In our post last week we presented 25 questions on some basic topics and understandings of the Elijah message. This week we’ll go over each of the questions and present the correct answers with explanations when applicable. If you are currently studying with someone who has learned some of the message’s truth, you may want to copy this test and present it to them as a way to see where they are at.
1) Answer is C.
In explaining what the seal of God is, the point is made that the seal for us today is to know and accept God’s “present truth”. The Elijah message is our present truth, for we are the ones living right before the “great and dreadful day of the Lord “.(Mal. 4:5)
Question No. 21:
What is the seal of God upon the foreheads of the 144,000 (Rev. 7:3)? Is it the Sabbath seal or something else?
Answer:
Being sealed in Christ “with that Holy Spirit of promise,” after having “heard the word of truth” (Eph. 1:13- 4:30), the saints are consequently sealed by Present Truth—the truth preached in their own day.
“The seal of the living God,” the Truth, by which the 144,000 are sealed (Rev. 7:2), is a special seal, being the same as “the mark” of Ezekiel 9. (See Testimonies to Ministers, p. 445; Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 267; Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 211). It demands one’s sighing and crying over the abominations which defile him, and which desecrate both the Sabbath and the house of God, especially against selling literature and raising goals during Sabbath services.
As the saints have this seal or mark on their foreheads, the angels will pass over them, not slay them. It is equivalent to the blood on the door post on the night of the Passover in Egypt. The angel is to place a mark upon the foreheads of all who by sighing over their own sins, and over the sins in the house of God, show fidelity to the Truth. Then the destroying angels will follow, to slay utterly both old and young who have failed to receive the seal. (See Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 505)
So, the former seal enables the receiver to rise from the dead in the resurrection of the just, while the latter seal enables the sighing-crying one to escape death and forever to live for God.(The Answerer, vol. 2)
For an in depth report on “How to obtain the seal” of God, see here http://www.shepherds-rod.org/basic/obtain.HTML
2) Answer is A.
In 1 Kings chapter 17 to 20, Elijah’s testimony can be reviewed. It is shown as one of rebuking and warning the people of God to stop sinning and reform.
3) Answer is B.
Just as the original Elijah went to his own people, God’s own people, so did the anti-types (both John the Baptist and the last Elijah). See 1 Kings 17-20.
WORK WITHIN OR WITHOUT?
Question No. 32:
On the one hand I find your literature teaching its believers not to leave the ranks of the Mother church, while on the other hand I find it causing no end of trouble to the church. How do you reconcile your precept with your example? Why not devote your time to evangelistic efforts, bringing erring souls to the knowledge of the Truth, and let the church alone?
Answer:
Assuredly we do believe that this is no time to be pulling apart, but indeed to be pressing together. And the message which we are bearing to the church, not only does not contain any doctrine or teaching which would warrant our leaving her ranks to become a separate cult, but does on the contrary absolutely forbid our doing so. For these reasons, we have from the beginning steadfastly refused, even in the face of abusive treatment, to leave the Mother church.
So far as we are concerned, therefore, existing controversy and schism is the responsibility of the Denomination’s leading brethren and none of ours, for we are only carrying out the Lord’s express precept and example never to sacrifice Truth. And they themselves admit that we should obey God rather than men. Upon them, therefore, rests the heavy guilt of repeating the tragic folly of the Jews in Christ’s time, by rejecting the message of the hour, “entering not in themselves” into the expansion of Truth, hindering those who would enter in, and casting out those who do enter in.
So, to devote our time to evangelizing the world while neglecting the church, would be a criminal act, one of highest treason both to God and to His people. The church must first be saved from her Laodicean condition of being “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” She, not the world, is just about to be spued out. She “is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard.”-Testimonies to Ministers, p. 15.
But in her present deplorable state of blindness and destitution as exposed by the True Witness (Rev. 3:14-18), she is utterly unfit for the task assigned her, and must be rescued from her sad deception before she can become a safe refuge and a saving influence to those who would join her ranks.
Should God leave her in the Laodicean condition in which she now languishes, not only would she herself be lost but, in consequence, so also would the whole world along with her. He must therefore rouse her up or else raise up another to do the work which remains to be done.
Think, though, what an eternal joy it would be for Him to fit her up and use her to His glory, rather than to have to forsake her! So before raising up another as a last resort, He is trying to save her, and He will save her, as He promises:
“Satan will work his miracles to deceive, he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out. The chaff is separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.
None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouth. The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy ….
“The great issue so near at hand will weed out those whom God has not appointed, and He will have a pure, true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.”-B-55-1886.
Were the Lord—Who Himself when upon earth spent all His time in the exclusive endeavor to save His lost church then—to send us to the world rather than to His lost church today, He would not only be bringing in the innocent to perish with the guilty, but would also be completely reversing His own practice and contradicting His own orders to His apostles that they preach present truth to the church first (Matt. 10:5, 6).
In mercy and in consistency with His eternal procedure, therefore, He purposed that “while the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among [His] people upon earth.” This is her special work. “Then the church which…at His coming [He] is to receive to Himself will be ‘a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.”’-The Great Controversy, p. 425.
“The Lord does not now work to bring many souls into the truth,” furthermore says the Spirit of Truth, “because of the church-members who have never been converted, and those who were once converted but who have back slidden. What influence would these unconsecrated members have on new converts? Would they not make of no effect the God-given message which His people are to bear?”-Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 371.
But when the back slidden and the unconverted, the tares, are taken away, “then she will look forth ‘as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners.”’-The Great Controversy, p. 425.
Yes, the honest heathen must and will be evangelized, but “the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (Matt. 10:6) must be sought first. How thankful, therefore, and how cooperative they ought to be, and will be, when they discover that rather than being rich and increased with goods, and in need of nothing, they are actually “wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”—in need of everything- and that the Lord is waiting for them to wake up to the fact so that He can make them what they ought to be.
For these reasons, God says now to work within the Laodicean congregation rather than without. And what He says, that He means, and we dare not disobey, regardless what men may say or do. (The Answerer, vol.2)
4) Answer is B.
Page 475. “Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.” Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, when he appears, men may say: “You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message.”
Special note: Re: the word “he” — One of Satan’s all-time effective tricks is to get people to ignore the plain simple clear word of God. To put something in it’s place and to make it look like what it says is not what it means. What a deceptive path it takes us if we practice his ploy!
Ellen White brings this point out clearly, ” The language of the Bible should be explained according to it’s obvious meaning, UNLESS a symbol or figure is employed.” (Great Controversy, p.598) She also practiced what she wrote, and what she wrote ( he) she meant.
5) Answer is C.
In reviewing the EGW quote (page 475) we see that his special ability is interpreting Scripture. Which was not to be accepted by the people at large. We also notice, again, that a “he”, implying a male prophet (Elijah) was to come after her.
Note : On the “he-she” issue. As we’ve noted in prior posts, the SDA leaders left this important quote alone from it’s creation (1890) until 1962. At which time, many of the laity, had come to know about the Elijah message proclaimed by brother Houteff. So in an attempt to stiffle this pursuit of truth, they decide to add a asterisk to the statement and install their own interpretation of what she was saying, in the back of the book. This began the teaching that she was talking of herself, and that the he Ellen wrote, was meant to be a she.
6) Answer is A.
In the Tract called “The Great Controversy over the Shepherd’s Rod” http://www.shepherds-rod.org/Tracts/trac007.html the historical facts are laid out as to what the SDA leaders did upon receiving the Elijah message. There is also the below site that delves into the specifics of the one and only high level meeting between Victor Houteff and SDA leaders. You’ll me amazed at the deception practiced by our past leaders in regard to the Lord’s message.
http://mtccamp.org/ (See Secret Tribunals of the SDA)
7) Answer is B.
Question No. 133:
“The Symbolic Code” says: “Teach only that which is published.” Will you please explain whether this restriction is Intended to include Bible, Spirit of Prophecy, and “The Shepherd’s Rod” literature, all together, or just the writings of the “Rod”?
Answer:
The Bible and the books of the Spirit of Prophecy being the sole source of The Shepherd’s Rod message, therefore when the Rod is taught, the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy are taught. And since none but the Spirit of Truth who transmitted the mysteries of Inspiration can interpret them, then those who attempt to teach them without this Inspired interpretational authority inevitably fall into the forbidden practice of private interpretation (2 Pet. 1 :20)–the great evil which has brought Christendom into its present almost-boundless state of schism and consequent confusion, strife, and impotency.
As we dare not follow in such a path, we must therefore, as teachers of The Shepherd’s Rod (the official publications of the Davidian Seventh-day Association), teach only in the light of the Rod those passages which in one way or another need to be interpreted. Thus only will all Present-truth believers ever become of the same mind, seeing eye to eye and speaking the same things (1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 3:8; Isa. 52:8).
And such as do choose to engage in private interpretation are respectfully asked to desist from teaching in the name of the Rod and at its expense. Let them like honest men, teach in their own names and at their own expense. (The Answerer, vol.5)
8) Answer is C.
…. “Many had lost sight of Jesus;” and “Doubt and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere.”–Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 217.
“In other words, just as unbelief on the part of ancient Israel sent them back to wander in the desert until all the guilty had perished so in like manner unbelief in the message of Righteousness by Faith proclaimed at the Minneapolis Conference sent the Seventh-day Adventist denomination into a forty-year wilderness wandering, until 1930, with the arrival of the message, at the voice of which each must either do God’s bidding or die as did Achan and his household. May God grant that the Israel of today, the children of those who have repeated the history of Israel of old (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 160), be admonished by the mistakes of their fathers, and heed the call of the Eleventh Hour.” (The Answerer, vol. 3, p.21)
9) Answer is A.
Testimonies to Ministers, p.445.
“The names of those who are steadfastly looking and waiting and watching for the appearing of their Saviour–more earnestly and wishfully than they who wait for the morning–will be numbered with those who are sealed. Those who, while having all the light of truth flashing upon their souls, should have works corresponding to their avowed faith, but are allured by sin, setting up idols in their hearts, corrupting their souls before God, and polluting those who unite with them in sin, will have their names blotted out of the book of life, and be left in midnight darkness, having no oil in their vessels with their lamps. “Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings.”
This sealing of the servants of God is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation.”
10) Answer is B.
Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.152
“The time is coming when we cannot sell at any price. The decree will soon go forth prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save him that hath the mark of the beast. We came near having this realized in California a short time since; but this was only the threatening of the blowing of the four winds. As yet they are held by the four angels. We are not just ready. There is a work yet to be done, and then the angels will be bidden to let go, that the four winds may blow upon the earth. That will be a decisive time for God’s children, a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. Now is our opportunity to work.”
Revelation 7:1-4
“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
11) Answer is C.
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p.212
“The day of God’s vengeance is just upon us. The seal of God will be placed upon the foreheads of those only who sigh and cry for the abominations done in the land. Those who link in sympathy with the world are eating and drinking with the drunken and will surely be destroyed with the workers of iniquity. “The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”
Ezekiel 9:4-6
“Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it.” As I listened, he said to the others, “Follow him through the city and kill, without showing pity or compassion. Slaughter the old men, the young men and women, the mothers and children, but do not touch anyone who has the mark. Begin at my sanctuary.” So they began with the old men who were in front of the temple.
Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.211
“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. The Lord commissions His messengers, the men with slaughtering weapons in their hands..Here we see that the church–the Lord’s sanctuary–was the first to feel the stroke of the wrath of God.
12) Answer is A. (See same reference given in 1)
13) Answer is C. (See same references given in 11)
14) Answer is B.
The message teaches that Rev.7 sealings are the beginnings of the church judgement. This is proven by EGW’s statements that 1)Rev. 7 and Ezekiel 9 sealings (markings) are one and the same (Test. to Ministers, p.445). 2)Then when we see Rev. 7:1-4 we notice that the sealing happen BEFORE the winds are released by the four angels. What are the winds?3) EGW says they represent the trouble of the Sunday law, the mark of the beast system (Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.152).
So adding this all up, we find the Ezekiel sealings happen before the Sunday law, therefore our timeline starts with the church judgment first.
Then we know that this church judgment produces a “pure church”. Which is the only church which can give the Loud Cry. EGW proves that by saying, ” Only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One, WILL BE PERMITTED to act a part in proclaiming it (the 3rd angel message) when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry (Review and Herald, Nov.19, 1908).
Scripture describes this pure church after the judgment, “Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion, put on they beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city, for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.” (Isaiah 52:1)
In describing the above verse brother Houteff said,
“At the time this awakening call goes forth throughout the land, Inspiration announces that the harvest time has arrived for the angels to put out and to keep out of Zion and Jerusalem the uncircumcised and the unclean, a work which Inspiration variously entitles: (1) cleansing of the sanctuary (Dan. 8:14), (2) purify the sons of Levi (Mal. 3:1-3), (3) purification of the church (“Testimonies,” Vol. 5, pg. 80), (4) Judgment in the house of God (1 Pet. 4:17), (5) harvest (Matt. 13:30), casting out the bad fish from among the good fish (Matt. 13:47, 48), separating the sheep from the goats, — the Judgment for the Living.
The sinners, we know, have always been and are still among God’s people. That the fulfillment of this Scripture, therefore, is in the very near future, is shown from the fact that the truth of this chapter is now unsealed and carried to the church, endeavoring to awaken the people of God and to impress them with the fact that soon the harvest will commence — first separating the firstfruits, the 144,000 from “the house of God,” then to be followed by the second fruits from all nations (Rev. 7:9); the scripture also shows that the sinners will no longer walk with the saints and that the harvest ends the world (Matt. 13:39). Stop, think, and read over again Isaiah fifty-one and fifty-two. Do not pass hastily over this life and death subject.” (Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 38 p.22)
We also note that Rev. 7:4 shows that from ALL the tribes of Israel, there will be 144,000 sealed. EGW proves that God’s Israel today can be none other than the SDA church (Test. for the Church, vol. 9, p.164)
Also in Scripture provides evidence of the judgment and immediate events that occur after the church judgment. “They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the LORD.”But as for me, I know their actions and their thoughts. Come and gather all nations and languages, and they will come and see my glory.
And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles.” (Isaiah 66: 17:19).
In “set a sign among them”, this points out to those sealed. The “escape” is the escape of the church judgment. The “unto the nations” and “they shall declare the My glory among the Gentiles” is the going out and giving the Loud Cry to the world. Further evidence appears in verse 20 where the Lord shows the bringing in of the multitude into His ” holy mountain” in Jerusalem, Israel.
So the timeline is church judgment, Loud Cry, 7 last plagues.
15) Answer is B.
“While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape” (1 Thes.5:3).
In explaining what the end-time leaders of the church will say, Ellen White says, “..The Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His people in judgment. Thus “Peace and safety” is the cry from men who will never again lift up their voices like a trumpet to show God’s people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Test. for the Church, vol. 5, p.211)
16) Answer is B.
“And I will set a sign among them, and I will send those that escape of them unto the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan, to the isles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have seen my glory; and they shall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD out of all nations upon horses, and in chariots, and in litters, and upon mules, and upon swift beasts, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, saith the LORD, as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the LORD.And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
One interesting note about the above verse. Do you see “swift beasts”? Could that be automobiles, trucks and planes? Notice the verse is talking about riding “upon”. One can’t ride upon a swift lion, leopard, or other swift beast. Food for thought.
17) Answer is A.
There are so many verses explaining the pre-millennial kingdom, that space cannot allow. Please see this report for this upcoming earthly kingdom http://www.shepherds-rod.org/basic/kingdom.htm
18) Answer is C.
See explanation from answer 14)
19) Answer is A.
In Malachi 4:5 we read, ” Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD.”
The promise is for one Elijah to come, not more. The Scriptures prophesies no other prophet to come before the great and dreadful day of the LORD.
Sadly, this simple truth is another of Satan’s ploys, in that he has tricked some into thinking that more than one prophet is to come to the church before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. But where is this important “secret” of the Lord telling us about this prophet to come after Elijah exists in Scripture? They draw a blank and can only resort to ambiguous verses pulling them out of context.
“For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)
Ellen White also prophesies only one prophet to come after her–Elijah.(Test. to Ministers, p.475). No where in all her writings does she ever prophesie of any other to come.
20) Answer is C.
Again, the message has much evidence for this war to be over Israel. We’ll show some of the clearest in Zephaniah. “Gather yourselves together; gather together, undesirable nation, before the decree takes effect and that day passes like windblown chaff, before the LORD’s fierce anger comes upon you, before the day of the LORD’s wrath comes upon you.Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what he commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD’s anger.
For Gaza shall be deserted, and Ashkelon shall become a desolation; Ashdod’s people shall be driven out at noon, and Ekron shall be uprooted. Woe unto the inhabitants of the sea coast, the nation of the Cherethites! the word of the LORD isagainst you; O Canaan, the land of the Philistines, I will even destroy thee, that there shall be no inhabitant. (Zeph. 2:1-5)
Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.(Zeph. 3:9)
In the above we see that the “decree” will be given after the “nation” gathers itself in the holy land. It’s a people who are not popular, and in many places of the world–undesirable, hence undesirable nation. This is further identified as the land of “Gaza”, Israel in other words. The purpose is to “assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them Mine indignation”. The war is the Lord’s doing. He will “decree” it and wants His people to get the land back, amen!
21) Answer is B.
“And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.” (Matt.17:11)
22) Answer is A.
See explanation in answer 6)
23) Answer is C.
See Review and Herald, Nov. 19, 1908. Shown in answer 14)
24) Answer is C.
Our numerous posts have provided ample evidence that points to only one man that fits all the prophetic evidence-Victor T.Houteff. Please see the posts under Elijah for further study.
25) Answer is A.
See this report http://www.shepherds-rod.org/basic/kingdom.htm
Results-
Correct answers — 10 or less.
We suggest that the study of the Lord’s Elijah message become a serious priority. As of right now, you fail miserably.
Correct answers– 11 to 16
You know something about the message but not enough to be sure that you can say, “I know the sealing message.”
Correct answers– 17 to 20
You’ve got a handle on the message, but again, the 5 or more questions missed should motivate you to press a little harder to establish that firm knowledge. There is nearness to the full understanding, press on.
Correct answers– 21-25
You’ve got a real handle on the message. Keep up the work and keep striving to have the sealing message placed in the frontal lobe (seal of truth).
In closing, the purpose of this test is to find out just where we’re at. The Elijah message brings a solemn warning that we are to “strive with all power God has given us to be among the 144,000” (Review and Herald, march 9, 1908). He wants us sealed in “our” present truth. Let us forthwith make a determination to “study to show ourselves approved” (2 Tim 2:15).
The Elijah says “..God sends His Truth, not through those who are exalted and idolized by men, but through unsuspected servants; that those who do not turn from man shall fall, whereas the followers of Truth and righteousness shall live forever; that is the sacred duty of all Truth-bearers to proclaim the message to all the brethren, for if they be not awakened now, they may sleep on forever.” (Timely Greetings, vol. 1, no, 38, p.31)
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