THE GREAT THREE-FOLD UNION #2THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST REPUDIATES ITS CONSTITUTIONby: Elder Lawrence Nelson
Forgive me, but I must give away to a little reminiscing in my old age. As a boy of some twelve years I was determined to become a preacher like H.M.S. Richards. He was conducting a large evangelistic series of meetings in Los Angeles in which Henry deFluerer was his singing evangelist. I begged my father each night to take me to his five-pole-tent meeting. We would go early so we could sit near the platform for I was determined to catch every word and action of Elder Richards. During the day following the evening meeting I spent considerable time in the backyard garage where I would try to preach his sermon to my imaginary audience.
One night, as Elder Richards was preaching, an elderly man who was sitting near me to the left side of the platform, fell asleep and began to snore so loudly that it was difficult to hear the preacher. It soon became apparent that it was bothering the speaker too. Elder Richards continued to preach but he began to move slowly away from the pulpit toward the snoring, old man. When he stood directly in front of him, Elder Richards artfully worded his sermon – which was on the Mark of the Beast – that we should each realize that this mark would be a life and death issue. Pausing, he shouted with all the breath he could muster, "Wake up, before it's too late!" Instantly the snoring man awakened and ceased to annoy the listeners. Elder Richards continued his preaching as he walked back to the pulpit.
Never have I felt such an urge in my tape ministry to awaken sleeping Seventh-day Adventists for soon, very soon, we shall find ourselves in a vastly different world than we now live in. My heart beats faster when I read these inspired words, "The scenes to be enacted in our world are not yet even dreamed of. Satan is at work through human agencies. Those who are making an effort to change the constitution and secure a law enforcing Sunday observance little realize what will be the result. A crisis is just upon us." Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 753.
Let us first seek God in prayer. Oh, loving Father, open our hearts, by Your Holy Spirit, to realize how soon this final crisis is to break upon us. Pull back Thy prophetic curtain that we may discover that most of the inspired predictions of the coming crisis have already taken place. May we not be overtaken by this overwhelming surprise of a sudden national Sunday law. This we ask in the precious name of Jesus our Savior, Amen.
Every sermon should be based on scripture, so let us turn to Esther 4:14 (the last part). Here we find a very dramatic statement. Notice the words, "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" There is no doubt in my mind that the book of Esther was recorded in sacred history for our admonition. In this chapter we read of the plan of King Ahasuerus to exterminate every living Jew in the then-known world. From this experience we can fully comprehend just what is about to happen to every Seventh-day Adventist in this soon-coming end-time crisis.
Consider, briefly, what happened in the day of Queen Esther. You remember Mordecai had not caused Haman any harm – he had simply refused to show Haman a worshipful reverence. This led Haman, in his anger, to give false statements to the king, who in turn issued a decree that every Jew was to be killed in a world-wide massacre upon a given date. Inspiration, however, tells us that Satan was the hidden instigator of this scheme for he wanted to rid the earth of Sabbath-keepers.
How wonderful is our God. He knows and understands the thoughts of man and Satan. For by His divine providence God arranged for Esther, a Jew who feared the living God, to be made the queen of Persia. Mordecai, a near relative to the queen, decided in this crisis to appeal to Easter that she venture into the monarch's presence – even though this might cause her death. Listen to the words of Mordecai to Esther, "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Both Esther and Mordecai realized that their future, and that of every seventh-day keeper, was absolutely hopeless unless God would intervene and work mightily.
Today God's commandment-keeping people are seen as a Mordecai in this world who are refusing to show worshipful reverence to the idol Sunday as demanded by pagan, papal Rome. Inspiration reveals that Satan will arouse the majority to accept popular customs and traditions and join with the lawless and the vile to destroy Sabbath-keepers. Listen carefully as I quote, "Wealth, genius [and] education will combine to cover them with contempt. Persecuting rulers, ministers, and church members will conspire against them. With voice and pen, by boasts, threats, and ridicule, they will seek to overthrow their faith. By false misrepresentations and angry appeals, men will stir up the passions of the people." Prophets and Kings p. 605, 606.
Now since these enemies of the truth have no "thus saith the scriptures" they will bring against the advocates of the true Sabbath oppressive enactments. I read on p. 606 of Prophets and Kings, "On this battlefield will be fought the last great conflict in the controversy between truth and error. And we are not left to doubt as to the issue." Are you ready for this? Do you have any idea what is coming?
Would you permit me, at this time, to pull back the prophetic curtain and show you what God has revealed to us is about to happen? In The Great Controversy p. 605 it states, "The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty." And then on p. 607, speaking of the Sunday-keeping churches are these words, "[They will appeal] to the strong arm of civil power, and, in this work, papists and Protestants unite." Let me put that together for you. Sabbath-keepers will be opposed by all Protestant churches and all Catholic churches under the leadership of the man of sin. Are you ready for this?
This union is now developing before our very eyes, day by day, in what we know as the Ecumenical movement. Forced Sunday worship is its ultimate goal. Why are so many of us asleep? Its purpose is to soon pass laws to force Sabbath-keepers to worship on Sunday. Not only to make us keep Sunday sacred but I read again on p. 639 of The Great Controversy, They will "compel God's people to profane His Sabbath." Do you really understand what that means?
Now, I am sure that there are those who are listening to me who are saying, "Pastor Nelson, how in the world could this take place in America? Why, we have a Constitution, and the Constitution provides us with absolute protection to worship as we choose." Let me tell you how it is going to happen. The American people are sound asleep. Few, if any, realize that we are living in the very last days and this includes Seventh-day Adventists who carry on business as usual every day. Somehow they don't realize that we are in the end time.
Ellen White has tried to awaken us with these words, "Soon we shall be faced with an overwhelming surprise." She tells us in Testimonies for the Church, Volume 8, p. 28, "Transgression has almost reached its limits. Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human beings." Are we ready for this when we are frozen with fear? Let me read it again, "A great terror is soon to come." Maybe we would sit up and think when we are told in Malachi Martin's book The Keys of this Blood, that Mary had told the pope that there will come a great, cataclysmic event that will bring such terror on this world that the people will arise and ask the pope to rule over them. When the devil, in the guise of Mary, says there is terror coming, and when God says that there is terror coming, we had better wake up.
Consider with me, very carefully, what I am about to bring to you. There is no greater, alarming prediction in the Spirit of Prophecy than that found in Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 451. "Our country shall repudiated every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government." I am going to shock you when I tell you that this has already happened. No, I didn't misstate. I repeat – it has already taken place. Do you know that since 1955, we have been living in a nation which can no longer be considered as a Republican government, for the United States is now an integral part of the United Nations, which is the New World Order. As a result, the laws of the United States have been changed every day to conform with the United Nation laws.
Do I hear you say that you find this hard to believe? Well, so did I, until I recently discovered these facts. I am going to read to you now from the Constitution, Article 6. You can go to your library and read it for yourself. "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall become the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding." Now this tells us that our Constitution says that if we ever make any treaties with other world powers, that they supercede the Constitution. I repeat, if our nation makes any treaty with another world power that treaty supercedes our Constitution.
Now let me give you some undisputed facts. In 1945, some 55 years ago, the United States of America, under the authority of Article 6 which I have just read, signed the United Nations treaty when Harry S. Truman, our president, signed the charter of the United Nations with the advice and consent of the United States Senate. Under the terms of Article 6, the signing of the charter of the United Nations supercedes the United States Constitution. How could we be, as a nation, so stupid? I'll tell you why – the men who were leading this nation felt that we could always keep our Constitution because we have a veto power in the United Nations Security Council. If we felt that some new law was contrary to our Constitution we could veto it and our veto could stop it.
But, what our men overlooked was what was found in Article 25 of the United Nations treaty with the United States in which it said, "Members of nations agree to accept and carry out the decisions of the Security Council in accord with (and notice the words) the present charter." This implied that there would be other charters that would follow. Since the veto power proved to be a hindrance to what the New World government was determined to attain, a way had to be found to circumvent the veto power of the United States. So what did they do? In 1950, the General Assembly met and adopted a new resolution, which would do away with the veto power by expanding the power of the General Assembly, making it above the Security Council. Do you see what happened?
Would you believe it, that our government, the United States of America, signed this amended charter as "the law of the world" – which overrides our Constitution. So now the General Assembly of the United Nations can make any law it chooses if two-thirds of the world governments agree, thus overriding any provision of our Constitution. Let me tell you what this means. The United States must now ignore, abolish, revise, rescind, any law of our nation which conflicts with any law that the United Nations proposes. Think of it. In other words, the veto power is no more. Today, we are living in America subject to any law which is, or will, be passed by the United Nations with a two-thirds majority vote. And may I remind you that most of the nations of the world are predominately Catholic.
No wonder the following speech, which I am going to give to you word-for-word, was given before the United States Senate. This was given by Carl B. Rix who was the president of the American Bar Association. He knows what he is talking about and this is what he said. I am reading from the United States Congressional record, page A3220.
"Congress is no longer bound by its constitutional system of delegated powers. Its only test is under the obligatory power to promote human rights in these fields of endeavor: Civil, political, economic, social and cultural. These are found in Articles 55 and 56 of the Charter of the United Nations, a ratified and approved treaty. They are being promoted in all parts of the world by the United Nations. Congress may now legislate as an uninhibited body with no shackles of delegated powers under the Constitution. Our entire system of government of delegated power of Congress has been changed to a system of undelegated powers without amendment by the people of the United States." And would you believe it, not one person in the Congress stood up and disagreed. They knew that the power of the Constitution was gone. Listen to what he said once more - a charter that has been ratified and an approved treaty. "Congress may now legislate as an uninhibited body with no shackles of a delegated powers under the Constitution." It's gone. The Constitution has already been repudiated. Are you amazed? Of course you are; you are startled.
This is what Ellen White said would happen. We would repudiate everything in the Constitution and it has been done. You will find a whole chapter concerning this, entitled "Treason in High Places" in a book entitled Behold a Pale Horse written by William Cooper in 1991 and published by Publishing Light Technology Publishing, P.O. Box 1495, Sedona, AZ 86336. The author, William Cooper, was a former United States intelligence officer and shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing (because he knew too much and revealed too much) President Clinton secured a FBI file and ordered all government agencies to prosecute him and shut him up. He was recently killed by a government SWAT team officer.
Now back to our subject. What is the United Nations, under papal control, waiting for to enact a Sunday Law to compel all to recognize the pope as above God? They are waiting for some cataclysmic event that will so totally strike terror to the citizens of the United States that they will say, "The only thing that can save us is to bow to the demands of papal Rome and keep Sunday holy." Also they are waiting for the Protestant churches to join with Catholics in demanding of Congress to make it a law. I want to tell you that this could happen at any time. You may not be awake as to what is already taking place, but this government knows that there are thousands of its citizens who, when they see their liberties coming to an end, are going to arise in revolt. There will be bloodshed. That is why President Clinton spent 32 billion dollars to add 100,000 policemen to take care of this coming situation.
But that's not all. I read that Satan has some plans too. He is going to bring disease and disaster. I am reading from The Great Controversy p. 589, 590 in which she writes about Satan's coming. "While appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies, he will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place, and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence."
What a picture that God has given us. Why? What is Satan up to? - He is soon going to say that all these disasters are being caused by Seventh-day Adventists. Sounds unbelievable but let me read it to you in The Great Controversy p. 590. "The great deceiver will persuade men that those who serve God are causing these evils. The class that have provoked the displeasure of Heaven will charge all their troubles upon those whose obedience to God's commandments is a perpetual reproof to transgressors. It will be declared that men are offending God by the violation of the Sunday sabbath; that this sin has brought calamities which will not cease until Sunday observance shall be strictly enforced; and that those who present the claims of the fourth commandment, thus destroying reverence for Sunday, are the troublers of the people, preventing their restoration to divine favor and temporal prosperity."
Beloved, there is going to be trouble in this United States like you have never seen. I heard a man just the other day on television say we are faced with coming anarchy. That's a frightening word but did you notice that Sister White uses the same word? Listen how she uses it. "Those who honor the Bible Sabbath will be denounced as enemies of law and order, as breaking down the moral restraints of society, causing anarchy and corruption, and calling down the judgments of God upon the earth." The Great Controversy p. 592.
If you think this is some fantasy listen carefully. While working on this sermon I received a document in the mail printed by the Vatican which was distributed by the Inter-American Division to all their workers, so it must be authentic. It is the Catholic plan to evangelize Seventh-day Adventists. There are ten points in all. I shall read only the last point under the heading of "Purpose." I am quoting, "To make Seventh-day Adventists understand that if they do not unite with Catholics and Protestants to seek world peace they will be guilty of all the evils and/or disasters that come upon the earth." This is exactly what God revealed will happen. Isn't that astounding – and almost the exact words that He revealed to His prophet, Ellen White.
In just a little time it is not going to be like it is today. Are you going to be faithfully keeping the Sabbath day when the whole world is against us? Do you realize what it will take to live in this New World Order that will come under the control of the man of sin who will direct the Ecumenical movement to exterminate you? Why are we to be the brunt of all this coming trouble? We are the only people left in this world who are an obstacle for Satan to completely rule this world. Have you ever thought of that? No wonder the devil is going to go about like a roaring lion to get control of this world.
What would you do – for you will not find any help in our Constitution? It is only a memory of what it used to be; it's gone forever. What will you do, appeal to the Supreme Court of the land? They have already publicly declared, "When religious rights clash with the government need for a uniform rule the court will side with the government." What will you do when your own church refuses to help you – for we are told that some of our leaders will encourage us to keep Sunday? Furthermore, we are told by God's servant they will testify against you. What will you do when you cannot buy or sell – your money will be worthless. What will you do when you are commanded to obey the pope or go to jail? Am I making this too real? I think not. There is only one thing that you can do. You must trust in God that He will keep you faithful, providing you have been a faithful servant of God keeping all of His commandments specifically keeping the seventh-day Sabbath holy week by week.
Do you realize what it is going to be when the papacy takes control of the United Nations? We are told in Revelation 17:12 that the ten kingdoms of the world are going to give their power to the beast. The whole world will be organized against you. Now I want to read again from the book entitled Behold a Pale Horse written by William Cooper, a former United States intelligence officer. This is the man that was murdered by the US government for knowing too much and speaking too much. He gives the most astonishing information beginning on page 89, which reveals that the papal power is not what it claims to be.
Listen, "The Vatican has stated at various times that the pope is for total disarmament; the pope is for the illumination of the sovereignty of the United States. The pope is also stating that the property rights are not to be considered true property rights. The pope believes that only the Vatican knows what is right for man. In the early 1940's the I.G. Farben Chemical Company employed a Polish salesman who sold cyanide to the Nazis for use in Auschwitz. The same salesman also worked as a chemist in the manufacture of the poison gas. This same cyanide gas, along with Zyklon-B and malathion was used to exterminate millions of Jews and others groups. Their bodies were burned to ashes in the ovens. After the war this salesman, fearing for his life, joined the Catholic Church and was ordained as a priest in 1946. This salesman was ordained Poland's youngest bishop in 1958. After a 30-day reign, his predecessor was assassinated and our ex-cyanide-gas-salesman assumed the papacy as Pope John Paul II."
The pope has challenged the world leaders by claiming that the people of the world already recognize the absolute authority of Rome because they observe the Sunday sabbath that was ordered by the pope in the Council of Laodicea – 364 AD. The original Ten Commandments, given Moses by God, ordered that we should "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
The seventh-day Sabbath as handed to Moses by God is Saturday. The celebration of Sunday as the sabbath is a verification that the people recognize the pope as superior to God. Did you know that the Los Angeles Times of December 12, 1984 quoted Pope John Paul II as saying, "Don't go to God for forgiveness of sins – come to me." The pope committed blasphemy thus fulfilling prophecy according to the book of Revelation. The pope is telling us that he is God. Remember, never worship a leader. If you worship a leader you no longer have the ability to recognize when you have been deceived.
Did you get that amazing fact? I want to tell you that we are soon to be in for a time of trouble such as never was and this time of trouble is coming to our church. Every Seventh-day Adventist is going to be persecuted. Will we submit to a New World Order and keep Sunday and receive the mark of the beast or will we give our allegiance to the divine authority of God by keeping the seventh-day Sabbath holy and receive the seal of the Eternal God? Remember what it says in Prophets and Kings p. 602, "On this battlefield will be fought the last great conflict in the controversy between truth and error." Will we stand as did Esther and publicly say, "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this," and then say, "If I perish, I perish" – I will keep holy the seventh-day Sabbath.
Since this is the great test that is coming there must be some dramatic changes in the way we are keeping the Sabbath if we are going to die for it. The Sabbath day is not a "fun day" as most Sunday-keepers observe their day. The devil is out after us as never before to ensnare us Sabbath-keepers in turning our minds from the holy Sabbath day to that like the Sunday "sun worshipers."
A few years ago I was pleading with an Adventist youth who was a baptized member of our church. He attended one of our colleges. I was concerned because this young man felt that the Sabbath was a "fun day." He told me that he goes rock climbing, snow skiing, and thinks nothing of hiking eight or ten miles on the Sabbath day. These, by the way, are all perfectly excellent outdoor pleasure activities in recreation, but is it Sabbath keeping? Then I turned to the scriptures and read to this young man Isaiah 58:13, 14. "If you turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord."
Immediately this young man became defensive. He told me the Sabbath was made to have a good time and as proof he told me that at La Sierra University the administrators are taking the young people out on Sabbath afternoons to do good things in the community. Now that sounds good, doesn't it? Then he described the program. The young people go out with picks, shovels, saws, hammers, paint brushes, with lawnmower and rakes repairing broken windows and doors and painting the homes, to fix up the yards of poor people who are too old to go out and do this sort of thing anymore.
I know this to be true for I read of this program in the Riverside, CA newspaper, since our La Sierra University is within its confines. The paper praised these young people for doing such good things in the community, but is it Sabbath keeping when it can be done on any other day of the week? Then this young man spoke of his convictions, "If this is Sabbath keeping, so is my hiking, my snow skiing, my rock climbing and all the rest of it." And I'm sorry to have to say he was right. If that is true Sabbath keeping. God be merciful to our young people who are being misled today by the very ministers of this denomination who are paid from the sacred tithe, who some day will face the wrath of God because they are teaching our young people to break and dishonor God's holy Sabbath day.
Now let us consider how we keep the Sabbath day as we associate with others. The Spirit of Prophecy encourages us to gather together Sabbath afternoon to enrich each other in a time of fellowship with singing, prayer and study. But does this make it right for those attending our church in various places after the eleven o'clock service to drive to their favorite restaurants, to purchase meals and spend the rest of the afternoon socializing? Beloved, this is not Sabbath keeping – it is a sin – and sin will keep sinners out of heaven. Little by little the devil is getting Seventh-day Adventists to compromise one of the most glorious truths in the Bible – the seventh-day Sabbath.
Even our medical institutions are being entrapped. I have learned that one of our large hospitals has authorized one of its operating rooms to be fully staffed on the Sabbath day to take care of all types of surgery - (are you listening?) which have been scheduled during the week - to be preformed on the Sabbath day. Isn't it strange when the need for money becomes the predominant factor to rationalize God's commandments? Can we honestly give the Third Angel's Message to the world and say, "Come out of Babylon," and then as a church organization we don't keep the Seventh-day Sabbath ourselves? Think it over.
In the book Medical Ministry, which was written for our medical institutions and our doctors and nurses, are these words on page 214, "Often physicians are called upon the Sabbath to minister to the sick, (then are these words) [but] ordinary treatment, and operations that can wait, should be deferred till the next day." When will we learn, or must we wait until God's wrath is poured out. I thank God for our godly doctors and nurses that we have in our churches. Praise the Lord for them. We have the most wonderful medical workers who are faithfully keeping the Sabbath.
As I read in Desire of Ages p. 207, "The necessities of life must be attended to, the sick must be cared for, the wants of the needy must be supplied. He will not be held guiltless who neglects to relieve suffering on the Sabbath. God's holy rest day was made for man and the acts of mercy are in perfect harmony with its intent. God does not desire His creatures should suffer one hour's pain that may be relieved upon the Sabbath." And then come these words in Patriarchs and Prophets p. 307, "Acts of necessity and mercy are permitted on the Sabbath, the sick and the suffering are at all times to be cared for; but unnecessary labor is to be strictly avoided."
What about when we get together on Sabbath afternoon to visit. We are encouraged to do this that we may sing, read and study and discuss spiritual things. But is this a time for us to get together and talk about business deals, about our farming activities or about household repairs that we have made or that we are going to make? The commandments include all within our gates. "Those who discuss business matters or lay plans on the Sabbath are regarded by God as though engaged in the actual transaction of these plans. To keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even allow our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character." Patriarchs and Prophets p. 307. "The example of ministers, especially should be circumspect in this respect. Upon the Sabbath they should conscientiously restrict themselves to conversation upon religious things, to present truths, present duty, Christian hopes and fears, trials, conflicts, afflictions and to overcome at last and with the reward that is to be received." Testimonies for the Church, Volume 2, p. 703, 704. By God's grace, I am going to follow such counsel.
Let me give you some Sabbath guidelines. In the Spirit of Prophecy the Sabbath day is spoken of as a day of delight. Ellen White uses the words "a joyful day," "a most interesting day," "the sweetest day of all." I like that – it is something that we should look forward to. In Ministry of Healing p. 308 are these words, "It is well, on the Sabbath, to provide something that will be regarded as a treat." This suggests something that the family does not have every day. When you prepare the Sabbath meal do you have a treat? This will be especially helpful to teach our children that this is a special day.
Now, I want to make suggestions that the next Sabbath afternoon, after you have had the noon meal, read what Ellen White says on how to keep the Sabbath day holy. You will find the following:
1. "The Sabbath is a time for us to help the needy with food and clothing." Counsels to Teachers p. 360.
2. It is a time to walk in the fields and the groves; to behold God's handiwork. Testimony Treasures Volume 3, p. 24.
3. If it is cold, put on a heavy jacket and the long underwear – get out and see what God has made. She tells us to discuss the flowers, the trees, the shrubs and listen to the sound of nature. Testimony Treasures Volume 3, p. 27. Go ahead, sit down by a brook and listen to the water as it bubbles along. Listen to the wind blowing through those pinecones and needles.
4. Spend time to study the coming Sabbath School lesson. Education p. 251, 252.
5. Have you wondered what to do on Sabbath afternoon? Spend the Sabbath afternoon to review the Sabbath sermon notes you have taken. Education p. 251.
6. Spend time in meditation, counting your blessings. Contemplate God's love in God's great sacrifice. Desire of Ages p. 207. Sit down for thirty minutes and think about the cross and what Jesus did for you – this is true Sabbath keeping.
7. Take time for a healthful rest – she did not say a five-hour sleep – but she did say take a rest. Desire of Ages p. 207.
8. Visit the widows and the orphans. Have you ever thought on Sabbath afternoon to go and visit those who are alone or invite them home for a meal? Desire of Ages p. 207. Encourage them to pray and pray for them.
9. To parents, I read, "Entertain your children with spiritual activity." Testimony Treasures Volume 3, p. 24. That doesn't mean that we go outside and throw the basketball into the hoop or get on the bikes and ride around. We must jealously guard the edges of the Sabbath.
The shoes ought to be shined before the Sabbath, the baths should be taken, the food should be prepared as much as possible before the Sabbath day. "Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy." The apostle John saw in the last days a small group keeping the Sabbath day and on their foreheads was written the Father's name which means they represent the character of God. Inspiration says, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12.
I ask you, in this coming crisis, are you going to be willing to die for the Sabbath day? Are you ready to stand up as Esther and say, "If I perish, I perish"? Now is the time when we must learn to be obedient to the Sabbath commandment. Now is the time when we must keep the Sabbath day holy if we are going to be sealed for eternity. "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?" Esther 4:14. Keep the Sabbath holy.
Let us pray. Dear heavenly Father, please forgive us for having broken the edges of Thy holy Sabbath day. Help us to keep the Sabbath day holy that we may be ready when the final test breaks upon us so Thy power will sustain us. In Jesus' name we ask, Amen.
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THE GREAT THREE-FOLD UNION #1THE DEVELOPING IMAGE TO THE BEASTBy: Elder Lawrence Nelson
I shall read two astounding statements that should stimulate every Seventh-day Adventist to speedily prepare for the enactment of the image of the beast in America, as foretold in Revelation 13. The first quote is taken from The Washington Times of April 16, 2001, p.A02. "In 1960 John Kennedy went from Washington to Texas to assure Protestant preachers that he would not obey the Pope. In 2001 George Bush came from Texas up to Washington to assure a group of Catholic bishops that he would obey the Pope." And what did John Kennedy get for his honesty and true leadership? - A bullet in the head.
The second quote is taken from the Catholic paper called Peter's Voice. It reveals the same determination by President George W. Bush to obey the Pope. In his speech, given during the opening of the John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, Bush said, "The best way to honor Pope John Paul II, truly one of the great men, is to take his teachings seriously; to listen to his words, and put his words and teachings into action here in America." And what has George Bush to gain from such a promise? - Approval and support from the Papacy in the development of an image to the beast.
This brings to mind the warning from the Holy Spirit through His servant, Ellen White, when she wrote in Testimonies for the Church, Volume 1, p. 451, "When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of the Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, [then], under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehood and delusions."
Let us pray. Our loving Father, we have learned that the President of the greatest Protestant nation on earth is committed to surrender Protestantism to Catholic doctrine. We are about to be plunged into the affliction and distress of Jacob's Trouble. We pray that Thou wilt give us the fullness of Thy Holy Spirit, that we may seize the remaining freedom that we still have to prepare for the final conflict. In the name of Jesus, we ask, Amen.
This sermon is based on God's word found in Revelation 13:11-18. "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,
"And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
"And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six."
The purpose of this study is to reveal the notable trends now taking place in the United States of America in the development of an image to the beast. We must know what to expect when the image becomes fully developed. I do not have time in this presentation to give full proof as to who the beast and his image is. The details are clearly presented in my book The Antichrist, in which each of the following inspired indictments are proven, revealing that the papal power is the beast of Revelation 13. And the United States of America is to become the image of the beast.
I will list twelve indisputable Bible facts as to who the beast is.
1. It was to arise among ten divisions of the Roman empire (Daniel 7:8).
2. It was to destroy three of the ten kingdoms (Daniel 7:8).
3. It would speak great words against the most high (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:6).
4. It would wear out the saints of the Most High (Daniel 7:25; Revelation 13:7).
5. It would be guilty of blasphemy (Revelation 13:6, Daniel 7:25).
6. It would attempt to change the divine law of God (Daniel 7:25).
7. It would exercise its power over all kindreds, tongues and nations (Revelation 13:7).
8. The dragon would give him his power, his seat, and his great authority to this beast (Revelation 13:2).
9. It was to continue in world domination for a period of 1260 years (Revelation 13:5; Daniel 7:25).
10. It would then receive a mortal wound (Revelation 13:3).
11. It would amaze the whole world for its deadly wound would be healed (Revelation 13:30).
12. This beast has a mark of its authority. Anyone who refuses to honor this mark will be persecuted and finally sentenced to death. (Revelation 13:15-18).
We are also given the following identification of the image of the beast: It must appear among the nations of the world as a world power when the deadly wound was inflicted in 1798 (Revelation 13:10, 11). Unlike all previous world powers ruling over nations and peoples, this image must begin to develop in a region of the world where no civilization existed (Revelation 13:11). The image would begin with dual power symbolized by its two horns representing a government of Republicanism and Protestantism (Revelation 13:11). But the image would change its form of government, and the laws providing individual freedom, to that of a government based on the power of the dragon in which the world would once more be forced to obey the antichrist or be killed (Revelation 13:11,15). And to remove any possible doubt God has given us the number 666 which identifies the beast to which the image is to be made (Revelation 13:18).
At this point it would be well to examine the dictatorial power of the beast which the world experienced during the Dark Ages for some 1260 years under the iron hand of the papacy. Divine inspiration has revealed that the image of the beast will force the people of the world to once again live as subjects of this beast power under which all freedoms will be revoked until Jesus comes.
First, let us consider what the daily life was like during the Dark Ages of the papal rule. We shall start with how this evil power came into existence. I'm going to quote from the papacy, which tells us as follows: "Long ages ago, when Rome, through the neglect of the western emperors, was left to the mercy of the barbarous hoards, the Romans turned to one figure for aid and protection and asked him to rule them. And thus, in this simple manner the best title of all to kingly right commenced the temporal sovereignty of the popes. And meekly stepping to the throne of the Caesar, the Vicar of Christ took up the scepter to which the emperors and kings of Europe were to bow in reverence through so many ages." James P. Conroy in The American Catholic Quarterly Review of April, 1911.
As a result of this power, and her attempt to force everyone to accept the teachings of the state church, Europe was bathed continually in a wave of persecution. History has recorded these conditions for us as follows: "The horrors of the Inquisition, ordered and maintained by the popes over a period of 500 years in which unnumbered millions were tortured and burned, constitute the most brutal, beastly and devilish picture in all history." Halley's Bible Handbook, printed in Grand Rapids, MI by Zondervan Publishing House in 1965, p. 731, 732.
This beast power that ruled the world is seen today in a vastly different light than now professed, as you read this letter written by Pope Nicholas in the year 1860, to the king of Bulgaria. "A king need not fear to command massacres when these will retain his subjects in obedience, or cause them to submit to the faith of Christ, and God will reward him in this world and in eternal life for these murders. We order you, in the name of religion, to invade his states, burn his cities and massacre his people." This letter was taken from the book A Woman Rides the Beast by Dave Hunt, printed in Eugene, Oregon by the Harvest House Publishers in 1994, p. 153.
In the book Great Controversy p. 234 - 236 inspiration reveals the following, "The first triumphs of the Reformation past, Rome summoned new forces, hoping to accomplish its destruction. At this time the order of the Jesuits was created, the most cruel, unscrupulous, and powerful of all the champions of popery. Cut off from earthly ties and human interests, dead to the claims of natural affection, reason and conscience wholly silenced, they knew no rule, no tie, but that of their order, and no duty but to extend its power….There was no crime too great for them to commit, no deception too base for them to practice, no disguise too difficult for them to assume. Vowed to perpetual poverty and humility, it was their studied aim to secure wealth and power, to be devoted to the overthrow of Protestantism, and the reestablishment of papal supremacy. When appearing as members of their order, they wore a garb of sanctity,…but under this blameless exterior the most criminal and deadly purposes were often concealed.
"It was a fundamental principle of the order that the end justified the means. By this code, lying, theft, perjury, assassinations, were not only pardonable but commendable, when they served the interest of the church. Under various disguises the Jesuits worked their way into offices of state, climbing up to be the counselors of kings, and shaping the policy of nations. They became servants to act as spies upon their masters….The Jesuits rapidly spread themselves over Europe, and wherever they went, there followed a revival of popery. To give them greater power, a bull was issued re-establishing the inquisition…and atrocities too terrible to bear the light of day were repeated in its secret dungeons….Such were the means which Rome had invoked to quench the light of the Reformation, to withdraw from men the Bible, and to restore the ignorance and superstition of the Dark Ages."
As the Reformation developed so also the persecution of Protestants increased. Life became so terrible under the Jesuits of Rome that many people decided to flee from Europe to another country. Thus we find the Pilgrim fathers fleeing to America, to a land where they hoped to find the freedom their hearts longed for.
We read in Revelation 13:11 concerning America's rise to world power, "I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb." This new world power, the United States, was represented as having two horns like a lamb. Throughout the Bible, horns stand for power and kingdoms, but these lamb-like horns were uncrowned. When our Pilgrim fathers landed here and began to build a government they saw to it that it was different than those of Europe. They founded the government of the United States of America on the Christian principles of civil and religious freedom. Church and state were to be separated. This is the secret of democracy. What the world had not seen for centuries was a state without a king and a church without a pope. Republicanism and Protestantism were the foundations of this country.
Ellen White had this to say, "The lamb-like horns indicate youth, innocence, and gentleness, fitly representing the character of the United States when presented to the prophet as 'coming up' in 1798…. Republicanism and Protestantism became the fundamental principles of the nation. These principles are the secret of its power and prosperity. The oppressed and down-trodden throughout Christendom have turned to this land with interest and hope. Millions have sought its shores, and the United States has risen to a place among the most powerful nations of the earth." Great Controversy p. 441.
The Constitution of the United States guarantees these great concepts. Let me briefly review the facts. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Declaration of Independence. "The United States shall guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government." Article 4. Section 4 of The Constitution of the United States. "No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States." Article 6. The First Amendment provides further guarantees of freedom. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." Bill of Rights Article 1.
But now consider this: What I am about to say sounds unbelievable but it is a fact. The papal church hates the Constitution of the United States for it is contrary to every political aim of the papacy. In the book Fifty Years in the Church of Rome, p. 284, Charles Chiniquy, a former priest, in seven statements he clearly reveals the papal differences from that of the government of the United States. And furthermore, what the Vatican plans to do when she seizes control of America. Listen carefully:
1. The most sacred principles of the United States Constitution is the equality of every citizen before the law, but the fundamental principle of the Church of Rome is the denial of that equality.
2. Liberty of conscience is proclaimed by the United States; a most sacred principle which every citizen must uphold even at the price of his blood. But liberty of conscience is declared by all the popes and councils of Rome as a most godless, unholy and diabolical thing which every good Catholic must abhor and destroy at any cost.
3. The American constitution assures the absolute independence of the civil from the ecclesiastical (or church) power. But the Church of Rome declares through all her pontiffs and councils that such independence is an impiety and a revolt against God.
4. The American constitution leaves every man free to serve God according to the dictates of his conscience. But the Church of Rome declares that no man has ever had such a right, and that the pope alone can know and say what man must believe and do.
5. The constitution of the United States denies the right to anybody to punish any other for differing from him in religion. But the Church of Rome says that she has the right to punish, with the confiscation of their goods or the penalty of death, those who differ in faith from the pope.
6. The United States have established schools all over immense territories where they invite the people to send their children that they may cultivate their intelligence and become good and useful citizens. But the Church of Rome has publicly stated that these schools are forbidden and children attend them under pain of excommunication in this world and damnation in the next.
7. The constitution of the United States is based on the principle that the people are the primary source of all civil power. But hundreds of times the Church of Rome has proclaimed that this principle is impious and heretical. She says all governments must rest upon the foundation of the Catholic faith with the pope alone as the legitimate and infallible source and interpreter of the law.
By now I trust you have become fully awake for there is no question as to the intent of the papacy as we read the following unimpeachable documents from which I quote. "The Church is, of necessity, intolerant. Heresy she endures when and where she must, but she hates it and directs all her energy to destroy it. If Catholics ever gain a sufficient, numerical majority in this country religious freedom is at an end. So our enemies say, so we believe." The Shepherd of the Valley, the official journal of the Bishop of St. Louis, on November 23, 1851. Again, "No man has a right to choose his religion." New York Freedom, official journal of the Bishop Hughes, January 26, 1852. I continue, "The church does not, and cannot accept, or in any degree favor liberty in the Protestant sense of liberty." The Catholic World, April 1870.
I hope you are beginning to think this through carefully. Note, the Vatican condemned the Declaration of Independence as wickedness and called the Constitution of the United States a "satanic document." (Taken from the book, Footprints of the Jesuits by R. W. Thompson in New York, printed by Hunt and Eaton in 1894 p. 146.)
This great statesman and patriot, Richard W. Thompson, was at that time the Secretary of the Navy of the United States. In his admirable work The Papacy and Civil Power, in which he states, "Nothing is plainer than this. If the principles of the Church of Rome prevail here our Constitution would necessarily fall; the two cannot exist together."
Then from The Freedom's Journal, the official journal of the Bishop of New York, we read, "We will rule the United States and lay them at the feet of the Vicar of Jesus Christ that he may put an end to their godless system of education, and impious laws of liberty of conscience which are an insult to God and man."
Now these quotations reveal the real purpose of papal power in their determination to control America. I again quote from the ex-Secretary of the United States Navy in his book Footprints of the Jesuits, p. 29. "They believe that the conditions of mankind during the Middle Ages, (that the pope's Dark Ages) staggering under the weight of feudal oppression, were preferable to modern progress and enlightenment; that human happiness would be promoted by a return to that period." What astounding information! Can you imagine the plans of the Vatican to change our way of life to that of the Dark Ages? No wonder the Bible describes what is to come in this world as 'a time of trouble such as never was.' Daniel 12:1.
Now I want you to join with me in some very serious thinking about the developing of this power here in America. The beginning of the formation of the image to the beast started when Ronald Reagan was president and he sent an ambassador from the United States to the Vatican. Consider this quote, "The appointment of the pope's nuncio (that's an ambassador) to Washington as a result of the high treason of President Ronald Reagan, informally recognizing the sovereign state of the Vatican City, in 1984, with Knight of Malta, William Wilson, being the first legal ambassador to the Vatican since America severed all relations in 1867 as a result of the Jesuit black hand in the Lincoln assassination, could be compared to the instillation of a foreign general obeying orders of the head of an aggressive alien state. The nuncio will also become the arbitrator between the two major political parties of America. Both Republican and Democratic parties, from now on, must be extremely attentive to the reaction of the papal nuncio. Political wooing would be done at the papal nunciature in Washington, the political center of the Catholic Church in the United States. Politically she is looming ever larger at the White House. She is a power in the Senate, a force at the Pentagon, an invisible secret agent at the FBI, the most subtle, intangible, prime mover of the US wheel within a wheel, the Central Intelligence Agency." The Vatican Moscow Washington Alliance by Avro Manhattan, 1986, p. 353, 354.
We have been told by inspiration that the last movements will be rapid ones. Any Bible student must be amazed as George Bush started his presidential campaign by a papal visit to the Pope. Five days after election to office, President Bush paid a visit to Washington Archbishop Theodore E. McCarrick. Next he flies to Miami to visit Archbishop John Favalora, then back to Pittsburgh to see Bishop Donald Wood, and then to Philadelphia so he could visit Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua, then swinging to St. Louis for a visit to Archbishop Justin Rigali.
But that's not all. On his first trip to New York he awards the Congressional gold metal to the late Cardinal John O'Connor and later that month Bush meets with Pope John Paul II the second time. How amazing the actions of our president of the greatest Protestant nation on earth. On March 21 Bush entertained more than 120 Catholic leaders in the East Room of the White House. The next day he surrounded himself with cardinals, reaffirmed his opposition to abortion and he presided over the ribbon-cutting at the museum named for Pope John Paul II. I ask you, are you getting the picture? Is it any wonder that I could hardly believe my eyes when I read President Bush's words, "The best way to honor Pope John Paul II is to listen to his words and put his words and teachings into action here in America."
What did the scriptures state in Revelation 13:14 concerning the United States of America? - "That they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live." At this point it would be well to see how the emerging image to the beast has reacted to the recent terrorist attack in New York City. Immediately after the terrorist attack on September 11 in New York City a declaration of war was supported by all but one member of Congress, with 24 standing ovations during President Bush's speech to the joint members of Congress. The president did not call on Congress to declare war, he did this himself, and declared it will be a long and difficult war.
In the light of Revelation 13 you must be amazed that the image has now reached such power that its word is almost law to most of the nations of the world. Immediately Saudi Arabia and the United Arab countries severed diplomatic relations with Afghanistan. Even nations considered as our enemies, such as China and Russia, joined in the coalition. All nations on earth were challenged to join the United States or suffer the consequences.
Financial institutions were commanded by President Bush to cease all dealings with the terrorists and their organizations. Every nation was commanded to do so, or they would be cut off from the world's largest economy. The seven richest nations of the world complied, revealing that the image has now become so powerful that its word is law to which every nation on earth must follow. President Bush implied such power when he said, "Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists."
It is also apparent that the citizens of the United States are now ready to sacrifice their civil liberties to win this war. Attorney General John Ashcroft of the Justice Department has asked congress for greater power which can only mean the people will lose much of their liberty. Ellen White clearly states that the time would come when every article of the Constitution would be made void.
From the recent Remnant Herald of November, 2001 I quote the following, "In his video, 'Prophecy and the New Times' (that's in 1997) Ted Flynn, the Roman Catholic devotee of Mary, reported that in an apparition Mary stated that terrible disasters were about to strike America. She stated that they were the result of sin and that the only solution was for Americans to return to God. The solution offered was to close all shops on Sunday, to ban sporting fixtures on Sunday, to attend Mass and Confession, and to say the Rosary."
Make no mistake, such deceptions of Satan will play a pivotal role in turning secular mankind to religion but they will not sanctify the soul. A religious zeal will ensue. How easily this will generate Sunday laws as a means of regaining divine favor. Such religious zealots, unsanctified in heart, will not hesitate to persecute faithful seventh-day keepers in a vain effort to restore security and prosperity. Already the United States Supreme Court in 1961 by an 8–1 decision ruled that Sunday laws do not violate the First Amendment of the US Constitution which guarantees religious liberty. (See Warren Johns, Dateline Sunday USA, Pacific Press, 1967, p. 119 – 159.)
In 1990, the Supreme Court by a 5-4 majority in the case of Smith vs. the State of Oregon "went far beyond the case and declared that when religious rights clash with the government's need for uniform rules, the court will side with the government." Los Angeles Times, April 18, 1990. Anyone can see day by day the fulfilling of Revelation 13: 15-17. Surely the image to the beast is beginning to flex its muscle.
Never were the words of the Spirit of Prophecy so meaningful. "The nations are in unrest. Times of perplexity are upon us. Men's hearts are failing them for fear of the things that are coming upon the earth. But those who believe in God will hear His voice amid the storm, saying, 'It is I; be not afraid.'" Signs of the Times, October 9, 1901. Inspiration warns us of what is soon to take place. "The tempest is coming, and we must get ready for its fury by having repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord will arise to shake terribly the earth. We shall see troubles on all sides. Thousands of ships will be hurled into the depths of the sea. Navies will go down, and human lives will be sacrificed by millions. Fires will break out unexpectedly, and no human effort will be able to quench them. The palaces of earth will be swept away in the fury of the flames. Disasters by rail will become more and more frequent; confusion, collision, and death without a moment's warning will occur on the great lines of travel. The end is near, probation is closing. Oh let us seek God while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near!" Messages to Young People p. 89, 90.
"In the last scenes of this earth's history, war will rage. There will be pestilence, plague, and famine. The waters of the deep will overflow their boundaries. Properties and life will be destroyed by fire and flood. We should be preparing for the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for them that love Him." Maranatha p. 174.
"The end is near, and every city is to be turned upside down every way. There will be confusion in every city. Everything that can be shaken is to be shaken, and we do not know what will come next. The judgments will be according to the wickedness of the people and the light of truth that they have had." Manuscripts 1, p. 248, 249. "O that God's people had a sense of the impending destruction of thousands of cities, now almost given to idolatry." Evangelism p. 29. While God is holding back the winds of strife, let us work with greater diligence and sacrifice for our Lord. "In the great closing work we shall meet with perplexities that we know not how to deal with, but let us not forget that the three great powers of heaven are working, that a divine hand is on the wheel, and that God will bring His purposes to pass." Evangelism p. 65.
"I asked my accompanying angel the meaning of what I had heard, and what the four angels were about to do. He said to me that it was God that restrained the powers, and that He gave His angels charge over things on the earth; that the four angels had power from God to hold the four winds, and that they were about to let them go; but while their hands were loosening, and the four winds were about to blow, the merciful eye of Jesus gazed on the remnant that were not sealed, and He raised His hands to the Father and pleaded with Him that He had spilled His blood for them. Then another angel was commissioned to fly swiftly to the four angels and bid them hold, until the servants of God were sealed with the seal of the living God in their foreheads." Early Writings p. 38.
"My dear brethren and sisters, let the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ be in your minds continually and let them crowd out worldly thoughts and cares. When you lie down and when you rise up, let them be your meditation. Live and act wholly in reference to the coming of the Son of man. The sealing time is very short and will soon be over. Now is the time, while the four angels are holding the four winds, to make our calling and election sure." Early Writings p. 58.
Let us pray, Our loving Father, as we see the image of the beast actually forming before our eyes, give us courage to be faithful and to daily be ready for the final test. In the name of Jesus, we ask, Amen.
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SEPARATION AND UNITYBy: Elder Lawrence Nelson
Let us begin with a most inspiring verse of scripture. It is found in Revelation 3:21, "To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." May I ask, "When did Jesus overcome?" – It was when He was here on this earth in our humanity and we can even overcome even as He did. Isn't that beautiful? What a promise.
By contrast listen to this. Just a few weeks ago in one of our largest church in Southern California the speaker said that we cannot overcome sin until Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven. Such a doctrine originates in the minds of men for it does not agree with the Bible. The promise made in the Bible verse is, "To him that overcometh …even as I also overcame." I have a great longing in my heart that not one of you will be left out of Christ's kingdom that will be made up of overcomers.
Let me remind you that the same faith that was delivered to the saints of the apostolic church was reestablished by God with the pioneers of our church. This blessed truth is the present truth for the last generation on earth. The remnant church today must hold fast to these pillars of faith until Jesus returns, because the devil is desperately trying to implant within our church the seeds of error that they may spring up and flourish within our beloved church. These teachings seem to captivate the minds of those who are looking for excitement and for something new and pleasing to the ear.
In almost every church there are members who seldom study the scriptures like the Bareans of the early church who, we are told, "searched the scriptures daily, whether those things be so." Acts 17:11. Instead those individuals accept without question what is preached or written in some book as long as the speaker or author has a doctrinal degree. But unless we study for ourselves, as did the Bareans, in the near future we may be in danger of becoming separated from God's church.
Let us pray. Oh loving Father, as predicted in Your Word we are faced with a great crisis. Some leaders of our church are promoting unsound doctrines – doctrines that concern salvational truths that are a life or death issue. Therefore, as promised in Thy Word, we appeal to the Holy Spirit to guide us. May this presentation be so clear that there can be absolutely no doubt as to what truth is. Please help us to accept by faith the pillars of truth so clearly revealed in Thy holy Word. This we ask in the name of Jesus, our Savior, Amen.
Our study will be in keeping with Revelation 3:14 – 22. "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write: These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see.
"As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
I must discuss with you why I chose the title for this sermon "Separation and Unity." You will notice that I did not say, "Unity or Separation," I said, "Separation and Unity." Why? – A very strange phenomenon is taking place within our church. Simultaneously there are two distinct movements or parties developing. One movement will lead you to separation and the other toward unity. You will discover that everything that is taking place has been clearly foretold by God's servant.
Over 100 years ago Ellen White wrote these words found in Testimonies for the Church, Volume 6, p. 400, 401. She said, "As the trials thicken around us, both separation and unity will be seen in all ranks." Isn't that amazing? Here God pictures for us exactly what is happening today. "Some who are now ready to take up weapons of warfare will in times of real peril make it manifest that they have not built upon the solid rock; they will yield to temptation. Those who have had great light… will, under one pretext or another, go out from us. Not having received the love of the truth, they will be taken in the delusions of the enemy; they will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils; and will depart from the faith. But, on the other hand, when the storm of persecution really breaks upon us, the true sheep will hear the true Shepherd's voice." Those who are on the Lord's side will not become fully evident between these two movements or parties until persecution, brought about by the coming Sunday Laws, which will break upon the church with satanic fury.
I will now read to you from Evangelism p. 707 what will transpire in these climactic experiences. We read, "The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant." The true sheep will hear and follow their Master's voice, while those who drink from the wine of Babylon will depart from the faith and separate from the faithful few.
God sent William Miller a dream. It is recorded in Early Writings p. 81 – 83. His dream describes what has been taking place in our church since 1844 and what will take place in the very near future. Let me refresh your minds as to the details of this dream for it graphically illustrates what is actually occurring between these two movements now. In this dream God showed Miller a beautiful casket. It was filled with precious jewels – a most glorious sight to behold. But soon intruders came into the room where the box was open and began to scatter the gems throughout the room. And to make matters even worse, they also brought in spurious jewels with all manner of rubbish, which they trampled together with the priceless gems.
Then William Miller grew desperate. He feared that the genuine gems were forever lost and could never be separated from the counterfeit. But presently a man entered the room having a dirt brush. He began sweeping the rubbish and the counterfeit jewels out through the windows creating a great cloud of dust which the wind carried away. Then this man with the dirt brush placed the genuine gems into a larger and much more beautiful casket which shone with ten times their former glory.
This dream represents both separation and unity. It points out that sometime after 1844 false teachers would infiltrate God's remnant church bringing ungodly doctrines, represented by the rubbish and the trash, into the church. Ellen White indicates that the man with the dirt brush represents Jesus Christ and what He will accomplish during the judgment of the living. Early Writings p. 48 says, "I saw that some of the people of God are stupid and dormant and but half awake; they do not realize the time we are now living in, and that the man with the 'dirt brush' has entered into the judgment and that some are in danger of being swept away." Even in Ellen White's day some were not ready and were in danger of being separated from the church. I believe that we will soon experience this solemn event in its fullness.
The name "Laodicean" reveals a time period within the church when the Investigative Judgment, including the judgment of the living, takes place producing a separation in which a great number are going to be found in a deplorable, lukewarm condition. Christ describes these in a Laodicean condition as "wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." These church members are actually Christless while they think that they are spiritually rich. They are self deceived; soon to be separated from God's church, or as Inspiration states, "spued out of [his] mouth." But praise God, there is hope for our church if they will heed the message to the Laodiceans.
On August 28, 1894 in the Review and Herald Ellen White wrote, "The counsel of the True Witness does not represent those who are lukewarm as in a hopeless case. There is still a chance to remedy their state. And the Laodicean message is full of encouragement; for the backslidden church may yet buy the gold of faith and love, may yet have the white robe of the righteousness of Christ, that the shame of their nakedness need not appear. Purity of heart, purity of motive, may yet characterize those who are half-hearted and who are striving to serve God and mammon. They may yet wash their robes of character and make them white in the blood of the Lamb." God always gives us hope, doesn't He? What a Savior!
The remedy offered to the Laodicean church members which have obeyed will enable a remnant to stand before the judgment bar of God, clothed with the spotless robes of Christ's righteousness, for they have become partakers of His divine nature. "The names of the obedient, self-sacrificing, and faithful will be engraved upon the palms of His hands; they will not be spewed from His mouth, but be taken in His lips, and He will specially plead in their behalf before the Father. When the selfish and proud are forgotten, they will be remembered; their names will be immortalized." Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3, p. 251. I like that. There is going to be victory and we can each have a part in it.
We now come to the main thrust of this message. I plan to ask some pointed questions and I'm going to speak plainly and as clearly as possible. I pray that the Holy Spirit will open our spiritual vision. But first, I am going to ask, "What do you think would cause so many within our church today to be considered by God as "Christless" and living such a repugnant life that He must spew them out of His mouth; to separate them from the church?" Could it be that they have shut their heart's door by refusing to sit down with Christ at His table, to partake of the Word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy? Do these members prefer to dine with those who have concocted a mixture of truth and error in the kitchen of Babylon? Could it be that they have drunk deeply of her wine and have become so intoxicated that they no longer discern their deplorable state?
Undoubtedly you are aware, as I am, of the two very different gospels that are being presented from the pulpits of some of our churches today. Now the question is, "Which one have you chosen?" One is truth the other is error; one will unite you in a relationship of faith and obedience to Christ, the other will bring a separation from Christ and eventually from His church. The final results will be as far apart as heaven and hell.
Now I will be specific by asking, "How do each of these groups define that little word 'sin'?" The answer to this question is the foundation for each of these gospels, so I will ask again, "What is "sin"? Believers of the true gospel will quickly answer that the Bible defines sin in 1 John 3:4 as, "Sin is the transgression of the law." Ellen White tells us repeatedly that this is the only true definition of sin.
There is another aspect of sin however and that is called "guilt." We are not left to wonder about its meaning. The Bible explains the difference between sin in general and sins of which one is guilty. James 4:17 explains, "To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." This tells us that a man is not held guilty of sinning, or lawbreaking as long as his sins are committed in ignorance. In order to incur guilt one must know God's will and choose to do it not. Many other Bible texts establish this same truth. Someone may wish to remain ignorant of truth, but if opportunity presents itself we dare not choose to be willingly ignorant for this also brings guilt upon us.
On the other hand the new theology believers would answer the questions "What is sin" and "What is guilt?" very differently. They would insist that the definition of sin is a broken relationship with God and that we are guilty of sin when we are born. We have no choice, they say, for sin is a condition of the body. Further, they might add that we are guilty of sin from the moment of our conception by virtue of our father Adam's sin. This teaching of New Theology was invented by the Roman Catholic Church. It is called the "original sin" doctrine.
Believers teaching the true gospel would counter by explaining that through our modern prophet, Ellen White, in the book Mind, Character and Personality p. 236, God has instructed us, "The flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of God." In other words, the flesh or body, is not "sin" and cannot of itself sin. Romans 6:13 explains that the members of our body are merely used as instruments of sin or of righteousness.
The true believers would explain further that sinning is a function or process of the mind – not the body. Sin both originates in and is committed in the mind. For example, a dead body cannot sin for its mind is dead. Likewise, a brain-dead body cannot sin for the same reason. The body merely carries out the dictates of the mind. Turning back to p. 72 of the book Mind, Character and Personality we read, "The mind controls the whole man." It would be wise for us to remember this short passage and keep it fresh in our minds.
Surely you can understand the wide difference in the foundations laid by these two groups by their diverse definitions of sin and guilt. This discussion of sin brings us face to face with the question of the nature of Christ for a different kind of Christ is needed in these two gospels.
I can just see church members throwing up their hands and saying, "This is too deep for me. I'm going to leave this topic to the theologians. Whatever the preachers say that's good enough for me. Besides, I don't think it makes much difference either way." But friend, we shall observe that it makes a great deal of difference.
Since the nature of Christ while on earth was both human and divine, any Christian worthy of the name will never dispute His divinity; that is settled, not questioned. The problem arises over the nature of His humanity. Now follow me closely. The true gospel clearly explains the human nature of Christ. Listen to this quotation, "Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the level of those He wished to save." What kind of a Redeemer do we have? – One who in His humanity came all the way down to our level. What a Savior!
Now the question, "Was Christ exempt from taking our sinful heredity?" God's true people would answer, "No." Then by using Inspiration to prove their very point they would explain that Christ took our sinful heredity upon His body just as any other child of Adam would receive it. In the book Desire of Ages p. 49 we read, "It would have been an almost infinite humiliation for the Son of God to take man's nature even when Adam stood in his innocency in Eden. But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life."
We also read in Bible Commentary, Volume 4, p. 1147, "He took suffering human nature degraded and defiled by sin." Christ was not only made in the "likeness of man" Philippians 2:7; He was made in the likeness of sinful men. Romans 8:3. Mary was a sinner, for all have sinned. She transmitted to Christ a sinful, human heredity. This did not make Him a sinner. The same principles apply to all other men. In spite of the fact that Christ took human nature, "degraded and defiled by sin." His mind was ever pure and undefiled. Christ was sinless.
At this point the New Theology teachers interrupt by saying, "Jesus had the nature of Adam before his fall into sin, for if He had taken our sinful nature that would have had of necessity given Him a sinning nature and He could not take our sinful nature without taking our sinfulness." These false teachers conclude by saying, "Since Jesus did not sin, therefore He took our physical stature, He took the nature of unfallen Adam."
In response to this error God's people quickly turn to Hebrews 2:14, 18 and read these verses, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour (help) them that are tempted."
Here is another question: "Can fallen men follow the example of Christ?" Turning again to the inspired writings of the true people of God, by using the following quotation, they would answer, "Yes." I quote, "Jesus came to this earth to show that man, when filled with the Holy Spirit, could obey the law of God." Manuscript 1, 1892. Again I quote, "In Christ dwelt the fullness of the Godhead bodily. This is why, although He was tempted in all points like as we are, He stood before the world, from His first entrance into it, untainted by corruption, though surrounded by it. Are we not also to become partakers of that fullness, and is it not thus, and thus only, that we can overcome as He overcame?" Bible Commentary, Volume 7, p. 907. How clearly this reveals the secret of Christ's success. From His first entrance into the world He was filled with the Holy Spirit, thus He was connected with God the Father. This is why He could live sinlessly. This is why He was untainted by corruption.
Jesus explained all this to Nicodemus when He said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." John 3:3. The same power by which Christ overcame, that same power of His success is offered to men. Just as Christ was born of the Spirit at His first entrance into the world, we have the advantage of being forgiven and then the privilege of receiving that same measure of the Holy Spirit. Just as the Holy Spirit dwelt in the mind of Christ, it will dwell in our minds connecting us with Christ. That is the secret of our success. "It is thus and thus only that men can follow Christ's example."
Until we are born again of the Holy Spirit, so that the Spirit controls our minds, we cannot follow Christ's example, but when we are born again we can. The New Theology followers loudly dispute this. They declare that it is not possible for men to stop sinning until Jesus comes and changes our vile bodies. How sad. The mind, not the body, must be changed and it must be changed now. Now is the time to prepare. When Jesus comes, it will be too late. The body, with its hereditary genes, cannot be changed in this life, but the mind, which controls the whole body, can be. How marvelous is the plan of salvation.
Once again we will ask, "How did Christ overcome?" – By uniting His humanity with the divine power of His Father, through the Holy Spirit. He was able to overcome every temptation that is common to man. God promises that we too can overcome even as He did. Jesus said, "Go, and sin no more." How dare any man preach from the pulpit that man cannot stop sinning! Such a message is just what pleases the enemy.
The true gospel teaches that faith and works are both essential for salvation. While through faith we are saved, Inspiration clearly reveals that "faith without works is dead." The false gospel teaches that all we need to do is believe, that works of obedience are "legalism." Yet, in Matthew 7:21 are these words spoken by our Savior, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
That is why we read in James 2:24, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." Once again I quote, "The gospel that is to be preached to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people presents the truth in clear lines, showing that obedience is the condition of gaining eternal life." Bible Commentaries, Volume 7, p. 972.
As we proceed you will note that these two gospels continue to differ widely. The New Theology preachers are no longer preaching the Three Angels' Messages in their fullness. One seldom hears from the pulpit anything about the beast, his mark or his image. Instead of preaching last-day events ministers dwell freely upon psychology and a so-called relationship of love and unity. The true gospel teaches a sanctuary doctrine including the investigative judgment as a part of the Three Angels' Messages. The false gospel ignores the sanctuary doctrine of an investigative judgment.
The true gospel teaches that the Spirit of Prophecy is divinely inspired. The false gospel largely disregards the Spirit of Prophecy. As a typical example, some time ago I received a telephone call from a local church elder wondering what he should do. His pastor had gone to camp meeting and told him that in his absence he would be in charge and that he would need to preach the sermon on the next Sabbath. As he left, however, he told the elder not to mention Ellen White from the pulpit. If he wished to mention a quotation just tell the people, "I'm reading from a favorite author." The New Gospel depreciates the Spirit of Prophecy.
New books are coming from our presses in which little space is given to passages from the Spirit of Prophecy. In their place they freely quote the sayings of men, including quotes from men of the world. Though they may give lip service to some of our important doctrines they do not teach them.
If you are among those who have departed from God's truth by accepting Satan's New Theology you may feel uneasy as if something is lacking in your worship service. Fear not, the devil has prepared something to fill this need. In the book Vatican Council II, 1988 (revised edition), published by St. Paul's Editions, the papacy introduced a Celebration movement to fill the lack of God's power in the worship service. The excitement of the "beat-y" drums with its rock music, with the arts of the drama, of the theater, will fill the void of sacred worship and eventually prepare you for Satan's spiritualistic phenomenon of speaking in tongues.
Now we come to the final results. In the judgement of the living God He will separate the genuine from the counterfeit. After this separation there will remain a purified church – most beautiful to behold. "The members of the church militant, who have proved faithful, will become the church triumphant." Evangelism p. 707. As God looks upon them He pronounces, "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." Revelation 14:12.
In perfect unity they will give the Loud Cry with the power that is described in Song of Solomon 6:10, "Fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners." After having been tested and sealed with the seal of the Living God they will be ready to meet Jesus when He comes. This is the end result of those who believe the true gospel – they are heaven bound.
Now we must conclude, by revealing step by step, the end of all who accept the New Theology taken from the Catholic teachings called "the original sin" doctrine. Belief in such a doctrine gives you no choice, for you are a sinner by birth – born with sin, guilty from the moment of conception, doomed to continue sinning till Jesus comes, all because Adam sinned. In accepting this belief the Savior you acknowledge had to be born of a sinless Mary, for this is the only way in which such a Christ would have been born of holy flesh so He could take the place of Adam before he sinned. Mary had to be sinless, contrary to the Bible teaching that "all have sinned."
Having accepted such a false teaching you have now been prepared to accept the Immaculate Conception – a doctrine of the papacy that teaches that this was the only way that Jesus could have been born without taking our human nature. This will prepare you for the next step of these false teachings – that sinless Mary is now in heaven with Jesus as our co-Redeemer. If this is so, why not pray to her for your salvation? Can you not see that this teaching leads you into the arms of Rome?
With steps in false belief you will also discover the necessity to baptize your child soon after it is born for our precious child has been born with the curse of sin – doomed to hell unless it is baptized according to Catholic doctrine. These false beliefs and practices have prepared you to accept a Christ that had an enormous advantage over you. Since He never experienced our human nature with its desires to sin He is unable to help you overcome sin. Therefore, you have no choice but to remain a sinner until Jesus comes and too late to be saved.
These false teachings destroy the true gospel which teaches the spiritual kingdom of God is within you. You are now ready to accept the false doctrines of Babylon that God's spiritual kingdom of peace and prosperity is to be obtained in this millennium with the New World Order totally controlled by the antichrist.
But what is the final end of those who choose to believe and follow these false doctrines? – Remember the man with the dirt brush? What is He about to do? He's going to brush out of the church all the counterfeit, spurious jewels together with all their debris and their false doctrines. At that time false members are going to leave God's church like a cloud. They will be carried away by the winds of eternal destruction. This separation will leave only the true, precious jewels in the church, fully united with their treasured gems of truth.
This battle between the two gospels is waging within our church now. I trust that I have coordinated this together for you clearly enough that you can readily see the difference between the two.
In closing let us heed the following words taken from inspired writings. "This life and death question is before the whole race. The choice we make in this life will be our choice through all eternity. We shall receive either eternal life or eternal death. There is no middle ground, no second probation. We are called upon to overcome in this life as Christ overcame. Heaven has provided us with abundant opportunities and privileges, so that we may overcome as Christ overcame, and sit down with Him on His throne." Bible Commentaries, Volume 6, p. 1112.
Let us pray. Loving Father, we pray that in our personal relationship with Thee, the devil will not be able to deceive us with his New Theology. Please help us, by the Holy Spirit, to always understand and believe what is truth, and obey it, that we may be enabled to overcome sin and be ready through Thy divine power to sit with Jesus on His throne. In the precious name of Jesus, Thy dear Son we ask, Amen.
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WHEN GOD BLOTS OUT OUR SINSby: Elder Lawrence Nelson
It is customary to greet one another with the words, "Happy New Year" at the beginning of a new year. However, as we daily witness the terrible conditions developing worldwide, one may hesitate to extend the usual expression, "Happy New Year." Yet this is the time when millions make new resolutions to overcome bad habits and try to forget past failures expecting better days in the coming year.
As we reflect upon the new year, have you considered that God is looking for a complete change in the lives of His saints? According to His prophetic time clock which has never failed, He will soon proclaim greetings not of a "Happy New Year" but greetings of a "Happy Eternity." This will be made possible by the pouring out of the Latter Rain, enabling His people to experience a totally new kind of godly happiness. When this happens we shall forget our past sinful lives and live forever without any remembrance of sin. What's more, God also will join with us in this wonderful, new experience for He too will forget our past sins and enjoy the fellowship with His redeemed family.
Inspiration puts it in these words, "The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in unshadowed beauty and perfect joy declare that God is love." Great Controversy p. 678.
Let us pray. Loving Father, as we prepare for the outpouring of the Latter Rain, we realize that only by Thy divine power can we be ready for a glorious future of sinless living. In this study please open our spiritual eyesight as to what we must do and what God is ready to do for us. In His dear name we plead, Amen.
Let us begin with a very dramatic statement revealing the power of love and what the cross has made possible for each of us. I am reading from Isaiah 43:25. It is the voice of Jesus speaking, "I even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Oh what amazing grace! Throughout the scriptures we find God continually telling us and reminding us of this good news. First, God tells us that He will forgive us of our sins as found in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." Secondly, God will blot out those sins as stated in Isaiah 43:25, "I have blotted out thy sins." Finally, God will forget those sins and remember them no more for our text says, "I will not remember thy sins." Don't you just feel like praising God?! God is so good. Could we ask anything more than this comforting assurance as found in God's plan for our redemption?
Some of you have heard those who declare that our sins are blotted out at the very moment that we confess our sins, but the Bible does not substantiate such a teaching. To make sure, we must discover the answers to the following questions: 1. When does the blotting out of sins take place; and why is it necessary to blot out the sins? 2. When will God remember our sins no more; and what will be accomplished by blotting them out? I believe we are going to have an exciting time as we discover these great truths.
First of all we must find out where these sins are recorded that are to be blotted out. The Bible states that they are recorded in two difference locations. First, they are recorded in our minds. The individual that commits a sin has that sin recorded in his brain and amazingly it is also recorded in the books of heaven.
Now, let's study how the sin is recorded within the mind. In Jeremiah 17:1 is a very thought-provoking statement. These words are addressed to Judah who represents the individuals who are within the church. Notice these words, "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart." That is a very positive statement.
When you want to write something with a pen and it doesn't write clearly you press harder and harder to make sure that the words are readable, but God uses a pen of iron. Can you imagine the weight? God has no problem for His pen has the necessary weight and what's more the end point of His pen has the point of a diamond. Everyone knows that diamonds are the hardest substance that God ever created. Since it has a cutting edge, the Bible says that it engraves the sin within the heart. Could anything be more clear? God has given us an accurate description of just how our sins are recorded in our minds. There is no question about it.
Perhaps this is easier to understand since we have arrived in the computer age. We can better illustrate the function of the mind and just how it records both good and evil within the folds of the brain as we look at the computer of our day. Permit me to give you a simple description of how the computer functions. Within the computer you can place millions and millions of bits of information which are recorded on tiny chips of silicone material. At the wish of the operator any of these facts can be instantly displayed on a visual screen or they can be printed out on paper so they can be read. If the capacity of the computer is great enough there is no limit as to how much data the computer can handle. Unless these facts are erased or blotted out they will remain forever to be recalled by the operator.
Now I need not tell you that I am sure that the greatest computer in existence is the human brain. Any normal mind is able to record every expression, every experience of a lifetime. Such as whatever we see, whatever we hear, whatever we touch or taste and amazingly, every word we speak. And believe it or not every thought that enters the mind is recorded with a pen of iron; they are engraven with the point of a diamond and cut there to stay forever on the cells of the brain.
There are a few people who wonder why it is that we can't always recount or recall as a computer does. This is because sin has weakened our computers, but this does not mean that they are not able to put on the tissues of our cells the remotest details of experiences of our lives.
Consider this: There are some individuals in this world who are able to recount or reproduce anything that they hear. They are very unusual, gifted people. Such individuals can reproduce what the brain has recorded and I must tell you a story about just such a person. A famous musician heard that there was a blind man who claimed that he had such ability, but the musician questioned it. He decided that he would test this man to see if this was possible. Since this blind man played the piano the musician purposely played a very difficult melody for this blind man to hear. He had been told that this blind man had never heard it before, but to make sure he added some erroneous notes on purpose as he played the melody. In several places he also added an original score of his own which he had never played to anyone. You see, he wanted to make absolutely sure that this man had not heard this piece of music before.
The blind man listened carefully and then sat down at the piano and he rendered the exact musical notes in every detail. He even reproduced the erroneous notes which had been purposely put into the musical score and the personal score that had been added by the musician who was testing him. The blind man played exactly what he had heard and what he had recorded in his brain. He was able to record and recall the notes exactly from his human computer, his brain. Furthermore, any time thereafter in the days to come, he could reproduce the musical rendition exactly as this world-famous musician had played it.
Now this tells us something about our brains. What did God say about our sins? Let me read it to you again in Jeremiah 17:1, "The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart." If you were following in your Bible you will notice I didn't read it all. I will now read the last phrase, "And upon the horns of your altars." Did you notice that? Not only is it engraven in the heart with a pen of iron and with a diamond point that engraves it there permanently within the mind, for Inspiration adds that it is also placed upon the horns of your altar.
Now this takes us to the sanctuary, the second place where our sins are recorded. This refers to the sanctuary in heaven, for our sins are not only engraved within the heart but they are recorded on the record books of heaven. I want to read a most vivid description to you of this as found in Great Controversy p. 482 and it makes me tremble. "Every man's work passes in review before God and is registered for faithfulness or unfaithfulness. Opposite each name in the books of heaven is entered with terrible exactness every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin, with every artful disassembling. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, unimproved opportunities, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, all are chronicled by the recording angel." I must tell you that when I think this through I tremble. No wonder I am anxious to have such things blotted out of my memory and blotted out of the books of heaven forever or I wouldn't enjoy heaven at all. Now you think that through.
But when is this going to happen? God gives us the answer. In Acts 3:19 it tells us, "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." I hope that since you have heard this verse of scripture that you will stop to digest and discover three great facts: 1. To repent and to be converted is necessary in a preparation for heaven. 2. That your sins may be blotted out if you meet the requirements of repentance and conversion. 3. It tells us exactly when that will happen. It says, "When the time of refreshing shall come," and that is the Latter Rain.
I believe we can determine exactly when this refreshing will come. In Great Controversy p. 611, 612 I quote, "The great work of the gospel is not to close with less manifestation of the power of God than marked its opening. The prophecies which were fulfilled in the outpouring of the former rain at the opening of the gospel, are again to be fulfilled in the latter rain at its close. Here are 'the times of refreshing' to which the apostle Peter looked forward when he said, 'Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out [in the investigative Judgment] when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall send Jesus.'" So the refreshing and the Latter Rain are one and the same. Note: this comes at the close of the gospel for Peter added in the next verse, Acts 3:20, "And he shall send Jesus Christ." So the coming of Christ follows the blotting out of sin.
Now I think we can understand why it is impossible for sins to be blotted out at the present time. Notice carefully the quotation from the Great Controversy p. 485, "It is impossible that sins of men should be blotted out until after the judgment at which their cases are to be investigated. But the apostle Peter distinctly states that the sins of believers will be blotted out 'when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; and He shall sent Jesus Christ.'" This tells us that when the Investigative Judgment closes Christ will come and His reward will be given to every man as his work shall be.
Let's pause here and summarize what we have discovered so far. Our sins are to be blotted out after the Investigative Judgment has ended, which takes place during the time of the refreshing of the Latter Rain. Therefore I can state positively that the blotting out of sins is yet in the near future. I am continuing to read from Great Controversy p. 612, "Servants of God, with their faces lighted up and shining with holy consecration, will hasten from place to place to proclaim the message from heaven. By thousands of voices, all over the earth, the warning will be given. Miracles will be wrought, the sick will be healed, and signs and wonders will follow the believers."
On the following pages (613, 614) I read, "When the third angel's message closes, mercy no longer pleads for the guilty inhabitants of the earth. The people of God have accomplished their work. They have received the 'latter rain,' 'the refreshing from the presence of the Lord,' and they are prepared for the trying hour before them. Angels are hastening to and fro in heaven. An angel returning from the earth announces that his work is done; the final test has been brought upon the world, and all who have proved themselves loyal to the divine precepts have received 'the seal of the living God.' Then Jesus ceases His intercession in the sanctuary above. He lifts His hands and with a loud voice says, 'It is done;' and all the angelic hosts lay off their crowns as He makes the solemn pronouncement: 'He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.' Revelation 22:11. Every case has been decided for life or death. Christ has made the atonement for His people and blotted out their sins."
This information should activated out minds as nothing else because to prepare for the Latter Rain we must correct every defect of our characters in order to receive the Latter Rain. This is in keeping with the counsel found in Early Writings p. 71, "I saw that none could share the 'refreshing' unless they obtained the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action. We should, therefore, draw nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in His presence."
To make this absolutely clear let me quote further from Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 214, "Not one of us will ever receive the seal of God while our characters have one spot or stain upon them. It is left with us [not God] to remedy the defects in our characters, to cleanse the soul temple of every defilement." Did you catch that? Every defilement – that includes sin, doesn't it?
Now let's correlate a little further what we have found between what happens in the heavenly sanctuary and what takes place in our mind. You are aware that on the Day of Atonement in Israel of old that the sins that were blotted out on that special day were the sins that had previously been pardoned and forgiven. These were the sins that had been transferred to the sanctuary which took place when the repentant sinner brought his lamb, confessed his sin over the lamb's head, thus transferring his sin to that of the lamb which was then slain by the hand of the sinner. The blood of that lamb was then carried into the sanctuary by the priest and sprinkled on the horns of the altar.
Do you remember our text in which it said, "And upon the horns of your altar"? That altar stands before the inner veil of the sanctuary. Thus, pardoned sins which were recorded in the brain of the sinner were also recorded in the sanctuary in heaven. In the book Great Controversy p. 421 we are told, "For eighteen centuries this work of ministration continued in the first apartment of the sanctuary. The blood of Christ, pleaded in behalf of penitent believers, secured their pardon and acceptance with the Father, yet their sins still remained upon the books of record. As in the typical service there was a work of atonement at the close of the year, so before Christ's work for the redemption of men is completed there is a work of atonement for the removal of sin from the sanctuary … to cleanse the sanctuary. …As anciently the sins of the people were by faith placed upon the sin offering and through the blood transferred, in figure to the earthly sanctuary, so in the new covenant."
Now listen, this is what takes place for us today. I continue reading, "So in the new covenant the sins of the repentant are by faith placed upon Christ and transferred, in fact, to the heavenly sanctuary and as the typical cleansing of the earthly was accomplished by the removal of the sins by which it had been polluted, so the actual cleansing of the heavenly is to be accomplished by the removal, or blotting out, of sin."
This is why it is paramount that today we now make necessary preparations so these sins can be removed. It is when every confessed, forsaken and pardoned sin which has been transferred to Jesus who then places them in the sanctuary, that on the final day of atonement Christ our High Priest will be able to blot out those sins. This is what Paul was talking about in 1 Timothy 5:24, "Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after."
Here we must again pause for a very important question and perhaps one that you have never thought of in your life. Is it possible that you can annul your pardoned sins? Have you ever thought of that? When you ask Jesus to forgive you is it possible that Christ, who has forgiven you, may in the future cancel what He has done because of a change of evil in your life? Let me read something to you in Patriarchs and Prophets p. 357, "The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement."
Now you ask, "Why in the world does God do this in this manner? Why doesn't He blot them out when we come in repentance and ask for forgiveness." You remember the parable of the unjust steward? Jesus tells us of a king who is investigating his servants and he finds a man who owes him an enormous debt of 10,000 talents. In our world today that would be millions of dollars. This poor fellow is in serious trouble; he cannot pay. He doesn't have the millions. The king commands that he be sold into slavery to make payment.
Can you see this poor man? He gets down on his knees and with tears running down his cheeks he pleads, "Oh please forgive me. I would pay if I could, but I don't have the money. Please." I'm reading in Matthew 18:27, "The lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt." Isn't that just like God? Our sins are so many that we couldn't begin to atone for them, but when we come in repentance and pleading to God He forgives us.
But watch what happens. A few weeks later this same man who was forgiven this enormous debt finds a poor man who owes him 100 pence. That's pennies. He is so poor that he doesn't even have a penny and this man who had been forgiven of the millions that he owed demands that this poor man gives him the pennies that he owes him. The fellow gets down and pleads with tears and asks this man to forgive his debt. But this man who was forgiven of millions throws the poor man in prison because he cannot pay his debt of pennies. Listen to what it says in Matthew 18:34. "His lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him."
Now you may say, "Wasn't he forgiven?" – Yes, but by his evil action he had annulled his forgiveness. I hear you say, "Elder Nelson, are you sort of stretching this a little bit? Are you making an application that ought not to be?" Listen, I'm reading from the words of Jesus in Matthew 18:35, "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." The lesson is clear: If we have been forgiven but choose to be unfaithful in our actions we will thereby annul our previous pardon. The marvelous word "forgiven" that had been recorded over our sins in heaven will be erased from our record and the guilt of our past sins that have been forgiven will no longer be forgiven.
I hear someone say, "That's hard to believe that my God would do that." Let me give you more positive proof. Listen as I read in Christ Object Lessons p. 251. The servant of the Lord is writing about this very same man who owed millions to the king. "It is true that he may once have received forgiveness, but his unmerciful spirit shows that he now rejects God's pardoning love. He has separated himself from God, and is in the same condition as before he was forgiven. He has denied his repentance, and his sins are upon him as if he had not repented."
Now I believe that you are in a position to see the divine wisdom of God that tells us that He does not blot out our sins at the moment that we seek forgiveness. As long as probation is open and not closed God will cancel our pardoned sins if we prove unfaithful. In today's justice system we do the same here in America. For instance, a criminal serves five or six years in prison of a term of say 20 years and because he has lived a right kind of life in the prison he is then placed on probation. But if that man violates that pledge, that parole is revoked and he returns to prison to serve the full sentence.
We can now see why God does not blot out our sins in the record book of heaven. He is waiting until the judgment is finished, waiting to see if our repentance and conversion is genuine, then He will blot out our sins and our names will be retained in the book of life; Then He will offer the crown of life.
Now comes the most thrilling part of this sermon. In the records of heaven and in the records of our minds the moment is about to come in this final atonement when God will erase every memory of sin. He performs this wonderful act in heaven of blotting out of our minds every past sin so we will never remember them again and they will be banished in the sea of forgiveness. Our loving God has also promised to blot out every sin recorded in heaven, just as the operator of a computer can touch a certain key and cancel everything that has been recorded.
Sometime ago I heard about someone who had spent months in preparing a final paper for her degree and it was all in her computer. Because she was weary and tired and not realizing what she was doing her finger accidentally touched that key which deletes and instantly it was all wiped out. So God has promised to blot out our sins and we shall never be able to recall them.
Let me read this to you from Great Controversy p. 620, "In the time of trouble, if the people of God had unconfessed sins to appear before them while tortured with fear and anguish, they would be overwhelmed; despair would cut off their faith, and they could not have confidence to plead with God for deliverance But while they have a deep sense of their unworthiness, they have no cancelled wrongs to reveal. Their sins have gone beforehand to judgment and have been blotted out, and they cannot bring them remembrance." Praise God.
I must tell you that there are things in my heart I would like blotted out today, but I shall have to wait until the judgment ends when God will wipe them out forever and I can go to heaven and enjoy such a place never again to remember the evils that I participated in as a sinner. Praise the Lord. When God does something He does it right, Amen? What joy we should have as we look forward to the future. Let me read again from Patriarchs and Prophets p. 358, "In the final atonement the sins of the truly penitent are to be blotted out from the records of heaven, no more to be remembered or come into mind." Beloved, isn't it going to be wonderful to live in heaven and never remember any of the evils that we have done in this world? No wonder I am looking forward to that day! What a Savior!
This is why in Jeremiah 50:20 it says, "In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none." Why? – Because the sins have been blotted out. Isaiah 4:3 makes it very clear, "And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy." Holy? Why? – Because there is not a trace of sin in the individual. The sins have been blotted out in the heavenly sanctuary and blotted out of our minds. All this because of Calvary. Thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus that made this possible. Isn't it going to be wonderful to take His hand in heaven and the only thing that will ever remind us of this old world is when we see the scars of sin in His hands in Satan's attempt to take His life on Calvary.
I appeal to you today, with the prophet Joel, that it is time for us to do some special heart searching. God says, "Blow the trumpet in Zion, sound the alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand; … Turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." Joel 2:1, 12, 13.
We are nearing the close of that final moment of the atonement in heaven when we will either be sealed and declared "saved" with every sin blotted out, or we will have unforgiven sins and we will not be saved. Could it be that in our church today, because of unbelief and rebellion, that some are following in the steps of ancient Israel, unprepared for this final day of atonement? God has told us what to expect. Could it be that some of us look at this blueprint and because of unbelief in our hearts we want to be like the churches of Babylon? We want their worldly rock music, we want to dress like the world and we want to hope that somehow God will save us in our sins as the surrounding churches teach. This is why many are looking for a detour from the divine blueprint of "Thus saith the Lord." But to such they will hear God say, "Depart from me, I never knew you."
You may not like this kind of preaching but I have no choice. I must give the trumpet a warning sound for today is the time when we should be seeking victory over every sin and besetment in our lives. Listen to the following found in Great Controversy p. 425, "Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the sanctuary above, are to stand in the sight of a holy God without a mediator. Their robes must be spotless, their character must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort, they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the investigative Judgment is going forward in heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away sin, among God's people on earth."
Listen to this. These are not my words, they are words of Inspiration by the servant of the Lord found in Review and Herald April 21, 1891, "We have slept too long, shall we sleep on, and be lost at last? Are there those who have been sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting, and will they continue to do so till Christ shall come? May God help us." You see, sinning and repenting is a teaching exactly like the kind of teaching that the devil is trying to bring into our church today. When you believe that you can sin until Jesus comes, as preached by unfaithful shepherds, you will be lost.
But praise the Lord, today God is offering us power to overcome. Will you take hold of it? That is why I blow the trumpet loud and long. God wants to provide for us victory so that our sins can be blotted out of the books of heaven and blotted out from our minds forever so that our names can be retained in the book of life. Then and only then we shall hear the most marvelous words that a human being can ever hear, "Come, blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world."
Let us pray. Oh loving Father, please hold our hand tightly and never let go, and help us by Thy Holy Spirit to have complete victory in our lives over every sin that we may be ready to see Jesus. Grant us this experience today, we pray. We ask this in the precious name of Jesus, Amen.
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