Archive for July, 2013

Bible Revelations

July 27, 2013

Last week we spoke of the prophetic quote by Ellen White in Testimonies to Ministers, p.475-76. This is where she said a prophet was to come after her.

“Prophecy must be fulfilled… 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.”

One of the clear clues as to who this Elijah prophet would be, and what he would be known for in that quote, was as an “interpreter” of Scripture. In other words, the Elijah prophet was to make known prophecies and hidden truths for the last remnant people of God, particularly what we must do to be spared in the “great and dreadful day” of the Lord.  Additionally we know that her prophetic call was pin-point accurate in regards to him being rejected from the vast majority in the SDA church. So we thought we’d provide some interpretations of Scripture so that you can see for yourself and believe or not believe whether the truth is spoken by this “Elijah”. Does it make sense? Are there new revelations which make real sense and expose some prior mis-understandings we have had in our SDA teachings?

Obviously the SDA church as a whole has rejected the Elijah, so you won’t find his writings in any SDA church or any of their approved sites. They are intent to “let me tell you how to teach your message.” But thank the Lord, this site and other Elijah messenger sites are proclaiming His last message as brought by the prophet.

Our prophetess spoke about the great joy and reward in searching the Scriptures,  such as, “The truths of the Bible are as pearls hidden. They must be searched, dug out by painstaking effort.” (7 BC. p.945). ” The Bible is a precious treasure. It should be in every home, not to be laid away or put upon a shelf, but to be diligently studied.”(SW p.46). “We are to explore the sacred volume as a miner explores the veins of ore in the earth, and finds the precious seams of gold.”(SW p.46).

So as we study some revelations by the Elijah prophet let us ask the Spirit of Truth to guide us –into all truth. If you ask this you will receive it. When we discover “pearls hidden” what joy we can have! We add to our knowledge base the great and wonderful things of God.

Our first quote is from Isaiah 4:1.

“The prophet Isaiah, looking forward to this time of wholesale deception, headed by so-called spiritual guides, says: “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.” (Isa. 4:1.)

   It is an admitted fact among Bible students that churches are symbolized by “women.”  Pure woman — pure church, as in Jeremiah 6:2, Revelation 12:1; vile woman — corrupt church, as in Revelation 17:4,5.  Isaiah says, there are “seven” women.  The number comprises these same churches.  They say, “We will eat our own bread.”  That is, they want to have their own way; they care not for God’s way (Word).  “We will wear our own apparel”, that is, they want their own plans in preference to God’s plans or His righteousness.  Thereby, they clothed themselves with self-righteousness. 

Their aim is to be called by the one man’s name; that is, by the name of Christ (Christians) to take away their reproach.  People have come to suppose they can do most anything under the guise of Christianity and get away with it.  God will let them continue their course until they, like Belshazzar, have passed the boundary line of divine grace, and then He will call them to account.”(Shep. Rod, vol.2, p.98)

 Next we see warnings about the customs of the heathens being wholly accepted by the church and leaders.

“Jeremiah, looking forward to this time of apostasy, says: “Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.  For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.  They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.” (Jer. 10:2-4.)  Though the Word declares, “Learn not the ways of the heathen,” professed ministers of the gospel will cut a tree from the forest and deck it with silver and gold, then dare call it by the name of Christ — Christmas tree.  What greater blasphemy can one do?  Are ministers and religious teachers ignorant of these things?  Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

   John heard the men defying God, saying ,”Who is like unto the beast?  Who is able to make war with him?”  That is, who can abolish this pagan system of worship; is there one?  They challenge God’s authority.  It may not be said by words, but it is most decidedly expressed by action.  Men’s discernment is blunted by sin, and when an attempt is made to associate the sacred with the common or pagan, they see no evil.”(Shep. Rod, vol.2, p.99)

Next we learn of the seven universal empires from creation.

“According to Biblical reckoning the flood came more than 1600 years after creation.  God originated the human race through Adam and Eve.  Therefore, one people, one race, one language and nation from creation to the flood.  The rulership given to Adam we call the first universal Adamic empire.  Babylon was the second; Medo-Persia is the third; Grecia the fourth; Rome the fifth; the broken state of Rome (symbolized by the feet and toes of the great image of Daniel 2, which is the present unstable civilization) is the sixth; and from the close of the millennium after the resurrection of the wicked to their second death, is the seventh and last.  Thus the Biblical number seven, as always, signifies, completeness.  Therefore, seven such universal empires, revealing a complete history of the world, denote the end of sin and its dominion.”(Shep. Rod, vol.2, p.41).

In the following we learn how Scripture is revealed and properly interpreted.

“God used the dead and the living, the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fish of the sea, the land and water, sun, moon, and stars, to reveal His divine plan and to sustain His servants, etc.  (See Gen. 16:7, 9; 1 Sam. 6:7-15; Num. 22:30; 1 Kings 17:4-6; Jonah 2:10; Matt. 17:27; Num. 16:32; Matt. 24:29.)  God has a thousand ways whereby He can render help in a moment.  Truly, what more could divine love do for fallen human beings?

How Are The Scriptures Revealed, And Properly Interpreted?

   Analysis of ancient and modern history, both sacred and secular, prove that sealed, or prophetic truth has never been revealed through the educational system of the world, or by the wisdom of man, but only by the power of God.  If anything is true, it is this one thing.  Said Jesus: “When He, the Spirit of Truth, is Come, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13.)  Christ plainly declares, that we are led into truth, not by wisdom of man but by the Spirit of God.  Not into some truth, but in all truth. 

When God reveals truth, He is able to lead His servants in all truth, and does not allow such instruments to mix His truth with error.  Though they may not understand all, yet the message they bear is the truth and nothing but the truth.  Therefore, such truths are originally revealed by inspiration only.  When the time divinely appointed is fulfilled, then God calls servants of His own choice, and by the Spirit of Truth reveals a portion of His Word to them.  Usually in the form of a message which they must first bear to the church.” (Shep. Rod. vol.2, p.12)

As the message from Elijah is predominately about reformation and the 144,000, it’s important to address the question as to the following- Are the 144,000 of both sexes?

“The command to mark this company so that they fall not under the slaughter weapons by the figure of the five men, reads as follows: “And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” (Ezekiel 9:4.)  Because the Word says: “Set a mark upon the foreheads of the men,” therefore some have held the position that the entire company is made up of men only.  The second reason given for this erroneous idea is that they are to be kings and priests and therefore they must be men.  The idea carried by these passages cannot be sustained by other portions of Scripture.  Thus we are compelled to study deeper into the subject.

   While Ezekiel calls them “men,” John says they are “virgins.” (Rev. 14:4.)  Now, if we should take the position that Ezekiel means men only, then we can as well say, John means women only.  Can it be possible that one writer should contradict the other?  No indeed.  We conclude by the following Scriptures that the 144,000 are of both sexes: “The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe.” (John 1:7.)  “All men,” must include both men and women, otherwise salvation would be for men only.  “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32.) 

If the word all men in this text does not include both sexes, then the women are lost.  “And the time of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.” (The Acts 17:30.)  Again, if “all men” include not both male and female, then women are not commanded to repent.  It is evident that the noun, men, is a collective Biblical term of both men and women.  The same is true by creation, for, God made the woman of the man.  Therefore, she is a wo-man.  Again in Gal. 3:28, we read: “There is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”(Shep.Rod, vol.2, p.167)

Next we’d like to show a example of how the Elijah prophet “restored” our understanding (SDA) of the long time held view of the seals of Revelation (Chap. 4 to 7, and first part of 8). The Lord willing we’d like to do  a 2 or 3 part post in the near future showing how some of the old standard prophecy beliefs within the SDA, don’t hold up upon close investigation, as discovered and shown by the Elijah.  ” Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20).

Question:
   “What Biblical proof have you for placing as you do the
seals of Revelation, chapters four to seven and the first part of the eighth? Why make them span the entire world’s history, when the Seventh-day Adventist denomination has been teaching for years that they begin after the crucifixion?”

   “The questioner has a perfect right to ask for Biblical proof of our interpretations of the Scriptures, but he must remember that our rights are as good as his. Hence, before answering his questions, we would like to ask him to give us but one Scripture as the basis upon which he can establish that the seals span the Christian era only. Our being as well informed as the questioner on all the doctrines which the denomination teaches, and of the proofs upon which they are based, we are free to say that the strongest and the only foundation upon which the denominational interpretation stands is grounded upon the presumptuous idea that the white horse and he that sat on him, going forth conquering and to conquer (Rev. 6:2), represents the early Christian church in her best spiritual condition.

This position is assumed upon the unmitigated presumption that the color of the horse (white) must represent the purity of the early church, and that the words, “conquering and to conquer,” stand for her rapid growth after Pentecost.

   We agree that “white” stands for purity, and that “conquering and to conquer” could represent the growth of the church, but what proof would that be if such an idea is contradicted by all other truth? For example, we call the reader’s attention to the fact that when John was about to be shown in vision the events in the seven seals, it was about sixty-five years after the Pentecost and in the period when the church was already declining from her spiritual condition. The voice which he heard said to him: “Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter” (Rev. 4:1); that is, the event which he was to be shown was to transpire in the future, “hereafter,” from the time John had the vision. Now let us take notice of the event he saw.

Says John: “I was in the Spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much,…and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” (Rev. 4:2; 5:1,3-5.)

   The event of which John prophesied was to transpire in the future from John’s time instead of having already taken place. Hence, the idea that the white horse with its rider represents the rider in her purity after the Pentecost is only a presumption. Moreover, it is taught that the book with the seven seals is the book of “Daniel and Revelation,” and that those who interpreted the seals are the ones who opened the book, whereas, a “strong angel proclaimed with a loud voice,” that “no man in heaven, nor in the earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” Consequently, we would like to ask the questioner how could the men who interpreted the seals open the book if they could not even “look thereon”?

Still further, whoever heard that the church could be symbolized by a man riding on a horse! Furthermore, those who are fighting against the sealing message on the pretext that it contradicts the Spirit of Prophecy have themselves altogether closed their eyes to the voice of the Spirit of Prophecy by a flat contradiction of it, for they claim that the book with the seven seals is the book of “Daniel and Revelation,” whereas, the Spirit of Prophecy, in perfect harmony with “The Shepherd’s Rod,” says: “Thus the Jewish leaders made their choice. Their decision was registered in the book which John saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, the book which no man could open. In all its vindictiveness this decision will appear before them in the day when this book is unsealed by the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” — “Christ’s Object Lessons,” p. 294.

   The above quoted passage shows that this book contains the names and record of those who profess to be the people of God. Then, how could it be the book of “Daniel and The Revelation”?

   We would not take longer in disproving the former interpretation of the seals, but we shall briefly prove the reason why the seals cover the entire history of the human race.

   One of the proofs that the seals include the entire world’s history is in the fact that the book with the seven seals is “The book of life,” which contains the record of God’s professed people, and also in the fact that it was to be opened in the day of judgment. Hence, it proves that in 1844, when the judgment began, Christ opened the book before the throng that surrounded the throne, and this being the Lamb’s book of Life (which no one but the Lamb could open), containing the record of the people from Adam’s time and on, it is obvious that the seven seals, which were broken at the beginning of the judgment, contain the entire history of the human race, divided into seven periods, which sealed the book up to the day of judgment. See our exposition on the seals in “The Shepherd’s Rod,” Vol. 2, pp. 194-221 (Symbolic News Code, No. 7-8, p.9-10)

The next we see the lessons of Matthew 24 explained more closely and specific to “our” generation.

“The gospel of the coming of Christ in this generation, and the signs of the times as in Matthew 24, was committed to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination since 1844.  No other body of people has had the burden of the message that is taught in this chapter (the signs and the end of the world), and the urgency of its speedy delivery in this generation.  Therefore, whatever commendation, or condemnation is written to the “servant” in Matthew 24, cannot be applied to another people. 

Furthermore, as the rest of Christendom had fallen by 1844 because they rejected the messages that were sent to them and thus God would not let light shine through them since that time, it is evident that the gospel of the 24th chapter of Matthew could not have been preached by any other people.  Therefore, the statement concerning the servant in the following verse is applicable only to the foregoing denomination.

   “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over His household, to give them [to the world] meat in due season” — present truth? (Matt. 24:45.)  Note, that there is a question as to whom this faithful servant could be.  If that people to whom primarily this gospel was committed had been faithful, then the following promise would have been their’s: “Blessed is that servant, whom his Lord when He cometh shall find so doing.  Verily I say unto you, That He shall make him ruler over all His goods.” (Matt. 24:46, 47.) 

The significance of “all His goods” is the finishing of the gospel, bringing everlasting righteousness, and ushering in the kingdom of Christ!  What a wonderful promise!  But, observe the danger of losing this everlasting glory: “But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth His coming; and shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken.” (Matt. 24:48, 49.)  The “servant” (singular) that shall “begin to smite his fellow servants” (plural) signifies the leadership — the “angel” of the church of the Laodiceans — those who have charge of the “household.”  But the “servants” (plural) apply to the ministry under that leadership. 

By the unfaithfulness of “that servant,” the gospel has been delayed; the generation is about to pass, and the work is years behind.  The result is, that the delay has not been expressed by action only, but it is even said by words, “My Lord delayeth His coming.”  And as one sin leads to another, the doctrine of “Health Reform,” eating foods that have been devitalized by modern inventions the “dainties” of Babylon, etc. — indulging fleshly lusts, has been largely disregarded, thus fulfilling the words, “eat and drink with the drunken.”

   The doctrine of health reform is said to be “the right hand and arm of the Third Angel’s Message,” and that the medical work is “the right hand of the message.”  The idea of health reform is a thing of the past so far as the church as a body is concerned, and the leadership cares little.  But that is not the worst, this unfaithful servant of God has even dared stretch his hand over the gulf to form an unlawful alliance of the denominational medical institutions with those of the world who are bitterly opposed to the idea of health reform — right hand and arm of the “Third Angel’s Message.” 

The very channel which was instituted to uphold and carry that part of the work, is being bound by a confederacy and now in order to maintain this alliance it has been compelled to sacrifice the very principle for which it was organized.  Thereby God’s agency for treating the sick and preventing disease by healthful living and divine healing through obedience of the truth, has been substituted by drugs.

   Thus the devil has cut off the right hand and arm of the “Third Angel’s Message,” and by this cunning device has robbed the church of God of its medical institutions!  What a calamity!  What a loss!  Would not God’s faithful people at such a time as this come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty?  How a body of people with so much light can become so blind is beyond human understanding; it is a mystery!

   Had they (those who were charged with this great responsibility) been faithful to the trust committed to them, the everlasting blessings found in the following verse would have been their’s: “That He shall make him ruler over all his goods.”  But to him who neglects his Master’s commission: “The Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for Him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matt. 24:50, 51.)  Had they taken heed to the last urgent message sent them, calling for decided changes in these things, the following chapter (Matthew 25) would have been prophetically different.” (Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, p.179)

In closing, the above are but just a few of the treasures one can find by reading and learning what the Lord’s Elijah message has for us. When we read in (Rev. 3:17) that the Laodiceans  “have need of nothing” , it can only be Truth from the Lord–His Elijah message, that they declare they don’t need. Let it not be said of us, that we don’t need any more messages of truth and warnings from the Lord, for we must think we are not ” rich and increased with goods.”

Posted in Present Truth, Proper teachings, revelation, Victor T. Houteff | 2 Comments »

Jesus sits down with the Pharisees

July 20, 2013

Can we imagine the absurdity of Jesus sitting down with the Pharisees for a discussion?  Yet, unbelievably some of us who profess the Lord’s present truth for our day, are doing just that, if not in person, then in communications. We should remember the life of our Instructor, how He dealt with the Pharisees. His way with them was direct and often forceful, the word “hypocrite” was His frequent word for them. He used it along with other words such as ” Whited sepulcher”, beautiful on the outside, yet full of dead bones and unclean within (Matt.23:27). In short, we find that our Lord had no use of proud, self satisfied men who set their stakes so deep with their erroneous  forms  of  teaching, religion and doctrines.

For example the Pharisees  were satisfied in their knowledge of Scripture, they were secure that the Messiah would come as a conquering King, as they read Scripture and mis-applied the prophecies. But our Lord came in a way they  were not looking for. Hence they set deep their stakes against Christ as an impostor and that situation stopped Him from reaching out.  Let us look at how we can learn by understanding our dealings with Pharisees in our midst.

In explaining the mindset of the Jews ( taught of the Pharisees) brother Houteff explains,  “The Jews, according to their own way of reasoning, were honest, though blind, in concluding that they had no need of prophets, because as they saw it, Moses’ writings were complete, there was nothing lacking in them: They contained both the civil and religious laws.  They, therefore, saw no need for greater light and no need of another prophet.  Through their unbelief in the prophets, they failed to see that their kingdom was only a type of a greater one to come, they failed to see that God’s Truth is progressive and ever unfolding, that each generation has to have added Truth especially adapted to meet their particular needs.  Their blindness to this was their basic sin that led them on to ruin” (Timely Greetings sermon, Vol.1, no.14, p.4).

As those of us who are actively working in His “vineyard” know, we come in contact with many brethren on a regular basis. As such it is only expected that we will deal with those who have exalted themselves in their own eyes, unable to listen with an open heart and mind.

Brother Houteff explains, “..when the disciples asked Jesus: “Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?”  So-called Christians, like the Pharisees, become offended when told of their errors, and rebuked for their sins.  “But He answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matt. 15:12-14.) (Shepherd’s Rod, vol.1, p.123)

Notice the telling instruction from the Lord–“Let them alone”. Obviously no time was to be expended on such people.  This reminds us of the  proverb, “Do not answer a fool according to his folly lest you be like him (Proverbs 26:4).  Their real trap  is to get you off your straight and clear path, into a side path, a path that has so many twists and turns that if you follow it, it will be sure to make shipwreck of your faith. Once they have you sidetracked, your time is thus wasted, your objectives undone.

The Elijah message tells us who really is behind this time wasting, “…Satan’s supreme effort at this hour must be to cause the time to be wasted and the work to go undone.” (Answerer book, Vol. 1, question no.4) So we see that the real objective  from Satan and his devils is to get us to waste our time.

Recently  I have seen an obvious trap, yet because it’s exists among some so-called Elijah messengers, it appears not all understand this trap and are actively falling into it. It makes sense since , as we’ve shown in our prior studies,  Satanic warfare is right in the middle of those who step up to the plate to proclaim the Elijah message. But even in this arena are those implants from Satan, those who are attempting to lead the flock away from Truth and into error. The spiritual war for the all time is over this last message from the Lord.

Ellen White describes this time of church warnings  in which Satan exposes his objectives.

“I will have upon the ground, as my agents, men holding false doctrines mingled with just enough truth to deceive souls. I will also have unbelieving ones present who will express doubts in regard 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 in our ranks at last. God will not permit His words to be slighted with impunity. If we can keep souls deceived for a time, God’s mercy will be withdrawn, and He will give them up to our full control.

“We must cause distraction and division. We must destroy their anxiety for their own souls, and lead them to criticize, to judge, and to accuse and condemn one another, and to cherish selfishness and enmity. For these sins, God banished us from His presence; and all who follow our example will meet a similar fate.” (Test. to Ministers, P.475)

This last paragraph is particularly apparent today. His “agents” are within the SDA, including “Davidians”. As we know the only ones within our church declaring the Elijah message today are the Davidian Seventh Day Adventists, so obviously his agents are represented there as well. As this message prepares God “servants” to go out to the world in full power and spirit of the Lord, Satan and his angels are the most active in this arena, to thwart and delay the process. Obviously they will lose but that doesn’t stop them from using agents such as Pharisees to disrupt any progress made.

The reason for this post is that we want to expose some cunning deceptions occurring within our ranks, particularly among the DSDA. And once we are aware of them we can steer clear just like our Lord did. He never sat down with them and engaged their arguments. Time wasting, as brother Houteff mentioned is Satan’s goal right now and we should steer clear of this path.

One of the biggest snares existing among those who profess the Elijah message is the adding to or subtracting from the original message of Elijah (Victor T. Houteff). As I continue to develop a broader understanding of this message and all that it bears, I see these traps, allow me to explain some examples.

The first example we can look back to the illustrated story of Moses and the men of Korah. In the book of Numbers, chapter 16, we read of the story of  insubordination. Korah and his followers had just witnessed the act of execution of the man who broke the Sabbath, a decree  issued by Moses, through directions from the Lord. But this act apparently had triggered fear among them and led them to murmur against God’s chosen leader–his prophet. We read in (16:3) “..and they rose up before Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face.”

We know the end result was that Moses was exonerated and the pretenders were destroyed. But what lessons can we draw from it? There are several. Korah and his leading men in effect were saying to God’s chosen prophet, “We are also His leaders, for we speak to the Lord just like you, we can bypass you and be led of God and not necessarily by you.”  Wow! No wonder Moses threw himself down on the ground in an act of distraught unbelief! In that instance Moses had calculated just what their words were really saying, and he knew God would have to do something about it. God did and it wasn’t pretty as we well know.

We can learn from this how God deals with any who deny the chosen of God, the one by whom God desires to speak. They are in effect denying the Lord! Much as a King would  send his messenger to one of the underlings and they would disparage and deny what the message said to do, effectively denying their King.

Speaking of the coming Elijah, brother Houteff said, “The promise, itself, moreover, is for only one , not for more, and with but one exception, we know not of any other time when God employed even two prophets (let alone many) at one time, to convey one message to one people. He invariably called one, and that one himself, under direction of the Spirit, employed others to help him take the message to the people. Thus only were any others ever identified with a called one.” (General Conference Special, p.32)

So how does this all pertain to today?  Because there are some within the DSDA who deny that brother Houteff was the last prophet to come, they say the Elijah prophet wasn’t the final one. This is to some of us who know the message and what it says, making us just like Moses and wanting to throw ourselves down and cry out to the Lord. So just like Korah and the men of “renown”, these upstarts who effectively deny the Lord and what He has said through His end time prophet, take into their own hands, potential disaster just as Korah and his followers met.

But even more sad is the fact that some are believing these false leaders and following them in their doctrines of “other prophets” coming to our SDA church. There are several groups around the world that have a current “prophet” as their leader. Yet, strangely all of them agree that Victor T. Houteff was a prophet of God (?). As we said, Satan will use all kinds of tricks to mislead God’s remnant people.

We’d like to show two examples, one of the DSDA and one of the SDA, of how deception comes into the work of God.

Concerning the DSDA, the idea of others to come after brother Houteff started way back in 1955, with a upstart named Ben Roden(Founder of the Branch Davidians). He had learned under brother Houteff  and after VTH’s death he soon announced that “he” had a prophetic message to the remnant. His well-known “Seven Letters to Florence Houteff” sent in 1955, contains amazing statements, such as– “Now it is plain to see that Ellen G. White and Victor T. Houteff were indeed prophets of God and were, truly, writing under the influence of the Spirit of Prophecy.”  Yet despite this admission he would go on to point out mistakes, errors and omissions he found in their writings. He was setting them up to believe that “he” could uncover error and show the correct understandings and provide more light needed for the people. In other words–he was the succeeding prophet.

He clearly implied that he was the prophet to succeed VTH in his writings, as well as existing living witnesses. He even went so far as to imply that as a prophet,  unlike VTH, he would never die. He died in 1977. This was the first real distraction and division to hit the Davidians after brother Houteff’s death. Today, his movement is known as “Branch Davidian Seventh Day Adventists.” They have many different beliefs apart from brother Houteff’s original teachings. Such as the necessity to keep all the feast days. To have rigid daily set hours to pray to the Lord. That the Holy Spirit is a feminine entity among others. Satan was hovering and when the brother Houteff died, he went right to work!

According to one of the last surviving members of the original MT. Carmel camp, sister Bonnie Smith said that brother Houteff was leery of  Ben Roden. She said that he would appear at their gatherings to try to plant seeds of his own ideas in regards to the message. Obviously he was working his future agenda.

( A quick historical note– David Karesh’s group (infamous Waco siege) wasn’t an actual Branch Davidian orgainization. His was an off shoot of the BDSDA and apparently stole the name for his group according to leading members of the BDSDA.)

But how must we deal with these types of DSDA who promote their interpretations, doctrines and agendas? Just as our Lord did in dealing with the Pharisees–don’t interact with them. Let them alone. One underlying common denominator among them is that they spend almost all of their time trying to convince ‘Davidians” about how they are prophets of God and to follow their teachings. Instead of  what the Elijah message teaches– go to work within the SDA telling them of the Lord’s imminent surprise coming to the church(beginning  phase of the judgment for the living). To prepare  and help them to reform and revive in the Lord, to be among the 144,000.

Brother Houteff’s explains that the last message is about proclaiming  the message of the  “judgment for the living”, not promoting new messages and prophets.  “Since the promised Elijah is to be the last prophet to the church today, as John the Baptist was the last prophet to the church in his day, and since the last work on earth is the Judgment for the Living, the truth stands forth like the light of day that Elijah’s message is the message of the Judgment for the Living, the last, which in the very nature of the gospel is of far more importance and consequence than any other message ever borne to a people.”( General Conference Special, p.23)

Our second example is just as disturbing, possibly more so as the deception is not as apparent. About 4 or 5 months ago, while doing some research online I found a very interesting report called , “The Straight Testimony Opposed by False Shepherds”. As I read it I was very impressed, it was that good. All of EG White’s straight testimony and warnings to the church, it seemed was in this report. Many of them I wasn’t aware of. After I read it I felt the Holy Spirit lead me to try to contact this author.

Being an Elijah messenger, I wanted to see if she had accepted the Lord’s  last message of Elijah. After all the report had many of the quotes used by Elijah to teach and warn the people. It took a few days but I finally found who it was. Susan ( an alias) with her husband had an online ministry. I was able to find out their phone number and gave them a call. When I contacted them, they both happened to be there and after some chit-chat with her husband, he called his wife to the phone and we had a three-way conversation.

I began to discuss their report and thanked them for it, as it was a real blessing. They inquired about who I was and what I did and so I explained that I too, had an online ministry. We discussed many topics of “present truth”. I purposely left out bringing up the Elijah prophet  in fear that they had fallen for the prevalent smear job the SDA church has run against him for decades. So we had a good conversation and we exchanged emails.

She said she would like me to review an upcoming report on “The Bride Cometh”. So I reviewed it and liked it. However, knowing the true prophetic timelines as given by the prophet, I saw some erroneous teachings. After several emails I felt it was time to fill her in on the Elijah. I  wanted her to straighten out some of her errors and thereby be fully in line with what the Lord said through His prophet. So I began to ask her if she was aware that  Scripture and EGW had prophesied that another prophet was to come after her. I used the clear quote of  Test. to Ministers, p.475, and other helpful Scripture to show her the predictions of this prophet.

She responded that she had seen the small * (asterisk) by that quote and then read the further explanations supplied by the SDA church. She apparently wasn’t aware or didn’t care that after she died and the writings of Victor Houteff had been wide-spread  throughout the SDA churches, the SDA leaders added their own interpretations of what she meant in that quote.  She then concluded that the SDA church was right and that when EGW made that line ”..when he appears..” she was speaking of herself as the Elijah to come. In other words the “he” was meant to be a “she”.  I was amazed! Here was a woman, whom I thought was truly working in the God’s vineyard spreading His truths and warnings to the church yet she denied the straight testimony of a “male” prophet to come in the spirit and power of Elijah — was truth.

I was very concerned about this and prayed that the Lord could show me how this was possible. How could one be so close yet so far? We continued to correspond and she made further explanations that showed me the answer from the Lord. She said, ” One of the reasons I don’t believe that this Elijah would come after EGW is that Ellen White would have spoken more about him, instead of such a small statement.” Wow! There it was. She was basically saying that “she” knew how God should operate and how He should make His revelations known. He didn’t do enough explaining of this coming prophet therefore she didn’t believe it.

Ellen Whites explains these types of deceptions, “I saw that the greater the light which the people reject, the greater will be the power of deception and darkness which will come upon them. The rejection of truth leaves men captives, the subjects of Satan’s deception.” (Test. for the Church, Vol.1, p.232).

So here we see that instead of humbly accepting the plain clear word as shown by the prophets, she rose up against it just as the Pharisees did. Her stakes were deep and she quit responding to me because she had “need of nothing” more, she had all the truth she needed and was rich and increased with goods (Rev. 3:17). This is why I mentioned that this type of situation is much more deceptive. She has much truth she is teaching, yet denied the Lord by rejecting His final prophet. Just as Korah rejected Moses. Can we see the similarities? Some may said she still is spreading truth regardless, but I would say she has seen the clear word of God that a prophet is sent and to be heard and she has said–no. I believe I was sent in her path to reveal the Elijah message to her but it was rejected. There are important messages in the Elijah message (contrary to her teachings) that she is ignoring and therefore not teaching. “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.” (James 3:1)

To many of us it’s our human nature to try to debate and convince others who we may believe are wrong in their understanding of the word of the Lord. But if they are an active teacher or promoter of their idea of another prophet(s)  to come after the last one that Scripture clearly declares (Elijah), or that no prophet is to come after EGW, then you can be assured they have their stakes very deep just as the Pharisees had.

In closing, we’d like to advise all present truth seekers that are striving to learn the Lord’s last message to His people, the Elijah message, that should you encounter someone or a group who teach the above ideas, then you should take the Lord’s counsel and deal with them just as He dealt with the Pharisees and that is — leave them alone.

Posted in Davidian Seventh Day Adventists, Delusion, Proper teachings | 6 Comments »

Egypt Exodus Repeated?

July 13, 2013

exodus

We’re all familiar with the great exodus movement from the land of Egypt. It became the foundational movement for the people of God–the Israelites. Freed from bondage, the people were to enter into our Lord’s bountiful and glorious land- Israel. But something went horribly wrong, and the whole plan went “south” to use a common term.

But are you aware the Scriptures says that the Lord will “do it again”, in a similar way? Yes indeed it does! Let’s look at this most fascinating prophecy and see what the Lord has in plan for His remnant people.

“Therefore behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when they will no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives, who brought up the sons of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ but  ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”(Jeremiah 23:7-8)

The above is one packed prophecy! First we see that the time for this to occur is in the “future” days. And that there appears a direct leading of the Lord for His people, just as he did in the Egypt exodus. Next we notice that it’s from the “house of Israel”, meaning His church, His people.

We as Bible students know that this prophecy has not ever occurred yet,  because all 12 tribes of the “house of Israel” have never been re-united and brought back to their own land.

We as SDA know all too well that since Ellen G. White appeared from God as our prophetess, His hand has directly guided HIS CHURCH,  the SDA church. This can only mean that the people in this last days exodus will come from the SDA church. She establishes the fact that the SDA church is the “Israel” of today with the following quote.

“In order to be purified and to remain pure, Seventh-day Adventists must have the Holy Spirit in their hearts and in their homes. The Lord has given me light that when the Israel of today humble themselves before Him, and cleanse the soul-temple from all defilement, He will hear their prayers in behalf of the sick and will bless in the use of His remedies for disease.” (Test. for the Church, Vol. 9, p.164)

What a grand joy! What a promise! Someday soon we’ll be under the direct hand of God and led to our “own land”, a land flowing with “milk and honey”. And there has only been ONE land, our Lord has called His. It is Israel.  “His foundation is in the holy mountains. The Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of you, O city of God! Selah.”  (Psalm 87 :1-3)

“On that day I swore to them that I would bring them out of Egypt into a land I had searched out for them, a land flowing with milk and honey, the most beautiful of all lands” (Ezekiel 20:6).

While we won’t go into all the prophecies about how the land of Israel will be cleared out now, let’s look at a very important one.

“Gather yourselves together! Yes, gather together, you shameless nation, before the decree is carried out [and] the day passes like windblown husks, before the LORD’s burning anger comes to you, before the day of the LORD’s anger comes to you. (Zeph.2:1-2)

The above prophecy is for the last days, as can be clearly seen by reading the 1st chapter of Zephaniah. So we ask–what nation today is shameless? What nation is stoutly calling the God of Israel, as it’s God, yet shamelessly calling His Son- an impostor? In case you haven’t guessed, verse 4 of Zeph. clears it.

“For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod’s people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted.”( Zeph 2:4)  The area is none other than Israel–specifically the Palestine area.

We see that in the near future the land of Jerusalem shall be cleared out for God’s people to come back. This, as we well know, is certainly shaping up as we speak. We see that the middle east situation is very tense and that the last big war is about to take place in this area–“Gather yourselves together”. The nations are real close to this gathering and this purpose is that of the Lord’s. He wants His land back for His people.

So this exodus is now in the preparation stage. The Lord’s last message is going out right now, pleading with His people to accept His offer. And what is this offer? To listen and heed His final message of repentance and reformation instructions as given by Elijah. Soon the angels will have marked the last of the “God’s elect”, the 144,000. When our prophetess was called to deliver His messages to us, what was the very first message of importance to us, His SDA church? Her first vision- the 144,000. “”Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand. “–(Review and Herald, March 9, 1905.)

We remember that just prior to the actual leaving of the land of Egypt, the Lord commanded the people to mark the door posts in order to be saved from the destroying angel. Ellen White explains the anti-typical future event of this same original type event.

” When God was about to smite the first-born of Egypt, He commanded the Israelites to gather their children from among the Egyptians into their own dwellings and strike their door posts with blood, that the destroying angel might see it and pass over their homes. It was the work of parents to gather in their children. This is your work, this is my work, and the work of every mother who believes the truth.

The angel is to place a mark upon the forehead of all who are separated from sin and sinners, and the destroying angel will follow, to slay utterly both old and young.” (Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.505).

Here we see that she equates  the future prophetic Ezekiel 9 to the beginning of the exodus out of Egypt. Is this divine or coincidence? Of course she was divinely led to pair the two together. You see, the church is to be a pure church, and after this happens then the exodus begins.

This all comes together prophetically, as we know that the Loud Cry cannot happen until all the sinners of the house of Israel are removed. The Lord’s full Spirit is then poured out. “Only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it (the Third Angel’s message) when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry.” (Review and Herald, Nov. 19, 1908).

Ellen White describes this pure church  time, “Mighty miracles were wrought, the sick were healed, and signs and wonders followed the believers. God was in the work, and every saint, fearless of consequences, followed the convictions of his own conscience and united with those who were keeping all the commandments of God; and with power they sounded abroad the third message. I saw that this message will close with power and strength far exceeding the midnight cry.(Early Writings, P.278).

Obviously the Lord’s power will be poured out to enable His servant to do these miracles. But as history shows us in the example of Achan, He will not tolerate sins among His people. In (Test. for the Church, vol. 3, p.270), we read, “God’s displeasure is upon His people, and He will not manifest His power in the midst of them while sins exist among them and are fostered by those in responsible positions.”

This final exodus, this display of His power to win the true in heart around the world,  is the fulfillment of God’s many promises to the “house of Israel”. Unlike us, God keeps each and every promise. This is one of the main reasons His has sent “Elijah” to us. Since the writings of the Scriptures began, some of the secret passages of the Lord were left undiscovered or unexplained until Elijah came. The prophet himself explains-

“…since Elijah is to herald the great day, he can therefore be the only one who will rightly interpret the prophecies of the day, which are still mysteries to Christendom, and even to our own Denomination!  Indeed, to reiterate, it is for this very reason that the prophet is sent.  He is to unroll the scroll to explain what the day of the Lord is like, what the Lord will do then, and how we may survive His judgments.

To re-emphasize the fact, let it be said again that being the last of the prophets Elijah is, therefore, the only one who can open to our understanding all the prophecies of the Scriptures pertaining to the great and dreadful day of the Lord — prophecies which heretofore have been only mysteries to all.  Thus he is, as the Scriptures say, to blow the trumpet in Zion, and to sound an alarm in God’s holy mountain, in the church.

    In doing all this, he sets in motion the Power that is to restore all things.  Hence Christ’s positive declaration: “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” Matt. 17:11.  Inevitably, then, without his message we would die in our ignorance and in our sins — never live to see the restoration completed.”(General Conference Special p.19-20)

This “restoration” is beginning now with the message being spread, read, then heeded by those who humbly do as the Lord’s last messenger said to do. Soon those who receive the mark in their forehead will–” Break forth into joy, sing together, You waste places of Jerusalem! For the LORD has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. (Isaiah 52:9)

“It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people who are left, from Assyria and Egypt, from  Pathros and Cush, from Elam and Shinar, from Hamath and the islands of the sea.” (Isaiah 11:11)

“‘For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God.” (Ezekiel 36:24-28).

Has the Lord ever brought back His people into His land- Israel, and they then no longer worshiped idols? No, this has never happened yet. This is prophetic of the very soon to come time, when He shall again lead His people into the “promised land”. This is the culmination of the  — second exodus.

In closing, let us remember that the Lord’s word clearly says what He will soon do, are we going to be a part of this last day exodus? To make the trip back to “our own land”? To be part of His grand final plan on this earth? Let us say–YES!

Posted in End times, Final Events | 1 Comment »

The Prophet Speaks

July 6, 2013

One of the most clear  descriptions that the Spirit of Prophecy gave to us in knowing the identifying mark of the Elijah to come (Test. to Min.p.475), was to say he would be known as an ” interpreter”. What we’d like to show this week is some selected  interpretations of  Scriptures. This is just a snipet of the end time prophecy interpretations available to learn.

As we proceed in our walk, we can enjoy learning more and more of His word, as spoken through the prophets. For example, we’ll learn the following.

1) What is the meaning of “altars of brick” and “altars of stone”?

2) What is the meaning of incense in the Bible?

3) How many specific parts were in the Mosiac law, and what did each part consist of?

4) What are we required to keep today?

5) Are there Bible verses illuminating the employee/employer relationship?

6) Can we know how fast the Lord can travel?

7) What are some of the things that happen when God begins the judgment for the living here on earth?

 Brother Houteff’s words are in bold.

____________________________________________________

(Isaiah 65:3) “A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; who sacrificeth in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick..”

The last part of verse 3, is quoted here: “That sacrificeth in gardens, and burneth incense upon altars of brick.” We must understand that these are symbols, but they are not hard to deciper. Had it been impossible to be understood, no one could profit by it, therefore the symbol would not have been used in the chapter.

“Gardens” are used for display. “Sacrifice” is the same as gift. “Incense”, according to Rev.8:3,4, is the way prayers are sent to God. Nowhere in the Bible can we read of any of God’s people building altars of brick. Altars to God were always built with stones.

The difference between brick and stone will now be considered. Brick is the product of man, but stone is the workmanship of God. Let us now consider the lesson intended here. “Gardens”, display; “Sacrifice”, gifts; “Incense”, prayers;  “Bricks”, man-made proposition. The charge is, we sacrifice for display, we offer our prayers to God (upon altars of brick); we follow after man instead of God’s pure word, as given to the church. (Shep. Rod. vol.1, p.162-163)

(Micah 4:4) “Verse 4, “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: For the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.”

 The meaning of the verse is that God’s church is in an absolute security, and none need fear. Remember that the 144,000 are sealed before this time, and their life is sure; none can harm them nor touch their present life, or the life to come, for they are living saints, to be translated. Having this assurance, none can make them afraid, and they shall triumph with victory. Quoting Isaiah 60:17, last part, and 18: “I will  also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

(Mal.4:4,5) — “Remember ye the law of Moses My servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.”

You know by now that Malachi, chapters 3 and 4, prophetically speak to the people of today, to the people just before the great and dreadful day, to the people to whom antitypical Elijah the prophet is sent.  And what wise counsel does the Lord give through Malachi? — He says, “Remember ye the Law of Moses My servant.”  Which law? — The law of “statutes and judgments” which the Lord commanded “in Horeb.”  Since this is God’s faithful advice to His people of this day, we would do well to restudy this law of Moses, and to remember it, for we cannot disregard His counsel and still expect His blessings.

   Broadly speaking, the law of Moses consists of three parts.  The first is the Ceremonial law, the law of the temple — the sacrificial law.  This law, of course, we today must not observe, except in antitype, for it foreshadowed things to come, particularly Christ’s first advent.  Thus it is that if we had lived in Old Testament times and had failed to comply with the sacrificial law and system of that day, we would thereby have demonstrated unbelief in Christ, Who was to come.  But since we are living in the Christian era, if we should now observe the typical sacrificial law and system, we should thereby demonstrate unbelief in Christ, Who has come.

   And so, as this law was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14), we need not, and must not, observe it now

The second part of Moses’ law, is the law by which Israel was to rule its people, the civil, or legal law, — the law which defines what penalty the government should impose upon those who are caught stealing, killing, or the like.  Now, since we as Christians do not have a government of our own, but are still under the governments of the nations of today, we personally, or as a group are not required to enforce the legal law of Moses either.

   The only law of Moses, therefore, that we can possibly be admonished to remember, is the third part of his law: the moral law, which consists of the things that pertain to us as individuals, the things that we as individuals must perform, the things that perfect our character, the things that make us a peculiar people.  We therefore need to search out and do the things contained in the moral law of Moses — “The commandments, and the statutes and the judgments.” Deut. 5:31.

And the surest way to select these moral essentials from among those things which pertain to the sacrificial and the legal systems, is to go to the book of Deuteronomy.  This book is the summary of all the laws and statutes which Moses spoke to ancient Israel, his last words. (Timely Greetings, Vol.2, no.15, p.14-16)

(Deut.24:6, 10-15 — “No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge:for he taketh a man’s life to pledge…”

“When thou dost lend thy brother any thing, thou shall not go into his house to fetch his pledge. Thou shall stand abroard, and the man to whom dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroard unto thee. And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge: in any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down, that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee: and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates: at his day thou shalt give him his hire, neither shall the sun go down upon it; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it: lest he cry against thee unto the Lord, and it be sin unto thee.”

God’s people are here told not to pledge their means or tools (not to pledge “the nether or upper millstone”) with which they make a living. And they are not to be exacting with their poor brethren. They are not to collect by force, and they are not to delay paying wages to the poor.”(Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, no.37,p.21)

How Can Christians Get To Heaven If The Distance Is So Great?

   The fastest speed on earth known to modern science at this present time is light which travels at the rate of 186,284 miles a second.  If one was to take a flight on the wings of light to the great nebula Orion, it would take him 600 years to reach that far-distant wonder in the heavens which has drawn an earnest attention of modern science.  Quoting from Early Writings, page 41, we read: “The atmosphere parted and rolled back; then we could look up through the open space in Orion, whence came the voice of God.  The holy city will come down through that open space.”

If the holy city is to come through that space we may well suppose that that glorious open space in Orion is the gateway to that long-continued highway to heaven (God’s throne).  But think of the great distance to this most wonderful gateway.  If it would take 600 light years to reach the entrance to that far-distant highway, then we ask ourselves, How many light years would it take to reach the other end of that heavenly highway to the city of the great King in the sides of the north?

   We mortals can not give a direct answer to this great question only to say the distance from earth to the center of the universe (God’s throne) is so vast that we finite beings only stand awestruck.  We are amazed with the difficulty to compute mileage, or even light years.  But if the distance is so vastly beyond human comprehension, then we, like the previously-stated Indian, ask the question, How would Christians ever get to heaven? 

Suppose that great wonder (train) which takes the redeemed would move at the tremendous speed of light, traveling 186,000 miles a second, it would take a good part of eternity to reach the city of the Great King (heaven).

   Here we shall see what we consider a terrific speed.  Heaven esteems it very dilatory.  For an example, we shall consider Jesus after the resurrection.  It was Mary who met Him first.  As she reached for her Lord, Jesus said to her, “Mary, touch Me not; for I have not yet ascended to My Father.” John 20:17.  Eight days later Jesus again appeared to His disciples.  “Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, …and thrust it into My side; and be not faithless, but believe.”  John 20:27.  If Jesus would not let Mary touch Him because He had not yet been to His Father after He had risen, we may not suppose He would let Thomas thrust His finger in His side except He had been to heaven by His Father.  Jesus, in a week or less, made a round trip from earth to heaven.(Shep. Rod, Vol.1, p.205-207)

(Isa. 2:4 )– “And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

   Not the nations, but Inspiration Itself declares that in the day God judges the living, then those nations who go to the mountain (Kingdom church purified) of the Lord “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks” — they will go farming instead of spending their strength in war. 

The nations that do not accept the Lord’s “rebuke,” in that day, though, will madly arise against the “mountain” of the Lord, as forecast by the prophet Joel, saying: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.  Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.” Joel 3:9- 12.

   Since Inspiration has dedicated these publications to the announcement of this most important event in connection with the gospel — the climax and the triumph of it, the separation of the good from the bad (Matt. 13:30, 47, 48), the goats from the sheep (Matt. 25:32); and the establishment of the mountain of the Lord’s house; there is therefore no escaping the conclusion that these chapters of Isaiah were penned especially for the church today. 

Now that we are the forerunners of this great and glorious event, we must give special heed to what these chapters have to say.  This we must do if we are to prepare the way of the Lord (Matt. 3:3; Isa. 4:3-5).  This message to the church, you plainly see, is to prepare her members for the Judgment before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” begins (Mal. 4:5).  For this very reason the Scriptures at this time are unsealed.  Let us now hear the Lord’s plea.

(Isa. 2:5) — “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

   Because the church greatly needs this light, the light that now illuminates the Judgment Day, the Lord makes the foregone plea to the antitypical “house of Jacob,” the house in which are the 144,000 Jacobites, the descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel, who down through the ages became assimilated by the Gentile nations, and thus lost their racial identity.

   The Lord’s concern, that the church walk in the light of the Lord (in Inspiration’s light for today) definitely implies that she is not now walking in His light; and His command, found in the last verse of Isaiah’s chapter, clearly reveals that she is walking in the sparks of uninspired men.   The Lord, therefore, commands:

(Isa. 2:22) — “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?”

   The reason that her members should immediately cease from men is told in the verses that follow:

Isa. 3:1-4 — “For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, the mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, the captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.”

   For over a century we as Seventh-day Adventists have been preaching the work of the Judgment for the Dead, and should now with ease see that when the Judgment for the Living begins it is to separate the saints from the sinners — the wheat from the tares (Matt. 13:30), the good fish from the bad fish (Matt. 13:47, 48), the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:32-46), the wise virgins from the foolish ones (Matt. 25:1-13).

   Plainly then, Isaiah 3:1-4 reveals that among those who are found wanting, are some of the mighty men, men of war, judges and prophets (teachers of religion), prudent and ancients, captains and honorables, counsellors and cunning artificers and eloquent orators, and that God is not a respecter of persons, but only of penitent sinners; that He is not dependent on so-called great men.

   Those who have been exalting themselves and who have thus caused His people to follow learned men instead of Inspiration and thus the Lord’s advancing Truth, are all to be carried away as chaff!

   The brethren who for years have been preaching the Judgment for the Dead have gone spiritually blind and foolish, do not even expect a message of the Judgment for the Living and are insultingly saying. “These prophecies are never to be fulfilled!”  Now is the hour for them to ponder over this light along with the statement: “In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged.” — Testimonies, Vol. 5, pg. 80. (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, no.5, p-5-8)

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We  hope you’ve enjoyed these enlightening passages and we that you look into the message of Elijah more thoroughly as it can only bring blessings and more importantly– instructions on how to “stand” in the very soon to come “great and dreadful day of the Lord”.

Posted in Proper teachings, Victor T. Houteff | 3 Comments »

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