Archive for January, 2020

Where’s the Beef?

January 25, 2020

Image result for Clara Peller where's the beef

As many of us remember, there was an all-time 1984 classic commercial that aired around the country from Wendy’s fast food chain. Clara Peller was shocked and amazed that what she ordered, what she wanted, was not there except a tiny portion. 

Much like Clara’s amazement and disappointment, we as truth-seekers, often come away from our Sabbath sermons asking the same question –where’s the beef? How come I don’t feel fed? In other words, where’s the thought-provoking, heart-stirring, even solemn messages from our pulpits today?

To be clear, SOP states–

“There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is “present truth” that the flock needs now.” (EW, p.63)

So let us look into our present leaders, our shepherds as it were, and what they are really doing from the pulpit.

In order to relate to our subject, let me tell of my personal history as a preacher from the pulpit.

When I first came into the Sabbath truth, naturally I was led to the SDA church. Slowly but surely I developed friends within it and soon the pastor took me under his wings, so to speak. God, of course, was directing all this, the great All-Seeing One.

I told the  pastor of how I became an Adventist, the sign given me that first Sabbath, and he became excited and said, “Brother Rob, how about you going up in front of the church and telling your story?”

Of course, I accepted as my excitement was still very fresh and I wanted my new church family to know what great things God has done. Taken me, a heathen through and through, into His marvelous light!

So a couple weeks later I was asked to speak during the sermon address. The pastor began his sermon and soon led it into introducing me to share my story. Not really experienced in public speaking, I went up in full faith that I could do it and bring glory to God. Yes, I was nervous, rarely looking straight into the crowd, but the Spirit led and the story was well-received.

But little did I know God was getting me ready for much more public speaking and presentations on a yet to be created, the worldwide viewing platform called YouTube.

The first “sermon” had been a success, and soon the head elder asked me to go up and give the short “pre-Sabbath School” talk. This was exciting and I enjoyed it, particularly because it was my chance to expound upon the Scriptures.

This worked out very well for a few months. But around this time, on that fateful day May 21, 2011, I discovered the life-changing Elijah message of the Lord. So naturally, I embarked on a new direction, Scripture that was only dark sentences to me such as —

“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)

Now became clear and understandable. The “when and how”  now was seen. So towards the end of my short lived SDA public speaking career, I started to speak of “present truth”. I was careful not to mention “The Rod” or “Shepherd’s Rod” as I learned that this would be rejected by the leaders and labeled “heresy” “false doctrine”, etc. putting my position as an SDA in “good standing” in jeopardy.

But the last day I spoke in the pre-Sabbath School talk, I was led to be particularly straight and solemn. I don’t remember all that I said but I do remember the following Scripture spoken —

“You will leave your name for my chosen ones to use in their curses; the Sovereign LORD will put you to death, but to his servants he will give another name.” (Isaiah 65:15)

This no doubt shook up some in attendance that day. But let us remember the words of the prophetess –

“There is nothing in the popular ministry that stirs the wrath of Satan, makes the sinner tremble, or applies to the heart and conscience, the fearful realities of a judgment soon to come.” (EW, p.273)

But after this last presentation, the head elder later told me “Brother Rob, we were very blessed by your speech today, we need to get you up there again next week.”

But Satan’s workers were there that day and they “trembled” at the straight solid testimonies. A certain woman came up after the talk and asked “what is your name?” I told her and she walked away in a huff. No doubt to inform the Pastor of the straight testimony.

Sure enough later that week I get a call from the Pastor asking me to come into his office before Sabbath service starts the next Sabbath. Long story short they inquired if I was a “Shepherd’s Rod” believer. “Of course” I responded, “why aren’t you guys?” The Pastor had tricked me into thinking it would be a one to one talk, but instead, he had invited the head Deacon and one of the Elders into his office to “warn” me as well.

Sad to say, the spiritual “food” the Spirit was leading me to give the members, many who outright showed much appreciation, was to no longer be dispensed from the pulpit anymore. For Satan had once again blocked the way for  God’s people to be fed!

The SOP again gives us great counsel —

“Ministers who are preaching present truth should not neglect the solemn message to the Laodiceans. The testimony of the True Witness is not a smooth message. The Lord does not say to them, You are about right; you have borne chastisement and reproof that you never deserved; you have been unnecessarily discouraged by severity; you are not guilty of the wrongs and sins for which you have been reproved.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.257)

“…books and papers that contain little of present truth are exalted and men are becoming too wise to follow a ‘Thus saith the Lord.’…many of the watchmen are asleep. They are as the blind leading the bind. Yet the day of the Lord is right upon us. As a thief it is coming with stealthy tread, and it will take unawares all who are not watching. Who among our teachers are awake, and as faithful stewards of the grace of God are giving the trumpet a certain sound?” — (Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 166)

“What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God is a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and his testimony must be correct.” — (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 252, 253.)

The Lord’s Rod also has great counsel —

“Unquestionably the time has come for all church members to realize that they are now passing from Christian childhood into Christian maturity, and should, therefore, no longer try to reach the stature of the full grown by continuing to feed on the food of babes.  Hence each one, even the younger members (the born after the flesh), can now be enabled to recognize their spiritual parents, so as intelligently to say, “my Father and my Mother”: for to know their God aright through the Son, and to know their church aright through timely Truth, is what brings life eternal.  And as each assimilates the “strong meat,” he will thereby become wise and strong “to refuse the evil and choose the good.”

Of necessity, therefore, the “special work” for  the church, predicted in The Great Controversy, page 425, has been ordained to bring every honest member to Christian maturity.

Accordingly, also the two foods which Immanuel was to eat in order to “refuse the evil, and choose the good” must be symbolical; for butter and honey in themselves possess no virtue or efficacy to transmit moral discernment, vitalize the will, and purify the heart. 

Besides, He ate of all lawful foods in general (Matt. 11:19).  These two points therefore witness that the “butter and honey”, are symbolical of the Scriptures unfolded — “meat in due season,” — the only food that gives one the knowledge and the will to do right instead of wrong.  Thus Christ said: “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” John 4:32.  Hence, the Christian who would truly know his God and his church in order to be emptied of evil and be filled with the good, must now feed on Present Truth, — the progressive Truth of the living Word revealed through Inspiration. (For the interpretation of the remainder of Isaiah seven, see our Tract No. 6.)” (Tract 14, p.38-39)

The Scriptures as well —

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” ( 2 Tim. 4:3-4)

In closing, is it no wonder that many SDA church members are lethargic and lazy in their spiritual lives? Their food each week, instead of being nourishing, is causing them spiritual degeneration. The real truth seekers want more.

Let us be now firmly aware  –there is a reason you are reading a blog like this, or watching a YouTube video. You want “real food” that satisfies your soul and the Lord is now working through these channels and we praise His name!

They no longer have to say “Where’s the Beef?”

One of our Videos —

 

Posted in Present Truth, Proper teachings, The Spirit of truth, Truth telling vs. lying, Warning our brethren | Leave a Comment »

The 144,000 Truth (Part 3 of 3)

January 18, 2020

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In part 3 , we’ll look at 5 often used references that show how the great adversary tries to “confuse, becloud and cover up the Truth, especially on the subject of the 144,000.”

1 — Tract 9, p.56

“To Gather a Class Defiled With Women, A Second Fruits.

This class of saints must be those who have at one time been married to some unchristian mistress, a heathen church, and who consequently are not descendants of either Jacob or the Christian church. So there are to be two harvests — one from the church and one from the world: the record of the former, mentions only Israelites, the 144,000, those not defiled with women, though it does not say that there may not be others; while the record of the latter, however, definitely embraces a “great multitude” from all nations which must necessarily be both of undefiled and defiled ones — Jews and Gentiles.”

In this reference the key area that is focused on “though it does not say that there may be others.” Here they point to it, saying “see, there may be others with the 144,000.” But let us be close reasoners and logical thinkers, aptly concentrating on the context of what is said.

The title shows it is discussing the “Class defiled with Women, A Second Fruits.” Thus our context is shown.

Then we see that this class was “married”  to an unchristian mistress, a heathen church. Although the first fruit harvest produces the descendants (Israelites) it says that “it does not say that there may not be others”, other Israelites that will be found saved since the GM will include “both of undefiled and defiled ones — Jews and Gentiles.”

But let us step back and see the giant hole which the “those with living” place themselves into when they use this reference as “proof.”

They are claiming that more than 144,000 Israelites get sealed from the first fruit harvest in the church, these are their  “those with” and are saved in the church judgment.

Ah, but look what they are doing. They are ultimately claiming the Lord absent-mindedly forgot to add these Israelites in Rev. 7! In other words, when the Lord made meticulous accounting of 12,000  from each tribe from our SDA church, certain Israelites from the tribes were forgotten and unaccounted for but are nevertheless sealed! Blasphemy! Revelation 22:18-19 ignored and broken.

2 — Symbolic Code, vol. 2, no, 5- 6, p.8

“All that are found members of the church up to the fulfillment of Ezekiel Nine will either receive the seal and be a part of or with the 144,000, or else be left without the seal and fall under the “slaughter weapons” of the “five men.”

The questions to be asked concerning this reference is — Who can truly “find” all the members of the SDA church?

Can a human being locate and find them? Or is it the Great All-Knowing One? The answer is obvious.

Is it just the living up to Ezekiel 9, that is considered to be or have been an SDA member?

Inspiration answers —

“..having one’s name on the church books does not assure anyone of being saved. Having your name written in the books of heaven is what counts. Your acceptance of the truth and a desire to comply with all the requirements which the message provides, is what secures your membership in the church of the redeemed.” (1 SC, no.11-12, p.9)

Thus when we see what Inspiration is truly saying the statement makes complete and unambitious sense! In harmonizes with the 20 prior statements  we showed in report no. 2.

Therefore EGW , VTH and the faithful pioneers still have their names in the books in heaven when Ezekiel 9 takes place. They are considered by the Lord as His people, His members that are STILL alive (just sleeping) and on the books of His church.

3 — Answerer, vol. 4, p.35, Q-92

“In the final analysis, however, it is neither the Rod’s purpose nor its intent to say just how many wise and how many foolish there will be in this first-fruit harvest, for when the whole truth is made known, the figure of the “five wise virgins,” besides comprehending the 144,000 from the tribes of Israel, may be found to include a considerable number from the Gentile nations.”

A key to knowing what is said here, we believe, is the words “when the whole truth is made known”. This can only be after probation for the first fruit harvest, when the final analysis can be made, the final number disclosed as the symbolical “five wise virgins”.

So once we know the time it is referencing, we see that there may be other wise virgins from the Gentile nations found in the first fruit harvest. How and where could these be found, you ask? The very next Q and A answers it!

 

“Question No. 93:

Although I am not a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, yet since I have the light on Ezekiel 9 and on the truth of the 144,000, will I fall in the slaughter of the wicked if I do not fully accept and live up to the light? And, conversely, will I be subject to the enjoyment of the privileges of the 144,000 and be one of them if I obey all the light of this message?

Answer:

Even though you are not a member of the church, still you will be held accountable for the light which you have on the subject, for no one finds the truth accidentally, or sees it without the Holy Spirit’s aid.

By the same law of accountability or sacred responsibility, even though you may have come into the message only recently you can be eligible for the election of the 144,000 if you live up to the message that is to purify and seal them. Whether or not for a certainty, however, you will be one of them, we do not know, but if you are faithful to the message, you will at least be one with them. ” (Ans, vol.4, p.35-36)

Ah, the Lord’s truth gives us great light! Here we see that a NON-SDA believer who knows/lives the message of the Lord’s Rod may be found to be a wise virgin found in the first fruit harvest! He is from a Gentile nation, as it were. Thus the Rod, as it says, will only know what the total amount of wise and total amount of foolish  (those who have perished at the end of the first fruit harvest) virgins is, at the time ““when the whole truth is made known” and ” the final analysis” can be made!

Lastly concerning this reference, additional and substantive support that this is NOT saying there will be “others” who are sealed and escape the church judgment, apart from the 144,000,  is the “fact” statement the Rod published in the same year as reference no. 3 was published — 1944.

“Notwithstanding the fact that “in the closing work” for the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, only 144,000 are to be sealed, according to Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 266..” (Ans, vol. 3, p.54, Q- 54)

This above reference is perhaps the most weightful of all the “only 144,000” references, as the word “fact” is unmistakable and not able to be misinterpreted. Although, many have tried to explain away this clear statement! Satan’s handy workers doing their best to twist away God’s truth!

4 —  White House Recruiter, p.46

“As present-truth adherents in the first-fruit period, may God help us all, Brother Sister, to be either among or along with the first fruits, the 144,000. It is left to every one himself to determine his own destiny.”

Another reference they use to support their theories. But unfortunately for them, this one exposes one of their most often made errors and miscalculations — taking writings out of context!

 The message explains–

“Remember, too, that the practice of comparing statements stripped of the context is fundamentally disingenuous, and leads today to as many perversions and misapplications of truth as does the deliberate wresting practiced in Satan’s challenge to Christ.”  (Ans, vol. 1 p. 48, Q-3)

So with this in mind, let us view the context of the above statement. Here is the prior paragraph —

“But if you make your decision for the better, then you will receive God’s mark (Ezek. 9; Testimonies To Ministers, p. 445) in your foreheads, be accounted faultless before His judgment throne, and be privileged either to come up in the resurrection of Daniel 12:2, or to stand aforehand with the Lamb on Mount Zion (Rev. 14:1), thence to carry God’s message to all nations and bring all your brethren for an offering to “the house of the Lord.” Isa. 66:19, 20. You will become part of the first fruits, the nucleus, of the Kingdom Church, the token of the second fruits of the living, of those whom you subsequently bring in.”

Clearly, the “along with” in the context is the resurrected of Daniel 12:2. Thus we see once again that this reference just like all the others harmonizes with the 20 prior quotes. The two paragraphs blending nicely to complete the thought–wonderful!

5 —  Timely Greetings, vol. 2, no.4, p. 15

“Your knowledge of these things, though, will not benefit you if you do not make a desperate effort to be one of, or one with the 144,000. You, moreover, must have this extra oil in your vessels (Matt. 25:1-12) now while it is so freely dispensed. To get it later will not profit you, for the late comers will find the door closed. Their knocking on the door will only cause them to hear the Master say, “Depart from Me,” “I never knew you.” (Matt. 7:23). Indeed, you must immediately avail yourselves of this light-giving oil now while It is brought to your doors if It is to do you any good.”

Again, if we take the above statement at face value, we can view it as saying “others” are to be sealed and escape from the SDA church. Context once again proves invaluable to our understanding. 

The prior paragraph —

“This consolation, you note, is permanent. And since there are no sinners in It, it obviously, as shown elsewhere in our literature, is the result of the “Judgment in the house of God” (1 Pet. 4:17) — the Judgment for the Living, the purification of the church, the separation of the bad fish from the good (Matt. 13:47, 48), the cleansing of the sanctuary (Dan. 8:14) — the harvest of the firstfruits: the 144,000 that stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb (Rev. 14:1) — “the remnant.” Then follows the ingathering of the second fruits.”

Do we see who it is that survives the“Judgment in the house of God”? The 144,000! No one who has eyes to see and a mind to comprehend could fail to see that the top paragraph shows who is to be “one of.”

The “one with” is then understood to be who the Rod shows throughout the writings — those raised in the Daniel 12:2 resurrection, or the others from Gentile nations that come with.

Summary —

When brother Houteff was alive and proclaiming the message, who was he speaking to among his brethren and SDA members? The 144,000 Candidates, or the “those with”? Inspiration clearly was leading, and brother Houteff was indeed proclaiming the message AT THAT TIME to the candidates that would be the “those with”. We see this in hindsight so clearly now.

In total, from what we have gathered, there is about 10 to 12 references that mention “those with” in connection with the 144,000, which are routinely shown by the false proclaimers as “proof”. But there are close to 50 (maybe a lot more we haven’t found yet) that speak of “only” 144,00 getting sealed and escaping among the living at the church judgment. When asked why they fail to bring up the majority of references showing only 144,000, most are uncomfortably silent or try to change the subject!

It is folly to try to make the preponderance of the evidence harmonize with the minority. It must be the opposite. Sadly, this is the attempted ploy many of Satan’s workers try to use today.

Let there be no doubt,  Satan has infiltrated us as a people, to — “confuse, becloud and cover up the Truth, especially on the subject of the 144,000.”

But when we let the Spirit of Truth have His way with us, all the pieces come together. The big picture of truth is seen and understood. As we posted previously in our post about weighing the evidence, when one puts ALL the references on the table only ONE CLEAR understanding will be had.

Satan well knows that if he can get us to commit the eternal violation  (Rev. 22:18-19) he has secured our soul. This 144,000 truth is now his specialty, as seen by the many false proclaimers of “those with”,  and we dare not study this issue halfway, but study it with the attitude of it being a “life and death matter to all”!

…Its dominant doctrinal concern being the truth of the 144,000, and a correct understanding of it being a life-and-death matter to all, the Rod unfolds it from several different angles, each urging the Denomination to prepare for the glorious deliverance of the saints and against the inglorious destruction of the sinners as foretokened by the marking and slaying recorded in Ezekiel 9.” (SRod Tract, p.5-6)

“So the subject of the 144,000, with its interrelated subjects coming into clear, harmonious focus, shows that the eleventh-hour call for laborers in the Lord’s vineyard is now in progress, and that now is the time to “strive with all the power God has given us to be among the 144,000.” –– The Review and Herald, Mar. 9,1905. (SRod, vol. 1, pocket edition, p.16-17)

Posted in Delusion, The 144, Truth telling vs. lying, Who are the 144K? | Leave a Comment »

The 144,000 Truth (Part 2 of 3)

January 11, 2020

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In part 2 we will deal with the preponderance of evidence showing who gets sealed, how many, and who escapes the Ezekiel 9 church judgment. 

To begin we will look at just what does the message say about this all-important seal that we must have.

“WHAT IS THE SEAL?

Question No. 21:

What is the seal of God upon the foreheads of the 144,000 (Rev. 7:3)? Is it the Sabbath seal or something else?

Answer:

Being sealed in Christ “with that Holy Spirit of promise,” after having “heard the word of truth” (Eph. 1:13; 4:30), the saints are consequently sealed by Present Truth–the truth preached in their own day.

“The seal of the living God,” the Truth, by which the 144,000 are sealed (Rev. 7:2), is a special seal, being the same as “the mark” of Ezekiel 9. (See Testimonies to Ministers, p. 445; Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 267; Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211). It demands one’s sighing and crying over the abominations which defile him and which desecrate both the Sabbath and the house of God, especially against selling literature and raising goals during Sabbath services.

As the saints have this seal or mark on their foreheads, the angels will pass over them, not slay them. It is equivalent to the blood on the door post on the night of the Passover in Egypt. The angel is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who by sighing over their own sins, and over the sins in the house of God, show fidelity to the Truth. Then the destroying angels will follow, to slay utterly both old and young who have failed to receive the seal. (See Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 505.)

So, the former seal enables the receiver to rise from the dead in the resurrection of the just, while the latter seal enables the sighing-crying one to escape death and forever to live for God. ” (Answerer, vol. 2, p 31-33)

“Plainly, then, among God’s people those who fail to receive the seal, are, in the figure of the parable, represented by “tares,” and are appointed  unto destruction, whereas those who receive the seal and who escape the destruction, are symbolized by the “wheat,” and are destined for the barn — the kingdom.” (Matt. 13:30). (Tract 9, p.54-55)

Very obviously we as Adventists must have the seal in order to escape the judgment of God–this is so very clear! So let us now look at some extremely clear and unmistakable references from the Lord’s Rod message that speaks of who gets sealed and who escapes. After each reference, we shall take notice of the “others” and what happens to them. 

1 —

“I turned to look for the Advent people in the world, but could not find them, when a voice said to me, “Look again and look a little higher.” At this I raised my eyes, and saw a straight and narrow path, cast up high above the world. On this path the Advent people were traveling to the city, which was at the farther end of the path.”

“The living saints, 144,00 in number, knew and understood the voice, while the wicked thought it was thunder and a earthquake.”

“The 144,000 were all sealed and perfectly united. On their forehead was written, God, New Jerusalem, and a glorious start containing Jesus’ new name.”(EW, p.14-15)

Who gets sealed? The 144,000

From where? The SDA church

What of the others? They do not make it (fell off the path).

2 —

“The sealing of the 144,000 is the separation of the faithful from the disloyal ones; the purification of the church.  Those who do not keep the truth, and indulge in the sins and abominations, who try to throw a cloak over the existing evils, will fall under the figure of the five men with the slaughter weapons of Ezekiel 9.” (SRod , vol. 1, p.28)

What of the others? They are the disloyal ones and are separated from the 144,000.

3 —

“Those who cannot undergo the trial are laid in their grave, while 144,00 remain and will escape, but the balance in the church (now) shall perish in the ruin.” (SRod, vol. 1, p.219)

What of the others? They are the balance in the church who shall perish.

4 —

“Though such great apostasy and blasphemy has gripped the world, God’s church, 144,000 in number, scattered throughout the length and breadth of the earth without a shepherd, have not bowed a knee to Baal.  While Laodiceans are shaken out (spued) by destruction, God takes charge of the flock Himself.  Thus, the church and the message will triumph to the victory.” (SRod, vol.1. p.222)

What of the others?  They are shaken out by the destruction.

5 — 

“The living saints, 144,000 in number;” we must not conclude that only a part of the whole can constitute the number and yet be true, for the statement made by Inspiration cannot be contradicted for it reads “144,000 in number.”(SRod, vol.1, p.22)

  “Those who are sealed (marked) and escape the ruin are the ones who will constitute the number which prophecy declares to be 144,000.”(Ibid, p.30)

What of the others? They do not escape the ruin.

6 —

“As God called out Israel from Egypt anciently, just so now, God is calling His church out from worldlings and worldliness, to be a separate, peculiar people to His honor and glory.  This does not mean another movement, but it does mean that God is to deal with the entire body, and those who escape are Israel, the 144,000.” ( SRod, vol. 1, p.107)

What of the others? The entire body is dealt with, others apart from the 144,000 do not escape.

7 —

“In Revelation 14:4, speaking of the 144,000 we read, “They are the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.”  Therefore, it is evident that in the purification or separation of the tares from the wheat in the church of God, there shall be 144,000 who have confessed their sins; and are thus made white and clean by the precious blood of Christ, for they are “the first fruits.”(SRod, vol. 2, p.164)

What of the others? They did not confess their sins and were not the wheat in the church.

8 —

“In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.  And it shall come to pass, That he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.’” — “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, page 476.  Thus the 144,000 are those who are sealed in the judgment for the church, and with them the judgment for the living commenced.  Therefore, they are the first fruits. (SRod, vol.2, p.165)

What of the others? They did not escape, nor found to remain in Jerusalem (the church).

9 —

“The remnant of Israel must be something else than what we have thought it to be for “remnant” is a small portion, or part which is left after a destruction.  The destruction is the mighty shaking, sifting time which is the separation of the two classes in the church (the sealing of the 144,000) as prophesied in Ezekiel 9, and Isaiah 63.  Those who escape are the “remnant.”(SRod, vol. 1, p.102)

What of the others? They are of the other class that is shaken and sifted out (only two classes exist).

10 —

“..the angels who execute this slaughter are to take away from the church the unrighteous — those who are figuratively depicted in one instance as bad “fish” and in another instance as “guests” not having “the wedding garment” on.

   Here, let every serious-minded reader pause to ponder what Inspiration says: Isa. 66:19 and 20 explain that those who escape the slaughter of Isa. 66:15 and 16, are to be sent as missionaries to the Gentiles, who as yet know not God.  Hence these escaped (remaining) ones are God’s remnant, His first fruits of the harvest, His guileless servants, the 144,000 — the elect.  And only they, none others, the Scriptures declare, shall bring all their brethren from all nations, is a clean vessel, into the purified house of the Lord — His White House.” (WHR, p.24-25)

What of the others?  They do not escape the slaughter, as bad fish and naked guests.

11 —

“Since “those that escape” the slaughter (the 144,000) shall “bring all your brethren [all those who shall be saved in the time of the ‘Loud Cry’]…into the house of the Lord,” then it follows  that those who escape are the ones who finish the work — the reason they are called “the servants of God.” Rev. 7:3.(Tract 1, p.23)

What of the others? They do not escape. 

12 —

“The city” is figurative of Judah and Israel, the church in which are to be found the 144,000 servants of God (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 445) those who are to be called by another name after the unworthy servants are slain.  And as the 144,000 are the first fruits (Rev. 14:4) of the harvest, they are the “escaped” of the Isaiah 66:19 and of Ezekiel 9. (Tract 14, p.19-20)

What of the others? They are unworthy servants and do not escape.  

13 —

“..He is clearly laying before them His plan for the setting up of His kingdom with consequent  results to the sinners. 

Those who give implicit heed to the call, shall have an irresistible desire to come fully into line and to have the Lord separate them from sin and sinners.  They alone shall receive the seal of God and as the first fruits of the kingdom, 144,000 strong, stand with the Lamb on “Mount Zion”! “(Tract 8, p.20-21)

What of the others? They do not give heed to the Lord’s call nor have an irresistible desire to come fully in line and are separated. 

14 —

“..these escaped ones (the first fruits, the 144,000 servants of God — Rev. 7:3) “shall bring all your brethren” (the second fruits the great multitude — Rev. 7:9) “for an offering…out of all nations” (Isa. 66:20, first part), this great ingathering necessarily therefore, is the closing work of the gospel — the second section of the harvest.

And since, furthermore, these escaped ones are to bring all their brethren “to My holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the Lord,” “in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord” (Isa. 66:20, last part), the fact is fully evident that the destruction of the wicked results in the purification of the church. The “clean vessel” is therefore the purified church, composed of the escaped ones the first fruits, the 144,000 — who, free from the wicked (the tares) shall then, as “the servants of our God,” bring in the second fruits, the great multitude which no man can number, out of all nations.”(Tract 3, p.69-70)

What of the others? They are the destroyed wicked from the church purification.

15 — 

 But now the message in The Shepherd’s Rod reveals  that the 144,000 (who are to be without guile in their mouth), the appointed number of first-fruit servants to be sealed in the church, are to be separated from the unconsecrated.  And the number to be sealed being much smaller than the number of the membership, it sadly reminds us that therein are many “tares.”(Tract, p.103)

What of the others? They are separated as tares.

16 —

“Question: “Will all but the 144,000 of the present S.D.A. denomination actually be slain in the separation?”

   Answer: All but those who do not receive the mark or seal, old or young, male or female, will fall under the slaughter weapons of the angels. (Ezek. 9:6.) Only those who sigh and cry for all the abominations in the midst thereof will receive the mark. (verse 4.) John saw 144,000 sealed (marked). If others from within the S.D.A. denomination besides the 144,000 should escape, it is not known to us.“ (Symbolic Code, vol. 1, no.15,  p.9)

What of the others? Others apart from the 144,000 in the church do not escape as far as the message knows.

17 —

“Question: “Will those who are now accepting the S.D.A. faith during this sealing time be among the 144,000, or fall in the slaughter of Ezekiel 9?”

   Answer: All that are found members of the church at the fulfillment of Ezekiel Nine will either receive the seal and be of the 144,000, or else be left without and fall under the “slaughter weapons” of the “five men.” Only those who “sigh and cry for all the abominations” in the church will escape from the destruction.” (Symbolic Code, vol. 1, no.11-12, p.9)

What of the others? They will be found without the seal.

18 —

“Notwithstanding the fact that “in the closing work” for the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, only 144,000 are to be sealed, according to Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 266, … ” (Answerer, vol.3, p.26)

What of the others? They are not found sealed in the closing work for the SDA church.

19 —

“Those that escape from the slaying of the Lord, you note, are sent to the Gentile nations there to proclaim to them the Lord’s fame and His glory, and also to bring all their brethren (all that can be saved) to the house of the Lord. From this you can plainly see that those who escape must be the first fruits, the 144,000 Jacobites (Rev. 14:4). 

Those whom they bring from the Gentile nations to the house of the Lord must, therefore, be the second fruits (Rev. 7:9), thus where there is first there is also second.  Finally you plainly see that from the purification of the church the 144,000 escape and become the servants of God, the remnant, those who finish the gospel work in all the world.”(TG, vol. 1, no.25, p.11)

What of the others? They do not escape.

20 —

“..the subject of the 144,000 stands out brighter than ever before.  Now you can clearly see that those who escape the slaughter foreseen in Ezekiel nine, are the 144,000 the future servants of God, the first fruits of the harvest, resulting from the cleansing of the sanctuary (church), the work of the investigative judgment of the living.  This work and this Truth, therefore, are the most important for the day, and should whole-heartedly be heeded if one expects to receive the mark and the seal and escape the slaughter, survive the great and dreadful day of the Lord.  Our neglect to sigh and cry for the abominations in the church would mean our eternal loss.” (TG, vol. 1, no.52, p.20-21)

What of the others?  They are who get cleansed out and do not escape.

Thus we have it — the preponderance of evidence saying the same thing over and over again in different wording. The lesson is very clear, none should be in blindness!

The above references by no means complete all the Lord’s Elijah message references on the topic. In fact, we would say it’s not even half of them. But the truth is clear and bold, enough for the honest of heart to know and understand.

Next week in our last report, we shall deal with some of the usual references that our great adversary has twisted from the message to try and destroy the clear truth we have posted here. Remember he is active among present truth believers with a snag and a snare, if we are watchful we shall see his imitations clearly.

Posted in God's sealings, The 144, Who are the 144K? | 2 Comments »

The 144,000 Truth (Part 1 of 3)

January 4, 2020

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Note: This is an advanced study for present truth believers. If you are not this may be hard to understand or confusing subject. 

Recently we had another discussion about the 144,000 Truth. Specifically – are there really only going to be 144,000 sealed and escape the Ezek.9 church judgment? Or will there be more than 144,000, the  “those with” who also survive the judgment and come along with the 144,000 from the SDA church. Kind of like in football, the second team, if you will. They don’t qualify to be among the 144,000 but they are spared for their faithfulness.

But one of Mother’s (SDA church) teachings is exactly this — there will be more than 144,000 sealed from the church. So does the Lord’s Elijah message teach anything new? The same as what Mother believes in this regard? Let us find out.

To be clear, the “only 144,000” proclaimers do believe in the “those with” but they are the SDA pioneers who are resting in their graves, awaiting the special resurrection of Daniel 12:2-3. These will be raised to take up their work once more (Testimonies, vol.7, p.17).

The message tells us this is an extremely important doctrine. Whether we correctly know this truth or not is consequential and the case can be made it is also salvational. The message says it’s a “life or death matter to all”, so we dare not carelessly study this, but take pains to know it correctly.

“If we do not understand the subject of the 144,000, we may not be sealed, for it would be worthless to understand it after the sealing, just as it would be of no value to understand the beast and his image after his work on earth is finished.” (SRod, Vol. 1 p.14)

…Its dominant doctrinal concern being the truth of the 144,000, and a correct understanding of it being a life-and-death matter to all, the Rod unfolds it from several different angles, each urging the Denomination to prepare for the glorious deliverance of the saints and against the inglorious destruction of the sinners as foretokened by the marking and slaying recorded in Ezekiel 9.” (SRod Tract, p.5-6)

“The Enemy will try everything conceivable to confuse, becloud, and cover up the Truth, especially on the subject of the 144,000.” (White House Recruiter, p.33)

Is that not the truth?!

Satan has found inroads into our people and has caused so much confusion beclouding and covering up our subject! This alone should tell us our great adversary has a counterfeit teaching among us on the 144,000 truth!

The question is –can we find out just what this counterfeit is? How does it appear as “truth” to us but is a fake? Let’s find out.

He has always produced his counterfeit in God’s great beautiful things, such as Marriage, Sabbath, Rainbow and even including the 144,000 truth. Satan knows God’s word says it’s a “life and death matter to all”, so we can be sure he’s been at work among us on this truth! And who does he work through? Proclaimed “friends” of the Gospel!

Ok, it is clear we need to know this subject. The Rod confirms it with the following –

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

In regards to the 144,000, we are to know –who they are, what they are, and where they will be going. The message promises we will know all this –

“The primary purpose of The Shepherd’s Rod is to unlock the long-concealed mystery concerning the ever-challenging and much discussed subject of the 144,000 (Rev. 14:1), with the central object in view of bringing about among God’s people that “thorough reformation” foretold by the Spirit of Prophecy (Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 251)…” (SRod Tract, p.5)

“Besides their racial lineage of identification there are the words “first,”“fruits,”“servants of God,”“sealed” and“standing on Mount Zion” by which to identify who the 144,000 are and what they are. Obviously they are called fruits because they are the result of the“harvest,” the work which separates the tares from the wheat.” (JL, no.6, p.2)

“The subject in the “Rod” is “The 144,000 and A Call for Reformation,” based on Rev. 7; Ezek.9; Isa.63 ; 66; 16,19,20.” (1 SC, no.8, p.2)

What causes this division doctrinally between the “literalists” (those who say it will be just as it reads in Rev. 7—144,000 total from the SDA church at judgment) and the “those with proclaimers” (those who explain it as meaning just the Israelites in the SDA church, the Gentiles will be sealed as well, making the number more than 144,000 from the church) ?

Let us now let the Spirit of Truth have His way with us

In this post we will look at why we think this confusion exists. We’ll see it from the following angles, namely —

1- The Israel/Gentile viewpoint

2- The specific references , the clarity and volume of them, as to one side or the other

3- Adding them all up, to get our preponderance of evidence. The weight of evidence decision

“The weight of evidence” is the only fair and final criterion worthy of a Christian who must ever make an investigation for himself concerning purported truth.” (Answerer, vol.1, Q-6)

Israel/Gentile Issue

Recently on our FB ministry group—Truth Tellers, we had another discussion of the 144,000 and those with. A Black sister, an admitted present truth believer, brought up the point that “obviously” she won’t be one of the 144,000 but will be one with. Unfortunately, this line of thinking is all too common among us Elijah messengers.

This idea that blacks (or any other color) do not have the bloodline of Abraham has been fed to many DSDA down through the decades (after brother Houteff died) from false teachers. The supposed idea here is that you must be white to qualify as an Israelite, and because Rev. 7 only talks about the 12 tribes being sealed from the house of Israel (the church), and the tribes back then were only white (although that is disputed).

So conveniently this idea of “those with” fits nicely to some who may need to depend on this teaching as a way to believe they will be sealed and saved. This is one of the “go-to” arguments for more than 144,000  sealed. But let’s view this from the WORD and not our ideas passed down to us from false leaders of old times past.

Early Christianity

https://www.allaboutreligion.org/history-of-christianity-in-africa-faq.htm

It is a well known historical fact that as early as 50 AD, many early Christians, largely consisting of Jews converted to Christ, went down into northern Africa for relocation and missionary tours. This alone should lend to the certainty that they co-mingled with some of the natives there. Intermarriage took place no doubt.

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.” (Isaiah 27:12)

“And it will be said of Zion, “This one and that one were born in her.” The Most High himself will establish her. When He registers the peoples, the LORD will record, “This one was born there.” Selah” (Psalms 87:5-6)

As we read, this work of collecting the saints (144,000) is going on in His church as we speak, from all nations where He has scattered them.

“Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’ (Ezek. 11:17)

Both SOP and the Rod always refers to the church as “Israel”. Some of the many references —

“In order to be purified and to remain pure, Seventh-day Adventists must have the Holy Spirit in their hearts and in their homes. The Lord has given me light that when the Israel of today humble themselves before Him, and cleanse the soul-temple from all defilement, He will hear their prayers in behalf of the sick and will bless in the use of His remedies for disease.”(Testimonies, vol. 9, p.164)

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

“But the Israel of our time have the same temptations to scorn reproof and hate counsel as had ancient Israel. They too often turn a deaf ear to the words that God has given His servants for the benefit of those who profess the truth.” (Testimonies, vol. 4, p.165)

The desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn warning before the eyes of modern Israel, that the corrections given through His chosen instruments cannot be disregarded with impunity.”(Ibid, p.166)

“… there are two separations ––one from the church (Israelites), and one from the Gentiles, —those who escape and those who are gathered in — then the former are the first fruits and the later the second fruits — those of Revelation 7:4, 7-9, one from the tribes of Israel, and one from the Gentile nations.” (JL, no.2, p.6-7)

“The city” is figurative of Judah and Israel, the church in which are to be found the 144,000 servants of God(Testimonies to Ministers, p. 445) those who are to be called by another name after the unworthy servants are slain. And as the 144,000 are the first fruits (Rev. 14:4) of the harvest, they are the“escaped” of the Isaiah 66:19 and of Ezekiel 9.” (Tract no.14, p.19-20)

“In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.” Isa. 4:2.Note that this glorious promise is for those that shall escape (Israel–the 144,000).” (SRod, vol. 1, p.218)

We are clearly told that our SDA church is– Israel. Ok, let’s look at what else the message says about this subject —

“Regardless, therefore, whether one be Jew or Gentile, he can have no part in the kingdom of Christ, save through the second birth, by which he becomes one of the seed of Abraham.  This spiritual transformation, nevertheless, does not fix anyone’s racial identity and tribal  lineage. 

It can not, in other words, make one Judaite if he is not descended of Judah, or make him Ephraimite, if he is not descended of Ephraim.  Consequently, the 144,000, being of the sons of Jacob, cannot be of the Gentile nations.  They therefore, first of all, are lineal descendants of Jacob, though Not Necessarily of the Present Identifiable Jewish Stock…

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

Thus just as obvious as strange is the fact that no one today but the recognized Jew can vouch for his ancestry, with the result that the 144,000 can be gathered from almost every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and yet be of the sons of Jacob!” (Tract 8, p.7-11)

The lesson is clear–God alone has kept track of the Jewish lineage and knows who is who, and they are from many nations around the world. But now let’s look at something that is profound. The following will prove that there cannot be “pure Gentiles” in our church.

“We are not to conclude that the Jews are the only descendants of Abraham. Those who are fortunate enough to have this revelation brought to them, are the people. There is no other safe conclusion if God causes the prophecies to be written, sealed, and then unsealed at His will and at the time appointed…

…The Christian church herself is an upshoot of the Jewish church and nation — the Apostles and her followers, up to about 35 A.D. were all Jews. Then it was that again a multitude of Jews lost their identity by calling themselves “Christians.” Comparatively speaking, only a few Jews, from the Kingdom of Judah, have preserved their national title, Jews.

The descendants of the early Christian Jews and the descendants of the ten tribes, down the stream of time must have increased to a great innumerable multitude, for Abraham’s seed was to be as the sand of the sea for multitude. It is, therefore, obvious that the few identified Jews of today are not the only descendants of Abraham’s, but that many of the Gentiles must be of Abraham.

Since this mixed up situation exists, hardly any one can really say for sure that he is not one of Abraham’s children. Perhaps many of the nations whom the world calls Gentiles are the children of Abraham. We do not know for sure who is who. God, however, has kept a perfect genealogical record…” (1 TG, no.37, p.11-12)

Thus it is that all who know about this message have the bloodline of Abraham! Now, you ask –“Well what about the ones in the church who don’t know the message? They could be Gentiles so will God destroy them anyway?

The message says —

“Just as soon as we as a Denomination awake to the fact that “many nations shall be joined to the Lord,” and be His people just that soon will the theory of only first fruits die out. And just as soon as this message reaches every church member, just that soon will the purification take place.” (TG, vol. 1, no.12, p.26)

Conclusion — There can be NO PURE GENTILES in our church. Sadly, although the message will reach every member, the very few (144,000) will accept it and live it.

The message NEVER states such things as “mixed church”, “Gentiles in the church”, etc., it only says we are the “Israel of today”.

Bottomline –This idea that there are pure Gentiles in our church fails from the Word of God.

(…To be continued in part 2)

Posted in Delusion, The 144, Truth telling vs. lying, Who are the 144K? | 3 Comments »