Issue: 2004 September

Children’s Story – How Much Does a Prayer Weigh?

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Louise Redden, a poorly-dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store. She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries. She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work; they had seven children, and they needed food. John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store.

Thinking of the needs of her family, Mrs. Redden pleaded, “Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can.”

Mr. Longhouse told her he could not give her credit, as she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told Mr. Longhouse that he would stand good for whatever Mrs. Redden needed for her family.

Reluctantly, Mr. Longhouse, in a gruff voice, asked, “Do you have a grocery list?”

“Yes, sir,” Mrs. Redden quickly responded.

“Okay,” he said, “put your grocery list on the scales, and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.”

Mrs. Redden hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse, took out a piece of paper and pencil, and scribbled something on the paper. She then carefully laid the piece of paper on the scale with her head still bowed. Mr. Longhouse and the customer stared in speechless amazement as the scales went down and stayed down.

Still staring at the scales, the grocer man turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, “I can’t believe it.” The customer smiled, and the grocer man started putting groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance, so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more. The grocer man stood there in utter disgust.

Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement. It was not a grocery list; it was a written prayer, which said: “Dear Lord, you know my needs, and I am leaving this in Your hands.”

Mr. Longhouse bagged the groceries he had gathered and placed on the scales and gave the overflowing bags to Mrs. Redden. As he stood in stunned silence, Mrs. Redden thanked him and left the store. The customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to Mr. Longhouse, as he said, “It was worth every penny of it.”

It was sometime later that Mr. Longhouse discovered the scales were unexplainably broken. Only God knows how much a prayer weighs!

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].” Mark 11:23, 24.

The Power of Speech, Part IX

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[Editor’s Note: This article concludes a compilation of counsel given to strengthen and encourage anyone who is struggling through a crisis caused by the “Power of Speech.”]

Why the church is continually weak:

“God may choose instrumentalities that we do not accept, because they do not exactly meet our ideas. They do not work in the very line marked out as perfect, and in place of leaving them with God, for His Spirit to work with them, many begin to present difficulties, barricade the way, and cherish a grieved feeling because they see that they are doing a work that has not been done. Then begins the dissecting of character and the gathering up of tidbits of complaints, and faultfinding and slander, and magnifying of little occurrences and events into grave sins. This has been done in the church until we are weak, and we will always be weak unless this narrow order of things is changed. May the Lord show you all what to do that you may be filled with thanksgiving, gratitude and praise to God for the precious gift of the Son of God, and put away envyings, jealousies and rivalries, that true love and unity may exist.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 11, 265.

Faultfinders and their sympathizers are to be disfellowshipped.

“There are those members who are busybodies, speaking evil, sowing the seeds of doubt and infidelity, who pay no heed to the light God has given them in His Word. If we have but one church member who by his spirit, words, and influence seeks to counterwork the influence of the minister of Christ, labor with that one faithfully; and if after taking the steps required by Christ, he will not hear, will not change his course of action, then separate him from the church, and let him know the reason why the church cannot hold him in her fellowship. And if there are those who sympathize with him, who will not discern the right from the wrong, who, after patient instruction has been given them, choose to keep on the wrong side, let them also be suspended. God’s name must not be dishonored by murmurers, faultfinders, and those who are continually sowing seeds of disaffection.” Ibid., vol. 15, 163, 164.

We are not to yield to a faultfinding element in the church.

“It is so childish and inconsistent and miserable a mess that I do not think (it) possible for me to write. These murmurings, faultfinding, these exalting little motes to mention this. Making a man an offender for a word is a grievous sin in the sight of God. But this battle has turned; victory through Jesus Christ is ours. And we know the battle must be fought sometime and it must be done without yielding one inch to gratify and please this faultfinding, disorderly element.” Ibid., vol. 20, 360.

The faultfinder is not converted.

“We may make mistakes, and we may have to ‘admonish one another.’ But there has come into the churches at Oakland and the surrounding community a spirit of backbiting, of faultfinding and evil-speaking, which demonstrates that you are not converted. Words are uttered that never should pass the lips of a Christian. My brethren and sisters, when you have nothing better to speak of than something about the faults of others, remember that ‘silence is eloquence.’ Cease to dwell upon the shortcomings of others. Keep the tongue sanctified unto God. Refrain from saying anything that might detract from the influence of another; for by indulging in these words of criticism, you blaspheme God’s holy name as verily as you would were you to swear.” Sermons and Talks, vol. 1, 367.

Satan tempts men to call reproof “faultfinding” (or accusing), saying that they are misused, etc.

“I see perplexities on every side. As character develops man and woman will take their position, for varied circumstances brought to bear upon them will cause them to reveal the spirit which prompts them to action. Every one will reveal the character of the bundle with which he is binding himself. The wheat is being bound up for the heavenly garner. The true people of God are now bound up for the heavenly garner. The true people of God are now pulling apart, and the tares are being bound in bundles ready to burn. Decided positions will be taken. Satan will move upon minds that have been indulged, upon men who have always had their own way, and anything presented to them in counsel or reproof to change their objectionable traits of character is considered faultfinding, binding them, restraining them, that they cannot have liberty to act themselves. The Lord in great mercy has sent messages of warning to them, but they would not listen to reproof. Like the enemy who rebelled in heaven, they do not like to hear, do not correct the wrong they have done but become accusers, declaring themselves misused and unappreciated.” The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, vol. 3, 995.

Do we have a Christlike character?

“When Christ was living on this earth, how surprised would have been His associates, if, after becoming acquainted with Him, they had heard Him utter one word of impatience, one word of accusation or of faultfinding! He expects those who love Him and believe in Him, to represent Him in character.” The Paulson Collection of Ellen G. White Letters, 16.

“The children of God should never be rough and discourteous in their bearing toward one another. They should never blame and condemn. To those who want to give vent to a spirit of faultfinding, I would say, Go out among the rocks and stumps, and there relieve your mind of its evil thoughts; for these inanimate objects will not be harmed by your words. Only your own soul will suffer. After you have talked it all out, consider that it is written in the books of heaven what manner of spirit you are of. Then come to God with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, confess your need, and plead for his grace to make you one of his humble children. Let the ambition you have be exercised in a way that will bless needy souls.” Spalding and Magan Collection, 407.

“It is not the opposition of the world that most endangers the church of Christ. It is the evil cherished in the hearts of believers that works their most grievous disaster and most surely retards the progress of God’s cause. There is no surer way of weakening spirituality than by cherishing envy, suspicion, faultfinding, and evil surmising.” The Acts of the Apostles, 549.

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

Shaken, Sifted, Settled, and Sealed, Part I

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It is sad to consider, but do you know that most Seventh-day Adventists will be lost? The reason is simple and yet painful to realize—we are making the same mistakes of the past. History is repeating itself. The reason most Seventh-day Adventists will be lost is because they know not the time of their visitation and will not take God at His Word.

The Straight and Narrow

Early in the experience of Ellen G. White, the Lord gave her an impressive dream, which describes what the future holds for the Seventh-day Adventist movement, particularly for the individuals who make a profession of it. Over 150 years ago, this vision was shown to this modern-day prophet for our admonition. (See Early Writings, 14–20.)

She shares with us that she saw a straight and narrow path, which had been cast up above the world. It was on this path that the Adventist people were traveling. The path is straight because God is straight, and His teachings (doctrines) do not deviate, neither can they be compromised. Also, the path is narrow, as the Bible said it would be—few would find it. This would not be a path where you would find the crowds and the pollution of popular opinion. You would find, rather, the purity of God’s calm assurance and trustworthy Word and the few who had learned to place their total trust in God.

There was a bright light—the midnight cry—illuminating the way for those traveling this path. This cry is “behold the bridegroom cometh” and He is none other than Jesus, Himself. In the vision, this light was given so the travelers would not stumble or, in other words, be caught unawares or deceived.

All in the group who kept their eyes on Jesus would be safe and sure-footed on the path. It was not long, though, before some grew tired of the rules and restrictions—the confines of the path. The journey seemed like it was taking longer than it should; some grew impatient. Remember what Jesus said: “Here is the patience of the saints.” Revelation 14:12. This is one of the identifying marks of the remnant.

Every so often the Lord Jesus would raise His right arm and shine light on the company of travelers, giving them encouragement. But those who were becoming impatient and weary would dismiss this encouragement and claim that God would not have led this company out so far.

There is an alarming amount of liberalism in the Adventist ranks today, which is not only being tolerated in the movement but is actually promoted by many who claim to be true leaders. They make the claim that God has not called the Seventh-day Adventist people to be a peculiar people. They may not say it in these exact words, knowing that could be detrimental to their influence with some, but they say it in so many other ways. This liberalism is not the freedom of living completely in the Lord but rather living almost in, if not completely in, the world while still believing that we are in a saved condition. Brothers and sisters, this will never be.

Darkness

In the vision, we are told that the Lord finally turned off the guiding light to the above group of liberals, and they stumbled and fell off the path into the dark and wicked world below. We have a tendency to think that if this group falls off the path, back into the world of wickedness and darkness, that there will be some kind of mass exodus out of the church organization. Many are looking for that as some sort of sign. The Lord has not given us minute details about every particular in the end, but I ask, When the professed people of God killed His Son, how many people left the faith? How many people walked out of the synagogue—the church structure? The answers for these two questions are very different!

The point is that people can leave the faith without necessarily leaving the building! Please do not miss this point. The Lord counsels us to buy the eyesalve for the purpose of discerning these very things. (Revelation 3:18.) This is vital in our understanding the process of shaken, sifted, settled, and sealed.

College of Christ

On this path, we find the final schooling for a people being fitted for an immortal life with their Heavenly Father and His Son. This path represents the College of Christ—the School of Higher Learning. The students in this class who do not get cut from the roster will go on to character perfection and will end up perfectly reflecting the character of their Holy Teacher. Those delinquents who cut class or show no real interest in the lessons will not graduate but will flunk the eternal test of faith. They will not possess the other identifying mark of the remnant, which is the faith of Jesus Christ. What we need to understand is that there are no grades of A, B, C, D, or F in this school. We either pass or fail! We either make it or we do not!

We are living in this time of winnowing right now! This process started back in the days when Mrs. White was yet alive, but we are about to enter into the final exam stage. We are in the middle of the process of being shaken, sifted, settled, and sealed in its strongest sense right this moment!

Shaking Period

The final process begins with the shaking period. Mrs. White said the mighty shaking had commenced in her day and that it would continue: “The mighty shaking has commenced and will go on, and all will be shaken out who are not willing to take a bold and unyielding stand for the truth and to sacrifice for God and His cause.” Early Writings, 50.

It would be to our great advantage to analyze this statement. Notice that the Lord says that “all will be shaken out.” It does not say that all might be shaken out. It is vital that we understand that if we do not make it a matter of life or death to enter into the Lord’s leading in this process, we will be shaken out. There will not be a neutral group or anyone slipping under the door. If you are not in the program, you are out of the graduating class!

Bold and Unyielding

Just as important as understanding the surety and certainty of the in or out fact is recognizing the makeup of the characters of those in the respective groups. “All will be shaken out who are not willing to take a bold and unyielding stand for the truth.”

A simple question will demonstrate the seriousness of this: How many people do you know—and it is extremely important that you include yourself in the answer—who take a bold and unyielding stand for the truth? Of course, you cannot possibly know the exact number of those who do, but your answer should be a pretty good indicator of the enormous trouble we are in as a people.

We must understand the moment of time through which we are passing. This will be our last and only chance to take to heart the Lord’s process of perfecting character. And that is exactly what He wishes us to do. Those who realize that this process has already started and those who truly desire to be a part of God’s Holy kingdom will enter into the process of refinement.

Why do most Adventists not make this choice for life when they have heard how important it is? How in the world can people allow this last bit of time to escape, knowing that a day of immense trouble is on the horizon?

“The ‘time of trouble, such as never was,’ is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too indolent to obtain. It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than in reality; but this is not true of the crisis before us. The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal. In that time of trial, every soul must stand for himself before God.” The Great Controversy, 622.

Why does it say that many would not make it through to the end? Simply because they were too indolent (lazy) to obtain the experience they needed. What is the experience of which Mrs. White speaks, and why are people too lazy?

Practical Godliness

“Many of our ministers in their discourses dwell too largely upon theory and not enough on practical godliness. They have an intellectual knowledge of the truth, but their hearts are untouched with the genuine fervor of the love of Christ. Many have gained by the study of our publications a knowledge of the arguments that sustain the truth, but they have not become Bible students for themselves. They are not constantly seeking for a deeper and more thorough knowledge of the plan of salvation as revealed in the Scriptures.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 158.

“Practical godliness must be learned. Those who study and practice the teachings of Christ will gain an essential education in Bible knowledge. By the standard of the word of God every teacher will one day be measured by the greatest Teacher this world ever knew. Belief in the grand truths He presented will work a reformation in all who truly receive them.” Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, 362.

Then Mrs. White speaks specifically of those who attend the schools of theology:

“Many have gone to Battle Creek to obtain an education who could have been better instructed in their own country. Time has been lost, money has been needlessly expended, a work has been left undone, and souls have been lost, because of the miscalculations of those who thought they were serving God. The Lord lives, and His Holy Spirit presides everywhere. The impression must not prevail that Battle Creek is the Jerusalem of the world, and that all must go up there to worship. Those who desire to learn, and who make every possible effort to acquire knowledge, walking conscientiously in the light of the truth, need not journey to Battle Creek. God is our teacher; and those who would improve their talents where they are, will be blessed with teachers sent of God to instruct them,—teachers who have been preparing to do a work for the Master. To spend more time, to expend more money, is to do worse than to lose it; for those who seek to obtain an education at the expense of practical godliness are on the losing side. That which they acquire in educational lines during the time when they should have entered upon the work, is mere waste and loss.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 365.

Especially in the crisis in which we find ourselves today, the preceding counsel has increased in value.

What is this practical Godliness that is being spoken of? The following quotation will help our understanding.

“Your light shining in your business life, exhibiting the power of practical godliness, is worth vastly more to all with whom you come in contact than sermons or creeds. . . . What you say in the church is not of half as much consequence as what you do in your daily business.” Our High Calling, 225.

All-powerful God

This is the essence of what practical Godliness is! It means placing the values of eternal origin into your daily life. It means having the living faith that believes enough to do what the Lord asks in all situations—to go or not to go, as the Lord directs, and to make all decisions based on what the Lord would have you to do. It means exercising the spiritual power extended by God in your life so you choose not to be overcome. You place your will squarely on the side of the all-powerful God, and you become an overcomer, which is also an identifying mark of the remnant. This is what practical Godliness is all about, and it is this believer only who will pass the litmus test of the shaking.

Even as one who chose not to follow the Lord in my earlier days, I always knew it was the height of stupidity to say that one believed in an all-powerful God and, at the same time, claim they could not overcome sin. Here is why: The only reason for not becoming an overcomer is because we want to sin more than we want to overcome!

If one believes in an all-powerful God, Who literally holds the universe together moment by moment, then he or she also has to believe that He created Lucifer. The Christians I know have always claimed to believe in the Word of God, and therein we find that God will destroy Lucifer in the end for his rebellion. What utterly amazes me is that most people want others to believe that this all-powerful God, Who holds countless worlds in space, somehow does not have the power to help them overcome the sin in their lives! What a contradiction! That is as ludicrous as throwing away the fourth commandment, because we wish to do something else other than follow God’s Word. And that is the real problem—not God’s inability to supply the power. The only reason for not becoming an overcomer is because we want to sin more than we want to overcome!

Striving Against Sin

Either God is the Sovereign of the universe, or He is not! Either He is all-powerful, or He is not! If these people really understand what they are saying, when they claim in so many ways that God cannot overcome our enemy, what makes them think that when Jesus comes back He will be strong enough to overpower that same enemy to take His people home?

Rightly understood, to claim that God cannot overcome sin in the life is to disclaim that He is actually the all-powerful God. What is many times worse is that in His place, knowingly or not, these same people make Lucifer the one who becomes all-powerful because they make him more powerful than God. They make Satan their god just as he claimed he would make himself—and so he is in the life that refuses to overcome.

The reason why most will not become overcomers is simple and something we should all strive to understand right now. If you are anything like me, you have certain areas in your life which are more difficult to lay aside than others. How do we enter into the winner’s circle in these areas? Why do we continue to struggle? We find our answer in God’s Holy Word. “Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” Hebrews 12:4.

In these brief words are the blessings we should be seeking in this time of shaking. Here is found the key that opens the door to a higher plateau of experience and the essential knowledge of practical Christian living. But what do these words really mean?

Undoubtedly many will say, “I have been trying for years and I am still in the mess I have always been in.” But this verse means more than just trying, for it is true that all our trying will be nothing more than frustration and a deep sense of failure and discouragement. The verse goes much deeper in experience than just trying. The word resist means to sit down against or to stand firm against. The other word we want to briefly look at is striving, which means to struggle against, to box, fight, to war, or to wrestle with. And that is what makes this verse so important.

To be continued November 2004 . . .

[All emphasis supplied.]

Cathy Summers Timmons, a Steps to Life staff member and a member of LandMarks’ editorial staff, writes from her home in Wichita, Kansas. She may be contacted by e-mail at: cathytimmons@stepstolife.org.

Shaken In or Shaken Out

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In These days, we hear shocking news about prisoner abuses, same-sex marriages, and homosexuals being ordained as ministers, to say nothing of the many other immoral acts that are going on in our society. What a sad mess! We are experiencing war, terrorism, and political fraud. It all adds up to one thing—this world is becoming an unfit place in which to live!

But praise God! He knew all these things would take place, and He has made provision for His faithful children. He knew how mixed up this world would be, that it would be difficult to tell truth from error. It is recorded by inspiration that, “As we near the end of time, falsehood will be so mingled with truth, that only those who have the guidance of the Holy Spirit will be able to distinguish truth from error. We need to make every effort to keep the way of the Lord. We must in no case turn from His guidance to put our trust in man.” God’s Amazing Grace, 201. And then, we read in Maranatha, 156,

“So closely will the counterfeit resemble the true that it will be impossible to distinguish between them except by the Holy Scriptures. By their testimony every statement and every miracle must be tested.”

The Greatest Event

We are living in an unfortunate age, but at the same time, we are highly privileged. Just think, if we are faithful, we will have the privilege of seeing Jesus come in the clouds of heaven, which will be the greatest event that has ever happened in the universe. No other generation has had such a privileged blessing. The closest thing to it was Christ’s first coming, but even when His people were able to see the character of God demonstrated in His daily life, they did not recognize Him as their God.

As we draw closer to the greatest event that will ever take place in the universe, astounding things are happening all around us. Human beings are being separated into two groups: those who are following the lovely Jesus and those who are following the hateful Satan. As each group follows its leader, the people become more and more like that leader.

God has given us the power of choice. But once we start on the path of our choosing and proceed farther and farther along with the leader of our choice, we will soon act out all our beliefs and intents. It will be easy to recognize the fruit that is being produced.

Hopefully, in this article, as we review some of the events that are taking place among our brethren, it will bring us to our knees to ask for wisdom to help us in always choosing the right leader. These events are not recorded for us to criticize or to make fun of, but to alert us as to the signs of the times that tell us of Jesus’ soon coming.

The distinguishing characteristics of each group are being acted out in reality. The wonderful thing is that we have the privilege of choosing whom we will serve. The Bible says, in Joshua 24:15, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve.” We are living in the time when we can choose, but the day is coming when our characters will be fixed and the choosing time will be over. We will live or die from the choices we have made.

What Is to Come

Before we begin looking at a few of the events that are taking place among our brethren in various locations at home and abroad, I think it would be beneficial for us to go over some of the texts in the Bible that may help us to understand what is really going to take place in the near future.

In Ezekiel 34:12 we read, “As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.” Then, in Jeremiah 23:2, we read, “Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.” And Isaiah 18:7 says, “In that time shall the present be brought unto the Lord of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the Lord of hosts, the mount Zion.”

This is only a sampling of the many texts found in Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and in the Minor Prophets that mention a scattered and oppressed people. It would be profitable to make a study of the Lord’s Second Coming to see who will be His people and from where He will find His subjects who will make up His kingdom. We need to know whom the Lord is coming to redeem.

Scattered and Peeled

As the Lord gathers a scattered flock and people who have been peeled, where do you suppose He will find such people? Do you suppose they will be sitting on padded pews in a plush church building, or might it be that they will have been forced out of the church, becoming scattered and peeled?

There are several statements in the Spirit of Prophecy concerning the situation that now exists. Here is just one of them: “We have far more to fear from within than from without. The hindrances to strength and success are far greater from the church itself than from the world. Unbelievers have a right to expect that those who profess to be keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will do more than any other class to promote and honor, by their consistent lives, by their godly example and their active influence, the cause which they represent. But how often have the professed advocates of the truth proved the greatest obstacle to its advancement! The unbelief indulged, the doubts expressed, the darkness cherished, encourage the presence of evil angels, and open the way for the accomplishment of Satan’s devices.” Selected Messages, Book 1, 122.

We have been repeatedly saddened by the number of faithful Seventh-day Adventist people being forced out of the churches and disfellowshipped because they firmly stood for principles that are founded on the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. At first, there was only one here and one there, and we encouraged each one to remain faithful to their conscience. Today, it has become quite prevalent. We still say, “Stand fast for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.”

Now we have heard of one whole church being disbanded and the members being disfellowshipped. We have also learned of even one whole conference being disbanded. I ask myself the question, Who is on the Lord’s side—the ones on the inside or the ones on the outside?

Which Ship?

I am well aware that there are offshoots and that every wind of doctrine is blowing. I hear the oft repeated statement, “Stay with the ship; it is going through.” However, I also know of the statement that says that not one pin of the first, second, and third angel’s message is to be moved. “Woe to him who shall move a block or stir a pin of these messages. The true understanding of these messages is of vital importance. The destiny of souls hangs upon the manner in which they are received.” Early Writings, 258, 259.

I do have a question, though. Which ship is going through? Is it one with worm-eaten planks? “Men may have excellent gifts, good ability, splendid qualifications; but one defect, one secret sin indulged, will prove to the character what the worm-eaten plank does to the ship—utter disaster and ruin!” Testimonies, vol. 4, 90.

I think of the oft quoted statement that Ellen White wrote, which is recorded in the book Upward Look, 315: “God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments.” May I ask, Who are the people who are keeping the commandments—not just talking about them, but practicing them in their homes and in their churches and in their businesses?

Churches Destroyed

Recently, we have learned of more than one instance where the structured Seventh-day Adventist Church has taken it upon themselves to destroy church buildings. In one place, they employed a mob to club down the windows and destroy the roof of a church in which some independent Seventh-day Adventist people were worshiping. In another location, people entered the church building, knocked holes in its walls, and even took a jackhammer and tried to destroy the floor. I ask the question, Which leader do you suppose people are following who do such things as destroying churches?

Not only are they destroying churches, but they also are attempting to destroy the reputations of the people who attend these churches. It is strange; they will do many questionable things to keep peace with the Catholic Church, but they will tear down a church where people are keeping the Law of God.

There are many more very shocking instances that could be cited; however, if you throw a straw into the river, you can tell which way the water is flowing just as well as if you throw a log into the river. So I choose to only throw in a straw, so to speak. I would rather not list all of the atrocities that are being done.

The Shaking

With members being disfellow-shipped and churches being disbanded, I hear it said that we are in the time of the shaking. I truly agree with that, for I read, “Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths.” Upward Look, 356.

Will History Repeat?

Let us look at a few Spirit of Prophecy quotes that may help us as we think about what is happening. Is the church going to be purified as it was in the days of Jesus and the apostles? The Jewish church did fall, and Jerusalem was destroyed, but Christ’s church went right on through. It was the people who had been disfellowshipped who became the true church. Could it happen again?

“Write in a book the things which thou hast seen and heard, and let it go to all people; for the time is at hand when past history will be repeated.” Selected Messages, Book 3, 113.

“How did men treat Christ when He came? . . . ‘He came unto his own, and his own received him not’ (John 1:11). Thus it is today. This history is being repeated, and will be repeated again and again before the Lord shall come in the clouds of heaven. The deceptions of Satan will be upon those who dwell on the earth. . . .

“ ‘But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God. . . .’ After fitting up this world as the dwelling place of man, God looked upon it, and rejoiced in it, pronouncing it very good. So He will accept of and rejoice in the reformation wrought out by those who, receiving Christ as their Saviour, have obtained power to become the sons of God. . . .” That I May Know Him, 54.

“We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Many of the prophecies are about to be fulfilled in quick succession. Every element of power is about to be set to work. Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God’s people on every side. Intensity is taking possession of the human family. It is permeating everything upon the earth.” Review and Herald, August 31, 1897.

“There is a spirit of desperation, of war and bloodshed, and that spirit will increase until the very close of time. Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads,—it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved,—just as soon as God’s people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 1, 249, 250.

“In history and prophecy the Word of God portrays the long continued conflict between truth and error. That conflict is yet in progress. Those things which have been, will be repeated. Old controversies will be revived, and new theories will be continually arising. But God’s people, who in their belief and fulfillment of prophecy have acted a part in the proclamation of the first, second, and third angel’s messages, know where they stand. They have an experience that is more precious than fine gold. They are to stand firm as a rock, holding the beginning of their confidence steadfast unto the end.” Selected Messages, Book 2, 109.

Out or In

May I ask the question, Are people being shaken out of the church, or are they being shaken into the church?

When Jesus was here on earth, He healed a blind man. And when the Pharisees learned of this healing and of his acceptance of Jesus, the Pharisees cast him out of the temple. Afterwards, when Jesus saw the man again, Jesus spoke to him, and the man worshiped Jesus. Who was really cast out?

Ruth Grosboll is an employee of Steps to Life. A retired, registered nurse, she worked for many years with her husband in the mission field. She may be contacted by e-mail at: ruthgrosboll@stepstolife.org or by telephone at: 316-788-5559.

Sound an Alarm! Build an Ark!

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Friend, maybe it is said too much. Maybe you have grown weary with hearing it or reading about it, but when the Bible speaks of sounding an alarm or blowing a trumpet, there is a reason for it. We hear it from the pulpit and in Sabbath School class. We read it in our own studies, and we feel conviction from the Holy Spirit that there needs to be an awakening among God’s children.

The awakening is necessary because we have grown accustomed to the world and the things of the world, and we are somewhat asleep. That is very, very sad. It is not pleasant to be told repeatedly that we are in a sleepy state, but friend, we need to be reminded that an alarm must be sounded and preparation needs to be made. We need to be building an ark, because a flood is coming. Destruction is coming upon this earth.

As we reflect upon the Flood in Genesis, I am overwhelmed with what those people must have experienced, and what they must have witnessed. We have not seen anything like what they saw. If it is this message that applies to God’s last day people, then we need to be sounding an alarm as never before, and we need to be building an ark.

There may be an alarm being sounded to a certain degree, but I wonder if there are any arks being built. We can sound the alarm all we want, but unless we are building an ark—an ark of safety, an ark of faith, an ark of refuge—we are not going to be preserved. How many of us are building that kind of ark? Noah could have preached his 120 years and not have built the ark. What good would all that preaching have done him? It did very little good anyway. Today, we need to be preparing.

Ark of Safety

Contemplate some important facts in Genesis 7 to see whether or not you are building an ark in your life. You are either building an ark or you are destroying the one that was made to preserve you. This is the ark of safety. In Genesis 7:1, it says, “And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.” How sad that was, in the sense that, as God looked over the face of the whole world, He looked at Noah and said, “In thee I see the righteousness.” Of all that He had done and all that He had provided for His children, He could not find any righteous.

I guarantee you, friend, that there were many that were professing. I guarantee that there were many that were saying, “We are Christians. Yes, we are prepared. We are a part of the family of God, and we understand things are going to happen.” I hear all the time, “I am doing the very best I can do.” The best you can do on your own is to be totally lost! The very best that you can do is as filthy rags. (See Isaiah 64:6.)

You and Your House, Come

I like what the Lord said to Noah before destruction came. As He looked at Noah, He said, “I want you and all your house to come.” That would be wonderful to hear today! Oh, friend, if God said to you, “You and your entire house, come,” do you realize what a blessing that would be?

At the time of the Flood, I do not believe God took any into the ark that were not ready, were not willing, or did not believe. He did not take unbelievers into the ark. The people who were in the ark wanted to be there. They believed what dad was preaching! Today, children often do not believe what their parents are teaching or what they stand for in the home. They have their own thoughts and their own ways. But it was a real blessing for Noah’s family to have believed their dad. As Noah preached, they did not grow weary; they stayed right in there with him.

So God told Noah, “Come on, all your house, come on into the ark.” Verse 13 says, “In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark.”

No Youth

Did you notice that there were no children, no youth, and no teenagers who went into the ark? There were only adults. Of all the people on the face of the earth, there were no young people who went into the ark.

I do not claim to have an answer for this, but I was astounded as I thought of it. Was it possible that the parents had not instilled within the youth reverence and respect for God? Were others too young to make the choice on their own to go into the ark? Did mom and dad, through their witnesses, influence what the children did or did not do? Can you possibly think of all those babies—the little ones in the arms of the moms and the grandmas and grandpas? Were the parents asleep, or dead in trespasses and sins, losing all sense of their accountability to God?

Oh, friend, where were the young people? Were they out partying and having a “good time”? Something was going on, because they did not show up. But then, Scripture tells us that they lived in a time of partying. The young always wanted to be active—interacting with people of their own age, having fun, going places and doing things. None of them were ready to go into the ark. After all, that was a dismal, old place. Who wanted to go on an old boat where there was only one, little window? Who was going in some stinky ark with all those smelly animals? They would rather be with their friends.

You can weigh that however you want to today, but we need to look at it closely. It is very difficult to blame the children, because training and accountability start in the home with mom and dad. Ellen White wrote, referring to the sins of Eli’s sons (1 Samuel 3:11–14): “Such is the fearful reaping of the harvest sown when parents neglect their God-given responsibilities,—when they allow Satan to pre-occupy the field which they themselves should carefully have sown with precious seed of virtue, truth, and righteousness. If but one parent is neglectful of duty, the result will be seen in the character of the children; if both fail, how great will be their accountability before God! How can they escape the doom of those who destroy their children’s souls?” Review and Herald, August 30, 1881.

Yes, children may stray, go their own way and make their own decisions as they become older, but “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6. He or she may stray, but if you have fulfilled your responsibility as a parent, praise God! Your child has that truth. “Our first work is to bring our families to understand their accountability to God.” The Signs of the Times, December 3, 1885.

Prison or a Haven?

Noah and his family entered the ark that same day, and when it began to rain, the waters rose “fifteen cubits upward,” above the highest mountain peaks on the earth at that time. (Genesis 7:20.) Verse 24 says, “And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days.” That does not mean that the experience was over. Genesis 8:13 tells us that “it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first [month], the first [day] of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth,” and verse 14 says, “in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried.” From this we can calculate that Noah was shut in the ark 365 days, for he entered the ark the seventeenth day of the second month, in the six hundredth year of his life. (Genesis 7:11, 13.) A year! For a year Noah and his family were in the ark. Who would want to be in there for that long?

Who wants to go through what you are going through today? If you are preparing for heaven, you are going to have to go through some things. It will be very uncomfortable at times and, may I say, stinky at times.

It may have seemed they were imprisoned, because they had not shut the door, and they could not open it. The unbelievers looking at it from the outside probably considered it somewhat of a prison, but the believers inside looked at it as a haven. They were thanking God the door was shut, because they believed it was going to rain, and if the door was open, the ark would flood and they would drown. “And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.” Genesis 7:18.

Do you realize that after it began to rain, it was too late to have started building a shelter? Many tried to build their own little boat while there was a deluge coming down; it did not work. Many tried to beat and bang and saw and hack their way into the ark; their efforts were in vain. I can only imagine the screams and the pleadings for help, as the water was rising. The bodies of little ones began to float on the water, as their parents lost their grasps on them and they drowned. The people began to climb up the highest peaks in an attempt to save themselves.

Ellen White wrote: “Some clung to the ark until they were borne away by the surging waters, or their hold was broken by collision with rocks and trees. . . .

“The beasts, exposed to the tempest, rushed toward man, as though expecting help from him. Some of the people bound their children and themselves upon powerful animals, knowing that these were tenacious of life, and would climb to the highest points
to escape the rising waters. Some fastened themselves to lofty trees on the summit of hills or mountains; but the trees were uprooted, and with their burden of living beings were hurled into the seething billows. One spot after another that promised safety was abandoned. As the waters rose higher and higher, the people fled for refuge to the loftiest mountains. Often man and beast would struggle together for a foothold, until both were swept away.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 100.

Oh, friend, we do not realize the magnitude of what went on at that time. The earth was literally torn apart. Many of the people wanted to find salvation, but they were searching for it with a wrong motive. How are your motives today? Why do you serve Jesus? Are you looking for Him today?

Genesis 8:4 says, “And the ark rested.” That is wonderful to know. Inspiration and the Bible tell us that that boat was beaten violently in the wind and the rain. “The massive ark trembled in every fiber as it was beaten by the merciless winds and flung from billow to billow. The cries of the beasts within expressed their fear and pain. But amid the warring elements it continued to ride safely. Angels that excel in strength were commissioned to preserve it.” Ibid.

Test of Faith

God preserved that ark, but for five months, day in and day out, 24 hours a day, it was twisting, rocking, and creaking. You know there had to have been creaks! How would those creaks have affected you? Would some doubt have started creeping into your mind? Would you have begun to wonder if it was going to sink, if something was going to give way, if it was really made the way God wanted it to be made? Or would you have said, “I know it is going to hold up. This ark was built exactly the way God said to build it. We did the very best we knew how to do, and God will do the rest.” I wonder; where would our faith be?

Five months! We have a problem if we experience rough waters in our lives for an hour or two, but five months! God’s watchful eye and hand were on that ark. “As the waters began to subside, the Lord caused the ark to drift into a spot protected by a group of mountains that had been preserved by His power. These mountains were but a little distance apart, and the ark moved about in this quiet haven, and was no longer driven upon the boundless ocean. This gave great relief to the weary, tempest-tossed voyagers.” Ibid., 105.

When the drying up period began, God called up the wind to blow on the face of the earth. “[God] caused a powerful wind to pass over the earth for the purpose of drying up the waters, which moved them with great force—in some instances carrying away the tops of the mountains like mighty avalanches, forming huge hills and high mountains where there were none to be seen before, and burying the dead bodies with trees, stones, and earth. These mountains and hills increased in size and became more irregular in shape by collections of stones, ledges, trees, and earth, which were driven upon and around them.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 1, 80, 81. I cannot even imagine such a forceful wind. How frightening that would have been, but Noah and his family were safe in the ark, resting in the protected area God had provided for them. Do you think God does not care?

The Animals

Have you ever thought about all those animals that came into the ark? We generally consider it to be a children’s story, but it is awesome. God sent out angels to collect the animals and gather them into the ark. The people who were around the ark heard and saw the animals. They thought that it was the strangest thing they had ever seen, and they knew something miraculous was taking place. The animals came in such an orderly fashion—by twos and by sevens. They appeared in pairs, a male and a female of every species.

During the time before the Flood, there was an occurrence called amalgamation that we find in the world today. Of all the animals in the ark, not one of them was “man-made.” God was preserving His own creations. Inspiration tells us that “Every species of animals which God had created was preserved in the ark. The confused species which God did not create, which were the result of amalgamation, were destroyed by the Flood. Since the Flood, there has been amalgamation of man and beast, as may be seen in the almost endless varieties of species of animals, and in certain races of men.” Ibid., 78. The angels were not sent for the “confused species,” because such were not of God.

As the people saw this miraculous loading of the animals for seven days, they could not understand it, but it did not change their minds. “Philosophers were called upon to account for the singular occurrence, but in vain. It was a mystery which they could not fathom. But men had become so hardened by their persistent rejection of light that even this scene produced but a momentary impression.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 98. Can you comprehend how many animals were loading for seven days into a boat that was three stories high? But still the people did not believe.

Seven days before the rain began, the people witnessed the glory of the angel closing the door of the ark. They saw that massive door being closed and locked and still they tried to reason it away. They did not want to believe. Then it was too late.

Patience a Virtue

“And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made.” “But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters [were] on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.” Genesis 8:6, 9. After seven days, Noah sent out the dove again. That time she returned with an olive leaf. No one in the ark knew that the waters were abated off of the earth.

Imagine not being able to look out and see what was going on. What faith that must have taken.
I would have wanted to peek! I would have wanted to get out of that place! But God had told Noah when to go into the ark, and Noah was going to wait on God to tell him when to go out of the ark. What a lesson for us today!

Compare the experience of these eight individuals to your own Christian experience. What we sometimes think is brutal and a curse, friend, can actually be a haven. They considered the ark to be a haven, a protection. They understood what was going on out in the elements. It was awful out there, and they were afraid to be out there. They wanted to be under the care of the Lord.

Waiting on the Lord

What joy for the ark occupants to know that the water was abated, but verse 12 says that they stayed yet another seven days. I would have been ready to get out as soon as I saw the olive leaf, but they patiently waited seven more days. “And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first [month], the first [day] of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry.” Verse 13.

I would say, “Come on, let’s go,” but not Noah. He waited almost the entire next month (verse 14)—almost two months after he saw the ground—before he left the ark. Do you realize how long those two months must have seemed?

What was Noah doing? In Genesis 7:1, we read, “And the Lord said unto Noah, come into the ark.” In Genesis 8:15, 16, we read, “And God spake unto Noah, saying, Go forth of the ark . . . .” Noah was waiting on God’s instruction and direction. When God says to you, “Go and do,” do not do anything different until God tells you to do something different—not even if you see the ground and it looks dry. Noah never questioned God nor, evidently, did any of his family.

Thank You

“And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord . . . .” Verse 20. The Bible continues that the burnt offering was a sweet smell, a welcome fragrance, as it were, in the nostrils of God. There is something exceedingly beautiful and interesting to know that the first act of this devout patriarch was to return thanks for the signal instance of mercy and goodness, which he and his family had experienced. He was grateful to the Lord for preserving their lives.

Friend, how many of us, when we have come through a terribly difficult situation, first give God praise and honor and glory? Many times we do not. How many times has God shown mercy to you over the years? If it were not for His mercy, none of us would be here. The devil is beating at us with a tempest that we could not endure if it was not for God’s hand over us. The psalmist tells us to “give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.” Psalm 136:2. Mrs. White wrote: “Every manifestation of His mercy and love toward us should be gratefully acknowledged, both by acts of devotion and by gifts to His cause.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 106.

Devotion is prayer time, piety in our hearts. Loyalty is what it really means or, in other words, deep affection. We want to give God deep affection, and we want to give Him our hearts and our minds. We want to spend more time with Him. Every blessing that we receive means we need to spend time on our knees, thanking God.

Then Mrs. White said we need to do one more thing. We need to deny self and show that we are really grateful by giving a gift to His cause. Friend, if we did that every day, the coffers would be full. For every act of His love, His graciousness, and His goodness, these two things—devotion and a gift—are to be given. One will not suffice.

God daily preserves our lives in His ark of safety. There is still opportunity for others to enter into this ark. The door is still open, but soon it will shut forever. That day is just upon us. “The picture which Inspiration has given of the antediluvian world represents too truly the condition to which modern society is fast hastening.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 102. The world has become so vile and so violent. It is worse than it was at the time before the Flood. We need to daily show our devotion to God and acknowledge His goodness by giving a gift to His cause.

We have all passed through violent storms—loss of health, of material goods, of businesses, of dear friends and loved ones—but we still have numerous blessings to count. God still loves us and cares for us, and He has prepared a haven for us. We need only to follow His instruction, to wait upon His direction and obey it.

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

Parallel Prophecies of Daniel, Part II

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Daniel 8 and Daniel 11 do not deal with Babylon, because Babylon has already come to an end. Daniel 2 and Daniel 7 deal with Babylon. Daniel 11 deals with Medo-Persia, then Greece, and then Rome. There is a tremendous amount of detail in Daniel 11 and 12.

Daniel 11

I love to study Daniel 11 and 12. Understanding of these chapters provides historical anchors for everything that Adventists believe. Daniel 11 has some amazing detail. For instance, in just a few words in Daniel 11 is an amazingly detailed history of the life of Julius Caesar. It is astonishing! I have taken a history book and followed down each point. Each point was fulfilled in the life of Julius Caesar in detail, exactly the way it was written.

The people who are opponents of Adventism—the liberal theologians—say that Daniel was written in the second century b.c. The Bible says it was written in the sixth century b.c. If it was written in the second century b.c., how did Daniel know, over a hundred years in advance, the detail? If he was a liar and a fraud, how did he know, over a hundred years in advance, the exact description of the life history of Julius Caesar? What is even more, after Julius Caesar, Daniel points out in detail the life history of Augustus Caesar. Every single thing mentioned there exactly came to pass. From the manuscript written in Daniel, I can point out from the history book how it was fulfilled exactly, on every detail. Even more amazing is that it points out in detail the life history and the career of Tiberius Caesar. It tells, in verse 22, that at the time of Tiberius Caesar the prince of the covenant would be broken. Who was the Caesar when Jesus was crucified? Tiberius Caesar. Amazing!

Messiah Timeline

Daniel 11 shows in great detail the history of these earthly powers. It points out the history of three of the most well-known Caesars. The reason that is done is so we have an historical anchor with the Messiah.

We know exactly when the Messiah was to be crucified from both Daniel 9 and Daniel 11. If the Jews had studied Bible prophecy, they would have known—as soon as Tiberius Caesar became the Caesar—that during the reign of this Caesar the Messiah would be crucified. If they had studied Daniel 9 carefully, they would have known the exact year when Jesus would be crucified! They would have known the exact month and the exact day, because the Messiah was to die as our sacrifice on the Passover Day in the middle of the seventieth week. Not only that, if they had really studied carefully, they would have known the exact hour of the day when Jesus would die on the cross. They would have been right, because He died at the time of the evening sacrifice. They would have known the Caesar that would be reigning. They would have known the year. They would have known the month and the day. They would have known the hour of the day when the Messiah would be crucified. That is how specific Old Testament prophecy was about the Messiah.

Does it ever alarm you when you read that Ellen White said that the history has been pointed out to us just as clearly as it was pointed out to them? “The students of God’s word may, then, confidently expect to find the most stupendous event to take place in human history clearly pointed out in the Scriptures of truth.” The Great Controversy, 324.

Have you ever prayed, “Lord, help me to understand prophecy so that I will not be taken by surprise”? We need to be students of prophecy, and when we read these prophecies, we need to pray and ask the Lord to help us to understand what we read.

One Prophecy

Daniel 11 and 12 are all one prophecy. There is not even a sentence break at the end of Daniel 11. In Daniel 11, there are given the earthly powers. Then, in Daniel 11 and 12, there is a Divine intervention. Daniel 11:44–12:2 says, “Reports from the east will cause him to tremble, and from the north. And he will go out with great fury to destroy and to kill many, and he will plant the tents of his citadel [or his palaces] between the seas and the glorious holy mountain. But he shall come to his end and no one will be helping him, and in that time Michael will stand up, the great Prince who stands for the sons of your people, and there will be a time of distress [a time of trouble], which has not been since there was a nation, even to that same time. And in that time your people shall be delivered; all who shall be found written in the book. And many who sleep in the dust of the ground will wake up, these to life everlasting and these to reproach and abhorrence everlasting.”

Did that happen during the days of Antiochus Epiphanes? Of course not! Here in the last part of Daniel 11 and the first part of Daniel 12, are the very same things as were given in the earlier prophecies, only with greater detail. There are 1) earthly powers. Then 2) there is a Divine intervention. Michael stands up and the result is that 3) all the earthly powers come to an end. And then Daniel is going to stand in his inheritance; he is going to stand in his lot.

Let us go into a little bit more detail. We went through the whole book of Daniel with a real simple outline. Now, we will amplify our outline. It is good to start simple. It helps us to understand what we are talking about. There are accusations that Seventh-day Adventists do not know who the little horn is, so we will go into a little bit more detail.

Babylon

Is Babylon the first world kingdom that is given to us in Daniel 2? Oh, you cannot mistake it. Daniel 2, remember, is the image, and it starts with the head of gold, then the breasts and arms of silver, the belly and thighs of brass, and the legs of iron. Then there are feet. The feet, clear down to the toes, are partly iron. The iron goes clear to the ends of the toes, but at the bottom there is some clay with it. That is important to remember.

People say Babylon meant this or it meant that, but when you are studying Daniel 2, how many things could Babylon mean? Have you ever thought about that? Can you say you could interpret it this way or that way? Can you really say that? I cannot. When I read, in verse 38, that Daniel declares, “You [Nebuchadnezzar] are this head of gold,” I do not know any other way to interpret that except that this head of gold refers to Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar’s empire. So, Babylon is the first kingdom.

In verse 39, Daniel continues with the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, saying, “After you, there is going to arise another kingdom inferior to you.” What kingdom overthrew Babylon? The Medes and the Persians.

Then Daniel said, “As you saw the belly and the thighs of brass, after the second kingdom there is going to be still a third kingdom that rules over all the earth.” Who was that kingdom? Greece.

Please do not get upset if we are going through some rather elementary points. You will soon see that every single point we are looking at now is going to become very, very important in understanding Daniel 7 and 8.

Fourth Kingdom Unnamed

After the third kingdom, Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar, in verse 40, that there was going to be a fourth kingdom! Babylon, Medo-Persia, and Greece are all mentioned by name in Daniel. The fourth kingdom is never mentioned by name in Daniel. Because this fourth kingdom is never mentioned by name, there has been argument about it for 2,000 years. Our theological opponents are always mixed up about this.

Let me ask you a question. If Babylon is clearly defined as the first kingdom, should you know who Babylon is? Yes. If you next have Medo-Persia, should you know who that kingdom is? Then you have the worldwide kingdom of Greece. This kingdom had such an influence on the ancient world that the whole world spoke Greek in the time of Christ. The New Testament was not written in Hebrew and Aramaic like the Old Testament. The New Testament was written in Greek, because of the influence of this nation on the world.

Then, if you say that after this and this and this, there is going to be a fourth kingdom that will rule over all the world, do you think that a person should be able to figure out who this kingdom might be? This nation is called an iron kingdom.

Identifying Features

Notice five things about this fourth kingdom. These five things will be true whether studying in Daniel 2, 7, 8, or 11. They will be true every single time, but we will stay in Daniel 2 right now. Five things about the fourth kingdom are identified in Daniel 2. The reason we need to concentrate on this is because in Daniel 2, 7, 8, and 11 there is more time spent on the fourth kingdom than on the other three kingdoms put together.

If a writer spends more time on this one kingdom than on all the other three kingdoms put together, do you think we should spend more time studying this one, even if it is not named? Everything that God does is intelligent, not arbitrary. There is a very intelligent reason why this fourth kingdom was not named, but we will not go into that now. You can begin trying to figure that out. Let us look at a few details about this fourth kingdom.

First, were the first three kingdoms worldwide empires? Yes. Is the fourth kingdom a worldwide empire? Yes, it is a worldwide empire. You cannot say that about Antiochus Epiphanes.

Second, this fourth power will be a powerful, violent kingdom or entity. (See verse 40.)

Third—this should be so obvious, but we have to point it out—does the fourth kingdom arise after the third kingdom in Daniel 2? Yes, it does. We have to point this out since our theological opponents, in an attempt to reinterpret prophecy, have confused the time sequence.

Fourth, look at Daniel 2 carefully now, because many Seventh-day Adventists are confused since they have not understood this. This fourth kingdom extends until the end of time. Do not let anyone confuse you about that. This fourth kingdom arises after the third kingdom. That locks it into a specific time of arising, and it is going to extend until the end of time. At the last, there is going to be some clay mixed with the iron, but the iron goes to the end of time. That is very important to understand.

Fifth, this fourth kingdom, at the end of time, will be destroyed without hand. In other words, there will be a Divine intervention that will destroy this fourth kingdom. Now, if the fourth kingdom arose after the Greek kingdom and if the iron is going to go clear down until it gets struck with a rock, has this image been struck by the rock yet? No. When it is struck by the rock, all earthly kingdoms are going to come to their end. (Verses 44, 45.) Has the rock struck yet? No, because we still have earthly kingdoms.

What we have just reviewed proves that this fourth kingdom still has to be in existence, because this fourth kingdom is going to go on until it is struck on the feet. It is going to change. Daniel 7 will give you some more detail about this so that it will be clear to you. If all we had was Daniel 2, we would have a difficult time figuring that all out, but in Daniel 7, we have the very same sequence with much more added detail.

Daniel 7

In Daniel 7, there is the first kingdom, Babylon, again—a lion this time. We have the second kingdom again—a bear this time. We have the third kingdom again—a leopard this time. And we have the fourth kingdom again—a great and terrible beast, so awful that there is nothing in the natural world with which to compare it.

If you look carefully in Daniel 7, you will see something very interesting. This fourth beast has a latter-day development that is very intriguing. Out of this fourth beast, eventually grow ten horns. Where are the ten horns? They are on the fourth beast; do not ever forget that. And the fourth beast goes until it is destroyed without hand. There is a Divine intervention that destroys the fourth beast. But this fourth beast, in time, has some interesting developments. Ten horns grow out of it. After the ten horns grow out of it, we are told, another horn comes up—an eleventh horn, a little horn—and as it comes up, it destroys three of the first horns.

As you read Daniel 7, you see that this fourth kingdom has several phases. There is the beast; then there are the horns that grow up out of it, and eventually there is one little horn that becomes greater than all the rest of them. Where does the little horn come up? What does it come out of? It comes out of the fourth beast.

Rome

This fourth beast was called Rome. Have you heard of any entity in the world today that is still called by that name? It is called Roman; that is the first word of its name. It is the Roman kingdom, and it is going to go right on until the end of time, and then it is going to be destroyed without hand. No human being is going to destroy it. Human beings have tried to destroy this power many times. They cannot.

Remember that the little horn comes out of the Roman kingdom. It grows out of that kingdom, and it is that kingdom. It is still Roman today. Do you know the official title of the leading personage of the Roman kingdom? Pontifex Maximus. They refer to his rule as his pontificate, and he makes pontifical announcements.

Daniel 8

By the time of Daniel 8, we are not dealing with the nation of Babylon anymore, just as with Daniel 11. We start with Medo-Persia followed by Greece. That is the ram and the he-goat. There are some details about the first horn that was broken into four horns and the little horn that developed out of one of them.

Let us look at seven facts about the little horn in Daniel 8. 1) This is the same symbol as is used in Daniel 7. 2) The little horn in Daniel 7 and the little horn in Daniel 8 engage in similar actions. 3) In Daniel 7 and in Daniel 8, the very same thing happens. When this horn comes up, it is little, but it becomes greater than everybody else. 4) In both Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, this little horn power is a blasphemous power. 5) In both Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, the little horn persecutes the saints. 6) In both Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, the little horn power endures for a protracted period of time—a long time. 7) In both Daniel 7 and Daniel 8, the little horn power suffers the same fate. It is destroyed without hand.

Now concentrate on this little horn power. In Daniel 8, Persia, which is the ram, is called great. Let us be sure we understand what we are talking about. How large a nation was Persia? It was vaster than Nebuchadnezzar’s empire. It was a worldwide empire. Although Nebuchadnezzar’s empire was a worldwide empire, he did not control as much territory. He had worldwide influence, but he did not physically rule over every city. They all paid allegiance to him; they sent tribute to him. But Persia was even bigger than Babylon.

Greece, the he-goat with the horn, is exceedingly great. Greece had more territory than did Medo-Persia. It had a greater effect on the world. The whole world adopted the Greek language, as a result of the influence of Alexander the Great and the Greek Empire.

Little Horn

But then we come to this little horn. Remember what opponents of Adventism say. They say that the little horn is Antiochus Epiphanes and that Seventh-day Adventists are confused and deluded. I have done a lot of studying on this subject, because I wanted to be sure I knew what the Hebrew said. Daniel uses the same word, great, but then adds another word, the Hebrew word yether. There are various ways to translate that word. In this context, it would be translated above and beyond, or some lexicons would say beyond measure.

It is like the apostle Paul. The apostle Paul uses such superlative terms that you cannot translate them. You have to use a number of superlative words to try to explain how it is something that is far beyond super abounding. How do you express something like that? That is the situation relating to the little horn. First there is Medo-Persia, and it is great, but then there is the he-goat, and it is great exceedingly. Then there is the little horn, and it is great beyond measure. It is so great that Daniel cannot find a word to describe it so he uses the word yether, which means above and beyond.

The prophecy said that after Alexander the Great died, his kingdom would be divided into four parts. The prophecy in Daniel 11 reveals that those four parts would be divided so that there were just two parts, and there would be the king of the north and the king of the south. Antiochus Epiphanes was one of those kings of the north. He was the eighth of about twenty Seleucid kings.

The little horn is great beyond measure. It is greater than Greece; it is far greater than Persia; . . . and some people want us to believe it refers to Antiochus Epiphanes? Wait a minute! I am not willing to lay my reason aside at the door. This could not possibly be Antiochus Epiphanes. Whoever or whatever this is has to be somebody or something that is greater than Persia, and it has to be greater than Alexander the Great.

Think this through. The world at large—everyone who has studied the most basic ancient history available—will tell you about the neo-Babylonian Empire and about Persia and about Greece and about Alexander the Great. Look, I just want to be sure you understand this. You should not have to have a high school education to figure out who the little horn represents, because whoever it is has to be greater than Persia and greater than Alexander the Great.

How many people walking down the street today, if asked, would know who Antiochus Epiphanes was? Was Antiochus Epiphanes greater than Alexander the Great? That is ludicrous! That is insane, as people would say, and it is a form of insanity. That is what opponents of Adventism want us to believe. Think this through.

No Gaps

There is one basic point that I want to be sure you understand so thoroughly that you will never forget it, even if you live to be 100 years old. This is important. It is important to understand the prophecies of Daniel and to understand where we live in the stream of time and what is about to happen.

There is Babylon; there is Medo-Persia; there is Greece; there is the fourth kingdom. This fourth kingdom has two phases. There is Divine intervention, and all earthly powers come to an end. Here is what I want you to think through. If you have never studied this before, go through Daniel 2 and then Daniel 7 and then Daniel 8 and then Daniel 11 and 12, and you will see it every single time. This is very important to understand, because the people who believe in the rapture are confused on this point. This is not complicated. It is so simple that if we did not have theological opposition, we would think that we were insulting each other’s intelligence by even bringing this up, but we need to make this clear because of what people believe.

People have been told, regarding the time prophecy of Daniel 8:14, that between week 69 and week 70 there is a gap of about 2,000 years. Some people believe the little horn power is Antiochus Epiphanes. Other people say that the little horn power is the antichrist power that is going to come at the end of time. It may be someone who is born right now. It may be some atheist dictator that is born in Israel—a Jewish, atheist dictator that will take control of the whole world at the end of time when there will be seven years of tribulation. Where do they get all of this?

Notice, from the study of Daniel, that whether you are reading Daniel 2, 7, 8, or 11 and 12, it will come out the same every single time. There is Babylon, then Medo-Persia, then Greece, and then a fourth kingdom. The fourth kingdom, in its later history, becomes divided, but remember that the iron goes all the way to the end. Then there is a Divine intervention, and all earthly powers are destroyed. This is something that goes from Babylon, from Nebuchadnezzar’s time, until the end of the world, and there are no gaps.

You cannot find a gap in the Book of Daniel. Can you find a gap in Daniel 2 between Babylon and when the stone is cut out? Can you find a gap anywhere? There is no gap. It is continuous. You will find the same thing in Daniel 7. In Daniel 7, the fourth kingdom arises after Greece, and this fourth kingdom has a further development into a different phase, but it goes all the way to the end, and then it is destroyed without hand. There are no gaps. It is continuous. The same is true in Daniel 8. In Daniel 8, there is Medo-Persia, Greece, and the development of a little horn power, and the little horn power goes all the way to the end. Then, in verse 25, we read that it will be destroyed without hand. The same thing is found in Daniel 11. Starting with Medo-Persia, there is then Greece, and more detail is given about Greece and how it would be divided. Then it tells about this fourth power developing, and describes a further development of this fourth power. It goes all the way to the end. Then there is the Divine intervention (Daniel 11:45; 12:1, 2), and all the earthly powers come to their end, and there is no gap.

There is no gap. That is very important to understand, because people today have been taught that there was a gap of about 2,000 years. They have been told that the prophets can only see certain high points and there were 2,000 years in between called the “church age,” and they could not understand that. Well, wait a minute. Do you believe that God means what He says and says what He means? In the Book of Daniel, there are no gaps. The fourth kingdom is the final earthly kingdom.

That final earthly kingdom is still here, and it is still all over the world. I have seen it everywhere I have traveled in the world, and I have traveled over a good share of this world. Do not ever think that you or I will ever destroy this final earthly kingdom of which we are now in the final stages. No human being is going to destroy it. God is going to destroy it when He comes. “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.” 11 Thessalonians 2:8.

It is my hope that this brief look at Daniel will stimulate you to study. I hope you will study these things and that you will know why you believe what you believe and know what the Bible says about it. Every single word in the prophecy of Daniel is important. If you do not know Greek or Hebrew and you are having trouble with some verses, get an interlinear Bible and some appropriate books and study it out. Know what the Bible says.

[Bible texts quoted are literal translation.]

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

The Seven Churches, Part I

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We are living in the last days of earth’s history. We can see the signs all around us. Everywhere we look there is an increase of knowledge, men running to and fro, and distress of nations. (Daniel 12:4; Luke 21:25.)

In the Bible, special books have been given for these last days—the Book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel. I like to preach from the Gospels more than from any other place, but when I preach to people who do not know the Lord, I usually preach from Daniel and Revelation about the prophecies of the end. Jesus specifically said we are to read and understand Daniel, the only book He mentions by name. (Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14.) Revelation is the only book in the Bible that begins with a special blessing upon those who hear and understand. Certainly there is a message in these books for those who do not know the Lord, but there is also a special message in them for God’s people. We need to better understand them. We are told that if we understand these books, a revival will come.

As one who had a deep knowledge of the Scriptures wrote, “Those who eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God will bring from the books of Daniel and Revelation truth that is inspired by the Holy Spirit. They will start into action forces that cannot be repressed.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 116.

Before Jesus comes, there is going to go forth a message that will cut through prejudice, break through barriers, and reach the hearts and ears of all the people of the world.

We are told, in Revelation 14, that the Gospel will go to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. Of course, not all will respond. Not all will surrender, because it requires a humbling of self and an infilling of Jesus and His Spirit. Not all are willing for that to happen. The Gospel, though, will go forth.

Child Preachers

Ellen White wrote that the “lips of children will be opened to proclaim the mysteries that have been hidden from the minds of men.” Ibid. In some countries, during the Protestant Reformation, when all the preachers were put in jail, 5- and 6-year-old children at times were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to preach from the Bible things that were beyond their understanding. I believe that the children the Holy Spirit used were children who loved the Lord, even though they did not understand all the things that they were preaching.

Some day God is going to use children in that way again, children who love the Lord. They may not understand everything in Revelation or Daniel or in the entire Bible, but God will be looking into their hearts. Young children can give their hearts to the Lord just as adults do. They can choose to serve the Lord. Jesus, when He was 12 years old, taught the priests and Pharisees in the temple for three days, until His mother found Him. He loved God and the Scriptures. This is the character we need to be developing today.

Quick Fulfillments

“We are standing on the threshold of great and solemn events. Many of the prophecies are about to be fulfilled in quick succession.” Ibid. Jesus said, in Matthew 24, that the time—referring to the last days—will be cut short, and we will see prophecies fulfilled. Many of these prophecies will be fulfilled in quick succession. We are going to see one event after another taking place rapidly.

Life is in a faster mode today than it was 20 years ago. If you were to look at the time span of 1869 to 1889, you would not see much change there. People thought there was a lot of change because many small inventions had resulted, but from 20 years ago until today there has been a revolution in technology. There has also been a revolution in the morality and the thinking of the people. In America, people are different today than they were 20 years ago. Some obvious differences are drugs, abortions, homosexuality and same-sex marriages, business fraud, and the programs dominating television.

In the last days, we are going to see not only things in the world speeding up but things in prophecy as well. Every element of power is about to be set to work. Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God’s people.

Intensity Building

On every side, intensity is taking hold of the human family; it is permeating everything upon the earth. Intensity is taking hold of humanity, of country, of people, of family, and of industry. We are living in the last inning of the seventh game of the World Series, you might say. When you get to the last inning of the last game of the World Series, you do not hold anything back for another day. You do not rest a pitcher for tomorrow, for there is no tomorrow. You do not save someone who may have a sore shoulder so that they can be better for tomorrow’s game. You use whatever you have.

As we look back in history, we find that Satan has held certain forces in reserve. He does not want to show all of his cards at one time. He has some game plans, and he is willing to wait years and years in order to fulfill them. For instance, consider the French Revolution and the Communist Manifesto—the groundwork was laid but results were not immediate. The French Revolution in the 1700s was not successful, so the game plan went underground, and for over 100 years people labored at developing the communist system. Finally, in 1917, there was the Bolshevik Revolution, and communism was born. Satan waited and waited, but there is no waiting in the last days. The wait-ing is over. There is nothing to hold in reserve for tomorrow. As we get closer and closer to Jesus’ Second Coming, Satan is going to put everything he has on the line. God is going to do the same.

The great controversy between Christ and Satan will become more acute, both in the world and in God’s church. We will see the old controversy reviving, because there is no tomorrow. We are told the reason in Daniel 12:1: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation [even] to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” I praise God that His people are going to be delivered.

Intensity is taking hold of the human family. Every temptation that has ever been wrought to cause people to be lost is being repeated today—whether it is in the area of drugs or sensuality or music or activity of any kind. Every temptation will surround us in the last days. Whatever happened in Jesus’ day is going to be repeated again—the same prejudices. Whatever happened during the Dark Ages that worked for Satan, he will try again; the same controversies will be repeated.

Heathenism Increases

“As we near the close of time, there will be greater and still greater external parade of heathen power; heathen deities will manifest their signal power, and will exhibit themselves before the cities of the world.” Ibid., 117, 118.

Today, we are finding heathenism taking control of even Christian countries. The heathen system of astrology was used in the time of Daniel. (Daniel 2:10.) Today, over 60 million people in America read their horoscope every day. Do you suppose that over 60 million people read their Bibles every day?

We see today a movement that began developing in the 1960s. We may think it began slowly, but it was something that had been well planned—the Age of Aquarius. A song was even written about it. The New Age movement sprang upon the world. It is simply Buddhism and Hinduism. It is nothing else but heathenism.

Part and parcel of the New Age is reincarnation. When Satan has gained enough converts, he will also display his power. He is taking captive the people of the world. Many people of the world say that Christianity has not brought desired results; Westernism has been ineffective; and they will turn to India or Tibet or Burma thinking that these heathen beliefs have worked there. I do not know why they would think that is so. My dad was a missionary in Burma and in India. Conditions are desperate there. Go and see how they live! Oh, it has left its mark, because they teach people not to worry about the sufferings of others, to just get into some kind of trance and you will not worry about being hungry or anything anymore—you can live with your suffering.

A Real Foe

In the last days, we are going to see Satan. Ministers do not like to preach about Satan. You do not hear much about Satan anymore, but Jesus spoke of Satan often in the Gospels. Satan was and is a real foe, and we need to know whom it is we are fighting.

Satan is going to pull out all the stops. Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures and who have received the love of the truth will be shielded from the powerful delusions that will take the world captive. By the Bible testimonies, these will detect the deceiver in his disguises. To all, the testing time will come. By resisting deceptive temptations, the genuine Christian will be revealed. Are the people of God so firmly established upon His Word that they will not yield to their carnal senses? Will they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible and the Bible only? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way and tangle them with earthly treasure, causing them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden.

Daily Study

Are we allowing anything to keep us from the study of God’s Word? Do we know the Bible, or is it gathering dust? Seventh-day Adventists have been known as the people of the Book. The Seventh-day Adventist Church was started through the diligent study of the Bible. All of its beliefs are based upon the Bible. Protestants used to be known as people of the Book, but until about the 1920s, members of the Catholic Church were taught not to study the Bible, that it was a sin. Now they are allowed to study the Bible, and I am so thankful for that.

It is easy to become involved in too many things or to allow one thing or another to occupy our time so that we do not find time for God’s Word. Have there not been times when you fully intended on spending time with the Bible and the phone rang and then something else happened and then the kids needed something and pretty soon the day was gone, and the Bible had never been opened? We need a greater determination than we have ever had before to make time spent studying the Bible our highest priority. Most of us, no matter how many interruptions come, find time to eat our breakfast or our dinner during the day. Even with phone calls and everything else, we find some time to eat.

If we have to choose between spiritual food and physical food, we would be better off to choose spiritual food, would we not? Every temptation, every trick, every deception that has ever been used is going to be tried again. Making and taking time to partake of spiritual food is the only way we are going to survive in the last days and be found among those whom the Bible calls the remnant—those who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus.

Daily study of God’s Word is the only way we are going to keep from being among those who think they are saved when they are not saved, as it says in Matthew 7:21–23—those who, when Jesus comes, are found to be followers of the beast when they think they are followers of the Lord. You see, Satan is a deceiver. People are not going to believe that they are followers of the beast. The Bible says that in the last days, all of the world will follow the beast, but no one is going to believe that it applies to him or her; they are all going to be deceived. (Revelation 13:3.) The only way we are going to keep from being deceived is by being students of the Bible, by studying it with humility and prayer, asking the Lord to lead us and guide us in our studies.

When the shaking comes, when the introduction of false theories is given, surface readers, anchored nowhere, will be as sifting sand. Daniel and Revelation must be studied, as well as the other prophecies of the Old and New Testaments.

“Let us give more time to the study of the Bible. We do not understand the word as we should. The Book of Revelation opens with an injunction to us to understand the instruction that it contains. . . . When we as a people understand what this book means to us, there will be seen among us a great revival.” Ibid., 113. What will the study of Daniel and Revelation do for us? It will cause a great revival.

I want to see a revival, do you? I want to see a revival in my heart, in my family, in my church. I want to see a revival, because if we do not have a revival, souls will be lost. Satan has a revival going, I guarantee you. He has all of his pegs lined up. We are too often sleeping, but he is not sleeping.

I have one great goal; being saved is not my greatest goal. That is a great goal, but that is probably my second goal. My great goal is to be saved with a few other people. I want to see all my family in heaven. I want to see everyone with whom I work in heaven. I want to see every member of my church in heaven. I do not want to see anyone deceived or lost. I know the only way that can happen is by revival. We are told revival will happen by the study of Revelation. At the very beginning of Revelation, God pronounced a blessing upon its study.

Seven Churches

John heard a voice behind him “saying, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,’ and, ‘What you see, write in a book and send [it] to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.’ ” Revelation 1:11. These were seven churches that were in existence in John’s day. They were located in what we call Turkey, then known as Asia Minor.

These seven churches bore characteristics of various churches that would exist in all ages. We can find churches similar to each of these churches today. These seven churches characterize various periods of earth’s history.

What is a Church

As we think of these seven churches and the message that God has given to the church, perhaps we should first ask and answer the question, What is a church? To whom is God speaking? Sometimes God has a message for what the Bible calls the world—that is not my terminology; that is what the Bible calls it. The Bible talks about the world and the church, and sometimes it talks about the world getting into the church. The church is to be in the world, but the world is not to be in the church.

At times, the Bible talks about the world coming into the church, but the Bible uses the term world to be the carnal—the world that is under the carnal influence of fallen humanity that has not been regenerated or converted by the Word of God.

What does a church mean? The word church comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means “called out.”

In Revelation 18:1 and 2, we read, “After these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen . . . .” Sometimes the Bible calls the world Babylon.

What does God say to His people in verse 4? “I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people . . . .” The words come out are actually the word church, ekklesia, come out, called out. The church is simply those people who have been called out of Babylon and who are united in the family of Jesus Christ. The church is those who have heeded the invitation. We think of a church as an organized group of people, and certainly God wants His people to be organized. They were in the New Testament, and they were in the Old Testament. They will be when Jesus comes again, but the organization is not the church.

The church is those people who spiritually come out of the world. Jesus does not ask that they should be taken out of the world but that they be saved from the sins that are in the world. The church is those people that have come out of the world emotionally and spiritually.

Paul defines the church in 1 Corinthians 1:2: “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called [to be] saints . . . .” He addresses the church as those who are living in Corinth who have been sanctified.

So, we have to ask ourselves, are we part of the church? Are we a part of the real church, the church of God that has been called out, that has been sanctified or called saints?

In Colossians 1:18, Paul said: “And He [Christ] is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” The church is that group of people who uplift Jesus before the world, who make Jesus first. It is His hands and feet on earth that do good to others, that heal the sick, and that preach the Gospel; it is His mouthpiece on earth. The church is simply the body of Jesus to do His work. It is the tool in the hand of Jesus, but Jesus is to always remain preeminent.

In the Jewish day, the church became preeminent and God became secondary. The church became more important than God. When Jesus, Who was sent from God, came, He was God, too. He was from God and He was God, the Bible says. (See John 17:21.) When Jesus came, the church decided to preserve the church and to crucify Him. The church was more important than God.

When Jesus comes, God’s church is not going to be uplifting the church. They are going to be uplifting God. Jesus is to be preeminent.

To be continued November 2004 . . .

Pastor Marshall Grosboll, with his wife Lillian, founded Steps to Life. In July 1991, Pastor Marshall and his family met with tragedy as they were returning home from a camp meeting in Washington state, when the airplane he was piloting went down, killing all on board.

Editorial – 1843, Part II

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The 1843 (eventually corrected to 1844) date of William Miller’s message was derived from the study of prophecy, especially the prophecy in Daniel 8:13, 14. The critics of Adventism have taken advantage of the average person’s lack of knowledge about several terms to introduce confusion, instead of understanding, concerning the fulfillment of this prophecy. We will look at several basic points: 1) Who and what is the little horn in Daniel 8? 2) Daniel 8:12 and 13 speak of two separate rebellions, first the continuance in rebellion and second the desolating or depopulating rebellion. These rebellions are sometimes called “transgression(s),” but a look into any Hebrew lexicon, or just a casual reading of the Hebrew Bible, easily shows that the common word used refers to a deliberate or willful transgression or more accurately a revolt or rebellion. I have found only a few places in the entire Hebrew Bible where the word could not be more helpfully translated “rebellion.” What are these two separate rebellions of Daniel 8:12 and 13? 3) It would seem almost embarrassing to have to mention this elementary fact but, because of the tricky reasoning of our opponents, we will. This is a time prophecy. 4) This is a time prophecy having to do with end-time events, because the angel said to Daniel, in regard to the 2300 days, that the vision dealt with the time of the end. This is an important enough point that it is mentioned twice (verses 17 and 19).

We will begin with point #4. This point by itself makes it completely impossible for this vision to have anything to do with Antiochus Epiphanes iv. Antiochus was one of approximately 20 Seleucid kings who ruled the northern territory of Alexander the Great’s empire, called in Daniel 11 “the king of the north.” None of these kings were as great as Alexander the Great. (See Daniel 11:4.) A minor king of a division of Alexander’s kingdom who lived in the second century b.c. could not be described as fulfilling a prophecy clearly stated as having to do with the time of the end.

Next we come to point #3. Every imaginable device has been attempted in an effort to demonstrate a 2300-day period during the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. Any fulfillment of this time prophecy would have to involve a time period of 2300 days. There has been an effort to say that, since the wording in Daniel 8:14 is “evening and morning,” it refers to 1150 days. This interpretation will not stand up to any candid investigation of the Scriptures. (See Genesis 1.) (The literal wording of Daniel 8:14 in the Hebrew text is “and he said to me unto evening, morning, two thousand and three hundred and [or ‘the’] it shall be cleansed [or ‘restored to its rightful state’ or ‘made right’] the sanctuary [or ‘holy place’].) No period of 2300 days can be shown for Antiochus Epiphanes. Any real fulfillment of this prophecy must demonstrate a beginning event and a closing event which are separated by 2300 days. This fact destroys the possibility of Antiochus having anything to do with the fulfillment of this prophecy a second time.

Then we come to point #2. Daniel 8:13, 14 are not the only places in the Book of Daniel where these two rebellions are mentioned. Any interpretation of these two rebellions in Daniel 8:13, 14 must also fit contextually with their identity and historical position when also described in Daniel 11:31 and Daniel 12:11. Daniel 11:31 shows us that a future power will cause the continuance in rebellion to be removed and then the desolating rebellion will be set up in its place. This is an extremely important point, because it shows that these two rebellions are consecutive events, the one following the other.