judgment

Evidence of a Christian

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“For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” I Samuel 16:7 ESV

Man cannot read the heart of another. The only evidence people have to identify a Christian is by their conduct and outward appearance. Before He left this earth Jesus said to His disciples: “You shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8.

The Bible has not left those who desire to represent Him to others in ignorance as to how they should behave and present themselves to be a witness for Him.

The Christian’s Speech

Jesus was on trial. “Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee.’ But he denied it before them all, saying, ‘I do not know what you are saying.’ And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, ‘This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.’ But again he denied with an oath, ‘I do not know the Man!’ And after a while those who stood by came to him and said to Peter, ‘Surely you also are one of them, because your speech betrays you.’ ” Matthew 26:69–73.

They knew he was a follower of Jesus by the way he spoke. In an attempt to prove to them he was not connected in any way, “Then he began to curse and swear …” (verse 74). That seemed to be the end of the matter. By cursing and swearing he gave evidence he was none of Christ’s, for a disciple of Jesus does not use those words.

A friend of mine worked for a time as an auto mechanic at the Ford dealership in Fargo, North Dakota. The shop where he worked had many other auto mechanics. One day, another mechanic came to him enquiring about his religion. He had noticed that when a wrench slipped and he hit his knuckles, he refrained from swearing and cussing like the others. His speech betrayed who he was.

People should be able to tell from the way you talk that you are a Christian. We live in a world where people are very careless with their choice of language, discussing and saying all sorts of things that should never be said. Though people cannot read your heart, by listening to you talk, they should be able to determine that you are a Christian. Ellen White wrote: “A large share of life’s happiness is dependent upon our manners and actions toward others. The sharp word must be left unspoken. The passionate words must be quenched in the love of Jesus Christ; for if this dross is not cleansed from the soul, there is no hope of eternal life. The selfish temper, and tirade of passionate words is placed in the same dark list with swearing.” The Voice of Speech and Song, 144.

Do people say when you are not around, “I know that person is a Christian because he or she never loses his/her temper or says the sharp word”? Is it evident to others that you are a Christian?

Concerning our speech, Jesus said in Matthew 10:32, 33, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father Who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father Who is in heaven.”

How do you confess Christ? “He who would confess Christ must have Christ abiding in him. He cannot communicate that which he has not received. The disciples might speak fluently on doctrines, they might repeat the words of Christ Himself; but unless they possessed Christlike meekness and love, they were not confessing Him. A spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ would deny Him, whatever the profession. Men may deny Christ by evilspeaking, by foolish talking, by words that are untruthful or unkind. They may deny Him by shunning life’s burdens, by the pursuit of sinful pleasure. They may deny Him by conforming to the world, by uncourteous behavior, by the love of their own opinions, by justifying self, by cherishing doubt, borrowing trouble, and dwelling in darkness. In all these ways they declare that Christ is not in them.” The Desire of Ages, 357.

We are told in Testimonies, vol. 5, 305: “There is in human nature a tendency to run to extremes and from one extreme to another entirely opposite.”

It is easily seen when other people go to extremes, but how hard is it to recognize when we do it ourselves! There is in human nature a tendency to go off the road into the ditch on one side and then pass over, never stopping in the middle, into the ditch on the other side. Ellen White said, “Many are fanatics. They are consumed by a fiery zeal which is mistaken for religion, but character is the true test of discipleship.” Ibid.

The Christian’s Appearance

People judge whether or not we are Christians by the way we dress. There was a sister who talked to Ellen White about the reform dress and how she was doubting the testimonies of the church because of comments that were made to her about the reform dress. Ellen White said, “This was because the persons who carry matters to extremes had been cautioned not to make the dress question a test of Christian fellowship. What influence do these things have to undermine the confidence in my testimonies! It is not the testimony that is at fault, but perverse human nature.” Pamphlet 104, 12.

Dress is one of the areas where people have a tendency to go to extremes, although people do judge whether you are really a Christian by your outward appearance.

The Christian’s Judgment

People make judgments about others on how they spend time in recreation and amusement. This is another area where people tend to go to extremes one way or another.

Ellen White wrote in Testimonies, vol. 1, 565: “There are persons with a diseased imagination to whom religion is a tyrant, ruling them as with a rod of iron. Such are constantly mourning over their depravity and groaning over supposed evil. Love does not exist in their hearts; a frown is ever upon their countenances. They are chilled by the innocent laugh from the youth or from anyone. They consider all recreation or amusement a sin and think that the mind must be constantly wrought up to just such a stern, severe pitch. This is one extreme. Others think that the mind must be ever on the stretch to invent new amusements and diversions in order to gain health. They learn to depend on excitement, and are uneasy without it. Such are not true Christians. They go to another extreme.”

The Christian’s Diet

How we eat and drink affects what others think of our Christianity. Diet is another area in which people have the tendency to go to terrible extremes, either on one side or the other. If I never ate foods that I have been told not to eat, what foods could I eat? The answer is, “Nothing!” That is not an exaggeration.

In the 1950s I ran into Seventh-day Adventists who said, “We have to get back to the Eden diet.” And the Eden diet did not include vegetables, so they were eliminated from their diet. Shortly after that I heard, “You should never use sugar.” So sugar is gone. I was very fortunate, by the way, that I had a very wise mother who didn’t go off on all these tangents. Then in the 1970s, they said, “The one class of food that you can’t eat is fruit.” So fruit’s gone. By then it was 1971 and I had a church member who told me he was going to quit eating bread and anything that contained wheat.

I have heard lately that a lot of people in our community have decided not to eat wheat, and that’s fine if you replace it with something else. Prevention Magazine came out with a whole series of articles to help people quit eating bread. The titles of these articles were, “Do Not Eat Bread.” All kinds of horror stories were cited. A few years later a physician came out with a diet to help people lose weight and said, “What you must do is avoid all foods that are high in carbohydrates.” Well, if you do that, you eliminate all legumes and all grains from your diet.

Then again in the 1970s, there was a fellow by the name of Pritikin that came out with a new diet that was supposed to cure almost every disease. He said that you must not eat foods high in fat, like nuts, and seeds, avocados, and no oil or salt.

Now let’s just go down the list. If you are not going to eat any vegetables, no sugar, no fruit, no oil, and no salt, no wheat, and no high carbohydrate food, no nuts, no seeds, and no oil, what are you going to eat?

Ellen White wrote: “Because it is wrong to eat merely to gratify perverted taste, it does not follow that we should be indifferent in regard to our food. It is a matter of the highest importance.” Counsels on Heath, 118.

It is also a matter of the highest importance that we do not go to extremes one way or the other. She said, “No one should adopt an impoverished diet. Many are debilitated from disease and need nourishing, well-cooked food. Health reformers, above all others, should be careful to avoid extremes. The body must have sufficient nourishment.” Ibid.

She also said: “Do not go to extremes in regard to the health reform. Some of our people are very careless in regard to health reform. But because some are far behind, you must not, in order to be an example to them, be an extremist. You must not deprive yourself of that class of food which makes good blood. Your devotion to true principles is leading you to submit yourself to a diet which is giving you an experience that will not recommend health reform. This is your danger. When you see that you are becoming weak physically, it is essential for you to make changes, and at once. Put into your diet something you have left out. It is your duty to do this.” Letter 37, 1901.

Some people have gone to such extremes in regard to diet that it has become a disgrace and their religion has become disgusting to other people.

Ellen White wrote to this person: “Do not have a meager, poor diet. Do not let any one influence you to have the diet poverty-stricken. … The great backsliding upon health reform is because unwise minds have handled it and carried it to such extremes that it has disgusted in place of converting people to it.” Counsels on Diet and Foods, 211, 212.

The Christian’s Recreation and Amusement

On July 4, in Dalhart, Texas, during the dust storms of 1934, a pastor named Joe Hankins of the First Baptist church decided that in spite of the dust, they needed a revival. So they went into the church, dusted off the seats, and started a revival, with about a hundred young people plus the other church members. The pastor started by asking what was wrong with card playing and dancing. He then preached against them both. At the close of the sermon, about a hundred young people came up and signed a pledge, vowing never to dance or play cards. So, where did this Pastor Hankins get the idea a Christian shouldn’t play cards or dance? The Baptist Church was not alone with those teachings. The Methodist church also was opposed to card playing, dancing and gambling.

John Wesley formulated a list of general rules for the members of his society because he believed they needed concrete standards as well as ideals. So the Methodist church taught the same as the Baptist church taught. Their ideas came from the Bible. It is not that the church is against recreation and amusement. A child is not expected to simply work all the time. They could not endure it. Every child should have access to recreation and amusement, but like every other choice in the world, there are good and bad kinds of recreation and amusement that require a choice to be made. How do you tell which recreation and amusement is all right and which is not?

Paul said, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:8.

The first requirement of recreation and amusement is, “Is it true?” Are you looking at television, or videos, or Internet or things that are not true? Many people are looking at things that do not even meet the first requirement for a Christian, yet they want to be known by Christ’s name. This is not to condemn the Internet or television, but you want to make sure that what you are looking at is true. A documentary and a drama are two completely different things. Are you looking at what is right or are you looking at people committing sin? Study for yourself and apply the principles of Philippians 4:8.

The Christian’s Dress and Adornment

Christian dress and adornment have caused many people, Christians and non-Christians alike, great consternation. Ezekiel 28 is about Lucifer or Satan. He is described here as being the real king of Tyre, which was one of the wicked cities of antiquity. “You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you.” Verses 13–15.

Verse 17: “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor.” Covered with all manner of precious stones, Lucifer became proud. Malachi says that the day is coming when all the proud will be stubble (Malachi 4:1). Pride is at the root of the sin problem.

Consider the great harlot woman “who sits on many waters” (Revelation 17:1) and how she is dressed. “The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup.” Verse 4. She is covered with jewelry.

Jewelry itself is not the problem. God made the jewels. The redeemed will walk on golden streets and live in a city that has foundations made of precious stones and gates made of pearl. They will have access to more jewels and precious stones than anybody in this world.

But before anyone walks the streets of gold, pride has to be eradicated. The Bible gives us counsel that because of our fallen human nature, we all struggle with pride. So while on this earth we need to lay those things aside.

God told Jacob to go up to Bethel and dwell there. “And Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, ‘Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments. Then let us arise and go up to Bethel; and I will make an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and has been with me in the way which I have gone.’ So they gave Jacob all the foreign gods which were in their hands, and the earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree.” Genesis 35:2–4.

In Exodus the Lord told Moses: “ ‘You are a stiff-necked people. I could come up into your midst in one moment and consume you. Now therefore, take off your ornaments, that I may know what to do to you.’ So the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments.” Exodus 33:5, 6.

“ ‘I will punish her for the days of the Baals to which she burned incense. She decked herself with her earrings and jewelry, and went after her lovers; but Me she forgot,’ says the Lord.” Hosea 2:13.

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.” I Peter 3:3, 4.

In the New Testament, the apostles forbid the wearing of gold or expensive clothing. Notice what Paul said about it: “In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” I Timothy 2:9, 10.

Probably the biggest problem with our clothing in Christendom today and especially in western countries like the United States is simply the lack of it. The Bible describes someone as naked and shameful if they do not have enough clothes on.

Ellen White wrote: “I had an interview with a sister who wore gold, and yet professed to be looking for Christ’s coming. We spoke of the express declarations of Scripture against the wearing of gold. But she referred to where Solomon was commanded to beautify the temple, and to the statement that the streets of the city of God were pure gold. She said that if we could improve our appearance by wearing gold, so as to have influence in the world, it was right. I replied that we were poor fallen mortals, and instead of decorating these bodies because Solomon’s temple was gloriously adorned, we should remember our fallen condition, and that it cost the suffering and death of the Son of God to redeem us. This thought should cause in us self-abasement. Jesus is our pattern. If He would lay aside His humiliation and sufferings, and cry, ‘If any man will come after Me, let him please himself, and enjoy the world, and he shall be My disciple,’ the multitude would believe and follow Him. But Jesus will come to us in no other character than that of the meek, crucified One. If we would be with Him in Heaven, we must be like Him on earth. The world will claim its own; and whoever will overcome, must leave what belongs to it.” Life Sketches of Ellen G. White, 113, 114.

Millions of people are being ruined because of the clothes they wear. “Showy, extravagant dress too often encourages lust in the heart of the wearer and awakens base passions in the heart of the beholder. God sees that the ruin of the character is frequently preceded by the indulgence of pride and vanity in dress. He sees that the costly apparel stifles the desire to do good.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 645.

The Christian’s Diet

God is so interested in all that we eat and drink that we need not be ignorant in this regard. Genesis 1:29 says, “God said, ‘See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.’ ” That was the original diet of the human race. However, when man sinned, his diet was changed. “Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.” Genesis 3:18. A more precise translation would say, “You shall eat the green herb of the field.”

When I first started studying nutrition back in the 1950s, I thought that God had left the human race in such abject ignorance about vitamins, resulting in so many health problems. Millions of people lost their eyesight and had all kinds of problems because they did not get certain vitamins. No one knew anything about vitamins in 1950 and as I studied I wondered why God left the human race in such ignorance. Well, obviously He didn’t. We just did not pay careful attention to what He said. He told us what to eat in Genesis 3:18. If everybody had regularly eaten the green herb of the field, which includes foods like spinach, broccoli, turnip greens, mustard greens, kale and other foods, there would have been far less suffering from diseases caused by vitamin deficiencies. God did not tell us about vitamin A in Genesis 3:18. He just told us what to eat.

In Genesis 9 after the flood man was given permission to eat flesh food, though not all flesh food. Leviticus 11 and Deuteronomy 14 explain the distinction between clean and unclean flesh foods.

Many people believe that the health law was for the Jews and was done away with at the cross. In a dream, Peter saw the sheet filled with all kinds of unclean animals lowered down. “And a voice came to him, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ But Peter said, ‘Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.’ ” Acts 10:13, 14. Clearly, Peter had not been given instruction since the resurrection that he could now eat anything he wanted. He continued to abstain from unclean foods. This dream, by the way, actually had nothing to do with eating. It was an object lesson to explain to Peter that the gospel was to go to the Gentiles as well as to the Jews.

Then in Acts 15:20, it says, “But that we write to them [the Gentiles] to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from things strangled, and from blood.” The Gentiles were taught that certain flesh meats were never to be eaten.

Both the Old and New Testaments give instruction about eating the wrong thing. For everything that God has given instruction, there is a reason that man does not immediately discover. For several thousand years man did not understand why God said in Genesis 3:18, that after the fall it was necessary to eat the green herb of the field and he suffered the consequences.

The Lord is going to have a people in the last days who, by faith live according to Bible principles and reflect the One Who left the glories of heaven to walk on this earth to show them the way of salvation. They will stand out against the crowd and be identified as Christians in all their actions.

Will you be a Christian?

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

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

Editorial – What Really Counts?

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“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10. One of these days, the things that have seemed to matter to people are going to suddenly change. When the judgment begins, the only thing that will really matter then is, “Do I have on the wedding garment? Am I ready?” “In the day of final judgment, when every man shall be judged according to the deeds done in the body, nothing will seem to have existence but character and the law of God. Man will be stripped of everything but the character he has formed.” Review and Herald, February 12, 1901

“His eyes were as a flame of fire, which searched His children through and through. Then all faces gathered paleness, and those that a God had rejected gathered blackness. Then we all cried out, ‘Who shall be able to stand? Is my robe spotless?’ Then the angels ceased to sing, and there was some time of awful silence.” Maranatha, 289.

We will either be ready or we will not, and it will be too late to change then.

“When we become children of God, our names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, and they remain there until the time of the investigative Judgment. Then the name of every individual will be called, and his record examined by Him who declares, ‘I know thy works.’ If in that day it shall appear that all our wicked deeds have not been fully repented of, our names will be blotted from the book of life, and our sins will stand against us. If the professed believer becomes self-confident, if in word or spirit he breaks the least precept of God’s holy law, he misrepresents Jesus, and in the Judgment the awful words will be spoken, ‘blot out his name from the book of life; he is a worker of iniquity.’ But the Father pities the self-distrustful, God-fearing soul, harassed though he may be with doubts and temptations. Jesus pleads for him, and confesses his name before the Father and His holy angels.” Signs of the Times, August 6, 1885

“Satan will work to quench the light God has for every soul, by casting his shadow across the pathway to intercept every ray of heavenly light. He knows that his time is short. The people of God must cleave to God, else they will lose their bearings. If they cherish hereditary and cultivated traits of character that misrepresent Christ, while professedly His disciples, they are represented by the man coming to the gospel feast without having on the wedding garment, and by the foolish virgins which had no oil in their vessels with their lamps. We must cleave to that which God pronounces to be truth, though the whole world may be arrayed against it.” Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1179

Sometimes people think that getting ready has to do with right theology; and while wrong theology can certainly result in wrong actions and, therefore, in a person being lost, theology is not really the determining factor. “Those whom Christ commends in the Judgment, may have known little of theology, but they have cherished His principles.” The Desire of Ages, 638

What are these principles that Ellen White is speaking about? “Christ is ever showing mercy, ever seeking to win by the revealing of His love. He can admit no rival in the soul, nor accept of partial service; but He desires only voluntary service, the willing surrender of the heart under the constraint of love. There can be no more conclusive evidence that we possess the spirit of Satan than the disposition to hurt and destroy those who do not appreciate our work, or who act contrary to our ideas.” Ibid., 487

How do we relate to those who do not appreciate us, or who act contrary to our ideas? James and John wanted to call down fire from heaven on the Samaritans. (See Luke 9:54.) “Oh,” someone says, “I would never do that;” but, “the tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” James 3:6

There will be many professed Christians in the day of judgment who will be able to profess to having done great things in the cause of God but who will find out that their words have barred them from eternal life.

The End

Supper is Ready

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The Bible is very clear on the fact that each man, woman and child has a case pending at the bar of God. In fact, in II Corinthians 5:10, it says, “We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” In examining my own life I recognize my need of receiving the mind of Jesus. We live in a generation where minds are so filled with worldliness that the glorious future that we have in Christ is rarely considered or contemplated. Without the mind of Christ we are, in essence, a thoughtless people. With all the uncertainty in the world today we are in desperate need of the mind of Christ, which comes with His peace that surpasses all understanding.

Everyone likes to eat. Many of us have heard it said, “Don’t be late for dinner. Supper will be ready at such and such a time. Don’t be late.” Are you ready for supper? What would be the outcome if you were called to appear right now before the judgment seat? At a time he least expected, Belshazzar was weighed in the balances and found wanting. He wasn’t ready for supper.

The judgment is not some imaginary concept. It is a reality. No matter how much you may try to avoid this fact by your lifestyle, the truth remains the same. We have to give an account of our lives. “Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man [Christ] Whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31.

This is something to think about. If you were to appear before the judgment seat of Christ at this moment, what would be said of your life? How have you lived your life? How have you spent your time, every precious moment of every day?

“And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled in complacency, who say in their heart, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil.’ ” Zephaniah 1:12.

It will come as a terrible shock to those who think there is no judgment and are settled in their carnal security and wake up too late when the Lord searches His people with candles to see if there be any faithful among them.

There are three phases of the judgment process. The first phase is an investigation. This procedure is not only in the heavenly courts but also in earthly governments. When someone is charged with a crime, there is first an investigation or search for evidence concerning that crime. Jesus said that when He returns, He is coming back with His reward. Prior to His return He will investigate each case, “search Jerusalem with lamps,” to see if there be any who remain faithful, or if we are found wanting. After the investigation the innocent are set free and the guilty go on to the sentencing phase. Those who receive the guilty sentence move on to the third phase, the execution of the sentence that has been pronounced. We can be sure that whatever sentence has been handed down, it will surely be carried out.

The investigative phase of God’s judgment is already taking place in the heavenly courts. One day soon, no one knows how soon, that investigation will come to an end and the probation time given to man to repent will close. Will you be ready for supper?

For a man to be judged guilty there must be a law in place that he has broken. God’s law of Ten Commandments is the standard in this judgment. Notice what Paul says in Romans 2:12, 16: “For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law. … in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.”

There are many in heathen lands, even to this very day who have never heard or learned of God’s law, the Ten Commandments. But the Bible is clear that the Spirit of God still moves and works upon those individuals’ hearts and the actions that they live out according to their conscience will either accuse or excuse them and by that they are brought under judgment.

Even atheists, those who believe that there is no God or do not believe His Word or trust in His law, have the law written on their hearts by His Spirit and will come under the judgment. They have a conscience and know the difference between right and wrong, leaving them no escape. The law will also judge those who know the law of God, His standards and requirements. There is no escaping the One who knows all. So it behooves us that our lives come into harmony with the law of God. To survive the judgment we must be clothed with the righteousness of Jesus.

We have not been left ignorant about the state of the world just before the coming of Jesus. As we see the signs approaching and as we look at how things are in society with the increase in crime and natural disasters abounding, it should cause us to be all the more eager to be ready to meet Jesus. Instead, many of us focus our energy in becoming more settled in our lives on this earth. This earth is not our home. We are looking forward to a new earth, and new heavens, under which righteousness will dwell.

We are told in Revelation 22 that in the end there will be only two classes of people, those who are faithful to God’s government and those who are not. This declaration is going to be made before Jesus comes. In the days of Noah when Noah and his family had entered into that ark, the angel of the Lord closed the door. At that moment those who were left outside were unaware that their probation had closed. Being too busy with their worldly plans they had neglected to get ready for supper, and they were lost. Seven days later the flood came and they were all destroyed.

This same situation is going to happen at the end of time. In Revelation 22:11, the words call out, “He who is unjust, let him be unjust still.” Tragically, those who are declared unjust by Jesus when He finishes the judgment will remain unjust. In other words, there is no longer hope of their being converted, no hope of their being born again and no hope of their inheriting the gift of eternal life. They have chosen to be “unjust still” and no other power in heaven could shake them from their lethargy. The Bible goes on to read, similarly, “… he who is filthy, let him be filthy still.” Those who neglect to become clean in the time of probation will remain unclean and filthy when it closes. But, praise God, right now there is still hope.

There is another group in which each soul should desire to be. “… he who is righteous, let him be righteous still.” This is not referring to self-righteousness, for no man can boast of being righteous. It is by accepting the righteousness of Christ and living His life, dying daily to self, that any can be righteous. It is the work of the Holy Spirit guiding and directing the life that a sinner becomes a child of God. It is God Who declares him righteous and holy. He has put on Christ’s robe of righteousness, reflecting the character of Jesus. This is the condition of all who are ready for this supper.

Jesus would have come long before today, but He wants us to be ready. Therefore He delays His return in mercy that none might be eternally lost. Revelation 7:1–3 says, “After these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, on the sea, or on any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God. And he cried with a loud voice to the four angels to whom it was granted to harm the earth and the sea, saying, ‘Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.’ ”

There was a time when four angels were about to release the four winds of the earth, which would have resulted in total chaos. Christ was about to come and the plagues of God were about to fall upon humanity. But Christ, our high priest, looking down upon His remnant people, saw that they were not ready. So He pleaded with His Father, “ ‘My blood, Father, My blood, My blood, My blood!’ ” Early Writings, 38. The Father bathes His Son in exceeding bright light and He sends another angel out to bid the four angels to hold: Wait a minute; they are not ready; they are not sealed with the seal of God. They are not prepared, Father. They are not ready. Today we still see those winds of strife to a great degree lingering because of God’s mercy.

What is the seal of God? Before Jesus returns, all living creatures will receive either the seal of God or the mark of the beast. The seal of God assures the recipient of eternal life, while the mark of the beast identifies the recipient with the archenemy of God. We want the seal of God. In Exodus chapter 31, verse 13, the Bible says, “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: ‘Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign [a mark, or symbol, or seal] between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the Lord Who sanctifies you [makes you holy].’ ”

“ ‘Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever: for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.’ ” Verses 16, 17.

The Sabbath contains the seal of God. When we want to understand what the seal of God is, we will be drawn to the Sabbath. But keep in mind that we are not just talking about going to church on Saturdays. That is not what it means to keep the Sabbath holy.

God’s messenger has told us, “We should take this lesson to ourselves. Again, the destroying angel is to pass through the land.” In Heavenly Places, 150. That is a prophecy. History will repeat what happened when the destroying angel passed through the land of Egypt before the slaves were set free. “There is to be a mark placed on God’s people and that mark is the keeping of His holy Sabbath.” Ibid.

It does not end there. Exodus 20:8 says, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Again, it is not just a matter of coming to church Saturday after Saturday; it is a call to live a holy life because no one can keep the Sabbath holy unless he or she has been made holy. “No other institution which was committed to the Jews tended so fully to distinguish them from surrounding nations as did the Sabbath. God designed that its observance should designate them as His worshipers. It was to be a token of their separation from idolatry, and their connection with the true God. But in order to keep the Sabbath holy, men must themselves be holy.” The Desire of Ages, 283. Holiness is the standard. It is impossible to live like a saint on Sabbath and live like the devil for the rest of the week. That is not going to cut it. Every single day is to be lived in harmony with God and His requirements. We must possess the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Man is not made righteous because he keeps the Sabbath, rather man keeps the Sabbath because he receives the righteousness of Christ by faith. Then he is given the Sabbath as a sign to be distinguished as God’s true servant. Being sealed with the seal of God has to do with being made holy. And those who live holy lives will be sealed.

“It [the Sabbath] points to Him [Jesus] as both the Creator and the Sanctifier. It declares that He who created all things in heaven and in earth, and by whom all things hold together, is the head of the church, and that by His power we are reconciled to God. For, speaking of Israel, He said, ‘I gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them,’—make them holy (Ezekiel 20:12). Then the Sabbath is a sign of Christ’s power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy. As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through Christ become a part of the Israel of God.” The Desire of Ages, 288. It is not a matter of coming to church, but how you are living throughout the week. How do you treat your neighbors? Are you having daily devotions? How are you treating your family members? How are you treating your enemies? What are you thinking? What holds the affections of your heart captive and what do you think about? All of these things are involved in keeping the Sabbath holy.

To be prepared or ready for this supper, we recognize, first of all, that we must have the seal of the living God placed upon our foreheads, or else the wrath of God will be poured out upon us, but it is not enough for us to have merely head knowledge of these truths. James 4:17 says, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” The Spirit of God is working upon our hearts and if we should refuse to do what we know is right, then we have actually become a transgressor of the law. It is not how much you know; it is a matter of what you do with that knowledge.

Keeping the Sabbath

The following statement is very thought provoking: “Not all who profess to keep the Sabbath will be sealed. There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew their Master’s will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had not corresponding works.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 213, 214. They knew it all, but they lacked the power that could change their lives.

“These who were so familiar with prophecy and the treasures of divine wisdom should have acted their faith. They should have commanded their households after them, that by a well-ordered family they might present to the world the influence of the truth upon the human heart.” Ibid., 214.

Here we are told that there are many who are teaching and preaching, and know everything concerning present truth, and yet their homes are out of order. This causes us to recognize the importance of the family. We are all part of some family, even if it is a single person family.

Preparation In the Home

Men, we are called to be the priest of our home. How do we interact with the members of our families? Each situation is different but godly principles remain the same and the Spirit of God is able to meet every situation. We need to examine ourselves. Husbands, do you love your wives as Jesus loved the church and gave His life for it? Fathers, are you living up to God’s standards in your family? Are you caring for your children and your spouse? Mothers, do you show respect and honor towards your husband setting an example for your children? Children, are you honoring and obeying your mother and father? How is it in your home? Is it a place where angels long to linger? A well-ordered loving family has greater influence and speaks louder than any message that could be preached from the pulpit.

The grace of Christ is needed in every home. Many homes do not begin on a solid foundation. Broken families are the cause of fragmented and wretched societies where degradation abounds. Young men and women should secure their relationship with their Maker before thinking of starting a new family. Christ must be the center, the foundation, of all relationships for a healthy and happy home.

Preparation For Life’s Work

Not only must we be prepared in the home, but we must prepare also in our field of labor for the Lord.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ” Matthew 25:34–40.

Though the home life is essential, are you preparing to work in the Lord’s field? “God could have reached His object in saving sinners without our aid; but in order for us to develop a character like Christ’s, we must share in His work.” The Desire of Ages, 142.

To be saved is not a matter of just coming to church and settling down on the dregs of our Christian experience. We must be active in the cause of God. In order to enter into His joy, the joy of seeing souls redeemed by Jesus’ sacrifice, we must participate in His labors for their redemption.

“The fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah contains present truth for the people of God. Here we see how medical missionary work and the gospel ministry are to be bound together as the message is given to the world. Upon those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord is laid the responsibility of doing a work of mercy and benevolence. Medical missionary work is to be bound up with the message, and sealed with the seal of God.” Evangelism, 516, 517.

“All who love God will show that they bear His sign by keeping His commandments. They are the restorers of paths to dwell in. … Thus genuine medical missionary work is bound up inseparably with the keeping of God’s commandments, of which the Sabbath is especially mentioned, since it is the great memorial of God’s creative work. Its observance is bound up with the work of restoring the moral image of God in man. This is the ministry which God’s people are to carry forward at this time.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 265, 266.

We need to understand how to unite the medical missionary work with that of giving the gospel. The medical missionary work is called the right arm of the gospel and it is the gospel in practice. What good is it for you to know the theories of truth and yet fail to live it out?

Ellen White, in Welfare Ministry, 35, 36 says, “I saw that it is in the providence of God that widows and orphans, the blind, the deaf, the lame, and persons afflicted in a variety of ways have been placed in close Christian relationship to His church; it is to prove His people and develop their true character.”

This is a test, and passing it will determine whether you will be ready for supper. “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Revelation 19:9 KJV. Many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). We want to be among those who are chosen, those who are faithful and who understand that we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ. The result of this will cause us to search out Christ in order that we may have His life, because if we have to appear before God on our own, the Bible says, “All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6 KJV. In other words, our best is still not good enough. Self must die, traditions that are contrary to the will of God must be put away. We must have the life of Christ; He offers us this life freely, His own righteousness.

Conversion must take place every day. Examine your heart to know whether you are of the faith if you want to partake of this supper.

In vision, Ellen White was given this word concerning the marriage supper: “In my dream a sentinel stood at the door of an important building, and asked every one who came for entrance, ‘Have ye received the Holy Ghost?’ A measuring-line was in his hand, and only very, very few were admitted into the building. ‘Your size as a human being is nothing,’ he said. ‘But if you have reached the full stature of a man in Christ Jesus, according to the knowledge you have had, you will receive an appointment to sit with Christ at the marriage supper of the Lamb; and through the eternal ages, you will never cease to learn of the blessings granted in the banquet prepared for you.

“ ‘You may be tall and well-proportioned in self, but you can not enter here. None can enter who are grown-up children, carrying with them the disposition, the habits, and the characteristics which pertain to children. If you have nurtured suspicions, criticism, temper, self-dignity, you can not be admitted; for you would spoil the feast. All who go in through this door have on the wedding garment, woven in the loom of heaven. … Within this door nothing can enter that could possibly mar the happiness of the dwellers by marring their perfect trust in one another. You can not join the happy family in the heavenly courts; for I have wiped all tears from their eyes. You can never see the King in his beauty if you are not yourself a representative of his character.’ ” The Review and Herald, April 11, 1899.

May we each have on that wedding garment when Christ returns so that He may take us with Him to heaven to participate in the great supper of the Lamb.

All quotes are NKJV unless otherwise noted.

Demario Carter is currently a Bible worker for Steps to Life. 

Editorial – Some Things to Study

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As we approach the near coming of Jesus there are important subjects with which you need to be well acquainted to be ready for the swiftly coming future events.

  1. The reasons for your faith. “We shall have to stand before magistrates to answer for our allegiance to the law of God, to make known the reasons of our faith.” Testimonies, vol. 6, 128.
  2. Bible predictions about the closing events in this world’s history. “And the youth should understand these things. They should know the things that will come to pass before the closing up of the world’s history.” Ibid., 128, 129.
  3. The Books of Daniel and Revelation. “There is need of a much closer study of the word of God; especially should Daniel and the Revelation have attention as never before in the history of our work.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 112.

“The unfulfilled predictions of the book of Revelation are soon to be fulfilled. This prophecy is now to be studied with diligence by the people of God, and should be clearly understood. It does not conceal the truth; it clearly forewarns, telling us what will be in the future.” Notebook Leaflets, vol. 1, 96.

  1. The judgment. “We are in the great day of atonement, and the sacred work of Christ for the people of God that is going on at the present time in the heavenly sanctuary should be our constant study.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 520.

“With what care should everyone come to the study of the Scriptures! With what a determination to know all that it is possible for him to know of the reasons of every point of the faith. Especially should he study the sanctuary question, and the first, second and third angel’s messages.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 10, 171.

  1. Health Reform. “God calls upon us to stand upon the broad platform of temperance in eating, drinking, and dressing. Parents, will you not awaken to your God-given responsibilities? Study the principles of health reform, and teach your children that the path of self-denial is the only path of safety.” Ibid., vol. 20, 9.

The Coming Crisis

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In the field of religious liberty, there are two poles. On the one hand, there are the sons of God, who have the glorious liberty that comes when Jesus Christ is accepted into the human heart. It is founded in and anchored to the authority of God, His Word, and His law; and it is the secret of all human liberty. When a people or a nation espouse Jesus Christ and His teachings, there can be found true liberty.

On the other extreme, there are the developments that are marked by the marshaling of the nations as Babylon weaves together the new world order. In order to understand the developments that are taking place, it is necessary to go beyond the superficial activities of everyday life. Only then is it possible to see the powerful movements that are taking place in our world.

I recently viewed a video depicting the life of Martin Luther. This film was produced with the assistance of the Lutheran Church long before the Vatican II Council took place. It reflected the respect that at that time was given to Martin Luther for his stand in the sixteenth century Reformation. At one point, there is a very dramatic scene when the vicar general of the order of the Augustines confronted Luther. The vicar said, “If you take away all the symbols, all these images, [all of these things that prop up the people’s faith in the thinking of the Roman Catholic Church], what are you going to put in their place?”

Martin Luther replied, “Christ. I will put Christ there.”

In producing the Bill of Rights, the founders of this country ushered in a new era for humanity; and in doing so, a cradle was made from which the proclamation of the three angels’ messages could take place. In the developments of the last thirty years, however, we have the product of blood, toil, and sacrificed lives being removed to make way for communism and socialism, which are taking hold in America with lightning speed.

If we could look from the perspective of the throne of God, where angels are rushing in and out doing His bidding, upon the diabolical elements working to bring about the final holocaust in earth’s experience, what a peace of mind we would have. That experience is to be ours because we are to sit in heavenly places with Christ. When you are aligned with God, there is nothing to fear.

In his book, The Keys of This Blood, Malachi Martin tells what is being planned in the Vatican. He writes, “Willing or not, ready or not, we are all involved in an all-out, no-holes-barred, three-way global competition. Most of us are not competitors, however. We are the stakes. For the competition is about who will establish the first one-world system of government that has ever existed in the society of nations. It is about who will hold and wield the dual power of authority and control over each of us as individuals and over all of us together as a community.” Notice how he puts it, authority and control—and that is the issue addressed by the third angel’s message.

There have been windows of opportunity throughout this century when the new world order people have sought to seize control, but the present time is the greatest window of opportunity that they have yet been presented with. When you consider the rapidity with which the supporters of the one-world order are moving and the speed with which the resistance against them is crumpling, it appears that we have very little time left.

We just produced a video this fall entitled “The Military Take-Over of America,” dealing with the behind the scenes developments. Things are changing rapidly, with lightning speed, in America.

We used to have years of food reserves in this nation. Today we have only a sixteen day supply. We first knew that something was taking place about a year ago when the General Conference told all of the pastors to keep a year’s supply of food in their home and to increase the food supplies in the community service centers. We did not then know the gravity of the situation.

In this country, ninety-five percent of the food supply is produced and marketed by about five or six multinational corporations. Recently, my brother-in-law was sitting on an airplane next to a representative of a major food supplier in the United States. He asked this person, “How many day’s food supply does your corporation have in reserve?” The representative replied, “About sixteen days. When it comes to perishables, we have about three day’s food supply.” Those who have studied the new world order believe that the ultimate weapon of the new order will be food.

Do you remember that Ellen White wrote, “The Protestant world have set up an idol sabbath in the place where God’s Sabbath should be, and they are treading in the footsteps of the Papacy. For this reason I see the necessity of the people of God moving out of the cities into retired country [places].” Country Living, 21

Soon it will be very, very difficult for people who live in cities. In Ellen White’s day, it was typical in an agrarian society of ninety percent or more farmers in the nation, that they had a year’s food supply at any given time. In the fall they stored up in their root cellar a year’s food supply so that it would last them until the next summer. That was typical then, it is now considered hoarding. Were you aware that there are laws against hoarding?

Under the Federal Emergency Management Agency executive orders, forty-three detention camps have been set up here in America and provided for with funding. These processing centers are to provide a place where dissenters can be dealt with.

Incidentally, the only people who are going to be able to stand up to this new world order are people who have the fear of the Lord, who tremble at the word of the Lord. There is no power in mere reaction, but there is power in Jesus Christ. If, because of your allegiance to His Word, His law, and His authority, you are put in a position that you must dissent from laws that conflict with that divine authority, you have the protection of the Almighty. “He that dwelleth in the secret place.”

Did you know that God has secret places? I have started looking up the secrets and the places of God. Does God know about privacy? Oh, yes, He does. But what does the new world order want to do with privacy? Utterly eliminate it. They are acting as if the Constitution did not even exist!

As this crisis comes upon humanity, the contrast between the kingdom of God—a kingdom of righteousness and peace, a kingdom whose only weapons are spiritual weapons of truth and righteousness—and the new world order will become more and more distinct.

Jesus knew that for humanity to change, the gospel had to reach the person individually; therefore, he did not involve Himself in armed insurrection. He preached the gospel, and the kingdom of God seized hold of people’s hearts. Even though that kingdom is not something that is materially visible, its effects are visible. When Christ rules in the human heart and takes possession of it, He rules over every aspect of the human life. Satan finds that he has a power to contend with that is more powerful than he is. “Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1John 4:4. This is the most powerful force in the world—Jesus Christ! His principles of His kingdom of love and peace and righteousness are principles that will win in the end in the great controversy.

Yes, there is going to be a holocaust in this world that will dwarf into almost insignificance what happened in Nazi Germany and the Stalinist famines where thirty million people in western Russia were systematically starved to death. There will be utter desolation everywhere; but there will be a people who will be safe under God’s protection. Now that does not mean that there will not be martyrs in the little time of trouble, but we have the promise that nothing can touch those who are in Christ Jesus, except by His permission. (See Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, 71.) And if you are called to suffer, it will be for the glory of God!

“Satan is now using every device in this sealing time to keep the minds of God’s people from the present truth and to cause them to waver. I saw a covering that God was drawing over His people to protect them in the time of trouble; and every soul that was decided on the truth and was pure in heart was to be covered with the covering of the Almighty.” Early Writings, 43. The only way the people of this world are ever going to have that covering is to be decided on the truth of the three angel’s messages, because the ultimate protection is from God.

When the new world order moves decidedly against God’s faithful, commandment-keeping people, they will be touching the apple of God’s eye; and “the Lord will come with fire and with His chariots like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword will the Lord plead with all flesh: and the slain of the Lord shall be many.” Isaiah 66:15

Yes, we are entering the climax. Things are going to look pretty grim for some time; but in the end, the Lord will assert his mastery as the King of kings and Lord of lords who has omnipotent power.

The crime wave sweeping America today is a result of failure to preach the law of God from the pulpits of our land. It is directly due to the rejection of the authority of God’s law. Because of that, human laws have been disregarded; and violence and crime—crimes unimaginable—are sweeping across our land. When this takes place, it is the time of opportunity for tyrants to remove liberty. They use the crime as an excuse for the removal of liberty.

Do we understand, do we grasp the significance of the three angels’ messages? The protection of humanity depends upon their acceptance of these messages. The Lord’s servant saw a covering that God was drawing over His people to protect them in the time of trouble; and every soul that was decided on the truth and was pure in heart was to be covered with the covering of the Almighty.

“Satan knew this [that the covering of the Almighty would be over these ones] and he was at work in mighty power to keep the minds of as many people as he possibly could wavering and unsettled on the truth.” Early Writings, 43. [All emphasis supplied] You see, we have to be decided on the truth; we have to be settled into the truth, intellectually and spiritually, to have the seal of the living God.

Isaiah 26:20 is a very precious passage on what we are talking about here. “Come My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut they doors about thee.” You see, this storm of human and satanic wrath will be such that there is only one safe place, and that is in the chambers of the Lord.

“Come My people, enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast.” Ellen White comments on this and she says, “when tempted to sin, let us remember that Jesus is pleading for us in the heavenly sanctuary. When we put away our sins and come to Him in faith, He takes our names on His lips and presents them to His Father, saying, ‘I have graven them upon the palms of my hands; I know them by name.’ The command goes forth to the angels to protect them.” And, we are told, the weakest angel in heaven’s military is more powerful than Satan and all of his evil—the weakest one. God not only has one angel but He has an innumerable company, and they are all worshipers with us in the same congregation.

“Then in the day of fierce trial He will say, ‘Come My people, enter thou into thy chambers [it is time to hide now], and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast’ (Isaiah 26:20). What are the chambers in which they are to hide? They are the protection of Christ and holy angels. The people of God are not at this time all in one place. They are in different companies and in all parts of the earth, and they will be tried singly, not in groups. Everyone must stand the test for himself.” Ibid. What does that mean? That means that once again, Christ must assume the priority in our life. The Word of Christ, the relationship with Christ, must assume the priority. It must not be replaced by human relationships.

In Revelation 14:1 and following, we have pictured the Lamb standing on mount Zion and “with Him and hundred forty and four thousand, having His Father’s name written in their foreheads.” What is the significance of the Father’s name written in their foreheads? The name, in the Bible, is of great significance. The name signifies the character. When Jacob wrestled with the Lord that night at the brook Jabbok, hour after hour wrestling, finally, as the light began dawning in the east, he realized who had had been wrestling with—the Lord of Hosts, Jesus Christ Himself. Jacob clung to Him and said, “I will not let You go except You bless me. I did not know it was You; but now, bless me. I need Your blessing. I am not going to let You go unless You bless me.” It was not a presumptuous statement. It was was a pleading in self-surrender. Through self-surrender he gained the victory, and his name was changed from Jacob the supplanter to Israel, prince with God. “For as a prince thou hast prevailed,” Jesus said to him. So, these people have whose name written in their foreheads? They have the character of God Himself so deeply embedded in their cerebrum, in the area of their brain that does the thinking, the conscience decision making area where character is formed, that it is as the Father’s name written in their foreheads. They will be completely imbued with the character of the Father. These are the ones who make up the hundred and forty-four thousand.

“And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: and they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.” Revelation 14:2, 3. We are told in the Great Controversy that these hundred and forty-four thousand who have lived through this awesome time have lived through the time when the earth has been wasted with famine, when utter desolation was everywhere, and they are alive at the second coming of Jesus.

“Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire,—so resplendent is it with the glory of God,—are gathered the company that have ‘gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.’” The Great Controversy, 648, 649

The hundred and forty-four thousand have resisted every form of evil that could be brought against them. And they stand, “With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, ‘having the harps of God.’” At that time, we will see where the real physical location of the real church is, won’t we? That is the physical location of the church, right there in heaven. Then it will be brought down here to the new earth after the thousand years. “With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, ‘having the harps of God,’ they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed form among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, ‘the voice of harpers harping with their harps.’ And they sing a ‘a new song’ before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb—a song of deliverance.” Ibid.

Not only will we have all of the forces of evil unleashes but as those forces are unleashed, suddenly the seven last plagues will be poured out on those who have received the mark of the beast. And the judgments of God will be in the land, unmixed with mercy. Ellen White in vision looked around and saw utter desolation everywhere. But you see, the people of God are under special protection. They have that covering; they are under His wing.

I remember the first time that I read the story of a vision that Ellen White had that is recorded on page 270 of Maranatha. There was a heavenly messenger who suddenly appeared before her and said, “Gather your things and come and follow me.” She gathered her things and followed. Through a dark passageway they went through the forest, through the clefts of the mountains, to a remote location. There the messenger of the Lord turned to her and said, “The great time of trouble has come, but here you will be safe.” And there were others who had been similarly led there. The angels will lead God’s people to special hiding places.

Brothers and Sisters, there is a better land. And the hope of that better land sustains God’s people through whatever they may be called to face. In the days to come, we can sit in heavenly places with Christ. We can have within us One, even Jesus Christ, who is mightier than all of the powers that are on this earth. We can have the covering of the Most High because we are decided upon the truth of the three angels’ messages.

The End

Inspiration – Our Present Position

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If we hope to wear the crown, we must expect to bear the cross. Our greatest trials will come from those who profess godliness. It was so with the world’s Redeemer; it will be so with His followers. I should doubt whether I were a child of God, if the world, or even all professed Christians, spoke well of me. Those who are in earnest to win the crown of eternal life need not be surprised or disheartened because at every step toward the heavenly Canaan they meet with obstacles and encounter trials. The opposition which Christ received came from His own nation, who would have been greatly blessed had they accepted Him. In like manner the remnant church receives opposition from those who profess to be their brethren.

But “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God.” “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (Romans 8:28; II Timothy 3:12). It is good for me to tread a hard and humble path, to encounter difficulties, to experience disappointments, to suffer afflictions and bereavements. The Saviour knows what is best. Faith grows by conflict with doubt and difficulty and trial. Virtue gathers strength by resistance to temptation. The life of the faithful soldier is a battle and a march. No rest, fellow-pilgrim, this side the heavenly Canaan.

When our enemies try to place upon us the black robes of unrighteousness, let us not become exasperated at their injustice. When your efforts are falsified, when your motives and your works are painted in colors black as ink, remember those who were treated the same before you. How have the saints of God in ages past been maligned, traduced, and persecuted! For centuries their names were covered with infamy. All that the hosts of hell could do was done to heap reproach upon them as the vilest of men. But John in holy vision beholds the faithful souls that come up out of great tribulation, surrounding the throne of God, clad in white robes, and crowned with immortal glory (Revelation 7:14, 9). What though they have been counted the offscouring of the earth? In the investigative Judgment their lives and characters are brought in review before God, and that solemn tribunal reverses the decision of their enemies. Their faithfulness to God and to His word stands revealed, and Heaven’s high honors are awarded them as conquerors in the strife with sin and Satan.

Brethren, we can afford to wait. Let our enemies exult because they have represented us in a character to suit their malicious fancy. But Christ will judge righteously, and will reward every man according to his deeds. To the faithful, who have been clothed by their enemies in the black robes of falsehood, He will give the spotless garments of truth and purity.

It will do our proud hearts good to suffer reproach for Christ’s sake. “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you, falsely, for My sake. Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in Heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets that were before you” (Matthew 5:10–12). …

Cultivate fortitude, firmness, patience, humility, and self-control. The God whom we serve will arm us with courage in every emergency; but we must abase self, and let God be all in all. It was true faith that gave Caleb courage to bear his decided testimony for God, even when fellow-workers stood ready to take his life. God wants brave men in His cause today—men who in His strength are not afraid to do and dare.

The time is short. How will our cases appear in the Judgment? What is now our standing before God? Are we closely examining our own hearts? Are we by repentance and confession sending our sins beforehand to Judgment, that they may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come? This is an individual work—a work which we cannot safely delay. We should take hold of it earnestly; our salvation depends upon our sincerity and zeal. Let the cry be awakened in every heart, “What must I do to be saved?”

The adversary of souls is constantly seeking to divert our minds by bringing in side-issues. Let us not be deceived. Let enemies handle your name and mine as they please. Let them distort, misrepresent our words and deeds. Let them fabricate falsehoods as best pleases them. We cannot afford to allow our minds to be diverted from Jesus and the preparation of soul which we must have in order to meet Him in peace.

… In Christ’s stead, I beseech you to pray as you never prayed before, to seek earnestly for faith and love, that seem to be almost banished from the earth. Live each day as in the sight of God. …

… We must now make Christ our refuge, or in the days before us our souls will be overwhelmed with darkness and despair. There is a point beyond which human help cannot avail. Every one must live by faith as he is forced into close and apparently deadly conflict with the powers of darkness. Each must stand or fall for himself. The arrows of the destroyer are about to be hurled against the faithful ones, and no earthly power can turn aside the shaft. But could our eyes be opened we could see angels of God encircling the righteous, that no harm may come upon them. We have only to trust in God, and go forward in the way of obedience, and we shall be victorious.

Excerpts from The Review and Herald, August 28, 1883.

Question & Answer – How Does Matthew 25:1-12 relate to Daniel 7:13?

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Answer

We find the answer in The Great Controversy, 426.

“The coming of Christ as our high priest to the most holy place, for the cleansing of the sanctuary, brought to view in Daniel 8:14; the coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of Days, as presented in Daniel 7:13; and the coming of the Lord to His temple, foretold by Malachi, are descriptions of the same event; and this is also represented by the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage, described by Christ in the parable of the ten virgins, of Matthew 25.”

These are all descriptions of the same event pointing us to the investigative judgment!

  1. The coming of Christ to the most holy place to cleanse the sanctuary – Daniel 8:14
  2. The coming of the Son of man to the Ancient of Days – Daniel 7:13
  3. The coming of the Lord to His temple foretold by Malachi – Malachi 3:1-3
  4. The coming of the bridegroom to the marriage – Matthew 25:6

Another important point is that the cleansing of the sanctuary, which began on October 22, 1844, is the same event described in the parable of the ten virgins as “the coming of the bridegroom to the marriage.” Matthew 25:6.

“In the summer and autumn of 1844 the proclamation, ‘Behold, the Bridegroom cometh,’ was given. The two classes represented by the wise and foolish virgins were then developed—one class who looked with joy to the Lord’s appearing, and who had been diligently preparing to meet Him; another class that, influenced by fear and acting from impulse, had been satisfied with a theory of the truth, but were destitute of the grace of God. In the parable, when the bridegroom came, ‘they that were ready went in with him to the marriage’ (Matthew 25:10).” The Great Controversy, 426.

Also, consider the following:

  1. In the summer and autumn of 1844 the proclamation, “Behold the Bridegroom cometh” (Matthew 25:1–6) was given.
  2. Two classes were developed
  3. Wise virgins—true believers
  4. Foolish virgins—professed believers

The Message of the Angels to the Entire World

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It is an absolute thrill to be a part of the proclamation of the three angels’ message. It is a growing, dynamic movement raised up by God. The very essence of Adventism, of what it means to be a true Seventh-day Adventist and to truly give the three angels’ messages, is being revived around the world. The fellowship is truly a foretaste of heaven.

Ellen White wrote that “The world is preparing for the closing work of the third angel’s message. The truth is now to go forth with a power that it has not known for years. The message of present truth is to be proclaimed everywhere.” Manuscript Releases, vol. 10, 218. The world is preparing for it. People know that something enormous is about to happen in the world. Pope John Paul II believes that there is going to be a cataclysmic event that, as a result, the papacy will emerge as the ruler of this world. But even the man on the street has a sense that something is impending in our world.

Right now, we are at a crisis point in the history of humanity. Every person on this earth is to have the opportunity of understanding what the issue is regarding the mark of the beast. To meet the challenge, if God’s people will rise up and improve the opportunity that has come to them so providentially and miraculously, they will be given by God the most powerful tool for the proclamation of the loud cry.

We are part of a movement that is going through to glory. It is the unfolding of the power and the principles of the kingdom of God in these latter days. We have always known that this message of the three angels is going to triumph gloriously, but the vision of how it is going to take place is now beginning to unfold before our eyes. The message of present truth is to be proclaimed everywhere, and how can we proclaim it so cost effectively as through this shortwave radio station? With this station, the most powerful available, the billions of people on earth can hear the message at the speed of light. The developments that take place step by step as we approach the second coming of Jesus can be analyzed and proclaimed in the setting of the three angels’ messages.

In order for the rays of light to penetrate everywhere, those who are giving the message must have a way to carry the message everywhere. This is not going to be very effectively done by our opposition. We must have a voice, and God is giving to us that voice—the most powerful tool of communication available at this time. There is going to be a great harvest, and the radio station is a key factor.

“The last great conflict is before us; but help is to come to all who love God and obey His law, and the earth, the whole earth, is to be lighted with the glory of God.” Review and Herald, April 19, 1903. How many cities have you been through in China recently, proclaiming the message of truth? Do you know that through your gifts and this radio station we have the potential of being able to proclaim that message to every town in China, in inner and outer Mongolia, and in Tibet? Do you see the significance of it? We can blanket the entire globe at the speed of light. The whole earth is to be lighted with the glory of God. That is the commission that God has given to us. That is the glory of the hour, the time upon which we stand—the proclamation of the loud cry of the third angel, which will be attended by the fourth angel, which reinforces the second angel, all bound up with the first angel and the everlasting gospel.

The knowledge of the truth places us in a position of great responsibility because the blood that was shed at Calvary’s cross is of infinite value. The proclamation of the truth that makes known the knowledge of this infinite gift is an integral part of the plan of redemption. While all around, the principles of Satan are being acted out, the heavenly light is to shine upon this generation; and it will shine through the tongues, the pens, the generosity in giving, and the activity of God’s people, and through the improvement of opportunities that He has given them at this time. There is nothing that can compare with the thrill of being a part of it. If you are bored with life, all you have to do is begin following the truth, and you will have more adventure than you can endure.

Let us not be found with those who say, “It is not time to give out The Great Controversy now,” or “Be careful that you do not mention the mark of the beast.” As a result of the loud cry, every person in this world will know what the mark of the beast is; and if we cannot tell what it is now, how will we do it when the laws forbid it? The world must be prepared. Every person must know exactly what Rome did in changing the day of worship. Every person must know what the mark of the beast is and what the seal of God is so they can make an enlightened decision before the seven last plagues fall. Someone is going to do it. As Pastor John has said, “If not us, who? If not now, when?”

Do you realize now what it means that we have the satellite uplink? We are able to hold telethons that we could not have held two years ago. As this movement grows, you see, it feeds on itself; it is cyclical. Once this station is purchased, who knows what opportunity the Lord will open up next, and on and on and on. As we act on the opportunities that God gives us, he gives us more opportunities. What started out as a tiny mustard seed, as in the parable of Jesus, is sprouting and growing until it becomes a great tree, and the birds can nest in its branches. But those people who are holding the truth in unrighteousness are never going to give this message until they repent and come into line with the operation of the Holy Spirit right now.

There have been times when my heart has said, “How will God’s people be able to stand the forces coming against them?” In the Old Testament, over and over again a few men of Israel stood up and resisted the enemy and overwhelmed them in the Spirit of the Lord; and it will be the same way again at the end of time. I love that story of Gideon’s army and especially the test that God gave them when they came down to the water. Three hundred scooped it up and kept on running. Of the ones who stopped and took their time, God said, “Sorry. We can’t use them.” They turned the armies of the aliens to flight, and this is the spirit that is going to seize control of God’s people today.

During crisis times in the Reformation, Martin Luther spent three hours a day in prayer. One man, with a heart anchored by faith to Christ, is greater than the whole world. I pray to God, “Make my heart so broad, so strong, that it can bear up when these forces are applied against us. Give God’s people a heart and a spirit that is so broad, so strong, so powerful in You, that it will not be overcome and it will emerge triumphant over all obstacles.”

It is the work of the third angel’s message to reach every person and convict them regarding the claims of the law of God, the Sabbath of God, and expose the man of sin and what he has done in altering the law of God in insinuating his own authority where the authority of God is supposed to be. Every person has to have these things clearly delineated; that is the work of the third angel. God will allow that work to go on until it is complete, and that is the one safe place to be.

You see, the issue of sacrifice is complete surrender. If it will glorify God’s name to allow us to be martyred to show the character of Satan in contrast to the character of God, then it will advance God’s work. When the fires of Smithfield were lit in England and Ridley and Latimer were led to the stake, they said to each other, “We are going to light this day in England a fire that will not be extinguished.” As they were about to be burned, they encouraged each other with these words. So it will be, but your eternal life is secure in Christ. He will look out for your eternal best interest. There is nothing in the world that can even begin to compare with standing on that sea of glass and realizing that you have been fully redeemed, that you are there for eternity along with those who have listened to the message because you gave a gift to purchase the most advanced communications tool known to man.

There are many Adventists who are afraid to proclaim the third angel’s message. They do not want it proclaimed; they want to hush it up. They are writing articles in the periodicals to quiet it down; but I tell you, it is going to be given. And as it swells into a loud cry, great power and glory will attend its proclamation! I want to be a part of that power and glory! That power and glory is wrapped up in the third angel’s message. Ellen White says that if you separate the mark of the beast from the proclamation of the Sabbath, it loses its power. That is why the mark of the beast issue is so significant.

If we cannot proclaim the third angel’s message now, what about after the national Sunday law is passed? What will you do once a national police force is firmly established, which we are in the process of witnessing right now? I listened to an intelligence advisor, who used to serve in the United States military as an intelligence analyst and a counter-intelligence coordinator for years, give a seminar. He described what it will be like when the new world order takes effect. He spoke of various police agencies, such as the MJTF police, a multijurisdictional task force that most Americans have never even heard of. He told how they will do house to house searches and seizures and sweeps through the cities of our land, rounding up those who are dissenters from the new world order. He said that twelve years ago he would not have even considered talking about these things, but recently he has been discovering one piece of evidence after another.

“Some, I saw, have a prejudice against our rulers and laws; but if it were not for law, this world would be in an awful condition. God restrains our rulers; for the hearts of all in are in His hands. Bounds are set, beyond which they cannot go. Many of the rulers are those whom Satan controls; but I saw that God has His agents, even among the rulers. And some of them will yet be converted to the truth. They are now acting the part that God would have them. When Satan works through his agents, propositions are made, that, if carried out, would impede the work of God and produce great evil. The good angels move upon these agents of God to oppose such propositions with strong reasons, which Satan’s agents cannot resist. A few of God’s agents will have power to bear down a great mass of evil.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 203, 204

There is a struggle going on between the rulers of the earth—some under the control of the evil angels and some under the control of good angels. I have been amazed as I have been doing research, to see that there are people who are opposing gigantic evils that I did not even know existed. You heard on the news about the Iran Contra hearings and all that is involved. As I listened to the reports, little did I know that there were programs involved in that affair to suspend our Constitution and that there were good agents who resisted this, at great cost.

God will use His agents who are rulers in this earth to hold back a mass of evil so that this message can be proclaimed. That gives me great encouragement as I think about the proclamation of the message through this radio station. God is going to see to it that His message is proclaimed; and the safest place that you can be is right in the center of the proclamation of this message, because God will work through His angels on the hearts of rulers to allow the proclamation of this message.

“During the loud cry, the church, aided by the providential interpositions [This means that God is going to say, “We are going to adjust this and that, move out in this direction, correct this, block this evil, give this message.] of her exalted Lord, will diffuse the knowledge of salvation so abundantly that light will be communicated to every city and town. [You can do that with this shortwave station.] The earth will be filled with the knowledge of salvation.” Evangelism, 694

“As the third angel’s message swells into a loud cry, great power and glory will attend its proclamation. The faces of God’s people will shine with the light of heaven.” Maranatha, 202. I tell you, God’s people are going to be the most powerful force on this earth. They are united with the most powerful Being in the universe—God—God providentially interposing and blocking evil and opening up opportunities, crowning with success their intense efforts. Great power and glory will attend the giving of the message of the third angel.

The time has come for the nominal Adventist to awake out of his Laodicean state, seize the message, and join this movement! There is no time to delay. Every hour, you are approaching more closely the crisis of the ages. At any moment the sudden terror that Ellen White described that would come with blinding force and as an overwhelming surprise may spring upon you. And the Seventh-day Adventist sitting in the pew week by week is no exemption. I tell you, the one safe place will be under that covering that God extends over every person who is decided upon the three angel’s messages.

“When Jesus leaves the most holy, His restraining Spirit is withdrawn from rulers and people. They are left to the control of evil angels.” Ibid., 268. Then there will be none of these rulers who are God’s agents still there to resist them. Every one of the rulers then will be evil. That is what happened in the destruction of Jerusalem, which is a type of what it will be like in the great time of trouble. What a picture. They are left to the control of evil angels. Do you see, fellow Adventists, if you do not join this movement of the three angels’ messages and give it all that you have, where you will be left? You well be outside of the ark of safety where only evil angels are controlling humanity.

Do you think that people will know who is proclaiming the message? They will be known. Someone came up to me last night with a quote from the Mackelvane Intelligence Advisor, about a Univac computer in which are one million names already targeted for arrest when the new world order goes into effect in this country. Other figures about which we are hearing is that under the new world order, seventy-five percent of the population of North America and half the population of the world will have to be eliminated. Does it sound outlandish? Listen, before World War II, who took Hitler seriously when he wrote Mein Kampf, where he laid out his plan? It sounded too fantastic. It was not until after the war that the truth began coming out! We need to learn a lesson because, according to the occult agencies of the world, that was a trial run for a new world order.

God is going to allow a real demonstration at the end of time. He is going to let the universe see what it would have been like if Satan would have been given a free hand in heaven. He will show the entire universe what it would have been like if Satan had had his way. On this earth it will be demonstrated, and we are called upon to live during that time.

Yes, the proclamation of the third angel, which identifies the mark of the beast, will involve persecution; but the glory of the experience is impossible to describe. You cannot imagine what it will be like when you get to heaven to be able to tell stories about this ruler and that ruler who accepted the message of the third angel. You will be able to tell worlds afar what it was like to be under God’s protection during that time of Satan’s power here on this earth, when the earth was desolated and wasted by famine, pestilence, and plague, and every element of strife and evil was cut loose on humanity.

“Those who have held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will be wide-awake during the time that the third angel’s message is proclaimed with great power.” Maranatha, 218

Now is the time. May God help us to make the best use of it.

The End

Editorial – Rest

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Even a casual study of the life of our Lord during His incarnation reveals that, “Throughout His life on earth, Jesus was an earnest and constant worker. He expected much; therefore He attempted much. After He had entered on His ministry, He said, ‘I must work the works of Him that sent Me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.’ John 9:4. Jesus did not shirk care and responsibility, as do many who profess to be His followers.” The Desire of Ages, 72.

Before He entered on His ministry He was an earnest worker in Nazareth: “While on earth Christ lived in the home of a peasant. He wore the best garments His parents could provide, but they were the humble garments of the peasants. He walked the rough paths of Nazareth and climbed the steeps of its hillsides and mountains. In His home He was a constant worker, and left on record a life filled with useful deeds.” In Heavenly Places, 214.

“He commenced His life of usefulness in childhood. … Between the ages of twelve and thirty, before entering upon His public ministry, He led a life of active industry.” The Review and Herald, January 6, 1885. In His ministry, Jesus was never idle.

Jesus is still working for each one of us. His work is constant—He never sleeps or goes on a vacation. How long is He going to be doing this constant intercession? “Our need of Christ’s intercession is constant.” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1078.

He will not stop until the case of every individual in this world is decided for life or for death. You and I each have a case pending in heaven; the Apostle Paul said, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” II Corinthians 5:10.

We have been given a time of probation so that we might prepare and be ready for the judgment. After the judgment is over, the whole universe will enter a period of rest. It is exciting to look forward to. Will you have a part in it?

“Not until every case is decided will Christ be at rest. …

“He came to redeem humanity, and He will continue to send message after message to save His flock from Satanic delusions. He will not cease to send His messages until the redeemed universe shall be at rest.” This Day With God, 91.

Editorial – Weighed and Wanting

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“The Lord is soon to come; there must be a refining, winnowing process in every church, for there are among us wicked men who do not love the truth. There is need of a transformation of character. Will the church arise and put on her beautiful garments, the righteousness of Christ? It is soon to be seen who are vessels unto honor.”

Malachi 3:18–4:2, first part, is quoted and then she writes, “Here are brought plainly to view those who will be vessels unto honor; for they will receive the latter rain. Every soul that continues in sin in the face of the light now shining upon our pathway, will be blinded and accept the delusions of Satan. We are now nearing the close of this world’s history. …

“Time, precious time, has been lost in wanderings and backslidings from God. Every character is to be weighed in the balances of the sanctuary; if the moral character and spiritual advancement do not correspond with the opportunities and blessings, ‘wanting’ [Daniel 5:27] is written against the name. …

“All who claim to be children of God should seek daily to understand why they believe by searching the Scriptures for themselves. Those who humbly study the character of Jesus will reflect his image more and more. The descent of the Holy Spirit upon the church is looked forward to as in the future; but it is the privilege of the church to have it now. Seek for it, pray for it, believe for it. We must have it, and Heaven is waiting to bestow it. …

“Trials are to come upon God’s people and the tares are to be separated from the wheat. But let not Ephraim envy Judah any more, and Judah will no more vex Ephraim. Kind, tender, compassionate words will flow out from sanctified hearts and lips. It is essential that we be united, and if we all seek the meekness and the lowliness of Christ, we shall have the mind of Christ, and there will be unity of spirit.”

Taken from The Review and Herald, March 19, 1895.