Beware Of These Scammers. Sabbath afternoon 08/29/2026

2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

These last days, in which we are living currently are described as perilous times, and the designation has been given for several reasons. The Christian in our day will have to fend off multiple assaults on several different fronts, as things take a turn for the worse, as our first passages declare.

It is not only salvific issues we have to pay attention to, for we are living in an evil world, and while time lasts, we will need to learn how to adapt to an ever- changing landscape. The Scripture tells us that the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed.

By this statement and others found in the Bible, we are not to expect this war to take place only on the spiritual level, with issues like the Sabbath, and the state of the dead. When the prince of darkness was permitted to make war on Job, he did not test him on the Sabbath, or on the natural immortality of the soul.

Instead, the bulk of his assaults were on temporal or social aspects of life, such as Job’s income, his family and his savings accounts. Job’s wife didn’t buckle on the Sabbath, neither did Mrs. Lot. It was the issue of temporal and social interests that caused them both to buckle under the heavy load.

Ananias and his wife Sapphira were not tested on the 27 fundamental doctrines, neither was Achan, and in most of the fumbles which took place in the wilderness with the Hebrews, it was temporal things that did them in.

You and I are no different, for the boogey man will also try his best to destabilize the remnant people of God in temporal and social interests, as a means of getting them to bow down on spiritual things.

In fact, most of those who will apostatize from the truth in the future will have previously accepted the Sabbath and the Biblical teaching on the state of the dead. Again, the prince of darkness first approached Christ in the wilderness on the issue of food, hence the reason why the mark of the beast is more about food, than one’s belief in the Sabbath. Let’s read:

Revelation 12: 17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Christians in bygone years did not have to deal with, artificial intelligence and fake impersonations, as we have to. Yes, there has always been much fraud, and deception ever since there was a devil.

But with the invention of the number of online tools at your disposal, together with the apps, and other electronic devices, fraud, scams and deception have been taken to a whole new level that prophets and saints of former years might not have envisioned.

Right here in the Sunshine State, we’ve been stuck in the number two position when it comes to fraud and scams, which target the elderly and the unwary in many ways. And with those advances in artificial intelligence, things have gotten much worse than in days gone by.

Added to this conundrum, there are several persons in authority who have been stirring the pot of fraud with spoons of deceptive arts, and as a direct result, there is a trickle-down effect that is accelerating as we speak, for as they say, “monkey see, monkey do”

Thus, The Lord would have His people be wise, and intelligent concerning the dangers and pitfalls of the last days, because, if you think things are bad now, just wait until all of those A.I. centers become well established across the land, and what we are seeing now will be as a walk in the park, to what will come next.

Artificial intelligence now allows persons to do real time impersonations, not only with voice and accent but also with apparently real live persons. It is a fact that more and more advertisements you see on the television, are filled with fake people who have their origination in artificial intelligence.

One notable production took place recently where several dogs got lost and were found by a passerby, who then filmed them heading back to their homes.

It was later discovered that the entire episode was a fake, the dogs were fake, the road they walking on was fake, the vehicles passing by, with apparently live passengers were fake, and the entire story was a hoax.

It was all generated by artificial intelligence and the deception was only discovered after it had racked up millions of views online. Things have gotten so bad that the real movie stars are finding themselves having to license their image and voice, so as not to go out of business entirely.

Some of the big names include James Earl Jones of Darth Vader fame, and Michael Caine, the estate of John Wayne, and Matthew McConaughey, just to name a few. Big name movies that have employed A.I include Terminator 2 and 3, Robo Cop, Star trek, The Matrix, The day the earth stood still, Total recall and Heart of stone.

The technology is also being employed by many bad actors, as they hone their scamming skills using the upgraded tools which artificial intelligence affords. You now have fake grandchildren actually calling the grandparents, saying that they have been stranded somewhere in never land, and need money to come home.

Then there are scams mimicking fake emergencies, targeting seniors and other persons. Then there are calls of fraud alerts, coming from apparently valid financial institutions, and there are scams targeting the lonely and singles, who are searching for some companionship.

One person in the intelligence community was once asked, how many people have been hacked in the U.S. His answer was grim as he stated that there are two categories of persons who have been hacked, those who know, and those who don’t know.

The problem of scamming is currently a multibillion-dollar industry, and the remnant in our day will have to awaken to the stark realities on the ground. The state of Florida has removed, and continues to find hundreds of skimmers at gas stations, which inflict real pain at the pump.

There are also thousands upon thousands of cases where fake emails, text messages, and telephone numbers, mimicking real businesses and banks are employed to lure persons into handing over their personal information, which is then used to open accounts in the person’s name, or is sold on the dark web.

Scammers also personate the IRS, Medicare and the Social Security administration, they claim to be from police departments, from big department stores or from insurance companies, and they often employ aggressive tactics, using fear, intimidation and even the threat of arrests, or confiscation of assets, as a way to bully persons into sharing valuable info.

These scammers are now using A.I voice cloning to perfectly replicate a person’s voice, including accent and tone, if the victim happens to be Caribbean. In a most recent and brazen attempt one impersonator, pretending to be White House Chief of Staff, Susie Wiles exchanged text messages with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

Then there are the sweepstakes and lottery scams, where you have apparently won a truck load of cash but you will have to pay a fee up front in order to receive the prize, which never comes in the mail, or you are required to hand over personal information before receiving the funds.

There are certain things we must be cognizant of if we are to fend off multiple assaults from the prince of darkness during the last days of earth’s history, and we are not to think ourselves invulnerable to his devices. Not because persons believe in God does it mean that you will not or cannot get scammed.

All of earth’s inhabitants are warned in the Bible of a devil gone wild, and according to the Scriptures, his diabolical efforts will be focused on the remnant who keep the commandments of God. Thus, we are to step up to the challenges as they emerge, even as we trust in God for His guidance and direction. Let’s read:

Revelation 12: 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath, because he knows that he hath but a short time.

[7 LTMS, LT 30a, 1892, Par 14] Satan has a thousand masked batteries which will be opened upon the loyal, commandment-keeping people of God to compel them to violate conscience. Guardians will rob orphans and widows of their just dues.

Men will take to themselves property to which they have no right. The words of the apostle will be verified in the near future: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”

One of the prominent scams that will become more commonplace, and widespread is the one which is structured to appeal to your feelings and sympathy. If you would notice, there are multiple destructions taking place globally and right here at home. There are fires and floods and earthquakes and hurricanes and landslides tornadoes, and severe heat waves

Persons will genuinely need help, and the Christian is expected by God to step up to the plate and offer assistance when appeals for help are made. Special reserve funds will be needed because of the many dangers, and emergencies that are coming upon the planet, and we should not sit idly by with our hands folded, as persons go over the cliff.

However, even in the exercise of benevolences you will need God’s guidance and direction, because the scammers will appeal to your sympathies, and if you do not form the habit of praying about everything it will just be a matter of time before you will be taken in the snare of the devil.

This leads us into our study for today, in which we will discover that even the most-godly men are not immune from these scammers. Joshua was a godly man, and he got scammed, as persons appealed to his tender sympathies.

As the Gibeonites plotted their strategy, they used a familiar line of reasoning that would move Joshua to make a commitment that he would greatly regret in the future. In fact, they swore by a solemn oath to fulfill their pledge, even as they were outraged at the scammers, because a vow is a vow, if it is made unto God. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 5:2 Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon the earth: therefore, let thy words be few.

3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words.

5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Whenever an appeal is made on a corporate level, you can give to ADRA, your local church, and to any person that is found to be genuinely in need, for this is the law and the prophets.

However, if you were to get a call from an unknown person out of the blue who says that they and their families are suffering as the result of some natural disaster, that’s a call to prayer. The appeal shouldn’t be discredited outright, but take it to God in prayer, so that errors in judgement could be avoided.

This is what Joshua and the Hebrews failed to do for they took the story of those scammers at face value, and because it was a good thing to do, they failed to pray and ask God. Here is where the Christian might be vulnerable, because, the notion that you do not have to pray about something that is good is false.

When in proverbs chapter 3, it says in all thy ways acknowledge Him, it means exactly that, in all thy ways. We should not only take the suspect things, but also those circumstances that seem kosher to your conscience, for God can see things up ahead that we may not see, and thus, He is able to guide us with wisdom, understanding and prudence. Let’s read:

Joshua 9: 3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and

old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.

6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, we be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.

8 And they said unto Joshua, we are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, who are you? and from whence come you?

9 And they said unto him, from a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is moldy:

13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.

18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.

19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, we have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.

22 And Joshua called for them, and he spoke unto them saying, wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, we are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?

23 Now therefore you are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.

If Joshua, who was loaded with The Holy Spirit could get scammed, you and I are no different, and thus, it is imperative as he head into unchartered waters for us to do our due diligence, wherever we can, for it is not the will of God that His people should suffer by the hands of satan’s agents, if it can be avoided.

The following therefore are concrete, practical steps you could take to try and preempt the unfortunate situation from happening. The instructions are not a 100% guarantee but they are the very least that you can, and should do, wherever possible.

[1] If you get an urgent call from someone you do not know and the caller presses you on some urgent matter that needs redress right away, that usually is a red flag that should put you on alert for these scammers.

Especially if they claim to be calling from your bank or other financial institution, and are requesting the most sensitive information such as checking account numbers, credit card numbers, driver’s license, and social security numbers.

Your financial institution already has those numbers and it is very unlikely that they will request them. If in doubt, hang up and call the 1-800 number on the back of your card, but under no circumstances must anyone give out personal sensitive data to unknown individuals.

[2] Beware of tactics such as urgency, where you are pressured to act immediately, in order to avoid an arrest, or to stop additional fraud from happening. It might be better to be arrested, than to have all your information in the hands of these scammers, being sold on the dark web.

[3] Beware of suggestions to keep the matter secret such as not telling you bank, or even your spouse or other family members of the issue. A request for the utmost secrecy is a definite red flag, for if you are in some type of trouble, your family and your bank are the first ones who should know about it.

[4] The demand for unusual payment methods such as Crypto, wire transfers cash and gift cards. Be very careful about clicking on links coming from any text message, E-mail, especially if they are unsolicited. If the unknown individual asks for your password, or your signature, that is usually a sign to flee.

[5] Caller I.D. in an age of artificial intelligence. The scammers could cause your financial institution’s number to actually appear on your caller I.D. If this is the case, hang up and call the institution directly and ask to speak to a real person, before doing any transaction.

[6] Last but not least, it is becoming more and more critically important for us to lead a consistent prayer life because if our hearts and minds are in tune with The Lord’s, He’ll be able to give us a heads-up more readily, than if our prayer life is generic.

It’s not that He isn’t speaking, the question is are we listening for His voice throughout the day, and in our everyday experiences. God is a Spirit, and the habits of regular earnest prayer and study of His word puts the mind in a mode in which the still small voice can be heard more readily. Let’s read:

Proverbs 3: 4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

Isaiah 30: 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

Especially will this be the case more and more as we head into unprecedented times, where temptations and trials of no ordinary character will be coming in from all angles and directions. In fact, there will be some situations and emergencies, where you would need God to direct you, as to what course of action to pursue.

If we habitually seek His face earnestly, God is able to reach us directly in ways that we will recognize as His voice. It might be through His providences, or it may be by His direct intervention, but we have the assurance, that He will not leave us to suffer at the hands of evil men and seducers, if we diligently seek Him.

There are temptations that are permitted to come to the Christian on occasion, but more frequently a person can invite temptation by having their guard down. Walking and living in the Spirit will make the mind much more sensitive to His voice.

We are living in increasingly perilous times, and now more than ever, we should ask The Lord to clothe us with the armory of heaven, even from the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet, so that the varied assaults and incursions of the prince of darkness or his agents could be averted, wherever it is the will of God.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which will help us to stay in tune with God throughout the day, for it is His will that all be well informed as to how we can live victoriously, both now and into the future. Let’s read:

Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Therefore take unto you the whole armor of God that you may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

                                      God Bless!

How To Disarm Prejudice. Sabbath afternoon 08/22/2026

Prejudice

Cambridge Dictionary: An unfair and unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge. It also means disliking a group of people for no good reason, or having an irrational dislike or hostile view of a person based on their race, religion, gender or age.

We are living in an age where prejudice is now being exercised against peoples, ethnic groups, and folks who have originated from different countries, and, just as Cambridge Dictionary stated, in many cases, there is no valid reason for harboring such a hostile view against those who are at the receiving end of the stick.

Entire communities are being prejudiced against, as hostile views are cultivated with unfounded rumors, and manipulation of the facts. It is worthy of note that the Cambridge dictionary also suggests that the hostile views against certain races, and religions are often formed without a knowledge of the facts.

In other instances, it is just the result of deeply held hatred against certain groups of people, for no valid reason. It is a very sad and regrettable situation we find ourselves in, but this the reality we are living in.

Thus, the Christian who chooses to serve The Lord, according to the dictates of conscience will also find himself or herself on the receiving end of prejudices which are meritless, and as such, it is something we will have to confront and deal with, sooner or later, in a godly manner.

We are living in very volatile times, and there is the growing tendency to get riled up or ticked off at the injustices and cruelties that are being meted out to the less fortunate daily. Now, while it’s Scriptural for the Christian to have righteous indignation, we must exercise wisdom and Godly prudence, when dealing with the issue of prejudice.

Injustices and warranted cruelties to any member of the human family should bother the Christian, for if it does not disturb the conscience, it means that the work of salvation, which makes us sensitive to right and wrong has stalled out.

What the Christians does about it is another matter, but the knowledge of grave injustices should bother you. If we live aloof from the realities on the ground and if we encase ourselves in our little cocoon, then we could become isolated, insulated, and tone deaf to the suffering of our neighbors next door.

The good Samaritan was not only deeply bothered by the cruelty and injustice he had seen, just like the Levite and the priest who also beheld the wounded man, he also took positive steps to try and mitigate the situation and he alleviated the suffering, in that stranger whom he did not know.

The religion of Christ will never make the Christian indifferent to suffering humanity. Instead, it ought to awaken sympathy and empathy, and move us to take positive Biblical steps to help out in whatever ways we can, not only by our prayers, but by ways and means that God approves of.

The religion of Christ is a hands-on experience, for it calls into active exercise our tenderest sympathies in the everyday trials and tribulations of everyday folk. That’s why God makes special mention of those who are bothered in their minds by evils that are done in the land. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 9: 4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.

The ways in which we deal with volatile situations involving prejudice of any sort, would determine the outcome which in turn would determine whether or not God would be glorified or dishonored by actions taken and words that are spoken.

The Christian living in this current environment will have to learn how to keep his cool under prejudice, and the craving for justice, or the desire for revenge will have to be controlled and relinquished in some circumstances, so that the beauty of truth and the radiance of a Christlike character will shine through.

The reason for this is that situations can spin out of control very quickly if one’s raw nerves are touched, especially on the issue of unjust racial biases, which has become deeply rooted in the national psyche in some instances.

The Scripture teaches us that we should not suffer as evil doers, but if folks suffer, because of our faith, that is noteworthy. So, there will be times when you might have to grit your teeth and pray like you never prayed before while you behold situations unfolding that may be very difficult to watch.

There is a godly way to disarm prejudice, and there is an ungodly way to deal with it. The principles, ways and means that persons adopt, or subscribe to will reveal who is seated on the throne of the heart.

Some persons believe that the only way to disarm prejudice is with a baseball bat, a machete, a sword, and a bullet. Others track, what might seem to be a different course, by harboring rage and deep hatred and resentment in silence, while others might speak out against it.

The Christian has to be very careful of the ways and means he or she will adopt, for it can trigger victory or defeat in the conflict with the powers of darkness as was the case with Peter. It is one of satan’s most successful strategies to tick you off for reasons that may seem to be valid, or that are actually valid.

He did succeed in ticking Moses off, just before he entered the promised land. He also ticked off David in the wilderness, as great injustice and ingratitude was done to him and his men. He ticked off John, and his brother James, for what seemed like a valid reason, when the Samaritans refused to let Christ pass through their town.

He ticked off the apostle Paul, and Barnabas when they had a bitter argument between themselves in so much that they had to part ways. And the prince of darkness also succeeded in ticking of the entire conference when they had that first meeting in Acts chapter 15. Let’s read:

Acts 15: 37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other: and so, Barnabas took Mark, and sailed unto Cyprus.

You and I are not any different, and even though we may sit in church looking all nice and cute, beware, lest he also tick you off and cause you to blow a fuse in the public square, and thus, bring reproach upon the cause of Christ.

Disarming prejudice in a godly manner is something the you and me in the here and now will have to be accustomed to because very difficult days are ahead for all those who will refuse to bow. In fact, the days of earth’s final conflict for the true Christ will be the same as they were for Jacob, who was targeted with prejudice by his brother Esau.

Remember, the meaning of the word prejudice, as is rendered by Cambridge dictionary means: An unfair or unreasonable opinion or feeling, especially when formed without enough thought or knowledge.

This leads us into our study for today, because Esau had formed an unreasonable prejudice, opinion and feeling about his brother, without enough thought or knowledge, just like the meaning of the word in the Cambridge dictionary.

Jacob had spent many years in exile, and during that time he had become a changed man through God’s grace. Since the time when he fled for his life he has been baptized, and is now an elder in the church in good and regular standing, but Esau apparently did not know this.

As far as Esau knows, it’s the same old crook coming back to his old tricks of wheeling and dealing and as far as Esau is concerned, he will have none of it. He has had it up to here with Jacob, and now it is time for justice to be served. These were Esau’s thoughts of prejudice.

Thus, Esau, who had harbored hatred, and revenge for the birthright he had sold to Jacob, wasn’t in any good mood, when he learned of Jacob’s approach. All of the bad feelings and animosities he cherished for years in his heart now sprung up, and bore fruit in actions that were akin to getting even.

Jacob, knowing that he himself had practiced fraud in obtaining the birthright, was filled with reproach and remorse for the course of action he had taken, and thus, in order to preempt any malice on Esau’s part, he now takes positive remedial steps to cool down his brother’s frayed nerves.

Not only does he pray, but he does all that he can to avert the mortal threat that was heading his way. He uses words like lord, and servant, in referring to his relationship to Esau, he being the servant, and Esau being the lord, so that, if at all possible, kind words may head off what could turn into a very volatile or deadly situation. Let’s read:

Genesis 32:3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.

4 And he commanded them, saying, thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; your servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now.

5 And I have oxen, asses, flocks, and menservants, and women-servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

The phrases “My lord Esau” and “Your servant Jacob speak volumes of a man in contrition, who does not want to ruffle any feathers, a man who is also willing to avoid trouble at all costs, because of previous misconceptions, skirmishes, misunderstandings, and actual misdeeds that were done in former years.

Jacob also goes a step further by basically telling his brother that he now very rich. Now, why would he tell his brother this? He speaks like this to show that he will not be a threat to Esau’s prosperity, if for any reason prejudice in his brother’s heart may have led Esau to believe that Jacob was coming back to claim his share of the pie in the will that his parents made.

At this point, we have a bit of bad news for you, for Jacob’s efforts fell on deaf ears and instead of peace he is now facing the prospect of annihilation from a family member who is bent on revenge. Let’s read:

Genesis 32:6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, we came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.

7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;

8 And said, If Esau comes to the one company, and smites it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

There are times when soothing words do not do the trick and you just might have to go one step further in disarming prejudice. When you have a ticked off family member on your heels, you might have to go over and beyond to try to allay their concerns, even if those concerns might be unwarranted.

Sometimes, the family member may not know that you are a changed person, and thus, like Jacob, you may have to do things that you wouldn’t usually do under different circumstances. Thus, Jacob ups the game, and he determines to send several presents to his brother Esau, to show him that he really isn’t a threat to his prosperity.

According to the narrative, Jacob now goes to the nearest ATM, and he withdraws a bucket load of cash to send to Esau. He also sends Esau a number of valuable Crypto currencies and stable coins, and he divides them up into several distinct gifts, so that Esau will get the message, that he wants peace and not war.

Observe carefully how Jacob divides up the gifts and how he goes to great lengths to space them out for he is trying his best to disarm Esau’s prejudice with multiple rounds of kindnesses and contrite words.

In other words, Jacob is trying his best to make the deepest impression on Esau’s mind, that he has no bad intentions or malice in his heart, and instead he desires reconciliation, not confrontation by showing him great favor. In today’s U.S currency, Jacob sent over half a million dollars in gifts to avoid the threat of confrontation. Let’s read:

Genesis 32: 13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;

14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,

15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.

16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, pass over before me, and put a space between drove and drove.

17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meets you, and asks you, saying, whose art thou? and where goest thou? and whose are these before thee?

18 Then thou shalt say, they be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.

19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, on this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.

20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.

However, try as he might, Esau is not buying it and he is still on his way, determined as ever to revenge the birthright which Jacob had duped his father into giving him. There are times when try as you might, you cannot get a family member off your back even after you have done your very best in speaking kind Christlike words, and parting with several crypto in an effort to make peace.

There are some folks who do not respond favorably to kindness, because the thirst for revenge prevents them from seeing your genuine efforts at making reconciliation. Thus, in order to get that proverbial monkey off your back, you will have to turn to God alone, if peradventure He may see fit to send you a Cherub to solve your problem.

This is what Jacob had to do, for all of his efforts to appease Esau had fallen on deaf ears, and therefore, in sheer desperation, he withdraws into his closet to have a serious talk with God. God then responds in the positive, and He sends a Cherub to shake down Esau from his high horse of prejudice.

There are times when you would have to leave your situation in God’s hands, for only He can deliver you from certain perilous circumstances, and since He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we can trust Him to do what He does best. Let’s read:

Genesis 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which said unto me Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff, I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.

11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

26 And he said, let me go, for the day is breaking. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

27 And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said, Jacob.

28 And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

29 And Jacob asked him, and said, tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, wherefore is it that you ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

Apparently, the real fight was with God and not with Esau, because Jacob needed the full and complete surrender of his will to God. When Christ met him in battle at the river Jabbok, Jacob did what most of us would do in a similar situation, which is to try and choke the assailant. Thus, the question is: Have we ever fought with The Lord and prevailed?

The word ish (אִישׁ) in Hebrew means man. The word רַע (ra) in Hebrew means evil, and the word El (אֵל) in Hebrew means God. Thus, you will have Ish-Ra El or Israel, meaning that God reaches over the abyss of Ra, (Evil) which has separated God from man, and Christ takes our hand to save us by His power alone, from ourselves as well as from Esau and his hosts, or his ghosts.

If the story had ended there, we would have praised The Lord and gone our merry way rejoicing, but we came across something that is worthy of our utmost consideration. Apparently, the story isn’t only about Jacob, it is about us, who are living today, who may have to pass through similar circumstances. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 618] As Satan influenced Esau to march against Jacob, so he will stir up the wicked to destroy God’s people in the time of trouble. And as he accused Jacob, he will urge his accusations against the people of God. If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete.

[The Great Controversy pp 618] Jacob’s night of anguish, when he wrestled in prayer for deliverance from the hand of Esau, represents the experience of God’s people in the time of trouble. Yet he leaves nothing undone on his own part to atone for the wrong to his brother, and to avert the threatened danger.

So should the followers of Christ, as they approach the time of trouble, make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger which threatens liberty of conscience.

The question is: What should the remnant people of God be doing to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to Disarm Prejudice? Like old Jacob, is it possible that they too may have to go to the ATM, or would they in some special cases find it necessary to shell out some Bitcoin and Crypto, as Jacob found it necessary to do?

Christians who remain trapped in debt, or who are caught up in the vicious cycle of credit, would find it necessary, sooner or later, to place themselves in a proper light before the people to disarm the type of prejudice that will be coming our way.

The beast of Revelation 13 and 14 should not find us riddled with irreconcilable debt, owing the IRS, and being late on payments that are due for that will put persons in a very compromised position, where the beast will view persons as a liability, not an asset.

If the beast views certain Christians as a liability, let it be for spiritual reasons, but not because we didn’t do our due diligence in temporal matters. When the princes of Babylon exercised prejudice against the prophet Daniel, the only problem they could find in him was prayer.

But in all other temporal matters, Daniel came out flawless, for he was not found habitually late on his payments, he was not in arrears with his landlord, and his electric bill and water bill were all on time.

In addition to this, in his political life, he did not tell any lies, he did not embezzle the public funds for his personal gain, and his immediate family members were not found to be beneficiaries of policies that he put in place as president, for he was faithful both in private and public life. Let’s read:

Daniel 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom a hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.

3 Then Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.

4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault; because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

In other words, Daniel disarmed prejudice, so that if the other officials insisted on finding fault with him, it would be with his religion, not the temporal issues some Christians in our day so often stumble on.

If Daniel was found to be unfaithful on a horizontal level, very great reproach would have been brought upon the cause of God, and he most likely would’ve buckled under the heavy load of guilt. At this time it is fitting that we observe again that statement made by the servant of The Lord, for it applies to all who are preparing for crunch time. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 618] The followers of Christ, as they approach the time of trouble, should make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger which threatens liberty of conscience.

Now it’s high time that we get our act together, now is the time to tie up all loose ends, to try and mend all broken relationships, and the axe that you might have to grind with fellow members of the church, is to be addressed and put to rest, before crunch time comes around.

The reason for this is that at that time, many former members of the remnant church will be used by the prince of darkness to stir up prejudice or animosity against the faithful, in an effort to bring them down to their level.  

Remember, Esau was Jacob’s brother, they went to the same church, sat in the same Sabbath school, and received the same religious instruction from a God-fearing father and mother. Consider carefully what is being said, because sacred history has a way of repeating itself. Let’s read:

Matthew 10: 36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

[Last Day Events pp 156] We have far more to fear from within than from without. Unbelievers have a right to expect that those who profess to be keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, will do more than any other class to promote and honor, by consistent lives, by their godly example and their active influence, the cause which they represent.

[The Great Controversy pp 608] 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.

Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren.

When Sabbath-keepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them.

God is more practical and down to earth in all of the instructions He gives us therefore, if there are issues that need to be addressed and resolved, whether in the temporal, spiritual, social or financial realm, the time is now when persons should appropriate those instructions given, lest in the time of testing, we are weighed in the balances, and found wanting.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which should help us better understand the urgency of the moment, and we hope and pray that God will make the rough places plain as we cooperate with Him, so that He may be glorified in His peculiar people Let’s read:

Romans 13: 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

                                      God Bless!

The Countdown To Midnight. Sabbath afternoon 08/15/2026

Matthew 24: 15>16 When you therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whosoever reads, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.

For very many years we’ve been hearing that Jesus is coming soon. Some have preached it and haven’t witnessed the event, but have passed on. Others in our day believe it, while some wonder how soon is soon. Even though as Christians we should not live by time lines, the predicted event would eventually take place, in the fulness of time.

God’s plans know no haste or delay and therefore, He bids us live in readiness, because the event will occur at a time when most people are not expecting it. The first passage we read in Matthew was Christ’s response to three questions posed by His disciples, after He predicted the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem which, at that time was the pride and joy of the nation.

When Jesus told them that it would be razed to the ground, they were taken aback, and the questions which followed were a reflection of the surprise and consternation they experienced at His predictions. It was a threefold question they asked and the answer Christ gave them has a twofold meaning. Let’s read:

Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to him for to shew him the buildings of the temple.

2 And Jesus said unto them, see you not all these things? verily I say unto you, there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Christ then gave them the specific sign to look for so that they would know for sure, when the event was just around the corner. They were to look out for the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet. And when they beheld that sign, they were to flee immediately with no delay.

They were not to try to put their houses in order as the sign was being fulfilled, they were not to try to tie up loose ends, neither were they to try to sell their homes in haste, in a sort of fire sale. They were to leave immediately, with only the clothes on their backs.

That is how urgent and serious the instruction was, and if any were to defer obedience for any reason, they would be consumed in the conflagration that was scheduled to engulf the city.

Sometimes the instructions or commands God gives in an emergency might seem quite difficult for some individuals to obey, especially to the logical thinking mind, but it would be of the utmost importance for us to obey promptly.

When the Hebrews were scheduled to leave Egypt, in the wee hours of the morning, they did not have time to sell their homes. They were then instructed to eat the Passover in haste, with their sandals and their Jordans on, and thus, they left a lot of stuff behind, furniture, cars, and the whole nine yards.  Let’s read:

Matthew 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso reads, let him understand:)

16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house.

18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

Some Christians, in anticipation of Jesus’ given sign were free to move out before, if they chose to, but if they decided to stay until the sign was fulfilled, it would have become necessary to flee immediately, without looking back, very similar to that urgent command given to Lot and his wife to leave Sodom.

When the command was given for Lot and his wife to flee, their various investments and their temporal interests had to be left unattended. To put it plainly in today’s vernacular, their Bitcoin, and investments on Wall Street, which were scheduled for maturity at some future date, had to be left hanging in limbo because there was no time left to wind them down.

There are not many Christians who could, or would obey a sudden command like that, because to turn your back at such a short notice on all that you have worked for all your life, can prove to be much more than some persons could handle.

That’s the reason why so many of the Hebrews kept looking back at their life in Egypt, because, bad as it was, they had sunk their roots quite deeply into the Egyptian economy, and as they would reminisce in retrospect, murmuring, and complaining began to arise.

Some remnant Christians will find it difficult to wind down operations and businesses in the final conflict, because they have sunk their roots so deep into the various ventures and investments that are on the menu today. There is nothing wrong with investing, but just remember, if for some reason you have to leave suddenly, this world is not our home.

Again, in the anticipation of the given sign in our day some believers might choose to relocate before the big one hits, but if some choose to remain until the sign is right upon us, then they may have to prepare to leave in haste, without looking back.

In our day, every sign given in the Bible, pointing to the coming abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet is currently taking place and thus there is only one more shoe to drop.

As we study the signs given, pointing to the coming of the abomination of desolation, we ought to ask ourselves: How soon is soon? Is it some time, in the distant future, or is it in the near future? Let’s read:

Matthew 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must  come to pass, but the end is not yet.

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in different places.

Let us break down the signs, and as we do, try your best to avoid burying your heads in the sand. When Jesus predicts that “Many” shall come in His name, saying I am Christ” that’s not only a reference to the great final deception by the prince of darkness, who is scheduled to make literal appearances worldwide.

It is also a reference to the many preachers and the many televangelists who all claim to be preaching of Christ, when in fact the greater majority by far, have not been sent by Him. For a person to come in Jesus’ name simply means that they claim to be sent by God, when indeed this may not be the case.

Then again you have the sign of “Wars and rumors of wars”. Not only are there several wars currently taking place at the same time, but you also have the rumors of war swirling around. On numerous recent occasions, threats have been made to obliterate Iran, but those threats turned out to be only rumors.

There are more than 120 wars, and armed conflicts taking place in the world currently and there’s much social unrest and upheaval taking place in different parts of the earth. Thus, just as The Lord predicted, there are wars and rumors of wars that are running concurrently now.

Again, Jesus declares that nations shall rise against nations, and that is also taking place as we speak. Russia has risen against Ukraine, and vice versa. In the Middle east, Israel, Palestinians and Hezbollah, have risen against each other, in what has turned out to be a tit for tat ongoing conflict with no end in sight.

The Houthis in Yemen have risen against countries in the region, and Somalians have risen against the rebels of Al Shabab, and there are ongoing conflicts between several countries and there are factions, in Cameroon, Sudan, Venezuela, Mozambique, and in Haiti.

Therefore, when Christ says that nations shall rise against nations, we are living it currently in the here and now. Again, the prophecy states that there will be famine which is very often the result of drought, or a lack of water.

At the same time all of the previous signs are being fulfilled, Lake Mead and Lake Powell, which are fed by the Colorado river, are running dangerously low, in so much that both of them are at their lowest point since they were first filled, sitting at 27% and 23% respectively, of their full capacity.

States are looking at the very real possibility of the hydro electric powerplants that are being fed by the Colorado river, may have to be taken offline, if there is no change in the issues of replenishing the dams, such as abundant rainfall, snow melt, and snow pack.

In Europe, some ski resorts have had to close, since there wasn’t enough snow to make business viable. And across the entire globe, rivers and water assets are diminishing at an alarming pace, with no end in sight.

This will of course trigger significant ripple effects for farmers and ranchers who depend on water for livestock and grain. Millions upon millions of people across the world are suffering acute hunger as the result of the lack of water, and the wildfires at home and abroad are just symptoms of a world gone wild.

In fact, the deadly wildfires in Europe and across the United States and Canada and also in different parts of the earth, represent the fulfilment of prophecies, regardless of what the cause may be. In the book of Isaiah in particular, he specifies that great heat will be one of the signs of the last days.

Therefore, whether it be because of global warming or climate change, whether it be because of arsons, or any other manmade causes, the fact remains that an increasingly heated environment will continue to characterize the days that lead to the establishment of the abomination of desolation, which is spoken of by Daniel the prophet. Let’s read:

Isaiah 4: 6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

Isaiah 24: 5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Then again, the prophecy states that there will be earthquakes in different places, an undeniable fact of the here and now. So far for this year, there have been about 77 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 and greater, not to mention the one that took place recently in Colombia while we were writing out this Bible study.

And we can go on and on and on, but since we are not to focus on the negatives too much, we will say that to any rational thinking person, the predictions given in Matthew 24 are lining up with the realities on the ground and therefore, we cannot, and should not reason away the fact that end time prophecies are being fulfilled.

Another sign that is given in the Scriptures, as it pertains to the final conflict, is that “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witness unto all nations, then shall the end come.

Adventist World Radio, and its associated programs are currently available in every almost country on earth. There are very few countries where you will not find a remnant footprint online or on shortwave Am/Fm radio.

Some may argue that there have been earthquakes, and wars throughout history, and pestilences, such as the bubonic plague and Covid have all come and gone, so what’s different about those signs given by Jesus in Matthew 24?

The difference hinges on three things: Frequency, Intensity, and Convergence. Frequency, in that the signs are multiplying rapidly, Intensity, because the signs are increasing in severity, and Convergence, because they will be taking place in quick succession at the same time.

They are likened unto a woman in childbirth where the birth pangs increase in intensity and severity, as the day for her delivery draws near. Similarly, what we are seeing currently on the world stage are the birth pangs of something cataclysmic, that will end in the 2nd coming of Jesus. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times, and seasons brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

There are times during a woman’s pregnancy when she may experience some level of discomfort such as morning sickness, and vomiting, within the first trimester. And as the pregnancy increases, there are other marked changes that take place in her body.

However, as the delivery date draws near, her labor pains increase dramatically, both in frequency and intensity and she has to be on full alert, because her water could break at any moment.

Finally, things reach a point of no return, when she has to head to the hospital because her delivery is imminent. In other words, it’s just about time for us to head to the hospital, that’s how close we are.

Therefore, we must focus our lasers on the question that was posed by the disciples: When shall these things be?” so that the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet would not catch us off guard. Let us consider it carefully, as we go into the Bible study. Let’s read:

Matthew 24: 15>16 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whosoever reads, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains.

Question: What is the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet?

Answer: The abomination of desolation refers to the pagan Roman banner that would be planted on the territories belonging to the Jews. This would then signal an imminent, catastrophic invasion.

Daniel links the word abomination with desolation and consummation, signaling that the planting of the Roman flag on Jewish soil will come with a lot of catastrophic destruction. This would also bring the daily ministration in the temple to a screeching halt because Christ predicted that not one stone would be left upon another.

Thus, if according to Christ’s prophecy on the Jewish temple one stone would not be left upon another, it means that the sanctuary services that took place in it daily, would have a tragic end. After the veil of the temple was rent in two by unseen hands at the time that Christ died on Calvary, daily sanctuary services had continued until Cestius and Titus entered. Let’s read:

Daniel 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

Daniel 11:31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.

Daniel 12:11 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.

Then again, Jesus makes it quite plain so that no one would have any doubt as to what the desolation will refer to. The abomination will be the pagan insignia of Rome, set up on Jewish soil, and that will signal a coming destruction by the Roman armies. It is very plain in the Scriptures, so that even your tweenager could understand. Let’s read:

Luke 21:20 And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

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.

And so said so done, because the Roman Cestius first came and planted the pagan banner just on the outskirts of Jerusalem, and then later on Titus came to finish them off, in the destruction and desolation that ensued, by which the temple was reduced to ruins in the great conflagration, that killed almost a million people, according to some estimates.

But, as was stated before, the prophecy of Christ as it pertains to the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, would have another future fulfillment, because the questions posed by Christ’s disciples included what would be the sign of the end of the world.

Therefore, if the first fulfillment included the Roman banner being planted in the holy place, then we are to expect a repeat of the same thing when our turn comes around. Thus, the question is What is Rome’s banner and insignia in our day, so that we will know what to look for?

Without a doubt, it is Sunday, the day of rest which almost all contemporary Christians have subscribed to, and for which there is no Scriptural authority. In fact, both Cestius and Titus declare that there is no Biblical authority for Sunday worship, yet, almost all evangelicals and protestants have adopted it as the official day of rest.

Very many are sincere-hearted, and may have done so without knowing what is at stake, thus Titus and Cestius are asking what are they protesting about if almost all Christendom has signed on to something that’s nowhere to be found in the Bible? Let’s read:

Priest Brady, in an address, reported in the Elizabeth NJ 'News' on March 18, 1903: It is well to remind the Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, and all other Christians, that the Bible does not support them anywhere in their observance of Sunday. Sunday is an institution of the Roman Catholic Church, and those who observe the day observe a commandment of the Catholic Church.”

The Roman Catechism: 2189 "Observe the sabbath day, to keep it holy" (⇒ Deut. 5:12) "The seventh day is a sabbath of solemn rest, holy to the Lord" (⇒ Ex 31:15).

[Test. Vol. 5 pp 464] As the siege of Jerusalem by the Roman armies was the signal for flight to the Judean Christians, so the assumption of power on the part of our nation [the United States] in the decree enforcing the papal sabbath will be a warning to us. It will then be time to leave large cities, preparatory to leaving the smaller ones for retired homes in secluded places among the mountains.

Question: What will drive the lamblike beast to do such a thing as to coerce the citizenry to worship on a day that God neither recognizes or endorses?

Answer: It will be the preponderance of wars and rumors of wars, earthquakes in different places, and famines, pestilences, wildfires, and drought, which present perplexities, for which there is no answer. It will then be declared that America has to turn back to God, to bring back a situation of peace, stability, and tranquility. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 590] It will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday-sabbath, that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced.

And, that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment thus destroying reverence for Sunday are troublers of the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal prosperity.

Several countries already enforce Sunday closing laws or "blue laws”. Prominent among these are Germany, Switzerland, and Tonga, which mandate strict rest periods and commercial closures. Others include Austria, Norway, Poland, and Croatia.

And right here in the United States and Canada, you have localized "Sunday blue laws" that vary by state and province, which typically limit the sale of booze or might restrict car dealerships, and certain types of manual labor on Sundays.

That’s the reason why The Lord says to us that there is only one more shoe to drop meaning that through the legislative branches of government, the issue of a national day of rest would eventually become the law of the land, and will be enforced via the mark of the beast, referenced in Revelation chapter 13.

All of the players are already on the stage, and the handwriting is on the wall, so that every thinking person may investigate and find out for themselves, whether those things are so. This is the issue that we are hurtling towards, and God, in His mercy, will grant the outpouring of His Holy Spirit to illuminate every mind on the issues at stake.

Most of God’s true people currently sit in Sunday churches, for this truth has not yet penetrated the minds of many persons. God knows this, and He will not leave any stone unturned, until every sincere- hearted individual would be enlightened on this matter.

We invite and encourage all of our Sunday keeping brethren to discover this truth for yourselves, and The God of heaven would grant the necessary grace and mercy, for you to make the switch back to the original, and only day of rest God recognizes.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that would encourage everyone to do the right thing, for God is merciful, and He earnestly desires that every person should come to repentance. Let’s read:

Exodus 20:8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work.

10 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.

11 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.

                                    God Bless!

Surgeries God Approves Of. Sabbath afternoon 08/08/2026

Genesis 2: 21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

According to our first passage, Jesus Christ was the first Person to introduce surgery on our planet. This is not something that man discovered, it was Jesus who performed the first operation. Not only did He do the first surgery, He also has a number of firsts on His resume.

When we sing that song: “To God be the glory” we should sing it with the understanding, because man often takes credit for things which have originated with God, and thus, hardly any mention or reference is made of His name, or His wonderful work.

Christ was also the first Person to introduce ship building, and navigation, the concept of flying also came from Him and many other firsts too numerous for us to mention. God introduced clothing, leather, tailoring, and irrigation. In fact, wheresoever there is anything that is good, Jesus is the original source. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

Genesis 2:6 There went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground.

[Christ’s Object Lessons pp 349] All right inventions and improvements have their source in Him who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in working.

Jesus first introduced radar, He introduced GPS, and the idea of hovering in mid-air without moving also originated with Him. Many of the things man claims to have invented actually originated with Christ, but you almost never hear persons giving Him the credit and the glory for such things.

In our culture, and in very many cultures around the world, it is customary for the woman to take on the name of her husband, so that for instance, you will have brother Richard and Shelley Mckenzie.

That is something that also originated with God, for as was stated before, many of the things we do, and sometimes take for granted, have originated with Him. Let’s read:

Genesis 5:1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;

2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.

After forming Adam from the dust of the earth, God caused all the animals to pass before him, to see the extent of Adam’s intelligence, in naming the animals he would see for the very first time. And as he gave them the correct names, Adam observed a pattern emerging.

All of the animals had their soul mate, the male with his female but for Adam there was none. Eve wasn’t an afterthought, because God had planned to create Adam’s soul mate in the fullness of time, but like He often does, He permitted Adam to realize his needs first, so that the fulfilment thereof would then be greatly appreciated.

God could have formed Eve only from the dust, just as He did with Adam, but it was His good purpose to create her, using raw materials from Adam, coupled together with dust, and God did so for a number of good reasons.

When Christ created Adam, He made him with 25 ribs, that extra one being designated for surgical removal to create Eve. Thus, deliberate planning and forethought went into the first surgery, similar to how surgeons in our day plan and strategize well, before performing surgical procedures. It all comes from God.

Thus, when God brought Eve to Adam, after He had awakened out of surgery, Adam recognized in her an essential part of himself, and that is the reason why she was called woman, for she was taken out from man.

The Lord also opened a flood of knowledge to the human family that would be used for our benefit in the medical field by persons He has blessed with the wisdom and knowledge to follow where He has led the way in surgical procedures.

The concept of putting persons to sleep before they have surgery, so that they would remain in a state of unconsciousness, until after the procedure is done, originated with Christ, for the Scripture teaches us that there is nothing new under the sun. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 1: 9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10 Is there anything whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

That’s the reason why He is referred to as The Great Physician, for every right practice, concept and all so called discoveries in medicine, have their origination in Him.

This is the reason why when Jesus was on this earth, He could heal everyone of any disease, whether it’s a fever, malady, mental illness, or physical disability, he healed them all, for He not only created us, He is also the greatest and best Physician.

That’s why God asks the following question, even as He looks down from heaven and is concerned as the inhabitants of the earth turn to alternative ways and means in medicines and surgeries, as they too often leave Him out of the picture, as if He does not know what He is doing. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 8: 22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

When He introduced the concept of surgery, He did so to meet a necessity, and thus, He shows us that it is right and wise to have surgical procedures, where there is a need. God has also blessed certain people with gifts and talents in the medical field, to be used in harmony with Biblical principles. Let’s read:

Psalms 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.

[Christ’s Object Lessons pp 349] The skillful touch of the physician’s hand, his power over nerves, and muscles, his knowledge of the delicate organism of the body is the wisdom of divine power, to be used in behalf of the suffering.

Thus, God approves of surgery, wherever it is for the benefit of humanity, and wherever it is employed to fill a valid need. In our day, the Christian is facing an increasing array of options as it pertains to the issue of surgery. Some of the options are good and approved of God, others, not so much.

There are many cases where surgical procedures are warranted, in order to save life, and to reconstruct a damaged body part after an accident. There are hip, and knee replacements for persons who struggle on issues of the bones, and joints, and there are heart surgeries, where lives have been definitely saved by invasive procedures, and God approves of these.

But like with every good thing God has given to us, surgery can, and is in many cases, being abused and manipulated to suit the whims and fancy of persons without the good purposes God originally intended, and we who live in the 21st century should have a very clear understanding of God’s will on the issue.

Knowing what is on the menu, and the grim effects unwarranted surgeries are having on persons would shed light on the valid reasons why the issue has to now be addressed. Persons are opting for elective surgical procedures, for no other reason than some celebrity or influencer on Tik Tok had the procedure.

The Clavicular syndrome is driving some youth to do things they never would have dared to do, were it not for the phenomena of influencers who fuel the desire to enhance outward appearance.

It is one of satan’s most successful snares to tempt persons to believe that they are never good enough. Thus, persons often become trapped in the cycle of chasing after the latest look, just to be accepted by society and many are driven to the operating room unnecessarily to alter, remove or make add-ons that God never approved.

In fact, the concept of not being good enough or not being satisfied with how you were made, is found in the first temptation that Eve had succumbed to. And ever since that day, the populations of earth have in many instances suffered greatly, as persons feel they must reach the gold standard, set by those who are living in Hollywood.

And when persons begin to think they are deficient, or they do not meet the gold standard of the latest and newest thing, they often go on to suffer from an inferiority complex, from which many never recover.

The young and restless are particularly vulnerable as they are bombarded with the Kardashian/Clavicular syndrome, where one is never satisfied with oneself. As a result, you have a multitude of cosmetic, plastic and elective surgeries that are totally unnecessary, and which God does not approve of.

You now have a plethora of surgical procedures that God never intended, the knowledge He imparted in the garden of Eden, to be used for. There are eyelid surgeries Blepharoplasty, eyelid and arm lifts, there are cheek, lip and breast implants, using materials in some cases that should never enter the body.

Then there are chemical peels, lip augmentations, gender affirming or in some cases disaffirming types of surgery, then you have facial sculpting, fillers, fat transfers, transgender surgical procedures, and the notorious Brazilian butt lift, just to mention a few.

Some of the raw materials used in many cosmetic or elective surgeries would surprise you, if you were to find out where they come from. There is silicone for various implants, collagen obtained from connective tissue of animals such as Achilles tendon from cows and other Bovines.

Then there is bio protein glue, made from the blood of animals, Botox, plastics, Titanium, various fillers, and polymers, and there are materials sourced from human tissue banks, facilities that harvest, store and process human tissue from living and deceased folk. These range from skin and tendons, to bones, and eyeballs just to name a few.

There are also donor pigs which are currently being bred for the purpose of heart transplant in humans. One such incident took place with David Bennet, at the Maryland Medical Center, who died two months later from complications. The donor pig’s genes had been edited, for compatibility with human beings.

Thus, there are serious moral, and ethical questions as to how far a person is willing to go to live. Would the ends justify the means in every situation, or will there be times when folks will have to hit pause and ask: Wait a minute! Does God really approve of this surgery, if it will involve morphing the living patient with unclean dead animals?

To what lengths are we willing to go to preserve life, and if in some instances, the preservation of life will involve cross purposes with God’s revealed will, is it then a yes or a no for the Christian? In other words, if preserving life involves disobedience, should the Christian move forward with it?

Then, there is a dark underworld, lucrative business of organ harvesting, where kidneys, livers, hearts, and other organs are harvested both by consent and without one’s consent and in certain countries there is a mandatory organ harvesting from prisoners, and other despised ethnic groups, to fuel the trade.

There is a very high and growing demand for certain organs and because demand has outstripped supply in too many cases, the business of organ harvesting is booming. For instance, an individual patient could find himself or herself waiting up to five years for a kidney.

In some instances, organs were harvested from folks who were still living, and in Alabama, it was found that inmates in the prison system had their organs removed after death, without their families knowing what had taken place.

Thus, what God originally gave us, as something to be used only when necessary, has morphed into a multibillion industry, and with very little oversight in some developing countries, third world countries, or in far east countries.

God could never approve of such surgeries where organs of nonconsenting individuals are bought and sold on the black market for cash. That is why God says that the abuse of something good is taking place, and has to be addressed by the Christian who is living today.

It is an undeniable fact, that every good thing God has given us, would inevitably be perverted by the prince of darkness, and even though we should not throw out the baby with the bath water, we should seek guidance from God, and His word whenever a surgery becomes necessary.

Thus, the Bible study for today will focus on guiding principles to be observed, whenever the Christian is considering surgery, so that God’s approval may rest upon the procedure.

[1] Whatever you need to do, and whatsoever you plan to do, as far as surgery is concerned, it is highly recommended that persons check in with The Great Physician first so that he can direct the human agent in the procedure.

Proverbs 3:4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

It is a good idea to consult with God first before you consult with your doctor or surgeon, for by so doing you will have asked The Lord to take control of that situation up front. Thus, however it may turn out, at least you will have had the assurance that you asked God first, and this will give you confidence to pray, if any complications arise.

[2] Avoid unnecessary surgery if you can, especially those that are done just to be fashionable and those that endeavor to change one’s gender.

1st Corinthians 6:19 What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own?

20 For you are bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's.

[3] Wherever it is possible, allow naturally occurring materials to be used, that will be more in harmony with the human body.

Genesis 2:21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof.

John 9: 6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

2nd Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, thus saith the Lord, set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed…. 7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

2nd Kings 5:10 And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean.

14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.

Exodus 15:24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, what shall we drink?

25 And he cried unto the Lord; and the Lord shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet: there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them,

26 And said, if thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight and give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals thee.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

[4] Prevention is always better than cure.

There is an overabundance of knowledge God has caused to be shed upon the world, especially within the remnant church, so that wherever it is possible surgeries could be avoided. It is not God’s will that our bodies should be invaded with foreign materials if it can be avoided.

Godly wisdom and prudence could in many cases be very helpful in averting surgical procedures. And the information given has been certified by science. The kidneys, and other vital organs should be given the attention they deserve, by proper diet and exercise to help maintain them in the very best condition.

Many individuals struggle with weight, and obesity and many GLPs and other drugs are now available to help with this issue. Liposuction is another way that excessive fat can be removed, but all of these helps will avail nothing if there isn’t well directed effort in positive lifestyle changes.

Faith in God, in matters of health includes diet and exercise, because faith without works is dead. The many surgical procedures available today should be viewed as a very last option, with prevention being your watchword, wherever possible.

God will grant grace where needed and if asked for, but the information given on surgeries that The Lord approves, should be studied carefully before rushing in where angels fear to tread.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which should serve as the general guideline for all we do, because it is God’s will that persons prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10: 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

                                    God Bless!

When God’s Timing And Ours Differ. Sabbath afternoon 08/01/2026

Psalms 27: 14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

Learning to wait on The Lord is the most important characteristic that is needed as persons prepare for crunch time. Exercising godly patience with the right attitude, will be necessary in order to survive last day events, and the terrors that will be obtaining as a result of the fulfillment of end time prophecy.

The impatience that is manifested in our experience too often, and the hastiness that oozes out naturally from some believers is alarming, and if God were to

show us our real attitudes as we interact with fellow mortals, it will give us pause for concern.

When the Psalmist instructs us to wait upon God, he is not only referring to literal time periods, he is also speaking of the attitudes and moods with which we wait. Some persons wait, because they are forced to wait, but during the interim periods, some become restless and irritated, while others may murmur and complain, even as they wait.

It is often during those waiting periods that we may become vulnerable to the assaults of the prince of darkness, as he tempts us to become frustrated and fed up with God, and as a result, his alternatives to waiting often seem as the best option on the table.

We are not saying these things lightly because we’re speaking as persons who have been shot in the foot with the word of truth, and after observing patterns of impatience manifested by many of the faithful in ages past, we have concluded that as mortals we do have a problem with waiting on God.

In fact, very many of the failures of God’s people in times past were due to their impatience, which then led to complaining, and consequently rebellion, for whenever persons become upset, while waiting on God, failure is often right around the corner.

These mixed up moods and attitudes will need to be corrected, and uprooted from our hearts before the final conflict of the ages bursts upon us, because at that time, patience will be one of the most valuable assets to the remnant, according to the Bible.

Of all the characteristics that are mentioned in first Corinthians 13 patience is the only one that surfaces In Revelation 14, at a time when the mark of the son of perdition has spread its tentacles across the land. It isn’t love, or charity, or generosity, or kindness, or mercy that is mentioned; it’s patience manifested in a living faith in God. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Persons may be able to expound for hours on the 28 fundamental doctrines of the church, while others may be able to point to genuine works of charity like Dorcas, but without patience, it will be very difficult to survive in the evil day.

There is something such as a kind, loving impatient Christian, and there are preachers who may have baptized a lot of souls, but if the discipline of spirit that comes with a consistent exercise of patience in waiting upon God is not materialized, persons will be in danger of turning back when the heat of the furnace is turned up several notches.

Several examples in the Scriptures tell us beyond all doubt, that waiting upon God constitutes one of the main problems that needs to addressed in the lives of all who believe and as we study sacred history we will discover that very often we have been walking in the shoes of those who have gone before.

We begin with the father of the faithful and his wife, who were tested upon this point and failed when it seemed as if God was taking too long. The promise was made to Abraham and Sarah, that they would have a son, and they believed God at the first.

But as many years went by, and nothing seemed to be happening, they began to wonder how long will be reasonable for them to wait for the fulfillment of the promise. One year, two years, twenty years? As time passed by, Sarah became restless, and uneasy.

And in that frame of mind, she became ripe for one of the favorite, and most successful assaults of the devil. Sarah watched in sheer dismay as menopause set in, and based upon science as we know it, the logic of the prince of darkness began to make sense.

The Christian must beware lest logic becomes the director of your faith, because many will stumble on the issue of rational reasoning, when it comes time to wait upon God. In fact, when you think about it closely, most of the heroes of faith accomplished the seemingly impossible, against all logic to the contrary.

God through Joshua and Gideon shook down armies with trumpets, choirs were put in front of armies, to bring about victory through God, and the Hebrews crossed the Red Sea on foot. As the strait of Hormuz is currently blockaded, persons would be surprised if they saw folks crossing the strait on foot, while oil tankers are stuck.

Waiting upon God brings the impossible into view, and the impossible will characterize the experiences of the remnant during crunch time, but we will first have to learn how to wait upon God. This is the very important lesson that Abraham, and Sarah learned the hard way, and the results of their failures remain to this day.

Recently, the president of the United States called on Saudi Arabia to sign onto the Abraham accord, as a prerequisite to allowing nuclear developments in that country. But have you ever wondered why the name of Abraham is in the accord? It sends us back to the time when he failed to wait upon God. Let’s read:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The President on Thursday appeared to add a condition to the newly signed agreement with Saudi Arabia for a civilian nuclear program, saying the deal would require the kingdom to normalize its relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords.

Accord meaning: Merriam Webster dictionary: To bring into agreement: reconcile: to be consistent or in harmony: to agree, to arrive at an agreement.

Genesis 15:2 And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?

3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is my heir.

4 And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.

And thus, they waited and waited and waited. Both of them were well into their retirement years when the initial promise was given, but they believed God anyway. Sarah was about 65 years old and Abraham was about 75 years, and they waited and waited.

One year passes by, two years three years four years and nothing happens. Five years elapse, and still no child. Sarah is becoming a bit restless and nervous, for time is slipping away and nothing is happening.

Eight years, nine years, and then in desperation, in the tenth year she says you know what, the promise of God would never be fulfilled, and in that frame of mind she becomes ripe for plan B. Note carefully, in the following passages, the conclusion she has come to, and the subsequent logical substitute suggestion to her impatience. Let’s read:

Genesis 16:2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be that I may obtain children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai.

3 And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife.

4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the Lord judge between me and thee.

The same issue of impatience plagued the children of Israel over and over again, especially when they were encountering difficulties. For example, Moses instructed them to gather the Manna daily, and if any was left over it would become worms.

Some of them did not take kindly to waiting upon God for their daily food, and they decided to keep leftovers until the following day. If we are permitted to pass through crunch time, our patience would be exercised in waiting on The Lord for our daily bread.

And, with our habits of independence, going to the neighborhood Publix, without having to report to anyone, it may seem too much to wait on God for a meal, during the coming crisis. That is why we are to put our feet in their shoes to see if our reactions will be any different.

And if we discover similarities in impatience, now is the time to confess and forsake the sin of hastiness, because very often, history has a way of repeating itself. Let’s read:

Exodus 16: 19 And Moses said, let no man leave of it till the morning.

20 Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses but some of them left of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was wroth with them.

The same issue occurred again with Abishai, one of David’s bodyguards, when they stumbled upon Saul and his men, sleeping undisturbed in the cave. The situation seemed to suggest that the time had come for retribution against Saul, for all the signs pointed to God’s providence, apparently opening a way for David to seek vengeance.

And instead of waiting on The Lord for guidance the brave soldier would have beheaded Saul, were it not for the restraining words spoken by David, who saw it fit to wait instead. There are many times when the haste in which we do things in the temporal realm may backfire, if we didn’t wait upon God. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 26: 7 So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him.

8 Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time.

9 And David said to Abishai, destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the Lord's anointed, and be guiltless?

10 David said furthermore, As the Lord lives, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

Again, the blunder of Saul on the issue of hastiness, is the same problem on which so many persons had fallen previously. In that instance he was instructed to wait for seven days, for Samuel to come and offer the sacrifice, before going into battle.

But as is so often the case, the situation obtaining on the ground, drove Saul into panic mode, and he decided to take matters into his own hands, because in this instance he had waited the stipulated time. Observe how the situation on the ground triggers a response of unease and restlessness in Saul. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait for the people were distressed, then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.

7 And some of the Hebrews went over Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was yet in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

8 And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

After studying numerous accounts of impatience in sacred history, it seems as if very serious blunders often occur right around the corner from hastiness. The problem with Saul wasn’t that he did not wait, it was the attitude he displayed while waiting which did him in.

If in some desperate situation you were to wait on The Lord, all the while you are, fussing and cussing, in a bad mood, uttering words of unbelief with your feathers all ruffled, you will not have waited on God even if the stipulated time was observed.

God is a Spirit, and the attitude with which we wait is just as important as any stipulated timeframe He may give. In other words, if you are waiting on God for an answer, and you find yourself becoming very fretted and vexed with Him, that type of waiting will not be recognized as the patience of the saints, for it comes tainted with worry, anxiety, and care. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 13:11 And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you came not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;

12 Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.

13 And Samuel said to Saul, you have done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever.

14 But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

From studying numerous accounts on impatience in sacred history, it seems as if very serious blunders are often right around the corner from patience.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 617] Before the time appointed by the prophet had fully expired, he became impatient at the delay and allowed himself to be discouraged by the trying circumstances that surrounded him.  

Instead of faithfully seeking to prepare the people for the service that Samuel was coming to perform, he indulged in unbelief and foreboding.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 618] With growing impatience he awaited the arrival of Samuel and attributed the confusion and distress and desertion of his army to the absence of the prophet. The appointed time came, but the man of God did not immediately appear.

God’s providence had detained His servant. But Saul’s restless, impulsive spirit would no longer be restrained. Feeling that something must be done to calm the fears of the people, he determined to summon an assembly for religious service, and by sacrifice entreat the divine aid.

From studying numerous accounts on impatience in sacred history, it seems as if very serious blunders are often right around the corner from frustrations that come about when God’s timing and ours differ.

This leads us into the Bible study, because the study of Christ’s first temptation in the wilderness, which was on the issue of food, will have a direct bearing on all those who will be passing through the time of trouble. This is the temptation on which Adam and Eve fell, and it is the one over which we will have to gain the victory in our Christian experience.

As Christians, we might manifest patience in other areas that may not matter to us as much, but when it comes to food, they say a hungry man is an angry man. That’s what folks say, but during crunch time, a hungry man cannot be an angry man.

We would need to be victorious on this point, by manifesting patience if and when God’s timing, and ours may differ. Jesus was tempted on the timing of God’s deliverance, because God has made promises pertaining to our daily bread. The question is: When will the food truck be coming Christ’s way?

Would the food truck show up as soon as Jesus gets hungry, two days after He gets hungry, or will it wait ten, twenty, or thirty days before it drives by with a bunch of hot Tacos? Would Jesus, like Sarah become restless and decide that the food truck isn’t coming.

Or would Jesus, like king Saul become all fretted and moody, and angry at God because, like Samuel, the food truck doesn’t show up on time? What does on time mean anyway? Is it at the first sign of hunger, is it several days into the fast, or is it in the fullness of God’s timing?

What would you consider a reasonable time frame for the truck to drive by with His lunch? It has to do with timing, when God’s timing and ours differ. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry.

3 And when the tempter came to him he said, If You be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

Jesus believed that relief would come, and thus, He waited and waited and waited, until God saw fit to send the food truck with His Tacos. Jesus would not succumb to satan’s temptations on reasonableness, nor would He become moody and restless if logical modes of thought collide with faith.

Jesus’ patience was open-ended, leaving the correct timing with God, and even though it was a grueling trial of no ordinary nature, He remained calm and resilient, even as the pangs of hunger gnawed at His stomach. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:11 Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

[D.A. pp121] He awaited God’s time to bring relief.

When you read in Revelation of the patience of the saints and the faith of Jesus, we must understand it in the context of food, because, it began with food and it will end with food. God has promised bread and water during crunch time, but we must get into the habit of leaving the issue of timing with Him. Let’s read:

Isaiah 33: 16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.

In the book of 1st Corinthians, we are instructed to study carefully the children of Israel as they dealt with God’s timing on the issue of food and drink. In their experiences, the food truck didn’t always show up on time, and very often, when this was the case, they would throw a temper tantrum and they would indulge bad moods. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10: 11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

12 Wherefore let him who thinks he stands, take heed lest he fall.

13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Observe carefully how the Hebrews’ mood would go into a tailspin very often when their food truck is no where to be seen for the moment. Panic mode and irritability would often set in, and in some instances, they would get violent, and their patience would wear thin.

We may look back and say that was those guys, but in our own experiences, is it true that we also fail to manifest the patience of the saints, especially when we may have deadlines, or urgent matters, or worse yet, when our own food truck doesn’t show up at a reasonable time? Let’s read:

Exodus 16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; because you have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

Exodus 15: 22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23 And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: therefore, the name of it was called Marah.

24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

Exodus 17:1 And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the Lord, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink.

2 Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord?

3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

4 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me.

[G.C. pp 621] The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger, a faith that will not faint, though severely tried. The period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time.

Question: How do we prepare for that time? Do we prepare by practicing to go without food for many days, incrementally? Until we reach forty? Or should we ask God to give us patience? You can ask, but we do not recommend asking for patience.

Instead, if we know that we are not manifesting the patience of the saints in our everyday experiences, we should first confess our sin to God and leave Him alone so that He might do His good work in us in His own time and way.

This will call for an acknowledgement of our failures and it will call for surrender. Thus, we may ask God for grace and strength in time of need, but for us to tell Him what to do, and when to do it, will in most cases be asking for trouble.

Recently, I had a scheduled appointment to meet, and as the time drew near, I found myself driving in Hialeah, behind two drivers who seemed to be on vacation, for they were taking their time and driving so slowly in front of me, on a one-way street.

As the time for the appointment drew near, I found myself growing increasingly restless and impatient at the two drivers, so like Sarah, I began to look for a plan B. Up ahead I saw a traffic light where I could turn onto another street to get out from behind these drivers.

But at the traffic light, one continued going straight whilst the other one turned in front of me, and was driving slowly on my off ramp. Later on, as the Bible study was being written out, it dawned in my mind that the patience of the saints was lacking that day, so I had to stop writing and go have a talk with God.

Confession was made and I asked Him to alert me to those times where I may be on the verge of getting impatient. Not long after I had another appointment but this time rain was scheduled to start shortly and I tried to beat it so that I could do what I had to do.

But then I found myself driving behind another one of those Hialeah drivers, and The Lord sent a strong signal into my mind that I was about to lose it again. He then gave me the strength that was sufficient for the situation, and the scheduled rain never fell. God is good!

The preparation for the difficult days ahead involves cultivating right attitudes when we are brought into straitened places. Remember, that even though Saul had waited, his mixed up moods and attitudes were not of the kind God could approve of.

The next time we find ourselves in a situation where something important is delayed, like we have to go somewhere for a particular time, and we get stuck in traffic and a Hialeah driver is texting on his phone in front of us while the light turns green and he isn’t moving.

Observe carefully if there’s a change in your attitude where you become very restless angry, go into panic mode, and complain of the way God is choosing to prepare you.

In other words, if our feathers become ruffled when in straitened circumstances, that is a call to prayer, because victory on this particular point is needed, in preparation for the days ahead, where the heat of the furnace will be turned up several notches.

God will grant us the grace and strength that we will need, but we must confess that we have a problem on patience, if indeed that is the case. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which reaffirms the issue of waiting on God’s timing and let’s remember that practice makes perfect. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

                                    God Bless!

What It Means To Sit In God’s Seat. Sabbath afternoon 07/25/2026

2nd Thessalonians 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Sitting in the seat of God is something that no man, or any created being should ever dare to do, yet it is evident from our first passage that efforts would be made, under the auspices of the prince of darkness to try to bring this about. It will be permitted for a while, until God sees fit to reign in the powers that be, but until such time we’ll have to encounter great spiritual darkness, which is scheduled to cover the earth as a thick cloud.

But, God in His mercy will cause bright rays of light to shine amidst the darkness, so that no sincere person will be left in doubt. The first war which began up in heaven is still being waged down here on this earth, and the very same efforts to usurp God’s throne and His authority are still being made, though of late, it is not so subtle anymore.

Up in heaven, Lucifer sought to procure the throne of God, not merely to sit in it but to take to himself the authority and prerogatives which belong to God. In other words, he sought to wield the power which belongs to God, and this effort would inevitably be turned against God’s law, which forms the basis of God’s government. Let’s read:

Isaiah 14: 13 For 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.

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most-High.

Thus, the effort to sit in God’s seat that we read of in our first passage is nothing new, for it originated with the prince of darkness, and throughout history various human agencies, moved by the rebel leader have sought to bring this about.

That is why we will always have wars on our planet, because until the issues of God’s jurisdiction domain and rightful authority are settled in every heart, war is bound to continue. It matters not if many truces are made, it matters not if many peace agreements are signed, and it matters not if you’re a republican, a Democrat, or somewhere in between.

Wars have sprung up under Democratic rule, as well as under Republican rule, and if an independent, or a woman, were to win the presidency, wars on our planet will continue as normal. The United Nations was founded to prevent wars, but since then, there have been more conflicts on our planet than before.

If the issue of God’s seat is not settled, we will all be living in an unsettled world until Jesus comes. That’s the plain unadulterated truth that the inhabitants of earth are now called to confront, as the final conflict of the ages looms large on the horizon.

Wherever there’s a devil you’ll inevitably have wars for he is the author of war and he often moves upon human agencies to carry out his dictates. Thus, if we search for peace, outside of God’s seat, we will be headed for never land. Furthermore, because wars started up in heaven, it will take Someone from heaven to stop all wars. Let’s read:

Revelation 12: 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven.

9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceives the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

In trying to sit in God’s seat, he promised the angels a better form of existence, and he spread the fatal lie, that God was hiding good from the angels, with the sole purpose of restricting their freedoms. Some of the heavenly host drank his cool aid and a third of them were consequently expelled from the abodes of bliss.

They then brought their diabolical sophistries down to earth, and our first parents also bought into their fallacies, and here we are today, fighting the same old wars on the battlefield of our minds, as persons decide whether or not God should have jurisdiction over the beings He has created.

Sitting in God’s seat occurs when attempts are made by mortal, created beings to usurp the prerogatives which belong to God alone. These prerogatives will now be laid bare, so that individuals might be aware of what is at stake in the final conflict of the ages, as it is already knocking on our doors.

[1] The prerogative to determine what is right from wrong.

[2] The prerogative to define, and stipulate what the results of right, or wrong doing will be.

[3] The prerogative to determine and stipulate the conditions upon which pardons are to be granted.

[4] The prerogative to receive worship.

Let’s begin with the very first one, the prerogative to determine what is right from wrong. Some folks believe that doing wrong has to include something that is bad, and therefore, God is bound by what we deem to be right or wrong, in His determinations.

But wrong is defined as things which go contrary to God’s revealed will, and believe it or not, these can include good things that are wrong. There is nothing wrong with eating fruit and it is recommended by all or most dieticians.

But if God says that in this instance, eating fruit is a sin then it becomes wrong, even if it might be good. It’s worthy of note that in Eden, Adam and Eve were not guilty of smoking the herb, or cannabis, as it is currently called. They were guilty of eating fruit.

Now, think about that for a moment! Adam and Eve are found guilty of eating fruit, not because it might be bad or rotten, or was laced with Cyclospora, but because God said it was wrong. It is one of the main points of contention that was raised by the prince of darkness, under the guise of a serpent.

Be very wary of the reasoning of the serpent, for if it is not studied closely, and thoroughly understood, it will be mistaken for something that is upright. He is stating that the fruit is good for you, and that might not be controverted.

Lettuce is also good for you, but if you were to steal Lettuce from Publix and eat it you can also be found guilty of eating something good. He then went on to demonstrate in real time that it could not be wrong, because it was apparently good for Adam and Eve.

And thus, what God determined as being wrong was artfully misconstrued into being arbitrary restriction designed by God to keep the man, and his female wife from entering a higher, and nobler sphere of existence. Thus, if Adam bites the bait, it would put him at odds with God, and you would have conflict. Let’s read:

Genesis 3: 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.

4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

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.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 54] By partaking of this tree, he declared, they would attain to a more exalted sphere of existence and enter a broader field of knowledge.

He himself had eaten of the forbidden fruit, and as a result had acquired the power of speech. It was because of its wonderful properties, imparting wisdom and power, that He had prohibited them from tasting or even touching it.

So, let’s break it down into precis form. God says do not eat or touch this, for the consequences would be dire and fatal. The serpent comes along and says no, it is actually good for you, therefore, God is just trying to keep you back from progress, and being a much better person.

Thus, the choice comes starkly into view, and if you choose what God says, you will be in harmony with Him, but if you choose the serpent’s rendition, then that will put you at odds with God, and there will be conflict, not because of God but because of our own choices.

Again, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, it wasn’t on the issue of marijuana, it was bread which he asked Jesus to make. Bread, in and of itself is not a bad thing, for even Christ later prayed: Give us our daily bread. But to eat bread, contrary to God’s will is wrong, even if it is made of whole wheat or whole grains.

Thus, sitting in God’s seat refers to efforts of mortal man, to determine what is right or wrong, and thus, if man determines that something is good for you, it cannot be wrong. In following that mode of thought in your decision- making you will be shocked to find out some of the things that are deemed as good for you, and therefore, cannot be wrong.

Let’s ask Google’s Gemini a very simple question: Is Shrimp good for you?

Gemini responds: Shrimp is an excellent, low-calorie protein source. A 3-ounce serving provides roughly about 20 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of fat, while containing nearly 100% of your daily selenium and significant amounts of vitamin B12 and iodine.

It also contains astaxanthin, an antioxidant which helps reduce inflammation. On weight management it is highly satiating, and it is low in calories, making it a great option for muscle growth and fat loss.

Despite being high in dietary cholesterol, shrimp is very low in saturated fat, which has a much larger impact on blood cholesterol. Some research indicates it can actually improve cholesterol ratios.

Brain and Thyroid Function: High levels of iodine and vitamin B12 support proper metabolism, thyroid function, and neurological health. It has near-zero mercury contamination, making it a safe seafood choice.

It sounds like something that is good for you, but a person might say that Gemini cannot be trusted to always give correct answers, and that is true, so let’s head over to what is recognized as one of the most prestigious institutions across the land, with persons who know what they are speaking about.

       Question: Is Shrimp good for you?

                         The Cleveland Clinic:

Shrimp is surprisingly nutritious and healthy when consumed in moderation as part of a well-balanced diet.

Registered dietitian Natalie Lowther recommends aiming for a portion of 3 to 4 ounces at a time.

A 100-gram (3.5-ounce) serving of cooked shrimp has: 99 calories, 24 grams of protein, 056 saturated fat, 111 milligrams of sodium, 189 milligrams of cholesterol.

It’s also a good source of these nutrients with: .51milligrams of iron, .0379 milligrams of copper, 1.64 milligrams zinc, 237 milligrams of phosphorus, 259 milligrams of potassium.

But God sits in His seat and He says not so much, it is bad for you and should never be eaten, even with all of the good nutrients it may possess. So, who do we crown as king on this point? God, or Cleveland Clinic? This is just a microcosm of the issue of who has the prerogative to determine good or evil, right from wrong. Let’s read:

Leviticus 11:10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you.

11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination.

12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

Therefore, you will have a conflict emerging, about who determines what is right or wrong, and if you decide that Cleveland Clinic knows best, it means that the institution would be placed in God’s seat by giving it the prerogative to determine what is right or wrong on this issue.

The same goes for every other issue, from marriage to abortion, from waging wars of conquest to diets and foods, from deciding the right day of worship to the issue of raising children. It all boils down to who retains the prerogative to determine what is right or wrong.

This leads us to the second prerogative of God: The prerogative to define, and stipulate what the results  of right, or wrong doing will be. Sin, which is the transgression of God’s law, carries with it negative consequences, and wherever sin is found, it must not be made to seem as if it is beneficial to persons.

When transgression is glossed over, when persons are rewarded for doing evil, the laws of sowing and reaping are disturbed, and persons come to think that doing evil is beneficial, and that righteousness puts a spoke in your wheel.

But God sits in His seat and He declares that the law of sowing and reaping remains intact, and that even though, some persons in our day might seem to get away with murder, the time is coming when such persons will pay a heavy price, if they do not avail themselves of salvation in Christ and a turning away from evil. Let’s read:

Romans 3: 23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Ecclesiastes 8:11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12 Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely, I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.

13 But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he fears not before God.

      This leads us to the third prerogative of God:

[3] The prerogative to determine and stipulate the conditions upon which pardons are to be granted.

This one has major implications in our day, because the issue of pardoning surfaces quite frequently and yet, individuals have been sitting in God’s seat by changing the rules of engagement as it pertains to the conditions upon which pardons are granted.

There should never be any financial or any personal benefits involved when a pardon is granted, neither should favoritism play a role in who gets pardoned, according to the Bible. In addition, if a person does not manifest sorrow for evils done, forgiveness must be taken off the table.

The Bible is very clear as to the prerequisites for any pardon to be granted. The offender must confess his or her sins, there must be remorse for sin, and there must be a purpose to turn away from the evils that were committed. Then and only then does The Lord grant pardon, or remission of sin. Let’s read:

1st John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespasses against thee, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

1st John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that you sin not. And if any man sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.

2nd Chronicles 7: 14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

But throughout the history of our world, pardoning of criminals and sinners has been abused, and there were, and have been many instances where pardons devolved into a pay to play format. This is nothing new, for it took place in the days of Christ, it took place during the dark ages, and it has again raised its head in our day.

Whenever pardons are granted to anyone, contrary to guidelines given in the Scriptures, that’s a form of sitting in God’s seat, since the rules of engagement God has set forth plainly have been altered without His consent or approval. And according to history, a falling away on this issue carries pernicious results. Let’s read:

Matthew 27:15 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.

16 And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?

20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

This was essentially a pardon that was granted to a notorious criminal, on no other grounds than Jesus was the object of their ire. Thus, to secure Christ’s death, Pilate pardoned a robber who had shown no remorse, nor repentance, and yet he let him go free, while at the same time he condemned an innocent Man to death.

This is the sort of abuse The Lord is speaking to us about, for whenever, mortal man sits in God’s seat, by determining the conditions upon which pardon is to be granted, you will inevitably have corruption. It didn’t happen in a vacuum either, because political pressure was brought into the mix, as an accessory to the illegal pardon. Let’s read:

John 19: 12 And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaks against Caesar.

13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in the Hebrew, Gabbatha.

16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.

History also bears witness of how pardon devolves in a pay to play system, when persons sit in God’s seat and alter or reverse the conditions for pardon. There’s a song that goes like this: If salvation was a thing that money could buy, praise ye The Lord. The rich would live, and the poor would die, praise ye the Lord.

This is how that song played out during the darkest ages of earth’s history. And according to the prophet Isaiah, even darker days are ahead for the people of the world. Let’s read:

Isaiah 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

[G.C. pp 127] The infamous traffic was set up in the church, and Tetzel, ascending the pulpit, extolled indulgences as the most precious gift of God. He declared that by virtue of his certificates of pardon, all the sins which the purchaser should afterward desire to commit would be forgiven him, and that “even repentance was not indispensable.”

More than this, he assured his hearers that the indulgences had power to save not only the living but the dead; that the very moment the money should clink against the bottom of his chest, the soul in whose behalf it had been paid would escape from purgatory and make its way to Heaven.

This leads us to the last and most important prerogative of God, one that will permanently, and irreversibly close off the probation of the human family: [4] The prerogative to receive worship.

God alone is worthy of worship and praise because He has created us and all things, so that whatsoever we accomplish that is good, the glory and credit for it must go to him alone.

When the 426 Hemi engine burst upon the scene in the 60’s and 70’s and won several Drag racing titles, it was the Chrysler/Dodge manufacturer that got the credit, for they made the Hemi. Similarly, praise and worship must be given to God alone for He is the One who created us.

Therefore, when mortals begin to crave praise and worship, they are attempting to sit in God’s seat and that ultimately and inevitably leads to that form of worship which will seek to eliminate God from His seat.

That is what first caused the war up in heaven, and it has continued on this earth, even to this day, for when in the following passage lucifer says “I will sit” he is directly referring to his purpose and efforts to try and uproot God from the throne of the universe and from the throne of our hearts, by offering his own substitutes for everything God has said. Let’s read:

Isaiah 14:13 For 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.

Psalms 48:1 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.

2 Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

3 God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

That is the issue to which the world is now hurtling, and it will culminate the long running feud about who is, or isn’t authorized to sit in God’s seat. God in His wisdom, and in His capacity as Sovereign of the universe has given humanity the 7th day Sabbath as the only official day of rest.

But the prince of darkness comes along and says not so much. He has gone to work just like he did in the garden of Eden with our first parents, trying to show that Sunday is better and much more preferrable as the official day of rest.

And he endeavors to accomplish his diabolical work through the legislative branches, by seeking to force the inhabitants of earth to ditch the true day of rest in favor of Sunday.

That is the issue that John the revelator is bringing to our attention, and everyone who will be alive at that time, and everyone who is alive now, would be called upon to decide who will sit in God’s seat. If, after clarity on this matter is given, persons decide that God has the right to decide which day is holy, then they will cast in their lot with The Lord.

But if, after the Holy Spirit has enlightened minds on this pivotal issue, persons decide that they would go for the substitute day of worship, then they would have cast in their lot with the prince of darkness, by agreeing that there’s a better day of rest.

When these choices, either for or against God’s seat are made, earth’s probation will finally close, and all hell will break loose in the most literal sense. These are not figments of our imagination, they’re written in the Scriptures, so that all may be made aware of what is coming down the pike. Let’s read:

Revelation 13: 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads.

17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

The Sabbath of the fourth commandment is the sign of God’s authority, for it contains His seal, His name, and the territories He has jurisdiction over. Hence the reason why the prince of darkness has always been unwearied in his efforts to overthrow the 4th commandment. Let’s read:

Exodus 20: 8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9 Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work.

10 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.

11 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.

Conversely, Sunday is the mark of Rome’s authority, for it has no foundation whatsoever in Scripture and as such, legislators who advocate for it are sitting in God’s seat, usurping His prerogative to direct in the matter of worship.

God has made us with the freedom of choice and to us He speaks from His seat of authority, that no man made system should force persons to worship on a day which He has not ordained. Millions of people, and most Christians may not be aware of this issue, but it is scheduled to bring earth’s history to a final conflict, which is to decide each person’s destiny.

The Lord is now causing great light to be shed upon this matter, so that all sincere-hearted persons will do their due diligence like the Bereans, and find out whether those things are so.

It is of critical importance for persons to understand the issues that are at stake because the bad habit of trying to sit in God’s seat affects everything we may do, and every choice we make.

Let us therefore rise to the occasion, and let us cast in our lot with The Lord God, for those persons who respect and honor the seat of His authority are the ones who will be taken to heaven, because He will not and cannot save in His eternal kingdom, those who choose to be at odds with His Sovereignty.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will make the issue at hand plain, and we encourage everyone to take a stand for right, by acknowledging Christ as The Sovereign of our lives, in all matters of conscience, and especially on the issue of worship. Let’s read:

Isaiah 58:12 And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.

13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words;

14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

                                     God Bless!

Jonah's Next Sermon. Sabbath afternoon, 07/18/2026

2nd Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.

Those two statements given in the opening passage are of critical importance for the Christian and every believer to digest, and thoroughly understand since they follow on the heels of each other strategically. The way we are to believe in God is by believing His prophets. Here they are, juxtaposed to each other.

[1] Believe in The Lord your God. [2] Believe His prophets.

The reason why the statements come close together is because ordained prophets of God are His mouth pieces to all of the human family, for they speak on His behalf, on everything that pertains to temporal or eternal life. From salvation to end time events, from agriculture to finances.

From marriage to diets and foods, and everything in between, God’s prophets are your go to source for instructions on godly living, for true success, and for true prosperity, because the word of God comes to us through His ordained prophets. For this reason, they are to be believed and taken very seriously. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 1: 19 We have also a more-sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the day star arises in your hearts.

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Deuteronomy 18: 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

19 And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

That’s the candid instruction given in our first verse when it says: “Believe His prophets”. That passage does not direct anyone to quibble and question His prophets neither are His prophets to be investigated with the purpose of finding faults or inconsistencies in what they say or do.

When God has made it plain that He’s chosen such and such a person to be His mouth piece, God does not authorize any person to scrutinize His prophets before believing them, if they have been ordained by Him, nor should folks reject their writings, even if the prophets’ actions, on rare occasions, might be inconsistent with their teachings.

None of those so- called caveats, which are so often introduced by Bible critics are valid, as far as God is concerned. Like the Bereans, it is our individual duty to find out whether those things are so, comparing line upon line, to come to the correct conclusions.

There is nothing wrong with an objective deep dive into the writings of the prophets, but this should be done in a humble spirit.

However, the word given in our first passage is so serious that a surgical interpretation of what this means, and all the ramifications thereof must now be addressed to put it in the right perspective.

Even if the prophet might be wrong in some rare instances, in the information they give, that does not constitute grounds for their rejection, because the instruction to us is to believe, not to criticize.

For instance, when in the book of James, the Bible prophet says to send for the elders if you are sick, that instruction does not mean to scrutinize those elders, because what they did or did not do should be none of our business. Our instruction is to send for them.

Individuals must of necessity take time to digest the previous statement, because, God’s prophets, being human, can in rare instances make mistakes. In fact, if we were to look for flaws in the prophet’s writings and scrutinize, and criticize what ordained prophets did or did not do, we will ultimately reject every prophet of God, for none are perfect.

Even though they should be model examples, they are fallen human beings like ourselves and therefore we must be careful about tethering the authenticity of God’s prophets to their actions in the temporal realm.

We hope for the best and we wish them all the best, but if they are anointed By God, to speak on behalf of God, His word through them must have the same weight with us, even if they have made blunders in their own life experience.

Moses murdered the Egyptian, and even though he is described as the meekest man on earth, history shows that he had a temper problem. Yet, he was a chosen mouthpiece for God, and therefore, those to whom he was sent must believe him even if at times he may have an attitude.

One of the criticisms of Moses that was often hurled at him, is that even though he had spoken on God’s behalf, what he said didn’t pan out exactly as they’d expected, and because of this, many of the Hebrews took up missiles to stone him on several occasions.

But just because things didn’t work out exactly as he had said, that was no grounds for them not to take him seriously. We tremble when we consider what is written concerning this aspect of believing God’s ordained prophets. Let’s read:

Numbers 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men.

2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown.

3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord?

12 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab: which said, we will not come up.

14 Moreover you haven’t brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

Basically, they now reject Moses as God’s ordained prophet, and the word of God through Moses to the men of renown has lost all validity in their view. The rest is history, and you could read to the end of the sequel in the same chapter.

David was also a murderer and an adulterer, and he told a number of blatant lies on several occasions, yet, he too was called by God to be His prophet. The situation which obtained after David slept with the wife of Uriah, reveals that David had several bottles of alcoholic beverages, and wine, chilling in his own personal refrigerator.

He then reached for these in his efforts to drunken Uriah, and thereby tried get him to go sleep with his wife, so that the child that was his, could then be attributed to Uriah. What he did was dead wrong, and God reproved him for it, but his actions do not then authorize persons to reject his writings, which were given him by The Holy Ghost.

Noah also had a drinking problem, but he was God’s chosen prophet to announce the coming deluge and the antediluvians were expected to believe him and take him very seriously. They did not, and the rest is history.

Paul was also a murderer previously, and James and John were called the sons of thunder for very good reason, for in their history you will find violence the thirsting for revenge and ambition to be the highest, and first in the kingdom of God, very grievous flaws and things that you would not expect from ordained prophets. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

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.

John 15: 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

[D.A. pp 293>294] While Jesus was preparing the disciples for their ordination one who had not been summoned urged his presence among them. It was Judas Iscariot, a man who professed to be a follower of Christ. He now came forward, soliciting a place in this inner circle of disciples.

God takes men as they are, with the human elements in their character, and trains them for His service, if they will be disciplined and learn of Him.

They are not chosen because they are perfect, but notwithstanding their imperfections, that through the knowledge and practice of the truth, through the grace of Christ, they may become transformed into His image. Judas had the same opportunities as had the other disciples.

Thus, Judas, like all the other disciples was ordained and just like Peter, James and John, he had his own set of problems to deal with. Therefore, if Judas was scheduled to preach in church on some Sabbath, he shouldn’t be rejected because of what he did or did not do.

His words should be studied Berean style, but for a person to outright reject him, because of flaws in his character, would put such a person on the path to reject all twelve of the disciples, for every single one of them had serious flaws. Let’s read:

Luke 9: 52 And He sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

[The Desire of Ages pp 295] All of the disciples had serious faults when Jesus called them to His service. Even John, who came into closest association with the meek and lowly One, was not himself naturally meek and yielding. He and his brother were called “the sons of thunder.”

While they were with Jesus, any slight shown to Him aroused their indignation and combativeness. Evil temper, revenge, the spirit of criticism, were all in the beloved disciple. He was proud, and ambitious to be first in the kingdom of God.

But day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. He opened his heart to the divine influence, and became not only a hearer but a doer of the Savior’s words. Self was hid in Christ. He learned to wear the yoke of Christ and to bear His burden.

Yet, they too were God’s ordained prophets, and the Lord strictly forbids any person to reject what they wrote under the inspiration of The Holy Ghost, for our belief should not hinge on their performance or their good and regular standing, but rather on the mere fact that they’re God’s ordained mouthpieces. Let’s read:

Jonah 1:1 Now the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

Jonah 3:1 And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

The preaching was as direct as Nineveh could get, for, according to a strict reading of the sermon, the possibility of a pardon which could lead to a reversal of fortune was never raised by Jonah. All Jonah says is that the city has forty more days in existence.

Question: Why would Jonah be sent preach such a direct or explicit sermon like that, with no caveats?

Two parents have a son named Jack, who habitually steals cookies from the jar on numerous occasions, and try as the parents might, to get him to stop he just wouldn’t listen. Finally, the situation reaches a tipping point, where the parents have to give their son an ultimatum, lest he passes the point of no return.

How should this last-ditch effort on the parent’s part be given? Should Jack’s parents say: Son, if you steal anymore cookies from the jar, and you were to ask for forgiveness, we will let you off the hook. Or, should the parents issue their son a blunt threat that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth?

Let us dissect the first option: Jack, if you steal one more cookie from the jar, we will let you off the hook if you ask for forgiveness. Knowing Jack, and his habit of stealing cookies for so many years, if the option of pardon is put on the table, he most likely will continue stealing cookies.

Great care has to be exercised whenever a pardon is offered up front, because, the recipients in so many cases may view it as a sort of loophole, so that they will plan to sin, and then utter all the right words so that they could obtain pardon.

It is worthy of note that God did not offer pardon up front to Adam and Eve before they sinned, He offers it only after they have sinned, and thus, His word to them was, if you eat of the forbidden fruit, you will certainly die. In fact, pardon was a last resort, for if it was offered up front, there would be no deterrent to sin.

Persons who preach that God’s law has been nailed to the cross, and that it is no longer binding upon persons, because of the blood of Jesus, are offering pardon up front, and thus, the flood gates of sin are opened.

There’s an album out there currently that is named: Saturday Night/ Sunday Morning, a very strange title indeed. The singer/ producer got the idea for the album after speaking with a close relative of his. The relative in question was a man, who would party all night on Saturday night, and be ready, and dressed for church early on Sunday morning.

His actions puzzled the singer so much that one day he asked him: Why do you bother going to church on Sunday morning after partying hard on Saturday night? Why not just stay home and rest?

The man said, Sunday Church service is absolutely necessary, because I plan to party again next week, so if I don’t attend church on Sunday morning, how will I atone for my Saturday night sins? This is not a figment of our imagination. It is a true story with a real album on the charts.

 Now, let’s look at the second option. If Jonah were to tell this same man that he has forty days to live, because of his sins with no offer of pardon, the man will most likely think long and hard, before another Saturday night live. This is the reason why Jonah’s message was so blunt, and direct, as an ultimatum. Let’s read:

Jonah 3:2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

And it worked, because that blunt ultimatum gave them pause for concern. They huddled together and decided to do whatsoever it would take to avert the threatened danger. God knew this in advance. Thus, He sent Jonah to deliver the message in a stark and very grave manner that would be sure to grab their attention. Let’s read:

Jonah 3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

10 And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and he did it not.

However, from Jonah’s perspective a good outcome such as this would apparently pose a real problem for his credibility, because, if after making a direct threat, and nothing happened, how will people view his next sermon? Would they believe him the next time around?

And what about God’s view on the matter? If He has to send Jonah to preach another sermon like the 1st one, would God expect the people to believe him? It is a very serious question which will lead us into the Bible study for today: Jonah’s Next Sermon. Let’s read:

Jonah 4:1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

Question: Why did Jonah become exceedingly angry at the outcome? Jonah had to grapple with issues of credibility, because, if after giving such a definitive sermon, it fails to pan out, the question in his mind will obviously be, will his reputation be on the line, and will people ever believe him again. Let’s read:

Jonah 4:2 And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore, I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

3 Therefore now, O Lord, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live.

4 Then said the Lord, Doest thou well to be angry?

From God’s perspective, Jonah was still credible and if for some reason God saw fit to send him back to Nineveh, at a later date, with a message of warning, God would expect the people to fully believe him, just as if the first prediction had come true. Let’s read:

Luke 11: 29 And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, this is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

30 For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

This issue of disappointment, and of God’s prophets delivering His message, and it not coming to fruition as expected, is nothing unique to Jonah alone, for throughout history, other ordained persons have had to pass through similar experiences, where the messages given them by God didn’t pan out exactly the way they thought.

This does not and it should not interfere with their credibility, for if disappointments take place that, in and of itself is no grounds for persons to discredit any future messages coming from God through the same person.

Some whom God has called to give a warning, have at times misunderstood the message, others might not have understood the right interpretation, while others who were directly sent by God, have at times gotten the time and place incorrectly. As far as God is concerned, none of the above must prevent any future hearers from believing the same prophet.

There are times when Marco Rubio and J.D. Vance have misunderstood what the president sent them to say, and there have been many occasions where what they said, in the most direct and positive way, did not actually pan out the way they expected. This is nothing new, for messengers who are called by their superiors to give a specific message. Let’s read:

Matthew 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore, every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

[The Desire of Ages pp 215>216] Like the Savior’s disciples, John the Baptist did not understand the nature of Christ’s kingdom. He expected Jesus to take the throne of David; and as time passed, and the Savior made no claim to kingly authority, John became perplexed and troubled.

And now from his dungeon he watched for the Lion of the tribe of Judah to cast down the pride of the oppressor, and to deliver the poor and him that cried. But Jesus seemed to content Himself with gathering disciples about Him, and healing and teaching the people.

He was eating at the tables of the publicans, while every day the Roman yoke rested more heavily upon Israel, while King Herod and his vile paramour worked their will, and the cries of the poor and suffering went up to heaven.

To the desert prophet all this seemed a mystery beyond his fathoming. There were hours when the whisperings of demons tortured his spirit, and the shadow of a terrible fear crept over him. Could it be that the long-hoped-for Deliverer had not yet appeared?

Then what meant the message that he himself had been impelled to bear? John had been bitterly disappointed in the result of his mission.

That which took place in 1844 is another example of what is being referenced in the experience of Jonah, and John, for there was great disappointment, and those who were sent to deliver the message did not fully understand all of the details and fine print, just like John and Jonah didn’t.

Like John, Jonah, and all twelve of Christ’s disciples, those who preached the advent message were the ordained instruments of God, and they faithfully did their work. However, their credibility must never be questioned because it was The Lord who sent them. Let’s read:

[Life Sketches 88, pp152] The voice of Brother Abbot rung through the hall in notes of warning to the world. He repeated the evidences of the soon coming of Christ, and that vast crowd listened in sacred silence to his stirring words.

The Holy Spirit rested upon the assembly. Heaven and earth seemed to approach each other. The meeting lasted until a late hour of the night. The power of the Lord was felt upon young, old, and middle aged. Some Methodists and Baptists who were present seemed to fully unite with the spirit of the meeting.

“As we returned to our homes by various ways, a voice praising God would reach us from one direction, and, as if in response, voices from another and still another quarter, shouted, ‘Glory to God, the Lord reigneth!’

Men sought their homes with praises upon their lips, and the glad sound rang out upon the still night air. No one who attended these meetings can ever forget those scenes of deepest interest.

The point of expectation was nearing. The time when we hoped to meet him was close at hand. We approached this hour with a calm solemnity. The true believers rested in a sweet communion with God, an earnest of the peace that was to be theirs in the bright hereafter.

“Worldly business was for the most part laid aside for a few weeks. We carefully scrutinized every thought and emotion of our hearts as if upon our death-beds and in a few hours to close our eyes forever upon earthly scenes.

“But the time of expectation passed. This was the first close test brought to bear upon those who believed and hoped that Jesus would come in the clouds of heaven. The disappointment of God’s waiting people was great.

Some who had appeared to possess true faith seemed to have been influenced only by fear, and now their courage returned with the passing of the time, and they boldly united with the scoffers declaring they had never been duped to really believe the doctrine of Miller, who was a mad fanatic.

“We fully believe that God, in his wisdom, designed that his people should meet with a disappointment, which was well calculated to reveal hearts and develop the true characters of those who had professed to look for and rejoice in the coming of the Lord.

Those who embraced the first angel’s message (see Revelation 14:6, 7) through fear of the wrath of God’s judgments, not because they loved the truth and desired an inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, now appeared in their true light.

This most searching test of God revealed the true characters of those who would shirk responsibility and stigma by denying their faith in the hour of trial. The reason why it is so critically important for us to understand this Bible study, is because the Advent People of God will be called upon to deliver the last and final message of mercy to a dying world. And we shouldn’t shrink from our calling, even if we may not fully understand all of the details and fine print.

Like Jonah, like John, like all twelve disciples and like William Miller, we are now called upon to give the trumpet a certain sound, for we are seeing the hand writing on the wall and we would be remiss if we sat in silence and watch America, and all the rest of the world, go over the cliff without saying a mumbling word.

Let us therefore, like all the faithful of bygone years rise to the occasion, and deliver the three angel’s messages, leaving the results with God. Of course, there will be critics who will point to 1844 as reason why we should not be viewed as credible, and yes, it ill call for courage and faith like never before, even  as many critics would say I told you so.

Credibility, in the eyes of the world is not the same as credibility with God and therefore, we are to take up the mantle of service faithfully, not by giving the same smooth sermons like the famous sooth sayers do, but like John, we are to give present truth which is the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

Let us therefore be found worthy of the high calling in Christ, because the kingdom of Christ is at hand, whether persons will hear, or whether they forbear. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which will encourage us and cheer us on our way, for it is God who is sending those who are called. Let’s read:

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord comes, for it is nigh at hand.

11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

                                    God Bless!

How To Cope with Losing Loved Ones. Sabbath afternoon, 07/11/2026

1st Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

17 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.

18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Death is a phenomenon we never get accustomed to, and yet it is something we would all have to be reconciled to, because it is an unavoidable fact of life. Humanity naturally recoils from death, because God made us to live, not to die.

And even as sad as it is when we lose loved ones, it will give us pause for concern if we observe what is currently taking place across the globe. Death has been significantly ramped up in every corner of the earth, and it runs particularly rampant in countries that are at war, and in places that are subjected to terrible natural disasters.

For instance, one of the last survivors of one family lost 173 relatives in a matter of days in Gaza. That number then rose to 270 family members killed in a matter of months. In the 2010 earthquake that had shaken Haiti, some persons lost 20 family members in one day.

And in Venezuela, where folks are still reeling from the recent twin earthquakes, thousands of persons are unaccounted for, with entire families, and their relatives wiped out without a trace. These facts do not minimize the sadness of the losses we do suffer, but it gives us a glimpse of the scale of death which the earth is now inundated with.

Coping with the loss of family and friends could be difficult, and there are various methods of dealing with it that can be helpful. However, this isn’t a one size fits all, because different persons handle grief differently.

With some persons the deep sense of loss comes all at once, and you can be overwhelmed with emotion and sadness. With others, it takes some time for the loss to set in, and it may take weeks or even months before the full realization of absence is keenly felt.

One of the ways to deal with loss is to interact and fellowship with persons, and support groups which share the same perspectives of the blessed hope.

When this is done, the grieving individuals would be encouraged, and comforted along Scriptural lines of thought meaning that the natural immortality of the soul would not find its way into the conversations to awaken a sense of immediate hope.

Other individuals might need time alone with God in order to be reconciled to the loss. Some persons do best when they take up some meaningful activity to preoccupy their minds, so that they would not dwell in a dark space for too long.

Animals are also a great help to some persons who are grieving, because our furry friends have a way of connecting with some people in ways that prove to be helpful emotionally. Another way of coping with loss is to do some form of regular physical activity that will stimulate circulation, and help with moods and mind health.

One thing that is to be avoided is substance abuse during grieving, as this will alter the state of mind, and could trigger dependence on substances to fix emotional issues. Now, while all of the above, and other methods can be adopted, our first passage tells us to comfort one another with “These words.”

This means that with the Christian the blessed hope of the first resurrection should play a major role in bringing comfort and hope to the bereaved families. This is what makes the difference between how the Christian mourns, and individuals who have not yet accepted Christ, and the hope of eternal life.

Thus, because it is an unavoidable fact of life, it will do us well to consider from time to time, our own mortality, and we should do so in the context of our first passage which tells us that Jesus is going to put an end to death, and as such we could be comforted with the knowledge that all who die in Christ would live again.

This is not to say that the shadow of death should hang before our faces every day, neither should the prospect of passing put a damper on achievements and aspirations. We should train our minds to look on the brighter side of life, while at the same time being cognizant of the inevitable.

The purpose of careful consideration, from time to time is to put the correct perspective on this life and when this is done, the things that the secular mind views as all important and all absorbing, in this life, will not be seen as such by the believer.

Especially should the closing scenes of this earth’s history be kept in view, because they bring vividly to light the blessed hope, and doing so could help keep our priorities in the right order. This is what David is saying in the Psalms when he speaks of our lifespan. Let’s read:

Psalms 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Sometimes we pass along in life as if we’re immortal already, not giving due consideration to the fact that the inevitable is heading our way, sooner or later. If we were to keep our mortality in view, it could help us to make wise choices earlier on in life, with the purpose of doing the most amount of good, for the longest time possible.

Understanding our temporary stay on this earth, as pilgrims, will also help us to rightly value that which Jesus has done for us on Calvary and it will make the temporal pursuits of life, good as they may be, fade in comparison with the immortal inheritance. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11: 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

Our first passage in Thessalonians encourages us to comfort one another with these words, referring to the blessed hope of the resurrection. But to do so we must first see why the blessed hope became so necessary in the first place.

After the fall of our first parents, the natural result was death, and not long after they had sinned, God made the promise of the Deliverer to them, so that they wouldn’t look forward to the future with dread and foreboding.

The promise was incorporated into their perspective and to the many faithful who came after it served as an anchor and hope in this present world. But good as the blessed hope is, the cycle of birth and death has continued its steady march, unto this day.

The first 20 chapters in the book of Genesis offer deep insights to the history of humanity, after the fall, and how we got to where we are today. Those chapters which deal with early genealogies should never viewed as boring, for they provide a wealth of information on the subject matter at hand. Let’s read:

Genesis 5: 5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died. 930 years.

8 And all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years: and he died. 912 yrs.

11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died. 905 yrs.

14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years: and he died. 910 yrs.

17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died. 895 yrs.

20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years: and he died. 962 yrs.

27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years: and he died. 969 yrs.

31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hundred seventy and seven years: and he died. 777 yrs.

This brings us to Noah and his sons who bridged the great divide between the antediluvian world, and the genealogies that came after the flood. When we read carefully, we’ll observe two patterns emerging, as pertains to life spans. We must also bear in mind that Noah and his sons were the last from that line of long livers. Let’s read:

Genesis 9:29 And all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years: and he died. 950 years.

Genesis 11:10 These are the generations of Shem: Shem was a hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood.

11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 600 yrs.

12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begat Salah.

13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 438 yrs.

14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber.

15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 433 yrs.

16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat Peleg.

17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. 464 yrs.

18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and begat Reu:

19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hundred and nine years, and begat sons and daughters. 239 yrs.

20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and begat Serug.

21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 237 yrs.

22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat Nahor.

23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 230 yrs.

24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat Terah.

25 And Nahor lived after he begat Terah a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 148 yrs.

32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years: and Terah died in Haran. 205 yrs.

Thus, before the flood you have the long-livers, 930, 912, 905, 910, 895, 962, 969, 777, 950 years etc, but there is a general decline in the life spans, even though there are some anomalies. Then you have (Noah) at 950, but after the flood we observe 600, 438, 433, 464, 239, 239, 230, 148, 205. A definite downward acceleration in years.

And then onto Psalms 90, where the life span has been greatly reduced, to the point where today, a centenarian is celebrated as a long liver? Let’s read:

Psalms 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. That’s 70 or 80 years.

There are two notable observations in the life spans of the persons listed: [1] There is a general, gradual decline in the number of years lived. [2] None of the persons mentioned made it to a thousand years.

Question: How is it that none of them made it to a thousand years?

Answer: According to the Scriptures, any human being who makes it to one thousand years will live forever.

There must be something unique about the number 1000, for some persons came close, but somehow, not a single person ever crossed that threshold. So, the question is why? We therefore turn to the Bible for the answers, for Paul says we must comfort one another with “These words”. Let’s read:

Revelation 20:1 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison.

Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time.

Question: How does he know that he has a short time?

Answer: He knows because he studies his Bible and if we were to study ours, we will come to the same conclusion, that we also have but a short time. Let’s read:

[2SP pp 87] Satan is a diligent student of the Bible, and much better acquainted with the prophecies than many religious teachers. He has ever kept well-informed concerning the revealed purposes of God, that he might defeat the plans of the Infinite.

[9T pp 16] Satan is a diligent Bible student. He knows that his time is short, and he seeks at every point to counterwork the work of the Lord upon this earth.

That is the reason why those first passages in 1st Thessalonians 4 have such great significance for us today, because our time is short, because we’re now living on the very brink of eternity.

There is a prospect before us that some Christians who are alive today just may not pass through the portals of the tomb, that’s how short it is. The Bible tells us that no man knows the day nor the hour, but the prophecies that are scheduled for the last days are being fulfilled quite rapidly, even as we speak.

Not only is the gospel being taken to almost every inhabitable place on the globe, but the fact that for the first time in history, we now have an American Pope, and the makeup of the supreme court is now majority Catholic, (7 out of 9), tells us something is brewing on the horizon. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.

According to the reckoning found in the Scriptures, this world is roughly about six thousand years old, give or take some number of years. And when the fulness of time has come, 6000 will give way to the one thousand years of sabbatical rest that we read of in Revelation 20.

During that 1000 year sabbatical rest the saints who have been resurrected, together with those who are alive at Jesus’ coming, will live for 1000 years, and will finally cross that threshold. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words.  Let’s read:

[D.A. pp 413] For six thousand years, faith has built upon Christ. For six thousand years the floods and tempests of satanic wrath have beaten upon the Rock of our salvation; but it stands unmoved.

[G.C. pp 659] For six thousand years, Satan’s work of rebellion has “made the earth to tremble.” He has “made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof.” And “he opened not the house of his prisoners.”

For six thousand years his prison-house has received God’s people, and he would have held them captive forever, but Christ has broken his bonds, and set the prisoners free.

[G.C. pp 660] For a thousand years, Satan will wander to and fro in the desolate earth, to behold the results of his rebellion against the law of God.

[E.W pp 51] “The saints will rest in the Holy City and reign as kings and priests one thousand years;

[G.C. pp 656> 658] For six thousand years the great controversy has been in progress. The Revelator foretells the banishment of Satan, and the condition of chaos and desolation to which the earth is to be reduced; and he declares that this condition will exist for a thousand years.

After presenting the scenes of the Lord’s second coming and the destruction of the wicked, the prophecy continues: “I saw an angel come down from Heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, and cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled….

We do not want to weary you, but the phrase 6000 years is to be found no less than 115 times, and the other related phrase, one thousand years could be found hundreds of times in the prophetic writings.

The great and final question to be answered on the world stage has to do with worship, and the contest between the 7th day sabbath, and the 1st day of the week has to be settled forever in everyone’s mind, who will be alive during crunch time.

In our day the blessed hope can only be realized if a person accepts The Lord Jesus Christ, and is willing to keep all of His commandments, by the power of The Holy Ghost. Let no one tell you otherwise, for there are many fanciful interpretations of faith in Christ that talk of love to God without obedience.

That perspective is not supported anywhere in the Bible, and individuals who will pass the 1000 year threshold, will need to meet the requirements. The fall of our first parents occurred after they breached the law of God, that’s why they, and no one who came after reached 1000.

Therefore, those who would live the first thousand years with Christ, must, by their personal decisions, restore the breach that was made, and this must of necessity include accepting all God’s laws including the 4th which says, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy”.

To build upon any other foundation than that which is written will be the equivalent of building upon a false hope that is neither recognized or endorsed in the Scriptures. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Leviticus 26: 34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.

35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

All of the signs Christ gave to us are being fulfilled as we speak. There are wars, and rumors of war, there are earthquakes in different places, there are heat waves that are breaking all known records, there are screw worms and Ebola, and numerous pestilences that have the farming industry perplexed.

Then there are droughts, and the rapidly dwindling water resources of rivers, due to a lack of snow. The cost of everything from food, medicine, healthcare and electricity are driving the less fortunate into a form of desperation that is causing some to become creative in order to survive.

Hence the astronomical rise in gambling and other ways and means that up until recently, were not an integral part of mainstream media advertisements. It all hearkens back to the end time prophecies that are written in the Bible, and according to how things are going there is only one more shoe to drop.

In trying to cope with the loss of loved ones in our day, we are uniquely positioned to possibly witness with our own two eyes, a fulfillment of the blessed hope in which faith would give way to reality in the not-too distant future.

The question for us who are alive is will we cross the threshold of 1000 years, when Christ returns, or will we fall short. Coping with loss should also include a trust in God’s promises of the first resurrection, for this is what will make all the difference at the end of the day.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will enable us to keep our heads lifted to the skies, because final movements will be rapid ones, and the phenomenon of death will soon become a thing of the past, wherefore, comfort one another with these words. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be you steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

                                     God Bless!

Three Answers to Prayer, Yes, No, Wait. Sabbath afternoon 07/04/2026

2nd Chronicles 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

While it is true that any human being could pray to God at any time, in any place, and in any situation, our first passage outlines some basic essentials for those who are called by His name, referring to folks who have entered into a covenant relationship with Him, thus designating them as His people.

The opening passage outlines some conditions and prerequisites for answered prayer, which have to be understood properly in order for us to pray to God intelligently, and get answers. The verses speak of a humble attitude, first and foremost, which means a contrite spirit that is dependent on God’s mercies.

Our attitudes and the perspectives we bring to the table mean very much to God, and they frequently determine whether an answer to prayer would be granted.

God should not be viewed as being subjective to our every request, where He’s duty bound to give us any and everything, nor should we believe that because He has promised, He has to respond in the positive every single time.

God does not owe us anything, and therefore, when we pray, it should be from the perspective of us not being worthy at all to receive anything from God. A humble spirit also would not seek to bully God into blessing us by clinging to our requests after He has said a positive no, as the case might be.

 There is an attitude out there where some persons feel that if they pray long and hard enough, they will succeed in shaking down a blessing from God, even if He does not agree. This stop and frisk attitude is not in harmony with our first passages, and must be avoided like the plague.

The purpose of us making prayer requests to God is not to change His mind, but rather to bring us into harmony with His good and perfect will. And, the opening passages do speak of a turning away from known sin, in order to receive and answer. This is of critical importance to receiving any answers from God.

When king Saul dug in his heels in deliberate sinning God could not hear his requests, for he came to the throne of grace laden with presumptuous sins, and therefore, he could not get an answer from God, not even a no. Things have to be pretty bad for a person not to get even a No from The Lord.

There are certain prayer requests that would always get a yes answer, such as when one sincerely asks for forgiveness during their probationary time. But the requests for divine intervention, or deliverance, or a specific request such as God providing this or that in the temporal realm, those should follow the guidance given in the scriptures.

Thus, we must study the preconditions in the Bible thoroughly, so that our prayers would not hit the ceiling, instead of reaching into the heavens where God is seated on His throne.

             The conditions:

Psalms 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me.

Proverbs 28:9 He that turns away his ears from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be an abomination.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, what things soever you desire, when you pray, believe that you receive them, and ye shall have them.

               The attitudes:

Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Whenever, and wherever possible and appropriate, we should kneel down to make our requests before The Lord. In some instances, because folks may have joint pain issues, or osteoporosis, they might not be able to kneel. God understands, but if we can kneel, we should, for it demonstrates reverence to the all Superior One, The God of the universe. Let’s read:

Luke 22: 41 And he (Jesus) was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed.

Acts 9:40 But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

1st Kings 18: 42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and he put his face between his knees.

However, as the title to the study says, requests that are made to The Lord will usually receive one out of three responses, Yes, No, or Wait. So, it is important for us to observe carefully, what the Bible actually says about praying and receiving answers.

The reason why we must first observe the passages that pertain to prayer requests, is so that our faith in God will have intelligent direction, and folks will be more likely receive an answer. As we read, we must tread softly with the various passages because some are not absolute statements, as may be understood by some persons.

Therefore, the line upon line, precept upon precept approach must be utilized, in order for us to come away with balanced and correct views. Let’s read:

John 14:13 And whatsoever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14 If you shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.

John 15: 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

The words “Whatsoever” and “Anything” in the two previous passages, have been a source of problems for some believers, who, upon reading these verses may jump to incorrect conclusions. When observed carefully there is a caveat in the passages which says “In my name.”

Thus, the logical question is: What does it mean to pray in Jesus’ name? It does not only mean placing His name strategically after your prayer requests, even though this is necessary, since everything has to pass through Him first.

Praying in Jesus’ name means praying according to what God has promised, asking in harmony with the word of God, with a heart that is vitally connected to Christ, that is willing to be directed by Him, and a mind that is directed by The Holy Spirit.

The Holy Ghost will never move upon you to ask for something that God will not at least respond to you about, and thus, the issue of praying in Jesus’ name is one of the primary issues that will often affect the outcome, whether it be Yes, No or Wait. In other words, if it is indeed the case that one prays in Jesus’ name they will get an answer, period.  Let’s read:

Romans 8:26 Likewise, the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

27 And he that searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because he makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

In fact, when you think about it carefully, in many cases where the answers were not forthcoming, the cause might be that the requests were not made in Jesus’ name, because whenever prayer requests are made in His name, you will get an answer, whether it be a Yes, a No, or Wait.

This leads us to another passage that deals with the issue of getting answers to prayer, in cases where the request is for healing. This one is huge, because to put it frankly, if one is sick, and a prayer request is made for healing we’ll most likely expect, and hope that the answer is a Yes. Let’s read:

James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

But, according to the title of the study, the answers could also be a No, or a Wait. That’s why earlier, we cautioned against interpreting some of the passages in an absolute manner. Line must be upon line, and precept upon precept, lest we take one passage and run with it, before studying other related passages.

For instance, if persons were to pray for healing, for someone who was critically ill, and after prayer, the person dies, that does not mean that God did not hear and answer your prayer.

It Just means that the answer was a No, and if that request was made with a humble spirit, a No will be viewed as a positive, for all things work together for the good of those who love God. Persons should not stumble at a No, for there are three main answers to prayer, Yes, No, or Wait.

If the one for whom the request was made, makes a full recovery, the answer was a Yes. If the person in question continues to be sick, for a period of time, the answer is a Wait. But, if the person in question dies after prayers were made, the answer was a No.

This point is of critical importance for individuals to understand, for some might be in danger of thinking that God did not hear a particular prayer for healing if the person died after being prayed for, or that sin was present in the ones making the request. This is not necessarily the case.

When we pray, a humble spirit would defer to God’s wisdom, with the understanding that He knows the end from the beginning, and that He knows what is best for the person in question. In fact, there are a number of cases where a No is the very best answer to your prayers. Let’s read:

2nd Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, thus saith the Lord, set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying,

3 I beseech thee, O Lord, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

4 And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the Lord came to him, saying,

5 Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus, saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord.

6 And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

7 And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.

13 And Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and shewed them all the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armour, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah shewed them not.

14 Then came Isaiah the prophet unto king Hezekiah, and said unto him, what said these men? and from whence came they unto thee? And Hezekiah said, they are come from a far country, even from Babylon.

16 And Isaiah said unto Hezekiah, Hear the word of the Lord.

17 Behold, the days come, that all that is in thine house, and that which thy fathers have laid up in store unto this day, shall be carried into Babylon: nothing shall be left, saith the Lord.

21 And Hezekiah slept with his fathers: and Manasseh his son reigned in his stead.

2nd Kings 21: Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and reigned fifty and five years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Hephzibah.

2 And he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the Lord cast out before the children of Israel.

3 For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord said, In Jerusalem will I put my name.

5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.

6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger.

[Ministry of Healing, 229] God knows the end from the beginning. He is acquainted with the hearts of all men. He knows whether those for whom prayer is offered would or would not be able to endure the trials that would come upon them should they live.

[Ministry of Healing, 230] This is one reason why, while presenting our petitions with earnestness, we should say, “Nevertheless not my will, but Thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 In praying for the sick, we are to pray that if it is God’s will that they may be raised to health; but if not that He will give them His grace to comfort, His presence to sustain them in their suffering.

This leads us to another passage which deals with the issue of prayer requests, for we previously read of the words: “Whatsoever” and “Anything” but the next passage adds another dimension, because it says that “Anything” and “Whatsoever” should be in harmony with God’s will, in order for the request to be granted, in most cases.

This is very important too, for our will should be in subjection to God’s will, and if for any reason there’s a difference between the two, the person who is making the request should defer to God. Let’s read:

1st John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.

15 And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Luke 22:41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone's cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

42 Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done.

This leads us into the study for today which will be the springboard for all prayer requests. It has to do with the parable of a widow, who had some issue to be addressed by a local judge. She then pressed her petitions to the judge in question, until she got an answer.

For purposes of this study, we will place her outside of the judge’s door, where she remains, persistently asking for redress, and not giving up until she hears a definite word from the judge. She knocks, and she keeps on knocking until the answer is given.  Let’s read:

Luke 18:1 And he spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2 Saying, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man.

3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, avenge me of my adversary.

4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5 Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

In other words, she has an axe to grind, some issue that needed redress, some person, who apparently had made her life bitter. Just because you believe in God, and are a Christian, does not mean that from time to time, you wouldn’t have an axe to grind with someone or some company, or with some church.

There are times when even among brethren, there are matters that need to be resolved, issues, which if left to foment could cause a root of bitterness to spring up, whereby many might be defiled. Thus, if, and whenever this is the case, the best thing to do is to take it to the Judge for redress.

In cases where the Christian has an axe to grind, the Judge should be Jesus, and all grievances, insults or injustices, should first be taken to Him in prayer, for redress, and if He directs us to a human agent, then we should follow His directives.

Too often we find ourselves seeking redress without the Judge and whenever this is the case persons are almost sure to make blunders in judgement. In the parable, the widow doesn’t get immediate answers, but she persists patiently, until an answer is given.

The parable actually provides two of the 3 answers mentioned in the title of the study, and the third one will come in the form of a No. Therefore, let us start with the answer we most love to hear, a Yes.

There is no doubt that ‘Yes” is our favorite answer. For healing? Yes! For wherewithal to pay bills? Yes! For anything and for everything we ask God for, our favorite is Yes. Let’s read:

Luke 18:5 “I will avenge her.” That’s a Yes.

There isn’t anything wrong with a yes, and we are encouraged to pray in the positive, believing that God will hear and give us an answer. This is why The Lord instructs us to believe when we pray, that we will receive the petitions we asked. The key is to expect a Yes, with the possibility of a No, or a Wait. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 1: 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.

20 For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

The other answer given in the parable was a Wait, whereby we are encouraged to continue pressing our petitions to the throne of grace, until we get a definite answer. The Wait answer could be observed in the following passage, where it says that “He would not for a while. Let’s read:

Luke 18:4 And he would not for a while: but after- ward he said within himself…..

Here is where some believers often stumble, for it is often the case that we mistake a Wait for a No. Until a definite answer is given it is in order for us to keep on praying. That’s what Elijah did, when he prayed for rain, and it did not come until after the seventh prayer request. The final answer was actually a yes, but during the interim period, he had to wait. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: 41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink for there is a sound of abundance of rain.

42 So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; and he cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees,

43 And said to his servant, go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, there is nothing. And he said, Go again seven times.

44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there arises a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, go up, say unto Ahab, prepare thy chariot, and get thee down that the rain stops thee not.

45 And it came to pass in the meanwhile, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.

The answer was actually a yes, but like Naaman, the prophet Elijah had to dip seven times. There is a great lesson for us in this, as it pertains to persons persevering in prayer. Not because the preliminary answer is wait, means to say that you will throw in the towel, nor should we mistake Wait for a No.

Wherever Wait is the interim answer, we must press on in faith, believing all things and hoping all things. Our problem in too many instances is that we don’t like to wait. In our day where everything seems to be on the fast track, waiting on God seems to be too much for some believers.

We are living in the now generation, an age of fast foods fast cars and bullet trains, while chatbots such as Claude and Gemini give us answers immediately, even at our fingertips. Thus, hardly anyone wants to wait anymore, and persons often believe that God is taking too long, to answer prayers.

This perspective will have to change, especially as we head into prime time, because every Christian who would survive the perils of the last days, must learn this vital lesson, that of waiting upon God for everything, and in every situation. And practice makes perfect. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Revelation 14: 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

We must now turn our attention to the last of the three answers to prayer, the one most believers do not like, and the one which often causes persons to get discouraged, and question the goodness of God in the process. We are speaking of No.

When prayer requests are made, sometimes, in the wisdom of God He may see fit to deny the request with a definite No. This should never cause persons to stumble, neither should faith in God be shaken to the point where doubts arise and discouragements may set in.

One of the most important lessons we will all have to learn is that of receiving a No answer from God, with a cheerful spirit. The Yes and the Wait might be easier to bear, but it’s the No that shows whether or not we are truly humble.

There are two prominent Nos in the Bible that we must now examine, because they shed great light on the humble spirit we spoke earlier of. The first one has to do with none other than Christ Himself, who prayed earnestly to the Father, and received not only a Wait, but also a No.

The No came at a very difficult time for Jesus, as the powers of darkness were coming in for the kill, and the prince of darkness wrung the soul of Jesus with terrible temptations. One of those temptations had to do with what the Father testified of Christ, as it pertained to Him having the power to lay down His life and the power to take it back up again.

There’s only one big problem with that testimony, in that Christ would have to die first, in order to find out the truth in the matter. That is the equivalent of telling a person that they have the power to walk on air, but to find out, they would first have to jump off a high cliff.

When you see Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, clinging to the cold ground with much weeping, it is because the prince of darkness was tempting Him with the thought that separation from The Father would be eternal, and that the cross was the means by which God was seeking to get rid of Him. A brutal temptation indeed. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 753] Satan with his fierce temptations wrung the heart of Jesus. The Savior could not see through the portals of the tomb. Hope did not present to Him His coming forth from the grave a conqueror, or tell Him of the Father’s acceptance of the sacrifice. He feared that sin was so offensive to God that Their separation was to be eternal.

Matthew 26:37 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.

38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death: tarry you here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: never-the-less not as I will, but as thou wilt.

42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Like Elijah who had to wait until he got a definite answer, Jesus also had to wait until God gave Him a definite answer, and it was a No. It was very tough for Christ to move forward with the agenda, but He did it for you and me, and in the process, He took No for an answer.

The same answer of No occurred with the apostle Paul, who on three separate occasions, had prayed for healing, and the answer came back as a No. He did not fret, nor would he turn back, and he would not allow his confidence in God to be shaken, just because he did not get what he asked for.

Was it tough for Paul too, yes it was, especially since he had been given the gift of healing to the extent where those who received handkerchiefs from him would be healed, and yet, here he is, praying for his own healing, and the answer is a No. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 12: 7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Obviously, the answer was a no. Question: what should you do if after praying on several occasions, the answer comes back as a No? Should the person in question, continue to press their petitions to the throne of grace, or should you stand down, like Paul and Jesus with a humble, understanding spirit?

After a definite answer is given to prayer, there is no need to continue banging on the gates of heaven, if God has made His good will clear to you. A humble spirit will accept His final answer as being the very best response, in your given situation.

Currently, you might be praying about some issue in your life. It may be that, like the widow, you have an axe to grind with someone, or like Paul, you may be asking for healing, or deliverance from a situation that is causing you grief, and sleepless nights.

God wants us to remember Christ, and Paul and the many others who went before, who at times got a Yes, a Wait and in some instances a No. Let not your heart be troubled, because whatsoever the answer may be, God knows what He is doing, and the final answer will always be for the best good of all those concerned.

Therefore, zip up your boots, lift up the hands that are drooping and pray in the positive, with a humble spirit, and in the fullness of time, God will make His good and perfect will known. We therefore end with two passages of Scripture that will encourage us to pray and continue praying, because God is faithful, who has promised. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 29: 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

12 Then shall you call upon me, and you shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

Matthew 7: 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

8 For everyone that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.

                                     God Bless!

Jesus Christ, From Eternity To Eternity. Sabbath afternoon 06/20/2026

1st John 5: 10 He that believes on the Son of God has the witness in himself: he that believes not God hath made him a liar; because he believes not the record that God gave of his Son.

11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

The word eternal generally refers to something, or someone that lasts forever, which has no beginning, and no end, and which exists entirely outside of the constraints of time. And when used in the context of Jesus’ life, it refers to His existence before time, and His eternal nature.

The prince of darkness hates this fact, and thus he seeks to bring Christ down to the level of a created being, thus stripping of Jesus of His right to worship. The right to receive worship and honor rests upon the fact that all things and all persons were created by Jesus Christ.

This is the reason given in the 4th commandment, because, of the mere fact that He created all things, sets Jesus on an entirely different level than created beings. All of satan’s efforts to try to overthrow the government of God are squarely centered around the Creatorship of Christ, for if there is no Creator, there can be no Redeemer.

That’s why the elephant in the room is worship and not merely a professed love to God. Revelation 13 and 14 deal with the issue of worship, and the fact that Christ created all things, is cited as the main reason why He is to be worshipped. Let’s read:

Revelation 4: 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for You have created all things, and for thy pleasure they are, and were created.

The devil broods and whines over this unchangeable fact, and he often imbues human agencies with his own sophistries, to try to chip away at this specific truth, that in Christ, there is, and has always been eternal life, also known as immortality, and as such He was never ever created.

The reason why he is so hell bent on trying to make Christ into a created being is that if that were true, then Jesus could not promise the Christian eternal life, because he couldn’t give that which He did not have inherently.

The devil began his diabolical work up in heaven as he questioned why Jesus was entitled to worship. The thought boiled, and rankled in his mind until it found utterances in words that questioned the right of Christ to receive worship, while he was to receive none.

Let’s take a look at sacred history, for there must be a clear understanding of what caused the war up in heaven, for whatsoever caused war in heaven will also cause war on earth, and thus, when any mortal man or angel begins to take worship to themselves, which belongs to God alone, you will have wars and rumors of wars. Let’s read:

Isaiah 14:12 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!

13 For 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:

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most-High.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 36] To dispute the supremacy of the Son of God, thus impeaching the wisdom and love of the Creator, had become the purpose of this prince of angels. To this object he was about to bend the energies of that master mind, which, next to Christ’s, was first among the hosts of God.

The King of the universe summoned the heavenly hosts before Him, that in their presence He might set forth the true position of His Son and show the relation He sustained to all created beings.

The Son of God had wrought the Father’s will in the creation of all the hosts of heaven; and to Him, as well as to God, their homage and allegiance were due.

Thus, there are fundamental truths that must first be confirmed from the Bible, so that our faith would rest securely upon inspiration alone, and not on any private interpretation.

There never was a time in the distant past when the Jesus of the Bible was not in existence. Jesus wasn’t created, He did not have a beginning point, and He did not get eternal life from the Father. All of these perspectives point to one fundamental error, that is, that Jesus is a created being, which He is not.

These theories contradict the plainest passages of Scripture, and when observed closely, they seek to upend the Christian’s hope of immortal life, the very promise upon which our faith is founded.

That is why, in our first verses, John sets the record straight, by declaring that eternal life is to be found in Christ, not because it was given to Him at some point in time by The Father, but because it has been His and will always be His, as a member of The God- head. Let’s read:

Colossians 1: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

When it mentions principalities and powers, it also includes the prince of darkness, and all the angels that fell with him. In the book of Ephesians, chapter 6, they are referred to as being principalities, and powers, thus, they are also included in the profound statement which says: “All things were created by Him.” Let’s read:

Ephesians 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This is very bad news for the prince of darkness, for if you have a beginning, you will also have an end, a fact which devils are forced to acknowledge, even when they do so under duress. This can be observed whenever they mention their final demise in the not too-distant future. Let’s read:

Matthew 8: 28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.

29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, what have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

Revelation 12: 12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath because he knows that he hath but a short time.

The apostle Paul goes on to issue a warning to the Christian, to be on the alert for agents who might try to bring in private interpretations pertaining to the eternal nature of Christ. This is one of the points on which there will be a departure from the faith, so watch out! Let’s read:

Colossians 2: 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

9 For in him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.

10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.

The Bible teaches us to believe His prophets, which means that when God speaks through His anointed servant we are to listen. Thus, the servant of Christ sheds great light on the subject matter in question, so as to leave no room for doubt and sophistries.

It is written first and foremost in the Scriptures, and then it is confirmed by The Holy Spirit through God’s ordained prophet, so that in the mouth of two or 3 witnesses, every word may be established. Let’s read:

[Maranatha pp 302] “In him [Christ] was life; and the life was the light of men.” It is not physical life that is here specified, but immortality, the life which is exclusively the property of God. The Word, who was with God, and who was God, had this life.

Physical life is something which each individual receives. It is not eternal or immortal; for God, the Life-giver, takes it again. But the life of Christ was unborrowed. No one can take this life from Him. “I lay it down of myself,” He said. In Him was life, original, unborrowed, underived. This life is not inherent in man. He can possess it only through Christ.

Even Claude and Gemini understand what the word underived means, for simply put it means that Jesus did not get His eternal life from anywhere, nor from anyone. It was original and not given to Him by God the Father. Let’s hear the A.I. rendition:

Underived means not formed, copied, or developed from something else. It describes something that is original, primary, fundamental, or self-sustaining rather than borrowed or secondary.

In addition to these undisputable evidences, Jesus declared that Moses wrote of Him, meaning, that the God you read of in the Old Testament is Jesus Christ, primarily. When it says in the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, and when it says he spoke and it was done, that is none other than Jesus Christ being referred to.

That’s the reason why He is called the word of God, meaning that any reference to God saying anything is a direct reference to Jesus. In fact, the offices of the God-head operate this way; anything that has to be spoken will be coming through Christ. Period.

[The Desire of Ages pp 19] By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was the Word of God,—God’s thought made audible.

John 5: 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

So, the logical thing to do at this point is to see what Moses has to say of Christ because Jesus is telling us that Moses wrote of Him. As we observe the sacred utterances let us try not interfere with or distort the truth, for it is plain and simple so that a child could understand. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 3: 26 There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rides upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.

27 The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Exodus 3: 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, what is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.

15 And God said moreover unto Moses, thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

John 8: 56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

57 Then said the Jews unto him, thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

This is the reason why the Jews back then tried to stone Jesus, because He declared Himself to be on par with the Father. At that time, He offered eternal life to all who would believe, and that riled them up, because, as far as those Jews understood, or rather misunderstood, eternal life is only to be found in God the Father. They were, and still are dead wrong. Let’s read:

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying, for a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

When some believers declare themselves to be New Testament Christians only, they may not know that it is primarily Christ that is being referenced in the Old Testament as God. When you sing the song Jehovah Jireh, that is Christ you are singing about. Jehovah-Nissi is also a reference to Christ.

It was Christ who came looking for our first parents in the cool of the day, after they had sinned. It was Christ who made them the promise “It shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” The God in the burning bush, who appeared unto Moses, was Christ.

When you read in the Bible of The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, those are references to Christ. To put it plainly, God the Father, basically has nothing to say to the human race, except what He says in, and through Christ.

It was Christ who spoke the law on mount Sinai, and it was Jesus who throughout the Old Testament, and into the New Testament is represented primarily as the God of the Bible. Thus, to reject the Old in favor of the New is to literally reject both Old and New, because Christ is God from eternity to eternity.

Jesus did not become a God at some distant point in the past neither was Christ elevated or graduated to be God. He has no beginning and no end, therefore, there is absolutely nothing in the Bible, nor in the Spirit of Prophecy to even vaguely suggest that Christ had a beginning point.

Hence the reason why the Psalmist David refers to His eternal nature and existence, in many verses so as to confirm what the entire Bible says of Christ. Let’s read:

Psalms 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

Psalms 41:13 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Psalms 93: 2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.

And Christ is the One who has spoken through all of the prophets. All our prayer requests to the Father, have to pass through Christ first, because The Father will not listen to any human being, no matter what their rank is or how urgent their plea, if they do not come through Christ. Let’s read:

John 14: 5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

Isaiah 9: 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

1st Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.

[F. E. pp 237] After the transgression of Adam, the Lord spoke no longer directly with man; the human race was given into the hands of Christ, and all communication came through Him to the world. It was Christ who spoke the law on Mount Sinai.

Exodus 19: 16 And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.

17 And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the nether part of the mount.

18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.

19 And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice.

Exodus 20: And God spoke all these words, saying, 2  am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 305] “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.” Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent, uncreated One, Himself the Source and Sustainer of all, is alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship.

Before His death, Jesus declared that no man could take His life, but that He will lay it down voluntarily. Then He added this profound truth about Himself, that he had the power to lay down His life, and the power to raise Himself up again. Now brethren this is some serious kind of power.

As human beings, we run on automatic basically, for we do not have to think about breathing, inhaling or exhaling. But the power to lay down His life means that Jesus could make the conscious decision to die at a specific time, and boom, He is dead. In fact, if you were to read the script carefully, Jesus died at the exact millisecond, as foretold in the Scriptures.

Then again, it gives us pause for concern when He says that He has the power to raise Himself up from the grave. It is only the Eternal God who could make a statement like that, and that’s why the dead Jesus scared the daylights out of satan, much more than the living Christ. Let’s read:

John 10: 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have

power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

19 There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings.

20 And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

[The Desire of Ages pp 785] When the voice of the mighty angel was heard at Christ’s tomb, saying, Thy Father calls Thee, the Savior came forth from the grave by the life that was in Himself. Now was proved the truth of His words, “I lay down My life, that I might take it again.... I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

[Selected messages Bk 1 pp 301] He who had said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again” (John 10:17), came forth from the grave to life that was in Himself. Humanity died; divinity did not die. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death. He declares that He has life in Himself to quicken whom He will.

This is the reason why the prince of darkness goes to work in subterfuge ways to try and discredit the eternal nature of Christ, for he knows that when this truth dawns on our minds, it would give us the lively hope of the resurrection.

This leads us to the study for today, because we are to address both the meaning and the origination of the Greek word “Monogenes” which is translated in the Bible as being “Only Begotten”. Persons indeed have stumbled on the term, because, when applied to Christ, it gives the sense that He was begotten of God the Father and thus, must have had a beginning point.

Thus, if Christ had a beginning point, it means that He was created, and that will directly contradict the truth in the Bible which says “By Him were all things created”. Furthermore, the logical follow up to that line of reasoning is that He does not inherently have eternal life, and if so, He is promising us something which is not originally His.

So, let’s address that specific issue to see where the problem lies, because you will encounter this over and over again in your study and research, and if it is not made clear, it could affect your views of the blessed hope, given to us through Christ. Let’ read:

John 1: 14 And 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.

18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 3:16 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.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

That translation “Only Begotten” originated with the early church fathers and it entered into the early English translations of the Bible because of the heavy influence of the Latin Vulgate, the Roman Catholic Bible. The perspective that Christ was born from The Father came from Origen, one of the early scholars of Christianity.

He held a number of unscriptural views, such as God the Father alone is God in the highest sense and the Christ of the Bible is God, but only in the secondary sense, since according to Origen’s interpretation, He was a derivative of God, and not absolutely God.

So here it is, directly from the horses’ mouth of the Vulgate, or Roman Catholic Bible:

"Et Verbum caro factum est, et habitavit in nobis: et vidimus gloriam ejus, gloriam quasi unigeniti a Patre, plenum gratiae et veritatis."

English Translation "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The concept of Jesus Christ being begotten at some distant point in eternity, is not only foreign to the Bible, but it is just another attempt by the prince of darkness to interfere with the divinity of Christ.

This, and other heresies, the apostle Paul warned early Christians of, including Docetism, Gnosticism, Arianism, Nestorianism, Monophysitism, and a lot of other isms and schisms, all designed by satan to demote Christ in one form or another. Let’s read:

Acts 20: 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.

30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Let us lay aside all of the isms and schisms and let God the Father speak for Himself as He addresses that issue of whether Christ is fully, and originally God. The father does not address Jesus as one who is a secondary God, but as God in the highest sense. Let’s read:

Hebrews 1: 7 And of the angels he saith, Who makes his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire.

8 But unto the Son he saith, thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.

If The Father addresses Christ as being fully God, we can end the Bible study right now, case closed. Let’s read again:

[R.H April 5.1906, par 6] The world was made by him, “and without him was not anything made that was made.” If Christ made all things, he existed before all things. The words spoken in regard to this are so decisive that no one need be left in doubt.

Christ was God essentially, and in the highest sense. He was with God from all eternity, God over all, blessed forevermore. The Lord Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God, existed from eternity, a distinct person, yet one with the Father.

The eternal nature of Jesus Christ is so powerful and potent that He will pull from the ashes, even those who were burnt at the stake during the dark ages.

Those Christians who were eaten by wild beasts, and those who were beheaded for Christ’s sake will be brought back to life by the raw eternal power of Christ at His second coming.

Allow no one, whether demon or angel, shake your faith in the eternal existence of Christ, because the promise of immortality hinges directly upon the fact that He is eternal, and God, in the highest sense.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will buoy the Christian’s hope, for it is a promise of raw Divine power that will be manifested through Christ, to all believers from their graves. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

17 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. 

                                     God Bless!

Why God’s Law Is Being Attacked. Sabbath afternoon 06/06/2026

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The law of God contained in the 10 commandments is coming under increasing attack, and these attacks will increase and peak during the final conflict of the ages when the mark of the beast will engulf many of earth’s inhabitants. The assaults against God’s law is not only coming from secular forces, it is coming in from the most unlikely places, that’s within Christian circles.

Efforts have been, and are underway to undermine, water down, abolish, and alter God’s law so that it is gutted from the inside out to suit the fancy of men. When God says that marriage is between one man and his female wife, and then legislators make laws saying otherwise, that’s an attack on God’s law.

When God says that adverse consequences follow the violation of His law, and legislators come along and grant immunity, so that persons are not held to account, that’s another brazen attack on God’s law.

And when God says that the 7th Sabbath is the only day of rest given to the world, and then the nations of earth designate different days as official days of rest, that’s an attack on God’s law.

When mortals begin to crave, and demand worship from fellow mortals, and when yes men are bowing down left, right and center by doing things that they know are wrong, that’s an attack on God’s law. And wherever forbidden foods are recommended as staples in diet as being good for you, that’s another attack on the law of God.

Furthermore, by making these changes, alterations, and eliminations, persons are sitting in God’s seat, meaning that they are attempting to usurp the sole prerogative of God to make laws which govern His creatures.

And by so doing, issues pertaining to morality, right and wrong, good and evil, sin and righteousness will become subjective, being determined by the whims and fancies of legislators who come into power, who are guided by popular demand or convenience.

While it is true that the law of God can never save the sinner, yet without the law no sinner could be saved, because the law shows us why we’re in need of the Savior, because of sin. That is what our first passage states, because the law of God sets the gold standard for differentiating between good and evil.

Thus, when the instrument by which good and evil is measured is removed or tampered with, there is nothing to refer to, to say that this or that is wrong or right, and no sooner than this takes place persons become a law unto themselves. This is how you end up with phrases like my truth, or I did it my way.

Another popular phrase that comes directly from the prince of darkness is: “Let conscience be your guide”. Consider the implications and ramifications of the statement carefully for if one has a mind, or conscience that is not guided by the Holy Spirit, the person will inevitably set the bar according to their own preferences, and before you know it, Jeffery Epstein can do what he did with a clear conscience.

Thus, perspectives of right and wrong become fluid, being driven, and determined by the individuals in question and whenever the individual person begins to determine what is right or wrong, there could be no accountability, because whatsoever they do will always be right, because they set the gold standard.

It all began up in heaven, when the former Lucifer, before he became satan, made war against God’s law up in heaven. At that time, lucifer waged war against the very foundation of God’s government, and, using intelligence and cunning, he introduced certain sentiments and perspectives, which if you are not very careful, may sound good and pleasing.

Let’s take a few examples coming in from the pen of inspiration before we proceed, for it has to be made abundantly clear to the entire world what is really at stake in the final conflict of the ages, that will be the determining factor for your eternal destiny. Let’s read:

[G.C. pp 499] When it was announced that with all his sympathizers he must be expelled from the abodes of bliss, then the rebel leader boldly avowed his contempt for the Creator’s law. He reiterated his claim that angels needed no control.

Why would he say this? That angels do not need any control? The argument he put forth to support this claim is that angels were made perfect, and perfect beings cannot do anything wrong, because they are perfect, thus he artfully sets the stage for the angels to personally determine what is right from wrong as based upon the feelings or sentiments they harbor. Let’s read:

[1SP pp 22] Satan grew bold in his rebellion, and expressed his contempt of the Creator’s law. He claimed that angels needed no law; but should be left free to follow their own will, which would ever guide them right.

Thus, if the angels are left to determine what is right from wrong, then the logical end to his reasoning is that God’s law has to be abolished, and by so doing he proposes to set them at liberty, since, according to his warped mind, law represents restriction. Let’s read:

[G.C. pp 499] He denounced the divine statutes as a restriction of their liberty, and declared that it was his purpose to secure the abolition of law; that, freed from this restraint, the hosts of Heaven might enter upon a more exalted, more glorious state of existence.

And now, having succeeded with one third of the angelic host, he brings the same cool aid to Eve, and she takes the bait with the hope of supposed liberty as the result. Observe the similarity of the language in the former quote and the next one, because the prince of darkness always uses the same old tricks.

He recycles and he repackages them under different names and guises, but beneath the veneer of liberty and freedom, is the cool aid that was once served up in heaven.

[1 S.P. pp 38] She then plucked for herself of the fruit and ate, and imagined she felt the quickening power of a new and elevated existence as the result of the exhilarating influence of the forbidden fruit.

It's amazing, and disheartening at the same time, to see how most of earth’s inhabitants have gobbled up the diabolical cool-aid. Persons in contemporary Christianity now teach their congregants that God’s law has been abolished, or nailed to the cross, and all you have to do is love God.

Thus, love to God is divorced from obedience, and many have substituted praise, where obedience has come up short. But the Bible teaches us that love to God is measured by obedience, and if it ever comes down to the wire, where The Lord had to choose between praise and obedience, He will absolutely choose obedience over praise. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 15: 22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

That’s why Revelation chapters 13 and14 never ever mention the word love, not even once, because the love of God is not the issue in our day. The elephant in the room is the law of ten commandments which points to The Creator of the heavens, and earth, and His sole prerogative to establish laws which govern His domain and territories.

The study for today will expose the two sides of the issue pertaining to God’s law. We’ll also take a deep dive into the pros and cons, and the reasonings that are given in the Bible, and those that come from the prince of darkness, so that everyone can make their intelligent choice to serve God, as we encourage all to do so.

God offers liberty and satan also offers liberty, but on widely different terms. The liberty God offers is through surrender and obedience to His good will, and wherever persons make this intelligent choice, they will experience liberty, without the adverse downsides that come from the prince of darkness.

In God’s form of liberty, the individual conscience or will is left intact, and persons choose to serve, love, and obey God, because He is good, and there is an intelligent understanding that everything He bids us do is always for our best good. This is why Jesus says that if The Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

Here in America, as we are poised to celebrate the nation’s 250th birthday, we remember that laws are what guarantee our freedoms. Even though we are now at a critical juncture, where the rule of law is being upended on several fronts, for the most part we are still a free country, protected by the laws which govern the citizenry.

Persons can own homes and cars, stocks and bitcoin and all of the material blessings of life without them having to worry about it being stolen, because God’s law that says “Thou shalt not steal” has for the most been adopted within the framework of the nation’s jurisprudence. Thus, the freedoms we enjoy are due to the laws which govern our conduct.

Thus, when the prince of darkness attempts to paint God’s law as a restriction on your freedoms, he is by so doing trying to sell us the same cool aid which he deceived our first parents into drinking. The law of God must never be viewed as a restriction on your liberties.

Instead, it is a veritable guarantor of our liberties, when goodness, righteousness, and truth are the objectives. Thus, the argument that is so often put forth by man’s nemesis, that obeying God would put you at a disadvantage, is just a big, fat lie, plain and simple. Let’s read:

John 8: 36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

James 1:25 But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues therein, he, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Romans 7: 12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Deuteronomy 4:5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it.

6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

40 Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, forever.

Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, you have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

2nd Corinthians 3: 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

[S.P bk 4, pp 401] Let the restraint imposed by the divine law be wholly removed, and human laws would soon be disregarded. Because God forbids dishonest practices, coveting, lying, and defrauding, men are ready to trample upon his statutes as a hindrance to their worldly prosperity.

But the results of banishing these precepts would be such as they do not anticipate. Property would no longer be safe. Men will obtain their neighbor’s possessions by violence; and the strongest would become richest. Life itself would not be respected.

The marriage vow would no longer stand as a sacred bulwark to protect the family. He who had the power, would, if he desired, take his neighbor’s wife by violence. The fifth commandment would be set aside with the fourth.

Children would not shrink from taking the life of their parents, if by so doing they could obtain the desire of their corrupt hearts. The civilized world would become a horde of robbers and assassins; and peace, rest, and happiness would be banished from the earth.

That’s the reason why Paul issued a profound curse upon those who knowingly teach that God’s law has been abolished, or nailed to the cross. Some may be doing so ignorantly, and for such there is still hope, but if one who knows better, deliberately continues to preach that God’s law is nailed to the cross, that preacher’s future will be pretty grim. Let’s read:

Galatians 1:8 But even though we, or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preaches any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Isaiah 5: 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

Isaiah 24: 4 The earth mourns and fades away, the world languishes and fades away, the haughty people of the earth do languish.

5 The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.

6 Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.

Believe it or not, on the flipside of God’s liberty, you have the prince of darkness also offering liberty, but he offers it through disobedience. In his camp, folks are permitted to do whatsoever their hearts desire, without any laws or restrictions, even when it would do you great harm and produce collateral damage in others.

His mantra is if it feels good, do it, whatever “IT” is. Rights are not respected, the rich who are in power grind down the faces of the poor, and large sums of money are spent to glorify self, while your everyday joe struggles with the basic necessities of life.

In satan’s brand of liberty, persons are free to bully others into submission, for the sake of self-worship and for personal gain. Property, real estate, and the natural resources of other nations are coveted, and like Ahab with Naboth’s vineyard, if they have to kill to get it, they absolutely are at liberty to do so.

Additionally, in satan’s form of liberty, you have the complete liberty to drink cool aid laced with cyanide because the foundation of his form of liberty is that nothing is off limits, even if persons might die in the process.

Thus, you are at liberty to do as much drugs as you possibly can, because the God of heaven will not be permitted to encroach on your freedom to do what you think is best and right for you. As they say, it is my life, and nobody, not even the prince of darkness will interfere with my so-called freedom.

On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston was found submerged in a bathtub in her suite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. Her autopsy revealed a deadly mixture of drugs, which included cocaine, and marijuana, amongst others.

Prince also died from a drug overdose, at his home in Minnesota on April 21, 2016. Like Whitney, he too had the freedom and the means to do whatsoever he liked, and thus, the toxicology report revealed a high concentration of fentanyl in his system.

So yes, the prince of darkness also offers liberty, but on terms that are entirely different from God’s form of liberty. With God, believing in Jesus, and obeying His laws form the basis of your liberty. With satan disobedience is the basis of your freedom, but you will die eternally in the process. The choice is yours, whether to be free and alive or to be free and dead. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 2:18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.

Several interesting and pertinent commentaries are written by the servant of The Lord, on the issues of liberty, and they are noteworthy, since to too many individuals, the law of God is looked upon from the prohibitory side, instead of being a law of liberty. Take a look!

[G.C pp 499] He denounced the divine statutes as a restriction of their liberty and declared that it was his purpose to secure the abolition of law; that, freed from this restraint, the hosts of heaven might enter upon a more exalted, more glorious state of existence.

[D.A. pp 435] Lucifer desired God’s power, but not His character. He sought for himself the highest place, and every being who is actuated by his spirit will do the same. Thus alienation discord and strife will be inevitable. Dominion becomes the prize of the strongest.

The kingdom of Satan is a kingdom of force; every individual regards every other as an obstacle in the way of his own advancement, or a stepping stone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.

The mark of the beast will focus our attention on the elephant in the room, which is the law of God, especially the issue of worship. Especially the fourth commandment will be the center of the controversy because earth’s inhabitants will have to decide what kind of liberty they prefer, the godly kind of liberty or the luciferian kind.

When observed carefully, there is not a single thing harmful, or detrimental to the human family in the 4th commandment, for all God is instructing us to do is to take a rest which we need anyway. Even popes agree that it is a good idea to take a break from the hum drum of life, to focus on God and your eternal interests.

The problem is that God says that the day of rest is the 7th day of the week, while Rome says it should be the 1st. Thus, the crux of the problem is not the issue of rest, it is the issue of the day, because God, in His capacity as Creator, and Ruler over His domain says that the 7th day Sabbath is the only stipulated day of rest.

Thus, to the very end of the great controversy which started in heaven and came down to our planet, the attacks against God’s law will continue, until in the final conflict of the ages, it will reach its zenith when every person on our planet will have to take a side.

This is the issue that is just on the horizon, and this is what the remnant people of God are called upon to declare to the world at this time. The Lord will do a strange work that many are not expecting, and He will use human instrumentalities that are guided by His Spirit, rather than the institutions and strategies of men. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 206] In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged.... God will work a work in our day that but few anticipate. He will raise up and exalt among us those who are taught rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the outward training of scientific institutions.

An ordinary mind, trained to obey a “Thus saith the Lord,” is better qualified for God’s work than are those who have capabilities but do not employ them rightly. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of His Spirit than by the training of literary institutions.

Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The Spirit is poured out upon all who will yield to its promptings and, casting off all man’s machinery, his binding rules and cautious methods, they will declare the truth with the might of the Spirit’s power.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand, and every remnant person who knows what is coming should be humbling themselves in the sight of God, so that He can use us to the maximum, in finishing up the work of the gospel throughout the world.

After the day of Pentecost, the gospel was carried to every inhabited place on the globe, but it was The Holy Spirit who directed and orchestrated the work. Similarly, in our day, the outpouring of The Spirit will move upon individuals to carry the last message of mercy to a dying world.

Let us therefore live in readiness, for we are looking at sooner rather than later, the way things are going and the way end time prophecies are unfolding. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will remind us of what The Lord has stated will come to pass, and may we all be found faithful in doing our part, as The Holy Spirit leads. Let’s read:

Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.

28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.

32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

                                      God Bless!

From The Cradle To The Grave. Sabbath afternoon 05/30/2026

 Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

The cradle represents our entry point into this world and the grave represents our exit point, and thus, whatsoever you do in between those two points will ultimately determine your eternal destiny, and the legacy that you will leave behind.

Our first passage deals with the bottom line in life as to what our eternal destiny will be, and this, coming from a man who has tasted and witnessed firsthand many years of chasing after the wind, he now sums up the true meaning of life, with the hope that folks who come after, will consider carefully what they do between the entry and exit points.

Time flies so fast, for it seems as if it was just a few years ago when we were young and spritely without a care in the world. But as persons leave the cradle, life begins to take its toll on mind, heart, and body.

There are times when in the earlier years of our life experience, if we got injured, we would heal quickly and if we suffered broken bones the joints would be quickly reconstituted and healed. But as the years go by it takes longer to recuperate from injuries and the bones and sinews, do not respond as readily, as in former years.

That’s because, as we all head to the downside of the mountain, we grow old, and we’ll find ourselves becoming less and less resilient physically and thus, before you know it the teenage and the young adult years are behind us.

The wise man also mentions the fact that a gradual deterioration of the human frame is inevitable, no matter how hard, and how long you exercise, and train. Sooner or later all of us will have to come to grips with this inevitable fact, and because there is no escaping it, we would do well to consider what we do between the entry and exit points.

Hence, in retrospect, and after deep soul searching and evaluation of the true meaning of life, Solomon strongly advises us to do all we can, to serve God in the earlier years of our experience, for the tenor of the Bible is for folks to do the most amount of good for the longest time possible, before the inevitable comes knocking at your door.

Consider carefully what God is saying to the you and me in the here and now, especially to the youth who may often think of themselves as invincible. Sooner, or later, the gradual, and the eventual deterioration of the mental and physical faculties which you see in your parents, and other elderly folk, will be coming your way. So, consider carefully. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.

3 In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened.

5 Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goes to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.

6 Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

7 Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

With these fundamentals, and inescapable facts in mind, the legacy that persons leave behind is what makes all the difference in life. If, after you carefully consider, and understand what Solomon is saying it is your choice and desire to do the most amount of good for the kingdom of God, for the longest time possible, then you may chart a course that would be productive of much good.

And if by the grace of God, you were to avoid some of the major pitfalls and failures along the way, you can leave a legacy of faithfulness and service behind so that the next generation could follow.

All the life experiences that are written in the Bible, with the victories, and failures of some of the best who have ever lived, are written so that folks might make choices that are commensurate with a humble and teachable spirit. We will take three examples to demonstrate what is being said so that persons may reach their fullest potential in the few years we have on this planet.

We begin with Abraham, who was called by God to go to a land that he would be shown. That call was a call to service, and even though he did make a few missteps along the way, Abraham found redemption in Christ, and he was able by the grace of God to do much good between his entry and exit points.

The Lord did not call him, first and foremost to leave a legacy of worldly wealth and secular achievements for although he was blessed with material things, he used these to build up God’s kingdom tremendously and by doing so, he left behind a legacy of service in godly things so that his life, for the most part was a blessing to the world.

Similarly, with us, even though God may bless us in the temporal realm, our main focus in life should be the building up of God’s kingdom upon the earth so that it could be said of you, that you did the most amount of good for the longest time possible.

The perspectives and purposes in life that are dearly cherished in the secular mind, are on the opposite end of the spectrum to God’s ideal. A great man, as far as the world is concerned, is one who has made it in life, who has probably invented good things, or may have been a great philosopher or scientist.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with these pursuits and achievements, if they are not applied in the building up of God’s kingdom, they fall short of the godly ideals set forth by Solomon in our first passages.

Abraham was very blessed materially, but he did not allow the temporal benefits to outweigh the eternal pursuits, which ought to be the focus of every true Christian. As we observe, and study his legacy, you will see that at every turn, and at every opportunity he got his one purpose was to build up the kingdom of God, and to lead as many persons to Christ as he possibly could, before his exit point. Let’s read:

Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.

5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram, and said, unto thy seed will I give this land: and there he built an altar unto the Lord, who appeared unto him.

8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he built an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.

Genesis 13: 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.

Genesis 22:9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.

Question: Why is Abraham building an altar to God everywhere he goes? He is doing so because he has his priorities in the right order and thus, wherever he goes, the first thing he does is not to secure houses and lands, nor start up new investments, nor would you find Abraham betting on Kalshi or Polymarket, because his singular purpose in life is to build up God’s kingdom on the earth, for the longest time possible.

Whenever the remnant people of God may move to a new location, like faithful Abraham they should be earnestly seeking out a place where they can build an altar to The Lord, meaning that their singular aim and their highest purpose in life is to build up God’s kingdom upon the earth.

Some may do so by outreach ministry, some may do so by establishing a prayer line in the neighborhood, others may establish a health ministry, using the ton of information given to us in our health message, or some, who might not be specialists in these things may have a ministry such as Dorcas had.

The Lord has not called any disciple or believer to an idle, easy-going life in His kingdom, neither does He leave any person without at least one talent. Every person in His kingdom is to have a ministry where it is possible, with the aim of winning souls, for thus it is that each one can reach one.

But whatsoever you do, and wheresoever you may go, building an altar to the Lord must be the highest and the most urgent priority for as stated before we have limited amount of time between our entry and exit points. This is what faithful Abraham did, and by so doing he left us a legacy of service that all could, and should follow. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 141] Abraham’s house- hold comprised more than a thousand souls. Those who were led by his teachings to worship the one God, found a home in his encampment; and here, as in a school, they received such instruction as would prepare them to be representatives of the true faith.

Thus, a great responsibility rested upon him. He was training heads of families, and his methods of government would be carried out in the house- holds over which they should preside.

It was necessary to bind the members of the house-hold together, in order to build up a barrier against the idolatry that had become so widespread and so deep-seated.

Abraham sought by every means in his power to guard the inmates of his encampment against mingling with the heathen and witnessing their idolatrous practices, for he knew that familiarity with evil would insensibly corrupt the principles.

The greatest care was exercised to shut out every form of false religion and to impress the mind with the majesty and glory of the living God as the true object of worship.

Abraham was so dead focused and consumed with ministry that he forgot about purchasing houses and lands, in so much that when his wife died, he had to purchase a piece of land to bury her. The souls who were under his care, and instruction is where most of his resources were prioritized.

Thus, it was also with the Waldenses and members of the Vaudois community who grilled their children from the cradle to the grave, to harbor a missionary mindset wherever they would go. Their kids wasted no time when they went to school, or university, for their highest purpose was to infiltrate the colleges with the gospel of Christ.

Yes, they would study sciences and math, and yes, it is true that they practiced reading and writing, but those writing skills they acquired were largely the result of writing out passages of Scripture to share with their school associates.

Note well their perspectives and practice, for they were taught by their parents to be on the look out for any opportunity to sow good seed, and as they prepared, God enlarged their understanding as well as their memory capacity, so that they could retain several gospels, and epistles, word for word. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 88] From their pastors the youth received instruction. While attention was given to branches of general learning, the Bible was made the chief study. The Gospels of Matthew and John they committed to memory, with many of the Epistles. Their garments were so prepared as to conceal their greatest treasure, the precious manuscripts of the Scriptures.

These, the fruit of months, and years of toil, they carried with them, and, whenever they could do so without exciting suspicion, they cautiously placed some portion in the way of those whose hearts seemed open to receive the truth. From their mother’s knee the Waldensian youth had been trained with this purpose in view.

They understood their work and faithfully performed it. Converts to the true faith were won in these institutions of learning, and frequently its principles were found to be permeating the entire school; yet the papist leaders could not, by the closest inquiry, trace the so-called corrupting heresy to its source.

The spirit of Christ is a missionary spirit. The very first impulse of the renewed heart is to bring others also to the Savior. Such was the spirit of the Vaudois Christians.

However, on the flipside of Abraham’s missionary spirit and that of the Waldenses, there’s an opposite view of life, where the focus is centered on the here and now, and where the accumulation of materials absorbs all of one’s interests. In some instances, the driving motivation, and the highest aim in life is just to make more and more money.

In the inordinate pursuit of temporal gain very many professed Christians forget their first love, and their desire for more becomes all absorbing. When left unaddressed, this perspective can expend your best energies, and before you know it, there is nothing left for Christ, except some scraps of service, here and there, only when it is convenient.

This is what occurred in the parable of the man who became all consumed with building up his temporal portfolios so that he could retire in prosperity, and ease. If a person’s highest aim in life is to retire with ease, then the time between the cradle to the grave will be fraught with anxieties, worries, and cares, so that acquiring would become the sole focus of their existence. Let’s read:

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, take heed, and beware of covetousness for a man's life consists not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

16 And he spoke a parable unto them, saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully.

17 And he thought within himself, saying, what shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18 And he said, this will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20 But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

21 So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

There are times when a person may have cultivated the perspectives and outlook on life, that the man in the parable had embraced. But God, who is rich in mercy gives time and opportunity that these views can be corrected.

There is something such as course correction, where God will grant us opportunity to change our legacy from one that was riddled with crime, sins, evils and rebellion to one where leading persons to Christ will become your main purpose in life, for the remaining time you have upon the earth.

It makes all the difference in the world and what we will do with our new lease on life could have eternal results if we stay the course with Christ. This is what God did for Solomon, for after chasing the wind for so many years, and after squandering many golden opportunities to build up God’s kingdom, the wise man finally came to himself.

And yes, he did try his best to retrace his steps, and instructed coming generations to track a different course. Better late than never, and thus, as Solomon stared into the great hereafter, and as he reflected on his past, he determined to redeem the time as much as possible, for the remainder of his life.

Another course correction took place with Paul who had his priorities entirely mixed up before he met Christ. After that close encounter with Jesus, on the road to Damascus, God gave Paul new aims and new purposes in life.

From there on out, it became Paul’s main goal in life to build up God’s kingdom wherever, and whenever opportunity presented itself. The same can be true for me and you, if formerly, our interests had been centered on the temporal aspects of life, instead of the mission God has given us. Let’s read:

Acts 26:13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me.

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;

17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come.

Like Solomon and Paul, we also could make a U-turn if for some reason our priorities got mixed up along the way, so that the ministry of saving others could become the chief aim in life. But to just go with the flow, without making any deliberate, and consistent effort to use your God-given talents in service to the Lord and to others, is not endorsed in the Bible.

As was stated before, we have limited time on this earth to do any amount of good for the benefit and advancement of humanity and therefore, we should begin with what we do best, or what comes to you naturally.

The words of the wise man that say, “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth” means that it is God’s will that we give Him the best, and the most productive years of service, before aging begins to take its toll, and like Solomon, we might regret not having done more for Christ, while we had the opportunity to do so.

Especially should all fathers and mothers teach their children from the earliest age to highly prize Biblical values, teachings, and principles. Lofty, worthwhile goals of missionary work and being of benefit to the world, should be instilled from the early years.

And the study of God’s word should be encouraged, not as something to do only in their spare time, but as an integral and indispensable part of daily living. In this way, several positive results would accrue, for they will have an active reference point of truth in their minds, even if they were to go astray later on.

The minds of the children will also greatly expand, and they will be enabled to approach science, math, and languages with an understanding that might be difficult to fathom. Studying the Bible is never to be viewed as time wasted. Daniel majored in Scripture first, before he majored in science.

In fact, it was the study and practice of deep things in Scripture, that helped pave the way for his later, and great successes in other branches of education, for when the mind is brought into contact with the eternal God, through a study of His word, all of the mental faculties spike tremendously in performance and problems in secular matters, will not baffle the mind as much. Let’s read:

[CT pp 441] A failure to study God’s word is the great cause of mental weakness and inefficiency. In turning from this word to feed on the writings of uninspired men, the mind becomes dwarfed and cheapened. It is not brought in contact with deep, broad principles of eternal truth.

[R.H Sept 28 1897] Nothing is so calculated to enlarge the mind and strengthen the intellect as the study of the Bible. No other study will so elevate the soul and give vigor to the faculties as the study of the living oracles.

As the mind is brought to the study of God’s word, the understanding will enlarge, and the higher powers will develop for the comprehension of high and ennobling truth. It is according to the character of the matter with which the mind becomes familiar that it is dwarfed or enlarged.  

If the mind is not raised up to make vigorous and persistent effort in seeking to comprehend truth by comparing scripture with scripture, it will surely become contracted and lose its tone.

To those who are present at Bible study today, and to those who are listening online, God wants us to bear in mind that our entry point is already behind us, and now we must take into consideration that the exit is coming up, sooner or later.

The cradle is in the rearview mirror, and we all are heading for the exits, therefore, it behooves us to do the most and the best with whatever remaining time we have left, for we are here today and gone tomorrow, like the wind that passes by for a brief season.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should serve the purpose of encouraging us to do all we can, whilst we can, for at the end of the day, it is what you do for the kingdom of God that will last for eternity. Let’s read:

Psalms 90: 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

17 And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

                                    God Bless!

Prepare For Crunch Time. Sabbath afternoon 05/23/2026

Matthew 10:32 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, I came not to send peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother-in law.

36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that takes not his cross and follows after me, is not worthy of me.

39 He that finds his life shall lose it and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.

When we speak of crunch time, we are referring to Daniel chapter 12, verses 1 to 3, where we are told that there would be a time of greatest trouble upon our planet such as never was since the dawn of time and we are speaking about Revelation chapters 12 to 14 that would materialize Daniel chapter 12.

And because it would be a time like no other, those who believe and practice present truth will have to stand up, and be counted on The Lord’s side. Your decision to follow Christ will have to be ratified and, reconfirmed individually with Jesus for the decisions had been made initially when there wasn’t end-time prophecy looming large, in real time.

But now we are living on the brink of eternity, when the forces of good and evil are scheduled to duke it out until the very last individual has made up his or her mind, either for or against Christ. And therefore, the decisions folks made at a time of tranquility and peace may not necessarily withstand the test of the final conflict.

There comes a time in our experience after coming to know Christ after understanding the ways, means and methods of His kingdom, that we must confirm the choices to serve love and obey Him, after we’ve come to a fuller knowledge of what is entailed.

Initially, at the time of baptism, some persons might not have taken the time to thoroughly count the cost of true discipleship, while others may not have fully understood that following Christ would call for sacrifice and an entire surrender of our lives to Him.

Therefore, according to our first passages, when the understanding dawns in our minds, it will inevitably put us at odds with some of the friends, and family that we love, who might not understand, nor agree with what God requires of us.

It is not every time that acquaintances will be in lock step with our unique beliefs and perspectives. And, without the shadow of a doubt, when crunch time comes around, many individuals would get deeply offended at the course of action we may take, in the face of the lamblike beast speaking as a dragon.

And we are not to expect to a have rational, logical answer for every single thing God requires for when crunch time comes around, the decision not to buy or sell, will certainly be challenged by friends, and foes, especially if children are involved.

We do not know for certain if The Lord might see fit to put every one of them to sleep just before the big one hits because of two statements that are written, one in the Bible, and the other coming from the pen of inspiration. Let’s read:

Matthew 24: 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

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.

[2SM pp 259] The Lord has often instructed me that many little ones are to be laid away before the time of trouble. We shall see our children again. We shall meet them and know them in the heavenly courts. Put your trust in the Lord, and be not afraid.

If some might be alive during crunch time, then we are looking at the grim prospect of the department of children and families getting involved, in order to try to coerce the unwilling to at least buy some food for their kids.

God has indeed promised bread, and water during that time, but no specific time frame is given yet as to when the miraculous food will begin. Thus, to the strictly logical thinking mind, it will be a no brainer, just to bow, in order to get your groceries.

And many friends and families would be at a loss to understand what is the problem with just taking the mark of allegiance, so that you could continue your normal daily living, so as to provide for your kids, at the very least.

Taking such a firm stand, in favor of God’s revealed will, would bring us out of the shadows, where, in some cases, we lived in our comfort zones without having to deal with confrontations in the family, on the job, or in the communities where we live.

The days of wine and roses are going to come to an end, and the servants of God would have to state very plainly, in the public square, exactly where we stand on the various issues which will pertain to the final conflict of the ages.

For many years we have been living the comfortable life as Christians, and even though other persons do not see eye to eye with our peculiar faith, we have been more or less tolerated. And because of this, a sort of lukewarm condition might have obtained in  some instances, where we just go with the flow.

The time is coming soon when our peculiar form of Christianity will not be looked upon so favorably, or tolerated anymore, and we would increasingly find ourselves at odds with mainstream philosophies, or doctrines, concepts, and practices that are currently embraced in contemporary Christian circles.

In the not-too distant future we will find ourselves in some awkward positions where we will have to take a definite stand for the truths of God’s word, against pushback, and terrible remonstrances from close associates.

All of that is included when Jesus says that a man’s foes will be those of his own household. That easy going form of Christianity, where persons are not brought into straitened places, where you could hide your light under a bushel without taking up the cross of Christ in public, will come to an end.

We would have to let our employers and customers know that we will not be working over the sacred hours of the Sabbath. And even if persons have to take a material loss by doing so, the true Christian will have to be prepared to follow Jesus all the way, whatever the cost. Let’s read:

[RH January 1 1889, par 4] Prophecy represents Protestantism as having lamb-like horns, but speaking like a dragon. Already we are beginning to hear the voice of the dragon. There is the prospect before us, of waging a continuous war, at the risk of imprisonment, of losing property and even life itself, to defend the law of God, which is being made void by the laws of men.

In other words, there are some of us who would get into trouble for preaching and teaching the straight, unadulterated truths of God’s word. And therefore, if the husband and wife are not on the same page, it will cause friction to erupt between the two of them as they read from completely different scripts.

The father in the home must take time to converse with his wife and family about the prophecies that are scheduled for the final conflict, so that they will not build their hopes upon fanciful perspectives of instantaneous deliverance from God, at every first sign of trouble.

Especially should Scriptural instructions be adopted, since the spirit of intolerance, vindictiveness, and anarchy are currently gaining the ascendency. Peter was eager to follow Jesus when mighty works were being done by Christ, and there was a desire in all of the disciples to be first in the kingdom, when things were going smoothly.

But when crunch time came around, and they saw the cost of Christianity taking a toll on Christ, as He was headed to Calvary, no one wanted to be first in the kingdom anymore, and they found themselves having to regroup, to consider carefully, whether or not they would stay the course with Jesus.

The reason for this is that being first in the kingdom meant that you were on the menu, and rather than suffer insult and injury for Christ’s sake they found themselves huddling together in the upper room, as they awaited their own fate, or so they thought.

Thus, they could not adequately explain to folk who were not disciples, why following Christ, at the cost of life itself made sense. Similarly, when our crunch time comes around, we may not be able to explain why we will prefer to starve, if it came to that rather than accept the mark of the beast.

It makes no sense to the secular mind and Christians who are living at that time, might not always be able to fully explain to others why this is the best and the only route to take. Strict logic often turns out to be the diabolical enemy of faith, and therefore, the you and me would have to confirm our initial decisions to follow Christ.

In the book of Daniel, we have examples of what we are speaking of, in the experiences of the 3 Hebrew worthies, who found themselves in some awkward situations even among their own fellow countrymen for there were many others, from their hometown who decided to bow under pressure.

The first test came with food, as is so often the case, for as was stated before, it began with food in Eden, and it will end with food during the coming crunch time. Nebuchadnezzar thought he was doing them a great favor by offering them the very best food from his own personal table.

Monarchs back then and monarchs in our day don’t usually eat what you and I do. They typically go for the specialties, and delicacies that only the wealthy can afford, and thus, eating from the king’s personal table, should have been considered a high privilege, as far as the strictly logical thinking mind goes.

But lo and behold, Daniel and his companions beg to differ, and with the prospect of a free education and paid tuition at the best Ivy league university in Babylon, many persons, friends and family, might’ve encouraged them to just eat the food, and shut up, especially with free tuition and boarding, and with promotions on the line.

Some would certainly argue, what’s the big deal, if you have to suck it up for a while, but not Daniel or his friends, for if it meant losing the best education in Babylon, and even if it meant that their lives will be endangered, they would not be eating the king’s food. To many persons, a decision like that will seem to be plain stupid, and foolish.

Others may reason that the ends justify the means, a statement that comes to us from the very depths of hell. With the Christian, the ends do not always justify the means, if the means include violating the laws of God.

In fact, what the prince of darkness often does is to present a good end, and then offer unlawful means to achieve that good end. Thus, you will see him in the wilderness with Christ, as he tempts Jesus to eat bread, the wrong way. Nothing is wrong with eating bread, but if you have to bow to eat, then the ends cannot justify the means.

Thus, Jesus showed us the godly route to take if and when our turn comes around. To be found faithful, we will have to make a decision, not to violate God’s law or our consciences under any circumstances, no matter how attractive and necessary, the good ends may seem to be.

As Jesus weighed the grim choices before Him, and the ways and means being suggested by the prince of darkness, He did what you and I should do in any similar situation. He chooses to die, if it came down to the wire, but under no circumstances would He allow the philosophy of “The end justify the means” to inform or guide His decision making. Let’s read:

Matthew 4: 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungered.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, if thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

11 Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

[Redemption BK 2 pp 39] Satan suggested to Christ that God would not leave his Son in this condition of want and suffering.

Many Christians in the remnant community believe that the promises of God to us during crunch time will be fulfilled instantaneously, and if they are not delivered on a dime the faith of many will be shaken to its core. To put it bluntly, crunch time will not be a breeze by any means, and therefore we should be managing our expectations prudently.

This is the crisis that Daniel and his 3 companions were facing, and those Hebrew worthies might not be able to explain to others why their decision is the best route to go. Should they bow down by eating what is forbidden?

Or should they stand their ground and face possible starvation or death, if Nebuchadnezzar gets ticked off as he is so often prone to do? How would such a decision on the part of the Hebrews be viewed by a logical thinking mind?

In fact, when speaking to the chief cook, Daniel said that he will not “Defile” himself with the king’s food. Now brethren, consider carefully the word defile in  the context.

If Daniel is speaking of Nebuchadnezzar’s food as being defiled, then he is implying that the cook is serving inferior food, and with Nebuchadnezzar’s penchant for retribution, no one in their right mind would want to refer to his personal food as defiled. Let’s read:

Daniel 1:5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king's meat, and of the wine which he drank: so, nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.

8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore, he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.

The word defile in the context means several things. It means that, as far as Daniel knew, the king’s food would include foods which are strictly forbidden in the book of Leviticus, foods, such as shrimp, oysters and pork, which forms a staple in many diets.

It would also include some Bud lights, and Johnny Walker black to wash down the food, for this is how the kings back then ate and drank. The word defile also meant that the foods were offered to idols first before being served, and this would be a definite no in Daniel’s mind, since it is forbidden in the Bible. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10: 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils.

Exodus 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.

Psalms 106:28 They joined themselves also unto Baal-peor, and ate the sacrifices of the dead.

Isaiah 66:17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst eating swine's flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, saith the Lord.

There are certain countries in the world where fried mouse is considered a delicacy. This is not hear say, for we watched in dismay, with our own two eyes as several rats were roasted on an open fire, and then devoured by the people, as a protein meal.

In other parts of the world, rats, and persons drink from the same trough, and to the members of that community, this is nothing unusual or out of the ordinary. So yes, Daniel decided that he would not defile himself with the king’s food even if it cost him his education, at the best Ivy league schools in the province of Babylon.

Crunch time in the future, when the mark of the beast will be upon the face of the earth, will include not only the main issue of Sabbath versus Sunday, but also the issue of being able to access your daily bread at a cost.

The seventh day Sabbath versus Sunday issue would eventually come down to food, and to the economic freedoms we now enjoy, for the mark of the beast will tie it all up into one bundle, so that persons who will not bow will not eat from man’s storehouses.

[The Great Controversy pp 621] The season of distress and anguish before us will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay and hunger, a faith that will not faint, though severely tried.

This leads us to the second major challenge faced by the faithful Hebrews, who, together with others of their own countrymen, were commanded to bow to the graven image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up. When mortal men begin to think of themselves as God, the next thing they will require of those under their jurisdiction is worship.

That’s because worship demonstrates to whom your allegiance is given since worship consists of majority obedience, and minority praise. The king of Babylon wanted to make certain that every individual in his administration was on board with his agenda of an eternal Babylonian kingdom.

And the only way to secure their allegiance was to have them bow down to the symbol of his heaven daring defiance. He employed the carrot and stick method, by which he first commands them to bow down, but if the carrot did not work, the stick was to be employed in the heat of the furnace.

This issue was put to the test during crunch time for the Hebrews, as Nebuchadnezzar endeavored to twist their arms. Under threat, they’re commanded to bow, and if they did not, there would be severest consequences, in so much that they could become martyrs.

Should the Hebrews just do a little bow wow, and be done with it, so as to remain in the king’s good favor or should they stand their ground upon the truths of God’s word? Would the three Hebrews buckle this time in the face of death?

Would they attempt to save themselves by using the maxim: The end justifies the means, since the end is to save life? And if they were to stand their ground, would their relatives or family be in agreement with their choice to be burnt alive, rather than do a little bow wow?

This is the reason why it is said that crunch time is a time like no other, and will require a radical form of faith that many Christians are currently not familiar with. Being faithful unto death does not occur by an accident, but is the result of a rooted and grounded relationship with The God of heaven.

The faith of Jesus which you read of in Revelation chapter 14, is a radical type of faith, that is willing to sacrifice anything and everything for the sake of the truth, and trusting God alone to mitigate the results if He so chooses. Thus, it was with this mindset that the three Hebrews would now approach the crisis of their lives.

Their experiences are actually a microcosm of what would take place in the near future, as man-worship gains the ascendency in our day. Just as the various branches of Nebuchadnezzar’s government united to coerce a false form of worship, just so will those who seek world dominion, use everything at their disposal, to force persons to bow. Let’s read:

Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.

2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

4 Then a herald cried aloud, to you it is commanded O people, nations, and languages,

5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up.

6 And whoso falls not down and worships shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

9 They spoke and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live forever.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

They were not willing to sacrifice principle for some temporary gain and if it came down to the wire they were willing to die, rather than betray sacred trusts. There’s no doubt we in our day could use some men like that, men who have spine, who would not allow circumstances to dictate what they decide as being right or wrong.

Too often we see persons buckle under pressure as they succumb to a barrage of threats from kings and dear leaders. The ghost of Nebuchadnezzar is flitting all around us nowadays, and according to Scripture, it will just be a matter of time, before his ways and means are adopted by mortals who seek worship.

In our day, a lot of pressure is being brought to bear against persons who refuse to bow down. And we’re facing an epidemic of bowers, who would do just about anything in violation of conscience, so as to survive. Persons are sacrificing principles, left, right and center, while others are turning a blind eye to evils that baffle even satan.

Just for clarity, bowing down does not mean bowing down in the most literal sense. It means bowing, by doing things against your conscience, things that are contrary to God’s clearly revealed will, because your arm has been twisted.

So, the question for us crunch timers is: what will it take to make you bow down in order to access your economic privileges? Will you reason that the ends justify the means, if the end goal is to save your life. Or will we stand like the brave, with our face to the foe, by not bowing.

How much arm twisting can you endure, and do you have a threshold point after which you would break and buckle under the heavy load? We’re speaking of the crunch time like no other in the history of earth, when a radical form of godliness will be required of those who will survive the perils of the last days.

Folks are losing their seats in the house, and senate at an alarming rate, and others now find themselves having to regroup, if they want to survive. But the question is: Does the end justify the means? And if the heat of the furnace is turned up several notches, will persons break and buckle under pressure?

Crunch time, no doubt is going to produce one of two reactions in persons. It will either reveal sterling character that has been built upon the Rock Christ Jesus, or it would be made manifest that some folks are creatures of circumstance. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 604] Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of God, will decree that all, “both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond,” [Revelation 13:16.] shall conform to the customs of the church by the observance of the false sabbath.

All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God enjoining the Creator’s rest-day demands obedience, and threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts.

With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whoever shall trample upon God’s law to obey a human enactment, receives the mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead of God.

It is in a crisis that true character is revealed, and that is why The Lord is sending us this wake-up call, to alert us to the urgency of the moment. Now is the time for us to live in readiness because all of the prophecies pertaining to crunch time are now being fulfilled, or will be fulfilled in the very near future.

And to those who might be still sitting on the fence, The Lord would have us understand that the fence is not a safe place to be, because crunch time is not a spectator sport. Every person living on the planet at that time will be involved.

Thus, God encourages everyone listening to make your calling and election sure by first choosing Jesus as Lord and Savior of our lives, and then applying that decision in practical ways by allowing The Holy Spirit to interface truth in our everyday experience.

It is a work that cannot be put off for another day, except at grave peril to our souls, and thus, we will end the study with a passage of Scripture that calls us to the urgency of the moment, as we beseech you in Christ’s stead, to be reconciled to God. Let’s read:

Romans 13: 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

                                     God Bless!

Beware Of The Accursed Thing. Sabbath afternoon 05/16/2026

Joshua 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

The Bible speaks of the accursed thing in several of the passages which pertain to the title of the study. It has to do with specific things God has expressly forbidden, and that have been slated for destruction and it can include places, and individuals that might have a curse hanging over them.

There are also inanimate objects which are accursed and are designated as such in the Bible. Now, even though we have the freedom of choice, and even if God’s protection is over us, there might be instances when we might become adversely affected in some way by an accursed thing.

This usually occurs when folks deliberately interact with an accursed thing, or person, and it could also happen inadvertently, where a person did not know, but somehow, was affected by the accursed thing or person. According to the Bible, accursed things, and persons can produce collateral damage in others.

This is not superstition by any means, and God does not want any Christian to live in fear, but there are certain realities which we will have to come to grips with, as we near the close of earth’s history, when demonic activity, coupled together with ignorance, or disobedience can place persons in compromised positions.

Case in point is our first passage which specifically says that the physical city of Jericho was accursed, and all the people and animals that belonged to it. With the exception of Rahab and her family, every thing and everyone else had a curse upon them and that’s why the entire city was to be destroyed.

Curses do not come upon persons or things by mere accident, for the accursed thing, or person is always invariably, the result of a departure from the plainly stated will of God, and deliberate persistence in the paths of unrighteousness, where mercy no longer is allowed to do its work.

The question is: How did Jericho receive such a bad designation as being accursed? Was it an arbitrary classification by God, or was it something definitive the inhabitants and national leaders had done, for it to be labelled as being accursed?

Consider what is being said carefully, because it has personal, and it can also have national implications, according to the Bible. And what about the animals and the inanimate objects of Jericho?

How is it that they too could also fall under the very same designation, even though as far as we know, they didn’t knowingly participate in whatsoever the issue or problem was?

This raises very grave and important questions, for if indeed, the entire city did fall under the designation of being accursed then it means that there would be issues of domain, jurisdiction, and territory at stake, which must now be addressed, for to the cursory reader it may seem an arbitrary act on God’s part.  

The presidential seal of any nation stipulates those territories which fall under its jurisdiction, therefore everything and everyone under its dominion could become part and parcel of a designation, if persons participate in whatsoever the problem is.

And because the animals and the inanimate objects of the place in question, belong to the inhabitants thereof, they can also become accursed by default, as when Adam sinned, and everything and everyone under his jurisdiction suffered because of the curse.

After the fall of man in Eden, the entire creation fell under a curse, and everything, and everyone who fell under Adam’s dominion were adversely affected by the curse. That includes every person born after Adam, the ground upon which we walk, all the fruit trees, every animal, and things like the atmosphere, and weather patterns which saw great changes.

When God gave Adam the dominion, He put him in charge, and thus, everything under his domain will be affected for the better or the worse, depending on the course of action Adam pursued. That is why we in our day currently are not in a spectator sport, for there will be trickle down effects depending on what persons in charge do.

That’s the reason why the prince of darkness targets leaders, heads of families, and persons in high office specifically, for if it is the case that he can succeed in getting them to commit grave errors, those who are under their domain would end up suffering adverse effects, some more, some less. Let’s read:

Proverbs 29: 2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn.

This should serve as a teaching moment to all of us, because the heads of families, whether they are single parent families or those households that have two parents; they are responsible for whatsoever is taking place under their roof, because that is your little domain that God has entrusted you to manage.

But especially fathers, where there are fathers, they are responsible for what takes place at home, for if the head of the family fails, he can put his wife and children at risk. This is the reason why the fourth commandment, pertaining to the Sabbath includes domain, when it mentions “The stranger within Thy gates”.

If it’s your gates, then whatsoever takes place there over the sacred hours of the Sabbath belongs to you as the head of your family. And, if there are known violations which are allowed to go unaddressed and unresolved, then it’s time for reform and change.

The same issue of domain is applicable where there might be a son or daughter doing, or selling drugs at your home. If the cops were to show up, and they found a bag of ninety pounds of marijuana stuffed under the son’s bed, the cops may hold the parents responsible even if they did not know, because that is their domain. Let’s read:

Genesis 1: 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

And now, with the prince of darkness having a good and thorough understanding of the issue of domain and jurisdiction, he presently goes about seeking to upend Adam and Eve’s dominion, if he can get them to commit deliberate sin.

And if he is successful, the curse which is the natural byproduct of deliberate sin will rest upon everything and everyone under Adam’s domain. This is how the city of Jericho became accursed with everything and everyone in it, because it hinges on two main issues, namely dominion and participation. Let’s read:

Genesis 3: 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

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.

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.

And now, that Adam has consciously disobeyed the express command of God, the default setting is the curse, which is not something that God is now going to do to them. When God said to Adam and Eve you will surely die, if you eat of the forbidden tree, that did not mean I will surely kill you.

It meant that their disobedience would essentially disconnect them from God, the Source of all life and when that occurred, they would gradually sink into a lower and still lower state of existence, until their sins would culminate in death, which is the natural result of sin.

It was never something that God did to the human family, and therefore, the curse, as it pertains to our eventual demise is just the natural result/ byproduct of disobedience. Be very careful of the perspectives in the world, as it pertains to what God did, or did not do. Let’s read:

Genesis 3: 17 And unto Adam he said, because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded you saying, thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;

18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field.

Some persons reading this account may erroneously fault God for doing such and such. But many people fail to realize that the devil is in the details, for there are natural consequences, including being accursed, especially when a deliberate decision to do wrong is made by persons who have jurisdiction.

When God cursed the ground, He simply stated the natural results of sowing and reaping that would be commencing. When persons get separated from the source of life, their lives would eventually fade into oblivion. Not that God would be doing something to them perse.

The time is coming when God will purify the earth by fire, and there have been certain instances in the history of our planet, when, because of deliberate sin and unrepentant hearts, it became necessary to intervene, and do things unto persons and nations, as was the case with Sodom and Gomorrah.

But as a general rule, the accursed thing occurs as a direct result of deliberate conscious evils, in most of the instances, and the destruction or adverse results which follow, often occur whenever the restraining power of God is removed, as a result of the sin.

The results of sin, which we will read of in the next references, occur naturally, just as if a person were to deliberately touch a live, high-tension wire, which is loaded with electricity. Yes, you will get shocked, and might even die in the process.

But individuals who might read the obituary in the newspapers of your demise, should never conclude that F.P.L somehow deliberately did something unto you. They did not, because what took place was just the naturally occurring consequences of someone touching the live wire.

In the Bible, God is often portrayed as doing things He does not prevent, and because of this, persons have drawn incorrect conclusions of Him. Thus, the following excerpts are naturally occurring results of Adam’s deliberate sin, not something that The Lord is going to do to them purposefully. Let’s read:

               [Patriarchs & Prophets pp 50>57]

[1] The atmosphere, once so mild and uniform in temperature, was now subject to marked changes, and the Lord mercifully provided them with a garment of skins as a protection from the extremes of heat and cold.

[2] As they witnessed in drooping flower and falling leaf the first signs of decay, Adam and his companion mourned more deeply than men now mourn over their dead. {Fall}

[3] As a result of his disobedience, he was driven from his beautiful home, and forced to struggle with a stubborn soil.

[4] The robe of light which had enshrouded them, now disappeared.

[5] Under the curse of sin all nature was to witness to man of the character and results of rebellion against God.

[6] So long as Adam remained loyal to Heaven, all nature was in subjection to him, but when he rebelled against the divine law, the inferior creatures were in rebellion against his rule.

As proof that there are natural consequences which follow a course of sin, let us leave Adam alone for a moment, so that the erroneous perspectives of God doing these things can be corrected.

The following is the naturally occurring curse, now resting upon the prince of darkness, as a result of him deliberately following a wrong course of action over the years, for when persons get disconnected from God, The Source of life, their gradual eventual demise begins.  Let’s read:

[Early Writings pp 152] I was shown Satan as he once was, a happy, exalted angel. Then I was shown him as he now is. He still bears a kingly form. His features are still noble, for he is an angel fallen.

But the expression of his countenance is full of anxiety, care, unhappiness, malice, hate, mischief, deceit, and every evil. His frame was large, but the flesh hung loosely about his hands and face.

Jericho was given over to idolatry, graven images of gold and silver were everywhere and the worship of false gods had taken deep root to the point where it was considered quite normal and acceptable in that society for the vile and the evil to be indulged freely, being supported and financed by the leaders.

That’s how the city, and everything in it came to be accursed, because the proof is in the pudding, and the wages of sin is death. In other words, through the continual indulgence in sin, with no repentance, the city became permanently and inseparably linked to sin, and that produces the accursed condition.

However, just for the record, the same merciful God who bore long with pharaoh, and Nebuchadnezzar, also dealt mercifully with the Amorites, who lived in the land for four hundred years. Therefore, when it is declared by God that the city is accursed, we must understand the issue in the context of His mercies, and forbearance. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 424] Although the Amorites were idolaters, whose life was justly forfeited by their great wickedness, God spared them four hundred years to give them unmistakable evidence that He was the only true God, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Sufficient evidence was given; they might have known the truth, had they been willing to turn from their idolatry and licentiousness. But they rejected the light and clung to their idols.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 487] Jericho was one of the principal seats of idol worship, being especially devoted to Ashtaroth, the goddess of the moon. Here was centered all that was vilest, and the most degrading in the religion of the Canaanites.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 127] In the groves were set up the altars of false gods, and human sacrifices were offered upon the neighboring heights.

It is worthy of note that it was not any supernatural spell that was cast over the city, that caused it to be accursed. It was the deliberate practice of idolatry in its darkest hues, that caused the classification to be stated by the God of heaven.

Thus, a warning was issued to the children of Israel that they should not appropriate to themselves, any of the accursed things for by doing so they would be guilty by association.

At the command of God, they were to go there, and do exactly, and only what God had told them to, but they are not to bring home to themselves anything which belonged to Jericho, because it was accursed.

If for any reason, someone was to take the accursed things to themselves, not only would they become accursed, but there will also be naturally occurring collateral damage to persons who had nothing to do with the violations, since God’s protection would be removed, leading to signal failure and defeat. Let’s read:

Joshua 6:18 And you, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest you make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.

This is why it was stated earlier, that very careful consideration must be given to the subject matter. According to narrative the accursed thing could only be processed in the sanctuary, where God’s work of cleansing was centered. Let’s read:

Joshua 6:19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.

However, with all of the warnings given by God, the temptation to take the accursed thing proved to be too great for one person, even Achan and therefore, what follows next is where our study will begin, for it will us give pause for concern as we observe all of the ramifications and consequences that follow.

Several observations will be highlighted, and then, God will bid us to keep ourselves from the accursed thing in our day, lest we also become accursed. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.

[1] The accursed thing, or an accursed person could cause catastrophic damage to come upon others, if persons are not guided by God in all things.

These are the days when you will have to pray about any, and everything, because there is a heavy curse resting upon the land. Especially will this be true if you plan to travel, especially to places where there’s the drum beat of war, or where you would associate with persons you don’t know, in close proximity.

For instance, because of the accursed thing across the globe, you would have to pray first before going on a cruise, lest some Hantavirus, or other sudden, unforeseen problem, puts a spoke in your wheels, possibly for months on end, as Covid once did.

It doesn’t mean that you cannot go; all God is saying is that you should seek Him in prayer first, so that if He so chooses, He could give you a heads up of any potential problems that might arise out of the blue, of which you were not expecting.

Joshua did not pray first, and the men also under his jurisdiction most likely did not pray too, or else, God would have given them a heads up by alerting them to the fact that a curse was resting upon the land, as He did with Rahab. And because of a lack of prayer, lives were lost, even though they did not participate in Achan’s sin.

Their problem was not one of collusion to commit a crime; their issue was carelessness and presumption which led them to believe that just because the God of heaven had promised the land of Canaan they did not need to pray and ask Him for guidance.

When God makes a promise, and begins to fulfill it in His own time and way, we should never conclude that devils would not try to interfere in some way or the other. In fact, it is a cardinal rule in the spiritual realm that whenever God is about to do great things for His people, the prince of darkness is also usually there, to contest every step of advance.

[2] According to the narrative, failure in a war could potentially be the result of an accursed thing, or an accursed person in the midst. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.

5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.

This is a war now, and we should bear in mind that the thirty-six men never ever touched or even came close to the accursed thing, thus, they really did not know, and yet, here they are, being quite adversely affected while some of them have lost their lives in the process.

This account raises very grave questions with global implications for when the narrative is scrutinized, or analyzed, it raises the grim prospect that failure in a war may not be because of equipment or strategy, it might be attributable to an accursed thing or person in the camp.

We are just observing the principles in question. Is it possible that one person could do wrong and others suffer as a result, even if they were not aware of the wrong, or did not participate in it. Is it possible that a nation could actually fail in battle because of some accursed thing, or because some person in question is accursed?

Joshua needed to find out the truth in the matter urgently, because, if they have just come off a fresh victory in Jericho, and an army that is much inferior to them is giving them so much trouble, then, as far as Joshua is concerned, he has to get to the bottom of this, to find out what is going on.

Could it be their equipment? It couldn’t be because under God’s leadership in Jericho, their equipment was more than adequate and superior. Could it be their numbers? It could not be because God knows how to win with few or many, as He once did with only three hundred men in Gideon’s day.

So, what exactly is the problem? This haunting and complex question would find no answer until, in his desperation and frustration, Joshua asks of God, the all-important question, what’s going on. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the Lord until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore have thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!

8 O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!

10 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.

A grave responsibility rests upon individuals who try to cover up wrongs that can affect a congregation or a nation in negative ways. Maybe, just maybe, those individuals who lived in Achan’s tent, did not initially know of his plans to steal the accursed things from Jericho.

But now that they know for sure, they must not try to cover up for Achan because if you see something, it is your positive duty to say something, especially if men are dying on the battlefield because of what he had done in stealing the accursed thing.

Achan’s wife and family members should first go to him and let him know of the wrongs committed, so that the curse may be lifted, and we hope that the father would have a change of heart and mind.

But if he digs in his heels, every one of them should get dressed, and head over to Joshua’s door, and let him know of the evils Achan committed. It makes us shudder in our boots, as we think about it, but there is a moral duty resting upon Mrs. Achan, and all of her kids to snitch on the husband and father.

Would doing so drive a wedge between Achan, and his wife and family? It almost certainly would, but if they are not to be held culpable, that is what would be required and who knows, God might have shown them mercy, just as He once did with Rahab, when she saw something and said something. Let’s read:

Joshua 7:12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except you destroy the accursed from among you.

In studying the ramifications of this incident, within the context of current events we became startled as we read the exposition on the matter. When a dear leader digs in his or her heels in deliberate sin, and when there is no hint of repentance, or a change of heart, those folks under their jurisdiction may suffer, some more, some less.

Thus, now, more than ever before, we need to pray, for we cannot afford to make the same mistake that Joshua made, in doing this or that without seeking direction and clearance from The Lord. Take a good look at what is written, concerning the incident that took place as a result of the accursed thing being in the midst. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 497] For one man’s sin the displeasure of God will rest upon His church till the transgression is searched out and put away.

We didn’t have a problem with that statement, for it is to be expected in the context of the church, which has to bear the stamp and character of God, if we’re to expect God’s protecting care, and His victories to sustain us in spiritual warfare.

What gave us great pause for concern was the next statement, which moves the arena from the church, to a national or international level, for, according to the script, the accursed thing or an accursed person could also adversely affect entire nations not merely God’s people in churches. Let’s read:

[Signs of the Times April 21 1881 Par 17] The history of Achan teaches the solemn lesson, that for one man’s sin, the displeasure of God will rest upon a people or a nation till the transgression is searched out and punished. Sin is corrupting in its nature. One man infected with its deadly leprosy may communicate the taint to thousands.

So, the question is: what constitutes the accursed thing, or accursed person in our day? The answers to this question may surprise you. We will do five categories because of the constraints of time, but if and when you get a chance, look up the accursed thing or the abomination in the Bible, and see what you get.

Category [1] Graven images of gold and silver, made to worship and adore. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 7: 25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.

Wherever there is an unusual, insatiable craving for  idols made of gold or silver, and wherever there are statues for worship, adoration or self-exaltation, you will most likely find the accursed thing, or accursed persons in the midst.

Category [2] The presence of an overabundance of lies, and blatant falsehoods, repeated without any compunction of conscience.

Proverbs 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

Wherever there is an over-abundance of lies, each and every day and wherever truth has become as an endangered species, there, you will most likely see the accursed things or accursed persons present.

Category [3] Foods that are strictly forbidden.

Leviticus 11: 7 And the swine, though he divides the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he chews not the cud; he is unclean to you.

10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you.

11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; you shall not eat of their flesh, but you shall have their carcasses in abomination.

12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

In addition, if it has more than four legs, and if it has claws, you should proceed with caution, because it is likely to be an accursed thing. And if it is currently in your house, it can trigger adverse effects on the members of the household.

Category [4] Sermons from preachers who preach or mix falsehoods with truth deliberately such as those who teach that God’s law is abolished, or no longer binding upon men.

Galatians 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preaches any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Category [5] Wherever there is a convergence or a confluence of evil traits of character being manifest in a person, without remorse or repentance, there, you most likely will see an accursed person.

Proverbs 6: 16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him.

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaks lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

If for some reason you were to see these attributes converging in a single individual, it is quite possible that the person’s name is Achan and if so the person is accursed. Furthermore, according to what we’ve studied earlier, there will be trickle down effects, if anyone happens to be under their jurisdiction. It is a fearful truth, but it is the truth.

In closing, remember that Joshua, together with the thirty-six men who perished, really did not know of the accursed thing, and yet, everyone was affected. It is a call to prayer and deep soul searching, lest we inadvertently, or deliberately place ourselves in the compromised position, and thus, suffer adversities unnecessarily.  

Spending quality time with God will prevent a host of evils, and God will give you a heads up wherever He sees fit because it’s never His will that His people suffer because of deliberate or willful ignorance.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that is relevant and pertinent to such a time as this, for you are going to see some very strange developments in the not-too distant future. Let’s read:

Psalms 32: 8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

9 Be not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusts in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.

                                  God Bless!

Seven Truths About the Battle for Your Mind. Sabbath afternoon 05/09/2026

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Matthew 12: 43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he finds  it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

There is an invisible war taking place for the control of your mind, and everyone is involved, whether we know it or not. The forces of good, and evil operate under the directives of one of two kingdoms, either Christ’s, or satan’s.

Thus, the infusion of all modes of thought, ways and means, coming from the two kingdoms, whenever adopted will determine who is seated on the throne of our hearts. If permitted by the individual, Jesus will fill our minds with thoughts and aspirations that are akin to His.

But if Christ is rejected, the default setting becomes a mind that is guided and infused with the modes of thought and action that come from the kingdom of darkness. In fact, being possessed with the prince of darkness, begins with gradual and ongoing tendency to adopt, and cultivate his ways and means.

God’s kingdom is representative of everything that is true, noble, righteous, pure, and uplifting to the human family and the universe at large. God’s laws, and the principles of His kingdom are built upon the eternal principles of love and selflessness, and they will stand forever, because they are good and true.

Everything The Lord does is always with the greater good of others in mind, and thus, when a person is found in Christ, the same perspectives, and practice are gradually adopted, and cultivated through your freedom of choice, so that after a while, Christ will become fully formed within.

This is what is meant by that text which says: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who humbled Himself and became obedient”. It is the work of The Holy Spirit to transform the inner workings of the mind, so that the followers of Jesus would think like Jesus, at their very core.

Satan’s kingdom is representative of everything that is evil, false, unrighteous, and downright degrading to persons. His kingdom is a kingdom of force, and even though he much prefers that persons obey him willingly, he has no problem with forced obedience, where the carrot and stick method or in some cases, the baseball bat is employed to try to bully persons into compliance.

During the dark ages, the carrot and stick method was deployed, where those who would not bow to the decrees of Rome were first entreated and given opportunities to recant. But if they refused baseball bat methodologies were resorted to, to try to force the unwilling mind into compliance.

With millions of Christians, such methods were not successful, for they were strengthened by the Lord to face persecutions with fortitude, and thus, their minds, and their freedom of choice were preserved intact. The battle for the mind is either lost or won, depending on who is permitted to sit on the throne of the heart.

Thus, the battle for control of the mind, is centered around our freedom of choice, and whom we chose to obey. But inevitably, when it all boils down to the bare facts, persons will be controlled by one of the two powers that are contending for the supremacy in our minds. That’s just the basic truth in a nutshell.

God seeks to be seated on the throne of the heart, but we must give Him our hearts from our own free will, because His form of control does not bypass a person’s freedom to choose.

This point is of critical importance, for this is how it was up in heaven, before sin entered the universe. It was because the angels had their freedom of choice why they could have sinned. This is how it was after sin entered our world, and this is how it will always be in the earth made new, and for all eternity. Let’s read:

Isaiah 14:12 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!

13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit upon the mount of the congregation in the sides of the north.

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most-High.

[The Truth About Angels pp 34>35] Satan .. began his work of rebellion with the angels under his command, seeking to diffuse among them the spirit of discontent. And he worked in so deceptive a way that many of the angels were won to his allegiance before his purposes were fully known.

Lucifer sowed the seeds of doubt in the minds of many of the angels. His work of deception was done in so great secrecy that the angels, in less exalted positions supposed that he was the Ruler of heaven. 

[Truth About Angels pp 41] The loyal angels hasten speedily to the Son of God and acquaint Him with what is taking place among the angels.

The great God could at once have hurled this arch deceiver from heaven; but this was not His purpose. He would give the rebellious an equal chance to measure strength and might with His own Son and His loyal angels. In this battle every angel would choose his own side, and be manifested to all.

In other words, there will never come a time in the here and now, or in the great hereafter, when God will force you to do anything against your free will. He will never force the saints to eat from the tree of life, nor will He ever force obedience or worship.

When God is seated in your heart, your freedom to choose is never coerced, because our obedience on this earth and our obedience in the earth made new would have an intelligent foundation in the fact that God is love, and everything He bids us do is for our best good. This sacred truth must be understood in the context of the following verse. Let’s read:

John 8:36 If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.

When Christ is allowed to guide the mind, freedom of choice always remains intact. This is the case now and it will be this way for eternity, because God can never accept any coerced obedience, for if this were the case, He would have made us robots.

He stands at the door and knocks, hoping that those on the inside, where the handle to the door is, will open, up and let Him in. He does this, not to seek  arbitrary control over us, but rather, for our own  best good.

The devil, on the other hand does not stand at the door and knock. If he has his way he will kick down the door, and drag persons by the throat to do his bidding, even if they are unwilling. That is just the nature of the beast.

For the time being, God greatly restrains him from doing so, but the time is coming when persons who do not want Jesus to rule in their hearts will be left to the other master they have chosen, because God honors our freedom of choice, whether it is used for good or bad purposes.

There is a perspective out there that we are always in control, and that can be true to a certain extent. However, the Bible teaches us that our freedom of choice is used to choose between Christ, or satan, since there is no middle ground, or no man’s land where persons can live in limbo as it were.

All the choices we make will eventually lead to, and converge at the doorstep of one of the two masters vying for the seat of the mind, and therefore, all our choices and the deliberate decisions and actions we take, are gradually tending towards that end.

One of the reasons why God is making the utmost effort to ensure that all who will be saved, will have Christ abiding in the heart is because those who will be given eternal life will forever retain their freedom of choice intact.

And since evil will not arise a second time, God has to make certain that the candidates for heaven will retain no seeds of rebellion in them, for eternity is not to be jeopardized by persons, who will at some point in the distant future, use their own freedom of choice to start trouble again.

God’s kingdom is not a kingdom of force, as satan’s kingdom is, and thus, the sealing work of The Holy Spirit, in the frontal lobes of the mind where choices are made doesn’t consist of permanently preventing anyone from disobeying God.

Instead, the choices that have been made to serve God from a willing heart of love would be sealed for eternity, because that is who you are and that’s who you will be at your very core for eternity. Thus, there are seven important truths about the battle for your mind that must now be considered.

Truth # [1] The invisible war taking place, is a battle for control of your mind. God has already gained the victory on Calvary, through Christ, but persons will have to choose to participate in that victory from a willing heart, not fettered by fear or by force. Let’s read:

John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.

Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Hebrews 11: 13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

John 6: 66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will you also go away?

[The Desire of Ages pp 392] They were greatly displeased, and wishing to wound the Savior and to gratify the malice of the Pharisees, they turned their backs upon Him, and left Him with disdain. Their decision was never afterward reversed; for they walked no more with Jesus.

As those disaffected disciples turned away from Christ, a different spirit took control of them. They could see nothing attractive in Him whom they had once found so interesting.

Truth # [2] Jesus never uses force to gain control of the mind. He employs His gracious overtures and He uses entreaties, but the use of force, in our choices is never done by God, for He made us as free moral agents.

In Baalam’s case, God restrained him in mercy, but He eventually let Balaam have his way. The same is true of King Saul, who, for the time being was put under temporary restraint, but after the restraining order was lifted, Saul was permitted to choose the master he preferred, who would then take control of his mind. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16: 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him. {Not merely a bad mood}

15 And Saul's servants said unto him, behold now, an evil spirit from God troubles thee.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Truth # [3] Freedom of choice is key in determining who will ultimately control your mind, either Christ or satan. Let’s read:

Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

Deuteronomy 30: 19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.

Truth # [4] Evil spirits will never ever leave a person voluntarily, they have to be evicted, and only Jesus can do this.

Matthew 12: 28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.

29 Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first binds the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.

Ephesians 6: 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

2nd Timothy 2: 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

The prince of darkness has a much greater intellect, and much greater will power than any human being, and for this reason, when any person becomes fully possessed, demons can force them into submission to do things they wouldn’t have done on their own.

This should be a warning to all who are playing with fire, because the mild control that exists in Christ’s kingdom, is an absolute nonstarter with the prince of darkness, when the person deliberately chooses satan as his or her master.

After a deliberate decision was made to reject Jesus as the Messiah, a different spirit took hold of those who did. The prince of darkness relinquished carrots in favor of a big stick, and he proceeded to use his baseball bat, as he ruled the nation with an iron fist.

The very grave nature of what was to follow could be understood from the words of Christ, as He saw with prophetic eye, the results of that choice which would forever put satan in the driver’s seat of one’s heart. The warning was indeed very grim. Let’s read:

Luke 23:27 And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him.

28 But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem weep not for me, but weep for your- selves and for your children.

29 For, behold, the days are coming, in which they shall say, blessed are the barren, and the wombs that never bore, and the paps which never gave suck.

[The Great Controversy pp 28] God withdrew his protection from them, and removed his restraining power from Satan and his angels, and the nation was left to the control of the leader she had chosen.

Her children had spurned the grace of Christ, which would have enabled them to subdue their evil impulses, and now these became the conquerors. Satan aroused the fiercest and most debased passions of the soul. Men did not reason; they were beyond reason.

It is worthy of note that after their probation was closed, they still retained their freedom of choice, but it became totally incapacitated, and useless as the devil took the helm and ruled them with an iron fist.

Similarly, after probation is closed, in the not-too distant future, one’s freedom of choice will remain with them but if persons are not found in Christ, the freedom to choose will become utterly useless, for satan, who has a much greater will power than any human being, will force those under his jurisdiction to do his bidding.

Then, too late, persons will find out what the saying means when people say the devil made me do it. As it is currently, people say it jokingly or in mockery, but the time is coming when it will not be funny by any means. Let’s read:

[Testimonies 1 pp 299] In this degenerate age, Satan holds control over those who depart from the right and venture upon his ground. They are venturing on the devil’s ground and are tempting him to control them.

This powerful destroyer considers them his lawful prey, and exercises his power upon them, and that against their will. When they wish to control themselves, they cannot.

They yielded their minds to Satan, and he will not release his claims, but holds them captive. No power can deliver the ensnared soul but the power of God, in answer to the earnest prayers of His faithful followers.

It all hearkens back to the title of the Bible study for today Seven Truths About the Battle for Your Mind. For instance, when those two demoniacs of Gadara saw Jesus, they saw in Him the only One who could deliver them from the chains with which the prince of darkness had bound them.

But as they tried to ask for help, the demons spoke instead of them, for they were at that time, under the control of the evil one who utterly disregards your freedom of choice. Let’s read:

[S.P Bk 2 pp 312] The words of Jesus penetrated the darkened minds of the men enough for them to dimly realize that One was near who could save them from the demons that tormented them.

They fell at the feet of Jesus, worshiping him. But when they opened their mouths to entreat his mercy, the demon spoke through them and cried vehemently, “What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most-High God, I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not!”

Truth # [5] Full blown demon possession takes place gradually, for it almost never occurs suddenly. The same is true of the work of The Holy Ghost, because He is given in increments, not in full measure at the outset of one’s choice in favor of Christ. Let’s read:

Matthew 12:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sicknesses and all manner of diseases.

19 But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.

20 For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaks in you.

John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The same is true on the flipside of the coin, because full demon possession takes place in increments and is almost never a sudden occurrence. Day by day, by the choices and decisions a person makes, they will gradually cede control of the mind to devils.

And if it is the case that they choose to never accept deliverance from Christ, it culminates in permanent and full-blown demon possession, for which there is no cure. This is what took place with king Saul, as he deliberately chose to adopt satanic principles, ways and means, from day to day.

He would indulge the spirit of revenge, he would be seen speaking hateful words, not only against David, but against any and everyone who dared oppose his will. He indulged in violence against the priests, and he berated his own children, when he could not get his way. His entire administration was based on fear and those under his jurisdiction were constantly on edge, lest they offended him.

Therefore, with every deliberate indulgence of the satanic traits, thoughts words and deeds, king Saul became more and more demon possessed, until it culminated in a point of no return at the doorstep of the witch of Endor. From that point forward, satan would make him do his bidding, even if he did not agree. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 18:8 And Saul was very wroth, and the saying displeased him; and he said, They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

1st Samuel 16:16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on a harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.

23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took a harp, and played with his hand: so, Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.

What do those last words mean when it says that the evil spirit departed from him. It means that it departed from Saul for a season, but just like Christ said in Matthew, it would be seeking reentry at the opportune moment, which would occur at the gate of choice, when Saul again deliberately chooses to pursue a wrong course of action. Let’s read:

Matthew 12:43 When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he finds  it empty, swept, and garnished.

45 Then he goes, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation.

1st Samuel 28:6 And when Saul enquired of the Lord the Lord answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

7 Then said Saul to his servants, seek me a woman that hath a familiar spirit, that I may go to her, and enquire of her. And his servants said to him, Behold, there is a woman that hath a familiar spirit at Endor.

[Spiritual Gifts Bk. 4 pp 84] Saul knew that in this last act, of consulting the witch of Endor, he cut the last shred which held him to God. He knew that if he had not before willfully separated himself from God, this act sealed that separation, and made it final. He had made an agreement with death and a covenant with hell. The cup of his iniquity was full.

This leads us to the sixth truth about the battle for control of your mind: Truth # [6] When a person becomes fully possessed by demons, they could lose their freedom of choice entirely.

After Saul sealed his fate, his freedom of choice was incapacitated, and held in subjection to the will of a tyrant whose kingdom is based on force. Judas also had his freedom to choose incapacitated, as were the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, who even though the were blinded by the angels, continued to search for Lot’s front door.

The same will be true of persons who deliberately despise God’s grace through Christ, for every choice in favor of the kingdom of darkness will eventually cause a final irrevocable decision to converge on the doorstep of the prince of darkness, and from there on out it will be coercion by remote control. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 324] We must inevitably be under the control of the one or the other of the two great powers that are contending for the supremacy of the world. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion.

We have only to neglect to ally ourselves with the kingdom of light. If we do not co-operate with the heavenly agencies, Satan will take possession of the heart, and will make it his abiding place. The only defense against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness.

We may leave off many bad habits, for the time we may part company with Satan; but without a vital connection with God, through the surrender of ourselves to Him moment by moment, we shall be overcome. Without a personal acquaintance with Christ, and a continual communion, we are at the mercy of the enemy, and shall do his bidding in the end.

[The Desire of Ages pp 125] The tempter can never compel us to do evil. He cannot control minds unless they are yielded to his control. The will must consent, faith must let go its hold upon Christ, before Satan can exercise his power upon us.

This leads us to the seventh and final truth about the battle for control of your mind: Truth # [7] The sealing work of the Holy Ghost will determine who will ultimately control your mind.

The sealing work is not something that happens in our hearts overnight, it is a gradual surrender to the truths revealed in the Bible, and through the agency of The Holy Spirit, bringing us, through our choices, to a deeper lever of understanding and practice in the things of God.

It is a settling into the truth intellectually, and in the most practical manner, because God desires that we have an intelligent understanding, and appreciation of His character. God’s principles, laws, instructions, and His character has to be interfaced, intertwined, and synthesized into our everyday experiences.

It involves much more than doing right things. It has to do with building sterling character in cooperation with Christ, so that when the rains descend, and the winds blow, it would be made manifest that we built upon The Rock, even Christ.

When this is the case on an ongoing basis, The Spirit of God will breathe Christ’s life into your everyday experiences, and if we were to stay the course with Him, He will seal our decisions for eternity, not by force, but because we willingly chose to have Jesus on the throne of our hearts.

Sadly, this is not the case with many Christians, for in some cases, the walk with God has devolved into an empty experience, that is filled with ceremony and works that are done from a mechanical form of obedience which does not reach the heart.

This wouldn’t be sufficient to withstand the coming crisis, for the time of trouble such as never was will be exactly that, a time of trouble such as never was. In fact, it is scheduled to intensify into a magnitude 100 earthquake, complete with a spiritual Tsunami that would sweep many persons off their feet. Let’s read:

[Last Day Events pp 180] 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. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out.

This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. 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.

The Lord is now calling us to deep soul searching, to see if maybe, the battle for our minds is slipping into the hands of a tyrant. Deliberate decisions in favor of Christ, intelligent understanding of present truth, coupled with a willing heart and mind, will ensure that the work of sealing us in the frontal lobes will continue uninterrupted.

It is the will of God that Bible studies be translated into your everyday experiences, so that like Enoch, the Christian can walk with God. We therefore end with two passages of Scripture that will encourage us to do so, because the time is now, and the place is here. Let’s read:

John 1: 12 But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Revelation 7:2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,

3 Saying, hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

                                    God Bless!

Worship God In Spirit And Truth. Sabbath afternoon 05/02/2026

John 4: 23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

On numerous occasions, the phrase “God is A Spirit” has been mentioned on this forum and we probably never took the time to fully explain what we mean. The time has come for a thorough study to be done on the statement, so that it would be made clear to our understanding, because spiritual things are to be spiritually discerned.

We can’t bring the same tools to the study of God’s word that we employ in the secular subjects such as math and science where only finite ways and means are used to draw conclusions. Those may be good in their legitimate sphere, but understanding spiritual things will require much more than that.

If we were to use the same methodologies, we will certainly err in interpretations and conclusions, and there will be some things that would be made plain to the spiritually minded person that may baffle the intellect of learned men.

As we study the topic, great light would be shed on our pathway, by enabling us to understand things in the Bible that may seem vague and arbitrary. God is a Spirit, and everything He does in His interactions with us, includes the inner state of the mind, since the thought, motives and purposes always give birth to our overt actions.

This is the reason why on several occasions persons are at a loss to grasp why God did such and such in a given situation, whereas to all outward appearances it might seem that He should have taken a different course. This then could negatively impact a person’s perspectives of God, and if time isn’t taken to try to learn from His perspectives, one can stumble. Let’s read:

Luke 4:44 For every tree is known by his own fruit, for of thorns men don’t gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.

45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Matthew 15:8 This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand.

11 It is not that which goes into the mouth which defiles a man, but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not a man.

As a general rule humanity judges things by outward appearances, meaning that overt actions play major roles in determining the conclusions we draw. This is a greatly flawed measuring stick and often causes us to make grievous errors in judgement.

Indeed, it is our predisposition to be convinced by the mere outward display of evidences, that satan would exploit to his own advantage during the final conflict of the ages. Persons would be deceived by outward manifestations that appeal to the 5 senses, instead of drawing sound conclusions, based upon the written word.

An example of what we’re speaking of is given in the Bible of the prophet Samuel who was sent to anoint Israel’s second king. As the first son of Jessie came out leading the pack, he made a deep impression on Samuel’s mind, for he was a man of great stature.

And he looked like a king, as if he was born to run. The prophet proceeded to conclude that this must be the person that God had sent him to anoint, and he firmly believed that God’s anointed was before him.

The Lord had to correct him and he gave to Samuel and us, a lesson that we must never forget, that the conclusions that we draw, and the assessments that we make must include spiritual components, which may not appear to the naked eye in most instances.

At that time God pointed out certain factors that are too often brought to bear in our decision making. A guy who is tall and handsome, might have outward appeal but he may be destitute of the character that would make him a good husband.

Now, we have to let you know there isn’t anything wrong with being tall and handsome, but there are short bald men who would love you, and treat you right, who will be faithful, in sickness and in health and who would love you with the love that is born of God, and who will tend to encourage you in right directions, all the days of your life.

Thus, rather than tie the knot in a hurry, persons are to do due diligence in researching the spiritual side of the man in question. First and foremost, does he love God supremely, does his influence tend to draw you away from Christ, or does he tend to put Jesus first, in everything and in every decision he makes.

These are just a few of the deciding factors that God pointed out to Samuel, so that he would not make grave errors in judgment. In other words, the heart, the motives, and the tendency to put God first, is of much more value to the Lord in determining a man’s fitness to fill such an important position as king.

That is because God is a Spirit, and the state of the mind and heart are or more consequence than the mere outward appeal that might cause persons to make hasty, ill-advised decisions. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16: 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord sees not as man sees for man looks on the outward appearance but the Lord looks on the heart.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 637>638] Eliab was the eldest, and more nearly resembled Saul for stature and beauty than the others. His comely features and finely developed form attracted the attention of the prophet.

As Samuel looked upon his princely bearing, he thought, “This is indeed the man whom God has chosen as successor to Saul,” and he waited for the divine sanction that he might anoint him. But Jehovah did not look upon the outward appearance.

No outward beauty can recommend the soul to God. The wisdom and excellence revealed in the character and deportment, express the true beauty of the man; and it’s the inner worth, the excellency of the heart, that determines our acceptance with the Lord of hosts.

Another example of what is being spoken about can be observed in Christ’s encounter with the rich young ruler, who for all intents and purposes seemed to be doing the right things, when he asked Jesus that all important question: “what must I do to be saved.”

The answer Jesus gave him probably caused his face to beam with satisfaction, for Jesus replied that the commandments must be kept, in order to enter into eternal life. Yet, the ruler felt an unknown void deep down in his soul which he couldn’t explain nor could he satisfy.

The problem is that doing right things externally is not the service or worship God is looking for, if one’s heart isn’t in a right relationship with Him. His work in our hearts, via the Holy Ghost, involves bringing willing persons to that point where whatsoever we do will have its foundation in love to God, and love to our fellowman.

In fact, even though everyone is encouraged to do the right thing, doing so, from a mere obligatory perspective will never, by itself, bring a person into fellowship with God, because God is a Spirit, and your heart has to be in it, before anything could be acceptable to Him.

God is not merely looking for persons who do right things. He is looking for a heart that is submissive to His word, and His revealed will. He is looking for the heart that is truly grateful for what He has done for us on Calvary, and would render willing, and loving service, and obedience in response to His gracious overtures.

God is also looking for the sincere-hearted person, with faults, who would accept His assessment of our vital need of His grace, in order to obey, and God is looking for the heart of faith, which will take Him at His word, and believe that He will fulfill his promises according to His good purposes, and in His own time and way.

All of these essentials could be lacking, even as folks do the right things, for there is a sort of religion that does not come from the heart, but focuses squarely on ceremony, external manifestations, and the letter of the law with its particulars, while the principles of His kingdom aren’t permitted to be intertwined and interwoven into one’s everyday experiences.

A religion that does not come from the heart, and obedience that is primarily ritual in nature, could never satisfy the soul’s longing, for it is described as taking the husk without the kernel, and as a result, it could actually be a sin, because, according to the Bible, whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

God is a Spirit, and therefore, as we study the verses below, let us try to get the gist of what He is saying, for the heart must be in alignment with whatsoever is said or done, in order to worship God in spirit and in truth. Let’s read:

Matthew 15:8 This people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 23: 2 The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not after their works: for they say, and do not.

4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

Amos 5: 21 I hate, I despise your feast days and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies.

22 Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts.

23 Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.

24 But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream.

Psalms 78:36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues.

37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they steadfast in his covenant.

Matthew 19:16 And, behold, one came, and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness,

19 Honor thy father and thy mother: and, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.

20 The young man saith unto him, all these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

[The Desire of Ages pp 520] The ruler was quick to discern all that Christ’s words involved, and he became sad. He was sorry that such conditions existed; he desired eternal life, but he was not willing to make the sacrifice. His claim that he had kept the law of God was a deception. He loved the gifts of God more than he loved the Giver.

Here is another example of why the Bible says God is a Spirit. In the days of Christ, the congregation at one time was in the process of returning their tithes and offerings to God so that His kingdom upon the earth could be sustained.

At that time many persons were bringing large sums into the treasury, but there was a woman who was financially broken, and all she could bring was two mites. It was not much by any means, but because God is a Spirit, He picked up on her inner motives, and purposes, which motivated her to return all that she had.

It made all the difference in the world to God, in so much that Jesus called His disciples to observe, and assess things, the way God does, because, as far as God is concerned, that poor woman gave more than everybody else, because she gave everything which she had, even though it was only two mites. Let’s read:

Mark 12: 41 And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much.

42 And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.

43 And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them verily I say unto you that this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury.

44 For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

The way in which the widow brought her two mites to the treasury is also worthy of notice, because she did it with a humble, grateful spirit. It was not much when compared to the other members, but it was the attitude and the heart that made the two mites of more value to God than the other offerings.

Now, it is true that we cannot read the intents and purposes of the heart like God does but He cautions us against drawing conclusions based solely on the externals. Indeed, some of those who were giving large sums could also be accepted, if their hearts were in the right place.

It’s not the size of the gift that matters with God, it is the condition of the heart, the intents, purposes, motivations and love, which make all the difference. It’s not the things you do at Christmastime, but the Christmas things you do all year through. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 614] Many of the rich brought large sums, which they presented with great ostentation. Jesus looked upon them sadly, but made no comment on their liberal offerings.

Presently His countenance lighted as He saw a poor widow approach hesitatingly, as though fearful of being observed. She shrank back as if hardly daring to venture farther.

And yet she longed to do something, little though it might be, for the cause she loved. She looked at the gift in her hand. It was very small in comparison with the gifts of those around her, yet it was her all.

Watching her opportunity, she hurriedly threw in her two mites, and turned to hasten away. But in doing this she caught the eye of Jesus, which was fastened earnestly upon her.

Then His words of commendation fell upon her ear: “Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all.” Tears of joy filled her eyes as she felt that her act was understood and appreciated.

Many would have advised her to keep her pittance for her own use; But Jesus understood her motive. She believed that the service of the temple was of God’s appointment, and she was anxious to do her utmost to sustain it. Her heart went with her gift.

Its value was estimated, not by the worth of the coin, but by the love to God and the interest in His work that had prompted the deed.

[The Desire of Ages pp 615] It is the motive that gives character to our acts, stamping them with ignominy or with high moral worth. Not the great things which every eye sees and every tongue praises does God account most precious.

The little duties cheerfully done, the little gifts which make no show, and which to human eyes may appear worthless, often stand highest in His sight. A heart of faith and love is dearer to God than the most costly gift.

On the flipside of this widow’s generosity is the act of Ananias and Sapphira, who also brought their gift to the treasury, but their hearts were not right, for they pledged, and then reneged on their promise so that the gift was brought grudgingly.

It is quite possible that they were faithful in tithes and offerings, for The Holy Ghost did not fault them on that issue. The problem is that tithe and offerings are the bare minimum, since there are other needs that pop up from time to time in God’s cause.

The truly generous person would not bring the bare minimum only, but will make provisions, wherever they can, for those instances where needs arise out of the blue as it were. For example, not long ago, there was a devastating hurricane which hit Cuba and Jamaica really hard.

The subsequent damage called for more than the bare minimum, and thus, it is quite possible, that if Ananias and Sapphira were living today, they would help indeed, but they would probably offer the bare minimum, so as not to raise eyebrows as pertains to their generosity.

When there is a valid need, and when there is a call for means, let your response not merely be, we will give you our thoughts and prayers, for if thoughts and prayers are not followed up with cash or other provisions, The Lord will not have a clue as to what we are speaking of, for God is a Spirit. Let’s read:

Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.

10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.

Deuteronomy 15: 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when you give unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that you put thine hand unto.

11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land.  therefore, I command thee, saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.

Here again is the very same issue occurring, why the Bible says God is a Spirit. Seventy men of Israel have been chosen to help Moses with his administration, and they are given a specific instruction to appear at the tabernacle. All, except two of them show up and yet The Holy Spirit is given to the two also.

Judging by mere outward appearance would lead us to conclude that they should not be partakers of the Holy Ghost, because it seems as if they disobeyed a plain order. But hold on a minute, as we dig a little deeper, because, God is a Spirit. Let’s read:

Numbers 11:16 And the Lord said unto Moses, gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee.

17 And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone.

24 And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.

26 But there remained two of the men in the camp the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.

27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 381] Two of the seventy, humbly counting themselves unworthy of so responsible a position, had not joined their brethren at the tabernacle; but the Spirit of God came upon them where they were, and they, too, exercised the prophetic gift.

Now, the same issue also occurs at times when God brings judgment upon certain persons. He may not always give us an explanation, but persons can rest assured that there must be something in the heart that caused Him to do as He did.

Case in point was the numbering of the people by David. In that instance, the scripture says that satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to count the people. But not long after, the displeasure of the Lord was made manifest, and He made David three offers of judgment, to recompence the deed.

David chose the better of the three bad options and no sooner had he done so than an angel was sent to destroy many persons in Jerusalem. Then, as David saw the carnage taking place, He questioned God’s judgement, in inflicting hurt on persons who had no part in issuing the order to number the people.

And some persons reading that incident may balk at what they perceive as a travesty of justice, where the apparently innocent were shaken down, while those who did the dirty work seemed to have gotten away scotch free. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 21:1 And Satan stood up against Israel and provoked David to number Israel.

2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.

7 And God was displeased with “this thing;” therefore he smote Israel.

Numbers 1:18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

19 As the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

Joshua 8: 10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.

Judges 20: 15 And the children of Benjamin were numbered at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, beside the inhabitants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hundred chosen men.

1st Samuel 15: 4 And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah.

1st Chronicles 21:8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.

14 So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.

16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the Lord stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.

17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father's house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.

To David’s mind, God made a mistake in judgement, because David refers to the slain as sheep. Thus, the question is: Were they indeed sheep, and if so, was this an arbitrary act on God’s part to slay 70,000 of what we often refer to as innocent souls?

The answer to this conundrum can be found in the topic for today, namely: “God is a Spirit” and thus, it must be that something wrong was being cherished in their hearts why He smote them as He did. Unlike David, they refused to repent, of whatever the issue was, and that’s why they were taken out.

Both David, and many thousands in Israel had been cherishing national pride, and as their craving to be like the other nations fomented, the theocracy God initiated seemed more and more antiquated and by their estimate, insufficient.

To number the people would be to demonstrate the perspective that their strength was in numbers, not in God, and no sooner than that perspective is taken and cultivated, satan would tempt them to the fatal belief, that they do not need God anymore.

Therefore, even though the seventy thousand didn’t actually number the people, they too had partaken of the same spirit, as did David, and because David hastened to repent, and they didn’t, it may seem to some minds as if God made a mistake in striking the innocent, while letting the guilty off the hook. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 746>748] Intercourse with heathen peoples led to a desire to follow their national customs and kindled ambition for worldly greatness. David determined to increase his army by requiring military service from all who were of proper age.

The numbering of the people would show the contrast between the weakness of the kingdom when David ascended the throne and its strength and prosperity under his rule.

The prosperity of Israel under David had been due to the blessing of God rather than to the ability of her king, or the strength of her armies. But the increasing of the military resources of the kingdom would give the impression to surrounding nations that Israel’s trust was in her armies, and not in the power of Jehovah.

1st Samuel 17:45 Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

2nd Samuel 5: 23 And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

24 And let it be, when you hear the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

2nd Samuel 5:18 The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19 And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into my hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

2nd Samuel 8: And after this it came to pass that David smote the Philistines, and subdued them: and David took Methegammah out of the hand of the Philistines.

2 And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line, casting them down to the ground; even with two lines measured he to put to death, and with one full line to keep alive. And so, the Moabites became David's servants, and brought gifts.

3 David smote also Hadadezer, the son of Rehob, king of Zobah, as he went to recover his border at the river Euphrates.

5 And when the Syrians of Damascus came to succour Hadadezer king of Zobah, David slew of the Syrians two and twenty thousand men.

6 Then David put garrisons in Syria of Damascus: and the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts. And the Lord preserved David whithersoever he went.

So, how is it that after all of these victories that God gave to David, that David now wants to number the people, to give the impression that Israel’s strength was in numbers. God is a Spirit, and therefore, even though in the next passage, no definite reasons are given, we must understand that there has to be an issue with the hearts and minds of the people. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 24:1 And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

The taking of the census had caused disaffection among the people; yet they had themselves had cherished the same sins that prompted David’s action. As the Lord through Absalom’s sin visited judgment upon David, so through David’s error he punished the sins of Israel.

In our day, the very same sins which affected Israel and David, are adversely affecting individuals as well as nations. National pride, and greatness are driving some to believe that God isn’t needed anymore and some have gone so far to believe that they can sit in God’s seat, by saying and doing only what God can do.

So, even though no reason might be given, just as it was back then, even so it will be when The Lord gets going with what Isaiah describes as His strange act.

In the last passage we read, we see that The Lord’s displeasure with the hearts and minds of king and peasant, moved Him to permit the king in question to be tempted by satan, and consequently, the king did some stupid things.

Let’s take a good second look at the passage we are referring to, because no clear reason is given for the Lord’s displeasure, and thus it calls upon us to see, if there might be something percolating in our hearts, that is causing God to permit kings in our day to do some stupid things.

And if so, the question is whether or not folks would hasten to repent like David did, or whether folks will cherish sin and fall when the sword of the Lord goes through the land. No doubt, many persons will, like David, be taken aback at what might seem to their minds as a mistake in judgment on God’s part, when apparently “innocent souls” are lost. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 24:1 And again the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

Isaiah 28: 21 For the Lord shall rise up as in mount Perazim, he shall be “wroth” as in the valley of Gibeon, that he may do his work, his strange work; and bring to pass his act, his strange act.

22 Now therefore be ye not mockers lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption, even determined upon the whole earth.

It behooves us then to take a good introspect look at ourselves to see if we might be cherishing sins in our lives, on a personal or national level. It also calls upon us to worship serve and obey God in spirit and in truth, for God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must do so from the heart, in order for it to be accepted.

We therefore end with a passage that would call all of us to deep souls searching and it’s the will of God that wheresoever a change of heart and practice are needed, that we will humble ourselves before Him, so that He can do His good pleasure in and through us. Let’s read:

Joshua 24:14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

15 And if it seems evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

                                   God Bless!

Biblical Ways to Handle Sexual allegations. Sabbath afternoon, 04/25/2026

Allegations of sexual assault are nothing new, for it is one of those problems that have plagued us from Genesis to Revelation. It has been bubbling up to the surface for centuries, but it seems as if it is now reaching a zenith, together with all of the other sins that are being witnessed daily.

The outpouring of The Holy Spirit will allow all of earth’s harvests to come to maturity, and this will include the good, the bad, and the ugly. Thus, if you see an astronomical rise in sexual allegations in the news, it signals to us that earth’s harvests are being ripened, ready for reaping, of which there would be good reapers, and the grim reapers.

There have been abuses, and sexual allegations in the clergy, where children and teenagers who were entrusted to the care of spiritual leaders have been permanently harmed by the grossest acts done to them, by those who were supposed to have been their guardians.

There have also been reports of sexual allegations, and abuses by politicians, and some very prominent people have become embroiled in the scandals. The tendency to sweep these matters under the rug and the practice of paying hush money to cover up one’s dirty secrets, contributes a lot to making the issue seem smaller than it really is.

Indeed, if you were to ask God about the truth in the matter, He will reveal that the problem is much more pervasive than most people know, and it is only as the day of final accounts draws near that the curtains will be pulled back, to reveal millions of skeletons, hiding in the closets of some presumably decent folk.

After the presumed suicide of Jeffrey Epstein, many persons wondered at his sudden demise, for it did seem strange to many, that he would suddenly end his life. And there are many unanswered questions that are yet to be unearthed, which pertain to his untimely death. But for the meantime, suffice it to say that dead men don’t tell tales.

Let us just say here that according to the scriptures, there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. It might be hidden from parents, families, citizens and spouses, but one day, sooner or later, it will become exposed for all to see. Politicians may try to cover it up and investigators may shred all the evidence they can find, but the unadulterated files are still intact in God’s books of accounts.

And when Jesus finally discloses the truths in the matter, those persons who went to great lengths to bury their skeletons, will realize too late that the all-seeing eye of God was following them, in so much that the books of record in heaven will contain live footage of their words, and deeds, with all of those minute details, such as intentions. Let’s read:

Hebrews 4: 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and He is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

1st Corinthians 4: 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Luke 12: 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever you have spoken in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which you have spoken in the ear, in the closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops

[ Great Controversy pp 486] Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned, and blotted out of the books of record, but will stand to witness against the sinner in the day of God.

He may have committed his evil deeds in the light of day or in the darkness of night; but they were open and manifest before Him with whom we have to do. Angels of God witnessed each sin, and registered it in the unerring records.

Sin might be concealed, denied, covered up from father, mother, wife, children, and associates. None but the guilty actors may cherish the least suspicion of the wrong.

But it is laid bare before the intelligences of Heaven. The darkness of the darkest night, the secrecy of all deceptive arts, is not sufficient to veil one thought from the knowledge of the Eternal. God has an exact record of every unjust account and every unfair dealing.

He is not deceived by appearances of piety. He makes no mistakes in his estimation of character. Men may be deceived by those who are corrupt in heart, but God pierces all disguises, and reads the inner life.

The Bible study for today will be free of biases, and cultural or social prejudices for it will not favor men over women or vice versa. The Lord will give us the straight, unadulterated truth from His word, for the trumpet has to give a certain sound, for such a time as this.

Several issues that pertain to sexual allegations will be addressed, and as usual, God will call all men and women everywhere to repent, and turn away from sin. The first problem we will study is the issue of He said/ She said, where victims and perpetrators may square of in the context of allegation.

[1] The issue of He said/ She said. Let’s read:

Genesis 39:2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.

In our day, mostly men have been found to be the perpetrators, but according to the Bible, women can also be instigators in fostering sexual misconduct. It takes a mind that is free from bias, to think things through objectively, and therefore, whenever there are allegations of sexual misconduct swirling on the airwaves, be very slow to jump to conclusions.

The problem with the issue of he said/ she said is that in very many cases, one’s word is pitted against another and folks often rush to judgement, without a knowledge of all the facts in the case. Whenever a man, or a woman comes forth with any allegation of sexual harassment, it is prudent to wait to hear both sides of the story.

In the case of Mrs. Potiphar, it would seem as if her allegation was valid, to persons who would be prone to give a woman of such standing, the benefit of the doubt. On the other hand, who would believe young Joseph, the newly minted slave, sold from a foreign country.

To some biased minds it would seem more plausible that the immigrant would have committed this act, but to discount Mrs. Potiphar as being the instigator would be too farfetched, because someone of her stature will most likely not do such a thing.

However, a person’s stature and political standing is not any guarantee that they would not do such and such, as the recent files have shown. Both men and women of stature are fallen human beings, just like everyone else, and therefore, to write off one as not being capable of indulging sexual harassment is to presume.

There is currently a slush fund in congress that has used taxpayer dollars to pay out millions in sexual misconduct and harassment cases, among other allegations. The names of the offenders are mostly kept secret, and it involves both men and women of some level of stature.

Reports are supposed to be made to the Office of Compliance, but according to the records, most of the victims and perpetrators often choose to remain anonymous. Thus, by a conservative guesstimate, there are probably many more skeletons to fall out from congress’ closet than many people realize.

This leads us to the second very important point:

[2] Persons have the right, and a moral obligation to refuse any inappropriate sexual advances, coming to you from either male or female.

Genesis 39:8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master knows not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;

9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he kept back anything from me but you because you are his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

10 And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph, day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by  her, or to be with her.

There are sexual allegations, and misconducts which have occurred in the work place. Joseph did not put himself in a compromised position voluntarily, as is too often the case. He was only going to work, and minding his own business, when these unsolicited advances began to come from the most unlikely source.

Both male and female employees of a company may find themselves the targets of sexual harassment. It may come from a boss who wields authority, to hire and fire those who like Joseph, would not comply. It may come from fellow employees who have a crush on you for some reason.

And just like Joseph, the harassment might occur on a daily basis, to try and break your morale. Satan is a determined foe and if he sees you trying to do the right thing, he will often make matters much worse by persistent attacks. This applies to both male, and female workers, because the devil is no respecter of persons.

There is much commentary to be made concerning this singular statement: Joseph refused. Question: How did Joseph refuse? The answers are many and varied, and cover a wide spectrum of activities that can determine what the outcome will be.

Both men and women must avoid flirting with each other, and like Joseph, both males, and females are to carry about themselves in a manner that would not induce evil thoughts and desires in the opposite sex.

Joseph refused: Women are to dress themselves in such a manner so as not to destabilize men, and the dudes are to be decently clad at all times, and in all places. Just because you are heading to the beach, or to some wedding, doesn’t mean to say that you should let it all hang out.

Decorum and prudence will form a sort of bulwark against those intrusions which too often lead to a rendezvous. God is a Spirit, and thus, both sexes are to avoid inviting temptation, as far as possible. Let’s read:

[Testimonies Vol. 5 pp 595] Men who are doing God’s work, and who have Christ abiding in their hearts will not lower the standard of morality, but will ever seek to elevate it.

They will not find pleasure in the flattery of women or in being petted by them. Let men, both single and married, say: “Hands off! I will never give the least occasion that my good shall be evil spoken of.

My good name is capital of far more value to me than gold or silver. Let me preserve it untarnished. Allow no one to praise or flatter you, or to cling to your hand as if loath to let it go. Be afraid of every such demonstration.

Josph refused: This section is addressed to brother so and so, and sister so and so. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

It does not have to be evil, it just has to look like if it’s evil, and if it appears to be so, both women and men must avoid it as far as possible. Joseph refused the first appearance of evil by not flirting with Mrs. Potiphar. It’s a fact that people have the tendency to draw conclusions, that’s just how folks are.

Thus, rather than have unfounded rumors swirling around in the New York Times, Joseph would carry himself with dignity and reserve, so as not to give the appearance of any approval to Mrs. Potiphar’s advances.

And therefore, if The Lord did not specifically send persons to a time and place, that could turn out to be satan’s enchanted ground, try to avoid going in the first place. Prevention is better than cure, thus, rather than tempt the devil to tempt you, persons are to use common sense and not place themselves in harms way, if it can be avoided.

For example, if brother so and so was to invite sister so and so up to his hotel room to do, let’s say, Bible study in the wee hours of the morning, even though we are not to judge anybody the very appearance of it does not make for a good look, nor would it smell right.  Such a sight will certainly cause questions to start swirling around.

No one should suspect that foul play took place, but just the sight of sister so and so, coming out of the hotel room of brother so and so, at 3 am in the wee hours of the morning, would give the appearance of evil, even if they were indeed studying the Bible. We do not know.

And worse yet, if the wife of brother so and so just happened to pass by when sister so and so was now leaving the room at 3:00 am in the morning the wife of brother so and so would obviously have two valid questions to ask.

[1] Why did the Bible study have to take place in your private hotel room at 3:00 am in the wee hours of the morning? And [2] What was the topic about?

Again, if brother so and so is texting sister so and so all hours of the night, and into the wee hours of the morning, that is a sure sign to flee. You do not need Mom or Dad, or Elders or artificial intelligence to tell you do so, because, if you play with fire, you will get burned.

Joseph refused: If brother so and so, is texting sister so and so all hours of the night, and is sending her lewd images, and pictures of himself, don’t pray and ask God what to do. You already know what to do.

Cut off all interactions and conversations with such a person, and if he or she persists, then go ahead and report him or her to the relevant authorities. If you do not, then you will not have taken a proactive measure to stop things before they happened.

This leads us to the third, and a critically important point, because there are times when, after all you have done to avert trouble, he or she may go a step further and try to use force to cause you to buckle.

[3] Whenever sexual misconduct includes the use of force, try your best to adopt the Joseph mode, and run for your life, if you can. Let’s read:

Genesis 39:11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Joseph ran: If on your first date with some woman, or man, unwanted sexual advances are made, run as fast as you can, if you can, so that God will see that, at the very least, you tried your very best to avert potential trouble.

But to stay there with him or her, crying stop, with a look of glee on your face, would only add fuel to the fire, and the aggressor, whether male, or female will interpret that as a sign to continue their advances, for they will most likely conclude, that if they were to push just a little harder, he or she will break you.

God is a Spirit, and spiritual things will be spiritually discerned, and therefore, if Joseph, knowing that Mrs. Potiphar has a crush on him, were to go so far as to rent a hotel room and have Mrs. Potiphar over, just to hang out, the mere fact that both individuals used their freedom of choice to go there means that both of them are culpable to some degree.

And if either Joseph or Mrs. Potiphar afterward was to cry rape, both of them will be held to account, as far as God is concerned. Thus, the issue of personal responsibility now needs to be addressed from the Biblical perspective, because in our day, there is too often a dereliction of duty on the part of some folks.

There are a lot of sexual allegations swirling around nowadays, and it is quite possible that we are just looking at the tip of the iceberg, as it were. Where there is a known potential for sexual harassment or where assault has taken place, either by a male, or female, it is your positive duty to take the matter to the relevant authorities immediately.

It is understandable that doing so can be traumatic and embarrassing to the victim, however, it is best to never stay silent, for if you do, and twenty years later you bring an accusation of misconduct, it will be much more difficult to prove and substantiate.

There are many tools by which the victim of sexual abuse could say something. You could, and should report the incident to the relevant authorities, as soon as you can, because time is of the essence in cases of abuse. You can also tell a trusted friend, or family members, you can make notes in your diary, documenting the where, the when, and the how.

You can have a forensic exam done by which DNA evidence can be gathered by a hospital, or other specialized clinics which will do such work. You can preserve any samples of the assault such as hair, or clothing, so that the allegation can be verified, just like how Mrs. Potiphar kept Joseph’s clothing as the evidence of her supposed allegations.

Whatever you do, do not stay silent, nor should you hope that it is just an aberration that will somehow subside with the passage of time. Let the records show that you did make an effort to sound an alert, for that is what the word “Cried” means in the next passages. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 22: 23 If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto a husband, and a man finds her in the city, and lies with her;

24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife: so, you shalt put away evil from among you.

25 But if a man finds a betrothed damsel in the field and the man forces her, and lies with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die.

26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man rises against his neighbor, and slays him, even so is this matter.

27 For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.

In our day, there are times when the damsel, either {male or female} might “Cry” but there is none to listen, or the authorities might not take his, or her allegations seriously. If this is the case, try taking the matter first to God, and then to other entities that may be more sympathetic to your complaint.

There are newspapers that would be willing to take up the investigations, as was the case with the first Epstein investigations. But whatever you do, never remain silent, for if you do, your credibility may be called into question, regrettably. This leads us to the fourth issue of allegations, whether they be true or false.

[4] Whenever allegations of sexual misconduct are made, wait to hear both sides of the story, before jumping to conclusions. Be very careful with male or female biases, that may tug at one’s heartstrings in one direction or another. Let’s read:

Genesis 39:13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,

14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spoke unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.

15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke unto him, saying, after this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.

20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.

There are always two sides to any story, and it’s very often the case that one will present their side with an air of self-justification. This isn’t always the case, but persons have to bear this fact in mind, when it comes to deciding, or figuring out what took place.

Apparently, Mr. Potiphar didn’t ask Joseph about his side of the story, and judgement was passed on the accused, without him having a fair shake. However, it seems as if, in his heart of hearts, Potiphar didn’t really believe his wife’s account, because if he was convinced, he would have had Joseph put to death.

In our day, whenever either male or female might bring a railing accusation against another, those in authority should hear the case objectively, without bias, political curry favors, and without feeling any sort of pressure to rule in favor of one or the other without just cause.

Too often, skeletons are buried at the request of persons in authority, and the “Damsel’s” cries may go unheeded. This leads us to our fifth and final point:

[5] Individuals who cover up sexual misconduct for others, because of some political, or ecclesiastical pressure. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 16:18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes: and they shall judge the people with just judgment.

19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift blinds the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.

Deuteronomy 1:17 You shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God's: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.

In the case of David, those who brought Bathsheba to his house never said a word, and even after they knew for certain what had transpired, they covered it up, for they felt obligated to keep quiet to protect the king’s reputation from not only the scandal, but from the potential fallout, which could’ve included him being stoned to death.

There was also cover up on the part of Joab, who in obedience to David, killed an innocent man. It is not clear if Joab knew of David’s sin, because he was on the battle field at the time.

But the mere fact that he would kill Uriah without a just cause, and cover up the matter, means that he partook of the same spirit of coverup as those who hid the matter in David’s house. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 11:14 And it came to pass in the morning that David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah.

15 And he wrote in the letter, saying, set ye Uriah in the forefront of the hottest battle, and retire ye from him, that he may be smitten, and die.

16 And it came to pass, when Joab observed the city, that he assigned Uriah unto a place where he knew that valiant men were.

17 And the men of the city went out, and fought with Joab: and there fell some of the people of the servants of David; and Uriah the Hittite died also.

When kings and queens are at fault for gross sexual misconduct, those who are under their jurisdiction should never feel as if they are obligated to sweep the matters under the rug, in order to retain favor with the monarch in question.

The reason for this is that if the issue is allowed to be dismissed without any adjudication, when similar violations in others surface, the hands of justice will be weakened, for there would be a just complaint of double standards.

When the news broke of David’s son Amnon’s sexual assault of Tamar the wheels of justice were found to be frozen, for how could David hold his son, Amnon accountable when he himself as king had previously assaulted Bathsheba? To many minds, that would be seen as a double standard.

Thus, for the sake of justice, and so that underlings may not feel emboldened to follow David’s lead, the Lord took the matter in hand personally, and He did what the human agents failed to do, by bringing the king to account.

This action on the part of God would have a twofold effect: [1] That He would show that no one is above the law, whether it be king, or peasant. And [2] That those who were under David’s jurisdiction would think twice before following his lead.

In other words, God’s mitigation of the issue would act as a serious deterrent to anyone contemplating acts of sexual misconduct, because if He were to let it slide, without saying, or doing something, there would be other potential sex offenders waiting in the wings, for their opportune moment to arrive. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus, saith the Lord God, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul;

9 Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon.

10 Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife.

11 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun.

12 For thou did it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun.

[Patriarchs & prophets pp 720] For the sake of Israel also there was a necessity for God to interpose. As time passed on, David’s sin toward Bathsheba became known, and suspicion was excited that he had planned the death of Uriah.

David’s sin misrepresented the character of God and cast reproach upon His name. It tended to lower the standard of godliness in Israel, to lessen in many minds the abhorrence of sin; while those who did not love and fear God were by it emboldened in transgression.

The guilty may attempt, as David had done, to conceal their crime from men; they may seek to bury the evil deed forever from human sight or knowledge; but “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13. “There is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.”

Joab most likely will not be saved in God’s kingdom, because he cultivated the bad habit of doing David’s bidding, even when he knew that it was wrong. And in doing so Joab worshiped David instead of God, for worship consists of majority obedience and minority praise.

The way in which Joab died speaks volumes to a life that was devoted to a mere mortal man, and not to God, first and foremost. Like other altar boys, Joab would cover David’s tracks and he would pervert his judgement to curry favor with the king, for no other reason than to be in his good favors. Observe well his end, and may we all tack a different course for obvious reasons. Let’s read:

1st Kings 2: 28 Then tidings came to Joab: for Joab had turned after Adonijah, though he turned not after Absalom. And Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord, and caught hold on the horns of the altar.

29 And it was told king Solomon that Joab was fled unto the tabernacle of the Lord; and, behold, he is by the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, saying, Go, fall upon him.

31 And the king said unto him, do as he hath said, and fall upon him, and bury him; that thou mayest take away the innocent blood, which Joab shed, from me, and from the house of my father.

Individuals in our day who, like Joab might cover up sexual misconduct, or who may feel pressured to do so, in other to retain favor with this or that person, are in grave danger of being lost eternally, if there is not a change of heart and practice.

It calls upon us all to take a good, hard look at the following statement, in the context of the here and now, and on a personal and national level. Let’s read:

[Education pp 57] The greatest want of the world is the want of men, men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us to understand the grave nature of sin in all of its varied forms and we are reminded that God is now calling us all, on both a personal and national level to repent.  Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

15 Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.

                                 God Bless!

The Hidden Dangers of Gambling. Sabbath afternoon 04/18/2026

Proverbs 28: 20 A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be innocent.

22 He that hastens to be rich has an evil eye, and considers not that poverty shall come upon him.

Gambling usually stems from a desire to get money the easy way, and it is also driven by a longing to be rich. Some persons may try to rationalize it under a host of different disguises, such as an investment or seizing of a financial opportunity.

But The Lord tears away the various guises and goes to the very root of the problem, which is the desire to get rich quickly. God is a Spirit and spiritual things are spiritually discerned, therefore, the desire to get rich in a haste is what He is speaking against.

In fact, some cases might actually include activities which are legal, such as flipping houses, or investing on wall street. Other illegal activities might include selling illegal drugs, or scamming the elderly, which has become an epidemic in Florida.

It is the intention and the desire, the craving and the longing to get rich hastily that constitutes the sin. It does not really matter how it might manifest itself, whether through legal, or illegal means, whether it be on Wall Street, or on Polymarket and Kalshi. It is the desire to strike gold in a hurry, that The Lord is speaking about.

According to the current statistics on gambling, the majority of the citizenry are gamblers, each hoping to win the Lotto or Powerball jackpot on some lucky day. As a result, individuals have adopted gambling almost as a second job while others have taken it up several notches where it has now become a fulltime endeavor.

Recently, there has been a significant uptick in the number of gambling ads on television, and on social media networks with advertisements now readily to be found on your phone or laptop computer. It used to be the case that ads pertaining to pharmaceutical drugs, and food were rampant on air, and online.

But now, gambling ads are giving the medicines and food a serious run for their money. What is alarming is that the young and the restless are being targeted and lured into the habit, by the many appeals being made by celebrities, and influencers.

Like any other vice, gambling is addictive in nature, and what often starts off as fun, takes on a life of its own in habits that too often prove to be detrimental to gamblers. The fact that it’s becoming an epidemic can be seen in the many hotlines that are set up to help individuals who have become hooked, such as gamblers anonymous.

One of the reasons put forth, for the skyrocketing habit of gambling, especially among youth, is that the American dream appears to be out of reach for many, because of inflationary factors combined with high interest rates, and the affordability crisis that is making it increasingly difficult to own a home.

Thus, many persons have sought alternatives to try and break through the financial barriers, by turning to gambling. And the gambling industries are not helping either, for they are making the indulgence of the habit more accessible and readily available at your fingertips, as it were.

Persons could now bet on just about anything, from when the first bomb was going to be dopped on Iran to what condition the two jet fighter pilots would be found in, after the plane went down over Iran. Folks also placed bets on the death of former Khamenei, head of Iran, while others gambled on the fall of the former Viktor Orban.

Persons also betted on the capture of Venezuela’s Maduro, and there are bets on the time when the strait of Hormuz will be reopened to shipping. Folks are also gambling on whether or not the U.S would withdraw from NATO, and whether the U.S will have obtained Iran’s enriched Uranium by a certain date.

The issue of sports gambling has also risen to the top of the charts, after it was discovered that many games in the sports world were being rigged, and “fixed”, so that gamblers, bettors and players could cash in and make a quick buck. Thus, at the root of all of these activities, is the desire to get rich quickly.

But gambling has several deleterious effects on the individual’s mind, because, not only does it quite often provide an adrenaline rush, as persons eagerly wait, hoping that the bet will pay off big, but it also triggers feelings of defeat, when one loses.

And when cycles of adrenaline, and defeat become the norm, the mind is put into modes of uncertainty and as the losses begin to pile up, the person could experience dejection, remorse, and a growing sense of failure. Now, it is a fact that most gamblers would end up losing, because that is just the nature of the beast.

In other words, if the majority of folks who gamble were winners, the industry would collapse, because outflow from the betting platforms would be greater than their inflow, and thus, it is the issues of profits, that causes the industry to survive and thrive.

In fact, our chances of being struck by lightening are actually greater than winning the Lotto, especially in Florida, where we are prone to have dangerous rain, and thunderstorms. Thus, we have to be reconciled to this fundamental fact, that the majority of people who gamble, become losers of financial resources.

Like any other vice, gambling is very delusionary in nature, and even when persons do strike gold, the statistics show that above 65 % lose what they won, while many go bankrupt and a significant number of them actually become poorer than before they won.

That’s because of the saying “Easy comes, and easy goes”, for if a minimal effort, or miniscule bets were made initially, and persons ended up reaping large sums, there will be the tendency and temptation to make unwise, hasty, and rash financial decisions.

In addition to this, the Bible clearly states what will most likely happen to a person who wins the Lotto, or a person who strikes gold overnight. Aunts and uncles, in laws and outlaws will start to appear out of nowhere.

Friends and families of yours, who never called you in ten or twenty years will suddenly find your phone   number, and even some who were presumed dead, might come back to claim their piece of the pie only to disappear again into neverland, after they have gotten their share.

Now, this is not to say that friends and family should not be helped at all in such cases, they should be, if and wherever warranted, but the Bible is just giving us a heads up of what to expect if, in your craving to get rich quickly, you win the Powerball jackpot. You must expect the needy, and the greedy to converge at your doorstep. That is what the Bible says. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 5: 11 When goods increase, they are increased that eat them: and what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholding of them with their eyes?

Proverbs 23:4 Labor not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom.

5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.

Then again, in so many instances where the habit of gambling has taken deep root, there is that haunting feeling of defeat, when great losses are incurred, which often leads to financial stress in one’s family, as spouses could become estranged by mounting debt, and dwindling resources.

When the husband or the wife has a gambling habit, they could blow through money like how your local landscaper blows through dry leaves. Furthermore, if the habit affects teenagers and young adults, as is increasingly the case, his/ her grades may take a hit, and they will be more prone to drop out of school.

And if the problem isn’t addressed and corrected, it could cost families their homes as the gambler may seek to take equity out, or worse yet, might ravage your rainy-day savings or other funds in the process, just to feed the addiction.

Another deleterious effect of gambling is that when the addiction ripens into sheer desperation, persons will often turn to their credit cards to fund the habit, and as a result some people have become entangled in one of satan’s favorite snares, by which he seeks to drown individuals in irretrievable debt.

This is why The Lord stipulates in His word, that the desire to get rich quickly is a sin and is to be avoided like the plague, for the spin offs, and consequences often wreak havoc on the individual, on marriages, families, communities and governments. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 6: 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Ecclesiastes 5: 10 He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity. 

Very sorry to say that currently, we have persons in high and low places, in positions of great influence, who are never satisfied with gold. There now seems to be a gold rush of sorts, whereby individuals seek to rake in all they can, whilst they can, and thus, in the process the resources of nations are being bled down to a point of no return.

This has a trickle-down effect, for wherever there is unbridled greed being indulged in high places, the underlings, who are under the jurisdiction of such persons will in many instances follow their lead, and before you know it, the nation could face a financial buffet, where all you can eat becomes the name of the game. God’s way is all you “should” eat.

Now, on the flipside of gambling, and the desire to get rich quickly, is the notion that poverty is a virtue. It is not, and therefore, there has to be a balance, so that the Christian could manage prudently, the gifts of material wealth that God entrusts to His people.

Everything in the temporal realm costs you money, some more some less, especially now that the tariffs and inflation have joined together to shake persons down from their high perch. Currently, there is pain at the pump, pain at the grocery store, pain at the hardware store, and much pain online.

There is pain at car dealerships, there’s pain at your local restaurant, and there is pain in the healthcare sector, where persons are being forced to make very difficult choices, and many people might only have bad options on the table.

Therefore, The Lord desires the remnant to have a balanced approach, so that on the one hand, there will be no ungodly craving to get rich quickly, while on the other hand, it would be safe for Him to bless persons, knowing that they will manage prudently, and keep in their right perspectives, the temporal blessings of life.

So, here is the balanced approach that is written in the Bible, and if we were to cultivate the scriptural perspective and practice, riches and material wealth would not pose an existential threat to the Christian and habits of gambling could be overcome, or better yet avoided, for it all starts in one’s mind. Let’s read:

Proverbs 30: 8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me.

9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, who is the Lord? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.

1st Timothy 6: 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

[Prophets & Kings pp 59] In the midst of prosperity lurks danger. Throughout the ages, riches and honor have ever been attended with peril to humility and spirituality.

It is not the empty cup that we have difficulty in carrying; it is the cup full to the brim that must be carefully balanced. Affliction and adversity may cause sorrow, but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life.

It is never the will of God that His servants should point out a problem without offering solutions, and therefore, we must turn to the word of God again to see what is His ideal will on the matter in question.

God’s ideal will is that wherever possible, those who can, should work for their daily bread because doing so staves off a ton of evils, that would otherwise be suggested to idle minds. If you do not have anything to do, try to find something good to do, because the temptation to gamble has greater appeal to an idle mind, than one that is preoccupied with work.

[1] Try to get a job, or wherever possible, start your own business, because labor or being employed is noble.

Proverbs 13:11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathers by labor shall increase.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 156] There is nothing more desired among men than riches and leisure, and yet these gave birth to the sins that brought destruction upon the cities of the plain.

Their useless, idle life made them a prey to Satan’s temptations, and they defaced the image of God, and became satanic rather than divine. Idleness is the greatest curse that can fall upon man, for vice and crime follow in its train.

It enfeebles the mind, perverts the understanding, and debases the soul. Satan lies in ambush, ready to destroy those who are unguarded, whose leisure gives him opportunity to insinuate himself under some attractive disguise.

He is never more successful than when he comes to men in their idle hours.

[2] Avoid the very first temptation to gamble, for if you become hooked, it can be difficult to extricate yourself from the jaws of gambling. Let’s read:

Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinners entice thee consent thou not.

Very often, some persons have been introduced to the gambling habit through associations with one’s friends. The Christian in our day cannot afford to be led astray into false paths, nor should persons allow others to ensnare them into vices and habits, which are proscribed in the word of God, even if the rich, the famous, and the infamous are doing so.

Influencers have become quite prevalent in our day, for the enemy of souls knows full well how to play that game, follow the leader. But if the leader is not Christ, and if the influencer is not a disciple of Jesus, great care should be exercised when incorporating their thoughts, words, and deeds into your everyday practice. Here’s what the scripture has to say about being an influencer. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

It is important for us to have friends, because no man is an island. However, the truths and principles of God must be held in clear straight lines at all times, and should have the preeminence in all your decisions, and choices.

No one can force you to gamble. Like every other sin, it has to pass through the gate of our personal choice, before it can take root in the heart. Thus, we are counseled to consult with God through His word and through prayer lest persons take one step in the wrong direction.

[3] How to kick the habit of gambling permanently.

This will call for confession, and forsaking of sin. The individual will first need to confess that gambling, and the desire to get rich quickly is wrong.

But many people do not see it as something sinful, because of the fact that society has normalized it, in high and low places, so that the word of The Lord concerning it seems to be strange and contrary to many minds.

If someone were to say that they have no desire to get rich quickly, they most likely would be frowned upon as being a fool in our day, where the stampede of the bulls runs rampant.

Keep in mind that it is The Lord who has made the designation of it being a sin and furthermore, across the spectrum of societal norms, you will find many things that are considered normal, when in fact the Bible says otherwise.

And if you currently have a Lotto ticket in your purse or your wallet, or in the glove compartment of your car, the desire to get rich quickly is also most likely present.

If the individual gambler were to confess that both the habit, and the desire to get rich quickly is a sin, that would pave the way for The Lord to remove the craving, replacing it with more noble aspirations and contentedness.

The beauty of the gospel in Christ is that He has the power to break every chain, and since the gambling issue is no different to many of the other problems the human family suffers from, we could go to Jesus asking Him to wash and cleanse us from all desires that are contrary to His word.

Some people suffer with drinking, some suffer with lust, some people we may know of suffer from foul language, while with others, the herb is what makes them tick. God does not condemn anyone, because of problems they suffer from. He is more concerned with what we do with the remedy, provided through Christ.

Recently, as I was heading into Publix, I observed an elderly gentleman, probably in his eighties, standing at the front of the grocery, scratching off one of the lotto tickets. As I watched, his hands seemed to be trembling, as he scratched off the ticket, hoping for some glimmer of hope that this day will be his lucky day.

Apparently, it did not work out, and afterward I saw him back at the counter, to purchase another ticket, hoping that this time the one in a million chance will come his way. We do not know the end of the story, but what we do know, is that if at that age, persons are still hoping that they will get rich quickly, some folks may be in for a rude awakening.

Kicking the gambling habit permanently is much the same as kicking any other habit. It must begin with acknowledging it as sin. However, after a confession there will have to be a turning away from the habit which means that there will be some stark choices, and stern decisions to make.

No one can force you to gamble if you choose not to because there is such a thing as taking responsibility for your actions. No devil can force persons to go to Hard Rock, and there’s no chatbot, including Claude, that can force you to bet on Poly market.

The choice always rests with the individual and thus, persons who are trying to kick the habit should avail themselves of every means to shun temptation, and the places and venues that would encourage you to gamble.

Remember, satan can solicit but he cannot force you to do evil. He could advertise on various platforms, and he may send human agencies to encourage you to gamble, but at the end of the day the choice rests with individuals. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 489] Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed.

Therefore, he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome. Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome them.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will encourage all who are willing to live victoriously, for there’s no need to succumb to temptation, when God’s help and deliverance is just a prayer away. Let’s read:

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.

4 That the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

                                  God Bless!

Thirsting for Revenge Is Never Good. Sabbath afternoon 04/11/2026

Romans 12:19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

Thirsting for revenge is never good. There are times when vengeance has to be executed for the sake of justice, but The Lord declares in our first passages that vengeance is His arena, and human beings are not to indulge in the spirit of revenge because in the end, it will always do more harm than good, to both parties, including the one who craves to get even.

The execution of justice is a different matter than a craving for retaliation. God is merciful and He is also just, but in His execution of justice, He does not look forward eagerly to the destruction or punishment of those who deserve it.

It is with great sadness that God does what He has to do, but to say that He experiences joy at meting out vengeance is to misunderstand His character. It is one’s craving for retaliation, and the joy at seeing the offender punished is what the Scripture speaks against.

If the Christian experiences glee at the destruction or punishment of evil doers, something is definitely in need of attention. As the final conflict draws near we should often examine our own souls very closely to see if the sentiments we harbor might be out of harmony with God’s character. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

Ezekiel 33: 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

As a general rule, God leaves the use of brute force for last, only after every other tool of entreaty has been utterly exhausted. This is one of the reasons why in so many instances, folks find that He is taking too long to execute vengeance on evil doers, and it is because of His mercy and longsuffering, why men often presume to go further in transgression, and cruelty. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 8: 11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

This does not mean that justice must not be served when it is due. What God is saying is that when we take it upon ourselves to mete out vengeance, He is left out of the picture, and in very many instances, the retribution man inflicts goes overboard, and will do more damage than is due, or warranted.

The word revenge means to retaliate, punish, or do harm to a person, group, or nation, for wrongs that have been committed against the entity in question, whether these wrongs are real or perceived. Folks in our day are to exercise great caution and self-control lest the spirit of revenge, and the thirst for blood be the rule, rather than the exception.

When folks indulge in the spirit of retaliation, their minds will become darkened with evil thoughts, and if the thirst for revenge is not surrendered, a person can go completely mad in the most literal sense and in the process, they could lose touch with rational thought and will often say and do things that never would have been done and said under different circumstances.

Another byproduct of thirsting for revenge is that it isn’t the revenger only that is ill affected, because quite often other persons are drawn into the fray, since the spirit of revenge has the tendency to become contagious. In certain cases, entire cities and nations are drawn into the ring, as the opposing parties push ahead to settle the score.

This is what took place with the sons of Jacob after their sister Dinah was defiled by the son of a foreign monarch’s son. Their thirsting for revenge knew no bounds, and in the process, they meted out deadly retribution on persons who had nothing to do with the wrong act.

In other words, as far as they were concerned, Peter would pay for Paul, and Paul would pay for all. They did not stop to think that some difference should be made between the innocent civilians, and the guilty. Instead, in their blind rage, they mowed down folks in cold blood and the carnage did not stop until they had spoiled the entire city.

Now, there is no doubt that a great wrong had been committed by the offender, but to go in and kill any and every male person they saw, without making a distinction between the innocent and the guilty was the result of taking vengeance into their own hands.

That is what happens when mortals take vengeance out of God’s hands, for they always tend to do much more harm and damage than is justified, warranted, or necessary. Let’s read:

Genesis 34:1 And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bore unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.

2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.

7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter: which thing ought not to be done.

13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.

14 And they said unto them, we cannot do this thing to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us.

15 But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised.

25 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.

Now, in speaking of actions of revenge, it has to be considered that every action would breed a reaction because after the initial dust has settled, there will be deep reflection on what has been done, and it is often the case, where undue violence was meted for some real or imaginary wrong, those who meted out retaliation, would have to be constantly looking over their shoulders.

Simeon and Levi did not stop to think through the repercussions of their violent acts of revenge, nor did they consider that they would be at risk, since the relatives of the slain may seek to get even.

As the old man Jacob thought about it, he trembled as he contemplated what the consequences might be, not to Simeon and Levi only, but to his entire family, for wherever revenge is indulged, and acted upon, there would be afterthoughts by those who were on the receiving end, and very often, revenge may produce, more dangerous mindsets. Let’s read:

Genesis 34:30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, you have troubled me, to make me to stink among the inhabitants of the land, among the Canaanites and the Perizzites: and I being few in number, they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house.

Another example of the indulgence of vengeance, and its bitter after-effects, took place when John the Baptist told Herod that it was wrong for him to have his brother’s wife.

Herodias did not take kindly to that sermon, and she thirsted for revenge, until her mind was so obsessed with the craving to see John dead that she could not think of anything else. For the meantime, whilst she was restrained to some extent, she did the best that she could do, by having John put in prison. Let’s read:

Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and she would have killed him; but she could not.

Whenever persons desire to jail their opponents for merely speaking the truth, the thirst for revenge will not stop there and it would only be a matter of time before the opportunity to kill or maim her perceived foe, would come to fruition.

She brooded over the thought, and as she rolled it over in her mind day after day, it eventually became all absorbing, to the point where nothing else would give her more satisfaction than to see John dead.

Thus, she waited, and waited until that opportune moment arrived, so that when a request was made by her daughter to ask for anything, even to half of the kingdom Herodias already had the answer ready and waiting.

She didn’t have to think long and hard about it, nor did she have to choose between any other options, for one thing, and one thing only was on the front burner of her mind, the death of John by any means possible.

In fact, if Herodias was permitted, she would have choked John to death with her bare hands. That is what thirsting for revenge can do to a person who will not let go of the desire to retaliate or get even. Let’s read:

Mark 6:21 And when a convenient day was come, Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, his high captains, and chief men of Galilee;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he swore unto her, whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

Now, we have to hit pause to observe the offer that Herod is making. Consider it very carefully, for he is willing to give her half of the kingdom, even though she has no experience in running any of the various government offices.

We are not sure if the dancer even has a high school education, yet, because she can dance well, Herod is willing to let her be the head of certain offices in his administration.

Thus, with her total lack of experience, she would be sure to make grave errors in judgment, which in turn could cause the citizenry to balk at the ways and means she might employ, if she were to take up Herod on his offer.

That is what could happen under the influence of liquor and intoxicating drink, for it can pervert the sound judgment of persons, and could cause them to say, and do things that they never would have said or done under different circumstances. Let’s read:

Proverbs 23: 29 Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?

30 They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.

31 Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his color in the cup, when it moves itself aright.

32 At the last it bites like a serpent and stings like an adder.

33 Thine eyes shall behold strange women and your heart shall utter perverse things.

Thus, under the influence of alcohol, Herod makes a very stupid offer, and the private dancer takes it to her mother Herodias, who is ready and waiting with a singular answer. As soon as Salome is finished, her mother Herodias blurts out the thirst for revenge that has been welling up in her heart for too long. Let’s read:

Mark 6:24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, what shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

It is imperative that we observe the after effects of a thirst for revenge, for apparently, the joy Herodias is expecting is never forthcoming. Not only that, but because she had involved Herod in the cruel act, he also would be plagued with the stings of conscience, together with guiltiness and misgivings.

Furthermore, because Herod is also superstitious, he goes about his daily routine always being afraid that the ghost of John may come back to haunt his house and thus, from that day forward, he and his wife are never going to enjoy that tranquility that comes with a clear conscience. Let’s read:

Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus.

2 And said unto his servants this is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore, mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

[The Desire of Ages pp 222>223] In the recklessness of the moment, he desired to make some display that would exalt him before the great men of his realm. Salome hastened to her mother to know what she should ask. The answer was ready, the head of John the Baptist. Salome knew not of the thirst for revenge in her mother’s heart.

And, she shrank from presenting the request, but the determination of Herodias prevailed. The girl returned with the terrible petition, “I will that thou forthwith give me in a charger the head of John the Baptist.”

Herod was astonished and confounded. The riotous mirth ceased, and an ominous silence settled down upon the scene of revelry. The king was horror-stricken at the thought of taking the life of John.

Yet his word was pledged, and he was unwilling to appear fickle or rash. She exulted in her revenge, and flattered herself that Herod’s conscience would no longer be troubled.

But no happiness resulted to her from her sin. Her name became notorious and abhorred, while Herod was more tormented by remorse than he had been by the warnings of the prophet.

Herod’s sin was ever before him. He was constantly seeking to find relief from the accusing of a guilty conscience. Herod could find no rest. Engaged in the affairs of the state, receiving honors from men, he bore a smiling face, and a dignified mien, while he concealed an anxious heart, ever oppressed with the fear that a curse was upon him.

There are two questions that we must now confront as we study the thirst for revenge, as it pertained to Herodias.

[1] What did she do with John’s bleeding head?

The Scripture does not say exactly, but given the circumstances surrounding his death, and Herod’s reluctance to execute the horrific deed, she likely would not leave it in a public place, where anyone could see. We do not know if she took it up to her bedroom, and placed it on her dresser as a sort of trophy. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 223] The head of John the Baptist was carried to Herodias, who received it with fiendish satisfaction.

The next question is just as gruesome, for when a person is thirsting for revenge, they can go to any length to get even.

[2] How long did she keep John’s head, one day, a week, or two weeks? We do not know, but we have to admit that it’s only a demon possessed individual would gladly receive a severed head, and take it to their bedroom, if indeed that’s what she did, we do not know.

The thirst for revenge originated with lucifer, and therefore, wherever it rears its head, there you will witness the manifestation of evil spirits. It is worthy of note that in satan’s case he was seeking revenge for imaginary injustices that had no foundation in fact.

It was purely fabricated from a mind that was bent on self-exaltation, and retaliation for perceived hurt. When there is competition for praise and adoration taking place in one’s mind, there will also be feelings of imaginary hurt, as if others are trying to deprive him or her of their due.

In other words, one could feel threatened, if praise is heaped on another, and as a result, the revenger in question can lash out at anyone who is perceived to be a threat, even though this may not actually be the case.

This is what took place with king Saul, as revenge drove him mad, just because some women sang a song in praise of David. In that instance, Saul felt as if he wasn’t being given his due, and therefore, the very thought of another person being exalted was enough to put his mind in a place where he would thirst for revenge.

It's not to say that David had done him any wrong, it was just the fact that someone other than himself was receiving accolades, and this was interpreted as an injustice done to himself. He went on to drag the army behind him, in his quest for imaginary justice, for as was stated before, the thirst for revenge could become contagious, when not subdued. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 18: 6 And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music.

7 And the women answered one another as they played, and said, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.

8 And Saul was very wroth, and the song displeased him; and he said, they have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands: and what can he have more but the kingdom?

9 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.

And, now that Saul’s thirst for revenge for imaginary hurt has taken root, the king would be waiting, and watching for any opportune moment, to slay David, just like Herodias did to John, and every time David escapes, Saul will get more exasperated, and he will drag his army into the fray, so that they too would also become infected with the same spirit.

Thirsting for revenge is never good, for it does great harm to individuals, churches, governments, as well as nations. And if it is not confessed and forsaken, it will cause a lot of collateral damage to persons who had nothing to do with the literal, or imaginary hurt that was done. Let us take a look at what happens the following day. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the evil spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the house: and David played with his hand, as at other times: and there was a javelin in Saul's hand.

11 And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.

And now that the gloves are off, Saul would stop at nothing until he has David’s head “in a charger.” He leaves off his duties as king, and he goes in pursuit of that craving for revenge, until it reaches a boiling point where it is only God who can stop him in his tracks.

The thirst for revenge actually interferes with one’s rational thought processes, and they will lash out at anyone and everyone who stands in their way. Even family members could be on the menu, as revenge works its way into desperation.

In fact, the king curses at his own son in the process, and as his thirst for revenge deepens, anyone who stands in his way is fair game, for as they say, if you are not seated at the table, you’re most likely on the menu. The following passages detail the downward spiral of a man, given over to the thirst for revenge, which is never good. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 18: 29 And Saul was yet more afraid of David, and Saul became David's enemy continually.

1st Samuel 19:1 And Saul spoke to Jonathan his son, and to all his servants, that they should kill David.

10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin: but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night.

11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, if thou save not thy life to night, tomorrow thou shalt be slain.

14 And when Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, he is sick.

15 And Saul sent the messengers again to see David, saying, bring him up to me in the bed, that I may slay him.

20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, where are Samuel and David? And one said Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

1st Samuel 20: 30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the confusion of thy mother's nakedness?

31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the ground you will not be established nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

33 And Saul cast a javelin at him to smite him: whereby Jonathan knew that it was determined of his father to slay David.

1st Samuel 22:11 Then Saul sent to call Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and all his father's house, the priests that were in Nob: and they came all of them to the king.

12 And Saul said, Hear now, thou son of Ahitub. And he answered, Here I am, my lord.

13 And Saul said unto him, why have ye conspired against me, thou and the son of Jesse, in that thou hast given him bread, and a sword, and hast enquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

16 And the king said, thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

17 And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the Lord: because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the Lord.

18 And the king said to Doeg, turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

It is with great sadness that we have to announce to you that we are living at a time when the thirst for revenge is running rife across the world. Persons are poisoned, beheaded, and nations are rising against nations, just as Jesus said they would, in the pursuit of revenge, either phantom or real.

As Christians, Jesus instructs folks to take a different route if someone steps on our toes, inadvertently or deliberately. The use of brute force was not, and will never produce lasting peace, in heaven or in earth. If God had used force in retaliation against satan, all the angels would have straightened up for a time.

But the simmering thoughts of such an act would only produce dark sentiments, and there would be a constant unease, and unspoken resentment in their hearts, which would at some future time burst forth into open rebellion.

Peace begets peace, and violence begets violence, and therefore, those who call themselves Christians are to demonstrate by precept and example, noble traits of character that would attract unbelievers to the cross of Christ.

But to talk of the Christian religion as being superior while at the same time asking for heads in a charger, like Herodias, and Saul once did, is to give the lie to Christianity, and God is not amused in the least.

These are days for deep soul searching, both on an individual and national level, because if there is no repentance, confession, and turning away from the thirst for revenge, what took place back then at the time of Cestius and Titus, will be repeated, only this time it will be ten times worse. Let’s read:

[ The Great Controversy pp 88] In their hatred and cruelty toward the disciples of Jesus, they rejected the last offer of mercy. Then God withdrew his protection from them, and removed his restraining power from Satan and his angels.

And the nation was left to the control of the leader she had chosen. Her children had spurned the grace of Christ which would have enabled them to subdue their evil impulses, and now these became the conquerors.

Satan aroused the fiercest and the most debased passions of the soul. Men did not reason; they were beyond reason, controlled by impulse, and blind rage. They became Satanic in their cruelty. There was no safety anywhere. The rulers of the people had no power to rule themselves. Uncontrolled passions made them tyrants. The fear of God no longer disturbed them. Satan was at the head of the nation and the highest civil and religious authorities were under his sway.

The royal way of dealing with injustices is to try your best to reconcile. This might not always be possible, but we are instructed by God to utterly exhaust every tool in the box, to foster peace and tranquility. And then, if all else fails, we are to remember that God says “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us on our journey towards God’s kingdom, and it is His good and perfect will, that persons in high and low places incorporate the principles, the ways and means of Christ, for there is a royal way of doing things. Let’s read:

James 3: 14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is there is confusion and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

                                  God Bless!

Twelve Hours Too Late. Sabbath afternoon 04/04/2026

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Here, in its most basic and simple form is the history of the beginnings of our world. The study for today will seek to make plain some misconceptions or gray areas that may still be cloudy to some minds. Much of the information given by God should be securely stored in our memory, in the context of earth’s final conflict that is scheduled to engulf the entire planet.

Earth’s final crisis will be centered around the law of God, specifically, the seventh day Sabbath of the 4th commandment, which brings into focus the fact that there is a Creator who made the heavens and earth, and as such, the theory of evolution, will be one of the many false prophets that will be demolished on spiritual Mt. Carmel during the final conflict.

Seeing that we are standing on the brink of eternity, it’s in order that we start to think along eternal lines because you will discover that our current modes of reckoning time is generally about 12 hours late. The evening and the morning were the first day, so that darkness always precedes the dawning of a brand- new day time period.

Several pertinent points will be made so as to have the truths clear and straight in our minds. And, as we connect the dots of truth, let us not be hearers only, but doers of the word. The first point has to do with the issue of no preexistent matter.

[1] The earth was called into existence from nothing on the first day of creation week. Afterwards, it was developed and built up by the spoken word of God, but before the first day of creation week, there was no semblance of earth, not even in its chaotic form.

In other words, God did not bring order out of chaos from a previously existing earth. Instead, He started from scratch with nothing. That theory which says that the earth in its embryonic form, existed before the first day of creation is a theory that is tainted by evolutionary principles, and the Bible shuts down that hypothesis from the get go. Let’s read:

Hebrews 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things that do appear.

Psalms 33:6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.

8 Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

9 For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Exodus 20: 11 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.

A word of caution to those who stumble at the word of God through His ordained prophet. We lose much and we wander in darkness, if we despise the truths that are given to us by God through His servant. This is why God made the following statement pertaining to believing His prophets. Let’s read:

2nd Chronicles 20:20 And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

Thus, in harmony with the strategic use of the Bible first, and the spirit of prophecy secondarily, when in the public square, we will read in plain English, that which was already read in the Scriptural verses, so that the confirmation will be coming from the two reliable sources. Let’s read:

[The Ministry of Healing pp 414] In the creation of the earth, God was not indebted to pre-existing matter. “He spoke, and it was; ... He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:9.

All things, material or spiritual, stood up before the Lord Jehovah at His voice and were created for His own purpose. The heavens and all the host of them, the earth and all things therein, came into existence by the breath of His mouth.

[2] The cycle of days and nights were not and aren’t absolutely, or necessarily tied to the sun and moon, for they were nowhere to be seen until the 4th day of creation week, when The Lord called them into existence, to continue from where He first started.

Genesis 1:3 And God said, let there be light: and there was light.

4 And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself upon the earth, and it was so.

12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

Genesis 1:14 And God said, let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years.

15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the  night: he made the stars also.

17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

The sun, the moon, and the stars were made, first and foremost for signs and seasons, and after that for days and years. Thus, the Bible establishes this truth, that it is not absolutely necessary for the sun and moon to mark off days and years. 

This is a critically important point for the remnant to bear in mind, especially in our day, because science as we know it states that day and night cycles have always been governed by fixed laws, and thus there is made no allowance for God to alter, or upend this cycle.

This is false science, and we must be careful, lest we inadvertently get tainted with evolutionary theories and suppositions. Most ancient pagan nations, and most of contemporary Christianity worship the sun, but according to the scriptural record, the earth was up and running before the sun and the moon were created.

Fruits were ripening, and photosynthesis was taking place, with the sun nowhere to be seen. Therefore, the same God who created all of these systems, and had them up and running before the sun and moon, were called into existence, could turn them on their heads to suit His own good purposes, whenever and wherever He sees fit.

A striking example of what we are speaking of took place when Joshua needed additional daylight hours to finish off those enemies of Israel. At that time, he prayed to God for extra daylight savings time, and The God of heaven heard and answered his prayer. Let’s read:

Joshua 10:12 Then spoke Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So, the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

In fact, if you were to think about it, Adam and Eve didn’t need sleep before the fall. The only time you will read about sleep before the fall is when God put Adam to sleep, to perform the world’s first surgery, but after that sleep was not necessary until man fell, and as such, the pitch-black darkness of night, as we know it, did not then exist until sin entered.

God did not originally make man to sleep, and thus, when the earth is restored to Edenic beauty, there will be no sleeping saints anywhere to be found. Sin is what caused sleep to be necessary, but it was not like this in the very beginning. In fact, very many things we now consider normal are actually quite abnormal. Let’s read:

Revelation 21: 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it.

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.

[The Great Controversy pp 676] In the city of God “there shall be no night.” None will need or desire repose. There will be no weariness in doing the will of God and offering praise to his name.

We shall ever feel the freshness of the morning, and shall ever be far from its close. The light of the sun will be superseded by radiance which isn’t painfully dazzling, yet, which immeasurably surpasses the brightness of our noontide. The glory of God and the Lamb flood the holy city with unfading light. The redeemed walk in the sunless glory of perpetual day.

So, since there will be no more night there, it means that the reckoning of days is not necessarily tied to the cycles of light and darkness. Of course, the sun, and the moon would be present, but they will revert back to the original primary status, of signs, seasons then days and years. Let’s read:

Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Isaiah 66: 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord.

[E.W. pp, 51] All, who keep the commandments of God, will enter in through the gates into the city and have right to the tree of life, and ever be in the presence of the lovely Jesus, whose countenance shines brighter than the sun at noonday.

[The Great Controversy pp 664] Far above the city, upon a foundation of burnished gold, is a throne, high and lifted up. The power and majesty of Christ no language can describe, no pen portray.

The glory of the Eternal Father is enshrouding his Son. The brightness of his presence fills the city of God, and flows out beyond the gates, flooding the whole earth with its radiance.

[3] All of the animal kingdom and all the birds of the air were created before man. They were here before us, and very often when disasters are about to strike the animals run for cover, just like they did when the flood was about to ensue. Let’s read:

Genesis 1: 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.

Genesis 6: 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.

20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.

                   [Patriarchs & Prophets pp 97]

Suddenly a silence fell upon the mocking throng. Beasts of every description the fiercest as well as the most-gentle, were seen coming from mountain and forest and quietly making their way toward the ark.

A noise as of a rushing wind was heard, and lo, birds were flocking from all directions, their numbers darkening the heavens, and in perfect order they passed to the ark. Animals obeyed the command of God, while men were disobedient.

        The USGS (United States Geological Survey)

The earliest reference we have to unusual animal behavior prior to a significant earthquake is from Greece in 373 BC. Rats, weasels, snakes, and centipedes reportedly left their homes and headed for safety several days before a destructive earthquake.

Anecdotal evidence abounds of animals, fish, birds, reptiles, and insects exhibiting strange behavior anywhere from weeks to seconds before an earthquake.

BBC, British Broadcasting Corporation, 14 February 2022.  For millennia, people across the globe have reported alarmed animal behavior in the run-up to natural disasters. Could these signals be used to warn us of impending catastrophes?

In 2004, a tsunami triggered by a 9.1 magnitude undersea quake off of Indonesia decimated coastal communities around the Indian Ocean, killing at least 225,000 people across a dozen countries. The huge death toll was in part caused by the fact that many communities received no warning.

According to eyewitness accounts, elephants ran for higher ground, flamingos abandoned low-lying nesting areas, and dogs refused to go outdoors. In the coastal village of Bang Koey in Thailand, locals reported a herd of buffalo by the beach suddenly pricking up their ears, gazing out to sea, and then stampeding to the top of a nearby hill a few minutes before the tsunami struck.

"Survivors also reported seeing animals, such as cows, goats, cats and birds, deliberately moving inland shortly after the earthquake and before the tsunami came," says Irina Rafliana, previously part of an advisory group for the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk.

We have observed that on every day of creation The Lord begins with the evening and the morning, thus, the sabbath keeping Christian must also reckon days as beginning with the evening period. In our day the days are actually being reckoned back to front, with the daylight periods coming first and because of this we are consistently running behind by about twelve hours late.

For instance, in the following passage, where you read of the sixth day, that would actually be Friday night, which will be the equivalent of our Thursday night coupled together with the approximate twelve hours of daylight on Friday, because the evening and the morning always run consecutively.

In other words, our Friday starts with our current Thursday evening at dusk, heading into nighttime hours, followed by 12 hours of daylight on Friday. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:31 And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Merriam Webster Dictionary: Evening: The latter part and close of the day and early part of the night. The period from sunset, or the evening meal to bedtime.

For example, in the two following passages we read two phrases in reference to Christ’s looming death on Calvary: [1] When the even was come. [1] When the morning was come.

That “evening” was actually the dusk period of the Thursday heading into the night time hours of Friday and that “morning” was Friday, during the daylight hours. This is the equivalent of our current Thursday night, and the day time on Friday. Let’s read:

Matthew 26:20 Now when the even was come, (Thursday evening heading into Friday night, what we currently refer to as being Thursday night), he sat down with the twelve.

21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

Matthew 27:1 When the morning was come, (Friday morning) all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.

[The Desire of Ages pp 642] In the upper chamber of  a dwelling at Jerusalem, Christ was sitting at table with His disciples. They had gathered to celebrate the Passover. The Savior desired to keep this feast alone with the twelve.

He knew that His hour was come; He Himself was the true paschal lamb, and on the day the Passover was eaten He was to be sacrificed.

Therefore, Jesus ate the Passover with His disciples at dusk on the Thursday, heading into the nighttime portion of Friday, which we call Thursday night, and then, during the daytime hours of that Friday, Jesus was crucified, because the evening and the morning follow each other consecutively. Let’s read:

Genesis 2:1 Thus, the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.

3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

This has huge implications, because when we speak of preparation day, we are referring to preparing for the Sabbath from what we call Thursday night, which is actually Friday night.

Very often, as Sabbath keepers, we find ourselves running late for the Sabbath, and in some homes, persons are found rushing in from work, treading on the edges of the Sabbath. This may be as a result of the way we reckon the days, for if we were to follow God’s order in Genesis, preparation day will actually start on what we currently call Thursday night.

If persons begin to prepare for the Sabbath on what we call Friday evening, we would be twelve hours late in our reckoning because according to the Bible, preparation day actually starts on what we currently refer to as Thursday night.

In the book of Isaiah, we are told of the repairers of the breach, meaning that the Sabbath, pointing us to The Creator God, should be understood and kept, not only in spirit but in the letter with the letter part being from evening to evening. The repairers cannot be breakers at the same time, for that will be what we call a conflict of interest.

Especially in our day, where evolution has taken a swipe at God’s creative work, and Sunday looms large on the horizon, the repairers of the breach must step up to the plate by precept and example to a world gone wild. And this will include issues that may need to be addressed in our perspectives and practice. Let’s read:

Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words.

14 Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 307] Those who discuss business matters or lay plans on the Sabbath are regarded by God as though engaged in the actual transaction of business. To keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even allow our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character.

And the commandment includes all within our gates. The inmates of the house are to lay aside their worldly business during the sacred hours.

There is need of urgent reform here, because some of us might be keeping the Sabbath like how some Sunday keepers keep Sunday. The Sabbath is sacred time, it is set aside by God for worship, fellowship, missionary work, and contemplation of God and His created works.  

In our reckoning of days, let us not be inadvertently infiltrated in our minds by secular modes of thought because the evening and the morning, marks off the days in consecutive order. We therefore end with a gentle reminder, so that we would never be twelve hours late again.

Leviticus 23:31 You shall do no manner of work: it will be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.

32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and you shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall you celebrate your sabbath.

                                    God Bless!