) This one page appeal to church members from the “Research Committee of Un-Adventist Activities” was folded up and included inside the tract cover.

Official publications and teachings from the S. D. A. church related to the Rod message:

• Taylor Bunch Article, “144,000 Their Triumphs and Reward”, Signs of the Times, May 3, 1927 (PDF, 453 KB). The origin of the teaching regarding the 144,000 and the Great Multitude in Rev. 7 as two groups of living saints, the “first fruits” and “the second fruits” in the final harvest of souls at the end of probationary time.
• Taylor Bunch “Forty Years in the Wilderness”, 1925 (PDF, 517 KB). This 45 page tract revealed the parallels between the experiences of ancient Israel in the Exodus movement and Israel of today, the SDA church. Bro. Houteff made reference to this tract in three places in the original writings of the Rod (Tract No. 7, p. 44; Shepherd’s Rod Tract, p. 69, and Symbolic Code Vol. 2, No. 2, p. 2).
• “Certainties of the Advent Movement”, W. A. Spicer, 1929 (PDF, 846 KB). This book was referenced in Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 68 and Tract No. 7, p. 27 showing the parallels between the Exodus Movement and the Advent movement in type/antitype. This excerpt includes chapters 5 and 6 from the book which discuss this topic.
• First Quarter, Senior Sabbath School Lesson, 1929 (PDF, 1.85 MB). This is the SS Lesson covering Isaiah chapts. 54-66 that Bro. Houteff first began to receive inspired interpretations and shared them with his SS class which were later published in Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, pp. 135-65. It is interesting to compare private opinions versus inspired interpretations. See a reference to this SS Lesson in 1 SR Tract, p. 10.
• “General Conference Report–No. 2, 1930” (in part, PDF, 372K) as referenced in Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 198. (please notice interesting remarks against the 40 years in the wilderness doctrine on p. 40, left column).
• Review and Herald of Nov. 22, 1923 (in part, PDF, 249K) as referenced in Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 80. This report contains quotes recommending against book promotions and money raising goals on the Sabbath. How times have changed.
• Review and Herald, Oct. 10, 1929 (in part, PDF, 989 KB) as referenced in Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 107. An article entitled “The Remnant Church–Part II”. Draws many parallels between the exodus movement and the second advent movement commonly recognized as a type/antitype.
• Review and Herald, Jan. 23, 1930 (in part, PDF, 803 KB) as referenced in Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, pp. 88, 98-100, 107. This issue contains two different articles which both draw parallels between the Exodus movement and the Second Advent Movement. This was a persuasive teaching in the church at the time the Rod arrived on the scene.
• Review and Herald, May 1, 1930 (in part, PDF, 679 KB) as referenced in Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 107-08. Still further examples given between the Exodus experience and the Second Advent movement. The necessity for purification before entering the promised land emphasized. How times have changed.

The S. D. A. church warfare against the Shepherd’s Rod message:

Personal letters and testimonies from S. D. A.’s regarding the Shepherd’s Rod message:

Other Documents of Interest:

• Certificate of Fellowship Application Form, (PDF, 660 KB). This document includes an original “Application for Fellowship” form used by Mt. Carmel Center under Bro. Houteff’s administration along with a scan of an actual Fellowship card. The letter that was included with the card when it was issued is also included in retyped format.
• Bequethment Certificate (PDF, 215 KB) A benefit for the “Second Tithers Association of Davidian Seventh-day Adventists” first provided in September 1944 (Tract 13, 2nd Ed., p. 47). See also Answerer Book No. 5, pp. 61-63.