The Call To Repentance. Sabbath Afternoon 12/05/2020

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you.

Before the first coming of Christ to this earth during His incarnation, the prophet John was sent with the message of repentance that was pertinent to that generation. The Jews had long predicted the coming of The Deliverer, and now that Christ was just about to make His first debut on earth, the people were to be prepared for His appearance.

But just as it is today before Christ’s second coming, the people were not prepared to receive Him, since their hearts and minds had been inundated with the teachings of scribes and pharisees who for the most part were teaching things that robbed the scripture of the essence of Godliness.

The people had become sticklers for ceremony and forms, and they came to regard these as the sum total of godliness. Thus, the religion that pervaded those years before Christ was mostly centered on the external, while the heart remained entrenched in a formatted religion that did not inspire any real change.

When we become satisfied with celebrations, rites and forms, it is a sign that true godliness is lacking, and as such, repentance is coming due. Wherever there is an insatiable craving for ceremony, festivity, and celebrations, it is usually a sure sign that vital godliness has gone out the window, and the people will inevitably become dependent on the outward forms of religion for salvation.

The same was true in the days of John, where there was a strict enforcement of external washings, and purifications, while their hearts remained in a frigid condition. This led to a religion without compassion, and the multitudes who blindly followed the leaders came to accept the husk without the kernel as being the real deal.

Therefore, it was important that the forerunner of Christ preach repentance to the people, lest they remained in a deluded state. Those reforms that formed the backbone of John’s message were rooted in the commandments of God, and he encouraged people to make meaningful changes at the heart level, not merely in meaningless rites or ceremonies. Let’s read:

Luke 3: 2 The word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

10 And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then?

11 He answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

12 Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do?

13 And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.

14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

A careful observation of John’s instructions to the people reveal that he was pointing them to the law of God, which was being violated, while church was being attended religiously. For instance, when John spoke to the tax collectors “Exact no more than that which is appointed you” he was referring them back to the eighth commandment which says “Thou shalt not steal”

When John told the soldiers not to “Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages” he was referring them back to the eighth, ninth, and tenth commandments which say “Thou shalt not kill” Thou shalt not steal” and “Thou shalt not covet” respectively. In fact, John stated the laws in the exact order in which they appear in the decalogue.

Thus, John’s preaching of repentance was not vague rambling over obscure matters; instead it was direct and targeted, so that those who were living in error could know exactly what the prophet was speaking about. When we speak of repentance in our day, we should never speak in the fuzzy, murky or indefinite.

Definite sins and errors where the multitudes have diverged from the paths of truth and duty should be clearly stated, so that all those who are willing could take concrete steps in much needed reforms. But to preach of repentance in vague terms will leave folks with consciences that have not been awakened to the urgency of the moment.

It is worthy of note that in preaching repentance in his day, John did not make mention of the Sabbath, and this is because up to that time, the validity of God’s Sabbath was without question, even in minds that did not fear God. Therefore, John was not sent to reprove things that were irrelevant, but rather to address current errors that were being held by the masses.

In speaking to the people of His day, Christ referred to John as “Elijah the prophet” who was to come. This is because of two main things: (1) John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah, (2) He would also be uplifting the downtrodden law of God, just as Elijah was sent to do in his day. 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?

18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

Matthew 11:7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.

14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

But the scriptures also predict that just before the second coming of Christ a remnant people will be raised up in the spirit and power of Elijah, who are to uplift the law of God that has been downtrodden in our generation, just as it was in the days of John, and Elijah.

Those who have been called to preach the Elijah message in our day are not to present vagaries or irrelevant matters that to not address the problems that are affecting the churches of Christendom. It is a fact that many Christians have become riled up at what they view as the desecration of the marriage institution.

While it is true that alternative lifestyles and same sex marriage are contrary to the scriptures, yet we must be careful that these issues do not become a sort of distraction, from the real problems at stake in our day, for even though these are valid issues to be addressed, yet, it is the Biblical worship of God that is in focus.

In fact, there are many Christians currently who are irked by gay marriage on the one hand, while on the other, they have in some cases, unknowingly clung to erroneous teachings which do not have scriptural foundation. On this point, the Bible declares that he that is guilty of one is guilty of all and therefore, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth must be the focus of the Elijahs of our day.

Before Jesus puts in His appearing, He declares that the prophet Elijah will be sent to restore the broken law of God in the minds of the people, showing to them exactly where their feet have diverged from the path of righteousness and duty. This is the crux of the matter, with all other side orders to play 2nd fiddle. Let’s read:

Malachi 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:

6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

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.

8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.

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

These three angels’ messages form the backbone of any repentance in our day, because they are direct and targeted, and tailor-made to address the current sins of this generation. The first angels’ message is of such that it targets those forms of worship which do not honor God as The Creator.

Many Christians worship God as Savior, because of what Jesus did on Calvary for the human family, and that is all well and good. Others worship God in His capacity as Deliverer and Healer, and that’s why you hear songs such as “Jehovah Jireh”. Again, that is all well and good, but for persons to worship God only in these capacities stops short of His ideal.

It is in His capacity as the Creator of heaven and the earth, which is of the utmost importance, for this is the worship that acknowledges His sovereignty. It is His Creatorship which He almost always refers to as the real reason why He is worthy of worship.

In fact, when a detailed study is done of the various capacities and offices of God, none rises to the level of His Creatorship, because without Him creating us there would be no need for A Deliverer and without A Creator, A redeemer would never be needed, for there would not be anyone to redeem.

Therefore, in the preaching of repentance to our generation, the first angel’s message is direct and targeted, just like John the Baptist’s, for it calls the inhabitants of earth to worship God in His capacity as the Creator of the heavens and the earth, not only as Savior and Deliverer.

Since He has created us by His own power, then He has the right to order our lives according to His will which will bring the issue of submission, on the part of the human agent into play. Thus, the question to be settled in many minds will be “Does The God of Heaven have the inalienable right to tell me what to do, and how to worship?”

Every theological question, with the back and forth either for or against, really boils down to this one, singular question: Does God have the right, and the authority to tell us what to do? It is the very same question which arose in the heavenly courts when satan sinned, and it will be the final question to be settled upon the earth in the final conflict of the ages.

In Noah’s day there were many philosophers to be found, and some of them had presented powerful arguments against the predictions of the prophet, and all of their rebuttals were based on then known undisputed scientific facts. In fact, the Bible record also supported their science, as evidenced by the following verses. Let’s read:

Genesis 2: 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.

6 But there went up a mist from the earth and watered the whole face of the ground.

But at the end of the day, all of their philosophy and science would boil down to one basic question: will we obey God according to what He is telling us, and find shelter in the ark, or will we stay put, contrary to His will? In other words, does God have the right, or the authority to tell us what to do?

Indeed, all of the theological arguments, and all of the religious books that are written and studied, all of the doctrines, and teachings that persons have learned in Sabbath school or Sunday school, and all of the sermons, religious concerts, and our regular attendance at any church, all comes down to one fundamental question: Does God have the right to tell us what to do.

The answer to this one question will determine our lifestyles, it would settle the issue of God-ordained marriage, it will determine the choices made at the restaurant or at the dinner table, it will affect all of the interactions between children and their parents and it would ultimately and inevitably decide when, and how we worship. Here it is again for the record:

Can God tell us what to do?

In the first angel’s message God is telling the human family to worship Him in accordance with scripture, in His capacity as Creator, which will inevitably lead folks to honor the seventh day Sabbath as of Divine origin. The mark of the beast begs to differ and says God does not have the right to tell us what to do. 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.

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.

These are the two issues and the two choices that all of earth’s inhabitants must choose between. In other words, our eternal destiny will hang directly on whether we choose to serve and obey God by worshiping Him according to His command, or if we will choose the only other option on the table, to worship according to the dictates of man.

For the sake of clarity, God can only be worshiped in His capacity as Creator if the seventh day Sabbath is kept according to the commandment. There are those who may be sincere in their hearts, who are currently worshiping on the first day of the week, as the official day of rest, but according to the Bible, this is not correct.

True repentance in our day means not only to claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior, it also means to stop attending those churches which embrace erroneous worship, and to obey God’s voice, by worshipping Him on the 7th day Sabbath which He has blessed, plain and simple, because faith without works is dead.

In the beginning, there were two institutions given

in Eden: [1] The Sabbath, and [2] The marriage institution. These two institutions have always been reiterated throughout the scriptures, but in our day both of them have suffered tremendous violence.

When the laws of the land declared marriage to be legal between two consenting adults, or persons of any sex, a great breach in God’s law was made, and since that fatal day of darkness, society has steadily descended lower and lower to the point where we now have troubles on our hands, the likes of which most people were not anticipating.

Thus, with one institution out the window, there is only one more shoe to drop, in which the issue of worship will take center stage in the not too distant future. Therefore, The God of heaven is calling our attention to the urgency of the moment, because our personal decisions in this matter will determine our eternal destiny. Let’s read:

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

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

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

Exodus 13:13 Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.

14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.

The issue of the mark of the beast centers squarely on the issue of worship, and it is scheduled take the world by storm when the enforcement of a brand of worship not supported by the scripture is instituted nationwide across America and subsequently engulf the entire world.

Therefore, as the issue percolates on the horizon, and as efforts are being made behind the scenes to bring it to a head, God is calling on all individuals, all churches, all pastors, all clergy, and everyone who lives and breathes, to awake out of slumber, for it will be the most decisive and cataclysmic event of our lives, when it occurs.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture, which declares to us that God’s mercy is still extended to the human family, and as such, He is calling us to a repentance that will take concrete steps in obeying not one, but all of His commandments. Let’s read:

Revelation 18:1 And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.

2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

3 For all nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

God Bless!

The Legacy Of Ruth. Sabbath Afternoon 11/28/2020

The story of Ruth, and the experiences of faith she endured, present a brilliant and exemplary legacy of commitment to God, His people and the interests of His kingdom, one that is not only worthy of note but also worthy of emulation.

Ruth got connected with the people of God through a series of very unusual circumstances, yet after she had witnessed the work of God in her mother-in law she made a decision to permanently cast in her lot with His people, regardless of cost or the outcome.

Her faith and her resulting legacy were not based on the here and now, nor was it based upon any of those material benefits or promises which too many in our day base their relationship with God upon. It was a faith that loved and appreciated God for who He is, not for what He has, and this made the world of difference when it came crunch time for decision making.

Sooner or later, our own decisions to follow Christ will be tested to demonstrate what it has been built upon, whether it is a faith of convenience where the benefits, material blessings, and promises of health are the top motivating factors, or whether we serve God because of who He is and what He has done for us through Christ.

Even though God has promised His people material benefits and protection from enemies and diseases, it’s what Christ did for us on Calvary that should be of the most importance to us. To save us from sin, and to restore His image in us, should be the source of our deepest gratitude and thanksgiving.

Thus, Ruth’s understanding of God was not material based, but spiritual, and because of this, God could, and would trust her with all the temporal blessings of life, because her priorities and her focus, were in the right direction.

The story begins with the departure of Naomi and her family from her native land, because of a famine that was taking its toll on the inhabitants. They had migrated to the land of the Moabites for economic reasons but while there a series of very unfortunate losses took hold of the family.

Naomi, her husband, and their two sons had come to dwell with the Moabites, most likely temporarily, so as to wait out the famine that had gripped their homeland. But Naomi’s husband died, and she was left alone with her two sons who then had become united with the Moabites through marriage. Let’s read:

Ruth 1:1 Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled, that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Bethlehem-Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he, and his wife, and his two sons.

2 And the name of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion. And they came into the country of Moab and continued there.

3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons.

4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab; the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelled there about ten years.

Even though it is not God’s ideal will for His people to be united in marriage with persons who do not serve or know Him, yet the marriage institution was given by God as the foundation of all society, and as such, it is to be honored, regardless of whether two persons are Christians or not.

It is the institution that is sacred, not merely those who engage in marriage, and because of its sanctity believers who might have married persons of other persuasions are counselled in the Bible to respect the institution, by trying to make the best of their situation, because the mercy of God is extended to all, even if the marriage may not have been in line with scriptural teaching.

As some persons like Ruth become acquainted with The God of heaven, as they gain an understanding of the wisdom of His laws and principles, some are moved to cast in their lot permanently with Christ, and in this God is glorified, for it is His will that none should perish but that all should have eternal life.

Thus, if persons find themselves in a position such as Ruth, or Naomi’s sons, let them try by the grace of God to make the most of it for God will work with such persons to bring salvation to themselves, and their families wherever there are willing hearts and minds. Let’s read:

1st Corinthians 7:12 If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.

16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?

However, not long after, Naomi’s two sons also died and she was now left with her daughters in law who continued with her for a while, until she heard that the famine had subsided in Judah, and thus, it came time for decision-making. Will the two widows now return to their families in Moab, where their roots and culture had been etched into their way of life?

Or would they follow Naomi to a strange land, to a strange people of entirely different culture, worship and practice. In Judah they had no friends, no family ties, and they would have to start from scratch to become acclimated to a new way of life. In addition, they were widows and thus their prospects of being remarried would be slim at best, according to man’s wisdom.

Even to the God-fearing Naomi, it seemed a bit of a stretch to ask, let alone expect them to uproot from their hometown, to move with her back to Judah, where she would be coming back to who knows what. And because the situation was weighing on her mind, she decided to confront the two directly, to know what their thoughts were on the matter. Let’s read:

Ruth 1:5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband.

6 Then she arose with her daughters in law, that she might return from the country of Moab: for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his people in giving them bread.

7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters in law with her; and they went on the way to return unto the land of Judah.

8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters in law, Go, return each to her mother's house: the Lord

deal kindly with you, as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me.

9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; and they lifted up their voice and wept.

10 And they said unto her, Surely, we will return with thee unto thy people.

Thus far it seems as if both were bent on returning with Naomi, but a deeper probe revealed thoughts that were entirely different, the one from the other. As Naomi outlined to them in graphic detail the dim prospects of being remarried to her bloodline, put together with the challenges of relocating to a new place, it seemed as if the wise thing would be for them to stay put in their homeland.

How many of us faced with a similar situation would be willing to leave family, and friends behind, to go to a strange land, let alone a strange religion. Most would prefer the safety and security of the home they know, rather than take a gamble with a widow who has apparently lost everything.

Thus, as both Ruth and Orpah carefully weighed the pros and cons, one decided to return to her family, culture, and gods, while the other chose to cast in her lot permanently with God’s people, even as the prospects for success seemed quite slim. Let’s read:

Ruth 1:11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters: why will ye go with me? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your husbands?

12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have an husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have an husband also tonight, and should also bear sons;

13 Would ye tarry for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having husbands? nay, my daughters.

14 And they lifted up their voice and wept again: and Orpah kissed her mother in law; but Ruth clave unto her.

15 And she said, Behold, thy sister in law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods: return thou after thy sister in law.

16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:

17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.

18 When she saw that she was steadfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.

If Orpah had chosen to go with Naomi because of the godly influence she exerted; if she had chosen character over matter, it is quite possible that the same God who provided a wealthy spouse for Ruth, would have done the same for her, but her choice placed her in a different position than Ruth, and no more is mentioned of her in the scriptures.

In fact, the Bible mentions Orpah only twice, while Ruth’s name is mentioned thirteen times, and it is quite possible, that in the day of final reckoning, she will be seen on the outskirts of the new Jerusalem, while Ruth would be safe and sound on the inside, with the same God whom she chose, when it might have seemed to be too much of a gamble to Orpah.

When God by His providence has brought strangers to a place where they could see and understand His character, His laws and His goodness, such persons will always have ample opportunity to return to the former life the once knew, because God would only accept the free service of those who appreciate Him.

Indeed, everyone who has accepted Christ as Lord and Savior will have opportunity to change course, because the decision to serve God must be personal and deliberate, even if it be against all odds, just as it was with Ruth. This fact about salvation will come into full focus as the day for our permanent decision draws near.

At that time, persons will be weighing the pros and cons, whether to proceed with what they have seen and heard of The God of heaven, or whether they should return to the so-called safety and security of man-made systems. Thus, the mark of the beast will draw a distinct line between the Ruths, and Orpahs of the day. Let’s read:

Joel 3: 14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

16 The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Hebrews 11:37 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 draw 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.

It is not possible for us to fully grasp the effort and extent to which God went to save us from sin. Only in the earth made new, with holy vision undimmed by fallen nature, would we begin to understand the love of God in extending to us a lifeline through Christ.

Therefore, let all who like Ruth, have come to know something of His saving grace, not take His mercies lightly; let not the transient things of earth blur our vision, because at the end of life’s journey it will be discovered that the most important, and weighted decision anyone has ever made, is to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that will remind and assure us that loving and serving God is never in vain, for the relationship with Christ is what makes all the difference in the world, and makes life worth living. Let’s read:

Matthew 19:27 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

28 And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

29 And everyone that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

God Bless!

Living Off The Grid. Sabbath Afternoon 11/21/2020

The time will come, maybe sooner rather than later, when those who preach the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will be directed by God to fall off the radar, meaning that their whereabouts will not be known, nor will be disclosed to those who are intent on eradicating them from the earth.

As the predicted sign of the Romans was rolled out against Jerusalem in the siege that was to follow, it became necessary for those who believed the word of Christ to relocate where they would be free from the interference of their enemies. And because they believed and obeyed, not one Christian was lost in the carnage that ensued.

Thus, because there is nothing new under the sun, and because history has always repeated itself, the people of God who live in the last days of earth’s history will soon find it necessary to relocate, in obedience to the word of God.

This is not merely a prediction of what will certainly come to pass, it is a scriptural teaching that must be clearly understood by those remnant people of God who would survive the last days of earth’s history, because the time will come when those who preach present truth will be regarded as the enemies of law and order.

For instance, it is becoming more and more difficult and awkward to speak against same sex marriage, especially since some very influential people have recently embraced it publicly. And therefore, those who dare to stand in the gap will soon be branded as troublemakers, as is the case currently in certain places.

Satan is hell bent on eradicating the true Christian from off the face of the earth, for he views them as a threat to his one and only opportunity to secure for himself the kingdoms of this world. And because of this, a startling warning is issued to the people of God in Revelation, chapter 12, so that the remnant may know the seriousness of the issues before us.

This information is not being given to scare anyone, for God has not given us the Spirit of fear. It’s just to make us aware of what will be coming our way, and as such, to be fully prepared, by learning to walk by faith alone, trusting God for any and everything that pertains to temporal and eternal life. Let’s read:

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

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

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

Thus, the study of living off the “Grid” will become more and more relevant as we see the prophecies and developments spoken of by the prophets in the Bible, coming to pass in our generation. But before we delve into our study, it’s important for believers to know what constitutes living off the grid.

From time to time, some of the remnant people of God might choose to relocate to the countryside, in an effort to relinquish city living, where they will be surrounded by nature, and where the hustle and bustle of city life would not be a distraction in any way. That is all well and good, for this counsel has been given to the remnant who live in the last days.

However, in moving to the countryside, a lot of city baggage is also taken in order to live comfortably in the country. In addition to this, announcements of their imminent departure are most often made to the local church members and church memberships are often transferred to another church in the area where folks are relocated.

All of this is well and good, but for all intents and purposes it does not even come close to living off the grid. Again, the so-called “necessities” of life are often taken to the countryside, such as cell phones, laptops, credit cards, debit cards, Alexas, vehicles, and so forth.

Some even use G.P.S to guide them in their travel to the countryside, and for these reasons, living off the grid, as far as the Bible is concerned, is an absolute nonstarter. In fact, any tracking device in a person’s possession, whatsoever it may be, would effectually annul the very concept of living off the grid, for it is by faith and faith alone that we will survive the final conflict.

Tracking devices are often placed in very many, if not most of the new gadgets on the market, and it’s no coincidence or accident why this is taking place. Tracking devices will play a critically important role in the institution and the enforcement of the mark of the beast, that’s why there is a move to electric everything.

And Alexa is not innocent of tracking by any means, because information is constantly being gathered on the owners’ habits, preferences, whereabouts, conversations and so forth. Again, vehicles that are taken to the countryside also need to be registered with the county in question.

The same is true for land and home ownership. If a person or family were to purchase any property in a remote countryside location, registration with the county in question is required, and therefore folks can be tracked and traced through deeds, titles, cell phones, laptops, Fit-bits, computers and more.

Again, if one’s debit or credit card is swiped in the countryside, that transaction is always registered in the city, and thus, living in the countryside with all of the amenities, comforts, and conveniences of the city is not the same as living off the “Grid”. So, the following might be hard for some folks to swallow, but it is the truth.

According to the Bible, living off the grid requires a complete disconnect from any, and everything that savors of dependence on man-made systems, as we have become accustomed to, instead trusting God entirely from day to day for all that pertains to life.

It includes relinquishing our dependence on current health care systems entirely, where some have had the habit of running to your local pharmacy for the supplies needed to maintain health. Living off the grid includes relinquishing all those medicines and drugs in your medicine cabinets, which some have come to depend on for life.

It involves relinquishing all economic privileges, and access to all monetary systems together with formal schooling in colleges and universities as we know it. Then again, those visits to your local grocery store such as Publix, where shopping is a pleasure, would also have to be given up, in exchange for trusting in God alone to supply our daily needs.

God is able to take care of any, and every situation that might occur, to preserve the lives of His chosen people. This runs the entire gamut, from regulating temperature to clothing, food and shelter to natural remedies, and healing, and security in the fullest sense of the word.

Any, and every situation and circumstance would be covered by God, when He bids His people to live off the grid. At that time, we will not be depending on insurance, but assurance, for the just shall live by faith.

Thus, when carefully considered, living off the grid is no walk in the park, and it is not for the faint of heart by any means. Only those who have learned to trust in God fully, who have by habit and practice depended on Him for everything, will trust Him in those difficult days which will precede the second coming of Christ.

Therefore, let us turn to the scriptures and observe what it says about living off the grid, why such living becomes necessary, and the ways and means God employed to make such living even possible. Elijah was given a message to relate to king Ahab, that a devastating famine would begin shortly.

He went straight up to the king’s gates, entered the palace, unannounced and without invitation, and he delivered the goods in an unadulterated form, as he spoke truth to power. king Ahab becomes numb at hearing the message and when he recovers himself, Elijah has already left the palace, and is nowhere to be seen or found.

This announcement of a coming devastating famine was the result of Israel departing from the laws and principles given them by God, and now the chickens would be coming home to roost, and when they do, the economy will be left in shambles and very many dead bodies of man and beast would be left in the dust. 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?

18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.

After delivering that message of coming doom, the prophet vanishes and falls off the radar so that no amount of searching could discover him. Diligent searches are made, and all Ahab’s tracking devices are employed, and they search, and they search, but Elijah is nowhere to be found. This leads us to the first step in living off the “Grid”.

Elijah was nowhere to be found because God had instructed him to go to a specific location, where he would not be disclosed, and where the protection of God would cover him night and day. That’s why we stated in a previous Bible study, that wherever folks plan to relocate, let’s make certain that God is leading. Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:1 And Elijah the Tishbite who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the Lord God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

2 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,

3 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

4 And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.

5 So he went and did according unto the word of the Lord: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.

Those words, “Thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee” all mean that God is going to take care of all of Elijah’s needs, when living off the grid becomes necessary. There is no need for any believer to stock up with groceries, and much bottled water for many years, in some underground bunker.

No need to buy many rifles, and bullets to protect oneself, and there is no need to worry about those variations in temperature which are certain to occur for when God mentions bread and water, He would also include the regulation of temperature, and His protection against all enemies, seen and unseen. Let’s read:

Isaiah 4:5 And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defense.

6 And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.

There are specific promises given in the Bible for all who will be called to live off the grid, which will be a sustaining, dependable assurance to all who believe and obey. Too much emphasis is laid upon what the human agent can and should do, and in the heat of the moment we often leave The Almighty God out of the picture. Let’s read:

Exodus 13: 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night:

22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people.

Exodus 14:19 And the angel of God, which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:

20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night.

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

Exodus 15:26 If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt 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, for I am the Lord that heals thee.

The habit or tendency of making plans for ourselves and then asking God to underwrite those plans isn’t good, for doing so puts us in the driver’s seat, with God as a sort of tag-along in our minds. The scripture teaches us “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and the result is that He will direct our paths aright”.

Elijah did not ask to go to this remote location, he did so by the command of God alone, and because of this, any, and every adverse situation that might occur, he would have the confidence that he was only following God’s will, not his own. This is what will make the world of a difference when the time comes for persons to live off the “Grid”.

Now folks, if you will receive it, Elijah’s undisclosed location was not too far from where Ahab lived, but because God sent him there, Ahab could search the entire planet, and he still would not find Elijah, for it is God, and not man who had directed the prophet. This aspect of living off the grid cannot be stressed enough, for it’s not our will, but God’s will that must be done. Let’s read:

1st Kings 17:10 As the Lord thy God lives, there is no nation or kingdom, whither my lord hath not sent to seek thee: and when they said, He is not there; he took an oath of the kingdom and nation, that they found thee not.

The experiences of Elijah also teach us that it’s quite possible to live off the grid even in the city. The key to living off the grid is not human wisdom, cunning, or secretive planning; the one, and only key is our willingness to obey God. This has always been, and will always be the only key to success in all of life’s vicissitudes.

Thus, when the waters of the brook Cherith became exhausted, God directed his servant to continue to live off the grid, but this time it would be in the city. Again, in obedience to the word of God Elijah leaves the countryside, and heads to the city, but, because he is following God’s will, and not his own, Ahab still won’t be able to track him down. 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.

And so, it was only when God was ready for Elijah to be found, did Ahab see the prophet. In fact, as we’ll read in the scriptures, Elijah was never really found; instead, in obedience to the word of God again, he disclosed himself. All of the planning, and execution was done by God alone, and all Elijah was required to do was to obey. Let’s read:

1st Kings 18: And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.

2 And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria.

7 And as Obadiah was in the way, behold, Elijah met him: and he knew him, and fell on his face, and said, Art thou that my lord Elijah?

8 And he answered him, I am: go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here.

But as is too often the case, sometimes, even the remnant may become so concerned for their lives that they begin to plan and make moves without first consulting God. When Elijah learned of those death threats issued by Jezebel, he feared for his life, and he once again went off the grid, but this time it was not at the command of God.

There was still work to be done in the city, because serious reforms were to be instituted in the wake of the contest on Mt Carmel. But Elijah became quite agitated because of Jezebel. Let’s observe what he now does in response to those threats. Let’s read:

1st Kings 19:1 And Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and withal how he had slain all the prophets with the sword.

2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time.

3 And when he saw that, he arose, and ran for his life and came to Beersheba which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

4 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

5 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat.

6 And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baked on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink and laid him down again.

7 And the angel of the Lord came again the second time, and touched him, and said, Arise and eat; because the journey is too great for thee.

8 And he arose, and did eat and drink, and went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God.

9 And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

10 And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have

forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

15 And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

16 And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room.

The mark of the beast, as predicted in the Bible will begin in America, and because, whenever America sneezes the world catches a cold, the mark would stretch its tentacles to every part of the inhabitable globe. Every Caribbean island, and every country on the planet would be affected because no territory will be exempt. 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.

However, one of the safest places for “Elijah” to be will be in America, because just as it was in the days of Ahab, Elijah would not be discovered. Obedience to the commands of God is what will make all of the difference during that time of trouble such as never was, since there was a nation. Let’s read:

Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most-High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely, he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

There is an ongoing push for many tracking devices to pervade the human experience in our day. Most of the new gadgets some are so eager to procure do incorporate that common denominator of tracking, and indeed, these devices have proven instrumental in the apprehension of, bandits, terrorists and other most wanted criminals, including drug dealers.

We’ve come to depend on these devices to navigate the maze of websites, and online services that are now considered essential for everyday living. But if we do not now learn to trust in God alone, we will become prisoners of our own devices. If we find ourselves not being to live without these gadgets, then living off the grid will become an impossibility.

This is not to say that persons should now dump all their cell phones, or their laptops, nor are we saying that Alexa should be quarantined. What the Bible is teaching us is that we must never lose sight of our entire dependence on God, even as we benefit from the increases of knowledge that was predicted by Daniel.

It would be very difficult for persons to disconnect from the comforts, amenities and devices of life, in exchange for an existence living off the Grid and the switch will not take place overnight, for when Israel left Egypt headed for the wilderness, it was not long before complaints were heard, because uprooting from the norms of life presented real challenges.

Similarly, when the time comes to live off the grid, there are those who would find the difficulties too great, and because some of us have not used God-given opportunities to learn to walk by faith alone, this mode of living will seem impossible, and again, the call to return to spiritual “Egypt” will be heard. Let’s read:

Exodus 14:11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt?

12 Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.

Therefore, in lieu of what is looming on the horizon, and because history will repeat itself, the servant of The Lord writes to us in our day that we must learn from those who have gone before; we should study their history with a humble and teachable spirit, so that when our turn comes to walk by faith alone, living off the grid would not do us in. Let’s read:

[Patriarchs & Prophets pp 293] The history of the wilderness life of Israel was chronicled for the benefit of the Israel of God to the close of time. The varied experience of the Hebrews was a school of preparation for their promised home in Canaan.

God would have His people in these days review with a humble heart and teachable spirit the trials through which ancient Israel passed, that they may be instructed in their preparation for the heavenly Canaan.

We have seen with our two eyes and we have heard with our own ears how, in just a few short months the nations of earth can be brought to their knees. The turmoil that is percolating right here in America portends the climactic events predicted in the Bible and we are just at the tip of the iceberg.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which should help us not to be overly worried about the developments that will take place on the earth and which indeed have already begun. Let us not take it upon ourselves to go live off the grid, without God directing us to do so. Instead, let us trust and obey, for there’s no other way to survive the final conflict. Let’s read:

Psalms 46: 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!

The Battle For The Mind. Sabbath Afternoon 11/14/2020

2nd Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

A sound mind, as referred to in the above passage is not what most people may understand it to be. It is not merely the state of not being mad, nor is it the mind that possesses good reasoning powers. Having a giant intellect or the ability to invent things, or the ability to philosophize eloquently isn’t necessarily a sign that a person has a sound mind.

In fact, some of the great Greek philosophers who have been revered by millions, and who have made many contributions to humanistic modes of thought, and the secular understanding of this world would be designated as being partially off their rockers as far as the scriptural definition of a sound mind is concerned.

Men such as Pythagoras, Plato, Socrates, Aristotle, Xenophon, and Diogenes all made contributions to human modes of thought and understanding, but it is no guarantee that they possessed the sound mind that is referenced in the scriptures.

In fact, one such Greek philosopher, Epicurus, who founded a brand of philosophy called Epicureanism, taught his students that the greatest good is to seek modest pleasures so that they could attain a state of tranquility, freedom from fear, and absence from bodily pain. This philosophy is not the product of a sound mind, according to the scriptures.

A sound mind, according to the Bible is one that is Divinely balanced through the presence and power of the Holy Ghost, one that is temperate in all that is good; a mind that is prudent, that brings all of the feelings, emotions and propensities of fallen human nature under the jurisdiction of Bible truth.

When persons come into the possession of a sound mind, the brain remains where it should be, at the very top of the human anatomy, and the biological urges are all brought into obedience to the word of God, even if doing so would go contrary to popular thinking, or acceptable norms. 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 my body under and bring it into

subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

2nd Peter 1:5 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.

The temptations that abound in the world attempt to bring the mind into subjection to the lower laws of pleasure, feelings, and emotions, and wherever the principle of pleasure is adopted, impulsiveness will inevitably characterize our actions.

Thus, the work of God in giving us a sound mind, is to develop in each believer, the ability and capacity to not only reason along scriptural lines, but also to bring every thought, word, and deed into subjection to the laws of God, through the indwelling of The Holy Spirit. This constitutes both the purposes, and the original intentions of the plan of salvation. 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.

2nd Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;

5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Therefore, the study for today will focus squarely on the battle for the mind as it plays out in our own life experiences, and what we need to do, to cooperate with the ongoing work of the Holy Ghost. However, there are some givens that we must be aware of up front so as to better understand what is involved in having and maintaining a sound mind.

[1] We will encounter external, and internal foes.

The assaults against our minds do not only come from the outside, they also come from within, for the natural man doesn’t naturally possess ability to govern his impulses. The pulling and tugging that we experience in our minds where the good strives against evil is not a naturally occurring syndrome.

It is the result of the enmity against evil which God had to put within us after the fall of man, and thus, the battle for the mind confronts latent and active tendencies in human nature which are sometimes aroused by external forces or internal cravings. It is important to know the nature of the battle so that we may understand what winning looks like. Let’s read:

Galatians 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

To be carnally minded and to walk after the flesh is essentially one and the same thing, for it means to be governed by the senses, impulses, and feelings, which in turn will drive our decision making process. A person thus controlled may appear to be strong, for the outward manifestations will savor of self- opinionatedness.

But in fact the strength of a man is not measured by the feelings and impulses which control him, but by the propensities and urges which he controls. Thus, whenever you see a person being governed by his or her impulses and feelings, there you’ll have one who does not have a sound mind, as is the case now in high and low places.

In the garden of Eden when Adam and Eve fell, the sin that was committed was more extensive than a mere eating of forbidden fruit. What did occur was that damage was done to our senses, those tools we use to navigate through this world, and once the five senses were severely compromised, decisions began to be made on what was seen, heard, tasted, felt, and smelled.

There are grocery chains which have capitalized on this weakness of human nature, by pumping the smell of freshly baked bread or other foods into the isles where shoppers congregate. And as the scent wafts upon the air and our sense of smell picks it up, some decide to buy bread, even though it may not have been on the grocery list.

The same is true for what we see. Pornography has become a deep seated formidable vice with many in the secular world and also in the church, and we are not merely referring to the young, and the restless. It’s affecting elders, pastors, Bible workers, deacons and clergy of all stripes.

Politicians, and government workers, and even the married are not immune either, for the vice has all but permeated the entire spectrum of our society. Based upon that which appeals to the sense of sight decisions are made to succumb to desire and before you know it many persons become addicted to the porn god, and the mind is led captive at satan’s will.

The very same scenario is repeated, and played out in the indulgence of the other senses. The battle for the mind is essentially to either get persons to live, choose and act based upon the biological urges of the flesh; or on the contrary, to have our minds to be governed by the word of God and by the power of His indwelling Spirit.

This takes us to the very next area of concern in the battle for the mind:

[2] Choice

Though we are born with latent tendencies which naturally tend to drag us down, it is a fact that we can still choose. A person living in a drug infested area is not bound by such circumstances to an iron destiny, in which they have no other choice but to do drugs.

Others do not struggle with drugs, but they have their own set of problems with the clamors of the flesh which strive for the mastery. Some folks have a food fight on their hands, and try as they might, it seems as if the battle is lost, just as many times as they try to win.

The problem just keeps coming at us day in, day out, and even though some know what is the right choice to make, yet it seems to be very difficult to do so on a consistent, ongoing basis. In fact, in most cases, the main issue some persons face with food may not have anything to do with knowledge; it is the will to choose rightly, and to keep on doing so.

After a motivational speaker comes through, and delivers a pep talk to energize and encourage, we may begin to implement those choices that we are already aware of. That is all well and good, but as the months go by, we find will power waning, and before you know it we have taken one step forward and two steps backward.

This forms a fundamental part of the battle for the mind, and after dealing with the issues we confront from day to day, we will turn our attention to what the Bible says, as it pertains to living victoriously on a continuum. Let’s read:

Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into

captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

This is the conundrum Esau faced as he was about to make the decision of a lifetime. Esau was not doing drugs, he was doing food, and thus it was a naturally occurring biological urge that did him in. If one has experienced fierce pangs of hunger, that urge to eat is not a sin.

The problem occurs if we decide to eat things that are contrary to the revealed will of God, because of our hunger. And it goes even deeper, because like Adam and Eve, we sometimes find ourselves eating even when we are not hungry.

Thus, as Esau mulled the choice before him, to eat contrary to sound judgment, or to wait until he can eat with a clear conscience, he decided to go with the former, and as a result, he gave the control of his mind to the lower laws of impulse, biological urges, and cravings.

For this he is described in the Bible as being profane, because he sold the immortal inheritance for some temporary satisfaction, and thus he lost the battle for the mind. Whenever persons discover that their decisions are being driven by urges, whether those urges are good or bad, there you have a problem on your hands that will need to be addressed, sooner rather than later. Let’s read:

Hebrews 12:16 Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.

17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.

When we feel very hungry, very thirsty, and very horny, there we are confronted with good trouble, for on the one hand, there is nothing wrong with those urges, but on the other hand, the way we do fulfill them will make all the difference in the battle for our minds.

If most of us were to level with ourselves, we would have to acknowledge that we have failed miserably in many of the struggles we have to meet, for there are internal as well as external foes that are striving for the mastery of our minds. Thus, it is important that the remedies and methods found in Christ and His word be adopted and appropriated.

The power of God is granted to every true believer so that we may protect the new mind which Jesus gives us as a gift. The work and the plan of salvation is not far-fetched nor slipshod by any means. It was designed to develop a formidable mind through the presence and power of the Holy Ghost.

When this new mind is given to us, it is empowered to withstand multiple assaults from without or from within, and those latent tendencies which do scream for attention are held in subjection by the power of the indwelling Christ. That new mind is described as a fortress which Christ holds in a revolted world.

Thus, in order to live victoriously on an ongoing basis, we must first renounce that fatal sophistry of devils, which suggests that it is impossible for us to overcome. If this were the case, then the original intent of God in restoring His image in us would be in vain, and the plan of salvation would not have any real meaning in the most literal sense.

Christians who believe in Jesus can absolutely live victoriously, regardless of how much the flesh may clamor for satisfaction. The clamors are not sin, and we will have to deal with the fact that they are real, but what is more real is the power of Christ unto salvation, which can harness and bridle those urges so that our minds remain in control.

This is where obedience and self-denial come in, for there can be no victory without cooperating with the work God is doing in our hearts. There are times when our internal and external foes might mount a military campaign against our souls, but with their onset comes the power of God to counteract and keep them at bay. This promise is given us in the Bible. Let’s read:

Isaiah 59:19 So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Again, we must avoid dwelling on our weaknesses and failings, for doing so will always have the effect of lessening the prospect of victory in our minds. It is a fact that if we want to win, we will have to think like a winner, and the power of the indwelling Christ is promised to all, who like Paul, would strive for the mastery.

There is no need for us to tell God how evil we are; He already knows this, and thus, the confession of sin from the Biblical perspective ought also to be an acknowledgment that we need the help which God alone can give. This will call for prayer and vigilance on an ongoing basis, but the promise is given to all who persevere, that God will keep our minds by His power. Let’s read:

Jude 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

25 To the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.

Last but not least, is the material we allow our minds to feed on, for by beholding we will become changed. If we fill our minds with carnal, sensual things that’s what we will dwell upon and inevitably regurgitate when the right circumstances convene.

But if we fill our minds with Biblical truths, and if we habitually seek God earnestly, He will habituate our minds to dwell on that which is good and right. The battle for the mind can either be won or lost by that which we feed it and therefore it is incumbent upon every believer to guard well the senses, lest through carelessness or indifference, enemies enter within the gates.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that reminds us to make wise choices in what we feed our minds, for if we feed it good, righteousness will almost always be the result, but if we feed it evil, then sin will inevitably conquer. Let’s read:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

God Bless!

Thy Will Be Done. Sabbath Afternoon 11/07/2020

Matthew 26:39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Our first passage above is taken from the harrowing experience Jesus was passing through, as the fate of the human race hung in the balance. The world He came to save was arrayed against Him, and the devil had pulled out all the stops in his attempts to stop Christ from carrying out the plan of salvation.

Added to this was the fact that Jesus’s own disciples were going to desert Him in His hour of agony. And thus, as He considered the fearful prospect of Him laying down His life for us, He breathed that prayer that is to form the basis of any meaningful relation between God and man, “Thy Will Be Done”.

There are times in our life experience when we may prefer another route than that in which God may be leading us. Like Christ, we may prefer a plan “B” and we may not understand upfront why such and such way God has ordained is the best route to go.

But this is where faith comes in, for we are to trust God’s perfect wisdom in every situation, even if we may not see the end from the beginning as He does. God’s omniscience, His ability to know the future as perfectly and thoroughly as He does, often puts His plans and directions at odds with ours.

Because of His omniscience God’s plans may take a turn, which to finite minds may seem illogical at the moment, but He knows what He is doing, and what may seem illogical today would make perfect sense tomorrow, and as such we are to wait on Him, and watch keenly as His good purposes are unfolded.

Thus, it is His omniscience which allows Him to plan and execute His good will with precision in behalf of all who are willing to wait upon Him. And therefore, as was stated in a previous Bible study, we will need to understand that at times, our personal desires, and preferences may not align with God’s, yet, we should trust Him even where we cannot trace Him.

As the results of America’s choice filtered in, some persons rejoiced, while others wept with the bitter disappointment of unfulfilled expectation. To many it was a time fraught with nerve jangling wait and see moments as the results slowly came in. And it is true, that the wounds from the bruising battles will not be healed overnight.

But the scripture calls us to look beyond that which mortal man does, and instead, focus our attention on what God says He will do. Now more than ever, in a time of national suspense, Christians should be looking to God for guidance and direction, as those scenes, and prophecies in the Bible begin to unfold before our eyes.

Therefore, in lieu of God’s sovereignty, and of the instructions He has given us to live by, it would be well for us not to worry ourselves out of His hands, but instead patiently wait, as His will for the future of this nation, and all other nations is revealed. His will is going to be done any which way, regardless of who is in charge.

It matters not whether it is the left or the right, or some green candidate. It does not matter how the many billions are spent in support of this or that party. The fact is that God’s will is going to get done one way or the next, and as such, our focus should be on what God is doing, not so much on what the human agent may or may not do.

Therefore, we are given instructions in the word of God which should be followed, whether or not we agree with the choice made through the electoral process. The true Christian will put his or preference on the back burner, and obey God, just as Christ did when faced with a daunting situation in which He preferred another route. Let’s read:

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.

There will be some difficult lessons to learn as we move forward, if we desire to tow the line between obedience and personal preference. Faith in God is not to be based on agreement with what He does or permits, for this mode of thought and action will run us into problems when we may not see eye to eye with Him.

Instead, believing Christians are to acknowledge His sovereignty, and obey His word, even if it does not sync with our personal preferences. There are times in our experience when we may have to give up our rights, in order to keep on serving God with a clear conscience.

There are other times when, for the truth’s sake we may have to surrender our plans, and preconceived ideas of what we think is best so that “Thy will” may be done. The basis of any relationship with God, as far as man is concerned is love which works through obedience, not by personal feelings or preferences.

But the contemporary faith of millions, where one’s obedience is based on agreement with God would not align with that humble spirit revealed in Christ, where we are willing to be led according to His will. Thus, the study for today will contain pointers that will guide our minds in right directions, as the time for Christ’s second coming draws near.

We will study the experience of David, between the time of his anointing, and the time when he actually became king, for his experiences are pregnant with instructions for all those who choose to wait upon God.

David was anointed as the future king of Israel, even while Saul was still on the throne, and in obedience to God’s revealed will, he accepted the solemn call. It is of critical importance, that whatever we do, or plan to do, that it be in harmony with God’s will, for it is only thus, individuals can be assured of the very best outcome.

Making plans, and choices, without consulting God first will almost always result in adversity, for we do not have the ability to see the future events as God does, and as a result we will almost always make a wrong move without His input.

David did not ask to be placed in that situation of being king, and thus, whenever he would encounter difficulty, he could pray with the confidence that God would hear and answer. The tendency to make plans on our own, and then ask God to underwrite those plans is often productive of undue adversity.

David was minding his own business, taking care of the sheep, when God called and anointed him to go in a completely different direction, and because of this, God could be trusted to mitigate any problems that would arise. Walking in obedience to God’s voice comes with the built-in promise that He will take care of any issues we may encounter. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 16:1 And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

The only problem here is that Jesse has eleven sons, and we’ll observe that God does not tell Samuel up front, who it’s going to be. That guidance would be given in the fullness of time, but until then, Samuel is to obey the first instruction by going to the house of Jesse.

This presents one of the most important lessons for us in our day, because, God often does not reveal His entire will all at once. The path of the just is like the shining light that shines more and more until the perfect day, and therefore it is an obey as you go system that we are called to adopt in all of our life experiences.

The human agent often prefers those detailed plans that stretch way into the future for many years, and if the will of God is not revealed in great detail some persons tend to worry themselves out of His hands. Walking by faith is a pray as you go and obey as you go system, and wherever it is adopted, God will lead in the best possible paths on an ongoing basis.

The same plan of action was given to Abraham, the father of the faithful, for when God called him to go to a land which he should afterward inherit, the fine details were not revealed up front. But as Abraham obeyed the first instruction, the way forward would be revealed on an ongoing basis.

Some people are not happy with the way things are going in this country, with the constant vitriol and hate that is spewing from lying lips. And because of this, many have already begun to make their move to more rural areas in the country, in harmony with the counsels given to the remnant. The pandemic is also causing many to relocate away from the cities.

That’s all well and good, but just make certain that it is “Thy will” and not “our will” that is being done, because one error in judgement could set a flurry of adverse regrettable circumstances in motion. When Abraham moved, it was always in obedience to the voice of God, and because of this, God would cover him with His presence whithersoever he went. Let’s read:

Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee.

The words “That I will shew thee” imply that all of the fine details were not given up front, just like the anointing of David. God did not reveal to David that in the process of becoming king, he would first be the most wanted man in Israel, as king Saul would seek to hunt him as a wild beast for no valid reason.

When the children of Israel were instructed to pass through the red sea, they could not clearly discern the distant shore, yet, as they took that first step in obedience, the way forward became increasingly plain. They were following God’s instruction, and if any issue arose, they would have confidence that it was God’s will they were following, not theirs.

Just so it will be with all who choose to live by the pray as you go and obey as you go system. Thy will, the will of God would be revealed in ever increasing clarity until it is perfectly known. Until such time we must do what He bids us do in the here and now for this adds resiliency in the Christian’s life. Let’s read:

Isaiah 40: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

After arriving on the scene, where the anointing of Israel’s future king was to take place another lesson for us unfolds, as Samuel made a rush to judgment based on what he saw. Even though God had told him that the chosen one would be revealed in due time, Samuel, as many of us often do, went ahead of God, and made a judgement based on externals.

The children of Israel had often rushed to judgment based also on what they saw. That’s why the giants in the land frightened them to the point where they were ready to turn back to the land from which God had rescued them. Walking by faith translates into a willingness to be led by God on an ongoing basis.

Even though folks may get a strong impression in a certain matter, we are not to live, or decide merely by impressions. Instead, persons must always leave some wiggle room, just in case, “Thy will” is not the same as our impressions. This is also true currently, for it is God who sets up rulers, and He takes them down at His discretion. Let’s read:

1st Kings 16:3 And call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will shew thee what thou shalt do: and thou shalt anoint unto me him whom I name unto thee.

6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.

7 But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.

Another issue that often arises in our walk with God is that of timing, for our timing, and God’s timing is mostly out of sync. In the fulfillment of God’s will, it will often be the case that the human agent thinks God is taking too long, and as such, we may at times find ourselves itching to make a move, or a decision, ahead of Him.

This lesson more than all others should serve as a beacon of warning for those who will live through the last days of earth’s history. Deliverance is often just around the corner from one hasty move and we will discover that here is where the enemy of souls lays many of his snares for believers.

David and his men were frustrated at the length of time it was taking for the fulfillment of God’s will to make him king. At every turn king Saul was seeking to take his life, and they came to believe that they would have to help God in bringing His purposes to pass.

Thus, when the situation seemed right, and all the stars seemed to line up by circumstance, they made a suggestion which, on the surface, seemed to be in harmony with God’s will. Yet, it was the old enemy of souls coming through as an angel of light to take advantage of their hastiness.

If we begin to think that God is taking too long to do such and such, we will make ourselves vulnerable to the assaults of satan, who is constantly on the alert to capitalize on our haste. Here in America there are those who are itching for a changing of the guards, and like David’s men, that haste may drive them to do things that are entirely out of sync with God’s will.

Especially is it necessary for us to pray and to wait upon God in a volatile or extreme circumstance, for His good purposes know no haste nor delay. In the fullness of time, His will is going to be done, but until such time, let none who believe in Jesus try to take matters into their own hands, as David’s men tried to do.

It is of critical importance that we study the next passages of scripture very closely so as to know how temptations on hastiness occur, even as they would appear to be logical, and may seem to have backing from God. The suggestions, and temptations coming from devils are often veiled in a veneer of logic, so, let buyers beware. 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.

3 And Saul pitched in the hill of Hachilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the way. But David abode in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness.

4 David therefore sent out spies and understood that Saul was come indeed.

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.

6 Then answered David and said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Abishai the son of Zeruiah, brother to Joab, saying, Who will go down with me to Saul to the camp? And Abishai said, I will go down with thee.

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.

What do you do when all the stars seem to line up? God had already anointed David, Saul was seeking to take his innocent life for no valid reason, David is armed to the tooth and to cap it all off an unnatural sleep from God has fallen upon the enemy, which, for all intents and purposes seems to suggest that God has set things up for David to take out Saul.

This logical line of reasoning resonates deeply in the mind of Abishai, and seems to be confirmed by the obvious Divine intervention in the unnatural sleep. Here is where satan makes his move upon Abishai’s hastiness and tempts him to employ his will rather than God’s will, by slaying the duly appointed king.

But David, who is being led by the Spirit of God now recognizes the temptation as being contrary to God, and he refuses to enter into temptation, as so many of us often do. The lesson for us here is that even if all the stars of heaven line up, we must never allow logical reasoning to drive us to go contrary to God’s revealed will. Never! Let’s read:

1st Samuel 26:9 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.

For us to avoid conflicts between “Thy Will and my will, it will be necessary for us to wait upon God in all circumstances. We should avoid drawing lines in the sand by giving God a set deadline to do such and such or else. We must avoid chomping at the bits impatiently, because satan can, and will take advantage of undue eagerness and haste.

Again, we are not to withdraw from adversities if it not God’s revealed will. Like Christ, as He faced the daunting prospect of imprisonment and death, let those who will live through the final conflict go to God to learn what is His will in any given situation.

The Lord has plainly stated that difficulties would arise for all during the final chapter of this earth’s history. Trouble will be coming on the earth from many different directions, and it will affect every person to a greater or lesser degree.

Let not these facts drive us to start planning on our own without God’s guidance, and direction. Instead, let “Thy will” and not my will be done. Very often in emergencies or dire situations persons will resort to planning and deciding for themselves without input from God who knows best.

As the election of a lifetime loomed large, gun sales skyrocketed, as millions across America began to arm themselves in order to protect themselves and their families. Walmart, which had stopped selling guns and ammunition resumed doing so in light of the unprecedented sales taking place.

Even though there will be a time of trouble, there will also be a simultaneous time of deliverance for God’s people, and because of this, we are advised to wait for His voice, before making any move based on logical reasoning alone. Let’s read:

Daniel 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth 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.

Therefore, it is incumbent upon us not to worry or lose sleep over what is certainly coming upon the earth. Let us not like the secular world resort to a mode of self-preservation. Instead, let all who trust in God look beyond that which is seen to that which is eternal, for at the end of the day, when the dust has settled, the kingdom of God will stand forever.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reminds us of God’s care for His people through the final conflict, and let us learn to wait and trust Him in any given situation, for it is not my will, but “Thy will be done”. Let’s read:

Psalms 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most-High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

3 Surely, he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day;

6 Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the Most-High thy habitation;

10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

God Bless!

Fright Night For Pharaoh. Sabbath Afternoon 10/31/2020

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the adversaries.

God is love. The very foundation of His government is built upon principles of love, which when carried out by created beings produce tranquility, justice, and otherhood. In every precept of the decalogue there is nothing to be found that would drag human beings down to the pit.

Instead, whenever, and wherever the laws of God are obeyed, and wherever God is honored as being The Creator, the other downstream issues usually fall into place, for the acknowledgement of God as Supreme Sovereign, sets the stage for an amicable relationship between the Creator and the created.

But when poor mortals lift themselves up against The Most-High, when we take the glory and praise to ourselves for things that have been accomplished then we would bring upon ourselves the ruin which came upon Pharaoh after he crossed the invisible line between God’s mercy and His justice.

Thus, pharaoh began his downward spiral when he stated that he knew not God. In fact, what pharaoh was really implying by that statement is that he did not acknowledge God in His capacity of Sovereign, and as such, obeying God’s commands was neither necessary, nor relevant in his mind. Let’s read:

Exodus 5:1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.

This particular pharaoh must have known Egyptian history, for it was well chronicled that God worked to save the nation through His servant Joseph, and were it not for God’s mercies the nation would have been brought to its knees by the deadly famine, just like the other nations roundabout.

Thus, for pharaoh to declare that he knew not God, and what God did for Egypt will be the equivalent of a U.S president saying that he isn’t acquainted with the history of this nation, for there are landmarks in America’s history that must needs be remembered by all, let alone the leader of this country.

Therefore, we may safely conclude that pharaoh’s declaration was both atheistic and deliberate, and because of his resulting stubbornness, The God of the universe had to intervene, not only to correct the error, but to set a precedent for future leaders of nations, so that all could reason from cause to effect.

Several steps in the wrong direction were taken by pharaoh and his administration, but God who is rich in mercy, and takes no delight in the destruction of those whom He has created, gave them time and a bunch of opportunities and evidence, so that if they so desired, they might reverse course.

Some of those decisions taken by pharaoh and his administration have been chronicled, so that those who may be in leadership positions across the globe today may track a different course, and thus, spare the people under their jurisdiction, and themselves, the inevitable consequences of wrong-doing.

Some of those wrong actions are listed below with the intent that folks would better understand why adversity is being permitted to multiply currently, and, if we so choose, to change course.

[1] Cruelty

Exodus 5:13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore?

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore, ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord.

18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet, shall ye deliver the quota of bricks.

Unwarranted cruelty to human beings, regardless of their nationality is an affront to The God who made them, for all individuals are His both by creation and redemption. Jesus Christ shed His blood to save all, irrespective of their race, creed or ethnicity. Thus, if and when cruelty is done to any human being for no valid reason, it resonates directly in Christ.

Especially are nations, and individuals obligated to treat the less fortunate and foreigners, or strangers with special regard. This is one of the reasons why Nebuchadnezzar was forced to eat a lot of grass, for Daniel pointed out undue cruelty as one of the evils done by of his administration.

Several passages of scripture address the treatment of strangers and foreigners, and just in case there are some who may have forgotten, The same God from Nebuchadnezzar’s and pharaoh’s day is still alive and well, and when nations and individuals pursue a similar course, justice will be served in due season. Let’s read:

Hebrews 13:2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Daniel 4:27 Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquility.

Leviticus 19:9 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest.

10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the Lord your God.

33 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.

34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Ezekiel 16: 49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

The issue of the proper treatment of strangers is so important to God that He saw fit to include it in one of the ten commandments, the only one that carries His name and title, so that persons in high and low places may understand the seriousness of the issue.

In other words, folks were not to enjoy Sabbath rest while the stranger under their roof was being made to work. Rest is intended for all, just as the Sabbath was made for man, all men. 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.

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.

Thus, if all of these instructions are being flagrantly disregarded; if the stranger continues to be abused and mistreated by pharaoh, and if many entreaties, admonishing, and calls for mercy are disregarded by pharaoh and his administration, then the following passages of scripture will kick in, and there would be none to deliver. Let’s read:

Exodus 22: 21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

22 Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child. 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry;

24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be widows, and your children fatherless.

[2] Stubbornness.

God did everything that could be done to speak to Pharaoh’s conscience. He spoke through Moses and Aaron, He spoke through His providential workings, He spoke plagues and finally when all else failed, He spoke through the very magicians, who were closely affiliated with pharaoh.

What do you do with the leader of a nation who is not listening to God nor those in his administration? The magicians were spiritual advisors to pharaoh and his stubbornness reached a tipping point where even they remonstrated against the way that things were going.

Much of Egypt lay in ruins, many persons had died because of the plagues, the economy was shattered and the citizenry had become disoriented, but still pharaoh would not listen. God can, and is willing to work with anyone who is willing to listen. Folks are not rejected merely because of wrongdoing, it’s if we don’t listen when God speaks that there’s a big problem.

Nebuchadnezzar was stubborn for a while, but at least he listened to Daniel’s reproof, which showed that despite his actions, there was still hope. But pharaoh would not even listen, and he brushed off his own advisors, time and time again. This course of action is productive of evil as the following verses clearly show. Let’s read:

Exodus 8: 19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said.

Exodus 10:7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?

Proverbs 27:22 Though thou shouldest bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.

1st Samuel 15: 22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

[3] Burying heads in the sand.

This one has to do with not only pharaoh, but to his underlings, for it seems that after a while, pharaoh’s mindset had infected his entire administration. The disposition to bury their heads in the sand, also to reason away reality, and their insane allegiance to a mad man that was taking down the entire country to ruin took its toll.

As plague after plague wrought ruin and desolation everywhere, and as pharaoh looked for excuses to reason it all away, that same disposition eventually took a hold on members of his administration, and after a while they became entirely numb to reality, even as the country descended into ruin.

Those who serve their country must at all times be amenable to principles of righteousness, and sound judgement, even if this may put them at odds with those who are in charge. Yes-men are not persons who can be trusted to speak or do right in any given emergency, for their highest motivation is to please their boss, even if doing so could cause great harm.

By remaining silent when they should have said something, by participating in the cruelties done to the Hebrews, they became partakers of pharaoh’s guilt, and as such, when the hammer is going to drop, not only pharaoh will suffer, but all those who aided and abetted him will also go down too.

Thus, it was with pharaoh’s administration. Not one of them would stand up for right and say enough is enough. From the politicians to the military, to the spiritual advisors, everyone, without exception will agree with pharaoh and stand by as the nation went over the cliff. And, so said, so done; they did go over the cliff. Let’s read:

Exodus 11:1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague more upon Pharaoh, and upon Egypt; afterwards he will let you go hence: when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether.

4 And Moses said, Thus, saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt: 5 And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the first born of Pharaoh that sits upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts. 6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it anymore.

Exodus 12:29 And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the firstborn of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the firstborn of cattle.

30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead.

31 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.

32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone; and bless me also. 33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste; for they said, We be all dead men.

God could have brought the last plague first, and He would have scared the living daylights out of those in Egypt. But His judgments were tempered with a whole lot of mercy from the onset, giving pharaoh a chance to reconsider and repent, but he would not.

It was not until the icy grip of death took a hold on the entire nation that pharaoh was brought to his knees, but even then, his so-called change of mind and attitude was only temporary. This goes to show us that even violent judgments against a stubborn person does not always guarantee repentance.

There are some, who like pharaoh, might seem to have a change of heart when their backs are against a wall. These may appear to repent because of the writing on the wall but, given some time or reprieve they would go back to doing exactly what they were doing before, just as it was with pharaoh. Let’s read:

Exodus 14:5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?

6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him:

7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.

Pharaoh couldn’t be serious! After burying his own firstborn, after seeing the morgues throughout the land of Egypt overflowing with the dead, and after, the economy has been in shambles because of the national devastations, is he still so stubborn that he will return to his old ways of disregarding reality, and drag others into the snare that’s awaiting him?

Yes, he was serious, and this demonstrates in real time the difficulty God encounters with a perverse person who is set in his or her ways. It is stated that you cannot teach an old dog new tricks, but at least an old dog should have learned from experience.

With further evidence of his wrong course of action being given, he still refuses to accept reality. God’s pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night should have registered the facts of the matter in the mind of pharaoh. Especially, when the pillar of fire moved from before the camp of the Hebrews and settled as a wall between them and the Egyptians.

This should have been the last straw that broke the camel’s back, but stubbornness, when indulged can interfere with a person’s ability to reason rationally, and when this occurs, every evidence is interpreted according to what one desires, not according to the facts. This above all else shows a person to be under the control of evil spirits.

This leads us to fright night for pharaoh and those who supported him in a wrong course of action. All who knowingly buried their heads in the sand when they should have stood up courageously and said or did something, all who reasoned away the facts on this or that premise.

And all of pharaoh’s military generals who got their soldiers ready for the battle, knowing full well they were going to lose, and all of pharaoh’s spiritual and secular advisors are going to bite the dust during a fright night like no other, and this time, their will be no chance to reverse course.

The judgments of God against nations and persons are not employed until every means to save them have been utterly exhausted. God bears long with the perverseness of man, but at times things would reach a boiling point where the situation screams for justice.

For pharaoh and his deluded followers to follow the Hebrews into the middle of the Atlantic ocean, as it were, is not only folly; like Balaam who argued with his donkey, such an action by pharaoh shows him to be bereft of reason, and as such, there is no reason for him to continue his existence. Let’s read:

Exodus 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left.

23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians,

25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drove them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.

26 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.

27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.

28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them.

In our day, the very same sins and actions taken by pharaoh and his administration are being repeated even as we speak. There is an unwarranted cruelty toward the stranger, minorities, and the poor, and the less fortunate are being thrown under the bus, while fat cats peddle lies and conspiracies.

Like in Egypt under pharaoh, thousands are dying because of the plague, and economies are heading for disaster, as the pandemic continues to take its toll. Then again, there is the burying of heads in the sand by which persons knowingly blind their eyes to grievous evils that would have landed your ordinary John doe in jail for years.

Then there is stubbornness, a blatant disregard of facts on the ground, and a proud unrepentant spirit that has pervaded some in high and low places. God warns us not to partake of this spirit, for when He is ready not only the pharaohs of the day will be taken down, but those also who participated and partook of the same spirit will also go down too.

The presentation of a one-sided God by many false prophets of the day Who, according to their warped understanding, only administers loving-kindness and mercy without impartial justice, belittles the perfect character of God, because love without justice will produce inequities of all sorts.

God is not to trifled with or misunderstood because of His great love towards us. That same Jesus, Who once carried the cross will soon carry a very big stick because mercy as well as justice are blended into an inseparable whole in His government, and thus, the same hand that was stretched forth in entreaty, will soon be stretched forth in strict justice.

In our own personal lives, as believing Christians, let it never be said of us that strangers were ill-treated by us. Let us not bury our heads in the sand when there are wrongs to be righted in our lives. Let us try not to reason away wrongdoing on any premise, and most of all, let us never ever be stubborn.

The momentous scenes passing before our eyes do portend a cataclysmic event on the horizon. Bible prophets wrote about it, they were shown in vision what we are now beholding in real time, and thus, it behooves every person living in this generation to live in readiness, for the time is nearer than when we first believed.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which points us to the soon return of Christ, and it will be well for us to consider recent developments in the light of Bible prophecy, because the predictions of scripture will be fulfilled in the most literal sense. Let’s read:

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

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

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

14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

God Bless!

The Chronicles Of Job. Part [2] Sabbath Afternoon 10/24/2020

Proverbs 22:3 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.

Meaning of the word, “Prudent”:

[1] Acting with or showing care and thought for the future. [2] Marked by wisdom or judiciousness.

God is much more practical, and down to earth in His instructions than many persons realize. All of the Bible studies God has given us thus far are designed to help us to understand His will and ways more clearly, with the hope that we would put into practice the lessons we’ve learned. Light will dispel darkness, only if the switch is turned on, and now as we are heading into choppy waters it will be even more necessary for us to be humble and teachable.

Our comfort zones will be disturbed and the Biblical teachings would need to be applied in a very literal sense so as to guide our faith and practice in a right direction. Thus, as we study the Chronicles of Job 2 we will focus on the mitigating factors given in the Bible, so that whenever and wherever possible we may avoid adverse situations. It is a fact of life that living in this world of ours will involve risks of all sorts, for the work many people do naturally involves some level of inherent risk and the Bible teaches us that he that will not work shall not eat.

So, in the current crisis, it is inevitable that we will encounter some risks in the lines of duty. For instance, firemen, and police officers put their lives on the line everyday in protecting the populace and medical personnel do have to deal with the real possibility of Covid infection as they care for the sick and the dying. And there are other lines of work in which there are naturally occurring risks some more some less. That’s understandable, and God’s protection is over those who place their trust in Him intelligently.

But for us to deliberately place ourselves in a dangerous situation if there is no need to, would be the sin of presumption, which to some deluded minds, would force God to use His supernatural power to deliver. It is a sin for persons to knowingly put their lives at risk unnecessarily, without being bidden by God, or duty to do so, with the expectation that somehow God would deliver them if they run into trouble. It is of too often occurrence in our day, and because of this, some persons will cut their lives short, whereas if they had pursued a different course, they would have lived much longer. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 7:17 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

The mindset of knowingly taking unnecessary risk is an absolute nonstarter as far as the genuine faith of the Bible goes, for God teaches us to be humble and contrite in our outlook on life. The so-called faith of millions in our day reeks more of presumption than genuine faith in too many instances, and from time to time, persons will pay a heavy price as a direct result. There is no promise, nor guarantee in the Bible that God would deliver in such circumstances.

He may or may not at His discretion but for us to expect Him to deliver is a flawed mode of thinking, and therefore, the Chronicles of Job part [2] is now being given to correct this error. As was stated previously, Job did not go looking for trouble. Job did not ask for boils or sickness, nor did he knowingly expose himself, and his household to danger, and according to the sacred record, we can see that he exercised prudence in all his ways.

When he was smitten by satan with sickness, he did not go out mingling with the public, as is too often the case in our day. Instead, he stayed at home, and he quarantined himself lest the disease might infect others. His friends did come to visit, but Job himself stayed at home until he was healed of the 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. 8 And he took him a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and he sat down among the ashes.

In mitigating those health risks caused by infectious diseases the Bible teaches us quarantine and social distancing as much as is possible, in our attempts to control the spread. The Bible does not teach us to claim God’s promises of protection, if we know we can avoid harm or adversity in any way. In fact, God’s miraculous intervention to deliver us from danger is always a last resort, after we have done our God-given best to avoid risk.

Unnecessary miracles, where persons believe God will be forced into using His supernatural power is an attempt to place man above his Creator, so that the lesser may manipulate the Greater at his or her discretion, or so they think. In our own human sphere, when dealing with those imminent threats of a hurricane, the fire and rescue departments often post a lock off time, after which no rescues should be expected since it will force the personnel to deploy in dangerous situations without a reasonable need to do so.

When Miriam got sick as a result of gossip, she was immediately removed from the camp, so as not to infect her family and associates. In times past lepers were made to announce their dreaded disease with the words unclean, unclean so as to warn the public not to come within range of being infected, for like Covid, there was no vaccine or cure available.

Thus, not only Miriam, but all others who became victims of contagious diseases were to isolate from the camp, so as not to force God to work a miracle to deliver the multitudes, if there was no need to do so. This represents the first scriptural method of us mitigating risks. Let’s read:

Numbers 12:10 And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous. 14 And the Lord said unto Moses, let her be shut out from the camp seven days, and after that let her be received in again. 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

Leviticus 14:1 And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying, 2 This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest. 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and, behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper; 4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds alive and clean, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.

8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

Again, if we know in advance that there would be a situation where violence might erupt, it’s absolutely the will of God for us to avoid such a situation, if He did not bid us go. In recent months there have been uprisings and protests for different reasons, and it is a fact that some of them have turned violent. Christians who believe in the Bible are to exercise great prudence in such matters, for if we were to go unbidden by God there will be no guarantee that He will protect us miraculously, if things take a turn for the worse.

There are persons who may be willing to take the risk, and as such, the choice is theirs. In order for anyone to survive the terrors of the last days we would have to learn how to be humble and how to live soberly in this generation. The Bible, as well as the will of God would need to be abundantly clear in our minds so as to guide our feet in the way of peace.

After Jesus was born, Herod was inquiring as to His whereabouts, but the shepherds were warned in a dream by God, not to divulge Christ’s location, for in this instance, God foresaw what the shepherds did not see, and therefore He took the initiative to give them a heads up, and He then put in place, practical measures for Christ’s safety.

Now, it is quite interesting to observe how God will handle this matter, especially since His omnipotent power is at His disposal. Would He intervene to stop Herod, by using supernatural power? Will He shake down the proud monarch in a blaze of brimstone and fire? Or will He set a precedent in this instance for believers to follow in like situations? Let’s read:

Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

13 And when they were departed, behold, 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. 16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.

17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life.

In setting the example for all who should follow in His footsteps God showed us in unmistakable terms that wherever possible, imminent dangers that we may know of should be avoided and every proactive measure we know of should be implemented all the while we are trusting in God to take up the slack. In other words, if in fleeing to Egypt, Joseph and his wife were to be apprehended by Herod’s soldiers, then God would intervene to stop him, just as God did when He stopped Saul on the road to Damascus.

But for Joseph’s family to remain where they knew imminent danger was, would have sent the wrong message to future generations of believers. If Job had known in advance of the coming adversity he certainly would have taken measures to mitigate the risk. Faith without works is dead and The Lord is now showing us the difference between faith and presumption in real time, and He desires that every person who truly believes in Him, should exercise an intelligent faith.

The last mitigating factor in avoiding adversity, as much as possible has to do with obedience to the laws of God, which were given for the good of man. Prevention is always better than cure, and thus, the Bible sheds great light on steps that should be taken in order to stave of diseases and pandemics, such as we are experiencing currently. When the laws were given in the decalogue by God, the reasons for doing so were also highlighted, for He desired us to understand that He has our very best good in mind.

To view the law of God as a yoke is to imply that He gave us instructions that weren’t for our good, and if that were the case, then some may have accused Him of maliciousness. But this is absolutely not the case, as can be clearly seen in the reasons given for God’s laws. It is a fact that most of our current miseries could have been avoided, if the laws of God were being adhered to, and now, as we reflect on our doings, God desires that we reconsider, that we reason from cause to effect, and make the necessary changes wherever warranted. Let’s read:

Deuteronomy 6:1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it. 2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee.

Deuteronomy 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. 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.

Adam and Eve originally fell by eating of forbidden food, and since that time, most of the human family have followed in their footsteps, going even farther and deeper in the same direction. In the days when Christ walked the earth, certain persons who knew better were raising swine for food consumption.

Thus, when Christ was about to cast of the devils named Legion, they made a reasonable request, in that Jesus would grant them permission to go into the swine when he would cast them out of the man, for they recognized the actions of the farmers as a flagrant violation of the laws on diets and foods. Let’s read:

Matthew 8: 28 And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. 29 And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?

30 And there was a good way off from them an 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. 33 And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city.

Thus, it is in very many cases where we might read in the Bible that God did such and such. In many of those instances, God permitted agents of adversity to do damage, because people insisted on violating known laws. After it was discovered that Covid was the result of eating wild meat, some wet markets were forced to shut down. But not long after, many of them were reopened, and the same practice of eating forbidden foods has continued nonstop in many countries of the world.

And therefore, the next pandemic after Covid would be ten times as brutal, and there would not be any miraculous deliverance if we insist on violating the laws of health given in the Bible. Very many of our sicknesses, including the current pandemic can be traced back to forbidden foods, as the original cause, and as we draw near to the close of this earth’s history, the problem will become so pervasive, that it will set the stage for counterfeit healers to be manifested as is predicted in the Bible. Let’s read:

Mark 13:21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things. Prior to Covid, there had been a proliferation of so- called faith healers across the land, and very many persons flocked to their meetings, in search of that healing which supposedly was done in the name of Jesus Christ.

But now, as the icy grip of reality has set in across the nation, and the world, these same faith healers seem to be missing in action. Now that the nation is battling with Covid, now that over two hundred thousand of our fellowmen have been laid to rest, one would think that the services of the faith healers would by now have sprung into high gear, but for some unknown reason, they seem to be conspicuously absent.

The fact of the matter is that most of our current diseases are being caused by a violation of the laws of health, and if there is to be a reversal of fortunes, everyone will have to do serious soul searching, to see if our feet are diverting from the laws that God has given us for our health and well-being. These laws and instructions cover a wide swath of foods and practices that can be found throughout the Bible, but especially in the books of Exodus and Leviticus, chapter 11.

In addition, God has given to His remnant people, knowledge that will greatly help in navigating those dangers and diseases that are on the horizon. It is of such grave importance, that we would now share it with whomsoever is willing to listen, and we will explain as we go. Let’s read:

[Counsels on Diets and foods pp 73] When the third angel's message is received in its fullness, health reform will be given its place in the councils of the conference, in the work of the church, in the home, at the table, and in all the household arrangements. Then the (right arm) 3rd John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospers. serve and protect the body.

It is the good will of God that believers should do all in our power in the preservation of health, because the physical body is the medium through which the mind and character are developed, and therefore, we are under the most sacred obligation to try our best to be in good health even as our souls prosper. We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should help turn our focus to an investigation of the laws, principles and instructions God has given us in His word, and if our faith and practice converge God can be intelligently trusted to take up any slack. Let’s read:

Proverbs 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments: 2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. 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. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

God Bless!

The Chronicles Of Job. Part [1] Sabbath Afternoon 10/17/2020

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 eschewed evil.

This first passage of Job confirms to us that he was a righteous man, walking by faith in obedience to all of God’s commandments as best he knew how. This fact should put whatsoever comes next in its proper context so as not to blur the lines between the truth and other fanciful interpretations of the narrative.

There are some in Christian circles who reject this account as being fictional, and others question the veracity of what the Bible says took place with Job. So, for starters, let us be as clear as possible, if one deliberately rejects the scriptural account of Job, it will become impossible to understand what’s taking place across the globe right now.

God went to extreme lengths to shed light on some questions that had haunted human minds for many centuries. Very important questions as it pertains to the unfolding of the great controversy; issues about human suffering and tragedy and issues pertaining to God’s great mercies towards us, which, prior to Job’s trials, had evaded our understanding for many years.

God pulled back the curtain to show humans what’s taking place behind the scenes, and if the historical account of Job had been studied, and believed as God had intended, there would not have been such great misunderstanding, as it pertains to disasters and calamities that are increasing in frequency and severity, even as we speak.

The experience of Job is therefore accurate, and it is the will of God that we study and understand it with a humble and teachable spirit. Even though there a lot of promises of God’s protection given in the holy Bible to His people we’re not entirely immune from suffering and adversity. We are living in an evil world and there are agencies of evil arrayed against every individual including the righteous, in so much that persons may suffer from sickness or poverty, and still others may experience difficulties in their marriages.

There’ll be some who like Job might lose almost everything this material world has to offer. And there are others who may suffer persecution for the truth’s sake. Whatever the adversity may be, we are given the assurance in the Bible, that at the end of the day, after the dust has settled, all things will have worked out for the greater good of those who love and obey God and as such, we should take comfort while studying the chronicles of Job.

Whatever the situation may be, and whatsoever we may do, it is important for folks to avoid at all costs what is termed as unnecessary temptations, where we may put ourselves needlessly in harm’s way, and suffer the natural consequences as a direct result. It is a fact of life for us that temptations will come, but we must avoid “entering into” these temptations. As far as the record goes, Job was doing everything right, to the best of his knowledge, and as we could clearly see, he did not go looking for trouble.

From his flocks to his servants and on to his children, Job did not take anything for granted, but he tried his best to cooperate with God in leading a righteous and prudent life. There is a promise which says: “I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children”. This is a blessed promise made to those who serve and obey God, but Job did not claim this promise without his fervent prayers being lifted up for his children each and every day. Let’s read:

Job 1: 4 And his sons went and feasted in their houses, everyone his day; and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5 And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.

Job did not leave anything up to chance, neither did he presume upon God’s goodness as so many in our day often do. Around his encampments there were stationed guards, human, as well as secret-service, for his righteousness, his faith and trust in God did not lead him to believe that he wasn’t to make any effort in the preservation of life and property.

In other words, if Job was alive today, we would see him wearing a mask, and doing social distancing all the while his faith is centered not in his own feeble efforts, but in the mighty power of God. The faith in the Bible does not lead the righteous to take those unnecessary risks that folks presume to take today. While we must not allow fear to govern our actions, yet, as Christians, we must do all we can to mitigate real risks, trusting God to take up the slack.

This is a vital point that should be understood by all who live in the last days, because the track of faith lies very close to the track of presumption. When the plague of hail was about to come upon Egypt, God sent warning in advance, so that anyone in Egypt could take refuge if they so desired. They were not required to be baptized, all they had to do was to believe, and act upon their belief by obeying what God said.

For individuals to scornfully disregard any sensible instructions, as it pertains to the current pandemic, is an act of presumption, and as such, they should not expect God’s miraculous power to protect them if they had chosen the correct course of action. Like those wise Egyptians in Pharaoh’s day, they would heed the instructions and avoid unnecessary risk as much as is humanly possible. Let’s read:

Exodus 9:18 Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail, such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. 19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.

20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses. 21 And he that regarded not the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.

Thus, when we read in the book of Job, that He was a righteous man, and that he feared God, we should understand by those declarations that he mitigated all risks to himself, his family, his servants and all his flocks, as best he could, trusting in God to do what it was impossible for him to do. With this understanding we may proceed to study the chronicles of Job, for his experiences in the first two chapters contain important revelations about things in the natural and invisible worlds.

There Job was, minding his own business, working hard like everyone else, and doing good in his community, when suddenly, without warning tragedy struck. No explanation is given to him by God in advance for his change of fortunes, nor for the tremendous blessings he was to receive thereafter, because, if God were to do this then Job’s response might be explained away as a part of the show.

To go through trials faithfully because of the blessings and rewards promised can cause some to become Christians for the wrong reason. God must be given due consideration by intelligent minds. His ways, His laws, and the principles of His kingdom must be studied carefully, understood and accepted by a free choice, based upon His inherent goodness, not because of blessings and favors, for if it were otherwise, the motivation for service would be loaves and fishes, not God’s goodness.

Yet, as Job reflects on his own doings, he cannot see anything that he could have done to trigger such an onset of adversities, but he chooses to keep trusting in God, and that against all odds. It was necessary to reveal to the inhabitants of this world certain truths about life, and this is why God chose a specific person whom He knew in advance, could handle such an ordeal.

God does not lay upon us more than we can bear, so there is no need for any believer to lose sleep by counting sheep and wondering if his or her turn will be next. Sufficient to the day is the evil thereof, and the promise is given to us: “As thy days, so shall thy strength be”. A serious charge had been made by the devil in the presence of created intelligences, that The Lord was bribing Job to serve him, by blessing him with those material comforts of life.

This charge is a very grave one indeed for if one person in a relationship has to bribe the other for service, then that relationship is seriously flawed. God is to be served and obeyed, not because of fear or because of His many gifts, but because folks love Him for who He is. The Lord is not a sugar-daddy, as so many in our day have misunderstood Him to be, for He is good at His core and requires an intelligent obedience motivated by love.

In our day the preaching of the health wealth gospel has produced millions of “Shine eye” Christians who live by the motif, “When praises go up, the blessings come down”. Not so with Job, for he served God in the good times as well as the bad, and he refused to resort to blaming God for his misfortunes, as is all too common in our day. There are those who may weather the storm if they had an explanation of their situation but it’s entirely different when no explanation is given.

Trusting the goodness of God’s character takes tremendous faith and courage, especially when He may do things that we may not necessarily agree with, or when He may not have given us a heads-up of what was coming our way. Thus, the saga of Job’s adversity sheds light on the sources of troubles which afflict the human family.

After the diabolical insinuation was made by the adversary of souls, God permitted him to try Job’s faith to the extreme, and in the process, very great revelations about occurrences which are now taking place, were exposed. Therefore, the charge of bribery must of necessity be settled once and for all, and God is going to pull back, and not intervene in any way to deliver Job, so that angels, as well as men may see, that it was, and is still possible to serve God in sincerity, not merely because of His gifts.

We are also going to focus on the five methods that are usually employed by devils and their agencies to do the unthinkable among the multitudes of people and in our next segment, we will study the promises and methods God has given us to help in mitigating adversities, if and when they arise. 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. 7 And the Lord said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

9 Then Satan answered the Lord, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10 Hast not thou made an 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.

12 And the Lord said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord. 13 And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house. 14 And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them.

15 And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 16 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. 18 While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house.

19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

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.

The following therefore are the five adversities that were brought upon Job by satanic agencies, and we will trace the afflictions to their rightful source so that from here on out, we may have an intelligent understanding of what is currently taking place in our world. [1] The Sabeans. [2] The fire of God. [3] The Chaldeans. [4] A great wind. [5] Sore boils.

These five agencies are currently being used in an increasingly sustained and frequent manner against the human family. And as we get closer to the time when Christ will return, even greater adversities are predicted to take place across the globe, but very few persons are the wiser. Let us begin with the Sabeans and the Chaldeans, who they represent and what aspects of life are affected by them.

The Bible states that these two human agencies, motivated by devils made an attack on Job’s servants who were taking care of his oxen, asses and camels. The oxen were beasts of burden, which were used primarily for the tilling of the soil, but also on some occasions for sacrifices, when a grave sin had been committed.

Therefore, in one stroke, the adversary of man affected the means whereby Job made his living, his ability to make sacrifice for sins, and the lives of Job’s servants were taken in the process. The Sabeans, and the Chaldeans are still at work in our day, because currently, where we have become dependent on computers for everything, the ability to work is often compromised by hackers, who are always looking for ways to disrupt banking systems, companies, the electrical grid, and so forth.

But they have expanded their operations to include elections, and the problem is so pervasive that one former F.B.I agent described everyone who uses the internet as belonging to one of two groups: Those who know that they have been hacked, and those who don’t know they are hacked. The Sabeans and Chaldeans also came through on 9/11 when out of the blue sky, death and carnage rained down on America.

The beheadings, and the cruelties enacted by many groups across the world are the result of devils working though the human agent to bring us misery and destruction. And just as how the enemy sought to affect Job’s sacrifices and worship we have discovered in recent years that churches are not off limits to the Sabeans and Chaldeans, because several attacks have been launched in churches while folks were worshipping. It used to be that churches were one of the safest places to be, but in our day, nothing is off the table.

The next assault from the adversary of souls came in the form of what Job’s servant described as being the fire of God. In fact, it was lightening that struck without warning, burning up the sheep, which were a source of food for Job’s household. The devil is able to deliver bolts of lightning, thus sparking fires that have ravaged communities, and destroyed lives, and disrupted the food chain, from Job’s time until the present. But, do not take our word for it, let the record speak for itself. Let’s read:

(CNN) While people in the West are suffering through record-breaking heat, wildfires are ravaging many areas, especially in California, and red-flag warnings have been issued from the Northwest into the Rockies. There were at least 77 large complexes of wildfires burning in 15 states across the country as of Tuesday evening -- almost a third of them in California, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

The fires have burned at least 649,054 acres in the 14 states where fires are still spreading, according to the NIFC. Some 45 million people remain under some sort of heat warning or advisories, and no reprieve from the record heat in the West is expected until the weekend. Alaska: Acres burned: More than 26,000 acres. Cause: Lightning strikes have caused most of the 331 fires reported this year to date, according to the Alaska Interagency Coordination Center.

Arizona: Number of fires: 11. Size: More than 31,000 acres Cause: A lightning strike caused the largest, the Cassadora Springs Fire. California: Number of fires: 25. Total size: More than 345,000 acres Cause: The August complex, made up of 20 individual fires, was caused by lightning strikes in the Mendocino National Forest.

Colorado: Number of fires: Five. Size: More than 135,000 acres. Smoke is covering much of Colorado, and the Denver metro area is under an air quality alert. Cause: The Pine Gulch Fire, the largest burning now, was caused by lightning.

Many of the fires currently burning across the U.S have been started by lightening, but the old devil remains hidden in the background, while science chalks it all up to global warming or dry storms. This is one of the reasons why God had to pull back the curtain via the chronicles of Job, to reveal what many are too reluctant to acknowledge in our day, that lightning strikes cannot only be attributed to the weather. Evil angels can and have often brought lightening to cause destruction, just as in the days of Job. Let’s read:

Luke 10:18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

In the time of Moses, when the Hebrews were in bondage, because of pharaoh’s stubbornness, God let go the leash just a bit, and His restraining power, which has always protected the human family, was lifted from off the Egyptians for a single day. What followed was a tremendous plague of hail and lightening, of which the explanation of what really took place is given in the Psalms.

There are forces now, ready and waiting to cause major disasters on the earth, but permission must be granted first, and in our next segment we will study why permission is at times granted. Let’s read:

Exodus 9:19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die. 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt. 24 So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

(What actually took place?) Psalms 78:48 He gave up their cattle also to the hail, and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. 49 He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them.

The next calamity that was brought upon Job by the devil was as the Bible describes it A Great Wind. Like lightening, devils can also produce tornadoes and hurricanes to bring disaster and carnage across the world, as they have done recently, increasing in frequency and severity, as the records also show. If a drinking glass is pushed from off of a table to the ground it will break. It matters not whether a child does it or a dog does it the result will be the same.

Similarly, hurricanes can be caused by many tropical disturbances, and they can also be caused by devils. This is explicitly stated in the chronicles of Job, to the intent that we would not chalk up everything to merely scientific causes. The wind that smote the house on its four corners was a deadly tornado that was spawned directly by the devil. Let’s read:

Job 1:19 And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.

This brings us to the last and final affliction that was the direct result of satanic intervention, and which we are now grappling with across the globe, just in a different form. Boils. Boils represent any form of sickness, disease, physical or mental malady or pandemic that occurs as the result of the work of evil angels.

Whilst it is true that not every affliction may arise directly from their covert activities, yet the Bible clearly states that they have the ability to bring on such things, and as such, there are certain instances where a change in treatments, might be necessary. Drugs are often used to treat spiritual maladies in our day, but now, The Lord is going to expose the real cause, in many instances. Let’s read:

Luke 13:10 And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. 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. 14 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day. 15 The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

16 And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

Mark 9:15 And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. 16 And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? 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 tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. 21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?

And he said, Of a child. 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.

WHAT IS TOURETTE SYNDROME?

Tourette syndrome is a neurological disorder defined by repetitive, involuntary movements and vocalizations, called tics. The condition is named for Dr. Georges Gilles de la Tourette who first described it in 1885. Because the incidence of this condition has skyrocketed over the last few decades, especially in western countries, and since the media has been giving it more attention, it’s now much more recognized. Once considered rare and unusual, Tourette syndrome is now considered “common.”

The National Institute of Health estimates (2015) that in the USA 1 in 100 have a mild case of tics and 200,000 have a severe form of Tourette’s. However, some research suggests these may be significant underestimates. A study of schoolchildren in and around Rochester, New York in 2001 revealed that nearly 20% of students in elementary through high school had some level of tics.

Although many millions of dollars have been spent in research over the past 40 years, the underlying causes of Tourette syndrome have not been clearly identified. Conventional medical efforts have focused on genetics, yet, attempts to isolate the genes involved have failed to yield suitable treatments.

For centuries, the protective shield of God has been covering the human family from dangers, seen and unseen, but as we approach the climax of earth’s history, the Bible tells us that adverse occurrences, and incidents of a supernatural nature will multiply across the globe. And as such, we will need to study all the remedial actions given in the scriptures so as to avert danger, if and wherever possible.

It is very important that the human family understand the sources of their problems, for if we conclude that God is doing these things to us, then we would not view Him as our Friend, and that will lead to an ultimate rejection of His offers of salvation. In our next segment, we will address the mitigations and remedies given in the Bible, but until then, let us bear in mind that Jesus is the friend of man, not our enemy, and His gracious overtures to save us is not only from sin, but its consequences.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should help us to lift our heads heavenward, from whence comes our help, for as the world digs itself deeper into the hole, we will discover that it is only God who can save us from ourselves. 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!

The Image Of The Beast. Sabbath Afternoon 10/10/20

Revelation 13: 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. 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.

The word beast in scripture represents an earthly power. And thus, when we read in the above passages of the first, and second beasts, we are reading about the two earthly that will be in focus in the formation of the system of worship that will bring earth’s probation to a close. Let’s read:

Daniel 7:2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 16 I came near unto one of them that stood by and asked him the truth of all this. So, he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.

17 These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth. 23 Thus he said, The fourth beast shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.

In our first passage the Bible tells us that the second beast will mirror the image of the first one that was mentioned, and since it is referring to two earthly powers, we only need to observe the characteristics and nature of the first beast, to get a clearer picture of what the image of the 2nd beast will look like.

Question: What earthly power is represented by the first beast in Revelation 13:

Answer: The first beast is pagan Rome which later morphed into papal Rome, the earthly power which consists of a blend of church and state, by which the religious authority bears sway over the secular authority.

Question: How was the papacy formed?

Answer: It came about when the Christian church sought the support of the secular government, and over a period of time, the religious sector became the dominant force in instituting laws in its favor. It was by the early church conforming to the worldly standards, principles, and practices of the heathen that set the stage for the diabolical metamorphosis, and the potent mixture of religion and politics was thus cemented when emperor Constantine claimed to accept Christianity.

From that time forward the legislative arm of the government was dominated by the church, and by so doing they were able to label any dissent to their dogmas as heresy. This in turn led to punishments for any dissenters, and culminated in the dark ages, where millions of persons became martyrs, if they chose not to submit to the religious dictates of the government.

Thus, wherever there is a mixture of church-craft, and state-craft, the religious sector will ultimately become the dominant force in decision making, for the laws of the nation in question will be driven by what the religious sector believes to be right, and it could quickly become fluid, if the absolute truths of the Bible are not adopted.

In some instances what the religious sector believes and institutes as law may be good but in some other instances it may be productive of evil, especially if it involves the issue of worship, and one’s conscience. In our day, the system is now being set up in such a manner as to feature some good aspects which will in turn give the movement plausibility in the eyes of the people.

Thus, to be clear on the nature of the first beast or kingdom, it is a system of government that becomes dominated by particular religious creeds, and where the legislative branch is directly influenced by the church. To put it plainly, theology is made to drive government policy and enforcement of the church’s dogmas becomes law.

The second beast mentioned in our first passage is none other than America, for it is the only nation on the planet which fits the description given by John. In the seventeenth century, as the papacy was just about to receive its deadly wound, from the French general Berthier, America as the youngest nation on the planet was newly coming up on the world stage.

The 4th of July, 1776, which is independence day, or the day when America officially became a nation, is just a few years shy of 1798 when Pope Pius V1 was taken prisoner by general Berthier, and he died one year later in France, thus delivering to the papacy, the deadly wound spoken of by John. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

The deadly wound spoken of by John was healed in 1929 at the institution of the Lateran treaty, when the Vatican became a fully independent state within Italy, Rome, with full autonomy, jurisdiction, and its own ambassador. Thus, you have a state where the leader dominates both religious and political areas of life.

But, according to the Revelator, America will soon introduce a similar pattern of government whereby religion will become the dominant force in dictating everything from food to worship, just as it is in the Vatican currently. This movement is already afoot and it’s gaining momentum at an alarming pace that should concern every rational thinking person. The tendency of the prominent churches in America to unite on certain points of doctrine might seem to the casual observer to be good on the surface.

It may appear as if a push for unity amongst the many discordant voices, creeds and beliefs is a good thing. And indeed, the hot-button issues such as abortion, the right to life, God-ordained marriage, faith, and family, are just a sample of some of those concerns that have energized both contemporary Christians and evangelicals.

While some may have good, upright intentions and convictions, the fact is that there is generally among these leading churches, one common denominator that goes contrary to scripture, and as such, those who believe the Bible to be the source of absolute truth, will find themselves at odds with mainstream Christianity on several fronts.

Even though God encourages righteousness in every person, the use of force in accomplishing a doctrinal practice is contrary to the exercise of free will which the Bible enjoins. For instance, prayer in school may sound like a good thing to most of us, and we would encourage everyone to do so. But to make prayer mandatory will be a problem in that it will coerce the consciences of those who are unwilling, and as such, the enforcement thereof will be an infringement on one’s freedom to choose.

We are definitely at a crossroads, and the old devil will continue to stir the pot, both on the right hand and on the left. According to the constitution, our government is a secular one, not a theocracy and therefore, the use of force in implementing doctrines or creeds should be entirely off the table, regardless of how strong a person’s convictions may be. Same-sex marriage has now been incorporated into the laws of the land and this has caused resentment in those who believe in God-ordained marriage.

And now, there is a push for public schools and colleges to incorporate gender neutrality into the curriculum under the pretext of inclusiveness. To counter this, some on the right are convinced of the need to teach the scriptural version of marriage and the same is true of evolution versus creation. In some minds, the Biblical teaching should bear sway, and with others, evolution should be given priority.

And, since as was stated in a previous Bible study, the devil is working on both sides of the fence to destroy from the inside out and from the outside in, he uses these issues that rile up Christians to cause them to push for laws in the opposite direction, and by so doing, the legislative branch is being sucked in to a vacuum where they have to address religious beliefs.

The real issue at stake is not so much what personal conviction may be, it’s whether or not the churches of the land will pressure the judiciary to legislate a brand of religion that is based upon their personal interpretations of the Bible. In other words, if the leading churches of America were to pressure the judiciary into legislating that only creation should be taught in schools and God-ordained marriage should be the law of the land, would the Feds then force those convictions on the masses?

And if that precedent is set into motion what would happen when the churches’ interpretations of other doctrines go contrary to what the Bible teaches as it pertains to worship? Would they then again enforce their beliefs on the masses? Thus, because of these haunting questions we are moved to make a very grim statement, that in order for freedom of worship, and freedom of conscience to be protected we would have to learn to tolerate some level of evil.

Freedom of speech includes the right to preach the three angels’ messages, as well as the freedom to use foul language. You can find 3ABN on twitter, while on the same platform other “people” tweet some offensive, disturbing things. This is one of the reasons why Mark Zuckerberg has “probably” been so hesitant to take down lies from Facebook’s forum, because the freedom of speech includes the freedom to tell lies, and the freedom to speak the truth.

Our own Bible study is streamed on platforms which also carry porn. Will we then throw out the baby with the bath water? It is a very sad conundrum that we find ourselves in, but it’s what is happening currently for in trying to protect those freedoms that have made America so great, folks must be permitted the freedom to eat from the tree of good and evil.

Thus, the image of the beast has at its core, the use of the legislature to enforce that which the church deems to be right, whether it is from the Bible, or not, which will inevitably give rise to religious police and the disposition to use coercion and punishment against those who beg to differ in their convictions., even though they are otherwise peaceful citizens.

This takes us to the core of our study, where the king of Babylon sought to force his own religious persuasions on the masses of people, regardless of whether they agreed or not. In doing so, he hand-picked certain members of his administration, with the sole intent that his private interpretations of worship was to become the law of the land. And as is inevitable, punishments were attached to the decree in order to give it teeth.

In other words, Nebuchadnezzar was saying to the people under his jurisdiction, worship my way and you would live and be able to carry on your normal daily activities, or if you worship contrary to my convictions you will die, plain and simple. The use of force in mandating a counterfeit form of worship upon the masses is one of the reasons the word Babylon is used in Revelation 14 to describe the diabolical activities of an apostate church.

Just as Nebuchadnezzar tried to force everyone into a form of worship that was laced with error, just so, the image of the beast will try to mandate a false brand of worship on those under its jurisdiction, on pain of losing their economic privileges, and even life itself. Let’s read:

Revelation 13: 15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads. 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Revelation 14: 8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Again, we must pay very close attention to who king Nebuchadnezzar is inviting to the inauguration of his brand of worship, for he knows that the masses of people generally would not rise higher than their leaders, and even if they had other persuasions, the full force of the law will be invoked against them. Let’s read:

Daniel 3:1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon. 2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counselors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, 5 That at what time you hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music, you fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: 6 And whoso falls not down and worships shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

This is a microcosm of what is actually heading our way according to the book of Revelation. Silently, and almost imperceptibly Americans would discover that they are being corralled into a certain brand of righteousness which may have some good aspects, while at the same time, some contrary elements as it pertains to scriptural doctrine. Great changes have taken place since the onset of the pandemic, and even greater changes are on the horizon.

For starters, we are finding ourselves much more dependent on technology, and those who in times past have refused to go with the flow are now discovering how difficult it could be to live without the gizmos of the day. We have become prisoners of our devices, and we are becoming more and more dependent on those technologies which intrude into our privacy, to an alarming extent.

And make no mistake, things will never go back to normal entirely as they were prior to Covid, for some of the changes that have taken place will be permanent indeed. In addition, millions of persons are now being urged and permitted to work from home, whereas, a few months before this would have been unthinkable. Coupled together with this new abnormal is the fact that online shopping has skyrocketed, for clothing, groceries, and myriads of goods are being delivered to our doorstep more and more.

In addition to the national lock-downs, and all of the restrictions still in place, the movement of peoples has slowed significantly. But even more concerning is the fact that there has literally been an explosion of natural disasters, one coming on the heels of the next, to the point where even secular folk are now beginning to talk about the apocalypse.

And as is usually the case, God is being blamed by a large swath of the populace for the incessant string of calamities, as is to be observed in the words of a Sonoma county supervisor, who endured multiple fires in California: "It's like God has no sympathy, no empathy for Sonoma County," county supervisor Susan Gorin told the Chronicle.

Now, if we were to follow this line of reasoning to its logical end, religionists will soon conclude that the calamities that are coming upon the face of the earth are the result of God being displeased, and if so, then the nation will have to turn back to God, so as to appease His wrath, as some have already been calling for.

For the record, God is not in the business of killing people, for He sent His son not to condemn us but to save us. Destruction, calamity, and adversity are often the results of our own doing, and when those chickens come home to roost some tend to blame God. America turning back to God might be a good thing, but the way in which the we do it is more important because God only accepts service on His terms, that are laid out in the Bible, not on ours.

With most of protestant America there is a common denominator of Sunday worship which is nowhere to be found in the Bible. If as a nation and individuals we desire to return to the favor of God, we will need to choose to serve and obey Him, including the laws and principles of His kingdom, as is found in Exodus chapter 20. The Sabbath is the only Biblical day of rest that God has set aside for the human family to worship on and be rejuvenated. 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.

Thus, any form of return to righteousness which is recommended must of necessity include obedience to the fourth commandment, which recognizes and honors God as The Creator of the heavens and the earth. This in turn will take care of all downstream issues such as marriage, abortion, evolution, and morality, for wherever God is honored as Creator these issues will fall into their rightful place.

Let us therefore be careful of jumping onto bandwagons of ecumenism where the true worship of God as The Creator is not being enjoined. The formation of the image of the beast is in its final stages and before it bursts upon the scene of action, God is calling the citizens of America, and all the inhabitants of the earth to awake, as it were out of slumber, for the urgency of the moment demands a firm choice and decision by individuals to serve and worship God, in spirit and in truth.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture which enjoins the worship of God as Creator of the heaven and the earth, for in most instances in the scriptures where His claims to worship are found, the fact that He created all things is also cited, to the intent that we earthlings might understand the basis for His Sovereign authority. 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.

God Bless!

The Executive Judgment. The Issue Of Accountability [3] Sabbath afternoon 10/03/2020

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither anything hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

Last week we studied how Jesus will cover and wipe away the sins of all persons who truly repented and have accepted Him as Lord and Savior of their lives, walking in obedience to His laws, and the light shed upon their pathway, to the best of their knowledge and ability. That is great news. But this evening we are going in a completely opposite direction, as we observe the proceedings of the executive judgment.

The passage above highlights the sacred truth that there is nothing that is really secret as it pertains to our lives because all of our actions, words, thoughts and intents are recorded in the books of record with uncanny accuracy. When the scripture speaks about the omniscience of God we must never make the mistake of thinking that any minor details would fall through the cracks.

There are no cracks for anything to fall through, and furthermore the level of scrutiny would be far more extensive, and intrusive than any earthly court has ever engaged in. The records in heaven are not only written, there is also live footage of every detail of our lives. Thus, as the records of the lost are revealed in the executive judgment, the saints, under the direction of Christ, will be able to view the facts in real time, as it were.

There are those who may think that somehow, the historical facts of our lives, as recorded in the vaults of heaven may not go in-depth as to reach thoughts and intents, but this is a delusion, because the Bible teaches us the extent to which the scrutiny is being done. Therefore, let’s take a moment of silence and focus on the next two words.

Live Footage.

1st Chronicles 28:9 And thou Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts.

Lamentations 3:60 Thou hast seen all of their vengeance and all their imaginations against me. 61 Thou hast heard their reproach, O Lord, and all their imaginations against me.

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. In those previous passages, the words imaginations, and thoughts are being referenced in the context of the deep level of observation taking place.

If these thoughts and imaginations are sinful, and are acted upon, or, the choice is made to move forward with implementing them then they are recorded as being actual deeds, even if the individual did not have the opportunity to literally implement them.

Thus, it’s imperative for us to understand the word Imagination: The faculty, or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses. Imagination is the ability to produce and simulate novel objects, sensations, and ideas in the mind without any immediate input of the senses.

Therefore, what the Bible is basically saying is that God sees the ideas, and the accompanying imagery as they are being formed in our minds. This level of knowledge defies logic as we know it because in our finite sphere as mortals, we tend to focus more on the byproducts of the mind, such as our words and deeds.

But God takes into account what our minds dwelt upon, and the thoughts and preferences that were harbored, cherished, and also decided upon, deep within the recesses of our minds. In other words, a person does not have to literally do anything sinful for it to be recorded as sin, if the choice has been made in the mind.

Thus, when we read in the book of Revelation, that those who are lost will walk naked, and their shame would be seen, we should understand the depth or seriousness of the statement, especially as it would pertain to those whose lives and history will not be covered by the blood of Christ. Live footage is therefore important for it’s one thing for facts to be written, but verification through live streaming is a definite game-changer.

Therefore the scripture teaches, that at the mouth of at least two witnesses everything would be established; written records, and live footage. Pay close attention to the highlighted words. Let’s read:

Isaiah 65: 6 Behold, it is written before me: I will not keep silence, but will recompense, even into their bosom. 7 Your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord, which have burned incense upon the mountains, and blasphemed me upon the hills: therefore, will I measure their former work into their bosom.

Ezekiel 28:17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more.

Revelation 15: 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

These following statements taken from the above passages: [1] Thy judgments are made manifest. [2] The people shall be astonished at thee. [3] I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee, are all referring to written records, and live coverage of what took place as it pertains to sin. Up to this point, devils have disguised themselves as seeking the good of the people, and satan himself is regarded by many as the savior of the earth.

But in the final executive judgement, live coverage of what the root and branches have done will be revealed to the world, so that the wicked and the righteous can see for themselves what actually took place. Let’s read:

[G.C pp 666<667] Above the throne is revealed the cross; and like a panoramic view appear the scenes of Adam's temptation and fall, and the successive steps in the great plan of redemption. The Savior's lowly birth; his early life of simplicity and obedience; his baptism in Jordan; the fast and temptation in the wilderness; his public ministry, unfolding to men Heaven's most precious blessings; The days crowded with deeds of love and mercy, the nights of prayer and watching in the solitude of the mountains;

The plotting of envy, hate, and malice which repaid his benefits; the awful, mysterious agony in Gethsemane, beneath the crushing weight of the sins of the whole world; His betrayal into the hands of the murderous mob; the fearful events of that night of horror,—the unresisting prisoner, forsaken by his best-loved disciples, rudely hurried through the streets of Jerusalem;

The Son of God exultingly displayed before Annas, arraigned in the high priest's palace, in the judgment hall of Pilate, before the cowardly and cruel Herod, mocked, insulted, tortured, and condemned to die, all are vividly portrayed. And now before the swaying multitude are revealed the final scenes,—the patient Sufferer treading the path to Calvary;

The Prince of Heaven hanging upon the cross; the haughty priests and the jeering rabble deriding his expiring agony; The supernatural darkness; the heaving earth, the rent rocks, the open graves, marking the moment when the world's Redeemer yielded up his life. The awful spectacle appears just as it was.

Now that it has been established that live footage will be included in the executive judgment, we will study who will be involved in the decision-making processes, what issues will be come up for purposes of litigation, and how, those whose probation have not yet closed, can still avail themselves of God’s grace. Let us start with the very first issue of who would be involved in the decision-making process.

The Father and God, The Son, together with the saints who will be saved would be sitting as judges in the executive Judgment under the auspices of Christ. Supervising the entire processes will be the Father and Son, with the saints under them, being able to view for themselves, the records of persons and of angels, many of these persons whom they currently know. This is an important aspect of the executive judgement, for it is mainly through this process that the tears will be wiped away from our eyes if we are saved.

God’s fairness in dealing with the lost must forever be settled in the minds of the saints, so as to leave no lingering questions about His character. In fact, when we see for ourselves how many times Christ tried to save the lost, and those extreme efforts of The Holy Ghost in trying to bring men to repentance it will be enough, and we will conclude that God is love. Let’s read:

Psalms 50:5 Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. 6 And the heavens shall declare his righteousness, for God is judge himself.

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

Psalms 49:7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honor have all his saints. Praise ye the Lord.

1st Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? 3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

Next, we would observe what issues will be under consideration as it pertains to the lost; what evils were cherished and their refusals to accept of God’s grace through Christ. Among the lost will be some who may have had good morals, but they never saw their need of Christ, and therefore, their penalties will be considerably lighter than those who indulged in deliberate transgression.

On the other hand those who professed to be God’s people but who lived contrary to His word, and led others astray in wrong paths, will be severely dealt with, for such would have caused others to stumble. On this point, if one chooses to be lost, they should avoid taking down other persons with them, for the responsibility of others’ failures will be partially laid at their feet. Let’s read:

Luke 12: 47 And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Matthew 18:6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!

The following therefore are just some of the issues that would be coming up for review in the executive judgment, and they are being given out now so that if any person may currently be in willful, or ignorant violation thereof, we may change course, while we have opportunity to do so. We will explain as we go. Let’s read:

Isaiah 5:11 Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them! 18 Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: 20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

22 Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: 23 Which justify the wicked for reward and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Revelation 22: 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Romans 13: 6 For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. 7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe no man anything, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Secular persons, as well as Christians, are required by God to pay their fair share of taxes. There have been times when heavy taxes were levelled against the people, in order to support persons in authority, such as in the days of Solomon, king Saul and in the time of Nebuchadnezzar. And there have been times when the multitude had to murmur, because of the heavy financial burdens that were placed upon their shoulders.

Now, even though some of these taxes may be unfair in certain instances, yet, the true Christian will not shirk his or her responsibility, because we are required to obey the laws of the land, except those laws force us into violation of God’s law. Therefore, those who dodge their taxes by keeping secret off-shore accounts down in Cayman islands, or in Swiss banks; those who deliberately inflate their losses on their tax returns in order to procure hefty refunds;

Persons who routinely file claims for phantom relatives, who are summoned from the grave, only to disappear into neverland after April 15th. And anyone who withholds from the government their just dues is in violation of the laws of the Bible, and will surely be called to account in the executive judgment, if they do not repent, for the command for persons to render unto Caesar, is just as much a command as to render unto God, the things which are God’s. Let’s read:

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 3 And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth 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 an 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.

The next and final issue we will address is, how can persons avoid having their names come up in the executive judgment, because, the door of mercy is still open. The study of the executive judgment is a sobering one indeed, but it is necessary for God to put the inhabitants of earth on notice, so that all who so desire may find refuge before it is too late.

No person will be lost arbitrarily, because God has given us the freedom of choice, whilst at the same time, providing the remedy for sin, which is found in none other but Christ Jesus. Therefore, God is never too much concerned with the sickness of sin, as He is with what we do with the remedy. In other words, if persons like Nebuchadnezzar, and Manasseh, Jacob, David, the woman at the well and Peter could be saved in God’s kingdom, there is no reason why the most, vile sinners in our day cannot be saved too.

There are individuals who were once prostitutes who would be present on resurrection morning, and some like Matthew, who worked for the IRS will be there too. God is now calling all the inhabitants of this earth to make our calling and election sure, by finding refuge in Christ, for He is able to save to the guttermost, all them that call upon His name for salvation. In other words, it’s not what we did that would do us in, it’s who we chose not to accept as Savior.

We therefore end with a few passages of scripture that ought to impress upon our hearts the urgency of now, and it is the will of God that all who desire, now appropriate to themselves, the goodness and love of God towards the human family as is clearly manifested in Jesus. Let’s read:

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Ezekiel 33: 11 Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

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.

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

God Bless!

The Issue Of Accountability. Part [2] 09/26/2020

Revelation 22: 12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

The investigative judgment now taking place in the heavenly courts examines both the good, as well as the wicked deeds that have been committed by the professed people of God. A clear, distinct record of all that persons have ever done and all that we have ever planned to do, and all that we didn’t do simply because there was no opportunity, are held in the books of heaven. These records include all the good deeds that have been done in sincerity and truth.

Some persons get nervous about the judgment as if it’s all bad news. It is not; in fact, it includes a whole lot of good news for those who have repented, those who have been forgiven, and who by their words and actions show what God’s grace in the heart does for individuals. Honesty, integrity, and truth are three brethren that are never afraid of inspection, because investigation of them leads to exoneration.

A whole lot of people nowadays, in high and low places seem to be scared stiff of investigation, and that is because they have “probably” have some things to hide. Whenever any person begins to get nervous at the very mention of investigation, when they break out in cold sweat, and become petrified at the prospect of disclosure, it is usually a sign that wrong has been done or has been covered up.

Therefore, we should understand that not one thought or action or intent can ever be hidden from the Eternal God. Darkness and light are alike unto Him, and He needs no computer Wiz to retrieve records that may have been scrubbed from servers. Christ needs to get no subpoenas in order to find out the truth about any person, for the books of record contain the accurate accounts of all that we have ever done.

Furthermore, the books of record are designed for use by created beings, because angels, as well as human beings do not have the mental capacity to remember everything with exactness as God does. And thus, it was for the purposes of verification by created beings, that the books of record were made necessary in the first place. 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.

1st Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off forever.

While the Christian, who has cultivated by the grace of God, the right blend of faith and works would not have anything to boast of, yet he or she would have nothing to hide. They would look forward to the investigative judgment, not with terror but with joy, knowing that the blood of Jesus has washed them from their sins. This is where their confidence lies, not in their good works, which were actually by-products of The Holy Ghost living within but in the righteousness of Jesus which was given to them as God’s free gift.

The Gift of God to humanity includes both the imputed, and imparted righteousness of Christ, so there’s no valid reason for any sincere-hearted, born-again persons to become nervous. The good deeds that are done by God’s people do not go unnoticed, and they will be rewarded by Him for doing so. The faithfulness in big and small things and the kindness shown to humanity, as well as our own brethren, will be taken into account, for God is not reviewing the bad only, He’s also looking for the good too. Let’s read:

Matthew 10:41 He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. 42 And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Luke 6:35 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. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

Psalms 126:5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

However, the issue of disclosure in the investigative judgment must be addressed, because there might be some dark pages in our history that some might prefer not to have disclosed. This is alluded to in the book of revelation where John mentions the issue of shame. Let’s read:

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

The words “Naked” and “Shame” refer to one being exposed in the judgment, where the evils that have been done by persons, and swept under the rug in some cases, are revealed for all to see. Persons may use clever lawyers on this earth to have their record of evil hidden from public view. They may strive to keep their taxes private, and like David, they may make every effort to keep any illicit relationships from public view. In the process, they may bend and distort the wheels of justice so as to keep these wrongs from being inspected.

But in the heavenly courts, such persons will walk naked, and everything that was hidden will be laid bare, if they do not repent. For instance, when the name of David comes up, we believe that he would prefer that some of the stuff which he did be not mentioned, because, not only would it be a terrible embarrassment, it could cost him eternal life, if he had not repented, which he did. Yet, it would be preferable if those evils not be rehashed.

The same thing is true for me and you, because, personally speaking, I would also prefer that certain things about me, in my history, not be made public. There are those dark chapters in our lives where we would loathe for others to see in 3D, especially if we were Christians at the time such things occurred. Now, some may argue that such things must have occurred before baptism, for after accepting Christ as Lord and Savior, a great change in our habits and actions should be seen.

While this is true, we should remember that Peter had uttered some choice words after being baptized which we are certain he prefers that they not be revealed in the judgment. Therefore, we must of necessity observe from the Bible, how God is going to handle the delicate issue of disclosure, in people who have truly repented of their sins. For this we turn to Joshua the high priest who stood before God in filthy garments, and satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. Let’s read:

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 resist him. 2 And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? 3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel.

4 And he answered and spoke unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. 5 And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by.

Joshua, like David, couldn’t really dispute the many accusations that were being hurled against him, for they were based on the factual history of his life, for the most part albeit that they were presented in the most exaggerated light so as to trigger hopelessness in the one under consideration. We observe in this exchange that God makes no mention of what Joshua did or didn’t do, for God does not participate in the spirit of accusation like so many do.

Nor does God excuse Joshua for all the wrongs pointed out by satan. God points out sin during our probationary time not to condemn, but so that the sinner may come to a realization of his or her dire need of Christ. In our day the work of God in pointing out sin through His word and through His servants via The Holy Ghost is often viewed as being judgmental, which is the way devils try to spin it, so as to cause individuals to put up resistance to the pricking of conscience.

When Christ asked the woman at the well to go get her husband, He was not being judgmental, nor was He trying to cause her embarrassment. All Jesus was doing was trying to get her to see her dire need of His grace, forgiveness and mercy, while she still had opportunity to repent.

Devils also point out sin, but they use it to weaken, discourage, and drive persons to desperation with the thought that they can never be forgiven. There is therefore a stark difference between the work of God, and the work of devils, and we should all know the difference, for in our day the two are very often confused. 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. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.

Thus, we see in the way that God handled the issues of disclosure in Joshua, that the garment of Christ’s righteousness was given to cover the deficiencies or shortcomings of His servant. No mention is made of His past, and his slate is wiped clean because of the mercies of Christ. This is essentially what Christ is now doing in the heavenly sanctuary in behalf of all who have truly repented of sin.

Every person who has appropriated God’s free gift, and has shown by their newness of life that they have chosen to serve and obey Christ will have the record of their evil deeds wiped clean, and no mention of their sinful history will be made. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. 22 All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live.

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. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him.

1st John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.

The blood of Christ not only cleanses, but it covers all sin in those who have become partakers of God’s mercies, and who have shown by their choices, and actions that they are willing to obey God. In other words, even though there may be troubling records of some of the things we have done, God is not going to expose them in the courts, because the blood of Christ also wipes away our history of sinful actions. The work of atonement is not haphazard in nature, but it is well thought out and is executed in such a manner so that the repentant sinner is permanently set free from sin and his sinful histories. Let’s read:

Hebrews 8:11 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.

That is not to say that we are then free to trample on His laws, for God is not finished with the issue of Joshua yet, in that He cautions the high priest, from here onward, he is to walk worthy of those mercies manifested towards him. Joshua must not conclude that God’s grace sets him free to sin as he has done previously. Let’s read:

Zechariah 3: 6 And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, 7 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.

There are great lessons for us in our day, as we view how God deals with the issue of disclosure. In our interactions with others there are times when some may sin against us, sometimes inadvertently, and at other times deliberately. Like God, we should avoid rehashing old wounds, and regurgitating wrongs, so as to remind others of what they did or didn’t do. The followers of Christ must start to think like Christ if His character is to be reflected radiantly in and through us.

Forgiveness of others is something that we should put on the table to offer to others, even if they do not ask for it. When Adam and Eve sinned in Eden, they never asked to be forgiven up front. It was The Lord in His mercy who put the offer on the table. Similarly, those who profess to follow Christ’s lead should be the first to offer forgiveness, even when it is not requested, for in many cases, it is the offer that triggers that favorable response in those who have trespassed against us. Let’s read:

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.

The tendency, and the temptation to mention sins that are past is not good, for it can prevent us from forgiving others, and wiping their slate clean, just as God does in the investigative judgment. Let us then follow God’s lead by burying the hatchet and letting sleeping dogs lie. In fact, the clearance of our names in the heavenly courts will be a reflection of how we have forgiven those who trespassed against us on earth.

Thus, as we consider the issue of disclosure, and how God seeks to hide a multitude of sins, let us also do the same, for the essence of salvation is founded on grace and mercy to those who do not deserve it. We will end with two passages of scripture which remind us of the work taking place in the heavenly courts, and the mediation of Christ in behalf of all who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior of their lives; for although the judgment is solemn, yet it will bring to light the extent of God’s grace towards the human family. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

2nd Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

God Bless

The Issue Of Accountability. Part [1] 09/19/2020

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

This first passage establishes beyond the shadow of a doubt that every person who has ever lived upon this earth will be called to account by the judge of all the earth. This is of grave importance for those of us living today, for the window of opportunity for anyone to be considered in the current investigative jugdment is fast closing.

The tendency for mortals to procrastinate in putting off for tomorrow, that which should be done today is not good, because the Bible teaches us that there is a limit to God’s forbearance, and He will only wait so long for folks to make their decisions either for, or against Him. Our actions, choices, words, and motives all have a bearing on the decisions of the heavenly courts, and the records of our lives with all of the details will be in full review, as the determinations are made as to who will be eternal beneficiaries of the sacrifice on Calvary, made by Christ.

As we now sit in Bible study today, names are being called in heaven, and the decisions of that tribunal won’t ever be reversed. Therefore, it behooves all rational thinking individuals to consider what is at stake, eternal life or eternal death based upon the choices we make.

Thus, before continuing, we’ll need to establish the fact that we will be held accountable for our choices and actions because there is indeed, the doctrine of judgement spoken of in the Bible and as such, every individual must be made aware of what those court decisions would mean for us. In a nutshell, persons who are found in Christ would be saved, and those who are not will be lost. Let’s read:

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.

Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand, thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

Revelation 20: 11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

There are actually two judgements referred to in the Bible, the one which is taking place now, as we speak which we would refer to as the investigative judgment, and the other which will take place at the end of the 1000 years of Sabbatical rest, spoken of by John in the book of Revelation, which we’ll refer to as the executive judgment. Today we will focus on the investigative judgment, because it is currently taking place, and whatsoever comes after will not really matter to persons as far as the window opportunity goes.

In other words the conclusion of the investigative judgment means the close of probationary time for all individuals. We’ll begin with the passage of scripture regarding this first judgment which teaches us that the people of God will be judged first. After that, those who do not believe in Jesus at the second judgment. Thus, it is imperative that we discover who are referenced in the Bible as being God’s people. Let’s read:

1st Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

The servant of The Lord echoes the same sentiment pertaining to this fact, that God’s people would be judged first. This is of critical importance, for there are persons who might not know that under certain conditions their names would not even come up for review in the first judgment, and for that reason we will focus on discovering from the scriptures, who are referred to as being God’s people. Let’s read:

[G.C pp 483] As the books of record are opened in the Judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God.

[G.C pp 480] In the great day of final atonement and investigative Judgment, the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. According to the passage above, in 1st Peter 4:17, and the statements written by the servant of The Lord, the only persons under consideration in the first investigative would be the professed people of God who believe in Christ, or as the apostle put it, those who belong to the house of God.

This fact begs the question: Who are the professed people of God, and what is meant by the house of God? This crucial question needs to be settled once and for all because in our world currently, there are approximately two billion, and four hundred million professed Christians. There are Methodists, Baptists, Lutherans, as well as Ethiopian orthodox Christians, and there are also Pentecostals, Catholics, Mormons, Evangelicals and Russian orthodox, and Seventh day Adventists, just to name a few, all who profess to believe in Christ.

In fact, if we were to name every Christian group, organization, and denomination on the planet it will take several Bible studies to do so for the number of professed Christian organizations across the world is currently approximately thirty thousand. Thus, it is imperative that we ask the question again: “Who are the professed people of God?”

For many years, the name of “Christian” has been painted with a very wide brush to include any, and everyone who claims to believe in Jesus. But the scripture teaches us that devils also believe, and as such, if a nominal belief in Christ is what made one a follower of Jesus, then millions of devils would be following in His train. Let’s read:

James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

1st John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Even though, as was stated before, there are about 30,000 different Christian organizations across the world, as far as God is concerned there are only two churches brought to view in the scriptures, and this is made plain especially in the Revelation. There are God’s professed people, and there are professed, or nominal Christians.

God’s professed people are not all perfect, neither are they all genuine, neither would they all be saved yet they hold common beliefs that are foundational to their identity as being God’s people. Nominal Christians are those who have merely espoused the name of Christ, yet do not in heart subscribe to the fundamentals set forth in the scriptures. Let’s read:

Exodus 19:5 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 an holy nation. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.

Were they all perfect, and did they all obey God’s voice? Absolutely not, but at least, they subscribed to the fundamentals as put forth by God Himself, in that they intended to be obedient to His law. In our day nominal Christianity has all but dispensed with obedience, and therefore, the status of being God’s peculiar people is a non-starter.

The Bible teaches us that all who desire to belong to the true house of God as mentioned by Peter would at least subscribe to these two fundamentals, faith in Christ, and obedience to His laws. They will have their struggles like anyone else, and some may fall and rise back up again, but they will assent to these two foundational teachings of scripture. Let’s read:

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. The church represented by Babylon incorporates all of the fallen churches which refuse to honor God by teaching that His commandments have been made redundant, and so, most teach their congregants to only believe, without obeying God, and because of this, they do espouse the name of Christ nominally.

Those churches don’t acknowledge the laws of God as being binding upon men, and thus, that covenant relationship with Jesus which includes obedience, is eerily absent. To take the name of Christ nominally does not make a church or denomination Christian, just as how taking the name American nominally is no guarantee that one is American. Let’s read:

Isaiah 4:1 And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach. 2 In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel.

The eating of our “own bread” has to do with those private interpretations of the Bible that are being peddled in contemporary Christianity, and wearing of one’s own apparel has to do with the form of self righteousness which takes the husk- (the name of Christ) without the kernel, obedience to God’s law.

That’s why in the parable which Christ spoke, when the king had come in to inspect His guests He found a man who did not have on a wedding garment, and because of this, the person in question was bound hand and foot and cast out into outer darkness. Let’s read:

Matthew 22: 11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The robe of Christ’s righteousness which God gives to the true follower of Jesus, is never given to cover continuous, deliberate sin, and thus, organizations which teach that God’s laws are no longer binding, will be setting up their congregants to trust in their own righteousness.

As it pertains to the issue of accountability which is currently being addressed in the heavenly courts via the investigative judgment, we’ll need to know who are considered as God’s professed people, and this question is so weighted that we will have to ask God Himself to answer it. Let’s read:

Isaiah 56:1 Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 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. 3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.

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; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

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 mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.

Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. 14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.

Now, this raises the question of whether there are Christians who did not keep the Sabbath, who will be a part of the current investigative judgment, and the answer is absolutely yes. The early reformers of Protestantism were all Sunday-keeping Christians, and all those whom God worked through to end the dark ages would be considered in the investigative judgment.

However, since 1844, the light of present truth, as it pertains to the validity of the Sabbath day has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon Christianity, and therefore, those who desire to be considered in the investigative judgment will have to come out of Babylon, wherever there is opportunity to do so. In other words, persons in our day, cannot willfully reject God’s day of worship, if such have read of this truth, and been enlightened on this matter by The Holy Ghost, and expect their names to be listed in the investigative judgment.

The mark of the beast centers around the issue of worship, and therefore, before probation closes in the investigative judgment, God’s Holy Spirit will be poured out upon all flesh, to bring to the forefront of people’s minds, the obligation of the scriptural Sabbath.

There are two passages of scripture which teach this solemn truth, and thus, it behooves us to use the current window of opportunity to be counted. In other words, those sincere Christians who are still worshiping in Babylon ignorantly are now required by God to come out and be counted, for God would not place His approval on deliberate disregard of His law. 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.

Revelation 18: 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. 5 For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities.

In other words, every sincere Christian who may still be congregating in those churches of Babylon would have to come out her, in order for their names to be considered in the investigative judgment and if they are truly God’s people, they would come out, for as Christ said, My sheep hear my voice, and they will follow Me. Therefore, the urgency of now rests heavily upon the shoulders of the remnant people of God, to go to friends, neighbors, co-workers and immediate family members to give them the final warning.

In doing so they may encounter difficulty or resistance just as Lot met with scoffing by his relatives. However, we are not to despair in doing so, for God has promised the latter rain in the very last days of earth’s history, to bring all persons to a knowledge of His law. The bulk of sincere believers are sitting currently in Sunday churches, but God is calling out the faithful, so that their names would be at least considered in the investigative judgement, before it comes to a close.

Let the remnant people of God therefore not faint or be weary in doing that which we have been called to do. Let us not sit in idleness with our hands folded whilst we watch individuals go over the cliff without present truth, for the current pandemic has, and will continue to take out thousands upon thousands of persons. Neither let the remnant people of God who know the truth be intimidated by forces that are arrayed against truth, for the harvest is ripe but the laborers are few.

Every Christian who has understood these present truths, is to ask God for ways and means to get the last message of salvation, “This gospel of the kingdom”, out to a dying world. We therefore end with passages of scripture which should impress upon our hearts the urgency of now, and we hope and pray that a positive response will be the result in those who are called to deliver the three angel’s messages as given in the Revelation, because the issue of accountability is not future, but now. 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. 11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

12 Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: 13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repents him of the evil. 17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them.

23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. 32 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.

God Bless!

If I Was A Devil. Sabbath Afternoon 09/12/2020

Matthew 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 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.

It is of critical importance for us to understand what is written in the scriptures concerning the diabolical works of devils that are to take the world captive in final days of earth’s history. All the underlying work has already been accomplished and now only awaits the permission of God, for everything that has been prophesied to come to a head. Some mistakenly believe that having The Holy Spirit is all that is sufficient to fend off the delusions, and deceptions that will take the world by storm.

This is an incorrect belief, because, for the Christian, The Holy Spirit is promised to bring to our remembrance that which we have previously studied and obeyed. But we must have made the effort in searching for those gems of truth that would enable persons to be anchored. The very word “remember” implies that those vital truths must have previously been studied, dwelt upon, and believed.

The deceptions and delusions are predicted to be so close-cutting that even the very elect are warned to be on their guard, as was mentioned in our first set of verses. This is because, if an individual does not recognize something as a temptation, he/she would most likely not make an effort to resist it, and thus, that person can fall inadvertently into error.

Even though The Holy Spirit was given to all of the disciples as they went out to preach, that Gift did not prevent them from harboring errors that were to be corrected later on, when more light was to be shed upon their pathway. It was for this reason why the heated debate over certain issues took place at the Jerusalem council.

Again, Luther, Huss, Jerome, Zwingli, and Calvin all had a measure of God’s Holy Spirit, as they forged ahead with the reformation, but The Holy Ghost did not reveal to them the truths about the Sabbath. In fact, even the servant of The Lord was a Methodist when she was called to the prophetic ministry. The reformers were mostly Sunday keepers, and it is a fact that they held certain errors that were to be made plain later on, as God would see fit.

Thus, it is not a 100% guarantee that a person having the Holy Spirit will preclude every falsehood and error that will come upon the face of the earth. But millions of contemporary evangelicals and even many Christians are obsessed with what is referred to as the “Anointing”, while the written word is for all intents and purposes left up to the interpretation of televangelists. This is just as devils would have it, for they already know that the “anointing” does not necessarily prevent one from believing error.

They that worship God must worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and therefore, folks could have all the Anointing that is available, yet if the study of God’s word is neglected, such persons could be swept off their feet. The study of the Bible enables us to clearly discern right from wrong, and truth from error; thus, as we pray for more of The Holy Ghost, whilst walking in obedience to what we have thus learned, our ability to discern is increased greatly, until, as the scripture states, we will have developed quick understanding of spiritual things. Let’s read:

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

2nd Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that need not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Isaiah 11:2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears.

Thus, as it pertains to our study today there are just three basic points we would address, because of the constraints of time, so that we might have a clearer understanding of what is taking place on the earth, behind the scenes.

Therefore, if I was a devil I would do these three things: [1] The first and most important thing is to get people to believe that I do not exist. [2] The next effort will be to have people believe that they are more intelligent or more powerful than me. [3] The last effort will be to get folks to believe that I am really ugly and hideous. Armed with these three basic weapons it would be a breeze to take down the majority of people living on the planet to perdition. Therefore, we will begin with the very first effort.

[1] The first and most important thing is to get people to believe that devils do not exist. This first effort that deals with a nonexistent devil in the minds of many folks leads millions of persons to discredit the tempter as just a mere figment of their imagination; or otherwise, devils are represented as being people’s evil thoughts and desires, but never a real personal being.

More than 1800 professed Christians, involved in a certain study were asked about their belief in a real devil. 59% strongly agreed or somewhat agreed that he is not a real being. 26% said he is real, 9% said they somewhat believed, and 8% declared that they were not sure what to believe. Now, if this pertains to Christians who claim to read and believe the Bible, one can only imagine what it is like in the secular realm, with those who do not believe in the Bible!

Thus, there are very great and tangible benefits to be derived by devils, in pushing the theory of their nonexistence, as listed below.

[1] All of this world’s many troubles, calamities and tumults are ultimately blamed on God, because if devils are nonexistent, then it must be God who is doing these things, or so it is thought by millions the world over. From 9/11 to Covid, and from every pestilence, and pandemic in history, to tornadoes, earthquakes and fires, the one common question most often asked is “Where is God? Blame is almost never laid at the feet of devils, for to most minds, they do not exist.

Even in Florida, and those gulf coast states where hurricanes have often come ashore, the storms are labelled as an act of God on insurance policies, but never as an act of devils. “Acts of God” provisions in legal contracts, also called “Force Majeure” clauses, reference events outside human control, like flash floods, earthquakes, or other natural disasters.

And therefore, it is expedient for devils to push the narrative that they are nonexistent, so that God and everyone else other than themselves are blamed for everything. But, the scripture teaches us differently, for not only are they real, but they are much more closely intertwined with the human experience than many people would be comfortable with. Let’s read:

Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. 4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth.

Mark 1: 34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

1st Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.

The belief in their nonexistence prepares people to be unaware of their advances, and therefore, folks develop the tendency to focus on the human agent, and not on the nefarious work being done behind the scenes by devils. There they were, influencing the minds of pharaoh and Herod, to slay all the male children of the Jews in an effort to try to prevent the promised Messiah from ever seeing the light of day. Those efforts are reflected in a passage in Revelation. Let’s read:

Revelation 12: 4 and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. There they were again, moving upon the then king of Babylon to destroy the three Hebrew boys. Thus, throughout the history of this earth they have often worked ingeniously behind the scenes to stir up all kinds of adversities, oppression, crime, intolerance, injustice, disease, pandemics, sickness, and hatred of all sorts.

In fact, based upon what is written in the scriptures, we are facing the dire prospect that some political and religious leaders in our day do not merely have bad attitudes; instead, they are actually possessed by devils; but because of the widespread belief in the nonexistence of evil angels, very few persons are the wiser. Let’s read:

Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

[2] The next effort will be to have people believe that they are more intelligent or more powerful than devils.

The belief that human beings are more intelligent than evil spirits, flies in the face of what is written in the scriptures, for not only are we less powerful and intelligent, even what some might consider as being superior knowledge in sciences has been severely compromised and is greatly inferior. The hyperloop project by Elon musk is presumably being designed to greatly increase speed of travel to approximately 760 mph, utilizing a system of low- pressure tubes and pods.

That system of travel is complete foolishness as far as angels are concerned because they travel billions of miles in milli-seconds. Science dismisses the supernatural, for everything must be proven on scientific grounds, including the issue of creation versus evolution. Variation in our weather patterns, and every occurrence that defies logic must be explained in the lab, or else it is to be invalidated, according to current modes of thinking.

Thus, in the future when the supernatural activities of devils begin to proliferate across the earth, and no scientific explanation can be given, persons will conclude that it must be the great power of God on display, especially if those manifestations may seem to benefit humanity. As it pertains to knowledge, understanding, and power, frail human beings do not even come close to matching the level of devils, and it’s for this very reason why only the power of God operating in and through the believer, is the one and only remedy to keep us from falling a prey to their devices. Let’s read:

Psalms 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? 5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels.

Ezekiel 28:3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: 4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures. 6 Therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; 7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness.

2nd Timothy 2:23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Devils can only be defeated, restrained, or cast out by the power of God, for human beings were made lower than the angels and therefore, we have never had the power to fend them off. They are not fazed by crucifixes, holy water or garlic, for it’s only Jesus that they fear. Therefore, it is total folly for anyone to think that we can lead a good life without God.

[3] The last effort will be to get folks to believe that devils are really ugly and hideous. This last effort is of great importance as it relates to the issue of recognition, for it pertains to the last great deception that would involve the entire world. In every movie where the devil is depicted, from the exorcist to nightmare on Elm street, he is portrayed as a hideous creature, sometimes with bat’s wings, a pitchfork, horns, and sometimes even a tail.

And thus, whenever the word devil is mentioned, only repulsive images are conjured up in the minds of millions. These imageries then induce fear and a sense of apprehension in those who have not been instructed in the Bible, resulting in syndromes such as fright-night. But the scriptures teach us quite differently. Let’s read:

Ezekiel 28:11 Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.

13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

So, let us set the record straight while we have the opportunity to do so: The devil is the most beautiful and good-looking person human beings would ever see, before Christ comes the second time, and this piece of information will prove of immense value in the not too distant future, when the counterfeit coming of Christ will take place, before the genuine 2nd coming occurs.

So let’s focus intently on the following word: Recognition. The issue of recognition began in the garden of Eden, when, concealed in the tree of knowledge and evil, the tempter impersonated the beautiful serpent. No imposing personage was seen, only a cute little serpent, but behind that veneer of beauty was the mortal foe of man. And thus, Eve fell for what she heard and saw, and never recognized him until it was too late.

The issue of recognition also surfaced again in the book of Acts, when a girl possessed by a devil sought to get people to listen to the preaching of Paul. Now, why would a devil move her to this? It is plainly stated in the book of Acts that a great persecution was opened up against the church and without a doubt the devil was behind those efforts. Now, why would he be pushing persecution on one hand, and in the next breath be inviting people to listen to Paul’s preaching.

That’s because most folks do not know that devils operate on two fronts, and that they work on both sides of the fence to destroy from the inside out, or from the outside in. It matters not how the damage is done, once it is done. What is greatly feared by devils is to be recognized for who they really are and therefore, every type of conceivable impersonation is practiced to prevent the human family from recognizing what is taking place. 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.

Thus, in our day, when people are busy with movies and sports and entertainment of all sorts and where persons are not studying the word of God which will correctly identify and unmask him, it becomes just a breeze for the issues of recognition to be entirely confused in the minds of millions. The following info is thus of great importance after which we will have some explaining to do.

The Lord gave His servant a startling vision to disclose to her the extent of the issue of recognition. And what is even more troubling is that God’s prophet was not able to recognize who the devil was in the vision, until she asked and an answer was given. Let’s read:

[S.G pp 174] A train of cars was shown me, going with the speed of lightning. The angel bade me look carefully. I fixed my eyes upon the train. It seemed that the whole world was on board. Then he showed me the conductor, who looked like a stately fair person, whom all the passengers looked up to and reverenced. I was perplexed and asked my attending angel who it was. Said he, It is Satan.

He is the conductor in the form of an angel of light. He has taken the world captive. They are given over to strong delusions, to believe a lie that they may be damned. His agent, the next highest in order to him, is the engineer, and others of his agents are employed in different offices as he may need them, and they are all going with lightning speed to perdition.

I asked the angel if there were none left. He bade me look in an opposite direction, and I saw a little company traveling a narrow pathway. All seemed to be firmly united, and bound together by the truth.

There are those who may scoff at this vision, and others may ask what relevance does it have in our day of enlightenment, and science. Well, for those who may think it is funny, it ain’t funny, because the issue of recognition is still alive and well, even in our day, and many of us currently listening today might have already been inadvertently been affected.

The book, The Age of Reason, by Thomas Paine is considered by many schools and universities as a classical masterpiece, and it is actually a required reading in many institutions of higher learning. The Author was a well-known and respected man in many circles, both in Europe and in America, and to this day that book stands out as one of the greatest bestsellers in American history.

He also wrote many other books, and was actually one of the prominent proponents of the American revolution, when the thirteen colonies sought to free themselves from British rule. He also argued for the separation of church and state, and one of his writings was read aloud in the public square, influencing men such as John Adams and Benjamin Franklin. Therefore, for all intents and purposes it seems as if he was a notable figure to be looked up to and reverenced. What many persons may not know is that the serpent dictated most of his writings. Let’s read:

[S.G pp 175>176] Thomas Paine, whose body has moldered to dust, and who is to be called forth at the end of the 1000 years at the second resurrection, to receive his reward, and suffer the second death, is purported by Satan to be in heaven, and highly exalted there. Satan used him on earth as long as he could and dictated much of his writings.

Thus, the issue of recognition is a very real one, and it will once again resurface, when the tempter will appear on the earth as Christ once did, healing the diseases of the people, advocating for justice, and uttering many of those sacred truths that once fell from the lips of Jesus.

But there’s only one problem, he will not appear with any pitchfork or horns as in those movies, but rather as a beautiful, kind, person, who apparently has the good of the planet at heart, and because of this, most of the inhabitants of earth will bow down in adoration, not recognizing that it is the deadly serpent who once lay in the tree. Let’s read:

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.

26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

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.

[G.C 624] As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. 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. [Revelation 1:13-15.] The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air., “Christ has come! Christ has come!”

His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. 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.

Thus the issue of recognition keeps on being elusive to most persons, for in our day much of what is now being taught in our schools, pertaining to the issue of gender neutrality, and evolution is impersonation taking place under the disguises of love and science. And even though we are cautioned to be tolerant, there is a huge difference between being tolerant and being deceived.

Therefore, let all those who are willing, learn from the word of God, that these three issues we studied today will play a role in the coming conflict, and let all who have the opportunity to do so, now study to be aware of the strategies now being employed so that we may live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, alone.

We’ll end with a passage of scripture which reminds us that the prophecies pertaining to these last days will be fulfilled sooner than many think, and as such it behooves us to have the truths of God’s word as clear as possible in our minds to avoid those snares that are already laid for the feet of the unwary. Let’s read:

Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light

God Bless!

Beware Of Intolerance. Sabbath Afternoon 09/05/2020

Exodus 34:6 And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, 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.

Tolerate: To allow the existence occurrence, or practice of (something that one does not necessarily like or agree with)

Persons all over the world are becoming more and more intolerant. Some folks have valid reasons, and others don’t, but the spirit of intolerance is gaining sway, beyond the shadow of a doubt. There is racial intolerance whereby the color of one’s skin is the determining factor for fear or favor. There is political intolerance, by which the members of one party are constantly at odds with the other, and the vitriol and spin has become so bad, that it is hardly bearable to watch the daily news.

The hatred and intolerance oozing from politicians have indeed driven some people to watch Sesame street rather than subject themselves to a barrage of bad news. Then there is vehicular intolerance, in the form of road rage, whereby persons become annoyed and ticked off, if another driver encroaches on one’s rights. Again, there is religious intolerance gaining sway, whereby certain faiths, creeds, and religions are constantly at loggerheads when it comes to the issues of belief and practice.

Therefore, as persons who have been brought by the providence God into a situation where we have certain liberties granted to us, we must understand thoroughly, the issue of tolerance, and intolerance from the scriptural perspective, so that we may be able to deal with it just as Christ would. In order to do so we will need to study the history of God’s government through the ages, beginning in heaven, and after our world was created, for there are to be found great insights into God’s character, and the way His administration handles the issue of tolerance and intolerance.

God is love. The foundation of His government is love, and all that He does, He does it with the best of intentions, and for the good of His creatures. The very essence of Christianity is love, and even though there have been very dark pages recorded in sacred history, one day it will be seen that God has always done the best that He can do for the human family.

Therefore, in seeking to gain a better understanding of God, it will be necessary to study the operations His government, for what God does, and the way in which He does it, speaks volumes to who He is. And thus, we can expect Christ to do as He has always done, for God never changes. Let’s read:

Malachi 3:6 For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

Before the earth was created, God called billions of angels into existence in heaven, and they were to render willing obedience and reasonable service to God who created them. The very fact that God gave them the freedom of choice, just like ourselves, will always attest to the sacred truth, that God is love. But with freedom of choice comes risk, because the possibility existed that some of God’s angels might choose to go against His perfect will.

This is exactly what eventually happened when Lucifer, the angel who stood in God’s very presence decided to rebel against his Creator. And therefore, how God would handle this delicate and delicate situation would speak volumes to who He is. God could have destroyed this angel as in a moment, but He did not choose to do this, because mercy delays the execution of justice until all other remedies have been exhausted.

Let’s repeat: Mercy delays the execution of justice until all other remedies have been exhausted.

We, as earthlings would do very well to adopt this mode of thought and action, because for Christians who should be following in Jesus’ footsteps, it is of critical importance that we reflect His character in all that we say or do. God tolerated the revolt in heaven for a very long time, and He watched in sadness and grief as angel after angel joined in the rebellion against Him for no reason.

God did not agree with what was currently taking place in heaven, but His merciful side seeks to do all that can be done to save the erring from their pernicious ways. In like manner, God does not sanction or agree with much of what is taking place across America, but His mercy seeks to exhaust all remedies before justice is eventually meted out. And thus, it was in heaven, that eons went by, with God seeking to save those rebels from eternal doom, until it finally came to a head.

As parents, we sometimes find ourselves in a pretty difficult situation, where we may have a wayward child at home who is rebelling against our parental authority. We may not agree with what the child is doing, and their behavior might cause us much grief, sadness, and headache, yet in our love for the child, we may tolerate a wrong course of action, until, just like in heaven, things may come to a head.

God bore long with Lucifer in his rebellion against the government of heaven. God waited and waited patiently as millions of His angels succumbed to the devices of the one who had once been a covering cherub. Yet, He did not destroy them at once, as He could have legally done. Instead, He waited and waited, and made efforts for a change of heart in those who had risen in revolt against Him for no valid reason.

Yet the rebellion continued, and God, true to His character of love, gave every angel sufficient opportunity to make up their minds to choose whom they would serve. God tolerated Lucifer and his followers for a very long time, not impatiently as we earthlings often do, but with an earnest desire that they would track a different course. Therefore, when we read in the Revelation that there was war in heaven, we should never walk away with the thought that God looked forward eagerly to a fistfight.

We do not know of, and have never read or heard where an earthly parent looked forward to a fight with their child. Now, that’s not to say that it never occurred, but parents generally loathe to engage children in combat, because the odds are usually stacked against the kids, and such a desire goes against our natural, fallen grain.

In heaven war occurred when nothing more could be done, and even then, it was Lucifer who picked the fight and God had no other choice but to defend the other loyal angels from the tyranny of his revolt, and thus it was Lucifer who became intolerant of the other angels who chose to obey God, and thus, war began. 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.

Sometime after this war took place, the new earth was created by God, and Adam and Eve were also given the freedom of choice, to do good or evil, to serve or not to serve God. Some people wonder at the purposes of God in creating human beings who He knew in advance would sin against Him. But if husbands and wives refused to have children because they knew their kids would do evil, then the knowledge of evil would be made to conquer good.

The fact that we know children will definitely give some type of trouble is a very poor excuse for not having children. Just like God knew in advance what would certainly come to pass, and yet went forward with the good work of creation, we too as parents certainly know that our kids would give some trouble during those turbulent teenage years. Yet we still go ahead and have children. Thus, humans should refrain from judging God for doing good, while we do the very same thing some accuse Him of doing.

To create us was a good thing, and even if there was risk, that risk could have gone both ways through freedom of choice. God’s foreknowledge of evil never forces anyone to do either good or bad, just as how our knowledge of children doing evil does not force them to do evil. It all boils down to individual choice.

Furthermore, it is important to note, that for all of the good and evil that has taken place on this earth, at the end of the day, there are millions of human beings who would be saved in God’s kingdom, so it is not as if God’s decision to create us was in vain. Always remember that! Similarly, even though all kids do evil at some point in their history, not all turn out to be drug addicts, or gangsters.

Some actually become well respected members of society such as doctors, lawyers, and pastors, and principals, etc. so it is not to say that the decision to have kids is all bad, even though we know in advance that they would do evil. Like God, our foreknowledge of children doing evil prepares us to “Tolerate” courses of action we may not approve of, all the while, we are working for the good of any child who falls into bad behaviors, just like God does.

Thus, we reiterate again: Beware of intolerance!

After Adam and Eve fell, Cain and Abel were born unto them, and they were instructed to bring the sacrificial lamb as an offering to God. But just like it was in heaven, one chose to go contrary to God’s will, and he brought fruit instead. It is worthy of note that Abel tolerated Cain. He had watched him bringing his fruit contrary to God’s will but Abel never once tried to force Cain to obey. On the other hand, Cain became very intolerant of Abel and because of this intolerance, he slew his brother. Let’s read:

Genesis 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

And now, the judge of all the earth stepped into the picture, because a grievous injustice had been done, and He calls Cain to account. In response, Cain gives a very rude answer, one that would almost certainly have triggered some type of “impromptu” reaction in an earthly parent. But although God does not agree with Cain’s course of action and in no way sanctions the killing of Abel, He tolerates Cain, and just like with satan in heaven, He grants him mercy and lots of time so that if he so chooses, he might retrace his steps. Let’s read:

Genesis 4:9 And the Lord said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand; 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that that everyone that finds me shall slay me. 15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore, whoever slays Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Beware of intolerance!

But intolerance has also made its way into religion, where some who hold apparently divergent views are not tolerated by others. This is what caused the great persecution during the dark ages, for it wasn’t that true Christians were doing anything wrong, the political/religious establishment just didn’t want to tolerate them.

The genius of true Christianity is that it allows folks to exercise their God-given freedom of choice, even if that privilege is used by some to walk contrary to all that God stands for. The desire for coercion is a satanic attribute, and that’s the arena where we are now headed to. Even in the disciples of Christ, the spirit of intolerance surfaced at times. Let’s read:

Mark 9:38 And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part.

This was indeed an occurrence of intolerance that was manifested here, which is contrary to God’s way of handling such matters. Christ did not then and there address the issue of whether or not the person in question was genuine. That was not the point. The issue under consideration was the disposition to be intolerant; that effort to force the person to shut up because he may not have been of the same persuasion.

Not because there are false prophets, does it mean to say that they should be forced to stop preaching, because, God who has given to us the freedom of choice allows them to preach. This is one of the issues that we will soon confront, because in every theocratic government existing in the world today, there is the tendency to persecute and use force in getting those of other persuasions to submit to the particular religious creeds of the rulers in question.

From a purely human standpoint, a secular form of government is much more preferable than one that is theocratic in nature even if the mandated religion is Christianity because wherever human theocracies have been embraced, intolerance and persecution have, as a rule, followed. When God instituted His theocracy with the Hebrew nation, it became one nation under God, in which the laws and principles of God’s government were to be incorporated.

These principles included mercy and forgiveness, and even when the Hebrews had sinned against God, provision was made for their salvation and restoration. God bore long with their backslidings and He also tolerated for many years, things that He did not necessarily agree with. Thus, David was permitted to have multiple wives, and the Hebrews were also permitted to drink wine and strong drink, contrary to God’s ideal, because of their freedom of choice.

During that form of theocracy, judgments against wrongdoing was meted out at times, but that is because the people had voluntarily entered into a covenant relationship with God, with Him as their sovereign and they as His servants. They were not forced to enter into any agreement with God, to obey Him, and this fact is one of the major differences between God’s theocracy and man-made theocracies. Let’s read:

Exodus 19: 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 an holy nation.

These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 7 And Moses came and called for the elders of the people and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. 8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.

But in every man-made form of theocracy, the use of force to implement a particular form of worship has been a bedrock operating principle. We observe this with Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon when he tried to coerce the three Hebrew worthies to bow down to his golden image. We observe coercion, when Jezebel and Ahab ruled the ten northern kingdoms, under which the people of their jurisdiction were commanded to serve Baal.

And in our day every theocratic form of government across the entire globe is tracking the same course of intolerance. And because of this it has now become necessary to revisit what took place when the pilgrim fathers had fled to America’s shores. They were fleeing the hate and intolerance of Europe by which persecution had made their lot very difficult. And thus, they came to the new world to set up as it were a church without a pope and a state without a king.

But no sooner had they landed that the same spirit of intolerance began to surface, for they instituted laws by which only church members could serve in the political arena, and those of other persuasions were required to join the church if they desired to serve their country.

It was because of such developments that men like Roger Williams protested against those religious requirements that were being forced onto persons who in their heart of hearts may not have been fully persuaded, for some did meet the requirements not because of personal conviction, but because it was politically expedient to do so.

And it was thus, that in our constitution and in our declaration of independence, that essential concept of “Toleration” was to be permanently enshrined to protect against bigotry, and the ultimate abuse of power by those who favored a particular religion. Let’s read:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal; That they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

“No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office of public trust under the United States.” “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

But!

Great changes are coming our way, for when folks in authority demonstrate a preference for any one religion, it means that some of the populace would be favored, and others would be sidelined, and it’ll be just a matter of time before mandates, dogmas, and laws favoring a particular religion are going to be enforced.

We are very blessed and happy to be Christians, but if, because of our convictions we determine to force our beliefs on others, we will inevitably end up with a protestant pope, and the spirit of intolerance will mean the end of our democracy. And with that, the end of our freedoms will soon follow. In our declaration of independence, the right to worship God according to the dictates of a person’s conscience is guaranteed and this includes Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists, Christians, Mormons, Catholics and Satanists.

But of late some folks in the Christian arena have become very intolerant to folk of other religious persuasions. This is a very dangerous course, because it savors of religious persecution on the horizon for those who may not subscribe to a particular persuasion. Those who belong to any particular religion and those who do not should be able to live on the same street, if their basic human rights are respected.

But if like Cain some believers start to forbid some unbelievers, then we’re headed for a slippery slope that would ultimately result in the kindling of those fires of persecution which burned in the dark ages. Let us therefore, as the peculiar people of God in the world, learn to tolerate those with whom we may not agree. Let’s begin at home, by tolerating things that we may not agree with.

Let’s practice tolerance at our board meetings, where those who have very strong views on a certain point may be at odds with those who beg to differ. Let’s tolerate neighbors and friends who may vote one way or the other, even if we agree or we don’t. Let’s tolerate those whom God has put in authority, even though we might have to exercise restraint on account of evils that may be countenanced.

Let us also be tolerant with bad drivers on the roads especially in places like New York and Florida where some are prone to make blunders in undue haste or in delays. Road-rage stems from intolerance and we are commanded by God to be Christlike in church as well as on the highways. And most importantly, let us cultivate the spirit of religious tolerance, where people of different faiths and persuasions are treated as Christ would treat them, for He came, not only to save the righteous, but the ungodly.

We therefore end with a passage of scripture that we would to well to memorize, because one of the peculiar characteristics of God’s people in the last days will be patience. Remember that our tolerance does not necessarily mean that we agree with any one course of action, but we should let it slide if and where it’s warranted. Let’s read:

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

God Bless!

The Kool Aid Of Babylon. Sabbath Afternoon 08/29/2020

1st Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Babylon, in the spiritual sense of the word refers to that colossal system of agencies set up on this earth by evil spirits, working through human agencies for the establishment of a government that is against The God of heaven. It is ant-Christ in nature, which means that for everything God has said, Babylon produces a substitute, counterfeit or an alternative.

The invisible leader of Babylon is satan himself, with billions of underlings working under him, with only one purpose in mind, which is to overthrow God’s established order on all fronts, and by endeavoring to do so they lead many unwary souls to perdition. The source of Babylon’s authority is traced back not to God but to the evil one, and thus all of Babylon’s productions have inherent evils at their core. This fact must be established up front so that we might understand the source and purposes, of Babylon’s Kool aid. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:4 And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshiped the beast, saying, who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him? 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven.

The Kool aid of Babylon is represented in the Bible as wine, by which the nations and churches of earth have been made drunk, through Babylon’s agencies. Even though the dissemination of false doctrines is high on their agenda, we should be aware that their diabolical activities do cover a wide swath of human activities, concepts, methods and principles. Indeed, there is no aspect of our existence that has not been tainted by Babylon’s work.

From the pulpit to the classroom, from food and drink to songs and entertainment, from medicine to evolution, or from marriage to counterfeit healings, everywhere can be traced the results of the work of Babylon in the human experience. Let’s read:

Revelation 18:10 Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come. 11 And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buys their merchandise anymore. 12 The merchandise of gold, and silver, and precious stones, and of pearls, and fine linen, and purple, and silk, and scarlet, and all thyne wood, and all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner of vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble,

13 And cinnamon, and odors, and ointments, and frankincense, and wine, and oil, and fine flour, and wheat, and beasts, and sheep, and horses, and chariots, and slaves, and souls of men. 19 And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! for in one hour is she made desolate.

22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee.

Thus, the time has fully come for these agencies, and their productions and methods to be exposed, so that those of us who are to live through the last days would not be taken in the many snares that are laid for the feet of the unwary. Systems are now being put in place that will cause those truths that are written in Daniel and the Revelation to come to the forefront.

Thus, as we study, we would outline the ways and means by which The Kool aid of Babylon works. We begin at the beginning, when the human family first encountered the founder of spiritual Babylon, in the garden of Eden. Perched in the tree of knowledge of good and evil, he employed a serpent as his vehicle to launch his first attack against the human family. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

This first encounter with the human race by the evil one, set in motion specific methods, and principles that were to be used on an ongoing basis, from that time forward, when any person was to be induced, or tempted to transgress God’s law. These tactics are considered essential by fallen angels, and rarely do they deviate from their strategies.

It is therefore of critical importance that we study them very carefully, because as we move forward into more perilous times ahead, we will need this information to guide our feet in the ways of peace. The following therefore is a detailed analysis of the three main strategies employed by the agencies of evil in delivering the Kool aid of Babylon to the masses of people.

[1] Disguise

Let’s read:

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field. And he said unto the woman.

As a general rule of thumb, the tempter will always come to persons, communities, nations and political leaders cloaked in robes of impersonation. In Eden, he came through the medium of a serpent and from that time forward he has used any available agency to conceal himself. That’s why no one should ever expect devils to ever announce who they really are, nor should anyone look for any imposing personages to tempt them to do evil, just yet.

This is not how it works, for if this were the case, persons would be intimidated, and even repelled by any such manifestation. Now, it is true that in the last drama to unfold upon earth, the leader of Babylon will visibly intrude into the human experience and will literally be seen by millions across the globe. But even then, disguise is to figure prominently, in that those manifestations would seek to mimic the work of Christ.

This is why the issue of disguise must be thoroughly understood, through the scriptures. At that time real miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed of their diseases, and a so-called new era of advancement and enlightenment will take all the world by storm, and it will be near impossible to differentiate between the true and the false. There are three passages of scripture which directly point to these occurrences, and these verses should be understood by all. 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.

Mark 13: 21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not: 22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect. 23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

The groundwork for this work of disguise is almost completely laid, for many people are now accepting lies, falsehoods, and delusions as a way of life, and many others are deliberately burying their heads in the sand, so that facts and truth do not mean much anymore. From that first fatal encounter in Eden, the spiritual leader of Babylon has never once disclosed his true colors.

When he tempted Christ, he appeared as an angel of light. When he stood up against Israel, and tempted David to number the people, there was no personal, visible appearance. When he spoke through Peter, to discourage Christ from His mission to save the human race, his visible presence was nowhere to be seen. Thus, when the Bible specifically states that satan had entered into Judas at the communion table, the disciples had not a clue what had just taken place, for in all of these instances, he remained hidden from view.

Even now, as he is working through visible human agencies, as stated in Revelation 13 and 14, Babylon operates under a veneer of righteousness and if the scriptures are not studied very closely, and obeyed, it will be very difficult, if not impossible to know the genuine from the counterfeit. Therefore, we must reiterate again that “disguise” is the cornerstone, operating strategy of Babylon, and its agencies by which false doctrines, teachings, and every other type of diabolical Kool aid is being dispensed to ensnare the human family down the path of ruin.

In other words, folks must never look for any open confession where the tempter openly declares that he indeed is the guy referred to as the devil. And we should never expect Babylon, that conglomerate of agencies under his supervision to ever state that they are who the scriptures declare them to be.

[2] The mixing of truth with error.

Error cannot stand on its own two feet, because it is not self-supporting, therefore it needs some level of truth in order to thrive. In fact, there cannot be any error without truth, for truth is the stand-alone tree from which any deviation from God’s will, must take root. Thus, as the groundwork for all future temptations was being laid, the mixture of truth and error as a fundamental principle of operation was established, and ever since that time the Kool aid of Babylon has always incorporated some truth with error to make the mixture seem credible. Let’s read:

Genesis 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

It is a principle of Babylon to mix just enough truth with error so as to give their productions plausibility. In the 1980’s the infamous preacher, Jim Jones mixed cyanide with Kool aid, and hundreds of his followers perished in the process, after drinking the deadly mix. This principle of mixing good and evil, truth and error can be found in every production of the Kool aid of Babylon.

Many of the teachings of false prophets do incorporate some level of truth, such as a belief in Jesus Christ, which in our day amounts to nothing without obedience. Hence the reason why faith, and belief in Christ is much emphasized, while obedience to God’s commandments is given a back seat. Faith without corresponding works is dead, and therefore, if a person is not willing to obey all that God commands that soul should not join the church, no matter what their belief or profession in Christ is.

Believing in Christ while denying His laws amounts to a net zero as far as heaven is concerned, because love to God is not measured by profession, but by obedience. This particular brand of Babylon’s kool aid is wreaking havoc in the minds of many Christians who have come to believe that God accepts them through Christ without requiring obedience to His laws on an ongoing basis.

Now, while it is true that we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ, and not by works, the outworking of The Holy Spirit’s work in the human heart results in a willing obedience to God’s revealed will. And therefore, any doctrine which teaches contrariwise is the Kool aid of Babylon being received by many persons unawares.

And as a direct result of this mixture, corruption has now walked into the churches of contemporary Christianity, and very serious evils, to heinous to mention have been countenanced or fostered under a pretense of religious fervor. But today, we beseech you by the mercies of God not to drink this Kool aid, because it will lead to never-land.

Obeying God through the power of His indwelling Spirit is the outward manifestation of the work of God’s grace in the heart, and even though it should never be made to replace what Christ did for us, yet, we are to corporate with God in the work of saving our souls by obeying His word. In other words, none who profess Christ who deliberately reject His law, will make it to heaven. This truth is rigidly set in stone, according to the scriptures. Let’s read:

Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. 16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Again, the mixing of politics and religion is the equivalent of trying to unite Christ with Baal. Embracing the Bible in one’s hand does not justify a wrong course of action by any means. On the contrary, it causes the people to hate Christianity all the more, because they are seeing a clear disconnect between what is written, and what is being spoken and practiced.

When the emperor Constantine had nominally embraced Christianity, many people back then saw it as a good sign, for in their minds if the emperor was baptized that would give a boost to the Christian church, and his profession of faith in Christ would be the means of winning converts to Jesus; or so they thought! But in reality, that diabolical mix of politics and religion was actually orchestrated by the invisible king of Babylon who sought to destroy Christianity from the inside out.

It is stated that if you cannot win them, join them, and as it turned out, that mix of politics and religion was one of the very worst things that could have ever happened to Christianity. It is the purpose of Babylon to unite the unconsecrated professors of Christianity with the church, for by their inconsistencies, they end of driving potential believers even further away from Christ.

That is why, again, we beseech you by the grace of God, not to drink that Kool aid mixture of politics and religion, because it would be productive of great evil in the future. Let’s read:

Revelation 13:12 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. 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. (The mixture of religion and commercial policy)

The principle of mixing good and evil by Babylon has also permeated the area of diets and foods, in the advocating of foods which God in His word has expressly forbidden. One passage of scripture in particular has been horribly mangled by Babylon’s preachers to produce a type of dietary Kool aid that has resulted in Covid. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 4:4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. 5 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

This passage could never include those foods that are on the list of forbidden creatures given elsewhere in the Bible, for then, the Bible would be made to contradict itself, which it never does. But the Kool aid of Babylon incorporates the good and bad, stemming from that first mixture of good and evil in Eden. Eating a bowl of salad with shrimp does not make shrimp acceptable, and even though there may be some good in shrimp, yet God has commanded humans not to eat of it.

For instance, even though the swine often carries deadly bacteria, parasites, tapeworms, and harbors dangers that affect the human family negatively, it also has protein in it, and so with many persons, the protein justifies its use. When the world health organization correctly traced the majority of cancers and diseases we suffer from to our tables, there was an uproar in the meat industry, and it was declared that the information from the studies was flawed.

At this juncture it is fitting that we observe that which is written in the scriptures concerning our food sources, for it will be discovered that there is a close relation between Covid, and what is ingested. Let’s read:

Leviticus 11:4 Nevertheless these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5 And the Coney, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 6 And the hare, because he chews the cud, but divides not the hoof; he is unclean unto you.

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 ye not eat, and their carcass shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you. 10 And all that have not fins, and scales in the seas and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you.

46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl and of every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps upon the earth. 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten.

However, in studying these passages it is interesting to note that God says that such and such is unclean, but He does not say specifically what is the problem with them; all He says is that they must not be eaten by us humans under any circumstances. God could have gone into more detail and spoken of the worms and parasites and poisons which exist in the meat that is off-limits.

He could have explained, and reasoned from cause to effect, showing why it is wise to follow His instructions, but He does not do this, and the question is “Why”. Why doesn’t God come out and state specifically why He is forbidding human beings to eat these things? The reason is that it isn’t really necessary to go into any lengthy explanation.

Now, some may balk at that simple answer, but when it’s considered carefully, it will be seen why it is the correct answer. Many pundits, and health professionals, dietitians, and gurus have gone to great lengths in explaining the nuts and bolts of what has been written for our good in Leviticus 11. And through their ministry, very many people have been encouraged to make lifestyle changes which have been productive of real good.

But there is only one underlying issue remaining; would we obey God before explanations or will we obey only after an explanation? If God has to give us detailed explanations for everything He has commanded, before we obey Him, then the issue of believing God’s direct word will still remain. Parents cannot always give their children an explanation for their commands, because, in many instances, the child will not understand at their level.

In the garden of Eden He did not say anything about the consistency of the forbidden fruit. Poison ivy is entirely harmless, once we don’t touch it, and therefore all that was necessary was for Adam and Eve to obey His word, and they would have lived happily ever after. Again, it could have had one million serpents in the tree, and they could have been speaking with various tongues, but if our first parents obeyed God by not touching it, they would be safe.

[3] Natural immortality

Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.

This last one is huge, for it contradicts everything that the word of God and the plan of salvation stands for. It seeks to remove the need for the gospel, it destroys the doctrine of the judgment, with accountability on the part of persons, it encourages licentiousness, for if a person possesses natural immortality, there is no need for any reformation and change in one’s habits.

In every movie that has been produced, which deals with the finality of the human experience, life after death has figured prominently, in so much that those productions are the equivalent of teaching the multitudes directly, that which was first spoken of by the invisible king of Babylon. This aspect of Babylon’s kool aid has the effect of lulling people into a false sense of security, which then leads in some cases to suicide, for if one is guaranteed life after death, then it is no big deal to end one’s troubles down here prematurely, to move on to the great hereafter.

The doctrine is now embraced by most of the world’s great religions, including the majority of Christians. This is one of the reasons why The Bible states that all nations have drunk of the wine of Babylon. The doctrine has been so deeply seared into the consciences of the people that it is now considered ludicrous to even think otherwise.

Thus, as prominent statesmen have died, who have made meaningful contributions to our society, their eulogies have most often included that element of the Kool id of Babylon, as a necessary staple. Let’s read:

Revelation 18:8 And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

The scripture furnishes no foundation or support for any such doctrine, for it teaches the exact opposite. Here are some key passages of scripture which should help us to avoid this Kool aid, in any form or fashion by which it is imbibed. The key words will be highlighted make clear that which is written about this issue in the Bible. Let’s read:

1st Timothy 6:13 I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickens all things, and before Christ Jesus; 15 Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 16 Who only has immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see.

1st Corinthians 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 1st Corinthians 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Question: When will that “last trumpet” be heard? Answer: At the second coming of Christ, at which time He will grant the gift of immortality to those whose names are written in the book of life. Until such time, no human being has ever had anything close to immortality, as an inherent element. Let’s read:

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

As we see more and more politicians professing to embrace Christianity, as we see the separation of church and state being blurred, as we see the mixture of truth with error, and as we see disguise and delusions of all stripes, let us be aware that the agencies of Babylon will continue the work that was begun in Eden, and that work will culminate in the mark of the beast.

As it stands currently, we are much nearer to the coming of Christ than many would like to believe, and that’s why we are having a bottle-necking of problems on all fronts at the same time. Social unrest, injustice of all sorts, with lying, diseases and upheavals in nature, all point us to the soon coming of Christ.

Let us therefore live soberly and righteously, not falling for the wine of Babylon, as it is presented in it’s various forms, but rather, looking to the word of God to guide us through the mirage of falsehoods that have come home to roost in our day.

We therefore encourage everyone to search the word of God for themselves, and not subscribe to the conspiracy theories and delusions that have now taken the world by storm. Study the genuine word of God, and all falsehoods will ultimately be exposed. We’ll end with a passage of scripture which will enable us to discern truth from error, and right from wrong.

Hebrews 5:13 For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

God Bless!

Biblical Teaching On Revenge. Sabbath Afternoon 08/22/2020

Proverbs 24:29 Say not, I will do so to him as he hath done to me: I will render to the man according to his work.

As Bible believing Christians, it will take a whole lot of faith, a whole lot of humbleness, and a whole lot of self-denial if we would reflect Christ and the laws and principles of His kingdom to the world. Denial of self, with all of its fallen urges, and promptings would require that we submit to Christ moment by moment and be kept by His power through faith.

Revenge is described in the dictionary as the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands. The desire, or the thirst for revenge is not a good impulse, and does not originate with God. God deals in justice, and He will prosecute and punish sin just as much as would be warranted, but not more or less. It is His prerogative to execute justice, because He is both Creator and Redeemer, but He does not thirst for revenge.

That is why, in so many instances, the inhabitants of earth often think He is taking too long to intervene in circumstances that cry out for justice and that is because, unlike us earthlings, God takes delight in mercy. God does not sit up in heaven looking to hurl bolts of lightning at every sinner, and every wrong that is taking place on the earth. If He was thus disposed, none of us would be alive today, because our many grievous sins and actions would have called for our utter eradication many years ago.

But God takes delight in setting the sinner free, and as such, He puts things in motion that will facilitate repentance, change, and permanent solutions in all those who so desire. But, to place Him on the same level as ourselves would do Him great disservice, for He is interceding currently for those who were once His enemies.

Justice will finally be served, wherever it would be warranted, but not after God has exhausted every means possible to save us from ourselves. In fact, the Bible teaches us that God often delays to bring justice, because of the severity with which it would come and thus, He continues to plead with gracious overtures, until there is no more remedy.

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.

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.

However, with the human family, revenge has been a staple, a sort of default setting where some might believe that offenders must be retaliated against. As the various injustices have played out through the centuries, believers and nonbelievers alike have at times succumbed to the thirst for revenge, and in our day, it is scheduled to metastasize across the entire world.

The Bible furnishes several examples from which we can draw, so that we may observe the extent of the problem, and thus, as we search our own souls for any seeds of revenge, we are encouraged to confess and forsake this sin, wherever the seeds are found. Moses was called by God to deliver the Hebrews from Egyptian slavery, and because of the cruelties and injustices practiced upon his brethren, he once decided to take matters into his own hands.

Moved with indignation at a particular incident, which was obviously wrong, he jumped into the fray and took the life of a slave master. It was hard for him to stand by and just watch the Egyptian beating up on a fellow Hebrew, and in his mind, he thought that he needed to take retributive action without direct permission from God. Thus, he sprung into action, and executed revenge, which he thought was well deserved.

The punishment may actually have been very well, deserved but for him to do so without God, placed him at odds with God’s will, because, in God’s own time and way, the oppressors would feel the brunt of heaven’s justice. Moses needed to surrender his will to God’s will, to the extent where he could be seeing injustice, and cruelty being done, and yet be patient enough to wait on God.

Some of us become impatient when we behold any injustice taking place over a period of time, with no apparent intervention from heaven. And in some instances, folks are moved to riots and insurrection as an expression of their frustration. Now, while it is true that God permits this to take place in the secular realm, as Christians we should remember that waiting upon God in every situation is a Biblical motif by which we should all live.

This includes waiting upon Him when we believe that a particular situation calls for justice. The way in which the Christian and nonbeliever may handle the same matter often varies quite a lot, for the principles and methods we adopt are different to what the secular world uses. We meet violence with peace, we meet hatred with love, we do offer kindness to our enemies, and we forgive those who trespass against us.

All the while, we do hope and pray for a change of heart in those who do not know God, and if things come to a head, where the offenders continue in a wrong course of action against our persons, we take the matter first to The Lord in prayer and then, if He directs us to appeal to secular authorities, then we submit to His will. Let’s read:

Matthew 5: 32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. 33 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. 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. 36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Romans 12:17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good.

That is why we stated up front that it will take a lot of humility, patience, and self-denial in our day, to watch the various injustices being played out across the land, and not spring into action, ahead of God. It is not a sign of weakness or complacency to wait upon God in all matters; it is good common sense, as Moses himself soon found out. Let’s read:

Exodus 2:11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Jezebel also was the queen of revenge, for she was pregnant with the sinful fruit of instant retribution, even when she was the one at fault. In retaliation for what she perceived as a grave wrong done by Elijah, in announcing the famine, she went out and slew the prophets of The Lord, but God did not right there and then hurl bolts of lightning from heaven.

Instead, God patiently waited to give both she and her husband time to repent, and it was only after all other methods, and resources were exhausted did He finally take them out. Thus, in seeking revenge, innocent persons have often been killed in the blind frenzy of passion and rage. Let’s read: 1st Kings 18:4 For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.

The same spirit of revenge and retaliation even took a hold on some of Christ’s disciples when James and John requested that lightning be called down from heaven to destroy the inhabitants of that city which had refused to let Jesus pass through. In the heated thirst for revenge, they considered not that babies, and children might be slain in the process.

Whenever there are real or imaginary wrongs done to ourselves, or others it is appropriate and right to take the matter to God for redress, for in the heat of the moment when tempers are flared and nerves are frayed, we often tend to go overboard, and riots and violence to innocent persons and businesses can take place.

James and John would have slain the innocent with the guilty, just so that their thirst for revenge would be satisfied. That is why Christ had to stop them in their tracks and reveal to them that they were being motivated by another spirit other than The Spirit of God, just as it is today. Let’s read:

Luke 9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Whether it be injustice, cruelty or perceived wrongs to oneself or others, Jesus requires that His people should deal in the currency of heaven at all times and in all places. The scripture does not teach revolt against duly appointed authorities, because it is God who sets up kings and takes them down in His own time and way.

This truth needs to be clearly understood by those who would live through the final conflicts of earth’s history when injustice will prevail in the courts, and people’s personal property will be seized illegally by the authorities. Therefore, we reiterate again, God sets up the rulers of this world and He takes them down at His discretion.

Some of these earthly rulers are set up through His permissive will, by which He may allow the ruler in question to use methods and principles, in coming to power, that are totally against Biblical methods and principles. For instance, we read in the book of Daniel of how some of the powers of earth were permitted to come into existence.

They did not do so through prayer and fasting, but instead they were permitted to use violence, and force of arms to establish their kingdom. Some had resorted to poisoning their opponents, and bribery, lies, fraud and character assassination were all part of the deadly mix. Yet God permitted it to happen. Let’s read:

Daniel 7:2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven strove upon the great sea. 3 And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another. 4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made stand upon the feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to it.

5 And behold another beast, a second, like to a bear, and it raised up itself on one side, and it had three ribs in the mouth of it between the teeth of it: and they said thus unto it, Arise, devour much flesh. 6 After this I beheld, and lo another, like a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.

7 After this I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with the feet of it: and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it; and it had ten horns. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things.

In like manner, Christ permits some evangelists to preach, and others He directly ordains to preach, as it is currently in our day. That is so because The Lord operates on two different fronts when dealing with the human family. In some instances, His permissive will allows apparently contrary events to occur, and at other times He definitely orchestrates situations. For example, we just read that the powers of earth mentioned by Daniel came into being using violence and force of arms, for God permitted this.

But if for instance God ordains one of His people to rule, they are not to come into power using the same tactics and methods those secular powers employ. Like David, they are to track on a different course in every way, never using political advertisements to tear down their opponents, and not using character assassination, by which all the wrongs and flaws of their competitors are exaggerated in the eyes of the multitudes.

They are to show respect for the ruler that God has placed on the throne, until such time that God sees fit to install them into office. But for any Christian to adopt methods and means used by secular persons is entirely off limits. That’s why we stated previously that God operates on two fronts; one, with what He permits, and the other with what He ordains. Let’s read:

1st Samuel 24:4 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.

Now dear brethren, some of these powers that are permitted to come upon the face of the earth may say and do things that may cause people’s tempers to boil over. Now, that does not mean to say that as Christians we are to rise up in revenge against any of them, because God’s will is being accomplished. Note: Very deep lessons in humility and in patience will need to be learned by many of us. Case in point was the destruction of Jerusalem by the Assyrian kingdom.

Because of the sins that were being committed by His people for many years, God purposed to bring them into captivity, so that they would, by experience, come to hate idolatry, which they had been fostering for too long. Now brethren, the very prospect of being taken into captivity by alien forces would definitely not bode well with many of us, and beyond the shadow of a doubt, some, like the Hebrews of old would seek to fight off the invaders, or worst yet, seek revenge for what may seem as an insult to our intelligence.

This is exactly what the prophet Jeremiah faced as he encouraged many of his brethren to be taken into Babylonian captivity, in harmony with God’s will. But like many of us, the Jews would have none of it, for in their minds, it could never be God’s will that His people become subservient to foreigners. Thus, as Jeremiah pleaded with them, he was seized and slated for persecution and death because in the minds of the Jews he was a traitor, and not patriotic by any means.

At this juncture, we must inform you of a hymn we often sing, of which many of us have not a clue what we are singing.

It’s called “I Surrender all”

Do we surrender all only when God’s plans and ours are in agreement, or do we resist God’s will when we do not agree with His purposes? Remember, as we studied previously God has not called persons to agree with Him primarily, but rather to obey Him. If in the process of obedience, we agree, that’s fine, and God will be pleased, but if things don’t go as we prefer, we should still be willing to follow where He leads the way, because there are times when it can be pretty painful to obey God, literally, as Christ and Abraham, and very many others have often found out. Let’s read:

Jeremiah 26:1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lord, saying, 2 Thus saith the Lord; Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word: 3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you, 5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;

6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. 8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

Jeremiah 21:8 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus, saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. 9 He that abides in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goes out and falls (meaning surrender) to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live. 10 For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the Lord: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.

Thus, it was that Daniel and his companions who by experience had learned to surrender all, went out, and they patiently looked on as the handcuffs and chains were placed around their hands and feet and they were then led away into Babylonian captivity.

Sometimes, a stupid king like pharaoh is set up by God to accomplish His purposes, but Christians are not to be found revolting against pharaoh, without God directing them to do so. We are to wait in faith for God to do His good will, and if in the process we run into some insurmountable difficulty then we are to trust God to take up the slack. Let’s read:

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 whomsoever he will, and sets up over it the basest of men. But if we begin to lose sight of our Invisible Leader, we will come to believe that we have to intervene if we think God is taking too long.

That is one reason why the patience of the saints is mentioned in the book of Revelation as one of the more prominent characteristics that would be manifested in the true Christian during the last days. In other words, even though things are spinning out of control and there will be injustice on every side, the Christian would be willing, and patient enough to wait on God to handle matters at His discretion, and not be seeking revenge or retaliation for actual wrongs that are done.

On the contrary, the one who insists on intervening, without any guidance or direction from God, would certainly stumble because, for the true Christian the currency of heaven tracks on an entirely different route. Revenge for real or imaginary wrongs done is not of heaven’s origin. Let’s read:

Ecclesiastes 5:8 If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

Even though in the processes of injustice we may, and will suffer great loss, the patience of the saints should not fail, because they would have learned by experience to wait upon God in all matters and in all situations. The time will come when inhumane and even unjust treatment will be the lot of the faithful, but if we do not learn to wait upon God in all matters, we will be overcome by those difficulties, for if we cannot run with the footmen, we will not be able to run with the horses, just as Peter fell on the issue of revenge when he saw Christ being led away in handcuffs.

God is saying to us in the here and now, that if we begin to partake of the spirit of anarchy because of revenge for grave offences being committed across the land, when the big one comes in like a flood, our vulnerabilities will be exposed and we will fall a prey to the devices of devils. 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.

2nd Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

In closing, let us ask God to grant us a forgiving spirit instead of a revengeful disposition; let us be the first to offer pardon and lasting solutions to a dying world, instead of taking things too personally, for if we deal in heaven’s currency, we will become partakers of the Spirit of Jesus, who taught us to say “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”. We’ll end with a passage of scripture that reminds us of our duty as God’s peculiar people, to shine as lights in the world, manifesting His graces and ways to those who may not know Him just yet. Let’s read:

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 resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.

God Bless!

The Doctrine Of The Church. Sabbath Afternoon 08/152020

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.

The church is not a building. People who believe in Jesus Christ regularly gather for praise, worship, and prayer at various facilities, and buildings have been erected and dedicated for such purposes, yet, the church essentially consists of people, not buildings, having Jesus Christ as the only true foundation and Head. This doctrine must be thoroughly understood so that persons do not come to trust in buildings, as many of the Jews in Christ’s day did.

God is leading His people from this earth to the promised land, but all buildings erected for church services will be left behind in the dust when Christ comes. We are witnessing this truth in real time since many church buildings have been shuttered because of the pandemic, yet church continues, and the body of believers remain. In fact, church service as we’ve known it in former years will one day come to an end, yet we should participate and attend while the opportunity still lingers. Let’s read:

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

It’s important for us to trace the beginnings of the church, and how it has morphed over time to what it is now commonly accepted as. Christ has always had a remnant people upon the earth to serve and obey Him. The patriarchs, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob erected altars wherever they went, and there they gathered to worship God. Let’s read:

Genesis 13:3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai; 4 Unto the place of the altar, which he had make there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord. 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord.

But after God’s great deliverance of the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage, God purposed to bring the people together to formally organize them into one corporate body under His care, and they were to be a peculiar people, showing forth God’s salvation, His praises and His testimonies by precept and example to those who knew not God. Thus, from its very inception the church was meant to be a purpose driven body of believers, who were to keep a knowledge of God and His will ever before the world.

Buildings were erected to accommodate these purposes, and over time, the various houses of worship, indeed facilitated fellowship, prayer and every other aspect of salvation. In this way believers were to be a peculiar people on the earth, and as such, they would be convening, and congregating at specified times and at specified places as God would direct; but at the beginning the church existed without a building or any permanent structure. Let’s read:

Exodus 19:4 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 an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.

In fact, the first structure that was ordained of God for church services was a movable one, to cater for the many travels that were to be the church’s lot as they travelled through the desert and hill country. By so doing the building or tent which it was, went with the body of people wherever they went, their travels and locations being directed by God. Let’s read:

Exodus 25:8 And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9 According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it.

Later on, two temples were built, the first one was under Solomon, and the next one, after the Jews had returned from Babylonian captivity. Immense capital and expenditures went into the erection of those two buildings, and God was pleased with the generosity of His people. But even with those two colossal structures that were built and dedicated to the worship of God, which are described as being the first and second temple, the word church does not appear anywhere in the old testament.

The focus was never intended to be on any building, but on God, who was to be worshiped at different locations. However, over a period of time, with the enormous revenues, and costly expenditures going towards the two temples the people began to view the building as the church. And because of this their focus on God was replaced by an unusually intense interest in the buildings, not on God, to the point where in Christ’s day it was not only considered sacrilege to speak any word against the building, but persons could be charged for doing so.

In fact, this was one of several accusations brought against Christ at His trial, and for which He was later crucified, because the people back then had come to revere the works of men’s hands as having some sort of inherent holiness, even as Jesus Christ, the head of the church was being rejected. Let’s read:

Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. 62 And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?

Even when Christ appeared in the temple, they lost sight of the glory that was predicted to come to the building. So intense was the people’s admiration of the temple that The Creator of the universe was in their midst, but their eyes were blinded, and they could not behold the glory which had been foretold.

Let’s read: Haggai 2:6 For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts. 9 The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts.

The “Desire of nations” and the greater glory of the latter temple was a reference to Christ, who by His presence, was to fill the second temple with glory, far surpassing anything that was seen or witnessed in the first temple, for He was the visible Person of the God-head in their midst. Yet, after Jesus Christ gave His very first sermon the people became so enraged that He was taken to the edge of a cliff, that they might cast Him head-long over it. The glory of Christ’s presence had indeed filled the building, but it was almost entirely lost sight of by the people, whose focus was not on God anymore, but on the building. 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. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. 22 And all bare him witness and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; 26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. 27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet and none of them was cleansed saving Naaman the Syrian.

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.

The disciples of Christ’s day also pointed to the building, and not the people whom Christ came to save as they admired the humongous stones and architecture of their current temple. In fact, it was after Jesus predicted the overthrow of the temple that they began asking about the end of the world, for in their minds, the building was to stand forever. 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. 3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?

Thus, throughout the history of the Christian church great wealth has been lavished on church buildings, and architects, artisans, and highly skilled workers have been employed to embellish designated places of worship. In the process, indulgences have been sold, and fairs, lotteries, banquets, and other kinds of inducements have at times been employed to furnish means for church buildings.

To spend lavishly for church buildings is all well and good, where it is warranted, and God indeed looks favorably on those who would give willingly and of their very best to His service. But Christians in our day need to be very careful, lest like the Jews of old our focus becomes buildings and not Christ and the people whom He came to save. In fact, when the city of Jerusalem was besieged by Titus, many of those people who had trusted in the building, huddled together in it, with the vain hope that God would not allow the temple to be ravaged by alien hands.

As a result, thousands were slain by the Roman soldiers in the very structure that they had come to idolize. Blood flowed like water down the steps of the same building which, the disciples had forty years before, called the attention of Christ to. In that siege which then took place, heaps of bodies accumulated in the temple and over one million of the city’s inhabitants were slain in the process. This is what can happen when we lose sight of our purpose and mission as a church.

In our day, church has devolved in large measure to places dedicated to serve the congregants’ personal needs, not as an outreach center to fulfill the great commission that was given us by Christ. And as a result, the services in very many Christian churches have become very subjective, where folk’s personal feelings and emotions are catered to, but dedicated service in fulfilling the great commission is lacking greatly.

Therefore, wherever there is not active outreach on a regular basis, there really is no church, regardless of the size, architecture, or price of the building. In fact, Christ put it this way: if as professed members of the church we are not gathering in some way, we are scattering. Let’s read:

Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

And thus, it has now become fitting that we review what church ought to be all about, and as we do so in the middle of the pandemic let’s remember that the mission of the church was not to be impeded by covid, or any other future pandemic for that matter. Instead, the true soldiers of Christ should be rising to the current emergency, for very many are going down into Christ-less graves daily, and therefore, it behooves every one of us who are called Christians, to make the most of today’s opportunity whilst we can, for there are real pros and cons to covid.

Instead of bemoaning the temporary loss of church services and potluck, let us instead ask God to show us ingenious ways to reach the dying, before Covid brings their probation to a close. Therefore, it is necessary for us to search our souls, as we revisit what church in our day ought to mean. Let’s read:

Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Christ’s presence being with us until the end of the world was given in the context of us fulfilling the great commission. God never called Christians to make money as their primary goal in life. If material concerns, and the challenges of making a living consume our best energies to the point where we lose sight of the purpose of the church, then the purpose of God in saving us in the first place can be lost.

Not only are we to fulfill the great commission in our neck of the woods, but by the grace of God we should be seeking for more efficient ways to spread our tentacles far and near wherever an opportunity, and the technology may afford an opening. As folks stand in long lines to get tested for Covid, the gospel can be spread, even if it might be at a distance, because people the world over are now becoming more interested in end time events, as they view in real time the deterioration of society and life as we have known it in real time.

Again, those drivers who are delivering groceries to many families now, should not leave our doorsteps without something of spiritual value being offered. As they diligently bring the temporal goods, let us likewise diligently deliver the spiritual, for there are pros and cons to Covid. Again, the mission of the church has been clearly delineated, so that all who so desire may truly find something to do that would advance the interests of God’s kingdom upon the earth. God desires that we be mission oriented in all aspects of life, always on the lookout for any opportunity to present the gospel in some way, shape or form. Let’s read:

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.

The servants of God are not to be intimidated, nor hushed into silence by Covid, even though we are to follow recommended guidelines and precautions as necessary. When Christ gave us the commission, He made mention of the fact that all power was given unto Him in heaven and on earth. In addition, when He sent out His disciples to fulfill the great commission, He gave them power over all diseases, including Covid.

Thus, there is really no valid excuse for any true servant of God to sit and wait in idleness, whilst the current virus ravages thousands of people. The church is not to lose sight of its mission because of diseases and viruses; instead, we should look at the situation through the eyes of faith, and we will discover golden opportunities to tell others of Jesus Christ. This is what church was intended to be, and should always be, for it was never really about a building, even though that aspect has its rightful place.

Thus, wherever the mantle of responsibility is faithfully taken up to fulfill the great commission, Jesus could mitigate foreboding conditions like Covid, according to His good will. The great commission given to the church by Christ also includes the prospect of confronting infectious diseases through the power of Christ, for remember “All power has been given to Him in heaven and on earth”.

It was never God’s intention that disease of any sort should stop the spread of the gospel, because the commission itself includes mitigating factors given to surmount challenges of any, and all sorts. Let’s read:

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.

Mark 16: 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 20 And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.

As we carefully consider the pros and cons of Covid let us not leave God out of the picture, for He alone is able to heal the diseases of the mind and body. This is the essence of the gospel, which is indeed the good news, of which we all can do with a good dose of nowadays. Let us therefore ask God to grant us the vision, the energy, the will and the consistency, to carry the good news to all we can reach. Now more than ever, the inhabitants of earth need to know that there is A God in heaven, who earnestly desires to save all who so desire.

Therefore, let all those who serve and obey God not be found cowering in fear of infectious diseases, to the point where we retreat into survival mode while thousands are dying each day, for God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. Let us do church as it ought to be done because the time is now. We therefore end with a passage of scripture which reminds us of our high calling, and of the purpose of the church. And let us renew our efforts to save as many as desire to be saved. Let’s read:

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.

God Bless!

This Generation Shall Not Pass. [2] Back To The Future. Sabbath Afternoon 08/08/20

“The prophecy which He uttered was twofold in its meaning; while foreshadowing the destruction of Jerusalem, it prefigured also the terrors of the last great day.

[Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 25.] “Jesus did not answer His disciples by taking up separately the destruction of Jerusalem and the great day of His coming. He mingled the description of these two events. Had He opened to His disciples future events as He beheld them, they would have been unable to endure the sight. In mercy to them He blended the description of the two great crises, leaving the disciples to study out the meaning for themselves.

When He referred to the destruction of Jerusalem, His prophetic words reached beyond that event to the final conflagration in that day when the Lord shall rise out of His place to punish the world for their iniquity, when the earth shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain. This entire discourse was given, not for the disciples only, but for those who should live in the last scenes of this earth's history.” Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 628

“Christ saw in Jerusalem a symbol of the world hardened in unbelief and rebellion and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God.” Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, p. 22

Today we will go BACK to the FUTURE in looking at Matthew 24.

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken. Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Joel 3:15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

Joel 3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake, but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Joel 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

Joel 2:11 And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?

DIFFERENT SIGNS: “Time of the End” “End of Time” Matthew 24:30, Joel 2:10, 11 Joel 3:15, 16, Isaiah 13:10, Joel 2:31, Acts 2:20, Revelation 6:12, 13. Matthew 24:29 “And the powers of the heavens shall be shaken”.

WHAT ARE THE POWERS THAT RULE THE HEAVENS?

Gen 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

“December 16, 1848, the Lord gave me a view of the shaking of the powers of the heavens. I saw that when the Lord said "heaven," in giving the signs recorded by Matthew, Mark, and Luke, He meant heaven, and when He said "earth" He meant earth. The powers of heaven are the sun, moon, and stars. They rule in the heavens. The powers of earth are those that rule on the earth. The powers of heaven will be shaken at the voice of God. Then the sun, moon, and stars will be moved out of their places.

They will not pass away but be shaken by the voice of God.” EW pp 41. “We have no time to lose. Troublous times are before us. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated.

In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that "shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant." [Verses 31-36, quoted.] {13MR 394.1}

“The warnings that Christ gave to Jerusalem were not to end with them. The judgments upon Jerusalem were a symbol of the events of Christ's coming to judgment in the last day, when before Him shall be gathered all nations. "He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." TM 232.

THE WHOLE WORLD WILL BE INVOLVED IN RUIN MORE TERRIBLE THAN THAT WHICH CAME UPON JERUSALEM OF OLD.” GC pp 614.

“The whole of the twenty-fourth chapter of Matthew is a prophecy concerning the events to precede this event, and the destruction of Jerusalem is used to typify the last great destruction of the world by fire.” Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, p. 18

“While these prophecies received a partial fulfillment at the destruction of Jerusalem, they have a more direct application to the last days.” Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, volume 5, p. 753.

MATT 24:4 AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM, TAKE HEED THAT NO MAN DECEIVE YOU.

MATT 24:5 FOR MANY SHALL COME IN MY NAME, SAYING, I AM CHRIST; AND SHALL DECEIVE MANY.

José Luis de Jesús Miranda (April 22, 1946 – November 17, 2013)[ was the leader of the Creciendo en Gracia cult, based in Miami, Florida. He claimed to be both the returned phase of Jesus Christ and the Antichrist;

MATTHEW 6-8 MAT 24:6 AND YE SHALL HEAR OF WARS AND RUMOURS OF WARS:

The 20th century was the most murderous in recorded history. The total number of deaths caused by or associated with its wars has been estimated at 187 million, the equivalent of more than 10% of the world's population in 1913. War and peace | Education | The Guardianwww.theguardian.com.

This is because history is not something that happens to us. Instead, it is something we actively fashion into existence; the grievous events that constituted the 20th century were both perpetrated by and perpetuated by humans. Lessons from History https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/why-was-the-20th-century-so-bloody-1bd8b86f5ad6

Famines:

A damning report released last month revealed that global hunger levels have increased for the first time in over a decade. It found that some 815 million people were suffering from hunger in 2016 — 38 million more than in the previous year. CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) DATA 17, 660 523 Confirmed cases Last update: 1 August 2020, 20:00 GMT-4 680 894 Confirmed deaths Last update: 1 August 2020, 20:00 GMT-4

Alcohol and health Alert and Response daily summaries Antimicrobial Drug Resistance Avian Influenza CDS collaborating center Chikungunya Child and adolescent health and development Cholera Coronavirus (COVID-19) Ebola hemorrhagic fever Environment and health Expenditures on health Health action in crisis (HAC) Health Services Health systems HIV/AIDS MCI Immunization, vaccines and biological Influenza International Health Regulations (2005) International Travel and Health Leprosy Malaria Malaria Drug Resistance Marbrug hemorrhagic fever Maternal and reproductive health Meningococcal disease Mental health Middle East crisis July 2006 Millennium Development Goals Mortality and burden of disease Natural disasters Neglected tropical diseases Nipah virus Noncommunicable diseases NULL Nutrition disorders Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Plague Poliomyelitis Rift Valley Fever Satellite image Service Availability Mapping (SAM) Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Sexually Transmitted Infections Situational base maps Soil-transmitted helminths (Schistosomiasis) Substance use and substance use disorders TB Drug resistance Tobacco Trachoma Tsunami recovery Tuberculosis Violence and injuries Violence prevention Water, sanitation and health Weekly Outbreak Verification List (OVL) Events Women and health Yellow fever

List of Earthquakes in 2011:

Rank, Magnitude, Death toll, Location:

Date 1 9.1 20,896 Japan Japan, Tōhoku March 11 2 7.9 0 Japan Japan, Honshu March 11 3 7.7 0 Japan Japan, Honshu March 11 4 7.6 0 New Zealand New Zealand, Kermadec Islands July 6 5 7.4 0 New Zealand New Zealand, Kermadec Islands October 21 6 7.3 0 Japan Japan, Honshu March 9 7 7.3 0 Fiji Fiji, Ndoi Island September 15 8 7.2 3 Pakistan Pakistan, Balochistan January 18 9 7.2 0 United States United States, Aleutian Islands June 23 10 7.1 604 Turkey Turkey, Van October 23 11 7.1 0 Chile Chile, Araucanía Region January 2 12 7.1 4 Japan Japan, Honshu April 7 13 7.1 0 Vanuatu Vanuatu, Port Vila August 20 14 7.1 0 Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea, December 14 15 7.0 0 Argentina Argentina, Santiago del Estero January 1 16 7.0 0 New Caledonia New Caledonia, Loyalty Islands January 13 17 7.0 0 Japan Japan, Honshu July 10 18 7.0 0 Vanuatu Vanuatu, Port Vila August 20 19 7.0 0 Vanuatu Vanuatu, Isangel September 3

Mat 24:8 “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

“These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be upon both man and beast.” G.C 590.

Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

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

“Prior to the last closing conflict, many will be imprisoned, many will flee for their lives from cities and towns, and many will be MARTYRS for Christʼs sake in standing in defense of the truth...You will not be tempted above what you are able to bear. Jesus bore all this and far more.” 3SM 397.

By the decree enforcing the institution of the papacy in violation of the law of God, our nation [the United States] will disconnect herself fully from righteousness.... {Mar 199.4}

MEMORIZE THE SCRIPTURES, PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE YOU WILL BE HATED BY ALL BECAUSE OF MY NAME. BUT THE ONE WHO ENDURES TO THE END WILL BE SAVED. MARK 13:13, NRSV. {BLJ 343.1}

The servants of Christ were to prepare no set speech to present when brought to trial. Their preparation was to be made day by day in treasuring up the precious truths of God’s Word, and through prayer strengthening their faith. When they were brought into trial, the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance the very truths that would be needed. {BLJ 343.2}

So bitter would be the enmity to the gospel that even the tenderest earthly ties would be disregarded. The disciples of Christ would be betrayed to death by the members of their own households. . . . But He bade them not to expose themselves unnecessarily to persecution. The Desire of Ages, p. 355.

MATT 24:10 AND THEN SHALL MANY BE OFFENDED, AND SHALL BETRAY ONE ANOTHER, AND SHALL HATE ONE ANOTHER.

When Christ was upon this earth, the world preferred Barabbas. And today the world and the churches are making the same choice. The scenes of the betrayal, the rejection, and the crucifixion of Christ have been re-enacted, and will again be re-enacted on an immense scale. People will be filled with the attributes of the enemy, and with them his delusions will have great power. Just to that degree that light is refused will there be misconception and misunderstanding.

Those who reject Christ and choose Barabbas work under a ruinous deception. Misrepresentation and false witness will grow to open rebellion. The eye being evil, the whole body will be full of darkness. Those who give their affections to any leader but Christ will find themselves under the control, body, soul, and spirit, of an infatuation that is so entrancing that under its power souls turn away from hearing the truth to believe a lie. They are ensnared and taken, and by their every action they cry, Release unto us Barabbas, but crucify Christ. {RH, January 30, 1900 par. 8}

“Those who are true to God will be menaced, denounced, proscribed. They WILL BE “BETRAYED both by parents, and brethren, and kinfolks, and friends,” even unto death. (Luke 21:16).” PK 588. Luke 21:16. Their only hope is in the mercy of God; their only defense will be prayer.

"AND A MAN'S FOES SHALL BE THEY OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD." MATTHEW 10:3 MATT 24:11 AND MANY FALSE PROPHETS SHALL RISE, AND SHALL DECEIVE MANY.

"And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." False prophets and false Christs did arise, deceiving the people, and leading great numbers into the desert. Magicians and sorcerers, claiming miraculous power, drew the people after them into the mountain solitudes. But this prophecy was spoken also for the last days. This sign is a sign of the second advent. Satanic agencies will be prepared to deceive and to delude. {ST, February 20, 1901 par. 9}

Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Here is where the shaking begins:

Just as soon as the people of God are sealed in their foreheads--it is not any seal or mark that can be seen, but a settling into the truth, both intellectually and spiritually, so they cannot be moved--just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already; the judgments of God are now upon the land, to give us warning, that we may know what is coming. {Mar 200.2}

The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. {Mar 200.3}

The mark of the beast will be urged upon us. Those who have step by step yielded to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will not find it a hard matter to yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. The contest is between the commandments of God and the commandments of men.

INIQUITY SHALL ABOUND:

Sexual immorality, Pornography, Divorce, Murder, Sexual abuse, Sexual Slavery, Homosexuality, Lawlessness.

In order for one's heart-mind to wax cold simply means you were not cold before. You have fallen from grace. Jesus is declaring that these classes of people have fallen from a high state of spirituality. In the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction Christ said, "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 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."

This prophecy will again be fulfilled. The abounding iniquity of that day finds its counterpart in this generation. So, with the prediction in regard to the preaching of the gospel. Before the fall of Jerusalem, Paul, writing by the Holy Spirit, declared that the gospel was preached to "every creature which is under heaven." Colossians 1:23. So now, before the coming of the Son of man, the everlasting gospel is to be preached "to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." Revelation 14:6, 14.

Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

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

The loud cry:

Mat 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. The third angel's message is to be sounded by God's people. It is to swell to the loud cry. The Lord has a time appointed when He will bind off the work; but when is that time?--when the truth to be proclaimed for these last days shall go forth as a witness to all nations, then shall the end come. = Probation Closed.

The Abomination of Desolation

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

“I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesusʼ work was done in the sanctuary, and then will come the SEVEN LAST PLAGUES. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then be stayed. A DECREE WENT FORTH TO SLAY the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of JACOBʼs TROUBLE. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit and were delivered by the VOICE OF GOD.” E. G. White, Early Writings, pp 36-37.

“When Jesus leaves the most holy, His re- straining Spirit is withdrawn from rulers and people. They are left to the control of evil angels. THEN such laws will be made by the counsel and direction of Satan, that unless time should be very short, no flesh could be saved [cf. Matt 24:22].” 1T 204

What laws is she talking about? A Death Decree!

John 11:50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. “The decree which is to go forth against the people of God will be very similar to that issued by Ahasuerus against the Jews in the time of Esther.” 5T 450

“We are nearing the close of this earthʼs history, when two parties alone can exist, and every man, woman, and child will be in one of these ARMIES. Jesus will be the General of one army; of the opposing army, Satan will be the leader.” 3SM 422.

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

Jerusalem = World

Christ saw in JERUSALEM a symbol of the WORLD hardened in unbelief and rebellion and hastening on to meet the retributive judgments of God.” E.G. White, Great Controversy, pp 22.

“A DECREE will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to DEATH. Romanism in the Old World and apostate Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course toward those who honor all the divine precepts. The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress described by the prophet as the time of JACOBʼs Trouble.

Thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace. . . . All faces are turned into paleness. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacobʼs trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:5-7...

As Satan influenced Esau to march against Jacob, so he will stir up the wicked to destroy Godʼs people in the time of trouble... Godʼs people will be SURROUNDED by enemies who are bent upon their destruction...” E.G. White, Great Controversy, pp 615-619.

“The DECREE will go forth that they must disregard the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and honor the first day, or LOSE THEIR LIVES; but they will not yield, and trample under their feet the Sabbath of the Lord, and honor an institution of papacy. Satanʼs host and wicked men will SURROUND them, and exult over them, because there will seem to be no way of escape for them.” Mar 269.

Mat 24:16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

Mat 24:17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:

Mat 24:18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

As the DECREE issued by the various rulers of Christendom against commandment keepers shall withdraw the protection of government and abandon them to those who desire their destruction, the people of God will FLEE from the CITIES AND VILLAGES and associate together in companies, dwelling in the most desolate and solitary places. Many will find refuge in the strongholds of the MOUNTAINS.” E.G. White, Great Controversy pp 626.

“Though a general DECREE has fixed the time when commandment keepers may be put to death, their enemies will in some cases anticipate the decree, and before the time specified, will endeavor to take their lives. But none can pass the mighty guardians stationed about every faithful soul. Some are assailed in their FLIGHT FROM CITIES AND VILLAGES; but the swords raised against them break and fall powerless as a straw. Others are defended by angels in the form of men of war.” E.G. White, Great Controversy, pp 631.

Matt 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! How great was the suffering of the Jews in 70 AD? How bad did they all suffer including the little children? They did not escape!!

Matt 24:20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: Think about that verse. Jesus has admonished every Christian to pray that their escape may not take place on the winter months, nor the time of HIS Holy Day, as they would be at rest. Apparently, the Sabbath was still valid for the Christians some forty years after His ascension and even at the closing scenes of earth’s history.

Matt 24:21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. We have a similar verse found in Daniel where it says…

Dan 12:1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth 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.

“Jacob and Esau represent two classes. Jacob, the righteous; and Esau, the wicked. Jacobʼs night of wrestling and anguish represents the TIME OF TROUBLE through which the people of God must pass just prior to the second coming of Christ. Jeremiah refers to this time: “Wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness? Alas! for that day is great so that none is like it: it is even the time of JACOBʼS TROUBLE; but he shall be saved out of it.

Daniel, in prophetic vision looking down to this point, says: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth 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 ...” Signs of the Times, 27 Nov. 1879.

Mat 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. “Yet to human sight it will appear that the people of God must soon seal their testimony with their blood as did the martyrs before them... YET FOR THE ELECTʼS SAKE THE TIME OF TROUBLE WILL BE SHORTENED.” Great Controversy, p630-631.

Mat 24:23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.

Mat 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.

Mat 24:25 Behold, I have told you before. Mat 24:26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

“The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short [cf. Rev 12:12], and his work of deceit and destruction will reach its culmination IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE... As the CROWNING ACT in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will PERSONATE CHRIST. The church has long professed to look to the Saviorʼs advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come.

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. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: “Christ has come! Christ has come!”

The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. 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.

He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion.” GC 623-624.

“Satan sees that he is about to lose his case [that men cannot keep the law of God. 8T pp 207].

He cannot sweep in the whole world. He makes one last DESPERATE EFFORT to overcome the faithful by deception. He does this in PERSONATING CHRIST... One effort more, and then Satanʼs LAST DEVICE is employed. He hears the unceasing cry for Christ to come, for Christ to deliver them. This last strategy is to personate Christ and make them think their prayers are answered.” LDE 164-165.

“I saw that the four angels would hold the four winds until Jesusʼ work was DONE in the sanctuary, and then will come the seven last plagues. These plagues enraged the wicked against the righteous; they thought that we had brought the judgments of God upon them, and that if they could rid the earth of us, the plagues would then be stayed.

A DECREE WENT FORTH TO SLAY the saints, which caused them to cry day and night for deliverance. This was the time of Jacob’s Trouble. Then all the saints cried out with anguish of spirit and were delivered by the VOICE OF GOD.” E. G. White, Early Writings, pp 36-37.

One effort more, and then Satan's last device is employed. He hears the unceasing cry for Christ to come, for Christ to deliver them. This last strategy is to personate Christ and make them think their prayers are answered. LDE 164, 165. {TA 275.2}

Matt 24:27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matt 24:28 For wheresoever the carcase is, there will the eagles be gathered together.

As fast as lightning travels, so shall the coming of our LORD shall be when HE comes again to deliver His people, but this time for all eternity. One last sign is seen in the heavens as we look up knowing our redemption draweth nigh.

Matt 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Matt 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Matt 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Jesus, looking down to the last generation, saw the world involved in a deception similar to that which caused the destruction of Jerusalem. The great sin of the Jews was their rejection of Christ; the great sin of the Christian world would be their rejection of the law of God, the foundation of his government in Heaven and earth. The precepts of Jehovah would be despised and set at naught. Millions in bondage to sin, slaves of Satan, doomed to suffer the second death, would refuse to listen to the words of truth in their day of visitation. Terrible blindness! strange infatuation!

God Bless!

This Generation Shall Not Pass. Part [1] Sabbath Afternoon 08/01/2020

TruthProvidedRemnant Ministry “This Generation Shall Not Pass” Matt 24:34 (Part 1)

History: What generation? Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.•

Let’s investigate to get a timeline of this event:

Mat 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Mat 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

Mat 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

Mat 24:33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Mat 24:34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled. Mat 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

There are TWO phases to the Papacy. The first stage is during the time of the Great tribulation of Dark Ages or middle ages known in bible prophecy as the 1260 years, time, times, half a time, 42 months, 3.5 years, or times of the Gentile. The other and later stage is after the Great tribulation when she receives the deadly wound and it heals. Let’s now take a look at what was the sign to end the first phase of the papacy.

Matthew 24:29 "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened”

Here history records this grand event! The remarkable Dark Day of May 19, 1780, is described by Samuel Williams of Harvard, The professor relates... "between the hours of ten and eleven a.m., and continued until the middle of the next night,... Candles were lighted up in houses; ... the birds having sung their evening songs, disappeared, and became silent;... the fowls retired to roost; ... the cocks were crowing all around, as at the break of day; ... objects could not be distinguished but at a very little distance; and everything bore the appearance and gloom of night." -Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences [through 1783], vol.1 pp. 234,235.) Samuel Williams was born April 23, 1743, in Waltham, Mass., to the Rev. Warham Williams and his wife, Abigail Leonard. He graduated from Harvard in 1761 •

Additional witness… ... If every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable shades, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete. A sheet of white paper held within a few inches of the eyes was equally invisible with the blackest velvet." -SAMUEL TENNEY, Letter (1785) in Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, part 1, vol.1 (1792 ed.), pp.97,98.

Samuel Tenney was a member of Congress (1800-1807). (November 27, 1748 – February 6, 1816) was a United States Representative from New Hampshire. Born in Byfield, Massachusetts, he attended Governor Dummer Academy and graduated from Harvard College in 1772. He taught school at Andover and studied medicine, beginning practice in Exeter, New Hampshire. He was a surgeon in the Revolutionary War. •

Another eyewitness account… Timothy Dwight, president of Yale, remembered that "a very general opinion prevailed, that the day of judgment was at hand. The [Connecticut] House of Representatives, being unable to transact business, adjourned," but the Council lighted candles, preferring, as a member said, "to be found at work if the judgment were approaching." (See JOHN W. BARBER, Connecticut Historical Collections [2d ed., 1836], p.403).

Timothy Dwight V (November 16, 1828 – May 26, 1916) was an American academic, educator, Congregational minister, and President of Yale University (1886–1898).[1] During his years as the school's president, Yale's schools first organized as a university. His grandfather was Timothy Dwight IV, who served as President of Yale College ninety years before his grandson's tenure.

Matthew 24:29 " and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"

Is this backed up with other scriptures? Let’s investigate?

Joel 2:31 "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the LORD come." •

The Apostle Peter quotes Joel in the book of Acts.

Act 2:19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

Act 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:

The moon was at it's full, and had the appearance of blood. Stone's History of Massachusetts "There was an appearance of midnight at noonday," and in the evening, although the moon was just past full, "perhaps it was never darker since the children of Israel left the house of bondage." In connection with this extraordinary phenomenon the moon was reported to appear red. (Letter signed "Viator" in the Independent Chronical [Boston], May 25, 1780, p.2; see also the Pennsylvania Evening Post [Philadelphia], June 6, 1780, p. 62) •

Same Dr. Samuel Tenney from that very same generation -Letter by Dr. Samuel Tenney, of Exeter, New Hampshire, December, 1785 (in Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, 1792, lst series, vol. 1, p. 97). Though at nine o'clock that night the moon rose to the full, "it had not the least effect to dispel the deathlike shadows." After midnight the darkness disappeared, and the moon, when first visible, had the appearance of blood. May 19, 1780, stands in history as "The Dark Day” Matthew 24:29 " and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:"

“Stars Shall Fall From Heaven” Frederick Douglas, in reminiscing about his early days of slavery, says: "I witnessed this gorgeous spectacle, and was awe-struck. The air seemed filled with bright messengers from the sky... I was not without the suggestion at the moment that it might be the harbinger of the coming of the Son of Man; and in my then state of mind I was prepared to hail Him as my friend and deliverer. I had read that "the stars shall fall from heaven, and they were now falling." -Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1941 ed.), p.117. •

More eyewitness accounts… "From the Gulf of Mexico to Halifax, until daylight with some difficulty put an end to the display, the sky was scored in every direction with shining tracks and illuminated with majestic fireballs. At Boston, the frequency of meteors was estimated to be about half that of flakes of snow in an average snowstorm... Traced backwards, their paths were invariably found to converge to a point in the constellation Leo." -AGNES M. CLEREKE, A Popular History of Astronomy (1885 ed.), pp. 369, 370. •

Denison Olmsted shares his views… "The morning of November 13th, 1833," says an eyewitness, a Yale astronomer, "was rendered memorable by an exhibition of the phenomenon called shooting stars, which was probably more extensive and magnificent than any similar one hitherto recorded... Probably no celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country since its first settlement, which was viewed with so much admiration and delight by one class of spectators, or with so much astonishment and fear by another class." -DENISON OLMSTED in The American Journal of Science and Arts, vol. 25 (1834), pp. 363, 364 •

Added accounts… An eyewitness reported "This language of the prophet has always been received as metaphorical. Yesterday it was literally fulfilled,... as no man before yesterday had conceived to be possible that it should be fulfilled... Were I to hunt through nature for a simile, I could not find one so apt to illustrate the appearance of the heavens as that which St. John uses in the prophecy... They were what the world understands by the name of "Falling Stars" -Eyewitness account in the New York Journal of Commerce, vol.8, no.534, Saturday, Nov 16,1833 Edition. •

Now important to what we just learned there is an additional sign. Turning forward the pages to Revelation 6:12 we will be astonished to the accuracy of this time prophecy. Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; Rev 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Lisbon Earthquake and Tsunami, 1755 “there was a great earthquake;” "The Lisbon Earthquake, which occurred on November 1, 1755, is the most notable earthquake in history.“-Nelson's New Loose-leaf Encyclopedia (Book Productions Industries Inc.), art. "Earthquake." •

Recorded evidence… Says Sir Charles Lyell, "A violent shock threw down the greater part of the city. In the course of about six minutes, 60,000 persons perished. The sea first retired and laid the bar dry; it then rolled in, rising 50 feet or more above its ordinary level... The area over which this convulsion extended is very remarkable." -Principles of Geology (11th ed., 1872), vol. 2, pp. 147, 148. •

Encyclopedia Britannica of the 1945 edition reminds us of this… Encyclopedia Britannica (1945) estimates the deaths at a lower figure, but says the effects of the quake were felt from Scotland to Asia Minor and the distinctive feature of the Lisbon Earthquake was the agitation of inland lakes and streams far beyond the disturbed area -For instance, Italy, Switzerland, Great Britain, Sweden, and Norway felt the effects. (Articles "Lisbon" and "Earthquakes".) •

Listen to what one of the greatest selling book in history pens down for us… These signs were witnessed before the opening of the present century. In fulfillment of this prophecy there occurred, in the year 1755, the most terrible earthquake that has ever been recorded. Though commonly known as the earthquake of Lisbon, it extended to the greater part of Europe, Africa, and America. It was felt in Greenland, in the West Indies, in the island of Madeira, in Norway and Sweden, Great Britain and Ireland.

It pervaded an extent of not less than four million square miles. In Africa the shock was almost as severe as in Europe. A great part of Algiers was destroyed; and a short distance from Morocco, a village containing eight or ten thousand inhabitants was swallowed up. A vast wave swept over the coast of Spain and Africa, engulfing cities, and causing great destruction. {GC88 304.2} •

Bear in mind, the scripture doesn’t say that there will be an earthquake, BUT a GREAT Earthquake! Take Notice: Revelation 6 lays out the signs in the very order in which these occurred: 1. Earthquake (1755) 2. Sun (1780) 3. Moon (1780) 4. Stars (1833) The signs in the heavens were the sign for GOD’S people being delivered from the papal persecution of the Dark Ages, Middle Ages, and the Spanish Inquisition. Those signs were the sign that it has come to an end, or we have reached the “Time of the End 1798” •

Under the Sixth (6) seal of Revelation 6, John under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit penned down for us these four astonishing phenomena’s of nature than mankind would be an eyewitness too in exact chronological order, as the Spirit gave utterance. "There was a great earth¬quake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; and the stars of heaven fell." Rev. 6:12, 13 •

The generation concerning that time period did not pass. When the sixth seal was opened GOD supplied to us a bookmark, and that was the first phenomenon of the Lisbon earthquake on November 1st, 1755, and the latter would be the stars falling from heaven of November 13, 1833. Now sandwiched between those events were the dual co-natured marveled events of May 19, 1780. •

For those of you that understand the exactness of bible prophecy may not be so surprised, as to how GOD operates, but for those of you that are new to being a bible student you should be jumping off your seats, and astonished. Prophecy itself is a divine prognostication, which declares events that will come to pass in the future.

Isa 46:9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Isa 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

Please take note that this is just the beginning of what is to come because the Latter part and real fulfillment of Matthew 24 is yet future, and we will look into this into our next presentation. What I mean is that this Prophecy of Matthew 24 is a two-fold event. It’s a dual application, but not a dual fulfillment. Hope we understand that. There are different types of prophecies, Messianic, Judean, apocalyptic, conditional, time, dual application.

This specific prophecy brings us down to the “time of the end”. This is where the Beast receives a deadly wound, and GOD in His mercy intervenes if not no flesh would be saved. The next presentation will bring us to the “End of Time.”

GOD Bless! Brother Ali.

Biblical Teaching On Hush Money. Sabbath Afternoon 07/25/2020

Exodus 23:7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked. 8 And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blinds the wise, and perverts the words of the righteous.

The blinding of the wise in the above passage has to do with the distortion of one’s better judgement on account of bribes, favors or hush money. The words of such become perverted with falsehoods in order to conceal from public view, that which would be a cause for great concern, if and when discovered.

According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary Hush- Money represents money paid so that someone will keep information secret, money that a person pays someone to hush something up. The Bible drills much down deeper, and it classifies every type of bribe, in whatsoever form it takes as falsehood, and sin. Therefore, the term hush-money covers a very wide swath of forbidden activities by which justice is perverted to favor those who put up to shut up.

We are not to get technical with God in interpreting what He has forbidden, because He is A Spirit, and views any deviation from the path of strict integrity as sin. Those petty nuances that lawyers, professors and some theologians often fret about in court will not fly by God, because He brings to bear upon such cases of fraud, the intentions as well as the actions.

As it pertains to the issue of hush money, these can range from promotions to higher office, to special unwarranted favors, from personal discounts to the purchase of airline tickets for culprits in question, from low interest rates, to reduced sentences, from special passes to games, to raw cash, from access to powerful individuals to unlawful admission into universities of higher learning.

Hush-money is also used in certain cases to have traffic citations cancelled or revoked, to get special permits that would otherwise be off limits, and to procure loans from banks that lend to customers with unusually shady credit history. All of the above clandestine activities are huddled together as one, under the term hush-money, as far as the laws of God are concerned.

That’s why in the first passage of scripture we read, God outlined the principles at stake, and cautioned persons in positions of authority not to abuse their offices, nor manipulate the system to favor those who would be willing to pay for illegal favors. But the problem would be bad enough if it stopped at the mundane circumstances of life, but sadly, it also affects seers and preachers too, who at times may receive hush-money to speak falsehoods and suppress the truth.

This last item on the menu is of particular concern, for it results in the multitudes of people being lulled into a false sense of security while standing on the brink of destruction. Therefore, in whatever shape or form hush money occurs, it is strictly forbidden by God under any and every pretext. Let’s read:

Micah 3:9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. 10 They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. 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.

The prophet Isaiah issues the very same warning concerning our present day, in which corruption and hush money of all sorts would be proliferating, for there is nothing new under the sun, except that in our day the problem is scheduled to become so blatant and glaring that it draws from Isaiah, the most scathing rebuke. Let’s read: Isaiah 59:8

The way of peace they know not; and there is 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 doth 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. 1

11 We roar like bears and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. 12 For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; 13 In transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood.

14 And judgment is turned away backward, and 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.

Case in point on the matter of perverting judgment for personal gain, was the prophet Balaam who was offered a very wide range of favors, promotions and cold cash to curse Israel while the nation slept. Even though He was directly forbidden by God to do so, he pressed ahead with the diabolical plan, driven to exasperation by those lucrative offers on the table.

Balak, king of the Moabites understood quite well how bribes can pervert even the minds of those who claim to be followers of God, and thus he had determined that whatever it would take, he would entice Balaam to sacrifice principle for mammon, and the rest is history. In our day it is called “Pay to Play.

Thus, as Balaam ran into roadblock after roadblock, the briberies were increased in quantity and value, until the king of Moab pulled out all the stops, and made Balaam to understand that whatsoever he would ask, he would be granted in return for his illegal services. Thus, he was paid money to quiet his own conscience. Let’s read:

Numbers 22:4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian, Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me:

6 Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. 7 And the elders of Moab and the 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.

14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 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.

18 And Balaam answered and said unto the servants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.

The first passage that was read describes how hush-money or bribes can pervert one’s understanding. In the case of Balaam, the offers made by the king of Moab literally drove him to insanity, to the point where he would have a conversation with his own donkey, and yet be totally blinded as to what was taking place.

That is very similar to what is currently taking place in high and low places for there are several donkeys screaming at the top of their lungs for Balaam to do the right thing but the prospect of promotion, and wealth, favors and status have blinded and greatly perverted the understanding.

Hush-money knows no bounds, because it was also employed to entice Judas to repress the truth and countenance evil. Judas was convinced in his heart that Jesus was The Son of God, but having set his heart on the material world, he also fell victim to bribery. Thus, like Balaam he was given hush-money to capture Christ in gethsemane.

The love of money is the root of all evils, and if as Christians we do not gain the victory over the love of it, what took place with Balaam and Judas will be repeated in our own experience, for basically, that is what the mark of the beast will boil down to. If we decide that we cannot live without the wealth and material comforts of life, we would be bribed, promoted, or even paid hush money in some form or another, to accept the mark of the beast.

That’s the reason why we have repeatedly warned of the dangers of getting deep into debt, for it will become a snare when satanic agencies would offer to cancel it in return for a “favor” that’s mentioned in Revelation 13, of which we would elaborate on later.

The priests, and rulers of Christ’s day hated Him because of the truth and purity which emanated from Him, and they would stop at nothing in their efforts to suppress truth. Thus, they employed even the judiciary of their day to accomplish their works of darkness, and Christ was slain in the process. Let’s read:

John 11:47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles. 49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.

When the judiciary of any nation becomes riddled with briberies, hush-money, and the perverting of justice, it then becomes very difficult for trust to be baked into the populace, because there will always be suspicion of pay to play in every decision that is made. Thus, strife, injustice, suspicion, skepticism, and evil surmising with doubt would rule the day, while the national trust in established institutions would be severely eroded.

The breakdown of society will be inevitable, if corruption and perversion of justice is continually countenanced. Judas succumbed to bribery, and then was driven to sell our Creator and our Redeemer for a mere thirty pieces of silver. That is what hush-money in all of its various forms, can and will do to any community, or nation when it is left unbridled to run riot. Let’s read:

Matthew 26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty and kill him. 14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, 15 And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Then again, we have the issue of hush-money in the form of political favors, when Jezebel sought to get Naboth’s vineyard by fraud. After Naboth refused to sell his property to king Ahab, Jezebel took the lead and sent to local government officials, requesting a favor in the form of Naboth’s death.

This was done with the obvious expectation that if they complied, they would retain great favors from the king and queen, and before you know it, Naboth was stoned to death. Thus, innocent persons have lost their lives on numerous occasions as a result of hush money in one form or another. Let’s read:

1st Kings 21:1 And it came to pass after these things, that Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard, which was in Jezreel, hard by the palace of Ahab king of Samaria. 2 And Ahab spake unto Naboth, saying, Give me thy vineyard, that I may have it for a garden of herbs, because it is near unto my house: and I will give thee for it a better vineyard than it; or, if it seem good to thee, I will give thee the worth of it in money.

3 And Naboth said to Ahab, The Lord forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. 4 And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

5 But Jezebel his wife came to him, and said unto him, Why is thy spirit so sad, that thou eatest no bread? 6 And he said unto her, Because I spake unto Naboth the Jezreelite, and said unto him, Give me thy vineyard for money; or else, if it please thee, I will give thee another vineyard for it: and he answered, I will not give thee my vineyard.

7 And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, and eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite. 8 So she wrote letters in Ahab's name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with Naboth. 9 And she wrote in the letters, saying, Proclaim a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people:

10 And set two men, sons of Belial, before him, to bear witness against him, saying, Thou didst blaspheme God and the king. And then carry him out, and stone him, that he may die. 11 And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them. 12 They proclaimed a fast, and set Naboth on high among the people.

13 And there came in two men, children of Belial, and sat before him: and the men of Belial witnessed against him, even against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, Naboth did blaspheme God and the king. Then they carried him forth out of the city, and stoned him with stones, that he died. 14 Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, Naboth is stoned, and is dead.

15 And it came to pass, when Jezebel heard that Naboth was stoned, and was dead, that Jezebel said to Ahab, Arise, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give thee for money: for Naboth is not alive, but dead. 16 And it came to pass, when Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, that Ahab rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.

17 And the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 18 Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, which is in Samaria: behold, he is in the vineyard of Naboth, whither he is gone down to possess it. 19 And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the Lord, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus, saith the Lord, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.

But the epitome of hush-money occurred after the death and burial of Christ, when the roman soldiers were commissioned to guard the tomb where Christ lay. They had witnessed first-hand, the resurrection of Christ at the voice of the archangel and then they hastened on their way to alert relevant authorities of what had taken place.

But after they delivered the startling news, those in authority reached for hush money to suppress the truth, and the soldiers, like Judas accepted the bribe and spread a false narrative concerning the event of Christ’s resurrection, which has permanently turned the tide of evidence against Jesus, even to this day, in the minds of millions of Jews. Let’s read:

Matthew 26:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 27:1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. 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. 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,

13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come 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”.

“Until this day” is a pretty interesting phrase, for it pertains to our time currently, in the here and now. Because of that sum of hush money paid to the soldiers to keep quiet, and distort the truth that pertains to Christ’s resurrection, many of the Jewish people have rejected Jesus as The Christ. As it stands today, millions of Jews the world over are expecting Messiah to appear at some time in Jerusalem.

That’s why the never-ending fights and wars between the Jews and Palestinians over that piece of real estate. And it does not stop there, for there are also prominent nations that have followed those roman soldiers down the rabbit hole too. Very many Christians in our day are also expecting Christ to show up in Jerusalem, hence the frantic efforts to protect that portion of Palestine so that the cherished prophecy might be fulfilled.

But there is great disappointment coming to millions of folks who have adopted those views. In short, Christ would not be returning to any part of Jerusalem when He comes the second time. So it is not necessary to spend billions of dollars building any embassy there because Jesus Christ will not be doing Jerusalem in any way shape or form, when He returns to claim His own.

In fact, any personage who appears in that region in the future claiming to be Christ, would be any other but Christ. This last statement is rigidly set in stone, according to the scriptures, so that both Jews, and Christians may avoid having their cherished hopes dashed to pieces in the near future. 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. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

But let’s go back to the future for a moment, for the issue of hush money is to play an important role in the implementing of the mark of the beast when it takes center stage. As was stated before, those who can avoid being riddled with debt should do so, and those who are currently riddled with debt should seek to solve their riddle by getting out of debt.

God doesn’t want His people to be enslaved to debt wherever it can be avoided, for it often places folks at a disadvantage when important negotiations are to be made. When the mark of the beast begins to spread its tentacles across the face of the earth, the same hush-money principle in its various forms will be employed as leverage against those who are in debt.

Christ was offered hush money in the wilderness, so that He would turn from His mission to save us. In exchange for bowing down, all the kingdoms of this world were held out as an inducement for Jesus to pay to play. Therefore, to put it bluntly, if satan has to pay you for worship, he absolutely would, for he has no problem whatsoever with that! Let’s read:

Matthew 4: 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil left him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

Therefore, because there is nothing new under the sun, we must expect the same old same old, tactics, and methods to be employed in the near future, as the issue of worship takes preeminence. Revelation 13 & 14 both center around worship, and the beast system will seek to first entice, then force all of the inhabitants of earth to drink the deadly “Kool Aid”.

In seeking to accomplish this, incentives, and hush money of various sorts will be used, and those folks who would be found at a disadvantage will become most vulnerable to the solicitations of our diabolical foe. This also is written in stone and it will certainly come to pass, according to history and prophecy. Let’s read:

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.

16 And he causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. 18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

[The Great Controversy pp 607] As the movement for Sunday enforcement becomes more bold, and decided the law will be invoked against commandment-keepers. They will be threatened with fines and imprisonment, and some will be offered positions of influence and other rewards and advantages as inducements to renounce their faith.

Let all of us then live soberly and righteously in this generation, avoiding as much as possible the varied snares, and pitfalls that are being laid for the feet of the unwary. Let us avoid the snare of hush money in its varied forms, for as the Bible teaches, God is A God of truth, and without iniquity, just and right is He. We will therefore close with a passage of scripture which should help us to live in readiness. Let’s read:

Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

God Bless!