Archive for November, 2019

Blocking eyes/hearts to the Truth

November 30, 2019

Image result for man not listening to bible

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In John 12:40 we read —

“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn–and I would heal them.”

There is no doubt that the so-called Religious “Scholars” of Jesus’ day were about as blind as one could be –in knowing Truth.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

Pilate in his inquiry of what is truth asked the Lord the all-important question. Of course, the King was not about to get into doctrinal matters with a heathen governor who was ready to issue an important part in the redemption of man plan.

“Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. (John 18:37-38)

So we know as Christians that–

1. Jesus is the Truth

2. All that really know Jesus knows Truth

Yes, this is very basic Christianity but so vast and deep. Although simple in it’s description, it is so numerous in its misapplication and true understanding. Let us look at an example.

Brother R has been a “street preacher” for several decades. He came to “know Jesus” by reading the Bible and attending regular Sunday services. But brother R has a stubborn “I know it all” attitude about the Lord, His love and His plan for mankind. 

We have had many discussions over the years, particularly on the “love” of Jesus. Recently this issue came up again via some email and he said words such as —

“Love sums up all the commandments. If i don’t have love for God and my brother, i have nothing. Bottomline. I have “no condemnation in Christ Jesus”. I have a relationship based on Christ’s righteousness, not my own. I live by the grace of God.”

This was in response to what I had sent him previously that said the following —

” If you LOVE ME , keep My Commandments” (John 14:15)   (a quick reminder the word “Commandments” is Entole, which means His 10 Commandments.)

I  was trying to explain that Jesus Himself says “how” we are to love Him. It can’t get any clearer than that! But as we showed in the above quote, their eyes and hearts are blinded. For some reason, they cannot read and comprehend straight clear words from the word of God. This got me thinking, “supping” with the Lord. Then an answer came to me.

You see brethren many today, especially Sunday keepers, I believe are held back from having the vail lifted from their eyes. The  Spirit of Prophecy explains —

“..the influence of these older church members will leaven those newly come to the faith. The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of the church members who have never been converted and those who were once converted but who have backslidden. What influence would these unconsecrated members have on new converts? Would they not make of no effect the God-given message which His people are to bear?” (Testimonies, vol.6, p.370)

If brother R  gives up his Sunday worship and comes into the Seventh-day Adventist church, after a short while,  what will he most likely find from some leaders and members we will show in pictures (they speak a thousand words).

Image result for young lady dress for church in short dress and high heels      Image result for thanksgiving dinner

Image result for pastor wearing rolex watch and rings

Image result for woman in jewelry in church

In summary, he will find women and men not dressing according to the Bible/ SDA teaching of modesty. Women, especially many younger ones, dressed in “nightclub” attire complete with nail polish. Men dressed in T-shirts and other common dress. He will find the eating of meat is practiced by some members(most of them privately beyond gazing eyes), even though it is against the SDA teachings. He will find jewelry and worldly fashions practiced by many, even the leaders.

But the most serious issue he will find is the “lukewarm” and carefree live and let live style that many SDA practice, not calling sin by its rightful name due to the “shepherd’s” unfaithfulness. THIS would be very hard to ignore and no doubt would hinder a “truth walk”.

The Lord has some dire Words for this situation, straight solemn words for our leaders (shepherds) —

“The word of the Lord came to me:  “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Woe to you shepherds of Israel who only take care of yourselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock?  You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock.  You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured.

You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.  So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

“‘Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:  As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, because My flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because My shepherds did not search for My flock but cared for themselves rather than for My flock, therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:  This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for My flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue My flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.

‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I Myself will search for My sheep and look after them.  As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.

I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I Myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.” (34:1-16)

In order for these blind ones to see God’s love/power within His people there will soon be a church judgment. The 144,000 will then be empowered to proclaim the Lord’s kingdom.

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? (1 Peter 4:17)

Soon the Loud Cry will come upon the earth, the Truth in all it’s luster and power will convict masses. Those who cannot see or understand now may indeed know the Lord then. SOP tells us more —

“In the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon. According to this scripture, many of God’s people must still be in Babylon. And in what religious bodies are the greater part of the followers of Christ now to be found? Without doubt, in the various churches professing the Protestant faith.” (GC, p.483)

In closing let us remain at our post of duty bringing the Elijah message to our brethren, but know that should the situation arise that we discuss the Lord’s truth with those of outside faiths, don’t be surprised  if they cannot grasp God’s truth now because according to God’s plan they may soon do so in the future.

 

Posted in Christian faith, Commandments, Loud Cry | Leave a Comment »

Religion will take World’s Center Stage

November 23, 2019

Image result for Everybody speaking about religion

In Spirit of Prophecy we read —

“By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvellous working of Satan and that the end is near.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.451)

 In this post we shall look at the fast-approaching end times and what we are to expect from God’s Word. We are nearing the events that Scripture, SOP and the Rod all declare will come upon us. What is fascinating is how it all comes together when we look at His coordinated message.

Let us start where we are at. Right now we have much division among our nation. The Trump administration has produced a strong reaction throughout the country. Half of us support their work and half hate their work. A truly polarized nation indeed!

However, the USA constitution to a large extent is still in place. Our liberties, however, are slowly being stripped. Social media is curtailing some free speech activities and many no longer have the right to report what they see as wrong (ie. LBGT movement, Abortion politics, government corruption, etc.). Take Alex Jones , for example, a leader in uncovering corruption within the USA and world has consistently reported on wrongdoing within our government for years but has recently been silenced on online social media to a large degree (kicked out of FB, Twitter, YouTube, etc). Even his financial payment system –PayPal has banned him. Multitudes of like-minded rejectors of the current corruption of the USA are likewise banned.

But the main parts of our constitution still stand. But something is going to change that. There will be a catalyst that will move us to as SOP says, “repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government.” What does the Word say that will be?

It is well known among the religious community that the world’s Sunday keeping theologians have read the following Scriptural references —

“For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” (Romans 11:25-27)

to mean that the unbelieving Jews (all of them) that are now in Israel will be miraculously saved and converted into Christians. In other words, it is almost like the Lord puts them into a spell and takes over there wills and makes them believe in Christ! This is a prevalent dogma among the Sunday keeping churches.

They also describe this reference —

 “For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep still, Until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her salvation like a burning torch.” (Isaiah 62:1)

as pertaining to the current Jerusalem, mostly consisting of unbelieving Jews (the vast majority now there), that somehow the Lord will turn that land into a great Christian center and Gospel proclamation hub. They are right about the land being the soon to come world’s Gospel headquarters but wholly misguided in how the Lord will do it.

The Word confirms this Gospel headquarters location–


“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”(Isaiah 2:2-3)

However, this false dogma of the current unbelieving Jews converted in Isreal on a mass scale has spread all throughout Christendom. It teaches that current Jews now there will be strong proclaimers of the Gospel to the world soon. Teachers like Jonathan Kahn and Hal Lindsey are leaders in this well-known religious dogma.

However, our all-seeing and knowing Lord God has not forsaken the Truth seekers without a plan, a road map. His final message of Elijah tells us the real truth about Romans 11:25-27.

ALL OR A REMNANT–WHICH?

Question No. 64:

Romans 9:27 says that a “remnant” of Israel will be saved, but Romans 11:26 says that “all” Israel will be saved. I do not understand this. Can you help me?

Answer:

Romans 9:27 is speaking of Israel as a nation, of which only a remnant will be saved; whereas Romans 11:26 is referring to the elect of Israel as individuals, all of whom will be saved. (3 Ans, p.51)

But those habitual private interpreters who claim to be leaders of “God’s church” today, misinterpret much of prophecy. They generally have no correct understanding about the following for example —

“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant.” (Zeph. 2:1-5)

To them, these are dark sentences, not applicable to today’s world. Past history or some other false idea is applied here. But the Elijah messengers know very well what it means and also know what the following means —

“Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, and your spoil will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations to battle against Jerusalem; The city shall be taken, the houses rifled, and the women ravished. Half of the city shall go into captivity, but the remnant of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as He fights in the day of battle. And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley; Half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.” (Zech. 14:1-5)

But the message tells us very clearly when this gigantic war happens in the middle east over Israel, a  most startling and shocking worldwide event happens —

“..while the powers of earth are engulfed in a gigantic war, the wicked in the church shall be cut off, no more to pass through her.” (Tract 14, p.22)

The prophesied church purification happens throughout the Seventh-day Adventist church–Ezekiel 9! The very one that Ellen White spoke of as follows —

“The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God. The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands: “Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eyespare, neither have ye pity: slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

Here we see that the church–the Lord’s sanctuary–was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God’s power as in former days. Times have changed.

These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord will not do good, neither will
He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus “Peace and safety” is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God’s people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.211)

So as that gigantic war is happening, in the midst of it, then the “great and dreadful day” will come. Great for the faithful, those who have “followed the Lamb wherever He goes” (Rev. 14:4) and dreadful for those who remained in the Laodicean lukewarm condition. They had failed to “sigh and cry over all the abominations done in the midst” (Ezek. 9:4)

Shocked and bewildered by the double whammy upon the world, the people, lead by the now confused religious leaders unite (“Hey we’re all confused — let’s unite and figure this out!”) and help to fulfill another one of the Elijah message’s prophesies–

“For, seeing Catholic set against Catholic, and Protestant against Protestant, in mortal combat, they will in dread fear be inspired to saddle the beast, and to re-establish the church as its driver in order to free themselves from the shackles of totalitarianism, and to safeguard Christianity. They will see victory in this stratagem, if it be denied them in war, for the very evident reason that many of the millions of communicants of these churches, in every army of the totalitarian states allied in the conflict, will honor the dictates of the church, above those of their respective governments. 

Such a combination of circumstances will result in a replication of the international church-and-state rule of the Middle Ages, and will relegate to the scrap heap the world’s finest instrument of human liberty – the divinely inspired Constitution of the United States of America.” (Tract 12, p54-55)

The “totalitarian” nations, ie Russia, China, Iran, Turkey, etc will be the victors in the Israel war BUT the religious leaders and USA government leaders will see only one way out– forced religion! Because of the world disasters hitting the world at one time, millions mysteriously slaughtered in the SDA church, Israel utterly destroyed to a large extent, they see the great interest in God and finding answers for these world-shaking events! Religion will take the World’s center stage!

“The warring nations are already divided into two distinct ideological camps: On the one side are the democratic governments, while on the other side are the totalitarian. If the latter continue successfully to prosecute their relentless conquest for world-dominion and sovereignty, the only victorious way out for the Christian nations, as they humanly view their plight, will be to surrender their power to the church.” (Tract 12, p.54)

Instead of the vast held belief that the current Jews there now will make up the end time headquarters, after this war takes place, an obscure people which very few have heard of, the 144,000, will come forth. They had been ridiculed, scorned, and in many cases kicked out of the very churches they loved! Davidian Seventh-day Adventists are what they were known as. Just as in the days of Elijah they pleaded with their own people to awake and stop following false leaders yet few took heed!

“In concluding this narrative, I would say that we are living in a most solemn time. In the last vision given me, I was shown the startling fact that but a small portion of those who now profess the truth will be sanctified by it and be saved. Many will get above the simplicity of the work. They will conform to the world, cherish idols, and become spiritually dead. The humble, self-sacrificing followers of Jesus will pass on to perfection, leaving behind the indifferent and lovers of the world.” (Testimonies, vol. 1, p.608-609)

But what a time that will be! Israel will blossom before the world and “signs and wonders” shall captivate the world! The Lord will come on the stage! Just as in the days of coming out of Egypt He will be active in His people’s work.

“‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, “This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited. Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.” (Ezek. 36: 33-36)

Zech. 1:14-17, 20, 21 — “So the angel that communed with me said unto me, Cry thou, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; I am jealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with a great jealousy. And I am very sore displeased with the heathen that are at ease: for I was but a little displeased, and they helped forward the affliction. Therefore thus saith the Lord; I am returned to Jerusalem with mercies: My house shall be built in it, saith the Lord of hosts, and a line shall be stretched forth upon Jerusalem.

Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem…. And the Lord shewed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do? And He spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.”

“Obviously one part of the Gentile nations shall come against the part that is in the Holy Land, and chase them out to make room for God’s people. Then will the Lord’s feet stand on Mount Olives and the Mount shall cleave in the midst thereof and make therein a very great valley. Thus shall the Lord open the way for His people to flee there to the “valley” where the Lord’s feet stand, and all the saints with them (Zech. 14:4, 5).

This truth, you see, supersedes all truths, for without it your other truths will not profit you, will not take you into the Kingdom. It is the last mile of all the miles of our faith through life that takes us Home. We have gone this long; let us, therefore, keep on going right on to glory land, which is no longer beyond the horizon. The mile ahead is indeed the last mile that will take us Home. ” (2 TG, no.44, p.50-51)


The very next big event to take place in our world will be the gigantic war over Israel. The current situation over there is very tense and all the big armament nations are in the area. As soon the Lord issues His decree, the war will begin. Are we ready? If we are a part of God’s church today–the Seventh-day Adventist church, we had better be! For the world (the irreligious and false religions too!), there is hope as the “Loud Cry”  given by the 144,000 with headquarters based in the restored holy land, will call into her the “great multitude which no man could number.”(Rev. 7:9)

A beautiful chart is shown giving the timeline of events soon to come —

 

For those who would like to enlarge this chart, copy it and take it to your email and paste there to view.

Color code: Orange–Lord speaking, Blue — Bible or SOP speaking, Brown– Elijah message brought by Victor Houteff  Red — Highlighted noteworthy areas of importance 

Posted in End times, Ezekiel, Final Events | Leave a Comment »

SHINTOISM AND NON-PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY

November 16, 2019

TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF,
MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTS
SABBATH, FEBRUARY 7, 1948
MT. CARMEL CHAPEL
WACO, TEXAS

TEXT FOR PRAYER

“Bring Forth Fruit”

I shall read from “Christ’s Object Lessons,” pg. 60, the first two paragraphs:

“God bids us fill the mind with great thoughts, pure thoughts. He desires us to meditate upon His love and mercy, to study His wonderful work in the great plan of redemption. Then clearer and still clearer will be our perception of truth, higher, holier, our desire for purity of heart and clearness of thought. The soul dwelling in the pure atmosphere of holy thought will be transformed by communion with God through the study of the Scriptures.

“‘And bring forth fruit.’ Those who, having heard the word, keep it, will bring forth fruit in obedience. The word of God, received into the soul, will be manifest in good works. Its results will be seen in a Christlike character and life. Christ said of Himself, ‘I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart.’ ‘I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me.’ And the Scripture says, ‘He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.'”

What shall we now pray for? — Pray for power to enable us to meditate upon His love and mercy and thus cause our perception of Truth to become higher and holier; pray to realize that the soul that dwells in the atmosphere of holy thought is transformed; pray to learn by experience that the Word of God received into the soul, does manifest Itself in good works.

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 12

SHINTOISM AND NON-PROGRESSIVE CHRISTIANITY

Our text for this afternoon’s study is found in–

Jer. 10:23 — “O Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.”

In this verse we are told that the way man should go is not in himself, that he of himself does not know how to direct his steps. Someone else must direct them if he is to go in the right direction. For this very reason God’s people are led by a prophet and are preserved by a prophet. (Hos. 12:13.) So it was that through the medium of the prophets God led and preserved the Church of the Old Testament, and by the same Spirit He founded, led, and has to this day preserved the New Testament Church, although the spirit that rebelled against God’s leadership anciently, is still in the Church today.

Naturally men are unconscious of the fact that they cannot direct their own steps even after God starts them out as a father starts out his little son. We should never forget that when God’s ancient people rejected the prophets, including John the Baptist, Jesus Christ, and the Apostles, when He could no longer lead them, their feet slipped in every direction,

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 13

they fell from grace and lost everything. Only the followers of the prophets remained with God and they only composed the Christian church in its beginning. No other than God did direct their steps into the Church.

Let us take another example: The world at large today, with but a few exceptions, is Buddhist, Mohammedan, or Christian. Two-thirds of the world’s population is still following in the steps of Buddha, who lived about 550 years before Christ. Think of it! Two-thirds, a little less than a billion of the world’s inhabitants are still followers of Buddha!

And who was Buddha? What kind of a man was he — good or bad? Was he a deceiver or was he a teacher of righteousness?

To find the answer, let us first take into consideration the kind of people he was in contact with. He was not in touch with the Hebrews, nor with the Christians, but only with degraded people of the Orient. And those who did not come in contact with Buddha’s teachings, — those of the south sea islands in particular — are to a large extent still cannibals.

Taking these facts into consideration before passing judgment we may ask, What did Buddha deceive his followers from? — From nothing is the overall answer. And what did he lead them to? History gives this answer; “What he taught the people was that they should seek salvation not through the observance of religious rites and ceremonies, but through honesty and purity of heart, through charity and tenderness and compassion toward all creatures that have life.” — “General History,” p. 66.

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 14

Since Buddha’s kind of teaching certainly does not come from the Devil, and since he led his followers from bad to better, he could not have been a deceiver. Buddha, moreover, not only taught good morals, but, if history is reliable, he himself lived up to what he taught. Finally, in keeping with his great influence he could have been a rich man, but he died poor. And if standards of living have any virtues at all, Buddha’s standards, if lived up to, could have lifted the people of the Orient higher than the level of many so-called Christians in our day.

Buddha therefore appears to have been a preacher of righteousness in his day, for his standard of behaviour was practically the standard of the ten commandments, the standards of the Bible. Where did he get such a standard? Certainly not from the Devil. We may now ask the question, Was God in Buddha’s day interested only in the Hebrew nation? Did He entirely neglect the rest of the world? And did He deliberately permit a third of the earth’s inhabitants to be led by Buddha from bad to worse? or did He see that they be led from bad to better?

There is but one answer that we can honestly and wisely give: That God through Buddha did for the heathen that which could not have been done through Moses or through any of the Hebrew prophets.

Comparatively speaking, God through Buddha raised the heathen from the pit in which they were as many inches up, as Moses raised the Hebrew’s from the pit in which they were. The Hebrews, of course, rose much closer to God than the followers of Buddha because the pit in which Buddha found the heathen was much deeper than the pit in which Moses found the Hebrew nation.

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 15

Buddha himself never thought that after his death he would be worshipped as a god by his followers — no, no more than the prophets, the Apostles, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, thought they would be worshipped after their death.

You can now see that while Buddha was directing the steps of his people, the people were led closer to the standards of the Bible and to the ideals of Christ than they were before his day. Since this is so, then Buddha was not a deceiver.

As soon as Buddha died, though, his followers ran against a wall as it were, and their progress toward God, the Bible, and Christ, stopped where Buddha stopped. Indeed they could not have advanced further for they made the death of Buddha become their block against progress toward God. How did they do it?–

It is a known fact that when people give credit of a Divine deed to a finite being, then their hope of another as great, or greater ever coming to help them is forever gone. They do not believe that God lives, that he will raise another even greater to lead them further, but believe that there is no need of another and no need for more Truth. Consequently as they do not expect another, when one comes they reject him. Thus the Buddhists put a stop to their spiritual progress. So you see that when the light that is in you becomes darkness, “How great is that darkness!” Matt. 6:23.

Judging from the experiences of the past, the freedom of a nation and the assassin’s bullet this year are likely to bring forth another god — Mohandus K. Gandhi. He is likely to become the Buddha of today. Yes, the Hindu millions are already giving to Mr. Gandhi the

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 16

credit for all his good and Godly deeds.

He, like Buddha, certainly was a good man, with high standards and good morals, the standards and morals of the Bible and of Jesus Christ.

This brings us to another hard question to answer — Since Gandhi lived in the Christian era why did he not become Christian? — Perhaps he would have, but I suppose he took into account that to become a Christian and join the Christian church would lower rather than lift his standard of behaviour.

As he saw it, it looked to him that a so-called Christian nation was sapping the blood of his people, that she was abusing and treating them as inferior human beings. In fact, he himself, for his stand on national decency and national freedom spent about twelve years in jail. These are the things that most likely kept Mr. Gandhi from joining the Christian church and people. He certainly did not turn away from Christianity to avoid any sacrifices, or to indulge in any sin.

Gandhi’s theory, moreover, for freedom by non-violence, by neither sword nor gun, succeeded and freed over 400,000,000 people who had been servants of the strong for nearly 200 years! This he accomplished while the Christians were killing one another by the thousands! These are some of the things which most likely kept Mr. Gandhi from becoming a Christian.

Let us now for a moment consider Mohammed, to whom something like 220,000,000 people bow. What kind of man was he? Was he a deceiver? or was he a teacher of righteousness? — Let us also consider

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 17

the people who were taught by him. They were the descendants of Lot and Abraham, — Moabites, Esauites, and Ishmaelites, etc., all of them bitter enemies of the Hebrews, and their religion.

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

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

1. Belief in God, who is without beginning or end, the sole Creator and Lord of the universe, having absolute power, knowledge, glory, and perfection.
2. Belief in his angels, who are impeccable beings, created of light.
3. Belief in good and evil Jinn (genii), who are created of smokeless fire, and are subject to death.
4. Belief in the Holy Scriptures, which are his uncreated word revealed to the prophets. Of these there now exist, but in a greatly corrupted form, the Pentateuch, the Psalms, and the Gospels; and in an uncorrupted and incorruptible state the Koran, which abrogates and surpasses all preceding revelations. (See Koran.)
5. Belief in Gods prophets and apostles, the most distinguished of whom are Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Mohammed. Mohammed

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 18

is the greatest of them all, the last of the prophets and the most excellent of the creatures of God.
6. Belief in a general resurrection and final judgment, and in future rewards and punishments, chiefly of a physical nature.
7. The belief, even to the extent of fatalism, of God’s absolute foreknowledge and predestination of all events both good and evil.” — “Twentieth Century Cyclopedia,” p. 507.

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

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

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

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

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 19

Are we still inquiring why God permitted Mohammed to teach his religion to millions of the earth’s inhabitants? And do we still wonder why he did not become a Christian? — If so, here is a second answer: God permitted him because Mohammed was making the people better than they were, and because Mohammedanism in that day brought one closer to the religion of the Bible than could have paganized Christianity. But why are the Mohammedans still Mohammedans? — Mohammedans are still Mohammedans, for the same reason that Buddhists are still Buddhists; that is, because after Mohammed died, they did just what the Buddhists did: In the progress of religion the Mohammedans stopped where Mohammed stopped — at his tomb.

They stopped there to make sure that their followers would never join another sect. They taught the people that there was to be no other prophet, that Mohammed was the last, that there was no need for another, that they had all the Truth to lead them to the pearly gates. Thus corrupt Mohammedanism drilledthis false idea into the minds of the common people then, and still more corrupted Mohammedanism of today, like all other sects, including corrupt Adventism, still does the same. Thus it is that no sect as a people, but only as individuals, has ever accepted an additional message and this is the reason for the multi-sectarian world.

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

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 20

Davidian Seventh-day Adventists? The overall answer is that each successive denomination has failed to keep pace with the progress of Truth because each has failed to climb higher than the height of the founder of each respective denomination could possibly have led them in his life time.

The Jews never rose higher than the height to which Moses led them. When Moses died, they as it were died with him so far as spiritual progress was concerned. Thus it was that they rejected and killed the prophets that came after Moses, not sparing the Son of God.

The same spirit prevailed in the Christian church. She never rose above the level on which the Apostles left her, and for a time she even fell almost to the bottom of the pit. And she would have dropped out had God not again visited His people in the persons of Luther, Knox, Wesley, Campbell and the other reformers, through whom the Lord brought to light certain parts of Bible Truth that had long been trampled under foot.

But did the Christian world as a whole see the Light? And did all walk in It? No, indeed not, not as a people, but only as individuals. This is what accounts for the present multi-sectarian world; that is, as it became necessary for Christ to organize a new church, the Christian, separate from the mother church, the Jewish, in His day, just so the reformers found themselves cast out from the mother churches, and necessarily were obliged to organize the followers of advancing Truth into a new denomination, one after another.

In this light, you see the spirit which keeps the Jews still Jews, the Buddhists still Buddhists, the Mohammedans still Mohammedans, the Catholics still Catholics, the Lutherans still Lutherans, the

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 21

Methodists still Methodists, the Baptists still Baptists — the very same spirit is today working within our own denomination, the Seventh-day Adventists, presumptuously believing that they are rich and increased with goods, in need of nothing more. It, too, thinks that its dead founder was the last in the line of the prophets, that there is no need of another. It feels certain that the light and energy in its ship, Zion, is sufficient to take it to the shore of the Kingdom, though they well know that their message, the Judgment for the Dead is not the last, but that the Judgment for the Living, the which they do not yet have, is the last!

This spirit of sliding back rather than going forward, of opposing spiritual growth, and at the same time fostering the spirit of lukewarmness, is successfully working with many in spite of the fact that the prophecies of the Bible which point to our day, are to them still mysteries. They care not to know them.

There is therefore yet a great work to be done, not only for all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples, but for the Church herself, if any are to be saved from the coming doom. According to Jeremiah’s prophecy, corrupt Christianity is nothing short of a form of Shintoism:

Jer. 10:1-5 — “Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot

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do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.”

The widely used Christmas tree, on the 25th of December — a tree cut down from its source of life and fastened up by nails — does not symbolize a birth, but rather one’s death and a futile effort to make him live. By cutting down the tree, to the heathen it symbolized their dead chief, and by propping it up, it symbolized life though one be dead. Now the fact that the spurious Christmas tree is widely celebrated not only by Christians, but also by non-Christians, the world by this act is worshiping the dead, a form of Shintoism. Worshiping the dead prophets and killing the living ones, is a brutal effort to block the progress of Truth, to deceive self and others.

Finally, had it not been for the fact that some wide-awake ones throughout the ages have dared take up their cross and follow God through His prophets in order to be led from one height of Truth to another, the world would not have stood this long.

There is no doubt, the Church from creation till today has been led and preserved by the prophets, and she can continue in no other way from here on.

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 26, page 23

 

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Special Video and Audio Presentations

November 9, 2019

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In these very last days, the Lord has pulled out all stops to reach His people before the  ‘great and dreadful day of the Lord”. As we have reported so many times in our blog, the Lord is first to perform the following in front of the world —

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? “( 1 Peter 4:17)

Thus it behooves us Seventh-day Adventists to “get down to business” in the Lord’s vineyard if we want to be part of the last great work God has for His people. In this light, we have compiled some of the best videos and audios in existence, that help with different areas of the Lord’s final message (Ejiah message –Mal. 4:5-6). Please sit back, relax on your favorite chair or sofa and watch “meat in due season” and be blessed!

1 —  “The 144,000 who are they?”  (AUDIO)

This audio will always have a special place in my heart. It is the presentation the Lord sent me that began my knowledge of His last message back in May of 2011. Compiled by the Davidian SDA organization  “Mountain Dale” of New York.

2 —   “The Great Image of Daniel 2 ” (VIDEO)

Absolutely one of the best and in-depth videos on Daniel 2 in existence. Again, this is by Mt. Dale and although they don’t produce many videos, this one will enlighten you to know what Daniel 2 prophecy is all about. This presentation is 4 parts.

3 —  “Why Stand Ye Idle” A Sermon by brother Decarius (VIDEO)

Brother Decarius has been a long-time worker in the Lord’s vineyard and is with the DSDA group –Waco organization. We have not heard a sermon like this often and the Holy Spirit surely was guiding in this most helpful “how to” sermon, on today’s work in His vineyard.

4 —  “Who is Victor Houteff and the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists?”  (VIDEO)

One of our own YouTube channels. We heard from the Lord last year that there needed to be a good basic video explaining simply about Victor and the DSDA. Many are not truly knowledgeable about them, due to the fact that the SDA leaders have for years spread falsehood and distortion about them. You will have a good basic understanding of them from this presentation.

5 —  “Thy Kingdom Come”  (AUDIO)

An audio presentation that enlightens the knowledge of the pre-millennial kingdom based on the Lord’s prophetic word all throughout the Scriptures. It is to be set up in Israel for the final Loud Cry headquarters. Mt. Dale’s brother Anthony Hibbert breaks down this highly important teaching that is spoken of by so many of the prophets.

6 —  “The 4th Angel — Wonderful or Dangerous?” (VIDEO)

Another one of our YouTube presentations. We go into the subject of how the 4th Angel message is ignored and even dismissed largely by our SDA leaders. Evidence is brought to bear that there is a end time message from the Lord to His people, yet the SDA as a church body will declare it “dangerous” and not to be heeded.

7 —  “The Judgment and the Seven Seals” (VIDEO)

This video was made by the Waco organization, with brother Jimmy Kakouri as the speaker. Jimmy is gifted as a presenter of many YouTube videos on present truth. This study is excellent and explains much on the seven seals.

May you be blessed as you listen and watch these timely present truth presentations!

Posted in Daniel's Vision (chapter 2), Davidian Seventh Day Adventists, Our Lord's kingdom, Prophecy study, Revelation teachings, The 144, Victor T. Houteff, Who are the 144K? | Leave a Comment »

Understanding Progressive New Light (Part 2 of 2)

November 2, 2019

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In part 2 we’ll look at three areas where, if one surface reads what SOP says and then what the Rod says, they would possibly think one is error and one is truth. But we learned from part one that they can be reconciled because of the understanding of progressive new light.

The Spirit of Prophecy message brought by our prophetess Ellen White, did not have much light on the pre-millennial kingdom. One of  SOP’s quotes concerning this topic is as follows –

First example — (The Pre-Millennial Kingdom)

WILL OLD JERUSALEM BE REBUILT?

Question No. 43:

How do you reconcile “The Shepherd’s Rod” teaching that the Davidian Kingdom is again to be set up in Palestine, with “Early Writings,” pp. 75, 76: “Old Jerusalem never would be built up”?

Answer:

The context of the Early Writings’ statement reveals that it refers to the Jewish Zionist Movement, and it shows that the Movement’s avowed purpose to re-establish a national Jewish Homeland, centered in Jerusalem proper, will never be realized; that never will Old Jerusalem be rebuilt in accordance with the Zionist interpretation, and never will the non-Christian Jews be the subjects of the Kingdom. (See Tract No. 8, Mount Sion at the Eleventh Hour.) (Answerer, vol.2, Q-43)

But despite Ellen White not being given much light on this important Loud Cry headquarters, she still showed in other ways that God would establish it.

“That which God purposed to do for the world through Israel, the chosen nation, He will finally accomplish through His church on earth today. He has “let out His vineyard [714] unto other husbandmen,” even to His covenant-keeping people, who faithfully “render Him the fruits in their seasons.” Never has the Lord been without true representatives on this earth who have made His interests their own. These witnesses for God are numbered among the spiritual Israel, and to them will be fulfilled all the covenant promises made by Jehovah to His ancient people.”(PK, p.714)

One of the most repeated and surest covenant promises made by God , was the returning of the Holy Land to His people.

“The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.” (Jer. 30:1-3)

The Rod speaks many things about this kingdom, this was one of the primary reasons the Lord sent His Rod message (Micah 6:9)

For a study outline of the pre-millennial kingdom see this link —

http://www.shepherds-rod-message.org/outlines/kingdom.pdf

Second example — (Church judgment –Ezekiel 9)

There is sometimes the mistaken idea that our prophetess showed that Ezek. 9 takes place in the time of the plagues. She indeed does say that in one of her references but, again her limited light of the pre-millennium kingdom kept her from disclosing the final message of Elijah, which did have the blazing light on the kingdom and the church purification  (Ezek. 9).

SLAUGHTER BEFORE OR AFTER CLOSE OF PROBATION?

Question No. 145:

“If the slaughter of Ezekiel Nine takes place in the church before the close of probation, then why does ‘The Great Controversy’ p. 656 say: ‘Now all have made their decision; the wicked have fully united with Satan in his warfare against God…The mark of deliverance has been set upon those ‘that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done?’  Now the angel of death goes forth, represented in Ezekiel’s vision by the men with the slaughtering weapons, to whom the command is given….The work of destruction begins among those who have professed to be the spiritual guardians of the people.’

“Does not the above reference, which seems to place the slaughter of Ezekiel Nine after the close of probation, refute the teachings of ‘The Shepherd’s Rod’?”

Answer:

The query reveals that the questioner has not thoroughly studied or understood what “The Shepherd’s Rod” teaches, for “The Great Controversy” does not refute “The Shepherd’s Rod,” but rather strengthens it.  It has been proved that before the close of probation there are two “fruits,” the 144,000 and the great multitude (Revelation 7:9), to be separated at two different times–the former’s taking place before the close of probation while “the door is closed to those who would not enter,” and while “His hand is still stretched out to save.”  (“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 9, p. 97), thus showing, as does “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 3, p. 266, that the sealing of the hundred and forty-four thousand is the closing work for the church, whereas the sealing work for the great multitude is the closing work for the world. 

Thus, while, in the time of God’s destructive judgments before the close of probation, the door is closed to one class, it is open to another class for whom “His hand is still stretched out to save,” clearly showing that probation closes first for the tares in the church.  Moreover, as the time is that of God’s destructive judgments–the separation of the tares from the wheat–the slaughter of Ezekiel Nine is that which severs the wicked from among the just. (Matt. 13:49.)

Therefore, as there are two separations, there is a double fulfillment of Ezekiel’s slaughter: one in the church before the close of probation, and the other in the worldly churches after the close of probation, when everyone has made his decision.  The unfaithful spiritual guardians, or the false watch-men, of the people are the first to fall in the worldly churches, just as the “ancient men” who are in the S.D.A. church are the first to fall.  (“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, p. 211.)  This is the only explanation that will harmonize every statement on this subject found in the Spirit of Prophecy and in the Bible. (Vol. 3   Symbolic Code   No. 1. page 8.

IS THE SLAUGHTER OF EZEKIEL NINE LITERAL?

Question No. 25:

“The Shepherd’s Rod” teaches that the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 is literal. Could it not be a destruction such as is caused by so-called “acts of God”–earthquakes, famines, pestilences, the seven last plagues, or the like?

Answer:

The five agents that destroy the wicked in the church are not forces of nature but men with slaughter weapons in their hands. They are supernatural beings, not natural elements. Hence they cannot fittingly represent earthquakes, famines, or the like.

Neither can they be the seven angels with the seven last plagues, for these angels are seven in number, not five. Furthermore, they do not have “slaughter weapons” in their hands, but vials. Still further, the plagues fall in Babylon (Rev. 18:4), whereas the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 takes place in Judah and Israel (Ezek. 9:9).

Ezekiel 9, whether literal or figurative, effects a separation between the good and the bad, the tares and the wheat, in the church (Judah and Israel), just as the plagues finally do in Babylon (Rev. 18:4). And as the plagues are literal, then how can the slaughter be any less literal?

The angel with the writer’s inkhorn is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who sigh and cry for the abominations, then the destroying angels are to slay both old and young (Ezek. 9:4-6).

“The church–the Lord’s sanctuary,” is “the first to feel the stoke of the wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light, and who had stood as guardians, of the spiritual interests of the people, had betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for miracles and the marked manifestations of God’s power as in former days. Times have changed.

These words strengthen their unbelief and they say, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil. He is too merciful to visit his people in judgment. Thus peace and safety is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God’s people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs, that would not bark, are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children, all perish together.”–Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211.

As in The Great Controversy, p. 656, only an indirect parallel can be drawn between the slaughter of Ezekiel 9 and the falling of the plagues, because a common end (death) befalls both the wicked in the church of Laodicean and the wicked in the churches of Babylon. And only those who say, “We need not look for miracles and the marked manifestation of God’s power as in former days,” think the slaughter is not literal. (Answerer, vol. 2, p.43)

So we see that Ellen White’s limited light on the subject was later expanded upon, in the form of His promised Elijah message. Let us remember that the last message of Elijah was to be as the type — a message to go strictly to God’s people. A message to warn them of judgments to come to the House of God first (1 Peter 4:17).

Third example — (Jacob’s time of trouble)

This subject has probably the most divergent teachings between SOP and the Rod. But once again, we know that they are reconcilable when we remember SOP’s limited light on the pre-mil kingdom. Progressive light beautifully adds and expands this doctrinal teaching.

This subject is based on the following Scripture —

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jer 30:7)

SOP has many references about this trouble, here are a couple important references about it —

 

“Jacob’s experience during that night of wrestling and anguish represents the trial through which the people of God must pass just before Christ’s second coming. The prophet Jeremiah, in holy vision looking down to this time, said, “We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. . . . All faces are turned into paleness. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:5-7.

When Christ shall cease His work as mediator in man’s behalf, then this time of trouble will begin. Then the case of every soul will have been decided, and there will be no atoning blood to cleanse from sin. When Jesus leaves His position as man’s intercessor before God, the solemn announcement is made, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11.

Then the restraining Spirit of God is withdrawn from the earth. As Jacob was threatened with death by his angry brother, so the people of God will be in peril from the wicked who are seeking to destroy them. And as the patriarch wrestled all night for deliverance from the hand of Esau, so the righteous will cry to God day and night for deliverance from the enemies that surround them.

…Such will be the experience of God’s people in their final struggle with the powers of evil. God will test their faith, their perseverance, their confidence in His power to deliver them. Satan will endeavor to terrify them with the thought that their cases are hopeless; that their sins have been too great to receive pardon. They will have a deep sense of their shortcomings, and as they review their lives their hopes will sink.

But remembering the greatness of God’s mercy, and their own sincere repentance, they will plead His promises made through Christ to helpless, repenting sinners. Their faith will not fail because their prayers are not immediately answered. They will lay hold of the strength of God, as Jacob laid hold of the Angel, and the language of their souls will be, “I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me.”(Patriarch and Prophets, p.201-203)

“When Christ stands up, and leaves the most holy place, the time of trouble commences, the case of every soul is decided, and there will be no atoning blood to cleanse from sin and pollution…Those who live in the last days must pass through an experience similar to that of Jacob. Foes will be all around them, ready to condemn and destroy.” (Signs of the Times, Nov.27, 1879)

There is no doubt that SOP describes this time of trouble after close of probation. We should also remember that EGW had much more light on the “second fruits” than what would happen to the first fruits (144,000) because she was not able to relate their final destination here on earth–the pre-mil kingdom in the Holy Land. So in that limited light, it appears that she is describing JTT for the second fruits, the Great Multitude (Rev. 7:9).

The Rod backs this summation up —

 

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, p.66-67)

But the Lord’s Rod message speaks about this JTT  —

Jer. 30:4-6 — “And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.  For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.  Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child?  wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?”

The cause of the fear here forecast is fundamentally needless and unnecessary, declares the Lord.

Jer. 30:7 — “Alas!  for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.”

The people that have come to this antitypical time of trouble are returning to the homeland, are comforted.  Apparently it is bad enough to frighten all, but God’s encouraging counsel is, “Fear not.”

   Plainly, the burden of this chapter is concerning the antitypical returning to the homeland.  Though terrible the trouble may seem, yet the outcome of it is to be the same as in the type. (Timely Greetings, volume 1, no.47, p.14)

The message clearly shows that the first and primary application of the JTT, is the 144,000 on their way home to the Holy Land, the pre-mil kingdom. Our type (Jacob) was going to the land of promise, and the latter-day application shall also show the saints experiencing this trouble on their way to God’s kingdom promised in the Holy land at the end of time.

Thus we have seen three examples of progressive light that expand our knowledge of God’s final plans for His people. May you continue to study His word knowing that the light comes progressively and that all the prophets spoke the truth but were later expanded upon to give the particular “present truth” for us today. We serve a wonderful God that gives details to be shown when we can know them and benefit from them! Amen.

 

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, Jacob's Time of Trouble, Our Lord's kingdom, Present Truth, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »