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The Collection Box

May 23, 2015

Dating back to the time of Kings (about 550 BC) the Lord’s people had a specific way of collecting their Tithes. Let us look at this ancient custom that continued up to at least Jesus’ time, and was changed centuries later by the Roman custom of plate/bag passing which now permeates in almost all churches, including the SDA church.

2 Kings 12:9

Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it and set it beside the altar on the right side as one entered the house of the LORD. And the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 24:8-11

And at the king’s commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD. And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it.

Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king’s office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

Here we see that the Lord’s people established a method of collection. The success of it speaks for itself. We notice that the people obviously enjoyed doing their duty as faithful servants of the Lord’s cause.

But what about today? What are we really doing in regard to collecting His Tithes and offerings? Sadly, it has become anything but a success for many of our churches! Let me give you a personal recent example.

Recently our church held a business meeting to discuss, among other things, our financial situation. I was saddened to hear our pastor speak about our “way below” financial status. I recalled how The Lord’s word said —

“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.”(Deut. 28:1-3)

That day Moses, at God’s instruction, gave the people proper counsel on Tithes. So I thought to myself–Not good about our own church. We are doing something wrong, because the Lord is not blessing. But what is it? I went home and prayed and supped with the Lord and thought about it.

You see, there is a”our way” and there is the “Lord’s way”. When we as presumptuous human beings, under the cover of presumed righteousness, go about doing something that is in contradiction to the Lord’s way, we cannot expect His blessings–simple as that. So I went about searching what we were doing wrong, and causing the withholding of God’s blessings for us in our financial health for the church.

The answers were plain and clear. We were doing predominantly two major things that were not in alignment with God’s method based on His history with Tithes.

First, we are “passing the bag” around in His holy sanctuary. This is certainly not considered “freewill” offerings. This is more of compulsory offerings. When a bag is put in your lap and you are made to divvy up lest you be ashamed and looked upon as a selfish non-giver, this cannot be considered freewill in the true Biblical sense. The Elijah message explains.

We can now for sure take hold of God’s promises and make them our own. What a privilege and what an opportunity is now ours! Look and see what a difference there is between God’s method for supporting His work, and the Roman system that is now carried on by the church: plate-passing, high-powered speeches, Big Day, Book Day, high pressuring, campaigning, selling, auctioneering, Harvest Ingathering, birthday offerings, Christmas-tree hangings, baby weighings, Dorcas sales, investment funds, and what not! As none of these squeezings are Biblical, and as all of them are Pagan in origin and condemned by the Scriptures, they could not possibly be considered freewill offerings. Search and see.(Jezreel Letter, no.9, p.7-8)

Speaking of freewill offerings, the Scriptures have about 15 references advocating freewill offerings. For example- Numbers 29:39, Deuteronomy 12:5-6, Ezekiel 46:11-12 to name a few.

“Offer a thank offering also from that which is leavened, And proclaim freewill offerings, make them known For so you love to do, you sons of Israel,” Declares the Lord GOD. (Amos 4:5)

Second, as shown in our top quotes, the Lord did indeed bless the use of the Collection box method. This way the people came prepared , and before service they could deposit their freewill offerings as they had saved up for the Lord’s cause. Individually, each could be guided by the Lord to discreetly make their Tithe and offerings, without embarrassment or scrutiny.

Another example that is one of the strongest reasons why we should do the Collection Box method is the following in which the Lord Himself watched and approved.

Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. And He called unto Him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. (Mark 12:41-44)

From the website “Bible History Online” we found an excellent description of the temple courts and location of the collection boxes.

The Jerusalem Temple

Small Widows Mite Coin “If you were to approach the Temple in Jerusalem in the first century A.D. you would pass through the eastern gate where Jesus made His triumphal entry. Then you would come to the Court of the Gentiles which was a large court paved with stones of various colors. It was open to all comers including the cattle-dealers and the money-changers who desecrated the Temple.

This court was also called the Outer Court, the Lower Court, and the rabbi’s usually called it “the Mountain of the Lord’s House.” All around the Temple proper was a 9 foot high terrace with stairs which was higher than the Court of the Gentiles. It was surrounded by a 5 foot high wall which was designed to keep out the gentiles. There was also pillars in the wall at various distances (the Soreg) with inscriptions in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew, warning all gentiles to come no further under penalty of death.

Going beyond the Court of the Gentiles and at the top of the terrace there was a platform for about 15 feet and then there was another wall. On the east side stood the magnificent 60 foot wide “Gate Beautiful” mentioned in Acts 3:2,10. It was also referred to as the “Gate Susan” because it contained a beautifully sculptured relief of the city of Susa. During the time of the morning and evening sacrifices this great entrance was the place of public worship.

Entering through the Susan Gate you would come to a large court called “the Court of the Women” not because there were only women there but because women could not go beyond it. There were smaller courts with columns in the four corners of the court.

According to the Mishnah (Middoth 2,5) the Women’s Court was just over 200 feet square between bounding lines. Each court on the outside was 60 feet square.

In front of these columns were the eleven treasure chests of the Temple for the voluntary offerings of money, and there were also two at the Gate of Susan, for the half-shekel tax. Jesus was sitting ‘opposite the treasury’ when he saw the widow put into one of the containers the two copper coins which were all that she had (Mark 12:41-44; Lk 21:1-2).”

Aside from the powerful lesson our Lord gives concerning the old lady giving her all, we see Him approve of this method of Tithe giving. What more evidence do we need? The Scriptures are so deep with many lessons, including those apart from the obvious ones.

It is also important to note that SOP declares that the “treasure chests” were not in the sanctuary but rather in the temple courts.

“Jesus was in the court where were the treasure chests, and he watched those who came to deposit their gifts.” (DA, p.614)

Clearly the collection box should not be within the sanctuary, but rather in the foyer or right at the entrance to the sanctuary.

Some may ask–What did SOP have to say about this matter? In one of her last published comments about this situation she answered the following question.

Question – Should we take up Collections on the Sabbath?

“The question has been brought before me, Shall we take up collections on the Sabbath? The occurrence which brought up this question was that of taking up a collection to purchase an organ for the church. I replied that I would not advise this being done.

When collections are taken on the Sabbath for foreign missionary work, it is that the gospel may be given to those who are in darkness. This is genuine missionary work, and often these collections could not be taken up so fully at any other time. To gather these offerings could not be called transgression of the Sabbath.

But if this is to open that way for taking up of contributions for such purposes as buying of instruments of music, then I would advise that it be discontinued… Let our people avoid the passing of the contribution boxes, even if it becomes a much more difficult matter than it now is to raise money for foreign missionary work.

It would be well if our brethren and sisters would consider the advisability of laying by during the week their offerings for missionary work. As they call to mind the blessings and mercies that god is affording them, let them put a thank offering in an envelope. These envelopes could be presented on the Sabbath, when it could be stated for what purpose they are intended…

The sacredness of the Sabbath could be in no way violated by such gifts, and the results would be for good… My brethren and sisters, try this method. Let there be no collections taken on the Sabbath, but let praise and thank offerings be made.”—(EGW Manuscript 176, 1907)

I believe this method is so right and good before the Lord , we can see some success examples even from the “Babylon” churches. The Christian Science Monitor stated the following in one of its articles, called “Some churches stop passing the collection plates”.http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0823/p03s01-ussc.html

“At New England Chapel in suburban Franklin, Mass., five years of warehouse worship without passing the plate has produced a $300,000 budget, a weekly attendance of 500 and a confidence in the Rev. Chris Mitchell that passing the plate would produce less revenue.” (August 23, 2002)

So we can see that the Lord blesses when we obey and do the right thing, even our Tithes and offerings. But if we blindly do our own way, following tradition for the sake of tradition, we cannot expect to joyfully praise the Lord for pouring out His rich and wonderful blessings upon us.

Granted, the actual collection process is just one of the problems with today’s Tithing. One of the predominant issues is that of “present truth”. We see much truth in regards to Tithes, from the Lord’s instruction in Malachi chapter 3.

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”(Mal.3:10)

From this we see that the storehouse holds the Lord’s “meat”. In other words, the Lord’s present truth. SOP confirms–

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

As we have shown time and again through our posts here, the Lord’s Elijah message is “our” present truth, our message for today. But sadly , Satan and his angels have largely convinced the SDA leadership that this message is not needed, rather a “lukewarm fuzzy all is well in God’s house” message is the standard message given from God’s house today.

But if we can take first steps such as starting with the collection process, this will lead to more advanced steps. Soon by God’s power, blessings will come and we shall want to do more right acts in God’s house. But we must change things and at once! The Lord is approaching the door to His temples around the world.

“Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.” (Mal 3:1)

We find a very clear reference from the Elijah message addressing the ones (Elders) who largely partake in our current backwards way of collections –

“The Bible does not teach or recommend even a plate collection (a custom which Rome originated) in Sabbath services, much less merchandising in the presence of God. All the Bible recommends is a container for free will offering placed somewhere in the church premises…Since the Bible does not teach any plate gatherings, but only freewill offerings (and not for your own use either), then by high pressuring the laity with your speeches, your pleas, and plate-passing all in the name of Christ, you make Him an extortioner of the worst kind.” (Jezreel Letter, no. 3, p.1-2)

In closing we know that only those who are found “sighing and crying” for the abominations done in the church will receive the seal in their forehead , and remain standing in the upcoming church judgment. And the proper Tithing, including the collection process DOES MATTER TO THE LORD.

“Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those “that sigh and cry for all the abominations that be done” in the church.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.267)

Posted in Church, Obedience, Present Truth, Proper teachings, Tithes and Offerings | 4 Comments »

To the World or to the Church?

January 10, 2015

One of the hardest things I had to come to grips with, yet clearly saw after I studied the Lord’s Elijah message was– not to go to the world right now with His gospel message. I know that those, who like me at one time, who do not know the Lord’s final plans for His remnant church, would feel as if not going to the world right now with His gospel plan would be truly foreign and almost heretical.

Yet, this is what we are told to do in His Elijah message! If we take the time to understand this, we see by God’s grace the wisdom and great love from our King , in these instructions. Let us look deeply into this subject.

First, as an example of where our church is at and what her motivations and goals are, let us look at a recent memo from James W. Gilley, 3ABN President. In their monthly magazine, he wrote the following-

“In all my years of ministry, I haven’t found a more effective, efficient, and powerful ministry than 3 ABN. Think about it–there’s not another ministry in the world with the impact and coverage that 3 ABN has when it comes to spreading the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14. Virtually every television and radio ministry of the Remnant Church uses 3 ABN as its primary carrier of Present Truth!

“Our work is to make sure that we’re listening to the Holy Spirit and are in full cooperation with Him, so we can be His tool for spreading these messages to a world that’s truly messed up with sin. Thank you for standing with us with the courage and determination to finish the task our Lord has given us.

“The Gospel to the World!” if not by television, radio, Internet , and media, then how? If not now when? Keep on keeping On with Jesus,” —James W. Gilley, 3 ABN President (January 2015 magazine)

Unbeknownst to our friend, Mr. Gilley , those points and questions he makes are truly answered by the last message to His church. Unfortunately , 3 ABN, and almost every other mainstream outlet for our church has– ignored and/or rejected the only message that contains our “Present Truth.”

But this is all understandable, however unfortunate, due to the fact that Satan and his minions know all too well Scripture, and they know that the Lord’s Elijah message, if obeyed, hastens their demise! As soon as the 144,000th one is found upon acceptance of His sealing message, their final time clock begins and it’s extremely short. Do we not think that Satan memorizes ALL Scripture and knows about the last prophet to come to the remnant church and his message(Mal. 4:5-6)? He hasn’t sit still whistling Dixie, rather went to work full time to trash and disrupt the Elijah message.

Ok, let us look at a direct question asked of brother Houteff concerning our subject–

WORK WITHIN OR WITHOUT?

Question No. 32:

On the one hand I find your literature teaching its believers not to leave the ranks of the Mother church, while on the other hand I find it causing no end of trouble to the church. How do you reconcile your precept with your example? Why not devote your time to evangelistic efforts, bringing erring souls to the knowledge of the Truth, and let the church alone?

Answer:

Assuredly we do believe that this is no time to be pulling apart, but indeed to be pressing together. And the message which we are bearing to the church, not only does not contain any doctrine or teaching which would warrant our leaving her ranks to become a separate cult, but does on the contrary absolutely forbid our doing so. For these reasons, we have from the beginning steadfastly refused, even in the face of abusive treatment, to leave the Mother church.

So far as we are concerned, therefore, existing controversy and schism is the responsibility of the Denomination’s leading brethren and none of ours, for we are only carrying out the Lord’s express precept and example never to sacrifice Truth. And they themselves admit that we should obey God rather than men. Upon them, therefore, rests the heavy guilt of repeating the tragic folly of the Jews in Christ’s time, by rejecting the message of the hour, “entering not in themselves” into the expansion of Truth, hindering those who would enter in, and casting out those who do enter in.

So, to devote our time to evangelizing the world while neglecting the church, would be a criminal act, one of highest treason both to God and to His people. The church must first be saved from her Laodicean condition of being “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” She, not the world, is just about to be spued out. She “is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard.”-Testimonies to Ministers, p. 15.

But in her present deplorable state of blindness and destitution as exposed by the True Witness (Rev. 3:14-18), she is utterly unfit for the task assigned her, and must be rescued from her sad deception before she can become a safe refuge and a saving influence to those who would join her ranks. Should God leave her in the Laodicean condition in which she now languishes, not only would she herself be lost but, in consequence, so also would the whole world along with her. He must therefore rouse her up or else raise up another to do the work which remains to be done.

Think, though, what an eternal joy it would be for Him to fit her up and use her to His glory, rather than to have to forsake her! So before raising up another as a last resort, He is trying to save her, and He will save her, as He promises:

“Satan will work his miracles to deceive, he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out. The chaff is separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouth. The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy ….

“The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed, and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.”-B-55-1886.

Were the Lord—Who Himself when upon earth spent all His time in the exclusive endeavor to save His lost church then—to send us to the world rather than to His lost church today, He would not only be bringing in the innocent to perish with the guilty, but would also be completely reversing His own practice and contradicting His own orders to His apostles that they preach present truth to the church first (Matt. 10:5, 6).

In mercy and in consistency with His eternal procedure, therefore, He purposed that “while the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among [His] people upon earth.” This is her special work. “Then the church which…at His coming [He] is to receive to Himself will be ‘a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.”’-The Great Controversy, p. 425.

“The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth,” furthermore says the Spirit of Truth, “because of the church-members who have never been converted, and those who were once converted but who have back slidden. What influence would these unconsecrated members have on new converts? Would they not make of no effect the God-given message which His people are to bear?”-Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 371.

But when the back slidden and the unconverted, the tares, are taken away, “then she will look forth ‘as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.”’-The Great Controversy, p. 425.

Yes, the honest heathen must and will be evangelized, but “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6) must be sought first. How thankful, therefore, and how cooperative they ought to be, and will be, when they discover that rather than being rich and increased with goods, and in need of nothing, they are actually “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”—in need of everything- and that the Lord is waiting for them to wake up to the fact so that He can make them what they ought to be.

For these reasons, God says now to work within the Laodicean congregation rather than without. And what He says, that He means, and we dare not disobey, regardless what men may say or do.

There can be no doubt about these instructions. We are to work within rather than work without. Yes, the time is coming when the great work (Loud Cry) will be exclusively that of reaching the world. For this is the crowning act of God’s final plan of redemption.

However the message tells us that there will be “Syrophoenicians” who by the Lord’s guiding shall come to us due to the fact that they are spiritually ready for the “message of the hour”. Brother Houteff speaks about this subject–

Question: When we are not working for sinners in Zion, then why not for sinners in the world? They are all sinners in the sight of God….He has given us light since 1844 and He does not mean for it to be hidden “under a bushel” but to lighten the world.”

Answer: What is here said is true. If we are not working for sinners in Zion, we should be working for sinners in the world. However, if we truly understand and believe the message, we will be working for the sinners in Zion so much of the time that we will have no time left to work for the sinners in the world, save for the “Syrophoenicians.”

Then we would be doing our full part to hasten the day of the Loud Cry when the light, which He gave us in 1844 for to lighten the world, but which we have all along hid “under a bushel,” will finally reach every sinner.

If the opposers of the SRod had lived in the days of John the Baptist, in the days of Christ, or in the first 3 1/2 years of the apostles, and had been in their present frame of mind, they would have taken their stand on the side of the rulers of Israel against the truth of that time.(Sym. Code, vol.1, no.7, p.7)

Let us look at a different perspective. Why do you suppose God would send someone in the “spirit and power of Elijah” as the last prophet instead of someone in the spirit and power of Noah for example?

Had He chose Noah, then this would have to be the type which the anti-type (our latter day prophet) would have to exemplify. Noah preached his message to the world. He gave it for many years and it was solemn.

Elijah on the other hand did not give it to the world , did he? His was strictly to his people, God’s true church at that time. Therefore Elijah’s solemn message of revival and reformation perfectly fits His end time message today in anti-type. This is what our dear beloved brother Victor T. Houteff started, and was inspired to do. This message , which the Lord began through him, is now our message. It goes strictly to the church.

Let us ever remember that in Rev. chapter 3, we the people of the Laodicean church are about to be “sprued out” unless we humble ourselves and accept an unpopular and often despised message of the Lord’s–Shepherd’s Rod. The world is not about to be sprued out–we are!

So let us now answer Mr. Gilley’s questions and concerns.

1)“In all my years of ministry, I haven’t found a more effective, efficient, and powerful ministry than 3 ABN.

Effective by what measure? By numbers added to the church roll? The number of Baptisms?

“The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth, because of the church members who have never been converted and those who were once converted but who have backslidden. What influence would these unconsecrated members have on new converts? Would they not make of no effect the God-given message which His people are to bear?” (Testimonies, vol. 6, p.371)

Whose work is it then now? If our Lord must have a pure church in which to pour out His Spirit to, to enable them to heal the sick , raise the dead, call the honest in heart out of Babylon, then the current effort to pollute (co-mingle the wheat and the tares) the church cannot be of God rather our adversary!

2) Virtually every television and radio ministry of the Remnant Church uses 3 ABN as its primary carrier of Present Truth!

Present Truth? How about truly looking at what “Present Truth” is? Did not the Lord promise to send His last day prophet Elijah to His church? Is not THIS MESSAGE our Present Truth today? is the prior present truth message of the “judgment of the dead” present truth now?

3)“The Gospel to the World!” if not by television, radio, Internet , and media, then how? If not now when?

When?

“But the days of purification of the church are hastening on apace. 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)

Do we now think that 3ABN and other host SDA channels, such as Amazing facts, Hope channel, etc, are spreading the 3 angels’ messages to the world right now? How can this be when anyone and everyone can stand before a pulpit, a studio , a YouTube video, and attempt to proclaim it to the world, whether a over-comer or not?

God has promised a remnant church purification prior to the Loud Cry not after—

“Only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One, will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it (The 3rd angel message) when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry.” (Review and Herald, No. 19, 1908)

“The Lord will work to purify His church. I tell you in truth, the Lord is about to turn and overturn in the institutions called by His name. Just how soon this refining process will begin I cannot say, but it will not be long deferred.” – Testimonies to Ministers, p. 373

“The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out–the chaff separated from the wheat.This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.” (Selected messages, vol. 2, p.380)

The world’s churches shall be purified as well–

“Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.” (Isaiah 52:1)

“For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many…And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles.

And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.”(Isaiah 66:15,16,19,20)

In closing, we have seen that right now , in God’s perfect plan, we are to spend our time reaching those within our church with His message of the hour. Later we will , God willing, proclaim the Loud Cry which shall give the final Gospel proclamation to the world.

The big difference being that, instead of any and all non-overcomers trying to promote a false Loud Cry, the real over-comers will do it with the Lord’s power and majestic abilities. The church purification produces His servants who will do this, whom He calls– “a great people and a strong (people) there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.”

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. (Joel 2:1-2)

Posted in End times, Loud Cry, Present Truth, Proper teachings, The Loud Cry, Warning our brethren | 3 Comments »

A Requirement For Entrance to the Upcoming Kingdom

December 27, 2014

Last week, we concluded our post series on the half hour silence. But in order for those of us who wish to remain standing in that day, we must come to grips with reality. The Lord’s word says we must have the all important seal in our foreheads.Today we are faced with the supreme challenge– to get that seal in our foreheads. Satan and his minions are pulling at all stops to prevent God’s people from accepting His truth for us today, thereby getting our seal. Let us look at this most important subject. The Spirit of prophecy says –

“Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads–it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved–(MS, no.173, 1902)

This is very clear. We are told we must have a solid foundation in the Truth “both intellectually and spiritually.” Once we have this, we cannot be moved. Wow! This is quite a deep and powerful statement. Let’s expand upon this a little more. How do we get “settled” into the Truth? Well, we must look to the Holy Scriptures, first and foremost.

Let us follow It’s simple plan.

First, we must “know” Him first to know His Truth. Can we agree with this? How do we get to know Him?

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his Commandments.” (1 John 2:3)

There it is. IF and I repeat IF we keep them we will know Him. If we carelessly keep some of them and continue to break others, can we expect to know Him?

“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his Commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”(1 John 2:4)

Second, we cannot fool God, He knows whether we are coveting, stealing, bearing false witness against our neighbor, carelessly keeping the Sabbath, etc.

Again, the Spirit of prophecy gives counsel—

“When one Commandment of the Decalogue is broken, the downward steps are almost certain.” (AH, p.58)

But once we truly give our best efforts to keep them each day of our life, we are then promised a spectacular promise. One that should make us leap for true joy and happiness.

“When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak whatever He hears. He will also declare to you what is to come.” (John 16:13)

Wow again! Do we understand this? It promises us to be guided into “all truth”! Did it say part truth? Of course not. That means that the Lord’s Spirit shall be a sort of “truth detector” in our lives. Now we ask, why is it important to know truth from error? Scripture is clear as well as the Rod message.

“He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them.” ( 2 Thes. 2:10)

We see that our adversary is the counter truth (deception), and will snare us if we don’t know and keep His truth. Brother Houteff explains –

“Even as it is a blessed thing to accept the truth, so it is a fearful thing to reject it. And rejection need not include all truth. To reject a part may be just as fatal as to reject the whole. So all should beware.” (SRod, vol. 1, p.160)

There are other aspects we need to know and obey.

Satan’s often successful trick is to have us teach and spread the Lord’s present truth , yet we ourselves are tripping up in our daily walk.

“There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew their Master’s will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had not corresponding works. These who were so familiar with prophecy and the treasures of divine wisdom should have acted their faith. They should have commanded their households after them, that by a well-ordered family they might present to the world the influence of the truth upon the human heart.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p.213)

So as we see, our daily walk must be the prior prerequisite to our ability to teach and proclaim His Truth. Additionally, we as present truth believers, know that the message is clear. We must sigh and cry for our own sins and those of the church. Both are required.

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.

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, Q-21)

Let me give you two examples of brethren who, even unbeknowest to themselves, are showing the Lord they are not sealed in the forehead with His present truth requirements.

1) A brother after being showed that the Elijah message condemns unholy dressing (specifically worldly short shirts) in the Lord’s sanctuary, says to the sister who warns him, “Sister we must have the Lord’s love and patience. Let them be, they will learn to do the right thing in time, the Lord will work on their heart.”

While this is true it is not complete truth. It smacks the face of Inspired counsel. The brother is guilty of the following–

I have been shown that God here illustrates how He regards sin among those who profess to be His commandment-keeping people. Those whom He has specially honored with witnessing the remarkable exhibitions of His power, as did ancient Israel, and who will even then venture to disregard His express directions, will be subjects of His wrath. He would teach His people that disobedience and sin are exceedingly offensive to Him and are not to be lightly regarded.

He shows us that when His people are found in sin they should at once take decided measures to put that sin from them, that His frown may not rest upon them all. But if the sins of the people are passed over by those in responsible positions, His frown will be upon them, and the people of God, as a body, will be held responsible for those sins. (Test. for the Church,vol. 3, p.265)

2) A brother , after being shown that the Elijah message condemns plate passing(bag) in His holy sanctuary during Sabbath services, justifies his dis-obedience because a few passages from Spirit of Prophecy seem to show it’s practice back in Ellen White’s day. The message clearly tells us that the Lord accepts only “free-will” offerings. A deposit box somewhere in the church property is to be where the people “freely” give their Tithes and offerings. Today, each and every Sabbath we see someone do the song and dance up there from the podium, basically begging for money. Then doing the “Roman” custom of putting the bag in our face to compulse us to give.

The Lord said of Elijah–

“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (Matt 17:11)

In case any have their doubts on what the Elijah message tells us about Plate passing (today it’s the bag) in His sanctuary , let us read–

Look and see what a difference there is between God’s method for supporting His work, and the Roman system that is now carried on by the church: plate-passing, high-powered speeches, Big Day, Book Day, high pressuring, campaigning, selling, auctioneering, Harvest Ingathering, birthday offerings, Christmas-tree hangings, baby weighings, Dorcas sales, investment funds, and what not! As none of these squeezings are Biblical, and as all of them are Pagan in origin and condemned by the Scriptures, they could not possibly be considered freewill offerings. Search and see.

Instead of Sabbath-keeping the day is devoted to money raising, and instead of a house of worship, the church is turned into a den of thieves — disgusting to observers, and most discouraging for a member to invite a friend or a neighbor to a church service. Is there any wonder that God does not now bring many into the church? (“Testimonies,” Vol. 6, p. 371)(Jezreel Letter, no. 9, p.8)

Do we not believe that the Lord knew what we needed to be instructed on and His requirements of us prior to His church judgment? Truly the message of Elijah is our “test”, our final decision on what side we stand! Belief or Doubt,sealed in the forehead or left without.

The message–

“Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed! Unless they repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work and in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God’s sealing approval.” (Test. for the Church, vol. 3, p.267)

In closing, we cannot afford to be careless on obtaining this seal in our forehead in these last hours. Let us know and keep each of His Commandments and sigh and cry for the sins in our life and in the church. As we do this, His promised Spirit of Truth will lead us to know His Elijah message and it’s prophecies. Once we learn it and the powerful truths, we can’t help but spread it to our lukewarm brethren. Like the ol commercial used to say, “try it, you’ll like it”.

Posted in God's sealings, Present Truth, The Spirit of truth | 3 Comments »

Will the Jews of Old’s Mistakes be Ours?

October 25, 2014

About a year ago, I discovered an SDA online discussion site known as “Maritime Second Advent Believers Online”. The Spirit had me looking for more avenues to proclaim His current pleading message of Elijah. What I found was both good and bad.

Good, because in rather quick fashion I was called out as a “Shepherd’s Rod” believer and certain ones commented how I was teaching falsehood and such. But unlike other SDA online sites, which usually boot people out who stand up for His Elijah message, the site stuck with me. And we’ve been able to receive some good and encouraging comments. Many reports have enlightened some on this site.

But the bad, is what this post will deal with. The experiences up to this point, on this Maritime site, have led me to notice a glaring HUGE mistake that is certainly widespread throughout the Seventh-day Adventist community. It’s an ancient mistake that we are told not to repeat.

In an article written by Stephen E. Robinson called “The Law after Christ” he wrote, “Among the Jews of Jesus’ day, esteem for the Law was so great that some even refused to accept anything but the five books of Moses as scripture. The Samaritans also rejected the idea of any scripture beyond the Law. Moreover, centuries of reverence for the Law as the revelation of God to Moses had created an almost fanatical devotion to its precepts in the hearts and minds of most Jews.

Thus, the Law of Moses was no longer perceived in Jesus’ day as an expression of God’s will; rather, for Jews the Law of Moses had gradually become identified as the divine will itself—perfect, absolute, forever unchanging and unchangeable. The Law was thought of as the will of God exactly, precisely expressed; therefore, any deviation at all from the letter of the Law of Moses was also deviation from God. There was no room for flexibility or “extenuating circumstances.”

Most of us would agree with that assessment. The underlying fact being that “Moses” was the end all for their guidance and even salvation. In other words, no matter how clear and truthful Christ’s teachings were, they could not be relied on because God had spoken through Moses, and that concluded all that was needed by the Jews!

How then does this serious mistake and spiritual blind spot apply to us today as SDA?

Many of us believe that Ellen White as founding prophetess of our church is a type of “end all”. Just as the Jews thought Moses was! What she says is all-encompassing, there is no more truth needed by our church.

“We know that God spake unto Moses:as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.”(John 9:29)

Are we today saying this exact sentiment to those who bring up the true end time spokesman for the Lord–Victor T.Houteff? “We know Ellen White but we don’t know this Victor Houteff “, many say.

On the SDA maritime website, I have seen several comments to this effect. No matter how much truth is revealed in Victor’s words, they bypass it as if to say “We are rich, and don’t need anything more, we have Ellen White and Scripture.”

How little do they realize that their own prophetess, they dearly hold on to, said the following–

“Those who allow prejudice to bar the mind against the reception of truth cannot receive the divine enlightenment. Yet, when a view of Scripture is presented,many do not ask, Is it true–in harmony with God’s word? but, By whom is it advocated? and unless it comes through the very channel that pleases them, they do not accept it. So thoroughly satisfied are they with their own ideas that they will not examine the Scripture evidence with a desire to learn, but refuse to be interested, merely because of their prejudices.”(Testimonies to Ministers, p.106-107)

“Truth is eternal, and conflict with error will only make manifest its strength. We should never refuse to examine the Scriptures with those who, we have reason to believe, desire to know what is truth. Suppose a brother held a view that differed from yours, and he should come to you, proposing that you sit down with him and make an investigation of that point in the Scriptures; should you rise up, filled with prejudice, and condemn his ideas, while refusing to give him a candid hearing?

The only right way would be to sit down as Christians and investigate the position presented in the light of God’s word, which will reveal truth and unmask error. To ridicule his ideas would not weaken his position in the least if it were false, or strengthen your position if it were true. If the pillars of our faith will not stand the test of investigation,it is time that we knew it. There must be no spirit of Pharisaism cherished among us.”(Ibid, p.108)

“When a message comes in the name of the Lord to His people, no one may excuse himself from an investigation of its claims. No one can afford to stand back in an attitude of indifference and self-confidence, and say: “I know what is truth. I am satisfied with my position. I have set my stakes, and I will not be moved away from my position, whatever may come. I will not listen to the message of this messenger; for I know that it can not be truth.” It was from pursuing this very course that the popular churches were left in partial darkness, and that is why the messages of heaven have not reached them.” (Testimonies on Sabbath School work, p.65)

The course of the Jews, at the leadership of the Pharisees, was to condemn the beautiful and powerful “new truths” that Jesus revealed to them. Only the few had the moral courage and deep love to listen hard and “investigate” the matter.

It is no different today. Christ, who promised us the “Elijah” to come (Mal. 4;5), is going up against His people , through His spokesman the Elijah, all over again. Except the names have changed, it’s Ellen White instead of Moses this time.

Inspiration has a few things to say about following “man” or in this case “woman” to the neglect of advancing Truth.

“Every age has had its multitude who, instead of being baptized to follow Christ and His Truth, were baptized to follow man. They joined the multitude in the church instead of the multitude in heaven. Consequently, Christ is a stranger to them, and when truth unfolds, they call it error, then follow men and reject the truth. This folly has been repeated again and again, with the result that the few faithful ones who have followed Christ and His truth, have been cast out of the churches and compelled to start all over again.

So it is today. But to these outcasts of Zion, comes the solacing voice: “Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at His word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but He shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.” Isa. 66:5. “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” Isa. 52:7.(Answerer, vol. 3, Q-55)

The following applicable Q and A should forever settle the question why we cannot expect our beloved prophetess to have spoken all the light that was to come to God’s people. While a bit long, it is well worth reading.

WILL THE KINGDOM BE SET UP BEFORE THE MILLENNIUM?

Question No. 42:

“The Great Controversy,” pp. 322, 323, teaches that “not until the personal advent of Christ can His people receive the kingdom….But when Jesus comes, He confers immortality upon His people; and then He calls them to inherit the kingdom of which they have hitherto been only heirs.” Will you please help harmonize the Bible and “The Shepherd’s Rod” with these and other passages in Sister White’s writings in regard to the setting up of the Kingdom?

Answer:

Although the doctrine of the Kingdom may not appear quite so complete under the lens of Sister White’s writings as under the lens of the Rod, one dare not thus superficially reject either, but must the more studiously compare both views of the doctrine under the super-lens of the Bible. He must keep in mind that we are not given license to harmonize the Bible with any other writings, but are charged to measure all others by It.

First of all, in order to do justice to the Scriptures, to Sister White’s writings, and to the Rod the position of each on the subject must be viewed in the light of the Scriptures, which incontrovertibly teach that the Promised Land will be reinhabited by the Lord’s own converted people. (See Isaiah 2; Micah 4, Ezekiel 36, 37 Jeremiah 3 1-33).

As to Sister White’s statement in The Great Controversy, she is there speaking of the Kingdom complete, after the dead are raised, at the time the saints receive it. This was the only phase of the subject–the consummate phase–that Providence had made known when she wrote. Now as the scroll of prophetic Truth has unrolled further since her day, the Kingdom in reality is seen to have an intermediate, Davidian phase, as well as the final one heretofore known.

Besides the prophecies relating to the literal–the Davidian–Kingdom, the Bible contains many other prophetic subjects which the writings of Sister White do not even mention, let alone treat of. And if the Lord does not now reveal them to the church to meet her need today she will not be prepared for their fulfillment but will be left to perish in her undone Laodicean condition. These prophecies must therefore be revealed in order to strengthen the church in her final warfare. Otherwise, for what purpose were they written?

No prophet of God has ever forged a complete prophetic chain of events, with no links missing. It has taken many inspired writers to complete the long chain of prophecy. The mind, therefore which takes the position that Sister White has done what no prophet in or out of the Bible has ever done, does so at the utter disregard of actual Biblical procedure and also of revealed Truth.

She herself says that “no man, however honored of Heaven, has ever attained to a full understanding of the great plan of redemption, or even to a perfect appreciation of the Divine purpose in the work for his own time. Men do not fully understand what God would accomplish by the work which He gives them to do; they do not comprehend, in all its bearings, the message which they utter in His name.”–The Great Controversy, p. 343.

Some persons, being of the parrot kind, utter parrot-like statements, never stopping to think what they say, and seemingly never caring whether their statements stand or fall. Such are they who say that no other event or events can come before, between, or after those set forth in Sister White’s writings.

Should one insist that the continuity of events recorded in Early Writings, pp. 15-17, must be taken as absolute, and that no other event or events can be sandwiched in, then he is getting himself into deep water, for the pages mentioned in no wise even intimate either the seven last plagues or the millennium!

Again: the Jews rejected the Lord because not all of what the prophets taught and wrote was found in the teachings of Moses. “We know,” they said, “that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence He is.” John 9:29.

As no prophet’s writings ever predicted the entire Truth needed by the church to carry her clear through to the Kingdom, and as other prophets followed, either enlarging upon or adding to the prophecies already recorded in the Scriptures, then for anyone to turn down the good tidings of the Kingdom on the grounds that this phase of the Kingdom is not found in Sister White’s writings is for him to take the same inexcusable and fatal stand as did the Jews. It is to say, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Rev. 3:17. It is this attitude that compels God to spue out of His mouth the lukewarm, satisfied Laodiceans.

The eleventh-hour message has been timed and designed to reveal the Davidian Kingdom rising a new before the appearing of Christ in the clouds. Having no direct light, however, on this phase of the Kingdom, The Great Controversy could no more have expressed itself in the definite terms which the message today uses, than could William Miller have expressed himself on the subject of the cleansing of the sanctuary, in such terms as we read in The Great Controversy.

Of necessity, any statements relative to a subject which is still out of sight in the unfolding of the Scroll, are made only in incidental terms of truth as it is at the time seen or commonly understood. And if the common understanding of these incidental statements be wrong, the writer cannot be held responsible for that which he has borrowed from others or seen but very dimly and therefore expressed very indefinitely.

For example, in Christ’s day “the doctrine of a conscious state of existence between death and the resurrection was held by many of those who were listening to Christ’s words. The Saviour knew of their ideas, and He framed his parable so as to inculcate important truths through these preconceived opinions. He held up before His hearers a mirror wherein they might see themselves in their true relation to God. He used the prevailing opinion to convey the idea He wished to make prominent to all….”–Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 263.

This circumstance is natural and common to every writer treating of Present Truth, beginning with the Old Testament writers, and continuing ever since, and will thus be until every component part of the Truth is made known. This is borne out in the work of John the Baptist. He was to proclaim, not the setting up of the Kingdom, but the coming of the King.

But in announcing the one, he incidentally had to answer questions concerning the other. When speaking of the coming King, he expressed himself in terms of revealed Truth. But when circumstantially alluding to the coming Kingdom, on which there was no special light in his day, he necessarily expressed himself in terms of the doctrines as then commonly understood.

Nevertheless, when the further unrolling of the scroll revealed that the Kingdom was not to be set up at that time, then the honest, truth-seeking ones did not accuse either John or Christ, but joyously watched the scroll unfold, and jubilantly marched on with the Truth. Not so, though, with the vast majority of the Jews. Their pride of opinion, forbidding them to forgo their errors and to embrace advancing Truth, led them deeper into error.

“Thus it was,” says the Spirit of Prophecy, “that the Jews did in the days of Christ, and we are warned not to do as they did, and be led to choose darkness rather than light, because there was in them an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God.”–Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, p. 66; Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 30.

So The Great Controversy and Early Writings make the subject of the Kingdom just as clear as the partial unrolling of the scroll permitted the writer to view it, in only one of its phases, at the time she wrote both books.

While The Great Controversy may omit showing that the establishment of the Kingdom and the inheriting of it are two different events, elsewhere the Spirit of Prophecy does do so: While the apostles, it says, “were not to behold the coming of the kingdom in their day, the fact that Jesus bade them pray for it, is evidence that in God’s own time it will surely come.

“The Kingdom of God’s grace is now being established, as day by day hearts that have been full of sin and rebellion yield to the sovereignty of His love. But the full establishment of the kingdom of His glory will not take place until the second coming of Christ to this world. ‘The kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven,’ is to be given to ‘the people of the saints of the Most High.'”-Mount of Blessing, p. 159.

Every Christian should remember that as the Truth is ever-advancing, It will not be found today where It was yesterday, and that therefore Christ’s followers must advance with It. They will not follow the examples of the Jews and the Romans.

When Moses wrote the first part of the Bible, he was not given all the light which God intended to reveal to His people through the ages. With each approaching hour for the Truth to advance, came first one prophet, then another, in a long succession ending with John the Baptist. Then came Christ, the apostles, the reformers, William Miller, and Sister White, each one in turn teaching truths which could not be borne out entirely by the writings of any one predecessor. To find all the Truth thus progressively revealed, the writings of all must be collaborated.

For instance, in setting forth the law of the Passover, and in commanding its observance Moses wrote: “Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: and ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.” Ex. 12:5, 6.

The reason which Moses assigns for the Passover observance is that it is to commemorate Israel’s going out of Egypt (Deut. 16:1-3). John the Baptist, however, imputes its significance to the coming of Christ, “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29), while the apostles assign it to His crucifixion: “For even Christ our passover,” says Paul, “is sacrificed for us.” 1 Cor. 5:7. And the significance of keeping the Passover, he then attaches to the ordinance of the Lord’s supper (1 Cor. 11 :26).

Similarly, Moses did not explain that the Levitical priesthood in the earthly sanctuary (Ex. 40:15) was only a provisional and thus a temporary one, a figure of Christ’s priesthood in the heavenly sanctuary, as the apostles explained (Heb. 6:19, 20; 9:12, 26).

Failing to advance with the advancing Truth, each generation of Jews found fault with its respective prophets, culminating with the apostles and the very Son of God Himself. The Jews justified their criminal actions on the ground that the claims of their prophets, of Christ, and of the apostles, were not founded upon Moses’ writings. So while boasting of Moses’ writings, they denied and killed the prophets who came after him–a solemn warning to us, lest doing as they did, we meet their fate!

The main question therefore is not as to whether Sister White’s or Moses’ or this one’s or that one’s writings contain all the messages for this day, but rather simply as to whether they are found in, and supported by, the Bible.

The Rod consequently does not claim that its message is found in its entirety in the writings of any one particular prophet, but rather in the writings of all the prophets–“here a little, and there a little.” Isa. 28:13.

Let none, therefore, treacherously use Sister White’s writings, as the Jews used Moses’ writings, against the advance of Truth, and to their own eternal hurt. From every angle approached, the Bible clears the subject of the Kingdom, making impossible one’s erring if he follows precisely what the Word says concerning it….”(Answerer, vol. 2, Q-42)

Let us ask ourselves the following soul searching questions:

1) Do we really believe that the Lord stopped His messages through prophets, with Ellen White? If so, then we must throw out the Lord’s promise to bring a prophet to us “before the great and dreadful day of the Lord”–the “Elijah”(Mal. 4:5-6).

2) If we throw out His promise, then can we be held guiltless for ignoring the message that was promised to come? Did the Lord ever hold blameless any of His people for rejecting His prophets of the past? The Lord does not change (Mal.3:6)

3) if the Jews were lost because of failing to advance with the Truth, are we then to be considered safe, if we do the same by ignoring or rejecting, the man who professed to bring the Elijah message to our church? Investigate my dear brethren–Investigate!

In closing, let us remember that the Jews of old made a fatal mistake–they trusted in their “man” Moses to the exclusion of God’s advanced Truth. Ellen White brought us tremendous beautiful truths, of which we are eternally thankful for. But she was not the “Elijah” that was to come and “restore all things”. She set the table for the Lord’s last prophet to speak the truth of His soon to come church judgment and His soon to come Kingdom. Let us be ever ready to listen and heed–advancing Truth.

Posted in Present Truth, Proper teachings, The spirit of predjudice, The Spirit of truth | 3 Comments »

Light Illuminated

June 7, 2014

This week was one of those weeks, where one gets a revelation that truly makes us go–“wow”! As an Elijah messenger to or people, I am constantly studying ways to improve my delivery, to solidify the message in a more straight forward and understandable way. The Lord came through again!

In Timothy we read, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”(2 Tim. 2:15).

The message gives us an almost uncontrollable love for our brethren. We realize the danger that faces the church unless we humble ourselves and take up the largely unpopular message of Elijah.

So the Lord divinely showed me something that really explained this message in a different way, and from a new angle, that may dig the dagger of truth into those who may be still stubbornly resisting the last message to the Laodiceans.

Ok let’s look now, at this approach and angle.

First, we know that we as Laodiceans need something. Why? Because our Lord said so.

“Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Rev. 3:17-18).

Ok, we all know this (or should). What our Lord said is that we have this stuffy proud feeling that we know the Lord and that we don’t need anything over and above what we know, to make it to the kingdom. I think we all can agree that this is a fair description.

So understanding the above, we must now admit that there IS SOMETHING we must learn or know, else He would not admonish us for being naked and without hardly anything. In other words, we need to stop deceiving ourselves, and awake to the fact that there is something out there that the Lord want’s us to know.

In this fascinating deception we find ourselves in , we read, “ “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, Vol. 3, pp. 252-253.

I underlined two important points I’d like to address. First, we see that Inspiration confirms what the Lord said about us. But she adds that we are “honestly” deceived. We are so convinced that we have it all (truth) that we aren’t looking for more. What’s worse is that our “shepherd’s” (pastors and leaders) aren’t helping. They too are in the same condition!

The second underlined point gives us a big clue as to what we need. We need a “cutting and severe” testimony that breaks our lukewarm condition. In other words– a straight testimony, with no sugar-coating. And we know one thing for sure, the “peace and safety” message that we hear almost every Sabbath from the pulpit is not it.

Ok let’s admit that we need something, and that something is obviously a message from the “True Witness”. And how has this True Witness in times past, delivered it? Yes, the PROPHETS. As a church body, He sends His message strictly through His prophets. In our case through His promised Elijah (Mal. 4:5).

All our Scriptures are written by His prophets. In (Amos 3:7) we read, “Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”

So we have found that we need two things up to this point:

1) A important message from our Lord

2) A message to be delivered by a prophet.

Ok, what is the word of God in relations to an end time prophet? It is found in the last book of the old testament–Malachi. I like to think of this book as His “sign off” letter of the OT. In other words it has His last words of extreme importance in them.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” (Mal. 4:5).

We see that this Elijah is to come right before this great and terrible day. Ah hah! This should be what the Lord is talking about! For this is the LAST message that He will send before the end.

3) The anti-typical Elijah prophet has the Lord’s last message.

Recently I was involved in an online discussion with a solidly entranced Laodicean woman . I pointed out the fact that there was one last prophet (Elijah) to come to our SDA church. She responded, “Oh that doesn’t mean a literal prophet, it’s a message.” Huh?

Let’s look at counsel from the very prophetess she claims to believe in.

“The language of the Bible should be explained according to it’s obvious meaning, unless a symbol or figure is employed.” (Great Controversy, p.598)

So instead of believing the Lord’s literal word, she must twist that into a non-literal meaning. Needless to say I pointed this out to her. But it was like water off a Duck’s back. It did not register.

I also pointed out that that kind of reasoning is right up Satan’s alley. When God said a straight testimony “Surely you shall die”, Satan twisted it to say “Surely you shall not die”. In other words she was not believing in the clear unmistakable word of God. And His promise as well.

When God makes a promise to send somebody, we don’t dare say, “No, you won’t God” do we?

Ok, let’s get to the quote that opened up this new idea of explaining the message to our brethren.

“I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people.

The testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance, and all that truly receive it will obey it and be purified.”(Test. for the Church, vol. 1, p.181)

Let’s carefully go over this very important inspired word of God. We see that a “shaking” is going to happen among us, and that this shaking won’t be caused by anything else other than “the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans.”

The counsel here represents those who are delivering that straight testimony for the Lord, beginning with and including the anti-typical Elijah. Notice something VERY IMPORTANT. This message is given only to us! Not the world. We, the Laodiceans, are the ones the Lord must give it to. It is us who are about to be sprued out not the world.(Rev.3:16)

Next we see that this message will cause division among us. Some will “rise up” indicating that they will not only be against it, they will be strongly against it because it unbearable. It obviously exposes our sins and lukewarmness, making them uncomfortable and defensive.

The last underlined point gives the seriousness of it all. THE CHURCH DESTINY HANGS UPON THIS MESSAGE. AND THAT IT WILL BE LARGELY–REJECTED.

So we can add two more points to our list.

4) Our Church’s ( Seventh Day Adventists) future destiny ( our eternal life) hangs upon this message.

5) This last message of Elijah will be almost entirely rejected.

The last point in that reference establishes what this message does to us upon reception and obedience to it. We repent and thus are purified. What does these miraculous things? THE LAST MESSAGE FROM THE LORD, It has such a transforming effect upon us.

6) This last message causes repentance and brings eternal life to those who accept it.

This is so important let us read it again,

“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, vol.3, p.253)

We see that this last message “breaks our security”, it exposes our true condition. If we are walking in its light, the message does not bother us. But if we are not walking in this light, refusing it for whatever reason, we shall either “rise up against it”, be intimidated by it, or humble ourselves and draw close to it causing us to have “deep repentance” and obedience. The Lord knew what He was doing in bringing this Elijah message. It works!

“The light which will lighten the earth with its’ glory will be called a false light, by those who refuse to walk in its advancing glory.” (Review and Herald, May 27, 1890)

“In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their 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?” Because they did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties, of the messages of God, but persistently said, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.”(Maranatha, p.220)

This is getting more and more clear. We continue to see a clear and unmistakable rejection from God’s remnant people of the last message. They see it as dangerous and not from the Lord.

“..but prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says, “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5). Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say, “You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.”(1 SM p.412.2)

The above is one of two clear and unmistakable Inspired quotes (the other is Mal. 4:5) showing that the Lord would send a male prophet to His remnant church at the very end of time. But we see, again, a rejection from the people.

Are we starting to see a common theme here? Yes, indeed!

So let us now add up the meaning of this post. What we can now see is that it is the REJECTED MESSAGE that is the one we are to follow. This is the one the Lord has sent! The real message that the vast majority of us SDA think is false!

We can add our last point now.

7) The last day message that saves us (seals us) is the rejected message of Elijah.

With this clear conclusion, we must now ask ourselves–What message has come to us SDA promoting that it is the Elijah message and been soundly rejected?

The answer– The Shepherd’s Rod.

Search our history, there has never been any another Elijah message that went church wide around the world that was soundly rejected and labelled as false by our leaders.

In closing, let us humble ourselves and begin to accept this rejected message, for as we’ve seen , it is the one we need. The Lord said we as Laodiceans need something, and the rejected Elijah message is the sure message that saves us from being “sprued out”. Amen.

Posted in Elijah, End times, Present Truth, Proper teachings, Witnessing | 7 Comments »

A Stephen-Sermon to the Church Today (part 2 of 2)

April 26, 2014

So long as Satan can successfully carry on this subversive work of flooding the church, he will never move a finger to persecute any for joining her, lest thereby he thwart his own evil design to honeycomb her ranks with his agents–the flood, the tares. To insure the success of this insidious work, he casts out those who dare live a consistent Christian life there among the tares, while he is going about with his extinguisher turned on, trying to put out every lifespark of light.

Finally, though, as prophecy discloses, the tables are turned, and the long controversy ends with the Lord’s casting out and destroying (Rev. 12:16) Satan’s agents, the “flood” (the tares, the bad fish), and then lighting the earth with the glory of His angel (Rev. 18:1)!

Here we see that the approaching work of making rid of the flood, thereby freeing the church from the unconverted, is the work of “the harvest” in “the end of the world.” Matt. 13:39. Next we must ascertain whether the “end of the world” brings the millennial age of peace or the great time of trouble such as never was. To determine which, we must consult subsequent events.

Since it is after the earth swallows the flood, that the dragon is to be wroth with the woman and to go “to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (Rev. 12:16, 17), there is no escaping the conclusion that the harvest, in taking away from the church Satan’s flood, his multiplied tares, does not bring the millennium of peace. Indeed not, but rather it brings God’s wrath–the time of trouble such as never was: the time in which His people in Babylon are called to “come out of her” and into His purified church–the Kingdom.

The harvest, therefore, is a short period of time just before, rather than the moment at, the appearing of Christ in the clouds. It is the very last days of probation for earth’s kingdoms,– the days and work which bring the end of the world.

The fact that there is a remnant (that which is left) of the seed of the woman, shows that her seed is divided into two parts, and that consequently the symbolism represents three groups of people: (1) the woman; (2) the first part of her seed–those who in this instance are not the remnant; (3) the second part of her seed–those who are the remnant.

In the light of this symbolical representation, the woman, herself, is seen to symbolize the mother part of the church–God’s appointed and Spirit-filled ministers who bring in the bornagain (John 3:3) converts. The first part of her seed must, accordingly, be the first fruits, the 144,000, who, separated from the sinners that were among them, are taken to Mount Sion, there to stand with the Lamb (Rev. 14:1).

Hence, “the remnant of her seed” are in this instance those who are yet in the world when Babylon rides the beast (Rev. 17). Thus they are the second and last fruits which are to be taken to the purified church, the Kingdom, where there is neither sin nor fear of Babylon’s plagues falling upon them (Rev. 18:4).

And now, since in her progression of time, the woman represents each successive ministry, therefore at the time that the dragon is wroth with her, she necessarily must represent the last ordained ministry, the 144,000, those who bring all their brethren from all nations to God’s “holy mountain Jerusalem.” Isa. 66:20.

With this light shining on the subject, the truth is clearly seen that after the earth swallows the flood, after the angels separate the wicked (“the tares,” the “bad” “fish”) from the righteous (the “wheat,” the “good” “fish”) in the church, and take the righteous to Mount Sion (“the barn,” “the vessels” Matt. 13:30, 48), the dragon will then be angry with the woman (the servants of God), and as a result will war against the remnant (the second fruits, those who are then to be called out of Babylon–Rev. 18:4).

“In the last days,” says Micah in his forecast of the time in which the first fruits stand with the Lamb on Mount Zion, and in which the second fruits leave Babylon to go to Mount Zion, “it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

“And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off, and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.” Mic. 4:1-4.

Conclusively, therefore, the Kingdom-church must be “set up” before the Devil turns upon the remnant, those who are left behind and who are then being gathered, and against whom he wars for refusing to worship him in the person of the beast and his image (Rev. 13:15).

In this cumulative light, one sees never so clearly that though the Lord is to allow persecution to come anew upon His people in Babylon, He will do so only to serve His own end to cause them to get out of her dominion (as He caused His ancient people to get out of Egypt), and to go into the Kingdom-church–the only place on earth where there will be no sin and upon which the destruction of the plagues will not fall. (See Revelation 18:4).

“Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee,” O Lord, and “the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain.” Ps. 76:10.

The separation of the wicked from among the righteous while sojourning in the wilderness in Moses’ time, before entering the land of promise, was effected not only for the benefit of the church then (typical Israel) but also for an ensample to the church today (antitypical Israel), typically pointing to the forthcoming separation of the bad from among the good (Matt. 13:48), before the good are taken into the Kingdom, their own land, “the barn.” Matt. 13:30. “All these things,” therefore says Paul, “happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” 1 Cor. 10:11.

Through the forewarning, herein, of this imminent providence, the Lord is again pleading with each Present-truth believer:

“Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

“The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on Mine altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory.

“Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows? 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.” Isa. 60:1-12.

So, dear brethren of Laodicean, plain it is that “while the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth.”– The Great Controversy, p. 425.

Then, “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. At that time “only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it [the Third Angel’s Message] when it shall have swelled into the loud cry.”–The Reviev and Herald, No. 19, 1908.

As a flaming torch in the blackness of night, stands forth the truth that the time of trouble such as never was, finds the church free from the flood of tares, free from the “bad fish,” and consequently able not only to withstand the Devil but also to go forth conquering and to conquer in the mighty power of Michael, Whose standing up delivers “every one that shall be found written in the book.” Dan. 12:1.

From this rehearsal of the long history of God’s people, we see that Abraham is the only one with whom God was not compelled, in order to get the desired results, to resort to means other than the simple command: “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee.” Gen. 12:1.

Abraham’s unquestioning and unfailing faith and his unhesitating obedience to the Lord’s naked command in every instance, made him a “friend of God,” the “father of the faithful,” and a great pillar of living truth, with a name to be remembered and venerated throughout time and eternity.

Jacob’s faith in the promises of God, and his overmastering desire to work himself into the Lord’s plans and to carry them out, resulted in his becoming the progenitor of the first fruits or ministry of the Kingdom-church–those who stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion (Rev. 14:1).

Joseph’s uncompromising fidelity to principle brought him into highest estate, in which he became the world’s greatest provisioner as a type of Christ, the Great Spiritual Provisioner.

Moses, in his meekness (humbleness) and in his determination “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25), rose to be the greatest general, leader, and deliverer of all times, and even to stand on the mount of transfiguration.

The apostles’ sacrifice of life for the sake of Christ and His Truth, won them the exalted honor of having their names placed in the foundations of the Holy City (Rev. 21:14).

Luther’s fearless and persevering efforts to lift up the down-trodden Truth (Dan. 8:11, 12; 11:31), fathered forth Protestantism.

Yet, Brother, Sister, none of these singularly glorious estates is greater than is yours to stand with the Lamb on Mount Sion. We beseech you, therefore, to “arise, shine; for thy light is come”! Isa. 60:1.

Now that on the one hand the Lord is pleading that you take hold of His mighty light of Truth and thereby be separated from sin, that you may escape His vengeance, be delivered from the coming trouble, and have a part in proclaiming the Loud Cry of the Three Angels’ Messages; and that on the other hand Satan is pleading that you take hold of his all-exhausted extinguisher; you are brought to the valley of decision.

Now has come the Zero hour to decide whether or not you will, if the Lord be God, follow His mighty Truth, or if Baal be God, follow his mighty men.

“Behold,” says the Saviour, “I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” Rev. 3:20.

Will you not, then, do as did these faithful men of old, and be God s great men today! O let nothing, Brother, Sister, longer compromise and neutralize your efforts to obtain the promise now–the unmatched privilege of being Zion’s priests and kings!

“He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith…” Rev. 3:22.

(V.T. Houteff, Answerer Book 2, page 13- 21)

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A Stephen-Sermon to the Church Today (part 1 of 2)

April 19, 2014

“Men, brethren, and fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, and said unto him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into the land which I shall shew thee.” Acts 7:2, 3. “So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him” (Gen. 12:4), and went at His lead into Canaan, wherein he dwelt, though the Lord “gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his foot on: yet He promised that He world give it to him for a possession, and to his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.” Acts 7:5.

Then in time, the Lord purposed to lead Jacob and his household out of the land of Canaan, down into Egypt. Knowing, though, that the sons of Jacob would not go as did Abraham, by His simply telling them to, He therefore in His providence put into the heart of Jacob a greater love for Joseph than for his other children. This begot in them envy and jealousy, which in turn begot hatred and greed, manifesting itself in their cruel treatment and sale of Joseph, which resulted in his being carried away a slave into Egypt.

Years later when Joseph’s brothers went into Egypt to obtain food during the seven-year famine, Joseph, recognizing Providential design in the strange drama of his life from enslavement to enthronement, said unto his brothers as he “made himself known” unto them: “Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life…and…to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.” Gen. 45:1, 5, 7.

Thus the Lord providentially exalted Joseph to share the throne of Egypt in order to predispose Pharaoh to grant Israel permission to enter into the land.

Next, to draw them there, He brought thereabouts the seven years of plenty, followed by the seven years of famine. Whereupon He sent word to Jacob that Joseph was yet alive. At the overjoying news, there sprang up in the father an irresistible desire to see his son. This and the lifetaking hunger upon Joseph’s brethren, compelled them to remove into Pharaoh’s land of plenty, where they lived like kings.

Not purposing, however, to leave them there forever, the Lord did not let their living continue as pleasant as at the first, lest they refuse to take heed to Moses when he should come with the word that the time had arrived for them to go back home. But He brought about another saving providence, this time permitting unbearable hardship to befall them, so that when called they would respond gladly. So slaves they had to become: and still worse, they had to be bereaved of their male children, then mercilessly driven with cruel lashes upon their backs to produce ever more bricks.

Thus the power of the Spirit combined. horrible suffering from their hard Egyptian servitude, was an over-powering force compelling them to forsake the heathen land and to return to their own.

Then, on their way back they met with another providence–their long wilderness sojourn, forty years in all–which God permitted for the express purpose of separating from them the unbelieving, unfaithful multitude who accompanied the Movement out of Egypt.

These being destroyed, the survivors miraculously crossed the Jordan, just as they had forty years before crossed the Red Sea. There removing from their midst the one sinner, Achan, who then sprang up among them, they entered into the promised land and became the most glorious kingdom in their day. Slaves become kings–what a miracle indeed!

Naturally one would think that a people whom God had so miraculously freed from slavery, and of whom He had subsequently just as miraculously made a kingdom, would never fall now that they were strong. But losing sight of their Strength they again fell away into captivity! In weakness as slaves to Pharaoh, God had brought them to strength over their Egyptian masters; now in their strength as masters, themselves, He brought them down to servitude to the nations about them! Twice a miracle.

Here is proof positive that the Lord built them up, and also tore them down (2 Chron. 36:13,23), “that they” might, as He says, “know from the rising of the sun. and from the west. that there is none beside Me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.

In the course of time, with the fulfillment of the seventy years of which Jeremiah prophesied (Jer. 29:10), God once more brought Israel into their own land. But as the years wore on, replacing the old generations with new ones, Israel again lost sight of their Strength, this time so completely that when the long-looked for Messiah finally came, they rejected and crucified and spat on Him!

In divine retribution, God turned away His face in anger, and delivered them into the hand of the oppressor, who destroyed their temple and their city, drove them from their own land, and left them a forsaken, outcast race without God, without coin, without country, a people execrated by all nations from that day till this! Not all, however, were thus cast away. A multitude of them had their eyes opened to the fact that their great men were falsely accusing the Lord, misapplying the prophecies concerning Him, and deceiving the people.

Through those who remained faithful, He preserved the seed of Israel. Accepting Christ and becoming Christians, these faithful sons of Jacob had their name changed from Jew to Christian, as was foreshadowed in God’s changing their father’s name from Jacob to Israel, and their grandfather’s from Abram to Abraham.

Starting out with 120 Spirit-filled disciples, this Jewish-Christian church converted 3,000 souls on the day of Pentecost by the preaching of one simple, Spirit-indited sermon, and then “added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:47.

This great ingathering of souls so angered Satan that he avengingly “persecuted the woman [the Jewish-Christian church] which brought forth the man child. (Rev. 12:13), so as to prevent her from making converts, and to prevent those whom she succeeded in making converts, from fellowshiping with her.

(The bed rock facts that the woman’s child Christ, Who was “caught up unto God,” Rev. 12:5, was born to the Jewish church, and that the Christian church emerged from the Jewish, solidly establish the woman as a figure of the faithful servants of God in both the Old and the New Testament churches.)

As a result of persecuting the woman, Satan was, ironically, only helping rather than hindering the divine purpose. Indeed, the church’s field (Matt. 13:38) grew only pure “wheat,” the “net” (Matt. 13:47) caught only good “fish,” because against such a persecution, only the faithful dared take their stand for Truth and to become members of the hated sect. So, seeing the results of his oppression, he quickly changed his tactics.

“By the edicts of toleration,” says Gibbon, “he [Constantine] removed the temporal disadvantages which had hitherto retarded the progress of Christianity; and its active and numerous ministers received a free permission, a liberal encouragement, to recommend the salutary truths of revelation by every argument which could affect the reason or piety of mankind.

The exact balance of the two religions [Christian and Pagan] continued but a moment….The cities which signalized a forward zeal by the voluntary destruction of their temples [the Pagan’s], were distinguished by municipal privileges, and rewarded with popular donatives….The salvation of the common people was purchased at an easy rate, if it be true that, in one year, twelve thousand men were baptized at Rome, besides a proportionable number of women and children, and that a white garment with twenty pieces of gold, had been promised by the emperor to every convert. “This was “a law of Constantine, which gave freedom to all the slaves who should embrace Christianity.”–Gibbon’s Rome, Vol. 2, pp. 273, 274 (Milman Edition).

Just as soon as Satan caused his agents to cease oppressing the Christians, and to start fellowshiping with them, he beguiled them into thinking him their friend. Thus being eased of his persecution, they fell asleep spiritually; and while they slept, he sowed the tares.

Yea, he made a complete turn-about and even compelled the heathen to join the church, thereby casting out of his “mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.” Rev. 12:15. From persecuting those who would unite with the church, he turned to persecuting those who would not, so that she might be flooded with unconverted heathen and thereby “carried away of the flood.” Rev. 12:15.

In order to keep the multitude in darkness in the days of the reformers, he put his clamps on them, then opened wide his extinguisher against the burning light, and when it failed him, he set “sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people.”–Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 337.

This highly successful course he has unremittingly pursued ever since, until as a result the church today is almost choked with tares. It is, as it were, infiltrated with a fifth column.

“That night I dreamed,” says the servant of the Lord in a remarkable view of this very condition, “that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door, and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined.

I knew them well, and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of the Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house saying three times, ‘This house is proscribed.

The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order.’ Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently ‘If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said, or what I have done!’

“I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated. I tried to read sympathy or pity for me in the looks of those around me, and marked the countenances of several whom I thought would speak to me and comfort me if they did not fear that they would be observed by others. I made one attempt to escape from the crowd, but seeing that I was watched, I concealed my intentions.

I commenced weeping aloud, and saying, ‘If they would only tell me what I have done, or what l have said!’ My husband, who was sleeping in a bed in the same room, heard me weeping aloud, and awoke me. My pillow was wet with tears, and a sad depression of spirits was upon me.”– Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 578.

The promise, however, is that the flood of tares will remain therein only until the harvest, the natural time for their separation–the end of the world.

(Answerer, V.T.Houteff, Vol. 2, p.5-12)

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The Seal of the Forehead

April 5, 2014

In Revelation 7:3 we read, “..Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.“(KJV)

But why does God’s word say “in their foreheads”? Why not in their hearts? Or in their soul or spirit?

Many of us have picked a beautiful flower and looked at it closely. We’ve noticed the small patterns, the tiny straight perfect lines, the order, the design. We are awestruck at the detail, are we not? Well, how much more detailed is God concerning His almighty Word? The Word that can save us for eternity?

Yes, there is exact design in His Holy Word, each word, each phrase, each sentence is packed with His omniscient knowledge. So with this understanding let’s look at just why it is that the 144,000 are to be sealed–in their foreheads.

First, from a human viewpoint, we know that the forehead contains the “frontal lobe” of the brain. This area is involved in our thinking . But it is also known as the “moral conscience” area.

Wikipedia research article explains the frontal lobe. “The executive function of the frontal lobes involve the ability to recognize future consequences resulting from current actions, to choose between good and bad actions (or better and best), override and suppress socially unacceptable responses, and determine similarities and differences between things or events.

So we can see that our Lord has instructed the marking angel to place the seal in an area that involves our decision-making, thinking, and our moral response area.

But why? We can see that we must have an understanding of something, a type of understanding of some sort. As we mentioned this detail of placing the seal in that area must mean something.

Before we go on about this specific seal let’s review other aspects of the “seal of God”.

What about the Sabbath seal? Aren’t we taught as SDA that this is THE seal that protects us in these last days? Yes we are but, no it’s not what Rev. 7 sealings are about. This is an addition to this basic seal.

Let us read some specific words in regards to our subject.

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:

“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.

We see that in order to be sealed by God, it will require us to do something — accept present truth from God. Notice also that the 144,000 are to be the sighers and criers of sins in the midst. This double action done by those who show they are affected deeply by “sins in the midst” appears noticed by the marking angels and consequently they are “marked” as in the days of Egypt’s Passover.

In addition to the above, Ellen White explains more light, “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.” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p.214)

Now we are building the case for what the seal of God entails today, the total package. Not only are we to know and accept the present truth but we are to walk therein. That means we are to apply what we learn to our DAILY walk. The world, the flesh and the devil are ALL to be overcome. With the clear mental understanding of His word of today and the strength He gives us, we cast away “every defilement” by His power.

So let’s recap what we’ve learned.

The seal consists of:

1) An understanding and acceptance of “present truth”. The truth taught right now, in our day. Not yesterday’s truth but today’s.

2)The requirement that we sigh and cry for the “abominations” done in the church and our lives.

3)An overcoming of sins, the overcoming of spot or stain of repetitive and willful sinning.

In regards to point one, how do we develop a clear understanding of the present truth today? We just go to that old reliable handbook for us humans–the Bible.

“If any man will do His will, he will know of the doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speak of Myself. ” (John 7:17)

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (John 16:13)

Those two powerful quotes automatically eliminate people such as “Sunday keepers”, who as we know make up the vast so-called “Christian” church today. Breaking His Commandments is not doing “His will”. No wonder we have so many private interpretations and theories of Scripture!

When we decide to do His will as in obeying His Commandments(truly) and listening to His voice (John 10:27) and acting upon it, we are then found to be doing His will. And we are then given the promise of the Spirit of Truth to “guide us into ALL truth.” We have that natural radar to help us discern what is truth and what is not.

It’s like the Lord places a strong magnet within us that attracts us to His truth today. Our mind is led to read and understand what His word says for us TODAY not yesterday.

Here is the great trap, the masses are “stuck” on rehashing the old truths instead of advancing with the sun rays of truth pouring down right now. Every Sabbath we most likely will hear a soft fluffy message some past truth, such as Noah’s message, Paul’s message, Enoch’s message, etc. How about the current present truth message of Elijah?

Present truth is specifically what did the Lord promised before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord”? A prophet –Elijah.

What was to be his purpose? If you guessed– to bring a message of present truth to get us sealed in our forehead, you’re right! There is the crux of truth for our day. Our “testing truth”.

“God means that testing truth shall be brought to the front and become a subject of examination and discussion, even if it is through the contempt placed upon it. The minds of the people must be agitated. Every controversy, every reproach, every slander, will be God’s means of provoking inquiry and awakening minds that otherwise would slumber.” (Test. for the Church, vol.5, p. 453)

Sadly, just as in the days of Abraham, Jeremiah, and our Lord, the majority of “God professors” or church goers either are self-satisfied, careless, or just downright stupid. Ellen White speaks the straight testimony–

“Men and women are in the last hours of probation, and yet are careless and stupid, and ministers have no power to arouse them; they are asleep themselves. Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people!” (Testimonies, vol. 2, 337.)

But there is a cure for that dreadful last condition.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)

In closing, my beloved brethren (term always includes our dear sisters) , let us step forward and embrace His final message of love and repentance. The marking angel is searching us, His people, to find those who show in their forehead the acceptance, understanding, and obedience to His message that will “restore all things” .

He answered them, “Elijah is indeed coming and will restore all things.” (Matt. 17:11)

Posted in God's sealings, Present Truth | 5 Comments »

Is it Past or Future , Literal or Symbolic?

February 15, 2014

Satan has from the beginning tried to make mankind not believe what God’s word says. The words, “you shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4) was a direct refute of the clear word of God. God’s word really doesn’t mean what it says. And what has been the historical result? Mankind has bought it hook, line, and sinker.

As we have learned from our prior posts, the soon to come “beginning phase” of God’s “judgment for the living” is to take place in God’s remnant church. Our prophetess said, ” Here we see that the church–the Lord’s sanctuary– was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God” (Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.211). She said those words after describing Ezekiel 9. Solemn indeed!

Imagine if you will, you are driving late at night with your family down a road. Ahead is a policeman with a big fluorescent sign that says “stop!”, and he’s waving it furiously at you to get your attention. How many of us would continue right on? Most of us would pull over. In this case there was a huge crater (sink hole) ahead in the road. Yet today the vast majority within the SDA church are driving straight past the warnings. Isn’t it time we paid attention to God’s last and final warnings?

Recently we received the latest newsletter from Amazing facts. The title is “Satan’s war against God’s word”. It goes on to describe the satanic traps and ways he has worked in america. But what is missing from Amazing Facts and their ministry? It ‘s that warning sign. They ignore the literal judgement to come in God’s house before the plagues. The message of the “Judgement for the living.” Assumption is made that all is well in God’s house until the second advent. There will be no such “first stroke” of God before the coming in the clouds.

Spirit of Prophecy said, “study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel, these words will be literally fulfilled ” (Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p.260). When is the last time your church had a study on this important chapter? Quite the contrary! Instead they are telling people that those who proclaim the Lord’s soon to come judgments are off-shoots, fanatics, etc.

Just look at a Tennessee SDA church website. Under “Bible study” they teach people that the “Shepherd’s Rod” teachings are false. Little do they know they brother Houteff soundly refuted all those allegations in the “Answerer” and other writings (Tracts, Timely Greeting sermons and Symbolic code news).

We took some time to read their reports and found pure unadulterated confusion and misconception. But the sad thing is, if one is inclined to find hooks and pegs to hang their doubts on, these studies will give you some.

http://murfreesboro22.adventistchurchconnect.org/article/13/bible-study (Note: due to the severe storms in the east this site may not be available for a day or two)

One pastor said that Ezekiel 9 happens “in the plagues” and the other said it happened in the Old Testament days. Which one is correct? Neither.

The word of the Lord says, “Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets, who make my people stray; who chant “peace” while they chew with their teeth, but who prepare war against him, who puts nothing into their mouths..” (Micah 3:5).

Some have said that Ezekiel 9 is symbolic. The Spirit of Prophecy eliminates any such symbolic talk. “We are amid the perils of the last days, the time will soon come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter.” (1888 Materials, p.1303)

Let us look at some solid inspirational evidence that prove the words of the Lord mean what they proclaim.

IS THE SLAUGHTER OF EZEKIEL NINE LITERAL?

Question No. 25:

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

Answer:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Let’s recap what was said. Notice that there is a distinct difference in “5 destroying angels” and “7 angels with vials.” Those who say that the church judgment of Ezekiel 9 happen in the plagues are thus confused. Two different acts and times.

Further inspiration says that this act is the “first” stroke of God’s wrath in His “sanctuary”. Obviously the plagues will be strokes of God’s wrath and so this act must precede them, therefore they cannot be “in” the seven last plagues.

Then we have the argument that Ellen White specifically places Ezekiel 9 in the time of the plagues with her quote in Great Controversy, page 656. This is a legitimate and relevant point and is addressed as follows:

“Before the close of probation there are two “fruits,” the 144,000 and the great multitude (Revelation 7:9), to be separated at two different times–the former’s taking place before the close of probation while “the door is closed to those who would not enter,” and while “His hand is still stretched out to save.” (“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 9, p. 97), thus showing, as does “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 3, p. 266, that the sealing of the hundred and forty-four thousand is the closing work for the church, whereas the sealing work for the great multitude is the closing work for the world.

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

there is a double fulfillment of Ezekiel’s slaughter: one in the church before the close of probation, and the other in the worldly churches after the close of probation, when everyone has made his decision. The unfaithful spiritual guardians, or the false watch-men, of the people are the first to fall in the worldly churches, just as the “ancient men” who are in the S.D.A. church are the first to fall. (“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, p. 211.)

This is the only explanation that will harmonize every statement on this subject found in the Spirit of Prophecy and in the Bible. ” (The Answerer, Vol. 3, Question 145)

The satanic game plan hasn’t changed. Once Satan knew a successful tactic of denying or twisting the plain words of inspiration, he’s been using it ever since with great success. Let us not be one of those who fall into his trap.

The church is about to be “sprued out” to a great degree because the leaders are neglecting their duty to put up the warning signs. They are preaching peace and safety week after week. We are only “safe” in Christ when we obey His word as brought by His prophets. The last prophet was the Elijah prophet.

Going back to that analogy we gave in the beginning, the policeman is representative of those of us willing to “go to work” proclaiming that time is short and that if we don’t stop our wrongful course of paying no heed His final message of Elijah, we will also fall into the ditch (to the dust).

Think about this for a moment. If The Lord made the promise to send a last prophet to His people (Mal 4:5 and Test. to Min. p.475), would He being sending it for an unimportant reason? Of course not. As in every instance in Scripture, the Lord had a purpose to reach His people with His message.

The servant of the Lord gives us true end time instructions–

“The words of Christ apply to the church: “Why stand ye here all the day idle?” Why are you not at work in some capacity in His vineyard? Again and again He has bidden you: “Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” But this gracious call from heaven has been disregarded by the large majority” (Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.203).

Let us not stand idle and watch the other people do what the message tells us we should do. Our church is approaching a gigantic iceberg, are we ready?

Posted in Ezekiel, Final Events, Present Truth, Proper teachings | 1 Comment »

The Church Triumphant

February 1, 2014

How many of us have been involved in a club, where we were proud to be a part of it? Maybe the boy scouts, cub scouts, girl scouts, a social club or whatever. And we remember that the meetings were in order and the leaders taught us things that were practical, applicable and really mattered.

But what if that club had many come in and began to ever so slyly disrupt and dis-unite the membership? Even infiltrate the leadership, so that soon the club was nothing like the original beginnings of the club. Soon the original members would be startled to see that the club was no longer holding to its principals, no longer teaching the original helpful message to its members. In other words, the club had morphed into a new strange club, where different ideas and plans were taught. Values changed.

The above scenario is similar to God’s church from the beginning until today. The original Apostolic Christian church held strict Biblical values. Sabbath keeping was “by the book”, yet not overly restricted by man-made rules but Christ inspired love.

The believers were of one accord, the plans and goals, all united. Oh my my, what has our church today “morphed” into? This is not lost in God’s sight, He is ever watchful of His prized possession. What will He do about the current degraded condition of His church?

There is without question an answer soon to come . The prized possession of the Lord will do a 180% turnaround. But how will this come about? What does the Scriptures, SOP and the Elijah message tell us about this “sinless” church to come?

Let us look at some promises from the Lord regarding purification of His church.

“When purification shall take place in our ranks, we shall no longer rest at ease, boasting of being rich and increased with good, in need of nothing.”(Test. for the Church, vol. 8, p.250).

Right now what do we see in our church? A few weeks ago we posted how dress reform is so neglected in His church. Mini-skirts, high heels, loud talking and laughing in His sanctuary, money passing in His sanctuary, are some examples of our offensive sins we see committed each and every Sabbath. We don’t see the leaders stepping forward to warn our members of such dis-honor in His house. Why? Because they are “rich and increased with goods and have need of nothing”.

Some may say, “Well yes, He will do all this but it will be at the last moment of time, at the coming of the Lord”. This is not the Lord’s plan. He will purify the church for a purpose. The following quote gives the reason.

” Only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One, will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it (the 3rd angel’s message) when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry “(Review and Herald, Nov. 19, 1908).

Ah, we see that the purpose is to fit the church for the Loud Cry. To enable the church is be able to receive His full outpouring of His Spirit. In going back into His history in this regard we see that His Spirit was only “poured out” when His church was worthy and pure.

Two great examples are Joshua and Achan and the Pentecost church.

One sinner in His camp stopped the Lord from performing His mighty power in the case of Achan. Once this sinner and his family were removed the power of the Lord was able to perform. Did the Lord tolerate sin and at the same time pour out His Spirit? The co-mingling, isn’t that the reason we don’t see His mighty power working in His church right now?

Then we saw how the 120 disciplines were given His full Spirit at Pentecost. During this time His church was composed of only faithful members. Two sinners tried to come into the church and were eliminated. “So great fear came upon all those who heard these things”(Acts 5:5). The sinners were not allowed among God’s church and as such, His Spirit worked mightily upon the people.

” But the days of purification are hastening on apace. 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 “(Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.80).

Notice that this “mighty sifting” happens to His church –Israel. Who is this Israel? The Seventh-day Adventist Church (Test. for the Church, vol. 9, p.164).

“Oh, that every lukewarm professor could realize the clean work that God is about to make among His professed people ” (Test. for the Church, vol. 1, p.190).

“The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed, and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain” (Letter B-55, 1886).

What a promise! The prophetess of God says, “God..will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.”

“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiners fire, and like launderers soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness” (Mal. 3:2-3).

So how did His church get to be in the current condition it is in? SOP spells it out.

” While the Lord brings into the church those who are truly converted, Satan at the same time brings persons who are not converted into its fellowship. While Christ is sowing the good seed, Satan is sowing the tares. There are two opposing influences continually exerted on the members of the church. One influence is working for the purification of the church, and the other for the corrupting of the people of God” (Test. to Ministers, p.46).

“He who presides over His church and the destinies of nations is carrying forward the last work to be accomplished for this world. To His angels He gives the commission to execute His judgments. Let the ministers awake, let them take in the situation.

The work of judgment begins at the sanctuary. ‘And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer’s inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar.’ Read Ezekiel 9:2-7.” Testimonies to Ministers p. 431.

Hopefully we all can agree that some day soon the Lord will do what needs to be done. But some may say, “With the current condition of the church, why don’t we get out and worship in a more holy and pleasing way? Maybe even start a group or small church ourselves. Then the Lord would be pleased with us and spare us in the upcoming purification.”

To our human thinking this might sound like the right thing to do. But here is where we must ask the Lord directly what to do. The Lord knew that such excellent and insightful questions needed to be addressed in the very last hours of the church’s probation.

Actually this idea of leaving the church because of “church wrongs” was first started corporately in the early 1920’s. That movement was called “The Seventh Day Adventist Reform movement”. Later as time went by, the movement basically called the mother SDA church–Babylon. So this idea has been around for decades, but is it the Lord’s will?

As we’ve studied, the one whom the Lord choose to come to His church with the “restoring” answers (truth) was the prophesied–Elijah. Here is what we are given on this issue. (His words in brown)

Question No. 235:

Why do not The Shepherd’s Rod believers and the Reformed S.D.A.’s unite in one?

Answer:

The Rod adherents and the Reformed S.D.A.’s do not unite because, unfortunately, they do not agree. Being in wide variance on some doctrinal issues, union under the circumstances is impossible.

One such doctrinal difference, for instance, is that the Reformed S.D.A.’s teach that the sins in the mother S.D.A. church make her a part of Babylon, whereas the Rod teaches that though she is in a bad condition, yet she is not Babylon: for the sins do not make the name any more than the name makes the sins. Babylon is not so named because of its sins, nor condemned because of being named Babylon, but is denounced because of having fallen and because of having “become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” Rev. 18:2.

The S.D.A. church may be in even a worse condition,–so bad a condition, in fact, that she does not even know that she is “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” (Rev. 3:17),–-yet in spite of it all, she is called “Laodicea,” not Babylon. And her members stand, not to be called out as do those in Babylon, but rather to be spued out. The Rod is laboring to save them from being spued out, whereas the Reform movement is calling them to come out.

So their believing as they do, and consequently rejecting the Rod’s message, make mutually impossible our uniting with them and their uniting with us.

As the Lord, moreover, has revealed advanced truth through the Rod, but none through the Reformed S.D.A.’s, obviously, then, were there to be any such union, they must necessarily correct their views and then join with us in accepting the message of the Rod, rather than our throwing overboard its jewels of truth and then joining with them.

“If unity,” says the Spirit of Prophecy, in expressing the attitude of the early Christian church, “could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference and even war.”–The Great Controversy, p. 45.

“We are to unify, but not on a platform of error.”–Mrs. E.G. White, Series B:2, p. 47.

Thus one may easily see that, though our fervent desire is to fulfill Christ’s prayer for unity, we dare not attempt to do so by sacrificing truth, for then we would not be one with Christ, even were we one with all others.

“There is danger of our being so overzealous to keep out of Babylon,” says the founder of the S.D.A. church, “that we shall commit her most noted blunder–that of sticking a stake and refusing to pull it up and advance. When we cease to unlearn errors, we shall fall like those who have gone before us. We have learned much, and no doubt there is much more for us to learn. …It is the ‘follow on’ and the ‘go through’ spirit that will finally land the remnant ‘without fault’ on the heavenly Mount Zion.

My conclusion is that we should give up no Scripture truth, but that our false applications and interpretations of Scripture, and consequent false ideas of order and propriety, should be given up as fast as possible.”–The Review and Herald, May 29, 1860.(Vol. 7 Symbolic Code Nos. 7-12. page 18.)

So we see that despite the church’s numerous sins, we are NOT to leave her. It would be similar to us being on a boat in the ocean and it’s sinking and we get into the lift raft and wave to our family and friends as we paddle away making no effort to help them onto our life raft.

We are to be ever ready to profess the truth to our brethren in the church. If we are enlightened and have been given God plans for His church, the upcoming church purification, we must have a deep love and concern for them. The vast majority of SDA members have no clue about the Lord’s pleading Elijah message, it’s our duty to share it with them.

“The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God. Especially in the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand who are to stand without fault before the throne of God, will they feel most deeply the wrongs of God’s professed people” (Test. for the Church, vol.3, p.266)

“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” (Song of Solomon 6:10), she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer” (Prophet’s and Kings, p. 725)

In closing, we know that there is a purpose why God must do what He must do. He longs to pour out His Spirit upon His church. Will you or I be a part of this upcoming church? Let us dwell on this important issue. Let us strive to become part of His– Church Triumphant.

Posted in Church, Present Truth, Proper teachings, Warning our brethren, Witnessing | 2 Comments »

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A Stephen-Sermon to the Church Today (part 1 of 2)

The Seal of the Forehead

Is it Past or Future , Literal or Symbolic?

The Church Triumphant

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