BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY;

(The Signs of Christ’s SOON coming)

Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

All of us who have been raised as Christians, have been hearing of the Lord’s soon return ever since we were children. In fact, as far back as the days of the apostle Paul there were some who were expecting the Lord to come in their day as we read in 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

So is Christ’s coming near at hand or not? And if so, how do we know? How can we address those skeptics who say, “you’ve been saying that all your life and He still hasn’t come.” How can we prove that His coming TRULY IS at hand? The Lord gave us the answer to that by describing certain signs indicating His soon coming and we’re going to look at those to see if His coming actually is to be expected in our lifetime or not.

Let us first go to Luke 21: 25-27: 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. What kind of signs in the sun and moon and stars did the Bible tell us there would be? We shall see that there are numerous verses both in the New and Old Testaments that tell us exactly just what those signs would be.

Let us first turn to Joel 3:15 - The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.

Now let us go to Revelation 6:12,13: And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Again, Isaiah 13:10 - For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.

Now Amos 8: 9: And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day:

Again, Ezekiel 32: 7 And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. 8 All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.

Before we determine whether those predicted signs have taken place or not, there is something else that we need to know and that is, does the Bible also tell us just WHEN those signs in the sun, moon and stars would take place? It certainly does. Let us first go to Matthew 24: 29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: Now turn with me to Mark 13: 24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, 25 And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken. 26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory.

Here we have two verses that mention those very same signs in the sun, moon and stars with the additional information that they would happen “after the tribulation.” What is the tribulation, when did it start and when did it end should be the next questions we need to know the answer to, right? Please turn with me to Daniel 7:25 – We read: And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

We’re not going to break this verse down into its components at this time because we’re studying about the signs of Christ’s coming. However, a detailed study reveals this verse, along with other verses in that same chapter of Daniel, tells us that the papacy would persecute God’s people for 1260 years, which began in 538 A.D. when the papacy was granted its power and ended in 1798 A.D. when the pope was taken captive by Napoleon and languished in prison until he died. Some of the cruelties and horrors that took place during that period of time when millions shed their blood for refusing to subject their conscience to a power other than God can be documented by such publications as “Fox’s Book of Martyrs.” But let us first look at this verse in Matthew 24: 22, And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened. In other words, the Bible here tells us that the great tribulation would not extend all the way to 1798, but would be cut short before that. History records that the last martyrdom took place around 1776. We read in Revelation 6:12, that first a great earthquake would first take place, quickly followed by the signs in the heavens, which would occur AFTER the tribulation of the 1260 years cut short. Did that earthquake take place? We read from the annals of history:

Although not the strongest or most deadly earthquake in human history, the 1755 Lisbon earthquake's impact, not only on Portugal but on all of Europe, was profound and lasting. Depictions of the earthquake in art and literature can be found in several European countries, and these were produced and reproduced for centuries following the event, which came to be known as "The Great Lisbon Earthquake."

Lisbon had been shaken by several important earthquakes before November 1755: eight in the 14th century, five in the 16th century (including the 1531 earthquake that destroyed 1,500 houses, and the 1597 earthquake when three streets vanished), and three in the 17th century. During the 18th century, two earthquakes were reported in 1724 and 1750. In 1755, the earthquake struck on the morning of 1 November, the Catholic holiday of All Saints' Day when the churches were loaded with worshippers.

Contemporary reports state that the earthquake lasted between three-and-a-half and six minutes, causing gigantic fissures 15 ft wide to appear in the city centre. Survivors rushed to the open space of the docks for safety and watched as the water receded, revealing a sea floor littered by lost cargo and old shipwrecks. Approximately forty minutes after the earthquake, an enormous tsunami engulfed the harbour and downtown, rushing up the Tagus river. It was followed by two more waves. In the areas unaffected by the tsunami, fire quickly broke out, and flames raged for five days.

Lisbon was not the only Portuguese city affected by the catastrophe. Throughout the south of the country, destruction was rampant. A tsunami destroyed some coastal fortresses in the Southern Coastal area, and, in the lower levels, razed several houses. Most of the coastal towns and villages were heavily damaged. In Lagos, the waves reached the top of the city walls. The town of Vila Real de Santo António was destroyed by the tsunami. Other towns of different Portuguese regions, like Peniche, Cascais, and even Covilhã which is located near the Serra da Estrela mountain range in central inland Portugal, were affected. The shock waves of the earthquake were felt throughout Europe as far as Finland and North Africa. Tsunamis as tall as 66 ft swept the coast of North Africa, and struck Martinique and Barbados across the Atlantic. A ten-foot tsunami hit the southern English coast.

Of Lisbon's population of 275,000, as many as 90,000 were killed. Another 10,000 lost their lives in Morocco. Eighty-five percent of Lisbon's buildings were destroyed, including famous palaces and libraries, as well as most examples of Portugal's distinctive 16th-century Manueline architecture. Several buildings that had suffered little earthquake damage were destroyed by the subsequent fire. The new Opera House, opened just six months before (named the Phoenix Opera), burned to the ground. The Royal Ribeira Palace, which stood just beside the Tagus river in the modern square of Terreiro do Paço, was destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami. Inside, the 70,000-volume royal library as well as hundreds of works of art, including paintings by Titian, Rubens, and Correggio, were lost. The royal archives disappeared together with detailed historical records of explorations by Vasco da Gama and other early navigators. The earthquake also damaged major churches in Lisbon, namely the Lisbon Cathedral, the Basilicas of São Paulo, Santa Catarina, São Vicente de Fora, and the Misericordia Church. The Royal Hospital of All Saints (the largest public hospital at the time) in the Rossio square was consumed by fire and hundreds of patients burned to death. The tomb of national hero Nuno Álvares Pereira was also lost. Visitors to Lisbon may still walk the ruins of the Carmo Convent, which were preserved to remind Lisboners of the destruction.

So history records that the great earthquake DID take place just as the Bible stated it would, BEFORE the great tribulation ended––that earthquake happened in 1755. The last martyrdom took place in the year 1776, some 22 years before the power of the papacy was taken down, and as we have read from the Scriptures, the signs in the sun, moon and stars would take place AFTER that tribulation. Did it occur as the Bible stated it would or not?

Reading from a historical account of that day: On the 19th of May, 1780, (18 years before 1798, but AFTER the tribulation had ended!) this prophecy was fulfilled. It was not an eclipse. Timothy Dwight says, "The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses; the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. ... A very general opinion prevailed, that the day of judgment was at hand." Quoted in Connecticut Historical Collections, compiled by John Warner Barber (2nd ed.; New Haven: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1836) p. 403.

The Dark Day
"Almost if not altogether alone as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind, . . . stands the dark day of May 19, 1780, --a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England." That the darkness was not due to an eclipse is evident from the fact that the moon was then nearly full. It was not caused by clouds, or the thickness of the atmosphere, for in some localities where the darkness extended, the sky was so clear that the stars could be seen. Concerning the inability of science to assign a satisfactory cause for this manifestation, Herschel the astronomer declares: "The dark day in North America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature which philosophy is at a loss to explain."

"The extent of the darkness was also very remarkable. It was observed at the most easterly regions of New England; westward, to the farthest part of Connecticut, and at Albany, N. Y.; to the southward, it was observed all along the sea coast; and to the north, as far as the American settlements extended. It probably far exceeded those boundaries, but the exact limits were never positively known. With regard to its duration, it continued in the neighborhood of Boston for at least fourteen or fifteen hours."

"The morning was clear and pleasant, but about eight o'clock there was observed an uncommon appearance in the sun. There were no clouds, but the air was thick, having a smoky appearance, and the sun shone with a pale, yellowish hue, but kept growing darker and darker, until it was hid from sight." There was "midnight darkness at noonday."

"The occurrence brought intense alarm and distress to multitudes of minds, as well as dismay to the whole brute creation, the fowls fleeing bewildered to their roosts, and the birds to their nests, and the cattle returning to their stalls." Frogs and night hawks began their notes. The cocks crew as at daybreak. Farmers were forced to leave their work in the fields. Business was generally suspended, and candles were lighted in the dwellings. "The Legislature of Connecticut was in session at Hartford, but being unable to transact business adjourned. Everything bore the appearance and gloom of night."

The intense darkness of the day was succeeded, an hour or two before evening, by a partially clear sky, and the sun appeared, though it was still obscured by the black, heavy mist. But "this interval was followed by a return of the obscuration with greater density, that rendered the first half of the night hideously dark beyond all former experience of the probable million of people who saw it. From soon after sunset until midnight, no ray of light from moon or star penetrated the vault above. It was pronounced 'the blackness of darkness!'" Said an eye-witness of the scene: "I could not help conceiving, at the time, that if every luminous body in the universe had been shrouded in impenetrable darkness, or struck out of existence, the darkness could not have been more complete." Though the moon that night rose to the full, "it had not the least effect to dispel the death-like shadows." After midnight the darkness disappeared, and the moon, when first visible, had the appearance of blood.

May 19, 1780, stands in history as "The Dark Day." Since the time of Moses, no period of darkness of equal density, extent, and duration has ever been recorded. The description of this event, is but an echo of the words of the Lord, recorded by the prophet Joel, twenty-five hundred years previous to their fulfillment: "The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the Lord come." Joel 2:31.

So here, from the chronicles of history we have the exact and precise fulfillment of those Biblical prophecies that told us that before Jesus comes, first there would be an earthquake––which happened in November 1755, then AFTER the tribulation ended––which happened in 1776, the sun would be darkened and that the moon would become as blood. That happened in May of 1780. But the Bible also states in Matthew 24:25 that the stars would fall. In fact, in Revelation 6:12,13 we read: And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.

Did the stars of heaven fall as they are described here? What does history record? We read:

The great star shower took place on the night of November 13, 1833. It was so bright that a newspaper could be read on the street. One writer says, "For nearly four hours the sky was literally ablaze."* Men thought the end of the world had come. Look into this. It is most fascinating, and a sign of Christ's coming.

*Peter A. Millman, "The Falling of the Stars," The Telescope, 7 (May-June, 1940) 57.

Stars Fall From Heaven
In 1833, the last of the signs appeared which were promised by the Saviour as tokens of his second advent. Said Jesus, "The stars shall fall from heaven." Matt. 24:29. And John in the Revelation declared, as he beheld in vision the scenes that herald the day of God: "The stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind." Rev. 6:13. This prophecy received a striking and impressive fulfillment in the great meteoric shower of November 13, 1833. That was the most extensive and wonderful display of falling stars which has ever been recorded; "the whole firmament, over all the United States, being then, for hours, in fiery commotion.

No celestial phenomenon has ever occurred in this country, since its first settlement, which was viewed with such intense admiration by one class in the community, or such dread and alarm by another." "Its sublimity and awful beauty still linger in many minds. . . . Never did rain fall much thicker than the meteors fell toward the earth; east, west, north, and south, it was the same. In a word, the whole heavens seemed in motion. . . . The display, as described in Professor Silliman's journal, was seen all over North America. . . . From two o'clock until broad daylight, the sky being perfectly serene and cloudless, an incessant play of dazzlingly brilliant luminosities was kept up in the whole heavens."

"No language indeed can come up to the splendor of that magnificent display; no one who did not witness it can form an adequate conception of its glory. It seemed as if the whole starry heavens had congregated at one point near the zenith, and were simultaneously shooting forth, with the velocity of lightning, to every part of the horizon; and yet they were not exhausted--thousands swiftly followed in the track of thousands, as if created for the occasion." "A more correct picture of a fig-tree casting its figs when blown by a mighty wind, it is not possible to behold."

On the day following its appearance, Henry Dana Ward wrote thus of the wonderful phenomenon: "No philosopher or scholar has told or recorded an event, I suppose, like that of yesterday morning. A prophet eighteen hundred years ago foretold it exactly, if we will be at the trouble of understanding stars falling to mean falling stars, in the only sense in which it is possible to be literally true."

Thus was displayed the last of those signs of his coming, concerning which Jesus bade his disciples, "When ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors." Matt. 24:33. After these signs, John beheld, as the great event next impending, the heavens departing as a scroll, while the earth quaked, mountains and islands removed out of their places, and the wicked in terror sought to flee from the presence of the Son of man.

Many who witnessed the falling of the stars, looked upon it as a herald of the coming Judgment,--"an awful type, a sure forerunner, a merciful sign, of that great and dreadful day." Thus the attention of the people was directed to the fulfillment of prophecy, and many were led to give heed to the warning of the second advent.

So we have seen that the predicted signs in the heavens took place, not only exactly as they were described, but also at the time they were predicted to take place. This fulfillment in the very heavens can give us assurance that indeed the coming of Christ is near, even at the door. But what other signs do we have, after all the last of those signs occurred 175 years ago?

We read in Matthew 24:6-8 - 6 And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. Certainly we cannot argue but the increase of these events is quite evident to us. Let us go on to Joel 3:11,12. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12 Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Is this not an accurate portrayal of the Muslim hordes that are waking up and threatening and striving for world conquest at this time? Isn’t it assuring to know that God predicted this thousands of years ago and that He is in total control of all the events taking place?

Please go with me to Isaiah 8: 9 Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.10 Take counsel together and it shall come to naught; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us. 11 For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand, and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying, 12 Say ye not, A confederacy, to all them to whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear ye their fear, nor be afraid. 13 Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.

Even though there will be trusts and alliances and affiliations and confederacies formed between nations and countries and political parties and even churches and denominations, they will not hold, it will all be in vain, and we should not seek to take refuge in those but let God be our refuge. In Revelation 18 one of God’s last messages consists of a call to His people to come out of all of these religious alliances lest they be partakers of the seven last plagues prepared for them.

For another sign let us turn to James 5: 1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

Psalm 49:11, Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue forever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

James 5:4 tells us: Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.

Certainly we can see that how greed today is grinding down the helpless. We witness that the wealthy will never be satisfied with the riches that they have accumulated by fraud and deceit and they believe that by their wealth they are setting up eternal empires, but some day soon those riches will eat their flesh like fire. Their exploitation of the poor and helpless is not going unnoticed by our Lord.

What are some other signs that the Bible tells us of the end times? Let us go to Nahum 2: 4 The chariots shall rage in the streets, they shall jostle one against another in the broad ways: they shall seem like torches, they shall run like the lightnings. The prophet here is describing a view of automobiles rushing to and fro. Certainly something that is familiar to all, especially to those who live in any large, crowded city.

Another sign: Isaiah 8: 19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead? Now Revelation 16: 13-15, 13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

Here in these verses we see that spiritualism will increase more and more, even in the very churches that claim to follow God. For example, how many suicides and even murders have been committed because someone has been convinced from the pulpit that a better life exists on the other side of death, that when someone dies they immediately go to “be with the Lord?” From the pulpit multitudes are taught that death is a blessing from God, His method of obtaining souls for His kingdom, rather than a curse from Satan who was a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). Certainly we know that that is true of our day today as they deny that death is but a temporary sleep, as the Bible teaches (Psalms 13:3; 1 Cor. 15:51; John 11:11-14 etc.), and insist that the soul is immortal, as the devil teaches (Genesis 3:4). Let’s look at a few more signs of the soon coming of Jesus.

Matthew 24: 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Christ is not only warning us of false prophets who bring false messages and heretical winds of doctrine, but also warning us about those who will come claiming to be Christ Himself. There are a few individuals out there right now who claim to be the Messiah, and they are deceiving many.

Again, Isaiah 22: 12 And in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth: 13 And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall die. 14 And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

Matthew 24: 37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. 38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Instead of working out their salvation with fear and trembling, most of the Christian world is celebrating and rejoicing in the presumptuous confidence that they are already saved and have immortal life while the fires of eternal destruction are awaiting them. (See Matt. 24:13; Rev. 3:11; Romans 2:7 etc.)

Going on, 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; We are eye witnesses to these things happening right in our midst with such heresies as that Jesus was created by the Father and that there is no Holy Spirit––certainly doctrines of devils and seducing spirits in these latter times are all about us.

Again, 2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. Certainly we ARE living in perilous times. Let us now look at this Bible list of 19 sins that will predominate in these last days:

Verses 2-5, For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers (nothing pertaining to God is sacred anymore, it is all subject to ridicule and mockery), disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection (its nothing remarkable now for mothers to calmly and deliberately murder their own babies and children––both before and after birth), trucebreakers (a man’s word and a handshake are no longer of any value), false accusers, incontinent (no self control––“there’s no right or wrong, just do what you want, whatever pleases you”), fierce, despisers of those that are good (those who stand for what is good and decent and moral and sacred are accused of being hateful and intolerant), 4 Traitors, heady (headstrong and domineering), highminded (arrogant and proud), lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God (You can fill a stadium to overflowing with sport and celebrity seekers, and the churches with those seeking to be entertained and emotionally excited, but how few pews are filled to hear eternal, life-saving truth on God’s Sabbath day?); 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

In closing, let us look at a couple of more signs that tell us that Christ is near, even at the door. Daniel 12:9,10 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand. These verses tell us that the prophecies of Daniel and the Revelation will be more fully understood in the last days, as we read from Prophets and Kings, 547, 548:

“As we near the close of this world's history, the prophecies recorded by Daniel demand our special attention, as they relate to the very time in which we are living. With them should be linked the teachings of the last book of the New Testament Scriptures. Satan has led many to believe that the prophetic portions of the writings of Daniel and of John the revelator cannot be understood. But the promise is plain that special blessing will accompany the study of these prophecies. "The wise shall understand" (verse 10), was spoken of the visions of Daniel that were to be unsealed in the latter days; and of the revelation that Christ gave to His servant John for the guidance of God's people all through the centuries, the promise is, ‘Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein.’ Revelation 1:3.”

God’s remnant, Adventist people have been blessed by the understanding that the Lord is giving us of the books of Daniel and the Revelation that sadly, many are rejecting as heresy, stating that all the books of Daniel have been fulfilled and there is no future application, when this inspired statement tells us just the opposite, that those prophecies are to be unsealed in the latter days.

There is one more sign that has to be fulfilled before Jesus comes back again, and we touched upon it in a previously read Scripture, 2 Thessalonians 2:1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Now verses 3 and 4: 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshiped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

Events swirling around us today shout that this very revealing is in process of happening right now. In fact, we are privileged and blessed to have a part in this revealing as we witness from the Scriptures and history that the Pope whom all the world is looking to as the hope for mankind, the man of peace, is actually the man of sin, the son of perdition, one of the last signs given of the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour in the clouds of glory.

Let us close with Joel 3: 16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

No matter how troublous the times become, how threatening and dark, the Lord will be the hope of His people and the strength of Israel.

May we all be faithful and let no man take our crown of eternal life, is my prayer.

Clarence Settle

You ask “When did the original Christian church begin to err or teach error?” I do not believe that anyone can with any great degree of certainty, pinpoint the exact time and place when error began to creep into the church, but Paul in Acts 20:29 warned: For I know this, that after my departing shall grevious wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. He also warned in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 about false apostles, and deceitful workers, and many other warnings did he give throughout his writings. Also in Jude 4, he reiterated, in apparent fulfillment of Paul’s warnings: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

This certainly fits the description of what happened with the Christian church at Rome and how it became a fountainhead of falsehood that has affected every other Christian church on earth. Perhaps the following study will give you additional insights into how some of the many errors came into the early church.

Catholicism states that the Roman Catholic Church is the only Church that has survived with continuity since Apostolic and Biblical times. Thus, this is testament, they insist, of divine intervention from God. And only the Catholic Church can trace its lineage back to St. Peter himself whom Christ established His Church upon, based on Matthew 16:18 as their “proof.” And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

And here is their explanation of that verse: “If you have been fed the misinformation that Jesus is contrasting Peter to the rock, by the rendering of the word rock as Petros, Peter’s new name, which protestants claim to only mean small rock in Greek––as opposed to Petra, with protestants think only to mean massive rock [they were actually synonyms in 1^st century Greek] ––think again. Jesus SPOKE Aramaic and in His language He was COMPARING Peter to the rock, a term generally reserved for God. The reason we encounter this problem is because Greek and Aramaic have different grammatical structures. In Greek you have a problem arising from the fact that nouns take different gender endings. Hence, since the word Petra in Greek is feminine, it would have been inappropriate to give a man a feminine name, so it was changed to Petros––an imperfect rendering of the Aramaic. (www.catholic.com/library/Peter the Rock) This verse is clear in its message, mainly the establishment of Christ’s visible, infallible Church.”

Is this strongly held belief accurate and irrefutable? We will not directly address the issue of the definition of “rock” for it’s apparent that their reasoning will not allow them to accept our interpretation to the contrary, however, let us address it scripturally, by first going to Eph 2:19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

Verse 20 clearly states that the household of God, or in other words, the church, is built upon the foundation of the apostles, and the prophets and it is Jesus Himself who is the chief corner stone, not Peter. And that is the rock upon which Christ told Peter He would build His church. But they will not accept that because they “KNOW” that Peter started the church in Rome––after all, their Roman Catholic Church stands on this teaching, so let us take a very close look at that.

It is a rather startling fact that both secular and Biblical history contains scant evidence that the Apostle Peter was in Rome. Let us look at some of the many purely Biblical proofs that the Apostle Peter was never a significant religious influence in Rome, and that he clearly was never in charge of the Christian church in that Gentile city. Here are just a few:

BIBLICAL FACT 1. In 1 Peter 5:13 he wrote: The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. There is this little Biblical evidence to support the idea that Peter ever labored in literal Babylon. It is known however, that early Christians often used the cryptic title “Babylon” when speaking of the Roman capital to avoid political reprisals. There is general agreement among commentators that Peter here uses the term “Babylon” for a veiled reference to Rome. This is the only Biblical reference that places Peter in Rome, though tradition does locate his closing labors and subsequent imprisonment and violent death there. So right off we see that though Peter may very well have been in Rome, biblically speaking, the record shows nothing of his church activities there. Incidentally, the Biblical record shows, despite papal custom to the contrary, that Peter was married, as we read in Matthew 8:14 And when Jesus was come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother laid, and sick of a fever.

BIBLICAL FACT 2. When certain Jews from Judea agitated the question of circumcision and other matters regarding the Gentiles, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other responsible men of Antioch, to Jerusalem to lay the matter before the apostles and elders. The apostle James, not Peter, presided at the Council, and his was the final decision that ended the discussion (See Acts 15: 13-22). In this Biblical instance we have a refutation of the doctrine held by the Roman Catholic Church––that Peter was the head of the church. Also, when Peter was miraculously released from prison he immediately instructed that James be notified of his release in Acts 12:17 thus indicating that James was the presiding elder of the church at Jerusalem.

BIBLICAL FACT 3. Peter was appointed Apostle to the Jews––the circumcision, as we read in Galatians 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; So here we clearly read that as Paul was appointed Apostle to the Gentiles, and Rome was a Gentile city––those of the uncircumcision, so Peter was the Apostle in charge of Jewish affairs––not the entire Christian church, and the Jews formed only a very small portion of the church. The converts from the Gentiles soon greatly outnumbered them..

In 51 A.D. Paul was in Antioch where he got into a dispute with Peter because he wouldn’t sit with the Gentiles––very strange indeed if he was bishop of Rome, which was a thoroughly Gentile city. Let us read about that in Galatians 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?

Here Paul, who saw the wrong done the church through the double part acted by Peter openly rebukes him before the entire group. This again, as in the prior example, demonstrates that Peter in no way stood above the level of the other apostles, or that he was the head Apostle over all the church..

BIBLICAL FACT 4. It was Paul who originally formed the Church in Rome in 55 or 56 A.D. He wrote to the Christians there in Romans 1:11 For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; If Peter had been instrumental in raising up or establishing a Christian congregation in Rome some years earlier, such a statement to the Romans, could only be interpreted as a massive personal insult to Peter if he was already the bishop of the church there. Of course such was not the case, for Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome in Romans 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation: Another fact that we must not let escape us is that in the next chapter he sends greetings to a total of 28 individual people in Rome, but makes no mention of Peter. Why is this so if the apostle Peter was the head of the Church in Rome, was he determined to insult Peter and bring in division and discord, contrary to his many admonitions for church unity?

BIBLICAL FACT 5. When Paul was imprisoned in Rome, we read what occurred there: Acts 28:16 And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a soldier that kept him. 17 And it came to pass, that after three days Paul called the chief of the Jews together: and when they were come together, he said unto them, Men and brethren, though I have committed nothing against the people, or customs of our fathers, yet was I delivered prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. 18 Who, when they had examined me, would have let me go, because there was no cause of death in me. 19 But when the Jews spake against it, I was constrained to appeal unto Caesar; not that I had ought to accuse my nation of. 20 For this cause therefore have I called for you, to see you, and to speak with you: because that for the hope of Israel I am bound with this chain. 21 And they said unto him, We neither received letters out of Judaea concerning thee, neither any of the brethren that came shewed or spake any harm of thee. 22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that everywhere it is spoken against. 23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Had Peter (a strongly partisan Jew) been Bishop of Rome for years prior to this time, these Jewish leaders would certainly have known the basics of the Christian faith, but they only knew that it was spoken against as a sect, and were totally ignorant of the teachings of Christianity, so Paul had to instruct them.

So here we have given five Biblical evidences that the Apostle Peter, who may or may not have been in Rome during these incidents, certainly was not looked upon or held in higher regard than the other church leaders during that period of the early Christian church––and certainly was NOT the head of the Roman Christian church, as is greatly heralded by the Catholic denomination. If ANYONE deserves to be considered as the foundation of the TRUE Christian church in Rome, all the BIBLICAL evidence supports that it is Paul, not Peter who should receive that honor. So since the Bible does not support this teaching, and we seek to know the truth––not legend, assumption or tradition––where else can we look? The only place left is in the ancient records of church and secular history. Let us go there.

The question remains then is who, in that case, was the Peter that the Catholic Church claims was the head of the church? Of one thing secular history is abundantly and undeniably clear: there WAS a “Simon Peter” in Rome during the middle part of the first century––and he did wield tremendous influence on the religious scene in the Gentile city. Can we find out who he was and where he came from?

Ancient history reveals that the pagan deities worshipped by the Babylonians and the Greeks were known as Patres or Peters: “Not only the gods but the Hierophatae [special gods], in most temples, and those priests in particular who were occupied in the celebration of the mysteries, were styled Patres” Bryant, Ancient Mythology, Vol. 1, p. 354. Davidson’s Hebrew Lexicon shows that the consonantal word P-T-R (Peter) means “to interpret.” The priests of the Babylonian and other mystery religions claimed to have the power to interpret the pagan mysteries.

In the Luceii Fragments, we find that the ancient Romans considered Neptune, Saturn, Mars and Liber as “gods” of Peter rank or chief gods, as opposed to lesser gods. When Simon Magus went to Rome he bewitched the inhabitants with his “magical” (demonic) powers and soon became known as Simon Peter––Simon the interpreter of the Babylonian Mysteries.

The encounter of Simon Magus the sorcerer, with the apostles is found in Acts 8: 9-24, and it is highly significant that it was the apostle Peter that rebuked and through the Holy Spirit pronounced judgment on him. Verse 23 states of Simon: For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. This is a prophecy! Peter knew the mind of this man and what was in his heart, regardless of the fact that he had been baptized. In the Greek the phrase means that Simon was a cause of bitterness and corruption to others, or literally, “I regard you as a man whose influence WILL BE like that of poison and a bond of lawlessness, or, as a man who has reached such a state.” He was telling what this Simon was to become, for he clearly knew that Simon wouldn’t repent.

The term “gall of bitterness” is adopted from the Old Testament (See Deuteronomy 29:16-18), which denoted going over to the idols and abominations of the heathen. When the apostle Peter applied the phrase to Simon Magus, he meant that Simon would be responsible for the introduction of heathen beliefs and idols into the Christian church. No wonder Jude later says in Jude 4: For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our1 God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Was this prophetic pronouncement by the Apostle Peter truly justified or was it not? Let us see what history records.

When Justin Martyr (A converted philosopher and early church historian) wrote [152 A.D.] his Apology, the sect of the Simonians appears to have been formidable, for he speaks four times of their founder, Simon; and we need not doubt that he identified him with the Simon of the book of Acts, who did not sink into insignificance but went to Rome and became a primary antagonist against the true faith. He states that he was a Samaritan, as the Bible bears out (See Acts 8:9), adding that his birthplace was a village called Gitta; he describes him as a formidable magician, and tells that “he came to ROME in the days of Claudius Caesar (45 A.D.), and made such an impression by his magical powers, THAT HE WAS HONORED AS A GOD, a statue being erected to him on the Tiber, between the two bridges, bearing the inscription ‘Simoni deo Sancto’ (i.e., the holy god Simon)" (Dictionary of Christian Biography, Vol. 4, p. 682)..

That these things actually happened CANNOT BE DOUBTED! Justin was writing to the Roman people at the time and they could certainly have exposed Justin’s credulity if what he said was not so. And, that a statue of Simon was actually erected is definite, for Justin asked the authorities in Rome to destroy it! There are many writers, who lived in Rome itself, who afterwards repeated Justin’s account. Those who want to reject these clear statements have nothing in their favor. Justin is clearly giving us historical fact!

Hasting’s Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, Vol 2, p. 496, states that there is "very slight evidence on which to reject so precise a statement as Justin makes; a statement he would scarcely have hazarded in an apology addressed to Rome, where every person had the means of ascertaining its accuracy. If he made a mistake, it must have been at once exposed, and other writers would not have frequently repeated the story as they have done." In other words, if Justin would have been lying about this, he would have been immediately exposed as doing so, but the facts still stand!

At the time of Claudius, it was illegal to erect a statue to any man as a god or greatly honored person unless the permission of the Emperor and the Senate had been secured. The statue was still standing in Justin’s day (152 A.D.), and people were still giving regard to it.

There are many other accounts of Simon’s traveling to Rome and becoming one of the great gods to the city and to the people of Rome. There are records which show that Simon "prophesies that Rome will be the scene of his crowning glory, when he will be adored as a god" (Dictionary of Religion & Ethics, Vol. 11, p. 522).

Later, about the fourth century, a flood of works came out about Peter encountering Simon Magus in Rome and overthrowing him. But these works are clearly fiction. Almost all scholars realize the absurdity of maintaining such a thing. It was NOT Simon Peter who went to Rome to become Apostle to the Gentiles. The renowned SIMON in Rome was SIMON MAGUS the sorcerer, NOT Simon Peter the Apostle!

That Peter the Apostle was not with Simon Magus in Rome is made plain by the Encyclopedia Biblica, col. 4554. "The attempt has been made to meet this by pointing out that church fathers mention the presence of SIMON (MAGUS) in Rome while at the same time NOT speaking of controversies between him and PETER (the apostle). This is indeed true of Justin [one of the earliest witnesses -- 152 A.D.] who knows nothing of any presence of Peter in Rome at all, as also of Irenaeus." (Another respected historian)

Not only did Justin feel that Peter was NOT in Rome at the time, but his deliberate silence shows he didn't want to perpetrate such fiction. After all, Justin lived very early in the history of the church, and the legend of the Apostle Peter’s being in Rome HAD NOT GOTTEN STARTED YET! Continuing with the Encyclopedia Biblica about Justin’s reference to SIMON MAGUS: "One part of this tradition -- that about Simon’s (Magus) presence in Rome -- he [Justin] found himself able to accept [in fact he held it to be confirmed by the statue, which he brought into connection with Simon]; the other -- that about Peter’ s (the apostle) presence in Rome -- he was unable to accept" (col. 4555).

Of course Justin was unable to accept the latter teaching. The fact is, if Simon Peter was in Rome, he was not plainly and visibly leading and directing a church! Simon Peter was a Jew and a foreigner––and they were not very well looked upon by the populace of Rome at that time. It was another Simon who was there making a name for himself––SIMON MAGUS, the one bringing "Christianity" to Rome in the guise of the old Babylonian mystery religions. Simon Magus came to Rome with the grand idea of establishing a UNIVERSAL RELIGION in the NAME of Christianity! And what is remarkable, he did just that!

We will next see how Simon Magus became later confused with Simon Peter and how he cleverly brought into "Christianity" the mystery religions of Babylon. Elevating his personal teachings above the Bible, and preaching a "no obedience–faith alone" doctrine of salvation Simon Magus soon had a universal, popular following.

SIMON Magus, just like his Samaritan forefathers, deliberately blended together the teachings of Babylon with Biblical phrases. One of his main intentions was to appropriate a Christian vocabulary to the Babylonian ceremonial system. In other words, he kept on with his heathenism, but now called his system "Christian" in origin. To legitimately introduce paganism into the Church he had to explain away many passages in the Old Testament, which forbade idolatry and contact with the abominations of the heathen. This he quite cleverly did. His primary method of explaining the Old Testament was to allegorize its teachings––in other words, he taught that it was all fables and symbolic metaphors.

If this weren’t sufficient to explain it away, he would repudiate it as being of less value than the present will of God that was supposedly being revealed to him. In fact, he got to the place of doing away altogether with the Old Testament by teaching that its doctrines were meant to enslave people and that its commandments were too grievous to bear. Irenaeus states that “Simon taught, that the Jewish prophecies [the Old Testament] were inspired by the creator angels; therefore, those who had hope in him and Helena (More about her later.) NEED NOT ATTEND TO THEM, BUT FREELY DO AS THEY WOULD; for that men should be saved according to his grace, and not by any intrinsic quality of their own, but by the accident of these being ordered by these creator angels WHO HAD MERELY WISHED TO ENSLAVE THOSE WHO HEARD THEM" (Dict. Of Christian Biography, vol. 4, p. 683). How diabolical and totally anti-biblical!

The Dictionary. of Religion and Ethics has this to say about this cardinal doctrine of SIMON PATER. "Simon taught that the precepts of the law and the prophets were inspired by angels [lesser beings] in the desire to reduce men to slavery, but those who believed in him and Helena, since they were delivered from the sinister tyranny of the law, were free to act as they would. ‘For men are saved by grace and not by good works.’ The antinomianism (justified by faith alone––therefore not bound to obey the law) of the Simonians became manifest in LIBERTINE (lewd and lascivious) conduct and A COMPROMISE WITH HEATHENISM" (vol. 11, p. 518).

Let’s go on. "But he [Simon] promised that the world should be dissolved, and that those who were his own should be redeemed. And accordingly, HIS PRIESTS,” Irenaeus tells us [yes, and this is VERY significant, Simon established a priesthood], “led lascivious lives, used magic and incantations, made philters (magic potions), HAD FAMILIAR SPIRITS by whose aid they were able to trouble with dreams those whom they would.” Ibid.

People who had supernatural, demonistic powers as Simon did were honoured as gods in the first century -- even sacrifices were offered to them. Does this seem unlikely? Then read Acts 14:11-13. After seeing the great miracles that Paul and Barnabas had done through the Holy Spirit, Luke says: "And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker." Then the priest of Jupiter...would have done sacrifice with the people.

Paul and Barnabas "rent their clothes" at such action. What would SIMON MAGUS have done? Or rather, what did Simon Magus do? He let the Roman Senate with the approval of the Emperor Claudius deify him as a god and erect a statue to him. And, the people who followed SIMON called him JUPITER, at the same time calling themselves Christians! In Roman mythology, Jupiter was called Jupiter Optimus Maximus [Jupiter Highest, Greatest] as the patron deity of the Roman state in charge of laws and social order. Jupiter is, properly speaking, a derivation of Jove and pater (Latin for father––and the word “pope” actually means “father!”) The statue that must have been dedicated to Simon was in the likeness of the chief god of the pagan world.

Another change that Simon Magus instituted: The Hebrews honoured and regarded the number seven as recorded in God’s law -- that is, kept the seventh day, the seven holy days, etc., -- but Simon and his followers made a distinct change and honoured the number eight instead (i.e. the eighth day -- which becomes the first day of the week). (See Ante-Nicean Fathers, vol. 7, p. 379.)

Let’s look at the Death of Simon Magus: The records regarding Simon’s death vary widely. Many of the stories try to incorporate some fiction from the Greek and Egyptian myths to enhance the reader’s interest in this fascinating character. But the earliest records say that he was buried in Rome after a long period of great honour and deification.

It is not clearly known exactly where Simon Magus alias Simon Pater or Simon Jupiter was buried. But this much is known. The place of burial for ALL prophets and holy men of the pagan Romans (not the true Christians) was in the sacred cemetery on Vatican Hill. This much is certain.

Notice what Werner Keller in his The Bible as History says about the so-called burial of the Catholics’ Peter. (Before reading Keller’s statement, let us remember that he is a thoroughgoing Catholic and firmly, himself, believed that the Apostle Peter was buried in Rome. However, as we have seen, the Bible does not record the event. Now, let’s read Keller’s comment – the official comment of the Roman Catholic Church):

"On the night of his death on the cross Peter’s followers BURIED his body. As in the case of Jesus on the hill of Calvary it was wrapped in linen and secretly taken to a PAGAN BURIAL GROUND on the Via Cornelia, behind the stone structure of the arena. This PAGAN CEMETERY lay on a knoll called VATICANUS: the Latin word ‘vatis’ means a ‘prophet’ or ‘SOOTHSAYER’. In days gone by there had been an Etruscan oracle on this spot" (p. 368). What an admission!

Keller ought to have better sense to know that this Peter buried in this cemetery, of all places, could NOT be the Apostle Peter. In the first place, Peter was a Jew, and they had to be buried in their own cemeteries–in fact Talmudic law requires that the pious Jew spit three times when passing a Gentile cemetery, and though the Christian converts from Judaism were freed from such religious superstitions, this only serves to illustrate the loathing which being buried in a Gentile cemetery held. And even if by a happen-chance a Jew could be buried in a Roman cemetery, it is most unlikely that a Jew -- especially one who attacked the pagan Roman religion as the Apostle Peter did -- would ever have been allowed into the most holy of pagan cemeteries! This cemetery was reserved for prophets, soothsayers and the great revered ones of pagan Rome. It would make as much sense to say that Hitler could be buried in Westminster Abbey. And too, can you imagine TRUE Christians searching out a PAGAN CEMETERY––the chief one–in which to bury the chief Christian Apostle, the inveterate enemy of PAGANISM?

This pagan burying place, of all locations, could not be the place of the Apostle Peter’s burial. But, there is really no better place for the burial of SIMON MAGUS. He had been, and was being, honoured as a god––not only by the people of Rome, but even by the Emperor and the Senate.

Yes, Keller and his Catholic friends have undoubtedly found a SIMON, but not the Apostle Simon Peter. We have the record of history, which tells us that Simon’s teaching spread like wildfire, especially in Rome where he was honoured as a god. In fact, after going there he made that city his headquarters. But let us recall that the followers of Simon called themselves Christians. Simon steadfastly adhered to this––after all, he had been baptized. In fact, it finally became the desired name for his followers to use. The names Simonians and Samaritans began to die out in the 2nd century A.D. Justin tells us that some were still going by the parent name in his day (152 A.D.). But by the time of Origen (220 A.D.), he states that there were hardly 30 people in the world that went by the parent name. Yet Eusebius, who lived about 100 years later, said they were indeed still numerous all over the world.

The fact is, they were divorcing themselves from the use of the name SIMON or Samaritans because by the fourth century those names were beginning to have an odious connotation to them. Nonetheless the Simonians were very much around -- this time with the name of "Christian." And we have the exact testimony of Eusebius himself (a respected church historian–325 A.D.) that these people were flocking into the Catholic Church.

Notice what Eusebius says, after stating that Simon Magus in the days of the Apostles received baptism and feigned Christian belief: "And what is more surprising, the same thing IS DONE EVEN TO THIS DAY by those who follow HIS most impure heresy. For they, after the manner of their forefather, SLIPPING INTO THE CHURCH, like a pestilential and leprous disease GREATLY AFFLICT THOSE [a great number of people] into whom they are able to infuse the deadly and terrible poison concealed in themselves" (Eccl. Hist., II, ch. I, sect. 12). This is amazing testimony, for Eusebius is telling us that these people were now posing as true "Christians" and that they were infiltrating and corrupting the entire church as a pestilential, wasting disease, which affects the whole body. Eusebius later maintains that the chief troublemakers were being expelled from the Catholic Church. But how could they expel all of them? Almost the whole church by this time was affected––as history clearly bears out.

It is not to be supposed that all of the early heretical sects were direct branches of the Simon Magus religion. By the end of the first century there were at least 50 minor sects. The Simon Magus group represented several of these sects, but not all of them. The truth is, the Simonians, whose headquarters were at Rome, finally absorbed ALL these minor sects by the fifth century.

Eusibius continues: "Simon was the author of all heresy. From his time down to the present those who have followed his heresy have FEIGNED the sober philosophy of the Christians, which is celebrated among all on account of its purity of life. But they nevertheless have embraced again the superstitions of idols, which they seemed [ostentatiously] to have renounced; and they fall down before pictures and images of Simon himself and of the above-mentioned Helena who was with him–(who was a courtesan that he beheld on the roof of a brothel in the city of Tyre and purchased from her master, and she became his constant companion during his travels and teachings) and they venture to worship them with incense and sacrifices and libations" [The Catholics continue this practice today––just let the report of the likeness of the Virgin Mary be reported on a wall or a hamburger bun, etc., and see the devotees flock to the sight in admiration and reverence, constructing there shrines of worship]; (Eccl. Hist. II, 13, 6).

What clear and revealing statements! Eusebius is not talking about what he considers distinct heretics outside the Catholic Church. He is talking about the MAJOR group IN THAT CHURCH which was continually adding more and more on a large scale. He attributes these evils to the "Christians" who followed SIMON MAGUS. They were so active in his day INSIDE THE CHURCH as to give him grave concern. But what happened?

Did the few Catholic leaders of the fourth century who abhorred outright IDOLATRY manage to persuade the masses to give it up and turn away from the SIMONIANS (now called Christians) who were the cause of it all? The answer from history is NO! The Simonian "Christians" won out. Imagery, idolatry and “christianized” paganism – became the common practices of the Universal Church, just as planned in the very beginning by SIMON MAGUS––or by the Devil who possessed him.

Can we now understand why God, through Luke, devotes a whole section of Acts to warn us of this man’s origin. He was NEVER a part of the Church of God, NEVER!! But he, and his followers––as clearly evidenced from history––have succeeded in bringing in their UNIVERSAL religion––a pagan blend masquerading as "Christian.” Thus we dare not deny that the Apostle Peter’s pronouncement in Acts 8: 23 was inspired by the Holy Ghost as it was certainly fulfilled to the very letter!

These facts and evidences clearly prove that the Roman Catholic Church never was nor ever could be the church established by Christ, when history clearly shows that the Simon Peter they claim was the head of that church, was not the Apostle Simon Peter but a demonically inspired foe of Christianity––Simon Magus Peter––the first pope of Rome, the first man of sin. And he is now being revealed!

In closing let us read 2 Thessalonians 2:3,4: “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is god.”

I believe that this verse not only refers to the current and future papacy, as is held by the remnant people of God, but also applies to the revealing, in these last days, of the hidden truth of the Roman Catholic Church who traces her lineage back to Peter and thus claims her authority as “the only church established by Christ” based on apostolic succession. The evidence has clearly shown that this claim cannot be supported when exposed to the clear light of truth.

The Bible states in Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. How does one contend for the faith? There’s only one way, and that is with the truth.

The facts and evidences presented here present a challenge to every reader. He or she must either accept them, reject them, or attempt to refute them. Since they are proven and documentable the ONLY way one can attempt to refute them is by resorting to legend, tradition, or assumption––in essence then, not truly refuting them, but in actuality denying the facts and evidences presented.

The Bible says of a certain class in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. So sadly, there are those who would prefer to deny the facts and the evidence––in other words, the truth––and cling to their legends, their traditions and their false assumptions. What will ultimately happen to that class of unbelievers?

We read in Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. And again Revelation 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

Our prayer for you is that you will NOT choose to be among that class and that God’s grace will surely lead you into His marvelous light.

THE LAW OF GOD

The Intermediate State of the Dead

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1. By what figure does the Bible represent death?

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." 1 Thess. 4:13.
"Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.... But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming." 1 Cor. 15:18, 20-23.
"These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead." John 11:11-14.
Note:--In sound sleep one is wholly lost to consciousness; time goes by unmeasured; and the mental functions which are active during consciousness are suspended for the time being.

2. Where do the dead sleep?

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Eccl. 9:10
"All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." Eccl. 3:20.
"And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." Dan. 12:2.
Note.--The context of the above verse is at the time Michael stands up and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation. Dan. 12:1.

3. How long will they sleep there?

"So man lieth down, and riseth not: till the heavens be no more, they shall not awake, nor be raised out of their sleep." Job 14:12.

4. For what did Job say he would wait after death?

"If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." Job 14:14.

5. Where did he say he would wait?

"If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness." Job 17:13.

6. While in this condition, how much does one know about those he has left behind?

"His sons come to honor, and he knoweth it not; and they are brought low, but he perceiveth it not of them." Job 14:21.

7. What becomes of man's thoughts at death?

"His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Ps. 146:4.
Note.--If one's soul continued on in heaven, would his thoughts perish the very day he died?

8. Do the dead know anything?

"For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not anything, neither have they any more a reward: for the memory of them is forgotten." Eccl. 9:5.

9. Do they take any part in earthly things?

"Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion forever in anything that is done under the sun,." ibid, Verse 6.
Note.--If one continued in consciousness after death, he would know of the promotion or dishonor of his sons. But Job says he does not know this. Not only so, but in death one loses all the attributes of mind,--love, hatred, envy, etc. Thus it is plain that his thoughts have perished, and that he can have nothing more to do with the things of this world. But if, as taught and held by some, man's powers of thought continue after death, he lives; and if he lives, he must be somewhere. Where is he? Is he in heaven, or in hell? If he goes to either place at death, what then is the need of a future judgment, or of a resurrection, or of the second coming of Christ? If the judgment does not take place at death, but men go to their reward at death, then their rewards precede their awards, and there would arise the possibility that some have at death gone to the wrong place, and must needs be sent to the other, after having been in bliss or torment for ages, perhaps.

10. What does the psalmist say about the dead praising God?

"The dead praise not the Lord, neither any that go down into silence." Ps. 115:17.

11. How much does one know of God when dead?

"For in death there is no remembrance of Thee." Ps. 6:5.
Note.--There is not even a remembrance of God. As already seen, the Bible everywhere represents the dead as asleep. If they were in heaven or in hell, would it be fitting to represent them thus? Was Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, in heaven when the Saviour said, "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth?" John 11:11. If so, calling him to life was really robbing him of the bliss of heaven that rightly belonged to him. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus, recorded in Luke 16, was given to teach, not consciousness in death, but that in the judgment riches will avail nothing unless rightly and beneficently used, and that poverty will not keep one out of heaven.

12. But are not the righteous dead in heaven?

"For David is not ascended into the heavens." Acts 2:34.

13. What must take place before the dead can praise God?

"Thy dead men shall live, together with My dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." Isa. 26:19.

14. When did David say he would be satisfied?

"As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness." Ps. 17:15.

15. Were there to be no resurrection of the dead, what would be the condition of those fallen asleep in Christ?

"For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." 1 Cor. 15:16-18.

16. When is the resurrection of the righteous to take place?

"For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first." 1 Thess. 4:16.
Notes.--If, as stated in Eccl. 9:5, the dead know not anything, then they have no knowledge of the lapse of time. "Six thousand years in the grave to a dead man is no more than a wink of the eye to the living." To them, consciousness, our only means of measuring time, is gone; and it will seem to them when they awake that absolutely no time has elapsed. And herein lies a most comforting thought in the Bible doctrine of the sleep of the dead, that in death there is no consciousness of the passing of time. To those who sleep in Jesus, their sleep, whether long or short, whether one year, one thousand years, or six thousand years, will be but as if the moment of sad parting were followed instantly by he glad reunion in the presence of Jesus at His glorious appearing and the resurrection of the just.
lt ought also to be a comforting thought to those whose lives have been filled with anxiety and grief for deceased loved ones who persisted in sin, to know that they are not now suffering in torments, but, with all the rest of the dead, are quietly sleeping in their graves. Job 3:17.
Again, it would mar the felicity of one's enjoyment in heaven could he look upon earth and see his friends and relatives suffering from persecution, want, cold, or hunger, or sorrowing for the dead. God's way is best,--that sentient life, animation, activity, thought, and consciousness should cease at death, and that all should wait till the resurrection for their future life and eternal reward. See Heb. 11:39, 40."

Adapted from Bible Readings for the Home Circle, 1914 Edition.

Ecclesiastes 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. Solomon here counsels us that a recognition of the greatness and grandeur of God and obedience to His requirements is the supreme objective of life.

It is man’s duty, his destiny to obey God, and in so doing he will find supreme happiness. Whatever his lot may be, whether it is cast in adversity or prosperity, it remains his duty to yield loving obedience to his Maker––to keep His Holy law.

Many Christian leaders today state that the law was nailed to the cross––that it was done away with and that we no longer have to follow the letter of law, but we’re now under grace and only have to follow the spirit of the law as Jesus gave in Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. In other words, the only thing that really matters is that we love God and love each other. However, they ignore the fact that this was not a new principle that Jesus was introducing here to replace the 10 Commandments, but a very ancient one as we read in Deuteronomy 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And again we read in Leviticus 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Furthermore, Jesus also stated, in conjunction with these two admonitions: Matthew 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. What Jesus was simply saying that love to God and love to our fellow man summarizes the law of God. It shows us, teaches us, instructs us HOW to love God and how to love our neighbor. The first four precepts clarify how we are to show our love to God––not to have other gods, not to bow down or worship images or figures of stone or wood or metal or any other substance, not to use His name in an irreverent, disrespectful or common manner, and to honor and respect His Sabbath, acknowledging Him as our Creator. If man were not given these specific instructions, they would treat Him in the irreverent and profane way the pagans treated their gods, all the while claiming to love Him, would they not? I believe so––history bears it out.

The next six laws show us how we are to love our fellow man, beginning with respect to our parents and, forbidding us to murder one another, forbidding us from betraying the sanctity of marriage, from stealing from our fellow man, from lying to or about him, and from cherishing that which does not belong to us. We all know of ancient, so called, great civilizations as well as primitive ones where many, if not all, of these prohibitions were the normal, if not expected, standard of behavior. That’s why God precisely expressed His law to us so plainly and clearly.

And regarding the belief that being under grace frees us from obeying the law, the Bible clearly states in Romans 6:1,2: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2: God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

D.M. Canright, who was once a powerful Adventist pastor and became one of its foremost adversaries stated this about the law: This is the law of God––the Ten Commandments. Let us examine it. 1. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. 2. Thou shalt not make and image and worship it. 3. Thou shalt not profane the Lord’s name. 4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 5. Honor thy father and thy mother. 6. Thou shalt not kill. 7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. 8. Thou shalt not steal. 9. Thou shalt not bear false witness. 10. Thou shalt not covet. How simple, and yet how comprehensive! The first four precepts relate to our duty to God, embracing in short all that we owe to Him. The last six relate to our duty to our fellow men, summarily covering all our relations to one another.

Readers, if this law were strictly observed in this community, would it not provide an excellent state of society? There would be no idolatry, profanity, Sabbath breaking, disobedience to parents, murder, adultery, stealing, or lying. Who would not wish to live in such a community? This is the law for which we plead. These principles have always existed since God made man upon the earth. They were as binding upon the antediluvians as upon the Jews, and they are as obligatory now as then.

We can conceive of no nation, generation, or individual that could violate these precepts with impunity. This law is as eternal and unchangeable as the Creator…The devil and wicked men hate the law of God, and would rejoice to see it destroyed; but the mission of Jesus was exactly the opposite of this. He says, ‘I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.’ To fulfill is to obey––Webster. Christ came, then, not to destroy the law, but to obey it; and this is just what He did.” In defense of the faith. Pp. 35-37

It has always puzzled me why, especially today, there is such an expressed contempt and hatred for the Law of God that can only bring peace and contentment if obeyed. I believe it is because if these wicked people acknowledge the law then they MUST, by default, acknowledge a Law Giver whom one day they will be accountable to. But the tragic, paradoxical thing is that their denial will in no way protect them from the very judgment they fear.

Some, in the Christian community say that there is only one law and it was nailed to the cross, as we read in Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Let’s see what the Bible says as to whether there is only one law.

Let us go to Deuteronomy 5:22 which reads, after the Ten Commandments are quoted (verses 6-21): “These words (the Ten Commandments) the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and He added no more. And He wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.”

Let us note the distinct features of the law given by God here. 1. He SPOKE Ten Commandments, and ONLY Ten Commandments for “He added no more.” 2. He WROTE them ON STONE. Now let us look at another feature regarding this law as we go to Deuteronomy 10: 5, after God had written the 2^nd set on stone for Moses. We read, 3: “And I turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark, which I had made; and there they be, as the Lord commanded.” Here we are told that this Ten Commandment law, made of stone, written by the finger of God and spoken audibly by Him to all of Israel, was put INSIDE the ark. Not only that, but we read in 1 Kings 8:9 “There was NOTHING IN THE ARK save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb..”

Let us now see what God’s Holy Word tells us about the law of Moses as we go to Deuteronomy 4:13 which states: “And He declared unto you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and He wrote them upon two tables of stone.” Now verse 14:“And the Lord commanded me (Moses) at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, the ye might do them in the land...” Going on, 2 Kings 21:8, 2^nd part, states: “only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the law that my servant Moses commanded them.” But let us go on as we read in Nehemiah 9:13,14: “Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai, and speakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments: and madest known unto them Thy holy Sabbath, and commandest them precepts, statutes, and laws by the hand of Moses Thy servant.” Again in Deuteronomy 31:9 it states: “And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi...”

Now we will see what happened to this law that MOSES WROTE as we go to Deuteronomy 31: 24-26 as we read: “And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book until they were finished, That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord saying, Take this book of the law and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.”

Let us stand back now and summarize these laws, the law of God and the law of Moses and see if, as Adventists believe, they are indeed two separate and distinct laws, or whether they are one and the same and interchangeable as the writer states. We have read that:

a) The 10-commandment law of God was SPOKEN by Him “and He added no more.”

b) The ceremonial law God gave through Moses was WRITTEN by Moses, not spoken by God.

a) God wrote the 10-commandment law ON STONE.

b) Moses wrote the law IN A BOOK.

a) God’s 10-commandment law was put INSIDE THE ARK.

b) Moses’ book of the law was put IN THE SIDE OF THE ARK.

Can anyone, to this point, honestly state that these two laws are one and the same, that there is no distinction between the two, that they are interchangeable?

But let us go on.

a) God’s law deals with MORAL precepts.

b) The law of Moses deals with ceremonial, ritual, and health matters––as is illustrated in parts of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

4 a) God’s law reveals sin. [Romans 7: 7;

James 1:23-25].

b) Moses law prescribes offerings for sins. [See book of Leviticus].

5 a) Breaking of God’s law is sin [1 John 3:4].

b) No sin in breaking Moses’ law for now “abolished” Eph 2:15 [“Where no law is, there is no transgression.” Romans 4:15].

6 a) God’s people should “keep the whole

law.” James 2:10

b) Regarding the law of Moses, the apostles gave “no such commandment” to “keep the law” Acts 15:24.

7 a) “We shall be judged” by the law of God– James 2:12.

b) Not to be judged by the law of Moses

[Colossians 2:16]

8 a) God’s law is called “The perfect law of liberty.” James 1:25; 2:12.

b) Moses’ law called a “yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1; 4:9,10.

9 a) Christ was to “magnify the law and make it honourable.” Isaiah 42:21.

b) Christ “blotted out the handwriting or ordinances (hand-written by Moses) that was against us..” Colossians 2:14.

10 a) God’s law is spiritual [Romans 7: 14]

b) Moses’ law is “The law of a carnal

commandment.” Hebrews 7: 16.

Furthermore, we are told in Galatians 3:19 that the law of Moses was to serve only “till the seed should come” [Jesus Christ]. Was it a sin to offer a lamb in sacrifice before Jesus died? No, it was required for the forgiveness of sin. Was it a sin to offer a lamb after Jesus died? Yes, because it made a mockery of, and was a total denial of His eternal sacrifice. We read that in 1 John 3:4 that sin is the transgression of the law, which law, the one requiring offerings and sacrifices or the moral law? ONLY the moral law! Can anyone go to heaven that breaks the law? No, for Revelation 22:14 states that only those who keep His 10-commandment law will have a right to the tree of life which is in heaven, and all lawbreakers will be consigned to the flames.

Let us see what inspiration says about the law, as we go to Patriarchs and Prophets, 305-309: The law was not spoken at this time exclusively for the benefit of the Hebrews. God honored them by making them the guardians and keepers of His law, but it was to be held as a sacred trust for the whole world. The precepts of the Decalogue are adapted to all mankind, and they were given for the instruction and government of all. Ten precepts, brief, comprehensive, and authoritative, cover the duty of man to God and to his fellow man; and all based upon the great fundamental principle of love. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself." Luke 10:27. See also Deuteronomy 6:4, 5; Leviticus 19:18. In the Ten Commandments these principles are carried out in detail, and made applicable to the condition and circumstances of man.

"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." Jehovah, the eternal, self-existent, uncreated One, Himself the Source and Sustainer of all, is alone entitled to supreme reverence and worship. Man is forbidden to give to any other object the first place in his affections or his service. Whatever we cherish that tends to lessen our love for God or to interfere with the service due Him, of that do we make a god.

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them."

The second commandment forbids the worship of the true God by images or similitudes. Many heathen nations claimed that their images were mere figures or symbols by which the Deity was worshiped, but God has declared such worship to be sin. The attempt to represent the Eternal One by material objects would lower man's conception of God. The mind, turned away from the infinite perfection of Jehovah, would be attracted to the creature rather than to the Creator. And as his conceptions of God were lowered, so would man become degraded.

"I the Lord thy God am a jealous God." The close and sacred relation of God to His people is represented under the figure of marriage. Idolatry being spiritual adultery, the displeasure of God against it is fitly called jealousy.

"Visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me." It is inevitable that children should suffer from the consequences of parental wrongdoing, but they are not punished for the parents' guilt, except as they participate in their sins. It is usually the case, however, that children walk in the steps of their parents. By inheritance and example the sons become partakers of the father's sin. Wrong tendencies, perverted appetites, and debased morals, as well as physical disease and degeneracy, are transmitted as a legacy from father to son, to the third and fourth generation. This fearful truth should have a solemn power to restrain men from following a course of sin.

"Showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me, and keep My commandments." In prohibiting the worship of false gods, the second commandment by implication enjoins the worship of the true God. And to those who are faithful in His service, mercy is promised, not merely to the third and fourth generation as is the wrath threatened against those who hate Him, but to thousands of generations.

"Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain." This commandment not only prohibits false oaths and common swearing, but it forbids us to use the name of God in a light or careless manner, without regard to its awful significance. By the thoughtless mention of God in common conversation, by appeals to Him in trivial matters, and by the frequent and thoughtless repetition of His name, we dishonor Him. "Holy and reverend is His name." Psalm 111:9. All should meditate upon His majesty, His purity and holiness, that the heart may be impressed with a sense of His exalted character; and His holy name should be uttered with reverence and solemnity.

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, 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 Sabbath is not introduced as a new institution but as having been founded at creation. It is to be remembered and observed as the memorial of the Creator's work. Pointing to God as the Maker of the heavens and the earth, it distinguishes the true God from all false gods. All who keep the seventh day signify by this act that they are worshipers of Jehovah. Thus the Sabbath is the sign of man's allegiance to God as long as there are any upon the earth to serve Him. The fourth commandment is the only one of all the ten in which are found both the name and the title of the Lawgiver. It is the only one that shows by whose authority the law is given. Thus it contains the seal of God, affixed to His law as evidence of its authenticity and binding force.

God has given men six days wherein to labor, and He requires that their own work be done in the six working days. Acts of necessity and mercy are permitted on the Sabbath, the sick and suffering are at all times to be cared for; but unnecessary labor is to be strictly avoided. "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, honorable; and . . . honor Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure." Isaiah 58:13. Nor does the prohibition end here. "Nor speaking thine own words," says the prophet. Those who discuss business matters or lay plans on the Sabbath are regarded by God as though engaged in the actual transaction of business. To keep the Sabbath holy, we should not even allow our minds to dwell upon things of a worldly character. And the commandment includes all within our gates. The inmates of the house are to lay aside their worldly business during the sacred hours. All should unite to honor God by willing service upon His holy day.

"Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." Parents are entitled to a degree of love and respect which is due to no other person. God Himself, who has placed upon them a responsibility for the souls committed to their charge, has ordained that during the earlier years of life, parents shall stand in the place of God to their children. And he who rejects the rightful authority of his parents is rejecting the authority of God. The fifth commandment requires children not only to yield respect, submission, and obedience to their parents, but also to give them love and tenderness, to lighten their cares, to guard their reputation, and to succor and comfort them in old age. It also enjoins respect for ministers and rulers and for all others to whom God has delegated authority.

This, says the apostle, "is the first commandment with promise." Ephesians 6:2. To Israel, expecting soon to enter Canaan, it was a pledge to the obedient, of long life in that good land; but it has a wider meaning, including all the Israel of God, and promising eternal life upon the earth when it shall be freed from the curse of sin.

"Thou shalt not kill." All acts of injustice that tend to shorten life; the spirit of hatred and revenge, or the indulgence of any passion that leads to injurious acts toward others, or causes us even to wish them harm (for "whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer"); a selfish neglect of caring for the needy or suffering; all self-indulgence or unnecessary deprivation or excessive labor that tends to injure health--all these are, to a greater or less degree, violations of the sixth commandment.

"Thou shalt not commit adultery." This commandment forbids not only acts of impurity, but sensual thoughts and desires, or any practice that tends to excite them. Purity is demanded not only in the outward life but in the secret intents and emotions of the heart. Christ, who taught the far-reaching obligation of the law of God, declared the evil thought or look to be as truly sin as is the unlawful deed.

"Thou shalt not steal." Both public and private sins are included in this prohibition. The eighth commandment condemns manstealing and slave dealing, and forbids wars of conquest. It condemns theft and robbery. It demands strict integrity in the minutest details of the affairs of life. It forbids overreaching in trade, and requires the payment of just debts or wages. It declares that every attempt to advantage oneself by the ignorance, weakness, or misfortune of another is registered as fraud in the books of heaven.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor." False speaking in any matter, every attempt or purpose to deceive our neighbor, is here included. An intention to deceive is what constitutes falsehood. By a glance of the eye, a motion of the hand, an expression of the countenance, a falsehood may be told as effectually as by words. All intentional overstatement, every hint or insinuation calculated to convey an erroneous or exaggerated impression, even the statement of facts in such a manner as to mislead, is falsehood. This precept forbids every effort to injure our neighbor's reputation by misrepresentation or evil surmising, by slander or tale bearing. Even the intentional suppression of truth, by which injury may result to others, is a violation of the ninth commandment.

"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor's." The tenth commandment strikes at the very root of all sins, prohibiting the selfish desire, from which springs the sinful act. He who in obedience to God's law refrains from indulging even a sinful desire for that which belongs to another will not be guilty of an act of wrong toward his fellow creatures.

Such were the sacred precepts of the Decalogue, spoken amid thunder and flame, and with a wonderful display of the power and majesty of the great Lawgiver. God accompanied the proclamation of His law with exhibitions of His power and glory, that His people might never forget the scene, and that they might be impressed with profound veneration for the Author of the law, the Creator of heaven and earth. He would also show to all men the sacredness, the importance, and the permanence of His law.

There are those who maintain that the law is not found in the New Testament proving that it is done away with, is this true? Let’s find out.

1^st Commandment: “Thou shalt worship the Lord Thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.” Matthew.4:10 (2^nd part)

2^nd Commandment: “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” 1 John 5:21

3^rd Commandment: “Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed.” 1 Timothy 6:1

4^th Commandment: “For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His work. And in this place again, If they shall enter into My rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: again, He limiteth a certain day, saying in David, Today, after so long a time; as is said, Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would He not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from His own works, as God did from His.” Hebrews 4:4-10

Again: “But pray ye that your flight be not in winter, neither on the Sabbath day.” Matt 24:20

Again: “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day.” Revelation 1:10

And again: “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath; therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27

5^th Commandment: “Children obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.” Ephesians 6:1

6^th through 10^th Commandments: “Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Romans 13:9

Again: “Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thy self.” Matthew 19:18.19

Thus we have seen that every one of the Ten Commandments of God’s Holy Law IS found in the New Testament, if not in its entirety, at least in principle––based on the Law of Exodus 20.

In closing, let us go to John 14:15. Jesus says If ye love me, keep my commandments. 1 John 2:3 says, And hereby we do know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He that saith I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth His word, in Him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him.

Lest anyone be misled, a strict keeping of the letter of the law will not assure anyone of salvation, for Isaiah 64:6 tells us that our righteousness is as filthy rags. Futhermore we read in Galatians 2:16-20 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17: But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18: For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19: For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

It is ONLY through faith in the merits of Jesus Christ that we are saved, and it is ONLY through and by His strength that we can keep the law, as we read in Romans 8: 3: For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

We keep His law, not in order to be saved, but because we love Him and choose to obey Him as He has commanded us, for Romans 13:10 tells us that “love is the fulfilling of the law.”

However, we WILL be judged by our works, the Bible clearly teaches, as we find in Revelation 2:23: And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works; 20:12,13 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13: And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

Let us then look to our Saviour and be determined, by His grace, to be faithful followers of His law.

Will the "Ship", Depending on Worldly Lawyers, Go Through?

Keep away from worldly lawyers. This is the rock on which many have wrecked their barque [sailing vessel]. . . . (5MR:445)

Those who have placed their dependence on lawyers, on the counsels of unconsecrated men, have been unfaithful stewards. (20MR:171)

We are not to lean upon the policy of worldly lawyers. We must be humble men of prayer, not acting like those who are blinded by Satan's agencies. (18MR:36)

God's cause is now in need of the influence that protests against evil, and strives to counteract it--the influence that Christ has always demanded of His people. Let there be no delay, for the message that I am bearing is from God. While He has been calling upon His people to come out from the world, and to be separate and distinct, not touching that which is unclean, human agencies have been counterworking His work, by linking up with worldly men, cultivating the spirit of commerce, and depending on worldly lawyers and worldly methods. The Lord is sorely displeased with these men who have made themselves one with the world. (16MR:10)

How Christ is Crucified Afresh:

God will call the world to account for the death of His only-begotten Son, whom to all intents and purposes the world has crucified afresh, and put to open shame in the persecution of His people. (TM:39)

These men cast aside the counsel God has given, and do the very things He has bidden them not to do [initiate lawsuits]. They show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and in heaven their names are registered as one with unbelievers. Christ is crucified afresh, and put to open shame. Let these men know that God does not hear their prayers....Matters connected with the church are to be kept within its own borders. If a Christian is abused, he is to take it patiently; if defrauded, he is not to appeal to courts of justice. Rather let him suffer loss and wrong.(3SM:299, 300)

The world and unconverted church members are in sympathy. Some when God reproves them for wanting their own way, make the world their confidence, and bring church matters before the world for decision. Then there is collision and strife, and Christ is crucified afresh, and put to open shame. Those church members who appeal to the courts of the world show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and their names are registered in heaven as one with unbelievers. How eagerly the world seizes the statements of those who betray sacred trusts! ...To lean upon the arm of the law is a disgrace to Christians; yet this evil has been brought in and cherished among the Lord's chosen people. Worldly principles have been stealthily introduced, until in practice many of our workers are becoming like the Laodiceans--half-hearted, because so much dependence is placed on lawyers and legal documents and agreements. Such a condition of things is abhorrent to God. (3SM:302, 303)

Through His servants, God gave the Jewish people a last opportunity to repent. He manifested Himself through His witnesses in their arrest, in their trial, and in their imprisonment. Yet their judges pronounced on them the death sentence. They were men of whom the world was not worthy, and by killing them the Jews crucified afresh the Son of God. So it will be again. The authorities will make laws to restrict religious liberty. They will assume the right that is God's alone. They will think they can force the conscience, which God alone should control. Even now they are making a beginning; this work they will continue to carry forward till they reach a boundary over which they cannot step. God will interpose in behalf of His loyal, commandment-keeping people. (DA:630)

A Solemn Warning:

Let the principle once be established in the United States that the church may employ or control the power of the state; that religious observances may be enforced by secular laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to dominate the conscience, and the triumph of Rome in this country is assured. (GC:581)

...it is not the true church of God that makes war with those who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. It is the people who make void the law, who place themselves on the side of the dragon, and persecute those who vindicate God's precepts. (ST 04-22-89; pr:07)

Those who have an opportunity to hear the truth, and yet take no pains to hear or understand it, thinking that if they do not hear, they will not be ACCOUNTABLE, will be judged guilty before God the same as if they had heard and rejected. There will be no excuse for those who choose to go in error when they might understand what is truth.
(RH 04-25-93; pr:10)

One Man Responsible for Another Man's Unfaithfulness:

"Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins; keep thyself pure." (1 Tim. 5:22) ...Sin should be rebuked. Whatever opposition and trial might come to the elder of the church because of his faithfulness, he should not swerve from true principles. Sins should not, because of unsanctified preferences and sympathy, be lightly regarded in one man which would be condemned in another. This matter is one of great importance. If he trusts responsibilities to one whose habits and practices he knows to be wrong, he shows that his own principles are not sound, that his motives are questionable. By this very act he sanctions the errors and sins of the man he has commended and appointed to the sacred office of caring for the flock of God. Unless he is guarded by heavenly wisdom, he will place himself in a position where he will feel it necessary to sustain the man with whom he has united his influence; and God will hold him RESPONSIBLE for his brother's unfaithfulness in office, and for the harm which will result to the church. He must keep himself pure by refusing to mingle with any unholy influence. (PH028:17, 18)

Individual Members Responsible for State of the Church:

Each member of the church should feel under sacred obligations to guard strictly the interests of the cause of God. The individual members of the church are RESPONSIBLE for its distracted, discouraged state, by which the most sacred truths ever committed to man are dishonored. (5T:278)

Church Body Accountable for Negligence and Sin of Members:

God will hold the church at _____ RESPONSIBLE, as a body, for the wrong course of its members. If a selfish and unsympathizing spirit is allowed to exist in any of its members toward the unfortunate,...He will hide His face from His people until they do their duty and remove the wrong from among them....the Lord holds the church accountable for the sin of its members until they have done all they can to remedy the existing evil. (WM:212, 213)

The church is in a great degree RESPONSIBLE for the sins of her members. She gives countenance to evil if she fails to lift her voice against it. (PK:651)

The church is in a great degree RESPONSIBLE for the sins of her members. She gives countenance to the evil, if she fails to lift her voice against it. The influence from which she has most to fear is not that of open opposers, infidels, and blasphemers, but of inconsistent professors of Christ. These are the ones who keep back the blessing of the God of Israel. (SW 05-10-04; pr:06)

The church as a whole is in a degree RESPONSIBLE for the wrongs of its individual members because they countenance the evil in not lifting up their voice against it. The favor of God is not enjoyed for several reasons. His Spirit is grieved by the pride, extravagance, dishonesty, and overreaching which are indulged by some professing godliness. All these things bring the frown of God upon His people. (4T:490, 491)

Those who have too little courage to reprove wrong, or who through indolence or lack of interest make no earnest effort to purify the family or the church of God, are held accountable for the evil that may result from their neglect of duty. We are just as RESPONSIBLE for evils that we might have checked in others by exercise of parental or pastoral authority, as if the acts had been our own. (CG:235, 236)

Aaron failing to stand up boldly for the right, his yielding to the strength of numbers, placed him with the majority. Aaron represents the cases of a large number composing our churches at the present day. They pass over sins existing in the church which grieve the spirit of God. They are lax where order and principle are involved, because it is not pleasant to reprove and correct wrongs. They are themselves carried along with the current, and become RESPONSIBLE for a fearful neglect of faithfulness. (ST 05-27-80; pr:04)

...if the sins of the people are passed over by those in responsible positions, His frown will be upon them, and the people of God, as a body, will be held RESPONSIBLE for those sins. (3T:265)

Brethren and sisters in the faith, does the question arise in your hearts, "Am I my brother's keeper?" If you claim to be children of God, you are your brother's keeper. The Lord holds the CHURCH RESPONSIBLE for the souls of those whom they might be the means of saving. (ChS:13)

We repeat, God holds the CHURCH RESPONSIBLE for the sins of its individual members. When coldness and spiritual declension exist, God's people should put away their pride and self-confidence and self-exaltation, and should come to the Lord in sorrow and humility, not charging him with injustice, but seeking wisdom to understand the hidden sins which shut out his presence. (ST 04-21-81; pr:24)

God's Displeasure at Sin Among His People:

God's displeasure is upon His people, and He will not manifest His power in the midst of them while sins exist among them and are fostered by those in RESPONSIBLE positions. (3T:270)

The sin of Eli was in passing lightly over the iniquity of his sons, who were occupying sacred offices. The neglect of the father to reprove and restrain his sons brought upon Israel a fearful calamity. The sons of Eli were slain, Eli himself lost his life, the ark of God was taken from Israel, and thirty thousand of the people were slain. All this was because sin was lightly regarded and allowed to remain among them. What a lesson is this to men holding RESPONSIBLE positions in the church of God! It adjures them faithfully to remove the wrongs that dishonor the cause of truth. (4T:166)

The leaven of unbelief is working, and unless these evils which bring the displeasure of God are corrected in its members, the whole CHURCH stands ACCOUNTABLE for them. (RH 12-23-90; pr:10)

Cleanse the camp of this moral corruption, if it takes the highest men in the highest positions. God will not be trifled with. Fornication is in our ranks. I know it, for it has been shown me to be strengthening and extending its pollutions. There is much we will never know, but that which is revealed makes the CHURCH RESPONSIBLE and guilty unless they show a determined effort to eradicate the evil. Cleanse the camp, for there is an accursed thing in it. (TSB:237)

We must as a people arouse and cleanse the camp of Israel. Licentiousness, unlawful intimacy, and unholy practices are coming in among us in a large degree; and ministers who are handling sacred things are guilty of sin in this respect. They are coveting their neighbors' wives, and the seventh commandment is broken. We are in danger of becoming a sister to fallen Babylon, of allowing our churches to become corrupted, and filled with every foul spirit, a cage for every unclean and hateful bird; and will we be clear unless we make decided movements to cure the existing evil? (TSB:188)

Becoming Partakers of Others' Sin/Evil Deeds:

The wheat is not to sow itself among the tares; for although we may not practice the works of some of the members of the secret orders, in joining them we are registered in heaven as partakers of their evil deeds, RESPONSIBLE for their works of evil, and bound up in bundles with them as tares. Thank God, it is not too late for Christians to sever themselves from all unholy connections, and come fully unto the side of Christ. (RH 01-10-93; pr:16)

"The people of God are not to vote [for men in political parties] to place such men in office; for when they do this, they are PARTAKERS WITH THEM OF THE SINS which they commit while in office." (GW:391)

The names of those who sin and refuse to repent should not be retained on the CHURCH books, lest the saints be held ACCOUNTABLE for their evil deeds. (5BC:1096)

What a lesson have we here for parents and guardians of youth, and for those who minister in the service of God. When existing evils are not met and checked, because men have too little courage to reprove wrong, or because they have too little interest or are too indolent to tax their own powers in putting forth earnest efforts to purify the family or the church of God, they are ACCOUNTABLE for the evil which may result in consequence of neglect to do their duty. We are just as ACCOUNTABLE for evils that we might have checked in others, by reproof, by warning, by exercise of parental or pastoral authority, as if we were guilty of the acts ourselves. (4T:516)

...if one neglects the duty Christ has enjoined, of trying to restore those who are in error and sin, he becomes a partaker in the sin. For evils that we might have checked, we are just as responsible as if we were guilty of the acts ourselves. (DA:441)

If God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against God. (3T:281)

This principle is amply illustrated for us in the Scriptures, and we will look at some of those examples beginning in the book of Genesis with the account of Lot in Sodom. We read: “And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which am here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.” Genesis 19:15. Here Lot is threatened with death if he does not quickly separate from that corrupt city. Was God favoring Lot just because he was Abraham's nephew? Not at all, for we read: “And fuming the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly; and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)” 2 Peter 2:6-8.

So even though God acknowledged Lot as just and righteous, if he would have refused to heed the command to separate, all his righteousness would not have saved him from being consumed by the fiery wrath of God's judgments. The point to be made here is that regardless of our standing with God, if we refuse to obey His command for us to separate from sinful associations, we will be destroyed along with them!

Let us go to another example, the rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. We read: “And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.” Numbers 16:20, 21. What was the reaction of Moses and Aaron to this command? “And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?” Verse 22.

In 3T: 354 we read: “They [the congregation] also were in alarming danger of being destroyed in their sins [the sins of Korah, Dathan & Abiram] by the wrath of God, for they were sharers in the crime of the men to whom they had given their sympathy and with whom they had associated.” So just by sympathizing with them and associating with these sinful men the congregation was just as guilty as they were and thus subject to being destroyed. But let us read on. “So they get up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children,” Numbers 16: 27.

We're all familiar with this story, but what is little known is that not all of the family members were destroyed in this rebellion for we read: “Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.” Numbers 26:11. Why weren't they destroyed too? Simply because as difficult as it must have been for them to tear away from the rest of their family, they chose to follow God's mandate to separate, and in doing so preserved their lives.

Let us now go to another example, that of Achan. God had warned Israel regarding the destruction of Jericho: “And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it. But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron are consecrated unto the Lord: they shall come into the treasury of the Lord.” Joshua 6:18. 19. We are all familiar with the fact that Achan refused to heed this warning and unbeknownst to all the rest decided to take some of the spoils to himself. But was he alone held responsible for his transgression? We read: “But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan...took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.”

We know in that account, that as a result of Achan's sin thirty-six men lost their lives when the Israelites attacked Ai (Chap.7:4, 5), and what was God's response to Joshua's intercession? Even though Achan acted alone, all of Israel was guilty in the eyes of God as we read: “Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which l commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen it, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.” Verse:11

Furthermore, we read from the inspired word: “Shame, defeat, and death were brought upon Israel by one man's sin. 4T: 492. Did these thirty-six men die because of their sinfulness or disobedience? No, they only died because Achan, along with them, were part of the same corporate body, all members of Israel, for we read: “God's command had been disregarded by one of those appointed to execute His judgments. And the nation was held accountable for the guilt of the transgressor...Achan's sin brought disaster upon the whole nation. For one man's sin the displeasure of God will rest upon His church till the transgression is searched out and put away.” PP: 494 & 497. In conclusion of the matter of Achan we read: “As the people had been held responsible for Achan's sin, and had suffered from it's consequence, they were, through their representatives, to take part in its punishment. `All Israel stoned him with stones.' ” Ibid.:495. Again, emphasizing the fact that the sins of the individual members make the entire membership responsible.

Before we see some more of what the Spirit of Prophecy has to say about this principle, let us look at one more example in the Old Testament as well as the New. We will look at the case of Jeremiah who had prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem by Babylon because God's people had sunk deep into idolatry and apostasy. Of course the leadership (as today) did not want to hear this dire prediction against “God's chosen people,” so their reaction was “Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city [against the church], as ye have heard with your ears.” Jeremiah 26:11. But what was Jeremiah's response? We read: “But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof. for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.” Verse 15. Again, not only would the church leaders be held accountable for his death, but all the inhabitants of that city as well.

And finally, let us look at a significant but generally overlooked example of this principle in the book of Acts. The occasion was the day of Pentecost when Peter was addressing the crowd of Jews assembled there for the religious festivals then in progress, men who had come from every known part of the world. Under the impression of the Holy Spirit Peter addressed them thus: “Therefor let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2: 36.

Here Peter accused all those present that they were all guilty of crucifying Jesus because all the house of Israel was guilty. Yet some of those devout men had not been present at the crucifixion, but that did not excuse them in the least bit. The mere fact that they were part of the Jewish nation made them guilty before God. So what was their response? We read: “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost...And with many other words did he testify arid exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.” Verses 37. 38. 40. The only solution Peter had to offer to these men was for them to repent and be baptized and thus sever completely their connection with the Jewish faith. In other words, only a clear and marked separation from the apostasy would free them from the corporate guilt under which “all the house of Israel” stood before God.

Looking again to the Spirit of Prophecy we also see this principle illustrated as we read: “He [God] shows us that when His people are found in sin they should at once take decided measures to put that sin from them, that His frown may not rest upon them all. But if the sins of the people are passed over by those in responsible positions, His frown will be upon them, and the people of God, as a body, will be held responsible for those sins. In His dealings with His people in the past the Lord shows the necessity of purifying the church from wrongs. One sinner may diffuse darkness that will exclude the light of God from the entire congregation.” 3T: 65. Many are waiting for God to supernaturally purify and cleanse the church, as if all they have to do is sit there passively and tolerate all the wickedness and apostasy going on around them. But here we have read that it is necessary for the church to “take decided measures to put that sin from them.”

Again we read: “If wrongs are apparent among His people, and if the servants of God pass on indifferent to them, they virtually sustain and justify the sinner, and are alike guilty and will just as surely receive the displeasure of God; for they will be made responsible for the sins of the guilty.” Ibid.: 266.

Again, we read this startling but crystal clear admonition: 'The Lord said to Joshua, “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you” (Joshua 7:12). The defects of character in any member of the church, or in the minister, are charged to the church, if the church make light of the defects. If you place Elder Daniels over the church as a minister, you, as a church, assume his defects, you make them your own, and the whole church stands under the rebuke of God, even as ancient Israel was under His rebuke on account of the sin of Achan. But your case will be more grievous than theirs, because you knew the evil, yet hid your eyes from it and walked contrary to the will of God.” - Ms 1a, 1890, pp. 4, 5. (“A Consecrated Ministry,” February 13, 1890.)

And in closing, this admonition: “Christ requires personal faithfulness of His servants, and we are to show that we have no fellowship with the secret, hidden things of darkness. The wheat is not to sow itself among the tare; for although we may not practice the works of some of the members of the secret orders, in joining them we are registered in heaven as partakers of their evil deeds, responsible for their works of evil, and bound up in bundles with them as tares. Thank God, it is not too late for Christians to sever themselves from all unholy connections, and come fully unto the side of Christ... The tares will be bound into bundles to be burred, the wheat gathered into the heavenly garner.” 3RH: 01-10-93.

Oh friends, where are you going to be registered in heaven, as part of the wheat, or as one of the tares? Are you going to heed God's mandate to separate from all sin and apostasy, or are you going to listen to the voice of man telling you to wait for God to act? Is it any wonder that a loving God who would that none should perish warns us: “There was a coming out, a decided separation from the wicked, an escape for life. So it was in the days of Noah; so with Lot; so with the disciples prior to the destruction; [so with the Reformers, and so with the Pioneers of the Advent Movement] and so it will be in the last days...As in the days of Noah and Lot, there must be a marked separation from sin and sinners.” PP: 166, 167.

Unfortunately, as stated before, so many precious but deceived souls within the structure are waiting passively for God to act supernaturally and purify and cleanse the church. But they are acting under a great and fatal delusion, for God has given us His divine instructions as to what our part should be regarding sin and apostasy. Either separate it from you, or if you can't do that, then you must separate from it! It's that simple if you do not want to be among the ALL who perish as stated in Ezekiel 9:5. 6 and 5T: 211.

Here is another message from Dutch's brother in Christ, Elder Clarence Settle. We hope that the Lord blesses you as you read his word.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Galatians 5: 22, 23 tells us: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Have you ever wondered why Paul stated "the fruit...is" [singular] instead of "the fruits.are" [plural]? And isn't it so that when we discuss the "fruit of the Spirit" we customarily refer to it in a plural form as if this represents many or several diverse and sundry types of fruits? Here is a thought-provoking question. May I propose that the complete and whole "fruit of the Spirit" must be developed and made manifest IN us so that those around us--those whom we come in contact with, may see and taste the goodness and love and character of God THROUGH us?!!

> "O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in Him." Psalm 34: 8

"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." 1 Cor. 3: 9.

"The object of the Christian life is fruit bearing--the reproduction of Christ's character in the believer that it may be reproduced in others...But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." "This fruit can never perish, but will produce after its kind a harvest unto eternal life. 'When the fruit is brought forth, immediately He putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.' Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. It is the privilege of every Christian not only to look for but to hasten the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3: 12, margin.) Were all to profess His name bearing fruit to His glory, how quickly the whole world would be sown with the seed of the gospel. Quickly the last great harvest would be ripened, and Christ would come to gather the precious grain." Gospel Workers 52, 53.

Let me explain [though I admit that others may have better examples than these]. Let us say that this verse illustrates nine characteristics to look for in fruit in order for it to be considered perfect. Perhaps Paul was contemplating a melon he was about to eat [if I may so presume], and the Holy Spirit inspired him to look for these nine features in that fruit and compare them with the spiritual qualities one must have as a true child and witness of God.

For example, let us state that:

1.     LOVE = COLOR/HUE...When people first meet you what is their impression? Do they see someone who is warm and caring--or cold and distant? Open and welcoming or harsh and critical? Someone with a smile on their face and in their hearts--or with a habitual scowl on their countenance.

> "Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us." 1 John 4: 11, 12.

"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully [falsely accuse] use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh the sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust." Matt: 5: 44, 45.
"Let love be without dissimulation [sincere, without hypocrisy]. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love [Philadelphian - 144,000]; in honor preferring [showing deference] one another." Rom.12: 9, 10.

"But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed and truth." 1 John 3: 17, 18.

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13: 35.

2.. JOY = FRESHNESS.Do you maintain a positive, uplifting, encouraging, cheerful attitude--or are you generally sour and negative? Do you constantly count your many blessings--or is your life filled with nothing but complaints, griping, and self-pity?


"All the days of the afflicted [depressed] are evil: [full of grief and misery] but he that is of a merry [cheerful, glad] heart hath a continual feast." Proverbs 15: 15.

"A merry [joyful] heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Proverbs 17: 22.

"A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken." Prov. 15:13.

3.. PEACE = APPEARANCE...No matter what the circumstance do you remain calm and in control, knowing that God is behind it all--or do you (re)act impulsively and emotionally only to regret your careless words and actions later?


     "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in

       Thee." Isaiah 26: 3.



      "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me: The

       rod and Thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23: 4.



     "When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow

       thee: When thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon

       thee." Isaiah 43: 2.

   4.. LONGSUFFERING = BRUISES/SOFT SPOTS...Are you truly forgiving and refuse to hold malice in your heart no matter how unjustly wronged--or are you resentful and in the habit of holding grudges--for the tiniest slight?


"Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the Lord." Leviticus 19: 18.

"Grudge [murmur] not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold the judge standeth before the door." James 5: 9.

5.. GENTLENESS = CUTS/BLEMISHES.Do you take correction easily and graciously--or are you thin-skinned and easily offended, easily irritated, impatient, and quick to cut, slash and wound others with your words--no matter that those words are muttered under your breath or only in your mind?


"Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die." Prov.15: 10.

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Cor. 12: 10.

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thess: 5: 18.

"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it." 1 Peter 3: 10, 11.

("Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear." 1 Tim: 5:20)

6.     GOODNESS = FORM/SYMMETRY...Do you stand consistently on principle, regardless of consequence--or are you easily swayed and make decisions based on your feelings and your emotions especially if you fear being in disfavor or offending others?



"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Prov. 14:12 and 16: 25.



"For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of Him that sent me." John 6: 38.

"Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matt. 26: 39 last part.

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season." Heb. 11: 24, 25



"But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up." Dan. 3: 18.



7.     FAITH = RIPENESS...Does your speech and attitude reflect a mature spirituality and a serious outlook--or are you trivial, and shallow and always jesting and joking--especially in Sabbath interactions when our speech should especially be guarded and sacred.



[Eph. 4: 11 - 17] "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." Eph. 5: 3, 4.



"Let no corrupt [rotten, worthless] communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." Ephesians 4: 29, 30.



8.     MEEKNESS = FRAGRANCE/ODOR...Are you always humble, courteous, mannerly, and unselfish--or are you crude, arrogant and inconsiderate in speech and manner, especially when it comes to the weak and undesirable?



"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And by ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Eph. 4: 31, 32.



"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3: 8, 9.`



[And then when you finally get it on the table in front of you, cut a slice from it, and bite into it--here's the final test that truly determines whether or not it really and truly is good fruit!]

   9.. TEMPERANCE = FLAVOR/SWEETNESS...Are you so balanced, so even, so Christ-like in character and temperament that people consistently go from your presence feeling blessed, uplifted, encouraged and glorifying God because it was such a sweet experience for them--or do they leave your side feeling no better, or even worse than before, like biting into a promising piece of fruit only to find it totally lacking in flavor--disappointing and unpalatable?


"And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4: 13 - last part.

"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit...Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." Matt: 7: 17, 20.


      " 'Herein is My Father glorified', said Jesus, 'that ye bear much fruit.' God desires to manifest through you the holiness, the benevolence, the compassion, of His own character. Yet the Saviour does not bid the disciples labor to bear fruit. He tells them to abide in Him. 'If ye abide in Me,' He says, 'and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.' It is through the word that Christ abides in His followers. This is the same vital union that is represented by eating His flesh and drinking His blood. The words of Christ are spirit and life. Receiving them you receive the life of the Vine. You live 'by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.' Matt. 4: 4. The life of Christ in your produces the same fruits as in Him. Living in Christ, supported by Christ, drawing nourishment from Christ, you bear fruit after the similitude of Christ." DA: 677.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."



I pray that this simple illustration will help us to see the meaning and depths of this verse in a little better light, so that we may truly manifest the fruit of the Spirit.                                                                      Clarence Settle

This message is shared with us from Elder Clarence Settle. Dutch's brother in Christ from Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Brother Clarence will be sharing more messages with us from time to time, and we thank him for giving us these words from the Lord.

THE JUDGMENT

There are two beliefs that are very popular in Christianity. One is that when a believer dies that their soul, their spirit, goes immediately to heaven––to “be with the Lord.” The other is commonly known as “once saved, always saved.” This study will show that those who hold these beliefs have totally overlooked one vital doctrine that the Bible clearly teaches, and which is found in Hebrews 9:27. We read there: And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this THE JUDGMENT:

Three questions come to mind and we will see what the Bible tells us about 1. Why the judgment? 2. Who gets judged first? And 3. When did the judgment start?

WHY THE NECESSITY OF A JUDGEMENT?

Jesus Himself says in Revelation 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. And what is the reward that He brings with Him when He returns the second time? We read in Daniel 12:2, which is speaking of a special resurrection, but which applies to all the resurrected: And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

So then, if a reward is to be granted, doesn’t it make perfect sense that there has to be a fair and just way to determine whether a person is worthy of that reward? That is precisely what the judgment is! But our Infinite, Omniscient, Omnipotent God is too wise and too just to leave such eternal decisions as to who can go to heaven and who is saved for all eternity, in the hands of weak, fallible, finite man, for He does not make such a determination arbitrarily, as we would, rather He uses one great, unchanging, eternal standard by which He measures or judges all humanity, as we shall see.

Revelation 3:5 tells us: He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. And Romans 6:23 clearly states: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. So again, a judgment is necessary to determine who is worthy of eternal life, and who deserves everlasting death.

WHO GETS JUDGED FIRST?

1Peter 4:17 tells us: For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? Revelation 11:1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

These verses tell us that it is all those who have ever professed to believe in Jesus, have counted themselves as part of the household of God, who will be judged first. But what about the rest? We read in Revelation 11:2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles:

Again we see that none but the worshippers of the true God will be measured or judged. We will see later on in our study when the Gentiles, those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s book of life, will be judged.

WHEN DID THE JUDGMENT START?

During the great awakening of the 1800’s devout men studying the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation came across these verses in Revelation 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Those astute students of prophecy understood that the judgment mentioned here began in 1844, represented in Biblical type by the cleansing of the earthly sanctuary mentioned in Daniel 8:14. It is not the intention of this study to show, at this time how they came to that determination. That study will be presented at some future date, but since 1844 this judgment has been going on in the most holy place in the sanctuary in heaven.

When that judgment is finished Jesus will declare, as we read in Revelation 22:11 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. At that time the books––we will see a little further on which books those are, will be closed, the wrath of God––the plagues of Revelation 16 will begin to be poured out upon the wicked, and Christ will prepare to come back the second time to take His righteous home to their heavenly mansions in the Holy City, New Jerusalem.

Here now is what will take place and IS taking place during the judgment in heaven.

“FACING LIFE’S RECORD

“Daniel 7:9 I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

“Thus was presented to the prophet's vision the great and solemn day when the characters and the lives of men should pass in review before the Judge of all the earth, and to every man should be rendered "according to his works." The Ancient of Days is God the Father. Says the psalmist: "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever Thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God." Psalm 90:2. It is He, the source of all being, and the fountain of all law, that is to preside in the judgment. And holy angels as ministers and witnesses, in number "ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands," attend this great tribunal.

‘"And, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve Him: His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away." Daniel 7:13, 14. The coming of Christ here described is not His second coming to the earth. He comes to the Ancient of Days in heaven to receive dominion and glory and a kingdom, which will be given Him at the close of His work as a mediator. It is this coming, and not His second advent to the earth, that was foretold in prophecy to take place at the termination of the 2300 days in 1844. Attended by heavenly angels, our great High Priest enters the holy of holies and there appears in the presence of God to engage in the last acts of His ministration in behalf of man--to perform the work of investigative judgment and to make an atonement for all who are shown to be entitled to its benefits.

“In the typical service only those who had come before God with confession and repentance, and whose sins, through the blood of the sin offering, were transferred to the sanctuary, had a part in the service of the Day of Atonement. So in the great day of final atonement and investigative judgment the only cases considered are those of the professed people of God. The judgment of the wicked is a distinct and separate work, and takes place at a later period. "Judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel?" 1 Peter 4:17.

“The books of record in heaven, in which the names and the deeds of men are registered, are to determine the decisions of the judgment. Says the prophet Daniel: "The judgment was set, and the books were opened." The revelator, describing the same scene, adds: "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." Revelation 20:12.

“THE BOOK OF LIFE contains the names of all who have ever entered the service of God. Jesus bade His disciples: "But rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20. Paul speaks of his faithful fellow workers, "whose names are in the book of life." Philippians 4:3. Daniel, looking down to "a time of trouble, such as never was," declares that God's people shall be delivered, "everyone that shall be found written in the book." And the revelator says that those only shall enter the city of God whose names "are written in the Lamb's book of life." Daniel 12:1; Revelation 21:27.

‘"A BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE" is written before God, in which are recorded the good deeds of "them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name." Malachi 3:16. Their words of faith, their acts of love, are registered in heaven. Nehemiah refers to this when he says: "Remember me, O my God, . . . and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God." Nehemiah 13:14. In the book of God's remembrance every deed of righteousness is immortalized. There every temptation resisted, every evil overcome, every word of tender pity expressed, is faithfully chronicled. And every act of sacrifice, every suffering and sorrow endured for Christ's sake, is recorded. Says the psalmist: "Thou tellest my wanderings: put Thou my tears into Thy bottle: are they not in Thy book?" Psalm 56:8.

“There is A RECORD also OF THE SINS of men. "For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." Says the Saviour: "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36, 37. The secret purposes and motives appear in the unerring register; for God "will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts." I Corinthians 4:5. "Behold, it is written before Me, . . your iniquities, and the iniquities of your fathers together, saith the Lord." Isaiah 65:6, 7.

“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 dissembling. 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.

“The law of God is the standard by which the characters and the lives of men will be tested in the judgment. Says the wise man: "Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment." Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14. The apostle James admonishes his brethren: "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:12

“Those who in the judgment are "accounted worthy" will have a part in the resurrection of the just. Jesus said: "They which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, . . . are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection." Luke 20:35, 36. And again He declares that "they that have done good" shall come forth "unto the resurrection of life." John 5:29. The righteous dead will not be raised until after the judgment at which they are accounted worthy of "the resurrection of life." Hence they will not be present in person at the tribunal when their records are examined and their cases decided.

“Jesus will appear as their advocate, to plead in their behalf before God. "If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." I John 2:1. "For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 9:24; 7:25.

“As the books of record are opened in the judgment, the lives of all who have believed on Jesus come in review before God. Beginning with those who first lived upon the earth, our Advocate presents the cases of each successive generation, and closes with the living. Every name is mentioned, every case closely investigated. Names are accepted, names rejected. When any have sins remaining upon the books of record, unrepented of and unforgiven, their names will be blotted out of the book of life, and the record of their good deeds will be erased from the book of God's remembrance. The Lord declared to Moses: "Whosoever hath sinned against Me, him will I blot out of My book." Exodus 32:33. And says the prophet Ezekiel: "When the righteous turneth away from his righteousness, and committeth iniquity, . . . all his righteousness that he hath done shall not be mentioned." Ezekiel 18:24.

“All who have truly repented of sin, and by faith claimed the blood of Christ as their atoning sacrifice, have had pardon entered against their names in the books of heaven; as they have become partakers of the righteousness of Christ, and their characters are found to be in harmony with the law of God, their sins will be blotted out, and they themselves will be accounted worthy of eternal life. The Lord declares, by the prophet Isaiah: "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins." Isaiah 43:25. Said Jesus: "He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels." "Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven." Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32, 33.

“The deepest interest manifested among men in the decisions of earthly tribunals but faintly represents the interest evinced in the heavenly courts when the names entered in the book of life come up in review before the Judge of all the earth. The divine Intercessor presents the plea that all who have overcome through faith in His blood be forgiven their transgressions, that they be restored to their Eden home, and crowned as joint heirs with Himself to "the first dominion." Micah 4:8. Satan in his efforts to deceive and tempt our race had thought to frustrate the divine plan in man's creation; but Christ now asks that this plan be carried into effect as if man had never fallen. He asks for His people not only pardon and justification, full and complete, but a share in His glory and a seat upon His throne.

“While Jesus is pleading for the subjects of His grace, Satan accuses them before God as transgressors. The great deceiver has sought to lead them into skepticism, to cause them to lose confidence in God, to separate themselves from His love, and to break His law. Now he points to the record of their lives, to the defects of character, the unlikeness to Christ, which has dishonored their Redeemer, to all the sins that he has tempted them to commit, and because of these he claims them as his subjects.

“Jesus does not excuse their sins, but shows their penitence and faith, and, claiming for them forgiveness, He lifts His wounded hands before the Father and the holy angels, saying: I know them by name. I have graven them on the palms of My hands. "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise." Psalm 51:17. And to the accuser of His people He declares: "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" Zechariah 3:2. Christ will clothe His faithful ones with His own righteousness, that He may present them to His Father "a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing." Ephesians 5:27. Their names stand enrolled in the book of life, and concerning them it is written: "They shall walk with Me in white: for they are worthy." Revelation 3:4.

“Thus will be realized the complete fulfillment of the new-covenant promise: "I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more." "In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found." Jeremiah 31:34; 50:20. "In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even everyone that is written among the living in Jerusalem." Isaiah 4:2, 3.

“The work of the investigative judgment and the blotting out of sins is to be accomplished before the second advent of the Lord. Since the dead are to be judged out of the things written in the books, it is impossible that the 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 send Jesus Christ." Acts 3:19, 20. When the investigative judgment closes, Christ will come, and His reward will be with Him to give to every man as his work shall be.

“In the typical service the high priest, having made the atonement for Israel, came forth and blessed the congregation. So Christ, at the close of His work as mediator, will appear, "without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28), to bless His waiting people with eternal life. As the priest, in removing the sins from the sanctuary, confessed them upon the head of the scapegoat, so Christ will place all these sins upon Satan, the originator and instigator of sin. The scapegoat, bearing the sins of Israel, was sent away "unto a land not inhabited" (Leviticus 16:22); so Satan, bearing the guilt of all the sins which he has caused God's people to commit, will be for a thousand years confined to the earth, which will then be desolate, without inhabitant, and he will at last suffer the full penalty of sin in the fires that shall destroy all the wicked. Thus the great plan of redemption will reach its accomplishment in the final eradication of sin and the deliverance of all who have been willing to renounce evil.

“At the time appointed for the judgment--the close of the 2300 days, in 1844--began the work of investigation and blotting out of sins. All who have ever taken upon themselves the name of Christ must pass its searching scrutiny. Both the living and the dead are to be judged "out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

“Sins that have not been repented of and forsaken will not be pardoned and blotted out of the books of record, but will stand to witness against the sinner in the day of God. He may have committed his evil deeds in the light of day or in the darkness of night; but they were open and manifest before Him with whom we have to do. Angels of God witnessed each sin and registered it in the unerring records. Sin may be concealed, denied, covered up from father, mother, wife, children, and associates; no one but the guilty actors may cherish the least suspicion of the wrong; but it is laid bare before the intelligences of heaven. The darkness of the darkest night, the secrecy of all deceptive arts, is not sufficient to veil one thought from the knowledge of the Eternal. God has an exact record of every unjust account and every unfair dealing. He is not deceived by appearances of piety. He makes no mistakes in His estimation of character. Men may be deceived by those who are corrupt in heart, but God pierces all disguises and reads the inner life.

“How solemn is the thought! Day after day, passing into eternity, bears its burden of records for the books of heaven. Words once spoken, deeds once done, can never be recalled. Angels have registered both the good and the evil. The mightiest conqueror upon the earth cannot call back the record of even a single day. Our acts, our words, even our most secret motives, all have their weight in deciding our destiny for weal or woe. Though they may be forgotten by us, they will bear their testimony to justify or condemn.

“As the features of the countenance are reproduced with unerring accuracy on the polished plate of the artist, so the character is faithfully delineated in the books above. Yet how little solicitude is felt concerning that record which is to meet the gaze of heavenly beings. Could the veil which separates the visible from the invisible world be swept back, and the children of men behold an angel recording every word and deed, which they must meet again in the judgment, how many words that are daily uttered would remain unspoken, how many deeds would remain undone.

“In the judgment the use made of every talent will be scrutinized. How have we employed the capital lent us of Heaven? Will the Lord at His coming receive His own with usury? Have we improved the powers entrusted us, in hand and heart and brain, to the glory of God and the blessing of the world? How have we used our time, our pen, our voice, our money, our influence? What have we done for Christ, in the person of the poor, the afflicted, the orphan, or the widow? God has made us the depositaries of His holy word; what have we done with the light and truth given us to make men wise unto salvation? No value is attached to a mere profession of faith in Christ; only the love which is shown by works is counted genuine. Yet it is love alone which in the sight of Heaven makes any act of value. Whatever is done from love, however small it may appear in the estimation of men, is accepted and rewarded of God.

“The hidden selfishness of men stands revealed in the books of heaven. There is the record of unfulfilled duties to their fellow men, of forgetfulness of the Saviour's claims. There they will see how often were given to Satan the time, thought, and strength that belonged to Christ. Sad is the record which angels bear to heaven. Intelligent beings, professed followers of Christ, are absorbed in the acquirement of worldly possessions or the enjoyment of earthly pleasures. Money, time, and strength are sacrificed for display and self-indulgence; but few are the moments devoted to prayer, to the searching of the Scriptures, to humiliation of soul and confession of sin.

“Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth.

“Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure, to display, or to gain seeking, should be devoted to an earnest, prayerful study of the word of truth. The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days.

“All who have received the light upon these subjects are to bear testimony of the great truths which God has committed to them. The sanctuary in heaven is the very center of Christ's work in behalf of men. It concerns every soul living upon the earth. It opens to view the plan of redemption, bringing us down to the very close of time and revealing the triumphant issue of the contest between righteousness and sin. It is of the utmost importance that all should thoroughly investigate these subjects and be able to give an answer to everyone that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them.

“The intercession of Christ in man's behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, "whither the forerunner is for us entered." Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father's throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God.

‘"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy." Proverbs 28:13. If those who hide and excuse their faults could see how Satan exults over them, how he taunts Christ and holy angels with their course, they would make haste to confess their sins and to put them away. Through defects in the character, Satan works to gain control of the whole mind, and he knows that if these defects are cherished, he will succeed. Therefore he is constantly seeking to deceive the followers of Christ with his fatal sophistry that it is impossible for them to overcome. But Jesus pleads in their behalf His wounded hands, His bruised body; and He declares to all who would follow Him: "My grace is sufficient for thee." 2 Corinthians 12:9. "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:29, 30. Let none, then, regard their defects as incurable. God will give faith and grace to overcome them.

“We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart. The light, frivolous spirit indulged by so many professed Christians must be put away. There is earnest warfare before all who would subdue the evil tendencies that strive for the mastery. The work of preparation is an individual work. We are not saved in groups. The purity and devotion of one will not offset the want of these qualities in another. Though all nations are to pass in judgment before God, yet He will examine the case of each individual with as close and searching scrutiny as if there were not another being upon the earth. Everyone must be tested and found without spot or wrinkle or any such thing.

“Solemn are the scenes connected with the closing work of the atonement. Momentous are the interests involved therein. The judgment is now passing in the sanctuary above. For many years this work has been in progress. Soon--none know how soon--it will pass to the cases of the living. In the awful presence of God our lives are to come up in review. At this time above all others it behooves every soul to heed the Saviour's admonition: "Watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is." Mark 13:33. "If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee." Revelation 3:3.

“When the work of the investigative judgment closes, the destiny of all will have been decided for life or death. Probation is ended a short time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven. Christ in the Revelation, looking forward to that time, declares: "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. And, behold, I come quickly; and My reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:11, 12.

“The righteous and the wicked will still be living upon the earth in their mortal state--men will be planting and building, eating and drinking, all unconscious that the final, irrevocable decision has been pronounced in the sanctuary above. Before the Flood, after Noah entered the ark, God shut him in and shut the ungodly out; but for seven days the people, knowing not that their doom was fixed, continued their careless, pleasure-loving life and mocked the warnings of impending judgment. "So," says the Saviour, "shall also the coming of the Son of man be." Matthew 24:39. Silently, unnoticed as the midnight thief, will come the decisive hour which marks the fixing of every man's destiny, the final withdrawal of mercy's offer to guilty men.

‘"Watch ye therefore: . . . lest coming suddenly He find you sleeping." Mark 13:35, 36. Perilous is the condition of those who, growing weary of their watch, turn to the attractions of the world. While the man of business is absorbed in the pursuit of gain, while the pleasure lover is seeking indulgence, while the daughter of fashion is arranging her adornments--it may be in that hour the Judge of all the earth will pronounce the sentence: "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." Daniel 5:27.” The Great Controversy 479-491

Revelation 20 tells us that the judgment of the wicked, by the righteous, takes place during the 1000 years after the coming of Jesus, in heaven in the New Jerusalem (verses 1-6, 11-13 John 14: 1-3). And after that period the Holy City descends from heaven down to the earth (Zechariah 14:4; Rev.21:2), the wicked, led by Satan, surround the Holy City in an attempt to gain possession of it (Rev. 20:7-9), and final, eternal, punishment follows as fire comes down from God and all the wicked along with the devil and his angels are destroyed for all eternity. (See Ezekiel 28:18)

As stated at the beginning of this study, it is impossible to reconcile the teachings of assured, unconditional salvation, and immediate entrance into heaven upon death with the grand truths of the judgment, but sadly, most churchgoers do not study the Scriptures for themselves, so just as in the days of Christ they are being led by their leaders down paths of darkness all the while believing that they are being given light. No error is truth, or can be made truth by repetition, or by faith in it. Sincerity will never make a falsehood true nor save a soul from the consequences of believing an error. Without sincerity there is no true religion, but sincerity in a false religion will never save a man. I may be perfectly sincere in following a wrong road, but all my sincerity will not make it the right road or bring me to the place I wished to reach.

Only true love for Jesus, manifested by submission to Him and obedience to His will, can assure that our names will not be blotted out of the Book of life. To claim to love Christ while disobeying His commandments––the great, eternal standard by which all will be judged––is only giving lip service to Him, for we read: He that saith I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4. Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22: 14

WILL YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE DEAR FRIEND? WHAT DO YOU CHOOSE, ETERNAL LIFE WITH JESUS OR EVERLASTING DEATH? ONLY YOU CAN MAKE THAT DECISION.

Hello folks... Good of you to visit this part of the site. "The Lord's Loud Cry" is a TV ministry that the Lord had us start a few years ago. We presently are on Portland Cable Access. Vancouver Cable Access,(Which reaches most of Clark County) Longview Cable Access. We are also in Medford and Grants Pass. We praise the Lord for his watch over the program as it is growing to his glory. My part of the show is called Dutch's Corner. The show is directed at all apostasy within the protestant churches of today that SAY they keep the doctrine of Jesus and his Bible. We teach out of the King James Version. We teach the entire Bible Old and New Testements. and the last prophecy of scripture, "The 3 Angels Messages" found in the book of Revelation. We teach from scripture that the law of God is still binding on men and women today. God never changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. So how could or would he change any of his immutable Commandments. You will find he has not changed any of them. Evil men have tried to claim that our Lord has changed his mind about his commandments. NEVER! We hope you enjoy the program and that you will receive a blessing from the words you hear there. If you do... Give all Glory to God, not me. I am but his humble messenger.
God's peace... Dutch

Dear hearts,,,if you have ever watched "The Lord's Loud Cry" on Portland's cable Access channel or on KLTV out of Longview, or other locations,,,you will note that the teaching we share with you is directly from the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures. This particular version is as close to the original text as one can get. DO NOT let some one come along and say it is from an antiquated manuscript. They are dead wrong.

The KJV was the Bible of the English speaking world from the 1400's on. Now, why since the early 1900's are folks popping up knocking this rendition. It is because they want the Scripture to match the denominational believes of the folks that are challenging the KJV. Doesn't really take a rocket scientist to figure this dilemma out.

Should you desire to REALLY study the Bible,,,,AS IT IS WRITTEN,,you will find that a child of 12 can figure out the Shakespearean English,,, simply because it makes you study,,, "here a little, there a little , rightly dividing the Word of God'. Line upon line, line upon line, precept upon precept", and so on. No one should ever say they can't understand the King James Version,,,when they do , it is simply put,,,, they are too lazy to search for themselves as the millions before them have done for hundreds of years. It is much easier for a person to say,,,,"I will ask my pastor,, what such and such means",,, that's where they become denominationally indoctrinated,,, because the so-called pastor will tell you what his "church" believes, according to their doctrine and theirs alone. After all they went to school to learn what the denomination teaches,,,and if they don't teach the doctrine they learned at the denominational school, they will be fired or rebuked very harshly. So it's up to you whom you will serve,,, pray before opening your Bibles and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance,,, He will never let you down,,,have a good week,,,more to come later...... peace Dutch