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)
Godsloveandlaw's Blog 
May 12, 2019 at 12:26 pm |
Do you have any article about fundraising events done in our church? They just recently had an ADRA fundraising concert, and Spices of India in my church, which is basically when you pay and get a curry meal of choice, and the money goes to ADRA. Instead of having a freewill offering we have a merchandise type of transactions happening in our church. Above all it was done DURING THE SABBATH!!! And that’s is not the end list of all of the fundraising activities that they did. There was also a sponsored walk and a sponsored game and activities day not during the Sabbath, but still…
May 13, 2019 at 3:29 pm |
Not sure we have anything specific on fundraising but we do have a post on Sabbath money issues. See this post —
https://godsloveandlaw.com/2018/06/16/pressed-offerings/
May 13, 2019 at 3:37 pm |
Thank you. Maybe in the future you can write something on it, it’s a big issue I think…
May 13, 2019 at 5:46 pm
Yes, good idea, we shall take that into consideration.