Archive for August, 2016

What about Muslims in Prophecy?

August 27, 2016

muslims

There is no denying that the world is frequently thinking about Muslims today, especially “Radical Islam”. Our president candidates, the world’s media, the world leaders,  everyday conversations, you name it, the world is predominantly focusing on Muslims and their troublesome brethren–the radicals. But what does God’s word say about these people in the future? How prominent a role will they play?

Just recently we witnessed yet again a horrible terrorist attack, when a young kid with strapped explosives exploded in the midst of a large wedding in Turkey, killing 51 people. Then just a few days ago a young boy about 12 was arrested by Iraqi policemen and they bravely dismantled the explosive belt from him.

Yet these horrible acts have led some individuals and religion groups and their leaders to forecast that Islam will play a key role in the final events. Some say that the anti-Christ will be a Muslim (NYT Best seller “The Islamic Anti-Christ” for example).

The top 5 religions based on world adherents are listed as followed–

  • Christianity (General) — 2.04 Billion Followers. …
  • Islam (General) — 1.226 Billion Followers. …
  • Catholicism — 1.142 Billion Followers. …
  • Hinduism (General) — 828 Million Followers. …
  • Agnosticism — 639 Million Followers.  (www.newsmax.com)

So we see that Islam is very widely followed around the world. Then certainly we should look at what, if any, this religion will play in a future role. Let’s start by looking at the Lord’s Elijah message, to get some background on Islam and their leader–Mohammed.

“Let us now for a moment consider Mohammed, to whom something like 220,000,000 people bow. What kind of man was he? Was he a deceiver? or was he a teacher of righteousness? — Let us also consider the people who were taught by him. They were the descendants of Lot and Abraham, — Moabites, Esauites, and Ishmaelites, etc., all of them bitter enemies of the Hebrews, and their religion.

Since Mohammed led millions of Arabs closer to the Hebrew-Christian religion than the so-called Christians in his day would have led them, it is hardly possible that he was a deceiver. He led his followers to a higher moral standard of living, modesty, cleanliness, regularity of prayer and Biblical diet than the Christians of his day would have led them. Mohammed’s theory of religion according to history, and as Mohammedanism has it now is this:

“Mohammedanism, the name commonly given in Christian countries to the creed established by Mohammed. His followers call their creed Islam (entire submission to the decrees of God), and their common formula of faith is, ‘There is no god but Allah, and Mohammed is his prophet.’ The dogmatic or theoretical part of Mohammedanism embraces the following points: —

1. Belief in God, who is without beginning or end, the sole Creator and Lord of the universe, having absolute power, knowledge, glory, and perfection.

2. Belief in his angels, who are impeccable beings, created of light.

3. Belief in good and evil Jinn (genii), who are created of smokeless fire, and are subject to death.

4. Belief in the Holy Scriptures, which are his uncreated word revealed to the prophets. Of these there now exist, but in a greatly corrupted form, the Pentateuch, the Psalms, and the Gospels; and in an uncorrupted and incorruptible state the Koran, which abrogates and surpasses all preceding revelations. (See Koran.)

5. Belief in Gods prophets and apostles, the most distinguished of whom are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed. Mohammed is the greatest of them all, the last of the prophets and the most excellent of the creatures of God.

6. Belief in a general resurrection and final judgment, and in future rewards and punishments, chiefly of a physical nature.

7. The belief, even to the extent of fatalism, of God’s absolute fore-knowledge and predestination of all events both good and evil.” — “Twentieth Century Cyclopedia,” p. 507.

In view of the fact that Mohammed led his people closer to the religion of the Bible than they had been before, could he truly be called a deceiver? If so, tell me what did he deceive them from?

Since Mohammed was so near to believing the Christian religion, we may ask, Why did he not become a Christian? — Let us consider the possibilities that could have prevented him from so doing:

Mohammed lived in the seventh century of the Christian era, in the midst of the Dark Ages of religion, when the Christian church was deepest in idol worship, graft and immorality, practices that are prohibited by the Scriptures. If nothing else could have kept him from joining the Christian church, then idol worship along with the prevalent use of swine’s flesh, practice that is against all Bible religion, was enough to turn Mohammed from Christianity.

Mohammed, I believe, did the very best he could, considering that in his time the so-called Christian church was at a very low ebb, and that his morals and behaviour were much higher than were the morals and behaviour of the Christianized pagans. In view of all this, who can say that Mohammed was a bad man, that he was a deceiver?

Are we still inquiring why God permitted Mohammed to teach his religion to millions of the earth’s inhabitants? And do we still wonder why he did not become a Christian? — If so, here is a second answer: God permitted him because Mohammed was making the people better than they were, and because Mohammedanism in that day brought one closer to the religion of the Bible than could have paganized Christianity.

But why are the Mohammedans still Mohammedans? — Mohammedans are still Mohammedans, for the same reason that Buddhists are still Buddhists; that is, because after Mohammed died, they did just what the Buddhists did: In the progress of religion the Mohammedans stopped where Mohammed stopped — at his tomb. They stopped there to make sure that their followers would never join another sect.

They taught the people that there was to be no other prophet, that Mohammed was the last, that there was no need for another, that they had all the Truth to lead them to the pearly gates. Thus corrupt Mohammedanism drilled this false idea into the minds of the common people then, and still more corrupted Mohammedanism of today, like all other sects, including corrupt Adventism, still does the same. Thus it is that no sect as a people, but only as individuals, has ever accepted an additional message and this is the reason for the multi-sectarian world.

So to ask why Mohammedans and Buddhists are still Mohammedans and Buddhists — why have they not advanced since Mohammed and Buddha died, is like asking why Catholics have not yet become Lutherans, why Lutherans have not yet become Presbyterians, why Presbyterians have not yet become Methodists, why Methodists have not yet become Baptists, why Baptists have not yet become Seventh-day Adventists, and why Seventh-day Adventists have not yet become Davidian Seventh-day Adventists?

The overall answer is that each successive denomination has failed to keep pace with the progress of Truth because each has failed to climb higher than the height of the founder of each respective denomination could possibly have led them in his life time. (Timely Greetings, Vol.2, no.26, p.17-21)  Note: this report was made in 1948 since that time the Muslim population has swelled.

So we see that Mohammed was himself a decent man, devoted to right principles. But because “Christianity” was so perverted in his day due to the pre-dominant pagan influence, he could not go along with it. Yet, as Inspiration says the Muslims stopped growing with his death. Today, they are “stuck”  with stagnant truth because they have not kept pace with the advanced light from God. So this being the case, can God use those who are not interested in His advancing truth, his continual road map to the kingdom? No indeed! If He does use them it will be unbeknownst to them, such as pawns in His great design.

So this brings us to today. God has obviously allowed the Muslim people to have a sizable self radicalized element within it to destroy and bring fear upon the world. But, surprisingly, His final message of Elijah does not tell us much about the Muslims except a portion related to their fate AFTER the church purification, let us read–

Ezek. 38:1, 2 — “And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, set thy face against Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal, and prophesy against him.”

   Gog is here said to be the chief prince, the king of Meshech and Tubal.  These two cities, Meshech and Tubal were anciently situated in Asia, south of the Black Sea, where the Turkish Empire now is.

Ezek. 38:8 — “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people, against the mountains of Israel, which have been always waste: but it is brought forth out of the nations, and they shall dwell safely all of them.”

   The “many days” after which Gog is visited are the thousand years.  The latter days in which Israel return to their land, and the time in which Gog shall go against them are premillennial.

Ezek. 38:9 — “Thou shalt ascend and come like a storm, thou shalt be like a cloud to cover the land, thou, and all thy bands, and many people with thee.”

   The expression, to “ascend, and come like a storm,” suggests that these things are to take place in the time of the airplane.

Ezek. 38:10-12 — “Thus saith the Lord God; It shall also come to pass, that at the same time shall things come into thy mind, and thou shalt think an evil thought: and thou shalt say, I will go up to the land of unwalled villages; I will go to them that are at rest, that dwell safely, all of them dwelling without walls, and having neither bars nor gates.  To take a spoil, and to take a prey;to turn thine hand upon the desolate places that are now inhabited, and upon the people that are gathered out of the nations, which have gotten cattle and goods, that dwell in the midst of the land.”

 

   As the land of Israel shall have no visible human protection whatsoever, it will appear to Gog that he should have no difficulty robbing the people of the land.

Ezek. 38:13 — “Sheba, and Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all the young lions thereof, shall say unto thee, Art thou come to take a spoil?  hast thou gathered thy company to take a prey?  to carry away silver and gold, to take away cattle and goods, to take a great spoil?”

   These neighboring countries and people that ask Gog to tell them his mission, evidently are not allied with him.

Ezek. 38:14-17 — “Therefore, son of man, prophesy and say unto Gog, Thus saith the Lord God; In that day when My people of Israel dwelleth safely, shalt thou not know it?  And thou shalt come from thy place out of the north parts, thou, and many people with thee, all of them riding upon horses, a great company, and a mighty army: and thou shalt come up against My people of Israel, as a cloud to cover the land; it shall be in the latter days, and I will bring thee against My land, that the heathen may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.  Thus saith the Lord God; Art thou he of whom I have spoken in old time by My servants the prophets of Israel, which prophesied in those days many years that I would bring thee against them?”

Clearly, this Kingdom of Israel is set up in the latter days, in the days before the millennium, for after the Kingdom is set up, Gog opens war against It.  Indeed, this cannot be after the millennium, for then all the nations from the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog with them, shall encompass, not the mountains of Israel, but the new Jerusalem.  Furthermore at that time the slain shall not be buried but burned to ashes (Rev. 20:9, 10; Mal. 4:1).

 

Ezek. 38:23 — “Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself; and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

Ezek. 39:1-7 — “Therefore, thou son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against thee, O Gog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal: and I will turn thee back, and leave but the sixth part of thee, and will cause thee to come up from the north parts, and will bring thee upon the mountains of Israel: and I will smite thy bow out of thy left hand, and will cause thine arrows to fall out of thy right hand. 

Thou shalt fall upon the mountains of Israel, thou, and all thy bands, and the people that is with thee: I will give thee unto the ravenous birds of every sort, and to the beasts of the field to be devoured.  Thou shalt fall upon the open field: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God.  And I will send a fire on Magog, and among them that dwell carelessly in the isles: and they shall know that I am the Lord.  So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel; and I will not let them pollute My holy name any more: and the heathen shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One in Israel.”

   Gog, you see, shall fail to rob God’s people.  He will instead perish in the mountains of Israel.

 (Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 4, p.17-19)

“Gog” represents a Muslim figure or people and these people are located where Turkey is today. They are Muslim. Over 90 % of the Turkey population and surrounding areas is Muslim. So after the 144,000 return there to establish the final Gospel proclamation headquarters in Israel , these Muslims will think the land is ripe for the taking, thinking there is a bunch of unarmed people who they can just bowl right over. They do not know that the great I AM is now directly involved in earth’s activities! They are used as pawns before the world and His people “Israel” —“and I will bring thee against My land, that the heathen may know Me, when I shall be sanctified in thee, O Gog, before their eyes.”  — “So will I make My holy name known in the midst of My people Israel”.

So how will the Muslims and the Muslim radicals end up when the Great I Am comes on the scene? Let us read —

“After the judgment work in the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17) is completed and the 144,000 guileless servants of God, the first fruits (Rev. 14:4) take their high and exalted post with the Lamb on Mt. Zion (Rev. 14:1), then commences the ingathering of the second fruits.  Finally the world’s eyes will come open to the situation, and as one nation invites another nation, the gospel work will intensely speed up.

Many will then say, “Let us go up to the mountains of the house of the Lord, to the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we wall walk in His paths.” All the prophets have spoken of this great and marvelous event, but for brevity’s sake I shall quote only from one chapter — Zechariah 2.

    “And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein.  For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her…. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord.  And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.  And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the Holy Land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.  Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation.” Zechariah 2:4, 5, 10-13.

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 pruning hooks: 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 pruning hooks” — 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 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.” Joel 3:9- 12. (Timely Greetings, vol. 1, no. 5, p.5-6)

We see that there will be two decisions made by the “nations”  of both  Muslim and other religions, and that will be either  “many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day” or  “The nations that do not accept the Lord’s “rebuke,” in that day, though, will madly arise against the “mountain” of the Lord..”

So right now , although we see much worrisome acts coming from radical Islam, these futile acts are soon to come to an end. As soon as the world is under the final Loud Cry Gospel proclamation, these evil doers and murderers will come right smack up against God’s warriors –the 144,000. And we don’t have to tell you which side wins.

“And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.” (Isaiah 52:12)

You see brethren as soon as the Lord’s church purification takes place the world’s battlefield will change. They are to be new players, two sides– God’s side, led by His “battle-ax” the 144,000 and Satan’s side, the prideful world loving selfish heathen and false religion people.

“You are my battle-ax and sword,” says the LORD. “With you I will shatter nations and destroy many kingdoms. (Jeremiah 51:20)

As our prophetess explained the “great controversy” will soon take place in the world and yet despite the fact that it looks like the Muslim people are not viewed as God’s people, there shall soon be an awakening that will amaze many.

“God has jewels in all the churches, and it is not for us to make sweeping denunciation of the professed religious world.”–4BC 1184 (1893).

“Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and alienation from God that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body of Christ’s true followers are still to be found in their communion.”–GC 390 (1911).  

Let us be ready for the Lord’s glory and world awakening power to save even those in the heathen and Babylonian world currently lost in Satan’s darkness. Even the Muslims shall see it!

“There is many a religion current that numbers its thousands and tens of thousands, but there is but one that bears the superscription and the stamp of God. There is a religion of man and a religion of God. We must have our souls riveted to the eternal Rock. Everything in God’s world, both men and doctrines and nature itself, is fulfilling God’s sure word of prophecy and accomplishing His grand and closing work in this world’s history.” (2 Selected Messages, p.379-380)

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“Bright Clouds Bring Gentle Rain”

August 20, 2016

One of the  most rewarding aspects of learning the Lord’s Elijah message is to read sermons such as the one that follows. When read slowly and carefully one cannot help but be satisfied in their soul of the depth of “Truth” spoken. Let us learn more about the “Latter Rain”. Enjoy–

THOUGHT FOR MEDITATION AND PRAYER   I shall read from “The Mount Of Blessing,” beginning with the first paragraph on page 170.  This page is based on the scripture.  “Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil one.” — R.V.

   M.B., pg. 170 — “Temptation is enticement to sin, and this does not proceed from God, but from Satan, and from the evil of our own hearts.  ‘God can not be tempted with evil, and He Himself tempteth no man.’

   “Satan seeks to bring us into temptation, that the evil of our character may be revealed before men and angels, that he may claim us as his own…. The enemy leads us into sin, and then he accuses us before the heavenly universe as unworthy of the love of God….”

   Every temptation resisted, every trial bravely borne, gives us a new experience in character building.  The soul that resists temptation through Divine power reveals to the world and to the universe the efficiency of the grace of Christ.

   Here is seen that Satan is the great tempter of our souls, that he constantly seeks to make us fall.  But he cannot do anything against us if our hearts be right with God, and if we stay within the hedge He has built around us.  He can succeed only if we ourselves make it possible.  If we willingly yield to sin, we thus voluntarily surrender to Satan.  Let us not forget that no one can keep on going his own way and at the same time pray the Lord’s prayer without making a liar of himself.  But those who wholeheartedly take the Lord at His word and allow Him to direct their steps, they never go wrong.  We should pray to be among this latter class.

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BRIGHT CLOUDS BRING GENTLE RAIN

TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF,

MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTS

SABBATH, NOVEMBER 30, 1946

MT. CARMEL CHAPEL WACO, TEXAS  

This afternoon we are to study the tenth chapter of Zechariah.  To find the time of the fulfillent of its prophecy and of the promises it contains, we need look no further than the first verse of the chapter.

Zech. 10:1 — “Ask ye of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain; so the Lord shall make bright clouds, and give them showers of rain, to every one grass in the field.”

   These figures of speech, you know, are not used by Inspiration promiscuously, the term “latter rain” must have its special and accurate significance.  Inspiration chose to use the term “rain”, because rain makes things grow and brings abundant harvest.  The term “latter” denotes the last rain before the harvest, the rain that completes maturity and that ripens the grain.

   The latter rain of Truth, therefore, is the very last, the one that is to develop the people of God for the harvest, for the time in which God separates the wheat from the tares (Matt. 13:30), the wise virgins from the foolish ones (Matt. 25:1-12), the good fish from the bad (Matt. 13:47, 48), and the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:32, 33).  In short, the harvest is the day of cleansing, the day of Judgment, the antitypical

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Day of Atonement, the day in which the sinners are cut off. This spiritual latter rain is, therefore, to do to the church just what the natural latter rain does to the field.  Without this latter rain the saints could not develop for the heavenly garner, neither could the tares for the fire. By the “latter rain,” therefore, is illustrated the last shower of Truth.  And, too, this last portion of Truth must come as freely to every member of the church who lives just prior to the harvest time as does the rain come to every grass in the field.  Just as soon as this final touch of development is accomplished, the sickle is to be put to the precious golden grain.  But let us remember that it is not left in the field to rot, it is put into the “barn,” (Kingdom) while the tares are burned, so says the Lord (Matt. 13:30).  What is symbolized by the “latter rain?  Is it miracle-working Truth, or is it miracle-working power? — The prophet Joel explains that the miracle-working power comes after both the “former and the latter rain.”  Says he:

   “And it shall come to pass afterward [after the former and the latter rain — Joel 2:23], that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out My Spirit.” Joel 2:28, 29.

   Plainly, then, the “latter rain” is miracle-working Truth that causes the saints to mature for the harvest of which the 144,000 are the first fruits (Rev. 14:4).  Then, in order to quickly gather the second fruits, God pours His Spirit upon every first fruit saint, (upon “every one grass”) old or young, boy or girl — not upon one here and upon another there.

   Obviously “bright clouds” represent agencies conveying Truth which they scatter everywhere in the

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Lord’s vineyard — over every church member — “every one grass,” wheat or tare.

   Literally speaking, dark clouds suggest a very heavy and damaging rain that frightens the beholders.  Conversely, bright clouds suggest a gentle rain, the kind that descends in such a way so that the ground can absorb all of it.  It does not waste itself.

   Spiritually speaking, dark clouds would, therefore, represent a source of dangerous reading matter and too voluminous for one to welcome or to comprehend.  But bright clouds stand for a source of small, easily comprehended Truth-laden publications packed with “meat in due season,” Truth that comes in portions easy to take in, easy to assimilate all of It, and thus to develop the recipient of It for the “master’s” use and for His service.

   Then, too, spiritual “latter rain” must fall as freely and without cost to the recipients as does literal rain.  Thus it is that never before has the world witnessed so much absolutely free literature scattered away as this literature is.  Millions!  So it is that these small comprehensive publications, the bright clouds, laden with present Truth, are now being scattered as leaves of autumn throughout Laodicea to every church member, “to every one grass” in the vineyard of the Lord.  The final results?  “More than one thousand,” attests Inspiration, “will soon be converted in one day, most of whom will trace their first convictions to the reading of our publications.” — “Review and Herald,” Nov. 10, 1885.  Accordingly, along with the world’s dark clouds that now hover over those who are pessimistic about the promises of God, there are these bright clouds that hover over the faithful believing and trusting children of God.

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   And so, Brother, Sister, you need not listen to the voices that urge you to shut yourself in from this gentle rain, or to tuck in under someone’s umbrella.  Come out and avail yourself of this much needed shower.  It is sent to give you the development which you need, and to enable you to survive the great and dreadful day of the Lord, the Judgment for the Living.  Delay no longer, get out in the open and let the precious rain fall upon you, let it soak in through and through lest the angels find you unfit for the “barn” and they cast you into the fire along with the tares. Inspiration makes it as clear as can be made that not a soul (not one blade of grass), can be fit for the Kingdom (“barn”) if it fails to absorb this rain of Truth.

   How important then that you should avail yourselves of it. No, you cannot afford to stand dry under the umbrellas of Truth-haters.  Get out from under their devilish umbrellas lest you lose out eternally, lest you hopelessly cry out, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer. 8:20.

Zech. 10:2 — “For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because there was no shepherd.”

   Here is conveyed the thought that this character-building and wisdom and light-importing “rain” that fits one for the society of Heaven, finds the waiting ones listening to idols speaking “vanity” and to diviners telling false dreams, in vain trying to comfort.  Will you not heed Inspiration’s Voice and turn away from listening to idols?

   Who could they be if not vain self-important Truth-hating

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ministers that are idolized by the laity, false preachers trying to comfort by preaching falsehood.

   Revival and reformation therefore must do their work among both ministers and laity.  Indeed the sheep are troubled because there is no real shepherd anywhere, they all have gone their own way!

Zech. 10:3 — “Mine anger was kindled against the shepherds, and I punished the goats: for the Lord of hosts hath visited His flock the house of Judah, and hath made them as His goodly horse in the battle.”

   This verse discloses that the Lord has visited His people with revealed Truth preparatory to separating the goats from the sheep whereupon He is to reward the sheep and punish the goats — the work of the Judgment for the Living.  His visit makes His servants as goodly horses in His vineyard.

Zech. 10:4 — “Out of him came forth the corner, out of him the nail, out of him the battle bow, out of him every oppressor together.”

   The Lord Himself chooses from Judah the “corner” stone (founder), the “nail” (organizer), the “bow” (the Truth, or instrument by which to gain the victory over the Enemy), and every “oppressor” (ruler).  With these He builds the house of Judah.

Zech 10:5 — “And they shall be as mighty men, which tread down their enemies in the mire of the streets in the battle: and they shall fight, because the Lord is with them, and the riders on horses shall be confounded.”

   The victory shall be so complete that even the

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demons who lead our enemies in the conflict, will themselves be confounded.

Zech. 10:6 — “And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God, and will hear them.”

   The statements, “I will strengthen,” instead of save, “the house of Judah,” and “I will save” instead of strengthen “the house of Joseph,” imply that the house of Judah is saved before the house of Joseph is, and to save the house of Joseph He strengthens the house of Judah.  The second fruits need to be saved, whereas the first fruits need to be fitted for service.  Both are gathered into one place, (the “barn,” the Kingdom).  The Lord extends this favor to both of them because He has mercy upon them and will treat them as though they had never caused Him to cast them out.

Zech. 10:7 — “And they of Ephraim shall be like a mighty man, and their heart shall rejoice as through wine: yea, their children shall see it, and be glad; their heart shall rejoice in the Lord.”

   The fathers shall rejoice and the children shall see it.  He shall thus “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers….” Mal. 4:6.

Zech. 10:8 — “I will hiss for them, and gather them; for I have redeemed them: and they shall increase as they have increased.”

   “They shall increase,” that is, the second fruits

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are to be added to the “firstfruits.” (Rev. 7:4, 9).

Zech 10:9 — “And I will sow [multiply] them among the people: and they shall remember Me in far countries; and they shall live with their children, and turn again [to their homeland].”

Zech. 10:10 — “I will bring them again also out of the land of Egypt, and gather them out of Assyria; and I will bring them into the land of Gilead and Lebanon; and place shall not be found for them.”

   The elect shall be gathered from everywhere, and shall spread as far as the land of Gilead and Lebanon.  But even then, the place shall be too small for them.

Zech. 10:11, 12 — “And he shall pass through the sea with affliction, and shall smite the waves in the sea, and all the deeps of the river shall dry up: and the pride of Assyria shall be brought down, and the sceptre of Egypt shall depart away.  And I will strengthen them in the Lord; and they shall walk up and down in His name, saith the Lord.”

   That is to say, the gathering of the people is to be unobstructed.  Every hindrance is to be removed.  The reign of sin is to be brought to an end.  The nations who have enslaved God’s people are to be humbled, and their scepters (thrones) are to be no more.

   Be strong in the Lord, walk up and down happy and without fear, saith the Lord.

   The work that God has begun in the human heart by Divine light and knowledge, must continually go forward.  “…Every individual must realize his own

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necessity.  The heart must be emptied of every defilement, and cleansed for the indwelling of the Spirit.  It was by the confession and forsaking of sin, by earnest prayer and consecration of themselves to God, that the early disciples prepared for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  The same work, only in greater degree, must be done now.  Then the human agent had only to ask for the blessing, and wait for the Lord to perfect the work concerning him.  It is God who began the work, and He will finish His work, making man complete in Jesus Christ.  But there must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain.

   “Only those who are living up to the light they have, will receive greater light.  Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain.  It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it. — “Testimonies to Ministers,” p. 507.

   Since this Truth is so vitally important do not let any enemy against revealed Truth confuse you.  If he tries to convince you against this Truth, you take him to task — make him give a more Biblical interpretation of these scriptures.  If he cannot give you something better or as good, then tell him to mind his own business and you will mind yours.

Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 17                         11

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Is the “Shaking” the Up Coming Sunday Law?

August 13, 2016

Sunday Law

 

One of our standard Seventh-day Adventist teachings is the idea that soon the national Sunday Law will be put in place and this will cause a “shaking” in the church. In other words, the law will cause only the “true and faithful” SDA to stay with the church and keep worshiping on Sabbath. The weak in faith will capitulate and get the mark of the beast and submit to Sunday worship. Is this true, or will there be a completely different kind of shaking? Let us look at God’s word.

With the world spiraling out of control, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together and see that a dramatic change in our world structure is at hand. And this all plays right into the surface studiers of God’s word. Satan has hood winked us as SDA for so long, we naturally don’t stop and take a good hard look at the situation-what really will cause the shaking?

Is Satan in effect going to cause the shaking by leading man to institute the Sunday Law, or will God Himself take control and cause the shaking? God’s final message of Elijah steers us straight with the following counsel —

“I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up, against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God’s people.” (“Early Writings,” p. 270.)

   “In the mighty sifting soon to take place, we shall be better able to measure the strength of Israel. The signs reveal that the time is near when the Lord will manifest that His fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge His floor.” (Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, p. 80.)

   Thus, both, the Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy explain that He Himself will purify the church, and that when thus purified “the Gentiles shall see” her “righteousness and all kings” her “glory.” Moreover, Christ in the parable explains that it is Satan’s determined purpose to sow the tares among the wheat. (Matt. 13:38.)

   As the “Blue Sunday Law” is to be enacted by Satan’s own will, not by God’s, then such a method to purify the church would not only be contrary to every inspired statement but also to Satan’s determined purpose, for his aim is not to bring the tares and then pluck them out, but rather to choke out the wheat by their continued presence.

Neither is his intention to fulfill the prophecies, for that is what he would be doing if he should enact blue Sunday laws, but rather defeat them. Therefore, if the church is to be purified by Satan’s laws he would be doing the work which God has assigned to His servants and which He is to do Himself.

   Is Satan working for God’s and His church’s interest or against? If against, he will never do one thing to purify the church or to fulfill the prophecy.

   The only thing that would compel him to pass blue Sunday laws and go “to make war with the remnant of her seed” (with those that are left, Rev. 12:17) is the purity of the church when God by the slaughter weapons of Ezekiel Nine takes away the tares which received not the mark, and even then Satan will not enact “blue Sunday laws” until after he has exhausted every other weapon against the church. Therefore, as long as the church remains in her present Laodicean condition, there will be no blue laws or “war” against her, but a bluff only to make her members believe that they are free from his snares and that he is still trying to cause them to fall.

But the worst of it all is in that they are sound asleep, which is shown by the fact that they still think Satan is working terribly hard to fulfill God’s word by trying to pass blue laws and are not aware that he is only playing with them as a cat with a mouse, and the brethren “to whom the Lord has entrusted the spiritual interests of the people” (“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, p. 211) instead of sounding the alarm to arouse the church are determined to even silence the voice of the Rod, and thus rocking her to a more sound sleep! (Symbolic Code, vol. 2, no.1, p.9-10)

The shaking is also described in Revelation. The message describes it as follows–

Rev. 11:13. “And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted,  and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

   The “hour,” “the earthquake,” the “tenth part,” “the city,” the “seven thousand” slain, and “the remnant” must, to maintain the integrity of the entire trumpet symbolism, themselves be symbolical.

   Climaxing the event symbolized “the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.”  None but those who “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” can truly fear and give glory to Him.  Accordingly in the present connection the remnant is necessarily figurative of the righteous, “the wheat,” in that part of the city which fell.  This makes the “seven thousand” slain figurative of the unrighteous, “the tares” therein. Hence, the tenth part stands for the Church which is first purified — in which the bad, the tares are separated from the good, the wheat.  Obviously, therefore, the rest of the city is in this instance a representation of the rest of the Christian world — Christendom as a whole.

   Thus the “earthquake” takes place, not throughout Christendom, but throughout the church from which is separated the firstfruits — the 144,000.  And since an earthquake is a shaking then the one in point is figurative of a shaking therein.

   Long ago through the Spirit of Prophecy (Early Writings, 270) the S.D.A. church was forewarned of this shaking.  And now in the present graphic revelation is seen its fatal end — the destruction of all who do not become affrighted and give glory to God.  Figuratively numbering seven thousand, these “slain” in the church comprehend that element which does not sigh and cry for the abominations (Ezek. 9:4),  and which as a consequence fails to receive the mark (Ezek. 9:4), or the seal (Rev. 7:3-8), of God’s approbation. 

All who compose this class are cut off, leaving the remnant who “were affrighted” — those  who have sighed and cried for the abominations, and who have consequently received the mark or the seal, and escaped the slaughter.  These are they who “shall sing for the majesty of the Lord” (Isa. 24:14) — give “glory to the God of heaven.”(Tract 5. 112-114)

The “wheat” is to remain from the shaking. Let us not be fooled any longer and help correct those who ignorantly spread Satan’s trick that the Sunday Law will cause the shaking. This ploy takes our eyes off the ball and like Inspiration says, rocks us “to a more sound sleep.”

“The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out–the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.”–(2 Selected Messages  p.380 (1886)

Posted in End times, Sunday law, Warning our brethren | 2 Comments »

Why the Anger of the Lord?

August 6, 2016

Angry God

We have heard it said, “The God of the Old Testament, is not the God of the New Testament. One is angry and the other is merciful.” But what clues can we gather from God’s word as to His current and soon to come state of mind? How will He present Himself in His next appearance?

The Spirit of Prophecy tells us-
“Each of the ancient prophets spoke less for their own time than for ours, so that their prophesying is in force for us. “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11). (3 Selected messages, p.338)

So when we now take a look at some Scriptures we can be assured that God is speaking mostly to us today.

One of the things that has struck me as I continue to study God’s word, is the fact that there is undeniable proof from His word that our King, the King of Kings is– angry. And because He is a just,merciful and forgiving God, what is the reason for this? One thing is certain, He is not what the vast majority of so-called “Christians” think He is–Santa Claus. A Ho-Ho-Ho kind of God who winks at all our continual sins, smiling as we continue to offend Him. Let us now look at His word to find our answers.

Let us examine Scripture from the Gospel prophet.

Isaiah 13:9 — “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.”

Isaiah 34:1-2 — Come near, ye nations, to hear; and hearken, ye people: let the earth hear, and all that is therein; the world, and all things that come forth of it. For the indignation of the LORD is upon all nations, and his fury upon all their armies: he hath utterly destroyed them, he hath delivered them to the slaughter.”

Isaiah 34:8 — “For it is the day of the LORD’S vengeance, the year of recompense for the cause of Zion.”

Isaiah 35:4-6 — “Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah.”

Isaiah 63:2-4 — “Why is Your apparel red, And Your garments like the one who treads in the wine press? I have trodden the wine-press alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.”

Isaiah 66:15-16 — “For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.”

As we can see the Lord is coming with fierceness and with “fury”. But as mentioned we should investigate why this is. SOP gives us a clue —

“God calls for a spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation. Unless this takes place, those who are lukewarm will continue to grow more abhorrent to the Lord, until He will refuse to acknowledge them as His children.” (1 Selected messages, p.128)

Our current church is almost totally –lukewarm. When was the last time you and I heard a sermon from the pulpit that made us really nervous, almost shaking in our seat? That just does not happen. Even the Sunday preacher Billy Graham knew how to make people sit up and take notice! Where are we as SDA, who have greater light?

There is CONSTANT peace and safety messages from our SDA pulpits. By that we mean, a message that makes us feel secure in not sighing and crying. The leaders ignore the straight testimony, thus encouraging blindness to the abominations done in our midst (church). In other words, they basically say,  “The Lord is winking everybody! He just can’t wait to hug us and tell us how much He loves us. Don’t worry about your sins.” All the while sister Joan is sitting in the front row, complete with her mini-skirt and high heels saying “hallelujah”. Brother Jim is checking his cell phone for the latest business transaction to see if it is completed. Little Tommy is playing his latest video game while his parents ignore him, instead listening to the peace and safety sermon.

All of this is not missed by the Great I AM!

“A child may receive sound religious instruction; but if parents, teachers, or guardians permit his character to be biased by a wrong habit, that habit, if not overcome, will become a predominant power, and the child is lost.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.53)

“One sinner may diffuse darkness that will exclude the light of God from the entire congregation.”(Testimonies, vol.3, p.265)

As we have heard,  “We are saved from our sins, not in our sins.”  One of the most classic and powerful lessons our Lord gave us was with the great sinner–Mary Magdalene.

 ” When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The essence of this example is God’s forgiveness and our reciprocal turning away from sin and living righteously by His Holy Spirit. But how can we know what sins are making Him angry even furious now? Well, He made sure to provide us the answers–His final pleading message of Elijah tells us (Be sure to look up the references).
Partial List Of Abominations In The Church 

1.   Lack of reverence in the house of God: Isa. 56:7; Volume 5,  pages 492-500.

2.   Following the fashions of the world: Isa. 3:16; Volume 1, pages  269, 270; Volume 4, page 632; Volume 3, page 379; Volume 5, page 78; Volume 1, pages 189-191;  Volume 1, pages 135, 136; Volume 4, page 631.

3.   Spending money for that which is not bread (health reform): Isa.  55:2; Volume 5, page 197; Isa. 56:12.  (Many references can be given from the testimonies on this subject, but space will not permit them here.)

4.   Use of tithe–school teachers (those who teach the Scriptures) are not paid by the tithe as they should have been: Volume 6, page 215.

5.   The house of God is made into a house of merchandise by buying and selling denominational publications of all sorts: Isa. 58:3; Isa. 56:7;  Volume 1, pages 471, 472; Volume 8, page 250.

6.   High prices in our institutions while they should be below current expenses: Volume 8, page 142; Isa. 56:12; Isa. 58.

7.   Disbelief in the Spirit of Prophecy: If not acknowledged by words, it is admitted by works.

8.   Failed to inform church members of Elijah’s message: Mal. 4:5; Testimonies to Ministers, page 475; Volume 4, pages 402, 403.

9.   Abraham obeyed God in all that He commanded, and was very careful even to the smallest particulars; thus it was counted to him for righteousness, but we have not done so.  See Gen. 26:5; Gen. 15:6.

10.  The promise of the land (heavenly Canaan) is to Abraham’s seed.  Jesus said, “If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.  [If ye are not the children of Abraham] Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” See John  8:39-44.  (By doing the works of Abraham), “Then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29

11.  Insisting that we have all the truth and have need of nothing.

12.  Turning down Scriptural claims without investigation as to its light.  Volume 5 page 211: “The abominations for which the faithful ones were sighing and crying were all that could be discerned by finite eyes, but by far the worst sins, those which provoked the jealousy of the pure and holy God, were unrevealed.” (SRod, vol. 1, p.34-35)

The Word also gives us some clear sins what the Lord “hates.”

“There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers (Proverbs 6:16-19).

And the Spirit of prophecy —

“I saw that the remnant were not prepared for what is coming upon the earth. Stupidity, like lethargy, seemed to hang upon the minds of most of those who profess to believe that we are having the last message. My accompanying angel cried out with awful solemnity, “Get ready! get ready! get ready! for the fierce anger of the Lord is soon to come.” (EW, p.119)

Although He will come in anger, His word shows us He will accomplish a final glorious end time promise with a happy ending–

“Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:And they shall be my people, and I will be their God: And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me. Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.” (Jeremiah 32:37-41)

In closing our loving Lord again pleads with us through Jeremiah. This is specifically to us the “Israel of today” (Testimonies vol.9, p,164). May we turn from our backsliding, lukewarmness and offensive behavior and take heed.  Our Lord is serious now as we see by His word. His soon to come anger is/will be real.

“Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD.” (Jeremiah 3:12-13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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