Children’s Story – What Love Can Do

It was a sunny day outside, but clouds seemed to hang over Harold. In fact, the afternoon atmosphere in the kitchen seemed to change when Harold brought in the wood and kindling.

Mother turned off her iron and followed him to the kitchen door. She laid a hand gently on his shoulder and turned him around so that their eyes met. “Harold, my boy, what is the trouble?” she asked. “What has happened to make you so miserable? Tell me about it; perhaps I can help.”

“It’s all over now, and I don’t see as there’s anything more to be done.”

“Tell me about it. Can’t you trust me not to speak of it to anyone?”

“Oh, it’s no secret. Everybody in the school knows about it. Teacher gave me a scolding; and I’m not saying I didn’t deserve it. This is what happened: After lunch Jack and I were playing catch with my new ball, when Tom came to bother us. When Jack missed the ball, Tom got it and ran. I took after him, and when I finally caught him he refused to give it to me, so we had a fight. Of course, I don’t think Tom had any right to take my ball; but I know I shouldn’t have got angry, either.”

Mother’s face was happy as she greeted her husband that evening. “I’m so glad you came home early tonight,” she said, as she kissed him.

At worship time father read the story of Christ’s suffering and death on the cross. When the chapter was finished, mother asked, “What was it that touched the heart of the thief and made him want to be with Jesus in heaven?”

Harold was the first to answer, “It was the prayer of Jesus, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.’ ”

Handing Harold the open Bible, mother said, “Will you read the words that Peter wrote to some of his Christian friends who were mistreated because they loved Jesus?”

Harold read: “ ‘For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously.’ I Peter 2:21–23.”

“That means that when someone did something mean to Jesus, our Saviour did not do anything mean back. He was kind and loving always.”

Harold thought how unlike Jesus he had been at school. Father remembered the harsh letter he had written that day, and he decided he would not send it.

After prayer, the family gathered around the piano and sang “More Like the Master I Would Ever Be.”

Harold whispered in mother’s ear, “I’m going to let Tom play with my ball. I feel sorry for him; his parents are not Christians. And mother, would it be all right to invite him to our home sometime?”

Ella M. Robinson, Happy Home Stories, TEACH Services Inc., Ringgold, Georgia, March 2005, 11–14.

Current Events – Pope Benedict XVI Resigns-” Last Pope ” Prophecy

Pope Benedict stunned the Roman Catholic Church on Monday, February 18, 2013, when he announced he would stand down, saying he no longer had the mental and physical strength to carry on. At 85, he said he was too old, frail and tired to continue on as spiritual leader of the Roman Catholic Church and its 1.2 billion followers worldwide. Pope Benedict XVI will become the first pope to resign since Gregory XII in 1415.

The soft-spoken German, who always maintained that he never wanted to be pope, was an uncompromising conservative on social and theological issues, fighting what he regarded as the increasing secularization of society.

It remains to be seen whether his successor will continue such battles or do more to bend with the times. A new leader could be elected as soon as Palm Sunday, on March 24, and be ready to take over by Easter a week later. www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/11; www.cnn.com/2013/02/25; www.breitbart.com/2013/02/11

“The Roman Catholic Church, with all its ramifications throughout the world, forms one vast organization under the control, and designed to serve the interests, of the papal see. Its millions of communicants, in every country on the globe, are instructed to hold themselves as bound in allegiance to the pope. Whatever their nationality or their government, they are to regard the authority of the church as above all other. Though they may take the oath pledging their loyalty to the state, yet back of this lies the vow of obedience to Rome, absolving them from every pledge inimical to her interests.” The Great Controversy, 580.

“ Last Pope ” Prophecy

There’s a fresh wave of doomsday buzz over a purported 12th-century prophecy suggesting that the next pope will be the last pope before the end of the world. The effect of St. Malachy’s “Prophecy of the Popes” could well be longer-lasting—especially if the papal conclave goes with one of the favored candidates for Benedict XVI’s successor. Supposedly, Malachy experienced a vision of future popes during a trip to Rome in 1139, and wrote down a series of 112 cryptic phrases that described each pope in turn.

Doomsday fans have found ways to link each phrase to a corresponding pope through the centuries. That includes Benedict XVI, No. 111, is supposedly “glory of the olive.” Then there’s No. 112: “In the extreme persecution of the Holy Roman Church, there will sit … Peter the Roman, who will nourish the sheep in many tribulations; when they are finished, the city of seven hills will be destroyed, and the dreadful judge will judge his people. The end.”

Whomever the conclave picks, there’ll surely be a way to connect him somehow with “Peter the Roman” — after all, isn’t every pope a successor to St. Peter, based in Rome?

“The Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the world; and those who have had great light and opportunities and have not improved them, will be the first to be left. They have grieved away the Spirit of God. The present activity of Satan in working upon hearts, and upon churches and nations should startle every student of prophecy. The end is near. Let our churches arise. Let the converting power of God be experienced in the heart of the individual members, and then we shall see the deep moving of the Spirit of God.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 6, 11.

A Right to the New City

The book of Revelation predicts that just before the end of the world, everyone will receive a mark. For some it will guarantee their destruction, but for others it will guarantee their deliverance. Then it will be clear to everyone just which mark he or she has.

God has just one simple test that will divide the whole world into two classes. On the very night that He was betrayed, Jesus said to His disciples, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” John 14:15.

Referring to Jesus, Paul says, “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:8, 9.

This one simple test decides the mark by which God will know who has accepted Jesus as their Saviour and has become His child through obedience. Do we love and trust Him enough to obey Him and to do what He says? Do we love, keep and respect His law? The apostle Paul spoke about it this way: “Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slave whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” Romans 6:16.

Jesus predicted that there will be many Christians who will come right up to the end of the world and tragically find out that while still claiming their Christianity they are lost. He said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ ” Matthew 7:21–23.

Somehow, these Christians believed that they could make their own decisions in life as to how they would be saved. They thought that even though they were practicing lawlessness and violating God’s law, they were regular church attendees each week and doing wonderful things. But Jesus says, “You didn’t obey Me. You thought you could earn your way to heaven by your own works, but because you did not obey Me, you are a disloyal subject and your religion is not worth anything. My will has been made clear and not open to your own interpretation. Depart from Me, I never knew you!”

Some people think that, because of their sincerity, God will accept them no matter what they do. But, the fact of the matter is that all who are really sincere will inquire of God’s will and apply it to their lives. That is the sign by which the whole universe will know of their sincerity. We are not left to guess God’s will and how we are to demonstrate sincerity. The apostle John writes about this so plainly: “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.” 1 John 2:3–5.

These are strong words that say those who do not keep His commandments are liars. John continues to say, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” 1 John 5:2, 3.

Today, many voices are heard giving excuses as to why they either cannot or do not have to obey God’s law.

Excuse #1

People say, “The Christian church today is not under the law but under grace.” Let’s take a closer look at Romans 6:14. It says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”

Before we go further we should be sure that we understand what sin actually is. “Sin is lawlessness” (1 John 3:4). Sin is breaking God’s law. Paul says that sin, or breaking God’s law, will not have dominion over you for you are not under the law but under grace. But then he goes on to say, in the very next verse, “What then? Shall we sin [break God’s law] because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” Romans 6:15.

Paul makes it very clear he is not teaching that because you are no longer under the law but under grace you can break the law. In fact, the only people who are not under the law are those who are keeping it. The people who continue to break God’s law are actually under the law. The Bible says, “We know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans 3:19.

This makes everybody in the world under the law of God and because of that, all are condemned to death. But the gospel makes a way possible so that all who believe can be delivered from the penalty of the law—being condemned to death. Deliverance is available through the grace of Jesus Christ, but that grace does not give permission to continue living a life of sin and disobedience. Paul makes this very clear as he begins this discussion in Romans 6:1, 2. He says, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin [break God’s law] that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin [stopped breaking God’s law] live any longer in it?” Clearly, the apostle Paul was not teaching that because you are not under the law, but under grace, you are free to go and break God’s law. Only those people who keep the law are not under it, but under grace. Those who continue to break the law remain under it, as we read in Romans 3:19.

Excuse #2

People say, “I don’t need to keep the law anymore because Jesus fulfilled the law, thereby doing away with it.”

Jesus said, “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.” Luke 16:17.

A tittle is the smallest stroke, just part of a letter. Jesus said it would be easier for the whole universe, heaven and earth to pass away than for a part of a letter of the law to fail. This is very, very strong language when you understand Who is talking, because Jesus Christ was the one Who made the heavens and the earth and everything in it (John 1:3; Hebrews 1:1; Colossians 1:15).

John says that Jesus made everything that was made and without Him nothing was made. And when He came to dwell in this world in human flesh, it would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a part of a letter of the law to fail. The only way of escape from death was for somebody Who was above the law to pay the penalty for us. Jesus did not come to pay the penalty for our sins so that we could continue sinning. “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:2–4.

Excuse #3

People say, “Well, it is impossible to keep the law.” The accusation here is that God made a law that nobody can keep.

It is true that the unconverted person cannot keep the law of God. Paul says, “The carnal mind [the unconverted mind; the fleshly mind] is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.” Romans 8:7. This describes the unconverted person, but when you come to Jesus and accept Him as the Lord of your life and as your personal Saviour from sin, so that you receive the Holy Spirit into your life, it is now possible for you to keep the law.

John says, “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. 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. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:4–9.

This passage of Scripture is unpopular with many people; however, it cannot be denied that it is still in the Bible. Notice what John continues to say in 1 John 5:18, “We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.”

The Bible is very clear. It says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. But the very fact that we have sinned proves that the law of God is still in existence, because sin is the transgression of the law as we have just seen in 1 John 3:4. “Sin is not imputed when there is no law.” Romans 5:13. For example, you cannot be given a ticket for breaking a speed limit if there is no speed limit!

Excuse #4

People say, “I understand from the Bible that I am now under the new covenant of grace and not under the old covenant of works, so I am no longer under an obligation to keep the law.” The Bible also answers this objection.

Paul, in the book of Hebrews, says something very interesting about the new covenant. “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.” Hebrews 10:16.

If you are under the new covenant, God’s law is written in your heart. It is written on your mind. The new covenant cannot be separated from God’s law. No one who refuses to keep the law of God is, in fact, under the new covenant. Many people who think that they are under the new covenant today are merely under the condemnation of sin.

Excuse #5

Some say, “The letter of the law kills, but the Spirit gives life. Therefore, the law is not applicable to us who have the Spirit.” This quote is taken from 11 Corinthians 3:6, but what is this talking about when it says, “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”? Look at what Paul says, “I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.” Romans 7:9. Then, in Romans 8:7 and 8, he says, “The carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

The reason the law kills is because all have sinned. All have broken the law and the wages of sin is death. The reason the Spirit gives life is that the Holy Spirit gives us the ability to keep God’s law, as can be understood clearly by reading Romans 8:1–14.

Jesus forgives past sins when you come to Him with repentance, but the Holy Spirit gives the power to keep God’s law. Receiving the power to keep God’s law is evidence of true conversion. Read the following carefully:

“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.” Romans 8:1–14.

Excuse #6

Some say, “All you need to keep is Jesus’ law, not God’s law.” This is a very interesting objection to having to keep the law. Notice what the New Testament says about it:

“There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy.” James 4:12. There is only one Lawgiver—not two laws, one from Jesus and one from the Father. James says that this one Lawgiver is able to save—Jesus Christ is the Saviour. He is also the only One able to destroy. Jesus described His relationship to His Father, saying, “I and My Father are one.” John 10:30. When He said that, the Jews were incensed at His so-called blasphemy and wanted to stone Him.

Jesus said, “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” John 14:10.

Now we come to what some people think is the perfect excuse or the perfect reason why they do not need to keep the law.

Excuse #7

They say, “The New Testament teaches that the law was nailed to the cross.”

Before looking specifically at that objection, we should read a couple of Bible verses. As stated earlier, Jesus said it would be easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for even a part of a letter of the law to fail (Luke 16:17). And concerning whether or not the Lord was going to change any part of His law, it says in the Old Testament, “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.” Psalm 89:34. If you look up the context of that verse, the covenant this refers to is the Ten Commandments. “So He declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tables of stone.” Deuteronomy 4:13.

That was the law that was spoken by God Himself on Mount Sinai. In fact, that is all that was spoken. He spoke the Ten Commandments, and He spoke no more. And the Lord says, “My covenant I will not break, and the words that have gone out of My lips, I will not change.” With this in mind, then what was the law that was nailed to the cross? It was not the moral law. It is just as wrong today to steal as it was 5,000 years ago (eighth commandment). It is just as wrong today to lie as it was 5,000 years ago (ninth commandment). It is just as wrong today to murder as it was 5,000 years ago (sixth commandment). And it is just as wrong today to worship idols, or to swear, or to worship images as it was 5,000 years ago (second and third commandments).

The law that was nailed to the cross, Paul says, was the law of ordinances (Ephesians 2:15). And it is for that reason we no longer offer animal sacrifices or go to an earthly sanctuary. There is no more need to go to a human high priest or observe the ceremonial feast days or the ceremonial law. These ordinances were nailed to the cross, but the moral law continues forever as stated in both the Old and New Testaments.

Unfortunately, after answering all these objections from Scripture, somebody will still say, “Well, I don’t think it is important.” This is an interesting objection, but notice what Jesus said about it: “He answered and said, ‘It is written, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” ’ ” Matthew 4:4.

He also said, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” Matthew 15:3.

Those who deliberately break the law of God cannot be under the new covenant and will not have God’s mark of deliverance in the last days. Only those who have the seal of God (Revelation 7) will be protected from the desolations that are coming upon our world, especially on the cities in the last days. The big test is about to be made, and only those who obey all of God’s commandments, including the fourth, will be protected from the great destruction and disasters that are coming upon the earth. Then, the words of Psalm 91 will be fulfilled to them.

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. Because he has set his love upon Me therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.”

Whether or not you will be among that number depends on whether you love God enough to keep His commandments. Remember, Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Those will be the ones who will have the right to enter the new city Jerusalem and to the tree of life.

(Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

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

The 2520 Chart

There is a wind of doctrine blowing within all groups of Adventism today that is deceiving many. Paul warned the elders of the Ephesian church that there would arise among them people speaking perverse things and that they would draw disciples after themselves. (See Acts 20:28–30.) One sign of apostasy is people arise with some teaching and want people to follow them. Paul set us an example and was not ashamed to declare the whole counsel of God to meet these heresies. We also should not be afraid to stand up for what we know is right.

Fanaticism today is rampant among us and is destroying the reformation movement. Ellen White said that fanatics almost destroyed the sixteenth century reformation. (See The Great Controversy, 204, 205.) Martin Luther was more afraid of some of his friends from within, the fanatics, than those without. It makes no difference to the devil which side of the ditch you fall into, the ice of indifference or the fire of fanaticism—both end up lost. Our only safety is to be alert and diligent in the study of our Bibles so we can know and understand what is truth and be able to discern error. There are many eloquent preachers that seem very convincing, but every teaching or miracle and every spirit must be tested against the word of God.

Revelation 10 describes the rise of a church which would be organized to finish the work of the Reformation that started in the sixteenth century and take the true gospel to the world. We need to clearly understand that this prophecy which describes a movement would take the message of Revelation 14:6–12 to all the world. Any message which does not align with these messages needs to be discarded.

“In the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as He hath declared to His servants the prophets. And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go, and take the little book [the book of Daniel] which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up.” The Advent movement began to study this book that had been shrouded in mystery for centuries. “Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. … And as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.” Verses 7–10, last part.

These verses describe the rise of the Advent movement as they looked forward to Jesus’ coming on October 22, 1844. It was sweet as honey to know that Jesus was going to come soon, that families would be reunited once again and that sin and suffering was going to be over. I hope that sweetness of Jesus’ Second Coming is still in your mouth! But at the passing of the time in 1844, when Jesus did not come, it was a bitter experience that hit God’s people hard. Verse 11 shows the work that must still be done: “And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.” There is our work—clearly a movement to “prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”

God’s last day church is a movement and God called a man by the name of William Miller to especially awaken the people here in the United States. To clarify a point, William Miller did not have everything figured out, but that did not make him ungodly, and it does not mean that he was not led by the Holy Spirit to come up with the belief that he had. William Miller is going to be in heaven. Ellen White says that God laid him to rest so He could save him. He is going to be in heaven, but he did not have everything figured out just as Martin Luther also did not have everything figured out. Truth is progressive. The light of the gospel continues to move. Some things they thought were true are not true. William Miller was called from his plow to give a warning message of the coming judgment to awaken people, and this he did.

I tell you this because I do not want to be accused of attacking William Miller. I believe what Ellen White said about William Miller: “But from the first his labors were blessed in a remarkable manner to the salvation of souls.” The Great Controversy, 331. We will never know how many souls William Miller won to the Lord. There were thousands of people who came to hear him, many more than we see at religious meetings today. “His first lecture was followed by a religious awakening in which thirteen entire families, with the exception of two persons, were converted. He was immediately urged to speak in other places, and in nearly every place his labor resulted in a revival of the work of God. Sinners were converted, Christians were roused to greater consecration, and deists and infidels were led to acknowledge the truth of the Bible and the Christian religion.” Ibid.

William Miller had a good study plan. He started in Genesis 1:1 and then read through the Bible. Any text he came to that he did not understand, he would stop and ponder that text, studying it out text upon text, line upon line, until he understood its meaning before moving on.

“When, therefore, he found, in his study of the Bible, various chronological periods that, according to his understanding of them, extended to the second coming of Christ, he could not but regard them as the ‘times before appointed’ (Acts 17:26), which God had revealed unto His servants.” Ibid., 324. Notice Ellen White did not say that this is absolutely Biblical, but she said that this was his understanding of these chronological periods. William Miller, as he went through Genesis, saw chronological periods. He saw the flood, pharaoh, the baker, the butler and their dreams. He saw Joseph’s dreams; he saw a beginning and an end. Then He came to Leviticus.

In Leviticus 26:18–21 it says, “And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. And I will break the pride of your power; and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass: and your strength shall be spent in vain: for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. And if ye walk contrary unto Me, and will not hearken unto Me; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins.” As William Miller read these texts in Scripture, he understood that the seven times was a time prophecy that calculated down to 2520.

As he read these chronological periods, according to his understanding, they would terminate in 1843. He thought things were going to end and Jesus was going to come in 1843, but his calculation proved wrong. Ellen White mentions Habakkuk 2 in reference to Miller and his associates, especially Hiram Edson, as they were studying and this is the conclusion that they came to. Habakkuk 2:2, 3. says, “And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” So, the thought came into Hiram Edson’s mind to make up a chart for everybody to see the time prophesies, resulting in the 1843 chart developed by Charles Fitch. (See Ibid., 392.)

Until recently I have never thought much about the 2520, because I have never read anything about it in the Spirit of Prophecy. But now it has become a teaching and those not believing it are being accused of being in apostasy. “Numerous charts, antedating the famous 1843 chart, appeared in varying forms in different periodicals and books of the movement. These pictorial charts and diagrams not only afforded the best exhibitions offered of the main Millerite expositions of prophecies, but the progressive movements of the interpretations is clearly reflected in these designs.” Prophetic Faith of Our Fathers, Review and Herald Publishing Association, Washington, D.C., 1954, vol. 4, 720. As the early seekers continued to study, improvements or changes were made to these charts and by comparison, the frank correction of earlier inaccuracies can be seen at the glance. The earlier individual charts were largely an extension of Miller’s views. Remember, this is not an attack on William Miller, but simply a look at truth. When Charles Fitch developed this chart the following are some of the things that were corrected from the errors in William Miller’s earlier charts:

  • He believed the three horns in Daniel 7:8, 20, 24 were Lombardi, Rome and Revina. We understand them now to be the Herulli, Vandals, and Ostrogoths which finally fell in 538.
  • He believed that the little horn in Daniel 8 was both Antiochus Epiphanies and Mohammedism. That was corrected to the understanding that the little horn was both pagan and papal Rome.
  • He believed that the crucifixion of Christ occurred in A.D. 33. Today, we believe by studying Daniel 9 in comparison with Ezra 6 and 7 that the starting date is A.D. 457 and ending at Christ’s crucifixion. A careful study of Daniel 9 proves that Jesus died in A.D. 31.
  • He believed that the 666 years in Revelation 13:18, “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six” was the time period of the pagan Roman rule. Today we have a totally different understanding.

The proponents of the early 2520 charts almost idolize them and have made them the standard of understanding prophecy today.

Studying the Spirit of Prophecy should be in the same manner that you study the Bible, by comparing passage with passage.

Ellen White said: “The Lord showed me that the 1843 chart was directed by His hand, and that no part of it should be altered; that the figures were as He wanted them. That His hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none could see it, until His hand was removed.” The Review and Herald, November 1, 1850.

Now notice the difference between this last quotation with another passage that is almost identical, but there is something added that I believe is very important.

“I saw that the old chart [the 1843 chart] was directed by the Lord, and that not a figure of it should be altered except by inspiration.” [Emphasis added.] Spaulding and Magan Collection, 1. Notice that the only thing that could change these charts was Inspiration, which, at that time period, was the Bible and the inspired writings of Ellen White. This means that if you see any change on that chart, Divine authority through either the Spirit of Prophecy or the Bible had better back it up. As we have seen, Ellen White said: “I saw that the figures of the chart were as God would have them, and that His hand was over and hid a mistake in some of the figures, so that none should see it till His hand was removed.” Ibid. That is a very interesting statement!

Remember, light is progressive and truth continues to move. In 1850 the chart was changed. The 2520 chart was still there, but it was less obscure; it no longer seemed to be the prominent teaching. This is very fascinating because the leaders of the pioneer movement had begun to restudy and rethink everything they had thus far understood.

It seems that many people are continually looking for something new, but we need to go back and restudy the fundamental beliefs, because we do not even have them figured out. Restudy them and know them for yourself.

James White began reviewing the doctrine of the 2520. In Leviticus 26:3–13, you will notice the blessings that come with walking in the commandments of God, and then verses 15–33 describe the curses for disobeying His commandments. Verses 14–16 say, “But if ye will not hearken unto Me, and will not do all these commandments; and if ye shall despise My statutes, or if your soul abhor My judgments, so that ye will do all My commandments, but that ye break My covenant: I also will do this unto you.” He then begins enumerating these things. “And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. … And if ye walk contrary unto Me, and will not hearken unto Me; I will bring seven times more plagues.” Verses 18, 21. These verses do not sound like a time prophecy.

The Hebrew word for seven is sheba, which means complete. God said, “I’m going to completely punish you.” He was not talking about a time prophecy as William Miller thought. As we continue to study we see that what he believed about the “seven times” was not truth.

Again, in verse 24, He tells us: “Then will I also walk contrary unto you, and will punish you yet seven times more for your sins.” It says the same thing in verse 28. The Bible is consistent with itself in all its manifestation.

“All truth, whether in prophecy or in revelation, is consistent with itself in all its manifestations.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 114. The Bible is always consistent, so if we were to remain consistent with Scripture, if seven times is a time prophecy in these texts, then when you read seven times in another passage, does it always refer to a time prophecy? Think it through; if in the book of Numbers or in the book of Jeremiah you read seven times, you will look at that as a time prophecy. You will become very confused, because there are four time prophecies within this one chapter.

Notice what James White said as he began examining these texts in the Scriptures: “So then, there is no prophetic period in Leviticus 26; and those who imagine that such a thing exists, and are puzzling themselves over the adjustment of its several dates, are simply beating the air. To ignore, or to treat with neglect, a prophetic period where one is plainly given, is censurable in the extreme. It is an equally futile, though not so heinous, a course, to endeavor to create one where none exists.” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, January 26, 1864. His statement is very plain and his wife [Ellen White] never once rebuked him for saying this.

The “seven times” mentioned means the severity and intensity of the punishments God would bring upon Israel. Now what is interesting is that the 1843 chart prominently displayed the 2520; in the 1850 chart it was not so prominent, and by the time the 1863 chart was made, you will not find one mention of it. Remember, Ellen White said that the charts were not to be changed “except by inspiration.” They were not going contrary to the Spirit of Prophecy and the Bible to use a chart that was totally contrary to prior teachings. This tells us that Inspiration had changed the charts, because they were not correct to begin with.

In 1870, it was the 1863 chart that was being used for evangelism. Endorsing this chart, Ellen White wrote: “You can hang up the charts, and show them the truth, as it is there illustrated. You can teach them, if you have a mind thus to do, by explaining prophetic history, and tracing down prophecies, that the end of all things is at hand. You can impress them with the sacredness of the law of God, and show them its claims upon them.” The Review and Herald, March 29, 1870.

Quoting from the introduction of The Golden Thread of Prophecy, which is a book about the study of the 2520, the publishers say: “Few in our time have heard of this prophecy, it has dropped from our understanding, but it was a very integral part of the Prophecy Chart of 1843, in fact, when you understand the 2520, all the lines of time prophecy—all of it—can be found within it. Neither we, nor the pioneers, have seen in the Bible anything longer than the 2520, so we can safely say this is the longest time prophecy in Scripture.”

I hope by now your mind is reeling, because the prophet told us: “Miller and his associates proclaimed that the longest and last prophetic period brought to view in the Bible was about to expire.” The Great Controversy, 351. The longest time prophecy referred to was the 2300 days. This should be end of argument!

“The message given by Miller and his associates announced the termination of the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14.” Ibid.

“After this period of time, reaching from 1842 to 1844, there can be no definite tracing of the prophetic time. The longest reckoning reaches to the autumn of 1844.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 971. The 2520 prophecy reaches only to 1843. It is very plain that this cannot be a teaching we can adhere to.

It is also interesting to note that as you look at these charts closely, William Miller and Hiram Edson differed in their understanding on the 2520. Proponents of the 2520 today claim that they were both right.

To indicate a prophecy in Leviticus 26 there would have to be something in these passages giving a starting date, but there is none. You can’t just say, “If they don’t hearken unto Me” with no timing. When did that happen? When did they stop keeping the commandments of God and when did these judgments start coming upon them? There would have to be clear-cut evidence from this chapter, or someplace else, to tell us that this “seven times” is a time prophecy, but there is none.

None, who have not studied their Bibles like ever before, will be able to stand in the great time of trouble. They will be blown about and misled by all kinds of false teachers. Ellen White says, “If men are so easily misled now, how will they stand when Satan shall personate Christ, and work miracles?” Last Day Events, 162.

If we can be blown from one doctrine to the next so easily, we will not make it to the end. If we knew the word of God as we should, we would not be blown about by every wind of doctrine that comes around and get swayed so easily by preaching that which appears so convincing. We are called to be like the Bereans, who “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11.

It would have been a real temptation to listen to Paul and not just believe what he said as gospel. He was a scholar and a godly man. He knew multiple languages, and he knew the Bible inside and out, but still the Bereans searched the Scriptures for themselves, and they were commended for it.

We must study as never before and know without a doubt what we believe. Fanaticism is sweeping through our ranks, scattering us and splintering us because we do not take the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy as it reads, and we are blown about by every wind of doctrine.

Waste no more time; reconsecrate yourself now to the study of God’s word daily to fortify your mind so that you will be able to stand in the last great conflict with the powers of darkness.

Mike Bauler was ordained into the ministry in 2005 and serves as pastor of the Historic Message Church in Portland, Oregon. Prior to locating in Portland, Pastor Bauler served as a Bible worker for Steps to Life Ministries. His goal is to help give the gospel to the greater Portland area with an emphasis in helping his Bible students discover the truths in Bible prophecy, which are so often neglected today. He is assisted in his ministry by his wife, Amanda, a family nurse practitioner, and their daughters Hannah, Esther and Abigail.

New Age Worship

Genesis 3 is a summary of principles introducing us to the beginning of what is called the New Age. Any philosophy on spiritual things that is not based upon the word of God leads in the wrong direction. It may include some truths from the Bible, like believing the truth of creation and a healthy diet, but without a firm foundation, that knowledge mixed with error can only produce an incorrect and false spirituality that will not last.

In the beginning God created the world and all that is in it. He made a beautiful garden to be a home for our first parents, Adam and Eve, and in the midst of the garden He planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Of all the trees in the garden, this tree was the only one that God held back from them, prohibiting them from eating of it. All of the others were to be for their food.

At the end of each creation day God declared His work “good.” Jesus, while on earth spoke with a rich young ruler who came to Him asking, “ ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.’ ” Luke 18:18, 19. When God said, at the end of each day of creation week, that what He saw was good, He meant that the things He made were like God but not God. The moon, the stars and all that was created were good. Everything created for man right down to the smallest mote in the sunbeam had, as they came from the Creator’s hand, the character of God impressed upon them. But though these things were like God, they were not God.

The New Age belief and pagan spirituality make created things, like the sun, moon and the forces of nature, gods to be worshiped instead of the creator God. From the tree of knowledge of good and evil Satan was able to introduce this seed of error craftily mixed with an element of truth.

Today, Eastern religions have become very popular presenting a diagram of the spiritual notion of the balancing of forces, half black and half white—some good in the bad and some bad in the good. This would mean that there is some bad in God and some good in Satan, but this is a deception. There was no poison in the garden home; there was no sin and there was nothing evil. The tree of knowledge of good and evil was put there as a test for Adam and Eve to choose to whom they would give their allegiance. Sin came about by the blending of truth with error. There was a preacher in the Garden of Eden, a preacher of unrighteousness, and as he preached his message to Eve she started to believe the principles of New Age—new philosophies that God did not create.

The serpent said unto the woman, “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” Genesis 3:1. It was a certainty, that as a result of transgressing the will of God, there would be death, but the seed of doubt was planted there, it took root and germinated.

Paul says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. This is a very clear statement. By eating that fruit offered by Satan, our first parents transgressed God’s law; they stole what was not theirs and committed murder. By that simple act they caused the death of billions of their descendants. Every imaginable sin has now come into this world as a result of that first indiscretion. How simple it seems; how horrid the results!

Satan well knows that for sin or error to be attractive and effective it has to be connected with truth. Sin and its results, devoid of any truth, would stand out in all of its unattractiveness and horror without anything to attract the unsuspecting person. That is why yin and yang exist, the black has some white and the white has some black creating a very cunning and deceptive belief.

Genesis 3:1 says, “Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” In other words, did God say that? Seriously, is that what He said? Are you sure He said that? Here, with all of his subtle cunning, Satan created doubt in the mind of Eve as to what instruction God had actually given.

Then Satan outright contradicts what God had said: “And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.” Verse 4. In Genesis 3 verses 1 and 4, we see the beginning of New Age, the beginning of the teaching of false and erroneous doctrines; a false philosophy resulting in a false system of religion. As we see in Genesis 3:1, the idea of questioning or inculcating doubt in the certainty of God’s word is the foundation of New Age and false religion.

We have been told that man was made a little lower than the angels (Hebrews 2:7), but New Age says that man is an angel. God says He created man, but the New Ager says man is god! The whole belief that man “shall not surely die” (Genesis 3:4) as a result of his transgression of God’s command implying doubt in connection with the truth, is the foundation of false religion and the New Age.

From this idea of not really dying, we have a myriad of false concepts that have come into the world—soul migration, reincarnation, and other different types of beliefs of what happens to you when you die and that there is some other consciousness or some kind of life. Even some people who claim to believe in the Bible tend to believe that there is some after-life that is separated from consciousness in this form.

The Bible says, “For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing.” Ecclesiastes 9:5. They experience no more hatred or variance for there is no more consciousness because there is no more memory in the grave where they go. The Bible is very clear in Ecclesiastes 9 that whatever you have to do, do it while you are alive for there will not be another opportunity in the grave. This being the truth, how then do so many have the idea that there is so much light after death and that the soul goes on and on? Unbelief mixes truth with error becoming a faulty foundation bearing doubt in the clear word of God.

Within this foundation of truth and error there is really no penalty for sin for “you will not surely die.” Not only is there no penalty for sin, but the soul lives on in some kind of life after death. In Genesis 3:5 it says, “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods.” That is the ideal illumination, eyes opened. By partaking of this secret truth Satan claims that the mysteries of the world will be revealed, bringing out that which is already in you by partaking of his spiritual exercises and various practices and “you shall be as gods.” However, unless God Himself has revealed them, those mysteries of the world belong with God alone.

What the devil actually says here is that by your transgression of God’s instruction, you will not die and your eyes will be opened. You will mix both good and evil and by this method you will become like God. It is no wonder Jesus said that Satan was “a liar, and the father of it.” John 8:44.

Martial Arts

All martial arts widely practiced in the East and other various places are connected with religion and usually the religion of the town from which it came. The postures and stances are forms of worship. When entering the traditional school, it is necessary to first bow to the creator of the skies, which is usually a picture on the wall of the person who developed that particular type of martial art. The picture is always situated on the eastern wall. After bowing in that direction, to the place of the rising sun, you then bow to the senior student or the teacher. After bowing to these three, you make a triangle and place it upon the floor, bowing down and placing your forehead into this triangle. The forehead is the location in the brain where the frontal lobe is situated. This is the place of all reasoning and from here all decisions are made. By bowing into the triangle, the will is submitted to the leader or picture of the leader and also to the instructor. This routine is by no accident and is very significant.

New Age religion, like paganism, encompasses the worship of the solar system—the sun and stars. As well as the animals, the powers of man, including his sexual power is worshiped as in the ancient Baal worship. The serpent is revered, considering it to be the greatest creature and believing it to be one of the highest forms of divinity.

In many religions today various portions or principles can be found that were forbidden in the book of Genesis.

The foundation of New Age is contraindicated in the Bible. The eyes of many have been taken away from worshiping God to worshiping His creation, the sun, moon and the stars.

God has revealed His character, His good, in His creation. A study of the human body with its healing and restorative powers, all reveal the character of God demonstrating His love and compassion. Even when we transgress He wants to bring us healing. His creation has no power of its own, but so many direct their worship to mere objects instead of the Source of all power.

Many say they simply use items to enhance their worship with God, but who is it that has the right to dictate worship? Who is it who dictates what is right and what is wrong; is it the creature or the Creator? Who is able to argue with God? Job tried! He did not sin, but he tried to dialog with God Who made him realize his place. Job became quiet realizing the majesty and creative power of God as He started showing him all these mysteries and various things He had created in the world (Job 38; 39). Job came to the conclusion that he had to close his mouth at the wisdom and manifold power of God (Job 40:4, 5).

We cannot tell God what we need to do in order to worship Him. Cain thought he could adjust his sacrifice to the fruit of his own labor (Genesis 4:3), from the sacrificial lamb that God had instructed. He found out the hard way that it was not accepted (verse 5). It is interesting that the result of Cain’s disobedience was to kill his brother, whose offering God accepted. This same attitude has existed throughout the generations, resulting in religious persecution up to today where hatred is still exhibited against those who continue to worship God in the manner He has commanded.

God is not happy when we endeavor to make up our own rules when it comes to worship. Paul says, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Romans 1:18.

As we recognize the qualities and power that God has put in His creation, we are to fall on our knees and recognize His greatness and glory and direct our praise to Him, not bow down and worship beasts and things whether they be living or just representations of them. By worshiping the creature we “hold the truth in unrighteousness.” It says, “Because that which may be known of God is manifest [made clear or made evident] in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of Him [the things we cannot see, the spiritual things, the things that are not able for our eyes to see clearly] from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” Romans 1:19, 20.

We are to examine creation in order to understand the Creator and God has left us no excuse. There was a time when everyone knew who God was. Adam and Eve knew who God was; they saw Him face to face and their children saw the angels with the flaming swords guarding the entrance to the garden so that they would no longer have access to the tree of life. Our first ancestors had much evidence of divine power and understood these things. But, “when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God [they did not give Him praise and reflect His character], neither were thankful; but became vain [self-centered] in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Verse 21. They had the truth and they held it in unrighteousness, their own imagination, which became vain or unprofitable, or outside of what God had said. How insulting to God for man to praise the stars, the gold and silver, fall down and worship things able to be burned and destroyed instead of the One who gave them for man’s enjoyment and for him to see His manifold love and return to Him the deserved blessings for being a good Father.

Man would rather cut down a tree, cutting it up into pieces and from that tree build a house. He would then build a fire and take some of the wood to warm himself. Out of another piece he would make some implements of very different furniture, and then take a part of it and make a god and fall down and worship it. How ignorant is man to think that a piece of wood or stone has any power, yet he will fall down and say, “This is my god, hear me!” (See Isaiah 44:14–17.)

Many today are under the same delusion of pagan worshipers, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” Romans 1:22.

All of the pagan mystery religions are based upon the concept of giving you wisdom. Darwinism, Buddhism and the various other religions of the East all claim to give the highest form of wisdom. The books of these various teachings are seen as fruit to be desired to make one wise, but they all result in transgression against the law of God.

James says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.” James 1:5. All wisdom comes from God through His word. We are to meditate upon God’s word. It is not to meditate in the way that New Age teaches to blank out the mind, resisting all thoughts and impressions to the reciting of some poem, or some cone or mantra or looking at nature.

Eastern meditation is clearly not meditating on God’s word, but emptying the mind, disallowing the prompting of the Holy Spirit’s conviction of sin, which is the only means of revealing our need of a Saviour. The vacant mind makes it susceptible to the deception of the evil one who promises the false wisdom. We are told to meditate on God’s word, which will develop the mind, allowing the Holy Spirit to convict us of sin. It is very dangerous to block out the impressions that come from the Holy Spirit.

The New Age belief is very dangerous, but the majority of people allow their children to watch cartoons and various television shows that teach its principles in a far more effective way than any temple or book can do. If you research the authors and the creators of these things, you will find that they are New Age advocates following these religions. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7.

This philosophy is pervading the whole earth, flooding it from many different channels, and we must be vigilant and fight against it. God is not the forces of nature—He created them! God is not the sun, moon and the stars. God is not internal energy—God is the creator of all these things! Each is to have its proper place but never an object of worship. It is in vain that man says, “I’m god too, so I’m going to take this stone and make my image, made in the image of a man. I will take this gold and make an image of a calf and worship it. I will make an image of Buddha and worship it.” Others keep those trinkets, claiming they don’t actually worship them but just have them to help them find God. That is like Aaron, supposedly in charge of the Israelites while Moses was on the mount receiving the tables of commandments, while trying to excuse himself for building the golden calf in the wilderness said that he just threw the chains and the bracelets inside the oven and the big calf jumped out!

When confronted with truth, don’t run in a different direction. There is only one way to find wisdom and one way of salvation and that is through Jesus Christ who was in the image of God. Laying aside His divinity He took on human nature that we might be partakers of His glory. We were originally made in the image of God and by Satan’s deception inherited the image and character of Satan, but we have all been invited to receive Christ’s robe of righteousness and once more reflect the image of God physically, mentally and spiritually.

We are to be restored and live godly by the power of God under the principle of purity.

John R. Cofer is currently engaged in establishing training schools under the name, The Schools of the Prophets for the youth. He and his wife, Maria, have established a digital media company to create and promote video media teaching the unique message of Adventism using social media such as Facebook and Youtube. He can be contacted by email at: landmarks@stepstolife.org.

Weapons of War

For eight minutes there was a major attack called “shock and awe” on the city of Baghdad by the American military and her allies. This war strategy was specifically intended to completely destroy Saddam Hussein’s strongholds and any and every support base that he might have had, especially in the capital city. This attack was made possible because weeks before, previous assaults were made on significant points of defense which ultimately demolished them all, leaving Mr. Saddam Hussein and the people of Iraq totally vulnerable to the assaults of America and her allies. In order to seriously weaken or cripple an enemy in war, one of the first, if not the first thing that the attacking army seeks to destroy, is the enemy’s communication systems and units. By so doing the adversary knows that the enemy is significantly weakened and is therefore at his mercies; it’s only a matter of time and victory will be realized.

In like manner also as it is in the physical realm, so it is in the spiritual realm. Satan is waging war on the Christian daily and the first point of defense he goes after is the Christian’s line of communication known as prayer. We are told by God’s messenger that, “Satan well knows that all whom he can lead to neglect prayer and the searching of the Scriptures, will be overcome by his attacks. Therefore he invents every possible device to engross the mind.” The Great Controversy, 519.

The South African missionary, Andrew Murray, wrote concerning the value of prayer. He said, “When I meet with God in prayer, His presence is my strength for service.” In the book The Acts of the Apostles, 564, we are given a wonderful definition of prayer: “Prayer is heaven’s ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character. The divine influences that come in answer to the prayer of faith will accomplish in the soul of the suppliant all for which he pleads. For the pardon of sin, for the Holy Spirit, for a Christlike temper, for wisdom and strength to do His work, for any gift He has promised, we may ask; and the promise is, ‘Ye shall receive’ (Matthew 21:22).”

The apostle Paul in his letter to the Christians at Ephesus states: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians 6:10–18.

Interestingly, Paul uses the phrase “praying always” which is similar to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) which he admonished the Thessalonian believers to do. In the literal sense, these two phrases mean, praying in every season or on every occasion. The Apostle having to identify to the Ephesian Christians the war, the nature of the war, as well as the kind of enemy they are up against, goes on further to instruct them as to the weapons needed in this battle. He hastens to tell them of the need to put on the whole armour of God, which involves:

  • the girdle of truth,
  • the breastplate of righteousness,
  • sandals of the gospel of peace,
  • the shield of faith,
  • the helmet of salvation, and
  • the sword of the Spirit.

For Paul, prayer is not another weapon; rather, it is the spirit and the manner in which the whole armour is to be worn and the battle fought. The apostle is here urging it as a perpetual state of mind, a continuous attitude of communion with God. This was what Jesus contemplated as recorded by Doctor Luke, “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.” Luke 18:1. And in his epistle to the Philippian church the apostle Paul encourages them, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6.

So what we are here made to understand is that “the armour of God” and prayer work together. The armour of God is calculated to defend against cunning attacks that would otherwise destroy the Christian warrior. On the other hand, prayer is the attitude that is maintained by the Christian as he wears the armour and which enables him to continue to wear it. Therefore, it is needful that every Christian keep in mind this fact: “The life of a true Christian is a life of constant prayer. He knows that the light and strength of one day is not sufficient for the trials and conflicts of the next. Satan is continually changing his temptations. Every day we shall be placed in different circumstances; and in the untried scenes that await us we shall be surrounded by fresh dangers, and constantly assailed by new and unexpected temptations. It is only through the strength and grace gained from heaven that we can hope to meet the temptations and perform the duties before us.” Gospel Workers, 257.

Again I need to remind us that Satan’s studied effort is to destroy this means of defense in the experience of the Christian, for he knows far more than we do of the power and value of prayer. This we are told by the Servant of the Lord: “The prayer of faith is the great strength of the Christian and will assuredly prevail against Satan. This is why he insinuates that we have no need of prayer. The name of Jesus, our Advocate, he detests; and when we earnestly come to Him for help, Satan’s host is alarmed. It serves his purpose well if we neglect the exercise of prayer, for then his lying wonders are more readily received. That which he failed to accomplish in tempting Christ he accomplishes by setting his deceitful temptations before man.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 296.

This is how Jesus lived a sinless life; this is how He defeated the Devil every step of the way while He sojourned here on earth. The gospel writer Mark tells us concerning Christ’s prayer life, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Mark 1:35.

Jesus started each day by communicating with His Father because He knew that prayer is the life of the soul and without it He would surely be defeated by the enemy-Satan. Christ, our great example, also knew that the Devil dreads prayer for he has no power over the one who maintains a consistent prayer life. We are reminded that, “There is a mighty power in prayer. Our great adversary is constantly seeking to keep the troubled soul away from God. An appeal to heaven by the humblest saint is more to be dreaded by Satan than the decrees of cabinets or the mandates of kings.” The Signs of the Times, October 27, 1881.

We are also told that, “Prayer unites us with one another and with God. Prayer brings Jesus to our side, and gives to the fainting, perplexed soul new strength to overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil. Prayer turns aside the attacks of Satan.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 250.

My question to you is, when was the last time you truly prayed? When was the last time you gained victory over Satan? How important is prayer to you? Are you being constantly defeated by the Devil? Please remember this: “Satan leads many to believe that prayer to God is useless and but a form. He well knows how needful are meditation and prayer to keep Christ’s followers aroused to resist his cunning and deception. By his devices he would divert the mind from these important exercises, that the soul may not lean for help upon the Mighty One and obtain strength from Him to resist his attacks.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 295.

So what is our only safety? “Praying always”; “Pray without ceasing”; “… enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.” Matthew 6:6.

In the book Prophets and Kings, 82, we are told, “When Solomon should have been in character as a sturdy oak, he fell from his steadfastness under the power of temptation. When his strength should have been the firmest, he was found to be the weakest.

“From such examples we should learn that in watchfulness and prayer is the only safety for both young and old. Security does not lie in exalted position and great privileges. One may for many years have enjoyed a genuine Christian experience, but he is still exposed to Satan’s attacks. In the battle with inward sin and outward temptation, even the wise and powerful Solomon was vanquished. His failure teaches us that, whatever a man’s intellectual qualities may be, and however faithfully he may have served God in the past, he can never with safety trust in his own wisdom and integrity.”

One of the great values of prayer is to help us to identify and know for certain who really is our enemy, whom are we fighting against! For sure it is not a human being for Paul tells us, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” Ephesians 6:12. Therefore the enemy we are fighting against is not any of our brethren or sisters, thus we should be mindful as to how we treat each other. In counseling some leaders and members about the great need to watch and pray, Ellen White made the following remarks: “Men undertake the job of tinkering up the defective character of others, and only succeed in making the defects much worse. They would better leave God to do His own work, for He does not regard them as capable of reshaping character.

“What they need is to be imbued with the spirit of Christ. … The less of the meekness and lowliness of Christ the human agent has in his spirit and character, the more he sees perfection in his own methods and imperfection in the methods of others. Our only safety is to watch unto prayer, and to counsel together.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 191.

The Christian’s enemy is the devil, the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10) and we can only overcome him as we watch unto prayer and pray without ceasing!

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Ephesians 6:10. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.” James 4:7, 8.

Remember dearly beloved, “Secret prayer is the strength of the Christian. He cannot live and flourish in the Lord without constant watchfulness and earnest prayer.” In Heavenly Places, 218. Amen!!!

Pastor Ivan Plummer ministers through the Emmanuel Seventh Day Church Ministries in Bronx, New York. He may be contacted by telephone at: 718-882-3900.

Editor’s Letter – Concerning Perfection

The following letter by Ellen White to a man and his wife who were in an unhappy marriage speaks of the necessity of reaching perfection of character and contains several hints about how to get started in this direction.

“You cannot afford to lose heaven, lose eternal life, lose the eternal weight of glory. … Why do you not act like a sane man, and be as earnest, as zealous, and as persevering in your efforts for the better life, the immortal crown, the eternal, imperishable treasure, as you are for this poor, miserable life and these poor perishable, earthly treasures?” Testimonies, vol. 1, 698.

“When tempted to murmur, censure, and indulge in fretfulness, wounding those around you, and in so doing wounding your own soul, oh! let the deep, earnest, anxious inquiry come from your soul, Shall I stand without fault before the throne of God? … Every defect in the moral character must first be remedied, every stain removed by the cleansing blood of Christ, and all the unlovely, unlovable traits of character overcome.” Ibid., 705.

“How long a time are you designing to take to prepare to be introduced into the society of heavenly angels in glory? … In the state which you and your family are in at present, all heaven would be marred should you be introduced therein. The work for you must be done here. This earth is the fitting-up place. You have not one moment to lose. All is harmony, peace, and love in heaven. No discord, no strife, no censuring, no unloving words, no clouded brows, no jars there; and no one will be introduced there who possesses any of these elements so destructive to peace and happiness. …

“Forever cease your murmurings in regard to this poor life, but let your soul’s burden be, how to secure the better life than this, a title to the mansions prepared for those who are true and faithful to the end. If you make a mistake here, everything is lost. …

“These trials of life are God’s workmen to remove the impurities, infirmities, and roughness from our characters, and fit us for the society of pure, heavenly angels in glory. But as we pass through these trials, as the fires of affliction kindle upon us, we must not keep the eye on the fire which is seen, but let the eye of faith fasten upon the things unseen, the eternal inheritance, the immortal life, the eternal weight of glory; and while we do this the fire will not consume us, but only remove the dross, and we shall come forth seven times purified, bearing the impress of the Divine.” Ibid., 705-707.