“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.”
Our adversary is quite active today indeed! Since his beginning time on this earth he’s been producing his human agents to state lies, lies and more lies. In fact we know also from Scripture that this current world is his —
“Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” (Matt. 4:8-9)
As lies are his main method of control, it would be wise to see just what are some of the more important and timely lies he has his servants promoting right now, and what will the Lord do about it very soon.
1 — The Covid 19 and Delta Viruses are a powerful pandemic
As one does their due diligence, they discover that this so called deadly virus is in reality not as deadly as the main stream narrative wants us to believe. It is truly a “PSYOP” operation for Globalist control.
The massive reports of worldwide negatvie reactions is indeed alarming! Of course the Globalist run mass media is hiding all this from the public. The below videos are just a small sliver of information exposing this “experimental gene therapy” injection and what it is really doing.
This last week, the famous “Pillow man” Mike Lindell held a “Cyber Symposium” which was in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It attracted politicians, legislatures, news journalists, and most importantly certified computer experts. They exposed how the election was rigged by the machines being hooked up to the internet. Of course this was largely ignored by the main stream media. For those whom want to see much of what took place see the link below.
4 — The Globalist hierarchy will soon rule the world in the form of a new world order
This long held heathen belief is widely known the world over. George Orwell’s “1984” book predicted a world run by financial elites and freedom drastically curtailed. But this is an idea from those who don’t know the Almighty King’s plans– their very maker who knows all things!
Right now the Globalists (led by the Biblical name –King of the North –Daniel chap. 11) have a bounce in their step. They have pulled off two very big schemes against humanity – creating a fake pandemic and stealing the USA presidential election. Yet they are sorely to be disappointed and denied their goals, because once the gigantic war in the middle east happens (Zech. 14:1-9) Satan will then switch horses as they say and mount the 666 man and the false prophet. The great controversy begins with the Lord’s battle ax, the 144,000, vs. the 666 man/beast and the false prophet.
We did a few posts dealing with what the King of the Universe will soon do in the very last days.
In clsoing brethren, all signs point to the startling evidence that we are at the steps of BIG events, life changing events. The ol “normal” way of doing things is soon to be up ended. If you are a heathen, or a non believer of prophecy, you will be just like the mass amount of puppets today, go along with anything the masters tell you to do. Then to their utter shock their end will be before them and their realization of what they could have had! NOW is our time to be ready.
“For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” ( 2 Cor. 6:2)
I shall read from The Mount of Blessing, page 166, beginning with the first paragraph. This reading is based on the scripture, “Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.”
M.B. p. 166 — “Jesus teaches that we can receive forgiveness from God only as we forgive others. It is the love of God that draws us unto Him, and that love cannot touch our hearts without creating love for our brethren.
“After completing the Lord’s prayer, Jesus added: ‘If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. He who is unforgiving, cuts off the very channel through which alone he can receive mercy from God. We should not think that unless those who have injured us confess the wrong, we are justified in withholding from them our forgiveness.
It is their part, no doubt, to humble their hearts by repentance and confession; but we are to have a spirit of compassion toward those who have trespassed against us, whether or not they confess their faults. However sorely they may have wounded us, we are not to cherish our grievances, and sympathize with ourselves over our injuries; but as we hope to be pardoned for our offenses against God, we are to pardon all who have done evil to us.”
Now, what should be the burden of our prayer this afternoon? — That we might have love for our brethren; that we forgive the faults of others whether or not they forgive our faults, that we confess our sins, regardless what others might do.
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ISMS, AND THE REMEDY TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF,MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTS SABBATH, NOVEMBER 9, 1946 MT. CARMEL CHAPEL WACO, TEXAS
Let me introduce my subject by telling you a simple story.
Once upon a time six brothers were building a bridge, supposedly to the god of Justice. The purpose of the bridge was to unite the east with the west.
They had no difficulty laying the foundations and setting the pillars. But, lo, when they came to join the east wing with the west one, they found themselves confronted with a phenomenal obstacle: What they had built up during the day was torn down during the night. This miracle continued day after day. Finally the brothers sat down in a council meeting to discuss how they might solve their harrassing problem. Feeling that to quit would be the greatest folly they could ever commit, that it would bring their names into disrepute, they studied and they prayed.
At long last they concluded that the god of Justice was for some reason displeased with them and that a human sacrifice would appease him. So it was that they resolved to sacrifice the best one of their wives. This however, was not to be divulged to the women. In order to make an impartial and acceptable selection, they further resolved that on the morrow each would instruct his wife to prepare the best possible
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breakfast and dinner, and to take the meals to him at the bridge as early as possible. They were to explain to their wives that they must needs eat and pray at the bridgeside to the glory of the god of Justice, and for the success of their project. The woman to arrive with the meals first was to be the victim.
Five of the men, though, did not stick to their solemn oath. Each of them straightway told their wives what was to be done, and that therefore they should not hurry to the bridge with the meals.
In the morning, at the appointed time, the men were at the bridge site. Shortly afterwards they saw in the distance someone coming to the bridge. For a few moments no one knew for sure who it was, but soon the man who had kept his part of the agreement recognized it to be his wife. He, of course, immediately burst into tears, and with groans he fell to the ground. Seeing her husband’s strange behaviour, the wife dropped her basket of food and ran to the scene to learn what was the trouble.
But while she was attempting to comfort her husband, the other five brothers seized her, carried her to a gap in the bridge, and there they cemented her alive. Now, the brothers confidently expected the bridge to stay up, for they felt that they had done all they could to appease the god of Justice.
Thus it was that while the five dishonest men that night returned home in happiness, the honest one returned to his home in grief.
On the following morning, all the men hurried to the bridge, expecting to find it standing intact. But to their surprise and consternation they found the whole bridge lying flat on the ground!
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Naturally, the incident was rumored throughout the city, and the judges of that city went to see what the great excitement was about. As they listened to the builders argue and philosophize from cause to effect, they learned that the unfortunate woman was not sacrificed by fair chance, but by fraud! Thus they judged that the whole disaster was due to the fact that unjust men were trying to build a bridge in the honor of a just god!
The matter was brought to court and the judges finally decreed that Justice must be satisfied, else not only the bridge, but even their city might fall to the ground. Accordingly, on that very day the five unjust men were executed, and the honest one was made mayor of the city.
Christians have been building a bridge, so to speak, to the God of Justice for many years. But they do not seem to be any more successful than were the six bridge-builders. And for what reason? — For the very same reason the six builders were unsuccessful: Selfish men are engaged in the work, and though they see the need for a sacrifice, yet they somehow always manage to make others do the sacrificing.
And you remember that though the building of the tower of Babel was counter to God’s will and His order, still all the while the builders worked harmoniously among themselves, their project prospered — their tower skyrocketed. But when their language was confused and they could no longer understand one another, then the progress of the tower stopped. And to show them that He was displeased with their project and that He was the One Who had confounded their language, God blasted the tower so that it crumbled to the ground. That which happened to the bridge happened also to the tower.
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Christians are working at cross-purposes among themselves. One Christian brother is betraying another. Christian ministers, rather than preaching the Truth, are preaching against one another. One goes ahead to build up, and another trails behind to tear down. They do not see eye to eye; nor do they understand one another even as much as did the confused tower-builders.
Just so long as such selfishness and dishonesty, confusion and animosity, exist among Christians, their bridge and their tower, so to speak, will come to naught as certainly as did the bridge of the six covenant-breakers and as did the tower of the prophet Noah’s mockers. There is no way of stopping ism trouble without removing the cause — no, no more than a splinter wound can heal before the splinter has been removed.
You are familiar with the fact that there was no ism trouble in Moses’ day as long as Moses alone interpreted the Word of God to the people. But just as soon as Korah, Dathan, Abiram and others aspired to Moses’ office ism trouble started. And the only remedy that even God Himself could find was to cause the earth to open her mouth and to swallow the ism-breathing multitude, the self-appointed representatives of God.
In our day there is an even greater flood of private interpreters of the Scriptures (the cause of today’s isms) than there was in Moses’ day. And according to Revelation 12:15, 16, the Lord warns that He will again use a remedy similar to the ancient remedy against today’s ism-breeding flood. Then some may learn to respect the office of the Spirit of Prophecy. Let us now read of the fate of
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those who chose to continue walking in sparks of their own kindling.
Rev. 12:16 — “…and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.”
Here we see that a similar remedy which caused isms to cease in Moses’ day, is again to be used to cause isms to cease in our day, the only means by which harmony can be restored among fellow-members in the church itself, as well as among Christians in general.
2 Tim. 3:16, 17 — “All scripture is given by Inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
2 Pet. 1:20, 21 — “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
Affirmatively stated, all Scripture, not merely a part of It, is inspired. Negatively stated, none of It is privately interpreted, for the reason that It did not come of men but of God; that is, as the Spirit of God dictated to men the Scriptures, so the Spirit of God must interpret the Scriptures to men, that no man privately (without Inspiration) is capable of disclosing the sealed prophecies or interpreting any part of them or even capable of understanding their importance after they are interpreted except it be by the gift of the Spirit of Truth “None of the wicked,” therefore,
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“shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Dan. 12:10.
We should now be convinced that as long as this Divine command and principle of interpreting God’s Word is overlooked and abused, and as long as selfishness and bigotry exist among Christians in general and among Bible students in particular, isms will continue to increase, and the strength of the people will continue to be wasted just as was the strength of both the builders of the bridge and the builders of the tower. Yes, just as certainly as night follows day, just that certain will their efforts come to naught, and their shame be uncovered.
That we cannot be led into all Truth without the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy, Inspiration symbolically forewarns through the prophet Zechariah. Let us turn to Zechariah 4, and begin with the first verse.
Zech. 4:1-4 — “And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and has seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my Lord?”
The illustration here exhibited, you note, is an exact reproduction of Zechariah’s symbolism. In order that our study be simplified and vivid, we shall study the chapter along with the illustration.
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Now let us hear the angel’s explanation of this symbolism.
Zech. 4:5, 6 — “Then the angel that talked with me answered and said unto me, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the Word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”
The angel disclosed two things: First he made known that the symbolism is concerning the Word of the Lord (the Bible) to the servants of God; second, that His Word is revealed, not by man’s might nor by power, but by the Spirit of God.
Plainly this symbolism as a whole represents the system by which the Lord transmits His revealed Word to His people. That we might have a thorough understanding of this Divinely designed system, we need to know what each component part of the illustration stands for. The Spirit of Prophecy gives the clue.
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In The Great Controversy, page 267 is explained that the “olive trees” represent the “Old and New Testaments;” Testimonies to Ministers, page 188, says that the golden oil represents the Holy Spirit; and on page 337 of the same book, along with Revelation 1:20, says that the seven lamps represent the church, and that the seven tubes (the ministry) convey the oil to the churches.
Now study the illustration itself as you would study any cartoon. First of all, the trees represent the Word of God (the Bible — both Old and New Testaments — two trees).
Here is seen that the whole symbolical set up is for the purpose of depicting the accomplishment of but one thing — of keeping the seven lamps (the entire church membership) supplied with spiritual oil (Bible Truth) so that it might give spiritual light all round about, that the church might lighten the world with the revealed Word of God. And since the ministry’s duty is to feed the church with spiritual food, the fact is that the seven tubes represent the ministry at work, taking the oil (revealed Truth) from the bowl to the seven lamps, the churches.
Now the truth that in the illustration the tubes (the ministers) do not take the oil directly from the olive trees (the Bible), it positively indicates that the bowl in which the oil is deposited represents the container or the store in which the compilations of Inspired Bible interpretations are stored, and that from it, not from the olive trees, the ministers help themselves with oil and carry it to the seven lamps (to the church).
The two golden pipes, therefore, can be only a representation of the inspired channels which are capable to extract the oil (light of Truth) from the
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trees (from both Testaments) and store it in the bowl (books) for the tubes (ministers) to convey it to the candlestick (to the churches).
The symbolism, therefore, points out the system which Heaven has ordained for dispensing the Word of the Lord to His church: that the Spirit of Prophecy at work is the only remedy against isms in the church and in the world.
Those who do not avail themselves of the golden oil, and those who continue ever to hunt for some kind of oil, or whoever try to extract their own, will, of course, drop into the pit when the earth opens her mouth to swallow up the flood. Then it is that ism-breathers and ism-seekers shall forever pass away.
Zech. 4:8, 9 — “Moreover the Word of the Lord came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you.”
These scriptures positively imply that there are doubts in the minds of some as to whether antitypical Zerubbabel, or some other shall finish the work which Zerubbabel has started. Whom does Zerubbabel represent? —
The Word of God explains that ancient Zerubbabel is a signet, type, at the time God overthrows the thrones of the kingdoms, at the time their armies are destroyed by one “brother” Christians’s sword cutting down another brother Christian. (Haggai 2:22, 23). Zerubbabel, therefore, represents God’s servant at a time the crowned kings, “throne of kingdoms,” are overthrown, and in which time one Christian nation
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is at war with another Christian nation. Since the crowned kingdoms are fast passing away, and other forms of governments are taking their places, all proves that antitypical Zerubbabel’s appearance is now due. And the Lord’s own answer is “the hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it.”
Zech. 4:10 — “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.”
The day this scripture is fulfilled, is the day in which the Lord of hosts starts a reformatory work in an apparently very small and insignificant way, and those who despise small and insignificant beginnings will at last rejoice and shall see that antitypical Zerubbabel is the one to direct the work along with all (seven) his helpers. They are the eyes of the Lord. What a momentous day! What a great people! Evidently they constitute the “stone” of Zechariah Three which we studied several weeks ago, and learned that it has seven eyes, complete spiritual vision. Obviously this is the stone that smites the great image of Dan. 2:45.
Zech. 4:11, 12 — “Then answered I, and said unto Him, What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candlestick and upon the left side thereof? And I answered again, and said unto Him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves?”
All these taking place at this particular time, and the prophecies now unfolded, prove that antitypical Zerubbabel must now be here, and that as he has
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started the work, he also must finish it. The fact that Inspiration takes the pains to tell who is to finish the work in itself is proof that there must be active usurpers of his office as there were of Moses’ office.
Zech. 4:13, 14 — “And He answered me and said, Knowest thou not what these be? And I said, No, my Lord. Then said He, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
From the angel’s information it is now clearly seen that the symbolism depicts the system of interpreting the written Word of God, and of transmitting It to the church. The time of which is in the New Testament era, when both trees are in existence.
Let us now summarize the lesson by the aid of the illustration. Here we see a candlestick (a church) all of gold, the finest of all candlesticks (no “tares” in it). It constitutes the remnant (those that are left after the sinners are done away with) which indeed keep the commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev. 12:17; 19:10). This fine candlestick is fully trimmed and burning. The two golden pipes (God’s inspired interpreters) store the golden oil in the golden bowl (Spirit of Prophecy publications). And the seven tubes (the entire ministry) convey from the golden bowl the golden oil to the seven golden lamps (to the entire laity).
Under this perfect system of preparing, and dispensing the Word of God, “meat in due season,” to His people, there need be no fear that the reservoir will run dry, or that the lamps will grow dim. This is the only system, moreover, that can make the church perfect, without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing — a people without guile in their mouths, all seeing eye to eye,
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all saying the same thing. Truly “a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like.” Joel 2:2. This beyond doubt is the mighty power that lightens the earth, it is the Loud Cry. Indeed this symbolism reveals the church at the time she is endowed with the Spirit of Prophecy and with the righteousness of Christ.
Obviously, the system of Bible interpretation, described by Zechariah, is the Lord’s only system. It is the only remedy for isms and discord among Christians. Thus it is that His “watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.” Isa. 52:8.
In our final post of the JTT returning, we will examine why the first camp is right in its analysis of the timing of Jacob’s time of trouble.
First, to recap what we have learned about camp two’s views, and how they fall short of the following reasons.
1) Jacob was well on his way, traveling hundreds of miles from his adopted homeland when he experience the time of trouble. Therefore the idea that JTT comes to the anti-type Jacob (144,000) while they are still in their respective countries makes no type truth sense.
2) They mis-apply selected early Rod statments to make a doctrine of JTT coming pre-Ezek. 9. Not considering that the Rod’s rule of “from a limited understanding common to the time “then present” was applicable to the early Rod understanding of JTT and not the later light shown.
3) They misunderstand that Jacob in anti-type (144,000) cannot come into existence until Ezek. 9 occurs, thereby disallowing any chance of a pre-Ezek. 9 JTT.
Let us now look at the strong and clear reason for the post Ezek. 9 JTT.
As we know the Lord’s word is a harmonious plan , and written with full knowledge of the WHOLE word of God. In other words, it fits nicely and harmoniously when we let the Spirit of Truth guide us (John 16:13) as intended.
A harmonious fit is found within the DSDA Fundamental Beliefs. This , as we know, is our basic fundamental beliefs and as such is perhaps our most weightful statements of our message and FUNDAMENTAL to what we believe. The message counsels —
“The weight of evidence” is the only fair and final criterion worthy of a Christian who must ever make an investigation for himself concerning purported truth. (1 Ans., p.77)
The specific FB Tract timeline outline —
“4. That the destruction of the tares from among the first fruits of the living (Matt. 13:30, 48, 49; Ezek. 9:6, 7) results in the purification of the church.
5. That immediately thereafter, the angels let loose the four winds (Rev. 7:1-3), whereupon ensues the time of trouble and Michael’s standing up to deliver from
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it, all whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Dan. 12:1).
6. That the angels’ letting loose the four winds to blow over the four corners of the earth (Rev. 7:1), does not anticipate a World war but rather a world wide decree enforced throughout Babylon by the image-beast, and that then no one may buy or sell save he who worships “the image.” Rev. 13:15-17.
7. That subsequently, the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7) for the 144,000, the sons of Jacob, logically develops on their way home (Gen. 32:1, 24) to the land of their fathers (Ezek. 36:28; 37:21, 25).
8. That the foregoing epochal event shall cause the 144,000 to have their names changed as did their father, Jacob (Gen. 32:28), and as a body receive a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name (Isa. 62:2).
9. That these events shall ultimate in the setting up of the Kingdom (Dan. 2:44; Isa. 2:1-4; Mic. 4;Ezek. 37), wherein the 144,000, those who follow the Lamb “withersoever He goeth” (Rev. 14:4), shall stand with Him on Mt. Zion (Rev. 14:1), and there “receive the forces of the GentiIes. ” Isa. 60:5, 11.
10. That with this sequence of events will ensure the Loud Cry of the angel that lightens the earth with his glory (Rev. 18:1),
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as the other Voice cries, “Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4.
11. That in response to this call, many nations will 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.” Mic. 4:2.” As can be seen the JTT (no. 7) clearly comes after Ezek. 9 (no. 4). And we see that the numbers are said in form of an order or timeline because no. 10 says “That with this sequence of events will ensure the Loud Cry of the angel that lightens the earth with his glory (Rev. 18:1),”
In summary we do well to stay with the harmonious and clear Word of the Lord and not our private constructions or ideas. This study and understanding will become a VERY important one in the not too distant future.
“Right now we may not appreciate this study as we ought to, but the time is soon coming in which we will dig as fast and as hard for it as we would to get out from under an avalanche. Those who have but little faith in the Word of God though, the study will not do them much good. Now is the time to start cultivating the faith we need to have then.” (1 TG, no. 47, p.14)
In our last post we reviewed the type truths of Jacob’s return home and trouble on the way. In part two we shall look at camp two’s ideas and if they correspond to the actual truth of the type.
Where do they get their ideas from, what inspired references?
1) “Jacob Homeward Bound: Time Of Trouble
At the end of the twenty years Jacob was homeward-bound to the promised land and his father’s house with great possessions. By the time he arrived at his father’s house he had his twelve sons (the heads of the twelve tribes). Before Jacob entered his father’s house he went through that terrible struggle and wrestled with the angel till the breaking of the day. Gen. 32:24-29.
Jacob’s wrestling with the angel typifies the time of “Jacob’s trouble” (for the church). We read in Early Writings, pages 36, 37: “A decree went forth to slay the saints, which caused them to cry and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob’s trouble.” See also Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 202-203. (SROD, vol.1, p.62) (1930)
2) “After twenty years of faithful service in Padan-Aram, in the sharp, overreaching employ of Laban, his uncle, Jacob at last turned his face and his steps homeward toward his father’s house in the land of promise.
But trouble overtook him. While grappling with his fears as to the outcome of his imminent meeting with Esau “there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” Gen. 32:24
Here lay down the man Jacob and rose up the man Israel, exemplifying the agonizing experience through which his posterity must victoriously pass before they, too, receive a new name, pass from sons of Jacob to sons of God, become Israelites indeed. Having gained the victory over this test, “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” they will reach home, the land of promise — the happy end of their long and troubled journey.
On this trying and testing time the Spirit of Prophecy comments: “A decree went forth to slaythe saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob’s trouble” — Early Writings, pp. 36, 37. (See also Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 202, 203.) (SRod Tract, p.36) (1930, revised 1945)
The above is a key part of camp two’s JTT teaching. Let’s focus in on the above references.
We highlighted a key to their views. The first reference was made in 1930 “before” the message had any light on the pre-millennial kingdom. Obviously the knowledge of the time of Jacob’s (144,000) returning to the Land of Cannan in the last days was not known. Thus we confidently can see that it falls under the following message’s counsel — “…there are circumstances in connection with certain aspects of every message which necessitate clarification. Such clarification, however, can be no greater than the light which shines at the time. And the light may come solely from within the message itself, or, again, it may derive from a limited understanding common to the time “then present”–an understanding which the messenger himself shares.” (1 Ans, p.49)
So the 1930 reference was repeating “the light which shines at the time”. In other words, SOP had given this light about a decree affecting the saints of God and the Rod was simply supporting it because it was the “limited understanding common to the time then present.”
Soon the Rod message would have the kingdom light and add more to this understanding with more light.
But a bit more difficult to harmonize is the SRod Tract reference. We see that it was written in 1930 but also it was revised in 1945, which was a year which the Rod had the kingdom light. So what are we to make of this? The key we believe is the additional reference the message gives us to help explain the EW, p.36,37 reference. Also note the (for the church) comment is removed as stated in the 1930 reference. Thus we need to examine Patriarchs and Prophets (page 202-203), and zero in on the context of “when” SOP describes this JTT?
Before we do that we remember that the message gives counsel on context (continuity) and how we must pay attention to it in order to know the truth. So we found that examining page 201 will show us the context.
“..as we now know that the Scriptures cannot be rightly understood isolated from their continuity.” (1 TG, no.22, p.23)
On page 201 it reads —
“Jacob’s experience during that night of wrestling and anguish represents the trial through which the people of God must pass just before Christ’s second coming. The prophet Jeremiah, in holy vision looking down to this time, said, “We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace…. All faces are turned into paleness. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:5-7.
When Christ shall cease His work as mediator in man’s behalf, then this time of trouble will begin.Then the case of every soul will have been decided, and there will be no atoning blood to cleanse from sin. When Jesus leaves His position as man’s intercessor before God, the solemn announcement is made, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11. Then the restraining Spirit of God is withdrawn from the earth. As Jacob was threatened with death by his angry brother, so the people of God will be in peril from the wicked who are seeking to destroy them.
And as the patriarch wrestled all night for deliverance from the hand of Esau, so the righteous will cry to God day and night for deliverance from the enemies that surround them.”
Clear it is that SOP places this Patriarchs and Prophets reference of JTT after probation is closed. Thus we know that this can only be applicable to the Great Multitude (Rev. 7:9) and NOT the 144,000! This is in perfect keeping with the knowledge that SOP had light on the Great Multitude and end time events and not so much on the 144,00 and end time events.So to say that the Rod references mentioned above and used by camp two , are proof that JTT comes to the 144,000 prior to the Ezek. 9 church judgment, is wrong, out of context, and in error. “Remember, too, that the practice of comparing statements stripped of their context is fundamentally disingenuous, and leads today to as many perversions and misapplications of truth as does the deliberate wresting practiced in Satan’s challenge to Christ: “If thou be theSon of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Matt. 9:6. (8 SC, no.1-12, p.4)
Further, as explained in part one, Jacob in type was not in his adopted homeland of Haran when he experiene his trouble, but far along his travel heading home in physical travel. Type cannot be harmonized with anti-type on this key issue from camp two.
There is another additional glaring fact that is also enlightening. It is found in Tract 1, p.38.
“And it came to pass, while they were slaying them, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt Thou destroy all the residue of Israel in Thy pouring out of Thy fury upon Jerusalem? Then said He unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great,…and as for Me also, Mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity.” Ezek. 9:8-10.
After the sighing and crying ones were marked (which is not to be understood as being consummated in its entirety worldwide before the slaying follows anywhere), the slaughter completed, and the matter reported, the Lord “spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city.” Ezek. 10:2. (Tract 1, p.38-39)
Here we see that the command is we are not to understand that the sealing is completed UNTIL the Ezek. 9 slaying starts! Thus, the 144,000 cannot come into existence until Ezek. 9 starts. So anti-typical Jacob (the 144,000) cannot be able to experience his time of trouble until AFTER Ezek. 9 – very clear and profound!
We must take note also, that the message is very clear that no harm shall come to the 144,000, nor prevent the sealing message to go forth UNTIL the 144,000 are all sealed. The winds of Rev. 7 are clear enough! Thus to say that 144,000 experince JTT before the sealing is completed and the winds let loose, is to make confusion of the timeline.
Pitfalls of camp two’s beliefs —
1) They teach against the type, that the JTT occurs while Jacob is at home (in the 144,000’s own country) and not travelling homeward to the kingdom. Type and anti- type do not harmonize.
2) They teach that the 144,000 exists as Jacob BEFORE Ezek. 9, even though we are told NOT to think that way. The 144,000 cannot exist until the slaying of Ezek. 9 begins, at which time the final marking is done.
3) SOP references are taken out of context. The Rod explains them as “commonly understood” in the early days. Then in 1945 makes adjustments to SOP reference by eliminating the idea of it for the church and instructing us to read the Patriarchs and Prophets statement in context.
This concludes part two. Next post we’ll finish up with camp one’s views and then a summary.
Note: This study is for advanced present truth believers. It may not be clear if advanced studies have not been taken. Nevertheless you are ,as always, welcomed to read and enjoy this study.
The Lord has given us clear end time enlightened Truth as we read —
“That which happened to Jacob is sure to happen to us, and how comforting to know all thisahead of time. Now, if never before we should see that where there is a type there is also an antitype, and that where there is no type, there is no Truth.” (1 TG, no. 47, p.15)
The subject of when this anti-typical returning home, and trouble begins, is one of the biggest issues today among present truth believers. There are bascially two camps in the timeline of when it is to happen.
Camp one says — It is after the Ezek. 9 church judgment.
Camp two says — It is before the Ezek. 9 church judgment.
Obviously only one timeline will be correct, either before or after. As ALL present truth believers believe in the prophesised Ezek. 9 church judgment to the SDA church, this issue therefore has become a hot bed issue, causing division among us. Either we are teaching a right end time event timeline or a false one. We should strive to be on the side of Truth of course.
But how can we do a SERIOUS study on this? Well we think it will be a study of type and anti-type.
The very first point we need to clear is that Jacob is a type of the 144,000.
“Jacob, at the advice of his parents, left home and went to Padan-Aram, and on his way, the very first night, God appeared unto him in a dream, “And behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: And behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.” Gen. 28:12. The ladder represents Christ; God, the Father stood above it; Jacob at the foot of it. (Gen. 28:13). This dream gave Jacob great courage, and he made a vow to God.
Jacob was now to become the father of Israel (12 tribes) through whom many nations shall beblessed; a type of Israel by the promise, the 12 tribes, the 144,000.” (SRod, vol. 1, p.61)
Our Biblical type of Jacob’s return and trouble on the way to his homeland, is described in the following account — “The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book. For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of My people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah. For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? “Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.” (Jer. 30: 1-7)
Ok, this is our study verses. We will look to INSPIRATION for interpretations and not to our own ideas. The first comment that the message makes on these verses is —
“Note that both Judah and Israel together have the promise of returning to their homeland. As this has never yet been realized, the prophecy is yet to be fulfilled.” (1 TG, no. 47, p.13-14)
Thus we see thatthe first promise is that of God’s people “returning to their homeland.” A promise that gives us proof in anti-type that the fulfillment of JTT (Jacob’s Time of Trouble) occurs WHILE returning to the homeland. Note it doesn’t say while Jacob was still in his adopted homeland but “returning”, on his physical way.
The next comment —
“The cause of the fear here forecast is fundamentally needless and unnecessary, declares the Lord.” (1 TG, no.47, p. 14)
Ah, a powerful clue, this fear of seemingly “real trouble” is needless and unnecessary. Jacob was worried for something he should not have been and so the anti-type experience will be the same -bascially needless.Also note no physical harm or laying of hands upon Jacob during this trouble.
Let us now examine the physical travel in Jacob’s returning home. First the map of Haran, which was in the area known as Padanaram, which is the old Biblical city where Jacob lived and served Laban for 20 years, to the city known as Mahanaim (near Peniel) where Jacob struggled all night with the Angel. The journey from Haran to Mahanaim is over 300 miles.
The message states the fear is apparently frightening.
“The people that have come to this antitypical time of trouble are returning to the homeland, are comforted. Apparently it is bad enough to frighten all, but God’s encouraging counsel is, “Fear not.” (1 TG, no. 47, p.14)
Again we see that the point is underlined “returning to the homeland”. This fear is going to seem real but God will comfort, amen.
“Plainly, the burden of this chapter is concerning the antitypical returning to the homeland. Though terrible the trouble may seem, yet the outcome of it is to be the same as in the type. Right now we may not appreciate this study as we ought to, but the time is soon coming in which we will dig as fast and as hard for it as we would to get out from under an avalanche. Those who have but little faith in the Word of God though, the study will not do them much good. Now is the time to start cultivating the faith we need to have then.” (1 TG, no. 47, p.14)
Now we see the whole reason for this Word of God is the promise that God’s people will be partaking in an anti-typical physical travel to the kingdom land– a returning! The reason why we are emphasising this “returning to the homeland” is because it plays a key role in our understanding of type and anti-type as we’ll see in part 2.
“Jacob, our type, well knew that God had directed his return from Padanaram to the homeland, yet he trembled when he heard that Esau, with four hundred men were on the way to meet him. Besides, he was led to wrestle with the angel all night long. He prevailed only because he would not let the Angel go until He blest him. The final result was that on the morrow, Esau, rather than destroying the whole company, very kindly greeted Jacob with a kiss, and cordially invited him to return home! So when it all worked itself out, Jacob plainly saw that there was no need at all to have ever feared. How encouraging that “all these things 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. ( 1 TG, no.47, p. 15)
Summary —
Type Truths —
1) Jacob was well on his way home physically when he experienced his time of trouble.
2) The trouble came by what he heard which frightened him.
3) His trouble was mental anquish, not any threats or physical laying of hands upon him.
4) His victory was only because he wholeheartedly pleaded with God.
5) The trouble was found out to be unnecessary. His object of fear became welcoming.
In part 2 we will exmaine the position of camp two. Does their ideas align with the type — anti type truth?
As is seen in the photo, we see a blown up portion of a one hundred dollar bill showing an identification water mark. This tells us the true identify of the bill. As we know there are many identification markers, papers, labels , cards, etc in our world. However is there identifications of a spiritual nature to identify certain important truths in the Word of God? Let us look at a couple important truths in the Bible that we can know by proper identification.
1 — How can we know who was the true Messiah that was prophesied to come?
As we well know the Jews had expected a great and delivering king to come. Conquering the Romans and freeing them from the yoke of the heathen. Yet they were not true students of the Word, rather prideful self interpreters of the Holy Scripture. Thus they failed to known the Messiah when He came.
So what are some of those identification markers that pointed unmistakenly to the true Messiah?
He would come from Bethlehem —
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
He would spend time in Egypt —
“When Israel was a Child, then I loved him, and called My Son out of Egypt.” (Hosea 11:1)
He would be rejected —
“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)
He would be betrayed for money —
“And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear. So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. And the Lord said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them. And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the Lord.” (Zech. 11:12-13)
He would be crucified with criminals —
“Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He hath poured out his soul unto death: and He was numbered with the transgressors; and He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” (Isaiah 53:12)
He would come riding on a donkey —
“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, thy King cometh unto thee! He is just and having salvation, lowly, and riding upon an ass and upon a colt, the foal of an ass.” (Zech. 9:9)
There are about 40 more Bible references that show the identification of the King. So when one closely examines them they can be assured it can be none other than our King –Jesus Christ.
2 — How can we know who was/is the King of the North spoken of in the book of Daniel?
As we know the 10th, 11th and 12th chapter of Daniel speaks about the “King of the North”. According to this end time prophecy he shall play an important role in the events of the last days. Therefore it is very important we know who this is, especially today in our time.
To those who have kept abreast with the unrolling of the Scroll, we are thankful that we do indeed have identification markers on who this KON is today. Yes, there has been a progression of KON’s down through time, but right now there is one and it has remained the same since the Rod declared him back in the 1940’s.
“And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over.
He shall enter also into the glorious land, and many countries shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the children of Ammon.
He shall stretch forth his hand also upon the countries: and the land of Egypt shall not escape. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all theprecious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps.
But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” (Dan 11:40-45)
What is the key to understanding who the King of the North is?
“After the dividing of Alexander’s dominion, Egypt and Palestine were, as previously seen, ruled first, by the Ptolemies; second, by Pagan Rome (Dan. 11:15, 16); third, by the Dan. 11:22); and fourth, again by the Christians — specifically by Great Britain (Dan. 11:41).
These are the only historically and prophetically recorded supersessions involving the ancient lands of Egypt and Palestine.The surrendering of these countries, by one prophetic king to the other, unmistakably identifies “the king of the north” and “the king of the south” from the time of the dividing of Alexander’s empire to the present time, and leaves no room for doubt or for argument ….in modern times the Mohammedan rulers are in prophecy called the “king of the south,” while England’s kings, along with the disrupted family of Christianized kings whom prophecy says will not cleave one to another (Dan. 2:43), are called “king of the north.”(Tract 12, p.86-87)
Who is the KON in the time of the end?
“Since those who asked the questions agree with us that we are now living in the “time of the end,” we need not say more concerning that phase of the subject, but we do need to have them tell us which power at this particular time, in the time of the end, has added “the glorious land” (Palestine), Egypt, and other countries to his empire. The answer that anyone can give is that Great Britain took these from Turkey and has virtually ruled them ever since. Plainly then, during the time of the end Great Britain is the king of the north and Turkey is the king of the south.” (1 TG, No. 4, p.22)
How are we assured to know if the KON title passes to another king or country?
“…concerning the place of his tabernacles and his end, also as to whether another Christian power shall inherit the title “king of the north” before verse 45 is fulfilled, only time itself will positively portray the whole truth.” (2 TG, no. 42, p.29)
So we have great clarity in the KON understanding. It amazes yours truly how the Lord gave us such unmistakeable clues as to Great Britain being the KON at the time of the end. But some may ask –how can that be as GB has nothing to do with Israel? Well if you ask that question you would be showing yourself lacking in the proper study about historical events and current events.
Briefly, the origins of the end time relocation of the Jews to Israel came about with the 1917 Balfour declaration from the Rothschilds of Great Britain. This family has virtually ruled GB for decades, albeit behind the scenes. Then in 1948 the nation of Israel was declared a sovereign nation due largely to the influence of the Rothschilds.
For a recent article from the Jewish Chronicle about some Rothschild history in connection with Israel, see this link —
The Zionist movement came to Israel and through the Rothschilds, and Israel has still beencontrolled by this Zionist element. In other words Israel is still ruled by Great Britain through it’s master — the Rothschilds, although not readily seen on purpose. Thus we know that the current KON , who still controls the Holy Land is –Great Britain as forecast by the Rod. No other nation has took over since the declaration was made in 1 TG, no.4, p.22.
But as the Bible predicts the GB KON/ Rothschilds shall fall very soon and “come to his end and none shall help him.”
Get ready as we seem to be on the verge of this coming to his end, as the KON is making his final push through world domination in the form of Covid 19 and other schemes. It all will come crashing down and the Lord’s army, the 144,000 will take the scene–get ready!The Globalists, led by the KON — Great Britain/Rothschilds, will be alowed to dominate no longer.
Recently we were invited to give the presentation called “The Anti-Typical Elijah” based on the promise of Mal. 4:5-6. One of the two leading organizations called Mountain Dale , based in New York, has put on Sabbath morning studies for close to a year now, and to this live study we were invited to present. The Lord was gracious as we entertained numerous questions and comments from the brethren. We would like to provide the link to watch it. May you be blessed and all glory and honor goes to HIM who is worthy!
Every now and then we are so very fortunate to meet someone who we connect with so closely and the mutual respect is truly a God given gift. Such is the case with bro. Mark Tambatamba, from Zambia. Recently we were shocked to learn that he was found dead in his home city. There are suspicious circumstances of foul play and the investgation isn’t completed yet.
The Lord told us through our prophetess — “The battle cry is sounding along the line. Let every soldier of the cross push to the front, not in self-sufficiency, but in meekness and lowliness, and with firm faith in God. Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.” (Testimonies vol. 7, p.17)
Brother Mark joined our Facebook group called Truth Tellers many years ago and was an active participant in our studies and especially our bi-annual questions and answers test. He showed a good knowledge of the message he loved so much — the Lord’s final message of Elijah (aka the Shepherd’s Rod message).
We often spoke by chat message on FB and never once did we have anything but friendly and supportive communication. When the news hit this week, I immediately felt a large hole in my being. We have done much active work during the last 10 years or so, and I have felt such great reward in knowing that our group and ministry helped motivate our brother to love the Lord through His sealing message.
God’s Word says —
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
We often don’t understand the reasons why we lose someone so close, especially one who by all accounts was so faithful to the Lord. Yet we know that His Word tells us that they will be raised up soon to either “take up the work once more” or “rest in the time of trouble”. One way or another it will be great joy to see him again in the kingdom of God.
Our prophetess showed that in a vision from the Lord, that some may rest during the time of trouble —
“God gave me a vision last Sabbath night which I will write, I saw that she (Mrs. Hastings) was sealed and would come up at the voice of God and stand upon the earth, and would be with the 144,000. I saw we need not mourn for her; she would rest in the time of trouble, and all that we could mourn for was our loss in being deprived of her company. I saw her death would result in good.” ( 2 SLM p. 263)
So obviously we don’t know which time the Lord would raise the faithful but we can count on one or the other. One thing to consider is unlike Mrs. Hastings for example, bro. Mark does know about the message that is to join the third angel’s message to give it power and glory. So if we are logical thinkers and close reasoners, we would say the Lord may raise him up to take up his work once more. But regardless, there will be a resurrection indeed for the faithful!
“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” ( John 11:25-26)
The Lord gives us hope for the faithful —
“It was at midnight that God chose to deliver His people. As the wicked were mocking around them, suddenly the sun appeared, shining in his strength, and the moon stood still. The wicked looked upon the scene with amazement, while the saints beheld with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance. Signs and wonders followed in quick succession. Everything seemed turned out of it’s natural course. The streams ceased to flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of God like many waters, shaking the heavens and the earth. There was a mighty earthquake.The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law.” (EW, p.285)
From a personal point of view, brother Mark was one of our best members who always showed a keen interest in the message. We sent him many “present truth packages” as they are known, complete with Tracts, TG’s, Charts, CD’s and DVD’s. His dedication was quite extraordinary.
From what we heard from brethren in the area, he was a team leader, guiding, encouraging and studying with many brethren. His work had a good influence on many. He will be so very missed!
Nevertheless, despite what we as humans see as a loss, it is no doubt a perfect God inspired plan for our brother.
The Lord said we shall know them by their fruit (Matt. 7:16) and from what we saw the Lord’s promise as spoken in Psalms 37:28-29 seems very befitting our beloved brother —
“For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish. The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.”
Rest in peace our brother as we shall joyfully see you in the kingdom soon–Lord willing.
“And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.
And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” (Rev. 7:1-4)
We know as present truth believers that the sealing of the 144,000 is taking place now. That soon the SDA church judgment will come and the final members of the 144,000 will be sealed during the half hour silence , spoken of in Rev. 8:1.
We also know that they are termed “virgins” (Rev. 14:4). Granted it speaks of men, but of course we know that the 144,000 will consist of both men and women. Inspiration describes what “virgin” means in that Scripture context —
“They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith.” (COL, p.406)
This week a most wonderful thing occured which we knew that we should praise the Lord and tell about it. About 13 years ago, yours truly met his wife through a online site. She is from a former USSR country. But as the Lord provided, that religion restricted country now called the “Russian federation”, broke it’s chains back in 1989-92. Religion was soon less restricted and former agnostics and non-believers embraced Christianity.
To summarize our story, I had become an SDA in the beginning of 2009, after a classic life of the prodigal son. My life was one of money and pleasures, but praise the Lord , He never stopped looking out the window, awaiting my arrival home! I came home indeed!
Soon after that I met my wife. She was a Sunday keeping Christian at that time. After some studies and long discussion (she was not willing at first) she finally “saw the light” on the keeping of the Sabbath. She soon found a “Jewish-Christian” church in her area and started going to Sabbath services each Saturday.
Thus we became of one faith and our relationship grew. After 8 long years, she finally made it here to USA and we got married. Both of us attending the local SDA churches.
But unbeknowest to us, the Lord was using us to influence another greatly, it was her sister, sister E. As time went by sister E was most likely hearing the voice of the Lord in regards to what my wife and I were practicing –Sabbath keeping.
Sister E is in her early 40’s and she is one of the rarest of humans — a literal virgin. She is soft spoken and very attractive. She became a Christian in 2005. Of course being in a former USSR country her church taught very basic Christianity and of course Sunday as the day of worship.
Fast forward to about 4 weeks ago. My wife and her talk frequently by whatsapp. Sister E mentioned that she had watched a “great video” on YouTube about the Sabbath from a woman who was a Seventh-day Adventist. My wife told me about it and I said “praise the Lord”.
This week were heard from her that she had made the decision for keeping the Sabbath, as she was convicted of this Commandment. we were so happy! Here we have a dedicated woman who has remained pure all her life and now she has found the “day of the Lord”!
The Scriptures tell us how the Lord SAID He wants us to show we love Him —
“If you love Me, keep My Commandments.” (John 14:15)
Now sister E is following the Lord in the real sense, not only that, but proving she “loves” Him as He said! Words can’t describe our joy. Could she be found among that number? We don’t know but surely she has been blessed with dedication and purity that few have ever experienced. Please pray for sister E as she takes up her new walk with our King. Amen!
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Cor. 5:17)
TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF, MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTS SABBATH, JANUARY 11, 1947 MT. CARMEL CHAPEL WACO, TEXAS
THOUGHT FOR MEDITATION AND PRAYER
We shall read from “The Mount of Blessing,” page 180, paragraph one. The reading is based on the scripture which says, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye?”
M.B., pg. 180 — “Even the sentence, ‘Thou that judgest doest the same things,’ does not reach the magnitude of his sin who presumes to criticize and condemn his brother…. When he thinks he has detected a flaw in the character or the life, he is exceedingly zealous in trying to point it out; but Jesus declares that the very trait of character developed in doing this un-Christlike work, is, in comparison with the fault criticized, as a beam in proportion to a mote. It is one’s own lack of the spirit of forbearance and love that leads him to make a world of an atom…. According to the figure that our Saviour uses, he who indulges a censorious spirit is guilty of greater sin than is the one he accuses; for he not only commits the same sin, but adds to it conceit and censoriousness.”
Satan is doing his level best to make us transgress in this respect so that we lose out eternally. God has delegated no one to be policing another. Only God through His prophets is to reprove sin, but never to use force of any kind.
Shall we kneel now, and pray for a realization that our duty is not to criticize others or to magnify their faults, but to speak and practice the Truth? Further than that, Brother, Sister, we need not go. The rest is up to our audiences and associates. Let them decide for themselves what is best for both soul and body. Truth need not be poked down the throat.
Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 23, page 2
THE FATE OF ASSYRIA, AND THE TRIUMPH OF THE CHURCH
Let us turn to Zephaniah 3, and begin with the first verse.
Zeph. 3:1 — “Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!”
The antecedent of the pronoun “her” is found in the thirteenth verse of the preceding chapter. In it is seen that the “city” here pointed out is Nineveh, the capital city of ancient Assyria. Now to ascertain whether this Nineveh is actually the capital city of ancient Assyria or of some other Assyria, we shall study the remaining verses of the chapter.
Zeph. 3:2 — “She obeyed not the Voice; she received not correction; she trusted not in the Lord; she drew not near to her God.”
This verse points out the fact that the city and nation here mentioned had the privilege of hearing the voice of Inspiration, of knowing God’s Truth, but has failed to take heed — received not correction, trusted not in the Lord, drew not near to her God.
Zeph. 3:3 — “Her princes within her are roaring lions;
Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 23, page 3
her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.”
Her princes, being like roaring lions, must be frightful persons who evidently think “might makes right.” Her judges are, as it were, evening wolves; that is, they are in business, not to execute judgment, justice, and righteousness, but to catch and tear, to fill their den with prey although they may have more than they know what to do with. “They gnaw not the bones till the morrow.”
Zeph. 3:4 — “Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.”
In the language of today this verse would read, “Her teachers are light-hearted, not serious and sober-minded; they are trifling; they are of no account; they are treacherous persons. Her ministers, rather than having kept the church clean, have polluted it, and have done violence to the law” (have declared It void).
Thus far is seen that the Assyria of this chapter represents a people who have been well instructed in the things of God, the law and the sanctuary. But instead of obeying the Lord and ruling justly and righteously, they have greatly transgressed, have gone down into sin as deep as any people can possibly go.
Zeph. 3:5 — “The just Lord is in the midst thereof; He will not do iniquity: every morning doth He bring His judgment to light, He faileth not; but the unjust knoweth no shame.”
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In view of the fact that God is in the midst of them, they must be well informed in the things of God, well aware that in due season He makes known to them His judgment. In view of all these, the only possible conclusion one can come to, is that God’s church must be in their midst.
Zeph. 3:6-8 — “I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that there is no man, that there is none inhabitant. I said, Surely thou wilt fear Me, thou wilt receive instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings. Therefore wait ye upon Me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation, even all My fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of My jealousy.”
The Lord Himself warns that He has cut off nations, that He has made their towers desolate and their streets waste, that He has destroyed their cities and has left no inhabitants in them. He points out that all this He did as an object lesson for future good, so that they as a nation might fear Him and receive instruction, that their dwellings not be cut off. But in spite of these examples, they rise early and corrupt all their doings. So it is that at long last the Lord arises to the prey, gathers the nations, assembles the kingdoms, and Assyria gets her punishment.
From this we see that the Assyria under discussion exists in the time of the end, the time in which the
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great and dreadful day of the Lord takes place. This Assyria, therefore, is an antitype of ancient Assyria just as the Babylon of Revelation 17 and 18 is an antitype of ancient Babylon.
Assyria, charges Inspiration, is a rejoicing city that dwells carelessly, that says in her heart, “I am, and there is none beside me.” Zeph. 2:15.
At this point let us pause a moment and summarize the characteristics by which this modern Assyria is to be identified. (1) As man looks at things, she is so great that there is none like her. She is well instructed in the things of God. (2) She is oppressive, a hard ruling nation. (3) She has polluted the sanctuary and has declared the law of God void. (4) She has piled up wealth by going after it as an evening wolfe goes after its prey. (5) She harbors the church of God. (6) She exists in the time the Lord is to manifest His power and destroy all the wicked nations. (7) She is an Assyria-like nation, widespread, a nation of conquests.
There is but one people under the sun that answers to all these descriptions, and that people is, of course, the English-speaking people, in whose midst is the church, and from whose midst the Gospel and the Bible flow out to all nations. As clear as language can make it, the burden of the prophet Zephaniah is for the English-speaking Christian world.
God is now saying to Assyria’s capital city, “Indeed, you are doing all these abominations, but you will not thus continue long. The time is at hand.” Put a stop to your absurdities.
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Zeph. 3:9 — “For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve Him with one consent.”
Inspiration for certainty declares that after Assyria receives her punishment, and after the wicked are taken out of his church, then will the Gospel be proclaimed in a pure language (in pure Gospel Truth) that whosoever will, may call upon the name of the Lord, “to serve Him” with heart and soul. Then it is that “only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will have a right to proclaim it [Third Angel’s Message] when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry.” — “Review and Herald,” Nov. 19, 1908.
Zeph. 3:10, 11 — “From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia My suppliants, even the daughter of My dispersed, shall bring Mine offering. In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against Me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of My holy mountain.”
When the Gospel is proclaimed in “a pure language,” then even from the ends of the earth God’s people will come with an offering to the Lord.
Having removed all who rejoice in her pride the church shall be haughty no more.
Zeph. 3:12 — “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord.”
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The fact that He leaves in their midst poor and afflicted people is sufficient evidence in itself that the purification of the church takes place before the Millennium, before Isaiah 33:24 is fulfilled and before He sets up the kingdom mentioned therein.
Zeph. 3:13 — “The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.”
The remnant, those that are left after the purification takes place, shall sin no more. They shall forever thereafter stand without guile in their mouths.
Zeph. 3:14 — “Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.”
A great day is coming for the righteous, a dreadful one for the wicked. We, therefore, as children of Zion, are encouraged to sing and shout for joy because we have finally come to the time of God’s great deliverance.
Zeph. 3:15 — “The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, He hath cast out thine enemy: the King of Israel, even the Lord, is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more.”
Surely these revelations of prophecy should encourage every believer to shout with joy as he realizes that the day in which he shall no more see evil is right at hand, that the Lord is to be his only king.
Zeph. 3:16-20 — “In that day it shall be said to Jeruusalem,
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Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.”
The Lord wants us to know that when He turns away our captivity He will also make us a name and a praise among all the people of the earth. This kingdom of Judah (the church purified and set apart), is therefore, not only pre-millennial, but also probationary. And how glad we ought to be for the privilege to be among the first of the first fruits.
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