We think because we are so incredibly advanced in technology that somehow a lot of the Bible doesn't apply to us any longer. We've so far surpassed those of Biblical times in so many ways - to apply Biblical truths seems impossible to some. There are those who will claim that because we have machinery unheard of in Biblical times that we are beyond the Bible. The Bible is outdated and meant for another time, another era, a way of life long gone. All lies. Yes, the Bible was written thousands of years ago, but it's truths are ageless and surpass all time going on into eternity.
Read these words of our God - - Dan 12:4 But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Knowledge shall be increased. If, and I'm speculating here, knowledge was constantly increasing- explain how for thousands of year horses were our main mode of transportation and then quite suddenly we have trains, cars, planes and so on and so forth. That is just one area of increased knowledge. The advancements in our lives are astounding. The increased knowledge increasing at a rate beyond belief really. To think it was just over a hundred and twenty or so years ago approximately that we were still using horses to pull our carriages etc is mind-blowing.
With all this knowledge comes an increase in sin. So much of our technology used for good is also used extensively for evil. The depravity of mankind has only grown along with knowledge. We live surrounded by technologies that allow evil to flourish in our lives. Does this mean if we choose to live like some groups of people who shun all advanced technology that we've overcome sin? No, not by a long shot. Sin thrives no matter the life around us. We can however embrace sin without resistance or resist sin, making no provision for our flesh nature.
We have to comprehend that very few will be found as Christ's when He returns, very, very few. May we be among those who are Christ's, all through HIS righteousness, through HIS power, through HIS love, on our own we are completely and utterly lost.
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1Co 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
1Co 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
1Co 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
1Co 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
1Co 10:5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
1Co 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
1Co 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
1Co 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1Co 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry
January 29, 1901
“The Ten Commandments. Who Shall Escape the Plagues?” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 78, 5, p. 72.
WHO shall escape the plagues?
In the Seven Last Plagues “is filled up the wrath of God” (Revelation 15:1); the wrath of God falls upon those who worship the Beast and his Image; for it is written: “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the Beast and his Image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation.” Revelation 14:9, 10.
This Third Angel’s Message is to keep men from the worship of the Beast and his Image, and so to save them from the wrath of God. And the way in which men escape the worship of the Beast and his Image, and so escape the Seven Last Plagues, is by keeping the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus; for the closing words of the Third Angel’s Message: “Here are they that keep the Commandments, of God, and the Faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.
It is true that, in a sense, whatsoever is in the Bible is of the Commandments of God. Yet, in a particular sense, above all things else in the Bible the Ten Commandments are distinguished as the Commandments of God. These are especially singled out from all things else, upon which people are directed to fix their special attention.
Accordingly, thus it is written: “Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, ... and the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. 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.” Deuteronomy 4:9, 10, 12, 13.
When He had spoken the Ten Commandments,—these Ten Words,—He spoke no more: there was no more to be said. Accordingly, the conclusion of the whole matter, the sum of all that hath been heard is, “Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13.
When the Lord spoke that day from the top of Sinai, all that He said needed to be said. And when He had spoken, all was said that could be said. Now the first words that were spoken that day are these:—
“I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.” Exodus 20:2.
This is the introduction, the preamble, to all the Commandments, the whole Law of God. It is as much a part of the Law of God as is any word that follows; for it is written: “God spake all these words.” These words were a part, indeed the very beginning of the words that day spoken, when all was said that could be said, and when nothing was said that needed not to be said.
That law is spiritual: all that is in it or of it is spiritual. This preamble, equally with all the rest of the law that day spoken, is “holy, and just, and good.” Romans 7:12.
God is spirit. And this law, preface and all, being altogether of God, is therefore altogether spiritual; for “the law is spiritual.” Romans 7:14. Accordingly, the Egypt referred to is spiritual Egypt: and the bondage referred to is spiritual bondage; for the Scriptures deal definitely with a spiritual Egypt, as well as with a temporal Egypt. Revelation 11:8.
Spiritually, then, what is Egypt? Read this: “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt.” Hebrews 11:24-26.
Here we have “affliction with the people of God” set over against “the pleasures of sin,” and “the reproach of Christ” set over against “the treasures in Egypt;” thus:—
Affliction with the people of God. Pleasures of sin.
Reproach of Christ. Treasures in Egypt.
This shows “affliction with the people of God,” and “the reproach of Christ,” to be synonymous; and “the pleasures of sin,” and “the treasures in Egypt,” to be likewise synonymous. It also plainly shows “sin” and “Egypt” to be synonymous. Spiritual Egypt, therefore, is the realm of sin. Therefore this beginning of the Law of God, as spoken by the Lord from heaven, simply says, I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the realm and bondage of sin.
And by these holy words being placed at the very threshold of the keeping of the Commandments of God, it is signified to all people forever that in the keeping of the Commandments of God the first of all things is that the soul shall be delivered from the realm and bondage of sin. By this it is indicated that no man can keep the Commandments of God unless he is first delivered from the realm and the bondage of sin. And in these blessed words, God presents himself to every soul, as the perfect and free Deliverer of men from the realm and the bondage of sin, that they may keep His Commandments.
This is the teaching of the whole record of the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, which was “written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” While Israel was yet in Egypt, the word was spoken to Pharaoh: “Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my firstborn: and I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he may serve me.” Exodus 4:22, 23. And when, by great plagues and mighty judgments, Pharaoh was brought to the point where he would let Israel go; and when, by His great power, God had delivered Israel, that they might serve Him,—then He said: “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” and so on, to the end of the Ten Commandments; and He added no more.
And all this happened unto them for an ensample: it is “written for our learning,” and “for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”
The deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage did not, even at that time, consist in deliverance from bodily oppression or temporal bondage. For even after the multitude of Israel had been delivered from that bodily oppression and temporal bondage, their hearts were yet in Egypt: in thought and in heart they time and again “turned back again into Egypt.” Hebrews 11:24-26.
And there were others; because it was by faith that Moses, “when he was born, was hid three months of his parents;” for, by this faith, “they were not afraid of the king’s commandment” that had gone forth, to slay all the male children of the children of Israel.
As, therefore, it is true that the children of Israel, though bodily and temporarily in Egypt, were yet free from Egypt, and were the children of God; and as the whole multitude, although taken bodily entirely out of Egypt, were not free, but, in heart, were still in Egypt,—this demonstrates that at that time, as well as now and forever, true deliverance from Egypt is spiritual; and that the real Egypt from which this true deliverance is found is spiritual Egypt.
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