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The Working of God's Spirit
Jesus told His disciples that the Spirit of God is the Spirit of truth.[10] He assured His followers that if He left them, He would send to them this blessed Spirit. The Spirit would be their teacher, and the same Spirit would teach them the truth.
"Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. ... 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 show you things to come." John 14:17; 16:7,13.
When the heavenly enduement came upon the disciples on the day of Pentecost, Simon Peter, with the other apostles, arose before the multitudes and opened to the understanding of the people the prophecies of the Scriptures. Although the disciples were accused of being intoxicated, the apostle convinced his audience that it was not wine the Christians were filled with, for it was only the third hour (ca. 9 A.M.) of the day.
The real test of obedient discipleship comes when God asks us to do something different from the dictates of our natural inclinations or feelings. When that happens, God knows better than we do, for He has been around longer. The very fact that God has given us a Bible with which we are to guide our lives, indicates that God has some things for us to do that are not in accord with our natural understanding, for why would He give us such a Book to follow if we already knew what was best?
Tests of faith came upon Joseph who never doubted God when that married woman came to him and offered him a shrunken womanhood for a sterling manhood. Without hesitation he said, "Woman, my decision is on God's side."(Mt. 1:18,19) Or look at Daniel, at the height of his youth with his head up and eyes shining he said, "Thank you very much, gentleman, I do not drink." (Dan. 1:8)
Rabbinical Law
According to rabbinical law, the devout worshipper must attend the temple or synagogue service on the Feast of Pentecost. The forenoon devotions of this holy convocation did not terminate till the fifth or sixth hour - at about eleven or twelve in the afternoon. The rabbinical law also demanded that no food or strong drink [100] should be consumed by the worshipper until the close of the morning service.
The disciples who were filled with the Spirit were talking in other tongues, that is languages. This in itself was an astounding occurrence, since they were uneducated Galileans; but in the various languages they were using, they spoke of "the wonderful works of God." Acts 2:11. Since these men were speaking to the praise of God, how could they be intoxicated, wicked men? But they were good men, and even under rabbinical law they could not have used strong drink until the close of the morning services. It was only the 3rd hour of the day, and the day's morning worship had not ended. Therefore, these men, Peter said, could not be drunken.[150]
Peter then opened the Scriptures to his audience, and assured the multitude that what they saw that day was the fulfillment of prophecy. The apostle quoted from the book of Joel where the people were promised the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." Joel 2:28-29.
That prophecy in Joel had not met its fulfillment before this time. The people believed that sometime in the future the scripture of the prophet would meet a fulfillment. Peter declared that what they were seeing that morning was the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy.
The apostle continued his discourse by quoting from the Psalms. Peter referred to the 16th Psalm, and convinced his audience that this particular psalm could not have met its fulfillment in King David; for David's sepulcher was in Jerusalem, not far from the temple. Peter's audience knew the location of the tomb of David. They were able, if they chose to visit it and see for themselves that there had been no resurrection of David's body.[200]
Furthermore, the apostle continued, David, because he was among the dead, had not ascended into the heavens. David himself wrote, and Peter quoted it:
"A Psalm of David. The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Psalm 110:1.
Climaxing all that he had already quoted, the apostle said that all those scriptures he referred to met their fulfillment in only one person, and that person is Jesus of Nazareth, who had been raised from the dead, who had ascended into the heavens, and who had sat down at the right hand of God.
Christ, Peter told that interested audience, is the one about whom David was prophesying when the king of Israel wrote those holy writings. What the people were witnessing that day was evidence that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. Jesus assured the disciples before He left them, that if He went away, He would send them the Holy Spirit. Right before them, on that occasion, the people had the witness, that the words of Jesus were then being fulfilled. Jesus now was exalted at the right hand of God, said the apostle. The house of Israel could be assured that the prophecies he quoted had met their fulfillment in Jesus, the Messiah. Therefore, said Peter, this Jesus is the Lord and the Christ.
A mighty conviction gripped the great audience as the Spirit of God impressed the congregation that the Spirit of truth was giving them through Simon Peter the true interpretation of those prophecies.[225]
Application of Prophecy
But we must ask: Were the inspired messages given to the prophets always intended for the people living at the time the messages were delivered?
"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into." 1.Peter 1:9-12.
The apostle in his epistle, clearly shows that the writings of the prophets were not confined to the time when the messengers delivered their messages to the people. The instruction given the divinely appointed messengers was delivered by them, but it was not necessarily intended for them, or for the people alone who lived in that particular generation. Peter declares that the prophets searched to know the meaning of those prophecies which they received, for their writings testified of the coming of the Christ and the glory which was to follow His advent arrival.
The above statement made by the apostle covers a period of more than 19 centuries. Christ suffered for sins at His first advent; Jesus will come in His glory at His Second Advent. The messages of both advents were revealed to the prophets, but their fulfillment would be understood by the people who should live at the time of the second advent. Many scriptures of the prophets did not meet their fulfillment in those long gone days; they met a partial fulfillment at the Saviour's first advent. Still others met their fulfillment within more recent history or are meeting their fulfillment at the present time.
"Even the disciples failed of understanding all that Jesus desired to reveal to them; but from time to time, as they surrendered themselves to the Holy Spirit's power, their minds were illuminated. They realized that the mighty God, clad in the garb of humanity, was among them. Jesus rejoiced that though this knowledge was not possessed by the wise and prudent, it had been revealed to these humble men. Often as He had presented the Old Testament Scriptures, and showed their application to Himself and His work of atonement, they had been awakened by His Spirit, and lifted into a heavenly atmosphere. Of the spiritual truths spoken by the prophets they had a clearer understanding than had the original writers themselves. Hereafter they would read the Old Testament Scriptures, not as the doctrines of the scribes and Pharisees, not as the utterances of wise men who were dead, but as a new revelation from God. They beheld Him "whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." John 14:17.
But did the disciples always understand the prophecies of the Old Testament?
"Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." John 2:18-22.
"And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
And they remembered his words." Luke 24:4-8.
Many of the Old Testament prophecies were not understood by the disciples when the Saviour was with them. The Lord told His disciple followers that after He had risen from the dead they would understand the Scriptures. The disciples of Christ were influenced by the rabbis and the religious schools of their day, just like people today are influenced by all sorts of winds of doctrines. It is evident by the questions they asked the Saviour that they did not know the meaning of many prophecies; that understanding came more fully after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.
But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist." Matthew 17:10-13.
"The disciples had often been perplexed by the teaching of the priests and Pharisees, but they had brought their perplexities to Jesus. He had set before them the truths of Scripture in contrast with tradition. Thus He had strengthened their confidence in God's word, and in a great measure had set them free from their fear of the rabbis and their bondage to tradition."
According to the Bible, of whom then did all the prophets, from the beginning of the world, prophecy?
"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;
And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began." Acts 3:19-21.
"And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began." Luke 1:69-70.
"But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled." Acts 3:18.
What an unfortunate experience the Jews passed through at the time of the first advent of Jesus Christ, because the rabbis had covered up the truth of Scripture with the rubbish of human tradition! Many of the traditions have been handed down from generation to generation through the centuries till the present time. Even until this present hour the pious, orthodox Jew cannot discern Christ in the Old Testament Scriptures. The apostle Peter declared that God spoke of Christ in all the prophets since the beginning of the world; yet that people to whom were committed the sacred oracles even yet do not see Him in any portion of Moses and the prophets.
Setting aside Prophecy
The writings of those prophets chosen of God to lead that people for more than fifteen centuries have to a large degree been set aside. The rising generation of Jews hold strange and singular views of the purpose and intent of the Sacred Scriptures inspired by the Spirit of God. Christ in the Old Testament writings is nowhere or at least rarely recognized by the present generation. The "modern view" of the scriptures is articulated this way:
"Modern Jewish theology of the Reform school, after making full allowance for the human origin of the Holy Scriptures and recognizing that the matter recorded is sometimes in contradiction to the proved results of modern historical, physical, and psychological research, arrives at the following conclusion:
While the ancient view of a literal dictation by God must be surrendered, and while the seers and writers of Judea must be regarded as men with human failings, each with his own peculiarity of style and sentiment, the Spirit of God was nevertheless manifested in them. The Holy Scriptures still have the power of inspiration for each devout soul that reads or hears them. They speak to each generation with a divine authority such as no other book or literature possesses. The inspiration of the Bible is different from the inspiration under which the great literary and artistic masterworks of later eras was produced. The religious enthusiasm of the Jewish genius leavens the whole, and the truth uttered therein, whatever be the form of it is clothed in, seizes men now as it did when prophet, psalmist, or lawgiver first uttered it, themselves carried away by the power of the Divine Spirit. This view of modern theology, compatible with Biblical science and modern research, which analyzes the thoughts and the forms of Scripture and traces them to their various sources, finds that prophet and sacred writer were under the influence of the Divine Spirit while revealing by word or pen, the religious ideas. But the human element in them was not extinguished and consequently, in regard to their statements, their knowledge, and the form of their communication, they could only have acted as children of their age." [300]
What a contrast between the foregoing statement and the following testimony:
"But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets, that Christ should suffer, He has so fulfilled." Acts 3:18.
After 20 centuries we still can hear the lingering echo of those pathetic
words which fell from the lips of Him who gave and fulfilled the writings of the prophets. While He wept over His beloved city, He said:
"If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace." Luke 19:42.
"Because thou knowest not the time of thy visitation." Luke 19:44.
"How often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" Matth. 23:37.
In quoting from the writings of Moses, whom does the apostle Paul say Moses had in mind when he wrote:
"For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off.
It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?
But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it." Deuteronomy 30:11-14.
"But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:)
Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Romans 10:6-10.
"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible." Hebrews 11:24-27.
How full are the Scriptures when they are given in their right setting, under the influence of the Spirit of God. The illustration and comparison made by the apostle Paul of the purpose of God as expressed in Deuteronomy 30:11-14, with its fulfillment in Christ, recorded in Romans 10:6-10, is a forceful application of the fulfilling of prophecy in Christ.
Of what did the apostle Paul assure the Corinthian Christians?
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve." 1.Corinthians 15:3-4.
What did the martyr Stephen tell the Jews the prophets had foretold?
"This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us .... Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers." Acts 7:38,52.
What effect did the vision which the apostle Paul received on the way to Damascus have upon him, and how did he regard the prophecies of the Old Testament?
"And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. ... But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ." Acts 9:20,22.
"Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ." Acts 17:1-3.
The apostle Paul was a man of influence when he was a rabbinical Jew. Many volumes have been written of his wonderful life. His own recital of the experience he had while journeying to Damascus to destroy, if possible, the gospel seed planted by Christ, clearly shows the effect of a perverted interpretation of Scripture upon the mind of a bigoted zealot.
"And having fully decided that the priests and scribes were right, Saul became very bitter in his opposition to the doctrines taught by the disciples of Jesus. His activity in causing holy men and women to be dragged before tribunals, where some were condemned to imprisonment and some even to death, solely because of their faith in Jesus, brought sadness and gloom to the newly organized church, and caused many to seek safety in flight." [400]
"His mind was deeply stirred. In his perplexity he appealed to those in whose wisdom and judgment he had full confidence. The arguments of the priests and rulers finally convinced him that Stephen was a blasphemer, that the Christ whom the martyred disciple had preached was an impostor, and that those ministering in holy office must be right." [500]
"A Roman citizen by birth, Saul was nevertheless a Jew by descent and had been educated in Jerusalem by the most eminent of the rabbis." [600]
"Saul understood the words that were spoken, and to him was clearly revealed the One who spoke--even the Son of God.[650] In the glorious Being who stood before him he saw the Crucified One. Upon the soul of the stricken Jew the image of the Saviour's countenance was imprinted forever. The words spoken struck home to his heart with appalling force. Into the darkened chambers of his mind there poured a flood of light, revealing the ignorance and error of his former life and his present need of the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. ..." [700]
"He saw that his convictions of right and of his own duty had been based largely on his implicit confidence in the priests and rulers. He had believed them when they told him that the story of the resurrection was an artful fabrication of the disciples. ..." [800]
"In that hour of heavenly illumination Saul's mind acted with remarkable rapidity. The prophetic records of Holy Writ were opened to his understanding. He saw that the rejection of Jesus by the Jews, His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, had been foretold by the prophets and proved Him to be the promised Messiah." [900]
"After his conversion, Saul recognized Jesus as the one who had come into the world for the express purpose of vindicating His Father's law. He was convinced that Jesus was the originator of the entire Jewish system of sacrifices. He saw that at the crucifixion type had met antitype, that Jesus had fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies concerning the Redeemer of Israel." [1000]
To Paul, Christ had become the "all in all." Christ was his life. Everywhere he went he maintained the vision of Christ, and through the Scripture of Moses and the prophets he sought to convince all that Jesus was the great central teaching in those holy records from Genesis to Malachi.
What had God promised the prophets in regard to the coming of the Messiah?
"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,
(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures), concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh." Romans 1:1-3.
What does Paul's sermon, preached in Antioch in Pisidia, prove in regard to the prophecies of the Old Testament?
"And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.
Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience.
The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it." Acts 13:15-17.
"And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will.
Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:
When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent.
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain." Acts 13:22-27.
"And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,
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.
And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, [now] no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.
Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, `Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.'
For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:
But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption." Acts 13:32-36.
What effect did Apollos' preaching of the Old Testament Scriptures concerning Christ the Messiah have upon the Jews?
"For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ." Acts 18:28.
What did the apostle Paul say to King Agrippa concerning the relationship between the ancient prophecies of the Scriptures and the life of Christ?
"Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:
That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." Acts 26:22-23.
Preaching to the people in the synagogue in His home town, how did Jesus apply the prophecy of Isaiah 61?
"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." Isaiah 61:1-2.
"And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
`The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.'
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." Luke 4:16-21; Isaiah 61:1-2.
What a different record the people of Nazareth might have left to illumine the pages of history, had they accepted the divine application of Isaiah's prophecy the day that the Lord Jesus brought to them the message from heaven! [1200]
The Time of Christ
The Scriptures in the days of Christ were separated into three or four great divisions:
1. the Pentateuch, the 5 books of Moses,
2. the major and minor prophets,
3. the poetic books, and
4. after that the remainder of the canonical books of the OT.
The Pentateuch was divided into 52 sections. Every Sabbath during each year a section of the Pentateuch was read in the synagogue. Each section was subdivided into 7 portions. By seven persons was read a portion during the services on the Sabbath, in the hearing of the congregation.
In addition to this reading of the Pentateuch, a portion of the writings of the prophets was read each Sabbath, at the conclusion of the reading of the weekly section. The person to whom was read the last portion of the section on the Sabbath was also granted the privilege of choosing a portion of the prophets and reading this prophetic testimony before the service concluded.
"And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me." Luke 24:44.
"And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on." Acts 13:15.
"For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day." Acts 15:21.
"For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him." Acts 13:27.
Jesus had been absent from His home town for a number of months. He returned on a visit to Nazareth, and on the Sabbath he attended the synagogue in which He had worshipped since his youth. The officers of the synagogue conferred the honor upon Jesus on this Sabbath of giving Him the privilege of reading the portion of the prophets, after reading the last section of the day's portion of the Pentateuch. The Saviour chose for His reading this day the first two verses of Isaiah 61. This portion of Isaiah's writings was very precious to the Jewish people. These divine words had for centuries been helpful to them. They often read the portion in the synagogue and in their own home. This scripture was a comfort to them in the days of the Babylonian exile, it was a joy to them during the Persian captivity. The writings of Isaiah offered them consolation in the days of Greece. How the Jews were helped as they read that reassuring message of freedom and liberty while being oppressed by the iron monarchy of Rome.
The cantor or minister would read the words of the prophets with the rabbinical chant prescribed by the rabbis. A scholar or school teacher would present the message as explained above by the sages. When the Saviour read those verses of Isaiah in the synagogue at Nazareth that day, He gave expression to the words in a manner never before listened to by such an audience. His emphasis of the message was different from that of scribe and Pharisee. He caused the people to understand the reading, - that He was the fulfillment of that message.
"The spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn." Isaiah 61:1-2.
Without doubt the audience was thrilled as the Saviour placed that prophetic portion in an entirely new setting. Never man uttered such words as this man spoke. There was a charm, a burning inward appeal, an impression, a conviction, that gripped the people as He read those words from the book of Isaiah. What could Jesus mean by saying,
"This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears?"
Luke 4:21; Deut. 5:1; Jer. 26:15.
the wondering congregation asked themselves, and one another. What did Jesus mean when He made a personal application of this often repeated portion of the prophets? If that convicted synagogue congregation had responded to the reading of those words by our Lord, when they were thrilled and
"wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth," Luke 4:22.
what a blessing would have come to them! The Spirit of the Lord surely was upon Him, because the Lord had anointed Him to bring to the world the gospel message of freedom from sin and deliverance from the bondage to Satan.
"To Him give all the prophets witness. ..."
Acts 10:43.
I've tried in vain a thousand ways
My fears to quell, my hopes to raise;
But what I need, the Bible says,
Is ever only Jesus.My soul is night, my heart is steel,
I cannot see, I cannot feel;
For light, for life, I must appeal
In simple faith to Jesus. He died, He lives, He reigns, He pleads;
There's love in all His words and deeds;
There's all a guilty sinner needs
Forevermore in Jesus. Though some should sneer, and some should blame,
I'll go with all my guilt and shame;
I'll go to Him because His name,
Above all names is Jesus.
The Everlasting Gospel of Christ
We should know the heart of the gospel of Christ. Here is a concise account.
When Jesus died on the cross, did He make a mere provision whereby something could be done for us if we first do our part? Or did He actually do something for all men? If so, what did He do for them?
The Bible assures us that
"And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1.John 2:2. Since "all have sinned," so all are "being justified freely by His grace." "God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them." Since "the wages of sin is death," Jesus came that He "might taste [that] death for every man." Through His "righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life."
1. Christ tasted the second death for every person.
2. As `all have sinned', so `all' are `being justified freely by His grace.' This is a legal justification, as we shall soon see; He does not force anyone to become righteous against his will.
3. By virtue of Christ's sacrifice, God is not `imputing their trespasses' unto the world. He imputed them to Christ instead. This is why no lost person can suffer the second death until after the final judgment, which can come only after the second resurrection. And this way all can live even now, believers and unbelievers alike. Our very life is purchased by Him, even though multitudes have no knowledge of that truth.
4. `The whole world' has been redeemed, if only someone would tell them and they could believe it. Hearing and believing that truth transforms the heart.
In other words, if Christ would not have died on the cross, none of us would be alive today. But since He died that death on the cross, we owe even this, our earthly life to Him . . . Never one saint or sinner, eats his daily food, but he is nourished by the body and the blood of Christ. The cross of Calvary is stamped on every loaf. It is reflected in every water-spring.
When the sinner sees this truth and his heart appreciates it, he experiences justification by faith. This is therefore far more than a legal declaration of acquittal - which was made on the cross for `all men.' Justification by faith includes a change of heart. It is the same as the forgiveness that actually takes the sin away from the heart. The Greek word for forgiveness means taking it away, reclaiming from it.
In other words, the believer who exercises such faith becomes inwardly and outwardly obedient to all the commandments of God. Such faith, if it is not hindered and confused with Babylon's error, will grow to be so mature and powerful that it will prepare a people for the return of Christ. That is what we mean by saying, "it is the third angel's message in verity."
Not all will be saved. But the reason is deeper than that they were not clever or prompt enough to seize the initiative. That is true, but there is something beyond. They will have actually resisted and rejected the salvation already "freely" given them in Christ. God has taken the initiative to save `all men,' but humans have the ability, the freedom of will, to thwart and veto what Christ has already accomplished for them and has actually placed in their hands. They can repeat what Esau did who `despised' his birthright and `sold' it for `one morsel of food.'
We can cherish our alienation from Christ and our hatred of His righteousness until we close the gates of heaven against ourselves. Those who are saved at last are saved due to God's initiative; those who are lost at last are lost because of their own initiative. Like it was said, "The faith of Christ must bring the righteousness of God, because the possession of that faith is the possession of the Lord himself. This faith is dealt to every man, even as Christ gave himself to every man. Do you ask what then can prevent every man from being saved? The answer is, Nothing, except the fact that all men will not keep the faith. If all would keep all that God gives them, all would be saved. . . . There is not the slightest reason why every man that has ever lived should not be saved unto eternal life, except that they would not have it. So many spurn the gift offered so freely." [Waggoner, E.J., Signs of the Times, January 16, 1896.; Ibid., March 12, 1896.]
According to Jesus, the only sin for which anyone can be lost is that of not appreciating and receiving His grace. This is what unbelief is. "He who does not believe is condemned. . . . And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light." John 3:17-19.
How can it be true that the cross is `stamped on every loaf' of bread so that even unbelieving sinners enjoy life because of Christ's sacrifice? As the Lamb "slain from the foundation of the world,"(Rev. 13:8) He has "brought life . . . to light through the gospel" (2.Tim. 1:10), life for the world itself. Humankind was so degraded in the time of the Roman Empire that mankind would have destroyed themselves if Christ had not come when He did "in the fullness of time."
We learn from this also to distinguish truth from error. In the Hindu religion for example, they speak of karma. But what a Hindu believes of the doctrine of karma is not true because we do not pay for our sins; but Jesus Christ paid the karma for them all. He has brought life for all by his death on the cross. For those who believe this, He has also brought "immortality", after being raised by the power of God from our first sleep death on the day of His Second Coming. For those will inherit eternal life.
The Gospel that Turned the World Upside Down
When the third kingdom overcame the second, - when the goat which touched not the ground overcame the bear - no mention was made of the Jews. In one of the most amazing correlations of history we realize how Almighty God directs human affairs when we read about Alexander the Great in Jerusalem. As God brought Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus in direct contact with His people, that they might know the God of heaven, so He permitted Alexander to learn of Him. While this Macedonian lad was passing from Tyre, after its surrender, toward Gaza, he stopped at Jerusalem on his way to Egypt. Josephus tells us how great a consternation filled the city on that news. But the high priest, Jaddua, had a dream in which he was bidden to go out to meet Alexander, arrayed in his priestly garments, and accompanied by the temple officers clad in white.
When Alexander met this company, much to the surprise of his army and generals, he bowed to the ground to worship God whose name was on the miter worn by the high priest. He then accompanied the high priest to the temple at Jerusalem, where the sacrifices were explained to him; also the prophecies of Daniel concerning the rise and fall of Babylon, the conquests of Medo-Persia and its subsequent fall, and the rise of the third empire. Daniel, who had in person witnessed before Nebuchadnezzar and Cyrus, was then quoted to Alexander (Daniel 8:20-21-24). The mighty conqueror was in the presence of the Spirit of God, and was given the message that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will. Would he bow in submission, and let God conquer for him? This was the opportune moment in the life of Alexander.
Alexander acknowledged God, but left Jerusalem and pushed forward in battle. Gaza fell. Alexander arrived in Egypt, and there, in order to gratify a selfish pride, he had himself proclaimed son of Jupiter Ammon. He who might have become a son of God chose rather to be called the son of Jupiter. The result of Greek education and learning is fully exemplified in this one act. The outcome of such a choice - a fit consummation of all Greek teaching - was met at Babylon when the king, at his very prime, laid down and died with no hope for the future. It is a sad but impressive commentary for those who seek the ways and acclaim of the world in preference to the truths of God.
One thing which the inspired historian Daniel noted, is, that he would do "according to his will." (Dan. 11:3) When man makes such a decision, it means that he has been offered a choice between God and Satan, and has chosen the latter. There are but two minds in the universe, and he who rejects God may claim that he exercises his own mind, but it means that he is swayed by the mind of the enemy of God. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus," (Phil. 2:5) for it brings liberty is the message for today which we should not forget for rulers, people and nations must repeatedly decide these issues in their own time, "Whom will ye serve."
Alexander left no heirs to the throne who could hold the reins of government. He thought he would live forever. His eldest child was but five years of age when he died.
The name of God, written on the miter, was He whose "name shall be called Immanuel . . . God with us." "The light of the knowledge of the glory of God" was to be seen "in the face of Jesus Christ." (Isa. 7:14; Mt. 1:23; Hab. 2:14; 2.Cor. 4:6). By coming to dwell with us, Jesus was to reveal God both to men and to angels. He was God's thought made audible. He prayed, "I have declared unto them Thy name." (Jh. 17:26) Christ had come into the world to undo the works of Satan.
The law of God, the foundation of the government of God over the universe and all creation, was first broken in heaven. Sin originated in seeking "self". Lucifer desired to be first in heaven. He misrepresented God. Christ was about to visit our world, and to become incarnate. This great purpose had been shadowed for all to observe in types and symbols. Lucifer had said, "I will be like the Most High" (Isa. 14:14). But Christ "being in the form of God, counted it not a thing to be grasped to be on an equality with God (like Satan desired) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men." (Phil. 2:6,7).
Of this Paul wrote,
"Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 2:5).
He was speaking of Christ's moral temper, his way of thinking, and specifically his humble and unselfish devotion. He regarded no sacrifice too great, no humiliation as too painful, in accomplishing his work of redemption. Christ promises his people that they can receive in their heart the same love he had. Not that his people could really duplicate him, but the world would at least think they do - they would be that muvh like Him. That is what they thought of the disciples at Antioch when they called the for the first time "Christians."
So we consider how the Cross casts out fear in His people. Christ's emptying Himself, taking upon Him the "form of a servant," stepping lower than the angels, in that He "was made in the likeness of men," He "... humbled Himself," and accepted the rude, toilsome life of a carpenter, working with His hands for a living and becoming at the end "obedient unto death." (Phil. 2:5-8)
That last part means that all those who contemplate suicide defey this being "obedience unto death." What they want is sleep and unconsciousness, not the terror of the second death. But they cannot be sure of that outcome. It is better to follow Christ who was obedient unto the curse of being hung on a tree, Gal. 3:13.
In other words, if we would just let the Holy Spirit write that mind of Christ in us, His will would become our will just as His Father's will became His will for Him. After that, Jesus was to His neighbors what we would be to ours. And moreover, we would delight in it. - Moses was that way when he chose to have rather his name stricken out of the book of life, rather then abandon his people.
Holding up the banner
As God's people we have privileges and duties. One of the duties for us is to know that we are engaged in a battle, a spiritual battle against the mighty deceiver in this world and a battle against our own inclinations to sin. Since we took sides in this battle in favor of God, we must display His banner. We must not be ashamed of our banner. The Bible says, "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth." Psalm 60:4. [1400] For, how would you react if you were an army general and your soldiers would hide the banner so the enemy wouldn't see it? Would you not be ashamed of your army?
1) What is involved in holding up the banner of God? It says that to those that "fear" the Lord was given a banner. One of the consequences of loving and fearing the Lord is to hate evil and love the good, Ps. 97:10; Prov. 8:13; Amos 5:15.
God's prophet answered the first question as follows, "There is to be no compromise with the powers of darkness. Individually we must take our stand. If we are not at enmity with the prince of darkness, the serpent, his folds encircle us and all our powers; his sting is in our hearts. All who range themselves under the blood-stained banner of the Prince of Life will henceforth count Satan as a foe, and will in God's strength oppose him as a deadly enemy. They will take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And what will they do in order to hold vantage ground? `Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance.'" Ephesians 6:18. [`In Heavenly Places,' p. 48]
2) If we are going to hold up a banner what must we know?
If we are going to hold up the banner, we must break our life of sin. We cannot fight in two armies at the same time and we cannot hold up two banners at same time. We must decide. If we hold up the banner of Prince Immanuel, we must break with the devil's forces. God's servant answers that question as follows: "Everyone who will break from the slavery and service of Satan, and will stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel, will be kept by Christ's intercessions. Christ, as our Mediator, at the right hand of the Father, ever keeps us in view, for it is as necessary that He should keep us by His intercessions as that He should redeem us with His blood. If He lets go His hold of us for one moment, Satan stands ready to destroy." [Manuscript Releases Vol. 15, p. 104; AA p. 362.]
What is the slavery and service of Satan?
Jesus explains it. This is Jesus talking to the leaders of his day and he accuses them to be children of the devil, and why is that? "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it." John 8:44.
These people were lying and contemplating a murder, breaking God's Commandments and because of that they had a character of the devil and Jesus said, `Your spiritual father is the devil.' Even though they were the professed church of God, their spiritual father was the devil. That is still true today. No matter what I profess, if my character, if my life is a life in sin, breaking God's law, I am in slavery to the devil. I am in Satan's army.
Let us read that in 1. John: "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: a) whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, b) neither he that loveth not his brother." 1. John 3:8-10. Read also verses 4-7.
This is the biblical test to let us know which are the children of God and which are those of the devil. Being in Satan's camp puts us under the black banner of Satan.
In summary to our first question, If we are going to hold the banner up, we have to go to war. The banner shows which side we are on in this spiritual war.
In summary to our second question, if we want to uplift the blood stained banner of Jesus, we must renounce the service of sin and Satan.
"The laws of God's kingdom are to be honored and obeyed. Its members are to be those who have renounced the service of sin, cut loose from Satan's arbitrary power, and taken their stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. They are to know the meaning of the words, "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.'" John 1:12. [Pacific Union Recorder, December 15, 1904 par. 1]
So when I take up my stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, what must I do?
First I must cut loose from Satan's arbitrary power, from the service of sin.
And again talking about taking our stand under Christ's banner, Ellen White wrote:
"He will cease to transgress the divine law, and will take his stand with those who are loyal to the God of Heaven." [ST, July 6, 1888 par. 2]
Therefore, if we take the banner of Prince Emmanuel, we are taking a banner to go to war. We are going to have to fight and we have to keep on fighting. There is a spiritual war going on and we have to be actively involved in it. On the second point, we have to put down the devil's banner. We have to renounce all sin and be delivered from the power of sin in our life. Thirdly, being under Christ's banner, we must develop a character like our leader Jesus Christ.
"What is it to serve God? -- It is to resemble Him in character, to imitate Him. To serve God is to obey Him, to keep His commandments, to make an open confession of standing, not under the black banner of the great apostate, but under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. Those who serve God strive earnestly to obey His will. Thus they show to what army they belong." [ST, February 1, 1899 par. 3]
On the third point, we must demonstrate the principles of that banner in our lives, we must develop a character that reflects the character of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Fourthly, if we are going to hold high the banner, we must be organized as an army of soldiers. No army can win a war, unless they are organized. The same is true in a spiritual war. The people who win this war are going to be perfectly organized. They are not going to be just a group of independent ministries or a group of historic Adventists in which everybody does what they think is right. We must be organized. God is going to bring us into a perfect organization and unity. But to regain perfect unity, what has first to happen? The first thing that must happen is, someone must stand up and attack the evils taking place. It is not enough to teach the truth, set a good example or be loving and kind.
Here are some statements on that topic.
"God's people are called upon to rally without delay under the bloodstained banner of Christ Jesus. Unceasingly they are to continue their warfare against the enemy, pressing the battle even to the gates. And everyone who is added to the ranks by conversion is to be assigned his post of duty. Everyone should be willing to be or to do anything in this warfare. When church members put forth earnest efforts to advance the message, they will live in the joy of the Lord and will meet with success. Triumph always follows decided effort." [7T 30.1]
We must get organized
We must get organized. What would happen to an army and someone would ask you, where are you in the ranks? ... and you would say, `Well, I don't know ...' What kind of an army would that be. It would be absolute chaos. When a person becomes a member in your church, they must be assigned a post of duty right away. Every member in our churches should know what their post of duty is.
Anyone should be willing to do anything with respect to caring for and saving souls in this warfare.
"Every part of the service of Christ will be characterized by decorum and reverence. The truth of Christ cannot be confined to a certain range, yet it will be active to create for its environment, manners and habits and practices that will be in harmony with its Author. Everything will be done decently and in order. Wild methods and strange freaks and confusion are not authorized by the God of order. The methods employed by the church of Christ should be such as will win souls from allegiance to the prince of darkness, and cause them to take their stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel." [ST, August 27, 1894 par. 9]
"They should make manifest to the world what it is to keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. They should let their light shine forth in clear, strong rays upon the pathway of those who walk in darkness. The soldiers of Christ should stand shoulder to shoulder, loyal to truth, vindicators of the law of Jehovah." [SD 269.2; YI, June 29, 1893 par. 1]
"This little flock are babes in Christ, and need to be taught and led along, step by step, into faith and assurance; they need to be educated and trained to do the work of soldiers in the army of the Lord, and to bear hardness, that is, trials and opposition, contempt and scorn, as good soldiers of Jesus Christ." [PC 134.1]
Therefore, if we are going to hold that banner high: 1) we must be involved in the war, 2) we must forsake the service of sin and slavery to sin, 3) we must develop a Christ like character, 4) we must be just as organized as a group of soldiers.
"Although some may have followed their own way for a time, it is possible for them to return, and get into line. The Lord sees that it is not best for His children to be allowed to do as they please, and refuse to unite with their brethren who view matters somewhat differently from the way in which they may view them." [TDG 35.3]
Being in the right line
We must check and be sure we are in the right line. Here are some statements to that effect. They are some prophecies as to what Ellen White saw could happen.
"To all who would mark out a certain definite course for their brother to pursue, the Lord says, Stand out of the way." [5MR 280.5]
Who is it who knows exactly what everyone should do? Read on,
"Satan and his emissaries are doing enough of this kind of work. We are altogether too near the close of this earth's history to seek to block the wheels of the chariot of truth. God's workers are to come into line, to pray together, to counsel together. And whenever it is impossible for them to gather for counsel, God will instruct through His Spirit those who sincerely desire to serve Him." [5MR 280,281]
The Lord says, do not block the wheel of the chariot of truth as we have proclaimed it since the great awakening.
"Men who refuse to be converted and come into line, and use their capabilities to advance the work on Bible principles, will set up their own ideas, follow their own devisings, retain their own erroneous suppositions, and work to create disunion and lead souls from the true path. This we have seen illustrated in the experience of some at Battle Creek." [7MR 194.2]
"Many have received all the evidences of truth that God will ever give them. They have permitted and encouraged false sentiments; and they have practiced deception to cover up their apostasy." [7MR 194.1]
Have you ever seen that happen?
That is why we have to have videos and printed tracts to unmask this. Part of the battle is to unmask these sophistries.
We must be weary not to get hypnotized by the enemy to be mislead into pathways we do not really want to be on. We must pray not to fall under the spell of the swaying cobra which captures the senses of its pray just before it strikes. Therefore, we must break loose from the spell of the enemy, lay aside the garment of self-righteousness, humble our heart before the Lord and come into line.
We have no time to loose. We must make our salvation sure now. Things are being permitted to occur today which would have sent our forefathers screaming years ago. As time grows, such things wax worse and worse. -- We must cut loose from false doctrines and worship, false living and false works.
Here are some suggestions: Things like abominable music and songs. We must ascertain where our music comes from. We must strain our reading material through the sieve of truth. We have no time to read fiction friends. We have no time to watch television, for any reason. All you need is a little DVD player to watch sermons or uplifting material. They cost no monthly fee. That money could go to missions. We must cut loose from all that inordinate amount of time spent on sports on spectator events out in the world. Who cares who wins all those games. Are you building up your body for Jesus or for some game? Come on folks. We are in a spiritual battle, not some football game.
Actually anything which takes an inordinate amount of time away from our work for the Lord is suspect, including walking your dog when you, instead, could walk a friend or neighbor to talk to.
But we all need to pray, `Lord, open my eye so I can see what I need to do.'
Ellen White wrote to Harvey Kellogg, `Unless you have a complete change of heart, you will not be able to discern the error in which you are falling.' `You have listened to the arch deceiver.' [SpM 342.4]
What does it mean to come into line?
If we want to come in line, we saw already, we need to have a reference point. A marching soldier cannot march in line, unless he has a reference point. And the reference point is what is on the banner. The commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Ellen White says over and over again, `Unfurl the banner. - Hold it up. - Don't be ashamed of your colors. - Don't hide it.'
That is the reference point. The last part of the third angel's message. We must not work haphazardly. We must come into line.
"The Lord calls upon us to come into line. He wants us to work for one another. There is a heaven to win, and we cannot afford to be doing haphazard work now. We want to lay hold of every possible advantage that we may be fitted for instructors and missionaries to carry the message of salvation to the world." [Ms 5, 1910, pp. 1-6]
We ought to council with those who are led by the Holy Spirit.
May God help us to be willing to come into line. We have no idea what God is willing to do for us if we do.
Lest anyone think we are to fight what God has established, we must read the following,
"For years I have borne my testimony to the effect that when any arise claiming
to have great light, and yet advocating the tearing down of that which the Lord
through His human agents has been building up, they are greatly deceived, and are
not working along the lines where Christ is working. Those who assert that the
Seventh-day Adventist churches constitute Babylon, or any part of Babylon, might
better stay at home." {TM 36,37}
"When anyone arises, either among us or outside of us, who is burdened with
a message which declares that the people of God are numbered with Babylon,
and claims that the loud cry is a call to come out of her, you may know that
he is not bearing the message of truth. Receive him not, nor bid him Godspeed;
for God has not spoken by him, neither has He given a message to him, but he
has run before he was sent." {TM 41}
"The Redeemer of the world does not sanction experience and exercise in
religious matters independent of His organized and acknowledged church,
where He has a church." {3T 432.2}
Was the church in the days of Ellen White different then the church today? Have things changed so dramatically that we have reason to reconsider? Is `His organized and acknowledged church' so still today? -- What constitutes the church? [Please consider these linked comments too.] Where two or three are gathered in my name, that is a church, Matth. 18:20. The early church consisted of many `home' churches. For a long time they had no fixed synagogue like buildings to meet in. Today it is the same. We need a lot more home churches where truth is presented by the reading and studying of His Word, rather than mega churches.
I hope it is still the church through which God leads, but I believe that some in the ranks have left the faith and ought not properly belong to it. We must balance the above quotes with other quotes which indicate a warning.
Here are some necessary quotes:
"The oneness and unity of God's truth-believing remnant people carries powerful conviction to the world that they have the truth, and are the peculiar, chosen people of God. This oneness and unity disconcerts the enemy, and he is determined that it shall not exist. The present truth, believed in the heart and exemplified in the life, makes God's people one, and gives them a powerful influence." {1T 327.1 Written between 1855-1868}
"Already the judgments of God are abroad in the land, as seen in storms, in floods, in tempests, in earthquakes, in perils by land and by sea. The great I AM is speaking to those who make void his law. When God's wrath is poured out upon the earth, who will then be able to stand? Now is the time for God's people to show themselves true to principle. When the religion of Christ is most held in contempt, when his law is most despised, then should our zeal be the warmest and our courage the most unflinching. To stand in defense of truth and righteousness when the majority forsake us, to fight the battles of the Lord when champions are few,--this will be our test. At this time we must gather warmth from the coldness of others, courage from their cowardice, and loyalty from their treason. The nation will be on the side of the great rebel leader." {RH, January 11, 1887 par. 2}
Ought we to expect a dramatic change?
"In a vision of the night I was shown distinctly that these sentiments have been looked upon by some as the grand truths that are to be brought in and made prominent at the present time. I was shown a platform, braced by solid timbers--the truths of the Word of God. Some one high in responsibility in the medical work was directing this man and that man to loosen the timbers supporting this platform. Then I heard a voice saying, "Where are the watchmen that ought to be standing on the walls of Zion? Are they asleep? This foundation was built by the Master Worker, and will stand storm and tempest. Will they permit this man to present doctrines that deny the past experience of the people of God? The time has come to take decided action." {1SM 204.1}
"The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure." {1SM 204.2}
"My message to you is: No longer consent to listen without protest to the perversion of truth. Unmask the pretentious sophistries which, if received, will lead ministers and physicians and medical missionary workers to ignore the truth. Every one is now to stand on his guard. God calls upon men and women to take their stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel. I have been instructed to warn our people; for many are in danger of receiving theories and sophistries that undermine the foundation pillars of the faith." {1SM 196.4}
Who has authority to begin such a movement? We have our Bibles. We have our experience, attested to by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit. We have a truth that admits of no compromise. Shall we not repudiate everything that is not in harmony with this truth?" {1SM 205.1}
"I hesitated and delayed about the sending out of that which the Spirit of the Lord impelled me to write. I did not want to be compelled to present the misleading influence of these sophistries. But in the providence of God, the errors that have been coming in must be met." {1SM 205.2} This article appeared in Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 2, pp. 52-59, 1904.}
Considering the publishing dates, it seems that, indeed, the church visible may not be the same ship today as it was before at least 1904? Therefore, let us be circumspect and not hasty to jump to conclusions or take ill conceived steps but consult with one another and the brethren who have stood by the truth for so long. We are to meet errors. There is no word of abandoning ship is there? `The structure' would be swept away.' All structures or just the highest in rank edifices? The faithful people, however, do not entirely depend on this structure, do they? They can meet without the structure too.
Some of the after 1904 published writings include: Ministry of Healing (1905), Acts of the Apostles (1911), Prophets and Kings published in 1917. How far the structure has gone is vividly shown in the *.pdf files here.
Notes & References
[0010] How should a Christian respond to the question, `God, who are you?' Spurgeon said: "The proper study of the Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the highest philosophy, which can engage the attention of a child of God is the name, the nature of the person, the doings and the existence of the great God, which we call Father. It is a subject so vast that all our talks are lost in its immensity, so deep that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can comprehend and grapple with, in them we feel a kind of self-contempt and go on our way with the thought, Behold, I am wise. But when we come to this mastermind in science, finding a plum line cannot sound its depth, our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought, I am but of yesterday and know nothing." - As quoted by Rawi Zacharias.
[0100] Note: Strong drink is mentioned in connection with rabbinical law, not according to biblical law which forbids it, Deut. 29:6.
[0150] In that society it was the custom to have a new picking of grape fruit juice ready each day. Since it takes time for wine to ferment, such a process could not lead to a state where intoxication could result by that time of day.
[0200] Probably that would have involved the removal of a heavy lid stone which could not easily be accomplished.
[0225] The Bible should be read and understood according to the following 5 principles:
- Every passage in the Bible has Jesus as its hero, Luke 24:27.
- History repeats itself on a world wide scale.
Local events, like in the Book of Esther, will be repeated in the exact sequence in the future on a world wide scale.
This is true of the sacrifice of Isaac, the Exodus and the Hebrew sanctuary.
- Every book in the Bible meets and ends in the Book of Revelation.
This means that every story before the Book of Revelation, has some relation to that last book.
- In the Bible Israel is not literal Israel at the end of time.
Israel is to be understood symbolically. There is a spiritual Israel, people who have committed their life to Jesus Christ. So what happend to literal Israel in the Bible, is actually symbolic of world wide events toward the end of time and what spiritual Israel will experience, Gal. 3:29.
- Literal individuals (like in the Book of Esther) represent world wide systems and movements at the end of time. - That means Mordecai is symbolic of a world wide group of people; Esther is symbolic of someone far greater than herself; Haman represents world wide religious systems; Xerxes represents not one king at the end of time, but the kings of the whole world. That means the Book of Esther is really a prophetic book. It is not about history as much as it is a book about prophecy.
[0300] The Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. VI, pp. 608-609.
[0400] Acts of the Apostles, p. 113.
[0500] Ibid.
[0600] Ibid., p. 112.
[0650] The Thora, the Old Testament Bible of the Jews, certainly taught that God has a Son. We read: "The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, even the prophecy: the man spake unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal, `Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy. 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? Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.'" Proverbs 30:1-5.
[0700] Ibid., p. 115.; See also Review & Herald, March 11, 1911, From Prosecutor to Disciple - No. 1, E.G. White.
[0800] Acts of the Apostles, p. 115.
[0900] Ibid.
[1000] Ibid., p. 120.
[1200] "This passage was familiar to the Jews. It was an OT prophecy concerning the release of the Jews from the Babylonia captivity. But He did something unusual; He took this text woven out of the Exile, and wrapped it around Himself. He changed the meaning of the "poor," the "enslaved," and the "blind." The "poor" were those who had no grace and lacked union with God; the "blind" were those who had not yet seen the Light; the "enslaved" were those who had not yet purchased true freedom from sin. He then proclaimed that all these centered in Himself.
But above all, He declared the Jubilee. The Mosaic code made provision for every fiftieth year to be one of special grace and restoration. All debts were remitted; family inheritances which had, by the pressure of time, been alienated, were restored to their original owners; those who had mortgaged their liberty were restored to freedom. It was a Divine safeguard against monopolies; and it kept family life intact. The Jubilee year was to Him a symbol of His Messianic appearance which He proclaimed because He had been anointed with the Spirit to do so. There were to be new spiritual riches, a new spiritual light, a new spiritual liberty, all centering in Him - the Evangelist, the Healer, the Emancipator. All who were in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on Him. Then came the startling, explosive words:
"Today in your very hearing this text has come true." Luke 4:21
He knew they were expecting a political king who would throw off Roman domination. But He proclaimed redemption from sin, not from military dictatorship. In this way alone they must expect the prophecy of Isaiah to be fulfilled.
It was understandable that the people of Nazareth, who had seen Jesus grow up among them, were surprised to hear Him proclaim Himself the anointed of God, of whom Isaiah spoke. They now had a double alternative before them: either they could accept Him as the fulfillment of the prophecy; or they could rebel. The privilege of being the home town of the long-awaited Messiah and the One Whom the Heavenly Father in the Jordan proclaimed His Divine Son was too much for them, because of their familiarity with Him. They asked:
"Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary?" Mark 2:3.
They believed in God in a kind of way, but not the God Who touched their neighborhood, entered into close dealings with them, and lifted hammers in the same trade shop. The same kind of snobbery that was found in the exclamation of Nathanael:
"Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
... now came the prejudice against Him in His Own city, and among His Own people. He was indeed the Son of a carpenter, but also of the Carpenter Who made heaven and earth." [Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ, N.Y., 1977, p. 211-212.]
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"During His childhood and youth, Jesus had worshipped among His brethren in the synagogue at Nazareth. Since the opening of His ministry He had been absent from them, but they had not been ignorant of what had befallen Him. As He again appeared among them, their interest and expectation were excited to the highest pitch. Here were the familiar forms and faces of those whom He had known from infancy. Here were His mother, His brothers and sisters, and all eyes were turned upon Him as He entered the synagogue upon the Sabbath day, and took His place among the worshippers.
In the regular service for the day, the elder read from the prophets, and exhorted the people still to hope for the Coming One, who would bring in a glorious reign, and banish all oppression. He sought to encourage his hearers by rehearsing the evidence that the Messiah's coming was near. He described the glory of His advent, keeping prominent the thought that He would appear at the head of armies to deliver Israel.
When a rabbi was present at the synagogue, he was expected to deliver the sermon, and any Israelite might give the reading from the prophets. Upon this Sabbath Jesus was requested to take part in the service. He "stood up to read. And there was delivered unto Him a roll of the prophet Isaiah." Luke 4:16, 17 (R.V., margin). The scripture which He read was one that was understood as referring to the Messiah (Is. 61:1-2). ... Jesus stood before the people as a living expositor of the prophecies concerning Himself. Explaining the words He had read, He spoke of the Messiah as a reliever of the oppressed, a liberator of captives, a healer of the afflicted, restoring sight to the blind, and revealing to the world the light of truth. His impressive manner and the wonderful import of His words thrilled the hearers with a power they had never felt before. The tide of divine influence broke every barrier down; like Moses, they beheld the Invisible. As their hearts were moved upon by the Holy Spirit, they responded with fervent amens and praises to the Lord.
But when Jesus announced, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears," they were suddenly recalled to think of themselves, and of the claims of Him who had been addressing them. They, Israelites, children of Abraham, had been represented as in bondage. They had been addressed as prisoners to be delivered from the power of evil; as in darkness, and needing the light of truth. Their pride was offended, and their fears were roused. The words of Jesus indicated that His work for them was to be altogether different from what they desired. Their deeds might be investigated too closely. Notwithstanding their exactness in outward ceremonies, they shrank from inspection by those clear, searching eyes.
Who is this Jesus? they questioned. He who had claimed for Himself the glory of the Messiah was the son of a carpenter, and had worked at His trade with His father Joseph. They had seen Him toiling up and down the hills, they were acquainted with His brothers and sisters, and knew His life and labors. They had seen Him develop from childhood to youth, and from youth to manhood. Although His life had been spotless, they would not believe that He was the Promised One." [Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, Mountain View, 1898, p. 236-237.]
[1400] It is the banner which teaches, `the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.' (Click here for covenants explained). This is nothing less than the "everlasting gospel" message of Rev. 14:6.
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we no longer spent time with frivolous things which keep us away from communicating with Him (when at home, in the car, at work, at church). Jesus says also, "Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." (Jh. 15:14). The people being addressed in Matthew 7 have rejected His Holy Spirit. They have embraced a theology of salvation in sin (eros) or salvation by works (caritas) - neither of which needs Jesus. They are self-made people who did not take time to become acquainted with Jesus. Hence, He explains that He did not really get acquainted with them or know them as His personal friends.
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