The Roman Catholic and Russia Focus

December 17, 2016

 

 

Image result for pictures of the roman catholic church  Related image

When we were kids many of us can remember a brother or sister, even a playful parent saying, “Watch out the bogey man is going to get you” when we turned off the lights. Teasing us as to a mysterious monster lurking in the background. Incredibly Satan has/is doing this same trick yet he’s not fooling around. For the heathen, he has made the Russian nation the big bad bogey man, for us the Lord’s remnant church, he’s made the Roman Catholic church the sinister bogey man almost ready to get us!

Both of these nonsense ploys are really a snare and should be exposed for what they are–Satan’s tricks.

Let us first look at the Russia situation. For present truth believers it is well-known that Russia along with China/Iran/Syria form the basis  for the counter force that will soon put an end to the “Assyrian”world rulership, which the Word describes as  the white Christian english speaking nations. This is portrayed in many angles such as the “King of the North” coming to his end in Daniel 11 and Revelation 17 and 18.

Briefly, after the gigantic war happens over the middle east (Zeph. chapter 2) and the Holy land is made desolate and cleared out for the return of His 144,000 servants as He promised through out Scripture, the victorious aforementioned nations shall then capitulate, as the word says,

“For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.” (Rev. 17:17)

Russia and their partners shall give to the “beast” , the false religious world system, their victory for a short time.

But let us see what is happening right now with the King of the North’s grand schemes. As many know we have just witnessed a truly remarkable USA election. The long shot came home for the victory. Yet the powers that be are not happy. In order to get a little background on these powers that be see this post–https://godsloveandlaw.com/2016/10/01/the-king-of-the-north-daniel-prophecy/

So Satan, as we all know hates “right doing”. Anyone or nation that stands up for justice and peace and order Satan will certainly attempt to disrupt or portray in the worst light possible. But we as the masses, are fed daily propaganda and this comes through the King of the North’s vast media network. The one world agenda is being played out right now and there is one big roadblock– Russia.

So what is Satan doing through his earthly servants?  Provide a false narrative on the big bad bogey man Russia. The 9th Commandment says,

“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)

Keep in mind this is the heathen bogey man, we as SDA aren’t so much aware of this as we should be. The other bogey man, the Catholic Church, has got much of our attention.

For example, recently in the besieged city of Aleppo, Russia set up on the outskirts several small tent hospitals to help the injured and dying. This was bombed and lives were lost including innocent doctors and staff. But  hardly not ONE WORD of condemnation was said about it through out the King of the North’s media empire (ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC, FOX, CNN. etc.)! This innocent blood shed will not be allowed much longer. Just as Abel’s blood came up to God’s presence, we can be assured this blood is up there.

“If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.281)

We as mainstream mass media readers are told the narrative that Syria has bad government and needs to be brought down. This same story worked in bringing down Iraq, Egypt, Libya and so on.So why stop there?

Some may wonder how is it that one can know what really is happening over in Syria? It is because one must look at “both sides” of the story. The other side which the main stream media does not want people to know about, we have found quite humble and honest in showing real and verifiable “proof” of the real story of the Syria conflict. The site is called RT Today. https://www.rt.com/news/

We suggest that one get prepared by viewing “real news” around the world because, the middle east is very soon to be the new world focus. Russia will be a main player in end time events so it’s good to get familiar with this nation and it’s goals and policies. To be sure Russia now is threatening the King of the North’s plans.

In Daniel 11:44 it says-

“But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many.”

Russia is this north country (from the Holy Land perspective) and China is the east country. These two countries trouble the King of the North and as such we have witnessed much blatant country destroying (via their surrogates –Nato led by the UK and USA, and now particularly ISIS and the other terrorists) in the middle east and surrounding areas. Now you can see why the King of the North is troubled. Russia and to a lesser degree, China, are upsetting his one world domination plans.

Now let’s look at Satan’s other bogey man–the Catholic Church. All one needs to do today is just review some SDA YouTube prophecy videos and you’ll see Walter Vieth, Doug Batchelor, Stephen Bohr and a host of other SDA leaders promoting the idea that the big bad Catholic Church is about to dominate the world and cause untold havoc everywhere by enacting the dreadful Sunday law!
But the Lord knew all about this way back, and He told His Elijah prophet to update us about this trick, let us read–

“Question: The Shepherd’s Rod teaches that the shaking is to be caused by a message to the church (“Early Writings” p. 270), but the denomination teaches that the shaking will be caused by the “Blue Sunday Law.”  If the denomination is right, as we believe she is, then The Shepherd’s Rod is certainly wrong on the subject of the shaking.”

“Answer–

….As the “Blue Sunday Law” is to be enacted by Satan’s own will, not by God’s, then such a method to purify the church would not only be contrary to every inspired statement but also to Satan’s determined purpose, for his aim is not to bring the tares and then pluck them out, but rather to choke out the wheat by their continued presence. Neither is his intention to fulfill the prophecies, for that is what he would be doing if he should enact blue Sunday laws, but rather defeat them. Therefore, if the church is to be purified by Satan’s laws he would be doing the work which God has assigned to His servants and which He is to do Himself.

   Is Satan working for God’s and His church’s interest or against? If against, he will never do one thing to purify the church or to fulfill the prophecy.

   The only thing that would compel him to pass blue Sunday laws and go “to make war with the remnant of her seed” (with those that are left, Rev. 12:17) is the purity of the church when God by the slaughter weapons of Ezekiel Nine takes away the tares which received not the mark, and even then Satan will not enact “blue Sunday laws” until after he has exhausted every other weapon against the church.

Therefore, as long as the church remains in her present Laodicean condition, there will be no blue laws or “war” against her, but a bluff only to make her members believe that they are free from his snares and that he is still trying to cause them to fall. But the worst of it all is in that they are sound asleep, which is shown by the fact that they still think Satan is working terribly hard to fulfill God’s word by trying to pass blue laws and are not aware that he is only playing with them as a cat with a mouse, and the brethren “to whom the Lord has entrusted the spiritual interests of the people” (“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, p. 211) instead of sounding the alarm to arouse the church are determined to even silence the voice of the Rod, and thus rocking her to a more sound sleep!” (Sym. Code, vol. 2 no.1 , p.9-10)

The Spirit of Prophecy also tells us that the RCC will not be the final world power.

“I saw that the two-horned beast had a dragon’s mouth, and that his power was in his head, and that the decree would go out of his mouth. Then I saw the Mother of Harlots; that the mother was not the daughters, but separate and distinct from them. She has had her day, and it is past, and her daughters, the Protestant sects, were the next to come on the stage and act out the same mind that the mother had when she persecuted the saints. I saw that as the mother has been declining in power, the daughters had been growing, and soon they will exercise the power once exercised by the mother.” (SpM, p.1 -copy of three early visions)

The Protestant churches are the real movers and shakers soon to take the stage. Yes, they follow the beast’s image (Sunday worship) but they do not get their calling orders from Rome. “She has had her day” as Inspiration says, but Satan has led many of us to think her day is about to now come!

So there is now a two-fold deception going on from our adversary based on false witness. One to the world and one to the church. Both are leading their surface readers and studiers down a false path. As we have shown repeatedly my SDA brethren, we are accountable for the Lord’s light and if we truly keep pace with it, we will clearly discern the Truth from falsehood. We are guaranteed to know Truth when we do His will.

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

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)

Posted in End times, Final Events, Satan, Sunday law | Leave a Comment »

Meeting Them Where They’re At

December 10, 2016

shaking-hands

Imagine a professor going into a 3rd grade class and attempting to teach them algebra. Or a pilot professional teaching a layman how to fly a plane in one day. Such occurrences would be extremely difficult if not impossible. Yet we as present truth believers and proclaimers try to do the same thing sometimes in getting the message of Elijah to our listeners.

Our Lord showed us that we are given the ability to understand, depending on how well we want to.

“And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?” (Luke 10:25-26)

How do we read it? Well, that depends on where we’re at spiritually. Let me relay my own personal experience briefly.

Back in the beginning of 2009 I came into the truth of the Lord’s Commandment, specifically the Sabbath. Once I learned this , my life changed. A true metamorphosis occurred and I began to experience the following —

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Cor.5:17)

But the first couple years my knowledge of the Scriptures consisted of the basics, the Commandments and my daily walk. Prophesy did not mean much nor did I seek it much.  Sure I read some things on it but it was not my focus.

Now, imagine if after just 6 months or a year, some SDA brethren would have come up to me and said, “Hey brother do you know that Christ’s next coming is not in the clouds but into our church to begin the judgment for the living?” I would have be dumbfounded and probably worried for that brother or sister who said those things. Because I had been taught and believed that we all know the next coming is Jesus in the clouds.

But not to worry because we are promised a special gift IF we do the will of God, let us read–

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

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

So we see that each of us are on God’s path for us. Just where we are at and just when we are ready, will He guide us into the next phase of Truth. In other words , we should call Him the Perfect Timer.

But He does “Knock” on our door–

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20)

What is He knocking with? His Truth! We are led into it when we are ready and if we open the door He comes in and “sups” with us, meaning He tells us more Truth and we acknowledge and love it.

“The sanctified soul will not be content to remain in ignorance, but will desire to walk in the light and seek for greater light. As a  miner digs for gold and silver, so the follower of Christ will press from light to greater light, ever increasing in knowledge. He will continually grow in grace and in knowledge of the truth -2 Peter 3:18 ” (RH, June 17, 1890)

But let us now look at “meeting them where they are at”. We shall go over some examples.

1-    Sister P seems a sincere seeker of the Truth. We have given her several CD’s, DVD’s and literature on the Elijah message. She has gladly received them and looked into them. But we have not been able to gauge her progression as she has not asked many questions (a great way to know if they are learning). Yet we ran into her recently and she told us that we missed their great Thanksgiving service (especially the lunch). I asked what was so good about the lunch.

She explained that there was very good “Turkey”. “What???” I responded? “Turkey? Don’t you know that we are counselled by SOP to give up meat and especially by the Elijah message?”  She did not know anything about this counsel.

Wowsa I thought. Here I was giving her strong meat (present truth) and yet she was not even advanced on the basics of our SDA principles!

Scripture has the plain truth–

“I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready.. ” (1 Cor. 3:2)

So this shows that this sister is not ready for strong meat but of milk. She asked about the references showing we should not eat meat so the next week I sent her several quotes showing what SOP said about meat eating.

2-   Brother T is a very serious student of the Lord’s Elijah message. But over the years the Lord has warned me about him. Something did not click. He gave me reports to read on certain prophecies , yet when I looked at them they were at odds with what our last prophet interpreted. But I continued to study with him and some interesting discussions were had.

Later, and more recently, I was instructed by the Lord to inquire about His beliefs in Tithe paying. Sure enough and as I had suspected, he believed that there are no worthy storehouses today because of problems with each and every one. In other words his own home was to be the storehouse.

I did not mince words and showed him what the Elijah message said concerning this on Answerer, vol. 4, Q-97, p.44-45. This shows that this is a serious no-no and those who do such things are fooling themselves. But I was met with fierce opposition. Many excuses were brought forth attempting to destroy the clear word of the Lord.

So after this, I received confirmation that unless repentance is made I am not to have further studies with him, lest I seem to encourage him in his deadly course. This is tough and when we see that they are at a place of pride and no need to correction, well, SOP minces no words–

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

3-  Brother G has been a good church friend for several years. Something about him and I has caused us not to lose track of each other. Despite his witnessing my change of direction, following the narrow path of the Lord’s Elijah message, he has remained a faithful friend (unlike many other former SDA friends/acquaintances).

Over the last year or so brother G has inquired more and more about the Elijah message. He has shown a real desire to know more. Recently we had a good study on the pre-millennial Kingdom. So he is no doubt being nudged by the Spirit of Truth to get into the “Noah Ark” for us today– our present truth. So I am not wasting any time and corresponding with him regularly.

So this brother is at a place where he is desirous of Truth and once we see this from a friend or relative we must not neglect our duty to help out.

So we see some specific requirements needed to reach the three people. Sister P needs milk of the word, not deep prophecies. Once she shows advancements then the Spirit will guide into the strong meat. Brother T needs firm medicine. He is not in a good place. His Pharisaic attitude makes it all the more harder to reach him. Prayers are what is needed most. Brother G is ready for more meat and we are to not let go and stay with him as he seeks greater light.

In closing we are to know where they are at, prayerfully asking for discernment and watching their fruit to know how to respond. This last message is too important to carelessly banter around. The Lord sent His last prophet “Elijah” and we are to be Elijah messengers after learning of the message. We can’t give this message properly unless we know whom we are dealing with.

“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.” (Matt. 7:20)

 

 

Posted in Elijah, Proper teachings, Witnessing | Leave a Comment »

The Church of the Routine, Part 2

December 3, 2016

 

church-asleep

Back in May of 2010 we did a post called, “The Church of the Routine.” In it we pointed out how , unfortunately, our church service is so lacking in the Spirit of God that it truly is a–  show. There is a old saying that says–“All show and no go.” Or another saying made famous by the adorable grandmother Clara Peller, “where’s the beef?”

The Lord has impressed upon me to revisit this area again with more information. Let us look at our Church service yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

The above picture is not meant  to be funny, yet sadly that is what our church service looks like (or at least feels like) more often than not today. But how did we get to where we’re at? First lets go back to the beginning, the times of our church founders the Apostles.

“What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and let one interpret; but if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God. And let two or three prophets speak, and let the others pass judgment. But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, let the first keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets;  for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.” (1 Cor.14:26-33)

We can gleam many things from the above. There were:

1.Scripture readers

2. Teachers

3. Revelators (Those who shared what they received in dreams or visions)

4. Tongue speakers

5. Interpreters

We also see that Inspiration deems order as very important yet when the Spirit moves, they were to respect It. “But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, let the first keep silent.”

What this means is that when the speaker was up front speaking, the Spirit sometimes moved upon someone seated in the place of worship and the first speaker was to remain silent and listen to the revelation that came to that one seated. This shows that the Spirit moved among the house of God. This one important area kept the service from being routine and added the Spiritual excitement and unpredictability.

We also notice that many in the assembly prophesied (relating the Biblical prophecies) and the intention was to –learn. There was clear evidence of the Spirit moving in His house by the fact that the gift of tongues was active as well.

Let us look at our typical SDA service today. We stick to a pre-made schedule usually. The first service is usually the Sabbath school lesson. But these are cookie cutter Scriptural readings which more often than not contain no present truth but old truths. The lesson goes into stories and all sorts of lessons, yet fails to deliver the one message the Lord wants given–His Elijah message!

So right off the bat in our first service we are taken down a road that goes into a direction that we aren’t being guided to by the Spirit   –old truths without any present truth.

Question No. 131:

   Should the subjects contained in “The Shepherd’s Rod” publications or those contained In other works, be studied in our Sabbath meetings?

Answer:

   If The Shepherd’s Rod contains the message of the hour, then it takes precedence over every other truth for the Spirit of Prophecy says, “It is ‘present truth’ that the flock needs now.”–Early Writings, p. 63. “‘These things [the sealing of the saints] should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.’“–Early Writings, p. 118. “Advance new principles, and crowd in the clear-cut truth.”–Testimonies to Ministers,p. 118. (Answerer, vol.5, Q-131, p.52)

“In every age there is a new development of truth, a message of God to the people of that generation. The old truths are all essential; new truth is not independent of the old, but an unfolding of it. It is only as the old truths are understood that we can comprehend the new. When Christ desired to open to His disciples the truth of His resurrection, He began “at Moses and all the prophets” and “expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:27. But it is the light which shines in the fresh unfolding of truth that glorifies the old. He who rejects or neglects the new does not really possess the old. For him it loses its vital power and becomes but a lifeless form.” (Christ Object Lessons, p.127-128)

Because we as SDA, for the most part, ignore or reject the new truth, we have old truth that becomes a “lifeless form”.

Then we sometimes see commotion from kids running up and down the isles or people talking loudly in His sanctuary.  Our prophetess said the following about our service —

“From the sacredness which was attached to the earthly sanctuary, Christians may learn how they should regard the place where the Lord meets with His people. There has been a great change, not for the better, but for the worse, in the habits and customs of the people in reference to religious worship. The precious, the sacred, things which connect us with God are fast losing their hold upon our minds and hearts, and are being brought down to the level of common things. The reverence which the people had anciently for the sanctuary where they met with God in sacred service has largely passed away.”(Testimonies vol.5, p.491)

“Because of the irreverence in attitude, dress, and deportment, and lack of a worshipful frame of mind, God has often turned His face away from those assembled for His worship…When a church has been raised up and left uninstructed on these points, the minister has neglected his duty and will have to give an account to God for the impressions he allowed to prevail.

Unless correct ideas of true worship and true reverence are impressed upon the people, there will be a growing tendency to place the sacred and eternal on a level with common things, and those professing the truth will be an offense to God and a disgrace to religion. They can never, with their uncultivated ideas, appreciate a pure and holy heaven, and be prepared to join with the worshipers in the heavenly courts above, where all is purity and perfection, where every being has perfect reverence for God and His holiness.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.499-500)

A while back in our own church we observed the sanctuary turned into a meeting room for church business (the election of officers). My wife is newly Adventist and was perplexed. How can it be called “worship” when business is being conducted where God sits in His house? There is no doubt that the reasoning is because the church is all together in one place and because of the convenience, we degrade His sanctuary for our sake, our needs.

“These things you did, and I kept silent, because you assumed that I was like you. But now I am going to rebuke you, and I will set forth my case before your very own eyes.”(Psalms 50:21)

Even the church which we have often spoken against, the Catholic Church, prophetically teaching  it as part of the Beast in Rev. 13, has a silent reverence within their sanctuary. Being raised Catholic, I vividly remember the silence and respect I felt in their churches. This reverence continues to this day in many of their churches! What does that say about us, with greater light?

The Lord’s word warns us–

“Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and Sabbath, the calling of assemblies– I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly.” (Isaiah 1:13)

“I hate all your show and pretense–the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings.Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”(Amos 5:21-24)

We have boxed ourselves into a routine corner. Our service today is one of man’s ideas and works, not the Spirit’s. But perhaps the greatest folly occurring in His house week after week is the preaching of peace and safety. SOP explains–

“Many regard the threatenings of the Bible as designed merely to frighten men into obedience, and not to be literally fulfilled. Thus the sinner can live in selfish pleasure, disregarding the requirements of God, and yet expect to be finally received into His favor. Such a doctrine, presuming upon God’s mercy, but ignoring His justice, pleases the carnal heart and emboldens the wicked in their iniquity.” (GC, p.537)

“A carnal security and ease in Zion prevail. Peace, peace, is sounded in her borders, when God has not spoken peace. They forfeited the terms of peace; there is reason for an alarm to be sounded in all “my holy mountain.” The sinners in Zion should be afraid…” (Review and Herald, 12-23-1890)

Only if we would change it back to the days of the early Church, then we could experience a holiness and God’s Spirit inside His sanctuary. A  Spiritual refreshing would occur in His house! Do not despair, this WILL HAPPEN in the  very near future, now let us look at the church tomorrow.

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.

But if you truly desire to be in His kingdom , do not despair there will be a pure church and great gladness and joy abounding. (1 TG, no. 5, p.3)

God’s church shall be exalted in the “last days” and based from Jerusalem. This shows that His church shall no longer be fused with hypocrites who talk the talk but don’t walk the walk. All such shall no longer be in the church.

“..the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.” (Psalms 1:5)

This end time church will be so great and powerful — a testimony to the Lord , let us read His words as to the prophetic plans–

“For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee.  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.  Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 

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

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

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

The church’s purity is so widespread that the “forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.” The Loud Cry will do its work, the great multitude (Rev. 7:9) will come in.

This is what the LORD Almighty says: “In those days ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, ‘Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.”(Zech.8:23)

So we can indeed have great hope. Our true desire, to worship the Lord as we should, giving Him honor and reverence as we should–will become reality! No more of the weekly show called “church services”be performed by a cookie cutter routine. Instead we will behold His glory and power in His house and exalting Him to His rightful place–King of the Universe, amen!

 

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Satan’s Last Deception

November 26, 2016

satan-deception

A couple weeks back, I was having the church lunch and my wife and I happened to sit by a brother we’ll call brother P. He is a well studied SDA brother and even holds a class after Sabbath services. Over the years I have provided him with much material in the form of CD’s, DVD’s and Tracts. But during our lunch it became apparent that the following prophecy from the Spirit of Prophecy is truly being fulfilled right now.

The Last Deception of Satan

Satan is … constantly pressing in the spurious—to lead away from the truth. The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony.—Letter 12, 1890. 1SM 48.3

There will be a hatred kindled against the testimonies which is satanic. The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them, for this reason: Satan cannot have so clear a track to bring in his deceptions and bind up souls in his delusions if the warnings and reproofs and counsels of the Spirit of God are heeded.—Letter 40, 1890.

I was familiar with these words of Inspiration but sometimes you witness an experience that reminds you of the clear truth of it. Such was the case with brother P. We started out discussing some Scripture, specifically about the woman of Revelation 17. We went into it and he was quasi convinced (not thoroughly) that the woman could not be the Roman Catholic church solely, but a composite of the world’s history of false religion.

But the conversation soon turned to the subject of how we are saved. He mentioned that we are saved by grace, which I totally agreed with. However I mentioned that we must not have one spot or stain upon our character or we’ll not make the Kingdom. He said , “where do you get that?” I responded from the Testimonies, vol.5, p.214. I didn’t have the Testimonies with me but for explanation it reads–

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement. Then the latter rain will fall upon us as the early rain fell upon the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.” 

He responded, “we are to use the Bible first and foremost.”  I concurred but said that SOP was God’s Truth as well and it was under Inspiration. It’s light was a compliment to the Bible and helped us know more of God’s will.

But he genuinely did not appear comfortable agreeing with me that SOP was God’s word. His attitude was if it’s not in the Bible, it’s not worth knowing about. And that is when the aforementioned Inspired words came back to me. I thought  –how true!

Then he proceeded to explain more on how we are saved. He basic ideas were that Christ’s sacrifice covers our sins. This of course is true but as the ol saying goes –“we are saved FROM our sins not IN them.”

I again pointed out that if one has an habitual sin (drinking coffee or tea for example)then that one has a “spot or stain” upon one’s soul and thus is in direct opposition of God’s word as explained by SOP(See Counsel on Diet and Foods, p.425) . Further the Bible is clear on this point I said —

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Satan is pulling out all stops right now as he knows his time is almost over. And the Testimonies give us much guidance on our walk and our ways that will please God. But if one has some sins he cherishes then it will be clear that any Inspired words that exposes them (such as the Testimonies) , are not welcomed.

“..be sure your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)

To help explain how the SOP writings are needed to help clarify certain areas that the Lord wanted clarified, I asked him –where in the Bible does it say that Ezek. 9 and Rev. 7 sealings/markings are one and the same? He did not know and then I pointed out that this knowledge was given us through Testimonies to Ministers, p.445.  This did not seem to make any important point to him and again, I was brought back to further truth from God’s word–

“.. they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” (2 Thes. 2:10)

We have pointed this out time and again, we MUST love the truth even if it goes against what we have been taught or think. For the Truth is –Christ

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”(John 14:6)

In our closing moments of our SDA probation we must remember that we, as His remnant church will be the “first”  to be judged , when the Lord begins the Judgment for the Living (See Testimonies vol. 5, p.211)

So where would we stand if we disregarded the Testimonies (SOP) ? We wouldn’t know that Ezek.9 and Rev. 7 are one and the same sealing , and that the SDA church is the first to experience God’s judgments. God does not bring His messengers for no reason. His message is to be heeded. SOP explains more about people like brother P–

“If we do our very best to present the truth in its stirring character, crossing the opinions and ideas of others, it will be misinterpreted, misapplied, and misstated, to those who are entertaining error, in order to make it appear in an objectionable light. There are few to whom you bring the truth, who have not been drinking of the wine of Babylon. It is hard for them to comprehend the truth, therefore the necessity of teaching it as it is in Jesus.”—(Review and Herald,  June 3, 1890)

Let us remember that we are under assault from the Satanic forces emerging from all angles.And as we have learned their very last deception is ongoing right now–unbelief in the Testimonies. Many are telling us “forget about SOP.” Ok what if we do? The following is just a small smidgen of what we would not know.

  1. As mentioned the sealing of Ezek. 9 and Rev. 7 are one and the same. John described the sealing, Ezekiel described what happened to those not sealed. Both angles are shown us.(Testimonies to Min. p.445)
  2. What “virgins” mean in Rev.14:4. (Christ Object Lessons , p.406)
  3. What the winds mean in Rev. 7 (Testimonies vol. 5, p.152)
  4. Coffee and Tea drinking is a sin (Counsels on Diet and Foods, p.425)
  5. And hundreds of other Truth nuggets

God’s truth is progressing and for us as SDA, we must know who He has spoken through as His vision of Zech. 4  pointed out last week. Two prophets in the last days are sent–Sister Ellen White and Brother Victor Houteff. Don’t be fooled that their message is  irrelevant and not needed, that’s what Satan wants you to think. God says of those He sends “Listen”. Satan and his workers say, “No need to listen”.

 

 

Posted in Present Truth, Proper teachings, Satan | 2 Comments »

Who is Abaddon and Apollyon, Satan or Christ?

November 19, 2016

Image result for picture of satan as angel of light         Image result for picture of Christ coming in clouds of glory

One of the most noted long running Biblical controversies involves the question — who does Abaddon and Apollyon represent? Generally speaking there is a majority opinion among Bible scholars that it is Satan or one of his angels. Our historical SDA belief is not clear and not much help here.

One of the end time prophecies revealed to us, His remnant church, was the understanding of Zech. 4, the two olive trees (old and new Testament) , the two pipes (God appointed two end time interpreters), seven tubes (ministers) going from the Golden Bowl (the Inspired writings) down to the seven candlesticks (the churches of God). In this symbolism we learn how the Lord’s system of Biblical truth is conveyed and passed down to His people and exposing the path of usurpers and false prophets. For those who wish to review our post on this very important subject , click here- https://godsloveandlaw.com/2014/07/12/zechariah-4-gods-method-of-revealing-truth/

Because Zech. 4 was not properly understood until the Lord sent His last prophet to our church–Victor Houteff, many could not truly know subjects like our study subject. In other words , there are all kinds of man-made ideas floated around as–truth. But let us now sink the mine shaft of truth way down and get some pure golden nuggets of glistening gold from the Golden Bowl.

First, let’s look at the specific Bible verses–

“And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.” (Rev. 9:1)

“And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.” (Rev. 9:11)

The following is generally the prevailing opinion concerning Abaddon and Apollyon.

“In Revelation 9:11, Abaddon is described as “Destroyer”,[6] the angel of the abyss,[6] and as the king of a plague of locusts resembling horses with crowned human faces, women’s hair, lions’ teeth, wings, iron breast-plates, and a tail with a scorpion’s stinger that torments for five months anyone who does not have the seal of God on their foreheads.[7]

The symbolism of Revelation 9:11 leaves the identity of Abaddon open to interpretation. Protestant commentator Matthew Henry (1708) believed Abaddon to be the Antichrist,[8] whereas the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary (1871) and Henry H. Halley (1922) identified the angel as Satan.[9][10][11] Latter-Day Saints believe that the use of “Abaddon” in Revelation 9 refers to the devil.[12]

In contrast, the Methodist publication The Interpreter’s Bible states: “Abaddon, however, is an angel not of Satan but of God, performing his work of destruction at God’s bidding”, citing the context at Revelation chapter 20, verses 1 through 3.[13][page needed] Jehovah’s Witnesses as well cite Revelation 20:1-3 where the angel having “the key of the abyss” is actually shown to be a representative of God, one from heaven, and, rather than being “satanic”, is the one that binds Satan and hurls him into the abyss; concluding that “Abaddon” is another name for Jesus Christ after his resurrection.”[14] (Wikipedia)

As we can see there is a variety of opinions. But generally throughout Christendom the belief is that these two titles describe Satan. The noted exceptions are the Methodists ,Jehovah Witnesses and Davidian SDA. However, such ideas most likely are arrived at by thinking that “a star fell from heaven” means Satan and his fall. And then because he falls he now has the symbolical key to hell. Sure seems plausible if one surface reads.

But as we mentioned we are going to go beyond surface reading and understandings into an understanding that is all-encompassing, just as the Lord’s promised restoration shows us (Matt.17:11).

To understand the meaning of the “star” and “bottomless pit” mentioned in Rev. 9:1,  we read–

Rev. 9:1-4. “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.  And He opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.  And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.  And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.”

   Taking in order the parts (the “star,” the “key,” the “pit,” the “smoke,” the darkness, and the locusts) of this fifth trumpet symbolism, we come first to

The Star.

   Just as did the star of the third trumpet, so this  fifth-trumpet star descended from heaven to earth.  And as the third-trumpet “star” has been conclusively identified as representing the advent of the Bible then this latter one, since it is similar to the former must stand for something the equivalent of It.

   The Bible and Christ being complementary affinities, each the Word of God (John 1:1-14), then the fact that the descent of the first “star” is symbolical of the advent of the Bible, compels the conclusion that the descent of the second star is symbolical of the first advent of Christ.  Moreover, the star is personified as “Him” (masculine in gender), thus being limited to a male person.  And finally Christ Himself gives testimony that He is “the bright and morning star.” Rev. 22:16.  To Him, be it remembered, was given

“The Key of the Bottomless Pit.”

   “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years.” Rev. 20:1, 2.

   As Christ is the one who secures Satan’s captivity, thereby ushering in the millennium, He alone can be fittingly symbolized by the “angel…having the key of the bottomless pit,” and by the “star” to whom the “key” was given.  And as the “giving” of a thing to any certain one must precede the having” of it by that one, the verbs “given” (Rev. 9:1) and “having” (Rev. 20:1; 1:18)  point, of course, to two different times.  Obviously, therefore, Christ received the “key” at the sounding  of the fifth trumpet — sometime before the millennium.  Hence at the commencement of the millennium He already has it.

   Christ’s mission being to bring deliverance from the prison house of sin and of death (the bottomless pit), and to do so through the preaching of the gospel,  the key, therefore, must be figurative of the gospel,  the only power that is able to set free those who are  imprisoned in

The “Bottomless Pit.”

   Since the “bottomless pit” of Revelation 20:3 is symbolical of the earth as a prison house during the millennium, then the “bottomless pit” of Revelation 9:1, being identical, must likewise be symbolical of the earth as a prison house at another time.

   This implicitly Biblical interpretation of the “star,” the “key,” and the “bottomless pit,” reveals  that the earth, at Christ’s first advent, had become a prison house (a pit) for God’s people and that Christ came to open it in order to save them.

   The very fact that God’s people are vested with the power to keep open the bottomless pit, then should they be defeated, the pit would be shut and would become a prison house from which there would be no escape unless it be reopened.  And so Satan in the latter days of the Jews, as sacred history records, attacked them, took them captive, and thus shut the pit.  And knowing that when the Saviour should come, He would open it, the dragon therefore stood ready to devour the “child as soon as it was born.” Rev. 12:4. 

But losing sight of the infant Christ, he incited Herod to slay “all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under” (Matt. 2:16), in the hope of making rid of the Saviour.  Under the protection  of Providence, however, Christ was kept from the  bloody hand of Herod.  Then subsequently with the  gospel key, He opened the “pit” and freed His people.  This, He Himself avowed:

   “The Spirit of the Lord,” He declared, is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovering  of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18, 19. (Tract 5, p.58-61)

To the names and their meaning we read–

“Rev. 9:11. “And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.”

   Genuine Christians, as subjects of the kingdom of Christ, have over them Christ, their King.  Ruling over them in Old Testament time (1 Cor. 10:1-4)  as well as in New Testament time, He is therefore King over them in both periods.  Consequently the Old Testament Scriptures being originally written  in the Hebrew tongue give Him the name Abaddon, whereas the New Testament Scriptures, being originally written in the Greek, give Him the name Apollyon.

   In the blazing light of this symbol, intensifying the illumination from the whole series of symbols of which it is a part, and which no human mind could either have devised or thus rightly interpreted, Christ is clearly seen to be King of His people in both the Old and the New Testament periods, and Author of the Scriptures in both the Hebrew and the Greek.  And from this fact it follows that as He is “the Word” (the Bible in human form), His Hebrew name, Abaddon, is also the name of the Old Testament Scriptures, and His Greek name, Apollyon, is also the name of the New Testament Scriptures.

   Showing that he recognized Christ’s sovereignty over the church not only in the New Testament  period but also in the Old Testament period,  Paul, in his epistle to the Corinthians, declared:  “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were…baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea:…and did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.” 1 Cor. 10:1-4.

   Woe to him who accepts the one Testament and casts aside the other, pays no attention to either, or exalts tradition above both!

   Abaddon, Christ’s name in the Hebrew, signifying Him as a “destroyer,” shows that in the Old Testament period He simply destroyed many of His enemies; whereas Apollyon, His name in the Greek, signifying Him as an “exterminator,” shows that in the New Testament period He will exterminate all the wicked. (What beautiful precision  of connotation in these symbolic appellations!)  And this exterminatory work is vividly pictured in the climactic scene:

   “And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.  And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; that ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.” Rev. 19:15-18.

   To those, therefore, who accept Christ as their King, He is a Saviour, while to those who refuse to have Him rule over them (Luke 19:14), He is a destroyer.  Hence, accordingly, the curses, or judgments, fall (as the trumpets reveal) upon those who reject the teachings and the authority of the Bible, and who as a result do not have the seal.

   These solemn facts gravely admonish us not to forget the Bible’s warning that our treatment of It will bring one of two results — death or life. (Tract 5, p.69-72)

Christendom has a hard time calling Christ “Destroyer”and “Exterminator”, they cannot fathom the vengeance of Christ to justify His Truth. The Bible calls Him this and we must accept and acknowledge it. Let us not be on the losing end of the soon to come Destroyer/ Exterminator, rather with Godly fear and hope keep living everyday to do as the Word says–

“He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” (1 John 2:6)

 

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, Righteous Anger, Satan | 1 Comment »

Make America Great Again?

November 12, 2016

trump

The world has just witnessed a political phenomenon. A seemingly tremendous long shot has now been elected to one of the most powerful positions in the world–President of the United States. This is like a 150:1 long shot winning the Kentucky Derby. Donald Trump has emerged as our president, the 45th of our nation’s history.

Mr. Trump has repeatedly used the slogan “Let’s make America great again.” He implies that “we” as the citizens of our nation, under his leadership can make this nation great and powerful again. Yet there is One who truly holds in His hands , not only man’s destiny but the world’s destiny.

“Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.” (Psalms 127:1)

We all should know that any “king” (ie. president)  that is set up is not happenstance for we read-

“And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding.” (Daniel 2:21)

Many understand Mr. Trump’s clear passion for righting the ship as it were. The so-called “establishment”  has been so entrenched in our political structure that we have become accustomed to large-scale corruption such as politicians getting our national debt into the stratosphere, crime gone amuck in our larger cities, media agendas from the elite, bribes and political favors done without regard for the principle of law and fairness, etc.

So it is only natural to those who have left God out of the equation to look for a type of savior, someone who they think can make our nation’s problems lessen or disappear. In fact Mr. Trump ,along with many others we believe, truly sees himself as that type of savior. He has declared time and again, that “he” can do this and that for our country.

But the Lord’s word has something to say about today’s final events which they don’t know or consider. First, the world’s turmoil is being restrained by four angels, upon the Lord’s command (Rev. 7). This means that it is only because God has not said “release the hold” that the time of trouble such as never was (Dan. 12:1) is not upon the world right now. No politician, world leader, or anyone can bring peace except the Lord Himself.

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people–everyone whose name is found written in the book–will be delivered.” (Dan. 12:1)

“Him who alone can give life, who can inscribe upon the foreheads the mark or inscription, to whom shall be granted immortality, eternal life. It is the voice of this highest angel that had authority to command the four angels to keep in check the four winds until this work was performed, and until he should give the summons to let them loose.” (Testimonies to Ministers, p.444)

You see brethren, what we are witnessing right now, upon the new excitement of a new president is the age-old human weakness of “making flesh our arm” of strength. God MUST be our leader if we are to have peace and strength both individually and nationally.

We are counselled —

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord.”(Jer. 17:5)

The Elijah message also says–

“All seem to think that peace and prosperity depend upon the man they put in the White House. Upon the authority of the Word, though, I stand to tell you that regardless who is put in office there will be no peace and desirable lasting prosperity, for God is left out of the plans which have been devised although He alone can give what we are after.” (2 TG no.41 p.4.)

I happen to personally like the leadership capabilities I see in Donald Trump, yet am reminded by the Spirit time and again that we are on the verge of a world war over Israel. Therefore the idea that our nation is on the verge of a comeback both in world business, leadership and status is a mirage.

How soon could this world war break out over Israel? Simply put the pieces are all in place there right now, Russia, USA, China, Nato, and all the major Arab nations are armed and loaded right now. No one should be asleep now as things are just waiting for the Lord’s command , His “decree”. God’s hand is directing the upcoming fast closing events, not Donald Trump.

Scriptures point to the next end time event–

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

Gaza, the well-known area of Palestine here is spoken of and shown to be the center of the Lord’s anger. Ashkelon was also near Palestine, on the northern tip.All this area is foreseen by the Lord to be a “desolation” amid the gigantic war to be fought soon in Israel. So Donald Trump or any of the other world leaders are basically puppets in the Lord’s plan.

The world does not know all this , of course , because they do not know the prophetic Word of God. Their carnal passions and love of the things of the world all cause them to focus on their own human understanding. many right now see Donald Trump as a sort of pied piper who can lead the USA into some kind of “Great America”. But as mentioned this is not what the word of the Lord says.

For us Seventh-day Adventists, we have one of two choices, jump on board the Lord’s prophetic word and plan, declaring belief in his Truth as spoken by His final messenger (present truth), or think and believe like the world by following the current events clueless and not ready for the Great I Am’s “sudden” appearance (Mal. 3:1-5) into His remnant church to begin the final Loud Cry Gospel proclamation.

Donald Trump will soon fade into history as a cog in the Lord’s final plans, let us keep focused on the “Thus sayeth the Lord” and not “thus sayeth man”.

“The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.” (Psalms 94:11)

It is easy to get caught up in all the current political challenging atmosphere, and admittingly I’ve been intrigued as well. However, we should feel a perfect detachment from this scenario, knowing that our Lord has work for us to do and when we engage too much time in all the political hoopla will only serve to waste our precious time instead of preparing God’s people for the very soon approaching church judgement and Kingdom setup in Israel.

“Being ministers of the gospel, with our time completely preoccupied with the spiritual interests  of the people, we ourselves are not able to give attention to their political interests also, just as the people’s political representatives are not able to give proper attention to their spiritual needs also. And therefore rarely, if ever, do we see our way clear to vote.” (Answerer, vol. 5, Q-145)

The current president-elect is simply a cog in the Lord’s machinery. We are to be found working in His “vineyard” not absorbed in the heathen things of this world which lead to a dead-end. 

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” (Matt. 25:23)

 

Posted in End times | Leave a Comment »

The Unpopular Truth Shall Triumph

November 5, 2016

144000

In Revelation 14:1 we read–

“Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.”

Someday very soon the above picture will be reality. God’s word says so.  Yet we as Elijah messengers often think to ourselves that because it seems that so few are interested in the Lord’s final sealing message,there just cannot be found 144,000 among us SDA until a long long time from now.

In our last post for example we relayed how there was no interest in studying a group we are told to “strive with ALL power God has given us”(RH, March 9, 1905) and be a part of, the 144,000. With this kind of lack of interest, and believe me this is typical with  the Elijah messengers, it seems as if Satan has successfully placed our people in a deep sleep and the promised 144,000 won’t be found any time soon. Yet our Lord sent this message to uplift us–

Isa. 66:7 — “Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.”

   The Jewish church, the church into which and by which Jesus was born, Inspiration declares, neither travailed nor had pain; that is, she felt neither need of nor burden for a Saviour, and yet in spite of it, He was born.

   But speaking of the children that are to make up the Kingdom, we read:

Isa. 66:8 — “Who hath heard such a thing?  who hath seen such things?  Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day?  or shall a nation be born at once?  for as soon as Zion travailed, she brought forth her children.”

   Although the Jewish church in Jesus’ day travailed not, yet she brought forth the Son of God!  But when Zion travaileth she brings forth all her children at once, a whole nation!  A miracle in each instance.

   How may Zion travail? — Let us turn to the natural realm: In nature, the mother carries a child, then travails and gives birth to it.  How else, then, in the spiritual realm can Zion travail without first carrying her children before they are born?  To be specific, when one joins the church, she is pregnant with him so to speak.  When she is thus carrying her children, then they shall all be born at once, — they shall all at once receive their second birth, the birth here mentioned.

And as Inspiration makes it clear that they must be born again, they all at the outset must be in the same state of mind as was Nicodemus — ashamed to be seen in the company of present Truth believers, ashamed to be associated with believers of unpopular Truth.

   Plainly, then, our efforts to reach the people with the message of a “second birth” shall not be in vain: Zion shall bring forth all her children, as it were, in one day.  And that is why we cannot be driven to despair or to discouragement.  We are assured that “revival and reformation” will take place among all God’s people, that His word will not return unto Him void.

   Now, who could the children be? — To be children of Zion, they must some day stand on Zion.  They are therefore none other than the “firstfruits” of whom the Revelator says: “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion, and with Him an hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.” Rev. 14:1.

   From the Scriptures it is now clearly seen that in this instance when one joins the church, the church becomes pregnant with that member.  Thus it is that from the time one becomes a member of the church to the time he is “born again,” he is spiritually developing for the hour of this second birth.  Then, after he is “born again” he is still to keep on growing until he becomes a full-grown, matured, spiritual being — a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of Christ, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.  Accordingly, this state of being no one has as yet reached, but the time is now at hand when a multitude shall reach it, for says the Lord:

Isa. 66:9 — “Shall I bring to the birth, and not cause to bring forth?  saith the Lord: shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb?  saith thy God.”

   This scripture endeavors to remove all doubt.  Let us believe the Lord and know for certain that the time for this particular new birth is here and that the Lord can and will make it possible regardless how it may appear to us. (Timely Greeting, vol. 1, no.49, p.7-9)

Oh what a promise! Despite how we see little or no acceptance of His unpopular Truth  a
“nation”, the 144,000, shall come forth in “one day”.

Those of us who are experienced in the Elijah message work know all too well that despite decades of a few main DSDA organizations working to spread this message, the grand total membership from all of these are well below the 144,000. That means that the original type “Elijah” is also our type (anti-type) in saying or thinking the following,

“Then Elijah said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the sons of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I alone am left; and they seek my life, to take it away...I still have left in Israel seven thousand followers who have not bowed their knees to Baal or kissed the images of him.”(1 Kings, 19:14, 18)

We also seem to say to ourselves and sometimes to others that few are following His final message yet as we see there is “7000”, which is a complete number of thousands (7) of which the Lord knows and we don’t. In other words, the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists organizations, although not nearly consisting of the 144,000 now, will be joined by the unknowns, most likely in our SDA churches.

Soon the faithful walking in all the light they know, dress reform, diet reform, worship reform, etc. and having no guile in their mouth will have to come up to speed on the Elijah message in a very short period of time.

“Some of us have had time to get the truth, and to advance step by step, and every step we have taken has given us strength to take the next. But now time is almost finished, and what we have been years learning, they will have to learn in a few months. They will also have much to unlearn, and much to learn again.”(Early Writings, p.67)

But right now the Lord’s message of Elijah is just about as popular as was our King Himself when, after gaining a sizable following many of His followers deserted Him because He declared —

He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him…Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?…From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6:56,60,66)

The Truth as seen from above can be difficult, strange, and just plain hard to comprehend yet it is still the Truth and must be followed. In Revelation  14:4 we read —

“These are the ones who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins. They follow the Lamb wherever He goes. They have been redeemed from among men as firstfruits to God and to the Lamb”

“They follow the Lamb wherever He goes.”?  Yes the Truth that springs from our King, strange , difficult and most unpopular is the 144,000’s path, their passion their hope. Yet it leads them often to be dis-fellowshipped, murmured against, unpopular, seen as strange or overzealous, fanatical and God knows what else. But they continue to follow the Lamb!

Can we imagine back in our King’s day, after He spoke those strange words about eating His flesh and drinking His blood how the masses, particularly the Pharisaic leaders, said things like, “Stay away from this man, he is not right and delusional.”

Apostle Paul knew all too well that the faithful followers would have to bear the burden of unpopularity.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Gal. 1:10)

Fast forward to today, we see the same sentiments against the Elijah messengers, the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists. The leaders, Pastors, Elders, Deacons, etc., upon the mention of the Shepherd’s Rod, will most likely say, “Stay away from them, they are an off shoot with false ideas and teachings.”

The Truth in both cases took the followers down a path that was unpopular. So today those who are stepping forward with the Lord’s final message of Elijah must lean on the Lord heavily because they will see and feel the rejection that has always accompanied the true believers.

The Elijah message says–
“When a message from the Lord is proclaimed to the church, those who would rather stay with the church than be cast out for the truth’s sake by its unsanctified members are baptized into the church but not into Christ.” (Sym. Code, vol. 2, no.7-8, p.10)

To those who are now a part of this message, our King gives us comfort–

“The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. I will gather the afflicted from the solemn assembly; those who were with you, who were bearing a burden of disgrace.Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.” (Zeph.3:17-19)

Um, “outcast”? From what? You got it the very churches that proclaim to be God’s house! The Jews praised the Lord upon removing the offshoots (Christians) from their midst and now today the same blinded leaders think they are doing a good service in dis-fellowshipping and ignoring those who proclaim the Lord’s Rod message (Micah 6:9).

Hang tight all you who are enduring the rejection and ignorance because you proclaim an unpopular Truth, the tide is going to turn shortly.

Posted in Courage, Present Truth | 1 Comment »

The Dreadful Ignoritis

October 29, 2016

Image result for picture of a man not listening to another man

NOTE: As a reminder we always color code our writings as follows :ORANGE is the Lord speaking, BLUE is Scripture/Spirit of Prophecy, BROWN is the Elijah message as brought by brother Victor Houteff.

 

In this week’s post we’d like to go into what we term “Ignoritis”. This disease is subtle and often those who have it don’t even know it. They blissfully look up to God as the picture shows yet often have their ears plugged (or eyes closed as the case may be). The Lord has placed this issue upon our heart to hopefully awake some of those who unfortunately have this malady.

The Lord says–
“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 7:12)

How simple yet profound are these words! This great principle should be the guiding principle in our Christian walk. In other words in the case of those with Ignoritis, if you want to be ignored when you reach out to your brothers and sisters in Christ (as you surely have)–then ignore the brethren. Of course the Ignoritis folk would not admit that they do this therefore a certain blindness is at work.

We have posted before on this topic yet time and again it rears its ugly head and the Spirit guides us to remind all that the idea that we are “servants” and not to be the served ones, is a Christian rule we cannot break with immunity. The Pharisees in Christ’s day were guilty of ignoring the humble masses and looked at themselves as superior or above the need to “serve” the people as Christ would have them.

They were also of the opinion that they were holier or above the people, and God said this was “smoke in His nostrils”.

“Who say, ‘Keep to yourself, do not come near me, For I am holier than you!’ These are smoke in My nostrils, A fire that burns all the day.” (Isaiah 65:5)

Along with the above reference we can read this as well–
“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.” (Eph. 6:7-8)

The idea that we are servants not only to the Lord but to one another is again brought forth from our King–
“..whoever desires to become great among you will be your servant, and whoever desires to become first among you will be slave of all.(Mark 10:43-44)

None of us who are serious Christians would deny that we would want to be called “great” by Jesus, would we? Yet the turf that comes with this is the mentality of being subservient to others, especially in the faith. The least of those who reach out to us should be the top priority.

I am reminded of a successful businessman who once said , ” To be successful you will have to deal with people you don’t click with or even dis like.”  This is also true in our “business” of saving souls. Sometimes there may be a brother or sister who you know or have heard that they are “too talkative”, “too pushy” or “too whatever” yet it is those who can possibly be helped instead of ignored.

For example, I met sister V, about a year ago, She got my number from a mutual brother. She called and we discussed many topics. As we talked I was a little taken aback because she just would not stop talking. But the Spirit told me to bear with her. Fast forward to today, she is one of my closest sisters in the faith. Her insight and ability to grasp the Lord’s Truth is quite a pleasure to behold.

Let us give some recent examples of those with Ignoritis.

Sister V attempted to call one of the leading “present truth” organizations in trying to receive some material. Both times she was promised someone would get back to her and no one did. This is uncalled for. As representatives of the Lord’s Elijah message, we of all people must set the example. Again the Word counsels us–

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal.6:10)

So we ask, is it “doing good” to ignore a believer who is reaching out? Absolutely not. This is Satan’s trick, “You are too busy, don’t waste your time on this sister.”

Another example was a recent one that I was involved in. The Lord led me to put together a report on the 144,000. I complied a study to be given via phone conference. It was made specifically for my local SDA church. We passed out approximately 10 cards with the phone conference time and other info. Almost all of the church members said it sounded good and would try to attend. At the designated hour–NO ONE SHOWED.

We can understand that people’s schedules change or something happens that they cannot attend. However, what we cannot agree with is the discourteous ignorance in not letting us know what happened or even any update. Ignoritis in mass.  This all shows that SOP was entirely right–

“Men and women are in the last hours of probation, and yet are careless and stupid,..” (Testimonies, vol.2, p.337)

The time is about up and our church is full and satisfied, “rich and increased with goods”(Rev. 3:17) with no need to study to attain His final instruction message to us, a message that gets us sealed in the forehead to stand in the great and dreadful day (Mal. 4:5).

To be clear, we are not saying that all of us in the faith must respond back at all times. For example we had a series of email studies with a brother a while back and after a while it became evident that his questions were not to learn or share but rather to try to disprove anything  he disagreed with. Finally after our warning and his continued emails of more of the same, we had to quit responding.

The Scriptures expound more about righteous shunning–

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one do not eat.”(1 Cor. 5:11)

“Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.” (Titus 3:10)

So yes we need discernment and in some cases our ignoring is justified. But the vast majority are not guilty of the above and deserve our undivided attention when applicable.

In closing, let us remember that we are called to “do good” especially to those of the household of faith. If any brother and sister reaches out to us, let us think as we are counselled–

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Phil 2:3-4)

 

 

Posted in Brotherly love, Humility | Leave a Comment »

The Woman of Revelation 17 (Part 2 of 2)

October 21, 2016

 Who Is the Woman Riding On the Beast?      

The reason John was shown the vision, is made clear by the words of the angel: “Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters.”  The angel’s interpretation of the “waters” is given in Rev. 17:15: “Peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”  The woman sitting on them denotes that the inhabitants (waters) had fallen into her trap of deception (sitting on them).

   “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication.” (Rev. 17:4.)  The woman is a symbol of a counterfeit religious system.  From her cup she hands out false doctrines.  Being golden, it has an appearance of splendor — inviting.  Her costly garments of loud colors and precious ornaments vividly portray the magnificence of this most vile woman and her kingly pomp, and vain glory. 

By the power of her attraction, so irresistible to the human eye, she has conquered men of the strongest intellect — “With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication.”  Millions with strong mental faculties, men who appear as giants among the inhabitants of the earth, have fallen helpless victims in her trap.  The kings of the earth are guilty of spiritual adultery with the “woman” (drunk with false doctrines), thereby becoming entangled in her seductive snares.

   Any so called Christian organization handing out false doctrines under an appearance of virtue, evidently is governed by the power of the “woman.”  The origin of all such fallacious teachings can be traced back into the golden cup.  Said the angel: “The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.”  It has been previously explained that the heads are symbols of so-called Christians denominations, and as she sits on them all, it denotes a union of churches under one head — “the woman.”  The Biblical number “seven” apprehends all such organizations.

Let us break away from this report and go back to this same SRod report on page  117 to see what was said about the “heads”–

Rev. 17:9, “And here is the mind which hath wisdom.  The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.”  All the heads being present on the beast, and the woman sitting on them, proves that all seven “mountains” must be in existence at the same time.  They cannot be consecutive for the woman sits on them all, which denotes one great union of the heads by the medium of the woman.  They are called “mountains,” as God’s denomination is called “mountain,” in Isaiah 2:2, and Micah 4:1.  The “mountain” (singular) is God’s denomination, but the “mountains” (plural by both Isaiah and Micah) have reference to the same denominations represented by the heads on the beast.  Thus “the seven heads are seven mountains.”(page 117)

   If all the churches at this present time were led by the Holy Spirit, there would be no confusion among the so-called Christian sects.  As it would be impossible for all to be right while no two believe alike, it is warrantable to say that those who are drinking the wine from the “cup of her fornication,” are not few, for Inspiration says: “And the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.” (Rev. 17:2, last part.)

   Note that the “woman” sits on the “waters,” also on the “heads,” and on the beast.” (See Rev. 17:1, 3, 9.)  As it would be impossible for one person to sit on all three objects at one time, the prophetic symbols reveal a spiritual fraud in three different periods.  Thus John declares: “I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast.” Not upon the “waters”, nor upon the “heads.”  Before he saw her, the angel said, The woman “sitteth upon many waters.”  It was the angel also who added, “The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.” (See Rev. 17:1, 9.)  Thus, John saw her last exploit only (sit upon the beast).  Consequently, the symbol, sitting on the “waters” is her first act, according to the vision.

   Therefore, her first achievement (“sitting on the waters”), must have been in the past from the time the prophetic symbol is revealed.  Hence, the sitting on the heads becomes her second accomplishment, and the sitting on the Beast is the last; at which time she is judged.

   As the Protestant churches are represented by the heads, she could not have sat on them before the reformation, for they were not as yet in existence.  As the heads upon which the “woman sits” are unharmed, it is evident that the prophetic symbol is to meet its fulfillment some time after the deadly wound of the leopard-like beast of Revelation 13:3, is healed.  The symbol, sitting on the heads, denotes union of churches, for she sits on them.

   Therefore, when Catholicism, Protestantism, and Spiritualism clasp each other’s hand by the medium of a league, then it could be said, “the woman sitteth on the heads.”

   The symbol of the “woman sitting on the beast,” will meet its fulfillment when that religious federation shall make an alliance with the powers of the world.  Such an act would give the woman full control of the entire beast, horns and heads — the world.  At that time the following Scripture will meet its perfect fulfillment: “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast.” (Rev. 13:16, 17.)

   Thus the symbol of the “woman” sitting on the “waters,” represents the period before the reformation.  This was true during the period of papal supremacy, for at that time the papacy ruled the Roman world — “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.”  Thus the “woman” sat on the “waters” during the 1260 prophetic years of Daniel 7:25, but she is yet to sit on the “heads,” and on the “beast.”  Had she sat on the non-descript beast instead of on the “waters,” it would have been wrongly symbolized, for, the “woman,” by the tool of Catholicism, did not reign over all the world (beast), but over many “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues” (many waters).  Therefore, the symbol, “sitting upon the scarlet colored beast,” denotes an international religio-political system.
 

                            How Long Has the Woman Been In Existence?

   This question may be answered by the following Scriptures: “And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.” (Rev. 17:6.)  This could truly be said of the Roman church, for, she persecuted the Christians and martyred them.  Therefore, she is “drunk” with their blood.  True, the Roman church has had unlawful connection with the “woman”; was, and is drunk with the wine of her fornication.

   The “woman” did not originate with the Roman church, but rather she produced that church.  Therefore, we must trace her existence beyond the beginning of the papacy.  Revelation 18:24, throws light upon the subject: “And in her was found the blood of the prophets, and of the saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.”  The holy Word of God declares that the “woman” is guilty of the blood of the martyrs in all ages.  Therefore, the “woman” is drunk with the blood of Abel, and thus the blood of “all” the martyrs is found in her; proving that Cain was her first client by presenting a counterfeit sacrifice (false doctrine), and by slaying his brother.

   There are many so-called Christians, who like Cain, say, “It makes no difference; one thing is as good as another.”  But God accepts no substitute and no man’s religion.  That which human wisdom has devised, is man’s righteousness, and not the righteousness of Christ.  Therefore, it is an abomination in God’s sight.  The human fiber of obedience to divine requirements being weakened, and the sinful inclinations strengthened from generation to generation, the nature of man cannot be better at this Present time than when the disciples asked Jesus: “Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?” 

So-called Christians, like the Pharisees, become offended when told of their errors, and rebuked for their sins.  “But He answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind.  And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” (Matt. 15:12-14.)

   “And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.” (Rev. 17:5.)  The woman riding on the beast is the mother.  The seven heads on the beast are the symbols of her daughters (harlots).  Catholicism is her first daughter in this symbol, and as Protestantism sprang from Catholicism, then, apostate Protestantism in the multiplicity of sects, are her daughters also.  Or it may be said, the woman” is the mother of Catholicism, and Catholicism is the mother of Protestantism.  Says the Revelator: “I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy.” (Rev. 17:3.) 

Thus the number of “heads,” and “full of names,” include all the offshoots from Protestantism and Catholicism.  Had there been no mention made of being “full of names,” more than seven, and “scarlet,” which denotes that God’s people have been called out of it, therefore, “scarlet” — skimmed — under curse ready to perish, the Biblical number “seven heads,” would have included those who are carrying God’s message as in the period of the leopard-like beast of Revelation 13:1, at the time his deadly wound was healed. 

Therefore, it would have made no allowance for the church which “keep the commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus,” and thus it would have contradicted the following Scripture: “And the dragon was wroth with the woman [God’s church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed [Israel the true — the 144,000], which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 12:17.)

   God has never had more than one movement in existence at a time and it could not be otherwise now, for Christ cannot be divided.  (See 1 Cor. 1:13.) God’s church is well marked in every generation by obedience to present truth.  The fact itself proves the claim true as there is only one church in the period of the beast which has the “Spirit of Prophecy” and all of the commandments as written by the finger of God. 

Said Jesus: “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:19.)  It is this divine principle that shall divide the world into two classes — the commandments of God and the traditions of men.  “And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” (Matt. 25:32, 33.)  (Shepherd’s Rod, vol. 2, p.121-125)

Summary 

We noted in our last report, part one that there would be solid Scriptural evidence that the Woman of Rev. 17 could not be representative of the RCC solely. And we have found the evidence. As noted above  God’s word says, ““And in her was found the blood of the prophets, and of the saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.” Since the RCC did not come into existence until approximately the early 5th century there is no way that it can be said that the blood of Abel was found in the RCC church (Woman).This one truth is undeniable and should put to rest the idea that the woman represents the RCC. Hence we have learned that the Woman represents all the false religions down through the ages. 

There are much more revelations to show, such as the true understanding of the Beasts of Rev. 13 and the beast that the woman rides in Rev. 17. We hope to report on these soon. In summary, let us praise the Lord that He did indeed send the Elijah to make known the true understanding of the Revelation and Daniel prophecies– part of the Lord’s promised restoration. This study and the like, should truly gives us an “entirely different religious experience.”

 

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, Revelation teachings | Leave a Comment »

The Woman of Revelation 17 (Part 1 of 2)

October 15, 2016

The study of the Revelation is both fascinating and very complex. This book truly must have the Lord’s “Spirit of Truth” to correctly interpret it. In 2 Peter 1:20 we read.

“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” (2 Peter 1:20)

Thankfully our all-seeing Lord sent us an end time prophet, the promised “Elijah” spoken of in Mal. 4:5. He knew that the mysteries of this deep book would have to be unlocked and so it is today. What we will see is the true interpretation of this woman and who/what she is.

There are two SOP quotes that specifically apply concerning our study this week, let us read.

“We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and heaven alone are infallible. Those who think that they will never have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an opinion, will be disappointed. As long as we hold to our own ideas and opinions with determined persistency, we cannot have the unity for which Christ prayed.” (Testimonies to Ministers, p.30)

“When the books of Daniel and Revelation are better understood, believers will have an entirely different religious experience. They will be given such glimpses of the open gates of heaven that heart and mind will be impressed with the character that all must develop in order to realize the blessedness which is to be the reward of the pure in heart.

The Lord will bless all who will seek humbly and meekly to understand that which is revealed in the Revelation. This book contains so much that is large with immortality and full of glory that all who read and search it earnestly receive the blessing to those “that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.”

Result of True Study

One thing will certainly be understood from the study of Revelation—that the connection between God and His people is close and decided.” (TM p. 114)

So we see that once we understand the books of Daniel and Revelation we will have “entirely different religious experience.” In other words we will shift into a higher gear spiritually speaking. This truly is what the Lord was talking about when he admonished us as Laodiceans to stop thinking we are “rich and increased with goods”–have all the truth, because Revelation truth (along with other end time prophecies) is needed so that we can “buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich.” (Rev. 3:17-18)

The verses we shall go over in part one are Rev. 17:1-6, 9–

“And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.

And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration….And here is the mind which hath wisdom. The seven heads are seven mountains, on which the woman sitteth.”

Ok let us look at this woman of Rev. 17. Before we do it’s helpful to know what we as SDA have been generally taught about this, our historical understanding.

As with many of our standard SDA teaching, one of the leaders in this department is pastor Doug Batchelor. Recently we watched one of his YouTube videos entitled ,”Revelation 17 and Protestant Reformation.”

In agreement with the typical well-known SDA belief, his presentation proclaimed that this woman is symbolic of the Roman Catholic Church (RCC). A few clues presented were —

  1. The seven heads represent the seven mountains, which is then interpreted to mean the seven hills of Rome. Because Rome has sometimes been referred as “the city of seven hills” DB connects Rev. 17:9’s  mountains to Rome’s hills. In other words he promotes a literal application in regards to what the mountains mean.
  2. The woman has the colors purple and scarlet and is symbolically meant to mean the RCC because these two colors are historically prominent in Catholicism.
  3. The woman has precious adornment of gold and precious stones and shows that this woman is fabulously rich just as the RCC is known to be. DB points out that the RCC has the most silver in the world and owns some of the world’s most priceless relics.
  4. The golden cup is indicative of the priest’s mass cup.
  5. The woman therefore is symbolical of the RCC solely.

As widely distributed and proclaimed by our leaders, this warning of the woman being the RCC is promulgated to have us focus on it exclusively instead of knowing the whole picture and the forecast. All parts of this Revelation puzzle must fit, there can be no dis-jointed piece forced into the picture.

You see brethren, this is Satan’s ploy similar to the “Sunday Law” hoodwink. Having us look for the implementation of this law, while not getting ready for the Lord’s “suddenly” coming to His temple to begin the judgment for the living (Mal. 3:1-5).  Satan has the SDA’s leading teachers right where he want’s them–mis-understanding the prophecies, looking left when they should be looking right. He wants us to focus on the RCC instead of the real culprit–apostate Protestantism.

“..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) 

What we’ll be presenting is a  different understanding of this woman provided by the Lord’s Elijah message, another restoration of truth promised by the Word (Matt. 17:11) . Carefully study all aspects of this and then decide whether our historical SDA understanding is correct or whether the following part two presentation is based on  a “more sure word of prophesy.”

What do we find a  “woman” means symbolically in Scripture?

“I have likened the daughter of Zion to a comely and delicate woman.(Jer. 6:2)

“In Revelation 17 Babylon is represented as a woman—a figure which is used in the Bible as the symbol of a church, a virtuous woman representing a pure church, a vile woman an apostate church.”(GC, p.381)

We see that both Scripture and SOP say that a woman, and particularly the Rev. 17 woman,  represents a church , which is an apostate and impure people  –false religion. Contrarily, for example, we see that Rev. 12’s woman is a pure church, and true religion.

So on this point our historical understanding that the woman is impure and is of a false faith is correct. Being a “whore” she obviously cannot represent purity.

In our part one we see that the historical understanding is that the woman represents the RCC  and that this is based on the afore-mentioned clues (among others). In our part two we’ll bring evidence that this woman cannot be the RCC solely for solid Biblical reasons. Stay tuned, you’ll be blessed and enlightened.

 

 

 

 

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