That is a good question.  But we can know that the one that gets in as president must be a puppet of TPTB, (the powers that be)

Another one is some are saying Obama will be the last one as he is an imposter and can't be put out for that reason nor can they impeach him as the supreme court will not take any case to oust him.  There has been many tries and no head way could be made.

It is believed by many he is there to destroy America and a great attempt of his was foiled over a yr. ago and around 3 months.

The top generals and admirals were fired as they stopped him.

The congress and house are about all puppets almost down to the last one.

It has come to a sad day in the church and the country and the whole world!

The next President does not have to be anybody's "puppet".  This talk is very detrimental to the Christian life, as it makes us feel disempowered, and more receptive to all kinds of not only conspiracy theories, but outright rebellion against the government.  I know, I've been there, and totally reject this kind of thinking now.

It is sad to think evil things of your own country, when there is very little evidence in favor of those things, and when God has explicitly told us not to say or do anything that may be misconstrued as rebellion against the govt.

Many of us SDAs on the "conservative" side are into these ridiculous theories, and frankly, it makes those who want to uphold God's words look ridiculous.

NB, can you please give the SOP quote that we are not to run for office?  And what do you mean by "the false prophet loves Ben C."?

webmaster wrote:

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The next President does not have to be anybody's "puppet".  This talk is very detrimental to the Christian life, as it makes us feel disempowered, and more receptive to all kinds of not only conspiracy theories, but outright rebellion against the government.  I know, I've been there, and totally reject this kind of thinking now.

It is sad to think evil things of your own country, when there is very little evidence in favor of those things, and when God has explicitly told us not to say or do anything that may be misconstrued as rebellion against the govt.

Many of us SDAs on the "conservative" side are into these ridiculous theories, and frankly, it makes those who want to uphold God's words look ridiculous.

NB, can you please give the SOP quote that we are not to run for office?  And what do you mean by "the false prophet loves Ben C."?

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 Those who have charge of our institutions and our schools should guard themselves diligently, lest by their words and sentiments they lead the students into false paths. Those who teach the Bible in our churches and in our schools are not at liberty to unite in making apparent their prejudices for or against political men or measures, because by so doing they stir up the minds of others, leading each to advocate his favorite theory. There are among those professing to believe present truth some who will thus be stirred up to express their sentiments and political preferences, so that division will be brought into the church.  {FE 475.1}  

     The Lord would have His people bury political questions. On these themes silence is eloquence. Christ calls upon His followers to come into unity on the pure gospel principles which are plainly revealed in the word of God. We cannot with safety vote for political parties; for we do not know whom we are voting for. We cannot with safety take part in any political schemes. We cannot labor to please men who will use their influence to repress religious liberty, and to set in operation oppressive measures to lead or compel their fellow men to keep Sunday as the Sabbath. The first day of the week is not a day to be reverenced. It is a spurious sabbath, and the members of the Lord's family cannot participate with the men who exalt this day, and violate the law of God by trampling upon His Sabbath. The people of God are not to vote to place such men in office; for when they do this, they are partakers with them of the sins which they commit while in office.  {FE 475.2}  

     We are not compromise principle by yielding to the opinions and prejudices which we may have encouraged before we united with God's commandment-keeping people. We have enlisted in the army of the Lord, and we are not to fight on the enemy's side, but on the side of Christ, where we can be a united whole, in sentiment, in action, in spirit, in fellowship. Those who are Christians indeed will be branches of the true vine, and will bear the same fruit as the vine. They will act in harmony, in Christian fellowship. They will not wear political badges, but the badge of Christ.  {FE 475.3}  

     What are we to do, then? -- Let political questions alone. "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? and what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?" What can there be in common between these parties? There can be no fellowship, no communion. The word fellowship means participation, partnership. God employs the strongest figures to show that there should be no union between worldly parties and those who are seeking the righteousness of Christ. What communion can there be between light and darkness, truth and unrighteousness? -- None whatever. Light represents righteousness; darkness, error, sin, unrighteousness. Christians have come out of darkness into the light. They have put on Christ, and they wear the badge of truth and obedience. They are governed by the elevated and holy principles which Christ expressed in His life. But the world is governed by principles of dishonesty and injustice.  {FE 476.1}  

that's just one hit...

By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation [the United States] will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.  {Mar 190.2}  

the false prophet are those protestant churches that have aligned themselves with rome and will show signs and wonders and will speak doctrines of devils and proclaim that they are following 'god'

Thank you for those quotes, NB.  If that was all the information we had from the SOP on the subject of voting, then it looks conclusive that we are not to vote.  However, there is much more on the issue, and a careful examination of all the material shows very clearly the exact opposite of the point arrived at by giving just one side of the inspired counsel.

My mother used these quotes you have given when I was a child to justify her not voting.  So there is a strong tendency in me to want to believe that.  However, in researching for myself, I've found that we are in fact commanded to vote!

First of all, we must realize that there is nothing inherently wrong in voting.  There are many examples of God's people in the Bible choosing people to fill certain positions.  Of course in church today we do the same thing when voting for officers, and even voting on whether to allow someone to be recognized as a member of the church or not.

So let's take a look at the quotes provided again.  Yes....we cannot vote for political parties, or political schemes.  Ahh, but does it say we should not vote for godly people?  No.

The following is copied from an article on the Ellen White Estate site:

http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/Voting.html

But it was largely national issues that were at stake in the situations described in the foregoing articles. A local election in Battle Creek in 1859 challenged Adventists to reconsider their responsibilities as citizens in a community. They were pressed to make a more definite commitment on the subject of voting. What were they to do?

Ellen White, who was present as Adventist leaders discussed this question, made this entry in her diary: "'Attended meeting in the eve. Had quite a free, interesting meeting. After it was time to close, the subject of voting was considered and dwelt upon. James first talked, then Brother Andrews talked, and it was thought by them best to give their influence in favor of right and against wrong. They think it right to vote in favor of temperance men being in office in our city instead of by their silence running the risk of having intemperance men put in office. Brother Hewett tells his experience of a few days [since] and is settled that [it] is right to cast his vote. Brother Hart talks well. Brother Lyon opposes. No others object to voting, but Brother Kellogg begins to feel that it is right. Pleasant feelings exist among all the brethren. O that they may all act in the fear of God.

"'Men of intemperance have been in the office today in a flattering manner expressing their approbation of the course of the Sabbathkeepers not voting and expressed hopes that they will stick to their course and like the Quakers, not cast their vote. Satan and his evil angels are busy at this time, and he has workers upon the earth. May Satan be disappointed, is my prayer.'" Temperance, pp. 255, 256. (Italics supplied.)

Note that Ellen White was not just talking about voting on issues; she was talking about voting for men. It is very evident that she favored voting for "temperance men" as contrasted with "intemperance men."

...

Resolved, That in our judgment, the act of voting

when exercised in behalf of justice, humanity and right, is in itself blameless, and may be at some times highly proper; but that the casting of any vote that shall strengthen the cause of such crimes as intemperance, insurrection, and slavery, we regard as highly criminal in the sight of Heaven. But we would deprecate any participation in the spirit of party strife." Ibid., May 23, 1865.

This basic resolution, along with supporting counsels from the pen of Ellen White, has continued to be a guide for the church for more than 100 years. Note the clear distinction that is made between the exercise of the voting right and "participation in the spirit of party strife." Note also that several social issues are mentioned that should be a point of concern. This resolution was reaffirmed as the position of our church the next year. It has not been changed to this day.

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I believe those who refuse to vote are in fact supporting whoever gets elected.  So, for example, in 2008 there was a presidential candidate who said he would help protect unborn babies, while the other candidate said the first thing he would do if elected is sign a bill to allow more (later-term) murders.   That man became president of America.  So the blood of all those murdered babies since 2008 can, in part at least, be placed on the hands of those who refused to exercise their God-given privilege of choosing moral leaders.

One more thing that just makes me shake my head in wonderment at those who refuse to vote is that they are afraid the person they vote for will be elected and will be the one who brings in the National Sunday Law!  This is selfishness at the highest level.  In order to somehow hope their hands are absolved of all blame for bringing in the NSL, they knowingly allow millions of babies to be murdered, homosexual abominations to run rampant, and many other morally reprehensible things to corrupt society, all in the hopes of "keeping their hands clean".

I pray all of us Seventh-day Adventists will vote for morality, and make Satan disappointed