Archive for January, 2025

The Fate of Assyria and the Triumph of the Church

January 18, 2025


THOUGHT FOR MEDITATION AND PRAYER

   We shall read from “The Mount of Blessing,” page 180, paragraph one.  The reading is based on the scripture which says, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye?”

   M.B., pg. 180 — “Even the sentence, ‘Thou that judgest doest the same things,’ does not reach the magnitude of his sin who presumes to criticize and condemn his brother…. When he thinks he has detected a flaw in the character or the life, he is exceedingly zealous in trying to point it out; but Jesus declares that the very trait of character developed in doing this un-Christlike work, is, in comparison with the fault criticized, as a beam in proportion to a mote.  It is one’s own lack of the spirit of forbearance and love that leads him to make a world of an atom…. According to the figure that our Saviour uses, he who indulges a censorious spirit is guilty of greater sin than is the one he accuses; for he not only commits the same sin, but adds to it conceit and censoriousness.”

   Satan is doing his level best to make us transgress in this respect so that we lose out eternally.  God has delegated no one to be policing another.  Only God through His prophets is to reprove sin, but never to use force of any kind.

   Shall we kneel now, and pray for a realization that our duty is not to criticize others or to magnify their faults, but to speak and practice the Truth?  Further than that, Brother, Sister, we need not go.  The rest is up to our audiences and associates.  Let them decide for themselves what is best for both soul and body.  Truth need not be poked down the throat.

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THE FATE OF ASSYRIA,AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCHTEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF,MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTSSABBATH, JANUARY 11, 1947MT. CARMEL CHAPELWACO, TEXAS

   Let us turn to Zephaniah 3, and begin with the first verse.

Zeph. 3:1 — “Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!”

   The antecedent of the pronoun “her” is found in the thirteenth verse of the preceding chapter.  In it is seen that the “city” here pointed out is Nineveh, the capital city of ancient Assyria.  Now to ascertain whether this Nineveh is actually the capital city of ancient Assyria or of some other Assyria, we shall study the remaining verses of the chapter.

Zeph. 3:2 — “She obeyed not the Voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God.”

   This verse points out the fact that the city and nation here mentioned had the privilege of hearing the voice of Inspiration, of knowing God’s Truth, but has failed to take heed — received not correction, trusted not in the Lord, drew not near to her God.

Zeph. 3:3 — “Her princes within her are roaring lions;

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her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.”

   Her princes, being like roaring lions, must be frightful persons who evidently think “might makes right.”  Her judges are, as it were, evening wolves; that is, they are in business, not to execute judgment, justice, and righteousness, but to catch and tear, to fill their den with prey although they may have more than they know what to do with.  “They gnaw not the bones till the morrow.”

Zeph. 3:4 — “Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.”

   In the language of today this verse would read, “Her teachers are light-hearted, not serious and sober-minded; they are trifling; they are of no account; they are treacherous persons.  Her ministers, rather than having kept the church clean, have polluted it, and have done violence to the law” (have declared It void).

   Thus far is seen that the Assyria of this chapter represents a people who have been well instructed in the things of God, the law and the sanctuary.  But instead of obeying the Lord and ruling justly and righteously, they have greatly transgressed, have gone down into sin as deep as any people can possibly go.

Zeph. 3:5 — “The just Lord is in the midst thereof; He will not do iniquity: every morning doth He bring His judgment to light, He faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.”

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   In view of the fact that God is in the midst of them, they must be well informed in the things of God, well aware that in due season He makes known to them His judgment.  In view of all these, the only possible conclusion one can come to, is that God’s church must be in their midst.

Zeph. 3:6-8 — “I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.  I said, Surely thou wilt fear Me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.  Therefore wait ye upon Me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.”

   The Lord Himself warns that He has cut off nations, that He has made their towers desolate and their streets waste, that He has destroyed their cities and has left no inhabitants in them.  He points out that all this He did as an object lesson for future good, so that they as a nation might fear Him and receive instruction, that their dwellings not be cut off.  But in spite of these examples, they rise early and corrupt all their doings.  So it is that at long last the Lord arises to the prey, gathers the nations, assembles the kingdoms, and Assyria gets her punishment.

   From this we see that the Assyria under discussion exists in the time of the end, the time in which the

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great and dreadful day of the Lord takes place.  This Assyria, therefore, is an antitype of ancient Assyria just as the Babylon of Revelation 17 and 18 is an antitype of ancient Babylon.

   Assyria, charges Inspiration, is a rejoicing city that dwells carelessly, that says in her heart, “I am, and there is none beside me.” Zeph. 2:15.

   At this point let us pause a moment and summarize the characteristics by which this modern Assyria is to be identified.  (1) As man looks at things, she is so great that there is none like her.  She is well instructed in the things of God.  (2) She is oppressive, a hard ruling nation.  (3) She has polluted the sanctuary and has declared the law of God void.  (4) She has piled up wealth by going after it as an evening wolfe goes after its prey.  (5) She harbors the church of God.  (6) She exists in the time the Lord is to manifest His power and destroy all the wicked nations.  (7) She is an Assyria-like nation, widespread, a nation of conquests.

   There is but one people under the sun that answers to all these descriptions, and that people is, of course, the English-speaking people, in whose midst is the church, and from whose midst the Gospel and the Bible flow out to all nations.  As clear as language can make it, the burden of the prophet Zephaniah is for the English-speaking Christian world.

   God is now saying to Assyria’s capital city, “Indeed, you are doing all these abominations, but you will not thus continue long.  The time is at hand.”  Put a stop to your absurdities.

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Zeph. 3:9 — “For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent.”

   Inspiration for certainty declares that after Assyria receives her punishment, and after the wicked are taken out of his church, then will the Gospel be proclaimed in a pure language (in pure Gospel Truth) that whosoever will, may call upon the name of the Lord, “to serve Him” with heart and soul.  Then it is that “only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will have a right to proclaim it [Third Angel’s Message] when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry.” — “Review and Herald,” Nov. 19, 1908.

Zeph. 3:10, 11 — “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My suppliants, even the daughter of My dispersed, shall bring Mine offering.  In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against Me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of My holy mountain.”

   When the Gospel is proclaimed in “a pure language,” then even from the ends of the earth God’s people will come with an offering to the Lord.

   Having removed all who rejoice in her pride the church shall be haughty no more.

Zeph. 3:12 — “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.”

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   The fact that He leaves in their midst poor and afflicted people is sufficient evidence in itself that the purification of the church takes place before the Millennium, before Isaiah 33:24 is fulfilled and before He sets up the kingdom mentioned therein.

Zeph. 3:13 — “The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”

   The remnant, those that are left after the purification takes place, shall sin no more.  They shall forever thereafter stand without guile in their mouths.

Zeph. 3:14 — “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.”

   A great day is coming for the righteous, a dreadful one for the wicked.  We, therefore, as children of Zion, are encouraged to sing and shout for joy because we have finally come to the time of God’s great deliverance.

Zeph. 3:15 — “The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.”

   Surely these revelations of prophecy should encourage every believer to shout with joy as he realizes that the day in which he shall no more see evil is right at hand, that the Lord is to be his only king.

Zeph. 3:16-20 — “In that day it shall be said to Jeruusalem,

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Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.  The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.  I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.  Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.  At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.”

   The Lord wants us to know that when He turns away our captivity He will also make us a name and a praise among all the people of the earth.  This kingdom of Judah (the church purified and set apart), is therefore, not only pre-millennial, but also probationary.  And how glad we ought to be for the privilege to be among the first of the first fruits.

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THE MORE SURE WORD of PROPHECY

January 4, 2025


“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts.” (II Pet. 1:19.)

“And while they [the foolish virgins] went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with Him to the marriage: and the door was shut . . . Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.” (Matt. 25:10, 13.) 

“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” (I Pet. 4:7.) 

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he day devour.” (I Pet. 5:8.) 

“Those who are watching for the Lord, are purifying their souls by obedience to the truth.” “The Desire of Ages,” p. 634.

The Master commanded us to “watch and pray.” We may have the theory of the message so perfect that our hearers are made enthusiastic by our large knowledge of the Scriptures, but does that indicate that we are watching “in all things,” enduring “afflictions,” doing “the work of an evangelist,” and making “full proof” of our “ministry” as the apostle Paul exhorts us to do (see II Tim. 4:5): or praying, as the Master gave command for us to do? The wisest man who ever lived, wrote, by Inspiration, that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” 

To know our spiritual standing, it is well for us to consider some of the things which the Master desires us to watch for. As we are cognizant of the fact that Satan is determined to have us as his victims, then we must heed the first instruction given in the sermon on the mount—that we “be not deceived.” Therefore, our first duty is to make as thorough a study, by the use of both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, of the devices and points of attack which he will use in his warfare to defeat us, as he makes in his study of our weaknesses as points of vantage from which to assail us.

To obey is better than to sacrifice. Obedience to God’s law and principles, both in our spiritual and moral lives, is the thermometer which records whether our spiritual temperature is up or down, and which thus affords Satan the most accurate gauge by which to determine his onslaughts. 

“We need never expect that when the Lord has light for His people, Satan will stand calmly by, and make no effort to prevent them from receiving it. He will work upon minds to excite distrust and jealousy and unbelief. Let us beware that we do not refuse the light God sends, because it does not come in a way to please us. Let not God’s blessing be turned away from us because we know not the time of our visitation.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, p. 728. 

“We are taught in God’s Word that this is the time, above all others, when we may look for light from heaven. It is now that we are to expect a refreshing from the presence of the Lord. We should watch for the moving of God’s providence as the army of Israel watched for ‘the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees,’—the appointed signal that Heaven would work for them.”—Testimonies for the Church.” Vol 5 P. 728 

It behooves us, then, to study to know what is truth, what are God’s principles, what are the warnings and instructions given to His people at this time. In daily meditation of these, we shall be equipped to go forward in the Christian warfare, prepared for the darts of the evil one. However, we shall only be able to resist the enemy’s arrows by having our whole attention absorbed in being determined to serve God, and thus we shall know that we are walking in the light “even as He is in the light.” Then when specific calls come to us, we shall recognize in them the voice of our master, or, the voice of the usurper. 

With such a clear understanding, we shall get the vision of how to be like the little child of whom said Jesus, upon placing him in the midst of the company, “Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 18:3.)

If our faith in God is as implicit as the faith of a child, we will not be of a halting, doubting spirit. And thus when we receive orders to “Go forward,” regardless of whether or not the way looks clear to us, we will not hold back and wait to see if it is really the way we are to follow, or to see first if the message prospers. 

Just how foolish is such a spirit, we might, in one way, concretely demonstrate, by the following example. Someone who is a stranger to us, and who lives at a distance, for some reason desires that we pray and fast for him with a certain purpose or object in view. We know nothing of the circumstances surrounding his life. However, he requests that we fast and pray. Is it now for us to question and doubt the call because we do not know his Christian status, or is it better to pray for him regardless of our ignorance of his circumstances?

Other problems of major or minor importance continually confront us in like manner, but are we so closely following our Saviour that He can trust us with wisdom from heaven so that we shall at all times give the answer of a man who has the true understanding which comes only from letting God lead? If we are not able to give such an answer, then may Heaven help us to be determined to follow on to know the Lord better each day so that He can class us as the “wise and prudent,” though we be “as a little child.”

We are happy for the call which God has given to us. But are we watching for the many subtle devices, and snares of the enemy in his efforts to cheat us of eternal life, by causing us to lose sight of Jesus just long enough at this most critical hour; when the sealing message is determining what our reward shall be, so as to cause our loyalty to change to disloyalty and our faithfulness to unfaithfulness to that call? Are we holding fast by obedience to God’s commands, as did faithful Abraham, so that no man shall take our crown? Are we lovers of our own pleasures so much more than the lovers of God that we will not obey? Is this watching “unto prayer” “as they that must give account?”

Though we do not know the exact hour in which Christ shall “rise up from His mediatorial work . . . and shall clothe Himself with the garments of vengeance,” yet we do know that He will do so while truth is being revealed (5T 690). Therefore, we must, like “the good man of the house,” be ready for Him, instead of being surprised, when He comes to protect His faithful ones “until the indignation be overpast.” (Isa. 26:20.) 

Paul reminds us that we “are not in darkness, that that day should overtake” us “as a thief.” Also that “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thess. 5:4-6.) 

By the Prophet, Hosea, God reveals the closeness of earth to heaven by the fact that the earth hears “the corn, and the wine, and the oil.” Therefore, as this is the condition upon which our close relationship with Christ exists, and Heaven with us, ought we not now as never before make it our great duty to “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” while probationary time yet lingers? But it may be argued that the kingdom of God refers to the new earth state, and that we shall be changed from our sinful to the ‘sinless state in the twinkling of an eye. True, but what saith God by His servant? 

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our “characters have one spot, or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost.”

“Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God—candidates for Heaven.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, pp. 214, 216. 

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