Ultimate Deliverance

What is it that is the most dangerous thing that we have to deal with in this world, that we are most to fear?

A nominal (in name only) Christian.

We urge you to consider this danger: That which we have most to fear is nominal Christianity. We have many who profess the truth who will be overcome because they are not acquainted with the Lord Jesus Christ. 3SM 399.3

They profess that they know God; but in works they deny Him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. Titus 1:16

Whose works?

Their own; for the glory of self. 

Whose decisions?

Whose Biblical and prophetic interpretations?

One of these is Satan’s most valuable prize. He can achieve everything that he needs to do, through them.

They will not heed the appeals or the counsel of “The Faithful and True Witness” (and buy His remedies for their condition), the “Spirit of Prophecy”, or us, as we all have discovered.

We, like God, have to just “let them go for it!”

“If it is not willing, it is worthless”

But, they “can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth”.

Everything that they do will only prove the truth even more. 

The truth will always be the truth.

In contrast one soul, who believes the truth, who abides in Christ, and, more importantly, He abides in their heart is  -

“More than a match for the whole hosts of darkness”

“Greater than all nations combined”

“Better able to provide protection for any earthly ruler, than their entire security forces”

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 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.”

“This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Whose faith? 

“The faith of Jesus” - the 3AM

"The third angel's message is the proclamation of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. The commandments of God have been proclaimed, but the faith of Jesus Christ has not been proclaimed by Seventh-day Adventists as of equal importance, the law and the gospel going hand in hand. I cannot find language to express this subject in its fullness. 

"The faith of Jesus." It is talked of, but not understood. What constitutes the faith of Jesus, that belongs, to the third angel's message? Jesus becoming our sin-bearer that He might become our sin-pardoning Saviour. He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins that we might take His righteousness. Faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus."

"We are the Lord’s denominated people, to proclaim the truths of heavenly origin. The most solemn, sacred work ever given to mortals is the proclamation of the first, second, and third angel’s messages to our world." Lt 146, 1909 

How are we to proclaim it?

“By His perfect obedience He has made it possible for every human being to obey God's commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.”

Whose thoughts, words, works, directions where to go?

Every one of them is from the LORD. They are His.

“We have far more to fear from within than from without.”

When these “dangerous”, “devilish” “nominal” ones can no longer keep up the pretence, for the power of Christ’s life will be seen so clearly in the faithful few, the remnant, they will be even more dangerous - they have hated us and the truth all along, but they will be furious and will be the ones who will turn us in to the worldly, national authorities - then “Satan has entire control of the finally impenitent.” See GC Ch 39,40.

Just like we have lived victoriously every moment, so we will live during these “closing scenes” and through to “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. Daniel 12:1

Titus 2:6-8

Young men likewise exhort to be 

sober minded. 

In all things shewing thyself 

a pattern of good works:

in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, 

gravity, 

sincerity, 

Sound speech, that cannot be condemned.

God and Man

Today’s post was written especially for aboveveryname by a lovely seven year old girl, who is a Present Truth believer, and who along with her family, enjoy fellowship with Absolute Certainty. 

There are lots of differences between God and man. 

One of them is that God is holy and man is not. Although people like Pharisees claim that they are holy, they are not. 

Another difference is that man lives a worldly life and God lives a heavenly life.

Next, thinking back to the Bible times, God parted the Red Sea, probably most of the people thought that Moses did it, but, it was not Moses, it was God, the Almighty God.

Again, in the Bible times, when you think back to the story of Paul, the people of Lystra thought that he was a god because he had healed a crippled man, but it was not done with Paul's power, but with God's power.

And of course, there are more differences than that, but the point is that there are differences between God and man. 

The Spirit of God is more powerful than man. And when Jesus comes, Satan will be defeated and the Christians will rise up out of the grave. 

God and man will then be together forever. 

All To Help Us

When Moses made the earthly copy of the heavenly temple, he filled it with angels. Figures of cherubim were embroidered in the gorgeous curtain which formed the ceiling, in the veil at the entrance to the sanctuary, and in the second veil. Above the mercy seat two golden angels stood with bowed heads. Wherever the priest ministered, angels surrounded him. 

When John saw the temple above, he “heard the voice of many angels round about the throne” (Revelation 5:11). As Daniel beheld the judgement in session he observed angel ministers in attendance, “ten thousand times ten thousand” (Daniel 7:10). References in Hebrews 12:22 and 1:14 describe them as “an innumerable company of angels” and “ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation.” The expressions “for them” and “for us” recur frequently in Hebrews (see 6:20; 7:25; 9:12, 24; 10:20). 

The love of the Father, the gift of the Son, and the ministry of the Spirit—all are working in our behalf. The Saviour’s incarnation, His sacrifice on the cross, and His mediatorial work in the heavenly sanctuary—all are in our behalf. Now we see that God’s host of angels are all working in our behalf too. These messengers form the channel of communication between heaven and earth. You remember the dream at Bethel in which Jacob saw the mystic ladder with the angels of God ascending and descending. The ladder represented Jesus, who links heaven and earth together, and under His direction the angels work constantly to bring us blessings from the upper world. 

At the head of His army of angels God has placed two special leaders who stand at either side of His throne. In the ancient sanctuary the golden cherubim above the mercy seat represented them. Gabriel is on the right hand, filling the position from which Lucifer fell. Christ calls him His angel (see Revelation 1:1; Desire of Ages, p. 99). As a token of His special love, He appoints Gabriel to bring the messages to His people. “I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches” (Revelation 22:16). If the Saviour were to appear personally on earth as He did two thousand years ago, we would treasure His every word. The Scriptures insist that the message Gabriel brings is “the testimony of Jesus.” 

The same process is also called “the spirit of prophecy,” because the angel appears to the prophet in vision and the prophet writes out the message for the church. Note each link in the wonderful chain of communication: “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw” (Revelation 1:1, 2).

 

As John beheld the glorious vision he fell at Gabriel’s feet. But the angel reminded him that he and John were fellow servants in communicating the “testimony of Jesus,” which “is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10). Gabriel had served with the former prophets, and now he had brought to John a message for the church (see Revelation 22:8, 9). 

“When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men” (Ephesians 4:8). Enthroned as Priest and King in the temple above, Jesus poured upon the early church the gift of the Holy Spirit, through whose guidance the New Testament was written. The same angel that had brought messages to Isaiah and Daniel now appeared to Peter, Paul, and John with messages direct from Jesus. So the New Testament as well as the Old is the Word of God, the testimony of Jesus, the spirit of prophecy.

 

Both the Old and New Testaments promise the special manifestation of the gift of prophecy in the last days (see Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17, 18; Revelation 12:17; 19:10). God sent the manifestation of the spirit of prophecy in the great Advent movement to make ready a people prepared for the Lord—a people who can stand without an intercessor after the sanctuary closes. 

James White presents this clearly in the old book Life Sketches of James and Ellen White (1888 edition), pages 430, 431: “ ‘He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be’ (Revelation 22:11, 12).

 

“This proves that probation will close, that every case will be decided and fixed, before the Lord comes to give rewards. And so it surely must be, for as his priesthood is entirely on the throne of his Father, it must close before his coming in his kingdom. But no one could be saved if the advocacy of Christ were closed before the Judgment were decided in favour of the saints. 

“And what a thought! Probation closed; the priestly work of Christ forever ended; and the time of trouble to be passed through! The mass of the people think that if a person is prepared to die, he is prepared for the coming of the Lord. But they do not consider the difference between dying, and standing alive to meet the Lord at his appearing. It is one thing to die in Christ, to yield our spirits to him while he is pleading for us before his Father’s throne, and quite a different thing to stand in the time of trouble, after Jesus has ceased to plead in man’s behalf; after his priesthood is closed, and he is preparing to come to redeem his own, and to take vengeance on his foes. 

“They who now realize these things will bless Heaven that means has been devised in the mercy of God for the perfecting of the saints, and that we are not left without direct help from on high to carry on such a work as that which lies before us.” 

Now I’d like to discuss the relation of this gift to the Bible and to the Ten Commandments. In earlier chapters we studied God’s new covenant promise to write His law in our minds and in our hearts, for the law contains the whole duty of man, everything that God requires. In the Old and New Testaments God has given us a pair of glasses which, properly focused, magnify the law so that we can understand God’s will in its broad applications to the problems of human life. 

Did you ever see someone reading a book, using not only a pair of glasses but also a reading glass? Why? His eyes needed special help. Similarly, in these last days when the result of six thousand years of sin has impaired our vision, Heaven has sent us special help—the writings of Ellen G. White. Her books magnify the Bible, which, in turn, magnifies the Ten Commandments. 

If someone says, “Why do I need the ‘spirit of prophecy’ when I have the Bible?” I would remind him that if everyone had fully kept the Ten Commandments, we wouldn’t need the detailed instruction in the Old and New Testaments. But if I were lost in a wilderness and someone should point out a guide who knew the way home, I don’t think I would say, “If I had only stayed on the path, I wouldn’t have needed the guide; so I will not listen to him now!” I need all the assistance I can get from Jesus at the mercy seat. He has sent special help because I need it. 

Very soon after His entrance into the most holy place, Jesus sent His angel to Portland, Maine, where He gave to young Ellen Harmon a vision of the remnant traveling the pathway of light from 1844 to the city of God. at message gave many of the early Adventists assurance and hope. In a later vision God revealed that she was to receive His messages and deliver them for the Master. The thought overwhelmed her. How could she, a frail girl of seventeen with limited education and poor health, undertake such a work? But Jesus assured her, “I will be with you.” 

In obedience to His command, she took up the pen and for seventy years wrote out the messages Gabriel brought from heaven. Those messages do not take the place of the Bible. Rather, they magnify God’s Word. Hence, those who know Ellen G. White’s books the best love the Bible the most, for in all these pages they hear Jesus speaking in words of love, reproof, instruction, and comfort. 

In our world where every wind of doctrine blows, all kinds of ideas abound regarding how to be saved. But in the writings of Ellen G. White we find broad, balanced counsels leading us away from a cold legalism on the one hand and from an extreme emphasis on faith without works on the other hand. Steps to Christ has helped millions understand and experience righteousness by faith. Indeed, all her inspired volumes shed rays of light on the practical problems of victorious living. 

Early Writings and The Great Controversy floodlight the work of Jesus in the heavenly sanctuary, particularly His closing ministry in the most holy place. Especially Early Writings, pages 250-261, and GC 409-435, 479-491, make these truths crystal clear. The angel who comes from the most holy place directs us to the most holy place.

 

Another of the great blessings that have come through this gift is health reform. Many of the concepts revealed over a century ago have now been confirmed by scientific research. Outstanding men and women in the world around us have marvelled as they have read such books as The Ministry of Healing and Counsels on Diet and Foods. Recent studies indicate that Seventh-day Adventists in general enjoy better health and longer life than those who do not know and follow these counsels. 

Truly we are a rich people if this gift is “confirmed” in us—if we are assured of its authority and delight in following its counsels. We should avail ourselves of the help Jesus has provided through special messages of love to His remnant church. Thus, we shall “come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7). R&R WDF

Names of Christ - Desire of All Nations

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; 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. Haggai 2:6,7

See DA in EGW Writings App

Conditions To Our Asking - 2

There are conditions to the fulfillment of God's promises, and prayer can never take the place of duty. “If ye love Me,” Christ says, “keep My commandments.” “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me; and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.” John 14:15, 21. Those who bring their petitions to God, claiming His promise while they do not comply with the conditions, insult Jehovah. They bring the name of Christ as their authority for the fulfillment of the promise, but they do not those things that would show faith in Christ and love for Him.

Many are forfeiting the condition of acceptance with the Father. We need to examine closely the deed of trust wherewith we approach God. If we are disobedient, we bring to the Lord a note to be cashed when we have not fulfilled the conditions that would make it payable to us. We present to God His promises, and ask Him to fulfill them, when by so doing He would dishonor His own name.

The promise is “If ye abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” John 15:7. And John declares: “Hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.” 1 John 2:3-5.

One of Christ's last commands to His disciples was “Love one another as I have loved you.” John 13:34. Do we obey this command, or are we indulging sharp, unchristlike traits of character? If we have in any way grieved or wounded others, it is our duty to confess our fault and seek for reconciliation. This is an essential preparation that we may come before God in faith, to ask His blessing. COL 143,144

Present Crisis: Progressive Sunday Law

A great crisis awaits the people of God. A great crisis awaits the world. The most momentous struggle of all the ages is before us. Events which for more than half a century we have, upon the authority of the prophetic Word, declared to be impending, are now taking place before our eyes. An amendment to the Constitution restricting liberty of conscience, has long been urged upon the legislators of the nation; and the question of enforcing Sunday observance has become one of national importance. Are we ready for the issue involved in the Sunday movement? 

Many who are working for Sunday enforcement have never understood the claims of the Bible Sabbath, and the false foundation on which the Sunday institution rests. And they are blinded to the results of Sunday legislation.They do not see that it would be a blow against religious liberty. But any movement in favor of religious legislation is really an act of concession to the Papacy, which for so many ages has steadily warred against liberty of conscience. Sunday owes its existence as a so-called Christian institution to the “mystery of iniquity;” and its enforcement will be a virtual recognition of the principles which are the very cornerstone of Romanism. When our nation shall so abjure the principles of its government as to enact a Sunday law, Protestantism will in this act join hands with the Papacy; it will be giving life to the tyranny which has long been eagerly watching its opportunity to spring again into active despotism. 

As this struggle progresses, it may appear to human sight that Satan is triumphant and that truth is overborne with falsehood and error. In the country which has been an asylum for the conscience-oppressed servants of God and defenders of His truth, religious freedom may be placed in jeopardy, and the people over whom God has spread His shield, may meet suffering and trial. But God would have us recall His dealings with His people in the past, to save them from their enemies, and trust in Him. He has always chosen extremities, when there seemed no possible hope for deliverance from Satan's workings, for the display of His power. Man's necessity is God's opportunity.  

While the Protestant world is making concessions to Rome, and danger is increasing on every hand, let us arouse to comprehend the situation, and to see the contest before us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen lift up the voice, and give with clearness the message which is present truth for this time. “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall pre- pare himself to the battle?” Let us show the people where we are in prophetic history, and seek to arouse the spirit of true Protestantism, awaking the world to a sense of the value of the religious liberty they have so long enjoyed. ST November 28, 1900 (5T 711-717)

Whereas I Was Blind, Now I See - 1

John 9:1-7

It was generally believed by the Jews that sin is punished in this life. Every affliction was regarded as the penalty of some wrongdoing, either of the sufferer himself or of his parents. It is true that all suffering results from the transgression of God's law, but this truth had become perverted. Satan, the author of sin and all its results, had led men to look upon disease and death as proceeding from God,—as punishment arbitrarily inflicted on account of sin. Hence one upon whom some great affliction or calamity had fallen had the additional burden of being regarded as a great sinner.

Thus the way was prepared for the Jews to reject Jesus. He who “hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows” was looked upon by the Jews as “stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted;” and they hid their faces from Him. Isaiah 53:4, 3.

God had given a lesson designed to prevent this. The history of Job had shown that suffering is inflicted by Satan, and is overruled by God for purposes of mercy. But Israel did not understand the lesson. The same error for which God had reproved the friends of Job was repeated by the Jews in their rejection of Christ. DA 471

To Help Open the Way

More and more, as time advances, our people will have to leave the cities. For years we have been instructed that our brethren and sisters, and especially families with children, should plan to leave the cities as the way opens before them to do so. Many will have to labor earnestly to help open the way. But until it is possible for them to leave, so long as they remain, they should be most active in doing missionary work, however limited their sphere of influence may be. CL 24

Cut It Off

“If thy right hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee.”—Matthew 5:30

To prevent disease from spreading to the body and destroying life, a man would submit to part even with his right hand. Much more should he be willing to surrender that which imperils the life of the soul. 

Through the gospel, souls that are degraded and enslaved by Satan are to be redeemed to share the glorious liberty of the sons of God. God's purpose is not merely to deliver from the suffering that is the inevitable result of sin, but to save from sin itself. The soul, corrupted and deformed, is to be purified, transformed, that it may be clothed in “the beauty of the Lord our God,” “conformed to the image of His Son.” “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.” Psalm 90:17; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 2:9. Eternity alone can reveal the glorious destiny to which man, restored to God's image, may attain.

 

In order for us to reach this high ideal, that which causes the soul to stumble must be sacrificed. It is through the will that sin retains its hold upon us. The surrender of the will is represented as plucking out the eye or cutting off the hand. Often it seems to us that to surrender the will to God is to consent to go through life maimed or crippled. But it is better, says Christ, for self to be maimed, wounded, crippled, if thus you may enter into life. That which you look upon as disaster is the door to highest benefit. 

God is the fountain of life, and we can have life only as we are in communion with Him. Separated from God, existence may be ours for a little time, but we do not possess life. “She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth.” 1 Timothy 5:6. Only through the surrender of our will to God is it possible for Him to impart life to us. Only by receiving His life through self-surrender is it possible, said Jesus, for these hidden sins, which I have pointed out, to be overcome. It is possible that you may bury them in your hearts and conceal them from human eyes, but how will you stand in God's presence? 

If you cling to self, refusing to yield your will to God, you are choosing death. To sin, wherever found, God is a consuming fire. If you choose sin, and refuse to separate from it, the presence of God, which consumes sin, must consume you.

 

It will require a sacrifice to give yourself to God; but it is a sacrifice of the lower for the higher, the earthly for the spiritual, the perishable for the eternal. God does not design that our will should be destroyed, for it is only through its exercise that we can accomplish what He would have us do. Our will is to be yielded to Him, that we may receive it again, purified and refined, and so linked in sympathy with the Divine that He can pour through us the tides of His love and power. However bitter and painful this surrender may appear to the willful, wayward heart, yet “it is profitable for thee.” 

Not until he fell crippled and helpless upon the breast of the covenant angel did Jacob know the victory of conquering faith and receive the title of a prince with God. It was when he “halted upon his thigh” (Genesis 32:31) that the armed bands of Esau were stilled before him, and the Pharaoh, proud heir of a kingly line, stooped to crave his blessing. So the Captain of our salvation was made “perfect through sufferings” (Hebrews 2:10), and the children of faith “out of weakness were made strong,” and “turned to flight the armies of the aliens” (Hebrews 11:34). 

MB 60-62

Hebrews 12:22-24

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 

Why Three Places?

In the Mosaic tabernacle, which prefigured Christ’s work for our salvation, the offering of the blood was central and vital. Every sacrifice, wherever offered and however ministered, pointed to the one offering of Calvary. Why then were there three places of ministration? For what reason was the blood sprinkled on the brazen altar in the court, on the golden altar in the holy place, and finally on the mercy seat beyond the inner veil?

 

Multitudes have a meagre view of the plan of salvation, its goals, and its methods of operation. Let me illustrate. Suppose a wealthy philanthropist conceives a plan to help people who have broken the law. One project he sets up is a large fund to pay for traffic violations. Anyone convicted in the courts can appeal to the agent of the fund, who will pay the fine. Notice that he does not set aside the law, but while recognising its authority, he provides a way to meet its penalty. 

Let’s watch the plan in operation. The state police stop a man driving ninety miles an hour and bring him into court. The judge lectures the offender and imposes a stiff fine. The speeder turns his ticket over to the agent of the philanthropic fund, the agent pays off, and the man goes free. As the “good news” gets out, more and more speeders gratefully avail themselves of the millionaire’s provision. This is about all that multitudes see at Calvary—Somebody has paid off, thus they don’t have to pay. They are “free from the law.” 

Back to our illustration. We visit the court again, and a state trooper brings in a traffic violator charged with driving one hundred miles an hour. The judge asks, “Aren’t you the man who was in here last week for doing ninety?” “Yes, Your Honor.” “I shall double your fine,” the judge says. Again the agent for the fund pays off, and more “good news” spreads. 

Now tell me, if the millionaire keeps paying for all the speeders who appeal to him, what is he doing to the law? Of course, making a mockery of it! If the judge continues to accept that program, is he not making the law of no effect? Someone might say, “The fines are all paid.” But the purpose of a penalty is to enforce the law so that people will stop breaking it. If Christ’s death were to pay for my sins so that I could keep sinning, then He would be an accomplice to my sin. If God as Judge would accept that, He would be annulling His own law. But neither Jesus nor His Father are in any such business. That is why the blood is sprinkled in three places. 

The slaying of the sacrifice took place in the court. Here the penalty was paid in full for everyone—those who lived before the cross and those who have lived afterward. Christ died for all men. Why? So everyone can have the opportunity to repent, receive forgiveness, and be saved. Sin is so heinous that men can’t even have the opportunity for salvation unless Jesus pays in full for their transgressions. 

But Justice cannot accept that offering unless Christ promises to do more than give them a second chance. And here we come to another part of the plan of salvation represented by the blood sprinkled in the holy place. Justice says that the blood cannot be applied to anyone’s debt unless and until he surrenders his sin. You notice that in the illustration the judge did not say to the generous millionaire, “Unless the accused is willing to quit his speeding, I will not accept your payment. Instead, I will put him in jail.” That is what he ought to say, isn’t it? That is what justice demands.
 

And that is what God requires, and He does so for the peace and order of the universe. Every time a speeder races down the highway he endangers the lives of hundreds of people. His example teaches disrespect of law, leading others to break it. The law must be upheld. us, Justice has something to say before the atoning blood can be applied to the sinner’s record in the books of heaven. Justice asks, “Has this sinner repented? Is he sorry for the sins that he has acknowledged, sorry enough to give them up?” If so, Justice concurs with Mercy, and the blood is sprinkled in the holy place to cover the sins. 

“Praise the Lord,” the penitent exclaims, “I am free! The Sinless One has taken my place and suffered my death. He has removed my transgressions to the temple above, and there He intercedes for me.”

 

But why is it necessary to sprinkle the blood in the most holy place? Justice demands that the final forgiveness of sin must wait until the man who has begun to quit sin is completely finished with it. Someone may say, “I don’t like to be on probation. I want everything settled forever right now!” Everything is settled as long as you stay under Jesus. But what will happen to sins that have been transferred to the sanctuary through the blood of forgiveness in cases where people don’t continue with Christ until their transgressions are blotted out? All their sins will return upon them. 

Some people dislike this doctrine. They say that since Jesus died on the cross for everybody, everybody is saved and merely needs to hear the good news. “Come to the altar and confess Christ, believe that He died for you, and it is all settled—settled for eternity,” they insist. “Now of course it would show your appreciation of His love if you would keep His precepts, but that has nothing to do with your salvation. You have been saved. And once saved, always saved. You can know you have eternal life right now and cannot lose it, because Jesus died in your place.” 

However, the sprinkled blood on the mercy seat tells us that no man’s sins are finally pardoned and blotted out until they are out of his life. Somebody says, “That looks hard!” But think it through. Which sins would you like to have Christ overlook and take to heaven? 

Would you want a person smoking under the tree of life? How about allowing someone to get drunk every Saturday night? Unthinkable, isn’t it—people staggering down the golden streets? “Oh,” you say, “nothing like that will ever happen!” Tell me, then, when are people going to quit smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol—on the trip to heaven? 

We expect people to quit some things down here in this world. Can a robber be saved? Yes. The thief on the cross was saved. He quit stealing, didn’t he? True, his experience didn’t last very long, but it lasted all the rest of his life! For (don’t miss this) sin is not so much an act as an attitude of rebellion. Our rebellion must be cured before Christ can blot out the record of our transgressions in heaven’s books. 

A person may avoid some outward sins because he doesn’t want to suffer the consequences or because he desires others to think well of him. But all that doesn’t give him a place in heaven. The selfish heart will always find something to rebel about. So the Scriptures say that to offend in one point is to be guilty of all. He who wilfully transgresses one commandment shows he would break all ten if he wanted to. His attitude is rebellion. 

Someone asks, “What about it when I fail again and again?” That is why the blood has not been sprinkled yet in the most holy place. With all my faults and failures I can come again and again and ask God to forgive me, and He will sprinkle His blood to cover me. But someday He will sprinkle the blood on the mercy seat, and the sanctuary will close. He does not intend this to scare me into obedience. Jesus will wait till the last one has come with his burden of sin. Don’t think He will get impatient and say, “I have waited long enough.” The fact that He has tarried so long shows that He would wait forever if it would do any good. 

The reason that He finally makes the atonement on the mercy seat, blots out the sins of His people, and puts the sins that haven’t been overcome back on those who continue with them is that the righteous have reached the point where they will remain righteous forever. But he who is filthy has reached the point where he will continue filthy still. Because the saints have parted with their sins forever and the sinners have no desire for cleansing, probation closes. Then comes the period of demonstration, the great time of trouble. God’s children reveal the power of His grace by loyally obeying even to the point of threatened death. The wicked exhibit their rebellion, finally attempting to murder every saint. Then the whole universe will say, “Enough!” Christ will come to destroy the impenitent and take His people home. R&R WDF

Names of Christ - Creator

For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. Colossians 1:16,17

 
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 14:7

In the night season my mind often dwells upon the work of infinite sacrifice revealed in the humiliation and death of Christ. The Creator of man, He who upon Mount Sinai proclaimed the eternal law; in his dying agony vindicated His right to pardon transgression and sin. RH August 26, 1909

Conditions To Our Asking - 1

Christ's lessons in regard to prayer should be carefully considered. There is a divine science in prayer, and His illustration brings to view principles that all need to understand. He shows what is the true spirit of prayer, He teaches the necessity of perseverance in presenting our requests to God, and assures us of His willingness to hear and answer prayer.

Our prayers are not to be a selfish asking, merely for our own benefit. We are to ask that we may give. The principle of Christ's life must be the principle of our lives. “For their sakes,” He said, speaking of His disciples, “I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified.” John 17:19. The same devotion, the same self-sacrifice, the same subjection to the claims of the word of God, that were manifest in Christ, must be seen in His servants. Our mission to the world is not to serve or please ourselves; we are to glorify God by co-operating with Him to save sinners. We are to ask blessings from God that we may communicate to others. The capacity for receiving is preserved only by imparting. We cannot continue to receive heavenly treasure without communicating to those around us.

In the parable the petitioner was again and again repulsed, but he did not relinquish his purpose. So our prayers do not always seem to receive an immediate answer; but Christ teaches that we should not cease to pray. Prayer is not to work any change in God; it is to bring us into harmony with God. When we make request of Him, He may see that it is necessary for us to search our hearts and repent of sin. Therefore He takes us through test and trial, He brings us through humiliation, that we may see what hinders the working of His Holy Spirit through us. COL 142,143

Our Message, Our Mission

Every day of our lives we have all been surrounded by people in the world and in the church who are doing things that we have been counselled not to do. We are all now at a point where they are able to openly fulfil Scripture and can actually “call evil good, and good evil”, thinking nothing of it whatsoever.

It is clearly portrayed in the Inspired writings that we are to give the 3rd angel’s message which involves actually all 3 messages - the everlasting gospel, the judgement of this world by it’s Creator and the fall of Babylon - whilst actually living by “the faith of Jesus”.

So, we can all see that in this one point we have the solution for the entire world to escape the full, unmixed with mercy, wrath of God on a rebellious church and world.

How to do this; living every day, waiting on Christ to unfold each moment for us, in absolute dependence on Him for everything as He abides in our heart, just as He lived while on this earth, has been all explained clearly on this weblog. 

If it is true that this is our mission at this time, and it certainly is, according to God’s instruction, it can now be clearly seen what has gone so terribly wrong in the the church, Present truth and the world. Which is why our mission is so absolutely crucial at this time in history. An entire planet in rebellion against God and we His faithful must demonstrate perfectly the character of Christ to them.

Let us just take one example internally - prophecy:

We have all seen how this was presented to us, and yes, we do need to know that this is officially the time when the wrath of God will be poured out on the final despisers of His grace and mercy, but what about our mission and all of the responsibilities that go with it?

Where are those who are living by “the faith of Jesus” demonstrating His love?

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Charity never faileth…but the greatest of these is charity.

 
This is not just love, this is agape love - where the person who has it, is so serious about it, that they would rather lose eternal life themselves in order that their enemy/ies might be saved instead!

There maybe a simple explanation for this frustrating problem present everywhere - all anyone will have to do is to look at someone else and observe what they are doing and they can then see themselves “looking pretty good” compared to them; so then that opens up a whole new world for them; if they then do not like the way that someone tries to explain to them that what they are doing is wrong, or they totally avoid the Testimonies because they clearly show what their sins, faults, weaknesses are, or they find it easier to attack the person (or their character) who is trying to help and save them, then they can free themselves from all responsibility for their life, or so it seems, as they say - “Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things.” Isaiah 30:10 (See ”smooth things” in EGW Writings App search)

And as we see how he succeeds in disguising himself and accomplishing his work through the leaders of the church, we may better understand why he has so great antipathy to the Bible. If that Book is read, the mercy and love of God will be revealed; it will be seen that He lays upon men none of these heavy burdens. All that He asks is a broken and contrite heart, a humble, obedient spirit. GC 570.

As you know there is much admonition for us all in the Scriptures and the Spirit of Prophecy on this overall subject e.g. “How To Receive Reproof” 5T 682, but it is a whole lot easier for the sin-loving heart, mind, or world to simply avoid reading it and continue “comparing themselves among themselves”. God cannot use force and neither can we, “If it is not willing, it is worthless”. We have seen many come and go who have tried to force people to change to what they think that they should do or be doing, but even if the people did try and change like they are expecting them to, and getting very upset if people do not do it, using satanic force, coercion, intimidation and fear - Babel, Babylon and Papal, right throughout history to this very day, what would happen? It has been used in God’s church/denominated people also over the years in each of the eras involved. Well, it has been proven since Abel - they cannot do it; “with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. So, why do they keep doing it? 

We are so privileged to know a better way and how it will all end. Only by living by “the faith of Jesus” - the 3AM can this ever happen, which is why our mission is so important, there is no other way. There is no other way to understand prophecy, keep the commandments, live the Christian life, be a blessing to others or in fact to do anything whatsoever, but to have Christ living His perfect life out, in and through us as He dwells in our heart moment by moment. If some one was actually doing this do you honestly think that they would not be doing all that God requires of us all? They would not need any human to tell them what they have to be doing, especially when that human places these heavy burdens on us but does not “move them with one of their fingers” See - Matthew 23 the entire Chapter. But if we do live by “the faith of Jesus” all will be ours. This is our message and mission - the 3AM!

Repeating again -

All that He asks is a broken and contrite heart, a humble, obedient spirit. GC 570.

Regardless of what each individual decides - we can all be sure that there will be most certainly, a group of people; prepared, ready and waiting - watching all that is transpiring on this earth and who will do Christ’s bidding at every step of this treacherous path through the closing scenes of this world’s history. He is calling you this moment to be one of this most amazing group in history, so -

“Let us strive with all the power that God has given to among the 144,000”

The Light of Life - 5

Jesus continued, drawing a sharp contrast between the position of the Jews and that of Abraham: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day: and he saw it, and was glad.” 

Abraham had greatly desired to see the promised Saviour. He offered up the most earnest prayer that before his death he might behold the Messiah. And he saw Christ. A supernatural light was given him, and he acknowledged Christ's divine character. He saw His day, and was glad. He was given a view of the divine sacrifice for sin. Of this sacrifice he had an illustration in his own experience…This terrible ordeal was imposed upon Abraham that he might see the day of Christ, and realize the great love of God for the world, so great that to raise it from its degradation, He gave His only-begotten Son to a most shameful death…

Through his own suffering, Abraham was enabled to behold the Saviour's mission of sacrifice. But Israel would not understand that which was so unwelcome to their proud hearts. Christ's words concerning Abraham conveyed to His hearers no deep significance. The Pharisees saw in them only fresh ground for caviling. They retorted with a sneer, as if they would prove Jesus to be a madman, “Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast Thou seen Abraham?”

With solemn dignity Jesus answered, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM.”

Silence fell upon the vast assembly. The name of God, given to Moses to express the idea of the eternal presence, had been claimed as His own by this Galilean Rabbi. He had announced Himself to be the self-existent One, He who had been promised to Israel, “whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.” Micah 5:2, margin.

Again the priests and rabbis cried out against Jesus as a blasphemer. His claim to be one with God had before stirred them to take His life, and a few months later they plainly declared, “For a good work we stone Thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that Thou, being a man, makest Thyself God.” John 10:33. Because He was, and avowed Himself to be, the Son of God, they were bent on destroying Him. Now many of the people, siding with the priests and rabbis, took up stones to cast at Him. “But Jesus hid Himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” 
The Light was shining in darkness; but “the darkness apprehended it not.” John 1:5, R.V. DA 468-470

God Will Help His People

Parents can secure small homes in the country, with land for cultivation, where they can have orchards and where they can raise vegetables and small fruits to take the place of flesh meat, which is so corrupting to the life blood coursing through the veins. On such places the children will not be surrounded with the corrupting influences of city life. God will help His people to find such homes outside the cities. CL 24

Lust

“Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”—Matthew 5:28.

The Jews prided themselves on their morality and looked with horror upon the sensual practices of the heathen. The presence of the Roman officers whom the imperial rule had brought into Palestine was a continual offense to the people, for with these foreigners had come in a flood of heathen customs, lust, and dissipation. In Capernaum, Roman officials with their gay paramours haunted the parades and promenades, and often the sound of revelry broke upon the stillness of the lake as their pleasure boats glided over the quiet waters. The people expected to hear from Jesus a stern denunciation of this class, but what was their astonishment as they listened to words that laid bare the evil of their own hearts!

 
When the thought of evil is loved and cherished, however secretly, said Jesus, it shows that sin still reigns in the heart. The soul is still in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. He who finds pleasure in dwelling upon scenes of impurity, who indulges the evil thought, the lustful look, may behold in the open sin, with its burden of shame and heart-breaking grief, the true nature of the evil which he has hidden in the chambers of the soul. The season of temptation, under which, it may be, one falls into grievous sin, does not create the evil that is revealed, but only develops or makes manifest that which was hidden and latent in the heart. As a man “thinketh in his heart, so is he;” for out of the heart “are the issues of life.” Proverbs 23:7; 4:23. 

MB 59-60