Introduction
This topic is a very important one for it shows how the Beatitudes of Jesus relate to the sanctuary, and how they relate especially to the endtime and shows why we must understand these Bible topics, for knowing them will uplift you and deepen your knowledge of the Word of God.
Trouble is coming upon this nation, and among our denomination, and there will be polarization among us very soon and we need to get ready and stay ready. There is no time to fall back anymore. There is nothing for us in the world anymore, but sin, death, and ultimate destruction. Jesus Gave us Eight Blessings for the End Time. Let us first read a promise,
"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. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." John 16:13,14.
So we need the Holy Spirit to help us rightly divide the Word of Truth. Our next scriptures come from Matthew 5 and 6.
We read,
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matth. 6:33
That means in order to understand the kingdom of God, we must understand Matthew chapter 5 first, since there are given to us eight blessings having to do with the kingdom of God and His righteousness. These eight blessings are called the Beatitudes, but they are directly connected to the kingdom of God and His righteousness; it is their purpose to show us how to go from grace to actual glory.
But first we must realize that the Beatitudes are not just sayings, but they are actual experiences of God's people, in particular in the church of the last days. A people who are in a lukewarm condition, will come out of their lukewarm condition, receive Christ's righteousness, and they will be striving to prepare themselves to be among the 144,000 in the last days - the 144,000 who are all of those who are saved.
Thus, these things are directly connected one with the other.
We can count nine blessings in Matthew 5, but actually there are only eight, because the last two are all persecutions. We also will see and understand that these blessings are in harmony with the sanctuary service - from the outer court, all the way to the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, and as we study the Beatitudes, we will look at the sanctuary while we are studying our way through them. And as we do this, we will also see how this all fits in with the last days and God's people who are alive at that time.
Let us remember, that the theme of Matthew Chapter Five is "righteousness."
They begin and end with the kingdom of God, and that is why we read,
This chapter also takes us through two phases, from the
And so we will find in order to have a kingdom of grace, we must have a king of grace.
Who is the kingdom of grace, who is it who must be sitting on the throne of grace in the kingdom of grace?
To answer that question, let us remember what the Bible says,
So the king of grace is Jesus Christ, and of course the king of truth is also Jesus Christ, as we study this theme. And we remember the words,
And so we shall find that as we go through the kingdom of grace we get to the kingdom of glory.
So we have here a king, and the following scripture describes for us what he looks like and who He is,
So we learn here that the head of this Kingdom is a kind King, for he extends unto us His Kingdom of Grace.
And since he is a king and has a kingdom, does he also have a throne?
Does he have a throne? Yes?
And so we have here an opportunity to remember all these scriptures once again, which most of us have read one time or another, but perhaps not in such a connected manner as we do here today.
So let us read the scripture which explains the scripture we just read, and as we do so, you will recall the words, but where from are they? Let us find out so we can recall these wonderful sources of such words. We read,
So, where do we find mercy?
We find mercy at the throne of grace. But you know, When I was in India we
But you know, Christ's kingdom is not of that sort. His kingdom is one of willing obedience from His members.
You see, as we accept Jesus as our Savior and King, we should always grow closer to Him, we should never be stalling our progress anymore, we should be advancing and ever `pressing towards the mark of the prize of the high calling' (Phil. 3:14) that we have joined us to. Until the prize - the character of Christ is fully developed in us. - That is the mark, the ultimate prize that we should press for in our life. And we will learn how we can become empowered to succeed reaching the goal, the prize in the midst of conflicts and worldly cares flooding in around us every day.
You see, Bible prophecy tells us that we ought not to procrastinate in this our character development after the order of Jesus Christ, for time is short and we have no time left to concern us with worldly things anymore.
We must put away sin; we must put away that what stands around as an idol and that hinders character development - those trials and difficulties, and keep on pressing to the price and mark of our high calling in Christ Jesus. Thus the "pressing" refers to the Christians reason for living becomes to live for the cause of Jesus Christ.
And as we learn today how we get from the kingdom of grace to the kingdom of glory, let us read also the following scripture,
So, we must renounce everything in this world, and the only thing we live for is Jesus Christ.
But I know, some of you young parents with young children, I know the problems you may see with such an idea.
You may think, well, I have to take my child to some of these worldly things. I can not cut my child off completely from the world. He must know what the world has, so he can cope with and enjoy life and not be locked up only with the Bible.
Wow, yes.
I must say, those parents who join up with Christ while their child was just born, have it easier at this point. For they have the child for about 3 or 4 years in their home, and the child will be satisfied with mom and dad, and not care to see all that much of the world yet - at least not for long periods of time.
And during this time they can raise the child with Bible truths. That means handle the Bible in your child's presence, so it will be impressed upon the child that there is God's book, which always will be found around the home to be happy.
How about that, would that work parents?
Older children would require more efforts, to make things during home Bible time, interesting and desirable for the rest of their life - no doubt requiring much and diligent prayers all the time.
But let us remember the words again which we just read,
So, to grow in grace, in "knowledge?" What kind of knowledge are we talking about?
Let us read about it.
And we remember another text ...
But let us consider Corinthians first.
What kind of knowledge is it?
It is the knowledge of His character reproduced in His people. This is what the world is waiting for. They do not only need the present truth in our printed materials. The world is waiting to see living examples, living witnesses of men and women who have been restored to the very image of God, to the character of God in these last days.
For we know, that in the last days Satan will do what? ... He will appear as Christ, while at the same time His people, God's people - in the early and the latter rain - will go around bringing the messages, `being just like Christ.'
And so we can be sure, that people will have to make a choice between a counterfeiter who looks like Christ, and a people who, not by outward appearances are like Christ, but in their character.
This is the final issue we have to go through at the end of time . . in the Great Controversy . . who will they choose?
And they will examine, how closely, how faithfully we walk with Jesus and commune with God and develop His character.
Next we want to walk through the Beatitudes while at the same time we shall look at the sanctuary.
Let us begin with the first beatitude.
Of course we know that these `being poor' is not about being short on money, it is people who recognize their spiritual poverty.
No bones about it. They know they don't measure up yet. They know they cannot do anything based on their own strength. And they just recognize that - in the sanctuary - a sinner who comes with a lamb and brings his lamb to the altar - because he recognizes his need for salvation. He recognizes his need of a Savior.
Thus the poor in spirit are those who recognize that they are helpless, they recognize their sinfulness ... that there is nothing good in them ... and that is why we read,
Wow, here we learn that God wants very much to look at those who are `poor in spirit' and, do you realize, that, when you look at your Bible in your house, laying there on the table, standing in the bookshelf, that when you read it that it makes you tremble at the living Word of God, for you realize you have no right to live contrary to the very teaching of His Word?
Do you really look at the Word of God, and handle it as such, that it will let you tremble? for it is the Voice of God that is speaking to us as verily as if we were in an audience with the Omnipotent?
Recognizing the presence of God among us through His Word, we would not live anymore like there is no God. We would be conscious of His very presence in our very own home.
We would not be concerned about who is in first place, we would find it a privilege just to be in communion with God and that God is speaking to us and that we are speaking to Him.
And that reminds me, as I drive the freeways, and it seems so many times I end up and there is no car at my side, they are all in front or far behind me - yes, for many flaunt the law and exceed the speed limit - but if you obey - you drive many times in safety to the right and in safety to the left. And I look and I say it out loud, `Oh God, thank you for sheltering me under your wings, thank you for this respite, this haven of rest.'
Do you think God wants us to notice all these blessings?
Yes. He does. So let Him know you are aware of it.
It is only the poor who see their helplessness and see their sinfulness. If you are one of those, God is looking for you to show you His grace and mercy.
Will you be looking out for it from now on? Yes?
And so the Bible says,
When one is really poor, they see their wretchedness, their need. They know they depended on their self most of their life. May be because of their employment - being in charge of something - caused them to become that way.
But like the centurion, once we recognize these issues, that we cannot rely on our self choosing ways, our selfishness and self-sufficiency, or even our own decision making, then we recognize that we need the power of His grace.
Such recognize, `I need the power of Your grace, the indwelling of your Holy Spirit, Lord I am helpless without You.'
Ellen White wrote,
"We are not worthy of God's love, but Christ, our surety, is worthy, and is abundantly able to save all who shall come unto Him. Whatever may have been your past experience, however discouraging your present circumstances, if you will come to Jesus just as you are, weak, helpless, and despairing, our compassionate Saviour will meet you a great way off, and will throw about you His arms of love and His robe of righteousness. He presents us to the Father clothed in the white raiment of His own character. {MB 8.2}
We can say based on what we just read, truly `blessed are the poor in spirit,' for they recognize their need of Christ and His righteousness and will be saved. And she also says, imputed righteousness is our title for heaven and imparted righteousness is our fitness for heaven, but it is all through Christ. [90]
Returning to the Beatitudes, we read, "Blessed are they that mourn."
Is that literal, or is that figurative?
What type of Christians would be those who just cry all the time?
Well, we may cry not because people are hurting us, but we may cry because we realize that we hurt Christ. That Christ died to save us from sin. It is so, as if Jesus says, `You cry because you realize that you are so much not like me. But that is ok, because the more you realize your need for me, the more I come into your life - I be your Savior, your friend, your elder brother, I be your joy in the midst of sorrow, I'll be your comfort when disappointment comes, I'll be your all, but when you cry, just open your heart, give me all your heart, give me all that you have, and I make you into something for my glory.'
That is what God says, and if you got sorrow today, just go ahead and cry.
Anyone here, just go ahead and cry if you have something to cry about ... but let Jesus have it all.
Are we together on this? Ok.
So what type of mourning is Matthew talking about?
And so, perhaps you remember how Esau cried, because he lost the birthright, Genesis 27:38.
So did Judas cry after he had betrayed God for 30 pieces of silver and he threw it down and hanged himself.
What did Esau and Judas have in common?
They cried over consequences - not over sorrow for sin. They cried because they didn't achieve what they wanted to achieve in this life.
What do we cry about today?
So what type of mourning do we need today in these last days?
We read on that account,
All we can say, Lord have mercy on us . . . do we mourn for His only Son?
Do we see our need, how we can come closer to Him - or further from Him? Are we more like Him than when we first met Him, or are we harder to please? Are we better than others or are we still humble and teachable? Are we close minded and satisfied or still seeking His voice?
We are at the end of time. It will be a sad thing if, in hindsight, our life was all without God and we just stand there and like a proud Pharisee, who regarded what the sages wrote more important than what God's Word actually said, and so they were rejected?
Because you didn't have love. Because you didn't know what it means to give yourself to others?
And so we ought to recognize that being a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, is not about me or you. It is about me or you giving to others. It is about becoming more unselfish in our actions, denying our self and looking to Jesus and His word for answers. - You remember that Bible in your house. Do you remember where you put it last?
These are the issues for today and the only way that we can get to this place, is, we must look up to calvary - and if we remember what the prophet of God said ... read the last scenes of the life of Christ in Desire of Ages. - Know them - we will be more empowered too!
We should spend an hour each day, meditating on the life of Christ - especially the final scenes.
O Lord, how far have we fallen away? How did we fall so far behind Christ, not walking with Him?
That may give us reason to cry.
As we read about Jesus at Gethsemane, at the trial, at the cross - we can ask ourselves, which role do I play in these scenes? And you put yourself in the middle and you realize where you fall short and you come to Christ and cry for mercy and He will help you.
So, is there anybody who does not own a copy of the book, `Desire of Ages?' [CIAS: We rotate one chapter of the `Desire of Ages' each Friday for those who do not have access to the book so you can read it.]
Looking at the characters which were around Jesus at the end, who are you more like to? Which role will we play? Are we a denier of Christ like Peter? Or do we like good disciples pass out tracts and help at church, but then, under pressure, we are like all the other disciples and Matthew, and we run away and forsake him, Matth. 26:56?
Will you give it all up when pressure builds up in your life, like Judas?
Will you look upon Him like those of whom the Bible says, "They shall look on him whom they pierced." John 19:37?
The Bible says,
Or do you look, and you go back to Gethsemane, like Peter, and you throw yourself down and cry?
Have you ever cried for the need of Jesus in your life?
The Holy Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart which has slighted and grieved the Savior and brings us to humility and contrition of mind so that we realize that every sin that we do, wounds our Savior. - Because, sometimes we have crucified Him afresh.
When we get mad at another person whom we want to give a piece of our mind, do you know that then we are in danger of crucifying Christ afresh?
Each time we come out of our Christ like character and give room to our frustrations, we sometimes are allowing our wit to get so upset that we start to boil off and it is at that point, that we have come out of Christ - for then we do not represent Christ in that character.
No matter what we then say to justify us, we have come out of Christ and the devil rejoices.
Oh, that we could see clearer our true situation with Biblical glasses.
Giving someone a piece of our mind - there is no place for self on the cross.
The Bible says, `they will come to the cross and mourn.' Mourning comes from being at the foot of the cross and beholding Him crucified.
We ought to want to be at the very spot every so often, for we cannot be at a higher spot than that at the foot of the cross.
For there, it says, `I will draw all men unto me.' John 12:32.
Such a person sees that it is his own humanity, his own sins that crucified the Lord and Savior. He knows, Jesus is dying for me; I nailed Him to the cross.
And we recall, that the Beatitudes are all connected. That means, you cannot mourn unless you have been poor.
In other words, you must see your need for a Savior so you can mourn for a Savior; you cannot mourn over a Savior.
Notice what the Bible says. - to be `meek' means to have a mildness of disposition, being gentle in spirit. So, what has brought you from being proud and self-assertive to being meek all of a sudden?
Such a change comes about by being `poor' in spirit and by `mourning,' and when you mourn you die to self.
You give up pride and vanity when you mourn, because you recognize these things were those which crucified Christ. Your mourning is now based on your looking at Jesus, and not at man or yourself; not looking at churches, or comparing yourself with other church members, but only looking at Jesus and what He did.
When you notice such thoughts of former sinful living in your mind, stop and pray to God to forgive you and shut such ideas out from you. Recall that you don't want to be part of that list of people who are `proud, backbiters, despiteful, boasters, evil and disobedient' (Romans 1:30). And you pray, `Help me Lord. Take away my unbelief, take away my pride, forgive me, and cleanse me.'
And you switch your thinking over to Godly things right away.
What makes being `meek' so important?
Jesus states that He was meek and lowly of heart. Oftentimes He held back revealing too much in order not to overpower people, or present His mission like the world would, but only let truth and faith work at hearts to convict them and plant faith in God.
How do you get this rest? If you don't rest during the week, it is hard to keep the Sabbath. For the Sabbath is to give us time to reflect upon His creation and recharge our mind with divine truths.
For `rest' is not keep the Sabbath first, but come unto me ye who are heavy laden.' All your cares which tax you, God says, come unto me - we do that on His day by reflecting on His mercies shown to us, how He has led us thus far and how we can praise and glorify Him in our life.
To get that rest, we must take His yoke upon us, apply the principles of His word in our life, until we do that, we will never experience divine rest.
So we come to Him just as we are and say, `Lord, I need rest.'
And you live a principled life. A life of order.
Dear reader. We know many of you worry that you have no retirement, no income, no 401k.
God knows that. He knows that you don't need such burdensome fears, that they make life hard. But what you need first is communion, communication with God, and He will remind you, `I will give you peace of mind. I own the world. I own the cattle upon the thousand hills, I own every beast of the forest,' (Ps. 50:10) God knows what you need. He feeds the sparrows, He can feed you.
Such times in our life, are trials and tests how much we really love Him and come to Him to give us peace of mind, faith and endurance. That we claim His promises, that is what God is waiting for, and He will help us when we need help the most.
God gave your boss the mind and job he has, and the very breath he has, and he can give you, his faithful employee, what God inspires him to give. God says, if the people of God do not support this work, I will get the gentiles to do it.
And these gentiles may know only a little bit of truth, and they will be so excited that they will do everything they can to push and further this gospel.
You see, God is not tight with His blessings. He sees things not as we do, we with our small minds, who don't believe that the gospel ought to go forward.
He got a thousand ways to bless us of which we know nothing.
We are told, that those who accept this one principle of making the service of God supreme, that thereby perplexities `vanish (Job 6:17)'... and they will find `a plain path (Ps. 27:11)' before their feet.
There is nothing that God cannot do.
The meek are such who are willing to take His yoke and learn of God who says, `Learn of me.' To learn of God we must take on His character and you will find rest.
God says, `Learn of me for I am meek.'
That is the very first major character trait that we must have prior to the opposition of our own nature of pride. Hopefully they were the days when you would listen to nobody because of pride. When nobody knew anything but you.
Perhaps you remember who you were before you met God - you were aliens and God changed you. All of us we were scoundrels, liars, cheaters, educated - and God changed our lives.
At some point, you knew you hated what you had become and wanted to be like Jesus. So you came and accepted Christ in your life, but then the concentrated gospel message - something like you read here - did never reach your ear. You did not hear what you needed to hear and your commitment to God began to weaken and self gained ground and Satan rejoiced and you knew, you were not anymore where you thought you would be. So, the gospel comes to you by the preaching of the word. And you hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and tears come to your eyes, and you surrender all. Therefore read and read this message for this may be just what you needed the most to hear. - That is why Jesus says, `don't forget your first love.' That is very important.
So, rest a bit and read and come to God with tears in your eyes and pray, `Lord, thank you for hearing my prayer. Thank you for arresting my slide and for pulling me back from oblivion. I will follow you faithfully in everything and read your Word with more understanding. Amen.'
So, remember, don't forget your first love, the days when you got rid of your pride.
And so we realize, the only reason our pride and self-sufficiency comes back is, because we are getting away from our communion with God. We get so busy with things, that we do not have time to study God's word. We don't have time to pray like we should. When we first came to love God, we used to spend hours in prayer and study, and that vanished. We left our first love. God says so. He doesn't say, we lost our first love, but that we left it, Rev. 2:4. The two are very different.
When we left something, we can retrace our steps and pick it up again and be once again on fire for God. When we lost something, we may never find it.
Here we learn the important understanding that the `meek' will be educated in judgment and the ways of God, why? Because "meekness" was one of the major character traits of Jesus. Jesus is not like earthly judges who can be guilty of the same sins they condemn others for. Jesus was without sin. He is `the fairest of ten thousand,' as the song goes. - So too was Moses; he had a direct character trade that was just like what Jesus had - he had meekness. It was meekness that led Israel out of Egypt.
While Moses was bold and authoritative, yet at the same time he was meek. Thus these trades do not fight each other. Meekness is not weakness. There are some men, that if it was not for the grace of God, when you say certain things, you would never be able to stand and say another thing, because meekness has taken them over. They were able to take certain things, that you told them, but you don't know their background. That is why conversion is a marvelous thing. Thank God for conversion.
And we are reminded once more of the fruits of the spirit. What are they?
As you can see, `meekness' is one of them. It is directly connected with love. You cannot have one and not the other. You cannot have true love and not be meek. They go hand in hand.
All these fruits come in its train.
So what is His way? What is the way that Jesus is, and what is the way in His sanctuary?
So what is the way? It is righteousness. Recall John 14:6
So, what is Jesus really saying in John 14:6?
He is saying, `I am the righteousness, the truth and the life, no man comes unto the Father but by me.'
That is why all religions are not a valid pathway to God, for all religions are things of self-righteous works. Jesus says, none of them can come to the Father but by me or by my way of righteousness.
On that account the Bible says,
The next scripture will help us to put it all together.
What is the way? - We found already that it is righteousness.
But what is grievous to those who forsake righteousness?
Correction is grievous to them.
Question: `Which one's correction?'
Remember,
But this correction by the scriptures is grievous to some. It means to say, the word of God is grievous to those who forsake the way of righteousness.
So, do the scriptures give instructions in righteousness?
It says, `for doctrine, for reproof, for correction,' as we just read.
And we realize that this is the reason why some hate the word of God. That is also why the devils hate it.
Let us look at what the Word of God can do.
Thus, the meek learns the ways of God in the sanctuary. If we stop here for a moment, we recall that, when you were poor, you brought the lamb to the forecourt in the sanctuary. You had to kill the lamb, for that was not the function of the priest. for you came to have your sins forgiven. You cut the lamb's throat, the priest caught the blood and took it into the sanctuary.
So, where do you think you would be standing when you are poor, meek and mourning?
You are standing by the brazen altar and you are beholding Christ crucified on the cross, for that is where the sacrifice took place.
As you are now ready to mourn, you become meek.
You become a new creature. That means you are now at first standing at the laver, for the laver is a symbol of baptism for at baptism you die to your self, you become meek.
You see you cannot be meek and proud. Proud people think they know everything.
Only humble people are teachable. In order for God to teach you His way of righteousness you must become humble and meek - not remain proud.
Now, if you say, I got a PhD, I don't need to learn of Jesus, then you got a problem.
Question: Where are the meek in the sanctuary now? Where would you be?
You would be at the table of showbread, because it is a symbol for the word of God.
Look what Jeremiah says,
And you know now, all the other things disappear onto the background when you have the joy of the Word of God in your life. For His words are what? They are life. Only the word can bring you comfort and peace. Music, sometimes it cannot give you that inner peace that satisfies. Only the word of God can do that - give you that solid peace, that peace that passes all understanding that peace that helps you not to be striving with your brother, that peace that calm in the midst of chaos, because you have now trust in Him who will not fail you.
The Bible goes on and says, `you eat' as you stand by the table of showbread. You went in through the first veil and are in the holy place, and in the holy place you are at the table of showbread ready to eat, but you are also by the golden altar, because you surrendered and can't eat the bread until you pray and ask for the Spirit to teach you how to digest that bread properly.
Question: Where is the Holy Spirit in the sanctuary? He is at the candelabrum and we
First, what does the next Beatitude say?
That means, every morning that you get up and decide, Lord I study your word today, you receive a blessing from God - a peace that passes all understanding.
Every time you study the word and the prophecies, God says, `Blessed are they, blessed are they.'
Wow. What a way to live. It is God's way to live.
As you hunger and thirst after righteousness, that becomes so important to you, for it begins to fill your mind and motivates you to live a new creature's life. That means, just like it was with Jesus, when you fill your mind with the word of God, you become changed by beholding.
And you know what?
That is why prisoners can become a new creature, for they have time on their side to fill their mind with the righteousness that God can only give - and we receive it by dwelling in His word.
That is why Jesus said,
And so we read, that we eat of the showbread in the Holy place, but where do we stand when we thirst?
Because it says, `we thirst,' where do we drink of the righteousness when we stand in the sanctuary?
The Bible says,
So what is it that we will be thirsting for?
We will thirst for the Holy Spirit, the living water.
And we recall that we have people around today who say, the Holy Spirit does not exist. So I ask, `What kind of craziness is going on?'
Listen. The Bible says you must thirst, receive more of the Holy Spirit, more of the Bible, more of the early writings, more for the transformation of character that you can prepare to receive the Latter Rain. Is that clear?
Every day we should have a communion time with the Holy Ghost, every day we are to have a communion ...
What is the promise?
And,
And
Thus, the Holy Spirit can be grieved; the Holy Spirit has feelings, but you stand by the candelabra.
So, beloved, without the Holy Spirit you cannot have the Seal of God. Without the Holy Spirit you will not be resurrected unto life eternal, but at the resurrection of damnation, so think about it. We must know that there is one God in three persons of the Godhead (2.Cor. 13:14; John 14:13-17, they and they are always together.), for we know from the Bible that sometimes "one" can mean more than `one', for we read, "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and the shall be one flesh." Genesis 2:24. [The Hebr. word for `one' is "echad", both in this text and in Deut. 6:4. Cmpr. James 2:19; 1.Cor. 8:4.]
We have in the Spirit of Prophecy nothing that He is not important in our life. But we read,
Sad delusions will come over God's people; but after you hunger and thirst after righteousness, what is the next `Beatitude' that we have?
The next Beatitude is what you give as a result of what you receive.
That is an important one. What does it mean to obtain mercy?
Before this we were poor, we mourn, we become meek and we hunger and thirst after righteousness.
But we know, a lot of people do not like to be merciful. We want forgiveness. We like the idea of hunger and thirst after righteousness, but to be merciful to somebody who did me wrong?
To be merciful to those who have done us wrong so much so, as they had not done it?
And we remember, that we are standing in the Most Holy before the Mercy Seat in the sanctuary at this point.
Now we know to be merciful - this characteristic tests really if we have been poor, mourning, and meek. - Being meek may also mean that God is allowing something to test your character, and in time He will deal with those who turn you off.
That is why Paul says, he would "rather take wrong,." 1 Cor. 6:7; Rev. 13:11f, and you can read E. White's experience on that account in 3SM 304.
But to be merciful means, now is the time to let God handle it. But you must pray for the other person, and then you must know that God will handle it thoroughly - be it preacher or pew.
Thus, being merciful means to be merciful to those who do not deserve it.
What if God was like us? How many of us would survive? - None of us.
What is the will of God that is to be done on earth and in heaven?
Which law? The law of the galaxies? No. The Law of laws, the Ten.
And the law of love says, forgive those who trespass against you - it means to `rather take wrong,' 1.Cor. 6:7.
What is the next Beatitude?
Where in the sanctuary are you with this Beatitude?
You still are in the Most Holy and there you stand before the Mercy Seat and the Law of God as the High Priest sprinkles the blood of Christ, cleanses the sanctuary,
If you study it out, this act can take place only in the Most Holy of the sanctuary. That means this act is taking place in the time of the investigative judgment, further that means it will no longer be taking place in the `hour of God's judgment' , which in turn means that these `Beatitutes' are especially designed for the very end of time - because God will remember their sins no more.
Let us look a little closer at this if you have still trouble seeing it.
We read,
What does it mean by the `white raiment'? It means the righteousness of Christ, but what is it accompanied by, what is it that makes it righteous?
It is your thoughts and your feelings, your will, your intellect, your mind - in harmony with His will, with His mind . . . "let this mind be in you which was also in Jesus Christ." Phil 2:5.
That was not a suggestion but a factual statement, that if you plan to meet Jesus at His Second Coming, you must have His mind.
In your will, your thoughts, your feelings, you must live His life.
That is what it means to have the righteousness of Christ.
When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. {COL 311.4}
He that overcomes has the mind of Christ.
That means the saints will be clothed with what now?
They will be clothed with `white raiment.' That is what it is talking about in the messages of the scriptures cited.
It is not a matter of us saying, `Well, I think I am going to make it?'
No. It is not a matter of what we think. God has made provision that you don't have to think that you are going to make it.
God has made provision that you have certainty that you can make it. And Jesus' life illustrates, that if you follow His example, you will make it.
He is "... not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2.Peter 3:9.
Why is this important?
Remember what the Bible says (recall), He will not blot out our name - our character - before His Father and the angels.
So what is happening now? You are standing in the Most Holy place at the time of the Investigative Judgment. You are standing there by your record in the Book of Life in this year you are living in, for it took place since 1844.
And Jesus will look at your record and say, `In these last days I will profess your character, your name, and it will be preserved in My record book, and before My Father, that you are one of His saints, His disciples, and you will be saved in His kingdom and He will say, `I encourage you with the robe of my righteousness.' - `Even your character will be preserved in My book and you will be saved into My kingdom.' (Paraphrased from Rev. 3:5) That is the certainty we can have that we are saved and part of God's kingdom.
That is what righteousness by faith is all about.
But wait, If God's ultimate act is that He blots sin out of His mind, and we just read, if you overcome, `I will not blot your name out of the book,' then - wait a minute - what is He going to do with your sins?
Let us read the answer,
So the ultimate act of God is to blot sins out of the book, and out of His mind, but what is the other thing? He is going to blot sin out of your mind.
Let us read the thoughts of Paul he had in 65 A.D. on that. We find it in his book about the sanctuary.
The book deals with,
What were God's people waiting for in the OT? They were waiting for the promised Messiah, but there was something else they waited for - they were waiting for Christ to be crucified, that was one thing, but because they experienced everything in types and shadows, they knew that the brazen altar was not enough. Abraham and Isaac were at the brazen altar, so were David, Solomon and all, going by faith to the brazen altar waiting for the day of atonement - so they saw everything in types. They looked forward to the day, when the real blood sacrifice would come and the real blood sacrifice, that not only could forgive sins, but remove sins, but not only remove sins, but blot sin out completely. And so Paul begins to write, writing something very important.
The word `perfect' means `complete' - complete where?
In other words, there was something that Abraham, Isaac, Job and all these people could not get (`without us') until we get it. In other words, they were waiting on us. What is it that they could not get until we receive it? And they waited for centuries, time after time after time .... the rise and fall of empires, they waited through the head of gold, silver breast, loins of brass, legs of iron and we are now in the feet of iron mixed with clay ...
Something took place in the heavens above, that began to show them that the time is almost up - what was it?
It was the Day of Atonement.
If you have trouble accepting this, look at the next scripture - and we remember that it still has to do with the `Beatitudes'.
So at the day of atonement if the animal sacrifices were really efficacious, what would have happened? The "comers" after they had experienced they day of atonement would have been perfect - because their sins were forgiven. But there was something happening . . .
So we ask, Who could take away sins?
We read, and notice the sanctuary language,
What God is really saying is, behold the sacrifices that the animal sacrifices were made since Adam by faith to . . . `behold this blood, this person, this real sacrifice whose blood would be efficacious enough to not only forgive sins, not only to pardon sin, but to blot them out at the end'.
That is why we say, the atoning sacrifice was made at the cross at calvary, but the atonement will only be complete when He comes out of the Most Holy. [210]
How do we know if we are standing?
Paul says,
Wow. Here we read, that the blood of Jesus will not only cover you, pardon you, forgive you, but that His blood will purge your conscience that you don't remember anything about living under the rule of sin.
This is the most beautiful gospel we can have. This is truly good news. And we hardly hear anything about it anywhere. And so we can rejoice and thank God for such a great salvation and we remember that the Bible says, "... affliction shall not rise up the second time." Nahum 1:9, it will be over. There will be no repeat of sin in God's universe.
No one else can touch this message. `We have this hope ...' Lamentations 3:21; HP 352.3.
So, we know now that God blots the sins out of our conscious awareness. So now you can understand much better the next `Beatitude.' The one that says ...
Blessed are the what?
When will our hearts be pure completely?
You purify your hearts now by faith in love. You do it now. It is now that you bring your thoughts and mind into captivity. Now you struggle with it, but when you continue you will get victory - but the Bible says (Mt. 5:8),
the ultimate victory will be that God will blot the impurities, the evil things that you had in your mind, out of your mind completely.
That is truth I was hoping for but had no idea how close at hand it was. Studying the Beatitudes, walks us through the sanctuary, and in uniting the sanctuary messages with the Beatitudes we can see it now.
Let us go to the last point.
And we remember, our heart is pure now, and .... who is our peace maker?
The Bible says,
Who are these "both"? In context they are the non-Israelites, the strangers who came in and the true Israelites by faith in Christ.
And again,
Question: Why is it that the peace makers love the law?
Because,
Their heart was purified from the defilement and sin, as we recall.
What was in their heart? During the time of the new or eternal covenant?
So God writes His law into our heart and mind - and therefore, blessed are the peace makers. `Great peace have they that love thy law and nothing shall offend them.' (Ps. 119:165)
So the people of God will have their sins blotted out for they love His law, and they will be peace makers.
The Persecuted for Righteousness Blessing
Then the Bible says,
It is important, because we remember
Every Beatitude goes together with the sanctuary and where are you standing in the sanctuary? You are standing by faith in the Most Holy Place.
Why is this so important for us? Because those who love God's law will be standing in the Most Holy at the time of the Mark of the Beast to be instituted.
What are we promoting? What is your shelter for the coming storm? Your shelter will be the Beatitudes. Recall these lessons on the connections of the Beatitudes with the sanctuary for they are Biblical truths.
Especially in these last days will you have
Why?
So we can have this shelter in the coming storm when every earthly support will be cut off from us and we will be able to stand (by our record in the Book of Life, the heavenly ledger) without fear.
Even one of God's people couldn't handle it in 2008, when he lost all his money in the stock market. His life ended on the rails of the subway. Why? Because he didn't settle his faith and trust in Jesus. He didn't have peace. He didn't understand the truths we have. Why? Probably because the ministers don't know it either and so they could not feed it to their flock. But this will change as of now for you can help spread these good news.
So, take courage. We can and will lose everything but we never disparage and panic. We just, like Job, say, "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21.
With God in your life, none need to despair for He can make you something anyway.
You are not through when people say you are through. You are only through when God says you are through, and God is not going to, so you are not through.
Also students: When you fail in school, you come to Jesus and you will find a new life in Him and He will help and guide you and you will be happier than you could have ever been any other way.
God's people are persecuted for what? For righteousness sake.
Why is this here in the Beatitudes?
We know, persecutions will take away the earthly dross that we have. Let us read who Jesus is talking about. - That Jesus is talking to SdAs in the last days.
So, what is righteousness? It says,
So watch this, `Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness sake' - for `keeping the commandments of God', right? Yes, that is it according to the Bible.
So what happens to the peacemakers?
So we know, peace makers keep God's law and have Christ's righteousness. So blessed are the peacemakers, who love my law, and have My character - they will be persecuted for what? For righteousness sake.
The next scripture tells us, how that is going to happen.
And we know there will
Question: Who will be those who are offended?
And so some say, do not proclaim these messages publicly, hide it.
So, who are the offended ones?
What is in the word of God that would offend anyone?
Who is offended? God's people will be offended!
God's people in the church will be offended by you preaching a straight testimony to the world.
It is the ones who never had a real burden for souls and service. They really never worked to save souls, they worked to bring the world in the church.
They worked for celebration service, clap their hands and shout hallelujahs.
But the moment you present the unadulterated message, that sin cannot be tolerated at church, the moment you start saying that, Jesus took the nature of man after 4000 years of degradation, and yet overcame and lived without sin, and became our example and that He had no advantage over us than we have today, the moment that you are preaching that, the people in the church become offended. Why?
Because it is a straight testimony, and the prophet says, the people will rise up against the testimony.- "The shaking must soon take place to purify the church."{2SG 284.1}
The moment we begin to say, we can use drug medications in our church - and all our doctors need to reevaluate their profession - because no true Christians can inject drugs into people knowing that they contain poisonous chemicals, knowing that they do not heal but alter or mask the diseases in their patients body.
As soon as we say, the moment that you say, we have false theology in our church because we missed the true guidelines of education and we need to get back to the standards of our church, and end destroying the image of God in man, the moment you say that, they are offended.
If you don't believe that, look what the Bible says,
`You shall be hated by all nations,' because of what? `For my name's sake.' Matth. 24:9.
And we recall that `name' has to do with character and law.
Next,
Third and Fourth generation, is that character or is that law?
The underlined is character the rest is law.
So what is associated with God's character, God's law is associated with it.
But which part of the commandments says that?
When you carefully read it, you can tell that this commandment deals with character and law.
For the last days, what do God's people have?
They have character and law.
And who is offended? The people in the church who failed to develop their character, who never saw their spiritual poverty, They are the ones who are offended. They remain in a lukewarm condition when the investigative judgment will end, they will be declared unjust and filthy still. But now they are offended and they will call the outpouring of the Holy Spirit fanaticism. When persecution comes they will forsake the standards of truth and they begin to join the world and criticize God's people so that ex-believers will become our greatest opponents as they try to dismantle our faith and our beliefs in Christ. - That is why Jesus said, `Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sakes, - when men shall revile you and persecute you, and say evil against you for what? .. falsely, for My name's sake.'
Who is Christ talking about? He is talking about those who have the three angels messages.
Who then are the Beatitudes for? They are for you and me who live today in these times spoken of in these several passages in the Bible. [250]
Thus the Beatitudes are for me and you. These are the eight blessings for us who have come to the end of time, and be put into a time of trouble. When Jesus says, `Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sakes', that persecution cannot come unless the law of God has been made void. And the law of God is made void through the man of sin, through false beliefs, apostate Protestantism and the NWO. So think about this, and God's word says,
So when do the persecutions break out? During the time of trouble. And who is being persecuted? The peacemakers who are persecuted for righteousness sake and for His name's sake. `Righteousness' means they uphold God's law, His name means, they have His character. - Who are these people? They are those who have the seal of God and who will be experiencing all these cruelties.
So, let us be ready and stay ready. Let us pray to God for that.
[90] EG White, `Messages to Young People,' p. 35.2.
[140] The Latin name of the `Seven Branched Candlestick' is candelabrum in singular, when one views it as the image, or candelabra in the plural when one views each of the seven candleholder separately.
[180] Let us remember that heaven keeps two books (see also here) - the books (plural) and the book (singular) which is the book of life. Wehn we were sinners our name was in the `books', when we are converted and our sins are forgiven, our name is in the `Book of life.'
[210] Please allow us to present the sequence of the cross event, which occurred in the forecourt of the sanctuary, then we skip the service in the first apartment (the holy) and next Jesus enters on a certain date the Most Holy (second) apartment - the Day of Atonement had a fixed date - its year is given to us in Daniel 8:14, while the month/day date remains the same as given in Leviticus 23:29-31. Therefore, the day of the beginning of the actual Day of Atonement in heaven is the only certain date given in prophecy, but the day of Christ's Second Coming is not calculable, that day can only be anticipated to come near by the multitude of events preceding it. - But we want to focus on the scriptures when Christ finishes His heavenly intercessory ministry, changes His vestures and then comes to end the reign of sin - and then when the remembrance of the reign of sin will be blotted from our memory, which could mean, we will see and learn so many new things, that we have no more time for remembrance of the old life in sin and forget it forever in the gracious plan of God to reach that stage. - Here are the scriptures in one place so you can look them up.
[250] Summation: Where in the Sanctuary are you?
The Nine, Eight Blessings
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matth. 5:3.
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.. . .
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." John 1:14,17.
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6.
19:13
"And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God
And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." Rev. 19:13-16.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebr. 4:16.
were shown the audience room of the Caliph or Ruler of India, which was open to a large, roofed and pillared hall all open on its sides, while the ruler sat, hidden up there in a balcony room where probably only his face could be seen if he wanted to, and from where he would pronounce sentence on the party before him.
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." 2.Peter 3:18.
"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." 2.Peter 3:18.
"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face (or presence) of Jesus Christ." 2.Cor. 4:6.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Proverbs 9:10.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Matth. 5:3.
"Thus saith the Lord, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the Lord: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." Isaiah 66:1,2.
"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." 2.Cor. 7:10.
"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn." Zech. 12:10.
". . . they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son." Zech. 12:10.
"Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth." Mt. 5:5.
11:28
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Mt. 11:28-30.
"The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way." Psalms 25:9.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal. 5:22,23.
God says, He will teach meek people His way. What is God's way?
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6.
"Thy way, O God, is in the sanctuary: who is so great a God as our God?" Psalms 77:13.
"I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment." Proverbs 8:20.
"In the way of righteousness is life ..." Proverbs 12:28.
"Correction is grievous unto him that forsake the way ..." Proverbs 15:10.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." 2 Timothy 3:16.
"The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the Lord that seek him: your heart shall live for ever." Psalms 22:26.
And where are you standing when you are meek?
"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts." Jeremiah 15:16.
will get to that in a moment.[140]
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Mt. 5:6.
"... I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." John 6:35.
7:37
"In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
7:39 (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" John 7:37-39.
"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26.
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Tim. 4:1
"And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Eph. 4:30.
"Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy." Mt. 5:7.
"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Mt. 5:8.
8:10
"For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:
8:11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more." Hebr. 8:10-12.
"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." Rev. 3:5.
"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." Isaiah 44:22.
11:38
"(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:
11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." Hebr. 11:38-40.
10:1
"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year (means day of atonement) continually make the comers (participants) thereunto perfect." Hebr. 10:1
10:2
"For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
So, if the animal sacrifices were efficacious enough, and the high priest did the service and the people afflicted their souls; when the day was over, the people would have no more remembrance of the sins they committed. - But, there is a remembrance made of sin - Why?
10:3 But in those sacrifices (since Adam's sacrifices) there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
10:4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." Hebr. 10:1-4.
"The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29.
"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebr. 9:13, 14.
"Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." Mt. 5:8.
"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Mt. 5:9.
"For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us." Eph. 2:14.
"Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Psalm 119:165.
"... 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 31:33.
"O that thou hadst hearkened to (all 10 of) my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:" Isaiah 48:18.
"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Mt. 5:10.
"My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness." Ps. 119:172.
"For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." Mt. 24:5.
"But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended." Matth. 13:20; 15:12.
"And he said, I beseech thee, show me thy glory.
And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." Exodus 33:18,19.
"... The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." Ex. 34:6,7.
20:3
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
20:6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." Ex. 20:3-6.
"Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it." Jer. 7:30.
Notes & References
Bible Topics