tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63063027284651125812024-03-13T19:21:38.173-07:00JOY in parentheses Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-90742123192656812462016-07-28T18:53:00.003-07:002016-07-28T18:53:58.003-07:00God's law immutable--in depth end-time-events study: Part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Part 1</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br />
</span><br />
GC chapter 25—<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">God’s law immutable</b><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif;">What we are going over in this
particular study involves a lot of the subjects we have already studied some
on, such as the studies of the law (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ten Commandments</i>),
the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sanctuary</i>, the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Heavenly Sanctuary</i>, and the Prophecies
concerning the beasts of Rev 13. Additional subjects involved in this study
also include the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Three Angels Message</i>,
and the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Judgement</i>. Each of these
subjects are very fascinating, intertwined together, and applicable to our
time. <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
majority of Quotes compiled herein are from the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Great Controversy</i>, Chapter 25 (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">God’s
law immutable), </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Prophets and
Kings</i>. I would recommend the reading of the first chapter/introduction to
PK, as well as the whole of GC chapter 25 in personal study. <br />
</span><br />
<br />
<span class="egw-text">“The temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was
seen in His temple the ark of His testament.” </span><span class="egwlink">Revelation
11:19</span><span class="egw-text">. The ark of God's testament is in the holy of
holies, the second apartment of the sanctuary. In the ministration of the
earthly tabernacle, which served “unto the example and shadow of heavenly
things,” this apartment was opened only upon the great Day of Atonement for the
cleansing of the sanctuary. Therefore the announcement that the temple of God
was opened in heaven and the ark of His testament was seen points to the
opening of the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary in 1844 as Christ
entered there to perform the closing work of the atonement. Those who by faith
followed their great High Priest as He entered upon His ministry in the most
holy place, beheld the ark of His testament. As they had studied the subject of
the sanctuary they had come to understand the Saviour's change of ministration,
and they saw that He was now officiating before the ark of God, pleading His
blood in behalf of sinners.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {GC 433.1} <br /></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtr8NK3kSsJWeY38RL9fPAvWMsP8CKD6cJPsF_0k6xAACqlCqXK6KJCvPdprYMDHC7v8lHu8DD0Hct3RiVAPu1UxNagGpehBRwCY-BomZWVcahQkz5SOFI7YKFB4KX10Dov6J5g0tcZA/s1600/Ark+of+the+Covenant5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLtr8NK3kSsJWeY38RL9fPAvWMsP8CKD6cJPsF_0k6xAACqlCqXK6KJCvPdprYMDHC7v8lHu8DD0Hct3RiVAPu1UxNagGpehBRwCY-BomZWVcahQkz5SOFI7YKFB4KX10Dov6J5g0tcZA/s400/Ark+of+the+Covenant5.jpg" width="400" /></a><span class="egw-ref"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif;">The events
that took place in 1844, though known as a great disappointment, are a
significant part of history and of the church. We know that 1844 marked the
beginning of the “end Time,” and the beginning of Jesus ministry in the Most Holy
place of the Heavenly Sanctuary (This we know by studying the 2300 day and 70
weeks prophecies). Though, because of a misunderstanding in the studying of the
2300 day prophecy by the people in 1844, the time was a disappointment. But
there remained a number of people, a small number, who continued seeking after
the truth and found greater light and truth involved with the Sanctuary
message:<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span class="egw-text">“The ark in the tabernacle on earth contained the two
tables of stone, upon which were inscribed the precepts of the law of God. The
ark was merely a receptacle for the tables of the law, and the presence of
these divine precepts gave to it its value and sacredness. When the temple of
God was opened in heaven, the ark of His testament was seen. Within the holy of
holies, in the sanctuary in heaven, the divine law is sacredly enshrined—the
law that was spoken by God Himself amid the thunders of Sinai and written with
His own finger on the tables of stone.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {GC 433.2} </span><br />
The law of God in the sanctuary in heaven is the great original, of which
the precepts inscribed upon the tables of stone and recorded by Moses in the
Pentateuch were an unerring transcript. Those who arrived at an understanding
of this important point were thus led to see the sacred, unchanging character
of the divine law. They saw, as never before, the force of the Saviour's words:
“Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from
the law.” Matthew 5:18. The law of God, being a revelation of His will, a
transcript of His character, must forever endure, “as a faithful witness in
heaven.” Not one command has been annulled; not a jot or tittle has been
changed. Says the psalmist: “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.”
“All His commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever.” Psalm
119:89; 111:7, 8. {GC 434.1} <br /><br />
<span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The sincere one’s who continued studying and seeking
after the truth after the awful great disappointment started to see the law of
God in a different light, and it was showed them it’s great and everlasting importance.
<br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_qIkNFwb2hh8J-YTqaQ5QTIy3q0A2KsRlXC6vFLFarkCwNH3f7gub6p3UaNJD0gRybeOBQxfDnJmI0ToqepSPLMtXlYujBPsg0ig3VE3k7230fIfYBRGoD-jQG_pcLthwWArYVmhfRk/s1600/commmandments_God.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_qIkNFwb2hh8J-YTqaQ5QTIy3q0A2KsRlXC6vFLFarkCwNH3f7gub6p3UaNJD0gRybeOBQxfDnJmI0ToqepSPLMtXlYujBPsg0ig3VE3k7230fIfYBRGoD-jQG_pcLthwWArYVmhfRk/s320/commmandments_God.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text">In the very bosom of the Decalogue is the
fourth commandment, as it was first proclaimed: “Remember the Sabbath day, to
keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh
day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou,
nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy
cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord
made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh
day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.” </span><span class="egwlink">Exodus 20:8-11</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {GC 434.2} <br /></span></div>
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-ref"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif;">As was
mentioned earlier, the law, written in stone by God’s hand, in the Ark of the Covenant
in the literal Tabernacle among Israel, was just a transcript—a written or
printed version of God’s law patterned precisely after the original law of God
in Heaven. During the time following the beginning of the early Christian
church started by the Apostles, 313 AD to be more precise, a change took place
under the hand of Constantine. A new religion was created, and it was created
to replace the true and pure form of Christianity. That “new” religion
manifested into the Roman church (Catholicism). From that time forward, the
Roman Church has taken that Transcript of God’s law and has changed it—predominantly
the fourth commandment. The true Christians lost sight of the Original
transcript of God’s law and began following after the changed version after Catholicism.
There followed a time of awful spiritual conflict and darkness for many years
afterward. For this reason, the “early” Christian church has kept Sunday worship,
rather than God’s 7<sup>th</sup> Day Sabbath, all the way up into our time. (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Note:</b> God’s has always had a people
that did keep the Correct Sabbath all through history through—the true law was
preserved by His providence). <br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>However, in 1844 the truth of
God’s law and that blasphemous change was uncovered to those few members of the
Christian church who kept seeking truth. By the Holy Spirit, these truth
seekers were converted into the truth and began making repair to that which had
been broken for more than a 1000 years. <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif;"></span></div>
<span class="egw-text">The Spirit of God impressed the hearts of those
students of His word. The conviction was urged upon them that they had
ignorantly transgressed this precept by disregarding the Creator's rest day.
They began to examine the reasons for observing the first day of the week
instead of the day which God had sanctified. They could find <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">no evidence in the Scriptures that the
fourth commandment had been abolished, or that the Sabbath had been changed</b>;
the blessing which first hallowed the seventh day had never been removed. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">They had been honestly seeking to know and
to do God's will</i>; now, as they saw themselves transgressors of His law,
sorrow filled their hearts, and they manifested their loyalty to God by keeping
His Sabbath holy.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {GC 434.3} <br /></span><br />
<span class="egw-ref"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif;">These
diligent and faithful ones took hold of this truth in its entirety and diligently
went about to obey what they knew as truth—this birthed the Seventh day
Adventist Christians again. <br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text">“Many and earnest were the efforts made to
overthrow their faith. <u>None could fail to see that if the earthly sanctuary
was a figure or pattern of the heavenly, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the
law deposited in the ark on earth was an exact transcript of the law in the ark
in heaven;</b> and that an acceptance of the truth concerning the heavenly
sanctuary involved an acknowledgment of the claims of God's law and the
obligation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment.</u> Here was the secret of
the bitter and determined opposition to the harmonious exposition of the
Scriptures that revealed the ministration of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary.
Men sought to close the door which God had opened, and to open the door which
He had closed. But “He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no
man openeth,” had declared: “Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and
no man can shut it.” </span><span class="egwlink">Revelation 3:7, 8</span><span class="egw-text">. Christ had opened the door, or ministration, of the most holy
place, light was shining from that open door of the sanctuary in heaven, <span style="color: red;">and the fourth commandment was shown to be included in the
law which is there enshrined; what God had established, no man could overthrow.</span></span><span class="egw-ref"> {GC 435.1}<br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidp7IcJOPOScTL_wsvbFShH3eEZyosdL-NgTpW7f6G14fUtZFtzXquwy_mfpDVSW4tx69E2cqKzU1_wHIFJyME0RG1spIZdJOrWkTRs2EY8GIylaewB3TnAO1MZDTr8VOyt28RmuoOj1s/s1600/lightstock_135028_small_jerry_freedom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidp7IcJOPOScTL_wsvbFShH3eEZyosdL-NgTpW7f6G14fUtZFtzXquwy_mfpDVSW4tx69E2cqKzU1_wHIFJyME0RG1spIZdJOrWkTRs2EY8GIylaewB3TnAO1MZDTr8VOyt28RmuoOj1s/s400/lightstock_135028_small_jerry_freedom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>“<span style="color: red; font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">And ye shall know the <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">truth</span>, and the <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">truth</span> shall make you <span style="background: yellow; mso-highlight: yellow;">free</span> </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">(<u><span style="color: green;">Joh_8:32</span></u>).” </span><span style="font-family: "Arial Narrow",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Amen?<br />
The truth surely breaks the chains of Bondage. As the truth of the Sabbath
brought joy and rejoicing to the Early Adventist Pioneers, so it can continue
to bring joy unto those who are willing to hear it today. Yet, we see clearly,
that there is evident retaliation against the true Sabbath—even amongst
Christians. The true Sabbath is truth, and it is becoming more and more
critical in these last days as we shall see further on in this study. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-50192262511493137942016-07-08T19:53:00.002-07:002016-07-08T19:53:33.824-07:00The Sinners need for Christ<div align="center" class="Standard" style="line-height: 200%; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 200%; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“The sinners need of Christ”<br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mt3xwQfIPI0j7yp75Yu5XVcWybNPQkR4AVpnbcZxweuq-fOO95ilHgvzR9Eg6n5xOYlWvG4fA08lNnyDWI0CrTnV2qRERK6r-xtPzjU2yrVUK6RzbyC7yKisrBhR59fte-IeVr3O7hc/s1600/16bb773a7edf67fab7be7e6f7a53d9e1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Mt3xwQfIPI0j7yp75Yu5XVcWybNPQkR4AVpnbcZxweuq-fOO95ilHgvzR9Eg6n5xOYlWvG4fA08lNnyDWI0CrTnV2qRERK6r-xtPzjU2yrVUK6RzbyC7yKisrBhR59fte-IeVr3O7hc/s400/16bb773a7edf67fab7be7e6f7a53d9e1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="Standard">
<b><br />
<br /><br />
What is the definition of a sinner?</b><br />
<br />
A person who transgresses against divine law by committing an immoral act or
actions.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; mso-padding-alt: 0in .5pt 0in .5pt; width: 207px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 7.65pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="height: 7.65pt; padding: 0in 2.25pt 0in 0in; width: 56.25pt;" valign="top" width="75"><div class="Standard">
<i>Synonyms:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
</td>
<td style="height: 7.65pt; padding: 0in 0in 0in 0in; width: 99.25pt;" width="132"><div class="Standard">
<a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1MSNA_enUS634US634&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=940&q=define+wrongdoer&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwo63KjLDNAhVHSFIKHVwJArQQ_SoIHjAA">wrongdoer</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1MSNA_enUS634US634&espv=2&biw=1920&bih=940&q=define+evildoer&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjwo63KjLDNAhVHSFIKHVwJArQQ_SoIHzAA">evildoer</a><o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="Standard">
<br />
<b>What is a sinner according to scripture?<br />
<br />
</b>Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God; <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
Rom 3:24 Being
justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">So, if all have sinned, and </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">1 John 3:4 defines sin as: “Whosoever committeth sin
transgresseth also the law: for <b>sin is
the transgression of the law</b>.” Then we are all sinners, are we not? But, as
Romans 3:24 says, we may all be “</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” therefore,
we are all in need of Christ, Amen? We each, individually, need His saving
grace.</span> <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">To
understand further our need of Christ, and all sinners need, we can go and look
at how man was created to be, and how mankind has been deteriorated because of
sin—the transgression of God’s divine law.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">Let’s
begin in the beginning.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">Gen
1:26,27</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<span style="background: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana, arial, helvetica, sans"; font-size: 11.0pt;">26</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana, arial, helvetica, sans"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-1-26/"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">And
God said, Let us make man <b>in our image</b>,
<b>after our likeness</b>: and let them
have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth
upon the earth.</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Textbody" style="margin-bottom: 6.75pt; margin-left: 15.0pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-indent: -15.0pt;">
<span style="background: white; color: #666666; font-family: "verdana, arial, helvetica, sans"; font-size: 11.0pt;">27</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "verdana, arial, helvetica, sans"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-1-27/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">So God created man in his </span></a><a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-1-27/"><em><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "verdana, arial, helvetica, sans"; font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;">own</span></em></a><a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-1-27/"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "verdana, arial, helvetica, sans"; font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none;"> image,
in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.</span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">So, God created Man in HIS Image, to have dominion over all the earth,
and everything in and on the earth.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="background: white; font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">In Genesis 2:7 we read how God created Man.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="ListHeading">
<a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-2-7/"></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="ListHeading">
<a href="http://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Genesis-2-7/"><span class="StrongEmphasis"><span style="color: #250517; font-family: "verdana, arial, helvetica, sans"; font-size: 10.5pt;">Genesis 2:7</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="ListContents" style="margin-left: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; color: #250517; font-family: "verdana, arial, helvetica, sans"; font-size: 10.5pt;">And the LORD God formed man <em>of</em> the dust of the ground,
and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man
became a living soul.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<b><span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">Note:</span></b><span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;"> How was man created?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">Formed from the dust of the ground</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">How was the rest of creation made?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard" style="margin-left: 35.45pt;">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">God spake, and it was.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">God
created everything by speaking, and it was made except for Man. God purposed to
form man in the Image of God with an intellect, a conscience and a well-balanced
mind. He took time to form man with His own hands; the creation of man was
intimate with God, thus men and women were created to have that close communion
with God. <br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">Ellen
White says in Steps to Christ,</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">“Man was originally
endowed with noble powers and a well-balanced mind. He was perfect in his
being, and in harmony with God. His thoughts were pure, his aims holy. But
through disobedience, his powers were perverted, and selfishness took the place
of love. His nature became so weakened through transgression that it was
impossible for him, in his own strength, to resist the power of evil. He was
made captive by Satan, </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt;">and would have
remained so forever had not God specially interposed</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">. It was the tempter's purpose to thwart the divine plan in man's
creation, and fill the earth with woe and desolation. And he would point to all
this evil as the result of God's work in creating man.”</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 10.0pt;">Steps to Christ ~ 17.1</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">So, when God created Man, did He create them to be evil? <b>Did God create Evil?</b></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">No, of course not. It is Satan's purpose to discredit creation as
evil that is the result of God's work in creating—God did not create suffering
or evil, but Lucifer, and other supreme beings created by God, made a conscious
decision to do wrong—that is, they chose to rebel and </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">violate God’s divine law, and sinned entered.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<b>But God specially interposed.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve";">“It is impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape from the pit of
sin in which we are sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we cannot change them.
"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." "The
carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God,
neither indeed can be." Job 14:4; Romans 8:7. Education, culture, the
exercise of the will, human effort, all have their proper sphere, but here they
are powerless. They may produce an outward correctness of behavior, but they
cannot change the heart; they cannot purify the springs of life. There must be
a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed
from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the
lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness.” </span><span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 10pt;">Steps to Christ (18).</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">Amen?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">Despite Satan's work to destroy mankind, God Specially interposed.</span><b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
</span></b><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Even though that which He
created rebelled against Him, He still provided a way of escape from the wages
of sin:<br />
<br />
</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<b>Rom 6:23</b> “For the wages of sin <i>is</i> death; but <u>the gift of
God <i>is</i> eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord</u>.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
This brings us to the Plan of
Salvation,<b><span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;"> What is the plan of Salvation</span></b><span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">Instead of
abandoning us in this world with our sin or destroying this world and
everything in it, God made a plan to bring hope to the world, a plan that could
give human kind the hope of everlasting life if we so choose it. Sin is like a
disease that has swept across the earth, destroying and deteriorating
everything that it contacts; we can see this earth and all its contents scarred
by sin, with disease and death all around. But God made a plan of salvation to
save the people of the world from sin—and from the wages of sin.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">The
earthly sanctuary that was in Israel has a representation of the plan of
Salvation:</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Standard">
<span style="font-family: "roboto, 'helvetica neue', helve"; font-size: 11pt;">Remember
what the lamb represents?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Standard">
<br /></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">"Behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," John the Baptist said as
he saw Jesus coming towards him (John 1:29).
<br />
</span>It is without a doubt who the Lamb of God is—Jesus is the Lamb of God,
our Savior, the one who was innocent and holy, yet who took our reproach and
sins upon Himself to pay the price of sin on our behalf. The whole illustration
of the Ceremonies and furnishings of the sanctuary shadow the events of the
cross—the whole of the plan of Salvation is focused around Christ as our
Savior. That is why the message of the sanctuary is so important, both for new
converts and those who have long been converted. Yet this topic, this
illustration of hope and inspiration, is rarely taught in our churches today.
Other denominations avoid the subject viewing it as holding little meaning, but
even now our congregations are being deprived of the subject of the Sanctuary,
and of the subject of Salvation. We must not forget who our Savior is and why,
which is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<br /></div>
<div class="Textbody">
Steps to Christ:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">“But in vain are
men's dreams of progress, in vain all efforts for the uplifting of humanity, if
they neglect the one Source of hope and help for the fallen race. "Every
good gift and every perfect gift" (James 1:17) is from God. There is no
true excellence of character apart from Him. And the only way to God is Christ.
He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by Me." John 14:6.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif";">Amen?
<br />
<b>We must recognize the true nature of sin
in order to comprehend our essential need for Christ. Those who feel they may
continue on in sin, in violation to God’s divine commandments, do NOT realize
their true need for a Savior, and are thus perishing.</b> <br />
The true nature of sin should be recognized and abhorred by those seeking to
live up to the light that they know. There should be a constant persevering
attempt to overcome sin, for that is what Christ taught us, and which we can do
only through Him. <br />
Only through Jesus Christ can we be freed from the bondage of sin in this life,
and be able to pass into that new life in Christ. </span><span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xxn9BueEwSlhjUM9MxzWmx7c-Kldi9yvfm7_ikl8uwBGosSgaxAEo6gqD_Zki5ZIlnHqY2PwDFkO6iEkXM7VycK2Gj7LLN8gIIoqWmrihGNSWqkhNnApBH_Yo-slh9NjMp9ujUB81u4/s1600/b70803f4bdc3fc7532fa3b10487f2e8d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1xxn9BueEwSlhjUM9MxzWmx7c-Kldi9yvfm7_ikl8uwBGosSgaxAEo6gqD_Zki5ZIlnHqY2PwDFkO6iEkXM7VycK2Gj7LLN8gIIoqWmrihGNSWqkhNnApBH_Yo-slh9NjMp9ujUB81u4/s320/b70803f4bdc3fc7532fa3b10487f2e8d.jpg" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">“The heart of God
yearns over His earthly children with a love stronger than death. In giving up
His Son, He has poured out to us all heaven in one gift. The Saviour’s life and
death and intercession, the ministry of angels, the pleading of the Spirit, the
Father working above and through all, the unceasing interest of heavenly
beings,--all are enlisted in behalf of man's redemption.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif";"> They
are all there where we cannot see them, but they are all there working to help
us. The whole hosts of heaven are ready and willing to assist us in fighting
against the flesh—to help us conquer sin and worldliness. It is up to us to
accept their aid—to surrender ourselves to God and dedicate to doing His will. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Oh, let us
contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for us! Let us try to
appreciate the labor and energy that Heaven is expending to reclaim the lost,
and bring them back to the Father's house. Motives stronger, and agencies more
powerful, could never be brought into operation; the exceeding rewards for
right-doing, the enjoyment of heaven, the society of the angels, the communion
and love of God and His Son, the elevation and extension of all our powers
throughout eternal ages—are these not mighty incentives and encouragements to
urge us to give the heart's loving service to our Creator and Redeemer?<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif";">Once the sinner has made that
conscious decision, in humble and contrite heart, to forsake the service of
Satan and continuance in sin, then the peace of God and with the hosts of
heaven we can be united with in the struggle against sin.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">“And, on the other
hand, the judgments of God pronounced against sin, the inevitable retribution,
the degradation of our character, and the final destruction, are presented in
God's word to warn us against the service of Satan.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;">Shall we not regard
the mercy of God? What more could He do? Let us place ourselves in right
relation to Him who has loved us with amazing love. Let us avail ourselves of
the means provided for us that we may be transformed into His likeness, and be
restored to fellowship with the ministering angels, to <b><u>harmony and communion with the Father and the Son.<br />
<br />
</u></b></span><span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif";">1Ti 2:3-6<br />
For this <i>is</i> good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif";">Who will <u>have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth</u>. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="Textbody">
<span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif";">For <i>there is</i> one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus; </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial, helvetica, sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Who
gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. <br />
<br />
It
is God’s desire that all would be saved, that all would come to Him, and that
all would receive Christ as their Redeemer. The only thing holding the sinner
back from this gift of eternal life is their own choice. My prayer and hope is
that each of us would recognize our need for a Savior, and that we would each
make that conscious, mental, and physical decision to accept Christ of whom we
are in need of. And in our daily lives, I hope that we would also teach others
their need for Christ as well. </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-40081717753769723502016-06-17T17:39:00.000-07:002016-06-17T17:39:48.909-07:00"Sin is the cause, Christ is the cure"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWnsne5DsqCcVcHi9fhg-diQ_Of8cYTggMweSZBwPrND5jVu9y8P01CzlaSPMl8WotgawABfuj_h0QKUne0FWDGOZ73HC-94QGcI1Jj48ON3SmbaVEy8yP-UVtilhn8pcRt5Sn7umnCU/s1600/85d8ac913bd52654f712c80979efdcc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWnsne5DsqCcVcHi9fhg-diQ_Of8cYTggMweSZBwPrND5jVu9y8P01CzlaSPMl8WotgawABfuj_h0QKUne0FWDGOZ73HC-94QGcI1Jj48ON3SmbaVEy8yP-UVtilhn8pcRt5Sn7umnCU/s320/85d8ac913bd52654f712c80979efdcc3.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0.498039); color: #1d2129; font-family: "_ff_font_459970" , "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;"><br />"We must recognize the true nature of sin in order to comprehend our essential need for Christ. Those who feel they may continue on in sin, in violation to God’s divine commandments, do NOT realize their true need for a Savior, and are thus perishing. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0.498039); color: #1d2129; font-family: "_ff_font_459970" , "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">The true nature of sin should be recognized and abhorred by those seeking to live up to the light that they know. There should be a constant persevering attempt to overcome sin, for that is what Christ taught us, and which we can do only through Him. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0.498039); color: #1d2129; font-family: "_ff_font_459970" , "lucida grande" , "tahoma" , "verdana" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px;">Only through Jesus Christ can we be freed from the bondage of sin in this life, and be able to pass into that new life in Christ."</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-17749476166795372762016-06-03T18:43:00.000-07:002016-06-03T18:43:21.481-07:00"To walk as Enoch walked"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1DMhbWVjsisACBsbRoisb4RhUhD5Vl0t93Byvkzh2l4egZz7LnrpGkzP_2142MEe2OFUqqNkj5FKwyhXEdSmUojBOpW6wJdM9c56MKnVaBcpIVRDmGNPkjAvQkgx6utV3Jd2TMixUk4/s1600/DSC09906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1DMhbWVjsisACBsbRoisb4RhUhD5Vl0t93Byvkzh2l4egZz7LnrpGkzP_2142MEe2OFUqqNkj5FKwyhXEdSmUojBOpW6wJdM9c56MKnVaBcpIVRDmGNPkjAvQkgx6utV3Jd2TMixUk4/s400/DSC09906.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
“To walk as Enoch walked”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Let’s talk about
Enoch:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">How many years after creation was Enoch born?</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<br />
Lineage from Adam to Enoch (Gen 5:1-18):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Adam begat Seth at
136, Seth begat Enos at 105, Enos begat Cainan at 90, Cainan begat Mahalaleel
at 70, Mahalaleel begat Jared at 65, Jared live 162 years and begat Enoch.<br />
<br />
Adam,<br />
Seth, <br />
Enos,<br />
Cainan,<br />
Mahalaleel,<br />
Jared,<br />
and Enoch.<br />
<br />
Enoch was born 628 years—just 7 generations—after creation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Note:</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> Isn’t it amazing how scripture is so
detailed and specific on chronology? By scripture alone we have a detailed
record of History, time, events, of prophecy— both past and present—and of the story
and instructions of redemption through Christ, the everlasting gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So in scripture
the chronology of the generations down to Jesus’ time is placed there for a
specific reason. We have ample evidence to compare with historical records to
see the credibility and truth of the bible. It truly is the sure word of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Seth was born in the Image of Adam—<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">“Seth
was of more noble stature than Cain or Abel, and resembled Adam more closely
than did his other sons. He was a worthy character, following in the steps of
Abel. Yet he inherited no more natural goodness than did Cain… {PP 80.1}.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Note:</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> Which means Seth was born into the sinful nature of Man and
not the sinless nature that Adam and Eve had been created in originally. Though
we are born into the sinful nature, it does not mean we are born into sin.
Being born into the sinful nature means that <b>we are born into the distinguishing characteristics of thoughts,
feelings, and actions that are inclined to sin</b>, whether naturally,
independently, or influenced from an external source, <u>but not directly born into
sin</u>. <br />
Christ was born from His heavenly Nature (of which was not tainted by the curse
of sin) into the sinful nature of man—yet without sin. He was born into the
same natural inclinations that we have to think, feel, and act in sin, <i>but He overcame all those tendencies to sin
to show us that in our feeble natures we can still be over-comers of sin
through Jesus Christ</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> “Concerning the creation of Adam it is said,
“In the likeness of God made He him;” but man, after the Fall, “begat a son in
his <i>own</i> likeness, after <i>his</i> image.” While Adam was created
sinless, in the likeness of God, Seth, like Cain, inherited the fallen nature
of his parents. But he received also the knowledge of the Redeemer and
instruction in righteousness. By divine grace he served and honored God; and he
labored, as Abel would have done, had he lived<u>, to turn the minds of sinful
men to revere and obey their Creator</u>. {PP 80.1}”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> So, we have two individuals—Cain and Able. One
of whom chose the path of rebelliousness and hatred, and one who chose faithfulness
to God. Cain slew his brother because he saw that Able’s works were good and
just and accepted by God. The wicked hatred and jealousy that Cain harbored in
his heart became the same traits that his descendants lived in from generation
to generation. Had Abel lived to continue his faithful labors, he would have
worked to turn the minds of sinful men to God, but he was killed and his work
unaccomplished. But God in His providence provided another child to Adam to
carry forward the unfinished work. Though Satan may have conquered one of God’s
faithful, God rose up another to continue forward—and his name was Seth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Genesis 4:26</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> <br />
And to Seth, to him also there was born a son; and he called his name Enos: <u>then
began men to call upon the name of the LORD</u>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> From Adam to Able, and then to Seth, the same
work of faithfulness and obedience to God was handed down from generation to
generation in a world that was waxing continually evil, where the descendants
of Cain were growing exceedingly wicked. Through each generation, the Lord was sustaining
and sheltering His faithful few so they could continue to carry forward the
work of turning “the minds of sinful men to revere and obey their Creator (PP
80.1).”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
That same Spirit of faithfulness and service was instilled in each generation
down to Enoch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">So, Enoch, as we
mentioned at the start of our study, was born 628 years—or 7 generations—after creation.
Very fascinating evidence we can review here, but let’s get down to the real
importance of this subject.<br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Turn with me to
Genesis chapter five, and let’s read verses 21, through 24:<br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Gen
5:21 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat Methuselah: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Gen
5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years,
and begat sons and daughters: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Gen
5:23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Gen
5:24 And Enoch walked with God: and he <i>was</i> not; for God took him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> There are only a few verses here
that mention the life of Enoch, but the verses are concise and packed with
meaning. If we understand the background of what was taking place in the world
around this time, we can start to really understand the meaning of these
verses. At the time that Enoch was born, Adam was still alive. Adam lived to be
930 years old; Enoch was born 628 years after when Adam’s time began. So Adam was
still alive in Enoch’s day. However, from the time that Adam and Eve sinned,
when sin entered the world, the world was being subjected under the curse of
sin. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The Descendants of
Cain were continuing in rebelliousness to God, while at the same time, the Faithful
descendants of Seth continued to “Call upon the name of the LORD (Gen 4:26).”<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">“Abel
had led a pastoral life, dwelling in tents or booths, and the descendants of
Seth followed the same course, counting themselves “strangers and pilgrims on
the earth,” seeking “a better country, that is, an heavenly.” Hebrews 11:13, 16.
{PP 81.1} <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">For
some time the two classes remained separate. The race of Cain, spreading from
the place of their first settlement, dispersed over the plains and valleys
where the children of Seth had dwelt; and the latter, in order to escape from
their contaminating influence, withdrew to the mountains, and there made their
home. So long as this separation continued, they maintained the worship of God
in its purity. But in the lapse of time they ventured, little by little, to
mingle with the inhabitants of the valleys. This association was productive of
the worst results. “The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were
fair.” The children of Seth, attracted by the beauty of the daughters of Cain’s
descendants, displeased the Lord by intermarrying with them. Many of the
worshipers of God were beguiled into sin by the allurements that were now
constantly before them, and they lost their peculiar, holy character. (PP81.2).”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> There is a very important purpose for why God
calls His people to “be ye separate,” and to “touch not the unclean thing (2
Cor 6:17).” The influence of the city and crowded place is toxic for raising up
our young people into the truth, and is damaging to our own spiritual walk with
the Lord. For this reason, because of the wickedness of Cain’s descendants, Seth
and Enoch separated themselves from the influences of the wicked, likewise we
can apply the same important principal to our lives, but we can get into more depth
than just physical location. Music, movies, games, and people can all have the
same influence on us that is contrary to our walk with God; and if we remain
dabbling in such things as we know are unacceptable to God, we will, in time,
be completely removed from His truth and faithfulness, and thereby from His
favor, like the many worshippers of God who were beguiled into sin by their associations
with evil doers. <br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">“Of
Enoch it is written that he lived sixty-five years, and begat a son. After that
he walked with God three hundred years. During these earlier years Enoch had
loved and feared God and had kept His commandments. He was one of the holy
line, the preservers of the true faith, the progenitors of the promised seed.
From the lips of Adam he had learned the dark story of the Fall, and the
cheering one of God’s grace as seen in the promise; and he relied upon the
Redeemer to come. But after the birth of his first son, Enoch reached a higher
experience; he was drawn into a closer relationship with God. He realized more
fully his own obligations and responsibility as a son of God. And as he saw the
child’s love for its father, its simple trust in his protection; as he felt the
deep, yearning tenderness of his own heart for that first-born son, he learned
a precious lesson of the wonderful love of God to men in the gift of His Son,
and the confidence which the children of God may repose in their heavenly
Father. The infinite, unfathomable love of God through Christ became the
subject of his meditations day and night; and with all the fervor of his soul
he sought to reveal that love to the people among whom he dwelt. {PP 84.3} “<br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="egw-text">“Enoch’s walk with God was not
in a trance or vision, but in all the duties of his daily life. <b>He did not become a hermit, shutting
himself entirely from the world</b>; for he had a work to do for God in the
world. In the family and in his intercourse with men, as a husband and father,
a friend, a citizen, he was the steadfast, unwavering servant of the Lord.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 85.1} </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div data-para-id="84.313" data-refcode="PP 85.2" id="para84_313" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="egw-text">His heart was in harmony with God’s
will; for “can two walk together, except they be agreed?” <span data-link="1965.45711" title="Amos 3:3"></span><span class="egwlink">Amos 3:3</span></span><span class="egw-text">. And this holy walk was continued for three hundred years. There
are <i>few Christians</i> who would not be
far more earnest and devoted if they knew that they had but a short time to
live, or that the coming of Christ was about to take place. <i>But Enoch’s faith waxed the stronger, his
love became more ardent, with the lapse of centuries.</i></span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 85.2} </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div data-para-id="84.314" data-refcode="PP 85.3" id="para84_314" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="egw-text">Enoch was a man of strong and
highly cultivated mind and extensive knowledge; he was honored with special
revelations from God; yet being in constant communion with Heaven, with a sense
of the divine greatness and perfection ever before him, he was one of the
humblest of men. The closer the connection with God, the deeper was the sense
of his own weakness and imperfection.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 85.3}” <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="active" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="egw-text"> “<b>Distressed
by the increasing wickedness of the ungodly, and fearing that their infidelity
might lessen his reverence for God, Enoch avoided <i>constant</i> association with them, and spent much time in solitude, <u>giving
himself to meditation and prayer</u>.</b> Thus he waited before the Lord,
seeking a clearer knowledge of His will, that he might perform it. To him
prayer was as the breath of the soul; he lived in the very atmosphere of
heaven.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 85.4}”<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="egw-ref">Though we are to be separate from the world, it does not
mean we are to neglect the work that needs to be done in the world. As Enoch
avoided <b>constant</b> association with
the world, so we should as well, and spend much time in meditation and prayer
upon the sacred precepts of scripture and worshipping the Lord. But we should
also <b>not</b> <b>neglect</b> the duty of bringing the truth and proclaiming it to those
in the world.<br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="active" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="egw-text">“Through holy
angels God revealed to Enoch His purpose to destroy the world by a flood, and
He also opened more fully to him the plan of redemption. By the spirit of
prophecy He carried him down through the generations that should live after the
Flood, and showed him the great events connected with the second coming of
Christ and the end of the world.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 85.5}”<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="egw-ref">Even though Enoch had the future of the world revealed
to him—even though he understood the great length of time before Christ would
come, his faith and Love for God grew and waxed stronger. We see today how
close we are to the final days of earth’s history. Should we not be seeking
after a stronger faith and a deeper love for God considering our time is so
much shorter? Indeed we should if we truly felt the shortness of time that we
are really in.</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="active" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="egw-ref"><br />
</span><span class="egw-text">“Enoch became a preacher of righteousness, making
known to the people what God had revealed to him. Those who feared the Lord
sought out this holy man, to share his instruction and his prayers. He labored
publicly also, bearing God’s messages to all who would hear the words of
warning. (PP 86.1).”<br />
</span>He was a fearless reprover of sin. While he preached the love of God in
Christ to the people of his time, and pleaded with them to forsake their evil
ways, he rebuked the prevailing iniquity and warned the men of his generation
that judgment would surely be visited upon the transgressor. It was the Spirit
of Christ that spoke through Enoch; that Spirit is manifested, not alone in
utterances of love, compassion, and entreaty; it is not smooth things only that
are spoken by holy men. God puts into the heart and lips of His messenger’s
truths to utter that are keen and cutting as a two-edged sword. {PP 86.2}”<span class="egw-ref"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="active" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“<span class="egw-text">The power of God
that wrought with His servant was felt by those who heard. Some gave heed to
the warning, and renounced their sins; but the multitudes mocked at the solemn
message, and went on more boldly in their evil ways. <b>The servants of God are to bear a similar message to the world in the
last days, and it will also be received with unbelief and mockery</b>. The
antediluvian world rejected the warning words of him who walked with God<b>. So will the last generation make light of
the warnings of the Lord’s messengers.</b></span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 86.3}”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="active" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The wickedness of men had reached such
a height that destruction was pronounced against them. As year after year
passed on, deeper and deeper grew the tide of human guilt, darker and darker
gathered the clouds of divine judgment. Yet Enoch, the witness of faith, held
on his way, <u>warning</u>, <u>pleading</u>, <u>entreating</u>, <u>striving</u>
to turn back the tide of guilt and to stay the bolts of vengeance. Though his
warnings were disregarded by a sinful, pleasure-loving people, he had the
testimony that God approved, and he continued to battle faithfully against the
prevailing evil, until God removed him from a world of sin to the pure joys of
heaven. {PP 87.1}” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="active" style="margin-left: .5in;">
The men of that generation had mocked
the folly of him who sought not to gather gold or silver or to build up
possessions here. But Enoch’s heart was upon eternal treasures. He had looked
upon the celestial city. He had seen the King in His glory in the midst of
Zion. His mind, his heart, his conversation, were in heaven. The greater the
existing iniquity, the more earnest was his longing for the home of God. While
still on earth, he dwelt, by faith, in the realms of light. {PP 87.2} <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="active" style="margin-left: .5in;">
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for
they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8. For three hundred years <b>Enoch had been seeking purity of soul, that he might be in harmony with
Heaven</b>. For three centuries he had walked with God. Day by day he had
longed for a closer union; nearer and nearer had grown the communion, until God
took him to Himself. He had stood at the threshold of the eternal world, only a
step between him and the land of the blest; and now the portals opened, the
walk with God, so long pursued on earth, continued, and he passed through the
gates of the Holy City—the first from among men to enter there. {PP 87.3}”<br />
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<div class="active">
That purity of soul, to be brought into Harmony with heaven, is
what we need to be diligently seeking for in our hearts and lives. This is what
made him able to “Walk with the Lord,” was his diligence, selflessness, earnestness,
and faithfulness that brought him constantly into closer communion with Christ.
This is the walk that we should be pursuing for ourselves, so that, like Enoch,
we may walk with God in all that we do, say, think, and act. May we diligently
seek for that Purity of soul as Enoch, so we can be brought into perfect
harmony with Heaven. <br />
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<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="active" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="egw-text">“By the
translation of Enoch the Lord designed to teach an important lesson. There was
danger that men would yield to discouragement, because of the fearful results
of Adam’s sin. Many were ready to exclaim, “What profit is it that we have
feared the Lord and have kept His ordinances, since a heavy curse is resting
upon the race, and death is the portion of us all?”<b>[Is this not a question the resides in some modern day Christians today?]</b>
But the instructions which God gave to Adam, and which were repeated by Seth,
and exemplified by Enoch <b>[Which is the
answer to the above question]</b>, swept away the gloom and darkness, and gave
hope to man, that <u>as through Adam came death, so <i>through the promised Redeemer would come life and immortality</i></u>.
Satan was urging upon men the belief that there was no reward for the righteous
or punishment for the wicked, and that it was impossible for men to obey the
divine statutes. But in the case of Enoch, God declares “that He is, and that
He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” <span data-link="1965.61561" title="Hebrews 11:6"></span><span class="egwlink">Hebrews 11:6</span></span><span class="egw-text">. He shows what He will do for those who keep His commandments.
Men were taught that it is possible to obey the law of God; that even while
living in the midst of the sinful and corrupt, they were able, by the grace of
God, to resist temptation, and become pure and holy. They saw in his example
the blessedness of such a life; and his <b>translation
was an evidence of the truth of his prophecy concerning the hereafter, with its
award of joy and glory and immortal life to the obedient, and of condemnation,
woe, and death to the transgressor</b>.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 88.2}”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-ref"><br />
<b>Conclusion:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="active" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span class="egw-text">“By faith Enoch
“was translated that he should not see death; ... for before his translation he
had this testimony, that he pleased God.” <span data-link="1965.61559" title="Hebrews 11:5"></span><span class="egwlink">Hebrews 11:5</span></span><span class="egw-text">. In the midst of
a world by its iniquity doomed to destruction, Enoch lived a life of such close
communion with God that he was not permitted to fall under the power of death.
The godly character of this prophet represents the state of holiness which must
be attained by those who shall be “redeemed from the earth” (<span data-link="1965.63108" title="Revelation 14:3"></span><span class="egwlink">Revelation
14:3</span></span><span class="egw-text">) at the time of Christ’s Second Advent.
Then, as in the world before the Flood, iniquity will prevail. Following the
promptings of their corrupt hearts and the teachings of a deceptive philosophy,
men will rebel against the authority of Heaven. But <i>like Enoch</i>, <u>God’s people will seek for <b>purity of heart</b> and <b>conformity
to His will</b>, until they shall <b>reflect
the likeness of Christ</b></u>. <i>Like
Enoch</i>, <u>they will <b>warn the world
of the Lord’s second coming</b> and of the <b>judgments
to be visited upon transgression</b>, and by their <b>holy conversation</b> and <b>example</b>
they will <b>condemn the sins of the
ungodly</b></u>. As Enoch was translated to heaven before the destruction of
the world by water, <i>so the living
righteous will be translated from the earth before its destruction by fire</i>.
Says the apostle: “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a
moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” “For the Lord Himself
shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and
with the trump of God;” “the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” “The dead in Christ shall rise first:
then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the
clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” <span data-link="1965.58664" title="1 Corinthians 15:51"></span><span class="egwlink">1
Corinthians 15:51, 52</span></span><span class="egw-text">; <span data-link="1965.60408" title="1 Thessalonians 4:16"></span><span class="egwlink">1
Thessalonians 4:16-18</span></span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 88.3}.“<br />
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<div class="active">
<span class="egw-ref">Like Enoch, I want to seek purity of heart,
I want to conform to God’s will, till I reflect the likeness of Christ. Like
Enoch, I want to warn the world of the Lord’s soon coming, and of the
judgements; and I pray that my conversation and example would be holy, to
condemn the sins of the ungodly. I want to seek and strive for these things so
I will be counted among God’s faithful people. And my greatest hope and prayer
is that each of you would seek diligently for the very same things—to walk with
God as Enoch walked. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<b>Hebrews 11:5, and 6:<br />
</b><br />
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not
found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this
testimony, that he pleased God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">6
But without faith <i>it is</i> impossible to please <i>him:</i> for he that
cometh to God must believe that he is, and <i>that</i> he is a rewarder of them
that diligently seek him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-62272606461055995842016-05-20T18:51:00.003-07:002016-05-20T18:54:57.831-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NbLTb7GsvJKGeZvnP4ZpKNhumCSgaD_Zz-dw-QKcf47PbKL-Ts1zxAEP1u78WNgywIr_gYP7wDy8HoUBMvcWvuozpB8w60v2p7RYEyWaFP9LAyxS3C2skitqy5NCtiUCoPj7wHcAI7g/s1600/LDS-Photography-Quotes-Heidi-Randall-Studios+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2NbLTb7GsvJKGeZvnP4ZpKNhumCSgaD_Zz-dw-QKcf47PbKL-Ts1zxAEP1u78WNgywIr_gYP7wDy8HoUBMvcWvuozpB8w60v2p7RYEyWaFP9LAyxS3C2skitqy5NCtiUCoPj7wHcAI7g/s400/LDS-Photography-Quotes-Heidi-Randall-Studios+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /><br />“Ask, and Ye shall receive”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Matthew 7:7<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ask, and it
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto
you: <br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> How often we tend to over think the
simplicity of just asking the Lord. Jesus taught the simplicity of receiving
salvation—ask, and ye shall receive. As Christians, we sometimes get
sidetracked and confused about the question of whether or not God hears and
answers our prayers. Some become doubtful and begin to feel that the Lord
cannot hear their prayers, nor can He forgive them. These feelings are
deceptions of Satan. Christ would have us look back to the simplicity of
salvation. Salvation is provided so that even a child can understand and receive
it. John 3:16 gave a concise explanation of Salvation saying, “</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">” Salvation is
not impossible to obtain by a Sinner, or else we would all be lost, but Jesus
says, “<span style="color: red;">Ask, and ye shall receive</span>… (Mat 7:7).” “</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And all things, whatsoever ye
shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">(Mat 21:22).” If we come before the Lord in true repentance
and faith, then what we ask for—and believe God hears—we can receive His
answer. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Proper
manner of asking:<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Mat 6:7, 8 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">But
when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen <i>do:</i> for they
think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Be
not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have
need of, before ye ask him. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">This,
however, <u>does not mean we should not ask</u>, for are we not told by Christ
to ask in order to receive? Yea, even so when we ask of our Father in heaven,
though He know our plea, we must ask in order to receive. For, without asking
how can we receive? If we expect to receive from God without asking, then that
is presumption—not faith. We must ask in humble faithfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Doubts:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Mat 21:22 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">And all things,
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.<br />
<br />
<b> </b>Too
often with our most humble pleas, doubts come and arise in our minds and
hearts. It is easy, once recognizing the true nature of sin, to see how
separated we are from the Lord, and how wretched, and poor, and needy we are.
It is in these times when we are in the greatest need of the Lord’s providence
that Satan sends his deadliest attacks and deceptions. <b>Is the Lord indeed unable to deliver us from our worst and greatest
sins, and able to change us from within into harmony to His will? </b>Indeed He
is. He is the author and finisher of our faith, the Creator, the supreme
authority—and yet, He hath mercy sufficient enough for us. Thus saith the Lord,
“</span><span style="color: red; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in
weakness.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">” Paul continues saying, “…Most gladly therefore will I rather glory
in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians
12:9).”</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
<br />
Doubts
are from the devil; if we entertain doubts in our minds we will lose sight of
the purity of Christ, and His capability to redeem us. As we resist temptation,
and shun sin, we should likewise resist doubts and shun them to avoid letting
them become stumbling blocks upon ourselves, or even to others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Note:</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> Sometimes, we may have certain kinds of
doubt, such as about certain subjects, or doctrines, or of what some ministers
or teachers speak. Should we resist these doubts and believe what is the
subject? Or should we listen to the doubts and make decisions based on them? The
answer is neither. The bible councils us on what we must do if we come across
individuals that speak, teach, or involve questionable subjects. Scripture says
that “…<span style="color: red;">by their fruits ye shall know them</span> (Mat
7:20),” and to “</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Prove all things; hold fast that which is good (1 Thess 5:21).” We
must establish and test all doctrines and teachings by the word of God, <u>and
if there be any error in them, then they are “not in the doctrine of Christ,”
and “hath not God (2 John 1:9).”<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Therefore,
concerning the doubts of Christ’ mercy and forgiveness, let us not become
depressed, doubtful, or discouraged from our predicament, or from our wretchedness,
but let us like Paul glory in our infirmities, “</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">that the power of Christ may rest
upon [us] (2 Corinthians 12:9).” Instead of entertaining doubts in our minds,
let us instead rejoice, and give thanks unto the Lord for our trials and
afflictions, remembering that God sent His Son to be crucified to redeem us
from the world, and that Christ’s grace is sufficient enough for us. Let us ask
with faith, believing, so that we can receive. <br />
<br />
But
those who continue in sin knowingly, are in danger. If they choose to sin, they
are walking in rebellion unto God. If they ask forgiveness without repentance
(a resolve and decision to turn from sin and forsake it), then they ask in
vain. The first steps in Christ are understanding our wretched sinfulness and
need for Christ. Then we are driven to repentance to receive forgiveness and
restitution, but if we do not desire—do not choose—to turn away from our sinfulness,
then God cannot receive us to Him. The sinner must make a choice between
following the world or following Christ. Once the decision for Christ is made, then
the request can be made in faith, and received in believing. <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Mat 7:7-12 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Ask, and it shall be
given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">For every one that asketh receiveth; and he
that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Or what man is there of you, whom if his son
ask bread, will he give him a stone? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a
serpent? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If ye then, being evil, know how to give
good gifts unto your children, <u>how much more shall your Father which is in
heaven give good things to them that ask him</u>? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Therefore all things whatsoever ye would
that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is <b>the law</b>
and the prophets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Luke 11:13 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">If ye then, being evil,
know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall <i>your</i>
heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
The gift of the Holy Spirit, the comforter,
the companion that is the third of the Godhead. Can one think of a gift any
greater than this? To have the Spirit of God accompany us always, and residing
in our hearts wherever we go—that is an amazing privilege. <b>And how can we
receive the Holy Spirit?</b> Just as simply as was spoken before—<u>Ask, and ye
shall receive</u>. As Christians in the walk with the Lord, we are in great
need of the Holy Spirit. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are “converted and
become as little children (Matt 18:3),” it is by the Holy Spirit that we are
led to the truth, and by the Holy Spirit we are brought into righteousness in
Christ, and our characters are made into His likeness—that work is enabled by
the Holy Spirit within us. If we desire of those things before mentioned, then
we need the Holy Spirit which we can receive by asking faithfully. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Gifts of the Holy Spirit {COL 327} <br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">“The talents that
Christ entrusts to His church represent especially the gifts and blessings
imparted by the Holy Spirit. “To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;
to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the
same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the
working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to
another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: but
all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man
severally as He will.” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11. All men do not receive the same
gifts, but to every servant of the Master some gift of the Spirit is promised.
{COL 327.1} <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Before He left His
disciples, Christ “breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy
Ghost.” John 20:22. Again He said, “Behold, I send the promise of My Father
upon you.” Luke 24:49. But not until after the ascension was the gift received
in its fullness. Not until through faith and prayer the disciples had
surrendered themselves fully for His working was the outpouring of the Spirit
received. Then in a special sense the goods of heaven were committed to the
followers of Christ. “When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive,
and gave gifts unto men.” Ephesians 4:8. “Unto every one of us is given grace,
according to the measure of the gift of Christ,” the Spirit “dividing to every
man severally as He will.” Ephesians 4:7; 1 Corinthians 12:11. <u>The gifts are
already ours in Christ, but their actual possession depends upon our reception
of the Spirit of God.</u> {COL 327.2} <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The promise of the
Spirit is not appreciated as it should be. Its fulfillment is not realized as
it might be. It is the absence of the Spirit that makes the gospel ministry so
powerless. Learning, talents, eloquence, every natural or acquired endowment,
may be possessed; but without the presence of the Spirit of God, no heart will
be touched, no sinner be won to Christ. <b>On the other hand, if they are
connected with Christ, if the gifts of the Spirit are theirs, the poorest and
most ignorant of His disciples will have a power that will tell upon hearts.
God makes them the channel for the outworking of the highest influence in the
universe.</b> {COL 328.1} <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Eze 36:26<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> A new heart also will I give you, and a new
spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your
flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">A
new heart—<b>do we need a new heart?</b>
Thus saith the Lord, “…</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">all have sinned, and come short of the glory of
God (Romans 3:23).” If we have all been victims to sin and sinfulness, then at
some point, in order to be brought into righteousness with Christ, we would
need to have a change of heart. Any time in life when a person decides to make
a decision that entails making a complete change or turn around, it involves—it
requires a change of heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">When Christ calls us to Him, to turn away from our sins and from the
world, we have to make a complete turnaround from the world—to Christ. We have
to have a change of heart. Our old hearts of stone—hearts of stubbornness and
rebellion, hearts that are inclined to sin, that are carnal and subject to the
ways of the world—would need to be given up for a new heart that is pure and
full of Grace. That is the Heart that Christ can give us, so long as we are
willing to ask of it from Him, and give up our old ways.<br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Faith and Acceptance—from steps to Christ<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> “You have confessed your sins, and
in heart put them away. You have resolved to give yourself to God. Now go to
Him, and ask that He will wash away your sins and give you a new heart. Then
believe that He does this <i>because He has promised</i>. This is the lesson
which Jesus taught while He was on earth, that the gift which God promises us,
we must believe we do receive, and it is ours. Jesus healed the people of their
diseases when they had faith in His power; He helped them in the things which
they could see, thus inspiring them with confidence in Him concerning things
which they could not see—leading them to believe in His power to forgive sins.
This He plainly stated in the healing of the man sick with palsy: “<i>That ye
may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins</i>, (then
saith He to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine
house.” Matthew 9:6. So also John the evangelist says, speaking of the miracles
of Christ, “These are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name.” John
20:31. {SC 49.3}<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br />
</span><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Summary</span></b><span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="color: teal; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Joh 14:12-27 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">12 Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;
and greater <i>works</i> than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">13 And whatsoever
ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in
the Son. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">14 If ye shall ask
any thing in my name, I will do <i>it.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">15 If ye love me,
keep my commandments. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">16 And I will pray
the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you
for ever; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">17 <i>Even</i> the
Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not,
neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in
you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">18 I will not
leave you comfortless: I will come to you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">19 Yet a little
while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall
live also. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">20 At that day ye
shall know that I <i>am</i> in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">21 He that hath my
commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me
shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to
him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">22 Judas saith
unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto
us, and not unto the world? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">23 Jesus answered
and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will
love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">24 He that loveth
me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the
Father's which sent me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">25 These things
have I spoken unto you, being <i>yet</i> present with you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">26 But the
Comforter, <i>which is</i> the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my
name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance,
whatsoever I have said unto you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">27 Peace I leave
with you, <b>my peace I give unto you</b>:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you. <u>Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid</u>.<b> <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> Therefore,
as we ask and receive these gifts, promises, truths, and redemption in
faithfulness, we have also a work to do. The work does not end when we ask, but
that is only the beginning. There is a continual work that must take place in
our hearts—a work of faith, of character development, of faith, and of
perseverance to be overcomers and steadfastness. As it said in John 14, if we believe
in the heavenly Father, then we will do the works which He does, and if we love
Him, then we will keep His commandments. So, if we do these things in
faithfulness, and believing on His name, and resisting doubts, the Holy Spirit
will teach us, and bring things to remembrance, and enable us to do God’s will.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> As the Lord has loved us, let us Love
the Lord with all our hearts, and minds, and souls. Though, even if we give
all, we cannot give unto God what He has given us, but we can give as much as
we can in gratitude anyway. So, as we go about the Sabbath and the new week
ahead, I pray that we would each turn our worries, and troubles, and requests,
and our whole selves unto the Lord in faithfulness. Then, progress to live in
faithfulness, and sincerity, sobriety, and vigilance. Let us raise the Standard
of truth High, and encourage one another into the Ways of Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-24922479835060178072016-04-25T17:56:00.003-07:002016-04-25T17:56:31.516-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb86vCb_ToGsJT1RQiKyyRs-m9SkSeZGbRN1by301sl8JTIct39ULhGSCgu8_pqGVMYvMJ0hwZt3u7Pf7mx6XIv7PfZWY_YZFJamPB-85OAZYMRKO5AYH9o2MGoBkyDj9BlMX64BTdgw/s1600/12715900_1560370267610381_1524479782237300830_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQb86vCb_ToGsJT1RQiKyyRs-m9SkSeZGbRN1by301sl8JTIct39ULhGSCgu8_pqGVMYvMJ0hwZt3u7Pf7mx6XIv7PfZWY_YZFJamPB-85OAZYMRKO5AYH9o2MGoBkyDj9BlMX64BTdgw/s400/12715900_1560370267610381_1524479782237300830_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><br />Matthew 5:18 "For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."<br />
Luke 16:17 "And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."<br />
<br />
The bible is a fascinating book. It has a history that cannot be amounted to by any other written record. Tens of thousands of men, women and children chose to die to preserve the written word of God while nations, religions, powers and peoples attempted to erase it. Yet, with the greater majority trying to obliterate the bible and it's contents, the bible was still preserved and kept through all these ages to today. The bible is the written word of God--it is God's words spoken to each of us.<br />
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible reads as one book, and there is incredible unity to the Bible. The Bible is one book, and yet it is made up of 66 books, was written by at least 40 different authors over a period of about 1600 years, in 13 different countries and on three different continents. It was written in at least three different languages by people in all professions. The Bible forms one beautiful temple of truth that does not contradict itself theologically, morally, ethically, doctrinally, scientifically, historically, or in any other way.<br />
As men were moved by the holy Spirit to write the sacred text down from age to age, carefully preserving what God had commanded, the Holy Spirit accompanied the sacred text down to our age to preserve it's simple truths of redemption and salvation. As the bible is the word of God it should not be tampered with nor revised in any way, shape, or form. The farther "modernized" translation gets from the original written piece, the more key details and absolute truth's get removed. The farther we move away from the original source of knowledge, the lesser sacred the authoritative word's of God become until His word is no longer acknowledged as sacred.<br />
<br />
God's words are true, they are everlasting, steadfast and sure. When God said, "Let there be light," there was light because God's word is the supreme authority above all peoples, laws, and physics. He is the supreme authority, and all of nature and the Universe is subject unto Him, and woe unto them who try to tamper with His words.<br />
<br />
Different bible translations, in some instances, can have a useful place. Most of them do have a portion of light in them, but they cannot replace in any detail the validity of the original source of the truth. When there is a mixture of different bible translations spread among an assembly of people who are "trying" to follow the same source, there is nothing but confusion. There shall not one Jot, nor one tittle be taken away from God's true words. If there appear to be a piece missing from what He spoke, then the manifestation is not of God's Spirit, but of another's.<br />
"Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thess 5:21)." "Hold fast the profession of our faith (Heb 10:23), and "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman the needeth not to be ashamed, rightly diving the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15)," "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Heb 4:12)." Therefore, "Pray without ceasing. (1 Thess 5:17)." "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. ( 1 Peter 4:7)."Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-31012344415417282032016-04-12T17:09:00.001-07:002016-04-12T17:24:52.766-07:00What is God's love for man?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVJsJ7XPvqz0OllnyVU0_xGC4GovPjmv0aeBZc76E4SrvEijnrWByUudQZz9yAml77jjkoRd7-cMw5r14606U06IDEH7VhkBnDh4wBxAtXByiua5b6D7wKwxi6IjHY4x9oWzfS5KxDB0/s1600/2015-10-12-1444627448-2514958-31032623661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVJsJ7XPvqz0OllnyVU0_xGC4GovPjmv0aeBZc76E4SrvEijnrWByUudQZz9yAml77jjkoRd7-cMw5r14606U06IDEH7VhkBnDh4wBxAtXByiua5b6D7wKwxi6IjHY4x9oWzfS5KxDB0/s400/2015-10-12-1444627448-2514958-31032623661.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.498039); color: #141823; font-family: _ff_Font_93892, 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.32px; margin-bottom: 6px;">
<b><br /><br />What is love - </b>Love is illustrated in length throughout the bible. God loves His people; Christ loves His people, love is unconditional, or so it is commonly believed. Unconditional means "not subject to any conditions," but is God's love for us unconditional? The answer to that question is Yes and No.<br />
Here is why I think so: God loves us, that is no doubt. He sent His only begotten Son to die in our place because He loved us so; Christ, the Son of God also willingly gave of Himself to tor<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">ment and death because He loved us so--that love is unconditional. But even though Jesus and our Heavenly Father love us so much, they have conditions for us to meet before we can receive the blessings and rewards of their love--that love is conditional. Jesus Christ offered His blood as atonement for our sins so that through Him we might receive eternal life--that is the covenant God made with His people on earth--but just because we are all offered that gift equally, it does not mean we all receive it equally. Weather or not we receive the gift Christ has given to us is dependent on whether or not we accept it and the conditions to heed to.<br />God established his Covenant (the promise of eternal life), but He gave conditions to meet with the covenant (Perfect submission to His will and perfectly sinless obedience), and with the Conditions of the Covenant, God gave us the means by which we can meet the conditions (that is Christ, who's blood is able to wash away all our sins and bring us into perfect obedience unto God).<br /><br />"6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 6px;">
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?" ~Heb 12: 6 and 7.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
"For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth." ~Pro 3:12</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
However, though Christ loves all of mankind equally no matter what we have done, there is a point when His love runs out. The gift of Eternal life and forgiveness that He has offered is offered freely, but if we should choose to not accept the gift, and the conditions with it, we would eventually bring ourselves out from His love and into His condemnation and wrath. God is Just, and full of mercy, but if we are not in submission to His will, then we are in rebellion to it. Thus saith the Lord, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Rev 22:12)." There will come a time when probation closes that God will pour out His wrath upon all who have persecuted Christ and His people. After the probation closes, there will be no mercy offered to those who have rebelled against His will and have not turned from their evil ways.<br />
<br />
Time is running out, folks. "<b>Choose you this day whom ye will serve</b> (Joshua 24:15)."</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-78291867967877666932016-03-14T20:41:00.000-07:002016-03-14T20:49:34.762-07:00The Sifting and Shaking<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Sifting and Shaking</span></b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="active">
<br /></div>
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The
vision of the shaking, by Ellen White</b></span></div>
<span class="egw-text">I saw some with strong faith and agonizing cries,
pleading with God. Their countenances were pale, and marked with deep anxiety,
which expressed their internal struggle. There were firmness and great
earnestness expressed in their countenances, while large drops of perspiration
rose upon their foreheads, and fell. Now and then their faces would light up
with the marks of God's approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious
look settled upon them.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {1SG 183.1} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">Evil angels crowded around them, pressing their
darkness upon them, to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be
drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and they distrust God, and next
murmur against him. Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed
upward. Angels were having the charge over the people of God, and as the
poisonous atmosphere from these evil angels was pressed around these anxious
ones, the angels, which had the charge over them, were continually wafting
their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness that surrounded them.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {1SG 183.2} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">Some, I saw, <u>did not participate in this work of
agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not
resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud.</u>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The angels of God left them, and went to
the aid of those earnest, praying ones</b>. I saw the angels of God hasten to
the assistance of all those who were struggling with all their energies to
resist those evil angels, and trying to help themselves by calling upon God
with perseverance. But the angels left those who made no effort to help
themselves, and I lost sight of them.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {1SG 184.1} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">As these praying ones continued their earnest cries, at
times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, and encouraged their hearts, and
lighted up their countenances.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {1SG 184.2} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen. I was
shown that it would be caused by the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>straight
testimony called forth by the counsel of the true Witness to the Laodiceans.</u></b>
It will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver of the testimony, and it
will lead to him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. <u>This
straight testimony some will not bear</u>. <u>They will rise up against it, and
this will cause a shaking among God's people.</u></span><span class="egw-ref"><u>
</u>{1SG 184.3} <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="egw-ref">The people that Mrs. White saw
in the Vision represent God’s church in the last days. They possess the truth,
and keep the commandments of God, as well as have the testimony of Jesus, but
Satan and his angels are working to suffocate them in darkness, to cut out the
light of God’s promises from them. The only safety that these people had was in
looking upward, to God, to the author and finisher of their faith while they
diligently and faithfully prayed for strength to maintain. Some among these,
though, are not diligently calling upon God’s name for support, and these ones
are overcome by the darkness and are become fallen from the truth. Now, all
this is called the shaking, but what was causing the shaking? And Why? It was
caused by the Straight testimony to the Laodiceans. <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
<br />
What is this <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Straight testimony</i> that
is mentioned here? <br />
</b><br />
<br />
</span>Notice back in the last paragraph it says, "The straight testimony
called forth by the counsel of the true witness to the Laodiceans." </div>
What does that mean? <br />
Let’s turn to Revelation 3, and read the message sent to Laodicea. <br />
<br />
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Revelation
3:14-22</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">14 <span style="color: red;">And unto the angel of
the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful
and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;</span> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">Who
is speaking here?</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"> <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;">Revelation 1:1
says,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br />
Rev 1:1<br />
The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which <u>God gave unto him</u>, to shew unto
his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he <u>sent and signified
<i><span style="color: grey;">it</span></i> by his angel unto his servant John:</u></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The words of this message are God’s words – His instructions
to the people of this church, delivered to John by an Angel. Amen?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">What
is Laodicea?</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Rev 1:20<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“</span><span style="color: red;">The mystery
of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden
candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the
seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.</span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">There is said to be one angel for each church representing
each of the seven churches in the beginning of Revelation. Each of these
churches, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and
Laodicea, represent a stage of God’s church throughout time from the Time of
Christ. <br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;">So, each of
these churches represents a church through the time indicated above, but
Laodicea is the last of the seven churches, which means it is the church in the
last phases of earth’s history. That means God’s church in our day, that is,
us.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;">God continues to
say concerning Laodicea, through John to us, he says, </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">15” <span style="color: red;">I know thy works,
that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">16 <span style="color: red;">So then because <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thou art lukewarm</b>, and neither cold nor
hot<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">, I will spue thee out of my mouth</b>.</span>
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">The Lords message is saying that we (the people
of God in the last days), are neither hot nor Cold, but are just lukewarm, so that
God would spue us out of His mouth because of it. Folks, even though we may be
the people of God, if we are not sober and vigilant we will be as just Lukewarm
Spiritually, become vomit unto God. How alarming is that? It should cause us to
quicken ourselves and turn unto God in Repentance and contrition of heart, to
be reconciled unto God.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">17 <span style="color: red;">Because thou sayest, I
am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not
that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:</span> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;">According to this, the people of God’s church today say
that they are rich, and increased with goods, that we think we are in need of
nothing. But to the contrary. In reality, we are wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked when we are without God. </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;">Is this true? </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-themecolor: text1;">Do many of the churches of our day, the Seventh day
Adventist church, who have possession of the commandments of God, and have the
testimony of Jesus, do they boast of their big church buildings, and massive
numbers of converts and members? Do they boast of their establishment and influence
all around the world, and how they are so rich to be able to build such big and
showy church buildings? Sadly we do. That means that in God’s eyes we are not
sober, we are not vigilant. That means we are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">not</b> Looking up to Him and seeking him in earnest prayer and
supplication for strength and guidance like those in Mrs. Whites vision. That
means we, as a people professing the name of Christ, need to change and get
right with the Lord. Amen? Definitely. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br />
<br />
Thus saith the Lord,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br />
18 <span style="color: red;">I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire,
that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and</span>
<i><span style="color: grey;">that</span></i> <span style="color: red;">the shame
of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou
mayest see.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></b>With the warning that God has
given us in His rebuke to us for those things, He continues to give us council,
amen? He says, “Buy of me gold tried in the fire…” This Gold is our character
and faith. AS gold is tried in the fire to purge out all the dross and make it
pure, so our characters and faith should be tried in the flames of trials and
afflictions to make it perfect and pure. If we would seek God for a change in
heart, to have our Characters transformed into the likeness of His, and let it
be tried in fire, then we would be able to become rich—truly rich in the eyes
of God, and not by the things of the world. <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
White raiment represents the Righteousness of Christ, His Purity and Holiness. If
we would ask for the cleansing from sin, and to have His robe of Righteous put
on us, then our shame and nakedness would be covered, and we would be able to
present ourselves faultless before God. <br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
Eye salve represents understanding and knowledge. The Pure and true knowledge
comes from the Holy Spirit. So if we would have the outpouring of the Holy
Spirit poured onto us, then we would be able to understand God’s will for us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>All
of these things are essential for our reconciliation unto God as his people, to
be accepted unto him.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">19 <span style="color: red;">As many as I love, I
rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">20 <span style="color: red;">Behold, I stand at the
door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to
him, and will sup with him, and he with me.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">21 <span style="color: red;">To him that overcometh
will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set
down with my Father in his throne.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;">22 <span style="color: red;">He that hath an ear,
let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.</span> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Then,
as God has rebuked the slothful and inattentive Christian, counseling Him to return
unto Him, He gives the reason why He has given the Rebuke. As a Father
Disciplines his children to keep them in obedience, so does God discipline His
people to keep them in the Straight and Narrow path. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Christ is knocking upon the doors of our
hearts, and if we would let Him in, He would abide in us and Help us to be
overcomers of Sin so that we would be able to spend eternity with Him. Amen?
That is the promise given to any and all who would hear the straight testimony
and who would heed unto the pleading voice of Christ.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<span class="egw-text">In the book titled <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Last
day events,</i> which is a compilation of Mrs. Whites writings, there is a
sufficient and in depth explanation about the shaking and sifting time. <br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><br />
</b></span><span class="egw-text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">Last day
events</span></i></b></span><span class="egw-text"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;">, ch. 12</span></b><br />
</span><span class="egw-ref"><br />
</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is Church Membership a Guarantee
of Salvation</b>?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It is a solemn statement that I make
to the church, that not one in twenty whose names are registered upon the
church books are prepared to close their earthly history, and would be as
verily without God and without hope in the world as the common sinner.—Christian
Service, 41 (1893). {LDE 172.1} </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Those who have had opportunities to
hear and receive of the truth and who have united with the Seventh-day
Adventist church, calling themselves the commandment-keeping people of God, and
yet possess no more vitality and consecration to God than do the nominal
churches, will receive the plagues of God just as verily as the churches who
oppose the law of God.—Manuscript Releases 19:176 (1898). {LDE 172.2} <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Mrs. White
wrote these things to the Seventh day Adventist church back almost a hundred
twenty years ago. Being so much closer to the end, should we not more carefully
heed the warning that a servant of God has been inspired to give? Her words are
just as important today as they were in that day, and we see clearly that many
people and leaders among Adventism are gone astray separated from the
foundation of truth, and from the faith and testimony of Jesus. Today there is
just as great a need, if not then more so of a need for reform of God’s people
than before. Oh Brothers and Sisters, would we heed the voice calling? I pray
we do. If the people of God do not hearken to the straight testimony, they will
fall into darkness with the rest of the world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;">
<b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">The
Chaff must be separated from the Wheat </span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Divisions will come in the church.
Two parties will be developed. The wheat and tares grow up together for the
harvest.—Selected Messages 2:114 (1896). {LDE 172.3} </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There will be a shaking of the
sieve. The chaff must in time be separated from the wheat. Because iniquity
abounds, the love of many waxes cold. It is the very time when the genuine will
be the strongest.—Letter 46, 1887. {LDE 173.1} </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">The history of the rebellion of
Dathan and Abiram is being repeated, and will be repeated till the close of
time. Who will be on the Lord's side? Who will be deceived, and in their turn
become deceivers?—Letter 15, 1892. {LDE 173.2} </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">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 or honor God.—The Review and Herald, March 19,
1895. {LDE 173.3} </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">We are in the shaking time, the time
when everything that can be shaken will be shaken. The Lord will not excuse
those who know the truth if they do not in word and deed obey His
commands.—Testimonies for the Church 6:332 (1900). {LDE 173.4} <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Folks,
our safety from falling away from God’s truth is not kept in a denomination or
church, but it is kept by a diligent and constant faith in God. The shaking and
sifting is necessary in order for God to separate out those who do not keep the
straight testimony of Truth from the true and faithful of God. This does not
mean that the People of God will be united together in one large group, but
they will actually be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth. The faithful
will be found in small groups here and there, clinging to the promises that God
has established for our hope to be built on, but thus saith the Lord, “…where
two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them
(Matthew 18:20).” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the Chaff is
separated from the wheat, let us not become as the chaff, but let us look unto
God, and keep our allegiance to Him alone, who is author and finisher of our
faith. Our faith must not be put in men, or in a structure, or in a people – it
must be placed in Christ alone.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Will Persecution
Cleanse the Church (God’s people)?</span></span><span class="egw-ref"></span></h5>
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Prosperity multiplies a mass of professors.
Adversity purges them out of the church.—</span></span><span class="egwlink"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Testimonies
for the Church 4:89 (1876)</span></span><span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.</span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> {LDE 173.5} </span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></h5>
<span class="egw-text">The time is not far distant when the test will come to
every soul. The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by
step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find
it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves
to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between
the commandments of God and the commandments of men. In this time the gold will
be separated from the dross in the church.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies
for the Church 5:81 (1882)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 173.6} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">In the absence of the persecution there have <u>drifted
into our ranks</u> <u>men who <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">appear</b>
sound and their Christianity unquestionable, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">but who</b>, if persecution should arise, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">would go out from us</b></u>.—</span><span class="egwlink">Evangelism,
360 (1890)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 174.1} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">When the law of God is made void the church will be
sifted by fiery trials, and a larger proportion than we now anticipate will
give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.—</span><span class="egwlink">Selected Messages 2:368 (1891)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 174.2} <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<span class="egw-ref"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
the mark of the beast, the national Sunday law, is passed, the people of God will
be put to a hard test. Will we go with the majority of men, some who professed
godliness, and keep the laws of men forsaking the laws and Sabbath of God? Will
we be swayed from the Firm foundation of truth to follow with many of our
brothers and sisters who give in to the laws of men? Even if we are the last
individual standing for the Sabbath, will we still stand firmly and unmoved for
what we know is truth? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Folks, if we are
not willing and ready to stand for God’s truth in the face of affliction and
death when all have forsaken us, then we will not stand at all when the
occasion arises</b>. We must realize that our full and total allegiance is to
God, and though the heavens fall we must stand for Him. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Will Superficial
Believers Renounce the Faith</span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">?</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></h5>
<span class="egw-text">The work which the church has failed to do in a time of
peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most
discouraging, forbidding circumstances. The warnings that worldly conformity
has silenced or withheld must be given under the fiercest opposition from
enemies of the faith. And at that time the superficial, conservative [</span><span class="non-egw-comment">Ellen White is not here distinguishing theological
conservatives from their liberal counterparts; she is describing those who put
“worldly conformity” first and God's cause second.</span><span class="egw-text">]
class, whose influence has steadily retarded the progress of the work, will
renounce the faith.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies for the Church 5:463
(1885)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 174.3} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">If Satan sees that the Lord is blessing His people and
preparing them to discern his delusions, he will work with his master power to
bring in <u>fanaticism on the one hand and cold formalism on the other, that he
may gather in a harvest of souls</u>.—</span><span class="egwlink">Selected
Messages 2:19 (1890)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref">
{LDE 174.4} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text"><u>Those who have had privileges and opportunities to
become intelligent in regard to the truth and yet who continue to counterwork
the work God would have accomplished <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">will
be purged out</b></u>, for God accepts the service of no man <u>whose interest
is divided</u>.—</span><span class="egw-eng">Manuscript 64, 1898</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 175.1} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">As trials thicken around us, both separation and unity
will be seen in our ranks. Some who are now ready to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>take up weapons of warfare will in times of real peril make it
manifest that they have not built upon the solid rock</u></b>; they will yield
to temptation. Those who have had great light and precious privileges but have
not improved them will, under one pretext or another, go out from us.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies for the Church 6:400 (1900)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 175.2} <br />
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Yes, the afflictions and
errors and fanaticisms will be caused and created by those among God’s people.
Beware that, though it may even come from the high ranks of the church, if it
is not the straight truth of God, then it is the Spirit of Satan. In order for
us to maintain through the shaking and sifting we have to test the Spirits and
doctrines (1 John 4:1) so as not to become deceived, and we must “Prove all
things” and “hold fast that that which is good” (1 Thess 5:21). In order to
make it through we must not allow ourselves to be deceived or we will be in
danger of being purged out of God’s people. Even when we place ourselves in a
place that we know is delivering error, we place ourselves in danger of being
purged out from God’s people. “Be sober, be vigilant;” the Devil is “going
about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).”</span><br />
<span class="egw-ref"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What is the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Straight testimony</i> that causes the
shaking? </b></span><br />
<span class="egw-text">There are those among us who will make confessions, as
did Achan, too late to save themselves. ... They are not in harmony with right.
They despise the straight testimony that reaches the heart, and would rejoice
to see everyone silenced who gives reproof.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies
for the Church 3:272 (1873)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 175.4} </span><br />
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text">The Lord calls for a renewal of the
straight testimony borne in years past. <u>He calls for a renewal of spiritual
life.</u> The spiritual energies of His people have long been torpid, but there
is to be a resurrection from apparent death. By prayer and confession of sin we
must clear the King's highway.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies for the
Church 8:297 (1904)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref">
{LDE 176.1} <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="active" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="egw-ref">Again, by allowing
ourselves to become inattentive and lacks we place ourselves in danger of being
sifted out from God’s seal of Approval. If we despise the voice of wisdom and
truth, or even deny it, we are in grave danger. Again, study out what is said
to be truth, and understand what is truth by diligent prayer and study. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Will False Doctrines
Draw Some Away from God’s Church</span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">?</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></h5>
<span class="egw-text">Science, so-called, and religion will be placed in
opposition to each other because finite men do not comprehend the power and
greatness of God. These words of Holy Writ were presented to me, “Of your own
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after
them” [</span><span class="egwlink">Acts 20:30</span><span class="egw-text">]. This
will surely be seen among the people of God.—</span><span class="egwlink">Evangelism,
593 (1890)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 176.3} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">When the shaking comes, by the introduction of false
theories, these surface readers, anchored nowhere, are like shifting sand. They
slide into any position to suit the tenor of their feelings of bitterness.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, 112 (1897)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 177.1} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">Not having received the love of the truth, they will be
taken in the delusions of the enemy; they will give heed to seducing spirits
and doctrines of devils and will depart from the faith.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies for the Church 6:401 (1900)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 177.2} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text"><u>The enemy will bring in false theories, such as the
doctrine that there is no sanctuary. This is one of the points on which there
will be a departing from the faith.</u>—</span><span class="egwlink">Evangelism,
224 (1905)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 177.3} <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="egw-ref">Folks, I don’t know if you have
noticed, but the teaching of the Sanctuary is rarely mentioned or taught in Adventism
today. The Sanctuary message reveals the plan of Salvation Christ made with the
Heavenly Father to save us from sin, and of the Priestly work that Christ is
administering to in the Heavenly Sanctuary now on our behalf. If we cut out the
teaching of the Sanctuary from our message and teaching, then we are cutting
away at the very foundation that God’s church is built upon. One of the pillars
of the Seventh day Adventist Faith is the Sanctuary, and if we remove it from
our learning and knowledge, the structure cannot stand. We must keep the
foundation of our faith, the pillars of truth that we are established on. By
letting some of it go we are making a compromise. The complete and total loss
of truth, and by it salvation, is done away with one compromise at a time.
Brothers and sisters, Do Not Compromise your establishment in truth. Lay hold
on the truth and Keep the foundation that God has laid for us. Any compromise
is the path to destruction.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Do Rejection of the
Testimonies Results in Apostasy</span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">? </span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></h5>
<span class="egw-text">One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who
take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the
warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit.—</span><span class="egwlink">Selected Messages 3:84 (1903)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 177.4} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">The very last deception of Satan will be to make of
none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. “Where there is no vision, the
people perish” (</span><span class="egwlink">Proverbs 29:18</span><span class="egw-text">). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through
different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the
true testimony.—</span><span class="egwlink">Selected Messages 1:48 (1890)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 177.5} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">The enemy has made his masterly efforts to unsettle the
faith of our own people in the </span><i>Testimonies</i><span class="egw-text">....
This is just as Satan designed it should be, and those who have been preparing
the way for the people to pay no heed to the warnings and reproofs of the </span><i>Testimonies</i><span class="egw-text"> of the Spirit of God will see that a tide of errors of all
kinds will spring into life.—</span><span class="egwlink">Selected Messages 3:83
(1890)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 178.1} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">It is Satan's plan to weaken the faith of God's people
in the </span><i>Testimonies</i><span class="egw-text">. Next follows
skepticism in regard to the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>vital
points of our faith, the pillars of our position, then doubt as to the Holy
Scriptures, and then the downward march to perdition.</u></b> When the </span><i>Testimonies</i><span class="egw-text">, which were once believed, are doubted and given up, Satan
knows the deceived ones will not stop at this; and he redoubles his efforts
till he launches them into open rebellion, which becomes incurable and ends in
destruction.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies for the Church 4:211</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 178.2} <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="egw-ref">Revelation 12:17 says that the
remnant of God’s church are they which “keep the commandments of God, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and
have the testimony of Jesus.</i></b>” If we, as God’s people do not have the
testimony, then how are we God’s church? We cannot reject the true and straight
testimony of Jesus—His message of warning, reproof, and complete truth. Again,
folks, beware of those among us who do reject this testimony, for the devil may
use them to cause you and me to be shaken, and if we do not hang on tightly to
the testimony we will fall with them and be sifted out. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">Will there be Defections
among Leaders of God’s people</span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">?</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></h5>
<span class="egw-text">Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance
will then go out in darkness.—</span><span class="egwlink">Prophets and Kings,
188</span><span class="egw-text"> (c. 1914).</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE
178.3} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">Men whom He has greatly honored will, in the closing
scenes of this earth's history, pattern after ancient Israel.... A departure
from the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working out
of human projects, using the Scriptures to justify a wrong course of action
under the perverse working of Lucifer, will confirm men in misunderstanding,
and the truth that they need to keep them from wrong practices will leak out of
the soul like water from a leaky vessel.—</span><span class="egwlink">Manuscript
Releases 13:379, 381 (1904)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 178.4} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">Many will show that they are not one with Christ, that
they are not dead to the world, that they may live with Him; and frequent will
be the apostasies of men who have occupied responsible positions.—</span><span class="egwlink">The Review and Herald, September 11, 1888</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 179.1} <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<span class="egw-ref"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Can we
be sealed with God’s seal of approval if we keep any form of worldliness? Certainly
not. God has called us to separate from the world, and from worldliness; we’ve
been called to forsake sin and all likeness of it. Additionally, we are to
avoid the appearance of evil. Does the character of Christ partake in worldliness?
Certainly not, so in order for our characters to be made ready for heaven we
have to have it transformed into one like Christ’s. That cannot happen if we
keep worldliness in the heart.<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Unsanctified Ministers
Will Be Weeded Out</span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></h5>
<span class="egw-text">The great issue so near at hand [enforcement of Sunday
laws] will weed out those whom God has not appointed and He will have a pure,
true, sanctified ministry prepared for the latter rain.—</span><span class="egwlink">Selected Messages 3:385 (1886)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 179.2} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text"><u>Many will stand in our pulpits with the torch of
false prophecy in their hands, kindled from the hellish torch of Satan</u>....</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 179.3} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">Some will go out from among us who will bear the ark no
longer. But these cannot make walls to obstruct the truth; for it will go
onward and upward to the end.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies to
Ministers and Gospel Workers, 409, 411 (1898)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><br />
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text">Ministers and doctors may depart from the
faith, as the Word declares they will, and as the messages that God has given
His servant declare they will.—</span><span class="egwlink">Manuscript Releases
7:192 (1906)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE
179.5}<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></div>
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-ref"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Here
again is reason for us to consider the things that are spoken from the pulpit.
We are not to live to solely focus on looking for the errors being taught, or
we will miss the truth, but we must also be sober and vigilant and be watchful
unto prayer lest we fall into temptation (Mark 14:38), and not allow for error
to be taught and deceive many. With every opposition we should meet it with a “Thus
saith the Lord….”</span></div>
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">God’s Church May Appear
as About to Fall</span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></h5>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="egw-text">When you have many brothers
and sisters of the faith falling away from the truth, and falling from their
faith by the shaking, and when pastors and ministers are also misleading from
the truth, and themselves falling away from the God’s truth, it will seem
overwhelmingly that the people of God will not be able to hold true through the
time of great testing and trials.<br />
<br />
The shaking of God blows away multitudes like dry leaves.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies for the Church 4:89 (1876)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 180.1} </span></div>
<span class="egw-text">Chaff like a cloud will be borne away on the wind, even
from places where we see only floors of rich wheat.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies
for the Church 5:81 (1882)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 180.2} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">Soon God's people will be tested by fiery trials, and
the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove
to be base metal....</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 180.3} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not
fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff
separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless
it must take place.—</span><span class="egwlink">Selected Messages 2:380 (1886)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 180.5} </span><br />
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text">As the storm approaches, a large class who
have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified
through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of
the opposition.—</span><span class="egwlink">The Great Controversy, 608 (1911)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 180.6}</span></div>
<span class="egw-text">When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt,
when His law is most despised, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">then
should our zeal be the warmest and our courage and firmness the most
unflinching</b>. <u>To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the
majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are
few—this will be our test</u>. At this time we must gather warmth from the
coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their
treason.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies for the Church 5:136 (1882)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 180.4} <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="egw-ref">The people of God will possess
the truth. If we possess the truth than we have a responsibility to keep and
preserve it through to the end, which means we have to remain faithful in our endeavor.
Though the heavens and earth seem to be falling, and those around us falling,
do not be moved, that is the great test of faith, that is the defining time
where we will learn whether we are ready for heaven or not. Oh Brothers and
sisters, hold fast to the truth, hold fast to your faith and confidence in God
because you will need them to make it through the great trials and afflictions
ahead. Though, the work is hard, it seems full of trial and suffering, it is
nothing compared to the eternal reward that has been promised in God’s
covenant. There is a crown awaiting all who stand true. Though the time may
seem to tarry, hold fast anyway for the time of deliverance shall surely come. </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which
hath great recompence of reward.</div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye
have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.</div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come
will come, and will not tarry.</div>
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man
draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.<span class="egw-ref"><br />
<br />
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>~
Hebrews 10:35-38</div>
<div class="active">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Conclusion<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></div>
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">God's Faithful Will Be
Revealed</span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></h5>
<span class="egw-text">The Lord has faithful servants who in the shaking,
testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who
have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been
shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and
uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will
be revealed. In the daytime we look toward heaven but do not see the stars.
They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In
the night we behold their genuine luster.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies
for the Church 5:80, 81 (1882)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 181.1} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">On every occasion that persecution takes place, the
witnesses make decisions, either for Christ or against Him. Those who show
sympathy for the men wrongly condemned, who are not bitter against them, show
their attachment for Christ.—</span><span class="egwlink">The Signs of the Times,
February 20, 1901</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE
181.2} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">Let opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again
bear sway, let persecution be kindled, and the half-hearted and hypocritical
will waver and yield the faith; <u>but the true Christian will stand firm as a
rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter than in days of prosperity</u>.—</span><span class="egwlink">The Great Controversy, 602 (1911)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 181.3} <br />
<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>As has been said before,
though it seem as you might be the only one remaining standing for the truth,
there will still be some still holding to the faith as well. Don’t give up the
hope of what is true. <br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><br />
<h5>
<span class="egw-text"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">New Converts Will Take
the Places of Those Who Leave</span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></h5>
<span class="egw-text">Some had been shaken out and left by the way. <u>The
careless and indifferent, who did not join with those who prized victory and
salvation enough to perseveringly plead and agonize for it, did not obtain it,
and they were left behind in darkness, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">and
their places were immediately filled by others taking hold of the truth and
coming into the ranks</b></u>.—</span><span class="egwlink">Early Writings, 271
(1858)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 182.1} </span><br />
<span class="egw-text">The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented
by Christ as coming in at the eleventh hour. There are many with whom the
Spirit of God is striving. The time of God's destructive judgments is the time
of mercy for those who [now] have no opportunity to learn what is truth.
Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched, His hand
is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not
enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days <u>hear the truth
for the first time</u>.—</span><span class="egw-eng">Letter 103, 1903</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {LDE 182.2} </span><br />
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text">Standard after standard was left to trail
in the dust as company after company from the Lord's army joined the foe and
tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the
commandment-keeping people of God.—</span><span class="egwlink">Testimonies for
the Church 8:41 (1904)</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref">
{LDE 182.3}</span></div>
<div class="active">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span class="egw-ref"><br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Our examples of perseverance
and steadfastness have an impact on those who behold. Actions speak louder than
words and thus the refined and tried Character of Christ, if carefully
exercised and practiced, will serve as a convincing illustration of God’s mercy
and truth. Remember that we have a higher calling, that these things of earth
shall pass, but in the meantime remember the faith and keep your attention
unceasingly upon Christ. With those that fall the Lord set’s up men and women
to take their place. Hold the standard high, wave the blood stained banner
until the king comes. Remember that when God is with us, no man can be against
us (Romans 8:31). <br />
<br />
</span></div>
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-ref"></span></div>
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-ref"><br /><br />
<br />
<br />
</span>http://greatestgiftsofgod.blogspot.com/</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-31102846211584518082016-02-26T20:58:00.000-08:002016-02-26T21:04:48.463-08:00Who and What is the Church of God<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Who
and what is the “Church”<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Church</span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> defined from Greek:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">“An
assembly, congregation; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">And
we also know that the word <i>church</i> can
refer to denominations and a place of worship, but what does the word <i>church</i> in scripture actually mean?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">During
His ministry on earth, Jesus referenced <i>the
church</i> in multiple ways. Sometimes He said the church, other times he said
peoples. Through history we see that the <i>church</i>
began as a people (e.g., Adam and Eve, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc), and
progressed into a nation that has had many dark times as well as that of good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;">What defined the
church in Abraham’s time?</span></b><span style="background: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-family: "book antiqua" , serif; font-size: 10.5pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Galatians
3:6-9<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">6 Even as
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">7 Know ye
therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">8 And the
scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith,
preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be
blessed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">9 So then
they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The
believer’s in Abraham’s day were defined by their faith, correct? And because
of Abraham’s faith in God, God promised that his seed would be heirs to
righteousness in Faith. So, here Abrahams family who feared the Lord were
defined as God’s people by their faith, and thus the Children of Israel also
were defined as the people of God because of their faith and lineage, and again
today those who are of faith in God (which is the same God of Abraham and
Israel) are called the people of God, and by their faith are heirs to Salvation
in Through Christ. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">In the time of Christ, what was
considered the “Church?” </span></b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">(Or
thought to be)<b><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Again,
looking back through history, we find that the Israel nation in the time of
Christ considered themselves the heirs of Salvation because of their lineage
from Abraham. So, the Jews were thought to be considered the Church of God, but
<b>were the Jews actually the true church
of God?</b><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"><br />
Matthew 10:5, 6<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">5 These
twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way
of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">6 But go
rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">What does
this verse show about the Israel nation? “the lost sheep of Israel.” Does this
show that there were some in Israel who were erring and not in the truth?
Certainly. So, as a nation, Israel could not be considered the <i>church</i> because if the nation was taken
to heaven, there would be vile sinners in it. <br />
How about the denominational church of the Jews? Was that the true Church of
God? They did keep the ordinances of the Sanctuary and of the laws, but how did
many of the members and leaders of that <i>church</i>
treat Jesus? The chief priests and Pharisees certainly did not approve of
Christ and the ministry work that He worked among them, and many times those
religious leaders sought to Kill Jesus. Does that sound like God’s church? God
forbid. <br />
However, with all the corruptions of the Jewish religion, did Jesus turn His
back upon them? Did He not worship on the Sabbath day in their synagogues? Of
course He did. It says in Mark 1:21 that Jesus went into the Synagogue on the
Sabbath day and taught. Why? Because He went to seek after “the lost sheep of
Israel. (Mat 10:6)”<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">This
is the example for us in this: We can see that <u>a denomination cannot be
God’s defined church</u>, for their can be leaders and members in a
denomination that do err. It is by the condition of our heart and the condition
of our faith that will define whether or not we are a member of God’s Church. I
would rather have my name written in the book of Life in heaven and go to spend
eternity with My Lord, rather than to have my faith put in an earthly
denomination (instead of God) and have my name written in the that earthly
book. Our Salvation is in Christ alone, and we must work out or Salvation with
Him in fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12), and prove our steadfast
faithfulness in Him to be counted among the faithful. This is my prayer for
each, that we would each lift our eyes upon High, and trust in the Lord rather
than in man.<br />
Let us also not turn our back upon those whose eyes are upon men, but be like
Jesus who sought to reach the “lost sheep of Israel.”<br />
<br />
<b>(Ended last week)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">In the time
that Christ ministered, the Jews believed themselves to be the heirs of
Righteousness, and because of it they felt themselves as superior above all
other nations of the world, and any person who was not a part of their “Church”
of Israel was considered a Gentile (the Gentiles were treated like dogs by the
Jews and downtrodden upon). <b>Is this the
character that was described as that of God’s church? </b>Certainly not so. The
so-thought church of that time was not actually the real church of God because
that organization had separated from God. The Jews were early Seventh day
Adventist, for they professed in the Advent of Christ and kept the Seventh day
Holy, but as Jesus said, the Jews were the “lost sheep of Israel” and were in need
of being shown the gospel, for they had certainly gone away from God. Through
the time of Christ’s ministry, Jesus focused upon reaching the people who were
once the chosen people of God, but as was shown when Christ was crucified, the
largely established “Church” of that time rejected the Messiah and actually
condemned Him to death on the cross. It was shortly after which when the door
was opened for the gospel to be spread to the whole world and was no longer
secluded to one nation and one people. The advent message of the redemption
that Christ bought for us was able to be accepted by any and all who could hear
it, and in being brought to faith in God, all could become heirs of
righteousness. <br />
<br />
Now,
let’s quickly follow the church of God up to our time.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Matthew 28:19
and 20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">19 Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">20 Teaching
them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with
you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">At Jesus’
last conversation with His disciples before He was taken up to Heaven, He
charged the disciples to now take the gospel to all the world teaching and
baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and Holy Ghost. To teach all to
observe what Christ had taught the disciples leaving them with the Promise that
He would be with them always (this promise still applies to us today if we heed
the calling to go and teach all the truth of Salvation). <br />
<br />
The true members of God’s church following the Stoning of Steven were a
peculiar people of faithfulness, accepting the truth and following in faith
after righteousness, but they were persecuted for their faith. <b>Who were the people who stoned Steven?</b>
Were they not Jews too? Even those claiming to be the church of God (falsely of
course) continued to reject the truth and persecuted the real Christians of
that time. Because of the Pride of the nation, the Jews lost sight of the
covenant that God made with Abraham and its conditions that they were required
to keep. They rejected the gospel, they rejected the righteousness, and
rejected everlasting life. <br />
<br />
These things of history show
very important lessons for us today, amen? We are given a proper example to
follow in order to be heirs of righteousness, and also are given examples of
what disobedience to God can do to those who were once the true people of God. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;"> <b>What
does a woman represent in Scripture when spoken as a symbol?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Jeremiah 6:2<br />
I have likened the daughter of Zion to a <u>comely and delicate <b>woman</b></u>.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">What is Zion?<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">2 Kings 19:
30 and 31<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">30 And the <u>remnant</u>
that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and
bear fruit upward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">31 <b><u>For out of Jerusalem shall go forth a
remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion</u></b>: the zeal of
the Lord of hosts shall do this.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">So, Zion, or
the mount of Zion is reference to Jerusalem which was the capitol of the
Israelite nation. Therefore, the daughters of Zion represent the people of God,
for Israel was the chosen people of God. Jeremiah 6:2 says that the “daughters
of Zion” are likened “to a comely and delicate woman.” Often in scripture, when
speaking of prophecy, the people of God are symbolized as a woman then,
correct?<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Now, let’s
turn to Revelation and read about the <i>church</i>
in the last days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Revelation 12: 7-17<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">7 And there
was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the
dragon fought and his angels,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">8 And
prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">9 And the
great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which
deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were
cast out with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">10 And I
heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and
the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our
brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">11 And they
overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and
they loved not their lives unto the death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">12 Therefore
rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the
earth and of the sea! For the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath,
because he knoweth that he hath <u>but a short time</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">13 And when
the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which
brought forth the man child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">14 And to the
woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the
wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and
half a time, from the face of the serpent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">15 And the
serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might
cause her to be carried away of the flood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">16 And the
earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the
flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">17 And the
dragon was wroth with the <b>woman</b>, and
went to make war with <b>the remnant of her
seed</b>, <u>which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of
Jesus Christ</u>.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Here, the
dragon represent Satan who was cast out of heaven with 1/3 of the angles for
rebelling against God and making war in heaven. Satan sees that he has but a
short time and then he will be utterly defeated, so he turned to the bride of
Christ to persecute her and to try and destroy her. We know from our previous
two bible studies that the woman, who is the people of God, was nourished in
faithfulness for 1260 years (time, times, and a half) through the time of
trouble. <br />
Now, notice verse 17 that says, “And the dragon was wroth with the <b>woman</b>, and went to make war with <b>the remnant of her seed</b>, <u>which keep
the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ</u>.”<br />
<b><br />
</b>This portrays the character of God’s church in the last days; they are
those who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus. <br />
Also notice how the verse says that the devil went to make war with the remnant
or her seed. Also note that in 2 Kings 19, verse 30 and 31 says, “And the <u>remnant</u>
that is escaped of the house of Judah shall yet again take root downward, and
bear fruit upward. <b><u>For out of
Jerusalem shall go forth a remnant, and they that escape out of mount Zion</u></b>:
the zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this.<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">This remnant
mentioned in Revelation 12:17, and in 2 Kings 19 are the remaining people of
God’s church in these last days. They will be scattered throughout the earth,
and afflicted, and tried and tested for their faith; they will be those who
keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus though the heavens fall.
This remnant I want to be among: which are the people of God, and the
inheritors of righteousness through faith. Amen? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">Conclusion<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">The sum of
the matter is simple. The Church represents the woman who is the people of God,
of whom Christ died for to present to Himself as a bride clean and spotless (Ephesians
5:25-27). The remnant represents the remnant of God’s people in the last days. <br />
In
the world today, we all hear many peoples and nations and denominations as well
as individuals claiming to be the church of God. But are they truly the People
of God? <b>How do we know what is the true
church of God? How do we know who is working by the Spirit of God, and who is
working by the Spirit of Satan?</b> Matthew 7:20 says, “By their fruits, ye
shall know them.” By this and study of the word of God we will be able to
discern who are the true people of God, and who are false teachers.<br />
The True Church of God are a people –not a denomination, a structure, building,
or a nation, but are a people; a people who keep the commandments of God, who
are not afraid to call sin by its right name, who keep the faith and testimony
of Jesus, who are as true to duty as the needle to the pole though the heavens
fall. This is who I want to be numbered with in the day that Christ comes to
gather us with Him to take home with Him. <br />
We
have to realize that the people of God put their full trust and attention on God,
and not in any man. We cannot put our trust in a denomination, or a modern
theology, but instead we must look unto Christ (who is author and finisher of
our faith) for truth and discernment, Amen? <br />
We must be sober and vigilant, because no matter where we are, or with whom we
worship with, the devil strives to continually deceive the people of God away
from the truth. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "book antiqua" , serif;">I pray that
we each would recognize the duty of God’s church (us) for these last days. I
pray that we would study diligently to shew ourselves approved unto God (2 Tim
2:15), and that we would pray for discernment from the holy Spirit to rightly
know our teachers, ministers, pastors, and fellow believer’s by their fruits.
Keep your eyes upon Jesus, and don’t look away. Remember to keep the
commandments in faithfulness, and to keep the testimony of Jesus to be among
the saints of God (Rev 14:12).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywGGihvTUNUYPMvk5nqHmSGQBk0ISZJ1yChVPNuNS3ptT90PdFCcIDn5a91f1WSd4ndBDzRv9hcuAVf7gtUv5m06BvGiWbLvjdsXYnGnTpjEp8ifYW6v10l-fM29gtl-G79AWQK-Gqdk/s1600/fb5456d067f941dec0404390e6024208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywGGihvTUNUYPMvk5nqHmSGQBk0ISZJ1yChVPNuNS3ptT90PdFCcIDn5a91f1WSd4ndBDzRv9hcuAVf7gtUv5m06BvGiWbLvjdsXYnGnTpjEp8ifYW6v10l-fM29gtl-G79AWQK-Gqdk/s640/fb5456d067f941dec0404390e6024208.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-19424744998056148772016-02-21T09:19:00.004-08:002016-03-06T16:09:15.233-08:00Is freedom free?<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"> <b>Is Freedom Free?</b><br /><br /> Freedom was bought by the blood of Christ so that we would be able to be free from sin, so the price has been paid for those who would accept His life as payment for the sinners debt; it was certainly not a cheep price. Those who reject the blood of Christ and choose to stay in sin will have made Christ's sacrifice for them of no success, but He died for them just as much as for me. The only price for freedom on our part is the forsaking and surrendering of sin in our lives to walk therein no more.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 15.456px;"><br /><i>Christ Conquered death and rose from the grave again to live, so that we, in Him, would be able to be conquerors of the flesh.</i></span><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18_IdbTXUyHdndVrvfHxsHq3EfuIrYa9lQXgdHNhLrhylOOuTs5KjcRT9wO0Jhzqg9OgWYuRqQzCpYpC0MggdVmJYcqmjFZt16kjS7-g2ziP1lpEohiah1d-aW9nqjwJawEhDCcDXAOc/s1600/9e4bcb906e6271f6e83eab91c78a9ff3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj18_IdbTXUyHdndVrvfHxsHq3EfuIrYa9lQXgdHNhLrhylOOuTs5KjcRT9wO0Jhzqg9OgWYuRqQzCpYpC0MggdVmJYcqmjFZt16kjS7-g2ziP1lpEohiah1d-aW9nqjwJawEhDCcDXAOc/s320/9e4bcb906e6271f6e83eab91c78a9ff3.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-34256111822363673612016-02-07T21:34:00.001-08:002016-02-07T21:34:39.780-08:00And sin entered<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 107%;">And
Sin Entered<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
A major question that sits in the minds of many is the question of how sin
entered the world. Some entertain the
belief that God created sin, but God is love, His throne is the habitation of
Justice and judgement, and mercy go before His face (Psalm 89:14). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> What
is sin?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">1 John 3:4<br />
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth
also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So, sin is
the transgression of God’s law, or initially disobedience, correct? Does God
cause men to sin? Does He cause men to disobey Him? Why would He? God is Just
and merciful, He would not make any to commit disobedience. God created all
beings with the gift of choice. They were created to make a freewill choice to
serve Him, and all living beings did serve God with all joy and satisfaction.
But, if God did not create sin, how did sin come about?<br />
<br />
Let’s turn to Isaiah 14:<br />
Isaiah 14:12-15<br />
12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou
cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">13 For <u>thou
hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne
above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in
the sides of the north</u>:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">14 <u>I will
ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">15 Yet thou
shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“So long as
all created beings acknowledged the allegiance of love, there was perfect
harmony throughout the universe of God. It was the joy of the heavenly host to
fulfill the purpose of their Creator. They delighted in reflecting His glory
and showing forth His praise. And while love to God was supreme, love for one
another was confiding and unselfish. There was no note of discord to mar the
celestial harmonies. But a change came over this happy state. There was one <b><u><span style="color: red;">who perverted
the freedom that God had granted to His creatures</span></u></b>. Sin
originated with him who, second to Christ, had been most honored of God and was
highest in power and glory among the inhabitants of heaven. Lucifer, “son of
the morning,” was first of the covering cherubs, holy and undefiled. He stood
in the presence of the great Creator, and the ceaseless beams of glory
enshrouding the eternal God rested upon him. “Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest
up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the
garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.... Thou art the anointed
cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain
of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou
wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was
found in thee.” Ezekiel 28:12-15. {PP 35.1}”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“Little by
little Lucifer came to indulge the desire for self-exaltation. The Scripture
says, “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy
wisdom by reason of thy brightness.” Ezekiel 28:17. “Thou hast said in thine
heart, ...I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.... I will be like the
Most High.” Isaiah 14:13, 14. <b>Though all
his glory was from God, this mighty angel came to regard it as pertaining to
himself</b>. Not content with his position, though honored above the heavenly
host, he ventured to covet homage due alone to the Creator. Instead of seeking
to make God supreme in the affections and allegiance of all created beings, it
was his endeavor to secure their service and loyalty to himself. And coveting
the glory with which the infinite Father had invested His Son, this prince of
angels aspired to power that was the prerogative of Christ alone. {PP 35.2}”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Now the
perfect harmony of heaven was broken. Lucifer began to harbor feelings of
pride, jealousy, and selfishness. As time progressed, his feelings became
greater and greater and he boasted to himself that He would become higher than
God. Instead of looking continually to God, he began looking unto self, and sin
entered. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Sin is like a
disease, an awful terrible consuming disease. The more sin is allowed to dwell
in the heart and mind, the more destruction it causes. The more a person
indulges in gratifying self, the more the curse of sin can grasp upon the
person. Lucifer was in a very great position in Heaven, he was a commander of
the Angels. What God commanded, Lucifer would deliver to the angels to carry
out. But, Lucifer began to doubt and question the nature of God’s perfect laws.
He began to defy them in his heart, and let self reign instead. Even with all
such overwhelming evidence to how good, and merciful and worthy God is, Lucifer
still turned blindly away, <u>and sin entered.</u> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">We
established earlier what sin was in 1 John 3:4, that it is the transgression of
God’s law, or disobedience to God. Lucifer committed transgression against
God’s law and rebelled against Him, and convinced one third of the Angels to
rebel with him (Lucifer was very much loved in heaven by all the Angels, and it
was a very tragic thing when he fell into rebellion). One third of the angels
chose to follow Lucifer, but the rest chose to remain faithful unto God. Note: Even
the faithfulness of all the angels has been tested.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Since
we know how sin began, <b>how did sin enter
our world?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Genesis 2:17, 18:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">17 But of the
tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the
day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">18 And
the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I
will make him an <u>help meet</u> for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
After God have created all of creation and given all for Adam to partake in, He
gave Adam Specific instructions of all that he may do in Eden, and what Adam
was responsible for. However, there was one thing in Eden that God had put
forth their as a test of Adam’s faithfulness. God gave one specific instruction
to Adam that He should not eat of tree that was in the midst of the Garden. The
purpose of the Tree of knowledge of good and evil is as a test. God knew that
Satan would try and tempt his Creation into falling under his rebellious
tyranny, and He needed a way to make Adam’s faith grow and increase and be
proved. Thus, the tree was a test to Adam’s faithful obedience to God. <br />
Also, God saw that Adam was in need of a
help meet--a person to stay with Adam and be the meet for his help. Thus, God
created Eve for Adam out of Adam’s rib, signifying that she was not from his
head to rule over, nor from his feet to be trampled upon, but from his side to
be under his arm and by him through all things. This was one of the best gifts that God gave
Adam.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Now turn to
Genesis 3, and we will read the history of the fall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Genesis 3:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">1 Now the
serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which
the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God
said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">2 And the
woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the
garden:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">3 But of the
fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall
not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Let’s stop for a moment.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>What
do we have happening here?<br />
</b><br />
Where is Adam? So, Eve is walking through the garden without her faithful and
wise husband with her to help protect and shield her from any wrong doings (Man
was created with the same gift of choice as the Heavenly beings were, and thus
were capable of deciding to turn away from God).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“Our first
parents were not left without a warning of the danger that threatened them.
Heavenly messengers opened to them the history of Satan’s fall and his plots
for their destruction, unfolding more fully the nature of the divine
government, which the prince of evil was trying to overthrow. It was by
disobedience to the just commands of God that Satan and his host had fallen.
How important, then, that Adam and Eve should honor that law by which alone it
was possible for order and equity to be maintained. {PP 52.2}”<br />
<br />
4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">5 For God
doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and
ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">(The first
lies ever uttered in this world)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">6 And when
the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the
eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof,
and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">7 And the
eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they
sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
The first mistake that Eve made was to
wander away from Adam’s side, something of which the angels had warned her
against in their communion with each other. <br />
Eve’s second mistake was to go near the
tree which they were not to partake of, putting herself in the enemy’s
territory to be tempted.<br />
When Eve had already fallen into the temptation, she further made mistake by
adding to that which God had commanded them. Eve showed her ignorance when she
said that God commanded them to not touch of the fruit. God commanded them to
not go near the tree, let alone touch or eat it. In this way Eve opened herself
up all the more to the deceptions of the serpent (at that point, Eve was near
to point of no return). In this way Satan, in the form a serpent, which was the
wisest creature in Eden and a very beautiful creature in the garden, used Eve’s
ignorance to her destruction. When Eve touched the fruit, she did not die, and
thus she then took to eat for the serpent deceived her. <u>And sin entered into
Eden.</u><br />
Adam, when Eve took fruit to him to eat, he was troubled and sad that Eve had
sinned when he recognized what she came bearing to him, but against his own
conscience, Adam became blinded by his passion for Eve, and disregarded the
Instructions from God. Adam hastily took to eat so he would not become
separated from Eve, <u>and sin again manifested.</u><br />
Right
after having committed the disobedience to God’s command, the guilt and impact
of their deed began to set in. Surely, such a small sin as that could not have
such a strict penalty of death and destruction? But sin is sin, no matter its
condition, it is still a curse and rebellion unto God and thus the only
consequence of sin is death. “For the wages of sin is death… (Romans 6:23).”<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The lessons
in this story are numerous, but one that I want to point to is the state and
actions leading up to the actions of sin. With Lucifer, whilst he was yet a noble
angel in the presence of God, he turned to feelings of pride and jealousy
allowing self to become present. He began to question the perfect and holy laws
of God and gradually in his heart set his mind to rebel against them. He
desired to rise above the throne of God, a position that only the creator is
worthy of. Slowly the feelings of pride and arrogance crept into his heart and
he committed sin by rebelling against the Almighty God. <br />
Eve also made decisions that led her to the fall. She and Adam had been
forewarned of the history of the fall of Lucifer in heaven, and the conflict that
had begun from it. Adam and Eve had been instructed to remain with one another
lest the enemy should come to temp them separately. Yet, even after all the
warnings and instructions, Adam permitted Eve to wander from him, and Eve chose
to leave Adam which compromised both of their faithfulness. By this first
action, both Adam and Eve put them in jeopardy of being tempted. Eve continued
farther down the path of treading upon dangerous ground when she went near to
the tree which they were instructed to stay away from. At the tree she was further
digging herself deeper into danger by lingering and speaking with the serpent,
which should have been enough to cause alarm, but Eve tarried until she fell. <br />
<br />
Similarly today, we can often time put ourselves in the way of temptation. When
Christ calls us, beckons us to leave off from sin and follow Him, He makes it
very clear that we must surrender all to follow Him. Sin, being like a curse, clings
onto the spiritual garments, and cannot be removed except by the cleansing
blood and forgiveness of Christ. By repentance to Christ, we can have our sinful
and stained garments replaced by the pure and clean covering of Christ. Yet, we
cannot become clean if we continue to remain in Sin. We have to turn from our
sins to be able to remain clean in Christ. With every temptation we must resist
the urge and desire to turn to self-indulgence. But, we cannot do that upon our
own efforts, we have to have the strength and enabling that Christ gives us.
However, we can put ourselves in the way of danger by walking upon the ground
that leads to temptation like that of Adam and Eve in Eden. There is a song
known as <i>Little feet be careful</i> where
you take me to; anywhere for Jesus, only let me do. Let us not walk in the way
that is near to temptation, or that opens us up to the temptations of evil,
because how can the angels deliver us strength if we go where they cannot.
Trust in the Lord, and walk steadfastly in Him; be sober and vigilant, pray
without ceasing, so as to not fall into temptation. Let us remember these
things continually as we strive to walk with the Lord. Amen?<br />
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Notes:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Satan
represented to the holy pair that they would be gainers by breaking the law of
God. Do we not today hear similar reasoning? Many talk of the narrowness of
those who obey God’s commandments, while they themselves claim to have broader
ideas and to enjoy greater liberty. What is this but an echo of the voice from
Eden, “In the day ye eat thereof”—transgress the divine requirement—“ye shall
be as gods”? Satan claimed to have received great good by eating of the
forbidden fruit, but he did not let it appear that by transgression he had
become an outcast from heaven. Though he had found sin to result in infinite
loss, he concealed his own misery in order to draw others into the same
position. So now the transgressor seeks to disguise his true character; he may
claim to be holy; but his exalted profession only makes him the more dangerous
as a deceiver. He is on the side of Satan, trampling upon the law of God, and
leading others to do the same, to their eternal ruin. {PP 55.1}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">"If
Satan was cast out of Heaven because of sin, what makes man think they can get
to heaven in Sin?"</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLhwGHgMNsnQSihEGvvt28pM1f-__XQ1HVQHneTrhooUKrGFasLkvvpo-6y7FGSEbxNT-jE4JwUYVPdmAm16TX0WRHAmtG41NZY6Qz7AUKLfCa5J197BXbgjB0Y5cv09w48c5DkrCPTY/s1600/in+sin...jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLhwGHgMNsnQSihEGvvt28pM1f-__XQ1HVQHneTrhooUKrGFasLkvvpo-6y7FGSEbxNT-jE4JwUYVPdmAm16TX0WRHAmtG41NZY6Qz7AUKLfCa5J197BXbgjB0Y5cv09w48c5DkrCPTY/s320/in+sin...jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-36601358598253046112016-01-29T23:31:00.003-08:002016-01-29T23:31:45.073-08:00Two Prophecies seldom Mentioned (Part 2 of the Abominations of Desolation)<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Two
seldom mentioned prophecies</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
Dan 12:11, and 12.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">11 And from
the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that
maketh desolate set up, there shall be <u>a thousand two hundred and ninety
days</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">12 Blessed is
he that waiteth, and cometh to the <u>thousand three hundred and five and
thirty days</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">In
last week’s bible study we went over the 1260 day prophecy and discovered its
beginning and end dates of the prophecy, and all the historical events that
distinguished those dates. We saw the connection of the fourth beast in Daniel
7 to that of the first beast in Revelation 13. They are very similar, but the
latter seemed to have grown larger and more powerful than the first beast from
Daniel. These beasts represent the same thing, but in two different stages of
earth’s time. <br />
The
Beast in Daniel was described as the one that would rise up from the earth and
gain power to rule and commit abomination and create desolation of the earth.
This beast made war with the saints and thought to change times and laws for a
time, times and a half (1260 prophetic days, or literal years). <br />
Now,
the beast in Revelation 13 was said to also have received power and ruled the
earth; he committed abomination against the Lord, and brought desolation upon
the earth while making war against the saints. Like that of the Beast in Dan 7,
the beast of Rev 13 also was given power for 42 months, or 1260 literal years. <br />
These two beast from Dan 7 and
Rev 13 represent the same earthly power: Papal Rome, or Roman Catholicism. The
beast in Dan 7 was the description of the beast before the ending of the 1260
days were complete. The papal power first became recognized in 538 A.D. as
being a religious and governmental power. Exactly 1,260 years after 538 A.D.,
the Papal power was overthrown by Napoleon’s Army when General Berthier took
the pope captive and threw him into prison in the year 1798. Thus, the beast received
its deadly wound and the 1260 day prophecy was fulfilled. However, that same
power represented by the beasts was returned to power after 1798 and its deadly
wound was healed. Again, Papal Rome was given power and is said that he will go
and make war against the saints and will rule over the earth again. The beast
after the 1260 days is much more powerful than before when it grew to power
between 538 and 1798. This is the time that we are in now where the beast is
rising to power and preparing for the final conflict against the Lamb of God. <br />
Note: During the 1260 years it
was said that the Woman in Revelation 14, which represent the People of God,
was flown into the wilderness to be nourished for a time, times and a half, or
1260 prophetic days. During the persecution that Rome afflicted God’s people
with through the 1260 years, God nourished and kept His people through the
whole time. The Everlasting gospel was carried through that time of trouble
into our day. The same faith of Jesus was kept alive into our day. Now, in the
last time of trouble, God will strengthen and nourish His people to carry
forward the everlasting gospel unto the end of the earth. May we be willing and
ready to do just that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> Now that our memory has been
refreshed on the last 1,260 years, let’s figure out what the two times
mentioned in Daniel 12:11 and 12 are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Dan 12:11,
and 12.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">11 And from
the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that
maketh desolate set up, there shall be <u>a thousand two hundred and ninety
days</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">12 Blessed is
he that waiteth, and cometh to the <u>thousand three hundred and five and
thirty days</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So, here we
have the following:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Book Antiqua, serif;"> 1290
days (Or literal years using a day for a year conversion from Ezekiel 4:6)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">1,335
days (or years)</span></li>
</ul>
<!--[if !supportLists]--><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> These
two time periods mentioned above are related to the 1,260 years that we talked
about last week. Read verse 7 of Dan 12 and you will see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Daniel 12:7<br />
7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river,
when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him
that liveth for ever that it shall be for <u>a time, times, and an half</u>;
and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people,
all these things shall be finished.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>Question
is, when do these two time begin, and when do they end?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> It says in the verses above that
when the daily sacrifices are taken away, that is when the abominations that
maketh desolate were set up, <b>is that
referring to the midst of the last week of the 70 when the Sacrifices and
oblations were made to cease? Therefore, did the 1290 days begin near the end
of 70 weeks?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Well, that is
not likely because Christ did not take away the daily sacrifice, instead He
became the sacrifice; He fulfilled it and it was no longer necessary. The work
in the Heavenly sanctuary was just beginning. And we already determined that
the 1260 days ended when the abomination that maketh desolate was made to cease
in the year 1798, so this 1290 day prophecy obviously did not begin in A.D. 31
when Christ was crucified. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
<b>Perhaps this prophecy is marking the
exact starting point of the setting up of abomination of desolation?</b> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
Since the Abomination that made desolate was to last until the beast received
its deadly wound, that means that the 1290 days ended the same time the 1260
days ended, in the year 1798. Now, by using reverse math we can define precisely
what year the 1290 days (or literal years) began. Are you following me?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> 1798-1290= the year 508 A.D.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">(Note that the beginning of
the 1260 day prophecy was not when the abomination of desolation was set up,
but rather was when the fourth beast in Dan 7 received its power. That was in
538 AD when the papacy became a recognized government. The actual beginning of
abomination of desolation was thirty years prior in 508 A.D.)</span><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #262626; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">What happened
in 508 A.D. that could be the reason for beginning the prophecy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Most history
books say very little about the year 508. Yet one significant event stands out.
In Europe, one of the major events of that year was the conclusion of the war
between Clovis, king of the Franks (later France), and the Visigoths, whom he
defeated and pushed into Spain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Who was Clovis, and who
were the Visigoths?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
<br />
“Clovis (c. 466-511) was the first King of the Franks to unite all the Frankish
tribes under one king. He also introduced Christianity. He was the son of <b>Childeric
I</b>and <b>Basina</b>. At age 15, he succeeded his father, in the year
481.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The quote
above says that Clovis was a Christian, but if you read Wikipedia (which is a
popular online encyclopedia that leans toward an influence to Catholicism), you
will find that Clovis was noted for his conversion to Catholicism. <br />
Clovis was, most certainly, a catholic king. He aligned his views with that of
the Roman Catholic Church and thus made war in the name of Rome to conquer for
him. In 508, Clovis defeated the Visigoths, marking a notable victory for the
Roman Church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>Who
and what are the Visigoths? </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
The Visigoths were a branch of the nomadic people of Germany known as the
Goths. They were considered barbarians practically. Though, some of the ways of
the Visigoths may have seemed barbaric, the Visigoths, like many of the Goths, did
not believe the way that Rome did. In fact, many of the Goths were not pagans,
but actually real Christians, keeping some of what the Apostles had taught the churches
before that time. Thus the reason that Clovis made war with the Visigoths was because
they rebelled against Rome and the papal rule. In the ultimate battle fought
between Clovis, King of the Franks, and the Visigoths, it was actually an
ultimate showdown between Catholicism and the free believers of Christianity. <br />
When Clovis won the battle against the Visigoths in A.D. 508, this terminated
the united resistance against the development of the papacy. The Bishop of Rome
had gained a theological victory over the known world.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Now, do you
see the importance of the date 508? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
<b>What about the daily sacrifices, weren’t
those supposed to be taken away at the beginning of the 1290 days as well?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The "daily" represents Christ's mediatorial ministry in the
holy place in the heavenly sanctuary. It represents the continual work of
Christ ministering in the sanctuary not made with hands, where He entered with
His own blood to make intercession for His people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">So, <b>how could Rome take away the Daily Mediatorial Ministry of Christ
in the Heavenly Sanctuary?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Well, first of all, they took away the freedom of Religion and began
oppressing all who believed in Christ and His true ministry, and the Roman
Catholic church set up the confessional system where sinners would only need to
confess to priests or bishops to receive forgiveness, instead of seeking the
only one who could forgive and take away sins—Our High priest, Jesus Christ. In
this manner the Roman Catholic Church, which is represented by the beasts in
Dan 7 and Rev 13, took away the “daily sacrifices” and set up the “abomination
that maketh desolate… (Dan 12:11). Thus, the freedom of Confessing directly to
Christ was taken away starting 508 to 1798.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Do each of
you understand, now, the importance of the date 508 as the beginning of the
1290 days?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">What about
the 1335 days?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Since we know the beginning point of the 1290 day prophecy, it can be
assumed that the starting point of both the 1290 days and the 1335 days began
at the same time. If we add 1,335 years to the year 508 A.D. what do we come
to? <b>If the 1335 years began in 508, when did it end?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The year 1843, amen?<br />
Surprised? Isn’t the sure word of
Prophecy in Scripture so amazingly specific, clear and absolutely true? <br />
Praise God for this gift. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Why,
again, was 1843 so important in biblical prophecy?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">In 1843 the good news of the Advent of Christ was beginning to be
proclaimed in all the earth, and the freedom to accept it and believe it was
for all. Of course, 1843 may seem so long ago, but considering the many years
that led up to 1843, it was not that long ago. Again, all the prophecies
mentioned above did in fact come to pass before or at 1844. That means we are
in the earths final days. We are indeed in the time of probation. We are each
being judged by God to know if we are worthy to be sealed by His mark or not.
Oh, that we may earnestly search our hearts and study the word to ensure we are
faultless before God, and completely grounded in His truth so we can stand
unmoved in the time of trial and affliction. Amen. <br /><br /><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> The 1260 days began when the
Papacy became a recognized government and religious power in the year 538, and
the prophecy ended when the Beast received it's deadly wound by the hand of
Napoleon's army in 1798. The 1290 day prophecy began when the Abomination of
desolation was set up in 508 AD, marked by the Victory of Clovis over the Visigoths
in the fight of Papal Rome against Christianity. At that time the Papacy became
the enforcer of her ways, and in a sense, she took away the daily sacrifices by
replacing Christ with Idols and men.<br />
The 1335 days began the same time as the 1290, and ended in 1843, which was
marked by the Advent message and everlasting Gospel being proclaimed in a great
awakening.<br />
Now, we receive signs for our time to know that the time is short.<br />
Let us lift up one another in truth and Righteousness and strive to be ready to
stand for the truth, unmoved in the time of affliction. Let us lean and rely
completely on Our Father in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-25822582285424552812016-01-23T22:32:00.000-08:002016-01-23T22:32:44.957-08:00Abomination of Desolation<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The Abomination of
desolation<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Daniel 12:11, 12:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">11 And from
the time that the daily sacrifice shall be taken away, and the abomination that
maketh desolate set up, there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">12 Blessed is
he that waiteth, and cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty
days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>What
is the Abomination of Desolation? And what time is the thousand two hundred and
ninety days?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Let’s turn to
Matthew 24, now, to see what Jesus says about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Matthew 24:15-22<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">15 When
ye therefore shall see <b><u>the
abomination of desolation</u></b>, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in
the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">16 Then
let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">17 Let
him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">18 Neither
let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">19 And
woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">20 But
pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">21 For
then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the
world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">22 And
except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for
the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> Still, we have no explanation yet of
what the <i>abomination of desolation </i>is,
neither do we have a clarification of the time prophecy given. The Desire of
ages chapter 69, titled <i>on the mount of
Olives</i>, gives some clarification for Matthew 24.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Desire of Ages pages 628 and 636:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> Christ's words had been spoken in
the hearing of a large number of people; but when He was alone, Peter, John,
James, and Andrew came to Him as He sat upon the Mount of Olives. “Tell us,”
they said, “when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of Thy
coming, and of the end of the world?” Jesus did not answer His disciples <span style="color: red;">by <u>taking up separately the destruction of Jerusalem and
the great day of His coming. He mingled the description of these two events</u></span><u>.</u>
Had He opened to His disciples’ future events as He beheld them, they would
have been unable to endure the sight. In mercy to them He blended the
description of the <b><u><span style="color: red;">two great crises</span></u></b>, leaving the disciples to
study out the meaning for themselves. When He referred to the destruction of
Jerusalem, His prophetic words reached beyond that event to the final
conflagration in that day when the Lord shall rise out of His place to punish
the world for their iniquity, when the earth shall disclose her blood, and
shall no more cover her slain. <span style="color: red;">This entire discourse
was given, not for the disciples only, but for those who should live in the
last scenes of this earth's history. </span>{DA 628.1}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> Here we see that the <i>abomination of desolation </i>is a conflict between
good and evil both in the early Christian’s days and in the days near the end
of this world. Perhaps we are getting close to understanding what the time
prophecy is referencing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Let’s turn to
Luke chapter 21 to establish what was mentioned in the quote from DA:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Luke 21:20-22, see also 25, 26 <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">This is a
continuation of what Christ was saying to the disciples on the mount of Olives when
they proposed the questions about the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> 20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">21 Then
let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in
the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter
thereinto.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">22 For
these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be
fulfilled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">25 <u>And
there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon
the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">26 Men's
hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are
coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> With these verses we can be certain
that Jesus was talking about two crisis’s that were to come to pass: one near
the earlier part of the Christian church and one in the times of the end.
Notice verse 25 that says that there will be signs in the sun, moon and stars,
and distress among the nations. As Christ showed the disciples in verse 20 what
signs would indicate what time was upon them, so also Christ gave an explanation
of the sign of the times for the Christians in the last days. Some of these thing have come to pass. <br />
May
19, 1780, is known as the dark day. On this date the sun was covered by what
seemed to have been thick darkness. It had never been so dark during the day
ever in recorded history. Candles were required for light in the midday, and it
stayed dark all the way to midnight. Then, when the moon would have come out
and showed its brightness, it also did not seem to shed as much light. The moon
had turned red as blood and cast an eerie glow on everything. <br />
Again, in Nov 13, 1833, there was an
even that took place in the heavens that had never happened before or been seen
since. It is known as the night the sky fell. A massive meteor shower that
cannot even be explained took place for hours on end throughout the night. Many
were convinced it was the end of the world. But, we remember that all of these
things are just fulfillments of prophecy. These things go to shew that we are
nearing the final conflict that has been waging before the world began. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
Fourth Beast of Daniel 7</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">If you would
read with me in Daniel chapter 7, we might find some background to who is
openly responsible for the setting up of the <i>Abomination of Desolation</i>. In Daniel 7, Daniel describes the vision
he was given about the four beasts that came up out of the earth. We will focus
on the fourth beast -- the most diverse beast from the rest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Dan 7:7 and 8 (the
fourth beast):<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">7
After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and
terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and
brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was
diverse from all the beasts that were before it; <u>and it had ten horns.</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">8
I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little
horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots:
and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking
great things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Dan 7:19-26 (The
interpretation given to Daniel by an angel)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> 19 Then I would know the truth of the <u>fourth
beast</u>, which was diverse from all the others, exceeding dreadful, whose
teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which devoured, brake in pieces,
and stamped the residue with his
feet;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">20
And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and
before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake
very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">21
<u><span style="color: red;">I beheld, and the same horn made war with the
saints, and prevailed against them</span></u><span style="color: red;">;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">22
Until the Ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the
most High; and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">23
Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which
shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall
tread it down, and break it in pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">24
And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and
another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he
shall subdue three kings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">25
<u>And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the
saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and <b><span style="color: red;">they shall be given
into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.</span></b></u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">26
But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume
and to destroy it unto the end. <b>(The
Lord reigns victorious)<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So,
here we have portrayed in Dan 7 is a frightening beast that is strong, great
and powerful. This beast commits great abomination against the Lord of lords
and King of kings, and creates desolation upon the earth and the people of God.
Therefore, this beast appears to set up the <i>abomination
of desolation</i>. In verse 25 is given another time prophecy. Now we have two
time prophecies that we have to define. Let’s turn to Daniel 12 and compare.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> Dan 12:7 -<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">6 And one
said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How
long shall it be to the end of these wonders?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> 7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which
was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left
hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever <b><i>that it shall be for a time,
times, and an half</i></b>; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the
power of the holy people, <u>all these things shall be finished</u>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">At this
point, Daniel was confused about what the end of these things were, and eager
to understand he inquired from the angel, but he was told to go his way for the
things were sealed unto the end and not for his time. <br />
Notice verse 7 that another time prophecy is given; two and a half times. What
does that mean? A time represents a year, or 365 prophetic days. So, the time,
times, and a half are 3 ½ years, or 1260 Prophetic days. Amen? Remember this
number.<br />
<br />
Alright, is there another beast that
comes to mind while reading of the one mentioned above? Revelation 13?<br />
Let’s turn to Revelation now and compare the first Beast in Chapter 13 with the
one we just read about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
first beast of Revelation 13</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The beast in Revelation 13:1-10<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> 1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and
saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and <u>ten horns</u>,
and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">2 And the
beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a
bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: <b><u><span style="color: red;">and the dragon gave him his power, and his
seat, and great authority.<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">3 <b>And I saw one of his heads as it were
wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered
after the beast.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">4 And they
worshipped <u>the dragon which gave power unto the beast</u>: and they
worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make
war with him?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">5 And there
was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was
given unto him to continue <b><u><span style="color: red;">forty and two months</span>.</u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">6 And he
opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his
tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">7 <u>And it
was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: and power
was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.<o:p></o:p></u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">8 And all
that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the
book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">9 If any man
have an ear, let him hear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>Note:</b>
Notice the similarities between this beast and the one in Dan 7? They both are fierce
and powerful; they both have ten horns; they both waged war against the saints
and against God. Both beasts committed the abomination against God, and brought
desolation to the earth and the people of God. At this point I am sure we can
be sure that the fourth Beast in Dan 7, and the first beast in Rev 13 are
representing the same power. Are you following me? From what we know, we
already know who these beasts represent. They represent Rome, and the Papal
Pagan Rome. Also note in verse 5 that it was given its power to continue forty
two months. How many days is that? Let’s do the Math: there are about 30 days
in a month, so multiply 30 by 42 and we have 30x42=1260 days. Remember this
from the time, times and a half from Daniel 12? The time, times and half, or 3 ½
years, and the 42 months are the same time period. Now we are getting
somewhere. Amen?<br />
<br />
Let’s read what Mrs. White says about these numbers:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The Great controversy:
(based on Rev 13:1-10)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">In chapter 13
[Verses 1-10.] is described another beast, “like unto a leopard,” to which the
dragon gave “his power, and his seat, and great authority.” This symbol, as
most Protestants have believed, represents the papacy, which succeeded to the
power and seat and authority once possessed by the ancient Roman Empire. Of the
leopard-like beast it is declared: “There was given unto him a mouth speaking great
things and blasphemies.... And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to
blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in Heaven. And it
was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them; and power
was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.” This prophecy,
which is nearly identical with the description of the little horn of Daniel 7,
unquestionably points to the papacy. {GC88 439.1} <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“Power was
given unto him to continue forty and two months. (Rev 13:5)” And, says the
prophet, “I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death.” And again, “He
that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity; he that killeth with the
sword must be killed with the sword.” The forty and two months are the same as
the “time and times and the dividing of time,” three years and a half, or 1260
days, of Daniel 7,—<u>the time during which the papal power was to oppress
God's people.</u> This period, as stated in preceding chapters, <u><span style="color: red;">began with the establishment of the papacy, <b>A. D. 538, and terminated in 1798</b></span></u>.
At that time, when the papacy was abolished and the pope made captive by the
French army, the papal power received its deadly wound, and the prediction was
fulfilled, “He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity.” {GC88 439.2}
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Now, does
that makes sense? We established that the beast in Rev 13 represents the
papacy, and it was given its power for 1260 years, but when one of its head was
wounded, was that the end of the beast? The end of the conflict? It didn’t
appear to be. Verse 3 says that it’s deadly wound was healed. Again the beast received
its power, from the dragon, and again it went to make war with the saints. At
least we know what the 1260 days, or years, stand for now. Amen? The dates
between 538 A.D. to 1798 A.D. were troublous times for God’s people, were they
not? They endured through these dark times. But how did they endure? Well let’s
find out.<br />
<br />
“The line of prophecy in which these symbols are found, begins with Revelation
12, with the dragon that sought to destroy Christ at his birth. The dragon is
said to be Satan; [Revelation 12:9.] he it was that moved upon Herod to put the
Saviour to death. But the chief agent of Satan in making war upon Christ and
his people during the first centuries of the Christian era, was the Roman
Empire, in which paganism was the prevailing religion. <u>Thus while the
dragon, primarily, represents Satan, it is, in a secondary sense, a symbol of
pagan Rome.</u> {GC88 438.2}”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Now, let’s
look at the woman in Revelation 12. Bear with me, we are coming to the
conclusion of this:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif; font-size: 18.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The
woman of Revelation 12</span></b><b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Revelation 12:1-6, 13-17:<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">1 And there
appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon
under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">2 And she
being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">3 And there
appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, <u>having
seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads</u>.<br />
<br />
4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to
the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be
delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>Note</b>:
Remember that the Dragon here has a dual application of representing Lucifer
and the Roman church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">5 And she
brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and
her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">6 And the
woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that
they should feed her there a <b><u><span style="color: red;">thousand two hundred and threescore days.</span></u></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">13 And when
the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which
brought forth the man child.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">14 And to the
woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the
wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for <b><u>a time, and times, and half a time,</u></b> from the face of the
serpent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">15 And the
serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might
cause her to be carried away of the flood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">16 And the
earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the
flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">17 And the
dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her
seed, <u>which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ.</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Again we see
the relationship of the 1260 Prophetic days with that of the time, times and
half a time. We know from before that this time was set between 538 A.D. to
1798 A.D. In this time was the affliction of the saints, but God Nourished them
through this time, did He not? He certainly did, Praise the Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“And the
dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her
seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ.” Revelation 12:17. This chapter of the Revelation presents a series of
events, some of which were history in John’s day, and others were prophecy. In
the first part of the chapter there appears a woman clothed with the sun, the
moon under her feet, and a crown with twelve stars on her head. <b>She represents the true church</b>. Then we
see a great red dragon who attempts to destroy the Man-child born of the woman.
The dragon is identified as the same enemy that warred against Michael and His
angels and was banished from heaven. He is called the accuser of the brethren.
It is made clear that through the blood of the Lamb and the word of the
testimony of the saints, many have overcome him. Because of the shortening of
the time, the efforts of the dragon increased and his persecution drove the
woman into a place of refuge for “<b><u>a
time, and times, and half a time,” the 1260-year period from A.D. 538 to 1798.</u></b>
The woman was nourished during this time and received help that kept her from
being destroyed completely. Many, but not all, who comprised the seed—the
children of the woman—were put to death, forced into renunciation of their
faith, or led astray through false doctrines and deceptive practices. A few,
only a remnant, remained to launch once more God’s program of sending to all
the world a message of His love and redeeming power. {APAY 143.3}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>Note:</b>
Now, the dragon which gave the Beast of Dan 7 and Rev 13 its power, went to
make war with the woman, who is God’s church, and the remnant of her seed,
which are the remaining people of God’s church. Remember how all of these tie
in together. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Conclusion<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So, what is the <i>abomination that maketh desolation</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Well, so far
we have established that the beasts in Dan 7 and Rev 13 set up the abomination
of Desolation. They committed abomination unto God by blaspheming His name, and
by making war with the saints, or the ones faithful to the lamb. Their
abominations made desolate the people of God by persecution and sore afflictions.
These beast represent the pagan religious power on the earth who received their
power from the dragon, who sought to change times and laws, and to make war
with the Saints. They have made and shall make desolate the earth by breaking
it into pieces and stamping out the remnant of it. This power may have been
wounded as if to death in 1798 when the pope was taken into captivity, but its
deadly wound was healed. That Power is again rising up to challenge the
authority of God. They commit great abominations on the earth, and seek to make
desolate the remnant of God’s people. We are soon to enter into a great time of
trouble, a time of sore affliction like there has never been before. Soon, that
great Beast and its harlot mount will become drunken upon the blood of the saints
– upon the blood those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
But we have a blessed hope through these things. First, these things must come
to pass before the coming of the Son of God can be, and second, as God
nourished his people for 1260 years in the dark ages, so He will nourish all
those who remain faithful and in all things even unto the end. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">After these
things, the Lamb which was slain for the abominations of the wicked shall come
to bring his remnant faithful people with Him; he shall pour out His Righteous
judgement. The Lamb of God shall put a finish to all the things of wickedness,
abomination and destruction. He shall pour out the ultimate desolation upon the
abominations of the Wicked. His wrath shall be poured out without mixture, and
it shall not be quenched. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">"Everything in
the world is in agitation. The signs of the times are ominous. Coming events
cast their shadows before. The Spirit of God is withdrawing from the earth, and
calamity follows calamity by sea and by land. There are tempests, earthquakes, fires,
floods, murders of every grade. Who can read the future? Where is security?
There is assurance in nothing that is human or earthly. Rapidly men are ranging
themselves under the banner they have chosen. Restlessly are they waiting and
watching the movements of their leaders. There are those who are waiting and
watching and working for our Lord's appearing. Another class are falling into
line under the generalship of the first great apostate. Few believe with heart
and soul that we have a hell to shun and a heaven to win. {DA 636.1}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> Be
always prayerful and watchful -- </span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The
crisis is stealing gradually upon us. The sun shines in the heavens, passing
over its usual round, and the heavens still declare the glory of God. Men are
still eating and drinking, planting and building, marrying, and giving in
marriage. Merchants are still buying and selling. Men are jostling one against
another, contending for the highest place. Pleasure lovers are still crowding
to theaters, horse races, gambling hells. The highest excitement prevails, <u>yet
<span style="color: red;">probation's hour is fast closing, and every case is
about to be eternally decided.</span></u> Satan sees that his time is short. He
has set all his agencies at work that men may be deceived, deluded, occupied
and entranced,<b> until the day of
probation shall be ended, and the door of mercy be forever shut. </b>{DA 636.2}
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Solemnly
there come to us down through the centuries the warning words of our Lord from
the Mount of Olives: “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be
overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so
that day come upon you unawares.” <b><u>“Watch
ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all
these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”</u></b>
{DA 636.3} (DA Chap 69)"<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"><br />
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">My prayer for each of
us is that we would give ourselves completely unto God, to take up the banner
of Christ to march forward with courage and unwavering faith. I pray that we
would keep the Commandments of God, and not of man; that we would keep the faith
of Jesus, and take up the cross and follow Him. <b><br />
<br />
</b>“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to
escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of
man.” (Luke 21:36).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-41015750381295595752016-01-15T22:09:00.000-08:002016-01-15T22:18:48.662-08:00Study of the Sanctuary - Part 6<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">2300 days prophecy</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Review of the 70
weeks</b>:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So, the
Seventy weeks prophetically represents 490 years. The 490 years began when
Artaxerxes sent out the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 7:12-26). The last
week of the Prophetic 70 weeks (or the beginning of the last 7 years) was
marked by the Anointing of Christ, the Messiah, at His baptism when the Holy
Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. It was at this Baptism that Jesus began
His ministry. <br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In the Midst of the last week
of the prophecy, (A.D. 31) Christ was crucified, and the sacrifices and
ordinances of the tabernacle were made to cease. That is when the ceremonial laws
were fulfilled. The work of the tabernacle was then moved to the heavenly
Sanctuary; Christ became our High Priest and now labors in the Heavenly as our
Mediator to make atonement for our sins. No other mediator would I want other
than Jesus Himself.<br />
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The end of the 70 weeks was
marked in A.D. 34, when the Jews began persecuting the true followers of Christ
by the stoning of Steven. At this time the Gospel moved from the Jews and
became available to the gentiles (all the earth), to any who would receive it.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The 70 weeks
prophecy and the 2300 days prophecy are connected. To find out how, we need to
review the Vision in which Daniel received the prophecy.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Where is the prophecy found?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Daniel 8:13
and 14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">13 Then I
heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which
spake, How long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the
transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be
trodden under foot?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">14 And he
said unto me, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Unto two thousand and
three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">In
Chapter eight of Daniel, a vision is given to him about a Ram with two horns, one
horn being taller than the other. This Ram was portrayed as powerful and strong,
and it pushed towards the West, North, and South so that no beast might stand
before him (verse 4). Then, as Daniel was considering the ram, a He Goat came
from the West on the face of the whole earth “and touched not the ground…” (5).
This goat had a notable horn between its eyes. Now, according to that which is
written, the goat charged at the Ram and smote him, and the Ram was powerless against
the goat, and the goat cast the ram down and stamped upon him. The goat became
very powerful, and when he was strong the horn between his eyes was broken, and
four horns came up in its place. “And out of one of them came forth a little
horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and
toward the pleasant land. 10 And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven;
and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped
upon them. 11 Yea, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">he magnified himself
even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily sacrifice was taken away,
and the place of his sanctuary was cast down</b>. 12 And a host was given him
against the daily sacrifice by reason of transgression, and it cast down the
truth to the ground; and it practiced, and prospered. (Verses 9-12).” After
this point in the prophecy is where the 2300 days prophecy was given to Daniel.
<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When
Daniel received the vision, he was confused about it and sought for the
meaning. Then Gabriel was sent unto him to make known to him the meaning. (Verses
15-26).<br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
Short, the angel said that the vision would happen at the time of the end. The Angel
said, “The Ram that though sawest having two horns are the Kings of Media and
Persia. And the rough goat is the king of Grecia (Greece): and the great horn
that is between his eyes is the first king. (20, 21).” Then, four more kings
rose up in the same kingdom, but not in the same power. One of these kings, as
being described as “a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark
sentences, shall stand up (23).” This king is the one who is mighty, but not by
his own power. He shall destroy many with peace, and he will stand up against
the Prince of princes, but will be defeated. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So,
what does this prophecy have to do with the 2300 days, and the cleansing of the
Sanctuary? The precise link between the vision and the prophecy is not all very
clear to me yet, I am still studying it out, but there is a definite connection
between the cleansing of the sanctuary being near the time of the end, and when
the “transgression of desolation” shall be set up. (Read Daniel 12, verse 11). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Now
I need you to think back a ways to the tabernacle of Israel. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What was the cleansing ceremony of the
sanctuary? </b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So,
the Prophecy says in Dan 8:14, that the Sanctuary would be cleansed, or begin
being cleansed at the end of 2300 days. Remember that in Israel there was an
annual event that took place with the sanctuary that all the people of Israel
prepared themselves for. This day was called the Day of Atonement. The purpose
of the Day of Atonement was to cleanse the sanctuary from all the sins of the
people from throughout the year that had been laid upon the sanctuary. (Note:
when the evening or morning sacrifice was carried out, the sins that were
confessed upon the sacrifice would be ceremonially placed upon the tabernacle
until the tenth day of the 7<sup>th</sup> month of the year). In the Day of
Atonement, the High Priest would make a special offering and sacrifice for the
sins of the people and his own. Then, the high priest would take blood of the
sacrifice and go into the most holy Place to make atonement to the Father, for
intercession for Israel. Once the atonement was made for Israel, the sins would
have to be removed from the camp and from the Sanctuary. Thus was the purpose
of the Scapegoat. The sins would be put upon the Scape goat, and a fit man
would take the goat out of the camp to leave it, outside the camp. The Fit man
would then cleanse himself before returning to the camp. Likewise, is the same
pattern in the heavenly Sanctuary? (We will look at the Cleansing of the
heavenly Sanctuary later in the study).<br />
<br />
At the end of the 2300 days prophecy, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">what
sanctuary was to be cleansed?</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What
is the Sanctuary representing here in Dan 8:14? Is the Sanctuary here a symbol
of something? Or literal?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">It
would be a literal sanctuary being mentioned in this verse, but which
sanctuary? We already know that the 70 weeks prophecy specified that the
physical earthly sanctuary and its ordinances were finished in the midst of the
49<sup>th</sup> week (Dan 9:27), so what other sanctuary could there be? The
heavenly, of course, because at the end of the 70 weeks the daily sacrifices
and oblations had been made to cease. Christ had fulfilled their purpose and
thus, when He died, the work was removed from the earthly to the heavenly
sanctuary. Therefore, we know that at the end of the 2300 days, it could only
be the heavenly sanctuary that would be cleansed, and that it did not represent
the earth. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Now,
coming to the understanding of the sanctuary, there was a man who discovered
the 2300 day prophecy and studied it out, and brought it to light just under
200 years ago. His name was William Miller. At the time that Miller came across
this portion of truth, it was a common belief that time that the word <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">sanctuary</i> in Daniels vision, meant the
earth. So, when Miller read that it said the “Sanctuary would be cleansed” at
the end of the 2300 days, he thought the earth would be cleansed. Thus was the
founding reason for the great disappointment. But, as we study this prophecy,
we will realize the importance of that date 1844. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“The
angel had been sent to Daniel for the express purpose of explaining to him the
point which he had failed to understand in the vision of the eighth chapter,
the statement relative to time—“unto two thousand and three hundred days; then
shall the sanctuary be cleansed.” After bidding Daniel “understand the matter,
and consider the vision,” the very first words of the angel are: “Seventy weeks
are determined upon thy people and upon thy Holy City.” The word here
translated “determined” literally signifies “cut off.” Seventy weeks,
representing 490 years, are declared by the angel to be cut off, as specially
pertaining to the Jews. But from what were they cut off? As the 2300 days was
the only period of time mentioned in chapter 8, it must be the period from
which the seventy weeks were cut off; the seventy weeks must therefore be a
part of the 2300 days, and the two periods must begin together. The seventy
weeks were declared by the angel to date from the going forth of the
commandment to restore and build Jerusalem. If the date of this commandment
could be found, then the starting point for the great period of the 2300 days
would be ascertained. {GC 326.2}”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Remember,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">when did the 70 weeks begin?</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Remember that
the 70 weeks began when the decree from Artaxerxes was declared to go and
rebuild Jerusalem? (Ezra 7:12-26). Artaxerxes was actually the third king to
proclaim the decree to go and rebuild Jerusalem, but his was the final of the three.
Once his decree was sent forth, the beginning of the 70 weeks began, which was
in the year 457 B.C. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“Thus far
every specification of the prophecies (of the 70 weeks as was shown in last
week’s study) is strikingly fulfilled, and the beginning of the seventy weeks
is fixed beyond question at 457 B.C., and their expiration in A.D. 34. From
this data there is no difficulty in finding the termination of the 2300 days.
The seventy weeks—490 days—having been cut off from the 2300, there were 1810
days remaining. After the end of 490 days, the 1810 days were still to be
fulfilled. From A.D. 34, 1810 years extend to 1844. Consequently the 2300 days
of Daniel 8:14 terminated in the year 1844. At the expiration of this great
prophetic period, upon the testimony of the angel of God, “the sanctuary shall be
cleansed.” Thus the time of the cleansing of the sanctuary – which was almost
universally believed to be at the Second Advent – was definitely pointed out. {GC
328.2}”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Miller and
his associates at first believed that the 2300 days would terminate in the <i>spring</i>
of 1844, whereas the prophecy points to the <i>autumn</i> of that year. The
misapprehension of this point brought disappointment and perplexity to those
who had fixed upon the earlier date as the time of the Lord's coming. But this
did not in the least affect the strength of the argument that the 2300 days
terminated in the year 1844, and that great event represented by the cleansing
of the sanctuary must then take place. [GC 328.3]"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Conclusion</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Do you
understand the 2300 days prophecy in full now? Can you see how the 70 weeks and
2300 days are connected?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The 2300 days
(or using the interpretation of a day for a year rule found in Ezekiel 4:6, the
2300 years) is directly connected to the 70 weeks prophecy because they both
began at the same time by Artaxerxes decree to rebuild Jerusalem, and by how
the 70 weeks Prophecy is said to be “cut off” from the 2300 days. Together, the
prophecies began in the year 457 B.C. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The 2300 days
(or years) ended 1810 years after the termination of the 70 weeks (A.D. 34) in
the autumn of 1844. It was at this time that the work that Christ was doing in
the heavenly Sanctuary moved from the Holy place, to making atonement in the
Most Holy place. Thus marked the beginning of the cleansing of the Sanctuary. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">In the
Heavenly Sanctuary, Christ has ascended carrying the sins of all the wicked. In
the most holy place, Christ has enacted as our high priest committed to carrying
out the service of salvation for sinners. Currently, we are being watched and
judged by God in contrast to His law, to see whether or not we are worthy to receive
the atoning blood of Christ. This means we currently reside in the time of
Judgement. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">May we each
realize the true impact of this time, its true importance. Let us be sure to
examine ourselves and repent and confess all things to Christ, so that He can
cover our sins by the blood that He shed for us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So that HE
can make atonement for us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Once this the
Sunday law is passed, it marks the time when probation begins. Do we not know
that these things are near to coming to pass? That the signs of the times that
have been given to us as warnings, that the end is near? It surely is near. Amen?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So, may we
make use of our time now, so that we can be ready to be with Jesus our savior
when He comes soon in the clouds. That is my wish and prayer for each of us. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-33129956789689837372016-01-08T20:35:00.001-08:002016-01-08T20:35:23.929-08:00Study of the Sanctuary - part 4<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Typical Ceremonies of the Tabernacle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are a lot of typical ceremonies, holy days, and events
related to the Tabernacle of Israel. As we know the laws and services of the
tabernacle were patterned after that of the heavenly (read Hebrews 8:4, 5), so
they are types that point forward to or foreshadow things to come. Each of
these feasts, holy days and ceremonies pointed forward in type (symbol, pattern
or representation) to Christ being the Antitype that was to fulfill these
things. <br />
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an
holyday, or of the new moon, or of the <i>sabbath
days</i>:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the <b>body is of Christ</b>.<br />
(Colossians 2:16 and 17)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Christ himself said, “Think not that I am come to destroy
the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to <b>fulfil</b>. (Matthew 5:17).” Like the Pharisees, many today think that
Christ came to remove and to make of none effect the laws of the tabernacle and
of the commandments, but in so saying they make it appear that Christ’s
sacrifice upon the cross did not fulfill anything. As Jesus said in Matthew
5:17, He came to fulfil what those laws and ceremonies pointed forward to, what
they foreshadowed. Christ was the antitype that met the type. The typical laws
of the tabernacle were completed and finished at the cross when type met
anti-type. Those things had been finished, were accomplished and no longer
needed to point forward to a specific work to be accomplished. When Jesus said
upon the Cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), the Inner veil between the Holy
and Most holy tore from top to bottom, signifying that the earthly sanctuary
had been finished, and the work of the tabernacle had been transferred into the
heavenly Sanctuary (For Christ was yet to make atonement in the Most Holy place
for our sin). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: Though the typical laws of the tabernacle had been
accomplished at the cross, many still believe that the Moral law (Ten Commandments)
was also nailed to the cross. Notice again the verse in Colossians 2:16, where
it says, “<i>sabbath days.”</i> The term
here used did not actually refer to the 7<sup>th</sup> day weekly Sabbath. It
is clear, according to Scripture, that the 7<sup>th</sup> day Sabbath was
created as an Everlasting sign (or Covenant) between God and His people (read Exodus
31:12-18). These other “Sabbath days” (Plural) are referring to holy days
related to the ceremonies given from Sinai, holy day’s that were accomplished
at the cross. Some of these Holy days were festivals held for New moons,
harvests, and other certain times of the year, one being the Passover.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>The Passover and Communion<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What is the Passover, and what does it represent? <br />
The Passover is an important day in the Jewish’s culture. It also holds
significance in Christianity as well. <br />
The Jews celebrate the Passover as a reminder of being brought out of captivity
in Egypt by God. They also keep it because it was part of typical laws given to
Israel pointing forward to something of the Future (because they rejected
Christ as the Savior, they still believe a King will appear and deliver their
enemies into their hand). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What was the first
Passover?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Read Exodus 12:1-20<b> </b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Obedience is the Evidence of Faith </b>-- The Passover was to be both
commemorative and typical, not only pointing back to the deliverance from
Egypt, but forward to the greater deliverance which Christ was to accomplish in
freeing His people from the bondage of sin. The sacrificial lamb represents
“the Lamb of God,” in whom is our only hope of salvation. Says the apostle,
“Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians 5:7. It was not
enough that the paschal lamb be slain; its blood must be sprinkled upon the
doorposts; so the merits of Christ’s blood must be applied to the soul. We must
believe, not only that He died for the world, but that He died for us
individually. We must appropriate to ourselves the virtue of the atoning
sacrifice. {PP 277.1} <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The hyssop used in sprinkling the
blood was the symbol of purification, being thus employed in the cleansing of
the leper and of those defiled by contact with the dead. In the psalmist’s
prayer also its significance is seen: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be
clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7. {PP 277.2} <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The flesh was to be eaten. It is
not enough even that we believe on Christ for the forgiveness of sin; we must
by faith be constantly receiving spiritual strength and nourishment from Him
through His word. Said Christ, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and
drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My
blood, hath eternal life.” John 6:53, 54. And to explain His meaning He said,
“The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Verse
63. Jesus accepted His Father’s law, wrought out its principles in His life,
manifested its spirit, and showed its beneficent power in the heart. Says John,
“The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the
glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John
1:14. The followers of Christ must be partakers of His experience. They must
receive and assimilate the word of God so that it shall become the motive power
of life and action. By the power of Christ they must be changed into His
likeness, and reflect the divine attributes. They must eat the flesh and drink
the blood of the Son of God, or there is no life in them. The spirit and work
of Christ must become the spirit and work of His disciples. {PP 277.4} <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The lamb was to be eaten with
bitter herbs, as pointing back to the bitterness of the bondage in Egypt. So
when we feed upon Christ, it should be with contrition of heart, because of our
sins. The use of unleavened bread also was significant. It was expressly
enjoined in the law of the Passover, and as strictly observed by the Jews in
their practice, that no leaven should be found in their houses during the
feast. In like manner the leaven of sin must be put away from all who would
receive life and nourishment from Christ. So Paul writes to the Corinthian
church, “Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump.... For
even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: therefore let us keep the feast,
not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with
the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.” 1 Corinthians 5:7, 8. {PP 278.1} <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before obtaining freedom, the
bondmen must show their faith in the great deliverance about to be
accomplished. The token of blood must be placed upon their houses, and they
must separate themselves and their families from the Egyptians, and gather
within their own dwellings. Had the Israelites disregarded in any particular
the directions given them, had they neglected to separate their children from
the Egyptians, had they slain the lamb, but failed to strike the doorpost with
blood, or had any gone out of their houses, they would not have been secure.
They might have honestly believed that they had done all that was necessary,
but their sincerity would not have saved them. All who failed to heed the
Lord’s directions would lose their first-born by the hand of the destroyer. {PP
278.2} <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By obedience the people were to
give evidence of their faith. So all who hope to be saved by the merits of the
blood of Christ should realize that they themselves have something to do in
securing their salvation. While it is Christ only that can redeem us from the
penalty of transgression, we are to turn from sin to obedience. Man is to be
saved by faith, not by works; yet his faith must be shown by his works. God has
given His Son to die as a propitiation for sin, He has manifested the light of
truth, the way of life, He has given facilities, ordinances, and privileges;
and now man must co-operate with these saving agencies; he must appreciate and
use the helps that God has provided—believe and obey all the divine
requirements. {PP 279.1}<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>If the Passover feasts were fulfilled at the cross, then why do we keep
communion?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1 Corinthians 11:24-26<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
24 And when he had given thanks,
he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for
you: this do in remembrance of me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
25 After the same manner also he
took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in
my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
26 For as often as ye eat this
bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>John 13:14, 15:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
4 He [Christ] riseth from supper,
and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.<br />
5 After that he poureth water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples'
feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
12So after he had washed their
feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto
them, <span style="color: red;">Know ye what I have done to you?</span><br />
13 <span style="color: red;">Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well;
for so I am.</span><br />
14 <span style="color: red;">If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed
your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.<br />
</span>15 <span style="color: red;">For I have given you an example, that ye
should do as I have done to you.</span><br />
16 <span style="color: red;">Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is
not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent
him.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why do we keep communion? Because
Christ gave it to us as an example, as a service to others, and as a memorial
to “shew the Lord’s death till he come.” He instructed to us communion so we
would learn to remain humble, to prepare ourselves to be servants to others,
and to remember His sacrifice for us. Communion is not a sorrowful event, but should
be that of rejoicing and gladness, and of humbleness. Gladness as we remember
that Christ died so we could be delivered from sin; humbleness as we remember
to take the yoke of Christ upon us – the yoke of Obedience and service—and
serve those around us. What a great and blessed opportunity it is for us to be
able to partake in Communion, to “do so in remembrance of” Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Feast days<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Should we keep the feast days? What does Scripture say?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
1 Corinthians 5:7-8:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new
lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven,
neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread
of sincerity and truth.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, again, are we instructed to keep the feasts and
traditions of the Tabernacle? Certainly not in a literal sense. You may have
come across some Professing Christians, including Adventists, who claim that we
should keep the feast days; they claim it in a literal sense. But why should we
keep the feast days if Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us? To claim
that we must keep the feasts days is the same as to claim Christ’s sacrifice
did not fulfil the law. Are you following me? In verse 8 of 1 Cor. 5 it says,
“Therefore let us keep the feast…” <b>How
does it say we are to keep the feasts? </b>Are we supposed to keep them by
baking special breads for special ceremonies on special times of the year? No.
It says to keep them, not with “Malice and Wickedness”, but with “Sincerity and
truth.” Amen? It means that the physical types were met with the Antitype, and
became Spiritual – went from the physical works to the Spiritual works. Understand
what I am saying? <br />
We are not to keep the feasts by
ceremonies, but we are to remember them by sincerity and truth. Folks, the
Feasts and typical things of the tabernacle were fulfilled at the cross, but
the works of obedience, faith, service and repentance still apply to us today.
Amen? We cannot earn our way to heaven by works alone, but obedience to God’s
law proves our faith, and the humble service to others increases our faith.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brothers and Sisters,
remember, “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit,
after the <b>tradition of men</b>, after
the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Remember to “Prove all
things; hold fast that which is good.” And “Study to shew thyself approved unto
God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of
truth.” So that you will not be deceived by “…vain deceit, after the <b>tradition of men</b>, after the rudiments
of the world, and not after Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 2 Timothy 2:15; Colossians
2:8). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My prayer is that we
would remember all these things and be found faithful in the Judgement before
God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Note: Here are some interesting things about the catholic
church:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Feast days, as according to the Catholic church:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We call Despotic
Feastdays, those which are related to the person of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some
of these feastdays are movable and some are fixed. When we refer to fixed
feastdays we mean those that occur on the same month and date each year. Some
of these are:<o:p></o:p></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Christmas on the 25th December<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The Circumcision of our Lord on the 1st
of January<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Theophany on the 6th January (the day of
our Lord's Baptism)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The Churching of Lord, where He was
received into the Temple by Simeon the Prophet and also the churching of
Panagia - the 40 day blessing on the 2nd February<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The Transfiguration of our Lord, this is
celebrated on the 6th August.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The elevation of the Holy Cross is
celebrated on the 14th September.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also have the
movable Despotic feasts which are:<o:p></o:p></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal">Palm Sunday<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Holy Week<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">Pascha or Easter (The Resurrection of
our Lord)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The Ascension of our Lord<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal">The Pentecost.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Have you ever seen the practice of Mass or any other
Catholic religious services? Did you notice any of the services that were very
similar to the ceremonies of the tabernacle in Israel?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Obviously,
the Catholic Church keeps a number of the <i>ceremonial</i>
traditions involved with the tabernacle. In some ways they are like the Jews
who keep the ceremonies and laws of the tabernacle because they don’t believe
that Christ was the Savior who fulfilled them, but, unlike the Jews, the
Catholics believe in Christ as the savior, while at the same time continue to
keep the ceremonies of the tabernacle in type. How does that make any sense?
However, the Catholic religion has integrated pagan religion and supposed
Christian religion together. The more you learn of the Catholic church, the
more you can see that they seem to be a combination of the Major types of
religions of the world – Christianity, Paganism, Judaism, ect.<br />
If they do not keep the doctrine that is
of Christ, then they are not of the Same Spirit of Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://www.bible.com/bible/1/2jn.1.9" target="_self">2 John 1:9 (KJV)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of
Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both
the Father and the Son.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b> Conclusion</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are some who believe in Christ, and claim that the Old
Testament should not be in the bible because it has nothing to do with the Life
of Christ. On the other side, Jewish religions believe that the New Testament
is false because they do not believe that Jesus was the Messiah. In a similar
sense, some Christians who profess to believe in Christ have claimed that we
should keep the feast days. Where ever we go, as Christians we will continually
find people who believe in fanatical things, or things of error. Our rule book
should not be our opinion, or what we heard the pastor say, but with every
challenge to our faith we should stand ready and able with a “Thus saith the
Lord” response. The Word of God “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16). We should “Prove
all things” with Scripture and “hold fast to that which is Good.” (1
Thessalonians 5:21). “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that
needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Old
Testament was written to establish the foundation of the beginning of our
existence, the beginning and plan of Salvation, and to show us the importance
of the New Testament. The Tabernacle and its laws and ceremonies are given to
show us the true importance of why Jesus died for to save us from our sins. Without
the Old Testament, there would be nothing to establish the New Testament.
Scripture is not like trail mix that you can pick out the pieces you like. The
word of God is whole, complete and meat for Spiritual nourishment. Let’s not be
distracted from our real purpose by fanatical groups or beliefs, but, rather,
let us turn to the Word of God, and do the Will of God. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-7441288934550528332016-01-08T20:12:00.000-08:002016-01-08T20:36:32.353-08:00Study of the Sanctuary - part 5<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">70 Weeks Prophecy</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
When we study the words of
Scripture, we need to remember that “All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness: (2 Tim 3:16).” “<span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Myanmar2",serif;">For the </span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">prophecy</span><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Myanmar2",serif;"> came not in old time by the will of man: but
holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:21)”
These things help us to realize the credibility of the word of God, that He
spoke or inspired it and thus it is truth. <br />
While we study Scripture, we
need to keep in mind Isaiah 28:10. “For precept must be upon precept, precept
upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a
little:” We will not find a more sure answer to things of scripture unless we
let scripture be its own interpreter. Amen? Let the word of God prove itself
and be the basis to compare all things upon. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Where is the 70 weeks
prophecy found to be given? (Opening verse)<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Daniel
9:24-27<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> 24 <b>Seventy weeks</b> are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy
city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make <b>reconciliation for iniquity</b>, and to
bring in <b>everlasting righteousness</b>,
and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">25 Know
therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to
restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be <b>seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks</b>:
the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in <i>troublous times</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">26 <b>And after threescore and two weeks shall
Messiah be cut off</b>, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that
shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall
be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">27 And he
shall confirm the covenant with many for <b>one
week</b>: and in the <b>midst of the week</b>
he shall cause the <b>sacrifice and the
oblation to cease</b>, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make
it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured
upon the desolate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>A
day for a year</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Numbers
14:34; <i>Ezekiel 4:6</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">And when thou
hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the
iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: <b>I
have appointed thee each day for a year.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">With this verse here, we can know that
in this prophecy, where ever there is a day, it literally represents a literal
year. Prophetic day = literal year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Therefore, 70
weeks (7 Prophetic days in a week) would be 70x7=490 Prophetic days, or 490
literal years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So, if we
re-read verse 24 of the prophecy with what we understand, it means, “[<b>Four hundred ninety literal years]</b> are
determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression,
and to make an end of sins, and to make <b>reconciliation
for iniquity</b>, and to bring in <b>everlasting
righteousness</b>, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the
most Holy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>When
did these 70 weeks (or 490 literal years) begin?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Daniel 9:25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">25 Know
therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to
restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be <b>seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks</b>:
the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in <i>troublous times</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>When
was this decree or commandment sent forth to restore Jerusalem? </b>(Remember
that Jerusalem had been destroyed when Israel was taken captive to Babylon for
their prolonged disobedience to God)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">The decree
can be found in Ezra 7:12-26<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">12 Artaxerxes,
king of kings, unto Ezra the priest, a scribe of the law of the God of heaven,
perfect peace, and at such a time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">13 I make a
decree, that all they of the people of Israel, and of his priests and Levites,
in my realm, which are minded of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go
with thee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">25 And thou,
Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, <b>set magistrates and judges</b>, which may judge all the people that are
beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that
know them not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">26 <b>And whosoever will not do the law of thy
God, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed speedily upon him</b>,
whether it be unto death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to
imprisonment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">In Its
completest form it was issued by Artaxerxes, King of Persia, 457 B.C.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">Note: In Ezra
6:14 the house of the Lord at Jerusalem is said to have been built “according
to the commandment of Cyrus, and Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.” These
three kings in originating, reaffirming, and completing the decree, brought it
to the perfection required by the prophecy to mark the beginning of the 490
years. Taking 457 B.C., the time when the decree was completed, as the date of
the commandment, every specification of the prophecy concerning the 70 weeks
was seen to have been fulfilled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">“From the
going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the
Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks”—<b>namely, sixty-nine weeks, or 483 years</b>.
The decree of Artaxerxes went into effect in the autumn of 457 B.C. From this
date, 483 years extend to the autumn of A.D. 27. At that time this prophecy was
fulfilled. The word “Messiah” signifies “the Anointed One.” In the autumn of
A.D. 27 Christ was baptized by John and received the anointing of the Spirit.
The apostle Peter testifies that “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Ghost and with power.” Acts 10:38. And the Saviour Himself declared: “The
Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel
to the poor.” Luke 4:18. After His baptism He went into Galilee, “preaching the
gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, <i>The time</i> is fulfilled.” Mark
1:14, 15. {GC 327.1}<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> It was at the Baptism of Christ that
He began his ministry of delivering the gospel to the Jews, as well as it
marked the beginning of the last Prophetic week of the prophecy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="egw-text">“And He shall confirm the covenant with many for one
week.” The “week” here brought to view is the last one of the seventy; it is
the last seven years of the period allotted especially to the Jews. During this
time, extending from A.D. 27 to A.D. 34, Christ, at first in person and
afterward by His disciples, extended the gospel invitation especially to the
Jews. As the apostles went forth with the good tidings of the kingdom, the
Saviour’s direction was: “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city
of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of
Israel.” </span><span class="egwlink">Matthew 10:5, 6</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {GC 327.2} <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="egw-ref"><b> Now, here is where this prophecy
becomes connected to the Sanctuary</b>:</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span class="egw-text">“In the midst of the week He shall cause the sacrifice
and the oblation to cease.” In A.D. 31, three and a half years after His
baptism, our Lord was crucified. With the great sacrifice offered upon Calvary,
ended that system of offerings which for four thousand years had pointed
forward to the Lamb of God. Type had met antitype, and all the sacrifices and
oblations of the ceremonial system were there to cease.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {GC 327.3} <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
This time here, the midst of the last week of the
prophecy, When Christ was crucified, (A.D. 31) the ceremonies and feast days
and things related to the tabernacle were fulfilled and finished. They had been
accomplished and that is when they ended. We no longer keep them because Christ
fulfilled them at the cross. The work of the Sanctuary was then shifted into
Heaven and Christ became our High priest.<o:p></o:p></div>
Amen?<br />
Praise the Lord.<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;">
Though the laws of the tabernacle were fulfilled
here, the ten commandment law was not done away with as it was separate from
the ceremonial laws. It is a law that works love and thus it is still today.
The Things of the moral law are good and pure and everlasting. Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter: “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this
is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13)”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text">“The seventy weeks, or 490 years,
especially allotted to the Jews, ended, as we have seen, in A.D. 34. At that
time, through the action of the Jewish Sanhedrin, the nation sealed its
rejection of the gospel by the martyrdom of Stephen and the persecution of the
followers of Christ. Then the message of salvation, no longer restricted to the
chosen people, was given to the world. The disciples, forced by persecution to
flee from Jerusalem, “went everywhere preaching the word.” “Philip went down to
the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.” Peter, divinely guided,
opened the gospel to the centurion of Caesarea, the God-fearing Cornelius; and
the ardent Paul, won to the faith of Christ, was commissioned to carry the glad
tidings “far hence unto the Gentiles.” </span><span class="egwlink">Acts 8:4, 5</span><span class="egw-text">; </span><span class="egwlink">22:21</span><span class="egw-text">.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {GC 328.1} </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> This marked the end of the 70 week
prophecy, the Gospel had been moved from the Jews (because they rejected it and
Christ the Messiah), and had then been placed among the gentiles. The Plan of
Salvation was made available to any and all who would receive it, and was no longer
secluded to one nation of people. Christ labored diligently to save the Jewish
people from the course they were traveling, but when they rejected Him and His
truth, and began persecuting the church of Christ marked by the stoning of
Steven, they had sealed their fate and the blessing of Eternal life was removed
from them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;"> <b>Conclusion</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Book Antiqua",serif;">So, the
Seventy weeks prophetically represents 490 years. The 490 years began when
Artaxerxes sent out the decree to rebuild Jerusalem (Ezra 7:12-26). The last
week of the Prophetic 70 weeks (or the beginning of the last 7 years) was
marked by the Anointing of Christ, the Messiah, at His baptism when the Holy
Spirit descended upon Him like a dove. It was at this Baptism that Jesus began
His ministry. <br />
In the Midst of the last week
of the prophecy, (A.D. 31) Christ was crucified, and the sacrifices and
ordinances of the tabernacle were made to cease. That is when the ceremonial laws
were fulfilled. The work of the tabernacle was then moved to the heavenly
Sanctuary, Christ became our High Priest and now labors in the Heavenly as our
Mediator to make atonement for our sins. No other mediator would I want other than
Jesus Himself.<br />
The end of the 70 weeks was
marked in A.D. 34, when the Jews began persecuting the true followers of Christ
by the stoning of Steven. At this time the Gospel moved from the Jews and
became available to the gentiles (all the earth), to any who would receive it. <br />
<br />
The 70 weeks prophecy may not
be in our time today, but it applies to us to understand it for the credibility
of Scripture by the fulfillment of Prophecy, and also of the ministry that
Christ is engaged in for us in our current day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-15800815741444318202016-01-02T18:10:00.002-08:002016-01-02T18:12:03.490-08:00Bible study of the Sanctuary -- Part 3Bible study of the Sanctuary -- Part 3<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Significance of the articles of the
Sanctuary, and the Ceremonies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
<br />
<br />
<b>The apparel of the priests.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“In accordance with their office, a special dress was
appointed for the priests. “Thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy
brother, for glory and for beauty,” was the divine direction to Moses. The robe
of the common priest was of white linen, and woven in one piece. It extended
nearly to the feet and was confined about the waist by a white linen girdle
embroidered in blue, purple, and red. A linen turban, or miter, completed his
outer costume. Moses at the burning bush was directed to put off his sandals,
for the ground whereon he stood was holy. So the priests were not to enter the
sanctuary with shoes upon their feet. Particles of dust cleaving to them would
desecrate the holy place. They were to leave their shoes in the court before
entering the sanctuary, and also to wash both their hands and their feet before
ministering in the tabernacle or at the altar of burnt offering. Thus was
constantly taught the lesson that all defilement must be put away from those
who would approach into the presence of God. {PP 350.2} <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The garments of the high priest were of costly material and
beautiful workmanship, befitting his exalted station. In addition to the linen
dress of the common priest, he wore a robe of blue, also woven in one piece.
Around the skirt it was ornamented with golden bells, and pomegranates of blue,
purple, and scarlet. Outside of this was the ephod, a shorter garment of gold,
blue, purple, scarlet, and white. It was confined by a girdle of the same
colors, beautifully wrought. The ephod was sleeveless, and on its
gold-embroidered shoulder pieces were set two onyx stones, bearing the names of
the twelve tribes of Israel. {PP 350.3}”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>The breastplate:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Over the ephod was the breastplate, the most sacred of the
priestly vestments. This was of the same material as the ephod. It was in the
form of a square, measuring a span, and was suspended from the shoulders by a
cord of blue from golden rings. The border was formed of a variety of precious
stones, the same that form the twelve foundations of the City of God. Within
the border were twelve stones set in gold, arranged in rows of four, and, like
those in the shoulder pieces, engraved with the names of the tribes. The Lord’s
direction was, “Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the
breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place,
for a memorial before the Lord continually.” Exodus 28:29. So Christ, the great
High Priest, pleading His blood before the Father in the sinner’s behalf, bears
upon His heart the name of every repentant, believing soul. Says the psalmist,
“I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me.” Psalm 40:17. {PP 351.1}”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“At the right and left of the breastplate were two large
stones of great brilliancy. These were known as the Urim and Thummim. <b>By them the will of God was made known
through the high priest</b>. When questions were brought for decision before
the Lord, a halo of light encircling the precious stone at the right was a
token of the divine consent or approval, while a cloud shadowing the stone at
the left was an evidence of denial or disapprobation. {PP 351.2}”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The Miter upon the
Priest’s head:</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The miter of the high priest consisted of the white linen
turban, having attached to it by a lace of blue, a gold plate bearing the
inscription, “Holiness to Jehovah.” Everything connected with the apparel and
deportment of the priests was to be such as to impress the beholder with a
sense of the holiness of God, the sacredness of His worship, and the purity
required of those who came into His presence. {PP 351.3} <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICMuj-h3IDfk8zC92KIdkzk-EHNuHMenb3n0fl0WHCIINv77k7uQsfW5vln4qB5M8CRWJD-2psttPiChPTkd0FduOdLia1zaUMOoITnSUd9jilZwyFxl68PCqKZk7GuI2PAMp5rRXHAc/s1600/Priestly+attire.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICMuj-h3IDfk8zC92KIdkzk-EHNuHMenb3n0fl0WHCIINv77k7uQsfW5vln4qB5M8CRWJD-2psttPiChPTkd0FduOdLia1zaUMOoITnSUd9jilZwyFxl68PCqKZk7GuI2PAMp5rRXHAc/s640/Priestly+attire.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
</b>The purpose for the all the apparel of the priest’s and of the Sanctuary
were all purposed to point the beholder to Humbleness and reverence to God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What was the
ministration of the priests to serve unto the example and pattern of?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hebrews 8:5<br />
Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was
admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he,
that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
“Not only the sanctuary itself, but the ministration of the
priests, was to “serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things.” Hebrews
8:5. Thus it was of great importance; and the Lord, through Moses, gave the
most definite and explicit instruction concerning every point of this typical
service. The ministration of the sanctuary consisted of two divisions, a daily
and a yearly service. The daily service was performed at the altar of burnt
offering in the court of the tabernacle and in the holy place; while the yearly
service was in the most holy. {PP 351.4}”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>What do the articles
of the Sanctuary represent?</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first thing we notice as we approach the sanctuary is
that there is only one door. Not even a fire exit! Remember Jesus' words:
"I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved" (John
10:9).<br />
All that are saved are redeemed by Jesus alone. "Neither is there
salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among
men, whereby we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). The only way to God is through
Christ, the only door.<br />
<br />
The
wood wrapped in gold represents the human nature covered by the pure nature of
Christ. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The walls of the Tabernacle were
decorated with palm branches and open flowers (palm branches were used for
Jesus returning to Jerusalem) (The <b>palm branch</b> is a symbol of
victory, triumph, peace and eternal life).<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Altar of burnt offerings<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Immediately upon entering the door
of the courtyard sat the brazen altar of burnt offerings. The altar was
actually made of acacia wood and overlaid with brass. Some have likened the
wood portion to human works and the brass to Christ's work. Without the brass,
the wooden frame would have been consumed by the fire during the burning of the
offerings, just as we will be consumed by the lake of fire if we do not believe
that Jesus' grace must eclipse our good works.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>The Laver</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Between the altar of burnt
offerings and the tabernacle itself stood the laver. It was also made of brass
and was filled with water for the cleansing of the priests.<br />
The picture of sinners' justification became clear in the courtyard. Before God
gave the Israelites His Law on tables of stone, He saved them from slavery in
Egypt by virtue of their faith in the Passover Lamb (symbolized by the altar)
and baptized them in the sea (represented by the laver). God takes us just as
we are and forgives our sins. When we accept Christ, confess our sins, and ask
for forgiveness, our heavenly record of sin is covered by Jesus' blood.<b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Candle sticks<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Just inside the holy place on the
left (south) side, stood the golden menorah that had seven candlestick branches
(see Exodus 25:31-40). They were not wax candles as we know them, but
lamps fueled by pure olive oil. The priests trimmed the wicks daily, and
refilled the bowls with oil so that the menorah would constantly be a source of
light for the holy place. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world"
(John 8:12).<br />
He also said, "Ye are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). The
olive oil in the lamps symbolized the Holy Spirit that illuminates the church.
The lamp is a symbol of the Word, as well (Psalm 119:105).<br />
The oil in the Candle sticks represent the holy Spirt (Like with the ten
virgins)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Shewbread<br />
</b><span style="background: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Myanmar2",serif;">But
he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by
every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4<br />
</span><br />
The shewbread, being stacked in 2 sets of 6, (66) can represent the books of
the bible, the Spiritual food.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
“The showbread was kept ever before
the Lord as a perpetual offering. Thus it was a part of the daily sacrifice. It
was called showbread, or “bread of the presence,” because it was ever before
the face of the Lord. It was an acknowledgment of man’s dependence upon God for
both temporal and spiritual food, and that it is received only through the
mediation of Christ. God had fed Israel in the wilderness with bread from
heaven, and they were still dependent upon His bounty, both for temporal food
and spiritual blessings. Both the manna and the showbread pointed to Christ,
the living Bread, who is ever in the presence of God for us. He Himself said,
“I am the living Bread which came down from heaven.” John 6:48-51. Frankincense
was placed upon the loaves. When the bread was removed every Sabbath, to be
replaced by fresh loaves, the frankincense was burned upon the altar as a
memorial before God. {PP 354.1}”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Altar of Incense<br />
</b><a href="https://www.bible.com/bible/1/heb.4.16" target="_self">Hebrews
4:16 (KJV)</a><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Let us therefore come boldly unto
the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time
of need.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The altar of incense was located
directly across from the door standing against the ornate veil that separated
the holy place from the most holy place. Like several other items in the
sanctuary, it was also made of acacia wood and covered with gold (Exodus
30:1-3). It was much smaller than the altar in the courtyard and contained a
brass pot that held hot coals from the brazen altar of burnt offerings. It was
here that the priest burned a very special blend of incense which filled the
sanctuary with a sweet-smelling cloud, representing the prayers of intercession
and confession of the believers sweetened by the Holy Spirit (Exodus 30:8).<br />
<br />
Note: the fire on the Altar of Incense was lit by holy fire from God. It was
kept burning by Him. The Altar was located directly before the Curtain, and, as
it represents prayer, signifies the approach to the Mercy seat and throne of
God. When we pray, we are approaching the Throne of God, and thus we must do so
with a humble heart in sincerity and utter respect unto God.<br />
<br />
Sanctification is the process in the Christian's life of learning to obey. It
is made up of a series of justifications. Each time we sin we ask for
forgiveness, and we are justified again. However, God offers more than
forgiveness when we confess. In 1 John 1:9, He promises us that, "If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness."<br />
It is that "cleansing from unrighteousness" that constitutes
sanctification. The key ingredients in our sanctification are a devotional life
in the Word, prayer, and witnessing. The sanctuary's bread, incense, and lamp
represent these elements.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b> The veil</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
This veil, or curtain, separating
the holy and the most holy places of the sanctuary has great significance,
because it was this veil that tore at the very moment Jesus died on the cross
(Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45). His death symbolized the end
of the need for the exclusive Levitical priesthood to mediate between man and
God.<br />
The veil represents the body of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19, 20). It was only by
passing through this veil that access was possible to the most holy place
(Hebrews 4:16). The tearing of the veil symbolized the death of the Lamb of
God, which now permits the believer in His atonement immediate access to the
most holy place through the new High Priest-Jesus Christ-the one and only
Mediator between man and God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Ark of the Covenant, Mercy seat</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
Inside the most holy place, or
"holy of holies," was one piece of furniture-the ark of the covenant.
This sacred box, also constructed of acacia wood and covered with gold,
contained the tables of stone upon which God had written the Ten Commandments.
Later it also contained Aaron's rod that had budded and a small pot of manna.<br />
The lid of the ark was called the "mercy seat" (Exodus 25:17), and
above it was the shining glory of the Lord, or Shekinah (which literally means
"the dwelling"), radiating between two covering cherubs, or angels,
on either end of the ark. This was a symbol of the throne of God and the
presence of the Almighty in heaven. The walls of the most holy place were
engraved with many angels, representing the clouds of living angels that
surround the person of God in heaven (1 Kings 6:29).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<b>Conclusion</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Tabernacle, as we have seen, was built to signify many
things. The wood covered in Gold representing the nature of man being covered by
the Nature of Christ; the Altar of Burnt offering signifying repentance and
confession of sin, and forgiveness of sin; the Laver representing Baptism and Purification;
the candlesticks representing the holy Spirit and the light of truth; the table
of shew bread representing the word of God as spiritual food and the Holy
Spirit; the altar of incense represents prayer (located just before the veil
before the Mercy seat); then in the Most Holy place is the Ark of the covenant
which enclosed the Two stones where the Law of God was written upon with His
finger, representing the throne of God being the place of unchanging Judgement
and mercy; the mercy seat as the throne where God abode among His people. All
of these things, Patterned after the design of the Heavenly Sanctuary, all
pointed forward to when Jesus Christ would shed His blood to wash the sins of
the sinners away. What an Amazing God who would give so much to us who are so
unworthy. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-43530307167600672232016-01-02T18:00:00.002-08:002016-01-02T18:12:38.385-08:00Bible study of the Sanctuary -- Part 2Bible study of the Sanctuary -- Part 2<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Tabernacle of Israel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
Purpose of the Tabernacle <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Did God dwell in the
Camp of Israel before the Sanctuary was built? <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
You
might recall that when the Israelites had finally been released from the
bondage of Egypt by the Might of God, God accompanied Israel in their journeys.
He was described as a cloud in the day and as a Pillar of fire at night (Ex
13:21). When Israel was about to cross the red sea, and the Egyptian army
pursued after them, the Pillar came between Israel and the Egyptian army. From
the beginning of the trek from Egypt, God was continually with His people,
guiding and protecting them. When Israel was brought to Sinai, the people had
to prepare themselves for seven days before they could receive the Instructions
from the Lord. Even at this, only certain of the Elders, Moses and Aaron were
allowed to go near the mountain, then Moses alone was allowed to go into the
Cloud with the Lord. This was due to the sins of the people, and the Consuming
fire of the Lord. Sin cannot exist in the Presence of God, for His glory would
consume and destroy the sin and anyone who was part with it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
God was
not able to abide in the Midst of the people because of their sins, they would
have been consumed. Therefore the Sanctuary was built so that God could abide
in the midst of His people, like the government of them. That there would be a
veil to separate the Holy one from man, a veil of mercy so man would not be
consumed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Where did the
Sacrificial Ceremonies start?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Genesis 3:21<br />
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of
skins, and clothed them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The First sacrifice was made right after the first Covenant
was made. (Read verse 15 also). So, here we see that God established His
covenant with Adam and Eve, then put forth the Conditions to Meet (Obedience)
and gave the means to meet those conditions (The Plan of Salvation through the
system of Sacrifices ordained by God.) The Sacrificial system was started in
Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. That ceremony of shedding innocent blood to wash
away sin was a representation of the innocent blood of the Lamb of God which
was to be slain for the redemption of man.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<b>What purpose did the Tabernacle serve?<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The purpose of the
Tabernacle was to establish unto the children of Israel, in an orderly manner,
the plan of salvation to sinful man. The Tabernacle was built for the practice
of the sacrificial offerings, and for the sins of the repentant to be carried
into the sanctuary, to be forgiven. Proper and reasonable order is part of the
Will of God. The ceremonies and sacrifices as practiced by Adam, Cain, Abraham,
Isaac and down until they were lost in Egypt, were part of the set order that
God has made for the Salvation of man. The Sanctuary given to the Israelites to
build is a clear foreshadowing of the cross on Calvary. Each article, detail,
sacrifice, and ceremony of the tabernacle directly pointed forward to the work
that Christ was going to accomplish as the ultimate sacrifice to save erring
man. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
The Tabernacle, directly designed
after the Sanctuary in heaven, was also the dwelling place of God. It is the
sanctuary, a sacred place. The mercy seat (Ark of the Covenant) was located in
the second room of the tabernacle, the seat of God where He sat among Israel.
We will go in more detail later in the studies.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
So, therefore, the purpose of the
Tabernacle in Israel was to be the House of God, so He could be among His
chosen people, and that it gave to Israel the access to the plan of Salvation.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(Note) Notice that the Sacrificial system that was
instructed to Adam and his descendants, was carried down from generation to
generation and preserved all the way to, and even through, the time that God’s
people became lost in Egypt, and down unto the time of Christ. Multiple times
Lucifer tried to make God’s people lose sight of the Plan of Salvation to be
left in darkness, but God set up faithful men to carry it through – Adam to his
sons, Seth, after Able had been slain, Noah, through the flood, Joseph, into
Egypt, and then reminded unto Moses in the Wilderness, which in turn was
instructed also unto Israel in Egypt. The truth of God’s salvation has been
continually guided and protected throughout world’s history. From days of old,
through the days of the reformation and the Waldensians, and carried through
from 1844, to Now – The truth has been and will be preserved unto the end of
this world and beyond. The Lord is continually merciful.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Construction of the Sanctuary</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; vertical-align: top;">
(This section
is based on Exodus 36-39).<br />
<br />
<span class="egw-text">“For the building of the sanctuary great and expensive
preparations were necessary; a large amount of the most precious and costly
material was required; yet the Lord accepted only freewill offerings. “Of every
man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offering” was the
divine command repeated by Moses to the congregation. Devotion to God and a
spirit of sacrifice were the first requisites in preparing a dwelling place for
the Most High.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 343.3}”<br />
<br />
</span><span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This same Spirit of Giving is looked for among
God's people today. God wishes to see the desire of man to prepare a way to
commune with Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He desires to see us engage in the work to
prepare ourselves and others to spend eternity with Him in the new earth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: .5in;">
<span class="egw-ref"><br />
</span><span class="egw-text">“The tabernacle was so constructed that it could be
taken apart and borne with the Israelites in all their journeying’s. It was
therefore small, being not more than fifty-five feet in length, and eighteen in
breadth and height. Yet it was a magnificent structure. The wood employed for
the building and its furniture was that of the acacia tree, which was less
subject to decay than any other to be obtained at Sinai. The walls consisted of
upright boards, set in silver sockets, and held firm by pillars and connecting
bars; and all were overlaid with gold, giving to the building the appearance of
solid gold. The roof was formed of four sets of curtains, the innermost of
“fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet: with cherubim of cunning
work;” the other three respectively were of goats’ hair, rams’ skins dyed red,
and sealskins, so arranged as to afford complete protection.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 347.1}”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 12.0pt; margin-bottom: 4.5pt; text-indent: .5in; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The building was not
huge, and not made to be a bragging token of Israel, but it was made to be neat,
orderly, and magnificent as it was the house of God.</span><br />
Likewise our churches of modern day do not need to be of show and popularity,
many times the people of God waste great sums of money in creating a showing
church, when those funds could have been put into the better work for God. Our
Churches need to be appropriate, humble, neat and orderly, as they are also
consecrated to be the House of God.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>What are the furnishings of the
Tabernacle?<br />
</b><br />
(Outer court)<span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The Altar of Burnt Offering (Ex 38:1-7)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The Laver (Ex 38:8)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in;">
(Holy Place)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The table of shewbread (Ex 37:10-16)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The candle stick, which has seven upon it (Ex
37:17-24)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Alter of Incense (Ex 37:25-28)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Then the Veil which separates the Holy Place from the (Holy of Holies).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The Ark of the Covenant (Ex 37:1-9)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1.0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->And the mercy seat upon the ark.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0RbhPjmlglOwNW9Wi7ZUwR1CAHAQLbtHAaf-MS3HtklkpIflxhW4DDMokKs2mk1BcXJ1UAwYA-UqxfEvfPRmqmlXuHyi6MseASovHjUpf-_X36-tf3vejCW37olLdIY5gEnyRqJJHYo/s1600/tabernacle+furniture.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0RbhPjmlglOwNW9Wi7ZUwR1CAHAQLbtHAaf-MS3HtklkpIflxhW4DDMokKs2mk1BcXJ1UAwYA-UqxfEvfPRmqmlXuHyi6MseASovHjUpf-_X36-tf3vejCW37olLdIY5gEnyRqJJHYo/s400/tabernacle+furniture.png" width="400" /></a><br />
<span class="egw-text">“The building was divided into two apartments by a rich
and beautiful curtain, or veil, suspended from gold-plated pillars; and a
similar veil closed the entrance of the first apartment. These, like the inner
covering, which formed the ceiling, were of the most gorgeous colors, blue,
purple, and scarlet, beautifully arranged, while inwrought with threads of gold
and silver were cherubim to represent the angelic host who are connected with
the work of the heavenly sanctuary and who are ministering spirits to the
people of God on earth.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 347.2} </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span class="egw-text">The sacred tent was enclosed in an open space called
the court, which was surrounded by hangings, or screens, of fine linen,
suspended from pillars of brass. The entrance to this enclosure was at the
eastern end. It was closed by curtains of costly material and beautiful
workmanship, though inferior to those of the sanctuary. The hangings of the
court being only about half as high as the walls of the tabernacle, the
building could be plainly seen by the people without. In the court, and nearest
the entrance, stood the brazen altar of burnt offering. Upon this altar were
consumed all the sacrifices made by fire unto the Lord, and its horns were sprinkled
with the atoning blood. Between the altar and the door of the tabernacle was
the laver, which was also of brass, made from the mirrors that had been the
freewill offering of the women of Israel. At the laver the priests were to wash
their hands and their feet whenever they went into the sacred apartments, or
approached the altar to offer a burnt offering unto the Lord.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 347.3} </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span class="egw-text">In the first apartment, or holy place, were the table
of showbread, the candlestick, or lampstand, and the altar of incense. The
table of showbread stood on the north. With its ornamental crown, it was
overlaid with pure gold. On this table the priests were each Sabbath to place
twelve cakes, arranged in two piles, and sprinkled with frankincense. The
loaves that were removed, being accounted holy, were to be eaten by the
priests. On the south was the seven-branched candlestick, with its seven lamps.
Its branches were ornamented with exquisitely wrought flowers, resembling
lilies, and the whole was made from one solid piece of gold. There being no
windows in the tabernacle, the lamps were never all extinguished at one time,
but shed their light by day and by night. Just before the veil separating the
holy place from the most holy and the immediate presence of God, stood the golden
altar of incense. Upon this altar the priest was to burn incense every morning
and evening; its horns were touched with the blood of the sin offering, and it
was sprinkled with blood upon the great Day of Atonement. The fire upon this
altar was kindled by God Himself and was sacredly cherished. Day and night the
holy incense diffused its fragrance throughout the sacred apartments, and
without, far around the tabernacle.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 348.1} </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span class="egw-text">Beyond the inner veil was the holy of holies, where
centered the symbolic service of atonement and intercession, and which formed
the connecting link between heaven and earth. In this apartment was the ark, a
chest of acacia wood, overlaid within and without with gold, and having a crown
of gold about the top. It was made as a depository for the tables of stone,
upon which God Himself had inscribed the Ten Commandments. Hence it was called
the ark of God’s testament, or the Ark of the Covenant, since the Ten
Commandments were the basis of the covenant made between God and Israel.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 348.2} <br />
<br />
</span>(note) Remember, folks, in previous studies how we have seen the
importance of the Ten Commandments in Salvation? Mercy and Justice are the
Throne of God. And in the Holy of Holies, within the Mercy seat of God, was
where the Ten Commandments were kept. By the Ten Commandments is holy Judgement
made by God.<br />
<span class="egw-ref"><br />
</span>The cover of the sacred chest was called the mercy seat. This was
wrought of one solid piece of gold, and was surmounted by golden cherubim, one
standing on each end. One wing of each angel was stretched forth on high, while
the other was folded over the body (see Ezekiel 1:11) in token of reverence and
humility. The position of the cherubim, with their faces turned toward each
other, and looking reverently downward toward the ark, represented the
reverence with which the heavenly host regard the law of God and their interest
in the plan of redemption. {PP 348.3} <o:p></o:p><br />
Above the mercy seat was the Shekinah, the manifestation of the divine
Presence; and from between the cherubim, God made known His will. Divine
messages were sometimes communicated to the high priest by a voice from the
cloud. Sometimes a light fell upon the angel at the right, to signify approval
or acceptance, or a shadow or cloud rested upon the one at the left to reveal
disapproval or rejection. {PP 349.1} <o:p></o:p><br />
The law of God, enshrined within the ark, was the great rule of
righteousness and judgment. That law pronounced death upon the transgressor;
but above the law was the mercy seat, upon which the presence of God was
revealed, and from which, by virtue of the atonement, pardon was granted to the
repentant sinner. Thus in the work of Christ for our redemption, symbolized by
the sanctuary service, “mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and
peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10. {PP 349.2} “<br />
<br />
“No language can describe the glory of the scene presented within the
sanctuary—the gold-plated walls reflecting the light from the golden
candlestick, the brilliant hues of the richly embroidered curtains with their
shining angels, the table, and the altar of incense, glittering with gold;
beyond the second veil the sacred ark, with its mystic cherubim, and above it
the holy Shekinah, the visible manifestation of Jehovah’s presence; all but a
dim reflection of the glories of the temple of God in heaven, the great center
of the work for man’s redemption. {PP 349.3} <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
A period of about half a year was occupied in the building of the
tabernacle. When it was completed, Moses examined all the work of the builders,
comparing it with the pattern shown him in the mount and the directions he had
received from God. “As the Lord had commanded, even so had they done it: and
Moses blessed them.” With eager interest the multitudes of Israel crowded
around to look upon the sacred structure. While they were contemplating the
scene with reverent satisfaction, the pillar of cloud floated over the
sanctuary and, descending, enveloped it. “And the glory of the Lord filled the
tabernacle.” There was a revealing of the divine majesty, and for a time even
Moses could not enter. With deep emotion the people beheld the token that the
work of their hands was accepted. There were no loud demonstrations of
rejoicing. A solemn awe rested upon all. But the gladness of their hearts
welled up in tears of joy, and they murmured low, earnest words of gratitude
that God had condescended to abide with them. {PP 349.4}”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<b>Conclusions</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The Sanctuary was built by God's commandment so that God could abide in the Midst of His people. He wanted to be among His chosen people to be near them and to give them the way to Salvation. All through the specific constructions and instructions given concerning the Sanctuary serve for a specific purpose. By studying the Sanctuary we can see that it Foreshadows the cross and the sacrifice that Christ gave for the Salvation of Man. All through the progression of the sanctuary can be found the Steps to Christ.<br />
The Sanctuary was patterned after the design of the Heavenly Sanctuary. The ceremonies can be found With Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob and Esau and all through the history down into Israel. The Sanctuary was built to make a way of escape from the captivity of Sin.<br />
The sanctuary holds importance to us as it sets a foundation that pointed to the Cavalry, foundation to the Judgement, and a foundation to the atonement for our sins. Not many are aware of the Actual importance of the Sanctuary to current day Christians. May we study and learn to know the Will of God.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-85389002399912267612016-01-02T17:50:00.001-08:002016-01-02T18:12:49.469-08:00Bible study of the Sanctuary -- Part 1Bible study of the Sanctuary -- Part 1<br />
<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The beginning of the
Sanctuary<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>What is the
Sanctuary?<br />
<br />
</b>A Sanctuary is a sacred place, or a place of refuge. <br />
<br />
<b>Exodus 25:8</b><br />
And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.<br />
<br />
The Most common meaning of the word Sanctuary is as a <i>sacred place, a place where God’s presence is.</i> <br />
The purpose of the Sanctuary in Israel was known as the House of God. Not a
place to disrespect or profane. Likewise today, in Church we refer to the place
where we worship God as the Sanctuary. It is a place where His presence is, and
it should be treated with distinction and humble reverence. <br />
The House of God is also referred to as a
temple.<br />
<br />
<b>In Scripture, how many Sanctuaries or
temples of importance are there? (Excluding all pagan and false ones)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>The heavenly Sanctuary</b><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Hebrews 8:1-5<b><br />
</b>1 Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an
high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the
heavens;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">2 A minister of the
sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">3 For every high
priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity
that this man have somewhat also to offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">4 For if he were on
earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts
according to the law:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">5 Who serve unto
the <i>example and shadow</i> of <i>heavenly things</i>, as Moses was admonished
of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou
make </span><b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;">all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount</span></b><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">.</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b>The earthly
Tabernacle</b> (Designed after the heavenly)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="color: #263238; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Exodus 25:8, 9.<br />
</span>8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.<o:p></o:p></div>
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9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of
the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall
ye make it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="active">
<span class="egw-text"><b>Patriarchs
and Prophets 356, 357:</b><br />
“As has been stated, the earthly sanctuary was built by Moses according to the
pattern shown him in the mount. It was “a figure for the time then present, in
which were offered both gifts and sacrifices;” its two holy places were
“patterns of things in the heavens;” Christ, our great High Priest, is “a
minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched,
and not man.” </span><span class="egwlink">Hebrews 9:9, 23</span><span class="egw-text">; </span><span class="egwlink">8:2</span><span class="egw-text">. As
in vision the apostle John was granted a view of the temple of God in heaven,
he beheld there “seven lamps of fire burning before the throne.” He saw an
angel “having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that
he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which
was before the throne.” </span><span class="egwlink">Revelation 4:5</span><span class="egw-text">; </span><span class="egwlink">8:3</span><span class="egw-text">.
Here the prophet was permitted to behold the first apartment of the sanctuary
in heaven; and he saw there the “seven lamps of fire” and the “golden altar”
represented by the golden candlestick and the altar of incense in the sanctuary
on earth. Again, “the temple of God was opened” (</span><span class="egwlink">Revelation
11:19</span><span class="egw-text">), and he looked within the inner veil, upon
the holy of holies. Here he beheld “the ark of His testament” (</span><span class="egwlink">Revelation 11:19</span><span class="egw-text">), represented by the
sacred chest constructed by Moses to contain the law of God.</span><span class="egw-ref"> {PP 356.1} </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<span class="egw-text">Moses made the earthly sanctuary, “according to the
fashion that he had seen.” Paul declares that “the tabernacle, and all the
vessels of the ministry,” when completed, were “the patterns of things in the
heavens.” </span><span class="egwlink">Acts 7:44</span><span class="egw-text">; </span><span class="egwlink">Hebrews 9:21, 23</span><span class="egw-text">. And John says that
he saw the sanctuary in heaven. <span style="color: red;">That sanctuary, in
which Jesus ministers in our behalf, is the great original, of which the
sanctuary built by Moses was a copy.</span></span><span class="egw-ref"><span style="color: red;"> </span>{PP 357.1}”</span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
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<b>The temple of the
body</b><br />
1 Corinthians 3:16, 17<br />
16Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you?<o:p></o:p></div>
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17If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
1 cor. 6:19-20<br />
<br />
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in
you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in
your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
The Body is the one temple
that is most desecrated and unsanctified. As we look around us in this world,
we see the foul characters of men and women and even children all around. Sin
and disease has corrupted and destroyed the Image of God of whom we were
created in. The body which, was created for to do good and the perfect will of
God, to be the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, has been brought down to the
level of beasts by the indulgences of selfishness and sin, and by the
indwelling of satanic influences. The minds of men are becoming only
continually evil; the fruits of their labors are of destruction and wickedness.
The greatest troubles of this world are caused by the wickedness of mankind.
This course of destructive behavior could change, but only by the influence of
the Holy Spirit dwelling within. <br />
The actions of the hands
and feet are the products of our hearts and minds; what we expose our hearts
and minds to is what the fruits of our labors, and the words of our mouth are
patterned after. If we allow for the sinful and worldly influences to enter
into the ports of our minds (ears, eyes, mouth), our fruits will become
patterned and follow after those influences. Do we allow that which is only
pure, and holy, and acceptable enter into us, or that of sin and wickedness?
Are our bodies the temple of God, or are they the dwelling place of worldliness
and sin? Let us remember what our bodies were designed after, and what our
bodies truly are. May we only let that which is acceptable unto the Lord dwell
within.<br />
<br />
<b>Conclusion</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
So far we have distinguished the three temples that are the
Lords, we have seen that the Tabernacle sanctuary of Israel, and all its
ordinances and ceremonies, were patterned and designed after the one in heaven,
not built by the hands of men, and that the third Temple, which is our bodies,
is made to be the dwelling place of the holy Spirit. Each article of the
Tabernacle of Israel and all of its ceremonies are a foreshadowing of things
that were to come and be fulfilled. In further studies that we will be doing of
the Sanctuary, we will address in detail the Tabernacle Sanctuary, and all of
its ordinances and what they represent, and what they point to, and how they
pertain to us in this current day. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-67875834332375485142015-07-17T21:58:00.001-07:002016-01-15T22:03:21.857-08:00The Privilege of Prayer (Based off Chap. 11 of STC)<i>The Privilege of Prayer</i> (Based off Chap. 11 of STC)<br />
<br />
God speaks to us through His Spirit, His word, Revelation and Spirit of prophecy, but God wanted to give us a way that we could also speak to Him. So he gave us the privilege of prayer; Prayer is a gift, a privilege that is so special. <br />
We need to be able to pour our hearts out to Him, We need to be able to communicate with Him-This is a necessity for us to have a real relationship with Christ.<br />
<br />
<b>So, what is Prayer?</b><br />
The world has many different types and meanings of what prayer is considered. Everyone prays at some point-Protestants, Catholics, Buddhist, Hindus, Muslims, even atheists sometimes-But everyone prays.<br />
The question is, what is real prayer?<br />
<br />
<b>This is prayer</b><br />
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. {SC 93.2} <br />
<br />
Prayer is the doorway of communication between Man and God.<br />
<b><br />Christ prayed</b><br />
"Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among men, was often in prayer. Our Savior identified Himself with our needs and weakness, in that He became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from His Father fresh supplies of strength, that He might come forth braced for duty and trial. He is our example in all things. He is a brother in our infirmities, “in all points tempted like as we are;” but as the sinless one His nature recoiled from evil; He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Savior of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer. {SC 93.4} <br />
<br />
Christ set an example for us, He taught the disciples to pray because He knew that we need that special communion with God.<br />
<b><br />Christ yearns to hear our prayers</b><br />
"Our heavenly Father waits to bestow upon us the fullness of His blessing. It is our privilege to drink largely at the fountain of boundless love. What a wonder it is that we pray so little! God is ready and willing to hear the sincere prayer of the humblest of His children, and yet there is much manifest reluctance on our part to make known our wants to God. What can the angels of heaven think of poor helpless human beings, who are subject to temptation, when God’s heart of infinite love yearns toward them, ready to give them more than they can ask or think, and yet they pray so little and have so little faith? The angels love to bow before God; they love to be near Him. They regard communion with God as their highest joy; and yet the children of earth, who need so much the help that God only can give, seem satisfied to walk without the light of His Spirit, the companionship of His presence. {SC 94.1} <br />
<br />
God watches us so much, He sees our every need and wishes to lead us every step of the way, but He only wishes to intercede at our wish. If only we would take use of this privilege of prayer and ask for the strength to carry on, to pour our hearts out to Christ so that he could come in and fill the void within us. Christ yearns so much for that. <br />
<br />
<b>Without prayer we put ourselves in danger</b><br />
"The darkness of the evil one encloses those who neglect to pray. The whispered temptations of the enemy entice them to sin; and it is all because they do not make use of the privileges that God has given them in the divine appointment of prayer. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence? Without unceasing prayer and diligent watching we are in danger of growing careless and of deviating from the right path. The adversary seeks continually to obstruct the way to the mercy seat, that we may not by earnest supplication and faith obtain grace and power to resist temptation. {SC 94.2} <br />
<br />
Prayer is a necessity for faith and godliness, it is our ability to call for help when we are losing to the powers of evil. By the lack of prayer and worship of God we set ourselves at a great danger, we no longer would commune with Christ and would thus lose sight of the light of truth where all strength and faith comes from. Prayer is a mighty tool against satan, don't forget to use it.<br />
<br />
<b>There are conditions of the heart in order for our prayers to be heard</b><br />
A person who is living a life of sin knowingly, without purpose to change, cannot expect to have their prayer heard by God. When we pray, we are going before the King of Kings, The Lord of Lords. We are by far completely unworthy. With sin thriving in our hearts, we cannot pray with humbleness and true Respect unto God. By going through the motions without faith, the works are of no good. We must be willing to have that full faith and believing in God, and be willing to give up our whole selves to him, to repent and confess of our sins and turn from them. Once we have resolved to give our sins to Christ, He is faithful and Just to forgive us and redeem us from them. We should seek Him Humbly in prayer and pray from our hearts with utmost respect. We have to let Christ change us from within. If we are not willing to abide by God's laws, then why would we feel entitled to His help and care? That is what presumption is.<br />
<br />
<b>We must be faithful to Him no matter the outcome of What we ask for</b><br />
"But to claim that prayer will always be answered in the very way and for the particular thing that we desire, is presumption. God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. Then do not fear to trust Him, even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers. Rely upon His sure promise, “Ask, and it shall be given you.” {SC 96.2} <br />
Faith and Presumtion are to easily confused in Christianity. Faith is a Full trust and Believing in God to let Him do what is best according to his will regardless of what we ask of Him in prayer. Presumption is a self based action action that leads away from prayer. A man with presumption does not follow the works of obedience and faith, but rather believes that God will give them what they want and need. God Does not work in this way, He says to ask and it shall be given unto us; we cannot expect to receive something without first asking for it. Faith in prayer is asking and trusting that God's will, not our own, would be done.<br />
The Lord always Answers our diligent faithful prayers, sometimes He says yes, sometimes no, and sometimes He says wait.<br />
<br />
<b>Perseverance in prayer</b><br />
Perseverance in prayer has been made a condition of receiving. We must pray always if we would grow in faith and experience. We are to be “instant in prayer,” to “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving.” Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2. Peter exhorts believers to be “sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7. Paul directs, “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6. “But ye, beloved,” says Jude, “praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God.” Jude 20, 21.Unceasing prayer is the unbroken union of the soul with God, so that life from God flows into our life; and from our life, purity and holiness flow back to God. {SC 97.2} <br />
<br />
<b>We should pray in the family circle</b><br />
the privilege of prayer is an important element in the family circle. By teaching the young how to pray from the heart and with faithfulness, to teach them that God is eager for and listening to our prayers, and that through prayer we can receive the needed strength and direction from on high. <br />
A family that prays together, stays together. For Christianity to flourish in the family, there needs to be solid communication with God as a family. The Children will follow after the patterns of the parents, so let the examples of the Parents be Honest and Christlike. <br />
"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6)"<br />
<br />
<b>Never neglect secret prayer</b><br />
We should pray in the family circle, and above all we must not neglect secret prayer, for this is the life of the soul. It is impossible for the soul to flourish while prayer is neglected. Family or public prayer alone is not sufficient. In solitude let the soul be laid open to the inspecting eye of God. Secret prayer is to be heard only by the prayer-hearing God. No curious ear is to receive the burden of such petitions. In secret prayer the soul is free from surrounding influences, free from excitement. Calmly, yet fervently, will it reach out after God. Sweet and abiding will be the influence emanating from Him who seeth in secret, whose ear is open to hear the prayer arising from the heart. By calm, simple faith the soul holds communion with God and gathers to itself rays of divine light to strengthen and sustain it in the conflict with Satan. God is our tower of strength. {SC 98.2} <br />
Pray in your closet, and as you go about your daily labor let your heart be often uplifted to God.It was thus that Enoch walked with God. These silent prayers rise like precious incense before the throne of grace. Satan cannot overcome him whose heart is thus stayed upon God. {SC 98.3} <br />
There are somethings that should only be between Us and God. We don't need to pour our hearts out to God before others, we can have that special communion with Christ, just He and Us. Never neglect this privilege, it is important to the growth of Christianity.<br />
<br />
<b>We should Pray Often</b><br />
Let the soul be drawn out and upward, that God may grant us a breath of the heavenly atmosphere. We may keep so near to God that in every unexpected trial our thoughts will turn to Him as naturally as the flower turns to the sun. {SC 99.4} <br />
<br />
When we pray, we are not to have a mere mention of His name before and ending of each prayer, but we should pray in the Mind and spirit of Jesus always.<br />
<br />
He who does nothing but pray will soon cease to pray, or his prayers will become a formal routine.{SC 101.1} <br />
<br />
<b>Pray together</b><br />
If Christians would associate together, speaking to each other of the love of God and of the precious truths of redemption, their own hearts would be refreshed and they would refresh one another. We may be daily learning more of our heavenly Father, gaining a fresh experience of His grace; then we shall desire to speak of His love; and as we do this, our own hearts will be warmed and encouraged. If we thought and talked more of Jesus, and less of self, we should have far more of His presence. {SC 101.3} <br />
<br />
<b>Praise and Thanksgiving in prayer</b><br />
We need to praise God more “for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” Psalm 107:8. Our devotional exercises should notconsist wholly in asking and receiving. Let us not be always thinking of our wants and never of the benefits we receive. We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. We are the constant recipients of God’s mercies, and yet how little gratitude we express, how little we praise Him for what He has done for us. {SC 102.2} <br />
There is a time and a need for us to ask for Guidance and strength From God, but there is always a greater necessity of praise to God. We, after our own abominations against the Lord and our wickedness, we are unworthy of His blessings, Yet Christ continues to Bless us more than we even realize. What an Awesome God, Praise Him in all things, even that which is trials and troubles. <br />
<br />
Therefore, Brothers and Sisters, let us not abuse this privilege of prayer, let us make use of this wonderful gift God has given us to Praise Him, to worship Him, to seek Him continually and in all things. Let us pray without ceasing, with one another and in personal worship with God, Let us daily pour our hearts our to Christ and let Him enter into our lives each day. In the Morning, seek first the Kingdom of God to be prepared for the tasks of the day, and in the evening, seek the Name of the Lord for Forgiveness from the mistakes of the day, let not the sun go down upon our own mistakes. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-18927181961733994622015-06-10T10:28:00.002-07:002016-01-23T22:34:21.403-08:00The Issue of Women's OrdinationThe issue of Women's ordination (As apposed to Mr. Ty Gibson's Article)<br />
<br />
After coming across this post late last week, I decided to study out the topic of ordination for myself. With a KJV study bible and a 1599 Geneva bible with Protestant reformers' genuine foot notes I set out to find what the bible and Ellen White says about this topic. After I had diligently studied from scripture about this and spoken to multiple persons on the subject and with Much prayer, I come to find my understanding of this topic cemented. I thoroughly read and studied the reasoning for and material in the article of Ordination by Ty Gibson. I do strongly disagree with Mr. Ty Gibson on multiple points that he made in the article because, although some of what he wrote is truth, a large portion of the material is based off bible verses and quotes that he has taken out of context and misinterpreted. I believe that the issue of women's ordination is not whether a woman can engage in the gospel work or not, but that the issue is in the place of authority that women wish to be placed in. Women's ordination has been widely misinterpreted even unto the definition of Ordination. The under lying issue is that this movement is politically driven and therefore is leading up to political and moral corruption of the church. In the following material I hope to point out some of the understood errors of Mr. Gibson's article.<br />
<br />
First off, I want to start out in saying, though some may disagree with this reasoning, that Mr. Gibson's uses a varying difference in modern Bible translations. The only thing this mix of modern translations can accomplish is confusion. The Modern translations change the meanings and wordings of so many verses that they actually conflict between the modern and the old translations. This difference in bible translation is greatly responsible for the misinterpretation of verses and out-of-context definitions. The best way to have a complete understanding of this subject is to hold fast to the study of fundamental scripture texts of the un-altered versions. An example of this confusion is showed in the following text taken from Mr. Gibson's Article:<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"But there is a second reason we cannot use 1 Timothy 3 as evidence for male-only <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>ordination. Even if we were to concede that Paul’s point is that all pastors and deacons must be males, Paul also says in the same letter that men are to lift up their hands when they pray (2:8), that women are to “learn in silence” and not “teach” (2:11-12), <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>that elders who lead well, especially in word and doctrine, are to be paid double wages <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(5:17), and that slaves who are under the yoke of bondage are to submit to their masters (6:1). (Ty Gibson)."<br />
<br />
If you look up each of these verses mentioned in the above quote in the King James Bible, you will find that half of those verses have different wording. Notice how these mis-quotes could initiate confusion as to what the real meaning of the verses are. This is a major reason for sticking to the original bible translations so that everyone can be on the same page with the Apostles, Prophets and authors of Scripture.<br />
<br />
Mr. Gibson starts out his article by giving a history of the issue at hand. He uses multiple quotes that would indicate that Ellen White Supported Women's Ordination into Pastoral Positions in the church. However, the details that Ellen white was stressing upon is the need for having gospel workers, both men and women, to labor in bringing the light of truth to those ignorant of it. Now, if a person believes that a person MUST be ordained by the "Structure" church in order to carry out this work, then they are terribly mistaken. God calls all, men and women alike, to His work in the field. All who are faithful unto Him in obedience and Faith and who have wholly consecrated themselves to Christ are qualified for this work; they are, by definition, ordained by God. None should be held back solely because of their lack of membership, certification or gender (as in Men and Women Gender). The Holy Spirit will speak through any who is willing to further the work of Christ. The issue arises when people apply this qualification <b>to</b> positions of authority in the church leadership. The bible does give specific instructions to what the position of being Bishop, Minister and deacon are required of those who are willing to be in such services. Those Requirements are misinterpreted greatly in Mr. Gibson's Article.<br />
<br />
Gibson's says that the argument that all the priests and Church leaders of the old testament were men does not apply to the new testament church. The fact that the Old testament church leaders were all men and how that distinction applies to today's church I am unsure of, but the Quote that Mr. Gibson was using to prove that all faithful men and women will be counted as :"Priests" and "Ministers" in the New testament church was taken out of context. When looking up the quote in Review and Herald, October 15, 190, One can see that she went on to explain the reward of those who engage in the gospel ministry, not the titles of what they will be called. Again, Mrs. White stresses upon the importance and reward of the Heavenly work and not upon the entitlements of those involved. This Example for disproving the leadership roles of only being men in today's church is lacking and does not disprove the detail in any way. One thing to be aware of, though, is that there was women in the roles of Ministerial work and Leadership in the Old testament such as Deborah, Miriam, Esther and many others.<br />
<br />
More disagreeableness is created when Mr. Gibson claims that Paul was Not being Gender specific in the whole chapter of 1 Timothy 3. I do not see how this is true because the roles of the Bishop and Deacons are described after the manner of the leadership of the family is described, further more, the family is described in detail after the manner of how the church is to be patterned. In Ephesians 5:22-33, Paul gives detailed instruction of how the family should be patterned. He says, "(22) Wives, Submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (23) For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the Church: and He is the savior of the body. (24) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything." Then Paul Proceeds to tell what the Position of the Husband is: "(25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; (26) That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (28) So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself." These specifications of the Husband and wife, as explained by Paul, are definitely Gender Specific. How are these verse related to 1 Timothy 3? Simple, read 1Timothy 3:2, 4 and 5.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(2) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(4) One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(5) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)<br />
<br />
The position of a bishop is described by and illustrated with the husband's position in the family. husband's are, as Paul said, The head of the household and head of the wife. These are the requirements for the Bishop of the church, he is to be able to lead the flock in the same manner as how he is supposed to lead his family. If the bishop cannot lead his family, how can he lead the flock of Christ? He would not be able to do so. Also, if Paul was not being gender specific when he wrote these requirements of the Bishop, why would he need to then give a requirement of what the position of the wives are needed in the Church? (See verse 11).<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(11) Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.<br />
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So, Paul has given specifications again for the bishop, that being after his position as head of the family; and the position of the wife, that is to be faithful and obedient unto her husband.<br />
Now that we are sure of the requirements of the position of a Bishop, allow me to point out a difference with the deacons. (See verses 8-12).<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(8) Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(9) Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(10) And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(11) Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(12) Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.<br />
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Notice that the deacons are not considered Leaders of the Flock. We can know that the position of a Bishop is an elder, leader and servant; the position of a deacon is that of a servant. What Mr. Gibson fails to point out is that the position of a Bishop and that of a Deacon are different. This we can understand more fully by looking at the word root origins.<br />
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Mr. Gibson Used the word episkope as the greek word for Bishop in Verse 2 of 1Tim 3. The word ranges in spelling from episkope, to episkopoj and episkoph. In either event that I found, the words meanings are as follows:<br />
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<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Episkoph: 1) investigation, inspection, visitation<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1a) that act by which God looks into and searches out the ways, deeds character, of <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>men, in order to adjudge them their lot accordingly, whether joyous or sad<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1b) oversight<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1b1) overseership, office, charge, the office of an elder<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1b2) the overseer or presiding officers of a Christian church<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Episkopoj: 1) an overseer<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1a) a man charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly, any curator, guardian or superintendent<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1b) the superintendent, elder, or overseer of a Christian church<br />
<br />
Anyhow, you get the idea. The root meaning of Bishop from the verse 1Tim 3:2 is that which describes the office of a Leader of God's Church; one who is in a position of authority. Now this is where Mr. Gibson neglected a key definition of the root word definition of "Deacon." The Greek word for Deacon is Diakonoj as Mr. Gibson mentioned. However, the meaning of diakonoj is very different to that of the meaning of Episkope. The definition of Diakonoj is as follows:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1) one who executes the commands of another, esp. of a master, a servant, attendant, <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>minister<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1a) the servant of a king<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1b) a deacon, one who, by virtue of the office assigned to him by the church, cares for <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>the poor and has charge of and distributes the money collected for their use<br />
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Obviously, there is a big difference in definition of the place of a deacon and that of a bishop. By not revealing this MAJOR detail, Mr. Gibson went about trying to prove the "good report" of women's ordination in all positions.<br />
You might wonder, "why is this so important?" Let's let the word of God show it's importance.<br />
Let's turn to 1Timothy 2:12:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>(12)But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>silence.<br />
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This is the key verse that shows the reason why women are not to be ordained as a Bishop. They are not to usurp authority over the man. With the earlier definitions of the Bishop, we can see why they are not supposed to be put in such positions, because, in so doing, they would be usurping authority over man. However, the definition of a Deacon does not say that they are in authority, but are in service. This, as the service of the wives are to their families, so is the Deacons to the Church. I believe a woman can very rightly, according to scripture, engage in the work of a deacon. Here are a few examples of women occupying the role of a deacon:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"(Rom. 16:1, 3, 12; Phil. 4:2, 3; 1 Tim. 3:11; 5:9, 10; Titus 2:3, 4)". In these passages it is <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>evident that females were then engaged in various Christian ministrations.<br />
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Do you understand the issue that Mr. Gibson failed to address? He was right about some of the things in his article, but he failed to show these very specific details. From what I see of the SDA Conference church, they do not need to pass an allowance to ordain deaconesses, they are already ordaining deaconesses, and some rightfully so. Women can work in service of the gospel and of the work of Christ as well. So, if the Conference church does not need to pass this into acceptance, then why are they trying to make it "Okay" to ordain a woman into a "Bishops" position? Folks the only explanation of that is because the reason for doing it is politically driven. Everything about politics today is about equality - equality of Gender, women's rights, homosexuals-- these are very dangerous things to be considering to allow into the Church. Notice what Christ did in His time when people approached him wondering about his positions on politics and Legal matters:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>"Again and again Christ had been asked to decide legal and political questions. <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>But He refused to interfere in temporal matters. Christ stood in our world as the <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Head of the great spiritual kingdom that He came to our world to establish—the <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>kingdom of righteousness. His teaching made plain the ennobling, sanctifying <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>principles that govern this kingdom. He showed that justice and mercy and love <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>are the controlling powers in Jehovah’s kingdom.567 {CCh 314.5}"<br />
<br />
This is how we should be today. We should not be caught up in all this legal and political stuff. The issue of Womens ordination is political, it is made political because it is society driven and supported by politics. What is the base of women's ordination? The excuse is equality, Tell me that is not political. This is the underlying issue and danger of Women's ordination being passed into acceptance into the church. Once it is in effect, the next thing to go into the church is Homosexuality. Sure, Mr. Gibson says that the bible has enough evidence against homosexuality that it will not be passed into the church. But the bible has evidence against makeup and Jewelry, yet that did not convince the people not to allow it into the church. Learn from the past, History repeats itself. Do Not be deceived into something you are unsure of. "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)." "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thess 5:21)."<br />
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If I have made a mistake or error in any biblical context in this post, please point out the issue. I would rather recant that which goes against the Word of God than to produce forth error. If not, however, then let the truth be declared.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Work cited:</div>
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<br />
Gibson, Ty. "A Closer Look At Women’s Ordination." Light Bearers RSS. lightbearers.org, 05 June 2015. Web. 10 June 2015.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-79165630280203782012013-06-01T19:58:00.001-07:002015-06-10T10:17:30.629-07:00Courage and Perseverance<div align="CENTER" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: 16pt;">Courage
and </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">P</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;">erseverance</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Perseverance:
To pursue, persist, to strive for, not to give up.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Courage:
</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">to
be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard</span></span></span></div>
<pre class="western"><span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">1a) (Qal) to be strong, brave, bold</span></span>
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">1b) (Piel) to strengthen, secure, harden (heart),</span></span>
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">make firm, make obstinate, assure</span></span>
<span style="color: black;"> <span style="font-size: 10pt;">1c) (Hithpael) to be determined, to make oneself alert, strengthen</span></span>
<span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">oneself, confirm oneself, persist in, prove superior to</span></span></pre>
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<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Courage
is when a person stands up for something they believe is right
against a stronger foe. True courage is rarely found, mainly because
it comes from God to His people who stand up for truth against Satan
and his agents. There have been courageous men in the history of the
world in biblical history and American history. </span><span style="font-size: small;">Courage
can be noble and yet humble.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
To have courage is a noble gesture no
matter what you stand for, but there is little courage in men who
stand for the wrong. The men who stand for wrong are usually under
the wrong influence by a great majority of money or people who are
all influenced by Satan.
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Gods people get their courage from God
and stand up for the truths of the bible and hold fast to that which
they know is correct. Even in the face of death many men stood for
God and Practiced the Commandments to their fullest ability. Steven
was the first martyr in the history of the world. All of Christs
disciples had courage to stand before death for what was right. All
but one died a martyr for our Lord Jesus.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
At the beginning of American history,
there were many courageous men who stood for freedom of men and
religion. Our founding fathers during the Revolution stood against
the British government even though it could mean their fate in
hanging for treason. However, God Blessed with success and we are a
free nation today with freedom of conscience, religion and of men
though it is soon to be taken away by present powers of evil.
</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"> Courage
isn't always bold and boasting, in fact it should never be in such a
manner. Men can be courageous and still humble and righteous. God
leads His people and gives them strength, courage and guidance. If we
are courageous and stand for what we know is right, we will be
rewarded in heaven if we stay true to Gods commandments and keep the
faith of Jesus.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> There
were three men going on a journey. </span><span style="font-size: small;">The
first was named Jesus. The second and third </span><span style="font-size: small;">were
named John and</span><span style="font-size: small;">
Samuel, who were two men who desired to follow and work for Jesus.
Along their journey, Christ asked the two men to pick up stones and
carry with them. John picked up a small rock but Samuel picked up a
medium sized rock and thus carried with them. As the journey
progressed it came to about midday and the men became hungry. Jesus
took the stones that the two men chose and turned each into the
sizable portion of bread to the size of the rock the men chose, </span><span style="font-size: small;">and
gave for them </span><span style="font-size: small;">each
</span><span style="font-size: small;">to eat</span><span style="font-size: small;">.
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Because
</span><span style="font-size: small;">John's
</span><span style="font-size: small;">rock was
smaller than Samuels, he did not have enough </span><span style="font-size: small;">bread
</span><span style="font-size: small;">to
suffice for his hunger and so Samuel broke his bread a</span><span style="font-size: small;">nd</span><span style="font-size: small;">
shared with John.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> After
this, the men arose and continued on their journey. Again Jesus asked
them to pick up a stone each and carry it. Samuel chose the same
sized stone as his first one, and John chose the same size as
Samuels. Again they resumed their journey until they had come to a
river. Jesus asked them to throw the rocks into the water and so they
did. </span><span style="font-size: small;">After
all the trouble to carry these stones for several hours, why should
they throw them away? What was the reason for this?</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span><span style="font-size: small;">Lets
look at another example: </span><span style="font-size: small;">2Kings
13:14-19</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6306302728465112581" name="en-KJV-9886"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>14
</b>Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And
Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face,
and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the
horsemen thereof.</span></span></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6306302728465112581" name="en-KJV-9887"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>15 </b>And
Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow
and arrows.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6306302728465112581" name="en-KJV-9888"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>16 </b>And
he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he
put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6306302728465112581" name="en-KJV-9889"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>17 </b>And
he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha
said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>'s
deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt
smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6306302728465112581" name="en-KJV-9890"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>18 </b>And
he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king
of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.</span></span><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6306302728465112581" name="en-KJV-9891"></a>
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>19 </b>And
the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have
smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou
hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.</span></span><br />
<div align="LEFT" style="border: none; margin-bottom: 0in; padding: 0in; text-indent: 1.04in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background: #0084d1;">The
dying prophet bade the king, “Take bow <span style="color: white;"><b>and</b></span> arrows.” <span style="color: white;"><b>Joash
</b></span>obeyed. Then the prophet said, “Put thine hand upon the
bow.” <span style="color: white;"><b>Joash </b></span>“put his
hand upon it: <span style="color: white;"><b>and Elisha</b></span> put
his hands upon the king’s hands. <span style="color: white;"><b>And</b></span> he
said, Open the window eastward”—toward the cities beyond the
Jordan in possession of the Syrians. The king having opened the
latticed window, <span style="color: white;"><b>Elisha</b></span> bade
him shoot. As the arrow sped on its way, the prophet was inspired to
say, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, <span style="color: white;"><b>and
</b></span>the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite
the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.” <span style="color: #bb146e;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">{PK
261.3}</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="background: #0b305c;">And</span></b></span> now
the prophet tested the faith of the king. Bidding <span style="color: white;"><b><span style="background: #0b305c;">Joash</span></b></span> take
up the arrows, he said, “Smite upon the ground.” Thrice the king
smote the ground, <span style="color: white;"><b><span style="background: #0b305c;">and</span></b></span> then
he stayed his hand. “Thou shouldest have smitten five or six
times,” <span style="color: white;"><b><span style="background: #0b305c;">Elisha</span></b></span> exclaimed
in dismay; “then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed
it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.”<span style="color: green;">2
Kings 13:15-19</span>. <span style="color: #bb146e;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">{PK
262.1}</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">The lesson is
for all in positions of trust. When God opens the way for the
accomplishment of a certain work and gives assurance of success, the
chosen instrumentality must do all in his power to bring about the
promised result. In proportion to the enthusiasm and perseverance
with which the work is carried forward will be the success given. God
can work miracles for His people only as they act their part with
untiring energy. He calls for men of devotion to His work, men of
moral courage, with ardent love for souls, and with a zeal that never
flags. Such workers will find no task too arduous, no prospect too
hopeless; they will labor on, undaunted, until apparent defeat is
turned into glorious victory. Not even prison walls nor the martyr’s
stake beyond, will cause them to swerve from their purpose of
laboring together with God for the upbuilding of His kingdom.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;">The
story with Jesus, the two men and the stones is a lesson in the two
types of Christians. </span><span style="font-size: small;">They
each carryout what </span><span style="font-size: small;">o</span><span style="font-size: small;">ur
master has asked, but one does it to the least degree he can </span><span style="font-size: small;">to</span><span style="font-size: small;">
get away with, the other does to the fullest extent he can </span><span style="font-size: small;">and
eagerly, with Courage and perseverance</span><span style="font-size: small;">,
</span><span style="font-size: small;">because
of his love for the Master.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> John
was carrying </span><span style="font-size: small;">out</span><span style="font-size: small;">
without question, willingly his masters wish, but he did so
halfheartedly, and nary had enough food to suffice for his lunch. So
out of the generosity of his heart, Samuel shared his bread with
John. Now when the Master asked again to choose a stone and carry it
with them, John chose a larger stone, thinking the same pattern would
occur as previously, and Samuel chose the same stone as he had the
first time. </span><span style="font-size: small;">When
they came to the water, Jesus told them to throw the stones in. </span></span>
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 15pt;"><span style="font-size: small;"> How
do the actions of these two men pertain to us? What should our
reaction be in similar instances? </span><span style="font-size: small;">Do
we have the courage to pick up a large stone in faith, and the
perseverance to carry it with us? Or will we be weak and lazily in
doing what our duty is. Even though John did as the master said, He
suffered from the consequences. Samuel chose each rock, not knowing
the consequences.</span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This
is my prayer for us all, that we would have the courage and
perseverance, as well as faith, to carryout complete heartedly, the
masters plan.</span></div>
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: small;">As
it has been said before, Christianity is not a crutch, it is a cross.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-18532689236572958342013-01-13T10:46:00.001-08:002013-01-13T10:46:52.165-08:00The missing link?We have found evolutions missing link. It's between the ears.<br />
<br />
In most peoples minds they may have noticed that common sense has drastically diminished in the last couple generations, and many people have become dependent on government, supporting them verbally in what ever way they can hoping to get money do they wont have to support themselves. <br />
The true reality is that our government is taking away our freedom, our right to protect ourselves, our right of choice that was given to us by God. The Government can put us in chains and restrictions but They can't take away what God has given us.<br />
Some wish we could just get into the wars and terribles of the end days, get over them so we can go to heaven. But that isn't so, we have a work to do. Jesus can't come until the true people of God have done the work of evangelizing, Spreading the gospel to the world, bringing the light to the individuals searching For Christ. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWLU181cAMDYHH3u4bWZqLrlokRQhhi60PE5tsHAR9MuR6b6lcKOtbHnrLuRgwOqX7tpUciA8G30DvpfHrSG21eS2zxQlOlBHV0S3JG0RH0zIhyphenhyphenRE-ar0K3CJyUuNrTK4WSVczSWymVM/s640/blogger-image-960561826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglWLU181cAMDYHH3u4bWZqLrlokRQhhi60PE5tsHAR9MuR6b6lcKOtbHnrLuRgwOqX7tpUciA8G30DvpfHrSG21eS2zxQlOlBHV0S3JG0RH0zIhyphenhyphenRE-ar0K3CJyUuNrTK4WSVczSWymVM/s640/blogger-image-960561826.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-35419596493322983492012-12-29T09:22:00.001-08:002012-12-29T09:22:17.350-08:005 commandment“Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” – {PP 308.1}<br />
Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no other person. God Himself, who has placed upon them a responsibility for the souls committed to their charge, has ordained that during the earlier years of life, parents shall stand in the place of God to their children. And he who rejects the rightful authority of his parents is rejecting the authority of God. The fifth commandment requires children not only to yield respect, submission, and obedience to their parents, but also to give them love and tenderness, to lighten their cares, to guard their reputation, and to succor and comfort them in old age. It also enjoins respect for ministers and rulers and for all others to whom God has delegated authority. – {PP 308.2}<br />
This, says the apostle, “is the first commandment with promise.” Ephesians 6:2. To Israel, expecting soon to enter Canaan, it was a pledge to the obedient, of long life in that good land; but it has a wider meaning, including all the Israel of God, and promising eternal life upon the earth when it shall be freed from the curse of sin. – {PP 308.3}Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6306302728465112581.post-28932971006519737812012-12-28T19:53:00.001-08:002012-12-28T19:53:53.978-08:00Stand on the rockWhen a person asks me, Where do you stand?<br />
I can answer and say, <br />
I don't stand on the fence, or on a bridge, no I don't stand in the middle. I don't stand for greedy government, nor do I stand for thoughtless or careless people or the majority. I stand on the Rock, a solid place that never moves; The safest place in this world. I stand upon the Bible and stand for its purposes and truths.<br />
I stand upon the rock That is Jesus. Now I ask, Where do you stand? <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeI237BRDtg7UmAV0Ah18nKcpF_twY99SkPmkW4HXBVzFxBukQMGl62joiI9ELFcCqpx8uisInb4VfqNfowCQpheuiqE3boGxgzMNRAc0rEkNuefiLgt_1wvXBw6t8MT5wNKDYCOjv7M/s640/blogger-image--136341364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdeI237BRDtg7UmAV0Ah18nKcpF_twY99SkPmkW4HXBVzFxBukQMGl62joiI9ELFcCqpx8uisInb4VfqNfowCQpheuiqE3boGxgzMNRAc0rEkNuefiLgt_1wvXBw6t8MT5wNKDYCOjv7M/s640/blogger-image--136341364.jpg" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13809187528705021416noreply@blogger.com0