Don't Be Distracted From The Real Issues. Sabbath afternoon 01/17/2026

Luke 21: 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.

One of the most common devices of satan is to set up decoys and distractions to draw away attention from something that is much more important. This has been done time and time again in the scripture and we should expect it to proliferate in these final days of earth’s history.

The effect that decoys have is that persons begin to focus on issues of lesser priority, while the enemy of souls makes advances in the other areas that are of much more consequence. And, if persons are in the dark as to what is taking place, they could miss the boat entirely.

Several instances of satan setting up distractions, and decoys are given in the Bible, so that as persons stand upon the brink of eternity, we may be fully aware of his devices. Some of these distractions can come from seemingly legitimate sources, and others can be just annoyances or irritations, that are alike designed to distract.

One day as Jesus was preaching and ministering to the people, His family members came to see Him, on what was probably some important matter. But if He were to leave off His sermon, the devil would have gained his objective. In order of priority, the work of saving souls was the more important, and therefore, Jesus didn’t fall for the decoy. Let’s read:

Matthew 12: 46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.

48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, who is my mother? and who are my brethren?

49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!

50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

In another instance, Jesus was again speaking to the people the words of life, when out of the blue satan moves upon someone to bring up a personal family feud about some real estate. This decoy occurred in the middle of Christ’s sermon, and again, Jesus does not fall for it, as we too often do.

Instead, He turns the distraction on its head and He pivots to addressing covetousness as the root of all sin, a reaction which caught satan off guard and one that that he would have much preferred to have left uncovered. Let’s read:

Luke 12: 12 For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

13 And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divides the inheritance with me.

14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?

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.

Again, the devil goes to work in what we refer to as apparently good distractions, meaning, that in and of themselves there may be nothing wrong with the decoys perse. But if it distracts from something that is of much more importance, he would accomplish his diabolical objective.

Let us just say here that the overwhelming majority of temptations are good temptations, but if they will lead individuals to lose focus, or turn their attention from that which is really important, the devil would have achieved his objective, for as the saying goes, a distracted squirrel is a dead squirrel.

In this next decoy many people would actually agree with satan on the course of action he suggested and yet, Jesus intervenes to put things in the right order of priority. This does not necessarily mean that the decoy in question was bad, it was just a good decoy. Let’s read:

Luke 10: 38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she helps me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

In other words, even if Jesus was hungry, the more important issue was hearing His words and if it were to come to a head, He would take hunger instead of food, no matter how appetizing the ackee and yam. That’s because a good decoy is exactly that, a good decoy, no matter how it is dressed up.

In the next example, satan utilizes the strategy of if you can’t win them join them, once he distracts the servants of God from their most important issue. In this instance he will go so far as to take a personal hit, only if he can get the apostles to stop preaching. In other words, the end will justify the means at any cost. Let’s read:

Acts 16: 16 And it came to pass, as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters much gain by soothsaying.

17 The same followed Paul and us, and cried, saying, these men are the servants of the Most-high God, which shew unto us the way of salvation.

18 And this did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And he came out the same hour.

In the next example we see Nehemiah busy with the work of building the wall, a work that was ordained of God, and an important work for the restoration of Jews. But just like in the other instances, satan is on the ground with varied decoys, to try to stop the work from moving forward.

He tries and tries again and again, but Nehemiah is like a racehorse, with the blinkers strapped to his head so that he doesn’t lose focus on that which is important.

 Horses have a nearly 360-degree field of vision that, in a high-stimulus environment like a racetrack, can make them easily distracted by the crowd, by other horses, or movement around them. Blinkers do limit their side and rear vision, encouraging them to look straight ahead and concentrate on the objective of running a straight path to the finish line. Let’s read:

Nehemiah 6: 2 That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.

3 And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?

4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.

5 Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand;

6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause you build the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words.

The reason why God is giving us so many examples is that in our day currently, The Christian could be in grave danger of losing focus on the things that really matter. With all the protests and killings and arson, and with all of the wars and rumors of wars, if folks are careful we may forget that there are much more important issues to grab our attention.

Some of these are listed below so that we may focus on Christ, and the work that He is finishing up in the heavenly sanctuary, and the corresponding work of preparation to stand in the final conflict that would take the world by storm, and unawares.

[1] One of the real issues that ought to be on the front burner of our minds is that “This gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world and then shall the end come.” And we are almost there folks!

Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Adventist.org. Mission to the World: Summary of Statistics as of December 31, 2023

Countries and Areas of the World as Recognized by the United Nations 235.

Countries and Areas of the World in Which Seventh-day Adventist Work is Established 212. That leaves us with only 23 countries to go, and with artificial intelligence and satellites now widely available, we are looking at sooner rather than later.

[2] Another of the real issues is that whilst persons are becoming all riled up and angry at the current state of things, probation is drawing to a final close.

The decisions that you and I make are marking out our eternal destiny, and rather than focusing on the many decoys satan has set in motion, we should be seeking to become more mature in Christ.

This means that the gray areas in our lives, and any skeletons in our closet must be addressed while we still have an opportunity to make any corrections by God’s grace. The time is now, and the place is here when folks should stop playing church. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 5: 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

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 Great Controversy pp 483] Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated.

Names are accepted, names rejected. When anyone has sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance.

[3] Another of the real issues is that whilst protests are erupting at home and abroad, the angels on the four corners of the earth are preparing to let loose the winds of strife, which will make current events seem like a walk in the park.

In other words, we haven’t seen anything as yet, for when the sealing work is completed, all the winds of strife will be let loose in the most literal sense.

Therefore, at the forefront of the Christian’s mind should be our relationship with God, for the time is coming in the not-too distant future, when there would be a terrible shaking among the remnant.

And when it occurs and intensifies, it will draw the clear line of demarcation between those who really believed and those who just went along for the ride. This is clearly stated by the servant of The Lord, with the intent that we would do serious soul searching, instead of being consumed with riots. Let’s read:

Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.

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.

[The Great Controversy pp 439] Winds are a symbol of strife. The four winds of heaven striving upon the great sea, represent the terrible scenes of conquest and revolution by which kingdoms have attained to power.

[The Great Controversy pp 614] When he leaves the sanctuary, darkness covers the inhabitants of the earth. The restraint which has been upon the wicked is removed, and Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent. God’s long-suffering is ended.

The world has rejected his mercy, despised his love, and trampled upon his law. The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation. The Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn.

Unsheltered by divine grace they have no protection from the wicked one. Satan will then plunge the inhabitants of the earth into one great, final trouble.

As the angels of God cease to hold in check the fierce winds of human passion, all the elements of strife will be let loose. The whole world will be involved in ruin more terrible than that which came upon Jerusalem of old.

[C.O.L pp 411] The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth.

But they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working. They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up.

[4] Another of the real issues, which should be clear in our minds is that the natural immortality of the soul, and Sunday sacredness are going to become the cornerstones of efforts made to give validity to the mark of the beast, when it rears its head.

These two central issues should be well thought out and studied intensively, so that when the miracle-working power of devils is released across the earth the you and me would not be shaken down.

Some take it for granted that they know what they believe on these issues, but the servant of The Lord warns us that we are going up against intelligences that have been in the business for about 6 thousand years, and as such, they would be bringing years of experience to bear, in the final conflict. Let’s read:

2nd Thessalonians 2: 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

[The Great Controversy pp 588] Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul, and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of spiritualism, the latter creates a bond of sympathy with Rome.

The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience.

[The Great Controversy pp 551>552] Here is a channel regarded as sacred, through which Satan works for the accomplishment of his purposes. The fallen angels who do his bidding appear as messengers from the spirit world.

While professing to bring the living into communication with the dead, the prince of evil exercises his bewitching influence upon their minds. He has power to bring before men the appearance of their departed friends.

The counterfeit is perfect; the familiar look, the words, the tone, are reproduced with marvelous distinctness. Many are comforted with the assurance that their loved ones are enjoying the bliss of Heaven; and without suspicion of danger, they give ear to “seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

[The Great Controversy pp 557] The apostles, as personated by these lying spirits, are made to contradict what they wrote at the dictation of the Holy Spirit when on earth.

They deny the divine origin of the Bible, and thus tear away the foundation of the Christian’s hope, and put out the light that reveals the way to Heaven.

Here is a scenario where one, pastor Jones had two good friends who have passed away in an accident, and the pastor is grieving unconsolably for his best buddies. Then, two evil angels, named Bonnie and Clyde decide to show up at the pastor’s residence in the form of his former friends, to comfort him with the assurance that they are now living in heaven.

Before proceeding, there are two very important excerpts which we must take our time to read. One has to do with satan’s knowledge of the scriptures and the other has to do with the ability of his evil angels to manifest a perfect counterfeit of persons who have died previously. Let’s read:

[1] [The Great Controversy pp 559>560] Satan can quote Scripture now as in the days of Christ, and he will pervert its teachings to sustain his delusions.

[2] Many will be confronted by the spirits of devils personating beloved relatives or friends, and declaring the most dangerous heresies. These visitants will appeal to our tenderest sympathies, and will work miracles to sustain their pretensions.

Thus, the visitants who appear to pastor Jones make perfect manifestations of his former friends, but he, knowing what the scriptures say about the state of the dead, immediately resorts to Ecclesiastes 9: 6, which says:

Ecclesiastes 9: 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten.

6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun.

However, the evil angels do not panic, because they come armed with scriptures, and they gently remind pastor Jones that he himself has always preached to the people that line must be upon line, and precept upon precept. Therefore, it would be unscriptural to take that one passage in Ecclesiastes and build out an entire doctrine on it.

Thus, they reach for the Bible and endeavor to show that the natural immortality of the soul is indeed a scriptural doctrine, and as they read from the Bible, line upon line, precept upon precept, poor pastor Jones is at a complete loss for words. Let’s read:

Matthew 9:18 While he spoke these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

23 And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleeps. And they laughed him to scorn.

25 But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.

Mark 5:35 While he yet spoke, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why do you trouble the Master any further?

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

1st Kings 17: 17 And it came to pass after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, fell sick; and his sickness was so sore, that there was no breath left in him.

19 And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

20 And he cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, hast thou also brought evil upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by slaying her son?

21 And he stretched himself upon the child three times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child's soul come into him again.

22 And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came into him again, and he revived.

1st Samuel 28: 7 Then said Saul unto 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.

8 And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said, Bring me up Samuel.

12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

16 Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?

Ecclesiastes 3: 20 All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again.

21 Who knows the spirit of man that goes upward, and the spirit of the beast that goes downward to the earth?

But here we are today focusing on riots and protests and what this or that man can, or cannot do, all the while, the two cornerstones of deception which are slated for the final conflict of the ages are not nearly understood as they ought to be by many Remnants.

The reason why The Lord is raising this as an issue to be clearly understood from the Bible is because the servant of the Lord goes on to say that “WE” will be targets for such manifestations, and woe betide us if like pastor Jones, we come up short on answers. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 560] We must be prepared to withstand them with the Bible truth that the dead know not anything, and that they who thus appear are the spirits of devils. All whose faith is not firmly established upon the Word of God will be deceived and overcome.

[5] Another issue that should be considered is that in preparing for crunch time, the Remnants of God should place themselves in a proper light before the people, meaning that those who are consumed with arrears in debt should be seeking to wipe their slate clean, lest like Daniel, who was subjected to intense scrutiny, some fall short of God’s ideal will.

We have mentioned this issue several times before, and now, if indeed we are looking at the big one on the horizon, it is important that efforts be made by the saints to extricate themselves from delinquency and outstanding debts, so that the name of God will not be reproached, because we had left some stone unturned.

As Jacob was preparing to return home, he made very serious efforts to mitigate those wrongs that were committed by himself earlier. Anything that could appease the wrath of Esau was put in place, and he went to great lengths to smooth the way as much as possible, so that he would not give satan a reason to defeat him.

Similarly in our day, instead on focusing on man and the rising turmoil at home and abroad, the saints of God could use this time to set their houses in order, especially since pharaoh and his hosts are distracted by wars and rumors of wars. In fact, this may be our only golden opportunity to do so.

God is more practical and down to earth than many people realize, and therefore, if there are temporal issues that need to be addressed, if there are long outstanding bills that have been ignored or avoided, and if there is any other matter that can ruffle your feathers, you may want to seriously consider asking God for wisdom to address it.

The reason for this is that satan, the accuser of the brethren will stop at nothing to unearth and expose any skeletons in your closet, and if he were to do so during crunch time our faith will be severely shaken and we wouldn’t have the confidence to plead with God for deliverance, because reproach was brought upon His cause, in consequence of our errors. Let’s read:

Danel 6:4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

5 Then said these men we will not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.

Revelation 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

[The Great Controversy pp 616] 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.

Because of the deception practiced to secure his father’s blessing, intended for Esau, Jacob had fled for his life, alarmed by his brother’s deadly threats. 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.

As the witch’s brew of turmoil, uncertainty and the constant barrage of bad news envelops the airwaves and the internet, the Christian must be very careful not to get sucked into the vacuum, by becoming so distracted that we may lose focus on the things that really matter.

 God is now calling us to put on our blinkers like the racehorse we saw earlier, He is beseeching us to do serious soul searching, and Jesus is encouraging us to pray, study, and obey His word like never before so that we might be rooted and grounded in Christ, when the winds of strife begin to blow.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that addresses the urgency of the moment, and it is the will of God that whosoever will, might be found in Christ, before things reach a point of no return. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

                                    God Bless!

Have You Seen This Man? Sabbath afternoon 01/11/2026

1st Samuel 17:23 And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words, and David heard them.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

25 And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man? ....

The above passage took place when the Philistines sent their champion to rail on the kingdom of Saul, and as he came up day by day, he made a mockery of their confidence in God. This sad situation did not occur in a vacuum, for when they took their eyes off of God and asked for a king, they became fixated on man, his ways and means.

Consequently, they would attribute good and bad to the man in question, for having lost sight of Christ, everything that happens would always boil down to the man that is being focused on. The Hebrews back then, believed Moses was the reason for the manna and they also believed that Moses was responsible for the serpents. It was always all about the man.

In the days of Ahab and Jezebel, it was all about the man Elijah, not about God. Thus, they go hunting for the man that they erroneously believe is the source of their troubles, as if Elijah could stop any stream from flowing by his own power. Take a good listen to what Ahab says when he finally sees Elijah. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubles Israel?

Here is what the prophet of God has to say about the same situation, for Elijah didn’t cause anything, it was their departure from God that was working their ruin. Not a single occurrence happened in a vacuum, but because the habit of focusing on man was endemic, God is left out of the picture. Let’s read:

[Prophets & Kings pp 124>125] A year passes, and yet there is no rain. The earth is parched as if with fire. The scorching heat of the sun destroys what little vegetation has survived. Streams dry up, and lowing herds and bleating flocks wander hither and thither in distress.

Once-flourishing fields have become like burning desert sands, a desolate waste. The air is dry and suffocating; dust storms blind the eyes and nearly stop the breath. Once-prosperous cities and villages have become places of mourning.

Hunger and thirst are telling upon man and beast with fearful mortality. Famine, with all its horror, comes closer and still closer. They were unwilling to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, and they began to cast about for some other cause to which to attribute their sufferings.

Jezebel utterly refused to recognize the drought as a judgment from Jehovah. Unyielding in her determination to defy the God of heaven, she, with nearly the whole of Israel, united in denouncing Elijah as the cause of all their misery.

Again, when people take their focus off of God, bad luck or misfortune becomes a byproduct of the man in question, and God is left out of the equation. In our day the same mistake is being repeated daily as persons become fixated on man, instead of being focused on God, and what His word has declared will surely come to pass.

As a result, many are asking the same question that was asked in the days of Goliath: Have you seen this man? In almost everything that transpires today, it is all about the man.

But, you will never hear on the news that it is Daniel chapter 12, or Matthew 24, or Revelation 12 to 14 unfolding, and because of this, the God of heaven is being left entirely out of the picture, as if He has lost control of the midnight train that’s apparently going off the rails.

It’s never about prophecy being fulfilled, instead, it’s all about the man and as folks become all consumed with what man can do, what God can, and will do is lost in the mix, as God becomes smaller and smaller in their minds, until some can go so far as to believe that The Lord is not able to stop, or intervene in the affairs of men.

Whenever the saints of God begin to look to a mere man for answers and solutions, or when they begin to trust in man, the power of God usually begins to shrink gradually in their minds, and if the situation is not addressed and corrected it can cause their faith to become crystalized.

It is important for us to understand why this takes place. Let’s say you begin to trust in man, whenever a bigger man comes along, the previous man would pale in comparison, because he is not of the same stature or power as your former man.

Thus, your trust and confidence would be jumping from man to man, depending on whether or not he is better, bigger, more intelligent, or richer than the former man in whom you trusted. But with every man you trust in you will only have a different set of problems arising, for man does not have the answer to our problems.

Even if the man is a good man, the mere fact that a person’s tendency is to take their eyes off of Christ, and trust in that good man, will put that person’s mind in a mode of thought that will usually produce very adverse results.

Moses was a good man, but when an emergency or difficulty arose, the people would become anxious, and frustrated because of his finite limitations, for in and of himself, there’s only so much he could do.

Thus, you will find them demanding that Moses give them bread and water, and if he is not forthcoming, they were ready to stone him. Jesus had to correct their erroneous perspectives when He walked this earth, for in one of His discourses with them they claimed that Moses gave them manna to eat. Let’s read:

John 6: 30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.

John 5: 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuses you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.

It is good for God-ordained leaders to live honorably and nobly in the sight of those persons under their jurisdiction but it’s dangerous to let your confidence and trust shift from The Eternal to the mortal.

Whenever this is the case, your faithfulness will be tethered to his faithfulness, or conversely, if the one in question turns out to be wicked, your faith could become influenced and tainted by his wickedness.

For instance, if of late you find yourself craving for revenge, it means that your focus is shifting from God to man, and in doing so, we could become just like the man in question. The craving for revenge is not from God whether it occurs in the man you are fixated on, or in us as Christians. Let’s read:

Judges 2:18 And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.

When the children of Israel asked for a king, they let outward appearance, in all of its varied forms direct their faith and confidence, and therefore when Saul was brought out by Samuel, as the first king of Israel the people adored him, for he fit the bill they were looking for.

He was tall and handsome, and when he stood up, he was taller than everyone from his shoulders up. He made a very deep impression on the people in so much that they started to chant for the first time: God save the king.

He was also valiant in battle, a characteristic which they had specified in their request to Samuel, thus, their confidence, their courage, their zeal and their sense of security, rose with the stature of their king, and consequently, their faith and confidence in the power of God greatly recoiled and took a back seat.

Saul was also a man of financial stature, for he came from a well to do family, one that was renowned for power, within the tribes of Israel. Thus, the Hebrews saw in him all that they were looking for, as pertains to their security, financial stability, and stature in the eyes of the other nations. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 9:1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 608] Of noble and dignified bearing, in the prime of life, comely and tall, he appeared like one born to command. Yet with these external attractions, Saul was destitute of those higher qualities that constitute true wisdom. Saul was the son of a powerful and wealthy chief.

1st Samuel 10:23 And they ran and fetched him, and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

That is all well and good, until a bigger, taller man comes on the scene. As they contrasted Saul with Goliath, it was like comparing apples to oranges, for there was no way that their man, King Saul could be a match for this new man.

And, their confidence was severely shaken, for all the wind went out of their sails, as this other man, who was of much greater stature appears. Thus, as Goliath emerges from L.A. Fitness, and as he shakes his steroid laden fists at Saul, the people’s hearts melt like butter. That is what you get when you look to man, or when you trust in man.

There is always a bigger, badder, richer, stronger, or more powerful man than your man, in whom you’ve trusted. There were in fact very few, even amongst the best of Israel’s kings who left a stellar record as a legacy, or a perfect example to follow. Some of the few who encouraged righteousness, and faith in the Lord, erred at times.

David whom God loved made terrible mistakes, and caused some of the people to fall. Solomon, who is stated in the Bible as being loved by God, also made his share of grave missteps as he encouraged the sin of polygamy by his example.

Rehoboam, Jeroboam, Ahab and even Hezekiah, all did some level of evil, some more some less, and so, with every changing of the guard, the people would have a different set of problems with every different man whom they looked up to and trusted in.

This is the reason why a curse is upon persons who put their trust in man, because in the overwhelming majority of cases, you end up being disappointed or betrayed by what they do at some point. The arm of flesh will fail you, and thus, the tenor of the Bible is to put your trust in The Lord, and not in any mortal man. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 17: 5 Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusts in man and makes flesh his arm,  and whose heart departs from the Lord.

6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.

7 Blessed is the man that trusts in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.

8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.

Some of the names that have surfaced in the recent discoveries are men whom the world looked up to previously. That is until it was revealed that behind all the pomp and glamor, and bling, and intellectual prowess, and wealth, and influence, and political standing, there were found several skeletons in their closets.

Let’s say it again, man will disappoint you, and thus, the only man we know of, that you can safely follow and look up to is, The Man Christ Jesus. Any other man will be flawed and will most likely at some time do and say things that will have you scratching your heads. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets 717] The Bible has little to say in praise of men. Little space is given to recounting the virtues of even the best men who have ever lived. This silence is not without purpose; it is not without a lesson.

It is a perilous thing to praise or exalt men; for if one comes to lose sight of his entire dependence on God, and to trust to his own strength, he is sure to fall. The tenor of the Bible is to inculcate distrust of human power and to encourage trust in divine power.

The problem of looking to man, or trusting in man is a problem that has often haunted the people of God in ages past, and in these last days of earth’s history, it is going to play a prominent role in destabilizing many, by frightening persons into submission if they are not very careful.

Back in the days of pharaoh, the faith of the people was severely shaken when they saw him coming up from behind. They soon lost sight of God, and in the heat of the moment, they were ready to surrender their newly minted freedom.

Even though God was in the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night, the Hebrews, just like in the days of Goliath exclaimed in fear: “Have you seen this man?”

God had recently shaken down the entire land of Egypt with mighty plagues, and the deaths of their first born was fresh in their memory, but now, at the first sign of danger they become fixated on pharaoh, and they ask: Have you seen this man? Let’s read:

Exodus 14:10 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.

It's the very same thing that took place when spies were sent out to see the land of Canaan. Everything went well until they saw the giants and sure enough the old habit of looking to man surfaced again, and the rest is history.

Another serious danger of looking to man, is that it has been observed that persons who do so are likely to compare themselves with the man in question.

If the man is a good man, then he might get more attention and accolades, but if he is a wicked man, those who are fixated on him could be in danger of feeling very righteous when compared to him. Let’s read:

Numbers 13: 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

And on to our day, where the very same tendency to focus on man, could threaten the sanity and faith of millions of people. Now more than ever, persons may be feeling pretty righteous, because, when they compare themselves to some man that grabs their attention, it may seem like night and day.

As was stated earlier, the only man we know of who can be safely followed is The man Christ Jesus, and since we are living in turbulent times, we would do well to ask the question: Have you seen This Man?

As the long day of preaching and healing drew to a close, Jesus and His disciples headed to the other shore, but no sooner had they gone some distance out to sea that a storm was brewing on the horizon. And as the wind churned up the waves, the disciples tried their best to control the ship, but to no avail.

In this adverse situation, the experiences of both Christ and His disciples are quite noteworthy, because, on the one hand the disciples go into full blown panic mode, while in contrast, Jesus lay fast asleep in the midst of the storm.

The storm strengthens significantly, in so much that the boat begins to fill up with water, and, together with the howling winds, it seems all but certain that pretty soon they would be engulfed by the waters. But throughout all the panic and commotion, Jesus remains locked in slumber, as if not fazed by the roaring elements.

In fact, according to the narrative, it is quite possible that Jesus might have gotten wet by the incoming water, but throughout the turbulence, He remains fast asleep. The disciples begin to look for Him, and when they find Him asleep, they exclaim in surprise: “Have you seen this Man?” Let’s read:

Mark 4: 36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

40 And he said unto them, why are you so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, what manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Jesus, being tired and hungry from the events of the day, had fallen into a deep slumber, but as far as He was concerned, they were safe in His Father’s arms who would take care of everyone on board.

Therefore, the most important fact about the disciples’ experience was that Jesus was on board. Whether it was storm or calm, or anything else in between, the mere fact that Jesus was on board would make all of the difference.

An important commentary on this particular event is written by the servant of The Lord, in which she describes the peace that enshrouded Christ, and the issue which caused the disciples to go into panic mode. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 334] Absorbed in their efforts to save themselves, they had forgotten that Jesus was on board. Suddenly, a flash of lightning pierces the darkness, and they see Jesus lying asleep, undisturbed by the tumult. In amazement, and despair they exclaim, “Master, carest Thou not that we perish?” How can He rest so peacefully, while they are in danger and battling with death?

In our day, another storm is brewing, and like those 12 disciples of Christ we could be in danger of losing sight of the fact that Jesus is on board. God has told us of very strange developments that will take place Prior to Christ’s second coming and the servant of The Lord has warned us that final movements will be rapid ones.

Yet, throughout all of the stormy winds that blow, and throughout the upheavals and mayhem which are scheduled for the final days of earth’s history, we should always remember that Jesus is on board with us, and it is this single fact that would put the troublous times in the right perspective.

It is true that the Christian in our day should not be naïve as to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy, neither should we bury our heads in the sand like if we will never be affected by the winds of strife, to some degree.

But the instruction coming from God for such a time as this is for us to lift up our heads to the skies, and focus our attention on what God is doing in the heavenly sanctuary, for it’s there where the curtain is pulled back, and the unfolding of final events are revealed.

The distractions on planet earth, pertaining to what man will do can blur the lines of faith if we let them, and if the Christian becomes fixated on the storms, we, like those disciples of old, might be in danger of forgetting that God is still in control. Let’s read:

Luke 21: 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; because your redemption draws nigh.

Matthew 24: 32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is nigh.

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

God has not left this planet to the unbridled control of evil men and evil spirits. He often permits things to come to a tipping point, or an emergency, so that when He does intervene, His interventions would be understood by all.

In the days of pharaoh, God could have brought the last plague first, and the king would have let all the people go much earlier. But the Great shaper of all events allowed it to come to a crisis, so that in the fulness of time His good purposes would be fulfilled.

That this was the case can be observed by how all of the back and forth between God and pharaoh ends, with the promises, and predictions of God unfolding exactly as God had specified earlier. Let’s read:

Genesis 15: 13 And he said unto Abram, Know for a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;

14 And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.

Exodus 12: 51 And it came to pass the selfsame day, that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.

In the meantime, between the prophetic prediction and its fulfillment it might have seemed to the Hebrews that God did know what He was doing. It may have seemed as if pharaoh and his minions were running riot with no restraint from God, and at times it may have appeared that their doom was sealed.

These conclusions were the direct result of looking to man, becoming fixated on the human agent, and leaving God out of the picture. What The Lord has predicted in His word will surely come to pass, and there is not a single person who can stop it.

It therefore behooves the you and me in the here and now to focus on Christ, for as we have observed before, once God is on board, that will make all the difference.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which should serve to strengthen our faith in The Living  God, and if we keep our focus on Him, what man may, or may not do will not faze the Christian. Let’s read:

Daniel 2: 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

45 Forasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God has made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

                                     God Bless!

How To Read God’s Providence. Sabbath afternoon 01/03/2026

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

The days that are coming upon the land will call for a different and higher level of obedience that some Christians may not yet be familiar with. When prime time comes around, we should have already learned the critically important lessons of how to wait upon God for everything.

Thus, in our ongoing experiences He seeks to teach us bit by bit, how to trust, how to wait, how to read His providences and how to obey, in times when His providences might direct us to do this or that. God’s written word, and His voice in our consciences are always to form the backbone and the springboard of all our actions.

When making any move or when having to make a major decision that can have serious consequences, God’s written word must be consulted, and His Holy Spirit should be sought after through prayer, so that He will direct us in the ways of His choosing.

There will at times be pressures and deadlines, and times of panic when persons will be tempted to run ahead of God’s guidance. These instances should be carefully guarded, lest a wrong move can potentially place persons in a compromised position which they did not cater for.

One of satan’s devices is to create an atmosphere of panic and uncertainty, so that persons will become fretted and confused as to what course of action to pursue, and if, like the Hebrews of old, they were to see pharaoh coming after them in the distance, they can be driven to make hurried, ill-advised decisions that may be contrary to God’s will.

Therefore, in reading His providences correctly, we must not forget, major interventions, or revelations God has given us on the matters in question, for His word is solid as gold, and His providences do speak volumes, so that if contrary circumstances were to arise folks would have the assurance that everything will pan out just as God has said.

For instance, after He revealed to the Hebrews that He is going to take them to Canaan, and after God takes out all the firstborn of Egypt in a single night, those revelations and those providences should be sufficient to quiet frayed nerves, if pharaoh appears  in the distance.

These lessons in reading and cooperating with His providences will come in mighty handy as persons who know what is coming, will have to decide when and where to make their move. One bad ill-advised move could tip the scales in the enemy’s favor, and could put you in grave, or unnecessary danger.

Though the lamblike beast will be first and foremost in the implementation of 666, the land of the lamb-like beast will be the safest place to be, unless God directs you otherwise. It is there where His power is going to be made most manifest, as things begin to go downhill.

So yes, pharaoh might appear on the horizon, but God has given us revelations that He will rise to the emergency, in behalf of those who trust in Him, and because of this, all of the nonsense that might seem to be taking place currently should be understood in the context of what God has promised us He will do. Let’s read:

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which stands for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.

Be very careful of what you do in panic mode! Be very careful of what decisions you make in panic mode!

Several bad moves are what took place when David fled for safety from Saul. At that time, David went into panic mode as Saul was hot on his heels. God, through Samuel had told him directly that he would be king, twice Saul had hurled a javelin at David to pin him to the wall, and twice God delivered him.

On numerous occasions, God had demonstrated the fact that He is capable of defeating everything satan threw at David. And in addition to these undeniable interventions, when it seems as if there was no way out, and that Saul had finally cornered David, God had issued a restraining order through the power of The Holy Spirit, whereby by Saul was incapacitated in his efforts to slay David. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 19:10 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 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.

12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

13 And Michal took an image, and laid it in the bed, and put a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster, and covered it with a cloth.

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.

16 And when the messengers were come in, behold, there was an image in the bed, with a pillow of goats' hair for his bolster.

18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.

19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

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.

24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and that night. Therefore, they say, is Saul also among the prophets?

A very disturbing commentary is written by the pen of inspiration about this particular intervention, for when it came to crunch time, and it finally became necessary for God to exercise raw power in behalf of David, He did and He will do it again when the going gets rough in our day, but only when it will become necessary. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 654] An angel of God met him on the way and controlled him. The Spirit of God held him in Its power, and he went forward uttering prayers to God, interspersed with predictions and sacred melodies. He prophesied of the coming Messiah as the world’s Redeemer.

When he came to the prophet’s home in Ramah, he laid aside the outer garments that betokened his rank, and all day and all night he lay before Samuel and his pupils, under the influence of the divine Spirit. The people were drawn together to witness this strange scene, and the experience of the king was reported far and wide.

But now, as Saul’s insane jealousy knows no bounds, David is exasperated, and in the heat of the moment he has come to believe that waiting upon God can’t cut it for him anymore, because, as so many persons have erroneously believed, God is taking too long.

Thus, without waiting upon God, and without taking   time out to study, and reflect upon His providences, David decided to take matters into his own hands, and as he did so he jumped from the frying pan into the fire.

In all of these seemingly contrary circumstances he is forgetting one major providence that God did for him, in that God had already anointed him king and therefore, whatsoever Saul may or may not do, The Lord would not have anointed him to be king, if he was going to let him be slain. It makes no sense!

And now, in full blown panic mode David hatches his own plan of escape, better known as plan B, and as it unfolds, it will include lies, acting as if he is a mad man, putting his trust in Goliath’s sword and then he would ultimately endanger the life of the high priest and his family in the process. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 21:1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

2 And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, let no man know anything of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I’ve commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such  and such a place.

7 Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the Lord; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herd-men that belonged to Saul.

8 And David said unto Ahimelech, and is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

9 And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it to me.

10 And David arose and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

13 And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

14 Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, you see the man is mad: wherefore then have you brought him to me?

Question: Since God has already anointed David to be the king and nothing and no one could stop that, why is He permitting Saul to hunt down David as the most wanted man in the country?

God is allowing these providences so that David will learn those most critically important lessons that all of us have to learn, the lessons of not planning for ourselves, and total dependence on God. Without us being well grilled in these lessons, we are certain to make grave errors in judgment.

In addition, the human tendency is to take the glory of our accomplishments to ourselves, and thus, in his capacity as king, David will be severely tempted to take unwarranted liberties, without asking God’s counsel, something that he ended up doing anyway, on more than one occasion.

Especially in times of danger, volatility, uncertainty, and real peril, the Christian would be tempted to do the logically obvious, to the exclusion of God from the decision-making processes. At times like these, we usually plan and act on our own, but we pray to God to sign off on what we already intend to do.

No matter what the danger, no matter how hot the pursuit of your enemies, God’s plan of escape never includes violations of God’s law without His consent, such as killing or lying as something that is ordained or recommended by Him, if you have studied and if you have learned how to read God’s providences.

When Moses killed the Egyptian who was smiting his brethren, he decided, and he acted without the counsel of God, and thus, he violated God’s law that says “Thou shalt not kill.” Did the Egyptian deserve what he got? Yes, he did, but Moses was not to take it upon himself to dish out retribution, without first seeking God’s counsel.

When Rahab hid the spies from the authorities, she told a series of lies, that succeeded in fooling those who were sent to arrest them. But The Lord doesn’t deal in lies at all, for He is a God of truth.

And, even though He winked at her ignorance in the specific situation, God would have found other ways and means to deliver the two spies. In other words, if Rahab had spoken the truth and said the spies are hiding upstairs between the stalks, God would have intervened in a time and way of His choosing.

In other words, God did not encourage, or instruct Rahab to lie about the situation. His providences do not lead any individual to disobey His word, or walk contrary to the voice of His Holy Spirit.

Therefore, it is necessary that we study how to read God’s providences accurately, for as we prepare for crunch time in our day, it will be very important for us not to misunderstand what God does or does not do, or what He may or may not permit.

Providence: The guidance or care provided by God.

David has gone M.I.A, because he fully believes that sooner or later Saul would take his life, and now, he finds himself on the run, living in caves, mountains and wildernesses, often changing his location, so as not to be found by his enemy.

But some strange providences begin to occur, and it is critically important for us to place ourselves in his shoes to see what we would or wouldn’t have done in the same situation. To human logic, it seems as if the providence of God in this particular situation is conclusive evidence that God is directing David to slay Saul. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 26: 2 Then Saul arose, and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

5 And David arose, and came to the place where Saul had pitched: and David beheld the place where Saul lay, and Abner the son of Ner, the captain of his host: and Saul lay in the trench, and the people pitched round about him.

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 liveth, the Lord shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish.

11 The Lord forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the Lord's anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

12 So David took the spear and the cruse of water from Saul's bolster; and they got them away, and no man saw it, nor knew it, neither awaked: for they were all asleep; because a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them.

What would have been your reading on this miracle that God performed in David’s behalf. Would you have reasoned along logical lines, like Abishai, and concluded that because this unnatural sleep from The Lord had fallen upon 3000 plus people, that it was conclusive evidence for you to go ahead, and take out the king?

God’s providences never lead a person to violate His word, except He Himself says so. And therefore, if in this case David gets no such direction from God, he is to leave Saul alone, regardless of what providence may seem to indicate to the contrary. Let’s read:

1st Chronicles 16:21 He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes,

22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

Here is the same providence again, because there are some vital lessons we have to learn well, if we’re to survive during prime time. In all of the troubles, and trials that are scheduled for earth’s final crisis, the Christian must be led by the word of God and The Holy Spirit in all things.

In other words, no matter how trying or dangerous the situation, the Christian must not take it upon himself to do or say things that are not in harmony with the written word, or are out of step with the promptings of The Holy Ghost. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

Here again is the issue of reading God’s providences correctly for if you were to be arrested for preaching present truth, and you were to pray to The Lord God in your jail cell, and then, all of a sudden, a mighty earthquake shakes down the entire place, and every inmate’s chains are broken miraculously, it might seem to be conclusive evidence that God has made a way of escape for you.

What would you do in such a situation, and what would be your interpretation of such a providence? Should you rise to the opportunity and make your escape, or would you wait for specific direction from God, even though the evidences may seem to be a no brainer? Let’s read:

Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely:

24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.

25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.

27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.

28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, do thyself no harm: for we are all here.

Why would Paul and Silas not seize what seems to be the golden opportunity? Why would they just sit and wait, when to all appearances it seems as if God is telling them through His providences to make a run for it?

The fact is that they must wait on God for directions and instruction, even when in difficult or in an unfair circumstance and therefore, until God says run, they are to stay put, even though His providences might seem to indicate otherwise.

In this providence, what might have seemed to be the golden opportunity for escape, was instead the providence from God to save the both jailor and his entire family. But whether it be escape, or salvation you won’t go wrong waiting on God do direct you in this or that situation.

The following account is a great example of what is being referred to for when the scripture says to wait upon God, it means to wait until He speaks, directs, or commands us to make our move. Until such time we are to stay the course with it is written. Let’s read:

Acts 12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.)

4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.

5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

6 And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison.

7 And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands.

8 And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, cast thy garment about thee, and follow me.

9 And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision.

10 When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.

11 And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.

God, in His wisdom, and providences permitted king Saul to do some strange things, He allowed Herod to do some strange things, He also permitted the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, to do some strange things, and in our day, He permits persons who have been set up by Him to do some strange things.

Sorry to say this, but to many minds it seems as if at times that God does not know what He is doing, and this erroneous perspective often drives individuals to take matters into their own hands. God does not think or act like we do, and thus, we, as His subjects should give Him the time and space to work out His own good purposes.

We are gently reminded in the Scriptures that God is still on the throne, and even though, like David, it may seem as if the train is going off the rails, we will need to remember that God still rules in the affairs of men, and everything that He does, or allows is all for the good of them who will believe in Him. Let’s read:

Proverbs 21:1 The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord as the rivers of water, he turns it whithersoever he will.

Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

Daniel 4:17 This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the Most-High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whosoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men.

Psalms 75:5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.

6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.

7 But God is the judge: he puts down one, and sets up another.

It is not every time that God will select a wise ruler or king to fulfill His purposes. Sometimes He might need a knucklehead to fill a specific slot, so that His good will would materialize. Pharaoh of Egypt, in the days of Moses was basically a stupid man, but that’s the exact person God was looking for to fill that specific slot. Let’s read:

[Prophets & Kings pp 499] In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man; the shaping of events seems, to a great degree, to be determined by his power, ambition, or caprice.

But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counterplay of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 694] All earthly powers are under the control of the Infinite One. To the mightiest ruler, to the most-cruel oppressor He says, “Hitherto shalt thou come, but no further.” Job 38:11. God’s power is constantly exercised to counteract the agencies of evil; He is ever at work among men, not for their destruction, but for their correction and preservation.

True Christians in our day will be subjected to very serious challenges, but The Lord has already made provision for us to come through victoriously, if we trust in Him. The flames of the fire are not meant to consume, they are meant to purify. Like as of old, He will permit some strange things to take place.

To human wisdom, it may not seem to make sense, and it may go contrary to what we prefer or expect, but God is still on His throne, working out things so that His good and perfect will may come to pass. There are times of real peril, when you might have to run, and there are times when you might have to stand your ground, but whether you flee or stand still, let it be by the direction of God, and not folks taking matters into their own hands. Let’s read:

Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.

14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt.

2nd Kings 1: 11 Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.

12 And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.

13 And he sent again a captain of the third fifty with his fifty. And the third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and besought him, and said unto him, O man of God, I pray thee, let my life, and the life of these fifty thy servants, be precious in thy sight.

We therefore end with two passages of Scripture that will serve to strengthen our faith in God at such a time as this. In the fulness of time, we will see and understand why God did such and such, or why He permitted things to take a turn that many were not expecting. In other words, it will all make sense one day. 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.

Psalms 32:8 I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

                                God Bless!

What God Says About Guilt And Forgiveness. Sabbath afternoon 12/27/2025

Psalms 103: 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

The issues of guilt and forgiveness should be clear in our minds, for when they are understood correctly they do shine great light on God’s mercy towards us. God deals with us primarily in the currency of mercy for after the fall of man, we forfeited any just claim to His blessings.

Thus, He switched over to the mercy format so that all who so desire might find a brand-new start and a new life in Christ, so that the original relationship to God can be restored. Holy angels do not need mercy for they have never done anything wrong. Therefore they are dealt with on a different level.

But humanity needs the currency of mercy, if we are to be redeemed to our previous state before the fall of our first parents. Mercy is necessary, because sin deprived Adam from passing on righteousness to his posterity, and as a result, all children who are born to their Christian parents are born as sinners, not as saints.

We know that they are cute, but they need Christ as much as kids who are born to drug addicts. Thus, all of us, whether we are 3rd or 4th generation Seventh day Adventists or Baptists, will need to be converted through the currency of God’s mercy, for there is no such thing as being born a Christian.

The parents could and should teach by precept and example the principles and laws of God’s kingdom, but as far as being born a Christian, not happening.

Therefore, the Bible teaches us that guilt is a state we are all born into, because we naturally have the seeds of rebellion sown in our hearts genetically in and during conception.

This classification of guilt as a natural state of being is not necessarily a spoiler, because it makes both the kids and parents immediately eligible to receive of God’s mercies. If children are born innocent, then they can be saved on their own merit, and thus will not need Christ to enter heaven. This view cannot be correct. Let’s read:

Psalms 58: 3 The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they are born, speaking lies.

Genesis 25: 21 And Isaac intreated the Lord for his wife, because she was barren: and the Lord was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived.

22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, if it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the Lord.

23 And the Lord said unto her, two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger.

26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bore them.

[FW pp 88] Adam sinned, and the children of Adam share his guilt and its consequences.

Thus, God goes to work on the kids from birth, and He sprinkles His grace upon all so that whosoever so desires, may use their freedom of choice when they come to the age of understanding, to choose Jesus. This pertains to all children of righteous parents and all children of persons who do not know Christ.

God has set up the currency of mercy in such a way that there won’t be a monopoly on salvation by the righteous. The rich, the poor, the addict, the harlot, the preacher, the banker, the tradesman, and those who work at every other type of employ, are eligible to be partakers of God’s mercy. Let’s read:

Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.

21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 11: 32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

Romans 3: 9 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proven both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.

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.

John 3: 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, You must be born again.

However, there are two aspects to guilt that need to be clearly understood, because the Bible addresses both aspects. There is a situation where a person is guilty of doing wrong, but they really do not know. It happens quite frequently, even among Christians, where things are done contrary to it is written, but the persons in question really have not a clue.

In such instances, the light of truth might not have shone radiantly in the person’s mind on the issue in question, and because of this, a violation of God’s law takes place ignorantly. Therefore, the person’s conscience doesn’t bother them.

Guilt is not a feeling, it is a state, and thus a person’s conscience doesn’t necessarily have to bother them in order for them to be guilty. If a person from ole country came to the city and drove through school zones ignorantly, genuinely not knowing, the person is guilty, even though his or her conscience is clear, and the cop can issue a ticket on legal grounds.

Thus, the Bible addresses the aspect of guilt where a person does not know that he/she is in violation, so the consciousness of guilt doesn’t hit home until they come to a knowledge of what they have done. Guilt occurred on legal grounds, and then later on, when the person realizes the wrong committed then they are conscious of guilt, and may feel guilty. Let’s read:

Leviticus 4:27 And if any one of the common people sins through ignorance, while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty;

28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge: then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned.

Leviticus 4:22 When a ruler hath sinned, and done somewhat through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;

23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge; he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish.

Leviticus 5: 17 And if a soul sins, and commits any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he knows it not yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

4 Or if a soul swears, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him; when he knows of it, then he shall be guilty in one of these.

Then, the Bible addresses guilt that arises from the commission of deliberate sin, where a person knows full well what they are doing, and they do it anyway. This type of guilt is much more common than many folks realize, yet, God in His great mercy will forgive, once the prerequisites of confession and turning away are met. Let’s read:

Leviticus 6:2 If a soul sins, and commits a trespass against the Lord, and lies unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence or has deceived his neighbor;

3 Or have found that which was lost, and lies concerning it, and swears falsely; in any of all these that a man does, sinning therein.

4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,

5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertains, in the day of his trespass offering.

6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:

7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.

This type of guilt springs from presumptuous sin and, should be avoided. However, God who delights in mercy has also made provision for this type of sin and guilt to be wiped away. David’s sin with the wife of Uriah was of the deliberate kind.

David knew what he was doing when he sent for Bathsheba, and therefore, his transgression was all the more serious, for he thought about it, and then made the conscious decision to move forward with what he knew was wrong. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.

That’s the reason why later on in his prayers, he asks God to keep him from committing presumptuous sin so that he won’t be guilty of the great transgression, which is the grieving of the Holy Spirit. Let’s read:

Psalms 19: 12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Matthew 12: 31 Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

Throughout all of the different aspects of guilt and sin, we see God’s tender mercy running through as a golden thread, forgiving all manner of sin, whether it be ignorant or deliberate. But it is not His will that individuals should take advantage of His grace, and continue in sin.

Jesus came to save us from our sins, not in our sins, and thus, the grace and mercy of God is engaged with this sole purpose in mind, to bring us to a state where sin would be uprooted from our hearts. That being said, there are two aspects of forgiveness and guilt that we will hone in on for they can occur quite frequently, and must be addressed.

Here they are: [1] Cases where a person is wronged but he/she does not know that they have been wronged.

[2] How to rebuild trust after trust has been betrayed. Let’s begin with the first issue.

If in David’s case Bathsheba didn’t get pregnant, and David confessed to God and Bathsheba, should he still go to Uriah and confess his sin by informing him of what he does not know?

And what about Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, if she did not get pregnant, should she keep the matter quiet in an attempt to save her marriage, or should she risk Uriah blowing a fuse, by telling him what he did not know?

Some people, even among Christians, don’t take the issue of cheating well. In some cases, the one who was cheated on may forgive, but in other cases, the wronged one might trip a fuse, and who knows, in an age where so many spouses are armed to the tooth, you never know what tripping a fuse might lead to.

There are, and there have been instances where the husband or wife cheated, and they apparently got off scotch free, meaning, that the other was none the wiser. A married woman has a one-night stance on a business trip she went on.

Afterward her conscience bothers her for some time as she grapples with her conscious guilt. She longs to confess to her husband, but she does not know how he will take it, since, like Uriah, he is a soldier in the army on active duty, and who knows, he might just trip a fuse.

She confesses to God, she never gets pregnant, and after that single rendezvous she never ever falls into the sin again. The woman makes a genuine change for the better. Years go by, the husband never finds out, they go on to have a decent family, with several kids, and they remain married for fifty years.

But there is that one lone skeleton in her closet that has never been disclosed to her husband, and she is contemplating whether or not she should spill the beans and tell him about what he does not know. If she does, it could potentially cause a rupture in the marriage and the family, and could possibly alienate the children.

Should she let sleeping dogs lie? She doesn’t know how he will react, even though they attend church regularly. This situation has occurred more often than some spouses think, and it raises another basic question about forgiveness, especially within the context of married persons.

Are there things the wife or the husband are better off not knowing, or, in situations where skeletons are in your closet, should persons open a potential can of worms, by confessing to the one who doesn’t know that they were wronged?

The Bible strongly encourages husbands and wives to be honest and straightforward with each other, and wherever possible and sensible, confessing to one another is in order. But persons must be careful and wise in doing so. Let’s read:

[ 1LTMS, MS 1 1855, par 5] The wife should have no secrets to keep from her husband, and let others know, and the husband should have no secrets to keep from his wife to relate to others.

Confessing infidelity to one’s spouse doesn’t always come with the guarantee that everything would go smoothly. In David’s case, he trembled for his life, for if he were to confess his sin to Uriah, the soldier could legally put David to death, and he could also take out Bathsheba in the process. Let’s read:

Leviticus 20: 10 And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 718] None could foresee what would be the result should the crime become known. The law of God pronounced the adulterer guilty of death, and the proud-spirited soldier, so shamefully wronged, might avenge himself by taking the life of the king or by exciting the nation to revolt.

Take a good look at God’s response to David, after he admits to doing wrong, for when we declare God is merciful, we must understand and know what we are speaking of. The Lord immediately gives David the assurance that he would not die, on account of his sin. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

However, the issue we grappled with pertaining to a spouse or an individual not knowing that they have been wronged, must be addressed. The letter of the law clearly states that we should confess our faults one to another.

That is true, and cannot be controverted, but there are certain instances where discretion, and praying to God would have to guide individuals, so as to manage prudently, a potentially volatile situation.

John 8:3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The Pharisees were obviously bent on violence, and if they mention stoning, it might not be wise for the woman to go and confess on a horizontal level, for who knows, that might be the last time she is seen alive. In other words, if her husband was a butcher by trade she should consult with God before making a confession of infidelity.

In such a volatile situation, where human life could be in danger it’s best to let Jesus lead and direct lest in trying to fulfill the letter of the law, the one who fesses up, messes up in the process. If God directs in a specific situation, that confession be made to Him alone, because of the potential for life threatening danger, then, so be it.

There is no record in the Bible where the woman in the narrative was required to confess to anyone but God alone. And, if she walked in the precepts of life, as Jesus cautioned her, no mention of her sin was to be made to her, and that’s the end of the story.

When there is a genuine change of heart in the one who has sinned, when sincere confession of sin has taken place, God is not in the business of exposing him or her unnecessarily, if the repentant one’s life could be in danger.

On the contrary, God is in the business of covering the repentant person with His blood, and with His righteousness, and when He does, He has the last word. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 33: 15 If the wicked restores the pledge, give again what he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

James 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;

20 Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Psalms 103: 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

 This leads us to our second and final point: [2] How to rebuild trust after trust has been betrayed.

When one has been wronged and the offender has been forgiven, the natural thing to do will be to look over your shoulder every time the person is around. Sin does come with consequences and therefore the one who sinned against another must be prepared, and willing to deal with the natural fallout, by God’s grace.

Folks who have sinned against another and cheaters who have violated the trust and confidence of their spouses should not expect that as soon as they are forgiven, that normal relations would be restored. In reality, it can be very difficult to trust the person as before.

Developing trust and unquestioning confidence will require time, and well directed efforts on the part of the one who is forgiven. God’s grace will be applied as needed and requested so that it could be clearly seen that the one in question is a changed person.

However, in the process of restoring trust there may be extra scrutiny, for the wounded person must be given time to verify that repentance is genuine. But if a real change of heart has taken place, people will come to know over a period of time, that there has been a great change since you were born, of God.

So, there must be some give and take on the part of the forgiven, and the forgiver. As time goes by, the forgiver should relax their scrutiny if they are prone to do so, for there is no need to check cell-phones in the dead of night and smell clothing like Isaac, if you see that God is indeed working on the forgiven one.

In fact, at some point in time, God instructs that the full restoration of trust be made because confidence breeds more confidence, and trust will breed more trust. When God forgives, He gives us a place in His kingdom where folks are given many opportunities to practice truth.

At some point in time, after being forgiven by God, the apostle Paul must be trusted, without the saints having to look over their shoulders. Yes, it is true that he previously hunted down Christians, and yes, he caused much fear and panic in the early church.

But if God has forgiven him, and now he is speaking in tongues, preaching the gospel of Christ, returning his tithes and offerings and doing missionary work each and every day, the saints back then are not to follow Paul around with a camera, and cellphone to doublecheck everything he does, or does not do.

At some point in time, as the evidence of conversion is made manifest, persons must let go, and let God, for if trust will only be based on verification, we will not be doing better than Ronald Reagan who once said, to the Kremlin, Доверяй, но проверяй, trust but verify. Let’s read:

Acts 9:10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.

14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.

15 But the Lord said unto him, go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

21 But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests?

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he tried to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

When dealing with issues of guilt and forgiveness, God does not focus on the guilt part but rather on the restoration, by which persons could be trusted once more and given a place among kings or angels.

It is because of this why He bids us follow His lead, so that wherever forgiveness becomes warranted, we will focus on the restoration, instead of dwelling on the wrongs that were done to us. As we face a new year, let us try by the grace of God to bury the hatchet, and forgive one another, as God does, for it is His will that we would follow Him by precept and example.  

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will enable us to do so, if we try, and as we do, let us never forget that, were it not for The Lord’s grace, and mercy none would be alive today. Let’s read:

Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be you kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

                                   God Bless!

What God Says About Quid Pro Quo. Sabbath afternoon 12/20/2025

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 does blind the eyes of the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.

We are living in an age where in some instances, not all, the system of justice is perverted, an age where the rich and the infamous have curry favored some judges, in so much that folks on the lower echelons of society are in many ways being treated differently to those who have the money and influence to grease judges’ hands.

In some cases, persons are thrown in jail for minor offenses, while individuals at the top of the totem pole are released for much more egregious crimes. This grim state of affairs will not continue forever because the prophet Isaiah says that God is taking notice.

And in the fulness of time, He will act and He will do so in a very strange way that most persons are not expecting. When justice is perverted to suit one’s will, when populations are not given a fair shake in the courts of law, it is just a matter of time before society will begin to crumble.

And once the horses have left the barn, it could be quite difficult, if not impossible to rein them back in, because, nations that have permitted the wheels of justice to go off the rails, usually never regain their stature, or prominence as in former years.

This happened in ancient Babylon, it occurred with papal Rome, it happened in Herod’s day, and the same disease could now be seen in many nations around the world, where you have a two-tiered system of justice, one for the rich, and another for the poor, with the poorer classes, often receiving the short end of the stick.

This is exactly what God warned folks about in the book of Isaiah, and that movie is now showing at a theater near you. But according to what is written, it will reach a tipping point where The Lord will have to intervene, and when He does, it will not be pretty or cute, to say the least.

As we read, let us be honest with ourselves and ask this question: Is Isaiah speaking about some future time or is he referring to the here and now? And, if he is, then the word of the Lord is simple: Be ye also ready, because He is going to bring to pass His act, His strange act. Let’s read:

Isaiah 59:8 The way of peace they know not; and there’s no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goes therein shall not know peace.

9 Therefore is judgment far from us, neither does justice overtake us. We wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

10 We grope for the wall like the blind and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noon day as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

14 And judgment is turned away backward, justice stands afar off, for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.

15 Yea, truth fails; and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it  displeased him that there was no judgment.

17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and He was clad with zeal as a cloak.

18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.

The following story is an allegorical work that shows how a justice system can be perverted, and how any judge who is not very careful in his interactions with the public, can be led down a slippery slope, even if he may have had good intentions initially.

It just so happened that many years ago a mechanic used to live right next door to a judge, who was his neighbor, and over the years they became the best of friends. In the process of time the judge came to know what type of work his neighbor did, and since he lived right next door it was very much convenient for him to let his neighbor service his Volvo.

At first, the judge would pay his neighbor promptly for all of the services done on his Volvo so that even though they were good neighbors, there were no strings attached.

This was initially done with the best of intentions, because it saved the judge the hassle of having to take his car to the dealer, where he would have to wait in line like everybody else, or, if the repair was extensive, he would have to rent a vehicle while the work was being done.

So, the judge soon discovered that it was better in every way, and more convenient to let his mechanic neighbor do the work, especially since his neighbor would charge much less than the dealership. After a while however they became such good buddies that the mechanic stopped charging the judge for work, on the basis that they were very good neighbors.

At first, the judge objected to not paying, for he did not favor the idea of work being done for free, but since his mechanic neighbor insisted that he would not accept payment anymore, the judge decided to go along with it, because it saved him a whole heap of money over the years.

This continued for a period of time until one day the mechanic got into an accident, by which he ran into a Ford Taurus from behind, while texting. The man who was in the car which had gotten hit, decided to sue for injuries, and consequently went to Morgan and Morgan to handle the case.

And, believe it or not, it just so happened that the same case came before the judge who was neighbor to the mechanic. As defendant and plaintiff squared off in court, the judge became quite uncomfortable.

This was because his mechanic neighbor who had faithfully fixed his Volvo over the years, would now obviously be expecting the judge to give a favorable ruling, on account of their relationship.

The judge is torn between justice and quid pro quo, because, on account of the favors his good neighbor had shown, it seemed plausible, and right, that he should cut him some slack and rule in his favor.

However, as Morgan and Morgan presented the raw facts in the case, it became clearly evident that the mechanic was at fault, and now, the right thing for the judge to do would be to give a ruling that would incriminate his next-door neighbor.

What was he supposed to do? Should he go ahead and judge impartially, or should he favor his good neighbor on account of his previous kindnesses? On the one hand, if the judge in question rules against his neighbor mechanic, it would seem to be glaring ingratitude.

But if he was to rule in his neighbor’s favor, then he would have to deliberately twist the arm of justice, and in doing so he would deny the injured man his rights. What is he supposed to do, according to the Bible?

To find out what the judge is supposed to do we will have to revisit our introductory passage, because it speaks about the dangers of judges taking any gift in the first place. Quid pro quo is, according to Oxford dictionary: a favor or advantage granted or expected in return for something.

Now even though the judge and the mechanic may not have had any ulterior motives at the beginning of their relationship, the Scripture says that judges should not accept favors and gifts from the citizenry because there would always be that potential for a conflict of interest, which could easily morph into a Quid pro quo.

In other words, in order to judge impartially, judges must not have the burden of favors or gifts hanging over their consciences, because the natural, human thing to do will be to return the favor, since in most cases, the plaintiff or defendant who has favorable ties to the judge, will be expecting leniency.

In fact, according to the scripture, in the capacity as judge, there are certain things he or she just cannot do, that an ordinary citizen can. Those restrictions just come with the territory, and for good reasons, for wherever you have pay to play, corruption and injustice will prevail.

A judge, according to the Bible has to be wary of any kindness in the form of gifts coming from a citizenry, such as tickets to soccer games, dinners, vehicles, or paid vacations, even if such gifts were given to the judge at Christmas time.

In fact, even unwarranted gifts from Santa Claws are off limits so as to preserve the integrity of the bench and also to keep a judge’s conscience free and clear void of all bias and pressure to manipulate the law.

In other words, if Santa Claws is coming down every chimney in the judge’s neighborhood, and in every residence he leaves only cheap gifts, and plastic toys from China, but when he reaches the judge’s house, he leaves him a brand new Bentley, that obviously is an unwarranted gift.

That is why the Bible says that gifts will pervert the rulings of judges, and because of this, they are to be strictly avoided. When the following passage is read and understood, you will observe that it makes no mention of good intentions. It says, do not accept gifts or favors, from persons, if you are a judge. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 16:19 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.

However, the command against the practice of Quid pro quo is broader, and more extensive than many people realize, so, for the sake of clarity, let’s revisit the meaning thereof. Here it is:

Quid pro quo: Latin, Something, in exchange for something, A favor, or advantage granted, or expected in return for something.

When understood in a broader context, the practice of quid pro quo can be observed on a personal level, for at its core, it contains the principle of showing a favor, or showing kindness, with the expectation of getting something in return.

Thus, the following are four areas of concern that we need to address, and as we do, The Lord would make clear in our minds why he speaks out against the practice in its various forms.

[1] Quid Pro Quo on a personal level.

While it is Biblical to do good, and it is upright to show uniform kindness to everyone, the tendency to expect favors in return for doing so, is forbidden in the scriptures. The Christian is to do good, as the song says, for goodness’ sake, not for hope of any reward.

This does not mean that the person who is shown kindness or favors should forget the benefactor, or should not show gratitude. All it means is that the highest motivation for doing good should not be an expectation of returned favor, for if this is the case, one’s goodness becomes transactional. Let’s read:

Luke 6: 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Again, on a personal level, quid pro quo is very often the reason why some individuals might not receive the blessings they expected, after returning tithes and offerings.

In some cases, it might not be genuine gratitude to God that drives the giving, in some instances, it was more of a deal that some folks cut with God. Thus, if the blessings do not come down as expected, some individuals do turn sour, and accuse The Lord of not upholding His end of the bargain.

Tithing was never intended to be a contract, it was intended to be as an acknowledgement of God as the owner of everything we have, and also to put a check on inherent covetousness in our fallen human nature.

Therefore, when the Christian gives, and returns to God, it should never be looked upon as us cutting a deal, for if we were to view it that way, it would just be quid pro quo, dressed up in sacerdotal garments. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 9:7 Every man according as he purposes in his heart so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loves a cheerful giver.

Matthew 10: 7 And as ye go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

Again, on a personal level, the practice of salvation by works is based upon quid pro quo where persons do good and right things expecting to receive some benefit in return. Doing the right thing, in any form or fashion, where the primary motivation is a return on investment, falls short of the gold standard, and should be strictly avoided wherever possible.

According to the Bible, when Jesus comes the 2nd time, many people will be expecting to be ushered into His kingdom based upon meritorious work, for they kept a list of the many good things that they did and now, as far as expectation goes, they believe it is time for Jesus to return the favors, with a one-way ticket to glory.

But too late persons find out that God’s kingdom is not based on quid pro quo, and now, even though they make mention of their long list of good deeds, Christ isn’t buying it because their motivations were not honorable. In other words, they were doing the right things for the wrong reasons. Let’s read:

Matthew 7:21 Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

[2] Quid Pro Quo on a church/ state level.

Quid pro quo is so pervasive that it can be observed also, on a church level where politicians may offer to fund certain programs and educational endeavors of the church, in exchange for some favor.

Remember, the foundational principles of quid pro quo involve a favor or advantage that is granted, or expected in return for something. When this occurs it very often blurs the lines between the church and state.

Thus, if churches accept payments, or funding from governments and politicians they could obviously be under some pressure to have their congregants vote a certain way, in the benefactor’s favor and then the churches in question will feel obligated to have the politicians use their pulpits to further their agendas.

Also, wherever this is the case, those affected by the practice of quid pro quo would be under pressure or even threat of removal of funding, unless they bring their moral beliefs, and practices into harmony with the funder’s wishes.

This in turn can, and will ultimately affect adversely, the freedom of religion and thus, a denomination or church, that is supposed to be a moral compass in a world gone wild, will feel pressured to acquiesce on very important moral issues such as marriage.

It all has to do with the concept and practice of quid pro quo, where you scratch my back and I would be expected to scratch yours. It is quid pro quo that got Balaam into trouble, for he was promised monetary benefits and high positions in Balak’s government in exchange for doing what he knew was wrong.

The pressure was turned up several notches as the highest, ranking members of Balak’s government, in their efforts to bribe the prophet, made additional and costly offers in return for the favor of cursing God’s people. Let’s read:

Numbers 22:7 And the elders of Moab and elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spoke unto him the words of Balak.

15 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they.

16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, let nothing I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me.

17 For I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.

In other words, in exchange for the favor Balak was asking, he proposes to give Balaam a high position, possibly in his cabinet, or in some other critically important post in government, even though Balaam is not qualified to fill such a post.

Hence the reason why God banned church and state from being in bed together in quid pro quo, because sooner or later, the churches in question will be led to compromise truth, integrity, and principle. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Let’s read:

Numbers 23:9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.

Thus, wherever morality, justice, equity and fairness are at stake, the individuals who are tasked with the administration thereof, should stay as far as possible from quid pro quo, for they will become tainted and compromised, if they go that route.

This is the reason why any entity which has a grave responsibility of making sound judgments on moral issues, or has to issue Biblical statements, pertaining to right and wrong must be left untrammeled by any gift or favor so as to render decisions that would not compromise God’s revealed will. Let’s read:

Micah 3: 11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, is not the Lord among us? no evil can come upon us.

Acts 8: 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, give me also this power that on whoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, let your money perish with you, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

[3] Quid Pro Quo on a governor or a kingly level.

This level of the practice could really jeopardize the security and stability of a nation, because when it is indulged, the king without scruples, could cut a deal with known criminals once he or his kingdom stands to benefit. In other cases, innocent persons could be detained in custody, if they simply refuse to grease the king’s hand.

This is what took place with governor Felix in the Bible who could have released or detained Paul if he chose to. At that time, the apostle was wrongly put in prison because of false charges brought against him by his countrymen on account of him preaching the truth.

In our day, truth has become an endangered species and persons who speak the truth are at times made to feel the ire of kings, and governors. In Felix’s case with Paul, the governor was deeply convicted of the truth in the matter, that Paul was innocent of crime, and thus, he knew what was the right thing to do.

This is made quite clear in the Bible, because of his reactions to Paul’s testimony. The governor’s own conscience was aroused, and as the unadulterated truth came from the apostle’s lips, Felix was visibly disturbed, as could be observed by his involuntary physical reactions. Let’s read:

 Acts 24:24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.

25 And as he reasoned of righteousness temperance and judgment to come Felix trembled and answered Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.

But then, the quid pro quo demon began to haunt his mind, and as time went by it occurred to Felix’s that he could benefit financially by releasing Paul. Now, to be clear, releasing the apostle, in this case, was absolutely the right thing to do, but for Felix to seek financial benefit from doing so will be nothing short of quid pro quo.

And as the devil dangled financial gains before the mind of Felix, the decision came down to one of two choices, either he would do the right thing and free Paul without personal benefit or else he would keep him in prison until Paul would pay to play.

The regrettable record is there before us, because Felix decided that if Paul would not cooperate in the scheme, the governor would bend justice to suit his own desire, and the result is that Paul was left in his jail cell, because the Christian should never become involved in quid pro quo, even if it is to save his own skin. Let’s read:

Acts 24:26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul that he might free him, wherefore, he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him.

27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.

In other words, if Paul is not going to play to play, Felix is not going to release him, for whatsoever the facts might be in the case, if the governor is not going to benefit from the deal, no release would be issued to Paul, period. It doesn’t really matter whether he is guilty or innocent, that’s entirely beside the point.

This leads us to our fourth and final exhibit of quid pro quo:

[4] When quid pro quo includes pardons.

God has not granted to any mortal man the power to pardon sin, for the Bible explicitly says that this is the prerogative of God alone. Yet, over millennia the practice has been adopted in religious and in secular circles. Thus, before we move on, it is imperative to establish the truth in the matter beyond all doubt. Let’s read:

Exodus 34: 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, abundant in goodness and truth,

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty…..

Mark 2: 3 And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?

Par·don/ noun: The action of forgiving, or being forgiven for an error or offense.

Before we continue it is necessary for us to grasp the meaning of a particular passage in the Bible, so that when we speak of pardon or forgiveness on the horizontal, man to man level, we’ll understand what is being referred to. Let’s read:

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

Question: On a human level, what does it literally mean to forgive one their trespasses?

Take the example of David and Uriah. If Uriah had opened the letter containing his death sentence and he decided to forgive David, his act in doing so does not move the needle in heaven one iota. David will have to admit and confess to doing the wrong, and then God, and God alone could offer pardon.

But on a man to man, horizontal level, Uriah could choose to bury the hatchet and not pursue charges with Morgan and Morgan. In other words, only God could wipe a person’s slate clean, but we, on a man- to man level, could decide to let things slide.

This is what was made plain to Moses as he asked God to wipe away the sins of the people who had made and worshiped the golden calf. Let’s pay close attention to the following passages, for they reveal the prerogatives of God alone, as it pertains to the issues of forgiveness and pardons. Let’s read:

Exodus 32: 30 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses said unto the people, you have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord; peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin.

31 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

32 Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin, and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.

33 And the Lord said unto Moses, whosoever hath sinned against me, him will I blot out of my book.

In other words, it is the prerogative of God alone to decide whose sins are pardoned, and whose sins are retained. This is the reason why the power to grant pardons and forgiveness was never given to man for God knew that it would inevitably be abused, and misused in cases where quid pro quo is practiced.

And so said so done, because as the early Christian church gradually departed from the pure principles of truth, the demons of quid pro quo entered, and they wreaked havoc on what was meant to be good when applied in harmony with scriptural instruction.

The God of heaven clearly states the condition upon which pardon and forgiveness are to be offered and even then, God ultimately has the final word in the matter. Thus, for mortals to come along and change the terms and conditions is the equivalent of sitting in the seat of God, or trying to play God. 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.

Ezekiel 33: 14 Again, when I say unto the wicked, thou shalt surely die; if he turns from his sin, and

 he does that which is lawful and right;

15 If the wicked restores the pledge, give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall not die.

16 None of his sins that he hath committed shall be mentioned unto him: he hath done that which is lawful and right; he shall surely live.

But here comes quid quo pro which removes those terms and conditions laid down by The God of the universe, and quid pro quo now offers pardons carte blanche, where you don’t need to confess anything, you don’t need to return what was robbed, and you do not need to make changes in habits and practice.

According to quid pro quo, as it occurred in church back in the dark ages, all you needed to do was to grease the hands of the person who supposedly had the power to pardon, and you can go on your merry way, without repentance or a change of heart. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 127] As Tetzel entered a town, a messenger went before him, announcing, “The grace of God and of the holy father is at your gates.” 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.”

Now, this is pretty serious business, because if the one who purchases pardon on a quid pro quo basis is thereby forgiven for all future sins, without even repenting, that will obviously open the flood gates of iniquity, and persons will feel at liberty to do any and every type of wrong, because it has been paid for up front.

As bad as this evil is, there is something even more disturbing written in the scripture that we must now turn our attention to, because, everything that took place with Tetzel, as pertained to pardons, on a quid pro quo basis, is scheduled to be repeated by the lamb like beast of revelation 13.

The following passages are therefore stacked line upon line so that persons may be aware of the grave dangers that are predicted to take place. Let’s read:

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.

Revelation 13: 11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

The power of the first beast is a direct reference to work like what Tetzel was doing, and therefore, if the lamb like beast is scheduled to exercise “all” the power of the first beast, that will include pardons on a quid pro quo basis, also, the authority to receive praise and worship because that is what comes with sitting in God’s seat.

Thus, the you and me living in the here and now are on the cusp of a cataclysmic shift in the way things are done. If you decide to go with quid pro quo, you will have to be prepared to pay to play. But if, as the Bible clearly states, you decide not to go that route, persons will have to expect situations of no ordinary nature to unfold.

In fact, the mark of the beast is the final culmination of all quid pro quo, for it is a favor or privilege that is going to be granted, in return for something. That is a direct reference to your economic privileges which will be restricted only to persons who pay to play. Let’s read:

Revelation 13: 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.

In other words, quid pro quo in the final conflict will involve false worship in exchange for your economic privileges, very similar to the third temptation which was brought against Christ, where satan offered Him the kingdoms of this world in exchange for worship. It's just the same old pig, with lipstick on. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil takes him up into an exceeding high mountain, and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9 And said unto him, all these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.

God is now calling the inhabitants of earth to awake out of slumber. It is of critical importance for us to be anchored in Christ, so that as the storm unfolds, and as the heat of the furnace would be ratcheted up several notches, persons would not succumb to the pressure to bow down.

We therefore end with the passage of scripture that Jesus then used to rebuff quid pro quo, because if, and when folks are offered access to the kingdoms of this world, in exchange for worship to the beast, there is only one appropriate answer we can think of. Let’s read:

Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

                                     God Bless!

Forward Ever, Backward never. Sabbath afternoon 12/06/2025

 Hebrews 10:37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draws back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Whatsoever may be your understanding of God, and the salvation He offers through Christ, one thing you must always bear in mind, that it is Jesus who saves us, and thus, whatever our Christian experience may turn out to be, our relationship with Him should be valued as the highest treasure.

Churches don’t save you, membership doesn’t save a single soul, and being in good and regular standing in the eyes of man does not guarantee an abundant entrance into God’s kingdom. While all of the above are good, it is our individual walk with The Lord that will make the difference in the end.

This fact should be kept prominently in view as we study some of the reasons why persons turned back from following Christ, while others determine to run the full nine yards of the Christian race.

The Christian race is never about speed, it is about endurance, hence the reason why The Bible says, he who endures to the finish line, the same person will be saved. Therefore, while persons might begin the journey huffing and puffing, we must always bear in mind that the tortoises often outlast the cheetahs.

According to the Bible, satan’s efforts to cause us to turn back, if he can, will come from unlikely sources. And thus, we shouldn’t be surprised if and when the attempts come through those who are close to us.

If it happened to Jesus, it can and will happen with the Christian, as individuals seek to move forward ever, backward never.  Let’s read:

Psalms 41: 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Matthew 10: 21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.

22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

One thing every Christian must always remember is that of the two invisible agencies, which battle it out for our minds one is bent on saving to the uttermost while the other is hell bent on destroying you to the guttermost.

God goes to very great lengths to save members of the human family, He pulls out all the stops, and He does everything possible to save persons from being lost.

It is written in the Scripture that where sin abounds grace did much more abound, meaning that every effort that can possibly be made will be made, and The Lord will not leave one stone unturned in His efforts to save us. Let’s read:

Isaiah 5:1 Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill.

2 And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge I pray you between me and my vineyard.

4 What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?

On the flipside of God’s efforts to save, you have the devil who works ingeniously, and systematically, and with energy worthy of a better cause, to get persons to turn their backs on God. He does not really care if you turn back for an apparently good reason.

Once he gets folks to turn back, that’s all he cares about. In fact, he has at the ready, a multitude of apparently good reasons why persons should turn back from following Christ, and some of these could sound quite plausible.

Some of these reasons were presented to Christ as He was being severely tempted in the wilderness. At that time, one of the arguments presented was that if Jesus was the Son of God, the Father would never leave His son to suffer from hunger and thirst as was the case with Jesus on that occasion.

It basically was the same argument he raised with the friends of Job, as through them, he sought to link Job’s plight to a sinful course, for as they said, God will never allow those afflictions on innocent Christians. Let’s read:

Job 4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said;

7 Remember, I pray thee, who ever perished, being innocent? or where were the righteous cut off?

8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.

9 By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of his nostrils are they consumed.

In other words, Job’s friend was saying that trouble does not come upon the righteous and thus, if Job is now suffering intensely, it must be something wrong he had done and therefore, according to his warped mode of thought, it seemed to make no sense for Job to continue his walk with The Lord.

This conclusion of Eliphaz is often greatly flawed, for even though there are laws of sowing, and reaping, it is not always the case that adverse circumstances are in every situation, preceded by wrong doing.

Thus, the devil, through Eliphaz was attempting to discourage Job into turning back, for, if after being faithful for so many years you come and lose most of that which was near, and dear to you, in quick succession, that should be a valid reason for Job to throw in the towel, and turn his back on God.

That is according to the diabolical mode of thought being pushed by the invisible forces of darkness. It is funny how the same sentiment was echoed by the wife of Job, who succumbed to the doctrine of devils on this point, and so, became the mouthpiece to give audible voice to satan’s unspoken thought in his efforts to get Job to turn back. Let’s read:

Job 2: 9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Thus, on the one hand, you have Christ who would stop at nothing to save any person who so desires, and on the other hand you have the devil, and his minions, who will stop at nothing to prevent folks from moving forward, and being saved in God’s kingdom.

Therefore, with these facts in mind it’ll be of critical importance that we take a good look at the warning given us in the book of Ephesians, and the counsel given, so as to run the Christian race with a steady, and even tread, without burning out along the way. 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 ye 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 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye 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 on 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 ye 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.

The reason why it has now become necessary for us to take a hard look at the previous passages is that in many instances, people may not be aware of the currencies in which devils deal.

And as a result, some may not recognize temptation as being temptation, as invisible foes ramp up their efforts to cause many to turn back. When the Bible makes mention of Wiles, Devices, Snares and Fiery darts, it is referencing the currencies in which devils deal.

Devils deal in slander, unjust criticism, heckling, and complaining. They also often deal in confrontations, arguments, discouragement, conspiracy, fear, panic, reveling and destruction. But these are not the only currencies they use.

They also often use apparently good currencies such as praise and flattery, whereby they seek to praise persons into doing something stupid. This particular currency is on display, and it is just a matter of time before situations will reach a critical juncture where persons will be praised into jumping off a cliff.

Hence the reason why we must, of necessity study the history of those who have gone before, so that we won’t fall for the same snares and devices which were set for the feet of God’s people in times past, which then caused many of them to turn back.

Our commitment to serve, love, and obey God must never be taken lightly, for it should make allowances for unforeseen circumstances that may come out of the blue, which might catch persons off guard, some of which you were never expecting. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 2: 11 Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.

[1] Some persons turn back from following Jesus because of discouragement.

Back in the days of the Hebrews, some individuals turned back, on account of discouragement, when things they hoped for did not pan out the way they expected. For instance, when they did not enter the land of Canaan immediately, as they had hoped to, some ran out of steam, and many of them turned back.

Their discouragement was greatly exacerbated after the spies returned from spying the land of Canaan. As they brought back the fruits, and products of the land, and displayed them, the people gathered all around them, in eager anticipation of an immediate occupation.

And this would have indeed been the case if the ten unfaithful spies did not poop on their party, with the currency of discouragement. After they verified the goodness and productivity of the land, they turned and painted the country in very dark colors, as they described the giants they had seen.

And after they insisted that it was impossible for the land to be taken, the people went into a tailspin and satan had a heyday as he fueled the flames with the currencies of faultfinding, censure, and accusations.

In this perturbed state of mind, their faith grew dim, and the rest is history, because they then and there decided to turn back, and they did. Let’s read:

Numbers 13:27 And they told him and said we came unto the land whither thou sent us, and surely it flows with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it.

28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and more over we saw the children of Anak there.

30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and  said, let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.

31 But the men that went up with him said, we are not able to go up against the people; for they are  stronger than we.

32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, the land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eats up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.

That is the end of Numbers, chapter 13. Look at the first verse in chapter 14, for as satan churned the situation over and over in their minds, he succeeded with the currency of discouragement, intimidation, and fear and the results followed like clockwork, for they decided they had had enough, and it was time to turn back. Let’s read: 

Numbers 14:1 And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness!

3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt?

4 And they said one to another let’s make a captain and let us return into Egypt.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 389>390] Revolt and open mutiny quickly followed; for Satan had full sway, and the people seemed bereft of reason. They cursed Moses and Aaron… The unfaithful spies were loud in denunciation of Caleb and Joshua. And the cry was raised to stone them. The insane mob seized missiles with which to slay those faithful men.

[2] Some persons turn back from following Christ if they forget what Jesus has done for them in times past.

The experiences that God has given to us along the way should be held as a sacred treasure, since they form the backbone of our confirmation that there’s a God in heaven.

When Jesus has done something great for you, and when He has come through, after the arm of flesh has failed, and when He delivered you from the jaws of sickness and death, try your best not to forget.

The reason for this Scriptural advice is that when we allow the goodness God has shown us, to fade from our memory, then we can run the risk of limiting His power to deliver us in future situations.

And when a person begins to limit the power of God to do such and such, it can put a choke hold on faith and if you are not very careful doubts can cause you to turn back.

The confidence to move forward ever and backward never comes from literal experiences folks had with The Lord in times past. It was his past experiences David drew upon, why he had the confidence to go up against Goliath, while others, who forgot what God did for them in times past turned back. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 17: 23 And as he talked with them behold there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name out of the armies of the Philistines, and spoke according to the same words: and David heard them.

24 And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man, fled from him, and were sore afraid.

25 And the men of Israel said, have ye seen this man that is come up?.....

34 And David said unto Saul, your servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock.

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

37 David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the Lord be with thee.

It's the very same issue that arose years earlier with the giants in the land of Canaan, when, on account of their size, the people became very discouraged and turned back. And now, with a similar situation before them, they seemed to forget what God did for them back then, and this caused them to flee in terror. Let’s read:

[Testimonies 9, pp 10] We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and his teaching in our past history.

Psalms 78:40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert!

41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.

There is no such thing as a genuine Christian who does not have distinct experiences of deliverance or blessings from God. If you do not, then something is wrong. God bids us believe His word and we should, but it’s the living, literal experiences in our lives that confirm our faith, to make it solid as a rock.

[3] Some people turn back from following Jesus if the basic necessities of life are withdrawn for some reason.

This last example is important for us to understand, because there are basic needs that everyone has, in order to live on this planet. The human family, for the most part is concerned about food, and drink, clothing and shelter, for these make up the basic necessities of life.

Also, on account of our fallen condition, people are generally concerned about health care since disease and other infirmities and sicknesses do crop up from time to time.

If push really comes to shove, we could do without cell phones, and cars, and televisions, but our food, raiment, and shelter are generally non-negotiables. So, the question is, if these necessities are no longer available, will such a situation cause persons to turn their backs on God?

It is worthy of note that in the experience of Job the devil went after much of his food, by wiping out all of his flocks. Then he went after him on the issue of health, as he was smitten with boils, and yet, for all this, Job decided to move forward ever, backward never. Let’s read:

Job 13:15 Though he slays me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Job 19: 25 For I know that my redeemer lives, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.

26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.

Chapter six of the book of John is both interesting, and relevant to the title of the Bible study: Forward ever backward never because it makes note of the basic needs of humanity, of which we spoke earlier.

Food and drink and issues pertaining to healthcare were top of their agenda, as multitudes thronged or sought out Christ as The One who could provide for their basic needs. Let’s read:

 John 6:1 After these things, Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

John 6:10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So, the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

John 6:14 Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, this is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.

In an age where millions of people are panicking over Snap benefits, where food banks are running low on resources, and where long lines can be seen at food distribution centers, someone who could, at His word, provide baskets full of groceries for free, is someone who will be much sought after.

Again, in and era when millions of people might lose their healthcare benefits, because of sticker shock on their premiums, someone who can heal all types of diseases, including type one and two diabetes, is Someone who will be much sought after.

Thus, as the news spread like wildfire, as the CNN’s and Fox news back then, trumpeted the breaking news, it almost triggered a stampede, for we can all understand why such a Person would be in very high demand.

And as the good news spread by word of mouth and as friends, neighbors and families who were healed, showed undeniable evidences of God’s supernatural power in their literal bodies, there was a rush for the door as it were, for no one wanted to miss out on what was the chance of a lifetime. Let’s read:

John 6: 23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

Now, we must be abundantly clear, Jesus did not have any problem with persons who were seeking Him for these things, for they are necessities of life. The problem was when they sought Him only for these things, to the point where if these necessities were removed, persons would then turn back from following Him. Let’s read:

John 6:25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when came you hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

From this point onward in the narrative, things took a turn for the worse for when Jesus tried to explain to the people that God’s kingdom is not primarily about food, drink, shelter and healthcare, many of them were surprised and very disappointed. Let’s read:

John 6: 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that everyone which sees the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

After making it plain to them that it was eternal life, and a deep relationship with God he was offering to establish in their hearts, it became obvious that very many of them soon lost interest in Him.

And according to the sacred record things reached a tipping point where most of them turned back from following Jesus, and their decision to turn their back on God was never afterward reversed.

However, some of them treasured their relationship with Christ more than any temporal blessings, and healing, and just as it was with Job, Caleb and David, it was forward ever, backward never. Let’s read:

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?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

[The Desire of Ages pp 392] They had made their choice, had taken the form without the spirit, the husk without the kernel. Their decision was never afterward reversed; for they walked no more with Jesus.

We are hard pressed to believe that John 6:66 is a mere coincidence, for it came at a time when most of those who were following Christ, turned back on account of disappointed hopes and dreams of the temporal benefits Jesus had given.

There is another 666 in the bible that now warrants our attention, for it seems as if the same issues will again test the tensile strength of our commitment to follow Jesus all the way. And, just like it was back then, the question is: Will we turn backward if and when the temporal benefits are removed, or will it be forward ever, backward never? Let’s read:

Revelation 13: 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.

To live and think in forward mode, folks will need to be rooted and grounded in Christ, meaning that our experiences must go far deeper than having a mere theory of truth. The intellectual aspects of truth are to be interwoven with our everyday experiences as we practice that which we learn at Christ’s feet.

As we determine by God’s grace to go forward ever, backward never, He will grant us experiences which will serve the purpose of causing us to grow in grace and from time to time, He will confirm promises and blessings to us in ways that cannot be gainsaid.

It is thus, through the power of The Holy Spirit who works within us to do God’s pleasure, that you will be enabled to go from strength to strength and from one victory to the next, until persons are brought to that point where they will never turn back.

This is what was declared by all the apostles, and it supercharged their testimony, as a living, breathing experience, so that when they opened their mouth to speak the gospel, folks took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Let’s read:

1st John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

That being said, it is important to cultivate certain modes of thought and perspectives that will keep us in forward motion. Persons must believe, we must exercise faith, we must obey the word of The Lord in order to keep moving forward.

As more and more light is shed on our pathway, we are to advance with its increasing glory, and every one of us must be diligent to avoid being distracted by the various currencies that devils deal in.

Discouragement, murmuring, backbiting, wavering, heckling, praise, faultfinding and unbelief must be strictly avoided, in order to keep moving forward.

As the various fiery darts are hurled at you time and time again, make it a habit to seek out the source of your strength, and God will grant grace for every emergency and every emerging threat. Let’s read:

[Testimonies Vol 4 pp 27] The clouds that gather about our way will never disappear before a halting, doubting spirit. Unbelief says: “We could never surmount these obstructions; let us wait until they are removed, and we can see our way clearly.” But faith courageously urges an advance, hoping all things, believing all things.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will enable us to go forward ever, backward never, and if persons stay the course with Christ, you will endure to the end. Let’s read:

Isaiah 43:1 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.

2 When thou pass through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walk through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 

                                      God Bless!

A balanced View Of God's Love. Sabbath afternoon 11/29/2025

 Exodus 34: 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

8 And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.

In our day, the word love is used frequently and very often without thought. It is conflated or confused at times with emotions, mood and feelings, in so much that when one says “I love you” folks are not sure anymore what that really means.

Some persons declare that they love ice cream or an item of food. Others declare that they love God, but that too is often a vague assertion, while others like Tina Turna, relegate love to being a second-hand emotion.

The study for this evening will seek to explain in the clearest of terms what a balanced, Scriptural view of God’s love looks like, so that the next time we speak of His love, we will have a better understanding. The following points are important to harboring correct perspectives on God’s love.

[1] God’s love is founded on principle, not emotions that fluctuate from day to day depending on feeling, mood, and circumstances, as is too often the case with us.

Everything God does, is from the basis of love, and if we were to trace what He does and permits, back to their very source, we would discover that love forms the springboard of all of His actions and decisions. It also forms the basis for all of His commandments or instructions to the human family, and it’s the reason why Jesus came to die for us, from His own free will.

It's all about the foundational principle of love being the driving force behind all of God’s actions. When you get a chance, check out the ten commandments which God has given to humanity, and see if any of them were given to make us worse off than we are.

The law which says you shall not bear false witness, if carried out, and obeyed would prevent the many conspiracy theories and lies with which persons are bombarded every day, and it will prevent misleading labels from being placed on products which have to be recalled ever so often.

The law which says honor thy father and thy mother would cause children to respect their parents and it would prevent some 6 year olds from shooting their teachers. It would also move children to take care of their aging parents, when on account of their failing health, they can no longer fend for themselves.

The law which says thou shall not covet, if carried out, would prevent countries from bullying others to take their resources, and it would prevent judges from taking bribes from the rich, and the infamous, to get a favorable outcome.

The law which says you shall not commit adultery, if carried out and obeyed as it should, would prevent some persons from trafficking young underage girls, and thus preclude the need for any hush money to be paid, to keep them quiet.

The law on adultery, if carried out, would also tend to preserve the integrity of the marriage institution, it will keep husbands from cheating on their female wives, and the brother in question will not have to sweat bricks if and when the wife picks up his phone by mistake.

Hence the reason why the Bible says that the law is holy and just and good, because it came from Christ to us as the ultimate document of love, having the good and well-being of every person in mind. It was never given to restrict your liberties, nor to deprive anyone of that which is for your own good. Let’s read:

Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

The same is true as pertains to God’s instructions on diets and foods, for whenever you read in the Bible that The Lord says do not eat such and such, He isn’t saying so to spoil your party, or to prevent you from having that which is good.

The instruction is coming in from the springboard of love, and it was given in uprightness and the best of intentions, and any individual living on planet earth who understands and follows His instructions would find out very quickly, that it was love that drove God to give such instructions.

Take for instance, the law on porky, which instructs us not to eat or touch it. If and when carried out or obeyed will put persons in a much better place as it pertains to your health and well-being. Leprosy in Bible times was often caused by eating porky.

Therefore, when you read in the Scripture that Jesus gives permission to the legion of devils to run a herd of swine over a steep cliff, to drown them in the sea, do not get ticked off at Christ, for it is a good, and loving thing that He is doing and permitting, to save those very people from future diseases.

Whatsoever God does, or permits if it is interpreted through the Prizm of the principle of love, would, in most cases produce a clear correct understanding of what He does or does not do. Let’s read:

Matthew 8: 30 And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine feeding.

31 So the devils besought him, saying, If thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine.

32 And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters.

The same is true for the instruction against eating raw meat, and rare steaks with the blood in it. It will produce adverse side effects in your body, because the prohibition was given for our best good.

And if obeyed will drastically reduce the incidences of many cancers and tumors, which overburden the health care system which is already stretched to the max. Those instructions were given from the spring board of God’s love. Let’s read:

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.

8 Of their flesh shall you not eat, and their carcass shall you not touch; they are unclean to you.

Leviticus 3: 17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood.

Deuteronomy 4: 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.

When these laws and instructions are obeyed and implemented, they would greatly reduce the need for GLPs, and they could prevent, to a great extent the other afflictions, like clogged arteries and other diseases, which now haunt many individuals to the grave. Let’s read:

[Prophets & Kings pp 59] His love is not uncertain and fluctuating. Ever He watches over His children with a care that is measureless.

It was the principle of love that drove God to give us those laws and instructions and therefore, we must reiterate the first point, which says that everything God does, and every command and instruction that He has given to the human family, has its foundation its roots, and its origin in the principle of love.

[2] God’s love forgives sins, but it does not always remove the natural consequences in this life.

Some persons expect that the literal results of their sin would be removed, when they seek forgiveness from God. While it is true that God deals mercifully with us, it is not always the case that the results of wrongdoing would be removed in this life.

God forgives the repentant person entirely, but the damage that was done in the here and now needs to be addressed. Sometimes, God in His mercy may mitigate the fallout of some adverse consequence at His discretion, but in other instances, persons might have to face the music, even after being completely forgiven by God. Let’s read:

Psalms 103: 10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

Adam and Eve were entirely forgiven but they had to deal with the fallout of those choices they made. This point is critically important because it will put a check on our expectations and our understanding of God’s love. Being forgiven doesn’t always mean that the natural results of sin in the temporal realm will be removed.

The thief on the cross was fully forgiven, and he will be saved in God’s kingdom no doubt, but the bitcoin he’d stolen, had to be adjudicated in earthly courts of law. God’s forgiveness didn’t overturn his just due on a horizontal level, as it pertains to man to man.

Similarly, after David was forgiven, the Lord declared that He would not intervene to prevent the natural consequences of his actions, because a grave wrong had been committed to his fellowman and therefore the issue must be adjudicated in the here and now.

Was David forgiven? He absolutely was, but damage done had to be addressed, because God’s love and His justice are both integral parts of His character. In fact, His justice also originates from the foundation of love, hence the reason why the laws of sowing and reaping were then allowed to run their natural course.

If Jeffry Epstein was alive today, and he was to truly ask God for forgiveness, God would forgive him no doubt, but he would have to spend the rest of his life behind bars because on a human to human level the sins he committed produced severe, traumatic, and in some cases, lifelong injury to his victims. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 12: 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.

13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the Lord. And Nathan said unto David, The Lord also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

14 Howbeit, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born unto thee shall surely die.

Again, if after spending recklessly for many years on one’s credit cards; and if after purchasing blings and things without thought, the individual is now being haunted by collectors, and that person asks God to forgive, He absolutely will, but the collectors might still show up at your door with a baseball bat.

The Lord may or may not mitigate the situation, but as far as expecting that He must to do so as part and parcel of His forgiveness, is not a correct view of His love. This is what Adam and Eve expected as part of the forgiveness package, that some way, somehow God’s love would remove the natural results of their sin.

God in His mercy, did offer them redemption in the Person of Jesus Christ, but the natural effects of sin would ensue, even as they were totally forgiven. It’s important that persons manage their expectations of God’s love, so as to cultivate balanced, scriptural views. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 57] Adam reproached his companion for her folly in leaving his side and permitting herself to be deceived by the serpent.

But they both flattered themselves that He who had given them so many evidences of His love, would pardon this one transgression, or that they would not be subjected to so dire a punishment as they had feared. But the great Lawgiver was about to make known to Adam and Eve the consequences of their transgression.

[3] Justice is just as much a part of God’s love and it must never be separated as being an isolated aspect of His character.

Even though the execution of justice is described as being a strange act for God, it’s a strange, but loving act, for everything He does is always in the very best interest of His creatures. Even destruction, when it’s done by God, is always a loving act, in the very best interest of all concerned.

When The Lord destroyed the earth by the flood, it was an act of love, done in the best interest of the human family, for if he had not intervened sin would have multiplied to such an extent that righteousness would have been permanently blotted from the face of the earth. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 91] Polygamy had been early introduced contrary to the divine arrangement at the beginning. Whoever coveted the wives or the possessions of his neighbor, took them by force, and men exulted in their deeds of violence.

They delighted in destroying the life of animals. The world was in its infancy; yet iniquity had become so deep and widespread that God could no longer bear with it.

That this was indeed the case can clearly be seen by the very few who were saved, out of billions of folks who were alive back then. When God crunched the numbers, He only found eight persons that he could save to repopulate the earth afterwards. Let’s read:

Genesis 6: 5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Genesis 7:1 And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

And even as He destroyed the earth, His love drove Him to bury vast amounts of trees, so that America, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Russia could have vast reserves of oil and natural gas to heat homes during in winter, thousands of years later.

So yes, even destruction, when it comes from God is founded upon the same basic principles of love that moved Jesus to die for our sins on Calvary. Both the cross and the flood have their origin in the principle of love, for whatsoever God does, comes from that same springboard of love.

It may not seem so up front, but behind the scenes it is God’s love that’s working things out for the best good of everyone. One day, every person on planet earth together with all the unfallen worlds and even the devil and his angels will confess this singular and sacred truth, that everything God does, or has done, was always done on the basis of love.  Let’s read:

[The Spirit of Prophecy Bk 1 pp 82] Before the flood there were immense forests. The trees were many times larger than any trees which we now see. They were of great durability. They would know nothing of decay for hundreds of years.

At the time of the flood, these forests were torn up or broken down and buried in the earth. They have since petrified and become coal, which accounts for the large coal beds which are now found. This coal has produced oil.

This leads us to our fourth and final point pertaining to a balanced view of God’s love:

[4] In cases where persons know better, God’s love

does not accept partial obedience to His revealed will. In other words, if a person knowingly omits any part of God’s revealed will, The Lord cannot and will never accept that kind of obedience. Let’s read:

James 4: 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.

When The Lord instructed Cain and Abel to bring a lamb as an offering, Abel obeyed, but Cain showed up with a different kind of offering. Cain partially obeyed, in that he did come with an offering, only it wasn’t what God had required, and therefore God could not accept it, because Cain knew better. Let’s read:

Genesis 4: 3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering.

5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

7 If you do well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if you don’t well, sin lieth at the door….

The issue of partial obedience also surfaced in the life of Moses at one time, where he did everything that God told him to do, except one. On account of remonstrances from his wife, he decided against the requirement of circumcision and God couldn’t move forward with him, unless the issue that he knew of was addressed and corrected. Let’s read:

Exodus 4:24 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him.

25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, surely a bloody husband art thou to me.

26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

When God stopped Moses in his tracks, it was the love principle at work, preventing him from going to do battle against satanic forces, while violating one express command of God. If The Lord had let things slide, that would have been the end of Moses as he entered satan’s turf.

Again, the issue of partial obedience reared its head when Saul partially fulfilled the mandate given him by God, and just as it was with Cain and Moses, The Lord could not and did not accept it.

The command was as simple and straightforward as it gets, because the Amalekites and everything that pertained to them were to be utterly destroyed with no exceptions.

In that instance, Saul did some of what The Lord had commanded, him, but he used his own discretion as it pertained to other things that he thought needed some adjustment. In other words, Saul modified the will of God to align with what he thought was right.

On this particular point, some persons believe that their own personal opinions, have more weight than God’s revealed will, especially if their preferences may seem to be something productive of good.

God’s love does not ask persons to determine what is good or not, nor does it excuse a disregard of His law on the basis that it seems to be wrong, or out of step with popular opinion. As we read, consider the apparently “good” reasons that Saul gives for doing contrary to what God required. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 15: 9 But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

In our day the love of God is often misinterpreted to mean that it’s okay to insert personal preferences or opinions into His revealed will, once there is a good reason for doing so. It is called good disobedience.

Take for instance, the issue of worship that revolves around the final conflict between good and evil. The Lord has plainly stated in His word that the 7th day Sabbath is His holy day and that any other day is just a regular working day. 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.

Mark 2: 27 And he said unto them, the sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.

28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Isaiah 56: 2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that lays hold on it; that keeps the sabbath from polluting it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.

4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant,

6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, everyone that keeps the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;

7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon my altar; for mine house shall be called a house of prayer for all people.

But over the centuries, some pretty “good” reasons have been given why changes were needed. One of the most prominent reasons offered up is that Jesus came from the grave on Sunday and because of this, a change in His law on the Sabbath was warranted.

And, even though there is absolutely no Scriptural evidence or backing for it, the change has now been adopted by most Christians, and many are sincere in doing so.

However, sincerity, in and of itself should not move anyone to change or alter the law of God even when there may be the best of intentions, because when a balanced view of God’s love is cherished, it leads us to obey His word, without altering it like Saul and Cain once did.

And even though the vast majority may do so, and even if artificial intelligence may say so, and even if the most prominent religious leaders of our day may clamor for, or try to justify any change, the word of God stands unmoved.

The reason for this is that God’s love does not allow for any manmade change to His revealed will. There is a lot of noise about the advancement Ai brings to the table, but in doing so let the various chatbots be obedient and let them be trained to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Let’s read:

Question: Which day is the Sabbath day, Saturday or Sunday?  (We are asking the Google Ai)

                                    AI Overview

The Sabbath is the seventh day of the week, which is Saturday for Jews and for some Christians, while Sunday is considered the day of rest and worship for most Christians. For many Christians, Sunday is a commemoration of Jesus's resurrection, which occurred on the first day of the week.

In the times of ignorance, where folks may not know better, God winks, meaning that He would not hold it against any person if they do not know. Back in the days when there were no printing presses, when the Bible was chained to monasteries, people were for the most part in darkness, as to God’s revealed will.

But now, we are living in the age of enlightenment, where the information highways of the world could provide individuals with knowledge on almost every subject, from the various renditions of the Bible.

In some cases, care must be exercised when certain versions are read, but generally speaking, you can find God’s will in many of the prominent versions on line.

God is now calling the inhabitants of this world, and especially Christians who already believe in Jesus, to harbor a balanced and scriptural view of His love for our love to God is not measured by thanksgiving, or praise, it is measured by our obedience to His every word.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will encourage one and all to love and obey The God of heaven, because the foundation of His law, His government, and His salvation are all rooted in love. Let’s read:

John 15: 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

10 If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

                                    God Bless!

When Your Back Is against The Wall. Sabbath afternoon 11/15/2025

Jeremiah 8: 21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.

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?

Even though we may have gotten accustomed to the systems, facilities, and norms of health care in this country, we must be aware that great changes are on the way, and the remnant people of God are not to place implicit trust in manmade ways and means, for there are times when you will be disappointed.

The Bible teaches us that “the just shall live by faith” and another passage says “In all our ways we are to acknowledge Him”, meaning that even if we use the facilities and conventional ways and means that are at our disposal, we should always leave some wiggle room for God, just in case the proverbial rug may be pulled out from under our feet.

Sudden and drastic changes are on the way almost daily, and the Christian in our day will have to learn to adjust to the changing circumstances as they will unfold. The solutions to your health care problems are not to be found solely in man, in every situation without exception.

There are times, and there will be times when after the arm of flesh has failed, the promises of God and the instructions He has revealed to us will need to be given a second look, especially as many millions of people are beholding the fragmentation of their safety nets.

The Christian in our day might just have to choose between standing on the promises, or looking to a mortal man for help, of which the latter can prove to be seriously flawed at times. Many persons are hoping and praying that the clock will not run out on their health insurance.

And we are not to say whether this would indeed be the case, all we are saying is that in some, or many instances, persons may be literally priced out of the system, and if this is the case, many will be looking for something to fall back on.

That’s just the fact in the matter, and thus, the grim prospect is before us where we may have to choose between insurance and the blessed assurance. That this a very real possibility for millions of people can be seen by the astronomical increase in premiums, across the health care spectrum.

Not because some may have great health insurance does not mean that we can’t identify with the pain, frustration and foreboding that many are now facing and some who are now insulated from the pain may soon have pause for concern.

If you are a family on a fixed income, there is only so much you can do with your disposable income, and if the premiums are out of reach, you would have to seek out alternatives. It is one of satan’s devices to put two bad choices on the table, so that any which way you turn, you may be hedged in with difficulty.

Take for instance a person who now lives in Texas who was told by her insurer that her premiums will be going from $862.00 to $1,380.00 per month as of January next year. If you are on a fixed income and if you do have preexisting conditions you can be faced with hard and difficult options.

The haunting question would always be, what am I going to do in case of an unexpected emergency? Or what would happen to me if I developed a situation that required major surgery, with an extended stay in the hospital? Will persons then have to sell their souls in order to access the health care system, or is there another option on the table?

Again, if you want to get a pulse of the realities on the ground, all you have to do is speak to one, Miss Montgomery, who, at 63 years of age is now facing a relentless battle with lung cancer, and whose costs per month could go from $541.00 to $1758.00 per month.  

Listen carefully to her cry, in her own words, as she mulls the possibility of what that could mean for her in her situation: “I have to face the reality that I am probably going to become a late-stage cancer patient who’s uninsured,” Montgomery said. “I have fought this so hard. I want to live.”

Now, while we are not here to take sides with this or that position we cannot help crunching the numbers and reasoning things to their logical end. If, like Miss Mongomery, you simply don’t have the resources to pay your premiums, and you have an unfortunate health crisis on your hands, what will your options be?

It sounds like the perfect storm that could send you into panic mode, looking for any other alternatives. Some folks might decide to try alternative medicine, others, like Dr. Sanjay Gupta may resort to Ayurvedic Medicine, while others may try some of the eastern arts, while others might be forced to consider some type of faith healing.

Now, if in your desperation, someone were to come along and offer you healing for free, many persons will be moved to consider that option, especially if from your sick bed you’re seeing on the news that a whole lot of people are being healed by that specific person, and they’re not being charged a single cent.

All of a sudden, that could become a real and viable option since your back is against a wall and you may have nowhere else to turn. Could this be a figment of our imagination, or can it be a very real possibility our world is now being prepared for?

As we ponder the grim prospect, something comes to mind, that has been written in the Scriptures, and we have to wonder if all roads are now leading to a specific convergence of circumstances that God has repeatedly warned the inhabitants of earth of, that the miracles mentioned in end time prophecies will play a major role in the final conflict, as desperation sets in. Let’s read:

2nd Thessalonians 2: 8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

14 And deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

25 Behold, I have told you before.

These verses tell us with certainty that the miracle working power of satan will be on display in a major way, as earth’s history draws to a close. When Jesus was upon this earth, the miracles of healing played a major role in convincing the people that He was The Son of God.

Everywhere Christ went, the multitudes thronged about Him, because the issue of health has plagued the human family since the fall of man, and today, it still touches a raw nerve especially when individuals are in dire need of healing.

When your back is against the wall, and you have no place else to turn, all of a sudden, the prospect of a healer coming through for you can seem very viable, especially if it will cost you nothing. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

All manner of disease and sickness would include every form, and every stage of cancer, diabetes and Alzheimer’s, infections of all sorts, depression and mental illnesses, blood clots, varicose veins, heart disease, and Schizophrenia, just to name a few.

All manner of disease and sickness means exactly all manner of disease and sickness, and according to the scriptures, Jesus became very famous because of His healing powers in so much that He hardly had time to catch Himself, since the needs were so great and pressing. Let’s read:

Matthew 4:24 And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatic, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25 And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

Luke 4:38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.

Could it be that we are facing the prospect of some supernatural healer walking the earth, just like Jesus did, healing all the diseases of the people and would he like Christ, become very famous as a result. If the multitudes of people are hedged in with a situation, where they cannot afford health care anymore, is the stage being set for the unthinkable?

Chris and Donna Vetter have made the agonizing decision to drop their health insurance, saying they simply cannot afford it. Donna has atrial fibrillation and their premium is scheduled to go from $401.00 per month to $1975.00. Could a supernatural healer be their best or only alternative, especially since it will be for free? Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 624] In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation.

In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Savior uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed.

In the times of crisis and desperation, worship might seem to be a small trade off in exchange for healing, especially if your back is against the wall, you have nowhere else to turn, you cannot afford the sky high premiums and if, as far as you know there’s no other alternative.

Therefore, before we get into the Bible study, let us ask and answer some fundamental questions, which have a direct bearing on the subject matter, so that we may know what our options are at such a time as this. We are going to start from scratch, and we’ll let the Bible explain itself.

Question [1] Can satan cause and bring disease upon people?

We’re not going to deal with the issue of permission at this time, we just want to know whether or not he has the power to bring disease. Let’s read:

Job 2:7 So went Satan forth from the presence of the Lord, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.

12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent everyone his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.

13 So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spoke a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.

Luke 13: 11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself.

12 And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

13 And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Now, if he can bring diseases, the very next logical question is, can he cure them for real. We are not speaking of some of those fake healings which have been on display for many years. We are referring to the real Mccoy.

Question [2] Can satan do genuine works of healing diseases? Let’s read:

Acts 8: 9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which before time in the same city used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one.

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, this man is the great power of God.

11 And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

The words: “From the least to the greatest” and “To him they had regard” tell us unmistakenly that this man was held in very high esteem, both by those in authority, and your everyday Joe. In other words, he was famous, and was well respected in high and low places.

Furthermore, you do not become famous by doing false works of healing, or any other fake miracles for that matter, and since intelligent people began to take note by coming to him as a reliable source, if it was fake, the upper echelons of society and the well educated would have discovered the fraud, sooner or later.

Obviously, Simon was doing what he did through the power of the devil, because miracles only have two sources, God or satan, and if they do not originate with The Lord, the only default setting is that they are coming from the devil. That this conclusion is true can be observed by Peter’s response to him. Let’s read:

Acts 8: 18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

19 Saying, give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

20 But Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

21 Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

23 For I perceive that you’re in the gall of bitterness  and in the bond of iniquity.

[The Great Controversy pp 553] The apostle John, describing the miracle-working power that will be manifested in the last days, declares: “He does great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, and deceives them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do.”

No mere impostures are here foretold. Men are deceived by the miracles which Satan’s agents have power to do, not which they pretend to do.

[The Great Controversy pp 624] He heals the diseases of the people. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying, this is “the great power of God.”

Let’s now go into the Bible study: “When Your Back Is Against The Wall” ---- God’s health care Plan Part [2]

There is a lot of noise concerning the issue of health and there are many soothsayers who might present various ways and alternative means by which folks can maintain good health and longevity. However, if it is our desire to be in line with God’s will for us on this issue, we will have to include obedience to His instructions as being indispensable to success.

In every single aspect of the Christian’s life, faith and obedience are foundational requirements for us to partake of His promises. To put it plainly, if we were to desire health, the information God has given will have to be applied in the most practical sense.

It’s the only way that He could prepare us for prime time, when those systems, ways and means we have become accustomed to, will no longer be available to persons who refuse to bow. No one knows how soon this might materialize, but the way things are going now we may be looking at sooner rather than later.

Therefore, let us try to understand the conditions of God’s promises on health, and His preferred manner of working in the here and now, so that we could be clear in our minds as to what needs to be done. Let’s read:

Luke 4: 40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and He laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

You will observe that in many of the cases where Jesus healed the people en-masse, He did not ask them anything about any contributing factors, He just healed them all in most cases. There are some instances where Jesus referred to the issue of cause and effect, however, in the overwhelming majority of cases, He simply healed them.

The reason for this is that back then there was not a ton of information on cause and effect, thus, people did many things ignorantly, and as the Bible clearly states, in the times of one’s ignorance, God winks.

But now, as a general rule, Jesus is asking questions before doing miraculous works, because we have at our disposal troves of valuable information on cause and effect, so that we need not err in our choices or actions.

Critically important information on diets and foods, on exercise, on the physiology of the body, are now literally at our fingertips, so yes, Jesus is asking a lot of questions before performing His miracles, in very many cases. Let’s read:

James 4: 17 Therefore to him that knows to do good and does it not, to him it is sin.

This is one of the main reasons, why, for the most part, miracles do not play a prominent role as they once did, especially amongst the remnant people of God.

Therefore, there are three simple pointers that mark out the course to be pursued at such a time as this,  when a crisis in the healthcare industry may be just on the horizon. The first one has to do with obeying God’s revealed will as best as we can.

[1] Obeying God’s revealed ideal will as best as we can. Let’s read:

Exodus 15: 26 If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and will do that which is right in his sight, and will 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.

This means that we will have to do the right thing as pertains to His instructions on health. Folks will also have to keep His commandments, and statutes, and we will have to be diligent in doing so by the choices we make and the actions we take.

These things are to be accomplished through God’s power working in us through His Holy Spirit, but The Spirit of God does not override intelligent deliberate choice. Everything, including health, always involves self-denial and cooperation if it is to become reality. This is what is included in walking humbly with God.

This means that there will be some things we might have to give up, and there may be things we’ll have to start doing, in order to be fully aligned with God’s revealed will, or else the scriptural version of health will become an elusive dream.

In satan’s version of health, you do not have to give up anything, and if your current condition has been the result of any habit or practice that was contrary  to God’s revealed will, no changes are required.

Not so with God’s health care plan, for in whatever we do, the Christian should be seeking out His ideal will, not looking for loop holes whereby we continue to indulge our cravings contrary His will. Let’s read:

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

This leads to our second point in God’s health care plan: [2] Prevention is always better than cure.

When sickness and disease come our way, diligent search should be made as to whether or not we’ve contributed to the problem by our choices and our actions, and if so, definite and permanent changes are to be made, no matter how painful they might be.

Very many diseases, ailments or adverse conditions that exist today are actually preventable. Not only does much information come from the prophets of God, but the health industry is full of instructions as to how we can avoid or stave off health problems.

Take for instance the Scriptural instruction given on the eating of sweets, to help in preventing diabetes and sweet diseases that have become so rampant in our day, and which now have persons looking to GLPs as a savior in many instances. As the bible says, we are going to study line upon line and precept upon precept. Let’s read:

Proverbs 24: 13 My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste.

Proverbs 25:16 Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee, lest you be filled therewith, and vomit it.

Proverbs 25:27 It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

When taken together as a whole, the three passages declare that honey is good, but it should be taken in quantities that are warranted, and then the warning is given about overindulgence in sweets. The word “vomit” refers to the adverse effects it will have on the one who overindulges in sweets.

And then the prophets amplify that which Solomon wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so that we can have a broader understanding of the issues of prevention and cure. No need to demonize honey as if it can troll us without our choice in the matter. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 9: 25 And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beats the air.

27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 562] True temperance teaches us to dispense entirely with everything hurtful and to use judiciously that which is healthful. There are few who realize as they should how much their habits of diet have to do with their health, their character, their usefulness in this world, and their eternal destiny.

The appetite should ever be in subjection to the moral and intellectual powers. The body should be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the body.

Therefore, the next time you walk down the aisle at Publix, and you hear Ben and Jerrys beckoning to you from the freezer, here’s a simple prayer that will keep them at bay: “In the name of Jesus Christ, I rebuke you satan”.

This leads us to our third and final point pertaining to God’s health care plan:  

[3] In most cases, miracles from God are to be your last resort, when the arm of flesh has failed and you have done all that you can possibly do. Let’s read:

Mark 5: 25 And a certain woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

In our day, this woman would have run out of other options, she would have spent all her money on her premiums, and, the health care system would have failed her, because her primary care doctor, as well as the specialists would have told her that there was nothing else they could do.

Therefore, after she had done all that she could to find a cure, she turned to the Mighty Healer for help and sure enough, she got an answer in the positive.

In other words, the Bible teaches us to exhaust all God-ordained options, while living in harmony with the light that has been shed on our pathway, and if everything fails, we can look to God for help. Let’s read:

[Medical Ministry pp 13>14] Many have expected that God would keep them from sickness merely because they have asked Him to do so. But God did not regard their prayers, because their faith was not made perfect by works.

God will not work a miracle to keep those from sickness who have no care for themselves, but are continually violating the laws of health and make no efforts to prevent disease.

The way in which Christ worked was to preach the word, and to relieve suffering by miraculous works of healing. But I am instructed that we cannot now work in this way; for Satan will exercise his power by working miracles. God’s servants today could not work by means of miracles because spurious works of healing claiming to be divine, will be wrought.

For this reason, the Lord has marked out a way in which His people are to carry forward a work of physical healing combined with the teaching of the word. This is the provision the Lord has made whereby gospel medical missionary work is to be done for many souls. These institutions are to be established out of the cities, and in them educational work is to be intelligently carried forward.

As subsidies are set to expire, and as premiums are scheduled to skyrocket, the you and me in the here and now may want to give God’s health care plan a second look, for the time will come when there may be only bad options on the table.

Again, if your back is currently against the wall, and there seems to be no way out of your predicament, you cannot go wrong with turning to Jesus for help, but we must be willing to follow the guidelines God has given us, because everything the Christian does is within the context of God working with freedom of choice.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us to make decisions in the positive, so that faith and works could converge at the crossroads of reality. Let’s read:

Proverbs 3: 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.

God Bless!

Why The Earth Is In Turmoil. Sabbath afternoon 11/08/2025

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The earth is currently engulfed in turmoil and great perplexity, and according to the Bible it’s scheduled to accelerate greatly, as the second coming of Jesus approaches nearer each day.

This fact should not be a downer nor should it cause undue stress, for even though we are all concerned about the rapidity of final movements, we shouldn’t be consumed by them for they have been written so we can cherish a lively hope of Christ’s soon return.

The secular mind is increasingly perplexed as to how quickly things have snowballed into an avalanche by which norms folks have become accustomed to over the years, are being upended almost daily.

It hearkens back to a solemn statement of import in the prophetic writings where the servant of the Lord tells us that final movements will be rapid ones. This means that as we approach crunch time, there will be some strange developments that will baffle your mind, as to how on earth, such and such could take place in such a short period of time.

Here is the statement we are referring to, and it is the will of God that we pay close attention, because He bids us believe His prophets, so shall we prosper. As we read, let us be honest with ourselves, and ask this question: Is she peaking of some future time, or is she speaking of current events. Let’s read:

[Testimonies Vol. 9 pp 11] The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.

The condition of things in the world shows that troublous times are right upon us. The daily papers are full of indications of a terrible conflict in the near future. Men possessed of demons are taking the lives of men, women, and little children.

The enemy has succeeded in perverting justice and in filling men’s hearts with the desire for selfish gain. “Justice stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” Isaiah 59:14.

In the great cities there are multitudes living in poverty and wretchedness, well-nigh destitute of food, shelter, and clothing; while in the same cities are those who have more than heart could wish.

The cries of starving humanity are coming up before God, while by every species of oppression and extortion men are piling up colossal fortunes.

This is the reason why The God of heaven sounds an alarm saying to earth’s inhabitants that even though you might prefer not to hear this it’s not business as usual anymore, because tectonic shifts are occurring beneath our feet, even as we speak. It is not meant to scare you; it is intended as a wakeup call so that we can live in readiness. 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.

As was spoken before in a previous Bible study, God teaches us by repetition, so if you were to see him repeating Himself through His prophets, it’s not that He is stammering, it’s because He is trying to reach us with some critically important information. Thus, He stipulates that His word must be studied through a process of repetition. Let’s read:

Isaiah 28:9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

11 For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.

10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.

Therefore, as persons seek a clearer understanding of why the earth is in turmoil at such a time as this, and as individuals seek direction with what they will need to do, we will need to use the Biblical process of repetition, or, stacking those relevant passages of Scripture one on top of the other, so that a clear-cut picture can emerge.

We begin with the following passages which tell us that not only will the day of the Lord come at a time when most people are not looking for it, but it would be preceded by birth pangs of a catastrophic nature, which will only increase with frequency and intensity, as the great day approaches. Let’s read:

1st Thessalonians 5: 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.

       The Cleveland Clinic on Labor pains:

       If you’re in labor, your contractions:

[1] Get stronger or more intense over time.

[2] Occur more frequently or closer together.

[3] Last between 40 and 60 seconds each time.

[4] Cause pain across your entire abdomen, sometimes radiating to your lower back and legs.

[5] Become so intense you cannot walk or talk during one.

Therefore, one of the parameters by which last day events can be measured is the increasing intensity and frequency of weather-related events. In other words, as the various storms are brewing in political and religious circles, there will also be a noticeable uptick in actual storms and unnatural occurrences in earth, sea and sky. 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.

Luke 21: 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

These two passages taken together, in the context of the former one that we read in 1st Thessalonians 5, verse 2, tell us with certainty that there is going to be a dramatic increase in storms, both in severity and frequency, as the coming of Jesus looms large on the horizon.

The prophecy in Luke 21:25, which speaks of the sea and the waves roaring, is a direct reference to storm surge, tsunamis, and king tides, which are increasing in severity and intensity. Thus, all these occurrences are just symptoms of the deeper problem of a world in turmoil.

But the Scripture tells us that we should search out the truth diligently, as did the Bereans in Paul’s day to see whether those things are so. The following is a chart of all category 5 hurricanes which occurred in the Atlantic basin since 1924 to the present time.

As you study the chart, observe how the frequency is increasing, just as the labor pains spoken of in the 1st book of Thessalonians clearly states. The chart is taken from The Weather Channel, a reliable source nationwide, for information on storms, and weather related events. Let’s read:

The truth is the truth, because if you have 24 cat 5 hurricanes over a 74-year period from 1924 to 1998, but then you have 20 cat 5 hurricanes over a period of only 22 years, that sounds a lot like labor pains to me, since the contractions seem to be coming more intense and more frequently.

Indeed, whenever you have 20 of the most powerful hurricanes occurring in the last twenty-two years, it means that we must give the prophecies pointing to final events a second look. As we were studying the chart, God kept saying to us to study it more closely, study it more closely.

So, we did, but nothing out of the ordinary popped up, apart from the fact that there is an undeniable uptick in frequency and ferocity. But as we studied the chart more closely, something popped up on the radar, for which we do not have any explanation.

It was observed that for some unknown reason, as the cat 5 hurricanes were increasing in frequency and intensity, (Hurricane Wilma in 2005 was the strongest on record) the years between 2008 and 2015 had no recorded cat 5 hurricanes.

This significantly raised our eyebrows, for the cat fives were increasing in frequency from 2003 to 2007, and then for 8 years, there were none. That got us thinking as to what could have happened in 2008 to 2015 that could have been a factor for the sudden drop off of the cat fives.

We have not a clue, but the facts are the facts, the cat fives stopped for some unknown reason in 2008 and resumed their onward march in 2016, an 8-year span. We have not a clue, just an observation. This leads us to the Bible study, of “Why The Earth Is in Turmoil”.

As was stated before, God teaches by repetition and He bids us to study His word the very same way, by stacking line upon line and precept upon precept so as to get a clearer picture of what He is saying.

In several places in the Bible, the number 6 is often followed by the number 7, and apparently this isn’t for chronological reasons only, because it seems to be something deliberate with a specific purpose.

Thus, as we study, we will observe a definite pattern emerging, as 6 follows 7 over and over again and we will investigate whether that pattern has anything to do with why planet earth is currently embroiled in turmoil. Here we go:

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.

Genesis 2: 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.

Exodus 16:26 Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none.

Exodus 16:29 See, for that the Lord hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.

Exodus 20: 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.

Exodus 23:12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.

Exodus 24:16 And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud.

Exodus 31:15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the Lord: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death.

It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.

Exodus 34:21 Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest.

Exodus 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you a holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.

Leviticus 23:3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, a holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

Deuteronomy 5:13 Six days thou shalt labor, and do all thy work.

14 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, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou.

Deuteronomy 16:8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work therein.

Joshua 6:3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war and go round about the city once. Thus, shalt thou do six days.

4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so, they did six days.

15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.

We are seeing a definite pattern emerging, because ever so often, we are seeing the number 6 followed by the number 7, over and over again. We see six days, and then the 7th day, being repeated in that specific order and it’s occurring too many times for it to be a coincidence.

Now, if the pattern had merely stopped with 6 and 7 days, we would safely conclude that yes, God wants us to remember the seventh day Sabbath, and that is a correct conclusion. However, the 6/7 pattern is also observed in years. Let’s read:

Exodus 21:2 If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.

Exodus 23:10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof.

11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy olive yard.

Leviticus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the Lord.

3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;

4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

Deuteronomy 15:12 And if thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee.

And we can go on and on and on, however, we must of necessity address the age of the earth, for it has a direct bearing on why the planet is embroiled much turmoil and unrest.

Evolution teaches that this earth is billions of years old, but when you study the Bible carefully, there is absolutely nothing therein to even vaguely suggest that our planet is more than a few thousand years old. The Scriptures mention nothing close to a million let alone billions of years.

The sacred history teaches us that from Adam to the flood, and then from the flood to Christ was roughly about 4000 years, give or take a few years. And then from Christ to the here and now is about 2000 years give or take a few years. No one can say exactly how many years, because we are not given any beginning date of Creation.

However, this we do know with certainty, that the 2300 day/ year prophecy of Daniel spans the B.C. and A.D periods, and therefore, the earth cannot be anywhere close to a million years. So, let us go back to that passage in Leviticus, and study line upon line as God instructs us to. Let’s read:

Leviticus 25:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, when you come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a sabbath unto the Lord.

3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;

4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord: thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard.

When God created the earth, He established the Sabbath day as a memorial of His creation, and even though after Adam’s transgression, men trampled upon the sacred day, the cycle of 6/7 continued like clockwork. Just because men disregarded the sacred day, it doesn’t mean that the Sabbath loses any iota of its sacredness.

Therefore, the cycle of 6/7 continued to run its own course, entirely independent of man. So, if the earth is approximately 6000 years old, it means that it is due for a sabbatical rest of 1000 years, in order to complete the cycle of 6/7.

Could it then be a coincidence that in Revelation 20, we see the earth at rest for 1000 years. It cannot be a coincidence, because God is a God of order. Thus, the following information is given so that we could know where we are in the stream of time. Let’s read:

Revelation 20:1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.

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.

Obviously, the 1000 years of sabbatical rest which is due, begins at the time of the resurrection. Thus, if Christ’s 2nd coming is the beginning point for 1000 years of earth’s rest, it means that 6000 years would have previously elapsed, because as we observed earlier, 6 follows 7 like clockwork.

That this interpretation is correct, and the only one that is certified in the Bible, can be clearly observed when we study line upon line, precept upon precept and here a little, there a little. Thus, we are about to stack texts one upon the other to confirm the truth in the matter. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 4:23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.

Genesis 1: 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.

Jeremiah 4:24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

Question: Why didn’t Jeremiah see any man?

Answer: Because there was no man. The righteous have been taken to heaven and the rest of people have been destroyed by the brightness of Christ’s coming, thus, there is no man left on the earth as the 1000 years of sabbatical rest begins to run its course. 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.

That accounts for the righteous dead and the living, but what about those who will not be saved when Christ returns. According to the Scriptures, they will remain very dead during the one thousand years of sabbatical rest. Let’s read:

Revelation 20: 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

Jeremiah 4:26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.

27 For thus hath the Lord said, the whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

Leviticus 26:43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths, while she lies desolate without them: and they shall accept of the punishment of their iniquity: because, even because they despised my judgments, and because their soul abhorred my statutes.

[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>660] 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. 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.

Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years. Limited to the earth, he will not have access to other worlds, to tempt and annoy those who have never fallen. It is in this sense that he is bound; there are none remaining, upon whom he can exercise his power.

So, lets go back up to where we first started, and let us answer that question once and for all:

Question: Why the earth is in turmoil?

Answer: It is in turmoil because the first part of the 6/7 cycle has almost run its course, and we are now looking at the soon commencement of the second part, which will be 1000 years of sabbatical rest.

This, together with the proliferation of sin, iniquity, and transgression, is what is now causing the birth pangs we spoke of earlier. This is the reason why turmoil and adversity, including destructive weather related events are increasing with frequency, and intensity.

It is global sinning, and global warming combining that’s producing that undeniable uptick in incidents. In particular, those two sacred institutions that were given to the human family in Eden, namely marriage and the 7th day Sabbath have been for the most part thrown out by popular majorities.

And according to the scripture the mark of the beast will put the final nail in the coffin when a counterfeit day of rest is instituted across the land, usurping the Day God has blessed. Whenever we cross that final threshold, the forces of earth, wind and fire will be let loose, and they will make recent hurricanes look like a breeze. Let’s read:

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.

[Last Day Events pp 134] When Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion, for opposing which their ancestors endured the fiercest persecution, then will the papal sabbath be enforced by the combined authority of church and state. There will be a national apostasy, which will end only in national ruin.

Therefore, the first angel’s message of Revelation 14 cannot be any coincidence for it refers us directly to the same 6/7 pattern we studied earlier. In fact, the last segment of that message is lifted directly from the 4th commandment so that persons may put their finger on the issue. Let’s read:

Revelation 14: 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

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.

The question we need to answer individually is how can we position ourselves intelligently, knowing that these things would come to pass? The answer is as clear and simple as it gets, for our only safety is to be found in Christ, so that by His grace, we can live in harmony with the laws of His kingdom.

The Christian world generally has no problem with Jesus being the Redeemer, but in His capacity as the Creator, most have come up short. That’s why there is no direct mention of Calvary in the three angel’s messages, because Calvary is not the problem, it’s the 7th day Sabbath that God is calling our attention to.

When we sincerely accept Jesus as Lord, and Savior of our lives, we enter into a covenant relationship with Him, which includes Him writing His law in our hearts while at the same time Christ’s righteousness and grace covers us.

The Christian world has for the most part accepted the grace aspect, but the law part is noticeably and generally missing. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will show us all what needs to be done. Let’s read:

Hebrews 8: 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

                                  God Bless!

Deep Theological Questions From Job’s Mind. Sabbath afternoon 11/01/2025

Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.

22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

It was of critical importance for God to pull back the curtain and reveal to the world, what is really taking place behind the scenes because there are and have been many unanswered questions swirling around in the minds of people. Some of these questions will have deep implications for that which is prophesied to come upon planet earth in the last days.

And because God’s people will not be entirely free from the adverse effects, it is even more important that we cultivate the correct perspectives that will guide and strengthen our faith moving forward.

There is not a single country, or nation on the planet now, that isn’t currently experiencing some level of trouble. If it is not wars and rumors of war, it is debt that’s spiraling out of control. In other instances, the intransigence of politicians is driving multitudes to the brink.

Then there are weather related events, infectious diseases on the rise, and a general unsettled mood of uncertainty that has gripped nations and families to the point where desperation and frustration are becoming the order of the day. The Bible is clear on what will be transpiring across the globe even in our day. Let’s read:

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

Luke 21: 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

In some of these things, the people of God are going to be affected, some more some less, and therefore, the Scripture cautions us that some of those things God might do or permit may not always square with our preferences, or expectations.

However, in the bigger picture, He is always working out things for the best good of His people first, and then the world at large. There is a whole lot of noise out there, some of which have to do with applying passages of scripture in situations where they were not intended to be applied.

There are promises made to earth’s populations and there are promises that apply only to those persons who’ve chosen to enter into a covenant relationship with God. But very often you might hear passages of Scripture quoted, and applied where they were not originally intended to be.

Other promises which are qualified, and conditional are often applied loosely, to everyone, regardless of their relationship with God. These are just some of the reasons why it became necessary for The Lord to reveal certain truths, and also to answer several deep theological questions that may have haunted Job’s mind as he passed through his time of trouble.

Let’s take a few examples of some of these passages of Scripture so that we could confirm what is being said, about taking certain promises and statements that are either qualified or conditional, and applying them with a broad brush to everyone, when in fact God is speaking conditionally. Let’s read:

Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

When you look at the passage carefully you will see a qualified statement with specific conditions which are applicable to those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose.

Now, even though it’s a fact that through the gospel God is calling every person, the fact is that not every person loves God, and not everyone responds to the call of the gospel in the positive.

And therefore, using that passage to make a broad application to the general public, regardless of their relationship with God, will be a gross misapplication of the text in question.

Again, when you scrutinize the passage carefully, it does not say that all things are good, it says that all things work together as a cumulative whole, for the good of God’s people.

That means that “All things” may at times include a few situations, conditions, providences, and certain circumstances that might not readily add up to the strictly, logical thinking mind. But when taken as a complete whole, it will make sense, and will be for the greater good of God’s people.

Another passage that is thrown around quite loosely is the one which promises protection from invisible and visible foes, of which the invisible ones are the most dangerous. Let’s read:

Psalms 34: 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the Lord encamps round about them that fear him, and delivers them.

Again, the text is a qualified statement, beginning with “This poor man cried”, which begs the question of who falls into the category of this poor man. The bible specifically says that the angel of God encamps around them who fear Him.

Now, it is true that any poor man can cry unto God in his despair, and we encourage every poor man to do so, because God delights in mercy. For instance, when Jonah was running away from the mission he was sent on by God, several poor men began to pray like they never prayed before, and God heard them.

Now, it is the will of God that after these poor men receive their blessing, that they would be seeking a relation with the God who saved them, because the Bible says that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance. And, it seems as if the poor men in the narrative, responded positively. Let’s read:

Jonah 1: 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.

9 And he said unto them, I am a Hebrew; and I fear the Lord, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.

10 Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him. Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them.

14 Wherefore they cried unto the Lord, and said, we beseech thee, O Lord, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O Lord, hast done as it pleased thee.

15 So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.

16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the Lord, and made vows.

Again, we must reiterate that anyone could cry unto God in their trouble and it’s highly advisable that all persons do so, however, that does not negate the fact that many of the promises in the Scriptures are target specific, meaning that they are conditional in some instances.

That said, you can never go wrong with crying unto God in your trouble, because, who knows, He may very well answer. The following example pertains to all sailors, regardless of creed or religion, because it does not set a qualification for only Christian sailors. Let’s read:

Psalms 107: 23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24 These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders  in the deep.

25 For he commands, and raises the stormy wind, which lifts up the waves thereof.

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and they are at their wit's end.

28 Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he brings them out of their distresses.

29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so, He bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

So yes, at times and very often, God will respond in the positive to this poor man, whoever he might be, but the passage in Psalms 34, which pertains to the angel of The Lord encamping, is first and foremost a reference and a promise to persons who fear God.

That being said, we must now turn our attention to three deep, theological questions which most likely would have haunted Job’s mind, when, out of the blue, Job lost almost everything that was near and dear to him.

The story begins as the curtain is drawn back from the invisible world, and we see God protecting Job and all that belonged to him, night and day, 24/7, until, when at a summit in heaven, satan raises the question of quid pro quo, as if God was bribing Job to serve Him.

If that were indeed the case then it would inevitably mean that God was not as good as He claims to be, for if He has to pay persons to obey Him, then there would be some fundamental flaw in His character, and thus, He would have to bless folks into obeying Him.

That is a pretty serious charge, and therefore, God in His wisdom saw fit to use this episode with Job to answer some of those nagging theological questions which both saints, and sinners have wrestled with. Let’s read:

Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and hated evil.

6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.

8 And the Lord said unto Satan, have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God, and hates evil?

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?

10 Hast not thou made a hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.

11 But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.

This question needed to be settled once and for all, because earth’s inhabitants are to serve, love, and obey God, only from their free will, because God is inherently good and merciful to the core. Thus, the episodes which followed gave Job cause for concern as he grappled with the deep theological questions swirling around in his mind.

Some of these questions we will address from the Bible, so that our perspectives and views would be clear cut, especially as we head into unchartered waters. Our faith in God is directly linked to what we believe about Him, and therefore, we will have to address these questions very reverently.

Question [1] As our Creator, does God have a moral obligation to protect us in our fallen state? This first question includes persons who’re in a covenant relationship with God, and individuals who are not. Does He have a moral duty to protect us?

In all of our interpretations of Who God is, we must bear in mind that through Adam’s sin, man forfeited some of the natural safeguards, and provisions that the inhabitants of other unfallen worlds are given.

Christ came along, and He has paid the price for our redemption, but until such time when humanity will be fully restored to God, His protection and blessing occur strictly because of His mercy. Not because of a moral obligation or duty incumbent upon Him.

When the Scriptures are read correctly, you will see that God’s mercies, goodness, and grace are granted as gifts because of His loving character, but they are never presented as being a moral obligation on His part. No, not once! Let’s read:

Lamentations 3: 22 It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Exodus 34: 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty.

Genesis 32:9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who 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 You have 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.

Psalms 103: 8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward them that fear him.

It is fitting that we pause for a moment to search out the meaning of those two words: Mercy and Grace, because they occur quite often in the Bible, to the tune of 159 times for grace and 262 times for mercy. Let’s read:

Merriam Webster Dictionary. Mercy: Compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender.

Grace: Unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification.

The truth in the matter is that Adam’s transgression changed the human family’s relation to God, so that whereas before sin, the blessings, protections and favor of God were naturally theirs, after sin it was determined by God to deal in the currency of grace and mercy, for this was the only way that He could have redeemed us.

In other words, He would treat us in a manner that we do not deserve, and His character of love would be manifested in doing things for our good that He was not bound to do. The following statement will shed great light on the question under investigation. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 723] Heretofore God’s providence had preserved David against all the plotting of his enemies, and had been directly exercised to restrain Saul.

But David’s transgression had changed his relation to God. He could not exercise His power to protect David from the results of his sin as He had protected him from the enmity of Saul.

If we were to conclude that God is morally obligated to protect the fallen human family, then He will also be morally obligated to protect satan, who also fell in transgression. Thus, it is because of His mercies alone, why any protections and favors are granted.

This leads us to the 2nd deep theological question that probably haunted the mind of Job. The Bible says specifically that Job was a God-fearing man, a man who was trying by God’s grace to live right and yet calamity came out of the blue upon him.

In the narrative, we observe that satan could never have touched Job without God’s permission, and so, the next theological question is:

Question [2] Does satan need God’s permission in every single instance, to cause destruction and mayhem? Let’s read:

[Great Controversy 589] In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hail-storms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power.

He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous.

So, we ask again, does satan need God’s permission in every single instance, without exception to cause great destruction and mayhem? The answer to this question is both yes and no. It’s a yes, if persons are in a covenant relationship with Christ, and are thus covered by His grace, mercy, and protection. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 10: 13 There has 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 you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Genesis 20:2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, she is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah.

6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me, therefore, suffered I thee not to touch her.

7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.

[D.A. pp 324] When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan.

But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one. It is not necessary for us deliberately to choose the service of the kingdom of darkness in order to come under its dominion.  

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.

On the question of permission there is something folks must be aware of, in that he gets permission from God or he can get it from individuals through our choices and actions.

The Christian should understand from the word of God that there are times when adverse situations will be permitted to come our way, without any sort of provocation on our part, however, they are only permitted so that we can grow and mature in Christ.

That being said, the Christian should never be found helping satan in any way, shape, form or fashion, for if you give him permission, he will absolutely take it. That is guaranteed.

Therefore, it is highly advisable that folks position themselves intelligently through our choices, and actions, so as to greatly minimize the possibility and the occurrence of attacks.

God has not left this world up to evil angels, for He has spread a general umbrella of protection over all of earth’s inhabitants. But there will be times when some things will fall through the cracks as it were. It is the main reason why the following passage must be thoroughly understood. Let’s read:

1st Peter 5: 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.

From: IFAW, International Fund for animal welfare. Lions are big cats primarily found in sub-Saharan Africa. They inhabit various ecosystems, including savannahs, grasslands, open woodlands, and scrublands. They are opportunistic hunters…..

Lions are skilled hunters who work in coordinated groups—called prides—to surround and ambush their prey, relying on stealth and speed to approach their target before launching a coordinated attack.

The devil is an opportunistic hunter, meaning that if he were to see any golden opportunity to tempt and destroy, you can bet your last dollar that he is going make the most of it.

Thus, on the question of how he can get permission, the answer is a yes and a no. He can get permission from God, or you could give him permission by your choices and actions. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 72] In His industrious life there were no idle moments to invite temptation. No aimless hours opened the way for corrupting associations. So far as possible, He closed the door to the tempter.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp] Idleness is the greatest curse that can fall upon man because 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.

This leads us to the third theological question which most likely surfaced in Job’s mind, as he was going through his valley experience. The Bible tells us that Job was doing the very best that he could, by God’s grace, living in harmony with the principles, and the laws of God’s kingdom.

This raises the question of whether or not the God- fearing person should be accounted worthy of God’s blessings and protections, if they are found to be living righteously in the sight of God, as he testified of Job.

Question [3] Is there anything such thing as persons being worthy to receive any of God’s blessings and protection?

Several examples are given in the Scriptures where a person or persons may have felt that they deserved a blessing or favor, on account of their faithfulness, or because of their service to the church.

In requesting a favor from God, some have touted their good deeds, while others have mentioned the issue of benevolence to God’s kingdom as a reason why God’s blessings and favor should be bestowed.

For instance, if you have been faithful in your duties to the kingdom of God, or if you have served on the board of elders for many years, or for too many years; and if you have been known to give large sums of money to the storehouse on a regular basis, does that then mean that you qualify as being worthy to receive a blessing or a favor from The Lord?

Apparently, Job struggled with this question, for as he reviewed his faithfulness in former years, and his generosity to the poor and the afflicted, he seemed to wonder whether these things did not count as it pertained to warranted deliverance from his current troubles. Let’s read:

Job 29:1 Moreover Job continued his parable, and said,

2 Oh that I was as in months past, as in the days when God preserved me;

12 Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him.

15 I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame.

16 I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out.

Here it is again, as the question of being worthy to receive a blessing or favor is raised. Even though we may not say it out loud in the public square, it may be that at times the question arises in our minds as we review our faithfulness in times past. Let’s read:

Luke 7: 2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, that he was worthy for whom he should do this.

5 For he loves our nation, and he has built us a synagogue.

6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof.

7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

2 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.

These are just 3 of the deep theological questions which most likely haunted Job, as he rolled these questions over, and over again in his mind. In our day, the same questions may surface in our minds, as we see the devastations and adversities coming upon the earth.

As was stated before, there are instances when we may not be entirely immune, because having faith in God may not insulate us from all trouble every time. And the questions which churned in Job’s mind may begin swirling around in our hearts, especially as we might be affected, some more, some less.

The question of being worthy may arise in times of sickness, and trouble, especially if we’ve been very faithful in serving, loving, and obeying God. Then the question of whether or not God has granted permission to the devil to cause adverse situations may give some persons cause for concern.

Again, the question of whether or not God is duty bound to deliver or to save us in varying situations may cause some persons to think twice. One thing is certain as the days for Christ’s second coming draws near, we all are going to witness very strange things that can perplex the mind at times.

However, even though we are concerned, we should not be consumed by what is taking place, because in the Bible prophecies concerning end time events, it is written that The Lord will be working in behalf of His people, not only on a temporal level, but also to prepare us for His return.

All things may not be good, but in the larger picture they will be of benefit to those who love and serve The Lord. There might not be explanations available, but we know, because we have been warned, that perilous times shall come.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us to be resilient. Let us keep our heads lifted to the skies, for God has promised never to leave or forsake His people, even to the end of the age. Let’s read:

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

                                    God Bless

God’s Health Care Plan. Sabbath afternoon 10/25/2025

3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers.

In the above passage we find not merely a wish for good health, we also discover that there is a close relation between the spiritual and physical aspects of our being. Whatever affects the body also affects the mind, and vice versa, hence the reason why the passage links the prosperity of the soul with that of the body.

When a person is stressed out mentally, the effects can be seen in their person, for the mind is a part of the body, and whenever one part hurts the other is also adversely affected. The same is true when the body is in health. The mental, and spiritual aspects reap the benefits too.

A healthy body can enable the Christian to gain the victory, it can help with understanding deep truths, and it significantly alters one’s outlook on life, for there is a close symbiosis between the mind, body spiritual growth and development.

This is the reason why as soon as the Hebrews had crossed over Jordan God addressed the health issue because He knows that physical health is conducive to spiritual well-being and maturity. This does not mean that a sick saint cannot grow in grace, or must of necessity sin on account of his or her condition.

All it means is that you will always be better off with a healthy mind and body, for the one who is sick in the physical might not be able to serve in his or her fullest capacity, as the one who is in health. These are just the bare facts in the matter.

So, here they are on the banks of the Red Sea, after having crossed over the previous night on dry land, and as soon as they settle down, God addresses the issue of health, because it is a core issue that would affect His people for better or for worse, depending on the course of action taken. Let’s read:

Exodus 15: 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea.

5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

6 Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

26 And he said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and will 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.

When Hezekiah fell sick, he was restricted to his bed as he confronted the reality of dealing with physical issues. At that time, he became depressed, and the Bible says that he cried sore.

The same is true with old brother Job, who was up and about doing his daily chores, praying for his kids every day, and living life to the full, until he came down with sore boils from the crown of his head to the sole of his feet. The scripture is clear about what happened next.

In fact, Job did pretty well in fending off the first set of attacks from satan. After he had lost everything that was near, and dear to him, with the exception of his wife and three or four servants, he held fast to his integrity. But when the devil interfered with his physical, Job almost lost it. Let’s read:

Job 3:1 After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day.

2 And Job spoke and said:

3 Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, there is a man child conceived.

4 Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, neither let the light shine upon it.

5 Let darkness and the shadow of death stain it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.

24 For my sighing comes before I eat and my roaring is poured out like the waters.

25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

Obviously, he went into deep depression, because it is a sacred fact, that whatever affects the body, also affects the mind. The same is true when king David had sinned. His conscience began to greatly bother him, and as time went by David began to suffer from osteoporosis.

These things are written in the Bible so that a clear line could be drawn between cause and effect, as it pertains to the interactions between the spiritual, and the physical. Let none be deceived on this point for one will inevitably affect the other and vice versa as the Bible says. Let’s read:

Psalms 32:1 Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputes not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

3 When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long.

Psalms 31: 9 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am in trouble: mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly.

10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: my strength fails because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

Question: Can serious stress cause osteoporosis?

                  The National Institutes of Health

Psychological Stress, a Risk Factor for Osteoporosis Psychological stress can have lasting impact on risk for development of comorbid disease, as well as significant impact on pre-existing diseases.

Chronic stress has been associated with obesity, atherosclerosis, lung pathologies, and diabetes. In regard to osteoporosis, U.S. military veterans diagnosed with PTSD have a higher risk of developing osteoporosis as do civilians with PTSD diagnosis.

Therefore, God will have us to understand that if the devil cannot get you on the spiritual, he will try to take you down on the physical, and if he cannot trip you up physically, he will try to stress you out to the point where your body will be adversely affected.

That is just the nature of the beast, for it is a tried, and true strategy he employs with every member of the human family. When satan realized he couldn’t take down Jesus in the spiritual, he went after the physical, by employing human agents to injure and afflict His body.

This is the reason why The Lord’s health care plan is strategically structured to address adverse factors relating to the mind first, and afterwards the issues that pertain to the health and wellbeing of the body in that specific order, because wherever your mind goes, the body is sure to follow. Let’s read:

Psalms 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

3 Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases;

4 Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

This is what Jesus did when they brought a man sick with the palsy to Him to be healed. Jesus forgives the man first, because like David, any sin in his life could be a contributor to his physical condition.

Therefore, instead of fixing the physical first, Jesus addresses the problem of the mind, for the health of the mind is closely linked with the health of the body.

In our day many people have adopted the ideal diet given in Genesis, as more and more folks are coming to realize the great benefits thereof. Now, while that is good and worthy of commendation, God does not want anyone to forget the spiritual, because there is something such as a rebellious vegetarian.

Jesus addresses the problem in the mind, and then He goes on to heal the physical, and also to provide ongoing instruction on the issue of diets and foods, so that the work He is doing can be complemented by the choices folks make. That is what is written in Psalms 103. Let’s read:

Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, wherefore think you evil in your hearts?

5 For which is easier, to say, your sins be forgiven you; or to say, arise, and walk?

6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.

7 And he arose, and departed to his house.

[ PRT May 25, 1899] Christ saw that the man was suffering with bodily disease, and He saw also that he was suffering with a sin-sick soul. He knew that in order to heal bodily maladies He must bring relief to the mind and cleanse the soul from sin. He needed health of soul before he could appreciate health of body.

Before we move on there is something that’s worthy of consideration as we seek a better knowledge of God’s Health care plan. God teaches us by repetition and wheresoever you see in the Bible that He seems to repeating Himself over and over again, it is just that He is trying to get our attention on some very important matter.

For instance, when out of all the 10 commandments only the 4th one begins with the word remember, He is saying to us that we are in danger of forgetting it, and for this reason He repeats Himself, over and over again.

Wherever possible and applicable, and at every turn or chance that God can get, He raises the number 7, as He endeavors to gain our attention on the matter of the 7th day Sabbath, so that we won’t have cause to forget. Thus, we could trace as with a pen of fire, the fact that The Lord teaches by repetition.

The ark rested on Mt. Ararat in the 7th month. When Abraham and Abimelech made a covenant, seven lambs were employed. Jacob served seven years for Rachel, he served seven years for Leah, and then he served an additional seven years after.

When Jacob met Esau on his return from Laban, he bowed seven times to the ground. In pharaoh’s dream he saw seven lean cows and seven fat ones, then he saw seven fat ears of corn and seven lean ears of corn. God promised that vengeance would be taken on anyone harming Cain, seven times over.

Joseph mourned for his father, Jacob for seven days. The Hebrews were commanded to eat unleavened bread for seven days. Manna fell for six days but on the seventh day there was none, a Hebrew servant was to be set free in the seventh year.

The Hebrews were told to march around Jericho for seven days. They were required to blow the trumpet for seven days. The earth was required to rest every seventh year. Naaman had to dip seven times in the muddy Jordan. The famine in Egypt was to last seven years, following seven years of plenty.

And in the last book of the Bible, you see the seven last plagues. By this time a rational thinking person would be scratching their head as they wonder why the number seven is being repeated so often.

It is because God does not want us to forget the 7th day Sabbath, thus, ever so often He reminds us. And we can go on and on and on. Therefore, it is without a doubt that God teaches us by repetition, because the number 7 is referenced over 500 times.

The same is true as we study God’s health care plan for, He goes to work, both in the Bible, and through His servants, the prophets, and He repeats Himself over, and over again. God comes to us from various angles and from different sources that would appeal to our intellect, as we reason from cause to effect.

He speaks to us through Ellen G. White, but since some folks may have an issue with her, He speaks to us through the World Health Organization, but since some people may have issues with that world body, He speaks to us through His providences.

When we take a close look at disease and its causes, and when we scrutinize the recommendations for prevention, the two main contributing factors in the physical realm that keep bubbling up to the surface. and figuring prominently, are diet and exercise.

The ideal diet given by God in the book of Genesis is of tremendous value in fostering great health, but since most of us already know that, we will focus on the issue of exercise, as being an important, and an indispensable factor in God’s health care plan.

When God created Adam and Eve, He gave to them the ideal diet that would promote longevity and life and He also gave them an exercise regimen so that they could keep their bones muscles and tissues in the very best condition. Thus, those two factors of diet and exercise are established in the beginning. Let’s read:

Genesis 1: 29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for food.

Genesis 2: 15 And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

Again, when God took the Hebrews out of Egyptian bondage, He also did two critically important things to cultivate and maintain optimum health among His people. First, He modified their diet, and then He put them on an exercise regimen of walking, in addition to all the manual labor that was required to maintain their flocks and herds.

Exodus 16: 35 And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.

Fast forward to our day, and the same God is saying to us that these two issues of diet and exercise need our attention in order for good health to be realized. And to drive home the point, He resorts to the same ways and means that He uses in the Bible to bring our attention to the 7th day Sabbath.

He repeats Himself over and over again, hoping that someone will listen, so that folks would not have to suffer needlessly. In fact, He mentions the following Phrase no less than 1211 times so that through the process of repetition, persons will somehow get the message. Here it is: “Physical Exercise”

The following are just a few excerpts from the pen of inspiration, repeating the same thing again and again, because the physical and the spiritual aspects of our being can become an endangered species, if the timely instructions are not followed. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 601] Without physical exercise, no one can have a sound constitution and vigorous health.

[LTMS 25, par 10] By using their physical powers, they would benefit the powers of the mind. They should exercise brain, bone, and muscle equally.

[Healthful Living pp 193] Each faculty of the mind, and each muscle has its distinctive office, and all require to be exercised in order to become properly developed and retain healthful vigor.

[Testimonies 3, pp 78] There is no exercise that can take the place of walking. By it the circulation of the blood is greatly improved.... Walking, in all cases where it is possible, is the best remedy for diseased bodies, because in this exercise all of the organs of the body are brought into use.

[Healthful Living, pp 130] Exercise will aid the work of digestion.

Healthful Living pp 131] By active exercise in the open air every day the liver, kidneys, and lungs also will be strengthened to perform their work.

[Healthful Living pp 132] Not only will the organs of the body be strengthened by exercise, but the mind also will acquire strength, and knowledge through the action of these organs.

[Healthful Living pp 132] The more we exercise, the better will be the circulation of the blood.

[Healthful Living pp 132] If physical exercise were combined with mental exertion, the blood would be quickened in its circulation, the action of the heart would be more perfect, impure matter would be thrown off, and new life and vigor would be experienced in every part of the body.

[Healthful Living pp 134] The studied habit of shunning the air and avoiding exercise, closes the pores, the little mouths through which the body breathes, making it impossible to throw off impurities through that channel.

The burden of labor is thrown upon the liver, lungs, kidneys, etc., and these internal organs are compelled to do the work of the skin.

[Healthful Living pp 135] 602. In some cases, want of exercise causes the muscles of the bowels to become enfeebled and shrunken, and these organs that have become enfeebled for want of use will be strengthened by exercise.

And then, to those folks who may tend to become discouraged after embarking on an exercise regimen because of the initial soreness, God writes directly to you, and says cheer up my brother or sister, for it is just the body making adjustments to what should have been done all along. Let’s read:

[Healthful Living pp 128] It is not good policy to give up the use of certain muscles because pain is felt when they are exercised. The pain is frequently caused by the effort of nature to give life and vigor to those parts that have become partially lifeless through inaction. The motion of these long disused muscles will cause pain, because nature is awakening them to life.

Its all there, written over and over again as The Lord gives to us the important information from different angles. And for those who may have a problem with Ellen White, God speaks through other sources like the World Health Organization hoping that someone somewhere will listen. Let’s read:

           From The World Health Organization:

      Children and adolescents from 5> years of age.

In children and adolescents, physical activity confers benefits for the following health outcomes: improved physical fitness (cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness), cardiometabolic health (blood pressure.

Bone health, cognitive outcomes (academic performance, executive function), mental health (reduced symptoms of depression).

It is recommended that children and adolescents should do at least an average of 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous-intensity, mostly aerobic, physical activity, across the week.

Vigorous-intensity aerobic activities, as well as those that strengthen muscle and bone, should be incorporated at least 3 days a week.

            Adults from 18 to 64 years of age.

It is recommended that all adults should undertake regular physical activity. Adults should do at least 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity; or at least 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.

Or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity throughout the week, for substantial health benefits.

Adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities at moderate or greater intensity that involve all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week, as these provide additional health benefits.

Older adults from 65 and older. (to the grave where possible)

It is recommended that all older adults should undertake regular physical activity. Older adults should do at least 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity; or at least 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity.

 Or, an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity throughout the week, for substantial health benefits.

Older adults should also do muscle-strengthening activities at moderate or greater intensity that involve all major muscle groups on 2 or more days a week, as these provide additional health benefits.

As part of their weekly physical activity, older adults should do varied multicomponent physical activity that emphasizes functional balance and strength training at moderate or greater intensity, on 3 or more days a week, to enhance functional capacity and to prevent falls.

All of the above information was derived from the national institutes of health, and the World Health Organization. But the one that got me scratching my head is the study which found that exercise can also be beneficial to your eyes, by protecting you against AMD- Age Related macular Degeneration.

As we read it, the testimony about Moses at 120 years of age came to mind, in that his eyes were not dim neither was his natural force abated. It comes from The American Academy of Ophthalmology. Let’s read:

Researchers studied two groups of 6 mice: One group had access to an exercise wheel while the other group did not. After four weeks, the researchers treated the mouse eye with lasers to simulate the changes that occur in humans with age-related vision loss.

After this treatment, physically active mice had up to 45% less eye damage than nonactive mice. “The new study is exciting because it supports previous findings suggesting a link between exercise and prevention of AMD,” said ophthalmologist and Academy spokesperson J. Kevin McKinney, MD, MPH. Past studies in people have suggested that exercise may help prevent serious eye diseases such as AMD.

Now that we have learned, and now that The Lord has repeated Himself over and over again, the real question is: Why is The Lord’s health care plan even more important now, more than ever?

There are several important answers to the question and as we go through them, it should be a wake-up call to all who are able, but who might be sitting on the sidelines, or who might be waiting for New Years Day, a day that will never come!

[1] Without a doubt, there is a healthcare crisis that is looming on the horizon, in that systems and safety nets that persons have become accustomed to over the years are becoming out of reach for millions of people.

[2] The cost of health care premiums will only get more expensive with the passage of time. This is a statement that has been adjusted for inflation, for the premiums of bygone years are a nonstarter in the here and now.

[3] Prevention is better than cure. God prefers to do a miracle of healing only when it is necessary, hence the reason why He has given us the pertinent info to stave off, as much as possible, the health perils that are incidental to aging, according to conventional wisdom.

[4] Last, but not least, the time will come, sooner or later, when on account of the mark of the beast, the earthly health systems we’ve become accustomed to will be out of reach for persons who will not bow to the decree to worship the day of man’s choosing.

Economic sanctions will be leveled against all those who fear God, and keep His commandments, and because of the prohibition to buy or sell, individuals will have no recourse whatsoever, but to fall back on God’s Health Care Plan.

Here is where practice makes perfect and if you may be sitting on the fence or you may be in the valley of decision on this matter, the time is now, beginning tomorrow, to put into practice what God has been repeating to us over and over again.

Consult with your God-fearing doctor, on a regimen that’s right for you, start light and increase gradually and most of all, pray that God will grant you powers of consistency, so that you will be in it for the long haul, as a permanent lifestyle adaptation.

The race is not for the swift, and if you ask The lord to strengthen you in doing His revealed will, He will guide you with wisdom and discretion, for it is He who once said: “I am The Lord That heals thee.”

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us to cooperate with God on the matter of health, because the spiritual, and the physical are all inextricably intertwined, and thus, in order for God to bring His people to maturity one aspect shouldn’t be lacking, to the detriment of the other. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increases strength.

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.

                                   God Bless!

The Two Types of Creation Part [1] Sabbath afternoon 10/18/2025

Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

The everlasting gospel spoken of in our first passage consists of 3 specific aspects of the gospel that are relevant to our day which feature some of the most significant truths that are to prepare the world for the soon coming of Christ.

In those three messages of Revelation 14 you would not find anything that directly mentions Christ in His capacity as Redeemer, even though His redemption is implied by extension.

The reason for this is that His role as our Redeemer is not the problem in our day, it is His Creatorship that is being questioned by the majority of scientific and religious views.

And because of this, the focus of the first message, written in our introductory passage, rests squarely on the great fact of creation and the issue of origins of species.

This is the all-important question that’s on the front burner of the 1st angel’s message, and it is the one that will bring earth’s final crisis to the forefront of the minds of earth’s inhabitants.

The first of the three specific aspects deals with the universal issue of worship and calls our attention to the Creator of the heavens and the earth. Jesus is to be worshipped in His capacity as Creator, and in His capacity as Redeemer, but His role as Creator comes first, for without creating us there would be nothing to redeem.

Thus, as we trace the prophetic utterances pointing to time when light would be streaming from heaven pertaining to the heavenly sanctuary and the law of ten commandments that are found therein, we will also have to trace the rise of evolutionary theories that were strategically brought upon the world at the same time, to counter the truth.

In the 2300-year prophecy of Daniel chapter 8, it is revealed that the prophetic timeline would stretch from 457 B.C. and end in the fall of 1844, and when it did, the truth concerning God’s law, and especially the validity of the 7th day Sabbath, pointing earth’s inhabitants to the great facts of creation, would be highlighted. Let’s read:

Daniel 8: 13 Then I heard one saint speaking, and another saint said unto that certain saint which spoke, how long shall be the vision concerning the daily sacrifice, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and host to be trodden under foot?

14 And he said unto me, unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.

Revelation 11: 19 And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundering, and an earthquake, and great hail.

[The Great Controversy pp 486] At the time appointed for the Judgment—the close of the 2300 days, in 1844—began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins.

Thus, wherever you have the sanctuary, the work of investigation, the work of judgement, converging at the same time, you would also have the law of God in the ten commandments figuring prominently, for the simple reason that no one is judged without the law. Let’s read:

James 2: 11 For he that said do not commit adultery, said also do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, thou are become a transgressor of the law.

12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Thus, the prophecy of Daniel, pointing to the great antitypical day of Atonement which would begin in the year 1844, would also feature the law of God in which the fourth commandment, pointing to the facts of creation, would figure prominently.

It just so happened, and it is not a coincidence, that just around the time of 1844, when the truth about God in His capacity as Creator, was streaming from heaven, Darwin was at the same time, studying the origin of species, and also preparing to publish his evolutionary theories.

So here in precis form are the facts in the case, so that they can be traced and understood by all.

The prophecy of Daniel spanned a period of 2300 days/years beginning in 457 B.C, and ending in 1844, with the revelation of God in His capacity as Creator and Judge.

Here comes Darwin: Born: February 12, 1809, The Mount House, Shrewsbury, United Kingdom. Died: April 19, 1882.

Since he was born in 1809, he would have been 35 years of age in 1844, and since the origin of species was first published in 1859, it means that he must have been in preparation for at least several years, just as the earth was being lightened with the glory and knowledge of God as Creator.

November 24, 1859 is when Darwin’s book, The origin of species was first published, but you don’t just get up one morning and publish a book without prior preparation.

Thus, his work could be traced right back to the period just around the time when the sanctuary message was being given, and the 7th day Sabbath, pointing to The Creator of the heavens, and earth was now coming into view.

Therefore, there must be some valid and important reason why the first angel’s message of Revelation 14, focuses squarely on God as The Creator, and not even mentioning a single word about Calvary.

This is why it’s captioned as The Everlasting Gospel, for it deals a counter narrative of truth to the many falsehoods found in the theory of evolution, and it is specifically adapted to that period of time in which God’s work of creation would be questioned. Let’s read:

Revelation 14: 6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Therefore, the great truths, and facts about God’s creative work, and the Sabbath, which is the only day ordained by Him for its commemoration, are to shine great light in the hearts and minds of teachers and philosophers, scientists and biologists, as well as your everyday Joe, for the knowledge of God is scheduled to fill the earth with His glory.

We begin with the first book of the Bible, with the first verse, which gives us not a theory, but the facts about where we came from. As we focus attention on the sacred truths, we will discover that evolution and creation are irreconcilable and therefore earth’s inhabitants will soon have to make a choice in favor of one or the other. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Question: When it says that God created the heaven and the earth, was the earth in existence before and did God just bring order out of chaos on the first day or did He call the earth into existence on the first day of creation?

The Evolution theory proposes that life on Earth began with simple organisms. Small organisms developed over millions of years into animals and finally into human beings. This process, called ‘evolution’, was presented by Charles Darwin in 1859 and it has been adopted by many scientists ever since.

Let’s unpack the two fundamental principles found in the above Darwinian statements:

[1] Life began with simple organisms, meaning that something must have been in prior existence in order to produce.

[2] It must have taken millions of years for the slow, and gradual development of life forms to evolve.

Thus, from the get go, creation, and the theory of evolution diverge, because of the differences that are to be found in their fundamental principles.

With evolution, you must have some sort of prior raw material to work with. With creation, God does not necessarily need to use raw material. In creation God can act instantaneously, but in evolution, you must have millions of years to evolve.

This is where evolutionary science and creationism diverge, never to be reconciled. There is a song that goes like this: Nothing from nothing leaves nothing, you got to have something…. With evolution, you got to have something.

God doesn’t always need or use “Something”, such as raw material in the work of creation. Sometimes, at His discretion He does, but at other times He may not. When God created animal life and sea dwelling creatures, He used the newly minted raw materials. Let’s read:

Genesis 1:20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

But when God created the earth, He did so without any preexisting raw material. He simply called it into existence from nothing. Here is where Darwin, and so many others have stumbled, for it boggles the mind how solid matter could be produced without preexisting raw material. Let’s read:

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.

Hebrews11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

In all of the products man has invented, from your smartphone to your everyday Tesla, one thing is a must. The inventors always have to use preexisting raw material. This is one of the main reasons why The Lord is to be worshiped in His singular role as The Creator, for He does not have to use any raw material.

In fact, when you observe the fourth commandment closely, in conjunction with the first angel’s message of Revelation 14, you will discover that the reason God is set so far apart from the average inventor, is that He can create things from scratch, in the most literal sense of the word. Let’s read:

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

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.

Revelation 14: 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

You’ll notice that in the above verse the four things specified as being created by God, above all others, all have one thing in common, in that they were all created without any preexistent raw material.

The birds and animals together with everything else that we see were created by God, employing raw material, but these four, heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters were all called into existence spontaneously from absolutely nothing.

Therefore, it is a no-brainer, so here is the straight truth in its pure, unadulterated, precis form:  

God spoke the earth into existence on the first day of creation week, with no prior raw materials, and then, He went on to use the newly minted material to create all of the things that we see on our planet.

This fact has to be made abundantly clear, because there is a lot of noise out there, with some saying that the earth had been in existence for many eons, and that God simply brought order out of chaos on the first day of creation week.

This perspective is incorrect because it immediately destroys the Sabbath as a commemoration of God’s creative activity during the first week of our planet’s existence. The 4th commandment explicitly says “For in six days, The Lord created the heavens, and the earth.” Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 44] After the earth, with its teeming animal and vegetable life had been called into existence, man, the crowning work of the Creator, and the one for whom the beautiful earth had been fitted up, was brought upon the stage of action.

[Testimonies Vol. 8 pp 258] In the formation of our world, God was not indebted to pre-existing matter. On the contrary, 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, are not only the work of His hand; they came into existence by the breath of His mouth.

Another erroneous view which diabolically attempts to blend evolution with creation, which has become popular even in many Christian circles, is that the six days of creation were symbolic, not literal days, and as such, they represent vast periods of time.

The following Scripture has been erroneously used and misinterpreted to support this incorrect view.  Let’s read:

2nd Peter 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

Thus, according to that erroneous view, the days of creation week are reckoned as seven vast periods of time, measuring at least 1000 years each.

Now, if this view was correct, then we will have to conclude that Adam never kept the Sabbath, nor did Noah, or Abraham, for all of them fell short of living one thousand years, some more, some less. Let’s read:

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

Genesis 26: 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

Before we move on there is one issue that needs to be clarified, so that the truth could be made clear in our minds. The Scripture tells us that after the war in heaven concluded, satan and his angels were cast out.

And since the sacred record clearly states that satan showed up at the forbidden tree, it then begs the logical question of when he was cast out. Some folks have stumbled on this point, and consequently, they reached two conclusions:

[1] That the earth had to be in existence before creation week, at least in its chaotic form.

[2] That God knew that satan was present on the earth before doing the work of creation. This has caused some to think of malice, when the work of creation was being accomplished, but this view is incorrect. 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.

The two phrases: “Cast out” and “Cast out into the earth” represent two different casting out. When he was first cast out, the earth was not in existence and that’s the reason why the first phrase stops at cast out.

The second casting out refers to that time at the cross, when he was forever banished from going even near the gates of heaven. Up until the Cross, satan and his angels could reach as far as the gates of heaven.

This is why the scripture tells us that he showed up when the sons of God, the representatives of the other unfallen worlds, were called to a summit. At that time satan showed up as the representative of earth, because he had succeeded in taking over the dominion from Adam, through transgression. Let’s read:

Job 1: 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and  Satan came also among them.

[Early Writings pp 39] There is perfect order and harmony in the Holy City. All the angels that are commissioned to visit the earth hold a golden card, which they present to the angels at the gates of the city as they pass in and out.

But after the Cross, satan and all his minions were barred forever from the gates of heaven, and they were restricted to this earth alone. These truths should be understood clearly by all, so as not to be confused by all the noise out there. Let’s read:

Revelation 12: 10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God, day and night.

[The desire of Ages pp 761] By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had uprooted himself from the sympathies of the heavenly beings. Henceforth his work was restricted.

Whatever attitude he might assume, he could no longer await the angels as they came from the heavenly courts, and before them accuse Christ’s brethren of being clothed with the garments of blackness and the defilement of sin. The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken.

As we bring this first segment to a close, we owe it to ourselves to discover why the sacred truths about God, in His capacity as Creator are so important to the you and me in the here and now, and how they can be applied in your everyday experiences.

Let us go back to the two basic methods by which The Lord creates. [1] He does not necessarily need any raw materials to bring things into existence. [2] He doesn’t need vast periods of time to get His will done.

Again, just to recap: [1] With evolution, you must have some sort of raw material in order to produce.

[2] You will need vast periods of time for any kind of development.

When the two kinds of creation employed by God are understood, it greatly changes our perspectives and our expectations of Him, whereas the guiding principles of evolution tend to place severe limits on what can be done.

For instance, if the Christian in our day is facing the looming possibility of furloughs or lay-offs, and if he is facing the prospect of losing healthcare coverage because of the potential astronomical increases in premiums, he need not worry himself or herself out of The Lord’s hands, because with God nothing shall be impossible.

Even though we have become accustomed to many luxuries and privileges, because of the advances in science and medicine, we must always bear in mind that there was a time when these facilities were not widely available, and the believers back then used to live by faith in God alone. And what was the result? Let’s read:

Psalms 105: 37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their tribes.

Psalms 103: 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

3 Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases;

4 Who redeems thy life from destruction; who crowns thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5 Who satisfies thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

When Jesus healed on many occasions, He spoke the healing into reality, without any medicines and pharmaceuticals, the very same way He spoke the heavens and earth into existence, because of that fundamental fact that He does not necessarily need any preexisting raw materials to get His will done.

We cannot emphasize it enough, because there’s no need for the believer to go into panic mode because of tariffs, government shut downs, or unaffordable healthcare premiums.

Even though we appreciate and use these facilities while they are available, the Bible teaches us that there is another way of doing things, and that man must live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.

And since He is not dependent any preexisting raw materials to get His will done, the you and me, living in the here and now can be assured that The Lord still retains all His creative powers. But it’s critically important for us to cultivate the right perspective in our day, so that faith and reality can converge.

By dwelling and focusing on the limitations of man, and science as we know it, the mind could become dwarfed in its comprehension of the power of God.

Indeed, many evolutionary modes of thought have invaded the minds of persons, to the point where in several cases, science has concluded that there are certain things that are just plain impossible.

It was this issue of limiting God, just like evolution does, that got the Hebrews into trouble so often, for at different points in their experiences, when they seemed to be at a crossroads, they forgot that God does not think like mortal man, and where we may only see roadblocks, God sees only highways. Let’s read:

Luke 1: 37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.

Psalms 78: 41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

The Christian who cultivates the correct perspective, that God isn’t limited by time, space, materials, or evolutionary sciences, will find that a brand new world of possibilities will open up to the mind in the midst of the current atmosphere of turmoil, panic and fear.

It was the cultivation of the correct perspective on God’s creative power which paved the way for the centurion’s servant to be healed, for when Jesus offered to go with him back to his house, to heal the sick, the centurion said that wasn’t necessary, only the spoken word was needed. Let’s read:

Matthew 8: 5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,

6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.

7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goes; and to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, do this, and he does it.

10 When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Again, to the Christian who may be worrying about his job, or whether his social security check will be in the mail, just remember that God who spoke the world into existence from nothing, can and will have your back. Indeed, God may be trying to wean us off of the systems we have become accustomed to over the years, in preparation for the big one.

The tendency to put our trust in mortal man breeds fear and anxiety when manmade systems fail. Even though we by our food at Publix, where shopping is a pleasure, just remember that God is not beholden to those systems.

We use them when, and while we can, but sooner or later, the remnant people of God will have to give the spoken word a second look. Indeed, when you really consider it, it is spoken came before it is written. Let’s read:

Matthew 14:15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, this is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages to buy themselves victuals.

16 But Jesus said unto them, they need not depart; give ye them to eat.

17 And they say unto him, we have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18 He said, Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

Some may argue that that was back then, but now we are living in the real world. Guess what, the real world for the Christian is where the creative power of God with the spoken word is still alive and well.

One Sabbath day, some friends were invited over for lunch at the home of a Christian who has cultivated the correct perspective of faith in God. Many more persons showed up for lunch, than were expected, so the question arose, how would all the folks be fed.

The Christian went to the pots and kept on serving and serving until everyone was satisfied. Up to this day, it is still a mystery of how the limited amount of food could have stretched so far so as to feed so many people. Indeed, it is not a mystery, for if you can believe it, God could make it happen.

All we need to do is to avail ourselves of the light and knowledge God has given to us, by walking in obedience to His every word, and leave the rest with him, for He is able.

Try your best to avoid panic mode, but instead, let us lift up our eyes unto the hills from whence comes our help, because our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth by speaking, by speaking them into existence from nothing.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us to navigate the many difficulties that are scheduled to come upon the land.

Matthew 6: 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

                                    God Bless!

When God’s Justice Is Questioned. Sabbath afternoon 10/20/2025

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.

God delights in mercy, and everything He does on our planet is interwoven with grace, forbearance and kindness towards us, erring mortals. Persons have come to question God’s justice, not only in sacred history, but also in some of the things that He allows to take place currently.

There are those who may wish that He will stand up against the oppression, cruelty and apparent unbridled lies, day in and day out, while others have become skeptical in their perspectives of Him as it pertains to the mass shootings and the many thousands who are dying daily in Ukraine, in Haiti, and in so many countries around the world.

Our opening passage gives us a glimpse of the reason why some people might question His justice, because Isaiah calls God’s serving of justice, or His permission of certain adverse situations, a strange act.

The Lord delights in mercy, and long after we have thrown in the towel, and given up on persons who seem to poking their fingers in His face God is still working to bring about a change of heart or mind wherever possible. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

Lamentations 3:33 For he does not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.

35 To turn aside the right of a man before the face of the Most-High.

Indeed, were it not for God’s longsuffering, and mercy towards, us, many of us would not be alive today. In fact, everyone of us is directly tethered to God’s mercy, and that’s why we are alive. It is the Cross of Christ that, shields us from what we are really due.

Thus, because of what mortals may see as God’s inaction in emergencies, some have questioned His justice, while others are displeased when He does act. So, it has become a situation where you are damned if you do, and damned if you don’t.

One of the erroneous concepts being taught, and adopted in many Christian circles is one where a majority of people have come to view serving God as being something subjective.

And because of it, persons are in grave danger of becoming very displeased with what God will do, or what He will permit in these last days of earth’s history.

This subjective view is more often than not, the result of persons accepting Christ on terms that are favorable or agreeable to themselves, terms that they, or others have set, and thus, whenever this is the case a person’s faith could get a shock if things do not pan out the way they expected.

So, at this point it is necessary to lay out in plain statements, what it means to obey and serve The Lord. First up, we must understand that He is The Creator and we are His creatures, and because of this He retains the sole prerogative to lay out the terms and conditions of discipleship.

There’s a cute brand of Christianity on display in our day, where many additions, and subtractions are made to God’s revealed word, so as to make accommodations for personal ideas preferences and biases.

Some attempt to mix politics and religion into a diabolical brew, and then throw over it the name of Christianity. Others have incorporated pagan concepts and Darwinian ideologies into their own brands, and the result is my truth, not God’s.

Therefore, the truth in the matter of discipleship must now be made abundantly clear. Following Jesus will call for self-denial, and obedience to His every word, according to the light that is shed on our pathway.

This is accomplished through the inner working of His Holy Spirit in our minds, but God does not by-pass our freedom of choice to force folks to obey. The choice is ours, and if we do choose to serve, love and obey Him, it will have to be on His terms alone. Let’s read:

Matthew 16: 24 Then said Jesus to his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,  and take up his cross, and follow me.

Galatians 5: 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that ye would.

So yes, there will be times when you will have to grit your teeth in denying that which your human nature craves, and yes, there will be times when you will have to do mortal battle against internal and external foes, of which the internal foes are the most dangerous.

Don’t let any smooth talking preacher, soothsayer or bling televangelist tell you otherwise, for God does not cut a deal with us as mortals, where we come to the negotiating table with our own set of ideas, and preferences, the way deals are made when countries are negotiating tariffs.

Instead, in His capacity as God, He sets the terms and conditions, and He bids us choose to obey Him with our free will, and if we so choose, He sends us His Holy Spirit to empower our choices. That is the only type of discipleship or Christianity that God recognizes. Let’s read:

Exodus 19: 3 And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob,and tell the children of Israel;

4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself.

5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.

6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

8 And all the people answered together, and said, all that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord.

Hebrews 8: 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people.

In addition, God has not called us to merely agree with Him, He has called us to love and obey Him, and wheresoever this is done with the intelligent understanding of Who He is, and with the clear knowledge of His singular prerogatives, persons will have the confidence to seek Him in each and every situation.

There are cute duties delegated to the Christian, and there are disagreeable duties that also need to be performed. It’s the same in every household because there are times when the parents might have to do things they may prefer not to do. There are things God prefers not to do but He has to, for the greater good of all.

The same is true of pastors, elders and of church boards, for there would be times when decisions will have to be made, that may not jive well with every single church member. Persons should not expect to agree with every decision the board makes.

The performance of duties in the kingdom of God must never be made subject to feelings, because there would be times when you will not feel good about doing certain things that God requires. We are elaborating on the dangers of the subjective form of Christianity.

Discipleship involves obeying God even when you are not feeling good about doing so, or when you may have serious questions or even doubts about what He did, or didn’t do. There will be instances where the Christian may have to scratch his head as he, or she questions what God is or isn’t doing.

This is what took place with the prophet Ananias, when Jesus instructed him to anoint Saul to be an apostle. The poor prophet scratched his head and he had serious misgivings about God’s wisdom in doing so, since Saul used to hunt down the early Christians, to jail and persecute them.

So yes, there are times when you will not feel too good about obeying God or following His revealed will. It’s not about feeling good, it’s about obeying with the understanding that God always does, or permits that which is in the best interest of all.

In other words, for us to make appendages, and additions or subtractions to His word, in order to satisfy our desires and our preferences, will put persons on a fast track to be at great odds with The Lord, whenever He does His strange acts.

Thus, the questions and answers on discipleship that deeply affect the way we view God’s justice must be given in precis form so that a child could understand.

Question: What does it mean to serve The Lord subjectively or objectively?

To serve The Lord subjectively is to obey Him only when we agree with what He says, permits, or does in His word, or in any given situation.

To serve God objectively is to render to The Lord unquestioning obedience to His every word, and command, whether or not we agree with what He does or permits.

Subjectively: adverb: In a way that is based on personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.

Objectively: adverb: In a way that is not influenced by personal feelings or opinions.

Therefore, in order for us to discover the truth in the matter, as it pertains to God’s administration of justice, we must now take a journey from the Philistine towns, all the way to Jerusalem and as we go, we are going to observe many of the same questions, and challenges, Christians in our day struggle with, as it pertains to His strange acts.

We begin in Philistia, where the ark of God had been taken, after being captured in battle. Those folks in Philistia did not have a knowledge of the correct way to transport the ark, and therefore, in His mercy, God saw fit to let things slide when the  ark was taken up and transported for many miles.

However, after placing it in the temple of their god Dagon, they received to initial warnings from God that something was amiss with what they had done.

The next morning, Dagon was found collapsed before the ark, and as the idol lay there prostrate without any apparent explanation, the Philistine priests questioned in their minds what was going on.

They reverently place it back on its pedestal, but the very next day it is again found prostrate before the ark, only this time its body has been badly mutilated, and the fish part of its body has been separated from the human part in what may have seemed to be some form of strange, violent altercation.

They view this as an evil omen, and they remove the ark from their temple, but after doing so, there ensues sudden diseases, death, and destruction, wreaking havoc on the nation, until they were all too eager to rid themselves of the ark.

They do so by yoking two milking cows together which had never been yoked before, they set the ark on a cart driven by the two cows and they watch to see what would happen next.

Then, unprovoked and without apparent guidance they take the straight highway to Beth-Shemesh and when they arrive, the citizens are pleasantly surprised at the unexplained providence and they rejoice greatly because the ark is once again back in Jewish custody. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 6:11 And they laid the ark of the Lord upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods.

12 And the kine took the straight way to the way of Beth-Shemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth-Shemesh.

Here is where the Bible study begins, for serious questions about God’s justice arise in the hearts of many, as events begin to unfold. And as we do diligence in studying the sacred history, we must set our minds to understand some very important issues on loving and obeying God.

We will observe a few points that will help us to avoid the snare of questioning God’s justice. The points may seem simple, but when studied very carefully, we will see that they are often triggering mechanisms for disregarding God’s instructions. And thus, they can lead persons to question His justice, if and when He does act, His strange act. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 6:13 And they of Bethshemesh were reaping their wheat harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it.

15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord and the coffer that was with it wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone: and the men of Bethshemesh offered burnt offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day unto the Lord.

Point [1] It’s critically important to obey God even in times of great rejoicing.

During times of great rejoicing, there often come temptations to let your guard down, and persons are tempted to take unwarranted liberties which they likely would not have taken under different circumstances.

In other words great rejoicing is not a good reason for disregarding God’s instructions on a particular issue, for it is just as important to obey, when you are in a solemn assembly, as when you might be out and about with friends, on a picnic, a birthday party, or at a wedding.

The robe of Christ’s righteousness is not only to be worn on Sabbaths, it is to be worn at the gym, the grocery, the workplace, the restaurant, the beach and any and everywhere the Christian may go.

In this way, when you conscientiously set your mind to do His will through the freedom of choice He will guide you, and keep you, because it was in your heart to obey Him. Let’s read:

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

God’s revealed will does not take a vacation when the Christian is rejoicing for whatever reason. The will of God is to be consulted in every situation so that His word may be honored.

Therefore, when we pass our varying situations of rejoicing through the litmus test of His word, and follow His revealed will, there will be no reason to be afraid of Him, because God is love.

The disposition to think that just because He is a loving God, that His instructions wouldn’t matter that much is one of the precursors to questioning His justice, whenever it occurs. God wants us to rejoice always, but in doing so, let’s try to be in harmony with His revealed will always. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 6:19 And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the Lord, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

20 And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 589] All Israel had been taught to regard the ark with awe and reverence. When required to remove it from place to place the Levites were not so much as to look upon it. Only once a year was the high priest permitted to behold the ark of God.

What happens next is that they began to question God’s justice, for it seemed to them that The Lord should not have spoiled their joy, at such a time as this.

God did not have any problem with their joy, the problem was with their irreverent curiosity, and the way in which they allowed it to lead them to a disregard of His plain instructions. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 589] As they continued to gaze upon the sacred chest and to talk of the wonderful manner in which it had been restored, they began to conjecture wherein lay its peculiar power. At last, overcome by curiosity, they removed the coverings and ventured to open it.

This leads us to our second point, as we study the reasons why people often question God’s justice.

Point [2] Beware of unwarranted, irreverent curiosity.

The first temptation to the human family began with curiosity. As Eve stared curiously at the fruit, she wondered why it is, God had withheld it from them, and the more she wondered, the more she became curious, until her mind became ripe for temptation. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 53] Unmindful of the angels’ caution, she soon found herself gazing with mingled curiosity and admiration upon the forbidden tree. The fruit was very beautiful, and she questioned with herself why God had withheld it from them. Now was the tempter’s opportunity.

Again, David’s sin with Bathsheba began with his curiosity, for when he beheld her stunning beauty he became curious, and instead of denying self, and stifling his urge to merge he proceeds further as he went on to enquire about her.

Therefore, according to the sacred history, in very many cases, the Christian’s downfall could often be traced right back to the point of curiosity. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 11: 2 And it came to pass in an evening-tide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.

If David was walking down on South Beach, folks would say that he went looking for trouble, but he was on his roof and thus, up until this point it was not a sin, because the Christian man, or woman may not always be able to avoid seeing beautiful persons of the opposite sex.

The problem begins when your curiosity comes into play, and through the freedom of choice you make a deliberate decision to enquire. It’s fitting that we hit pause and check in with the dictionary to find out the meaning of curiosity.

Curiosity: A strong desire or interest in something or someone that leads to inquiry.

2nd Samuel 11:3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?

Again, there are currently over 7000 languages in the world today, and they all came about as the result of curiosity. After the flood, men refused to believe God and thus, one of the reasons why the tower of babel was built was to satisfy their own curiosity as to why the earth had overflowed with a flood. Let’s read:

Genesis 11: 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the ord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 119] Many of them denied the existence of God and attributed the Flood to the operation of natural causes. One object before them in the erection of the tower was to secure their own safety in case of another deluge. And as they would be able to ascend to the region of the clouds, they hoped to ascertain the cause of the Flood.

This issue of curiosity deserves our attention, for according to the Scriptures, it would be a major factor when prime time comes around. In Jesus’ prophecy about end time events, He says that the devil will be making appearances worldwide, and as a result, the curiosity of some Christians may be aroused.

Thus, to avert the temptations to follow up your curiosity with inquiry, Christ tells us not to go, and His instruction means don’t almost go, whether it be via the breaking news, Snapchat, Instagram or Tik Tok, or any of the other social networks which bring the curious to your doorstep.

The Christian should have no interest whatsoever in seeing satan, and if you were to go, contrary to God’s instruction, and things were to take a turn for the worse, folks could be led to question His justice in what God may permit, or what He may do. Let’s read:

Matthew 24: 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; do not go forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

After the episode with the men of Beth-Shemesh, the people requested that the sacred ark of God be removed from among them, for they became afraid and confused as to why such judgements were meted out.

They did not stop to figure out the problem, but  instead, would have nothing to do with the ark. In our day some people will have nothing to do with God, because of what they see as a miscarriage of justice on His part in certain situations.

Thus, the men of Kirjathjearim were called upon to take away the ark from among the people. They did, and what happened after, to the house where it was lodged, is worthy of note, for no harm came to that household for twenty years. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 7:1 And the men of Kirjathjearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord, and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill, and sanctified Eleazar his son to keep the ark of the Lord.

2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjathjearim, that the time was long; for it was twenty years: and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord.

Major note: Eleazar was not Abinadab’s only son, for he had at least two others, namely Ahio, and Uzzah.

Thus, when you hear persons questioning God’s justice in the sudden demise of Uzzah, remember that God’s presence was apparently abiding in the same house with Uzzah for twenty years, and nothing happened to him. Just remember that.

Then, as David gathered a great multitude to bring back the ark with great rejoicing God’s strange act was about to put a check on the disregard of His plainest instruction, and as it was with the men of Beth-Shemesh people would again question His justice, as if He was doing something wrong, or inappropriate. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 6:1 Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

3 And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart.

5 And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps and psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6 And when they came to Nachon's threshing floor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

The Lord did not give an immediate explanation of why He did what He did unto Uzzah. He remained silent and His silence seems to give rise to great misunderstandings of His justice. Therefore, we must ask the following question:

If in some instances, God does not give us any explanation as to why He administers justice to nations, or to individuals, or why He may permit tragedy in certain instances, where it seems as if innocent lives are lost, are we then to go the route of David and others by becoming upset with Him?

The two reactions of David are often mirrored in our day, as persons question the justice of God in certain situations. According to what is written in the Scriptures, David became displeased, and he also became afraid, just like the people in the city of Beth-Shemesh. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 6:8 David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzzah: and he called the name of the place Perez-uzzah to this day.

9 And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, how shall the ark of the Lord come to me?

Question: Why was David displeased?

Answer: David was displeased because, as far as he could see, God acted inappropriately in killing an apparently innocent, man who was just trying to prevent the ark from falling. And as far as David was concerned, it was a good thing Uzzah did.

Question: Why was David afraid?

Answer: David became afraid, because if it is true that God destroyed a man for just helping, which was a supposedly good thing, then the question in David’s mind is “Who’s next.”

One thing is certain, there most likely was serious soul searching after this incident, just like it was after the sudden demise of Annanias and Saphira. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 6:10 So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obededom the Gittite.

11 And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obededom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obededom, and all his household.

It is almost certain that many persons who read this account of Uzzah, would tend to agree with David’s view, that God acted inappropriately, and yet it was the right and merciful thing to do, since, in all of God’s doings, the great principle of love is always intertwined.

Just because we may not immediately see love in His actions, and just because He may not give us an explanation right away, does not mean that we are to stand as judge over The Lord.

In addition to this, if, as David concluded, with so many others, that God acted inappropriately, and as a result they were justified in being scared of Him, how is it that in both instances where the ark was removed to certain households, nothing but God’s blessing came upon those two homes?

How do we square the questioning of His justice on the one hand and great blessings from the very same God under different circumstances? There seems to be some great disconnect that persons keep missing for some reason.

The answer to this conundrum is as simple as it gets, for the issue has to do with the perspectives that are held by many people including Christians as it pertains to the instructions and laws of God.

There is a lot of noise in contemporary Christian circles, as regards God’s law and His instructions to us. All of the reasons such as good intentions, reflex actions, personal opinions, and God’s love, do not atone for disobedience.

When God told Cain and Abel to bring a lamb, He meant a lamb and nothing else. Persons who might genuinely be in ignorance of the Sabbath might be accepted by God for their sincerity, but as far as accepting any other day of the week as a substitute, just because a person did not know, that will never ever happen.

What God says He means, and He means what He says and thus, He cautions us against adding, subtracting, deliberately manipulating, and giving private interpretations to His word.

In our day, science is still fixated on the curious in contradiction to what the Scriptures declare on the origin of species. There are many satellites or telescopes scanning the heavens for the origins of life, when the clear, concise account is given in the Bible. Here it is in one simple short sentence.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Again, to many minds The Lord might seem to be missing in action, as the cries of the stranger, and the poor reach up to heaven, whilst the rich, and the infamous, might seem to be getting away with murder as it werThese things perplex the minds of many persons and some are led to question God’s justice, while some believe He is taking too long. We’ll need to remember that in the greater scheme of things He is working out everything for the greater good of His people, and the very best good for the world at large.

Harboring the Scriptural perspectives on serving and loving God will prevent in large measure the common misunderstandings of what He does or what He may permit.

And, it is of critical importance that our minds be aligned with His word and will so that we wouldn’t question His strange acts, when they will begin to occur in the final chapters of earth’s history. Let’s read:

[Prophets & Kings pp 499] In the annals of human history, the growth of nations, the rise and fall of empires, appear as if dependent on the will and prowess of man.  

But in the word of God the curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counterplay of human interest and power, and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that would help us to navigate all of the noise that has been accumulating for centuries.

And it is the will of God that those individuals who are preparing for prime time, will harbor only the Biblical perspectives on God’s prerogatives, His instructions, and a balanced view of His love. In doing so we will avoid the snare of questioning His justice, whenever He begins His strange acts. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 32:1 Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.   

                                          God Bless!

Where to Return Your Tithes and Offerings. Sabbath afternoon 09 /20/2025

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in my house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

                   Merriam Webster Dictionary.

                                     The:

                               definite article

                                     Meaning:

[1] It is used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is definite or has been previously specified by context or by circumstance.

For example: Put the cat out, This gospel of the kingdom, Preach the word,

[2] It is used as a function word to indicate that a following noun or noun equivalent is a unique or a particular member of its class.

For example: The dragon was wrought with the woman. Which keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

There is a lot of confusion, and a whole lot of noise as it pertains to where you should return your tithes and offerings, and even though some may take it for granted that returning to your local church is a no- brainer, there are several questions that need to be clarified on the issue, so that folks might be aligned with God’s will.

For instance, when it says in our first passage that the tithe should be returned to “The storehouse”, does it mean any local church, or any congregation from any denomination? For instance, is your local Baptist church where you attend church regularly, each week, “The storehouse” that the Bible is referring to?

The opening passage in Malachi also includes these two words: “My House”, so the next logical question is what is God referring to when He says My house?

If I were to give you an invitation to my house, you would not go to any house on my street and call it my house, for the simple fact that I do not live there and it’s not mine anyway.

And there are follow up questions to your answers to the question of what constitutes “My house.” For instance, does The Lord leave it up to any preacher to designate and determine what My house is?

The Lord is speaking very specifically in the passage for He says that the tithe must be brought into the storehouse, and the storehouse must be His house, so when those two stipulations are employed in the interpretation, it does not leave any wiggle room for suppositions, assumptions, or private interpretation.

There are a multitude of churches, denominations, congregations, independent ministries, and other televangelists who are claiming a piece of the pie by instructing their followers to fund their churches or ministries with their tithes and offerings that have been devoted to God.

Now, while it is true that through your freedom of choice you can contribute to any of these ministries, the tithes and offerings that have been consecrated to God must be returned to God’s storehouse or My house, according as God stipulates.

Several points must now be made as clear as crystal before we proceed, because the fuzzies on this issue need clarification from the Bible.

[1] Just because a local church, a denomination, a televangelist, or independent ministry purports to preach from the Bible, that is not necessarily the qualifier for being The Storehouse, or My house.

Mega churches, where thousands of Christians may congregate each week, where the name of Jesus is purported to be lifted up, and where faith healings occur, do not necessarily constitute the storehouse, or My house, according to the Scriptures.

[2] Even the preaching of genuine truth does not necessarily make a church or independent ministry The storehouse, or My house.

For instance, God forbid that if for some unknown reason, Lindrey, Junior, and myself were to become upset with the establishment or the conference and we were to go out and form our own independent S.D.A church, namely, The Three Amigos S.D.A church.

And let’s say we were to preach the unadulterated straight truth from the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy, does that then qualify us as “The store house or My house?” It absolutely does not.

 Let us just say here that God forbid if that were ever to take place, do not come or attend, and you must never support the three amigos with your tithes and offerings that were vowed to God for it’s neither the store house, or My house.

[3] My house is a defective place, a place where you must not expect to find perfect people. In fact, if a church claims to free from any defects, that stands as an instant disqualifier as being “My house.”

When Jesus was upon the earth, His house was a place full of defective people, yet it was His house. There were people there who were possessed with demons and there were a number of hypocrites, blind guides and fools, according to Jesus, yet, it was His house.

When persons disconnect from the God ordained church, or storehouse because there are too many hypocrites, and form their own independent church, it is just a matter of time before hypocrites will start to attend their church, because, according to what we have read in the Bible, you will always have a set of hypocrites, until the shaking does its work.

In fact, in the parable of the wheat and the tares, the disciples of Christ became quite dismayed by the presence of hypocrites, and they asked the Lord what they should do about the issue. Should they go root them out of the church, so that others may not be affected?

Christ’s answer to that dilemma was an absolute no, for He then made it plain that they should be left alone, and not uprooted. It was “My house” He was referring to, and since it is His house, He has both the freedom and the authority to designate who can be members. Let’s read:

Matthew 13: 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then has it tares?

28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

Therefore, let’s sit back and listen to The Lord as He describes some of the people who are members of the storehouse, the congregants who attend “My” house on a weekly basis. Let’s read:

Matthew 23: 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore, ye shall receive the greater damnation.

15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

17 Ye fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?

In addition to these unfavorable descriptions, there were also murderers to be found in His house, that’s the reason why when Jesus preached a sermon they didn’t like, they took Him to the edge of a cliff after Divine hour, to throw Him over, yet it was His house. Let’s read:

Luke 4: 28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way.

John 8: 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

Not only did His house have some murderers, it also had a lot of thieves. This is the reason why when the complaint is made about God’s remnant church that it has too many hypocrites, you should think twice, for if a church doesn’t have any hypocrites it most likely is not “My house.”

Thus, according to the testimony of Christ on the state of things in His house, there were to be found several thieves. A “Den of thieves” refers to a sort of lair, where many are to be found, very similar to the den of lions into which Daniel was once thrown. It wasn’t one lion down there. Let’s read:

Matthew 21: 12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves,

13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Now, we are trying to be as reasonable and logical as possible as we think these things through. If His house has some murderers, a lot of thieves, a lot of hypocrites, and some liars, it might seem logical for Jesus to be done with the it, and go start His own independent church, where truth can be preached in a much more favorable environment.

But no, He still regards it as “My House” and week after week and Sabbath after Sabbath He continues to attend services there, because as far as Jesus was concerned, the storehouse, My house didn’t change because of negative circumstances on the ground. Let’s read:

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

In fact, when pressed on the issue of His financial contributions to the defective church, He sent Peter with some money to pay directly to the same den of thieves, for as far as Jesus was concerned, it was still “The store house and My House” just as it had been ordained by God in the Old Testament. Let’s read:

Matthew 17: 24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter and said, does not your master pay tribute?

25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?

26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, then are the children free.

27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast a hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

Apparently, even satan recognizes that God has a specific storehouse, which The Lord describes as My house. This is the reason why he took Jesus from the deserts and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple for there was the designated headquarters of the place God had then chosen as His house. Let’s read:

Luke 4: 8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence.

[In heavenly Places pp 284] The church of Christ, enfeebled and defective as it may be, is the only object on earth on which He bestows His supreme regard.... The Lord has a people, a chosen people, His church, to be His own, His own fortress, which He holds in a sin-stricken, revolted world.

[Last Day Events pp 43] Let all be careful not to make an outcry against the only people who are fulfilling the description given of the remnant people, who keep the commandments of God and have faith in Jesus.

God has a distinct people, a church on earth, second to none, but superior to all in their facilities to teach the truth, to vindicate the law of God. My brother, if you are teaching that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Babylon, you are wrong.

It becomes obvious that God is very particular, and specific when He speaks of The storehouse, as being My house and therefore we must brush aside all the noise and the fuzzies, and let the word of God speak for itself authoritatively.

As we read, let us try to avoid inserting any private interpretations into the Scriptures, for that will do violence to the passages that are being reviewed.

Question: What is the storehouse, and My House?

Deuteronomy 12:5 But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither you shall come.

6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks.

7 And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.

8 You shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.

10 But when ye go over Jordan, and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;

11 Then there shall be a place which the Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there; thither shall ye bring all that I command you; your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the heave offering of your hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the Lord.

13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that you see.

14 But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.

17 Thou must not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thy oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of your vows which you vow, nor thy freewill offerings, or heave offering of thine hand.

18 But you must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that you put thine hands unto.

26 Only thy holy things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place which the Lord shall choose.

Deuteronomy 14: 22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year.

23 And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always.

24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.

25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in your hand, and shall go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose.

Deuteronomy 15: 19 All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God: thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep.

20 Thou shalt eat it before the Lord thy God year by year in the place which the Lord shall choose, thou and thy household.

It becomes very obvious that the returning of tithes and offerings must be in accordance with what God chooses, for the following statement occurs to often in the previous passages, for it to be ignored: “The place which the Lord thy God shall choose”. In fact, the phrase occurs no less than 16 times in the instructions given to the people.

Therefore, the next logical question has to be: What is this place which The Lord Your God shall choose?

It is the designated place where you would find the law of God containing the ten commandments and the Spirit of prophecy as being manifested through God’s presence, and all the designated synagogues associated with that place. Let’s read:

Exodus 25:1 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.

21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee.

22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

2nd Chronicles 6: 6 But I have chosen Jerusalem, that my name might be there; and have chosen David to be over my people Israel.

10 The Lord therefore hath performed his word that he hath spoken: for I am risen up in the room of David my father, and am set on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, and have built the house for the name of the Lord God of Israel.

11 And in it have I put the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, that he made with the children of Israel.

2nd Chronicles 7:1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.

2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the Lord, because the glory of the Lord had filled the Lord's house.

The designation of the store house, as it pertained to all of the synagogues associated with the law of God, and His presence, would come to a final end when Cestius, and later Titus would raze the city and the house to the ground.

This was foretold by Christ Himself as he sat upon the mount of Olives., but up until that time it would remain the headquarters of the storehouse, or “My house, as designated by God. 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 ye 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.

Fast forward to the day of Pentecost and thereafter as the Christian church gets rolling under the direct auspices of the Holy Ghost. God is a God of order, and thus, He plans and He organizes with the same accuracy that was manifested at creation. Let’s read:

Acts 2: 46 And they continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 10:1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always.

3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, what is it, Lord? And he said unto him, your prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter.

6 He lodges with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell you what you ought to do.

Now, we have to hit pause as we figure out what is transpiring here. Why would the angel put Cornelius in contact with Peter, so that Peter will tell him what to do? Why doesn’t the angel just go ahead and tell Cornelius what he needs to do, since he is already there with him?

Instead, the angel puts Cornelius in contact with the organized church, of which Peter is a representative, because God is a God of order, and therefore, every aspect of His work must be executed in an orderly manner.

Here it is again, the same scenario occurring where this time it’s Jesus who is speaking. For some reason He also does not tell Saul what he needs to do, but instead, puts him in contact with a member of His house, “MY house” because He has a specific church upon the earth. Let’s read:

Acts 9: 3 And as he journeyed, he came near to Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.

4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me?

5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute: it is hard  for thee to kick against the pricks.

6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.

11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prays,

12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.

15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel.

17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as you came, has sent me that you might receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

20 And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

Fast forward to the 21st century and the question is asked and needs to be answered from the Scripture: Does God still have a specific storehouse, which He designates as “My House” and if so, does He expect our tithes and offerings to be returned there, just as it was in the days of yore?

The answer is a resounding yes, and just as it was in the days of old, if you’re wondering what is the “MY house, and “The storehouse in our day, you would have to look for the church that has the same two identifying marks as formerly, namely, the law of God and the Spirit of prophecy.

In other words, if a denomination or church teaches that God’s law was nailed to the cross, and it is not valid anymore, that denomination or church cannot be the storehouse, it matters not how much Jesus it preaches.

In Biblical prophecy, a woman is used to represent the church, and therefore, you will have to look for the organized denomination that promulgates God’s law and also has the testimony of Jesus, which is the Spirit of prophecy.

Any other church, denomination, or independent ministry is just a church, but is definitely not “The storehouse or “MY house” and therefore, your tithe and offerings that have been vowed to God should be returned to His designated house. 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.

Revelation 19: 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Now, it is true that God’s people are to be found in most churches, and in every language, tongue, and people, and yes, there are many independent 7the Day Adventist churches that may have inadvertently claimed to be the storehouse.

God is now calling all to act in truth and sincerity, by restoring The storehouse, “My house” to its original owner, with the proceeds thereof, from now on, for God is just as specific as He was back then, when He declared those solemn words: “In the place which The Lord Thy God shall choose.” Let’s read:

[Test. Vol 9, pp 249] The tithe is sacred, reserved by God for Himself. It is to be brought into His treasury to be used to sustain the gospel laborers in their work. But will you rob God because you think the management of the work is not right?

Make your complaint, plainly and openly, in the right spirit, to the proper ones. Send in your petitions for things to be adjusted and set in order; but do not withdraw from the work of God, and prove unfaithful, because others are not doing right.

Jesus is more than willing to forgive wherever there have been genuine mistakes and errors, and even if one had knowingly departed from His revealed will, He will forgive if we confess.

It is not for us to judge the motives, and intents of the heart, all we are doing is establishing the Biblical fact that God still has a specific storehouse upon the earth.

And if any person so desires to follow the Scriptural instructions on returning your tithes and offerings to His house, the truth is there before you, so that you can make your move intelligently.

In closing, we hope and pray that The Bible brought clarity to the matter, so that from here on out, we may know what to do. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us to see the light clearly so that faith and practice may converge. Let’s read:

Proverbs 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law.

4 He taught me also, and said unto me, let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

                                     God Bless!

What Are You Hiding? Sabbath afternoon 09/13/2025

What Are You Hiding?

                            Sabbath afternoon

                                  09/13/2025

John 3: 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For everyone that does evil hates light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds will be reproved.

21 But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Many years ago when I was just a kid in elementary school, I got involved in a situation that got me into trouble. Back in those days, when the schools would have recess, they would serve milk and biscuits to the students.

At different times certain children were selected to serve and when they did, they were given full access to the items on the menu, and it was their sole duty to distribute the snacks, as the students waited in line.

On this particular day, my friend and I were selected to serve, but sadly, we decided that we would help ourselves to some of the items. We did, but some way somehow, the principal at the time found out, and we were summoned to his office to answer for our sins.

This took place in Trinidad, in the Caribbean, so we knew what the result would inevitably be, therefore we hatched a plan to deflect some of the pain that would be coming our way.

We then decided to tuck a copybook neatly into our pants at the rear, where we expected the full impact of the disciplinary action was sure to take place. The copy books were well hidden, and as we went into the principal’s office, it was with part apprehension and part assurance.

And so said so done, the principal pointed out our sins and then he gave us our due. Our plan worked flawlessly, but throughout the procedure, the poor principal looked really puzzled, for he just could not figure out why we were not crying at all.

Finally, after we were released from the operating table as it were, we went on our merry way, but we made a fatal mistake by rejoicing too soon, for we didn’t realize that the principal was looking through his window and saw us giving each other a high five as it were.

He then called us back to his office and he asked us what we were hiding. We became uneasy, sweating profusely, and with dismayed looks on our faces, he opened up our pants, and there he found the shock absorbers that had taken the brunt of his discipline.

He then proceeded to give us a double portion as it were because we tried to hide the plot but this time there was serious weeping, and gnashing of teeth, because our strategy having now being exposed and backfired, we were made to feel the full force of his disciplinary actions.

So, the question is: What are you hiding? In the first passage Christ tells us plainly why persons endeavor to cover up certain secrets, hide their deeds, or why some try to divert attention away from the truth.

Then, Jesus says, if we are dealing in truth, and have nothing to hide we would be glad to have our deeds and the facts surrounding our cases exposed, for it would then be a source of vindication, and not of condemnation, as the case may be.

A person who is innocent of an alleged wrong would not be afraid of cross examination because the truth is the truth, and it has a way of vindicating itself in a way that appeals to the observer.

On the other hand, when a person has some wrong to hide they often get nervous, agitated, uneasy and angry when the truth, and facts relating to the case in particular are coming due to be exposed.

Now, it is true that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, and yes, there would be some cases where there are skeletons in your closet, sins in our past life that persons prefer to keep secret.

God makes allowance for this, for Jesus is not in the business of embarrassing His saints into confession. Yet, He desires that as we grow in grace, reflecting His character, that the doings of bygone years be a thing of the past.

And even more so, because we are now at a critical juncture in the history of the world, where there is a profusion of coverups, and miscarriages of justice, it is now more important than ever before that folks come clean as it were, living in the light of day.

Now, it is an indisputable fact that public servants who are vying for the public trust may try to dig up dirt on each other, and yes, there is something that is called opposition research, by which deeds done by one person in the past will be employed in mud- slinging.

No one is perfect before God, for we have all made our share of mistakes, however, in cases where we may have issues that we prefer to keep secret, folks should confess to God and to our fellow man where it is warranted before we are shamed into doing so.

Coming clean does not necessarily mean exposing all your gory details on Jerry Springer or Judge Judy. It means that we go to God first and confess our sins and where there is a decision, and good efforts to turn away from sin, the blood of Jesus will cover our wrongs, for He has the legal authority to do so. Let’s read:

Psalms 103: 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.

3 Who forgives all thine iniquities; who heals all thy diseases;

4 Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

That being said, the Scriptural requirements should be diligently followed, for we are to go to The Lord in prayer, acknowledging the wrongs where wrongs have been done, and we are to turn away from evil, so that when God wipes our slate clean, there will be nothing to hide.

The blood of Jesus is not employed in covering up unconfessed sins which we know of, but His grace is accorded to all who will come clean, by not trying to hide sin, excuse sin, or blame others for wrongs we have done.

When Daniel was wrongfully accused by his fellows, he did not become desperate when they launched a series of investigations into his conduct, because the truth would be revealed as they probed his doings.

Throughout their inquiries Daniel remains calm and composed, for he had nothing to hide and therefore when their investigation would come to a close, the findings would vindicate Daniel.

The exoneration of Daniel would lift him even higher than before the investigation took place because his innocence would be certified, and the skeptics who were previously sitting on the fence would be led to trust him even more. Let’s read:

Daniel 6: 4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.

22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocence was found in me; and also, before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Judas, on the other hand, who had something evil to hide, seemed to be nervous and disquieted when his deeds were just about to be made known. In the upper room, where Christ was having the ordinance of humility with His disciples, it was made known to them that one of them would betray Him.

It's important to note that Jesus does not name any of them in particular, all He says is that one of them will betray Him. That could mean anyone, and thus, if you were one of Jesus’ disciples, and as far as you know your conscience is clear, then you would not have any problem with being exposed.

Therefore, what happens next gives us deep insight into how conscious guilt affects the wrong doer, for every one of them, with the exception of Judas, ask the question: “Lord, is it I” and Jesus clears each name.

Now, the last and the only man remaining is Judas, and therefore, if he were to remain silent, all eyes would now be fastened on him. Therefore, he forces the question from his unwilling lips, dripping with sweat, as he awaits the answer that will single him out as the traitor.

It did not have to come to this, for he could have confessed his sin up front, avoiding the drama, and the embarrassment of being thus exposed. But, like Achan who had something to hide in Joshua’s day, Judas waits until all roads lead to him, and then he has no choice but to confess. Let’s read:

Matthew 26: 21 And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.

22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I?

23 And he answered and said, he that dips his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me.

24 The Son of man goes, as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born.

25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.

[The Desire of Ages pp 654] They began to search their own hearts to see if one thought against their Master were harbored there. With the most painful emotion, one after another inquired, “Lord, is it I?” But Judas sat silent.

John in deep distress at last inquired, “Lord, who is it?” And Jesus answered, “He that dips his hand with Me in the dish, the same shall betray Me. The disciples had searched one another’s faces closely as they asked, “Lord, is it I?”

And now the silence of Judas drew all eyes to him. But now, to escape the scrutiny of the disciples, he asked as they had done, “Master, is it I?” Jesus solemnly replied, “Thou hast said.” In surprise and confusion at the exposure of his purpose, Judas rose hastily to leave the room.

Again, basically the same thing took place when the leaders in Christ’s day tried to cover up the truth on the resurrection. If when the soldiers had related to them the truth of what had happened, if they chose to turn to God with confession and repentance, the story could have had a happy ending.

But they made the deliberate decision to hide the truth, and thus they endeavored to sweep it under the rug without coming clean to both God and man.

Like Judas, who waited until his sins were exposed, they too waited and waited until the news broke on CNN that Jesus was indeed risen from the dead and was being seen and heard by hundreds of people.

The story was being run as the headlines with every news cycle, and drip by drip, the undeniable facts in the case were seeping into the public square, but still they denied and denied. That is what happens when you have something to hide. Let’s read:

Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow.

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men.

10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there  shall they see me.

11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto  the soldiers.

They were assembled urgently because they would have to do one out of two things:

[1] They could admit it. They could leave the truth intact, just as the soldiers had related the facts.

However, if they were to go with the raw facts in the matter, they would implicate themselves in a crime that would rock the nation to its core, because they would incur the guilt of having killed The Son of God for no reason.

They would now have to face the music and confess to the nation that they were wrong, and as a result, they could face the death penalty, according to the law of God.

This then would have serious ripple effects right up the chain of command because it would implicate Pilate who gave the final order to slay Christ, and if this were to come to the officials at Rome, he could then be deposed from his high office.

Another satellite problem would also surface with their practice of pardoning a convicted felon for no valid reason. Therefore, rather than fess up, and go to God for pardon, they determine to hide the facts in the case through coverup bribes and hush money.

They also offered immunity to those who had been witnesses of the facts in the case just in case it came to court for redress. If it sounds familiar it’s because there is nothing new under the sun.

The next option on the table can potentially stymie any concerns and investigations into the facts, but this would spawn a host of conspiracy theories and never-ending questions, that the authorities would have to dodge or explain, much to their chagrin.

[2] They could try to cover it up. They could decide to sweep the evidence under the rug by going the route of falsehood and denial.

Matthew 28:13 Say His disciples came by night and stole him away while we slept.

14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will persuade him and secure you.

15 So they took the money and did as they were taught and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Whenever any person tries to hide unconfessed sin, it will just be a matter of time before the truth seeps out into the public square.

Wrongs can only be covered up for so long, but sooner or later, either in the courts on earth or the courts above, the matter will be disclosed. This is a most sobering guarantee that folks can take to the bank and cash. Let’s read:

[Early Writings pp 184] Those who came forth after the resurrection of Jesus appeared to many, telling them that the sacrifice for man was completed, that Jesus, whom the Jews crucified, had risen from the dead; and in proof of their words they declared, “We be risen with Him.”

Now, let us consider this statement for a moment, because some of these folks who were dead were people whom the living knew. Some may have been neighbors, relatives or friends of the living and thus, if dead people start appearing all over the place you will have to draw some sort of conclusion.

It's either a sequel to the movie “Dawn of the Dead” or indeed, what the soldiers originally reported is true. Thus, try as they might to squish the truth in the matter, it just kept popping up in the public view until the guilty parties had run out of all options and lies. Let’s read:

[Early Writings pp 184] Notwithstanding the lying reports circulated, the resurrection of Christ could not be concealed by Satan, his angels, or the chief priests; for this holy company, brought forth from their graves, spread the wonderful, joyful news.

Also, Jesus showed Himself to His sorrowing, heart-broken disciples, dispelling their fears and causing them joy and gladness. As the news spread from city to city and from town to town, the Jews in their turn feared for their lives and concealed the hatred which they cherished toward the disciples.

These experiences which took place in bygone years have very serious implications and lessons for those who are living in the 21st century. It is always better to come clean with God, and with our fellowmen, in situations where sin or crimes have been committed to others.

In fact, the Christian is to live as if in the sight of God so that all our doings would be in broad daylight, so that if for any reason, enemies and frenemies try to dig up dirt on you as they did with Daniel, you won’t panic because of the investigation, because you will have nothing to hide.

As was stated before, Christ is not in the business of exposing the private sins of anyone, but if they are left unconfessed and unforsaken, they would bubble up to the surface sooner or later, because this is the guarantee given in the Scriptures. Let’s read:

Numbers 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.

The Lord does not desire us to be scared of probes, and inquiry, and furthermore, being afraid is not a good motivation for folks to do right, just because they are panicked about being found out.

The right thing should be done because it’s the right thing, and because the Christian serves, and loves God intelligently aspiring by His grace to have Jesus’ character developed and matured in our hearts by the power of The Holy Spirit. This work is something the Christian willingly chooses to have done.

The fear of The Lord is not about running scared or trying to hide things that ought to be confessed. It is about living in sincerity and truth, appropriating the words and laws of God in practical ways so that folks might develop a keen sense of right and wrong, and choose good over evil.

This is what is meant by living as if in the presence of God, and when this route is taken, the judgment in heaven will not scare us, for we chose to walk in the light, even as He is in the light, and in so doing there will be nothing to hide. Let’s read:

[The Great Controversy pp 88] As the books of record are opened in the Judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God.

When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God’s remembrance.

All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of Heaven.

As they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life.

Whatsoever we do, whether at church, at work or in our interaction with other persons, we must do it as if in the light of day, and it must be able to pass the smell test of The Almighty God.

The reason for this is that God desires us to mature to the point where persons can be subjected to the closest scrutiny, and yet, come out clean. In this way not only God, but we ourselves may be vindicated.

The Lord has promised to cast all our sins into the depths of the sea, and He will, if we come clean by confessing and forsaking our sins. But to wait until we are exposed, like Achan and Judas will cause the name of Christ to be greatly dishonored.

In closing, let us always remember that the work of salvation is to have Christ formed within. This does not happen overnight, it is a work in progress, but it should be our firm purpose to cooperate with the heavenly agencies through our freedom of choice so that the work of God may be perfected in us.

We therefore end with a gentle reminder that God sees and knows it all. 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 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.

                                      God Bless!

Why Some Great Men Fall. Sabbath afternoon 09/06/2025

Deuteronomy 11: 26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse.

27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day.

28 And a curse if you would not obey the commandments of the Lord your God but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.

In the book of Deuteronomy there are written many blessings and curses and some persons become very dismayed because they may not know why God will speak of a curse, right after promising to bless.

Over and over again it occurs in the Scripture where God promises blessings, and right after He promises curses, or vice versa.  In fact, the children of Israel were summoned to a special covenant ceremony where both blessings and curses were to be read.

And some people wonder and question why God is doing this. He has to do so, because our freedom of choice can turn a good thing into a bad thing, in so much that we can cause God’s blessings to turn sour by our course of action. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 27:11 And Moses charged the people the same day, saying,

12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin.

13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

14 And the Levites shall speak, and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice,

15 Cursed be the man that makes any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and puts it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.

Then right after, in the very next chapter, God promises a ton of blessings, if His people would not deviate from His revealed will. The two options of blessings or curses must be clearly understood by the reader, because we are the arbiters of our own destiny. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.

3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.

4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.

6 Blessed shalt thou be when you come in, and blessed shalt you be when you go out.

The uttering of both blessings and curses has caused some persons to come to incorrect views of God, as One who inflicts punishment when a person walks contrary to His revealed will. This is generally not the case, all He is doing is telling us what is on the menu.

Therefore, certain truths streaming from The Lord’s throne must now be made clear, for we are at that time when His glory is scheduled to fill the earth.

First of all, it is important to know that through our own freedom of choice we can put a good thing to a bad use, thus representing the good thing as if it were something bad, when this might not be the case.

Knives could be used to cut up onions, peppers fruit, cucumbers, and your daily bread, but they can also be used in nefarious ways not worth mentioning.

The same is true of guns, for in and of itself, the gun is a pretty harmless object, but if placed in the wrong hands or put to a wrong use, it can become a curse, as has been seen too often across the land. Guns do not shoot any person, people do, for someone has to pull the trigger.

The same is true of nuclear energy, which could be used to produce megawatts of energy for billions of people, but also could be used to wipe out millions. It almost always comes down to freedom of choice in what we choose to do with something that might be inherently good.

Again, in the health and fitness industry, carbs and sugars from even the very best sources have been demonized as culprits as if, in and of themselves, they can do you great harm. They cannot, if you don’t let them.

God created fruit, with their sweet content, fibers, and other nutritional values and thus, when they are used in harmony with the laws of health, they could be a great blessing. In the earth, made new there will be sweet fruit and carbohydrates, and many items that now seem to be off limits for some persons.

Therefore, we should avoid the temptation to find fault with the blessings, instead of with the choices we make. In fact, many things that are anathema in the health and fitness industries, are actually good for you, when used within the parameters of God’s instructions.

Water is good for you, for it comes from the hand of God to humanity as a good and perfect blessing, in so much that Christ uses it in referencing the water of life that is given to each believer. But even though water is very good, a young man died from drinking too much water not long ago.

Michael Jackson, Beyonce, Whitney Houston, and Stevie Wonder were all blessed with natural talents and if used in harmony with God’s revealed purpose they will remain as blessings. But when, like so many folks who have gone before, the blessings are perverted, they could become a curse.

Therefore, when we follow the same line of reasoning as it pertains to God’s blessings, we would discover that in every instance, the problem is never with The Giver, but with the receiver, and what he or she chooses to do with the blessing.

With many Christians, the attitude displayed might cause God to put blessings on hold for the time being, lest folks vaunt themselves and become puffed up with pride. The issue occurs so often, in both sacred, and secular history that in some instances it may not be safe for God to bless certain individuals.

The reason for this is that more harm than good can be the result if the blessing is turned on its head or made to serve purposes other than what The Lord had originally intended.

Now, it is true that God does not think and act as we do, for there is nothing such as the perfect man, or woman without their own set of issues. We have all come short of the glory of God, and thus, the predicament of The Lord deciding to bless a faulty person whom He knows will pervert the blessing, often occurs.

On the flipside of this predicament is the prospect of not getting anything done, for if He were to withhold blessing us, until He is sure we can handle it, that day may never come. Therefore, in some instances, The Lord goes ahead and blesses persons, so that at the very least, some level of good may be accomplished.

It is very often the case that when persons are down and out in the valley of despair, they would turn to God, and humbly pray for guidance and direction, but if and when The Lord exalts them to prominent positions, sometimes they may no longer feel their need of Him.

This pattern of initial humility, and pride later on, occurs so often in the Scripture that it warrants the most careful attention so that we may know how to avoid some of the pitfalls that occur after God blesses persons or nations. It is one of the main reasons why great men fall.

Before we proceed, let it be said that right after a day of great blessing, there come temptations to overthrow the very thing God sought to accomplish. As a general rule of thumb, your mountaintop experiences would be followed with temptations in the valley, where your arch-enemy is waiting in the wings to destroy and annoy.

The Bible tells us that we should never be ignorant of his devices, and therefore, whenever God does something great for you, whenever God blesses you really good, try by His grace to be humble, lest satan succeeds in turning your blessing into a curse.

For instance, if out of the blue, God blesses you with a large sum of money, be very careful to turn again to Him and pray for heavenly wisdom, and discretion to manage it prudently, lest, before you know it, the dinero makes itself wings and flies away towards heaven like a bird and you find yourself back to square one, or even worse.

Again, if suddenly, God promotes you to a high position of trust, where you find yourself on top of the world as it were, be very careful to walk humbly with God, lest the old serpent fills your head with pride, and you think that you don’t need God’s counsel and guidance anymore.

These are just some of the reasons why great men fell in times past, and if the lessons of bygone years do not sink deep into our consciousness, great men, and women in our day are sure to fall also. The servant of The Lord puts us on our guard. Let’s read:

[Special Testimonies 27, 1902 par 6] Christ entered upon His mission of mercy, and from the manger to the cross was beset by the enemy. Satan contested every inch of ground, exerting his utmost power to overcome Him.

Like a tempest temptation after temptation beat upon Him. But the more mercilessly they fell, the more firmly did the Son of God cling to the hand of His Father, and press on in the blood-stained path.

After Christ’s transfiguration on the mountaintop, where Peter, James, and John saw Moses, and Elijah speaking with Jesus in His glorified form, devils were waiting in the valley to cause mayhem. This snare the Christian must be very wary of, and it should drive persons to prayer, even more than before the blessing came.

Devils become extremely irritated and exasperated when God’s kingdom on earth is making strides and advancing. The following is an example of what we are studying and we would do well, to learn from persons who have gone before. Let’s read:

Mark 9:2 And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

3 And his raiment became shining, exceedingly white as snow; as no fuller on earth can white them.

4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

14 And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. 

17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which has a dumb spirit;

18 And wheresoever he takes him, he tears him: and he foams, and gnashes with his teeth, and pines away: and I spoke to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tore him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up; and he arose.

When David was down in the valley of the shadow of death, where Saul, and satan were on his heels night and day, he prayed like never before, and he humbled himself greatly before God, waiting on His word before making any move.

But later on when The Lord exalted David to the highest position as king, he began to take to himself unwarranted liberties, which inevitably led to his downfall, so that he lost respect in his own family and across the nation as a whole. Let’s read:

2nd Samuel 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus, saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul.

8 And I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would moreover have given unto thee such and such things.

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.

Patriarchs & Prophets pp 717] It was the spirit of self-confidence and self-exaltation that prepared the way for David’s fall. Flattery and the subtle allurements of power and luxury were not without effect upon him.

According to the customs prevailing among Eastern rulers, crimes not to be tolerated in subjects were un-condemned in the king; the monarch was not under obligation to exercise the same self-restraint as the subject.

All this tended to lessen David’s sense of the exceeding sinfulness of sin. And instead of relying in humility upon the power of Jehovah, he began to trust to his own wisdom and might.

As soon as Satan could separate the soul from God, the only Source of strength, he will seek to arouse the unholy desires of man’s carnal nature. The work of the enemy is not abrupt; it is not, at the outset, sudden and startling.

It is a secret undermining of the strongholds of principle. It begins in apparently small things—the neglect to be true to God and to rely upon Him wholly.

The same is true of Solomon, who after a day of bright beginnings, where he prayed, and The Lord answered him by fire, he began to become puffed up in his mind, as if he did not need God anymore.

As the Lord increased material blessings to Solomon he started to chart a proud, self-serving course that was contrary to God’s revealed will; a course that would exalt himself in the sight of the people and in the sight of the surrounding nations.

This he began to do when he started to violate God’s law on marriage, by appropriating hundreds of women, and concubines to himself. In other words, God’s doctrine of one wife per man would not pertain to him anymore, for in his mind, he was above the law.

This has caused some to question God’s goodness in blessing him with so much wealth. Indeed, it is a very sad commentary on our sinful nature, that God has to think twice as it were, before blessing us.

The same was true of King Saul, who at first seemed to be so humble, and willing to be led by God. But when he ascended the throne, he also became puffed up later on, so that the God of heaven could not even speak to him anymore. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 15: 10 Then came the word of the Lord unto Samuel, saying,

11 It repents me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.

17 And Samuel said, when you were little in thine own sight, was thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel?

Therefore, our case study will involve Gideon, whom God chose as the instrument to deliver His people from the Midianites. Like David, like Saul and like Solomon, Gideon started off his mission, pretty humble, with a small view of himself, and being ever so careful to consult with God before making any move.

The following passages show how little Gideon thought of himself, and how the angel of God had to encourage and goad him into the heroic act that would place him in the hall of fame with other Bible heroes. Let’s read:

Judges 6: 11 And there came an angel of the Lord and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.

12 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him, and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor.

14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?

15 And he said unto him, Oh my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.

That was then, but later on, after God gave Gideon one of the most stunning victories over the Midianites, Gideon began to take unwarranted liberties to himself. And since praise of the human agent often tends to destabilize the man, Gideon began to falter.

He would not seek God’s face as previously when he had a diminutive opinion of himself, he would not ask God for any more signs and wonders, so that his steps might be guided with wisdom and discretion, and he goes even further by starting his own church with a form of worship God had never ordained or intended.

That’s the main reason why great men fall, for they often begin their mission in a humble frame of mind, but after God exalts them to positions of prominence, they tend to go out on a limb, and they often do, and say things God never commanded.

Thus, we who live in the 21st century would do well to learn from the errors of those who have gone before, because The Lord is again going to do great things for and through His chosen instruments, but He desires that they begin humble, and end with humility. Won’t that be a cute thing! Let’s read:

Judges 8:22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also: for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian.

24 And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings because they were Ishmaelites.)

25 And they answered, we will willingly give them. And they spread a garment and did cast therein every man the earrings of his prey.

27 And Gideon made an ephod thereof, and put it in his city, even in Ophrah: and all Israel went thither a whoring after it: which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.

Whenever persons lose sight of God, it is just a matter of time before they would take a serious hit from devils, and when the hit occurs it will usually take down many others who placed their trust in man. Thus, the following points would help us to navigate the perils that are incidental to God using any of us in a mighty way.

[1] Pray like you never prayed before, and continue to pray, for doing so demonstrates constant dependence on God for wisdom and direction to execute His will.

Whenever and wherever this mode of thought and action is adopted, those who are anointed by God to do great things will be more likely to be faithful to the end, for if The Lord is diligently sought after in everything, He will be more than willing to guide us through unnumbered snares that are set for the feet of the unwary. 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 ye 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.

[2] Avoid like the plague, the tendency, and the habit of taking praise to yourself from fellow fallen mortals. When persons might shower you with praise, let it be promptly directed to God, and if persons insist on praising you, run for your life.

Satan deals in accusation, as well as in praise, and some world leaders have now discovered that this is the key to getting concessions from anyone who suffers with praise. In fact, if you are the type of person who gets going, after you are praised and flattered by people, it is just a matter of time before you will be praised into doing some stupid things.

Let’s take some examples from the Bible so you would be able to identify it when it occurs, even from people who may be ignorant of what they are doing. This point could not be overstated enough since it is of critical importance to those in high places. In fact, it could be a life and death matter, that’s how serious it is. Let’s read:

Daniel 2: 25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus unto him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah, that will make known unto the king the interpretation.

26 The king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art you able to make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof?

27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king.

28 But there is a God in heaven that reveals secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these.

Daniel 5:13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. And the king spoke and said unto Daniel, Art thou that Daniel, which art of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Jewry?

14 I have even heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.

15 And now the wise men, the astrologers, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known unto me the interpretation thereof: but they could not shew the interpretation of the thing.

16 And I’ve heard of you that you make interpretations, and dissolve doubts: now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation thereof, thou shalt be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about thy neck, and shalt be the third ruler in the kingdom.

17 Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.

That was very excellent, and noble of Daniel to deflect all praises to God, but there is a flipside to this coin, because if, and when a person suffers with praise, it can cause the person in question to not only make very bad decisions it could cost him his life.

Praise to the human agent has the effect of destabilizing clear thought and if you are not very careful, it will cause you to do things you would never do under different circumstances. In other words, it can discombobulate the man, thus leading him like Humpty-dumpty to take a great fall. Let’s read:

1st Kings 22:6 Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-Gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord shall deliver it into the hand of the king.

11 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron: and he said, thus saith the Lord, with these shalt thou push the Syrians, until thou have consumed them.

12 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-Gilead, and prosper: for the Lord shall deliver it into the king's hand.

That was the last battle king Ahab fought, for he was slain because he craved flattery over truth, and anyone who is in a high position of trust, who caves, and melts before praise, will be in danger of making very bad decisions not only for themselves, but also for all those who are under their jurisdiction. Let’s read:

[Christ’s Object Lessons 161] We need to shun everything that will encourage pride and self-sufficiency; therefore, we should beware of giving or receiving flattery or praise. It is Satan’s work to flatter. He deals in flattery as well as in accusing and condemnation. Thus, he seeks to work the ruin of the soul.

Those who give praise to men are used by Satan as his agents. Let the workers for Christ direct every word of praise away from themselves. Let self be put out of sight. Christ alone is to be exalted.

[3] The third and final point is for us to observe if there is any developing tendency in our lives to leave God out of the picture in certain circumstances. Some great men and some lay men fall into the habit of praying selectively, by which God’s guidance is sought for some things, but not for others.

If we form the habit of seeking God in everything, then the likelihood of taking a serious fall goes way down. In the Bible, we are encouraged to seek The Lord in all our ways, and the promise is given, that God will direct our paths in right places. Let’s read:

Proverbs 3:4 So shall you 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 your navel, and marrow to your bones.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will encourage us to chart a wise course moving forward. It isn’t necessary for any great man or woman to fall, and it is not God’s will that His servants who are promoted to a place of prominence in society or in the church, become the sport of circumstances.

If we keep God ever before our faces, He will help us to live victoriously, for it is His will that we be kept by His power through faith, through all the vicissitudes of life. Let’s read:

Philippians 4: 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

                                     God Bless!

Faithful In Times of Adversity. Sabbath afternoon 08/30/2025

Malachi 3: 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the store- house, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the Lord of hosts.

12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the Lord of hosts.

Before we begin the study, it must be established in our minds, in the clearest terms, that the first tenth of our increase is holy unto God, and should not be touched for any reason, unless God gives a direct command to do so.

The instruction does not take into consideration nor makes allowance for poverty, adversity, tariffs, rents groceries, student debt, or the sticker shock persons may encounter, when prices for goods and services are going through the roof.

All of the above are never to be reckoned as valid reasons why the tithe should be appropriated for personal use. It is holy unto God, and He reserves it to use at His discretion. This must first be clearly established from the Bible. Let’s read:

Leviticus 27: 30 And all the tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's: it is holy unto the Lord.

32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passes under the rod, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord.

33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it: and if he changes it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy; it shall not be redeemed.

Now, it is true that the Levites who worked for the sanctuary were given the tithes that were brought by the rest of the people. But even the Levites were commanded to return tithes on the tithes they were receiving. That’s because the law releases no one from returning tithes. Let’s read:

Numbers 18:21 And behold I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.

24 But the tithes of the children of Israel, which they offer as a heave offering unto the Lord, I have given to the Levites to inherit: therefore, I have said unto them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

25 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying,

26 Thus speak unto the Levites, and say unto them, when ye take of the children of Israel the tithes which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then ye shall offer up a heave offering of it for the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithe.

The command given to us by God to return a faithful tithe and offering, is intended to keep fresh in our minds, the all-important fact that we are created by Him and are constantly dependent on His sustaining power, for life and all that pertains to life.

It is also intended to create the habit of systematic benevolence, thereby counteracting the endemic issue of covetousness, which is the root of all sin.

If and when these two purposes are fulfilled, there will not be an atheist, and many of the problems we now face will be seen for what they really are, self- inflicted wounds in the overwhelming majority of cases.

According to the Bible, returning a faithful tithe and offering, could greatly mitigate the effects of global warming, it could solve the issue of persistent global hunger in many countries, it could solve the water crisis in the Midwest, and other places.

Very often, when places are in a state of persistent or extreme drought, the underlying problem is not global warming or a lack of rain. The issue is often due to unfaithfulness in returning to The Lord, that which is His.

In fact, returning a faithful tithe could in many cases mitigate several problems you encounter with your car, it could cause your dinero to stretch to the max, and it can cause your mango, and avocado trees to produce profusely.

All of these side effects and more, can in very many instances be tied directly to a person’s or a nation’s faithfulness or unfaithfulness in tithes and offerings, as the case might be.

For instance, when the people in the days of Haggai suffered from severe water shortages, it wasn’t due to global warming, or any of those underlying issues that science often points to. The problems stemmed from the people leaving God for last and, everything else first.

Thus, when persons refuse to acknowledge God as The Giver of everything the focus inevitably shifts to self, and manmade solutions to the problems that are very often incidental to unfaithfulness.

Thus, nations and individuals suffer unnecessarily, and chase after phantom solutions, while the simple answer is to be found in the Scriptures, in very many cases. Let’s read:

Haggai 1:1 Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet, saying,

4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled houses, and this house lie waste?

5 Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

6 Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earns wages earns wages to put it into a bag with holes.

7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is stayed from her fruit.

However, it’s one thing to return a faithful tithe and offering when things are going good, when there is plenty of income, and when inflation is low. But if and when there’s a change of fortune, and adversity sets in for a prolonged season, being faithful at such a time as this can be a completely different animal.

When inflation is heading North and when the price for goods and services is skyrocketing, there is the natural tendency to squeeze, mash brakes and to be tightfisted. That’s all well and good, if doing so does not affect your faithfulness, for God expects us to be faithful, when inflation is low, and when it is high.

Nowadays, many persons are finding it necessary to cut back severely on their spending in order to make ends meet, and in doing so, a strong temptation will often come to the Christian, to put your tithes and offerings on the chopping block.

Miami Dade county is facing a budget deficit of 400 million dollars, and many other counties across the country are currently facing budget shortfalls.

Thus, to make up the difference, property taxes in Dade will be hiked in some places, to as much as 21 % according to the recent information sent out.

In addition to this, the cost of electricity, housing, rent, groceries and gas are taking a definite toll on millions of people, in so much that individuals and families are being forced to migrate, in what we call financial gentrification.

And according to current and foreseeable trends we haven’t seen anything yet, for when the truth of the matter starts to put a firm grip on your expendable income, some hard, and some very difficult choices may have to be made.

n fact, the new word for what is currently taking place is “Sneak-flation” where businesses, and your local grocery and hardware stores are finding some ingenious and innovative ways to hike their prices, since they could only absorb so much of the sticker shock increases for so long.

Again, persons are now finding it necessary to dip into their savings and their 401k, in order to make ends meet, and the credit card ghost is stalking a lot of well-intentioned people, in so much that in some instances, folks are being sucked into the vacuum of spiraling debt.

Thus, if you are a person on a fixed income, certain things may have to be on the chopping block, and things you once took for granted might have to be put on hold, to deal with the emerging situation.

But again, as was stated earlier, God expects us to be faithful in the good times as well as in the times of adversity, because the instructions on tithes and offerings were not designed or meant to be subject to changes in the economy, which tend to fluctuate ever so often.

Therefore, it’s important for us to understand that the tensile strength of the Christian’s faith is tested and certified mostly in times of adversity. In former days of wine and roses when things were going very smoothly, your faith might not have been ruggedly tested.

But as adversity looms on the horizon, and as the new abnormal is taking hold, we may find ourselves having to regroup, and do things differently, so as to be faithful in returning that which is due, through the financial covenants made to God.

An example of what is being spoken of took place in the days of Elijah, when, on account of the king and queen leading the people deep into idolatry, famine with all of its accompanying difficulties, shook the faith of some to the core.

The situation on the ground got so bad that persons were forced to adopt a bare-bones approach to life, in which the nonessentials had to be stripped away, and instead, survival mode set in.

The Christian living in our day will have to learn to eat some humble pie where necessary, for come what may, the tithe and offering which acknowledge God as The Giver and Sustainer of all, must remain intact, even if persons may go into survival mode.

This is what took place with the widow woman of Shunem, who was on her last meal, with nothing to expect for the future. Indeed, she was between a rock and a hard place, for she had her son to take care of, and with unemployment at record levels, it seems as if there was no recourse for her.

Thus, the question comes home forcibly to us: Does the Lord expect folks to still be faithful in tithes and offerings when they are on their last leg of existence or does He give us a pass, until better can be done?

In other words, let’s say the widow woman had to choose between feeding her son, and returning her tithe and offerings, what do you think God would expect her to do in such a life and death situation?

As we study the narrative, let us put ourselves in her shoes, and let us observe the principles of putting God, and the interests of His kingdom, first, for this is what faithfulness, in times of extreme adversity, demonstrates. Let’s read:

1st Kings 17: 8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

At this time water was so scarce that even Ahab the king had to lay aside his kingly robes, and go looking for water, just like everybody else. It was humble pie in the extreme, because the people and beasts were dying, left right, and center.

Thus, it is a very grim request Elijah is making, and the widow will have to make some difficult choices in this first round of testing. Would she put God first in the person of Elijah, or would she seek to provide for her son and herself first?

What would we do if placed in a similar situation? Would we seek for a way to escape our obligations, or would we bite the proverbial bullet and trust the promises of God?

Believe it or not, these are some of the stark choices that may come your way, but let us remember that faith that is not tested, cannot be trusted, especially in times of adversity. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: 5 And Ahab said unto Obadiah, go into the land, unto all fountains of water, and unto all brooks: peradventure we may find grass to save the horses and mules alive, that we lose not all the beasts.

6 So they divided the land between them to pass throughout it: Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.

[Prophets and Kings pp 124] A year passes, and yet there is no rain. The earth is parched as if with fire. The scorching heat of the sun destroys what little vegetation has survived.

Streams dry up, and lowing herds and bleating flocks wander hither and thither in distress. Once-flourishing fields have become like burning desert sands, a desolate waste.

 The air is dry and suffocating; dust storms blind the eyes and nearly stop the breath. Once-prosperous cities and villages have become places of mourning. Hunger and thirst are telling upon man and beast with fearful mortality. Famine, with all its horror, comes closer and still closer.

Again, the question is asked, what should the widow woman do in such a grave situation? Let us say she was living today in Gaza, where food and water are quite scarce to say the least, and her son has been reduced to a skeleton.

If God were to send His servant to request her water that is almost gone, what should she do, and what is the right thing for the you and me to do, if we were in her shoes. Without a murmur, the widow goes on to acknowledge God as the Giver of all things.

But the test of faithfulness hits even closer to home when Elijah asks her to make him some bread from her scanty store. This second test will definitely put her life on the line, for it was barely enough for her and her son. Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:11 And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12 And she said, As the Lord thy God lives I have not a cake, but a handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

This brings us to an understanding of the command to return a faithful tithe and offering, because God does not ask us to do so without giving us promises to support our faith, especially in times of adversity.

Thus, the real question at the heart of the issue is whether or not we would trust God at His word, or whether we will go with logical reasoning that seeks to justify a deviation from principle, because of dire circumstances.

The Lord does not expect the impossible without the supernatural, hence the reason why in Malachi, in Deuteronomy, in Leviticus, in Exodus, and in the current narrative, God always backstops the return of a faithful tithe and offering with promises.

As we study several examples, we will see a pattern of requirement and promise taking shape, for where there’s the command, the supporting network of His promises are surely to be found. Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:13 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the store- house, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Haggai 1: 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.

8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the Lord.

Haggai 2: 18 Consider now from this day and upward, from the four and twentieth day of the ninth month, even from the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider it.

19 Is the seed yet in the barn? yea, as yet the vine, and the fig tree, and the pomegranate, and the olive tree, hath not brought forth: from this day will I bless you.

[Education pp 126] Every command is a promise.

[MB pp 76] In every command or injunction that God gives there is a promise, the most positive, underlying the command.

Apparently, it always comes down to whether or not persons will believe God. This seems to be the crux of the problem, for God does not ask us to return to Him that which is His, without giving us the backing of His promises.

And so said, so done, for after the widow woman Obeyed the command, after she made a deliberate choice to put God, and the interests of His kingdom first, the sacred record tells us that everyone in her household was well fed. Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:15 And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spoke by Elijah.

Again, because we are living at a time of increasing adversity and financial hardship, there will be strong temptations to withhold that which belongs to God and His cause. Poverty, and desperation should not drive the Christian to deviate from principle, for if we do we become the sport of circumstances.

In the New Testament there was another widow who also decided to be faithful in times of adversity. Like the widow in Elijah’s day, she too had been in a bare-bones situation, and as she got dressed to go to church, she realized that all she had remaining was two mites.

The logical thing to do may seem to be her keeping her pennies and trying to stretch them ever so far. But logic and common sense are often the diabolical enemies of faith, and so she takes her two mites to church in obedience to the command of God.

What follows next is worthy of note, because God does not assess situations and motives the way we do. Being faithful is not so much about quantity, as it is about quality, for God loves and approves of the cheerful giver. Let’s read:

Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

2 And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3 And he said, of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all.

4 For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.

From the experiences of the two widows, and from the instructions given in the Bible, we can take away four essential points to guide us, even as we head into choppy waters.

[1] God requires, and He expects the Christian to be faithful when things are going well and when things not going so good.

Luke 16: 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

[2] He desires that we make deliberate plans to give, and not to leave giving for the spur of the moment, to be driven by feelings, appeals, or shaming, as the case may be.

1st Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

[3] We should seek the kingdom of God and the interests thereof first.

[4] The promises of God are given as a backstop to base your faithfulness on.

It always comes down to believing God, not only on the issue of tithes and offerings, but on every other issue, command and instruction we receive from His word. In fact, everything that pertains to victorious Christian living, inevitably boils down to believing God.

Yes, you do have urgent bills to pay, no one would dispute that, and yes there are things that are very important that need to be addressed, or else. But they are not more important than being faithful to God, by acknowledging Him as the Giver of all things.

Your groceries, mortgage, rent, pet food, car notes, electric bills, cell phones, student loans, manicures and pedicures, credit card bills, water bills, gas bills, and general maintenance of the home all have to be taken care of.

But the principle of putting God first is the ordained means by which the storehouses of heaven are to be opened up to the believing person and therefore, if God can trust you with ten thousand, then He can trust you with ten million, because your faithfulness will run as a common thread throughout your entire life experience.

Let there be major changes in our perspectives and practice wherever warranted, because the just shall live by faith. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will encourage us to faithful, even in times of adversity, because the promises of God are designed to withstand, tariffs, inflation, recessions, and sticker shock. Let’s read:

Matthew 6: 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

                                   God Bless!

Who Can Forgive Sins, But God Only. Sabbath afternoon 08/23/2025

Mark 2: 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

6 But there was certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

There are certain prerogatives which belong to God alone, and one of them is the authority to forgive sins. Even though Christians are instructed to forgive other persons their trespasses, we cannot absolve a person of guilt, where wrongs were committed.

We are encouraged not to pursue a course of action that is vengeful in nature, and we are to forgive our fellowmen in the sense that we would not hold sins against ourselves against them, but as far as pardon and absolving goes, that is God’s territory alone.

The reason why this authority belongs solely to God is because we never shed blood for the remission of any sins. Thus, according to the Bible, pardoning sin and the authority to forgive, will legally require the shedding of blood, and no one else but Christ has ever done this. Let’s read:

Hebrews 9: 22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Thus, the Christian can let things slide when wrongs are committed against his or her person, and we can and should pursue reconciliation whenever we can, but we of ourselves can never forgive sin. That is the territory, and the prerogative of God alone.

Thus, when Jesus instructs us to forgive one another He is referring to not pursuing justice, where justice is due, but rather seeking to foster reconciliation by not holding grudges or resentment against persons.

A Biblical example of this was manifested when king Saul pursued David like a wild beast in the caves and mountains yet David decided not to mete out justice when he had the opportunity to do so. David’s men in some of these instances drooled for revenge, but David held firm, and would try to get even.

David went even further, for after the death of Saul, he mourned for the king, and he took care of Saul’s family who survived. Thus, the following passages show that David forgave Saul his trespasses, but as far as the sins of Saul goes, they remain unto this day, for he never sought for God for forgiveness.

So yes, David took the high road, by not rendering evil for evil, and by not harboring bad feelings, and hatred against Saul, but those actions do absolutely nothing to remove any of Saul’s sins from the books of heaven, for only God can forgive sins. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 24:2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats.

3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

4 And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.

5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6 And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.

7 So David stayed his servants with these words, and suffered them not to rise against Saul. But Saul rose up out of the cave, and went on his way.

8 David also arose afterward, and went out of the cave, and cried after Saul, saying, My lord the king. And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself.

9 And David said to Saul, wherefore do you listen to men's words, saying, Behold, David seeks thy hurt?

10 Behold, this day thine eyes have seen how that the Lord had delivered thee to day into mine hand in the cave: and some bade me kill thee: but mine eye spared thee; and I said, I will not put forth mine hand against my lord; for he is the Lord's anointed.

11 Moreover, my father, see, yea, see the skirt of thy robe in my hand: for in that I cut off the skirt of thy robe, and killed thee not, know thou and see that there is neither evil nor transgression in mine hand, and I have not sinned against thee; yet you hunt my soul to take it.

16 And it came to pass, when David had made an end of speaking these words unto Saul, that Saul said, Is this thy voice, my son David? And Saul lifted up his voice, and wept.

17 And he said to David you art more righteous than I: for thou have rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

18 And you have shewed this day how that you have dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the Lord had delivered me into thine hand, thou killed me not.

19 For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the Lord reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

Also, after the death of Saul David mourned several days for the slain leader, and he meted out justice twice, on persons who had done violence to Saul’s family thereby demonstrating in real time the words of Christ, to forgive men their trespasses.

However, for all this not one of Saul’s sins were ever removed from the records in heaven. That’s because at the end of the day as our first passage states, only God can forgive sins. The reason why it is important to make this point absolutely clear is so that we may understand the solemn nature of the study.

One of the main reasons why God never delegated the forgiving of sin to any mortal man is because if He left it up to us, the authority would inevitably be seriously abused. Persons would begin to pick, and choose who to forgive, and those who could afford it would pay to have their sins remitted.

Famous people, and Hollywood stars who are in bed with persons who have pardoning powers would be let off the hook, and without a doubt pardon would be guaranteed to family members, close friends and associates, while individuals who have committed far lesser sins would be put on the midnight train to hell.

Over the centuries many persons have taken it upon themselves to forgive sin and pardon criminals. This practice became widespread especially during the dark ages, and it persists to this very day. So, instead of confessing and turning to God for pardon, people are now looking to mortal man to absolve or forgive as the case may be.

Now, there are a couple difficult passages that have to be understood thoroughly, before we proceed, because a cursory reading of them might seem to suggest that Jesus granted the authority to forgive to some persons.

These passages must now be confronted, explained and thoroughly understood, so that the light that is streaming from God’s throne on this matter could be made plain to everyone. Here are a few of those passages. Let’s read:

John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.

23 Whosoever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whosoever sins you retain, they are retained.

The disciples were not to retain, or remit anyone’s sins independent of God. They were to let persons know of the conditions and requirements laid down in Scripture, and then, depending on the course of action taken by the individuals in question, Christ would remove, or retain their sins.

But the removal, and retention of sins rested solely with God alone. This has always been the case, and it will remain the case until the last sin on the planet is either retained or remitted for eternity.

Therefore, the servant of The Lord lays out the only correct interpretation to the above passage, so that any and everyone may know the truth in the matter.

To put it plainly God, and God alone could pardon or forgive sin, and wherever this authority is usurped by any mortal the person who seeks pardon through human agencies, outside of Christ, will have all their sins retained and unforgiven in the books of heaven.

And if this knowledge never dawns upon the mind, or is rejected in favor of human pardons, those sins will usher the person in question into never land. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 806] Remission of sins can be obtained only through the merits of Christ. To no man, to no body of men, is given power to free the soul from guilt.

Christ charged His disciples to preach the remission of sins in His name among all nations; but they themselves were not empowered to remove one stain of sin. The name of Jesus is the only “name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Acts 4:12.

Again, some persons erroneously believe that Peter was granted power to forgive sins, but in the first example given, we see Christ addressing all of the disciples, not only Peter.

In fact, the next example speaks about Peter being given the keys of heaven, and authority to bind and loose things in heaven and earth as the case might be. Peter, as well as all of the other disciples were never to do any of these things on, or of their own.

They were commissioned to declare to the people the written word of God, which contains the terms and conditions upon which pardon may be granted, but they were not to take it upon themselves to try to pardon anyone. In fact, later on in the next verses we see where even Peter was in need of pardon. Let’s read:

Matthew 16: 18 And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

In the above passage, Peter was not given a special set of keys to the kingdom that was not available to the other disciples. The keys to the kingdom are in fact given to every believer, for they consist of every word in the Bible, which contains the revealed will of God.

A key is a mechanism by which on can gain entrance to a place, person, or thing, and therefore, we must never conclude that just because Jesus singled out Peter by name on this occasion that the others were left out. They were not.

John is specifically described in the Scriptures as the disciple that Jesus loved. This does not mean that Jesus did not love the other disciples. Thus, because Christ names one person specifically in an instance, we are not to conclude that some special privilege is granted to pardon, that the others are not privy to.

Thus, if we were to reason along strictly logical lines we would have to conclude that by handing the keys of the kingdom to Peter, Jesus thereby gave satan the keys, because of how He addressed Peter, later on in verse 23. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 413>414] “The keys of the kingdom of heaven” are the words of Christ. All the words of Holy Scripture are His, and are here included. These words have power to open and to shut heaven.

They declare the conditions upon which men are received or rejected. Thus, the work of those who preach God's word is a savor of life unto life or of death unto death. Theirs is a mission weighted with eternal results.  

The Savior did not commit the work of the gospel to Peter individually. At a later time, repeating the words that were spoken to Peter, He applied them directly to the church.

 And the same in substance was spoken also to the twelve as representatives of the body of believers. If Jesus had delegated any special authority to one of the disciples above the others, we should not find them so often contending as to who should be the greatest.

This leads us to our case study for today, in which persons presumed to usurp the authority of God to pardon, and as we will observe, perversion would inevitably be woven into act. Let’s read:

Pardon: The action of forgiving or being forgiven for an error or offense.

The authority to forgive sin was never ordained, nor was it ever intended to be exercised by anyone, but God alone, yet, the people in Christ’s day had come up with a custom that had become quite popular at the time.

And, as will always be the case when mortals take to themselves authority that belongs to God alone, the practice was adopted ultimately perverted by Pilate.

On the occasion of the Passover, they would pardon someone arbitrarily without the conditions set forth in the Scriptures being applied to the case. Thus, a convicted felon could be eligible for pardon without confessing that he had done wrong, and without an effort to turn away from his sins, as God stipulates.

Pardon is conditional, and it is not something to be trifled with or to be taken lightly, because it involves letting persons off of the hook, for wrongs and sins committed. Therefore, in the clearest terms the God of heaven lays out the way in which forgiveness is to be granted.

Any deviation from the Scriptural stipulation is the equivalent of sitting in the seat of God, or usurping the authority and prerogatives which belong to God alone. 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.

Ezekiel 18: 27 Again, when the wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and does that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive.

28 Because he considers, and turns away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall  surely live, he shall not die.

But here comes Barrabas who never confesses any sin, he does not turn away, and he does not even consider or reflect on the evils he has done. There’s no deep soul-searching on his part, and no remorse as when a person takes an introspect look at his or her deeds.

Yet, he is pardoned by Pilate, for no other reason than the people clamoring for his release. There is not one iota of justice in the act of letting him go free, it’s just Pilate wielding power that was never granted him by God.

It was, and is a practice of human devising but it has no foundation whatsoever in the Bible. The power to forgive sin was never ordained nor intended to be exercised by any person other than Christ. Even with the keys of heaven in their hands the disciples could not forgive any sin, nor pardon anyone, let alone a convicted felon. 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.

21 The governor answered and said unto them, which of the two will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

22 Pilate saith unto them, what shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, let him be crucified.

[The Desire of Ages pp 733] The Roman authorities at this time held a prisoner named Barabbas, who was under sentence of death. This man had claimed to be the Messiah. He claimed authority to establish a different order of things, to set the world right.

He had done wonderful things through satanic agencies, he had gained a following among the people, and had excited sedition against the Roman government. Under cover of religious enthusiasm, he was a hardened and desperate villain, bent on rebellion and cruelty.

[The Desire of Ages pp 733] It was customary at this feast to release some prisoner whom the people might choose. This custom was of pagan invention; there was not a shadow of justice in it, but it was greatly prized by the Jews.

Then, down through the ages, including the dark ages and onward to the 21st century, the practice of mortals forgiving sin and pardoning persons outside of the Scriptural stipulation continues. During those dark days when the word of God was chained to the monasteries, the practice of pardoning persons was terribly abused.

In particular, Tetzel of Germany, a convicted felon was employed to sell pardons, to raise funds for the Roman church, and what he then did, would make the prophets turn in their graves. Take a look:

[The Great Controversy pp 127] As Tetzel entered a town, a messenger went before him, announcing, “The grace of God and of the holy father is at your gates.” And the people welcomed the blasphemous pretender as if he were God himself come down from Heaven to them.

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.

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.

Hence the reason why there are two very important prophecies in the Scriptures which now warrant the utmost attention. These two prophecies would shed great light on the here and now, and what we could expect to prepare for in the very near future. Let’s read:

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.

Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon.

12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

The above passage in 2nd Thessalonians 2 speaks of the papal system, which for centuries has usurped both the position and authority of God in the minds of billions of people. This it has done by doing two very important maneuvers:

[1] By accepting worship which belongs to God alone.

[2] By claiming the authority to pardon, and forgive sins.

But then in Revelation 13 John tells us that the lamb like beast would be exercising all the power of the papacy, whose deadly wound was healed. Thus, it is a no-brainer that the exercise of “All” the power of the first beast would include the issue of forgiving and pardoning sins.

However, because of our flawed human nature, it is inevitable that just like how Tetzel had abused the power to forgive and pardon, the lamblike beast will also follow his lead, and abuse the same power that was never vested in it by God.

And all of the accompanying terrors that existed in the dark ages as a result, will be regurgitated by the lamblike beast, hence the reason why God is calling on us now to consider our ways.

Mortal man cannot free any soul of guilt, for when Barabbas was then pardoned by Pilate, he left his jail cell with a truckload of sins, unrepented of and also unforgiven.

In our day, persons, and congregants who look to mortal men for forgiveness may be told that they’ve been pardoned, but The Lord will have us know that doing so does not move the needle in the books of heaven.

Therefore, if any person sincerely desires pardon or forgiveness, he or she will need to follow the Biblical methods, ways, and means in order for your slate to be wiped clean in the heavenly courts.

God is still in the business of pardoning, but He will bring that work to a close, when human probation no longer exists, and then it will be too late to make your move in any meaningful way, because once the words “It is finished” are uttered, there will be no recourse for anyone.

And according to the Scripture, this final chapter of earth’s history will take place quite unexpectedly, at a time when most persons on the planet would not be looking for it. Let’s read:

Mark 13: 35 Watch ye therefore: for you know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight or at the cockcrowing or in the morning.

36 Lest coming suddenly, he finds you sleeping.

37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

1st Thessalonians 5: 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

[ The Great Controversy pp 88] The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state—men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above.

Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men.  

While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure-lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments,—it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence, “Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.”

The Lord is now sending us these warnings so that we would not be deceived by philosophies that have invaded the minds of millions.

In other words, now is the time for us to do serious soul searching, and wherever there are any secret sins, unconfessed and unforsaken, let us hasten to the throne of grace so that we could obtain real mercy.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will help us avoid the noise, and it is the will of God that we hold the present truth in clear, steady lines in our minds, thus enabling us to walk with a steady and even tread. Let’s read:

Exodus 34: 6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty….

                                 God Bless!

The Prince of Darkness Arrives. Sabbath afternoon 08/16/2025

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

During the closing scenes of earth’s history the Bible tells us that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, and the dragon is scheduled to go to war against all of earth’s inhabitants, but the remnant of God’s people living upon the earth will be especially singled out.

Thus, because there is currently an astronomical increase of demonic activity across the entire globe we must be made aware that it is not some future time that the Lord is speaking of, the time is now and the place is here. In other words, it is right at our doorsteps presently.

Because evil angels for the most part remain hidden from view, it is necessary for the Christian to have spiritual discernment that is born of God, to know whenever there’s a significant uptick in their activity especially in the context of the final conflict.

The alarm is being sounded at such a time as this so that the remnant people of God will be prepared for whatsoever would be heading our way, and to deal prudently with the fallout from those activities that will be increasing at the speed of lightening.

It is the most solemn statement that we make, that we are not living in normal times by any means, but instead we have entered a new abnormal, by which we can expect a general winding down of events as earth’s history hits its climax, in the conflict of the ages.

This is not mere hype, coming from the figments of our imagination, it is a five-alarm fire being sounded by The God of heaven, to let us know that prophecy and reality will be converging in the not too distant future. 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;

2 A day of darkness, and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

So, before we delve into the specifics of the arrival of the prince of darkness, we will do well to observe similarities between the activity of termites and the work of devils, for they have strategies in common that are worthy of note.

Here in the sunshine state where the weather gets hot and humid in the summer months, there is a proliferation of winged termites which go through a sort of metamorphoses, before entering your house and they can do tremendous damage if they are left undetected and unaddressed.

The following information contains the pointers and warnings given by Orkin pest control, to make folks aware of their activities, even as they remain hidden from view. They also show how to detect them, the signs to look for, and how to deal with the problem whenever it occurs.

Let us pay close attention to the highlighted words in the excerpts, for they represent some similarities between termites, and the workings of evil angels which we will address later on. Let’s read:

                                 From Orkin

How to Identify Termite Activity/ Signs of Termites Termites can often live on your property, or inside your home for an extended period of time before being detected.

Whether it’s drywood termites, which burrow deep within wooden structures or subterranean termites, which are primarily found underground, these discreet intruders can be tough to discover before significant damage has already been done.

To help keep damage to a minimum, it’s crucial to catch the warning signs as soon as possible.

             How to Identify Termite Infestations

Detecting a termite infestation early is essential to prevent costly structural damage to your home. Termites can silently compromise the integrity of a building, making it important for homeowners to recognize the warning signs of their activity. Here are some common indicators to look for.

One of the most noticeable signs of a drywood termite infestation is the presence of tiny, pellet-like droppings. Crumbling or Damaged Wood: Such as crumbling or soft spots, is also a clear indicator of termite feeding.  

Hollow-Sounding Wood: Wood that sounds hollow when tapped could indicate termites have been feeding inside, often causing damage that goes unnoticed.

We will be focusing squarely on the most obvious sign, that of droppings. Since droppings are a sure way to detect the presence of termites, we have to identify what are the spiritual droppings that would indicate that there is an infestation of evil angels, so signaling that the prince of darkness is present.

Question: What are the spiritual “Droppings”? Answer: The droppings, just like the termite pellets are those natural byproducts of increased demonic activity which are revealed to us in the Bible. Here are some of them:

[1] Droppings of incessant and unwarranted Lying. Anywhere there is an over-abundance of lies daily, often with no logical reason or need, there you have a foolproof indicator that the prince of darkness has increased his presence. Let’s read:

John 8: 44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

[2] Pellets of cruelty and unwarranted killings. These two droppings are currently being manifested across the globe, and they represent a surefire sign that the prince of darkness is present on the ground with hosts of evil angels in tow.

These pellets or droppings could be seen on a daily basis, in Sudan, in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Ecuador, Haiti and in almost every nation under heaven. Droppings are also seen in the uptick of mass shootings across the land. These signs tell us that the activities of the prince of darkness have increased greatly. Let’s read:

John 8:44 He was a murderer from the beginning.

John 8: 39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

40 But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.

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!

16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;

17 That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners?

20 Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

[3] False accusations. Wherever there is an abundance of accusations and constant finger pointing on a daily basis, there you’ll have droppings from the prince of darkness. Words of accusation had their beginnings in heaven, when lucifer accused God falsely of many things.

Here are just a few, so that we can understand why a day does not pass without fresh accusations being on the menu. What the world is now witnessing is not merely the doings of men, it is the outworking of methods, way and means coming directly from the prince of darkness. Let’s read:

[Spirit of Prophecy, Bk 1 pp 18>22] Concealing his real purposes, he assembled the angelic host. He introduced his subject, which was himself. As one aggrieved, he related the preference God had given Jesus to the neglect of himself.

He told them that henceforth all the sweet liberty the angels had enjoyed was at an end. For had not a ruler been appointed over them, to whom they from henceforth must yield servile honor?

He stated to them that he had called them together to assure them that he no longer would submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs; that he would take the honor upon himself which should have been conferred upon him.

And then he turned from the loyal and true angels, denouncing them as slaves. He told them that himself and they also had now gone too far to go back, that God would not forgive.

And now they must assert their liberty and gain by force the position and authority which was not willingly accorded to them.

He claimed that angels needed no law; but should be left free to follow their own will, which would ever guide them right; that law was a restriction of their liberty.

These are some of the reasons why in the book of Revelation, John saw the accuser of the brethren at his old job, carrying on the work that was begun in heaven, and now being witnessed on a wider stage on planet earth.

It’s not really about the human agent. What we are witnessing are the droppings of those termites we spoke about earlier, the natural byproducts of the prince of darkness, as he ramps up his diabolical work in the final days of earth’s history. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God, day and night.

Zechariah 3:1 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.

[4] Deception. Wherever you see deception running rampant, as a part of the daily fabric of life; wherever there are constant efforts to mislead, misinform, twist facts, and subjugate the truth, you could be assured that the prince of darkness is increasing his activities and his presence. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:9 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.

2nd Timothy 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

[5] A craving for praise and self-adoration. An unusually insatiable craving for human praises, and adoration is one clear signal that the prince of darkness has significantly increased his footprint in the area, where persons indulge this craving.

Praise and worship belong to God, for it is His due, because of the fact that everything, and all people were created by Him. Therefore, when any created being desires worship and praise, they are thereby attempting to rob The Lord of what is naturally and rightfully His.

This is what started the whole problem in heaven, which then led to the fall of one third of the angels. It was lucifer’s craving for worship and praise which led to dissatisfaction and fault finding with God, and anyone on earth who follows his lead, will inevitably be seeking worship, sooner rather than later. 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.

Here again is another instance of that same craving for worship and adoration, as manifested in a mortal man. The desire is being driven, not only by his own indulgence.

It is the same luciferian spirit on display, that’s being fostered and encouraged by the prince of darkness, who remains hidden from view just like the termites we spoke of earlier. And inevitably, the dragon’s ire will be turned against all who refuse to worship the human agent representing his kingdom. Let’s read:

Esther 3: 2 And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath.

Now, there is something of critical importance for us to observe as we go into the study, for in every case and instance recorded in the Bible, where the prince of darkness showed up, the people or the individual never saw him in reality.

The reason why this must be considered is because persons in our day would not see a direct, real devil yet. That time will eventually come just before Jesus comes, but up until that time the prince of darkness will be greatly increasing his presence and activities  through human beings.

This is what is currently taking place, but because it is not recognized nor understood for what it is, folks are pointing fingers, and blaming the human agents. Observe carefully what is being revealed in the next examples, for the prince of darkness arrives, yet the people in question have not a clue. 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.

Matthew 16: 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for you savor not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

1st Samuel 16:14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.

15 And Saul's servants said unto him, behold now, an evil spirit from God troubles thee.

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.

1st Samuel 18:10 And it came to pass that on the morrow 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.

John 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

27 And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, what you do, do quickly.

28 Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spoke this unto him.

Mark 9: 17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

18 And wheresoever he taketh him, he tears him:

and he foams, and gnashes with his teeth, and pines away: and I spoke to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.

20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tore him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.

25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him.

26 And the spirit cried and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead.

There’s a popular saying that goes like this: “If you see something, say something.” Do you mean to say that in all of these examples, not a single individual ever saw the prince of darkness? Not one? Not even king David who was blessed with such great spiritual discernment did not see anything?

Since that is true, it tells us that we are in very deep trouble, in the here and now, where we are seeing droppings and pellets piling up all over, the natural byproducts of the prince of darkness falling left right and center across the entire globe. And yet, no real to life devil is ever seen!

The next example shows us that demonic activities are not limited to your everyday John public. There was a time in the days of Christ and thereafter when the prince of darkness arrived, and took the reins of control from a nation, and again, the inhabitants of the city never ever saw a real devil. Let’s read:

Matthew 27: 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

21 The governor answered and said unto them, which of the two will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.

Here on display were two ambassadors, from two entirely different kingdoms, Barabbas representing the kingdom of darkness, and Jesus representing the kingdom of light. Therefore, when they asked for Barabbas, the invisible leader of that particular kingdom was the one that was really chosen.

If two nations have to negotiate on a very important national issue, such as trade, they’ll often send their representatives to the bargaining table, just like how the president of China does not always attend high stake summits personally. It is not always necessary for him to do so, because designated persons could represent him.

Thus, if an agreement is reached and decided upon, it is not merely the negotiator’s wishes that were in negotiation, it would have been the real leaders of the nations in question, whose will was done, and who would ultimately approve and appropriate the stated results.

Thus, when Barabbas was chosen, he represented the prince of darkness, who then approved the choice that was made, and who ultimately went on to rule the people with an iron fist.

Pay very close attention to what followed not long after he arrives on the scene, with his newly minted authority and mandate. This is what will be coming down the pike for all of earth’s inhabitants who are not sheltered by God’s power. Let’s read:

[The great controversy pp 88] Then God withdrew His protection from them, and He 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, controlled by impulse and blind rage. They became Satanic in their cruelty.

In the family and in the nation, among the highest and the lowest classes alike, there was suspicion, envy, hatred, strife, rebellion, murder.

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.

Then, in the most solemn words, the warning comes down to all earth’s inhabitants in our day, that there will be an astronomical increase in droppings, and pellets, the naturally occurring byproducts of the prince of darkness.

The following prophecy is not given or written in the Scriptures to scare anyone; it is written so that folks might position themselves intelligently in Christ, so that we can be covered, and sheltered by His power at a time when things will be looking pretty grim.

As we read, we will highlight some of the same old droppings and pellets we saw earlier, for this is what will tell us of the arrival of the prince of darkness. Let’s read:

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 permits will permit, until he be taken out of the way.

8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness

in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

The power and the ability to subdue evil impulses is to be found in Christ alone, for we cannot, in and of ourselves subdue anything pertaining to our fallen human nature. Hence the reason why the prince of darkness is dead set on causing the Christian to be distracted from the real issues on the menu.

In other words, if the you and me in the here and now were to observe some of the same droppings in our own lives, now is the time to clean house as it were, for the prince of darkness could only arouse that which lies dormant within.

Many persons are filled with consternation at how rapidly deterioration is occurring across the globe. It is those dormant, latent tendencies that were never fully overcome, being fanned into life by the arrival of the prince of darkness.

And according to the Scriptures, you have not seen anything as yet, because we are just at the tip of the iceberg. In other words, as the 2nd coming of Jesus draws near every day, final movements will be rapid ones and individuals who are not governed by Christ will be doing unthinkable things.

Therefore, it’s an urgent appeal that is made for all to find refuge in Christ whilst we still can so that the work of salvation could run its course in our hearts, and bring to maturity, a Christlike character that will stand the test of time.

Hence the reason why we find it necessary, and we encourage you to pray like you never did before, so that the trickle-down effects of the droppings would not infect our minds imperceptibly.

If you find yourself craving compliments, praise and adoration from fellow mortals, if we find ourselves eagerly listening to juicy tidbits of tales, if we find ourselves using deception in any form, if we see the tendency to lie, or bear false witness, and if we are indulging pride, now is the time to have a serious talk with God.

The servant of The Lord puts the preparation that is needed for such a time as this, in the most solemn terms; and the reason for this is that the shakedown that is coming, will be so severe that persons who in times past, glowed with potential, could go out into utter darkness when prime time comes around. Let’s read:

[The Great controversy pp 622] Now, while our great High Priest is making the atonement for us, we should seek to become perfect in Christ. Not even by a thought could our Savior be brought to yield to the power of temptation.

Satan finds in human hearts some point where he can gain a foot-hold; some sinful desire is cherished by means of which his temptations assert their power. But Christ declared of himself, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” [John 14:30.]

Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept his Father's commandments, and there was no sin in him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.

May The Lord help us to understand the import of these things, and may we be willing to make all the necessary changes, by the grace and power of God working within us. We therefore end with a passage of Scripture that will help us to do so. Let’s read:

2nd Peter 1: 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                 God Bless!

Who Is The Greatest Among You. Sabbath afternoon 08/09/2025

 Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.

21 And he said unto her, what wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.

22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, we are able.

24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren.

25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.

26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

28 Even as The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

It was the revealed will of God to make the nation of Israel great in the sight of the other nations, which in turn would bring honor to His name, while at the same time attracting the peoples of earth to the One and only true God.

And since God’s purposes for His people, the world over have not changed with the passage of time, we who live in the 21st century are gently reminded in the Bible of what it means to be great in the sight of heaven.

According to the Scriptures, true greatness consists of several components which when interfaced with each other, produces a person or a nation of sterling character.

Many of the things that are accounted as greatness in the world, are foolishness in the sight of God and Christians are cautioned to avoid conflating the two very different concepts in our minds, lest we come to wrong conclusions, and cultivate aspirations that are neither endorsed or recognized by The Lord.

According to worldly, and secular concepts, a great man, or a great nation is one that has tremendous wealth, one that wields unlimited, and apparently unchecked power, and one that has other people and nations in subservience. 

This is what Nebuchadnezzar gloried in when all of a sudden, the voice from heaven announced the great change in his fortunes by which he was rendered on a level playing field with animal kingdom.

Napoleon, Hitler, and Alexander the great were all looked up to by their underlings as being great, and yet, the records show that their history leaves much to be desired. Great conquests were made by some, and nations were subjugated in other instances, but in the books of heaven, their achievements amount to minus zero.

That is because greatness apart from God amounts to nothingness, when contrasted with the wisdom that comes through God, by following the laws, and principles of His kingdom.

Conversely, whenever the revealed word of God is incorporated into the operations of any community, nation, family or individual, the inevitable results would be both spiritual, and temporal greatness.

It cannot be otherwise, for the gold standard comes from the Greatest of all kings, even The Lord of the universe, who not only delineates what greatness is, but also is the embodiment of all that is written as it pertains to being great. Let’s read:

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 because 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.

7 For what nation is there so great, who has God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we call upon him for?

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?

Hence the reason why the Bible warns us not to allow ourselves to be sucked into a vortex of secular, worldly-minded greatness but instead Christians are strongly advised to follow the gold standard as is set forth in Jesus Christ, who is our great Exemplar in all things.

In other words, individuals who might be rich and famous, but who do not have the fear of the Lord before their face, with Jesus in their hearts, those persons would be destitute of true greatness, until they conform to, and adopt the Biblical criterion. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 3: 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seems to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.

19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

The Scriptures then go on to define the specifics of true greatness, when applied in the real world, and when they are adopted by communities, individuals, families, and governments, as was God’s purpose for His people, they will produce the desired results because the gold standard comes from The Lord.

The following therefore are some characteristics or manifestations of true greatness, and it is the will of God that who the cap fits, let them wear it.

[1] True greatness begins with having the fear of the Lord before your face and adopted as a foundational working principle in all that we think say or do. Let’s read:

Proverbs 9: 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 1: 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

In these two verses we see the beginning of wisdom and the beginning of knowledge. The reason why the two words are used is because wisdom is the correct, and prudent use of knowledge, therefore they are presented, and they are intended to be an inseparable whole.

Knowledge in the hands of a fool could be quite dangerous, and could bring nations and persons to the brink of extinction. Therefore, knowledge and wisdom are to be regarded as two peas in one pod.

[2] Greatness is also manifested by the control you exercise over your words. In other words, to speak and act impulsively, and to let loose a barrage of unbecoming words, if and when you become ticked off, shows great weakness, not greatness.

Proverbs 29: 20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

Proverbs 17: 28 Even a fool when he holds his peace is accounted as wise, and he that shuts his mouth is esteemed a man of understanding.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 567] Physically, Samson was the strongest man upon the earth; but in self-control, integrity, and firmness, he was one of the weakest of men. Many mistake strong passions for a strong character, but the truth is that he who is mastered by his passions is a weak man. The real greatness of the man is measured by the power of the feelings that he controls, not by those that control him.

[3] Gentleness is a manifestation of greatness, and the opposite is true, for wherever there is unbridled cruelty being manifested, great weakness is also on display.

Psalms 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath held me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

Bullies are not only cowards, they are also weak, as was manifested in the demise of Saddam Hussein, Bin laden and Hitler, who all went into hiding when hunted, instead of coming out, and bravely facing the music.

When they were relishing their moment of power, they took satanic delight in the use of brute force, and many persons were slain, and treated with the utmost cruelty, but that shows underlying weakness and fear.

It is worthy of note, that with all that satan has done on planet earth, with all the destruction, and brute force he has exercised over the centuries, someway, somehow, he much prefers to remain hidden from view.

Even when he’s scheduled to make live appearances just before Jesus comes, he will still wrap himself in the garbs of deception. In fact, one of his greatest fears is that of being disclosed, for it bothers him if he were to be found out.

This is the reason why he personally pushes theories which try to prove that he doesn’t exist. So yes, the bullies on your block, in your neighborhood, and in your schools are not only cowards, they suffer from inner fears, which they try to cover up with the use of force.

That was the case with king Saul, as he twice hurled a javelin at David, in his attempts to pin him to the wall. It was an inner fear of losing the kingdom that drove him to do as he did in so much that whenever the dark premonitions haunted him, he would lash out at anyone, even his own family. Let’s read:

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, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

[4] True greatness is also manifested by being kind, and being a lover of the truth. One of the important underlying characteristics of sheep is that they love truth. That is the reason why they hear The Master’s voice when He speaks, because they love truth.

1st Corinthians 13:4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth.

[5] True greatness is also manifested by the person being humble. Pride and haughtiness make a person look small, and there’s usually a great loss of respect and credibility in the eyes of the beholders. Let’s read:

Proverbs 16: 18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better it is to be of a humble spirit with the lowly than to divide the spoil with the proud.

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.

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.

15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

This leads us to our case study in greatness which is found in our opening passages. In that instance, the sons of Zebedee went privately to Jesus, behind the other disciples’ backs as it were, and they, with their mother, asked for the highest place in His kingdom, something that all of the disciples were secretly or openly cherishing.

When the news of what they had done came to the attention of the other ten disciples, it sparked bitter feelings of resentment, and deep animosity among them in so much that it threatened to shatter unity, and peace, which Jesus sought to establish within His own inner circle.

Judas in particular was incensed at the brazenness and bold-facedness of the request made by James and John, that they should have the gall to take it upon themselves by asking for the highest place in the kingdom, and worst yet, to do so secretly.

This then triggered a race to the top, because, even though James and John had harbored the desire of being first and greatest in the kingdom, the other 10 disciples also were cherishing the same sentiments, and now, the question spilled out into the open, as they vied and jostled for the highest place.

Of course, as it always will be with those who crave worldly greatness, the elimination process begins, for each one estimates himself as being superior or more worthy than the other, and so they begin to check off each other, one by one, as in the game of survivor.

And, in this frame of mind, they would be in danger of doing whatsoever it takes, to push their fellows down while lifting up themselves, for whenever it is the case that there is a craving for worldly greatness the end will justify the means, whatever the means may be.

Judas started writing off the disciples one by one as he sought to big up himself for the top position. He begins with James and John, who were just mere fishermen and who did not even have the education or the finesse necessary, to be at the top.

It's true they could fish, but they were not proficient with computers, so they would lack the necessary skills and the know-how for the job.

He also scratches off Matthew, as being in bed with the Romans on the issue of taxes, because the Jews viewed those who collected taxes for the Romans as national traitors.

Judas even writes off Jesus Christ as being too timid to wrest the reins of control from the Romans, and so, one by one, everybody else seems not to be up to the challenge in his mind and thus, lo and behold, there’s only one left standing, me myself and I. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 717] Judas was highly regarded by the disciples, and had great influence over them. He himself had a high opinion of his own qualifications, and looked upon his brethren as greatly inferior to him in judgment and ability.

The church would never prosper with such short- sighted men as leaders. Peter was impetuous; he would move without consideration. John, who was treasuring up the truths that fell from Christ's lips, was looked upon by Judas as a poor financier.

Thus, Judas summed up all the disciples, and flattered himself that the church would often be brought into perplexity and embarrassment if it were not for his ability as a manager.

Thus, hurt feelings, wounded pride, and great anger at the two disciples pervaded the atmosphere, in so much that Jesus had to address the volatile situation before it spun out of control. And He did so with the gentleness and wisdom that is born of God.

He didn’t point fingers, call them names, nor did He rebuke them in any visceral language, for this would only pour salt into an open wound, and would then produce the opposite effect Jesus desired.

When a situation arises, where brethren, or family members become incensed as they vie for the best, the highest or the greatest remember that you must never fight fire with fire for you will only get more fire.

Instead, we are counseled in the example of Christ, and in the approach which He then took, to take the royal road which is found in the Bible, by seeking to diffuse, not infuse more animosity into the mix, by seeking reconciliation, not annihilation. Too many persons are seeking for annihilation nowadays. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 435>436] When Christ and the disciples were alone in the house, while Peter was gone to the sea, Jesus called the others to Him, and asked, “What was it that you disputed among yourselves by the way?”

Shame and self-condemnation kept them silent. Jesus had told them that He was to die for their sake, and their selfish ambition was in painful contrast to His unselfish love.

Although He had spoken so plainly of what awaited Him, His mention of the fact that He was soon to go to Jerusalem, again kindled their hopes that the kingdom was about to be set up.

This had led to questioning as to who should fill the highest offices. On Peter's return from the sea, the disciples told him of the Savior's question, and at last one ventured to ask Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

The Savior gathered His disciples about Him, and said to them, “If any man desires to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” There was in these words a solemnity and impressiveness which the disciples were far from comprehending.

Thus, according to Jesus, true greatness manifests itself in service, not in seeking to make other people subservient to oneself. It was the tendency to seek the highest place that prevented the disciples from washing one another’s feet.

And if the Christian in our day is not very careful, we can find ourselves cultivating that same tendency of loving to be served by others instead of being eager to play the role of servant. Let’s read:

Matthew 20: 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;

27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

28 Even as The Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

We are no doubt in a downward spiral that may not easily be reversed, for in seeking the highest place we are in danger of making the same mistakes like Judas and the other disciples made by scratching off everyone else, so that we alone are left standing.

Hence the reason why Isaiah warns those who live during the last days of earth’s history, that darkness would envelope the earth, and gross darkness the people, for he saw in holy vision, the same spirit of self-exaltation, that started the war in heaven. 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.

Persons should not be deceived as to the results of tracking a me first course, because doing so will only bring war, discontent and strife in a thousand forms, the reason being that the underlying principle of the kingdom of darkness is diabolically and diametrically opposed to God’s kingdom of light.

In other words, the “Me first” perspective, and the philosophy which drive such thoughts and actions, can only produce adverse effects. It may seem, and sound good up front, but in the end, it will be sweet in the mouth and bitter in the belly.

Never believe that evil angels under satanic rule are living in peace, and harmony with each other. They are not, for they have fist fights, and arguments and bullying amongst themselves, because these are the natural byproducts of me first philosophies.

It is true that they put their differences aside when it comes to achieving their common goal of dragging humanity lower and lower into the abyss, but other than that it’s mayhem, disturbances, confrontations and fights on a daily basis. Let’s read:

[The Desire of Ages pp 435>436] The strife for the highest place was the outworking of that same spirit which was the beginning of the great controversy in the worlds above, and which had brought Christ from heaven to die.

There rose up before Him a vision of Lucifer, the “son of the morning. Lucifer had said, “I will be like the Most-High” (Isaiah 14:12, 14); and the desire for self-exaltation had brought strife into the heavenly courts, and had banished a multitude of the hosts of God.

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 steppingstone on which he himself may climb to a higher place.

There is much work to do in our hearts, and there is much conversion to take place in the lives of many. The spirit of unselfish service, the willingness to let ourselves be God’s humble servants, waiting to do His bidding by serving in whatever capacity He may ordain, is the spirit that should be cultivated at such a time as this.

The Christian in our day will have to do spiritual, and mortal battle against perspectives, and philosophies that have their origins in the depths of hell. You may not encounter a real devil as you go on your way but the mindsets that are obtaining, should be enough to put you on your guard.

Every sentiment must be tested and proven by the word of God, and if it does not line up with what is written, it must be rejected outright, in favor of the gold standard. Jesus stooped to wash His disciples’ feet when they refused to do so.

Again, as He entered Jerusalem for the last time, He chose one of the lowliest animals to ride on. Thus, in our day, when His ways and means are contrasted with the here and now, we could plainly see why the Laodicean church, the last of the seven churches has warranted His stern rebuke.

Let Christians in our day study the life and character of Christ, especially the closing scenes of His earthly life, before calvary, and we will never harbor an idea or relish a thought of being first.

We therefore end with a passage of Scripture which will help us to stay focused on Jesus, so that as we behold His greatness in humility and service, we too would be encouraged and strengthened to track the same course as He did. Let’s read:

2nd Corinthians 3: 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

                                    God Bless!