Archive for July, 2017

What Makes One Eligible?

July 29, 2017

OPENING PRAYER THOUGHT

   I shall read from The Mount of Blessing, pg. 155, beginning with the second paragraph.

   M.B. pp. 155, 156 — “The very first step in approaching God is to know and believe the love that He has to us; for it is through the drawing of His love that we are led to come to Him.

   “The perception of God’s love works the renunciation of selfishness.  In calling God our Father, we recognize all His children as our brethren.  We are all a part of the great web of humanity, all members of one family.  In our petitions we are to include our neighbors as well as ourselves.  No one prays aright who seeks a blessing for himself alone.

   “‘Which art in heaven.’  He to whom Christ bids us look as our Father,’ ‘is in the heavens; He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.’  In His care we may safely rest, saying, What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.'”

   What does the reading instruct us to pray for? — For an appreciation of God’s love and for better understanding of Him; for the right understanding of what it means to pray the Lord’s prayer; for wisdom to know why we address God as our Father, why we are members of one family, brethren of one household; for grace to remember to pray not for ourselves only but for our neighbors, and even for our enemies.

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WHAT MAKES ONE ELIGIBLE?TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF,MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTSSABBATH, SEPTEMBER 21, 1946MT. CARMEL CHAPELWACO, TEXAS  

A number of brethren have written to me from time to time, wanting to know what makes them eligible to receive the Seal of God.  Some want to know whether they will be sealed by doing this or by doing that.  Others want to know whether they will be left without the seal by not doing this or not doing the other.

   The questions are indeed very timely and commendable.  Such vital questions deserve answers as concrete as are the questions themselves.  And who can give a more concrete answer than those who have gone before us, those whose duties were similar to ours, those who were passing through a similar experience, those who traveled the same road that we are traveling, those who were preparing themselves for the Kingdom as are we.

   In whom do we find such a parallel? — In no others than those who left Egypt and started for the promised land.  No, in none others.  They are our only type.  Says Inspiration: “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 Cor. 10:11.)  Their duties, therefore, are our duties, and their failures should be our stepping stones to success.  Thus it is that the deeds of those who entered into the promised land must be our

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deeds, and if we are to be sealed, then the deeds of those who failed to enter therein, we must shun as completely and as quickly as we would shun a lion’s den.

   We are now to find out why some of them went into the promised land, and why others did not go in, for this is what Inspiration commands us to do.  This scripture implies that if the experiences of ancient Israel had not been for ensamples, they would never have been written.  How important, then, that we diligently study them.  Yes, in order for us to know what we must do or must not do to receive the seal and to enter into the Promised Land, we must examine the deed of both those who entered it and of those who were left out of it.

   Let us begin our examination by starting with Moses, with the human agent, the visible leader of the movement.  Reared in the courts of Pharaoh, he received the highest education the world then offered.  And having understood that he was the one to free his brethren from Egyptian bondage, he felt quite capable for the job.

   You remember the story of how he started out to deliver them although he was not yet told to do so.  He killed an Egyptian, fell into a quarrel with one of the Hebrews, and then fled for his life.  So it was that in Midian he obtained a job, became a shepherd, and married his employer’s daughter.  During those forty years of shepherd’s life he forgot the Egyptian language, and with it the Egyptian learning.  In its place, though, he learned to tend well to sheep.  He therefore dismissed from his mind the idea of ever delivering the people of God from their Egyptian bondage.  Then it was that God saw him strong and well able, and commanded him to go back to Egypt and to bring

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out of it His groaning people.  You recall that Moses protested against the idea and argued that he had failed at his first attempt, the time he was young and well-informed and that at that late hour of his life he was not trying again, that he could no longer even speak the language.  After a prolonged conversation God removed his objections by promising to give him his brother, Aaron, to be his spokesman, and Moses finally consented to return to Egypt.

   There with his shepherd’s rod he performed many signs and wonders before both the Egyptians and the Hebrews.  And you remember what took place the night of the Passover, the night before they left Egypt: Moses had proclaimed throughout the land that in every dwelling where no blood was found on the doorpost, that very night the firstborn in each such dwelling would die.

   Those who disobeyed the Divine injunction, were, on the day following busily moaning and burying their dead, while those who obeyed the command were joyously and orderly marching out of the cities.  Yes, only those who were able to take orders were made free from slavery.  It is, therefore, prerequisite that we learn to take orders if we are to receive the seal of God in our foreheads.

   Let us not forget, though, that the children of Israel left Egypt with great zeal and high hopes.  But when they saw the Red Sea ahead of them, and Pharaoh’s army behind them, they were filled with consternation.  They saw themselves in a death trap although they were at the brink of another marvelous deliverance.  Then they turned on Moses and accused him of bringing them to the sea, of making their escape from their enemies absolutely impossible.

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   Humanly viewing the situation, they were in a precarious predicament.  In that moment they forgot their miraculous deliverance from Pharaoh’s taskmasters and their eyes closed to the wondrous cloud by day and pillar of fire by night that had led them all the way.  As they saw it, the evidence against Moses’ ability to lead them safely was overwhelming.  Insofar as they were concerned, the whole venture appeared doomed to failure.  Their hopes of going ahead or of even going back left them, and all because they thought Moses, not God, was their deliverer!  How shortsighted, unstable, doubting, and forgetful human beings are!  Experience in the gospel work has taught me that God’s people of today have the same tempter to contend with, and similar temptations to overcome if they are to receive the seal of God.

   What a great difference would there have been had the Israelites only believed that God, not Moses, was their Leader, that that which appeared to be their death trap, was their door of hope.  Let their experience teach us to remember that God is either leading us altogether or not at all, that His ways are not; our ways, and that what may appear to be our greatest obstacle, may actually turn out to be our greatest blessing.

   Israel’s real danger, we now see, was not in what Moses did, but in their unbelief of God’s having the reins in His hands, in not knowing that His ways are beyond finding out — contrary to ours.  They failed to see that God could again and again perform miracle after miracle to deliver them from their enemy’s hand, that He could dry the ocean as easily as He could flood the earth.

   Having their failures before us, we should make

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them our stepping stones to success.  Let us therefore wholeheartedly believe that God is in charge of our salvation, of our lives and of our death, too.  That He is able to take us to safety even if the earth should drop out of space, that we cannot die if He wants us alive, and that we cannot live if He wants us dead.  Let us ever bear in mind that we of ourselves know nothing about God’s plans except as told through His appointed servants, the prophets, and as we witness them day by day.  If we daily walk with God, if we commit all to Him, then the responsibility is all His.

   God, in His wisdom, brought Israel to the Red Sea for their own good, and though they could not see it His way, He nevertheless for His Name’s sake divided the sea, took them safely across, and at the same time, by the same miracle, He destroyed their enemies!

   Had Moses been as doubtful of God’s power and leadership as were the people that were with him, what effect would his rod have had as he struck the sea with it? — None whatsoever.  If the Judgment of the Infinite were the same as the judgment of the finite, then Pharaoh’s army would have either killed or enslaved Israel anew.

   Their mighty deliverances should, therefore, forever establish our confidence in God, and should stand as everlasting memorials that the wisdom of men is foolishness with God, and that faith in Him does actually remove mountains and seas, too.

   Notwithstanding these ensamples, though, men still expect God to work in accordance with their judgment, and that is why sometimes He uses children in

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His work instead of wise and prudent men.

   The Hebrew host well knew that they were led to the sea by following the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  Yet none of these wonders seemed to have made any lasting impression on them.  There is a danger that we, too, may forget the way the Lord has led us.

   After Israel crossed the sea, and after the sea closed in on their enemies, they all sang and gave God the glory, but though Pharaoh’s army and the sea were no longer objects of fear but of interest, their trials, doubts, and fears were not yet at an end: Almost immediately after they saw the sea behind and the desert ahead they began to recriminate Moses for having brought them into the desert to starve there for want of water and food.  It never entered their minds that if God can dry the sea, He can certainly flood the desert and make it blossom as a rose.  Notwithstanding their doubts and their moanings God again performed an even greater miracle: He caused water to gush out of the rock and He brought manna from Heaven!

   Today as in Moses’ day many are duplicating the sins of that people: Some are all on fire on day, and all on ice the next.  Others praise God to the top of their voices while their ship is smoothly sailing, but when the sea becomes rough and the waves start beating against them, then they see only a man at the wheel and rather than expecting God to calm the sea they begin to hunt for a jumping off place.  Still others are constantly trying to promote themselves by continual fault-finding against the ones that bear the whole burden of the load.  So it is that there must be among us today — antitypical doubters, complainers

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office seekers and faultfinders, admitting one great truth one day and forgetting it the next day — yet expecting to be sealed with the seal of God and to stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion!

   The Lord fed His ancient people with Angel’s food, the kind their work and climate required.  He delivered it fresh daily, and it did not cost them one cent.  All they had to do was to bring it into their tents and to eat it.  But they disliked the manna, and wished they were back in Egypt eating from its flesh pots, “the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick.”  In their eyes, Moses was the greatest of sinners, and they blamed him for every trial of their faith.  Had God given them something other than manna, they would have been just as dissatisfied with it because an evil spirit was in them.  Let us gladly and with thanks eat and drink what the Lord gives us and when He gives it to us.

   You recall that by craving flesh food they made the situation unbearable for Moses.  So, to their great surprise quail filled the camp, and the multitude carried them into their tents.  But at what a cost!  Thousands of them died even while the flesh was yet between their teeth.  Then they understood that the manna was the better food.  It was a great lesson, but an expensive one.  What about us Vegetarians?

   Their murmuring, however, did not end even then.  They found something else to murmur about.  They grew jealous of Moses and of Aaron.  “They are taking too much on themselves,” the office seekers complained.  “We are just as much favored of God as are Moses and Aaron.  God speaks with us as much as He speaks with them,” they said.  And who were the chief complainers? — The princes of the nations, the

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men who were the most capable, the very ones who should have known better.  Those who could have been the greatest help to Moses became the biggest hindrance to him.  They wanted Aaron’s office; they wanted Moses’ office.  They refused to be satisfied with anything less.  The Lord Himself got nowhere with them.  The only thing He could do was to cause the earth to swallow them.  Thus in one day thousands — practically all the so-called wise — fell into the bowels of the earth.  Are we, too, seeking office by which to exalt self and are we, too, endeavoring to usurp the seat of the Spirit of Truth?

   Finally, the emancipated children of Israel came to the borders of the promised land.  And though they had witnessed great miracles right along, yet they did not believe that God could procure the land for them!  They had seen that He was able to deliver them from Pharaoh’s brick yards, to take them dryshod through the sea, to destroy their enemies, to give them food and water in the desert where there was none to be had, yet they did not believe that He was able to take the land for them and that He could finish what He had started!

   There are thousands today who are doing virtually the same when they say, “Isaiah, chapter 2, Micah, chapter 4, Jeremiah, chapter 31 and Ezekiel, chapters 36 and 37 will never be fulfilled.”  It was those who were of age, those who should have known better, that started the ball rolling down hill to destruction.  The youth, of course, must have echoed the murmurings of their elders, but the Lord did not hold it against them.  And in order to salvage the youth, God had to bury all their murmuring parents except the two faithful, trusting men who protested against the evil report of the other ten spies.  Mark you, every adult that

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left Egypt, except Caleb and Joshua, had to be buried before the youth could cross the Jordan!  Why? — Because though God did take them with ease out of Egypt, He could not get Egypt out of them.  Are you still wondering why the prophet Elijah must “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers”? (Mal. 4:6.)

   Christians often think that the Israelites were very wicked and unruly people, but after having their experiences to profit by, think how much worse we would be if we do as they did!  If we do no better than they, how can we expect to be eligible for the seal and for the Kingdom since they were not eligible?

   In the very prime of life, Moses thought himself capable of delivering the children of Israel.  But Providence said: “You are not fit for the work, come out and I will make you fit.”  And out Moses went.

   He did not need Pharaoh’s training in order to do God’s work.  It was a hindrance to him!  Why?  Because it made him self-sufficient, independent of God.  Such a person would be the right one to lead God’s people away from Him and into sin, but the wrong one to lead them to God and away from sin.

   How true the statement in Testimonies, Vol. 5, pg. 80: “…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.”

   God can help only those who know that they are unequal to their task, those who know that they need His help.  So, then, those who think that they can do wonders

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are the very ones who can do nothing but harm.

   Plainly, those whom God is to use in His final work, in the time of the end, are not to be anything like the Egyptian crown prince, not anything like the learned Moses.  Those who can learn to keep and feed sheep well and to readily take orders, are the ones who can be taught how to keep and feed God’s people.

   Moses’ wife was the only Ethiopian in the entire company.  For this reason some thought they were superior to her.  They thought that Moses had committed the unpardonable sin by marrying out of his nation, as though race had anything to do with making people superior or inferior.  Moses’ own sister, Miriam, was caught in that sin.  There she was, trying to break up his family, yet Moses prayed for her recovery when she was stricken with leprosy.

   Who went into the promised land? — All but the murmurers.  Do you suppose that you can entertain the same spirit of murmuring and complaining, and in spite of it receive the seal? — How absurd the very thought!  How unfair it would be for a just God to destroy the disobedient of that day, but to save the disobedient of this day.

   What made one group eligible to cross the Jordan? — It was their trust in God, knowing that He was their Chief Leader.  They recognized Moses and Joshua as the ones through whom God was communicating with them.  They did not look upon them as being anyone other than who they actually were.  They were satisfied with their lot.  They took orders as the orders were given.  So it was that they were the only ones who entered into the land.

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   Having these ensamples before us, this picture to go by, I can confidently tell whether I am headed for the Kingdom or whether I am headed for the bowels of the earth (Rev. 12:16).  And I am sure that you, too, can tell which way you are headed.  The Lord does not require more or less of us than He required of our types.  There is therefore no mystery as to what we must do, and what we must not do to receive the seal of God.

   We need not go into a land of wonderment, need not entertain the idea that we must have a mysterious feeling, exciting emotion, need not wallow in the dust or jump to the ceiling.  No, we need not make fools of ourselves.  All we need to do is be ourselves.  Be calm, decent, respectable, heaven-like beings, endeavoring to do God’s will on earth as it is done in heaven.  We need not make a display of ourselves, but we need to mind our God-given business and to keep our noses out of other people’s business.

   Only when we have done all we can to comply with the requirements of the message for today, not of yesterday, shall we be sealed and stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion.

   Should we not be glad that while we are being invited to the Kingdom, we are also being told how to get there?  Seeing all these, we must never let our confidence in God wane.  We ought to be stable, firm in everything, lacking nothing.  God’s eleventh-hour servants, says Inspiration, are to be “a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it.” Joel 2:2.  They know what they believe, and believe what they know.  Most important of all, they know that they are led by God, not by man.

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   They are not like the Pharisees who were building monuments in memory of the dead prophets (Matt. 23:29-31) and at the same time were slaying the living ones!  With this light shining on our pathway, Hebrews, chapters 3, 4, 10 and 11 become self-interpreting.

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The Sacred Page

A glory gilds the sacred page,Majestic like the sun;It gives a light to every age,It gives, but borrows none.

The Spirit breathes upon the word,And brings the truth to sight;Precepts and promises affordA sanctifying light.

The hand that gave it, still supplies The gracious light and heat;His truths upon the nations rise,They rise, but never set.

Let everlasting thanks be thine,For such a bright display;It makes a world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day.–Wm. Cowper (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, no.7 , p.15)    

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, Salvation | Leave a Comment »

“Plowshares into Swords” or “Swords into Plowshares”?

July 22, 2017

Image result for plowshares to swords picture

The Scriptures say apparently contradictory statements in Joel , Micah and Isaiah, let us read —

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.” (Joel 3:10)

“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.”(Micah 4:3)

“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.” (Isaiah 2:4)

As with all Scripture, there is deep truth here and as students of His word, we should delve into this and find the intended meaning of it all. We know one thing, the two different meanings although seemingly contradictory –are not. There is a reason why the Lord shows two opposite statements. Each are balanced in their context.

Let us review what the message says about our subject —

“And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”  This verse reads exactly the opposite of Joel 3:10, “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: Let the weak say I am strong.”

   These scriptures reveal two classes of people.  One class shall flow into the church by great groups: Kings, and great army leaders who have been building destroying weapons and preparing for war.  Now the gospel has conquered them.  While they are joining the church they gather their war implements, beating them into plowshares and pruninghooks.  “Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.” Isa. 60:18. 

The other class, outside of the church, prepare for war, beating their plowshares into swords, and their pruninghooks into spears.  One people is preparing for translation, while the other is getting ready for conquest.  Therefore both scriptures run parallel and will be fulfilled at the same time.  Thus the world would be divided into two great separate and distinct classes: Separating the wheat from the chaff, the goats from the sheep.” (SRod, vol. 1, p.176-177)

Mic. 4:3 — “And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

   Many nations are gladly to accept His rebukes, beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks rather than continue to run in the armament race.

   According to Micah, the only nations that are to disarm are those that accept the Lord’s Truth for today and go to the Promised Land.  Never again will they need either swords or spears.

Mic. 4:4 — “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.”

   The nations and peoples are now having a difficult time to get to their “fig tree,” so to speak, much less to sit in peace under it.  They are in constant fear that some one may dislodge them even from their sitting under no tree.  Consequently they will try to protect their rights, or unrights, by beating their “plowshares into swords, and [their] pruning hooks into spears.” Joel 3:10.  And so judging their own strength by their war preparations, even the weak will say, “I am strong.” 

But it shall not be thus with those nations which join the people of the Kingdom of the Lord: They will not need to trust in their own strength, for they shall have the Lord’s protection.  Each shall comfortably and securely sit under his own “fig tree,” knowing that no one can possibly push him away from under it.  This is to be so, for “the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.” (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 25, p.6-7)    

   

“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.” Isa. 2:2-4.

   The law is to go forth when the mountain (Kingdom) of the Lord’s house is established on the top of the mountains (kingdoms), and when It is exalted above the hills.  Then the “light” shall cause the rebuked nations to flow to the mountain of the Lord. 

And, too, instead of beating their plowshares into swords, and their pruning hooks into spears (Joel 3:10), they will 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.” Isa. 2:4. (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 37, p.13-14)

So we see that there is to be two distinct type of people  –those who follow the Lord and trust in His strength and those who don’t. The Great Controversy indeed! This is what will be so great about the Lord, He will make it very simple for the people all over the world to choose life.

Right now there is a counterfeit gospel being proclaimed with truth and error mixed but as soon as the Loud Cry headquarters is established in the promised land–Israel, the powerful Truth will be proclaimed around the world and all will have their chance to either make– swords into plowshares or plowshares into swords.              

Posted in End times, God's power | Leave a Comment »

Three Interesting Subjects

July 15, 2017

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For a while now, the Lord has placed upon my heart and mind to discuss three distinct subjects that are quite interesting as you will see. As we have done quite a bit of Elijah message material for a long time, I thought we’d detour this week to some other aspects of the Word.

The three subjects we’ll cover are:

  1. Who made what?
  2. Does God know everything?
  3. Matthew 10:23, how can that be true?

These are just discussions, and all the analysis is not claimed to be final truth of the matter, only placed for consideration. So this will be a discussion of ideas concerning these three subjects and anyone who has some input is encouraged to add your thoughts down in the comment section below.

WHO MADE WHAT?

In the beginning of the Bible we read–

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…”
and so on as it shows God created or made all things UNTIL it comes to verse 26 —

“And God said, Let US make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

Here we see that no longer does it say “God created” rather “Let Us make”. That word “Us” is the only place in Genesis where it deviates from “God said” or “God created” in regards to creation of the earth, heavens and living creatures/man. So what are we to make of this? To make you ponder this more, let’s look at Isaiah 44:24.

“Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;..”

To be clear, the “LORD” here cannot be referring to God the Father because we read in John —

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3, 14)

Um. So what do we have here? It appears that our Lord, Jesus Christ, created all things in our planetary systems, except He wasn’t alone in the creation of mankind. This was a “team” effort, a Triune affair (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) in the great and awesome work of the creation of mankind! Whose image is that of the Triune God.

DOES GOD KNOW EVERYTHING?

This one, we’ll have to open our thoughts up a bit to consider a unique view. In Isaiah 46:9-10 we read –

“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:..”

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.” (Psalms 139:1-3)

There is no disputing that we serve an Omniscient God (all-knowing). However, we should also remember this important word of the Lord —

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)

The key words above that I’d like to focus on is “for thy pleasure.” Let us try to put the ideas of pleasure in mind. How many of us would receive pleasure, for example, if we already know what each and every play of the Super Bowl would be? Each movement in advance before going to the game? Same with a movie, a tennis match, your children’s life, etc.?(note: I am not advocating any of the worldly things just used for example)

How could there be pleasure in this advance knowledge? What I am asking — Could it be that God “chooses” to withhold some knowledge from Himself in order to receive pleasure by watching the events unfold?

I remember as a kid I had an absolute thrill with this electronic game I made. Some of you may remember back in the 70’s there was a very popular electric board game called Electronic Football. It has these small plastic pieces that would vibrate forward and had a tackle, guard, runner, etc on top of the pieces. You would set up the play and turn on the board and watch them move upon the field.

I took these small green vibrating pieces and I put small plastic cars on these and then turned the football field into circular race car track. It was amazing as they would all run around the track, seemingly independently and pass and block and make maneuvers that were just fascinating. I must have played with that game for over 5 years! I keep scores and had season point standings to finally establish the top cars for the racing season. This brought great pleasure due to the unpredictability of it.

 

Image result for old electronic football game set picture

(picture of similar game we had)

Had I had the entrepreneurial spirit this game could have been a block buster back in the 70’s and 80’s.

This all was because my Dad was a top race car driver at the local race track and even raced against the “big boys” at Riverside International Raceway back in the 70’s (Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough included). So I  idolized race cars and of course told everyone I was going to be a “great race car driver” someday.

My point is that this game was totally unpredictable. I never knew who would win or how. There could be the car in the back row that made some great moves and would finish on top after the 15 or 20 laps.  But would I have received pleasure knowing all the moves beforehand and the exact results?

One possible clue that lends credence to this idea of withholding knowledge is found in Genesis 2:19.

“Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.”

We know that He is the great reactor, One who is able to react to any circumstances. So nothing catches Him off guard and all is able to stay within His plans. We do know that there is a pre-planned mankind plan based on His prophetic Word and it is going to happen as His Word declares by His prophets.

MATTHEW 10:23, HOW CAN THAT BE TRUE?

“But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”

Here is one of the real puzzlers of the Scriptures. We see that the Lord says that the 12 Apostles would not finish going through the cities of Israel until He comes again. It’s been over 2000 years and the general consensus is that Jesus has not come back since.

But let us now turn to Revelation.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Rev. 1:10-18)

This shows that John saw the Lord as He even placed His hand upon him. So it appears that the Lord did indeed come back before all the cities of Israel were reached! This was presumed to have taken place on the Island of Patmos in the year 95 AD.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

SOP counsels us —

“New light will ever be revealed on the word of God to him who is in living connection with the Sun of Righteousness. Let no one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be revealed. The diligent, prayerful seeker for truth will find precious rays of light yet to shine forth from the word of God. Many gems are yet scattered that are to be gathered together to become the property of the remnant people of God.”– Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 34.

Right now we can wonder but soon all will be made clear, let us wait in eager anticipation for such glorious times!

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12)

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Will Elijah Restore All Things? (Part 2 of 2)

July 8, 2017

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SOP tells us that there is to be more work done by those faithful ones who rest in the graves, let us read–

“Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.” (Testimonies, vol. 7, p.17)

What was Ellen White’s referring to as “my work”? Was it playing the harp and visiting other planets? Or was it saving souls for Christ? Yes, this was the only work they knew and did and that work will be taken up once more in the premillennial kingdom, praise the Lord.

The Scriptures also declare this special resurrection of saints —

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:1-3)

The above is often not closely examined. But the Elijah prophet showed us that this cannot be about the resurrection solely to fit them for heaven, oh no! This is seen by the fact that some of these resurrected have a work to do– “they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

The message explains this Word of God —

“In these three verses several things clearly stand out: (1) Only those whose names are written in the books are delivered; there are therefore no “foolish” ones among them; (2) Those who are resurrected, however, are mixed, both foolish and wise come up; (3) The statement, “and they that be wise [implying that some be foolish] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament” indicates that these “wise” ones are from among the raised; (4) That if the wise are from among the resurrected and turn many to righteousness, then they must be resurrected in probationary time, in time of salvation.

   “Your work, my work, will not cease with this life.  For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.” — Testimonies, Vol. 7, pg. 17.

Dan. 12:4, 10 — “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.”

   Now what is meant by being wise? — Let us turn to–

Matt. 25:1-4 — “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

Here we see that the wise are those who take extra oil, extra Truth that lightens the rest of their way.  Finally, it plainly appears that this mixed resurrection is a test; that is, they are all given the opportunity to be wise, to turn many to righteousness, but only a part of them do so.  Some of them again fall into sin, and therefore they awake to shame and everlasting contempt (everlasting disobedience), but the wise awake to everlasting life, never again to die. 

This plainly shows that those who give themselves to wickedness up to the time they die, would not turn to righteousness even though they be given a second chance.  The extra oil (Truth for this time) is what decides each one’s destiny.  The wise shall embrace the “additional Truth,” while the foolish will not.  Sin is indeed a mystery! (Timely Greetings, vol. 2, no. 7, p.14-15)

So we see that there is “work” yet to be done by the faithful whom God will raise up during the “time of trouble” which we as present truth believers know is post Ezekiel 9 church judgment.

Now let’s look at the heart of this post , these are truly bright lights of truth on our subject —

“Ezek. 34:23, 24 — “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.  And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.”

   The self-centered shepherds against whom the prophet is told to write, are to be replaced by one shepherd, David.  When this takes place God’s people will then have but one shepherd.  This, of course, cannot be Christ Himself, for Inspiration never calls Him David, but rather It calls Him the Son of David.  Since God’s people have always had, and still do have many shepherds, the truth stands out as clear as crystal that the David of verses 23 and 24 is yet to come, and that the shepherds whom Inspiration addresses are in particular those whom David is to succeed.

   Ezekiel, then, was not given a vision of the shepherds in his day, nor of those before his day, but of the shepherds after his day — the day in which God raises up this antitypical David to feed His hungry and neglected flock.  God’s people shall then no longer serve strangers, “But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.” Jer. 30:9.  Here we see that not only Ezekiel, but Jeremiah also was given a vision of this same truth.  Yes, all the prophets.

Ezek. 37:24, 25 — “And David My servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them.  And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and My servant David shall be their prince for ever.”

   Since this is the addition to the “Third Angel’s Message” (“Early Writings,” p. 277) and since it is the message of the hour, consequently the day of the Davidian Kingdom is at hand.  Let us turn to–

Hos. 3:4, 5 — “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.” (Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, p.14-16)

We see that there is to be “one shepherd” instead of today where there are all kinds of shepherds trying to lead the flock, yet falling abysmally short. The Lord tells us prophetically that the last days shall have a kingdom and a king to rule there, no question about it!

What we also see is that the Lord will “raise up unto them” a king (Jer. 30:9).

As we mentioned the Lord left no stone unturned  and through the Elijah message He tells us what His role is in these pre-millennial kingdom days —

“The Lord will work in no less miraculous a manner now to free His people from being ruled by a worldly organization. He will command the work Himself in the same manner as He did in Moses’ and David’s day.

…In the days of Moses and in the days of David, when the Lord had the work in His Own hands, He spoke to the people through Moses and through David, and thus He ruled. In like manner will He, at this time, rule the work when He takes the reins in His Own hands.

…It is generally understood that when Christ visibly appears, the nations will die by the brightness of His coming, and thus the wicked will have no chance for either the Lord to speak to them or they to speak to Him. Furthermore, according to the parable, He sits on the throne of His glory instead of sitting on the clouds as in 1 Thess. 4:17.

Therefore, the throne of His glory is His kingdom where He, invisible to the nations, sits on the throne and gathers all nations before Him as recorded by the prophet Isaiah also, saying: “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.” (Isa. 2:2.) (SC, vol. 4, no.10-12, p.6)

It is now clear that the Lord’s promise of restoration is not hard to understand. Once we look at the whole picture, all the references, much as a puzzle it all comes together. And this restoration comes from the “Elijah” who the Lord delegated as the one to do it. It is not to our human understanding that Victor Houteff should do the initial work of Elijah, calling out the sins of the people and church and yet die then come back and finish the work. But the Lord, as SOP noted, will work “in a way that will be contrary to any human planning.”

We have heard the argument “Oh no, you take away Christ’s rightful role as the restoration one”. No, “we” do not,  the Lord has spoken that HE wants His Elijah prophet to supervise and command the kingship in the time of restoration, just as He wanted Moses to lead His people.

SOP gives a most beautiful picture of these times of restoration —

“In visions of the night, representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God’s people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost. Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest.

On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seemed to be lightened with the heavenly influence. Great blessings were received by the true and humble people of God. I heard voices of thanksgiving and praise, and there seemed to be a reformation such as we witnessed in 1844.” (Testimonies, vol. 9, p.126)

Some of you may not know much of this man –Victor T. Houteff, but if you are like a detective, a Sherlock Holmes type, searching each piece of the puzzle, you will come to this conclusion we assure you. Stick to the Bible, SOP and the Rod and you’ll have no trouble.

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)

Let us remember that the Lord loves His people deeply and has pointed a clear road map for His Seventh-day Adventist people, clear to the kingdom, we only have to follow it.

In closing, there is no doubt that brother Victor Houteff, whom the Lord brought forth to give the Rod message (the Elijah message) and prepare the people for His sudden church coming (Ezek.9), will “take up the work once more” after the church purification, along with Ellen White and all the faithful pioneers. Then it shall surely be as the Lord promised, the Elijah will “restore all things.” 

“. . . a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them,  and behind them a desolate wilderness;  yea, and nothing shall escape them.

 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can endure it?” (Joel 2:2-11.)

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, End times, Our Lord's kingdom, Victor T. Houteff | 6 Comments »

Will Elijah Restore All Things? (Part 1 of 2)

July 1, 2017

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In Matthew 17:11 we read —

“Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.”

As all true believers know, the Lord’s word cannot return void. He does not lie. So this promise must be fulfilled. Yet, we as fallible humans, often do not understand clear plain Scriptures as we should. While that verse is simple it is profound and deep. Let us look at this very important promise from the Lord.

Last week we posted on the subject on the Trinity. Occasionally we will receive a comment or two below our post. Last week we received some from “Dave” and he actually brought up a very timely point and that is –if brother Victor Houteff, who we as present truth believers believe was the Elijah to come as prophesied in Mal. 4:5, was to restore all things, how can that be when he died and all things have not been restored? This is a very good and proper question!

SOP counsels us–

“The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.” (Counsels to Writers and Editors, p.35)

Ah, so true — “ No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.”

There should be no questions, no inquires that we should be afraid to answer. If we have studied as we should, the Spirit of Truth is well able to recall for us the helpful answer. The real problem does not come from the questions but whether the hearer can shake his pre-conceived ideas for a “Thus sayeth the Lord”.

So let us look at the question in-depth.

The original Elijah as we all know , fought the good fight in calling out sin and abominations taking place among his people. He did his work then the Lord took him alive from the earth to heaven. So likewise many think that the latter-day Elijah to come must also follow in these exact steps and do his work and, like Elijah, not die and be transferred to heaven without seeing death.

But instead of our thinking, our ideas how about we take Inspired words from God’s prophets?

SOP says the following —

“Elijah was a type of the saints who will be living on the earth at the time of the second advent of Christ and who will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, without tasting death.” (Prophets and Kings, p.227)

“Since there are two types for the living, and as Enoch himself was not a descendant of Jacob, he cannot logically represent Jacob’s descendants, the 144,000.  In fact, the name Jacob, or the title “Israelite,” did not even come into existence until centuries after Enoch was translated. Accordingly, Elijah, an Israelite himself, logically typifies the 144,000, and Enoch logically typifies the great multitude, who are from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (Rev. 7:9), because from his generation have descended all nations.” (SRod Tract, p.22)

So there we have it–Elijah typifies the 144,000! These are the ones who shall not taste death as Elijah did not, type meets anti-type.

This clears one of our issues that some raise. Because brother Houteff died, that did not disqualify him as the end time prophet because, although he came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” he did not typify Elijah just as John the Baptist did not. Both came with the Elijah spirit of rebuke and calling out reform, yet died after their work was done.

One other fact we cannot overlook. Both of them , John the Baptist and Victor Houteff had a preparatory work to do, in preparing the people to meet the Lord. Present truth believers know very well that the message of the Rod is all about this preparation. It is often referred to as the “sealing message” as the instructions within It show how we are to be sealed when the Lord “suddenly comes to His temple”(Mal. 3:1).

We are all well familiar with the purpose of John the Baptist’s mission, to prepare the way for the Lord first advent.The following Scripture tells of God’s end time messenger preparing the way for the Lord’s next coming — the invisible coming to His temple (church). This is not the “Second Coming” as that is the second “visible” coming for the world to see.

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

If you have any confusion of why this coming is needed, just continue reading verses  two to six.

You see brethren the Lord left no stone unturned. His concern is for our eternal welfare and therefore the Elijah to come “before the great and dreadful day of the Lord” was to enlighten us on all the prophecies pertaining to this fateful day, great for those who survive and dreadful for those who don’t. The message explains–

“Evidently God’s people at this particular time are not in need of visions, but rather of interpreters  of the visions of the prophets of old which are not as yet understood. And that is what He has seen fit to give us so that we may understand the Bible. This is the greatest miracle connected with The Shepherd’s Rod, (See illustration in Tract No. 6, Why Perish, 1944 edition, p. 18.)”

“… as John was a messenger to God’s own people at that time, just so at this time the Elijah of Malachi’s prophecy represents a message which is to be delivered not to the world, but to the professed people of God. As John was their last prophet, his message was their final means to fit them for the Messiah’s appearing, for which cause said the Master, “If ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. (Matt. 11:14) Likewise, Elijah’s message of today must be to the professed people of God, and is to be their last means to fit them for Christ’s appearing at this time.

   Thus as John “…declared that those who claimed to be the chosen people of God were defiled by sin, and that without purification of heart and life they could have no part in the Messiah’s kingdom” (Desire of Ages, p. 104), just so the Elijah’s message at this time will denounce the denominational corruptions — “the abominations in the midst thereof” (Etc. 9:4) — rebuke the prevailing sins, and exclaim: “What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong!…They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God….The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation.” — “Testimonies for the Church, ” Vol. 3, pp. 252-3. ( Symbolic Code, vol. 1, no.4, p.5)

The skeptics cannot nor will they ever come to the powerful truth of these statements if they do not read what the prophet Victor Houteff interpreted for us concerning the numerous prophecies in the Scriptures. Let us review some of them —

Hosea chapter 1 and 2, Daniel 8, Daniel chapter 11, Revelation –all chapters, Nahum, Micah, Zechariah, Zephaniah, Joel and the list goes on and on. Much of this pertains to the great and dreadful day or the promise of His end time kingdom in Israel. In other words brother Houteff’s work was to reveal to us what the Lord has in store for us His remnant people.

This is always the tell-tale sign that an adversarial power is at work when the Rod is denied or rebuffed. They will not address the prophetic explanations rather try personal attacks such as “Houteff died”,  “Houteff married a very young woman”,”Houteff taught that Davidians will someday kill Adventists..” and so on.  On our sister site “HearYeTheRod” we just completed a 10 part series detailing how the most infamous accuser of the Rod–Ismael Rodriguez brings such utter falsehoods and accusations, without merit, against the Lord’s Rod.

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

To re-emphasize the fact, let it be said again that being the last of the prophets Elijah is, therefore, the only one who can open to our understanding all the prophecies of the Scriptures pertaining to the great and dreadful day of the Lord — prophecies which heretofore have been only mysteries to all.  Thus he is, as the Scriptures say, to blow the trumpet in Zion, and to sound an alarm in God’s holy mountain, in the church.” (General Conference Special, p.19)

Ok, let’s now deal with the point of how can Victor Houteff be the Elijah to come if all things were not restored by him?

To begin with we should remember the very important statement by the prophet —

The prophet, or the message is called , Elijah, “with the spirit and power of Elijah.”(SRod, vol.1,  p.47)

The shows that though brother Houteff died, right now “Elijah” is still alive through the message sent out! Thus Victor Houteff did his job as sent by the Lord. The message explains further —

“In doing all this, he sets in motion the power that is to restore all things. Hence Christ’s positive declaration: “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (General Conference Special, p.19-20)

Ok, although we’ve cleared some basic points , but we still need to go further. There remains much more restoring to be done. For instance, the final gospel proclamation, the set up of the Loud Cry kingdom headquarters in Israel. Where does Victor Houteff fit in concerning that?

As we go further it is helpful we remember that the Lord said this —

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9)

It is natural for us humans to say, “Well Victor died so that means he’ll not be able to restore all things”. But as we have shown already, Victor Houteff did the preparatory work in setting in motion the Lord’s Rod (Micah 6:9, 7:14). Yet, why would we then say that the Lord really did not mean that Houteff would do both, the preparatory work and the restoration work? Does not make any sense. Further the word promises only ONE Elijah to come, not “Elijahs”. Where does it say that another prophet is to come after the Elijah? Nowhere.

Yet watch closely, many accusers and deniers that Victor Houteff could be the final Elijah for this and that reason (or even denying him a prophet),  have their own prophet they are following, or they themselves may even declare themselves a prophet! For many SDA, just like the Jews with Moses, they are stuck on one prophet–Ellen White, even some going so far as to claim she was the Elijah to come!

“Surely the Lord GOD doeth nothing, unless He revealeth His secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

“Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning.” (Evangelism, p.118)

Let us look what the Lord has in store in His word. He does not fail us in telling us the Elijah plans.

First, the following shows that “the house of David shall be as God” in the latter days –wow! Let us read–

“In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.” (Zech 12:8)

The message tells us the purpose  of this house of David–

“Now, what is the overall purpose of the house of David? — The house of David, the Scriptures reveal, is being built up for a three-fold purpose: (1) During the ingathering of the people, it is to “build the old wastes,” to “raise up the former desolations,” and to “repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.” Isa. 61:4. 

This work of rebuilding and restoring has as its type the rebuilding of ancient Jerusalem by the ancient Jews returning from their Babylonian captivity to the land of their fathers.  Just as they were to build the wastes, the former desolations — the temple of the Lord, the city and the walls — and to restore the worship of God according to the Lord’s own Divine will, so we, too, now in the antitypical ingathering are called to do a similar work, only much greater both in scope and in proportion.  We must therefore labor even more incessantly than they labored, and be happy and thankful for having been privileged to have a part in such a great and glorious work.

   (2) In addition to this great and grand work, while in God’s hand as a battle ax (Jer. 51:20), He is with it to break the Gentiles’ yoke which now rests upon the shoulders of God’s people.  With it He is to emancipate His people from Gentile rule: “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….” (Isa. 11:11).  With it He is to “set up an ensign for the nations,” and to “assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Isa. 11:12.

To get this work done we are to be at first the “many fishers,” then the “many hunters” (Jer. 16:16).  Thus it is that the first fruits are to be gathered “one by one.” Isa. 27:12.  We are now in the hunting days — going from city to city, from village to village, and from door to door, a thing which has never before been done.  Besides fishing and hunting we also are to make “a highway for the remnant of His people which shall be left, [after the first fruits are gathered] from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” Isa. 11:16. 

After this hunting is over and the highway built up, then it is that the second fruits will flow to the mountain of the Lord’s house.  One nation, as it were, will say to another nation, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Mic. 4:2.

Thus our work has also as its type the Exodus movement going out of Egypt, establishing itself in the promised land.  As they were freed from their Egyptian bondage, so we shall be freed from the world’s yoke; and just as they possessed the land, and set up the kingdom, so shall we if we make their mistakes our stepping stones to success.

   (3) Finally, we are to hasten “the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” We are to bring “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Pet. 3:12, 13.

 (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No., p.9-10).

This time shall be so glorious, truly a final witness to the world of God’s abilities–

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities.’The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will also go.” Yes, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” (Zech. 8:20-23)

Ok so we see that the final work of God’s restoration plans is the house of David established in the Holy Land. But who runs that? Is the Lord to come down and sit on the throne? Is there to be a new person to come on the scene in the last days? Or is Victor Houteff to come back and finish the work God had him start?

Stay tuned for part two next week, Lord willing.

 

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, End times, Our Lord's kingdom, Victor T. Houteff | 4 Comments »