Adventist Apology Site exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once del

Time 2021-01-07 04:03:13

Web Name: Adventist Apology Site exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once del

WebSite: http://thegladtidingsministry.com

ID:159099

Keywords:

ye,that,should,

Description:

“Christ was treated as we deserve that we may be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. By His stripes we are healed.”“When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God”God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning, and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co-workers with Him.Worry is blind, and cannot discern the future; but Jesus sees the end from the beginning. In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief. Our heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us, of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service and honor of God supreme will find perplexities vanish, and a plain path before their feet.Those who decide to do nothing in any line that will displease God, will know, after presenting their case before Him, just what course to pursue. And they will receive not only wisdom, but strength. Power for obedience, for service, will be imparted to them, as Christ has promised. Whatever was given to Christ—the “all things” to supply the need of fallen men—was given to Him as the head and representative of humanity. And “whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” 1 John 3:22.As Christ lived the law in humanity, so we may do if we will take hold of the Strong for strength. But we are not to place the responsibility of our duty upon others, and wait for them to tell us what to do. We cannot depend for counsel upon humanity. The Lord will teach us our duty just as willingly as He will teach somebody else. If we come to Him in faith, He will speak His mysteries to us personally. Our hearts will often burn within us as One draws nigh to commune with us as He did with Enoch.The way to heaven is consecrated by the Saviour s footprints. The path may be steep and rugged, but Jesus has traveled that way; His feet have pressed down the cruel thorns, to make the pathway easier for us. Every burden that we are called to bear He Himself has borne.Never can the cost of our redemption be realized until the redeemed shall stand with the Redeemer before the throne of God. Then as the glories of the eternal home burst upon our enraptured senses we shall remember that Jesus left all this for us, that He not only became an exile from the heavenly courts, but for us took the risk of failure and eternal loss. Then we shall cast our crowns at His feet, and raise the song, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:12.There are numerous interpretations regarding what Ellen White meant by her writings are a lesser light.Genesis 1:16 KJVAnd God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also..Moses uses the word greater light instead of sun and lesser light instead of moon.The sun has its own light. Moon doesn t have its own light but reflects the light of son.One school of thought is the writings of the prophets are a lesser light leading to the greater light Jesus.KJV 2 Peter 119 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: John the Baptist referring to Jesus says Jesus is greater than himself a prophet. Matthew 3:11 KJVI indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier (greater) than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:In revelation 12 we see the church clothed with the righteousness of Christ (sun) and standing on the writings of the prophets(moon).Revelation 12:1 KJVAnd there appeared a great wonder a in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:Please note when we walk in the presence of sun then there is no need for lamp. Lamp or moon is required in the absence of sun. All the writings of prophets are like moon guiding us until we be with God forever. Today there are 100s of gurus teaching human philosophies and wisdom as art of living. I have even read lot of them. The last such author whom I read is Robin Sharma. I have all his books in my library.But there is one book which I read and found to be divinely inspired and superior to all the other books is Help in Daily Living by Ellen White inspired by the Spirit of God.If you really want to learn The Art and science of Living I recommend this book.Few of my favourite quotes from this bookOur heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing. Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet. HDL 21.Man can shape circumstances, but circumstances should not be allowed to shape the man. We should seize upon circumstances as instruments by which to work. We are to master them, but should not permit them to master us. HDL 45.The faithful discharge of today s duties is the best preparation for tomorrow s trials. Do not gather together all tomorrow s liabilities and cares and add them to the burden of today. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34. HDL 21.Often our plans fail that God s plans for us may succeed. HDL 12.often He who understands us better than we understand ourselves refuses to permit us selfishly to seek the gratification of our own ambition. HDL 12The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and lovable Christian. HDL 8Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God s plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps. HDL 18God never leads His children otherwise than they would choose to be led, if they could see the end from the beginning and discern the glory of the purpose which they are fulfilling as co workers with Him. HDL 19. The identity of Holy Ghost is challenged by the non trinitarians claiming that He is force or presence of God.There are lot of unambiguous evidence in scriptures which proves that Holy Spirit is a person very much as the Father and Son.Three strongest statements on the belief of three person Godhead are below:Go ye therefore, and teach j all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost Mat 28:19The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion i of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Cor 13:14For there are three that bear record b in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1 John 5:7 (some Bible translations from corrupted manuscripts do not have it. These manuscripts are rejected by early church as corrupted)Some other verses which are very much unambiguous in proving the person of Holy Ghost.Evidence 1:Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:13,14 (Emphasis by me)Holy Spirit .a) doesn t speak of Himselfb) Hearsc) speaksd) glorify another persone) receives from someoneThese qualities show that Holy Ghost is a person not power or presence.Evidence 2:And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: John 16:8He reproves the worldEvidence 3And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30He can be grievedEvidence 4And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, d that he may abide with you for ever; John 14:16He is another comforter like Jesus. The Greek word used for another means another being of same kind or species.Evidence 5Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom 8:26He intercedes on behalf of humans. A power or presence cannot speak on behalf of somebody.Evidence 6But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Acts 5:3He can be lied to. Can you lie to a power or presence.Evidence 7But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing h to every man severally as he will. 1 Cor 12:11Holy Spirit has His own will.Evidence 8He directs and instructs menThen the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. Acts 8:29While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee. Acts 10:19 Key text: I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Rev 1:8Christ is the Lord who was, who is and who is going to come; Christ is talking here not the Father as watch tower society teaches.Jesus and His Omnipresence:Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. John 1: 45-49Jesus could see Nathaniel even though He was physically present somewhere else in His body.Please note: Christ during His incarnation limited His Almighty nature and used it only at the will of His Father.For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Mat 18:20Jesus can be present everywhere and hence He promises to be present when people gather in His name.Jesus and His Omniscience:But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. John 2:24, 25Bible says Jesus knows everything.And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, Luke 9:47 (marginal)Jesus and His Omnipotence: and by him all things consist. Col 1: 17 (marginal).. upholding all things by the word of his power.. Heb 1:3 (marginal)Bible says everything in the universe functions by the power of Christ. Who invented sports and games?Satan has devised a multitude of ways in which to keep men from serving God. He has invented sports and games. R H SEP 10, 1901Why Ellen White did not want students to see cricket?And while men were playing the game of cricket, and others were watching the game, Satan was playing the game of life for their souls. Therefore we decided to locate our school where the students would not see cricket matches or horse races. We are just where God wants us to be, and many conversions have taken place in this school. AUCR July 26, 1899, Art. A, par. 19What happens when we watch cricket or football?On one occasion a view of these things was presented before me. The students were playing games of tennis and cricket matches. Then I saw an expression of the character of those amusements. It was presented to me as a species of idolatry, like the idols of the nations. The were more than visible spectators on the ground; Satan and his angels were at work on human minds, making his impressions. Ms 32, 1900What makes Satan delighted?The public feeling is that manual labor is degrading, yet men may exert themselves as much as they choose at cricket, baseball, or in pugilistic contests, without being regarded as degraded. Satan is delighted when he sees human beings using their physical and mental powers in that which does not educate, which is not useful, which does not help them to be a blessing to those who need their help. While the youth are becoming expert in games that are of no real value to themselves or to others, Satan is playing the game of life for their souls, taking from them the talents that God has given them, and placing in their stead his own evil attributes. It is his effort to lead men to ignore God. CT 274To what satan uses his power to gain his object?How much time is spent by intelligent human beings in horse racing, cricket matches, and ball playing! But will indulgence in these sports give men a desire to know truth and righteousness? Will it keep God in their thoughts? Will it lead them to inquire, How is it with my soul? All the powers of Satan are set in operation to hold the attention to frivolous amusements, and he is gaining his object. He is interposing his devisings between God and the soul. Ms96-1899.17What is the characteristics of these games?Some of the most popular amusements, such as football and boxing, have become schools of brutality. They are developing the same characteristics as did the games of ancient Rome. The love of domination, the pride in mere brute force, the reckless disregard of life, are exerting upon the youth a power to demoralize that is appalling. AH 500.What is the example of Christ?I cannot find an instance in the life of Christ where he devoted time to play and amusement. He was the great Educator for the present and the future life. I have not been able to find one instance where he educated his disciples to engage in amusement of football or pugilistic games, to obtain physical exercise, or in theatrical performances; and yet Christ was our pattern in all things. SpTed 191Other quotes on this subject:What force of powers is put into your games of football and your other inventions after the way of the Gentiles exercises which bless no one! Just put the same powers into exercise in doing useful labor, and would not your record be more pleasing to meet in the great day of God? FE 229At the horse races and football matches, which are attended by thousands and thousands of people, lives for which Christ shed his blood are thrown away. What will become of the souls of the men and boys whose lives are thus extinguished? Will they be counted worthy of the redemption which Christ died to secure for them? RH June 13, 1907I had sent to Battle Creek to Professor Prescott, and to all our schools, in regard to the amusement question in match games and football. The light was given me that these things were not having an influence to help the students in the perfection of Christian character or in scholastic perfection. The dean of the English church came in to have teeth filled, and we had to suspend operations. Ms87-1893. a) First BornCol 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature (KJV)The preposition of suggests that Jesus is a created being. But we need to understand that the preposition is not there in the original Greek and was supplemented to complete the sentence.Some translations render the word over instead of of .The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. NIVChrist is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation NLTHow do we know that we should use over not of?We have seen in lesson 4 that Bible is very clear on that Jesus is not a created being. Check my website for lesson 4 in case you missed it.The word firstborn means the one who is having preminence.And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: Exo 4:22Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. Psalms 89: 27Someone can be made into firstborn!b) BegottenAnother misunderstood phrase is Jesus was begotten. In lesson 4 we saw that Bible is very clear that Jesus coexisting with Father since eternity.Now we understand the term begotten.Paul says he had begotten son.I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Philemon 1:10For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 1 Cor 4: 15We can spiritually begot someone.By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. Heb 11:17Isaac is called Abraham s only begotten son though he had 7 other sons.How do we know Jesus was spiritually begotten for a purpose.Bible tells us why Jesus is called begotten son. Read this carefully. You will Jesus is called begotten son for a reason.God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that He hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Acts 13:33Jesus was begotten as son for the plan of salvation. The word begotten was fulfilled when Jesus was resurrected. Please read the above verse again.In Psalms 2 we see the below sequencev1-3, we see man s sin. Humanity s rebellion against God and Messiah (here Anointed)v7-12, God declares His plan for humanity i.e., Jesus is begotten as son., higher than the kings of the earth. Psalms 89: 27(All Emphasis on Bible Verses are by me) Some Christians teach that Jesus was the first created being. Some Christians teach that Father alone existed in the beginning and Jesus was literally begotten by the Father into a new being.Does Bible support those views?Isa 48:12 Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last. (Emphasis by me)The Old Testament God repeatedly claims that He is the first and He is the last. God created all things and nothing existed before God, hence He claims to be the first. Similarly everything is sustained by God. After Him there will be nothing hence He claims to be the last.God alone can claim that He is first and lastIn New Testament we see Jesus also making the same claim!Rev 2:8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive (Emphasize by me)Jesus also repeatedly claims in New Testament that He is the first and last.If God created Jesus or literally begot Jesus then Jesus cannot be First; at the maximum Jesus can be second.By claiming to be first and the last just like God of the old testament, Jesus tells us that He co-existed with God from eternity without any beginning.Let us see another verse which makes it very clear.John 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.It says all created things are created by Jesus. There is no created thing which is not created by Jesus. Logically it means Father did not create anything without Jesus; also logically Jesus is not a created being. We need to understand that the word god is not a name of a person but it is title given to a person like King or President.God is also name given to a being who possesses these things omniscient, omnipresent and omnipresence. To make it clearer, it is name of a species like man, lion or tiger.Let us see the below three verses which helps us understand the term god .Who, being in the *form of God*, thought it not robbery to be *equal with God* Phi 2:6We see two things, Jesus is equal with a person called God (title of a particular individual) and Jesus is in the form of God (species of an individual).In the beginning was the Word, and the *Word was with God*, and the *Word was God*. John 1:1Jesus was with God (title of particular individual) and Jesus was (also) God (species of an individual belong to).What is this title of an individual and species of an individual! Let us see the below verse which helps us to understand.This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them(mankind species); and blessed them, and called their (notices the plurality) name Adam (name of the species both man and woman), in the day when they were created. Gen 5:1,2 (the words in brackets are mine)Adam (which means man in Hebrew) is title of a person and also name of the species mankind.Example:Man title of a personMan name of the species ( man and woman are collectively called man)Lion title of a male lionLion name of the species (both lion and lioness are collectively called with their species name i.e., lion)In summary the title God belongs to Father alone. But Jesus is also god not in title but as a being (He is not an angelic being or any other created being). Jesus is a self existing being just like the Father who has no beginning and end (we will see this in the next lesson)Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Titus 2:13And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. 1 John 5:20I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. Rev 1:8For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6 Evidence 1:The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Psa 110:1We see a messianic prophecy where God addressing Messiah whom David calls as Lord.Evidence 2:Come ye near unto me, hear ye this; I have not spoken in secret from the beginning; from the time that it was, there am I: and now the Lord God, and his Spirit, hath sent me. Isa 48:16Jesus speaking here as the one who speaks from the beginning. He says God and His Spirit has sent Him.Evidence 3:And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Gen 3:22God speaking about man who became like one of them (plural).Evidence 4:For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isa 9:6Another messianic prophecy where Messiah is called as both everlasting Father and mighty God.Evidence 5:But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2Messiah is from eternity who had no beginning. Muslims and Jews deny that God has a son. Do we have sufficient evidence in Old Testament to prove that God has a son?Evidence 1:Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? *who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son s name*, if thou canst tell? Pro 30:4 (Emphasis by me)The above verse is talking about God (who has established all ends of the earth) and the says He has a son.Evidence 2:I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.Kiss l the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Psa 2: 7, 12.In verse 7 we that God declares someone as His son. Also this son cannot be a human or created being as we see in verse 12 that we are asked to trust in the son. Throughout Psalms we are asked to put our trust in God and not in man. Psalms 2.12 won t contradict all other verses in Psalms which is asking us to put our Trust in God alone. So the son in verse 7 must be God. Pastors should be trained as medical missionaries. We lack this badly in our theology seminaries.The minister will often be called upon to act the part of a physician. He should have a training that will enable him to administer the simpler remedies for the relief of suffering. Ministers and Bible workers should prepare themselves for this line of work; for in doing it, they are following the example of Christ. They should be as well prepared by education and practice to combat disease of the body as they are to heal the sin sick soul by pointing to the great Physician. MM 253Doors that have been closed to him who merely preaches the gospel will be opened to the intelligent medical missionary. God reaches hearts through the relief of physical suffering. Manuscript 58, 1901I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work. Counsels on Health, 533 (1901).Medical missionary work is the right hand of the gospel. It is necessary to the advancement of the cause of God. As through it men and women are led to see the importance of right habits of living, the saving power of the truth will be made known. Every city is to be entered by workers trained to do medical missionary work. As the right hand of the third angel s message, God s methods of treating disease will open doors for the entrance of present truth. Testimonies for the Church 7:59I can see in the Lord s providence that the medical missionary work is to be a great entering wedge, whereby the diseased soul may be reached. Counsels on Health, 535 (1893)Medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel, the door through which the truth for this time is to find entrance to many homes . A demonstration of the principles of health reform will do much toward removing prejudice against our evangelical work. The Great Physician, the originator of medical missionary work, will bless all who thus seek to impart the truth for this time. Counsels on Health, 497 (1902).The principles of health reform are found in the Word of God. The gospel of health is to be firmly linked with the ministry of the Word. It is the Lord s design that the restoring influence of health reform shall be a part of the last great effort to proclaim the gospel message. Medical Ministry, 259As a means of overcoming prejudice and gaining access to minds, medical missionary work must be done, not in one or two places only, but in many places where the truth has not yet been proclaimed. We are to work as gospel medical missionaries, to heal the sin sick souls by giving them the message of salvation. This work will break down prejudice as nothing else can. Testimonies For The Church 9:211 (1909). He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. Mat 13:22And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. Mark 4.19And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luke 8.14Four reasons1. Care of this world2. Deceitfulness of riches3. Lust for worldly possessions4. Pleasures of this lifeWe were never taught in our pulpits that riches deceive.The first reason care of this world reminds me this verseLuke 21:34. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.Cares of this life will take eternal life away from us.Martha was worried and focussed on preparing food for Jesus. Mary sat at Jesus feet eagerly listening to His words of eternal life. To Martha Jesus said.And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. Luke 10. 41, 42There is only one thing we ever need to care for: to be at the feet of Jesus listening to Him. Throughout history almost in every culture except Israelites and even in modern times people tend to divide man on the nature of the job they do.People have developed a mindset that those who do manual work are inferior.Manual work is looked down.For example in medieval Europe, man was divided into noble class, merchant class and labour class.Some cultures gave religious color to casteism. They convinced people to believe that God created people to belong to certain caste.Mosaic Judaism and Christianity taught a principle different from all these cultures.In Bible God gave the job of tending plants in the garden of Eden. Post expulsion from the garden man s primary job was to take care of the land. Man was not a hunter and gatherer of food as evolutionist believe. Man grew food and entire humanity were basically farmers and manual workers.All men lived a self sustaining life. They grew their own food, they built their own house and made their own furniture.Their primary education was to know God.As some men of means got others to work for them, they developed a view that those who have people work under them is superior to the ones work for them. This mindset made men of means to do less manual work and depend on others to do manual work.In the economy of ancient Israel all men were given an equal portion of land. All Israelites were farmers and manual workers. In the culture of Israel all men were required to learn manual work. In the school of prophets manual work was part of their education. There was no caste system in Israel.Christ lived in a time when humanity looked down upon the labour class. But God the Father sent His son to be a carpenter. He knew manual work is important for His son to prepare for His ministry. Son of God came to serve not to be served.To answer the title which caste does Christ belong to. In God s eyes there is no caste.All men are of one bloodAnd hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth Acts 17.26God hates casteCaste is hateful to God. He ignores everything of this character. DoA p403Christ came to destroy casteNo distinction on account of nationality, race, or caste, is recognized by God. He is the Maker of all mankind. All men are of one family by creation, and all are one through redemption. Christ came to demolish every wall of partition, to throw open every compartment of the temple, that every soul may have free access to God. Col p386Christ do not tolerate casteThey should be taught that the gospel of Christ tolerates no spirit of caste CE 201Christ ignores casteThe Saviour ignores both rank and caste, worldly honor and riches. It is character and devotedness of purpose that are of high value with Him. Cch 283In the religion of Christ there is no casteThe life of Christ established a religion in which there is no caste, a religion by which Jew and Gentile, free and bond, are linked in a common brotherhood, equal before God. Cch 289 ​After entering into a relationship the believer needs to remain faithful until the end to enter into eternal life.But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. Mat 24.13 For we are made partakers of Christ, If we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end. Hebrews 3:14 .If a saved man choose to be unfaithful his name will be blotted out from book of lifeRevelation 3:5 , He that overcometh . . . I will not blot out his name out of the book of life. If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38. If we sin willfully . . . there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 10:26What can we do to remain in this saving relationship If ye do these things, ye shall never fall. 2 Peter 1:10 If thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Romans 11:22 1. Moral law written by God and Ceremonial law written by MosesExodus 31:18, And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God . Deuteronomy 31:9, And Moses wrote this law . 2. Moral law declared by God to people but ceremonial law declared by God to MosesDeuteronomy 4:36; 5:22, Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more . And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me. Notice the key word He added no more . God did not add ceremonial law to be a continuation of Moral law.Exodus 33:9, And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses . 3. God distinguished Ten commandments and ceremonial lawDeuteronomy 4:13-14, And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. 2 Kings 21:8, Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them4. Moral law tells us what is sin. Mosaic law gives the penalty for breaking and ordinance to get forgiveness for sin. Constitutes ceremonies and civil law.Daniel 9:11, Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God.5. Moral law was placed inside the ark as foundation for God s presence but mosaic law was kept aside as witness against peopleDeuteronomy 31:24-26, And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book , until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. Exodus 25:16, And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. 6. God made Moses to write mosaic law but did not made Moses to write ten commandments even after the tablets were broken by Moses.Exodus 34:1, Hew thee two tablets of stone like unto first; and I will write upon the tablets the words that were on the first tables , which thou didst break . ​There are more than one law in Bible1. Moral law or Ten commandmentsThe moral law or Ten commandments are given to entire mankind.Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Ecc 12.13 (Marginal)God wrote the moral law with His own hand.And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. Exo 31.18Only those keep the commandments will enter into heavenBlessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev 22.14The moral law was kept even before it was given in written form to MosesBecause that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Gen 26.5New testament believers need to keep the commandmentsCircumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 1 cor 7.192. Ceremonial laws or laws of MosesThe second type of law is the ceremonial lawsIt is written by MosesAnd Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel. Deu 31.9Law of Moses describes the punishment for breaking the ten commandmentsYea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that is written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him. Dan 9.11Note what Daniel is says law of Moses has punishment for breaking laws of God. There are two laws here.Mosaic law need not be kept by new testament believers as they point to Jesus.Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. 1 cor 7.193. Law of sinROM 7 and 8 talks about law of sin and how this enslaves us to sin.For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. ROM 8.2.For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: [23] But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. [24] O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? [25] I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Rom 7.22-25.4. Civil lawsThese were laws given to the nation of Israel.These are not ceremonial laws but these are laws governing the civil aspects of the nation of Israel.For example eye for an eye; tooth for a tooth are civil laws5. Health lawsThese laws are first given to Adam, Bible records Noah had an knowledge of it but it is first given in written form to Moses.For example what to do be carcasses of animals, how to pass stool, what to do with lepers constitute the health laws. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away. Hebrew 8:13Covenant means agreement.Old covenant was between God and Israelites. Mediator Moses..New covenant is between God and spiritual Israelites. Mediator Christ.In old covenant law was written by God in stone.In new covenant law is written by God in our heartsFor this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: heb 8.10But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. Jeremiah 31:33In the old covenant Israelites made covenant with God to keep his laws but they didn t follow it.They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;. PSA 78.10The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. ISA 24.5Set the trumpet to thy mouth. He shall come as an eagle against the house of the Lord, because they have transgressed my covenant, and trespassed against my law. Hos 8.1So God has to make a new covenant with us the spiritual Israelites. This time God writes the law in our inwards parts. Law is written in our hearts. God gives a new Nature which keeps the law perfectly. We keep the law out of love not in a legalistic way. 1. We get more time to spend with God2. We get more time to spend with our children3. Surrounded by Nature which is a constant reminder of its creator4. Surrounded by Nature which gives peace of mind5. Manual labour in country is exercise, no need to allocate separate time for exercise. Your work is your exercise6. You can give Bible based character building education to children. No need to outsource their education7. No air pollution8. You can grow organic food. No pesticides9. You are prepared for upcoming crisis which prohibits Christians from buying food.10. More time with God enables you to be a better minister of God in the world.11. Less disease12. You can grow your own medicine13. No need to live a life to compete with others like buying better car than neighbour or high end smartphone just to make ourselves fit in the society or accepted by society.14. Your children don t get spoiled by other children in citiesCompiled by thegladtidingsministry.com But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Dan 10.13Gabriel was withstood by Prince of Persia who is none other than Satan himself. Many times we find Bible using name of human kings to refer Satan. Isa 14 and Eze 28 are other examples.While satan was resisting Gabriel for 21 days another angel Michael comes to his aid. Satan who could resist Gabriel is not able to withstand Michael.Who is this Michael?Michael, first of the chief heads, Dan 10.13 (Youngs Literal translation)Michael is the head of archangels.Also Michael is called the prince of Daniel and his people Dan 10. 21. It is interesting to note that Michael is not only the head of Angels but also the prince of God s children. This gives us a clue that Michael is not a normal angel like Gabriel or Lucifer. He is much more than an Angel because He is the Prince of all God s children. Who could be a prince of people. Only King s son is considered as the prince. To Samuel God said that He is the king of Israel. So Michael should be the son of God Jesus Christ. Wow. Can we prove that from Bible?John 5. 25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. [28] Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.Jesus tells us that in the last day the dead will be resurrected hearing his voice. The book of Daniel associates the resurrection of dead with Michael the archangel.Dan 1: 1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: [2] And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.Apostle Paul also writes that Jesus will descend with the voice of Archangel.1 Thes 4.16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel , and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (emphasis supplied by me)Jesus is Michael the archangel.So does Bible say that Jesus is an angelic being not son of God. Certainly not.The hebrew word for angel simply means messenger. Even in tamil bible angel is translated as Messenger. Jesus is the chief messenger for the Godhead. He also heads the angelic force and he is the prince of God s people. The Hebrew word malak (found 103 times in the OT) simply means “messenger”,” and hence employedto denote any agent God sends forth to execute his purposes. It is used of an ordinary messenger(Job 1:14: 1 Sam. 11:3; Luk 7:24; 9:52), of prophets (Isa 42:19; Hag 1:13), of priests (Mal 2:7), andministers of the New Testament (Rev 1:20).The meaning of hebrew word Michael means the one who is like God. Bible tells us that Jesus shares the same glory as God.Conclusion: Michael the archangel is not a created being but the creator God Jesus Himself.To know more on Michael the archangel please find my detailed article https://thegladtidingsministry.com/2012/06/10/amazing-truth-about-michael-the-arch-angel/ 24. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. [25] Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [26] And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. [27] And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Dan 9. 24-27This prophecy is very important for us to learnReason 1. This prophecy identifies who Messiah is.Reason 2. Studying this prophecy unlocks every other time prophecies in Bible.Reason 3. This prophecy proves day-year principle of interpreting time propheciesReason 4. This prophecy helps to protect from many end time delusions especially the ones concerning the country of Israel.The prophecy is divided into several parts 1. Seventy weeks probation for jewish church to repent v242. Time from the commandment to rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah is 69 weeks3. In the middle of 70th week Messiah will make an end to the sacrificial system by fulfilling the ceremonial law with His own death4. After 70 weeks abomination of desolation enters Jerusalem and destroys the city as punishment for not repenting.In the beginning of chapter 9 we see Daniel praying for His people. Disobedience caused his people to become slaves in a foreign nation. It is now time for jews to return back to Israel. At the end of this chapter we find Gabriel helping Daniel to understand the vision. In Daniel 8. 27 we find Daniel astonishing at the vision of 2300 days and he was not able to understand it. So the vision which Gabriel is trying to help in chapter 9 should be that of 2300 days.Part 1.Gabriel says 70 weeks are determined ( hebrew cutoff ) for Jews to repent and anoint the Messiah. This 70 weeks cannot be literal as it just covers a span of one year and few months. Applying the one prophetical day = one lietral year we arrive at AD 34 at the end of 70 prophetical weeks. So what happened at AD 34 which sealed the probation of Jews. In AD 34 jews stone Stephen and killing showing that they don t have remorse for killing Jesus and affirm that they will continue their rejection of Christ as Messiah. God chose Paul as an apostle to gentiles and thereby make Christian church as the new promised people. All the promises and blessings which were meant for Jewish nation will now shifted to the Christian church.Part 2. At the end 69 prophetical weeks i.e., 69 *7 years Christ was baptised in AD 31 and entered into public ministry. Part 3. In the middle of the week i.e., after 3 1/2 literal years Christ was crucified in the cross and fulfilled the ceremonial laws including sacrificial offerings.Part 4. 15. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) [16] Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: [17] Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: [18] Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. [19] And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! Mat 24. Jesus predicted the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 as the fulfillment of Daniel 9.Titus with Army destroyed Jerusalem and its temple which is a punishment of God for murdering His son.Dan 9 exactly predicts the time of Messiah s ministry and even the time of His death. It also helps us to decode other time prophecies by applying day-year principle. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; Mat 27. 51Jesus died on the day of passover as the true passover. All the ceremonies of Jewish religion points to Christ. Since Christ fulfilled the ceremonial system there was no more need to the temple and its system.God rent the veil of Temple as soon as Jesus died and also destroyed the temple in AD 70. And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Dan 8.14Dan 2 and 7 tells us that the world will be ruled by pagan powers and post that there will be judgement and the reigning will be given to the saints. But in those chapters we wont find how long it will take for the prophecy to be fulfilled.Dan 8 repeats the prophecies of Dan 2 and 7 and also gives a timeline for the prophecies.How long shall be the vision (concerning) the daily (sacrifice), and the transgression of desolation, to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trodden under foot? Dan 8. 13 (marginal)Daniel is informed that it will be 2300 evenings and mornings (i.e., 2300 days) until the sanctuary will be cleansed. Let us recap the sequence in Dan 2 and 7 to understand what is cleansingDan 2 = Babylon Medo persia Greece Rome mixed powers Second coming dominance given to the saintsDan 7 = Babylon Medo persia Greece Rome Judgement Dan 8 = Medo-Persia Greece Rome sanctuary cleansed.Comparing this three chapters we understand the sanctuary cleansing is related to second coming and Judgement.In Bible we read there are two sanctuaries of God. The original is in heaven and its model in earth. The model in earth was a representation of the original sanctuary in heaven. We dont have the earthly sanctuary anymore so the cleansing must be that of heaven. Also we learn from Bible that the earthly sanctuary do not have any significance post the death of Christ.Was there a cleansing in earthly sanctuary which is symbol of the cleansing in heaven.The sins of the saints which is Transferred to the Sanctuary will be Cleansed on the day of atonement. Whichever soul was found unworthy in the day of atonement will be removed from the saints.We also read in Bible that the heavenly record book has sins of saints and sinners and the records of saints will be removed from the heavenly records during cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary.Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Acts 3. 19Peters tells that the repented sins will be blotted out during the time of refreshing.So when does the 2300 days (2300 literal years ) starts.Dan 9. 24 Seventy weeks are determined (hebrew cutoff)upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. [25] Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. [26] And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. [27] And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.As the vision continues in Dan 9 an Angels informs that 70 weeks (490 literal years) is cutoff for Jews to reconcile with God and Messiah to be crucified.This 490 years were cutoff from a longer period which 2300 years as both the time prophecies are one and same vision. The 70 weeks prophecy started in 457BC when the degree to rebuild Jerusalem went into effect. At the end of 69 prophetical weeks Christ was anointed. In the middle of next prophetical week Christ was crucified and at the end of 70 prophetical weeks the probation for Jews was closed. (And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease,) Yea, he magnified himself even to the prince of the host, and by him the daily (sacrifice) was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. Dan 8. 11I have put the word sacrifice within brackets because the word sacrifice is not there in original hebrew text. It means the horn took away daily and not daily sacrifice.From the beginning of Advent movement there are two views concerning the meaning of the word daily. I m sharing the view which many pioneers including Uriah Smith had.Then I saw in relation to the “daily” (Daniel 8:12) that the word “sacrifice” was supplied by man’s wisdom, and does not belong to the text, and that the Lord gave the correct view of it to those who gave the judgment hour cry. When union existed, before 1844, nearly all were united on the correct view of the “daily”; but in the confusion since 1844, other views have been embraced, and darkness and confusion have followed. Time has not been a test since 1844, and it will never again be a test. EW 74.Ellen White is saying the word sacrifice doesn t belong to the text. She also says those who gave the judgment cry in 1844 had the correct view.So what is the view of those who gave the judgement cry in 1844? 2 Thes 2. 6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.7For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.Paul says someone is preventing Roman Bishop to take world power. This someone needs to be taken away .Pioneers when the read this text understood that if Pope needs to get world power the roman emperor needs to be removed (taken away).by him the daily (sacrifice) was taken away, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down. Dan 8.11. What happened in history is the roman emperor gave his Capital, Power and Army to Pope. Pope used the army to destroy pagan powers. The hebrew word used for sanctuary here is used to refer both God s sanctuary and also to refer to pagan temples. Use of word sanctuary here makes people think that Pope removed sanctuary but pope actually removed pagan powers using the roman army.So what is daily. The hebrew word for daily here is tamid which means perpetual or something happening again and again.The pagan political powers of Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece and Rome are succeeding each other. Finally the pagan political power was replaced by a religious power Papal Rome.2 Thes 2.6,7 and Early Writings p74 are the key to understand this. In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared unto me, even unto me Daniel, after that which appeared unto me at the first. Dan 8.1All the prophecies in Daniel and Revelation are one and same theme centering on the great holy war happening between good and evil. The visions concerning the four kingdoms first appeared in Dan 2 and repeated in Dan 7 also repeats in Dan 8. This time the first kingdom is left out. In Dan 7 the fourth kingdom was given more specifics and in Dan 8 the fourth kingdom was once again given more importance. Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, and, behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last. I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great. Dan 8. 3,4 In this vision Ram is used to represent Medo-Persia. Just like Dan 7 where one side of the bear is higher than the other here one horn is higher than the other. The vision says the Kingdom became GREAT.5. And as I was considering, behold, an he goat came from the west on the face of the whole earth, and touched not the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes. [6] And he came to the ram that had two horns, which I had seen standing before the river, and ran unto him in the fury of his power. [7] And I saw him come close unto the ram, and he was moved with choler against him, and smote the ram, and brake his two horns: and there was no power in the ram to stand before him, but he cast him down to the ground, and stamped upon him: and there was none that could deliver the ram out of his hand. [8] Therefore the he goat waxed very great: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and for it came up four notable ones toward the four winds of heaven.An he goat is used to represent Greece. The notable horn is Alexander the great. After his death the kingdom was divided into four smaller kingdoms by his generals Cassander, Lysimachus, Seleucus and Ptolemy. The vision says Greece became VERY GREAT.9. And out of one of them came forth a little horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the pleasant land.Rome was represented by a little horn. No animal is used here to represent it. The key word which identifies Rome in this verse is the horn became EXCEEDINGLY GREAT. Medo-Persia was Great, Greece was Very Great and Rome was exceedingly great. Compared to all other kingdoms Rome is longer and exceedingly powerful.A common mistake many theologians make is with the word out of one of them . They think the little horn came out of four kingdoms of Greece. The gender of Hebrew word used for one of them points to the four winds of heaven not the four horns. Not reading this verse with the help of original Hebrew word causes them to fail to understand the prophecy. Dan 7:25 And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.The little horn power shall persecute the saints for a time, times and the dividing of time. What does the word time mean here. The same word time is used in Daniel chapter 4 to refer one year.Dan 4:32 And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.If the time refer to one year then time, times and the dividing of time is 3 1/2 years. This same prophecy of Daniel is also mentioned in its twin book revelation of the new testament.Dan 12:7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time , from the face of the serpent.Did the little horn rule for 3 1/2 years. We see in this prophecy of human history that the reign of little horn is between the rule of Rome and the judgement and even the second coming. So is it a literal 3 1/2 years. In the book of Daniel and Revelation the objects mentioned in the prophecies do not represent the literal thing. For example an animal or beast represents kingdom. A horn represents king or kingdom. Could there be a prophetical meaning for the time or the year. Especially when this prophecy of little horn being stretching from 4th century to this day.Is there a key in Bible which tells that a year could be a longer duration in the prophetical sense.Ezek 4:6 And when thou hast accomplished them, lie again on thy right side, and thou shalt bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days: I have appointed thee each day for a year.Num 14:34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days, each day for a year , shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.Is it possible that a prophetical day could be representing a year. So the 3 1/2 years is actually 1260 years. (A year in biblical time is 360 days)In the messanic prophecy of Daniel 9, a day is used to represent a year in the life of Jesus.And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, Dan 9. 27 (marginal) Here the prophecy says Jesus will do the ministry for 3 1/2 years i.e., in the middle of the prophetical week he will cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease by offering himself as the true sacrifice. All the sacrifices of the old Testament are symbols of Jesus. When Jesus died there was no more need of sacrifice. He made the sacrificial system to cease .So the papacy in the literal sense persecuted the saints for 1260 years.The prophecy can be found in the book of Revelation Rev 11:3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.Rev 13:5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.42 months x 30 days = 1260.The prophecy uses three different names to refer to the same period of the papal rule.3 1/2 years42 months1260 daysWas this fulfilled in history. Did papacy ruled after the roman empire for 1260 years.It is, therefore, by a particular decree of Divine Providence that, at the fall of the Roman Empire and its partition into separate kingdoms, the Roman Pontiff, whom Christ made the head and center of his entire Church, acquired civil power. − Pope Pius IX, Apostolic Letter Cum Catholica Ecclesia, March 26, 1860 Vigilius ascended the papal chair (538 A.D .) under the military protection of Belisarius. History of the Christian Church, Vol. 3, p. 3271260 years from 538 A.D comes to 1798 AD. What happened in 1798. In 1798 General Berthier made his entrance into Rome, abolished the papal government , and established a secular one. -Encyclopedia Britannica 1941 edition. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. Dan 12.4Bible tells us that the book of Daniel is of great significance in the end time. The prophecies of the book of Daniel will be studied by God s people in the end time. If the prophecies of the book is very significant in the end times then we the people living in the end time should study it fervently.Uriah Smith gives the following background about Daniel.He first appears as one of the noble captives of Judah, in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, at the commencement of the seventy years captivity, B.C.606. Jeremiah and Habakkuk were yet uttering their prophecies.  Ezekiel commenced soon after, and a little later, Obadiah;  but both these finished their work years before the close of the long and brilliant career of Daniel. Three prophets only succeeded him, Haggai and Zechariah, who exercised the prophetic office for a brief period contemporaneously, B.C.520 518, and Malachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, who flourished a little season about B.C.397. During the seventy years captivity of the Jews, B.C.606 536, predicted by Jeremiah (Jer.25:11), Daniel resided at the court of Babylon, most of the time prime minister of that brilliant monarchy.  His life affords a most impressive lesson of the importance and advantage of maintaining from earliest youth strict integrity toward God, and furnishes a notable instance of a man s maintaining eminent piety, and faithfully discharging all the duties that pertain to the service of God, while at the same time engaging in the most stirring activities, and bearing the weightiest cares and responsibilities that can devolve upon men in this earthly life.Questions:Why studying the book of Daniel is very important? What God says about Daniel?Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God. Eze 14.14Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. V20In God’s sight Daniel was a very righteous man.Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: Eze 28.3God says Daniel was a very wise manAnd he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. Dan 10. 11At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to shew thee; for thou art greatly beloved: therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision. Dan 9.23He was greatly beloved by HeavenWhen ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Mat 24.15Jesus recognised Daniel as a prophetWe can also be like DanielThe spirit that possessed Daniel, the youth of today may have; they may draw from the same source of strength, possess the same power of self-control, and reveal the same grace in their lives, even under circumstances as unfavorable. Though surrounded by temptations to self indulgence, especially in our large cities, where every form of sensual gratification is made easy and inviting, yet by divine grace their purpose to honor God may remain firm. Through strong resolution and vigilant watchfulness they may withstand every temptation that assails the soul. AG 256.5Questions:1. What does Bible tell about Daniel2. Is it possible for us to be like Daniel I found many SDA critics quoting Heb 9:12 from Modern Bible Translations and say Jesus entered once for all into the Most Holy Place after His ascension as opposed to what SDAs believe that He entered in the year 1844.For example (All emphasis supplied by me)NIV says He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. New Living Translation says With his own blood not the blood of goats and calves he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.  New King James Version says Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. But King James Version translated this differentlyKJV says  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemptionfor us. So which is the correct translation.Let us see the greek words used by Paul to refer to Sanctuary, Holy Place and Most Holy Place in the book of Hebrews.He used  hagion  to refer to the entire two apartment sanctuary Eg., Heb 9:1, he used  hagia  to refer holy place Eg., Heb 9:2 and he used hagia hagion  to refer to the holiest or Most Holy Place Eg., Heb 9:3.In Heb 9:12 Paul uses Hagia which means the Holy Place.Jesus entered into the Holy place in the sanctuary after His ascension.Addtional Information: Many critics argue think that God was in the Most Holy Place so Christ must have gone to Most Holy Place when He entered into the sanctuary. From the book Revelation let us see where was Christ when He ascended.When Apostle John first sees Jesus in the book of Revelation He sees Him in the holy place not the most holy place.Rev 1:12  And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks;The Greek word used here in Revelation 1:12 for candlestick is luchnia . It is the same word used in Hebrews 9:2 for the golden candlestick of the earthly sanctuary. The Septuagint (LXX), which is the Greek version of the Old Testament, uses the same word when describing the golden candlestick of the earthly sanctuary in the Holy Place. http://dedication.www3.50megs.com/Sanct_Revelation.htmlWhen we go further in Rev 4 we see God in the Holy place not in the Most Holy PlaceRev 4:1  After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven:The word door thura, in Revelation 4:1 appears many times in the Septuagint in direct reference to the door into the sanctuary. Leviticus 3:1 tells us the sacrifice is killed at the thura of the tabernacle. http://dedication.www3.50megs.com/Sanct_Revelation.htmlIn Rev 4:5 we see God sitting in the Holy Place where there were seven lamps of fire.Rev 4:5  And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.In Rev 5:8 and 8:3 we see the altar of IncenseRev 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, andgolden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.Rev 8:3  And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.After the dark ages we see Christ moving to the Most Holy Ministry.Rev 11:2  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months. Rev 11:3  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.  Rev 11:19  And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in His temple the ark of His testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail.Did God moved from Holy Place to the Most Holy place after the dark ages.The prophet Daniel in his vision sees that God s throne is not fixed to one location but rather it has wheels so it moves from one location to another.Dan 7:9  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: His throne was like the fiery flame, and His wheels as burning fire. And when Daniel sees God s throne with wheels, it is right after he sees the little horn in his vision i.e., right after the dark ages   Dan 7:8  I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. Ellen WhiteElder Williams gave this talk in the 1980’s, at which time he was in his 90’s. In this age the enemies of’ truth are bad-mouthing those whom the Lord has called to a special ministry and circulating enemy inspired lies about them. It seems most appropriate that eye-witness testimonies from people who were there and knew Ellen White personally have come to light to tell the truth about this humble godly 19th century lady. It is hard to discredit an honest personal testimony from someone who was there.It is also hard to find true prophets and messengers in our times. Many claim the gift, but very few are inspired from above. Compare what you read here and the difference becomes readily apparent.Here is Elder Harold Nathan William’s testimony, given in the twilight years of his life, to the inspiration of Ellen White’s Spirit of Prophecy described in Revelation 19:10. He no doubt has long since been laid to rest, but his testimony now lives on to bear witness to the truth about Ellen White and her gift.Many Seventh-day Adventist today have never taken the time to read the history of the prophetic gift in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  They have never heard about the two men, Hazen Foss and William Foye whom God called, but were too proud and were afraid that people would not believe them and died lost men.They haven t heard, and do not know that God then chose a frail young girl to be His messenger.  She felt too unworthy, because of her humility.  But God chose her to be His Seer.  God cannot use proud people, He can only use those who are humble and teachable.So many new members do not know that physicians examined that frail young women while she was in vision at different times, and could not detect any breath whatever.  Some of them even held her nostrils and her mouth shut for long periods of time that would normally have killed her.  And yet she lost no vitality, she lost no color. So many new members do not know that when in vision strong men could not move one of her arms as she pointed in vision to what she was seeing as a Seer.  I personally knew men and physicians who examined her, and were convinced that the manifestation was absolutely supernatural.  It was impossible to make her blink when she was in vision, and her eyes would be wide open. I knew one minister who asked permission and he even stuck his finger right in her eye, which was a cruel thing to do.  But she did not flinch, she was unconscious to anything going on around her.  She became the wife of Elder James White, and was known to millions of people as Mrs. Ellen Gould White. Now she was positively influenced supernaturally.  She was inspired. Was that inspiration from God or from Satan?  Well by their fruits shall ye know them.  On several occasions while in vision, Mrs. White held a Bible that weighed over eighteen pounds, on her outstretched hand, her arm outstretched, and held that Great Bible on her hand for long periods.  This happened the first time when she was a frail 17 year old girl, at which time she held it out at arms length for over a half hour. Afterwards they asked her to pick it up and she couldn t even hold it with two hands, much less pick it up.  That was in 1845. I challenge you to take a weight, something that weighs 18 ½ pounds, that is also bulky like a big book, and put it on your left hand and see if you can stretch your arm out, and see how long you can hold it there.  And for a frail girl do a thing like that, when a strong man would have to brace himself to even put it out there at arms length, that is something. But nothing like this was ever done for an amusement, financial gain or to exalt self.However, such phenomenal occurrences, while she was in vision did have a definite place in the beginning of her ministry in establishing confidence in supernatural inspiration.  She had more than 2000 visions and dreams, but after she was established in her ministry, those demonstrations ceased. My parents and grandparents before me knew Mrs. E.G. White personally, and I heard her speak at different times.  The things I know about her and her work are not mere hearsay, I know from personal experience.When she had visions in public they were most solemn occasions, and everyone present felt the presence of Christ s Spirit in their midst.  There was no hilarity or grossness, or repulsiveness in connection with her visions.  Heaven seemed very, very near indeed. When people are in trances caused by disease, there are unpleasant manifestations such as jerking, or drawing up of strange countenances. They may mutter, or have unnatural movements and unpleasant situations.  When Mrs. White was in vision, every movement was graceful, whether she was standing up or reclining.  There was never an embarrassing exposure of her person, or movements or expressions of repulsiveness. When in vision she had no knowledge of anything going on around her.  Though her eyes were open they saw nothing.  She was seeing and hearing things unearthly, heavenly things.  Nothing could make her blink.  It was supernatural. When she came out of a vision, she would inhale and take a very deep breath, and then wait awhile.  After a few intervals like this, she would begin breathing naturally.  Her visions varied from a very short time of a few seconds to many hours.  One vision was over 7 hours.  Though she was never in any convulsion in vision, the strongest man could not move her limbs. She might walk around the room while in vision, and point to things she was seeing in vision.  Yet every movement was graceful and natural. She might repeat Bible references while in vision, and yet without taking a breath.  Now you can t hold your breath and say anything. That also was a miracle.  It is naturally impossible to speak without breathing, but she did—that was miraculous.  She would speak clearly without breathing, and what she said was never funny or amusing or absurd while in vision, but elevating, edifying, and sacred.These manifestations were never used to raise money.  They were never put on to satisfy curiosity or for personal gain in any manner.  God s Seers have been given visions for the benefit and instruction of His people, for edification, comfort and protection from error as well as to expose sin.  Most of Mrs. White s visions were not in public, and when they were, it was always for a specific purpose and situation, and almost always during a most earnest season of prayer. I have been asked to tell some things that I know personally about Mrs. E.G. White.  As a boy I sat many times on a box, close in front of her while she talked and gave Bible studies to my relatives and friends.  She seemed to me like a dear Grandma.  When I was a man grown, I heard her speak in public, my little sister Beulah and her granddaughter Grace were playmates, so I heard much about the White home.  I heard what neighbors, farmers and trades people said about their relations with her.  Ones everyday life and relationships with others reveal their character.  She was ever concerned for the temporal as well as the spiritual welfare of those around her. Her writings and teachings always exalted Jesus Christ.  She never exalted herself.  She never claimed infallibility.  She was not above making mistakes, because she was human.  She was never a fortune-teller or did things to satisfy curiosity.  Her writings and testimonies were always for the good of someone, for edification, instruction, inspiration, encouragement or rebuking sin.  Her burden was to help people to be good citizens of earthly governments.  And true citizens of God s Government, and prepare for Jesus Second Coming and for life eternal. Most of my 93 years in this world as a Seventh-day Adventist, I have observed this:  Most people like D. M. Canright, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, A. T. Jones and others, whom I knew personally, who rejected and turned against her writings and messages, did so because of one of three things.  They were either angry because their sins or errors had been pointed out by her, or they were unthankful for help that she tried to give them, or else they became puffed up in their own estimation and had to scratch their head way out here.  Today, intellectual philosophy of the world has taken the place of Divine revelation.  I knew those men back there, and I have known others who have gone out since. Mrs. White claimed that an Angel instructed her, I personally saw the form and glory of an Angel while he stood by her writing chair.  I know she was heavenly inspired.  I shall say more about that later.There is a common misconception about the meaning of the word prophet.  There are so very many false prophets, that the word has become corrupted.  The main effort of false prophets has been to make predictions, many of which never come true.  Foretelling future events is the smallest part, the very smallest part of the work of a true prophet of God.  God s messengers are Seers who not only see visions and see what is coming in the future in regard to God s work, but also give instruction.  Most of the work of a true prophet is to instruct God servants regarding their manner of living, and to turn them from sinful ways to obedience to God s Commandment, BECAUSE they love God. It was because there are so many false prophets, and the abuse of the word prophet that Mrs. E.G. White chose not to be called a prophet, but rather God s Messenger.   Though my mother was much younger than Mrs. E. G. White, they were very good personal friends.  I was born on Wood Street in Battle Creek, Michigan, very near the former White home.  My grandfather Elder Luther Nathan Lane and his wife and the whole Lane/Williams tribe, knew Mrs. E. G. White personally.I want to tell you about my first intimate contact with Mrs. E.G. White, the first that I distinctly remember.  When I was a good sized boy, my mother took me to the Michigan camp meeting with her.  That year instead of having the early morning 5 o clock devotional meeting in the main tent,  those who were staying in 2 or 3 tents throughout the encampment met together.  My grandfather was in charge of the colporteurs tent, so he did not meet with us.  In our tent there was my grandmother, Mary Lane, her daughter Jenny, a Bible Worker, and her other daughter Effie, and another Bible Worker who was my mother and myself.  Just diagonally across the ally was the Haskell tent with Elder and Mrs. S. N. Haskell, and Mrs. E.G. White. The seven of us met together every morning.  I was old enough to understand Bible doctrines clearly.  We were so crowded that I sat directly in front of Mrs. White, so close that now and then our knees touched, but that was not embarrassing, because I loved that dear woman as though she was one of my grandma s.Sister S. N. Haskell led out one morning with a Bible study about Melchizedek, the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Holy Spirit.  When Sister Haskell finished, Sister E.G. White commended her for that study, and added much to it before we had our prayer service.  I was deeply interested in that study. My mother, my Aunt Jenny and Sister S. N. Haskell, each wrote down what Sister White said. My mother wrote it on a blank sheet of paper, and later copied that carefully in our copy of Mrs. White s book Early Writings.  My Aunt Jenny wrote her copy on a blank leaf inside her Bible.  Sister Haskell wrote her copy on a blank sheet of writing paper.  My wife Ida and I were married in South Lancaster, Mass. June 16, 1913.  The Haskell s were present at the wedding, and the reception.  At the time, Ida and I were guests at the Haskell s in their home. The next day as we were visiting, I asked them if they remembered that early morning meeting I just described to you.  Indeed they did. They took us down to the office of their Bible training school, and from their safe, Mrs. Haskell withdrew the notes that she had used in her copy of what Sister White had said.  I made a copy of her copy, and later compared it with my mother’s copy, and they were identical. More years went by. In 1923 with my family I went to visit my parents in California.  We were then living in Massachusetts.  On Sabbath I was invited to preach in the Sebastopol Church.  The Holy Spirit being one of my favorite Bible subjects, I preached about Melchizedek, and the Melchizedek Priesthood and the Holy Spirit.  No one knew what I was going to preach about.  My Aunt Jenny was present, and at the close of the sermon she asked permission to speak.  She had her old Bible with her, and from her page in the back, she read to the congregation the copy that she had made that early morning meeting so many, many years ago.  And it was identical with what I had just read to them from my copy of Sister White s copy, and we compared it again with my mother’s copy.  They were exactly the same.At one camp meeting in Michigan, I decided to find out something for myself.  At different times I had heard remarks about the miraculous way Mrs. White s voice carried.  And I decided to do some experimenting.  Was it because of her knowledge about the lungs and the vocal chords and how to use them, or was it miraculous?  I decided I would find out. Sister White was the main speaker that Sabbath. Making my way unnoticed to one end of the rostrum, I was very much surprised to hear her talking in an ordinary tone of voice, as though she were addressing the people right near her on the rostrum.  Going out and back around the great tent, I went to the other end of the rostrum, and it was just the same.  Then I went to different places in that great tent, everywhere I could understand every word she said, and yet she did not raise her voice. She continued to talk as though she were addressing the people like they were on the rostrum.  Now friends, at that time man had not yet invented PA systems, but God had his own method.Crowds of curious people from the city had come to the campground, they stood way out on the field.  I went among those people way out in the field, and could still understand every word that Sister White said.  The people were saying, that when the ministers were preaching, they shouted and strained their voices and they couldn t understand half of what they said.  And yet when that little woman was speaking, just in a ordinary tone of voice, they could understand every word.  They were saying that was a miracle. Then I went among the family tents, where people were staying there with those who were sick, or mothers with their children. And even in the family tents the people there could understanding what Mrs. White was saying in the big pavilion tent where there were hundreds, perhaps thousands of people listening.Now, I would like to tell you about my dedication to the ministry.  I served as President of the Newfoundland Mission Conference from 1928 through 1932, and went to represent my field in the General Conference held in San Francisco in 1930. Since my parents were living in Oakland, I visited them.  Through the years I had wondered about many things. I had questions that had never been answered.  For the first time my father and mother told me the following: (I shall tell it just as mother told it to me that day.)  She said, When you were a baby in your baby carriage only a few weeks old, I was taking a walk with Sister White there in Battle Creek.  We were pushing you in your baby carriage, Sister White stopped me and said, ‘Effie, your baby is going to grow up and become a Seventh-day Adventist minister.’  She placed her hand on your heard, offered a simple but beautiful prayer, and dedicated you to the gospel ministry in your baby carriage.   They had kept that story from me all those years. It was many years before that, that Sister White had had a vision about me, and about my ministry in detail.  But she told nothing about that to my mother until she dedicated me to the ministry in my baby carriage.  I will have more to tell you about that vision later.In the early years of the public ministry, a Miss Ellen Gould Harmon who later became Mrs. Ellen Gould White, the wife of Elder James White often visited the Adventists in Dartmouth, Washington, Fair Haven, and New Bedford, Massachusetts.  Now there were some Sabbath keeping Adventists in and around Dartmouth, Mass. before Rachael Preston ever made her memorable trip to Washington, and New Hampshire. Capt. Joseph Bates was born in Fair Haven, just across the river from New Bedford, and lived there most of his life, except for his years at sea.  In 1924 I lived with my family within two blocks of his birthplace, and later his beautiful home where he lived. It was during the two years 1860 and 1861, that the Seventh-day Adventist Church was organized legally as a denomination.  But local companies were slow to organize as churches.Sometime around the year 1860, as near as I can locate the date, Mrs. E.G. White and Capt. Bates held a series of Evangelistic Meetings in what would was called the Adventist Hall in New Bedford, Mass.  And raised up a small but strong company of Sabbath keeping Adventists. While they were holding those meetings, Mrs. E.G. White was the guest in the Jarvis T. Ashley home, on the Arssonet Road, near Dartmouth in New Bedford.  Mervin B. Ashley was a grown up young man who lived with his parents at the time. While Mrs. White was a guest in their home she had a vision, which I want to tell you about.  One morning at the breakfast table in the Ashley home, Mrs. White said she could not eat until she told them about a vision she had the night before.  In that vision she was shown the company that they were just raising up at that time.  She was shown that it would become a strong church and pay the most tithe per capita of any Adventist Church for many years. That made her very happy, but she was next shown that some would move away, others would apostatize and then scandal would rock the church.  The church would almost cease to exist.  When only a few remained, they in desperation would sell the church property and it would become a furniture warehouse.  That was terrible.  They would then meet in a dirty old hall with just a hand full of members. She was then shown a man who had bought the church from them. He would start a lawsuit and demand his money back plus damages for extra expense.  The little group would be desperate, as he was suing them because they had deeded the property to him without proper title.  He would demand damages.  She saw that 8 different Seventh-day Adventist ministers would try to hold revival services in New Bedford and they couldn t get anybody to come. The scene in her vision changed, she saw a young man a minister raise up new churches and then go to New Bedford.  He would redeem the church, pay off the furniture merchant, satisfy his demands, buy more land and enlarge and modernize the church building, hold evangelistic meetings successfully, erect a modern church school building and start a church school, and the church would be strong again. And then she was shown something that gladdened her heart, but amazed and astonished her.  She just could not understand it.  She saw the church become something like a lighthouse, flashing something like lightening, but invisible.  These flashes would go out from the church carrying the Three Angels Messages great distances.  How could she see something that was invisible?  It amazed her, but it made her happy. THE FULFILLMENT OF THAT PROPHECY:Just as she had seen it in vision, the company she and Capt. Bates had raised up became a strong church.  The members called a special legal meeting to organize a church.  Elders J. B. Goodrich and D.A. Robinson met with the company and gave them guidance, March 24, 1887, and voted a resolution to become a church. According to the old records 17 members signed a covenant to become a church.  Since there were some legal details unclear to all of them, they adjourned.  Since the company in Washington, New Hampshire was ready also to organize, Elders Goodrich and Robinson went there and helped them finish organizing their church, and then they went back to New Bedford and continued organization April 10, 1887.  Just the difference between March 24, and April 10, the Sabbath keepers in New Bedford were the first to sign a covenant to become a church, and those in Washington, New Hampshire were the first to complete it.I made a copy of those old records.  I really dug into those records and talked to many of the old members.  July 11, 1890 the New Bedford congregation bought a lot on the corner of Willow and Bullet Streets and erected a church building.  For years they did pay the largest per capita tithe of any Seventh-day Adventist Church, just as Mrs. White had seen years before.  Then just as she had seen, members moved away, some died, and others apostatized.  And during the Alpha deception between 1900 and 1905, a number left the church—apostatized.  Scandals rocked the church, only a handful of members remained.  They could not even keep up the church building and repairs, and pay for public utilities.  They got in debt and in utter discouragement they sold the property for only $1,000, just enough to pay off their church debts.Up to the year 1924, every part of the vision had been completely fulfilled to the point where the church almost ceased to exist.  And the few members who were left, sold the property to a furniture merchant by the name of Smith, and he turned it into a warehouse.  They had spent the money and paid off their obligations. Now enters the picture, a young man and his wife had raised up two self-supporting churches, and who had reactivated two more.  In 1923 he had been invited to enter the ministry officially, and go on the conference payroll, at $15.00 per week with no subsidies.  He also raised up new churches in Fall River and Martha s Vineyard, and was given what was left of the church in New Bedford to pastor. With his family he moved first to Fair Haven and was barely settled when he received legal notice that Mr. Smith the furniture dealer was suing the church for selling him the church property without legal title.  He was demanding his money back plus damages for lost time, inconvenience and extra expense. The church record book showed only 26 members on the church record book.  About 13 of those had not set foot in the church for about 15 years, they did not observe Sabbath or even profess Adventism.  The Pastor took Brother Armstrong the church leader with him and visited those 13 people, who had given up their faith.  There was no local church elder, but they did have a church leader.  All of those 13 people were very friendly, but they did not desire membership in any church and signed letters of resignation, which left just 13 members in the church. Then 2 of those left and joined what was called the Reformed Seventh-day Adventist Church in New Bedford, leaving just 11 disheartened and discouraged members. It was then that the Pastor read the notice of Mr. Smith s lawsuit.  They had long since spent the money they got from Mr. Smith for the church. It seemed absolutely impossible to meet his demands.  They were about the most discouraged 11 people you could possible imagine.Years before, the church congregation had elected a Board of Trustees to hold the church property legally in trust.  Each year one or more of the Trustees retired and others were elected to serve.  Not knowing much about real estate law, the New Bedford members had failed to elect new Trustees.  All of the old members were dead, and the congregation had sold the property to which they had no title.  A lawyer was consulted and told them that they could never sell the property to anyone, but that no one could legally possess it either. Doing some studying and consulting with a young lawyer, the young Pastor found that there were just enough of the old original members living to constitute a quorum for a legal meeting.  They met and elected a new Board of Trustees, and that Board deeded the property to the Conference Legal Association to hold in trust.  He then, to be sure, went to the bank and procured a loan, paid Mr. Smith his money back, and got him to withdraw the lawsuit.  And then through the land court, for $100 he got a cleared positive title from the State.The church was rebuilt, modernized and every single way.  One of the old sisters in the church and two men helped the Pastor to enlarge the church building, the excavated and finished off classrooms in the basement, and modernized the church and had a modern church school building erected adjacent to the church.  They started of the church school with 28 children and 2 qualified teachers and a helper.  Did the pastor go in debt? Absolutely not!  He paid the bank, and paid off all bills, and they did not owe anyone one red cent. Now while all this was going on, the pastor launched an evangelist series.  Now the church didn t have any money for evangelism, and he didn t dare ask the conference for money, especially after 8 of their ministers had tried and couldn t get anybody to come. Oddfellows Hall near the center of the city was the popular place for public lectures or special meetings.  He went to talk with the business manager who said, Sure I’ll rent you the hall, but you won t get anybody to come.  Hasn t anyone ever told you that this city was the Roman Catholic city that broke the heart of Dwight L. Moody, and ended his evangelistic career?  What do you think you can do? The pastor replied that he didn t know that he could do much, but God could.  And then the agent said, Hasn t anyone told you that 8 of your preachers in the past have rented this hall and couldn t get anyone to come.  What do you think you can do?  Well the young Pastor knew he could do but very little, but God could.  Dances and other public meetings had been held there, and there was just one bench in the whole place that would seat 5 people if they crowded together.  The Pastor asked where he could get some more chairs and benches. The agent told him, In the basement of course, but you won’t get enough people to fill that one bench. Nevertheless, the Pastor paid the agent for the first meeting out of his own funds.  He went home and found two pictures.  One of monkeys in a cage, and another of the same size of a Bible, and cutting diagonally he put them together into one picture with the words in bold print, Does Evolution Monkey with the Bible?  And he gave the time and place of the meeting.  Going to the city newspaper office, he paid for a small 4 advertisement out of his own pocket.  He had done what he could. Now it was up to God for the results. He went off to Martha s Vineyard for the Sabbath services, leaving Brother Armstrong to conduct services in the New Bedford Church.  Sunday afternoon he came back to New Bedford to Oddfellows Hall an hour early, expecting two of the men in the church to help him get things ready. When he got there the Hall was already packed with people all standing up, for the chairs were not yet set up. God had brought the people!  Elder W.C. Moffett, the Conference President, and Elder J. E. Edwards the Conference Treasurer, had somehow heard that meetings were to be started, but supposed they would be cottage meetings.  When they got to the pastor’s home the wife directed them to the Hall. They said afterward that it took them a half hour to elbow their way in before they could find out whether they were in the right place or not.Meetings were well attended. This was followed by a tent effort.  When the final church building was ready for occupation, there were enough new members to fill it.  The Bank was paid off, all other bills were paid, and it was absolutely free from debt.  The Church was going strong again just as Sister White had been shown in vision some 60 years or more before that.Now friends, I know this is true because I was that young minister.  Well, you ask, what about those invisible flashes like lightening carrying the message?  In vision she had been shown that the New Bedford Church would be something like a lighthouse, with invisible flashes going out carrying the message.  Every Sunday night in Oddfellows Hall, a very distinguished appearing gentlemen sat near the exit and would get away every night before the Pastor could get to him.  Who could he be? The attendance held good in Oddfellows Hall.  Every Sabbath the church was well filled.  Wednesday night Prayer Meetings were still being held in a large parlor at Tom Potters home in the center of the city, which had been the former Mayor’s Mansion. One morning the Pastor s telephone rang and a pleasant voice asked if the Pastor would please meet him at once at Tom Potter’s home, the former Mayor’s Mansion, and he hung up.  Well the Pastor was delighted to meet the gentlemen who always got away before he could meet him.  He introduced himself as the Manager and owner of Radio Station WNBH.  He said I have attended every one of our lectures at Oddfellows Hall.  I want those lectures broadcast over my radio station.  The Pastor said he had inquired at the radio office, and learned that a half-hour cost $25 at the studio, but $50 at any remote point.  At the present time they could not afford even a half-hour let alone $50 for an hour.  At the present time they could not afford it.  The gentlemen laughed and said, You only think you can t afford it, I want to install remote control in Oddfellows Hall, one in your church, and one here in the former Mayor’s Mansion.  I am a devout Roman Catholic and have attended everyone of your meetings in Oddfellows Hall.  You have hurt the Roman Catholic Church more than any other man who has ever come to this Catholic city.  But you take it all from the Bible, and your listeners love you. You don t throw any mud or insults at anybody else.  We want your messages to go over my radio station. Listen, I want to broadcast your Sunday night meetings in Oddfellows Hall, your Sabbath School and Church services, and your Wednesday night meetings here in this building.  Wheeeeeoh!  Well the Pastor threw up his hands, well that would be 8 times $50 or $400 per week, and we can t even afford a half hour.  And the man laughed again.  You only think you can t afford it.  Now listen, you say things that hurt peoples conscience, but you do it in love and listeners love your for it and respect you.  But those Russelites, they have gone on the air over my station and called the Pope a Hog, and the Priest Pigs, and the Nuns terrible things.  Even if I were a Protestant, I would not have such language going out from my radio station.  Now they are coming back tomorrow morning, expecting to sign a contract for a year.  I want nothing to do with those people. I have a contract right here all made out between Radio Station WNBH, and Pastor Harold N. Williams.  All you have to do is put your John Henry right here on this dotted line, and you can have the whole thing for only $9 per week, instead of $400.  That will just about pay for the electric current. Now friend, what would you have done if you had been the pastor?  Well that is exactly what I did. I paid for it out of my own pocket.Now the Millennial Denomination lead by Pastor Russell, was known as Russellites, and then as International Bible Students, and today as Jehovah Witnesses.  Well they didn t get on that radio station. After we went on the air, we often got as many as 150 fan letters on Monday morning from our Sunday broadcast.  As I opened each letter I looked at the signature before reading the letter in case it might be from someone I knew. The very first letter I opened on Monday was signed by the Mother Superior and 8 Nuns who lived in the Nunnery in Fair Haven across the river.  She said that she had a secret radio in her bedroom, and that she gathered 8 Nuns whom she trusted into her room and locked the door.  They had listened to every broadcast. She said, You are preaching God s truth and we are praying for you. As soon as you have read this letter, please burn it up.  Being a Protestant you would probably not understand this, but if our Priest, our Father Confessor and the higher ups learned of this, it might cost us our lives.  The very next letter I opened was signed by the Father Confessor himself at the Nunnery. He was a very prominent clergyman in Fair Haven and new Bedford.  He said, You are preaching God s truth and I am praying for you, God Bless You.  You would not understand this being a Protestant, but higher ups learned about what I am doing, there’s no telling what might happen to me, you must burn this letter at once.  That led to correspondence between the Priest and myself.  I corresponded with him, even after I went to Newfoundland.  He accepted everything, including the Sabbath, and then I heard from him no more. I wonder what happened to him. Now listen to this, one morning the Pastors telephone rang again, and old Brother Martin Ashley asked him to come to the church at once.  Do you remember who he was?  Martin Ashley was a grown young man who copied that vision as given at the breakfast table, at the Ashley home when he was a young man.  He had kept it all those years. Well I met him at the church, and tears were running down his cheeks but how happy he looked.  He said, please sit down here by me.  We sat down In front of the pulpit that was used by Sister White and Capt. Joseph Bates when they raised up the company that became this church.We sat down.  And then for the first time, I heard about Sister White s vision in the Ashley home in North Dartmouth, more than 60 years before that.  Martin and other old members had watched the fulfillment of that vision through the years for more than 60 years.  Oh how happy he was.  Now, the climax of the vision had been reached.  Sister White was already dead.  She had been shown in vision, something that she could not understand. She had seen invisible flashes going out from the New Bedford Church like lightening, going out in every direction and carrying the message to people who probably wouldn t get it in any other way.  Those invisible flashes were radio!  After listening to the visions as repeated by Martin Ashley that morning, can you imagine the feeling, the impact of it upon the pastor.  The old man and the young man had a real prayer meeting there in front of that old pulpit.  That was the beginning of Adventist Radio, and the beginning of a half-century of radio evangelism by that Pastor. A GLORIOUS ANGEL SEEN WITH MRS. WHITE:Now listen carefully again.  I want to ask you an important question.  Sometime when a thunder storm is raging, and you may be sitting in your home or working around with your electric light turned on, have you suddenly had a flash of lightening come that lighted up your room making it light as daylight?  Well most everyone has had that experience. Now another question.  If that should happen again, but that flash of lightening instead of going off would lighten the whole area continuously right there, what would you do?  Well whatever you do, listen as I tell you a personal experience that came to me.Doctors Grant and Clingerman were the surgeons at St. Helena Sanitarium. It was the year 1911.  One of the male nurses a medical student assisted at times in the surgery. For a while he was on duty in the hospital from 7 p.m. until 2 a.m.  He had a room on the backside of the hospital, in fact on the porch of a cottage, so situated that he could look into the window of Mrs. White s bedroom and writing room.  There were no curtains to interfere at that time.  He was seldom in his room, except to sleep and had never paid any attention to Elmshaven particularly, which was Sister White s home. One morning he saw something he shall never forget.  No one can ever tell him Mrs. White was not God s Messenger.  One morning about 2:15 a.m. he rushed into his room and turned down the light, and was just undressing to go to bed when his room suddenly lighted up like broad daylight.  But was the most beautiful light he had ever seen.  Whirling around to see its source, he saw it coming from Mrs. E. G. White s writing room.  It was so brilliant that everything in her room was clearly visible.  He saw Mrs. White get up out of her bed, throw her dressing gown or something like that over shoulders, go to her writing chair sit down and start taking notes.Now he could not see features, the person standing there was facing Mrs. White.  So he could only see the person s back and part of his side, and the side of his face, so it was impossible to see any features.  That person was not clothed with clothing like men wear now, but he was clothed with that beautiful covering of light.  There was no human language to describe it, but it was most beautiful. Mrs. White would look up toward the person, and then make some notes. Then she would look up again and take some more notes.  She kept doing that for 15 or 20 minutes.  The next night the same things happened at the same time.  And the third night the same thing at the same time. One thing puzzled him, he had never been in those rooms, but he had been told that the window on his left was Sister White s bedroom, her sleeping room and the one on the right was her writing room.  Much later he was told that because of her feebleness they had moved her bed around to the entrance of her writing room.His little sister Beulah and Grace White, Sister White s granddaughter, were playmates, so he knew something about the home from what little Beulah had said. In 1978 he visited Elmshaven and talked with Sister White s granddaughter Grace, and was shown those rooms.  After seeing what he saw three nights in succession, he was taking his usual early morning walk, when he met Herbert and Henry coming up from Elmshaven to their little print shop at the Sanitarium.  They were about 16 years old at that time, twin grandsons of Sister E.G. White.  He loved those boys, he had his camera with him and took their picture and he still has it. After that they talked a few minutes, and he said, What is your Grandma doing in the middle of the night at the present time.   Well they shrugged their shoulders, and one of them said, Oh I hope she is sleeping at that time of night, why? He didn t tell them why immediately, and then soon the other one spoke up saying, Oh Mr. Williams, I remember now, a few mornings ago breakfast was late, and I was eating in a hurry and not paying any attention to what was going on around the table, until I saw Grandma lean over toward Daddy, and I listened and I heard her say to Daddy, that the Angel Gabriel was helping her with her manuscript.   I said, What manuscript? Oh a book.   What book, what is it going to be.   They said, It is going to be Acts of the Apostles.  He then told the boys what he had seen those three nights in succession, and asked if they would try to get the first copy off the press, which they did as they ran the print shop.  He cherished that volume because of what he had seen with his own eyes. Hereafter friends, when you read that book Acts of the Apostles, remember what I have told you.  Because I was that young man, who saw the glory of that Angel as he helped Mrs. White with her final check up on her manuscript for that book.  No one can ever tell me that she was not divinely inspired. Elder Ernest Lloyd a well-known Seventh-day Adventist minister was a close friend of my brother-in-law and of my wife, and he told us that he had seen that glorious light on several occasions, but from a different direction so he could not see into her room. ELLEN WHITE’S LAST PUBLIC ADDRESS:I shall now share with you the experience I had when Sister E.G. White made her last public address.  It was in the pioneer days of Pacific Union College, the old Angwin summer resort was being transformed into a college, and my father was one of the workmen.  My brother and sister were in church school there. I was off one Sabbath and spent the day with my folks at the college.  Sabbath services were being conducted in what, I was told, had been the old dance hall or theater.  It was a strange place to have a church service, but what else could they do. They had their Sabbath school and church services there until they could build a church.  Chairs were very close together.  I sat in a chair so close to the rostrum that my knees touched it, and it didn t feel comfortable.  I had to look up to anyone standing in the pulpit. Intermission after Sabbath school was over, the first hymn for the worship hour had been sung and prayer offered, when the double doors at the end of the stage that was being used for a rostrum opened, and there was Sister E.G. White in her carriage, driven by Elder W.D. White her son.  I watched as he and President Irwin and Elder Ott of Washburn, carried her in bodily and sat her down in the speaker’s chair.  There she rested for a few minutes, and then two of the brethren helped her to the pulpit. It was announced that she had a special message for the young people.  After a short rest, the two men helped her to the pulpit, because she was so feeble that she could not stand by herself.  I was looking right up into her face.  She excused the men, and said something about the presence of the Holy Spirit as she offered a short prayer. Her countenance seemed to me to just light up like a paper lantern when you light a candle in it. From that time on, you would have thought she had the energy of a middle-aged woman. It was astonishing.  Her message was one of courage and warning, not particularly to the present generation, but to the children of the generation before her.  She described the lawlessness, the violence, the immorality, the permissiveness, the conditions that we have before us today. Now back at that time, the people didn t lock their doors.  She said that in only a few years, women would not even be safe in their own home.  Well people did not doubt what she was saying, but that seemed so strange that they shook their heads.  Now back at that time we used to see men smoke pipes and cigars, but we never saw a woman smoking, no woman would smoke.  Some young smart aleck would smoke a cigarette he had made himself, but that was very uncommon.  They called it coffin nails back there, and I think that was a pretty good name for them.  Mrs. White said that in a few years, most people would be smoking cigarettes, and that women would smoke them just like the men, and that the young people would smoke them. What do we see today?  When she finished her message, she offered another short prayer and that light left her face.  She would have fallen back on the floor had not two of the men caught her and carried her out. That was the last time she ever spoke in public, and I m so grateful that I had the privilege of hearing her message.WITNESS OF A WORLDLY SCHOOL TEACHER:Years before, a certain student had missed some high school subjects, because of illness.  He had gone on with his education, but had never made up those subjects one of which was advanced English.  In 1914 he and his wife were registered nurses in Oakland and Berkeley, California while living in the city of Melrose, which is now way inside the city Oakland. One day he called on the principle of the Chauncy Fremont High School in Melrose.  And was received very graciously and enrolled as a special student.  The teacher of the literature department was Miss E. McMillan.  The students were translating ancient writings into modern English, studying Chaucer and Shakespeare, and acting out many of the plays, many of which were very vulgar. They knew that he was preparing for the gospel ministry and wanted to become a medical missionary.  Miss McMillen suggested that instead of doing all these things that the class was doing, that she would bring books from the University in Berkeley for him to study in her private office.  He would take part at special times with the class, but would not waste a lot of his time on such trivia. Toward the end of the school year, she announced a special test.  She would have certain students read their favorite quotations and the test would be for the members of the class to tell who the author was by the style of language.  Those who had never received a grade below 95% would be exempt from final written examination, if they would volunteer to bring her quotations for that oral test. He was one of the fortunate ones, and I think God had something to do with it.  His quotations were from the Desire of Ages, as he gave his first quotation only one hand was raised, and that of a young lady who was the brightest student in the class.  She said, Miss McMillan, I am not positive, but the style is quite like that of General Wallace who wrote the book Ben Hur. But somehow that quotation seems more beautiful. It seems sort of sacred, sort of inspired. Well Miss McMillan smiled and she said, Well you are right, and she turned and said, Mr. Williams that quotation that you just gave was from the pen of Mrs. E.G. White.  I would know her authorship anywhere anytime, because it has a peculiar ring to it.  It seem inspired as the student just told us.  But to impress the class that she was an authority, she mentioned her degrees in literature from Universities in Europe, as well as in the United States.  She called on no one else, but took all the rest of the class period lecturing. She explained that the most perfect and most beautiful literature does not consist of large words to show off a great vocabulary on the part of the author.  But beautiful, beautifully constructed sentences composed of words that most people can understand, and then she commented on the Bible. She then required every member in that class to write down the following:  Of all the literature, ancient, medieval or modern, the most perfect and the most beautiful, outside of the Bible itself is the literature written by Mrs. E.G. White, and is the Creme de la creme of all her writing is the book Desire of Ages from which Mr. Williams just gave a quotation.   She told the class that she knew very little about the religion of Mrs. White, or the church of which he was a member, but that she had read her books simply from the standpoint of literature criticism. Needless to say I was thankful that day to be a humble member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and to have had the privilege of knowing Mrs. E.G. White personally as God s Messenger. Many years ago, I was about to launch my radio broadcast over radio station in Gadsden, Alabama, while I was living there.  I asked Elder Caviness who was the district pastor to accompany me as I talked with the Editor of one of the great southern newspapers.  He was a very friendly gentleman, and while we were conversing, he opened a drawer in his desk, took out a book and held it up and said, I have just now finished reading this book.  Whoever that woman was who wrote that book, must have been inspired of God.  She could not have written a book like that unless she was inspired.   And what do you suppose that book was?  It was the book Great Controversy. [CLOSING REMARKS REGARDING ACCUSATIONS ABOUT ELLEN WHITE PLAGERIZING:]Now in closing I would like to make a few personal observations.  In our modern competitive society, it has become quite necessary to patent and copyright, but as I study the literature, ancient, medieval and modern, the fact strikes me forcibly, that they commonly borrowed from one another. A very large part of our New Testament Scripture consists of quotations and paragraphs and paraphrases from the Old Testament. If you would dig into that you will be amazed.  Much of the New Testament is paraphrased from the Old Testament without giving any credit, and even Jesus Christ did that Himself, and you can t tell me that He was dishonest.In fact it is almost impossible to do even much talking or writing without using phrases or idioms or sentences used by someone else before.  The more widely we are read, the more it becomes impossible to be original.  Inspiration does not make it mandatory to be original.  Inspiration can guide us in our choice of reading and study, in producing what we have attained. The mind or the brain is an intimate recording machine.  We reproduce what we have heard or read from others, in authoring a treatise or a book, one has to watch his step diligently or words or sentences will slip into our production.  Paraphrases or even whole sentences used by some author before us.  That bothered me not a bit when I discovered a half century ago, that Mrs. E.G. White did that at times.  The great bulk of her writings were her own words, but she often used the words and sentences, and in rare instances even a page from a book of someone else.  Don t let those things bother you. I would enjoy telling you many more interesting experiences that I have had personally with Mrs. White and the Spirit of Prophecy. God Bless you, do not lose your faith.Elder Harold Nathan Williams, 1980’s The church was in spiritual darkness during the dark ages for the span of several centuries. God rised several reformers who brought the church back to Bible but the churches formed as a result of the protestant reformation didn t leave many of the false teachings of Papacy. For example many churches had a wrong form of baptsim, they continued to keep Sunday Worship instead of Biblical Sabbath, also the teaching of eternal burning of hell and immortality of soul were among the many false teaching which they clinged to after leaving Catholic church.That is why God rised a prophet who can restore the church to the correct teaching of Bible.1. A prophet unlike reformers and theologians is inspired and can give direct message from God.2. When different theologians  can interpret Bible in different way a prophet alone can give infallible interpretation of the scriptures because she is inspired.3. When Satan has brought thousands of deceptions and counterfeits there is a need for a prophet to expose them.Besides doctrinal and prophetical role Ellen White has a major role in the following areas also1. Education2. Health and HealingIf you have read reports on Adventist have the longer life span on planet earth it is because God has given us the health message through the prophet Ellen White. Key Quote for this note: Do not consider it a privation when you are called to leave the cities and move out into the country places. Here there await rich blessings for those who will grasp them {AH 141.3}Jesus loved the scenes of nature. To Him each quiet retreat was a sacred temple. Desire of Ages P 290It was not God s purpose that people should be crowded into cities, huddled together in terraces and tenements. In the beginning He placed our first parents amidst the beautiful sights and sounds He desires us to rejoice in today. The more nearly we come into harmony with God s original plan, the more favorable will be our position to secure health of body, and mind, and soul. Ministry of Healing P 365There is not one family in a hundred who will be improved physically, mentally, or spiritually, by residing in the city. Manuscript 76, 1905Country Living Place where Christ wants to take us to teach.The Saviour’s life on earth was a life of communion with nature and with God. In this communion He revealed for us the secret of a life of power. ……The childhood of Jesus, spent in poverty, had been uncorrupted by the artificial habits of a corrupt age. Working at the carpenter’s bench, bearing the burdens of home life, learning the lessons of obedience and toil, He found recreation amidst the scenes of nature, gathering knowledge as He sought to understand nature’s mysteries. He studied the word of God, and His hours of greatest happiness were found when He could turn aside from the scene of His labors to go into the fields, to meditate in the quiet valleys, to hold communion with God on the mountainside or amid the trees of the forest. The early morning often found Him in some secluded place, meditating, searching the Scriptures, or in prayer. With the voice of singing He welcomed the morning light. With songs of thanksgiving He cheered His hours of labor and brought heaven’s gladness to the toilworn and disheartened.During His ministry Jesus lived to a great degree an outdoor life. His journeys from place to place were made on foot, and much of His teaching was given in the open air. In training His disciples He often withdrew from the confusion of the city to the quiet of the fields, as more in harmony with the lessons of simplicity, faith, and self-abnegation He desired to teach them.It was beneath the sheltering trees of the mountainside, but a little distance from the Sea of Galilee, that the Twelve were called to the apostolate and the Sermon on the Mount was given.Christ loved to gather the people about Him under the blue heavens, on some grassy hillside, or on the beach beside the lake. Here, surrounded by the works of His own creation, He could turn their thoughts from the artificial to the natural. In the growth and development of nature were revealed the principles of His kingdom. As men should lift their eyes to the hills of God and behold the wonderful works of His hand, they could learn precious lessons of divine truth. In future days the lessons of the divine Teacher would thus be repeated to them by the things of nature. The mind would be uplifted and the heart would find rest.When Jesus said to His disciples that the harvest was great and the laborers were few, He did not urge upon them the necessity of ceaseless toil, but bade them, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:38. To His toil-worn workers today as really as to His first disciples He speaks these words of compassion, “Come ye yourselves apart, . . . and rest awhile.”All who are under the training of God need the quiet hour for communion with their own hearts, with nature, and with God. In them is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, or its practices; and they need to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God. We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. Min of Healing Chapter With Nature and With God And He goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto Him whom He would: and they came unto Him. And He ordained twelve, that they should be with Him, and that He might send them forth to preach. It was beneath the sheltering trees of the mountainside, but a little distance from the Sea of Galilee, that the twelve were called to the apostolate, and the Sermon on the Mount was given. The fields and hills were the favorite resorts of Jesus, and much of His teaching was given under the open sky, rather than in the temple or the synagogues. No synagogue could have received the throngs that followed Him; but not for this reason only did He choose to teach in the fields and groves. Jesus loved the scenes of nature. To Him each quiet retreat was a sacred temple.It was under the trees of Eden that the first dwellers on earth had chosen their sanctuary. There Christ had communed with the father of mankind. When banished from Paradise, our first parents still worshiped in the fields and groves, and there Christ met them with the gospel of His grace. It was Christ who spoke with Abraham under theoaks at Mamre; with Isaac as he went out to pray in the fields at the eventide; with Jacob on the hillside at Bethel; with Moses among the mountains of Midian; and with the boy David as he watched his flocks. It was at Christ s direction that for fifteen centuries the Hebrew people had left their homes for one week every year, and had dwelt in booths formed from the green branches of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook. Lev. 23:40.In training His disciples, Jesus chose to withdraw from the confusion of the city to the quiet of the fields and hills, as more in harmony with the lessons of self-abnegation He desired to teach them. And during His ministry He loved to gather the people about Him under the blue heavens, on some grassy hillside, or on the beach beside the lake. Here, surrounded by the works of His own creation, He could turn the thoughts of His hearers from the artificial to the natural. In the growth and development of nature were revealed the principles of His kingdom. As men should lift up their eyes to the hills of God, and behold the wonderful works of His hands, they could learn precious lessons of divine truth. Christ s teaching would be repeated to them in the things of nature. So it is with all who go into the fields with Christ in their hearts. They will feel themselves surrounded with a holy influence. The things of nature take up the parables of our Lord, and repeat His counsels. By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest. Desire of Ages P 290,291The Great Teacher laid plans for His work. Study these plans. We find Him traveling from place to place, followed by crowds of eager listeners. When He could, He would lead them away from the crowded cities to the quiet of the country. Here He would pray with them, and talk to them of eternal truths Medical Missionary P 2992. Country living Where Parents should grow their children.Let no temporal advantages tempt parents to neglect the training of their children. Whenever possible, it is the duty of parents to make homes in the country for their children. The children and youth should be carefully guarded. They should be kept away from the hotbeds of iniquity that are to be found in our cities. Let them be surrounded by the influences of a true Christian home a home where Christ abides. Letter 268, 1906.Before the overflowing scourge shall come upon the dwellers of the earth, the Lord calls upon all who are Israelites indeed to prepare for that event. To parents He sends the warning cry, Gather your children into your own houses; gather them away from those who are disregarding the commandments of God, who are teaching and practising evil. Get out of the large cities as fast as possible. Establish church schools. Give your children the Word of God as the foundation of all their education. Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 195.I am instructed by the Lord to warn our people not to flock to the cities to find homes for their families. To fathers and to mothers I am instructed to say, Fail not to keep your children within your own premises. Manuscript 81, 1900.Let children no longer be exposed to the temptations of the cities that are ripe for destruction. The Lord has sent us warning and counsel to get out of the cities. Then let us make no more investments in the cities. Fathers and mothers, how do you regard the souls of your children? Are you preparing the members of your families for translation into the heavenly courts? Are you preparing them to become members of the royal family? children of the heavenly King? What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? How will ease, comfort, convenience, compare with the value of the souls of your children? Manuscript 76, 1905.There is not one family in a hundred who will be improved physically, mentally, or spiritually, by residing in the city. Faith, hope, love, happiness, can far better be gained in retired places, where there are fields and hills and trees. Take your children away from the sights and sounds of the city, away from the rattle and din of streetcars and teams, and their minds will become more healthy. It will be found easier to bring home to their hearts the truth of the Word of God. Manuscript 76, 1905.Send the children to schools located in the city, where every phase of temptation is waiting to attract and demoralise them, and the work of character building is tenfold harder for both parents and children. Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 326. (1894).Let parents understand that the training of their children is an important work in the saving of souls. In country places abundant useful exercise will be found in doing those things that need to be done, and which will give physical health by developing nerve and muscle. Out of the cities is my message for the education of our children. Country living P 14So with the great majority of the best and noblest men of all ages. Read the history of Abraham, Jacob, and Joseph, of Moses, David, and Elisha. Study the lives of men of later times who have most worthily filled positions of trust and responsibility, the men whose influence has been most effective for the world s uplifting.How many of these were reared in country homes. They knew little of luxury. They did not spend their youth in amusement. Many were forced to struggle with poverty and hardship. They early learned to work, and their active life in the open air gave vigour and elasticity to all their faculties. Forced to depend upon their own resources, they learned to combat difficulties and to surmount obstacles, and they gained courage and perseverance. They learned the lessons of self-reliance and self-control. Sheltered in a great degree from evil associations, they were satisfied with natural pleasures and wholesome companionships. They were simple in their tastes and temperate in their habits. They were governed by principle, and they grew up pure and strong and true. When called to their lifework, they brought to it physical and mental power, buoyancy of spirit, ability to plan and execute, and steadfastness in resisting evil, that made them a positive power for good in the world. Country living P 163. Preparing for the Sunday Law CrisisWe are not to locate ourselves where we will be forced into close relations with those who do not honour God. . . . A crisis is soon to come in regard to the observance of Sunday. . . .The Sunday party is strengthening itself in its false claims, and this will mean oppression to those who determine to keep the Sabbath of the Lord. We are to place ourselves where we can carry out the Sabbath commandment in its fullness. Six days shalt thou labour, the Lord declares, and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work. And we are to be careful not to place ourselves where it will be hard for ourselves and our children to keep the Sabbath.If in the providence of God we can secure places away from the cities, the Lord would have us do this. There are troublous times before us. Manuscript 99, 1908.Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions;for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies. Letter 5, 19044. Should we wait until Sunday Law to move to country livingThe time has come, when, as God opens the way, families should move out of the cities. The children should be taken into the country. The parents should get as suitable a place as their means will allow. Though the dwelling may be small, yet there should be land in connection with it, that may be cultivated. Manuscript 50, 1903.Out of the cities, is my message at this time. Be assured that the call is for our people to locate miles away from the large cities. One look at San Francisco as it is today would speak to your intelligent minds, showing you the necessity of getting out of the cities. . . . {LDE 95.2}Get out of the cities as soon as possible and purchase a little piece of land where you can have a garden, where your children can watch the flowers growing and learn from them lessons of simplicity and purity. 2SM 356 (1903).Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies. Letter 5, 1904.The Lord has sent us warning and counsel to get out of the cities. Then let us make no more investments in the cities. Manuscript 76, 1905Get out of the large cities as fast as possible. Test for churches v6 p 195I could not sleep past two o clock this morning. During the night season I was in council. I was pleading with some families to avail themselves of God s appointed means, and get away from the cities to save their children. Some were loitering, making no determined efforts.  The angels of mercy hurried Lot and his wife and daughters by taking hold of their hands. Had Lot hastened as the Lord desired him to, his wife would not have become a pillar of salt. Lot had too much of a lingering spirit. Let us not be like him. The same voice that warned Lot to leave Sodom bids us, Come out from among them, and be ye separate, . . . and touch not the unclean. Those who obey this warning will find a refuge. Let every man be wide awake for himself, and try to save his family. Review and Herald, Dec. 11, 1900.When iniquity abounds in a nation, there is always to be heard some voice giving warning and instruction, as the voice of Lot was heard in Sodom. Yet Lot could have preserved his family from many evils had he not made his home in this wicked, polluted city. All that Lot and his family did in Sodom could have been done by them, even if they had lived in a place some distance away from the city. Enoch walked with God, and yet he did not live in the midst of any city polluted with every kind of violence and wickedness, as did Lot in Sodom.If righteous people like Enoch left larger cities then how did they evangelize cities.5. Ministry in Cities. As God s commandment-keeping people, we must leave the cities. As did Enoch, we must work in the cities but not dwell in them. Manuscript 85, 1899. Enoch walked with God, and yet he did not live in the midst of any city  Manuscript 94, 1903 Leave the cities, and like Enoch come from your retirement to warn the people of the cities. MR vol 1 p 250 The cities are to be worked from outposts. Said the messenger of God, Shall not the cities be warned? Yes, not by God s people living in them, but by their visiting them, to warn them of what is coming upon the earth. Letter 182, 1902. What is the result of Lot who tried to evangelize by living in city.When iniquity abounds in a nation, there is always to be heard some voice giving warning and instruction, as the voice of Lot was heard in Sodom. Yet Lot could have preserved his family from many evils had he not made his home in this wicked, polluted city. All that Lot and his family did in Sodom could have been done by them, even if they had lived in a place some distance away from the city. Enoch walked with God, and yet he did not live in the midst of any city polluted with every kind of violence and wickedness, as did Lot in Sodom. Manuscript 94, 1903.ConclusionCarefully Consider Every MoveLet everyone take time to consider carefully; and not be like the man in the parable who began to build, and was not able to finish. Not a move should be made but that movement and all that it portends are carefully considered everything weighed. . . . To every man was given his work according to his several ability. Then let him not move hesitatingly, but firmly, and yet humbly trusting in God. Country Living P26Further Reading:http://www.crcbermuda.com/reference/ellen-white-books-a-f/country-livinghttp://backtoenoch.org/http://www.empoweredlivingministries.org/Articles.html Most Christians believe that the ten commandments are abolished in the cross or Christ made an end to it and new covenant Christians are not bound to it especially the 4th commandment.I see that Bible has very strong evidence supporting the existence of Sabbath prior to Sinai and after Calvary. I will be covering this in a separate note.Does Ten commandments bind the new covenant Christians.I want to be clear in this No man is justified by keeping the Law for we are all sinners and once breaking the Law then we are sure to punished by death The soul that sinneth will die. Eze 18  Wages if sins is death. Rom 6:23But Christ delivers us from the condemnation of breaking the Law for He took our punishment and died for our sins so we can live His life which only belongs to Him.Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4Bibles defines sin as the act of breaking the Law. Also Rom 3:20 says us that for by the law is the knowledge of sin Christ delivers us from the power of sin(act of breaking the Law) and the condemnation of breaking the law (which is death).   What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Rom 6:1,2If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9Bible tells us that after being delivered from the power of sin and the condemnation of breaking the law Christ gives a renewed heart to every repented sinner.This renewed mind delights to keep the law and in its very nature obeys the law of God. It is unlike the carnal mind which it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. Rom 8:6,7The argument commonly given is the New covenant Christians have new commandments which says Love thine God with all thine heart, with all thine mind and with all thine strength and Love thy neighbor as thy self But these 2 commandments are the summary of the Decalogue.The first 4 commandments tells us about loving God and the next 6 commandments tells us about loving our neighbour.For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Rom 13:9James, brother of the Lord, makes it very clear that the Decalogue is still binding.In James 2 he writes If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:He also writes that if we break one of the ten commandments we will still be held guilty as breaking all the ten.James 2: 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.John in his vision sees a church which keeps the commandments even at the end of time.And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev 12:17Additional versesAnd 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. 1 John 2:3,4Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev 22:14 Cain and Abel had the knowledge of Ten commandments.The key text to conclude this would be Gen 4: 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. Romans 3:20 for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (margin)Bible tells us that by law is the knowledge of sin. Cain cannot be accused of doing sin if he has no knowledge of what is sin.Also see Rom 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.Also Cain and Abel had the knowledge of ceremonial system which points to Christ who would die as the penalty for their sin(breaking law). Abel acknowledged this and gave a animal sacrifice.Young s Literal TranslationAnd it cometh to pass at the end of days that Cain bringeth from the fruit of the ground a present to Jehovah; Gen 4:3.At the end of days. Cain and Abel came to worship on the end of days i.e., 7th day. Cain and Abel also kept SabbathAlso note:Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Gen 26: 5 Until Sinai there was knowledge of commandments,laws and ceremonies. Even the patriarchs paid tithe. Disease is the result of Sin. Sin is the transgression of the Law of God. When we break God s laws, both Moral (Ten commandments) and Health Laws, we invite disease. God promises a special health protection for those who keep His Laws. NEWSTART program teaches you God s Moral and Health Laws and helps you restored to God by following these laws. Obedience to Moral and Health Laws restores your health. This healing process is aided by simple natural remedies created by God.I am launching a New Website shortly to share more on the NEWSTART program I கொரிந்தியர் 7:19 விருத்தசேதனமும் ஒன்றுமில்லை, விருத்தசேதனமில்லாமையும் ஒன்றுமில்லை; தேவனுடைய கற்பனைகளைக் கைக்கொள்ளுகிறதே காரியம்.பவுல் சடங்காச்சார பிரமாணம் தேவையிலை ஆனால் தேவனுடைய கற்பனைகளைக் கைகொள்ளுவது முக்கியம் என்கிறார்.மேலும் வாசிக்க:ரோம் 3:31 அப்படியானால், விசுவாசத்தினாலே நியாயப்பிரமாணத்தை அவமாக்குகிறோமா? அப்படியல்ல; நியாயப்பிரமாணத்தை நிலைநிறுத்துகிறோமே.ரோம் 7:12 ஆகையால் நியாயப்பிரமாணம் பரிசுத்தமுள்ளதுதான், கற்பனையும் பரிசுத்தமாயும் நீதியாயும் நன்மையாயும் இருக்கிறது.ரோம் 7:25 நம்முடைய கர்த்தராகிய இயேசு கிறிஸ்து மூலமாய்த் தேவனை ஸ்தோத்திரிக்கிறேன். ஆதலால் நானே என் மனதினாலே தேவனுடைய நியாயப்பிரமாணத்துக்கு .. ஊழியஞ்செய்கிறேன்.எப்ஃப் 6:3 உன் தகப்பனையும் உன் தாயையும் கனம்பண்ணுவாயாக என்பதே வாக்குத்தத்தமுள்ள முதலாங் கற்பனையாயிருக்கிறது.பவுல் ஓய்வுநாளை ஆசரித்தார்.========================அப்போஸ்தலர் 13:42அவர்கள் யூதருடைய ஜெப ஆலயத்திலிருந்து புறப்படுகையில், அடுத்த ஓய்வுநாளிலே இந்த வசனங்களைத் தங்களுக்குச் சொல்லவேண்டும் என்று புறஜாதியார் வேண்டிக்கொண்டார்கள்.அப்போஸ்தலர் 13:44 அடுத்த ஓய்வுநாளிலே கொஞ்சங்குறையப் பட்டணத்தாரனைவரும் தேவவசனத்தைக் கேட்கும்படி கூடிவந்தார்கள்.பவுல் புறஜாதியாருக்கு ஓய்வுநாள் அன்று கூட தேவையில்லை என்று கூறவில்லை மாறாக புறஜாதியாருக்கு ஓய்வுநாள் அன்று பிரசங்கம் செய்கிறார்அப்போஸ்தலர் 16:13 ஓய்வுநாளில் நாங்கள் பட்டணத்துக்கு வெளியே போய், ஆற்றினருகே வழக்கமாய் ஜெபம்பண்ணுகிற இடத்தில் உட்கார்ந்து, அங்கே கூடிவந்த ஸ்திரீகளுக்கு உபதேசித்தோம்.பவுலீன் வழக்கம் ஓய்வுநாள் அன்று ஆற்றினருகே ஜெபம்பண்ணுவதுஅப்போஸ்தலர் 18:3 அவர்கள் கூடாரம்பண்ணுகிற தொழிலாளிகளாயிருந்தார்கள்; தானும் அந்தத் தொழில் செய்கிறவனானபடியினாலே அவர்களிடத்தில் தங்கி, வேலை செய்துகொண்டு வந்தான்.அப்போஸ்தலர் 18:4 ஓய்வு நாள்தோறும் அவன் ஜெப ஆலயத்திலே சம்பாஷணைபண்ணி, யூதருக்கும் கிரேக்கருக்கும் புத்தி சொன்னான்.பவுல் வாரத்தின் ஆறு நாளிலும் வேலை செய்கிறார் ஏழாம் நாளிலோ ஊழியம் செய்கிறார். If I ask anyone who wears Jewels and makeup on why they are wearing it. An honest answer would be to look beautiful.Every body wants to look beautiful and there is nothing wrong in this desire. It is God given desire and longing. Every one should seek to look beautiful. But Satan perverted this desire.God gave appetite to enjoy the food He created for mankind but satan perverted it to make man eat for appetite instead for strength.Ecc 10:17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season, for strength, and not for drunkenness!Bible tells us that we should eat in due season No eating in between meals. And eat for strength and not for drunkenness. Food should be eaten for nutrition and not for satisfying appetite. No junk food but instead healthy balanced food.Men want to be handsome and Women want to look beautiful. The real purpose for God to create this desire in humans is that man has to desire after the Beauty of holiness .Psa 96:9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. Also read 1Ch 16:29 2Ch 20:21 Psa 29:2.When men possess a powerful and holy character which resembles God then they will draw others unto God. The world thinks of beauty as something which attracts others to themselves but God s purpose of beauty is to attract others to God through them.Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”Pro 31:10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.Pro 31:13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.Pro 31:20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.Pro 31:25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.Pro 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.Pro 31:27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.Pro 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.Pro 31:30 Favour ( supplied by me charm) is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.A quote I found in internet For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. Why Jewels were used in Biblical times1. They used it as money2.They wore their pagan Gods as Ornaments.Remember Jacob asks his family to put away the earrings and strange Gods in their hand. Gen 35:2,43. Adornment beautifyA common objection I get is Patriachs used Jewels.Just because Patriachs did something that doesn t becomes right. Abraham had many concubines; Noah drank wine and became drunk (Genesis 9:20, 21). Lot had sex with his daughters and got them pregnant (Genesis 19:30-38). Judah hired a prostitute for a night, impregnated her, and later discovered she was his daughter-in-law (Genesis 38:12-26).Another objection I normally get is God gave Jewels to Israelites.God gave Jewels1. As money (as in the case of Israelites when they left Egypt)2. because they are used to the lifestyle of wearing Jewels. God allows certain things but it may not be according to His perfect will. For example God allowed/gave many wives; allowed/gave bill of divorce; Christ allowed/gave Flesh diet.True church vs false churchIn Revelation we see two woman, a false church represented by a woman adorned with gold and true church represented by woman who was adorned with character of Christ.Rev 17:4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:Rev 17:5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.Rev 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:Clothed with sun represents clothed with the righteousness of Christ who is the sun of our righteousness.Apostles command us not to wear JewelsPaul wrote, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” 1 Timothy 2:9, 10.Peter wrote in much the same manner, except that he especially addressed Christian women who had unbelieving husbands. “Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:1-4.From heavens prespective Gold and Diamonds are just blocks of stones upon which we walk.Wedding SignHistory gives us a very clear picture of the relationship between early church apostasy and the introduction of the wedding ring. The famous Catholic Cardinal, John Henry Newman, described it in 1845 in his monumental book Development of Christian Doctrine, p. 373: “Constantine, in order to recommend the new religion to the heathen, transferred into it the outward adornments to which they had been accustomed in their own. It is not necessary to go into a subject which the diligence of Protestant writers has made familiar to most of us. The use of temples, and these dedicated to particular saints … incense … candles … holy water … processions … the ring in marriage, turning to the east, images at a later date … are all of pagan origin, and sanctified by their adoption into the Church.”Please note this friends, both outward adornment and wedding sign was not used in early church until the period of Constantine.In the book Testimonies to Ministers, page 161, Ellen White makes the following statement on the practice of wearing a wedding ring (it was written to American missionaries in Australia who were beginning to wear the wedding ring with the excuse that it would increase their influence with the Australians):”I feel deeply over this leavening process which seems to be going on among us, in the conformity to custom and fashion. not one penny should be spent for the circle of gold to testify that we are married. In countries where the custom is imperative, we have no burden to condemn those who have their marriage ring; let them wear it if they can do so conscientiously: but let not our missionaries feel that the wearing of the ring will increase their influence one jot or tittle.”Ellen White asserts that Jewellery is not a Christian thingSelf-denial in dress is a part of our Christian duty. To dress plainly and abstain from display of jewelry and ornaments of every kind is in keeping with our faith. Child Guidance 423 My mother was a Pentecost before becoming an Adventist. She raised me up in Pentecost faith. There was a non christian girl in my church who became christian. She initially attended a Pentecost church. Her pastor announced her one day that he is going to anoint her with gift of tongues.He told her to continuously say Praise the Lord . While she is saying that he asked her to say it faster. While she is saying faster he told her to bend the tongue. As she started blabbering with her tongue folded he said now you are anointed with Gift of Tongues She was not convinced of this experience. Eventually when she was given a bible study by an SDA pastor she became an Adventist.As I grew I became more concerned about this pentecostal movement as millions of people are deceived by their false gift of Tongues and false miracles.When I meet these pastors I reasoned with them of their belief from scriptures.One day I was in my aunts place where there were two pastors shouting and praying with what they believed as gift of tongues. Once the prayer was over I started talking with one of the pastor. While conversing I asked about his children. He informed that his son completed his Bachelors in theology in his hometown and now he is sending him to Bangalore city to learn English.I asked him why he has to send his son to Bangalore to learn English. Since they have the gift of tongues they can speak English with that. With this question both the pastors were shocked and became dumbfounded.I told them when apostles were given gift of tongues they were able to speak in languages (tongues) which they don t know.I have been to many pentecost church where they employed professional translators to translate the sermon in English and in other languages.Why none of the pastors can speak in other languages with their gift of tongues.To know more about true gift of tongues.https://thegladtidingsministry.com/2010/08/29/gift-of-tongues/ Watch Tower Organization s failed prophecy predictionsCouple of years back two Jehovah Witness ladies came to my house upon my invitation.They asked me why I invited them and what I wanted to discuss.I asked them Why you don t believe that Jesus is God? They answered, Does Bible says that Jesus is God? I answered John 1:1 says that Jesus was God Now they changed their question from Does Bible says Jesus is God to Does Bible says that Jesus is Almighty God? I quoted Rev 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. (Note: In the previous verse it is Jesus who is addressing himself Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Also in verse 11, Jesus claims to be the Alpha and Omega)They answered in Watch Towers translation this is made clear that the word Almighty is pointing to God the Father and not Jesus. How can an organization makes alteration to word of God to suit their beliefs. I also asked why they substituted words in new testament to Jehovah when the name Jehovah is not there in the original manuscripts of Greek. To this they answered you seem to know everything then you don t need us and rose up to leave. Since I know the conversation is going to end I asked the final question How can you trust an organization which repeatedly made failed predictions of the date of Jesus second coming. They repeatedly set dates like 1914, 1918, 1925, 1953 and 1975 and all of which failed. How can I trust this organizations teaching when their interpretations failed and they are changing their position of what they believe.They left hastily in anger.In another encounter with a different group they answered Watchtower made wrong understanding in each circumstances and they failed to listen correctly to Jehovah s voice and now we have got everything right I asked them, How can you be sure now that now they understand Jehovah s voice correctly when they earlier failed to listen to Jehovah s voice correctly Dan 7:9  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.Dan 7:10  A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.So the judgment happens after the reign of 4th beast power. that is after 1798. This judgment is investigative in nature. There terms like the judgment was set and books were opened shows us that the judgment was investigative in nature.Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;So the blotting out of sins from the records we saw in Dan 7:10 happens in future.This judgement should be only for saints, why?1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?Bible says Judgment begins in the house of God i.e., righteous will be judged first.The judgment of the wicked happens in the millennium.1Co 6:2  Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?1Co 6:3  Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?So the saints judge both the wicked men and fallen angelsRev 20:4  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.Rev 20:5  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.The saints judge the wicked in the millennium.The wicked who will be part of second resurrection will be receiving their punishment after the third coming of Lord.Rev 20:9  And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.Rev 20:12  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.Rev 20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. I met few non trinitarian Adventist who believe that Ellen White was a non trinitarian. I have given quotes from her writings which shows that she is a trinitarian.“The three powers of the Godhead have pledged Their might to carry out the purpose that God had in mind when He gave to the world the unspeakable gift of His Son.”—Review, July 18, 1907.How many powers are there 2 or 3. Ellen White says 3 “The Godhead was stirred with pity for the race, and the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit gave Themselves to the working out of the plan of redemption. In order fully to carry out this plan, it was decided that Christ, the only begotten Son of God, should give Himself an offering for sin. What line can measure the depth of this love?”—Counsels on Health, 222.Who are the persons in Godhead. Ellen White mentions Father, Son and Holy Spirit.“The three powers of the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, are pledged to be their strength and their efficiency in their new life in Christ Jesus.”—Australian Union Conference Record, October 7, 1907.How many powers are there in Godhead. Ellen White: 3, What are their names: Father, Son an Holy Spirit.“We are to co-operate with the three highest powers in heaven,—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,—and these powers will work through us, making us workers together with God.”—Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 7, p. 51 (Ev 617).How many Highest powers are there? Ellen White: 3, What are their names: Father, Son an Holy Spirit.“In the great closing work we shall meet with perplexities that we know not how to deal with, but let us not forget that the three great powers of heaven are working, that a divine hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His purposes to pass.”—Evangelism, 65 (Manuscript 118, 1902).How many great powers are there in heaven? Ellen White: 3“The eternal heavenly dignitaries—God, and Christ, and the Holy Spirit—arming them [the disciples] with more than mortal energy . . would advance with them to the work and convince the world of sin.”—Evangelism, 616 (Manuscript 145, 1901).How many heavenly dignitaries are there: 3, What are their names: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Are all 3 eternal? Ellen White: yes“The work of salvation is not a small matter, but so vast that the highest authorities are taken hold of by the expressed faith of the human agent. The eternal Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost—is involved in the action required to make ssurance to the human agent.”—Upward Look, 148.Who are the persons in Godhead. Ellen White mentions Father, Son and Holy Spirit.“The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the three holy dignitaries of heaven, have declared that They will strengthen men to overcome the powers of darkness. All the facilities of heaven are pledged to those who by their baptismal vows have entered intoa covenant with God.”—5 Bible Commentary, 1110 (Manuscript 92, 1901).How many holy dignitaries are there: 3, What are their names: Father, Son and Holy Spirit“The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, powers infinite and omniscient, receive those who truly enter into covenant relation with God. They are present at every baptism, to receive the candidates who have renounced the world and have received Christ into the soul temple. These candidates have entered into the family of God, and their names are inscribed in the Lamb’s book of life.”—Manuscript 27, 1900Who are infinite and Omniscient: Father, Son and Holy Spirit“The work is laid out before every soul that has acknowledged his faith in Jesus Christ by baptism, and has become a receiver of the pledge from the three persons—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”— 6 Bible Commentary, 1074.In what name we should receive baptism: Father, Son and Holy Spirit“The prince of the power of evil can only be held in check by the power of God in the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit.”—Series A, No. 10, p. 37 (Ev 617).Who is the THIRD PERSON of Godhead: Holy Spirit“The three highest powers in the universe are pledged to labor with those who will seek to save the lost.”—Review, August 12, 1909.How many highest power are there in Universe: Ellen White: 3. What are their names: Father, Son and Holy Spirit We need to realize that the Holy Spirit, who is as much a person as God is a person, is walking through these grounds. E.G. White, Manuscript 66, 1899. (From a talk to the students at the Avondale School.). Evangelism, p. 616.Is Holy Spirit a person or a power or an identity given to the omnipresence of God? Ellen White: A person just like the Father.The Holy Spirit is a person, for He beareth witness with our spirits that we are the children of God. E.G. White, Manuscript 20, 1906. Evangelism, p. 616.Is Holy Spirit a person or a power or an identity given to the omnipresence of God? Ellen White: A person.Christ, our Mediator, and the Holy Spirit are constantly interceding in man’s behalf, but the Spirit pleads not for us as does Christ, who presents His blood, shed from the foundation of the world; the Spirit works upon our hearts, drawing out prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving. The gratitude which flows from our lips is the result of the Spirit’s striking the cords of the soul in holy memories, awakening the music of the heart. {1SM 344.1}Jesus and Holy Spirit are two different persons Did early church Fathers or protestant reformers believed in coming of Jesus will be secret?No, this doctrine was not taught by early church Fathers and protestant reformersIs there any biblical base for secret rapture doctrine?Bible talks about Jesus coming unexpectedly (suddenly) without any information but there is no single Bible verse which tells that Jesus coming will be secret.If it is not taught by early church Fathers and protestant reformers and neither it is found in the Bible then how did this come into christianity?Protestant reformation movement believed and taught that Pope is the antiChrist. The catholic church wanted to divert this charge of Pope as antichrist by turning away the focus of antichrist into future.Jesuit doctor of theology, Francisco Ribera, in his book Sacrum Beati Ioannis Apostoli, Evangelistiae Apocalypsin Commentarij proposed that the prophetical periods of 1260 days, 42 months and three and half years into future and do not apply to Papacy.(Please visit http://www.who-is-the-antichrist.org/ to understand what protestant reformers believed on AntiChrist based onthe prophetical periods of 1260 days, 42 months and three and half years)Manuel De Lacunza (1731-1801), a Jesuit priest from Chile, also advocated futurism in his manuscript entitled La Venida del Mesias en Gloria y Magestad ( The Coming of the Messiah in Glory and Majesty ). Writing under the assumed name of Juan Josafa (Rabbi) Ben-Ezra, Lacunza hoped to obscure the fact that he was a Catholic, in order to give his book better acceptance in Protestantism. Church of Scotland minister, named Edward Irving, was influenced by this book and translated it.John Darby, an Englishman and pioneer of the Plymouth Brethren movement became caught up in the rapture philosophies of Irving. When Darby heard about Irving s activities, he traveled to Scotland to talk with Irving and his followers about the secret rapture . It was Darby who became the master developer of scriptural arguments to support the theory/doctrine that evolved.Darby s development of the rapture theory has since become widely popularized in Britain and finally in the U.S., largely as a result of Cyrus Scofield s notes in his Scofield Reference Bible.What manner of coming will be Jesus second coming?Bible tells us that second coming of Jesus when the saints gets resurrected will be loud, noisy and the whole world including the wicked will see it. It will be an unexpected event but not a secret event. The dead in Christ will rise up on this day.2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.Note. 1. The day will be unexpected for the Lord comes like a thief 2. heavens shall pass away with great noise1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:Note. 1. Lord will descend with a shout and with the trump. 2. The dead in Christ shall rise first.1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.Note: 1. The trumpet will sound. Trumpet ofcourse is a very loud instrument 2. The dead in Christ will rise up.More Information:http://amazingdiscoveries.org/S-deception_Second-Coming_dispensational_rapturehttp://www.secret-rapture.com/ 1. Who is Samuel bacchiocchii: Critics of SDA love to quote Samuel Bacchiochi a theologian who wrote on Sabbath. He claimed to be an Adventist and worked in Adventist church. He studied in a jesuit university. He wrote extensively on sabbath which invited wider audience in SDA church to believe him to be true Adventist.In reality he is a Jesuit spy who actually attacked biblical Sabbath He denied most of the Biblical interpretation concerning Papal Rome in the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.From Sabbath to Sunday: The Bacchiocchi Agendahttp://www.truthontheweb.org/samuele.htmIn conclusion his writings are not authoritative Adventist stand on Sabbath. The only authoritative stand on Sabbath is writings of end time prophet Ellen White.2. How come Papacy changed Sabbath to Sunday when Sunday observance is found in early Christianity.Paul writes the the Papal system is working even in his time2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.In early Christianity except for few apostates in Rome and Alexandria rest of the Christians were observing 7th day Sabbath. But it is Papal Rome which enforced Sunday observance throughout Christendom.For although almost all churches throughout the world celebrate the sacred mysteries on the sabbath of every week, yet the Christians of Alexandria and at Rome, on account of some ancient tradition, have ceased to do this. The Egyptians in the neighborhood of Alexandria, and the inhabitants of Thebais, hold their religious assemblies on the sabbath, but do not participate of the mysteries in the manner usual among Christians in general: for after having eaten and satisfied themselves with food of all kinds, in the evening making their offerings they partake of the mysteries.—The Ecclesiastical History of Socrates Scholasticus, bk. 5, ch. 22.. . . it so happened that all the senators came to the church to visit him on the sabbath day . . . .—Ibid., bk. 7, ch. 48.The people of Constantinople, and almost everywhere, assemble together on the Sabbath, as well as on the first day of the week, which custom is never observed at Rome or at Alexandria. There are several cities and villages in Egypt where, contrary to the usage established elsewhere, the people meet together on Sabbath evenings, and, although they have dined previously, partake of the mysteries.—The Ecclesiastical History of Sozomen, bk. 7, ch. 19.Analysis of Common Quotations from The Church Fathers Concerning the Lord s Dayhttp://www.pickle-publishing.com/printer.htm?page=/papers/sunday-fraud.htmThe first true and clear reference to Sun-day worship was around 150 A.D. by Justin Martyr (over a century after Jesus death and about 1/2 century after John died). Justin used the expression Ηλίου λεγομένη ἡμέρᾳ which literally means Helios said (called) day (Helios was a Greek sun god). Most of the Protestant, Orthodox, or Roman Catholic faiths, if they studied Justin, would conclude that Justin made many statements that are heretical and that he admitted he did not care to associate with Christians who he felt retained Jewish practiceshttp://www.cogwriter.com/justin.htmSome have claimed that the Didache and Ignatius both enjoined Sunday, but this is not true. The original Greek simply does not support this conclusionhttp://www.cogwriter.com/ignatius.htmThe 17th century historian William Cave reported that the early Christians, both Jews and those in Asia Minor, kept the Sabbath. Notice his report: the Sabbath or Saturday (for so the word sabbatum is constantly used in the writings of the fathers, when speaking of it as it relates to Christians) was held by them in great veneration, and especially in the Eastern parts honoured with all the public solemnities of religion. For which we are to know, that the gospel in those parts mainly prevailing amongst the Jews, they being generally the first converts to the Christian faith, they still retained a mighty reverence for the Mosaic institutions, and especially for the sabbath, as that which had been appointed by God himself, (as the memorial of his rest from the week of creation,) settled by their great master Moses, and celebrated by their ancestors for so many ages, as the solemn day of their public worship, and were therefore very loth that it should be wholly antiquated and laid aside. For this reason it seemed good to the prudence of those times, (as in others of the Jewish rites, so in this,) to indulge the humour of that people, and to keep the sabbath as a day for religious offices. Hence they usually had most parts of the divine service performed upon that day; they met together for public prayers, for reading the scriptures, celebration of the sacraments, and such like duties. This is plain, not only from some passages in Ignatius and Clemens s Constitutions, but from writers of more unquestionable credit and authority. Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria, tells us, that they assembled on Saturdays, not that they were infected with Judaism, but only to worship Jesus Christ, the Lord of the sabbath (Cave William, D.D. Primitive Christianity: or the Religion of the Ancient Christians in the First Ages of the Gospel. 1840 edition revised by H. Cary. Oxford, London, pp. 84-85).Polycarp kept the Sabbath:I will give the narration in order, thus coming down to the history of the blessed Polycarp And on the sabbath, when prayer had been made long time on bended knee, he, as was his custom, got up to read; and every eye was fixed upon him And on the following sabbath he said; Hear ye my exhortation, beloved children of God. I adjured you when the bishops were present, and now again I exhort you all to walk decorously and worthily in the way of the Lord, knowing that, when I was in the ministry of the presbyters, I applied so great diligence according to my power, and shall do this the more now when the greatest peril awaits me if I am negligent. For after the fear of the judgment, it were shameful to abate and relax anything having regard to men, and not rather to build up higher the zeal which has reached thus far. It pertaineth to you therefore to hold back from all unruliness, both men and women; and let no one imagine that I exact punishment from offenders not from conscientiousness but from human pride. For it has happened that some of those who were put into offices, when they ought all the more, as one might say, to strain every nerve in the race, just then relax their efforts, forgetting that, the greater honour a man appeareth to receive, the greater the loyalty which he ought to pay towards the Master, and to remember the words of the Lord how He himself said, On whom I conferred the more, from him let them demand the more abundantly in return; and the parable of those who had the talents committed to them, and the blessing pronounced upon the servant that watches, and the reproof of those who refused to come to the marriage feast, and the condemnation of him whose garment was not befitting the marriage festivity, and the entering in of the wise virgins, the saying Watch ye, and again Be ye ready, Let not your hearts be weighed down, the new commandment concerning love one towards another, His advent suddenly manifest as of rapid lightning, the great judgment by fire, the eternal life, His immortal kingdom. And all things whatsoever being taught of God ye know, when ye search the inspired Scriptures, engrave with the pen of the Holy Spirit on your hearts, that the commandments may abide in you indelible. Thus speaking in this way from time to time, and being persistent in his teaching, he edified and saved both himself and his hearers. (Pionius, Life of Polycarp (1889) from J. B. Lightfoot, The Apostolic Fathers, vol. 3.2, pp.488-506)J. F. Coltheart put the following citations together which shows that scholars do understand that early Christians and others did in fact keep the seventh-day sabbath:EARLY CHRISTIANS The primitive Christians had a great veneration for the Sabbath, and spent the day in devotion and sermons. And it is not to be doubted but they derived this practice from the Apostles themselves, as appears by several scriptures to that purpose. Dialogues on the Lord’s Day, p. 189. London: 1701, by Dr. T.H. Morer.EARLY CHRISTIANS . . . The Sabbath was a strong tie which united them with the life of the whole people, and in keeping the Sabbath holy they followed not only the example but also the command of Jesus. Geschichte des Sonntags, pp. 13, 14.2ND CENTURY CHRISTIANSThe Gentile Christians observed also the Sabbath. Gieseler’s Church History, Vol. 1, ch. 2, par. 30, p. 93.EARLY CHRISTIANS The primitive Christians did keep the Sabbath of the Jews . . . therefore the Christians, for a long time together, did keep their conventions upon the Sabbath, in which some portions of the law were read: and this continued till the time of the Laodicean council. The Whole Works of Jeremy Taylor, Vol. IX, p. 416 (R. Heber’s Edition, Vol. XII, p. 416) EGYPT (OXYRHYNCHUS PAPYRUS – 200-250 A.D.) Except ye make the Sabbath a real Sabbath [sabbatize the Sabbath, Greek], ye shall not see the father. The Oxyrhynchus Papyri, pt. L, p. 3, Logion 2, verse 4-11 (London: Offices of the Egypt Exploration Fund, 1898) EARLY CHRISTIANS The seventh-day Sabbath was . . . solemnised by Christ, the Apostles, and the primitive Christians, till the Laodicean Council did in a manner quite abolish the observations of it. Dissertation on the Lord’s Day, pp. 33, 34, 44 SPAIN – Council Elvira (A.D. 305)Canon 26 of the Council of Elvira reveals that the Church of Spain at that time kept Saturday, the seventh day. As to fasting every Sabbath: Resolved, that the error be corrected of fasting every Sabbath. This resolution of the council is in direct opposition to the policy the church at Rome had inaugurated, that of commanding Sabbath as a fast day in order to humiliate it and make it repugnant to the people PERSIA – A.D. 335-375 They despise our sun god. Did not Zoroaster, the sainted founder of our divine beliefs, institute Sunday one thousand years ago in honour of the sun and supplant the Sabbath of the Old Testament. Yet these Christians have divine services on Saturday. O’Leary, The Syriac Church and Fathers, pp. 83, 84. (Coltheart JF. The Sabbath of God Through the Centuries. Leaves-of-Autumn Books, Inc. Payson, Arizona, 1954.http://www.giveshare.org/churchhistory/sabbaththrucenturies.html 6/24/06).For further Reading and more evidence of Sabbath keeping in early centurieshttp://www.cogwriter.com/sabbath.htm The first three chapters are sufficient to teach most Bible doctrines.1. Marriage is between one man and one womanGen 2:24  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.Also read: https://thegladtidings.wordpress.com/2012/08/25/does-god-approve-pre-marital-sex/2. Hell If you break commandment of God you will die (note God didnt say that the day you eat the fruit you will be put into hell and burn forever)Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Also refer: https://thegladtidings.wordpress.com/category/doctrines/hell-fire/3. State of dead when God breathed air into mans nostrils He became a living soul (living being). Note God didnt insert a soul into a body but breathed air.Gen 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. Thou sendest forth thy spirit[breath], they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. (Psalm 104:29-30).Also refer https://thegladtidings.wordpress.com/category/doctrines/understanding-death/4. Sabbath God rested on the seventhday and He blessed that day and made it holy.Gen 2:2-3  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and He rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.Also refer https://thegladtidings.wordpress.com/category/doctrines/sabbath/5. Commandments God commanded man not to eat the fruit. If you obey Gods commandment you live otherwise you die.Gen 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Also refer: https://thegladtidings.wordpress.com/category/doctrines/law/6. Vegetarian diet- God gave plants as food for man.Gen 1:29  And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to youit shall be for meat. Isa 65:25  The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.https://thegladtidings.wordpress.com/category/ellen-white/vegetarian-diet/7. Country living God placed man in a beautiful garden.https://thegladtidings.wordpress.com/category/ellen-white/country-living/Gen 2:8  And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the manwhom he had formed.8. Sanctuary God taught that Christ will die for  mans sin by killing the lamb after man s sinGen 3:21  Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.9. Righteousnes by Faith-  Man tried to clothe himself with fig leaves but God clothed man with an animals skin i.e., He taught that man cannot the nakedness of his sin by his own works but only with the righteousness of Jesus.Gen 3:7  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.  Gen 3:21  Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.10. Sunday LawGod told Man that there will be enmity between the church and the serpent and serprent will try to destroy the seed of the woman (church)Gen 3:15  And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.Rev 12:17  And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 11. TrinityGen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. Gen 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Some of my non adventist brethren quote 1John 3:22-24 and say that John is not talking about the decalogue in his epistle. But a careful reading of the entire epistle shows that John is talking about the Decalogue including the 7th day Sabbath.Apostle Paul tells us that Love is the fulfillment of the Law. Without love we cannot fulfill the law. He also tells us that to say love thy neighbour is the summary of last six commandments in the Ten Commandments.Rom 13:8,9 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.The same thing was told by the Lawyer to the Lord as answer to his question. Luk 10:25-27 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternallife? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.The first 4 commandments in the Decalogue can be summarized into Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength and the last 6 commandments can be summmarized as love thy neighbour as thyself With this in mind let us see which commandment does John refers to.1Jn 3:22-24 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.In both verse 22,24 John uses the plural word commandments so he not talking about only one commandment here rather more than one commandment.From 1Jn 4:20-21 we can see that John is talking about the entire decalogue.If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.John asks how can we love God (keep the first 4 commandments) if we do not love our neighbour (keeping last 6 commandments).Also He writes 1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. The Hebrew word Azazel which is translated as Scapegoat in the King James Version appears only once in Bible.There are two common interpretations on whom does the scapegoat represent. One interpretation says that this Azazel is satan and other one says that this is Lord Jesus .The Interpretation that this is Lord Jesus can be very easily proved faulty because in Lev 16 where scapegoat is mentioned there is casting of lots done to choose the goats. One goat is chosen for Lord and other was chosen for Azazel .There is a clear distinction between the two goats as only one is chosen for Lord and other one is not. This is opposed to choosing both the sacrificial birds for Lord in Lev 14. Lev. 14:4-7 where two birds used in cleansing of leper, one is killed and other one is freed after dipping into the blood of the slain bird. Here there is no casting of lots done to distinguish the birds.The interpretation which says that scapegoat represent Jesus is very much faulty by teaching that the goat chosen for Lord and one not chosen for Lord both represent Lord.The word Azazel translated as scapegoat is used in ancient languages like Hebrew, Syriac and Arabic to represent the fallen Angel or demon.For example the pseudocrypa book of Enoch (dating 1-2 centuries prior to Jesus) says that Azazel is the leader of angels which made man to make weapons. The book tells that this angel was cast into darkness. 13th century rabbi, Nahmanides, argued that Azazel is one of the leaders of a class of demon known as the Se irimIn Syriac Azzail is the angel (strong one) who revolted. In Arabic (Azazil in Islam)Azazil (Arabic: عزازل ‘Azāzīl) does not feature in the Qur an, but is said to be the original name of Iblis, or Satan. Iblis was the Jinn (or spirit) who worshiped Allah (God) from amongst the ranks of the angels. He denied Allah s command to bow down before Adam and later tempted Adam to eat from the forbidden tree. He made a promise to tempt mankind into sin and lead them all astray – those who are heedless of the signs of Allah (God). The word Iblis means to despair and Azazil despaired of the Mercy of God, thus earning him that title.Ibn Abbas said and Ibn Masoud and some companions :that Iblis was the main chief between Angels in the 1st sky close to the earth and Ibn Abbas said: Iblis name was Azazel عزازيل then Allah change him to Satan as the story mentioned in The Quran.(from book of prophets stories for Ibn Kathiir).The Quran does mention the story of two angels Harut and Marut, who were confined within the land of Babylon, teaching magic and other forbidden knowledge to those who seek such knowledge. As a request for dispensing any such information, they were required to declare that they were only there for the trial of men who inquired for knowledge of magic; anything they have taught (magic) can only harm and not profit the student at all. The Quran also mention some underlying correlation with the king Sulaiman (Solomon) without elaborating furthermore. There is no mention of any penalty for the actions of the two angels, although the penalty mentioned for magic is the same as that for being a disbeliever in God, namely everlasting hellfire.Azazil is referenced as another name for Iblis in the Tawasin, the collection by the 10th Century Sufi writer and martyr, Mansur Al-Hallaj. Chapter Six of that writing is dedicated to the self-defence of Iblis, and in one section, Hallaj explains how each of the letters of Azazil s name relate to his personalityEarly ChristianityOrigen (184/185 – 253/254AD) an early church Father identifies Azazel with Satan.I am not using the above sources as evidence for teaching that Azazel is Satan but I am using them as source to show how Azazel was considered as Satan in olden times.The main argument for believing that Azazel is Satan is from Bible. The main argument being in Leviticus the goats were chosen by casting of lots between Lord and Azazel (not Lord). If one is for Lord the other can only be for an opposing force Satan .The meaning of Azazel is departed . How does Satan fit this ceremony of day of atonement? The whole ceremonial law with its feasts is the shadow of sacrificial priestly work of Jesus. It tells us how the plan of salvation/redemption works. When Job reasons with God asking why he suffered, God answers him using a mythical character Leviathon (Job 41:1) which is none other than satan (Isa 27:1). God tells Job that Satan caused all this. Could it be possible that God uses the mythical word Azazel to tell humans that Satan will be held responsible for causing all men to sin?The ceremony on the Day of atonement happens as below.Lev 16:7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. Lev 16:8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat. Lev 16:9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the LORD S lot fell, and offer him for a sin offering. Lev 16:10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat, shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make an atonement with him, and to let him go for a scapegoat into the wilderness. Lev 16:18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the LORD, and make an atonement for it; and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. Lev 16:19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel. Lev 16:20 And when he hath made an end of reconciling the holy place, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: Lev 16:21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all theirtransgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat, and shall send him away by the hand of a fit man into the wilderness: Lev 16:22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities unto a land not inhabited: and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness.Note in verse 20-22 the scapegoat comes into picture only after cleaning of sanctuary is done (v20), Priest charges the scapegoat with all the sins of the people(v21) this cannot be Jesus because Jesus bore our iniquities before our sins were cleansed from heavenly sanctuary.Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (Also refer my article on Investigative judgement.)We see in Revelation 20 that Satan is lead into a land not inhabited for 1000 years (that is after all saints go to heaven and the wicked are completely dead). Also Satan is burned for ages and ages before he finally consumed by fire. The reason why Satan burns for longer duration is because he has to suffer punishment for causing others to sin.Day of atonement is not only the day of cleansing but also a day of Judgement. The plan of redemption is not only to put an end to sin and redeem the saints but also to punish the wicked especially Satan for sin.Also refer my other articles:Where will the blessed millinium be, in heaven or in earth?How long will Satan burn?Invetigative Judgement. Bible tells us that the only sex God approves is between husband and wife.Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but fornicators and adulterers God will judge. Heb 13:4Bible says that both fornicators (pre marital sex) and adulterers (sex outside marriage) will be judged by God.For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 1 Thes 4:3-512 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. 13 Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”[a] 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.18 Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 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? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body[b] and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:12-20but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality,[a] fromthings strangled, and from blood. Acts 15:20 Privacy Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

TAGS:ye that should 

<<< Thank you for your visit >>>

exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints Jude 3 (Marginal)

Hot Websites