Reconciled To God.

1981 Jun -- XIV 6(81) Watchman, What of the Night.

p 5 -- THE GOSPEL IN THE LIGHT OF THE ATONEMENT -- Now having talked about the Atonement - God's atonement with man, and man's atonement with God - what is the Gospel, the good news about our redemption?

In the KJV of the New Testament, the word, atonement, is used only once. In Romans 5:11, it reads - "And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

The word translated - "atonement" - is the Greek word katallage (katallagh), which means reconciliation. This word is used only by Paul in the New Testament; and by Paul only in Romans, and his letters to the Corinthians.

In II Cor. 5:18-20, Paul sets forth this reconciliation - this atonement and indicates that God has committed to us "the ministry of reconciliation." The message to be given is - "Be ye reconciled to God."

2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 

2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 

2Co 5:20  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 

God by the Cross has been reconciled to man, but now man must be reconciled to God. The good news is that God can still be just; and yet the justifier of those who believe on Jesus. The story of that reconciliation and how it is to be attained on the part of man, and how it will be achieved is to be found in the message of the Sanctuary for the way of God is in the sanctuary. (Ps. 77:13)

This, too, is good news - the Gospel. To mitigate it, to deny it, is to preach an incomplete and partial gospel - another gospel.

The Atonement Continued...

1981 Jun -- XIV 6(81) -- LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ATONEMENT - II -- 

As we continue our discussion about the Atonement - and specifically that phase of the atonement which involves man's at-one-ment with God - we shall consider the second step as pre-figured in the earthly type.

In the First Apartment -- In the earthly sanctuary service, all ministry within the first apartment was done by the priests. It was the priest who placed the incense on the golden altar, which stood before the second veil, both morning and evening; and who "dressed" the lamps simultaneously. (Ex. 30:6-8) Prepared by the Levites, the cakes of shewbread were placed by the priests on the Table opposite the Golden Candlesticks, and were renewed every Sabbath day. (Lev. 24:5-8). But while the priests were ministers of the Holy Place, the people were involved in that ministry. They were commanded to provide oil for the lamps (Lev. 24:2); they were assessed an half shekel for the service of the sanctuary. This assessment was considered as "an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls." (Ex. 30:13-16) Thus the very materials purchased by the half shekel, and used by the priests in the ritual of the Holy Place were considered a part of the ongoing atonement.

Theologically, the services and articles of furniture in the Holy Place have been understood to represent the experience called sanctification. In the type by the assessment of the half shekel and the purpose for which it was used, and how the Lord regarded it, we can understand that what we call sanctification is a part of the atonement - man becoming at-one with God.

The people of Israel sensed the typical meaning of the first apartment ritual. The offering of the incense - both morning and evening - was recognized as a time of prayer. (Luke 1:10) Since the lamps were trimmed at the same time, they could perceive a meaning in this act as well - "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Ps. 119:105) The service connected with the Table of Shewbread reminded them weekly of their responsibilities under the Fourth Commandment.

With the establishment of the New Covenant, the involvement of the ones who had become atone with God through the priestly act of Jesus resulting from the sacrifice of Himself as Substitute was more direct. They are pictured as participants in the ministry before the Throne in the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary. There the four and twenty elders have "everyone of them harps, and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." (Rev. 5:8)

p 2 -- Representing the 24 courses of the Levitical priesthood, these 24 Elders are no longer restricted to the tribe of Levi, but have been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." (Rev. 5:9) While redeemed members of the human family serve with their great High Priest in the ministry of the first apartment of the tabernacle "which the Lord pitched and not man" (Heb. 8:2); the earthly believer is also considered a part of this royal priesthood, thus becoming a part of the kingdom of priests to which all Israel were called, but to which Israel never attained. (I Peter 2:9; Ex. 19:5-6) The "priesthood of all believers" involves more than mere equality of rank, but involves active participation in the daily "dressing" of the lamps; the offering of the incense morning and evening; and the weekly participation in the renewing of the bread of His presence on the Holy Sabbath.

In this priestly ministry under the New Covenant, the believer has committed himself to a work of a lifetime - daily, both morning and evening, he holds communion with his God; the light of the Spirit guides in his life's decisions; and each week he partakes with his fellow "priests" of the bread of God's presence as found in the Word, and through this fellowship a renewing of their perceptions and commitment. To perceive the depths of this ongoing atonement provided through Jesus Christ, the great High Priest over the household of God, one can find endless insights as the mind is directed by the Holy Spirit in the study of the symbols devised by God in the lesson plans for the earthly sanctuary.

The Bible pictures not only Christ as the minister of the true tabernacle where in its first apartment He ministers as "a Lamb as it had been slain;" but also as the One who has obtained from the Father, the light of the seven golden candlesticks which is "sent forth into all the earth." (Rev. 5:6) It is through this Holy Spirit that where two or three are gathered together in His name partaking of the heavenly Shewbread - He is in the midst of them. This church on earth and the Church of the heavenly Jerusalem become one through the ministry of Jesus "the mediator of the new covenant" and "the blood of sprinkling." (Heb. 12:22-24) From an individual judicial atonement resulting from the acceptance of the Substitute sacrificed "in the court," and the mediation of that blood upon "Mt. Sion," we enter an individual-corporate atonement process in the first apartment ministry, a process which is to be completed in the Most Holy Place as a corporate atonement, or as prefigured in the type - a national atonement.

In the Most Holy Place -- It is of utmost importance to note that 0. R. L. Crosier in his study - "The Sanctuary" - first appearing in the Day Star, Extra, February 7, 1846, and reprinted again in the 1850 Advent Review, a 48-page pamphlet, notes the daily ministry in the earthly sanctuary which pertained to the sin offerings as "the individual atonement," and the once-a-year ministry in the Most Holy Place as "the National Atonement." To this concept, we have given little attention. In simple language, it means a corporate atonement.

Introducing this concept, Crosier used Hebrews 9:7 - "But into the second [apartment] went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people." He emphasized - "errors of the people," defining people as "nation" from the Greek word used - AaoV.

p 3 -- This was to emphasize the corporate idea involved rather than the result to a single individual. This concept is emphasized in the Levitical detailing of the ritual to be performed on the Day of Atonement. The two goats over which the lots were cast were to be taken from "the congregation of the children of Israel." (Lev. 16:5) The one which became the Lord's goat is designated as "the goat of the sin offering, that is for the people." (verse. 15) The atonement was made "because of the uncleaness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins." (ver. 16) The ritual commanded was declared to be an "everlasting statute" by which "to make atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year." (ver. 34) Further, this was noted by God as "the sin offering of atonements" (Ex. 30:10) All previous offerings by which atonement was realized find their ultimate objective in this final atonement. It was national, collective, and corporative.

This atonement of atonements involved "the holy place within the vail", because "of the uncleanness of the children of Israel." (Lev. 16:2,16) It involved "the tabernacle of the congregation" [the first apartment]; "the altar that is before the Lord" (ver. 18); and the priests and "all the people of the congregation." (ver. 33) Its purpose - that the people "be clean from all [their] sins before the Lord." (ver. 30)

In this study of the services of the Day of Atonement, it must be clearly understood that the people's involvement in the ritual of this day, whether considered collectively, or individually was absolutely nil. It was the blood of the goat designated as "the Lord's goat" (See Lev. 16:8-9) which accomplished the atonement. It was the High Priest arrayed in his holy garments who entered the Most Holy Place alone to minister the atonement of atonements.

This Day was to be to the people a holy convocation (Numbers 29:7) As they assembled, and throughout the day, they were to "afflict their souls." (Lev. 23:27, 32) In it they were to do no work - for if anyone did he would be destroyed from "among the people." (ver. 30) This people as they assembled, assembled as "forgiven sinners" not as "cleansed saints." That was to be the result of the atonement made on this Day. Even though throughout the year, they had assembled morning and evening at the time of prayer; even though they had diligently sought to know and practice the precepts of the Lord, they still were unclean before the Lord. And nothing which they could do on the Day of Atonement could gain them merit. They were to do no work, and anyone who attempted to accomplish something by his works was to be destroyed from among the people. The blood of the Lord's goat, and the ministry of the High Priest alone would attain the atonement of atonements. This was the type.

In the great antitypical Day of Atonement in the sanctuary which the Lord pitched and not man, our great High Priest, with His perfect holiness and by His own blood will accomplish the cleansing of not just one individual, but the cleansing of His people. This cleansing will be of a people who know they have been forgiven, and that at the foot of the Cross - before the altar of the court - is the highest place they can attain; a people who are not seeking perfection by their own works, but who find in their communion with God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit that humility of soul, that distrustfulness of self which God delights to honor. "Blessed are they who know their spiritual poverty, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:3 RBV)

p 4 -- It must also be recalled from the type given that as God made a covenant with Moses as representative of the people - a covenant to which the people did not assent to as a nation, but which through the "daily" services of the sanctuary they individually acknowledged by the bringing of their sin offerings, so Christ has been accepted by the Father as the representative of the individuals who accept Him as their Substitute - their Sin-Offering. For these people - collectively - He will make the atonement of atonements. They are His people. As a Representative of them, He has covenanted to "make a man more precious than gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir." (Isa. 13:12)1 This He will do; but it must be kept in mind that He and He alone will do it! He does it in and for those who recognize themselves as sinners, not perfected saints. It was this He made painfully clear to the "religious" during the days of His earthly ministry. He said "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." (Matt. 9:13)

As our High Priest, Christ will obtain from the Father all power necessary for the accomplishment of His part of the covenant so that the ultimate objective of the at-one-ment may be realized - "Father, I will that they also, whom thou has given me, be with me where I am." (John 17:24) For who is like unto our heavenly Father, who "pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retaineth not His anger forever, because He delighteth in mercy. He will [respond], He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; [He] will cast all [our] sins into the depths of the sea." (Micah 7:18-19) And when this shall have been accomplished in the atonement of the atonements, then we shall see His face, and His name shall be in our foreheads. In that hour we shall experience the fullness of the atonement (Rev, 22:4)

Our Father, as He sees the host of the redeemed - His earth-born children come home - will rejoice over [them] with joy, He will rest in His love, He will joy over [them] with singing." (Zeph. 3:17)

*

1 Isaiah 13:12 is a very important text. The promise to make a man more precious than fine gold is placed in a time setting in context with "the day of the Lord." Following the fulfillment of the prophecy - "the sun shall be darkened in his going forth" (verse 10) - and before "the earth shall remove out of her place, in the wrath of the Lord of hosts, I and in the day of His fierce anger" - this promise is to be fulfilled. Thus between the Dark Day, May 19, 1780, and the close of human probation, Christ will make a man as precious as the golden wedge of Ophir. Thus the timing of this promise coincides with the antitypical Day of Atonement - the Day of the Atonement of the Atonements. (See Isa. 13:9-13; Dan. 8:14)

"Let no one take the limited, narrow position that any of the works of man can help in the least possible way to liquidate the debt of his transgression. This is a fatal deception. If you would understand it, you must cease haggling over your pet ideas, and with humble hearts survey the atonement. This matter is so dimly comprehended that thousands upon thousands claiming to be sons of God are children of the wicked one, because they will depend on their own works."

(Ms 50, 1900; 6BC: 1071)

The Atonement.

Watchman, What of the Night- 

1981 May-- XIV 5(81) -- LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ATONEMENT - I -- The word - atonement - is an English word coming from "atone," a word in Middle English meaning - at one. So we can say that atonement means simply to be at one again with a person from whom we have become estranged. When applied to theology, it indicates the reconciliation between God and man, and man and God. There is only one thing that has separated between God and man, and man and God, and that is sin.

In the case of man's alienation from God, the Scripture states it very simply - "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23) Paul summarizes the condition of man by quoting from the Old Testament -    

As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Rom. 3:10-12)

With God, the alienation was forced upon Him by man's actions, not by any action initiated by Him. Isaiah declared - "Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear." (Isa. 59:2)

 God is holy and righteous. The Psalmist sang that "righteousness and judgment are the basis of His throne." (Ps. 97:2 Heb.)

Sin - rebellion - on the other hand had challenged the very foundations of the government of God. Justice demanded that the traitors be executed. There is, however, another aspect to the character of God. His holiness and His righteousness emanate from a heart of love. Love devised an atonement that would meet the demands of justice, and thus secure the Throne, and would provide a means for the healing and restoration of the traitor.

Before we can understand the atonement devised by God, we must understand the sickness of man. All sin represents degrees of insanity. We continue in our rebellion because "the whole head is sick." (Isa. 1:5) Sin originated with a created being whose mind became deranged. The prophet stated of Lucifer under the symbolism of the king of Tyrus - "Thou has corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness." (Eze. 28:17) How could a created being ever think that he could destroy an immortal God, and take His place? But once in the pathway of insanity, this arch-traitor led our first parents into sin by a derangement of their thought patterns, a subversion of the higher nature to the lower. The atonement must bring healing to the mind, and restoration of the glorious character lost through this deceptive derangement.

There is, however, that judicial aspect of judgment with which God had also to

p 2 -- deal so that He could be at-one-ment with sinful man, and thus effect the healing of man. "The wages of sin is death." (Rom. 6:23) But who would be willing to die as a substitute, and who could die in such a capacity so that the demands of justice might be met? There was only One, and that was the Son of God. To Abraham who was bringing his "only son" as an offering to God, the Spirit encouraged his heart so that he could say to Isaac - "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." (Gen. 22:8) And He did! "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son." (John 3:16) "The Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all . . . His soul [was made] an offering for sin." (Isa. 53:6, 10) Thus the first great question of the Atonement found an answer - How can God be just, and yet justify the sinner? (See Rom. 1:16-17; 3:24-26) We can, therefore, from the viewpoint of God - and only from that viewpoint - speak of the Cross as an atonement. The Cross is an atonement only in this phase of the relationship - God becoming at one with man. In the cross man is provided by God what could be called a "second chance," but which is in reality an opportunity to escape his corporate involvement in the first choice made for him by the father of the race, for "by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation." (Rom. 5:18)

The significance of this atonement with man on the part of God is illustrated in covenant-history. Israel was assembled before Mount Sinai. They had heard the voice of God proclaim His law amid thunderings and lightenings. They listened carefully as Moses read "the book of the covenant" which he had prepared under the direction of God. To what they heard, Israel responded - "All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient." (Ex. 24:7) In this book of the covenant had been written as its preamble the requirement of God for singleness of worship on the part of Israel. It read - "Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. Ye shall not make with Me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold." (Ex. 20:22-23) Within forty days following the ratification of this blood covenant, and the solemn commitment of Israel, they gave their adoration to the "golden calf" of Egyptian devil worship. They repeated the sin of Adam and Eve in giving their loyalty and allegiance to the enemy of God.

The reaction of God to this apostasy was swift. Moses was immediately informed by God as to what was happening in the camp below, and was told that He no longer considered them His people. (Ex. 32:7) Moses after returning to the encampment of Israel from his dialogue with God in the Mount, removed the "tabernacle" of meeting without the camp. (Ex. 33:7) Then he told the people - "Ye have sinned a great sin: and now I will go up unto the Lord, peradventure I shall make an atonement for your sin." (Ex. 32:30) The result of this interceding of Moses, and the exchange that took place between him and God is given in God's final answer to Moses' pleadings - "The Lord said to Moses, Write thou these words: for after the tenor of these words I have made a covenant with thee and with Israel." (Ex. 34:27) Israel's commitment was not secured to this covenant. It was a covenant by which Moses stood as surety for Israel's compliance, and through which God could once more become atonement with Israel. It was a "type" covenant of the "atonement" achieved by Christ for man to effect God's reconciliation with man. God became at one again with humanity in Christ Jesus. Even, as God talked with Moses face to face (Deut. 34:10) so Christ in His glorified humanity is in the very presence of God to speak for man. (Heb. 4:14-15)

The fact should not be overlooked that at the time when Israel was forfeiting

p 3 -- their rights as God's people in the worship of the golden calf, and demonstrating the inability of man to keep any covenant to which mentally he would agree, God was giving to Moses "the plan" by which man can become at-one with God. The sanctuary and its services, which were to operate as "types" under a type-covenant, were being revealed to Moses. (See Ex. 24:18-32:1)

This second aspect of the atonement - man becoming one with God begins at the same point - the Cross. Here his healing begins for in the Cross he comes to see the real significance of where his mental derangement will lead. If God had only the judicial aspect of the atonement in mind to effect the redemption of man - justification - Gethsemane would have sufficed. There the cup was accepted, and there the blood first touched the ground. (Luke 22:44) Thus Gethsemane could have become the antitypical Altar. Why then the Cross? The Cross brings to our poor deranged and dull senses that sin is the will to kill God. Jesus had told the Jews that the lusts of their father the devil they would do. Being a murderer from the beginning - desiring to kill the Immortal Potentate, Satan would have them do that very thing to God's Son in whom all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt. (John 8:44) When we truly perceive what sin really is, our thinking is rearranged, and we see in Him whom we have pierced, our Sacrifice and Substitute.

However, with the healing of our thought processes, we are still short of the glory of God. We are still just as unable to meet the judicial requirements of God as stated in His law, as we were before we found our place at the foot of the Cross. But He who became our Sacrifice and Substitute speaks to us, and says I will be your Mediator - your Priest. I will accomplish your atonement with your God. And so "of Him are [we] in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." (I Cor. 1:30) "Wisdom" - for by the Cross we see the real meaning of sin; "righteousness" for by His righteousness God is able to declare "the remission of sins that are past." (Rom. 3:25); "sanctification" for by His sanctification the truth is to be inwrought in our lives (John 17:19); and "redemption" for by that redemption our vile bodies shall be changed into the likeness of His "glorious body" (Phil 3:21); - yea all this is for us by Jesus Christ that "in all things He might have the preeminence." (Col. 1:18) But in this divine process whereby we become atone with God and see His face again (Rev. 22:4), there are specific acts to be performed on both the part of the priest and the individual. These conditions were outlined in the types of the earthly sanctuary which foreshadowed the work and ministry of our great High Priest as He makes atonement for us in the sanctuary of the heavens.

In the Court -- The principle article of furniture as far as the individual was concerned was the Brazen Altar. On this Altar was offered the sin offering. While the disposition of the blood varied with the status of the sinner, the process by which it was presented, and the ultimate result reflecting back on the sinner was the same. The one presenting the animal of the sin offering must bring it "to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord." (Lev. 4:4) Then he would "lay his hand upon the head of the sin offering and slay the sin offering" before the Lord. (Lev. 4:29) With this ritual the participation of the sinner ceased. But in his participation, he had performed two very meaningful acts.

p 4 -- First, he had presented a substitute to meet the demands of justice, and secondly, he himself slew the substitute.

At the point when the victim was killed, the priest took over. He either ministered the blood directly before "the veil of the sanctuary" (Lev. 4:6), or he partook of the flesh of the sin offering. (Lev. 10:17) Through the priestly act, atonement was made, and forgiveness was extended to the sinner. (Lev. 4:20) Again this ritual tells us something. The atonement of man with God was not made until after the sacrificial substitute was offered. The result of the atonement was forgiveness - judicial in its results, because the sinner had just as much a potential to sin after the sin offering was presented as he had before its presentation. The forgiveness extended had only one effect upon him - he could rest in the consciousness of freedom from the guilt caused by his sin. He stood before his God as though he had never sinned. The victim had borne his sin, and had been accepted in his place.

The Hebrew word translated "atonement" in describing the ritual of the sanctuary is kah-phar. It means literally "to cover." Its first use in Scripture had to do with Noah's ark. There God commanded Noah - "Make yourself an ark of gopher wood, and cover it inside and out with pitch." (Gen. 6:14 RSV) In the sanctuary service as pertaining to the sin offering, the priest made the "covering." The sin of the sinner was open - he confessed, and was deserving of death, but had presented a substitute. By the means of the blood of the substitute, the priest had in turn "covered" his sin. In the reality, Jesus became both Substitute, and Priest, one following the other. As the great High Priest over the house of God, He has effected the judicial atonement - whether individual or corporate - covering the sins of all who "come unto God by Him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25)

If in the sanctuary service, the ritual of the Court had been all that was to be performed, and the first apartment into which the priest went with the blood of the sin offering was a vacant vestibule, then we might conclude that the "new theology" had some merit. But the Scripture plainly teaches that beyond the judicial atonement was much more to be performed by the priests on behalf,of the sinner directly effecting his final atonement with God. There was the Holy Place, not vacant and meaningless, and the Most Holy Place, where the final decree regarding sin and sinners was prefigured each year in the great Day of Atonement. These we shall discuss in the next thought paper, God willing.

Sure Word of Prophecy.

BIBLE PROPHECY

Excerpted from Great Advent Movement

By J. N. Loughborough

Prophecy a More Sure Word

(((2Pe_1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts))))

Though the apostles had seen this glorious sight on the mount of transfiguration, and had heard the voice of God's approval, the apostle Peter affirms: "We have a more sure word of prophecy." By this statement he is not discounting what they saw and heard on that memorable occasion. They then heard the voice of God once, but in the great lines of prophecy, extending down to Christ's second coming, we have the voice of God oft repeated. In fact, every definite prophetic prediction fulfilled or recorded in history is the voice of God to us. It must be in this sense that the word of prophecy is "more sure." The Revised Version translates it, "made sure." The prophecy is made sure by each and every specification fulfilled. Each and every event predicted, when fulfilled, is an assurance that the remaining events predicted will surely come to pass.

The Nature of Prophecy

The following testimonials from eminent Bible students on the nature of prophecy are forcible:-

Thomas Newton makes the assertion that "prophecy is history anticipated and contracted; history is prophecy accomplished and dilated. Lying oracles have been in the world; but all the wit and malice of men and devils cannot produce any such prophecies as are recorded in the Scriptures."

Sir Isaac Newton testifies that "the giving ear to the prophets is a fundamental character of the true church."

Dr. A. Keith says that "prophecy is equivalent to any miracle, and is of itself miraculous. . . . The voice of Omnipotence alone could call the dead from the tomb,-the voice of Omniscience alone could tell all that lay hid in dark futurity, which to man is as impenetrable as the mansions of the dead,-and both are alike the voice of God."

Matthew Henry said that "in God's time, which is the best time, and in God's way, which is the best way, prophecy shall certainly be fulfilled. Every word of Christ is very pure, and therefore very sure."

The Object of Prophecy

We may learn from the words of Christ to his apostles one object of the Lord in giving prophecy. Speaking prophetically of the things that would take place in the career of Judas, he said, "I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he."

The Lord says also by the prophet Isaiah, "I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure."

Again, "I have declared the former things from the beginning, and they went forth out of my mouth, and I showed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. . . . I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I showed it thee; lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. Thou hast heard, see all this; and will not ye declare it? I have showed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them. They are created now, and not from the beginning; even before the day when thou heardest them not, lest thou shouldest say, Behold, I knew them."

From this language the force of prophetic fulfillments as a proof of the divine origin of prophecy is seen, as well as its being a demonstration of the power of the Lord above all the gods of the heathen. It is also observed from these words that prophecy occupies a very important place in the Scriptures of truth. These facts being true, it is surprisingly strange that so many people give little or no attention to the study of the prophetic portions of the Sacred Scriptures.

Prophecy not Sealed

The uninformed say they are unlearned, and therefore cannot understand the prophecies. On the other hand, many of the educated, and some of them among the ministry, say: "The prophecies are sealed, and cannot be understood. We all know that the book of Revelation is a sealed book."

In the Revelation, the beloved John was given a special command not to seal the book. Also in this book a blessing is pronounced upon those that "hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein." How could the things contained in a sealed book be kept if they were not, and could not be, understood? The Lord said by Moses, "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God; but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

That the Lord designed the prophecies of Daniel to be understood is evident from his words to his disciples respecting them. We read: "When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoso readeth, let him understand)," that virtually says, Understand Daniel the prophet.

The Lord exposes the fallacy of the claim that prophecy cannot be understood, in these words: "The vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed: and the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid." Had the people to whom the prophet here refers followed the sure word of prophecy, they need not have drifted away from God's law, and substituted for his precepts the commandments of men.

Prophecy not of Private Interpretation

It is not that prophecy has some deep, hidden, mysterious meaning that so many fail to understand it. The apostle Peter has said of it, "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." It is plainly implied from this language that what is essential to an understanding of prophecy is the reception of that spirit which spake through the prophets. Of that spirit, promised to all who seek it, it is written, "He will guide you into all truth."

Prophecy Fulfilled

In the study of prophecy there are certain facts that should ever be kept in mind: God, who is infallible, is the author of prophecy, and when the time comes for the fulfillment of a prediction, the very event predicted will occur. Again, as the Lord, who has power to foresee just what men will do, specifies a time when a thing will transpire, when that time comes, a true fulfillment of the prophecy is met. In other words, a false fulfillment of prophecy in the specified time for the true, is an impossibility. In harmony with this axiom, we may say, when the Lord's time comes for his message of truth to be given to the world, the message makes its appearance every time.

At one time, when the writer had given a discourse on the fulfillment of prophecy, an infidel who was present came forward and said, "I must congratulate you interpreters of prophecy as being very fortunate. In your study of history, you seem so readily to find that which exactly fits the prophecy." "Yes," was our reply, "it fits because it was made to fit. If you should go to a glove store to buy a pair of gloves, would you not expect to find those that would fit your hand?" He replied, "Of course I would, because they were made to fit." "So," said the writer, "that God who knew just what men would do, made the predictions concerning them, and when those men come upon the stage of action, and do the very things he predicted, the true historian makes a record of their actions, which, compared with the prediction, are an exact fit."

Prophecy a Light in the Darkness

The apostle Peter says we should give heed to prophecy as unto a light shining in a dark place. Without the lamp of prophecy the future would be total darkness. The purpose of light is to dispel darkness-when traveling in a dark place, to show the pathway, and to show the pathway clearly, that the traveler may be enabled, step by step, to see and choose the way. "Thy word," the psalmist says, "is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The wise man says, "The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day." Thus it is seen, as we pass down the stream of time, that the word of God, especially in its prophetic fulfillments, will open more and yet more, making it clearer and still clearer to the Bible student that he is surely in the pathway leading to everlasting light and eternal day.

Three Prominent Events from Eden to the End

In considering the pathway of the Lord's people from Eden down to the end, in the light of the Scriptures, there are three events that stand out in special prominence. The first is the first advent of Christ, the incarnation, the coming of Emmanuel, God manifest in the flesh; the second, the great Reformation after the Dark Ages-the 1260 years of oppression, in which the word of the Lord was almost wholly kept from the common people-a coming of the church out of her wilderness state, and the placing of the Scriptures where all might read and know his will; the third, the second coming of our Lord to bring in the times of restitution of all things spoken of by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began; this, to close up "the conflict of ages," the conflict between sin and righteousness, to bring in the age of glory, toward which all the ages have been tending.

Prophecy Gives Way-Marks to the End

In giving heed to the sure word of prophecy as unto a light that is to guide our steps, discovering to us the correct path through the darkness, it cannot be otherwise than that we shall find the pathway clearly marked out in the prophetic word all the way down the stream of time to the second advent of Christ. This being the case, those who follow closely the light of prophecy will not only recognize the signs and tokens that the great day is near, but will also recognize the work of the Lord as it steadily moves on in messages of truth which are to prepare a people to meet him in peace at his coming.

While the Scriptures declare that the day of the Lord will come upon the masses as "a thief in the night," it also says of those standing in the counsel of the Lord, "Ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day."

1Th 5:4  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 

1Th 5:5  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 

1Th 5:6  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 

1Th 5:7  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 

1Th 5:8  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. 

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Th 5:10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

1Th 5:11  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

Signs.

The signs…

Jerusalem.

Dan 11:45  And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him. 

Tabernacles of HIS palace will be planted in Jerusalem, and HE will come to HIS end and none shall help HIM.

This is prophecy as yet UNFULFILLED.

What happens right after this…

Dan 12:1  And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. 

…there will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation.

Rev 15:1  And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 

Rev 15:6  And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. 

Rev 15:7  And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. 

Rev 15:8  And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God, and from his power; and no man was able to enter into the temple, till the seven plagues of the seven angels were fulfilled. 

*******

Remember this-

Luk_22:69  Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.

Rom_8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

Eph_1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places

Col_3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Heb 1:1  God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 

Heb 1:2  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 

Heb 1:3  Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high

Let's look at Romans 8:34- Jesus is making INTERCESSION for us.

When someone is sitting and then they stand up- a lot of time things are finished at that point.

Standing up from a dinner table- dinner is over.

Standing up after a meeting- the meeting is over.

No, not every time someone stands up something is over but standing up CAN be an indicator of finishing something. Jesus sits at the right hand of God making intercession for us and when that intercession is over, He will stand up, no longer needing to intercede for His people they will be sealed as His.

If you believe the Savior will return, that the kingdom will come… then you have to comprehend that at some point Jesus interceding will end. Before Jesus can return all of His people have to be ready for Him. Probation will be over and everyone living will either be God's or Satan's.

When Michael stands up- the Great Prince-  then the time of trouble comes.

We are living in the time before the tabernacles are planted, once they are planted this power will come to its end without anyone to stop it, and then Jesus finishes all intercession.

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

Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 

Rev_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.

There WILL be a time when the unjust REMAIN unjust without a possibility of redemption because probation is over. There WILL be a time when the filthy REMAIN filthy. And there will be a time when the righteous and holy remain so because they've been redeemed and probation has closed with them secure in the Savior's love forever.  We NEED to be righteous and holy in Christ forever, through Him!

The signs of the times… the signs we are told to look for, to watch… and our eyes are on Jerusalem where we know the tabernacles will be planted and then… our Lord will complete His intercession for us and then… trouble, such trouble as we've never seen before will come.

If you look in the news right now… Jerusalem is there. We must WATCH. We must realize just how short the time really is. IF we wait for the tabernacles to be planted, if we wait until our Savior stands up before we truly commit our lives to Him, it will be TOO late. May God help us! Save us from ourselves and Satan who would claim us. We want to be claimed by Jesus, not Satan, ONLY JESUS!

All through HIS amazing love, HIS grace, HIS mercy forever and ever!!!!!!!

Cares of This Life- Take Heed.

What does it mean to be prepared for Jesus? How can being caught up in cares keep us from salvation?

Luk 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 

Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

The cares of this life will keep us from focusing on the return of our Lord. If our lives aren't centered on the return of our Savior then He will return and we won't be ready, we will be unaware.  The Lord's return is going to be like a SNARE.

A snare- a trap.

When you think of a snare, a trap for people, what do you imagine?  If someone sets a trap for you what would make it work?  A trap will NOT work if the person is aware of its existence. When you are aware of a trap you look out for it. If you know there is a snare set up in the woods geared towards entrapping a human being and you set out to walk in those woods then you will be on the lookout for that trap. If you aren't looking for that trap what happens? It catches you unaware.  When our Savior returns many are going to be caught unaware- the majority. People are just too caught up in the here and now, and their part in the here and now- and not in the future in Christ's kingdom.  Christ's kingdom isn't very real for people, it's more an abstract thought than a reality. It needs to be a reality. It needs to be so real to us that we are in a constant state of watchfulness for our Lord's return.

We have to TAKE HEED to ourselves!

If we aren't taking heed to ourselves then our hearts WILL be overcharged with surfeiting, and before you skip over that word without knowing its meaning let me tell you. Our hearts can be overcharged with gorging ourselves on any and all selfish desires we have. Consuming TOO MUCH of something is the definition and we are constantly consuming too much of THINGS- food, tv, videos, work, play, drink, pleasure of any and all kinds. Our selfish pursuits are paramount to us - even in disguise. We can selfishly do something for others, all the while telling ourselves we are being putting out a bit for doing it, but hey, that's our cross to bear and aren't we being good Christ followers for doing it? We can do so many things that have selfish roots and not even be aware of it because we call it 'life'. And the majority of people will live this 'life' in that way and be considered normal, average, typical. We need to TAKE HEED to ourselves… we need to know our motives, our reasonings for all the things we do. Yes, ALL the things we do. If you don't want to know your motives or reasonings then you better ask yourself why not. Are you trying to hide from yourself? People can be very successful at hiding their true motives for the things they do, not wanting to delve too deeply into their own lives, afraid of what they might find.

When we TAKE HEED we are called to ask ourselves if we are letting our hearts be overcharge with selfishly consuming anything, if we are caught up in drunkenness of any sort, if the cares of living have taken over our existence we have to recognize it and STOP. TAKE HEED!!!!!!

Our Savior is returning! We have to WATCH and PRAY ALWAYS that will are accounted worthy to escape all the horrors to come for those who are not true Christ followers, and that we will be able to stand before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Luk 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 

Luk 21:35  For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 

Luk 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

What does it mean to be prepared for Jesus? How can being caught up in cares keep us from salvation?

Our daily bread …  remember the Lord's prayer? It's prayed at least daily, yes? If that prayer wasn't supposed to be prayed daily then why put the phrase.. daily bread?

After this manner…. Pray----

Mat 6:9  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 

Mat 6:11  Give us this day our daily bread. 

Mat 6:12  And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 

Mat 6:13  And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 

Daily recognize Our Father God in heaven and His holy name.

Daily recognize Our Father's kingdom to come.

Daily recognize our need of daily bread- spiritual and physical.

Daily recognize the need to have our sins forgiven, and our need to forgive others.

Daily recognize that we need Our Father not to lead us into temptation.

Daily recognize that we need to be delivered by Our Father from evil.

Daily recognize the kingdom is Our Father's.

Daily recognize the power is Our Father's.

Daily recognize the glory is Our Father's.

Being prepared for our Savior's return is to have a very real relationship with God, so real that we know  He is our everything and nothing else in this world should usurp His place in our lives no matter how tempting it is to allow the CARES, the many, many CARES of this life to overcome us.

Let us all TAKE HEED. We don't want to be overtaken by the snare of our Savior's return, caught up in the trap of this world and ignoring the world to come, His kingdom. Let the Father's kingdom come be daily on our minds. All through the grace, the will, the mercy, the love of our Savior, our Lord, Jesus Christ, now and forever!!!!!!!

A Sign Is Fulfilled, What Does It Mean?

LUKE 21-

… And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 

Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 

  For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 

  But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 

And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 

When you see…

…flee.

Jews led away captive- truth.

Jews led into all nations as captive-truth.

Jews throughout our entire history are an OUTCAST people in many ways.

Jews political and religious.

Jerusalem-homeland Israel- trodden down of the nations until the TIMES of the nations are fulfilled.  I say nations because the same word for Gentiles is nations.

Jerusalem belonged to God's people, the Jewish people for a long time and the Romans razed the temple to the ground and overtook Jerusalem completely. There have been a succession of other nations being in control of Jerusalem and many thought it impossible for Jerusalem to ever belong to the Jewish people again.  This is TRUTH. Up until 1948.  Only 70 years ago.  From the year 70 to the year 1948…  for 1, 878 years Jerusalem was out of Jewish control. Jesus said that a time WOULD come when Jerusalem would NO longer be under the control of others.

Jesus told us that the city would be surrounded by armies and it was.

Jesus told us that Jerusalem would be taken over by non-Jewish nations and would one day revert to the Jewish people again, and it was.

People who listened to the prophecies, people who knew the signs and saw them acted and were spared death when Jerusalem was taken over in the year 70.

What are the people who see this sign, the sign that occurred in 1948, with a subsequent war in 1967, and yet another milestone in 1980 when Jerusalem was declared the actual capital of the Jewish people, what were they supposed to do?

Luke 21 -… And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 

 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 

 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

We are to take heed to ourselves.

Why? Because our hearts could be overcharged with surfeiting, with drunkeness, with cares of this life.

We are to take heed that these things DON'T happen. That we don't let ourselves be fooled into looking away from the signs, from the truth of our Savior's return.

Satan would have us NOT concern ourselves with Jesus returning. Satan would have us put it off to the future just far enough that it doesn't interfere with our day to day present life.  If we can keep pushing it to the future just out of our current reach we won't treat it as a reality, right? We'll treat it as that 'someday' with the little voice of Satan whispering in our ears, that someday will never come.  We will get so caught up in cares of this life that we won't be prepared for Jesus.

What does it mean to be prepared for Jesus? How can being caught up in cares keep us from salvation?

These are good questions and by the grace and will of our Savior we will study on them tomorrow, praying for comprehension, for enlightenment, for the Holy Spirit guiding us in all things.

All in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, now and FOREVER.