“Adventist Church Tops 20 Million Members”

March 11, 2017

Image result for Rwandans being baptized in Lake Kivu

 

The Adventists News Network’s article states–

The Adventist Church has 20,008,779 member as of Dec. 31, 2016, a net increase of 882,332 people, or 4.6 percent, from the previous year, the church’s office of Archives, Statistics, and Research said. In another milestone, a record 1.2 million people were baptized last year, including an unprecedented 110,000 in Rwanda, while new churches continued to be planted at a rapid rate.

“What these statistics tell me about the church’s efforts to fulfill its mission is that church leaders and, increasingly, church members are putting considerable resources into reaching new souls for God’s kingdom,” said David Trim, director of the Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research. “Total Member Involvement has a huge role to play here, and the record baptisms in 2016 already reflect TMI.”

 

The above headlines is the latest news from the SDA Church news agency. As we read this, we are suppose to be very happy, some may want to say, “praise the Lord!”. Yet all is not what meets the eye. Something profound is happening here and we should look a little deeper into this supposed “work of God”.

I, too, was at one time a lukewarm SDA member. In fact we got a billboard campaign going within our church trying to recruit new members into our church. But that was the light that I knew at that time. The truth of the Lord’s Elijah message had not reached me yet.

“We must not think, “Well, we have all the truth, we understand the main pillars of our faith, and we may rest on this knowledge.” The truth is an advancing truth, and we must walk in the increasing light.” (Counsels to writers and editors, p.33)

Let us ask ourselves the following questions.

Why didn’t the Lord promise to bring Noah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord, instead of Elijah?  Or how about David, Joseph, Job or any of the other numerous prophets?

Afterall Noah preached to the world did he not? That is what the message is right now from the SDA church “peace and love and win the world”. So how does Elijah fit in as opposed to the message of Noah? When we ponder this line of thinking we can only come to one conclusion. Elijah, instead of any other prophet, was chosen as the type  because it was to represent the type of message for this time, the last days.

What was Elijah’s message? One to the world or to his own people? Of Course to the house of Israel! Is this work of spreading the Lord’s message  to go to the world now, bringing in the great multitudes (as in 20 plus million) and causing us to leap for joy at this fact?

Sadly the answer is no. This no doubt will cause those not familiar with the purpose of the Elijah message to say “What? What are you talking about? It’s a great thing to bring souls into God’s kingdom now.” Well yes and no, let us explain.

Granted, this area of the Elijah message is one of the most difficult to understand. When we know the message well we know that there is no doubt that the Lord’s message today is specifically for the remnant church. Why? Because it , not the world, is about to be sprued out.

The message deals straightly with this issue as follows —

WORK WITHIN OR WITHOUT?

Question No. 32:

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

Answer:

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

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

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

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

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

“Satan will work his miracles to deceive, he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out. The chaff is separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.

None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouth. The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy 

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

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

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

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

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

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

For these reasons, God says now to work within the Laodicean congregation rather than without. And what He says, that He means, and we dare not disobey, regardless what men may say or do. (Answerer, vol.2, Q-32)

You see brethren we are wholesaling them into the church without so much as any obedience to the Lord’s counsel, let us read–

“Only when the Church is composed of pure, unselfish members, can it fulfill God’s purpose. Too much hasty work is done in adding names to the church roll. Serious defects are seen in the characters of some who join the church. Those who admit them say, We will first get them into the church, and then reform them. But this is a mistake. The very first work to be done is the work of reform. Pray with them, talk with them, but do not allow them to unite with God’s people in church relationship until they give decided evidence that the Spirit of God is working on their hearts.” (Review and Herald, May 21, 1901)

So if the Lord is not now working to bring souls into the truth, the church, who is? Yes, sadly it is another spirit working in camouflage to hoodwink people that they get a free ride to heaven upon joining the church.

More from the message on this important topic–

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 Chris 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 be fore Him.” Isa. 62:10, 11. (Answerer, vol. 3, Q-67)

Do not misunderstand we as Christ’s servants should want any and all people saved. There is even today  a few who like the Syrophoenician woman (Mark 7:25-29) come into the faith by a burning desire of love of Christ, His honor, His Commandments and His Word. These the Lord has called into His church.But unfortunately our leaders have herded them like cattle into the church without even knowing what the Word says about the final result!

However the Lord has set a timetable to win the world and that is to first save the church from impending doom, then to go  out and win the “great multitude” (Rev. 7:9). Let’s get on board HIS timetable and do His work as said by His prophets.

 

 

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The God of Details

March 4, 2017

flower

When we pick up a flower we see the absolute minute details, the perfect designs, the lines, the colors, the smells, etc. This is our God, one of great detail. In the Word we read–

“And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)

But what are some of the “details” that we as  God’s final remnant church should concern ourselves with today? Let us look at some appropriate details that should very much be our focus today.

1) Our time

Each day we are to put in between approximately 15 to 18 hours of productive work, whether it be for the world , for ourselves, for our family or friends, or for God. We as SDA members know that the Lord has given a responsibility to the “recording angels” to watch our every word and deed.

“All of us will have to give an account of ourselves to God.” (Romans 14:12)

“Every man’s work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful dissembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel.” (Great Controversy, p.482)

So if we are being recorded, why not make sure that each day we put in our time to do some work in His vineyard. The ability to “work” in His vineyard is made so much easier and seamless today with the advent of electronics. We really have no excuse to be coach potatoes, or worldly entertainments lovers. Time is almost up for us SDA members, our time is way too valuable now to throw away.

2) Our Sabbath adherence

We know that the Lord has always be particular in Sabbath observance. This day above all other days is the one He blessed and hallowed. But all too often we can get sloppy in our observance of this day unless we keep regular check on our routine. Some areas to watch-

  1. Keep a close eye on the start (sunset) of the Sabbath and the end (sundown) of Sabbath. These 24 hours are God’s blessed time and we should make the most of it and keep it–holy.
  2. Keep an eye on our “worldly conversation”. Too often we can get careless and drift off into worldly matters and this is displeasing to the Lord.

“If because of the sabbath, you turn your foot From doing your own pleasure on My holy day, And call the sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, And honor it, desisting from your own ways, From seeking your own pleasure And speaking your own word, Then you will take delight in the LORD, And I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.” (Isaiah 58:14)

3. Be prepared. If we need gas for the travel to church, we get it Friday. If we need some foods for       Sabbath we buy it Friday.

4. Have your Bible with you for Sabbath. This seems one of the most basic rules of the Sabbath yet             far too many seem to carelessly heed this simple rule.

5. Show up to church on time. This is a must. This is so disrespectful to the Lord and even to some             others in the church. How many in the boy scouts are allowed to show up late in their meetings?                 How much more important is it to show up  in God’s house at the proper appointment time!

“Tomorrow is the rest of the holy Sabbath unto the Lord: bake that which ye will bake today, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.” “And the people went about, and gathered it [the manna], and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it.” Exodus 16:23; Numbers 11:8. There was something to be done in preparing the heaven-sent bread for the children of Israel. The Lord told them that this work must be done on Friday, the preparation day. This was a test to them. God desired to see whether or not they would keep the Sabbath holy.” (Testimonies, vol. 6, p.355)

3) Our dress

This goes along with number 2. The house of God is a special house and requires us to show honor and respect for our Creator. Women’s dress should be modest and not flashy with all kinds of jewelry or worldly fashion. In fact the last message of Elijah , from the Lord, says that proper attire includes head covering for the ladies.

We’ve done a post on this topic —

“Little Things Mean A Lot”

The guys should also have a respectful suit or apparel. If you look like you could fit in at the ball game, then you may want to re-adjust your attire in front of the King of the Universe. Are those shoes shined?

“Many need instruction as to how they should appear in the assembly for worship on the Sabbath. They are not to enter the presence of God in the common clothing worn during the week. All should have a special Sabbath suit, to be worn when attending service in God’s house. While we should not conform to worldly fashions, we are not to be indifferent in regard to our outward appearance. We are to be neat and trim, though without adornment. The children of God should be pure within and without.” (Testimonies, vol. 6, p.355)

 

4) Our Commandment keeping

We should all remember that the Lord’s word says we have TWO DUTIES. But these are all encompassing and really cover the vast elements of our life.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” (Ecc. 12:13)

One of the big surprises that I have learned over my years in the SDA church is how few actually know the 10 Commandments! When you say , “sister Julie, what is the 8th Commandment?” They are often stumped! Wow, now this is not good. This is so basic in our Christian walk, it is mind-boggling that ANY have not learned these primary building blocks of our faith.

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”(Psalm 119:11)

“If you love Me keep my Commandments” (John 14:15)

Did you know that in all the Bible there is only one place where the Lord Himself told us how to “love” Him? Yes, it is that reference– John 14:15. This is powerful my brothers and sisters. Let us know them first so that we can walk in them and then show we love Him, it’s all elementary.

5) Tithe duty

Another simple yet often ignored and misunderstood word and command of God. There are three aspects to this subject– where to pay, how often and why pay it there?

Before we address these questions let’s look at our Scriptural basis for paying Tithes.

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” (Mal. 3:8-10)

Obviously it must be a “storehouse” of the Lord. The Elijah messages says –

“The tithes and the offerings are of the Lord’s substance, and those who think that they can so manipulate them as to accomplish whatever end is desired, are deceiving themselves, not God, for His command is, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in Mine house. “Mal. 3:10.  The storehouse is the only place designated where one may bring the tithes and offerings and unload from his shoulders the heavy responsibility which a faithful stewardship imposes. 

To do otherwise with them, is to leave one’s account in the heavenly ledger standing in the red, even though one may appropriate them to some meritorious work of charity.  While it is yet today, therefore, flee from this sin of Achan before it is forever too late!  “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezek. 33:11. (Tract 4, p.43-44)

But we as SDA members should know that God’s voice is no longer coming from our church leaders.

“It has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God.”—Manuscript Releases 17:216 (1898).

“That these men should stand in a sacred place, to be as the voice of God to the people, as we once believed the General Conference to be—that is past.”—The General Conference Bulletin, April 3, 1901, p. 25.

“As for the voice of the General Conference, there is no voice from God through that body that is reliable.”(Manuscript Releases, vol. 17, p.178)

So what to do? We know that “meat” in His house must mean present truth, the truth of the scroll up to our time. The Truth that is able to guide instruct and ultimately save.  And where do we find in the Scriptures of His final message of truth coming? Again in Malachi.

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

So we have our answer. The meat that must be paid for, the present truth, is the Lord’s final message of Elijah. And as we have shown time and again, our SDA church has largely rejected this message. So in order to pay our Tithes for His meat that must be dispensed to His people, we must turn to those who are doing that. They are part of the SDA yet identify themselves as Davidian Seventh-day Adventists.

The word Tithes means 10% as many of us know, and this is just the Tithes. In Malachi we are accused of robbing God with not only paying Tithes but offerings (above and beyond the 10%). So there should be more than 10% given. As far as how often, Scripture points out something done weekly–

“Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.”(1 Cor. 16:1-2)

The message tells us more specifics in paying our Tithes —

WHAT IS SUBJECT TO TITHING?

Question No. 99:

   Deuteronomy 14:22 says: “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.” How shall I tithe my crop?

Answer:

   To facilitate answering this question, let us consider for example the case of a potato grower. Say that he is without expense for hired labor, irrigation, rent, etc. If free from such overhead and if his gross returns are $50 an acre, then the whole amount would be subject to tithe, which of course would be $5 an acre. If, however, he must operate with an overhead expense to produce his crop, then obviously such expense should be  deducted from the gross value of the produce, and only the remainder tithed. For instance, if the gross value of the crop be $50 an acre, and the overhead expense $10 an acre, then the net increase, the amount subject to tithe, would be $40 an acre, and the tithe only $4 instead of $5 an acre.

   If, on the other hand, one is a wage earner, sustaining  the expense of social security, transportation to and from work, etc., then he deducts the amount of such expenses from his wages before tithing them. For example, if he receives $100 a month wages, and if he must spend 10 cents a day, or about $2.60 a month, for transportation, he then deducts $2.60 from $100, which leaves $97.40 to tithe.

   If one’s income is from rentals, then he deducts the amount spent on upkeep of the property from his untithed gross income. Thus figuring one’s income, one tithes all his increase. (Answerer vol. 4, p.47-48)

In closing all these details are very important. And if we neglect to adhere to them we can take the real chance of offending our King. SOP gave us a good warning to consider, so that we would not be “careless and stupid”.

“Men and women are in the last hours of probation, and yet are careless and stupid, and ministers have no power to arouse them; they are asleep themselves. Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people!A great work must be accomplished for ministers in order for them to make the preaching of the truth a success. The word of God should be thoroughly studied.”(Testimonies, vol. 2, p.338)

Details my brethren, let us concentrate on them as our Maker does.

Posted in Christian walk, Tithes and Offerings | 1 Comment »

He that Swears to His Own Hurt and Changes Not (Psalms 15:4)

February 25, 2017

psalms-quote

In the Word of God there is a most profound truth and glorious reward to all those who follow it, let us read–

“.. He honors them that fear the Lord; He that swears to his own hurt and does changes not.” (Psalms 15:4)

I don’t about you but I get goose bumps just reading this. This, my brethren, is quite an inspiring counsel from our Lord!

We would like to begin our post by giving you a little history from my own experience for a perspective. As some know I’ve been a service repairman for over 22 years and also did many sales in my line of work.

More than on one occasion, I would have a product for sale and would advertise it for a certain price, let’s say 150.00. Soon I would start to get calls and I recall receiving a call that would go like this–

“I am calling about your product, I really need it , would you take 120.00 cash if I came over within the hour?”  Depending on my current circumstances (such as certain bills piling up) I would likely say , “Sure, come over.”

Then maybe 15 minutes later another call would come and the guy would say, “I see your product for sale, we really need it, I have the 150.00 cash, can I come now? I can be there in 15 minutes.”

Now, what do you think the old man, the one who was not yet converted, would do? Your right–I’d say. “Yes come over but do so quickly as I have to go”. Meaning “hurry and beat the other guy here.”

Sure enough the second guy would arrive and I’d take the money and off he’d go with the product. Then maybe 20 or 30 minutes later the first guy would show up and ring the door bell. I’d answer and sheepishly say, “Sorry, my wife accidentally sold it to another guy, I’m really sorry.” He hung his head and disappointedly walk away. Sometimes they’d raise a little cain, and looking back–rightly so!

Obviously this conduct was the opposite of the Lord’s way, I was swearing to someone but to that guy’s hurt, not mine.

Today of course I would keep my word and tell the second guy, “sorry but I had a guy call before you and if he doesn’t show in 1 hour I’ll call you back.” Now this is relatively small potatoes in the world’s financial dealings but the moral steadfastness is what counts.  Can we imagine keeping our word when thousands and even hundreds of thousands are at stake? This is an example of what Psalms 15:4 is all about. Putting our committed word before the possible detriment to ourselves.

“For He said, ‘Surely they are My people, children that will not lie: so He was their Saviour.” (Isaiah 63.8)

As we have posted many times before, our word should be our bond. When we promise something or even commit to someone, we should at all costs do that thing that we said we would. If we don’t we truly take the chance of offending our King.

“It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it.” (Ecc.5:5)

Verses that show how important keeping our word is–

“But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:” (1 John 2:5)

“You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth.” (Deut. 23:23)

“Build cities for your little ones and folds for your sheep, and do what you have promised.”(Number 32:24)

Sometimes in our travels through life , it may be easy to say to ourselves “It’s no big deal that I did not do what I committed to do with brother Jim or sister Sally, God will understand.” No! This leads to a harmful habit that may lead us to spiritually damage ourselves, let us be careful here.

Our King is a Word Keeper and as His sons and daughters, let us try to do as our Master and King does–keep our word, even if it’s to our own “hurt”.
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19)

“I will not violate My covenant or alter the Word that went forth from My lips.”(Psalms 89:34)

Posted in The Spirit of truth, Truth telling vs. lying | Leave a Comment »

“Thou Shall not bear False Witness”

February 18, 2017

Image result for wes peppers picture

A while back one of our sisters travelled to Michigan to “sigh and cry” for the abominations done in the midst, namely a Doug Batchelor event hosted by the local SDA church in Lansing Michigan, pastored by the man shown above, Wes Peppers.

It is our hope and prayer that this pastor acknowledges his public error of spreading of false rumors and agrees to be corrected and on the side of Truth.

 

The aforementioned sister has a couple of ministries going on. One, a YouTube ministry where she goes to SDA churches and passes out Tracts, Videos, CD’s etc, of the message of the hour and puts the work they do online as a witness that the Lord is soon to “suddenly come to His Temple” (Mal 3:1). Second, she also has a Facebook ministry as well.

Her method is controversial, for it harkens back to the days of Amos, as we read–

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

Back in the old days, the man of God would sit or stand “at the gate”, the entry point to the city or Temple. They would call out the public wrongs concerning God’s people. As we see from the word of God, we should not be one of those who “hate” this work, lest we be found to offend God’s work through His unique workers. Granted not all are called to do this but this has/is still a work that God calls some to do.

Additionally we read–

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

So the event took place in Lansing Michigan last Oct 2-10, 2015. Sister Patricia and her crew made the trip to the event and set up their positions on the sidewalk. This is very important to understand as this was not done on their property. In the following video, WP (Wes Peppers) goes to great lengths to accuse them of trespassing and doing an “illegal” protest on his property. In fact he called the police trying to get them booted off the public sidewalk, and they sided with sister Patricia and her crew against WP’s attempted act of curtailment of free speech and assembly.

We all remember that the Jews did the same thing, they blocked, derided, scorned the few present truth believers and the Lord warned us concerning this method–

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men. For you neither enter, nor even do you allow those who are entering to go in.”(Matt. 23:13)

There is no doubt that WP thinks he is doing the right thing “protecting” his people. Yet the Jews had the same attitude. The Jews had mis-read the Scriptures and that was their fatal mistake. Our ONLY safe course to take Inspired counsel here–

“Those who allow prejudice to bar the mind against the reception of truth cannot receive the divine enlightenment. Yet, when a view of Scripture is presented, many do not ask, Is it true–in harmony with God’s word? but, By whom is it advocated? and unless it comes through the very channel that pleases them, they do not accept it. So thoroughly satisfied are they with their own ideas that they will not examine the Scripture evidence with a desire to learn, but refuse to be interested, merely because of their prejudices.” (Testimonies to Ministers, p.105-106)

“Suppose a brother held a view that differed from yours, and he should come to you, proposing that you sit down with him and make an investigation of that point in the Scriptures; should you rise up, filled with prejudice, and condemn his ideas, while refusing to give him a candid hearing? The only right way would be to sit down as Christians and investigate the position presented in the light of God’s word, which will reveal truth and unmask error. To ridicule his ideas would not weaken his position in the least if it were false, or strengthen your position if it were true. If the pillars of our faith will not stand the test of investigation,it is time that we knew it. There must be no spirit of Pharisaism cherished among us.”  (Ibid, p.107)

You see, we as Adventists shake our head at people who write things such as this —

http://www.jesusisprecious.org/false_religion/sda/heresy_on_hell.htm

Why? Because we’ve study the whole picture and ALL of the writings concerning hell. But the sad fact is that we, too, are sometimes blinded that we can do the very same thing! Proclaim something falsely when we haven’t studied it all out. Our Lord, in fact said that we would “knowest not that we are “wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked..” (Rev. 3:17)

We are counselled that we have “many many lessons to UNLEARN.” (TM, p.30)

Ok, so now that we have laid the groundwork let’s get to the meat of this post. Of special note, WP clears himself by saying that their recordings won’t show anything said “amiss” by him (14:38 of the 2nd video). But the true lovers of the Truth will be offended by his comments as it shows the classic false beliefs and narrative from the leaders of our SDA church. Indeed things are said “amiss”!

We are under no illusion, it appears WP is dug in deeply in his mistaken ideas, but we pray and ask others to keep this man in prayer that his eyes be opened to the real Truth. He “promises” a good thing at the 18:10 mark of the second video, saying–

“If it’s truth and you can show it to me from the Bible, I’ll believe it, that’s a promise.”

Let us look at some of WP’s statements (we have links to both parts of the video below)

  1. At the 36:32 mark of the first video, WP says  “You guys believe in the literal interpretation of Ezekiel, when it talks about…”  He then tried to move in front of the sister who was attempting to give some Tracts to others.

WP is in need of learning what SOP, which he stated he strongly believes in, shows about “literal interpretation of Ezekiel”. He said, “the truth is the writings of Ellen White and I believe it all” (17:26 of 2nd video).

“Study the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled; yet the time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is short. God is calling; will you hear? Will you receive His message? Will you be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be decided for eternity.” (Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, p.260)

“We are amid the perils of the last days, the time will soon come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very letter.” (1888 Materials, p.1303)

2. Then doubles down again on the rumored false idea about Ezek. 9 and says–

“Based upon your interpretation of the prophecies of Ezekiel, when that final crisis comes it’s the Shepherd’s Rod’s job to actually kill Adventist pastors is that what you’re going to do? That’s what I was told by different people ” (38:30 of 1st video)

When we “love” the truth, we respect it too much to state something so disturbing (even if it’s a rumor we heard) without knowing the “facts”. Let us be clear, to even bring such a dire dreadful statement up like this shows that WP really didn’t seriously care to “look into this” before. Had he done so he would not have even raised this serious charge against these people. Apparently he blindly assumed what he was told as–truth. When the sister answered him, all she got was a wry snicker instead of any acknowledgment that he may have heard a false witness lie.

False witness against someone is a terrible crime before the Lord–terrible! So important that it’s one of the great Commandments! The “Shepherd’s Rod” people have been slandered against, rumored against, and flat our lied about for a long time now. It’s time these falsehoods are met  head on and expose this kind of Satanic rumor.

By way of disclosure I have had a few back and forth emails with this pastor and have clearly pointed out that his idea (that he “heard”) that the “Shepherd’s Rods” will commit the killing as described in Ezekiel 9 is nothing short of ludicrous and the spawn of that ol deceiver and instigator of false hood. He was sent this video which shows clearly without question what the Rod teaches about Ezek.9

Let us now look at what the SRod actually teaches about those who will commit the slaying as spoken of in Ezek.9

Question:–“Are the 144,000, after being sealed, to go and kill all the others in the S.D.A. church who failed to receive the seal?” — {1SC16 3.2}

  Answer:–The slaying of the tares in the church is plainly foretold that this work is not man’s duty to perform. The prophet Ezekiel, in vision, was shown that the angels who bear the slaughter weapons are the ones whom the Lord commissioned to “slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women”…but to “come not near any man upon whom is the mark.” (Ezek. 9:6.) The Lord makes this destruction of the “tares” still plainer by His parabolic illustration, saying:

“Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into My barn.” 

  “So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just.” (Matt. 13:30, 49.) (Sym. Code, vol. 1, No.16, p.3)

 

It will be seen by the following paragraphs that the enemy of truth is determined that light shall not reach the people (“Testimonies to Ministers,” p. 411), also that he is doing everything to tear down Mt. Carmel Center and the work she is carrying on. 

1. “I have been told,” says one, “that Mt. Carmel Center is being builded as a sort of fort where weapons are being stored for the purpose of slaying all the S.D.A.’s who do not accept the message of the Rod. Is this true?”

Nothing could be quite so absurd as the story which the questioner has been told, and we admonish our brethren not to believe what they are told by Mt. Carmel’s enemies, any more than while they were investigating the Sabbath truth they believed the wild stories told about Adventists.” (Sym. Code, vol. 3, no.11-12, p.2)

3. WP asks, “He is going to set up a kingdom here on earth?” (in reference to the sister speaking of the pre-millennial kingdom phase–  20:36 of the 2nd Video) The sister then gives an explanation based on Daniel 2. But it appears to not make sense to WP as he disputes the sister’s interpretation of Daniel 2.

There are many places we could show evidence “from the Bible” of this pre-millennial kingdom, but we’ll show just one for now. We’ll quote Isaiah 11: 6-12.

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 

And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, 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. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.”

Questions for WP–

  1. When will this day be that the “wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid… and a little child shall lead them?”  In heaven, the new earth or on the existing earth?
  2.  Will there be “sucking and weaned children” in heaven or the new earth? To play with snakes there?
  3.  In that day, the days mentioning the above circumstances in 1 and 2, can it take place in heaven where “Gentiles” can seek an “ensign”  from the Lord? Heaven or the new earth will have Gentiles who want to “seek” the Lord?
  4. The first “recover the remnant” was when the Lord recovered His people from Egypt, and was that recovering here on earth? Is this second recovering of His people on heaven or earth? Is this Gathering to a place on earth just as the first one was?
  5. Will there be nations in heaven or in the new earth?

“True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as only to be brought before God; they may be wrongs that should be confessed before individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character,  and then should be publicly confessed.

But all confession should be definite, and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you have been reproved by the Spirit of God.” (Signs of the Times,March 16, 1888)

(Part One)

 

(Part Two)

For any and all who would like to read an authoritative article on just who are the Davidian SDA (aka Shepherd’s Rods) see this Wikipedia article –

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davidian_Seventh-day_Adventist

In summary, Wes Peppers has the right to reject the Rod. But when he talks of false rumors and tries to pawn them off as legitimate statements, without truly knowing the truth of the matter, then he takes a solemn chance of offending the Lord by breaking Commandment no. 9–solemn indeed! We suggest he does not further hinder those who wish to “enter therein” to look at the whole matter, as many of us have done. You have not weighed this matter thoroughly (as we have) and therefore should be concerned you speak rightly concerning it.

“Hear ye the Rod, and Who has appointed it.” (Micah 6:9)

You said “from the Bible” and here it is, the Lord says “HEAR ye the Rod” are you doing that WP?

“For He said, ‘Surely they are  my people, children that will not lie: so He became their Saviour.” (Isaiah 63:8)

“Do not be unbelieving. The more you are jostled, misapprehended, misstated, misrepresented, the more evidence you have that you are doing a work for the Master, and the more closely you must cling to your Saviour.” (Testimonies, vol.8, p.130)

Please keep sister Patricia and her team in your prayers, they are actually “doing something” about the upcoming judgment upon God’s house (1 Peter 4:17).

“Our message is not one of peace and safety.” (SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p.1184)

 

Posted in Proper teachings, Sighing and Crying, The spirit of predjudice, Truth telling vs. lying, Warning our brethren, Witnessing | 2 Comments »

The Few Laborers

February 11, 2017

Image result for picture of a man bored sitting on a mountaintop

In Matthew 9:38 we read–

“Then saith He unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.”

There is no doubt whatsoever that this statement by the Lord is true beyond measure. Today, as in days past, there are truly only a few among the large population of nearly 18 million Adventists who are “working” in His vineyard. By this we mean, not only trying to live the “right life” but proclaiming the Lord’s end time message of present truth. They are not perfect but they do endeavor to do both.

But why is this, why so few? Let us look at some of the aspects of this neglected work.

During the time of Christ, we know that there were few professed believers in the early days. The Jews had lambasted Christ’s message so far and wide that they greatly outnumbered the small faithful. The early workers had to bear much slander, accusations, persecution, etc. Yet their work was not wholly unfruitful, for example the day of pentecost.

Then in the days of the dark ages, the workers had all but disappeared, except for the small amount of Waldenses , Huguenots, etc. But the true “work” during this time was the Bible.

“And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for one thousand , two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”(Rev. 11:3)

“The two Witnesses represent the Scriptures of the Old and the New Testament.” (GC, p.267)

Then we come to today, has anything changed you suppose? Absolutely not. But thank the Lord there are a few faithful and courageous workers in His harvest field! Did you notice that word–courageous?

Yes indeed, just as times of old, one of the main ingredients to profess the message of the hour is courage. And it appears that the Lord puts a premium on it too–

“But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”(Rev. 21:8)

Which one is listed first? Yes, this is one of the prime reasons, we believe, that the workers are so few today just as times past.

Search the Bible, you will find that the Lord has always placed a premium on courage, standing up for Him despite the consequences. Take for instance Joshua and Caleb. Among the vast multitude that ridiculed and doubted the word of the Lord, those two stood up and bravely said “We can take this land.”

This same courage is required today, because  our leaders, the rulership of our SDA does not like the present truth that exposes the sins of the church. Our church is full of “soothsayers” instead of “Truthsayers”.

Isa. 2:6 — “Therefore Thou hast forsaken Thy people the house of Jacob, [those men that are causing the people to follow them], because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.”

   At the time the great ingathering here projected is about to take place, His professed people, He declares, please themselves among the unconverted and are charged with being soothsayers, ably explaining away God’s revealed Truth for this time rather than to magnify and to proclaim It. (TG, vol. 1, no.5, p.9)

“Our message is not one of peace and safety.” (SDA Bible Commentary, vol.4, p.1184)

So with the forces greatly stacked against God’s courageous Truth proclaimers, is it any wonder that few would want to get involved?

This reminds us of the man and his wife, mother and father of the blind man who from birth had never seen before. They rejoiced of their son’s new-found sight yet lacked courage to stand up for Jesus when the time came for favor of the self-righteous Jews.

We have a crisis here, so few realize the “clean work” God is about to do on His professed people (Testimonies, vol. p.190).  SOP describes what God thinks of those who stand idly by.

“If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.281)

Again the SOP tells us the straight scoop–

“To excuse yourself from working for others on the plea of inability, while you are all absorbed in worldly pursuits, is mockery of God. Multitudes are going down to ruin; the people who have received light and truth are but as a handful to withstand all the host of evil; and yet this little company are devoting their energies to anything and everything but to learning how they may rescue souls from death.

Is it any marvel that the church is weak and inefficient, that God can do but little for His professed people? They place themselves where it is impossible for Him to work with them and for them. Dare you continue thus to disregard His claims? Will you still trifle with heaven’s most sacred trusts? Will you say with Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Testimonies, vol. 5. p.458-459)

“Everyone who connects himself with the church makes in that act a solemn vow to work for the interest of the church and to hold that interest above every worldly consideration. It is his work to preserve a living connection with God, to engage with heart and soul in the great scheme of redemption, and to show, in his life and character, the excellency of God’s commandments in contrast with the customs and precepts of the world.

Every soul that has made a profession of Christ has pledged himself to be all that it is possible for him to be as a spiritual worker, to be active, zealous, and efficient in his Master’s service. Christ expects every man to do his duty; let this be the watchword throughout the ranks of His followers.” (Same, p.460)

In summary, the cost to bear this solemn message of the hour is but a tiny thing in return for the two -fold glory that God has promised us–

1. The be among the 144,000 end-time servants in the Loud Cry

2. To be with our great King for eternity.

Is this reward not worth the price?  Soon the few will turn into a “great multitude” (Rev. 7:9). But we must first be willing to be a –laborer in the tough harvest field of “first fruits” , our SDA church.

Think about this.

“And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” (Matthew 20:6)

 

 

Posted in Present Truth, Warning our brethren, Witnessing | 4 Comments »

“Gathered One by One”

February 4, 2017

isaiah-27

In Isaiah 27:12 we read —

“And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt, and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.”

Recently we have posted about the 144,000 and as such it would be helpful now to show from God’s word how such gathering of His people  shall occur. Let us read from Inspiration–

“..the early Christian church was made up of Jews only: the apostles, the 120 in the upper room (Acts 1:15), and the 3,000 who were converted on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:41) were all Jews, as were, indeed, virtually all those who “were added daily” for the first three and a half years after the crucifixion (Dan. 9:26, 27; Acts 2:47).  And even after this period was over, and the apostles were commissioned to take the gospel  to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46), many more Jews became Christians, and subsequently, as Christians rather than as Jews, were scattered among the nations.

   Clearly, therefore, in each instance most of the sons of Jacob lost their racial distinctiveness.  As the Lord, however, has ever kept the genealogies  of all nations, especially of the sons of Jacob, He will, as He has promised, “make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.  And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her.  The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.” Ps. 87:4-6.

   Thus just as obvious as strange is the fact that no one today but the recognized Jew can vouch for his ancestry, with the result that the 144,000 can be gathered from almost every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, and yet be of the sons of Jacob!

   “And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Word of prophecy in this connection, “that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left, 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. 

And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.  And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall beat off from the channel of the river unto the stream of Egypt and ye shall be gathered one by one, O ye children of Israel.” Isa. 11:11, 12; 27:12.

   Since, therefore, history, logic, and scripture combine their evidences to prove unconditionally that God has preserved the genealogy of the chosen branch of the human race forward from Adam to Noah (Matt. 1:1-17), and backward from Jesus to Adam (Luke 3:23-38), He must, then, for a consistent reason, also have preserved  the identity of the elect today. 

And this we see, is precisely what He has done in His designating the lineage of the 144,000, as “of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” Rev. 7:4.  And though we know not what we are, and cannot ever of ourselves tell, the One Who knows all about us, even to the last hair of each head, knows our precise ancestry, although those of us who are to be gathered from the seed of Jacob are, says the prophet, as the sand of the sea,” ..” (Tract 8, p. 9-11)

Isa. 51:1, 2 — “Hearken to Me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.  Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.”

God advises His people of today to hearken unto Him.  They are those who are endeavoring to obtain righteousness, those who are seeking the Lord, and who are anxious to have a revival and reformation among them.  They are now urged to look to the rock whence they are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence they are digged.

We are not to conclude that the Jews are the only descendants of Abraham.  Those who are fortunate enough to have this revelation brought to them, are the people.  There is no other safe conclusion if God causes the prophecies to be written, sealed, and then unsealed at His will and at the time appointed.  The Jews, therefore, are not the only descendants of Abraham. 

To find who these seekers of righteousness really are, there are several genealogical facts to consider: (1) Only the citizens of the kingdom of Judah (the two-tribe kingdom, Judah and Benjamin) received the title Jews.  (2) Those of the ten-tribe kingdom (the kingdom of Israel) were scattered among the nations, and there they completely lost their identity.  (3) The Christian church herself is an upshoot of the Jewish church and nation — the Apostles and her followers, up to about 35 A.D. were all Jews.  Then it was that again a multitude of Jews lost their identity by calling themselves “Christians.”  Comparatively speaking, only a few Jews, from the Kingdom of Judah, have preserved their national title, Jews.

The descendants of the early Christian Jews and the descendants of the ten tribes, down the stream of time must have increased to a great innumerable multitude, for Abraham’s seed was to be as the sand of the sea for multitude.  It is, therefore, obvious that the few identified Jews of today are not the only descendants of Abraham’s, but that many of the Gentiles must be of Abraham.  Since this mixed up situation exists, hardly any one can really say for sure that he is not one of Abraham’s children. 

Perhaps many of the nations whom the world calls Gentiles are the children of Abraham.  We do not know for sure who is who.  God, however, has kept a perfect genealogical record, for He says: “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know Me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there.  And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the Highest Himself shall establish her.  The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.” Psa. 87:4-6.

Furthermore, though one be of Gentile blood, if he truly accepts Christ he by his spiritual birth becomes of the seed of Abraham for says Inspiration, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Gal. 3:29.  The children of Abraham here addressed, therefore, are not to be sought among the identified unbelieving Jews, but among the Christians. 

They are admonished to look to Abraham and Sarah, and to consider that when God called Abraham, though he was alone, he nevertheless obeyed and God blessed him; that in spite of all the apparent impossibilities with both him and Sarah, He increased him.  What if you personally and alone were called by His word, as was Abraham, to stand alone for Truth and righteousness, would you be a hero for God as was Abraham, or would you do as did backsliding Judas Iscariot? (Timely Greetings, vol. 1, no.37, p.10-12)

 

Hos. 1:10 — “Yet the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured nor numbered; and it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not My people, there it shall be said unto them, Ye are the sons of the living God.”

“Yet,” that is, in spite of the fact that the children of Israel were to be scattered throughout the nations, and rejected, be no longer God’s people, yet in spite of all these, both the descendants of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah (all the children of Jacob) were to be multiplied as the sand of the sea by the time they are reaccepted and thus become the sons of the living God through the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

   From this scripture you note that this multitude of sons of Jacob are not the identified Jews of today, but rather the lost descendants of Judah and Israel, of those who were assimilated by the Gentile nations and by the early Christian church by taking upon themselves the title “Christians,” of those who thus lost their racial and national identity.  From all these, after having been scattered throughout the Gentile nations, and after having lost their identity, are to come the sons of God that are projected in this allegorical prophecy. 

Thus many of us who suppose to be of the Gentile nations may at long last discover that we are of the lost tribes of Judah and Israel, and of the apostolic Christian Jews.  Though none of us really know our genealogy very far back, yet God Who knows even the number of hairs on one’s head has kept an accurate genealogical record of each of us. 

So He says: “I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know Me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was orn there.  And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest Himself shall establish her.  The Lord shall count, when He writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah.” Psa. 87:4-6. (Timely Greetings, vol.2, no.21, p.5-7)

Ok this is quite alot for us to digest. Let us summarize this week’s lesson.

1) The original Christians were all Jews, and they assimilated through out the world. Therefore today we of ourselves cannot tell who is who.

2) The Lord has kept track of the bloodline from Abraham, to the apostolic Jews, to the current Christians today.

3) The Lord shall set His hand a “second time” to recover His people, His “chosen branch” the 144,000. For the purpose of setting up an “ensign” ( which means a sign  –  the Loud Cry headquarters in Israel for the world to come into and from out of BABYLON).

4) The 144,000 blood line can be traced back to one of the “tribes of Israel.” These are not Gentiles, according to God but of the Jewish line down from Abraham.

5) Some who we think as Gentiles today can be from the “lost tribes of Judah and Israel”. Though if not, by acceptance of Christ they are “spiritually” born into the seed of Abraham.

6) In the future there will be so many Christians (the house of Israel) by acceptance of the Truth, they shall be “as the sands of the sea.”

7) The current identifiable Jews of today are not God’s remnant people, rather the scattered multitude from all over the world are to be found His true remnant.

Amen Lord, thanks and praise Your Holy Name, for You have faithfully kept track of Your people, our only part is to —accept , proclaim and live Your Truth.

Posted in Present Truth, Proper teachings, Who are the 144K? | 1 Comment »

Judgment of the Dead to the Living, the Present Truth Message

January 28, 2017

sanctuary

Seventh-day Adventists know well that the judgment for the dead started in 1844, in the heavenly sanctuary. But what is not so clear is the  subject of the judgment for the living. This should not be, because the Lord sent us the Elijah prophet to explain these things in detail. What you are about to read is deep. It delves into the aspects of the judgment for the living.

Recently I was on a phone study and the speakers discussed this very topic. Although not personally well versed in this deep topic, I could see that even among advanced present truth believers there is confusion about it. Some believed that the judgment for the living started in 1930  (when the Elijah message came to the SDA church), others believed that this judgment is yet future.

This is important my brothers and sister–very important. This passing of judgment of the dead to the living is about to take place yet nearly all SDA members (save the present truth students) know little or nothing about the specifics. Let us now look at this subject.

“Are all the living judged and sealed under the seventh seal? Or have some been considered before its opening?  To answer this question we quote Revelation 8:3, “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.”  Note, the prayer is offered for all saints.  No one, knowing God’s truth, would dare pray for the dead, for it is abomination in God’s sight; much less would an angel commit such sin.

   The Psalmist declares that prayers for the dead are the invention of the heathen, “They joined themselves also unto Baalpeor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.  Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brakes in upon them.” (Psa. 106:28, 29.)  “The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence. (Psa. 115:17.)  If the dead praise not God, how can an angel offer a prayer for them before God?

   The phrase, “all saints,” has reference to all the living who are to be judged.  Evidently this is done under the seventh seal.  If “all,” then it is definite that all the living saints are counted under the seventh seal.  Thus, with the opening of the last seal, commences the judgment for all the living saints.  Let nothing confuse you on this point.  If we say the prayers of all saints had some connection with the dead, then they should have been offered at the commencement of the judgment — the opening of the first seal, for after the judgment the prayers cannot profit them.

   Note the words at the opening of the judgment for the dead in 1844: “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.” (Rev. 5:8.)  Mark that no angel offered a prayer, but the prayers of the saints were presented by the beasts and elders through praise by harps, and golden vials full of odours, that is, there was no prayer offered for the dead, but their prayers which they had prayed, being recorded while they were yet alive, were presented before the throne. 

The 144,000 are sealed before the silence “of half an hour,” or at the opening of the seal, but they are judged in the period of the seventh seal, for the prayer was for “all” saints — the living.

   Is there any way whereby we can determine the time of the opening of the seal, and the commencement of the judgment for the living?  If God so faithfully revealed to the living the commencement of the judgment for the dead, it cannot be possible that He would keep secret the time of the judgment for the living.  If He did, we would have no present truth in the time of the last seal; neither could there be justice in such secrecy, nor could such judgment be legal. 

Therefore, a revelation of the judgment for the living, is of as great importance as the revelation of the gospel itself.  For the judgment (blotting out the sins) is the crowning act in the gospel of Christ.  Thus we conclude that when the seal is opened, and the judgment for the living begins, we must know it.  The day of atonement in its type proves the same, for the Israelites were well informed of the event, their duty, and the consequence.

   The date of that most glorious event for the righteous, but exceeding solemn for the wicked, will be made known at the fulfillment of the following verse: “And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings and an earthquake.” (Rev. 8:5.) 

The casting of the fire from the altar into the earth is the outpouring of the Spirit of God.  We have stated before that the book of Revelation is a revealing of prophecies, and not a prophecy of itself.  Therefore, we find the prediction of this glorious event in Joel 2:28, 29.  The “voices, and thunderings, and lightnings,” denote the opening of the judgment for the living, as they also denote the opening of the judgment for the dead. (See Rev. 4:5.)  The earthquake will be the sign of the event.” (Shepherd’s Rod, vol. 2, p.219-221)

In the parable of the ten virgins, we know that there will be foolish virgins, who upon learning that they don’t have the necessary oil, will frantically go to those who do have extra oil (truth) in their possession. This truth for us as His remnant people is the knowledge of the judgment for the living message.

Those who have felt a serious need for truth, those who have not thought that they were all filled up with truth and in need of nothing, were guided into all truth (John 16:13). In short, we must have a sincere desire for truth today, and that truth for us, the present truth, is the judgment for the living message.

“..there must come a day of reckoning, a day when the names of those who are found unworthy of eternal life will be blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life — a proceeding for which the only correct term can be, “investigative judgment.”

   And now that the “time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God…,” “thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim. 2:3), for “if it [the judgment] first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” 1 Pet. 4:17.

   Since, therefore, in the fullness of time, the judgment will begin in the house of God, the church, each one is confronted with the imperative need to know

How Names Are Retained In The Book.

   At the moment we accept Christ as our personal Saviour through the Word of Truth, — at that supreme moment God forgives us our sins, and the hands bloodstained by Calvary inscribe our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life. Then simultaneously the pen of angels begins in the heavenly ledger the life or death chronicle of our Christian experience separate from our past. Even “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Matt. 10:30.

Therefore “suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error.” Eccles. 5:6. For in the investigative judgment the books are opened and the deeds done in the flesh are brought to light for a final reckoning before the Ancient of days. All who have stood fast to the end will then forever have their sins blotted from the books and their names retained therein; while all who are not overcomers will then forever have their sins retained in the books and their names blotted therefrom.

   Always man’s greatest test, and one which has ever involved almost an instantaneous decision, has been in the unrolling of the scroll — in the eclipse of a past message by a new one, — present truth. On every such occasion each one has had to decide: Shall I heed the new and unpopular truth and walk in its light, joining with those who are despised by nearly every religious leader in the land? or shall I allow myself to be deterred by the decision and counsel of the ministry in my church?

   When the judgment begins and the books open and the cases of each generation pass in succession in review before the judicial tribunal, some generations suffer an almost wholesale blotting out of names instead of sins. When the generation of Christ’s first advent is weighed in the balance of the sanctuary, a whole nation will be found wanting and their names will be wiped from the book.

And so in varying degree it has been at the introduction of every message in every age. “Different periods in the history of the church have each been marked by the development of some special truth, adapted to the necessities of God’s people at that time. Every new truth has made its way against hatred and opposition; those who were blessed with its light were tempted and tried.” — The Great Controversy, p. 609.

   Accordingly, “when a message comes in the name of the Lord to His people, no one may excuse himself from an investigation of its claims.” — Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, p. 65. Lay aside all prejudices, self-opinions, and ideas of men who bear not the mark of Inspiration, and who say in effect by their actions: “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing” (truth or prophets). Rev. 3:17.

   The Bible can be rightly explained only by the Spirit Who dictated it. 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” that ye may “be established in the present truth.” And “whosoever…blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost [speaketh evil against the message] it shall not be forgiven” him: for it is the only means whereby we may be saved (John 16:13; 2 Pet. 1:12; Luke 12:10).

   Consequently, the greatest danger of the people has not been their listening to error but rather their rejecting present truth. “If a message comes,” saith the Lord, “that you do not understand, take pains that you may hear the reasons the messenger may give,…then produce your strong reasons; for your position will not be shaken by coming in contact with error.” — Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, pp. 65, 66. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Cor. 10:12.

   Clearly, therefore, any attitude which disposes one not to make a candid investigation of any message that purports to be additional truth, must inevitably bring ruin upon oneself. While on the other hand he who accepts the truth but fails faithfully to live and to proclaim it, thereby brings upon himself ruin also — that against which Ezekiel warns:

“When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock [a message] before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.” Ezek. 3:20, 21. But the wicked shall “be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.” Ps. 69:28.

Thus solidly established, the foregoing position on the investigative judgment makes all opposing positions Unfounded Conclusions.  (Tract 3, p. 8-12)

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Mano a Mano

January 21, 2017

Image result for Christ against Satan

 

To many in the world of professional fighting (boxing, MMA, etc) the term “Mano a Mano” means  man to man conflict/fight. Although this a more of a slang term, this saying is soon to play out upon the world in a greater sense. There is to be the greatest of all fights, the 144,000 servants of God versus Satan’s henchmen. Inspiration speaks much about this great controversy, let look into this great battle.

As many of you know, we as active workers in His vineyard are continually scanning the many electronic media avenues and as such YouTube is an extremely active media for proclamations of the Lord’s Elijah message as well as the vast spreading of uninspired messages.

For a while we have noticed the many videos and comments, from our SDA brethren, stating how the Jesuits are doing this and that, wreaking havoc both within the SDA church and in the world at large. If one was to take in their continual message of the near  invincibility of these Jesuits, one would think that the world will soon submit itself to these Catholic affiliates and thus be dominated in nearly all aspects of life by the Roman Catholic Church and it’s Jesuits.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Yes, the Jesuits have infiltrated much of the world’s society, true. However all these uninspired people who think that they will somehow dominate the world very shortly ( in behalf of the Pope/RCC), really don’t know God’s word said by His prophets.

When one views YouTube, they will notice such videos entitled, “Vatican Jesuit Pastors exposed in SDA churches”, “Jesuits and the Beasts of Revelation Exposed”, “The Jesuit Infiltration of the SDA church”, and on and on. Even such notable SDA leaders  such as Walter Vieth and Doug Batchelor are active in this proclamation.

Ok, with this supposed established fact that the RCC, specifically the Jesuits, are the world’s leading perpetrators causing the great RCC to soon dominate the world, let’s first look at the opposing “mano” in this fight.

“..A people come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such as them, even for successive 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.” (Joel.2:2-3)

Here we read of the 144,000, whom the Lord calls “great and strong.” They are protected both front and rear and as they do God’s final Loud Cry proclamation , “nothing shall escape them.” Wow! This final army of God will be fortified in God’s power. No one, not even the  so-called mighty powerful Jesuits shall stand a chance.

First, is it not something truly honorable to be called “great and strong” by the almighty powerful One of the Universal? Does that not send chills up your spine? If you are one of those striving to be among that number-it should!

Let us be clear here, we are not attempting to exalt a certain group of people–the Lord is. And if His word says something to this effect, let us rejoice in this and not deny His words.

The following are additional words from the Lord  about the 144,000.

“Behold, I am going to deal at that time with all your oppressors, I will save the lame and gather the outcast, And I will turn their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. 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.” (Zeph. 3:19-20)

Next we see that the Lord uses His servants to “destroy” the false kingdoms, those who are rejecting the Lord and the final Loud Cry.

“Thou are my battle axe and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms; And with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider; and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider;With thee also will I break in pieces man and woman; and with thee will I break in pieces old and young; and with thee will I break in pieces the young man and the maid;  

I will also break in pieces with thee the shepherd and his flock; and with thee will I break in pieces the husbandman and his yoke of oxen; and with thee will I break in pieces captains and rulers. And I will render unto Babylon and to all the inhabitants of Chaldea all their evil that they have done in Zion in your sight, saith the LORD.” (Jer. 51:20-24)


Just so we are sure that the above words  describe the 144,000, the Elijah message says,

“Thou art My battle ax and weapons of war,” says the Lord to Israel of today (those who are to compose the infant kingdom), “for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms;…with thee also will I break in pieces man and woman…This scripture cannot be applied to the Israel of Jeremiah’s day, for she was then losing out rather than conquering, and from that day to this, she has had no kingdom of her own.  It is obviously therefore the Israel of these last days the kingdom, through whose instrumentality God will bring this world to an end.” (Tract 9, p.43-44)

The “infant kingdom” is the beginning members of God’s end time kingdom (144,000) set up in the holy land. The message also tells us that this people are the same as the stone in Daniel 2 (see TG, vol. 2, no. 8, p.17-18) which we as present truth believers know are the 144,000.

So we see that the Lord has a plan. That plan is to employ His servants, the 144,000, to do His will upon the earth. This is a double edge sword. On one hand great deliverance is promised by those who embrace the message of the Loud Cry on the other, great pain and a “breaking into pieces” to all those who stand in the way and oppose His message of salvation.

One thing to keep in mind brethren is that the Lord has kept quiet for centuries. Enough is enough! Finally soon the Lord will show Himself.

“Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation.” (Zech. 2:13)

When the 144,000 come on the scene the old adage will apply–
“Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” 

Now, let us look at the other “mano”. As mentioned there is some serious proclamations about these “warriors” of the Catholic church–the Jesuits.

For a little historic background, let’s read —

“In Rome, the Society of Jesus–a Roman Catholic missionary organization–receives its charter from Pope Paul III. The Jesuit order played an important role in the Counter-Reformation and eventually succeeded in converting millions around the world to Catholicism.

The Jesuit movement was founded by Ignatius de Loyola, a Spanish soldier turned priest, in August 1534. The first Jesuits–Ignatius and six of his students–took vows of poverty and chastity and made plans to work for the conversion of Muslims. If travel to the Holy Land was not possible, they vowed to offer themselves to the pope for apostolic work. Unable to travel to Jerusalem because of the Turkish wars, they went to Rome instead to meet with the pope and request permission to form a new religious order. In September 1540, Pope Paul III approved Ignatius’ outline of the Society of Jesus, and the Jesuit order was born.

Under Ignatius’ charismatic leadership, the Society of Jesus grew quickly. Jesuit missionaries played a leading role in the Counter-Reformation and won back many of the European faithful who had been lost to Protestantism. In Ignatius’ lifetime, Jesuits were also dispatched to India, Brazil, the Congo region, and Ethiopia. Education was of utmost importance to the Jesuits, and in Rome Ignatius founded the Roman College (later called the Gregorian University) and the Germanicum, a school for German priests. The Jesuits also ran several charitable organizations, such as one for former prostitutes and one for converted Jews. When Ignatius de Loyola died in July 1556, there were more than 1,000 Jesuit priests.

During the next century, the Jesuits set up ministries around the globe. The “Black-Robes,” as they were known in Native America, often preceded other Europeans in their infiltration of foreign lands and societies. The life of a Jesuit was one of immense risk, and thousands of priests were persecuted or killed by foreign authorities hostile to their mission of conversion. However, in some nations, such as India and China, the Jesuits were welcomed as men of wisdom and science.”(History.com)

So we see that the surprising movement known as the “protestant reformation”, led by Luther, spawned the counter movement known as the “Jesuit movement”. Fast forward to today, any well read religious world affair student will know that this Jesuit movement is vast and has it’s focused determination in returning society back to the “Mother church” the Roman Catholic Church. All other religions and denominations are but a wayward institution in need of returning to the once great worldwide mother church, the RCC.

Our very own SDA church, no doubt, has been infiltrated with Jesuit influences, specifically in the education department. However, as a former Catholic member, I can also recognize some of the Catholic services now implemented in our SDA service. For instance the part where the speaker up front says some lines and the church in unison speaks what the monitor says, is taken straight out of the Catholic service playbook. This is a fairly recent routine put into our service today.

The wound has indeed  been healed, as we read —

“And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” (Rev. 13:3)

And this healing is largely from our own SDA failing to “protest” the RCC doctrines openly, for many decades now. Instead we are nearly embracing our former doctrinal adversary! But there is no war, no fight, right now between God’s end time servants because the true future “battle-ax” of the Lord is still hitched to the other set of horses, the ones steadily heading towards Egypt (worldliness). This prophecy was illuminated by the last prophet, as seen in Zech. 6. See this Tract for the full report –http://shepherds-rod.org/Tracts/trac002.html

So as long as the two set of horses (two different leaderships) are hitched together, the stronger more dominant SDA leaders, those who have ignored and even slighted the Lord’s final message of Elijah, will prevail in guiding the carriage (Church). So it is today.

But as the prophecy of Zech. 6 shows , the Lord will soon “cut” the traces and free up the few “sighers and criers” for all the church abominations. Ezek. 9 is just that event that frees them up!

“For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.” (Jer. 30:8-9)

Ok, so if there is no real fight right now “mano a mano”(spiritually speaking), then if and when does it happen? Excellent question to be sure. Right now the Jesuits have free reign to carry out their goals. And as we know, our SDA church, is no exception.

However, as Daniel 11:45 shows the current “King of the North” shall come to his end shortly. It is at that time that the gigantic war over Israel happens. This is also when the church purification happens (See Tract 14, p.22). So we have a three-fold world occurrence happening upon the world.

The Jesuits have free reign because they are under the “King of the North’s” rulership. In other words, there is no counter force to stop their deeds. But when the above three-fold prophecy happens, the game changes.

Despite the current influence of the determined Jesuits, their power is limited. For inspiration says so-

“..I saw the Mother of Harlots; that the mother was not the daughters, but separate and distinct from them. She has had her day, and it is past, and her daughters, the Protestant sects, were the next to come on the stage and act out the same mind that the mother had when she persecuted the saints. I saw that as the mother has been declining in power, the daughters had been growing, and soon they will exercise the power once exercised by the mother.” (Spalding/Magan Collection, p.1)

But let’s look at what happens after the three-fold prophecy occurs.

Religion, as we pointed out in our “King of the North” post will then prevail as the world’s main focus. No longer will money and it’s profits be the main focus. The King of the North is done (Great Britain-Rothschilds), and very shortly after the war is over , the message tells us the new King of the North title transfers to the USA.

But remember that the Jesuits main game is–religion. So obviously  they will think they are in their element but that thinking will come to a halt once they discover there are these strange, miracle workers who proclaim to be God’s servants. Their work will be so fruitful that a “great multitude” will come into the Lord’s kingdom (Rev. 7:9).

But Satan will fortify his position with the charismatic “false prophet” as spoken of in Rev.13:13-14 and 19:20. No doubt the false prophet, 666 man/beast  and the Jesuits will be the counter force to the 144,000.

But praise the Lord, the end is already written of these people —

“And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning, Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise any more: 

The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyine wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble, And cinnamon, and odours, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men.

And the fruits that thy soul lusted after are departed from thee, and all things which were dainty and goodly are departed from thee, and thou shalt find them no more at all. The merchants of these things, which were made rich by her, shall stand afar off for the fear of her torment, weeping and wailing, And saying, Alas, alas, that great city, that was clothed in fine linen, and purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold, and precious stones, and pearls! For in one hour so great riches is come to nought.

And every shipmaster, and all the company in ships, and sailors, and as many as trade by sea, stood afar off, And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, What city is like unto this great city! And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate. Rejoice over her, thou heaven, and ye holy apostles and prophets; for God hath avenged you on her.” (Rev. 18:9-20)

So the final battle against the Lord’s people, led by the 144,000, against the Satanic army which will include the Jesuits, will be declared–NO MATCH. A “knock-out” for the Lord’s servants.

If you are a Seventh-day Adventist and haven’t made a commitment to the Lord to be a part of the Lord’s final Loud Cry servants-PLEASE DO SO. God reached out to us already with these fateful words–

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

Posted in End times, Revelation teachings, Who are the 144K? | 2 Comments »

That Which Shall be in the Last days (Part 2 of 2)

January 14, 2017

Continuation of the sermon by brother Houteff concerning Isaiah —

The sinners in Zion are first to cry to the rocks and to the mountains, then will the proclamation of the great and dreadful day of the Lord go forth far and wide saying: “Hear, ye that are far off, what I have done; and, ye that are near, acknowledge My might.” Isa. 33:13.

   Now is the time to quit fooling ourselves, to make up our minds to wholeheartedly serve the Lord, and Him alone.

   How do I know that the great day of the Lord is almost here? — I know it because the announcement of it is here already, and because the message of the marking that is foretold in Ezekiel’s chapter nine, the work of the Judgment, is already making its way throughout the Adventist world.  I know it also because the material for the glory that follows immediately thereafter (the material that is to lighten the earth with the glory of the angel, the Loud Cry — Rev. 18:1) is all ready and waiting.

   And what happens then? — the cry goes out to the whole dominion of Babylon, “saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Rev. 18:4.  God’s people come out of Babylon to join His purified sin-free church, His guileless servants, the 144,000, the first fruits of the mountain of the Lord’s house.

   Then it shall come to pass that from all nations will the saints flow into it.  “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee [upon the church purified, the mountain of the Lord], and His glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.  Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 

Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.  The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the Lord. 

All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on Mine altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory.   Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?  Surely the isles shall wait for Me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the Lord thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because He hath glorified thee. 

And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in My wrath I smote thee, but in My favour have I had mercy on thee. Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.” Isa. 60:2-11.

   Then it shall come to pass that

Isa. 2:11 — “The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.”

   Man has long been exalting himself; so much so, in fact, that there are perhaps only a few Christians in the world that are really following “the light of the Lord.”  Most of them are following sparks of men, following uninspired interpretations of the Scriptures, — devisings of men, men who scoff at the idea of Inspiration; they see no need of more Truth or of prophets, although they well know that the only Truth that has ever come has been through chosen servants of God. 

Even present Truth believers have not as yet fully awakened to this startling revelation, many of them are carried away with every wind of doctrine, much of which is created by impostors such as Korah, Dathan and Abiram (Num. 16:9-11) coveting Moses’ office — usurpers of Inspiration’s Throne — taking sides, one for Paul and another for Apollos, as it were!  Inspiration’s eye focusing to this day and message, reveals that much of this self deception is the result of what the Spirit describes, a double face hypocrisy, saying:

“Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the Lord.   And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. 

And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.  And when this cometh to pass, (lo, it will come,) then shall they know that a prophet hath been among them.” Ezek. 33:30-33.  We need to be doers of the Word not merely hearers.

Isa. 2:12, 13, 15, 16 — “For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low: and upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the oaks of Bashan,…and upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall, and upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.”

   These are of course figurative expressions, referring to proud and self-sufficient men who in the people’s eyes are as the cedars of Lebanon, and as the oaks of Bashan.

Isa. 2:17-20 — “And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low: and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.  And the idols He shall utterly abolish.  And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.  In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats.”

   What idols are to be abolished? — Idols that walk.  They are, therefore, men whom the people idolize.  They, and those who idolize them will run into “the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth.”  Only those that cast out the idols shall be spared.  In these verses three kinds of idols are mentioned: (1) works of men’s hands, (2) men that are revered, (3) gold and the silver that are worshipped.  These shall be abolished, there are to be idols no more.

They and their worshipers are;

Isa. 2:21 — “To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty, when He ariseth to shake terribly the earth.”

   If we do not now voluntarily cast out all our idols, we shall be forced to cast them later, but what good will it do us then?

Isa. 3:1 — “For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water.”

   The time is at hand when the sinners in Jerusalem and in Judah — the General Conference men and the church as a whole, will not have a drop to drink or a bite to eat.  Who are among them?

Isa. 3:2-4 — “The mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, the captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.  [Having taken away the men that have been exalting themselves, and thus having freed His people, the Lord puts children and babes, so to speak, humble ones to rule over His people.]  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.”

   The signs of the times are to be recognized by the conditions revealed in

Isa. 3:5 — “And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour: thechild shall behave himself proudly against the ancient, and the base against the honourable.”

   Since these things are now taking place, we need not be ignorant of the fact that the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” is at hand.  The unruly and disrespectful shall not survive the day.

Isa. 3:6 — “When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand.”

   To say “come and rule over us because you have clothing,” is perhaps equivalent to saying, “If you rule over us you can at least give us something to wear, and this ruin shall be under your control, you can remedy the situation.”

   The people’s way of thinking and acting in this soon-coming time of trouble, ruin, and adversity of all kinds, clearly reveals that they are not taking God into consideration, — no, not at all.  They are trusting in men and goods.  They hope that someone can yet remedy the situation, can save them from ruin.  Thus by their calling on men to help instead of calling on God, they are acting as if God has forsaken the earth.

Isa. 3:7 — “In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.”

   The one that is called to rule, also shares the people’s attitude.  He declares that he is not able to heal the evil, that he, too, is poor.  God, though, makes clear the cause of the trouble: Let us read

Isa. 3:8 — “For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen: because their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of His glory.”

   Not the world, but Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen.  Why? — Because their doings and their tongues are against the Lord; that is, they are against His Judgment Truth.  What are the eyes of His glory?  According to Isaiah 62:3 and 4:5, His glory is the ever-living Zion, His Truth- enlightened church.  The depository of His revealed Truth is, therefore, His glory, His seers are His “eyes.”  See I Samuel 9:9.  That is, God’s Spirit-filled servants who lead into all Truth, are the eyes of His glory whom the sinners shamelessly provoke.

   You know for a fact that there is not one who names himself a Christian that talks outright against God.  What professed Christians really do, is say things against God’s revealed Truth, without realizing that they are talking and sinning against the “Holy Ghost,” and thus against God Himself, too.

   Even some present Truth believers now and then drop a word of criticism, saying things by which to bolster their own reputation and down another’s or to win someone to their way of thinking at the expense of God’s cause!  These kinds of sins are the most insidious.  And the greater the ability of the one that is engaged in such practices, the greater the damage.

   Are these tongues of ours not given to us to glorify God through His Truth, or are they given to us to use God’s revealed Truth in a way to exalt self, to get others to think our own way?

   Perhaps most destructive of all are the unjust criticisms that are often spoken in the hearing of the children and youth, or in the presence of the inexperienced and uninformed.  These are damages that can never be altered! Parents on the one hand work hard to save their children, and on the other hand by unwise conversation they drive them away from God and His Truth.

Isa. 3:9 — “The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not.  Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.”

   The sins that are committed, are not the kind that people as a rule do in secret, but rather the kind that people are proud of, for they hide them not, they sin openly and their shamelessness continues to witness against them.  The very men who could have been a great help to Moses, were a great hindrance, creating trouble and discontent.  Even the Lord Himself could not bring them to their senses so the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them all.  (See Num. 16:26- 33; Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 400-405.)

   The time has come for us to get out of our childhood, to be stable men and women — fully grown in the faith.  The time has come for us all to take “strong meat,” and to fully realize that the work we are doing would have gone into the “dumps” ere this, if it had to depend on human wisdom.

Isa. 3:10-12 — “Say ye to the righteous, that it shall be well with him: for they shall eat the fruit of their doings.  Woe unto the wicked!  it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.  As for My people, children are their oppressors [rulers], and women rule over them.  O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.”

   God Himself cannot rule over the proud, self-important, and self-sufficient.  But as to His people, even children and women rule over them.  Thus they are now being warned that the proud who now rule over them are causing them to err, destroying God’s plan for them.

   A certain brother said, “I hope the Lord will soon take the reins in His Own hands to deliver Israel.”  Even after coming to the Red Sea, the multitude did not know that God had taken the reins in His Own hands.  They, too, thought everything was in Moses’ hands.  Though by miracle they passed through the Sea, and though they sang the song of deliverance, and understood that God’s hand had delivered them, yet soon after, they forgot, and again began to accuse and to condemn Moses for bringing them into the desert wastes.  They bogged even at the borders of the promised land, and as a result had to spend forty years in the desert.

   Even the manna coming down to earth daily could not convince the multitude that God had taken the reins in His Own hands.  So it was that their carcases fell in the desert, but the children whom they thought would never reach their goal possessed the land (Num. 14:1-3, 27-32; 26:63-65).

   There is a certain element whom even God Himself cannot convince that He has taken the reins in His Own hands.  They never take orders from any but themselves.  Such independent ones will continue to question and criticize everything in which they themselves have no part.  So regardless of their profession, of what they think or say, they are not God’s people.  His real people, He declares, are able to take orders even from women and children.

   God’s people take orders from anyone whom God appoints because they walk in the light of the Lord, not in the sparks of men.  He plainly states that those who now rule over them, are causing His people to err, and are destroying the way of their right path!

Isa. 3:13, 14 — “The Lord standeth up to plead, and standeth to judge the people.  The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients of His people, and the princes thereof: for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor is in your houses.”

    This scripture emphatically declares that the Lord is pleading while He stands to judge the people, showing that the Judgment of the Living begins after this announcement of it has sounded throughout Laodicea.  The charge against the ancient and the princes (leaders and ministers) is that they have eaten up the vineyard, that they have consumed the entire income, and that they have robbed His people to enrich themselves. 

It is a known fact that not only the tithe (the only lawful allowance for the ministry) but also the offerings (the portion for the poor) and all else are consumed by the ministry, and that they have turned even the Sabbath and the house of worship into institutions of money raising, using all kinds of means and devices in the name of religion by which to make the poor poorer and themselves richer. 

Not I, but the Lord is the One Who says so.  It is no exaggeration, therefore, to say that the house of God is become a house of merchandise, run by thieves, that the dwelling places of the ancients and the princes thereof are used as pack rat nests, and that the Sabbath day has been turned into a market day.

  “Who can truthfully say, ‘Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments are unspotted by the world’?  I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness.  Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath.  Then He said to me: ‘Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character?’  “How is the faithful city become an harlot?”  My Father’s house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the divine presence and glory have departed!  For this cause there is weakness, and strength is lacking.'”–Testimonies, Vol. 8, pg. 250.

   Seeing that nearly all are overcome by the Enemy of souls, we should, therefore, so much the more fear God and walk closer with Him, else we, too, fall into the Devil kidnapping bag.  We should be careful and considerate shepherds, not cruel grafters.

   You will find that the Devil will fight for life and violently contest this Judgment message, and will try to convince all that these prophecies will not be fulfilled.  God’s true people, though, will see the importance of their fulfillment at this special time, and will gladly take what God’s Word’s says.

   We are called to be reformers, not deformers, gatherers with God, not scatterers with Satan.  Let’s be what we profess to be, and thus stand faultless before the Throne of God, without guile in our mouths and eventually without sinners in our midst.

Isa. 3:15 — “What mean ye that ye beat My people to pieces, and grind the faces of the poor?  saith the Lord God of hosts.”

   What an awful charge for one to be taking advantage of the poor.  It is too bad that our brethren have fallen down so low.  And still worse it is that they do not pay any attention to these Heaven-sent messages, and rather than to welcome them, they are doing all to dodge them and to keep the laity away from coming in contact with them.

   May their mistakes become our stepping stones to success. That where they grind the faces of the poor, may we make them happy, and may we realize that to receive one of the least of God’s people, is to receive God Himself.  How thankful we ought to be for this great privilege.”

(Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 5 , page 12-23)

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That Which Shall be in the Last days (Part 1 of 2)

January 7, 2017

Come now and let us enjoy of that “extra oil” we spoke of a couple posts back. If the following does not thrill you with deep truths, then please check your spiritual pulse because something is amiss.

OPENING PRAYER THOUGHT   Before engaging in prayer and Bible study, I shall read from The Mount of Blessing, beginning with the first paragraph on page 151.  The chapter is based on the Lord’s Prayer.

   M.B. pp. 151, 152 — “The Lord’s prayer was twice given by our Saviour, first to the multitude in the sermon on the mount, and again, some months later, to the disciples alone.  The disciples had been for a short time absent from their Lord, when on their return they found Him absorbed in communion with God.  Seeming unconscious of their presence, He continued praying aloud.  The Saviour’s face was irradiated with a celestial brightness.  He seemed to be in the very presence of the Unseen: and there was a living power in His words, as of one who spoke with God.

   “The hearts of the listening disciples were deeply moved.  They had marked how often He spent long hours in solitude, in communion with His Father.  His days were passed in ministering to the crowds that pressed upon Him, and in unveiling the treacherous sophistry of the rabbis, and this incessant labor often left Him so utterly wearied that His mother and brothers and even His disciples, had feared that His life would be sacrificed.”

   What did they fear?  They feared that Jesus was doing too much, and that if He thus continued to overtax His strength, He would not live long.  They felt sure He would soon take sick and pass away.

   Did their expectations come true? — No.  The opposite of what they feared took place.  What made Him equal to His task?  Was it not prayer?  If Jesus could receive sufficient strength in prayer to perform His daily duties, why cannot we?  Let us kneel and pray to this end.

THAT WHICH SHALL BE  IN THE LAST DAYS
 
TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF,
MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTS
SABBATH, SEPTEMBER 7, 1946
MT. CARMEL CHAPEL
WACO, TEXAS

   Our study for this afternoon is to be from Isaiah, chapter three.  But since the story, or prophecy, of this chapter begins in the preceding chapter we cannot profitably study the third chapter independently of the second.  No one by beginning to study a subject from the middle, backward or forward, can learn its continuity and know what it is all about.  If one is to learn the full truth of a subject, he must study it in its entirety.  Dogs and cats, not civilized human beings, start eating the slice of pie from the center out.   As intelligent human beings, as God’s people, we ought to eat the pie correctly.

   How do I know that the prophetic subject of chapter three begins with the second chapter? — The very first word of chapter three, the preposition “for,” points out that something has gone before.  To pick up the continuity of Inspiration’s burden, and also to get the background of the subject, we are compelled to start our study with the very verse Isaiah was led to commence the prophecy:

Isa. 2:1 — “The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.”

   What was Isaiah led to reveal? — Things concerning Judah and Jerusalem, the church.  We need to know, though, the exact generation of that people, because if the prophecy is concerning our generation, then it will have greater meaning to us.  Its teachings will then be especially adaptable to our present and dire needs — will be “meat in due season.”  For this very reason we need to ascertain who are the people that Inspiration is addressing.  Let us read

Isa. 2:2 — “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.”

   Not a man, not a people or a nation, but the Lord Himself so declares.  The prophet was shown things concerning the Lord’s house (church), “in the last days,” — not in Isaiah’s days.  The statement “last days,” in itself leads us to the “time of the end.”  As we were shown last Sabbath that the time of the end began in the 18th century, obviously then, the time is here for this marvel of the ages to take place.

Isa. 2:3 — “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

   Since no such gathering as here predicted has as yet taken place, the subject becomes exceedingly obvious that it is still future.

   Some years ago in my interest of Isaiah 2, I interrogated a well-informed preacher, who also was an eloquent speaker.  He answered as emphatically as he could, by saying, “That will never be fulfilled.”  At that time I did not know, and his answer to my question did not help me one way or another, but now that the scroll has unrolled God Himself declares that His Word never fails, and Him we must trust, for if this prophecy cannot be fulfilled, then what assurance have we that any of the prophecies will be fulfilled?

   Moreover, if this prophecy is not to be fulfilled, then consequently the gospel work will not be finished either, for this prophecy tells the way the work is to be finished– that the law of the Lord during the judgment day of the living is to go from Zion, and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem, — not from Takoma Park, not from Mt. Carmel Center, and not from some other place either.

   After the judgment work in the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17) is completed and the 144,000 guileless servants of God, the first fruits (Rev. 14:4) take their high and exalted post with the Lamb on Mt. Zion (Rev. 14:1), then commences the ingathering of the second fruits.  Finally the world’s eyes will come open to the situation, and as one nation invites another nation, the gospel work will intensely speed up. Many will then say, “Let us go up to the mountains of the house of the Lord, to the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we wall walk in His paths.” All the prophets have spoken of this great and marvelous event, but for brevity’s sake I shall quote only from one chapter — Zechariah 2.

    “And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein.  For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her…. 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.  And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the Holy Land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.  Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation.” Zechariah 2:4, 5, 10-13.

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

   Not the nations, but Inspiration Itself declares that in the day God judges the living, then those nations who go to the mountain (Kingdom church purified) of the Lord “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks” — they will go farming instead of spending their strength in war.  The nations that do not accept the Lord’s “rebuke,” in that day, though, will madly arise against the “mountain” of the Lord, as forecast by the prophet Joel, saying: “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 pruninghooks 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.” Joel 3:9- 12.

 Since Inspiration has dedicated these publications to the announcement of this most important event in connection with the gospel — the climax and the triumph of it, the separation of the good from the bad (Matt. 13:30, 47, 48), the goats from the sheep (Matt. 25:32); and the establishment of the mountain of the Lord’s house; there is therefore no escaping the conclusion that these chapters of Isaiah were penned especially for the church today.  Now that we are the forerunners of this great and glorious event, we must give special heed to what these chapters have to say.  This we must do if we are to prepare the way of the Lord (Matt. 3:3; Isa. 4:3-5).  This message to the church, you plainly see, is to prepare her members for the Judgment before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” begins (Mal. 4:5).  For this very reason the Scriptures at this time are unsealed.  Let us now hear the Lord’s plea.

Isa. 2:5 — “O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

   Because the church greatly needs this light, the light that now illuminates the Judgment Day, the Lord makes the foregone plea to the antitypical “house of Jacob,” the house in which are the 144,000 Jacobites, the descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel, who down through the ages became assimilated by the Gentile nations, and thus lost their racial identity.

   The Lord’s concern, that the church walk in the light of the Lord (in Inspiration’s light for today) definitely implies that she is not now walking in His light; and His command, found in the last verse of Isaiah’s chapter, clearly reveals that she is walking in the sparks of uninspired men.   The Lord, therefore, commands:

Isa. 2:22 — “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?”

   The reason that her members should immediately cease from men is told in the verses that follow:

Isa. 3:1-4 — “For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, the mighty man, and the man of war, the judge, and the prophet, and the prudent, and the ancient, the captain of fifty, and the honourable man, and the counsellor, and the cunning artificer, and the eloquent orator.  And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.”

   For over a century we as Seventh-day Adventists have been preaching the work of the Judgment for the Dead, and should now with ease see that when the Judgment for the Living begins it is to separate the saints from the sinners — the wheat from the tares (Matt. 13:30), the good fish from the bad fish (Matt. 13:47, 48), the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:32-46), the wise virgins from the foolish ones (Matt. 25:1-13).

   Plainly then, Isaiah 3:1-4 reveals that among those who are found wanting, are some of the mighty men, men of war, judges and prophets (teachers of religion), prudent and ancients, captains and honorables, counsellors and cunning artificers and eloquent orators, and that God is not a respecter of persons, but only of penitent sinners; that He is not dependent on so-called great men.

   Those who have been exalting themselves and who have thus caused His people to follow learned men instead of Inspiration and thus the Lord’s advancing Truth, are all to be carried away as chaff!

   The brethren who for years have been preaching the Judgment for the Dead have gone spiritually blind and foolish, do not even expect a message of the Judgment for the Living and are insultingly saying. “These prophecies are never to be fulfilled!”  Now is the hour for them to ponder over this light along with the statement: “In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged.” — Testimonies, Vol. 5, pg. 80.

   Let us go back to chapter 2.

Isa. 2:6 — “Therefore Thou hast forsaken Thy people the house of Jacob, [those men that are causing the people to follow them], because they be replenished from the east, and are soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.”

   At the time the great ingathering here projected is about to take place, His professed people, He declares, please themselves among the unconverted and are charged with being soothsayers, ably explaining away God’s revealed Truth for this time rather than to magnify and to proclaim It.

Isa. 2:7 — “Their land also is full of silver and gold, neither is there any end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither is there any end of their chariots.”

   The house of Jacob to which God is here speaking is again identified by the fact that it dwells in a land that is full of silver, of gold, and of chariots, that there is no end to the number of them.  Since there is no land in all God’s world that is as rich with silver, gold and motor vehicular traffic as is this land of the United States of America, very obviously America, the land where the headquarters of the gospel is, is the land to which God refers.  He is, therefore, this day, Brother, Sister, in a special way talking to you, to me, to the whole denomination and particularly to the General Conference (the house of Jacob) in newly revealed Truth, and in unmistakable language.  Shall you, shall I, gladly comply with the Lord’s wishes?  is the great question before us.  Soon the Judgment will begin and we must make sure that our cases will stand.

Isa. 2:8 — “Their land also is full of idols [He declares]; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made.”

   The land from which the gospel now eminates is also full of idols, He declares, the kind their own hands have made; that is, they are proud of their idolatry, and their accomplishments they worship as if they were their God.  Both the mean and the great practice hypocrisy.  Forgive them not He exclaims, except they repent.

Isa. 2:10 — “Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the Lord, and for the glory of His majesty.”

   Here we are plainly told that the sinners will eventually find themselves unprepared for the great and dreadful day of the Lord, and when God thus manifests His Power they will indeed be terrified.  They will as wild men run to the rocks and the mountains there to hide themselves.  The event of this particular verse runs parallel with that of The Revelation:

“And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains.  And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Rev. 6:15-17.

   Very evidently Isaiah’s prophecy meets its fulfillment in the time of the sixth seal, the time in which the Lord sits on the Throne of His Glory, not on the clouds, the throne before which gather all nations, whereupon the Judgment work begins: the separation takes place, the saints (sheep) are then put to His right and the sinners (goats) to His left (Matt. 25:33).  The prophet Joel declares the day in these words:

   “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.  Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.  The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.  The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.” Joel 3:13-16.

   It is the time in which shall be said,

   “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites.  Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?  who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?  He that walketh righteously and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil; he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.  And the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick: the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.” Isa. 33:14-16, 24. (Timely Greetings, vol.1, no. 5, p. 1-12)

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