What Makes One Eligible?

July 29, 2017

OPENING PRAYER THOUGHT

   I shall read from The Mount of Blessing, pg. 155, beginning with the second paragraph.

   M.B. pp. 155, 156 — “The very first step in approaching God is to know and believe the love that He has to us; for it is through the drawing of His love that we are led to come to Him.

   “The perception of God’s love works the renunciation of selfishness.  In calling God our Father, we recognize all His children as our brethren.  We are all a part of the great web of humanity, all members of one family.  In our petitions we are to include our neighbors as well as ourselves.  No one prays aright who seeks a blessing for himself alone.

   “‘Which art in heaven.’  He to whom Christ bids us look as our Father,’ ‘is in the heavens; He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased.’  In His care we may safely rest, saying, What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.'”

   What does the reading instruct us to pray for? — For an appreciation of God’s love and for better understanding of Him; for the right understanding of what it means to pray the Lord’s prayer; for wisdom to know why we address God as our Father, why we are members of one family, brethren of one household; for grace to remember to pray not for ourselves only but for our neighbors, and even for our enemies.

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WHAT MAKES ONE ELIGIBLE?TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF,MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTSSABBATH, SEPTEMBER 21, 1946MT. CARMEL CHAPELWACO, TEXAS  

A number of brethren have written to me from time to time, wanting to know what makes them eligible to receive the Seal of God.  Some want to know whether they will be sealed by doing this or by doing that.  Others want to know whether they will be left without the seal by not doing this or not doing the other.

   The questions are indeed very timely and commendable.  Such vital questions deserve answers as concrete as are the questions themselves.  And who can give a more concrete answer than those who have gone before us, those whose duties were similar to ours, those who were passing through a similar experience, those who traveled the same road that we are traveling, those who were preparing themselves for the Kingdom as are we.

   In whom do we find such a parallel? — In no others than those who left Egypt and started for the promised land.  No, in none others.  They are our only type.  Says Inspiration: “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” (1 Cor. 10:11.)  Their duties, therefore, are our duties, and their failures should be our stepping stones to success.  Thus it is that the deeds of those who entered into the promised land must be our

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deeds, and if we are to be sealed, then the deeds of those who failed to enter therein, we must shun as completely and as quickly as we would shun a lion’s den.

   We are now to find out why some of them went into the promised land, and why others did not go in, for this is what Inspiration commands us to do.  This scripture implies that if the experiences of ancient Israel had not been for ensamples, they would never have been written.  How important, then, that we diligently study them.  Yes, in order for us to know what we must do or must not do to receive the seal and to enter into the Promised Land, we must examine the deed of both those who entered it and of those who were left out of it.

   Let us begin our examination by starting with Moses, with the human agent, the visible leader of the movement.  Reared in the courts of Pharaoh, he received the highest education the world then offered.  And having understood that he was the one to free his brethren from Egyptian bondage, he felt quite capable for the job.

   You remember the story of how he started out to deliver them although he was not yet told to do so.  He killed an Egyptian, fell into a quarrel with one of the Hebrews, and then fled for his life.  So it was that in Midian he obtained a job, became a shepherd, and married his employer’s daughter.  During those forty years of shepherd’s life he forgot the Egyptian language, and with it the Egyptian learning.  In its place, though, he learned to tend well to sheep.  He therefore dismissed from his mind the idea of ever delivering the people of God from their Egyptian bondage.  Then it was that God saw him strong and well able, and commanded him to go back to Egypt and to bring

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out of it His groaning people.  You recall that Moses protested against the idea and argued that he had failed at his first attempt, the time he was young and well-informed and that at that late hour of his life he was not trying again, that he could no longer even speak the language.  After a prolonged conversation God removed his objections by promising to give him his brother, Aaron, to be his spokesman, and Moses finally consented to return to Egypt.

   There with his shepherd’s rod he performed many signs and wonders before both the Egyptians and the Hebrews.  And you remember what took place the night of the Passover, the night before they left Egypt: Moses had proclaimed throughout the land that in every dwelling where no blood was found on the doorpost, that very night the firstborn in each such dwelling would die.

   Those who disobeyed the Divine injunction, were, on the day following busily moaning and burying their dead, while those who obeyed the command were joyously and orderly marching out of the cities.  Yes, only those who were able to take orders were made free from slavery.  It is, therefore, prerequisite that we learn to take orders if we are to receive the seal of God in our foreheads.

   Let us not forget, though, that the children of Israel left Egypt with great zeal and high hopes.  But when they saw the Red Sea ahead of them, and Pharaoh’s army behind them, they were filled with consternation.  They saw themselves in a death trap although they were at the brink of another marvelous deliverance.  Then they turned on Moses and accused him of bringing them to the sea, of making their escape from their enemies absolutely impossible.

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   Humanly viewing the situation, they were in a precarious predicament.  In that moment they forgot their miraculous deliverance from Pharaoh’s taskmasters and their eyes closed to the wondrous cloud by day and pillar of fire by night that had led them all the way.  As they saw it, the evidence against Moses’ ability to lead them safely was overwhelming.  Insofar as they were concerned, the whole venture appeared doomed to failure.  Their hopes of going ahead or of even going back left them, and all because they thought Moses, not God, was their deliverer!  How shortsighted, unstable, doubting, and forgetful human beings are!  Experience in the gospel work has taught me that God’s people of today have the same tempter to contend with, and similar temptations to overcome if they are to receive the seal of God.

   What a great difference would there have been had the Israelites only believed that God, not Moses, was their Leader, that that which appeared to be their death trap, was their door of hope.  Let their experience teach us to remember that God is either leading us altogether or not at all, that His ways are not; our ways, and that what may appear to be our greatest obstacle, may actually turn out to be our greatest blessing.

   Israel’s real danger, we now see, was not in what Moses did, but in their unbelief of God’s having the reins in His hands, in not knowing that His ways are beyond finding out — contrary to ours.  They failed to see that God could again and again perform miracle after miracle to deliver them from their enemy’s hand, that He could dry the ocean as easily as He could flood the earth.

   Having their failures before us, we should make

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them our stepping stones to success.  Let us therefore wholeheartedly believe that God is in charge of our salvation, of our lives and of our death, too.  That He is able to take us to safety even if the earth should drop out of space, that we cannot die if He wants us alive, and that we cannot live if He wants us dead.  Let us ever bear in mind that we of ourselves know nothing about God’s plans except as told through His appointed servants, the prophets, and as we witness them day by day.  If we daily walk with God, if we commit all to Him, then the responsibility is all His.

   God, in His wisdom, brought Israel to the Red Sea for their own good, and though they could not see it His way, He nevertheless for His Name’s sake divided the sea, took them safely across, and at the same time, by the same miracle, He destroyed their enemies!

   Had Moses been as doubtful of God’s power and leadership as were the people that were with him, what effect would his rod have had as he struck the sea with it? — None whatsoever.  If the Judgment of the Infinite were the same as the judgment of the finite, then Pharaoh’s army would have either killed or enslaved Israel anew.

   Their mighty deliverances should, therefore, forever establish our confidence in God, and should stand as everlasting memorials that the wisdom of men is foolishness with God, and that faith in Him does actually remove mountains and seas, too.

   Notwithstanding these ensamples, though, men still expect God to work in accordance with their judgment, and that is why sometimes He uses children in

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His work instead of wise and prudent men.

   The Hebrew host well knew that they were led to the sea by following the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night.  Yet none of these wonders seemed to have made any lasting impression on them.  There is a danger that we, too, may forget the way the Lord has led us.

   After Israel crossed the sea, and after the sea closed in on their enemies, they all sang and gave God the glory, but though Pharaoh’s army and the sea were no longer objects of fear but of interest, their trials, doubts, and fears were not yet at an end: Almost immediately after they saw the sea behind and the desert ahead they began to recriminate Moses for having brought them into the desert to starve there for want of water and food.  It never entered their minds that if God can dry the sea, He can certainly flood the desert and make it blossom as a rose.  Notwithstanding their doubts and their moanings God again performed an even greater miracle: He caused water to gush out of the rock and He brought manna from Heaven!

   Today as in Moses’ day many are duplicating the sins of that people: Some are all on fire on day, and all on ice the next.  Others praise God to the top of their voices while their ship is smoothly sailing, but when the sea becomes rough and the waves start beating against them, then they see only a man at the wheel and rather than expecting God to calm the sea they begin to hunt for a jumping off place.  Still others are constantly trying to promote themselves by continual fault-finding against the ones that bear the whole burden of the load.  So it is that there must be among us today — antitypical doubters, complainers

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office seekers and faultfinders, admitting one great truth one day and forgetting it the next day — yet expecting to be sealed with the seal of God and to stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion!

   The Lord fed His ancient people with Angel’s food, the kind their work and climate required.  He delivered it fresh daily, and it did not cost them one cent.  All they had to do was to bring it into their tents and to eat it.  But they disliked the manna, and wished they were back in Egypt eating from its flesh pots, “the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick.”  In their eyes, Moses was the greatest of sinners, and they blamed him for every trial of their faith.  Had God given them something other than manna, they would have been just as dissatisfied with it because an evil spirit was in them.  Let us gladly and with thanks eat and drink what the Lord gives us and when He gives it to us.

   You recall that by craving flesh food they made the situation unbearable for Moses.  So, to their great surprise quail filled the camp, and the multitude carried them into their tents.  But at what a cost!  Thousands of them died even while the flesh was yet between their teeth.  Then they understood that the manna was the better food.  It was a great lesson, but an expensive one.  What about us Vegetarians?

   Their murmuring, however, did not end even then.  They found something else to murmur about.  They grew jealous of Moses and of Aaron.  “They are taking too much on themselves,” the office seekers complained.  “We are just as much favored of God as are Moses and Aaron.  God speaks with us as much as He speaks with them,” they said.  And who were the chief complainers? — The princes of the nations, the

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men who were the most capable, the very ones who should have known better.  Those who could have been the greatest help to Moses became the biggest hindrance to him.  They wanted Aaron’s office; they wanted Moses’ office.  They refused to be satisfied with anything less.  The Lord Himself got nowhere with them.  The only thing He could do was to cause the earth to swallow them.  Thus in one day thousands — practically all the so-called wise — fell into the bowels of the earth.  Are we, too, seeking office by which to exalt self and are we, too, endeavoring to usurp the seat of the Spirit of Truth?

   Finally, the emancipated children of Israel came to the borders of the promised land.  And though they had witnessed great miracles right along, yet they did not believe that God could procure the land for them!  They had seen that He was able to deliver them from Pharaoh’s brick yards, to take them dryshod through the sea, to destroy their enemies, to give them food and water in the desert where there was none to be had, yet they did not believe that He was able to take the land for them and that He could finish what He had started!

   There are thousands today who are doing virtually the same when they say, “Isaiah, chapter 2, Micah, chapter 4, Jeremiah, chapter 31 and Ezekiel, chapters 36 and 37 will never be fulfilled.”  It was those who were of age, those who should have known better, that started the ball rolling down hill to destruction.  The youth, of course, must have echoed the murmurings of their elders, but the Lord did not hold it against them.  And in order to salvage the youth, God had to bury all their murmuring parents except the two faithful, trusting men who protested against the evil report of the other ten spies.  Mark you, every adult that

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left Egypt, except Caleb and Joshua, had to be buried before the youth could cross the Jordan!  Why? — Because though God did take them with ease out of Egypt, He could not get Egypt out of them.  Are you still wondering why the prophet Elijah must “turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers”? (Mal. 4:6.)

   Christians often think that the Israelites were very wicked and unruly people, but after having their experiences to profit by, think how much worse we would be if we do as they did!  If we do no better than they, how can we expect to be eligible for the seal and for the Kingdom since they were not eligible?

   In the very prime of life, Moses thought himself capable of delivering the children of Israel.  But Providence said: “You are not fit for the work, come out and I will make you fit.”  And out Moses went.

   He did not need Pharaoh’s training in order to do God’s work.  It was a hindrance to him!  Why?  Because it made him self-sufficient, independent of God.  Such a person would be the right one to lead God’s people away from Him and into sin, but the wrong one to lead them to God and away from sin.

   How true the statement in Testimonies, Vol. 5, pg. 80: “…In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged.  They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and he cannot use them.  The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view.”

   God can help only those who know that they are unequal to their task, those who know that they need His help.  So, then, those who think that they can do wonders

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are the very ones who can do nothing but harm.

   Plainly, those whom God is to use in His final work, in the time of the end, are not to be anything like the Egyptian crown prince, not anything like the learned Moses.  Those who can learn to keep and feed sheep well and to readily take orders, are the ones who can be taught how to keep and feed God’s people.

   Moses’ wife was the only Ethiopian in the entire company.  For this reason some thought they were superior to her.  They thought that Moses had committed the unpardonable sin by marrying out of his nation, as though race had anything to do with making people superior or inferior.  Moses’ own sister, Miriam, was caught in that sin.  There she was, trying to break up his family, yet Moses prayed for her recovery when she was stricken with leprosy.

   Who went into the promised land? — All but the murmurers.  Do you suppose that you can entertain the same spirit of murmuring and complaining, and in spite of it receive the seal? — How absurd the very thought!  How unfair it would be for a just God to destroy the disobedient of that day, but to save the disobedient of this day.

   What made one group eligible to cross the Jordan? — It was their trust in God, knowing that He was their Chief Leader.  They recognized Moses and Joshua as the ones through whom God was communicating with them.  They did not look upon them as being anyone other than who they actually were.  They were satisfied with their lot.  They took orders as the orders were given.  So it was that they were the only ones who entered into the land.

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   Having these ensamples before us, this picture to go by, I can confidently tell whether I am headed for the Kingdom or whether I am headed for the bowels of the earth (Rev. 12:16).  And I am sure that you, too, can tell which way you are headed.  The Lord does not require more or less of us than He required of our types.  There is therefore no mystery as to what we must do, and what we must not do to receive the seal of God.

   We need not go into a land of wonderment, need not entertain the idea that we must have a mysterious feeling, exciting emotion, need not wallow in the dust or jump to the ceiling.  No, we need not make fools of ourselves.  All we need to do is be ourselves.  Be calm, decent, respectable, heaven-like beings, endeavoring to do God’s will on earth as it is done in heaven.  We need not make a display of ourselves, but we need to mind our God-given business and to keep our noses out of other people’s business.

   Only when we have done all we can to comply with the requirements of the message for today, not of yesterday, shall we be sealed and stand with the Lamb on Mt. Zion.

   Should we not be glad that while we are being invited to the Kingdom, we are also being told how to get there?  Seeing all these, we must never let our confidence in God wane.  We ought to be stable, firm in everything, lacking nothing.  God’s eleventh-hour servants, says Inspiration, are to be “a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it.” Joel 2:2.  They know what they believe, and believe what they know.  Most important of all, they know that they are led by God, not by man.

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   They are not like the Pharisees who were building monuments in memory of the dead prophets (Matt. 23:29-31) and at the same time were slaying the living ones!  With this light shining on our pathway, Hebrews, chapters 3, 4, 10 and 11 become self-interpreting.

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The Sacred Page

A glory gilds the sacred page,Majestic like the sun;It gives a light to every age,It gives, but borrows none.

The Spirit breathes upon the word,And brings the truth to sight;Precepts and promises affordA sanctifying light.

The hand that gave it, still supplies The gracious light and heat;His truths upon the nations rise,They rise, but never set.

Let everlasting thanks be thine,For such a bright display;It makes a world of darkness shine With beams of heavenly day.–Wm. Cowper (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, no.7 , p.15)    

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, Salvation | Leave a Comment »

“Plowshares into Swords” or “Swords into Plowshares”?

July 22, 2017

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The Scriptures say apparently contradictory statements in Joel , Micah and Isaiah, let us read —

“Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.” (Joel 3:10)

“And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.”(Micah 4:3)

“And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4)

As with all Scripture, there is deep truth here and as students of His word, we should delve into this and find the intended meaning of it all. We know one thing, the two different meanings although seemingly contradictory –are not. There is a reason why the Lord shows two opposite statements. Each are balanced in their context.

Let us review what the message says about our subject —

“And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks: Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”  This verse reads exactly the opposite of Joel 3:10, “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: Let the weak say I am strong.”

   These scriptures reveal two classes of people.  One class shall flow into the church by great groups: Kings, and great army leaders who have been building destroying weapons and preparing for war.  Now the gospel has conquered them.  While they are joining the church they gather their war implements, beating them into plowshares and pruninghooks.  “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.” Isa. 60:18. 

The other class, outside of the church, prepare for war, beating their plowshares into swords, and their pruninghooks into spears.  One people is preparing for translation, while the other is getting ready for conquest.  Therefore both scriptures run parallel and will be fulfilled at the same time.  Thus the world would be divided into two great separate and distinct classes: Separating the wheat from the chaff, the goats from the sheep.” (SRod, vol. 1, p.176-177)

Mic. 4:3 — “And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”

   Many nations are gladly to accept His rebukes, beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks rather than continue to run in the armament race.

   According to Micah, the only nations that are to disarm are those that accept the Lord’s Truth for today and go to the Promised Land.  Never again will they need either swords or spears.

Mic. 4:4 — “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.”

   The nations and peoples are now having a difficult time to get to their “fig tree,” so to speak, much less to sit in peace under it.  They are in constant fear that some one may dislodge them even from their sitting under no tree.  Consequently they will try to protect their rights, or unrights, by beating their “plowshares into swords, and [their] pruning hooks into spears.” Joel 3:10.  And so judging their own strength by their war preparations, even the weak will say, “I am strong.” 

But it shall not be thus with those nations which join the people of the Kingdom of the Lord: They will not need to trust in their own strength, for they shall have the Lord’s protection.  Each shall comfortably and securely sit under his own “fig tree,” knowing that no one can possibly push him away from under it.  This is to be so, for “the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.” (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 25, p.6-7)    

   

“And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa. 2:2-4.

   The law is to go forth when the mountain (Kingdom) of the Lord’s house is established on the top of the mountains (kingdoms), and when It is exalted above the hills.  Then the “light” shall cause the rebuked nations to flow to the mountain of the Lord. 

And, too, instead of beating their plowshares into swords, and their pruning hooks into spears (Joel 3:10), they will beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.  “Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa. 2:4. (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 37, p.13-14)

So we see that there is to be two distinct type of people  –those who follow the Lord and trust in His strength and those who don’t. The Great Controversy indeed! This is what will be so great about the Lord, He will make it very simple for the people all over the world to choose life.

Right now there is a counterfeit gospel being proclaimed with truth and error mixed but as soon as the Loud Cry headquarters is established in the promised land–Israel, the powerful Truth will be proclaimed around the world and all will have their chance to either make– swords into plowshares or plowshares into swords.              

Posted in End times, God's power | Leave a Comment »

Three Interesting Subjects

July 15, 2017

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For a while now, the Lord has placed upon my heart and mind to discuss three distinct subjects that are quite interesting as you will see. As we have done quite a bit of Elijah message material for a long time, I thought we’d detour this week to some other aspects of the Word.

The three subjects we’ll cover are:

  1. Who made what?
  2. Does God know everything?
  3. Matthew 10:23, how can that be true?

These are just discussions, and all the analysis is not claimed to be final truth of the matter, only placed for consideration. So this will be a discussion of ideas concerning these three subjects and anyone who has some input is encouraged to add your thoughts down in the comment section below.

WHO MADE WHAT?

In the beginning of the Bible we read–

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth…”
and so on as it shows God created or made all things UNTIL it comes to verse 26 —

“And God said, Let US make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

Here we see that no longer does it say “God created” rather “Let Us make”. That word “Us” is the only place in Genesis where it deviates from “God said” or “God created” in regards to creation of the earth, heavens and living creatures/man. So what are we to make of this? To make you ponder this more, let’s look at Isaiah 44:24.

“Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and He that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;..”

To be clear, the “LORD” here cannot be referring to God the Father because we read in John —

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3, 14)

Um. So what do we have here? It appears that our Lord, Jesus Christ, created all things in our planetary systems, except He wasn’t alone in the creation of mankind. This was a “team” effort, a Triune affair (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit) in the great and awesome work of the creation of mankind! Whose image is that of the Triune God.

DOES GOD KNOW EVERYTHING?

This one, we’ll have to open our thoughts up a bit to consider a unique view. In Isaiah 46:9-10 we read –

“Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:..”

“O LORD, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.” (Psalms 139:1-3)

There is no disputing that we serve an Omniscient God (all-knowing). However, we should also remember this important word of the Lord —

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev. 4:11)

The key words above that I’d like to focus on is “for thy pleasure.” Let us try to put the ideas of pleasure in mind. How many of us would receive pleasure, for example, if we already know what each and every play of the Super Bowl would be? Each movement in advance before going to the game? Same with a movie, a tennis match, your children’s life, etc.?(note: I am not advocating any of the worldly things just used for example)

How could there be pleasure in this advance knowledge? What I am asking — Could it be that God “chooses” to withhold some knowledge from Himself in order to receive pleasure by watching the events unfold?

I remember as a kid I had an absolute thrill with this electronic game I made. Some of you may remember back in the 70’s there was a very popular electric board game called Electronic Football. It has these small plastic pieces that would vibrate forward and had a tackle, guard, runner, etc on top of the pieces. You would set up the play and turn on the board and watch them move upon the field.

I took these small green vibrating pieces and I put small plastic cars on these and then turned the football field into circular race car track. It was amazing as they would all run around the track, seemingly independently and pass and block and make maneuvers that were just fascinating. I must have played with that game for over 5 years! I keep scores and had season point standings to finally establish the top cars for the racing season. This brought great pleasure due to the unpredictability of it.

 

Image result for old electronic football game set picture

(picture of similar game we had)

Had I had the entrepreneurial spirit this game could have been a block buster back in the 70’s and 80’s.

This all was because my Dad was a top race car driver at the local race track and even raced against the “big boys” at Riverside International Raceway back in the 70’s (Richard Petty and Cale Yarborough included). So I  idolized race cars and of course told everyone I was going to be a “great race car driver” someday.

My point is that this game was totally unpredictable. I never knew who would win or how. There could be the car in the back row that made some great moves and would finish on top after the 15 or 20 laps.  But would I have received pleasure knowing all the moves beforehand and the exact results?

One possible clue that lends credence to this idea of withholding knowledge is found in Genesis 2:19.

“Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.”

We know that He is the great reactor, One who is able to react to any circumstances. So nothing catches Him off guard and all is able to stay within His plans. We do know that there is a pre-planned mankind plan based on His prophetic Word and it is going to happen as His Word declares by His prophets.

MATTHEW 10:23, HOW CAN THAT BE TRUE?

“But whenever they persecute you in one city, flee to the next; for truly I say to you, you will not finish going through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man comes.”

Here is one of the real puzzlers of the Scriptures. We see that the Lord says that the 12 Apostles would not finish going through the cities of Israel until He comes again. It’s been over 2000 years and the general consensus is that Jesus has not come back since.

But let us now turn to Revelation.

I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” Rev. 1:10-18)

This shows that John saw the Lord as He even placed His hand upon him. So it appears that the Lord did indeed come back before all the cities of Israel were reached! This was presumed to have taken place on the Island of Patmos in the year 95 AD.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)

SOP counsels us —

“New light will ever be revealed on the word of God to him who is in living connection with the Sun of Righteousness. Let no one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be revealed. The diligent, prayerful seeker for truth will find precious rays of light yet to shine forth from the word of God. Many gems are yet scattered that are to be gathered together to become the property of the remnant people of God.”– Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 34.

Right now we can wonder but soon all will be made clear, let us wait in eager anticipation for such glorious times!

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Cor. 13:12)

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Will Elijah Restore All Things? (Part 2 of 2)

July 8, 2017

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SOP tells us that there is to be more work done by those faithful ones who rest in the graves, let us read–

“Your work, my work, will not cease with this life. For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.” (Testimonies, vol. 7, p.17)

What was Ellen White’s referring to as “my work”? Was it playing the harp and visiting other planets? Or was it saving souls for Christ? Yes, this was the only work they knew and did and that work will be taken up once more in the premillennial kingdom, praise the Lord.

The Scriptures also declare this special resurrection of saints —

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.” (Daniel 12:1-3)

The above is often not closely examined. But the Elijah prophet showed us that this cannot be about the resurrection solely to fit them for heaven, oh no! This is seen by the fact that some of these resurrected have a work to do– “they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”

The message explains this Word of God —

“In these three verses several things clearly stand out: (1) Only those whose names are written in the books are delivered; there are therefore no “foolish” ones among them; (2) Those who are resurrected, however, are mixed, both foolish and wise come up; (3) The statement, “and they that be wise [implying that some be foolish] shall shine as the brightness of the firmament” indicates that these “wise” ones are from among the raised; (4) That if the wise are from among the resurrected and turn many to righteousness, then they must be resurrected in probationary time, in time of salvation.

   “Your work, my work, will not cease with this life.  For a little while we may rest in the grave, but, when the call comes, we shall, in the kingdom of God, take up our work once more.” — Testimonies, Vol. 7, pg. 17.

Dan. 12:4, 10 — “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.  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.”

   Now what is meant by being wise? — Let us turn to–

Matt. 25:1-4 — “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”

Here we see that the wise are those who take extra oil, extra Truth that lightens the rest of their way.  Finally, it plainly appears that this mixed resurrection is a test; that is, they are all given the opportunity to be wise, to turn many to righteousness, but only a part of them do so.  Some of them again fall into sin, and therefore they awake to shame and everlasting contempt (everlasting disobedience), but the wise awake to everlasting life, never again to die. 

This plainly shows that those who give themselves to wickedness up to the time they die, would not turn to righteousness even though they be given a second chance.  The extra oil (Truth for this time) is what decides each one’s destiny.  The wise shall embrace the “additional Truth,” while the foolish will not.  Sin is indeed a mystery! (Timely Greetings, vol. 2, no. 7, p.14-15)

So we see that there is “work” yet to be done by the faithful whom God will raise up during the “time of trouble” which we as present truth believers know is post Ezekiel 9 church judgment.

Now let’s look at the heart of this post , these are truly bright lights of truth on our subject —

“Ezek. 34:23, 24 — “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.  And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.”

   The self-centered shepherds against whom the prophet is told to write, are to be replaced by one shepherd, David.  When this takes place God’s people will then have but one shepherd.  This, of course, cannot be Christ Himself, for Inspiration never calls Him David, but rather It calls Him the Son of David.  Since God’s people have always had, and still do have many shepherds, the truth stands out as clear as crystal that the David of verses 23 and 24 is yet to come, and that the shepherds whom Inspiration addresses are in particular those whom David is to succeed.

   Ezekiel, then, was not given a vision of the shepherds in his day, nor of those before his day, but of the shepherds after his day — the day in which God raises up this antitypical David to feed His hungry and neglected flock.  God’s people shall then no longer serve strangers, “But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.” Jer. 30:9.  Here we see that not only Ezekiel, but Jeremiah also was given a vision of this same truth.  Yes, all the prophets.

Ezek. 37:24, 25 — “And David My servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in My judgments, and observe My statutes, and do them.  And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob My servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children’s children for ever: and My servant David shall be their prince for ever.”

   Since this is the addition to the “Third Angel’s Message” (“Early Writings,” p. 277) and since it is the message of the hour, consequently the day of the Davidian Kingdom is at hand.  Let us turn to–

Hos. 3:4, 5 — “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and his goodness in the latter days.” (Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, p.14-16)

We see that there is to be “one shepherd” instead of today where there are all kinds of shepherds trying to lead the flock, yet falling abysmally short. The Lord tells us prophetically that the last days shall have a kingdom and a king to rule there, no question about it!

What we also see is that the Lord will “raise up unto them” a king (Jer. 30:9).

As we mentioned the Lord left no stone unturned  and through the Elijah message He tells us what His role is in these pre-millennial kingdom days —

“The Lord will work in no less miraculous a manner now to free His people from being ruled by a worldly organization. He will command the work Himself in the same manner as He did in Moses’ and David’s day.

…In the days of Moses and in the days of David, when the Lord had the work in His Own hands, He spoke to the people through Moses and through David, and thus He ruled. In like manner will He, at this time, rule the work when He takes the reins in His Own hands.

…It is generally understood that when Christ visibly appears, the nations will die by the brightness of His coming, and thus the wicked will have no chance for either the Lord to speak to them or they to speak to Him. Furthermore, according to the parable, He sits on the throne of His glory instead of sitting on the clouds as in 1 Thess. 4:17.

Therefore, the throne of His glory is His kingdom where He, invisible to the nations, sits on the throne and gathers all nations before Him as recorded by the prophet Isaiah also, saying: “And it shall 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.” (Isa. 2:2.) (SC, vol. 4, no.10-12, p.6)

It is now clear that the Lord’s promise of restoration is not hard to understand. Once we look at the whole picture, all the references, much as a puzzle it all comes together. And this restoration comes from the “Elijah” who the Lord delegated as the one to do it. It is not to our human understanding that Victor Houteff should do the initial work of Elijah, calling out the sins of the people and church and yet die then come back and finish the work. But the Lord, as SOP noted, will work “in a way that will be contrary to any human planning.”

We have heard the argument “Oh no, you take away Christ’s rightful role as the restoration one”. No, “we” do not,  the Lord has spoken that HE wants His Elijah prophet to supervise and command the kingship in the time of restoration, just as He wanted Moses to lead His people.

SOP gives a most beautiful picture of these times of restoration —

“In visions of the night, representations passed before me of a great reformatory movement among God’s people. Many were praising God. The sick were healed, and other miracles were wrought. A spirit of intercession was seen, even as was manifested before the great Day of Pentecost. Hundreds and thousands were seen visiting families and opening before them the word of God. Hearts were convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and a spirit of genuine conversion was manifest.

On every side doors were thrown open to the proclamation of the truth. The world seemed to be lightened with the heavenly influence. Great blessings were received by the true and humble people of God. I heard voices of thanksgiving and praise, and there seemed to be a reformation such as we witnessed in 1844.” (Testimonies, vol. 9, p.126)

Some of you may not know much of this man –Victor T. Houteff, but if you are like a detective, a Sherlock Holmes type, searching each piece of the puzzle, you will come to this conclusion we assure you. Stick to the Bible, SOP and the Rod and you’ll have no trouble.

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)

Let us remember that the Lord loves His people deeply and has pointed a clear road map for His Seventh-day Adventist people, clear to the kingdom, we only have to follow it.

In closing, there is no doubt that brother Victor Houteff, whom the Lord brought forth to give the Rod message (the Elijah message) and prepare the people for His sudden church coming (Ezek.9), will “take up the work once more” after the church purification, along with Ellen White and all the faithful pioneers. Then it shall surely be as the Lord promised, the Elijah will “restore all things.” 

“. . . a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them,  and behind them a desolate wilderness;  yea, and nothing shall escape them.

 The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness.

They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.

The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can endure it?” (Joel 2:2-11.)

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, End times, Our Lord's kingdom, Victor T. Houteff | 6 Comments »

Will Elijah Restore All Things? (Part 1 of 2)

July 1, 2017

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In Matthew 17:11 we read —

“Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things.”

As all true believers know, the Lord’s word cannot return void. He does not lie. So this promise must be fulfilled. Yet, we as fallible humans, often do not understand clear plain Scriptures as we should. While that verse is simple it is profound and deep. Let us look at this very important promise from the Lord.

Last week we posted on the subject on the Trinity. Occasionally we will receive a comment or two below our post. Last week we received some from “Dave” and he actually brought up a very timely point and that is –if brother Victor Houteff, who we as present truth believers believe was the Elijah to come as prophesied in Mal. 4:5, was to restore all things, how can that be when he died and all things have not been restored? This is a very good and proper question!

SOP counsels us–

“The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.” (Counsels to Writers and Editors, p.35)

Ah, so true — “ No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.”

There should be no questions, no inquires that we should be afraid to answer. If we have studied as we should, the Spirit of Truth is well able to recall for us the helpful answer. The real problem does not come from the questions but whether the hearer can shake his pre-conceived ideas for a “Thus sayeth the Lord”.

So let us look at the question in-depth.

The original Elijah as we all know , fought the good fight in calling out sin and abominations taking place among his people. He did his work then the Lord took him alive from the earth to heaven. So likewise many think that the latter-day Elijah to come must also follow in these exact steps and do his work and, like Elijah, not die and be transferred to heaven without seeing death.

But instead of our thinking, our ideas how about we take Inspired words from God’s prophets?

SOP says the following —

“Elijah was a type of the saints who will be living on the earth at the time of the second advent of Christ and who will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump, without tasting death.” (Prophets and Kings, p.227)

“Since there are two types for the living, and as Enoch himself was not a descendant of Jacob, he cannot logically represent Jacob’s descendants, the 144,000.  In fact, the name Jacob, or the title “Israelite,” did not even come into existence until centuries after Enoch was translated. Accordingly, Elijah, an Israelite himself, logically typifies the 144,000, and Enoch logically typifies the great multitude, who are from “all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues” (Rev. 7:9), because from his generation have descended all nations.” (SRod Tract, p.22)

So there we have it–Elijah typifies the 144,000! These are the ones who shall not taste death as Elijah did not, type meets anti-type.

This clears one of our issues that some raise. Because brother Houteff died, that did not disqualify him as the end time prophet because, although he came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” he did not typify Elijah just as John the Baptist did not. Both came with the Elijah spirit of rebuke and calling out reform, yet died after their work was done.

One other fact we cannot overlook. Both of them , John the Baptist and Victor Houteff had a preparatory work to do, in preparing the people to meet the Lord. Present truth believers know very well that the message of the Rod is all about this preparation. It is often referred to as the “sealing message” as the instructions within It show how we are to be sealed when the Lord “suddenly comes to His temple”(Mal. 3:1).

We are all well familiar with the purpose of John the Baptist’s mission, to prepare the way for the Lord first advent.The following Scripture tells of God’s end time messenger preparing the way for the Lord’s next coming — the invisible coming to His temple (church). This is not the “Second Coming” as that is the second “visible” coming for the world to see.

“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.” (Mal. 3:1)

If you have any confusion of why this coming is needed, just continue reading verses  two to six.

You see brethren the Lord left no stone unturned. His concern is for our eternal welfare and therefore the Elijah to come “before the great and dreadful day of the Lord” was to enlighten us on all the prophecies pertaining to this fateful day, great for those who survive and dreadful for those who don’t. The message explains–

“Evidently God’s people at this particular time are not in need of visions, but rather of interpreters  of the visions of the prophets of old which are not as yet understood. And that is what He has seen fit to give us so that we may understand the Bible. This is the greatest miracle connected with The Shepherd’s Rod, (See illustration in Tract No. 6, Why Perish, 1944 edition, p. 18.)”

“… as John was a messenger to God’s own people at that time, just so at this time the Elijah of Malachi’s prophecy represents a message which is to be delivered not to the world, but to the professed people of God. As John was their last prophet, his message was their final means to fit them for the Messiah’s appearing, for which cause said the Master, “If ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. (Matt. 11:14) Likewise, Elijah’s message of today must be to the professed people of God, and is to be their last means to fit them for Christ’s appearing at this time.

   Thus as John “…declared that those who claimed to be the chosen people of God were defiled by sin, and that without purification of heart and life they could have no part in the Messiah’s kingdom” (Desire of Ages, p. 104), just so the Elijah’s message at this time will denounce the denominational corruptions — “the abominations in the midst thereof” (Etc. 9:4) — rebuke the prevailing sins, and exclaim: “What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong!…They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God….The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation.” — “Testimonies for the Church, ” Vol. 3, pp. 252-3. ( Symbolic Code, vol. 1, no.4, p.5)

The skeptics cannot nor will they ever come to the powerful truth of these statements if they do not read what the prophet Victor Houteff interpreted for us concerning the numerous prophecies in the Scriptures. Let us review some of them —

Hosea chapter 1 and 2, Daniel 8, Daniel chapter 11, Revelation –all chapters, Nahum, Micah, Zechariah, Zephaniah, Joel and the list goes on and on. Much of this pertains to the great and dreadful day or the promise of His end time kingdom in Israel. In other words brother Houteff’s work was to reveal to us what the Lord has in store for us His remnant people.

This is always the tell-tale sign that an adversarial power is at work when the Rod is denied or rebuffed. They will not address the prophetic explanations rather try personal attacks such as “Houteff died”,  “Houteff married a very young woman”,”Houteff taught that Davidians will someday kill Adventists..” and so on.  On our sister site “HearYeTheRod” we just completed a 10 part series detailing how the most infamous accuser of the Rod–Ismael Rodriguez brings such utter falsehoods and accusations, without merit, against the Lord’s Rod.

“…since Elijah is to herald the great day, he can therefore be the only one who will rightly interpret the prophecies of the day, which are still mysteries to Christendom, and even to our own Denomination!  Indeed, to reiterate, it is for this very reason that the prophet is sent.  He is to unroll the scroll to explain what the day of the Lord is like, what the Lord will do then, and how we may survive His judgments. 

To re-emphasize the fact, let it be said again that being the last of the prophets Elijah is, therefore, the only one who can open to our understanding all the prophecies of the Scriptures pertaining to the great and dreadful day of the Lord — prophecies which heretofore have been only mysteries to all.  Thus he is, as the Scriptures say, to blow the trumpet in Zion, and to sound an alarm in God’s holy mountain, in the church.” (General Conference Special, p.19)

Ok, let’s now deal with the point of how can Victor Houteff be the Elijah to come if all things were not restored by him?

To begin with we should remember the very important statement by the prophet —

The prophet, or the message is called , Elijah, “with the spirit and power of Elijah.”(SRod, vol.1,  p.47)

The shows that though brother Houteff died, right now “Elijah” is still alive through the message sent out! Thus Victor Houteff did his job as sent by the Lord. The message explains further —

“In doing all this, he sets in motion the power that is to restore all things. Hence Christ’s positive declaration: “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (General Conference Special, p.19-20)

Ok, although we’ve cleared some basic points , but we still need to go further. There remains much more restoring to be done. For instance, the final gospel proclamation, the set up of the Loud Cry kingdom headquarters in Israel. Where does Victor Houteff fit in concerning that?

As we go further it is helpful we remember that the Lord said this —

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”(Isaiah 55:8-9)

It is natural for us humans to say, “Well Victor died so that means he’ll not be able to restore all things”. But as we have shown already, Victor Houteff did the preparatory work in setting in motion the Lord’s Rod (Micah 6:9, 7:14). Yet, why would we then say that the Lord really did not mean that Houteff would do both, the preparatory work and the restoration work? Does not make any sense. Further the word promises only ONE Elijah to come, not “Elijahs”. Where does it say that another prophet is to come after the Elijah? Nowhere.

Yet watch closely, many accusers and deniers that Victor Houteff could be the final Elijah for this and that reason (or even denying him a prophet),  have their own prophet they are following, or they themselves may even declare themselves a prophet! For many SDA, just like the Jews with Moses, they are stuck on one prophet–Ellen White, even some going so far as to claim she was the Elijah to come!

“Surely the Lord GOD doeth nothing, unless He revealeth His secret unto his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

“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.” (Evangelism, p.118)

Let us look what the Lord has in store in His word. He does not fail us in telling us the Elijah plans.

First, the following shows that “the house of David shall be as God” in the latter days –wow! Let us read–

“In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.” (Zech 12:8)

The message tells us the purpose  of this house of David–

“Now, what is the overall purpose of the house of David? — The house of David, the Scriptures reveal, is being built up for a three-fold purpose: (1) During the ingathering of the people, it is to “build the old wastes,” to “raise up the former desolations,” and to “repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.” Isa. 61:4. 

This work of rebuilding and restoring has as its type the rebuilding of ancient Jerusalem by the ancient Jews returning from their Babylonian captivity to the land of their fathers.  Just as they were to build the wastes, the former desolations — the temple of the Lord, the city and the walls — and to restore the worship of God according to the Lord’s own Divine will, so we, too, now in the antitypical ingathering are called to do a similar work, only much greater both in scope and in proportion.  We must therefore labor even more incessantly than they labored, and be happy and thankful for having been privileged to have a part in such a great and glorious work.

   (2) In addition to this great and grand work, while in God’s hand as a battle ax (Jer. 51:20), He is with it to break the Gentiles’ yoke which now rests upon the shoulders of God’s people.  With it He is to emancipate His people from Gentile rule: “from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea….” (Isa. 11:11).  With it He is to “set up an ensign for the nations,” and to “assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” Isa. 11:12.

To get this work done we are to be at first the “many fishers,” then the “many hunters” (Jer. 16:16).  Thus it is that the first fruits are to be gathered “one by one.” Isa. 27:12.  We are now in the hunting days — going from city to city, from village to village, and from door to door, a thing which has never before been done.  Besides fishing and hunting we also are to make “a highway for the remnant of His people which shall be left, [after the first fruits are gathered] from Assyria; like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.” Isa. 11:16. 

After this hunting is over and the highway built up, then it is that the second fruits will flow to the mountain of the Lord’s house.  One nation, as it were, will say to another nation, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” Mic. 4:2.

Thus our work has also as its type the Exodus movement going out of Egypt, establishing itself in the promised land.  As they were freed from their Egyptian bondage, so we shall be freed from the world’s yoke; and just as they possessed the land, and set up the kingdom, so shall we if we make their mistakes our stepping stones to success.

   (3) Finally, we are to hasten “the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” We are to bring “new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” 2 Pet. 3:12, 13.

 (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No., p.9-10).

This time shall be so glorious, truly a final witness to the world of God’s abilities–

“Thus says the LORD of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities.’The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts; I will also go.” Yes, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you.” (Zech. 8:20-23)

Ok so we see that the final work of God’s restoration plans is the house of David established in the Holy Land. But who runs that? Is the Lord to come down and sit on the throne? Is there to be a new person to come on the scene in the last days? Or is Victor Houteff to come back and finish the work God had him start?

Stay tuned for part two next week, Lord willing.

 

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, End times, Our Lord's kingdom, Victor T. Houteff | 4 Comments »

“Oh No! It’s that Word–Trinity!”

June 24, 2017

Image result for picture of Trinity

 

Today there is a growing movement within our church. It is serious, as it relates to the identity of God, specifically the Godhead. As we have often mentioned, we are active in His vineyard, watching and listening to what the workers amongst us are doing and saying. The idea of the “Trinity” is being discussed on a large-scale and we thought it important to discuss this relevant and important issue.

Wikipedia gives us a good look at the historical understanding of the Trinity–

TRINITY–

The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (Latin: Trinitas, lit. ‘triad’, from trinus, “threefold”)[2] holds that God is three consubstantial persons[3] or hypostases[4]—the Father, the Son (JesusChrist), and the Holy Spirit—as “one God in three Divine Persons”. The three persons are distinct, yet are one “substance, essence or nature” (homoousios).[5] In this context, a “nature” is what one is, whereas a “person” is who one is.[6][7][8]

According to this central mystery of most Christian faiths, there is only one God in three persons: while distinct from one another in their relations of origin (as the Fourth Lateran Council declared, “it is the Father who generates, the Son who is begotten, and the Holy Spirit who proceeds”);[9] and in their relations with one another, they are stated to be one in all else, co-equal, co-eternal and consubstantial, and each is God, whole and entire”.[10] Accordingly, the whole work of creation and grace is seen as a single operation common to all three divine persons, in which each shows forth what is proper to him in the Trinity, so that all things are “from the Father”, “through the Son” and “in the Holy Spirit”.[11] 

While the Fathers of the Church saw even Old Testament elements such as the appearance of three men to Abraham in Book of Genesis, chapter 18, as foreshadowings of the Trinity, it was the New Testament that they saw as a basis for developing the concept of the Trinity. One of the most influential of the New Testament texts seen as implying the teaching of the Trinity was Matthew 28:19, which mandated baptizing “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”.

Another New Testament text pointing to the Trinity was John 1:1-14, in which the inter-relationships of the Triune God are reflected in the gospel author’s description of “the Word”, again showing the elements of the Triune God and their eternal (always was, always is, and always shall be) existence. Reflection, proclamation, and dialogue led to the formulation of the doctrine that was felt to correspond to the data in the Bible. The simplest outline of the doctrine was formulated in the 4th century, largely in terms of rejection of what was considered not to be consonant with general Christian belief. Further elaboration continued in the succeeding centuries.[12]

Scripture contains neither the word Trinity,[13] nor an expressly formulated doctrine of the Trinity. Rather, according to Christian theology, it “bears witness to” the activity of a God who can only be understood in Trinitarian terms.[14] The doctrine did not take its definitive shape until late in the fourth century.[15] During the intervening period, various tentative solutions, some more and some less satisfactory, were proposed.[16]

Trinitarianism contrasts with nontrinitarian positions which include Binitarianism (one deity in two persons, or two deities), Unitarianism (one deity in one person, analogous to Jewish interpretation of the Shema and Muslim belief in Tawhid), Oneness Pentecostalism or Modalism (one deity manifested in three separate aspects). Additionally, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are three separate deities, two of which possess separate bodies of flesh and bones, while the Holy Ghost has only a body of spirit; and that their unity is not physical, but in purpose.[17]

The above give us a good basic understanding of the concept of the Trinity. But as God’s remnant church, and specifically –present truth believers , we need to know what is happening amongst us concerning this issue.

There appears two camps today amongst us. One, the camp that stands squarely with our standard SDA doctrinal belief number two , let us read it–

The Trinity , No. 2
There is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons. God is immortal, all-powerful, all-knowing, above all, and ever present. He is infinite and beyond human comprehension, yet known through His self-revelation. God, who is love, is forever worthy of worship, adoration, and service by the whole creation. (Gen. 1:26; Deut. 6:4; Isa. 6:8; Matt. 28:19; John 3:16 2 Cor. 1:21, 22; 13:14; Eph. 4:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2.)

They believe as shown that there are THREE coeternal “Persons.”

Then there is the other camp, which is unfortunately growing, that believe that there are only TWO coeternal Persons, the Father and the Son. The “Holy Spirit” is a type of force or cosmic energy and is at the beck and call of the Father and Son.

Before we go further there is a very important SOP quote that we all, both camps, must remember in any discussion about the Holy Spirit–

“The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. Men cannot explain it, because the Lord has not revealed it to them. Men having fanciful views may bring together passages of Scripture and put a human construction on them, but the acceptance of these views will not strengthen the church. Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden.” {AA 52.1}

Ah, the Lord’s Spirit of Prophecy says we “cannot explain it.” This makes perfect sense as once someone decides to do a study upon this great “mysterious” and confounding subject they come into all kinds of “what ifs” and “how comes”.

But this Inspired counsel is today thrown to the wind and many are taking upon themselves the mount of Korah, and declaring that they are inspired just as God’s prophets are and can explain who, what and where the Holy Spirit is! And they have declared that not only is there no Holy Spirit Being as God, but that the very word–Trinity– is blasphemous!

For a good example of one of the anti-Trinity proponents in our SDA church and who has the site called “The Third Angel’s Message.com”, and what they teach, let us read–

1 Corinthians 8:6  But to us there is but one God, the Father

“This is who he is, the father and God of Jesus Christ our Lord who is the son of the father.  A false doctrine has gained it’s way into our church today.  A doctrine “denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ”[Jude 4].

The Scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they bring to view as clearly the personality and individuality of each. [Hebrews 1:1-5 quoted.] God is the Father of Christ; Christ is the Son of God. To Christ has been given an exalted position. He has been made equal with the Father. All the counsels of God are opened to His Son. (Ellen White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 8, page 268)

1 Corinthians 1:3  Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Almost every book in the New Testament begins with a similar greeting.  The title, God, is always used in reference to the father, and there is no reference to a third being. Nowhere in the scriptures is the title, “God,” used in reference to the father, son, and holy spirit,  at the same time.

A doctrine called the trinity has denied this.  This doctrine denies who God is and who his son is.  This doctrine does not “manifest the love of God toward us”[1 John 4:9].   It denies Christ is the son of God, and makes God out to be an office of three beings, an impersonal God pervading all nature.  Co-eternal, co-equal friends is what it says when you analyze it rather than a “father and son”.

What we see here is this man’s explanation of the Godhead, specifically that there are TWO Persons, not three. Yet as we showed our important doctrinal SDA belief says we believe in THREE Persons in the God head. This man and those like him  today want to re-write or deny our doctrinal beliefs!

But  let us remember that the Omniscient God knew very well that this Trinity issue would be a concern in our last days, did He not? And Did He not decide to write a promise in His Holy Word saying that a “restorer” , the last prophet to our church, the Elijah would come and therefore explain these things?

Ok, if we believe that, then we must search what the final restoring message says in order to know the Truth of this matter. Otherwise we are like Korah, uninspired and stepping up to the Lord’s platform to tell Him and us what is Truth and that “we” know it instead of His inspired Prophets. Oh my my!

Today there are many teachers of this new doctrine, claiming that it is really a old doctrine founded with the pioneers of the SDA church. For example a website call Revelation1412.org– Nader Mansour, and the above mentioned site by David Barron. Both of these are active promoters of this doctrine.

There are two specific areas where the Elijah message confirms the belief in the Triune God, the Trinity.

In 1947 in the publication called the “Timely Greetings”, the message said the following–

“FUNDAMENTAL BELIEFS OF DAVIDIAN SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

Emerging in 1930 from within the Seventh-day Adventist denomination (“the church of the Laodiceans”), the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Association has ever been committed to the prophetic work (predicted in Isaiah 52:1) of preparing the Laodicean church, the last with the “tares among the wheat,” for the final proclamation of the gospel “in all the world.” Matt. 14:14.

This Association, in common with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, holds “certain fundamental beliefs, the principal features of which, together with a portion of the Scriptural references upon which they are based,” are originally summarized as follows:

“1. That the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by inspiration of God, contain an all-sufficient revelation of His will to men, and are the only unerring rule of faith and practice. 2 Tim. 3:15-17.

“2. That the Godhead, or Trinity, consists of the Eternal Father, a personal, spiritual Being, omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient,

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 10, page 21

infinite in wisdom and love; the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal Father, through whom all things were created and through whom the salvation of the redeemed hosts will be accomplished; the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, the great regenerating power in the work of redemption. Matt. 28:19.”

For a complete report on the fundamental beliefs on the SDA and DSDA, as one organization,  read this link-

http://www.shepherds-rod-message.org/tracts/2tg10.html

As a side note, if you read this link, keep it in your memory bank as many of Satan’s workers, those SDA leaders and scoffers of the Lord’s Rod (Micah 6:9),  will tell you that Davidian Seventh-day Adventists don’t believe in  the same fundamental beliefs as the SDA, which this exposes as a lie. Instead they should be worried about the real usurpers as shown above, those promoting the denial of the Trinity!

An additional  reaffirmation —

Question 214:

Why are not the given names of the Trinity used in baptizing?

Answer:

As the Scriptures give several names for the Father and for the Son (and none for the Holy Ghost), and as we are not told which of these to use in baptizing, we must, therefore, take Him at His word and baptize in just the way He commands: “in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”  Matt. 28:19.  Moreover the names given in the Scriptures are not absolute names, but rather titles–equivalent to the names Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Still further, even if the absolute names of the Trinity were known, their use would lead to irreverent address.  For example, suppose the Father’s name is George; the Son’s, Thomas; and the Holy Ghost’s, William.  Could any God-fearing human being even dare think of its being reverent to say, I now baptize you in the name of George, Thomas, and William!  Let us therefore comply with the Lord’s command: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of be Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”  Matt. 28:19. (For further light on this subject, study our Tract No. 11.) (Vol. 7   Symbolic Code   Nos. 1-6. page 13.)

“The greatest trouble with most S.D.A’s  is that they are baptised in the name of the denomination  rather than in the name of the Trinity.” (Vol. 3, Symbolic Code, no.5,6 p.8)

So we are clear, the Lord’s restoring message of Elijah CONFIRMS that there is such a term as “Trinity” and it describes three co-eternal Beings. This is solid my brethren and we can “take it to the bank”.

So what do we have here my beloved? We have an end time deception! A side tracking issue that diverts our minds from one of our core fundamental beliefs as Seventh-day Adventists. This is for the purpose of trying to establish a form of self-righteousness, a holier than thou belief because they know who God is more than the prophets!

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” (1 Tim.4:1)

But the anti-Trinitarians have many tricks up their sleeves such as the following James White quote–

“Here we might mention the Trinity, which does away the personality of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ, and of sprinkling or pouring instead of being “buried with Christ in baptism,” “planted in the likeness of his death:” but we pass from these fables to notice one that is held sacred by nearly all professed Christians, both Catholic and Protestant. It is, the change of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment…” {James White, Dec 11 1855, Review and Herald, Vol. 7, no. 11, P 85 Par 16}

But what they forget is that he was not inspired prophet of God. It was only when he co-wrote the booklet  “A Word to the Little Flock” that the prophetess approved, collaborated  and authorized it, thus endorsing it with her part of that booklet. Yes, he was the husband of Ellen White, our prophetess, but that did not keep him from declaring uninspired statements or beliefs. All we have to do is see what the INSPIRED prophetess, his wife said years AFTER such words.

“We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds. — Manuscript 66, 1899. (From a talk to the students at the Avondale School.) {Ev 616.5} The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. When this witness is borne, it carries with it its own evidence. At such times we believe and are sure that we are the children of God. .. . . {Ev 616.6} 

The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else He could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God. “For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”–Manuscript 20, 1906. {Ev 617.1}

“Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer. It is by the Spirit that the heart is made pure. Through the Spirit the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature.” (Desire of Ages, p.671)

Our King the Lord Himself warned us of the following —

“And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.” (Matt: 12:32)

The Words Holy Spirit are “hagios pneuma” meaning pure spirit (being) used above and it is the same as what Christ described in authorizing baptism into His Christian faith in Matt: 28:19-20.

Is it fair and right to be VERY careful in regards to the Holy Spirit? If Christ exalts Him to be one of the THREE divine authoritative titles used to be publicly received into His faith and promises, then who are we to try in the least amount to lessen or degrade the Holy Spirit into a mankind construction. In other words, we  must go back to God’s instruction that specifically calls us NOT to explain it. Christ exalted the Holy Spirit and let’s leave it at that!

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”(1 John 5:7)

Lastly the restoring message gives us important counsel on our subject —

“In whom are we to be baptized?–

   “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Matt. 28:19.

   “This is He that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood.  And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is Truth.  For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are One.” 1 John 5:6, 7.

   When we are baptized in the name (singular, not “names”) of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, we are baptized in our Maker, the blood, and the Truth, and these three are One.  Thus we are baptized in the “name,” not names, because these three are one — The Trinity — Creation, Redemption, Truth.

   Most people, though, act as if they were baptized to the church, to a society, to Paul or to Apollos, so to speak, but we as reformers and Present Truth believers, must go on with the Truth wherever it leads us, always remembering that we have been baptized to the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

   If this be not true of us, then it is certain that we shall never advance any further in the knowledge of God, Christ, or His Truth, — no, not any further than we were the day we were baptized.  Those who do this become dwarfs instead of grown-up Christians, never reaching the fullness of the stature of Christ, for they are satisfied to be what they are; they feel in need of nothing more than what they got at baptism; they are as unmovable as were the priests, scribes, and Pharisees in Jesus’ day.  God forbid that any of us should thus lose out.” (Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 19, p.16-17) 

In closing, let us not fall for one of Satan’s many snags today. If we believe in our Lord, the Word, we will know the Truth. It is only when we desire to follow man instead of His inspired prophets, that we may fall. There is a concept known as the Trinity, and it is from God.

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”(Matt. 28:19-20)

Posted in Christian faith, Elijah Interpretations, Proper teachings | 10 Comments »

Interesting Q and A

June 17, 2017

Image result for picture of someone studying the bible

The Word says–

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

This week we’d like to show some of the Elijah message’s Q and A. We picked these out  for your study. Enjoy.

ARE “ZION” AND “JERUSALEM” THE SAME?

Question No. 85:

   Please explain the difference between the terms “Zion” and “Jerusalem” of Isaiah 52:1 and of Revelation 14:1.

Answer:

   “Zion” and “Jerusalem” of Isaiah 52:1 must represent people, for it would be ridiculous to say to a hill and to a city, “Awake, awake, put on thy strength, put on thy beautiful garments.”

   On ancient Zion’s exalted hill stood the palace of the king, “and the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.” Neh. 11:1.  So the royal family resided on Mount Zion, and the lesser rulers and other government representative dwelt in Jerusalem proper.

   The call, “Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem,”  is applicable to the Laodicean church, the last of the seven churches, and the one which terminates the period of the “wheat” and the “tares” commingled, because after she puts on her beautiful garments,  “the unclean shall no more come into” her. Those who will awake to the rousing call, put on strength by separating from the wicked, and put on the beautiful garments by turning to  righteousness, are those who will, in the “latter days,” make up Zion and Jerusalem–the princes and rulers of the people in the Kingdom-church restored.

   Then “clad in the armor of Christ’s righteousness, the church is to enter upon her final conflict.  ‘Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners,’ she is to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 725.

   Hence, “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.

   Now as to the meaning of the two terms, Zion and Jerusalem as used in Revelation 14:1, the second reference in question, the Revelator explains that the 144,000 of the twelve tribes of Israel are those who make up Zion. His words are, “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.” Rev. 14:1.

   These being the first fruits (Rev. 14:4), it further shows that they are the first of the harvest in “the end of the world.” Matt. 13:39. Obviously, then, those who were seen after them, the “great multitude…of all nations” (Rev. 7:9), are none other than the second fruits of the harvest, some of whom will dwell in Jerusalem.

   So at this harvest time, “it shall come to pass…that the mountain of the Lord’s house [Mt. Zion] shall be established in the top of the mountains,  and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” Isa. 2:2. (Answerer, vol. 4, p.20-22)

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JOSIAH’S OR JOHN’S PROPHECY FULFILLED?

Question No. 77:

   Because his prediction of the fall of the Ottoman Empire on August 11, 1840, was strikingly  fulfilled, was Josiah Litch correct in claiming that the prophecy of Revelation 9:5, 15-20, was thus perfectly enacted?

Answer:

   Though in the working out of Litch’s prediction, there was a seemingly preternatural element of coincidence, the event in question could not have been that described in John’s prophecy, for the latter reveals that the four angels bound in the Euphrates were to slay the third part of men. And where in the Scriptures is any Gentile nation symbolized by angels? Moreover, the Ottoman Empire did not fall at all; instead, it placed itself “under the control of Christian nations.”–The Great Controversy, p. 335. Furthermore, the angels had an army of 200,000,000 horsemen, while Turkey never had that many cavalrymen in all her lifetime! Still further, the prophecy of The Revelation calls for slaying the “third part of men” (Rev. 9:15), whereas in the fulfillment of Litch’s prediction, no slaying took place. In view of all these facts, it is self-evident that though Litch’s prediction may have been fulfilled, it in no wise had reference to the Revelator’s.

   The Great Controversy records merely that Litch’s own prediction, not John’s met fulfillment. So, Litch’s prediction, being erroneously based on The Revelation, was a preternatural coincidence, not a fulfillment of the Revelator’s prophecy. (Answerer, vol.4, p.5-6)

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WILL ALL COME TO THE TIME OF THE PLAGUES?

Question No. 56:

 If the church is to be purified before the close of probation for the world and remain pure thereafter without any sinners in it as “The Shepherd’s Rod” teaches, then how do you harmonize this with “Early Writings,” p. 71, which says Some “will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building”?

Answer:

  There are other statements from the author of Early Writings which bear even more positive evidence that God will, before that time, have a church pure and true. (See The Great Controversy p. 425, Prophets and Kings, p. 725, Testimonies Vol. 5 p. 80; Isa. 52:1-2.)

   As these several statements with reference to a preliminary purification are just as true as the one in Early Writings which seems to negate a purification, one cannot honestly disregard them and give consideration only to it. Let us remember always to observe the inviolable rule that an interpretation of one inspired statement must harmonize with all other related statements.

  Some who are anxious to risk Present Truth on the weight of what one inspired statement seems to say or imply, are thereby presumptuously or very ignorantly overlooking the “weight of evidence.” Others are doing this through shortsightedness, while still others are doing it to prop up certain cherished ideas of their own.

  The basic foundation for the no-preliminary-purification doctrine is built, not upon solid rock, but upon the same shifting sand as that which underlies such as the erroneous ideas of the conscious state of the dead, the eternal torment of the wicked, baptism by sprinkling, Sunday sacredness, and the millennial age of peace on earth.

  Since, Truth is progressive, and since the purification of the church had not yet been revealed when the statement in Early Writings was written, the danger foretold and the counsel given therein could not possibly have been stated in terms other than those then familiarly comprehended. All were thus plainly forewarned that if they continued sinning, then after the close of probation for the world, the plagues, of which they already had some understanding, would be their recompense. So for the Lord to have explained the matter in Early Writings as He does through the Rod today, He would have had to reveal, out of due time, when Early Writings was being written, the message which is applicable only to the church for today, and which we are now therefore receiving.

  In the last analysis, the unrepentant sinners who are now in the church, may never see the seven last plagues, while others who are now in the world, will in the time of the Loud Cry yet have opportunity to be “squared” for the building, and be treasured with the “living stones,” or else to suffer the consequences of the plagues.

  No one should have difficulty in seeing this now, for all those to whom Early Writings primarily spoke are already dead, though the plagues are yet in the future. Furthermore, there is much more light to come concerning the truth of the seven last plagues, and when it comes, we may again see that we have “many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn.”-Testimonies to Ministers p. 30. (Answerer, vol.3)

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WHY NOT BOTH VISIONS ALIKE?

Question No. 59:

  If Daniel 7:8, 25 and Revelation 13:3 both prefigure the same power, and if the Roman church during the Middle Ages is the one there predicted, then why is she, in Daniel’s vision, a combined secular and ecclesiastical power (horn-head), while In The Revelation she Is only an ecclesiastical power (head)?

Answer:

  That the same power is indeed symbolized by both beasts is unmistakably seen from the fact that both “blasphemed” the same length of time: the former, for “a time and times, and the dividing of time” (Dan. 7:25): and the latter, for “forty and two months” (Rev. 13:5). This same period is identically stated in Revelation 11:3, and is equivalently represented in Revelation 12:14 as “a time, and times, and half a time,” which according to the rule of interpretation of Ezekiel 4:6, is equated: “time”–1 year; “times”–2 years;  “and  half a time” or “dividing of time”–l/2 year: in the aggregate equaling 3 1/2 years, 42 months, or 1260 days (12 months to a year, and 30 days to a month, Bible reckoning).

  Daniel’s vision foretells only the formation of that church and state union, and for this very reason John’s was given to show its final stage, its dissolution only. Thus the two visions complete the whole-the formation and the dissolution. (Answerer, vol.3)

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SAVE THE CHURCH OR THE WORLD?

Question No. 67:

  If, at this late hour, we give our whole effort for the salvation of the church, how will the rest of the world ever be reached?

Answer:

  The mission to save the world cannot be more important than the mission to save the church enlarging the church membership under the now prevailing lukewarm Laodicean conditions could no more advance the Kingdom of Christ than could have been done under the condition in the Jewish church in the days of His first advent. Understanding the true situation in the church, John the Baptist and Christ Himself and even the apostles at first, engaged them selves to work, not for the world in general, but only in the interest of their brethren in the church.

  As the same departure from Christ exists within the church now as it did then (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 217), it will take much greater effort to rescue the people from the Laodicean “sad deception” (Testimonies. Vol. 3, p. 253), than if they were in heathenism For in Laodicea they are made to believe that they have all the truth there is to be had, that they are rich, increased with goods, and in need of nothing,—their salvation forever secured as long as they hold membership in the church Hence there is greater risk of their losing their souls in the church while she is “lukewarm” an. about to be spued out, than if they remain in the world until the church awakes from her slumber, and anoints herself with the eyesalve (Truth)—sees right, does right, and leads an. feeds the flock aright.

  Let every honest member ask the question, If the church herself is not saved (Testimonies Vol. 3, p. 253), not following Christ her Leader (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 217) and “has become an harlot” (Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 250), how can she save others? The greatest need therefore is first to save those in the church, then those in the world. The “special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people” (The Great Controversy, p. 425), “the closing work for the church, in the sealing time of the one hundred and forty-four thousand (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 266), must come first then is to follow the sealing of those in the world.

  The men and means already devoted to missionary work for the world are so plenteous as entirely to overshadow the meager facilities available for carrying the message to the Laodiceans, although the church is in even greater need than is the world.

  However, carrying the message to the church does not affect the mission work for the world for while the Davidians labor in the interest of the church, the Denomination carries the old message to the world. But should the Davidians also devote their time and money to looking after the interests of the heathen then both the church and the world would be plunged into hell. Consequently, to save the world, we must first seek to save the church from the ruin that is imminent, as did John the Baptist, Christ, and the apostles, in their day.

  After the church awakes and ceases dreaming that she is “rich and increased with goods,” finds out that she is in need of everything rather than of “nothing,” puts on her strength by turning to Christ her Leader, clothes herself in the garments of His righteousness, and lets the unclean pass no more through her (Isa. 52:1), then shall her righteousness go forth as brightness and her salvation as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see her righteousness, and all kings her glory (Isa. 62:1, 2). Then will she really be able to save. Then her “gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto” her “the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought. For the nation and kingdom that will not serve” her “shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.” Isa. 60:11, 12.

  Let all Present-truth believers, therefore, pursue this course to its happy climax: “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.” Zech. 2:10, 11.

  Still further, as it is not we, but Christ Who “is taking the reins in His own hands” (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300), it is not our duty to tell Him which work should be done, and which should be left undone, but let every follower of His realize that He will “work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning.”-Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300.

  Be not like the class who “question and criticize everything that arises in the unfolding of truth” (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 690), but be like those who “let Heaven guide.”—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 475.

  The command to us is: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house a Jacob their sins.” Isa. 58:1.

  “Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people. Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is with Him; and His work before Him.” Isa. 62:10, 11. (Answerer, vol.3)

Posted in Present Truth, Proper teachings | 2 Comments »

Are You Persecuted?

June 10, 2017

Image result for picture of Apostles being persecuted

In the old Biblical times the word persecution usually encompassed stoning, crucifixion, flogged, or any other means of physical abuse. But today we know that this persecution is less severe physically yet no less emotionally and mentally troubling. In other words today’s suffering of God’s people is more discreet and less open than days of old, but nevertheless just as serious spiritually.

In  2 Timothy 3:12 we read,

 “Indeed, some who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

Ah, did you catch that? We inserted a false word in there — “some” for the Word of God — “all”.

But to the vast throng of our people, we as Adventists,  it might as well say “some” because many do not believe it means all. The word all in our dictionary is —

“the whole of, every, any whatsoever, …” –Dictionary.com

Now there is no doubt that God’s Word says ALL who live Godly SHALL suffer persecution. This Word my brethren is vast and far-reaching in our lives today. Let me begin first by giving my own example of how this subject came alive to me personally.

In early 2009 I came into the truth of God’s Commandments, specifically the Sabbath. This changed my whole heathen life style. In short order I was on the path to knowing more about God. Who He was, what He stood for, and what He requires of us.

The knowledge of the things of God became my whole focus. God became real to me as I witnessed one sign after another. He showed me clearly He was alive and He was personal. But as I read more and more of the Scriptures, I found a reference that made me ponder, it was —

“Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”

I had been a SDA member for a good year already and when I read that , I wondered to myself, “Um, I do not suffer any persecution. Maybe this is not really applicable for us today.” Yet that idea came into my belief that God’s word is truth and means what it says. So I put it away in my memory bank for another time.

Fast forward a couple of years. I came into the message of our Lord’s final message of Elijah by listening an online audio sermon of the subject of the 144,000.

It struck me hard. Because a short time prior to listening to it, I had driven by one of our local SDA churches during the course of my work day and the Spirit had told me to inquire of one of the retail businesses on this church property.

I was led to call and ask this Chiropractor shop whether they were open on Saturday. They responded, “Yes we are would you like to make an appointment?” This devastated me and I broke down right then and there. Keep in mind , up to this point I was growing in faith with my church. Thinking firmly that we were God’s people, not perfect but striving to keep His Commandments as a corporate body. Yet, here I saw that we were gigantic hypocrites! We teach that God’s true day of worship is the seventh day, the Sabbath, yet right there in front of the world for all to see we were letting people “within our gates” work and break His Sabbath!

But as I mentioned, this sighing and crying was seen by our Lord and He guided me to that audio sermon to awake my soul to what His plans were for purifying His people, His church. In other words, I soon saw that He knows all about this hypocrisy and will do something about it. Soon I was in deep into this “new light” and my soul was truly filling up with the “bread” from heaven, His words of life.

The whole Scriptures came alive as if Someone had anointed me with “eyesalve”  to see (Rev. 3:18). Thus, being excited of these new truths I was very zealous and anxious to share them. I had been a frequent pre-Sabbath school speaker in our church,  well received as well,  and after learning of the Elijah message, I shared some new insights to the church. Much as a man who found gold in a field would want to share the news to his family, I too wanted my church to know these marvelous valuable things.

BAM! What is going on??  Before I knew it a couple of weeks later I was called into the pastor’s office. “Rob, are you a believer in the Shepherd’s Rod?” They asked.  “Sure” I said, thinking they too loved the truth and this was God’s truth because it passed the test–to the Law and to the Testimony.

Long story short, I was told that if I did not relinquish my faith in the Rod, I would be demoted from Deacon to regular member with no rights to leadership roles in the church.

Soon it dawned on me and the Lord reminded that I had finally learned the personal meaning of “all” shall suffer persecution! This now was understood! To no longer be able to contribute to the discussion of the Lord’s word from His house was a big disappointment and an injustice. Persecution indeed!

“No man can be true to principle without exciting opposition.” Desire of Ages p. 356.

We mentioned that today’s persecution is not yesterdays, but nevertheless it exists, as can be seen by my personal testimony, it came in the form of demotion, murmuring against  and slandering. It also may include dis-fellowship which our last prophet , Victor Houteff experienced.

These following examples are what happened to brother Houteff while simply attending church and trying to inquire of Truth–

“At the close of a service conducted by a field secretary of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist in one of our city churches, Brother Houteff was asking the speaker of the evening a question on some statement which he had made from the pulpit in opposition to the teachings of The Shepherd’s Rod.  Without warning or conversation of any kind, a man approached  him from the rear, took him by the neck and shoulders, and thrust him from the building. 

But what was worse, the offender was not even an Adventist; in fact, his mother said he was not even a Christian!  Now what incited this poor man to commit such an unprovoked and unlawful act?  What, if not the false accusations from the pulpit,  made against Brother Houteff?  For up to that moment Brother Houteff had never met the man or even spoken to him, and there had been no excitement whatever, but only quite friendly reasoning on the part of the conversers.

   “Shortly after this experience, Brother Houteff and I, along with another brother, attended a Sabbath service in another one of our churches, and this time the president of the conference spoke in opposition to The Shepherd’s Rod.

“At the close of this service, a lady approached Brother Houteff and spoke to him as he stood with a number of others in front of the building, and before he had time to reply to her, a young man, also whom Brother Houteff had never seen before, rushed up to him, rolled up his sleeves, and threatened to smash the glasses off his face if he did not stop talking to his mother!  But some one led him away, and his mother, too, said he was not an Adventist.  What could have put such hatred in the heart of this young man?  What except the sermon which he heard from the pulpit?  For up to that moment neither one had in all his life seen or spoken to the other!

   “A third incident very similar to the ones related above came to my attention, all within a period of four weeks.  This time the president of the Union Conference, had on Sabbath afternoon called a large congregation together, many miles away from either of the churches mentioned above, to hear him refute The Shepherd’s Rod.  During the service, he conducted himself in such a way as to instil in the hearts of all his hearers hatred for the author of the message  contained in The Shepherd’s Rod series of books and tracts. 

After the meeting closed, a group of young people were gathered around Brother Houteff outside the church, near an embankment.  Suddenly a young man rushed up to the crowd and thrust himself as hard as he could upon the one nearest Brother Houteff in an effort to knock him over the embankment.

And he would have verily succeeded had Brother Houteff not been quick enough to catch himself in time to avoid pitching over head-long!

   “Again we are led to inquire, What put such hatred into the heart of this young man who also had never met Brother Houteff?  What, save the sermon he had just heard?

   ” ‘Satan’s attacks against the advocates of the truth will wax more bitter and determined to the very close of time.  As in Christ’s day the chief priests and rulers stirred up the people against Him, so today the religious leaders will excite bitterness and prejudice against the truth for this time.  The people will be led to acts of violence  and opposition which they would never have thought of had they not been imbued with the animosity of professed Christians against the truth.’ ” — Gospel Workers, p. 324. (Tract 7, p.58-60)

SOP imports counsel here–

“We have far more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the church itself than from the world. Unbelievers have a right to expect that those who profess to be keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will do more than any other class to promote and honor, by their consistent lives, by their godly example and their active influence, the cause which they represent. But how often have the professed advocates of the truth proved the greatest obstacle to its advancement! The unbelief indulged, the doubts expressed, the darkness cherished, encourage the presence of evil angels, and open the way for the accomplishment of Satan’s devices.” ( 1 Selected Messages, p.122)

So we see that Satan hates the Truth and those who proclaim it. It is those indeed who are the “all” of which the Word speaks of. In fact SOP gets directly to the point in the following —

“Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed!

Unless they repent, and leave the work of Satan in oppressing those who have the burden of the work and in holding up the hands of sinners in Zion, they will never receive the mark of God’s sealing approval. They will fall in the general destruction of the wicked, represented by the work of the five men bearing slaughter weapons. Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those “that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done” in the church.

Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel.”(Testimonies, vol. 3, p.267)

Who is working for Satan? Those who oppose those who are against sin and sinners in the church! These are who get persecuted. The ones who stand up for the right based on God’s word.

So this is where some soul-searching must be made. Each “believer” must ask himself the following.

  1. Do I have courage to stand for the right within my church, or do I fear to because it will affect my church relations?
  2. Am I experiencing any trouble from “within” due to proclaiming His truth within our church?
  3. Do I experience absolutely no “persecution” as in today’s application?

There is a sure reward for those who stand for the right and receive persecution.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.” (Luke 6:22-23)

In closing brethren the Lord said –all– and that means all. And if we do not live Godly we cannot experience the truth of His word. Satan is watching those who dare take a stand for the Lord’s truth, and if you do , be sure that you will experience the fulfillment of this word.

Posted in Courage | Leave a Comment »

Knoweth Not?

June 3, 2017

Image result for who me? pictures

This week as I laid in bed, thoughts of writing more of the kingdom came. But the Lord, as always, guides and as such the subject of Revelation chapter 3 came to mind. As we SDA are well aware the Lord looking down to our day wrote specific counsel, serious counsel, that we must not ignore.

Let us look at Revelation 3:14-22.

“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you knoweth not that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sup with that person, and they with me.

21 To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Now, let’s  be totally honest here. When we read those words, we most likely will say, “I’m not the one deceived, it’s the other guy.” But let’s look deeper and find out just who is this “Knoweth not” guy or gal?

Let’s very carefully go over these words of our King, and do an analyzation of them. Before we do we should also remember that the Word of the Lord in Chapter 3 is specific  and means something very very  important.

All Adventists know that the Lord is making this message to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Laodicea is our name. The message explains what the name means

“Being compounded of the Greek words “lao” and “deci,” the one meaning “people,” also “speak,” the other meaning “judgment,” the two together meaning people proclaiming judgment, the name Laodicea, therefore, identifies a church proclaiming the judgment hour (Dan. 7:9, 10; Rev. 14:6, 7). 

  As the S.D.A. church is the only one to proclaim judgment, and as each of the seven messages is addressed to the angel of the respective churches, the message to Laodicea is accordingly–ADDRESSED TO THE S.D.A. ANGEL.” (SC, vol. 7, n0.7-12, p.3) 

The Lord is not happy with us as a people, we are not on fire for the Lord. We go through the motions. We can be cool or lukewarm. We are not active in declaring the things of the Lord. We have not kept abreast of His word as the scroll unrolls (present truth). For the few who do know that His promised last prophet to our church (Mal 4:5) has important instructive eternal words for us.

Verse 17 shows us why we are not on fire. We think we know it all and do not need more Truth! When a message comes to us by a messenger claiming that it is from the Lord, we often will judge or ignore that message due to either it has been “studied and rejected” by our leaders (lean on flesh), or we just don’t “feel” it’s a message we need. Both cases we deny a serious study of further light. The message says more about this–

“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. (Answerer, vol. 1, p.5)

 

“No one but a hopeless Laodicean, one who forever holds to his day-dreaming that he has need of nothing more, — no more Truth or prophets, — can fail to see that the prophecies pertaining to the day of God are only dark sentences to him, that he is in need of everything instead of nothing, and that the work of the promised Elijah is not the work which the Laodiceans are doing.  The Laodicean message (the Judgment for the Dead) is definitely not Elijah’s message, although many may think it is.  That many are blind to this, the Lord points out: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked.”

   Moreover, we all know that the work of typical Elijah was to do away with the prophets and priests who served Baal instead of God, those who led ancient Israel into the greatest fallacy and folly of the day.  Accordingly, the antitypical Elijah’s work, being in the spirit and power of typical Elijah, must therefore be similar to typical Elijah’s work-restoring Truth and righteousness, and bringing judgment upon the false prophets and teachers in the antitypical day which in itself is the separating of the chaff from the wheat — the work of the Judgment for the Living.” (General Conference Special  p.30-31)

 

“..God’s people who, today, are as “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked” of spiritual discernment, as were the Jews at Christ’s first advent; and perhaps even more so, and as His people now, like the Jews then, do not admit their ignorance, they fulfill to the letter the prophetic utterance, ”Thou…knowest not.” (Rev. 3:17.)

   Hence. “what greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong!” Consequently, this kind of Christians are the most difficult to handle and most hopeless to convince. But if they would hear the voice of the True Witness: “I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear, and anoint shine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Rev. 3:18), become as babes, and be taught as such, then a great flood of light from the Word of God, as has never been beheld, will enshrine them.

This experience will awaken them as if startled out of their dreams, and will enable them to receive the power of the Spirit, and to put on the “beautiful garments” of Christ’s righteousness, which gift, by the prophet’s pleading, He is urging us to receive (Isa. 52:1). However, no one with prejudice and self-confidence can ever come to the knowledge of the truth.” ( Vol. 2 Symbolic Code No. 11  pg. 7-8)

So we can see that it is the last message, the final “oil” that we must have, the “eyesalve” that awakens us. Yet as mentioned nearly all of us say it’s the other guy who this “knoweth not” applies too. There is only one way, we see, that you will KNOW that you have been “wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.” That is when you learn what you’ve been missing–the present truth of the hour! THEN, you will recognize all that the Lord said of you–was true. You did indeed, “Knoweth not.”

 

But now some among you are aware that because you’ve accepted the Lord’s Elijah message, His Rod (Micah 6:9, 7:14) you have bought from the Lord “gold tried in the fire.” Amen!

Posted in Delusion, Prophecy study, Revelation teachings, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

War’s a Knockin (Part Two)

May 27, 2017

Image result for gather yourselves together

A couple of years ago we did a post showing the developments prophesied to happen prior to the final world battle over the holy land. With new developments we’d like to revisit this subject again.

The word crescendo means —  increase in loudness or intensity, to reach a high point. As we look at the current world events, there is no doubt that things are building into a crescendo. Violence, rumors of war, evil gone amuck, you name it. But the Bible and the Lord’s Rod, God’s word, has it all down for us to know. That is IF we want to.

“While Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will all this happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?”And Jesus answered and said unto them, “Take heed that no man deceive you.For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. All these are the beginning of birth pains…And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.” (Matt 23:3-8, 14)

Before I knew of the Lord’s final plans I read this quote yet missed a vital point. Do you notice what message will go to the “whole world”? Yes, it is the gospel of the –kingdom. This, my brethren is what is the “good news”. Not some dreamy speech about heaven, nor some talk of a future kingdom, but God’s real kingdom taking place in front of the world, even the heathen. All will thus have no excuse. In other words –come in now or forever miss the Lord’s eternal kingdom.

As we posted the last couple of posts, the Lord’s kingdom has been our focus. But before we go into that kingdom time, there is the now, the things that must transpire before the set up. In this post we will get a little political in order to make some points that exist now in order to set up the final battle for the restoration of the kingdom in the holy land.

As we read in the above highlighted reference, “Gather together, gather yourselves together, you shameful nation, before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’s wrath comes upon you.”

This nation here described is the current nation of Israel. The people are gathered there since 1948 as a nation. They are described by the Lord has “shameless” and soon the Lord’s wrath will be shown.

But look at our situation today. We, as a nation and especially since Donald Trump was elected, have expressed our die-hard support for Israel. Just recently the media has shown pictures of Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu together in Israel with their families,  total buddies through and through.

But those of you who followed the speeches, will notice the specific isolation of Iran. In fact Trump has purposely singled out Iran as if not the worst, one of the most terrible countries in the world. Yet, who is Iran good friends with? Yes indeed–Russia! Even allowing Russia to use its airbases to fly out of.

Notice the four countries that are tightening against the NATO alliance – Russia, Iran, China, Syria. In other words the great end time conflict has developed the great two sides –Nato versus the big four. This is not happenstance for the Lord has set in motion the final battle of the holy land. Israel is not a member of NATO yet is connected with them  and a beneficiary of its protection.

So what do we have shaping up? Not only is Iran being forced into a corner but Russia as well. We here in the USA have noticed the main stream media’s (MSM) spin of how the “Russian’s directly manipulated our elections.” Trump’s hand is forced and he is also boxed in and cannot appear friendly to our MSM’s enemy– Russia. So by the Lord’s direction two camps are being set up for the purpose of the final battle.

Let us now read what Inspiration says about the very important Zechariah prophecy –

“What makes this nation gather together? — Certainly not the decree and not the Lord’s anger, for these are to come upon her after she gathers together.  The “decree” certainly cannot be the beast’s decree, for there is not even a thought in the scripture that would so indicate; but it certainly points out that the decree is none other than the Lord’s decree — the fierce anger of the Lord in the day that passes as chaff.

   According to the verse that follows, this undesirable nation’s gathering together, is a sign post to God’s people, urging them to continue seeking Him so much the more..

When this Judgment-bound nation begins to gather together then it is, if never before, that the meek of the earth need to seek meekness.

The meek of the earth are those who have wrought the Lord’s judgments, who have proclaimed the message of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.  They are His people, His church.  The nation that is not desired, therefore, is one people, and the meek of the earth, the church, those who are hid in the day of the Lord’s anger are another people.  The one is gathering together, the other is seeking meekness.  Definitely, then, the “nation” of verses 1 and 2 is not His church, but the people of verse three are His people, His church.” (Timely Greetings, vol. 1, no. 22, p. 24-25)

…two truths stand out clearly: (1) that in vain the Jews seek to establish themselves in the Promised Land; (2) that we who are bearing the message of the great and dreadful day of the Lord are counselled to seek meekness and righteousness, for thus only shall we “be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger,” that is, merely bear knowledge of the message will not save us, there should be corresponding deeds with it.

   Let us now connect verse 3 with verses 6 and 7, the verses that are applicable to the people of God, the meek.

Zeph. 2:3, 6, 7 — “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…. And the sea coast shall be dwellings and cottages for shepherds, and folds for flocks.  And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the Lord their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity.”

Now, the fact that the Lord is to destroy all the inhabitants in the land of the Philistines (Zeph. 2:5), and at the same time make it dwellings for “shepherds, and folds for flocks,” shows that He is first to drive out of the land all the wicked, all those who are not seeking meekness, then He is to set up the “house of Judah” in it.

Zeph. 2:8 — “I have heard the reproach of Moab, and the revilings of the children of Ammon, whereby they have reproached My people, and magnified themselves against their border.”

Not only the unbelieving Jews, but also the unbelieving Arabs who resist the meek, are to be swept away from the land. 

Zeph. 2:9 — “Therefore as I live, saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of My people shall spoil them, and the remnant of My people shall possess them.”

While Moab and Ammon become as Sodom and Gomorrah, go out of existence, the captivity of God’s people is turned away.  They become an independent nation and possess all the wealth of the people round about.

Zeph. 2:10, 11 — “This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves against the people of the Lord of hosts.  The Lord will be terrible unto them: for He will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship Him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.”

Zeph. 2:12, 13 — “Ye Ethiopians also, ye shall be slain by My sword.  And He will stretch out his hand against the north, and destroy Assyria; and will make Nineveh a desolation, and dry like a wilderness.”

Zeph. 2:14 — “And flocks shall lie down in the midst of her [in Nineveh], all the beasts of the nations: both the cormorant and the bittern shall lodge in the upper lintels of it; their voice shall sing in the windows; desolation shall be in the thresholds; for He shall uncover the cedar work.”

Who wants to ignore the truth that these conditions are definitely pre-millennial?  Moreover, these prophecies show that the renewal of the ancient kingdom of Judah is to be a real thing, not something imaginary.  Its subjects are to be real people, not ghosts.  Now we can see that the common expression, “going to heaven,” means first going to the Promised Land, there to be fitted for the society of the pure and eternal. (Ibid, p.26-28)

As we see the main purpose of the final fight is to return God’s people to His promised holy land. This is for the set up of the final Loud Cry headquarters and the final example to the world of what God’s kingdom is like.

“In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”(Isaiah 2:2-4)

“Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:2)

While nation will not war with other nations, after this gigantic battle, there will be Satan’s attempt to destroy the people of God via persecution and  the Sunday Law, culminating in what is known as the battle of Armageddon. But this battle is not nation against nation but rather Satan’s last attempt to destroy the people of God.

At this point we need to point out that there is a coalition (the current english speaking Christian nations) which Inspiration terms–Assyria. As we have posted before the current “King of the North” is Great Britain, and along with the USA are seen as the driving forces behind Assyria. This is the side that will engage the big four in the final battle. Let us read more about this Assyria.

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

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

   From this we see that the Assyria under discussion exists in the time of the end, the time in which the great and dreadful day of the Lord takes place.  This Assyria, therefore, is an antitype of ancient Assyria just as the Babylon of Revelation 17 and 18 is an antitype of ancient Babylon.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Zeph. 3:16-20 — “In that day it shall be said to Jeruusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack.  The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing.  I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden.  Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame.  At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord.”

   The Lord wants us to know that when He turns away our captivity He will also make us a name and a praise among all the people of the earth.  This kingdom of Judah (the church purified and set apart), is therefore, not only pre-millennial, but also probationary.  And how glad we ought to be for the privilege to be among the first of the first fruits. (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 23, p.5-9)        

When we observe our current political atmosphere we can see that the middle east is the hotbed of trouble. The nations have their war machines in the area and soon the Lord will issue His “decree” and bombs shall be let loose.What is fascinating is to see the pieces of the puzzle coming together. Syria is protected by Russian and Iran and when Israel, USA or any other aggressor bombs Syria, the Russians may very well cut loose. They have held their peace on prior mishaps already, maybe the next indiscriminate bombing shall be the final one that sets the war in progress, ie. Russia bombing back. It will happen–God’s word says so!  

In  closing, we see that the Lord has set in motion all political positions for His purpose. The Rothschilds, Trump, Netanyahu, Merkel, Putin, Assad and all the rest are but pawns, moveable in His hands. His will is soon to be manifest upon this earth and those who are prepared (sealed in their forehead) will see the kingdom set up and be apart of the great kingdom. Our prayer should be–

“Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”(Matt. 6:10)          

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