Archive for May, 2015

The 666 Man

May 30, 2015

pope-francis-600  maitreya4  obama

A few weeks ago we did a post entitled, “666 and the Two-Horned Beast”.  In it we explored the two prophetic entities. But this week we’d like to focus in  more on who this 666 man may be. Obviously we are not prophets, and as such we can only give our opinions based on understanding Scripture, SOP and the Elijah message. Also knowing the events taking place in the world right now kind of sheds light on certain aspects of prophecy.

The Lord, as He often does, starts a seed of thought on a subject, and we “sup” and it leads to thoughts and ideas that germinate into a post. I would like to present some thoughts on this prophetic man, and narrow down our understanding to bring into focus a clearer view of real possibilities based on the Inspired writings.

As our three pictures show, there appears to be basically three leading candidates that could soon remove all doubt that one of them represents the prophesied “666” man.  They are 1) Pope Francis 2) The Maitreya  3) The president of the United states — Barrack H. Obama

Brief descriptions 

1)  Pope Francis–   Almost everyone around the planet knows about the Pope. To summarize , he is the first Jesuit Pope ever to hold the position of the head of the Roman Catholic Church. Well liked and admired for his apparent “humility”. This Pope has been a “one man PR machine”! His popularity in the world ranks right there with  the greatly popular and deceased Pope John Paul II.

A recent NBC article stated–

“Pope Francis is more popular than ever in the U.S., with 95 percent of Catholics who go to church every week — and even two-thirds of those with no religion — giving him high marks. The Pew Research Center says that two years after Francis was named the leader of the world’s 1 billion Roman Catholics, his popularity has eclipsed any numbers his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, ever posted and puts him on par with Pope John Paul II in the 1980s and 1990s.”(NBC online, March 6, 2015)

2)  The Maitreya–   He is less well-known. He is sort of the mysterious  religious man, who is thought by many of assorted faiths, to be the future “Christ” who is now living on this planet. Some think that a man named Benjamin Creme,  a Masonic leader and a sort of John the Baptist type to the followers of Maitreya, has authentically proclaimed that he is now publicly speaking around the world. There is a view that a  man named –Raj Patel, an Indian ancestry  appearing man, who is world renown for his “food for everyone” message,  is the Maitreya.

According to the followers, and some are well-known men and women, being world movers and shakers as well, this man will soon usher in a world peace movement. CNN even had commercials about him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfGEp2TErrw
There have been claims he has appeared unannounced in certain parts of the world, preparing people for his soon world-wide appearance. In one case,  some claimed he has disappeared in their view. For more information you can go to YouTube and see a diverse selection of reports on him.

3) Barrack H. Obama —   Love him or hate him, this president has been quite a polarizing figure. There is no doubt he has taken steps to “fundamentally  change America”, as he promised before being elected. For the good? That is debatable, depending on your liberal or conservative stance. One thing we know, he is also strangely mysterious just as the Maitreya is.  No one seems to knows his true background, his college record, etc. All this info has been “locked up”.

So there are some brief descriptions of our candidates. I’m sure there are other candidates, but in the grand scheme of things, these appear to be the three leading ones.

But thank God we have a road map! And that is–Scripture, Spirit of prophecy, and the Elijah message. These writings hold the keys for us, that should provide a clear view which one of our candidates is the clear leading candidate for the 666 title.

To begin with let’s review what Rev.13:1-18 says in context. As we do this,  we see that verses 1 to 10 describe the “Leopard” like beast (LLB). Then we notice that verses 11 to 18 describes the “Two-Horned Beast” (THB). Chapter 13 is broken down into two descriptions of two beasts. Because the second part of Chap. 13 involves the 666 man, let’s review it again.

Verses 11-18

“Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.“

Here we clearly see that the 666 man is connected with the second beast, the THB. In further support of this, we know that Scripture always connects the LLB with the wound as seen in Rev. 13:3, 13:12, 13:14.  Therefore, the verse 13:18 saying only “the beast” indicates it’s not the LLB, but rather the THB in the context of verses 11-18.

SOP also puts the 666 man with the THB.

“..the last oppressive power has not ‘come to his end’; and Michael has not stood up. This last power that treads down the saints is brought to view in Rev. 13:11-18. His number is 666..” (Word to the Little Flock, p.8-9)

“I saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast (the two-horned beast) was made up; and that it was the beast (leopard-like) that changed the Sabbath, and the image Beast had followed on after, and kept the Pope’s and not God’s Sabbath.” (Ibid, p.12)

Now that we see that the 666 man is connected with the THB , what then is the Two Horned Beast? We as SDA know well that it can only represent the United States of America. Without going into much detail, suffice to say that the great nation that was “coming up out of the earth” can only mean the USA.

“But the beast with lamblike horns was seen “coming up out of the earth.” Instead of overthrowing other powers to establish itself, the nation thus represented must arise in territory previously unoccupied and grow up gradually and peacefully. It could not, then, arise among the crowded and struggling nationalities of the Old World—that turbulent sea of “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” It must be sought in the Western Continent.

What nation of the New World was in 1798 rising into power, giving promise of strength and greatness, and attracting the attention of the world? The application of the symbol admits of no question. One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United States of America.” (The Great Controversy, p.440)

So this means that the 666 candidate cannot be the Pope. He is not connected to the USA but rather to the LLB.  The Pope does and will have an important role to play in final events but it appears he will be more of a cheerleader for the Sunday law and not as ruling king or authorial dictator.

Right now we see him as a world spokesman, highly regarded for his views, yet apparently,  he divinely knows that he must be active now for his time will be short.

Marco Politi, a Vatican expert, said in a recent article–

“This Pope (Francis) seems to be in a hurry to get as much done as he can, as if he’s got a deadline..He keeps talking about how his time is short.” (The Daily Beast, March 29, 2015)

So that leaves us with the two remaining candidates. By the same logical reasons, we must, therefore, eliminate the Maitreya. He is not connected with the USA as well. However it may be noted that he certainly may qualify for the “false Prophet” or the “false Christ”.

So we can now say with clarity that the 666 likely candidate can logically be– Barrack Hussein Obama!

Right now we see the announcing of many candidates for the US presidency. TV coverage is widespread and almost daily news reports come out on what they are promising for the USA and the world. However, Scripture predicts the awful final world war over Israel, as we have posted before. So what  is likely to transpire?

Barrack Obama, may stay on past the two term deadline. If the war breaks out and the USA gets involved,  an emergency declaration will be called and then, we as present truth believers know, the 144,000 come on the scene. The world dramatically changes, the great controversy begins! Christ’s servants against Satan’s servants. And who will be at head of the USA? The 666 man, the man representing the THB.

“And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” (Rev. 13:16-17).

 

In explaining more on the THB and the 666 man, the Elijah messages states–

“Having only two horns, not ten, the beast therefore  depicts a local, not a universal, government.  Nevertheless, he will influence all Christendom  to “make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live”; that is, he will engineer a world-wide governmental setup, re-enthroning the principles of the church-state rule of Ecclesiastical Rome. 

Being the restorer of these principles, he, along with the prophet, will become the world’s chief dictator, and shape not only the political and the religious policies of the governments, but also the world’s commerce.  He shall decree “that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Rev. 13:17.

 

   This beast represents a man who stands at the head of a nation, and whose influence goes far and wide among the kings of the earth. He is further identified by a number — the mystical  number “six hundred threescore and six.” Rev. 13:18.

   The prevailing belief that the number “666” is the numerical identification of some other power, is the spawn of the Prince of Darkness, and is calculated to conceal if possible the identification of this two-horn power.  Inspiration puts the number on the two-horn beast, and there we must leave it.  When the number is finally made up, the servants of God will be able to  convince all the “wise” as to just whom the beast symbolizes. 

We now see, though, that no one who studies the Word of God, need be deceived when this power does appear on the stage of  action.  Yet notwithstanding God’s warning against giving allegiance to the beast, the world fails to give heed, with the result that even after his number is made up, “he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their  foreheads.” Rev. 13 :16.

 

   The passage, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,” denotes that all who, after hearing the truth, continue to pay homage, either religiously or secularly,  to the image, “shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.” Rev. 14:9, 10. (Tract 12, p.26-28)

The beast we are told is a man (Rev. 13:18).  The demand to worship, obey the beast’s command, therefore, is a demand to worship (obey) man in place of God.  Both marks are for no other purpose but to define who is who — who is for God and who is for the beast.  Those who obey God’s Judgment message rather than the beast’s decree, receive God’s mark.  And those who obey the beast’s decree rather than God’s message receive the beast’s mark.  These two different marks, you see, separate the worshipers of God from the worshipers of men.(Jezreel Letter, no.2, p.11-12)

 In Summary

We are soon, very soon, to experience dramatic changes in the world as we know it. Based on the signs given by the Lord, both Scripture being fulfilled and direct outward signs (ie. 4 Blood moons, dead animals around the world, etc.) the great last world war will break out shortly. Israel is paranoid of Iran, and may make a first strike which will draw Russia in, which will snowball the USA and other countries in  as well.

Our current president is strangely gifted at speaking and as such his influence may soon be catapulted around the globe, when the world war comes painfully to a close. Desolation and world-wide shock will set in because the great and vast protestant world has falsely taught that God will “protect Israel” and her enemies will be defeated. But they have been confused (rightly so as part of Babylon), they have mistakenly taught that the current people over in Israel, the current Jews  (not the Israel that God speaks of in the Scriptures concerning the last days), are to receive the covenant  promises of the Lord.

The land will be basically wiped out and desolate, there will appear a great need to “understand it all” , and as such religion will take the world’s center stage. During or at the close of this war, the SDA church judgment happens and the 144,000 are revealed (See Tract 14, p.22). Shortly after this they take up  their journey to the promised land (Israel). The land becomes miraculously beautiful again and much rejoicing occurs in the land (see Isaiah  2:1-4 and 11:1-10)

This fulfills Scripture –

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” (Rev. 14:1-3)

God’s ” full spirit”  is then poured out among them and healings and miracles of all kinds are witnessed by the world. They begin to bring the honest of heart out of Babylon.

Satan then begins his counter plans and attacks. The 666 man, being without God, is directly influenced by Satan and has powers that work together with the false prophet. The Pope is instrumental in advising the need for a Sunday Law, and because of the great works done by the 144,000, Satan convinces the masses of unbelievers, through the 666 man, the false prophet, and the Pope, to solidify a united religious law. Satan is granted power to do, through the false prophet, counterfeit miracles “in the sight of the beast.”

The world will soon be at a crossroads–God’s way (seal) and obeying His Commandments, or Satan’s way (mark) and obeying mankind through his puppets, specifically his 666 man, the false prophet and the Pope. Time will tell all the exact details.

“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 pruning hooks 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. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.”(Joel 3:9-13)

 “Behold, a day is coming for the Lord, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go out and fight against those nations as when he fights on a day of battle. On that day his feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives that lies before Jerusalem on the east, and the Mount of Olives shall be split in two from east to west by a very wide valley, so that one half of the Mount shall move northward, and the other half southward.” (Zech. 14:1-4)

 

Posted in End times, Revelation teachings | 5 Comments »

The Collection Box

May 23, 2015

Modern Tithe box     Tithe collection box  OT collection box

 

Dating back to the time of Kings (about 550 BC) the Lord’s people had a specific way of collecting their Tithes. Let us look at this ancient custom that continued up to at least  Jesus’ time, and was changed centuries later by the Roman custom of plate/bag passing which now permeates in almost all churches, including the SDA church.

2 Kings 12:9

Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the LORD. And the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 24:8-11

And at the king’s commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD. And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it.  

Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king’s office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

Here we see that the Lord’s people established a method of collection. The success of it speaks for itself. We notice that the people obviously enjoyed doing their duty as faithful servants of the Lord’s cause.

But what about today? What are we really doing in regard to collecting His Tithes and offerings? Sadly, it has become anything but a success for many of our churches! Let me give you a personal recent example.

Recently our church held a business meeting to discuss, among other things, our financial situation. I was saddened to hear our pastor speak about our “way below” financial status. I recalled how  The Lord’s word said —

“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.”(Deut. 28:1-3)

That day Moses, at God’s instruction, gave the people proper counsel on Tithes. So I thought to myself–Not good about our own church. We are doing something wrong, because the Lord is not blessing. But what is it? I went home and prayed and supped with the Lord and thought about it.

You see, there is a”our way” and there is the “Lord’s way”. When we as presumptuous human beings, under the cover of presumed righteousness, go about doing something that is in contradiction to the Lord’s way, we cannot expect His blessings–simple as that. So I went about searching what we were doing wrong, and causing the withholding of God’s blessings for us in our financial health for the church.

The answers were plain and clear. We were doing predominantly two major things that were not in alignment with God’s method based on His history with Tithes.

First, we are “passing the bag” around in His holy sanctuary. This is certainly not considered “freewill” offerings. This is more of compulsory offerings. When a bag is put in your lap and you are made to divvy up lest you be ashamed and looked upon as a selfish non-giver, this cannot be considered freewill in the true Biblical sense. The Elijah message explains.

We can now for sure take hold of God’s promises and make them our own.  What a privilege and what an opportunity is now ours! Look and see what a difference there is between God’s method for supporting His work, and the Roman system that is now carried on by the church: plate-passing, high-powered speeches, Big Day, Book Day, high pressuring, campaigning, selling, auctioneering, Harvest Ingathering, birthday offerings, Christmas-tree hangings, baby weighings, Dorcas sales, investment funds, and what not!  As none of these squeezings are Biblical, and as all of them are Pagan in origin and condemned by the Scriptures, they could not possibly be considered freewill offerings. Search and see.(Jezreel Letter, no.9, p.7-8)

Speaking of freewill offerings, the Scriptures have about 15 references advocating freewill offerings. For example- Numbers 29:39, Deuteronomy 12:5-6, Ezekiel 46:11-12 to name a few.

“Offer a thank offering also from that which is leavened, And proclaim freewill offerings, make them known For so you love to do, you sons of Israel,” Declares the Lord GOD. (Amos 4:5)

Second, as shown in our top quotes, the Lord did indeed bless the use of the Collection box method. This way the people came prepared , and before service they could deposit their freewill offerings as they had saved up for the Lord’s cause. Individually, each could be guided by the Lord to discreetly make their Tithe and offerings, without embarrassment or scrutiny.

Another example that is one of the strongest reasons why we should do the Collection Box method is the following in which the Lord Himself watched and approved.

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. And He called unto Him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. (Mark 12:41-44)

From the website “Bible History Online” we found an excellent description of the temple courts and location of the collection boxes.

The Jerusalem Temple

Small Widows Mite Coin   “If you were to approach the Temple in Jerusalem in the first century A.D. you would    pass through the eastern gate where Jesus made His triumphal entry. Then you would  come to the Court of the Gentiles which was a large court paved with stones of various  colors. It was open to all comers including the cattle-dealers and the money-changers  who desecrated the Temple.

This court was also called the Outer Court, the Lower Court, and the rabbi’s usually called it “the Mountain of the Lord’s House.” All around the Temple proper was a 9 foot high terrace with stairs which was higher than the Court of the Gentiles. It was surrounded by a 5 foot high wall which was designed to keep out the gentiles. There was also pillars in the wall at various distances (the Soreg) with inscriptions in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, warning all gentiles to come no further under penalty of death.

Going beyond the Court of the Gentiles and at the top of the terrace there was a platform for about 15 feet and then there was another wall. On the east side stood the magnificent 60 foot wide “Gate Beautiful” mentioned in Acts 3:2,10. It was also referred to as the “Gate Susan” because it contained a beautifully sculptured relief of the city of Susa. During the time of the morning and evening sacrifices this great entrance was the place of public worship.

Entering through the Susan Gate you would come to a large court called “the Court of the Women” not because there were only women there but because women could not go beyond it. There were smaller courts with columns in the four corners of the court.

According to the Mishnah (Middoth 2,5) the Women’s Court was just over 200 feet square between bounding lines. Each court on the outside was 60 feet square.

In front of these columns were the eleven treasure chests of the Temple for the voluntary offerings of money, and there were also two at the Gate of Susan, for the half-shekel tax. Jesus was sitting ‘opposite the treasury’ when he saw the widow put into one of the containers the two copper coins which were all that she had (Mark 12:41-44; Lk 21:1-2).”

Aside from the powerful lesson our Lord gives concerning the old lady giving her all, we see Him approve of this method of Tithe giving. What more evidence do we need?  The Scriptures are so deep with many lessons, including those apart from the obvious ones.

It is also important to note that  SOP declares that the “treasure chests” were not in the sanctuary but rather in the temple courts.

“Jesus was in the court where were the treasure chests, and he watched those who came to deposit their gifts.” (DA, p.614)

Clearly the collection box should not be within the sanctuary, but rather in the foyer or right at the entrance to the sanctuary.

Some may ask–What did SOP have to say about this matter? In one of her last published comments about this situation she answered the following question.

Question – Should we take up Collections on the Sabbath?

“The question has been brought before me, Shall we take up collections on the Sabbath? The occurrence which brought up this question was that of taking up a collection to purchase an organ for the church. I replied that I would not advise this being done.

When collections are taken on the Sabbath for foreign missionary work, it is that the gospel may be given to those who are in darkness. This is genuine missionary work, and often these collections could not be taken up so fully at any other time. To gather these offerings could not be called transgression of the Sabbath.

But if this is to open that way for taking up of contributions for such purposes as buying of instruments of music, then I would advise that it be discontinued… Let our people avoid the passing of the contribution boxes, even if it becomes a much more difficult matter than it now is to raise money for foreign missionary work.

It would be well if our brethren and sisters would consider the advisability of laying by during the week their offerings for missionary work. As they call to mind the blessings and mercies that god is affording them, let them put a thank offering in an envelope. These envelopes could be presented on the Sabbath, when it could be stated for what purpose they are intended…

The sacredness of the Sabbath could be in no way violated by such gifts, and the results would be for good… My brethren and sisters, try this method. Let there be no collections taken on the Sabbath, but let praise and thank offerings be made.”—(EGW Manuscript 176, 1907)

I believe this method is so right and good before the Lord , we can see some success examples even from the “Babylon” churches. The Christian Science Monitor stated the following in one of its articles, called “Some churches stop passing the collection plates”.http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0823/p03s01-ussc.html

“At New England Chapel in suburban Franklin, Mass., five years of warehouse worship without passing the plate has produced a $300,000 budget, a weekly attendance of 500 and a confidence in the Rev. Chris Mitchell that passing the plate would produce less revenue.” (August 23, 2002)

So we can see that the Lord blesses when we obey and do the right thing, even our Tithes and offerings. But if we blindly do our own way, following tradition for the sake of tradition, we cannot expect to joyfully praise the Lord for pouring out His rich and wonderful blessings upon us.

Granted, the actual collection process is just one of the problems with today’s Tithing. One of the predominant issues is that of “present truth”. We see much truth in regards to Tithes,  from the Lord’s instruction in Malachi chapter 3.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”(Mal.3:10)

From this we see that the storehouse holds the Lord’s “meat”. In other words, the Lord’s present truth. SOP confirms–

“There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is “present truth” that the flock needs now.” (Early Writings, p.63)

As we have shown time and again through our posts here, the Lord’s Elijah message is “our” present truth, our message for today. But sadly , Satan and his angels have largely convinced the SDA leadership that this message is not needed, rather a “lukewarm fuzzy all is well in God’s house”  message is the standard message given from God’s house today.

But if we can take first steps such as starting with the collection process, this will lead to more advanced steps. Soon by God’s power, blessings will come and we shall want to do more right acts in God’s house. But we must change things and at once!  The Lord is approaching the door to His temples around the world.

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.” (Mal 3:1)

We find a very clear reference from the Elijah message addressing the ones (Elders) who largely partake in our current backwards way of collections –

“The Bible does not teach or recommend even a plate collection (a custom which Rome originated) in Sabbath services, much less merchandising in the presence of God.  All the Bible recommends is a container for free will offering placed somewhere in the church premises…Since the Bible does not teach any plate gatherings, but only freewill offerings (and not for your own use either), then by high pressuring the laity with your speeches, your pleas, and plate-passing all in the name of Christ, you make Him an extortioner of the worst kind.” (Jezreel Letter, no. 3, p.1-2)

In closing we know that only those who are found “sighing and crying” for the abominations done in the church will receive the seal in their forehead , and remain standing in the upcoming church judgment. And the proper Tithing, including the collection process DOES MATTER TO THE LORD.

“Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those “that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done” in the church.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.267)

Posted in Church, Obedience, Present Truth, Proper teachings, Tithes and Offerings | 4 Comments »

Little Words are Important

May 16, 2015

BigSmall

In learning and studying the Scriptures, SOP and the Elijah message, we would do well to be mindful of each and every word, little or large. You see, Satan has from the beginning used “words” to trip us up, especially the small seemingly little words. Let’s look at his beginning tricks.

In the garden of Eden, God said , “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Gen. 2:16-17)

Shortly thereafter, that wily deceiver came — “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:..”(Gen. 3:4)

God made three short clear words– “shalt surely die”. Satan came by and added the little word “not”. Thus he successfully negated God’s word with that little “not”, showing the woman she had nothing to fear. But this was just the beginning. This reminds me of that old Al Pacino line, “I’m just gettin started here.”

Yes Satan was just getting started there and he continues to this very day to throw off God’s people by having them side step, gloss over, ignore, and who knows what else– God’s plain clear words, especially the small ones.

Let us look at three examples that stand out today  as some of the most important Satan tricks on simple clear words that are glossed over or ignored.

1) As we posted a couple posts back, Ellen White under Inspiration said the following in Testimonies to Ministers, page 475.

Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: “Behold, I will send you 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 in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.”

Do you see that small word “he”? Satan has greatly convinced the vast multitude of SDA, that it does not mean what it says. Just like he did in the original trickery in Eden! Thus today many believe that the word “he” means “we” or even Ellen White a “she”! In other words, Satan does not want you to read it as it is written, rather side step certain words and make a different meaning.

If the Lord wanted Ellen White to say “they”in place of “he” to come, would it not have read– “Some people are to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when they appear…..”.  Right? I mean God is not stupid if He wanted the message to say that there was to be a multitude of Elijahs to come-He would have said that! But no, He inspired EGW to say a “somebody is to come”.. and when he appears…”.

This is big. Why? Because Satan knows that as soon as 144,000 are found and sealed, based on them learning and walking in the Lord’s instructions from His last Elijah message brought by ONE MAN, his final short time capsule begins, true panic mode for him and his angels!

Yes, SOP and brother Houteff do say that the message will be spread by those faithful followers aka “Elijah messengers”(Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.254), but the original message came by one man–Victor T. Houteff. The prophesied ‘Elijah” spoken of in Mal. 4:5.

The Spirit of prophecy explains,  “The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved in doubt and darkness by learned men, who, with a pretense of great wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a mystical, a secret, spiritual meaning not apparent in the language employed.” (GC, p.598)

“The language  of the Bible should be explained according to its obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed.” (GC, p.599)

“If men would but take the Bible as it reads, if there were no false teachers to mislead and confuse thier minds, a work would be accomplished that would make angels glad and that would bring into the fold of Christ thousands upon thousands  who are now wandering in error.” (GC, p.599)

2) Another powerful example involves the promise of God’s kingdom to come. As many of you know we have posted about how God will set up a pre-millennial kingdom in Israel very shortly. Daniel 2 was one of the prophecies that brother Houteff, under Inspiration unlocked for us.

Many of us know that Daniel 2 has traditionally been interpreted as showing Christ coming to the earth (as the stone) destroying the evil kingdoms of the earth. This is true but not as we have mistakenly been led to believe. Christ, through His servants, the 144,000 do this. However Satan has fooled many in this interpretation. How? Let’s look.

After describing how the stone comes from the mountain and destroys the existing kingdoms (ten toes) (Dan 2:31-43) Daniel 2:44 says , “And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”

Did you notice the little word “in”, as “in the days of these kings”? This shows that the stone which symbolically represents God’s remnant who survive the “cutting”(church judgment) from the mountain (church) do the symbolical destroying of the ten toes (current false kingdoms-religion).

Jeremiah also wrote of God’s end-time elect doing these things, “Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider..”(Jer. 51:20-21).

Satan has hood winked the vast multitude by having us gloss over the “in” word. Because he brought the old leaders to the understanding that Christ comes , in the form of the stone after  the earth’s kingdoms are ready for His judgment. In other words, by passing  the “in the days of these kings” Satan can fool us to believe that the stone, falsely labeled as Christ, smashes the world kingdoms and then Christ whisks away the saved to heaven. But the vision does not say that. It says the stone then “filled the whole earth”.

“And the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” (Daniel 2:35)

Obviously the smiting of the worlds kingdoms , by the stone, produces a great church (mountain) and then it spreads throughout the world, it does not smash and then go to heaven immediately as Satan has led us to think. The reason is that Satan wants us to be ignorant of God’s real plans through His prophecies. Those who rightly divide His word are safe from these deceptions however.

3) Our last example is concerning the last prophet spoken of by the Lord.He is to come before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. Satan well knows this and has prepared for a long time to mislead here. How? He does his old Eden simple word trick again!

In Jezreel letter, no. 9, page 1 we read,

“Behold, I will send My messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, Whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 3:1)

Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: “Behold, I will send you 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 in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.” (TM. p.475-476)

There are two main points to note here in these quotations: 1) that the message and the messenger here mentioned are the very last; 2) that they are to restore all things, 3) that there is danger for some to make fools of themselves by daring to tell him how to teach his message–assuming to take God’s place!

Here we see that brother Houteff, under Inspiration says that the “Elijah”, one person with one message, is to be the “very last”. Notice this key –“very last”. We as intelligent humans certainly know that when something is the very last, there is nothing concerning that subject, thing or person that would come after it. Common sense right? Well, we would hope. But not according to the deceiver!

He has done an ultimate deception here. He has fooled some of  the highest light bearers, some Davidians!  You see, Satan knows that Davidians are the ones to fear, for they know the truth as it is in the prophecies and therefore if he can trick them somehow, someway, he will make a big dent in the Elijah message.

Sadly, some DSDA have fallen for this trick. The words “very last” are made to mean “not very last”! Just as he did in Eden. Thank God, the majority of DSDA have not succumbed to this ploy.

This explains why ,when one starts studying the message and searches further, he can come to a so-called DSDA man, woman  or organization that teaches that they have a “current” prophet living that one must follow. Satan has them around, so one must read the original writings by brother Houteff to be safe.

Fortunately these people are the minority among the DSDA and if one is walking upright with the Lord, the Spirit of Truth will guide you and keep you from stepping into such deception.

In closing, may we be attentive to each and every word of Inspiration, even the littlest of words, for by glossing over them or ignoring them , we may go down Satan’s road into false understandings. Little words may mean BIG things to us.

“…when we take into consideration the meaning of each word instead of making thoughtless and hasty conclusions, the Scriptures prove to be not only most perfect and wonderful and yet simple, but also inspiring, making wise the humble — and lightening the path of him who as did Christ, delights to do the will of God.” (Sym. Code, vol.2, no. 2, p.3)

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Worldly Entanglements

May 9, 2015

Mayweather-Paquiao

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5)

This week  boxing fans around the world watched one of the most anticipated boxing matches in decades. It’s been a while since I have brought up the subject of this brutal sport. As some of you who have read this blog for a few years know, I was a serious addicted boxing fan prior to my conversion.

Allow me to regress a little and go back into my history. Since a young teenager I found the sport of boxing fascinating. The one on one challenge, the pure exact and measured movements, the power, all this captivated me.

You could not get me away from a big fight. I don’t recall anything  that I would put before it, and yes that would include an important date. But as I posted a few years ago, when I decided to convert, the Lord sent me a dream to warn me about this idol. He saw I wanted the Lord and boxing too! Well, needless to say, this was cut out and I have not looked back since.

Our Lord warns, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:62).

When we turn from this idols, or habitual sins, we must walk away from them and not look back. This week, however the spirit of darkness did not stop from tempting me. I was strongly pulled to get a newspaper and read about the fight. I Thought, maybe it’s ok because I really don’t do that anymore, so it’s just a rare once in a while thing. Additionally during the fight, I was tempted to check the computer for round by round live updates.

However Scripture again was my strength.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalms 119:11)

When I was tempted the Lord reminded me of not looking back. For I knew to do such a thing would indeed be seriously wrong. But the short see-saw battle gave rise to the idea for this post.

You see, we as God’s remnant are called to take the “higher road”. That means we are to walk the upright walk and focus on doing the right thing at the right time.

“It is the essence of all right faith to do the right thing at the right time.” (Testimonies, vol. 6, p.24)

Another reason I was guided to do this post was a short conversation I had with a church member this last Sabbath. As we were leaving the service I asked him if they would like to come over at 6 pm for a Bible study at my home. He said, “Would like to but we are going on a nature hike, then over to some friends to watch the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight”. I thought for a second then said, “The Lord told me to quit watching that.” He smiled and went his way.

But I thought how the many in our church really need guidance. Only a few really want to get that one foot out of the world. The wide road entangles them and they  carelessly proceed on.

Boxing is just one of Satan’s ploys. Today the youth are often trapped with the handhelds and the FB, tweets,YouTube, games, chat lines, etc. They spend most of their waking days slumped over wasting time with the multitude of electronic gadgets available to them. This is a serious idol , not only with the youth but adults as well! Don’t get me wrong the Lord has allowed this electronic explosion to further His message, and for that we are eternally grateful, but we should be careful that the worldly distractions do not infringe on the work.

“As a general thing, the young among us are allied to the world. But few maintain a special warfare against the internal foe, few have an earnest, anxious desire to know and do the will of God. But few hunger and thirst after righteousness, and few know anything of the Spirit of God as a reprover or comforter. Where are the missionaries? Where are the self-denying, self-sacrificing ones? Where are the cross bearers? Self and self-interest have swallowed up high and noble principles.

Things of eternal moment bear with no special weight upon the mind. God requires them individually to come up to the point to make an entire surrender. “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” You cannot serve self and at the same time be servants of Christ. You must die to self, die to your love of pleasure, and learn to inquire: Will God be pleased with the objects for which I purpose to spend this means? Shall I glorify Him?” (Testimonies, vol. 2, p.127-128)

Let’s look around us at all times, watchful that Satan’s snares of worldly entrapment do not trip us up. Sure it’s a fleeting pleasure, but the looking back at sins we have forsaken may harm us for eternity.

“As Satan sees that his time is short, he leads men on to be more and more selfish and covetous, and then exults as he sees them wrapped up in themselves, close, penurious, and selfish. If the eyes of such could be opened, they would see Satan in hellish triumph, exulting over them and laughing at the folly of those who accept his suggestions and enter his snares.” (EW. p.268)

In these last days snares are all around us. We can only survive Satan’s traps if we cling to Jesus and keep our focus there. I would dare to say, it is better to be bored and stair at four walls than to enter one of his pleasure traps.

Let’s be clear, not all things are bad. For instance, watching TV for a insightful documentary, or some news, can be helpful. Recently the History channel had a series on the Shroud of Turin. Very fascinating. It’s just when we use the electronic device for our pleasure, beholding worldly fashions, foul language, worldly music (particularly drums, guitars, etc.), sit-coms, time wasting games, etc. In other words, time wasting is something we will be accountable , if we could have used that for studying, helping, spreading the message to help our brothers and sisters.
“..Satan’s supreme effort at this hour must be to cause the time to be wasted and the work undone.” (Answerer, vol. 1, p.6, Q-4)

In closing, as we have posted a few weeks back, the end time signs are all there, time is short. Let us not be found wasting time. Fleeting pleasures are not worth it. Eternity stands at our door.


 

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Why prophecies in place of love?

May 2, 2015

baby

 

“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? Them that are weaned from the milk, drawn from the breasts.” (Isaiah 28:9)

We all know that as we grow from babes to adults, we advance in our food as well as our knowledge. The same is true in our spiritual walk. In our walk, we first learn the basics. Things such as the holy 10 Commandments, the Lord’s pure and holy life here on earth, etc.

But there comes a time where we are to advance. I have often told this example of how our walk should go. We start out at the bottom of a spiritual stairway, that hopefully ends up in heaven. The first step is made then  another and another. Soon we are advancing quite nicely. This means we are growing spiritually, both in our works and our knowledge. Understanding prophecy is akin to getting your Masters degree. These are the deep things of God.

Unfortunately, many today are satisfied on a certain step. Their knowledge of the word is to their satisfaction, hence they fail to walk up the next step.

“I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing..”(Rev. 3:17)

Today this, I am afraid,  is prevalent in our church. So many are content at their own step. We think that the milk of the word is basically all we need to concentrate on. We stay a babe, not knowing that so much more is out there for our true delight and enrichment of soul.Yet so much in prophecy can illuminate our mind and soul!

Our title question was asked of brother Houteff and we’d like to show the prophet’s answer.

Question No. 19:

Why do the Davidians not spend more time teaching the love of Jesus-the most important part of the Bible-instead of teaching the doctrines and the prophecies?

Answer:

The Davidians follow this procedure because of the scripture: “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; where unto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.” 2 Pet. 1:19. The prophecies, therefore, create love for God in the heart of the student as nothing else can.

If, moreover, the prophecies are less essential than other portion s of the Scriptures, why then, did the Lord cause His servants to write so many of them? obviously, they are as important. The book of The Revelation, which is addressed directly to the people who are to be living just before the Lord’s coming, is made up of symbolical prophecies, concerning which the Lord says:

“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.” Rev. 1:3. “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book….For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Rev. 22:7, 18, 19.

True, the love of Jesus is the supreme need, but preaching about it to the exclusion of the doctrines and the prophecies, will profit one nothing, for through the prophecies and through the doctrines one learns not only of the love of Jesus but also how to serve Him. “All scripture” says Paul, “is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:16, 17.

Had the churches today taught the prophecies and the doctrines to the exclusion of the love of Jesus, then of course the Davidians would have dwelt even more extensively on the love of Jesus than on the prophecies. But as the opposite is the case the love of Jesus being magnified to the neglect of the prophecies, then of course our first and supreme need is to study the love of Jesus through the doctrines; afterward, our greatest burden will be thus to teach it.

While the gospel of love inspires us to love the Lord, the doctrines teach us the right way to love Him, and the light of the prophecies guides our feet in the strait and narrow path along the way to the city of God, just as at night the lights of an automobile show us the way home. Without them, we would inevitably soon lose the way, crash, and pile up in the dark—a mass of wreckage and death, perchance.

Thus while we need the one, we just as much need the other. The Davidians therefore combine both, teaching the love of Jesus through the doctrines, and the way to the Kingdom through the prophecies.

Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.(1 Thes. 5:19-21)

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