What is the Biblical Significance of the Latest Jerusalem Events?

December 30, 2017

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NOTE: Our color code is as follows : Orange– The Lord speaking  Blue- Bible verses/SOP  Brown- Elijah message (Victor Houteff writings)

Recently we have seen the much publicized declaration by the United States, that Jerusalem will be considered the capital of Israel and our embassy will relocate there. Apparently this has shook up the Christian world and has all kinds of “prophets” coming out and declaring the Biblical implications of such event.

As we have posted so many times, God’s Word is the rock of our foundation, our basis for making any declarations of any prophecies past present or future.  Let’s see if they stand up to the Word, particularly to our King’s final message of Elijah.

In January of this year, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R), Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R) and Nevada Sen. Dean Heller (R) proposed the Jerusalem Embassy and Recognition Act.  President Trump throughout his campaign made the promise that he would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and move the USA embassy there. These were not empty promises. The official declaration came December 6th , 2017.

And this excited some  Christian evangelicals  as they think that it fulfills important prophecies. In an article from Haaretz, an Israel newspaper/website, we read —

“Trump showed he is behind the evangelical agenda not only when it comes to enacting domestic agenda – like opposing abortion, appointing conservative judges or saying “Merry Christmas” – but on foreign policy issues close to their heart as well…On Wednesday, the far-right Christian evangelical website Charisma News was overflowing with praise from evangelical leaders for the Jerusalem announcement…Evangelicals are ecstatic, for Israel is to us a sacred place and the Jewish people are our dearest friends,” Pastor Paula White told Charisma. “The Jewish people have dedicated themselves to Jerusalem over millennia, taken pride in it, defended it with blood and treasure, and today we rejoice with them…”

..In order to truly understand the centrality of this “theological dog-whistle” to Trump’s evangelical base, you must take their religious beliefs seriously, argued progressive Christian commentator and pundit Diana Butler Bass, in a widely circulated thread on Twitter. Bass said the Jerusalem issue was so important to evangelicals because it is necessary to regain Judeo-Christian control of the Temple Mount.

This is vital, she explained, because rebuilding the Temple would initiate the “end-time” laid out in the Book of Revelation. End-time is a fundamentalist Christian belief in a prophecy that the living and the resurrected will one day be delivered from the Earth by God, their bodies transformed and protected in heaven, as he pours out his wrath on the sinners left behind.

Butler Bass asserted that “of all the possible theological dog-whistles to his evangelical base,” the Jerusalem declaration “is the biggest. Trump is reminding them that he is carrying out God’s will to these Last Days. They’ve been waiting for this, praying for this,” she wrote. “They want war in the Middle East. The Battle of Armageddon, at which time Jesus Christ will return to the Earth and vanquish all God’s enemies. For certain evangelicals, this is the climax of history. And Trump is taking them there. To the promised judgment, to their sure victory. The righteous will be ushered to heaven; the reprobate will be banished to hellfire.”

President Trump and his evangelical base are making this move in order to contribute, aka push along, God’s final timeline! But regardless, and which ever way you look at it God’s Word will supersede man’s ideas. Further, the Sunday keeping leaders (aka Christian evangelicals) are also the ones who say that the Jews that are there now will become victorious with complete control of the Holy land until the end, based on their interpretations of the Scriptures. But let us read what comes of the nation who officially declares not Christ —

“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired; Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass as the chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD come upon you, before the day of the LORD’S anger come upon you. Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger. For Gaza shall be forsaken, and Ashkelon a desolation: they shall drive out Ashdod at the noon day, and Ekron shall be rooted up. Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD is against you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. (Zeph 2:1-5)

The american pastor and Sunday keeping cheerleader, John Hagee also commented on his recent conversation with Trump,

“…I told him that God measures everything in modules of 50 years,” Hagee explained to CBN News. “And I said this is a principle that’s carried out in Leviticus, the 25th chapter.”

“I said, ‘If you look at 1917, it was a Jubilee Year, and the Balfour Amendment came, and then in 50 years, it was 1967, and Jerusalem was reconnected to Israel,'” he continued.

“‘And you add 50 to 1967, and you’re in 2017.’ I said, ‘This is the year to move the embassy and make that declaration because it is a biblical timing of absolute precision,'” Hagee said. “Thank God, he’s going to do exactly that.”

Naturally the prime minister Of Israel was very happy about the announcement as well , saying —

“Thank you for today’s historic decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The Jewish people and the Jewish state will be forever grateful.” (Benjamin Netanyahu, Dec. 4, 2017)

But let us now look at what the Lord says through His final message of Elijah. It makes it clear that the “times of the Gentiles” are soon to expire. Rather than building up this land with unbelievers as it is now being done and declaring what man decides is best for the land, there shall be a rebuilding of the land but not in the way the Sunday keeping leaders proclaim.

“Zech. 1:20, 21 — “And the Lord shewed me four carpenters. Then said I, What come these to do?  And he spake, saying, These are the horns which have scattered Judah, so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them, to cast out the horns of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it.”

   Previously the prophet saw these as four horns, as powers that scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem throughout the Gentile nations, but as the angel projected the prophetic view to the time of the end he saw them as four carpenters; that is, as “horns” they come to “fray” and to “cast out the horns of the Gentiles” from the land of Judah, but as carpenters they obviously come to build for Judah.  Evidently, then, when the horns (powers) of the Gentiles are cast out of the land, and God’s people are brought into it, then “the times of the Gentiles” shall have been fulfilled.”( 1 TG, vol.12,p.16)

We see that even though the general Christian world looks on a supposed spectacular biblical move by Trump, in reality the current people there now, mostly are considered “Gentiles” and thus their time is about to be “fulfilled”.

The Sunday base of Christians for decades have kept a close eye upon Israel/Jerusalem. In 1948 the return of the Jewish people to Israel led many to declare that Scripture such as the following was  fulfilled —

“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.” (Jeremiah 30:3)

Yet this was not a fulfillment of the above but rather —

“Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired..” (Zeph. 2:1)

Further they conveniently forget the words of Christ, speaking to His own Jewish people who rejected him —

“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. (Matt.21 :42-43)

In summary, this move by president Trump means nothing based upon true biblical prophecy. Rather it helps build up the false narrative of the Sunday keeping leaders/flock so that when the time comes and the “fulfillment of the Gentiles” is complete, they shall be thoroughly confused and bewildered. After all their script and dogma has been that “God will protect Israel”meaning the unbelieving Jewish nation possessing His land now.

Once the four horns (carpenters) come into the land, the false prophets confusion will be a fitting start to the people known in Revelation as “Babylon”, which means confusion. For the Lord declares them confused and the honest of heart will see past the false prophetic events for what they are – false and misleading. Yet there is hope for them.

“If My people, which are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

Despite the current uproar of false ideas and cheer leading, those in Babylon will have a chance!

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, 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)

“Zech. 2:12 — “And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the Holy Land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.”

   This is what the Bible teaches, and no one can afford to doubt the Word of God.  This being the message of the hour, and as all are to be judged by It, then if we do not fully accept It we would be in God’s sight naught but “cumberers of the ground.”  Our so-called good works alone will not lead us out of Babylon, but our understanding the Truth for this time, and implicitly heeding God’s call, will.” (TG, vol. 1, no.12, p.27)

Posted in Delusion, End times, Prophecy study | 2 Comments »

200 Million into the Pre-Mil Kingdom?

December 23, 2017

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Astounding as it sounds the Scriptures through the prophets say –yes indeed! Often throughout the Word we see miraculous things that only God could accomplish. Jesus walking on water, the Red Sea opening up for dry land travel, water gushing from a rock, the young boy raised to life by Elijah, etc.

Well we can count this prophetic word as one of those upcoming miraculous works of the Lord. Yet how will this be? How can 200 million people fit into the land of Israel, which has only about 8000 square miles , slightly larger than New Jersey?

Recently I had a conversation with a long time Elijah messenger. This brother made mention that “all” of God’s people at the time of the end will have to reside in Israel in order to escape the plagues. I said “what”? I had been under the belief that some, even quite a few , of the great multitude would not be able to make it to the holy land during the Loud Cry and have to live out in the mountains or desert until the Second Advent. But after review of the Word, I was wrong.

This post is a two-fold lesson, how God will have 200 million live in His holy land and that we must joyfully embrace the times when we are corrected or new light shines in our path, dispelling our former understandings.

Our first important quotes  —

“I have been shown that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiritual blindness is that they will not receive correction.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.255)

“Do not read the Word in the light of former opinions; but, with a mind free from prejudice, search it carefully and prayerfully.  If, as you read conviction comes, and you see that your cherished opinions are not in harmony with the Word, do not try to make the Word fit these opinions.  Make your opinions fit the Word.  Do not allow what you have believed or practiced in the past to control your understanding.” (Messages to Young People, p. 260.)

So simple and clear, correction is a must if we are not to be in a “state of spiritual blindness”. As new truths are explained and we verify if unsure, then we jump aboard with the Truth and march merrily forward.

So where does this idea of 200 million of God’s people come from? Fair enough, I also wondered. So let us build the foundation on which this is understood.

“Rev. 9:16-19. “And the number of the army of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand: and I heard the number of them.  And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them, having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone: and the heads of the horses were as the heads of lions; and out of their mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone.  By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone, which issued out of their mouths.  For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails: for their tails were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt.”

   These verses immediately evoke the question Who are these “horsemen” and “horses,” numbering  200,000,000 each, “the army” which is to “slay the third part of men”?

   In answering this question, it is to be remembered that likewise the “four angels” were to “slay a third part of men,” also that they symbolize the fourfold message brought to view in preceding  paragraphs.  Unmistakably, therefore, the “army”  of “horses” is figurative of the workers who proclaim the final message.

   That the symbol, horses, is correctly interpreted to represent gospel workers is further borne out by Zechariah 14:20.  There, horses are used to symbolize preachers, those who sound “the bells” — the alarm of warning, the message of salvation.  Like the “locusts,” therefore, they represent the messengers of God, but under different  circumstances. (For more ample treatment of this  symbolical meaning of the horses, read Tract No. 2, The Warning Paradox of Zechariah 6.)

   So as the horses are representative of gospel messengers, and as they are controlled and guided by their riders (divine beings), then the “horsemen,” it automatically follows, are figurative  of the angelic host who lead and direct the saints in their work of proclaiming the message and, subsequently, in killing the third part of men who reject it.  But since riders, not horses, do the killing when engaged in battle, these supernatural beings, the angelic horsemen, are the ones who actually do the slaying.  Hence, their having “breastplates of  fire [protection of the Spirit], and of jacinth, and brimstone.”

   What, then, we may ask, is the “power” of the horses?  These 200,000,000 horses, we have learned, symbolize a great army of gospel workers, from whose lips go a message which means life or death.  That, therefore, must be the power in their mouth.  Consequently, the “fire,” “smoke,” and “brimstone,” which issue “out of their mouths,” are figurative of the message which they proclaim: the power of the Holy Spirit (the “fire”), the sacrifices of Christ (“the smoke”), and the destructive judgments of God (“the brimstone”).  By this three-fold message “was the third part of men killed.” Rev. 9:18.

   “The nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” Isa. 60:12.

   “Lift ye up a banner,” saith the Lord, “upon the high mountain [God’s holy church], exalt the voice [the proclamation of the gospel] unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles.  I have commanded My sanctified ones [the ministry — “two hundred thousand thousand”  “horses”], I have also called My Mighty ones [the angelic host — “two hundred thousand thousand horsemen”] for Mine anger, even them that rejoice in My highness. 

The noise of a multitude [the army of Revelation 9:16] in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the Lord of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.  They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the Lord, and the weapons of His indignation, to destroy the whole land.

   “Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.  Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt: and they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.  Behold, the day of the Lord  cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and He shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 

For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.  And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.  I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir.  Therefore, I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, and in the day of His fierce anger.” Isa. 13:2-13.

   “And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray Thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17.

   If our eyes were opened as were the eyes of “the young man,” we, too, would see an angelic host round about the “Elishas” of today.

   And now as to what swelled the number of preachers from 144,000 to 200,000,000, the Lord says: “I will also take of them [of those whom the 144,000 shall bring from “all nations,” after the fulfillment of Isaiah 66:16 — the purification of the church] for priests and for Levites.” Isa. 66:21.  The very fact of such a multitude of workers speaks for itself that they are engaged in reaping the harvest of the world.

   Here in pledged word, God foretells in clearest tenor that many of those whom He brings into the church after the purification, will join the 144,000 in proclaiming the message to the whole world, when the earth is lightened with the glory of the angel (Rev. 18:1).

Then shall “the sons of strangers,” says the Lord, “build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in My wrath I smote thee…. The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel…. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders;  but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.  The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.” Isa. 60:10, 14, 18, 19.

   “And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” Zech. 13:8, 9.

   Two parts lost and one part saved make three parts in all.  The “one third” (Rev. 9:15) shall be slain by fire, smoke, and brimstone (Rev. 9:18), before probation closes.  The remaining wicked who are slain by the seven last plagues (Rev. 16) and by the brightness of His coming (2 Thess. 2:8), after probation closes, make the other third. The saved, the last third, are “the third…left therein.” Zech. 13:8. (Tract 5, p.89-95)

So the message establishes the fact that the 200 million are “Gospel workers”. The army of God’s servants proclaiming the Loud Cry! Ask yourself    — have you ever seen such clear and sensible understandings of Revelation 9:16-19? The Lord did not fail us brethren, we are reading from His Elijah prophet, praise Him!

Now let us go to other parts of the message showing why the servants of God must come into the Holy Land in the last days.

“The certainty that both the vineyard and the wilderness are in existence at the same time, shows, first, that Babylon, riding (ruling) the beast, reigns only over the wilderness (Gentile world); and second, that from it are God’s people called to go into the vineyard (the kingdom restored), where there are no sins, and where there is no fear of their receiving the plagues.  Of this kingdom of safety the prophet Daniel wrote:

   “And in the days of these kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.” Dan. 2:44.” (Tract 12, p.41)

Ah, we see that there will be a place where God’s people will need to go to escape the plagues–the holy land.

“And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.” Rev. 12:16.

   Or, literally stated, the unconverted who are now in the midst of the church, are to be slain and buried.  The converted are then to be taken into the kingdom.  Then will the dragon be “wroth  with the woman, and…make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17.

   Stirred to fury over her purification, the dragon will make war “with the remnant of her seed.”  Against her personally, though, he will not war, because her communicants, the 144,000 (the first fruits — Rev. 7:3-8; 14:4), those who go first into the kingdom, stand with the Lamb, the King, on Mount Sion (Rev. 14:1) His palace grounds.  Thus being the rulers of the tribes, they are symbolized by the crowned woman.  And being in their own land, they are protected from the dragon who consequently persecutes only the “remnant,” those who are left behind, who are still in Babylon but who are finally called out of her (Rev. 18:4).

(For full particulars on Revelation 12, read The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, pp. 64-82.)

   The first fruits of the kingdom come as a result of the shaking, the separation in the church, as is demonstrated by the parables of the net and of the field: The good fish are removed from the net (the church), and put into vessels (the kingdom — Matt. 13:48), and the wheat is  taken from among the tares, and put into the  barn (the kingdom — Matt. 13:30).  As bad fish, they are cast away; as tares, they are burned.  (For a detailed study of the harvest, read Tract No. 3, The Judgment and the Harvest.)

   The second fruits, however, those that are still in Babylon after the purification, are taken from among the bad (Rev. 18:4), rather than the bad from among the good (Matt. 13:49).

   The dragon’s warring against them is occasioned by their having the Testimony of Jesus, the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev. 19:10), by becoming commandment-keepers instead of worshipers of  the beast and his image.  The dragon’s aim is to keep them from coming out of Babylon and thus from going into the rapidly growing Kingdom.   Then it is, though, that the world shall behold all God’s people coming

Out of Babylon’s Dominion Into Their Own Land.The truth now being clearly established that the scarlet-colored beast is the symbol of the dominion over which reigns “Babylon the great, the mother of harlots,” it follows that her boundaries will extend as far as the boundaries of the nations that bow down to her authority.  Therefore, the call, “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), is a call for them to come out of her dominion, that they share not in her sins, nor receive of her plagues.

Those who respond to the Lord’s bidding, must, of course, have a sin-free place to go to, where they may “dwell safely,” though there be “neither  bars nor gates” around it (Ezek. 38:11).  To this haven they shall be “brought forth out of the nations, and [there] they shall dwell safely all of them.” Ezek. 38:8.  So, “all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isa. 54:13.

   God’s people at that time can no more serve the Lord in “Babylon” and in “Egypt” than they could have in the days of Ezra or of Moses, for when the plagues are poured upon Babylon, as the “fire and brimstone” were poured upon Sodom and Gomorrah, then if they be living among worldlings, they can no more escape the damage of the plagues than Lot could have survived the fire, had he stayed in Sodom.  So all who want to escape the foretold ruin verily must come out of Babylon, as Lot and his family came out of Sodom.

   “And it shall,” therefore, “come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people; and they shall beat their swords into  plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa. 2:2-4.  (Read also Isaiah 11:11, 12, 15, 16.)  (Tract 12, p.44-47)

 So we see that there shall be a great vast multitude coming into the land. The following is a map of the upcoming land division per Ezek. 47-48. The map on left is the old days map and right is the kingdom map.

 Summary, the holy land is indeed the soon coming gospel headquarters and the Word says not only 200,000 million but that is a part of the actual number because the Word says of God’s people “no man could number” (Rev. 7:9).  Let us know and understand that being S.D.A in order to be in this holy land kingdom we must —

“Let us strive with all the power that God has given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand. And let us do all that we can to help others to gain heaven.”–Review and Herald, March 9, 1905.”

Posted in End times, Ezekiel, Loud Cry, Our Lord's kingdom | 2 Comments »

A Straight Message to Laodicea (Part 2 of 2)

December 16, 2017

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Continuing with part 2 —

“When one finds himself in a climate which is neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, a temperature desired and sought by all, there he basks as a pauper become a prince! So it is with the Laodiceans, as represented in prophecy, though their supposed riches are nothing but a death trap!

  To rescue one from such a terrible deception is a task which calls for the utmost wisdom not only because the victim is blindly inured to the perilous condition he is in, while his rescuers are endeavoring to save him from perishing, but also because he considers them as his enemies, false prophets, instead of as his friends and deliverers,  messengers from God!

 

  From the life line, the saving message which they pleadingly hold forth to him, he recoils. And consequently by his attitude against them, he shouts: Away, away, I am rich and increased with goods: I have need of nothing; I have all the 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.”–Testimonies on Sabbath-School  Work, p. 65; Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 28. 

In protesting that they are not wretched (not unhappy), not –miserable (not troubled), not poor (not in need of truth), not blind (not benighted or illiterate), not naked (not without the righteousness of Christ), the Laodiceans are contradicting the True Witness, rejecting  His counsel, and discrediting His remedy—The Eyesalve.

  As only the “salve” will heal them from their deadly Laodicean malady, hence if they fail to avail themselves of the cure (by searching for truth as for hidden treasure) and to apply it (to repent), they will be spued out. O, Brother, Sister, will you not call for the “salve”? or will you continue in your wretchedness, miserableness, poverty, blindness, and nakedness, and thus compel Him to spue you out and to—Uncover Your Shame?

 

  That your shame, Brethren, might not appear to all, God has long forborne to expose to the world the sins which you have cherished and kept under cover. Not forever, though, will He forbear. So for your soul’s sake, argue no longer that you have all the Truth; cease adding sin to sin; repent, and return to Him; He will just as gladly accept you and make a feast for you as did the father in the parable welcome back his prodigal son and make a feast for him. 

  Be not like the Jew. But open your heart; cast out its pride, its prejudice, and its self-conceit; let these not deprive you of eternal life at such a late hour as this. If you repeat the mistake  of the Jews, your shame and your loss will be as much greater than theirs as are your light and your opportunities and privileges. Yea, beyond comparison! So do not fail, we plead with you, to end your long Laodicean sickness and poverty, and no longer imagine that you are—Rich, Increased With Goods. 

  Never do you even so much as intimate that you have all the buildings, all the institutions, all the money, all the workers, all the converts you need! Your only boast is of having no need of more truth! This attitude, therefore, the Lord says, is the way in which you are saying, “I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” It is the source of your trouble, and the thing which He expects you to confess and to repent of. 

  The angel’s (the ministry’s) mistaken claim of being rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, does not make him a liar, but rather shows him to be a victim of ignorance and delusion. But his thinking that he has and knows all the Truth, makes his condition even more perilous than a liar’s, for a liar knows that he is lying. O awake, Brother, Sister, awake! awake!—Do As Did Nathaniel.— 

 Come and see! 

  See what? Laodiceans, rich and increased with goods, and in need of nothing, with the excuse that the need to take care of the material things of life (Luke 14:15-19) forbids their accepting the invitation? — 

 Indeed not! 

  See the Laodiceans from the streets and lanes–“the poor, and the maimed and the halt, and the blind” (Luke 14:21), gladly availing themselves of the remedy! 

  But, alas, not all who come, remain, for “when any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.” Be not like him, but make the effort required to understand the Truth. And others, “when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word,” are offended. These are they “that received the seed into stony places.” Neither be like them; be rooted in the Truth. “But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth  it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth  forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.” Matt. 13:19-23.

  Though the “bad” along with the “good” are still coming (for we are yet in the period in which the wheat and the tares, the good and the bad fish commingle), you need not be of the tares or of the “bad fish.” Be of the wheat, do as the “good”: lay aside your own thoughts and ways, then take the Lord’s, for He says: “…My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways…For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa. 55:8, 9.

  And finally, never be like a Pharisee who can see the mote in his brother’s eye, but cannot see the beam in his own (Matt. 7:3). For after all “Who art thou?” asks the Lord. Art thou thyself not a Laodicean? How “judgest” thou “another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Rom. 14:4. 

  Never mind the other fellow, Brethren; you have barely enough time to look after yourself. And moreover, do not measure the Truth with the rod of man, but with the Rod of God: “Hear ye the Rod, and [Him] Who hath appointed it” (Mic. 6:9), urges the Lord. your name and address for Present Truth literature–the feast which, though worth everything, will cost you nothing. And besides being the only cure for your Laodiceanism, it will thrill and satisfy your hungry soul with something truly rich and extraordinary! 

  Then all of us together “shall have spiritual eyesight to discern the inner courts of the celestial  temple. We shall catch the themes of song and thanksgiving of the heavenly choir round about the throne. When Zion shall arise and shine, her light will be most penetrating and precious songs of praise and thanksgiving will be heard in the assemblies of the saints….As we apply the golden eye-salve, we shall see the glories beyond. Faith will cut through the heavy shadow of Satan, and we shall see our Advocate offering up the incense of His own merits in our behalf. When we see this as it is, as the Lord desires us to see it we shall be filled with a sense of the immensity and diversity of the love of God.”–Testimonies,  Vol. 6, p. 368. (Answerer, vol.1, p.14-19)

Posted in Present Truth, Warning our brethren | Leave a Comment »

A Message straight to Laodicea (Part 1 of 2)

December 9, 2017

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This week in our studies we came across a profound and powerful truth packed message which we would like to share. May you be blessed and enlightened.

“Dear Brethren in Laodicea, do you know that prophecy positively declares that the people of God in the Laodicean church are in a critically dangerous condition and know it not? Well, Brethren, whether or not you realize it, whether or not you believe it, that precisely is the case. And if you hope to enter into eternal life, you must believe it, and that without delay. Whatever else you may believe or disbelieve, this one thing you must believe, “for it is the True Witness who speaks, and his testimony must be correct.” –Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 253.

And remember that above all people, the Laodiceans should not only be the last but the least inclined to criticize, for they themselves, says the True Witness, are “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked,” without so much even as suspecting it, but instead blissfully imagining that they are “rich, and increased with goods, and” in “need of nothing.” Rev. 3:17. How, then, can they be in a position truly to know anything about others!

Think, Brethren, and rouse to life! This voice, pleading with you to awake and avert the Enemy’s pitfalls cannot possibly be the Enemy’s voice! Remember that the Lord “surprises us by revealing His power through instruments of His own choice, while He passes by the men to whom we have looked as those through whom light should come. God desires us to receive the truth upon its own merits,–because it is truth.”–Testimonies to Ministers, p. 106.

“No matter by whom light is sent, we should open our hearts to receive it with the meekness of Christ….We should all know what is being taught among us; for if it is truth, we need it.”–Gospel Workers, p. 301.

“The great danger with our people has been that of depending upon men, and making flesh their arm. Those who have not been in the habit of searching the Bible for themselves, or weighing evidence, have confidence in the leading men and accept the decisions they make; and thus many will reject the very messages God sends to His people, if these leading brethren do not accept them.”–Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 106, 107.

“He will use men for the accomplishment of His purpose whom some of the brethren would reject as unfit to engage in the work.”–The Review and Herald, Feb. 9, 1895.

In the light of these warnings, will you not take time carefully and prayerfully to ascertain whether or not God is leading in this reformatory work? He has promised to all who will do this, that He will not leave them in darkness but will guide them into all Truth. So will you not take Him at His Word, and try Him?

We plead with you to, for already “the agencies of evil are combining their forces, and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world,” says Inspiration, “and the final movements will be rapid ones….The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah….Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism! and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis….Soon everything that can be shaken will be shaken, that those things that can not be shaken may remain….

“It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth.”–Testimonies, Vol. 9, pp. 11, 13, 15, 16.

In view of these solemn realities even now looming before our eyes, no longer, Brother Sister, hide yourself in the darkness. Stand in the light, lest you stumble and fall and not be found. Come, take time, and

Let Us Reason Together.

The Laodicean church, the last of the seven churches (Rev. 2, 3), being figurative of the Christian church in her last period, our time, the message on record to her is therefore the last message to the church. So, plainly, if there is any Bible subject essential for the church to study, the message to the Laodiceans certainly is.

Although satisfied with their attainments, the Laodiceans who believe and take God at His Word will not question Him concerning their condition but will, whether they see it or not, acknowledge that they are in a “sad deception,” “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked.” Having honestly made this acknowledgment, they will, in consequent obedience to the True Witness’ counsel to buy of Him eyesalve which He alone can supply, anoint their eyes with it and be able to see.

Those, though, who recline in the false security of self-complacence, will pay no attention to the warning counsel, and will as a result lose everything–be spued out! Yet how few does this dread threat alarm! How few does it impel to find out where the trouble lies and how they stand! How few, indeed, does it even trouble! And O how few incline to inquire into it for fear that it may rebuke their evil course and deprive them of some sinful pleasure which they dearly cherish! Surprisingly few yet all too truly.

Then, too, there being instilled in them great fear of false prophets, and not at all awakened in them any expectation of true ones (although there can be no false where there are no true), they are now therefore almost beyond reach. And behind their careless attitude is seen the truth that “the pains of duty and the pleasures of sin are the cords with which Satan binds men in his snares” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 53), while behind the deeply instilled fear of false prophets, is seen the false watchman’s carefulness to keep them from coming in contact with the messengers whom God has sent to them.

Our deep concern, therefore, is that there awaken an interest in you, dear Laodicean, to go to the bottom of the matter, to make sure of your salvation. So will you not be sensible and courteous enough to sit down with this lightbearer in humble,impartial, prayerful study which must repay you many, many times over what you put into it? Remember, there is a divine law that converts every honest effort into joy, a personal experience with God, and eternal life. So will you not start now to measure yourself, no longer by what you think you are or will be but by what the Lord says you are and must be? Begin your investigation with the ensuing

Seven Questions.

1. Who is Laodicea?

2. Whom does the angel represent?

3. What is meant by being wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked?

4. What is it to be “lukewarm”?

5. Why does God prefer one either cold or hot rather than lukewarm?

6. What is the eyesalve?

7. Should Laodicea fail to repent, how would her shame be uncovered?

The Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, describes the condition of each of the seven churches the last of which is the Laodicean. These churches, admittedly, portray the Christian church in seven different periods; the seventh, Laodicea, depicting her in the period just before the “harvest,” the last in which the “wheat and tares” are comingled, and the one in which she is to experience the separation of the bad from among the good (Matt. 13 :30, 47-49).

Since in her every section, the church must be true to her name (it alone being her identification), we shall therefore consider the question:

Who is Laodicea?

Laodicea may be infallibly recognized amidst the many “isms” of Christendom by the work she is doing–declaring the judgment. Indeed, this mark of identification is pointed out by the very name Laodicea, compounded of the two Greek words lao and dekei, the one meaning “people,” also “speak,” the other meaning “judgment,” the two in one meaning the people declaring judgment.

The church therefore, which declares, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come” (Rev. 14:7), is evidently the one called Laodicea. And it is almost as well known outside Seventh-day Adventist circles as within, that the Seventh-day Adventist church is endeavoring to carry the judgment message of Revelation 14:7, and is therefore unchallenged in her claim to the title, Laodicea.

Since, therefore, the Seventh-day Adventist church is the only one proclaiming the judgment, and since each of the seven messages is addressed to the angel of the respective churches, the message to Laodicea is accordingly addressed

To the Seventh-day Adventist Angel.

According to Revelation 1:20, the “candlesticks” symbolize the churches, and the “stars” the angels (leaders) who have charge over the churches. Being the attendants of the churches, the angels are thus seen to be the ministry, whose responsibility is to have the lamps trimmed, filled with oil, and burning brightly, so that the church may give light to all about her.

Accordingly, as the Laodicean angel, him to whom the condemnatory message is sent, is symbolical of the ministry in Laodicea, he should consequently be the more anxious to discover where the trouble lies, for he is, says the Lord,

Wretched, Miserable, Poor, Blind, and Naked.

With a ministry wretched, miserable, poor blind, and naked, what church (candlestick) could possibly stay lighted? And with her light thus gone out or but flickering dimly, how could she lighten the world as God has set her to do? Through the eyes of the True Witness, therefore, the tragedy of Laodicea is starkly seen–“sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people” (Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 337) while a sin-benighted world plunges on hell-bent in its darkness! O what a piteous plight! And yet it is so utterly overlooked!

With both ministry and laity in such a pitiful state of darkness, it is clear to be seen that though the Laodicean church is the last in the order of the seven churches, God cannot through her lighten the world and prepare His people for the Kingdom when she is in darkness and unprepared herself. Hence the necessity of a new order, a new ministry, as predicted inTestimonies, Vol. 5, p. 80, and in Zephaniah 3:11, 12.

Then it will come to pass that “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 Review and Herald, No. 19, 1908.

In the light of these facts, the prophetic message to the angel of the Laodiceans must obviously be brought and proclaimed by someone other than the angel himself. But this, of course, is the very thing that neither the ministry nor the laity expect or wish to happen. For the sake of the faithful, nevertheless, it is happening.

So since God’s Word says that the ministry of the Laodicean church is wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, and that neither they nor the laity are aware of the fact, it lends heavy emphasis to the statements: “Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people!” (Testimonies, Vol. 2. p. 337); “the message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception.”–Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 253.

Although they are in this horrible predicament, one which should make them tremble and fear, and give anything to get out of, yet they continue

Lukewarm–Neither Cold Nor Hot.”  (Answerer, vol. 1, p. 5-14)

Stay tuned for part 2 next week …

Posted in Present Truth, Warning our brethren | 3 Comments »

As in the Days of Amos

December 2, 2017

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In the days of Amos, he wrote under Inspiration the following —

“They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.” (Amos 5:10)

What was Amos doing that caused people to “hate” him for rebuking at the gate? What is “rebuking at the gate” mean? We found a good commentary.

“The prophets seized the opportunity of finding the people together, and preached to them there. So it was even in the days of Solomon. “Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets; she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates, in the city she uttereth her words, How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?…”Proverbs 1:20-22, and again, “She standeth in the top of high places, by the way, in the meeting of the paths. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors; Unto you, O men, I call, “Pro 8:2-4.

Jeremiah mentions two occasions, upon which God bade him reprove the king and people in the gates of Jerusalem Jeremiah 17:19; Jeremiah 19:2. There doubtless Amos and Hosea reproved them, and, for reproving, were “hated.” As Isaiah says, “they lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate”Isaiah 29:21. They sinned publicly, and therefore they were to be rebuked publicly. They sinned “in the gate” by injustice and oppression, and therefore were to be “rebuked before all, that others also might fear” 1 Timothy 5:20. (Bible Hub Amos 5:10)

Fast forward to today. There is a small group of people known as the “Siege Ambassadors” who are S.D.A members. They have a ministry where they go to churches around the USA and stand at the “gate” the entry areas for the churches. Their  mission is to warn the members that judgment is about to happen with our church.

While doing this, they also try and hand out Tracts, Cd’s, Dvd’s and other literature as the members drive or walk by. This small company usually takes videos of the siege and posts them either on their YouTube channel or Facebook.

How is this ministry received by S.D.A members and other present truth believers? Well, let’s say it’s a mixed bag. Many don’t subscribe to this method of reaching out. They see it as confrontational and not really helping the members to come to the message. Personally I see it as a last ditch effort to reach our Laodiceans. They are so near coma like in regards to the message, there can maybe be some who have their ears open to this pleading. Scripture also supports such pleading —

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1)

This appears to be exactly what the siege team does. They cry aloud and lift up their voices like a trumpet. A while back during one of our many conversations, I had an in depth discussion with their leader, sister Patricia.

What I said was that the work of God is multifaceted. Apostle Paul beautifully breaks it down.

 “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. If they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 

On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;  and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.

But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it.” (1 Cor. 12:18-27)

So while many of us often don’t appreciate this difficult and trying work, we should realize that God has called these servants to do this part of the work. We as part of the body of Christ, His final Elijah messengers, cannot say “you are not needed” because even if this work is different than the norm, it is still Scriptural, a part of the body, and can reach out in a unique and peculiar way.

Has this work produced fruit? Yes it has. Several members have contacted the team over the years and Bible studies have been had. Only God knows who has come into the message, but rest assured this method has aroused some members from their sleep.

Some have argued that this method cause disturbances during the Sabbath. However, this is not the full picture. The siege team approaches their work with two main goals. First, they are warning the church it’s time to wake up, the Lord’s “suddenly coming to His temple” (Mal. 3:1-5) is about to happen. Second, they want to give out present truth because the leaders are derelict in duty on the Sabbath.

Now, the occasional “scene” usually goes as follows. The team simply starts lifting their voice like a trumpet and a pastor, elder or member soon comes over to the sidewalk to speak to them. They tell them to stop doing what they are doing. They are accused of trouble makers, disturbers, false witnesses, etc. Then the accusers of the brethren resort to calling the police on the Sabbath in hopes of removing them.

The police arrive and they quickly tell the accusers that the team has a right to protest. But Satan’s objective is now achieved. These “Amos” people are now looked on by the observing members as troublemakers, yet in reality it is the church leaders and members themselves that cause the trouble making scene!

So how should the church respond to this? If Christ’s voice is to be heard, the leaders should go up to them and ask them to come into the church and discuss the issues. Then calmly the siege team would lay out the charges and if true, the leaders should at once correct their error ways or at least set in motion the corrections. If found not true by Scripture or the Spirit of Prophecy, then that should be discussed to the team. Bottomline the search for unity and discussion for Truth’s sake is what would please our King!

But of course this does not take place, instead mocking, arguing, slanderous words, calling the cops,  all come from the members to these souls who have stepped up to the plate to give God’s message of Elijah.

In closing, with the S.D.A close of probation at hand, God is pulling out all stops in order to reach His people. These siege ambassadors are a unique and peculiar division of the body. Let us keep these brave souls in prayer.

Posted in Courage, Sighing and Crying, The Book of Amos, Warning our brethren, Witnessing | Leave a Comment »

The Gospel to the Poor

November 25, 2017

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In Matthew 11:5 we read —

“The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.” 

Our King mentions the poor specifically.And in the book of Isaiah it says it as well —

“The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound..”(Isaiah 61:1)

But why are the poor, those without much worldly goods and money, apparently much more receptive to the Word of God? In the Lord’s final message of Elijah, the poor ones greatly exceed the comfortable or well to do ones. In fact the minorities (Blacks, Hispanics, Filipino, etc.)  make up probably 80-90% of the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists.

One of the reasons we believe is the plain ol comfort of worldly goods/money. Jesus emphasised this issue —

“Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “God blesses you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours.” (Luke 6:20)

Our Lord set the example, not even owning His own home and relying on others to spend the night in rest. The example is clear–often money and worldly comforts stymie our desire for a close and needful relation with our maker. Too many distractions and the need to be spiritually uplifted is diminished or not seen as important enough.

“Though the LORD be  high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly: but the proud He knoweth afar off.” (Psalms 138:6)

Let’s face it, we here in the USA have so many comforts. Usually a nice home, nice car, nice TV and other electronics, etc. Our time is often spent on things of this world.

The message comments on this poor situation–

“It is a well-known fact that as a rule the most learned men are the most hesitant to accept the gospel of Christ, and among the last in keeping pace with the Truth. In this respect more than in any  applies the saying, “Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.” Luke 6:20.

Parents may rid their children of the desire to come into possession of riches which have been earned by others, only if they very early in the child’s life start uprooting its introvert habits and inculcating extrovert ones in their stead. In the struggle for character, personality, and usefulness, the children of poor parents have the advantage over those of wealthy parents.” (Answerer, vol. 5, p.12-13)

The poor are often less confident, less secure in life generally leading them to be more open to listening. Once again the message clarifies–

 

“Isa. 61:1, 2 — “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn.”

   These are the two verses which Jesus read as He stood in the synagogue of the city of Nazareth, the place where He was brought up.  He read these verses and then sat down without making any comments.  As His listeners were still in a stupor as to why He had read and then had sat down without adding a word, Jesus arose again and said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.”

   The reason given for the Spirit’s power upon Him is that the Lord God had anointed Him to preach good tidings unto the meek, implying that if the Lord had not anointed Him to preach, the Spirit of the Lord would not have been on Him.  Moreover, He was anointed to preach to the meek, to those who are not self-sufficient, not high-minded, but humble and teachable; the other class could not be taught.  He was to comfort all that mourn, to bind the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives (not to free them immediately).” (Timely Greetings, vol.1, no.41, p.24-25)

Is it a sin to be wealthy? Of course not, yet how hard it is to fight an uphill battle with all the temptations surrounding such ones. We all remember Jesus’ solemn words to the rich man.

“The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” (Matt. 19:20-20-24)

But how will the faithful poor today live in the soon to be kingdom set up in Israel?

“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 wealth 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.” (Isa. 60:4-7.)

Wealthy and satisfied indeed! But this use of wealth is for the glory of God because they have followed “the Lamb wheresoever He goes.”

In closing, it becomes clear that the poor are more susceptible to the Word of God. Maybe it’s because they have very little now and can dream much more about the riches of the Kingdom. The wealthy and comfortable have their luxury and needs met and often aren’t interested in dreaming about a future kingdom. Yet that kingdom is just about to come in the sight of both wealthy and poor.

 

 

Posted in Humility | 1 Comment »

The Laborers are Few

November 18, 2017

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In Luke 10:2 we read —

“Therefore said He unto them, ‘The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He would send forth labourers into His harvest.”

Oh how true this statement by our Lord is today! The harvest is so great yet the number of Truth messengers–so few. Last week we posted on how some of our more active S.D.A leaders are not teaching the full truth. Falling short on the very important timeline and events to come. But that led us to think of the opposite–who is out there today doing the Lord’s work and spreading the Lord’s Rod (Micah 6:9)?

Sadly there is not many active and visible leaders among us present truth believers. The Scriptures show the type, the Apostles, the mostly uneducated and lowly laborers as the chosen to lead the work. So too today. In the following short list you will not find a college degree nor a degree in a school of religious training.

SOP guides us —

“Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the direction of the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers will be surprised by the simple means that He will use to bring about and perfect His work of righteousness.” (Testimonies to Ministers, p.300)

“He will raise up from among the common people men and women to do His work, even as of old He called fishermen to be His disciples. There will soon be an awakening that will surprise many. Those who do not realize the necessity of what is to be done will be passed by, and the heavenly messengers will work with those who are called the common people, fitting them to carry the truth to many places.” (Manuscript Releases, vol.15, p.312)

“In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged…. God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions. These facilities are not to be despised or condemned; they are ordained of God, but they can furnish only the exterior qualifications. God will manifest that He is not dependent on learned, self-important mortals.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.80)

Indeed, God is not dependant upon “learned, self-important mortals”! The leaders  shown in our last post have books, organizations, seminars, all proclaiming a peace and safety message. But the common “fishermen” are not like that they have an unwavering desire–

“These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth.” (Rev. 14:4)

Yes, they follow an unpopular path, filled with scornful looks, doubt, murmurs against, ridicule, demotions, even physical abuse at times.

Let us now look at some of these present truth leaders and what they are doing now to spread His Elijah message.

1. Jimmy Kakouri

Brother Jimmy has been a present truth believer for a couple decades now. He knows the message quite well and is gifted in being able to present it in video form. His ministry is primarily with YouTube but he is staying active right now on Facebook as well. We know brother Jimmy well and have found a good and faithful brother  who can be relied upon to give a study anytime. He travels occasionally to outside countries and is based out of London , England.

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2. Glenroy Matthews

Brother Glenroy holds a special place in my heart. The Lord used him to bring me into the message. One day after church on a Sabbath afternoon in May of 2011, I happen to be online and saw a link to know more of the 144,000. It was brother Matthew’s audio presentation of “The 144,00 who are they ?” Glenroy is a full time worker for the DSDA organization based in Mountain dale, New York. He has a very well done video on Daniel 2 (DVD and YouTube). His clear plain teachings are truly a blessing for those who love Truth. To us the aforementioned Daniel 2 presentation is one of the best present truth studies we’ve ever seen.

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3. Dara Dietz

Sister Dara is a very experienced and long time believer in the message. Her great gift has been putting the Lord’s Rod online in a complete and well organized way. She has a health center and works as a health practitioner. We use her site regularly and send it out to many who wish to learn the message. By all means bookmark this site as it is priceless.

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site —

http://shepherds-rod.org/index.html

4. Rene Reyes

Brother Rene was the first brother we met in the message. His knowledge is extensive and we are blessed to know this brother. He serves as a fellow adminstrator on our FB ministry site–Truth Tellers. Rene speaks both English and Spanish and has a Spanish channel on YouTube. He also works for Mountain dale organization. One of the full time workers in the Lord’s vineyard, brother Rene is active and also supportive of our work in His vineyard, often joining us in our phone conference studies to contribute his thoughts and even do some studies.

5. Erik Bell

Brother Bell is one of the most knowledgeable brethren in the message. His CD’s have gained traction through out the field and are helpful to know much of the message. Bro. Erik has an DSDA organization called International Association of Davidian Seventh-day Adventists and is based in Florida as well as two online sites promoting the message. Serves as an administrator of Truth Tellers since 2014. He is active in our phone conference studies , often presenting a certain subject of the Lord’s Rod.

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6. Yours Truly

Your brother here (bro. Rob Peralta) is active as you might imagine. We are often amazed how the Lord took me, a heathen through and through, and changed this disaster into a worker for His cause. We often try to remember these words of the Lord —

“And now, says the LORD, who formed you from the womb as His servant to bring Jacob back to Him so that Israel might be gathered to Him— and I am honored in the LORD’s sight and my God has been my help. And He said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth.” (Isaiah 49:5-6)

Our ministries involve three areas. Truth Tellers, the first active FB online Rod message site. The Lord has blessed and now we have hundreds of members from around the world who have joined during the last 6 years (began in Sept. of 2011). We keep active with our YouTube channel, where we have many videos/audios of the message (listed as robp123451). And of course this blog post site.

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We, the few are not as mentioned earlier, college graduates or religious accredited theologians. We simply love the Truth-Jesus. We care not for money or fame and wealth. We just want to win souls for Christ as we know that the Loud Cry hour is just about to strike and big changes are coming. Pray for us.

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.”(Proverbs 11:30)

“In all diligence, therefore, give heed to any supernatural manifestation in the church of God, irrespective of source, whether it be human or brute, small or great, black or white, rich or poor. Unbiasedly compare its work with the Scriptures, and if it is in harmony with them, if it finds its foundation and prediction there, makes men loyal to the law and to the prophets, and adds light to the present truth, accept it whatever the cost in money, property, position, friends, and relatives, for it is your very life. He who will prove faithful in this responsibility will receive a hundred-fold for the sacrifice it has cost him to be true to the Lord’s voice (Matt. 19:29).” (Symbolic Code vol. 8, no.1-12, p.3)

Posted in General thoughts, Loving the Lord, Proper teachings, Witnessing | 2 Comments »

A Giant Leapfrog

November 11, 2017

Image result for picture of a frog leaping in air

In Revelation 1:7 ,Matthew 24:30 and Acts 1:11 we read —

“Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” 

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.”

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

This word of God speaks of the great “Second Coming.” The well known appearing of Christ for His redeemed. However, we as Adventists, of all Christians should be aware not only of the “Second” coming but of the “next” coming and what it entails.

LeapFrogs are known as their name sake- good at leaping. They jump over things. Unfortunately we are experiencing in our own time a spiritual leapfrogging on a regular basis. Leaders and teachers who continually want to jump over something so important to us as Adventists.

A note of clarification. Some may inquire as to why the appearing of Christ is called the “Second” coming when we as present truth believers know that another coming happens before the Second Advent. The well known Second Advent simply means Christ’s second visual coming to the earth to be beheld by masses of people.

Recently an example has come to us and shown exactly what we are talking about. Let us delve into what we have in mind.

Our example comes from a brother we’ll call brother K. He reached out to us a few weeks ago. He was watching one of our YouTube videos. Anyway, he was real kind and polite expressing a desire to study with us about a subject of “utmost importance”. That subject was the Second Advent.

As he knew I was a professed believer in the Elijah message (from the videos) he told me that he was also. He said, “I have been a studier of the Davidian message since 1980.” I was happy to hear that  and mentioned that we could probably both learn from each other.

He wanted to start off by asking me the following —

“What light do you have on the Second Advent?” Curious, I inquired why the Second Advent? This subject is quite solidly understood by us as Adventists. He responded that he could never get a straight answer by present truth believers. I started to sense that brother K had an agenda, a unique teaching that focused on the Second Advent.

So I told him basically that we know this as Christ’s final coming in the air for His redeemed, nothing hard to know here. But I also sensed that , as a so called present truth believer, he was not focusing on the “next” coming, the specific prophesied event involving Seventh-day Adventists that precedes the Second Advent.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

While a solid understanding of the ultimate goal of all believers (redeemed at The Second Advent) is foundational and important, we as Elijah messengers, cannot be derelict in duty by “leaping” over the next coming. So I sent him a timeline and asked him to comment on it.

It did not affect him as intended, as he continued to pursue the Second Advent. I shortly thereafter received in the mail two CD’s and a short report. I sat down to watch. Soon I was struck how far off his teaching was as to the importance and perspective of Christ’s timeline for us as Adventists. Basically he was stating that the pre-millennial kingdom, a well known and understood subject among us present truth believers, was soon to be established by Christ –on earth as He physically comes and reigns from Israel!

Yes, we know that Christ will direct the work from Israel during the Loud Cry gospel headquarters, but invisibly as He was in directing the work during Moses time. But he strays into the idea that Christ literally sits upon the throne in Jerusalem during this time– a complete false teaching and not based upon the teaching of the Lord’s Rod (Micah 6:9).

In other words no mention of the following appearance of Christ (although invisible) to us SDA BEFORE the Second Advent–

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before Me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Mal. 3:1-5)

Not only is brother K involved in false prophesying, which is to say false timelines to throw the people off the next coming but the following is a list of high-profile leaders of our church who espouse the same false timeline —

1. Doug Batchelor —

Although Doug has taught some on the church judgment to come, he has not spoken of this judgment as beginning before the Sunday law. His teaching , as typical among our leaders, soft pedals this Malachi appearing to our church. Keep in  mind that if any of these leaders were to teach the proper timeline, the funds would come to a drastic shortage.

To give you an example of what we are  saying, Amazing Facts is currently doing a 10 part series on YouTube called — “Foundations of Faith”. In presentation number 7, Doug very quickly mentions the upcoming church judgment (Ezek. 9) yet leaves gaping holes in his less than 1 minute mention. When does it come? What is it about? Who specifically does it affect? And so on. Click the link below and go to the 54:00 minute mark.

2. Stephen Bohr —

Stephen is perhaps the most deceived. Recently he hired the number one enemy of the Lord’s Rod message–Ismael Rodriguez, to his organization’s compound to do a 10 part YouTube series “exposing” the Shepherd’s Rod and Davidian Seventh-day Adventists. Not only does Bohr not teach the right timeline, but worse than that he discourages those who may want to know the real timeline.

3. Steve Wohlberg —

Steve is big into Ellen White, which is not a fault, yet like the others ignores the “sudden” coming of the Lord to His church. We were led to send him the two volumes of the Shepherd’s Rod about two years ago. Never heard one word back. He continues to promote the standard SDA timeline–Sunday Law is coming next, then the plagues, then the Second Advent.

4. 3 ABN and crew —

Led by Danny Shelton, this SDA TV network does not even come close to promoting the Lord’s final timeline. Into a  “peace and safety” mode and rarely is anything brought to the front exposing the true condition of our church. This is basically a TV “show” based on a feel good fantasy land atmosphere. Definitely has few “sighers and criers ” of the sins done in the midst (Ezek. 9 and Testimonies vol. 3, p.266-267, Testimonies vol. 5, p.211-212) on this network.

5. Your local SDA pastor —

It is not by chance that our Pastors and leaders today are teaching the peace and safety message from the pulpit. As we have posted so many times, in these final hours of our probation, Satan well knows his time is short and MUST block, smooth over and flat out hinder any message from the True Witness that “breaks their security”.

“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 situation 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. 5, p.252-253)

Now why does the above men of renown not teach the Lord’s invisible coming? The simple answer is –money. The solemn and straight message of a church judgment to the house of God before the Sunday law, frankly would scare and frighten the existing members, not to mention put a BIG damper on the recruiting of new members. And as their own structure is based on bringing in new members and supporting their programs, the funds would soon vanish and thereby their whole house of sand.

We say these things sadly and yet, the Lord’s plan is not something we can ignore nor negotiate out of. Like the Lord said,

“Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42)

We too would like the Father to remove this upcoming solemn and disastrous church judgment if possible, yet not our will be done but His will be done. There must be a holy people who must be His representation to a dying world for the last gospel proclamation of the Loud Cry. Rev. 7:9 and Joel chapter 2 must be fulfilled.

“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)

“And saviours shall come up on mount Zion to judge the mount of Esau; and the kingdom shall be the LORD’S.” (Obadiah 1:21)

In closing, just as the Leapfrog does his long leap over things, our leaders seem determined to leap over the teaching of the Lord’s real timeline. This conspiratorial ignoring of our Lord’s real next coming,  is that aforementioned leapfrog happening spiritually to us today. If we are not able to “stand” (Mal. 3:2) at His next appearing, the Second Advent will be of no consequence to us.

“Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” (Daniel 12:10)

Posted in Proper teachings, Warning our brethren | 1 Comment »

Questions from the Field

November 4, 2017

We are told to investigate any purported message of Truth including our “pillars”. The Spirit of Prophecy says —

“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.” (Testimonies to Ministers, p.107)

“We should all know what is being taught among us; for if it is truth, we need it….No matter by whom light is sent, we should open our hearts to receive it with the meekness of Christ….O, may we act as men who want light!” “The Lord sends light to us to prove what manner of spirit we are of. We are not to deceive ourselves.” “We must not for a moment think that there is no more light, no more truth, to be given us.”-(Gospel Workers, pp. 301, 302, 310.)

It is plain to us that “more light” will come to us as we continue to search for it. If a searcher of gold finds a nugget in the hills, he of course does not stop there and act content. No, he is just beginning. He knows much more is around the area and continues diligently to seek more. In this understanding we thought it would be a blessing to post some Q and A from our last prophet. May you be blessed and enlightened.

        Question No. 9:

“Early Writings,” p. 15, speaks about God’s announcing the day and the hour of Jesus’ coming, and pouring upon the saints the Holy Ghost. Does not all this take place at the time of the seven last plagues, just before the second Advent? If so, then does it not show that the “latter rain” is to be poured out upon God’s people after the close of probation?

Answer:

True, we do understand from the passage in question that toward the close of the seventh plague, God will announce the day and the hour of Christ’s coming, and that He will then pour out His Spirit upon His saints. We do not, however, understand this outpouring to be either the “latter” or the “former rain” of truth, or yet the power prophesied of in Joel 2:23, 28, but rather the final manifestation of God’s Spirit, not to reveal to us any more of Gospel Truth, nor to enable us to proclaim it more fully, but simply to baptize us with a fitness to behold Jesus face to face, “as He is.” (Answerer, vol. 1, Q-9)

         Question No. 17:

“The Shepherd’s Rod,” Vol. 1, p. 44, says that the great multitude having palms in their hands are only the second fruits of the earth’s harvest, whereas “The Great Controversy,” p. 646, speaking of all “overcomers,” says: “In every hand are placed the victor’s palm and the shining harp.” How can these statements be harmonized?

Answer:

The multitude on which the Rod comments and the multitude of which The Great Controversy speaks, are two different companies, in two different locations, and on two different occasions. The former, the multitude of Revelation 7:9, have their palms on earth; the latter, the multitude of The Great Controversy, receive their palms and harps in heaven. These facts may be clearly seen from reading the statements in question.(Answerer , vol. 2, Q-17)

       Question No. 21:

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

Answer:

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

“The seal of the living God,” the Truth, by which the 144,000 are sealed (Rev. 7:2), is a special seal, being the same as “the mark” of Ezekiel 9. (See Testimonies to Ministers, p. 445; Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 267; Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211). It demands one’s sighing and crying over the abominations which defile him, and which desecrate both the Sabbath and the house of God, especially against selling literature and raising goals during Sabbath services. As the saints have this seal or mark on their foreheads, the angels will pass over them, not slay them. It is equivalent to the blood on the door post on the night of the Passover in Egypt. The angel is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who by sighing over their own sins, and over the sins in the house of God, show fidelity to the Truth. Then the destroying angels will follow, to slay utterly both old and young who have failed to receive the seal. (See Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 505)

So, the former seal enables the receiver to rise from the dead in the resurrection of the just, while the latter seal enables the sighing-crying one to escape death and forever to live for God. (Answerer, vol. 2, Q-21)

     Question No. 28:

“The Shepherd’s Rod,” Vol. 2, p. 151, quotes from “A Word to the Little Flock,” concerning the number of the two-horned beast. Since, however, the booklet is written in part by Elder James White and in part by Sister White, we should like to know which wrote the statement in mention, for if it is from Elder White, we do not see how it can carry the authority that the “Rod” attaches to it.

Answer:

Though the quotation in point is from Elder White’s pen, the very fact that A Word to the Little Flock was written jointly by him and his wife, shows that she endorsed his articles in the booklet as no less authoritative than her own. Otherwise she would never have permitted his to be published as one with hers. Whatever truth, moreover, he or any of the rest of the pioneers in those days embraced, they originally received through her. In other words, in writing what he did in A Word to the Little Flock, he was only resetting that which was revealed through Sister White. The truth of this is quickly seen from the fact that her statement on the number of the beast, page 19, perfectly corroborates his statement on page 9, the part which the Rod quotes. The acceptance, therefore, of the one’s views on the subject is the acceptance of the other’s.(Answerer, vol. 2, Q-28)

      Question No. 37:

If God’s people are in the Kingdom during the Loud Cry, how can they be put in prison or driven to the mountains during that time, as the Spirit of Prophecy asserts they will (“The Great Controversy,” p. 626)?

Answer:

When it is understood that the 144,000 are but first fruits, the forerunners or advanced guard of a great multitude of second fruits, the difficulty in question is immediately resolved. The first fruits stand with the Lamb, safe on Mt. Zion (in the Kingdom). Thus those who shall find refuge in the mountains, and those who shall be put in prison, can only be from among the second fruits—those who shall accept the message during the Loud Cry, but who shall not yet at that time have reached the Kingdom. (See our Tract No. 12, The World Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, 1941 Edition, pp. 45-49.) (Answerer, vol. 2, Q-37)

        Question No. 49:

When does the twenty-four-hour day begin—at sunset, at sunrise, or at midnight?

Answer:

  The twenty-four-hour cycle begins at sunset, because at the moment the earth came into existence and began to rotate on its axis, there was no light “upon the face of the deep,” whereupon “God said, Let there be light: and there was light….And the evening and the morning were the first day.” Gen. 1:2, 3, 5.

  The “light” which shone on the first day, and by which God divided the day from the night (set the earth revolving on its axis), was not, however, that of the sun, for the sun and the moon were not created until the fourth day, when He spoke them forth “to rule over the day and over the night” (Gen. 1:18), which He had beforehand established.

  Thus it was that whereas the earth began punctuating eternal time with the first night of creation week, from which the weekly seventh-day Sabbath is measured; the moon began punctuating time at the end of the third day and at the beginning of the fourth night from which the month is measured, and the sun began to punctuate time at the end of the fourth night and the beginning of the fourth day, from which the year is measured. Accordingly, the time-span which measures and segments the week, is three days in advance of the time-spans which measure and segment the solar year and the lunar month. In order, therefore, that His people might commemorate the week of creation, from the instant that the span of earthly time began, God commanded: “From even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.” Lev. 23:32.

  So the twenty-four-hour day begins with the; night, at sunset; and the daytime itself, separate from the nighttime, begins at sunrise.(Answerer, vol. 3, Q-49)

Question No. 50:

Can you tell us the Hebrew New Year’s day and the days Or their sacred feasts, In terms of our Roman calendar?

Answer:

While leading the Hebrew host from bondage to freedom, the Lord was firmly establishing them in the truth of all things, including the truth of the day on which the year begins, of the day on; which the month begins, and of the day on which ‘ the week begins. Obviously, the Hebrew religion had largely to do with the days of the week, of the month, and of the year.

The Hebrews were forever to keep holy, 
(1) not a seventh, but the seventh, day of each week, the Sabbath; 
(2) the days from the fifteenth to the twenty-first day of the first month, the Passover week; 
(3) the fiftieth day after the sheaf of the j first fruits was offered, the Pentecost; 
(4) the tenth day of the seventh month, the Atonement; 
(5) the days from the fifteenth to the twenty-first ‘day of the same month, the Feast of Tabernacles; . and (6) the feasts of the new moons. 
Thus the All-knowing One, He who created the heavenly bodies and knows the very moment He set them in motion to govern the day, the month, and the year, decreed that the holy feasts be observed in the very month and on the very day on which they were first ordained.

  And He appointed the “lights in the firmament… for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years” (Gen. 1:14), by the movements of which He fixed each solar and each lunar date, so that it could never be lost sight of. Then to make doubly secure against such a loss. He “spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to you.” Ex. 12:1, 2.

  Thus we see that His great and never erring timepiece for earth, the earth’s own invariable movements, fix the day and the year; whereas the moon’s revolving round the earth makes the months.

  But the Roman New Year, January 1, finds its establishment, not in the movements of the solar system, but in the notions of mythology. Consequently, as the date does not coincide with either the vernal or the autumnal equinox, or with either the summer or the winter solstice, then should earth’s inhabitants ever lose count of the day, and need to recover it, they would be helpless to do so.

  To prevent His people from bringing upon themselves such a catastrophe, and to have them intelligent as to the time the year begins, the Lord gave to Moses the sacred yearly calendar, which cannot be lost or miscalculated so long as the earth remains. He told him that the  day which preceded the exodus was the fourteenth day of the first month- and that forever  thereafter, they were to commemorate the Pass over on that very night each year, the night following the fourteenth day. Thus was the Lord reestablishing the creation calendar, reaffirming  that the year begins on the day of the vernal equinox, on which spring, the first season of the year, commences, and on which the sun and the loon were created (the fourth day from the beginning of creation)-the only point in time at which, in the very nature of things, the year could begin. And so it is that the Passover, the Atonement, and the Feast of Tabernacles (the three most important feasts in the year), besides other feasts, are controlled by the solar year and by the lunar month; the weekly Sabbath by the day on which creation began; and the year itself by the vernal equinox, the immovable signpost.

  Beginning its first month of the year with the first new moon, at, or after, the vernal equinox, March 20-21, it puts the fourteenth day, that on which the Passover lamb was to be slain, on April 3. Once for all, is seen the utter impossibility of the Roman month’s having the slightest thing to do with reckoning the time of either the Passover or the sheaf offering, and thus not the slightest thing to do with reckoning the time of either the crucifixion or the resurrection of Christ.

   This is more graphically seen from the correspondence of the sacred events which came in the spring of the year A.D. 31, the year Christ was crucified, with the sacred events which came in the fall of the year A.D. 27, the year in which He baptized, as viewed diagrammatically: 
  
  
 

   This chart enables us to see that just as one solar season matches another (the vernal equinox matches the autumnal equinox, and the summer solstice, the winter solstice), in like fashion the sacred feasts of one season match the sacred feasts of another season: the tenth day of the first month, the separation of the unblemished lamb from the flock (Ex. 12:3), corresponding to the tenth day of the seventh month, the work of Atonement, the separation of the righteous from the unrighteous, signifying in both events a day of judgment, a day of separating the holy from the unholy; the sixteenth of the first month, the day Christ was crucified, corresponding to the sixteenth of the seventh month, the day He was baptized, showing that His watery grave foreshadowed His grave in the tomb; the eighteenth day of the first month, the resurrection, corresponding to the eighteenth day of the seventh month, the first day of the wilderness temptation; His forty days of victorious ministry to His disciples, corresponding to His forty days of victorious conflict with Satan; and His disciples’ preaching the gospel after the Pentecost, corresponding to His preaching the gospel after the wilderness temptation.

  To establish the date of His baptism as the sixteenth day of the seventh month, we need only to consider, aside from the coincidences, the fact -that the “more sure word of prophecy” certifies that He was to preach three and a half years, and then be “cut off.” Dan. 9:26. And as He was crucified on the sixteenth of the first month, he must have been baptized for the ministry just three and a half years before, on the sixteenth day of the seventh month. (Answerer vol. 3, Q-50)

 

 

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, Present Truth | Leave a Comment »

“And His Number is 666”

October 28, 2017

Image result for pictures of Trump's' hand signals

Take a  close look at this hand signal. What do we see? Not one but THREE 6 symbols.

In Revelation 13:18 we read —

“This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding count the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.”

Recently it occurred to me, after watching our president Donald Trump speak, that he continued to use the hand signal of the number 666. As we reviewed other speeches from president Trump, this signal is an habitual one. We know from the above Word of God that the beast man, the man who will head the USA at the time of the Sunday Law, will be known by the number 666. Let us look more into the identifying mark–666.

Last year we posted on how Barrack Obama was a leading choice of the 666 man. While he is still not eliminated as a candidate, it behooves us to study this issue afresh. As the scroll unrolls we should revisit this subject.

First, the Scriptures point out that as the number of the Beast, it is talking about the Two-horned Beast(TWB), not the Leopard like Beast(LLB) (Rev. 13:1-10). And as it says it’s also the number of a man, we can only see that it describes the head of the Beast system, a ruling leader of the USA.

Many Adventists have held to the belief that the Pope is the 666 man, based on several factors, the primary one being his official title  “Vicarius Filii Dei”  depicts the numerical number –666.

The following facts are evidence that the Pope can not be the 666 man.

  1. Whenever the Bible speaks about the LLB it mentions the wound (Rev. 13:3, 12, 14) And the beast described in connection with the 666 man (Rev. 13:11-18) makes no mention of the wound.
  2. The context of describing 666 is clearly of the TWB (Rev. 13:11-18)
  3. SOP’s book “The Word to the Little Flock” says the 666 belongs to the TWB (p.8-9 and 19)

The 666 number has been held as very important in the history of paganism and spirituality. When we know the context of God’s word, as above, and know the common use of 666 in paganism/spiritualism in our world’s history, we can securely eliminate the false idea of the Pope being the 666 man. Although, admittedly it has taken a life all its own upon the retold yarns from our church leaders down to this very day! Satan chuckling all the way to his hell hole bank.

As the Papacy, according to the  Spirit of Prophecy, has “had her day”, we cannot expect the 666 man/beast to rise to the center stage of power if it’s the Pope.

“I saw that the two-horned beast had a dragon’s mouth, and that his power was in his head, and that the decree would go out of his mouth. Then I saw the Mother of Harlots; that the mother was not the daughters, but separate and distinct from them. She has had her day, and it is past, and her daughters, the Protestant sects, were the next to come on the stage and act out the same mind that the mother had when she persecuted the saints. I saw that as the mother has been declining in power, the daughters had been growing, and soon they will exercise the power once exercised by the mother.” (SPM, p.14) 

Let us now read what the Lord’s Elijah message says about this 666 man –

 

The “last power that treads down the saints,” says Elder White, writing at about the same time “is brought to view in Rev. 13:11-18. His number is 666.”—A Word to the Little Flock, p. 9. (Answerer, vol. 2, Q-39)

And finally, Sister White in authenticating this position, declared: “I saw all that ‘would not receive the mark of the Beast, and of his Image, in their foreheads or in their hands,’ could not buy or sell. I saw that the number (666) of the Image Beast was made up; and that it was the beast that changed the Sabbath, and the Image Beast had followed on after, and kept the Pope’s, and not God’s Sabbath.” A Word to the Little Flock, p. 19. (Note: The number 666 was placed in parentheses by the editor of A Word to the Little Flock.)

“Here is wisdom.  Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” Rev. 13:11-18.

   The power that is represented by this two-horn beast will identify itself with “the false prophet,” for together they are “cast alive into a lake of fire.” Rev. 19:20.  From this it is plain to see that the wonders which the beast does in the sight of men, and by which he deceives them “that dwell on the earth” (Rev. 13:13, 14), are wrought by the false prophet (Rev. 19:20) “in the sight of the beast.” Rev. 13:14.  Clearly, then, the beast’s civil authority, combined with the prophet’s supernatural power, points to a union of beast and prophet — an affiliation of state and of church representatives.

   Having only two horns, not ten, the beast therefore  depicts a local, not a universal, government.  Nevertheless, he will influence all Christendom  to “make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live”; that is, he will engineer a world-wide governmental setup, re-enthroning the principles of the church-state rule of Ecclesiastical Rome.  Being the restorer of these principles, he, along with the prophet, will become the world’s chief dictator, and shape not only the political and the religious policies of the governments, but also the world’s commerce.  He shall decree “that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” Rev. 13:17.

   This beast represents a man who stands at the head of a nation, and whose influence goes far and wide among the kings of the earth. He is further identified by a number — the mystical  number “six hundred threescore and six.” Rev. 13:18.

   The prevailing belief that the number “666” is the numerical identification of some other power, is the spawn of the Prince of Darkness, and is calculated to conceal if possible the identification of this two-horn power.  Inspiration puts the number on the two-horn beast, and there we must leave it. 

When the number is finally made up, the servants of God will be able to  convince all the “wise” as to just whom the beast symbolizes.  We now see, though, that no one who studies the Word of God, need be deceived when this power does appear on the stage of  action.  Yet notwithstanding God’s warning against giving allegiance to the beast, the world fails to give heed, with the result that even after his number is made up, “he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their  foreheads.” Rev. 13 :16.

   The passage, “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,” denotes that all who, after hearing the truth, continue to pay homage, either religiously or secularly,  to the image, “shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.” Rev. 14:9, 10.  (Tract 12, p.25-28)

“There are many beasts spoken of in the Bible, but this two-horned beast is the only one that can be termed “a man.”  It will be noticed that from the 11th verse on, of the 13th chapter of Revelation the Scripture speaks of the two-horned beast and closes with the words: “For it is the number of a man; and his number is six hundred three-score and six.”  Therefore, the mystical number “666,” belongs to the two-horned beast and none other.  However, we may not conclude that no one before it could have such a number.

   The idea that the papacy is called the beast is altogether wrong.  The papacy is represented by symbols on two different beasts.  First, on the “non-descript” of Daniel 7, by the “little horn having eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things;” second, on the “leopard-like” of Revelation 13, by the head that was “wounded to death.”  These beasts are universal, representing the entire world in their time, both civil and religious.  Therefore, it could not be said of either beast, “it is…  a man.”  The papacy being only a part of both beasts (horn-head on one, and simply a wounded head on the other) cannot be called “the beast.”  The two-horned beast is the only one representing a local religio-political government. 

Therefore, of him alone can it be said, it is “a man.”  Thus whosoever shall stand at the head of that persecuting power as described in this chapter, and represented by the beast, is the one who shall bear the mystical number 666.  The Spirit of Prophecy also states that the “King of the North” brought to view in Daniel 11:45, and the two-horned beast of Revelation 13, is the same power and that it shall bear this mystical number 666.  We quote: “This power is the last that treads down the true church of God: and as the true church is still trodden down, and cast out by all Christendom, it follows that the last oppressive power has not ‘come to his end’; and Michael has not stood up.  This last power that treads down the saints is brought to view in Rev. 13:11-18.” (SRod, vol.2, p.151)

A Inspired wealth of information indeed! We further see identification marks of the 666 man/Beast

  1. The “False Prophet” joins up with the 666 man for their final deceptive works upon the earth.
  2. The 666 man unites church and state for the great one world religious system–Mark of the Beast.
  3. The leader of the USA nation will be that 666 man.
  4. Old Roman church principles are enforced, ie. Sunday worship
  5. The final “King of the North” shall be the USA/666 man

The message is clear, however, we shall know more as the events unfold —

   “The only portion of Daniel 11 yet to be fulfilled is this verse, the last of the chapter, and since these prophecies are made to be understood only when they are being fulfilled or after fulfillment, verse 45 is not as clear as we should like to have it.” (2 TG, no. 42, p.,27)

We are heading into some historic and supernatural times. We know that our leader of the USA shall be a  prime player in these last days. As events now unfold the baton is now held by Donald Trump. We cannot know, until it actually begins to develop, whether his hand signals showing the number 666 are what the Lord looked upon in defining the 666 man’s identity. As Inspiration says , it’s not “as clear as we should like to have it”, but let’s keep an eye on unfolding events.

Image result for pictures of Trump giving the 6 hand signal  Image result for pictures of Trump giving the 6 hand signal Image result for pictures of Trump giving the 6 hand signal

 

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