Issue: 2019 November

Keys to the Storehouse – Stand and Trust

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Stand and trust in the word of God. We must stand my brother and my sister and trust in the word of God now. Consider some of those by whom we can be encouraged:

“How often those who trusted the word of God, though in themselves utterly helpless, have withstood the power of the whole world—

  • Enoch, pure in heart, holy in life, holding fast his faith in the triumph of righteousness against a corrupt and scoffing generation;
  • Noah and his household against the men of his time, men of the greatest physical and mental strength and the most debased in morals;
  • The children of Israel at the Red Sea, a helpless, terrified multitude of slaves, against the mightiest army of the mightiest nation on the globe;
  • David, a shepherd lad, having God’s promise of the throne, against Saul, the established monarch, bent on holding fast his power;
  • Shadrach and his companions in the fire, and Nebuchadnezzar on the throne;
  • Daniel among the lions, his enemies in the high places of the kingdom;
  • Jesus on the cross, and the Jewish priests and rulers forcing even the Roman governor to work their will;
  • Paul in chains led to a criminal’s death, Nero the despot of a world empire.

“Such examples are not found in the Bible only. They abound in every record of human progress. The Vaudois and the Huguenots, Wycliffe and Huss, Jerome and Luther, Tyndale and Knox, Zinzendorf and Wesley, with multitudes of others, have witnessed to the power of God’s word against human power and policy in support of evil. These are the world’s true nobility.” Education, 254.

We need faith in Jesus. Now is the time to take a bold step out from the world and walk in His presence where you will find fullness of joy. Trust as did Enoch and Noah. Take your stand now. Proverbs 3:5–8 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”

It is time to stand and to trust. Stand my brother. Stand my sister. And trust in your Lord now—no matter what may happen.

 

Heavenly Father: Give us the strength to take a stand right now. We have been withering away from standing for truth and we now choose to stand, no matter what, for Your truth and to live according to heaven’s standards and not this world’s standards. We love You Lord. Help us to be strong as our brothers during Bible times to the present. Thank You Lord, for we know it is Your will. Amen.

 

Pen of Inspiration – Words of Courage

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The apostle Paul, who had received many revelations from the Lord, met difficulties from various sources, and amidst all his conflicts and discouragements, he did not lose his confidence and trust in God. Under the special tuition of the Holy Spirit, his judgment was purified, refined, elevated, sanctified. The devising of human beings and of the enemy against him, were to him a means of discipline and education, and he declares that thus he gained most excellent knowledge, because he made the Lord Jesus his dependence. “Yea,” doubtless he declares, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus, my Lord” (Philippians 3:8). How greatly this gospel enriches the garden of the soul, enabling it to produce most precious fruit!

The Lord Jesus has an interest in every phase of His work. The Lord will make all things work together for good, even though for the present, His servants are inconvenienced, and greatly disappointed, by being hemmed in on every side. The Lord has a work to be done in this world, and it will be done, even though all the hosts of the powers of darkness shall be summoned to obstruct the way. In His own good time God will cause his truth to triumph.

We must be wide awake, quick to recognize the movings of the providence of God. We must keep our own counsel that we have entrusted to us by the Lord, not giving the enemy any advantage. The Lord is looking on; the Lord is opening ways, whereby the truth shall gain the ascendency; for the truth is the habitation of His throne.

Jesus feels every pang of sorrow felt by those who are consecrated to His service, and who, under great difficulties are doing His work. Let us dwell upon the love of Jesus, that we may have courage and faith. The Lord lives and reigns. There will be unwise advisers who will try to confuse us, but let us look to Jesus, and trust in Him at all times. He has been our helper and will continue to be our helper. Be of good courage in the Lord.

I say again, be of good courage, and watch unto prayer. Let us do our part to answer our prayers by living in harmony with them. We know something of what is before us. We know that trials await us. But those who are true and steadfast will have a strong and powerful defense in God. My trust is unwavering. I am not discouraged, because I can hold to the hand of Christ. Let us be always cheerful, that others may not catch from us the spirit of discouragement. Sing praises to the Lord; sing praises to His holy name.

Bible Training School, November 1, 1903.

The Workings of His Providence

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The hand that intervenes…

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28

Throughout history, the providential hand of God has moved to guide His people and to fulfill His purposes in the execution of the plan of salvation. Incredible as it may seem, even the life and death of Jesus was part of that plan, as attested to by Peter in his sermon at Pentecost when he said, “Him [Jesus], being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death” (Acts 2:23).

The interesting portion of this statement is that Christ’s being “taken by lawless hands, … crucified, and put to death” was done “by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God.”

It is doubtful that anyone living today will suffer crucifixion, although no one knows what might happen to God’s faithful during the time of trouble. However, it is undeniable that God’s hand has sometimes moved in a manner that is puzzling at the least and absolutely mysterious and even sometimes painful—mentally if not physically—at the most. It often happened in the lives of God’s faithful servants historically; it happened in Jesus’ life; it happens in our lives today.

Think of the thorough education Moses received in the courts of Egypt. “Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians. He received an education in the providence of God …” Although much of that education was used in shepherding the children of Israel through the wilderness, “… a large part of that education had to be unlearned, and accounted as foolishness.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 360. Moses’ learning as well as his “unlearning” were all within God’s plan, not only His plan for Moses, but for the children of Israel as well.

Think also of Joseph’s having been sold into slavery to save God’s people and spread the truth in Egypt. “In the providence of God, even this experience was to be a blessing to him. He had learned in a few hours that which years might not otherwise have taught him.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 213.

One of the things Joseph learned in those first few hours of his “captivity,” was to have a deeper trust in the providential and protecting hand of God—a lesson that it would be well for us to learn today.

Joseph’s acknowledgment that he had learned this deeper trust is revealed by what he said as recorded in Genesis 45:4–8: “And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘Please come near to me.’ So they came near. Then he said: ‘I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.’ ”

It is interesting that even after five years of famine during which Joseph, as a result of the providential moving of God’s hand in his life, was able to sustain his family in Goshen of Egypt, and not only his family but the entire nation of Egypt, his brothers still failed to recognize that God was leading throughout their experiences.

After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers expected him to exact due vengeance upon them for the cruelty of their deed, many years previously. Even though Joseph had explained to them years earlier that God’s providence had brought him to Egypt, they nevertheless expected that Joseph would extract revenge, once Jacob had died.

“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.’ So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, ‘Before your father died he commanded, saying, “Thus you shall say to Joseph: ‘I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you. Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.’ ” ’ And Joseph wept when they [the messengers] spoke to him. Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, ‘Behold, we are your servants.’ Joseph said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive’ ”(Genesis 50:15–20).

The witness of Daniel and the other three Hebrew worthies in the courts of Babylon provides another example of the hand of God moving to shed light in a dark world and fulfill His plan for the salvation of the human race.

In writing about God’s faithful witnesses through time, Inspiration, in remarking about Joseph in Egypt and Daniel and his fellows in Babylon, notes that “In the providence of God these men were taken captive, that they might carry to heathen nations the knowledge of the true God. They were to be representatives of God in our world. They were to make no compromise with the idolatrous nations with which they were brought in contact, but were to stand loyal to their faith, bearing as a special honor the name of worshipers of the God who created the heavens and the earth.” Testimonies, vol. 8, 153.

Another example of God’s hand moving behind the scenes to execute His will occurred when Esther was made a queen of the Medo-Persian kingdom, again through the providential moving of God’s hand to save His people.

We know the story of Haman’s rage at Mordecai because Mordecai would not bow down to Haman’s authority to acknowledge his superior position in the government of the Medo-Persian kingdom. The spurious reasoning Haman gave to the king to do away with Mordecai is recorded in Esther 3:8: “Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, ‘There is a certain people scattered and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of your kingdom; their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.’ ”

Let’s pause for a moment to let that sink in: “… their laws are different from all other people’s, and they do not keep the king’s laws. Therefore it is not fitting for the king to let them remain.”

In other words, these “certain people” keep the law of God rather than the law of man. Therefore, they should be exterminated. Inspiration tells us that the same reasoning will be used at the end of time as Satan makes one final effort to rid the earth of God’s faithful people.

We know what happened next in the story of Esther: “Misled by the false statements of Haman, Xerxes was induced to issue a decree providing for the massacre of all the Jews ‘scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces’ (Esther 3:8) of the Medo-Persian kingdom. A certain day was appointed on which the Jews were to be destroyed and their property confiscated. Little did the king realize the far-reaching results that would have accompanied the complete carrying out of this decree. Satan himself, the hidden instigator of the scheme, was trying to rid the earth of those who preserved the knowledge of the true God. …

“But the plots of the enemy were defeated by a Power that reigns among the children of men. In the providence of God, Esther, a Jewess who feared the Most High, had been made queen of the Medo-Persian kingdom. Mordecai was a near relative of hers. In their extremity they decided to appeal to Xerxes in behalf of their people. Esther was to venture into his presence as an intercessor. ‘Who knoweth,’ said Mordecai, ‘whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?’ (Esther 4:14, last part, KJV).” Prophets and Kings, 600, 601.

The end was that Haman was trapped in his own plot. He was the one who ended up being executed, while the object of his designs—God’s commandment-keeping people—were spared. However, the salvation of God’s people certainly was not in anyone’s thoughts when Esther was made the queen—another example of the moving of the providential hand of God.

Let’s move forward to the time of Christ. Although His entire incarnation and the events that occurred during His brief time on earth were all providential, let us focus on the final hours of that incarnation, to the time when Christ was lifted up on the cross.

In the providence of God, Pilate was moved to write an inscription in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin and place it on the cross above the head of Jesus.

“It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth the King of the Jews’ (John 19:19). …

“A higher power than Pilate or the Jews had directed the placing of that inscription above the head of Jesus. In the providence of God it was to awaken thought, and investigation of the Scriptures. The place where Christ was crucified was near to the city. Thousands of people from all lands were then at Jerusalem, and the inscription declaring Jesus of Nazareth the Messiah would come to their notice. It was a living truth, transcribed by a hand that God had guided.” The Desire of Ages, 745, 746.

Decades after the crucifixion, God continued to thwart the unconsecrated purposes of man to accomplish His purposes. After failed attempts to silence the last surviving apostle, John, the soon-to-be Revelator, was banished to a lonely, remote, and rocky island.

“But the Lord’s hand was moving unseen in the darkness. In the providence of God, John was placed where Christ could give him a wonderful revelation of Himself and of divine truth for the enlightenment of the churches.

“In exiling John, the enemies of truth had hoped to silence forever the voice of God’s faithful witness; but on Patmos the disciple received a message, the influence of which was to continue to strengthen the church till the end of time. Though not released from the responsibility of their wrong act, those who banished John became instruments in the hands of God to carry out Heaven’s purpose; and the very effort to extinguish the light placed the truth in bold relief.” The Acts of the Apostles, 581.

Let’s move forward another 1400 years or so to the time of Martin Luther.

According to Inspiration, even after he had found and studied the Bible and had begun to discern the errors of the teachings of the Catholic church, “Luther was still a true son of the papal church and had no thought that he would ever be anything else. In the providence of God he was led to visit Rome. He pursued his journey on foot, lodging at the monasteries on the way. At a convent in Italy he was filled with wonder at the wealth, magnificence, and luxury that he witnessed. Endowed with a princely revenue, the monks dwelt in splendid apartments, attired themselves in the richest and most costly robes, and feasted at a sumptuous table. With painful misgivings Luther contrasted this scene with the self-denial and hardship of his own life. His mind was becoming perplexed.” The Great Controversy, 124.

The ultimate outcome of that providential visit was that Luther learned that neither he nor anyone else could “earn” salvation and that the just shall live—that is, be granted eternal life—by faith and faith alone.

Let us move up now another three centuries or so to relatively more modern times. The story of the tragedy that occurred when Ellen White was nine years old is a familiar one. The mental and physical anguish that she endured as the Lord was preparing her for His service is a puzzlement to us, at the least. After recurring doubt and much resistance to the obvious will of God, she received a detailed vision of the work that the Lord wanted her to do. Following that vision, she confided in her mother, who suggested that she relate her perplexity to Elder Stockman, who was preaching the Advent doctrine in Portland, Maine, at the time.

She recorded later, “I had great confidence in him, for he was a devoted servant of Christ. Upon hearing my story, he placed his hands affectionately upon my head, saying with tears in his eyes: ‘Ellen, you are only a child. Yours is a most singular experience for one of your tender age. Jesus must be preparing you for some special work.’

“He then told me that even if I were a person of mature years and thus harassed by doubt and despair, he should tell me that he knew there was hope for me, through the love of Jesus. …

“He spoke of my early misfortune, and said it was indeed a grievous one, but he bade me believe that the hand of a loving Father had not been withdrawn from me; that in the future life, when the mist that then darkened my mind had vanished, I would discern the wisdom of the providence which had seemed so cruel and mysterious. Jesus said to His disciples: ‘What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter’ (John 13:7). In the great future we should no longer see as through a glass darkly, but come face to face with the great beauties of divine love.” Life Sketches of James and Ellen G. White, 1880, 157, 158.

After the beginning work that eventually led to the establishment of the Seventh-day Adventist church, another great source of doubt occurred that resulted in a purifying shaking among the early professed second advent believers: the great disappointment of 1844.

In speaking of that disappointment, Inspiration noted: “They knew that God had led them by His unerring providence. Though, like the first disciples, they themselves had failed to understand the message which they bore, yet it had been in every respect correct. …” The hour of judgment had indeed come. “… In proclaiming it they had fulfilled the purpose of God, and their labor had not been in vain in the Lord. Begotten ‘again unto a lively hope,’ they rejoiced ‘with joy unspeakable and full of glory’ (1 Peter 1:3, 8).” The Great Controversy, 423.

There are many, many instances in the early development of the Adventist church in which the providential hand of God moved undeniably. Taking the time to review them is a great faith-builder. For an inspiring review of many instances in which God’s hand moved then, read Life Sketches of James and Ellen White. The first 250 pages or so were written by Ellen White and relate the trials and successes that led to the establishment of our church. To review each one here is beyond the scope of this article. So let us look at just one more: the providential manner in which the church’s property at Loma Linda was acquired.

In speaking of the property at Loma Linda, Inspiration wrote: “In the providence of God, this property has passed into our hands. The securing of this sanitarium, thoroughly equipped and furnished, is one of the most wonderful providences that the Lord has opened before us. It is difficult to comprehend all that this transaction means to us.” Loma Linda Messages, 129, 130.

A short review of a few of the details of this acquisition is quite inspirational.

“The large main building is furnished in an expensive manner. There are also five cottages, one having nine rooms, the others four each. In some of these, the verandas are so arranged that beds can be rolled out from the rooms. The grounds are beautifully laid out. There are concrete walks between all the buildings. These walks are bordered with flowers. There is a good orchard, and ample grounds for garden. There are many eucalyptus, pepper trees, and many other varieties of ornamental trees and shrubbery. Meetings can be held in the open air on the beautiful lawns. There is also another building that has been used as a bowling alley and billiard hall. This can be utilized as a meeting-house.” Ibid., 130.

The full story is given in more amazing and uplifting detail in the pamphlet Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 3b, entitled Letters from Ellen G. White to Sanitarium Workers in Southern California – b. This particular letter is headed simply, “The Loma Linda Sanitarium.” It is abbreviated SpTB03b and runs from pages 12–15 of that pamphlet.

A company had developed the property in the first decade of the 20th century at a cost of $140,000 in hopes of making it a sanitarium. When that effort failed, they tried to promote it as a worldly resort, but those efforts proved unsuccessful as well. Following these failed attempts, the Adventist church was able to acquire the property in 1906 for $40,000, paid out over several years. Truly the hand of God was guiding this entire situation.

Sometimes things happen that we cannot understand and are beyond our comprehension and even seem to be detrimental to our Christian walk. Be mindful of this promise from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians: “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5).

God’s hand moves mysteriously—sometimes in a way that pleasantly surprises, but sometimes in a way that is decidedly unpleasant. He helps the tree bear fruit both by supplying sunshine and rain, but also by an occasional pruning. Often we long for understanding that never comes. That is when we must remember the promise of Romans 8:28. Following are a couple of passages from Inspiration that give hope and courage as we deal with life’s daily challenges.

“Long have we waited for our Saviour’s return. But none the less sure is the promise. Soon we shall be in our promised home. There Jesus will lead us beside the living stream flowing from the throne of God, and will explain to us the dark providences through which He led us in order to perfect our characters.” The Review and Herald, September 3, 1903.

“The mysterious providence which permits the righteous to suffer persecution at the hand of the wicked has been a cause of great perplexity to many who are weak in faith. Some are even ready to cast away their confidence in God because He suffers the basest of men to prosper, while the best and purest are afflicted and tormented by their cruel power. How, it is asked, can One who is just and merciful, and who is also infinite in power, tolerate such injustice and oppression? This is a question with which we have nothing to do. God has given us sufficient evidence of His love, and we are not to doubt His goodness because we cannot understand the workings of His providence. Said the Saviour to His disciples, foreseeing the doubts that would press upon their souls in days of trial and darkness: ‘Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted Me, they will also persecute you’ (John 15:20). Jesus suffered for us more than any of His followers can be made to suffer through the cruelty of wicked men. Those who are called to endure torture and martyrdom are but following in the steps of God’s dear Son.” The Great Controversy, 47.

Describing the Loma Linda property, Ellen White wrote,

“I wish to present before our people the blessing that the Lord has placed within our reach by enabling us to obtain possession of the beautiful sanitarium property known as Loma Linda. This property lies sixty miles east of Los Angeles, on the main line of the Southern Pacific Railway. Its name, Loma Linda—beautiful hill—describes the place. Of the sixty acres comprised in the property, about thirty-five form a beautiful hill, which rises one hundred and twenty-five feet above the valley. Upon this hill the sanitarium building is situated.

“The main building is a well-planned structure of sixty-four rooms, having three stories and a basement. It is completely furnished, heated by steam, and lighted by electricity. It is surrounded with large pepper trees and other shade trees.

“About ten rods away and on the highest part of the hill there is a group of fine cottages. The central cottage has nine beautiful living rooms and two bath rooms. In the basement is a heating plant for the five cottages.

“Prettily grouped around this larger cottage are four smaller ones, having four rooms each, with bath and toilet. An interesting feature of three of these cottages is that each room has its veranda, with broad windows running to the floor, so that the beds can be wheeled right out onto the veranda, and the patients can sleep in the open air.

“Between these cottages and the main building there is a recreation building, which can be used as a gymnasium, and for class rooms and meetings.

“In all, there are ninety rooms. The buildings are furnished throughout and are ready for use.

“There is a post-office in the main building, and most of the trains stop at the railway station, about forty rods from the sanitarium.

“The seventy-six acres of hill and valley land is well cultivated, and will furnish much fruit and many vegetables for the institution. Fifteen acres of the valley land is in alfalfa hay. Eight acres of the hill are in apricots, plums, and almonds. Ten acres are in good bearing orange orchard. Many acres of land round the cottages and the main building are laid out in lawns, drives, and walks.

“There are horses and carriages, cows and poultry, farming implements and wagons. The buildings and grounds are abundantly supplied with excellent water.

“This property is now in our possession. It cost the company from whom we purchased it about $140,000. They erected the buildings, and ran the place for a time as a sanitarium. Then they tried to operate it as a tourist hotel. But this plan did not succeed, and they decided to sell. It was closed last April, and as the stockholders became more anxious to sell, it was offered to us for $40,000, and for this amount our brethren have purchased it.” Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 3b, 13.

All Bible quotes New King James unless otherwise noted.

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

Jesus and His Off-shoot Church

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Over twenty years ago after I was dismissed as an ordained pastor from the Seventh-day Adventist Church organization and started a self-supporting church, I had a brief conversation with a fine SDA Christian man that I would like to share with you. This gentleman expressed to me that he really was planning to become a member of our self-supporting church because he was very dissatisfied with the direction the organized church was taking. It so happened that some SDA pastors heard of his intention and told him that Pastor Plummer’s church is an off-shoot, and that “he cannot be saved if he is not under the conference.” Consequently, he decided that he would remain with the SDA church organization because he did want to be saved.

The establishment of the New Testament experienced the rise of two significant off-shoot movements, namely, the John the Baptist ministry and the Jesus Christ Christian church. The existence of these two self-supporting churches created deep and far reaching concerns for the leaders of Judaism, the acknowledged God’s true established church organization of that time.

The Encyclopedia of Early Christianity, p. 503, 504, informs us that “from the first century, relations between Jews and Christians were marked by hostility – the opposition between an established religion and an off-shoot claiming to have supplanted it.” The leaders of the newly formed off-shoot church sought to prove the authenticity of their movement as a God ordained entity, while on the other hand a slanderous biography of Jesus Christ circulated, with the diabolical intent to discredit the Leader and ultimately the movement!

This article will address two questions:

  1. Why was there a need for Jesus to organize and lead an off-shoot church?
  2. What is the meaning of “the Vine”?

The parable found in Matthew’s gospel, chapter 21, verses 33–46, as told by Jesus is known as: The Parable of the Wicked Husbandmen or The Parable of the False Husbandmen. In Christ’s Object Lessons, 284, Ellen White calls it The Lord’s Vineyard. This parable demonstrates the posture of Judaism while it was God’s church and it likewise reveals the similar attitude of the SDA church.

Matthew records the parable as spoken by Jesus thusly: “Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet” (Matthew 21:33–46).

With reference to the narrative, Jesus specifically intended to convey that while God appoints pastors over His church, it is not His intention to communicate that they are the true proprietors. They are in fact just acting in the same manner as when a proprietor would let out a vineyard to husbandmen who would labor in the cultivation of it and make an annual return. He had expended much labor and money on the vineyard without any corresponding returns due primarily to the attitude of the husbandmen. So in the parable, Christ accuses the vine-dressers, who, like base swindlers, appropriate to themselves the produce of the vineyard. Jesus says that the vineyard was well furnished and in excellent condition when the husbandmen received it from the proprietor.

The design of our Savior is to show the great favors and signal privileges God bestowed upon the Jewish people in making them His church and peculiar inheritance as caretakers of His law.

The design of Jesus is also to show the base ingratitude and abominable evils of both the Jews and especially their leaders, or husbandmen, specifically (1) In abusing and slaying the prophets and (2) In their laying violent hands upon the Son of God and in crucifying Him so that their evil purpose of taking control of the vineyard could be realized!

Furthermore, Jesus’ design in speaking the parable carries with it a prophetic application for it foretold the rejection of the Jews, the establishment of Jesus’ Christian off-shoot church and God’s calling of the Gentiles, as well as the destruction of Jerusalem, the ruin of the temple, and the reason thereof.

With reference to the lesson that Jesus wanted to convey concerning the parable of the Vineyard, the servant of the Lord states:

“Those who are true learners in the school of Christ will study with intense interest the parable of the vineyard. In this parable Christ presented the true condition of the once chosen people of God. He revealed to them their sinful breach of trust. He designed this parable to be a lesson to all, warning them that unless they walk in the ways of the Lord, keeping all His commandments, He can not bless and sustain them. The church on earth is greatly beloved by God. It is the fold provided for the sheep of His pasture. But the Lord will not serve with the sins of His people. Many times He has suffered calamity and defeat to come upon them because they have glorified themselves, weaving false principles into their practise [sic]. He willingly forgives those who repent, but He will remove His favor from those who go on sinning, exalting self, and mingling the sacred with the common. Terrible judgments will destroy those who have misrepresented Him, saying, ‘The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these’ (Jeremiah 7:4), when their example is misleading.” The Signs of the Times, October 31, 1900.

The essence of this parable is therefore seen in the question the Saviour posed to these leaders of His church and the answer that they gave. “When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? They say unto Him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons” (Matthew 21:40, 41). Ellen White commented, “The speakers had not at first perceived the application of the parable, but they now saw that they had pronounced their own condemnation. In the parable the householder represented God, the vineyard the Jewish nation, and the hedge the divine law which was their protection. The tower was a symbol of the temple. The lord of the vineyard had done everything needful for its prosperity.” The Desire of Ages, 596. 

Who are husbandmen?

They are farmers, keepers of vineyard, caretakers of cattle (see Matthew 21:33; Joel 1:11; Zechariah 13:5).

Whom do the husbandmen represent?

Firstly, the vineyard represents the Old Testament Hebrew church. God brought Israel from Egypt into Canaan, planted her a choice vine, fenced her, equipped her there, and placed her under spiritual leaders who are represented as husbandmen. That is why Jesus’ words in Matthew 21:33 were directed to the chief priests and elders.

David wrote, “Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it” (Psalm 80:8).

The Prophet Isaiah penned, “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant” (Isaiah 5:7).

Second, Ellen White shows also that the husbandmen represent the Jewish nation, “whom God had appointed to cultivate His vineyard, the world.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, 328.

Whom do the servants represent?

“The servants whom God sent to receive the fruits of the vineyard were the prophets and teachers through whom God had called Israel to render to Him His dues.” Ibid.

Christ was addressing people who were acquainted with the things of God. He was talking to His people, the stock of Israel, product of the wilderness church. Various prophets and patriarchs spoke of their heritage. For example, Isaiah beautifully records the parable of the vineyard in chapter 5 of his book, speaking of the house of Israel: “Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill. And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein” (Isaiah 5:1, 2).

And the prophet Ezekiel in his book declared of Israel, “Thy mother is like a vine in thy blood, planted by the waters: she was fruitful and full of branches by reason of many waters” (Ezekiel 19:10).

So, based upon the word of the Lord through the Prophet Isaiah, Israel was a vine planted in the Promised Land by the Lord. Yet, Israel was not the true vine. The Savior, as He looked sorrowfully on them, continued: “Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder” (Matthew 21:42–44). This replacement would be in consequence of their rejection of Him.

This parable spoken by our Lord specifically calls our attention to the vicious actions and outrageous conduct of the husbandmen who were in charge of God’s vineyard! When they were called upon at the proper season to produce the fruit expected by the owner of the vineyard, they failed to do so. This was primarily due to the false belief that they adhered to and taught that they were and always would be the chosen people of God.

Jesus loves His church dearly, and that’s why when He came on this earth He went directly to the Jewish church for the expressed purpose of working with His people in a united effort. (See Luke 4:16–30.) Sadly, however, “He came unto His own, and His own received him not” (John 1:11).

The question that we may rightly ask now is, Why is it that the very church of His own planting rejected Him? As a preamble to answering this question, I share with you the following from John’s gospel, chapter 15, verse 1, where Jesus taught, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.” In the book, The Desire of Ages, 675, we read, “Israel had been represented as a vine which God had planted in the Promised Land. The Jews based their hope of salvation on the fact of their connection with Israel. But Jesus says, I am the real Vine. Think not that through a connection with Israel you may become partakers of the life of God, and inheritors of His promise. Through Me alone is spiritual life received.”

Knowing that they were the chosen people of God, what was the attitude of the Jewish people? “The Jewish people cherished the idea that they were the favorites of heaven, and that they were always to be exalted as the church of God. They were the children of Abraham, they declared, and so firm did the foundation of their prosperity seem to them that they defied earth and heaven to dispossess them of their rights. But by lives of unfaithfulness they were preparing for the condemnation of heaven and for separation from God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 294. Their favorite expression was, “The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, are these” (Jeremiah 7:4). This phrase, repeated three times, expressed the pride that the people felt in the greatness of their religious institution, represented by the temple.

Again Ellen White tells us, “The Jewish leaders looked with pride upon their magnificent temple, and the imposing rites of their religious service; but justice, mercy, and the love of God were lacking. The glory of the temple, the splendor of their service, could not recommend them to God; for that which alone is of value in His sight they did not offer. They did not bring Him the sacrifice of a humble and contrite spirit. It is when the vital principles of the kingdom of God are lost that ceremonies become multitudinous and extravagant.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 297.

“The Jews” Ellen White wrote “looked upon Jerusalem as their heaven, and they were actually jealous lest the Lord should show mercy to the Gentiles.” The Desire of Ages, 29. Similarly today, like the Jewish leaders, many SDA leaders and members are very proud of their organization and they believe that being affiliated with it will ensure them salvation.

So why did the Jewish leaders and people reject Christ?

  1. They wanted to be like other nations. “And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them” (1Samuel 8:7). “God brought His people out from slavery and idolatry that they might keep the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. He Himself ruled over them. But in their desire to be like the nations round them, they rejected the Lord’s rule.” The Signs of the Times, February 17, 1898. “Israel had become tired of pious rulers who kept God’s purposes and God’s will and God’s honor ever before them according to God’s instructions. They wanted a reformed religion that they might by external, flattering prosperity be esteemed great in the eyes of the surrounding nations.” Christ Triumphant, 141.
  2. Because of a deep-rooted, false belief which led them to confuse the purpose of their church organization with the purpose of Jesus. The Jews believed that affiliation with their established church organization would guarantee them salvation because, according to them, “Israel” was “the vine,” the only source of salvation! How deceived were they because their own prophets have written, “Salvation is of the Lord” (Jonah 2: 9). “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord” (Psalm 3:8). Also, “The Lord is my light and my salvation” (Psalm 27:1); “Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from Him cometh my salvation” (Psalm 62:1). No church, religious organization, or a human being has ever been the source of salvation. Jesus is the source.
  3. Because of envy and jealousy. “Christ would have averted the doom of the Jewish nation if the people had received Him. But envy and jealousy made them implacable [hardhearted]. They determined that they would not receive Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. They rejected the Light of the world, and henceforth their lives were surrounded with darkness as the darkness of midnight.” Prophets and Kings, 712.

Why were the Jews envious and jealous of Jesus?

This leads to the fourth reason why the Jews and their leaders rejected Christ.

  1. Because the church leaders wanted the church and the glory for themselves. The gospel writer Mark tells us, “But those husbandmen said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance shall be ours” (Mark 12:7).

This intent to kill the heir was not just in their secret thoughts but was actually spoken by them. The gospel writer John reports the following:

“Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this Man doeth many miracles. If we let Him thus alone, all men will believe on Him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation. And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one Man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death” (John 11:47–53).

These Jewish leaders rejected Christ and had Him killed in order to take full possession of His church. The husbandmen wanted the vineyard to do with as they pleased. Their focus was not God-ward but self-centered! Ellen White accounts the following: “The husbandmen who had been placed in charge of the Lord’s vineyard were untrue to their trust. The priests and teachers were not faithful instructors of the people. They did not keep before them the goodness and mercy of God and His claim to their love and service. These husbandmen sought their own glory. They desired to appropriate the fruits of the vineyard. It was their study to attract attention and homage to themselves.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 292.

The servant of the Lord also revealed the depth of the church leaders’ envy and jealousy. She states, “The Jewish rulers did not love God; therefore they cut themselves away from Him, and rejected all His overtures for a just settlement. Christ, the Beloved of God, came to assert the claims of the Owner of the vineyard; but the husbandmen treated Him with marked contempt, saying, We will not have this Man to rule over us. They envied Christ’s beauty of character. His manner of teaching was far superior to theirs, and they dreaded His success. He remonstrated with them, unveiling their hypocrisy, and showing them the sure results of their course of action. This stirred them to madness. They smarted under the rebukes they could not silence. They hated the high standard of righteousness which Christ continually presented. They saw that His teaching was placing them where their selfishness would be uncloaked, and they determined to kill Him. They hated His example of truthfulness and piety and the elevated spirituality revealed in all He did. His whole life was a reproof to their selfishness, and when the final test came, the test which meant obedience unto eternal life or disobedience unto eternal death, they rejected the Holy One of Israel. When they were asked to choose between Christ and Barabbas, they cried out, ‘Release unto us Barabbas’ (Luke 23:18)!” Ibid., 293, 294.

The reasons why Christ established His “off-shoot” church are quite evident. The Jewish leaders failed to realize that “Israel,” “the choice vine,” “the vineyard,” was only an “off-shoot” of the “true vine” – Jesus Christ, who declares “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman” (John 15:1). He also said, “I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life …” (John 14:6). It is Jesus who constitutes the true church; It is Jesus who is the true and only source of salvation. It is Jesus who said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:20). Indeed, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The great Protestant reformer Martin Luther wrote the following: “Christ, whom God the Father has raised from the dead is our righteousness and our victory.”

 

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.

Heaven’s Plan of Government

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The history of God’s church goes back thousands of years. Before Steven was martyred, he spoke of the “congregation in the wilderness” (Acts 7:38), referring to the wilderness wanderings.

During this time, the church was highly organized and there were certain ordinances that if violated would result in the death penalty. The book of Leviticus provides insight into the organizational instructions that the Lord gave to Moses to be used for His church.

Following the establishment of the children in the Promised Land, the church was located first at Shiloh. Later the headquarters were set up at Jerusalem. However, synagogues were set up throughout the land. When Jesus was on earth, He attended the synagogue every Sabbath and was an active participant in the worship services. In John 2 we read that Jesus was intensely interested in the church and respected the offices of the priests. Those He healed were instructed to go and show themselves to the priests as Moses had commanded.

In symbolic language the church is spoken of as a vineyard. In Matthew 21, Jesus told the parable of the husbandmen who killed the servants of the lord of the vineyard that were sent to them. When the son was sent to them, the vinedressers decided to murder him and take his inheritance. In this parable Jesus warned what was going to happen to the Jewish people because they decided to murder the Messiah. He said, “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it” (Matthew 21:43).

Because of their treachery, the kingdom of God would be taken away from the Jewish people. They were no longer going to be God’s special chosen people. Jesus said to them, “See! Your house is left to you desolate” (Matthew 23:38).

Of course, any house becomes desolate when God leaves it. Before the final rejection of the Jewish people, Jesus provided a dwelling place for Himself, a church that would be the depository of God’s truth on earth. In fact, a considerable time before the final rejection of the Jews as a nation, Jesus had laid the foundation of the Christian church, which was to take over the vineyard and become God’s custodian of truth for the world.

Since His ascension, Jesus’ chief work in heaven has been on behalf of His appointed church. John, in vision on the isle of Patmos where he had been banished, says, “Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me, And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands” (Revelation 1:12). Those are the seven golden lamp stands in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and Christ is seen standing and walking amidst them (verse 13).

Notice what Jesus said in verse 20: “The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.”

Immediately after this is recorded the letters to the seven churches. The number seven represents perfection. This is a number that indicates that Jesus is giving a message to all the Christian churches from then until the end of time.

“Christ designs that heaven’s order, heaven’s plan of government, heaven’s divine harmony, shall be represented in His church on earth.” The Desire of Ages, 680. Notice the three things mentioned – heaven’s order, heaven’s plan of government, and heaven’s divine harmony.

What does heaven’s order involve?

Heaven, at the present time, is the home of the angels. Christian’s hope that heaven will also become their home where they will be able to live and associate with holy angels. O wondrous thought! Are you ready to live with angels? In His mercy God is allowing us this time to prepare ourselves for that blessed experience.

The church on earth and the church in heaven is just one church. When Jesus comes, He is going to take His church on earth to unite with the church in heaven.

Have you studied about the angels, how they live, how they work, and what they do?

“Angels work harmoniously. Perfect order characterizes all their movements. The more closely we imitate the harmony and order of the angelic host, the more successful will be the efforts of these heavenly agents in our behalf. If we see no necessity for harmonious action, and are disorderly, undisciplined, and disorganized in our course of action, angels, who are thoroughly organized and move in perfect order, cannot work for us successfully. They turn away in grief, for they are not authorized to bless confusion, distraction, and disorganization. All who desire the co-operation of the heavenly messengers must work in unison with them. Those who have the unction from on high will in all their efforts encourage order, discipline, and union of action, and then the angels of God can co-operate with them. But never, never will these heavenly messengers place their endorsement upon irregularity, disorganization, and disorder. All these evils [that’s irregularity, disorganization, and disorder] are the result of Satan’s efforts to weaken our forces, to destroy courage, and prevent successful action.

“Satan well knows that success can only attend order and harmonious action. He well knows that everything connected with heaven is in perfect order, that subjection and thorough discipline mark the movements of the angelic host.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 649, 650.

Subjection is a concept that keeps coming up as you start studying about the angels and heaven’s arrangement. “It is his [Satan’s] studied effort to lead professed Christians just as far from heaven’s arrangement as he can; therefore he deceives even the professed people of God and makes them believe that order and discipline are enemies to spirituality, that the only safety for them is to let each pursue his own course, and to remain especially distinct from bodies of Christians who are united and are laboring to establish discipline and harmony of action. All the efforts made to establish order are considered dangerous, a restriction of rightful liberty, and hence are feared as popery. These deceived souls consider it a virtue to boast of their freedom to think and act independently. They will not take any man’s say-so. They are amenable to no man. I was shown that it is Satan’s special work to lead men to feel that it is in God’s order for them to strike out for themselves and choose their own course, independent of their brethren.” Ibid., 650.

Jesus designs that heaven’s order be seen and represented in His church on earth. First of all, there are no politics in heaven, no political campaigns. The political campaign that Lucifer started resulted in a civil war and Lucifer, with his followers, were cast out of heaven. Since that time there have not been any political campaigns in heaven.

I have often studied and prayed about the perfect order in heaven. As a small child, I was very disorderly. I never wanted to go to sleep. I never wanted to take a nap or go to bed on time. I wanted to stay up and do something. When it came time in the morning to get up, I couldn’t find my clothes because I just threw them off when I went to bed. I seemed always to be looking to find my shoes because of my lack of order.

To be orderly does not just apply to our possessions. Order has to do with time. Those who understand order have a place for their things, and things are in their place, and there is a time for things, and things are on time.

God is so orderly that since ancient times clocks have been set by the revolutions of the heavenly bodies that He created.

One lesson that God has given right in the heart of the Ten Commandments has to do with time. As a young minister I decided that I would always endeavor to be early rather than late. This required me to start developing techniques. I knew what time the sun was going to go down, so I needed to start planning my day and figuring out how to accomplish each task on time to avoid being late.

To be prepared to fit in with the perfect order in heaven it is necessary to learn the discipline of being perfectly orderly here on earth.

Another thing about heaven’s order to be learned is that among the angels there are no star players, for all are team players. In other words, the angels work together for common goals and do not compete with one another.

We see team work at the resurrection of Jesus. “When the mighty angel came down to the tomb, he was joined by another, who with his company had been keeping guard over the Lord’s body. As the angel from heaven rolled away the stone, the other entered the tomb, and unbound the wrappings from the body of Jesus.” The Desire of Ages, 789. The angels worked together each doing his part.

There are many places in Inspired writings that describe the angels working together as a team. That type of order is to be represented and revealed in God’s church on earth. There are orders of angels including supervising angels who give directions to the teams to which the angel team members obey.

Angels watched at the trial of Christ and were distressed at what they saw. Ellen White wrote, “Under God the angels are all-powerful. … How easily could the angels, beholding the shameful scene of the trial of Christ, have testified their indignation by consuming the adversaries of God! But they were not commanded to do this.” The Desire of Ages, 702.

How they wanted to step in and save their Commander! They were angry at what the people were doing to Jesus. The least powerful angel, the weakest angel, could have instantly destroyed them all. But they stayed still because they were not commanded to interfere. They follow orders. “It was difficult for the angels to endure the sight. They would have delivered Jesus, but the commanding angels forbade them, saying that it was a great ransom which was to be paid for man; but it would be complete and would cause the death of Him who had the power of death. … The weakest angel could have caused that mocking throng to fall powerless and could have delivered Jesus.” Early Writings, 170. What a temptation they denied because of obedience!

Again, “They [soldiers] covered His [Jesus’] head with an old garment, blindfolding Him, and then struck Him in the face and cried out, ‘Prophesy, who is it that smote Thee’ (Luke 22:64)?” Ibid.

When this happened, Ellen White says, “There was commotion among the angels. They would have rescued Him instantly; but their commanding angels restrained them.” Early Writings, 170. They obey orders. Are you prepared and ready to go into a society like that?

Unless the church members are directed, guided, and controlled by the Holy Spirit they cannot do their work of spreading the gospel to the world.

In The Desire of Ages, 803, 804, Ellen White quotes from John 20:21, 22. “ ‘Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you!” … “Receive the Holy Spirit.” ’ ” Then she wrote, “The Holy Spirit was not yet fully manifested; for Christ had not yet been glorified. The more abundant impartation of the Spirit did not take place till after Christ’s ascension. Not until this was received could the disciples fulfill the commission to preach the gospel to the world. But the Spirit was now given for a special purpose. Before the disciples could fulfill their official duties in connection with the church, Christ breathed His Spirit upon them. He was committing to them a most sacred trust, and He desired to impress them with the fact that without the Holy Spirit this work could not be accomplished.” Ibid., 805.

We must ask ourselves, Have we received the Holy Spirit? That was the question the apostle Paul asked when he met believers with whom he was not acquainted. One time in Corinth, “… and finding some disciples he [Paul] said to them, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ … And he said to them, ‘Into what then were you baptized?’ ” (Acts 19:1–3) or what were you baptized for?

When Peter told the people that they were responsible for crucifying Jesus and they realized how guilty they were, they asked, What are we going to do? Peter said, Repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (See Acts 2:36–38.) God’s intention is for all who are baptized to receive the Holy Spirit. A person should not be baptized until they are prepared to receive the Holy Spirit. That is why we do not baptize infants, because you can’t receive the Holy Spirit without faith, and an infant cannot exercise faith. That does not mean they cannot be saved. There will be a multitude of people in the kingdom of heaven who died in infancy, many of them as martyrs.

However, to be a member of a church, to conduct the business of the church, and to do the mission of the church requires the Holy Spirit or the work cannot be done. So, after the ascension of Christ, it was God’s will that everyone, on becoming a member of the church, would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The statement that we read in The Desire of Ages, 680, indicated that not only was heaven’s order to be manifested in Christ’s church, but heaven’s plan of government was to be implemented as well.

Heaven’s government is not a hierarchy. The Jewish church was hierarchically organized and the work of Christ tended to break down that hierarchy.

Jesus explained clearly the problem with the hierarchical system. Rebuking the scribes and Pharisees He said, “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi’ [or monsignor]; but you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:6–12).

The apostle Paul explains God’s government to the Corinthians. “Even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:5, 6).

If heaven’s plan of government is to be represented in God’s church on earth, it must mirror the heavenly church without competition, rivalry, contention, or fighting.

Consider these characteristics of the church in heaven:

  1. It is a kingdom. That is a major subject of the gospel of Matthew. Christ’s church is a spiritual kingdom and He is the Lord of that kingdom.
  2. All are subject to the King and the law of the King, including the angels. That was a point of contention at the beginning of the great controversy. Lucifer said that the angels should not be subject to or be under law. But all beings need law to be in harmony.
  3. God’s last church on earth will have the Spirit of Prophecy. Compare Revelation 12:17 and Revelation 19:10. Having the Spirit of Prophecy does not mean that you will have a series of black books, or red books, or some other kinds of books on your bookshelf. It means, “You were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you” (1Corinthians 1:5, 6). To have the testimony of Christ confirmed in you means it is in your mind, that your life is in harmony with its principles. In order for heaven’s plan of government to be manifested in God’s church on earth that church has to be living in harmony with Inspired writings.

Heavenly angels are organized like an army. At the time of and before Satan’s rebellion in heaven, “The angels were marshaled in companies, each division with a higher commanding angel.” Early Writings, 145.

Ellen White saw in a vision that “There is perfect order and harmony in the Holy City. All the angels that are commissioned to visit the earth hold a golden card, which they present to the angels at the gates of the city as they pass in and out.” Ibid., 39.

Each angel has a special work to do. Angels just don’t come down here and randomly decide what they should do each day. They are organized in their work.

From the beginning we read that “The happiness of the angelic host consisted in their perfect obedience to law. Each had his special work assigned him; and until Satan rebelled, there had been perfect order and harmony among the angels in heaven.” The Signs of the Times, January 9, 1879. They accepted the assignment that each of them was given.

To a young minister and his wife, Ellen White once wrote, “With the spirit of self-confidence that you now possess, neither of you could be happy in heaven; for there all, even the exalted angels, are subordinate. You have yet to learn subordination and submission.” Testimonies, vol. 3, 325. This same counsel applies to all today.

We are told: “Each angel has his particular post of duty, which he is not permitted to leave for any other place.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 103. Now that’s interesting. Angels are not at liberty to go where they please. They are assigned duties which they happily perform.

Ellen White illustrates the order that the angels have in heaven by the order of the children of Israel while in the wilderness. In Egypt Moses had become a general who could not be over-ruled by any other man. His organizational skills were also apparent as he led the Children of Israel through the wilderness. Tents were pitched in their assigned places and they all marched in order, receiving orders from the front of the group. Those assisting Moses used trumpets to signal the leaders who were over each section, telling them exactly what was required. There was perfect order, being an example of what God desires among His people throughout all time.

The angels are available to assist those in this fallen world to help us come into the same kind of order and harmony that exists in heaven. Sadly we don’t have it yet. “The Lord gives to every angel his work for this fallen world. … Heavenly angels are working to bring the human family into a close brotherhood, a oneness described by Christ as like that existing between the Father and the Son.” The Review and Herald, July 4, 1899.

“In our churches let companies be formed for service. In the Lord’s work there are to be no idlers. Let different ones unite in labor as fishers of men. Let them seek to gather souls from the corruption of the world into the saving purity of Christ’s love.

“The formation of small companies as a basis of Christian effort is a plan that has been presented before me by One who can not err. If there is a large number in the church, let the members be formed into small companies, to work not only for the church members, but for unbelievers also.” Australasian Union Conference Record, August 15, 1902.

In Malachi 3:6, it says, “For I am the Lord, I do not change.” “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). So if God was a God of order then, He is still a God of order now.

Imagine what will be achieved when there is a church, anywhere in the world, governed by heaven’s plan of government where harmony and order is developed. That will be the condition of the church, ready and waiting for the Lord’s return and we can be part of it.

 

(Unless appearing in quoted references or otherwise identified, Bible texts are from the New King James Version.)

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

Editorial – Assimilation

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In physiology, assimilation refers to the conversion of absorbed food into the body. In other words it refers to the transforming of food into living tissue. In a mental sense it means to absorb or incorporate knowledge into the mind. In a spiritual sense it refers to the process by which the feelings, thoughts, and character of one person become the same feelings, thoughts and character of another person so that there is a spiritual resemblance or similarity. This word is often used socially to refer to a minority or immigrant group of people gradually adopting the characteristics of the dominant culture where they are residing.

“Assimilation is a law of human nature. Satan works with untiring perseverance to use this law, ordained by God to be a power for good, to forward His plans. He seeks to blend together righteous and unrighteous principles in order that through this union sin may lose its offensive appearance. He mixes chaff with the wheat.” The Upward Look, 123.

“Christ saw Satan patterning after heaven by the use of human association, thus extending the contagion of evil, and He determined to make His church a resisting element. His people are not to borrow the forms and customs of the world, but are to be instinct with the principles which make the church on earth a symbol of the church in heaven, a channel through which heaven’s rich blessings can flow.” Ibid.

“It is God’s plan that in His church heavenly influences shall be reinforced and stimulated by the cooperation of the members with Him. His people are to increase in strength and efficiency, knowing that the atmosphere which surrounds the souls of righteous believers is the same as the atmosphere in the heaven of purity and light and love.” Ibid.

“The great work of Christ’s disciples upon the earth is a daily assimilation to the character of our Saviour. … We must have the character of Christ, and then we shall better understand what heaven is like.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 9, 376.

“Our message to the church and to our institutions is: ‘Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 3:2). The attributes of Christ’s character are to be cherished, and these are to become a power in the lives of God’s people.”  Mind, Character, and Personality, Book 2, 559.