Bible

Fear God

by

The Bible story of Abraham and Isaac provokes the greatest depth of emotion.

“Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here I am.’ Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.’

“So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’

“So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, ‘My father!’

“And he said, ‘Here I am, my son.’

“Then he said, ‘Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’

“And Abraham said, ‘My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.’ So, the two of them went together.

“Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.

“But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, ‘Abraham, Abraham!’

“So, he said, ‘Here I am.’

“And He said ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ ”

Genesis 22:1–12

What must have been going through Abraham’s mind as he took Isaac on that three-day journey to the place that God directed as the place of sacrifice.

Was he silently praying that the trip be long? Or that it would soon be over? With each successive step, his desire for God to give him some sign of a change in plans must have been more and more ardent.

One cannot begin to imagine what Abraham must have been thinking as he raised the knife to sacrifice Isaac.

We know—and Abraham must have reminded himself—that God had promised that Abraham’s descendants would be as the sand of the sea. So, even though God had commanded Abraham to kill the only means by which His promise was to be fulfilled, he by faith went forward to obey God, not knowing how but nonetheless convicted that God would somehow do what He promised and make a great nation of Abraham’s descendants.

But it was at the point when Abraham raised the knife to sacrifice Isaac that God knew how truly faithful Abraham was and how fully He could trust him. Scripture says in Genesis 22:12, “And He said, ‘Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.’ ”

This text presents an interesting puzzle. We know that God knows the end from the beginning. We therefore have to believe that God knew that Abraham would do as He had commanded him. So, I suggest that this exercise was for the benefit of Abraham and Isaac—to show them more fully that God truly loved them and would fulfill His promise through them regarding the destiny of His people. This trial also showed them the blessings that accrue from obedience.

As you can imagine, inspired writings have much to say about this story. “Abraham’s test was the most severe that could come to a human being. Had he failed under it, he would never have been registered as the father of the faithful. … The lesson was given to shine down through the ages, that we may learn that there is nothing too precious to be given to God.” Our High Calling, 191

Another purpose to this test was to show succeeding generations that there is nothing that we can render to God whose value exceeds what He deserves for having given us the opportunity for everlasting life.

“It is when we look upon every gift as the Lord’s, to be used in His service, that we secure the heavenly benediction. Give back to God your entrusted possessions and more will be entrusted to you. Keep your possessions to yourself, and you will receive no reward in this life and will lose the reward of the life to come.” Ibid.

This story not only helps us to understand why Abraham is called the father of the faithful, but it also gives us some degree of understanding of what it means to fear God.

One common definition of the term to fear God is “to regard Him with reverential awe … with wonder, admiration, and respect that is accompanied by devotion and perhaps even some degree of amazement.”

Reverence can be defined as “honor and respect that is deeply felt and outwardly demonstrated.” Because of the Lord God’s awesome and omnipotent power and majesty, He is deserving of the highest level of reverence. Not only are we to afford reverence to God, but Leviticus 19:30 tells us that we are to reverence His sanctuary. Why is that? Because that is where He promises to meet with His people. In that same chapter, the importance of obedience and of keeping the Sabbath is mentioned at least four times as a means of showing the reverence and godly fear that followers of Christ are to manifest in our relationship with our Creator.

The Bible records reverence as the automatic response of everyone who encounters the awesome grandeur of God. “So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them.” Numbers 20:6

The glory of God is an awesome thing to contemplate, and undoubtedly even more awesome to actually witness. Inspiration tells us that God “speaks” to us, continuously manifesting His glory, if we had but eyes to see and ears to hear. In every bird song, in the scent and beauty of every flower, and in the beauty of unspoiled natural landscapes His glory is displayed.

Another example of the revelation of God’s glory to man is found in Judges 13. In this chapter, we find the story of the birth of Samson. It begins with the story of Manoah and his wife’s reactions when God reveals Himself to them.

“Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, ‘What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?’ And the Angel of the Lord said to him, ‘Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?’ So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the Lord. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on—it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground.” Verses 17–20

They were so awed, so overcome by this magnificent and inexplicable display that they involuntarily showed the honor and respect that is “deeply felt and outwardly demonstrated,” showing the reverential awe and godly fear that is due to our Creator.

Another example is of God’s children failing to manifest godly fear and the consequences of not trusting in His promises as found in 1 Chronicles 21. Here we find the children of Israel trying to estimate the number of enemy combatants over whom they might win the victory, rather than relying by faith on God’s promise to be their Defender.

After David numbers the people, it is recorded in 1 Chronicles 21, “… the Lord sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell. And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was destroying, the Lord looked and relented of the disaster, and said to the angel who was destroying, ‘It is enough; now restrain your hand.’ And the angel of the Lord stood by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Then David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, having in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. So David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell on their faces.” Verses 14–16

This story might well explain a different aspect of fearing God. At His command, the destroying angel had just slain 70,000 men. When David and the elders saw the angel standing with his sword drawn and stretched out over Jerusalem, they fainted. What but a fear of God could cause such a reaction?

The fear of God is a character trait that is often cited as a qualification for entering into His service. We are given one such example when Moses was leading the children of Israel during their 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

“In the days of the theocracy, when Moses was endeavoring to carry alone burdens so heavy that he would soon have worn away under them, he was counseled by Jethro to plan for a wise distribution of responsibilities. ‘Be thou for the people to Godward,’ [i.e., stand before God for the people], Jethro advised, ‘that thou mayest bring the causes unto God: and thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt show them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.’ Jethro further advised that men be appointed to act as ‘rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.’ These were to be ‘able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness.’ ” The Acts of the Apostles, 92, 93

We learn from this story that those who fear God are truthful and unselfish, both required character traits of those seeking character perfection.

In his second letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul also addresses the subject of fearing God, instructing them to perfect holiness in the fear of God (2 Corinthians 7:1). He gives similar instructions to the Ephesians. “Submitting to one another in the fear of God.” Ephesians 5:21

In Hebrews 12:28, Paul tells us to “serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”

Peter also wrote of this attitude. “Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” (1 Peter 2:17), four short pieces of inspired advice, any one of which is worthy of deep study.

One of the wonderful things about our God is that He doesn’t tell us to do something without also telling us how to do it, and He often tells us in a variety of ways.

Solomon, speaking to one of his sons, gave this advice:

“My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:1–5

This advice can also be interpreted as God speaking to us.

When I was a very young child, my mother would read the Bible to me. One of the first things I noticed that some of the words were printed in red. She told me that these were the words of Jesus. Then I noticed that she never read from the book of Revelation. When I asked her why, she told me that no one understood that book, which in hindsight seems contrary to its name, since Revelation means revealed, not hidden.

I have since learned that Seventh-day Adventists are unique in their call to fear God, gleaned solidly from the book of Revelation. That call began in 1843, as explained from this manuscript:

“The first and second messages [Revelation 14:6–8] were given in 1843 and 1844, and we are now under the proclamation of the third [1896]; but all three of the messages are still to be proclaimed. It is just as essential now as ever before that they shall be repeated to those who are seeking for the truth. By pen and voice, we are to sound the proclamation, showing their order and the application of the prophecies that bring us to the third angel’s message. There cannot be a third without the first and second. …

“ ‘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’ [Revelation 14:6, 7].

“This message, if heeded, will call the attention of every nation and kindred and tongue and people to a close examination of the word, and to the true light in regard to the power that has changed the seventh-day Sabbath to a spurious sabbath. The only true God has been forsaken, His law has been discarded, His sacred Sabbath institution has been trampled in the dust by the man of sin. The fourth commandment, so plain and explicit, has been ignored. The Sabbath memorial, declaring who the living God is, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, has been torn down, and a spurious sabbath has been given to the world in its place. Thus, a breach has been made in the law of God. …

“In the first angel’s message men are called upon to [fear and] worship God, our Creator, who made the world and all things that are therein. …

“The message proclaimed by the angel flying in the midst of heaven is the everlasting gospel, the same gospel that was declared in Eden when God said to the serpent, ‘I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.’ ” Manuscript Releases, Vol. 17, 6, 7

It is only by heeding the call of these three angels that we can hope to have that Godly fear that assures us of a mansion on the other side of the Jordan.

Fear God and worship Him that made heaven and earth. Come out of Babylon.

By keeping the commandments of God, including the seventh-day Sabbath, and the faith of Jesus, we are assured of the safety that Godly fear provides and equally assured of avoiding the mark of the beast.

If we are to have everlasting life, then we must first have all of these character traits. Study God’s word. Reread Proverbs 2. Study the lives of Abraham and Job. Even Satan recognized Job as one who feared God.

“Honor all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the King.” 1 Peter 2:17

John R. Pearson is the office manager and Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.

Escaping the Trap

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Every single person in the world has the opportunity to be saved because Jesus paid the price for our sins. Since that is the case, why does the Bible tell us that the number of people who will not be saved is as the sand of the sea? (see Revelation 20).

The devil has many traps set for us in this world, but let’s look at one specific trap that will cause you to forfeit eternal life. Have you already been caught in this trap? How would you know? If so, is there any way to get out?

“Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!” Amos 5:18, first part. These are the people who are looking for Jesus to come, and the prophet says, “Woe.” “For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light. It will be as though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him! Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?” Verses 18, last part–20

“A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare [trap] of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24–26

The devil’s traps are very successful, and as we study what is soon to come upon the world, we will see that our entire Western civilization is caught in a trap, though totally unaware of it. Let me share a real-life example.

Linda* asked to speak with me about her adult daughter, with whom she had opposite political views. While Linda tried to persuade her daughter to be open to other things, her daughter had no interest in doing so. Linda didn’t want to lose her daughter over politics, so they finally agreed not to talk about it; in essence, they agreed to disagree. So, here’s the question: How is it that her daughter’s worldview is so diametrically opposed to Linda’s worldview?

The problem with this situation is this: If a civilization is going to survive, it must be able to transfer its value system—its worldview—from one generation to the next. If it cannot, it will cease to exist, and a different civilization will take its place. Linda’s experience is not an isolated occurrence; we see it happening right now in the United States.

Both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy predicted this situation during the end times. “By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy [Sunday laws] in violation of the law of God, our nation will disconnect herself fully from righteousness. When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, 451

T. Jones wrote Two Republics. Republican governments have been rare in the history of the world. Rome began as a republic and so did the United States—Jones’ two republics. Our government is based on and operates as Rome did when it was a republic. Both republics had a senate comprised of elected senators, and as a republic, there would be no monarchy, no king. Today, we often hear one group of people refer to the United States as a democracy, while another group refers to it as a republic. Is there a difference? The Merriam-Webster dictionary indicates that the two words have been used interchangeably since the late 1700s. The founding fathers who established the original 13 colonies and wrote the Constitution of the United States—which is based on certain moral and religious principles—saw no distinctive difference in the meaning of the two words. In the 1700s, both words meant “the power to govern is held by the people rather than a monarch.”

Democracy originates from the Greek roots, meaning “rule by the people,” where the people vote directly in favor of or against decisions, policies, laws, and other matters. Regardless of whether we speak of a direct democracy or a representative democracy, they both mean “government by the people.” Republic originates from the Latin roots meaning “public good” or “public affair.” Republic, simply put, means “state” or “country.” Democracy is most frequently used to emphasize a system, while a republic is the concrete result of that system. The term democratic republic is also used to describe the United States government. A democratic republic is a system that combines elements of both a democracy and a republic. And while the government—be it a democracy, a republic, or a democratic republic—is run by elected representatives of the citizenry, the citizens themselves hold authority and power. The representatives may wield the power, but that ability is granted to them by a simple vote of the people, and can be lost at the next election.

Neither of these words is included in the Declaration of Independence. Yet, this document clearly expresses that governments—our government—should be and are established “deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” It would seem that the shared meaning of these two words matters far more than their differences.

Source: merriam-webster.com/grammar/democracy-and-republic; governmentvs.com/en/what-is-democratic-republic/ model-41-0

As Americans, as long as we respect and uphold the Constitution and its principles, we will have a Protestant form of government. We move through time, passing our worldview, philosophy, and value system from one generation to the next. However, Mrs. White tells us that every principle of our Constitution will be repudiated. Why would that be? Suppose we are unable to pass the worldview, philosophy, and value system of the current generation to the next. As each generation comes and goes, the value system changes. In that case, the worldview becomes skewed, and subsequent generations will completely reject the moral and religious principles of the generations who came before them. We see it in the news, in our neighborhoods, on the job, even in our churches. The farther the generations go from the principles of their elders, the more wicked the world becomes.

It was, and is, God’s purpose that His children would pass on their values and worldview, through their children, to the next generation. “For I [the Lord] have known him [Abraham], in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” Genesis 18:19. And God tells us concerning Abraham that he “obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.” Genesis 26:5. Abraham was obedient to the word of God and His commandments, and he commanded his children after him, just as God designed, that they should live and learn and have the same worldview that he had.

“ ‘This is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, that you may fear the Lord your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged. … You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.’ ” Deuteronomy 6:1, 2, 5–9

A few hundred years before the coming of Christ, it became fashionable for young Jewish men to travel to Alexandria, Egypt, to obtain a higher education. This higher education was based on Greek philosophy. What is philosophy? “The love of wisdom.” “A systematic study of general and fundamental questions concerning topics like existence, reason, knowledge, value, mind, and language.” Over time, philosophy became an advanced study of speculative subjects like logic and ethics. (wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy).

The average person today has no idea of the significant influence Greek philosophy has had on our entire civilization in the United States. Two examples can be found in the sports and entertainment industries. The Bible talks about the races which became, over time, our present-day Olympics (1 Corinthians 9:24, 25). The Greeks also built the first theaters and conducted plays—dramas, comedies, and tragedies. Today, we see this influence on Broadway and off-Broadway, in movie theaters, and on television, and the internet.

As the Jewish youth studied philosophy, they began to interpret the Bible differently. You see, the thing about philosophy is that it doesn’t matter if something is or isn’t. Philosophy enables the student to show that something can have many different meanings. So, by the time Christ came to this world, we find the establishment of the Sadducees who didn’t believe in angels or demons, heaven or hell, or the resurrection. They valued debate and philosophical discussion. And it was their adherence to philosophy that, in some measure, was influential in the Jewish nation’s rejection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. A very clever trap, set by the devil, that cost the Jewish nation, after they crucified Christ, the privilege of being God’s chosen and favored people. And the devil is laying this same trap for you and me.

“The Lord presented before Israel the results of holding communion with evil spirits, in the abominations of the Canaanites: they were without natural affection, idolaters, adulterers, murderers, and abominable by every corrupt thought and revolting practice. Men do not know their own hearts; for ‘the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.’ Jeremiah 17:9. But God understands the tendencies of the depraved nature of man. Then, as now, Satan was watching to bring about conditions favorable to rebellion, that the people of Israel might make themselves as abhorrent to God as were the Canaanites. The adversary of souls is ever on the alert to open channels for the unrestrained flow of evil in us; for he desires that we may be ruined, and be condemned before God.

“Satan was determined to keep his hold on the land of Canaan, and when it was made the habitation of the children of Israel, and the law of God was made the law of the land, he hated Israel with a cruel and malignant hatred and plotted their destruction. Through the agency of evil spirits strange gods were introduced; and because of transgression, the chosen people were finally scattered from the land of promise. This history Satan is striving to repeat in our day.”

“God is leading His people out from the abominations of the world, that they may keep His law; and because of this, the rage of ‘the accuser of our brethren’ knows no bounds. ‘The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.’ Revelation 12:10, 12.

“The anti-typical land of promise [heaven] is just before us, and Satan is determined to destroy the people of God and cut them off from their inheritance.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 688, 689

You and I don’t know how bad we are, but God does. God knows man’s natural heart and He has both the desire and the power to complete the transformation necessary in the heart of man to restore him once again into His own image.

Evil spirits are taking over our world, and almost no one recognizes it. Satan laid the trap for man then, and he is working to do it again now; with very successful results. He is determined to cut you off from the eternal inheritance that Jesus bought for you with His life.

What is the Trap and How Does It Work?

The Spirit of Prophecy is very clear that we must have a true understanding of the true science of education.

“ ‘Now, as never before, we need to understand the true science of education. If we fail to understand this, we shall never have a place in the kingdom of God.’ ” The Christian Educator, August 1, 1897

Studies in Christian Education, written by E. A. Sutherland, a pioneer and Adventist educator, compiles quotations from the Spirit of Prophecy regarding the true science of education.

“A brief survey of the history of the Protestant denominations shows that their spiritual downfall in 1844 was the result of their failure ‘to understand the true science of education.’ Their failure to understand and to practice the Christian education unfitted them to proclaim to the world the message of Christ’s second coming. … The Protestant denomination could not give the third angel’s message, a reform movement, which is a warning against the beast and his image, because they were still clinging to those doctrines and those principles of education which themselves form the beast and his image. It is important that … Seventh-day Adventists study seriously the causes of the spiritual decline of these churches in 1844, lest we repeat their history, and be cast aside by the Spirit of God, and thus lose our place in the kingdom. …” Op. cit. 5, 6

“It was the desire for liberty of conscience that inspired the Pilgrims to brave the perils of the long journey across the sea, to endure the hardships and dangers of the wilderness, and with God’s blessing to lay, on the shores of America, the foundation of a mighty nation. … “The Bible was held as the foundation of faith, the source of wisdom, and the charter of liberty. Its principles were diligently taught in the home, in the school, and in the church, and its fruits were manifest in thrift, intelligence, purity and temperance. … It was demonstrated that the principles of the Bible are the surest safeguards to national greatness.” The Great Controversy, 292, 296

What you spend your time studying is what you will really believe. If you spend two hours a week studying the Bible, but ten hours studying Greek philosophy, which will you look to as the source of wisdom?

He Prepared a Place

“The Puritans had joined themselves together by a solemn covenant as the Lord’s free people, ‘to walk together in all His ways made known or to be made known to them.’ Here was the true spirit of reform, the vital principle of Protestantism. (Ibid., 291.)” Op. cit., 7, 8

Why did the Pilgrims Flee to This Country?

“The order of Jesuits found its special mission in combatting the Reformation. As the most effective means of arresting the progress of Protestantism, it aimed at controlling education. ‘It developed an immense educational activity’ in Protestant countries, ‘and earned for its schools a great reputation. … More than any other agency it stayed the progress of the Reformation and it even succeeded in winning back territory already conquered by Protestantism. … It worked chiefly through its schools, of which it established and controlled large numbers. … Every member of the order became a competent and practical teacher.’ (A History of Education, 167–169).” Op. cit., 15

The Protestant Reformation was halted, and the Roman Catholic Church won back more than half of its advance throughout Europe. Protestantism appeared to be dying. But the Lord prepared the New World and sent the Pilgrims, who believed the Bible was the source of all wisdom, the charter of liberty, and the only foundation of religion (sola scriptura), to establish a nation based on Republicanism, Protestantism, and the principles of the Bible.

Only as Good as Your Memory

How did the Jesuits teach? “ ‘The memory was cultivated as a means of keeping down free activity of thought and clearness of judgment.’ (The Philosophy of Education, Karl Rosenkranz, 270, 271).’ ” Op. cit. 16

“For ages education has had to do chiefly with the memory. …

“The education that consists in the training of the memory, tending to dis[1]courage independent thought, has a moral bearing which is too little appreciated. As the student sacrifices the power to reason and judge for himself, he becomes incapable of discriminating between truth and error, and falls an easy prey to deception. He is easily led to follow tradition and custom.” Education, 230

Do you see the problem? Primarily memorizing things makes a person an easy prey to deception. Easily led to follow tradition and custom, he cannot discern between good and evil, allowing others to control him. This is the Jesuit system of education.

“ ‘In the place of self-government, “their [the Jesuits’] method of discipline was a system of mutual distrust, espionage and informing. Implicit obedience relieved the pupils from all responsibility as to the moral justification of their deeds.” ’ (The Philosophy of Education, Karl Rosenkranz, 270, 271)…

“ ‘Originality and independence of mind, love of truth for its own sake, the power of reflecting, and of forming correct judgments, were not merely neglected, they were suppressed in the Jesuits’ system.’ (A History of Education, 171–173).” Op. cit., 16

“ ‘How was it that the church of Rome, having lost a large part of Eu[1]rope, not only ceased to lose, but actually regained nearly half of what she had lost? This is certainly a most curious and important question.’ ” Op. cit., 18

What is Happening Today?

“She [the church of Rome] is determined to conquer and bring back humiliated, broken down, and completely subjugated, the Protestant denominations. She has everywhere, through her Jesuit teachers, editors, and public officials, men at work to fashion public sentiment, to capture the important and controlling positions of government and most of all, to obtain control through her teachers of the minds of Protestant children and youth. She values that eternal principle, and makes use of it. …

“The secret of the rejection of the Protestant denominations in 1844 is contained in the educational history just given. … while they clung to the forms of Protestantism, their educational system continually instilled into the student the life of the Papacy. This produced a form of Protestantism imbued with the Papal spirit. This spells Babylon.

“Certain divine ideas of reform in civil government were received from God by some men in this country during the days of the wounding of the Papacy. These men dared teach and practice these truths. They fostered true principles of civil government to such an extent that the third angel’s message could be delivered under its shelter. But the Papal system of education, as operated by Protestant churches, was a constant menace to this civil reform, because the churches would not break away from the medieval classical course with the granting of degrees and honors—without which it is difficult for aristocracy and imperialism in either church or state to thrive. … The civil reformers repudiated all crowns, titles, and honors that would have perpetuated European aristocracy and imperialism. The churches, because they still clung to the Papal educational system, became responsible, not only for the spirit of the Papacy within themselves, but also for the return of imperialism now so plainly manifesting itself in our government, and especially noticeable in such tendencies toward centralization as the trusts, monopolies and unions.” Op. cit., 20, 22, 23

How Will You Relate to This?

“Assimilation is a law of human nature.” The Upward Look, 123

What does that mean? Assimilate means to “absorb or integrate into a wider society or culture.” What you take in becomes part of your worldview, your value system, and your character.

In the world today, it is necessary to train and develop skills so a person can earn a living. But in the process of learning these needed skills, almost unconsciously, people are learning a lot of something else. What are they learning? According to the law of assimilation, the person takes in the value system, worldview, and philosophy of their teacher, classmates, boss, coworkers, and others with whom they associate, changing their philosophy, standards, and values. The teachers who teach today were taught yesterday by other teachers, who were trained by others, and so on.

In the 19th century, Charles Darwin wrote The Origin of the Species. The devil has used this book to deceive a large number of mankind into believing that there is no God, and that there was no creation. Almost the entire educational world teaches the theory of evolution. How did Charles Darwin come up with the theory of evolution?

“After taking part in the witchcraft ceremonies, not only was his [Charles Darwin’s] mind affected but his body also. “It is not commonly known that Charles Darwin, while a naturalist aboard the Beagle, was initiated into witchcraft in South America by nationals. During horseback travels into the interior, he took part in their ceremonies and, as a result something happened to him. Upon his return to England, although his health was strangely weakened, he spent the rest of his life working on theories to destroy faith in the Creator.” The Evolution Cruncher, Vance Ferrell, 25, 26

What happens to you when you start taking part in witchcraft ceremonies? Evil spirits take control of your mind. You believe you came up with the idea, but it came from evil spirits, and these evil theories are taught in universities all over the world, destroying faith in the Bible. If evolution is true, then the Bible is a fiction. But as Christians, we know that the Bible is the truth, thus making the theory of evolution and other topics of study generated by evil spirits fiction.

“In the study of language and literature from what fountains are the youth taught to drink?—From the wells of paganism; from springs fed by the corruptions of ancient heathendom. They are bidden to study authors, of whom, without dispute, it is declared that they have no regard for the principles of morality. …

“Besides these there is a multitude of fiction writers.” Education, 226, 227

Take, for example, the Harry Potter books. People think that the books are fiction and good entertainment. However, everything that enters the mind is education, and evil spirits teach a great deal of the education provided in the world today.

In the book Harry Potter and the Bible: The Menace Behind the Magick (Richard Abanes), it says, “Any time the dark side of the supernatural world is presented as harmless or even imaginary there is the danger that children will become curious and find too late that witchcraft is neither harmless nor imaginary. In a culture with an obvious trend toward witchcraft and New Age ideology, parents need to consider the effect that these ideas may have on young and impressionable minds.”

The civilization of our forefathers—belief in the principles of the U.S. Constitution—is being destroyed, and a civilization based on Greek philosophy, the errors of Egypt, and the Canaanites is developing.

How Do I Get Out?

If the Holy Spirit has revealed to you that you are caught in this trap, is there a way out? Praise God, my friend, there is. We must reject the world’s philosophies and immerse ourselves in the study of God’s word. Many who have received their education, including masters or doctorate degrees, through the false educational system of the world, still maintain a primitive faith in the word of God. How did they keep this faith? The answer is always the same. They recognize that there was something wrong with what they were being taught, and they would spend two or more hours a day praying and studying the Bible.

“Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.” Psalm 119:97–100

Friends, if you think more like a Greek philosopher than like a Bible-believing Christian, take out the book and study it from cover to cover. Study the life of Jesus and ask the Lord to impress these words of truth on your mind that you may escape the devil’s trap. *not her real name

Pastor John J. Grosboll is the Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be reached by email at historic@stepstolife.org or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

Appeal on Immortality

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Men of reason and common sense, give your serious attention to the following points. Read your Bibles again. Read carefully, read prayerfully. See if these things be true or not. Dare to think for yourselves. Do not trust to commentaries. Do not build your faith on bodies of divinity. Go to the fountain head of truth. “The words of the Lord are tried words.” “The law of the Lord is perfect.” This cannot be said of the writings or opinions of any man, or number of men, however wise or holy they may be. To err is human. God and His truth alone are infallible. Show yourselves true Protestants, and cast away the “traditions of men.” You have the Bible. The wisest and holiest of the “fathers” had no more. Your ministers have nothing else to guide them—at least they ought not. “The Bible, and the Bible alone, is the book for Protestants.” Go then to your Bibles, and see if the God-dishonoring doctrines to which I am directing your attention are found there or not. Excuse me if I tell you, that, however full of these doctrines human books and sermons may be, God’s Bible does not contain them.

Rather, believe that man is mortal and condemned to die, but Christ is “come that they [mankind] may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

Is It Reasonable

… to suppose that God created man an immortal being, and yet never once in His holy word informed us of the fact?

… to suppose that if man naturally possessed immortality, God’s word would recommend us to seek for it, as it does in Romans 2:7?

… to suppose, that if men were naturally immortal, God’s word would so plainly assure us that “God only hath immortality?” 1 Timothy 6:16

… to suppose that words, when found in the Bible, must have a meaning attached to them, which no man in his senses would ever think of attaching to them in any other book? For instance, the words life and death, when found in the Bible, must (as theologians tell us) mean “happiness” and “misery”; but, if found in any other book in the world, they would simply mean “existence” and “cessation of existence.”

… to suppose that in all the vast multitude of passages in which Christ promised eternal life to His followers, He did not literally mean what He said? This He could not, if all men have immortal life by nature. In that case, the wicked would live with the righteous throughout eternity.

… to suppose, in all the vast multitude of passages in which death is threatened as the punishment of the sinner, that loss of happiness is all that is meant? An unhappy man is as truly alive as the most happy being in existence; and if he be immortal by nature, will continue alive through all eternity. In no plain, common-sense language can any immortal being be said to suffer death.

… to suppose that infinite wisdom would invariably use language which was only calculated to mislead mankind, or which none but doctors of divinity could unravel? Would God speak in riddles to men in the great matters which concern their salvation?

… and more in accordance with the wisdom and love of God to suppose that He would give His creatures such a revelation, as plain, common-sense people could easily understand? He has done so; if men would use their reason in reading the Bible, as they would do in reading any other book.

… to believe that men go to heaven or hell immediately at death, and then hundreds or thousands of years afterward are taken out to be judged, and to see to which they deserve to be sent? Should we deem it right to send a man to a state’s prison for ten years, and then bring him out for trial to see if he deserved such a punishment? And “shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

… that such prominence should be given in Scripture to the doctrine of the resurrection from the dead, if that event only means a “reunion” of a lump of clay, with the conscious thinking and real man—the soul; and which is said by theologians to be as capable of happiness or misery, without the body as with it?

… to talk about a “death that never dies,” when there is not a word in Scripture to sanction such a contradictory phrase? Would it not be equally reasonable to speak of the reward of the righteous as a “life that never lives?” Is there not as much common sense in the one as in the other?

… to be so constantly, both in sermons and prayers, talking about “immortal souls,” “never-dying souls,” “deathless spirits,” and other such expressions, when there is not from Genesis to Revelation one single passage to warrant the use of such language?

… to say that eternal death and eternal torment are synonymous expressions (as theologians tell us)—for how then can it be said in Revelation 21:4, “There shall be no more death?”

… to believe that a hell of fiery torment and ceaseless misery is to exist forever, when God says, “Behold, I make all things new?” Revelation 21:5

… to believe in the eternal torment of the wicked, when more than two hundred passages of Scripture plainly affirm that they shall “die,” be “consumed,” “devoured,” “destroyed,” “burnt up,” “be as though they had not been?”

… to believe that the righteous in their glorified state can be indifferent to, and unaffected by, the endless sufferings of countless millions of their fellow beings; among whom would probably be found parents, children, husbands, and wives? Is it possible that they will be destitute or deprived of qualities which are considered most lovely and godlike in this life (piety, sympathy, compassion, commiseration for others’ woes)? Will insensibility to the woes of the wretched ever become a virtue? Will that which is a vice in this life, become a grace in the glorious future life? Is the standard of virtue thus variable, that what is vicious here, is to be gracious hereafter?

… to believe that a God of infinite rectitude will punish with eternal torment the heathen who have never heard of Christ, and who therefore could not reject Him? Is it possible that God can cast into one indiscriminate mass of fiery torment, the least wicked among the heathen, together with the most guilty in this Christian land, for such must be the case if their souls are immortal, and if their torment is to be eternal? There can be no degrees in that which is infinite. Is it not far more reasonable to believe the apostle’s words literally, “For as many as have sinned without the law, shall also perish without law?” Romans 2:12

… to believe that God is such a vindictive Being, that His justice cannot be satisfied with the death of the offender? To believe that He must be constantly pouring floods of fiery wrath upon the wretched being through the ever-rolling cycles of eternity?

Is it not far more reasonable to believe that immortality is the gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord? Romans 6:23

Forty Questions on Immortality

  1. Who is immortal? “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” 1Timothy 1:17
  2. Are not all men possessed of immortality? “He who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords: who only hath immortality.” 1Timothy 6:15
  3. Are not all men created immortal? God “alone has immortality.” 1Timothy 6:16
  4. Is there any way by which men may obtain immortality? “By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2Peter 1:4
  5. Is this immortality revealed by Plato or Socrates, or by familiar rapping spirits, or in nature—or is it through Jesus Christ and His gospel? “By the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 2Timothy 1:10
  6. Who has power to bestow immortality upon man? “… the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23
  7. Will God give this gift to all persons whatever their works may be? God “will render to every man according to his deeds.” Romans 2:6
  8. What will be the portion of those who are contentious and obey not the truth? “But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil.” Romans 2:8, 9, first part
  9. To whom will God impart immortality? “To those who by patient continuance in doing good, seek for glory, honor, and immortality.” Romans 2:7
  10. What shall be their reward? “Eternal life.” Romans 2:7
  11. Upon what conditions may we obtain this blessing? “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” 1Timothy 6:12, first part
  12. When do men obtain immortality? Is it at death or at the resurrection? “And the dead will be raised incorruptible.” 1Corinthians 15:52, last part
  13. How shall those who are not dead become incorruptible? “We shall be changed.” 1Corinthians 15:52
  14. When will this change take place? “At the last trump.” 1Corinthians 15:52
  15. How suddenly will the change occur? “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” 1Corinthians 15:52
  16. Will this change be a change of the internal, or the external and physical, corruptible man? “For this corruptible must put on incorruption.” 1Corinthians 15:53, first part
  17. What, then, becomes immortal? “This mortal must put on immortality.” 1Corinthians 15:53, last part
  18. What scripture will be fulfilled when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality? “Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” 1Corinthians 15:54, last part
  19. Who will be raised from the dead? “All that are in their graves shall hear His voice, and shall come forth.” John 5:28, 29, first part
  20. Will the unburied arise? “The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades [the grave] delivered up the dead which were in them.” Revelation 20:13
  21. Will different classes of characters arise in the resurrection? “There will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Acts 24:15
  22. For what are the good raised? “They that have done good unto the resurrection of life.” John 5:29, first part
  23. To what will all others be raised? “They that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” John 5:29, last part
  24. Will a man’s destiny at last be in accordance with his previous life? “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Galatians 6:7, last part
  25. What will be the portion of the ungodly? “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.” Galatians 6:8, first part
  26. What will be the reward of the saint? “He who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:8, last part
  27. Where now is the Christian’s life? “Your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
  28. How, then, should we live? “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9
  29. What will be the fate of those who sow to the flesh? “They will utterly perish in their own corruption.” 2Peter 2:12, last part
  30. Is it possible for man to be utterly destroyed? “Fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Matthew 10:28, last part
  31. What is the wages of sin? “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23
  32. Is this death merely a bodily death? “The soul who sins shall die.” Ezekiel 18:20, first part
  33. If the wicked turn away from his wickedness and do right, what then? “He preserves himself alive.” Ezekiel 18:27, last part
  34. When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits sin, what will be his fate? “Because of the iniquity which he has done that he dies.” Ezekiel 18:26, last part
  35. As he first dies in his iniquity, and then dies for his iniquity, what must this last death be called? “The second death.” Revelation 21:8
  36. What is the result attained by the man who converts a sinner from the error of his ways? “He will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.” James 5:20, last part
  37. What has God placed before us to excite us to action? “I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing.” Deuteronomy 30:19, first part
  38. How does God manifest His love to men? “God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
  39. What is our Saviour’s complaint concerning mankind? “But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” John 5:40
  40. What is the command of God to all? “Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, says the Lord God. ‘Therefore, turn and live.’ ” Ezekiel 18:31, 32

Source: adventbeliefs.com/assets/BBR/17/Appeal-on-Immortality-James-White

Everything Was Given

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“Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell (sheol), behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.”

Psalm 139:7–10

The Mariana Trench

One hundred twenty-four miles east of the Mariana Islands in the western North Pacific Ocean lies the Mariana Trench. It is part of the Izu-Bonin-Mariana subduction system. It coincides with the subduction zones that form the boundary between two tectonic plates: the Pacific Plate, which is subducted beneath the Mariana Plate.

The Trench is more than 1,580 miles long and an average of 43 miles wide. Its deepest areas are Nero Deep, 31,693 feet; Challenger Deep, 36,201 feet; and Sirena Deep, 35,463. The temperature at the bottom of the Trench is 35–39°F.

The first descent to the bottom of the Trench occurred on January 23, 1960, making a record dive of 35,814 feet into Challenger Deep. On March 26, 2012, the submersible Deepsea Challenger made a dive to 35,756 feet, setting a new world record depth for a solo descent.

In 2009, the Trench was established as a US National Monument. The Mariana Trench Marine National Monument encompasses 95,216 square miles of submerged land and waters within the Mariana Archipelago. Although it includes some of the Mariana Trench, it does not encompass Challenger Deep, the deepest part of the Trench.

Source: britannica.com/place/Mariana-Trench; wikipedia.org/wiki/Mariana_Trench

Outer Space

Earth ends, and outer space begins at the Kármán line, approximately 62 miles straight up from the surface of the planet. However, because the Kármán line is partly a reality and partly a human construct, scientists continue to debate the actual distance, which could range from 18.5 miles to 1 million miles.

The physical aspect of the Kármán line roughly marks the altitude where traditional aircraft can no longer fly. Commercial aircraft have a maximum flying altitude of 42,000 feet, and helicopters, both civilian and military, have a maximum altitude of 40,280 feet. However, US military aircraft have a maximum flying altitude of 50,000 feet, except the U-2 spy plane, SR-71 Blackbird, and the X-15. They, along with the Soviet MIG-31 and MIG E-266M, can reach altitudes as high as 354,200 feet (67 miles).

Source: simpleflying.com/how-high-can-military-planes-fly; Wikipedia.org/wiki- Kármán_line; astronomy.com/space-exploration/the-karman-line-where-does-space-begin

To Every Corner

According to NASA, the Earth’s radius is 3,963 miles at the equator, its widest point due to the equatorial bulge, and 3,950 miles at the poles. This results in an Earth diameter of 7,913 miles at the equator, but it is slightly smaller, 7,900 miles when measured from pole to pole. The equatorial circumference of Earth is 24,901 miles, but the meridional circumference (North Pole to South Pole) is 24,860 miles.

Source: space.com/17638-how-big-is-earth

The Eruption Heard Around the World

From May 20 to October 21, 1883, the island of Krakatoa in the Sunda Strait experienced repeated volcanic eruptions. On August 27, 1883, the most destructive of the eruptions—registering as a six on the VEI (volcanic explosivity index) destroyed over 70% of the island and its surrounding archipelago and caused it to collapse in upon itself, creating a caldera. It is one of the deadliest and most destructive volcanic events in recorded history.

The explosion was heard 1,930 miles away in Perth, Australia, and 3,000 miles away in Rodrigues near Mauritius (an island country off the southeastern coast of East Africa).

The acoustic pressure wave circled the globe more than three times, rupturing the eardrums of sailors aboard the RMS Norham Castle just off the coast of Sumatra, 630 miles away. The explosion generated multiple tsunamis and killed at least 38,417 people, including 3,000 people, the entire population of the island of Sebesi, 7.5 miles from Krakatoa.

Source: wikipedia.org/wiki/1883_eruption_or_Krakatoa

“The coming of Christ to our world was a great event, not only to this world, but to all the worlds in the universe of God. Before the heavenly intelligences He was to take upon Himself our nature, to be tempted in all points like as we are, and yet to leave an example of perfect purity and unblemished character.

“Satan and his angels exulted as they discovered that the Son of God had taken upon Himself the nature of man, and had come to be man’s substitute, to engage in the conflict in our behalf. The human family had been overpowered by the deception of the enemy … .

“Satan gloried in the opportunity of besieging the Son of God with fierce temptations. Because He had taken upon Himself the nature of man, Satan deemed that his victory was certain, and with every malignant device in his power he strove to overcome Christ. The steadfast resistance of Christ to the temptations of the enemy brought the whole confederacy of evil to war against Him. Evil men and evil angels united their forces against the Prince of peace.

“The issues at stake were beyond the comprehension of men, and the temptations that assailed Christ were as much more intense and subtle than those which assail man as His character was purer and more exalted than is the character of man in his moral and physical defilement. In His conflict with the prince of darkness in this atom of a world, Christ had to meet the whole confederacy of evil, the united forces of the adversary of God and man; but at every point He met the tempter, and put him to flight. Christ was conqueror over the powers of darkness, and took the infinite risk of consenting to war with the enemy, that He might conquer him in our behalf.

“The Redeemer of the world clothed His divinity with humanity, that He might reach humanity; for, in order to bring to the world salvation, it was necessary that humanity and divinity should be united. Divinity needed humanity, that humanity might afford a channel of communication between God and man, and humanity needed divinity, that a power from above might restore man to the likeness of God.

“Christ was God, but He did not appear as God. He veiled the tokens of divinity, which had commanded the homage of angels and called forth the adoration of the universe of God. He made Himself of no reputation, took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of sinful flesh. For our sakes He became poor, that we through His poverty might be made rich.

“He humbled Himself to pass through man’s experiences, and He would not turn aside from the plan by which salvation could come to man. Knowing all the steps in the path of His humiliation, He refused not to descend step by step to the depths of man’s woe, that He might make expiation [atonement] for the sins of the condemned, perishing world. What humility was this? It amazed the angels. Tongue can never describe it. Pen can never portray it. The imagination cannot take it in. Sinless and exalted by nature, the Son of God consented to take the habiliments of humanity, to become one with the fallen race. The eternal Word consented to be made flesh. God became man.

“But He stepped still lower; He humbled Himself to bear insult, reproach, accusation, and shameful abuse. In the world which He had made, which was sustained by the word of His power, there seemed to be no room for Him. He had to flee from one place to another until His life work was accomplished. He was betrayed by one of His followers and denied by another. He was mocked and taunted. He was crowned with thorns, and forced to bear the burden of the cross.

“He was not insensible to ignominy and contempt; He submitted to it, but He felt its bitterness as no other being could feel it. Pure, holy, and undefiled, He was yet arraigned as a criminal before the eyes of the world. From the highest exaltation, the adorable Redeemer took step after step in the path of humiliation. He consented to die in the sinner’s stead, that by a life of obedience, man might escape the penalty of the law.

“He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death. And what a death! It was the most shameful, the most cruel—the death upon the cross as a malefactor. He died not as a hero in the eyes of men, loaded with honors; He died as a condemned criminal, suspended between the heavens and the Earth—died a lingering death, exposed to the tauntings and revilings of a debased and profligate mob.

“ ‘All they that see Me laugh Me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head.’ He was numbered with the transgressors, and even His kinsmen according to the flesh disowned Him. … He expired amidst derision. But all His sufferings were counted as of small account in consideration of the result He was working out in behalf of man, and for the good of the whole universe.

“He expired on the cross exclaiming, ‘It is finished,’ and that cry rang through every world, and through heaven itself. The great contest between Christ, the Prince of life, and Satan, the prince of darkness, was practically over, and Christ was conqueror. His death answered the question as to whether there was self-denial with the Father and the Son.

“Through the death of Christ, a door of hope was opened for fallen man. Man was under sentence of death for the transgression of the law of God. He was under condemnation as a traitor, as a rebel; but Christ came to be his substitute, to die as a malefactor, to suffer the penalty of the traitors, bearing the weight of their sins upon His divine soul. He descended lower and lower, till there were no lower depths of humiliation to sound, in order that He might lift up those who would believe in Him, and cleanse the guilty from moral defilement, and impart to them His own righteousness. He died to make an atonement, to redeem, cleanse, restore, and exalt man to a place at His right hand.

“Through His life upon Earth, He scattered blessings wherever He went. Though at His word legions of angels would render Him homage, yet He walked the Earth unhonored, unconfessed. In place of praise, He met reproach. He walked among men as one of the poor and lowly. Though He healed the sick, relieved the oppressed, bound up the brokenhearted, yet few called Him blessed, and the great of the Earth passed Him by with disdain.

“As a member of the human family He was mortal, but as God He was a fountain of life to the world. He could have withstood the advances of death and refused to come under its dominion, but voluntarily He laid down His life that He might bring life and immortality to light. He bore the sin of the world, endured the penalty, yielded up His life as a sacrifice, that man should not eternally die. Contrast His suffering and humiliation with the riches of His glory, with the wealth of praise pouring forth from immortal tongues, with the anthems of adoration, with the homage of millions of holy angels in the heights of the sanctuary, and seek to comprehend what manner of love inspired the heart of Jesus.

“How much has God loved the race of men?—Look to Calvary. As you behold Jesus upon the cross, does not the heinous character of sin appear? It was sin that caused the death of God’s dear Son, and sin is the transgression of the law. Says the prophet: ‘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 everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all. … 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 … .’ ” The Signs of the Times, January 5, 1915

To the deepest parts of land or sea, to the highest points and farthest distances of the sky or universe, man barely can comprehend the love of God in His creation, nor, even faintly, the love that led Him to sacrifice His Son for man’s salvation.

“The love of God is so deep, so full, that it could only be expressed in giving for our sakes His own beloved Son to poverty, to shame, to humiliation, to mockery, and to death. He was the most costly and precious offering that could be given to the world, and in Him all heaven was given.” The Bible Echo, November 25, 1895

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38, 39

Neither Do I

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“Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses, in the law, commanded us that such should be stoned. But what do You say?’ … Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear. So, when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.’ And again, He stooped down and wrote on the ground.

“Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, ‘Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said to her, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.’ ” John 8:1–11

“From the excitement and confusion of the city, from the eager crowds and the treacherous rabbis, Jesus turned away to the quiet of the olive groves, where He could be alone with God. But in the early morning He returned to the temple, and as the people gathered about Him, He sat down and taught them.

“He was soon interrupted. A group of Pharisees and scribes approached Him, dragging with them a terror-stricken woman, whom with hard, eager voices they accused of having violated the seventh commandment. Having pushed her into the presence of Jesus, they said to Him, with a hypocritical show of respect, ‘Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest Thou?’

“Their pretended reverence veiled a deep-laid plot for His ruin. They had seized upon this opportunity to secure His condemnation, thinking that whatever decision He might make, they would find occasion to accuse Him. Should He acquit the woman, He might be charged with despising the law of Moses. Should He declare her worthy of death, He could be accused to the Romans as one who was assuming authority that belonged only to them.

“Jesus looked for a moment upon the scene—the trembling victim in her shame, the hard-faced dignitaries, devoid of even human pity. His spirit of stainless purity shrank from the spectacle. Well He knew for what purpose this case had been brought to Him. He read the heart, and knew the character and life history of everyone in His presence. These would-be guardians of justice had themselves led their victim into sin, that they might lay a snare for Jesus. Giving no sign that He had heard their question, He stooped, and fixing His eyes upon the ground, began to write in the dust.

“Impatient at His delay and apparent indifference, the accusers drew nearer, urging the matter upon His attention. But as their eyes, following those of Jesus, fell upon the pavement at His feet, their countenances changed. There, traced before them, were the guilty secrets of their own lives. The people, looking on, saw the sudden change of expression, and pressed forward to discover what it was that they were regarding with such astonishment and shame.

“With all their professions of reverence for the law, these rabbis, in bringing the charge against the woman, were disregarding its provisions. It was the husband’s duty to take action against her, and the guilty parties were to be punished equally. The action of the accusers was wholly unauthorized. Jesus, however, met them on their own ground. The law specified that in punishment by stoning, the witnesses in the case should be the first to cast a stone. Now rising, and fixing His eyes upon the plotting elders, Jesus said, ‘He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.’ And stooping down, He continued writing on the ground.

“He had not set aside the law given through Moses, nor infringed upon the authority of Rome. The accusers had been defeated. Now, their robe of pretended holiness torn from them, they stood, guilty and condemned, in the presence of Infinite Purity. They trembled lest the hidden iniquity of their lives should be laid open to the multitude; and one by one, with bowed heads and downcast eyes, they stole away, leaving their victim with the pitying Saviour.

“Jesus arose, and looking at the woman said, ‘Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?’ She said, ‘No man, Lord.’ And Jesus said unto her, ‘Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.’

“The woman had stood before Jesus, cowering with fear. His words, ‘He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone,’ had come to her as a death sentence. She dared not lift her eyes to the Saviour’s face, but silently awaited her doom. In astonishment, she saw her accusers depart speechless and confounded; then those words of hope fell upon her ear, ‘Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.’ Her heart was melted, and she cast herself at the feet of Jesus, sobbing out her grateful love, and with bitter tears confessing her sins.

“This was to her the beginning of a new life, a life of purity and peace, devoted to the service of God. In the uplifting of this fallen soul, Jesus performed a greater miracle than in healing the most grievous physical disease; He cured the spiritual malady which is unto death everlasting. This penitent woman became one of His most steadfast followers. With self-sacrificing love and devotion she repaid His forgiving mercy.

“In His act of pardoning this woman and encouraging her to live a better life, the character of Jesus shines forth in the beauty of perfect righteousness. While He does not palliate [excuse] sin, nor lessen the sense of guilt, He seeks not to condemn, but to save. The world had for this erring woman only contempt and scorn; but Jesus speaks words of comfort and hope. The Sinless One pities the weakness of the sinner, and reaches to her a helping hand. While the hypocritical Pharisees denounce, Jesus bids her, ‘Go, and sin no more.’

“It is not Christ’s follower that, with averted eyes, turns from the erring, leaving them unhindered to pursue their downward course. Those who are forward in accusing others, and zealous in bringing them to justice, are often in their own lives more guilty than they. Men hate the sinner, while they love the sin.” The Desire of Ages, 460–462

Interesting, isn’t it?  How man condemns, not because the person is worthy of condemnation, but because those doing the condemning are likelier to be as guilty, or even more so, than those they condemn.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16, 17

“Christ hates sin but loves the sinner. This will be the spirit of all who follow Him. Christian love is slow to censure, quick to discern penitence, ready to forgive, to encourage, to set the wanderer in the path of holiness, and to stay his feet therein.” The Desire of Ages, 462

Judy Rebarchek is the managing editor of LandMarks magazine. She can be reached at judyrebarchek@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.

The Home of the Saved

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The Bible opens with a new heaven and a new earth, perfect from the Creator’s hand; with man sinless and having access to the tree of life in the midst of the Eden paradise, out of which flowed a river that spread its life-giving waters through the earth.

The Bible closes with a new heaven and a new earth; with man upright and sinless once again, having right to the tree of life growing in the midst of Eden; with the river of life flowing out from the garden of God, clear as crystal.

Between the two scenes spreads out the panorama of 6,000 years of conflict with sin. It is a story of the fall of man, of the loss of his Eden home, of the curse that marred the earth, of sin, sorrow, and death overspreading all.

The Restorer

But from the hour when the shadow of sin fell upon the earth, there has been a light shining in the darkness. Amid the ruin that sin had wrought, there appeared the great Restorer.

The inspired record gives a word picture of Jesus taking man’s place to win back the lost dominion:

“For He has not put the world to come, of which we speak, in subjection to angels. But one testified in a certain place, saying:

“ ‘What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, and set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.’

“For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not see all things put under him.

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” Hebrews 2:5–11

Just where Adam fell and lost his dominion over the earth, we see Jesus, the second Adam, taking man’s place and winning back the lost inheritance. That is why the picture of the new earth and man’s sinless state depicted in the first two chapters of the Bible is repeated in the last two chapters with even greater fullness of glory. God’s original plan and purpose will be carried out, and this earth renewed will be the eternal home of sinless men and women, redeemed by grace.

Sin will be found not to have frustrated, but only to have delayed, the purpose of God. And what is 6,000 years in working out the divine plan? In our brief span, we may divide human history into ancient, medieval, and modern; but in heaven’s life a thousand years are but as “a watch in the night;” and these six watches are to heaven but as one night of grief and of loving ministry in rescuing the lost.

It has cost all that heaven had to give, but the infinite Gift was made, and all heaven has wrought at the work. Of the angels it is written, “Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?” Hebrews 1:14

Bringing Back the Lost Dominion

Of all the worlds that shine in the heavens declaring the glory of God, this earth is the one that was lost. Its light went out in darkness. It wandered from the fold of God’s perfect creation.

Then the divine Shepherd came to find it and bring it back. And the angels that rejoiced when they saw this earth created—“when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy”—this earth redeemed from the curse, shining in the bright universe again with the perfection of the glory of God.

Christ not only redeems lost men, but He is to redeem this lost earth. “The Son of man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10

By sinning, man lost not only his righteousness and his life, but his dominion as well. Originally man had dominion “over all the earth” (Genesis 1:26). As the psalmist says, “You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands.” Psalm 8:6. He was prince and ruler of the earth. But when he yielded to Satan’s temptation, he yielded up that dominion to the enemy, thus placing himself in the power of his foe. Satan thus became the “prince of this world,” exercising the dominion wrested from man.

But through Christ, this dominion is to be restored. The prophet of old said:

“And you, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, even the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.” Micah 4:8

The Hope of the Promise

The promise of the gospel of salvation includes not only life eternal through faith, but of an eternal inheritance in the earth made new, the fulfilment of the Creator’s plan when He made this world to be man’s home. This was the star of hope that shone before Adam and Eve as they stepped forth from Eden into a dying world. It was to Abraham, “the promise that he would be the heir of the world.” Romans 4:13

It was not the promise of the world in its present state. For the Lord gave Abraham “no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on.” Acts 7:5. Abraham himself did not look for the promise to be fulfilled in this sinful earth, but in the earth made new, redeemed from sin. The scripture says of his hope:

“By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:9, 10

It was in the new earth and the New Jerusalem that Abraham, the father of the faithful, expected to receive the eternal inheritance promised to him and to his seed. And there, all the faithful will find their inheritance.

“And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29

The psalmist said, “But the meek shall inherit the earth.” Psalm 37:11, first part. Christ repeated it: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” Matthew 5:5

The New Earth and the New Jerusalem

Through the prophet Isaiah the Lord described the re-creation of this earth as the home of the saved:

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people; the voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” Isaiah 65:17–19

It is not of old Jerusalem that the prophet is speaking, but of the New Jerusalem, which John saw coming down, with the saints, from God out of heaven. He saw it descending upon the earth at the end of the millennium, and saw the wicked come forth from their graves to judgment. Then he saw the fires of the last day falling upon the lost, consuming sin and sinners, and purifying the earth itself from every trace of the curse. It is the day of which Peter wrote: “Because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.” 2 Peter 3:12, last part, 13

Out from the dissolved elements of the earth and the atmospheric heavens, the Creator’s power again calls forth a new heaven and a new earth, the old creation cleansed and renewed in the perfection of the original Eden paradise. It is coming; for John saw it in vision: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.” Revelation 21:1

He saw the city which had come down from heaven—those mansions that Christ has been preparing—the New Jerusalem, the holy capital of the eternal kingdom of the saints, where Christ’s own throne is set.

“And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ ” Verses 3–5

It passes comprehension, but it is true. And the life of the saved in their eternal inheritance will be just as real as is life upon this present earth.

“They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards, and eat their fruit. …

“ ‘The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent’s food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 65:21, 25

The whole earth will be as the Eden paradise planted by God in the beginning. And from week to week and from month to month the saved will gather to worship before the glorious throne in the holy city.

“ ‘For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me,’ says the Lord, ‘so shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one new moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 66:22, 23

The Glories of the Saints’ Eternal Home

As the first two chapters of the Bible tell of earth’s original perfection, so the last two chapters constitute one psalm of ecstasy over the indescribable glories of the earth made new, with its city of light, the walls of jasper, the gates of pearl, the river of life flowing from the throne of the Lamb, clear as crystal, with the wide spreading tree of life on either side of the river. And supreme above all, Jesus Himself, “the King in His beauty,” without whom there would be no glory even in that city foursquare; “for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

“Oh, heaven without my Saviour

Would be no heaven to me;

Dim were the walls of jasper,

Rayless the crystal sea!

 

“He gilds earth’s darkest valleys

With light and joy and peace;

Then what must be the radiance

Where sin and death shall cease?”

Next to the loveliness and grace of Christ our Saviour, the glories of this world to come have inspired the sweetest hymns of hope for longing hearts. How often has the spirit been lifted above earth’s trials as we have sung:

“O that home of the soul! in my visions and dreams

Its bright, jasper walls I can see

Till I fancy but thinly the veil intervenes

Between the fair city and me.

 

“That unchangeable home is for you and for me,

Where Jesus of Nazareth stands;

The King of all kingdoms forever is He,

And He holdeth our crowns in His hands.

 

“O how sweet it will be in that beautiful land,

So free from all sorrow and pain,

With songs on our lips and with harps in our hands,

To meet one another again!”

“But as it is written: eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9

Through the ages, the children of the promise have been journeying toward the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, and they have confessed themselves pilgrims and strangers in this present world. As they have followed the way of righteousness—oftentimes a thorny path—it has been with the shining city ever before their vision. As they have fallen in death, it has been with closing eyes fixed upon “that day” when Christ shall come to take His people to the New Jerusalem prepared above.

“The Lamb there in His beauty

Without a veil is seen.

It were a well-spent journey

Though seven deaths lay between.”

Now earth’s course is nearly run. It is but a little way to the holy city, where the water of life flows clear as crystal from the midst of the throne. The water of life is really there; for the Lord showed it to the prophet John in vision, that he might tell us that he saw it.

“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem,” he says, “and He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal.” Revelation 21:2, first part; 22:1, first part

Christ invites every one to share the eternal inheritance, giving assurance of His power to save to the uttermost all who come to God through Him. He is knocking at the door of every heart, asking admittance, in order that He may take away all sin, and prepare the soul for the heavenly home.

And the glories of the holy city invite us to come:

“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17

“He which testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” Verse 21

William A. Spicer served the Seventh-day Adventist church from 1887 to 1930 as a minister, editor of The Present Truth in England and The Oriental Watchman in India, secretary and president of the General Conference, and worked for decades in mission development. He passed away October 17, 1952.

The Tree of Life – The Dream of Humanity

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Ever since he was expelled from paradise, man has had a longing for eternity, for immortality, for health and youth, a desire that has existed since the moment when man lost access to the tree of life. When we see children suffering from cancer from birth, when we notice the inexorable degeneration of human bodies in the aging process, the more we dream of a world in which man will regain immortality, in which he will again be able to eat fruit from the Tree of Life and drink from the River of the Water of Life. Biotechnology companies, Eastern philosophers and Western visionaries propose various “crazy” solutions, all completely utopian, for people who love their independence from God and at the same time dream of immortality.

The Promise of Immortality

Since the dawn of time, philosophers have sought the philosopher’s stone, from which the elixir of life could be made—an elixir that would grant immortality to anyone who drank it. In the Edenic paradise, humanity chose independence from God, deceived by the devil with the vision of becoming immortal and at the same time becoming like God. Having lost access to the Tree of Life, humanity has attempted to achieve immortality independently of God by creating its own version of the Tree of Life. Hence the search for the philosopher’s stone, the fountain of youth, and other avenues to immortality.

It seems no era has been as obsessively focused on this idea as modern Western culture. Today, people still die, but according to the prophets of transhumanism, humanity is on the verge of achieving divine status through access to an artificial Tree of Life—a fusion of genetic engineering, technology, artificial intelligence, and pharmacology. Transhumanism is nothing more than an attempt to attain salvation through human effort alone. At its core, however, this ideology is built on a foundational error, based on a false vision of humanity. These efforts always lead to tragedy.

Transhumanism, as promoted by its prophets like Yuval Noah Harari, possesses qualities of a global quasi-religious system encompassing all of humanity. At the heart of this system is the idea of the transhuman and their evolution towards the superhuman or posthuman. In any case, transhumanism has global aspirations. The desire to create a global system of governance is also shared by New Age followers, Freemasons, and the papacy.

When Symbol Meets Reality

The Tree of Life is a powerful archetype that has endured through the ages, permeating various cultures, religions, and philosophies. Though the human heart is corrupted by sin, deep within human existence lies a profound desire and longing for immortality—a yearning for God, even if not always consciously recognized.

In Mesopotamian tradition, the Tree of Life often accompanies royal figures and appears in architectural decorations. As a mythological motif, the Tree also appeared in the ancient cultures of Egypt, Greece, Persia, India, and other cultures. It represents a universal symbol of life, growth, and the connection between the earthly and the divine, reflecting humanity’s ancient quest for immortality and the sacred.1 In various religious traditions, the motif of the Tree of Life is connected to the concept of the World Tree, or the Cosmic Tree, which supports the universe. In this conception, the Tree of Life, as the World Tree, represents the spherical structure of the cosmos with its three fundamental realms: the heavens, the earthly world, and the underworld—the realm of the dead. In each of these religious narratives, the idea of a “center” is embodied in the tree, representing absolute reality, the source of life, and sanctity. Thus, the World Tree stands at the center of the universe, serving as the axis mundi, or the world axis. In this sense, it is the holiest of the holy places, a connection point between the divine and the earthly, symbolizing the interrelationship of all existence.2

In many religious traditions and mythologies, the creation of the world begins at a “center,” where the energy of life and the source of all reality are concentrated. This is similarly reflected in the biblical narrative found in the Book of Genesis—where the central point of the created world is the garden of Eden, or Paradise. Within the garden, the central element is the Tree of Life. “As the creation of the world begins in a certain center, it follows that the creation of man could only have occurred in that same place, which is the most real and alive.”3

The Mystery of King Pakal the Great

In the Mexican city of Palenque, one of the largest Mayan cities, there is a stepped pyramid with the Temple of the Inscriptions. Intensive excavation work only began there after World War II. In 1949, the greatest archaeological discovery of the 20th century on the continents of both Americas was made.

An access point to a mysterious corridor filled entirely with rubble was uncovered. Archaeologists excavated the passage for three years. The corridor, 25 meters long, descended below the base level of the pyramid. At the end of the corridor was a tomb chamber. Inside, they discovered the sarcophagus of the ruler of this place, Pakal the Great.

Within the sarcophagus lay his skeleton, adorned with a decorative jade mask over his face. Only after some time did archaeologists realize that the most valuable find in the Temple of the Inscriptions was not Pakal’s body but the lid of his sarcophagus. They began to examine it more closely.4 On this slab is a beautiful relief depicting the king’s likeness, as popularized by Erich von Däniken, who saw in it the figure of an astronaut traveling in a spaceship. However, the relief on the slab illustrates the Tree of Life—the World Tree, which serves as the main axis of all creation. This aligns with the beliefs of the Maya, who thought that the universe consists of the earth, the heavenly realm, and the underworld.

The world of the living, or Earth, was divided into four quadrants organized according to the cardinal directions. At the center of the world grows the Tree of Life—the World Tree. This tree symbolizes the interconnectedness of all existence, embodying the balance and unity of the cosmos as understood by the Maya.5 At the top of the tree carved on the sarcophagus is Itzamná, the creator god, depicted as the Heavenly Bird. We also see King Pakal in a strange, curled position.

During his life, Pakal was symbolically connected to the tree through an umbilical cord, but death severed this bond. The king is not sitting inside a rocket; rather, he is falling from the Tree of Life toward the underworld—the land of the dead, symbolized by the open maw of the Earth Monster. At the same time, the king’s position expresses the belief in resurrection, as it resembles the posture of a person rising from the grave. The slab features two figures—Adam and Eve—connected by their noses, which can be seen using a mirrored reflection. In the center, we see their hands. Eve’s hand reaches for the fruit from the tree and passes it to Adam, who takes it in his hand. The Maya believed that the first couple lived in a perfect epoch in human history, which ended with a great flood. This suggests that the relief depicts not only Pakal’s death and his hope for resurrection but also the fall of the first parents, which resulted in the loss of access to the Tree of Life.

The relief from Palenque narrates the same story as the first book of the Bible. Humanity must die because it has lost access to the Tree of Life, yet it dies in the hope of resurrection. The bird at the top of the tree points to the heavenly kingdom and to God, who is humanity’s only hope for eternal life.6 On the slab of Pakal’s sarcophagus, one can observe another extraordinary image—an additional layer of interpretation. In this interpretive layer, Pakal becomes a sacrificial figure who undergoes transformation—he dies, is buried in the earth, and rises to new life. His death becomes an act of creation. This transformation symbolizes the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, reflecting the Maya belief in the interconnectedness of existence. The act of dying is not seen merely as an end but as a necessary step toward regeneration and renewal. In this context, Pakal’s death is not a defeat; rather, it is a significant transition that allows him to assume a new role within the cosmic order. This narrative resonates with the broader themes of sacrifice and the creative power inherent in death, echoing ancient ideas of resurrection and the eternal cycle of life.7 This interpretation aligns with the beliefs of the Maya, who considered ancient kings to be the heirs of the first ruler of the earth, the first father. As his successors, they also represented a type pointing toward a future Messiah, who would sacrifice himself for humanity. Thus, the imagery on Pakal’s sarcophagus is particularly intriguing for us Christians.

There is no doubt that the plan of salvation was once known to all people. However, over time, it became distorted and misrepresented. The connections between Pakal’s transformation and the concept of sacrifice reflect a deeper, universal truth about the human condition and the longing for redemption. This resonance with the Christian narrative suggests that the themes of death, resurrection, and sacrifice transcend cultural boundaries, hinting at a shared understanding of the divine plan throughout history.8

The Tree of Life in the Bible

The Tree of Life first appears in the Book of Genesis when God places humanity in the garden of Eden: “And out of the ground the Lord God made every tree grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:9). It then appears again in Genesis 3:22–24 alongside the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, which is central to the narrative. Here, humanity becomes a living being formed by God from the dust of the earth, into which He breathes His own breath of life. Thus, one could say that Genesis 2:4–9 is rich with life. God creates humanity, fills it with life, and places it in an ideal environment—the beautiful garden.

The motif of the Tree of Life returns in the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). In this way, the motif of the Tree of Life frames the entire biblical narrative, appearing at both the beginning and the end of the Scriptures. It seems that the mention of such a rich and meaningful symbol as the Tree of Life should appear quite frequently throughout the Bible. However, aside from the passages in Genesis and a few references in Revelation, it appears only in the book of Proverbs. This is indeed surprising.

Upon closer examination of the Tree of Life, not only in terms of its physical reality but also from a symbolic perspective, we begin to understand that the Tree of Life represents the eternal life that God desired to grant humanity. This understanding positions the motif of the Tree of Life as one of the most powerful themes in the Bible, creating a perfect bookend in the first and last books of the Bible while simultaneously permeating the entire biblical revelation.

Revelation of the Tree of Life

Let’s take a closer look at the biblical frame (the beliefs and principles rooted in the Bible that set the frame of what we believe about God). The creation of the world by God, with the Tree of Life in the middle of the garden, located in the heart of Eden, and situated in the center of the earth, opens the biblical frame. The creation of a new heaven and a new earth by God, in the midst of which lies the New Jerusalem, and at the center of which is the river of the water of life and the Tree of Life (Revelation 22:1, 2)—this is not the end of the biblical frame. At the very center of the sin-purged universe, in the very heart of the New Jerusalem, John sees not just a sign of God’s presence, but the throne of God and ultimately God Himself, not just a sign of His presence. It is God, who will dwell with the saved, who ultimately closes the biblical frame. If this is the case, there must be another event, a central event around which the entire biblical revelation revolves. This event is essential for the emergence of a new heaven and a new earth. An absolute prerequisite for our return to God’s presence, back to our lost heavenly home, and renewed access to the Tree of Life is the event that took place on Golgotha. This is the death and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. We can read about this in the letter to the Hebrews: “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.” Hebrews 10:19, 20. Furthermore, the Lord Himself solemnly declares: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Jesus Christ is the Tree of Life

It is clear that the Tree of Life symbolizes eternal life, to which each of us now has access because of what happened on another tree on the hill of Golgotha. Through the death of Jesus on that tree of the cross and His resurrection three days later, we all can have access to eternal life by accepting, through faith, the sacrifice of the Son of God. If the death of Jesus on the tree of the cross opens the way for us to eternal life, then there is no other option but to identify Jesus Christ with the Tree of Life symbolically. As it is written, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12. There is no alternative for salvation and eternal life except through God—Jesus Christ. The source of all life is found in God—Jesus Christ. He is the Tree of Life, He is the River of Living Water, He is the Bread of Life, and He is Eternal Life.

The Cross of Christ: The Axis Connecting Heaven and Earth

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the tree of the cross stands at the very center of biblical revelation. In that sense, the tree of the cross is a symbol for the Tree of Life. Since ancient times, the cross has been a cosmic symbol of the axis connecting heaven and earth. By choosing the cross as the visual symbol of their faith, Christians intended it to always remind them that it stands at the center of their belief. For the center of Christian faith is neither the birth of Jesus, nor His youth, His teachings, His ministry, His resurrection, or His authority, but rather His death on the cross.9 The death of Jesus Christ on the cross is the central event of God’s revelation recorded in the Bible, permeating the entire Scripture. It is a pivotal event in the history of the world and the universe; it is the heart of Christian theology and faith. This central event has cosmic dimensions and consequences, offering the promise of eternal life to those who accept God’s grace and love revealed on the cross of Golgotha in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ through faith.

Promise

Now we live in a world full of pain and suffering, sadness and illness, old age and death. It is a world that desperately cries out for rescue. This is not the world that was meant to be humanity’s destiny. God promises to restore to redeemed humanity everything that Adam and Eve lost. In the book of Isaiah, the Lord makes a solemn promise to fallen humanity: “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create; For behold, I create Jerusalem as a rejoicing, And her people a joy.” Isaiah 65:17, 18.

Endnotes:

1A. Arno, Drzewo życia, published June 18, 2021, https://przekroj.org/sztuka-opowiesci/drzewo-zycia/, accessibility: 16.09.2024

2M. Eliade, Traktat o historii religii, publishing house Opus 1993, pp. 365, 366

3Ibiden, p. 364

4W. Boguch, Pakal z Palenque, published May 7, 2022, www.tunguska.pl/pakal-z-palenque/, accessibility: 16.09.2024

5D. Davies, Maya Gods and Religious Beliefs, www.mayaarchaeologist.co.uk/public-resources/maya-world/maya-gods-religious-beliefs/#easy-footnote-bottom-2-7289, accessibility: 16.09.2024

6A. J. Palla, Starożytne samoloty, zabawki czy rzeczywistość, publishing house Znaki Czasu, published June 2008

7K. Rollins, It’s Not An Alien Astronaut: Part II, published May 11, 2023, https://misfitsandheroes.wordpress.com/2023/05/11/its-not-an-alien-astronaut-part-ii/, accessibility: 17.09.2024

8A. J. Palla, Dlaczego składano ofiary z ludzi, publishing house Znaki Czasu, published April 2009

9J. R. W. Stott, Kristův křiž, published by Porta libri 2003, pp. 15, 16

Marcin Watras lives in Katowice, Poland. He is interested in the philosophy of religion and trends in society. He works for the European Union.

Let Us Hear the Conclusion of the Whole Matter

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My expertise is accounting. I realized that the most expert accountant ever is our Creator, who keeps the most accurate record books that anyone has ever kept. The result of that record-keeping is noted in the scripture found in Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good, or evil.” The righteous Judge will assess the value of every work I have ever performed and determine its worth, weighed against His perfect law.

In secular accounting, there is what I call the master equation: Assets minus liabilities equal net worth. Stated another way, the value of what you own (assets), minus what you owe (liabilities), equals your net worth.

In accounting, things of value are called assets. For example, cash is an asset. Theoretically, any time you spend that cash, you gain something of equal value. It might be another asset, such as food or clothing. It might be a service, such as a doctor’s visit. Or it might be relief from a liability, which decreases your liabilities and increases your net worth. It’s sad to say, but some folks have a negative net worth due to outstanding debts. More about that later.

Fortunately, God does not keep His heavenly records the same way secular accountants do, something we need to recognize if we are to appreciate the value of a soul.

The First Transaction

Inspiration describes the ultimate accounting transaction, the payment of the debt we incurred as the result of Adam’s fall:

“It is at an immense cost that we have been placed on the high vantage ground where we can be liberated from the bondage of sin, which has been wrought by the fall of Adam. … Never can we understand the value of the human soul until we realize the great sacrifice made for the redemption of the soul upon Calvary.” Christ Triumphant, 215. One asset, Christ’s life, was exchanged for another asset, the human soul.

In business law, consideration is “a promise, performance, or forbearance bargained by a promisor in exchange for their promise.” Consideration is the main element of a contract. Without consideration by both parties, an agreement cannot be enforceable.

In the simplest terms, a consideration is the benefit a party to the contract receives from the deal negotiated in the contract. It’s the answer to the question: “What does each party receive by entering this contract?”

A legally binding and legitimate contract must include the consideration, or the expectation of each individual or entity who is a party to the contract.

In most cases, a consideration comes in one of the following ways:

  1. The promise to do something that you are not already legally obligated to do.
  2. The promise not to do something that you otherwise would have the right to do.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the
right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1, 2

Verse 2 sets before us the greatest accounting transaction ever. Christ gave His life, an incredibly valuable asset, for the joy of seeing you and me saved from a life of sin.

Although there was no legal obligation for Christ to pay with His life for my sin, payment had to be made. “For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23. What did Christ purchase by His sacrifice? “Eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Hebrews 12:2 shows us the consideration that each party in the agreement included in the contract. Remember, consideration can be a promise to do something you are not legally obligated to do. Christ was not legally obligated to give His life for mine, but He agreed to do so. Our part of the contract is to believe in Him as our Redeemer.

One party to the contract is those involved in easily besetting sin, but who overcome and receive eternal life. The other party to the contract is Christ, who received absolute and inexplicable joy knowing that there are those who have and will accept His sacrifice and have chosen and chose to follow Him, thereby fulfilling both parts (the giving and receiving) of the contract.

“The vows which we take upon ourselves in baptism embrace much. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, we are buried in the likeness of Christ’s death and raised in the likeness of His resurrection, and we are to live a new life. Our life is to be bound up with the life of Christ. Henceforth the believer is to bear in mind that he is dedicated to God, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit. He is to make all worldly considerations secondary to this new relation. Publicly he has declared that he will no longer live in pride and self-indulgence. He is no longer to live a careless, indifferent life. He has made a covenant with God. He has died to the world. He is to live to the Lord, to use for Him all his entrusted capabilities, never losing the realization that he bears God’s signature, that he is a subject of Christ’s kingdom, a partaker of the divine nature. He is to surrender to God all that he is and all that he has, employing all his gifts to His name’s glory.

“The obligations in the spiritual agreement [contract/covenant] entered into at baptism are mutual. As human beings act their part with wholehearted obedience, they have a right to pray: ‘Let it be known, Lord, that Thou art God in Israel.’ The fact that you have been baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is an assurance that, if you will claim Their help, these powers will help you in every emergency. The Lord will hear and answer the prayers of His sincere followers who wear Christ’s yoke and learn in His school His meekness and lowliness.” Testimonies, Vol. 6, 98, 99

This passage speaks in detail about the covenant, the contract, between God and mankind, and the mutual contractual obligations found in the contract. Mutual obligations are the essence of a legal contract in business law—the consideration of each party in the contract. Our part—acknowledging the supremacy of the Godhead. Their part—providing help in every emergency. And I will assert that this help is not restricted to emergencies. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

The Consideration that Separates

Scripture and Inspiration provide many other examples of this amazing transaction.

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:21–28

These texts provide at least three examples of an accounting transaction. First, verse 24 states that we are justified by His grace. One thing of value, His grace, provides for another thing of value, our justification.

Verse 25, the transaction with a capital T is noted: God set forth His Son as payment for sins that were previously committed. His payment entitles Him to my service on His behalf.

Verse 28 describes justification as a highly valued asset. It is provided for by faith, another valued asset, given by God to each of us. With exercise, the seed of faith grows into a fruit-bearing plant.

John also makes note of this incredible transaction.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:7–10

Of course, we find the ultimate transaction in John 3:16.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

This text is the best of many that provide examples of the consideration required for a contract to be considered legal and enforceable in business law. Christ gave His life as payment. In return, our belief in Him is required for the everlasting life provision of the contract to be fulfilled.

Another way—a more painful way—to look at this transaction is that Christ gave His life, and in return, He received my sins and the resultant penalty—the shedding of His blood—required as payment for my sins. A penalty so severe that it caused Him to cry out in agony, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me.” Matthew 27:46

It is consideration of the point at which He was separated from His Father by our sins and experienced the second, eternal death that should make us realize the absolute sinfulness of sin and the unavoidable consequences of engaging in it.

The Overcoming Transaction

In Revelation 2 and 3, we are given seven promises as rewards for those who are successful at overcoming. This set of transactions requires the same consideration as our part of the transaction. These are the promises made to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3.

To Ephesus, the patient and hard-working, is the promise that they will eat the fruit from the tree of life in the garden of Eden. “When the tide of iniquity overspread the world, and the wickedness of men determined their destruction by a flood of waters, the Hand that had planted Eden withdrew it from the earth. But in the final restitution, when there shall be ‘a new heaven and a new earth,’ it is to be restored more gloriously adorned than at the beginning.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 62. If we are patient and hard-working saints, we then can anticipate the same reward.

To Smyrna, who suffers for Christ’s sake, is promised the crown of eternal life, being spared from the second death. This promise is also made to the saints who bear the characteristics of the Smyrnans and who have overcome the assaults from the synagogue of Satan.

To Pergamos, a two-fold promise is given. The overcomers who maintain their faith, even amid the enemy’s fiery darts, will be privileged to eat of the hidden manna, and Jesus will give a white stone, written with a new name, which no man knows except the one who receives it. It will be interesting to discover God’s assessment of us as He gives us each a new name. I wonder if this will be a name in confidence between each saint and his Maker or if it will be shared with all.

To Thyatira, whose patience exceeds their works and who overcome by doing the works of Jesus until the end, will receive power over the nations. “You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Psalm 2:9

To Sardis, the overcomers whose lives are undefiled, reflecting an unspotted character, will receive garments of white, with their names retained in the book of life, and Christ will “confess” their names in heaven, acknowledging their right to be there.

To Philadelphia, the untainted ones who keep God’s command to persevere, He promises to keep them from the hour of trial, which soon will come upon the entire world, testing all who dwell on Earth (Revelation 3:10).

This promise is multi-faceted. He who overcomes, I will:

  1. make him a pillar in the temple of My God;
  2. he shall go out no more;
  3. I will write on him the name of My God;
  4. give the name of the city of My God, which is New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God;
  5. I will write on him My new name.

To Laodicea, he who overcomes even as I also overcame, will sit with Me in My throne.

“The heavenly temple, the abiding place of the King of kings, where ‘thousand thousands [one million] ministered unto Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand [100 million] stood 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—no earthly structure could represent its vastness and its glory.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 357

Seven times we are admonished to overcome. What must we overcome?

“There is work, earnest work, to be done for the Master. The evils condemned in God’s word must be overcome. You must individually battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. The word of God is called “the sword of the Spirit,” and you should become skillful in its use, if you would cut your way through the hosts of opposition and darkness.” Christian Education, 117

“Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6:10–17

A surface reading of this passage seems to contradict God’s word and inspired writings. Inspiration says that we are to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. But Ephesians says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood.

It has been said that these apparent contradictions arise because of our lack of understanding rather than there being an actual contradiction. Note that in Ephesians, the actual phrase states, “… we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” “Flesh and blood” is a commonly-used idiom for people. What Paul is telling the Ephesians is that our warfare is not with other people, but with higher authorities, particularly the rulers of the darkness of this world. Granted, those rulers of darkness use people as their weapons, but it is essential that we realize that our real battle is not with the agents of Satan, but rather with Satan himself. And only the word of God can give us the victory over him.

Inspiration is telling us that the flesh that we must overcome is our own carnal nature, the natural, innate cravings of our physical existence.

It is interesting to note how often in both Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy our natural character, the one we are born with, is spoken of as fallen, impure, and corrupt. Nowhere, exactly nowhere, in either source of divine enlightenment, is it stated or even implied that we are born completely innocent and pure and that at some indeterminate point our characters suddenly become corrupt. What is often termed as the “age of accountability” should more correctly be viewed as the point at which we realize that we are sinners, not by action alone, but also by nature. That our sinful actions are simply an outward display of our inward condition.

“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” Matthew 12:34, 35

“But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” Matthew 15:18

“ ‘How degenerate is your heart!’ says the Lord God, ‘seeing you do all these things, the deeds of a brazen harlot.’ ” Ezekiel 16:30

“The propensities that control the natural heart must be subdued by the grace of Christ before fallen man is fitted to enter heaven and enjoy the society of the pure, holy angels.” The Acts of the Apostles, 273

“When the word of God is set aside, its power to restrain the evil passions of the natural heart is rejected. Men sow to the flesh, and of the flesh they reap corruption.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 41

“… the evil tendencies of the natural heart can be overcome only by earnest effort in the name and strength of Jesus.” Ibid., 56

“The servants of Christ are not to act out the dictates of the natural heart.” The Desire of Ages, 353

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” Ephesians 2:1–3

Clearly, the natural heart is imbued with Adam’s sinful character.

A Transaction by Faith

Matthew 9, Mark 5, and Luke 8 all detail another interesting transaction involving Jesus.

“On the way to the ruler’s house, Jesus had met in the crowd a poor woman who for twelve years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all her means upon physicians and remedies, only to be pronounced incurable. But her hopes revived when she heard of the cures that Christ performed. She felt assured that if she could only go to Him she would be healed. In weakness and suffering, she came to the seaside where He was teaching, and tried to press through the crowd, but in vain. Again she followed Him from the house of Levi-Matthew, but was still unable to reach Him. She had begun to despair, when, in making His way through the multitude, He came near where she was.

“The golden opportunity had come. She was in the presence of the Great Physician! But amid the confusion she could not speak to Him, nor catch more than a passing glimpse of His figure. Fearful of losing her one chance of relief, she pressed forward, saying to herself, ‘If I may but touch His garment, I shall be whole.’ As He was passing, she reached forward, and succeeded in barely touching the border of His garment. But in that moment she knew that she was healed. In that one touch, was concentrated the faith of her life, and instantly her pain and feebleness gave place to the vigor of perfect health.

“With a grateful heart she then tried to withdraw from the crowd; but suddenly Jesus stopped, and the people halted with Him. He turned, and looking about asked in a voice distinctly heard above the confusion of the multitude, ‘Who touched Me?’ The people answered this query with a look of amazement. Jostled upon all sides, and rudely pressed hither and thither, as He was, it seemed a strange inquiry.

“Peter, ever ready to speak, said, ‘Master, the multitude throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?’ Jesus answered, ‘Somebody hath touched Me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.’ The Saviour could distinguish the touch of faith from the casual contact of the careless throng. Such trust should not be passed without comment. He would speak to the humble woman words of comfort that would be to her a wellspring of joy—words that would be a blessing to His followers to the close of time.

“Looking toward the woman, Jesus insisted on knowing who had touched Him. Finding concealment vain, she came forward tremblingly, and cast herself at His feet. With grateful tears she told the story of her suffering, and how she had found relief. Jesus gently said, ‘Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.’ He gave no opportunity for superstition to claim healing virtue for the mere act of touching His garments. It was not through the outward contact with Him, but through the faith which took hold on His divine power, that the cure was wrought.

“The wondering crowd that pressed close about Christ realized no accession of vital power. But when the suffering woman put forth her hand to touch Him, believing that she would be made whole, she felt the healing virtue.” The Desire of Ages, 343–347

Her faith called forth Christ’s virtue—His healing power. Christ offered her healing; she believed she would be healed, and she was. Healing had been acquired by faith.

I who have nothing and owe what I can never repay, am loved by He who has everything and was willing to sacrifice it all to pay what I could not. My value is now seen by the light that illuminates His blood-stained face, His nail-scarred hands, and His voice that cried out—for me—“It is finished.” My part in this transaction is to believe, surrender, and obey. God’s is to redeem and transform.

John R. Pearson is the office manager and a board member of Steps to Life. He may be contacted by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org

Satan’s Five Discouragements

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The devil is a very busy individual. He mounts attack upon attack against God’s people, severely trying them until many become discouraged and want to give up. In his efforts to thwart the plan of salvation, he has attempted to discourage even God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

Yes, friends, discouragement is the devil’s business.

For hundreds of years, the devil worked to hide that he was the real oppressor, instead convincing God’s chosen people that the Messiah would come to deliver them from an earthly oppressor. So, when Jesus came to save them from their sins rather than the Romans, most of the Jews rejected Him because He was not the Messiah they were expecting or, dare I say, wanted. They saw themselves as holy people, God’s chosen nation, but they failed to recognize that they were sinners more in need of a Saviour than rescue from an oppressive ruler.

“They could find no rest from the accusings of a troubled conscience. Thus, Satan worked to discourage the people, to lower their conception of the character of God, and to bring the faith of Israel into contempt. He hoped to establish the claim put forth when he rebelled in heaven—that the requirements of God were unjust and could not be obeyed. Even Israel, he declared, did not keep the law.

“While the Jews desired the advent of the Messiah, they had no true conception of His mission. They did not seek redemption from sin, but deliverance from the Romans. They looked for the Messiah to come as a conqueror, to break the oppressor’s power, and exalt Israel to universal dominion. Thus the way was prepared for them to reject the Saviour.” The Desire of Ages, 29, 30

“Humanity, becoming more degraded through ages of transgression, called for the coming of the Redeemer. Satan had been working to make the gulf deep and impassable between earth and heaven. By his falsehoods he had emboldened men in sin. It was his purpose to wear out the forbearance of God, and to extinguish His love for man, so that He would abandon the world to satanic jurisdiction.” Ibid., 34, 35

By making men and women so wicked and, as a consequence, creating so much wickedness in the world, the devil was attempting to wear out the forbearance of God.

“Satan was unwearied in his efforts to overcome the Child of Nazareth. From His earliest years, Jesus was guarded by heavenly angels, yet His life was one long struggle against the powers of darkness. That there should be upon the earth one life free from the defilement of evil was an offense and a perplexity to the prince of darkness. He left no means untried to ensnare Jesus. No child of humanity will ever be called to live a holy life amid so fierce a conflict with temptation as was our Saviour.” Ibid., 71

“No one upon earth had understood Him, and during His ministry He must still walk alone. Throughout His life His mother and His brothers did not comprehend His mission. Even His disciples did not understand Him. He had dwelt in eternal light, as one with God, but His life on earth must be spent in solitude. …

“Alone He must tread the path; alone He must bear the burden.” Ibid., 111

Are you tempted to be discouraged, believing there is not a single person in the world who understands? No one understood Jesus; not one person—not His mother, His family, His disciples, not even John the Baptist—understood what Jesus was about to do for mankind. If Satan tempts you to be discouraged because you feel all alone in the world, remember that you have a Saviour, and He walked His entire life alone, though surrounded by many people, in a world that chose not to understand Him.

“There were none on earth who could comprehend His divine mission, or know the burden which He bore in behalf of humanity.” Ibid., 326

“Satan excited the evil passions of men, in order to fasten his rule upon them. … From generation to generation he worked to blind the people to these prophecies, that they might reject Christ at His coming. …

“Since he [Lucifer] had lost heaven, he was determined to find revenge by causing others to share his fall. This he would do by causing them to undervalue heavenly things, and to set the heart upon things of earth.” Ibid., 115, 116

God said, “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17. And with these words, it became Satan’s determined effort to cause Christ to doubt them. He took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple and said, “If You are the Son of God … .” If he could shake Christ’s confidence in God, he would win the great controversy. The plan of salvation would be ruined if Christ were to lose faith in the Father and work a miracle on His own behalf.

“Satan saw that he must either conquer or be conquered. The issues of the conflict involved too much to be entrusted to his confederate angels. He must personally conduct the warfare. All the energies of apostasy were rallied against the Son of God. Christ was made the mark of every weapon of hell.” Ibid., 116

Jesus became Satan’s focal point. All of his army came together to find some way to bring about the downfall of Jesus Christ.

“Many look on this conflict between Christ and Satan as having no special bearing on their own life; and for them it has little interest. But within the domain of every human heart this controversy is repeated. Never does one leave the ranks of evil for the service of God without encountering the assaults of Satan. The enticements which Christ resisted were those that we find it so difficult to withstand.” Ibid.

“In all ages, temptations appealing to the physical nature have been most effectual in corrupting and degrading mankind. Through intemperance, Satan works to destroy the mental and moral powers that God gave to man as a priceless endowment. …

“Our only hope of eternal life is through bringing the appetites and passions into subjection to the will of God.

“In our own strength, it is impossible for us to deny the clamors of our fallen nature. Through this channel Satan will bring temptation upon us. Christ knew that the enemy would come to every human being, to take advantage of hereditary weakness, and by his false insinuations to ensnare all whose trust is not in God.” Ibid., 122

Christ’s mission to this world was more than His death on the cross and the example of His life. Jesus came to reveal to man the true character of God, to break Satan’s power over man, setting his captives free. Jesus offered love, the power to overcome, and a new life with a changed heart and nature. But this aroused the devil’s ire, and he summoned all his forces to contest Christ’s work. And so it will be for those who choose to follow Christ in these final hours of the great controversy  (The Desire of Ages, 257).

In Matthew 16, Jesus told the disciples that He was to be crucified to redeem mankind, but this was so contrary to what they had always been taught they could not believe or accept it. Peter immediately began to argue with Jesus. But Jesus gave the most severe rebuke that He had ever given to any of His disciples because Satan was speaking through Peter, “But He turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.’ ” Verse 23

“Satan was trying to discourage Jesus, and turn Him from His mission [of being crucified]; and Peter, in his blind love, was giving voice to the temptation. The prince of evil was the author of the thought. His instigation was behind that impulsive appeal. In the wilderness, Satan had offered Christ the dominion of the world on condition of forsaking the path of humiliation and sacrifice. Now he was presenting the same temptation to the disciple of Christ.” The Desire of Ages, 416

“Satan, the author of sin and all its results, had led men to look upon disease and death as proceeding from God—as punishment arbitrarily inflicted on account of sin. Hence, one upon whom some great affliction or calamity had fallen had the additional burden of being regarded as a great sinner.

“Thus, the way was prepared for the Jews to reject Jesus. He who ‘hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows’ was looked upon by the Jews as ‘stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted;’ and they hid their faces from Him. Isaiah 53:4, 3.” Ibid., 471. The disciples believed that the true Messiah would not be in a situation like this, therefore, this couldn’t possibly be the Messiah.

“To the heart of Christ it was a bitter task to press His way against the fears, disappointment, and unbelief of His beloved disciples. It was hard to lead them forward to the anguish and despair that awaited them at Jerusalem. And Satan was at hand to press his temptations upon the Son of man. Why should He now go to Jerusalem, to certain death? All around Him were souls hungering for the bread of life. On every hand were suffering ones waiting for His word of healing. The work to be wrought by the gospel of His grace was but just begun. And He was full of the vigor of manhood’s prime. Why not go forward to the vast fields of the world with the words of His grace, the touch of His healing power? Why not take to Himself the joy of giving light and gladness to those darkened and sorrowing millions? Why leave the harvest gathering to His disciples, so weak in faith, so dull of understanding, so slow to act? Why face death now, and leave the work in its infancy? The foe who in the wilderness had confronted Christ assailed Him now with fierce and subtle temptations. Had Jesus yielded for a moment, had He changed His course in the least particular to save Himself, Satan’s agencies would have triumphed, and the world would have been lost.” Ibid., 486

The devil knew that the salvation of our world rested fully on just one Person. He knew that he would rule the whole world if he could overcome Him. But it seems that the devil forgot who that Person is—the Creator of all things, who holds up worlds and maintains everything in its order, the One who grants mercy, grace, and pardon to a world in need of redemption, and the power to overcome, Jesus Christ.

“At this time [a few days before the crucifixion] Christ’s work bore the appearance of cruel defeat. … To His disciples the case seemed hopeless.” Ibid., 621

“In the wilderness of temptation, the destiny of the human race had been at stake. Christ was then conqueror. Now the tempter had come for the last fearful struggle. For this he had been preparing during the three years of Christ’s ministry. Everything was at stake with him. If he failed here, his hope of mastery was lost; the kingdoms of the world would finally become Christ’s; he himself would be overthrown and cast out. But if Christ could be overcome, the earth would become Satan’s kingdom, and the human race would be forever in his power.” Ibid., 686, 687

So what temptation did the devil press upon Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane? Complete and eternal separation from the Father, the fear that His sacrifice would be unacceptable, that He would never be one with God again.

“Satan and his confederacy of evil, the legions of apostasy, watched intently this great crisis in the work of redemption [in the Garden of Gethsemane]. The powers of good and evil waited to see what answer would come to Christ’s thrice-repeated prayer. Angels had longed to bring relief to the divine sufferer, but this might not be. No way of escape was found for the Son of God.” Ibid., 693

“And what was to be gained by this sacrifice? How hopeless appeared the guilt and ingratitude of men! In its hardest features, Satan pressed the situation upon the Redeemer: The people who claim to be above all others in temporal and spiritual advantages have rejected You. They are seeking to destroy You, the foundation, the center, and seal of the promises made to them as a peculiar people. One of Your own disciples, who has listened to Your instruction, and has been among the foremost in church activities, will betray You. One of Your most zealous followers will deny You. All will forsake You. … The sins of men weighed heavily upon Christ, and the sense of God’s wrath against sin was crushing out His life.” Ibid., 687

“Satan led the cruel mob in its abuse of the Saviour [during His trial]. It was his purpose to provoke Him to retaliation if possible, or to drive Him to perform a miracle to release Himself, and thus break up the plan of salvation. One stain upon His human life, one failure of His humanity to endure the terrible test, and the Lamb of God would have been an imperfect offering, and the redemption of man a failure.” Ibid., 734

“Satanic agencies confederated with evil men in leading the people to believe Christ the chief of sinners, and to make Him the object of detestation. Those who mocked Christ as He hung upon the cross were imbued with the spirit of the first great rebel. He filled them with vile and loathsome speeches. He inspired their taunts. But by all this he gained nothing.” Ibid., 760, 761

Just as Satan worked to discourage Jesus in the hope of causing the world to be lost, he now seeks to discourage you and cause you to be lost. Jesus has paid the price for the salvation of this world, but as individuals, we still retain free will, and it is here that Satan focuses all his power. If he can, through temptation and harassment, he will cause me to become discouraged, and if I give in to discouragement and give up, then I am lost. This is the devil’s whole purpose for all mankind.

Since the devil successfully uses discouragement against Christians and those who want to become Christians, let’s look at a few of his methods.

Health Problems

When your body is sick and weak, your mind is affected and there is no escaping it. The devil comes, whispering everything imaginable, telling you that you might as well give up. You haven’t been able to overcome, and you will never overcome. But remember, no matter how sick or weak you are, even if you are the worst sinner, you can trust yourself to Jesus Christ, and the devil cannot cause you to be lost. (See Hebrews 7:25; The Desire of Ages, 125.)

Financial Problems

Have you ever had to choose between doing the will of God or losing your job because you won’t work on the Sabbath, or have you sacrificed your education because you will not attend classes or tests on the Sabbath? This is another way the devil brings discouragement because of the financial burden that following the Lord seems to bring. Some people have said, “I am choosing to obey God even if it costs me my career.” Jesus was [and remains] the Prince of heaven. He sat on a throne, wore a crown, and carried a scepter. All the universe’s riches were His, yet He became poor in this world to save you. If you become poor and sacrifice everything to follow Jesus, you will have an everlasting reward worth more than anything this world can offer.

Hypocrisy

Character defects in family or church members can discourage those striving for heaven. Too often, hypocrisy runs rampant in Christians’ lives.

It is purported that Mahatma Ghandi said: “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

For those looking ahead to the soon-coming of our Lord, a shaking time is coming. We must strive to remove from our hearts the selfishness and besetting sins that hold us back from developing the perfected character—the Christlike character—required by God to live in His presence. When the time of shaking is over, everyone who is not converted, every hypocrite, will be shaken out (Hebrews 12).

The book of Revelation was written primarily for the last days, but unlike the book of Daniel, it was not written for the whole world, but for God’s church (Revelation 1:1). “ ‘I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches.’ ” Revelation 22:16. When Jesus comes again, He will take only His church out of this world; no one else is going.

Don’t misunderstand; over the history of this world, many people have lived and died, and never belonged to a church, never heard or spoke the name of Christ, but they will be saved and resurrected with the church triumphant. Those who have overcome (repeated seven times in Revelation 2 and 3) and who live through the time of trouble and are alive when Jesus comes again will be taken up from this world. God’s church will have the seal of God in their forehead, and it is clear that in the last days, if you do not have the seal of God in your forehead, you will suffer His judgments.

“They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” Revelation 9:4

If you want to be ready when Jesus comes, you must be a member of His church.

Throughout the Scriptures, a woman is used as a symbol of the church. Revelation 12 describes a pure woman as God’s church. Revelation 12:17 describes the last church on earth as a people who will keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus Christ (Revelation 14:12). They will also have the spirit of prophecy.

“Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10, last part

Revelation 17 tells us that those who are a part of Christ’s church when He comes will have three characteristics—called, chosen, and faithful. “ ‘These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.’ ” Verse 14. We will not be taken to heaven if we lack these three characteristics.

God tells us that we must be baptized with water, but it isn’t the water that is important. Baptism is an outward expression of an inward change, a symbol of being baptized by the Holy Spirit, an acceptance into the body of Christ. God’s bride, His church, has “made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7). She has been given “fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen” (Verse 8) represents the righteous acts of the saints. And finally, God’s church is “called to the marriage supper of the Lamb” (Verse 9). “By one Spirit [Holy Spirit] we were all baptized into one body [body of Christ, the church].” 1 Corinthians 12:13

My Own Defects of Character

We all (sorry, no exceptions) have character defects that we struggle to overcome. The devil wants you to believe that you can’t give them up. He whispers that you have done it a thousand and one times now, and you will never succeed. As long as you are in this world, you will face this struggle, but do not be discouraged. Sanctification is the process by which we overcome, and the struggle is a part of overcoming. The devil repeatedly tempted Jesus throughout His life, and he will do the same to you (John 15:20).

“The apostle Paul declares, ‘I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing’ (Romans 7:18). To those who have tried so hard to obtain by faith so-called holy flesh, I would say, You cannot obtain it. Not a soul of you has holy flesh now. No human being on the earth has holy flesh. It is an impossibility.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 32. Not one human being is free from struggle. That is why we pray. And Jesus promises that if we ask Him, He will help us.

“There’s no temptation taken you but such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able to bear, but will with the temptation make it possible for you to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13, literal translation. God has promised to give you all the help that you need, but, if you intend to win, don’t give up the fight.

False Theology

The devil tried to discourage Jesus by telling Him that because He had taken upon Himself the sins of the world, He would be forever separated from God because sin and holiness do not coexist (Isaiah 59:2). But the Bible says that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38, 39). And no matter the cost, man must be saved. For this reason, Jesus was tempted as no human being will ever be tempted. There is no human being so sinful that they cannot be saved. I am saved when I commit myself to Jesus and give my heart to Him alone, He then becomes sovereign in my life.

Jesus, as our Saviour, endured everything the devil brought against Him, and He did it to save you. The devil is trying to press the same discouragements upon us. He wants us to believe that we are beyond redemption and that our character defects can never be removed. But he is wrong. “ ‘The one who comes to Me I will by no case cast out.’ ” John 6:37, last part

If you put your trust in Jesus, He will save you.

Pastor John J. Grosboll is Director of Steps to Life and pastors the Prairie Meadows Church in Wichita, Kansas. He may be contacted by email at historic@stepstolife.org, or by telephone at 316-788-5559.

The Gathering

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God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4. However, salvation has always been conditional upon man’s willing obedience to God. In speaking to the Israelites through Isaiah the prophet, God said, “ ‘If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword’; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isaiah 1:19, 20

Throughout biblical history, God has always done all in His power to bring man into a saving relationship with Himself. His plea has been, “What more could have been done to My vineyard that I have not done in it?” Isaiah 5:4

“The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has made provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning.” The Desire of Ages, 311

120 years

As the antediluvians drifted further and further away from God’s plan for their lives, God sought through Noah to awaken them to the direction in which they were heading. “The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5

“God bestowed upon these antediluvians many and rich gifts, but they used His bounties to glorify themselves, and turned them into a curse by fixing their affections upon the gifts instead of the Giver. They employed the gold and silver, the precious stones and the choice wood, in the construction of habitations for themselves, and endeavored to excel one another in beautifying their dwellings with the most skillful workmanship. They sought only to gratify the desires of their own proud hearts and reveled in the scenes of pleasure and wickedness. Not desiring to retain God in their knowledge, they soon came to deny His existence. They adored nature in place of the God of nature. They glorified human genius, worshiped the works of their own hands, and taught their children to bow down to graven images.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 90, 91

“Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9. Therefore, God chose Noah to carry a message to the wicked world of that day. He was to build an ark, and at the same time, he was to proclaim the destruction of the world by a flood for “one hundred and twenty years” (Genesis 6:3).

“Amid the prevailing corruption, Methuselah, Noah, and many others labored to keep alive the knowledge of the true God and to stay the tide of moral evil. One hundred and twenty years before the Flood, the Lord, by a holy angel, declared to Noah His purpose and directed him to build an ark. While building the ark, he was to preach that God would bring a flood of water upon the earth to destroy the wicked. Those who would believe the message, and would prepare for that event by repentance and reformation, should find pardon and be saved.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 92

Noah was not only to proclaim God’s message of destruction, but at the same time, he was to seek to gather aboard the ark all who would turn to God for salvation. Thus, God established a principle very early in the world’s history: whenever there is a prophetic time period dealing directly with His people, He sends a prophet to proclaim the beginning of that prophetic period, and at the end of the period, God has a prophet who gathers His people for His purpose.

Noah was both the proclaiming and gathering prophet in this first, comparatively short, prophetic period. He warned the people regarding the Flood, but he also sought to gather them aboard the ark to save them from the destruction that was to come. “Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.” Genesis 6:22

400 years

We find a second prophetic time period dealing with God’s people in Genesis 15. The Lord “came to Abram in a vision” (verse 1), showing him that he would have offspring more numerous than he could count. God then informs Abram (the proclaiming prophet) that His people would be in a strange land for a period of four hundred years (verse 13), but afterward, they would “come out with great substance” (verse 14). And Abram, whose name God changed to Abraham, “believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness” (verse 6).

As this remarkable time period draws to its climax, God prepared His gathering prophet. “You remember Moses went into the wilderness and stayed forty years, during which time he put away self, and that made room so that he could have the presence of God with him.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, 83

“Shut in by the bulwarks of the mountains, Moses was alone with God. The magnificent temples of Egypt no longer impressed his mind with their superstition and falsehood. In the solemn grandeur of the everlasting hills he beheld the majesty of the Most High, and in contrast realized how powerless and insignificant were the gods of Egypt. Everywhere the Creator’s name was written. Moses seemed to stand in His presence and to be overshadowed by His power. Here, his pride and self-sufficiency were swept away. In the stern simplicity of his wilderness life, the results of the ease and luxury of Egypt disappeared. Moses became patient, reverent, and humble, ‘very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth’ (Numbers 12:3), yet strong in faith in the mighty God of Jacob.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 248–251

As Moses tended the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a fiery bush. The Angel said, “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey. … Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people … out of Egypt.” Exodus 3:7, 8, 10

Again, we see the biblical principle: Abraham, the proclaiming prophet, is seen at the beginning of the prophetic period, and Moses, the gathering prophet, is seen at the end. Moses was asked to gather “the children of Israel out of Egypt” (verse 10). “And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt.” Exodus 12:41

From the beginning of Israel’s existence as a nation, the people scattered as a consequence of their disobedience to God. Notice the very powerful statement given to the Israelites after they departed from Egypt: “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you … . Then the Lord will scatter you among all peoples, from the one end of the earth to the other.” Deuteronomy 28:15, 64. But when the Israelites would repent with all their heart and return to the Lord in obedience to all He commanded, He would again gather them together as His people. (See Deuteronomy 30:1–3.)

70 years

In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet proclaims that the Israelites would spend 70 years in captivity in Babylon. (See Jeremiah 29:10.) This is the third time period affecting God’s people. “When men’s hearts are softened and subdued by the constraining influence of the Holy Spirit, they will give heed to counsel; but when they turn from admonition until their hearts become hardened, the Lord permits them to be led by other influences. Refusing the truth, they accept falsehood, which becomes a snare to their own destruction.

“God had pleaded with Judah not to provoke Him to anger, but they had hearkened not. Finally sentence was pronounced against them. They were to be led away captive to Babylon.” Prophets and Kings, 425

But there were also promises of deliverance. “Prophecies of oncoming judgment were mingled with promises of final and glorious deliverance. …

“Like sweetest music, these promises of deliverance fell upon the ears of those who were steadfast in their worship of Jehovah.” Ibid., 427

Daniel, apparently an ardent Bible student, refers to this period in Daniel 9 as he seeks, through prayer and supplication, to have his people brought out of captivity per the prophecy of this prophetic period. “The deliverance of Daniel from the den of lions had been used of God to create a favorable impression upon the mind of Cyrus the Great. The sterling qualities of the man of God as a statesman of farseeing ability led the Persian ruler to show him marked respect and to honor his judgment. And now, just at the time God had said He would cause His temple at Jerusalem to be rebuilt, He moved upon Cyrus as His agent to discern the prophecies concerning himself, with which Daniel was so familiar, and to grant the Jewish people their liberty.” Ibid., 557

In the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, we see the beginning of the regathering of God’s people: “Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, … ‘Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem … .’ ” Ezra 1:1, 3

Nehemiah 1 references the scattering and gathering promises found in Deuteronomy 28. “Remember, I pray, the word that You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations; but if you return to Me, and keep My commandments and do them, though some of you were cast out to the farthest part of the heavens, yet I will gather them from there, and bring them to the place which I have chosen as a dwelling for My name.’ ” Verses 8, 9

So we see that for this 70-year prophecy, Jeremiah was the proclaiming prophet, while Daniel was the initial gathering prophet.

490 years

Daniel also serves as a proclaiming prophet in Daniel 9:24–27, where the prophecy of the Messiah, as well as the prophecy of the Jews’ probation as God’s people, is set forth. God gives His people 490 years “to make an end of sins, … and to anoint the most Holy” (verse 24). During that time, the Messiah would come and “bring an end to sacrifice and offering” (verse 27) through His death on the cross.

Right on time, Jesus came to begin His ministry of gathering the people to Himself. John the Baptist initiates this gathering process through his message of repentance and the announcement that “the kingdom of God is at hand.” (See Matthew 3:1–3.)

But notice the Lord’s statement in Matthew 23:37: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” And in John 12:32, Jesus says, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw [gather] all peoples to Myself.” So we see that Daniel is the proclaiming prophet, and Jesus is the gathering prophet.

2,300 years

In 1844, another time period came to its fulfillment. Daniel had prophesied this great time period of 2300 days. “And he said unto me, ‘For two thousand three hundred days; then the sanctuary shall be cleansed.’ ” Daniel 8:14. It had as its object the beginning of a new ministry for Jesus in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary—the judgment of God’s people, a significant and solemn event. (See Daniel 7:13.) At that time, the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14 were to be proclaimed, bringing a revival of interest in the gospel and the second coming of Jesus worldwide.

“Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort, they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. This work is more clearly presented in the messages of Revelation 14.

“When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His appearing.” The Great Controversy, 425

In accordance with His principle of always following a proclaiming prophet at the beginning of a time period with a gathering prophet at the end, God called upon Ellen G. White to gather His people for this last great declaration of truth before the coming of Jesus, so that as many as will might be saved. “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. And Satan seeks to prevent this gathering by doing away with the gathering prophet, for he knows that “where there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18, first part, KJV

“The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. … Satan will work ingeniously … to unsettle the confidence of God’s remnant people in the true testimony. … The workings of Satan will be to unsettle the faith of the churches in them.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 48

“Many are going directly contrary to the light which God has given to His people, because they do not read the books which contain the light and knowledge in cautions, reproofs, and warnings.” Testimonies, Vol. 4, 391. Without the prophet to give direction that is so badly needed in these last days, God’s people will flounder and drift in one direction and then another with all the winds of doctrine that blow around us. We must recognize God’s prophet and be diligent in heeding her counsel to us.

A Time is Coming

The time is near when the “sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:30, 31

May God help us now to gather up and live by every word of instruction, reproof, and encouragement which He has spoken to us, that when the angels of heaven shall appear, we may be among the multitude of the redeemed gathered up by them to live forever with Jesus.

Source: Clark Floyd, Our Firm Foundation, Vol. 19, No. 4, April 2004, 4–7