Doctrine

Is There Hope For Unity?

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This “unity” question continues to arise among God’s people. I, for one am glad it is still a major concern because it is good “sound doctrine.”

Will this “unity” really happen? If so, how? Will it come about as God’s Word describes it, or must it come about the way we as individuals perceive that it should? Or, if it does not, then we will just not accept it and throw out those who do not match our way of thinking? Saying, “These people cannot be of God because they do not see it as we do.”

Is it possible, even now, though many miles apart, that there can be unity existing among many brethren based upon the real gospel, the Three Angels’ Messages? I do not believe for a minute that the point has been reached that we can all say: “We have arrived.” But, that day will come. I am convinced, that God’s true people will be unified on the platform of truth and those who refuse the truth will not stay on the platform. This is why we must agree that the shaking is increasing—error is running rampant, and every wind of doctrine is blowing. Because of these things, we see people being blown around by every wind of doctrine and the other group settling into the truth of God’s word!

 

Unity—Just for the Sake of Unity?

 

What about unity and division? The Bible is clear that God wants His people united. 1 Corinthians 1:10 and 2 Corinthians 13:11, make it perfectly clear. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement. Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace, and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”

Our commission here is “that ye all speak the same thing, and there be no divisions.” This seems clear. But, notice we must speak the same things. If we are not, there will be division. Can this situation be possible? The Word says we must have unity. But if we are not speaking the same things should we maintain unity—just for the sake of unity?

Eleven words will answer this question, as found in Special Testimonies, Series B., #2, 47. “We are to unify, but not on a platform of error.” What constitutes error? Would it be any deviation from the truth?

“Satan uses those who claim to believe the truth, but whose light has become darkness as his medium to utter his falsehoods and transmit his darkness.” Review and Herald, August 19, 1890.

“Whosoever transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is a partaker of his evil deed.” 2 John 9–11. [All emphasis supplied].

Is it possible to be a partaker of someone’s evil deeds by supporting their wrong concept of truth? “At times with burning earnestness and words of terrible severity Christ denounced the abomination that He saw in the Church and in the world. He would not allow the people to be deceived by false claims of righteousness and sanctity.” Special Testimonies, Series B., #2, 46, 47.

“It is impossible for you to unite with those who are corrupt and still remain pure.” Review and Herald, January 2, 1900.

“Mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Romans 16:17.

“Like will attract like. Those who are drinking from the same fountain of blessing will draw nearer together. Truth dwelling in the hearts of believers will lead to blessed and happy assimilation. Thus will be answered the prayer of Christ that His disciples might be one even as He is one with the Father. For this oneness every truly converted heart will be striving.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 100, 101.

Over and over in the Scripture and Spirit of Prophecy we are reminded to “Stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, being of one accord.” (See Philippians 1:27; 2:2.) And on the other hand, as we have just read, a warning is given to separate from those “which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine.”

Is it possible to balance these statements? Yes, I believe it is. And here is a clear “no argument” quotation that will give us some direction. “Christ calls for unity, but does not call for us to unify on wrong practices. The God of heaven draws a sharp contrast between pure elevating, ennobling truth and false, misleading doctrine . . . I urge our brethren to unify upon a true Scriptural basis.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 175. This tells us not to unify on wrong practices, not to unify on false misleading doctrine. True unity can only come if it is based upon sound Scripture.

There will be some that call themselves the same name that we will not be able to work with, but we can certainly pray for them.

 

A Choice

 

Amos 3:3 says: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” Independent ministries are constantly encouraged to have unity among the ranks. That is the way it should be as long as the doctrine is sound. If two ministries disagree, they are either both wrong, or one is right and the other is wrong, based on the Word. The situation now comes down to various supporters to evaluate what they believe is truth. Since we cannot support error, we must decide which ministry we will support.

Now, let me ask you a question. Is it not right for an individual (you) to choose to support or work with, or not to support and work with certain ministries? Each individual makes their decision based upon the teaching of each ministry. If their teaching does not line up with what you believe the truth is, you withdraw your support.

That is the way it should be conducted. But what is the difference when we, the ministries, must withdraw from another ministry because of differences of doctrine? I hope you are getting the point! Yes, there will be unity among God’s true and faithful, and at the same time division because of those who will not come into line.

Ellen White made this point very well in Early Writings, 140: “We are assured that the watchman shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall again bring Zion. In the time of the end the wise shall understand. When this is fulfilled, there will be unity of faith with all whom God accounts wise.”

The Lord’s messenger gives us the bottom line in Selected Messages, vol. 3, 412: “We have a testing message to give and I am instructed to say to our people, unify, unify, but we are not to unify with those who are departing from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils . . . we are to go forth to proclaim the message, giving no heed to those who lead away from truth.”

We must continue, as Ephesians 4:3 tells us, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” And at the same time, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:10, 11.

Unity is coming! Thousands are praying for it to happen. God will hear and answer as this is His will for each of us.

All we need in preparation for this grand event is to follow Ephesians 4:23, 24, which is my prayer for all of God’s people. “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

 

Angled Waves

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“And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28. “These things,” are not pleasant. No one would rejoice because of the “things” that are described in this chapter. They include earthquakes, tidal waves, pestilences and famines. Then why should we rejoice? Because “these things” tell us where we are. They tell us we are nearing home.

The tropical islands scattered across the great South Pacific Ocean are beautiful beyond compare. The sky is a very bright blue. The ocean seems to reflect that color making it a deep blue around the islands.

The islands have beautiful sandy beaches and coconut palms waving in the breeze. The tropical flowers flourish there—the birds of paradise, the hibiscus, the orchids, the coleus and the plumeria. You can imagine how beautiful an island is against that backdrop of God’s own making.

There is also a lovely lagoon between the island and the reef. The reef, which is usually one hundred yards or more off shore, forms a barrier to big waves and either stops them or breaks them up so they come in gently. The lagoon is a very peaceful spot—a little harbor inside the reef. It is a lovely place to swim. There is little worry about sharks in the lagoon because they do not like to cross the reef.

The reef has its own beauty as it throws the big ocean waves into breakers with white foam spraying all around. Although it is very beautiful, it is dangerous to cross. But anyone who wants to come to the island has to cross that dangerous reef.

Because of the swelling of the waves, the water varies from deep to shallow. The currents buffet one way then another —they hit the reef, then they turn any direction. It is a real feat of seamanship to cross that reef barrier. It was especially so for those ancient mariners, the people of the South Sea Islands, who navigated in their outrigger canoes. These were just small boats with outriggers on them and a small sail, propelled by men with paddles.

We look at those islands in all their beauty, and at the great expanse of deep blue sea all around them. And we notice there are people on the islands. We cannot help but wonder how those people got there. An island can be several hundred miles away from any other island, but somehow they found it.

These islanders had some feats of seamanship that are hardly understood now, but they were very skilled at using them. They looked at the stars, like all seafaring men do, and they could tell certain things by that. But you could not tell where an island was by looking at the stars if you had never seen the island before.

They had developed great skill at reading the waves. You may have stood in the back of a ship or a boat and watched the water as it splits behind the boat—the waves going out at an angle on each side. That same thing happens when ocean currents go past an island. The island forces the waves to split. As a result, the waves past the island are at an angle. From the air that effect can be seen hundreds of miles away from the island.

Although the ancient islanders did not look down from airplanes, they understood that principle. By studying the waves—seeing the angle in the waves—they could tell when there was an island ahead. They would make their way into the trough and so find their way to the island.

 

Roughest Water Just Outside The Harbor

 

The seamen had to watch for the reef as they drew near to the island. The greatest danger, the roughest water, was just outside the harbor. They could see the island—perhaps a lovely new island to them. They wanted very much to get to it, but the reef was between them and the island.

To get across the reef they studied the waves very carefully. They watched the swells and the currents moving one way and another. Then they carefully chose the very best spot to approach, chose the very best time, and tried their best to ride a big high wave over the reef so they would not be dropped on the coral. Once in the peaceful lagoon, how happy they were!

This is much like our own journey.

Instead of looking at water, we have been watching the waves of human experience and history. Just as angled waves spreading across the sea would tell those ancient islanders: “There is an island ahead,” so the “waves” we are watching are telling us: “Home is near. It is just ahead.”

We are getting closer and closer. We will soon be inside the reef. We can almost see our homeland, but between us is the rough water. We have been told in advance that the roughest water will be just outside the harbor—just before we reach the shore. It is a wonderful privilege to be nearing home. Many people from ages past would like to be with us at this time.

What are the hazards that we have to watch out for at this particular time, the rough water that we speak of? In Revelation 12:12 we are told that the devil has great wrath because he knows that his time is short. That was written almost two thousand years ago. Surely he can now tell that his time is down to minutes, as it were. Since he could look at a span of two thousand years and say, “That is an awfully short time,” what is he thinking now?

Satan, has great mental ability, second only to the mental ability of Jesus Christ Himself. He has a higher intelligence than any angel in heaven. In Spiritual Gifts, vol. 2, 277, we read that the devil’s deceptive power is now ten times greater than it was in apostolic times. She also speaks about how Satan ensnares educated people, in Fundamentals of Education, 258. He leads learned men astray. (See Testimonies, vol. 9, 67, 68.) “Many a mind of superior intellectual attainments is now being led captive by his power.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 915. A high IQ is not good enough. How would you measure your IQ against the devil’s? Do you think you could challenge him?

It is my painful duty to give you an example of his deceptions. I am often reminded of Ezekiel 33 which is a twofold warning to the sinner and to the watchman on the walls. “So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word of My mouth, and warn them from Me. When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Ezekiel 33:7, 8. There is a job of warning to do. We dare not refrain from doing it.

 

Call Sin By Its Right Name

 

There is a remarkable passage in the book Education. “The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest,men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.” Education, 57. The phrase I particularly notice is: “Men who do not fear to call sin by its right name.” That used to puzzle me. Why would there be anything dangerous about calling sin by its right name? Why would anybody be afraid to do that? I know better now. Calling sin by its right name among people who want to sin, and do not want you to call it by its right name, can be dangerous.

 

Learned Men

 

In The Great Controversy, in the chapter entitled, “The Scriptures Our Safeguard,” you will find about twenty warnings against the dangers to our faith from learned men. She uses the words “teachers,” “preachers,” “ministers,” “bishops,” “leaders” and “theologians” when describing these men. The point is that the Scriptures will not be a safeguard to us if they come filtered through the minds of these learned men.

Betty and I recently finished reading a book, Receiving the Word, newly off the press, written by Samuel Koranteng Pipim, a brilliant scholar from Ghana. He is currently at Andrews University getting an advanced Theology degree. He has done something quite unusual. He took a look at the skepticism toward the Scriptures that is being nursed on our college campuses. He wrote a blistering expose, which is carefully documented. He gives names, telling you much about what is happening in Seventh-day Adventist schools today. (We will not look at this book in this article, but you can read it for yourself.) Ellen White foresaw all this. She said that learned men would distort the Scripture, which is our only safeguard.

We will look now at another book that fits the description of learned men distorting the scriptures. It also fits the description in Selected Messages about books of a new order. It is an example of the deceitful handling of the Word of God of which the apostle Paul wrote. “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the Word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:2. Paul says, “We are not handling the Word of God deceitfully,” but obviously, somebody is.

The name of this book is The Nature of Christ, and the author is an Associate Editor of The Review, Dr. Roy Adams. We will look at a sample of what he has done. He writes about the prayer of David recorded in Psalm 32. Notice how he has dealt with this particular passage.

 

Chata Ah

 

Dr. Adams bases his commentary on Psalm 32:1: “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” He calls our attention to the word “sin” and tells us that the Hebrew word, understood correctly, means something that is not really important. Let me explain. The Hebrew word is “chata-ah.” It means sin. There are three or four words in the Old Testament translated “sin.” This is one of them.

Dr. Adams believes he has an important message to give to us in regard to this word “chata-ah,” which means sin. These are his words. “In regard to chata-ah. . . God bears with completely surrendered Christians, until the end He bears with them. These aspects of sin do not intrinsically impinge on character and thus do not determine our fitness or unfitness for heaven. And while the life of surrendered Christians will demonstrate growth, we will never come to the place in this life where we are beyond the reach of these infirmities.” The Nature of Christ, by Roy Adams, 97.

Adams is saying, “We cannot stop doing them. God understands that we cannot stop doing them. He does not hold us accountable for them. He does not impute them to us. He just says, ‘I will fix that up by and by.’ ”

That statement is likely to be read to you from the pulpit if you are going to conference churches around the country. If you are down in Australia, it is almost certain to be read to you from the pulpit. I am told that the Conference Offices in Australia bought copies of the book and gave it to every pastor in the land, so they can all be preaching this from the pulpits.

Was Dr. Adams correct when he stated that these “chata-ahs,” do not impinge on your character, and do not have anything to do with your fitness or unfitness for heaven? Is that really true? Let us take a look at the Bible and examine a few “chata-ahs.”

We will start at the story of Cain and Abel. “And in the process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering; But unto Cain and to his offering He had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? And if thou doest not well, sin [chata-ah] lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. And Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.” Genesis 4:3–8.

Cain’s bitter hatred toward Abel and his final murder of Abel was a “chataah.” Dr. Adams says that is the kind of sin we do not worry about. “God does not hold that against you. God does not count them against you.” Hatred and murder!?

 

More Chata-Ahs

 

In Genesis 18 we find one of the most horrible things in the whole Bible, the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah. The chapter begins by telling us how the Lord visited Abraham on the plains of Mamre where he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day, and how the Lord and His two companions were entertained by Abraham. “And the men [that is the Lord and His companions] rose up from thence and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way . . . And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin [chata-ah] is grievous.” Genesis 18:16–20.

How grievous was it? Genesis 19 says that Lot saw two strangers approach the gate of Sodom. He greets them and invites them into his home. They say, “No, we are going to sleep in the streets.” Lot says, “No, no, you cannot do that in Sodom. You must come inside the walls of a safe house in Sodom.”

They went into his house, and before long the men of the city were gathered around clamoring and shouting: “Bring these men out that we may know them.” They were talking about sex, perversion, the vilest of all things. And this is “chataah”!! “Their sin [chata-ah] is very grievous.” Genesis 19:20.

Are you encouraged now to believe that these are “safe sins” that you can indulge in? Are these sins that the Lord does not count?

Another example is found in Genesis 39. This is the story of Joseph in the house of Potiphar. “And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored. And it came to pass after these things, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is no one greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin [chata-ah] against God?” Genesis 39:6–9. This also is one of those little sins, according to Dr. Adams, that do not count.

Next we see Joseph’s brothers standing before him in Egypt. It has been a long time since they sold him into slavery. Joseph has become the Prime Minister of Egypt. His brothers are there trying to get food. When they are standing before him he tells them that he suspects that they have come to spy out the land and he is about to throw them into prison. They openly talk to each other, not knowing that Joseph understood the Hebrew language, because they thought he was an Egyptian: “And they said one to another, we are very guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, do not sin [chata-ah] against the child; and you would not hear? Therefore, behold, also his blood is required of us.” Genesis 42:21, 22. They sold their brother into slavery and that was a “chata-ah” that Dr. Adams would say is one of those little sins that does not count!

It does not get any better as we go along. Look at Exodus 32. Here Moses and Joshua are coming down the mountain and they find the people dancing around a golden calf without any clothing on. You have idol worship and immorality, which always was associated with idol worship. This is “chata-ah.” “And Moses said unto Aaron, What did this people unto thee, that thou has brought so great a sin [chata-ah] upon them?” Exodus 32:21.

In Leviticus 24:11 we have the example of a man cursing God. This man was of mixed blood. His father was an Egyptian and his mother was an Israelite and it says that he cursed God. “And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin [chata-ah].” Leviticus 24:15.

Then we have Eli who was the priest of the sanctuary. “Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; They knew not the Lord.” I Samuel 2:12. It goes on to describe how they mistreated the people who came to the sanctuary. “Wherefore the sin [chata-ah] of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.” 1 Samuel 2:17. Does God not count “little” things, like defiling His worship? Of course He does!

We have a summary statement in Jeremiah 32:30–35 which tells how the Israelites became so wicked that they even imitated the pagan human sacrifices, burning their little babies in fire as an offering to the pagan god. That is called a “chata-ah.”

We have now seen many “chata-ahs.” These sins, according to Dr. Adams, are perfectly safe to commit. He claims that they do not impinge on your character, they have nothing to do with your fitness or your unfitness for heaven. And even though we will grow in the Lord, we will never overcome “little” sins like hate, murder, sodomy, adultery, rape, selling a brother into slavery, kidnapping, defying God, dancing around a golden calf without any clothing on, cursing God, defiling the worship ceremonies, and sacrificing your child to a heathen god.

“Men cannot depart from the counsels of God and still retain that calmness and wisdom which will enable them to act with justice and discretion. There is no insanity so dreadful, so hopeless, as that of following human wisdom, unguided by the wisdom of God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 658. [All emphasis supplied.]

In 2 Thessalonians 2:10, Paul writes about people who receive not the love of the truth and God gives them up to believe a lie. I call that a “Manner of Madness.” I have no question that it is real. It is a serious mental condition, an awful condition that comes to people who do not love the truth. In contrast to this, notice what God’s messenger says.

 

Overcome or Be Overcome

 

“We must conquer in the name of Jesus or be conquered.” Signs of the Times, vol. 4, 293. If we do not get the victory over the “chata-ahs,” they will conquer us. “The wages of sin is death. Sin, however small it may be esteemed, can be persisted in only at the cost of eternal life. What is not overcome will overcome us and work out our destruction.” Review and Herald, vol. 2, 197. “We must be sanctified through the truth; every defect of character must be overcome, or it will overcome us. Review and Herald, vol. 1, 431.

“Every indulgence in sin prepares the way for renewed and excessive indulgence, until at last the tempter has full control of the mind.” Signs of the Times, vol. 1, 437. “We shall find ourselves beset with countless temptations; and we must find strength in Christ to overcome them, or be overcome by them and lose our souls.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 453.

“Every defect in the character, unless it is overcome by the help of God’s Spirit, will become a sure means of destruction.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 573. “The natural faults of character, if not determinedly overcome for Christ’s sake, will completely master the human soul.” Signs of the Times, vol. 3, 494.

“We either conquer through the grace given us by God or we are conquered.” Review and Herald, vol. 6, 435. “We can overcome fully, entirely. Jesus died to make a way of escape for us that by prevailing prayer, by His grace we might overcome every temptation, every subtle snare of the adversary and at last sit down with Him in His kingdom. “Signs of the Times, vol. 2, 74.

“All who enter heaven’s gates will enter as conquerors.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 384. “No one shall go into that city unless he is pure in heart. Everything that is polluting, everything that defiles is outside the city. All who enter there pass in as conquerors. They hold the palm branch of victory in their hands, they wave it before the throne singing praises to the Lamb of God.” Review and Herald, vol. 1, 540.

In the book, Tell of His Power, I compiled hundreds of statements about overcoming. In it is included one hundred and seventeen quotations where Ellen White said that Christ will send us all the strength we need. She writes seventy-eight times that He makes ample provision. “Ample provision has been made that the people of God may obtain perfection of character.”Review and Herald, vol. 3, 522.

“Christ has made every provision for us to be strong.” Review and Herald, vol. 5, 456. “Abundant provision has been made that all who desire to live a godly life may have grace and strength through Jesus, our Divine Redeemer.” Review and Herald, vol. 2, 485. He gives us strength. He enables us. He sends us help.

“The help of the three great powers is placed at your disposal. When in the name of Christ you ask for grace to overcome, it will be given you.” Review and Herald, vol. 5, 143. Why do some get so confused? We have an answer here: “One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s Word is, they close their eyes to truths they do not wish to practice.” The Great Controversy, 599. “Disguise it as they may, the real cause of doubt and skepticism, in most cases, is the love of sin.” Steps to Christ, 111. The love of sin does not have to be the love of vulgarity, the love of immorality, impurity or anything like that. It can be the love of recognition, the love of honor, the love of acceptance.

 

Just Before the Calm

 

My friend, what does all this rough water—these angled waves tell us? It tells us we are very close to home, we are nearing the shore. We are coming to the place where we can see that peaceful lagoon inside the reef. We can see that beautiful homeland. We can see the trees and flowers, all in our mind’s eye. But between here and there lies the rough water of the reef and the coral and the rocks.

We must choose our pathway very carefully. We must have that lifting power of the Holy Spirit to carry us over the reef into the lagoon.

Not everybody is going to be deceived. Some will say, “I do not care what anybody says, whether an ordinary man or a great theologian, I have the Bible and that is good enough for me.” Let us determine that we are going to be among that group of people. Let us determine that we are not going to be discouraged because of what we see all around us. No matter how many people turn against the Lord, the Lord is still true and strong. It has not been easy for the Christians in any generation, and it certainly will not be easy for the Christians in the last generation. But by the promises of God, whereby He transmits His power to us, we can conquer anything that comes. Let us determine that we are going to do that. We are not going to be disheartened, we are not going to be discouraged. We may sigh and cry for the abominations, but we are never going to lose courage, never lose heart. Let us steadfastly move on, trusting in the Lord.

 

The Mystery of Godliness

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For the Pharisees in Jesus’ day, the church was a club for the saints. But the church that Jesus came to establish was not a club for the saints, it was a hospital for sinners. A place where they would be changed and healed. We must never forget that. Sometimes when we come to church we look around us and say, “Look at that brother or that sister.” But that is not what we are supposed to be looking at. When you go to the hospital, do you say, “Oh, no, I should not be here. Look at that man. He is sick! Look at that lady. She is sick! Everybody in this building is sick. I do not think I should be here”? Of course not! You are all there to get well. It is the same with the church. We do not go to look at each other with our faults. We go to look at Jesus, the Great Physician. Jesus wants to heal us from the sting of sin. That, Paul says, is the great mystery. “Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16. Satan hates this verse of Scripture. The devil does not like any part of the Bible, but there are certain parts that he especially hates. 1 Timothy 3:16 is one of those verses.

In the early centuries, before the printing press was invented, the only way you could get a copy of the New Testament was if someone copied it out by hand. There were professional copyists in those days, called scribes.

There were many scribes who copied the entire New Testament. We have over five thousand ancient manuscripts of the New Testament, although not all are complete. That is more than the writings of Homer or of any of the Greek philosophers or historians. In fact, there are more copies of the New Testament than any other ancient document.

In the ancient world, after the time of the apostles, there were two places where a gigantic apostasy developed against the true Christian faith. One was in Rome and the other in Alexandria, Egypt.

In Egypt by the second and third centuries there developed a counterfeit Christianity. Because Egypt is a desert country, we have many manuscripts from the third and the fourth centuries, whereas most of the other manuscripts we have, from other parts of the Middle East, are later copies.

In all the manuscripts there are mistakes. But in the Egyptian manuscripts we find not just random mistakes, but the type of mistakes that indicate to us that there was a conscious attempt by someone to weaken the testimony of the New Testament about the divinity of Jesus Christ.

That is one of the major reasons why many conservative Bible scholars, for many years now, have said that they do not have confidence in the Egyptian manuscripts. They instead have confidence in the great majority of the manuscripts of the New Testament from different areas.

In this text, I Timothy 3:16, it says, “God was manifested in the flesh.” In the Egyptian Manuscripts the word “God” is left out. This is the way it was done. The word for “God” in the Greek language is Theos. If the first two letters (“Th” in Greek is one letter) are removed, then just os is left. “Os” is a pronoun, and this makes the verse completely nonsensical. There is no appropriate antecedent for this pronoun in the sentence. Versions translated from the Egyptian manuscripts read like this, “He was manifested in the flesh.”

The majority of the modern translations of the English Bible are translated from the Egyptian text and are, therefore, not as accurate as Bibles that are translated from the great majority of Greek manuscripts. Read 1 Timothy 3:16, in your Bible. If the word “God” is left out it means that your Bible was translated from an Egyptian text. It would be well to get a Bible that is more accurate, such as the King James or the New King James versions.

 

God In the Flesh

 

The New Testament states unequivocally that Jesus is God. He is a divine person. “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21. This is the prediction that Mary, who was a virgin, would produce a child, conceived by the Holy Spirit. His name was to be called Jesu, or in the Hebrew language Joshua, or in English Jesus. That name means a Savior, or a Deliverer.

Who is this Jesus, who is going to save us from our sins? It says in Matthew 1:23, “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us.” Matthew 1:23. He is God, God with us, God in the flesh.

The New Testament states this over and over again. Jesus existed before He was born of Mary. “John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, ‘This was He of Whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” John 1:15.

John the Baptist was six months older than Jesus, yet, he said that Jesus was before him. How much before? “And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” John 17:5. “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24. Jesus said to His Father, “I remember the love You had for Me before the world existed.”

How long before the world was? “But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2. God the Father is saying that the one born in Bethlehem had been with Him from the days of eternity.

God has always been. In our human speech, when we go as far back as we can, we call that the beginning. The Bible says that in the beginning God already was. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning (you cannot go back beyond that) was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life . . . And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:1–4, 14.

A person would have to be God in order to fully reveal God, because God is infinite. No created person could reveal the Father completely. Jesus could do what no angel, or created person could do. “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:8–10.

Many Christians do not believe that verse. Yet, it is still in the Bible. “You are complete in Him Who is the Head.” That is the Chief, the One who is in control. The head is the top of the body. He is the head of all principality (rulers) and powers.

 

Seen by Angels

 

“Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels.” As being part of this great mystery Paul talks about Jesus being seen by angels. What was it that was seen by angels that was so mysterious? When Paul said Jesus was seen by angels, he was not only talking about God’s angels. He was talking about the devil’s angels, also.

The book of Revelation teaches that the devil has angels. There were angels that joined the devil in his rebellion against the government of heaven.(See Revelation 12:7–9.) Part of this great mystery is that when Jesus came down to this world, He was manifest in the flesh. The angels—the people in the heavens —saw something. What was it that they saw?

They saw what the great men of the earth saw as described in Psalm 48: “For behold the kings assembled, They passed by together. They saw it, and so they marveled; They were troubled, they hastened away. Fear took hold of them there, and pain, as of a woman in birth pangs, as when you break the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.” Psalm 48:4–7.

Jesus was crucified during the celebration of the Passover. At that time there were kings, representatives from foreign courts, nobles, princes—men who exerted a wide influence in the world, assembled from all parts of the world in Jerusalem for the Passover. These people witnessed the scenes of Christ’s death.

Many Jews read the inscription on the cross, and it caused such a stir that the chief priests went to Pilate and said, “Please change what you wrote, because it is having such an effect on the people.” It was at that time, when the kings, nobles, and so many important peoples were watching, that Jehovah struck a blow that was felt and has been felt all over the world. The tidings of Christ’s trial and crucifixion were taken by these people to all parts of the world.

This was by divine foreknowledge and decree, because God wanted all the people of the world to focus their attention on the meaning of what happened when Jesus died on the cross. That is to be the all absorbing theme. Everyone in the world is invited to look, to study, and to understand. That is to be the great center of attraction in our world.

The angels of heaven want to understand what happened. Peter, when writing to the Christians later in his life, said the angels desire to understand this great mystery.

What was seen on Calvary? One of the things seen was that God’s throne is a throne of justice. Many today have forgotten all about God’s justice. But the cross proves that our God is a God of justice. When His law is broken, the price has to be paid. It cannot be overlooked. The sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross paid the price for our sin. It also restored honor to God’s government which had been under attack.

Satan said to God, “You cannot be just and forgive the human race of their sins.” God said, “Yes, I can.” The cross is an unanswerable argument. At the end of the world the result of the cross upon the heavenly universe, upon satanic agencies, and upon everyone in this world will be, as the Bible predicts—every mouth will be stopped. In making this infinite sacrifice, Christ exalted and honored the law.

Many things are revealed at the cross besides God’s justice. God could have been just and destroyed the whole world. When man rebelled against God, God could have been just and righteous and destroyed every sinner in the world. God is just, but His character is infinite, it involves more than justice. It is merciful. Even though the devil claimed that God could not be just and merciful, the cross proved this also.

The cross proved that God is right, and the devil wrong. Was the penalty paid, terrible? Jesus exhausted the wrath of God against a broken law. He exhausted the penalty so that you and I would not have to pay it.

The cross shows that God is just and shows at the same time that He is merciful. It shows that His hatred against sin is as strong as death, but it shows that His love for sinners is even stronger than death. When it is all done, and God presents to the entire inhabitants of the world a panoramic view of the life and death of Christ, every mouth will be stopped, every rebellious voice silenced. God will have done everything that He could do to save each one. No one will be able to say to the Lord, “Lord, I had a bad inheritance, I had a poor marriage partner, I had bad health, or I had trouble on my job.” Every mouth will be silenced. God will say, “I did everything possible to save you. There were abundant opportunities for you to be saved. All you had to do was accept, all you had to do was commit your life to Me and I would have helped you. The plan of salvation would have worked out in your life.” What are you going to say when the Lord presents to you millions of other people that were just as weak as you were?

He will be able to show you people who had just as bad a marriage as you had, just as bad health as you had, just as much trouble on their job as you had, and all the kinds of trouble you had. Yet they committed their lives to Christ and He saved them, why didn’t you? What will you say? The Bible says every mouth will be stopped. It is the cross that will stop the great controversy.

 

Thoughts Revealed

 

The cross of Jesus has a dark side and a light side. The light side is how much God loves you and me. God loves you enough that He would rather die than leave you lost.

The dark side is this: God’s Son was permitted to endure the enmity of an apostate, called Satan, against the commander of all heaven. It was demonstrated what Satan was like.

This was predicted in the Bible. “Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, behold, this child is destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes a sword will pierce through your own soul also) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Luke 2:34, 35. What does it mean that the thoughts of many hearts are going to be revealed?

When Jesus came, the character of God was revealed to the whole universe. His justice, His mercy, His love for the lost, His kindness, His tact, His courtesy, His cheerfulness, His helpfulness, and His tender compassion. The character of God was perfectly reflected to us through the life of Christ.

The thoughts of God are revealed through the life of Jesus. God loves you so much that He would rather His Son die on the cross than you be lost. This is impossible to explain. We cannot understand the love of God, but it is real. The life of Christ revealed the thoughts of God’s heart.

The heart of the devil was also revealed. The heart of the devil had never been revealed before like it was when Jesus was on earth. It was the devil who inspired the men who crucified Christ. It was the devil who stimulated the people to taunt Christ, and the Roman soldiers to mock Him. He persuaded Pilate to condemn Jesus to crucifixion, even after Pilate said three times in the most emphatic language, “I find in Him no fault at all.”

The thoughts of the devil were revealed. But that is not all. In the life and death of Christ your heart is revealed. When you read the story you will take one side or the other. Either you accept Christ, or you deny Him and become His enemy. You cannot be neutral. When you read the story of Christ, especially about His crucifixion, you have to go one way or the other.

When you see that the devil has no mercy, but is only cruel, do you want to follow him any more? “Oh,” somebody says, “I have never been following the devil.” Oh? I wish I could say that.

Who is following the devil and who is not following the devil? “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8. Jesus wants to destroy the works of the devil. He was manifested to deliver us from sin.

The people who are given eternal life will be people in whom the Lord Jesus has destroyed the works of the devil, delivered them from sin. Do you want to be part of that group? Do you want Jesus to deliver you?

Sin is cruel. Sin is not something that anyone would want to have anything to do with. We see when we study the cross, it would be better for us to lose our lives than to be involved in sin.

“Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifested in the flesh . . . seen by angels.” Is this mystery going to change your life? Are you studying about it, thinking about it, praying about it? Are you saying, “Lord, I want this salvation that was worked out for me in the life of Jesus on the cross. I want this salvation to change my life. I do not want to follow the devil any more. I do not want to live a life of sin any more.”

Has this been your experience? It is a great mystery. It is beyond our understanding. But we serve a God of mysteries, a God of miracles, a God that wants to work a miracle in your life and mine.

 

The Coming Sunday Law

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In Isaiah 43: 1, 2 we read, “But now thus saith the Lord, that created thee, O Jacob, and that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” What divine assurance! In old Babylon God graciously gave king Nebuchadnezzar a dream revealing the history of the world to the end of time. Daniel 2 describes the statue with the head of gold, chest of silver, belly and thighs of brass, legs of iron, and feet of iron mixed with clay, representing the deterioration of the coming earthly kingdoms. But Nebuchadnezzar determined to change the future by making an image entirely of gold, representing that Babylon would last forever. The king demanded all to worship this golden image.

On the day of dedication, representatives from all people, nations and languages assembled around this great image on the plain of Dura. When the music sounded, the entire assembly fell down and worshipped the golden image except Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who worshipped the true God. Jealous wise men quickly told the king that three men had dared disobey his command. When these three were brought before the king, he inquired, “Do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?” Pointing to the fiery furnace, he threatened them with death, if they would not worship his idol, and offered them another chance. If they refused to worship the golden image, “he demanded, ‘who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?’ Calmly facing the furnace, they said, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so . . . our God, whom we serve is able to deliver us . . . out of thine hand, O king . . . But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.’ . . . [He] direct[ed] that the furnace be heated seven times hotter . . . As His witnesses were cast into the furnace, the Savior revealed Himself to them in person, and together they walked in the midst of the fire. In the presence of the Lord of heat and cold, the flames lost their power to consume . . . But his feelings of triumph suddenly changed . . .‘Did not we cast three men, bound, into the midst of the fire? . . .Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.’ . . . Nebuchadnezzar . . . cried out, ‘Ye servants of the most high God, come forth’ . . . Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth . . . showing themselves unhurt.” Prophets and Kings, 507–509. Not even a hair of their head had been singed. Here we discover a very important lesson to be found. “In this our day, many of God’s servants, though innocent of wrongdoing, will be given over to suffer humiliation and abuse at the hands of those who, inspired by Satan, are filled with envy and religious bigotry. Especially will the wrath of man be aroused against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment; and at last a universal decree will denounce these as deserving of death.” Ibid., 512. Here we find our subject of this article opening before us—the soon coming Sunday law crisis.

 

Sunday Laws Will be Passed

 

Let us look at some important quotations: “Sooner or later Sunday laws will be passed.” Last Day Events, 128. Believe me, it will be sooner than many of us think, for God has graciously given us every detail.

One: This Sunday law will take place by a national act. “Our land is in jeopardy. The time is drawing on when its legislators shall so abjure the principles of Protestantism as to give countenance to Romish apostasy. The people for whom God has so marvelously wrought, strengthening them to throw off the galling yoke of popery, will by a national act give vigor to the corrupt faith of Rome, and thus arouse the tyranny which only waits for a touch to start again into cruelty and despotism.” Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 4, 410. What dramatic words!

Two: The enforcement of this Sunday law will be mandatory, as a law of the nation. “A more decided effort will be made to exalt the false sabbath, and to cast contempt upon God Himself by supplanting the day He had blessed and sanctified. This false Sabbath is to be enforced by an oppressive law.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 985.

Three: The clergy will endeavor to make the Sunday law a religious amendment to the Constitution. “If the people can be led to favor a Sunday law, then the clergy intend to exert their united influence to obtain a religious amendment to the Constitution, and compel the nation to keep Sunday.” Review and Herald, December 24, 1889. This is the result of the current ecumenical movement, which our church leaders are encouraging the members to accept and follow.

 

Hidden Objectives

 

Let us consider the hidden objectives of this national Sunday law.

One: It will destroy religious freedom in America. “The law of God, through the agency of Satan, is to be made void. In our land of boasted freedom, religious liberty will come to an end.”Evangelism, 236. What a tragedy! It will be time to dismantle the Statue of Liberty.

Two: This Sunday law will make it possible for papal Rome to force the conscience, as in the dark ages. “Protestants will throw their whole influence and strength on the side of the Papacy; by a national act enforcing the false sabbath they will give life and vigor to the corrupt faith of Rome, reviving her tyranny and oppression of conscience.” Maranatha, 179.

Three: This law will crush the spirit of freedom in America forever. “A great crisis awaits the people of God. Very soon our nation will attempt to enforce upon all the observance of the first day of the week as a sacred day.” Last Day Events, 144. That means business will stop. Religious liberty will end. Sabbath keepers will suddenly find themselves opposed, hated, and thrust into a battle for their very life. “Soon, the Sunday laws will be enforced, and men in position of trust will be embittered against the little handful of God’s commandment keeping people.” Ibid., 129. “Seventh-day Adventists will fight the battle over the seventh-day Sabbath.” Ibid., 144. Every one will fight a battle for his very life.

The enactment of this Sunday law will produce three important steps in the fulfillment of that great prophecy found in Revelation 13: 11–16. “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads.”

 

Papacy • Image • Mark

 

Notice how The Great Controversy points out these three steps:

  1. Worship of the papacy.
  2. Making an image to the beast
  3. Placement of the mark of the beast.

“The prophecy of Revelation 13 declares that the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns shall cause ‘the earth and them which dwell therein’ to worship the papacy—there symbolized by the beast ‘like unto a leopard.’ The beast with the two horns is also to say ‘to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast;’ and, furthermore, it is to command all, ‘both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,’ to receive the mark of the beast . . . It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns, and that this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance.” Great Controversy, 578, 579.

First, let us take these words, “to worship the papacy.” “. . . the decree shall go forth requiring all to worship the beast and his image.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 525. This can be nothing more than force. Force is to be used symbolizing a police state. “. . . the beast with the lamblike horns shall cause ‘the earth and them which dwell therein’ to worship the papacy.” Great Controversy, 578.

America is fast becoming a police state. Congress has voted millions for a hundred thousand extra police. Foreign troops are now stationed on American soil to be used, if necessary, to force us to obey the government. Millions of smart cards are being produced this year. Detention camps stand ready. By the stroke of a President’s pen, he can control by Executive Orders: 10995 all communications. 10997 all electric power, petroleum, gas, fuel and minerals. 10998 all food resources and every farm. 10999 all means of transportation, controlling all highways and seaports. 11000 drafts all citizens into government work forces. 11001 effects all health and welfare and educational functions. 11002 empowers the postmaster general to register every citizen nationwide. 11003 all airports and aircraft. 11004 housing and finance authorities, designates areas to be abandoned as unsafe, establishes new locations for populations, and relocation of communities. 11005 all railroads, inland waterways and public storage facilities. 11051 gives authority to put the above order into effect in times of increased international tension or economic or financial crisis. Under President Nixon, these orders were combined into Executive order 11490. Thus, the possibility of the image of the beast becomes manifest. “A great crisis awaits the people of God. Very soon our nation will attempt to enforce upon all, the observance of the first day of the week as a sacred day. In doing this, they will not scruple to compel men against the voice of their own conscience to observe the day the nation declares to be the sabbath.” Review and Herald, December 11, 1888.

“With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample upon God’s law to obey a human enactment receives the mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead of God. The warning from heaven is: ‘If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.’ ” Great Controversy, 604, 605.

It is very clear.

 

World-wide Law

 

We can now make these statements, each backed by inspiration.

One: A Sunday-keeping decree will be forced upon the world. “The decree enforcing the worship of this day is to go forth to all the world.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 976.

Two: All of the world will accept and will participate. “The Sabbath question is to be the issue in the great final conflict in which all the world will act a part.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 352.

Three: Foreign nations will accept this Sunday law. “Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 395.

Four: All nations will obey. “All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious sabbath. This is Satan’s plan to make of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world as a memorial of creation. The decree enforcing the worship of this day is to go forth to all the world.” Maranatha, 214. Let us look at the buying and selling provision found in Rev 13: 16, 17: “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”

“There is a time coming when commandment keepers can neither buy nor sell. Make haste to dig out your buried talents. If God has entrusted you with money, show yourselves faithful to your trust; unwrap your napkin, and send your talents to the exchangers, that when Christ shall come, He may receive His own with interest.” Counsels on Stewardship, 40. See Revelation 13:11–17. “But to the obedient is given the promise, ‘He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him: his waters shall be sure.’ Isaiah 33:16. By this promise the children of God will live. When the earth shall be wasted with famine they shall be fed. ‘They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.’ Psalm 37:19.” Desire of Ages, 40. What more could we ask of God?

We should not overlook another warning by inspiration: “Educate our people to get out of the cities into the country, where they can obtain a small piece of land, and make a home for themselves and their children . . . erelong there will be such strife and confusion in the cities, that those who wish to leave them will not be able.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 142. “As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation in the decree enforcing the papal Sabbath will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave the large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 464. ” If in the providence of God we can secure places away from the cities, the Lord would have us do this. There are troublous times before us . . . I see the necessity of making haste to get all things ready for the crisis.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 359.

 

Summary

 

“The substitution of the false for the true is the last act in the drama. When this substitution becomes universal, God will reveal Himself. When the laws of men are exalted above laws of God, when the powers of this earth try to force men to keep the first day of the week, know that the time has come for God to work. He will arise in His majesty, and will shake terribly the earth.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 980.

“When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28. “The coming of Christ is nearer than when we first believed . . . The judgments of God are in the land. They speak in solemn warning, saying; ‘Be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of Man cometh.’ Matthew 24:44 . . . Prophecy is fast fulfilling. The hours of probation are fast passing . . . Let us not be found sleeping on guard. Let no one say in his heart or by his works, ‘My Lord delayeth His coming.’ Let the message of Christ’s soon return sound forth in earnest words of warning. Let us persuade men and women everywhere to repent and flee from the wrath to come . . . We are not to be sad, but

cheerful, and we are to keep the Lord Jesus ever before us. He is soon coming, and we must be ready and waiting for his appearing. Oh, how glorious it will be to see Him and be welcomed as His redeemed ones! Long have we waited, but our hope is not to grow dim . . . I feel as if I must cry aloud: ‘Homeward bound!’ We are nearing the time when Christ will come in power and great glory to take His ransomed ones to their eternal home . . . Long have we waited for our Savior’s return. But nonetheless sure is the promise. Soon we shall be in our promised home. There Jesus will lead us beside the living stream flowing from the throne of God and will explain to us the dark providences through which on this earth He brought us in order to perfect our characters. There we shall behold with undimmed vision the beauties of Eden restored. Casting at the feet of the Redeemer the crowns that He has placed on our heads, and touching our golden harps, we shall fill all Heaven with praise to Him that sitteth on the throne.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 252, 253.

 

For more information:

Elder Lawrence Nelson 

600 Woodcrest Dr, 

 Myrtle Point, OR 97457

541-863-3609

 

Six Days Shalt Thou Labor

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In Exodus 20:8–11 we read: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

The Sabbath is the memorial of creation. It is the day in which God rested from all His work and saw that it was good. As we worship God on the day that He has designated, we acknowledge that He is the living God that made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the fountains of waters—it acknowledges that we accept God as the Creator.

As I studied the fourth commandment more closely, I noticed that God’s command was not only for us to rest from labor on His holy day, but also, as it states in verse nine, “Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work.” Rarely do I hear much said on this part of the fourth commandment, yet, I believe it was no accident that God admonished us to be physically active.

In Genesis 2:2, 3, the Bible says, “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.” Three times the Bible uses the word work, denoting that the Lord was active on the first six days of the week.

God’s work included the creation of all living things, of which Adam was the crowning act. Adam was the first man and God placed him in a garden. “In this garden were trees of every variety, many of them laden with fragrant and delicious fruit. There were lovely vines, growing upright, yet presenting a most graceful appearance, with their branches drooping under their load of tempting fruit of the richest and most varied hues. It was the work of Adam and Eve to train the branches of the vine to form bowers, thus making for themselves a dwelling from living trees covered with foliage and fruit. There were fragrant flowers of every hue in rich profusion. In the midst of the garden stood the tree of life, surpassing in glory all other trees. Its fruit appeared like apples of gold and silver, and had the power to perpetuate life.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 47. [All emphasis supplied.]

“. . . But God placed Adam in a garden. This was his dwelling. The blue heavens were its dome; the earth, with its delicate flowers and carpet of living green, was its floor; and the leafy branches of the goodly trees were its canopy. Its walls were hung with the most magnificent adornings—the handiwork of the great Master Artist.” Ibid., 49.

“To the dwellers in Eden was committed the care of the garden, ‘to dress it and to keep it.’ Their occupation was not wearisome, but pleasant and invigorating. God appointed labor as a blessing to man, to occupy his mind, to strengthen his body, and to develop his faculties. In mental and physical activity Adam found one of the highest pleasures of his holy existence.” Ibid., 50.

God appointed Adam his labor. He was the caretaker, or groundskeeper, of the most beautiful garden on earth. His brain, his heart and all his strength were brought into his labors. “When in counsel with the Father before the world was, it was designed that the Lord God should plant a garden for Adam and Eve in Eden and give them the task of caring for the fruit trees and cultivating and training the vegetation. Useful labor was to be their safeguard, and it was to be perpetuated through all generations to the close of earth’s history.” Child Guidance, 345. God appointed Adam labor or physical exercise as a safeguard. Exercise is one of the eight laws of health and one of God’s true physicians, which if consistently practiced, will help keep our bodies in a healthful condition and our minds alert.

Not only did Adam exercise in the garden of Eden, he also practiced all the eight natural remedies. He practiced good nutrition, because the Bible says in Genesis 1:29, “And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.” He also drank pure, fresh water, because the Bible says in Genesis 2:10, “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden . . .” He ate an abstemious diet of natural foods (raw foods), for the Bible says in Genesis 2:9, “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.” He trusted in divine power, because the Bible says in Genesis 2:21, 22, “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh . . . And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” Thus, God provided “an help meet for him.” Adam enjoyed daily sunshine, for the Bible says in Genesis 1:16, “And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night.” He enjoyed the fresh air also, because the Bible says in Genesis 1:8, “And God called the firmament Heaven [the atmospheric heavens]. And as God did, Adam also rested on the Sabbath day from all his labors. The Bible says in Genesis 2:2, 3: “And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made . . . And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.” “Pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, the use of water, trust in divine power—these are the true remedies. Every person should have a knowledge of nature’s remedial agencies and how to apply them.” The Ministry of Healing, 127.

Our first parents experienced great vitality as they exercised in the open air and sunshine. They ate no animal food (dairy, cheese and butter), no eggs or junk food, but the natural, raw products provided by God in the garden. “Adam and Eve, in their untainted purity, delighted in the sights and sounds of Eden. God appointed them their work in the garden, ‘to dress it and to keep it.’ Each day’s labor brought them health and gladness, and the happy pair greeted with joy the visits of their Creator, as in the cool of the day He walked and talked with them. Daily God taught them His lessons.” The Ministry of Healing, 261.

Adam was created upright and glowed in health. He was as obedient to God in following the laws of His being as he was the ten commandments. We, too, should follow Adam’s example of loyalty to his Maker by obeying all the laws (physically and spiritually) that God has given us. Ellen White gave the following counsel many years ago, “To those who desire prayer for their restoration to health, it should be made plain that the violation of God’s law, either natural or spiritual, is sin, and that in order for them to receive His blessing, sin must be confessed and forsaken.” The Ministry of Healing, 228.

Adam and Eve fell by indulgence of appetite in eating what God had commanded them not to. Their sin had its effect and the result was a curse upon all life. The Bible says, “Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return . . . Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.” (Genesis 3:18, 19, 23). Adam’s physical labor, or exercise, must now increase—for in the “sweat of thy face” he must now till the ground.” God had planted the first garden in Eden, and now Adam must plant the second. Now he would have to plow, sow and raise the crops himself.

Yet there was still a blessing attached to this.

“Exercise in the open air should be prescribed as a life-giving necessity. And for such exercises there is nothing better than the cultivation of the soil. Let patients have flower beds to care for, or work to do in the orchard or vegetable garden. As they are encouraged to . . . spend time in the open air, cultivating flowers or doing some other light, pleasant work, their attention will be diverted from themselves and their sufferings.” The Ministry of Healing, 265.

Since man no longer had access to the tree of life to sustain him eternally, God added to his diet the herb of the field (vegetables) which are filled with chlorophyll, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, and the more recently discovered phytochemicals—powerful cancer fighting chemicals, and increased his exercise. But there was still a blessing attached to the transition for Adam. The added vegetables and increased exercise would benefit his health, add years to his life, and ward off disease. Remember, exercise in the fresh air is God’s prescription.

Let us look at some facts about exercise. Did you know there are over 600 muscles in the body and without exercise they would lose their tone and elasticity, toxins would build up, and depression and illness would set in? Did you also know that the strongest muscle for its size is our heart and it needs exercise too? It beats 2.5 billion times in an average life time, driving five quarts of blood every minute to every cell in the body to cleanse and nourish it. Every part of our body depends on regular physical activity. By exercising, the body responds with better circulation and increased blood flow, sending more blood with nutrients and oxygen to our vital organs. Better circulation will lead to an overall improvement of your whole being: diabetics are helped by burning the extra glucose, overweight people will drop pounds, arthritics notice improvement, lung congestion is alleviated, endorphins (mood elevating hormones) are released to fight depression, stress is reduced, hypertension can be alleviated, and the entire system is strengthened and invigorated.

In fact, the U.S. has classified lack of exercise as a major health risk. “A large proportion of all the infirmities that afflict the human family, are the results of their own wrong habits, because of their willing ignorance, or of their disregard of the light which God has given in relation to the laws of their being. It is not possible for us to glorify God while living in violation of the laws of life. The heart cannot possibly maintain consecration to God while lustful appetite is indulged. A diseased body and disordered intellect, because of continual indulgence in hurtful lust, make sanctification of the body and spirit impossible.” Counsels on Diets and Foods, 44.

Exercise is also necessary for a healthy lymphatic system. Our bodies cleanse the cells in a watery fluid called lymph and unlike the heart, the lymph system has no pump. It depends on motion or exercise, a milking effect, to move the toxins along to the organs like the bowel for elimination. When the system gets overloaded with toxins, adverse reactions can occur within our bodies—such as swollen tonsils and appendices. However, you may not need to cut them out, but only to cleanse the body by changing the diet. Eat simple foods such as fruits and vegetables, drink plenty of pure water, and get outdoor exercise. Also, a high fiber (vegetarian) diet is vital to the bowel and its function of detoxification and elimination. A short fast is the quickest way to detoxify the body.

Continuing with the body, when you think of bones, do you tend to think of them as solid mass? Well they are not. They are living, breathing, porous structures that contain blood vessels which keep the blood flowing through the bone. The more we exercise, the stronger our muscles and bones become and the more calcium is utilized to prevent osteoporosis.

Life depends on the flow of blood in our bodies. One half of the people who die each year die from circulatory problems resulting from a high fat diet and lack of exercise. Exercise greatly increases the effectiveness with which the heart delivers oxygen and other vital nutrients to all the areas of the body. With this increase in efficiency, vital blood pathways are cleaned out and overall circulation is enhanced. This ensures optimum performance of all the organs and keeps them functioning properly—safeguards as God intended.

Cultivating the soil or brisk walking accelerates the heart’s action and increases circulation and oxygen to the whole body. The idea is to get aerobic (oxygen) exercise. Today you have many aerobic sports such as walking, jogging, bicycling, swimming, stair steppers and treadmills. We used to believe that in order to get sufficient exercise we had to beat our bodies for an hour and a half or until we were dripping with sweat. Not true! Science has reported that 25 minutes of accelerating your heart rate is all that you need. The key is consistency.

Consistency was the advice that the Lord gave to us in the fourth commandment. He stated, “Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work.” Our creator gave the right instructions thousands of years ago and science is confirming it in the twentieth century. If they keep looking hard enough perhaps they will find the other laws of health that were given to Adam in the garden of Eden. God certainly provides for His people!

Ellen White wrote decades ago, “When the weather will permit, all who can possibly do so ought to walk in the open air every day, summer and winter . . . A walk, even in winter, would be more beneficial to the health than all the medicine the doctors may prescribe . . . There is no exercise that will prove as beneficial to every part of the body as walking. Active walking in the open air will do more for women, to preserve them in health if they are well, than any other means. Walking is also one of the most efficient remedies for the recovery of health of the invalid. The hands and arms are exercised as well as the limbs.” Healthful Living, 130.

The fourth commandment not only emphasizes exercise, but commands us to cease from work and to rest on the seventh day—the day God blessed and sanctified. With His own finger He wrote, “But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shall not do any work.” Exodus 20:10.

It is during periods of rest and sleep that the body repairs itself, re-generates itself, and prepares for renewed activity. It is every bit as essential for life as air, food and water. Its primary purpose is the regeneration of nerve energy and, by it, the vitality of the body is restored. Let us understand that rest is not synonymous with sleep. The Sabbath day is a day to cease from our work, a time to rest, but not a day to sleep away.

What is rest? It is a period of inactivity during which the body can restore expended energy. There are four kinds of rest.

  1. Physical rest: Sitting or lying down and relaxing.
  2. Sensory Rest: By quietness and refraining from using the eyes, which curtails a great drain of energy.
  3. Emotional rest: By withdrawing from the ups and downs caused by personal interaction.
  4. Mental rest: This is obtained by detaching the mind from all intellectual demands or activity. Like taking morning walks, sitting in a Jacuzzi, or reading scripture. We need both physical and mental rest.

As God’s peculiar people we are pilgrims passing through a strange land, because our home will be Eden restored. “Adam and Eve fell through intemperate appetite. Christ came and withstood the fiercest temptation of Satan, and, in behalf of the race, overcame appetite, showing that man may overcome. As Adam fell through appetite, and lost blissful Eden, the children of Adam may, through Christ, overcome appetite, and through temperance in all things regain Eden.” Counsels on Diets and Foods, 70.

In the book The Great Controversy, Ellen White beautifully portrays through the written word the scene on the great resurrection day. She writes: “The Son of God redeemed man’s failure and fall; and now, through the work of the atonement, Adam is reinstated in his first dominion.

“Transported with joy, he beholds the trees that were once his delight—the very trees whose fruit he himself had gathered in the days of his innocence and joy. He sees the vines that his own hands have trained, the very flowers that he once loved to care for. His mind grasps the reality of the scene; he comprehends that this is indeed Eden restored, more lovely now than when he was banished from it. The Saviour leads him to the tree of life and plucks the glorious fruit and bids him eat. He looks about him and beholds a multitude of his family redeemed, standing in the Paradise of God. Then he casts his glittering crown at the feet of Jesus and, falling upon His breast, embraces the Redeemer. He touches the golden harp, and the vaults of heaven echo the triumphant song: ‘Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb that was slain, and lives again!’ The family of Adam take up the strain and cast their crowns at the Saviour’s feet as they bow before Him in adoration.” The Great Controversy, 647, 648.

“Upon the heads of the overcomers, Jesus with His own right hand places the crown of glory. For each there is a crown, bearing his own ‘new name’ (Revelation 2:17), and the inscription, ‘Holiness to the Lord. . . .’ There they behold the Paradise of God, the home of Adam in his innocency. Then that voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, is heard, saying: ‘Your conflict is ended.’ ‘Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’ Now is fulfilled the Saviour’s prayer for His disciples: ‘I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.’ ‘Faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.’ (Jude 24), Christ presents to the Father the purchase of His blood, declaring: ‘Here am I, and the children whom Thou hast given Me.’ ‘Those that Thou gavest Me I have kept.’ Oh, the wonders of redeeming love! The rapture of that hour when the infinite Father, looking upon the ransomed, shall behold His image, sin’s discord banished, its blight removed, and the human once more in harmony with the divine!’ ” Ibid., 646.

The Garden of Eden is the Paradise of God—it is where God’s throne will be forever. The Bible says, “And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:1, 2. Here we have a picture of the new earth where the throne of God, the river of life, and the tree of life are each present. The Bible also states in Revelation 2:7 that, “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.” If the tree of life is by God’s throne, and the tree of life is in Paradise, then God’s throne must be in Paradise—the garden of Eden.

“The Garden of Eden remained upon the earth long after man had become an outcast from its pleasant paths. The fallen race were long permitted to gaze upon the home of innocence, their entrance barred only by the watching angels. At the cherubim-guarded gate of Paradise the divine glory was revealed. Hither came Adam and his sons to worship God. Here they renewed their vows of obedience to that law the transgression of which had banished them from 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’ (Rev. 21:1), it is to be restored more gloriously adorned than at the beginning.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 62.

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind . . . And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them. And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 65:17, 21–25. Did you notice the words: “plant,” “build,” “work,” and “labour”? In the new earth we will be exercising in the open air and working in our gardens and vineyards growing wonderful vegetarian food (organic raw food)! Figs, pomegranates, almonds, grapes and much, much more. What a feast I long for!

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

Have you ever noticed, according to Isaiah 66, that we will be worshipping God not only from one Sabbath to another (every week), but also from one new moon to another (every month)? In the earth made new we will be celebrating and enjoying the fruit of the tree of life, which “bear twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month.” But this time we will be eating it with Adam and Jesus and enjoying the Sabbath for eternity.

“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God.” Exodus 20:11.

For more information: Modern Manna Ministries
517 S. Central Avenue
Lodi, CA 95240
209-334-3868

The Double Minded Man Is Unstable in All His Ways

by

The Time in Which We Live

“The contest will wax more and more fierce on the part of Satan; for he is moved by a power from beneath. As the work of God’s people moves forward with sanctified, resistless energy, planting the standard of Christ’s righteousness in the church, moved by a power from the throne of God, the great controversy will wax stronger and stronger, and will become more and more determined. Mind will be arrayed against mind, plans against plans, principles of heavenly origin against principles of Satan. Truth in its varied phases will be in conflict with error in its ever-varying, increasing forms, and which, if possible, will deceive the very elect.” Testimonies to Ministers, 407.

According to this quotation, error is ever changing its form and increasing its forms. The person, whose mind is filled with truth from the throne of God, will be arrayed against the minds of those who have accepted the ever-varying and increasing forms of error. The plans in the minds of God’s people will be in opposition to the plans of others in the church who have accepted the plans of the adversary. The principles of heavenly origin will be in opposition to the principles originating with Satan. All this is described as going on in the church as we approach the end.

Since the principles of error are constantly varying and changing, they are not stable like the principles of truth. Those who accept them are not stable either, because they are constantly having to change their minds about what they believe. The truth which Adventists have accepted does not change. It is like an unfolding flower—although, as time goes on, the truth develops and is revealed more and more in its eternal beauty.

If we have been in error on some point, obviously sometime we are going to have to change our minds. But, if our minds are changing almost constantly, this is evidence that we are double-minded.

One of the main reasons that people deceive others and end up being deceived themselves is that they are double minded. We are strictly warned about this in the Bible. Let us look at the symptoms of the problem.

Symptoms and Propositions

Symptom 1: The double -minded man is the man who is bent on having his own way. He seeks to follow his own way while professing to be doing the will of God. Not only does this deceive others, eventually he is deceived himself. He really thinks when following his own way that he is doing the will of God. It took forty years of training to prepare Moses to withstand these types of problems: “It was the experience gained during the years of toil and waiting in Midian—the spirit of humility and long-suffering there developed—that prepared Moses to meet with patience the unbelief and murmuring of the people and the pride and envy of those who should have been his unswerving helpers. Moses ‘was very meek, above all men which were upon the face of the earth,’ and this is why he was granted divine wisdom and guidance above all others. Says the Scripture, ‘The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.’ Psalm 25:9. The meek are guided by the Lord, because they are teachable, willing to be instructed . . . God does not force the will of any; hence He cannot lead those who are too proud to be taught, who are bent upon having their own way. Of the double -minded man—he who seeks to follow his own will, while professing to do the will of God—it is written, ‘Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.’ James 1:7.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 384. [All emphasis supplied.]

Symptom 2: The double -minded man has two agendas in his mind. When people talk to him, sometimes he is on one agenda and sometimes on the other. Consequently, while everything he says might be absolutely the truth according to the agenda he is talking about, actually it is very deceptive. This deception eventually is manifest when the two agendas become known and are found often to be contradictory. “They are men of two minds.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 531.

Some years ago a conference minister moved to the area of a Seventh-day Adventist church which was not recognized by the conference and was therefore an independent church seeking to become sanctified and spread the Three Angels’ Messages to their community. When he explained why he had come, he said that he wanted to come and help with the work in that church. However when he talked to another worker over a 100 miles away, this same minister said that the conference president had sent him to that church to get control of it. Why was the story so different? Because there were two agendas —one public and another hidden.

Recently a number of conference ministers have issued appeals—calls to various special ministries to come back to the church—”Come back home.” These calls are most attractive to those who are mixed up about who and what the church really is. It is just as in Jesus’ day—if you did not know who the church was you most certainly would end up not being part of it. The interesting thing about these appeals is that they are sometimes addressed as from relatives of officials in the Adventist structure. These same people have confided privately that they (the structure) have an objective to destroy all independent ministries which they cannot control. Thus two distinct messages, contradictory to one another, are coming from the same people. One message is public, the other is private and hidden.

The proposed destruction will be accomplished by the double -minded upon all others who are double -minded:

Proposition 1: On the one hand those who have been determined for destruction are appealed to and flattered and an attempt is made in every possible way to win them over. Many will be won by this method.

Proposition 2: If this does not work then the power of the state is employed in an effort to silence them, and/or destroy them. How does this work today? At the very same time that apparently loving appeals are being made to come back to the structure, Historic Adventist churches are receiving threats from the very same organization. There is a double agenda—a double -mind.

Symptom 3: The double -minded man is unstable —he is constantly in the process of changing his mind, back and forth and up and down. “To be double -minded is to be unstable.” Youth’s Instructor, May 24, 1900. “They are unstable in all their ways, and cannot be depended upon.” Youth’s Instructor, February 8, 1894.

Examples of These Symptoms

Example 1: The Spirit of Prophecy made it very clear in 1893 that we were not to call Seventh-day Adventists Babylon. But, she also made it clear to the General Conference President in 1886 that we as a people could become part of Babylon. (See Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery and Divorce, 188.) Now there have been several positions taken:

Position 1: that the church has now become Babylon.

Position 2: we can become part of Babylon if we fulfill all the conditions laid down in the Spirit of Prophecy, but are not at the present time.

Position 3: that it is impossible for us as a people to ever become part of Babylon.

At Steps to Life we are convinced that the second position is the correct one and have proclaimed this position for several years in publications and sermons. We believe the Ellen White statement that we are on the track of Romanism (Testimonies to Ministers, 362) is more true now than then and that we are nearer the “city-limits” of Babylon now than then.

An interesting thing has developed in Historic Adventism. Some, having taken position number one, are proclaiming all others as heretics. They are saying that everybody must get their names off of the structure church rolls. Others, who used to do this same thing, have switched to the position that the organization they formerly called Babylon, is the true church. They are saying that everybody must belong to it or they are in danger of having their name stricken from the book of life in heaven. After saying this, if you ask them about it, they may tell you that they are still not part of the structure church!

Whenever you see a “Babylon” like this you can know that there is a problem with being double minded.

Example 2: Where do you take your converts? Some know from experience that if you bring them into a conference church in your area, that you may lose them. Others say that only baptisms into a conference church count. In plain language, who and what is the church that is founded upon a Rock that cannot be prevailed against by the powers from beneath? If you keep changing your mind, obviously you are double -minded. If you say, we are going back to the conference (“church” “home”) but a few days later you say that you are not—is this not being double -minded?

More Symptoms and Devices

Symptom 4: The double -minded man professes one thing and does another. To be more specific, he by profession deplores the work of Satan and yet enters into his devices. “Of what profit is it to say pleasant things, to deplore the works of Satan, and yet at the same time to enter into the fulfillment of all his devices? This is being double -minded.” Youth’s Instructor, February 15, 1894. What are some of Satan’s devices?

Device 1: Blaming others and justifying ourselves.
“The spirit of self-justification originated in the father of lies; it was indulged by our first parents as soon as they yielded to the influence of Satan, and has been exhibited by all the sons and daughters of Adam. Instead of humbly confessing their sins, they try to shield themselves by casting the blame upon others, upon circumstances, or upon God.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 58.

“The very thing that gained for Satan the sympathy of one-third of the angels in heaven, was this spirit of self-justification. The angels were deceived by Satan’s misrepresentations and by his artful power of accusing those who would not unite with him. Satan has kept up this work ever since his fall, and he has large numbers of men and women who follow in the very steps he has taken, until they fall from the truth, give up their steadfastness, and stand on Satan’s side, as accusers, criticizing others.” Manuscript Release, vol. 18, 324, 325.

We are all in a world of temptation, “let no one feel . . . that he makes no mistakes.” Counsels on Health, 244. The problem is not so much that we make mistakes, but rather when we do make them, do we take responsibility? Or, do we instead accuse others, trying to cast the blame on some other minister or worker or ministry or on “the constituency” or on the Historic Adventists worldwide or on some conference or the general conference or some other scapegoat?

Device 2: Deception.

In the effort to cause good to happen to ourselves by self-justification and blaming others, inevitably we will sooner or later be caught up in deception. We may have proclaimed to all that we are transparent in all our actions, etc., but an attempt to justify self and blame others will always end up in a crooked course of action. Not only will others be deceived but we will deceive ourselves by this course.

Symptom 5: Instead of going to God for unerring, stable counsel, the double -minded man seeks counsel from man—he is controlled by men instead of God. Because of this he is never comfortable unless there is a coalition of people working together. Consequently, it is only through human association and groups that he can feel safe and comfortable. If things do not work out in one group, he is forced to seek some other group to be a part of so that he feels safe, secure and comfortable. If the home church is not big enough, he must go to some other church (no matter what is being taught) because he is not comfortable except in a group. ” ‘A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.’ God calls upon His people now to consecrate all their powers to His service. He would have every household become a home-church . . . None are to place themselves under the guidance of human beings; for God has not ordained this. He bids us look to One and depend upon One who understands our needs, and is able to supply them from His abundant fullness.” Australia Union Record, October 14, 1907.

Symptom 6: The double -minded man has not a personal spiritual foundation—he walks in the light of another’s torch. Why do you believe what you believe? Some people believe what they believe because that is what they were taught by their Bible teacher or by the evangelist they trained under or by some theologian, etc. All these people may know the truth, but you must know the truth for yourself, not just what somebody else believes, or you will not endure through the shaking. “Many of those who profess the truth have received it because some one else did, and for their life they could not give the reason of their faith. This is why they are so unstable. Instead of weighing their motives in the light of eternity, instead of obtaining a practical knowledge of the principles underlying all their actions, instead of digging down to the bottom and building upon a right foundation for themselves, they are walking in the light of another’s torch, and will surely fail.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 196.

Symptom 7: The double -minded man deals in man-made tests. “Men will arise speaking perverse things . . . bringing sacred truth upon a level with common things . . . The devisings of men’s minds will invent tests that are no tests at all, that when the true test shall be made prominent, it shall be considered on a par with the man-made tests that have been of no value.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1064.

Popular Man-Made Tests

Test 1: You must have your name on the conference church book or your name is not written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Test 2: You must address God by Hebrew names.

Test 3: You must profess faith in and give your tithe and all your financial support to ______organization or you will be accounted as robbing God.

Test 4: “The Lord gave me this impression (or “sign”) and therefore I know this is the Lord’s will.” Some people can tell you of many signs and impressions they have received and multitudes have followed these undependable tests. Some stupendous mistakes have been made by Adventists because they have depended on “signs” and “impressions.”

“Whenever I have been called to meet fanaticism in its varied forms, I have received clear, positive, and definite instruction to lift my voice against its influence. With some the evil has revealed itself in the form of man-made tests for ascertaining a knowledge of the will of God; and I was shown that this was a delusion which became an infatuation, and that it is contrary to the will of the Lord. If we follow such methods, we shall be found aiding the enemy’s plans. In times past certain among the believers had great faith in the setting of signs by which to decide their duty. Some had such confidence in these signs that men went so far as to exchange wives, thus bringing adultery into the church.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 28.

“I have no faith in casting lots. We have in the Bible a plain ‘Thus saith the Lord’ in regard to all church duties . . . Read your Bibles with much prayer. Do not try to humble others, but humble yourselves before God, and deal gently with one another. To cast lots for the officers of the church is not in God’s order.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1054.

“Will it furnish us with experiences that will glorify God, for us to decide what is His will by the dropping of a card or a coin, and observing how it falls? No, no. Such tests as this will spoil the religious experience of the one who adopts them. Everyone who depends upon such things for guidance, needs to be reconverted.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 327.

“Being nothing more than a matter of chance, the influence of adopting such tests regarding duty is calculated to lead the mind to depend on chance and guesswork, when all our work and plans for work should be established on the sure foundation of the Word of God.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 325.

More Symptoms

Symptom 8: The double -minded man speaks evil of his brethren who will not be turned from the truth to his present opinion. He will call them all sorts of names and epithets such as schismatic, “ignorant of theology or history,” divisive, back-biters, wishy-washy, filled with hatred against him—in short he blames his troubles on his brethren who do not agree with him about this or that.

“Satan is at the head of fallen principalities and powers, and is the ruler of the darkness of this world. Day and night he is plotting against God and against those who are seeking to obey the truth. He transforms himself into an angel of light, and makes darkness appear as light, and light as darkness; and he seeks continually to lead unstable souls to unite with him in thinking evil and in speaking evil of those who will not be turned from the truth. He is described in the Scriptures as a liar, a destroyer, a tormentor, an accuser, a murderer, and it will not be difficult to discern on which side a soul is fighting, or under what leadership he is moving, if he is found accusing and condemning others. If men and women have been placed so that they have gained influence, and they use that influence to further Satan’s designs, they are uniting with the great adversary and apostate.” Review and Herald, December 11, 1894.

Symptom 9: The double -minded man says anything that comes into his mind. He strongly advocates something and then strongly advocates just the opposite and then denies what he formerly advocated.

Where do you believe I should go to church? Oh, I believe that you should go to a home church. A few weeks later when you ask the same question you are told that if you do not have your name on the conference list then it probably is not in the book of life. With vehemence you are first told that you must not be a part of the conference churches but then with the same vehemence you are later told that you must be. Why? There is a double -mind.

To a double -minded minister Ellen White wrote as follows: “When a man gives evidence that he is sound in principle, when he is of good repute among those where he is best known, when his character is one whose influence will be Christ-like, he should be admitted to fellowship and confidence without hesitancy. But he whose works show him to be unstable, who says one thing and does the very opposite, is careless of his words and influence, bringing out of his heart the evil things lurking there, such a one will profane both men and God. He will say anything that comes into his mind, whether he knows it to be falsehood or truth. There is a mixture of good and bad in his character, and he speaks just as he feels without studying the influence his words must have upon those who believe him to be a true minister of the gospel. They have heard him speak as Christ’s ambassador, and therefore they will either regard his sins lightly or their confidence in him as a devoted servant of Christ will be destroyed. The minister of Christ should be circumspect, he should understand human nature.” Pamphlets #28 Testimonies on the case of Elder E.P. Daniels.

“One day you will stand in the pulpit and strongly advocate the testimonies which God has sent to his people; in a few days, if you feel like it, you do your best to unsettle faith in them, among those with whom you associate; and then in a day or two you are advocating the testimonies again. Now, my brother, are you anchored anywhere, or are you not more like the waves of the sea, tossed to and fro, unstable, unreliable, moved not by principle, but by emotion? Will not your work be of the same character? Will it not ravel out? Both you and your wife are under the reproof of God. What are you going to do about it? Will you draw nigh to God? Will you set your own house in order? Will you unitedly make earnest work for eternity? Or will you throw down the yoke of Jesus, refuse to lift his burdens, and choose to be independent, perverse, willful, uncontrollable? . . . You often deny what you have said or done.” Pamphlets #96 Testimonies on the case of Elder E.P. Daniels.

Ellen White was forced to consider workers’ past experience and how this past experience had molded the mind and judgment when making decisions about trusting a person in the future. She wrote concerning one such double -minded worker whom she refused to re-accept for employment: “This past experience has given a mold to the thoughts, and has fashioned the mind and judgment. I can see no safety in trusting the matter the Lord shall give me in the hands of one of such unstable, unreliable developments of character that a balance wheel is needed constantly, else she will be running off on a side track where Satan may choose to lead the way. Fannie is so wrapped up in her own exalted estimation of herself that any contrary influence that has been brought to bear upon her mind meets with a resistance that is according to the attributes of the enemy. The surroundings, the impulses, give tone and character to the whole life. There are too large and important interests at stake in this matter to be lightly imperiled. Should I consent that Fannie remain in connection with the work, there would be a constant burden of foreboding upon me, for these elements of character are not easily changed.” Manuscript Release, 926.

We have been given similar counsel in preparing for the time of trouble: “Before the great trouble shall come upon the world such as has never been since there was a nation, those who have faltered and who would ignorantly lead in unsafe paths will reveal this before the real vital test, the last proving comes, so that whatsoever they may say will not be regarded as voicing the True Shepherd. The time of our educating will soon be over. We have no time to lose in walking through clouds of doubt and uncertainty because of uncertain voices.” 1888 Materials, 1002.

The Godhead

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What did Ellen White teach about the Godhead ?

When Jesus was here, one of the major contentions of the Jews was over the fact of His deity. In fact, this was one of the major reasons offered by the high priest why they had to crucify Jesus, because He claimed to be Jehovah—the eternal God. Four thousand years or more before that time, Lucifer had brought up a similar contention, challenging the absolute authority of Christ. Lucifer said that he should be equal with Christ. “Satan was jealous of Jesus.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 1, 17. “Lucifer was envious of Christ, and gradually assumed command which devolved upon Christ alone.” The Story of Redemption, 13. It was this envy of Lucifer that Christ should be equal with the Father that resulted in his fall and the rebellion against the government of God. He is still attempting to prove that Christ is not or should not be equal with the Father.

Since the times of the early church, innumerable variant teachings have been developed in regard to the Godhead and the deity of Christ. A principle one of these teachings was the development in the fourth century of Arianism, the idea that there was a time when Christ was not, or stated a different way, that Christ was the first of all created beings. Arianism is still a teaching of some churches today. Many fights and battles occurred, both military and spiritual, over the issue of the Godhead. This was one of the principle controversies for a period of at least two hundred years between the fourth and sixth century.

In the development of Adventism, as people came into the second Advent movement from many different churches and backgrounds, it is not surprising that there would be different individuals who had contrary ideas on the subject of the Godhead. Before looking at this controversy there are two points that we should understand. First of all, since the Godhead is one of the oldest controversies in Christendom, we should expect it to be revived among God’s people toward the end, because Ellen White predicts that old controversies will be revived. “Those things which have been, will be repeated. Old controversies will be revived, and new theories will be continually arising.” Selected Messages, vol. 2, 109. “We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Many of the prophecies are about to be fulfilled in quick succession. Every element of power is about to be set to work. Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God’s people on every side. Intensity is taking possession of the human family . . .Impostors of every caste and grade will claim to be worthy and true, and there will be a magnifying of the common and impure against the true and the holy. Thus, the spurious is accepted, and the true standard of holiness is discarded, as the word of God was discarded by Adam and Eve for the lie of Satan.” Review and Herald, August 31, 1897. “The whole earth is to be lightened with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the channels of the great deep. Prophecies are being fulfilled, and stormy times are before us. Old controversies which have apparently been hushed for a long time will be revived, and new controversies will spring up; new and old will commingle, and this will take place right early.” Special Testimonies, Series A, 38.

A second point that we need to understand, before looking at this old controversy which has been revived just as Ellen White predicted, is that if we accept as authoritative and divinely inspired the writings of Ellen White, the special messenger to the remnant, we will be protected from all the delusions that will come upon the world. Ellen White wrote to Elder Simpson, an Adventist minister, (Letter 50, 1906), “The Lord never denies His word. Men may get up scheme after scheme and the enemy will seek to seduce souls from truth, but all who believe that the Lord has spoken through Sister White, and has given her a message will be safe from the many delusions that will come in these last days.” So, we see that the Lord has given us, through the Spirit of Prophecy, a safeguard against the many delusions that will come in; a point of reference to turn to when there is any old or new controversy arising, by which we can be stabilized in Bible truth, and kept from all delusions.

We go now directly to the controversy over the Godhead, not in religious history in general, but in the developing second Advent movement. Many, if not most, of the leaders in the early second Advent movement, after 1844, were Arian in belief. For example, Uriah Smith wrote that Christ was a created being. Not only this, but Uriah Smith did not believe that Christ was the Alpha and the Omega, except in a very qualified sense (i.e. the Alpha and Omega of the plan of salvation). Also, Uriah Smith was unwilling to say that the phrase, “the one who is, and the one who was, and the one who is to come” could be applied to Jesus Christ. Moreover, people such as Uriah Smith, D.M. Canright and J.N. Loughborough had the position that the Holy Spirit was not really a personality, not a person, but was simply some type of a divine emanation or influence. E.J. Waggoner also said that there was a time when Christ had not existed, that His life was derived from the Father. Statements concerning the equality of Christ to the Father were interpreted to mean that He had an equality that was conferred upon Him.

One of the main reasons that these beliefs disappeared from Adventism was that in 1898, Ellen White published a book called The Desire of Ages, which made unequivocal definitions of Christ’s place, power and authority, and also spoke of the Holy Spirit as the third person of the Godhead. The reason that the controversy over Arianism was solved without the church splitting was because our pioneers had implicit faith and confidence in the Spirit of Prophecy. This faith and confidence in the writings of Ellen White as being a true prophet of God had been built over many decades so that by the latter part of the nineteenth century, when she made statements totally contrary to what they believed, they surrendered their ideas and believed what the Lord had told them through the Spirit of Prophecy.

We look now at statements concerning the Godhead from the pen of Ellen White. First of all, we must understand that the Godhead is a subject that is beyond the mind of man, and that we will never fully understand it throughout eternity. She said, “Do not try to explain in regard to the personality of God. You cannot give any further explanation than the Bible has given. Human theories regarding Him are good for nothing.” Counsels to Writers and Editors, 94. Also, “The revelation of Himself that God has given in His word is for our study. This we may seek to understand. But beyond this, we are not to penetrate. The highest intellect may tax itself until it is wearied out in conjectures regarding the nature of God; but the effort will be fruitless. This problem has not been given us to solve. No human mind can comprehend God . . . Let none indulge in speculation regarding His nature. Here silence is eloquence. The Omniscient One is above discussion.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 279.

A second point that we notice in Ellen White’s writings is that she speaks of one God. She does not teach that there are three Gods, but that there is one God. And yet, at the same time, as we will see, she teaches that this one God includes the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, which are three personalities mysteriously united as one. We will now quote statements that indicate this. “With solemn dignity, Jesus answered, ‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I Am.’

“Silence fell upon the vast assembly. The name of God, given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence, had been claimed as His own by this Galilaean Rabbi. He had announced Himself to be the self-existent One, He who had been promised to Israel, ‘whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.’” Desire of Ages, 469, 470. “There are light and glory in the truth that Christ was One with the Father before the foundation of the world was laid. This is the light shining in a dark place, making it resplendent with divine, original glory. This truth, infinitely mysterious in itself, explains other mysterious and otherwise unexplainable truths, while it is enshrined in light unapproachable and incomprehensible.” SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1126. [All emphasis supplied.]

Ellen White speaks of the Father and Son as being of one substance: ” ‘Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not; the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me. But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.’ With what firmness and power he uttered these words. The Jews had never before heard such words from human lips, and a convicting influence attended them; for it seemed that divinity flashed through humanity as Jesus said, ‘I and my Father are one.’ The words of Christ were full of deep meaning as he put forth the claim that He and the Father were of one substance, possessing the same attributes. The Jews understood His meaning, there was no reason why they should misunderstand, and they took up stones to stone Him.” Signs of the Times, November 20, 1893.

Ellen White teaches that the “I am” refers to Christ and the Father, both Christ and the Father are self existent. And she states unequivocally that the “I am” is one. Notice, “Heavenly beings, sustained and guided by the hand beneath the wings of the cherubim, were impelling these wheels; above them, upon the sapphire throne, was the Eternal One; and round about the throne a rainbow, the emblem of divine mercy . . . The history which the great I AM has marked out in His word, uniting link after link in the prophetic chain, from eternity in the past to eternity in the future, tells us where we are today in the procession of the ages and what may be expected in time to come.” Education, 178. Notice, there is One upon the throne and this Eternal One is also the great “I AM.” But we have already seen from the Desire of Ages that the “I AM” includes Christ as well as the Father. (See John 8.) So this “Eternal One” must include both the Father and the Son. In this passage she is commenting on Ezekiel 1:4, 26, and 10:8. Notice, there is One upon the throne. There is one God, but this one God includes both Christ and the Father. The God who gave the ten commandments is spoken of by Ellen White as the “Eternal One.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 329. But, Ellen White speaks of this Eternal One as both the Father and the Son: “When they came to Sinai, He took occasion to refresh their minds in regard to His requirements. Christ and the Father, standing side by side upon the mount, with solemn majesty proclaimed the Ten Commandments.” Evangelism, 616. So both Christ and the Father are included in that term “the Eternal One.”

Concerning the Holy Spirit Ellen White said, “‘The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities;’ and the Spirit, being God, knoweth the mind of God.” Signs of the Times, October 3, 1892. Ellen White taught that all three members of the Godhead were God in the fullest most complete sense: “All these spiritualistic representations are simply nothingness. They are imperfect, untrue. They weaken and diminish the Majesty which no earthly likeness can be compared to. God cannot be compared with the things His hands have made. These are mere earthly things, suffering under the curse of God because of the sins of man. The Father cannot be described by the things of earth. The Father is all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and is invisible to mortal sight.

“The Son is all the fullness of the Godhead manifested. The Word of God declares Him to be ‘the express image of His person.’ ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ Here is shown the personality of the Father.

“The Comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Savior. There are three living persons of the heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers —the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their efforts to live the new life in Christ.” Evangelism, 614, 615.

We see in these statements that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all referred to as being the “fullness of the Godhead,” and that they are referred to as persons, specifically as three persons. We will now see further evidence that these three Persons, each of whom is the fullness of the Godhead, are all “one God.”

The world was created by one God, as you can read in Testimonies, vol. 8, 256. It is generally conceded that this one God includes the Father, but we now see that it included the Son and the Holy Spirit also. Notice, “‘When He, the Spirit of Truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.’ John 16:13. Only by the aid of that Spirit who in the beginning ‘was brooding upon the face of the waters;’ of that Word by whom ‘all things were made;’ of that ‘true light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world,’ can the testimony of science be rightly interpreted.” Education, 134.

We next come to the term “Jehovah.” “Jehovah, the eternal self-existent, uncreated One, Himself the Source and Sustainer of all is alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 305. But “Jehovah is the name given to Christ.” Signs of the Times, May 3, 1899. Although this word generally refers to Christ in the Scriptures, sometimes it can refer to the Father: “In His wisdom the Saviour teaches us to approach God with the confidence of a child. He instructs us to call Jehovah by the endearing name of ‘Father,’ that we may not separate from Him in awe and coldness. Constantly He points us to the emblems of fatherly love, seeking to encourage faith and confidence in God. He pleads with us to have a correct idea of the Father.” Signs of the Times, January 20, 1898.

Next, we see again an emphasis in Ellen White’s writings that there are three distinct personalities in the deity. Notice, “The mighty power that works through all nature and sustains all things is not, as some men of science represent, merely an all-pervading principle, an actuating energy. God is a spirit; yet He is a personal Being, for so He has revealed Himself.” Ministry of Healing, 413. “Christ is one with the Father, but Christ and God are two distinct Personages.” Review and Herald, June 1, 1905. “The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father.” Selected Messages, vol. 1, 247, or Review and Herald, April 5, 1906. [Notice when the word eternity is used, the writer is referring to an infinite number so that you can not say that there was ever a time when Christ was not a distinct person from the Father. This completely destroys the teaching that some infer from Proverbs 8 that there was a time when Christ was not a distinct person from the Father. The term “bring forth” does not there have implications of a bringing forth in the sense of a birth or beginning of existence—as we will see, no more can this be said about the Son than about the Father. The sense of “bring forth” in Proverbs 8 is the same, or similar, as in Psalm 18:19 where it is speaking of a change in location and has nothing to do with beginning of existence.] “There is a personal God, the Father; there is a personal Christ, the Son.” Review and Herald, November 8, 1898. “The scriptures clearly indicate the relation between God and Christ, and they bring to view as clearly the personality individuality of each.” Ministry of Healing, 421. “The unity that exists between Christ and His disciples does not destroy the personality of either. They are one is purpose, in mind, in character, but not in person. It is thus that God and Christ are one.” Ministry of Healing, 422.

The Holy Spirit is a person also.

“The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God.” Evangelism, 616.

We come now more specifically to the point of the pre-existence of Christ. Ellen White bears much witness to the fact of the eternal pre-existence of Christ. “But the life of Christ was unborrowed. No one can take this life from Him. ‘I lay it down of myself’ (John 10:18), He said. In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived.” Signs of the Times, April 8, 1897. (See also Desire of Ages, 530.) “Christ is the pre-existent, self-existent, Son of God . . . In speaking of His pre-existence, Christ carries the mind back through dateless ages. He assures us that there never was a time when He was not in close fellowship with the eternal God.” [Fellowship, means by definition that two distinct intelligences are referred to, there is no fellowship with one’s self.] Signs of the Times, August 29, 1900. “Christ shows them that, although they might reckon His life to be less than fifty years, yet, His divine life cannot be reckoned by human computation. The existence of Christ before His incarnation is not measured by figures.” Signs of the Times, May 3, 1899. Well did the disciples understand this love as they saw their Saviour enduring shame, reproach, doubt, and betrayal, as they saw his agony in the garden, and his death on Calvary’s cross. This is a love the depth of which no sounding can ever fathom. As the disciples comprehended it, as their perception took hold of God’s divine compassion, they realized that there is a sense in which the sufferings of the Son were the sufferings of the Father. From eternity there was a complete unity between the Father and the Son. They were two, yet little short of being identical; two in individuality, yet one in spirit, and heart, and character. Youth Instructor, December 12, 1897.

Concerning the equality of the Father and the Son, Ellen White makes many statements which show that Christ was equal with the Father before His incarnation, during His incarnation, and forever. For example, “Though he took humanity upon himself, he was divine. All that is attributed to the Father himself is attributed to Christ.” Review and Herald, May 19, 1896. “Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all blessed forevermore.” Review and Herald, April 5, 1906. “To save the transgressor of God’s law, Christ,the One equal with the Father, came to live Heaven before men, that they might learn to know what it is to have heaven in the heart.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 179. “But although Christ’s divine glory was for a time veiled and eclipsed by His assuming humanity, yet he did not cease to be God when He became man. The human did not take the place of the divine, nor the divine of the human. This is the mystery of godliness. The two expressions human and divine were, in Christ, closely and inseparably one, and yet they had a distinct individuality. Though Christ humbled Himself to become man, the Godhead was still His own.” Signs of the Times, May10, 1899. “The only way in which the fallen race could be restored was through the gift of His Son, equal with Himself, possessing the attributes of God. Though so highly exalted, Christ consented to assume human nature that He might work in behalf of man and reconcile to God His disloyal subject.” Review and Herald, November 8, 1892. Notice, that in this preceding statement, Ellen White makes the claim that only by One who was equal with the Father could man be redeemed. If Christ was a junior God or in any way not equal with the Father, as Arians have claimed, Ellen White claims that the atonement would not be complete. This claim completely destroys the Arian position.

We next come to the question about what happened to Christ’s deity when He died. On this question, Ellen White is very specific. She said, “Humanity died: divinity did not die.” Youth’s Instructor, August 4, 1898. The reader might also see statements in the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5, 1113, 1129. Also, The Desire of Ages teaches that when Christ came forth from the tomb, he was raised by His own divine power. See Desire of Ages, 785.

Last of all, Ellen White describes the Holy Spirit as a personality, a deity, and not an inferior emanation or influence, but in every sense, part of the Godhead. Notice, “The Holy Spirit has a personality, else He could not bear witness to our spirits and with our spirits that we are the children of God. He must also be a divine person, else he could not search out the secrets which lie hidden in the mind of God.” Evangelism, 617. “The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the Third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.” Special Testimonies, Series A, number 10, 37. “Sin could be resisted and overcome only through the mighty agency of the Third Person of the Godhead, who would come with no modified energy, but in the fullness of divine power. It is the Spirit that makes effectual what has been wrought out by the world’s Redeemer.” Desire of Ages, 671. Ellen White does not speak of the Holy Spirit as an emanation, an influence or something subordinate or inferior to the Father and the Son. She speaks of the Holy Spirit as the fullness of the Godhead. “The comforter that Christ promised to send after He ascended to Heaven, is the Spirit in all the fullness of the Godhead, making manifest the power of divine grace to all who receive and believe in Christ as a personal Saviour. There are three living persons of the Heavenly trio; in the name of these three great powers—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—those who receive Christ by living faith are baptized, and these powers will co-operate with the obedient subjects of heaven in their effort to live the new life of Christ.” Special Testimonies, Series B, Number 7, 62, 63. Many have written treatises on the above subject but one of the best ones that this writer has seen which contains most of the references used in the above article is a Thesis on the Arian views in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer by Erwin Roy Gane, submitted to Andrews University Seminary June, 1963.

Rapture and The Second Coming

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We are living in the final period of the time of the end, or the last days. As we approach the end of world history, the Book of Revelation teaches that God has sent a special message for the final generation.

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth—to every nation, kindred, 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 is an appeal to worship God as the Creator. God knew the theory of evolution that would be prominent in the last days and gave this warning.

The first angel’s message is described as being given by an angel flying in the midst of heaven (Revelation 14:6). The second angel announces, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, and has made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Verse 8. These are followed by a third message which says, “And a third angel followed saying with a loud voice, ‘If any one worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture [or full strength], into the cup of His indignation. And he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends for ever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.’ ” Revelation 14:8–11.

This is a most fearful warning that is given to the last generation living on the earth. The final verse in the third angel’s message says, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.

Here are pointed out two classes of people. The first class is the group who receive the mark of the beast, the mark of destruction, the mark of antichrist which involves the breaking of God’s commandments. The second class are the saints, or the holy ones of God, identified as those who keep God’s commandments.

The Book of Revelation pulls the curtain of mystery aside. Bible prophecy predicted that Christ would come to this earth twice. The first time He would come as a suffering servant. His visage would be marred more than any man (Isaiah 52:14) and He would be killed as a trespass offering for the sins of the world (Isaiah 53).

It is important to know exactly who Jesus really is. John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1–3. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” Verse 14. Jesus is the Word.

Paul says, “By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on the earth.” Colossians 1:16. Jesus was with God in the beginning and He was the creator of all things. He created this world for a purpose, to be inhabited. This Jesus is the same One who came to this world to pay the price of my sins and your sins.

The Bible says the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23) and God’s law is so holy and so unchangeable, not only can it not be changed, even the penalty for breaking God’s law cannot be changed. When God’s law is broken, the penalty must be paid and Jesus was willing to give up His life in order for each person in this world to have life. During His trial, three times Pilate declared that he found no fault in Him (John 18:38; 19:4, 6). The Jews could not find any fault in Him. Nobody could find any fault with Him, but they crucified Him anyway because He said He was a king. Jesus was crucified for telling the truth. His innocent body was nailed to the cruel cross where He suffered an agonizing death to save man. It would do us all well to see Him on the cross more often than we do and contemplate why this had to happen. Was this the price for breaking God’s law?

The day of the crucifixion was the day the Bible describes as preparation day, preparation for the Sabbath. Jesus died in the middle of the afternoon on the day we call Friday. As the Sabbath drew on there was an urgency to prepare the body of Jesus for His burial. What did they do? “And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulcher, and how his body was laid. And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.” Luke 23:55, 56. From this Scripture it is very clear that the Sabbath, according to the commandment, is the day between Good Friday and resurrection Sunday—Saturday!

The next day after the Sabbath Jesus rose and said, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” John 11:25. In Revelation 1:18, Jesus said to John, “I am He who lives (or who is living), and was dead, and behold I am alive for evermore. And I have the keys of the grave, I have the keys of death and the grave.” In some Bibles this is translated hell, which really means grave. There is only one person who has the keys to the grave, and He is the One you need to know if you should die and want to be resurrected to eternal life. That person is Jesus.

It was imperative that the sacrifice would occur, in order for my sins to be forgiven and to have eternal life. There had to be a blood offering for the price of sin to be paid. Without Jesus going to the cross and paying the price, I would have to pay myself, and that would mean the second death. If the price of sin was a ten-year prison sentence, you could pay the price yourself, but that is not what the price of sin is. Even in this world there are some crimes that the price is capital punishment which means death.

The strongest evidence that can be given to prove that the law of God cannot be changed is the cross of Christ. If the law could have been changed there would have been no need for Jesus to die. It says in I Corinthians 15:3 that, “He died for our sins.” And “sin is breaking the law,” I John 3:4. Jesus died because we broke the law. Jesus uplifted the law when He told His disciples, “Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day.” Matthew 24:20. Here Jesus was referring to an event that was going to happen many years after the cross and He instructed His disciples to continue to keep holy the Sabbath day.

In the end, there is going to be a group of people ready and waiting for Jesus to come. They are described in Bible prophecy in Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15. Jesus not only created the world, but He is the One who spoke the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. He also wrote them with His own finger in tables of stone. Christ died to save us from our sins, our law breaking. It says in Titus 2:14, “He gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous of good works.”

Today, probation has not closed yet and the invitation for salvation is still being given to the whole world. Jesus died on the cross once and He is coming back again for those who are waiting for Him and ready to meet Him. Just before He left this world to go back to heaven again, He told His disciples what they were to do. As He was ascending, the angels came and told the disciples that, “This same Jesus will come as you have seen him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11. In other words, He would come back the same way. It says, “A cloud received him out of their sight.” Verse 9. There are several places in the Bible that says when He comes back He will be coming with clouds.

Bible prophecy predicted that Jesus would come the first time as a suffering servant and would sacrifice His life to save sinners (Isaiah 53), thereby establishing the kingdom of grace whereby sinners could be saved from the guilt and power of their sins. Prophecy also predicted that Jesus would come the second time, not as a suffering servant to pay the price for our sins, but as a conquering Prince. The first time He came was to bear our sins and to pay the price for our sins. The text says that, “Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:28. The last part of the verse says, “And to those who eagerly await for Him He will appear the second time, without sin, unto salvation.”

Jesus is the rightful owner of this world for two reasons. First, He created it and second, because He paid the price on the cross to redeem it. Jesus warned us when He was here that before He would come again there would be a tremendous effort by Satan to deceive the whole world concerning His return. Notice what Jesus said about these deceptions that were going to come:

“For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ, and will deceive many.’ ” Luke 21:8. Not every deceiver would claim to be Christ; some would just claim to be His prophets. “False Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22. There are going to be a lot of miracles worked in the last days which will be very impressive. Your faith needs to be in the Word of God if you are not going to be deceived because the devil and his agents are going to work a lot of miracles in the last days. Jesus said, “Therefore if they say to you, ‘Look, He is in the desert!’ do not go out; ‘Look, He is in the inner rooms!’ do not believe it.” Matthew 24:26. In other words, do not believe anybody who comes along teaching about a secret coming of Christ.

Jesus told His disciples the night He was betrayed, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1–3. He said that He was going to come back and when He came back He was going to take His followers with Him to heaven.

Fact One—Literal Event

Christ’s coming is a literal event. He is going to come in the clouds and He is going to take His people, His children, with Him back to heaven. Notice what the apostle Paul wrote about this. He said, “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13.

Fact Two—Personal Event

Christ’s coming is a personal event. When Jesus left, while the apostles were looking up and watching, the angels said to them, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11. Notice, He will come the same way you saw Him go. The disciples witnessed His ascension and just so, His modern disciples will see Him return.

Fact Three—Visible Event

Christ’s coming is a visible event. “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him.” Revelation 1:7. It is going to be the most exciting thing you have ever seen if you are one of His children. Most of the people living at that time will not be rejoicing at all. Notice these words of Christ Himself: “Then the sign of the Son of man will appear in heaven and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn.” Matthew 24:30. Why will they mourn? In the last days there is going to be a tremendous religious controversy over the subject of worship. Are you going to worship the Creator or are you going to worship the beast? How many people are going to worship the beast? Revelation says, “And all who dwell upon the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8.

The greatest deception of all time will be practiced on the people of this earth in the last generation. The dragon will deceive the whole world (Revelation 12:9). As a result, the whole world will marvel and follow the beast from the sea. The earth is then deceived by the beast from the earth. He deceives those who dwell on earth by those miracles which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast from the sea, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast. After the earth is deceived by the dragon, the beast from the sea and the beast from the land, the earth is deceived by spirits who they think are spirits from God in heaven.

The majority of people are going to mourn when Jesus comes because they have been deceived. They will realize too late that they have been worshiping the antichrist they thought was the real Christ. Incidentally, the word antichrist originally meant, somebody who stands in the place of Christ. The deceived will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory and they are going to mourn. Revelation 6:14–17 says, “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who shall be able to stand?’ ” Revelation 6:15–17.

Fact Four—Audible Event

The coming of Christ back to this earth will be an audible event. It is literal, personal, visible and audible. There is going to be a lot of noise when Jesus comes back. It says in Revelation 16, “And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a mighty and great earthquake. Then every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.” Revelation 16:18, 20. Paul says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.” I Thessalonians 4:16. When that shout occurs, the graves are going to open up with that mighty earthquake and God’s children, who have been sleeping in death, are going to be raised up. Paul continues on to say, “And the dead in Christ will rise first.” I have often asked, Lord, if it’s all right with You, when it is the day of the resurrection, I would like to be at a cemetery. I would like to see the graves open up. I think it will be the most exciting thing that has ever happened.

At that trumpet sound when the graves open up you will be reunited with your loved ones who have been torn from you in death, never to be separated from them again. There is not going to be any sorrow or any pain attached to it; the resurrection does not hurt. “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” I Thessalonians 4:17.

Meaning of Rapture

The word rapture is not found anywhere in the Bible. It means to catch up or snatch away something. When Jesus comes, His people are going to be taken out of this world; they are going to go up in a cloud with Jesus to heaven.

Christ’s coming is described in one or two Bible verses as a thief. This, however, does not refer to how He comes, but when He comes. To those who are unprepared, it will be unexpected and a surprise. When a thief enters a house, he may tie the people up and there may be even gunfire and all kinds of noise, but he does not want anyone to know when he is coming. The coming of Jesus is described over and over as a surprise to this world. That is the way of a thief. It is going to be a surprise. “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” I Corinthians 15:52. The word mortal means that you are subject to death. Immortal means that you are not subject to death. The second coming is described as literal, personal, visible, and audible (I Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

But, what about the text about two being in the field (Luke 17:36)? The Bible does not teach that those left are left alive. The wicked are destroyed with the brightness of his coming. “For the great day of His wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:17. It says, “They hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’ ” Revelation 6:15, 16. How many are going to be left alive? Nobody!

The Bible says, “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse [Jesus] and against His army. Then the beast was captured, and the false prophet who worked signs in His presence by which He deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worship his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh.” Revelation 19:19–21.

When Jesus comes again, one of two things is going to happen. Either you will be saved, or you will be lost; there is no middle ground and there is no second chance. Each person, by then, will have made his/her decision for eternity. Jesus said that time will be like it was in the days of Noah. For one hundred and twenty years while Noah was building the ark he preached to the people what had been told him that the world was going to be destroyed by a flood. The masses did not believe him and scoffed at his message. Jesus said it will be the same in the last days. People will scoff at the soon coming of Christ and the judgment.

The people scoffed at Noah and even though they saw the animals go into the ark guided by an unseen hand, they still considered Noah a fanatic and crazy, refusing to go in. Only Noah and the seven other people in his family went into the ark. The nonbelief of the scoffers did not stop the flood. The time came when the rain, something they had never seen before that time, started to fall, eventually covering the whole earth. The Bible says the water covered the tops of the highest mountains (Genesis 8:20). People, terrified, climbed to the highest places, but when they got there it was just a temporary reprieve. They saw the ark floating on the water knowing that Noah and his family were safe inside and they were lost. Once the door of that ark was closed, they did not have a second chance.

Those who listened to God’s warning and entered the ark were saved. The people who were skeptical and scoffed, not believing, had no second chance. The flood came and all were destroyed. Jesus said when I come again it will be the same. There are many people today who have not studied history carefully enough. The idea of a rapture followed by a second chance is a relatively new doctrine. Jesus, as well as the apostles, taught that there would be no second chance after Jesus returns and there is no mention of a rapture. Read Matthew 13 or II Thessalonians 1 and 2.

Neither the Roman Catholic Church, nor any of the Protestant churches, had heard of or knew of this doctrine even fifteen hundred years after Christ in the days of Martin Luther, as this doctrine had not yet existed. The doctrine of the rapture was invented later in the sixteenth century and not until about a hundred years ago did it become popular in Protestant churches.

What is going to happen when Jesus comes? It says, “And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ (IIThessalonians 1:7, 8), whom the Lord will consume with the brightness of His coming (II Thessalonians 2:8).” Are they going to get a second chance? No. When Jesus comes again, you will either be saved or lost and that is the end. The Bible says you will either go up to heaven with Jesus, or you will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming.

God’s elect will say, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation.” Isaiah 25:9. In this world, not only is it the unbelievers, but Christians also suffer grief, trouble, trial and bereavement. When Jesus comes, that experience will be over. At last we will be reunited with our loved ones. The graves will be opened up and God’s children will awake and rise from their dusty beds and go up on the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Fact Five—Glorious Event

Jesus said His return would be a very glorious event. He said, “And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” Matthew 24:30. It will be seen all over the sky. The Bible says, “As the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Verse 27.

Fact Six—Climactic Event

The second coming of Christ brings the climax to this world’s history. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True. And the armies in heaven, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations.” Revelation 19:11, 14, 15.

Fact Seven—Decisive Event

Christ’s coming is a decisive event. Jesus is coming as a conquering king with ten thousand of His holy ones to execute judgment upon all and to convict all who are ungodly of their ungodly deeds. Jesus said, “Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:12.

The prophets and the apostles wrote about what was going to happen to both the righteous and the wicked when Jesus returns. The angels will come forth to separate the wicked from among the just (Matthew 13:49). “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.” Luke 13:28. At that time no one will want to be on the outside looking in and not be able to go in. Everybody in the world will then want to go in that place with an inexpressible desire for salvation and eternal life. Jesus said, “What does it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?” Matthew 16:26. What does it profit?

Heaven is a good place, a place you want to go and where you want to live. Jesus loves you and has done everything possible that you will be welcome there. Will He be able to welcome you in? He says, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every man according to his work.” Revelation 22:12. What reward is He bringing for you? Is it the gift of eternal life because you have accepted His invitation and washed your robes in His precious blood or are you one of the scoffers enjoying the pleasures of this world that will soon come to an end? Remember your eternal destiny will be decided before Jesus comes back and there will be no second chance. The Bible says in Revelation 22:11, 12, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every man according as his work shall be.”

Jesus is coming soon; He is waiting for you to accept His invitation to be one of the people who is looking for Him anxiously waiting to meet Him. Or will you be one of the group looking for a place to hide because, “The great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:17.

Heaven is a good place where,

“ ‘They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 65:25. There will be people there from all countries of the world. Jesus said, “And I say unto you, many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down … in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 8:11.

Isaiah described heaven: “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. The voice of weeping shall no longer be heard in her, nor the voice of crying. They shall build houses and inhabit them. They shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain.” Isaiah 65:17, 19, 21, 22, 25.

Heaven is a good place, one to be desired. Today, without delay, ask the Lord to write His commandments in your heart that you will find His law a delight and be governed by the principles of heaven. “And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 66:23.

In comparison to the world population, very few people are accepting the invitation of Jesus. Do not be alarmed to find yourself in the minority. When the flood came, Noah and his family were in the minority inside the ark. Though they were few, they were glad to be in safety and not drowning with the majority. “And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ And whoever desires, let him take of the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.

This world is full of exclusive places with signs saying, “Keep out,” where the common people are not welcome but right at the end of the Bible God has hung up a sign; He says, “Come in!” Now is the time to accept the invitation and say, Lord, I am choosing to commit my life to You. I am not just going to profess to be a Christian and then go on living like the devil. Give me a new heart and live out your life in me so I can be obedient to all of Your commandments. I want to follow You all the way and be ready when Jesus comes to take me home with Him. I am tired of playing games and I give You my whole heart.

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

The Number Ten – How Significant!

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The number ten appears to be very significant in our society as well as in the Bible. Here are several secular examples. In baseball there are at least ten players on the field all the time including the batter. In basketball there are always ten players on the court, five on each side. In the world of blackjack the ten, queen, king and jack are all worth ten points. In bowling a strike means you knock down all ten pins. In the Olympics, ten is the highest score that you can get. In math, ten is the base of the decimal and metric system of measurement. Ten is the atomic number of neon. The glow of a neon light and the atomic blast are similar but just smaller and less potential. Interstate 10 in the United States is the longest interstate from California to Florida. The smallest coin in the United States is a dime and it is worth ten cents.

Let’s now look at Bible examples. The flood covered the earth until the first day of the tenth month after which the mountains became visible. Abram had given a tenth of his possessions to Melchizedek as gratitude for all of God’s blessings to his life; thus the tithing system which is also one-tenth. After being in Canaan, Sarai became impatient with God and gave Hagar to Abraham in an attempt to fulfill God’s promise, and it happened when they were in Canaan in the tenth year. From Abraham back to Noah, are ten generations. From Noah back to Adam are ten generations. God would have saved Sodom if only there had been found ten righteous there. Ten plagues fell upon Egypt. Laban changed Jacob’s wages ten times when he labored for Rachel. Joseph sent back ten male and ten female donkeys to his father in Canaan with provisions from Egypt during the time of the famine. Joseph died when he was 110 years old. The Jews observe an annual ten days of repentance beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur. In Judaism, ten adults are required for a prayer service. Naaman took ten pounds of silver and ten changes of clothing when he went to be healed of his leprosy. God took ten tribes from Solomon and gave them to Jeroboam.

The number ten is very significant. Hezekiah prayed for a sign and the Lord made the shadow go back ten degrees as evidence that He would prolong Hezekiah’s life. The number ten appears only once in the entire book of Job. Jesus taught about the ten virgins, ten talents, ten coins and ten lepers. There were ten curtains in the tabernacle held up by boards that were ten cubits in height supported by ten bases. In the sanctuary there were two cherubim that were ten cubits tall and the distance from one wing to the other was ten cubits. Under the cherubim was the ethical Decalogue of the Ten Commandments of God. To remember the law, God gave everybody ten toes and ten fingers.

Ten is a very significant number, which brings me to my first point. If God did not think that we needed Ten Commandments, He would not have given us ten. If you do not believe that we need ten, cut off one of your fingers or one of your toes. When somebody tells you that we don’t have to keep the Ten Commandments, just take your scissors and give me a finger or a toe. I believe that God intended for all ten to stay intact.

Ten Commandments are very significant. That is why Moses, the faithful servant of God, said in Deuteronomy 4:13, “And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.” The following are three very important facts that come to the forefront about the Ten Commandments:

  1. God declared the Ten Commandments, which simply means that they did not come from the lips of man; therefore they cannot be modified by the lips of man. We may not like what God said, but we do not have the authority to change what He says.
  2. God commanded; He did not suggest the Ten Commandments. They did not come from man’s mind; therefore they cannot be modified to fit man’s thinking. We may think that the word command is too strong, but God’s law is not ten suggestions, ten opinions, ten options or ten menu items. It is the Ten Commandments.
  3. God wrote the Ten Commandments. They were not e-mailed, faxed, borrowed, photocopied or plagiarized. In other words, God wrote them with His finger. He did not inspire them; He wrote them.

My mother gave me a book many years ago that I still read to this very day. It is not so much the content of the book that is important to me but that my mother’s signature is there. She passed away in 1991, and every time I lend that book out to somebody, I tell them not to keep it, because I cannot buy another one like it. It is not the content, but the inscription of the giver that makes that book special. So it is not just the commandments, not just ten laws, but the fact that God took the time to write them with His own finger. I would suggest to you that they are a lot more valuable than baseball cards or signed pictures. People always ask me for my autograph on my CDs, and I always tell them to forget my signature and read the Bible verse under it, because if you forget me, you have lost nothing, but if you forget God, you have lost everything.

The inscription of God is there to let us know that when God takes the time to autograph something, it has to be important. It is suggested by eBay that to determine the value of a document four things need to be done:

  1. You must determine how long the person who signed it has been around. How does that tend to make the Ten Commandments valuable? David says that, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God [Psalm 90:21].” God has been around for as long as long can be. On that basis alone, eBay could not even price the Ten Commandments to sell. There is not enough money on earth to buy the commandments of God, because based on the longevity of the One who wrote them and signed them, they are valuable beyond our ability to buy.
  2. You must determine the value of an item. Is it historical? The commandments are as old as time. Is it personal? Paul said they are the law of God (Romans 7). The commandments of God are very personal.
  3. You must assess the integrity of the document—What was it signed with, pen or ink that can fade? If the inscription is faded, the document begins to lose its value. God took care of that when He wrote His law on stone and signed it with His own finger. To this day it is signed with His own blood. As a matter of fact, there is one original on the table of stone, and everybody has a copy of it. He wrote it in your mind and put it in your heart. You cannot sell it. You can be irreligious, and the commandments of God will remind you in your darkest moments that what you are about to do is not right. What commandment are we talking about? “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house, you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.” Exodus 20:17 (NKJV).
  4. You must establish the present condition of the document. To arrive at its dollar value, eBay suggests that you must determine how much it has changed since it was written. God says, in Psalm 89:34, “My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” God does not change, and His commandments do not change.

You can shift them around and make them appear to change, but as far as God’s copy is concerned, they are the same. Regarding the copy in your heart, no matter in what order you put them they are still the same.

God made sure that no matter where you are, whether you want to turn your ears or close your eyes, the commandments of God are with you.

At the very outset of the tenth commandment the law reveals its age. The word covet lets you know that it is not a contemporary commandment. How many times have you talked to somebody, and they have said, “Well, I covet that tie” or “I covet that job”? We don’t use the word covet very much. That is why in the newer Bible translations, the word covet is substituted with the word greed. Don’t be greedy; be satisfied.

The truth of the matter is that the tenth commandment is not exclusive, because if you just take the beginning and the end, it reads as follows: “Thou shalt not covet anything that is thy neighbor’s.” If there is something that somebody else has and you cannot afford it, just get it out of your mind. Coveting what is not yours is how the commandment begins.

Sometimes the tenth commandment seems to supplement the eighth commandment, which says, “Thou shalt not steal [Exodus 20:15].” The fact of the matter is that the tenth commandment is the door that leads to the violation of the other nine. I believe that is what Jesus meant when He said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Mark 12:31 (NKJV). Paul says, “For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” Galatians 5:14 (NKJV). If you love your neighbor as yourself and you don’t want him/her to steal from you and you won’t steal from him/her. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you won’t covet his wife or her husband and you won’t want him to covet your wife or you. If you love your neighbor as yourself, you don’t want him/her taking your house, and you won’t take his/her house.

Paul brings out another overlooked truth about the tenth commandment. He refers to those seven words, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” as one word. In other words, the Ten Commandments are also known as the Ten Words. The tenth commandment is not only the tenth precept of the Ten Commandments; it is the last Word of the Ten Words.

To summarize commandments one through nine, I believe that the reason God put the tenth one there is so the tenth commandment could be the last Word of the nine Words that went before. It is as though God is saying, “If you have any doubt about anything I have said, I place this one here as the last Word.”

The tenth commandment is a sin detector. If you are labeled by society as a criminal or a transgressor of any law, the transgression or the crime has to be obvious. Somebody has to see it. How can you declare me guilty of something you cannot detect or see? Like an inconspicuous carbon dioxide smoke detector, the tenth commandment monitors the silent activities of the mind, going way down to the subculture of human thought. It does not say you have to do the deed and that is the only way you are guilty; it goes down to the point where the motive begins to be born. It is like a divine MRI; it detects the hidden sins of the human heart before they become obvious to everybody else.

It is the stealthy operation of this commandment that I believe gives birth to these verses in Scripture. The wise man said, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV). It says, “as he thinks”—not as he does. Before it becomes an act of stealing somebody’s car, wife, money or house, it is born in your thoughts. Jesus said, in Matthew 15:8, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” It is detecting what is below the surface, not just what is being seen by everybody else. In other words, you can go to church and pray to God all you want, but the Lord He sees what is happening on the inside. This commandment goes way beyond what people see.

Paul says, in Romans 7:25, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” Let’s put that in proper context. There may be some people who cannot break free from a habit or a sin, but they are saying that in their minds they are in harmony with God’s law but need to be delivered from the very act. Then, in reverse, there are people who appear to be delivered from the very act, but in their minds they are serving the law of sin. You cannot judge anyone solely on what you see. When you meet people, they always put their best foot forward, but I am always concerned what they are going to do with that other foot. The tenth commandment is not only a sin detector, it is a character detector as well.

Remember when Saul fell as king and God called the sons of Jesse to be consecrated? The ones who looked qualified were not qualified. The one who did not look qualified, was the one who was qualified, and Samuel said that we look at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart. See 1 Samuel 16:7. This means that people who look righteous are not always righteous. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart.” Jeremiah 17:9, 10, first part. Sometimes you can put on your Christian costume when you go to church, but God knows what you are thinking and why you are there.

The tenth commandment suggests that ungodly thoughts will eventually become ungodly actions. When we lived in New York City, my wife and I were involved with people who liked to go roller-skating. At that time there were random shootings in the city. We noticed a very unassuming guy who looked the part—you have to be careful with people who just look the part, because one of the deceptions in the last days is that Satan is going to show up, and he is going to look the part. Ministers preaching from pulpits all over the world look the part, but they are not living the part. One of our sisters in the faith said that anybody can preach a good sermon, but it takes somebody else to live a good one.

At a seminar I gave on family life, one person who attended said to me, “Do you know why I enjoyed this seminar? It was not what you said; it was what I saw between you and your wife. It was not what you said about valuing older people, but you brought your 81-year-old mother-in-law with you on your vacation. So when you said to me, ‘Don’t wait until they get older to tell them that you love them,’ you are doing it by example. How often does she travel with you?” I told him that whenever she is not sick, we take her with us, because the day is going to come when she can’t go, and I do not want to be standing there at the funeral saying, “Oh, if I had only, had only, had only.” I believe people cry hard at funerals because they did not work hard before the funeral. We would rather send flowers than carry them ourselves. So when people look godly, it really does not mean a whole lot to me.

Some of the meanest e-mails I have received are from people who are religious. It was religious people who screamed for Jesus to be crucified. It was the secular power that tried to get Him out of it. When church and state unite, there is no greater persecution than when religious people get involved. So to appear to be religious is of no value whatsoever in the sight of God, but to live a righteous life is. This does not begin on the outside; it begins on the inside.

This commandment goes way, way down. That is why the Word of God is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of body and soul and spirit (Hebrews 4:12). The Bible says it “is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of man’s heart.” Hebrews 4:12. I believe that is why people sometimes do not read their Bible, because when they read their Bible, it tells them about themselves. Even now people are challenging ministers whether or not they can preach it straight. I preach straight sermons, and people ask me why. I tell them that my job is not to get them comfortable but to get them into the kingdom.

People nowadays want those sermons about portfolios and how many stock options they have. But their stocks cannot get them into heaven, not even being religious on the outside with all of their possessions. I knew somebody who was very wealthy and I called this person on something on the way he was living. He took me to task saying to me, “How dare you talk to me that way.” I told him the way he was living was sin, whether he was rich or poor.

The Lord says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Luke 6:45.

The tenth commandment reminds us that we may not always be under the jurisdiction of man, but we are always under the jurisdiction of God.

The tenth commandment is a dissatisfaction detector. This commandment detects discontent. Paul tells us, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:12 (NIV). Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NIV). If you have God, you have all that you need.

You must be content. The definition of godliness has been misrepresented by the church. “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6. Notice what it does not say. It does not say, “Great gain with contentment is godliness,” and it does not say, “Great gain with godliness is contentment.” It says, “Godliness with contentment.” Be content to be godly for from that comes great gain. Our lives do not consist in all the abundance we possess, and when Jesus comes, we cannot take it with us.

Nobody has ever been put in jail for what he has thought, but many will be kept out of heaven because of what they think. The problem with the antediluvian world was that every intent of the thoughts of their heart was only evil continually (Geneses 6:5). It was their thoughts that led them to sin. It was what they thought and then what they did.

Wrong thoughts entertained promote a wrong desire, which in time gives birth to a wrong action. We may refrain from sin because the social and civil penalties are heavy, but in heaven’s sight we may be as guilty as if we actually committed it ourselves, because the tenth commandment goes way down deep. What is the prescription? David tells us in Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

The tenth commandment is about discontent. It is having an inordinate desire for something that does not belong to you. That is why the Bible says that God will not just work on the outside, “For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13 (NKJV). This basic commandment, the tenth, reveals the profound truth that we are not the helpless slaves of our natural desires and passions. It sums up the Decalogue by affirming that man is essentially a free moral agent. So the next time you see something you want, think about the real cost. The next time you see someone you want, think about the real cause. The next time it begins to boil up in your heart that you are just not happy, think about the fact that Jesus did not die for your stuff, He died for you.

“Thou shalt not covet.” I want to go home to heaven. We need to get to the place where we are tired of sin. We need to get to the place where we know that with all of this covetousness we have wasted many precious years. We must get our eyes fixed on going home to be with Jesus. We must get to the place where we realize that we need His cleansing blood. The only answer to the violation of any of the Ten Commandments is the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ.

Now is the time we need to unload the world and put on Jesus Christ in every aspect of our lives and covet nothing that will keep us out of the kingdom of God. Let each of us pray for a heart of contentment—content to be godly, content to be loving, content to be kind and content to support one another in this final, trying hour of this earth’s history.

Pastor John Lomacang’s sermon was taken from the Ten Commandment Weekend, 2008 series aired on 3ABN. For more information contact www.3ABN.org.

Law and Judgment

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The inhabitants of the world are worried; there is so much confusion everywhere and no safety. People do not understand the course of all this political instability and are afraid. There are wars, famine in some places and the whole world is suffering under the financial crisis. Earthquakes are more frequent, tsunamis, floods and forest fires are blazing, and the list is endless recording disasters worldwide. Really, world news today describes the last days as highlighted by Christ in Mathew 24. These events are corrupting the minds of many living today. Where is the safety? Should the elect also be led astray? But the Bible says, “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved” (verse 13).

Jesus, the true Shepherd is calling upon us to follow Him. He says, “I have kept My Father’s commandments” (John 15:10). He leads His sheep in the path of humble obedience to the Law of God. He never encourages any to transgress the law, which is as sacred as His throne, and by it, everyone who comes into the world is to be judged. Our characters are to be weighed in the balance of God’s law, which is the only standard by which to test character.

A pretended holiness allows one to devise his own standard, judging himself, other than the true standard—God’s law. Making a self-judgment will not sanctify, because when personal standards are set, the law of God is trampled underfoot.

The subject dealt with here is pretentious holiness and its effects on a person’s character and to understand how God watches all from His throne.

Is keeping the commandments a half duty of man?

God should not be taken lightly. It is not for man to set his own standards and feel secure thinking he is on the right side. This is a deception that will end in destruction. The law of God is the standard by which the characters and lives of men are to be tested in the judgment. “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment.” Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14. The books of record in heaven, in which the names and deeds of men are registered, are to determine the decisions made in the judgment. In pretending, many often commit numerous secret sins with an argument that they are not revealed. This is very dangerous, for such sins are rarely confessed and repented of. The secret purposes and motives appear in an unerring register for God “bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts.” I Corinthians 4:5.

This calls for total faith. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from sinning does not have the faith that will result in an entrance into the kingdom of God. The faith of Jesus calls for keeping the law of God. The Word should not be just a lifeless theory, but a living force that changes the life. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8–10.

Man’s devised laws only result in boasting and self-righteousness, thus revealing weakness. The great change that is seen in the life of a sinner after his conversion is miraculous and not brought about through any human goodness, thereby eliminating any human boasting. “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12.

Keeping the law is the key to eternal life. Those who set their own standards are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold. Have you taken time to examine yourself? The Lord is speaking to you to be careful. Take time to understand the condition in which you find yourself. The hot have experienced the new birth and know the necessity of daily living by the Spirit. We are living in the time of judgment, and as the Lord looks at His people, He finds that the majority of them are lukewarm. The cold know they are not in a saving relationship and realize their lost condition: “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:15, 16), says the Lord.

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalm 1. All who seek to be an evergreen tree planted by the river will produce fruits.

Sin is the transgression of the law. “Whosoever hath sinned [transgressed the law] against Me, him will I blot out of My book.” Exodus 32:33. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.” James 2:10–12. Any unrepented of iniquity makes of no effect all previous righteousness. Through Christ we have been accepted into the family of God, and as children of God, we are to uphold His honor, His character. It will be great joy to do any act that will keep you in the family of God in conformity with the law of God. “There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.” Job 34:22.

We have been saved by grace, but grace does not abolish the law of God. All who bear the name Christian are to reflect the character, actions, and words of Christ Jesus, Who is meek, lowly and tender in heart. We must keep ourselves worthy to be in the family of God here on this earth to prepare for the life to come. To be saved by grace and not under the law means to stop sinning, as it is by the law that we know sin. Jesus Christ is coming again to receive those who are ready to welcome Him at His second advent. This will take place immediately after the work of the investigative judgment has been accomplished. The reward He brings with Him is to give to every man according to his work. How important then should our minds contemplate the reward and whether the judgment shall place us on the right side of the controversy. Satan should never be given the opportunity to exult over his conquests.

Make haste to confess every known sin and decide today to put them away. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13. Do not allow Satan to corrupt your mind through defects in your character, but shun him and hold on to Jesus in order to have your character perfected as probation time nears its end. The many issues that are taking place in the world today should not be a source of confusion but give hope that our Lord is at the door and inspire us to be ready to receive Him. Will you receive Him or will you hide? “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen.” Revelation 1:7.

Father, I am not worthy even to stand before You.

Thank you for saving me by the grace of Christ Jesus.

Help me Lord to value your advocacy from sin.

I yearn to love You more in my heart and do Your will.

Give me Your Spirit to be my guide each day of my life, Amen.

Bismark Nobert Emali (see testimony in LandMarks, October 2010) is a student working on his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Kenya. His life is a testimony to many. He is a keen Bible student. During school breaks he writes numerous articles as well as helping out at Three Angels’ Messages Evangelistic Ministry in Bunyore, Kenya. His mission is to evangelize in Africa. He may be contacted by email at: emalinobert@yahoo.com.