-Selv.'s Notes.
-I heard many who profess another way to enter the kingdom this is new theology that calls God a liar that the Bible says there is no other way to the Father except by Me (Jesus). Now you might consider the fact that outside of Israel and the tracks of the disciples where people did not know about or even heard of a Christ or His mission. You would think that sending them to hell would be straight forward unfair and yes you would be correct here is how you put these things together this is the equation:
Romans 2:13-15 For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the meanwhile accusing or else excusing one another;...
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men everywhere to repent.
Those who didn't have the ability to know Christ or the law but knew not to steal, kill, commit adultery, etc. were as Paul said a law unto themselves the fact that they had no recollection of certain areas of God's holy law for example the Sabbath of the 4th command this is the ignorance God winked at. A warning for this generation: there is so much Light given us especially through the inspiration of Ellen G. White that the margin of unwillful ignorance is as a thin line Ellen preached all over on several continents that her works are published in several languages that all will have the same chance to know what and who truth is.
But WILLFUL ignorance is as the same as sin and abounds with much abundance. Confer James 4:17 Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. You can also say that backwards to mean the same thing: To him that knoweth not to do something and yet does it to him it is sin. Do you not know that searching for what is right or true in other words searching for the truth is what we need to do? That this is a good thing? So according to James you have to search for truth or else it is considered WILLFUL ignorance and sin because you knew that you were to search for that which is good and CHOSE not to do it.
If you use your gift of free will to disregard that which is truth constitutes willful ignorance because you chose not to know. Luther a highly respected protestant reformer same with the others and many like them did not know about the Sabbath because at that time that era during the Dark Ages it wasn't for them to know that constituted UNwillful ignorance. Ellen says that after Christ gathers His elect from the four corners of the earth and we are on our way to Heaven before we all get there we will celebrate one Sabbath day so all may enjoy and know the truth and that Christ when we get there can say to His Father "here are they that keep your commandments."
Christ's mission was to prove Satan's claims as false that the Law of God can be obeyed and as human, subject to everything as we are, lived a sinless life and proven that sin is a choice devised by an active will. The Holy Spirit is always telling the soul that is about to commit sin not to do it that there is something wrong with the decision that you are about to make, unless you by continual disobedience have grieved Him away you can read on this on the page titled "I have found..." Christ who lived a sinless life is our Example if He used any means other than what is granted us then He couldn't fullfill His mission or be our Example.
He is "the fullness of the Godhead bodily." He came as a man in humanity's fallen nature He was tempted to sin and was able to fall like any of us but He CHOSE not to succumb by a "thus saith the Lord" and did you know that singing hymns to the Lord is a highly effective tool to resist temptation? This is how we are to combat sin with a "thus saith the Lord" by saying "It is written..." and the only way to know what is written is by prayer and study otherwise the tempter will overcome you by answering "what is written?"
Everyone who ever lived has an angel called the angel with the inkhorn ever writing everything you say, think or do in a book and this is the book that Daniel and the Revelation speaks about that when they are opened will serve to either testify for or against us in the Judgment. Also know that the devils also know whether or not you pray or study and if you do not they will attack you with points so confusing that since you haven't the scriptures in your mind they will lead you into the ditch. Do you not know that they too know the scriptures the Devil used the scriptures with Christ during His temptation also he confused the word with Adam and Eve in the Garden and prevailed.
We are not to give occasion to the enemy of souls as in Jude Christ did not argue with Satan over the body of Moses He simply said in Jude 9 "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, "The Lord rebuke thee." No angel has any authority over life or death in this case Moses' the devil was contending with Christ. Did you know that Michael is another name for Christ? In Daniel it is said "...Michael the Great Prince..." no angel ever held the title Great Prince.
The word "angel" means messenger and in the Old testament Christ still had a part that Joshua saw before him a soldier in full armour and the soldier said "take off thy shoes from thy feet for where thou standeth is holy ground." then the Bible records that Joshua knew it was the Lord He also with 2 angels that were to destroy the Valley of Siddim Abraham knew who He was and welcomed them. It was Christ that created all that exsists. Christ Himself is a messenger from His Father He is the "Angel of the Lord."
We too can claim the promise of 1 Corinthians 10:13 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. By reason of this verse: Jude 24 Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,... Only if we pray and with faith unwaivering can we claim that promise but if we leave out proper prayer and study then our shield of faith will have in it holes like a collander and our sword the only weapon against all evil will rust away and we will fall.
But with faith in Christ that comes from prayer and study we can have the victory and with a surety say as in Jude 25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever Amen.
-Here's how to teach the Jews of Christ:
Isaiah 53 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him. 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. 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. He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken. And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither [was any] deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put [him] to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see [his] seed, he shall prolong [his] days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, [and] shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him [a portion] with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Daniel 9:25-27 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.
-Selv.'s 2nd Note.
-I'd like to begin by saying if you are looking for something to happen when it already has then you will grow tired of looking having waited and expected it to come and it never shown. Like the Jews they claim to be awaiting the Messiah when He that is Christ and Him crucified once for all has already come. They will identify with Jesus' words saying "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken; The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Matthew 24:48-51.
That is what is happening with today's 'Christian' generation they found a reason to be lax in spiritual matters and say "when I see these things happen then I will act my part" when lo it has already been. I am referring to the foretold prophecy Christ said would happen "in those days" Matthew 24. I'm going to emphasize on the 29th and 30th verses: Immediately after the tribulation of those days (the 1,260 year period of Papal persecution prophecied by Daniel the prophet you can read some on the page entitled the Anti Christ) shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
The majority of the 'Christian' world have fixed a tight gaze upon this prediction but with laxness of spiritual work that they use this as excuse not to act until these things be. Remember Christ's words "An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:..."Matthew 12:39; 16:4. When those who have fixed a tight gaze on things that will not show will ultimately disregard everything that pertains to what they thought was coming. They will be the ones first to proclaim "And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." 2Peter 3:4.
They will tire of looking for that which has already been yet they know it not. Look carefully at these passages from Ellen White:
Prophecy not only foretells the manner and object of Christ's coming, but presents tokens by which men are to know when it is near. . . . The revelator thus describes the first of the signs to precede the second advent: "There was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood." {Mar 149.1}
These signs were witnessed before the opening of the nineteenth century. In fulfilment of this prophecy there occurred, in the year 1755, the most terrible earthquake that has ever been recorded. Though commonly known as the earthquake of Lisbon, it extended to the greater part of Europe, Africa, and America. It was felt in Greenland, in the West Indies, in the island of Madeira, in Norway and Sweden, Great Britain and Ireland. It pervaded an extent of not less than four million square miles. In Africa the shock was almost as severe as in Europe. A great part of Algiers was destroyed; and a short distance from Morocco, a village containing eight or ten thousand inhabitants was swallowed up. A vast wave swept over the coast of Spain and Africa, engulfing cities, and causing great destruction. {Mar 149.2}
It was in Spain and Portugal that the shock manifested its extreme violence. At Cadiz the inflowing wave was said to be sixty feet high. Mountains, "some of the largest in Portugal, were impetuously shaken, as it were, from their very foundations." . . .--Sir Charles Lyell, Principles of Geology, p. 495. . . . "The earthquake happened on a holy day, when the churches and convents were full of people, very few of whom escaped."-- Encyclopedia Americana, art. "Lisbon," note (ed. 1831). . . It has been estimated that ninety thousand persons lost their lives on that fatal day. {Mar 149.3}
How frequently we hear of earthquakes and tornadoes, of destruction by fire and flood, with great loss of life and property! Apparently these calamities are capricious outbreaks of disorganized, unregulated forces of nature, wholly beyond the control of man; but in them all, God's purpose may be read. They are among the agencies by which He seeks to arouse men and women to a sense of their danger. {Mar 149.4}
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come. Joel 2:31.
In the Saviour's conversation with His disciples upon Olivet, after describing the long period of trial for the church--the 1260 years of papal persecution, concerning which He had promised that the tribulation should be shortened--He thus mentioned certain events to precede His coming, and fixed the time when the first of these should be witnessed: "In those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light." The 1260 days, or years, terminated in 1798. A quarter of a century earlier, persecution had almost wholly ceased. Following this persecution, according to the words of Christ, the sun was to be darkened. On the 19th of May, 1780, this prophecy was fulfilled. {Mar 150.1}
"Almost if not altogether alone, as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind, . . . stands the dark day of May 19, 1780--a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England."-- R. M. Devens, Our First Century, p. 89. . . . {Mar 150.2}
The intense darkness of the day was succeeded, an hour or two before evening, by a partially clear sky, and the sun appeared, though it was still obscured by the black, heavy mist. "After sundown, the clouds came again overhead, and
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it grew dark very fast." "Nor was the darkness of the night less uncommon and terrifying than that of the day; notwithstanding there was almost a full moon, no object was discernible but by the help of some artificial light, which, when seen from the neighboring houses and other places at a distance, appeared through a kind of Egyptian darkness which seemed almost impervious to the rays."--Isaiah Thomas, Massachusetts Spy; or, American Oracle of Liberty, vol. 10, No. 472 (May 25, 1780). Said an eyewitness of the scene: "I could not help conceiving at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable shades, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete."--Letter by Dr. Samuel Tenney, of Exeter, New Hampshire, December, 1785 (in Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, 1792, 1st series, vol. 1, p. 97). Though at nine o'clock that night the moon rose to the full, "it had not the least effect to dispel the deathlike shadows." After midnight the darkness disappeared, and the moon, when first visible, had the appearance of blood. {GC 307.4}
The description of this event, as given by eyewitnesses, is but an echo of the words of the Lord, recorded by the prophet Joel, twenty-five hundred years previous to their fulfilment: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." {Mar 150.4}
Christ had bidden His people watch for the signs of His advent, and rejoice as they should behold the tokens of their coming King. {Mar 150.5}
In 1833, two years after Miller began to present in public
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the evidences of Christ's soon coming, the last of the signs appeared which were promised by the Saviour as tokens of his second advent. Said Jesus, "The stars shall fall from heaven." [MATT. 24:29.] And John in the Revelation declared, as he beheld in vision the scenes that herald the day of God: "The stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." [REV. 6:13.] This prophecy received a striking and impressive fulfillment in the great meteoric shower of November 13, 1833. That was the most extensive and wonderful display of falling stars which has ever been recorded; "the whole firmament, over all the United States, being then, for hours, in fiery commotion. No celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country, since its first settlement, which was viewed with such intense admiration by one class in the community, or such dread and alarm by another." "Its sublimity and awful beauty still linger in many minds. . . . Never did rain fall much thicker than the meteors fell toward the earth; east, west, north, and south, it was the same. In a word, the whole heavens seemed in motion. . . . The display, as described in Professor Silliman's journal, was seen all over North America. . . . From two o'clock until broad daylight, the sky being perfectly serene and cloudless, an incessant play of dazzlingly brilliant luminosities was kept up in the whole heavens." {GC88 332.4}
"No language indeed can come up to the splendor of that magnificent display; no one who did not witness it can form an adequate conception of its glory. It seemed as if the whole starry heavens had congregated at one point near the zenith, and were simultaneously shooting forth, with the velocity of lightning, to every part of the horizon; and yet they were not exhausted--thousands swiftly followed in the track of thousands, as if created for the occasion." "A more correct picture of a fig-tree casting its figs when blown by a mighty wind, it is not possible to behold."
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{GC88 333.1}
On the day following its appearance, Henry Dana Ward wrote thus of the wonderful phenomenon: "No philosopher or scholar has told or recorded an event, I suppose, like that of yesterday morning. A prophet eighteen hundred years ago foretold it exactly, if we will be at the trouble of understanding stars falling to mean falling stars, in the only sense in which it is possible to be literally true." {GC88 334.1}
Thus was displayed the last of those signs of his coming, concerning which Jesus bade his disciples, "When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." [MATT. 24:33.] After these signs, John beheld, as the great event next impending, the heavens departing as a scroll, while the earth quaked, mountains and islands removed out of their places, and the wicked in terror sought to flee from the presence of the Son of man. {GC88 334.2}
Many who witnessed the falling of the stars, looked upon it as a herald of the coming Judgment,--"an awful type, a sure forerunner, a merciful sign, of that great and dreadful day." Thus the attention of the people was directed to the fulfillment of prophecy, and many were led to give heed to the warning of the second advent. {GC88 334.3}
In the year 1840, another remarkable fulfillment of prophecy excited widespread interest. Two years before, Josiah Litch, one of the leading ministers preaching the second advent, published an exposition of Revelation 9, predicting the fall of the Ottoman empire, and specifying not only the year but the very day on which this would take place. According to this exposition, which was purely a matter of calculation on the prophetic periods of Scripture, the Turkish government would surrender its independence on the eleventh day of August, 1840. The prediction was widely published, and thousands watched the course of events with eager interest. {GC88 334.4}
At the very time specified, Turkey, through her ambassadors, accepted the protection of the allied powers of Europe, and thus placed herself under the control of Christian
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nations. The event exactly fulfilled the prediction. When it became known, multitudes were convinced of the correctness of the principles of prophetic interpretation adopted by Miller and his associates, and a wonderful impetus was given to the Advent movement. Men of learning and position united with Miller, both in preaching and publishing his views, and from 1840 to 1844 the work rapidly extended. {GC88 334.5}
William Miller possessed strong mental powers
-There is only one of the prophecies that Christ said would be world wide and that is the prophecy in which we are still living and witnessing its fulfillment. Matthew 24:14 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come." When the gospel is preached to you and you reject it it still furthers the fulfillment it was preached to you and when all have had their chance to know whether they accept it or not then the Valley of Decision will be empty all have made their choice and then as Jesus said "the end shall come." Probation for the world would then be shut up against those who rejected truth and for those who accepted it. Christ then would lay down the censor and no longer hold the role of Kingly High Priest and the solemn proclamation will be made "All who is righteous be righteous still, all who is filthy be filthy still, etc,. Revelation 22:11. Then He shall come to gather His elect then being just our King (for His role as Mediator or High Priest will be finished) and for a short while between His laying down of the censor and His appearing God's people will have to live in a time here on earth without a Mediator until He arrives and takes us home forever.
-Selv.'s 3rd Note.
-Remember when Bill Cosby's son was gunned down in a drive-by while changing a tire of all things. Remember also those other things that has happened in lieu of this generation's conformity to the indulgence of sin. Even the towers. When people hear of these things they react with the fiercest of the want for swift vengeance some may say 'justice' but their motives declare that their spirit is out for swift vengeance, now I know that everyone has heard "vengeance is Mine saith the Lord' but let me add to this by saying: All who dare to wish that justice be served without proper weight of the breaking of the Law to the law-breaker are counted with those who wish swift vengeance on anyone without any regard to the balance of the sinner and the sin.
Remember Christ's mission He came to save us from our sin (not in)now this does not condone sin once you give sin an excuse it no longer becomes sin and you have told Christ you died for nothing this is an insult to our Lord and Saviour. All those who wish evil on someone else in lieu of whatever Jesus charges these words to them: Luke 9:54-56 And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? But He turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not of what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
This is patience that we can see all these things while sighing and crying for the abominations around us especially in the church and give it to the Lord without one thought for any amount of carnal vengeance(Now I strictly warn you that there is a marked contrast to carnal vengeance and justice pray and study to know and fully understand the difference of the two here is a hint balance for balance a certain weight of the law breaker and the same weight to compensate the broken law although Christ has paid the ultimate cost for the breaking of God's holy law which constitutes sin here we do nothing except to accept Him who has done these things for us and preach "Christ and Him crucified", the law of the land or civil law has to be carried out lest you give the law breaker an everlasting excuse to break not only the civil law but also the Law of God leaving him in an ever lost condition. Ask again why did Jesus come?)
Now we have a work when we see these things we are to first make them known then direct them towards those who hold the positions to carry out civil justice i.e. dialing 911 and let them handle it doing their jobs as we back away and go about our own business obeying the Law of God the higher standard given to this world and written in our minds and on our hearts. While the offender is receiving due justice it will be easier for him to come to the knowledge of God by looking at the reason this has come upon him and feel the wretchedness of himself then feel the need for a Saviour and that is when the Holy Spirit draws him to you=> "Let our light so shine... why? So others may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Here is the test to see if we stand in righteousness: Are our works bringing our Father any glory, tried in the fire tested against a "thus saith the Lord" do the scriptures condone or condemn what we say, think or do? Remember the angel with the writer's inkhorn because all of this he is ever writing in a book that in the Judgment will be openned and will serve to either testify for or against us according to what is written therein. Whether you are within or without the Holy City all will be made clear in lieu of these records and God and His saints will be vindicated.
[To know a little of what is really happening look here but keep in mind that this isn't exactly perpetrated by those he says but rather by the Jesuits of Rome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nD7dbkkBIA&feature=related ]
Never harbor a vengeful spirit it is as acid to the soul's salvation. We must seek to have these carnal emotions put under the subjection of Christ. Well did Ellen say in accordance with what spirit and attitude we should ever have:
Children, if you overcome your besetments you must pray, and watch yourselves with jealous care. The grace of God is sufficient for you. It is sufficient for the weakest, and the strongest must depend upon the same grace, or perish. To obtain this grace, you must go to your closet and there plead with God. "Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Be in earnest, be sincere. Fervent prayer availeth much. When you sincerely feel without the help of God you perish, then will he appear for you. Then, as you hunger and thirst for righteousness, Jesus will come in and sup with you, and you with him. Often will your faith be tested, be tried; but tire not. Be unwearied in your efforts. Trust God, and your heart will again be joyous with a sense of pardoned sin, and a holy confidence in your Redeemer.
I saw how this grace could be obtained. Go to your closet and there alone plead with God. "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me" (Ps. 51:10). Be in earnest, be sincere. Fervent prayer availeth much. Jacob-like, wrestle in prayer. Agonize. Jesus in the garden sweat great drops of blood; you must make an effort. Do not leave your closet until you feel strong in God; then watch, and just as long as you watch and pray, you can keep these evil besetments under, and the grace of God can, and will, appear in you. {AG 87.6}
July 20, 1905 Diligence and Consecration Needed
"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. Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto Thee." {PUR, July 20, 1905 par. 1}
This is one of the most earnest and contrite prayers on record, and the Lord's response is, "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you." {PUR, July 20, 1905 par. 2}
"Create in me a clean heart." This is beginning right, at the very foundation of Christian character; for out of the heart are the issues of life. If all, ministers and people, would see to it that their hearts are right with God, we should see much larger results from the labor put forth. The more important and responsible your work, the greater necessity that you have clean hearts. The needed grace is provided, and the power of the Holy Spirit will work with every effort you make in this direction. If every child of God would seek Him earnestly and perseveringly, there would be a greater growth in grace. Dissensions would cease; believers would be of one heart and one mind; purity and love would prevail in the churches. By beholding, we become changed. The more you contemplate the character of Christ, the more you will become conformed to His image. Come to Jesus just as you are, and He will receive you, and put a new song into your mouth, even praise to God. {PUR, July 20, 1905 par. 3}
God will hear the prayer of faith; but the sincerity of our prayers will be made manifest in our harmony with the great moral standard which will test every man's character. We need to open our hearts to the influence of the Spirit, and to realize its transforming power. The reason why you do not receive more of the saving help of God is that the channel of communication between heaven and your own souls is clogged by worldliness, love of display, and desire for supremacy. While some are conforming more and more to the world's customs and maxims, we should be molding our lives after the divine model. And our covenant-keeping God will restore unto us the joys of His salvation, and uphold us by His free Spirit. {PUR, July 20, 1905 par. 4}
"Then will I teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto Thee." The nearer we live to God, the more we shall be able to accomplish for our fellowmen, for the Lord will work with our efforts. Your hearts are too cold and unimpressible; they should be all aglow with the love of Jesus. While hungering and thirsting after salvation yourselves, you will have a longing desire to aid in saving precious souls; and your humble, pathetic appeals to those out of Christ will move hearts. You should carry the truth to homes. Show those in error that you love them. Indifference here is sin. There should be fewer long sermons, and more time spent in visiting, in making personal efforts for souls. Self-denying labor is needed, and will result in great good, but it has been sadly neglected. {PUR, July 20, 1905 par. 5}
Let labor for souls become a part of your life. Go to the homes of those even who manifest no interest. While mercy's sweet voice invites the sinner, work with every energy of heart and brain, as did Paul, who "ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." In the day of God, how many will confront us, and say, "I am lost! I am lost! And you never warned me; you never entreated me to come to Jesus. Had I believed as you did, I would have followed every judgment-bound soul within my reach with prayers and tears and warnings." {PUR, July 20, 1905 par. 6}
-Selv.'s 4th Note.
-Selv.'s 5th Note.
-Remember my last note concerning superstition and error. Did you know that most holidays that are practiced also fall under the category of "superstition"? Let's first take Halloween for example I've heard several different origins of this tradition. You see it has several different origins and each had its reasoning in dealing with the dead and the afterlife. The Bible strictly forbids its followers in practicing any form of error which includes superstitous traditions such as Halloween. The Bible says that "the dead know not a thing" that once the body dies "their thoughts perish that very hour" and that the body + the mind + the Breath of life = A living soul.
God formed Adam out of the dust, there before God now lay a body with a mind now God breathes the Breath of life "and he became a living soul." When the body dies the body returns to dust and the Breath of life returns unto God who gave it it is the exact opposite: Creation of the body; then added the Breath of life to make a living soul. On the other side of the equals sign we have the opposite: At the time of the death of the body the Breath of life returns to God, then the body returns to dust (decomposes). The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is to point out the fallacy of the belief that just because you are the decendant of Abraham doesn't inherit you eternal life that the rich man had the truth and horded it away from those hungering for it in a low humbled condition such as was the case with Lazarus.
When they both died Lazarus was granted eternal life because he was holding to that which he had and was hungering for more. The rich man who had it all did not share the light given him which was the case for the people in leadership positions. The place where Abraham and Lazarus were in (Abraham's bosom) if that were to be taken literally then where did Abraham go when he died? More so those before him where did they go? Parables are not to be interpreted in the literal sense if that were the case then trees can talk! Judges chapter 9:8-15. Parable: A simple story to illustrate a moral truth.
If the "immortal soul or spirit theory" were correct and hell is at present burning the lost forever [By the way the word forever has three different meanings: 1) A specific period of time-This is taking forever. 2) The length of a person's life-You are to do this or that forever or You are forever this or that (until you die) (I don't know about you but I heard this example for this definition more than the rest!)And 3)Eternity-And we shall be with the Lord forever.] Biblical hell is not at present enforced when Christ returns in the clouds of angels and gathers His elect from the four corners of the earth and He at the same time with the breath of His nostrils consume the wicked (the glory of the Lord is to the wicked a consuming fire) and Satan will be bound to this earth made into a void dark and cold a complete void for 1,000 years while the saints judge the wicked by reading the books that their angel with the writer's inkhorn has written concerning them.
All their questions and concerns answered like "why isn't my son here but his killer is?" When the 1,000 years are completed the heavenly city will be seen descending to earth and Christ gives rise to the wicked and satan is loosed from his chain of circumstance and once more deceives the nations. When Christ was here on earth He was condemning Jerusalem and said in Matthew 23:39 "For I say unto you, Ye shall not see Me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord" Now they never said that to Him then on. So when does this prophecy see its fulfillment?
When after the 1,000 years and the Holy City descends and Christ gives rise to the wicked to receive their judgment from all the wicked as Ellen White wrote in "The Great Controversy" will be forced from their lips those words "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord". They with Satan and his angels are given time to come together with weapons of war to encompass the City. Amongst their gathering Christ is seen on the Great White throne and all fix their gaze and then the books are opened and everyone will see that they have had an equal chance to ascertain salvation but they slighted every wave of the Holy Ghost and from one to another all knees bow and confess that they are at sole fault vindicating God and His saints.
Then fire comes down from heaven and issues out of the throne and consumes the wicked. This is the Second Death to which there is no resurrection because they are all consumed. Malachi 4:1-3 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in His wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves in the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts. 2Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Burned up denotes a completion in the process of burning. The word quench or unquenchable is a verb that denotes action to fulfill its definition. Take for example a birthday candle and light it and set it down you nor anyone else is quenching that fire yet in a little while it goes out but nothing "quenched" it, it simply died and went out that is how the earth will be Biblical "hell" is the earth on fire but this fire while being unquenchable goes out or dies after its work is completed. Let's examine what just justice is if Cain who died shortly after the earth was created all those centuries ago yet was lost by reason that he didn't follow God's statutes on sacrifice for sin and then committed murder and was ever since burning in sheer torment for hundreds of years and now let's look at Hitler who is responsible for countless deaths even of little infants the same with his followers they were only burning for about 70 years.
Also why would all the lost be burning ever since their death yet Satan, who instituted the sin problem in the first place and tempted all to sin even the righteous, still tempting and leading sinners to everlasting contempt while he has more to pay than all the lost together is allowed to walk the earth still? If the "hell for eternity" theory is correct then when Satan receives his "eternal" reward burning forever then Cain who but slew one compared to the countless Satan slew was burning for 7,000 years more than the devil seeing that Lucifer was rewarded 7,000 years after Cain was rewarded burning in hell for an eternity.
I don't know about you but that seems quite unjust of a God who claims to be a just, loving God. No the theory of an "immortal soul or spirit" is false. Death is an unconscious sleep that when Christ returns the 2nd time He will give rise to the dead first then we who remain as Paul said will be caught up and meet the Lord in the air. You know that in heaven you would have an incorruptible, immortal and glorified body. You wouldn't want anything to do with the one before, would you? Tell me if the saved dead are in heaven why then does the scriptures say "the dead will rise first"?
If you already have all that then why would you want anything to do with your former self? You would already have it all. The bodies would have no need to rise ever. And Ecclesiastes says when the body dies the body returns to the dust and the breath goes back to God who gave it: now if the theory of the immortal soul was true then wouldn't Solomon add "if he were righteous the breath (immortal soul) would return unto God who gave it and if he weren't then the breath would go to hell?" You'd think the wisest of all second to Christ would have mentioned it. It is said "God formed Adam from the dust and breathed the breath of life into him and he became a living soul. Soul= body + breath of God nowhere in scripture does it say we have an immortal soul it does say in 1Timothy 6:15-16 Which in His times he shall shew who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.
He is the only one who has immortality if people were burning in hell forever then they too would be immortal calling Paul a liar and discrediting the scriptures. God imparts immortality at the last trump and the shouts of the Archangel when this corruptible and mortal must put on incorruption and immortality. That is when He imparts to us immortality.
Read these verses stating that death is just an unconscious sleep:1Kings 11:21 And when Hadad heard in Egypt that David slept with his fathers, and that Joab the captain of the host was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, Let me depart, that I may go to mine own country.
Psalms 13:3 Consider [and] hear me, O LORD my God: lighten mine eyes, lest I sleep the [sleep of] death;
Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any [thing] that is done under the sun.
1Corinthians 15:16-23 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
1Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
Job 14:12 So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens [be] no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep.
John 11:11-14 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead.
Acts 2:29-34 Men [and] brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
1Thessalonians 4:14-18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive [and] remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
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Listen to Ellen's words on the Second Death:
These chapters are from the book "Spiritual Gifts Volume 1"
Chapter XIX. - Death, Not Eternal Life in Misery.
Satan commenced his deception in Eden. He said to Eve, Thou shalt not surely die. This was Satan's first lesson upon the immortality of the soul; and he has carried on this deception from that time to the present, and will carry it on until the captivity of God's children shall be turned. I was pointed to Adam and Eve in Eden. They partook of the forbidden tree, and then the flaming sword was placed around the tree of life, and they were driven from the Garden, lest they should partake of the tree of life, and be immortal sinners. The tree of life was to perpetuate immortality. I heard an angel ask, Who of the family of Adam have passed that flaming sword, and have partaken of the tree of life? I heard another angel answer, Not one of the family of Adam have passed that flaming sword, and partaken of that tree; therefore there is not an immortal sinner. The soul that sinneth it shall die an everlasting death; a death that will last forever, where there will be no hope of a resurrection; and then the wrath of God will be appeased. {1SG 113.2}
It was a marvel to me that Satan could succeed so well in making men believe that the words of God, The soul that sinneth it shall die, mean that the soul that sinneth it shall not die, but live eternally in misery. Said the angel, Life is life, whether it is in pain or happiness. Death is without pain, without joy, without hatred. {1SG 114.1}
Satan told his angels to make a special effort to spread the deception and lie first repeated to Eve in Eden, Thou shalt not surely die. And as the error was received by the people, and they believed that man was immortal, Satan led
them still further to believe that the sinner would live in eternal misery. Then the way was prepared for Satan to work through his representatives, and hold up God before the people as a revengeful tyrant; that those who do not please him, he will plunge into hell, and cause them ever to feel his wrath; and that they will suffer unutterable anguish, while he will look down upon them with satisfaction, as they writhe in horrible sufferings and eternal flames. Satan knew that if this error should be received, God would be dreaded and hated by very many, instead of being loved and admired; and that many would be led to believe that the threatenings of God's word would not be literally fulfilled; for it would be against his character of benevolence and love, to plunge beings whom he had created into eternal torments. Satan has led them to another extreme, to entirely overlook the justice of God, and the threatenings in his Word, and represent him as being all mercy, and that not one will perish, but all, both saint and sinner, will at last be saved in his kingdom. In consequence of the popular error of the immortality of the soul, and endless misery, Satan takes advantage of another class, and leads them on to regard the Bible as an uninspired book. They think it teaches many good things; but they cannot rely upon it and love it; because they have been taught that it declares the doctrine of eternal misery.
{1SG 114.2}
Satan takes advantage of still another class, and leads them still further to deny the existence of God. They can see no consistency in the character of the God of the Bible, if he will torment a portion of the human family to all eternity in horrible tortures; and they deny the Bible and its Author, and regard death as an eternal sleep. {1SG 116.1}
Then Satan leads another class who are fearful and timid to commit sin; and after they have sinned, he holds up before them that the wages of sin is (not death, but) an eternal life in horrible torments, to be endured through the endless ages of eternity. Satan improves the opportunity, and magnifies before their feeble minds the horrors of an endless hell, and takes charge of their minds, and they lose their reason. Then Satan and his angels exult, and the infidel and atheist join in casting reproach upon christianity. They regard these evil consequences of the reception of popular heresy, as the natural results of believing in the Bible and its Author. {1SG 116.2}
I saw that the heavenly host was filled with indignation at this bold work of Satan. I inquired why all these delusions should be suffered to take effect upon the minds of men, when the angels of God were powerful, and if commissioned, could easily break the enemy's power. Then I saw that God knew that Satan would try every art to destroy man; therefore
he had caused his Word to be written out, and had made his designs to man so plain that the weakest need not err. Then, after he had given his Word to man, he had carefully preserved it, so that Satan and his angels, through any agent or representative, could not destroy it. While other books might be destroyed, this holy Book was to be immortal. And down near the close of time, when the delusions of Satan should increase, the copies of this Book were to be so multiplied, that all who desired it might have a copy of God's revealed will to man, and, if they would, might arm themselves against the deceptions and lying wonders of Satan. {1SG 116.3}
I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible, yet learned men, when the copies were few, had changed the words in some instances, thinking that they were making it more plain, when they were mystifying that which was plain, in causing it to lean to their established. views, governed by tradition. But I saw that the word of God, as a whole, is a perfect chain, one portion of scripture explaining another. True seekers for truth need not err; for not only is the word of God plain and simple in declaring the way to life, but the Holy Spirit is given to guide in understanding the way of life revealed in his Word. {1SG 117.1}
I saw that the angels of God were never to control the will. God sets before man life and death. He can have his choice. Many desire life, but continue to walk in the broad road, because they have not chosen life. {1SG 117.2}
I saw the mercy and compassion of God in giving his Son to die for guilty man. Those who will not choose to accept salvation which has been so dearly purchased for them, must be punished. Beings whom God created have chosen to rebel against his government; but I saw that God did not shut them up in hell to endure endless misery. He could not take them to heaven; for to bring them into the company of the pure and holy would make them perfectly miserable. God will not take them to heaven, neither will he cause them to suffer eternally. He will destroy them utterly, and cause them to be as though they had not been, and then his justice will be satisfied. He formed man out of the dust of the earth, and the disobedient and unholy will be consumed by fire, and return to dust again. I saw that the benevolence and compassion of God in this, should lead all to admire his character, and to adore him; and after the wicked shall be destroyed from off the earth, all the heavenly host will say, Amen! {1SG 118.1}
Satan looked with great satisfaction upon those who professed the name of Christ, and were closely adhering to these delusions formed by himself. His work is to still form new delusions. His power increases, and he grows more artful. He led on his representatives, the popes and the priests, to exalt themselves, and to stir up the people to bitterly persecute those who loved God, and were not willing to yield to his delusions, introduced through them. Satan moved upon his agents to destroy Christ's devoted followers. O the sufferings and agony, which they made the precious of God to endure! Angels have kept a faithful record of it all. But Satan and his evil angels exulted, and told the angels who administered to, and strengthened those suffering saints, that they would kill them, so that there would not be left a true Christian upon the earth. I saw that the church of God was then pure. There was no danger of men with corrupt hearts coming into the church of God then; for the true Christian, who dared to declare his faith, was in danger of the rack, the stake, and every torture which Satan and his evil angels could invent, and put into the mind of man.
{1SG 118.2}
Chapter XLI. - The Second Death.
Satan rushes into the midst, and tries to stir up the multitude to action. But fire from God out of heaven is rained upon them, and the great men, and the mighty men, and the noble, and poor and miserable men, are all consumed together. I saw that some were quickly destroyed, while others suffered longer. They were punished according to the deeds done in the body. Some were many days consuming, and just as long as there was a portion of them unconsumed, all the sense of suffering was there. Said the
angel, The worm of life shall not die; their fire shall not be quenched as long as there is the least particle for it to prey upon. {1SG 217.1}
But Satan and his angels suffered long. Satan not only bore the weight and punishment of his sins, but the sins of all the redeemed host had been placed upon him; and he must also suffer for the ruin of the souls which he had caused. Then I saw that Satan, and all the wicked host, were consumed, and the justice of God was satisfied; and all the angelic host, and all the redeemed saints, with a loud voice said, Amen! {1SG 218.1}
Said the angel, Satan is the root, his children are the branches. They are now consumed root and branch. They have died an everlasting death. They will never have a resurrection, and God will have a clean universe. I then looked, and saw the fire which had consumed the wicked, burning up the rubbish and purifying the earth. Again I looked and saw the earth purified. There was not a single sign of the curse. The broken up, and uneven surface of the earth now looked like a level, extensive plain. God's entire universe was clean, and the great controversy was forever ended. Every where we looked, every thing the eye rested upon, was beautiful and holy. And all the redeemed host, old and young, great and small, cast their glittering crowns at the feet of their Redeemer, and prostrated themselves in adoration before him, and
worshiped him that liveth forever and ever. The beautiful New Earth, with all its glory, was the eternal inheritance of the saints. The kingdom, and dominion, and greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, was then given to the saints of the Most High who were to possess it forever, even forever and ever. {1SG 218.2}
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-Does this sound familiar? Jeremiah 10:1-4 Hear ye the word which the Lord speaketh unto you, O house of Isreal: Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of the heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. Christ was not born on the 25th of December it is said that the shepherds were out in the pasture at evening to see the star that means it wasn't cold as it would have been had it been in late December they would have been in the stalls. Christmas was a pagan celebration about the worship of the sun before Rome "Christianized" it just to spread her domain and control you can research more of it here: http://www.giveshare.org/booklets/christmas.html.
[Jeremiah 10:2 Thus saith the Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. This goes also for astrology: stars are only huge spheres of burning gas a very long way off and an even longer way off from each other. Now having said what and where they are how can they have any effect on us whatsoever? It is that the changing of the seasons and the position of the moon that may have an effect but not the stars. Orion is mentioned once in scripture but not said to have any effect on us and the only real significance Orion has is the light behind it growing brighter. We believe that is where heaven opens and Christ with all the host come but the constellation itself has no effect on us or is to be recognized as having any attention to it that guides how we are to live. As for the other constellations.]
The same with Easter the remembrance of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection should always be in our minds but the rite of baptism is how we are to express it. Once again I have heard differentiating origins on this paganistic tradition it is superstition or error that we need to confront and abstain. What did Christ say concerning "traditions of men?"
Here is what Ellen White says concerning spiritualism.This is from the book "Spiritual Gifts" Vol 1:
Chapter XXX. - Spiritualism.
I saw the rapping delusion. Satan has power to bring the appearance of forms before us purporting to be our relatives and friends that now sleep in Jesus. It will be made to appear as if they were present, the words they uttered while here, which we were familiar with, will be spoken, and the same tone of voice which they had while living will fall upon the ear. All this is to deceive the world, and ensnare them into the belief of this delusion. {1SG 173.1}
I saw that the saints must have a thorough understanding of the present truth, which they will have to maintain from the Scriptures. They must understand the state of the dead; for the spirits of devils will yet appear to them, professing to be beloved friends and relatives, who will declare to them unscriptural doctrines. They will do all in their power to excite sympathy, and work miracles before them, to confirm what they declare. The people of God must be prepared to withstand these spirits with the Bible truth that the dead know not
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any thing, and that they are the spirits of devils. {1SG 173.2}
I saw that we must examine well the foundation of our hope, for we shall have to give a reason for it from the Scriptures; for we shall see this delusion spreading, and we shall have to contend with it face to face. And unless we are prepared for it, we shall be ensnared and overcome. But if we do what we can on our part to be ready for the conflict that is just before us, God will do his part, and his all-powerful arm will protect us. He would sooner send every angel out of glory to make a hedge about faithful souls, than that they should be deceived and led away by the lying wonders of Satan. {1SG 174.1}
I saw the rapidity with which this delusion was spreading. A train of cars was shown me, going with the speed of lightning. The angel bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes upon the train. It seemed that the whole world was on board. Then he showed me the conductor, who looked like a stately fair person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced. I was perplexed, and asked my attending angel who it was. Said he, It is Satan. He is the conductor in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world captive. They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie that they may be damned. His agent, the next highest in order to him, is the engineer, and others of
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his agents are employed in different offices as he may need them, and they are all going with lightning speed to perdition. I asked the angel if there were none left. He bade me look in an opposite direction, and I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, and bound together by the truth. {1SG 174.2}
This little company looked care-worn, as though they had passed through severe trials and conflicts. And it seemed as if the sun had just appeared from behind the cloud, and shone upon their countenances, and caused them to look triumphant, as though their victories were nearly won. {1SG 175.1}
I saw that the Lord had given the world opportunity to discover the snare. This one thing was evidence enough for the Christian if there were no other. There is no difference made between the precious and the vile. {1SG 175.2}
Thomas Paine, whose body has mouldered to dust, and who is to be called forth at the end of the 1000 years, at the second resurrection, to receive his reward, and suffer the second death, is purported by Satan to be in heaven, and highly exalted there. Satan used him on earth as long as he could, and now he is carrying on the same work through pretensions of having Thomas Paine so much exalted and honored; and as he taught on earth, Satan is making it appear that he is teaching in heaven. And
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some on earth who have looked with horror at his life and death, and his corrupt teachings while living, now submit to be taught by him who was one of the vilest and most corrupt of men; one who despised God and his law. {1SG 175.3}
He who is the father of lies, blinds and deceives the world by sending his angels forth to speak for the apostles, and make it appear that they contradict what they wrote when on earth, which was dictated by the Holy Ghost. These lying angels make the apostles to corrupt their own teachings and declare them to be adulterated. By so doing he can throw professed Christians, who have a name to live and are dead, and all the world, into uncertainty about the word of God; for that cuts directly across his track, and is likely to thwart his plans. Therefore he gets them to doubt the divine origin of the Bible, and then sets up the infidel Thomas Paine, as though he was ushered into heaven when he died, and with the holy apostles whom he hated on earth, is united, and appears to be teaching the world. {1SG 176.1}
Satan assigns each one of his angels their part to act. He enjoins upon them to be cunning, artful and sly. He instructs some of them to act the part of the apostles, and speak for them, while others are to act out infidels and wicked men who died cursing God, but now appear to be very religious. There is no difference made between the most holy apostles
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and the vilest infidel. They are both made to teach the same thing. It matters not who Satan makes to speak, if his object is only accomplished. He was so intimately connected with Paine upon earth, and so aided him, that it is an easy thing for him to know the very words he used, and the very hand-writing of one of his devoted children who served him so faithfully, and accomplished his purposes so well. Satan dictated much of his writings, and it is an easy thing for him to dictate sentiments through his angels now, and make it appear that it comes throughThomas Paine, who was his devoted servant while he lived. But this is the masterpiece of Satan. All this teaching purporting to be from apostles, and saints, and wicked men who have died, comes directly from his Satanic majesty. {1SG 176.2}
This should be enough to remove the vail from every mind and discover unto all the dark, mysterious works of Satan;--that he has got one whom he loved so well, and who hated God so perfectly, with the holy apostles and angels in glory: virtually saying to the world and infidels, No matter how wicked you are; no matter whether you believe in God or the Bible, or disbelieve; live as you please, heaven is your home;--for every one knows that if Thomas Paine is in heaven, and so exalted, they will surely get there. This is so glaring that all may see if they will. Satan is doing now what
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he has been trying to do since his fall, through individuals like Thomas Paine. He is, through his power and lying wonders, tearing away the foundation of the christians' hope, and putting out their sun that is to lighten them in the narrow way to heaven. He is making the world believe that the Bible is no better than a story-book, uninspired, while he holds out something to take its place; namely, Spiritual Manifestations! {1SG 177.1}
Here is a channel wholly devoted to himself, under his control, and he can make the world believe what he will. The Book that is to judge him and his followers, he puts back into the shade, just where he wants it. The Saviour of the world he makes to be no more than a common man; and as the Roman guard that watched the tomb of Jesus, spread the false and lying report that the chief priests and elders put in their mouth, so will the poor, deluded followers of these pretended spiritual manifestations, repeat, and try to make it appear, that there is nothing miraculous about our Saviour's birth, death and resurrection; and they put Jesus with the Bible, back into the shade, where they want him, and then get the world to look to them and their lying wonders and miracles, which they declare far exceed the works of Christ. Thus the world is taken in the snare, and lulled to security; not to find out their awful deception, until the seven last
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plagues are poured out. Satan laughs as he sees his plan succeed so well, and the whole world in the snare.
-
{1SG 178.1}
-Selv.'s 6th Note.
-We were confronted by someone who seems to have been offended by our use of the word "satanic" because he has friends who are satanists and were friendly. One we never said that a person despite their choice in beliefs define whether or not they will be friendly. We do say that "friendly" acts alone stand on works not on grace by faith and on a spiritual connection with Christ the only Mediator and "ladder" as in Jacob's vision to the Father and the kingdom. Jesus gave us a way to judge righteously by saying "By their fruits you shall know them." If I were to meet someone who I by their "fruits" which include their admissions know that they are not saved then according to their spiritual needs "the reason(s) that they're lost" I will present first basic truths and if I haven't gained their interest I will continue until either 1) They accept what is said to them and want more or 2) they come out and tell me that they aren't interested then all that can be done is dust the dust off my feet and move on to the next.
Now as for being "friends" with such people I answer only in this manner: As stated in the Marriage site on "and if you're interested" page I would have to ask "will this relationship help me heavenward or hinder my relationship with Christ?" 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Meaning to commune with those who believe not the truth outside of presenting what is truth will indeed grow on you corrupting your good manners=> your Christlike character is what is meant by good manners mixing with those who have not this character is what Ellen was saying when she said "It is the law of the human mind that by beholding we become changed." The same person wants to know our stance on bi-sexuality/homosexuality we would have to start by saying look at our physiology for what are our parts made? Look at the system God has instituted at creation. God said "go multiply and be fruitful" is this possible with homosexuality?
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrigteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. We understand that the meaning of effeminate and abusers of themselves with mankind means any unnatural sexual behavior including but not limited to perverts and homosexuals. I have already stated how I am to approach such people by stating basic truths that meet their spiritual needs, etc.
Homosexualty is a sin not inheritance it is cultivated a choice that one makes that can be made at any age where the knowledge of it is known. If it were "inherited" instead of just "cultivated" then that would ultimately put the responsibility on God as if the fault lies with the Creator the Sovereign of the universe Himself. Genesis says there was a man (Adam) and a woman (Eve): Genesis 2:24-25 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Matthew 19:4-6 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Mark 10:7-9 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
Also, the statement of "knowing" one's wife "knowing" (or past tense "knew") is the act of having sexual relations usually between two married partners: Genesis 19:4-11 But before they lay down, the men of the city, [even] the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where [are] the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them. And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly. Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as [is] good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. And they said, Stand back. And they said [again], This one [fellow] came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, [even] Lot, and came near to break the door. But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. And they smote the men that [were] at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.
They wanted to "gang rape" the two men so they said "so we may know them." His daughters were virgins those who haven't "known" man so he was insistant on giving his two daughters to them but they wanted the men because violence and homosexuality went unchecked with the people. They wanted to harm them because they told Lot "now will we deal worse with thee, than with them." Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the LORD. It is that he "knew" his wife or had sexual relations that is how she conceived.
1Corinthians 6:13 Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body [is] not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. It was Christ who ordained marriage in Eden it is strickly a Christian institution sure others of different religions or beliefs have their own way of celebrating the union of man and woman in marriage but God first instituted it therefore it is a practice solely the Lord's. Fornication is the consensual sex between two unmarried partners and if God instituted that it was to be a marriage between a man and a woman not two of the same gender then the practice of homosexuality is not only a perversion but also fornication among other things like lust not love or lasciviousness meaning unrestrained lust as of those of the Valley of Siddim.
1Corinthians 13:6 (speaking of what love is) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;... Homosexuality if it is as the Word says a perversion, fornication and the opposite of love that is lust or lasciviousness then by 1Corinthians 13:6 it is not love and those who say it is deceives themselves. Luke 17:28-30 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed [them] all. Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. Probation closed for the Valley of Siddim as the probation will close before the coming of Christ. It is said that the west coast is extreme in their sins as was those of Sodom that when God's people heed the call "come out of her, My people" and leave the coastal cities that God's judgments will fall heavier and more frequent upon those cities according to their works may be.
Jude 7-8 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. Likewise also these [filthy] dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.
-Selv.'s 7th Note.
http://www.elultimomensaje.net/ For english click "english" on the upper right side.
Here are the interpretations of a couple of verses used to refute the sanctity of the Sabbath:
Colossians 2:16-17
"But there is a law which was abolished, which Christ ‘took out of the way, nailing it to his cross.’ Paul calls it ‘the law of commandments contained in ordinances.’ This ceremonial law, given by God through Moses, with its sacrifices and ordinances, was to be binding upon the Hebrews until type met antitype in the death of Christ as the Lamb of God to take away the sin of the world. Then all the sacrificial offerings and services were to be abolished. Paul and the other apostles labored to show this, and resolutely withstood those Judaizing teachers who declared that Christians should observe the ceremonial law." The Signs of the Times 09-04-84 (Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 09-27-1881; Bible Echo and Signs of the Times 04-16-1894)
-In conjunction with our other site: www.freewebs.com/thedayofworship I have found some other verses to coincide with what we have said. Here they are:
Acts 13:13-14, 27, 42-44; 15:21; 16:13
Now when Paul and his company loosed from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia: and John departing from them returned to Jerusalem. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down.
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.
For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.
And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
Everyone here mentioned kept the sabbath day from the 4th command after the ascension of Christ. There is nowhere in scripture found at any place that the sabbath day should not be kept nor does it ever transfer the sanctity of the sabbath to Sunday. Matthew 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:.. He was refering to the destruction of Jerusalem that when they see the city encompassed about not to hesitate but leave all the while before praying that there flight be not in the winter nor on the sabbath day. Ellen says that they heeded the message and not one Christian perished amongst the siege. The destruction of Jerusalem occurred in A.D.70 Jesus long after His ascent bade the people to still keep the sabbath day. The fourth commandment states by saying "Remember the sabbath day" Jesus long after His ascent still wanted the people to "Remember" and not forget. If a holiday or special event day (i.e. Christmas or for 2009 Valentine's Day) falls on the Sabbath day we are to treat it as the Sabbath and not to bring the world and its holidays or special event days into God's church because does God's holy day trump man's day of celebration? Or are we to mingle with the world's days with God's? God or man? Which one?
Even the Gentiles wanted more on the sabbath day and they were the worldlings (those of the world). After the stoning of Stephen the probation of the Jews stated in Daniel ended and the gospel mainly through Paul was preached to the Gentiles and they received it saying that the gospel is preached even unto the Gentiles. The Jews were to be a lighthouse unto the world but they horded all the light they were to spread and to them it became a consuming fire. How many of us fall into this same condemnation? Of hording that which we should with gladness spread to those who hunger for that which we have? Didn't the manna in the wilderness if they collected more than a day's amount that when the sun would set the remainder would gather worms and stink? Mark 4:21 And He said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candle stick? If you take the light given you and hord it, it will be like putting a candle under your bed. May God be with you when you go down to sleep that that light you hord becomes to you a consuming fire.
Since Paul kept the Sabbath in Acts then Romans 14:5-6 must be talking about something other than the Sabbath day. He was referring to keeping one day aside from the keeping of the Sabbath above another for example one may keep Monday for a certain reason even unto the Lord but another may have nothing to do with that person's idea and not esteem that day all the while both are keeping the Sabbath. It is similar to eating things sacrificed to idols that those strong in the faith knows that an idol is nothing so eating the foods sacrificed to idols is fine whereas those weak in the faith would prefer to eat just the herbs because they feel that there is something wrong with eating meats sacrificed to idols. However we should regard those weak in the faith in order not to cause them to offend: 1Corinthians 8:13 Wherefore, if meat makes my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.
The above verses on foods sacrificed to idols has nothing to do with the permission to eat that which is unclean. Peter's vision of the white sheet Acts 10:11-28 doesn't give permission to eat whatever by reason of this verse: vs 28 "And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean." There Peter has defined his vision nowhere does it say we can eat just anything.
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God knew Peter wasn't going to partake in killing any of those animals and eating them so God saw fit to use this vision as an illustration to get the point He was meaning out to Peter. Besides if Peter did so and "rose, killed and eaten" then that would constitute sin by breaking the health law in Leviticus 3:17 It shall be a perpetual statute (meaning forever) for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood. Peter didn't see a campfire or grill to cook the animals he would have to have eaten them raw which is sinful.
You see if he did so he would be sinning. You might say "that's of the Old Testament it is no longer binding that Christ at the cross took that away." I answer in like manner: Only partial of the Mosaic Law was nailed to the cross which included only the ceremonial law not the laws governing health. That also the naming of the animals by clean or unclean preceded the Mosaic law thereby it could not be subject to the ending of the ceremonial law at the cross look at Genesis 7:2 Of every clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens, the male and his female: and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. Even Noah before Moses new of which animals were "clean" and "unclean." BTW how does the differentiating of the two between clean and unclean foreshadow the cross? It doesn't the difference between clean and unclean does in no way foreshadow Christ nor the cross and is in no way a type that foreshadows the cross because it has nothing to do with our salvation as does those things that foreshadowed and were taken away at the cross.
So God wasn't illustrating that you can just eat anything he was illustrating to Peter that believed like the Jews that it wasn't a lawful thing for a Jew to mingle with anyone of another nationality even those of Samaria who were part Jew and part something else. That he believed that it was unlawful to mingle with those of another nationality especially Romans! And it was a Roman Centurion who God led Peter to give His word. Since it was Peter who needed to be taught that lesson He saw fit that it would be Peter to be the one sent thus. And Peter full of the Holy Ghost defined his own vision so being full of the Holy Ghost you would have to admit that He was in truth on his defining of the vision. Why if God was saying you can eat anything didn't Peter accept that reasoning being full of the Holy Ghost be led to that conclusion and announce it? To eat freely of those things unclean pork for example you become diseased as they are diseased you might say "we pray over our food so it is all right to eat of it"
I answer in like manner: prayer does not in any way "purify" prayer instead "sanctifies" or gives thanks to the Lord for His blessings. God however cannot bless sin so praying over unclean things is an abomination to God. Speaking of the coming of the Lord in the near future Isaiah wrote in ch. 66:15-17 For, behold the Lord will come with fire, and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many. They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine's flesh, and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord. Isaiah was speaking of the condemnation of those who partake of the unclean and the abomination at the coming of the Lord which is yet still future so he is prophecying about our time not just his own.
Remember you are a Temple of the Holy Ghost; are you going to offer the unclean as an offering to the temple of God not made with hands? Do you not know that those things unclean as well as clean in America are diseased? Would you rather give an offering of cleanness to the temple of God in order to keep it clean? Or are you going to defile the temple with that which is unclean? Remember what you intake affects the entire system. Study these verses to know why we must put that which is clean into our systems: Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
You see, how can you "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service" if you constantly break down or destroy the temple by defiling it with that which is unclean or unhealthful? You will not be able to be transformed by the renewing of your mind (especially since what you intake clouds your mind) so you would be incapable of proving what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 1Corinthians 3:16-17 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are. If you like to partake of things unclean or unhealthful then you take pleasure in unrighteousness: 2Thessalonians 2:8-12 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: [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, that they might be saved. 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.
-Selv.'s 8th Note.
-I have been confronted with both atheists and evolutionists and know their standpoints. I warn you never get into a debate with them for they are solid on their sandy foundation and will only be moved during the shakening. There are groups over the net that have these things as focus we are not to engage in such things if they will not see the miracles of Creation that testify to a Living God then who can do any more? These groups can rightly be categorized as a Venus' Fly Trap for the truth. Do you not know that when Satan impersonates Christ on earth that there will not be one atheist on this planet because they will all proclaim that "He is God!" then too late for them they have been swallowed up in their own deception in which they now partake.
If I were confronted with an atheist or evolutionist I would not debate the situation I would simply tell them "I am a Christian who believes in a Living Savior who rose from the dead and is ever pleading for lost humanity in front of the Ark of His Testament. I believe in Genesis through Revelation that the Bible is His Holy Word it is Christ's character penned down in writing. I know you will not be convinced of me and I cannot be convinced of you. So any other words will be fruitless falling silently to the ground trampled under foot as in Christ's saying 'give not that which is holy unto dogs and cast not your pearls before swine lest they trample them underfoot and turn and tear you to pieces.'"
I cannot be friends with such people because it would hinder my relationship with the very One they detest with all abhorrence. I would also say "if you would turn aside your disbelief and worship my Creator as I then we may continue in a relation." Outside of this you can do nothing. [Psalms 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 23:9 Speak not in the ears of a fool: for he will despise the wisdom of thy words. This is why: 18:2 A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself. Remember about debating: Proverbs 7:14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with. 18:6 A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.
To clear any confusion as to the 4th and 5th verses of Proverbs ch 26 this you must understand: 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him. 26:5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit. You can see the confusion but here is the equation: 26:4> If you do not know how to answer the fool's way or folly then do not meddle with him lest you also become as he not knowing the truth to answer his error. 26:5> Is the opposite of the previous verse: if you know the truth to combat the fool's folly, if you know how to answer him then you must present the truth or correction to the fool lest he becomes wise in his own conceit. The 1st verse says to refrain from him if you lack the truth that would correct the fool's folly. The second says if you know what to do and say it is that you do it lest the condition of the fool worsens.]
Our job is not to prove others wrong or to prove the theory of Creation or that God exists if they refuse to see the evidences before them and written in the word then there is little one can do. Remember the parable of Christ about the rich man and Lazarus Luke 16:19-31 listen to this part: "v27-31 Then he said 'I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him [Lazarus] to my father's house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'" Abraham saith to him, "They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them." And he said "Nay , father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they would repent." And he said unto him, "if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead."
If they do not heed the two witnesses the Old and New Testaments neither would they believe though one rose from the dead. Only when Satan impersonates Christ with all deceivableness of unrighteousness will they turn from atheism and evolutionism to the false Christ Satan himself. One thing I noticed while on those groups is that all those who oppose truth were all in unison according to their beliefs but all those who profess Christianity were in disarray one said the Bible means on this matter the other said no the Bible means this. I could not stand it any further if the Body of Christ is such that the arms and legs were to be in like manner they would soon tear away then what have you?
Remember your position to proclaim that which is truth to those who hunger for it. How many fall in this same condemnation as to forget his fellow man that is dying of the hunger for the truth when we sit back and fervently argue with those who haven't an ear to hear what you may say. I always found that no matter what you claim for your beliefs that you will always have something or someone to worship atheists are like the French during the revolt claiming "God is dead". They erected the "goddess of reason" but when 3 and 1/2 years later all the fruits of total rejection of the word [disease, famine and death] were fulfilled and they came back to the Bible and let the Christians back in [for at first they martyred many] they as a present to us gave their "goddess of reason" that now stands as the Statue of Liberty.
This is the same for atheists that in their hearts flourish the "goddess of reason." But I say unto you that in the Judgment it will be better for those of France of that generation because they repented than for the atheists and evolutionists of this generation that was given much light and have rejected it that the generation of the French Revolution will rise up and condemn this generation because of the light given to it and with it trampled it down rejecting it fully.
Remember 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Remember also in Jude Christ did not argue with Satan over the body of Moses He simply said in Jude 9 "Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee."
If Christ did not contend with the devil then why should we contend with those who refuse to hear? What a total waste of anything spiritual put into contentions like this. I had to leave because no one would listen and once more one of the atheists because I was telling the "Christians" that all those who oppose truth were united but you the Body of Christ were in terrible disarray that they were divided arguing amongst themselves that if they were to unite in the truth they could have made a distinctly strong barrier against all error but that wasn't the case as I saw it and inso telling them this the atheist claimed that I was on their side I left because of the errors of those who profess Christianity and I was counted with the enemy. I was humiliated in lieu of that and I saw fit to leave.
Remember do not contend with those who do not have an ear to hear what you have to say. Go to those who hunger for the truth. Remember also you will be judged for the time you used and you will be judged for the time wasted. If you know speaking to those opposing truth will produce no fruit that is wasting your time dust the dust from off your feet and go on to the next. This is a warning against those who love debates and think they will prosper because of it for the truth gets lost sight of in the heated passion over debates. There can be no good that comes from things such as these debates.
Also here is a good example of a contradiction in terms "A Christian Evolutionist" they believe that Genesis is a fraudulent book. They would by no other choice disregard the entire Bible. I say for one, the books of the Bible were not written at the time of the events stated therein. Also those who claim Genesis a fraud I would definitely not call them Christian because they deny the power of Christ and that Christ spoke of the events in Genesis for example the parable of the rich man and Lazarus He mentioned Abraham and in more places did He mention Abraham. Also He said "As in the days of Noah..." He also stated about Judea fleeing to the mountains He told them not to turn back "to remember Lot's wife." He also mentioned the Valley of Siddim and its destruction. Also Mark 10:6 But from the begining of the creation God made them male and female. He was speaking about marriage and you don't marry two monkeys so He was speaking about human beings at the begining being creation itself. He was testifying that Humans were created from the begining not from monkeys. All 4 sayings by Christ (and moreso) were events found in Genesis that by saying Genesis is false is to either call Christ a liar or incompetent because He couldn't discern truth from error.
That is why they would soon disregard all scripture because the scriptures testify to Christ and His mission to deny Christ is to deny the scriptures. Listen intently all those who have an ear to hear and a mind to comprehend the words of Ellen white about debating:
"The Brn. ---- commenced right in this work. In their labor they did not go among the churches, but went out into new fields. They commenced humble. They were little in their own eyes, and felt the necessity of their whole dependence being in God. These brothers arenow in great danger of becoming self-sufficient, especially the truth has obtained the victory, and Bro. As soon as he gets above the simplicity of the work, then his labors will not benefit the precious cause of God. Bro. ---- should not encourage a love for discussions, but avoid them wherever he can. These contests with the powers of darkness in debate seldom result the best for the advancement of the present truth." Testimony for the Church, No. 22, pg. 117
"I was shown that here is the danger of young ministers who engage in discussion. They turn their minds to the study of the word to gather the sharp things, and they become sarcastic, and, in their efforts to meet an opponent, too frequently leave God out of the question. The excitement of debate lessens their interest in meetings where this special excitement does not exist. Those who engage in debates are not the most successful laborers, and the best adapted to build up the cause. By some, discussion is coveted, and they prefer this kind of labor above any other. They do not study the Bible with humility of mind, that they may know how to attain the love of God, ‘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 fullness of God." Ibid. pg. 132
"Young preachers should avoid discussions; for they do not increase spirituality or humbleness of mind. In some cases, it may be necessary to meet a proud boaster against the truth of God in open debate; but generally these discussions, either oral or written, result in more harm than good. After a discussion, the greater responsibility rests upon the minister to keep up the interest. He should beware of the reaction which is liable to take place after a religious excitement, and not yield to discouragement himself." Ibid. pg. 133
"These things have a bad influence on ministers who are handling sacred, elevated truths, which are to prove as a savor of life unto life, or death unto death, to those who hear them. Generally, the influence of discussions upon our ministers is to make them self-sufficient, and exalted in their own estimation. This is not all. Those who love to debate are unfitted for being pastors to the flock. They have trained their minds to meet an opponent, and to say sarcastic things; and they cannot come down to meet the hearts that are sorrowing, and need comforting. They have also dwelt so much upon the argumentative that they have neglected practical subjects that the flock of God need; and the sermons of Christ, which enter into the every-day life of the Christian, they have but little knowledge of, and they have but little disposition to study them. They have risen above the simplicity of the work. When they were little in their own eyes, God helped them. Angels of God ministered unto them, and made their labors highly successful in convincing men and women of the truth. But in the training of their minds for discussion, they frequently become coarse and rough. They lose the interest and tender sympathy which should ever attend the efforts of a shepherd of Jesus Christ." Ibid. pg. 138
"However small may be the number of interested listeners, if their hearts are reached, and their understanding convinced, they can carry the report, as did the Samaritan woman, which will raise the interest of hundreds to investigate for themselves. While laboring in places to create an interest, there will be many discouragements; but if at first there seems to be but little interest, it is no evidence that you have mistaken your duty and place of labor. If the interest steadily increases, and the people move understandingly, not from impulse, but from principle, the interest is much more healthful and more durable, than to have a great excitement and interest created suddenly, and to have the feelings excited by listening to a debate and sharp contest on both sides of the question, for and against the truth. Fierce opposition is created, and rapid decisions made, and positions taken. There is a feverish state of things. Calm consideration and judgment are wanting. Let this excitement subside, or, if it is managed indiscreetly, reaction takes place, and the interest can never be raised again. The feeling and sympathy were stirred, but the conscience was not convicted, the heart was not broken and humbled before God." Ibid. pg. 141
"In the presentation of unpopular truth, which involves a heavy cross, preachers should be careful that every word is as God would have it. Their words should never cut. They should present the truth in humility, with the deepest love for souls, and and earnest desire for their salvation, and let the truth cut. They should not seek to provoke a debate. They should not defy ministers of other denominations. They should not stand in a position like Goliath's when he defied the armies of Israel. Israel did not defy Goliath, but Goliath made his proud boasts against God and his people. The defying, and boasting, and railing, must come from the opposers of truth, who act the Goliath. But none of this spirit should be seen in those whom God has sent forth to proclaim the last message of warning to a doomed world." Ibid. pg. 142
"Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgression and the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinances of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God. Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labors.Behold, ye fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: ye shall not fast as ye do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high." Review and Herald 10-13-91
"Many weave so much of their own spirit into the presentation of truth, that the truth has the appearance of bearing the impress of man. In dealing with those who are in error, they argue, argue, and contend, and thus obscure the beauty and sacredness of truth, because their own hearts are not sanctified by it. The spirit of debate, of controversy, is a device of Satan to stir up combativeness, and thus eclipse the truth as it is in Jesus. Many have thus been repulsed instead of being won to Christ." Review and Herald 02-09-92
-Selv.'s 9th Note.
-We should avoid all forms of Christless imagination. This goes especially for our children. Do you not know that what is not of Christ is sin? 1John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin. What is it then if Christ did not ordain it? The movies, television shows and yes even cartoons are all vanity and vexation of spirit ask yourself "will this help me heavenward or hinder my way there?" Do these things on the screen and yes even the computer screen for the same is found there also follow the Law of God? The answer has to be "no". There is mainly violence there and things that exalt itself above that which is called God so in you it makes its throne and there reigns freely. Even music as well is included see T.L.'s Page concerning the wrong type of music.
We instill these things into the minds of our children and thus they become partakers of the parents' sins. By copying that which is on adult shows mostly the same especially violence is on that which we condone for our children to watch and the damaging effects that it has on adults will be made manifest in our children and they see how their parents react and thus gives reason for the children to partake in their parents' sin. Can you imagine of all the wrongs (the breaking of the Law of God) our children witness throughout their lives one can see why things are today. Children's abilities to resist these things are in their developmental stages but then weakened and broken down by what they are made subject. Making it easier to break the Law of God even "thou shalt not kill."
They rate these things by degree: PG, PG-13 and R not to mention the more restrictive and perverse X but I say PG for Parental Guidance: how can the children be taught or guided in any way at all when they see you partaking of the same thing? Telling your kids "this is wrong" but partaking of it just the same you make yourself out to be a hypocrite. How can you "guide" your kids in the way of truth when practicing error with them? Truly, the blind leading the blind and both fall into the pit. You are partakers in weakening the resistance barrier of moral logic and sound judgment.
Without this resistance barrier their lower passions are not restrained this is the basis for kids having sex at such a youthful age. Did you not know that amongst the seemingly positive effects sex may have it inevitably lessens vital force and this when it is gone cannot be replaced and once the body is losing its vital force the mind and body are enfeebled and once the body is out of vital force it has no choice but to die this is especially for those engaged in the practice of masturbation. Also when their bodies cannot give them that which they desire because they want more they start looking for other means to supply the lack or want that their bodies cannot give so things like drugs, alcohol and a turning to violence is all too often the sure result.
The root is in the constant destruction of this restraining barrier that is why violent scenes whether from movies, t.v., video games, music (see T.L.'s Page concerning this) and even cartoons each has its degree for the class that the individual is in i.e. toddlers, young kids, pre-teens, teens and adults. They wouldn't themselves instill the higher onto the lower no we do that ourselves. But this is why violent, etc. scenes take precedence and weaken the resistance to do those things that they make themselves subject. This is all Christless imaginations as the Preacher says "All is vanity, vanity and vexation of spirit".
If you disagree then test your reasons against this "Look out of your windows, look onto the news report and read the newspaper, listen to the gossip from the streets and only guess as to why these things are." One prophecy that has been fulfilled may help "Justice lies in the streets" it lies dead while it is trampled underfoot. Justice and discipline go hand in hand without one there is not the other and where does all this begin? Not in the home but in the heart your mind and character that guides how your home will operate then how those who leave home.
It is the parents that instill these things on the children. Parents do you not know that the role of motherhood or parenthood is the highest position ever? Higher than the pulpit and even the presidency who is for the most part responsible for who the preacher is and how far up the president got and who is responsible for those under your charge? Remember the angel with the writer's inkhorn ever writing in a book those things that be even in the most secret of places your own thoughts also those of your children. Do you know what is in their minds? Give it time it will be made manifest. We need to educate them in the school of Christ as He said "Learn of Me..."
Here's a warning remember Eli and what Samuel prophecied against him that his entire house will never again be purged by sacrifice ever because he knew about his sons that they made themselves vile and were not restrained in the sanctuary. Where did this happen? At the home that there was no discipline and they brought it into the sanctuary and as a result Eli's entire household lost there salvation.
You might say the Lord is more merciful or understanding now, you couldn't be further from the truth Malachi 3:6 "I am the Lord I change not..." and Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. If He never changes then He must still be as serious now as He was then in the days of Eli. You cannot use the "ignorance is bliss" saying because you now know and if you CHOOSE not to read this that constitutes WILLFUL ignorance in which according to James 4:17 it is sin. How much "bliss" do you think it will serve you in the Judgment when Christ confronts you with the book opened that the angel with the writer's inkhorn wrote all your acts, words and thoughts now shown openly in front of you.
When it is shown that you have slighted every opportunity and rejected the Heavenly Light offered you. If you think that I am in error then speak up write us at ThomasandJohnson@q.com we have several other addresses so it may take a while to respond but know if you write we will answer or leave your comment on our guestbook. It may seem as innocent as ever but the thought, meaning and expression as in the cartoons tells of a much more dangerous path that so many find themselves down and for how many is it too late? You should be able to count by the hundreds the errors found on cartoons. When it comes to that which our senses come in contact i.e. movies, music, and even cartoons remember this and weigh them accordingly 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" (Philippians 4:8).
Since it fails the testimony of Phillippians 4:8 then it fails the test of Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. What is it then if it contains no light? It is therefore darkness or of that which is evil. Since it is established as something evil what then? 1Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. So the Word of God tells us not to partake in these things are you going to follow these principles or go and partake of what the Bible strickly forbids?
We must first educate ourselves at the very begining once you hear truth receive it and go be Boreans and study to see whether these things are so then when our eyes are clear we can teach others especially our children. It may at first seem that we are at war with the world but isn't that child your world? Shouldn't it be one of peace and love where Christ abides and where the angels would adore being around? We are at war not against flesh but principalities in high places our war is that of a spiritual nature do not let our children be cut down in this war then their salvation is lost and it could negatively effect your own by reason that they are solely under your charge and their welfare is in your hands.
In this respect remember also Ezekiel's condemnation: Ezekiel 3:17-21. Build up your children teach them how to put on the Armor of God and run this race to receive an incorruptible crown, a crown unto life everlasting.
I found these and other vids from youtube however they present a very interesting subject to study and prove remember go be Boreans as in Paul's day do not take these things for face value prove them for yourself so your words will be yes, yes or no, no. What did Christ say on the otherwise? "Anything else is of the devil." "Prove ALL things." Paul says. These vids showing clips of cartoons will be disturbing to say the least but once you see them you're now bound by scripture to prove whether they are so. You cannot leave yourself in a lingering doubt nor without evidence say it is true or it is false. I will tell you this that there are many if not hundreds of videos in like manner to these but they have been falsified this is a portion of a letter I sent to my friend who intro'd the first video:
...at the end of the video youtube advertises similar things some of which coincide with what is on the video. On that however it is solely on the grounds of "viewer beware!" because not only is it the truth that is presented my main focus is on how it is presented on some I would straightway disagree on how but the truth is agreeable on others I would also disagree on how in another fashion all I would have to say is to prove for yourself everything you see and take nothing for face value number one reason why: a very good defense tactic people like "Disney" would take is this, they would inavertly agree with you through some other channel but compound the problem by adding very attractive lies to it they say that there is more "errors" in it than there really is so when you go and tell someone else they do what you should have done first and come to find that 50% more or less is false that is what they are going to focus on not what is true. Thereby you are the liar and not them because you have in their eyes and mine the "burden of proof" you cannot sweeten falsely your evidence by making what people already call "a mountain out of a molehill." Balance for balance you cannot tip the scales in your favor if you are presenting truth, you must have a correct measure if not you misrepresent truth and ultimately Him who is all truth. We must be Boreans and study to sift out the chaff from the wheat proving all things we must go to a neutral source to weigh our evidence: they may show a clip for sure saying thus but everyone knows that video can be altered. I must remember the "episode" in question and search out a video in a public place like a rental store that would represent a "neutral" source where no one can question and then compare to see if those things are so. Also, they advertise as "similar" videos that which I call not "similar" by taking the "cartoons" in question themselves and literally turning them into things disgusting which in all this casts thick clouds of doubt on the main issue being what is said on the initial video.....and if they didn't advertise anything they may consider "relevant" or "similar" for example a clip was shown having "Bugs Bunny" revealing briefly but noticeable his front genital can you believe it? My answer is "no" you cannot tell this to anyone [lest you refer to it as "rumor" or "hearsay"] because if it is found to be false then anything you have or will say will be for nothing. We must "Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil" which includes doctored "truths."
-I find this to be evident in a simplified way, making clear what needs to be done. If you are willing to view these and possibly many others know that you cannot be partial for nor against you cannot say yes, this is truth or no, this is a lie you are bound by scripture to what? "Prove ALL things. Hold fast that which is good. Abstain from ALL APPEARANCE of evil." If something is in question forming any amount of any type of doubt then you are commanded to prove whether those things are so. If anything that is in question that even "appears" or has the "appearance" of evil you are commanded to abstain until you can prove whether or not it is evil or good. When testing these things make certain that you keep a good distance and not to get entangled or attached to form any foreign influence causing partiality making void your experiment.
You want to stay 100% neutral never leaning to the right nor the left. Only weigh the evidence without any influence from the appearance or how it is presented because these things are all too often very deceitful and cause the ruin of many issues and tests that if these things were left aside then true results would have taken place and the experiment done whatever it may be would have been a huge success. True results of an experiment correctly done will when done 2 or 3 more times will yield the same results and will in effect put in the minds of those conducting them a strong assurance that will leave no room for doubt. When engaged with cartoons, movies, t.v. shows and music remember this verse and see if they coincide: 2Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;... Here are the links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWZYiADYtHE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WueCFvlPFAU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--W5SB_4OIE
-There is no doubt in me that you will venture to see more but we must by any and all means keep a firm but neutral position. I'll admit when I first seen these things I was sick and could not eat for a few days. I had to remember though that we are living in the most perilous and mysterious times of the end of this world's history that things so overwhelming will come from both the right side and the left to instill the most shadowing of doubts ever to leave the captive in a state of spiritual, mental and physical lethargy. It will seize upon the minds a temptation and a yearning to act contrary to one's own conscience in order to lay a tight hold on the conscience thereby having complete control. First and the most easy of prey is our children their minds can be captured so well and has been that they are used as agents to subdue the entire household. If anything we must guard with all caution laying hold tightly on Him who is able to save and pray earnestly that a hedge be built around our children that angels from on high that excel in strength be ever present to keep them on the straight and narrow all the while doing the same for ourselves. From the words of Ellen White:
Venturing on Satan's Ground.--We must keep close to the Word of God. We need its warnings and encouragement, its threatenings and promises. We need the perfect example given only in the life and character of our Saviour. Angels of God will preserve His people while they walk in the path of duty; but there is no assurance of such protection for those who deliberately venture upon Satan's ground. {2MCP 700.2} She also states that when you step onto satan's grounds the holy angels sadly stand back as you are enshrouded in darkness and temptation. We must not give satan a foothold, do you think he'll pass up the chance to grasp it? Tell me then what do you think your television is doing?
-As you will read in the 16th Note about "substitutes" the same principle applies here if your child cannot ascertain the entertainment by "Christian" cartoons then that child is going to turn to the "real deal" and thus become another statistic. If you want the child to "know" the Bible then do not use the television also known as the "country wide babysitter" read to your child the stories straight from the Source and it will generate a Christ based imagination in the mind of that child also how do you know that the so called "Christian" cartoons are accurate with scripture?
Reading the scriptures is always superior to having the child watch the t.v. Wouldn't you agree? Besides the "Christian" cartoons are only based on maybe a couple of principles but the Bible itself has in it all the principles. Ask yourself do these "Christian" cartoons hold to this Bible principle?: Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little and there a little:... You would have to say "no" due to the fact that they only focus on one particular, one line or precept whereas with the Bible you can read a little here and a little there to gather all precepts about the intended story.
The television does not show any affection whatsoever nor does it answer questions when it is finished but you do. Besides you are either somewhere else or doing something else not willing to answer the question or you only answer according to what was on the cartoon so as not to confuse the child by proclaiming more than the child gathered from the cartoon some kids however will understand the extra points made but others may not. Weigh it in the balances: A "Christian" cartoon that answers or explains only what it shows being a few precepts or lines and its own image and when it is over fades to black. /vs./ The Bible held in the arms of the reader reading what you "know" the Bible has to say on all precepts and lines and vivid images come to the mind of the child by way of the Holy Spirit and questions asked forming a deep spiritual curiosity and you're there to straightway answer with a "thus saith the Lord."|How does this weigh in your thoughts?
-If I were asked "what is the worst thing or sin you could come up with?" I would be compelled by all things moral and ethical, right and honest by any and all means... cartoons.
-I have decided to explain how I came to that conclusion: In cartoons you can find and in countless times and forms of how they break the Law of God. They are not guilty of breaking the entire law just because of James 2:10 no, they break each individual point of the ten points of the whole Law. When you watch cartoons you can see or notice these things: The breaking of 1)I am the Lord thy God, Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. 2)Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments. 3)Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain. 4)Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it. 5)Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 6)Thou shalt not kill. 7)Thou shalt not commit adultery 8)Thou shalt not steal. 9)Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 10)Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.
-You can easily spot these things being done moreso if this is what you are looking for but not so if it isn't. These things are instilled into our children. So when they watch these things they aren't watching in order to know these things so these things pass without notice in the minds of children. It is constantly tearing down the resistance barrier that is still in their developmental stages that can easily be overriden by those things destroying it. Thereby making it more of a possibility to partake in breaking the Law of God so well hidden and disguised with the look of innocense. So that child may not be able to discern the right from the wrong laying a perfect setting to break even "Thou shalt not kill." You might say "that's rediculous, I discipline my kids" I answer in like manner "what is the television doing? The t.v. is what is used to take your kids' minds off of everything else but itself in essence the t.v. is teaching your kids what is shown therein in variance with that which you discipline your kids against. They hear from you one thing yet 'you' let them not only hear but see the exact opposite on your telly. 'You' in essence gives both reason and excuse to mimic these things by giving permisso in letting these things come into their minds in the first place." It is as Ellen White said "it is the law of the human mind that by beholding we become changed."
-Selv.'s 10th Note.
-Think of all the natural as well as the man made disasters but in a way to uplift yourselves to say "His coming draweth nigh." Remember though that Ecclesiastes says that there is nothing new under the sun. Yeah but Solomon never drove a cadillac. True but what is it that the cadi is made? Didn't God create the very atoms constructed in a way to form the cadi? I want to turn your attention to Jonah after the fish experience: 3:7-9 The king of Nineveh heard Jonah's words and said: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything: let them not feed, nor drink water: But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the violence that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish not?
Now this was the king's words the ruler of the people if only our hearts can resound these very words then we can truly say "Come Lord Jesus" Because full repentance would fill our once occupied by selfish exaltive pride space in our hearts. How much light is given unto this generation so that in the Judgment those of city of Nineveh will condemn us for sure because only for the reason of a few words did they repent but what for us with words flooding books even outside the scriptures but always in harmony with and yet we repent not. I submit to you that if the light given us were transformed into literal light it would flood this world for a lasting age.
When Jonah saw that they repented and that God turned away His wrath he got angry the Lord said "Doest thou well to be angry?" then later asked "Doest thou well to be angry for the gourd?" it wasn't the gourd's fault. And compared the gourd that Jonah had pity for vs.10 against those of the city which could not discern their right hand from their left vs 11. Should we not have this compassion on those who know not the truth and like Jonah proclaim God's warnings?
Remember the natural disasters that have occured. 1Kings 19:11-12 And He said "Go forth , and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and break in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice." As we fix our gaze and our anger and fear at the sight of these things that befall us how many of us actually pay attention to the still small voice? "Doeth thou well to be angry?"
If we adhere to this voice we will discern the signs of the times and realize that all we see testifies that He is at the doors and we will see that we need to prepare for His soon coming and warn others of the same as Jonah. It is by this still small voice that the Holy Spirit comes to you all we see around us is it worth enduring to gain everlasting life in Paradise squared? Only by obeying this voice can we ever hope to have the same repentive spirit as did the king of Nineveh and have our hearts proclaim his very words. If we would pray David's prayer "create in me a new heart O Lord" will we ever partake of the rebirth of the Christian expirience. So when you see or hear of these things remember Job that he lost his family, wealth and his friends turned on him even his wife also his health was severely tried. But the Bible records in all this Job did not sin there is no excuse for sin no matter how strong the temptation. But with tears in your voice when these things happen be joyous and proclaim with a loud proclamation "The Lord is coming!" For as you see these things happen in rapid succession know that He is there at the doors ready to bring our long waited for salvation. Revelation 22:20-21 He which testify these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
-Selv.'s 11th Note.
-I had someone confront me some years ago telling me that he believes in the existence of aliens, that he saw them. There were 2 ways he described them one I cannot remember the other as a being in the form of infra red. Now when someone believes in things like this they tend to either turn away from the scriptures or twist them with fables. The same person told me that the book of Genesis was written by aliens because there was no one else at that time to write it. Friends I wish above alot of things that I knew then the things I know now. If I did I would have said this:
"Sir, I do not mean to argue any point for this is not my job to debate. My theory is this, that I don't doubt you saw what you saw we do however differ in the definition or defining what it was that you did see. First, the books of the Bible were not written at the time of the events stated therein. Also, I do agree with you that God did create other worlds to which we are made a spectacle but here is where the line is drawn concerning this that we by sin have been quarantined that we cannot pass to them and they to us. If that were possible the temptation to sin would overpower them and they would take it or we would take it and sin would spread through the universe like a cancer.
This God cannot allow seeing that He in the end will make an end of sin, the curse and all evil related. Also, they are unfallen inso being thus we wouldn't be able to bear their purity. I submit to you without offense that what you have witnessed was the manifestations of that of fallen angels or demons. That with lying wonders Satan has captured your attention to draw away from or obscure the truth as it is written in the scriptures. By your testimony to me I find it that he has fulfilled this exactly in you. If you do not believe me then in the words of the Protestant Reformers before me 'By the Bible and the Bible only prove me wrong by scripture.'
We are to prove all things by scripture and if the scriptures in any way discredit you, do not go and discredit the scriptures. Instead go and find what in you is not in harmony with a 'thus saith the Lord' and fix it. If you discredit the scriptures you discredit truth and ultimately Him who is all truth that is Christ Jesus. If you want to find what is truth go and search the scriptures and see what things are so and also with equal importance go into your closet and shut the door, get on your knees and pray to Christ that holds now the censor full of the prayers of the saints and plead with Him to show you what is truth and for forgiveness of sin whatever they may be. But don't take my word for it go and study for yourself I am only an unworthy servant doing that which my Master has sent me to do."
That is what I would have told him had I the courage and knowledge that have I today. I encourage all who read this to study as well as with fervent prayer on your knees in your closets that when you are confronted with error of any type that you with a 'thus saith the Lord' can say "It is written..." to help your fellow man and to bring him back to the Straight and Narrow and hide a multitude of sins. And it is to Him who is all truth the Son of God the crucified and risen Saviour Christ Jesus whom we have to thank for knowing what is truth. I pray this helps those who read and decide to follow the path of truth. May God Bless you in your decision and path.
-Selv.'s 12th Note.
-Selv.'s 13th Note.
-Selv.'s 14th Note.
-This poem is a riddle with a severe meaning and to those who can decipher this has in their minds a good amount of wisdom that outweighs human intelligence and confounds reasoning and logic as we think that it is supposed to be. If you think you have solved it by reading it only a few times then you greatly deceive yourself. This passage needs careful study and meditation in hopes to find what is hidden therein. Search it out as for hidden treasures. My deepest congratulations to those few whose wisdom is greatly increased by the solving of this riddle. Do not mistake wisdom for intelligence: the intelligent scientists are able to tamper with God's blue prints of life by one reason of taking the genes of a firefly and integrating it with a tobacco plant making the plant able to illuminate as the firefly but a wise man given much wisdom always asks "Should we rather than could we? Should it be done rather than could it be?" Knowledge for the most part is earthly, sensual, devilish but God imparts wisdom from above to those who ask as a child in faith unwaivering believing that their request has already been answered and out of principle goes forward as if God Himself came down and touched them and empowered their minds assuring them that their requests were already met in full.
-Selv.'s 15th Note.
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy loving-kindness: According unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. . . . For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. . . . Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. . . .
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. . . . Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation: And my tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness." Psalm 51:1-14.
-Selv.'s 17th Note.
-Do you want to know the hardest thing that we must do? Strive for the mastery> Be temperate in all things> Be tolerant of even intolerance. I found that when we use the conjunctive word "but" while going through a problem that seems too difficult usually is in the negative tense and then plugs up any chance of our properly dealing with whatever there is annoying us. Never play the "yes but" game it is a gaurantee that you will lose that game the minute you play. Instead of "but" say "and by the will of God I will get through this" or "and by the glorious name of Jesus I am victorious" or even still "It is written 'I can do ALL things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (Philippians 4:13) therefore this is 'but' nothing I am a conquerer!"
But what of the first things? Why are they most difficult? As well as warring against principalities in high places we also while living in the Spirit still war against the flesh. We are always in a struggle with our minds the thoughts and either old or new passions those things that we are either battling still or have gotten the victory over all these things the enemy will still push upon us and heavy will be his weight. We must never let go our focus on Him who bore it all for us and who is able to save. We must like Paul "die daily" if our sinful self lives for just one day then strength will be given it taken from the spirit or from our hold we have on Christ and the flesh will gain in power over us this we must not allow therefore we are to "die daily."
How is this done this dieing to self? Feed the spirit with that which is food for the spirit seek truth as for hidden treasure and with the light given we are to spread it BTW if God sees you seeking Him and His word then you will find Him and know His word. Remember the parable of the prodical son: the father was already out looking for him and when he saw him afar off he ran and fell upon him. Take it on principle and with it go forward. Remember some things may have the strongest appearance of impossibility but trust the Word trust just one verse and when your faith in that verse is strengthened then faith in the entire Word of God will spring forth like a fig tree beside an ever running stream. Oh, and that verse is Philippians 4:13 BTW a very good way to overcome the tempests against you is to have a straightforward and pure frame of mind unmoveable fixed on His word and His word alone.
Do you want to know how to get this frame of mind? I'll tell you it is Philippians 4:8 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. If this is accomplished then you have passed the first step in achieving the most difficult. We must never allow the enemy of souls a second's time in trying to gain the victory though he may tempt us in any way he may plan. Pray earnestly to God to ever guard your mind and to shun any thought that exalts itself above all that is called God or is in any way contray to His Word in this respect remember this verse: Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
This goes for yourself as well as for all forms of communication even a look can be either condoned or condemned by this verse. How about your thoughts? Do they speak according to Isaiah 8:20? If you say that the Old Testament is no longer needed for whatever the reason then tear it away from your Bible and also take a black permanent marker and start marking over verses from Matthew to Revelation because over a third if not half of what is in the New Testament is found also in the Old. Remember victory is possible as well as it is needed because Jesus first had the victory over that which would make our problems hold a feathers weight against that which He went through for us so we can also come out victorious.
We will pass through the fires of persecution but will we be as stubble being consumed away in the midst of what is happening or will we be like fine gold, silver or brass coming out purified of its impurities and having all the cankors burned away? I have seen what gold looks like when it has just passed through the fires and its brilliance was amazing I know now why the Bible writers used this as an example.
-Selv.'s 18th Note.
-What with Christ was nailed to the cross? The Law contained in the handwriting of ordinances, the law that was against us contrary to us. Not the Law of God. How is "thou shalt not kill, steal, commit adultery, etc..." ever against us no the law of God is for us to protect us without it there is complete chaos. You may say "that law was given at Mt Sinai so it has to be a part of the Mosaic law." You then would be mistaken, if the law of God was instituted at Sinai then it couldn't reflect God's character seeing that it came after God not as He was in existence because with Him there is no begining nor end. But also if that were the case then Lucifer broke no law seeing that it wasn't there at that time and by this verse he would stand vindicated saying "I was unjustly kicked out of heaven."
The verse is this: Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no trangression. Therefore if the law of God was enacted at Sinai then Lucifer was unjustly kicked out because at that time there was no law therefore no transgression of the law which is sin. The law worketh wrath because it points out what sin is and therefore points out a death decree for the law breaker but also a Saviour that has paid the demands of the law for you and died in your stead, being Christ Jesus. It points out sin that is wrath against God who hates sin so much that He must destroy it from among creation did you know that sin is so foreign to creation that it has absolutely no place in creation that in the end the Lord will make an end to sin and all evil related being the curse?
Did you know that it was only the ceremonial law that was nailed to the cross not the laws governing the civility or civil laws or the health laws and the sanitation laws or the laws governing the priestly ministry (there is no more animal sacrifices now that Christ fulfilled the anti-typical position but what was done in the sanctuary on earth is now being done in the heavenly sanctuary as Christ is now our Kingly High Priest. Though the earthly sanctuary is no more needed that which pertained to the earthly is now directed to the heavenly. All the other positions of the priesthood aside from the rituals and the work of the high priest because Christ is fulfilling that position for us and aside from the ceremonial or sacrificial practises everything else pertaining to the priestly ministry is still in effect. God said "I am the Lord I change not..." Malachi 3:6 If He never changes then He is still as serious with those things past as He is now: then they were doing sacrificial oblation but it is as today by this reason they didn't focus on the animal sacrificed they focused on its representation being Christ's or the Messiah's coming being also the heavenly minisry in the heavenly sanctuary as the earthly was a type or representation if it were just the animal then all would for that person be for nothing seeing that to him it is just an animal needing to be killed. Now we focus on The Sacrifice, The Anti-type Christ or Messiah Himself everything concerning the focal point whether before or after remains the same they focused on Christ by what represents Him and His earthly ministry and mission and we focus on Christ by having Him fulfilled already His earthly ministry and mission and now His heavenly ministerial position as our High Priest.) All those are still binding as example "If a man sheds man's blood then by man his blood must be shed." The punishment of execution, why are we intent on having to pay for their survival of a life sentence when the law is that a murderer should be killed? The health Laws state for example no blood or fat should be eaten where do you think all the diseases are in the animal? In the blood and fat everyone knows to eat the fat of an animal causes several health problems. In what way does the: civil laws, sanitation laws, health laws and the laws governing the priestly ministry (aside from the ceremonial law and the rituals) ever foreshadow the cross?
And the sanitation laws we hold to that you know we bury our waste and discard the dead things and things gone bad in almost the same way as did them of old. We bury the dead in like maner as well. To ignore these laws is to repeat what happened in France during their complete rejection of the Bible and God that the results of so doing in rejecting Bible principles all the results were made manifest widespread disease, famine and death, that's what caused the great plague that circumnavigated the globe. If anything we should learn from their mistakes to keep Bible principles at all costs. If the civil laws were enforce as in the days of Moses then the level of deterrance would greatly increase and crime would drop it is that these principles are waning or lacking in enforcement that crime, disease and famine as in the economic crisis is a problem.
We would greatly increase in knowledge with much wisdom if biblical principles were upheld and God would see that we are making an effort to the keeping of His divine principles and would then also send more messengers to help uphold and reveal other hidden Bible treasures to us. When the Latter Rain is poured out this is what's going to take place the Holy Spirit will reveal the hidden secrets of Bible truths that there will be left no doubt in minds of the hearers and a final decision made in the Valley of Decision to empty the Valley so all will make their choice either God and His principles or satan and his allegations against God. And once the Valley is empty and all have made their decision then Christ will lay down the censor full of the prayers of the saints and stand up and don His Kingly robe then the solemn proclamation as in Revelation 22:11 will be pronounced against the world ending its probation.
At that time the saved will then be forever saved and will be translated not seeing death and wicked will remain wicked having their names forever written in the book of death. At that time the saints will have to stand in the time of no mediation because Christ will no longer be our Kingly High Priest (making intercession for us) but will then be King and will then come to gather His elect and consume the wicked with the breath of His nostrils because when He comes it will be tempestuous round about Him He will descend with a shout with the voice of the Archangel. A warning: there will be nothing secret about His coming the "secret rapture theory" is a falsehood to get you to believe that you have a second chance but no today is the day of your salvation if you hear His voice harden not your hearts.
This is the verse they use to support the "rapture": 1Thessalonians 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Read it again: Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. When the Lord comes He will not touch the ground but will remain in the air then those who are waiting for Him will be caught up as Isaiah says "we will mount up with wings as eagles" and then with the Lord ascend to heaven. You see the Lord is already here at that time not in heaven spiriting His elect to Him because lo, He is in the air. Nothing secret about that! He is talking about the saved at the end just before He comes so there isn't any "translations" such as "the rapture theory" between His coming and those of this time who are saved awaiting His soon return. We will "meet Him" in the air not "spirited away" as in the "rapture theory." If there is a "rapture" point before His coming as stated above then where in scripture does it support the theory? The phrase "caught up" they say means to be raptured but that is adding/changing the meaning which is contrary to the rest of the text. Also when He returns He will destroy the wicked not give them another chance seeing that if they were given 10,000 more years they wouldn't change for the better.
Also when He proclaims the solemn proclamation as in Revelation 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. That's it! No more saving no more losing of salvation the people's position of this world will be fixed no second chance those saved will be saved still: those lost will be forever damned.
The devil has made this "theory of a second chance" in order to keep you in a lax position to say to yourself "I got plenty of time when the rapture occurs then I'll act." This is a very dangerous position to take up. Because when He comes the second time He is coming to destroy sin and take home His elect if you are not ready then you with the sin inside you must be destroyed.
-Selv.'s 19th Note.
-Do not let anyone say to you that you cannot go forward with truth. If you have proven that what you hold is evident then by the expressed command 2Timothy 3:16-17 you are to go forward: 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. When you spread truth you are teaching or as stated instructing. Never allow yourself to believe that you need someone else's permission to spread the truth if your pastor says "I have to get permisso from whoever before you can go forward" or "you aren't supposed to say those things because whatever the reason" then remind said person that we are to spread the gospel to finish the work say "it is written,'the scriptures are for reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness' that I have a work to be done."
Who do you think Christ was talking to when He said go preach unto all the nations... he wasn't just speaking to His disciples He was speaking to all who hold His truth and names the name of Christ. Never be ashamed to proclaim what you hold to be evident because Christ said "If any man be ashamed of Me before men I will be ashamed of him before My Father." besides in the Kingdom would you want someone to run up to you hug you and say "because of what you said I am here!" or do you want that person at the close of this world's history come up to you saying "I am lost! I am lost! If only you told me what you knew so I would know the same!" What did God say about those who hord the Light given to them and allows his fellow man to remain in a perpetually lost condition? I'll tell you it is called Ezekiel's Condemnation Ezekiel 3:17-21. That man will die in his sin but God will require his blood on your head.
It isn't for man to control man one man should never have sway over another man's conscience do you have truth to share? Then you are commanded to teach or instruct others with the truth you hold. Never be ashamed to correct someone if they're in error but with a humble, contrite, patient and with a spirit of meekness use the scriptures for that which 2Timothy said "for reproof and correction." Do not approach error with a haughty or stiffnecked "I know it all" attitude because then you are in error and whatever you may present will be for nothing and you will push that person further into darkness maybe in a place unreachable then the Light you hold will be taken from you and given over to one who will use it appropriately.
Don't let the Light you hold become to you a consuming fire. Don't you know that with Light comes instruction as to how to use it and also responsibility to share it that those who do not will be deserving of greater condemnation than for those who have less light or none to give? I do this because I am convicted that others need to know. There could be hundreds of ways to spread the truth if you take what is on this site and prove that it is so then you are commanded also to spread it but not only this you will be given more Light. Trust me when Light is given you and you take hold on it and with it go forward you will thirst for more and God will then give you more Light and when you take it and with it go forward same thing you will ever thirst for more truth and God will work through you to do of His good pleasure and as this is being done your character is shown open to you and you will discern your defects then you have a decision to make "will I cleanse my temple of the Holy Ghost of these defects and receive greater things to live a godly life?" Remember the 17th verse: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
When you have the Holy Spirit in you then you are a man of God. Or will you cling to your defects of character and have them as master over you that you are servant to whom you obey and you cannot serve two masters so with that choice the Holy Spirit cannot abide in you and Christ leaves the throne of your heart because you want to set those defects upon your heart's throne then God cannot trust you with new Light. Remember what Christ said "Walk while you have the Light lest you be left in darkness." The Light doesn't stay in one place it moves "getting brighter and brighter until that Perfect Day" it moves getting brighter if you do not walk with the light then you will be left in darkness. Let no man take the Light that you have for any reason and remember the more of it you share the more God will give you and the more you will see your defects and if you choose to fix these things then God can trust you with more light or truth. Are you a man (or woman) of God wanting to be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works? Then pray that Light is given you.
A warning to those who venture on this ground: If you see truth or Light do not pray for it seeing that it is there in front of you when the truth is presented to you or Light is given you never pray to be shown or given Light or truth when lo, it is before you set up ready to be spread abroad because what you are really praying for is a chance to avoid your High Calling. Praying for an escape a reason not to do the work given you. When given Light or presented with truth take it on principle and with it go forward if you are unsure that what is now in your hands is legitimate or genuine then be a Borean as in Paul's day and search the scriptures daily to see if those things are so.
Then while your doing that God may add truth or Light from the scriptures you are reading you don't know how far the height, width and depth the truth goes. You may surpass even your pastor; I am in no way saying that this should be your motive or driving force to search out truth remember this verse: 2Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved of God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Unless you see your brother in error then you use the scriptures for reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness. You study to improve your character not someone else's however with that which you learned you will want to share go to your brother and say "Look what I've found out! Isn't it amazing?"
This is what the truth will do to those who truly accept it and then they thirst for more so they go back to the source and more is given. Remember when it comes to truth your thirst is never quenched if your wanting it is genuine you will never say "this is enough" "More Jesus! Give me more!"is what your whole being will proclaim.
-Selv.'s 20th Note.
-Have you ever been unjustly branded as something you know for a surety that your not because you know yourself at least that much? I can relate and I do in the name of Christ sympathize with you. Know that you are not alone you can read this but I cannot know who reads this therefore I don't know if I am alone or not. A rumor has started where I am something that I hate and protest against with all abhorence that if that or death were the only options given me then I would with a Christfull spirit proclaim "my blood is seed." I am here to tell you that rumors are like a cancer that it spreads like wildfire and ends in certain death. I was forced to leave and deny my immediate family because they succumbed to this rumor. Here are a few verses that come to mind:
Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is [there] the fire goeth out: so where [there is] no talebearer, the strife ceaseth. 26:21 [As] coals [are] to burning coals, and wood to fire; so [is] a contentious man to kindle strife. 26:22 The words of a talebearer [are] as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 26:28 A lying tongue hateth [those that are] afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin. 20:19 He that goeth about [as] a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Leviticus 19:16 Thou shalt not go up and down [as] a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I [am] the LORD. And from the pen of inspiration; the words of Ellen White:
Evilspeaking is a twofold curse, falling more heavily upon the speaker than upon the hearer. He who scatters the seeds of dissension and strife reaps in his own soul the deadly fruits. How miserable is the talebearer, the surmiser of evil! He is a stranger to true happiness.--5T 176. {VSS 139.2} }
I am filled with sorrow as I see finite men who claim to be the sons of God, filled with evil surmising, and ready to speak evil of their brethren in the truth, ready to weigh others in their own scales of human opinion, and place their estimate upon those of whom they really understand but little. The worst of it is that often those who ought to understand why such action is out of place, drink in the spirit of the accuser, go to the polluted fountain of suspicion and distrust, and turning from the course justice marks out, are guided by some one's hearsay of another's action or character. By this course God's Holy Spirit is grieved, and the churches are weakened by the influence of distrust and suspicion; for they are led to speak evil of those who stand far better in the sight of God than do their accusers. Are we to take reports, hearsay, as if they were verity and truth? Are we not to rebuke the talebearer who would make a condemned brother's course appear as bad as possible? The true brethren of Christ are those who guard the interests of their brethren and sisters. How inappropriate it is to condemn others, when every soul is to be saved, not on his own merits, but by the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour! We are all erring, finite creatures, accountable to God for our words, works, and influence. {RH, October 24, 1893 par. 2}
In the Old Testament are recorded the laws which God gave for the guidance of his people. He would have his people today study these laws. "The Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy. . . . When ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God. Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another. . . . Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning. Thou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind, but shalt fear thy God: I am the Lord. Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor. Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor: I am the Lord. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord." {GCB, July 1, 1900 par. 11}
An earnest effort should be made in every church to put away evilspeaking and a censorious spirit as among the sins productive of the greatest evils in the church. Severity and faultfinding must be rebuked as the workings of Satan. Mutual love and confidence must be encouraged and strengthened in the members of the church. Let all, in the fear of God and with love to their brethren, close their ears to gossip and censure. Direct the talebearer to the teachings of God's word.
Students, understand that you have not been appointed by the Lord to be an informer. Your work is to study your Bible and the other branches of education, as for your life. Do not make it your business to be a talebearer. As matters are reported, each one makes the report a little more pronounced or varied, and thus painful discrepancies cause many to form wrong conclusions. Therefore guard well your words; put a bridle on your tongue. If you allow yourself to become a talebearer, you will not be welcome in any family, because of your propensity to report every transaction that may occur. I have decided that it is unsafe for me to visit, not because I am guilty of any known wrong, but because something will be said or inferred that will be misrepresented; and therefore I prefer to remain at home.
-Do you now know that a talebearer is one to devise harsh rumors that like a cancer as Proverbs says "goes down into the innermost parts of the belly?" Ellen says those who do so put on themselves a double curse. I had no choice but to leave my own family in lieu of their lack of the most needed investigation to what the scriptures tell us what to do: "Prove ALL things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from ALL appearance of evil." 1Thessalonians 5:21,22. I find myself in tears because they know not the truth nor do they want to know they lack the ambition to "Prove ALL things" but are ready to accept every word carried by the wind and with them ready to condemn those to whom the words afflict.
I plead with you do not be as they to bring upon yourselves a double curse as terrible as you have done unto others it will be met unto you. Reject words that kindle strife and rebuke with all righteousness those from whose lips spoke them. If there is no righteousness in your words then all that you speak is sin. What is it then if it isn't righteousness? "1John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin:.." So if your words are not of a righteous nature know that what you are speaking is sin.
If you keep your mind on Christ then these things will not befall you. Never let your mind wander because thoughts that form these things will be inserted by the enemy of souls ever studying your every move. Remember life is a chess game and your enemy is anticipating your next five moves. There is one difference however in chess you protect your king but in life your King protects you. Keep your focus on Him and ever pray that what you say is uplifting to His glory that you may do and say that which is to His good pleasure and His will. Then you needn't worry of kindling strife as does a talebearer.
-Selv.'s 21st Note.
-Forgiveness=[Having all this at the time given not accountable to you> all unrighteousness is sin. If a man knows to do good and does it not to him it is sin. Sin is the transgression of the Law] Forgiveness is a gift granted you by Him who paid the penalty of your breaking of the law. The law if broken stands against you saying "the soul that sinneth it shall die" and the law demands your life be taken however Christ who is God and is subsequently equal to the law (for nothing of creation is equal to the law) died on Calvary's cross to satisfy the demand of the law which is "those that sin must die." Jesus being equal to the law because it is the Perfect Character of God and Him being equal with God took what is indebted to us and in our place suffered in all points as we and then the final atonement the death on the cross thereby satisfying the law that was broken.
This gift is not given if it isn't asked for if the sinner shows no repentence then forgiveness cannot be given. For those not under the atoning blood will have to pay for their sins themselves and if it took Christ equal with the law to die then what will befall them that are not equal to the law but instead are under it and are not under His atonement? Everlasting death. Those who accept Christ's atonement and confess their sins to Him then that is written in the books what you have done to testify for you in the Judgment. For those who do not then those things written in their book every act, word and thought will be there to testify against you in the Judgment. Once you ask and believe that you have received forgiveness then it is noted in the books.
Remember however the "once saved always saved" theory is false look at king Saul and the high priest Eli they were saved and then they lost their salvation you might say "then their salvation wasn't genuine" I will answer in this manner: Eli was high priest he had to be cleansed of every sin and be purified remember the high priest is the only one who can enter the Most Holy where the Ark of God is and where His Spirit resides if the high priest was in anyway impure then he was a dead man for sure if he entered thus. So yes his salvation was genuine but then lost it. Asking for forgiveness and receiving it cleanses you of all sin you now posses but it doesn't for any future sin you may commit for them another cleansing process must take place and forgiveness granted. But when you have sorrow for that sin and knowing it grieves Him who died to cleanse you of it then will you truly obtain forgiveness once you confess that sin.
Did you learn your lesson? Or are you going to do it again which may indicate that your first confession wasn't genuine with confession comes a promise never to do that again. Are you going to keep that promise you made with Him? Remember Christ's parable about the king who asked the man to pay what he owed which was of a great amount and the man was going to be thrown to the jailors and everything of his sold including his family until he payed the debt but he fell down and entreated the king that if time were given he would pay all and the king had compassion on him and forgave his debt. Then the man went out and found one who owed him only a little and seized him saying "pay what you owe" and the man did the same and entreated that time be given he would pay all that he owed but the first man didn't listen and was cruel to him and thrown him in jail. When the king heard of it he was sorely displeased and called for the man and said "I forgave you much shouldn't you also have forgiven your fellow man?" The king then gave him over to the tormentors until he paid what he owed.
So if you do not forgive others their sins then God will not forgive yours. I first asked myself if the king forgave the debt why then was it revoked? It is that all what we say, do and think are written in a book which is our life's record it is that every sin be dealt with or you will have to pay for all that is written therein. The sin is still kept on record but it has been noted that you have been forgiven that sin if when He returns if there lies but one sin unforgiven then He isn't coming for you but to destroy you. The Holy Spirit convicts us of the sin in our life but if we continually disregard His pleadings then He is grieved away leaving you in an ever lost state then your sins can never be forgiven as was those of Eli's entire household. Even if it were one left that the Holy Spirit is convicting you about and you persist in refusing His council then He is grieved away and then everything on your record stands against you because of a failure to have one sin forgiven you now have to pay for them all.
When He comes He is to take the sins that the saved have committed and place them on Satan's head as the scapegoat because even though they are forgiven they still exist and they need to be eradicated so as in the days of old Christ our Kingly High Priest will place those sins forgiven of the saints onto the one responsible for the sin of the world, satan. Satan then will bear the weight of the guilt of all those sins of the saved whereas the sins of the lost they will bear themselves also as the Tempter Satan will also burn for his tempting the lost to sin because the tempter will in no wise be guiltless. Sometimes we may find ourselves filled with so much indignation that it is very hard to forgive then we are to run to our closets and on our knees pray that Christ through you will forgive that idividual(s).
Tell Him that you find it too hard to do it yourself He wants you to talk with Him to tell Him all of your troubles do not in your troubles leave God feeling lonely agonizing for you to talk with Him embracing Him in fervent prayer. He can and will help in your time of need that He will grant you peace for He is the Prince of Peace that you will find it very possible to love others as He loves you and with a joyfull and peacefull spirit forgive all who has wronged you knowing that He has forgiven you. Know this "We love Him because He first loved us." If He did all that He did in order to give you forgiveness and everlasting life then shouldn't we offer the same to those who offend us? Or are we going to be like the man who owed the king much and was forgiven but treated his fellow servant harshly thereby having his forgiven debt revoked and then he himself had to pay the penalty in full?
With God it is all or nothing. All of your body, mind, soul and strength or it is nothing and you are rejected. The Holy Spirit will not reject you while convicting you the rejection comes only when you for certain length of time reject the Holy Spirit then He is grieved away leaving you enshrouded in darkness having a lying spirit come up to you so you will believe a lie which is usually the reason that the Holy Spirit left i.e. if you believed or practised something that the Holy Spirit was convicting you but you persistantly beat back His entreaties and warnings then the lying spirit will make you believe that thing as true and also you will be damned because you believed not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. "While it is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." Hebrews 3:15.
Remember also: Matthew 5:23-25
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
If the Holy Spirit convicts you of not being in harmony with your brother be sure that is the very next thing you do before you present your gift before the altar that is your worship service to be reconciled to the one whom you are not in harmony. If you neglect to restore harmony your worship will not be counted until you make peace with the one who has ought against you then you can present your gift or your worship service. Now if they are not willing to make peace with you but you made the effort then all is well with you.
-Selv.'s 22nd Note.
-I can't stand it when one who holds a specific profession let's say an english teacher, because they think that gives them all rights to correct you in every little particular that may be a defect that should in the minds of "regular" people would make no difference however when these "profession people" detect such things they magnify the entire thing to where a speck that would have been meaningless to others now becomes the focus. Inso doing the thought, meaning and expression of what you have to say is now the least thing noticed making void whatever you have to say. If you have a "profession" whatever it may be and also carry the profession of "honesty and integrity" I mean you no offense but this note is not for you yet you may learn from it still.
If people would stop looking for particulars and making them their focus condemning what others would have made no never mind about then they would be able to learn how to use their "profession" in a way helpful to improve not only those they come in contact to make better their fellow man but also would greatly be exalted in the eyes of not only those who they help but those to whom come from the word of mouth from those they help. People who look for particulars are also called "fault finders" and then that is when a huge mirror needs to be placed in front of their eyes and have the wool that they so elegantly placed in front of them cut away so they may see that from all the particulars they've noticed in others they themselves gathered 7 times more per person in whom they scanned with a self exalted eye.
A spirit of self exaltation is never a thing to be wanted it isn't accepted in the All Searching Eye of Him who knows the begining from the end. Isn't our calling to serve others? As Christ did Himself? Sure He condemned people but never over particulars and when He said "those without sin cast the first stone" He now speaks these words to those who have this self exalted ambition "those who have no sin cast the first stone." Are you equal with Him who sits on the everlasting throne holding the title "Sovereign of the universe"? Can you cast the first stone? Then why cast the words that cut deeper than a two edged sword and bruise deeper, broader and more painful than any stone ever cast? You may say "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." I sternly with all chastisement possible tell you now that this is a most deceitful, self betraying and self destructive lie ever imagined! I say instead "It is easier to mend a broken bone, broken by a stick or stone. Than to mend a spirit that has been broken by a word wrongfully spoken."
I am writing this because there was a group that I left in lieu of this, there were several groups I left so if you are on one that I was do not think right off that I am speaking of that one the example I used is the exact copy of the one of whom I speak that invoked my resigning from that group I believe that he will know if he ever reads this note. Here are some words from the pen of inspiration concerning "fault finders-those looking for particulars in others." I pray I never find myself in this state:
God will accept nothing less than unreserved surrender. Half-hearted, sinful, professing Christians would spoil heaven, were they permitted to enter. They would stir up a second rebellion there. Those who know the truth, yet do not exalt the Author of truth, will never enter the city of God. Heaven would be purgatory to them, because they know nothing of the high, holy principles that govern the members of the royal family above. The directions that Christ has given are so distinct and so definite that no one need take a false step. Let us not please and glorify Satan by showing that he has power over our churches, our ministers, our medical missionaries. Let us have confidence in one another. Let us not think that because we have made crooked paths for our feet, every other professing Christian has done the same thing. Let the one who in the past has been a fault-finder begin to climb the ladder heavenward, keeping his eyes fixed on the light above. {SW, June 11, 1903 par. 4}
We need to put a restraint upon ourselves in this matter of making the faults of others the theme of conversation, or even making mention of them. It fosters in us an unhappy disposition, a habit of looking for evil, magnifying trifles. The habitual fault-finder looks at everything through a distorted medium, and, finally, nothing will look good, or amiable, or sincere in the life or character of others. When anything is said in their favor, he will stand ready with some accusation of evil. {ST, March 14, 1892 par. 5}
If we fail in doing works of mercy, in manifesting true love and sympathy, in helping and blessing others, whatever else we may do, we shall fail of pleasing God. But to those who regard every Christian duty, and manifest kindness and love to the sorrowing, the poor, and the afflicted, for Christ's sake, the promises are rich and abundant. He says, "Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward." When ancient Israel journeyed, the ark of the covenant went before them. Beneath the mercy-seat, which was the cover of the ark, were the tables of the law. The ark was a symbol of the presence of God; and the glory of the Lord, which is his righteousness, shall be the rearward of his people. The Lord says to those who carry out his injunctions: "Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer: thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger [as an accuser, as a fault-finder, as a judge of others], and speaking vanity [lifting up the soul in self-esteem, in self-righteousness as though your own life was above fault]; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." {RH, February 20, 1894 par. 5}
But this need not be. Brethren in every department of the work, will you, to a man, help him? I feel deeply over this matter. We do not want men who will pity and sympathize with themselves, and with every fault-finder, murmurer, and complainer, and neglect the important duties devolving upon them. Make diligent effort to keep your own souls in the love of God, and help the very ones who need your help. {2SAT 77.4}
Some have been ready to say anything, to prefer any charge, against the servants of God, and to be jealous and fault-finding. And if they can find any instance where, in their zeal for the cause of God, they think ministers have spoken decidedly, and perhaps severely, they have been willing to make the most of their words, and have felt at liberty to cherish the most bitter, wicked spirit, and to charge the Lord's servants with wrong motives. Let these fault-finders ask what they would have done under similar circumstances, bearing similar burdens. Let them look, and search, and condemn their own wrong, overbearing course, and their own impatience and fretfulness; and when without sin themselves, let them cast the first stone of censure at the brethren who are trying to get them into working order. These men are not in harmony with the truth. They are working at cross purposes with those whom God is using to bring souls into the truth. {IR, May 22, 1907 par. 1}
The church is in need, not of burdens, not of fault-finders, but of builders in Zion, men who will be true as steel to preserve the honor of those whom God has placed at the head of his work. The Spirit of gossip and tale bearing is one of Satan's special agencies to sow discord and strife, to separate friends, and to undermine the faith of many in the truthfulness of our positions. {IR, May 8, 1907 par. 2}
As I looked upon the scene, the names of the fault-finders appeared before them, and opposite each name were written out the faults of the erring one. None were free from defects of character. In the light of the uplifted standard, all were guilty. {RH, September 20, 1906 par. 12}
Practical Christianity means, not working for God now and then, but continuously. It means being laborers together with God. A neglect to reveal this practical righteousness in our lives is a denial of the faith and of the power of God, and makes of but little effect His principles of Godliness. Such negligent Christians become fault-finders, at discord with their brethren, and pronouncing judgment against many good works. They are spiritual paralytics. {GH, April 1, 1905 par. 13}
The camp of Israel was not easily managed. Murmurers, complainers, and fault-finders were constantly met with, and the management of the camp was a
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serious undertaking for Moses. But patiently the Lord cared for and worked with His vineyard. He had selected His people, not from the rich and powerful of the world, but because they were the smallest of all people. {13MR 186.3}
In every age, through periods of great light as well as great spiritual darkness, there is revealed in some a peevish disposition, a disposition to complain, to question, and find fault. The most marked evidences of God's workings have no effect upon their ideas; they become fault finders, accusers, sitting in judgment upon sacred things, which can only be spiritually discerned. With many the truth has but little power upon mind and character. It does not sanctify the receiver. Separate the truth from Jesus, and it is powerless. But when the truth is received as it is in Jesus, it has a telling power upon the whole man. A light goes forth from the genuine believer which has a power upon the heart, for it bears the divine credentials. {20MR 242.3}
While the workers were straining every nerve to raise means to help them over an emergency, some of their brethren were standing by, criticizing and surmising evil, put into a prejudicial construction on the motives of the heavily burdened laborers, and making their work more difficult. Blinded by selfishness, these fault-finders did not discern that their brethren are sufficiently afflicted without the censure of the men who have not borne the heavy burdens and responsibilities. Disappointment is a great trial, but Christian love can turn the defeat to victory. Reverses will teach caution. We learn by the things we suffer. Thus we gain our experience. {SpM 233.5}
It was thought best by some to place the management of the publishing house in the hands of new men. If at this time the Lord had not spoken and presented matters in a different light, everything would have been in the utmost confusion. As these things have been written out, I know that the thoughts of the Lord are of good, and not of evil. Not all has been done that should have been done, and that would have been done if more of the brethren in the Southern field had been moved by the Spirit of God, and had worked in willing cooperation with Him, filling their place by building up the work in the city which God specified should be made a center. But a good work has been done, Not one of the fault-finders could have done better. {SpM 285.4}
-There are more no doubt about fault finders but now four on particulars:
Books that delineate the satanic practices of human beings are giving publicity to evil. These horrible particulars need not be lived over, and no one who believes the truth for this time should act a part in perpetuating the memory of them. When the intellect is fed and stimulated by this depraved food, the thoughts become impure and sensual.--"Counsels to Teachers, Parents, and Students," pp. 133, 134. {MYP 284.2}
While lying in bed, unable to sleep because of the burden resting upon me, I was pleading with the Lord. I fell asleep, and in the night season I was taught of God. My guide said, "I have a work for you to do. You must speak the words given you by the Lord. After these words have been spoken, your duty here is done. You are not required to enter into details before individuals, whatever may be their position or work, if they do not recognize the voice of God in the message He gives you to bear in His name. All your efforts to remove their doubts will be of no avail if they gather the clouds of darkness about their souls. If you enter into particulars, you weaken the message. It is not you speaking, but the Lord speaking through you. Those who want to know the will of God, who do not desire to follow their own will and judgment, will be easily entreated. They will be ready to discern the right way. {UL 339.3}
Counsel to a Leader--I knew that you never should have gone to Europe alone, for this reason: you devote much time to little particulars, and the work that you can do which others cannot do you neglect. You are so very particular to have everything done in a certain way, and are so determined in the matter, that it is next to impossible for anyone to work with you. If help should be sent to England, you would keep them doing unimportant things in the place of taking them into your heart and teaching them to be useful, so that you could go out in broader fields. There is much of self in this . . . . {ChL 68.1}
All the religion many have is to pick flaws. I once knew a lady whose religion was of just this character, and in her family she was so overbearing that they could hardly live with her. A tent-meeting was held near the place where she lived, but instead of taking hold to help those who were laboring very hard in the meetings, or to receive help herself, this woman stood back to criticise. On returning to the house one day, I found her searching my trunk to see if there was not some article of clothing in it that she could condemn. We shall ever have just such people to deal with in this world. But if we do not enter too much into particulars, they will have no excuse for indulging their natural disposition. It is a marvel to me what patience the Lord has with such crooked material. Historical Sketches.
-Selv.'s 23rd Note.
-Not to insult or give offense to those with children but I am convicted to state reasons why you as Adventists in this last generation shouldn't have children:
1) In this day and age having children would mean greater expenses.
2) More time is needed to care and give for that child if both parents work then who will have the time and energy to give to that child?
3) This being the last generation and the end of it as well then Christ's words should echo in your mind if you are considering having children: Luke 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
4) Your attentions are now even more divided between God and your spouse now also your child and Paul already states the problem with the division of attention between your spouse and God:1 Corinthians 7:32 But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord: 7:33 But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please [his] wife. 7:34 There is difference [also] between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please [her] husband.
5) Ellen White states that if Paul were single and recommends us do the same then why not follow his example. What does this say about taking it further and having children?:
As in the days of Noah, one of the signs of these times is a passion for injudicious and hasty marriages. Satan is in this. If Paul could remain single, and recommend the same to others, that he and they might be wholly the Lord's, why not those who would be wholly his, and wish to make a sure thing of avoiding the cares, trials, and bitter anguish, so frequent in the experiences of those who choose the married life, remain as he was? And more, if he chose to remain so, and could recommend it to others, eighteen centuries since, would not to remain as he was, be a commendable course for those who are waiting for the coming of the Son of man, unless evidences were unquestionable that they were bettering their condition, and making Heaven more sure by so doing? When so much is at stake, why not be on the sure side every time?
6) If your house is not in harmony then the atmosphere for raising a child is one of a stale, unhealthfull and debilitating that to bestow that upon a child would be considered a wrongfull act towards something innocent. Also you would taint that which is innocent by the atmosphere you hover over that child and the child will walk in your footsteps then bearing the sins of the parents.
7) If you have an illness whether it be inherited like one being mental or cultivated like alcoholism then what rights do you have passing that to an innocent child? Because if the parent(s) have one then the likelihood of the child also is of a great percentage. This goes for any habitual sin that you haven't yet obtained the victory because like smoking that child's environment is now tainted and will with great accuracy learn well from the parent(s) having those besetments. You cannot instill those things needfull onto your child when he/she sees otherwise in you.
8) If you are a habitual masturbator: you weaken not only your mind that needs to be exercised in order to care for a child but also your system that needs as well be in good shape in order to give that child attention. It also makes you impatient and irritable that is something that is most damaging in the care of a child also your sperm cells that needs to be quickly reproduced in order to keep up with your habit will in turn be weakened or debilitated resulting in various inherited problems in your child.
*******
There is one major danger about having just one child. This danger if not heeded and thwarted will then cause you to lose that child. This thing is none other than the sin of selfishness. The child has all the attention of the parents and doesn't share this attention much with anyone. If he isn't disciplined or corrected will entice that spirit of selfishness with any child. But if you were to count the measure of this self same spirit you would find that it's almost always double or even triple the effects of this discourse in the one lonely child. He or she may feel rejected or that he/she feels as though they don't belong or fit in.
Or that he/she can't ascertain friends. So what generally happens? The turning away from truth, morals, and ethics they become beligerent and they seek their own way and their savor wanes away until they're lost in full. That is when they seek what they sought from you by ingulging drugs, alcohol and gangs. You must educate yourself fervently with much prayer even while the baby is in the womb, they say that the kids for no real reason act out the part of their parents even while there still in the womb do you see how important it is to do these things: Study, Pray, and leave off any known sin or besettment because that to can pass from parent to child.
If you don't do this that child may not have a real devoted time to the truth and will manifest first the sins of the parents. No, don't get me wrong sin does not transfer itself by the flesh. No the child has to partake of the sins of their parents. After that stage He will rise even further towards perdition by taking drugs, drinking alcohol, and making his gang his friends and live a life without the love of the truth and without the discipline and then every step he or she takes is one more step closer to the 2nd death.
-Selv.'s 24th Note.
"In order to confess Christ, we must have Christ to confess. No one can truly confess Christ, unless the mind and Spirit of Christ live in him. If a form of godliness, or an acknowledgment of the truth, were always a confession of Christ, we might say, Broad is the way that leadeth unto life, and many there be that find it. We must understand what it is to confess Christ, and wherein we deny him. It is possible with our lips to confess Christ, yet in our works to deny him. If we have forsaken all for Christ, we shall manifest in our lives humility, our conversation will be heavenly, our conduct blameless. The powerful purifying influence of truth in the soul, and the character of Christ exemplified in the life, are a confession of Christ. If the words of eternal life are sown in our hearts, the fruit is righteousness and peace. We may deny Christ in our life, by the love of ease, love of self, jesting and joking, and by seeking the honor of the world. We may deny him in our outward appearance, by a proud look or costly apparel, or by conformity to the world. We shall not be able to exhibit in our character the life of Christ, or the sanctifying influence of the truth, only by constant watchfulness and persevering and almost unceasing prayer." Testimony for the Church, Number 8, pg. 93
"Young and old have a conflict, a warfare, before them. They should not sleep for a moment. A wily foe is constantly on the alert to lead them astray and overcome them. Believers in present truth must be as watchful as their enemy and manifest wisdom in resisting Satan. Will they do this? Will they persevere in this warfare? Will they be careful to depart from all iniquity? Christ is denied in many ways. We may deny Him by speaking contrary to truth, by speaking evil of others, by foolish talking or jesting, or by words that are idle. In these things we manifest but little shrewdness or wisdom. We make ourselves weak; our efforts are feeble to resist our great enemy, and we are conquered. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," and through lack of watchfulness we confess that Christ is not in us. Those who hesitate to devote themselves unreservedly to God make poor work of following Christ. They follow Him at so great a distance that half the time they do not really know whether they are following His footprints or the footsteps of their great enemy. Why are we so slow to give up our interest in the things of this world and take Christ for our only portion? Why should we wish to keep the friendship of our Lord's enemies, and follow their customs, and be led by their opinions? There must be an entire, unreserved surrender to God, a forsaking and turning away from the love of the world and earthly things, or we cannot be Christ's disciples." Testimonies for the Church Vol. 1, pg. 408 "If you are careful to follow the example of our self-denying, self-sacrificing Redeemer, who was ever seeking to do good and to bless others, but not to find ease and pleasure and enjoyment for Himself, you will then bless others with your influence. In our mingling in society, in families or in whatever relations of life we are placed, either limited or extended, there are many ways wherein we may acknowledge our Lord and many ways wherein we may deny Him. We may deny Him in our words, by speaking evil of others, by foolish talking, jesting and joking, by idle or unkind words, or by prevaricating, speaking contrary to truth. In our words we may confess that Christ is not in us. In our character we may deny Him by loving our ease, by shunning the duties and burdens of life which someone must bear if we do not, and by loving sinful pleasure. We may also deny Christ by pride of dress and conformity to the world, or by uncourteous behavior. We may deny Him by loving our own opinions and by seeking to maintain and justify self. We may also deny Him in allowing the mind to run in the channel of lovesick sentimentalism and to brood over our supposed hard lot and trials." Testimonies for the Church Vol. 3, pg. 331 "Men may speak fluently upon doctrines, and may express strong faith in theories, but do they possess Christian like meekness and love? If they reveal a harsh, critical spirit, they are denying Christ. If they are not kind, tenderhearted, longsuffering, they are not like Jesus; they are deceiving their own souls. A spirit contrary to the love, humility, meekness, and gentleness of Christ, denies him, whatever may be the profession. We deny Christ when we speak evil one of another. We deny him in foolish talking, in jesting, and joking. We deny him when we have a foolish spirit, criticizing our brethren. We deny him in seeking to be first, seeking honor one of another. We may deny Christ in outward appearance, by gratifying a proud heart, by lifting up the soul unto vanity, by uncourteous behavior." Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 02-09-92
-Selv.'s 25th Note.
-Selv.'s 26th Note.
-Selv.'s 27th Note.
-Selv.'s 28th Note.
-Selv.'s 29th Note.
-Selv.'s 30th Note.
-This being my 30th Note and written on Christmas Day 2008 I am going to make it into a testimonial. And I -Selv. do testify that these words are my own I wrote them under no cohersion or duress. And that by no means have any other human entity influenced what I am about to say:
-A long time ago I was a violent upstart I fought with everyone in my family and I paid for it. I did not know Christ but knew what He did and thought that was good enough as many do now but this is a mistake "it isn't the hearers of the law that are justified but the doers of the law." I knew the thou shalt nots and what nots and what have you but I did not apply them to my life. Therefore I got nowhere and my condition only worsened I was sent to juvi several times and then the state took me out of my mother's care and stuck me into the state's property. I was sent to institutions that decided that I needed to be drugged up so I was. Near abouts 23 pills a day in one of the many places I was sent I was messed up pretty bad and for long periods of time and from each place they had their own specialty of meds so never mind what I was on then before them they put me straight on their regimen. I was on meds even before they were out on market because they use those in these institutions as guinea pigs to see how they would take effect on particular individuals. Through years of my youth I was through all of this but I have to say that despite all what took place I asked for it all considering the life I have chosen. It was these years of being overly medicated that caused my condition of Schizo-Affective disorder I didn't expirience any of these things before nor during the beginning but was manifestsed as I was put on heavy amounts and strong types like Haldol and Thorazine in which I am now allergic as well as Geodon.
Many of the meds they have now I can say I was on at least a third of them most of the meds now are just "improvements" on those before. I did it all to myself but did I learn the lesson? No. Why? you might ask. Because I didn't see it as my fault but someone or something else's I didn't take responsibility for that which led to my being in state's custody in the first place. So just before I turned 18 the place I was in called "Rosemont Child and Adolescent Centers" closed down in Dec.'97 I was very happy but I still harbored the self same spirit that led to my troubles in the first place. When the novelties of the moment were over then that spirit had fresh ground to thrive again. This is why we need to learn from everything that comes to us learn from it even if the thing is small that thing if learned will get you through a tougher thing in the future. God sends or allows these things to come to strengthen our character but only if we pass through the fires as fine gold, silver or brass and not like stubble that will burn up if we do not learn from these things. God allows them to come again to try us not to tempt us because He cannot be tempted nor does He tempt any man but allows these things to come and through fervent study and proper prayer He walks with us even closer He is still there if we don't but not as close as He wants to be. We may not feel His presence when tried but this is the time we use our faith that He is in control. When walking through a dark and winding tunnel with faith we walk lest we stand alone and in this darkness we don't see anything and all hope is nigh gone but wait!! With this faith we walk around the last bend and there is the light at the end.
What was it that got you through? Was it fear? Was it discontentment? Was it anger? Was it the feeling of hopelessness? Was it self reliance? (Saying I am need of nothing I will get through myself). What was it then that got you through if not faith? If you say it was anything but chances are you're still in the darkness with no light in sight. This tunnel is a tunnel of catacombs you exit one and you may think I am done but lo many tunnels to choose from now stand in your way. What is it then if not faith that guides you to the right one? What gives you this faith? Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Remember whatever you may have to go through Christ has gone through it first for you also get this He is willing to go through it again this time with you through your trials. The difference is that He went through it for the world and He went alone. Even though you may not feel His presence know that He is there still walking with you and eagerly waiting to see you through to the other side. Jesus on the cross for the first time in eternity felt His Father's presence leave Him because Christ was taking the sins of the world upon Himself and sin cannot exsist in the presence of the Father so God had to leave His Son for the first time in eternity "My God, My God why has Thou forsaken Me?" His humanity was at variance with divinty because He was alone.
Now how do you think His Father felt leaving Christ to die and suffer all? All the time Christ was connected to the Father John 10:30 I and My Father are One. John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not Me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in Me, and I in Him. They until the cross were never separated. To us it just may be a thing but to them with eternal love for each other that surpasses anything we may consider measurable finally for the first time in eternity separated. So yes He can and does sympathize with us whatever it may be that we are expiriencing moreso 1Corinthians 10:13 says: 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. Was this so with Christ was He able to bear it as we are? Was a way of escape given Him? He decided long ago to form this plan of salvation and since God cannot lie He was compelled to go forth and endure the cross. I didn't learn my lesson as I said before so when the novelties of the freedom from the system was over the self same spirit came forth once again. Most people would say what a stupid, foolish person! Guess what I'd agree I was a stupid, foolish person and once again I paid the cost gone to jail on more than one occasion but when I heard about Adventism at first that only intrigued me nothing much more than that. But as I grew more into it my curiosity changed but not yet my self same spirit I clinged to. Though the problems did decline only because I was busy figuring out what this is all about... Adventism.
Hearing about the whole thing and about Ellen White I started passing on the news only to have it readily rejected but I still had a bigger problem I still clung to that old self same spirit. I still got into trouble mostly within the family. I even on a few accounts was kicked out of the family and forced to live on the streets you see what I mean by not learning your lesson the first time the second may be a little harder. So I learned the ways of the street granted I only stayed a few months then reaccepted into the family but this time something was jarred loose and the lesson was only half learned. The other half was shown me when I fully accepted the Advent faith and adhered to its doctrines and I gained friends this was new to me I never in my life had friends but those of the Advent faith kept showing compassion and a kind of feeling I don't know how to explain and about 5 years ago in 2003 I think it was I joined a church and I met some very interesting friends one of whom I owe three quarters of what I know and is responsible for the creation of this site. I was then babtised into the church and I confess I am at a constant war with this self same spirit that uses any means necessary to achieve its goal which is for me to sin. It was at first violence but now that I live alone and have won the victory over that channel, medium, pathway or conduit from which that spirit uses is like one of thos tunnels collapsing in front of you showing itself not the right path to take. We will ever have to fight this war against self until the sealing only as long as we stay on top. Ask then "Are we ever out of this tunnel?" I answer when we are truly converted then we see the Light at the end but when Chris comes is when we are finally out and on are way home all the while having Christ at our side guiding us through our faith and with enough victories won we can altogether overcome sin.
However if we sin and do not confess it is like turning to the right or the left and going down another dark tunnel one Christ never intended for us to go. There will come a time when God's people will hate sin so much that they would rather die than to commit sin or hurt their Master. Then and only then are we sealed with the everlasting Seal of the Almighty. We have to have this expirience of overcoming sin now because when He comes and sin still remains in you there is no second chance that when He comes He is coming to gather His elect from the four winds and to destroy sin and sinners alike. Then the sin that the saved have committed but confessed is then placed on satan the scapegoat and he is to roam the earth now made into a void for a thousand years then when Christ returns He will give rise to the wicked dead then satan will be loosed from his earthly prison and will tempt the wicked to go up and seize the City of God that came down from heaven and then they will be shown the books that were written that God was merciful to them that they slighted every opportunity for salvation all written by the angel with the writer's inkhorn writing everything you say, act or think into this book that will serve either to testify for or against you in the judgment. Then all knees will bow and confess that He was merciful. Then now that God and His saints are now vindicated before all creation fire comes out of the throne and down from heaven and consumes the wicked. If hell is somewhere beneath us then why would fire come from heaven to aid in their punishment? Were they then resurrected from hell just to receive the punishment they were just enduring? That would mean that there is a resurrection from the second death or hell making the scripture stating that there is no resurrection from the second death (hell) a lie. How 'bout that?
Then the punishment comes before the Judgment which doesn't make sense to be punished before judged. Besides look at Cain and Hitler about what 6 maybe 7 thousand years apart yet for only a few sins Cain is burning for 6 maybe 7 thousand years when Hitler only what about 70 years and for what he has done? Where's the justice in that? Think about it a little. Biblical hell is the entire earth on fire aside from the City of God and those therein destroying the wicked permanently they are to die for it is called the second death from which there is no resurrection. Malachi 4:1-3 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do [this], saith the LORD of hosts. No other event describes those of Malachi 4:1-3 except that the whole earth full of the wicked outside of the City being burned up or consumed away turning them into ashes they will no longer exsist. The wicked will be as those of the Valley of Siddim.
-Selv.'s 31st Note.
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1=70yrs 2=457BC 3=408BC 4=27AD 5=31AD 6=34AD 7=508AD 8=538AD 9=1798AD 10=1843,44AD 11=3 Angels+1
1) 70yrs. Jeramiah 25:11 5RH 391.1 PK 557-70 yrs. of captivity prophesied by Jeremiah.
2) Daniel 9:25 Ezra 7:6-25 Isaiah 44:28-The command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This is the time period fulfilled stated in Mark 1:15. This starts the prophetic day to mean a literal year in prophecy theory stated in Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6.
3) Daniel 9:26-Jerusalem rebuilt.
4) Daniel 9:25 DA 233, 234-Jesus was annointed by the Holy Spirit and babtised Matthew 3:16, Acts 10:38.
5) Daniel 9:26, 27 Isaiah 53:3-10 Romans 5:6 Matthew 26:18-Jesus was cut off for our sins. 3 1/2 years after His babtism.
6) Daniel 9:24 GC 410-End of the 70 weeks (490 years). Stephen stoned sealing Jews rejection of Jesus. Acts 7:54-8:4.
7) Daniel 8:9-11 Hebrews 7:17-28 GC 457 Letter 28, 1850 GC 55, 59, 65-Decree declares Pope vicar of God. Removing Jesus as the heavenly host. 1Timothy 2:5,6 Hebrews 5:6; 6:20.
8) Daniel 7:25; 12:7 Revelation 11:3; 12:6,14; 13:3 GC 356, 439-Decree sets Pope as Head of all churches. Begins 1,260 years of Papal Supremacy (Dark Ages).
9) Daniel 12:11 GC 356-Pope removed by the French army Papal power ends close of the 1,260 and 1,290 year periods.
10) Daniel 8:14; 12:12,13 1RH 12, EW 236, WTLF 5,6 GC 391 Manuscript Releases #816, #726 Letter 50, 1906-Bitter disapointment and revelation of the sanctuary truth. Marks the end of prophetic periods. Points to the finishing work of Christ in the Heavenly Sanctuary.
11) Daniel 11:33-35; 12:4,10 Revelation 14:6-12 CW 26, 27 Manuscript Releases Volume 1, pg 57, 59-1st and 2nd Angel's Messages. We are now under the 3rd which embraces the first two. The third is to be swelled to a loud cry by a 4th Angel. Revelation 18:1-5.
Time interpretation according to Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6
490 days = 70wks x 7 days in a week = 490 days or literal years.
7wks = 7wks x 7days in a wk = 49 days or literal years.
1,260 years = 42 months = 1,260 days or literal years (Revelation 13:5).
Time, Times and a dividing or half a time = 1,260 days or literal years (Revelation 12:6,14; Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:5).
1,290 years = Starts at 508 AD + 1,290 years = 1798AD.
1,335 years = Starts at 508 AD + 1,335 years = 1843 (message of the Bitter Disappointment over mistaking the sanctuary to be cleansed as being the earth having Christ to return but it is the Heavenly Sanctuary (The Holy Place) to be cleansed He then passed into the second compartment the Most Holy and has begun cleansing it. Advent movement begins Millerites to become the Seventh-Day Adventists).
-To know more on this subject please visit our other site:
http://www.freewebs.com/the-gospel-1844-and-judgment
-Selv.'s 32nd Note.
-A warning for this generation: Spiritualism is everywhere under the guise of many things. Take psychics for example. I submit to you that there are two types of psychics: 1)Those who are fraudulent that uses manipulation and deceit to make you into a believer. Goes along with magicians who practise this same art to mesmerize their audience. Anything that fools the senses should be avoided that if it were believed to be "supernatural" in any case or degree then it is what you make of it. If you succumb to believing these things then it is as participating in what #2 is 2) Spiritualists those that actually converse with what they and their audience believes as "spirits" of any form. They are actually "spirits of devils working miracles" it is the fallen angels making manifestations of dead loved ones or friends in order to deceive both the "psychic" and the one who will tell all to everyone about the psychic on how these things happened the way the demon wanted.
The spirits of devils talk into the minds of these types of psychics and tell them what they want to know either portraying themselves as the spirits of dead relatives or friends or they make it appear as though the psychic is the sole entity knowing all these things about you. They are known as having what is called a "familiar spirit." The Bible records Saul going out to the "psychic" or witch at that time also known as one having a "familiar spirit" 1Samuel ch28. People say "the Bible records that it was Samuel that the one with the familiar spirit rose up." I answer in like manner: the Bible records it as Samuel because that is whom Saul wanted to have brought up however Samuel was a prophet of God he would never lie besides if he were in "Abraham's bosom" as some claim then there still would be no sin that means no lies but this spirit that everyone thinks to be Samuel lied saying in verse 19 "...and tomorrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me:..."
The Spirit of the Lord left Saul costing him his salvation seeing that because all he did and did not follow the word of the Lord he grieved away the Holy Spirit therefore losing his salvation. Now tell me how would the saved (Samuel) and the lost (Saul) be in the same place when they die? Lest it be just the grave only. But if the dead were dead and know not a thing as Ecclesiastes says then what Saul saw was in fact a devil working miracles. I have heard the term "Christian psychics" I tell you that all "psychics" were to be turned away Leviticus 19:31 Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God. "What about prophets? Wouldn't they be prophets of God?" you might ask. I answer in like manner: the scriptures tell us to test the prophets because a lot of false prophets have gone out into the world. Here is a good starter test to see if they are from God or not but do not think that they are if they pass this one.
This is only one of the first tests that usually gives them away as false but not as true: Do they want anything in return for their prophetic services? Do they ask of any other? A prophet of God solely relies on God for support and NEVER asks anything in return to give the word of the Lord. A true prophet always gives freely the word that is commanded him to give by the Lord. Test #2: Do they follow the Law of God? All Ten commandments including the Sabbath of the 4th command? A true prophet will if he is to remain true will obey the voice of the Lord even when He spoke the Ten commandments at Sinai. This other site of ours tells about a true prophet and the tests thereof:
http://www.freewebs.com/defeating_the_powers_of_darkness/
-Selv.'s 33rd Note.
-Let me start by reading this verse Numbers 22:28...nor curse the ruler of thy people. What does this mean to you? Should we love others as ourselves? Matthew 22:36-40 Master, which [is] the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. This is how you keep the Ten Commandments the first 4 deals with our relation towards God the last 6 deals with our relation towards man this is the Law and the prophets. I have for a long time now hearing a lot saying this and that about our President. Is this the spirit we are to have towards one another isn't he also man? If we are to not curse our leader and to love your neighbor as thyself then why do we find ourselves in conversation about putting him down?
Remember Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam [is] in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye. Also can we cast the first stone? Then why cast these things out of your mouths that damage and hurt more than any stone cast? Instead of cursing our ruler wouldn't it be prudent instead to pray for him? His job is great and perhaps the reason it is hard for him and that he makes mistakes is that we as a country are not praying for him. Isn't this part of loving thy neighbor as thyself?
If we curse anyone then that measure will be measured again towards us. Ellen said "Evil speaking is a two fold curse falling heavier upon the speaker than the hearer. He who sows the seeds of dissention will in his own soul reap the deadly fruits. How miserable is the talebearer; the surmiser of evil! For he is a stranger to true happiness." Do you know how important it is to "love thy neighbor as thyself?" Do you want Jesus to return to find a cursing person or a loving one? Remember if you curse even thy ruler of thy people you commit sin. As you are to love your neighbor (your fellow man) if you curse him then there is hatred in your hearts taking the place of Him who sits on the everlasting throne if He is not on your throne that is your heart then when He returns will He find faith on the earth? If you love your neighbor as thyself this is a testimony that Christ reins in you that you possess His character thereby being fit for the Kingdom and when He returns then He will take you along with Him.
He will destroy those who hate their neighbor showing no love thereby showing themselves without His character thereby unfit for His Kingdom and will with sin be destroyed. I am tired of being around fault finders that nag and pick flaws and point out the most minute defects of anything they scan with their self exalted eye even those who curse the ruler of our people. Fault finders will not inherit the Kingdom because they would soon find fault with the Lord Himself. A warning:1John 4:20-21 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also. If we cannot respect our earthly ruler whom we have seen how can we respect God our Heavenly Ruler of the universe whom we haven't seen?
1John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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.
1John 3:9-24 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, [who] was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous. Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not [his] brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 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. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, [then] have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
1John 4:7-21 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. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 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. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
2John 1:5-6 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
You may say "I don't like his decisions." I tell you that all that happens is to the Father's will who knows the end from the beginning. If we trust not in man but in God while respecting and loving man then what is there not to like? Wouldn't your focus be on Christ? Then why focus and complain of another man's decision isn't the Lord in charge? To complain about man's decision is to forget and deny Him who is in charge. Here is a letter I received that adds a lot to this Note:
-Selv.'s 34th Note.
-Let me confess that I too have fallen victim of unrighteous jealousy. Let me remind you that constitutes the breaking of the 10th Commandment against covetousness. I see myself angry that one person gets to do this I ever longed to do. Or this person has been given a certain gift and has taken it for granted and I'm filled with a jealous indignation saying "if I were the one to receive such a gift I would never have treated it so" therefore I covet what my neighbor has. I see that I am the target of misuse and persecution and I see one who isn't and I say "why can't I be like unto that person" therefore I covet the peace of my neighbor. I see that someone can do something better than I like drawing or even preaching and I'm full of covetousness even in the sanctuary of all places! We see the people in the church wearing this or that thing that we ought not to wear especially in the church. Now are we going to sigh and cry for the sins of those in the church because of these things?
Remember in Ezekiel God told the destroying angel to cut down and kill all those who do not have the seal of God but who was it that had the seal? It was those who sigh and cry for the abominations of the church. Now are we as those who sigh and cry or is it really that we not having those things the abominations covet what they have thus indignation with a coarse spirit we contend with them harshly and condemn them for wearing such things when lo in your own heart dwells with root and blossom the sin of covetousness. Did you not know also that it can after the bout form the self same spirit of selfishness? I see that something is better than the thing I posses or that someone is better than me in such and such thing or I see that such and such person has what I don't yet I covet all these things. Truly the words come to mind "Vanity of vanities saith the Preacher... All is vanity and vexation of spirit."
We tend to forget this saying because the enemy comes in and we make ourselves subject to his temptations without prayer and without putting on the armor of God we fall into covetousness even in secret in the innermost chambers of the heart but how can we escape the All Searching Eye of Him who pierces the darkest and most hidden places in our hearts with His everlasting Light? Remember the angel with the writer's inkhorn ever writing what we say, think and do that will either serve God or Satan that will either testify for us or against us in the Judgment. Remember the verses that stirred my writing of this note: John 21:20-22 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on His breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou Me.
You see this person having all these things? Or see this person being able to do such and such things? You see that you are stricken with poverty or persecution and see him that isn't? You see people scoffing at what you have to say or present that is for their wellbeing as it is for your own? You see in the sanctuary those that do abomination even by wearing it? Then remember the most expressed command with great promises commanded us by the Lord Himself: what is that to thee? You follow thou Me. He says "do not look at him or her you look up at Me." What then are these great promises of following His command? Peace that surpasses all understanding that crowds out the world and all its things if you are following Him covetousness and all other things that exalt themselves above all that is called God will be swept away out of your hearts and the Spirit of Christ will reign freely and you will obtain His Character stamping His seal upon you sealed unto everlasting life. What greater promise is there aside from this? Keep your eyes on the cross as you take up yours and deny self and come sayeth Christ: follow thou Me.
-Selv.'s 35th Note.
-The things that cannot give praise unto God due to an unwillful cause one that is not their fault cannot enter into life everlasting but will instead be as though they never were. As in my 1st Note those who haven't heard the gospel yet do those things of the Law they are a law unto themselves so God could still accept them having His character being His Law as their own. [In speaking of those who do not know of Christ yet are in the Kingdom Zechariah 13:6 And [one] shall say unto Him, What [are] these wounds in Thine hands? Then He shall answer, [Those] with which I was wounded [in] the house of My friends.] Those who do not the Law in their hearts nor know of the gospel and Christ crucified, they will be spared the second death but by reason of another's acts or by any means of their own being of no fault of their own they cannot worship or praise the Lord thereby they know Him not so they cannot enter the Kingdom.
Those who are unable to worship the Lord if they are to remain in their condition how could God accept them: there was someone I knew whose mind hasn't matured over the age of 6 weeks how could he keep the Law nor worship the Lord because of his mental state if he were to continue in that frame of mind and die therein how is he accepted? Most of these tragedies could have been prevented through the 8 Laws of the being and those stricken like this can be cured through the Holy Spirit that would be our assignment from Him to go and heal but for those who are unable to worship God nor know of His Law accept by the reason of "where there is no law there is no transgression" if they are able to reason between right and wrong then they are accountable but like the one whose mind is like so he cannot discern right from wrong thereby no transgression can be accountable to him because he is incapable of following the law. Tell me does the Lord accept those who are in such a condition where there is no law therefore also no transgression?
Most of this kind of tragedy could have been avoided if the 8 laws of health were adhered, others that have this because of some defect in birth or cultivated during life can be cured through the power of the Holy Spirit. That comes from those who have the Holy Spirit so they can exert the gifts one being the gift of healing. Those who have a mind to comprehend the gospel will have a chance given them even angels and the Holy Spirit will grant him the chance to know. He then can either reject the angel's attempts or even the Holy Spirit's pleadings to accept what he hears or the influence He impresses upon the mind of the individual. If he rejects that is rejecting God and His knowledge thereby rendering him lost and will shortly come to naught during the second death. If he hears and takes heed then the light he has accepted grants him eternal life unless more light is to come and if he receives it or rejects. The first light will have no power to save him if further light is rejected. Those that Christ said "But in thy name have we not cast out devils, healed and prophecied?" And Christ says to them "depart from Me ye that practice lawlessness."
They did those things but it wasn't from the Holy Spirit they did those things "in the name of Jesus" by the deluding power of Satan. "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' will enter into the Kingdom of heaven but those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven." Some people believe that the Holy Spirit is in everything including inanimate objects of all things! The Holy Spirit does not operate in such a manner as this. Where unrighteousness is usually what is righteous is told to go or is lead out by the Holy Spirit like Lot and his family in the Valley of Siddim the Holy Spirit was not with the wicked nor would He be with the treasures or other items that in some are considered "gods." Is the Holy Spirit in with that which takes His rightfull place in the heart? Or is He to mingle with that which breaks His commandments? What does Christ have with Belial? Or one who believes with an infidel? I had some who held dearly to their pets while they were alive and were stricken heavily at their death and they want to hold to the belief that they will see them in heaven.
All I can say is that the theory of an immortal soul is false and likewise that the animals as well have a soul is also false. God breathed the "breath of life" into Adam and he became a living soul. But God spoke the animals into existence. All the earth is cursed with the curse of sin and it is cursed moreso each day. God cannot take the curse with Him into the Kingdom and the animals having this curse upon them cannot have it lifted. When we are converted we are washed from all sin and the curse is still upon us because the curse of sin is debilitation, disease, death and all heartache thereby. Death is when the body and breath are separated the animals and all life except human life had the breath created in them it was with Adam that He took His time in creating. When we are converted we may still be under the curse but our lives henceforth do not the things that feed the curse or worsen what the curse has already tainted did you know that helping the curse could cost you your salvation?
Like littering or anything that helps destroy the earth that is aiding in the curse of sin Revelation 11:18...and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. When He returns then the curse upon His people will be lifted as we are translated from corruption (the curse) into incorruption (purity) and mortal (the curse) into immortality (purity). The Holy Spirit is the only means by whom we are sealed unto the day of redemption. We do not babtise animals or inanimate things so why would the Holy Spirit be in them? To "consecrate" things to the Lord we had better think of our motives like we can't consecrate something that doesn't help further the work even just to feed the poor "I consecrate this garden to the Lord." Then all that you have consecrated must be for the furthering of the Lord's work. The consecrating of animals or pets to the Lord is the same as offering swine's blood onto the altar and cutting a dog's throat as a sacrifice how does it serve the Lord to consecrate unto Him something that doesn't do His will?
Feeding the poor by consecrating your garden to the Lord is doing His will. But hording that which is given wholly to the Lord has in it the same curse and end as did Ananias and Sapphira his wife Acts 5:1-10. They sold their land thinking to give the little allotment to the Lord but they got more than they thought so they decided to hold back some from the Lord but through the Holy Spirit Peter told them of their sin against God not men and they both fell and died. You may not fall down dead but Malachi 3:8-10 states because you have robbed God you are cursed with a curse. That which you hold back of the Lord's is a curse to you it is better to give it to Him to whom it belongs rather than keep it yourself as did Ananias and Sapphira. Do not let personal feelings or attractions to things of this world which are perishable and perishing come between you and the truth if that takes place it obscures the truth as it is written in the scriptures.
Clear the path, make straight the way of the Lord unto His throne upon your hearts. To make straight the way means to clear out anything that can hinder His way to you. Clear out all those besettments and all that is called God so that in your heart they sit as false gods we must rid ourselves of these things before the Holy Spirit can reside. He does have a work to show you what needs to be done before He can enter. Today is the day of your salvation if you hear His voice harden not your hearts. Take heed to the still small voice. Here are some verses as to how to understand the Bible:
Acts 17:10-11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming [thither] went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].
2Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Isaiah 28:10 For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little:
Revelation 1:3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.
Luke 6:45-49 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
-Did you not know that you are the house built either on the Rock or the sand because you are the Temple of the Holy Spirit (48-49).
1Timothy 4:15-16 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
Proverbs 2:3-5 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, [and] liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as [for] hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
2Corinthians 8:12 For if there be first a willing mind, [it is] accepted according to that a man hath, [and] not according to that he hath not.
John 14:26 But the Comforter, [which is] the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
1 Corinthians 2:7-16 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.
[Nature is a book]Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, [even] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. [Christianity isn't a violent religion this verse is to coincide with Jacob's violence to ascertain the blessing with faith].
-Selv.'s 36th Note.
-This Note I wrote feeling exceedingly down. All points made therein are to be taken as though they are real and as serious. This is not a joke this Note I feel can also be a blessing to others to remember it's not about self which constitutes selfishness that God will not tolerate if there is anyone affected with that which this Note refers as in the beginning I urge you find a companion or even a counselour one who can avert a potentially dangerous thing. A warning this Note is not one to be scoffed at. Hear my stance on this thing:
Those of you who watch or listen to the news and those who know the T.V. show "Postcards from Buster" on PBS, Buster being the best friend of Arthur who with his dad travels the continent would know of his episode interviewing a child which it was said that the parents stood back out of the picture (this however isn't always the case). Well it turned out that his parents happened to be lesbians. This is what I have to say according to this issue:(confer also my 6th Note)
We shouldn't make our children subject to this kind of lifestyle that the Bible expressly denounces as a perversion. Now to those who are as of the one being interviewed then if he follows in their footsteps then he is partaker of his parents' sins but more judgment will befall the parents in lieu of Ezekiel 3:17-21 his blood will be upon the heads of the parents. But we are not to stir an already heated issue seeing that there are those who will not hear in high positions especially. PBS should have known the controversy showing this sort of thing to the public especially due to it already being a highly aggrevated problem. If the episode in question shown no signs of homosexual involvement then by all means televise the episode. Those who then did know should have kept silent so as not to further an already heated controversy. However, if the episode did show signs of homosexual involvement then it should have never aired if it did.
If it didn't air then all should have kept quiet concerning those things. Are you aware of how much damage the media can cause? Look at the incident in Waco, Texas for example. Do we then get rid of the media? No, that would violate the Bill of Rights stating "freedom of the press" but take into account that the press will make heavy and attractive the most miniscule of things and turn a molehill into a mountain in the minds of those listening and when the controversy is heated that mountain is now an erupting volcano. If we stick only to the truth and what our job is and not to focus solely on particulars and not to point fingers or become fault finders but simply say "here is truth..." then those on the other end will have little with to condemn us. Remember God is in charge of the events stirring are we to usurp His authority and become not "doers" of the Word but now a "judge?"
To be fault finders (those who wag their fingers and tongues) will not inherit the Kingdom in lieu that they will find fault with the Lord Himself. True, that knowledge of that episode should not have reached the ears of the people because now the heated controversy has in it the very cartoons that our children are made subject that if this controversy that will only get worse if it is allowed to front these things, will now be fronting them moreso in the already assumed to be innocent cartoons. Then it will be spread to just about every home in America in just about every one of America's children. Then all children will be subjected to this confusion, the dark cloud of Satan blinding the minds of those who partake in this thing veiled as innocent. The volcano has erupted and was spilling over for years, God help those caught in the flames.
We should gaurd the minds of our children because Satan is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and if he controls the children to be made subject enlisting them under his black banner will use them to lay hold on the entire household [look at Eli in 1Samuel as to his sons being made vile and Eli knew but did nothing so as to have his entire household lose their salvation] no matter your profession. Do not let our children be held captive under his satanic majesty's rule.
-Selv.'s 38th Note.
-Selv.'s 39th Note.
The 3 Angels' Message
Revelation 14:6-11 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, 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. And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 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.
1st Angel: He has the everlasting gospel to preach to all the world saying: 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. Christ is in the Most Holy performing the judgment work to end the probation of the world and to deliver His people. Where else do you find the saying: that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters? Try the 4th commandment:
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.
This angel points to a Creator God who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything therein in conjunction to the Sabbath of the 4th Command the only other spot in scripture that fully describes Him as Creator. This is the time where the Sabbath truth was revealed shortly after 1844 when the 3 Angels' messages began then ends at the joining of a 4th Angel whose glory lighted the whole world and the 3rd Angel's message swells to a loud cry by this 4th angel which the message lightens the whole earth Revelation 18:1 who repeats the second and third angels' message. This is when the command is sent forth "Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues...(18:1-20)
2nd Angel: Babylon is fallen, is fallen... The Papacy or Rome (Catholicism) as stated in the page "The Anti Christ" is the 1st Beast of Revelation 13 also known as the Anti Christ is fallen but the churches that broke away as in the denominations stated in the same page during the 1844 Message/Disappointment were all in the right until the 1st Angel's message was delivered and by them rejected it then they too were fallen. Inso rejecting the 1st Angel's message they rejected the 2nd and now we are living in their rejection of the 3rd. (Miller thought that the Earth was the "sanctuary" to be cleansed but it was that Christ cleansed the Holy Place passing through to the Most Holy on the Day of Atonement 1844 thereby everyone thought He was returning here on that day, that is why it was called "The Great Disappointment." Those whose faith still clung to find out the truth were allowed to go in to the Most Holy with Christ and was given more light the rest went away to reject the 3 Angels' Message becoming fallen as in the 2nd Angel's message. But those who were still wanting to figure out Daniel's prophecy and still retained faith in the movement went on to be called "Adventists" and later after the discovery of the Sabbath were known as Seventh Day-Adventists.) Most of the new Light given was through the inspiration of Ellen Gould Harmon White.
3rd Angel: Those who accept the Mark or number of the Beast shall be condemned to everlasting contempt. This mark is not a literal mark as of a tattoo or microchip planted in you because a literal mark the people can physically restrain you and put it on or in you. No, this is a mark of choice that the 2nd Beast of Revelation 13 being America (you can find this on the page "The Anti Christ") will try to force upon you under pain of death. In order to worship the first Beast the second must have you take upon yourself the mark or number of the first. As is said in the 31st Note: On the Miter (hat) that the popes wore in the Dark Ages era was stamped these words in latin: Vicarius filii Dei (vicar the son of God). If you count the numerical value of the letters you'll come to this: V=5, i=1, c=100, a=0, r=0, i=1, u(used before v took its place)=5, s=0 >112 |f=0, i=1, l=50, i=1, i=1 >53 |D=500, e=0, i=1 >501| 112+53+501= 666. It is said that the results are the same using the name in Hebrew and Greek.
This is his number. His mark is the worship on the Venereal day of the sun or Sunday he is the one who "thought to change times and laws" as stated in Daniel the time was midnight to midnight instead of sundown to sundown and the laws were instituting Sunday worship and casting down Sabbath observance of the 4th command and getting rid of the 2nd commandment stating against the veneration of images and dividing the 10th to keep the number. To accept either his mark or number of his name is to become an enemy of God going against His Standard Principle condemning yourself to everlasting death. To worship on Sunday as Stated in the Catholic Catechism is to pay homage to the Mother Church. She is the Mother Church because her children those who broke away became fallen as she and through their keeping Sunday still pay homage to the Beast or the Mother Church aka The Mother of Harlots (Catholicism). "Harlots" because they left their first love (Christ) and went after the workings of Satan in the system controlling the Catholic Church. The "mark" is not in effect until the National Sunday Law is enacted for more on this read Ellen Gould Harmon White's book "The Great Controversy."
Here is a chapter of "The Great Controversy" regarding these things:
Chap. 23 - What is the Sanctuary?
The scripture which above all others had been both the foundation and the central pillar of the advent faith was the declaration: "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." Daniel 8:14. These had been familiar words to all believers in the Lord's soon coming. By the lips of thousands was this prophecy repeated as the watchword of their faith. All felt that upon the events therein foretold depended their brightest expectations and most cherished hopes. These prophetic days had been shown to terminate in the autumn of 1844. In common with the rest of the Christian world, Adventists then held that the earth, or some portion of it, was the sanctuary. They understood that the cleansing of the sanctuary was the purification of the earth by the fires of the last great day, and that this would take place at the second advent. Hence the conclusion that Christ would return to the earth in 1844.
But the appointed time had passed, and the Lord had not appeared. The believers knew that God's word could not fail; their interpretation of the prophecy must be at fault; but where was the mistake? Many rashly cut the knot of difficulty by denying that the 2300 days ended in 1844. No reason could be given for this except that Christ had not come at the time they expected Him. They argued that if the prophetic days had ended in 1844, Christ would then have returned to cleanse the sanctuary by the purification of the earth by fire; and that since He had not come, the days could not have ended.
To accept this conclusion was to renounce the former reckoning of the prophetic periods. The 2300 days had been found to begin when the commandment of Artaxerxes for the restoration and building of Jerusalem went into effect, in the autumn of 457 B.C. Taking this as the starting point, there was perfect harmony in the application of all the events foretold in the explanation of that period in Daniel 9:25-27. Sixty-nine weeks, the first 483 of the 2300 years, were to reach to the Messiah, the Anointed One; and Christ's baptism and anointing by the Holy Spirit, A.D. 27, exactly fulfilled the specification. In the midst of the seventieth week, Messiah was to be cut off. Three and a half years after His baptism, Christ was crucified, in the spring of A.D. 31. The seventy weeks, or 490 years, were to pertain especially to the Jews. At the expiration of this period the nation sealed its rejection of Christ by the persecution of His disciples, and the apostles turned to the Gentiles, A.D. 34. The first 490 years of the 2300 having then ended, 1810 years would remain. From A.D. 34, 1810 years extend to 1844. "Then," said the angel, "shall the sanctuary be cleansed." All the preceding specifications of the prophecy had been unquestionably fulfilled at the time appointed.
With this reckoning, all was clear and harmonious, except that it was not seen that any event answering to the cleansing of the sanctuary had taken place in 1844. To deny that the days ended at that time was to involve the whole question in confusion, and to renounce positions which had been established by unmistakable fulfillments of prophecy.
But God had led His people in the great advent movement; His power and glory had attended the work, and He would not permit it to end in darkness and disappointment, to be reproached as a false and fanatical excitement. He would not leave His word involved in doubt and uncertainty. Though many abandoned their former reckoning of the prophetic periods and denied the correctness of the movement based thereon, others were unwilling to renounce points of faith and experience that were sustained by the Scriptures and by the witness of the Spirit of God. They believed that they had adopted sound principles of interpretation in their study of the prophecies, and that it was their duty to hold fast the truths already gained, and to continue the same course of Biblical research. With earnest prayer they reviewed their position and studied the Scriptures to discover their mistake. As they could see no error in their reckoning of the prophetic periods, they were led to examine more closely the subject of the sanctuary.
In their investigation they learned that there is no Scripture evidence sustaining the popular view that the earth is the sanctuary; but they found in the Bible a full explanation of the subject of the sanctuary, its nature, location, and services; the testimony of the sacred writers being so clear and ample as to place the matter beyond all question. The apostle Paul, in the Epistle to the Hebrews, says: "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the holiest of all; which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; and over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat." Hebrews 9:1-5.
The sanctuary to which Paul here refers was the tabernacle built by Moses at the command of God as the earthly dwelling place of the Most High. "Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them" (Exodus 25:8), was the direction given to Moses while in the mount with God. The Israelites were journeying through the wilderness, and the tabernacle was so constructed that it could be removed from place to place; yet it was a structure of great magnificence. Its walls consisted of upright boards heavily plated with gold and set in sockets of silver, while the roof was formed of a series of curtains, or coverings, the outer of skins, the innermost of fine linen beautifully wrought with figures of cherubim. Besides the outer court, which contained the altar of burnt offering, the tabernacle itself consisted of two apartments called the holy and the most holy place, separated by a rich and beautiful curtain, or veil; a similar veil closed the entrance to the first apartment.
In the holy place was the candlestick, on the south, with its seven lamps giving light to the sanctuary both by day and by night; on the north stood the table of shewbread; and before the veil separating the holy from the most holy was the golden altar of incense, from which the cloud of fragrance, with the prayers of Israel, was daily ascending before God.
In the most holy place stood the ark, a chest of precious wood overlaid with gold, the depository of the two tables of stone upon which God had inscribed the law of Ten Commandments. Above the ark, and forming the cover to the sacred chest, was the mercy seat, a magnificent piece of workmanship, surmounted by two cherubim, one at each end, and all wrought of solid gold. In this apartment the divine presence was manifested in the cloud of glory between the cherubim.
After the settlement of the Hebrews in Canaan, the tabernacle was replaced by the temple of Solomon, which, though a permanent structure and upon a larger scale, observed the same proportions, and was similarly furnished. In this form the sanctuary existed--except while it lay in ruins in Daniel's time--until its destruction by the Romans, in A.D. 70.
This is the only sanctuary that ever existed on the earth, of which the Bible gives any information. This was declared by Paul to be the sanctuary of the first covenant. But has the new covenant no sanctuary?
Turning again to the book of Hebrews, the seekers for truth found that the existence of a second, or new-covenant sanctuary, was implied in the words of Paul already quoted: "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary." And the use of the word "also" intimates that Paul has before made mention of this sanctuary. Turning back to the beginning of the previous chapter, they read: "Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an High Priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Hebrews 8:1, 2.
Here is revealed the sanctuary of the new covenant. The sanctuary of the first covenant was pitched by man, built by Moses; this is pitched by the Lord, not by man. In that sanctuary the earthly priests performed their service; in this, Christ, our great High Priest, ministers at God's right hand. One sanctuary was on earth, the other is in heaven.
Further, the tabernacle built by Moses was made after a pattern. The Lord directed him: "According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it." And again the charge was given, "Look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount." Exodus 25:9, 40. And Paul says that the first tabernacle "was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices;" that its holy places were "patterns of things in the heavens;" that the priests who offered gifts according to the law served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things," and that "Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." Hebrews 9:9, 23; 8:5; 9:24.
The sanctuary in heaven, in which Jesus ministers in our behalf, is the great original, of which the sanctuary built by Moses was a copy. God placed His Spirit upon the builders of the earthly sanctuary. The artistic skill displayed in its construction was a manifestation of divine wisdom. The walls had the appearance of massive gold, reflecting in every direction the light of the seven lamps of the golden candlestick. The table of shewbread and the altar of incense glittered like burnished gold. The gorgeous curtain which formed the ceiling, inwrought with figures of angels in blue and purple and scarlet, added to the beauty of the scene. And beyond the second veil was the holy Shekinah, the visible manifestation of God's glory, before which none but the high priest could enter and live.
The matchless splendor of the earthly tabernacle reflected to human vision the glories of that heavenly temple where Christ our forerunner ministers for us before the throne of God. The abiding place of the King of kings, where thousand thousands minister unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before Him (Daniel 7:10); 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. Yet important truths concerning the heavenly sanctuary and the great work there carried forward for man's redemption were taught by the earthly sanctuary and its services.
The holy places of the sanctuary in heaven are represented by the two apartments in the sanctuary on earth. As in vision the apostle John was granted a view of the temple of God in heaven, he beheld there "seven lamps of fire burning before the throne." Revelation 4:5. He saw an angel "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." Revelation 8:3. Here the prophet was permitted to behold the first apartment of the sanctuary in heaven; and he saw there the "seven lamps of fire" and "the golden altar," represented by the golden candlestick and the altar of incense in the sanctuary on earth. Again, "the temple of God was opened" (Revelation 11:19), and he looked within the inner veil, upon the holy of holies. Here he beheld "the ark of His testament," represented by the sacred chest constructed by Moses to contain the law of God.
Thus those who were studying the subject found indisputable proof of the existence of a sanctuary in heaven. Moses made the earthly sanctuary after a pattern which was shown him. Paul teaches that that pattern was the true sanctuary which is in heaven. And John testifies that he saw it in heaven.
In the temple in heaven, the dwelling place of God, His throne is established in righteousness and judgment. In the most holy place is His law, the great rule of right by which all mankind are tested. The ark that enshrines the tables of the law is covered with the mercy seat, before which Christ pleads His blood in the sinner's behalf. Thus is represented the union of justice and mercy in the plan of human redemption. This union infinite wisdom alone could devise and infinite power accomplish; it is a union that fills all heaven with wonder and adoration. The cherubim of the earthly sanctuary, looking reverently down upon the mercy seat, represent the interest with which the heavenly host contemplate the work of redemption. This is the mystery of mercy into which angels desire to look--that God can be just while He justifies the repenting sinner and renews His intercourse with the fallen race; that Christ could stoop to raise unnumbered multitudes from the abyss of ruin and clothe them with the spotless garments of His own righteousness to unite with angels who have never fallen and to dwell forever in the presence of God.
The work of Christ as man's intercessor is presented in that beautiful prophecy of Zechariah concerning Him "whose name is the Branch." Says the prophet: "He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His [the Father's] throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between Them both." Zechariah 6:12, 13.
"He shall build the temple of the Lord." By His sacrifice and mediation Christ is both the foundation and the builder of the church of God. The apostle Paul points to Him as "the chief Cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth into an holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also," he says, "are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit." Ephesians 2:20-22.
"He shall bear the glory." To Christ belongs the glory of redemption for the fallen race. Through the eternal ages, the song of the ransomed ones will be: "Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, . . . to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever." Revelation 1:5, 6.
He "shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne." Not now "upon the throne of His glory;" the kingdom of glory has not yet been ushered in. Not until His work as a mediator shall be ended will God "give unto Him the throne of His father David," a kingdom of which "there shall be no end." Luke 1:32, 33. As a priest, Christ is now set down with the Father in His throne. Revelation 3:21. Upon the throne with the eternal, self-existent One is He who "hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows," who "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin," that He might be "able to succor them that are tempted." "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father." Isaiah 53:4; Hebrews 4:15; 2:18; 1 John 2:1. His intercession is that of a pierced and broken body, of a spotless life. The wounded hands, the pierced side, the marred feet, plead for fallen man, whose redemption was purchased at such infinite cost.
"And the counsel of peace shall be between Them both." The love of the Father, no less than of the Son, is the fountain of salvation for the lost race. Said Jesus to His disciples before
He went away: "I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loveth you." John 16:26, 27. God was "in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." 2 Corinthians 5:19. And in the ministration in the sanctuary above, "the counsel of peace shall be between Them both." "God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
The question, What is the sanctuary? is clearly answered in the Scriptures. The term "sanctuary," as used in the Bible, refers, first, to the tabernacle built by Moses, as a pattern of heavenly things; and, secondly, to the "true tabernacle" in heaven, to which the earthly sanctuary pointed. At the death of Christ the typical service ended. The "true tabernacle" in heaven is the sanctuary of the new covenant. And as the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 is fulfilled in this dispensation, the sanctuary to which it refers must be the sanctuary of the new covenant. At the termination of the 2300 days, in 1844, there had been no sanctuary on earth for many centuries. Thus the prophecy, "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed," unquestionably points to the sanctuary in heaven.
But the most important question remains to be answered: What is the cleansing of the sanctuary? That there was such a service in connection with the earthly sanctuary is stated in the Old Testament Scriptures. But can there be anything in heaven to be cleansed? In Hebrews 9 the cleansing of both the earthly and the heavenly sanctuary is plainly taught. "Almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these [the blood of animals]; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these" (Hebrews 9:22, 23), even the precious blood of Christ.
The cleansing, both in the typical and in the real service, must be accomplished with blood: in the former, with the blood of animals; in the latter, with the blood of Christ. Paul states, as the reason why this cleansing must be performed with blood, that without shedding of blood is no remission. Remission, or putting away of sin, is the work to be accomplished. But how could there be sin connected with the sanctuary, either in heaven or upon the earth? This may be learned by reference to the symbolic service; for the priests who officiated on earth, served "unto the example and shadow of heavenly things." Hebrews 8:5.
The ministration of the earthly sanctuary consisted of two divisions; the priests ministered daily in the holy place, while once a year the high priest performed a special work of atonement in the most holy, for the cleansing of the sanctuary. Day by day the repentant sinner brought his offering to the door of the tabernacle and, placing his hand upon the victim's head, confessed his sins, thus in figure transferring them