When we take up the serious study of the Lord’s final message of Elijah, we may discover some very unusual or unique references. This week’s post we’ll look at some of these and you may be surprised just like we were.
No. 1 — Many of us in the message believe that it teaches that the 144,000 are to come from the S.D.A Church. Not so fast. It looks like there “may” be some from other churches or even out side of a formal denomination, let us read —
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. (Answerer, vol. 4, Q-93)
No. 2 — One of the stumbling blocks from naysayers who were unbelievers in the Elijah message as brought by Victor Houteff, was the fact that he was 52 and his young wife was 17 when they got married in 1937. To this situation Houteff explained —
“…the following Biblical marriages represent a great disparity of years: Abraham, the father of the faithful, certainly took to himself a wife much younger than himself, for when he married the second time, he must have been over 140 years of age, as he was a hundred years old when Isaac was born (Gen. 21:5), and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebeccah (Gen. 25:20), at which time Sarah, Abraham’s first wife was yet living (Gen. 24:67), and Keturah, his second wife, was evidently somewhere under forty years of age, for she bare him six sons (Gen. 25:1, 2), which facts present a difference of at least a hundred years between the ages of Abraham and his second wife.
Again, the Lord chose for His lineage, Boaz (a Jew), and old man, and Ruth (a Moabitess), a young woman (Ruth 3:10)–a union contrary to the principles held by Brother Houteff’s critics. Moreover, the Jewess, Esther, who was forbidden by the common rule of the Jews to marry outside of her own nation, was blessed in her affinity to the old Medo-Persian king, in that her nation was thereby preserved.
Still further, Joseph married the daughter of the idolatrous priest of Egypt, and Moses took for a wife an Ethiopian woman.
Thus we see from the above unions that no set rule can be fixed to govern each individual’s case. Moreover, had we lived in the days of the aforementioned unions, and had judged them by our own standards, we would have separated ourselves from Abraham, in whose bosom the righteous are protected from hell’s burning torments (Luke 16: 23-25); from Joseph, in whom the life of the ancient world was spared; from Moses, by whose hand the first-born in Egypt were either spared or destroyed, and all Israel freed from the Egyptian bondage; from Esther, by which act we, as Jews, would have destroyed ourselves at the hand of the wicked Haman; and from Christ, Who is our only life.” (SC, vol. 3, no. 5,6 P.7)
No. 3 — Back in the 30’s Black people were referred as “Colored”. This term today would not be “politically correct”. But the question was raised whether “colored people” would be saved. As many know at that time prejudice still existed to a great degree and unbelievably some even questioned whether the Black man had a right to be in heaven!
But what is truly amazing is not only will they be among the great multitude, but it appears that many of them will be among the 144,000. The Elijah message really has gained a foothold in many of the poorer countries, such as Zambia, So. Africa, Philippines and Mexico. Today unfortunately many of us more well to do countries, such as the USA, are “rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing.”
The percentage of Blacks who have accepted the message seems high as compared to the white race. We would say that from our viewpoint at least 80% of the people who accept the Lord’s Elijah message are from minorities.
Question No. 7:–“What is meant by this scripture: ‘Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands.’ Does it mean that the colored race will turn to God?”
Answer:–As no people are saved as a nation, the scripture above quoted, along with others, obviously shows that there will be a great ingathering not only from Ethiopia, but from all races and thus justify the statement, “Ethiopia shall…stretch out her hands.” It is such an ingathering from all races and nations that will make the “great multitude.” — “Princes shall come out of Egypt,” says the same scripture. (Ps. 68:31.) “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:3.)
Concerning the church in the time of the Loud Cry, the prophet Isaiah writes: “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord shall name.” (Isa. 62:2.)
Looking forward to this great ingathering, he asks the question: “Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?” Then the Lord answers: “Surely the isles shall wait for Me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He hath glorified thee.
And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in My wrath I smote thee, but in My favour have I had mercy on thee. Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.
The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of My sanctuary; and I will make the place of My feet glorious. The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isa. 60:8-14.) “For great shall be the day of Jezreel.” (Host 1:11.) — {2 SC, no.11, p.9)
“…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.9-10)
No. 4 — Victor Houteff tells of the time he witnessed God’s saving hand deliver him from being hit head on by an automobile which should have resulted either of sure death or serious injury, a miraculous providential occurrence indeed!
“Now let me relate to you another miracle that took place about that time. One Wednesday I drove to the business section of Los Angeles. Having finished my business quite late in the afternoon, and while walking across a street, I saw a woman driving toward me. But as I was almost to the middle of the street, I saw no danger for there was plenty of room for her to drive by.
She nevertheless turned her car right square into me. Yes, she struck me from my left, and being overly excited she could not stop her car before she reached the middle of the block. And so she kept on going from the corner of the street to the middle of the alley. What happened to me when the car struck me? Did it lay me flat on the street, and did it run over me? No, this did not happen because something greater took place:
An unseen hand carried me on ahead of the car, lightly sliding my feet on the pavement with my right side ahead, and my left side against the car’s radiator! After having made about half the distance before the car stopped, something seated me on the bumper of the car, and I put my left arm around the car’s left headlight! Then I said to myself, “Now lady you can keep on going if that is the best you can do.” When she stopped, I put my feet on the ground and stepped away from the car.
Just then I discovered that the pencil I had in my coat pocket had broken into half a dozen pieces from the impact, but my ribs were untouched! By that time the car and I were surrounded with people, and three policemen searching for the man that got run over. But as they found no one lying on the street, or pinned under the car, I told them that it was I who had been run over! They wanted to take me to the hospital, and when I told them that I was not hurt, I heard one say, “He must be hurt but is too excited and does not know his condition.”
Then they made me raise my legs and arms up and down, several times, after which one shouted, “He is made out of rubber!” The woman was accused of driving at 30 miles per hour. Then I walked three blocks to my car, and drove to prayer meeting in Exposition Park church, where in our season of testimonies I told them of the accident and the results. We are still living in the days of miracles, you see.” (Timely Greetings, vol. 2, no.35, p.21-22)
No. 5 — The subject of marriage obviously is an important aspect to our walk with the Lord. The message sheds some interesting points to this “sacred” institution.
” ..as there is no truth where there is no type, the working out of divine design, in ordaining and establishing, on Friday, the sixth day of creation, the marriage institution, and on the seventh day, the Sabbath, thus gave type both to the reestablishing of these institutions, and to the restoring of them to the sanctity and beauty of their first estate. And as we must observe the Sabbath on the seventh day, likewise we ought to solemnize marriage on Friday, the sixth day of the week.
Furthermore, as God foresaw that in the closing hours of probation, the order of events would be singularly anomalous and preternatural, He mercifully thus forewarned us in the following familiar statements:
“Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning.”–“Testimonies to Ministers,” p. 300. Therefore, with the one who is to come in the spirit, and power of Elijah, men will find fault and say, “‘You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.'”–Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 475, 476.
Nevertheless, as representatives of the Elijah message, we are called to lead out by precept and example in the restoration of all things, especially the marriage and the Sabbath institutions, for the one represents the home, and the other the memorial of its creation. Therefore, before “we go forth to proclaim the Sabbath more fully,” we must lift up marriage, the first institution, from the sordid depths to which Satan has plunged it.” (3 SC, no.2, p.8)
No. 6 — As many know, one of the prime aspects of the Lord’s Rod message is that we must “sigh and cry” for all the abominations that be done in our life and in the church. However did you know that some may not be sighing and crying sufficiently to get sealed? Let us read —
“As long as you keep wavering on Present Truth, your sighing and crying will be too feeble and insufficient to place the seal of God in your forehead — on display; that is, openly confessing that you are a disciple of Christ; and as long as they receive your tithe and offerings, they will never “cast” you out (Isa. 66:5).
By the fact that you are still a member of the church and in office, it speaks for itself that you have not yet taken a firm stand on the Lord’s side, although He has said: “Set thy face against it, and it shall be besieged, and thou shalt lay siege against it.” Mark that “this” and not your name on the church books or your gifts in their treasury, “shall be a sign to the house of Israel.” (Ezek. 4:3. (2 SC, no. 5,6, p.9)
Note that the message tells us that once you accept the Elijah message, you will soon be not found as an office holder (Pastor, Elder, Deacon, Secretary, etc.), and that is because when the higher-ups find out they will demote you from office. This is our SDA history unfortunately, just as the Christians were demoted and often booted out of the Synagogue during Christ’s day. We must BOLDLY take our stand for Truth come what may.
For example yours truly was a Deacon in the church prior to accepting the Rod message. When I learned it, I found that passing the money bag around was not an acceptable action within His sanctuary on Sabbath yet I often was one of the members who handed them the bag! Long story short once the leaders found out I was a Shepherd’s Rod beleiver I was soon demoted from Deacon, thus relieved of participating in the abomination, and sighing and crying about it instead! In hindsight it was a beautiful move on the Lord’s part to keep me on the straight and narrow.
No. 7 — Today we have so many ministries claiming we are giving the “Loud Cry” message to the world. Amaizng Facts with Doug Batchelor, Stephen Bohr with Secrets Unsealed ministries, Walter Vieth with Amazing Discoveries, 3ABN, etc. all claim that the world is receiving the Third Angel’s message of the Loud Cry. Not so fast. The message explains–
“Those who think that the Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message, which began in 1892, has continued ever since, prove to us that they are in great darkness, “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” because of the fact that they can not tell the difference between that great light that lightens the earth, and the darkness that preceded it, which even a half awake Christian ought to be able to recognize.
The light with which the earth is to be lightened is, or course, understood to be a spiritual light – the Word of God. Moreover it is also understood that the church is to diffuse this great light to the ends of the earth, for in no other way will God reveal the truth to sinful men, and the Gentiles see her righteousness, and all kings her glory. (Isa. 62:2.) Consequently, the church from 1844 to the close of probation is divided into two sections — before the Loud Cry, and in the time of the Loud Cry — the latter of which will, by comparison, be far superior to the former in spirituality. In fact, there is no comparison between the two. Hence, those who cannot tell in which one of these stages the church now is, must be in great darkness!
The following references prove that though the Loud Cry had begun by 1892, it was muffled when the church rejected the message of 1888. Hence, instead of becoming the light of the world, she herself went into darkness.
In the following references the description of the church in the time of the Loud Cry, and also during the time preceding it is plainly given, and no one need be confused. Says the Spirit of Prophecy:
“In the manifestation of the power that lightens the earth with its glory, they will see only something which in blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their expectations and ideal, they will oppose the work. Why, they say, should we not know the Spirit of God; when we have been in the work so many years?” — “Bible Training School,” 1907. (Reprinted in “Review & Herald,” Nov. 7, 1918.) This paragraph puts the Loud Cry in the future of 1918.
“The great outpouring of the Spirit of God, which lightens the whole earth with His glory, will not come until we have an enlightened people, that know by experience what it means to be laborers together with God. When we have entire, wholehearted consecration to the service of Christ, God will recognize the fact by an outpouring of His Spirit without measure; but this will not be while the largest portion of the church are not laborers together with God.” (“Review and Herald,” July 21, 1896.)
“The love of Christ, the love of our brethren, will testify to the world that we have been with Jesus and learned of Him. Then will the message of the third angel swell to a loud cry, and the whole earth will be lightened with the glory of the Lord.” “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 6, p. 401.
The above references do not only plainly show that the Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message is yet future, but they also show that, before it begins, there is to be a reformation among God’s people, and that, at that time, “Clad in the armor of Christ’s righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict. ‘Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners,’ she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer.” — “Prophets and Kings,” p. 725. Whereas, the church at this time is polluted in her sins, and asleep, just as she is described in the message to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans, of Revelation 3:14-18, and further in the following passage from the Spirit of Prophecy:
“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 in 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 message of 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 for the church,” Vol. 3, p. 253.
Moreover, it was in 1892 when the statement was made that “This is the beginning of the Loud Cry,” and just one year later, in 1893, the Spirit of Prophecy describes, in as plain a language as can possibly be stated, the church’s condition, and no more condemnatory words could be used by any writer. We read:
“Who can truthfully say, ‘Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world’? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: ‘Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? ‘How is the faithful city become an harlot?’ My Father’s house is made a house of merchandise, an place whence the divine presence and glory have departed! For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking.
“Unless the church, which is now being leavened with her own back-sliding, shall repent and be converted, she will eat of the fruit of her own doing, until she shall abhor herself.”
— “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 8, p. 250.
In the face of these plain statements, it is most preposterous for any one to conclude that the church is now in her Loud Cry state. If we should make such absurd statements as some of our ministering brethren make, no one who believes in the Spirit of Prophecy would have a thing to do with us, and it is right that they should not, but when the ministers in the denomination give expression to such extravagant ideas, the laity avidly accept them, for they “like to have it so.”( 2 SC, vol. 10, p.4-5)
We hope these unique statements have been a blessing this week.
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