Godsloveandlaw's Blog

….He was born in Raikovo, Bulgaria,  on March 2, 1885. In 1907, he came to America. Just like many truth seekers, he searched for God’s truth and found it in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. He was baptized approximately around 1919. Originally from the eastern part of US, he moved to Los Angeles in the early 20’s (some say 1922). In December of 1925 , he requested membership to a Los Angeles church, then known as the Tabernacle church.

As he became familiar with the church, he began teaching at times the “Sabbath school” lessons in the years 1928 and 1929. Only God knows what began to tick in this man’s mind and heart, but he began to view the scriptures in a new and different light. He would spend long hours reading and searching God’s word and Ellen White’s writings. He had no teacher, save the Holy Spirit to guide him.

Then later in those Sabbath schools, he began to share this new and unique light that had been revealed to him. But some within the church began to complain, because it didn’t fit with the understood teachings of the traditonal SDA beliefs. Soon the higher ups of the church let him know that he was “off base” in some of his teachings. Because they had never heard of such descriptions of certain parables and prophecies and visions of the prophets explained in this new way, they rejected his new ideas.

Here we should quote our prophetess about what she predicted in regards to receiving new light (knowledge) of God’s word. In Councels on Sabbath school work, P.25    “Precious truths that have long been in obscurity are to be revealed in a light that will make manifest their sacred worth; for God will glorify His word, that it may appear in a light in which we have never before beheld it.” It is worthy to note that these divine words were given by the prophetess under the heading “Sabbath school work”– his very first interpretive teachings given to the people, was in Sabbath school.

Apparently everything was smooth for awhile, he continued teaching the pre service classes. Then some trouble came. It appears he got into a disagreement with a fellow church member, a Mr.  Spicer.  He  was letting Mr. Spicer know, that he was not keeping the Sabbath holy, as God had intended. His careful instructing  to Mr. Spicer lead to the disturbance.  Details were sketchy.

So with this and the complaints about his different interpretations of scripture, he was asked by the church leadership to not teach his unique ideas anymore. He had been writing his new found light down in his first  book called “The Shepherd’s Rod.” Leading men of “experience” had reviewed it and told him it was in error, yet  didn’t respond to his rebuttals to  their supposed “errors”. Ultimately, soon after,  when the leaders asked that he retract his teachings and he said he would not,  the church dis-fellowshipped him.

But he was not deterred, he began to publish his first book of 255 pages called “The Shepherd’s Rod ” in December of 1930. He knew he had to  publish these new found discoveries in God’s word. Never before had anyone interpreted the scriptures in certain important areas, as he did. The voice was quite strong, and he became a zealous man in publishing and spreading his work, and sent them to his fellow members through out the SDA churches.

An uproar soon hit throughout this denomination in the early 30’s. Many were impressed, as they read these new found interpretations, but many (particularly the leading teachers and higher ups) were scornful. Such new ideas were against “tradition”. Who was this ONE man to think he had any special light to give the people?  The prophets were done and over, they had came already. This was only this  “man’s” opinion, they thought.

The uproar spread. Soon the SDA leadership was forced to make known their official position on his new interpretations. In 1933, a hearing **was set up to examine his writings. He was to meet with “leading men” of the SDA.  The works such as “The Harvest” explanation,  “Ezekiel 9” and what it means to the church, “Matt 20, the correct interpretation, “Hosea chapters 1 and 2”  the true meaning about  God’s relationship to His church throughout history, and more.

He was promised one week to discuss in depth his above mentioned studies and other interpretations. But after the VERY FIRST study, the meeting was abruptly halted. No arrangements were ever made to continue the study. What happened? If one looks at the true facts, it appears it was halted  because his work was too unsettling and shed light on God’s soon to come judgements about to come TO THE CHURCH FIRST( per his new found revealed light from Scriptures and Ellen White’s writings). This could not be tolerated, afterall, this work would scare the members and the Laodicean church would be aroused from it’s lukewarm “we are in safety” position.

Undeterred, he began to write and write more, revealings kept coming. The publications began to go out far and wide. But so too, did the public attacks. Although many saw the works and were amazed at the truths he uncovered and how he was able to blend the Scriptures with Ellen White’s writings to help explain end time events to come, particlularly of the upcoming judgement for the living and God’s earthly kingdom. But plenty of higher ups within the SDA publicity labeled him an over-zealous “offshoot” who wrote his own wild imaginations.

So as with most all churches, the leadership controlled the situation, and made charges concerning his work and,  as the general membership began to hear the label of “offshoot” , they followed like sheep, and blindly believed the “leading men.” Thus the  true investigative work was discouraged and his writings mostly ignored. And as time went by, the label “offshoot” was too mild and more disparaging labels, such as “fanatic”, “deceiver” and such were used. The people were in effect told  ” he interprets wrongly, listen to our tradtional interpretations.”  Does that ring a bell? (EGW prophecy prediction.)

Just as the SDA leadership rejected the Lord’s message to His church in 1888 (Righteousness by faith) so too they again rejected the Elijah message to His church.

 Nevertheless, His work became voluminus and he added helpers. His interpretive works  included the book of Isaiah and it’s prophecies, Ezekiel’s prophecies, Joel’s prophecies, Daniel’s prophecies, Zechariahs prophecies, Hosea’s prophecies  and more. He also drew fascinating  detailed charts, to give mental descriptions of the prophecies.

But the main theme in all his work , was the revelation that God was soon to CLEANSE HIS CHURCH (known parably as seperation of the wheat from tares) , so that God’s kingdom would indeed start here first on earth, in front of the world’s heathen.Then after all the world could witness that God was indeed with His people (His pure church) they would have no excuse in deciding –for or against God in the last days.

The traditional SDA had ignored this ,the Lord’s judgements in the church and the set-up of His earthly kingdom, written in scripture and Ellen White’s writings. Many preferred to keep such startling information hushed. But he did not stay quiet about it, he couragously told the people of the judgements to come amid the public ridicule brought by the leading SDA men. For indeed,  it began to become clearer and clearer that he saw that it was his duty to prepare the way for God’s last church, the SDA. He began to understand, that God was revealing all these interpretations and new light because he was the ELIJAH TO COME. Many today are also coming to this same conclusion after studying his work.

His name  was Victor T. Houteff.

Did he fit all of the 10 characteristics, earlier highlighted? Yes he did.

We as SDA members now have a challenge. Do we accept Mr. Houteff as the “Elijah to come” and his interpretations of end time prophecies, or do we wait for another? If you’ve honestly studied his work, can his work be improved upon and made clearer, so that we understand what the “great and dreadful day of the Lord”, really is?  I think one would have to be hard pressed to answer yes to that.

Let us remember that each time God has sent His messengers (prophet or prophetess) , the message they had for the people was of extreme importance. Shall we ignore this message, just like the Jews did of old, and suffer the consequences? 

If you say,  “I’ve never heard of him” then  remember that the prior  Elijahs (type and anti-type) were also  not known  for who they really were. Don’t be one of those who Jesus said of —  “They knew him not.”  Many today are discovering in these very LAST DAYS who he was, for his writings are being researched and found out to contain awesome light, that could have ONLY come divinely, with the main purpose  to prepare us for “the great and dreadful day”  the beginning of the judgement for the living.

As brother Houteff died in 1955, his work he started, by God’s divine planning, continues and in fact is gaining powerful momentum particularly via the internet. Let’s look at what EGW said about the continual work being done.

“Men will go forth in the spirit and power of Elijah to prepare the way for the second advent of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is their work to make crooked things straight. Some things must be torn down, some things must be built up. The old treasures must be reset in a framework of truth. They are to preach God’s word; their testimony must not be molded by opinions and ideas that have regarded as sound, but by the Word of God, whcih liveth and abideth forever. They are to lift up Christ and call sinners to repentance.”(EGW 1888 materials)

Your servant in  Christ, Rob

** Full details of the meeting can be read in the booklet called “The great controversy over the Shepherd’s Rod.” It can be read online, from the site below.

If you would like to investigate for yourself  his work, it can all be seen here  http://www.shepherds-rod.org/  I suggest you start with the charts, as they are indeed an amazing site  (on top left called “Rod Study Charts”.)  May the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth. It is with prayer and humbleness that we arrive at the truth.

Also beware of a break away group  from the original Shepherd’s Rod teachings called “Branch Davidians”.This group has “added and subtracted” from the original writings. For an indepth study on this group and how they fell off  the path of the original Shepherd’s Rod teachings,adding and subtracting to the original message, click this site http://www.scribd.com/doc/36265086/Branch-Davidians-Shepherd-s-Rod-Who-Are-They

….. Let’s now look at each of  the individual sources (Old Testament, New Testament, Ellen G. White) for the clear evidences of this Elijah and his message to come.

From  the Old Testament, we can review Malachi more in depth. Concerning the scripture in verse 4:5, let’s find out  what this “great and dreadful day” is. Many around the world, and even many SDA, believe it refers to the day when our Lord will return in the clouds on the last day. But look at Malachi again and see if we can find the answer to what that day is, right within that same book.

(Mal. 3:1-4) explains it very carefully . It says ” Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me; and the Lord, who you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the Covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming” says the Lord of  hosts. ” But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord, an offering in righteousness. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years.”

From these clear passages we gain much insight. Notice that the “messenger” can only be the promised Elijah . Then we see that this day is one of purging and sifting and refining. In other words, a church purification. Because after that day is described  THEN and ONLY THEN shall the worshipping and offering be acceptable to the Lord. This work by the Lord has never been recorded in history yet.

And from the New Testament we learn that John the baptist , was the “first anti-type” of Elijah because Jesus made  it clear he would be (Matt. 17:11-13)  “Elijah shall truly come first and restore all things, but I say to you,  THEY KNEW HIM NOT, but have done unto him whatever they determined, likewise also, shall the Son of Man suffer of them.” Then the disciples understood that he spoke of John the baptist.”   The word restore there in that quote,  in the hebrew also means to “reconstitute or strengthen.”

The words “knew him not” by our Lord is a big key. The original Elijah was “knew not” because as God’s true prophet, he was ignored by the masses, known as a troubler instead as divine sent. So too, with John. He was the great “preparer” of the way for the Lord, yet the people showed in the end that they knew him not(his significant message) because they allowed him to be thrown into jail and eventually killed. Few came to his defense–they knew not who he was, the preparer. So it stands to reason that the end time Elijah will not be widely known either, as being “the” Elijah.

Apostle Paul gives us further clues. In (Romans  9:27) it says ” Isaiah also cried out concerning Israel: though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.”  Very clearly this crying out (warning) will be to MANY of Israel, but FEW (remnant) will take heed and thus be saved. The last day Elijah will spread his message ALL OVER  Israel (God’s church) but only a few will listen. So this is a clear solemn clue– He will be IGNORED. There has not been a message given to God’s church from God’s people such as this one.

In (Mal. 3:1) we notice that Elijah comes right before the Lord comes to His temple (church) and purifies His church (Mal. 3:2-3) But we know that John’s coming did not proceed the Lord doing this. His purpose was to “prepare the way” for Christ’s first advent. So ONLY in that sense did John fulfill Elijah’s promised return. (Mal.4:5) Therefore another Elijah must come to do that other work of preperation.

So accordingly,  from this Old testament promise , we can see that the “future”  Elijah’s message is to be one of warning and prepardness of the judgement and execution of judgement upon the living within  God’s church. Also, in keeping with the eternal goodness and love of our Lord, He gives us VERY CLEAR instructions to be able to  “stand” in this day, in the same Malachi book.  It is the two duties from long ago, given by Solomon(Ecc. 12:13). “Fear God” (Mal. 3:16) and “Keep His Commandments” (Mal 4:4)

Let’s now look at prophetess Ellen White’s word concerning Elijah. In Testimonies to Ministers (page 475-476) she writes ” Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: ” Behold , I will send Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Somebody IS TO COME in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say: “you are too earnest, you do not INTERPRET the scriptures the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.”

The above is VERY important because this inspired message was to be for us a big clue about the identity of the last days Elijah. The single most powerful evidence we have here, is that Elijah will be an “interpreter” of the scriptures for the people. But  the people will say he interprets wrongly.

Concerning Elijah’s message of warning she tells us just what Satan and his workers plan to do when this message arrives. (Page 475) “I will also (Satan speaking) have unbelieving ones present who will express doubts in regards to the Lord’s messages of  warning to His church. Should the people read and believe these admonitions, we could have little hope of overcoming them. But if we can divert their attention from these warnings, they will remain ignorant of our power and cunning, and we shall secure them to our ranks at last.”

So according to Ellen, we see that this warning message from Elijah will be countered at all costs by the dark forces. They can’t and won’t let up. They will hover wherever these messages of final days warnings are made. They will be directing the leaders to keep up with the smooth sermons, that all is jolly and fun, no worries. It’s like the titanic, the church is quickly coming upon a hugh iceberg , and the band is still playing the happy tunes.

Let us review now, what  we have learned about this end time Elijah up to this point.

1) He’s to come from God’s end time church, the Seventh Day Adventist Church

2) He’s courageous, not afraid to speak the truth to God’s people

3) He’s known as a “troubler” to God’s people

4) He’s zealous and a rebuker of the sins of God’s people

5) He will not be widely known as “the” end time Elijah.

6) He will largely be ignored and countered and his message not heeded.

7) His message will be one of prepardness and warning of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.

Eight) He is to be known as an interpreter of the scriptures. Yet most of the people  will reject his interpretations and will offer there own . Obviously the Elijah must interpet scriptures to show light on the great and dreadful day approaching, for warnings therein are to be brought out.It follows therefore that the leaders therefore will offer smooth interpretations or popular ones .

9) The church (Israel of today) will be widely influenced by Satan and his workers, in regards to this end time message by Elijah. And influenced by him, to reject it.

10) He only goes to his own people (church) for this final message. Not to the heathen in babylon.

Next week in our final part 3, we’ll look at the man, many believe fits ALL the conditions spoken of , as the end time Elijah.

In Christ, Rob

Note: This post is based on 3 promises of “Elijah’s” coming return.  From Old Testament —– (Mal. 4:5) “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great  and dreadful day of the Lord.  From the New Testament —– (Matt 17:11) ” And Jesus answered and said unto them, ‘Elijah truly shall first come, and restore all things.”   From the last prophetess —– (Ellen G. White) “Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears , men may say ‘You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.” (Testimonies to Ministers p.475)

God has always had “one people” since the beginning. Ofcourse in the very beginning, He had individuals, such as Enoch and Noah, but it was with Abraham, that He established His people.  These people were and are, known as His body, or church. With this knowledge of God having ONE people and one church, we can then follow through the course of human events to find out if Elijah has come yet or not, through His one church.

Because the Lord has guided  in showing how important it is to know whether Elijah has come and what was his purpose and message, I have looked forward to sharing this post more so than  most. Some of what will be discussed will be new to some, but hopefully after we’re done, you’ll be in a little better postition to make that determination yourself (If Elijah has come). So let us look into the who, what, and where of this promised Elijah.

Let’s follow the church line through history, so we can arrive at God’s true church today, because this is where the promised Elijah will be found from.

From Abraham’s time the church of God was the “Jewish” people (church). This lasted until shortly after the time of Christ. With the stoning of Stephen, the Jewish church became “done with” and the Christian church became God’s true church. Jesus predicted this transfer of His church (Matt. 21:43) “Therefore say I unto you, the kingdom of God shall be taken from you( the  Jewish people), and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.”  The new church was to be made up of mostly converted Jews and some newly baptized Gentiles, brought in largely by the divinely guided apostle Paul.

This Christian church held together for the most part until the 3rd and 4th centuries. At which time the church became fragmented among the pagans. Then therafter the church “fled into the wilderness” for many centuries, due to the powerful persecuting Roman Catholic churches,  known as the Sunday churches. The true people of God, the Commandment keepers, had no choice but to flee into the mountains and remote outskirts of the world because of the strict Roman Catholic church’s influence and the persecution. This period was known as the “Dark Ages” and then led to the  “Reformation Age”.

The reformation really was a good start from breaking the yoke of the Catholic church, yet the REAL reformation was a movement WITHIN the reformation. Martin Luthur did the Lord’s great  work in spear-heading the reform movememt. But the people who promoted keeping ALL the Commandments (including the Sabbath), was a movement known as the “Anabaptists”. They were the precluders to the Baptist churches today.

Then after a LONG time God began to bring  His church together in the United States to prepare His people for the coming last days. These people went “back to the basic’s” as DOING and PROMOTING God’s word and Commandments were their main beliefs and doctrines. They obeyed the true Sabbath day (Saturday), which had been so downtrodden through the centuries by the Roman church. They were indeed “The repairers of the breach”  mentioned in (Isaiah 58:12)  They became known as “Seventh Day Adventist’s”.

But God had to show the world that this church was indeed His, and that the last day messages was to come form it. How did He do it? He brought forth the most extraordinary woman named Ellen G. White, know by many as the last prophetess.   We can’t go into all we would like to about her here,  but I’ll show the most dramatic evidence He provided.

Before we do that we have an excellent quote from Inspiration describing the singularity of God’s movements. ” God has never had more than one movement in existence at a time and it could not be otherwise now, for Christ cannot be divided.  (See 1 Cor. 1:13.) God’s church is well marked in every generation by obedience to PRESENT TRUTH.  The fact itself proves the claim true as there is only one church in the period of the beast which has the “Spirit of Prophecy” and all of the commandments as written by the finger of God.(SRod, vol.2, p.124)

Ellen was given many visions and signs. Often she would STOP BREATHING for 15 or 20 minutes! Before you say “yeah right” you should know it was documented by at least 3 or 4 certified doctors. ALL confirmed it. One was so badly shaken he bolted for the door! She is also the most translated female author in history (of her Christian books) Her classic “Steps to Christ” is one of the  most gifted works and should be read by all professing to be Christian.

For actual eyewitness accounts, read here http://www.whiteestate.org/issues/eyewitns.html

So God indeed was with this woman, as she was legendary for not only her writings but keeping His Commandments and devoutly LIVING the Christian life. Her writings include the many classics “Desire of Ages, The Great Controversy, Prophets and Patriarchs” and so much more. But it was the visions and her writing of them, that were particularly inspiring to the people. Just read one of the aforementioned books and you’ll see what we  mean. She also was one of the founders of the SDA church.

So it was through this woman with her visions and writings that,  God announced to the world, that His last days church was the SDA church .  Now that we have identified His last day church , we can start to search within this church history for the promised Elijah.

But first let’s look at the original Elijah, to gain some clues on what the latter day Elijah would be like. We know from 1 kings, that he was man of great COURAGE. He alone (with God) took on the 450 “prophets” of his day. So courage, and not being afraid of “people” was a part of his character. (1 kings 18:22) “I alone am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty.”

We can see also, he was known as a “TROUBLER” by many in Israel. In (1 Kings 18:17) we read ” And it came to pass, when Ahab (Israel’s King) saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, ‘ is it you,  the one that troubles Israel?”

Next we can go to (1 Kings 19:9) for a great clue. Notice here the Lord asks Elijah just what his purpose is? He basically asks this, I believe,  because HE KNEW later that another Elijah would come, who must exhibit the same qualities (in helping to be identifed). The Lord said “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  Now notice how Elijah gets the point of the question, because he describes HIS PURPOSE. He responded ” I have be VERY ZEALOUS for the Lord God of Hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down you alters, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek my life.”

In studying the above we can see that Elijah was ZEALOUS for the Lord. This is another important identifying character of him. Notice next,  why he is zealous. It is because he sees the breaking of God’s Law all around, everywhere. But he doesn’t just sit there and play the fiddle, he DOES SOMETHING about it! This is what stands out about him, he’s a mover and shaker, a  “caller outer” if you will.

Now, when the Lord says the same thing  2 or 3 times, you can bet your life it is IMPORTANT. Again in (1 Kings 19:13) the Lord asks the same question. Elijah answers the same way. Coincidence? I don’t think so. The Lord identifies this Elijah’s purpose for  then and FUTURE sake.

So to summarize, what we have learned about the original Elijah, was that he was courageous, zealous, an accused troubler, and a reformer. This is the type therefore we can compare the anti-type to.

Next week we’ll start to put more of the peices together in part 2 , and show how we can truly know whether Elijah has come and if so, his purpose for coming.

Your servant, Rob