judgment

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.

Editorial – Be Ready

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The second advent movement was raised up to proclaim God’s last message of mercy and warning to the world, the message contained in Revelation 14:6–12. This message is, first of all, a message of judgment. The judgment is a major theme of the Bible. Moses, David, Solomon, the prophets and the apostles speak about it again and again. Ellen White had a dream concerning the executive judgment 35 years and one day after the great disappointment in 1844, described in volume 4 of the Testimonies. May you not be in the number that she vividly described from this dream:

“Another book was opened, wherein were recorded the sins of those who profess the truth. Under the general heading of selfishness came every other sin. …

“One class were registered as cumberers of the ground. As the piercing eye of the Judge rested upon these, their sins of neglect were distinctly revealed. … They had not such confessions to make as had the vile and basely corrupt; but, like the fig tree, they were cursed because they bore no fruit. …

“This class had made self supreme, laboring only for selfish interests. …

“The names of all who profess the truth were mentioned. Some were reproved for their unbelief, others for having been slothful servants. … Each was to demonstrate a living faith in his family and in his neighborhood, by showing kindness to the poor, sympathizing with the afflicted, engaging in missionary labor, and by aiding the cause of God with his means. …

“The words spoken to these were most solemn: ‘You are weighed in the balances, and found wanting (Daniel 5:27). You have neglected spiritual responsibilities because of busy activity in temporal matters. …’

“The question was then asked: ‘Why have you not washed your robes of character and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14)? God sent His Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that through Him it might be saved (John 3:17). My love for you has been more self-denying than a mother’s love. It was that I might blot out your dark record of iniquity, and put the cup of salvation to your lips, that I suffered the death of the cross, bearing the weight and curse of your guilt. The pangs of death, and the horrors of the darkness of the tomb, I endured, that I might conquer him who had the power of death, unbar the prison house, and open for you the gates of life. That life of bliss which I purchased for you at such a cost, you have disregarded.” Testimonies, vol. 4, 384–387. [Emphasis author’s.]

Editorial – The Judgment

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The judgment is referred to several hundred times in the Bible. God does not inspire His prophets and apostles to emphasize things that are unimportant. The emphasis given to the judgment in the Bible shows us that this is a subject that we should all become familiar with and understand. The judgment is far more important than whether or not you should die, because for the Christian, death is simply a temporary separation. However, the judgment will either unite or separate people for eternity.

Following are five facts about the judgment:

  1. God’s judgment of mankind includes every single person who has lived on this earth. II Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; Jude 15. For some people, it will be as though they had not been. Obadiah 16.
  2. The first phase of any judgment is an investigation. If the person being judged is acquitted, that is the end of the judgment, but if he is convicted, two more phases of judgment follow—the sentencing and finally the execution of the sentence when the convicted person must pay the penalty imposed by the sentence.

In God’s judgment, there is first an investigation. The Bible speaks repeatedly about this, often in symbolic language. For example, in Zephaniah 1:12, the prophet makes note of a search. (A search is an investigation.) Notice also that this search or investigation of God’s professed people comes when the day of the Lord is at hand (Zephaniah 1:7).

A court battle with Satan as the prosecuting attorney and Jesus Christ as the advocate of God’s people is described in Zechariah 3. In this judgment scene the salvation of God’s professed people is dependent on their walking in God’s ways—keeping His commandments (verse 7) and having their iniquity removed.

  1. No judgment can take place without a standard for making a decision of guilt or innocence. The standard for God’s judgment is the law of God, the Ten Commandments. James 2:10–12; Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.
  2. Every action and word and thought and feeling of every person who has ever lived is reviewed in the judgment. See Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14; Matthew 12:36, 37; Isaiah 66:18; Psalm 139; I Corinthians 4:5.
  3. If you are to be acquitted in God’s judgment, your name must be entered and remain in the Book of Life. Revelation 20:15; Revelation 13:8; Luke 10:17, 18; Revelation 3:5; Daniel 12:1, 2; Philippians 4:3; The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God. Great Controversy, 480. Exodus 32:33; Ezekiel 18:24; Acts 3:19–21; Matthew 10:32, 33.

If you are a professed Christian, your name has been registered in the book. How does your page in that book look today?

Editorial – Unite or Separate

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God does not inspire His prophets and apostles to emphasize things that are unimportant. The emphasis given to the judgment, mentioned several hundred times in the Bible, shows us that this is a subject that we should all become familiar with and understand. The judgment is far more important than whether you should die or not because, for the Christian, death is simply a temporary separation. The judgment, however, will either unite or separate people for eternity.

Below are five facts about the judgment:

  1. God’s judgment of mankind includes every single person who has lived on this earth. 2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; Jude 15. Some people will be “as though they had never been.” Obadiah 16.
  2. The first phase of any judgment is an investigation or court hearing. (If the person being judged is acquitted, that is the end of the judgment; but if he is convicted then there follow two more phases of judgment—the sentencing phase and finally the execution of the sentence when the convicted person must pay the imposed penalty.) In God’s judgment there is first an investigation. The Bible speaks about this repeatedly, and often in symbolic language. For example in Zephaniah 1:12, the Lord states through His prophet that He “will search Jerusalem with lamps.” Note that a search is an investigation. Notice also that this search comes when the day of the Lord is at hand (Zephaniah 1:7). A court battle with Satan as the prosecuting attorney and Jesus Christ as the advocate of God’s people is described in Zechariah 3. In this judgment scene the salvation of God’s professed people is dependent on their walking in God’s ways—keeping His commandments (verse 7) and having their iniquity removed. Although the people being judged are God’s people on earth, this judgment occurs in heaven (see Daniel 7:9–14). This judgment begins while the gospel is being preached and before the third angel’s message is proclaimed (see Revelation 14:6–12).
  3. No judgment can take place without a standard for making a decision for acquittal or conviction. The standard for God’s judgment is the law of God, the Ten Commandments. James 2:10–12; Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.
  4. Every action and word and thought and feeling of every person who has ever lived is reviewed in the judgment. See Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14; Matthew 12:36, 37; Isaiah 66:18; Psalm 139; I Corinthians 4:5.
  5. If you are to be acquitted in God’s judgment, your name must be entered and remain in the Book of Life. Revelation 20:15; Revelation 13:8; Luke 10:17, 18; Revelation 3:5; Daniel 12:1, 2; Philippians 4:3; The book of life contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God. The Great Controversy, 480. Exodus 32:33; Ezekiel 18:24; Acts 3:19–21; Matthew 10:32, 33.

If you are a professed Christian, your name has been registered in the book. How does your page in that book look today?

Are You Being Sealed?

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We are judgment bound Seventh-day Adventists. What is taking place at this moment has never taken place before in the history of the world.

“This mightiest of angels has in his hand the seal of the living God, or of Him who alone can give life, who can inscribe upon the foreheads the mark or inscription, to whom shall be granted immortality, eternal life….

“Those that overcome the world, the flesh, and the devil, will be the favored ones who shall receive the seal of the living God. Those whose hands are not clean, whose hearts are not pure, will not have the seal of the living God.” Testimonies to Ministers, 444, 445

It is so plain. First Ellen White gives it in the positive, and then, just to make sure that it is absolutely clear, she gives it in the negative. “Those who are planning sin and acting it will be passed by. Only those who, in their attitude before God, are filling the position of those who are repenting and confessing their sins in the great anti-typical day of atonement, will be recognized and marked as worthy of God’s protection.” Ibid., 445

There are only two seals, or marks received in the last days—the mark of the beast and the seal of God. Only those who overcome the world, the flesh and the devil will be the favored ones who will receive the seal of God. If you do not receive the seal of God, you are lost. How can the new theology teach in one breath, that we can go on sinning and repenting right up until the time that Jesus comes, and in the next breath, still profess to believe the Spirit of Prophecy?

“The only hope of any man lies through Jesus Christ….The pure and holy garments are not prepared to be put on by any one after he has entered the gate of the city. All who enter will have on the robe of Christ’s righteousness, and the name of God will be seen in their foreheads. This name is the symbol which the apostle saw in vision, and signifies the yielding of the mind to intelligent and loyal obedience to all of God’s commandments.” Sons and Daughters of God, 370

It is an amazing thing that, even though Seventh-day Adventists are known as people who keep the commandments, we are hearing less and less about the Ten Commandments in church. We are hearing less and less about the vindication and immutability of God’s law in our periodicals and more about love and social issues. I am all for helping the homeless and hungry, but these are social issues. They may be good issues, but they are not the message God gave to us for this time. If we are not going to preach the three angels’ messages, who will?

“Now is the time to lay up treasure in heaven and to set our hearts in order, ready for the time of trouble. Those only who have clean hands and pure hearts will stand in that trying time. Now is the time for the law of God to be in our minds, foreheads, and written in our hearts.” Early Writings, 58

“The Lord has shown me the danger of letting our minds be filled with worldly thoughts and cares….In these things I saw great danger; for if the mind is filled with other things, present truth is shut out, and there is no place in our foreheads for the seal of the living God. I saw that the time for Jesus to be in the Most Holy Place was nearly finished and that time can last but a very little longer. What leisure time we have should be spent in searching the Bible, which is to judge us in the last day.

“My dear brethren and sisters, let the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ be in your minds continually….When you lie down and when you rise up let them be your meditation. Live and act wholly in reference to the coming of the Son of man. The sealing time is very short, and will soon be over.” Ibid.

Do you have a devotional program? I am talking about a serious devotional program where you set your alarm clock to get up early and spend some time with God.

A favorite tool of the devil is to rob God’s people of devotional time with the Lord by getting them to stay up late so that they do not have that time to spend with the Lord in the morning. Do what ever is necessary to get to bed on time. Set that alarm clock early, and the Lord will make it up to you with strength for the day. This is how you establish a relationship with the Lord and prepare for the sealing time.

“Many are called, but few are chosen. Many hear the invitation of mercy, are tested and proved; but few are sealed with the seal of the living God.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 50

What does this statement tell us? It makes it clear that the vast majority of Seventh-day Adventists are not going to receive the seal of the living God but will receive the other seal—the mark of the beast—and they are going to be lost.

“Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one stain upon them. It is left with us to remedy the defects in our character, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 214

Are you tempted to say, “Oh, there is no hope; I cannot make it!”? Let me tell you, folks, there is hope. Don’t ever let the devil tell you otherwise, because the Lord that I serve is able to give you victory over every sin. If there is a sin He cannot give you victory over, I want to know what it is. It does not come by accident; but if you are getting up early and spending that time with the Lord, and if you are staying in an attitude of prayer all day, you will have the victory. If you are not doing these things, you are not getting victory. It is just that simple.

“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. Satan knew this, 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, 43,44

Today, we are seeing the minds of God’s people wavering and being waffled around in indecision by every wind of doctrine. Even among people who claim to be Historic Adventists, people whom we thought were firmly grounded, we are seeing this take place. Errors, over which we thought the truth had been vindicated and had all died, we see coming back again. We find that we can talk with people for hours and hours and when we are finished, they will go to another preacher and ask him the very same question. That preacher will work and study with them for hours, and then they will go to somebody else.

God is drawing a covering over His people. This covering is His protection form the buffetings of Satan, but He can only draw it over those who are settled firmly into the truth. Those who are not covered are being knocked around by Satan. The more unsure they are, the more Satan knocks them around and the more unsure they become. It is a vicious circle. If they do not change, they are lost. You must be settled into the truth, and you must do so now!

“Their knees were trembling, and their feet sliding, because they were not firmly planted on the truth, and the covering of Almighty God could not be drawn over them while they were thus trembling.” Ibid., 44

I do not care how busy you are or what you are doing; if you are not reading, studying and becoming firmly planted in the truth, then you have your priorities upside down. If you are not firmly planted in the truth, you are going to be lost, and that is all there is to it.

“Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious world-loving man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 216

Could we say that this applies to people who say one thing and do another? Who say one thing back stage and say something else out on the stage? Could we say it applies to people who make a statement like, “you must do thus and so or you are going to force me to lie”?

“All who receive the seal must be without spot before God—candidates for heaven.” Ibid.

Do you know what this means? It means perfection. And what is perfection? It is walking in victory in Jesus Christ. Many have made the word perfection to mean something terrible, but what does the Bible teach?

Let me ask you a question. This is a loaded question; be careful how you answer it. Can you walk on water? Either answer is right, and both answers are wrong. Through the power and strength of Jesus Christ, you are able to do what it is humanly impossible to do. Peter could not walk on water, but he did. As long as he kept his eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, he did what was impossible. Don’t ask me how he did it; he just did it.

Here is another loaded question. Can you live without sinning? When you keep your eyes on the Lord Jesus Christ, you can do what it is otherwise impossible to do. Humanly speaking, living without sin is absolutely impossible, even laughable—just as laughable as to think that a man could walk on the water. But Peter did. That is the kind of Lord that we serve. Do not ask me how it is done; it is just done. You step out by faith and say, “Lord, give me the victory over this.” Turn it over to Him, letting Him have full control, and He will do it.

“Those who receive the seal of the living God and are protected in the time of trouble must reflect the image of Jesus fully.

“I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of ‘refreshing’ and the ‘latter rain’ to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter!” Early Writings, 71

Have you ever heard an Adventist saying, “Oh, we must have the latter rain. If we could just receive the latter rain, we could finish the work.” They are looking to the latter rain as if it is going to be some transforming power over their lives. No one, however, is going to receive the latter rain unless they have experienced the transforming power of the early rain. It is through the early rain experience that we receive the power of the Holy Spirit that prepares us to receive the power of the latter rain. We have gotten things backwards folks.

“It is now that we must keep ourselves and our children unspotted from the world.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 215

Has anyone ever said to you, “Well, this is a real world that we live in; you just have to let your children get out there and fend for themselves. You are just putting them in a cocoon and are living in too sheltered an environment. You just have to let them learn how to stand on their own two feet”? Have you ever heard these things?

Let me tell you, if you do what they suggest, your children are going to be lost. God gave us Christian homes so that we could bring our children up in a protected environment in this world. If you throw your children to the wolves, that is exactly where they are going to end up.

“It is now that we must wash our robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is now that we must overcome pride, passion, and spiritual slothfulness. It is now that we must awake and make determined effort for symmetry of character.” Ibid., 216

We are told that the living righteous will receive the seal of God prior to the close of probation. See Selected Messages, book 1, 66. Do you believe that we are near to the close of probation? Do you believe that probation closes first for professed Seventh-day Adventists? Reasoning from cause to effect, if the close of probation is near, and if it closes first for professed Seventh-day Adventists, then probation’s close must be very close for Seventh-day Adventists. Are you beginning to see where we are?

“The judgement is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon—none know how soon—it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review. At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour’s admonition: ‘Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.’ Mark 13:33. ‘If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.’ Revelation 3:3.” The Great Controversy, 490

What serious times in which we live. How could anything on this earth possibly take precedence over this? “The destiny of all will be decided. A few, yes, only a few, of the vast number who people the earth will be saved unto life eternal, while the masses who have not perfected their souls in obeying the truth will be appointed to the second death.” Testimonies, vol. 2, 401, 402

If the seal of the living God is being decided at this moment in your case, are you ready to receive it? The Laodicean condition is the most dangerous condition that people can be in. When people believe that they are rich and increased in goods and in need of nothing, while they are really blind, poor, wretched and naked, they are greatly deceived. This, however, is the condition of the Seventh-day Adventist Church today.

“God has made ample provision that we may stand perfect in His grace, wanting in nothing, waiting for the appearing of our Lord. Are you ready? Have you the wedding garment on? That garment will never cover deceit, impurity, corruption, or hypocrisy. The eye of God is upon you. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We may conceal our sins from the eyes of men, but we can hide nothing from our Maker.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 220

What is hypocrisy? It is claiming to be one thing while being something totally different on the inside. God’s robe of righteousness—the wedding garment—will never cover hypocrisy.

“There is great need that our brethren overcome secret faults. The displeasure of God, like a cloud, hangs over many of them. The churches are weak. Selfishness, uncharitableness, covetousness, envy, evil-surmising, falsehood, theft, robbery, sensuality, licentiousness, and adultery, stand registered against some who claim to believe the solemn, sacred truth for this time. How can these accursed things be cleansed out of the camp, when men who claim to be Christians are practicing them constantly? They are somewhat careful of their ways before men, but they are an offense to God. His pure eyes see, a witness records, all their sins, both open and secret; and unless they repent and confess their sins before God, unless they fall on the Rock and are broken, their sins will remain charged against them in the books of record. Oh, fearful histories will be opened to the world at the judgment—histories of sins never confessed, of sins not blotted out!” Testimonies to Ministers, 146

Oh, brothers and sisters, it is time to take care of these things in our lives. The sealing is taking place. No one knows when the judgment of the living begins. It could be going on now. Are you ready to stand in the judgment before God? Are you ready to receive the seal of the living God?

The End