Fuel for the Fires of Hell

Several years ago I heard of a woman who said to a minister after the church service, “Don’t bother praying for me, Pastor. I was born to be fuel for the fires of hell!” The pastor did his best to console her, but she walked away from church that day believing that God had predestined her to be eternally lost, and there was nothing that she or anyone else could do to change her eternal destiny.

If she really believed her conclusion to be correct, why had she come to church that day? Was she hoping to hear something that would convince her otherwise? Was she hoping against hope?

I have talked to individuals who felt that they could not possibly be saved, that God somehow could save others but for them there was no hope. Is the God of heaven so cruel as to cause a person to go through life with a sick feeling in their gut that they are totally helpless to change the course of their life? that there is no assurance of God’s tender love and care for them? Is there something in the Bible that would lead them to believe such a thing?

This is not the God I serve, because it is not the God the Bible portrays. Why then do some have the idea that God has appointed certain ones to eternal life and others to eternal death, regardless of their personal choice?

Problem Texts

Perhaps the answer lies in an age-old error that thousands, through a misinterpretation of God’s Holy Book, have assumed is true. Let’s take a moment to read the Bible verses in question.

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:29, 30.

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will . . . In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.” Ephesians 1:5, 11.

You have probably determined by now that the problem centers around the word “predestinate.” Predestinate is from the Greek word proorizo, meaning “to determine beforehand.”

Erroneous Conclusions

From the passages just quoted, some have erroneously assumed that God arbitrarily predestined, or chose beforehand, particular individuals to be saved and others to be lost, imposing the benefits of salvation upon some while denying them to others. This kind of thinking engenders a whole host of erroneous conclusions, such as: God forces some to be saved against their will, or God will choose certain ones to be in heaven regardless of how much wickedness they practice while here on this earth.

Could some be lulled to a false security, thinking heaven is their home, only to be rejected in the end? Will some pine away during this life, thinking they will be lost, when at last they find themselves in the bliss of heaven?

Salvation Available to All

The Scriptures demonstrate conclusively the fallacy of the predestined line of reasoning. Let’s take a look at what God’s Word and the Spirit of Prophecy plainly teach upon this subject.

“For this [is] good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:3, 4.

“If you will use God’s appointed means, and diligently search the Scriptures, having a determined purpose to obey the truth, you will know the doctrine whether it be of God; but God will never work a miracle to compel you to see his truth. God, in giving his only begotten Son to die on Calvary’s cross, has made it possible for all men to be saved. Christ died for a ruined world, and through the merit of Christ, God has elected that man should have a second trial, a second probation, a second test as to whether he will keep the commandments of God, or walk in the path of transgression, as did Adam. Through an infinite sacrifice, God has made it possible that men shall practise holiness in this life. Those who would ascertain their election for the future life, may ascertain it by their attitude of obedience to the commandments of God. Strong emotions, strong impulses, or desires, for heaven, when listening to a description of the charms of a future life, will not prove that you are elected to sit down with Jesus Christ upon his throne. If you would know the mystery of godliness, you should follow that which has been revealed. The conditions of eternal life have been plainly stated. Jesus says: ‘If ye love me, keep my commandments. . . . He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. . . . If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.’ [John 14:15, 21, 23, 24.] Here are the conditions upon which every soul may be elected to eternal life. Your obedience to God’s commandments will prove that you are predestinated to a glorious inheritance.” Review and Herald, September 28, 1897.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

“He does not forget or neglect His children; but He permits the wicked to reveal their true character, that none who desire to do His will may be deceived concerning them. Again, the righteous are placed in the furnace of affliction, that they themselves may be purified; that their example may convince others of the reality of faith and godliness; and also that their consistent course may condemn the ungodly and unbelieving.

“God permits the wicked to prosper and to reveal their enmity against Him, that when they shall have filled up the measure of their iniquity all may see His justice and mercy in their utter destruction. The day of His vengeance hastens, when all who have transgressed His law and oppressed His people will meet the just recompense of their deeds; when every act of cruelty or injustice toward God’s faithful ones will be punished as though done to Christ Himself.” The Great Controversy, 48.

Nowhere do the inspired writers state that God has willed that some men should be lost. This is a fiction of human invention.

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17.

“Some men seem afraid to take God at His word as though it would be presumption in them. They pray for the Lord to teach us and yet are afraid to credit the pledged word of God and believe we have been taught of Him. So long as we come to our heavenly Father humbly and with a spirit to be taught, willing and anxious to learn, why should we doubt God’s fulfillment of His own promise? . . . When you have sought to know His will, your part in the operation with God is to believe that you will be led and guided and blessed in the doing of His will.” Sons and Daughters of God, 67.

“Say unto them, [As] I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11.

“God does not desire the destruction of any. [Ezekiel 33:11 quoted.] Throughout the period of probationary time His Spirit is entreating men to accept the gift of life. It is only those who reject His pleading that will be left to perish. God has declared that sin must be destroyed as an evil ruinous to the universe. Those who cling to sin will perish in its destruction.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 123.

“The Lord seeks to save, not to destroy. He delights in the rescue of sinners. . . . By warnings and entreaties He calls the wayward to cease from their evil-doing and to turn to Him and live.” Prophets and Kings, 105.

If God has appointed some to be fuel for the fires of hell, why would He plead for all to repent and live?

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16–18.

“Christ crucified is ever drawing souls to Him. On the other hand, Satan is drawing them away from Christ, that they may not walk in the light of His countenance, that they may not see Christ in His goodness and mercy, His infinite compassion and unsurpassed love. He intercepts himself by presenting the attractions of worldly inducements, that God in Christ may not be discerned. But Christ came that whosoever will believe in Him may be saved. As a flower turns to the sun that its bright rays may aid in perfecting its beauty and symmetry, so should Christ’s followers turn to the Sun of Righteousness, that heaven’s light may shine upon them, perfecting their characters, and giving them a deep and abiding experience in the things of God. It is beyond our power to conceive the blessings that are brought within our reach through Christ, if we will but unite our human effort with divine grace.” Sons and Daughters of God, 26.

We see from these verses and statements that our eternal destiny is not arbitrarily fixed by God, but has something to do with whether or not we believe.

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12.

“To those who receive Him [Christ] He gives power to become the sons of God, that at last God may receive them as His, to dwell with Him throughout eternity. If during this life they are loyal to God, they will at last ‘see His face; and His name shall be in their foreheads.’ Revelation 22:4. And what is the happiness of heaven but to see God? What greater joy could come to the sinner saved by the grace of Christ than to look upon the face of God and know Him as Father?” The Ministry of Healing, 421.

No Respecter of Persons

It’s not enough to believe in Jesus; the devil also believes. (See James 2:19.) The decisive factor in each individual case is willingness to receive God’s only-begotten Son as one’s personal Saviour. God does not refuse the benefits of salvation to anyone who sincerely chooses the way of life and is willing to comply with His requirements.

“Then Peter opened [his] mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Acts 10:34, 35.

“The religion of Christ uplifts the receiver to a higher plane of thought and action, while at the same time it presents the whole human race as alike the objects of the love of God, being purchased by the sacrifice of His Son. At the feet of Jesus, the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, meet together, with no thought of caste or worldly pre-eminence. All earthly distinctions are forgotten as we look upon Him whom our sins have pierced. The self-denial, the condescension, the infinite compassion of Him who was highly exalted in heaven, puts to shame human pride, self-esteem, and social caste. Pure, undefiled religion manifests its heaven-born principles in bringing into oneness all who are sanctified through the truth. All meet as blood-bought souls, alike dependent upon Him who has redeemed them to God.” Gospel Workers, 330.

“There is no caste with God. He ignores everything of the kind. All souls are of value with Him. . . . The sincere, earnest, contrite soul, however ignorant, is precious in the sight of the Lord. He places His own signet upon men, judging, not by their rank, not by their wealth, not by their intellectual greatness, but by their oneness with Christ. The unlearned, the outcast, the slave, if he has made the most of his opportunities and privileges, if he has cherished the light given him of God, has done all that is required. The world may call him ignorant, but God calls him wise and good, and thus his name stands registered in the books of heaven. God will fit him up to do Him honor, not only in heaven, but on the earth.” Ibid., 332.

Power of Choice

The teaching that distorts Bible predestination to mean that God has arbitrarily foreordained certain persons to be saved and others to be lost results from the neglect of the cardinal Bible truth that God has granted to every man the power to settle his own destiny. God never interferes decisively with the free exercise of man’s power of choice.

“For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord God: wherefore turn [yourselves], and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:32.

“Some seem to feel that they must be on probation, and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But they may claim the blessing of God even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ, to help their infirmities, or they cannot resist evil. Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent. We may come with all our weakness, our folly, our sinfulness, and fall at His feet in penitence. It is His glory to encircle us in the arms of His love and to bind up our wounds, to cleanse us from all impurity.

“Here is where thousands fail; they do not believe that Jesus pardons them personally, individually. They do not take God at His word. It is the privilege of all who comply with the conditions to know for themselves that pardon is freely extended for every sin. Put away the suspicion that God’s promises are not meant for you. They are for every repentant transgressor. Strength and grace have been provided through Christ to be brought by ministering angels to every believing soul. None are so sinful that they cannot find strength, purity, and righteousness in Jesus, who died for them. He is waiting to strip them of their garments stained and polluted with sin, and to put upon them the white robes of righteousness; He bids them live and not die.” Steps to Christ, 52, 53.

Salvation is offered freely to all, but not all accept the invitation. Salvation is not forced upon man against his will, nor is it denied him contrary to his will. Divine foreknowledge and predestination in no way exclude freedom of choice or render it ineffective, but grant to men the privilege of choosing the way of life eternal. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are justified by their faith in Him, while those who refuse to believe automatically exclude themselves.

Rewards of Salvation

Even before the creation of our world God predestinated those who believe in Jesus to be saved, and those who would not believe should be lost, but He has left it to every man to choose whether to believe or not to believe.

“Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:34.

“By and by the gates of heaven will be thrown open to admit God’s children, and from the lips of the King of glory the benediction will fall on their ears like richest music, [Matthew 25:34 quoted].

“Then the redeemed will be welcomed to the home that Jesus is preparing for them. There their companions will not be the vile of earth, liars, idolaters, the impure, and unbelieving; but they will associate with those who have overcome Satan and through divine grace have formed perfect characters. Every sinful tendency, every imperfection, that afflicts them here has been removed by the blood of Christ, and the excellence and brightness of His glory, far exceeding the brightness of the sun, is imparted to them. And the moral beauty, the perfection of His character, shines through them, in worth far exceeding this outward splendor. They are without fault before the great white throne, sharing the dignity and the privileges of the angels.” Steps to Christ, 125, 126.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.” Ephesians 1:4. “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” 1 Peter 1:20.

“The Lord would save us from the corruptions of the world; for he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Jesus, our precious Saviour, has redeemed us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and has clothed us with the garments of salvation, even in his own robe of righteousness. Christians are to be clothed with humility as with a garment, and not to be prominent in the world, seeking for position or popularity. If heaven has sent you to be indeed light bearers amid the moral darkness, you will be content to shine in any place which God may assign to you. The praise of men, the attraction of the world, its pleasures, its amusements, its bribes, will all be powerless to win the true Christian from his allegiance to God. Neither will threatening, persecution, loss of liberty or life, induce him to turn from the commandments of God, to obey the dictates of men. He will fill his appointed place, and let his light so shine before men that they may see his good works, and glorify his Father who is in heaven.” The Signs of the Times, May 2, 1892.

Choose Ye This Day

Dear friend, before you were born, God predestined you to be saved for all eternity by exercising faith in His Son Jesus Christ. The only thing that stands between you and that promise is your personal choice. Won’t you give Him your heart just now?

In Revelation 3:20 Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” What a wonderful promise! Don’t keep Him outside the door thinking you must correct your character defects first; you can’t do it. Invite Him in now, and He will change your desires and strengthen you to do His will.

“Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:1.

“As the sinner, drawn by the power of Christ, approaches the uplifted cross, and prostrates himself before it, there is a new creation. A new heart is given him. He becomes a new creature in Christ Jesus. Holiness finds that it has nothing more to require. God Himself is ‘the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.’ Romans 3:26. And ‘whom He justified, them He also glorified.’ Romans 8:30. Great as is the shame and degradation through sin, even greater will be the honor and exaltation through redeeming love. To human beings striving for conformity to the divine image there is imparted an outlay of heaven’s treasure, an excellency of power, that will place them higher than even the angels who have never fallen.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 163.

In light of all these promises, how could anyone believe that they have no choice but to be fuel for the fires of hell?

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Joshua 24:15.

[All emphasis supplied.]

Pastor Jack Jones, founder of Gospel Workers Ministry in 1995, pastors the Naples Remnant Church in Naples, Idaho. He may be contacted by e-mail at gospelworkers@starband.net.

God’s Farmacy, Part II

We find, in God’s Farmacy, fruits, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals, which are high in fiber—this is God’s pharmacy! God has given us plenty of food on this earth, especially in America. God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:8, 9.) We wonder what is a fruit, what is a grain, what is a nut, and what is a vegetable. Instead of going to man, go to God; He will tell you what it is. He can explain Himself. He gives us a definition through a parable. “Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree.” Matthew 13:31, 32. So herbs can be trees. Any plant is considered an herb.

When you think of herbs, the first thing that comes to your mind is going to a health food store and buying capsules or weeds. All vegetation can be classified as herbs. These herbs, edible plants, grow wild everywhere. When the Food and Drug Administration says we cannot distribute herbs, they will have to make a law saying that I cannot feed people carrots or parsley! Then they will have to find a way to prevent me from growing parsley.

What is the purpose of herbs?

Seasoning and Nutrition

We think about Thyme, Rosemary, and Oregano as seasonings, but at the same time they are nutritional. Thyme is good for migraine headaches. I have gone into people’s homes to have a Bible study, and the man of the house has a headache. How can we study if he has a headache? So I ask for permission to go into their kitchen. I open the kitchen cabinet and there I find Thyme, and I make him a tea. In about 30 minutes his headache is gone, and we can start the Bible study. That is powerful!

Oregano, Basil, and Turmeric are also nutritional. They contain Vitamin C, Vitamin A, antioxidants, and calcium. These herbs are medicinal phytochemicals! Notice what Ellen White wrote over 100 years ago: “It is no denial of faith to use rational remedies judiciously [wisely].” Selected Messages, Book 2, 346.

We ran a health food store for ten years. Two-thirds of our money came from pushing vitamins. That is why we got out of the business. That is not God’s way to teach the health message. We should instead educate folks on how to live. I am not saying anything is wrong with taking a supplement, but pushing pills is not medical missionary work. Things that come on the health food market shelves such as Nonie Juice, and water that costs $2.00 a bottle because it has oxygen in it, are not according to God’s plan. Mrs. White says, “Water, air, and sunshine, these are God’s healing agents. The use of certain herbs that the Lord has made to grow for the good of man, is in harmony with the exercise of faith.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, 333. Faith works! God says, drink water, and if you drink it, He does something supernatural. God says use a little Rosemary, so you use the natural, and He does something supernatural.

Educate vs. Medicate

Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge. Remedies from chemicals would never stand in favor compared with the products of nature. The living cell of the plant, the final result of the rays of the sun, when correctly used, promotes elimination of waste and poison from the system. By simple natural means they support nature’s effort. Actually, though, there is not an herb on the face of this earth that will heal you. Exodus 15:26 says, “I [am] the Lord that healeth thee.” These are the things that God has ordained, and if you cooperate with Him, He will give the power of healing. Do not go and buy things thinking that they will heal your arthritis when you are still not drinking water and when you are still going to bed at midnight! You cannot take a pill in place of making a lifestyle change.

“Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner spoils much good.” Ecclesiastes 9:18. God’s Plan is to educate versus man’s plan to medicate. I am not telling you to not take drugs or to take drugs. I believe there is sometimes a place for medicine. If I am in an accident, rush me to the hospital. If it is necessary to operate, do not tell me God does not want me to have anesthesia—put me to sleep! If I need some blood, give it to me. Let us not get fanatical, because there is a place for medicine, but medicine does not kill disease.

Seventy-four percent of 119 plant-derived pharmaceutical medicines are used in modern medicine in ways similar to the way they were used in native cultures. The World Health Organization estimates that 80 percent of the world’s population relies on herbs for primary care needs. I believe that is true. We have traveled over four continents, and we see the indigenous people of many countries use herbs. We find that today 25 percent of all prescription drugs in the United States have an active ingredient derived from trees, shrubs, or herbs. An estimated 30–40 percent of all medical doctors in France and Germany still rely on herbal preparation. I know that to be a fact, because I have been to Germany. I did not go to the health food store to get Goldenseal; I went to the pharmacist. They still use herbs, but here in the good, old USA, people think you are practicing witchcraft when you use herbs. The Germans know that there is no addiction, no dependence. In my 25 years of using herbs; I have had only one case that has had side effects, and that was because the person abused the herb. You do not need a prescription for herbs, and there are no negative side effects—when used rationally. This is the safety of God’s Plan.

Biblical Examples

We are even given biblical examples for the use of natural remedies. Jesus used clay on the blind man’s eyes. (See John 9:6.) Now Jesus created the eyes, and He could have spoken and told the man’s eyes to open. Why did He go through all the trouble of getting some dirt, putting a little spit on it, and then putting it on the blind man’s eyes? To give us an example. It is all right to use things of nature. Christ endorsed the use of natural products.

I’m sure you have read about Hezekiah in Isaiah 38:21 and the fresh fig poultice. I use it on boils and breast cancer. It is high in potassium, and it draws. It is best to use fresh figs. Some people may try to catch you on the statement in 1Timothy not to drink water, but to use a little wine for your stomach’s sake. (1 Timothy 5:23.) See, they say, you can drink more wine than water. But they do not know the Scripture, and they do err. The wine that is talked about in 1 Timothy is unfermented grape juice. When you study the pH or chemistry of food, you learn that grape juice contains malic acid, which helps to neutralize the acid in the stomach. That is why the Bible advises the use of a little wine [grape juice] for the stomach. As Hippocrates said, “Let thy food be thy medicine and thy medicine be thy food.”

Phytochemicals

The Bible says the leaves shall be for medicine. (Ezekiel 47:12.) God gave man the green leaves. When a dog gets an upset stomach, it does three things: it fasts; it lays in the sun, and it eats grass. When we get sick, we lay in the shade and keep eating. The Bible says that the fowls of the air should tell thee; the beasts of the field should teach thee. (Job 12:7.) We have 33 percent frontal lobe, made in the image of God; the dog only has 7.5 percent frontal lobe, and they know better than we do!

What is in the plant that the Lord said the leaves should be for medicine? phytochemicals, plant substance. God put chemicals in the plants that are in harmony with the biological makeup of man. Within the green plant is chlorophyll. The molecule chlorophyll is similar to the molecule of hemoglobin that attracts oxygen. The only difference, between the molecular structure of chlorophyll and of hemoglobin, is that hemoglobin has iron as its nucleus; chlorophyll has magnesium. Chlorophyll is the closest chemical to human blood. It is cleansing. That is why God gave man green plants to eat in his sinful stage. It is going to lead us back to the original diet. Yet some people do not want to eat vegetables! You cannot survive without them.

Chlorophyll contains magnesium. Magnesium is the spark of life. The devil thinks he is smart—he is producing all of these foods without seeds such as seedless grapes. The life is in the seed; magnesium, the spark of life. So when you continue to eat the seedless grapes, you are not getting the nutrition you need.

Potassium is one of the most important nutrients in the body, especially dealing with the lymphatic system. We call it the potassium pump. Cancer cells cannot live in a rich potassium environment. That is why every Israelite had a fig tree! Figs are high in potassium. When you have high blood pressure, I guarantee you your potassium is low. When you take a diuretic, the doctor gives you potassium, because the diuretic flushes potassium out of your colon. It creates a vicious circle.

Calcium is the most important element. Ninety-nine percent of the calcium in our bodies is in the bone. Calcium is an alkaline nutrient. When we are on a high protein diet, a high fat diet, a high alkaline diet, the body takes calcium from the bones to neutralize it. This creates another problem—osteoporosis. We talk about ‘Got Milk’ for calcium. Got milk? get allergies! get asthma! You do not need milk to prevent osteoporosis. Canada, Finland, New Zealand, Australia, and America have the highest consumption of cow’s milk in the world. They also have the highest incident of juvenile diabetes, allergies, and osteoporosis. And they still tell you to drink milk! Milk is for calves, not for humans.

Here are some of your phyto-chemicals: carotonoids, beta-carotene, flavanoids, lucien and kale. These are what we call antioxidants. We need these to strengthen our immune system. Lycopene is what gives the tomato, the watermelon, and the red pepper their color. I believe in eating a lot of raw food, but for those who are on all raw, I want to tell you that the lycopene is more bioavailable when the tomato is stewed or cooked. Even the beta-carotene in the carrot is more available when it is steamed, than raw. You have to have a balance of a lot of raw foods, but there is nothing wrong with having properly cooked food. Overcooked food will kill you, but do not tell me that I am going to go to hell because I eat cooked food. There has to be a balance.

Limonene is in the pigment of citrus. It contains antioxidants. There are over 32 chemicals in the rind of the orange peel. One of those chemicals is arsenic. If I have a glass of water, put a little arsenic in it and give it to you, would you drink it? No! Why not? Because it is poison, even though the arsenic is diluted with water. But arsenic is in the skin of the orange. I can peel the skin, put a little honey on it, place it in my oven, and bake it to make a throat lozenge to suck and chew. It has arsenic in it! Why does it not kill me? Because the Master Chemist synergistically knows how to put things together. The Bible tells us, What God hath joined together, let no man tear asunder. (Mark 10:9.) It also warns that if you add to God’s Word or take away, He will add the plagues to you. (Revelation 22:18.) God knows how to balance. It is when men begin to take away, concentrate, and dilute that it becomes a serious problem.

Aloe Vera

I am excited by aloe vera. It is not a wonder food, but it is everywhere; on every continent that I have visited, I have found aloe vera. You know aloe vera as a plant to put on minor burns, and you can buy its juice at the store. Aloe vera is a high sulphur green. We have thought it was part of the cacti family, but it belongs to the garlic family. The Bible talks about this wonderful plant, aloe, that God brought into existence. In Numbers 24 we are told of gardens, planted by the Lord, in which He put aloe. Psalm 45:8, Proverbs 7:17, and Song of Solomon 4:14 mention aloe. In John 19:39 Jesus talks about the aloe and the spices.

There are over 300 different varieties of aloe. Aloe vera is 90 percent water and contains over 200 active compounds in the juice of a fresh leaf. Many important compounds are included in the following groups: vitamins, minerals, salicin acid (which is found in aspirin), lecithin (which is good to deal with cholesterol), amino acids, fatty acids, and steroids. Aloe acts as an anti-inflammatory for arthritis, bronchitis, bursitis—you name it. It is also an anti-bacterial for fungus and an anti-viral that may be used in the treatment of AIDS and cancer. Aloe is one of the primary things I use in dealing with AIDS.

We are involved with a clinic in Zambia where there are thousands of cases a month of AIDS. Because we have an AIDS program, four years ago the Zambian government sponsored a Seventh-day Adventist nurse to come to the United States. She was convinced she could learn how to deal with AIDS. This sister is now doing such a good work in Zambia that the government sponsored another nurse to our school this year. She is going to take over the current clinic, and the other nurse will start up a new clinic.

I received a letter from a colporteur in Africa. He received our AIDS program brochure, and one day on the bus he passed out this information. On the bus was a man who had just been sent home by the doctors to die. The literature evangelist talked to the man and told him what to do. He worked with this gentleman for months. That man thought he would never see another day, but he is living today—free from AIDS, converted from Catholicism to Seventh-day Adventism through the health message. Truly the right arm in action.

Aloe is good for digestion and liver function. It is good for elimination, bowel obstruction, immune system function, auto-immune diseases, fibromyalgia, Hepatitis C, and lupus. I am not saying aloe heals these diseases, but it is good for support. Aloe is also good for acne, anemia, allergies, attention deficit disorder, bladder function, burns, cancer, Candida, cardiovascular system function, cold, flu, constipation, dental and oral hygiene to strengthen the gums, gingivitis, dandruff (shampoo your hair with it), detoxifying your body, diabetes, eczema and psoriasis, hemorrhoids, and sinusitis. Every home should have an aloe plant!

Fillet the leaf of an aloe vera plant, just like you would fillet a fish. Take out the jell, and ingest a tablespoon to a half cup of it internally. It is bitter, but it is going to make you better. Sometimes we take the whole plant and blend it with juice. If you are a diabetic, mix it with other green juice, or you can take it straight. I do not run out to the health food store and buy it; I just use the fresh plant. It is best fresh, because it loses its power to heal within hours of harvest.

People Paste

One of the most powerful natural healers you can use is People Paste. Buy Goldenseal, Myrrh, and Slippery Elm, and mix equal amounts of them together. If you have ulcerated sores, hemorrhoids, or decubitus ulcers (bed sores), just drop this mixture into the sore. It heals and leaves very little scar tissue. If you get cut, put some People Paste on the cut. To help it stay on the sore, mix it with a little aloe vera then apply it; cover it and the healing begins. You can take the People Paste internally. It is beneficial for ulcers, lung problems, digestive problems, Chrone’s disease, and many other maladies. You need to have People Paste in your cabinet. The People Paste is good for all kinds of sores, external or internal, wounds, rashes, colds, fevers, sore throats (gargle with it), inflammation, and blood poisoning. When you go on camping trips, take People Paste with you.

You should also have Goldenseal, Peppermint oil, Eucalyptus oil, and Tea Tree oil in your medicine cabinet. When I go to foreign countries I take Goldenseal and a few other things with me. When I go into the jungles of Thailand, I take Goldenseal, garlic and People Paste. If you cannot find Goldenseal, use Barberry; those who live in Oregon can use Oregon Grape in place of Goldenseal. Antiviral and antibacterial, Slippery Elm is mucilaginous, soothing to the digestive tract.

True Method

“The true method for healing the sick is to tell them of the herbs that grow for the benefit of man. Scientists have attached large names to these simplest preparations, but true education will lead us to teach the sick that they need not call in a doctor any more than they would call in a lawyer. They can themselves administer the simple herbs if necessary. To educate the human family that the doctor alone knows all the ills of infants and persons of every age, is false teaching, and the sooner we as a people stand on the principles of health reform, the greater will be the blessing that will come to those who would do true medical work. There is a work to be done in treating the sick with water and teaching them to make the most of sunshine and physical exercise. Thus in simple language we may teach the people how to preserve health, how to avoid sickness. . . . This is true science.” Spaulding and Magan Collection, 137.

Thomas Jackson is a Health Evangelist and Director of Missionary Education and Evangelistic Training (M.E.E.T.) Ministry in Huntingdon, Tennessee. He may be contacted by e-mail at godsplan@meetministry.org or by telephone at 731-986-3518.

Warn the Cities! Part I

Of all the gifts that we could bring to Christ, the most important gift is ourselves. In the whole universe, we are the most important of all things, to Him. That boggles my mind! You may feel the same way, as you look at your life. I wonder how He could love us so much that He was willing to go through what He went through for us, so we can spend eternity together and one day can walk and talk with Him. It is an awesome thought. How much do we love Him, today?

No Surprises

Even today, as we go about our busy lives, people are still talking about 9/11. [The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York, NY, and on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., on September 11, 2001.] That was certainly something very awesome that took place in the United States! I have often thought about it and wondered if that was the beginning of sorrows. (See Matthew 24:8.) Some of the big disasters, the big things that happen, lead us back to God’s Word. I am interested about what is going to take place in our land—present and future, and I believe that God’s last day people will be interested in the future to the point that they will want to get into God’s Word and study it like never before.

We know Who holds the future, and it is good that we understand what is going to take place, because God wants us to go out and warn others. What took place in New York devastated the world, yet although we could not have predicted that exact incident, we knew things like that were going to happen. Many of us Adventists know things that will be taking place in the future, yet we are not preparing for them. We talk about moving out of the cities and getting into the country, yet we stay right where we are. We are looking for something bigger to happen, so we will know for sure when the time is right. We really do not want to be put out; we do not want to make a time of trouble, so we are riding the fence.

I’m thankful today that God’s Word tells us, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7. Friends, I stand on that promise today. I am assured, because God’s Word has told me that God is not going to do anything that He does not reveal. He does not want anything to be a surprise to any of His people. He wants to reveal it so that we can be prepared for such a time as this.

An Active Prophet

Sometimes people say that the pulpit is not the place to read the Spirit of Prophecy. I disagree! If there was ever a time that we needed the Spirit of Prophecy, it is now. More than ever before we need these counsels. It is not a time to put it away, throw it away, or disregard it. Just open the pages and surely God will speak to you as He has to me. He is going to reveal things so that we can be ready.

Do you believe that God has prophets in the world today? There are a lot of people who claim to be. I believe that Seventh-day Adventists have a true prophet of God. We can read the inspired writings and compare them with God’s Word. We can see these things are coming to pass, and we can know it is the truth. Then why are we not farther advanced than we are today? We have all of this information. Some people say we have to be careful about a church that says they have a prophet, but the Bible says, “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:28. The Bible is clear that God’s last day remnant church will be identifiable by an active prophet in the church.

God also says, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man . . .” Genesis 6:3. How many of you sense, today, that the Spirit of God is being withdrawn? If you do not, you need to get on your knees and ask the Lord to help you see the things that are going on in this world. There are scandalous things happening in this world, things that shock us. Yet some things that would have given us heart failure ten years ago, today we only shrug off and say, “Isn’t that sad?” We have become accustomed to disaster. God said that His Spirit would not always strive with man. God’s Spirit is being withdrawn, and when His Spirit is withdrawn, be assured that the enemy is going to run more rampant in the hearts of men than ever before.

Tell Me a Lie

There are people today who are asking questions they never asked before. People are ripe for the gospel harvest at different times, and we need to have an answer for every man that asks. God is speaking to His children, and He says, “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever: [God is saying it is time to get our tennis shoes on and get out and get in circulation. Write it, publish it, and get the message out in any way possible.] That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children [that] will not hear the law of the Lord: [We all fit in that class, not just the young.] Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits.” Isaiah 30:8–10. How many say that today? Don’t tell me the truth; tell me a lie, because it is more pleasing. I can accept the lie more than I can accept the truth. The rebellious words continue: “Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.” Verse 11. How many of us would have the audacity to say we do not need God any more? We don’t want Him in our homes anymore; we don’t want Him in the church anymore; we don’t want Him in this world anymore. The people are saying, “We don’t want God. Don’t prophesy about God; don’t talk about Him.” When we do talk about Him, we lose so many “friends.”

“Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water [withal] out of the pit. For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength; and ye would not. But ye said,No . . . .” Verses 12–16. God is calling us back to a right relationship with Him. He is giving us instructions, yet we say, No, we do not want to hear. How many of us are heeding this warning today?

Devil Taking Over

In 1901, Ellen White wrote the following: “Men possessed by demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children.” Maranatha, 175. Do you see that happening today? No one can figure out what is wrong with these crazy people. I can tell you right now—they have a devil in them! The devil has taken over, but in modern society we cannot talk like that; people don’t believe it. Crime, murders—”All these things testify that the Lord’s coming is near.” Ibid. These are signs in the air. We are overwhelmed by the kidnap-pings in broad open daylight, in the schools and in the homes. We can’t understand how these things can be taking place. These all testify that the coming of the Lord is near. “The restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn from the world. . . . Even before the last great destruction comes upon the world, the flattering monuments of man’s greatness will be crumbled in the dust.” Ibid. Can you relate to these things? Some of the monuments that men have built, these tall, fireproof buildings, stand as if to say, Look what man has done! Ellen White says they are going to crumble to dust. “Costly buildings, supposed to be fireproof, are erected. But as Sodom perished in the flames of God’s vengeance, so will these proud structures become ashes.” Ibid. Are we seeing it happen today? Yes, we are; it is taking place all around us. God says there is a reason for it.

“The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments.” Evangelism, 29. So you say, I understand it; I know it. Now, what is our duty? What is our responsibility? All should be warned of the coming judgments. If the judgments are falling in the land today, it tells us that Jesus is coming soon, that His Spirit is being withdrawn from the earth and the enemy is trying to take possession. What a time! All should be warned.

What would happen if a couple of years before 9/11 someone had published a notice in the paper that said, After reading about some of these cities, I believe something terrible is going to happen in New York City; I believe there is going to be some devastation there. The police would have been on that person’s doorstep the very next morning after 9/11, wanting to know how they knew about it, asking with what groups they are associated. The authorities might even want to know what church this person attends and what they believe. They would certainly want some information.

You see, it takes courage to believe in God’s Word and strength to move out and say something before it happens, not necessarily after it happens. Do you dare to stand out, dare to be different? Ellen White said we are to “warn the inhabitants of our great centers of population of the judgments that will fall upon the transgressors of God’s law.” Medical Ministry, 300. How many of us are warning the world? How many are doing what we can in our area? Do we realize that we are just touching upon the edges of the coming disasters, sad as it might be?

Under inspiration, Ellen White wrote, “When God’s restraining hand is removed, the destroyer begins his work. Then in our cities the greatest calamities will come.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 3, 314. If you know this, do you have family and friends who live in some of these places? What have you done to warn them? Or will they count you as some strange parent, aunt, uncle, or friend, because you plead with them to move out of these places, to get into a secluded place. “Why should we do that? We’re making a good living here, and we’ve worked here all of our lives.” They will think you are strange, but we should still warn them that these things are coming. That is our job! We can show them from God’s Word that these disasters are occurring one right after the other.

We see things happening even in smaller towns that we did not see before. Twenty years ago we did not worry about things that we worry about now; and ten years ago those in small towns did not worry about the things that they worry about now. I was at a Seventh-day Adventist Church in New York City several years ago and there were bars on every window and on the doors. You could not leave your equipment inside the sanctuary while you went for fellowship lunch. This was inside a four-story building! I just put my Bible down and I was told, “Oh, don’t leave that lying there.”

“Why not?”

“Because you won’t have it when you come back.”

“You mean here in the church?”

“Yes, people come in whom we do not know, and it will be gone.”

I got there early and could not get in because the doors were barred. I had to wait for somebody to get a key so I could get in. It was like opening a cell. Then they had to have someone standing outside to watch for problems. That is not what we are use to experiencing when we go to church, but we are seeing the crime coming our direction.

Several years ago we thought we did not have to worry about locking our doors and closing our windows. But a dear sister of ours in her 80s, lived just a few blocks from our church. She was our church organist, and she loved the message of Jesus. She was murdered. A young man broke into her house, thinking that she might have some money. The reports told us that she awoke when the intruder entered, and he grabbed a pillow and smothered her. That is a horrible way to have a faithful life end.

Why in the cities? There is a good reason for it, and God’s servant tells us what it is. “O that God’s people had a sense of the impending destruction of thousands of cities, now almost given to idolatry.” Evangelism, 29. One of the first things God told His people was that they were not to have other gods before Him. (See Exodus 20:3.) Anything you have or do can become an idol. Now God is saying that the cities will be destroyed, because they are almost wholly given over to idolatry. Everything imaginable is going on.

What is our job?

Our job is to warn the people. God sent us the warnings, yet we don’t say anything for fear we might get in trouble. Ellen White said, “In the night I was, I thought, in a room but not in my own house. I was in a city, where I knew not, and I heard expression [explosion] after expression [explosion]. I rose up quickly in bed, and saw from my window large balls of fire. Jetting out were sparks, in the form of arrows, and buildings were being consumed, and in a very few minutes the entire block of buildings was falling and the screeching and mournful groans came distinctly to my ears. I cried out, in my raised position, to learn what was happening: Where am I? And where [is] our family circle? Then I awoke. But I could not tell where I was for I was in another place than home. I said, Oh Lord, where am I and what shall I do? It was a voice that spoke, ‘Be not afraid. Nothing shall harm you.’

“I was instructed that destruction hath gone forth upon cities. The word of the Lord will be fulfilled. Isaiah 29:19–24 was repeated. I dared not move, not knowing where I was. I cried unto the Lord, What does it mean? These representations of destruction were repeated. Where am I? ‘In these scenes I have represented that which will be; but warn My people to cease from putting their trust in men who are not obedient to my warnings and who despise My reproof, for the day of the Lord is right upon the world when evidence shall be made sure. Those who have followed the voices that would turn things upside down will themselves be turned where they cannot see, but will be as blind men.’ ” Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 361.

What was that? “Those who have followed the voices that would turn things upside down will themselves be turned where they cannot see, but will be as blind men”? Do you believe that God has a true prophet in His church in the last days and that you can share these warnings with confidence?

How do we approach such a situation? How do we deal with this when we are commissioned that this is our job? Do you doubt that the Sunday law will happen? Do not doubt it; it is going to happen. Why? Because God’s servant has told us so. (See Testimonies, vol. 5, 450, 451, 711, 712.) We can boldly step forward and say, “This is what is going to happen, and we know this because God’s servant told us that it would happen.” The people are going to be curious, and they will want to know how we know such things. Then we can open up prophecy to them. Oh the golden opportunities we missed, even at 9/11, to warn the people.

To be concluded . . .

Pastor Kenny Shelton is speaker for the television ministry of Behold the Lamb in Heron, Illinois. He may be contacted by e-mail at BTLM@GTE.net or by telephone at 1-800-238-2856.

As We Near the End of Time, Part III

In this series we are studying about the fact that there is a ditch on both sides of the road of life on which we travel. One ditch is the ditch of Babylon. Ellen White wrote to then general conference president, G. I. Butler, stating that the ministers are “coveting their neighbors’ wives,” that there is fornication among us, and that if something is not done to cleanse the camp we are going to become a sister of Babylon. Manuscript Releases, vol. 21, 380. That is one ditch. The Babylonian churches will all tell you they are against fornication, adultery, divorce and remarriage without biblical grounds, but even though they are against it, they tolerate it. There are many people in these churches who have the highest moral standards, but the churches are in the same predicament as are Adventists. The devil has worked in our society so that the churches have become corrupted and defiled through the fall and seduction of their members.

The other ditch, on the opposite side, takes the same position that the Pharisees took. They say, Get those people out of the camp, so the camp can be cleansed, and then the Lord will be able to use the rest of us to finish the work. Jesus got in trouble, because He offered salvation to the people in the church who were fallen and outcasts. He said, “For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And you, seeing, did not repent later that you should believe in Him.” Matthew 21:32.

Remember the lady to whom Jesus offered salvation at the well? One of the reasons Jesus was crucified was because He went to the people in the church who had messed up—like this woman. Jesus told her, ” ‘You have said well that you do not have any husband, because you have had five husbands, and the one that you have now is not even your husband.’ ” (John 4:17, 18.) “You did not even go through the ceremony this time. You did not even sign the piece of paper; you just decided to give up.”

We are in a situation where there are unscriptural marriages throughout Adventism, even in the revival and reformation movement. This is something that we must study, even though it is delicate and sensitive.

A very sincere man once came to me and told me, “I divorced my wife, and I married the woman to whom I am married now. I know that I am unscripturally married. Now, here I am, and what do I do? I want to be saved! If you tell me that I have to leave my wife to be saved, I will do it.” That is not a desirable position for any pastor to be in, so you can understand that I have given this subject a great deal of study.

Understand Principles

How can the sinners in the church be saved without the church itself becoming part of Babylon? When can the church disfellowship sinners without the development of Phariseeism? Those are not the easiest questions to answer.

Seventh-day Adventists have an advantage over other churches in that we have the Spirit of Prophecy writings to help us come to wise decisions. What we want to understand is principles. If you have not read the book, Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce (The Ellen G. White Estate, 1989), you should. From the many private letters Ellen White wrote dealing with similar complicated situations that are now published in this book, principles are given for your understanding so you can make wise decisions.

Evil Results

Ellen White always warned people against unscriptural marriages. She taught, as does the Bible, that evil results would follow the people in unscriptural marriages for the rest of their lives. But after giving that warning, she said that when people go ahead and get involved in an unscriptural marriage, to leave them alone. That in no way condones what they have done, but there is not a single instance that I know of where she said to break up those people. (See Testimonies, vol. 4, 503–508.) I did not tell that man that he must divorce his second wife; I could not do that with a clear conscience. Mrs. White wrote concerning this exact thing.

People are married who have no right to be married—an unscriptural marriage. This is much more complicated than the person who has committed fornication or adultery. They can confess, say they are sorry, and stop. But in an unscriptural marriage, vows have been given for which there was no right to give. We should remember that a person in a situation like this has committed a grievous sin, and there is no salvation for any sinner if the sin is not confessed (to the individuals who have been wronged—in an unscriptural marriage there are always parties who have been wronged and hurt) with complete repentance. Mrs. White wrote, “You have asked my counsel in regard to this case. I would say that unless those who are burdened in reference to the matter have carefully studied a better arrangement, and can find places for these where they can be comfortable, they better not carry out their ideas of a separation. I hope to learn that this matter is not pressed, and that sympathy will not be withdrawn from the two whose interests have been united.

“I write this because I have seen so many cases of the kind, and persons would have great burden till everything was unsettled and uprooted, and then their interest and burden went no further. We should individually know that we have a zeal that is according to knowledge. We should not move hastily in such matters, but look on every side of the question. We should move very cautiously and with pitying tenderness, because we do not know all the circumstances which led to this course of action.

I advise that these unfortunate ones be left to God and their own consciences, and that the church shall not treat them as sinners until they have evidence that they are such in the sight of the holy God. He reads hearts as an open book. He will not judge as man judgeth.Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery and Divorce, 218, 219.

Those statements have helped me a great deal. In an unscriptural marriage, the parties have created for themselves a dilemma that no church or prophet can solve. Only the Lord can solve such a dilemma, and we must leave such with Him. I believe that we are on the border of the kingdom, and Satan has successfully attacked God’s people. These unscriptural marriages greatly weaken the church.

Consequences

Everything that we do has consequences, and the unscriptural marriage will make it impossible for those involved to do what could otherwise have been done in God’s work.

Consider what is called “The Case of Brother G,” from which this principle is derived.

C. White wrote a letter explaining the situation: ” ‘Regarding Brother G, I can speak quite freely. About 1875 he married a very brilliant school teacher. . . . She was very talented, but after a number of years she became quarrelsome and made his life miserable. [That was probably according to his report.] At that time he was associated with a very brilliant young woman who was an accountant at X College, and formed a fondness for her. Sister White wrote him a very plain warning, which he promised to heed. Shortly after Sister White had gone to Europe, Brother G resigned his position at X College, went to Michigan to visit his sister, and offered no obstruction to his wife in getting a divorce.

” ‘Thus far, those who knew the case approved, but shortly after this he married the bookkeeper before mentioned; then all his friends were greatly grieved. He taught a while at _______, then settled near ________, and for many years worked very hard, his wife helping him to make a living on a little fruit and vegetable farm. They came to see the wickedness of the course they had taken. They repented of it very bitterly, and their brethren and sisters were satisfied that their repentance was genuine. They had three beautiful children growing up, and no one, as far as I know, encouraged them to separate. When the matter was put before Sister White, she did not encourage a separation, nor could she encourage any movement to exclude him from participation in the work of the third angel’s message. In his later life he labored in a humble way in self-supporting work in the South.

” ‘If persons living in the light of the third angel’s message purpose to leave one companion for the sake of uniting with someone else, it is our duty to warn and reprove and discipline.

” ‘If persons before embracing the message have entangled themselves, and afterward have repented, confessed their sins, received forgiveness of God, and won the confidence of their brethren, it is better for both ministers and laymen to leave them alone, enjoying the forgiveness and justification which have been wrought through Christ, without undertaking to tear up existing relations.’—February 21, 1927.” Ibid., 219–221.

Now we return to what Ellen White said about this man. Remember, he had married a schoolteacher, but he had developed a fondness for someone else. His wife got a divorce, and he immediately married the other person. “We had conversation after the meeting with Elder Starr. The question was in reference to a teacher of grammar for the advanced classes. There is no perplexity in regard to the first classes of grammar, but we need well-qualified teachers in all branches, and we hope Elder Olsen will find either a man or woman that can come to Australia as a thorough teacher. If only G had kept himself straight, he would be just the one to come. But the question is whether his record will not follow him. We scarcely dare venture the matter and run the risk. That the man has sincerely repented I have not a doubt, and I believe the Lord has forgiven him. But if obliged to make explanations it would not be an easy matter to do; so what shall we do with G? Leave him where he is, a prey to remorse, and to be useless the remainder of his life? I cannot see what can be done. [This is a prophet speaking.] Oh, for wisdom from on high! Oh, for the counsel of One who reads the heart as an open book! How Satan watches for souls to bind them with his hellish cords that they become lost to the work and almost helpless in his hands. ‘Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.’ [Mark 14:38.] —Letter 13, 1892. (Written five years after Brother G’s unscriptural marriage.)” Ibid., 221, 222.

Excuses

Unfortunately, people try to excuse what they have done by referring to David or to Solomon, or someone like them. In Testimonies on Sexual Behavior, Adultery, and Divorce (pages 92–97), Ellen White goes into a long discussion about David. As a result of David’s sin, even though he later confessed it, was forgiven, and will be in the kingdom of heaven, there were consequences. In the remainder of his life, he was embittered; he found out that what he had done resulted in a wretched evil. It caused unhappiness in his family, in discord, rivalry and jealousy. Not only that, he received reproof and heavy denunciation, and God visited him with judgments. He lost four of his sons, and each one of those was harder for him than if he had to die himself. If you are a father, it is harder to watch your son die than to die yourself, and David had to go through that four times. Ellen White said he was “made to feel the full weight of the injustice done.” Ibid, 97.

Example of Principle

Here is an example of this principle. In the Spirit of Prophecy this man is simply called William E. He was born in Quebec, Canada, in 1856. He attended Battle Creek College, and he labored as a minister or colporteur in several different states. He was married, but his first marriage ended in divorce. After that, he fathered a child by a second woman, without marrying her, and then in 1892 he married a third woman. He stayed married to her until he died in 1934. In 1901 this man’s father and brother insisted, since he was in an unscriptural marriage, that he should leave his wife. In other words, he should make things right.

About this, Ellen White said:
“I would gladly do something to help poor Will E to make things right, but this cannot be done as matters are now situated [notice, a prophet cannot make it right, the church cannot make it right; you just have to leave it with the Lord], without someone’s being wronged.” Ibid., 227. If you do this you are wrong, if you do that, you are wrong—you are in a dilemma that only God can solve and heal.

A Hard One

Even though we follow the given principles, great and perplexing problems occur for the church when the person who is in an unscriptural marriage decides that he is called to be a minister. This is not uncommon. You would probably be shocked, if you knew the personal history of ministers with whom you are acquainted. Brother E moved to Birmingham, Alabama, to the largest church in that conference. He was quite personable, a very good speaker, and he became quite popular in this church. He was active in the church work; became an elder, and started giving Bible studies and holding evangelistic meetings. The time came when he was working so hard in evangelism that the church talked to the conference and said, “This man needs to have some support. He’s working almost full time in evangelism, and he is successful.” So the conference started paying him $8 a week. Of course, he could not live on $8 a week, even in 1900! He was really interested in the restoration of his credentials and recognition as a minister again. The conference president wrote to Ellen White. After talking about the things just mentioned, he states, ” ‘His wife is a nervous wreck and her confidence has been so shaken that while she wants him to preach, there is constant danger that as he becomes popular and mingles with the people that she will become jealous, whether [there] is any cause or not [that is easy to understand in this situation], and herself bring on a scandal by talking and telling of the past which she is prone to do when she becomes suspicious of him. All would be greatly relieved if there is any definite counsel from the Lord.’ ” Ibid., 229. The people often went to Ellen White for counsel, and although we cannot go to her personally anymore, we can seek counsel through her inspired writings. People still get into these complicated situations.

Brother E was being successful in evangelism, but the people said, look at his past. What are we going to do? They received a letter from W. C. White in which he said that he had talked the situation over with his mother. Notice all of the “ifs” in this letter. He wrote: ” ‘Mother says that those who have dealt with the perplexities arising from his many transgressions in the past should take the responsibility of advising regarding our present duty toward him. Mother does not wish to take large responsibility in this matter, but she says regarding Elder E as she has said regarding other men in a somewhat similar position, if they have thoroughly repented, if they are living such lives as convince their brethren that they are thoroughly in earnest, do not cut them off from fellowship, do not forbid their working for Christ in a humble capacity, but do not elevate them to positions of responsibility.’ ” Ibid., 230. So the conference decided not to issue Brother E ministerial credentials, but he was allowed to work in evangelism. At the close of this letter by W. C. White, his mother penned in the following words; ” ‘This is correct advice in such cases. Let him walk humbly before God. I see no light in giving him responsibilities.’ ” Ibid., 231.

Things went on, and a few years later, because of his success in the church in Birmingham, Alabama, and his success in evangelism, some people in the church said, “This man should be made a minister of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.” He still thought that he should be made a minister again, too. The conference president decided to write Ellen White again. This time he said, “The church is disagreed upon the point in question [this was causing problems in the church], and it is having a bad influence upon the work in the city and a more or less deleterious effect throughout the conference. [The whole conference was being affected by this situation.] The majority think, because of his capabilities and his late work in the city . . . that he should be made elder of the church and act as its pastor, or leader, while others do not favor it because of his life record . . . .” The conference men met together and told him that he could do evangelism, but that they did not feel right about ordaining him and giving him ministerial credentials. Brother William E had been so successful in evangelism, he thought that the Adventist ministers were just too hard-hearted. He said, I have repented, I have reformed, and I am not like that anymore. So he decided he would leave Birmingham, Alabama, and go to St. Helena, California, to talk with Ellen White himself. He thought that when he talked to Ellen White she would see the situation and help him get everything cleared up. However, when he got to St. Helena, California, Ellen White refused to see him. So the decision stayed the same.

Learn to Get Along

You see from this story just how complicated these situations can get. You may say that the mistake was made many years ago. That may be, but the unscriptural marriage has consequences. If there are young people reading this, and you are thinking that you cannot get along with your spouse, you had better do some fasting and praying before you decide to separate. Ask the Lord for direction.

Ellen White, in writing to a couple who was having terrible trouble because their dispositions just did not blend at all, advised that they had made some promises to each other, so they needed to pray and ask the Lord to help them change their dispositions. (See The Adventist Home, 345.) You see, that is God’s plan. If we are going to go to heaven someday, and we are all going to get along there, we have to learn to get along here. The first place we learn to get along with other people is in our homes. The second place where we learn to get along with others is in the church. Think this through in your mind, friends. If we cannot get along, what does that mean about our prospects of going to heaven? Whether it is in the home or in the church—it is something very serious.

Friends, we need to understand the principles. We need to be sure that we do not become like the Pharisees and decide that we are going to tear everything up that is not right. If we tear it up, then how are we going to put it back together? On the other hand, we must not be like Babylon and just let anything happen, saying, We are against it, but you can be a member of this church no matter what you do. We cannot do that.

We are living in a time when the ministers, the teachers, the elders among God’s people have some very delicate and difficult questions with which to deal. These problems exist because the devil has been successful, just like he was with Israel before they entered the Promised Land, in getting God’s people involved in sensuous practices which have led to divorces and remarriages that are not scriptural. Friend, decide, before you get involved in an unscriptural marriage, that you are not going to get involved! Make a decision!

We are not saying that such people are lost. We want to see them saved. But they have gotten themselves in situations where they cannot do, in God’s work, what they could have done otherwise. We have young people, today, who have decided, just as did Daniel, Joseph, and Isaac, that they are going to follow God, no matter what the cost. We need more young people like this to finish God’s work. We need young people who will make the same decision, as did Timothy. Paul told him, “Do not be a partaker in other men’s sins, keep yourself pure.” 1 Timothy 5:22.

[All emphasis supplied. Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

To be concluded . . .

Editorial – The Latter Rain of the Holy Spirit, Part II

In our editorial last month we looked at some of the requirements for receiving the latter rain of the Holy Spirit. “I also saw that many do not realize what they must be in order to live in the sight of the Lord without a high priest in the sanctuary through the time of trouble. Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully.

“I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of ‘refreshing’ and the ‘latter rain’ to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter! They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God.” Early Writings, 71.

We can see clearly from this statement that there are things in our characters that can prevent or hinder us from receiving the latter rain, and these hindrances must be removed before we can receive what God is waiting to give us.

“God does not give us up because of our sins. We may make mistakes, and grieve His Spirit; but when we repent, and come to Him with contrite hearts, He will not turn us away. There are hindrances to be removed. Wrong feelings have been cherished, and there have been pride, self-sufficiency, impatience, and murmurings. All these separate us from God. Sins must be confessed . . . .” Selected Messages, Book 1, 350.

These hindrances include wrong feelings as well as impatience and wrong words. “The law of God, as presented in the Scriptures, is broad in its requirements. Every principle is holy, just, and good. The law lays men under obligation to God; it reaches to the thoughts and feelings; and it will produce conviction of sin in every one who is sensible of having transgressed its requirements. If the law extended to the outward conduct only, men would not be guilty in their wrong thoughts, desires, and designs. But the law requires that the soul itself be pure and the mind holy, that the thoughts and feelings may be in accordance with the standard of love and righteousness.” Ibid., 211.

If we begin to work and to ask God to help us to have only right feelings and thoughts, when the thoughts and feelings are right, the rest of the problem of overcoming will be worked out, and we will be in a condition to receive the latter rain. How many of us will never get to participate in the latter rain, because we have not brought our thoughts and feelings into harmony with God’s law?

“Let us here resolve that we will not sin against God with our lips, that we will never speak in a light and trifling manner, that we will never murmur or complain at the providence of God, and that we will not become accusers of our brethren. We cannot always hinder the thoughts that come as temptations; but we can resist the enemy so that we shall not utter them. The adversary of souls is not permitted to read the thoughts of men; but he is a keen observer, and he marks the words and actions, and skillfully adapts his temptations accordingly. If all would labor to repress sinful thoughts and feelings, giving them no expression in words or acts, Satan would be defeated; for he would not know how to prepare his specious temptations to meet their cases.” Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, 146.

[All emphasis supplied.]