Archive for April, 2017

Fleeing to the Mountains

April 29, 2017

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One of the most frequently asked questions from both present truth believers and non believing SDA is a fair and timely one–  “If there is to be a pre-millennial kingdom in Israel why does SOP say that the people will have to flee to the mountains to escape persecution?” Let us look at this intriguing question.

The SOP quote that brings this thought into view is found in GC, p.626, let us read–

“As the decree issued by the various rulers of Christendom against commandment keepers shall withdraw the protection of government and abandon them to those who desire their destruction, the people of God will flee from the cities and villages and associate together in companies, dwelling in the most desolate and solitary places. Many will find refuge in the strongholds of the mountains. Like the Christians of the Piedmont valleys, they will make the high places of the earth their sanctuaries and will thank God for “the munitions of rocks.” Isaiah 33:16.

But many of all nations and of all classes, high and low, rich and poor, black and white, will be cast into the most unjust and cruel bondage. The beloved of God pass weary days, bound in chains, shut in by prison bars, sentenced to be slain, some apparently left to die of starvation in dark and loathsome dungeons. No human ear is open to hear their moans; no human hand is ready to lend them help.”

Here we read of the struggles that God’s people will have to endure to keep from being destroyed. But how can we reconcile this with the glorious hope that the Scriptures portray for God’s people as this reading shows–

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”(Isaiah 2:2-3)

Here we read of an exalted church (mountain=God’s people) in the last days, yet we just read where the people of God will be scared and running to the hills, what gives?

To begin with let us see what the “restoring message” tells us about this very subject. God in His all seeing ways knew that this issue would need to be cleared and His last prophet addressed it–

WHO FLEE TO MOUNTAINS?

Question No. 37:

If God’s people are in the Kingdom during the Loud Cry, how can they be put in prison or driven to the mountains during that time, as the Spirit of Prophecy asserts they will (“The Great Controversy,” p. 626)?

Answer:

When it is understood that the 144,000 are but first fruits, the forerunners or advanced guard of a great multitude of second fruits, the difficulty in question is immediately resolved. The first fruits stand with the Lamb, safe on Mt. Zion (in the Kingdom). Thus those who shall find refuge in the mountains, and those who shall be put in prison, can only be from among the second fruits—those who shall accept the message during the Loud Cry, but who shall not yet at that time have reached the Kingdom. (See our Tract No. 12, The World Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, 1941 Edition, pp. 45-49.) (Answerer, vol. 2, Q-37)

Ah, we see that it will be the “second fruits” those who will be called out of Babylon but “shall not yet at that time have reached the Kingdom.” Both the first fruits and second fruits are indeed –“God’s people” and they come into the final truth at different times and circumstances.

The message tells us more about the two fruits —

“How many yields of fruit is the harvest to give? — If the 144,000 are the “first fruits” (Rev. 14:4), then there must be “second fruits,” for where there is no second there can be no first. The word “firstfruits” absolutely necessitates second fruits.

Where do the first fruits come from, and where do the second fruits come from? — We are plainly told that the first fruits are Israelites — all from the twelve tribes of Israel (Rev. 7:4-8). Israel certainly stands for the church membership at the time they are sealed; the title “Israel” cannot be construed to mean the world. The firstfruits, therefore, are harvested from the church itself at the time the separation begins. The word “sealed” means placed in a safe place — sealed. This is exactly what the apostle Peter says:

1 Pet. 4:17, 18 — “For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

Now, then, if the Judgment begins first in the “house of God,” in the church, then it will end in the world, outside the church circles. The parable of the “net” and the Revelation of John very briefly and concisely bring this truth still better to the surface.

Matt. 13:47-50 — “Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

Clearly, the net represents the gospel church into which are caught both hypocrite and saint. Accordingly, in the time of the firstfruit harvest (the Judgment “in the house of God”) “at the end of the world” (Matt. 13:49), the angels sever the wicked from among the just, not the just from among the wicked. But in the second fruit harvest (the Judgment in the world) the separation is the reverse: the just are taken out from among the wicked, not the wicked from among the just, so says The Revelation: “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4.

Plainly, the Judgment “in the house of God” is the harvest in which the hypocrites as “tares” are burned, but as bad “fish” they are cast out. In the Judgment in Babylon (in the world), though, not the bad, but the good are taken out and brought into the purified house of God where there is no sin and no sinner, and where there is no danger of the plagues. (Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 44, page 34-35)

Our beloved sister Ellen White, though truly gifted of God, did not have all the light, especially about the pre-mil kingdom (First fruits and second fruits). The Lord’s Elijah messenger was given this task. She herself wrote under Inspiration–

“But no man, however honored of Heaven, has ever attained to a full understanding of the great plan of redemption, or even to a perfect appreciation of the divine purpose in the work for his own time. Men do not fully understand what God would accomplish by the work which He gives them to do; they do not comprehend, in all its bearings, the message which they utter in His name.” (GC, p.343)

So often today we hear Adventists say “Get ready, soon we’ll have to move to the hills because we’ll be persecuted in the cities if we stay.” What lack of knowledge, what presumptuousness. Our leaders are spreading this message all over. Yet we as present truth believers know that not one Adventist will be persecuted because the church judgment will leave only those who know where they are going– to the Lord’s promised pre-millennial kingdom in Israel. Their foreheads will say it all–

“The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their foreheads was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious star containing Jesus’ new name.” (Early Writings, p.15)

  1. God, meaning they “follow the Lamb wheresoever He goeth.” And they have been persecuted for it. (lied about, demoted, suspended and disfellowshipped, slandered against, etc.)
  2. New Jerusalem, meaning they are looking forward to where the Lord said His people will go in His last message of Elijah.
  3. Jesus’ new name, the promised name that the Word says in the following —

“And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.” (Isaiah 62:2)

“And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen: for the Lord GOD shall slay thee, and call his servants by another name.”(Isaiah 65:16)

The message describes the meaning of the above verses, quite solemn indeed!

Isa. 62:2: “A new name.”  Indicative of the new experience they have passed through, which is the separation, or sifting, as explained.  God Himself with His own mouth gives the name so it can not be counterfeited.  The time the name is received is at the end of the 430 year period as explained on the chart on pages 112-113.  Thus, the church is reorganized under a new name.  The old name, being polluted, could no longer be retained. 

There is no one to go by the old name, for the ones who were not worthy of having the new name have perished under the figure of the five men with the slaughter weapons of Ezekiel 9.  The name only remains for a curse.  In Isa. 65:15, we read: “And ye shall leave your name for a curse unto My chosen: For the Lord God shall slay thee, and call His servants by another name.”  The old order of things being changed.  The watchmen who were unfaithful have perished.”(SRod , vol.1, p.155)

So there  are basically two scenarios that take place with God’s last day people. One, the first fruits and “those with” which are the Gentiles that initially go with the 144,000 into the kingdom. And there is the resurrected SDA, such as Ellen White, God willing, that will be in the kingdom to support the believers.

Two, there are the people who are in Babylon (those in the false and confused religions), who become the termed  “great multitude” in Rev. 7:9. These are those who will either make it to the kingdom or unfortunately be persecuted or run to the hills. The escaping Gentiles (who miss the persecution) will fulfill God’s word–

“This is what the LORD Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'”(Zech. 8:23)

As we showed last week in our report, the SDA who will make up the 144,000 have Israelite blood in them from their ancestors. They are all of the twelve tribes of Rev. 7.

By far the  Gentiles will be the majority in the kingdom, as they go there to hear the word of the Lord. Plus you may recall that the world will witness the awesome display of God’s power in the holy land as Isaiah chapter 11 comes to pass–

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.


They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” (Isaiah 11:6-10)

Can we imagine the TV footage and reports showing the lion and lamb lying down together in Israel? A final witness to the world that the 144,000 are God’s messengers and that they speak in behalf of the Lord and His plans. Unfortunately Satan is not going to set idly by and watch these great works by God go unanswered. Satan’s agents will mount a strong counter movement (Sunday keeping and counter miracles) and the 666 man along with the false prophet who works the miracles shall be a strong delusion to those not grounded upon God’s word.

Soon the persecution will come and that is the time that some of the second fruits will get snared. But God, as we know, shall not abandon them even in their dire circumstances.

“I saw the saints leaving the cities and villages, and associating together in companies, and living in the most solitary places. Angels provided them food and water, while the wicked were suffering from hunger and thirst. Then I saw the leading men of the earth consulting together, and Satan and his angels busy around them. I saw a writing, copies of which were scattered in different parts of the land, giving orders that unless the saints should yield their peculiar faith, give up the Sabbath, and observe the first day of the week, the people were at liberty after a certain time to put them to death.

But in this hour of trial the saints were calm and composed, trusting in God and leaning upon His promise that a way of escape would be made for them. In some places, before the time for the decree to be executed, the wicked rushed upon the saints to slay them; but angels in the form of men of war fought for them. Satan wished to have the privilege of destroying the saints of the Most High; but Jesus bade His angels watch over them. God would be honored by making a covenant with those who had kept His law, in the sight of the heathen round about them; and Jesus would be honored by translating, without their seeing death, the faithful, waiting ones who had so long expected Him.

Soon I saw the saints suffering great mental anguish. They seemed to be surrounded by the wicked inhabitants of the earth. Every appearance was against them. Some began to fear that God had at last left them to perish by the hand of the wicked. But if their eyes could have been opened, they would have seen themselves surrounded by angels of God. Next came the multitude of the angry wicked, and next a mass of evil angels, hurrying on the wicked to slay the saints. But before they could approach God’s people, the wicked must first pass this company of mighty, holy angels. This was impossible. The angels of God were causing them to recede and also causing the evil angels who were pressing around them to fall back.” (Early Writings, p.282-283)

Even though “some” Gentiles may be stuck, the end time church of God is a prevailing power upon the world, SOP says–

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

Servants of God, endowed with power from on high with their faces lighted up, and shining with holy consecration, went forth to proclaim the message from heaven. Souls that were scattered all through the religious bodies answered to the call, and the precious were hurried out of the doomed churches, as Lot was hurried out of Sodom before her destruction. God’s people were strengthened by the excellent glory which rested upon them in rich abundance and prepared them to endure the hour of temptation. I heard everywhere a multitude of voices saying, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”(EW, p.278-279)

So there is the answer to SOP’s writings and the Rod’s writings about fleeing to the mountains. When viewed in totality , harmony comes into clear focus. If you are SDA, please see that you do the following without delay —

“Let us strive with all power that God has given us to be among the one hundred and forty four thousand. And let us do all that we can to help others gain heaven.”(RH, March 9, 1905)

If you are not, know that God loves you and has a plan for your life. Walk in all the light you have, although you are not now in the full light of God’s word , the time will come that your chance for living in the kingdom will be here. Praise God for His mercy and compassion that every soul, both of the SDA and of the world, will have their opportunity to embrace the truth. But now,  let us hope that we as SDA know the “time” of our visitation, the time now of His final warning of Elijah.

For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. (Hebrews 3:14-15)

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, End times, Loud Cry, Warning our brethren | Leave a Comment »

Israelites Indeed-Not Gentiles

April 22, 2017

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As many of you know we have written extensively on the 144,000. But this week we’d like to show a report from the message showing a deeper look into this area.

“Whosoever has been converted to Christianity, accepting Christ as his personal Saviour, has had an experience which has completely overthrown and revolutionized his former plans and hopes, his entire way of life.  He has renounced the world and all its “pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25), and has become a new creature in Christ, born again, heir of the kingdom according to the promise!  This is what Jesus meant when He declared to Nicodemus: “Ye must be born again.” And Paul, having this experience in mind, says: “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29.

   Regardless, therefore, whether one be Jew or Gentile, he can have no part in the kingdom of Christ, save through the second birth, by which he becomes one of the seed of Abraham.  This spiritual transformation, nevertheless, does not fix anyone’s racial identity and tribal  lineage.  It can not, in other words, make one Judaite if he is not descended of Judah, or make him Ephraimite, if he is not descended of Ephraim.  Consequently, the 144,000, being of the sons of Jacob, cannot be of the Gentile nations.  They therefore, first of all, are lineal descendants of Jacob, though

Not Necessarily of the Present Identifiable Jewish Stock

   The ten tribes (the kingdom of Israel) were  carried away, scattered throughout the cities of the Medes (2 Kings 17:6), and so completely submerged in the sea of life of the surrounding nations, and assimilated, that they were utterly lost sight of, racially, to human reckoning.

Similarly, as the two tribes (the kingdom of  Judah) were carried away into Babylon, with only a few returning to Jerusalem after the seventy years of their captivity was accomplished, a multitude also of them lost their identity.

   Then, too, the early Christian church was made up of Jews only: the apostles, the 120 in the upper room (Acts 1:15), and the 3,000 who were converted on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) were all Jews, as were, indeed, virtually all those who “were added daily” for the first three and a half years after the crucifixion (Dan. 9:26, 27; Acts 2:47).  And even after this period was over, and the apostles were commissioned to take the gospel  to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46), many more Jews became Christians, and subsequently, as Christians rather than as Jews, were scattered among the nations.

   Clearly, therefore, in each instance most of the sons of Jacob lost their racial distinctiveness.  As the Lord, however, has ever kept the genealogies  of all nations, especially of the sons of Jacob, He will, as He has promised, “make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.  And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.  The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.” Ps. 87:4-6.

   Thus just as obvious as strange is the fact that no one today but the recognized Jew can vouch for his ancestry, with the result that the 144,000 can be gathered from almost every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and yet be of the sons of Jacob!

   “And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Word of prophecy in this connection, “that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.  And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.” Isa. 11:11, 12; 27:12.

Since, therefore, history, logic, and scripture combine their evidences to prove unconditionally that God has preserved the genealogy of the chosen branch of the human race forward from Adam to Noah (Matt. 1:1-17), and backward from Jesus to Adam (Luke 3:23-38), He must, then, for a consistent reason, also have preserved  the identity of the elect today.  And this we see, is precisely what He has done in His designating the lineage of the 144,000, as “of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” Rev. 7:4. 

And though we know not what we are, and cannot ever of ourselves tell, the One Who knows all about us, even to the last hair of each head, knows our precise ancestry, although those of us who are to be gathered from the seed of Jacob are, says the prophet, as the sand of the sea,” whereas, comparatively speaking, the identifiable Jewish race of today, is but a handful to the nations, and therefore cannot today be the ones to whom apply

The Terms Israel, Ephraim, Joseph.

   Going back for a moment to the historical approach to our subject, we recall that after Solomon’s death, the Israelite nation (the twelve tribes) was divided into two separate kingdoms (1 Kings 11:11, 12; 12:19, 27).  The ten-tribe  kingdom, occupying the northern portion of the  promised land, was called “Israel,” also Ephraim, and occasionally the house of Joseph: “Israel,” because of its majority of tribes; Ephraim (Isa. 11:13), because its kings came from Ephraim; and Joseph (Ezek. 37:16), because he was the father of Ephraim.  But the two-tribe kingdom, occupying the southern portion, was called “Judah,” because its kings were of the tribe of Judah, and therefore its  descendants are called “Jews.”  The term “Israel,” accordingly, often applies only to the ten tribes.” (Tract 8, p.7-11)

 

Posted in The 144, Who are the 144K? | 4 Comments »

Stephen Bohr : A Sad U-Turn

April 15, 2017

Recently we learned (then saw) that Mr. Bohr had conducted a 10 part series on YouTube, presenting a man called Ismael Rodriguez. For those of you who are unaware of this man, he is perhaps the most well known anti-Shepherd’s Rod spokesman in the world today. We were both saddened and mildly shocked to see that Stephen Bohr was sponsoring this series.

As many are aware Mr. Bohr is an active leader/teacher of the SDA church. His sermons and studies have gathered widespread acclaim among the SDA community. But we did a post back in May of 2014

False Teachers in the Midst

where we pointed out from scripture that his teachings are not always accurate. Now, we see that he has promoted a man who many present truth believers know quite well, and has a very misleading and even downright fallacious testimony on the Lord’s Rod (Micah 6:9).

As we viewed Mr. Bohr’s sponsored presentations, the Inspired words of God came to us–

“The more you are jostled, misapprehended, misstated, misrepresented, the more evidence you have that you are doing a work for the Master, and the more closely you must cling to your Saviour.” (Testimonies, vol.8, p.130)

So why do we say –a sad U turn? The foremost reason is that now Bohr instead of times past staying clear from those who would enter, has begun “hindering” those who would enter, our Lord explains —

“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” (Luke 11:52)

You see brethren this man has not truly studied the whole writings of the Lord’s Rod. He has, obviously, chosen to dwell on the areas of controversy rather than read it all through. If he had done this, as we who have done so, he would have had to admit that the writings are far outweighed in powerful truth and new revelations that CANNOT be controverted when compared to Scripture.

The Lord’s word spoken through SOP warns us that there are seemingly “great men” who have “proved themselves unfaithful”.

“Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.80)

And further, Bohr and those like him are fulfilling Scripture as follows–

“In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their expectations and ideal, they will oppose the work. “Why,” they say, “should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?” Because they did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties, of the messages of God, but persistently said, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.”(Maranatha, p.219)

Bohr has taken the fateful step now, to condemn the Lord’s Rod, yet he does not know it’s the Lord’s Rod. He thinks it’s “dangerous” and therefore the people must be warned. But where in the writings of revival and reformation is the danger? In fact the very first statement from the Shepherd’s Rod writings says–

“It is the intention of this book to reveal truth of the 144,000 mentioned in Revelation 7, but the chief object of this publication is to bring about a reformation among God’s people.” (SRod, vol. 1, preface)

Questions for Mr Bohr–

Have you explained what is meant by “Hear ye the Rod, and Who has appointed it”(Micah 6:9, 7:14) to the people, Mr. Bohr? The Lord’s Rod does.

Have you taught the people that they must “sigh and cry for the abominations done in the church”(Test. for the church, vol.3, p.267), Mr. Bohr?  The Lord’s Rod does.

Do you let the people even know what some of the abominations are that are in the church, Mr. Bohr? The Lord’s Rod does (SRod. vol.1, p.34).

Where is the error in all the revelations of Truth in the Lord’s Rod, such as Hosea 1 and 2, Zechariah 4 and 6, Ezekiel 1, Ezekiel 4, Ezekiel 9, the book of Isaiah’s interpretations, Micah 4, the meaning of Esau and Jacob, Daniel 7, Revelation 12, Ezekiel 47, Revelation 18, Revelation 4 and 5, Matt.24, and all the other specific Rod reports on Bible subjects, Mr. Bohr?

You see brethren, this man along with his partner in crime and front man, Ismael Rodriguez, have now proclaimed to our people, our SDA brothers and sisters– DO NOT hear ye the Rod and Who has appointed! But the Lord MUST be heard and  His voice cries out!

“The LORD’S voice cries unto the city, and wisdom shall see your name: Hear ye the Rod, and Who has appointed it.” (Micah 6:9)

Ever since the beginning of time Satan has been standing in the way of the Lord’s Truth for God’s people, why should it be any different today? Do we think that Satan will rally the SDA ministers to get behind the Lord’s Elijah message? No way! Bohr is a perfect tool because he has a sizeable following and therefore many have leaned on his flesh.

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord.” (Jer. 17:5)

SOP explains further–

“We need never expect that when the Lord has light for His people, Satan will stand calmly by and make no effort to prevent them from receiving it. He will work upon minds to excite distrust and jealousy and unbelief. Let us beware that we do not refuse the light God sends, because it does not come in a way to please us. Let not God’s blessing be turned away from us because we know not the time of our visitation. If there are any who do not see and accept the light themselves, let them not stand in the way of others. Let it not be said of this highly favoured people, as of the Jews when the good news of the kingdom was preached to them: “Ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.”(Testimonies, vol. 5, p.728)

There is a another angel which is to join the three angels messages (Rev. 18:1), and just like the first three, this fourth angel is a message to God’s people FROM A HUMAN MESSENGER. First to His remnant to prepare them and then to the world. Yet sadly this message of truth is discarded and thought dangerous.

“I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending to the earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment of some important event. Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory.

The light which attended this angel penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily, with a strong voice, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” The message of the fall of Babylon, as given by the second angel, is repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the churches since 1844.

The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry. And the people of God are thus prepared to stand in the hour of temptation, which they are soon to meet. I saw a great light resting upon them, and they united to fearlessly proclaim the third angel’s message.” (EW, P.277)

Does not the Lord’s Rod message speak of “additional corruptions” that have entered the church? Yes indeed and this mighty angel’s message shall soon go on to lighten the earth with his glory, amen.

But Mr. Bohr has now tried to influence the people to reject the Rod and only time will tell the outcome of his work. Let those who are seeking after truth remember that their own study, their own investigation will prove worthwhile IF they believe that the Lord’s Spirit of Truth  (John 16:13) is guiding and not the preachers, such as Stephen Bohr.

“The people imitate the preacher, and thus he has a very great influence upon them.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1. p.433)

“A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land:  The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and My people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” (Jer. 5:30-31)

Posted in Delusion, The spirit of predjudice, Warning our brethren | 3 Comments »

Two Little Mites

April 8, 2017

Image result for picture of Jesus watching old lady put in her two mites

And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. 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)

Here we see that the Lord teaches us that even the small amounts are valuable as the large ones are. The heart is indeed known by the Lord and the lessons here are quite far-reaching.

To begin this week’s subject let us look at what the Elijah message tells us in regards to “small income”.

IS SMALL INCOME TITHE EXEMPT?

Question No. 158:

   As my income is very small, am I not exempt from paying tithe?

Answer:

   God designed the plan of systematic benevolence so as to make it as equitable to the poor as to the rich, no more a tax on the mite than on the million. And we know of no Scriptural authority for exempting from tithe any income, however small. All, poor as well as rich, are given the privilege of returning to the Lord His own. Many with a “mite” income are paying both first and second tithe, and in return are receiving a rich bestowal of blessing.

   Thus reason forces the conclusion that if one is not obliged to receive charity help in addition to his income (whatever its source) to cover his living expenses, then for him not to pay tithe is to cheat Himself of the abundant blessing which attends a faithful regard for the royal privilege of being one of God’s stewards. (Answerer, vol. 5, p.86)
 

So clearly the Lord has sent us the restoring message about small income and that is no one is “exempt” from returning what is the Lord’s, even a mite. The key is understanding that the money is not rightfully ours but the Lord’s.

Way too often the idea that “I’m barely making it and the Lord knows my circumstances therefore I am free of Tithe paying during this hard time” mentally is our excuse, our way out of our responsibility.

SOP gives us a very dire warning if we are not faithful–

“Angels faithfully record each person’s actions. Thus, when judgments are brought down to the house of God, each person’s sentence is written by his name. Angels are under the charge of slaughtering unfaithful servants, but at the time of slaughter. The things entrusted to them are taken away. At that time, their world and riches are gone, and they lose everything.” (Testimonies vol. 1, p.198)

Recently an experience came to us that we’d like to share. A brother, we’ll call brother R, let us know that things were not going well. Times were tough and he was asking for some help. The Lord inspired me to inquire, “Have you been faithful in returning your Tithes?” The answer to his credit was an honest one– “No” he replied.

This answer showed that he was honest and ready for correction. I informed him that the reason he could be having hard times was that he was short-changing the Lord. Let us look again at the Lord’s promise.

In Malachi chapter 3 we know that the Lord makes a promise and when He makes a promise, it’s a certainty. But how many really believe it? How many? From what I have seen in my Christian experience–few. Many may Tithe yet they don’t expect a blessing or even look for one. Yet that is the promise– “And try Me on this..if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessings that there will not be room enough to receive it.”(Mal. 3:10)

So brother R is needlessly suffering when all he has to do is start doing his part. The Lord’s hand is out there to shake yours but if you keep it in your pocket, how can the Lord have a deal?

It’s all about belief brethren-believe it and the Lord will do the rest!

For those who want to know two of the Lord’s storehouses today, here is their information. These organizations have the “food” in His house that you may feast on for today. And due to the advent of speedy communications you can pay via online, which for foreign countries is a real plus due to the cost and slowness of postage mail.

1) General Association of Davidian Seventh Day Adventists (Mt. Carmel center)

Based out of New York, and located in Mountaindale,  this group is very active in sending tracts, literature, Cd’s, DVD’s  around the world. They also send Bible workers around the world to work one on one for new converts. Recently heard that they had helped convert 16 families in Mexico to the present truth message. They accept check, money orders, pay pal, and online credit/debit cards. Keep in mind you’ll need the email to send a PayPal donation.

Address-  P.O. Box 119, Mountaindale, N.Y 12763  (checks made out to — G.A.D.S.D.A)

Phone- 1-845-434-5282

Website –http://www.shepherds-rod-message.org/charts/

Email– gadsda@shepherds-rod-message.org

2) General Assoc. of Davidian Seventh Day Adventists  (checks made out to — U.P.A)

Based in Waco Texas, this organization is very active much as the others. (CD’s, DVD.s tracts, literature) Also has some very good YouTube videos. They accept check, money orders, pay pal, and online credit/debit cards.

Address – 2500 Mt. Carmel Dr., Waco, Texas 76710

Phone– 1-800-729-7494

Website – http://shepherdsroddavidian.org/

Email – dsdacommunication@gmail.com

In closing, the small mite is very valuable to the Lord, and if that is all we have the Lord will keep his promise and blessings will surely come. You just have to believe and watch.

 

Posted in Christian faith, Tithes and Offerings | Leave a Comment »

“Do Not Answer..”

April 1, 2017

Image result for do not answer a fool according to his folly

One of the hardest lessons, personally, that I have had to learn is obeying proverbs 26:4. This is one of those simple yet profound instructions from God. Let us look at this instruction and what it’s all about.

In the many years now that I have had the privilege to be working in God’s vineyard, I have had many many discussions with SDA members and DSDA members. But just recently, after all these years FINALLY, the above lesson hit home! Allow me to explain.

It’s our human nature to want to be right, to let others know we have something to say, especially if we are challenged. Yet our all seeing God knows that in the Christian life there comes a time when we must ‘back off”. There is a point where if we continue, as the Word says, we’ll be like a fool.

I believe there is  more to this as well, we stand a real chance of losing confidence in our own beliefs! The Word tells us to keep our confidence dear–

“Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.” (Hebrews 10:35)

Let us look at a recent past experience I’ve encountered.

Brother F is a zealous professor of present truth. Only trouble is, he is snared big time. He is a firm believer on keeping the feast days as a form of righteousness. I first came to know him through a mutual friend. This other friend also was a Elijah message believer but also a feast keeper, we’ll call him bro. R

Bro. R and I had a series of email studies concerning the feast days. I tried very hard to show many Inspired references, overwhelming in their straight forward counsel,  yet to no avail. After a  few emails, bro. R brought in bro. F as another party to the email study. Soon bro. F was corresponding with me about the feasts as well.

Long story short bro. R died suddenly after a couple months of concluding our studies. I felt saddened because as far as I know he never let go of the self righteous trap of feast keeping.

But bro. F and I still communicated. He was very inquisitive and constantly was asking questions on different subjects of present truth. As I am dedicated to helping any and all learn more of the message I continued to answer his questions. But soon I saw that no matter how clear and plain my answers were from a “Thus sayeth the Lord” he would counter if he held a different view. In other words he was trying to convince me of his ideas each time he asked a question.

Soon I was onto this ploy and told him that as far as I was concerned I would not be able to help him anymore as my answers  really didn’t help him and that he had his own mind made up.  He was just trying to play the devil’s advocate and see if he could change my beliefs.

Anyway, after saying this, he didn’t stop. A few days later another question and scenario would be put forth and I jump at this again. Figuring that somehow someway I could make this guy see the plain “Thus sayeth the Lord”. No success, it went around and around again.

Finally about 2  months ago, I woke up one morning and as usual another question was  waiting for me. As I went to answer I heard the Spirit say, “NO, NO!, It’s going to hurt you if you continue.” Then I remembered Proverb 26:4. And for the last two months I’ve been able to ignore the questions.

Had I continued I certainly would have “become like him” in that my answers would be trampled asundered and I’d be left without any productive result. Again the Word warns–

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.” (Matt. 7:6)

The “rend you” is real my beloved. We must make sure that when we are discussing the Truth we be with someone who is there to learn, just as we are. Otherwise our confidence may become shattered because we can soon doubt our own beliefs because the other side continues to not listen to a thus sayth the Lord.

When you were a kid and you drew a painting that took alot of time and were proud of it, yet you had  a parent that keep telling you “It’s nothing special” over and over again. Soon you think you can’t do any painting because you’re just not good at it. Your confidence is shattered because of the repeated disagreement with your ideas.

Spirit of Prophecy adds more —

“There are some who indulge in levity, sarcasm, and even mockery toward those who differ with them. Others present an array of objections to any new view; and when these objections are plainly answered by the words of Scripture, they do not acknowledge the evidence presented, nor allow themselves to be convinced. Their questioning is not for the purpose of arriving at truth, but is intended merely to confuse the minds of others.

Some have thought it an evidence of intellectual keenness and superiority to perplex minds in regard to what is truth. They resort to subtlety of argument, to playing upon words; they take unjust advantage in asking questions.When their questions have been fairly answered, they will turn the subject [and] bring up another point to avoid acknowledging the truth. We should beware of indulging the spirit which controlled the Jews.(Testimonies to Ministers, p.108)

 

That part about “When their questions have been fairly answered, they will turn the subject [and] bring up another point to avoid acknowledging the truth” really nailed it with brother F. It was an endless ignoring of plain and clear words from Inspiration.

For example when shown this reference from the Elijah message, it was glossed over and basically ignored-

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

 

   And so, as this law was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14), we need not, and must not, observe it now.” (TImely Greetings, vol.2, no.37, p.14-15)

To be clear, we are not suggesting that anyone who disagrees with us should be ignored. Not at all. In fact if a good study is had, often we ourselves learn new things as well as our study partner. It’s just that when time and again a Thus sayeth the Lord is ignored or glossed over, that should be a signal that we are dealing with a Pharisee, one who is stuck way down in self conceived ideas.

In closing, there is very very short time left and we can’t be answering those who are dug down deep in error. If they cannot acknowledge a Thus sayeth the Lord- let us take counsel and “do not answer according to their folly.”

 

Posted in Proper teachings, Witnessing | 1 Comment »