Let us begin by reading what things in the religious world are important to God.

We read,

"... Who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart." Psalm 15:1,2.

David's question here is a very important question for he is asking God, `Who from among us all are you going to invite to live in Your presence? Who are you going to permit to Mt. Zion and to live in Your very presence?'

And God gives David the answer. It will be those that speak truth and live a righteous life, that speak truth from the Word of God; they are those who will be permitted to live in the very presence of God.'

As we read these lines our mind goes up to the time when the 144,000 are described to be in heaven. As they are there, only they are allowed access to certain areas in heaven, Rev. 7:4-17.

Of them it is said, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." Rev. 7:14,15.

That means these many loved the truth and proclaimed it in their days on earth. They are those who will be sealed with the `Seal of God.'

Today, we live in an era of this world's history in which we witness unprecedented attacks on the Word of God. We live in a period where the truth of God is reduced to a portion or topic of studies limited in scope. Thus many have only partial truth. The observation comes through that truth can be a personal preference; where the truth in the Word of God can be bent and distorted to whatever fashion each one likes to suit their own desires. This is the type of endtime that we are living in today.

Such a situation represents a major departure from the Word of God.

When the truth in the Word of God is being picked on, distorted and changed to one's own preferences and desires (2.Peter 1:20) - it leads to departure from the Word of God into apostasy.

Let us read a pertinent passage in scripture from an age where the very same problems existed that we observe in the world today.

"For our transgressions are multiplied before thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; . . . And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter." Isaiah 59:12,14.

What is Isaiah saying here?

He is saying that the reason that sins have multiplied in the land, is, because of the transgression of God's holy law. The land where the truths found in the Word of God have been taught, but now they are as if they were `slain' or `thrown away' in the streets, as if they are not important anymore. [30]

That means many things that are going on in the land are occurring because `truth has fallen in the streets.' This is a fitting image in which Isaiah personifies the truth; where he describes the truth as a person who has been murdered, and who is then thrown in the street.

And this is a perfect description of what is happening at the present time we are living in, for even today people are throwing God's present truth out in the streets as if it does not matter.

You can observe it in the popular communications media where error is mixed with a little bit of truth.

An example is when people say, `It does not matter if you sin. You always will sin, because you are a sinner. And the only time that you are actually free from sin is when you have a new mind and a new body.'

Or they say, `O Lord, I don't think God is going to judge me and take my salvation away over a day.'

And you can hear famous pastors and evangelists say, `You know there are certain pastors and religions who say, that God will take your salvation away over a day. But that day, does not matter in our New Testament times for that day belongs to the Jews. You cannot lose your salvation over a day.

Or they say, it doesn't matter if you know prophecy or if your are into prophecy - or, it doesn't matter if you know who the antichrist's father is because God's people will not be here for they are secretly raptured.

These views are among popular beliefs today. This is where the danger lies that can lead God's people begin to accept these trends, and where they may begin to like, love and tolerate such views.

"This goody-goody religion that makes light of sin and that is forever dwelling upon the love of God to the sinner, encourages the sinner to believe that God will save him while he continues in sin and he knows it to be sin. This is the way that many are going who profess to believe present truth. The truth is kept apart from their life, and that is the reason it has no more power to convict and convert the soul. There must be a straining of every nerve, spirit, and muscle, to leave the world, its customs, its practices, and its fashions." [3SM 155.1]

Let us remember, when studying the Old Testament to do so regularly - and we all ought to study it and the whole Word of God very dedicated and carefully, with all our mind engaged in understanding what God is saying and how it relates to us. When we are studying His word we will discover the prophets passionate concern for all things God is revealing. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and their message was to proclaim the Word and call people back to repentance. We then see the heart and desire of the prophets to bring truth to their listeners and people.

For us today it is important that we understand this because one of the biggest threats in history were not their foreign enemies, foreign military powers, nor was it Babylon, Rome or the beast power, no. The biggest threat, the biggest enemy of Israel was what? It was the false prophets. The false prophets were the biggest threat they had to deal with.

And when we study the sayings of the prophets, we notice the concern they had for present truth.

As an example, in the days of Jeremiah there was a great conflict. There was a mighty conflict between Jeremiah and the false prophets. Jeremiah got so tired and exhausted having to deal with those false teachings of the false prophets that he complained to God. Jeremiah was ready to turn in his prophet card.

He said, `Everyone is listening to these prophets and every time I present Your Word, here comes another one counteracting what I proclaimed.'

Jeremiah cried to God. How many of us feel like that? How many of us are true witnesses that go about proclaiming the truths God has made known to us and feel the effect of error going against them? Only those, who are faithful in proclaiming God's Word, experience that type of conflict. People who just sit in church watching from the sidelines, those who are not even learning the Word of God, study it, to know what the teachings stand for - such do not feel the conflict.

Let us remember, `Truth hurts. It is nothing smooth.'

Let us read how Jeremiah put this conflict in words. We read,

"Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay." Jeremiah 20:9.

This words let us know, Jeremiah got tired. He contemplated being not so direct in speaking God's word the Lord gave him to preach. Let us read how God responded.

"The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord." Jeremiah 23:28.

Let us consider what God is saying here. He says, `Jeremiah, don't worry about these false prophets. Every false prophets has his dream. Let them have their dreams. Jeremiah, I will take care of that. You, as the man of God, you just preach the Word faithfully, truthfully, not distorted, give it out here and there and everywhere, what then can their errors do? The light can not mix with the darkness.

In these end time days today, we need to learn from that. What we just considered was a major concern among God's people in Old Testament times.

The greatest threats that we are facing today is the suppression of truth. When you bury the truth, when you try to hold it down, when you try to reject it and cast it away and act like you don't know what is going on, that is the greatest threat to the gospel that God has given us.

Why? Because truth is cast out, not lived up to, because many among God's supposed people want to be accepted by the world. They want to be friends to and keep up with the popular Christian world.

How does that show itself?

When the seats are not full, they are not happy.

If the church does not look nice, they are not happy.

That is a great danger - for we do not come to church to be surrounded by costly beauty!

No. More importantly we come to hear `present truth', 2.Peter 1:12. We come to hear God and His truths and how He speaks to us through the Bible. So we can know what we have to do. So we can know the time we are living in. So we can know where we are going from here. Because it is dark out there. And if we worry about, `Oh, why doesn't the church look this way or that way', or `Why don't we have this or that program.' ... Let us remember, that is how apostasy begins. Then, at first gradually and slowly, then more and more, if God's people begin to accept these false teachings, when they begin to desire to be united with the world . . . then something is wrong with apparent unity and peace.

But unity and peace can only be tolerated when it is based on truth. There can be no unity, no peace in error.

"The third angel's message is the all-important point. Do not let your mind turn to vagaries, but keep your eyes fixed upon the truth. What we want is to give a certain sound. The angel is giving a definite message, "Sound the warning." And what does this mean? Why, it is the angel giving this message to men, and they are to take up this message and proclaim it to warn others." {1SAT 49.4; Rev. 10:7}

We better pay attention to this message because that is what we do not hear much among God's professed people. In some circles, we hear it said, that doesn't matter, it is not for this time, it comes to us from 1863 and we are way beyond that. That third angel's message is not for our time, only for a certain group of people. Let us progress with our times, not retreat.

Dear reader. All of the three angels messages are important for the whole, entire world.

"There are many precious truths contained in the Word of God, but it is "present truth" that the flock needs now. I have seen the danger of the messengers running off from the important points of present truth, to dwell upon subjects that are not calculated to unite the flock and sanctify the soul." {EW 63.1}

The Bible itself tells us what it is that corrupts the nations and causes the whole, entire world to fall. In Revelation chapter 13 we read about the beast and the mark of the beast and how because of that the wrath of God comes upon the entire world.

Do we know what is described there? It is the departure from the sanctity of God's truth.

Before we close let us read one other passage in the Old Testament.

"Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel: for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land." Hosea 4:1.

In the days of Hosea around 750 B.C., while the people of Israel lived their lives, accomplished their daily chores, over time, a problem developed. What could it have been? Hosea explains. God made a covenant with His people, the `covenant' which represents a promise. Then, whenever God's people break the covenant, their promise, God brings up the charges against them, and the nation of Israel left the truth, and instead, followed the doings of idolatrous, pagan nations; and because of leaving the truth, they lost a knowledge of God.

So listen to what comes next,

"By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away." Hosea 4:2,3.

And so we find here this very grim description of the judgment for Israel because they did not keep the covenant of God. They rejected and suppressed the truths God had given them.

We find here a suppression of the actions of the knowledge of God's holy laws.

These charges are not against Babylon or pagan nations. This way you can tell that the people really understand the word of God because this is shocking. Because God is here not speaking against pagan nations. You would not expect among them truth, mercy, righteousness to be upheld in a nation that does not know God. But Israel was His chosen people, they knew God - they were to love and to live the truth - and God favored them. But for God to bring these charges now against them and to say, `Look, you have no truth because you have no knowledge of the truth.' That is shocking and we find this same situation today among us. It repeats. The question is, what side are you going to be on? Are you going to be among the faithful people that surrender themselves to God? Those that seek to live in holiness and righteousness? Are you with those that proclaim His truths? Or are you going to be found with those that just want to unite in peace and all of a sudden they have no truth and no knowledge of God?

Hosea did not say that they were preachers, teachers or prophets. He did not say that they were prophets, that they did not have the scrolls. They were keeping the Sabbath. They were doing all the ceremonial and religious services. They had the priesthood and everything for church and worship.

What then was the main thing they lacked?

It was God and His truth.

Lastly we read,

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge." Hosea 4:6.

That is so sad. God's Word says, my people have perished. It was not because of lack of food, not because there was a famine in the land, not because the economy had fallen . . . . but because there was no truth and knowledge of the truths about God, so people perish, and as God's remnant people we need to understand this.