Hard and Difficult Questions

March 12, 2016

Pharisee entrapment

The Jews of old were no dummies. Many of the Pharisees and scribes were very smart men. They posed tough questions to the King and he squared them away in thorough fashion.

Some of the questions were meant as a form of entrapment. Lawyers, Negotiators, Army generals and even all kinds of evil doers down through history have used this ploy to catch their victim one way or another. But it is even more amazing to see it backfire! Our King turned the tables beautifully when the Pharisees tried to entrap Him with supposed difficult questions.

“And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.And they asked him, saying, Master, we know that thou sayest and teachest rightly, neither acceptest thou the person of any, but teachest the way of God truly: Is it lawful for us to give tribute unto Caesar, or no?

But he perceived their craftiness, and said unto them, Why tempt ye me? Shew me a penny. Whose image and superscription hath it? They answered and said, Caesar’s. And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s. And they were unable to catch Him in a saying in the presence of the people; and being amazed at His answer, they became silent.” (Luke 20: 20-26)

In many of the questions asked of our very last prophet sent to our church,Victor  Houteff, they were hard and difficult.

The following are a few questions where the questions  demanded a solid answer to clear it. May you be blessed.

Question No. 157:

“I am convinced that ‘The Shepherd’s Rod’ is not the message of the hour, because I believe that when a message comes from God, it will not make a separation among His people. You agree with my logic, do you not?

Answer:

To try to convince the questioner by a long-drawn-out article with proofs from the Scriptures, is needless, for the question reveals that the person is not acquainted with past church history. Therefore, the best way to answer his query is to ask him to tell us the number of times God has sent messages to His church that they made neither trouble nor separation among His people. If facts prove his answer, to be in favor of this question, then of course, as Christians, we must change our position, and admit that the SRod is not a message from God. But if past church history, disproves his logic, then, of course, we shall expect from him, as an honest Christian and a seeker for truth, a letter of confession, stating that his logic has not refuted the SRod.

The SRod message according to Ezekiel’s prophecy, chapter Nine and “Testimonies to Ministers,” p. 445, is to accomplish nothing else but to separate the people in the church!

Thus the fact that the message of the SRod brings a separation in the church, is another proof that it is a message from God. (Sym. Code, vol. 3, no.3-4, p.16)

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Question: “The SRod, Vol, 1, p. 44 says that only the great multitude have palms in their hands, whereas G.C. 646 speaking of all ‘overcomers’ says: ‘In every hand are placed the victor’s palm and the shining harps.’ How are these statements harmonized?”

   Answer: According to SRod, Vol. 1, p. 44, Class number two; namely, the great multitude of Rev. 7:9, have their palms in their hands while they are on earth before being transported to the heaven of heavens. Hence their palms according to John’s vision are symbolic of victory gained. But in the statement from The Great Controversy, p. 646: “In every hand are placed the victor’s palm and the shining harp,” it will be noted that this gift to the saints is not made until they are in heaven — after they have all been transported from the earth. These palms are real but the others figurative.

To prove that the great multitude have their palms in symbol only, and before Jesus finishes His work in the heavenly sanctuary, read Rev. 7:11. Here it states that the great multitude have their palms while the elders and four beasts are still before the throne of the investigative judgment in the heavenly sanctuary. (See SRod, Vol. 2, pp. 189-191.) Therefore, they have their palms while the Investigative judgment is in session-before probation closes.

Furthermore, in regard to the class and the event of G.C. 646, note that in every hand in which is placed the victor’s palm there is also placed a shining harp. Whereas the great multitude have only palms but no harps. Therefore, these are two separate incidents distinct one from the other.” (Sym. Code, vol. 1, no.8, p.10)

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Question: “Early Writings, p. 281 says: ‘The plan of salvation had been accomplished, but few had chosen to accept it. This statement is used very extensively against the doctrine of the ‘great multitude’ as taught by the SRod. Please harmonize it with the latter’s teaching.”

Answer: It is true that the words, “few chosen” often appear in sacred writings. However, it is unbiblical to explain the Word privately. We must let the Scriptures explain themselves. The following example will serve to show how fatal it is to explain the Scriptures by the human way of reasoning.

Says Paul: “But now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” (Heb. 9:26.) If one should expound the above quotation as some expound the words, “few chosen,” he would be compelled to do one of two things; namely, either humble himself as a little child and admit that he does not understand Paul’s writings, or else, separate from divine wisdom, exercise his human judgment and accuse Paul of being wrong in his statement, for the world did not end at the time Christ was sacrificed.

Therefore, let us examine the words, “few chosen,” in the light of the Bible. While Jesus declares that “many be called, but few chosen” (Matt. 20:16), Isaiah by the same Spirit says: “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…A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the Lord will hasten it in his time.” (Isa. 60:11, 22.)

Zechariah, while prophetically speaking of our time, also says: “Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day.” (Zech. 2:11.) Furthermore, the Lord says: “It shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the Lord, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” (Zech. 13:8, 9.)

Moreover, while the Early Writings says: “But few have chosen to accept it,” the same author in The Great Controversy, p. 665, classifies the great multitude of Revelation 7:9 as a company separate from the martyrs and others who are to be resurrected, making it impossible to conclude that the “great multitude” are the resurrected.

Now the question is, if we conclude from the statement in Early Writings, p. 281, and from Matt. 20:16 that only a few are to be saved, what shall we do with Isa. 60:11, 22, Zech. 2:11; 13:8, 9, and The Great Controversy, p. 665? No candid Bible student could from the above statements arrive at any conclusion which would lead him to base his interpretation of the subject on one scripture and wholly ignore the other, but would rather seek to make his final analysis in such a way as to be in perfect harmony with all inspired writings or else confess that he does not have the light on the Scriptures.

The only doctrine that, in the present connection, will stand the test and be in perfect agreement with all sacred writings is the one that the “few” are those who were saved during the ages past, which period is figuratively classified in the parable of Christ as the time before the “Harvest.” But in the closing of the world’s history, in the ingathering time — the Harvest — there is to be saved a great multitude.

It is only natural that there were comparatively but few saved in the ages past, because of the fact that that period of time was not the Harvest, and it is likewise just as natural that now “in the end of the world,” — the time of the Harvest (Matt. 13:30), — there shall be a great ingathering of souls which no man can number.

“Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.”

As the idea of a great multitude is opposed only to the devil’s plan, let us not therefore work to his interest. (Sym. Code, vol. 1, no.10, p.8)

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Question: “5 T 216, speaking to the brethren, says that some are preparing for the mark of the beast, but according to the SRod, all unfaithful S.D.A.’s will be destroyed before the mark of the beast. Please explain.

Answer: If the questioner will restudy 5 T 216, she will see that it is not the brethren who are preparing for the “mark of the beast,” but rather “Those who are uniting with the world,” not with the church.  (Sym. Code, vol. 1, no.10, p.9)

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Question: “How do you harmonize the seven kings of Rev. 17:10 with the beast that ‘was, and is not, and yet is’? The SRod, Vol. 2, p. 118 on this subject is not clear to me.

Answer: Do not try to harmonize the seven kings with the seven beasts, but only with the periods which are symbolized by the four metals of the great image of Dan. 2. To these periods add the period before the flood and the one after the millennium as illustrated in the SRod, Vol. 2, p. 84, and you will have a perfect harmony.

The seven kings embrace the entire world’s history from creation to the earth made new. The antediluvian world is symbolized by the first “king.” The empire of ancient Babylon by the second. The Medo-Persian by the third. The Grecian by the fourth and the Roman monarchy by the fifth. Of these it is said “five are fallen.” The king which “is” is symbolical of the period from the fall of the Roman monarchy to the second coming of Christ; that is, the period which now is; namely, Rome in her broken state.

The seventh king which “must continue a short space” is symbolical of the wicked world after the millennium. Thus, there are seven kings; five are fallen (the antediluvian, the Babylonian, the Medo-Persian, the Grecian, and the Roman), but the present world which now “is” comprises the sixth, and the one that is to come after the millennium who is to “continue a short space” will be the seventh and the last. (Sym. Code, vol. 1, no.11,12, p.10)

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Question No. 56:

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

Answer:

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

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

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

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

  Since, Truth is progressive, and since the purification of the church had not yet been revealed when the statement in Early Writings was written, the danger foretold and the counsel given therein could not possibly have been stated in terms other than those then familiarly comprehended. All were thus plainly forewarned that if they continued sinning, then after the close of probation for the world, the plagues, of which they already had some understanding, would be their recompense.

So for the Lord to have explained the matter in Early Writings as He does through the Rod today, He would have had to reveal, out of due time, when Early Writings was being written, the message which is applicable only to the church for today, and which we are now therefore receiving.

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

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

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To see all the questions and answers from the “Answerer” publications click here–http://shepherds-rod.org/answerers/index%20answerer.html

 

 

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, Proper teachings, Revelation teachings, Victor T. Houteff | Leave a Comment »

To Vote or Not to Vote

March 5, 2016

Voting

There is no doubt that currently the nation is witnessing a new phenomena. Politics as we know it is being turned on its head. Just look at the two of the leading candidates from the Republican and Democratic side–  Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. This voting season is causing a real uproar.

But with all this mass media coverage, we must step back and put in all into perspective. Voting has been a God-given right as proclaimed by our fore fathers yet our Lord has made this issue clear through His last and final message to us as Seventh-day Adventists.

Let us take a look at this issue as shown in the Lord’s Elijah message.

As we have pointed out many times the “restoring” message is the message that restores all the hazy areas that we are really not sure about such as “Do we as strivers to be among that fateful number, the 144,000, need to concern ourselves with voting and involvement in the political process?”

Let us look at the some direct questions asked about this issue.

IS VOTING BECOMING TO A CHRISTIAN?

Question No. 145:

   Is it right to vote?

Answer:

   As the franchise is one of the inalienable rights of a free people, there cannot be any wrong in exercising it if thereby either the law or offices of the land can be better served. To cast a vote though, which will further such an end, requires conscientious study; failing that, one’s vote can only be unintelligent guesswork, and thus adverse  rather than conducive to good government.

   Those, therefore, who are in no position to devote the time and study necessary to inform themselves on political issues sufficiently to qualify them to vote intelligently on them, cannot  conscientiously cast such a vote.

   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, p.75)

This really gives us quite a bit to digest. Summarily, we can see that , while it is not wrong to vote, we as faithful  workers in God’s vineyard should not have the time to devote the necessary study to proper voting. It seems there is no doubt the intended instruction is that we do not. At least if we are striving to be among God’s servants.

VOTE FOR OR AGAINST PENSION?

Question No. 144:

   Would you please explain your position relative to the pension issues that are now being presented to the public? Do you think they merit our voting on them?

Answer:

   We are admonished that the cause of God “should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.”–Early Writings, p. 118. Consequently, as we cannot conscientiously devote enough time to  the study of these political and economic issues and of their ultimate results, intelligently to pass judgment upon them, we cannot conscientiously vote either for or against them. For our uninformed voting might work hardship and deprivation upon some, while leading others into the paths of idleness and extravagance. “Behold,” says the Lord “this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness.” Ezek. 16:49.

   In the world of today, both its political and its religious interests are far better served by specialists. Only those who have their whole heart and mind in the temporal things of life, who can devote enough time to the study of the world’s economic and political issues, are qualified for participating in such interests.

Those who are heart and soul devoted to the world’s spiritual needs, which are eternal and of far greater importance than the temporal concerns of life that are soon to perish and be forgotten,  can no more serve the world in its economic and political needs than can those who have their hearts and minds engrossed in the temporal things, serve the world’s spiritual needs.

   “Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the Lord! Yet He also is wise, and will bring evil, and will not call back His words: but will arise against the house of the evildoers, and against the help of them that work iniquity.

Now the Egyptians are men, and not God; and their horses flesh, and not spirit. When the Lord shall stretch out His hand both he that helpeth shall fall, and he that is holpen shall fall down, and they all shall fail together.” Isa. 31:1-3.  “The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in Him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.” Ps. 64:10. (Answerer, vol. 5, p.73-74)

 

All this points to a greater point, and that is — are we wasting time on earthly temporal matters? The matters that are foreign to our work? Sure, this voting season there is much excitement with all the debates and the national media attention, but what does that get us in our eternal reward?

You see my brethren, we are to be in sacrifice mode, meaning that all earthly time-wasting activities are to be given up as much as reasonably possible for the outreach that we are called to do now. There are souls right within our very own church that will soon perish unless we reach out and warn,educate and enlight them on what the Lord is about to do. The leaders aren’t doing it  so it is up to us.

“Our God shall come, and shall not keep silence: a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people.Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.”(Psalms 50:3-6)

The message tell us what Satan’s trick is for today —

“.. Satan’s supreme effort at this hour must be to cause the time to be wasted and the work undone.” (Answerer, vol. 1, p. 6, Q-4)

It doesn’t matter to Satan how he gets us–time-wasting, pleasure-seeking, and now–political time spending (TV, online reports and news, etc.). Let us not get side tracked for the great work of calling the great multitude out of Babylon is almost at the door.

“God’s children are to separate themselves from politics, from any alliance with unbelievers. Do not take part in political strife. Separate from the world, and refrain from bringing into the church or school ideas that will lead to contention and disorder. Dissension is the moral poison taken into the system by human beings who are selfish.” {CCh P.316.6}

Posted in Present Truth, Proper teachings | 6 Comments »

A Promise Kept by the Lord

February 27, 2016

Marriage sign

The word of the Lord says —

“God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.” (Psalms  18:30)

The following is my own testimony which I give to encourage and advise that God’s word can be depended upon with total trust.

Brought up in a Catholic Family, I was shown at an early age the value of the family. We had a total of six in our family. Unfortunately like so many homes around the world our family kind of broke up in mid 1970’s.  Dad and mom divorced and life changed.

I had several girlfriends in my life and after about the age of 20 I kind of got away from Religion. Partying and the rewards of this life held sway for decades to come. Fast forward to December of 2008. I picked up the Bible one night and little did I know the Lord was about to become real to me.

A few nights later I came across Exodus where Moses was given the 10 Commandments. A light went off in my head that the Sabbath was from God and we should obey His 4th Commandment, His holy day.

Soon I was baptized into the local SDA church. This was about April of 2009. But being single all my life I had come to the place where I decided that now, being released of my old ways and passions, I should settle down and meet Mrs. Right.

Being an admitted old fashion type, I decided to undertake a search of an “old world” woman , particularly from the Russia area. For some reason I was attracted to them. In March of 2009 , about seven years ago I met Lira.

She was nice looking and seemed quite personable. But being freshly converted in making the Lord’s way my desire, I wanted to use the Biblical principles such as no divorced women and only those who truly were Christians. I knew that many of the eastern women (or most other places) can “play the game” where they declare they are Christian but not have a clue who Jesus was.

So I had email and phone conversations with Lira for a while. But the most important thing I did was to consult the Lord in any final decision on a lady. This I did with Lira.

After a few weeks of correspondence with her, I knelt down one night and prayed the following.

I told the Lord that I had not been a good selector of women during my life and that I needed to let Him make the decision on any woman I was interested in. So I asked the Lord for His answer to Lira.

The word says–

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24)

I knew that our part in prayer is to ask, and to ask in a correct way. But just as important was to believe and to –watch. So after this prayer  my job was to be on the look out for the answer. Our Lord has always used signs with His people and likewise it is still today. Trouble is that few are truly a believer in His signs. They miss them because they don’t believe He is in that business anymore.

Our Lord Himself told us how important His signs are–

“If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.” (John 10:37-38)

So after a couple of weeks the Lord sent me a dream. In it I was observing what I thought were many circular small white clouds and it was over our local big mountains. There appears many of them. I awoke and thought how strange the dream was. Later I mentioned the dream and what I saw to Lira. She quickly responded, “Those were not clouds they were silver rings.” Wow! I immediately could remember what I saw and they were rings!

The answer had come and it was–yes! For only the Lord could have given her the vision of that dream. At that point there was one last thing for me to do–act upon the Lord’s approval sign. So I then began to get serious about Lira.

This idea of going to the Lord to 1) request His help in authorizing or disproving the marriage 2) waiting for the answer, is solidly backed by His last message of Elijah–

“..the only marriages that God can honor are those which are entered upon only after both parties inquire of Him and receive His sanction.” (Symbolic Code, vol. 3, no.2, p.7)

This is where faith comes into play. Once we get  a response from the Lord we must act with faith upon it. Other wise we are just play acting and not really living out our faith.

So soon I proposed to Lira, and she accepted. Being in  far away country in between Russia and China I knew that certain logistic problems would come up. For instance in order to get a visa to have her come to USA I had to fly around the world and get some pictures together first before we applied for the visa.

Just one small problem, I have Aerophobia–fear of flying. This stemmed from a bad plane ride I had years ago in which the turbulence was quite dramatic. To make the long story short I delayed and delayed with Lira. Soon after 2, 3 then 4 years went by she understandably began to doubt my intentions. Still   I came up with one excuse after another and still she remained committed. Looking back her faith was very solid.

After about the 6th year of our online relationship, and realizing it was a now or never situation, I began to get serious and discovered that there was only  a few ways to get a waiver of the meet in person rule, and one of them was Aerophobia. We found an attorney and hired him. The Lord certainly knew all this and gave us strength to continue the long process. Many times Lira  and I had some serious arguments and it all looked over, yet something held us together.

I remember one time after a couple bad days of arguing and then thinking “why go on with her?” the Lord sent me another sign only he could show. We had this favorite saying which we would often sign off with, we’d say “love you madly” before ending our conversations. After about a week of not communicating with her I drive to the store one day and in front of me is a car license plate that says “Small heartUMADLY.” It was just one of many reminders that the Lord was guiding and telling us  not to give up.

Finally in November of 2015 we got an approval for the waiver visa. The attorney said this was a very unusual approval as many cannot  qualify for the waiver for one reason or another.

In February of this year Lira boarded a plane and landed in our city late one night. I picked her up at the airport and was very happy and excited to finally meet her and begin our life together. She was all I had hoped and more. The Lord did not disappoint, does He ever?

In our seven-year relationship I made sure that she knew how important God was to our life and that He required honor, respect and obedience. She was a willing learner and has accepted, among other things, the Sabbath, the proper dress in His sanctuary, etc.  Sure, we have much to discuss in God’s plans and lessons but importantly she has agreed to listen.

She knows about the soon to come kingdom set up in Israel and is prepared when the process starts.

I realize that marriage is a lifetime commitment, and with this understanding our life begins as a couple. We ask for your prayers as we embark on this path.

“And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”(Genesis 2:22-24)

Posted in Christian faith, Prayer's answered | 8 Comments »

The Importance of God’s Symbols

February 20, 2016

 

The Word of God is replete with many symbolic pictures through out its sacred pages. The fascination of the deep and heart-moving displays and pictures really should move any and all sincere lover of the Holy Writ.

The usage of these symbols was extensively shown by His last prophet sent to our SDA church– Victor T. Houteff. This week’s post we’d like to show some of the most deep and awe-inspiring charts that the Lord inspired for us as present truth believers.

The Spirit of Prophecy spoke enlightening words concerning these symbols.

“God Himself employed pictures and symbols to represent to His prophets lessons which He would have them give to the people, and which could thus be better understood than if given in any other way.”(Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 211, 212.)

“The Old Testament is the gospel in figures and symbols.” (2 Selected Messages, p.104)

“A correct interpretation of the symbols employed is necessary to an understanding of the message.” (G.C. p.439)

“Impressive symbols were employed to unfold the plan of God.” (Youth Instructor, Dec. 13, 1900)

Let us now review some of the precious charts and a brief description of their import.

Our first chart is the one shown above. It is the Daniel 2 vision. This lesson concerns the last proclamation of the gospel. The stone is symbolic of the 144,000 elect of God “cut out” of the mountain (God’s people/church) and symbolically destroying the worldly kingdoms (feet of the great image) in the end time. The lesson shows that soon the Lord must “take the reins into His own hands.”(Testimonies to Ministers, p.300)

For the study outline see this link –http://www.shepherds-rod-message.org/outlines/dan_2.pdf

Our second chart is concerning Zechariah 6:1-8, the lesson of different Christian Church movements from the days of the Apostles. This prophecy succinctly describes the four main church movements since Christ. The main lesson concerns the last of the  movements–our SDA church. From the picture you can see the unique chariot that has two sets of horses, unlike the other chariots.

The meaning shows that the horses being symbolic of the leaders, has two different type of leaders (grisled and bay horses), both endeavoring to steer the chariot (laity) in two different directions yet they cannot go in the proper direction because they are hitched. Then in verse 7 the Word says —

“And the bay went forth, and sought to go that they might walk to and fro through the earth: and he said, Get you hence, walk to and fro through the earth. So they walked to and fro through the earth.”

The horses are cut loose (church judgement/separation) and the bay horses are free to go to the “north country” in God’s direction. The Bay horses obey God by going out to proclaim the final Gospel proclamation in truth and righteousness.  The grisled are left behind because they wanted to go to the “south country”,  no more to direct the church.

In describing this paradox of two different sets of horses attempting to lead the chariot in two different directions the message says–

“The dissimilar teams hitched to the fourth chariot, each pulling in a different direction from
the other, show not only that there is a double leadership in the Laodicean church, but also
that the one is opposed to the other in character as well as in purpose.  This condition being a
strange one, the wise will well consider it.  Seeing that the Word of God has spoken it, and that
the symbolism perfectly describes the contest which, before their very eyes, is taking place,
they will tenaciously take hold of the truth.” (Tract 2, p. 37)

For the study link on this one , click here — http://www.shepherds-rod-message.org/outlines/zech_6.pdf

Have you ever wanted to clear up the confusion of the final hours of our King’s life? There are so many ideas bandied about since the Gospels were written about just when did Jesus die and when did he arise?

Many false ideas are put forth but God in His infinite wisdom sent His restoring prophet to restore to us just what happened and when during those final days. The above chart shows the truth as to when things transpired in the last days of His life. How do we know it’s true? Because when you read the report and then look at the corresponding chart, you will see how it all completely makes sense and lines up clearly with Scripture.

The real key to this understanding as the prophet shows is that we must know the meaning of “the heart of the earth”. Many private interpreters have thought this means–buried in the earth. But we all know Jesus was not buried but rather placed in a tomb laying above ground.

For the report read this Tract– http://www.shepherds-rod-message.org/tracts/tract_10.html

In Revelation 4 and 5 we read of the “Seven seals”. The chart portrays what the Scripture pictures as to the seals and their timeline history. No where in all the writings of any writer except from the restoring prophet will one find a most beautiful and clear description of what each of the seals mean. This study will truly bless you once you get into it–I assure you.

For the study of Rev. 4 and 5 see this Tract– http://www.shepherds-rod-message.org/tracts/tract_15.html

You see brethren, these symbols are part of God’s plan to reach us today with His final message. Our Lord warns us, the SDA church that we are in need of more truth (Rev. 3:18). He sent us this more truth, and much of it consists of His symbols in order that we may truly grasp the important lessons we need.

The above symbolic studies are but a few of the bountiful supply of lessons He has given us through  the Elijah prophet. Once we endeavor to study these lessons, we draw closer to God because we see His beautiful plans and workings soon to come. Jump aboard while we still have opportunity!

 

Posted in Elijah Interpretations, Present Truth, Proper teachings | 3 Comments »

Update on the 2015 SDA Christmas Celebration

February 13, 2016

Gay Chorus

On January 2, 2016 we did a post on the Palm Springs SDA church’s Christmas program for 2015. Since then we have seen and heard quite a stir from the Christian community particularly the SDA community. And rightly so. As we pointed out, the presentation definitely did not have the Word of God’s approval. Recently we see that neither does it have the vast general SDA community approval.

Last week we heard from a SDA friend who knows one of the leading Elders from the Palm Springs church. Sister M and I discussed the unfortunate celebration in God’s house and the feedback it has generated on sites such as YouTube. She mentioned that she would be going to the church and wanted to speak to brother P who was a head Elder in the church. She asked for advice on how to discuss this and let him know how many SDA were feeling about what had transpired.

I mentioned to her that one such clear view on it could be found on YouTube with the following link(arrow) –

In this video the presenter lays charge to the Scriptural standing in the gay celebration. One thing that struck me was the huge views in such a short time– 19, 400.  And the prevalent opinion that it was wrong before the Lord has struck a true note in many — 242 likes and 11 dis-likes.

So after discussing this situation with her, we agreed that she should  “tell it like it is”. In other words,

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

She agreed. Later she called and said that almost before she could get out her words to the Elder he spoke up and said that he totally agreed it was a disaster and that “something will be done about it.” He also said that “90% of the church did not agree with the idea.”

So it appears that the local leadership hijacked the will of the people for their own undetermined reasons (?). Most likely a private agreement was made by a few leaders and woala– the program was decided and put forth.

Now, is this disgrace any more sinful than the young gal prancing in the church in her  mini-skirt and high heels? No it’s not. It’s all sin in God’s house. The whole point is that abominations in God’s house is the prevalent act of the evil one today and those who turn a blind eye to it will not make it through the soon to come church judgment.

SOP provides insight —

“Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church..” (COL, p. 71)

But instead of “separating” the open sin from the church we have come to embrace it! All the while saying “Hallelujah praise the Lord!” Our “dumb dogs” have refused to bark!

“…”Peace and safety” is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God’s people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men, maidens, and little children all perish together.” (Testimonies vol. 5, p. 211)

The command is: “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” These sighing, crying ones had been holding forth the words of life; they had reproved, COUNSELLED, and entreated.

Some who had been dishonouring God repented and humbled their hearts before Him. But the glory of the Lord had departed from Israel; although many still continued the forms of religion, His power and presence were lacking. {5T 210.2} In the time when His wrath shall go forth in judgments, these humble, devoted followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of the world by their soul anguish, which is expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and warnings.

While others try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God’s honour and a love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favour of any. Their righteous souls are vexed day by day with the unholy works and conversation of the unrighteous.

They are powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity, and hence they are filled with grief and alarm. They mourn before God to see religion despised in the very homes of those who have had great light. They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of almost every kind are in the church. The Spirit 211 of God, which prompts to reproof, is trampled underfoot, while the servants of Satan triumph. God is dishonoured, the truth made of none effect.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.210-211)

The judgment my brothers and sisters is right upon us, we are not to delay and to begin at once to call out the prevailing sins “done in the midst”, by word of mouth, by study groups, by blogs, by YouTube, by email, by any and all means.

SOP warns us that the do-nothings are the worse offenders in God’s eyes —

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

Our church is in a dire emergency and  true spiritual crisis , the Lord’s sword hangs above it , let us spring into action.

“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” (Ezek. 18:31-32)

 

 

Posted in Christmas, Church, Sighing and Crying, Warning our brethren | 2 Comments »

What about Ezekiel 43 and 44?

January 30, 2016

Ezekiel picture

Of all the books of the Bible, save the Revelation, perhaps there is none more mysterious or difficult to understand than the book of Ezekiel. As many know, we have shown many reports of the prophetic writings of Ezekiel, particularly Ezek. 9 the church judgment event.

However there is one area of the book that even the most advanced students of the holy Scriptures are often stymied and thoroughly confused. That is the highly mysterious chapters 43 and 44.

The message tells something about this–

“In as much as Zerubbabel is a “signet,” a symbol or a type of the builders in the day the Lord shakes the heavens and the earth, then Ezekiel’s description of the mystic temple (chapters 40-47) which is yet to be built, could be the blueprint of Zerubbabel’s antitypical temple.” ( 1 TG, no.13, p.6)

We see that this mystic temple is “yet to be built”. Implying that it is to be built someday in the future. But there is no definite declaration as it continues “could be the blueprint of Zerubbabels’ antitypical temple.”

Let us now look at the following perplexing Scripture. After describing the future altar of the aforesaid temple the word says —

“And he said unto me, Son of man, thus saith the Lord GOD; These are  the ordinances of the altar in the day when they shall make it, to offer burnt offerings thereon, and to sprinkle blood thereon. And thou shalt give to the priests the Levites that be of the seed of Zadok, which approach unto me, to minister unto me, saith the Lord GOD, a young bullock for a sin offering.

And thou shalt take of the blood thereof, and put it on the four horns of it, and on the four corners of the settle, and upon the border round about: thus shalt thou cleanse and purge it. Thou shalt take the bullock also of the sin offering, and he shall burn it in the appointed place of the house, without the sanctuary.

And on the second day thou shalt offer a kid of the goats without blemish for a sin offering; and they shall cleanse the altar, as they did cleanse it with the bullock. When thou hast made an end of cleansing it, thou shalt offer a young bullock without blemish, and a ram out of the flock without blemish.

And thou shalt offer them before the LORD, and the priests shall cast salt upon them, and they shall offer them up for a burnt offering unto the LORD. Seven days shalt thou prepare every day a goat for a sin offering: they shall also prepare a young bullock, and a ram out of the flock, without blemish.  Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves.

And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezek. 43:18-27).

So there is no doubt that this shows  animal blood sacrifices , as in the days of old. But as we believers in the Christian dispensation know, our Lord was the final and ultimate sacrifice for our sins, right?

After all the curtain was split in two at His death, signifying an end to the earthly customs and requirements of the sacrificial system. We also have this proof in Daniel 9:27–

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it  desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” 

So what are we to make of this potential throwback to the old customs and sacrifices? We can only offer some ideas. If you have any please feel free to add them in comment section.

Obviously we know that as Christ fulfilled the blood sacrifices, these customs and reenactments could only mean a historical lesson in their significance. As the message tells us that the land of Israel will be the future gospel center of the world, for the Loud Cry, there shall be many in the land and once all is underway and the gospel machine is in full gear, the people there in Israel will have the chance to review what history showed as a live portrayal of the sacrificial system.

Concerning the keeping of the feast days the message tells us that the Feast of Tabernacles will be kept in the holy land. It does not say any others will be kept though.

Zech. 14:16 — “And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.”

   This sentence of Scripture emphatically implies that all who at that decisive moment refuse to be converted to the Lord, shall perish; only those who worship the Lord at Jerusalem on the feast of tabernacles, shall be spared.” (1 TG, no. 20, p.13)

During this feast, there were numerous animal sacrifices.

“The sacrifices required for the Feast of Tabernacles were tremendous. Beside the daily sacrifices offered in the evening and the morning, there were others offered specifically for the feast (Num. 29:12-38). During the seven days of this feast, the priests were required each day to offer up: two rams, fourteen lambs and a goat for the sin offering (Num 29:12-40).

The number of offerings of bullocks decreased by one each of the succeeding seven days—13 bullocks on the 2nd day, 12 bullocks on the 3rd day …7 bullocks on the 7th day. On the 8th day the special offering was one bullock and ram, seven lambs, and a goat as sin offering. There were a total of 70 bullocks, 14 rams, 98 lambs (or 182 sacrifices) offered during the Feast of Tabernacles.”(By kind permission of  Dr. Lee Warren, B.A., D.D. )

In closing, this future prophesy is definitely a “wait and see” proposition. We do know that there will be at least two annual celebrations of the Feast of Tabernacles (“year to year”) in the pre-mil kingdom.

We also know that God’s word will not return void and we can look forward to being shown the fullness of His word in this mysterious prophesy.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

 

Posted in Ezekiel, The Feast Days | 19 Comments »

War Forecast

January 23, 2016

swords-into-plowshares-isaiah-24-www-rockefellercenter-com

As many of us are aware, the current outlook for a world war is highly likely. They seem ready to go full force once the Lord commands. Wars and rumors of wars in these very last days were predicted by the Holy Scriptures. To those who do not know the Lord’s final message of Elijah, these can be extremely worried times.  As SDA we all profess to believe in the soon coming of Christ, but the vast majority are hazy in understanding the final world’s war forecast based on Scripture.

This haziness really does not need to exist if one truly seeks the truth as spoken by His prophets. Let’s take a look at this subject, to know what we should expect in regards to war related events to come.

To begin with, we know that the Word tells us there shall be a big world war over the promised land.

Zeph. 2:1, 2, 4, 5 –“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…. 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.”

The fourth verse definitely implies that the “nation” is to gather together in the cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Ekron, in the land of the Philistines, in the land of Canaan — in Palestine.

   In view of the fact that this scripture is now being unfolded, and also the fact that there is but one people, one nation (the descendants of the ancient scribes, priests, and Pharisees who rejected the Lord and who have not even to this day accepted Him, that are hardly desired anywhere in the world) that is now doing all she can to gather together in Palestine — in view of all this, the present-day Jews are that undesired nation. 

…Moreover, in these verses, two truths stand out clearly: (1) that in vain the Jews seek to establish themselves in the Promised Land; (2) that we who are bearing the message of the great and dreadful day of the Lord are counselled to seek meekness and righteousness, for thus only shall we “be hid in the day of the Lord’s anger,” that is, merely bear knowledge of the message will not save us, there should be corresponding deeds with it. (Timely Greetings, vol. 1, no.22, p.25-26)

So here is our first and next expectation in regards to war– the world’s battle over the land of Israel. Already we see the pieces of the puzzle starting to come together in the surrounding areas. Russia is there, USA is there, the Arab powers are there, Israel is there and many nations represented by NATO are there.

Of special note, China,  as of the last few months has started to set up its presence in the middle east as well. See this link http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/12055805/China-is-moving-intyo-Syria-why-is-no-one-worried.html

During the upcoming gigantic war, an even more spectacular event occurs,  and it will be a world shaking event–the long prophesied SDA church judgment. How do we know this? The message is tells us–

“..while the powers of  earth are engulfed in a gigantic war, the wicked in the church shall be cut off, no more to pass through her.” (Tract 14, p.22)

We aren’t told how long the war is to be, but with the very powerful  destroying weapons in use today, one can see that it would take a  relatively  short period of time to desolate any land. Remember the whole purpose of this war is to clear out the land, which God had promised in the Scriptures, and give it to His end time people “Israel and Judah”. The 144,000 first and then the called out ones from Babylon. These are the people destined to possess the land.

“For, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.” (Jeremiah 30:3)

After this war is over then we can look at the next war related event, which is really a disarmament.

“And said unto him, Run, speak to this young man, saying, Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein.  For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her…. Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord. 

And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be My people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee.  And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the Holy Land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.  Be silent, O all flesh, before the Lord: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation.” Zechariah 2:4, 5, 10-13.

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

   Not the nations, but Inspiration Itself declares that in the day God judges the living, then those nations who go to the mountain (Kingdom church purified) of the Lord “shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks” — they will go farming instead of spending their strength in war.

 The nations that do not accept the Lord’s “rebuke,” in that day, though, will madly arise against the “mountain” of the Lord, as forecast by the prophet Joel, saying: “Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.  Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O Lord.  Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about.” Joel 3:9- 12. (Timely Greetings, vol.1, no. 5, p.5-6)

This is very interesting. During this disarmament,  one group of the post war living, choose the Lord and His protection and the other refuse and shall learn the hard way that you can’t fight the great I AM and win. All this happens pre-millennially, here on earth in front of the world. We see that two opposite reactions happen– swords into plowshares and plowshare into swords.

In describing this most unusual time the message explains-

“When the Lord thus takes “the reigns in His own hands” (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300), and again rules the church as a theocratic government (in the last days), “it shall come to pass,” as says Isaiah, “…that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. 

And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  And He shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” Isa. 2:2-4.

   So with the ushering in of this everlasting kingdom, and the consequent restitution of all things, there shall be on the one hand a great awakening among the nations; scrapping vast stores of war implements which they have for years been laying up, they shall seek to go up to and become subjects of the kingdom, and to join the armies of the Lord, allowing Him to fight for them; while on the other hand there shall be feverish war preparations among those who refuse to awaken: hurling all into a super armament program, they turn even their farm implements into weapons of war against the kingdom of Christ — His church” (Joel 3:9-12; Zech. 12:3). (Tract 8, p.19-20)

Madness will grip the unbelievers making them “feverish” to defeat God’s people. Having seen the Lord work a mighty miracle and bring back the glorious land of Israel very quickly, and after the world war,  the unbelievers shall devise plans to overthrow the land. Why? let us read–

“This is what the Sovereign LORD says: At that time evil thoughts will come to your mind, and you will devise a wicked scheme. You will say, ‘Israel is an unprotected land filled with unwalled villages! I will march against her and destroy these people who live in such confidence! 

I will go to those formerly desolate cities that are now filled with people who have returned from exile in many nations. I will capture vast amounts of plunder, for the people are rich with livestock and other possessions now. They think the whole world revolves around them! (Ezek. 38:10-12)

But the Lord will reveal His power —

You will come up against my people Israel, like a cloud covering the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, that the nations may know me, when through you, O Gog, I vindicate my holiness before their eyes.(Ezek. 38:16)

So this attempt by the unbelievers shall come to naught.  It’s like God says “give it your best shot you heathen, bring it on.” And they do, only to be made a spectacle before the world.

You see brethren, the Lord’s holy land shall be the epicenter of the final Gospel proclamation. Thus, it will be both glorious for the believers and dreadful and worrisome to the unbelievers. Satan at this time is rallying the world for his counter play–the one world religion, the Sunday sacredness-Mark of the Beast system.

Two stark and very different ways to go! No middle course or non-decision. Get the world’s mark and be free to buy and sell, exist in comfort. Or get out of Babylon and come to the kingdom, which has true comfort and the Lord’s bountiful riches. Though most of the called out ones will arrive in the kingdom safely, unfortunately some will have to suffer persecution and not make it there.

The word explains how inviting the land will be —

“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.” ( Isaiah 60:11) 

So great will the Loud Cry be that even some kings and rulers of the world will come into the land to accept the Lord’s kingdom, beginning right there in Israel. The 144,000 are looked upon with great appreciation.

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

So we see four consecutive war related scenarios with the addition of the a fifth as explained below. 1) The gigantic world war over Israel  2) the 144,000 first arrive and the land is miraculously revived and the weapons are destroyed in the land  3) The unbelievers (which shall be the majority living upon the earth) shall not believe that God is with His people or their land, and attempt to invade (by war) the unwalled land 4) God shall make an example of them for all to see. 5) As per below, the plagues come and when the seventh plague hits, the wicked lose their minds and decide to pursue the righteous of God. The battle of Armageddon begins. The angels of God fight for them.

What and where is Armageddon? Four Inspired references show specific views of this last struggle.

The Armies of God Take the Field—We need to study the pouring out of the seventh vial. The powers of evil will not yield up the conflict without a struggle. But Providence has a part to act in the battle of Armageddon. When the earth is lighted with the glory of the angel of Revelation eighteen, the religious elements, good and evil, will awake from slumber, and the armies of the living God will take the field (Manuscript 175, 1899

“..under the seventh plague, the hosts arrayed for the battle of Armageddon will fight with, and will be decimated by, the armies of Heaven (Testimonies, Vol. 6, pg. 406), and that Christ shall appear in all His glory, destroy the remaining wicked, resurrect the righteous dead (1 Thess. 4:15-16), and usher in the millennium (Rev. 20:5). (Timely Greetings, vol. 2, no.10. p.31)

So we see that as the final plague comes, the bitter and angry wicked make their last play, only to lose out to the brightness of His coming in the clouds. The wicked no doubt are delusional and think , under the auspices of Satan, that the ones causing the horrible plagues are the righteous ones. While not a war as such in the true sense , it’s a fierce concerted effort to destroy God’s people. The Armageddon battle is cut short by the Lord.

“As the saints left the cities and villages, they were pursued by the wicked, who sought to slay them.  But the swords that were raised to kill God’s people and fell as powerless as a straw” — (Early Writings, pp. 284-285.)

In describing the scenes of the end of Armageddon, SOP explains —

“It was at midnight that God chose to deliver His people. As the wicked were mocking around them, suddenly the sun appeared, shining in his strength, and the moon stood still. The wicked looked upon the scene with amazement, while the saints beheld with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance. Signs and wonders followed in quick succession.

Everything seemed turned out of its natural course. The streams ceased to flow. Dark, heavy clouds came up and clashed against each other. But there was one clear place of settled glory, whence came the voice of God like many waters, shaking the heavens and the earth. There was a mighty earthquake. The graves were opened, and those who had died in faith under the third angel’s message, keeping the Sabbath, came forth from their dusty beds, glorified, to hear the covenant of peace that God was to make with those who had kept His law.” (Early Writings, p.285)

We should keep in mind that , as we have seen, the land of Israel will be protected by the Lord. Therefore the great battle of Armageddon will take place in the world. The message offers clarity–

“….”Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues” (Rev. 18:4), is a call for them to come out of her dominion, that they share not in her sins, nor receive of her plagues.  Those who respond to the Lord’s bidding, must, of course, have a sin-free place to go to, where they may “dwell safely,” though there be “neither  bars nor gates” around it (Ezek. 38:11).  To this haven they shall be “brought forth out of the nations, and [there] they shall dwell safely all of them.” Ezek. 38:8.  So, “all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” Isa. 54:13.

   God’s people at that time can no more serve the Lord in “Babylon” and in “Egypt” than they could have in the days of Ezra or of Moses, for when the plagues are poured upon Babylon, as the “fire and brimstone” were poured upon Sodom and Gomorrah, then if they be living among worldlings, they can no more escape the damage of the plagues than Lot could have survived the fire, had he stayed in Sodom.  So all who want to escape the foretold ruin verily must come out of Babylon, as Lot and his family came out of Sodom. (Tract 12, p.46-47)

So it appears that this last great battle will be between God’s people who are out of the cities and living in the country or hills . Those who for one reason or another have not made it to the Holy land. The mobs shall attempt to destroy them and when this happens en masse–God delivers them. In other words, Armageddon is the very last battle before the thousand-year reign in heaven.

In closing, now is our time to prepare ourselves to be found worthy to be one of God’s Loud Cry  truth warriors. The war scenarios are not at all frightening to those who trust in the Lord’s Word  as spoken by His prophets. We have much to look forward to as the victory will be for those who are on the side of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Amen.

 

Posted in End times, Final Events, Our Lord's kingdom, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Seeds Planted

January 16, 2016

seeds planted

In the book of Matthew, chapter 13,  we read of the well-known three parables of the seed sowers. These tell us of the good lessons in obeying God’s word. But what are some of the seed planting experiences of today? Let us look at two specific examples.

Let us first look at the case of brother R.

Brother R is a proclaimed practicing believer in “present truth”. In other words he appears active in discussing and proclaiming the final message of the Lord’s Elijah. But he has embraced the doctrine of feast keeping. He is attempting to blend both the Davidian message (Elijah message) and the practice of feast keeping. This is not uncommon. As we have shown before, the real studiers of God’s word will come to the understanding that the Lord does indeed have a final message to us–His Elijah message (Mal. 4:5), but some read only parts of it and think they know the message.

 

The challenge is– are they “grounded” in the Lord’s word as proclaimed by His prophets? For a good three weeks, brother R and I went into a study concerning this subject. Being very familiar with what the Rod and SOP says about feast keeping, I felt the Lord leading me to “give it my best shot” to expose how dangerous it is to profess the Rod and also feast keeping!

It was a good back and forth discussion. But as it went on I sensed it was about time to wrap it up as no progress was forth coming.But there was a key question I asked in the last week of our correspondence. And in hindsight, was the reason for this post.

The question was this — Where did your understanding of keeping the feasts originally come from? A man’s report or the Inspired writings (Bible, SOP, or Rod) ?

He responded  that it came from a Television show from a Seventh-day Adventist well-known for his feast keeping doctrine–John VanDenburgh.

Ah, the light went on! I then knew that rather than brother R reading and knowing FIRST what the Word says on this doctrine( SOP-Ellen White, Shepherd’s Rod-Victor Houteff), he allowed VanDenburgh to lay the seed in his mind and it sprang from there. In other words, the plan brother R was following was all backwards. Instead of reading what God’s prophets said carefully FIRST and having the Holy Spirit (ie. the Spirit of Truth) lay the true seed into his mind and soul, he allowed a man to put his spin on this doctrine and it worked within him and was sown.

Then as the seed had been sowed, brother R went about reading the SOP and the Rod to confirm what he now believed was truth. He wanted to search out the carefully selected references VanDenburgh relied on and build upon that.

You see, had the following seed been planted first, then the usurping teachings may not have had the deceiving effect. As is well-known, the professional currency inspectors must first become well familiar with the original before they can discern the fake.

Here is what would have grounded him —

Broadly speaking, the law of Moses consists of three parts.  The first is the Ceremonial law, the law of the temple — the sacrificial law.  This law, of course, we today must not observe, except in antitype, for it foreshadowed things to come, particularly Christ’s first advent.  Thus it is that if we had lived in Old Testament times and had failed to comply with the sacrificial law and system of that day, we would thereby have demonstrated unbelief in Christ, Who was to come.  But since we are living in the Christian era, if we should now observe the typical sacrificial law and system, we should thereby demonstrate unbelief in Christ, Who has come.

 

   And so, as this law was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14), we need not, and must not, observe it now. (Timely Greetings, vol. 2, no.37, p.14-15)

Additionally there are some powerful clear SOP references that leave little doubt as well. But the seed has been sown and because he has fallen hard for the “requirement” of keeping the feast days, the Lord’s final restoring message of the Rod cannot do him much good. The very fact that the message tells us we show “unbelief in Christ” by feast keeping is sufficient evidence  that this is a salvational issue. Serious indeed!

“All who are too lazy to study, and who give the Devil a chance to sow devilish seed in their hearts, making them believe that the preacher or the minister will take them through the Pearly Gates, having no experience of their own, are cheated of eternal life; they instead get eternal death.”(Timely Greetings, vol. , no.21, p.12)

“The Bible must not be interpreted to suit the ideas of men, however long they may have held these ideas to be true. We are not to accept the opinion of commentators as the voice of God; they were erring mortals like ourselves. God has given reasoning powers to us as well as to them. We should make the Bible its own expositor.

All should be careful about presenting new views of Scripture before they have given these points thorough study, and are fully prepared to sustain them from the Bible” (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 106)

From Scripture alone, we know that the Word cancelled these ceremonial feast obligations–

“And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.”(Daniel 9:27)

“At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. ” (Matt 27:51)

Our second case concerns sister B.

She is a good friend and I have been very impressed with her over the years for “walking the walk” not just talking the talk. But Satan has his marks set on just these types, the doers. They are his ever watching targets.  Our job is to be our “brother’s (sister’s) keeper”.

“Show my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Show them where they are making a mistake. Set their danger before them.” (Bible Commentary, p.1149)

Sister B is involved in a new age business. They  sell products to help protect against the ever-growing threat of radiation coming  from our everyday electronic gadgets that we cannot live without. A while back I was invited to one of her company’s presentations. I sat there impressed as this really seemed a timely business and I purchased some products.

One of their presentations involves the following:

Four people are selected to help. One person is selected to sit in a chair. One of their products ( a fine one) is “realigned molecule” water.  We won’t bother you will all the scientific benefit of this water, but briefly it is water that has it’s water molecules made into a straight line (single file) so that when one drinks it, it can hydrate the body much more efficiently but entering the cell.

Do you remember the Chernobyl nuclear disaster? The radiation was found spreading far and wide from the area. But there was a certain group of people living nearby who were found not affected by it. They lived by a running stream and drank from this source for their water needs.  A Russian scientist was perplexed and decided to investigate. He found that the stream’s flow had realigned the water molecules and had greatly benefited against the effects of radiation. In other words, their bodies were completely hydrated and the immune system worked strongly to counteract any harmful invasion.

So the scientist developed an electronic machine that straightens out the molecules in a single file, as opposed to the disarray of molecules of regular water.

Back to the experiment. So the four volunteers are placed at four corners of the chair surrounding the person sitting on it. They are told to put their hands into a specific postilion, clasping them together and with their two index fingers pointing straight out (kind of like a steeple). Then they are to put their pointed index fingers under the person’s arms and knee bends. And at the signal they are to try to lift the person off the chair into the air with just their fingers.

Of course there is no way that such limited strength  can physically lift an adult off the chair into the air like this.

I had been chosen as one of the volunteers. After our first failed try, the speaker then sprayed us with the straight line water. We got it on face, neck and arms. Then we went back to our attempt to lift the person again. At the signal we tried and  WOW! As if by magic the person was literally raised over one foot off the chair! I saw and felt this with my own eyes. I also knew that some force was doing this and it was NOT anything from our efforts.

So impressed was I that later I called sister B and raved how this water product was truly amazing. She said she agreed and we both were excited. The experiment was put on basically to show the “molecular force” that the water had. In other words we were told that all our molecular cells were in harmony and therefore were able to lift the person.

But  the next week or two, something was nagging at me. I was no doubt being alerted by the Holy Spirit to look into this. So one night I decided to check YouTube out to see if this same experiment had been done as well by others not connected with this water. To my amazement there were 3 other videos showing the same lifting!

There was no mention of the water but they all had one thing in common. It was the clasping of the hands like we did in our presentation. So I then looked up devil hand signs, and sure enough! One of them was this same hand clasping. Then the light went on. Rather than our molecules working together, there was another force active here!

I at once phoned sister B. She listened as I explained that it was not the single file water that had lifted the person but another force. She tried to explain that it was not anything evil and that it was something beyond our understanding. But that could not be, I countered because there were others not associated with the water who could do the same thing. The only common denominator was the hand signs.

Her company truly has some good products and she does not need to be involved in this specific presentation. Likely the owners are not even aware of this connection with the hand signs.

So how does this connect with planting a seed? Just this. A few days after that original experiment I had participated in,  I was in the kitchen one night and began to ponder whether I could place my hand over the cup before me and lift it. In other words, could I have some type of  special powers? This was quite unusual thinking on my part. Later I wondered where these thoughts had come from?

Then the bell went off in my head. Because I had been involved in that mysterious force power, could it be that a small dark seed had tried to take root? Was I affected by what I had inadvertently been a part of? This seems quite logical and even likely. Thankfully I was able to see this as it was, a bad seed from the adversary.

So with all these warning bells going off sister B was  clearly  warned. By God’s mighty power we can only hope that she  no longer gets involved in that mysterious power working and stops any wrong seeds from growing. If I was wrongly influenced by participating in one presentation, how will that effect someone who does many?

“..do not give the devil an opportunity to work.” (Eph 4:27)

 

“There are many who shrink with horror from the thought of consulting spirit mediums, but who are attracted by more pleasing forms of spiritism. Others are led astray by the teachings of Christian Science, and by the mysticism of Theosophy and other Oriental religions.

The apostles of nearly all forms of spiritism claim to have power to heal. They attribute this power to electricity, magnetism, the so-called “sympathetic remedies,” or to latent forces within the mind of man.” (Prophets and Kings p.210-211)

In closing, seeds are being planted all the time in our life, let’s make sure the right seeds take root. And if a bad seed attempts to come in, by the power of the Holy Spirit may we at once throw it out.

“Of the almost innumerable lessons taught in the varied processes of growth, some of the most precious are conveyed in the Saviour’s parable of the growing seed. It has lessons for old and young.

“So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; and should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” Mark 4:26-28.

The seed has in itself a germinating principle, a principle that God Himself has implanted; yet if left to itself the seed would have no power to spring up. Man has his part to act in promoting the growth of the grain; but there is a point beyond which he can accomplish nothing. He must depend upon One who has connected the sowing and the reaping by wonderful links of His own omnipotent power.

There is life in the seed, there is power in the soil; but unless infinite power is exercised day and night, the seed will yield no return. The showers of rain must refresh the thirsty fields; the sun must impart warmth; electricity must be conveyed to the buried seed. The life which the Creator has implanted, He alone can call forth. Every seed grows, every plant develops, by the power of God.

“The seed is the word of God.” “As the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth.” Luke 8:11; Isaiah 61:11. As in the natural, so in the spiritual sowing; the power that alone can produce life is from God.” (Lessons of Life, p.104-105)

Please pray for brother R and sister B, that God will open their eyes to the deceptive seeds of the enemy and toss them out for good!

UPDATE: Our prayers have been answered as sister B has withdrew from those presentations.

Posted in Delusion, Parable studies | 5 Comments »

Messenger of the Covenant

January 9, 2016

Messenger of the covenant

Recently I came across one of our church leaders, Steve Wohlberg, and his latest YouTube video called “The Sunday Law Crisis”. He has a 5 part series explaining all the points pertaining to this upcoming world crisis. As I watched part of it, my mind drew me to the thought “how presumptuous, how utterly fooled are our leaders”.

However sincere Mr. Wohlberg is, the Lord’s Word will come and not Mr. Wohlberg’s false idea that there will be no major move by the Lord prior to the Sunday Law. The following Scripture is being fulfilled by these leaders–

“And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.”(Ezekiel 22:28)

You see the Scriptures point unmistakably to the next coming of the Lord. And that is not coming in the clouds as we are led to believe. Yes, we all hear and speak of Jesus’ SECOND coming, our leaders have us all just waiting for the “second” coming.

Yet when we study the Scriptures, SOP and Rod, we know that this coming is the second “public and visible” coming. But we know there is an invisible secret coming, that the Lord’s three Inspired sources clearly teach us. It’s the one that Satan and his angels have fought with all their might to keep you and I from knowing about.

So let us look at this invisible coming as specifically explained in Malachi chapter 3.

To begin with we see that Malachi 3:1 is a classic example of some confusion that needed the Lord’s messenger  to  “restore” (the Truth). We will see in all It’s beauty, the Truth shown amid the easy confusion one gets if he does not listen to the Lord’s Rod (Micah 6:9 and 7:14).

Let’s look at Malachi 3:1.

“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.”

The Spirit of Prophecy in Gospel Workers (1915) page 44 explains —

“Never was there such an evangelist as Christ. He was the Majesty of heaven, but He humbled Himself to take our nature, that He might meet men where they were. To all people, rich and poor, free and bond, Christ, the Messenger of the covenant, brought the tidings of salvation.”

So one can say based on the above that Christ is the messenger of the covenant, right? Not so fast,  we read this–

 “The minister stands as God’s mouthpiece to the people, and in thought, in word, in act, he is to represent his Lord. When Moses was chosen as the messenger of the covenant, the word given him was, “Be thou for the people to Godward.” [Exodus 18:19.] (Gospel Workers, p. 20)

Then we have our King saying that John the Baptist was the messenger of the covenant spoke of in Malachi 3 (Matt 11:7, 9,10, 14)

So we have three different messengers of the covenant?  Who then is real messenger of the covenant in Malachi 3? The one who is to “prepare the way” before Christ suddenly comes to His Temple (Church)?

In 1934 Victor Houteff was asked about this subject. Brother Houteff was sent many questions in his 25 year ministry. Often the questions were of the  “prove it”, “How can you escape this wrong idea of yours?”, or “can you clear it?” type of questions. He addressed this particular Malachi quandary of statements.

Question No. 7:

How do you harmonize “Gospel Workers" p. 44, par. 2, with “The Shepherd’s Rod,” Vol. 2, p. 240, par. 2, presented comparatively as follows:

“The messenger is not the Lord Himself,...he is the one who shall prepare the way for the Lord.”--"The Shepherd’s Rod,” Vol. 2, p. 240.

“Christ, the Messenger of the covenant, brought the tidings of salvation.”--"Gospel Workers," p.44.

Answer:

While on page 44, Gospel Workers applies the title “Messenger of the Covenant” to Christ, on page 20 it applies it to Moses. In juxtaposition, these are seen as follows:

When Moses was chosen as the messenger of the covenant, the word given him was, ‘Be thou for the people to Godward.'”—Gospel Workers, p. 20. “Christ, the messenger of the covenant, brought the tidings of salvation.”–Gospel Workers, p. 44. Whereas Gospel Workers applies the term to both Moses and Christ, Christ Himself applies it to John the Baptist.

He said “unto the multitudes concerning John…But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send My messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” Matt. 11:7, 9, 10, 14.

As God had made both spoken and written covenants with His ancient people that He would send them Moses, John, and Christ, they came in fulfillment of those covenants. And each having brought a message, each in his own time was the Messenger of the Covenant. Nevertheless, the words of Malachi make plain that the Messenger of the Covenant is, in the strictest sense, Elijah the prophet (Mal. 3:1-5; 4:5), the last messenger who prepares the way of the Lord. (See Testimonies to Ministers, p. 475.)

In the last analysis, however, the title Messenger of the Covenant belongs to the Holy Spirit. For example, I Peter 3:18-20 states that Christ preached to the antediluvians by the same “Spirit” Who “quickened” Him. But as He preached by the Spirit in the person of Noah, not of Himself, He thereby unfolded the truth that the Holy Spirit is in all His messengers alike.

Thus “holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” 2 Pet. 1:21. Briefly summarized, the term Messenger of the Covenant means the Holy Spirit (the invisible Christ) in Heaven’s visible representative-be it Moses, John, Christ, Elijah, or some other.

So we see that while the underlying true Messenger of the Covenant is the Holy Spirit, we know that the literal application for our time is Elijah the prophet.

Now, to add further confusion we read —

“This coming is foretold also by the prophet Malachi: “The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:1. The coming of the Lord to His temple was sudden, unexpected, to His people. They were not looking for Him there. They expected Him to come to earth, “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel.” 2 Thessalonians 1:8. (GC, p.424)

Another quandary ?  No,  let us look at the following.

“..Jesus applied the message of Malachi Three to that of John the Baptist, and named him the Elijah that was to come, but when the Jews, priests, and Levites asked John saying, “Art thou Elias?…he saith, I am not.” (John 1:19, 21.) Shall we here conclude that both Jesus and John violated the truth? What then?

   Moreover, the “Gospel Workers” applies Malachi 3:1 to Christ’s first advent, but the same author in “The Great Controversy,” p. 424, par. 3, applies it to Christ’s coming to the most holy place in the heavenly sanctuary in 1844; and on p. 425, is applied to the soon expected purification of the church.

Again, on p. 426, the author states that “…Dan. 8:14; the coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of days, as presented in Dan. 7:13; and the coming of the Lord to His temple, foretold by Malachi, are descriptions of the same event; and this is also represented by the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage, described by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins, of Matthew 25.”

   If only one of these applications could be right, then which one should we choose? When the questioner harmoniously unifies the above scattered periods to which Malachi 3:1 is applied, then “The Shepherd’s Rod” will prove to him to be in perfect harmony with “The Great Controversy” and “Gospel Workers.”

Though one statement seems to contradict the other, yet we are compelled to conclude that every one of these inspired applications must be correct. Says the great apostle, “Shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That Thou mightest be justified in Thy sayings, and mightest overcome when Thou art judged.” (Rom. 3:3, 4.)

   The trouble does not lie in the statements themselves, but rather in man’s limited knowledge of the truth therein, which proves that we are in the period of the Laodiceans, — “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

But the worst part of it all lies in that the Lord is saying to the church of today, “Thou knowest not” your great ignorance in not understanding rightly the Word of truth, and she does not believe Him! The apparent contradictions being discussed in this article are harmonized, in short, as follows:

   Any fair Bible student will, without difficulty, perceive at a glance that the perfect fulfillment of Malachi Three is yet future, and is directly applicable to the imminent “purification of the church,” — “temple” — for saith the Lord, “Who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ sope.” (Mal. 3:2.)

   Though Christ and the “Gospel Workers” apply this scripture to Christ’s first advent, any student of sacred history knows that it did not meet its perfect fulfillment there, for the Jews did not “delight” in Him as prophesied in Malachi 3:1, but instead, they hated Him. Neither did Christ at that time purify His church as described by the prophet.

But by the fact that Christ applied Malachi Three to John the Baptist’s message, and as this scripture did not meet its fulfillment at that time, it proves that John was a type of the Elijah that is to come before the coming of the “great and dreadful day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5), at which time the prophecy will be fulfilled in its fullness.”(SC, vol.1, no. 4, p.4-5)

Commenting further on Malachi 3 , the restoring Elijah message says more —

This final work for the church, being of such great importance, is still further elucidated in the prophecy of Malachi 3.

   Of this impending purge, hope-inspiring and heartening to the righteous, but terrifyingly sorrowful to the wicked, the prophet declares:  He “shall suddenly come to His temple [the church or ‘floor’],…but who may abide the day of His coming?  and who shall stand when He  appeareth?  for He is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ sope: And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the  sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver,  that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in  righteousness.” Mal. 3:1-3.

 In explanation of this scripture, the denominational publication (published and owned by the denomination as well as endorsed and used by the Sabbath School  Department throughout the world in 1929), Isaiah,  the Gospel Prophet, Vol. 3, p. 49, says: “Verse  20. [Isa. 59.] ‘The Redeemer shall come to Zion.’  This is not the coming in the clouds, but coming to the church.  And when He comes, He will do the work mentioned in Malachi 3:1-3.”

   This official exposition of the text shows that in 1929 the denomination taught that the prophecy of Malachi 3, promising a thorough work of purification, is a message to the church.(Tract 4, p.36-37)

“A message to the church”– In 1929 our church (SDA) taught that Malachi 3 was prophesying  of our church purification!

This is a classic example of how Satan has infiltrated our church and it’s teachings, we’ve gone from the real truth to false ideas and timelines. The Sunday law has been bandied about and put on such a high pedestal  as our next big event to watch for, leaving behind what we originally taught as truth–Malachi 3 predicting the church purification.

But we praise the Lord , restoration has wiped the dusty words clean and we see God’s true prophetic words in their right application to us today for hope of a powerful Holy Spirit filled Gospel proclaiming church to all the world.

So leaders like Steve Wohlberg, however sincere they may be are giving us a false path to follow, false ideas and assumptions to look for.  Let us be mindful that the Elijah prophet made clear that the Lord want’s us to —“Hear ye the Rod and Who has appointed it.”(Micah 6:9)

Thus will be the Devil’s deal while the day of God is approaching, and while Elijah is making the announcement of it as the scroll unrolls and while the prophecies concerning the day of God are being unsealed.   His work and his interpretation of the prophecies for the great day will identify him as the promised Elijah the prophet (“Testimonies to Ministers,” p. 475), and this will enrage the Devil as never before.  Nevertheless, one’s only safety will be in the teaching of Elijah, for there will be no other voice of timely Truth and authority to whom one may turn.  Any others will lead their victims blind-folded into perdition. (Gen. Conference Special, p.7-8)

Are we listening to His Rod?

To give you an idea how miserable and lost we are, an SDA sister when shown the Micah 6:9 statement, responded , “The Rod is Christ!”  Ok then let’s just have everyone call Christ– “it” (“appointed it”). Let’s get real! If we only take the time to read God’s word as it plainly says we’ll not get tripped up and snared by false ideas.

In closing my dear brothers and sisters, the Word tells us in so many areas, to expect the Lord to come unexpectedly and not how Satan has hoodwinked our leaders to explain. As we have pointed out before– history repeats itself. The Jews were looking for Christ to come another way than He actually did. Same with our standard SDA ideas and expectations today. Let’s be serious and know the –Truth.

 

 

Posted in Covenants, Elijah Interpretations | 4 Comments »

A SDA Christmas Celebration

January 2, 2016

Gay Chorus  (Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus Christmas 2014)

About three weeks ago I needed to find a book in the bookshelf and found it. Upon opening it I found an old business card from my former church. As I looked at it the thought came that I had not visited their website in a long time and should check up on what was happening there. Was  I in for an update!

The above picture  was prominently posted on their front page. The 2014 picture was to show the chorus group that was performing and the church’s “diversity” in the annual Christmas program of 2015. I was stunned. For several reasons as we’ll soon discuss, this situation within the SDA church has come out more publicly within the last few years and thus should be addressed.

As we Christians should all know, we are taught to “love the sinner, but hate the sin.” Nevertheless His word is abundantly clear on the homosexual lifestyle.

To begin, we must all know that our Christian life is to be upon the solid rock of His word. It tells us the path we must walk. So let us look at what His word says about our subject.

Leviticus 18:22 – Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it [is] abomination.

Romans 1:27 – And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Jude 1:7 –Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

His word shows that we must not entertain the idea that two men can have a relationship that involves unnatural affections one to another.

So how can we as Seventh-day Adventists claim to believe in His word and practice active support of this lifestyle by proudly presenting men that declare themselves to be of this persuasion? It can only be viewed as one word– Hypocrites.

Our own SDA public statement shows what we “officially” believe–

“Seventh-day Adventists believe that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman. This was the design established by God at creation. The Scriptures declare: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh” (Gen 2:24, NIV).

Throughout Scripture this heterosexual pattern is affirmed. The Bible makes no accommodation for homosexual activity or relationships.  Sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden (Lev 18:5-23, 26; Lev 20:721; Rom 1:2427; 1 Cor 6:911). Jesus Christ reaffirmed the divine creation intent: “‘Haven’t you read,’ he replied, ‘that at the beginning the Creator “made them male and female,” and said, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?” So they are no longer two, but one'” (Matt 19:46, NIV). For these reasons Seventh-day Adventists are opposed to homosexual practices and relationships.” (www.adventist.org)

We remember Jesus was confronted with the alleged adulteress Mary. She was an example of sexual perverted lifestyle, Jesus did not condemn her but freed her and then said “Go and sin no more”. Our Lord gave her undeserved forgiveness but with the condition to reform.

We see that forgiveness came but also the solemn responsibility to turn from her lifestyle lest she be found doing it again, thus holding in contempt the precious forgiveness granted her.

As this sin and lifestyle is described as an abomination, let us look at some of the other related abominations to the Lord.

Proverbs 17:15 – He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.

Deuteronomy 22:5 – The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God.

1 Corinthians 6:9 – Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to nor perform homosexual acts,

After finding out about the 2015 Christmas program, I then discussed it with a few brothers and sisters. Several were of the opinion that the church was wrong for promoting this. But what really caught my attention was  two sisters who gave counter views of each other. Let’s look at each and then we’ll quote some “Thus sayeth the Lord” to see which of the two is based on the sure word of the Lord.

Sister S has been a SDA member for many years. She attends services most Sabbaths. She’s considered a member in good standing. When I spoke to her concerning this she said the following–

“Well, I don’t see it as wrong. I see it as we are trying to bring all people together. Yes, we don’t condone the gay lifestyle, but we need to show we love them.”

Sister L has likewise been a long-term member and in good standing, and her response was–

“Oh no. This is not right. God’s word is clear. We should not be doing this.”

Sister L later called back to say, “I still can’t believe this. You know brother, I cried after you told me about this. We need to pray.”

There are some specific SOP references that address each of these positions. Let us see if Inspiration backs one of the sisters diametrically opposed positions.

“In vision I have been pointed to many instances where the displeasure of God has been incurred by a neglect on the part of His servants to deal with the wrongs and sins existing among them. Those who have excused these wrongs have been thought by the people to be very amiable and lovely in disposition, simply because they shunned to discharge a plain Scriptural duty. The task was not agreeable to their feelings; therefore they avoided it.” (Testimonies, vol. 3, p.266)

“The true people of God, who have the spirit of the work of the Lord and the salvation of souls at heart, will ever view sin in its real, sinful character. They will always be on the side of faithful and plain dealing with sins which easily beset the people of God.” (Same, p.266)

“Who are standing in the counsel of God at this time? Is it those who virtually excuse wrongs among the professed people of God and who murmur in their hearts, if not openly, against those who would reprove sin? Is it those who take their stand against them and sympathize with those who commit wrong? No, indeed!” (Same, p.267)

“Mark this point with care: Those who receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost, represented by a mark by the man in linen, are those “that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done” in the church. Their love for purity and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in agony, even sighing and crying. Read the ninth chapter of Ezekiel.” (Same, p.267)

“While others try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God’s honour and a love for souls will not hold their peace to obtain favour of any. Their righteous souls are vexed day by day with the unholy works and conversation of the unrighteous. They are powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity, and hence they are filled with grief and alarm. They mourn before God to see religion despised in the very homes of those who have had great light.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.210)

“The class who do not feel grieved over their own spiritual declension, nor mourn over the sins of others, will be left without the seal of God.” (Same, p.211)

“The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God–candidates for heaven. Go forward, my brethren and sisters. I can only write briefly upon these points at this time, merely calling your attention to the necessity of preparation. Search the Scriptures for yourselves, that you may understand the fearful solemnity of the present hour.” ((Same, p.216)

In closing, we see that Inspiration calls on us to “sigh and cry” for the sins done in the church. His word is too clear that no one should have any doubt as to where we must stand on this issue.

“Sodomitish Impurity—Oh, how disgusted is God with the tame, lifeless, Christless efforts made by some of those who profess to be His servants! God’s work must be carried forward strongly and upward. This cannot be done unless the sensuality that corrupts the whole man is separated from the religious experience. This work must be done.

Church members need to fast and pray, striving earnestly to overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. Not one particle of Sodomitish impurity will escape the wrath of God at the execution of the judgment. Those who do not repent of and forsake all uncleanness will fall with the wicked. Those who become members of the royal family and form God’s kingdom in the earth made new, will be saints, not sinners.” Isaiah 30:1-3, 8-16. (Testimonies on sexual behavior, adultery and divorce, p.119)

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