Ezekiel

August 6, 2011

Perhaps there is no book in the Bible (except Revelation) which has so much prophetic and mysterious things of God as – Ezekiel. From visions of “wheels within a wheel, wheels with eyes” and the “dry bones rising up and speaking” just to mention a few. This book is definitely the “full course steak dinner” for the serious Bible studier 🙂  Let’s look at how this book’s prophetic words will play a VERY IMPORTANT part in these last days.

It is extremely important to understand that we, as  those living in these last days, are going to be receiving clearer light and truths that perhaps have been hidden or just plain ignored previously. The powerful light that is just now beginning to awake is the “sealing” of Revelation. Many are discovering the merging of S.O.P (Spirit of Prophecy-Ellen G. White) and scripture as regards to this sealing. Let’s look at what the prophetess of God had to say about it.

In Her book “Testimonies to Ministers” page 445  EGW gives a pointed picture of the sealing, and how it is the pure in heart who get it. At the end of the page she writes about John’s  revelation vision of the sealing  by saying ” This sealing of the servants of God IS THE SAME THAT WAS SHOWN EZEKIEL”. There is only one place in the book of Ezekiel that describes a sealing, it’s chapter 9.

This sealing is done BEFORE the four winds are let loose*. EGW describes those winds as symbolic of religious strife and persection, held back to protect and mark the 144,000. So if the sealings are one and the same, what clues can we get from Ezekiel 9?  The most obvious is that the marks or “seals” are placed on those “who sigh and cry” for the abominations done in their midst (meaning within their professed brethren). So it shows we are NOT to be going through the motions (keeping the Commandments in form only), but rather being a watchman for our brothers and sisters!

Ezekiel, as God’s prophet was called by God–“A watchman” and as such his message was primarily one of warning. We find it very interesting that God tells Ezekiel to warn the people a most important message TWICE . Anytime God says a warning 2 or 3 times you can BANK ON IT–it is IMPORTANT! Let’s see what this message was. Could God be giving it in Ezekiel because HE KNEW that His seal was to be connected to this warning message? Yes, I think so.

In (Ezekiel 3:19) we read “If thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered thy soul”  Again the Lord says in (Ezekiel 33:9) ” Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it, if he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but thou hast delivered they soul” .

So we can see that the Lord provided key guidance in those warnings on “what” we are to do in these last days. Is not our Lord the searcher of hearts? Infact if I had to give him a job desciption, it would be just that–Searcher of Hearts. He KNOWS whether you are going through the motions and saying ” Oh I love the Lord, He’s so good” then the next day, for example, at Sabbath service you embrace a fellow member YOU KNOW is having a fornicating or homosexual relationship and say ” Oh my friend so nice to see you, Lord bless you”—-Falseness!!  And like a reader of this blog recently said ” You can’t FOOL God”. You may people though!

Now I am not under any illusion, being a watchman will make you, many times –unpopular. But look at what Paul said about this (Gal 1:10) “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ”.

Infact, when we warn our brothers or sisters, we are indeed caring for their souls. It is THEIR welfare we are desiring. This is what pleases our Lord! But sadly, we will in many cases see in a most clearly exposed way(when we warn them)–whether they want to walk uprightly or please God their own way. If they get upset with us or angry, it shows CLEARLY they don’t want the truth. They want to “come in another way”. It CANNOT be. God’s word is truth and all who ABIDE by it WILL BE SAVED. Sadly though scripture is clear–“Few find it”, or unbelievably–even WANT IT.

In summary, let’s let God know He can “count us in” for his truth by living it , proclaiming it, and WARNING when we need to.

In Christ, Rob

* There is a more in depth study of this vision if desired, let me know

Posted in Ezekiel | 8 Comments »

Prison Ministry Update

July 30, 2011

A few weeks ago I wrote a post called “From a Prison Cell” (listed under Witnessing). About how a prisoner named Eldon who was doing God’s work among his own fellow prisoners. My heart was gladdened this week as I read his latest letter. Let me share the good tidings.

Because he is under a “security system” there are many different checkpoints things must go through (including letters) before they can reach the individual prisoners. We had talked about me sending the two-part DVD set called “The Lord’s Day” to the prison to show the men a great video on the truth about the Sabbath. Finally after several weeks he has indicated we are on go for me to send it out. It’ll go through review then get forwarded to the Chaplin to arrange a showing. Praise the Lord, that powerful Sabbath tool will be seen by these hungry souls (spiritually).

There were several highpoints in his letter. He mentioned that he taught the Sabbath lesson (which was after the sermon). He was aware that some of my dear brothers and sisters would like to pen-pal with a prisoner, in hopes of strengthing them in their faith. As we know Jesus said HE WAS IN PRISON, remember? He wanted to know- did you visit Him?

 So he expected a couple hands to go up. NINE went up! You see, we must understand that these souls are hungry and lonely. Yes, they screwed up, but haven’t we all? Our Lord knows that some really want to get straight and if they reach out (Like Eldon) and seek the Lord, they will find Him right there  in prison!

Eldon also said he is getting ready to give next week’s sermon (pray for him) and it will be on — how keeping the Commandments are the result of KNOWING Jesus, not works of ourselves. When I read things like this from this prisoner I realize God shows His truth to any and all no matter their circumstances, they just gotta want to know it! Eldon is being given good light in which to lead his fellow inmates- Praise the Lord!

Now, that brings me to ask if any one who’s heart is touched wants to write one of those spiritually hungry hands that went up, let me know. I have 9 names and addresses. 2 people (responders of the last post) will be writing to two of them.

  in Christ, Rob

Posted in Prison ministry updates, Witnessing | 6 Comments »

Teachable Spirit

July 23, 2011

Being a professed teacher of the things of the Lord, there perhaps is no more fulfilling words to hear than “I want to learn and am a teachable spirit”. Those that possess this Spirit are whom the Lord delights. But the ones who say this must know (Isaiah 8:20) completely in their heart, for this is the GREAT STANDARD all teachers are judged. ” To the Law and to the Testimony, if they speak not these words, it is because they have no light in them”.

Once we know this standard for the teachers of Christ, we can look back upon history and see that the some of the teachers who were VERY popular in the world didn’t believe in the standard. They spoke a most solid message EXCEPT with subtle but important errors. Men like Martin Luther *  and Billy Graham * come to mind. But their comtemporaries–Oswald Glait , Andreas Karlstadt (during Luther’s time) and Joe Crews, all well known in their own time and taught at the same time,  yet never got the world wide following that these got. They taught the standard.

In (James 3:1) we read “My Brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgement”. These are stern and warning words that our teaching must be the truth. Our Lord does tell us that there is GREAT REWARD for the righteous teachers (Matt 5:19) “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of the Commandments and teaches others to do so, shall be called least in the kingdom of God, but whoever does and TEACHES THEM, he shall be called great in the kingdom of God”. Here the Lord equates Commandment teaching with “greatness”. This is something us teachers must always remember!

One of the greatest obstacles we as teachers face is pride. It truly saddens me when I try to show someone the truth according to scripture and it goes against their belief or learning they have been told. But when it comes to the opposite situation my joy is great– a open and humble “teachable spirit”. Let me give you a recent example. Her name is Teri.

In my post recently called “If we talk the talk, we must walk the walk” I tried to give a helpful guide to a righteous walk before the Lord. She received the post and was blessed by it. In her excitement she sent it off to her pastor. A SDA pastor no less. She was in mild shock when she received his response. In it he said some was good but alot was “legalistic”, sort of like the teachings of the Pharisees in Jesus’ time. Huh?  This was the same response Teri had. Teri wasted no time and sending an email back correcting him according to scripture (Ezekiel 3:19) “If you warn the wicked, and he does not turn  from his wickedness, nor turn from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you shall have delivered your soul”.

 Wow. I feel like Jesus did when the centurion so impressed Him with his words. She is really the example of a teachable spirit. Being in the Holy Spirit she reconized the post and the truth it was saying and was warmed by it. She didn’t cower and meekly “accept” his reproof. I honestly fear for people like this pastor. It shows me something is seriously amiss. When we teach that to obey the Commandments is VERY important and that we should teach others, and people find fault in it, I seriously become concerned.

I am also reminded of this very important point. In (John 14:26) we read “But the helper, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring remembrance, whatsoever I have said to you”.  Here we see that it is the Holy Spirit who is our primary teacher.

The Holy Spirit is indeed helping us and giving us “Discernment” to know the truth and falsehood.Those who are secretly cherishing sins in their life CANNOT expect to have this clear discernment. As we let go of our sins, our vision and understanding of “Holy” things of God get more clear. I know in my own walk, as I have let go of my idols and many sins, my understanding of God’s word and truth is really clearer than anytime before.

In (Mal 2:7) God points out how the teachers (priests) should be  teachers of His Law (Holy 10 Commandments) “For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, and people should seek the LAW from his mouth, for he is a messenger of the Lord of hosts.” 

Lastly, as a teacher, one of the most important things to remember is we must NEVER ignore questions directed to us.  This shows us to be either ignorant, prideful, or careless. All definitely not Christ like qualities.

So let us desire to use (Isaiah 8:20) as our guideline if we desire to teach. Praying often that we never think we have all the truth and can’t learn. Ellen White has said we will ever be learning new truths through out eternity, I can’t wait to know the vast truths that exist, I want to be a “teachable spirit”    amen.

In Christ, your servant, Rob

*  Many are well familar that pastor Graham taught Sunday was the Holy day of God. As far as Luther, it is well known among historians that he was anti- Sabbath as well http://concordiatheology.org/2010/05/luther%E2%80%99s-writing-against-emerging-sabbatarianism/

Posted in Christian walk, Proper teachings | 21 Comments »

If we talk the talk, we must walk the walk

July 9, 2011

As many know, the last book of God’s word describes those who will be saved (Rev. 22:14) ” Blessed are they that DO His Commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life”.

The Lord  guided me to do this post to more throughly show examples of keeping His Commandments. To get a clearer view on what it means to “Walk the walk”. When it was recently revealed to me about the 144,000 ( post “The 144,000” listed under Salvation), it really sent me to do some soul searching and to realign my path to help bring the truth out more fully and seriously. Partial obedience WILL NOT satisfy. It is of the DEEPEST concern for our spiritual welfare to know what is required of us.

Jesus said few will enter into the eternal kingdom. Ellen White (our last Prophetess) said the same thing. They are not lying. So we must have a healthly fear (reverence) and look at our lives and ask–  Am I doing enough to be found worthly of His kingdom?  As we read above,  His word makes it clear His Commandments are key. The following guide will make it very plain to examine your life to see if you are indeed DOING His Commandments and not just going through the motions. Let us break down the “walk”.

#1   “Love the Lord your God with all your heart , mind and soul”

Are you doing these things— Reading His word daily?  Praying daily?  Telling people about Him daily  or at least very frequently?Do you pray frequently a similar prayer as this?  “Father, help me to keep your Holy Commandments, and if I error please let me know about it”.  If you are, you’re well on your way to doing  the first one.

#2   “No other God’s before Him, or worship Idols”

Do you have a certain hobby or pursuit that constantly is taking most of your spare time?  Are you placing objects or persons before Him?   We must be careful to use our time wisely and not devote our spare time to continually putting things or even loved ones in front of  our Lord.  Let me give you an example.

Let’s say your spouse has worked hard for a long time in pursuit of a certain degree. Their graduation is next Saturday. They are excited to “finally” get the degree. You think long and hard about attending, you say to yourself   ” It’s just this once, God will understand, I’ll go”.   No!  You have now put your spouse BEFORE God. This is particulary bad  because it’s a “premeditated sin”. If you make little “exceptions” like this and put people or things in front of Him, you are carelesly tossing aside His word- not good!

Read (Numbers 15:32) for alittle story of a man who put his family before God and His Law (harmlessly collecting sticks, so he thought). And he didn’t get a second chance!

#3   “Do not take His name in vain”

This is pretty clear cut but what many don’t realize is the following. When you HEAR someone in your presence take the Lord’s  name in vain you MUST correct Him. If you do not, YOU have just silently agreed with what they have done. You don’t have to go into a sermon with them , it can be a simple  “You know it’s better to say Jeepers Creepers”   and leave it at that. Ofcourse they may want more info, and it’ll be  a chance to spread His word!(that’s why it’s a good idea to have cards with your  name and number with you-for studies)

#4   “Keep the Sabbath Holy”

By keeping it “Holy” it is meant that we are not to do our normal activities (work, pleasure and such). This Is the Lord’s Day. It’s amazing how often He called it  “My Sabbaths”  in the Old Testament. Proper worship and respect is our duty for this day. But some think ” Oh, I’ll run to the store real quick and buy that little item I forgot to get for lunch” No!  Or they will say ” I’ll stop at the gas station because I forgot to do it yesterday, He’ll understand”. No!   These “little” things are NOT LITTLE to God. You  might as well go to the keg party because in God’s sight YOU JUST DID! 

 Read again the little sticks story (Numbers 15:32-36). If you continue to do these little breaks here and there, you’ll be grieving the Holy Spirit.

#5   “Honor your Father and Mother”

This one isn’t a part-time one when YOU feel like it. It mean always honoring them. You don’t yell at them or generally dis-respect them. Here’s an example.  Your Father promised to help you on that loan payment, but he didn’t do so. Father’s day is coming up in a couple days. You say to yourself  ” Forget him! He doesn’t deserve any call from me!”  That would be bad to the Lord. Instead you should swallow your pride and call him anyway. Honoring takes precedence over “our” feelings.

#6   ” Do not murder”

Thankfully we need not worry (almost  everyone) about the “literal” act of doing this. But the spiritual one , explained by our Lord (Matt 5:21-22) is where we shouldn’t get into  heated exchanges with people. Murder in our eyes is considered as “breaking” this Commandment.

#7  “Do not commit adultery”

Again this one is pretty clear cut. But it would include “any” sex outside of marriage. Because His word says fornicators will not be allowed in the God’s Kingdom (Eph 5:5).

#   “Do not steal”

This one is wider than many think. For example if you hire someone to do work for you and you short-change him in what’s right for the work he did–you have “stolen” labor from him. You see how this has ALOT of variations? When you go to do your taxes DO NOT short change the government. If you do, you have stolen from the government. Remember Jesus said “render what is Ceasars  to Ceasar and to God what is God’s” (Luke 20:25). This one really requires you keep a mindful watch that you do not steal.

#9     ” Do not bear false witness against your neighbor”

This one I believe comes up the least often. But when someone does it , it is really bad to the Lord. It covers lying AGAINST someone.  Not just the typical lying that is done. Although that is called an abomination to God (Prov. 12:22)

#10    ” Do not covet”

This is another of those wide open ones. It covers ALOT. We must be careful that we don’t want, want, want.  We can want money, things, people’s approval over God’s approval, etc. above and beyond what we truly need. The ultimate breaker of this one was Satan. He wanted (coveted) worship, power, exaltation. His coveting was his undoing. So we too must be sure we aren’t coveting. This is a sneaky one , for sure!

Hopefully this is a good guideline for your “walk” and possibly it has made you aware of some little things that are really BIG things to God.. The Lord doesn’t want ANY to miss His kingdom. But His pardon for you and I meant we are given a clean slate. The Holy Spirit comes in and helps us walk uprightly. We dare not go on messing our clean slate  up (continual sinning) if we truly love Him(John 14:15) and want to be called into His Kindom.Remember we are told we only have two duties (Ecc 12:13) “Fear God and keep His Commandments”. The “fear” part comes in when we don’t want to do those little “breakings” for fear our walk will not be right with Him.Let us go to bed each night knowing we did our best according to His word.

 In Christ,  Rob

Posted in Christian walk, Commandments | 10 Comments »

“Let our works save us”

June 25, 2011

Unbelievably as this sounds, many believe this today, even unbeknownest to themselves. Some think they can earn their way to heaven. But it is a very “sneaky” trap by the devil. Let us look at this most close delusion of the truth.

Keep this most revelant scripture in mind as you read this (Ezekiel 33:13) “When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in HIS OWN righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered, but because of the iniquity that he has committed , he shall die”. Here it basically says that righteous works MUST be according to His word not done by what WE think is right.

I have know “Jan” (her name has been changed) since about 2004. She and her husband run a ministry for poor and dis-advantaged children and families. It’s an actual real life building and large property and is well known through out the area. I had been a regular donater. About a year ago, the Lord had inspired me to contact her via email to let her know about my walk with the Lord and to possibly shed some new light to her as well.

I was well aware of her fine minstry, as I often received their monthly mailer telling of individual heart moving stories of dis-advantaged families and the children’s plight and sometimes their success in finding Jesus. I was moved on more than a few of them. So it was with a real hope and desire I contacted her to see if it was possible that they might be able to teach the kids about God’s Holy Day-the Sabbath.

So I heard from her and we agreed to do a “online bible study”. As I usually do , I first explained how God gave me a direct sign at the end of my first Sabbath. I felt it is good to let people know I am not “raised” a Sabbath keeper, so I don’t have a prejustice to it. I SAW God’s hand work and His sign letting me know His Sabbath is for real. She appreciated it and our study began.

God had given me this vision of her big ministry bringing the many kids into the light of the Sabbath. But as the study went on, my soul became more despondent. For all the many truths I showed her was like water on a duck’s back. It just flew right off her. God knows I really tried. I poured out my spirit in trying to show her the “truth”. But she continued to refuse the light, she was steadfast in her reasoning that “The Sabbath wasn’t biblical” as she put it. This got me to thinking -what was exactly going on in this woman’s head?

Recently, with another person I know making this same error, I felt it was time to bring awareness to this very “real looking” deception.It has to do with “works”. In the book of James we learn how works is a MUST in our Christian walk. (James 2:17) “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone”. The BIG PROBLEM is when we think “our” works can replace works that glorify God.

So I got to thinking about “Jan’s” situation. I mean here is this lady who is doing VERY GOOD things in the name of the Lord. Providing a most gracious giving enviroment for the dis-abled and dis-advantaged. YET she has turned downed the LIGHT God showed her through me, His servant. What are we to make of this?? Let me tell you the God’s truth in this matter.

Many remember the Saul story. Israel’s first king. In the book of Samuel, we learned that Samuel had told Saul( at God’s specific direction) to go into this evil village and destroy EVERYTHING, leave nothing or no one alive. Saul agreed. But Saul became presumptous. Instead of doing as God instructed through His Prophet Samuel, Saul decide to “spare” the finest animals as HIS SACRIFICE to the Lord . BIG  BIG MISTAKE! Saul in effect decided HIS way was better than God’s word. God was very upset and was grieved!

This story has BIG implications for us. In (Samuel 15:22) we read “…to OBEY is better than sacrifice..”  This is a profound statement. That means God want’s  us to obey rather than sacrifice ANYTHING! That means our time , our money, our anything! Is that not what Jan is doing? She is in effect saying “God, I won’t  obey your Commandments BUT here’s what I will do. I’ll do many good works for you, “sacrifice” my time and devote my life to doing good works in your name”. She has placed BIG FAITH in her works pleasing God. Is it really? Instead can we not see how God’s face would smile if she did these works IN ADDITION to obeying His word! Wow, that would be the ticket!!

Many today are saying “We are close to the Lord, look at all the things we do for Him”. Yet the very next Sabbath they can be found shopping at the mall, or watching the ballgame. Just trampling HIS Holy day and making it of no effect! His word means nothing, their works have justified them, so they think.

Sadly, a most fitting scripture describes these people (Romans 10:3) ” For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness have not SUBMITTED to the righteousness of God”. His holy 10 Commandments is  His ultimate “righteousness”.

For kind of a last word to Jan I told her this. “Jan, suppose I am right and that God really does want His Commandments kept. Do you think if you’ll die, He will say ‘Jan, you did a foolish thing, you kept those old outdated Commandments, sorry you can’t come into my Kingdom”?  Ofcourse not.

To summarize, let us always remember that “our” works are to be done as “supplement works” AFTER   “His”  great Commanded works-His Holy 10 Commandments!   In Christ, Rob

Posted in Commandments | 5 Comments »

From A Prison Cell

June 11, 2011

Many years ago a guy named Eldon was a sitting duck for demonic angels. He was continually  breaking God’s Commandments. The lusts of this world was his passion. But for some these satanic demons break loose and really control their host. As scripture says (1 Peter 5:8) “Be sober and vigilant, your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. When one ignores this word of God and becomes NOT sober and vigilant, terrible things can happen.

But I am talking about the “old” Eldon. The one who has been destroyed and no longer lives. There is a new Eldon whom it is my delight to tell about. Let’s look at this GREAT turnaround.

I often receive much Christian literature during the week. I enjoy reading the latest in God’s work. About 2 months ago an article caught my eye. It was from a 3abn magazine about a prisoner who had been watching 3abn and became alive in knowing about the “true” gospel of  Jesus Christ. His eyes and ears became open and truths such as the Sabbath became very clear and real to him. He became a changed man.

You see once we receive and understand God’s REAL TRUTH we become as His word says (John 8:32) ” You shall KNOW the truth and the truth shall make you free”. Free indeed! Even a locked up man  is now free! He has peace and comfort knowing that every day that goes by is another chance to work for God in his short “mist of time”, compared to eternity! And Jesus , the great counter, adds them up and rewards every one according to his work.

So as I read this story the words of the Lord came into my mind (Matt. 25:36) “…I was in prison and you came to visit me”. I tried to picture myself “IN HIS SHOES”. I wondered was anyone reaching out to this guy? Here he was telling this great turnaround story, the LEAST I could do was to write and encourage him. (Luke 22:32) “….When you are converted, strengthen your brothers.”  I am a converted “new” man and therefore our Lord says to make strong our brothers. This was something I decided to do.

So I wrote him and basically told him I was with him in spirit and how happy I was for him to have found God’s truth. He no longer had to search around for the “true” gospel of Christ–He KNEW it! At first, after 3 or 4 weeks and not hearing back from him, I began to think ” Well, I haven’t heard anything , maybe I said something, or it got lost”. Then his response came.

My spirit soared  as I read his lengthly letter. He told of how he is working among the 1350 men in his prison to show the truth to men who are hungry for it. How he has been tranformed from that old sinful man to a new creature of God. It became clear to me that all he needed was alittle “outside” help ( in the form of literature, DVD’s, and such) then he would be armed in spiritual material to make even more headway in winning some souls in there.

After reading that first letter back I knew God had placed a small job before me. Afterall what is 2 or 3 hours of our life every month to reach out to a brother who is ready and willing to do God’s work in a prison! Praise the Lord, for men like Eldon! The following are some writings from Eldon.

He writes  ” Do you think your church or any groups in your area would consider adopting us as a mission site”? There’s an awful lot we could do here with just alittle  outside help. There are so many souls on the line here and these men need to discover God’s truths in their own bibles.”

So it is with hope and prayer  I’d like to ask if any of you would like to become a pen pal and spiritual helper for someone in prison. Eldon  can provide names of some of the guys who would be very thankful even to just hear a “hello, how you doing” note.

Our Lord knows these men have made some wrong decisons but they can be helped and eventually brought into God’s kingdom!  Amen!

Posted in Prison ministry updates, Witnessing | 6 Comments »

” The 144,000 “

May 28, 2011

Recently many in the world braced for a startling “end of the world” as we know it on May 21, 2011.  The false prophet Harold Camping AGAIN was wrong in predicting the end of the world or in  his words the ” rapture” of 200,000,000. Yet far from being the end of the world, instead  it would be a monumental day in my Christian walk. I would be  “stunned” by the end of that day. The Lord told me something beyond doubt that would shock me, but it WAS CLEAR and has greatly affected me. I must share this in a spirit of hope but also stern warnings.

I must tell you upfront,   due to the most important nature of this message it will be the longest I have ever posted .

Last week I posted on another site, how apostle John,  and how God had trusted him to write His last book to humanity(Revelation). It would be the “deep” things of God, which God knew John understood and was worthy to write. Of those deep things, possible the most mysterious and baffling is the subject of the 144,000 sealed “servants”. I was not unlike the many who were stumped as to the direct meaning of this. So I have prayed for a while “Lord, is that a literal number or a symbolic one, please guide me as to the correct understanding of this?”  I didn’t forget to remind Him I wanted the truth on this matter, for it was growing more  and more of a concern. Let me tell you why it concerned me.

The Lord works things out in His perfect way.When I was a
baby SDA member, I remember being asked by “oldtimers” of the church to go to lunch at the local restaurant. Thinking nothing of it, I said sure. Later as my walk developed I learned it was a “bad” thing to do on the Sabbath- buy and sell (Nehemiah 10:31). So then I scratched my head and wondered  — how is it that these people who have been Seventh Day Adventist for so long think nothing of breaking God’s CLEAR instruction on keeping His Holy Day–HOLY?”   That bothered me. His word was ignored for their “customs”.

Then later as I began to become familiar with the church and the people,  I discovered many would not keep their word with me. We would talk and agree to do something and I would notice nothing would come about what we discussed. As if we never discussed it! I didn’t feel right about reminding them so I just blew it off. It was the motivation for my post “Just how important is our word?”  listed under “keeping our word” on www.oursword.blogspot.com in Feb. of this year. This also greatly bothered me.

Believe me I am far from being perfect, but I do believe in the basic good principles of keeping my word and GOD’S WORD. These two CANNOT be compromised! As I let go of my Idols (things I put before the Lord) I can see sin clearer and clearer and my walk grows.  I have hid in my heart the following words of God  (Isaiah 59:2-3) “But your sins have seperated you from your God , so that He will not hear you. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity, your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered unrighteousness.” God CANNOT listen if we insist on doing unrighteousness.

Then the MOST disturbing thing happened about a month ago. One of our local churches , the Desert Hot Springs Seventh Day Adventist church, I learned owned a large property next door to the church. As I happened to be driving by it, it occured to me to stop by one of the businesses that was in the large property the church owned. It was a chiropractor office. I got their number from the sign and I called and asked ” Are you guys opened on Saturday?”   They said  “Yes we are”. I said thanks and hung up. I was in mild shock and many thoughts ran through my mind.

As I was driving down the road after I heard that I couldn’t contain myself and wept. I felt so sad and devestated for our Lord. Here was His “professed” people telling people to keep His holy Laws and His Sabbath yet profaning His Holy day right in front of His face!!  The words of His Commandment “within your gates” are dead words to that churches leaders.

The Lord was watching all this. What I would do?, how I would respond to these abominations? HE REMEMBERED MY EARNEST PRAYER! The 144,000. He would not let me down and would answer this BEYOND DOUBT.

I did not know this scripture ( Ezekiel 9:4) “…set a mark upon the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof “. But I soon was to know in a big way.On the eve of May 21, I prayed again to know the truth of the 144,000. Because I had been thinking that just maybe this was the actual saved “servants” number somehow(within the SDA in these last days),  due to all the unrighteousness I was witnessing in our SDA churches. The next morning (Sabbath) I got two signs CONFIRMING it was a real literal number. But the clincher was a sermon the Lord guided me to hear. It was SO CLEAR I must tell you IT IS A MUST TO HEAR!  If you never listen to anything else I say PLEASE listen to this. Your salvation may very well depend on what is discussed in it because it applies to today’s truth for those professing the Lord.

If anyone who is of the SDA faith say’s that the sealing of Ezekiel and Revelation are not one and the same sealing, then they do not   believe Ellen White’s words were inspired of God, plain and simple. That means ALL her words cannot be relied upon. We cannot pick and choose.

The sermon is called “The 144,000, who are they?” you can order this free CD, and some other end time CD’s from this site http://www.11th-hourministries.org/audio/cd_request.html or if you prefer, you can listen now online to it here http://shepherds-rod-speaks.org/2010/11/the-144000-who-are-they/ 

The speaker , brother Glenroy Matthews ,  ties in beautifully Ezekiel, Revelation and Ellen White’s writings (I believe she was indeed a Prophetess).I found NO ERROR in this sermon (believe me I even triple checked it’s references). It reveals truths that  many in their wildest dreams aren’t  aware of. The truth I have learned is that Ellen White said that the Revelation sealing and Ezekiel 9:4 sealing are ONE AND THE SAME!

But our Lord had been watching me observe so much sin and error of the people around me that He knew I was ready for these truths. I now am called by God to share it without compromise. I feel a sense of power yet BIG responsiblity because THERE IS HOPE but also a most serious warning I must give.

The next night I got a dream (further confirmation). In it I am helping someone find a key to a locked room, someone gives me a large book, it has alot of numbers and many pages. I quickly scan down to the middle of page and find the right number which helps find the key. The people are amazed and so am I.  The Lord was telling me I have a new “key of truth”. a very hard to find important truth that I must use to help people open their hearts and mind to the truth.

Now, I would like to reveal more of what I have been shown. Basically God has two people in the world right now . The “gamers” and the “non-gamers”, meaning that the gamers are those professing and trying to follow His word(varying degrees of success). The non-gamers are out of the stadium, not even “trying” to keep His word, they don’t care and are sold out to the lusts of this world.

Of all the gamers, He is watching closely the ones who have “the truth” in the form of His Laws. This defintely would be the Seventh Day Adventists. They know above all other denominations the “truth” as said in scripture. BUT  because of this truth known  by these people there is a big responsiblity and accountabilty to the Lord. Once we know about the Sabbath and His Commandments, we must keep it holy and WALK IN THEM.

And here is the most important part of this whole message   WE  MUST  HATE  SIN!  Let me repeat that   WE  MUST  HATE  SIN!  For God knows we truly love Him if we hate sin, because when we do, we are professing we LOVE RIGHTEOUSNESS. Ellen White nails it when she wrote “The Lord abhors indifference and disloyalty in a time of crisis”. She also said (desribing the end times) of God’s people “They will feel most strongly the wrongs done by God’s professing people”.

The STARTLING truth I have been told is that you must “sigh and cry” for sins you see and hear. Admonishment MUST come from you if you are made aware of sin. For by doing so you are no longer connected to it and can “save” yourself from that sin.

I certainly was hurt by the what is done by that church and made attempts to contact the general conference and let them know. The man in charge,  I was told was a Ernest Furness ( Ministerial Director) I spoke to him over two weeks ago and he said he would check into it–nothing back from him yet. for some reason I don’t think I will hear ANYTHING back!  My point is I will not sit idley by and play the fiddle while Rome burns.

So we must not go through the motions in these last days, for the Lord spoke the truth when He said (Matt 7:14) ” ..Straight is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and ‘few’ (the translation here in greek is puny, which means very tiny)  will find it.”

The 144,000 sealed servants of God will come from the Commandment keeping people and will then go out and save people (Called the Great Multitude in Revelation)  from the “babylon”(False teaching Churches)  to bring in the total saved before the Sunday law takes effect (mark of the beast).So God’s church will be “purified” and a “clean vessel” to go out and do His final work.

Please be zealous my friends, like my friends at www.keepnotsilent.com they are out in the field watching and protecting God’s word and Laws. We will make it, be assured,  IF we love Him with all our heart and walk in His Laws and hate sin. We call it out and let Him know we can be counted on to try to go out and keep the wayward from dying. This is TRUE LOVE, to warn a wayward soul!   Amen.   Ps. the sermon will tell you much more truth about the 144,000.     in Christ,  your servant Rob

Posted in Salvation, Who are the 144K? | 10 Comments »

The promises of the Sabbath

May 14, 2011

When God set a weekly day aside for us He made a most joyful day, a truly spiritually uplifting day! For Isaiah was truly spirit filled when he said ( Isaiah 58:13) ” If you keep your foot from doing your own pleasure ON MY HOLY DAY, and call it a delight and honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways , or speaking your own words, THEN you will delight yourself in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride among the high places of the earth…”   In this scripture we find a summary of  what the Sabbath has to offer. If we heed this word of God, HE WILL FULFILL HIS PROMISE.

You’ll notice in the above word, we are told to basically “keep it holy” . That means to look at our day with our Lord as SPECIAL. We should start it with a long shower, for cleanliness is godliness. Then we should dress respectful EVEN IF WE ARE ALONE. All these things we are doing to show God we HONOR Him on His day, a day HE HAS BLESSED.

Once we look  to honor HIM, He then pours out His BLESSINGS on us. In (Ezekiel 20:20) we are given A GREAT PROMISE! How many would like to KNOW, I mean REALLY KNOW  that the Lord is really your God, that you know Him and  feel Him and walk with Him? Well just look at this promise ” KEEP my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a SIGN between us. THEN (here’s your promise) YOU WILL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD”   Wow, the ultimate promise– we get to KNOW HIM!!

Many through-out history have neglected this simple and plain instruction of God –  Do  NOT  do  your  own  pleasure  or ways  on MY DAY.  They “mix” this day with worship and their own ways–talking about their personal business, world’s problems, going shopping, to a restaurant, etc.  Are there  not SIX DAYS in the week to do this??

Look at how serious our Lord watches His people observe His Sabbaths.(Numbers 15:32-36)  A man was simply going outside of camp to collect sticks on the Sabbath. The Lord instructed the people that he must die. He was to be an example of  not doing our own ways or pleasures and to keep HIS DAY holy. We do well to remember this drastic example for it shows how serious our Lord watches our obedience. Many don’t understand that we profane the Lord when we trample His HOLY Laws.

That brings me to today. Look around and observe the absolute TRAMPLING of His holy day today by so called “Christians”. Is it not because the “pastors” and “priests” are teaching the people to go ahead and disregard HIS DAY? Again God’s word describes this terrible thing (Ezekiel 22:36) ” Her priests do violence to My Law and profane my Holy things. They do not distinguish between the Holy and the common. They teach that there is no difference between the clean and unclean and they shut their eyes to MY SABBATHS, so that I am profaned among them”.

So His blessings are not received by the people, they walk in darkness, never knowing the bliss and holiness they can feel and experience by OBEYING HIS WORD. Infact we are told that God works on us every Sabbath, making us holier and cleaning us up.He PROMISES to sanctify us. (Exodus 31:13)”… My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you through out your generations, that YOU MAY KNOW that I am the Lord WHO SANCTIFIES YOU”.

If you are not keeping the Sabbath Holy I plead with you to do it. Please don’t go through the motions, do it RIGHT! I was a typical ” in the dark” person who thought the ‘Sabbath” was an old Jewish tradition, something us Christians don’t need  UNTIL I TRIED IT!Then as I learned more and more (how to keep it holy) My joy became greater, my appreciation and closeness to Him became greater!   There is nothing like blindly trusting and following God’s word, EVEN IF YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND IT. You will completely,  if you believe and follow His word,  amen.

Posted in Sabbath | 7 Comments »

Hal Holbrook’s “The Seventh Day”

April 30, 2011

In these last days God’s truth is being revealed in an amazing way. Many websites and even U-Tube offer occasional nuggets of brilliant truth. I have see one such awesome piece of work, surely  divinely directed by God, called “The Seventh Day” narrated by Mr. Hal Holbrook( on this site- www.sabbathtruth.com)

 the highly acclaimed actor. It is compiled by legions of religious scholars around the world. Very factual with only documented “true” pieces of evidence used.

What  I found fascinating (and learned) was the degree in which Satan has lead his evil workers to destroy NOT Sunday keepers but SABBATH KEEPERS through the church history.  When I often heard about the reformation, I would automatically think  Christians were persecuted with no particular prejudices and such. How wrong I was! The obeying and keeping of the Sabbath is what enraged Satan! The film will PROVE that to you beyond doubt.

There is SO MUCH to  be learned, such as the story of St.Patrick. Many think he was a “Roman Catholic”. He was not. He was a “Celtic Christian” who kept the Sabbath. Infact his Sabbath keeping became legendary. Many think he was divinely visited by an angel during Sabbaths (in human form). And look what the devil has done. He has turned this true saint of God into a “party saint”!

Then there is the truth revealed about Martin Luther. How many of you know that Luther was AGIANST Sabbath keepers? Although he rightly gets alot of credit for expanding the reformation, he was in grave error with some of his teachings. He often argued with his contemporary Andreas Carlstadt. Carlstadt was steadfast in keeping the Sabbath along with his reformation teachings. Has  HIS name became well known in history? No. Infact evidence shows Luther ended one of his letters with the following  ”  this letter may protect his friend against the Sabbatarians, and that he may preserve his Christian faith in purity”. (Source- J.N. Andrews-see below).

So there really was TWO reformations  that happened. One was led by Luther and gang. Teaching to “break away” from the mother church, hence protest which became the name “Protestant”. They taught that the Roman Catholic system of worship was not by the Bible EXCEPT that it’s day of worship “Sunday” was(??) Carlstadt and many others   taught that the mother church was in error in many respects INCLUDING eliminating the Sabbath  for Sunday as  God’s day of worship.

How many are aware that the original “Baptist’s” were Sabbath keepers? Today the Baptist church has largely  “forgotten” the one Commandment our Lord said to remember!

Perhaps the highlight of the film comes in part 4. It sure did make me well up, I’ll tell  you. In the late 1400’s the Russian reformation was gaining ground, lead by a few courageous leaders, one of whom was Ivan Kuritzyn. The reformation was largely lead by Sabotniks (Sabbath Keepers), They wanted to return the people to God’s Holy Day. It didn’t take long before the devil and his workers gathered up their forces (through Roman Catholic leaders in Russia). Trials began because of the supposed “heresy”. Then in the early 1500’s Ivan and some of the reformers were ordered burned at the stake.

History will repeat itself in this regard, the Sunday keeping “Christians” will persecute the Sabbath keeping Christians, who keep the Commandments of God.

The film shows the stately Ivan being walked to his cage, his hands tied. He is about to give the “greatest love” one can give according to our Lord (John 15:13) “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”. Ivan was ready to lay down his life for his friend, our Lord Jesus Christ. As Ivan is put into the cage he says ” I pray that I can die a noble death today”  ” I will die today because I have observed the seventh day of the week as the holy Sabbath day of God”. Then as they start to light the straw around his cage he looks up and says ”  I  Die   today for  love  of  Christ  ——  AND—-   HIS—–  WORD!   Then amidst the flames the scene goes black. Stunning drama and love given to our Lord!

It is truly amazing that the vast Christendom doesn’t care to know the true history of the church and how we got to “Sunday” worship. The devil is perfectly happy to keep it that way. Jesus said (Matt 7:7) “Ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened”  Are people REALLY seeking? Do they want to know the truth?

On a final note, I recently received an email from a friend (fellow church member- Warren). In it he verified further eye- witness  proof of the extent of the persecution of the Sabbath keeper in the reformation days. He visited Lima, Peru  in 1994. While there he had the opportunity to visit one of the old Catholic churches.

The tour included  a visit to the “basements” called “catacombs”. It was explained to him, they were used to convince the wayward to repent and accept the “infallible” teaching of the Catholic church. Warren writes ” Of keen interest were signs that named the individuals that had died due to the torture. There were various listings of such things as blasphemy against the church, crimes of attacks against priests, and such. Of keen interest to me were the multiple listings of the crime of being a Sabbatarian”.

Warren goes on to correctly observe that because these people chose to obey God’s holy Sabbath instead of Sunday, they were tortured and lead to recant or die. So the wide spread persecution against the people of God had many times one key ingredient– IT WAS KEEPING HIS HOLY SEVENTH DAY SABBATH.  And I am afraid this will all  be repeated in the near future.

Please learn your church history and spread this far and wide, such truths that are in this film may very well awake a Sunday keeper to his error,   in God’s love, Rob

Ps. For those of you who  want more  truth on the Sabbath history, may I suggest the most comprehensive work done by J.N.Andrews  called  “The History of the Sabbath ” http://dedication.www3.50megs.com/historyofsabbath/hos_contents.html

Posted in Hal Holbrook's "The Seventh Day" | 2 Comments »

The Shotsky Story

April 15, 2011

The story of my pet dog, called Shotsky, is interesting in two ways. His personal story and the spiritual story.

Many of us recall the horrible  hurricane  Katrina in Louisiana in August of 2005. Somewhere amidst those horrifying moments Shotsky was scrambling for his life!  Shotsky has incredible survival instincts, and I don’t just say that because he’s my dog, I have unintentionally seen it. Let me fast-forward to July 2007.

One afternoon my roommate and I decided to go visit a rental property I owned at the time. It was about 4 blocks away. I wanted to take Shotsky for the ride, so I put him in the bed of my truck and tied a rope around his collar. It was a longer one (about 10 feet) than I wanted but it was what I had, so I used it. It was secured to the hook at the cab side of the bed.

So after everyone was in and strapped down I proceeded to drive away. Very shortly I was going probably around 35 or 40 miles an hour. I drove down the first block then stopped, I had my music turned up ( as i usually did before becoming a true Christian). Then I  hit the gas and went on again, going again at about 40 miles an hour. We continued another  couple blocks  when my roommate notices this man waving his arms frantically. She looks in back and says “Where’s Shotsky?”    OH NO!!!

I immediately pulled over. I get out and look to see Shotsky panting extremely hard, blood all over his paws and legs and stomach. I am in mild shock. He was alive! He is standing on all fours just looking at me. We pick him up gently and take him to this neighbors soft lawn and use his hose to hose him down. Then I grab some rags I had and bundle him up somewhat. Shotsky had run his heart out just to keep up with the truck! Maybe even dragged some of the way.  Unbelieveable. So I knew right there I had  a special dog.

Eventually Shotsky made a complete recovery, except for some small scars. Guess who fully healed him? No doctors, it was our ever-working Lord!   He can run and jump just as good as he ever could. But knowing this we can only imagine the real desire and instincts Shotsky used to stay alive in the raging waters. His owners  could have very well died, as I got him from our local dog pound, which had picked up some of the abandoned dogs from there. Don’t ask me how they decided to bring some of them all the way to California(??) But I was told when I bought him for 25.00 that I must wait 6 months to “officially” own him, due to the original owners rights, should they be located. No one came forward.

So Shotsky is quite a dog. Loving, playfull and very intelligent. But the spiritual lesson I wanted to share is this. He is VERY obedient. When I say “Come: he comes. When I say “Jump” he jumps. When I say “Give me a pawn” he does so. I am his master 100%. Our Lord has told me that just as I am SO HAPPY when my dog is obedient to me, so to is He with me. I am proud of Shotsky because he does what I say. It is the same with the Lord and me. When I do the things He says to do, He is VERY HAPPY with me, I can feel it and know it. His is my Lord and Master 100%.

So to summarize let us remember that our Lord loves obedience just like we do. On the flip side, when we don’t listen and ignore His words, He becomes very sad. Let us  be like our furry friends, with that 100% loving and faithful desire to obey! amen.

Posted in Obedience | 15 Comments »

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