TruthInvestigate

The blessed humbling

2012-01-30T17:18:00.000-08:00

We are happiest when we are humblest. Self is no longer exalted before our eyes. No more self-oriented concerns get the highest billing. We happily go to the back of the bus. When we gladly abdicate the pilot’s seat and assume the role as co-pilot, then we excitedly proclaim, “God is my pilot because I cannot do the job!” This is other-worldly language, but we cannot prevent our lips from forming the glad tidings.

As undesirable as this condition may seem to the unconverted mind, and even horrific and foolishness, only God can get us to the humbling. We can never remove our pride and humble ourselves without the omnipotent power of God exercised against the coalition of us and Satan. Only God can humble us, and humbling the proud sinner has been His work since Adam fell and received pride as a reward for serving the serpent.

God wants to make us happy and He knows that to do this is to convince us to relinquish our hold on our self-importance. He sees hope in the whole human race, rich and poor, free and bond, male and female, Christian or not. And it’s His determined purpose to act in our behalf to get us happiness. Its messy work and we suffer in the process, but God suffers more than we do.

Because it brings us to true happiness and rest, it is God’s glory to humble His people. Humility is the narrow path to life and joy. “And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no. Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that He might humble thee, and that He might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end.” (Deut. 8:2,16). Beautiful, just beautiful!

It is the motive of love that leads God to humble His people. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” (1Tim. 1:5). His one desire is not to destroy our lives but to save them. He sees that purity, a healthy conscience, and honesty bring us the perfect joy we desire.

So He smites the impudent, hard heart. “Thou hast played the whore also with the Assyrians, because thou wast unsatiable; yea, thou hast played the harlot with them, and yet couldest not be satisfied.
Thou hast moreover multiplied thy fornication in the land of Canaan unto Chaldea; and yet thou wast not satisfied herewith.
How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman.” (Ez. 16:28-30). “For they are impudent children and stiffhearted. I do send thee unto them.” (Ez. 2:4). “But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto Me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.” (Ez. 3:7). And He wipes the imperious look off of our face. Then when we have accepted that arrangement He restores His comfort to our soul.

“He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry:
And He remembered for them His covenant, and repented according to the multitude of His mercies.
He made them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives.
Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto Thy holy name, and to triumph in Thy praise.” (Ps. 106:44-47).

“When I said, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.
In the multitude of my thoughts within me Thy comforts delight my soul.” (Ps. 94:18,19). His end is not to leave us reeling in abandonment and hopelessness. But in His wisdom He must wait until His consequences have fully done their perfect work in us.

“Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of My land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for My name, will I cast out of My sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.” “If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against Me, and that also they have walked contrary unto Me;
And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity…” (2Chron. 7:20;Lev. 26:40,41). The humbling brings with it conversion, and we stop fighting.

The Lord looks highly on the lowly—even to His most disobedient if they humble themselves and repent. “The word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying,
Seest thou how Ahab humbleth himself before Me? Because he humbleth himself before Me, I will not bring the evil in his days: but in his son’s days will I bring the evil upon his house.” (1Ki 21:28,29).

See how quickly the Lord relents—as soon as He heard Ahab’s cry. It happens as soon as the stubborn heart repents in humility. Ahab was spared because his heart was humbled. Only the Holy Spirit, with the combined effort of the Father’s providences, can accomplish humility in those who look to Him for the help of His countenance.

“Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord.” (2Ki. 22:19). One element of a humbled heart is tenderness toward God. When the soul knows God has won the battle, the heart is made tender. The meek heart never blames God for the trouble it suffered in the process of being humbled.

The Lord raised up Egypt against Rehoboam’s and Israel’s pride, and no sooner did they concede to the Lord’s sovereignty over them, than the Lord protected them and greatly limited Shishak’s damages on them. But note: the Lord did permit some damage. “Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?” (Heb. 12:6-7).

But at least lives were spared. “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.… If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1Cor. 3:11-13,15). Rehoboam was doubly humbled after looking at the inferior shields of brass instead of Solomon’s gold shields, and his hard heart became more tender and the Lord prospered his reign. The whole time, that’s all the Lord wants in His humbling! Submission to His righteousness and prosperity. That’s what He desires for us! “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” (Jas. 5:11).

“Nevertheless divers of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves, and came to Jerusalem.” (2Chron. 30:11). At this time, those of the northern kingdom who humbled themselves received new hearts of faith and great joy at knowing God still loved them. They returned to be the same blessing Christ was in that very same Galilee 750 years later. In all of His humiliating, He just wants us to be blessed by being able to be a blessing. “Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before Thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.” (Is. 9:3). When Hezekiah became sick to death, because he humbled his proud heard God, without hesitating, healed him. Immediately, He ordered Isaiah to do a U-turn and go straight back to give the divine pronouncement of the king’s healing. “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev. 3:19).

When his son Manasseh grew destructively proud and the Lord brought calamity upon him, he relented his pride. “And when he was in affliction, he besought the Lord his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,
And prayed unto Him: and He was intreated of him, and heard his supplication, and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord He was God.” (2Chron. 33:12,13). “Despisest thou the riches of His goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4).

Nothing could make the new Manasseh happier, and nothing could make the Son of God happier. He uses justice for His merciful purposes; He wounds to heal. Manasseh’s epithet read, “His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.” (2Chron. 33:19). Wouldn’t you like that on your tombstone for all your succeeding generations to read? But his son would not read of his father’s conversion. Amon “humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.” (2Chron. 33:23,24). You just don’t disregard the honest souls in whom God has worked to accomplish humility and repentance. You honor Him and His works with praises.

Josiah, Manasseh’ grandson, did heed his grandfather’s experience. His humility teaches us that to fear God and to give Him glory is to be humbled before Him and to obey Him. “Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest His words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before Me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before Me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord.” (2Chron. 34:27). But then through the malfeasance of Josiah’s son Zedekiah, we learn that being humble means to not only believe the Lord, but also to believe His designated representatives, His prophets. “And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the Lord.” (2Chron. 36:12).

Our conversion is concomitant to our humbling. “When He maketh inquisition for blood, He remembereth them: He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.” (Ps. 9:12). “Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear.” (Ps. 10:17). And once the heart is right, the life is right. “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” (Prov. 15:33). “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.” (Prov. 18:12). “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour, and life.” (Prov. 22:4). “A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” (Prov. 29:23).

But let’s us not think the Judge of the whole earth can’t discern a fake contrition. He calls sin by its right name no matter how it is dressed up.

“The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.…
He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: He hideth His face; He will never see it.” (Ps. 10:2-4,10,11).

“It came to pass … that the word of the Lord came unto Zechariah … to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the Lord of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?
Then came the word of the Lord of hosts unto me, saying,
Speak unto all the people of the land, and to the priests, saying, When ye fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh month, even those seventy years, did ye at all fast unto Me, even to Me?
And when ye did eat, and when ye did drink, did not ye eat for yourselves, and drink for yourselves?” (Zech. 7:1,3-6).

“And this have ye done again, covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping, and with crying out, insomuch that He regardeth not the offering any more, or receiveth it with good will at your hand.” (Mal. 2:13).

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.
For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” (Heb. 12:15-17).

But let us come to Jesus every morning, just as we are and let Him convict us of our ride as we read His words and look upon His life and death, and let Him influence us and get under our proud barriers and mold us in His image. “Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee … in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.
And He humbled thee.” (Deut. 8:2,3).

The prophet

2012-01-30T17:16:00.000-08:00

“The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deut. 29:29).

The secret things are revealed only to those with an eye single to the obedience and glory of God. Only those who have an ear to hear and eyes to see, who have not become trapped in the lure of idolatry and other gods. If we truly have laid everything on the altar to Jehovah, including our own body and mind and heart, then the Lord will make Himself known to us.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2Pet. 1:4-8).

The greatest blessing that man can know is the restoration of Eden in the soul—that character of Adam reclaimed for us by Christ, His life and death and His gift of the Holy Spirit. Only thus do we receive the knowledge of God.

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.
But God hath revealed them unto us by His Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that He may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (1Cor. 2:6-16).

Yet, there are deeper mysteries than can be comprehended by the church of Christ, though it be filled with all the fullness of the Spirit. Those mysteries of God’s plans and of His Godhead can only be revealed and communicated by a prophet of God’s choosing, because if we try to delve into those mysteries we run into speculation which is an often used trap of Satan’s.

But when God lays His gift of prophecy on a man or woman, the effect cannot be mistaken. They accept the gift because they have come to love and trust God, and to know His mercy and righteousness. They lose control of themselves as they are caught up in vision. Power far beyond what man can ever produce fills them and drives them to speak of the pure righteousness they have seen in the Bible and longed to have in their nature.

The Holy Ghost—“the power of the Highest” moves them as it did Jesus. (Lk. 1:35). “Immediately the Spirit driveth Him into the wilderness.” (Mk. 1:12). Ezekiel’s experience was similar. “And He said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with My words unto them.…
Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
Moreover He said unto me, Son of man, all My words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.
And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
Then the Spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place.
I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.
So the Spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the Lord was strong upon me.
Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.” (Ez. 3:4,8-15).

Likewise, was Jeremiah’s commission. “Then the Lord put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth.
See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” (Jer. 1:9,10).

The Spirit of God enlightens the mind and empowers the will. “For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.” (1Cor. 9:16,17). The prophets know the same experience that each Christian has, only multiplied many times over.

When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intends that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. Desire of Ages. p. 324.

But what makes the difference between the false prophet and the true? If fulfilled prophecy is a test of the true prophet, even a true prophet can foretell an event in the distant future, in which case many ages pass before the church can call that prophet legitimate. The 1,260 day prophecy didn’t prove true for 2,400 years later; therefore, technically Daniel and John were false prophets for many hundred years.

So what makes the difference between the false and the true prophet? “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” (Matt. 7:16). EllenWhite had a dream—Christ in the Holy Place surrounded by worshippers, most of whom were careless in their service to Him. Jesus moved into the Most Holy Place and the sincere worshippers followed Him in.

Those who rose up with Jesus would send up their faith to Him in the holiest, and pray, “My Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Then Jesus would breathe upon them the Holy Ghost. In that breath was light, power, and much love, joy, and peace….Satan appeared to be by the throne, trying to carry on the work of God. I saw them look up to the throne, and pray, “Father, give us Thy Spirit.” Satan would then breathe upon them an unholy influence; in it there was light and much power, but no sweet love, joy, and peace. Early Writings, p. 55.

The sweetness of Christ’s character perfumes those of His servants. Jeremiah wept bitterly over the demise of Israel. Samuel trembled to give the Lord’s message to Eli. God chooses His servants who sorrow to give the straight testimony for God. He can’t use anyone who loves to rebuke. They would “steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” (Jn. 10:10). They would work to “destroy men's lives” not “save them.” (Lk. 9:56). “For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” (Jas. 2:13). He can use only those who feel it painful to rebuke, but obey the Lord because they must obey and trust His judgment.

So the prophet is filled with the Spirit like the house at Pentecost was filled with the mighty rushing wind. Ezekiel felt that very infilling. “Then the Spirit took me up, and I heard behind me a voice of a great rushing, saying, Blessed be the glory of the Lord from His place.
I heard also the noise of the wings of the living creatures that touched one another, and the noise of the wheels over against them, and a noise of a great rushing.” (Ez. 3:12,13). Jesus had this fullness of the Spirit every day. It was this “Spirit [not] by measure” that propelled Christ to walk a hundred miles in a day and never tire. (Jn. 3:34). It was His Father’s presence that had caused the priests and leaders to daily fear in His presence. And it was the loss of His Father’s Spirit that caused His great weakness in Gethsemane. He was as weak as Samson with his hair cut off.

“And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.
Then saith He unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with Me.
And He went a little further, and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” (Matt. 26:37-39).

Only the Spirit of God has the power of God—a power that drives us beyond our natural abilities—physically, mentally, and spiritually; swept up and moved with force in the body, soul, and spirit unknown in this mortal life.

My dream for Sunday-keepers

2012-01-30T17:12:00.000-08:00

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.
After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” (Hos. 6:1-3).

“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.
And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 3:10-12).

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:
And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.” (Joel 2:28,29).

“And I will make with them a covenant of peace, and will cause the evil beasts to cease out of the land: and they shall dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.
And I will make them and the places round about my hill a blessing; and I will cause the shower to come down in his season; there shall be showers of blessing.” (Ez. 34:25,26).

Yesterday I visited my friend’s Baptist church. I was there just for the bible class because after that I had to meet with friends at some driving distance to have lunch together.

But before getting to my usual class room, I saw another friend from that church. She invited me in to her classroom and we conversed together with her friend. She accidentally called my by a wrong name, which I corrected, and she felt ashamed and apologetic and blamed into her lack of sleep.

She explained that lately she had been tossing and turning in bed and not getting sound sleep. So I gave her some scriptures that could help—promises, precious promises that might bring her peace of mind—Jeremiah 31:26, Isaiah 26:3, 2 Peter 1:4, and Matthew 4:4.

I recommended she read the contexts of these precious promises because the contest is what applies to our loves today. I reminded her that Jesus lived by every word that proceeded from his father’s mouth and he had such sound, peaceful sleep that thunder and lightning couldn’t disturb his slumber. She got really excited about all this.

The word of God is so powerful in the hands of the Holy Spirit. He and the angels crowd around all who are seeking God’s help through his chosen agency—the law of his mouth, the firm, holy wisdom of our wonderful counselor. He inhabits his words and he inhabits the praises of all who partake of his word and praise hi for it. As David said it, “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” (Ps. 119:7).

Next was my class of all men. Our topic of study was on trusting God. But the questions the class facilitator laid out for discussion were vague and not pointed. In other words, the discussion wasn’t designed to get to the root of the cause of unbelief and doubts that plague us, and the solution for it. So I tried to inject practical things that I’ve experienced that equip us with the tools to get faith. I compared the fight for faith to things people do that build trust and friendship between themselves—time invested talking in conversation and doing things together. With God we need to lift up our voice in prayer and song, listen for His voice from His holy word, work together with Him inletting others learn of Him and the law of His mouth.

These are practical helps that neglected, end in lack of faith and constant defeat in the Christian life, and unending harassment by the devil. We have no protection by the enemy without the precious, powerful promises and precepts give to us by God. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.

God speaks to us in His word. Here we have in clearer lines the revelation of His character, of His dealings with men, and the great work of redemption. Here is open before us the history of patriarchs and prophets and other holy men of old. They were men “subject to like passions as we are.” James 5:17. We see how they struggled through discouragements like our own, how they fell under temptation as we have done, and yet took heart again and conquered through the grace of God; and, beholding, we are encouraged in our striving after righteousness. As we read of the precious experiences granted them, of the light and love and blessing it was theirs to enjoy, and of the work they wrought through the grace given them, the spirit that inspired them kindles a flame of holy emulation in our hearts and a desire to be like them in character—like them to walk with God.
Jesus said of the Old Testament Scriptures, —and how much more is it true of the New, —”They are they which testify of Me,” the Redeemer, Him in whom our hopes of eternal life are centered. John 5:39. Yes, the whole Bible tells of Christ. From the first record of creation—for “without Him was not anything made that was made”—to the closing promise, “Behold, I come quickly,” we are reading of His works and listening to His voice. John 1:3; Revelation 22:12. If you would become acquainted with the Saviour, study the Holy Scriptures.
Fill the whole heart with the words of God. They are the living water, quenching your burning thirst. They are the living bread from heaven. Jesus declares, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you.” And He explains Himself by saying, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” John 6:53, 63. Our bodies are built up from what we eat and drink; and as in the natural economy, so in the spiritual economy: it is what we meditate upon that will give tone and strength to our spiritual nature
The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? The infinite mercy and love of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, call for the most serious and solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the character of our dear Redeemer and Intercessor. We should meditate upon the mission of Him who came to save His people from their sins. As we thus contemplate heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow stronger, and our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence in Jesus, and a daily, living experience in His power to save to the uttermost all that come unto God by Him. Steps to Christ, p. 87,88.

“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20. The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God’s work the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and His followers. The last great delusion is soon to open before us. Antichrist is to perform his marvelous works in our sight. So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.
Those who endeavor to obey all the commandments of God will be opposed and derided. They can stand only in God. In order to endure the trial before them, they must understand the will of God as revealed in His word; they can honor Him only as they have a right conception of His character, government, and purposes, and act in accordance with them. None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict. To every soul will come the searching test: Shall I obey God rather than men? The decisive hour is even now at hand. Are our feet planted on the rock of God’s immutable word? Are we prepared to stand firm in defense of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus? Great Controversy, p. 593.

“God speaks to us in His word.” “None but those who have fortified the mind with the truths of the Bible will stand through the last great conflict.”

Finally we closed on the note that we need to keep our relationship with God strong and avoid unbelief. Again, vague and not very helpful—the requirement without the guidance to attain its high demands. So, I interjected after the facilitator ended and offered a powerful force that counteracts the relationship we want with Jesus—“idolatry. Idolatry is in constant competition with our efforts to know God and to trust him.”

There was a moment of silence as that idea sunk in. They knew what idolatry in the new dispensation meant. They knew in our day idols and gods were our life of luxury and affluence—that even food could be an idol. The problem was that during class they had been eating a dish brought by one of the men. It had eggs and meat and much cheese. It was so tempting they could hardly restrain themselves from it. One classmate offered it to me, but the facilitator, knowing I was a vegan said, “No he can’t have that, its got meat in it.” To which I added, “…and lots of cheese.”

The facilitator complimented my thin body and apparent health, to which I remarked, “I want to have a bod for God.” They laughed because that was a catch phrase in their church which their pastor invented for his efforts to promote health and exercise and weight loss top his flock and many other congregations around the country. They saw that I was standing behind their pastor’s program and loyal to his ideals in that.

My hope and dream and prayers have been for an acceptance of the three angels’ message in that Baptist church. It is to see a great revival of faith and spirituality and to have victory over the power of sin and Satan running rampant through that congregation of somewhat well-off, career-bent people, and to see the joy in every victorious face. I would love to see that church become known by the whole of northern Virginia and then by the whole metropolitan D.C. area as the place where God actually comes down and meets with sinners and is actively turning them into saints. And there shall be showers of blessings.

“Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.” (Jer. 31:23-26).

Where we are in Bible prophecy

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The Scattering Of The Power Of The Holy People

Leviticus 26 gives a rundown of all that the Lord would do for Israel as His beloved bride; and Moses faithfully relayed the message to the people. He would provide for and protect her from all enemies, foreign and domestic. He would give her health and strength and beauty. He would give her power to manage her home and rid it of all trespassers, and He would give her perfect peace. There would not be a more perfect union in all the Earth. All this as long as she reverenced her Husband and remained holy to Him.

But, after saving her from her previous husband, and the bondage and unending misery that Satan had brought her; after being perfectly loyal to her and providing for all her needs and wants, and protecting her and giving her perfect peace; after pouring out His love to her in joy and exceedingly wonderful overtures, if she turned on Him and despised the reasonable requirements of a doting husband and unintimidating hero, and went back to her previous husband, the devil, then He said, “I also will do this unto you….” (Lev. 26:16). The picture would rightfully be a bad one.

In the end, when her pride and willfulness was finally broken, He would return to His people and restore them. “If they shall confess their iniquity, and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against Me, and that also they have walked contrary unto Me;
And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if then their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity:
Then will I remember My covenant with Jacob, and also My covenant with Isaac, and also My covenant with Abraham will I remember; and I will remember the land.” (Lev. 26:40-42). If they would fall on the Stone and be broken-hearted, then they would be humbled and redeemed. “Nevertheless He regarded their affliction, when He heard their cry: and He remembered for them His covenant, and repented according to the multitude of His mercies.” (Ps. 106:44,45).

Five times He forewarned Israel that if His measures would not be enough to show His bride His displeasure at her adultery, to correct her disrespect toward her heavenly Husband, then He would bring to her calamities seven times worse than the previous set of calamities. In the midst of all His threatening, He said, “I will break the pride of your power.” (Lev. 26:19).

After the Lord lived with 700 years of Israel’s serving Satan and his wickedness, with much embarrassment to Jehovah, her Husband, then He began sending warnings of the fulfillment of all the desolations that He had forewarned them through Moses. Five times Isaiah declared what the Lord was going to do to them, listed in Isaiah 5-10, specifically, verses 5:25;9:12,17,21; 10:4. Then He explained who it was that would play the role in humbling Israel—it would be Satan himself, through her favorite earthly consort, Babylon. (Is. 13:1;14:26,27).

Later through Jeremiah, after 800 years of dealing with Israel’s unfaithfulness, the Lord said, “They say, If a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man’s, shall he return unto her again? shall not that land be greatly polluted? but thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to Me, saith the Lord.
Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.
Therefore the showers have been withholden, and there hath been no latter rain; and thou hadst a whore’s forehead, thou refusedst to be ashamed.” (Jer. 3:1-3).

And later still, through Ezekiel, “How weak is thine heart, saith the Lord God, seeing thou doest all these things, the work of an imperious whorish woman….
They give gifts to all whores: but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, and hirest them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.” (Ez. 16:30-3).

Then, through Daniel, Israel heard the final decree. “Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy… and for the overspreading of abominations He shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.” (Dan. 9:24,27). God would give a probationary period which would terminate in full forgiveness and redemption for His wife’s abominations, or in complete divorce.

During this period of probation, Israel’s power would be restricted, their sovereignty permanently removed as well as the evidence of the Lord’s approval through His prophetic voice. But in the end their power would be fully scattered because they used the powerful and health-giving spiritual inheritance from the Holy Spirit to please themselves, and to join with the idolatrous nations around them in the sophisticated philosophies of Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

“But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
They provoked Him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they Him to anger.
They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not.
Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.
And when the Lord saw it, He abhorred them, because of the provoking of His sons, and of His daughters.
And He said, I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked Me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
For a fire is kindled in Mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend Mine arrows upon them.
They shall be burnt with hunger, and devoured with burning heat, and with bitter destruction: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.
The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men.” (Deut. 32:15-26). The scattering intimates wrath and determination against sin; His promises to them after their humbling and shame tell of His unending love for the sinner.

Finally, through Babylon, Medo-Persian, Greece, and Rome, their power was completely scattered, both sovereignly and spiritually. The heathen empires’ subjugation of Israel got increasingly stronger and inflexible, and the knowledge of God faded away more and more, until devil-possession was rampant among the common people and religious leaders, alike.

This scenario was bad, but a worse, future identical scenario was prophesied for God’s people of the new dispensation. Built upon the model of ancient Israel’s experience with apostasy, “Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.
And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.
Yea, he magnified himself even to the Prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.
And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered….
And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
And his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power: and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper, and practise, and shall destroy the mighty and the holy people.And through his policy also he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and by peace shall destroy many: he shall also stand up against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.” (Dan. 8:9-12,23-25).

“He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers’ fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time….
Therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.
And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.
And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.
Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.
And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed….
And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.” (Dan. 11:24,31-35,45).

To this Christ, standing on the river, spoke when He answered the angel at the end of Daniel’s testimony. “One said to the Man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when He held up His right hand and His left hand unto heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when He shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” (Dan. 12:6,7).

This scattering, according to Daniel chapters 8 and 11 would happen during the Dark Ages, yet in its fullest sense, not until the very end of chapter 11—that is, according to Christ’s words spoken here, between the end of the 1,260 year time period, “time, times, and an half” (12:7) and when the tidings out of the east and out of the north would come (11:44), after God has scattered the power of His people.

With that background, a comparison between Daniel 12:6,7 and Revelation 10:6,7 finds both texts speaking of the same event—the end of the awful prophecies of a future apostasy of the church that would interestingly mimick the past apostasy of Israel and of whole great controversy between God and Satan.
But, they reveal extra details concerning the end of time. So, let’s compare them.

“And one said to the Man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
And I heard the Man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when He held up His right hand and His left hand unto heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when He shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” (Dan. 12:6,7).

The question was, “when will all these distressing visions of the desolation of God and His people be fulfilled and come to an end? The answer—when God gives His foe a period of time to develop his real purposes and decimates God’s people. And what John later heard compliments this answer.

“And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up His hand to heaven,
And sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:
But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets.” (Rev. 10:5-7).

Placing both verse seven texts line upon line, we see the last half of each text speaking of the same event in different wording. And when collating them together, we get this picture: “In the days of the voice of the seventh angel,” “when He [God] shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people,” “all these [wonders] shall be finished”—”the mystery of God…finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets.”

The word “wonders” and “mystery” mean the same thing and superimpose each other. In Daniel, the wonders are the great controversy theme played out on Earth prior to Michael standing up and destroying the anti-Christ power. In Revelation, the mystery of God is the book sealed with seven seals, which was open in the hand of the Angel clothed in glory, at the time of this prophecy (Rev. 10:2)—that is, the book binding God’s reputation of love, credibility, and faithfulness in the minds of His kingdom and His people on Earth. But although the book was open to be understood (since 1844) the full revelation wouldn’t be finalized until the seventh angel would sound its trumpet, the third woe past. And the great controversy of sin and Satan will not end until, both sovereignly and spiritually, to His people as a group and in each soul, God has fully scattered the power of His people.

The Lord can do nothing toward the recovery of man until, convinced of his own weakness, and stripped of all self-sufficiency, he yields himself to the control of God. Then he can receive the gift that God is waiting to bestow. From the soul that feels his need, nothing is withheld. He has unrestricted access to Him in whom all fullness dwells. Faith I Live By, p. 136.

All human ambition, all boasting, is to be laid in the dust. Self, sinful self, is to be abased, not exalted. Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 234.

As Christ the Pattern is constantly kept before the mind’s eye, new habits will be formed, powerful hereditary and cultivated tendencies will be subdued and overcome, self-esteem will be laid in the dust, old habits of thought will be constantly resisted, love for the supremacy will be seen in its real, despicable character, and will be overcome. Our High Calling, p. 99.

The world’s greatest need today is the humbling, shaming power of God through His Law and His goodness; His towering mountain of righteousness and truth and His equally great mountain of mercy and peace; the awful fear from His warnings and threats and the comforting power of His precious promises.

The context of Revelation 10 and the opened book falls between 1844 (Rev. 8:1) when the seventh seal is removed and culminates when the seventh trumpet is sounded (Rev. 11:15). This is not the book of Daniel, but the book of God’s reputation bound up under Satan’s charges which only the offering up of Christ could undo, as seen in Revelation 5. After the first 6 trumpets the book is fully unsealed and opened in Christ’s hand, and the Lion of the tribe of Judah roars in soon coming judgment in His Father’s favor; and following the Lion, His Father thunders, also, in anticipation of the victory.

But, a close look shows that Rev. 10:6 does not say that there should be time no longer—as in no more time prophecies. The original Greek says, “Delay no shall be longer (sic); but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound [the] trumpet, also should be completed the mystery of God, as He did announce the glad tidings to His bondmen the prophets.” (Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, by George Ricker Berry.)

When this context, Rev. 10:6 and 7, is read in its entirety, we see that the word “but” is a conjunction that brings the two verses’ thoughts together into one whole and helps define the phrase, “there should be time no longer.” In other words, the verses are mutually-defining. In a microcosmic way, scripture is interpreting itself, as the thought of verse 7 interprets the thought of the verse preceding it. And thus, according to verse 7, the “no time longer” would not occur until after the 7th trumpet begins to sound.

To me this is significant because of what it means concerning the 5th trumpet, which begins in Rev. 9:1-5.

When comparing Rev. 9:4 with Rev. 7:3, we see direct reference to one and the same future event—the servants of God being sealed in their foreheads. The similarity of the language is unmistakable. Adventists have never united these two verses into one theme, partly because of Uriah Smith’s interpretation of the fifth seal which he saw fulfilled in the Saracens attacking Christendom in 1299. Personally, I think he tended to interpret prophecies primarily as military campaigns. Thus, in the prophecies that end Daniel, this habit led Elder Smith to see, not the Son of perdition, papal Rome and the image of the beast, but Turkey and the Ottoman Empire. Even against the counsel of Ellen and James White he maintained this wrong stance.

The 5th trumpet must have a historicist interpretation, but, by the description of its context, a historicity not bounded by the whole Christian era, as is commonly believed. It is historicist in the context of the time period beginning in Revelation 7 and the Investigative Judgment, i.e. from 1844 to the day Christ returns to receive His people. It is historicist within the time of the end. The language of the 5th trumpet reveals its intimate connection with 1844 and the ascending angel with the seal that commands the winds of strife to be held back. Both verses, Rev. 9:4 and 7:3 deal with the seal of God in the forehead.

Since the 5th trumpet occurs chronologically after the seal of God in His servants’ foreheads begins, then it follows that the 5th trumpet must be fulfilled after 1844, not in 1299 as Elder Smith said and as many of us have understood.

My study and thought is that the 7th seal was opened in 1844 because when it did open, in Rev. 8:1-5, we see Christ in a heavenly sanctuary scene readying Himself to pass through the veil into the Most Holy Place, and holding a censor with an over-abundance of incense. This abundant incense was intended for God’s last day movement, the Seventh-day Adventists, and in particular, for Mrs. White. I believe that the “much incense” was the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy given to her for the guidance for God’s final movement and their preparation for the last events on Earth.

Following the casting of the incense and coals and sanctifying blood upon the movement in 1844, the trumpets began to sound, the first four, I believe, in rapid succession. The first trumpet established and re-inspired the Seventh-day Adventists with the divine mandate to prepare the world for Christ’s return and the Day of Judgment.

The second trumpet described the Protestant churches, which denied the blinding truth of Christ’s literal coming in power, and then when the Sabbath truth came out, they immediately turned to the erroneous abrogation of God’s Law. Thus we see Mt. Sinai burning with fire, thrown out of the churches and quenched in the sea.

The third trumpet shows Satan moving into the denominations and poisoning their doctrines and spoiling their faith. No longer could they be God’s representatives, even though they kept the name. The northern ten tribes kept the title of Israel, but the title didn’t save them.

The fourth trumpet shows the light of the Protestant churches going completely out. What a sad thing that has been to every Evangelical who turns away from the hearing of the Law of God! Even their prayer is an abomination. They have wandered in darkness ever since because they denied God His authority to reprove and correct them.

After the fourth trumpet, three angels cry out a warning of approaching danger to the whole world. This speaks of a milestone event, or it would not have been attended by three angels crying out the warning. They are seen again in the messages of chapter 14.

The fifth trumpet begins this period of special danger warned of by the three angels. The first four trumpets spoke of the downfall of the Sunday denominations, which occurred within a few years after 1844. Simultaneously, the Lord led the SDAs to work strenuously to understand all the light God had for them, and by 1848 they had hammered out the truths to give to the world.

The stage was now set. The Adventists were ready to move out, and the Protestants were rejected. Now the Investigative Judgment could begin in earnest, by way of putting to the world an unprecedented litmus test. God looses Satan from the bottomless pit to go and deceive the nations and to further deceive the denominations. The “strong delusion” begins and Satan quickly launches his invasion with an army of demons and their human counterparts.

With his dark influence, which hid the sun, casting enchantments all over the earth, Satan has molded the human race into his image. Slowly at first, but subtly accelerating over time, Satan has brought this world to a kingdom suited perfectly for him. He has restored what he accomplished in the antediluvian world and in Imperial Rome, when the image of God in humanity was destroyed, and which, as the Holy Spirit describes, “when the transgressors [were] come to the full.” (Dan. 8:23). During this period in the 5th trumpet the seal of God has been awarded to some, but, according to the language of the 5th trumpet prophecy, most of the world has been devoured by the temptations prevailing throughout America, the divinely provided refuge for Protestantism, and currently the defiling influence of Satan is now rapidly spreading around the globe through the powerful influence of America. Soon, the whole world will become as decrepit as America has been.

I see, based on Revelation 10 verses 6 and 7, that John prophesied of another time period beyond 1844, and thus, another “time prophecy.” The 5th trumpet, which torments all who do not receive the seal of God in their forehead, is speaking of the 150 years that followed the California Gold Rush in 1849. And it ended in another gold rush, the unprecedented upsurge of the stock market that finished at the end of 1999. That stock market growth trapped all the Protestants in its clutches and also showed, once again, that their treasures have been laid up on earth where thieves break through and steal.

During this prophetic 5 month prophecy of the 5th trumpet we’ve seen our world transformed in technology, communication, transportation, in spirituality, morality, and on and on. The prophecy began with the world in the stone-age and ended in the space age. Human history had never seen anything like this until the time of God’s loosing of Satan as a catalyst for humanity-wide decision-making of eternal importance during the Investigative Judgment.

God’s use of Satan as a catalyst for final decisions speaks of His determination to finish the great controversy, the “mystery of God”. It may explain the seven thunders that John was forbidden to interpret. It was our Father speaking in strong determination to finally end sin and its desolating effects. It was another fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy: “Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: for He will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.” (Rom. 9:27,28). “For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. For the Lord God of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.” (Is. 10:22,23).

The 5th trumpet is also seen in Rev. 11:7-10 which contains the death of the Advent movement. But, the 5th trumpet already having ended and our now being in the 6th trumpet, we are looking for the soon resurrection of the Advent movement in the Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit, according to verses 11-14, and then the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, in verses 15-19. But this is all very good news, (Gr. evaggelisen, from Rev. 10:6). Our long wilderness wandering is almost over. The Lord is coming very soon.

Living in the 6th trmpet

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Christ gave to His disciples truths whose breadth and depth and value they little appreciated, or even comprehended, and the same condition exists among the people of God today. We too have failed to take in the greatness, to perceive the beauty of the truth which God has entrusted to us today. Should we advance in spiritual knowledge, we would see the truth developing and expanding in lines of which we have little dreamed, but it will never develop in any line that will lead us to imagine that we may know the times and the seasons which the Father hath put in His own power. Again and again have I been warned in regard to time setting. There will never again be a message for the people of God that will be based on time. We are not to know the definite time either for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or for the coming of Christ.

I was searching through my writings, before coming to this meeting, to see what I should take with me to Australia, and I found an envelope on which was written, “Testimony given in regard to time setting, June 21, 1851. Preserve carefully.” I opened it, and this is what I found. It reads:

“A copy of a vision the Lord gave Sister White, June 21, 1851, at Camden, N.Y. The Lord showed me that the message must go, and that it must not be hung on time; for time will never be a test again. I saw that some were getting a false excitement, arising from preaching time, that the third angel’s message can stand on its own foundation, and that it needs not time to strengthen it, and that it will go with mighty power, and do its work, and will be cut short in righteousness. —Selected Messages, Vol. 1, p. 188.

Solemn events before us are yet to transpire. Trumpet after trumpet is to be sounded; vial after vial poured out one after another upon the inhabitants of the earth.—Selected Messages, Vol. 3, p. 426

The world is soon to be left by the angel of mercy and the seven last plagues are to be poured out. . . . The bolts of God’s wrath are soon to fall, and when He shall begin to punish the transgressors there will be no period of respite until the end .—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 182

The Nations in Conflict

Four mighty angels hold back the powers of this earth till the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. The nations of the world are eager for conflict, but they are held in check by the angels. When this restraining power is removed there will come a time of trouble and anguish. Deadly instruments of warfare will be invented. Vessels with their living cargo will be entombed in the great deep. All who have not the spirit of truth will unite under the leadership of satanic agencies, but they are to be kept under control till the time shall come for the great battle of Armageddon.—SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 967.

The Whole World Will Be Involved in Ruin

Angels are now restraining the winds of strife that they may not blow until the world shall be warned of its coming doom, but a storm is gathering, ready to burst upon the earth, and when God shall bid His angels loose the winds there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture.—Education, p. 179, 180.

The Saviour’s prophecy concerning the visitation of judgments upon Jerusalem is to have another fulfillment, of which that terrible desolation was but a faint shadow. In the fate of the chosen city we may behold the doom of a world that has rejected God’s mercy and trampled upon His law.—Great Controversy, p. 36.

Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble. As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.—Great Controversy, p. 614.

The Lord’s servant placed Revelation’s seven trumpets in her future. “Trumpet after trumpet” “are yet to transpire.” She made no other reference to the seven trumpets. Was she being general or generic in her use of them? If that is so, then she wrote nothing to explain the seven trumpets in their entirety with any historical context in which the church could know where the Advent band was in the time continuum that traveled to the heavenly Jerusalem.

Or did the Lord not reveal any light to her concerning the seven trumpets? This appears probable and hence EGW’s principle that silence is eloquent. When she wrote on the subject of eloquent silence the subject of the seven trumpets was not within the matter of that writing. Should it have been? I would say she did not mean to consign the seven trumpets to silent since in other places she wrote,

Let no one come to the conclusion that there is no more truth to be revealed. The diligent, prayerful seeker for truth will find precious rays of light yet to shine forth from the word of God. Many gems are yet scattered that are to be gathered together to become the property of the remnant people of God.—Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 34. (1892.) Counsels to Writers, p. 35.

We have doctrines that she espoused not always because Jesus “gave unto [her], to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant,” (Rev. 1:1) but, rather, as Paul wrote it, “I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.” (1Cor. 7:6). “To the rest speak I, not the Lord….” (vs. 12). “But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.” (vs. 40). Much of what Ellen White wrote concerning prophecy she wrote because our Adventist forebears had hammered them out in the 1840’s, the Lord training His remnant to be people of “the Book.” We have inherited the Bible, pure and untarnished, our only safeguard in these last dangerously delusive days.

Those Bible-based pillars, Salvation by faith, Sola Scriptura, the Sabbath, the Second Advent, the Sanctuary, the Spirit of Prophecy, the State of the dead, etc. have stood the test of time, but the ancillary doctrines have remained secondary, awaiting more light. As the handwritten scrolls were placed around the ark, being of lesser importance than the tables of stone, so have our ancillary doctrines. Prophecy is one of our lesser doctrines. Though very important, it was not to take center stage, plus as time would lapse, our interpretations would be tweaked and perfected.

Uriah Smith worked diligently on Bible prophecy but, as has always been the case with prophecy students, the full picture of prophetic interpretation did not materialize until after each prophecy was completed. Until then, for those prophecies, it was as it was for the disciples, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.” (Act 1:7). Thus Elder Smith’s intricate interpretations of Revelation 8, 9, and Daniel 11 must await the further development of Satan’s earthly agency.

Since 1999 we can look back on the first five trumpets and clearly see their fulfillment. Quickly did the first four trumpets describe the entrance of Satan into the Sunday denominations. The 1st trumpet shows the truth that was given to Adventism baptizing the Sunday churches with a fire that was too hot for them to survive before the Lord. Thus, the mainline Protestants failed out of the great, last pronouncements of warning and mercy for the world they professed to bless, their true disposition being spiritual pride.

The 2nd trumpet illustrates the denominations accepting the lie that the Law of God was no longer in effect, contrary to what the Reformation fathers had firmly held to. This was simply their effort to buttress the long held tradition of Sunday sacredness passed down from their dangerous enemy, Rome. But insisting to abrogate God’s Law abrogated God’s covenant with them. Now there was no stopping the extinguishing of their loyalty to God and His authority over their lives.

The 3rd trumpet describes Satan’s entrance into Protestantism’s hearts and minds and doctrines. The very fabric of their thinking was tainted by Satan, a narcotic poison being their new “freedom” from God’s Law. The stage was laid for spiritualism’s easy movement into their character mold and the stage was set for them as host to the New Age and the Mark of the Beast.

The 4th trumpet relates that God could on longer share His beloved Protestant platform with His adversary, Lucifer. In rejecting the new light through the despised Adventism, they could no more be His messengers of glory to the world. The inspiration of His Holy Spirit left them and the light of the Bible went out. They must now traverse the satanic last generation of the world in darkness. But like king Saul who lost God’s presence yet would not strive to regain Him; likewise have the churches stubbornly persisted in their deluded path.

Now the stage was set for the 5th trumpet during which God freed Satan in response to the choice of a sin-loving heathen world and a truth-disdaining Protestant America. For 150 years, beginning in 1849, Satan has transformed the once peaceful America into a ravenous beast. The adversary has restored Protestantism’s greatest danger—Rome. She has come back to life and has infused her own life into her daughters (the denominations) and her sons (the nations’ federal, state, and local governments). Satan’s temptations have spread all over the world through the Lord’s once beautiful and humble children of the Reformation. By 1999 the world was fully connected via the internet and satellite, through international banking and exploitive international treaties. We were one world; we began building the Bridge into the 21st Century.

The 6th trumpet blew and the joy ride on the global stock market suddenly ended with every Protestant and the middle class around the world caught in its trap. The demon-trained financial elitists siphoned the wealth of the nations into the coffers of Rome in preparation for the last great conflict. The final movement to control a global church-state has gathered mass with the USA Patriot Act, the U.S. Commissions Act, and the non-specific language of the War on Terror. A month ago the U.S. Senate legislated broad powers for the U.S. President and the U.S. military to confine and punish anyone the President deemed to be a terrorist. The final movement is picking up speed and momentum.

We are in the 6th trumpet described in Revelation 9 as the full fruition of satanic forces in its last drive to conquer the final remnants of Protestantism, the Constitution it birthed, and all who have come under the sanctifying influence of the power of God or the atheists who are indulging in the freedoms of a Protestant Constitution. The acceleration of the 6th trumpet was barely noticeable at 9/11 but the mechanics of acceleration work such that the commencement is negligible and undiscernible. But at its mid-point movement becomes observable to the naked eye; and in its later stage on the chart it quickly vaults upward as it increases in velocity second by second. Finally nothing can stop it from going through the roof.

The Latter Rain, according to Revelation 11:11-14, happens in the last part of the 6th trumpet and then begins the time of trouble such as never was. Have we been keeping our lamps trimmed and our souls pure? This is the last opportunity.

Let us wake up and trim our lamps. “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1Pet. 1:13).

God's Law and Jesus' gospel are our salvation

2011-12-29T09:38:00.000-08:00

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, It is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost.” (Jn. 19:30).

Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. “With His stripes we are healed.” Desire of Ages, p. 25.

“Oh, the unspeakable greatness of that exchange,—the Sinless One is condemned, and he who is guilty goes free; the Blessing bears the curse, and the cursed is brought into blessing; the Life dies, and the dead live; the Glory is whelmed in darkness, and he who knew nothing but confusion of face is clothed with glory.” Great Controversy, p. 212.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that has fought to save a world like ours. Is it just an old tradition, threadbare and hoary with age? Is it just like the title of the hymn, an old, old, story? Is the gospel just another Aesop fable?

Millions, yes, billions of animal sacrifices have littered this world’s history. The mountain of their ashes sits as a bulwark pointing to an ancient truth—the promise of a Messiah who would propitiate our Creator for the sin of the world. All the baby lambs and kids, the heifers and bullocks spoke of a coming Redeemer who was innocent, pure, humble, and faithful to the end.

Even the raucous swine and human sacrifices from corrupted religions all point back to the original promise, though altered by the distance of time and the shielding sin causes the light of truth.

Every victim in the animal kingdom killed by a hungry predator, that stabs us in the heart, testifies to the plan of salvation. The Creator has preached the gospel to every soul under heaven; there is no language where its voice is not heard. Death has reigned from Adam to the present, either by murder or mortality, to remind mankind of the death sin has caused God. (Rom. 5:19).

The tradition from the Old Testament law and prophets and from Christ and His apostles still lives. (2Thess. 2:15). When it had lost its living power to Israel and they had “transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant” then it became nothing more than a tattered script, a relic of bygone generations. (Is. 24:5). They had disregarded the truth in His law, and He said, “they despised My judgments, and...their soul abhorred My statutes,” which would lead them to “break My covenant:” (Lev. 26:43,15).

“Neither doth God respect any person: yet doth He devise means, that His banished be not expelled from Him.” (2Sam. 14:14). The war raging over their heads and the knowledge of plan of salvation which God gave them became nothing more than wallpaper pasted to the dome of the sky. Once the Old Testament gospel had dried up it remained that way. For 400 years Israel received no life from it and the veil over their eyes was not broken until the Son of God broke through the wallpaper over their heads on His way here.

Today, “the everlasting gospel” of the New Testament, is the “everlasting covenant” of the Old Testament. (Rev. 14:6;Is. 24:5). It’s the same thing amplified with more power to save from sin. But it has atrophied in the church just as it did in ancient Israel. And for the same causes as Israel had. Let’s read ourselves into the picture so that we can gain from it and it becomes more than just a fiction-suspense.

“We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments....
O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of [Protestantism], and to the inhabitants of [Adventism], and unto all [Christianity], that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against Thee.…
Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.
Yea, all [Christianity] have transgressed Thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey Thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the [letters of the apostles] the [servants] of God, because we have sinned against Him.” (Dan 9:5,7,10,11).

“The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” (Rom. 8:7). “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal 3:24). “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Rom 3:19).

The law stood to bring us guilt and shame and the promise of forgiveness to all who would allow it to condemn them and bring them to Christ for His justification. But just like ancient Israel the church has “walked not in My statutes, and they despised My judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and My Sabbaths they greatly polluted.” (Ez. 20:13). God’s professed people have even thought “to change times and laws.” (Dan. 7:25).

By dispensing with the sharp rebukes and strong language of the Law the evangelical churches have deceived themselves. They have removed the sole means heaven has provided to force us to wrestle with God so that He can forge faith in us. The Law is real with real consequences in this life. The gospel is ethereal and spiritual and must have a container in which to reside or it will dissipate quickly. That container is God’s Law. Without His Law we can have no concept of God or His grace for us.

To abrogate the Law of God in doctrine or to ignore it in the testimonies of this Earth’s last prophet is to lose salvation. It means the truth of the Bible atrophies into wallpaper again. When that happens, under delusion, this world deserves all of the attention and heaven is a farce.

And the deluding wallpaper that hides heaven will remain in place until Jesus bursts through it like a thief in the night. Then the world will know that the law and gospel were real living documents, valid and current demands.

His quickening spirit

2011-12-29T09:19:00.000-08:00

“The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening Spirit.” (1Cor. 15:45).

Why is it that I can save no one? Because even if my track record were impeccable and my character perfect like Adam’s before the fall, even if “I give my body to be burned”, “have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge”, “have all faith, so that I could remove mountains,” “speak with the tongues of men and of angels”, and even if I was full of “faith which worketh by love”, the best I can ever be is a living soul. (1Cor. 13:3,2,1;Gal. 5:6). I could never be a quickening Spirit; that takes divinity.

I cannot give salvation to another and reconcile them to the Law of God. I cannot change their heart and provide the repentance and inspire a new heart in them to overcome sin because my example, my limited ability to convict the very root of sin does not compare with Christ’s infinite knowledge and loyalty to His Father’s Law. My love is nothing compared to His infinite love.

My possession of the Holy Spirit is only from my response to Him, the originator of it. As the Son of God, His Father “giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him.” (Jn. 3:34). He is endowed with the Spirit of power without measure. He could breathe on His disciple and say, “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” just as He did to Adam and Eve. (Jn. 20:22;Gen. 2:7). But Adam and Eve could not do that to anyone after them, and neither can I.

Christ was the greatest Christian that ever lived. No apostle Paul, no Baptist prophet could do as Jesus could to inspire life in a soul. He was infinite light-years ahead of even Gabriel in discerning motive and disabling pretense. This is what angered the priest and rabbis. Jesus had such access to the truth that all of their study of Moses and the prophets was elementary in comparison to the Messiah’s grasp of truth. “Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep.” (Ps. 36:6).

His simplest stories, perfectly crafted, turned the traps which the religious leaders laid for Him so that His question at the end captured them in their answer. “The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
The Lord is known by the judgment which He executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.” (Ps. 9:15,16).

Yet, though He often corrected even His disciples and pricked their consciences with some guilt and shame, He could have really blasted them to shivers. But He corrected them in a love that they detected and appreciated, and they stayed with Him and continued to follow and learn to be like Him. “With the merciful Thou wilt shew Thyself merciful; with an upright man Thou wilt shew Thyself upright;
With the pure Thou wilt shew Thyself pure; and with the froward Thou wilt shew Thyself froward.” (Ps. 18:25,26).

We are not equal to the Son of God. He had an advantage because being divine His gift of the Holy Spirit was without measure. That is why He could be the propitiation. That’s why He could satisfy the Father, and an angel could not. He had a better name than they, and better pedigree, an infinitely higher state of being. “And again, when He bringeth in the Firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.” (Heb. 1:6).

Let us not murmur because Christ had an advantage over us. We must never put Him on the same par as ourselves. He was “equal with God.” (Phil. 2:6). Let’s “rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps.118:24).

Don’t fixate on the coming tribulation

2011-12-28T09:14:00.000-08:00

Warning: This is a long post, but a very important issue.

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” (Heb. 2:14,15).

“I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Is. 14:23). “Whose fan is in His hand, and He will throughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matt. 3:12). Let the fear of God sweep you into Jesus’ arms or you will attempt to sweep Jesus into your arms, and the alternative will be your destruction.

Listen to the word of the Lord to us today who are standing before a tidal wave of evil, this juggernaut of persecution and world regime rapidly moving toward us like the front of a horrendous storm. Jeremiah’s counsel is a message to the people of the remnant church today as well as to the whole world. “A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring.” (Prov. 25:26). While this proverb tells us that we need not bow before the falsehoods of the Roman totalitarian church-state, yet neither must we physically fight it in self-defense. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” (Matt. 16:25).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2Tim. 3:16,17). “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” (1Cor. 10:11-13).

Since all of God’s word is eternal, then the following message from the Lord through, which bore repeating in Jeremiah’s biblical book many times for emphasis; and the Lord’s counsel having stood true in his day, it’s good for all time, and especially our day.

“In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word unto Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
Thus saith the Lord to me; Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy neck,
And send them to the king of Edom, and to the king of Moab, and to the king of the Ammonites, and to the king of Tyrus, and to the king of Zidon, by the hand of the messengers which come to Jerusalem unto Zedekiah king of Judah;
And command them to say unto their masters, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Thus shall ye say unto your masters;
I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are upon the ground, by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and have given it unto whom it seemed meet unto Me.
And now have I given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant; and the beasts of the field have I given him also to serve him.
And all nations shall serve him, and his son, and his son’s son, until the very time of his land come: and then many nations and great kings shall serve themselves of him.
And it shall come to pass, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve the same Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and that will not put their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation will I punish, saith the Lord, with the sword, and with the famine, and with the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.
Therefore hearken not ye to your prophets, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your enchanters, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon:
For they prophesy a lie unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.
But the nations that bring their neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own land, saith the Lord; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.
I spake also to Zedekiah king of Judah according to all these words, saying, Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and serve him and his people, and live.
Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, as the Lord hath spoken against the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?
Therefore hearken not unto the words of the prophets that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve the king of Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
For I have not sent them, saith the Lord, yet they prophesy a lie in My name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the prophets that prophesy unto you.
Also I spake to the priests and to all this people, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Hearken not to the words of your prophets that prophesy unto you, saying, Behold, the vessels of the Lord’s house shall now shortly be brought again from Babylon: for they prophesy a lie unto you.
Hearken not unto them; serve the king of Babylon, and live: wherefore should this city be laid waste?
But if they be prophets, and if the word of the Lord be with them, let them now make intercession to the Lord of hosts, that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah, and at Jerusalem, go not to Babylon.
For thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, and concerning the sea, and concerning the bases, and concerning the residue of the vessels that remain in this city,
Which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took not, when he carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem;
Yea, thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning the vessels that remain in the house of the Lord, and in the house of the king of Judah and of Jerusalem;
They shall be carried to Babylon, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith the Lord; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this place.” (Jer. 27).

“The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
Enquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the Lord will deal with us according to all His wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Behold,I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
And I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
And afterward, saith the Lord, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
For I have set My face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the Lord: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the Lord;
O house of David, thus saith the Lord; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest My fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the Lord; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?
But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the Lord: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.” (Jer. 21).

“The Lord shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs were set before the temple of the Lord, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.
One basket had very good figs, even like the figs that are first ripe: and the other basket had very naughty figs, which could not be eaten, they were so bad.
Then said the Lord unto me, What seest thou, Jeremiah? And I said, Figs; the good figs, very good; and the evil, very evil, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
Again the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good.
For I will set Mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up.
And I will give them an heart to know Me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be My people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto Me with their whole heart.
And as the evil figs, which cannot be eaten, they are so evil; surely thus saith the Lord, So will I give Zedekiah the king of Judah, and his princes, and the residue of Jerusalem, that remain in this land, and them that dwell in the land of Egypt:
And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.
And I will send the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, among them, till they be consumed from off the land that I gave unto them and to their fathers.” (Jer. 24).

Trusting in guns instead of in the Lord will not profit.

“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My Spirit, that they may add sin to sin:
That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at My mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh be your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion.
For his princes were at Zoan, and his ambassadors came to Hanes.
They were all ashamed of a people that could not profit them, nor be an help nor profit, but a shame, and also a reproach.
The burden of the beasts of the south: into the land of trouble and anguish, from whence come the young and old lion, the viper and fiery flying serpent, they will carry their riches upon the shoulders of young asses, and their treasures upon the bunches of camels, to a people that shall not profit them.
For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still.
Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.” (Is. 30:1-13).

“For though ye had smitten the whole army of the Chaldeans that fight against you, and there remained but wounded men among them, yet should they rise up every man in his tent, and burn this city with fire.” (Jer. 37:10). “And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.” (Jer. 25:35).

Humbly accept the present and future trouble as punishment and badly needed discipline.

“Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,
Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.
Thus saith the Lord, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.
Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.
Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.
Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.” (Jer. 38:1-6).

Accepting the chastening of the Lord is not a popular message. Yet, this is what we today need the most. “There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” (2Pet. 2:1,2). Many will stand up against the truth, feigning the power and great light from God, and multitudes will follow the wrong voices.

“And it came to pass the same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, and in the fifth month, that Hananiah the son of Azur the prophet, which was of Gibeon, spake unto me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying,
Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of the Lord’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon:
And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the Lord: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Then the prophet Jeremiah said unto the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people that stood in the house of the Lord,
Even the prophet Jeremiah said, Amen: the Lord do so: the Lord perform thy words which thou hast prophesied, to bring again the vessels of the Lord’s house, and all that is carried away captive, from Babylon into this place.
Nevertheless hear thou now this word that I speak in thine ears, and in the ears of all the people;
The prophets that have been before me and before thee of old prophesied both against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, and of evil, and of pestilence.
The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him.
Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and brake it.
And Hananiah spake in the presence of all the people, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all nations within the space of two full years. And the prophet Jeremiah went his way.
Then the word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the prophet, after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying,
Go and tell Hananiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Thou hast broken the yokes of wood; but thou shalt make for them yokes of iron.
For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they shall serve him: and I have given him the beasts of the field also.
Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will cast thee from off the face of the earth: this year thou shalt die, because thou hast taught rebellion against the Lord.
So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month.” (Jer. 28).

“And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land.
And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword.
And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword.…
And if ye shall despise My statutes, or if your soul abhor My judgments, so that ye will not do all My commandments, but that ye break My covenant:
I also will do this unto you; I will even appoint over you terror, consumption, and the burning ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart: and ye shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it.
And I will set My face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies: they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.…
And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.
And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.
And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.
And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.” (Lev. 26:6-8,15-17,36-39).

“For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.
But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee: and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift.
One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill.
And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.
For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: He will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when He shall hear it, He will answer thee.” (Is. 30: 15-19). If we do not rest in Christ, we are bound to flee from the enemy (and be caught).

After King Zedekiah heard the messages of Jeremiah to not fight against Babylon, even in a private meeting with the prophet, Zedekiah fought anyway and found himself fleeing and being brutally punished. When the king should have sought to learn faith and then be able to trust himself into the Lord’s hands, he listened to his unbelieving and unsanctified advisors and princes.

“And the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
And on the ninth day of the fourth month the famine prevailed in the city, and there was no bread for the people of the land.
And the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled by night by the way of the gate between two walls, which is by the king’s garden: (now the Chaldees were against the city round about:) and the king went the way toward the plain.
And the army of the Chaldees pursued after the king, and overtook him in the plains of Jericho: and all his army were scattered from him.
So they took the king, and brought him up to the king of Babylon to Riblah; and they gave judgment upon him.
And they slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, and put out the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with fetters of brass, and carried him to Babylon.” (2Ki. 25:2-7).

“And He said, I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked Me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
For a fire is kindled in Mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend Mine arrows upon them.…
Rejoice, O ye nations, with His people: for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to His adversaries, and will be merciful unto His land, and to His people.” (Deut. 32:20-23,43).

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.
For day and night Thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.
I acknowledged my sin unto Thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
For this shall every one that is godly pray unto Thee in a time when Thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto Him.
Thou art my hiding place; Thou shalt preserve me from trouble; Thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.
I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with Mine eye.
Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.
Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” (Ps. 32).

King Zedekiah never wrestled with God for peace and obedience, as did his fathers Jacob and David. He joked and laughed in hilarity, hoping that the earnest warnings of Jeremiah were not true. Like many, many today under the Protestant umbrella, including Adventism, he did not take seriously the stern message of heaven just for that time, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” (Rev. 14:7). In uneasy chuckles the prince of Israel continued hoping upon presumption until his probation was used up. He squandered the peacetime, and now in the crisis he must do as he had trained his mind and heart—flee at the last minute and be tortured, after watching the mighty king of Babylon execute his beloved sons.

Jeremiah faithfully gave his message amidst great physical torment by his brethren. He practiced what he preached, heeding his message to them, “Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.” So Jeremiah left Jerusalem for the unprotected wilderness; but, through difficulty and capture and imprisonment by his own countrymen, the Lord protected him and he survived the confusion of the final Babylonian conquest of Israel.

Many are the historical annals that speak of men butchering in God’s name. Jehu was one whom God sent, as well as Jeroboam, but who did not do as the Lord desired. “And [Jehu] said, Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” (2Ki. 10:16). We don’t need to be like Jehu. “He was a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord.” (Gen. 10:9). We don’t need any more wicked Nimrods.

We must learn to stop fighting in selfish anger and revenge if we will ever enter the heavenly country of the King of peace, which flows with milk and honey. Moses couldn’t enter the earthly land flowing with milk and honey as a lesson for all succeeding generations who have not let the Spirit of God cleanse them “from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2Cor. 7:1).

“Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the Lord!
And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there?
And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the Rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth His water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as He commanded him.
And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the Rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the Rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed Me not, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and He was sanctified in them.” (Num. 20:1-13).

Grumbling and complaining about the New World Order instead of rejoicing–unbelief instead of faith. Let it not be said once of us. Rather, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Lk. 21:28).

“The law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.” (Rom. 4:15). We’ve been living in condemnation because Jesus has not been our main focus, which has made us grumblers and implacable. What we need are His acceptance and grace. Without Jesus, Christianity is no better than Judaism or secular hedonism. “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others”, “without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful…” (Eph. 2:3;Rom. 1:31).

Even if we are waiting for the Lord to come, if we don’t come to Jesus and learn of His meekness and lowliness so that He can put His Law into our heart and give us a new spirit, we do like the manservant in Christ’s warning parable who “shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken.” (Matt. 24:49). With Jesus and His love we discover that the Law is good and just and essential for peace with God. We also see that all “the prophets’ messages were of warning and hope.” SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 129, vs. 8.

Josiah had done many good works and instituted a great reformation in Israel in cooperation with Jeremiah. Yet, he failed to learn to stay behind the Lord and to heed the Lord’s messages to him of self-abnegation, which can come from any source—in his case, from Pharoah. We all have the same difficult lesson to grasp, that the human heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked, and that we must leave God’s battles to Him and His holiness.

“After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates: and Josiah went out against him.
But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? I come not against thee this day, but against the house wherewith I have war: for God commanded me to make haste: forbear thee from meddling with God, who is with me, that he destroy thee not.
Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and hearkened not unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight in the valley of Megiddo.
And the archers shot at king Josiah; and the king said to his servants, Have me away; for I am sore wounded.
His servants therefore took him out of that chariot, and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died, and was buried in one of the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah: and all the singing men and the singing women spake of Josiah in their lamentations to this day, and made them an ordinance in Israel: and, behold, they are written in the lamentations.” (2Chron. 35:20-25). “In his days Pharaoh-nechoh king of Egypt went up against the king of Assyria to the river Euphrates: and king Josiah went against him; and he slew him at Megiddo, when he had seen him. And his servants carried him in a chariot dead from Megiddo, and brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own sepulchre. And the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and anointed him, and made him king in his father’s stead.” (2Ki. 23:29,30).

Once Josiah died, all of his reformations ended, and Jeremiah was left to battle the people alone without royal authority. Josiah’s death marked a rapid downward spiral for Israel. If he had let the Lord fight His battles, Babylon’s destruction would have been delayed. Let’s not fail out of the last great reformation, the Latter Rain, by getting caught up in earthly weaponry defending against the Babylon that is extending its power over the whole world today.

When Jesus quoted the great gospel mission to His home church, He skipped over the phrase: “The day of vengeance of our God.” He made no mention of it because it would have fueled the congregation’s thirst for self-glory and self-gratifying revenge on Rome. The Nazarenes didn’t like that message or His biblical evidences He cited that they needed much repentance before God would ever fight for them. Today, wisdom would be discretionary concerning vengeance. Our first work needs to be repentance, beholding Jesus, and reformation. Once we are humbled and harmless as doves, then we are safe to do the Lord’s work and He is safe to cooperate with our efforts.

Without this divine orientation toward Christ and this rebirth, our focus is dangerously self-oriented—self-exaltation, self-pity, self-indulgence, self-preservation.

“And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.
And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.
Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee; pray unto the Lord, that He take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.
And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.” (Num. 21:4-9).

Peter and the other disciples and Jacob were fighters just like the children of Israel Moses had to deal with, as is each member of the human race by nature. But the Lord will put an end to our self-preservation. “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a Man with him until the breaking of the day.” (Gen. 32:24). “Peter said unto Him, Though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.” (Matt. 26:35). Yet, the next thing they said was, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” (Lk. 22:38).

The end won’t come until the Lord’s people have put down their fists and guns, and He has taught them total and complete reliance on Him and His spirit. “I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when He held up His right hand and His left hand unto heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” (Dan. 12:7).

Our catastrophes are the Lord’s punishment. We need to let them have their perfect work.

“And He said, I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
They have moved Me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked Me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
For a fire is kindled in Mine anger, and shall burn unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of the mountains.
I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend Mine arrows upon them....
Rejoice, O ye nations, with His people: for He will avenge the blood of His servants, and will render vengeance to His adversaries, and will be merciful unto His land, and to His people.” (Deut. 32:20-23,43).

“At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.
Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.…
Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn.…
I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for Thou art the Lord my God.…
Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.…
For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.…
And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord.” (Jer. 31:1-4,8,9,18,21,25,26,28).

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him:
For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.
Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.” (Heb. 12:1-12).

We don’t need to fight to save ourselves. We are given many beautiful eschatological promises of God’s protection.

“In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks.
Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.
Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:
For He bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, He layeth it low; He layeth it low, even to the ground; He bringeth it even to the dust.
The foot shall tread it down, even the feet of the poor, and the steps of the needy.
The way of the just is uprightness: Thou, most upright, dost weigh the path of the just.
Yea, in the way of Thy judgments, O Lord, have we waited for Thee; the desire of our soul is to Thy name, and to the remembrance of Thee.
With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early: for when Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.…
Lord, Thou wilt ordain peace for us: for Thou also hast wrought all our works in us.…
Come, My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” (Is. 26:1-9,12-20).

“Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him.” (Jer. 30:7,8).

“Or let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me.” (Is. 27:5). This is the “how” conversion and salvation get started—disregarding the past and boldly approaching God, taking hold of His life and death, even before we have peace with Him. Will we learn faith and come to Christ now while we still have time? “Surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come nigh unto Him.” (Ps. 32:6).

The Lord’s arsenal: hornets, fear, hemorrhoids. Strange indeed, but very tangible and effective weapons!

“There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land: the number of thy days I will fulfil.
I will send My fear before thee, and will destroy all the people to whom thou shalt come, and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs unto thee.
And I will send hornets before thee, which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee.” (Ex. 23:26-28). “The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness.” (Prov. 21:12).

“ And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction: and He smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.
Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.
So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our people: for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city; the hand of God was very heavy there.
And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.” (1Sam. 5:9-12).

If we would trust the Lord to fight for us, we would not worry or stew in fear. Our current day-to-day battles are preparing us for the big ones, if we are returning to the Savior every time we fail and lash out at our perceived enemies.

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (Ex. 14:13,14).

Do not forget the words of Christ, “The Father Himself loveth you.” John 16:27. He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance. Steps to Christ, p. 64.

“Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass.
And He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.
For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.
But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
The Lord shall laugh at him: for He seeth that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.
Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken.” (Ps. 37:1-15).

“We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (Eph. 6:12,13).

A mustard seed grain of faith of massively good quality and the Holy Ghost are needed for God to fight for us, but we must be there and be praying to keep our hands off the Lord’s battles and to rest in Him. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13).

“Then upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, came the Spirit of the Lord in the midst of the congregation;
And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel.
Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.” (2Chron. 20:14-17). “Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.” (Ps. 91:8).

Elisha’s world view of faith and his servant’s. “When the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.” (2Ki. 6:15-17).

Again, the Lord must fight, not us. If we fight, we have not learned sanctification.

“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.” (Ex. 14:13,14).

“Behold, the name of the Lord cometh from far, burning with His anger, and the burden thereof is heavy: His lips are full of indignation, and His tongue as a devouring fire:
And His breath, as an overflowing stream, shall reach to the midst of the neck, to sift the nations with the sieve of vanity: and there shall be a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err.
Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the Lord, to the mighty One of Israel.
And the Lord shall cause His glorious voice to be heard, and shall shew the lighting down of His arm, with the indignation of His anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and tempest, and hailstones.
For through the voice of the Lord shall the Assyrian be beaten down, which smote with a rod.
And in every place where the grounded staff shall pass, which the Lord shall lay upon him, it shall be with tabrets and harps: and in battles of shaking will He fight with it.
For Tophet is ordained of old; yea, for the king it is prepared; He hath made it deep and large: the pile thereof is fire and much wood; the breath of the Lord, like a stream of brimstone, doth kindle it.” (Is. 30:27-33).

“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.
Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.
Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.…
Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;
There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.
For He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.
They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.
Because he hath set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known My name.
He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.
With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him My salvation.” (Ps. 91:1-7,9-16).

“After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Gen. 15:1). A wonderful promise which Israel and the church of Christ would rarely learn.

What will it be for us? “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” (Matt. 16:25).

We heard the first peals of thunder in the USA Patriot Act and U.S. Military Commissions Act, and most recently in the Senate NDAA 1031 National Defense appropriation bill that passed over Thanksgiving weekend. We see how the Protestant denominations’ history of unfaithfulness to God’s Law and gospel compares so closely with Israel’s disobedience to the everlasting covenant. We know what prophecy says about the end of Protestant America.

“And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.” (Rev. 13:12).

The first beast had the eyes of a man speaking blasphemies for Satan, and the second beast looks nice but speaks like the Dragon.

“I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.” (Dan. 7:8). “And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.” (Rev. 13:6). “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.” (Rev. 13:11).

Who shall be able to stand and not cave in to fear for life? “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?” (Is. 33:14).

“He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;” (Is. 33:15). By beholding Jesus we become changed into His same image. “We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2Cor. 3:18).

“That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Eph. 3:16-19).

“Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (Phil. 4:8).

Sometimes we will have to hear evil reports. Sad, bad news is all part of the formula for us leaning the heaviest on Jesus and His good news. But if we don’t maximize on the good news, but fixate on the bad news like Israel did on the serpents coming to bite them with burning venom, we won’t have the strength to bear up under the bad, scary news that we read of or hear.

We will become subjects of the grasshopper complex. (“But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we.
And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.
And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.” And Jehovah got very angry over this.) (Num. 13:31-33;14:11).

When it comes to power and mental clarity to cope with bad times, “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Neh. 8:10). Jesus saw the cross coming but did not lose His grasp on God, the source of His strength. He endured the shadow of the coming crucifixion through happy communion with His Father—“in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” (Ps. 16:11). His Father’s excellence was ever before Christ, who “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross.” (Heb. 12:2).

John the Baptist periodically and wisely kept his ear open for news of Rome’s advances in subjugating and controlling Israel, and evidence of the Messiah’s appearing. This was not wrong, and neither is it for us.

The life of John was not spent in idleness, in ascetic gloom, or in selfish isolation. From time to time he went forth to mingle with men; and he was ever an interested observer of what was passing in the world. From his quiet retreat he watched the unfolding of events. With vision illuminated by the divine Spirit he studied the characters of men, that he might understand how to reach their hearts with the message of heaven. The burden of his mission was upon him. In solitude, by meditation and prayer, he sought to gird up his soul for the lifework before him. Desire of Ages, p. 102.

“Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.” (Rom. 12:15).

Righteousness a tree of life

2011-12-28T08:33:00.000-08:00

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” (Prov. 11:30). “In the way of righteousness is life; and in the pathway thereof there is no death.” (Prov. 12:28). “She [righteous wisdom] is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” (Prov. 3:18). “The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.” (Prov. 10:11).

Genuine righteousness, natural not pharisaical righteousness, brings hope and encouragement to all who are not fully under Satan’s bondage. To the extent that the image of God remains in the sinner’s mind, he can appreciate righteousness when it is sincere, natural, spontaneous, and pure. Even the most destitute and despotic have been struck by conviction, even in the act of murder, by the surrender and gentle forgiveness of their victim. Isn’t that what saved Saul of Tarsus?

Isn’t that what redeemed Abel each time he sacrificed a little lamb? Isn’t that what saves us by what we see in Jesus while hanging on the cross? “He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth: He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth.” (Is. 53:7). “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Lk. 23:34). Christ gave for the human race the clearest ever depiction of morality and goodness.

As righteousness exalts our spirit, so unrighteousness lays an ax to our heart. Beholding disrespect toward parents or hearing about murder, theft, prostitution, envy, and lying, all leave us sad and sorrowing and distraught. “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” (Prov. 10:1). “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” (Prov. 16:24). “A good report maketh the bones fat.” (Prov. 15:30).

The effects of righteousness and sin, commandment-keeping and lawlessness, are also felt on a large scale. “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” (Prov. 14:34). “When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.” (Prov. 11:10). It affects whole societies if they have completely given themselves over to sin. Then law and order disappear and there is no conscience or disturbed hearts at the sights of every form of evil, and no one is safe. But until that point is reached, a sense of sorrow remains toward acts of sin and rejoicing continues toward unselfish acts in obedience of natural law.

So long as love abides in hearts righteousness will be appreciated and loved. The two, love and right-doing, exist together. “[Charity] rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” (1Cor. 13:6). Likewise do selfishness and wrong-doing. Christ spoke an eternal principle when He said, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:12).

Sin is distressing; to witness it brings no peace to the soul. Calm trust turns into disturbed unrest simply to be in its presence. Lot, residing in Sodom and having to live so close to wickedness, found it all to give him constant consternation. “That righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.” (2Pet. 2:8).

The world, when it is given over to universal apostasy and full possession by Satan, receives the mark of the beast while God’s people who have no guile in their mouths receive the seal of God. (Rev. 13:11-18;14:1-5). The Old Testament type of this modern world’s recipe for destruction was typified in Ezekiel 9. There we see an angel giving a mark to save some from the avenging wrath of God. But it only spares those “that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst” of the land. (Ez. 9:4). Their disposition was distress and mourning toward sin; “for the end of those things is death.” (Rom. 6:21). “He setteth an end to darkness, and searcheth out all perfection: the stones of darkness, and the shadow of death.” (Job 28:3).

Those who feed their minds on sin eventually die in their hearts. A young man in New York City lived in an apartment building and his elderly neighbor with whom he was acquainted hadn’t seen him coming or going for weeks. So she knocked on his door but got no reply. A day or two later she knocked again and still got no reply. But she heard the TV playing just like she remembered hearing it had the other time. So she turned the doorknob and the door opened. Going in, she found her young acquaintance lying on the floor unconscious. He would have died there had his neighbor not found him. The cause of his malady and near death? The withering effects of the media, especially television, that are broadcasting filth, heartlessness, and men’s cleverness (which is pure foolishness). “The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.” (Prov. 13:9). “Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember Thee in Thy ways: behold, Thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.” (Is. 64:5).

“The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and Thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; Thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, Thou preservest man and beast.
How excellent is Thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Thy wings.
They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures.
For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light.
O continue Thy lovingkindness unto them that know Thee; and Thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.” (Ps. 36).

“The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever
things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Phil. 4:7-9).

The visions of the seeming endless reign of mysterious deceit and iniquity appeared so horrific that they broke Daniel’s health. “Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me Daniel, my cogitations much troubled me, and my countenance changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.” (Dan. 7:28). “I Daniel fainted, and was sick certain days; afterward I rose up, and did the king’s business; and I was astonished at the vision, but none understood it.” (Dan. 8:27). But, contrariwise, the end of the controversy which Daniel witnessed in vision and the final display of salvation were so sweet as honey, and it came as such a relief to John that he “fell at [the angel Gabriel’s] feet to worship him.” (Rev. 19:10). Though John was wrong in his action, what we can say is that the character of Christ in the soul “rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth.” (1Cor. 13:6).

“And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great.
And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Rev. 19:4-8). “For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” (Is. 62:5).

Living off of love

2011-12-27T09:05:00.000-08:00

“Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.” (1Cor.7:3-5). “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” (Heb. 13:4).

“You can’t live off of love. A marriage can’t survive simply on love.” This seems to be the axiom of modern life. It is today’s torch of truth. Truly Jesus foresaw our day, “Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matt. 24:12). All the law of this perverse generation and its false prophets hang on this product of humanism.

But I beg to differ from the idea that we can’t live off of love. Look at our first parents. Adam and Eve didn’t slave at a job, and they had the perfect marriage. Life was a paradise for them. They literally lived in love. “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1Jn. 4:16).

Adam and Eve were born in glory and served their Creator and each other in holiness and righteousness all the days of their lives in the Garden. Their natures were pure, and thus were their characters equally pure. Reverential praise for God was continually in their mouths. Deferential service they continually provided one another. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1Jn. 3:16). They saw the constant outpouring of divine love in the gift of an amazing world, abundant in provisions of every kind for their every need and that of the beloved plant and animal kingdoms.

Never once having known rebellion or the pain of guilt and shame, their trust and love exuded from their body, soul, and mind. They walked in the light of God’s truth and grace and had fellowship one with another. They were forever bringing gifts to each other. In their mutual charity out of a pure heart they met one another’s needs.

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1Jn. 4:7-10).

“Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves’ eyes within thy locks: thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from mount Gilead.
Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep that are even shorn, which came up from the washing; whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them.
Thy lips are like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech is comely: thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.
Thy neck is like the tower of David builded for an armoury, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.…
Until the day break, and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of frankincense.
Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee.
Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon: look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions’ dens, from the mountains of the leopards.
Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse; thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.
How fair is thy love, my sister, my spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!
Thy lips, O my spouse, drop as the honeycomb: honey and milk are under thy tongue; and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon.
A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.
Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,
Spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:
A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon.
I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.” (Song 4:1-4,6-5:2).

“My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand.
His head is as the most fine gold, his locks are bushy, and black as a raven.
His eyes are as the eyes of doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, and fitly set.
His cheeks are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers: his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling myrrh.
His hands are as gold rings set with the beryl: his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires.
His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold: his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars.
His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.
My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies.
I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine: he feedeth among the lilies.” (Song 5:10-6:3).

If we live off of love, everything else in life will follow. This is the kingdom of God; it is paradise. “The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.” (Rom. 8:2).

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” (Matt. 6:33,34).

The Law of God a good leash

2011-12-27T08:23:00.000-08:00

Pingo and I went for a walk. A woods behind our church had been clear cut. The last time we had walked there all the trees were still there. It has been so nice to walk and meditate in the seclusion provided for by the evergreen foliage and pines. Now it was a whole new world—other-worldly—just a desolate wilderness of sand, branches littering the whole area, shrubs newly returning, and a few saplings still standing, unwanted by the paper company.

I didn’t put a leash on Pingo since we were away from the road and traffic. But as we went along the dirt access road we ran up on to a big, muddy waterhole. I assessed the situation and decided I could pass it by using a narrow path next to the puddle. And so I went.

But Pingo decided that the muddy water was a better way. So he strode right through it all the way to the other side, unfazed by having done anything socially unacceptable. Now I was a little peeved at the thought of him getting back in my car, all filthy as he was.

So I decided we would have to walk around long enough for him to dry off, and then use my belt for a leash to keep him out of the waterhole on the way back to the car. But when we walked along the path beside the mud hole Pingo almost strangled himself trying to get back into the water. Nevertheless, we passed it and soon we were far enough away from it that I could remove the leash and he could run carefree, happy again.

God’s Law is not meant to choke us to death. If it feels that way it is due to our resistance and rebellion against it. But we have been called by Christ’s name, and if we will ride in His royal chariot the day He returns, we need to let Him restrict us by His Law. It may not feel good; it may seem to have a stranglehold on us; but if we will remain under its persistent control and constant condemnation and instruction and correction—all for our eventual justification, it will finally bring us to Christ in sorrow and repentance. When Christ’s power through faith in Him has won us the victory over Satan and our rebellion against Him, then our reconciliation and union with Christ will remove our continual sense of condemnation. Peace replaces His wrath; His acceptance replaces all effects of rejection; and then “the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace.” (Jas. 3:18). Jesus becomes our schoolmaster through His Spirit and the Law of God ceased to have dominion over us, as well as does our sin, through the grace of Christ and His Law.

“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.
Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.
Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:19-26).

“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” (1Tim. 1:5).

The beast from the bottomless pit

2011-12-27T08:00:00.000-08:00

“And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.” (Rev. 11:7-9).

This beast is the same as the angel that ascends during the 5th trumpet and also the beast that carries the great whore. “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.
And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power.
And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads….
And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.” (Rev. 9:1-4,11). “And the angel said unto me, …The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” (Rev. 17:7,8).

This beast-thing is one and the same, depicted in several ways to fill out the picture of it. It affects all who have not the Seal of God in their foreheads, who desire to silence the voice of God in the earth, whose names are not written in “the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world,” who worship the demonic forces that gave power to the beast, and who follow after the beast, entranced and enthralled saying, “Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?” (Rev. 13:8,4).

The beast ascends shortly after 1844, the beginning of the cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary. God has given this ascension of Satan 150 years, “five months,” from 1849 to 1999, to lay the foundation for his final work of deception, both dates bounded by Protestants rushing after this world’s treasures. (Rev. 9:5) The beast makes war with the remnant of the two witnesses (Rev. 12:17)) and finally overcomes them and kills them after Ellen White passes from the scene of action.

Ellen White—I tell you now, that when I am laid to rest, great changes will take place…I want the people to know that I warned them fully before my death. MS1 Feb. 24, 1915. It was no different from Moses’ and Paul’s statements of the same kind. “For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.” (Deut. 31:29). “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.” (Acts 20:29-30).

After the passing of Mrs. White, WWI reveals the great importance of the oil industry in war making and new impetus comes with America’s rush for black gold. The automobile proliferates and the “good life” is widely distributed to Protestant multitudes.

The Advent movement languishes without the pen, voice, and presence of its prophet, and this new flood of worldliness plagues the land that had at one time opened its mouth to protect them from the earlier flood of papal persecution. Now the great-grandchildren of the Reformation, 500 years removed, are under a new attack by Satan, not by a flood of angry persecutors, but by a flood of sinister and subtle tempters and temptations from within.

Millions of tempters, spirit and corporeal, have picked up the new banner and marched through the land of prosperity. The whole world has gone after the beast that has ascended out of the depths of sin and death. Unable by the sword to force the Protestants to abandon faith in God, this illusive power from beneath leads the children of the Reformers to live like their fathers never lived, and to worship and serve lust in ways not seen since the Roman Empire—and soon as never before seen in the history of mankind.

“And an host was given him against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the truth to the ground; and it practised, and prospered.” (Dan. 8:12). Every descendent of Protestantism has been “drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” (Jas. 1:14,15). Once they left their firm conviction to live and die for the word of God, they had no protection from lusting after this world, even if they were still going to church and singing the praises of God sung by the Reformers.

This departure from God and His truth forced God to open the door to Satan. The great King gave the hosts of darkness access to the people professing godliness. At this late hour of history and in the great plan of salvation, satanic forces have been let loose. Slowly at first, but rapidly growing and expanding, and finally engulfing the whole world has come the “strong delusion” that will force the children of Adam to choose heaven or hell, eternity or final destruction. (2Thess. 2:11).

The Investigative Judgment, which opened in 1844, has been going strong since 1849. “The spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” is once again corralling his earth-bound captives and securing his hold on their minds. (Eph. 2:2). The Mark of the beast is going forth upon the foreheads and of multitudes, and since 1999 it has intensified.

Paralleling the Mark of the Satan, the Seal of God has also gone out into many minds and hearts. Although a very small minority on Earth, the 144,000 are developing into a formidable host that does not appear to be anything now, but will as the Mark of the beast becomes more defined in the characters of men and women, the world round.

A wonderful haunting image

2011-12-23T10:16:00.001-08:00

The images haunted me again this morning. The images of genuine righteousness.

I was leaving a campmeeting in which I had taken in much that had displeased me. The preaching was not Christ-centered. Though He is the one great champion of goodness and purity and love, His life and character and heart were not lifted up for all to see and then to return home with a blessing for their neighbors. But a menagerie of bland religious information and smiles of self-manufactured joy filled the sermons, concerts, and testimonials.

So I was leaving to go home worse off spiritually than when I had come there, happy and full of expectation of hearing something different than I had at work and among the world. I was going home again to fight the battles and to rummage through the Bible for spiritual things by myself in order to keep my faith.

My head still spinning and chock full of the benign sights and sounds of emptiness, I pulled in to get gas before leaving town to drive the hundred miles home. My eye caught a car parked off to the side, beside it standing three Mennonites: a man, a woman, and a teenage girl in their traditional in-town garb.

Apparently, they were saying goodbyes. But it was far from being our typical cool parting. The teen was overwhelmed with grief at leaving this mother and father couple. As her tears flowed and the girl and woman exchanged quiet words I was gripped by the sorrow, and my blasé mood disappeared. As I watched, I saw love expressed back and forth as the mother, fixed on the weeping eyes and following the woeful young mouth, face meeting face, and only a cubit between, the women clutching each others’ arms, I stared frozen in time. As love flowed back and forth, my heart flowed again, their hearts giving mine CPR. The intermittent hugs throughout the separation added to the display, and to my dismay.

Genuine love, genuine righteousness—how they catapult us from a world sunken in apathetic idolatry and hypocrisy! The death of self, and the loss and suffering that created the genuine article of love alone can pull us out of sin and self-sufficiency, and lead us to the great and full redemption.

Those Mennonites showed redemption to be not just some theological doctrine. The reclamation of the soul is real and the one great necessity in this short life. Wealth and luxury and power do nothing to heal the woe upon the spirit of the human race. It’s the holy, burning love, the helplessness and humility, the natural goodness and forgetfulness of self that restore man into the path of benevolence and constructive action in the world.

What I witnessed in a snap-shop, Christ declared every day, every moment. His gentle touch, His fatherly care, His love exuding from every pore of His face and body brought new life to everyone He met. His constant desire was the attraction of love to pull the hearts of the people to Him and to His Father in heaven. Their trust in Him healed their maladies and then He carefully placed their faith in God from whom the power to heal originated. The Creator was glorified and again worshipped by people full of faith.

The Spirit of God uses all of the suffering and sorrow that life shows us to guide us to the one great sacrifice that will finally redeem our souls. “He is despised and rejected of men; a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to His own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (Is. 53:3-6). When, with eyes illuminated by the Holy Ghost, we are escorted into this drama of the ages, faith in God and in His plan of salvation shine forth in truth and reality. All the suffering and death this life brings us work as lesser lights leading us to the greater light of the deepest love ever comprehended.

That our Creator, the Creator, would not leave us to our vices, but yearn to have us back with Him again, in the same original love exchange that He had with us when He made us, changes us from self-protective, destructive creatures into peaceful, helpful, constructive members of the family of earth.

Not a theory, not a doctrine kept only in church books, not an abstract or a cliché, God’s redemption in Christ is real and is the foundation to the soon-closing Investigative Judgment that will produce a people that can stand before the Son of man when He comes with His heavenly hosts with flaming sword to take vengeance on them that know not God nor obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Love and righteousness will change us and prepare us for the kingdom to come which will function from only this genuine love and righteousness. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” (1Tim. 1:5).

We have fallen

2011-12-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” (Rom. 1:28-32).

I’ve been listening to an audio book called, An Empire of Their Own: How the Jews Invented Hollywood. It is about how the movie industry came to be monopolized by Jews. The book seems to be well researched and thought out. It is exquisitely written, although it tends to glamorize the life of the rich and famous.

Apparently, Hungary was an impoverished nation in the late 1800’s. One possible cause for this could be the same as that of France a century previous—that nations subjugated by Catholicism have always found the court intrigues and monetary requirements of the church to drain the nation and its citizens, leaving the masses desolate economically as well as spiritually. Jews, being the lowest class in the unforgiving, unconverted, and mean Christendom, suffered more than their gentile compatriots.

But to add to the state of destitution and their drive to escape poverty, the future movie moguls grew up in families whose fathers had no sense of responsibility. These fathers could not hold a job, and their families often moved from one rented apartment to another in the slums. The boys who later escaped all of this determined to never repeat it again.

So when they fled to the burgeoning life in America, their energy and determination had an intensity that nothing could curtail. These Jewish youth attempted one business venture after another, most beginning in fur processing and fashion. Their sense of reading the tastes of the latest desires of people for self-aggrandizement prepared them to throw their wealth from furs into the new invention of filming vaudeville acts.

As they jockeyed for power and wealth, they analyzed human nature and fed off of the basest animal passions in the masses. They had a captive society with its pervasive love of entertainment. Men, women, and children in Protestant America had left the service of God and of seeking after His righteousness. Now God had to let them go and serve under the cruel but initially pleasant tyrants of self and Satan.

“How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? How shall I deliver thee, Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine heart is turned within Me, My repentings are kindled together.” (Hos. 11:8). God has often given up His children to His sworn enemy because they loved the devil’s covenant and promises rather than their Creator’s. But it has never been an easy decision. And throughout eternity the Father will agonize over the great loss, but be satisfied that His surviving children are forever safe from this world of sin.

Beside the lack of loving fathers, the boys found Judaism to be an unacceptable stricture. Rituals and doctrine made no sense to them. Their religion was simply another loveless source of misery. If these young men had been loved and could have sensed the love of God, they never would have turned out to be degrading, violent, and greedy for money and power.

With love and affection from their fathers, they would have grown content with righteousness. They and their offspring would have spent their lives in happiness. And the world would be a much better place without the entertainment industry they created.

Protestantism offered no protection against the corrupting influences moving into its country. The world has moved along in an accelerating pace, hastening to the second advent of Jesus and the Day of Judgment. This Investigative Judgment period in heaven that has preceded the execution of judgment at Christ’s coming has done its purposed work of softening the resolution of the nations and setting apart those who want to know God and need His acceptance. Separating the sheep from the goats, the souls loyal to heaven have stood out amidst the corrupting influences surrounding them, while the rest of the world, which by far have been the majority, have been entranced by the glamour and promises of wealth and prestige.

And the saga continues and will crescendo in the days nearing us when all who have sold their soul to this world and this life will join together under Satan’s master delusion to wipe holiness from existence. The craving for self-indulgence, as it did to the movie moguls, will gnaw at their beings so powerfully that they will detest and find none worthy of life who persist in following hard after the ancient Law of God and His love.

We have sinned

2011-12-22T10:38:00.001-08:00

This conquest of the old United States we did to ourselves. “For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.” (Is. 52:3). “The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us that we have sinned!” (Lam. 5:16).

“We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments:
Neither have we hearkened unto Thy servants the prophets, which spake in Thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land.
O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day; to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and unto all Israel, that are near, and that are far off, through all the countries whither Thou hast driven them, because of their trespass that they have trespassed against Thee.
O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against Thee.
To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against Him;
Neither have we obeyed the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in His laws, which He set before us by His servants the prophets.
Yea, all Israel have transgressed Thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey Thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against Him.
And He hath confirmed His words, which He spake against us, and against our judges that judged us, by bringing upon us a great evil: for under the whole heaven hath not been done as hath been done upon Jerusalem.
As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy truth.
Therefore hath the Lord watched upon the evil, and brought it upon us: for the Lord our God is righteous in all His works which He doeth: for we obeyed not His voice.” (Dan. 9:5-14).

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?” (1Pet. 4:17,18).

“And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel.
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathheres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash.
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel.
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim:
And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.
And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.
And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and He delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and He sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.
Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord; but they did not so.
And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto My voice;
I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died:
That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.
Therefore the Lord left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered He them into the hand of Joshua.” (Judg. 2:7-23).

“And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead.
And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.” (Judg. 4:1-3).

“And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian seven years.
And the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel: and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong holds.
And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;
And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.
For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.
And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites; and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.
And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites,
That the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel, which said unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought you up from Egypt, and brought you forth out of the house of bondage;
And I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all that oppressed you, and drave them out from before you, and gave you their land;
And I said unto you, I am the Lord your God; fear not the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but ye have not obeyed My voice.” (Judg. 6:1-10).

This begs the question, What have we done to call down God’s wrath upon our heads? How has Protestantism departed from the Lord?

Self-righteous insolence. What do you mean…? “And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you.
If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto My name, saith the Lord of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it.
And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that My covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 2:1-4).

“A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is Mine honour? and if I be a master, where is My fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise My name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised Thy name?
Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible.” (Mal. 1:6,7).

“Ye have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied Him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” (Mal. 2:17).
“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed Me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed Thee? In tithes and offerings.” (Mal. 3:8).

“Your words have been stout against Me, saith the Lord. Yet ye say, What have we spoken so much against Thee?” (Mal. 3:13).
“And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear not Me, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 3:5).
“Judah hath dealt treacherously, and an abomination is committed in Israel and in Jerusalem; for Judah hath profaned the holiness of the Lord which he loved, and hath married the daughter of a strange god.
The Lord will cut off the man that doeth this, the master and the scholar, out of the tabernacles of Jacob, and him that offereth an offering unto the Lord of hosts.” (Mal. 2:11,12).
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:
And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Mal. 4:5,6).

What did all this mean? It meant the end of Israel’s probation, the end of the 70 week prophecy, the end of Israel as a favored nation to God. It meant that Jews could still find acceptance with God, but only through the gentiles which God would choose. It also illustrates the utter insolence in arguing back to God for His conviction of their sin. Will disobedient Protestantism do the same? They have abrogated the Law of God and called it non-binding since the cross. They say that Jesus fulfilled the Law and therefore we don't have to, even though He is our example. (Matt. 5:17,18;1Pet. 2:21-23).

“Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.
Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.
And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for Himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
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.” (Dan. 9:24-27).

“Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” (Matt. 21:42,43).

“They stumbled…through their fall…for to provoke them to jealousy.
…the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles…and might save some of them.
…The casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?” (Rom. 11:11,12,14,15). As a nation, Israel fell from the Lord’s graces. Could the same happen to the Protestant Reformation?

The conquest of Protestantism has been a long, painful ordeal. She treated the gospel with contempt for centuries, yet her God was patient with her. The church was the apple of His eye and the object of His supreme regard. But we did just as the children of Israel in their early days; we turned to please our carnal natures with the things of this world. And as our spirituality suffered, our place in the world began to slide.

The protection that God promised His people was first breached as the colonialists bought the sugar from the Jesuit reductions in South America. That sugar became a staple of our foods and desserts. As we became more and more dependent on the sugar we became more and more dependent on the Catholic Church. This simple measure illustrates how subtle Satan is. The primitive life of the colonies grew more and more like European life, and the old world’s corruption made its way into the American colonies.

Protestantism was dying with the death of the spirit of self-sacrifice. Religion in the colonies was cold and formal, although not beyond hope. But shortly after becoming established as an independent nation, after short-lived revivals every once in a while throughout the 18th century, the Lord sent the preaching of Christ’s literal coming in 1844 and a complete explanation of the biblical prophecies. But the mainline denominations rejected those truths and proved that the had departed so far from God that they would persecute the humble preaching of Baptist William Miller. Then they denied the Ten Commandments when they accepted Satan’s falsehood that God’s Law was abrogated at the cross.

After that was a quick slide for the churches. A civil war, two world wars and other lesser scale military conflicts saw the denominations grow darker. When the Charismatic and New Age movements passed through, the Protestants had not the spiritual wherewithall to disregard them.

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1Jn. 1:7). The Protestants had removed God’s law from their doctrines, therefore they were not walking in the light of God and lost the fellowship that comes with that humble walk. They grew more and more distant as their religion grew cooler and cooler.

Jesus said that love waxes cold because of iniquity. (Matt. 24:12). “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25). When people have no time for God, they have no time for each other either.

Today, it’s hard to get people to come together for a whole day of sabbath-keeping, even for the Seventh-day Adventists. Even the remnant of the Reformation divides into clichés or single families and disperses for the day once the worship service ends. For many, worshiping God together is only a three hour excursion, for some, only a one hour.

Laodicea is the reason God let Satan loose in 1849 for 150 years, according to the fifth trumpet. Our lukewarmness and lackadaisical attitude toward heaven is the cause of America losing its sovereignty. Apathetically reading God’s word and the lack of living by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of God through a continual communion with the Holy Spirit has caused God to turn away from us like He did the Jews two thousand years ago.

We, Protestant Americans, have left our first love and our fear of God. So, God has had no other recourse but to give us what we want. We want the world more than Him, we will find out what the world is really about. We’ve looked at sin and temptation through rose-colored glasses and didn’t see much danger in it. We didn’t take God seriously.

Soon, the ugly reality of Protestantism’s disobedience to the gospel will rear its head and God will be glorified in those who will suffer until repentance. The stage for our subjugation is set. Democracy is about to give way to Hypocracy and Fascism on a massive world-wide scale. The U.S. will be the secular arm of the Vatican; Christian America, the Church’s eldest son.

“I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.” (Ez. 20:41). “But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness.” (Is. 5:16). “This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and He was sanctified in them.” (Num. 20:13).

Soon, “He shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people.” (Dan. 12:7). Our dependence on human strngth will be shaken out of us through the worst tribulation this world has ever experienced. When God has a people who perfectly reflect the character of Jesus, then He will come and claim them as His own.

The great train robbery

2011-12-16T09:35:00.000-08:00

Building the bridge into the 21st century sounded so good. Nothing but good times ahead. Smooth sailing into the setting sun. It was sold as the panacea of all the world’s ills and all it needed was the consent of the American public. Little did the masses know that the good times were only meant for a select few. The masses would be bankrupted and by buying into the chief executive’s rhetoric they were selling themselves and their future generations into slavery.

Now we see what the bridge into the 21st century will look like. No Bill of Rights. No Constitutional freedoms handed down from honest men seeking to bless their people with the gifts of God—liberty and democracy and prosperity—and through them to bless the world. No peace in the camp. Instead, under the smiling mask of chicanery was totalitarian government, complete and total robbery of the national treasure, even to the loss of all of our natural resources which is our future treasure, the restoration of the Inquisitions of the Old World from which our forefathers fled, and serfdom instead of economic freedom, an impounded gigantic lower class instead of a thriving middle class.

The foreigners who stole all the high ranking power positions in government, church, military and private sector, all had the big plan in mind and worked together like a well-oiled machine, like a highly trained army. And, a highly trained army is exactly what they were/are. They had one ultimate purpose—the overthrow of America with its freedom and of Protestantism with this purity.

They took their positions and cunningly remodeled the letter of our Constitution’s infrastructure and imbued it with a different spirit. The American government began to encourage the growth of corporations run by Rome’s infiltrators by giving tax breaks to these Rome-friendly companies that politicians knew to invest in, tax breaks for which honest companies that were not under the Vatican’s rule did not qualify. Soon the bulk of the business flowed into the Rome-elected corporations and the independent companies had to fold.

Thus, we had the late gobbling up of failing companies and the growing presence of massive monopolizing mergers with no resistance by the United States government which was strong-armed by the powerful Vatican men at the top. Once done, the monopoly giants could wield power over the people’s government and heist their wealth, diverting it all to Rome. Neither are the churches non-complicit as they sold us Rome’s tyrannical bill of goods—a soon-to-be furious “Christian” America.

“The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!” (Lam. 5:16).

“How doth the city sit solitary, that was full of people! how is she become as a widow! she that was great among the nations, and princess among the provinces, how is she become tributary!
She weepeth sore in the night, and her tears are on her cheeks: among all her lovers she hath none to comfort her: all her friends have dealt treacherously with her, they are become her enemies.
Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits.…
Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the Lord hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.
And from the daughter of Zion all her beauty is departed: her princes are become like harts that find no pasture, and they are gone without strength before the pursuer.
Jerusalem remembered in the days of her affliction and of her miseries all her pleasant things that she had in the days of old, when her people fell into the hand of the enemy, and none did help her: the adversaries saw her, and did mock at her sabbaths.
Jerusalem hath grievously sinned; therefore she is removed: all that honoured her despise her, because they have seen her nakedness: yea, she sigheth, and turneth backward.…
The adversary hath spread out his hand upon all her pleasant things: for she hath seen that the heathen entered into her sanctuary, whom Thou didst command that they should not enter into Thy congregation.
All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for meat to relieve the soul: see, O Lord, and consider; for I am become vile....
For these things I weep; mine eye, mine eye runneth down with water, because the comforter that should relieve my soul is far from me: my children are desolate, because the enemy prevailed.” (Lam. 1:1-3,5-8,10,11,16).

“How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in His anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not His footstool in the day of His anger!
The Lord hath swallowed up all the habitations of Jacob, and hath not pitied: He hath thrown down in His wrath the strong holds of the daughter of Judah; He hath brought them down to the ground: He hath polluted the kingdom and the princes thereof.
He hath cut off in His fierce anger all the horn of Israel: He hath drawn back His right hand from before the enemy, and He burned against Jacob like a flaming fire, which devoureth round about.
He hath bent His bow like an enemy: He stood with His right hand as an adversary, and slew all that were pleasant to the eye in the tabernacle of the daughter of Zion: He poured out His fury like fire.
The Lord was as an enemy: He hath swallowed up Israel, He hath swallowed up all her palaces: He hath destroyed His strong holds, and hath increased in the daughter of Judah mourning and lamentation.
And He hath violently taken away His tabernacle, as if it were of a garden: He hath destroyed His places of the assembly: the Lord hath caused the solemn feasts and Sabbaths to be forgotten in Zion, and hath despised in the indignation of His anger the king and the priest.” (Lam. 2:1-6).

“How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street.
The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers, the work of the hands of the potter!…
The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.
They that did feed delicately are desolate in the streets: they that were brought up in scarlet embrace dunghills.
For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire:
Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.
They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger: for these pine away, stricken through for want of the fruits of the field.
The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people.
The Lord hath accomplished His fury; He hath poured out His fierce anger, and hath kindled a fire in Zion, and it hath devoured the foundations thereof.…
Our persecutors are swifter than the eagles of the heaven: they pursued us upon the mountains, they laid wait for us in the wilderness.” (Lam. 4:12,4-11,19).

Another holocaust

2011-12-15T11:16:00.000-08:00

The Jews were rounded up in Germany because they stood for non-Catholicity/non-Christianity. Therefore they must be exterminated. They would not convert and were not desired. They were too different, and steeped in a religion that was more ancient than Catholicism. Their exclusive, Judaistic ways were ground into them, including moneymaking, money-hoarding, and money-loaning at low rates only among their community. So they must go, or be shown that the Vatican will not be competed with for world domination.

Soon after Hitler came to power he began to rail against the Jews. Then economic constraints were put upon them, their bank holdings were seized, their real property confiscated. Then came the large yellow stars sewn on their clothes, and finally roundups into detention centers and going into hiding. Lastly, starvation, labor camps, and mass extermination.

Rome was never so quiet in her purported humanistic morality than when the Jews, Orthodox Serbs, Muslims, and a few Protestants were slaughtered within the geographic realm of Christendom. That’s because their extermination was all in Rome’s big plan to eventually own the world—body, mind, and soul.

While it looked like Rome didn’t then succeed to conquer the world, Satan had bigger plans, after getting Protestant America fully in his snare. America’s leadership at the highest echelons had been already steadily filling with Rome’s men, but time would eventually permit a denser population of Jesuits in key positions, as well as move the American masses from anti-Catholic fears to Ecumenism, and away from solid Protestant roots to Catholic-originated Charismatic Evangelicalism.

That is where we are today. All the parts of the big trap are made and the trip is set. All they need now is to pull the trigger.

The National Defense Authorization Act budget. Senate bill NDAA 1031, has just given the United States President in all future administrations the power to accuse anyone of terrorism. Already involved in the neo-fascist framework built up by the USA Patriot Act is the powerful and lawless CIA (which is the unbroken follow-on of the Hitler’s SS troups); FEMA’s high security prison-like detention centers strewn all over the U.S. and the world, and FEMA’s ten fusion centers which is a network with which it centralizes and diffuses information on black-listed individuals; the U.S. Congress passing laws in favor of a holocaust; and the President talking up all the benefits of holding American citizens suspected of terrorism indefinitely for 10 years or more, in perfect secrecy, without legal counsel or protection, without due process of law and no public accountability for these operations except by a private group of individuals whom a future President chooses. All this speaks of the most egregious and despotic institutionalized, state-run terror campaign over America and the whole world that has ever existed.

What we are about to see from the USA Patriot Act and NDAA 1031 will imitate Nazi Germany, but be technologically advanced and extend to a far more vast area. We are going to see success where Hitler Nazism failed to conquer the world for the Church. All who will not soon bow to the Church’s threats will disappear into detention centers, which will never fill up or get overcrowded because the human can take only so much physical torture and mental torment.

Who will disappear? Anyone who will not comply or become complicit with the new church/state world government. Whoever will not be an oppressor or side with oppression will be the oppressed. Whoever will not kill will be killed. Whoever will not torture will be tortured. This is what the mark of the beast is all about. All who have Christ’s character will be marked by Satan for extermination and all who do not will be marked by God for Judgment Day.

All dissenters will be called dangerous enemies of the state and will be disciplined by an ethical authority that has already proven itself to have real teeth. This organization has shown its iron teeth and claws throughout the past eighteen centuries and has been the inspiration and empowerment behind every other such expression by religious groups that have used teeth to evangelize or discipline.

Her fangs are about to bare themselves once more. Like a rubberband pulled back to almost breaking and then let loose, Satan has this one final opportunity which has been prevented him for over two hundred years. Now nothing is going to cut him short of sheer madness and satisfaction of his most demonic pleasures.

Do you in any way disagree with Catholicism’s pseudo-Christianity? Does your lifestyle not meet with her subtle system of control and enslavement and absolute power? Then you must be re-educated until you either capitulate or expire.

Do you speak out against her despotic and nefarious history? Do you see her vividly prophesied in Bible prophecy? You will be branded a terrorist against the new United Christian States of the World.

Do you not keep Sunday holy to Mary? Do you remember the 7th day Sabbath, “the Sabbath day according to the commandment”? (Lk. 23:56). Will you not subscribe to the pagan sacraments and holidays like the rest of the world will? Then you will be dealt with as a cultist.

Prepare to see what has been predicted over 500 years before Christ, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” (Dan. 12:1).

Christians are you ready for the great tribulation that precedes Jesus’ return in power and great glory? You must apply these scriptures to yourself. For “all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable... for instruction.” (2Tim. 3:16).

“When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:
Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.
And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24:15-22).

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.…
Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.…
Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (1Pet. 4:12,13,16,19). “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” (1Pet. 5:9).

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for My sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles.
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come.
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of His household?” (Matt. 10:16-25).

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:” (1Pet. 1:6,7). “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33).

“Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
But he that denieth Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: for the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.” (Lk. 12:6-12).

“Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake.
And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
And ye shall be hated of all men for My name’s sake.
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
In your patience possess ye your souls.” (Lk. 21: 10-19).

Jesuit persecutors, corporate execs and CEOs, government agency chiefs and assistants, top military brass, who believe you can kill and persecute for the Church’s sake, are you ready for Judgment Day?

“They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” (Jn. 16:2).

“I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: and they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?
And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” (Rev. 6:9-11).

“And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.
Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.” (Rev. 13:11-18).

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” (Rev. 14:9-13).

“Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men’s sins: keep thyself pure.” (1Tim. 5:22). “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Rom 12:19). “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely.” (Lk. 3:14). “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children.” (1Th 2:7). “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” (2Tim. 2:24).

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. (Tit. 3:1-8).

“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (Jas. 3:17). “Thou hast also given me the shield of Thy salvation: and Thy right hand hath holden me up, and Thy gentleness hath made me great.” (Ps. 18:35).

“Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” (1Tim. 1:13). “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:24-26).

“But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing. And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.” (2Thess. 3:13-15).

“For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
And I say unto you My friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear Him.” (Lk. 12:2-5).

Wickedness in high places

2011-12-15T10:50:00.000-08:00

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph. 6:12).

I was amazed at the power and control of the publishing industry as I read the account of an investigative journalist who spent 18 years uncovering the DuPont family’s involvement in global exploitation for the New World Order.

“The powers that be” effectively prevented him from getting three books published, either by setting an heard-of pre-required customer base and then raising the amount several times as each minimum was obtained; to lawsuits where lawyers and judges were bought off or complicit with the DuPonts; to having shipments of the badly needed books “accidentally” not arrive at a large book-signing; to showing up at book signings with large rented box trucks to purchase the whole lot in order to keep the public from buying the books’ exposing reports; to finally publishing the book with the most expositional part mysteriously missing from the book’s content.

“Privishing” is the term used to describe this act of quietly killing a book before it can get to the public. This is what this journalist had firsthand experience in. At the end, all he had gotten from his 18 years of work was a short story about what he had gone through.

Though America looks like a free society, all of its freedoms are eroding in an accelerating fashion. Recently, the U.S. Senate passed a law that enforces the natural extension of the USA Patriot Act; it empowers the justice system to abduct anyone they brand a terrorist and place them in detention centers without any legal protection or due process of law. The CIA is behind it all and very secretive, so that no one knows of the tortures and death that have gone on inside the walls of those high security prisons. The cries and pain go unheard by human ears; but God hears.

Right now, and increasingly so in the near future, we are going to be needing God’s protection and His Holy Spirit. He promised this two-fold blessing to His beloved servant, Abram, who had obeyed the second great commandment to love his neighbor as himself. Abram had risked his life rescuing the people of Sodom, and now there could be repercussions, which scared him. “After these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” (Gen. 15:1).

Our Creator knows that we need His friendship and redeeming power, but He also knows that we need physical protection as well.

Abraham gladly returned to his tents and his flocks, but his mind was disturbed by harassing thoughts. He had been a man of peace, so far as possible shunning enmity and strife; and with horror he recalled the scene of carnage he had witnessed. But the nations whose forces he had defeated would doubtless renew the invasion of Canaan, and make him the special object of their vengeance. Becoming thus involved in national quarrels, the peaceful quiet of his life would be broken. Furthermore, he had not entered upon the possession of Canaan, nor could he now hope for an heir, to whom the promise might be fulfilled.
In a vision of the night the divine Voice was again heard. “Fear not, Abram,” were the words of the Prince of princes; “I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 136.

We need both God’s protective shield and His Holy Spirit as our exceeding great reward. “For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” (Matt. 6:32). “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” (Matt. 7:11). “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (Lk. 11:13). “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matt. 6:33).

We need the Latter Rain to prepare us for the great trouble ahead. Physical protection is not enough; we need communion with God. It was the early raining of the Spirit that spread the gospel when persecution made the early Christians flee in all directions. The persecution was providentially administered because the people were congregating amongst themselves and the world needed the good news. But the Christians were also benefited by being scattered because keeping the truth of the Messiah’s redemption to themselves risked the coagulation of truth in the church and then corruption would ensue.

We need by experience to have a firm grasp on faith in God’s redemption. We need to know His power to “[deliver] us from the power of darkness,” and to “[translate] us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” (Col. 1:13). We need Him to “revive us” and “raise us up,” “and we shall live in His sight.” (Hos. 6:2).

Here was where so many failed and lost their eternal life. When Israel was approaching the borders of Canaan, they demonstrated their forty year effort to forget God. They grumbled and complained again at their dismal living conditions. So the Lord let the snakes come out and bite the miserable people. If they only wanted to cry in self-pity and blame God for everything, then He would give them something to really cry about.

Then He sent a remedy—all this to develop in them the habit of spirituality. His antidote for the burning venom was to have Moses make a brazen serpent and then put it on a pole. The people must look at it in order to live.

But many died anyway. They were so fixated on the snakes or paralyzed emotionally by the bite that they had no time or will to look to the divinely offered remedy. Besides, they had no faith in the troublemaker, Moses, the Lord’s divinely appointed servant. So they perished. And they deserved to perish, after having given this very same grief to Moses and God for forty years. God didn’t kill them or execute them; He gave them the opportunity to come inline with heaven’s holy, eternal government. But they refused.

Let us not refuse God’s great offer of redemption from sin. “See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused Him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from Him that speaketh from heaven: whose voice then shook the earth: but now He hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.” (Heb. 12:25,26). “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.” (Jude 1:5).

“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1Cor. 10:11,12).

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (Jn. 3:14,15). Today we must get acquainted with Jesus and let trust grow. Faith does not happen overnight; it takes time. Looking at the cross of Christ, and gaining appreciation for His sacrifice and love for a rebel planet will get us through the great time of trouble. We need to know about the details of the approaching tribulation, but without the heart’s searching for God and its appropriation of the gospel, we will not be able to endure the sight of the coming trouble, much less the actual experience.

Jesus is both our shield and our exceeding great reward. United with Him, we will overcome.

The repentant life

2011-12-12T09:28:00.000-08:00

“A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Is. 53:3). “Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you?” (Matt. 17:17).

It was not in His death solely that Jesus carried our transgressions, but all through His life. Everyday He dealt with people who had no redeeming faith in God and thus remained perverted and sunken in sin. And day by day He unburdened His distraught soul before His Father. Repentance for our sins was ever in His thoughts.

His whole life was an act of propitiation for sin. “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17). “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” (Matt. 17:5). “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” (Jn. 12:28). These three statements by the Father give evidence that while in childhood and as an adult and all during His ministry up until just before His crucifixion, Christ’s life had been filled with repentance for our sin and that His death and His life together formed His propitiation to satisfy God for us.

We must strive to unite with God through constant communion with His holy word. It is only in this stance that we can escape the lure of temptation. But if we fail here and become subjects of temptation and sin, we must repent of all our sin. But, if I don't feel like repenting, how can I?

We must return to the holy word of God and receive its conviction of sin and the repentance of it. Through the scriptures, in its words, resides the infinite power of the Holy Spirit to bring us to repentance. We hear the Holy Spirit speaking to us through the sacred scripture, “For whoso findeth Me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.” (Prov. 8:35). “The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but,” through the divine power of the scriptures, “the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” (Rom. 8:26,27). We can only abhor sin to God’s satisfaction when the word of God slices into our hardened nature, awakens us to desire for holiness, and gives us confession and repentance.

Thus, by going back to the Bible we can return to the correct disposition toward righteousness and then be justified before God as we repent of our departure from His righteousness. Through the ministry of Jesus in His heavenly sanctuary, He gives us “repentance…and forgiveness of sins.” (Acts 5:31). We must go back to the word of God and come into Jesus’ presence.

“My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1Jn. 2:1). “To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus.” (Rom. 3:26).

Repentance brings with it the deadness to sin and a humbling obligation to God and to Jesus for all that they have done to instill in us a loving and pure in heart, and thus be able to have eternal life after the great controversy with sin is past. Christ’s love to God and to man, His righteousness which never once bowed to temptation, is restored as our standard, and the guide of our heart and life.

Communion with God returns also. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Rom. 5:1,2). We boldly come to the throne of God, forgetting those ugly things of our past, and reaching forth to those beautiful things that are before us. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having an High Priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Heb. 10:19-22).

We are indebted to God; we are His slave forever. Our one desire is to never rise up in rebellion against Him again.

We see ourselves in the words of the psalm, “Yea, Mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of My bread, hath lifted up His heel against Me;” and we are forever struck with God’s pain. (Ps. 41:9). We can never forget the relationship God wants to have in us and which He has opened up to us, and the trust we have wickedly scorned and presumed upon and trampled upon.

Now we are sorry for sin and willingly relive the words of David, “Sacrifice and offering Thou didst not desire; mine ears hast Thou opened.” (Ps. 40:6). We see in the ancient practice of Israel our experience with sin and repentance. “If the servant shall plainly say, I love my Master…; I will not go out free: then his Master shall bring him unto the Judge [Christ]; He shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his Master shall bore his ear through with an aul; and he shall serve Him for ever.” (Ex. 21:5,6).

Never to leave God again. This was the experience of the apostles.

“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” (Eph. 4:1).

“Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.” (2Tim. 1:8).

“Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer.” (Philemon 1:1).

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto Him, after He had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out My transgressions.
Wash Me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse Me from My sin.
For I acknowledge My transgressions: and My sin is ever before me.
Against thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did My mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make Me to know wisdom.
Purge Me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make Me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from My sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in Me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast Me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Restore unto Me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold Me with thy free spirit.” (Ps. 51:1-12).

“Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness.” (Tit. 1:1).

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad.” (Jas. 1:1).

“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:” (2Pet. 1:1).

“Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called.” (Jude 1:1).

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to shew unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John.” (Rev. 1:1).

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” (Rev. 15:3).

Take Christ's heat

2011-12-09T10:36:00.000-08:00

“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Are ye so foolish?” (Gal. 3:1,3). This used to take me away from Jesus and rob me of trust in Him. Is the Spirit of God so uncaring of my battered soul as to treat me like so many abusive people already have?

One day I drove through the poor side of town and passed a sign permanently painted high up on the side of a old cornerstore, in big, bold letters, as if etched into the cement block wall, there for all to read, “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee.” (Lk. 12:20). I grimaced and ducked, lest anyone believe me to be a Bible-believing Christian. The owner of that business must have felt perfectly justified in his method of evangelism; although maybe not in his method of running a store and growing a customer base.

Paul said, “The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds....” (Phil. 1:16).

But Christ said other similar statements. “And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?” (Matt. 15:16,17).

And another, “Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?” (Matt. 16:8,9).

Yet another, “Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to Me.” (Matt. 17:17).

And, “Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?” (Matt. 23:17).

Seventy five times Solomon calls out the “fool” and derides such a person. Would the church ethics committee consider this harsh language and blot these verses from the Bible?

I admit, I have taken it to heart and not appreciated God for these attacks on my intelligence, or its resurrection of my past thoughtlessness and unthinking actions. I have made a lot of mistakes and have paid dearly for them. Must the Bible add salt to my still open and bleeding wounds? Quite possibly, the written word has created many an agnostic. And skeptic. Maybe it’s why the fallen Church got rid of the Bible extremely early in the Dark Ages.

Taken individually, these compounding accusations of our foolhardiness are so condemning and appear so egregious that any proud, arrogant, self-centered reader would quickly become offended. But when the desperate sinner needs God’s acceptance, he investigates the strong allegations and finds out the true mind of God toward us sinners.

One version of the Galatians3:1 actually reads, “You stupid Galatians!” (CEV and God’s word translation). And another, “O you dear idiots of Galatia!” (J.B. Phillips New Testament).

Now these are fightin’words! Was that what Paul meant? Actually, understood correctly, it is what he meant! Although his tone was not aggravated or even condescending. Paul earnestly appealed to their hearts and minds. It wasn’t an attack on their intelligence, rather on their new pathetic spirituality. He was crying out, “Stupefied Galatians! Please wake up! Some satanic, false doctrine has robbed you of the Holy Spirit!”

They had allowed the intoxicating philosophies of Judaism to filter into the gospel and they had fallen into a stupor. “Who hath bewitched you” to move away from the cross? To accept the Law of God without the crucifixion of Christ was no better than trying to obey the law of Moses without faith in the blood of the future Messiah seen in the dying lambs and kids. Both cases lead to spiritual death and both turn people into fools and dumb animals.

Faith as the key to obedience must remain the center of Christianity, or the church fills up with superstitions and fables. The people lose the knowledge of God and become ignorant of what genuine holiness and purity are. We become as Jesus said it, “fools and blind.”

We become “children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” (Eph 4:14). We become “ignorant of [Satan’s] devices.” (2Cor. 2:11).

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to Me: seeing thou hast forgotten the Law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.” (Hos. 4:6). “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Rom. 1:22).

So the testy language of God’s word really shows His concern for His children. He knows the cunning of the devil and He fears for His children that they might accept the conniving delusions of Satan. Listen to the pathos in of the writer to the Hebrews.

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Heb. 5:11-14). What we hear in this servant is God’s fatherly yearning for the church.

So read again Christ’s statements to His disciples and listen to His words of care and love.

“Which when Jesus perceived, He said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?” (Matt. 16:8-11).

“Then came His disciples, and said unto Him, Knowest Thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
But He answered and said, Every plant, which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Then answered Peter and said unto Him, Declare unto us this parable.
And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?
Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” (Matt. 15:12-20).

“And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.
And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, He said unto His disciples,
Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men.
But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask Him of that saying.” (Lk. 9:41-45). Yet all of Christ’s rebukes to His students was interposed with much positive conversation and instruction. See Matt. 16:13-20;17:1-13;18:1-5.

Christ’s apparent harshness didn’t come from a condescending attitude or any self-exaltation in Him. His words expressed the brevity of time in which to prepare His precious twelve to take the reigns of the church following His departure; and time was getting short, but they kept being distracted by the spell cast upon them by the traditional reverence for relgious leaders who paraded themselves as obedient to God, but who worked for the devil. Judas didn’t help matters either as he worked to undo the deep lesson Jesus sought to instill truth in His disciples.

Because they loved Him He kept them close and stayed with them. Love would be a sufficient teacher during His crucifixion. Everything He had foretold would come back to their minds in those compelling days. But they must catch the spiritual principle of His kingdom.

If we are to love God with all our minds and souls, and bodies, we must mature, gather our wits about us and gain self-possession, having overcome. “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2Tim. 2:22). “Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.” (Ecc. 11:9,10).

“My son, forget not My law; but let thine heart keep My commandments:
For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.
Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of His correction:
For whom the Lord loveth He correcteth; even as a father the son in whom He delighteth.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens.
By His knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.
My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.” (Prov. 3:1-22).

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
And this will we do, if God permit.
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.
For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God:
But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.
But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.” (Heb. 5:11-6:9).

Humbled and saved

2011-12-09T09:32:00.000-08:00

To be humbled means self is cut down and no longer capable of deciding this or that. The will is given up and defers to another’s (God’s). Job said it right, “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer Thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.” (Job 40:4). “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:6).

“I shut down.”

Peter twice did this. The first time by the Sea of Galilee he bowed before Jesus, finding words so much unlike himself spontaneously come pouring out of this mouth. “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” (Lk. 5:8). And the second and final surrender for Peter was in the Garden of Gethsemane grinding his face into the moist earth after emphatically denying his best Friend. After that there was no more Peter in Peter, no more natural, uncontrolled emotion or undisciplined feelings; no more outbursts of anger or spectacular generosity, no more impatience.

The converted soul says, “I no longer deserve to live, let alone deserve to be served and take first place in anything. Give me last place. Destruction and misery have been in all my ways; a Garden of Eden has ever been before me, but rising smoke of desolation has forever been behind me. I have not been a blessing to the world, but a curse!” The pride of man is laid in the dust.

This can only be accepted in the soul through faith in the Humbler. Only by trusting Him who owns the hand that disciplines us can we by our choice allow such strong, but effective, “scourging”. We can admit the death to self only when we have come to rest wholly in God to raise us up again after He has submerged us in total selflessness.

Yet this is the first and last requirement for eternal life. “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.” (Matt. 16:24,25).

But if we will commit ourselves to the righteous Judge who has never lost a case, He will wisely baptize us in the right amount of scourging and develop in us the faith we need in order to be baptized into humility; it will be His humility, His maturity, and He will be victorious in us.

The fruit appears and grows not by the effort of the branch to produce, but by the effort of the branch to stay connected to the tree or vine and, by this connection, to let the life-giving sap easily move to the genetically predisposed site for the fruit. Likewise, we must fight the good fight of faith to hang in there through it all and let God do in us whatever He will according to His will. Then, to our surprise we will see the evidence of a small budding overcoming of sin, then a blossoming of victory, and a full likeness to Christ.

Big jumps and very slow moves

2011-12-09T08:55:00.000-08:00

Why does the papacy move so slowly? It’s been ten years since the Patriot Act commandeered America’s Bill of Rights; yet no sign of further movements, at least not outwardly. As a serpent moves an inch toward its prey and then halts, inching and halting, so agonizingly slow is the gradual progress of Satan to subjugate the United States and then the world.

The halt has as much purpose as the inch advancements. The populace must not stir and rise up, and remove their trust in the government and churches, the stock market and the military. This would create a premature reaction against the aims of the Papacy, which needs a majority of the populace to support a union of the church and state, and wealth pouring into the churches’ coffers.

The halt gives time for many who first suspected evil from the government, military and private sector, to lose the fears and convictions as life returns to apparent normalcy. So the multitudes return to their pleasures—eating, drinking, entertainment, slaving for a living. Family issues bear sway and church issues, graduations, weddings, funerals, school and sports events resume.

Everyone without eternal life doesn’t have constant grace from Christ which would give them endurance to maintain vigilance against the most recent advances of the Vatican. Only the grace of Christ gives the stomach to bear up under the uncomfortable threats, especially that which the coming tribulation will bring.

A dictatorship, global communism, a worldwide regime of state terror, are not pleasant thoughts; and only the grace of the infinite God can make us hardy enough to bear up under even the thought of the future “time of trouble such as was not since there was a nation.” Love to God for His enduring mercy toward sinners works to build us up and strengthen us. Knowing the love of God “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” (1Cor. 13:7). All who don’t trust in God’s love will experience what Jesus foretold, “upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity;...men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.” (Lk. 21:25,26).

But those who are “justified by faith,...have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Rom. 5:1-5).

“As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” (Jn. 1:12). Whoever receives Christ as merciful Lord and Friend “hath eternal life abiding in him.” (1Jn 3:15). “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” (Jn. 3:36).

Now the Spirit of “God … worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13).

“Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which Thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.” (Mic. 7:20). “The Lord God is my strength, and He will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.” (Hab. 3:19). “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Is. 40:31).

Satan moves with stealth to regain the undeserved trust of the unwary world. When they should be wise as serpents, they let him flatter them with carnal security. But all the while he moves in closer and closer to the final prize—full possession of the body, mind and soul.

When God finally allows this it is because the multitudes of the world are lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Rom. 1:21).

“By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: for this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matt. 13:14,15).

“Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,” “having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” (Rom. 1:28,29;2Tim. 3:5).

Jesus informed us, “They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Matt. 9:12,13). Only the humbled and repentant will be healed of their blindness, the removal of a blindness resulting from Satan’s spell cast upon their souls.

The humbled are wise. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Prov. 1:7). “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” (Dan. 12:10). The proud and wicked will never understand their unsaved condition and service to God’s adversary. They won’t see how deeply Satan has drawn them into his web of darkness, or be able to discern the soon coming day of judgment. Thus, “the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.” (1Thess. 5:2). “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things.” (1Cor 2:14,15).

Let’s keep armed with the knowledge of Christ’s gracious spirit, and His love and tender pity toward repentant sinners who turn away from sin. Satan’s work of evil will inch forward and very likely will spring upon its victims in our lifetime, involving us.

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thess. 5:6-9).

Revelation and the SDA church, Chapter one

2011-12-05T10:20:00.002-08:00

I am posting an unedited manuscript I wrote ten years ago, but never got it published. I wasn’t familiar with the ins and outs of how to publish, and I edited and reedited what I had written so much that I lost interest in it. Review and Herald and Pacific Press publishing companies turned it down and I just laid it to rest.

So here it is for anyone who is interested. Just as a brief overview, in chapter seven it begins to diverge from the standard SDA interpretation of Revelation. I think its time for a new look at the last book of the Bible.

Introduction

The following pages are meant for the maturing Bible student. It is never too late or too early for a fresh approach to the Bible, prayerfully considered. Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, by LeRoy Froom, quotes Ellen White, saying that “‘increasing light is to shine’ upon the prophecies... ‘We are to exercise the ability God has given us to learn individually what is truth.’ And she solemnly warned against rejecting advancing light.” See section I of the appendix. This indicates that the burden of investigating prophecy continues today and that we must not rely on old explanations that may be threadbare and hoary with age, but that we must expect new ideas to come out of old prophecies; new ideas, however, which will not destroy our pioneers’ foundational interpretations.

You may be a grownup but have just entered the Remnant church; you may be a teenager and have grown up in the church; you may be a grownup and have grown up in the Remnant. Any group, any age, however, should be searching to understand the scriptures a little better every day. To study is to question and “No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation.” In questioning foundational beliefs of our patriarchs, the purpose of this project is to reestablish faith in our forefathers’ interpretation of Revelation and of the issues surrounding the Great Controversy. It attempts to show how the book of Revelation reveals the story behind the struggle between good and evil and to help the reader peer through the glasses used by our Adventist fathers; it also introduces a new concept to explain our sojourn in this world since we first said, “Jesus is coming soon.”

This paper intends to invite old and young to The Great Controversy and other Spirit of Prophecy books, and to somewhat large passages of scripture, in order to interest them in reading the precious whole chapters and books for themselves. The author desires to impress upon the mind of the reader the need to be a thoughtful, voluminous reader, rather than a surface student; and he wants to keep in mind the bigger picture of heaven’s work in our personal redemption. As those simple farmers in 1844 and 1845 who gathered inside of barns and living rooms were desperate, deep thinking people, even today, God will still choose the desperate “foolish things of the world...and base things,” even “things which are despised,” and therefore “confound the wise.” 1Cor. 1:27, 28.

Part of this essay concerns the “popular Protestant churches” and the Roman Papacy. The intention here is not to be divisive; however, much of the Revelation points to the failures of the church of God since it began with the apostles, and history cannot be erased. Nevertheless, the church’s history need not be treated coldly, and truth must always be communicated in kindness and humility. The hope is that that kindness comes across. Let the point be emphasized, that every revival that has ever reformed the Christian church has had its turn at unfaithfulness and apostasy and let’s not think that the Advent movement is exempt in this. We are no better than the rest of the religious world. We are all in the same boat together. The modern Israel of God needs to admit this, for this admission is just what Heaven is waiting for. “We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments…” (Dan. 9:5).

This study is meant for the young person who doesn’t see where the church is going and questions that the “Movement” is moving anywhere. Winter brings nutrients to the ground’s surface; summer uses them and causes them to recede again, the action of winter and summer massaging and renovating the earth. The moon waxes full, then wanes, tides flood and ebb. Warmth brings the blood to the skin’s surface for release of the body’s toxins and cold forces the blood back again to go deep into the organs with vigor; there is a time for work and a time for rest, a time for comfort and discomfort, pain and ease from pain; thus throughout the course of a given day, strength and healing are accomplished which we do not sense. There is a time for war and a time for peace, a time for life and a time for death. Cycles are everywhere; the whole universe functions through cycles. It is through the cycles of success and failure of the church, that God will end the conflict between truth and deception with a people honed to a continuous course toward grace and perfection.

Student, parent, grandparent, there is hope for the Advent movement; please be patient and stay onboard. The precedents set forth in the Old Testament that give the cause of truth direction and a foundation of hope are repeated for us in the story of the last book of the Bible. Look and see for yourself.

Lastly, this booklet is dedicated to the person who is disturbed that so much doubt is being hurled at that blessed hope which lies within us, the hope of an end to sin and misery. We will see that the story of redemption given to the Seventh-day Adventist church in the setting of the great controversy, is founded squarely upon the Bible and the Bible only, and that the Advent patriarchs and prophet had correctly searched the scriptures for what the Spirit of Christ which was in them signified when they testified of the future sufferings of the people of God and the glory that would follow. Cheer up, pilgrim brothers and sisters, we are almost out of here.
Do not delay
to get onboard.
You can put faith
in the messenger of the Lord.
Others fail integrity
with the Spirit’s sword.
Time is too short
for her to be ignored.

Chapter 1: THE REVELATION: Story of Man’s Redemption
“My soul followeth hard after Thee.” Psalm 63:8

The final book of scripture cannon was given to God’s people as guidance for the closing time of earth’s history. Many dark centuries would lapse between the glories of Pentecost and the completion of a long period awaiting the promised return of Jesus. “To John were opened scenes of deep and thrilling interest in the experience of the church. He saw the position, dangers, conflicts, and final deliverance of the people of God…. Subjects of vast importance were revealed to him, especially for the last church, that those who should turn from error to truth might be instructed concerning the perils and conflicts before them. None need be in darkness in regard to what is coming upon the earth.... For this reason, Christ the Revelator, foreseeing the warfare that would be waged against the study of the Revelation, pronounced a blessing upon all who should read, hear, and observe the words of the prophecy.” Great Controversy, p. 341, 342.

This special book, The Revelation, was the culmination of many works which were all inspired by Christ. It contained bits and pieces of past dealings between God and man, with symbols and parables used by previous sacred writers. The worldly-minded could have accused John of plagiarism, of borrowing from the thoughts of other authors before him. But truth is heavenly and cannot be bound by a human copyright or be contained in a claim staked by a royalty.

The Revelation contains parts of prophecies given to men in the past who had learned about the deceitfulness of self and had gotten the victory over it. John, too, was enabled to deny the tug of the world’s saturation of the senses, and to see righteousness as the true goal of life. He also saw that despite apparent impossibilities, the truth about God and His character would win in the end. In his concern for the struggling churches, he implored heaven to reveal the outcome, even as Daniel beseeched heaven to show the meaning of the temple’s destruction and of the future of God’s people. And John could not give God any rest until the meaning came; thus before his mind’s eye was shown a grand view of the play and counterplay in the struggle between Christ and Satan, and the final victory of the church.

The message was sent directly from Christ on the throne, and brought by and transmitted via angelic influence, much like the laws given to Moses. See Gal. 3:19. Heavenly visitants still today actively engage themselves, through many ways and with many people, in pushing back the dark influence of evil angels, so that the Spirit of God can effectively work in men. “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!” Num. 11:29.

This book of The Revelation floated around the Christian community but wasn’t immediately accepted by the main body of believers in the early centuries of the church. It was beyond their ability to believe. “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim: and they forsook the Lord God of their fathers....Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods: and turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in...” Jud. 2:10-19. This scenario had been repeated many times in the Old Testament and now again with Christianity. Pure Christian leadership was falling away. Old Baal’s wolves were coming into the communion of the body of believers and were causing a rapid influx of philosophies and methods, displacing the truth in its simplicity. The evangelical voice of apostles and prophets had ceased and the truth was held by a small minority of the Christians. The main body of professed believers thought they were safely within the fold of salvation, while they were wholly ignorant of its principles. The church had lost its first love and was daily in graver danger of losing its grasp on the science of salvation. They thought they knew their scriptures, they had had world-renowned leaders, yet were now unable to discern any validity in this new book, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The time was at hand, but they were unprepared to recognize it. A warning to the last church! Yet, as shortsighted and faulty as she is, the church of God has been and always will be the single-most object of His eye, and it will be His chosen vehicle of truth to this sin-darkened world when He comes close to comfort His people.

Jesus appeared upon John’s mind with the introduction: “I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last” and, “What thou seest, write in a book.” At the sound, John’s heart leaped with joy! Oh how long it had been since he had heard that familiar voice! As the elderly John heard Jesus’ words, in his vision he turned around to face his Master. So many years of service he had willingly spent because of the memory of those three quick years with his Messiah and Confidant! And now one last opportunity! How short would be the spoken words of his Teacher! Oh, how he would hang on every moment! The memory of this last meeting would stay with him to the grave. John loved Jesus’ straight talk that came to him that Sabbath day and he accepted them as personal messages, not only for the churches, but for himself. He resolved to be faithful in persecution, even until death, and to hope for that promised crown of life; and he would faithfully transcribe everything he saw in vision, perfectly, flawlessly.

There he beheld Jesus engaged in the work of High Priest before God, walking among His little cells of believers throughout the world as if quietly saying, They shall be Mine in that day when I make up My jewels. Their heavenly Minister, He treats their flame ever so delicately, knowing that a baby’s breath could put them out. “The smoking flax shall He not quench.” He numbers Himself with transgressors and He bears with the sin of many. Is. 42:3; 53:12.

Chapter 2: The Testimonies for the Church

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“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Psalm 19:7,8

Jesus begins with seven letters for the church, using that ancient number to indivisibly connect the closing book of the New Testament cannon with the book beginning the Old, “And on the seventh day God ended His work.” Gen. 2:2. That number holds the same reverence today as it did in the days of Adam, Moses and John. The Old and the New cannons form one interwoven whole. Everything in the old Book is relevant. The New beautifies the Old, the Old undergirds the New. The Old is full of grievous chastening; but the New yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness from those who will be exercised by the Old.

Gentle yet serious, straight talk full of reproof, encouragement, and hope come to John, so reminiscent of the Jesus he loved. As in a moment of time, they are given for church periods down through the Christian dispensation. And we should look at each church closely, for the sequence of letters applies not to the whole dispensation alone, but to our church, and our personal experience with heaven today.

Ephesus (chap:vs) 2:1: To the church representing the current church of John’s day the message came (paraphrased), “You have lost your first love. Remember the covenant We had when We started, and return to it.” First and of the highest priority to God is the relationship we must have with Him. Losing this is the beginning of the end, “or your lamp will go out and I will take it away.” Then pressed again with repeated emphasis yet ever gently the Saviour urges, “So repent.” “I will be a tree of life to him that overcomes the spirit of the world’s self-sufficiency...” Although still appearing pure and loyal, even by John’s day the apostolic church was in increasing danger of sliding away from the gospel.

Smyrna (2:8): Times were to get rough. “I know your motives and tribulation and poverty (you who have invested in heaven) and I know the hypocrisy of those who say they are of spiritual Israel, and are not, but are really of the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of these things which you will suffer...Be faithful until death and I will give you a crown of life.” A time of trouble and persecution for the church was foretold. The majority of the church did not return to its first love and Christ would allow Satan to buffet it. The half-hearted brought disdain upon the whole of Christianity in the eyes of the Roman Empire as Satan pitted spiritual backsliders to work contrary to the spirit of Christ, and they became the cause of the greatest persecution to the faithful element.

Pergamos (2:12): Love and trust would continue to be slighted by the church and those qualities would disappear. Now, Jesus’ rebukes come across even stronger. “These things says He that has a sharp two-edged sword coming out of His mouth, I know your display of righteousness, and I know you are dwelling in Satan’s seat. My church professes My name, but Baal worship has made deep inroads.” The church, however, is still the object of the Redemer’s supreme regard. Sadly but solemnly He pleads from the Holy Place in heaven, “Repent or I will come suddenly and fight against you.”

Thyatira (2:18): But the church would not heed His warning through the centuries, and, like Israel of old, acted like He wasn’t even there. The priests continuing their empty rituals, the monks begging from house to house, the people apathetic and ignorant of God, the Christian church of the Dark Ages was on the verge of rejection by heaven, and desperately in need of reform. Yet, so very wonderful are the patient ways of our Intercessor. “These things says the Son of God, whose eyes are like searching beams of light. I know your high worship service, your empty moral living, and great religious profession. You allow Jezebel to be your prophetess; your teachings are all complete seductions and My servants only know a prostitution of truth they believe to be true worship. I gave her opportunity to repent and she refused, so I will throw her and her servants into great tribulation—Unless they repent.”

This is promise to forgive is aimed at the dead papal church! Again and again can be heard heavy censure mingled with longsuffering mercy for wayward Christianity! But finally, sweeping with great force, the Reformation broke like the plague upon the unrelenting church. Those who discerned love in the accusations of the reformers joined with the Protestants and moved forward with the truth. Though Jesus means business, He extends mercy to the very end. He is fully committed to His people.

To those today who think they’ve gone too far from God—think again; His love does not easily let go. Angels and men who have known Him adore Him for this. “Thou art fairer than the children of men. Grace is poured into Thy lips; therefore God hath blessed Thee forever.” Ps. 45:2. Do you see yourself as papal? as pagan? There is loving-kindness and grace even for you, by both Son and Father.

Then a brief message for the faithful in darkness: “But to you and the rest...as many as do not have this corrupt doctrine, and which have been preserved from the depths of Satan; I will put upon you no other burden, except that which you have already hold fast till I come.” “He that overcomes and keeps My words to the end, to him will I give power over the nations; and he will rule them with a rod of iron, even as I received of My Father. And I will put a conviction in his heart that burns like the sun.” Jesus seeks to nurture the heart of His faithful ones, not to burden them further. If they will maintain what they have, He can add to that when they are ready. They will accomplish big things if they accept the simple requirement to come in close and allow the restful influence of His friendship to do its special work.

Chapter 3: More Testimonies from Jesus

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“Thy judgments are a great deep.” Psalm 36:6

More messages of reproof. Let’s face it, God is a consuming fire to sin. It feels like He scourges every son He receives! God is tough. He has to be, because humanity is stubborn and tough. But behind His majestic toughness, is a never-dying compassion. He will struggle on with us as long as we are willing to struggle along with Him. He will wrestle until we cry uncle and bow to His justification.

Sardis (3:1): A letter of hope and also of warning. The Protestant Reformation would begin with power to turn the church around, but then begin to retreat. “I am watchful over you. Be careful, and strengthen the things that are ready to die. Remember back to the things you received and heard from Me, and cling to them and you will stay repentant and alert. If you don’t watch and stay repentant, I will come as a thief and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have only a few names which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy.”

Philadelphia (3:7): The second advent of Christ was finally to come about. Centuries had passed since Luther, Zwingli, and Calvin, and only a small group among those who professed Protestantism clung to the principles of the Reformation while most turned down the global revival that sprang up in the 1830’s and 1840’s. “To the angel of the church of brotherly love write: These things says He that is holy, He that is true, He that has the Key of David, He that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens; I know your work, and behold, I have set before you an open door which no man can shut; for you have only a little strength, and have kept My word and have not denied My name.” Holding onto the Bible when everything seemed hopeless in a world of deism; clinging to the dim light of truth through the long period of pressing Biblical darkness that had fallen on the churches, resulted in receiving the cherished hope of the final redemption of the world. The door of acceptance, as instruments of truth, was fast closing on the mainline Protestant churches and opening to one last chance for the Reformation. The Adventists had come to town. To them it was written, “Because you have kept the word of My patience, I will also keep you from the hour of temptation which will come upon all the world, to try them that live on the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold fast that which you have, so that no one takes your crown.”

Laodicea (3:14): Back into the slump for God’s church; back into apostasy, but this is the final time, for this is the last church period for Christian dispensation. The door to heaven is open, never to be shut again. The great controversy is almost over. The hour of temptation is come upon all the world. The words from Jesus are blinding in their starkness and pointedness, no less than those written to Thyatira. “I see your reckless life, and I will remove you. Because you boast, I am wealthy and self-sufficient, and I will never have sorrow; yet you don’t know the fumbling drunk of Ladies Hour that you are, how wretched you are, how miserable, how poor, and blind, and naked—.” “Buy of Me real love tried in the fires of hardship and persecution—the true riches, and purity, that you may be clothed so that your embarrassing self-indulgence may not appear; and let Me touch those blurred eyes so that you again can see the truth and the possibility of holiness.” “The ones I love, I rebuke and chasten. Arouse, then, and repent.” “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone can hear Me calling, and allows Me in, I promise we will have a very nice visit together.”

Now we are clean through the word which He has spoken to us. Our heavenly High Priest has prepared our hearts and minds to receive the revelation that follows. Thus completes Christ’s messages to the church from John’s day down to ours. They are full of warning and they are full of reproof, but recognize the evidence of long-suffering mercy throughout and the sound of a caring parent in the voice of One who confided before, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” These words are full of evidence that Christ’s presence is still among us today, albeit He calls from without. Concise, but to the point are the testimonies for the church. For they show us the seriousness with which Jesus regards the mission of His gospel.

Despite the gift of His Son in this new dispensation, God’s people again have “provoked Him with their counsel, and were brought low for their iniquity.” Nevertheless He will regard their affliction, when He hears their cry: and He will remember His covenant with them, and repent according to the multitude of His mercies. He will make them also to be pitied of all those that carried them captives. “Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto Thy holy name, and to triumph in Thy praise. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the Lord.” Ps. 106:43-48.

Chapter 4: In the Beginning, God

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“Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting.” Psalm 93:2

“‘God is love.’ 1 John 4:16. His nature, His law, is love. It ever has been; it ever will be. ‘The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,’ whose ‘ways are everlasting,’ changeth not. With Him ‘is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.’ Isaiah 57:15; Habakkuk 3:6; James 1:17.

“Every manifestation of creative power is an expression of infinite love. The sovereignty of God involves fullness of blessing to all created beings....
“The history of the great conflict between good and evil, from the time it first began in heaven to the final overthrow of rebellion and the total eradication of sin, is also a demonstration of God’s unchanging love.” Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 33.

Chapter four of the Revelation opens with a view of that eternal throne from which flowed life and love and awful authority. Before John sees things which will shortly begin to happen, he is given a view of the everlasting kingdom, the joy of the whole universe.

Just as Ezekiel saw the eternal throne of the Most High elevated far atop the sky arching high above the great activities of cherubim below; and as Isaiah saw the very throne of God high and lifted up and His glory filling the temple; Daniel saw the throne of the Infinite One like a sphere of brilliant glory and His rings of attending intelligences like wheels of light! As Paul was carried in vision to the third heaven, and as Jacob beheld a ladder from earth to heaven, as Moses and the seventy elders dined before the throne of the Lord, and David loved to dwell in the house of the Lord continually; now John was given to see what they had all had the privilege of seeing. “A glorious high throne from the beginning is the place of our sanctuary.” Jer. 17:12.

At the base of God’s great mountain of righteousness (Ps. 36:6;48:1), far below and before it, lay a glistening sea of glass, “as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone,” (Ex. 24:10) calm and clear as crystal. Enveloped by and surrounding the awesome glory were four orders of created beings, each representing aspects of character of the Godhead: a lion, dreaded and courageous; a calf, lowly and self-sacrificing; a man, omniscient and noble; and a flying eagle, ever-existent and omnipresent. Like the camp of Israel in the wilderness, laid out by tribe in ever-widening rings, the hosts of heavenly orders surrounding the throne of God were full of eyes, all happily riveted on the great Center. Like the galaxies in deep space with their streams of blazing light encircling their great nuclei, the hosts of created beings reverently sought a closer proximity to the great sanctuary of the Creator’s presence. Circumscribing the immediate presence of God sat twenty-four elders, possibly vicegerents, among whom Adam might have ranked first. Blinding excellence shrouded the great white throne of Him from whose sight the beauty of the heavens fled away, who dwelt in a light which no angel could approach except the cherubs that veiled His majesty.

And the billions of hosts never ceasing, found rest in expressing, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Rev. 4:8. And as the four orders gave glory and honor and thanks to Him that dwelt on the mount, who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders were constrained to fall down before the Creator and cast their brilliant crowns before the throne, crying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” Rev. 4:11.

“That temple, filled with the glory of the eternal throne, where seraphim, its shining guardians, veil their faces in adoration, could find, in the most magnificent structure ever reared by human hands, but a faint reflection of its vastness and glory.” Great Controversy, p. 414. Breathtaking.

But as wonderful as the purity and blissful trust of heaven had been through the timelessness, it came to a sad end. Beginning at chapter 5, a sudden change comes over the whole happy scene before John’s wondering eyes.

Chapter 5: The Great Controversy

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“His angels He charged with folly.” Job 4:18

What could be so cruel and harsh as to destroy heaven’s glorious operation of humility, beauty, and honor? John sees “in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” vs. 1. This was the book of God’s authority. In it can be found His judgments, His Law. Similar examples are written of this holy book: “And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.” Ex. 32:15, 16. “Lo, a roll of a book was therein; and he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.” Ez. 2:9, 10. This modernized book John sees is the ancient law of God and the controversy over it’s power.

God’s authority is revealed to be completely sealed up, the Father virtually locked up in house arrest, His kingly hands virtually bound. Who can tie the hands of the Creator? How can He be fettered, who orders galaxies into space; who, through tremendous forces, keeps the power of atoms contained within their nuclei? What finite being can bind the infinite God?

In a universe of free will, the door had ever been left open for such an attack. And someone did just that.

In the innocence which pervaded heaven, no one conceived of repaying with evil all the wonderful gifts from the Creator. It was the farthest notion from anyone’s mind in this free society, until a small dissatisfaction was felt by one and a tiny crack began to develop in the once peaceful government. Then, after deliberation, God hastened the inevitable.

Lucifer, the highest minister before the throne, was having misgivings concerning the freedom the Son had in the heavenly councils; he wasn’t happy with his status as highest among billions of the elite and privileged angelic hosts. “Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.” Ez. 28:15. “For thou hast said in thine heart...I will be like the Most High.” Is. 14:13, 14.

The Father announced a gathering, to confer special honor upon His Son. In a way never before known by the hosts of heaven, the lowly Son, One whom angels had ever loved to accompany on missions to far reaches of the realm, and around whom they had often loved to congregate, was to be exalted—One whom they so often thought as one of themselves! Above every created order, the Lowly One was lifted up and shown to be different. “The Father then made known that it was ordained by Himself that Christ, His Son, should be equal with Himself; so that wherever was the presence of His Son, it was as His own presence. The word of the Son was to be obeyed as readily as the word of the Father.” Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. I, p. 17. Then the Father happily proclaimed the benediction on the coronation, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.” Heb. 1:6. Suddenly, for all to realize, One who had always identified with the lowest of angels was promoted infinitely far above them all; and deep within the heart of Lucifer the already seeded rebellion began to fester, and that wound would go unhealed until it surfaced in open revolt.

An impropriety began unwittingly to grow among some of the angelic forces as the mightiest angel displayed undue familiarity. He subtly assumed inordinate friendship and accolades from fellow angels which was unbecoming in the atmosphere that must pervade a heaven free from the faintest hint of self-gratuity. Unconscious of Lucifer’s presumptions, many angels joined in the custom which he nurtured. Through many sophistries and unquestionable accusations, he brought to life a capacity for self-centeredness within the minds of subordinate angels who heretofore had never recognized self, but had been oblivious of it; their hearts and minds had been pure and unpolluted.

The Spirit of God was present to convince him of his error. But rather than admit to himself the immensity of his rebellious spirit and bow in humiliation before the Son whom he was slighting; rather than confess his wrong and ask the Son for help to overcome it, Lucifer stubbornly continued on the same course.

Donning a lucid smile, Lucifer was often found musing among his subordinates. “Behold, a riddle! We bow down and happily prostrate ourselves before the great and wonderful Creator. But before whom does He bow low? We serve Him, and offer Him our best in every possible thought that enters our finite minds which have been made holy by His wonderful grace. But who does He serve? And why is it this way? He can correct us, but who can ever understand His errors and who corrects Him?” “Can He really identify with our feelings, being so high and lifted up on His most holy throne?” he helped them query. Logic and curiosity, unsanctified by loving respect was the foundation of his arguments. “I am a created being like yourselves, I can understand your needs. I will never correct nor discipline you nor can I present the dreadful power you see as a threat in the King,” he pandered. He identified with them as just another angel, subtly comparing how different from them was the Creator, by virtue of His being Lord of all.

The Son was in angelic form, and, as one like them, the divine character and position of the Son was being compromised. Some of the angelic hosts were unknowingly becoming lackadaisical to balance their reverence and fealty for the Prince. As a result, both reverence and devotion were tarnished. While they all had love for their Commander, many were indulging an irresponsible acceptance from Lucifer, ignorant to what end this would take them. They were worshiping and serving a creature more than the Creator. And Lucifer was behind it all, twisting evidence and manipulating their hearts, and binding them under his spell. When the myriads congregated to return to the Creator their affection, something was disrupting the atmosphere of childlike love for a parent, something dishonest, impure; and the Godhead sensed it all. While the hosts loved to be present and offer their praises to Him who is blessed forever, who made them and had nurtured and cared for them with an everlasting love, many had become victims of withholding deepest trust and love for the covering cherub.

Through subtlety, a large force of the hosts of heaven were slowly led to disconnect their sympathies from God. Lucifer, the highest covering cherub, who, like Mordecai in the Persian court, stood at the door of the heavenly councils and announced the plans of the Creator, competed with Him for the office of Monarch of the universe. Quietly at first, Lucifer working behind the scene, his adherents grew into an impressive army.

He did everything possible to deny the angelic similitude of the Son of God and to exalt His new status, and although his hatred was openly aimed at the unfair advantages given the Son, he concentrated his subtlest accusations on the Father. In order to go unobstructed to the highest throne, he must destroy the Ancient of Days. He yearned within himself, “I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation.… I will be like the Most High.” Is. 14:13,14.

Only when it was too late, the angels loyal to God began to see to what end these seeds of curiosity and overt friendliness were leading. Many angels sided with Lucifer, while many sought to reconcile him to the will of his Creator. But, try as they might, they could not prevent the arguments of the covering cherub and his dangerous personal influence. All efforts to dissuade Lucifer were met with powerful accusations of their own narrow-mindedness and droll obedience. His group, he declared, was escaping the bonds of slavery to an old-fashioned government which would never change, but would always be simple and lacking a vision for progress.

The steadfast angels could not stop the rebellion, and they had no solid counter-argument against the mastermind behind it. They could not explain to his satisfaction all the detailed reasons for the Hierarchy, and why God arranged for others to serve Him and not the other way around, except to plead, “It is right for the creature to worship its Creator, and, If God deemed it thus, it has to be right.” They labored to the fullest extent of their strength and wisdom, expecting the Godhead to come to their aid and to announce the purposes and designs of Their government. But, alas, not a word, until the kingdom was completely divided. A vast multitude of the angelic orders were making accusations of their Father, and the remnant were confounded and distraught.

Did then the Creator cause the revolt by the exaltation of His only Begotten? No, yet He could have softened its blow. He gave Lucifer opportunity to repent as long as He could before crowning His Son. Sin, however, is of such a malignant nature and the eternal safety of the kingdom was so at stake, that God must purposely create a condition that would end with a decisive result among the discontents: deep contrition and welcomed humiliation, or complete rejection of the Life-giver and open rebellion. Lucifer had forced this condition.

In His action of exalting Christ, the Father actually pre-empted a much larger disaster. The largest part of the angelic host were kept untouched by sin and through the pain felt by them, they have since received a resolve that excels their former strength. But for God to bring the great controversy to the fore meant to bring suffering upon Himself. He would remain the one accused of initiating the great confrontation. He, more than anyone, would infinitely feel the dire results of schism, while the evil one blamed Him as the cause of it all. God shows us, that in spite of the prospect of blame-casting and hatred, even the pure kingdom which dwelt in His bosom must receive constant assessment and correction to stay healthy and pure. The controversy shows us that He will treat Himself with the same gripping, vigorous chastening that He demands of His creation, and also, that in the purging of His kingdom He receives the greater pain. Also it can be seen, that the issues with which we deal in our tiny sphere in this mortal life are similar to what has taken place in the larger universe, but that our problems are miniscule compared to the grand scale of the controversy between the authors of truth and sin.

The Father and Son came out of private counsel. The feigned honor and self-righteousness of Lucifer’s armies displayed their true character. The disloyal angels were excused from the throne; this Lucifer and his angels refused, and there was a long, terrible war in heaven. Indescribable force of angel brother against angel brother, friends against enemies, love and sorrow and justice vying with hatred and anger and treason, faith opposing unbelief, innocence overcoming deviousness. After being removed from the peace of God’s presence, Lucifer considered the results of dissatisfaction and shuddered with fear as he realized the actuality of banishment. Previous to the war, he had sought Christ for a reinstatement, but Christ had sadly denied his request, knowing that he was not truly repentant. Now Lucifer, bent on revenge and manifesting his utmost derision, fully decided to bring down God’s government to shambles. The great controversy had now begun in earnest; under the leadership of Lucifer, almost half of the angelic force were shaking their fists at God, His character and rule.

“The discord which his own course had caused in heaven, Satan charged upon the law and government of God. All evil he declared to be the result of the divine administration. He claimed that it was his own object to improve upon the statutes of Jehovah. Therefore it was necessary that he should demonstrate the nature of his claims, and show the working out of his proposed changes in the divine law. His own work must condemn him. Satan had claimed from the first that he was not in rebellion. The whole universe must see the deceiver unmasked.” Great Controversy, p. 498.

The Godhead still as yet had not explained Their defense. But it was a source of comfort to the kingdom to see that the Administration wasn’t moved, and in the view of Their strength, stability was restored among those who remained faithful.

Although pieces of wreckage were still falling, the worst seemed over. But what could be done about the new inventions of blame and criticism? What were the loyal angels and worlds to make of all the charges against God’s government—deeply reaching sophistries, and arguments against God’s motives that they had no experience with nor conceived of before? The severity of God’s judgment meted out against Lucifer added to the fears and doubts created by the newly competing regime.

“I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” Rev. 5:2, 3. Lucifer was jubilant that not a single heavenly angel, nor any being on other worlds, not even he himself could undo what had been done. Trust is made of such fine fabric that once allegations are made, the damage is never easily repaired. God must now remain guilty as charged until proven innocent. The true angelic hosts were powerless here, because of the sophic nature of Lucifer’s claims, and they were afraid to admit their fears of the unknown. The steadfast ones shared a deep anxiety because they couldn’t own the former free peace and trust that they had had before the great confrontation. The peace of heaven seemed forever destroyed. How could Lucifer say such things about the Father? and Who can answer the accusations? was the disturbing thought of ten thousand times ten thousand. During the struggle, Lucifer had hurled such terrible blame, and created so many doubts and incriminations, as only the covering cherub could, that now to worship God must be by faith and not by sight.

“And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.” Vs. 4. But while the whole creation wept in anguish for the calamity of the kingdom, and Lucifer boasted as the only created being capable of pulling off such a feat, Christ gathered his hosts about Him and traveled to an insignificant spot in an insignificant part of the royal galaxy, not too far from the throne, to begin a new work. A new order of creation was to be presented to the universe, a creature reflecting God’s image more than any other.

Thus through this new creation, the fractured peace of the kingdom might be healed. Trust was to be reestablished by a love for the great Creator unexperienced before the rebellion. In the relationship of dependence of the new race would be, as never seen before, the true character of the Creator, defeating every one of Lucifer’s charges. By working with this new race, which would be unbiased with the issues in controversy and unaffected by the controversy, the Father’s trust would be restored in the hearts of His loyal angelic hosts. Glory to God was struck at a higher note. Hope and expectation revived.

Once Lucifer saw that his campaign was foiled, the resolve firmly swelled within him to never fail again, but to obtain the ruin of God through His love. He would excel at what God could not do—he would master the art of cheating and lying, and he would bend every power to steal away the heart of this new creation...

...A day came when the morning stars sang together, and the sons of God shouted for joy in the restoration of the kingdom of peace. Adam and Eve came forth from the Creator’s hand bursting with life and spirit in fresh man- and woman-hood, yet as perfect and dependent as newborn babes. In his innocence and childlike mind, Adam had the high privilege of justifying the Father and vindicating His Law, thus restoring peace among the angels as they came to cultivate the heart and mind of the holy couple. Lucifer was worsted.

Seeing the precious home for the holy pair, operating like the God’s universe in miniature, and their unrivaled happiness and praise and witnessing the healing of the hosts of heaven, the highest angel controlled his bitter jealousy. Lucifer poised himself to bring their most gorgeous home and planet to ruin, and in the shortest order possible. After watching their moves and habits, the destroyer decided upon a plan and moved in for the accomplishment of his devious purposes.

It was the failure of a single, easy command that confirmed that God could not be obeyed. The holy couple broke one apparently simple requirement, and forever lost their paradise. To our present fallen human minds, it may not seem so disastrous to disobey as they did. It may seem trifling for so much to teeter on the eating of a fruit. But beyond this wanton world in which we are accustomed to live, there is a place which operates from absolute loyalty. It is a place where faith and love reign supreme, and which cannot admit a single instance of disloyalty without murdering the flawless balance of trust and vulnerability existing there.

Argued Lucifer in triumph, “God is too extreme in what He expects. Perfect obedience to another’s laws is impossible and unreasonable; and beside all that, freely offered obedience never really existed in God’s government! Hiding behind the obedience that God requires of His creation is the threat of the loss of existence due to disobedience. You don’t know God like I do. You’ve never worked as closely with Him as I, you’ve never seen Him like I have. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. There never has been and never can be such a thing as perfect obedience!”

Adam and Eve had deeply embarrassed the Sovereign and stood bewildered and fearfully self-conscious. Turmoil permeating their being, the thought of standing rightly before their Creator could never, ever be known again. Lucifer exulted in destroying the holy pair, the most precious gift of God to the universe, and of being the only created thing capable of pulling down the Creator and displacing Him from the throne in the eyes of His creation. And this new Adamic race was so tied to the King’s heart and to the hearts of the hosts of heaven, that a new issue was now involved.

If God were ever to effect proud Lucifer’s destruction on the grounds of disobedience—to be fair, He would have to destroy the nerve-racked and humiliated Adam and Eve. If He were to save man and his wife, He would be morally bound to keep Lucifer and his irreverent bands existing as well. In his blind jealousy, the highest angel would sacrifice his own existence to the wrath he perceived in God. If he were destroyed, his martyrdom would eventually spawn a new rebellion in honor of himself. If he were not destroyed, then he could personally finish his master plan.

Lucifer rejoiced to see his rebellion remaining forever within the realm of Eternal God. It might be swept off in some distant place, it might be left on that atom of a world he had just deceived, but the rebellion would always exist and from that small base he determined to begin a slow overturning of the rest of the kingdom. Although but a speck in the universe, the spot of sin felt like a tiny sliver wreaking pain everywhere. To all, the Father was shattered, shut up, and silenced. Although this was all foreseen by God, the Father was paralyzed and felt deeply wounded in His heart, in sympathy for His creation.

“WHO IS QUALIFIED TO OPEN THE BOOK OF GOD’S REPUTATION AND LOOSEN THE SHACKLES THEREOF?” bellowed this mighty angel. While heaven was again greatly unsettled in anxiety for the Father, the elder cried out, “Weep not! Behold, the Son of God will prevail to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.” Only He who had not a single doubt about the Father could vindicate the great King. Like young David against giant Goliath, the Son would fight to clear the Father of all charges. To all the loyal creation, it was announced that a plan must come into play which had been a design since immortal ages, that the Son should place Himself in the hands of the enemy, and offer up His existence for the salvation of fallen humanity, the heavenly kingdom of saints, His Father, and the law of His Father’s government; “that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He (the Father) might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; even in Him: in Whom also we have obtained an inheritance being predestinated according to the purposes of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will; that we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ.” Eph. 1:9-12. The Father willingly submitted to advocacy in an unjust confrontation, and, giving the rule to His Son, moved aside from the center of focus and love, until He could be restored to full trust by His own creation. The Son Himself declared to Lucifer with infinite determination, “I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head.” “I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God. I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire.” “I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth... Thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.” Gen. 3:15; Ez. 28:16, 18, 19.

For four thousand years the whole creation, in heaven and earth, groaned and travailed together in pain. Then in Bethlehem, and in Jerusalem, in Gethsemane, and on Calvary, through life and then through death Jesus, the Seed of David, met the deceiver on His terms and prevailed. Every victory of the contest proved that Lucifer’s government of self-interest was wrong, and that God’s government of purity and self-denial is eternal and boundless. He came for sin, and condemned it, even while burdened with the weakened physical nature of Abraham. He was faithful unto death. Having loved His own race, He loved them till the end. He dissolved the charges against the government of God, He proved what freely given obedience really is, and, one with us, He showed us the way back to life. In one short period, He did what Adam could have had the privilege of doing; He restored His Father, His Father’s heavenly kingdom of saints, and His law; He also humbled and won the hearts of the Adam’s children and made it possible for us to be adopted again into the kingdom. Only a Son could reveal the Father’s true character so that He is never to be doubted again, and only Christ could silence the doubts and accusations of Lucifer to the degree that they never reopened.

“In the banishment of Satan from heaven, God declared his justice and maintained the honor of His throne. But when man had sinned through yielding to the deceptions of this apostate spirit, God gave an evidence of His love by yielding up His only-begotten Son to die for the fallen race. In the atonement the character of God is revealed. The mighty argument of the cross demonstrates to the whole universe that the course of sin which Lucifer had chosen was in no wise chargeable upon the government of God.” Great Controversy p. 501.

“Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain....And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps....And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth,...heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever.” Rev. 5:5-14.

Chapter 6: A Historical Sketch

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“O Lord, why hast Thou made us to err from Thy ways, and hardened our heart from Thy fear? Return for Thy servants’ sake, the tribes of Thine inheritance. The people of Thy holiness have possessed it but a little while: our adversaries have trodden down Thy sanctuary.” Isaiah 63:17,18

Have you ever heard the saying, “The job isn’t finished until the paperwork is complete?” Or that a law passed by Congress isn’t in effect until it is ratified? The Father’s vindication was complete in Christ’s life and death.; but the work of applying the salvation to humanity was yet to be realized. Some things just take a while. But if they are a good thing, we are willing to wait for them. And, isn’t it true that often the best things are the ones we must wait for most patiently? This is the way the Godhead has worked out a thorough extermination of sin. Throughout this waiting period, God’s purposes have known no haste nor delay. At the cross Satan heard his death knell, now the end of his government on earth would be only a matter of time.

The redemption of a world requires a long, protracted process. Not only was Lucifer not ready to concede the victory, but convincing the weakened soul of man to trust God and His laws as beneficial must necessarily take time; and yet God will not hold us unaccountable. One generation of departing from heaven’s greatest gift to this world, in the revelation of God to man, would take many centuries to return again. The Lamb removed the first seal locking God up, as the gospel went forth overcoming every obstacle. In the sacrifice seen in Jesus, a true knowledge of God was carried to the known world in one generation. The Saviour removed the second seal, and by the second and third centuries A.D., tribulation threatened to terminate the church.

Persecution, rather, helped the gospel mission and caused it to spread by some to the furthest reaches of the planet. But the main body of the church continued to ride upon the works of the apostles and to deny that the first love had been lost. Persecution could not make up for the lack of relationship and they slipped further away from a knowledge of Jesus and His atoning intercession. The work of revealing the Father suffered, whose character Christ was laboring to vindicate. For all this Christ’s zeal was not turned away, and His grace He continued to extend toward His church.

The Great Shepherd opened the third seal and, by the fourth century, John sees the church grown void of all spirituality. Battle-scarred by persecution, yet opinionated and contentious, the church leaders so hated one another, that Emperor Constantine himself became arbitrator in order to unite them. The church was being weighed in the balances and was found wanting. John heard a voice from among the four beasts, “A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.” Those who know living faith are in short supply because the church is falling under satanic siege. Satan cannot touch the precious experience of grace and truth given to the faithful in these dark hours, but to the rest of the careless church, no more is heard weeping for repentance, nor rejoicing in salvation from sin. Instead, appetite is indulged in order to appease the wants of the soul. Interests are attracted to the world, and to business, and to pride; and the church hungrily accepts Constantine’s invitation for them to administer the Roman empire. The Saviour opened the fourth seal, and John sees that, by the sixth century, God’s people were completely dead in trespasses and sins. The fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecies had taken place, the way to forgiveness was trampled upon and the faith of the saints lay desolate. Satan had stolen away their hearts and they had refused to return to that first love requirement, so God took away His gospel and left Christian Europe in darkness. The church of Christ was now no longer the object of tribulation. Now it stood proudly and cold as stone. For all this His chastisement was not turned away, yet His hand would be graciously stretched out for His wayward church.

Jesus removed the fifth seal locking up the mystery of the great controversy. Rather than the prey, the church became the predator. John saw the church, given to satanic power and closely resembling the pagan Roman Empire it had once helped to destroy. The apostle was sickened to see the tribulation continuing into a lengthy time of trouble. In a figure he saw the suffering of Heaven’s chosen ones, crying out to God to move and save them from danger and death but being told to wait a little longer.

God’s providence authorized this tribulation period. It would demonstrate Satan’s purposes to a degree far beyond the questions of future generations when it would be brought out in the open before the world. All times of trouble are necessary as part of the formula to prevent affliction from ever rising up the second time. For all this His anger was not turned away, but His hand of mercy was yet stretched out still.

Our Heavenly Intercessor opens the sixth seal and the earth begins to feel definite signs of the end of the great controversy: the Lisbon earthquake of 1755, the Dark Day and bloody moon of 1780, the Great Meteor Shower of 1833, a shower which has never remotely been repeated, perfectly described by John and Isaiah as a fig tree casting her unripe figs to the ground. See Is. 34:4. Then the preaching of Baptist William Miller and the proud church running for cover from the returning King.

Chapter 7: The Millerite Movement

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“The armies of the living God.” 1Samuel 17:36

The seventh chapter of the Revelation opens up as an answer to the last words of chapter six, “The great day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” Chapter seven deals with this question, and since chapter six is showing the end of the world, chapter seven is a view of a last day event. It is a continuation of the chapter six motif; it is an extension of the Millerite movement. The Revelation has very quickly brought us down through the centuries to the subject of the last faithful group before Jesus returns. And, therefore, as we shall see, most of Revelation deals with the next 150 years following the Great Disappointment of the 1840’s.

But before the special ones are described who stand through the actual coming of Christ, an angel gives the command to hold back winds of destruction. Desolation mercifully remains at bay in order for a period of peacetime be given for these special people to grow strong. And in the end they are to be sealed, the law of God fixed in them. Locked into dependence on Jesus, their determination to honor God will be harder than flint. “Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.” Rev. 7:3. Let’s understand the symbology used here.

The “sea” represents the unruly, nominal majority, those organizations which operate independently from God and comprise the bulk of the world, “peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.” Rev. 17:15. “The wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt. There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” Is. 57:20, 21. “He that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Jas. 1:6-8. Flowing into the turbulent sea is a wide river of enthrallment to this world, whose current picks up unwary young and old in its path and carries them easily and carelessly to its bosom of confusion. By contrast, the “earth” represents God’s peaceful people, “those who turn from transgression in Jacob.” Is. 59:20. “The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. For He hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.” Ps. 24:1.

The “trees” are those individuals among God’s people who stand tall in His behalf, even if some have begun to decay. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green.” “Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.” Jer. 17:7, 8, 5, 6.

Just prior to the period of the 7th seal, a process begins for numbering a figurative twelve thousand out of each tribe of Israel, 144,000 able-bodied soldiers, preparing to fight for heavenly Canaan. This prophecy is patterned after the experience of the Israelites. When they came out of Egypt, circa 1500 B.C., Moses was given the command to number them. “Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel.” Num. 1:2,3.

All of the millions of men, women, children and mixed multitude were full of high hopes of going to a paradise where they could live just as they pleased. No more taskmasters lording over them, everyone was going to have complete freedom to do whatever came to mind! Their interpretation of liberty was to receive a big correction and they would soon be crying to go back into Egyptian slavery.

The trip to the promised land which might have only taken eleven days turned into a long 40 year delay. While wandering in circles out under the hot desert sun, presented to them were many opportunities to see just what it was that the Person behind the pillar of cloud had in mind when defining “freedom.” One statute after another came forth, one reform after another, test after test, ordeal after ordeal. The wilderness became a school, preparing those who were willing, and teaching those who wanted to be taught.

“God takes men as they are, with the human elements in their character, and trains them for His service, if they will be disciplined and learn of Him. They are not chosen because they are perfect, but notwithstanding their imperfections, that through the knowledge and practice of the truth, through the grace of Christ, they may become transformed into His image.” Desire of Ages, p. 294. Revelation, chapter seven shows the vast group of hopefuls who, like Israel after the exodus, came out of the preaching of that great movement proclaiming the Lord’s return in the 1830’s and 40’s. They felt confident that they were ready for that day when the elements would melt with fervent heat and not a hair of their head would be singed. And they are seen as God sees them through the intercession of Christ, a glorified army clad in garments of sanctified characters. “He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, neither hath He seen perverseness in Israel: the Lord his God is with him, and the shout of a King is among them.” Num. 23:21. When this blessing was first pronounced there were many thousands of Israel who were on the verge of complete apostasy, soon to take place at Baal-peor. Nevertheless, God did not look upon His people then nor does He look upon the Adventists today as He could or as we deserve. He sees them as what they may become through His abounding love and grace. All heaven stood ready to mold this group and send them to the world to finish the work of proclaiming the coming King.

The Advent band prior to the Great Disappointment was made up of every cross-section of society, from holier-than-thou church-goers to brothel house owners, the vast mixed multitude who counted themselves in, but stayed at the fringes of the movement. In many respects it was a motley crew expecting to be translated.

Yet there were some who had already put themselves under the molding influence of the Holy Spirit. Through the eyes of one young girl who found it her greatest joy to be involved at the movement’s center, the workings of heaven could be seen in that development. With fond memory, she later wrote, “Every morning they felt that it was their first duty to secure the evidence of their acceptance with God. Their hearts were closely united, and they prayed much with and for one another. They often met together in secluded places to commune with God, and the voice of intercession ascended to heaven from the fields and groves.” Great Controversy, p. 403. “Of all the great religious movements since the days of the apostles, none have been more free from human imperfection and the wiles of Satan than was that of the autumn of 1844. Even now, after the lapse of many years, all who shared in that movement and who have stood firm upon the platform of truth still feel the holy influence of that blessed work and bear witness that it was of God.” Great Controversy, p. 401.

“But,” she admits, “the people were not yet ready to meet their Lord. There was still a work of preparation to be accomplished for them...Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling.” Great Controversy, p. 424, 425.

Yet God rejoices in anticipation to see that final group ready to stand before His holy presence. And He shows us how He views this motley bunch of adventists, even of today—as already faithful in tribulation and victorious over the sin problem; then He looks beyond to the controversy ended, the curse never again to burden His creation. “These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev. 7:14. “And in this Mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined. And He will destroy in this Mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the Lord hath spoken it...And in this Mountain shall the hand of the Lord rest.” Is. 25:6-10.

Chapter 8: Adventism Advances

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“He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye.” Deuteronomy 32:10
“Until the Spirit be poured
upon us from on high.” Isaiah 23:15

The scene of the redemption of God’s people in Revelation chapter 6 is not the final unsealing of the book of the Father’s character. The complete fulfillment of His judgment is yet to come. There remains one final seventh lock unremoved, and its unbolting will show that there is no more doubt in anyone’s heart in heaven that the Father has a right to bring this controversy to an end.

All are persuaded of His innocence concerning the charges of Satan. All heaven have seen the crowning work of Satan on earth—a great religious system. False religion, the masterpiece of the adversary of God, has captivated Adam’s race at its most vulnerable point—the heart. Like an extensive low lying, gray mist that lets in a token amount of light, but prevents the shining of righteousness in its full strength, counterfeit religion has done its work of damnation. There had been a long 1,260 year battle in heaven and on earth. To bring God’s church to repentance and to loyalty to heaven’s government, holy angels together with men fought against the devil’s angels and evil men, until Prince Michael, was able to come to turn the tide of battle. During the Protestant Reformation, Satan had been cast out of the center of true religion, and the effect of that was being seen in the robust prosperity of America, the unique Protestant nation in the world. The long 2,300 year prophecy was ending, the stage on earth was set, and a new phase in Christ’s ministry was to begin.

“And when He had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And another Angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto Him much incense, that He should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers for the saints, ascended up before God out of the Angel’s hand.” Rev. 8:1-4. A new phase of judgment was to begin in heaven. The Father’s reputation was fully redeemed, His love and patience fully vindicated, and the hearts of heavenly hosts were fully persuaded. Now the only work left was to fully persuade men of the meridian calling which was expected of them, and which was now to be placed within their reach. It was a work of investigation, of determining who would accept the exceeding high standard of the government of heaven as it was to be presented in this final hour, and be thus found worthy to be part of the new kingdom, ready to be instated. The final undertaking was therefore a weeding out process, not only in the world, but a separating of the wheat from the weeds which were growing together in that group waiting for their Lord to come. The final winds are still being held back during this period to determine our outcome.

“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 God’s people upon earth.” Great Controversy, p. 425. (Italics supplied.)

So in Revelation chapter 8, a view of the throne of God now reveals the High Priestly work on a heavenly day of atonement. There our Mediator offers His own righteousness in abundance; not just for an individual sinner, but in a corporate way, for all the saints. While the heavy cloud of Christ’s incense yet fills the throne, the final judgments are held in check. And this work has been and is going on, unbeknown to the multitudes of the greater Christian community.

It is notable that the censer was cast to the earth. This signifies a special measure of power given to the church at that time. What special dispensation was given to those who followed Christ into the Most Holy Place in 1844? The Spirit of Prophecy, through the person of Ellen Gould White. Her testimony stands on its own accord, but here we see another endorsement in the seventh seal of the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

As the seven angels raise their trumpets in preparation to sound, John takes note. Obviously something big is about to go down. Is it the announcement of a coronation or the alarm of war? “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, One like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7:13, 14.

The curtain separating heaven and earth is swept aside for the view of anyone who is interested. It is indeed a call for the entrance of God’s kingdom; but the trumpets which call for His kingdom bring a judgment on sinful man as well. Each succeeding trumpet blast in heaven is followed with a corresponding effect upon the earth.
As John sees the coals in the censer fall to the heavenly floor, burning hail falls from the sky onto the earth. Thus the first angel sounds and hail and fire fell from heaven mingled with blood and the third part of trees was burnt up and all the green grass was burnt up. The Advent movement marches forth with the mandate from Heaven.

With a sprinkling of mercy they give the judgment message, fearless of consequences. The Protestant church had been given the privilege of hailing the coming of her Lord. But they rejected that responsibility and cast out those who picked up the torch to carry it forward. A judgment similar to what fell on Sodom fell upon the popular Protestant churches. As the once Edenic vale of Siddim became a desolate salt land, so the Protestant church professing to be still arrayed in purity and consecration was now brought to the test and found wanting. The proudest leaders, “the third part of trees” disqualified themselves from being the called, chosen and faithful, and their followers, “all green grass,” were led off with them.

“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion ... that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.” “The trees of the Lord are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which He hath planted.”
(Is. 61:3; Ps. 104:16).

“The Light of Israel…shall consume the glory of His forest, and of His fruitful field, both soul and body…and the rest of the trees of His forest shall be few.” “Behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled. And He shall cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, and Lebanon shall fall by a mighty one.” Is. 10:17-19;33-34.

“The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field:
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass.” (Is. 40:6,7).

The second angel trumpeted and a great mountain as it were, burning with fire was thrown into the sea. That mountain is unmistakably Mount Sinai, ablaze with the holy presence of the Lord. Mount Sinai, the place where Moses received the Law of God, was rejected by the Protestant people of God, and its sacredness was quenched by the worldliness which had moved into the churches. The holy Law of God, its authority and perpetuity, denied. An idol, a substitute theory was introduced in its place—that the Law was no longer binding upon saints or sinners. This error has begun the ruin of a nation which the churches have professed to save. Proud America lost its status of divine protection, represented by a sea of blood. The unchurched of the nation lost all special Protestant privileges before Heaven, and the proud skeptics, represented by fish, would lose the strong pleading of the Holy Spirit. In scripture, ships represented idolatrous pride. (Is. 2:16;33:21-23).

The third angel sounded and a great star fell from heaven, burning as a bright light, and it fell upon the rivers and fountains of waters. The name of the star was called Wormwood, and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died because the waters were made bitter. Satan is that star that fell. This, Jesus foresaw, when He said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.” Lk. 10:18. The battle in heaven, between Michael and the dragon was finished, and as never before, the Devil was confined to this world.

Satan has been ousted from heaven in phases. At one time, after the initial rejection from the immediate presence of God, he could still approach the Son. See Job 1:6. For four thousand years he was still free to roam the universe and to cast insults at the loyalists whom he styled stubbornly dull-witted. But at the cross, no longer bound by the accusations against the Ancient of Days, those “dull-witted” loyalists suddenly had a good, firm argument to counter anything the adversary could say in defense of his grievances. Turning from them with contempt, the devil now concentrated his efforts here on earth. By taking the same strategy he used to destroy the Hebrew religion, and applying it to Christianity, he had been able to destroy the effectual power of the demonstration of heaven’s greatest gift to men. But near the end of the 1,260 years of his control of Christianity, a group of people were found fighting for the faith once delivered to the apostles and eventually were given a new continent to live in, protected from the worldly influence of false religion in the old world. With renewed vigor Satan worked to destroy their faith and obedience. He turned their eyes to the vast natural resources which God had given them for the loyalty of their parents, and they lost that treasure of an earnest longing after righteousness. Later they rejected the truth of Christ’s second coming, after which Satan joined with them personally and poisoned their springs of faith, his influence signified by wormwood. Wormwood is a bitter poison when used in large proportions; but in John’s day it had been used for brewing alcohol and in measured amounts it had been used as a narcotic. In the self-generated bliss of the new false gospel, the churches were drinking the bitter wine of God’s wrath. They preferred this to the self-sacrifice of His law and the peacefulness and power found in submission to it.

The fourth angel blew. Continued resistance of the insignificant voice of the Three Angels’ messengers left the Protestants engulfed in darkness. “Thus saith the Lord concerning the prophets that make My people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and He that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against Him. Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.” Mic. 3:5,6. There was no sun to rule the day nor moon to rule the night for Protestants. “If therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye by evil (misaligned), thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” Matt. 6:22, 23. The Spirit could no longer use the mainline denominations as vessels of light. Now that the majority of the Protestant church apostatized, the call goes out against the Protestants of a judgment to come. “My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be...” Gen. 6:3. Our days were limited.

Next John sees an angel flying in the sky crying, “Woe, Woe, Woe to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!” Rev. 8:13. The following trumpets now concern not only the church, but the whole world. The trumpets of the last three angels are more than a call to a coronation and a call to the church of God, now they are a call of warning to the inhabitants of earth. They move out to consume the whole world. The human advocates are disqualified, and God puts them aside. Now the courtroom is set up and the evidence laid out for the final conviction. The verdict: “I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore Mine own arm brought salvation unto Me; and My fury, it upheld Me. And I will tread down the people in Mine anger, and make them drunk in My fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.” Is. 63:5,6.

Judgment first began with the house of God, and a small remnant was saved. Now, will that Remnant of the Reformation hold out through its own period of probation?

Chapter 9: The Delusion

2011-12-05T10:15:00.002-08:00

Chapter 9: The Delusion
“The time is fulfilled,
and the kingdom of
God is at hand.” Mark 1:15

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

This has been interpreted to be the Saracen hordes on the attack, dated A.D. 1299. And the sixth trumpet has been interpreted as the Turks. These nations truly fulfilled these prophecies, and to a great degree, gave credence to the Millerite movement. However, in light of larger developments since the primordial movements of Adventism, these prophecies have a later fulfillment of greater significance. Why can we use prophecy for more than one application? Jesus did. In Matthew 24, He used the same “abomination of desolation” and accompanying tribulation to apply to Titus, the Papacy, and the final time of perdition which will fall upon the world.

The real issue behind the fifth trumpet of Revelation chapter 9 is the sealing of the servants of God in their foreheads. (vs.4). Thus, in a special way, the fifth trumpet is inseparably tied to the 144,000 of Revelation chapter 7 verse 3. The sealing, we know, has very serious implications for our taking part in the Latter Rain.

John again saw Satan falling to earth, but this time opening to the whole world, a special, never-ending curse. In a cloud of satanic influence, the benediction of God has now been isolated from Earth in a marked way. An intimate faith in God is more difficult to arrive at now than in any other time of earth’s history. Through millions of lies, temptations, counterfeits of truth, through thousands of inventions and advancements in technology, God is hidden from our sight. Our life of ease, idolatry, and appetite have become an obstacle between us and our God, and our sins have hid His face from us, so that we cannot hear Him without diligence on our part to give up on sin. (Is. 59:2.)

There is a time period associated with this prophecy—five prophetic months (vs. 5), or 150 literal years. What have we seen in the 150 years that have followed the 1840’s? A whole different world from the previous six millenniums. Science has exploded, and in its path has come continuously accelerating advancements in transportation, communication, technology, education, amusements, etc. Its been one modern miracle after another. How tempting it has been to cut the ties with our spiritual past and jump on the exciting train of modernization whizzing by! The wonderful spiritual heritage given to the Protestants has been abandoned by most of them! The world given to the care of the Protestants to be nurtured back to God has been completely neglected. How far we have fallen!

But there has been left one source of hope for this old world. One lone voice has been heard interceding for the darkness of humanity: the voice and pen of Ellen Gould White. Against the tide of an evil generation, she remained a vessel for the Spirit of God to keep the light of truth in the world. That light has burned constant, and has been like a thorn in the flesh to a Protestantism enthralled with this world. “To them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them.” Rev. 9:5,6. Any refusal of the truth, by sinners or saints, meant a further separation from a God who loved them, until love waxed cold. Those who have rejected the counsel of God’s Spirit, whether Adventist or Protestant as a whole, and have caved in to the tempting world around them, have felt the sting of emptiness, and are sealing their own judgment. One hundred fifty years have been determined upon God’s people—Protestantism, within which includes Adventism—to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up the vision, and to cleanse and anoint the Most Holy place.

“And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron;...and they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months. And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit.” Rev. 9:7-11. This is not literal locusts which have no king. (Prov. 30:27.)

The ten northern tribes of Israel had been warned: “The Lord shall bring upon thee, and upon thy people, and upon the father’s house, days that have not come, from the day that Ephraim departed from Judah: even the king of Assyria. And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. And they shall come, and shall rest all of them in the desolate valleys, and in the holes of the rocks, and upon all thorns, and upon all bushes.” Is. 7:17-19.

The southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin were also warned: “Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpillar eaten. Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. For a nation is come up upon My land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion. He hath laid My vine waste, and barked My fig tree: he hath made it clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white. Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth...The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new wine is dried up, the oil languisheth. Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen...Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of My God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, and cry unto the Lord, Alas for the day! for the day of the Lord is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come.” Joel 1:2-8, 10-11, 13-15.

“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; a day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness....They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble; the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: and the Lord shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? Joel 2:1-6, 9-11.

Who is this mighty army of locusts? Such an army did not bode well for Israel in Isaiah’s day and for Judah in Joel’s day. It was an army designed to bring the people of God to their knees and to a dependence on God which had long been lacking.

“Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil. Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?” Joel 2:12-14.

This army was “the northern army,” (Joel 2:20), “My servant” (Jer. 27:6), “the rod of Mine anger,” (Is. 10:5), which had been promised as a whip of correction to the erring children of Jacob. A warning had been in effect since the days of Moses. “It shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field...cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out. The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken Me. The Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee, until He have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it.... The Lord shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known; and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone.... Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in; for the locust shall consume it.... All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume. The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high: and thou shalt come down very low. He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him: he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail. Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which He commanded thee.” Deut. 28:15-21, 36, 38, 42-45.

Israel wouldn’t learn to be submissive during years of peace, so Heaven gave them years of captivity. They stubbornly resisted the sweet call of tender mercy, and so, after centuries of warning and delay, God performed on them His strange act.

“And it came to pass in the fourth year of king Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria, and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it: even in the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken. And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel to Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes: because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord their God, but transgressed His covenant, and all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and would not hear them, nor do them.” 2 Kings 18:9-12.

One hundred thirty-nine years later, “in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it. And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.” Jer. 39:1,2.

“How is the gold become dim! how is the most fine gold changed! the stones of the sanctuary are poured out in the top of every street. The precious sons of Zion, comparable to fine gold, how are they esteemed as earthen pitchers,... The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst: the young children ask bread, and no man breaketh it unto them.... Her Nazarites were purer than snow, they were whiter than milk, they were more ruddy in body than rubies, their polishing was of sapphire: their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick. They that be slain with the sword are better than they that be slain with hunger; for these pine away stricken through for want of the fruits of the field. The hands of the pitiful women have sodden their own children: they were their meat in the destruction of the daughter of my people. The Lord hath accomplished His fury... The crown is fallen from our head: woe unto us, that we have sinned!” Lam. 4:1-4, 7-11; 5:16.

Pagan Assyria came down and took the northern kingdom of Israel away forever. Later pagan Babylon came down and took Judah captive, and in their place was put a people from a different part of the world. Seventy years later, their time of captivity was over. But though Judah was given permission to return to their native land, it was never the same again. It was never again a land of their own, to be ruled as their sovereign nation. They must suffer their leaders to be only governors, reporting to a pagan king. Following the pagan Babylonian subjugation, came the pagan Medo-Persian, then the pagan Greek, and the pagan Roman. A paradise, once lost, “the pleasant land” was never to be restored. Autonomy was never regained. The captivity did not end with Cyrus. They were physically within their own borders, but still subject to an idolatrous nation. The unsanctified enemy was their lord, and the evil influences of paganism lay all about them. The suffocating Gentile locusts were there to stay. What goodness the Babylonians had not stolen away the Persians removed, what the Persians left the Greeks took away, what remained the Romans ate up and what they didn’t eat they stomped into the ground, until the image of God in the world was completely desolated and the people of God were taken down with it.

This situation in Israel’s past, the fifth trumpet of Revelation 9 uses to relate to us a condition coming on the world shortly after 1844. Since Protestantism had been unwilling to be faithful with the gospel, the limit of divine patience had been reached for them. Proud hearts had so long held sway within the churches that God gave up on those institutions and on Protestant America as a whole, permitting Satan to open the door to great worldly achievements. The spiritual sovereignty that the Protestant church enjoyed apart from the government in America prior to 1844, and the holy influence the church might have had upon it had it remained consecrated, has been taken away; and in the place of a comparatively innocent and docile government has been set up a crude, ravenous institution. In the train of unrestrained Protestant worldly successes have come a multitude of temptations, lies, inventions, extravagant idols of ease and convenience, eating away at the principles of uprightness and duty gained by the Reformation, and eating away at the nation God gave to bless the world. Satan’s hosts, freed by God to whisper their hints, have slowly but surely brought the world to a civilization boasting perpetual iniquity. We are crowded about with multitudes of objects designed to lead our thoughts away from God’s love and from careful obedience to Him, until at last, if this present time were not shortened, even the very elect will be deceived. Riding upon America’s temporal blessings has come ever increasingly easier ways to forget about God. They are everywhere: on billboards, in magazines, over the airwaves, in our nostrils, under our fingertips, touching every sense. Attracting, attracting, attracting, stealing away any thought upon the truths of God’s word. Idolatry is sown broadcast. It is concentrated in the cities, but has moved out into the countryside, reaching its tentacles out so far that pure back country is confined to reserves. Bright and dazzling, the good life which Lucifer offers is an attraction that nothing can break except obedience to the power from on high.

The year the Advent band had gotten their bearings, and had organized under the banner of the Sanctuary, the Sabbath, and the Spirit of Prophecy, modern Spiritualism and Communism appeared at center stage. A year later, the call was heard across the states, “Gold in California!” The children of Protestant heritage were incapable of resisting the temptation of worldly wealth. Like the children of Israel looking upon Gideon’s golden ephod, Protestants went a-whoring after the dream of being redeemed by silver and gold. Long before this they had forgotten their Reformers’ single-mindedness to the precious blood of Christ, the Lamb without blemish and without spot.

Within a few years the great tract of wilderness between the Mississippi river and the west coast, saw scavengers crawling over it, disposing of its quietude, digging up its creeks, jamming up its waterways, polluting its pristine beauty, killing its wildlife for sport, wiping out a race of indigenous peoples that they could not tolerate. Another paradise lost, greedy men were everywhere, and bringing a corrupted religion with them. To the lifeless Protestant church and in the wake of this westward push, came the new voice of the Adventists.

About this same time the first dinosaur bones had been discovered. A few years later another wave of locusts moved across the land as Darwinism liberated monkish prophets who quickly redesigned every field of science, and the children of the Protestant educational system were slowly moved away from thinking along Biblical terms. Protestant groups have attempted to remove the Darwinism from the educational institutions, yet they hold on to the ancient system of pagan classical education from which they have never separated; and the Adventists have been led off to follow the same path. Thus, the locust plague remains untouched.

With this interpretation, we can begin to see who is Revelation’s Babylon, “the northern army” of Joel 2:20, “the king of the north” of Daniel 11:40, which falls at the end of our age. God had adorned His Protestants with the precious truths of His word. The faithful of the past stood out, their chaste conversation coupled with fear. The beauty of holiness, “the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,” made them so precious in God’s sight. 1Pet. 3:4. Loving respect for God due to a relationship with their heavenly Father characterized true Protestantism. But the Protestants of today have fallen far away from their humble beginnings.

In our attempt to manage our own affairs, America has distanced God from it in an unparalleled way. As our nation continues to build this great monolithic society, a knowledge of God is hidden more and more from our thinking. The days are past when we believed God was watching. Now, who needs to consider a Creator, when this world meets all our physical and emotional needs? As iniquity has abounded, the love of many has grown cold in the shadow of our towering Babel. And as God has been removed from this world, so has mercy and trust evaporated, whose source is God. Without a knowledge of God’s mercy, the bleak, dry conscience of multitudes must be drowned with whatever their appetites can find, in order to cope with the burden of maintaining a world without any help from above.

This generation, as never before, is living in impenetrable idolatry—a system which is so sophisticated, so smooth and soothing, that it is almost impossible to escape from. Paganism, especially in America, has come and built up a high stairway to heaven. Trapped in her worldly successes is found the souls of many who might have known righteousness. We truly live in a “bitter and hasty nation” (Hab. 1:6). Looking to man’s achievements and wisdom is a torment to our souls. There is no peace for those who turn their attention away from the principles of God’s character and faith in His love, to concentrate on the fruits of this world. The troubled souls of Protestant America have thrown out the fear of God, and find their life to be one bitter disappointment after another.

The utmost effort is expended by Americans in the pursuit of happiness, upon which every society must be founded. Yet, because they have ignored the authority of God’s laws and their accountability to Him, love and trust cannot exist; therefore neither can real, abiding happiness. The children of Protestantism have forgotten their Saviour and Friend. In turning away from the Ten Commandments, they have been given over to another master yet this they do not know. Protestants, “Israel, part II,” are experiencing the pain of living apart from God and being absorbed into the world; and Adventists, “Judah, part II,” are following right at the heels of Protestant Americans. Different setting, same sad story.

None of the things this world has to offer truly benefits us. Good jobs or vacations, a higher standard of living or better customer service, greater freedom or fun, convenience or ease, knowledge or the satisfaction of curiosity; no other man-made method for happiness does what obedience to the Law of love can do to heal the human woe. Love and mercy are our only hope—uninitiated by the creature—originated and ever-flowing from the Creator; and love in return from the creature as a response to Him who first loved me.

When Nebuchadnezzar was about to conquer the Jews, the advice of Jeremiah to them was to go quietly into Babylon and not to fight in self-defense. It was to be a punishment—accept it and learn the hard lessons from heaven. To fight against the discipline would bring a harsher punishment. They were to be there for seventy years and Jeremiah counseled them that they should not get themselves all excited by false promises of a short captivity. They were to build houses and so on. See Jer. 28:8; 29:4-7,10. Later when Ezra and Nehemiah called them to come out of Babylon, only a small percentage followed them out. Most had become so accustomed to the comforts of the sophisticated lifestyles, the businesses, and the easy living, that for them to leave seemed like foolery.

It is in God’s mercy and care for us that we have been given some temporal comforts during this captivity. Yet now, when it is past time to come out, and leave the convenience of the city life and the sophisticated living standards, many are ready to say it cannot be done. They cannot leave their costly wedges of gold and convenient modern lifestyle. Even though the old simple life of subsisting off the land has been done for thousands of years, to many counted among God’s people, it seems an impossibility. We, like Lot, have stalled for so long to leave the cities ripe for destruction, that we, our children, and grandchildren see no need to leave, and think it a mad proposition to entertain the idea.

Its time to reconsider the idea of country living. We need to move out of the cities. Soul corrupting influences abound on every hand. Everywhere we look sit monuments to man and reminders of the worst insinuations of lust. Every sight, every sound, the tastes and smells, the racy, sensual atmosphere, all draw us away from the reality of heaven, and acknowledging our great need and sense of unworthiness before God. They cry out to our senses, Come into my house and I will comfort your weary soul! “Come… let us solace ourselves with loves.” Prov. 7:18.

The time to leave the evils of the cities cries out now more than ever before. A vision needs to be caught and an effort needs to be put forward to figure out how to live without the modern conveniences of this Babylon and to be as dependent as possible upon God’s good earth. A different diet, a whole different way of life, will need to be addressed. We must also acquire a missionary spirit, for no one leaves the city and stays away who only leaves for the purpose of saving himself. Like Enoch, we can come back into the cities or our surrounding country neighbors and work to heal bodies and win souls, then leave again and return to our rugged homes in the woods or on the farm which are being transformed into gardens of Eden.

The five prophetic month-150 year prophecy began in 1849, at the proclamation of gold in California. The Protestants proved that their kingdom was of this world, despite their profession to the contrary when they rejected the message of Christ’s coming to destroy this world, according to William Miller’s preaching. Their rejection of this biblical truth set their feet to indulge this world, a choice from which they would never veer. The five month prophecy finished in 1999, the end of the tremendous upsurge of the stock market—another gold rush. This second rush on wealth left apostatized Protestant Americans primed to lose everything, saddled in debt and enslaved to banks, and their government corrupted and bankrupted. Both years, 1849 and 1999, are bookends of the tale of Protestantism’s demise. Both speak of the love of money, a putting off of the truth of Christ’s soon second coming.

This 150 year woe of the fifth trumpet has demonstrated the hypocrisy of the Protestant denominations. They have professed to live by the Bible and the Bible only, but they’ve been caught red-handed lusting after this world, its luxury and power. Their own Bible told them, “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt.16:25,26). But they justified their lust by listening to Satan who taught them to misapply other Bible verses in order to counteract the unerring warning from Christ.

Satan and his human agencies now laugh at the Protestant movement, and at Christ their leader. America is very soon to realize the full pain of rejecting light that God sends it. It turned away from its Lord in 1844 and now, like ancient Israel, it will be conquered and lose its Constitution and all of the freedoms afforded it through that blessed, heaven-inspired document. Woe to Protestantism! How it is fallen!

The time comes when the people become so degraded from unrestricted paganism, that this modern Roman Empire must put forth the brave attempt to save itself. The professed clean kitchen of the church is crawling with cockroaches. They are all over the counters, the walls, and the ceiling, hiding in the cracks and dark recesses; their antennae dancing and their beady eyes and mandibles communicating, “We cannot be destroyed! We dare you to take back our territory!”

The first Woe is past. The sixth trumpet sounds.

In the place of the confusion of church stupor and brazen paganism comes neo-papacy. A renewed demonstration of religion is born, a redoubling of human effort to stave off the effects of rampant promiscuity. 9/11 is the Vatican’s catalyst to amplify the upheaval of society around the world through economic collapse and to hasten her humanistic solution against an eruption of world-wide lawlessness—totalitarian religion and fascism, also known as an ethical authority with teeth.

But Rome is only one part of modern Babylon. The penitent and reformed Protestant evangelical denominations act the façade for the Church, coaxing the world into its Charismatic New Age spiritualism and providing its military and secret services for Rome to all who refuse the reunited religious front.

Nevertheless, Babylon is incapable of real improvement of a reckless world because it flees from any work on the heart. Evangelical Christianity says, “No thanks” to a loving Father’s strong, commanding voice. It prefers a victory celebration over a broken and contrite spirit. Rather than a fatherly friendship which might require permanent obligations, it wants its space. Contrition and obedience are too old-fashioned; it prefers to focus on something in vogue, like behavioral modification. Rather than waiting for the God of their fathers to make the fundamental changes, they choose to get busy and do it themselves. They can change this country around; they can fix the problems of our world. “Let’s show ‘em what we’re made of!” And if it appears God is still upset at our nation and our planet, they will force behavior modification on anyone who doesn’t comply with their rules.

This newest development has been preparing for a while now. Starting with a small force, it has grown into an immense and building army, taking on the appearance of a well organized military as increasingly pulpits become political stumps promoting moral politicians. The latest revival has moved from defense to offense, in the movements of the great religious marches, rallies, and protests of today. They have gradually come to own the media and fill the airwaves with threats to any and all non-Christian governmental, private sector, or religious entities against disobedience to their cause. Since 9/11 they have owned the United States Government and its Constitution. New legislation will appear and alter America fundamentally, and the world under its control.

The present spirit is poised to force everyone to obey its demands. The Protestants have returned from their dispersion before the forces of secularism since the 1840’s and are ready to do business on their anti-religion enemies. At the same time, medieval Babylon is presenting peace overtures to her formerly obstreperous daughters, as the Pope travels around Protestant America, gathering a show of support. As the two move closer together, doctrinally and politically, the familiarity will be consummated in a perpetual covenant. Protestants will have formally given up everything they accomplished in the Reformation. They will publicly ask forgiveness from the Pope who will graciously award it. Once done, Protestantism will be offered a favored position of restored economic prosperity and leadership in a triune one-world religion, culminating in a union with all the ancient religions of the world.

The goal of Satan in all false religion is to demand the impossible aim of perfect behavior while his impatient, angry presence hides the gentle graces of God. He leads people to deny or neglect the presence of Christ and His redeeming goodness which alone can reconcile us to obedience to His Father. In terms of salvation from sin, such religion, without grace and Law, is worth nothing. Faith is not the motivator, and love is not the result. So they turn to some feeling that supernatural forces are moving, as proof that God is near and accepts them. We have seen every pagan religion end this way after having lost the knowledge of God. Sensual worship and supernatural activity fill in the void left by a religion of chaff. See 1Ki. 18:28;Rom. 1:18-32. Christianity followed this path in its early centuries and became full of dark mysteries and superstitions, and today we observe the Protestant ending the same way; while they strive to be “slain in the Spirit” they worship devils.

This seeking after an emotional high is the jaws of an iron trap, which is even more difficult to be removed from than the high and dry religion of pomp and ceremony. Formal religion along with pagan hedonism which have characterized America, deadly snares as they are, compare nothing to the grip upon the soul brought by the black magic of a union with eastern religions, which calls to fundamentalist Evangelicals today through Contemplative prayer and Spiritual Formation, and the Charismatic movement. And nothing will so bring down the world to the depths of ruin, as the day the strongest nation on earth succumbs to the professed security of these modern Christianized forms of spiritualism. The ecumenism of Catholicism, fundamental Protestantism, and the New Age (Christianized eastern religion) is bringing this one-world spiritualism together. All we need now to fully lock the world in this prison is some worldwide catastrophe or crisis. And that will inevitably come.

With the sixth trumpet, the prophet saw unparalleled forces, whose hearts were no longer cold and hard, “as it were breastplates of iron,” but burning with devil possession and consternation, “having breastplates of fire, and of jacinth, and brimstone.” Rev. 9:9,17. The carnival life experienced during the previous 150 years of denial of God’s claims, now turns into deep anxiety with the notion that the fun is over, our strength is spent, and the divine consequence on our permissive society draws near. Escalating bitterness results as a strong effort is made to propitiate God and turn Him from allowing the curse which they have brought upon themselves. They have never learned to love the merits of their loving Intercessor. To attempt to hold to righteousness, without faith in Christ’s tenderness and perfect obedience in order to accomplish it is wholly unbearable. “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Jn. 3:36. They will wander from sea to sea, they will run here and there to seek the word of the Lord, and not find it. And in spite of their great profession of holiness, in their emptiness, they are unable to repent “of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols...neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.” Rev. 9:20, 21. Fearful is the condition to which men are brought when the Spirit of God is completely pushed out of the world, and the powers of darkness move in to fill the void. “The heart can be very cruel when God’s fear and love are removed.” Great Controversy, p. 608.

The sixth trumpet is resounding, “Probation is quickly coming to a close!” Who will take this seriously enough to heed the signs?

Chapter 10: Prophecy: A Light Through the Darkness

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“The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.” Hosea 5:7

“And I saw another mighty Angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon His head, and His face was as it were the sun, and His feet as pillars of fire: and He had in His hand a little book open: and He set His right foot upon the sea, and His left foot on the earth. And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when He had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices....And the Angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up His hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets.” Revelation 10:1-7.

This is very reminiscent of the end of Daniel’s account of prophecy which had so centered on the condition of God’s temple, the source of the knowledge of God in the earth. “But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river. And one said to the Man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders? And I heard the Man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river when He held up His right hand and His left hand unto heaven, and sware by Him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when He shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.” Daniel 12:4-7.

Of great significance is Christ’s message to John. The Lord’s statement answered the question that had haunted Daniel, “How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?” (Vs. 6). “When will all this end?” “Please give me a time frame to work with! Nothing I’ve seen makes any sense. I need to know what happens to God’s people, my beloved people!” So his answer came, “it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when He shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.”

What Christ had told Daniel, centuries before, fills in missing information for John’s prophecy now. “That there should be time no longer: but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets.” (Rev. 10:7). Daniel’s last vision gave the sign when the 7th trumpet would sound, probation would close, and time would end. Let’s look again at the answer that Daniel got. Not only did it include the future “falling away” of the church for 1,260 years which John later spoke of, but Christ also included an additional time frame: “when He shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people.” (Rev. 12:7).

Putting the Daniel 12:7 and Revelation 10:7 together, the picture we get is that after the 1,260 years of papal oppression, and when the Lord would finally scatter the power of His people, then the end would come. The 6th trumpet will continue until God has completely scattered the church’s power. Scatter its power? What exactly does that mean?

The “scattering” goes all the way back to Moses. “Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them. For I know that after my death ye will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands. And Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended.” (Deut. 31:28-30).

This song Moses wrote for Israel to sing, as a perpetual indictment, warned them that when they had attained the good life and would think that they inherently merited their prosperity, then they would stop being thankful and would leave the God who gave them all of their abundance. “But Jeshurun [Israel] waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation…. And when the Lord saw it, He abhorred them… And He said, I will hide My face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith…. I will heap mischiefs upon them; I will spend Mine arrows upon them…. I said, I would scatter them into corners…” (Deut. 32:15,19,20,23,26).

This wasn’t the first time the children of Israel had heard words like these. Leviticus 26 lists some of the same. Notable in those threats lay this, “And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power….” (Lev. 26:18,19). Pride was the essence of their power. And in the end of their days, He repeatedly warned, He would destroy everything that fed their pride, and their nation and land would be a scattered “desolation.” (vs. 31,32,33,34,35).

The Lord God would not only destroy their possession, but He would destroy their pride, the “imperious” self-image in their minds. (Ez. 16:30). Pride, invisible to them, constantly plagued them, especially pride in their morality and spirituality. In their minds they were the only nation that was moral “by nature”, not “sinners of the Gentiles.” (Gal. 2:15). They spent their lives behaving like good people, without any need of God. But, without communion with God and needing His mercy, all their morality was just an act, a put-on.

Evidently, the church would have this same problem, as John’s vision of the future indicates. The title of “holy people” was now transferred over to the church. Matt. 21:43;Gal. 3:29;6:16. The people that would be scattered, of whom Christ spoke to Daniel, was the last day church; their self-dependence and self-congratulation, their denominational self-praise, their spirituality and their connection with heaven; all would be scattered to the winds—until “there be a great forsaking in the midst of” the church—and the whole of Christianity is laid desolate. (Is. 6:12).

At that time, when “He shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people” “there should be time no longer” and “the voice of the seventh angel” “shall begin to sound.” Then to the whole destitute world a remnant will shine, fully humbled, scattered of self-sufficiency and emptied of pride; they will be ready for the time of trouble such as never was, ready for Judgment day, ready for Jesus to return in power and glory. Christ’s people finally learn that, “in returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength… Blessed are all they that wait for Him.” (Is. 30:15,18). Then Michael will stand up and come to Earth to receive His people unto Himself forever.

John’s vision continues,

“And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things? And He said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand... Blessed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days.” Dan. 12:4-12.

Without comprehending the issues involved, Daniel had seen the mystery of the controversy revealed and then concealed again. Now John, in his vision, sees that Daniel’s revelation of the great controversy was finally going to be permanently opened. New light concerning God’s purposes in the destruction of the temple, His only source of truth was to be explained to those who were waiting for the blessing of His presence. That came in 1843-44, the end of the 1,335 year period which had begun at the conversion of Clovis to Catholicism. In 508, the Vatican intended his conversion to unify the church with the most powerful of the unbiblically-based of the Germanic tribes for the protection of the Papacy and the self-styled Vicar of Christ, that Christo-pagan system that would protect the paganism entrenched in Christianity, and was at that time contending to establish its full power in the Roman Empire.

1844 would begin the final cleansing of the church, begun by the Reformers, of the filth brought into Christianity by the Vicar of Christ, who had “magnified himself even to the Prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away, and the place of His sanctuary was cast down.” (Dan. 8:11). Simultaneously, the heavenly sanctuary would be cleansed of the sins of God’s people, and Satan would be judged the Scapegoat (Lev. 16:8) as God would blot out their sins and put them all on the devil’s account. The exalted and magnificent sacrifice of God’s Son, and His 1844 cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary form the two foci of the circuit which interprets the path of providence in the plan of redemption. Blessed are they who still recognize the importance of both events.

The year 1844 also corresponded with the end of the 2,300 year period which began at the command to rebuild ancient Jerusalem and would end with Christ’s cleansing of God’s heavenly sanctuary. See Dan. 8:14;9:25. William Miller, an officer veteran of the War of 1812 and a farmer, was commissioned by heaven to call attention to a new ministry into which our Heavenly High Priest was about to enter to cleanse the heavenly sanctuary. The world was sent the initial warning of judgment to come, and the call went out characterized by a power far beyond the ability of men to accomplish. A test was given to the Protestant churches, the organization holding a high profession of lightbearer to the world. Would she be desirous for the return of her Lord? Or be caught enjoying the honor of worldly riches and popularity, and forgetfulness of God? (Jn. 12:43;2Tim. 3:4). The Protestant church failed the test and rejected the good news of the Lord’s literal, personal return. And she was found laughing uproariously at the confusion and disappointment of those who desired His coming above all else and had laid everything, not excluding their reputations, upon the altar of that hope.

When Daniel 12:6,7 and Revelation 10:6,7 are combined the composite looks like this: The end of all the mysterious visions of Daniel and Revelation’s 6th trumpet will come after 1798 and when the Lord has accomplished to scatter all self-sufficiency from His followers. We shall see in the next chapter that not until His people have been spiritually warred against, overcome, and killed, first in lukewarm apathy and then in a white-hot furnace of affliction, will their dependence on self be boiled away, and its place taken by full reliance on Jesus and living by His every word.

Now, in pageant form, John rehearses the experience of the Advent faithful few. Similar to Ezekiel’s calling (Ez. 2:9,10), John is given the book of the great controversy to eat. The Advent body received power and authority to preach to the world again despite the disappointment of 1844, this time armed with the new truth conveyed in the story of the controversy between Christ and Satan as seen through the sanctuary truth. “Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary.” Ps. 77:13.

They were tasked with a message of woeful judgment to come. Many men through the Christian centuries had stretched the powers of the mind to understand the prophecies of the Revelation, yet none had arrived at their full meaning. Now the celestial clock struck the hour of fulfilled prophecy. Those who had made a covenant with God by sacrifice, who had been humbled by disapointment and persecution yet whose eyes remained single to God, would be the ones to understand it. The Adventists received the key to comprehending the mysteries shown to Daniel, through the understanding of the heavenly temple and the story of redemption, and also via experiencing the affliction of deep disappointment.

Chapter 11: The Saints are Overcome

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“But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.” Isaiah 63:10
“I will wait upon the Lord that hideth His face from” “both the houses of Israel,” “and I will look for Him.” Isaiah 8:17, 14.

Continuing the pageant begun in chapter ten, John shows us the rebuilding of the temple of truth that had been destroyed by Babylonian paganism and further desecrated by the Roman Papacy. John is given a reed and is told to “measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein. But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.” Rev. 11:1,2.

This pageant illustrates the restoration of a knowledge of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844, of which the Mosaic and Davidic were a copy and shadow, the knowledge of which had been regained for a time in the Apostolic church and lost again in the Christian falling away and was to be restored at that time to the people raised up to protest a fallen Catholic and Protestant Christendom. Around its sacred building was all doctrine to be attached. To the law and the testimony contained therein, all other truths were to be compared.

It was seen how the pure apostolic truth had been corrupted through 1,260 years of the reign of Augustine’s Millennial CITY OF GOD. A clear vision of the work given to the Reformation, “My two witnesses,” (vs. 3) was restored to the Adventists. And a renewed resolve was injected into the Advent cause by the dedication of a few, especially through young Ellen, not yet in her twenties.

But a change comes over the Advent band. As the beast ascends out of the bottomless pit (vs. 7), beginning the fifth trumpet, and great scientific and commercial progress come over the world, the work of the Reformation and of giving the preparation for the judgment is impeded. “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed.” (Rev. 12:17). The beast wars against the Advent movement for 70 years while Ellen White gives the testimony of Jesus. The battle against the Adventists is long, but when Ellen White finally passes from the scene in 1915, the dragon from the bottomless pit is victorious, as the Advent messengers of truth and warning lose their prophet’s earnest zeal for the truth. “And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10).

John sees the reformed church killed, as the Advent messengers of truth and warning fall asleep. The gospel message of Righteousness by Faith, held by the church in the wilderness, is lost sight of by the Protestants and later rejected by the Adventists. Of the ten virgins, awaiting the heavenly Bridegroom, “all slumbered and slept.” We are slain in the aisles of a church spiritually called Sodom and Egypt. Even the last group of God’s servants in the earth have given in to worldly treasures, pleasures, and denominational praise. And so here we are, overrun by the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience. Even our fathers rejected the reproof of that little lady who always seemed to be such a thorn in their side. This only prepared them to reject that “most precious message” of the Righteousness of Faith, for which the Reformers had died while resurrecting it from God’s word.

We are dead; we have lost righteousness by faith in Jesus, who is first King, Prince, Law-giver and Law-enforcer, and then Saviour. Without bowing under the strong language of the Spirit of Prophecy and due contrition for our pitiful failure of its testimony from Jesus in the heavenly Most Holy Place, we have no real faith nor power in the scriptures. Just like the other Protestants, we have soiled all the promises and trampled them upon by our unsanctified feet. The harvest is ended, the summer is past, and we are not saved. When we should have overcome temptation, we have been overcome. Our victories are imaginary; we are still here when we should have gone home by now. It is in pure grace that God looks upon us with supreme regard!

The sooner we admit our failure to receive Righteousness by Faith, the sooner we will have revival. The sooner we begin praying for our condition instead of denying it or praising it, the sooner we can be helped. Generations of Adventists, now, have heard the wonderful promises from the Bible without faith to accompany the speech. So now, we are no better than our Protestant predecessors, and, like them, are the children of the men who killed the messengers that have spoken to God’s church.

“Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread My courts?” Is. 1:10-12.

“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of Me; and that cover with a covering, but not of My spirit, that they may add sin to sin: that walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at My mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt! Therefore shall the strength of Pharaoh by your shame, and the trust in the shadow of Egypt your confusion….For the Egyptians shall help in vain, and to no purpose: therefore have I cried concerning this, Their strength is to sit still. Now go, write in before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: that this is a rebellious house, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord….For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength; and ye would not. But ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee; and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue you be swift. One thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; and the rebuke of five shall ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and as an ensign on an hill. Therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious into you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.” Is. 30:1-3, 7-9, 15-18.

“Thy sons have fainted, they lie at the head of all the streets, as a wild bull in a net: they are full of the fury of the Lord, the rebuke of thy God.” “Therefore hear now this, thou afflicted, and drunken, but not with wine: thus saith thy Lord the Lord, and thy God that pleadeth the cause of His people, Behold, I have taken out of thine hand the cup of trembling, even the dregs of the cup of My fury; thou shalt no more drink it again: but I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over. Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Shake thyself from the dust; arise, and sit down, O Jerusalem: loose thyself from the bands of thy neck, O captive daughter of Zion. For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.... Now therefore, what have I here, saith the Lord, that My people is taken away for nought? they that rule over them make them to howl, saith the Lord; and My name continually every day is blasphemed. Therefore My people shall know My name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am He that doth speak: behold, it is I.” Is. 51:20-23; 52:1-6.

But, all of His rebukes contain promise; “faithful are the wounds of a Friend.” “He...was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.” Prov. 27:6;Rev. 19:11. However, judgment must first begin at home.

During a period of three and a half days, the world laughs at the folly of spirituality and perfect loyalty to God, and at the message of Christ’s returning in glory. This inglorious period is a miniature of the beautiful three and a half years of the church in the wilderness. To the secularist and religionist alike, it appears that the message of William Miller was only an embarrassing farce, relegated to an ignorant period of American history before it “got sophisticated.” After each passing day the world is given to high class living and unrestricted merrymaking. The history of the remnant church has been marked by three revivals of Righteousness by Faith: 1880’s, 1920’s, and 1960’s. Three times the bright shining of hope has moved over our Adventist heads and then has gone down again almost without notice. Three times we have been blessed by the resurrection of the message of true victory over sin and a bright manifestation of the love of Christ which alone could have led us to repentance and preparation for His coming; yet we have not responded. This latest one was the greatest one and endured into the 1990’s. Each revival has ended in greater darkness than before it began.

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hos. 6:1-3.

“Therefore fear thou not, O My servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid. For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.

“For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous. There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines. All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased. Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

“Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey. For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after. Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

“And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before Me, and I will punish all that oppress them. And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto Me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto Me? saith the Lord. And ye shall be My people, and I will be your God....In the latter days ye shall consider it.” Jer. 30:10-22, 24.

Here is hope for the Advent band. Here is the patience and faith of the saints.

The Spirit of God gave Ezekiel a message of promise during the Babylonian desolation and it is a message to Adventists and to all who desire victory over sin. “The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, and caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And He said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, Thou knowest. Again He said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: and I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said He unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then He said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost; we are cut off for our parts. Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, O My people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up out of your graves, and shall put My Spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it, saith the Lord.” Ez. 37:1-14.

Let us patiently wait for the dawning of the next gospel morning when the Sun of righteousness arises in the next and final revival of Righteousness by Faith, only to get brighter and brighter.

“And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them. And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.” Rev. 11:11-14. Heaven and earth together are astir in anticipation.

The Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit upon the desiccated hearts of the people of God resurrects them to faith, love, and obedience after a prophetic time period based on Elijah’s drought. After such a long dry period without the Spirit of God to moisten their dry souls, the gushing Latter Rains are received with great gladness. They quickly revive those who were honestly and earnestly seeking Jesus during the dry spell of the former rain period, polarizing the good from the bad, the sheep from the goats, ripening both the wheat as well as the weeds.

The faithful awaken to consecration and are ready to give the message of a soon-coming King, while the majority rise up against it and reject it outright as fanaticism. It is the same insinuating spirit that led Pharisees to cry out against Jesus, “Hearest thou what these say?” “Master, rebuke thy disciples.” They will accuse that these men are full of the wine of Babylon. (Matt. 21:16;Lk. 19:39;Acts 2:13).

The “sweet love, joy, and peace” (Early Writings, p. 56) in the Latter Rain will implicate hearts charmed by the world, and the only self-defense of those who don’t receive it is to subconsciously interpret this final revival and greatest of all reformations as part of the strong delusion from Satan. But they are the ones deluded; they have resisted the voice of the Holy Spirit by resisting the call to spirituality and to overcoming every hereditary and cultivated tendency to sin, a call that comes throughout the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. They have indulged themselves in the world without restraint; idolatry has ruined their soul.

A large class who have professed faith in the third angel’s message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position.... By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Great Controversy, p. 608.

“In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets,” “the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began;” the final vindication of the Father through “the revelation of Jesus Christ” perfectly reproduced in the character of His people. Rev. 10:7; Rom. 16:25; Rev. 1:1.

“And the seventh angel sounded.” “And there was given [the Son of man] dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” Dan. 7:14.

“And there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshiped God, saying, We give Thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because Thou hast taken to Thee Thy great power, and hast reigned. And the nations were angry and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.” Rev. 11:15-19.

The finale of the trumpets compares closely to their beginning when the Angel cast His censor to the earth in 1844. Exciting times up ahead of us.

Chapter 12: The Bride of Christ

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“Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3

Pause. The Spirit of prophecy bids us look back again.

Now for another look at the special prophetic 1,260 year period, a period of Christian apostasy. John sees the church of God just previous to Christ’s first coming. Instead of a Hebrew dispensation decayed and waxen old, John sees an Eve-like spouse clothed with the righteousness of Christ and standing on the Word of God. This vulnerable figure bows over, anguishing in childbirth, setting opposed to an overpowering dragon, that ancient serpent, snarling and raging before her. The dragon has seven heads because Lucifer likes the holy number seven. He appears as an advocate of holiness because he is the boldest hypocrite and proponent of duplicity in the entire universe. He desires to replace God as the source of holiness, in the heart, the very foundation of intelligent life. All animate creation operates from trust and love, and Satan knows that only here is where he must truly be in charge. And he is so insanely determined to win the contest with God that he believes himself that his cause is righteous, and that his damage to the Creator was necessary.

The Son arrives and is borne away to heaven. “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night....Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Rev. 12:10, 12.

The woman flees into the wilderness. Like Elijah fed by the ravens for three and a half years of drought, the people of God flee from this religious dragon for an often repeated prophetic period in the Bible, “a thousand two hundred and threescore days” (Rev. 12:6; 11:3) [“a time, and times, and half a time” (Rev. 12:14), “a time and times and the dividing of time” (Dan. 7:25), “a time, times, and an half” (Dan. 12:7), “forty and two months” (Rev. 13:5; 11:2)] 1,260 prophetic days, or a long period of 1,260 literal years of corrupted religion and intolerance by people professing to speak for God.

Living a rugged existence apart from the convenience of city life, the Reformers are supplied with courage and faith by the presence of heavenly angels. Close to the end of the long period, a blow is struck against the dragon by the Protestant Reformation of the 1500’s. But the dragon doesn’t go down immediately, and the woman is saved from his abusive religionists as the earth opens up its mouth and swallows the flood of persecution intended to drown the small group of lightbearers. Thus, into the dangerous New World, in 1620, came a small group from the old world, across the big unknown ocean to a land abounding with milk and honey, and freedom of conscience.

“And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed.” Rev. 12:17. We are reminded of the very first promise to Satan, “And I will put enmity between thee (the ancient Serpent) and the woman (Eve), and between thy seed and her seed.” Gen. 3:15. Now that promise will reach its most complete fulfillment. The remnant seed of Christ’s bride has access to a special opportunity to overcome temptation in preparation for translation. “I will put enmity”—a wonderful promise this is to those of us who have spent many long years trying to overcome sin, and have found ourselves powerless to get victory! Through time spent with God by beholding His character in nature, in His amplified word, and in working together with Him, an animosity toward sin is implanted, working in us a desire to actually fulfill the law of God. Through ongoing faith in the excellent grace and obedience of Jesus, a hatred for sin becomes all controlling and the expulsion of sin becomes the act of the soul itself; by the faith we have striven for, and God has provided us, we are healed of sin’s attraction.

While we still have the time, let us learn this science of salvation. The heart’s submission to God is the most difficult lesson to learn, and the one easiest to lose. Between the learning and losing again of this wonderful lesson, learning again but losing again, we need all the lead time possible before the finale of that promised hour of temptation which is quickly coming upon the earth. There is no time to waste on this most important work.

“The remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Rev. 12:17. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit to prophesy. See Rev. 19:10. How have we treated the last prophet? Are we still fighting against ours, like Israel of old fought theirs? Before you answer No, is Adventist history really any better than that of Judah? Or dare we say with the papists, “The ‘church never erred; nor will it, according to the Scriptures, ever err’?” Great Controversy, p. 565. Let us not say like the Jews, We are the Remnant seed and were never in bondage to anyone. (Jn. 8:33). Instead, let us in our captivity, go to our knees with Daniel and with honesty pray, “O Lord, righteousness belongeth unto Thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day;... As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the Lord our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand Thy truth.” Dan. 9:7, 13. It is past time that we, whoever in the church will, admit that the group Jesus calls by His name, has been long fallen from His grace and is not in the best standing with Him. We should rend our hearts and our facades and then it will be that the Lord will consider us again and turn and leave a blessing behind Him.

Chapter 13: The Beast

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“He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.” Job 41:34

John sees himself standing at the expansive Mediterranean Sea, with a virtual amphibious monster wriggling up onto the beach. John is not superstitious, and has a calm and refined character. Yet he is repulsed by the hideous beast presented before him. It was the same vision with a fuller description of the same beast Daniel described coming “up from the sea,…dreadful and terrible,…and it had ten horns.” Dan. 7:3, 7. John “saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.” Rev. 13:1. The beast had all the components of the three first beasts that Daniel saw. Both Daniel and John discover that this beast has power over the hosts of heaven and earth for 1,260 years. Daniel saw something about a late-coming eleventh horn that arose on the beast. This special horn had eyes like a man, and spoke great words of blasphemy. The same horn uprooted three of the ten, leaving a total of eight, with this “humble” little horn surrounded by the remaining seven. The description of this beast gives away the Roman Papacy surrounded by the monarchs of the Dark Ages, the Millennial City of God. The Christian group that began as a counselor and aid to Constantine’s government, grew into an overpowering juggernaut on an equality with the pagan Roman emperors, which slaughtered thousands of common people who spoke against it and would not tolerate disobedience from princes or kings.

But John sees something Daniel was not privy to. One of the heads, corresponding to the little horn in Daniel’s dream, is fatally wounded. But behold, the deadly wound is miraculously healed, “but not by his own power;” “the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.” Dan. 8:24;Rev. 13:2. Now the monster regains special prominence and “all the world wondered after the beast.” Rev. 13:3.

Through the Protestant Reformation, under the banners of “The Bible and the Bible only,” “Every man his own priest,” and “Justification by faith alone without good works,” Europe was liberated from the darkness that had pressed upon it from papal religion. However, a counter-Reformation was quickly put into operation, and, through the determined efforts of the Jesuit order, within forty years the Reformation began its waning. Protestant parents lost their vision of where Bible-founded education could take their children and began to send them back to papal schools to get a “better” education, a classical education. Rather than an education centered on keeping the gospel mission alive, the Reformers’ children would receive an education that would keep them from creating another protest or stirring things up, an education to help them get settled into a good job in the city. The Protestants’ children, from the dawning of intelligence, would be trained to think that the Bible truths were mythical, a part-time consideration; that the stark realities of Scripture should stay conveniently neglected, and that this present world should receive the greater weight of thought. They were taught that the system behind the workings of society is nothing to fear, and that the kingdom of this world should and would continue on just like it is, uninterrupted forever.

With the children again in its grasp, the abominable Beast began its comeback. A thorough worldly school system founded upon the classical disciplines has always been the secret to the Beast’s power. Today, we see the fruits of its labors, as millions of Americans repudiate the “narrow-mindedness” of their Reformation forefathers, and follow hard after the classical system of education, while they wonder after the Beast. Everyone in what was once a Protestant country is now reeducated and even fond of the kindly old man who travelled around the world like a king commanding peace.

The Papacy is not presently guilty of persecution. It has requested leniency for the past, explaining its brutal history as a reflection of the times. But this she cannot claim, for is it not the role of the true church to set the example, to stand tall in the cause of righteousness and to lead the world up toward the character of Christ, as in the days of the apostles; rather than to copy or even lead out to further desecrate the God-given rights to every member of humanity, as occurred in the Dark Ages?

The medieval church is also guilty of wearing “a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Rev. 3:1. The papal system of religion kills any desire toward real righteousness. It offers a round of ceremony, a false humility, and a heavy drudgery. The problem, though, with accusing Catholicism of anything, is that the faithful protesters of today are presently dead too and caught up in their own traditions!

We have a better work to be involved in for the moment: putting our own house in order, getting acquainted and getting involved with our Saviour and Friend, allowing His merits to catch our attention and mold us into His image. If we will engage this work, God will bring down His enemy. A humble and contrite servant, submissive to the covenant relationship, will discomfit thousands of self-sufficient men who come in their own name. The good shepherds will not use God for their own purposes and they will be known by the true sheep. And anyone who uses God’s name to destroy men’s souls, God will bring to destruction. God has all the resources He needs to bring the system of falsehood to a close and if He does use men to accomplish any part of this, a little child will lead them.

Now a new beast comes before John’s view. Up, out of the earth this time, a noble American buffalo stands handsomely strong. It has two horns like a Lamb and it looks bold and very peaceful. You can see the bison at the Yellowstone Park. They look docile, almost huggable. But if you get too close, your adrenaline will hardly be a match for the race back to the car! To John, who had never before seen a buffalo, this might be a likable creature. But when it let out a snort, John quickly recognized that he should keep his distance. Suddenly, the stare in his eye showed that this beast cannot be trusted.

A bison, Protestant America in prophecy. We have the spotlight in the end. The ball is in our court. With every kind of music and indulgence to soothe the soul, we must face temptations that reach out to us everywhere we go. The stage is set for the overpowering delusion, “even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth…. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2Thess. 2:9-12.

Perilous times are here. The men that “shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents” et cetera, exist among American Protestantism today. 2Tim. 3:1-4. Modern Evangelicalism is under the condemnation of Jesus, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matt. 7:15. And as time advances and the separation continues to take place between those who seek God’s acceptance and those who indulge this world, multitudes ridicule a heavenly kingdom to come and seek a worldly kingdom of God with “Jesus” in charge, but principally unchanged from what it has always been. Thus everyone will be marked for Heaven’s rejection or approval.

Ezekiel was shown the conditions for receiving the seal of God’s approval. The ninth chapter of his book gives the circumstances: “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.” “And to the others..., Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity; slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary.” Ez. 9:4-6. Everyone who does not receive this mark of God gets the mark of the Beast. We get one mark or the other. There is not a third group.

Are you disturbed by the laxness and carelessness you see in the church today? Are you disturbed by what you see in yourself? Its time we make it our first work to get awakened to real godliness. Our only hope to awake out of a spiritual coma are the three “doables.” 1) Talk to the “unknown God,” 2) Listen to Him through Bible study, 3) Go places and do things together with Him through witnessing of His grace and working to uplift others. These three doables are workable for us because they relate to a relationship. We can’t fight sin and the devil’s temptations; we will fail every time. But we can put the utmost effort in the things that form a friendship. Made in the image of God, we have the natural inclination to love to be loved. So then, let’s get acquainted with Jesus, the wonderful Counselor, and then His Spirit will galvanize in us the desire to fight sin and temptation. “Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.” Rev. 13:10. To do otherwise is simply to end up with the Mark.

The character that Christ forms in us makes it possible to receive the precious Seal of God. We decide upon which influence to expose ourselves and the character that results from that exposure. Will we absorb the spirit that comes from the T.V. or the image of Jesus as the heart surrenders to His merits found in Himself, His prophets and their words? We are held accountable for the end product of our life, but Jesus is the means to a good end product. Temptations abound, will we indulge them or accept His grace to refuse them?

The “time of trouble, such as never was,” is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too indolent to obtain....

...Not even by a thought could our Saviour be brought to yield to the power of temptation. Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foothold; some sinful desire is cherished, by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of Himself: “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in Me.” John 14:30... This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.

It is in this life that we are to separate sin from us, through faith in the atoning blood of Christ. Our precious Saviour invites us to join ourselves to Him, to unite our weakness to His strength, our ignorance to His wisdom, our unworthiness to His merits.... None can neglect or defer this work but at the most fearful peril to their souls. Great Controversy, p. 622, 623.

Some will believe that character development and overcoming sinful habits is not such an important issue, but that the mark of the beast will be decided simply over a day of worship. Such will be taken greatly by surprise. The Sabbath contention to come will be won only by those who have learned the Sabbath experience, to rest in Jesus’ merits, and to labor in fellowship with Heaven for the faith which promotes Bible righteousness. There yet remaineth a rest for the people of God.

Sanctification is a journey, and rest is the vehicle—the image of Jesus as a permanent mark upon the character received as a gift through a love of Bible truth, trusting in the beauty of Jesus’ holiness, worshiping the Lamb in every facet of His life, approaching a more constant walk in fellowship with the Spirit of Christ, ultimately moment by moment.

Do we feel comfortable with Jesus? Have we seen in Him a life that quiets our fears and leads us to rest easy from the methods of this world, and trust in the durable principles of righteousness? Has His example convinced us to turn away in disgust from the world’s influences? Are we approaching the Sealing or the Mark? Which one is molding us? Not a one of us has time to waste.

The Mark of the Beast is not a tattoo, its not a credit card number, its not a chip imbedded under the skin. In spite of the advertisement to the contrary, the Mark in the forehead is simply a character mold, the result of an adoption of a religion of excuses for sin. People who receive the “mark of the number of his name” (Rev. 13:17) accept that character which allows them to partake of the current rebellion which is quickly throwing out all the safeguards bound up in God’s commandments, yet still attempt to appear reasonably moral. This mold largely targets the innocent youth and is established by the media; it quiets the conscience and brings them so into harmony with the world that they cannot stand out; it binds upon them a search for acceptance by their peers to the complete disregard of heaven. The “name of the beast or the number of his name” (vs. 17), indicate a system of forced human righteousness or morality legislated by the group or church, or a personal attempt to be accepted by God through human means instead of letting Jesus be the Mediator. It is also the result of an investigation of our life record. God gives the Mark (Ez. 9:4). The number is stamped upon the life book as the wicked allow it to be stamped upon their mind, “Careless with the needs of the heart, loyal to what man offers, aider and abettor of forced righteousness—666.”

Is the spirit of this world too harsh and abusive to bear? Does it stress your heart and conscience? If so, then seek God just as you are without fixing yourself up first, and trust Him to bring you as far as He will, as fast as He will. Keep coming to Him and His Bible, and trust Him to make you what He wants. Does what you see in the world really get you down? Do you cry for the abominations that are being done in the land? Do you long for a better place? If so, then join the scattered faithful of God and gently point others to the fountain of God’s goodness. Seek opportunity to convince them that though it looks like this present world situation will be here forever, we have a Savior who will end this selfish world and take us to Himself.

If you want the Seal of God, let His love melt your rebellion away. Listen to that mysterious voice from heaven speak to your mind, “I, even I, have spoken... Come ye near unto Me.” Is. 48:15, 16. “I have chosen thee.” Vs.10. “Neither do I condemn thee.” Jn. 8:11. “I am.” Ex. 3:14. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (Jn. 14:3). Don’t be afraid that there is not enough time for your desperate case. No temptation has taken a hold on you that is not common to everyone. If God has forgive so many ruined sinners, why can’t He forgive you too? It is with just such desperate cases that He has always had so much success. He loves to crowd Himself with those who sense their inadequacy, because He has sensed His own and has always relied on His own Father to lean on. He will bring us all the way to His throne, He will be with us all the way. His providence will order events to steadily lead us into faith in Him. “A bruised reed shall He not break, and the smoking flax shall He not quench: He shall bring forth judgment unto truth.” Is. 42:3. “They shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” Jn. 10:28. With a wonderful counselor like that, don’t you want to stay with Him forever?