The Close Of Probation

The loud cry is the last chance given to mankind to hear the third angel's message and accept God's invitation. The Lord will allow a time of peace, so that the message can reach all corners of the earth. But it will be temporary, remember that when the world says

... “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them...*1

the inspired pen tells us that perhaps probation closes first for Adventists. We may not fully understand this concept but let's consider a few points.

If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” * 2

Note that this message speaks of the consequences of worshiping the beast and his image. However, while its emphasis is on the consequences its foundation remains salvation by grace. God’s last warning is given because of His desire that we all be saved. We should already be preaching this message because God's people need to be sealed now.

But when the third angel’s message reaches its full force it is not just specifically directed to God's people but to all those who had not until then had the opportunity to hear this message. I am not saying that those Adventists (or God’s people for that matter) who ignored the message now have lost their chance or won’t be saved. But when the Holy Spirit is ignored, he redirects his attention toward those who hear God’s call and those who have not yet had the opportunity.

Recall that in the parable of the 10 virgins all of them were waiting for the bridegroom and all had oil at some point, but the foolish ones did not make the necessary provisions.* 3

Furthermore, the time in which God will shake his people has begun and when it reaches its climax those Adventists who are not fully converted will be thrown out. That is why we now need to cry out for the Holy Spirit and receive the seal of God.

I pray that we do not become part of the group that ignores His call, for if we do there will be nothing that anyone can do for us. We will be eternally lost! Dear reader, knowing what will happen it is time for you to make the necessary preparations to meet the bridegroom. What more can the Lord do for you? How else can you heed the call and accept his mercy?

The Servant of the Lord says;

But I speak not my own words when I say that God's Spirit will pass by those who have had their day of test and opportunity, but who have not distinguished the voice of God or appreciated the movings of His Spirit. Then thousands in the eleventh hour will see and acknowledge the truth…Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed" (Amos 9:13)…These conversions to truth will be made with a rapidity that will surprise the church, and God's name alone will be glorified. *4

We may be followed with testimony after testimony of reproof; but if we do not overcome the disposition in us to do evil, if we do not respond to the light, we shall be in a state of condemnation before God. If, on the other hand, we live up to all the light that shines upon us, that light will continue to increase, and we shall have a clean record in heaven. The third angel's message is to lighten the earth with its glory; but only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it when it shall have swelled into the loud cry. *5

There are many even among those who teach the truth to others who will not receive the seal of God in their foreheads. They had the light of truth, they knew their Master's will, they understood every point of our faith, but they had not corresponding works. These who were so familiar with prophecy and the treasures of divine wisdom should have acted their faith. They should have commanded their households after them, that by a well-ordered family they might present to the world the influence of the truth upon the human heart. *6

Let opposition arise, let bigotry and intolerance again bear sway, let persecution be kindled, and the halfhearted and hypocritical will waver and yield the faith; but the true Christian will stand firm as a rock, his faith stronger, his hope brighter, than in days of prosperity .*7

The worst of all is that they will not only leave the church but will become our worst enemies.

As the storm approaches, a large class who have professed faith in the third angel's message, but have not been sanctified through obedience to the truth, abandon their position and join the ranks of the opposition. By uniting with the world and partaking of its spirit, they have come to view matters in nearly the same light; and when the test is brought, they are prepared to choose the easy, popular side. Men of talent and pleasing address, who once rejoiced in the truth, employ their powers to deceive and mislead souls. They become the most bitter enemies of their former brethren. When Sabbathkeepers are brought before the courts to answer for their faith, these apostates are the most efficient agents of Satan to misrepresent and accuse them, and by false reports and insinuations to stir up the rulers against them. *8

The Trial
The apostle Peter tells us that the trial begins at the house of God.

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”* 9

Accordingly, we find that if the trial starts with us, it will first finish with us. That is, our cases are first determined so that we may receive the seal of God and then the trial focuses on those who heard the warning of the third angel and ignored it (on the wicked). When probations closes it will be because the loud cry is complete and the four angels are told to release the winds. By then the Lord tells us:

He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” *10

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!

1 * 1 Thessalonians 5:3
2 * Revelation 14:9-11
3 * Matthew 25
4 * Selected Messages vol. 2, pg.16, Ellen White
5 * Historical Sketches, “Practical Addresses”, pg. 155, Ellen White
6 * Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, “24. The Seal Of God”, pp. 213-214, Ellen White
7 * The Great Controversy, "The Scriptures a Safeguard", Ellen White
8 * The Great Controversy, "The Final Warning", Ellen White
9 * 1 Peter 4:17, 18
10* Revelation 22:11

Let us Hasten the Coming of the Lord

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.* 1

And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.* 2

But we have not devoted the time to preach this message so that it may reach all the inhabitants of the earth. The inspired pen tells us:

The Lord God is a jealous God, yet He bears long with the sins and transgressions of His people in this generation. If the people of God had walked in His counsel, the work of God would have advanced, the messages of truth would have been borne to all people that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Had the people of God believed Him and been doers of His word, had they kept His commandments, the angel would not have come flying through heaven with the message to the four angels that were to let loose the winds that they should blow upon the earth crying, Hold, hold the four winds that they blow not upon the earth until I have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads. But because the people are disobedient, unthankful, unholy, as were ancient Israel, time is prolonged that all may hear the last message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice. The Lord's work has been hindered, the sealing time delayed. Many have not heard the truth. But the Lord will give them a chance to hear and be converted, and the great work of God will go forward.* 3

Four mighty angels are still holding the four winds of the earth. Terrible destruction is forbidden to come in full. The accidents by land and by sea; the loss of life, steadily increasing, by storm, by tempest, by railroad disaster, by conflagration; the terrible floods, the earthquakes, and the winds will be the stirring up of the nations to one deadly combat, while the angels hold the four winds, forbidding the terrible power of Satan to be exercised in its fury until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. Get ready, get ready, I beseech you, get ready before it shall be forever too late! The ministers of vengeance will pour all the terrible judgments upon a God-forsaken people. The way of obedience is the only path of life. May the Lord help you to see it in time to open your ears, that you may hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches .* 4

The Lord would have already come but He is waiting until everyone has had the opportunity to hear His word. We should employ our efforts in preaching the gospel. This work begins in our lives. We need to be purified, to be genuinely converted.

Our attention must be diverted from the things of this world and focused on heaven. Only then will the Holy Spirit lead us to preach with great strength and power the message of the soon return of Jesus.

Can we hasten his return?

If we work hard every day, if we cry out for the blessing of the Holy Spirit and for His return, the gospel will be preached throughout the world and we will see Jesus. The signs all point to His coming!

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!

1 * 2 Peter 3:9
2 * Matthew 24:14
3 * Manuscript Releases vol.15 – No.1179, pg. 292-293.
4 * Review and Herald, June 7, 1887

The End Is Near, Jesus Is At The Door

The great day of the LORD is near; it is near and hastens quickly... Zephaniah 1:14

The Lord is coming soon. We have long preached of the soon return of Jesus. The world has reached the point in which events momentarily catch our attention and then become old news. Actually, we are in the same state as the ten virgins who slumbered and slept when the bridegroom delayed.

We have seen the signs occur for many years. The third angel's message was first preached in 1844 which caused a major awakening of Christ soon return that gradually faded away.

Satan is working in the atmosphere; he is poisoning the atmosphere, and here we are dependent upon God for our lives--our present and eternal lives. And being in the position that we are, we need to be wide awake, wholly devoted, wholly converted, wholly consecrated to God. But we seem to sit as though we were paralyzed. God of heaven, wake us up! *1

It's time to wake up! We may easily conclude that another earthquake, another flood, another war, another disease is not alarming.

I have been shown that the Spirit of the Lord is being withdrawn from the earth. God's keeping power will soon be refused to all who continue to disregard His commandments. The reports of fraudulent transactions, murders, and crimes of every kind are coming to us daily. Iniquity is becoming so common a thing that it no longer shocks the senses as it once did.* 1

That is the objective of the enemy, that we reach the point where people will say, "peace and safety." But never in the history of this world have all these events occurred at the same time or at the rate at which they do now.

The time of trouble--trouble such as was not since there was a nation [Dan. 12:1]--is right upon us, and we are like the sleeping virgins. We are to awake and ask the Lord Jesus to place underneath us His everlasting arms, and carry us through the time of trial before us…The world is becoming more and more lawless. Soon great trouble will arise among the nations--trouble that will not cease until Jesus comes. We are on the very verge of the time of trouble, and perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of are before… We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another--fire, and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed.* 2

In the previous study I mentioned how we our world is quickly approaching the state predicted by the second angel's message. Babylon is about to fall and her sins are reaching heaven. Jesus also speaks about famine and pestilence that will fall upon the earth.

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. Matthew 24:7

God has not restrained the powers of darkness from carrying forward their deadly work of vitiating the air, one of the sources of life and nutrition, with a deadly miasma. Not only is vegetable life affected but man suffers from pestilence. . . . These things are the result of drops from the vials of God's wrath being sprinkled on the earth, and are but faint representations of what will be in the near future…Famines will increase. Pestilences will sweep away thousands. Dangers are all around us from the powers without and satanic workings within, but the restraining power of God is now being exercised.*1

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization has found that, “There are more hungry people in the world than ever before. More than one billion people, almost a sixth of humanity, are now undernourished” * 3

The organization further stated that, "unless the world responds, we are in danger of losing a generation to hunger and malnutrition." *3

When these numbers first went public it caused great commotion, the months have passed and as usual it has become history as other news takes the spotlight.

The next big headline was the meeting in Copenhagen concerning climate change and global warming. This also caused great commotion and even religious organizations got involved to try and find a solution to this problem. Apparently, some agreements were made but nothing substantial or concrete.*4

However, we did see how nations are increasingly looking for ways to unite and work together be it for convenience or necessity. In the end however, no solutions will be found for it is God who is in control of everything.

If we remember, during this year there was also a pandemic. The latest report by the World Health Organization (WHO) stated:

"H1N1 has now spread to more than 200 countries, with nearly 12,000 deaths confirmed in laboratory, but it will probably take two years to establish the true death toll" * 5

The report also includes several warnings:

"The H1N1 flu pandemic may not be conquered until 2011 and continued vigilance is required against the virus which can still mutate, the head of the World Health Organization WHO Director-General Margaret Chan also warned that although countries have shored up their defenses against the first influenza pandemic in more than 40 years, they remain ill-prepared for mass outbreaks of the deadlier bird flu virus (world not ready to combat H5N1 bird flu pandemic)" * 5

But we are not only facing risks of H1N1 and H5N1 pandemics. Recent reports also indicate that older diseases are mutating, becoming drug resistant.

"He is really the future…This is the new class that people are not really talking too much about. These are the ones we really fear because I'm not sure how we treat them… Forty years ago, the world thought it had conquered TB and any number of other diseases through the new wonder drugs: Antibiotics.” *6

“U.S. Surgeon General William H. Stewart announced it was ‘time to close the book on infectious diseases and declare the war against pestilence won’…Today, all the leading killer infectious diseases on the planet — TB, malaria and HIV among them — are mutating at an alarming rate, hitchhiking their way in and out of countries." *6

“Drug-resistant TB is a time bomb”
As if that weren’t bad enough, this too came with several warnings. Lets looks at some of the statistics on infectious diseases:

“Tuberculosis is the top single infectious killer of adults worldwide, and it lies dormant in one in three people, according to WHO. Of those, 10 percent will develop active TB, and about 2 million people a year will die from it…TB germs can float in the air for hours, especially in tight places with little sunlight or fresh air.”*6

“In Cambodia, scientists have confirmed the emergence of a new drug-resistant form of malaria, threatening the only treatment left to fight a disease that already kills 1 million people a year.” *6

“In the U.S., drug-resistant infections killed more than 65,000 people last year — more than prostate and breast cancer combined. More than 19,000 people died from a staph infection alone…”*6

I ask, are we not coming to the end?

The signs in the sun, moon, and stars have been fulfilled. Since that time earthquakes, tempests, tidal waves, pestilence, and famines have multiplied. The most awful destructions, by fire and flood, are following one another in quick succession. The terrible disasters that are taking place from week to week speak to us in earnest tones of warning, declaring that the end is near, that something great and decisive will soon of necessity take place. * 7

John and the other prophets also were witnesses of the terrible scenes that will take place as signs of Christ's coming. They saw armies mustering for battle, and men's hearts failing them for fear. They saw the earth moved out of its place, the mountains carried into the midst of the sea, the waves thereof roaring and troubled, and the mountains shaking with the swelling thereof. They saw the vials of God's wrath opened, and pestilence, famine, and death come upon the inhabitants of the earth. *8

Already the restraining Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the world. And hurricanes, tempests, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succession. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause. Men cannot discern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they may not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid his angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of his avenging wrath as no pen can picture. * 8

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:11, 12

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!

1 * Last Days Events, "Signs of Christ’s Soon Return, Ellen White
2 * Last Days Events, "Earth’s Last Crisis", Ellen White
3 * "Number Of World's Hungry Tops a Billion" http://www.wfp.org/stories/number-world-hungry-tops-billion
4 * "We must not accept Copenhagen's failings" http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8432927.stm
5 * "UPDATE 1-May take a year to conquer H1N1 pandemic flu - WHO" http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE5BS13J20091229?type=swissMktRpt
6 * "First case of highly drug-resistant TB found in U.S." http://news.yahoo.com
7 * The Southern Watchmen, "December 1, 1909, par. 1 ", Ellen White
8 * The Southern Watchmen, "December 25, 1906", Ellen White

Prophetic Fulfillment - Babylon Is Fallen, Is fallen

Everyday we see the fulfillment of Biblical prophecies. It is unfortunate that some of these prophecies include a compromise of Biblical principles and morality. But such is inevitable when we ignore God and His Word.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons. 1 Timothy 4:1.

It is terrible; the world will give heed to deceiving spirits and accept doctrines of demons. What’s more, such deceptions will especially be directed towards the elect.

For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many... Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many... Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it ... For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:5, 11, 23, 24.

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

The second angel's message of Revelation 14 was first preached in the summer of 1844... But the message of the second angel did not reach its complete fulfillment in 1844... Not yet, however, can it be said that "Babylon is fallen,... because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication." She has not yet made all nations do this. The spirit of world conforming and indifference to the testing truths for our time exists and has been gaining ground in churches of the Protestant faith in all the countries of Christendom...

Revelation 18 points to the time when, as the result of rejecting the threefold warning of Revelation 14:6-12, the church will have fully reached the condition foretold by the second angel, and the people of God still in Babylon will be called upon to separate from her communion. This message is the last that will ever be given to the world; and it will accomplish its work. * 1

After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.” And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. Revelation 18:1-4.

Being so close to the coming of Jesus these events are quickly occurring. The condition of our society today is due to the urgency with which the enemy is working.

Principles and values are constantly being lowered in the name of tolerance and freedom. People do not want to commit to the Lord and only accept the principles that they agree with but discard the rest of the Bible.

Recently several newspapers published a survey that was conducted in the United States. Here are some of the titles of these articles:

"Americans surprisingly flexible about religion and faith"
"More Americans 'mix and match' religious beliefs, poll finds"
"More U.S. Christians mix in 'Eastern,' New Age beliefs "
"A Hint of This, a Pinch of That "

The Latest Survey
"Nearly six in 10 Americans from all religions blend their faith with New Age and Eastern beliefs, like astrology, reincarnation, and the spiritual – not just physical – benefits of yoga." * 2

“The poll further found that nearly half of the public, 49 percent, report having a "Religious or mystical experience… a spiritual awakening." That's up from 22 percent in 1962."* 2

" And 29 percent of Americans say they've felt in touch with someone who died -- that's up from 18 percent in 1996." * 2

“America is a melting pot not only of culture but also religion..."* 3

" The number of Americans who said they had interacted with a ghost had doubled over the last 13 years, from 9% to 18%, the survey found. " * 3

"About 65% of those surveyed also expressed belief in or report having an experience with a variety of supernatural phenomena, such as believing in astrology, being in touch with the dead or consulting a psychic." * 3

"The chances are that one in five of the people there (in church) find "spiritual energy" in mountains or trees, and one in six believe in the "evil eye," that certain people can cast curses with a look — beliefs your Christian pastor doesn't preach."* 4

"In a Catholic church? Chances are that one in five members believe in reincarnation in a way never taught in catechism class — that you'll be reborn in this world again and again."* 4

"Elements of Eastern faiths and New Age thinking have been widely adopted by 65% of U.S. adults, including many who call themselves Protestants and Catholics..."* 4

"70% said "many religions can lead to eternal life," and 68% said "there's more than one true way to interpret the teachings of my religion."* 4

What Some People Say
"Once people become acquainted with various religions, it's easy to mix and match…technology, such as the Internet, played a role in observing multiple religions…The great thing is, as an individual you can go online and get all kinds of ideas. You can go online and put it together yourself."* 3

"Mixing and matching practices and beliefs is as much the norm as it is the exception" * 4

"These findings all point toward a spiritual and religious openness — not necessarily a lack of seriousness."* 4

"We are all in relationship with the cosmos. We need to honor that…[not] crossing barriers but rather "coming full circle" with ancient ideas."* 4

“Pew says two in three adults believe in or cite an experience with at least one supernatural phenomenon, including:

• 26% find "spiritual energy" in physical things.
• 25% believe in astrology.
• 24% say people will be reborn in this world again and again.
• 23% say yoga is a "spiritual practice."

One hundred years ago, it would have been 'spiritualism.' They wouldn't have known what yoga was but might have been attracted to the 'New Thought' of the time’…”* 4

Actually, this comment is right on point. Such beliefs can be given any name but in the end it is spiritualism. Paul calls this "deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons."

You see “a ‘rampant confusion’ about faith revealed in the Pew findings…This is a failure of the pulpit as much as of the pew to be clear about what is and is not compatible with Christianity and belief in salvation only through Christ,"* 4

"But what we are really doing looks more akin to commerce than to education. The store managers in our spiritual marketplace seem a bit too eager to sell us whatever they imagine we want…Absent a chain of memory that ties us to these religions' ancient truths, these visions are lost, and we are left to our own devices, searching for God with as much confusion as we search, in love, for the next new thing."* 5

The term "Babylon" is derived from "Babel," and signifies confusion. It is employed in Scripture to designate the various forms of false or apostate religion.* 1

Babylon

"And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! Revelation 18:2.

What is the main characteristic of Babylon, the title written on her forehead?

And on her forehead a name was written: MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. Revelation 17:5.

Interestingly here is how some characterize what is happening!

"For an extremely long time, most of us thought belonging or membership or home church was monogamous, even if it was serial monogamy, because we all know about church-switching…Today, the individual rarely finds all their spiritual needs met in one congregation or one religion.".*4

“If, in the realm of love, Americans gravitate toward serial monogamy (moving from marriage to divorce to remarriage and so on), we likewise flit from one religious affiliation to another, pledging our fidelity, say, to Methodism in our youth, Catholicism in middle age and Episcopalianism in our dotage"* 5

"Americans are swingers as well as switchers, flirting with religious beliefs and practices other than their own without officially changing their religious affiliation." * 5

"Religious promiscuity" * 5

In the Bible the sacred and enduring character of the relation that exists between Christ and His church is represented by the union of marriage. The Lord has joined His people to Himself by a solemn covenant, He promising to be their God, and they pledging themselves to be His and His alone. He declares: "I will betroth thee unto Me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto Me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in loving-kindness, and in mercies." Hosea 2:19. And, again: "I am married unto you." Jeremiah 3:14. And Paul employs the same figure in the New Testament when he says: "I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." 2 Corinthians 11:2.

The unfaithfulness of the church to Christ in permitting her confidence and affection to be turned from Him, and allowing the love of worldly things to occupy the soul, is likened to the violation of the marriage vow. The sin of Israel in departing from the Lord is presented under this figure; and the wonderful love of God which they thus despised is touchingly portrayed: "I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord God, and thou becamest Mine." "And thou wast exceeding beautiful and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee. . . . But thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown." "As a wife treacherously departeth from her husband, so have ye dealt treacherously with Me, O house of Israel, saith the Lord;" "as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!" Ezekiel 16:8, 13-15, 32; Jeremiah 3:20.

A profession of religion has become popular with the world. Rulers, politicians, lawyers, doctors, merchants, join the church as a means of securing the respect and confidence of society, and advancing their own worldly interests. Thus they seek to cover all their unrighteous transactions under a profession of Christianity. The various religious bodies, re-enforced by the wealth and influence of these baptized worldlings, make a still higher bid for popularity and patronage. Splendid churches, embellished in the most extravagant manner, are erected on popular avenues. The worshipers array themselves in costly and fashionable attire. A high salary is paid for a talented minister to entertain and attract the people. His sermons must not touch popular sins, but be made smooth and pleasing for fashionable ears. Thus fashionable sinners are enrolled on the church records, and fashionable sins are concealed under a pretense of godliness.* 1

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. For her sins have reached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. Revelation 18:4, 5.

Such sins are reaching heaven and soon we will be called to come out of Babylon. The prophecies are fulfilling and the time is short. The Word of God is our only guide and Jesus is the only way to salvation. It is time to lift our values and beliefs and place ourselves on the side of truth.

Notwithstanding the spiritual darkness and alienation from God that exist in the churches which constitute Babylon, the great body of Christ's true followers are still to be found in their communion. There are many of these who have never seen the special truths for this time. Not a few are dissatisfied with their present condition and are longing for clearer light. They look in vain for the image of Christ in the churches with which they are connected. As these bodies depart further and further from the truth, and ally themselves more closely with the world, the difference between the two classes will widen, and it will finally result in separation. The time will come when those who love God supremely can no longer remain in connection with such as are "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof."*1

The world is rapidly polarizing, and now more than ever we need people who are faithful to God and preach the truth.

The greatest want of the world is the want of men-- men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.* 6

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, YES, COME LORD JESUS!

1* The Great Controversy "A Warning Rejected" Ellen White
2* "Americans Surprisingly Flexible About Religion and Faith" http://abcnews.go.com/WN/pew-study-finds-americans-surprisingly-flexible-faith-religion/story?id=9306080&page=1
3* "More Americans 'mix and match' religious beliefs, poll finds" http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-religion10-2009dec10,0,6236354.story
4* "More U.S. Christians mix in 'Eastern,' New Age beliefs" http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-12-10-1Amixingbeliefs10_CV_N.htm
5 * "A Hint of This, a Pinch of That" http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704240504574585834047260734.html
6* Education "Lives of Great Men" Ellen White

What Will Heaven Really Be Like? - Part 5

For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create... Isaiah 65:17, 18

What great hope that we hold! We await new heavens and a new earth. We will rejoice in all things that the Lord shall re-created. There will be no more mourning or crying or pain for the former things will be so insignificant that they will not come to mind. Every person that makes heaven a necessity, every person who has suffered in this world shall receive the greatest reward in heaven.

Our greatest privilege will be see God face to face and dwell with Him forever. Perhaps we all have different reasons why we seek heaven now. Some have suffered great illnesses, others have faced difficult times, others have felt alone and others have lost loved ones. For all this the Lord has made provision. The troubles of this world will not come to mind because not only will we obtain what we have desired but more than we can ever imagine.

The Lord in all His wisdom will have many things that we will enjoy in Heaven. I have already mentioned that we will have homes in the New Jerusalem, built by the hand of God. We will also have the opportunity to build our own dream homes. We can design them our way. We will have at our disposal the best materials imaginable. Imagine a city built of Gold! We will also work the land, plant vineyards and eat of their fruit.

They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for as the days of a tree, so shall be the days of My people, and My elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands. Isaiah 65:21-22

We are not going to work so that others may enjoy the fruit of our labor. We will not have to worry about arriving home late or having to waste time in traffic. No one will tire, no one will become ill. Work in heaven will be of great delight for us as it was for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good…Genesis 1:28-31

The first couple was given dominion over all creatures in the Garden of Eden. At this disposal was perfect food that grew in fertile and easily worked land. They never tired and they never got sick. It was of great joy to be able to interact with nature because they could contemplate God’s creation and worship their creator.

Recognizing that Adam and Eve could rejoice in the fruit of their labor the Lord in his love and mercy also gave them a day to rest but not because they tired physically. They were given a day of rest to devote in its entirety to God.

Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2:1-3

Note that the example to follow was that of God. In six days God created the heavens and the earth and rested on the seventh not because He was tired but because he wanted a complete day to interact with the crown of his creation, with humans. So He blessed and sanctified it. Therefore, when we are in heaven we will have that same opportunity.

And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the LORD. Isaiah 66:23

We can now understand why the Sabbath is eternal. After enjoying the work of the week we will be able to explore the great mysteries of God, to travel throughout the universe and meet other worlds and then come together Sabbath after Sabbath and dedicate it entirely to our creator and our savior! If you are able to make the Sabbath a delight here on earth, how much greater will it be in heaven when we are face to face with Jesus and can directly worship Him for all He has done for us!

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, COME LORD JESUS!

Final Events

Included is a graphic that places the final events in the order that the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy describes them. It is noteworthy to mention that some events such as the shaking and sealing have already begun. Also some events are simultaneous. These are some signs that the Lord has left us so that we may be ready for His soon return. Do not forget that they will all occur in such a short period of time that many will be taken by surprise. We must watch and pray that the Holy Spirit prepares us now for the clock of the world is reaching midnight.

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, COME LORD JESUS!

The Origin of Evil - Part 2

And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.” *1

God gave Lucifer many opportunities to repent but because he did not war broke out in heaven. Lucifer and his angels did not prevail so they were cast out of heaven. Obviously, Satan's deceptions were not over. Although he no longer had access to heaven Lucifer was still exerting his influence on the worlds that had not fallen.

The question that comes to mind is why did God does not destroy Lucifer? To obtain the answer to this question it is necessary to understand the character of God. The Bible tells us,

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. * 2

God’s government, His creation and His law are based on love. He will never force anyone to obey him as obedience comes as a result of love. Lucifer had long introduced doubts about the government of God. He argued that God was not fair and compassionate. If God had destroyed Lucifer in heaven, the doubts that Lucifer had planted in the minds of the angels and the beings that have not fallen would have been confirmed.

Therefore the Lord in his wisdom allowed sin to develop to its most terrible state so the whole universe to understand could understand the inevitable result. Seeing the results of Lucifer, of sin and of the suffering it causes, all would be fully convinced that God is just and good. We all serve God because we love Him, not because we fear Him.

The result of this great battle was that Lucifer, now known as the Devil and Satan was cast down to earth. Thus the cosmic battle was transferred to this planet where it will soon end.

But what side will we find ourselves in?

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, COME LORD JESUS!

1 * Revelation 12:7-12
2 * 1 John 4:8

The Lord Is Coming Soon

I am sure that as we all see the recent events take place we can imagine that this planet will soon come to an end. For a long time, there have been people who combine events in the cosmos, predictions of supposed prophets and events in this world to get specific dates for the end of the world. At least in my generation I can remember the panic that existed on December 31st 1999. The next dates that has been placed are 2011 and 2012 in which many events in the cosmos will take place like an object in space approaching the planet, eclipses, the century’s last solar transit of Venus, the sun which each 25,800 years is aligned with the center of the Milky Way and the solar magnetic field lines which will be stronger. Of course, we add to this the end of the cycle of the Mayan calendar and other predictions of people like Nostradamus.

Our Lord Jesus was very clear in saying, but of that day and hour no one knows…*1

The setting of dates for Christ's return or the end of the world is against God's Word. While we know that Jesus is coming we don’t know the exact date. So we must watch and pray at all times. We know that the signs point to the soon return of Christ. The whole world knows that something is about to happen. But what if we preach that the world will end in 2012 and the Lord comes in 2009 or even 2010?

I ask, what is of greater concern, the date in which the Lord will come or the fact that he is coming? The enemy is using many tools at his disposal to deceive and will even go as far as imitating Christ's return! I have the certainty that we are in the end time. I am sure that our cases are being examined and that the door of grace is closing rapidly. Our duty is to be ready at all times.

In what does it profit a man to know that Jesus will come in 2012 if death surprises him tonight?

When we focus on heaven and on Jesus Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit who awakens us from the spiritual sleep we are in and prepares us every day. Most people who hear of these dates and the end of the world are fearful. But what do we fear?

For us the end of the world is the return of Jesus, its heaven where we will live eternally happy with our loved ones.

I read an article which stated that some children had sent letters in saying, "I'm too young to die," and parents saying, "I will not be able to see my children grow up."

This leads me to wonder why people wish to continue living in this world of evil and suffering with all that the Lord has prepared for us in heaven. Are we simply saying, "Jesus is coming" but inside are more worried about work and other earthly plans?

The servant of the Lord reminds us that if we would have cried out for the power of the Holy Spirit, it would have been already been bestowed upon us. If would have cried out to Christ to return and if we would have strived to work for his cause, the Lord would have already come.
Let us unite in prayer, asking to receive the refreshing power of the latter rain and praying that Jesus returns soon.

The wise virgins who still had oil in their lamps went to the wedding of the Lamb, the foolish virgins were not allowed inside and the bridegroom said to them, “assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” * 2 The parable ends, “watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." the parable ends. *3

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, COME LORD JESUS!

1 * Matthew 24:36
2 * Matthew 25:12
3 * Matthew 25:13

Spiritualism: Saturday vs. Sunday

And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, a prison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! *1

... And shall intend to change times and law. *2

And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. *3

Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. *4

The miracle-working power manifested through spiritualism will exert its influence against those who choose to obey God rather than men. Communications from the spirits will declare that God has sent them to convince the rejecters of Sunday of their error, affirming that the laws of the land should be obeyed as the law of God. They will lament the great wickedness in the world and second the testimony of religious teachers that the degraded state of morals is caused by the desecration of Sunday. Great will be the indignation excited against all who refuse to accept their testimony. *4

And then the great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing these evils. The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God's commandments is a perpetual reproof to transgressors. It will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment, thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are troublers of the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal prosperity. Thus the accusation urged of old against the servant of God will be repeated and upon grounds equally well established: "And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubleth Israel? 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." 1 Kings 18:17, 18. As the wrath of the people shall be excited by false charges, they will pursue a course toward God's ambassadors very similar to that which apostate Israel pursued toward Elijah. *4

The blame for everything that happens will fall upon on those who have the seal of God (Saturday) as we will not receive the mark of the beast (Sunday). The enemy will use spiritualism to convince mankind that God changed His law when in reality it is man influenced by Satan who has changed it. Let us be vigilant and pray always so that we may receive the power of Holy Spirit's to discern truth from deception.

JESUS IS COMING SOON, AMEN, COME LORD JESUS!

1 * Revelation 18:2
2 * Daniel 7:25
3 * Revelation 12:17
4 * The Great Controversy, "The Impending Conflict”, Ellen White

Characteristics of the Little Horn / The Two Beasts

We have already made a comparison between the little horn and the beast revealed in Revelation 13. Both the prophet Daniel and the apostle John were referring to the same power. Now we will see the description of this power and the description of the second beast that emerges from land not water. In the next study I will apply these characteristics to an actual power to determine who they represent. It is of great important to know this because it will gain power in the near future, for the end is near.

Little horn / Beast rising up from the sea

1. It would be a "little horn", a smaller kingdom - (Daniel 7: 8, 24)

2. "Coming up among them," "Who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them” This happens after the fall of the beast which gives rise to the 10 kings. Then three of these kings are subdues by a rising little horn (Daniel 7:8, 24)

3. "[B]efore whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots.", "and shall subdue three kings." (Daniel 7:8, 24)

4. "He shall be different from the first ones" (Daniel 7:24)

5. "On his heads a blasphemous name" (Revelation 13:1)

6. "[W]ere eyes like the eyes of a man" (Daniel 7:8)

7. "For it is the number of a man: His number is 666" (Revelation 13:18)

8. "[A] mouth speaking pompous words.", "And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies " (Daniel 7:8, Revelation 13:5, 6)

9. "He shall speak pompous words against the Most High," "Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name " (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5,6)

10. "[W]as making war against the saints, and prevailing against them,” “Shall persecute the saints of the Most High," "It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. " (Daniel 7:21, 25, Revelation 13:7)

11. "And shall intend to change times and law." (Daniel 7:25)

12. "Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time.” "forty-two months" (Daniel 7:25, Revelation 13:5)

13. "And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation." (Revelation 13:7)

14. " All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world", "So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” " (Revelation 13:8, 4)

15. " And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed." (Revelation 13:3)


Beas Rising from the Earth

1. "Coming up out of the earth" (Revelation 13:11)

2. "And he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke as a dragon. " (Revelation 13:11)

3. "He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence " (Revelation 13:12)

4. " causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed." (Revelation 13:12)

5. " He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." (Revelation 13:13)

6. " And he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast " (Revelation 13:14)

7. " telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived." (Revelation 13:14)

8. " He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed." (Revelation 13:15)

9. " He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads" (Revelation 13:16)

10. And that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." (Revelation 13:17)

May the Lord enlighten us through the Holy Spirit so we may understand His word and prepare for the events that will occur in these last days.

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, COME LORD JESUS!

A Guranteed Future

It is important to understand the prophecies have been fulfilled so we may know what will happen in the last days. In this study I simply want to stress the need to study and interpret the book of Revelation along with the book of Daniel. The angel told Daniel to seal the book until the end of time .*1 Revelation on the hand was not sealed but is in fact, as the name says it a “revelation of what Daniel had written about.

Now let us compare the beast described in Daniel and the beast described in Revelation to do determine if in fact the prophet Daniel and the apostle John referred to the same power.

Then I wished to know the truth about the fourth beast, which was different from all the others, exceedingly dreadful, with its teeth of iron and its nails of bronze, which devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled the residue with its feet; and the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, before which three fell, namely, that horn which had eyes and a mouth which spoke pompous words, whose appearance was greater than his fellows. I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom. Thus he said: “The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be different from all other kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, trample it and break it in pieces. The ten horns are ten kings who shall arise from this kingdom. And another shall rise after them; he shall be different from the first ones, and shall subdue three kings. He shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints of the Most High, and shall intend to change times and law. Then the saints shall be given into his hand for a time and times and half a time. Daniel 7:19-25

And another sign appeared in heaven: behold, a great, fiery red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and seven diadems on his heads. His tail drew a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was ready to give birth, to devour her Child as soon as it was born. She bore a male Child who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron. And her Child was caught up to God and His throne. Then the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and sixty days. Revelation 12:3-6

But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. Revelation 12:14

Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. The dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority. And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?” And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 13:2-7

We start seeing the similarities between these two beasts that are described. Later we will join the these prophecies with dream about a statue that Daniel interpreted in Chapter 2 to better understand which powers are represented.

Daniel 7	Rev. 12, 13
"10 horns"	"10 horns"
“mouth which spoke pompous words”	“mouth speaking great things and blasphemies”
“shall persecute the saints of the Most High”	“granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them”
“shall speak pompous words against the Most High”	“blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name”
“time and times and half a time”	“1260 days”, “time and times and half a time”, “forty-two months”
7 Horns left	“seven heads”
Lion, Bear, Leopard	“leopard”, “the feet of a bear”, “ mouth of a lion”

I will not go into the interpretation of these beasts in this study. I just want to make clarify some points which are necessary to correctly interpret these prophecies. Daniel, a prophet of the Lord did not understand its significance until the angel revealed it to him. We can not enter the study of these prophecies without first asking for the anointing power of the Holy Spirit. Also the book was sealed until the end time, so that we would not understand its significance until certain events occurred. Finally, in order to understand the meaning of these prophecies we will need to look at the Bible as a whole and not as individual books written by individual authors. Men wrote what God revealed to them. The Bible is the word of God!

I conclude by leaving a question which will be important when we discuss the powers represented by this beast.

If God revealed this prophecy in symbols, using beasts, horns and water would it be logical then to conclude that the time marked in the prophecy would also be prophetic?

Let’s not forget that Daniel was a sealed book, with the intention of people not understanding most of it until the time was right.

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, COME LORD JESUS!

God's Healthplan

The third angel's message is fully linked with the diet of the saints. It is a call for purification in Christ for salvation. It is a call to leave behind the things of this world in order to inherit the new and eternal world.

The apostle Paul tells us,

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.* 1

He then asks,

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.* 2

The Original Diet

... And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.* 3

The servant of the Lord gives us more light concerning God's health plan.

Meat is not essential for health or strength, else the Lord made a mistake when He provided food for Adam and Eve before their fall. All the elements of nutrition are contained in the fruits, vegetables, and grains. * 4

Again and again I have been shown that God is trying to lead us back, step by step, to His original design,-- that man should subsist upon the natural products of the earth…Among those who are waiting for the coming of the Lord, meat eating will eventually be done away; flesh will cease to form a part of their diet. We should ever keep this end in view, and endeavor to work steadily toward it. * 5

Meat Now in Days

Flesh was never the best food; but its use is now doubly objectionable, since disease in animals is so rapidly increasing…Often if they could see the animals when living and know the quality of the meat they eat, they would turn from it with loathing. People are continually eating flesh that is filled with tuberculosis and cancerous germs. Tuberculosis, cancer, and other fatal diseases are thus communicated.* 6

If meat eating were ever healthful, it is not safe now. Cancers, tumors, and pulmonary diseases are largely caused by meat eating. * 7

From the light God has given me, the prevalence of cancer and tumors is largely due to gross living on dead flesh. * 8

The Effects of Eating Meat

I have been instructed that flesh food has a tendency to animalize the nature, to rob men and women of that love and sympathy which they should feel for everyone, and to give the lower passions control over the higher powers of the being.... We are not to make the use of flesh food a test of fellowship, but we should consider the influence that professed believers who use flesh foods have over others. As God's messengers, shall we not say to the people, "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God'? 1 Cor. 10:31 *9

The thoughts must be cleansed; then the blessing of God will rest upon His people. It is impossible for those who make free use of flesh meats to have an unclouded brain and an active intellect... We want them to understand that the flesh of animals is not the proper food for them to eat. Such a diet cultivates the animal passions in them and their children.* 10

An Elevated State of Spirituality

We have the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ which is the Spirit of Prophecy. Priceless gems are to be found in the Word of God. Those who investigate the word must keep their mind open. They should never indulge their perverted appetite by eating or drinking.

Especially would the fine, sensitive nerves of the brain become enfeebled and so beclouded that sacred things would not be discerned, but be placed upon the low level with common things.* 11

Let us be faithful stewards of our bodies. Preach with our words and our actions. Let's look back to the original plan of God and live eternally, happy in heaven where we will have access to the tree of life.

JESUS IS COMING, AMEN, COME, LORD JESUS!

1 * 1 Corinthians 6:12
2 * 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20
3 * Genesis 1:29
4 * Counsels on Diet and Foods, Ch. 23. “Flesh Meats” Ellen White
5 * Counsels; on Diet and Foods, Ch. 23. “Flesh Meats” Ellen White
6 * Healing Ministry, Pg 241. Ellen White
7 * Testimonies, vol. 9, Pg 159. Ellen White
8 * Medical Ministry, Pg 278. Ellen White
9 * Testimonies, Volume 3, Pgs. 359, 360. Ellen White
10 * Counsels on Diet and Foods, Pg 465, 467. Ellen White
11 * Testimonies to Ministers, Pg 114. Ellen White

Music's Intended Purpose

Music was made to serve a holy purpose, to lift the thoughts to that which is pure, noble, and elevating, and to awaken in the soul devotion and gratitude to God. What a contrast between the ancient custom and the uses to which music is now too often devoted! How many employ this gift to exalt self, instead of using it to glorify God! *1

Music was created to worship God, not ourselves. How wonderful is our God to have created this type of expression to help us worship him better. But this world uses so many things our Lord created for the wrong reasons.

In heaven, Angels are in constant worship. The word of God says:

Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."*2

Now if Angels, beings that are perfect and without sin, know that music is used to worship God and never cease to stop their praise, how much more should we as fallen creatures use music to its highest potential to worship the one and only God!

Throughout the bible we see example after example of people who show their appreciation and gratitude in their praise using music. One of the primary examples being David who never feared to break out in song and lift his adoration for God using his harp:

Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. *3

There are many different uses music gives us as we worship our God. We can use it to memorize God’s word. It also lifts our spirit and raises our eyes to the heavens. The Lord’s servant says:

There are few means more effective for fixing His words in the memory than repeating them in song. And such song has wonderful power. It has power to subdue rude and uncultivated natures, power to quicken thought and to awaken sympathy, to promote harmony of action, and to banish the gloom and foreboding that destroy courage and weaken effort.--Ed 167, 168 (1903).

Music forms a part of God's worship in the courts above, and we should endeavor in our songs of praise to approach as nearly as possible to the harmony of the heavenly choirs…*4

Let us remember that our heavenly father is worthy of all praise and when he returns, we will use music as he created it to be used, to worship him forever and ever.

“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.” – James 5:8

*1 – “Messages to Young People”, “The Benefits of Music”, Ellen White
*2 – Revelation 4:8
*3 – Psalms 150:1-5
*4 – “Last Day Events”, “Lifestyle and Activities of the Remnant”, Ellen White
*5 - Image: http://www.clipartguide.com/_pages/0808-0801-1116-0545.html

*SGL

What Will Heaven Really Be Like - Part 4

In heaven we have an assured home. It is extraordinary to think that if you never had anything in this world in heaven you will have more than enough. The Lord has so promised!

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. * 1

Jesus ascended to heaven to prepare mansions for each one of us. Note that these dwellings are in the house of the Father, in heaven itself, in that great city. Lets recall Abraham, the father of faith, who lived every day with his eyes placed on heaven and the future redemption!

By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. * 2

No doubt the dwellings that Jesus went to prepare in the holy city will be majestic. Later we will see the description of the New Jerusalem and the homes we will have there. But the greatest privilege, the highest honor is not the city whose architect and builder is God. The greatest privilege is that these homes have been prepared first because Jesus is coming soon and secondly because Jesus Himself will dwell with us.

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also *3

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. * 4

What honor, after living in this world of sin and evil where we know God only through His Word, finally we will see Him face to face. Jesus, the one who died, suffered but rose again, will dwell among us and be our God forever. What incomparable joy! Let us live by faith every day focused on heaven and awaiting that great day when God will dwell with us forever!

JESUS IS COMING!

1 * John 14:1-2
2 * Hebrews 11:8-10
3 * John 14:3
4 * Revelation 21:3

Latest Political/Religious Agreements

Interestingly, the world’s superpowers are slowly coming together. In an effort to obtain greater global cooperation many countries are signing agreements, establishing better relations and discussing possible solutions to major problems. The three most pressing issues are:

• The economic crisis
• Hunger (1 billion people suffering from hunger)
• Climate change (global warming)

The United States has also focused on providing public healthcare. A major point of discussion for public healthcare has been abortion rights. Interestingly, it is religious groups that are presenting the greatest influence both in the House of Representatives and the Senate to remove all federal support for abortion .* 1

In recent months we have seen how these nations are developing a global union. You can also see how one of these powers stands out among the rest in both the political and the religious arena. It seems so small but yet has a strong voice and growing influence. Here are some of those agreements:

• Russia and the U.S. * 2
• Nuclear arms agreement
• Russia and India * 3
• Economic Agreements
• Military Agreements
• Nuclear energy Deal
• Russia and the Vatican * 4
• Improve political relations
• Establish embassies
• Improve religious relations
• England and the Vatican * 5
• Improve political relations
• Improve religious relations
• Vietnam and the Vatican * 6
• Improve political relations
• Germany and the Vatican * 7
• Solving major world issues
• Vatican and the United Nations * 8
• Promoting greater interest in human dignity, including:
• Economic cooperation to resolve the crisis
• Monetary commitment to feed 1 billion people
• Commitment to combat climate change

I won’t enter into further speculation concerning these agreements. I only emphasizes that such cooperation can only have a single overall result. Eventually one of these powers will be granted the ultimate authority to combat the global problems.

The Biblical prophecies so indicate and recognizing that we are in the final days of the history of this world they will soon be fulfilled because the second coming the Lord is at hand.

JESUS IS COMING!

1* “US Senate push to ban abortions on health insurance” -http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/dec/07/senate-vote-abortion-reform; “Senate health care debate to focus on abortion”

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/12/07/senate.health.care/

2* “US and Russian Officials Work on New Arms Control Treaty” -http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/usa/US-and-Russian-Officials-Work-on-New-Arms-Control-Treaty-78634007.html; “No New Russia - U.S. Arms Pact Yet as Treaty Expires” - http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/12/04/world/international-uk-russia-usa-arms-talks.html

3* “India, Russia sign six agreements in Moscow” -http://www.hindu.com/2009/12/08/stories/2009120856791000.htm

4* “Vatican: Greater Ties With Russia” -http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/04/world/europe/04briefs-Vaticanbrf.html?_r=1

5* “Exclusive: Pope Benedict set to meet the Queen in Scotland during September visit” -http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2009/11/15/exclusive-pope-benedict-set-to-meet-the-queen-in-scotland-86908-21823309/

6* “Vietnam says president to make rare Vatican trip” -http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iUcupEzqQyiDlHDcOOpRgrKA7lHg; http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091211/ap_on_re_eu/eu_vatican_vietnam;_ylt=AgJ_PdmQ8P8eylnskstt_nZvzwcF;_ylu=X3oDMTJmOWptMTJxBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkxMjExL2V1X3ZhdGljYW5fdmlldG5hbQRwb3MDMTIEc2VjA3luX3N1YmNhdF9saXN0BHNsawNwb3BldmlldG5hbWU-

7* “German president visits Vatican on double anniversary” -http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=17967; “Russian Church wants "concrete steps" from Vatican to make Patriarch-Pope meeting possible” -http://www.interfax-religion.com/?act=news&div=6712

8* “Which Countries Are Missing From Copenhagen Talks?” -http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/thegaggle/archive/2009/12/07/which-countries-are-missing-from-copenhagen-talks.aspx; “Critics say UN food summit wasteful, ineffective” -http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jeEimi-fD79vUG9uVWzcG7e-A9oAD9C1GRVO0

Spiritualism - Nature

All of nature is under the dominion of Jesus, its creator. If you remember a time when a great storm arose while Jesus was on a boat sleeping and is awakened by his disciples who cried:

Lord, save us! And He said: Why do you fear, ye of little faith? Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, what man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him? * 1

It is interesting to note that not even the disciples understand yet who Jesus was. But gradually they began to see His power. Unfortunately, there exists a being that is also studying the Bible and has more power than we might think. Here is where we see the expansion of Spiritualism.

Satan works through the elements also to garner his harvest of unprepared souls. He has studied the secrets of the laboratories of nature, and he uses all his power to control the elements as far as God allows. When he was suffered to afflict Job, how quickly flocks and herds, servants, houses, children, were swept away, one trouble succeeding another as in a moment. It is God that shields His creatures and hedges them in from the power of the destroyer. But the Christian world have shown contempt for the law of Jehovah; and the Lord will do just what He has declared that He would--He will withdraw His blessings from the earth and remove His protecting care from those who are rebelling against His law and teaching and forcing others to do the same. Satan has control of all whom God does not especially guard. He will favor and prosper some in order to further his own designs, and he will bring trouble upon others and lead men to believe that it is God who is afflicting them. * 2

If we notice, the Lord allows the enemy to use his power even over the elements of nature. But God protects all those who seek Him and who cry out as the disciples cried out to Jesus and were saved. Job was protected by God until He allowed Satan to test Job. The first thing Satan did was to cause destruction and suffering. These are the consequences of the enemy government. The Psalmist tells us:

I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears…This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.* 3

But he specifically states that these protections are available for those who cry out, those who fear the Lord.

While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies, he will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be upon both man and beast. "The earth mourneth and fadeth away," "the haughty people . . . do languish. The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant." Isaiah 24:4, 5. *2

I ask, are we not seeing these things nowadays? Has there been a day in which the enemy has not caused death and destruction through the elements of nature? The great deceiver will then show that he has the power to heal and calm the storm that he himself has caused.

What is yet more alarming is the growing trend of Americans who believe in spiritualism, both religious and non religious. *5

Let us seek God every day and cry out so he may extend his protecting hand over us, "The Angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him and delivers them."

JESUS IS COMING!

1* Mateo 8:25-27
2* “El Conflicto De Los Siglos”, “Un Conflicto Inminente”, Elena G. de White
3* Salmos 34:4-10
4* “Many Americans haunted by ghosts, look to astrology” - http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091210/lf_nm_life/us_usa_religion;_ylt=AqKeBdKbzlWZo_dZwDnrGlCs0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTJjOWVuOG8xBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMDkxMjEwL3VzX3VzYV9yZWxpZ2lvbgRwb3MDNwRzZWMDeW5fbW9zdF9wb3B1bGFyBHNsawNtYW55YW1lcmljYW4-
5* (Image) http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/2743011951_abf5d55723.jpg

Spiritualism - The Church

Our need for Jesus and the Holy Spirit's power rises daily. Unfortunately, we are satisfied with the weak Biblical foundation that we have. We have simply spent too little time reading God’s word. The enemy has a weapon which we need to take very seriously. Some believe that Spiritualism is simply the immortality of the soul but it's broader than that and will be the tool that opens the door of the church to deceive those who are not devoted to God. Consider an incident found in Scripture concerning some people who professed to know Jesus:

And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the LORD Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds. Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed. *1

The reply of this evil spirit, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?" reminds me of the text:

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." *2

The only way we can distinguish between what is false and what is true is to know Jesus who is truth. I cannot emphasize enough the need to rely on Him. We come to know Jesus through prayer and the study of His Word. The servant of the Lord gives us a serious warning about this:

As spiritualism more closely imitates the nominal Christianity of the day, it has greater power to deceive and ensnare. Satan himself is converted, after the modern order of things. He will appear in the character of an angel of light. Through the agency of spiritualism, miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and many undeniable wonders will be performed. And as the spirits will profess faith in the Bible, and manifest respect for the institutions of the church, their work will be accepted as a manifestation of divine power.

The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable. Church members love what the world loves and are ready to join with them, and Satan determines to unite them in one body and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism. Papists, who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church, will be readily deceived by this wonder-working power; and Protestants, having cast away the shield of truth, will also be deluded. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium.

Through spiritualism, Satan appears as a benefactor of the race, healing the diseases of the people, and professing to present a new and more exalted system of religious faith; but at the same time he works as a destroyer. His temptations are leading multitudes to ruin. Intemperance dethrones reason; sensual indulgence, strife, and bloodshed follow. Satan delights in war, for it excites the worst passions of the soul and then sweeps into eternity its victims steeped in vice and blood. It is his object to incite the nations to war against one another, for he can thus divert the minds of the people from the work of preparation to stand in the day of God. * 3

Spiritualism is a tool that captures, that hypnotizes. Through the miracles and wonders the enemy will try to deceive if possible even the elect. Do not play with the enemy nor venture into his territory. Let us seek Jesus in prayer every day and we will overcome all. Our Lord Jesus should always be in our hearts and our minds.

JESUS IS COMING!

1 * Acts 19:11-20
2 * Matthew 7:21-23
3 * "The Impending Conflict," "The Great Controversy, Ellen G. White.
4 * Image - http://www.stsvartanantz.com/