Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.(Acts 20:28)
we long for all that God has said
I have heard several preachers recently say things like “people are leaving the churches to find God.” In today’s post-Christian era, more than ever, we are to recognize the sobering truth that we are not called to “go to church;” but we are called to “be the church.” One person I heard has called people leaving the church to find God “church refugees.” People who are done with “church” the way we know it today.
As Christians in this world today, we are to do whatever it takes to be close to Jesus and to help others to do the same. The major factor that is causing all of the trouble is that of authority. When we ask someone to describe the great commission, to tell us how it begins, the answer we hear most is “Go!” Jesus does say “go and make disciples” As true as this is, Jesus also says that, we are often missing the whole point of this text in Mathew 28. The great commission starts with Jesus. It starts with and under His authority. And Jesus will never give that to another.
So he came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth is given to me. So go and make followers of all people in the world. Baptize them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.” (Mat 28:18-19)
The Bible reveals that the very first thing Jesus mentions in this “great commission” is that of HIS AUTHORITY. When Jesus talks about the church and the great commission, Jesus starts by asserting His own authority as the foundation of the church in all it’s forms today. It is the very authority of Jesus Himself by which His Church is to thrive and prosper as they go out into the world with “the everlasting gospel,” as depicted in Rev 14:6-7. The great commission as depicted in the Bible does not mention human authority of any kind. Not once. There is no place for the church in the “time of the end” (Dan 11:35,Rev 3:10) to assume authority that Jesus did not authorize.
Jesus did not, nor will He ever give His authority to any human being, no matter how important they say the person assuming Christ’s authority is in “the news.” Our so called news rarely reflects what the Bible says on anything. Jesus makes it all so simple. He just tells us in Mat 28:20 after He asserts His authority over the Church (Mat 28:18) that we are to GO but on HIS authority! And then Jesus says the one thing that today’s churches simply will not do:
“Teach them to obey EVERYTHING that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.” (Mat 28:20)
Jesus did not once give His authority to any human for any reason. In one text God asserts as much by saying:
I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (Isa 42:8)
I will not give my glory unto another. (Isa 48:11)
History shows us all too well what happens when finite, fallible humanity tries to wrest away the clearly stated authority of Jesus and to brute “church” into their own ways and standards, completely ignoring that word “EVERYTHING” in Mat 28:20. If Jesus says ALL AUTHORITY has been given Him over the church, then He would be a liar if in fact certain ecclesial authorities have said how they were given His authority to run the church by human maxims that deliberately do not include that EVERYTHING in Mat 28:20 Why would Jesus say that “ALL AUTHORITY” was given Him if He in fact did intend to “transfer” His authority to fallible, pride-filled human beings?
The remedy for this false system of religious deception is found in the “everlasting gospel” of Rev 14:6-7
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, 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. (Rev 14:6-7)
THIS everlasting gospel admonishes us to “give glory to God,” not to human dictates and maxims.
When God commissions His ministers to announce to the world that the hour of his judgment is come, that Babylon has fallen, and that whoever worships the beast and his image must drink of His wrath poured out un-mingled into the cup of His indignation (see Rev 14:8-12), a threat more terrible than any other that can be found in the Scriptures–no human being, except at the peril of their soul, can treat these warnings as nonessential, or pass them by with neglect and disregard. Making little or no difference between the holy or the unholy. Lifting up human authority in all things church at the cost of not being able to glorify God, as it says in Rev 14:6-7
This is why the urgent necessity exists in every age for the most efforts to understand the work of the Lord, the great commission, lest we lose the benefit of the present truth. This is especially true today, when so many evidences indicate the soon coming of earth’s final crisis.(Rev 3:10)
One of the biggest reasons that Jesus begins the great commission by assuring us of His own authority over the church and the great commission is just that. Rev 14: 6-12 asserts that “Babylon” has fallen, and this fall can be traced back as far as you like, and will always show us how human authority has ruined church as we know it, or should know it. This is why the angel says: “come out of her my people.” (Rev 18:4)
Human authority asserted over the church will one day meet its demise. We can be thankful that Jesus tells us in Rev 18:4 and other places that He has His people in every church. “Come out of her My people” is the great moral imperative that our Lord has given us and it means we must relinquish all of the human authority in our churches to the authority of Christ alone.
I recently read a quote from a book about last day events, and it went like this:
“we should now acquaint ourselves with God by proving His promises.” (Great Controversy, pg 622)
Here is the “precious promise” (2 Pet 1:4) that Jesus gives us for His end time church:
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. (Mat 16:18)
It is obviously impossible that this verse could mean the authority of Jesus was somehow “transferred” to a fallible, sometimes Christ-denying human being! (Mat 26:75) After the scriptures we have covered so far in this article, how could anyone believe that Jesus would now contradict His own Word to cede His authority over His church to human beings so bent on denying His authority in so many ways?
Mathew 16:18 does tell us that Jesus said “on THIS Rock I will build my Church. THAT ROCK was not a human being other than our Savior and Lord Jesus “THE Christ.” And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1 Cor 10:4)
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. (Psalms 95:1) see also Deut 32:15, 2 Sam 22:47, 1 Cor 11:24-25
We need to stop seeing the great commission as “going to church” that we might view it as us being the church. We were not created as human doings (as in going to church) but rather, as human beings who are the church because they carry within themselves the assurance of “Christ in you, THE hope of glory” (Col 1:27).
Peter reminds Christians that they are the church built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, meaning amongst other things that the first church was never, nor ever will be a certain denomination that today, by its pretended authority, claims to be the “first church.” The Bible says Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the church both yesterday and today (1 Pet 2:4-6). The Bible is clear that the authority of/for the church in all ages and in all of its manifestations rests ONLY on the authority of Jesus. This is the basis by which our Lord said “THEREFORE Go and make disciples.” The Bible is clear that all believers of all ages must be “mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of the apostles of the Lord AND Savior.” Meaning of course, leaning unto the authority of Christ Alone.
All believers are enjoined to “the church of the living God” (1 Tim 6:17) by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior AND Lord,(Isa 43:11, Luke 2:11), the same faith that Peter expressed. (see also Eph 2:20-21). Jesus praised Peter for his confession of faith. It is faith like Peter’s that is the foundation of Christ’s Kingdom. Today’s Church is called “the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” which means by the authority of Jesus our Savior and Lord. Jesus Himself said “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
When we see how the everlasting gospel of Rev 14:6-7 calls people back to God and to worshipping Him as Creator and Lord, then we begin to realize that we have been lied to regarding Church authority. ANY church policy, rules, legislations or practices that limits or prevents the “job description” that Jesus gives us in HIS great commission of Mat 28 is to be rejected as falsehood and left to those who would reject the authority of Christ in His own Church, in favor of the human dictates of unconverted souls who presume authority that they do not have.
As activity increases and people become successful in doing any work for God, there is danger of trusting to human plans and methods. There is a tendency to pray less, and to have less faith. Like the disciples, we are in danger of losing sight of our dependence on God, and seeking to make a savior of our activity. We need to look constantly to Jesus, realizing that it is His power which does the work. While we are to labor earnestly for the salvation of the lost, we must also take time for meditation, for prayer, and for the study of the word of God. Only the work accomplished with much prayer, and sanctified by the merit of Christ, will in the end prove to have been efficient for good.—(The Desire of Ages, 362.) {Prov 29.4}
The Savior’s commission to the disciples included all the believers. It includes all believers in Christ to the end of time. It is a fatal mistake to suppose that the work of saving souls depends alone on the ordained minister. All to whom the heavenly inspiration has come are put in trust with the gospel. All who receive the life of Christ are ordained to work for the salvation of their fellow men. For this work the church was established, and all who take upon themselves its sacred vows are thereby pledged to be co-workers with Christ. {DA 822.2}
United in Christ and all that He has said. This is the message of the three angels in Rev 14. The “church of the living God” is to both carry this truth forward and to present it by the authority of Jesus!”
And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up, for to shew in thee my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth. Exodus 9:16.
God will help you
Christian life is more than many take it to be. It does not consist wholly in gentleness, patience, meekness, and kindliness. These graces are essential; but there is need also of courage, force, energy, and perseverance. The path that Christ marks out is a narrow, self-denying path. To enter that path and press on through difficulties and discouragements, requires Christians who are more than weaklings.
People of stamina are wanted, people who will not wait to have their way smoothed, and every obstacle removed, people who will inspire with fresh zeal and flagging efforts to dispirited workers, people whose hearts are warm with Christian love, and whose hands are strong to do their Master’s work. (SD July 15th)
For the scripture says unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. (Rom 9:17)
I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I, the LORD, which call you by thy name, am the God of Israel. (Isa 45:2-3)
And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; (Luke 3:3-5)
We live in, quite literally, crazy times. Tough times. With no chance of improvement, unless we take a serious look at what Jesus is saying to us now. Today.
“Be Courageous. Be Strong.” (1 Cor 16:13)
Under divine guidance, the author of the book of Hebrews wrote to us about “the removing of those things that are shaken…those things that cannot be shaken may remain.” (Heb 12;27) God is continually examining and sifting His people. From the day He created Adam, till today, our day and age, God has always seen fit to test His people. Those who profess to follow Him. By the express exercise of their free will, God’s people have always shown themselves as genuine or false in their professions of faith. Loyal or disloyal to His cause.
Calvary was the ultimate, litmus test, if you will for the disciples. So too will we as God’s modern-day professing people of God, face events and circumstances that will try to the uttermost, our Christian faith and personal experience with Jesus. We are blessed to have the assurance in Heb 7:25 and to know that all we need to glory in is the cross which so many reject. But Gal 6:14, Eph 2:13 assure us that the cross is enough. Jesus is enough!
“[JESUS] is able also to save to the uttermost those who come unto God by Him, since He ever lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb 7:25)
What blessed assurance! When we are tested to the uttermost, Jesus can still “save to the uttermost.” We sons and daughters of God should never pray for an easy life. We should instead pray to be a stronger person. Why should we Christians pray for a task that is equal to our own strength, our own, personal capability or resources? Jesus desires that His people learn and grow in grace (2 Pet 3:18) by praying earnestly for the power and the wisdom that is needed for whatever situation He sees fit to put us in. Especially the situations where we are powerless to do anything about.
It is rarely in any sort of lax or indulgent life that Jesus will lead us, His people to greatness. That kind of easy life will not lead us upward. It only leads people on the downward spiral. Idle hands, easy life leads to trouble. But troublous times and crises is simply opportunity for God.
Many of us church-goers tend to avoid anything that we think costs us too much. Things that require major self denial. Self-restraint. Personal Sacrifice. The Bible makes it very clear, in a variety of ways,that toil and hardship show us the way to a holy life, and to God’s promises which give us everything we need for a Godly life. (2 Pet 1:3,4)
Greatness does not come from having our path made easy. Then there would be little or no need for faith, or for God’s promises. There is no need for having our path made easy through a field of beautiful flowers, but by us being sent out to carve our appointed path with our own hands. Blood. Sweat. Tears. This is how to scale the tallest mountains in our experience! “He has made all His mountains a way.” (Isa 49:11) They are “His mountains.” God gave them to us! So if it comes from God what is there to complain about?
Fellow Christians! be strong! Be courageous! We are not here to play meaningless games. To dream of frivolous desires. To drift along hopelessly or helplessly! My friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, we often have very hard, very difficult things to accomplish when we follow God’s will. But as the sons and daughters of God we do not shun the struggle. We face it head on! For this is exactly what God’s amazing grace is! To be strong! To “be of good courage.” No matter what.(Joshua 1:9)
Don’t sit around moping and complaining all the way to The Father’s House! Stop extrapolating on how terrible and evil the world is. I mean really. Who is actually to blame for that? There is no need for us to fold our hands in surrender to the evil tides that beset us today! Stand up! Speak out! And be courageous in the name of Jesus! Be strong! be courageous! For on the morrow always comes, the song of the morning:
Weeping may endure for the night, but JOY comes in the morning. (Psalms 30:5)
God’s promise is for you:
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chron 7:14, NIV)
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2 Pet 1: 2-4, NIV)
“…You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jer 29:13)
Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God.
They do not now choose to be Christians.
Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (1 Cor 2:5)
power of God
Loneliness. Being isolated, by yourself, alone and lonely. Loneliness. Being with someone, or with a group of people, but feeling alone and lonely. What is it that God is trying to tell us through our loneliness?
Two major points to consider are as follows:
1/ Through Your Loneliness God Is Saying, “I’m Who You Need” (John 14:6)
Just like when I am water my garden, and saw all the plants growing in response to the life-giving water, all of our unmet desires, all of the un-remedied problems such as loneliness can be traced back to one singular act in the past.
Before Adam and Eve sinned, the human heart was completely satisfied by their perfect relationship with God. The longing for something we need we don’t have can be traced back to their sin. Our perfect union with God was broken, thus we feel lonely. This is why Jesus came. He didn’t ultimately come to heal our bodies, to give us great marriages, or desperately need to bring the chaos in our lives back to order. Jesus will do these things one way or the other, and say “peace be still” (Mark 4:39) both now or on the new earth. But ultimately, the gospel is about our hearts being restored in Christ so we can have a right relationship with our Heavenly Father once again. Only when we are satisfied in Jesus will we be satisfied at all. (1 Tim 6:6)
Happiness and belonging do not exist outside of the presence of Jesus. As Psalm 16:2 states, “I have no good apart from you.” (compare also John 14:6)
2/ Through Your Loneliness God Is Saying, “It Won’t Always Be This Way” (Jer 29:11, Jer 31:17)
While Jesus did come to heal the brokenhearted, Luke 4:18)Scripture is also clear that while we live on this broken planet, there will always be some unmet longings in our hearts. Because everything is not yet perfected as it will be one day, there will always be some loneliness and discontentment in our souls. (Psalms 102:7)
Through the “everlasting gospel” (Rev 14:6-7) we have the certainty of redemption and satisfaction that our future is friendly. But there is more than we could ever imagine to come:
For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons and daughters of God, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:22-23).
Much of the loneliness we feel now is connected to our longing for the full redemption that is to come (2 Peter 3:9-10). Thus we agree with Revelation 22:20
“Those who testify to these things say, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
A very apparent solution to our being alone and lonely in Scripture is prayer:
“In one single quiet hour of prayer we will often make more progress than in days of company with others. It is in the desert that the dew falls freshest and the air is purest. (Andrew Bonar)”
Many of us have been taught that if we are experiencing dark times,that it “must be” that God is frowning down upon us. But where is the Bible evidence for that? Doesn’t God make it to rain on BOTH the just and the unjust? (see Mat 5:45) The message of this week’s devotional, is that nothing could be further from the truth. As always, the first place to understand this topic is the Bible. I found a text earlier this week that seems to reflect on the topic for this article in a surprising way. Here, in our opening text, the Psalmist is reflecting on how
“darkness is my closest friend.”
But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. You have taken from me friend and neighbor—darkness is my closest friend. (Psalms 88:13–18,NIV)
But how can this be, we may ask? Why does the Psalmist say that
“darkness is my closest friend?” (Psalms 88:18)
It is precisely because of the part that “Faith” plays in the Christian’s life that the darkest night of our lives can be termed as “the night of faith.” (1 Thes 3:10)
Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name:(Amos 5:8)
I have had such nights. On the dark night, my extreme sense of dislocation, injustice, and absurdity is prominent;(sometimes called “cognitive dissonance). According to “the everlasting gospel,” (Rev 14:6-7), human reasoning alone cannot cope with, nor explain the infilling of Jesus during the night of faith and darkness. Bible prophecy informs that the whole world is about to experience this terrible “night of faith.”
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. (Rev 3:10)
In the opening text for today, I think that the Psalmist may have felt that any delight which he used to feel in prayer has been evaporated by the winds of change, strife, disappointments and trials. Perhaps the sweet certainty of God’s Presence that he used to feel in prayer no longer exists, and he is expressing that because no new way of praying has yet happened. Nowadays we vaguely sense the call to prayer, but we can no longer decline or answer the call. We cannot find a credible way to bring about the meeting with Jesus in prayer. Our faith being co-opted by the cares of this world. (Luke 8:14, Luke 21:34)
Our former feelings of closeness to God no longer arise spontaneously to make our praying easy or enjoyable. Many of us have fallen into thinking that we are standing before a God who is hidden and who does not want to communicate with us. Truly, this “night of faith” is but the beginning of serious, heart-felt contemplation, where we seemingly can find no way out of this stifling fog that has arisen in our sphere, to immobilize us; and hide every familiar landmark or sign that we thought was God’s indication of favor when we prayed.
The thick darkness,(Exodus 20:21) seems so impenetrable,claustrophobic, and impossible. We stoically concede that it “must be” unanswered prayer. (so called). If we examine more closely what the Christian must see and believe regarding their night of faith, and ow to navigate the thick darkness, we may find the way around that darkness is to charge right into it as Moses demonstrated:
“And the people stood afar off and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.” (Exodus 20:21).
Here we see that GOD was/and is right inside that “thick darkness.” Moses went charging right into “the thick darkness” to meet God right there! Moses did not wait for God to not be shrouded in darkness! This is another reason why I keep saying:
“there is light in every cloud.”
The Light of Christ is never daunted by darkness, or human failure. (Psalms 139:12) I have trouble understanding why some churches or individuals seem so fixated on the mark of the beast stuff when they yatter about what they call “end time prophecy.” Those very prophecies really only mention such ideas just a few times, almost parenthetically, We have certain preachers gibbering about “the beast” and “666” or the Pope so much that there is no room to talk about what we are really going to need during the time of the final crises, where “no one can buy or sell” unless they have this “mark” of the beast power as described in the book of Revelation.
Today’s most popular preachers, just like modern/secular “news media” so called that broadcasts a fear based message make no difference now between the holy and the unholy. Modern Christian Gurus widely admired for their clever gimmicks and falsehoods are stuck on detailing by the same worldly tactics of F.E.A.R. that a certain denomination is behind all of the beast’s activities. But there is really no need to go there most times when we talk about prophecies. Because BIBLE prophecy is primarily about Jesus. prophecy is about the cross! Prophecy is NOT History, except in the context that it is related to by HIS Story! If the Bible doesn’t have its main emphasis on all the scary stuff then why do we?
All one would need for the fearful part of the message is the last verse of Revelation 17
“And the woman which thou saw is that great city, which reigns over the kings of the earth.” (Rev 17:18).
It’s not hard for anyone, Christian or not, to know what/who this one text is talking about. There is only one city in all of the earth that meets this qualification of also being a “country.” But this is certainly not ever intended to be the main emphasis of “the message.”
We could really stand to learn what God’s desire for us is during the “time of Jacob’s trouble,” (Jer 30:7), or any during other times of trouble and folly by closely examining what the Bible prophets did, how they responded,during those times when they wrote out the prophecies the dreadful circumstances they endured. Daniel is one of the best examples that I can think of.
Most, when they read Daniel 8-9 seem to always drift into talking about “the beast” or the “mark” of said beast. Yet Daniel had a response to the death decree of his day that is most enlightening. If you read Dan 9 you will see that Daniel learned to pray (Understand The Visionhttps://lightintheclouds.org/?s=understand+the+vision) during a very dark period when his own and the lives of all believers with him were under threat of death for not obeying the edicts to worship false Gods. The same kinds of things will happen to God’s people during “the time of the end.” Are we ready for that kind of darkness? (Rev 3:10) Do we want to be a Daniel during times like that? (Dan 6:10)
Are You Worried About “The Final Crises?”
Are you worried by personal crises? Or concerned/perplexed about “final events?” Take some lessons from Daniel and other Bible characters and their prayers as recorded in your Bible. Learn to pray. Make prayer your personal first response to the dark cloud that is over you, as did the prophets of old.
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. The eye of faith will discern God very near, and the suppliant may obtain precious evidence of the divine love and care for them.
But why is it that so many prayers are never answered?
Truth is, prayers are always answered. Sometimes, we just don’t like the answer. Here are a few possibilities:
1/ You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires. (James 4:3, AMP)
2/ David says, “I cried unto Him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” [Psalm 66:17,18.]
3/ By another prophet the Lord gives us the promise, “Ye shall seek me, and and you shall find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.”
[Jeremiah 29:13]
4/ Again, he speaks of some who “have not cried unto me with their heart.” [Hosea 7:14.]
5/ There are certain conditions upon which we may expect that God will hear and answer our prayers. One of the first of these is that we feel our need of help from Him. The heart must be open to the Spirit’s influence, or God’s blessing cannot be received.
6/ Another element of prevailing prayer is faith. Jesus said to His disciples, “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” (Mark 11:24).
When we do not receive the very things we asked for, at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers. When our prayers seem not to be answered,we are to cling to the promise anyway; for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most.
This is why God’s answer to prayer is sometimes different than what we ask. At times,He may say “no,” or “yes,” or “wait,” or “maybe.” Prayer is always answered. Just not the way that we sometimes expect or demand it in our prayers.
7/ God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly: “For Jehovah God is a sun and shield; Jehovah will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalms 84::11, MKJV).
8/ He who turns his ear away from listening to the law [of God and man], Even his prayer is repulsive [to God] (Pro 28:9, AMP). see also John 7:17
9/ “Surely God will not listen to an empty cry [which lacks trust]. Nor will the Almighty regard it.” (Job 35:13, AMP).
10/ The prayer which Nathanael offered while he was under the figtree,came from a sincere heart, and it was heard and answered in an expected way by the Master. Christ said of him:
“Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” [John 1:47.] compare Rev 14:5
Only Jesus reads the hearts of all, and understands their motives and purposes:
“The prayer of the upright is his delight.” [Proverbs 15:18] He will not be slow to hear those who open their hearts to him, and not exalting self, but sincerely feeling their great weakness, their urgent need, and unworthiness.
11/ Of Christ it is said: “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly” (Luke 22:44). In what contrast to this intercession by the Majesty of heaven are the feeble, heartless prayers that are offered to God. Many are content with lip service, and but few have a sincere, earnest, affectionate longing after God.
12/ The presence of Christ alone can make men and women happy.–AH 28. Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend.–SC 93.
Truly, there is nothing more calculated to energize the mind and strengthen the intellect than the study of the Word of God. {PM 292.1}
In God’s will alone is found true peace, and assurance. We can face any trial, any crises, by turning it into an opportunity to pray aright. God says through the prophet Isaiah:
“come let us reason TOGETHER,” (Isa 1:18)
This shows us that God desires to work with us at the point of our felt needs through the power and miracle of prayer. As an example:
It is quite remarkable that the most brilliant colors of plants are to be seen on the highest mountains, in spots that are most exposed to the wildest weather. The brightest lichens and mosses, the loveliest gems of wild flowers, the brightest, most beautiful colors,all abound far up on the bleak, storm-scalped peak. One of the richest displays of structured coloring I ever saw was near the summit of a mountain in Jasper. The whole face of an extensive rock was covered with a most vivid yellow, orange and white lichen which shone in the sunshine like something displayed to bless those aspiring to reach the top. There, in that lofty region, amid the most frightening, isolated desolation, exposed to the fiercest tempest of the sky, the lichen and alpine flowers exhibited a glory of color such as they never showed below in the sumptuous, sheltered valley.
Is it not so with the Christian who is afflicted, tempest-tossed,and not comforted? Till the storms and fluctuations of God’s providence beat upon them again and again, their character and their experience may appear marred and clouded; but the trials clear away the obscurity, perfect the outlines of the believer’s disposition, and give brightness and blessing to their life, and to those around them. And that is “the true witness.” (Rev 3:14) that there is Light in the clouds.
“Christ in you, THE hope in glory.” (Col 11:27) Christ is our Light. (John 8:12)
May your personal prayer life be animated in Christ and direct you into the patient waiting on new paths that bring you closer to Jesus, is my prayer, in Jesus’s name.
Like Jesus, like the Psalmist, darkness can be our friend and ally during the “final crises” (Rev 3:10). Our God is right in there,awaiting your petitions. As Moses showed us, we can rightly and safely walk right into the darkness, because God is there. Through nature and revelation, through His providence, and by the influence of His Spirit, God speaks to us. But these are not enough; we need also to pour out our hearts to Jesus. In order to have spiritual life and energy, we must have actual relationship and two-way communication with our Heavenly Father. Our minds may be drawn out toward Him; we may meditate upon His works, His mercies, His blessings; but this is not, in the fullest sense, communing with Him.
In order to commune with God, we must have something to say to Him concerning our actual life. {SC 93.1} Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. {SC 93.2} When Jesus was upon the earth, He taught His disciples how to pray. He directed them to present their daily needs before God, and to cast all their care upon Him. And the assurance He gave them that their petitions should be heard, is assurance also to us.(SC 93:3)
Prayer is communion with God. It is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. Jesus Himself, while He dwelt among us, was often in prayer. Prayer went before and sanctified every act of His ministry. It was by prayer that He was braced for duty and for trial. He is a brother in our infirmities, “in all points tempted like as we are;” but as the sinless One, His nature recoiled from evil
He endured struggles and torture of soul in a world of sin. His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with His Father. And if the Savior of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer.
“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.” (Luke 21::36)
Do you know when God dispatches them, And causes the light of His cloud to shine? (Job 37:15)
light in the clouds is Jesus
And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped. And he said, If now I have found grace in thy sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray thee, go among us; for it is a stiffnecked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for thine inheritance. (Exodus 34:5-9, CEV)
Here, from the dark cloud, our Lord descended by some open token of his presence and manifestation of his glory in a cloud, and thence proclaimed his NAME; that is, the perfections and character which are denoted by the name JEHOVAH. The Lord God is merciful; ready to forgive the sinner, and to relieve the needy. Gracious; kind, and ready to bestow undeserved benefits. Long-suffering; slow to anger, giving time for repentance, only punishing when it is needful. He is abundant in goodness and truth; even sinners receive the riches of his bounty abundantly, though they abuse them. (Eph 2:13).
All God reveals is infallible truth, all he promises is in faithfulness. Keeping mercy for thousands; he continually shows mercy to sinners, and has treasures, which cannot be exhausted, to the end of time. Forgiving iniquity, and transgression, and sin; his mercy and goodness reach to the full and free forgiveness of sin. And will by no means clear the guilty; the holiness and justice of God are part of his goodness and love towards all his creation.
In Christ’s sufferings, the Divine holiness and justice are fully shown, and the evil of sin is made known. God’s forgiving mercy is always attended by his converting, sanctifying grace. None are pardoned but those who avail for themselves the gift of Calvary.
Near the end of the Bible, close to the culmination of Bible prophecy, Christ, THE Light in the clouds is once more mentioned, as if to assure us again “there is Light in every cloud.”
Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. (Rev 1:7, CEV)
Jesus is here portrayed as the all-powerful King, victorious in battle, glorious in peace. He is not just a humble earthly teacher, he is the glorious God. When you read John’s description of the vision, keep in mind that his words are not just good advice; they are truth from the King of kings. Don’t just read his words for their interesting and amazing portrayal of the future. Let the truth about Christ penetrate your life, deepen your faith in him, and strengthen your commitment to follow him no matter what the cost.
It is at midnight, when it is darkest that God manifests His power for the deliverance of His people. The sun appears, shining in its strength. Signs and wonders follow in quick succession. The wicked look with terror and amazement upon the scene, while the righteous behold with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance. Everything in nature seems turned out of its course. The streams cease to flow. Dark, heavy clouds come up and clash against each other. In the midst of the angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable glory, when comes the voice of God like the sound of many waters, saying:
“It is done.” Rev 16:17.
The True Light In The Clouds Will Always Be Jesus.
Christ could not help being bright and shining. His very work was to shine. I am come, He said, “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” In Me is no darkness at all. Light means revelation, and the light is to shine amid moral darkness. Christ is everything to those who receive Him. He is their Comforter, their safety, their healthfulness. Apart from Christ there is no light at all. There need not be a cloud between the soul and Jesus. His great heart of love is longing to flood the soul with the bright beams of His righteousness.
Jesus lives to make intercession for us. (Heb 7:25) While the blackness and darkness are closing about the world, our lives are only secure as they are hid with Christ in God. Precious Saviour! In Him alone are our hopes of eternal life to be centered. We will then talk faith, talk hope, talk courage, and diffuse light on every side. “Ye are,” saith Christ, “the light of the world. A city set on an hill. Let your light so shine before men, that they may glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16). Faith must pierce the darkest cloud. Simple, earnest trust in God will glorify His name, and in that trust you may be all light in the Lord. Praise the Lord. Praise Him, and glorify God for His matchless love.
Christ says to His followers, “You are the light of the world.” Then let your light shine forth in clear, steady rays. Do not wrap about you a cloud of darkness. Cease to suspect others. By good works represent the character of Christ. When you are tempted to yield to despondency, look to Jesus, and talk with Him. Your Jesus, THE Light in your clouds will never make a mistake. He will judge righteously. He will guide you in the right path. (Psalms 119:105)
Earlier this week I encountered someone I had never met before. They asked me out of the blue:
“Why are you so happy?”
I had to chuckle a bit because I had no idea it was even showing like that. But I just told him how I became a Christian, and what Jesus has been doing in my life.
I remember saying to him
“I am happy everywhere I go!”
He had previously told me he was atheist but after hearing my testimony, (1 John 1:1-3, Rev 12:11) he said that he wants to know more about God and His Word. And he asked me to send him some relevant material about that.
My friends, who will you be a light to this week? No matter how bad things might be for you tight now, with Jesus, you can be the light in someone else’s clouds.
But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:28-31)
God is in control
I have had a spiritual struggle, a battle of sorts in recent days. After hearing what has happened in the DRC recently, and the children who were murdered in cold blood and burned to death, I was filled with tears. Just thinking about it. I had 50% of my body burned. I know a bit what it might have felt like. Like many, I have struggled to find in God’s Word anything about just how He intends to make things right after something like that.
People have challenged me by asking:
“well where was your God when all those kids were butchered?”
When I am confronted with something like this, my auto-default is the cross. God was in the very same place He was when His own Son died on the cross. God was in the same place He was when I sustained burns to 50% of my body. God was in the same place he was when my late wife died in my arms. God was. God is. God will be:
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV)
Scripture tells us about others who have asked similar hard-hitting questions about “where was God?”
Repent or Perish
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1-5, ESV)
No. Jesus was not threatening people, saying “you must repent or I’ll kill you.” Jesus was simply warning them Jesus is simply warning us today. He wants us to know the results we will bring upon ourselves if we do not know Him as Savior and Lord. It is eternal life to know God and Whom He has sent.(John 17:3) God has also said:
I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. (Jer 31:3, NIV)
As evidenced by the cross; Jesus has shown us this “everlasting love”, through His “everlasting gospel.” (Rev 14:6-7)
God reaches toward his people with kindness motivated by deep and everlasting love. He is eager to do the best for them if they will only let him. After many words of warning about sin, this reminder of God’s magnificent love is a breath of fresh air. Rather than thinking of God with dread, look carefully and see him lovingly drawing us toward himself.
Whether a person is killed in a tragic accident or miraculously survives is not a measure of righteousness, or lack thereof. Everyone has to die once. (Heb 9:27) Jesus did not explain why some live and some die tragically; instead he pointed to everyone’s need for repentance, before their time comes. (Mat 4:17) We have some terrible forest fires in my area at the time of this writing. A young lady just 19 years old has just died while helping to fight the fires. Its such a sad thing.
No matter how or when it occurs, death is not the end. Jesus promises that those who believe in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
Wonderful Words of Life
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God. (John 3:16,21, NIV)
I don’t have all the answers, yet something did occur to me that I find helpful. Something with HOPE in it. I don’t really know what to say to people about this, my heart is breaking just thinking about the magnitude of the suffering in the Congo. The families that are left. I can sum up what I am thinking by just saying that if we know our identity in Christ, then at least these tough questions have an answer that makes some sense through the din of grief and pain. It gives me hope of something better.
As I thought of those children being burned alive; I recalled my own burns to 50% of my body. Why don’t I hate God after all that has happened to me? Through it all, Jesus has been there. Jesus has been real. Jesus is relevant. Jesus has been, is, and will be powerful. I know I am His adopted child, and He is my Heavenly Father. “I am the one Jesus loves.” And this gives me hope. Something to hang onto. A future hope. No more death, no more crying, no more tears.
Who really am I when all seems so dark and scary, and there is seemingly no hope?
“I am the one that Jesus loves.”
Its about the cross. The cross is the only thing that levels the playing field in a crises for us all. The cross is exactly how Jesus makes all things right.
“that He might be JUST and the JUSTIFIER of all who believe in Jesus” (Rom 3:26) PTL. This is what will apply also to all who wonder “where was/is God?” The cross closes up the distance. “all who are afar off are made near by the blood of Christ.” (Eph 2:13)
A nurse who looked after me years ago when I was burned kept saying “God just loves everyone so much.” And I had the evidence by her ministry to me in the sick bed. On what we all thought was my death bed. For us today, as then, the cross is the evidence.
Christ declares
“I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32)
If the cross does not find an influence in its favor, it creates an influence. Through generation succeeding generation, the truth for this time is revealed as present truth. Christ on the cross was the medium whereby mercy and truth met together, and righteousness and peace kissed each other. This is the means that is to move the world! {6BC 1113.5}
This is why the header photo for this web site is there. You see it at the top of each page here. I scratched that message in the sand this past summer during a dark period I was going through.
“I am the one Jesus loves.”
This is our identity in Christ. We are the one/s that Jesus loves. The cross is our proof. The cross is our doctrine. The cross is our warning. The cross is my hope in every situation. (Gal 6:14, Eph 2:13)
I asked a passing tourist to take the header picture for this web site after I scratched the message in the sand at Jasper National Park. He did not look at the message until after he took the picture. His mouth literally dropped open in surprise. Now he and his group of friends have gone back to India but I am sure they will tall many others about this. About the old hippy in dirty drywall clothes that actually thought
“I am the one who Jesus loves.”
Im sure they will never forget the moment. And I pray that God will bring justice to the Congo and shower the people there with Hope and Love that passes all human understanding or possibility. May they too know in their darkest hour:
“I am the one Jesus loves”
Light In The Clouds
Rain Bow Shows Righteousness of Christ, Mercy, and Justice
In the rainbow above the throne is an everlasting testimony that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish. . . .” Whenever the law is presented before the people, let the teacher of truth point to the throne arched with the rainbow of promise, the righteousness of Christ. The glory of the law is Christ; He came to magnify the law, and to make it honorable. Make it appear distinct that mercy and peace have met together in Christ, and righteousness and truth have embraced each other.{5BC 1133.5}
As the bow in the cloud is formed by the union of the sunlight and the shower, so the rainbow encircling the throne represents the combined power of mercy and justice. It is not justice alone that is to be maintained; for this would eclipse the glory of the rainbow of promise above the throne; people could see only the penalty of the law. Were there no justice, no penalty, there would be no stability to the government of God. It is the mingling of judgment and mercy that makes salvation complete. It is the blending of the two that leads us, as we view the world’s Redeemer, and the law of Jehovah, to exclaim,
“Thy gentleness hath made me great” (2 Sam 32:6, Psalms 18:35) {5BC 1133.6}
If you desire to be one of God’s adopted children today you may take heart in this promise from Heaven:
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12, KJV)
All who welcome Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives are reborn spiritually, receiving new life from God. Through faith in Christ, this new birth changes us from the inside out—rearranging our attitudes, desires, and motives. (2 Cor 5:17). Being born makes us physically alive and places us in our parents’ family (John 1:13). Being born of God makes you spiritually alive and puts you in God’s family (John 1:12). Have you asked Christ to make you a new person? This fresh start in life is available to all who believe in Christ. Just ask Jesus in your own words:
Prayer is the opening of the heart to God as to a friend. Not that it is necessary in order to make known to God what we are, but in order to enable us to receive Him. Prayer does not bring God down to us, but brings us up to Him. {CSA 26.3}
The phrase believe in His name occurs three times in the Gospel of John (John 1:12; John 2:23; John 3:18). Name does not refer to the term by which He is called, but to what His name stands for—the Lord is salvation (Exodus 3:14-15). In this context, the phrase means to believe that Jesus is the Word, the life, and the Light—that is, He is the Christ, the Son of God (John 20:31).
To them He gave the right refers to the legitimate entitlement to the position of children of God. None of us was naturally a child of God. We were by nature children of wrath and condemned apart from Christ. Imagine being poverty-stricken and then being given the right to inherit the riches of a king and the position of royalty. By believing, undeserving sinners can become full members of God’s family.
While he was in jail, Paul was treated in a very rough manner. But this is what he said:
Then Paul called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:29-31)
Remember that at one time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (Eph 2:12,13, NIV)
At all times and in all places, in all sorrows and in all afflictions, when the outlook seems dark and the future perplexing, and we feel helpless and alone, the Comforter will be sent in answer to the prayer of faith. Circumstances may separate us from every earthly friend; but no circumstance, no distance, can separate us from the heavenly Comforter. Wherever we are, wherever we may go, He is always at our right hand to support, sustain, uphold, and cheer. (The Desire of Ages,669,670).
Today “the news” has articles in it about events in Russia/Ukraine that are portentous, and signal to us that something is happening, maybe a few cracks in the murdering military forces?As Christians, we can spread the hope that God is in control of the affairs of nations, and rulers, and of everyone:
He changes the times and seasons. He gives power to kings, and he takes their power away. He gives wisdom to people, so they become wise. He lets people learn things and become wise. (Dan 2:21)
To understand these things,–to understand that “righteousness exalts a nation;” that “the throne is established by righteousness,” and “upholden by mercy;” to recognize the outworking of these principles in the manifestation of His power who “removes kings, and sets up kings,”– this is to understand the philosophy of history. Prov 14:34; Prov 16:12; Prov 20:28; Dan 2:21. {PK 502.2}
In the word of God only is this clearly set forth. Here it is shown that the strength of nations, as of individuals, is not found in the opportunities or facilities that appear to make them invincible; it is not found in their boasted greatness. It is measured by the fidelity with which they fulfill God’s purpose. {PK 502.3}
An unconscious babe was the promised seed, to whom the first altar at the gate of Eden pointed. This was Shiloh, the peace giver. This was He whom seers had long foretold. He was the Desire of all nations, the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star. {FLB 47.6}
Anyone seeks to quench their thirst at the fountains of this world will drink only to thirst again. Everywhere men are unsatisfied. They long for something to supply the need of the soul. Only One can meet that want. The need of the world, “the desire of all nations,” is Christ. The divine grace which He alone can impart, is as living water, purifying, refreshing, and invigorating the soul. {FLB 99.4}
Those who seek to quench their thirst at the fountains of this world will drink to thirst again. Everywhere men are unsatisfied. They long for something to supply the need of the soul. Only One can meet that want. The need of the world, “the Desire of all nations,” is Christ. The divine grace which He alone can impart, is as living water, purifying, refreshing, and invigorating the soul. {AG 119.2}
Please Pray for all countries involved. They need our support.
If the dead are completely insensate, with whom or what do spiritualist mediums communicate? Every honest person will admit that at least some of these phenomena are fraudulent; but others cannot be explained as such. There obviously is some supernatural power connected with spiritualism.
What does the Bible teach on this point?
peace and truth
THE BASIS OF SPIRITUALISM.
Spiritualism originated with Satan’s first lie to Eve-“‘You will not surely die’” (Gen 3:4). His words were the first sermon on the immortality of the soul. Today, throughout the world, religions of all sorts unwittingly repeat this error. For many,the divine sentence that “the soul who sins shall die.”
And today we have popular preachers rebelling against the Word and making it out to mean “the soul that sins will not surely die. (we are all sinners). (Rom 3:23). Ezekiel 18:20 has been reversed to say “the soul, even though it sins, shall live eternally and go straight to heaven before the resurrection.” (…………) The reference brackets are empty for that sentence because there is not a single verse in the Bible to prove this dogma of the popular churches.
This erroneous doctrine of natural immortality has led to belief of consciousness in death. Even though the Bible says
“the dead know not anything.” (Eccl 9:4-6)
As we have seen, these positions of our most admired preachers, priests, pastors, etc directly contradict the Biblical teaching on this subject. These new age spiritualistic beliefs were incorporated into the Christian faith from pagan philosophy. Particularly that of Plato-during the time of the great apostasy. See Eph 2:19-22. These beliefs became the prevailing view within Christianity and continue to be the dominant view today.
Belief that the dead are conscious has prepared many Christians to accept modern-day spiritualism in all of its forms and guises. If the dead are alive and in the presence of God, why could they not return to earth as ministering spirits? (Heb 1:14). And if they can, why not try to communicate with them to receive their counsel and instruction, to avoid misfortune, or to receive comfort in sorrow?
Building on this line of reasoning, Satan and his angels (Rev 12:4,Rev 12:9) have established a channel of communication with the spirit world of the devil through which they can accomplish their deception. Through such means as spiritualistic seances, (Gen 3:4) they impersonate departed loved ones, bringing supposed comfort and assurance to the living. At times they predict future events,which, when proved to be accurate, seems to give them credibility. Then the dangerous heresies they proclaim take on the aura of authenticity, even though they contradict the Bible and God’s law. Having removed the barriers against evil, Satan has free rein to deceive and to lead people away from God and to certain evils that God has condemned in His Word.
WARNING AGAINST SPIRITUALISM.
No one need be deceived by spiritualism. The Bible clearly exposes its claims as false. As we have seen, the Bible tells us that the dead do not know anything, that they lay unconscious in the grave. The Bible also strongly forbids any attempt to communicate with the dead or the spirit world. It says that those who claim to communicate with the dead, as spiritualistic mediums do today, are actually communicating with “familiar spirits” (Deut 18:10-11) that are “spirits of devils.” that actually work real miracles that we will believe if we do not accept what the Bible says on this point. (Rev 16:4).
What if someone you know who died came to you all of a sudden and said they did not in fact die? The Lord said these activities were abominations, and that those who perpetrated them were to be punished. (Lev 19:31; Lev 20:27; Deu 18:10-11).
Isaiah expressed well the gross error of spiritualism:
“When they say to you, ‘Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,’ should not a people seek their God?
Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isa 8:19-20).
There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that uses divination, an observer of clouds, or a fortune-teller, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or one who calls to the dead.(Deut 18:10-11)
Only the teachings of the Bible can safeguard Christians against this overwhelming deception that will test every person on the planet. The first lie (Gen 3:4)will be the last lie upon which everyone will be tested. (Rev 3:10)
MANIFESTATIONS OF SPIRITUALISM.
The Bible records a number of spiritualistic activities-from the magicians of Pharaoh and the magicians, astrologers, and sorcerers of Nineveh and Babylon to the witches and mediums of Israel-and condemns them all. The Bible even says that “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” (1 Sam 15:23).
Recall the “familiar spirit” seance that the witch of Endor conjured for Saul. Scripture says, “When Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets” (1 Sam 28:6). God, then, had nothing to do with what happened at Endor. Saul was deceived by a demon impersonating the dead prophet Samuel; he never saw the real Samuel. The witch saw the form of an old man while Saul only “perceived” or concluded that it was Samuel. (1 Sam 28:14).
If we are to believe that that apparition truly was Samuel, we must be prepared to believe that witches, wizards,necromancers, sorcerers, spiritualists, or mediums can call the righteous dead from wherever they go when they die. We must also then accept that the godly Samuel existed in a conscious state in the earth, because the old man ascended “out of the earth” (1 Sam 28:13). This seance apparently brought Saul despair, not hope. The next day Saul committed suicide (1 Sam 31:4). Yet the so-called “Samuel” had predicted that on that day Saul and his sons would be with him (1 Sam 28:19). If he were correct, we would have to conclude that after death the disobedient Saul and the righteous Samuel dwelt together!
Instead, we must conclude that an evil angel brought about the deceptive events that occurred at this seance.
BIBLE PROPHECY AND SPIRITUALISM
The Final Delusion.
In the past the manifestations of spiritualism were confined to the realm of the occult, but more recently spiritualism has taken on a much more “Christian” appearance so that it might deceive the Christian world better. In professing to accept Christ and the Bible, spiritualism has become an extremely dangerous enemy to believers. Its effects are very subtle and deceptive. Through the influence of spiritualism “the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect.
Love, so called, is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a cheap, weak sentimentalism, making little distinction between good and evil. (Ezekiel 22:26 , Acts 15:9). God’s justice, His denunciations of sin, the requirements of His holy law, are all kept out of sight by such teachings that God condemns. The people are taught to regard the Decalogue as a dead letter while pleasing, bewitching fables captivate the senses and lead people to reject the Bible as the foundation of their faith. Through this means right and wrong become relative and each person, or situation, or culture becomes it’s own norm as to what is “truth.” (Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25, Deut 12:8, Prov 12:15, Prov 21:2). In essence each person becomes their own god, fulfilling Satan’s promise that “ye shall be as gods” and “ye shall NOT surely die.” (Gen 3:5, KJV ).
Before us is “the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.” (Rev 3:10). Satan is about to use great signs and miracles in his final effort to deceive the world. These will be real miracles! They wont be fake magic. Speaking of this masterful delusion, John said:
“I saw three unclean spirits like frogs. They are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty” (Rev 16:13-14; Rev 13:13-14).
Only those who are kept by the power of God,(1 Pet 1:5) having their minds fortifed with the truths of Scripture, accepting it as their only authority, will be able to escape. All others have no protection and will be swept away by this delusion.
THE FIRST AND SECOND DEATHS.
The second death is the final punishment of unrepentant sinners all whose names are not written is the book of life-that takes place at the end of the 1000 years (see Rev 21:1-5). From this death there is no resurrection. With the destruction of Satan and the unrighteous, sin is eradicated and death itself is “the last enemy to be destroyed.” (1 Cor 15:26; Rev 20:14; Rev 21:8).
Christ has given the assurance that everyone “‘who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death’” (Rev 2:11). Based on what Scripture has designated the second death, we can assume that the first death is what every person-except those who are translated-experiences as a result of Adam’s transgression. It is the normal outworking on humanity of the degenerative effects of sin.
Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures. {DD 41.3}
THE CROWNING DECEPTION
For such ones are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. Did not even Satan marvelously transform himself into an angel of light? Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor 11:13-15)
As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Savior’s advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air:
“Christ has come! Christ has come!”
The people prostrate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Savior uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is “the great power of God.” Acts 8:10. {DD 41.4}
But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God’s unmingled wrath shall be poured out. {DD 42.1}
Some time ago when I was selling Bible books door to door, I had an appointment with a lady to study the prophecies of Daniel and The Revelation. When the day came to do this visit, I knocked on the door and waited. After what seemed like forever, she answered the door and asked me to come in. It was obvious that she was very distressed and had been crying. As it turned out, she had just lost her two young daughters just two weeks ago, in a nasty car accident. I even started crying because it was really a horrible thing.
But when I asked her what upsets her the most, this is exactly what she said:
“Now I will never get to see my girls again. They are gone forever.”
I told her at some point that we don’t need to study prophecy today, lets just look at something you might find encouraging. When I told her about the Hope of the resurrection,she and I both had tears again. She was just so happy to hear that she would see her girls again, and that she didnt have to worry about them already being in heaven and crying because they miss their Mom, and because they can see her crying and screaming in spiritual anguish and moral outrage. Like the passage says:
“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 Thes 4:13)
In the meantime, let us be assured by the following point:
Bible prophecy eventually leads to the point where sin and sinners no longer exist and it is my prayer that all who are reading this will be included in that number.
Satan came as an angel of light in the wilderness of temptation to deceive Christ; and he does not come to man in a hideous form, as he is sometimes represented, but as an angel of light. He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. What shall we do? Tell them that Christ has warned us against just such a foe, who is man’s worst enemy, yet who claims to be God; and that when Christ shall make His appearance, it will be with power and great glory, accompanied by ten thousand times ten thousand angels and thousands of thousands; and that when He shall come, we shall know His voice (RH Dec. 18, 1888). {6BC 1105.11}
AN UNFAILING TEST. (Mat 7:15; 2 Thes 2:7-12.) Satan has come down in these last days to work with all deceivabelness of unrighteousness in them that perish. His satanic majesty works miracles in the sight of false prophets, in the sight of men, claiming that he is indeed Christ Himself. Satan gives his power to those who are aiding him in his deceptions; therefore those who claim to have the great power of God can only be discerned by the great detector, the law of Jehovah. The Lord tells us if it were possible they would deceive the very elect. The sheep’s clothing seems so real, so genuine, that the wolf can be discerned only as we go to God’s great moral standard and there find that they are transgressors of the law of Jehovah {6BC 1106.1}
PREPARING FOR THE FINAL ACT
This world is like a theater. The actors, the inhabitants of the world, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama. God is lost sight of. There is no unity of purpose, except as parties of men confederate to gain their ends. God is looking on. His purposes in regard to His rebellious subjects will be fulfilled. The world has not been given into the hands of men, though God is permitting the elements of confusion and disorder to bear sway for a season. A power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in the drama–Satan coming as Christ, and working with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in those who are binding themselves together in secret societies. Those who are yielding to the passion for confederation are working out the plans of the enemy. The cause will be followed by the effect (Letter 141, 1902). {6BC 1106.2}
The apostle John in vision heard a loud voice in heaven exclaiming:
“Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12.
Fearful are the scenes which call forth this exclamation from the heavenly voice. The wrath of Satan increases as his time grows short, and his work of deceit and destruction will reach its culmination in the time of trouble. {DD 41.2}
Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to unite with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world’s Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures. {DD 41.3}
THE CONTROVERSY ENDED
The chaos caused by sin will not last forever. Someday we will live as God intended—in peace, love, and happiness. Death and Sorrow will be banished forever. And best of all, you can be a part of that amazing new world! {DD 52.1}
“I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away.” Revelation 21:1. The fire that consumes the wicked purifies the earth. Every trace of the curse is swept away. No eternally burning hell will keep before the ransomed the fearful consequences of sin. {DD 60.3}
THE MARKS OF LOVE REMAIN
One reminder alone remains: Our Redeemer will ever bear the marks of His crucifixion. Upon His wounded head, upon His side, His hands and feet, are the only traces of the cruel work that sin has wrought. Says the prophet, beholding Christ in His glory: “He had bright beams coming out of His side: and there was the hiding of His power.” Habakkuk 3:4, margin. That pierced side whence flowed the crimson stream that reconciled man to God—there is the Savior’s glory, there “the hiding of His power.” “Mighty to save,” through the sacrifice of redemption, He was therefore strong to execute justice upon them that despised God’s mercy. And the tokens of His humiliation are His highest honor; through the eternal ages the wounds of Calvary will show forth His praise and declare His power. {DD 60.4}
IN THE CITY OF GOD
There shall be no night. None will need or desire repose. There will be no weariness in doing the will of God and offering praise to His name. We shall ever feel the freshness of the morning and shall never be far from its close. All the treasures of the universe will be open to the study of God’s redeemed. Unfettered by mortality, they wing their tireless fight to worlds afar—worlds that thrilled with sorrow at the spectacle of human woe and rang with songs of gladness at the tidings of a ransomed soul. (The Great Controversy, pg 673-678}
THE CONTROVERSY IS ENDED
And the years of eternity, as they roll, will bring richer and still more glorious revelations of God and of Christ. As knowledge is progressive, so will love, reverence, and happiness increase. The more men learn of God, the greater will be their admiration of His character. As Jesus opens before them the riches of redemption and the amazing achievements in the great controversy with Satan, the hearts of the ransomed thrill with more fervent devotion, and with more rapturous joy they sweep the harps of gold; and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of voices unite to swell the mighty chorus of praise. {DD 62.3}
“And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:13.
The great controversy is ended. Sin and sinners are no more. The entire universe is clean. One pulse of harmony and gladness beats through the vast creation. From Him who created all, flow life and light and gladness, throughout the realms of illimitable space. From the minutest atom to the greatest world, all things, animate and inanimate, in their unshadowed beauty and perfect joy, declare that God is love. {DD 62.5}
But the [Holy] Spirit explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive spirits and doctrines of demons, [misled] by the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron [leaving them incapable of ethical functioning] (1 Tim 4:1-2, AMP)
church and spiritualism
Satan deceives people by offering a clever imitation of the real thing. The false teachers gave stringent rules (such as forbidding people to marry or to eat certain foods). This made them appear self-disciplined and righteous. Their strict disciplines for the body, however, could not remove sin (see Col 2:20-23). We must not be unduly impressed by a teacher’s style or credentials; we must look to their teaching about Jesus Christ. Their conclusions about Christ show the source of their message. (Life Application Notes re 1 Tim 4:1-2)
Another Christian writer warns us:
Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will then appear in the shame of their own nakedness. (PK 188).
Through the two great errors, the immortality of the soul and Sunday sacredness, Satan will bring the people under his deceptions. While the former lays the foundation of Spiritualism, the latter creates a world-wide bond of sympathy with Rome. The Protestants of the United States will be foremost in stretching their hands across the gulf to grasp the hand of Spiritualism; they will reach over the abyss to clasp hands with the Roman power; and under the influence of this threefold union, this country will follow in the steps of Rome in trampling on the rights of conscience. (GC 588).
Jesus wants everyone to know whats coming. It would be irresponsible for Christians who know to not tell others. We warn each other all the time about the weather, or about various wars or social quandary. This is no different. The warning is being sounded in love. With a deep and compassionate care for everyone reading it.
When Jesus was talking about the time of the end, just before He comes again, He answered a question of concern by the disciples about “what are the signs of your coming?” (Mat 24:3) The very first thing that Jesus mentioned in His reply was to let no one deceive you.” (Mat 24:4)
Take heed that no man deceive you. For many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ, and will deceive many. (Mat 24:4-5)
Paul obviously knew about this warning from our Lord when he amplified the warning to say something very startling:
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. (Acts 20:29-30)
[People] will arise speaking perverse things. Already they have been working and speaking things which God has never revealed, bringing sacred truth upon a level with common things. Issues have been and will continue to be made of [people’s] conceited fallacies. None of which are true. The devisings of human minds will invent tests that are no tests at all, that when the true test shall be made prominent, (Rev 3:10) it shall be considered on a par with the man-made tests that have been of no value. We may expect that everything will be brought in and mingled with sound doctrine, but by clear, spiritual discernment, by the heavenly anointing, by The Holy Spirit we must distinguish the sacred from the common which is being brought in to confuse faith and sound judgment and demerit the great, grand, testing truth for this time.
Throughout the Bible, it has been a major problem that the Churches of the land become befuddled about plain doctrine from the Bible, and fail to make any difference between the holy and the unholy:
Her priests have broken My Law and have defiled My holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and the common, and have not taught between the unclean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am defiled among them. (Ezekiel 22:26)
Paul had a tough time trying to warn the people of the day, as we see here by his comments after he warned about “the rise of false Christians in Church:
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.(Acts 20:31-32)
Never, never was there a time when the truth will suffer more from being misrepresented, belittled, demerited through the perverse disputings of men than in these last days. Men have brought themselves in with their heterogeneous mass of heresies which they represent as oracles for the people. The people are charmed with some strange, new thing, and are not wise in experience to discern the character of ideas that men may frame up as something. But to call it something of great consequence and tie it to the oracles of God does not make it truth. Oh, how this rebukes the low standard of piety in the churches. Men who want to present something original will conjure up things new and strange, and without consideration will step forward on these unstable theories that have been woven together as a precious theory. And present it as a life and death question. {6BC 1064.6}
One of the key pillars of Spiritualism is deception. The very thing that Jesus has warned us about. The very first warning Jesus gave about the time of the end was about the rampant deception that Christians and the Churches would be directly confronted with:
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. 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. (Mat 24:24-26)
My friends, we will soon see some very astounding things in “the news.” Will we see “Mary?” Will we see “Jesus” healing people? John The Revelator gives an even dimmer outlook on final events before Jesus comes:
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. 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. (Rev 16:13-14)
During the “time of the end” (Dan 8:17) we will all experience massive deceptions, on a scale never known before in all of Earth’s history. (Dan 12:1) As we have just read in Scripture, there WILL BE “THE SPIRITS OF DEVILS WORKING MIRACLES .” (Rev 16:13-14)
Now, this is not hard to understand, in principle, but how many of you today actually believe this? And if you do believe that we will see this kind of thing, HOW will you determine what is from demons, and what is the truth as it is in Jesus? Will you believe it because its on the internet? Or, perhaps you will believe it more if it on ‘the news?” Or maybe a preacher of a church is telling you to believe something that is simply not true? Or even more convincing, will you believe it just because you see it or detect it with your five senses? I mean, if the spirits of demons are going to do real miracles in front of us, they will have to be really convincing to dupe so many people. (many will be deceived” Mat 24:11)
What is the one thing that is already being used to trick people into embracing the strongest deception that we will see just before our Lord returns? When I think about this question; I realize, with a chill down my spine, that we are already being primed for the great deception spoken of in Bible prophecy. We can note here how that the reason there is no such thing as a counterfeit three dollar bill, is because there is no such thing as a real three dollar bill. Deceptions of Biblical proportions are always based on some point of essential truth that the forces of evil wish to distract us from. And right on that point is what Jesus warns us about in Mat 24:24.
Jesus said that the final deception would be so powerful, so overwhelming, that it would run the danger of possible deceiving the very elect. “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Mat 24:24) The reason that demonic deception is often so completely convincing is because there is always some truth to it. Deception needs truth in order to be exposed. Something true. These “miracles of demons” will always use something true to try to convince us of something that is not true. The “father of lies” has been practicing his masterful art of deception for many years. Since Eden. (John 8:44, Gen 3:4)
The Bible is very clear about where all lies come from:
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.(John 8:44)
It would be very worthwhile now at this point to take a look in our Bibles at the very first lie ever promulgated by the devil:
“And the serpent said unto the woman, “YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE:” (Gen 3:4)
Why is Gen 3:4 the first lie? Because God said the complete opposite just one verse previous:
But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, LEST YE DIE. (Gen 3:3)
Other Bible versions make this truth even clearer:
But there is one tree we must not eat from. God told us, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden. You must not even touch that tree, or you will die.'” (Gen 3:4, ERV)
Scripture shows us the first lie. God says if we do certain things, collectively known as “sin” then we will “die.” It cannot get any clearer than this. Other prophets also realized this truth. The devil is the first being that has told us the opposite. “We will not die.” So whom do we believe? God or the devil?
The danger of depending only on what we perceive with our five senses is very real here in the book of Genesis:
“The woman could see that the tree was beautiful and the fruit looked so good to eat…” (Gen 3:6) The devil had Eve hook, line, and sinker here. Eve could see the serpent as “touching the forbidden fruit” The serpent plucked the fruit of the forbidden tree and placed it in the hands of the half-reluctant Eve. Then he reminded her of her own words, that God had forbidden them to touch it, lest they die. She would receive no more harm from eating the fruit, he declared, than from touching it. Perceiving no evil results from what she had done, Eve grew bolder. When she “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat.” It was grateful to the taste, and as she ate, she seemed to feel a vivifying power, and imagined herself entering upon a higher state of existence. Without a fear she plucked and ate.
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food — Her imagination and feelings were completely won; and the fall of Eve was soon followed by that of Adam. The history of every temptation, and of every sin, is the same; the outward object of attraction, the inward commotion of mind, the increase and triumph of passionate desire; ending in the degradation, slavery, and ruin of the soul (James 1:15; 1 John 2:16).
Long has Satan been preparing for his final effort to deceive the world. The foundation of his work was laid by the assurance given to Eve in Eden, “Ye shall not surely die: in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:4,5).
Little by little he has prepared the way for his masterpiece of deception in the development of Spiritualism. He has not yet reached the full accomplishment of his designs; but it will be reached in the last remnant of time, and the world will be swept into the ranks of this delusion. They are fast being lulled into a fatal security, to be awakened only by the outpouring of the wrath of God. {SR 398.2}
The spiritualism of today has simply taken this first lie from Eden and their intention is to make it the last lie. Paul said the following:
“…I fear that you will be tricked, just as Eve was tricked by that lying snake. I am afraid that you might stop thinking about Christ in an honest and sincere way. We told you about Jesus,and you received the Holy Spirit and accepted our message. But you let some people tell you about another Jesus. Now you are ready to receive another spirit and accept a different message. (2 Cor 11:3-4,CEV)
It seems that when it comes to the question about what happens when we die, that all kinds of ideas will come out of the wood work. Obviously, none of us are immortal, as is God, (1 Tim 1:17) and none of us have died before, we can only go by what is written and intended by scripture on this vital subject. 1 Cor 15:52 says none of us are immortal until the second coming of Jesus; and this makes perfect sense when we understand how the Bible describes death and the resurrection. IF as many are bound to say, we just go straight to heaven when we “die” then we really didn’t die, and we are immortal now. If we go to heaven right away when we die, then why would we need the cross?
Who is a liar but anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He who denies the Father and the Son is antichrist.(1 John 2:22)
The Bible describes it this way, the same way as He explained it in Eden:
“The wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23). But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people. ” The dead know not anything.” (Eccl 9:4-5) When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorified and caught up to meet their Lord TOGETHER and IN THE CLOUDS.” The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later. (Rev 20:5-6)
A wise preacher who has mentored me in the past once encouraged me with the thought that “the gospel is wonderfully simple, and simply wonderful. And that is certainly true when it comes to this topic. Over the years I have wondered how so many theories could come in like a wave on the ocean and just wash away all the simplicity that is in Christ, only to substitute it with “the doctrine of demons,” that will “seduce by a false appearance.” (1 Tim 4:1-2)
There is hope for those who are still alive—it does not matter who they are. But this saying is true: A living dog is better than a dead lion. The living know that they will die, but the dead don’t know anything. They have no more reward. People will soon forget them. After people are dead, their love, hate, and jealousy are all gone. And they will never again share in what happens on earth. (Eccl 9:4-6, ERV)
Eccl 9:4-6 tells us clearly what happens when we die, and further, it emphasizes how that as long as we are alive, there is always hope for us in Christ. And so we can conclude that the Bible doctrine of the state of the dead is for the living. It gives us the warning and the assurance that even if we were a real dog, as long as we are breathing on this side of the ground; there is hope for us in Christ. “For a living dog is better than a dead lion.”
YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE?
Do we have some kind of unconscious soul that survives the physical death of our body? Lee Strobel, in his popular book, “The Case For Heaven,” asserts that yes we do. I have often wondered how anyone can believe such a thing. The Bible simply does not support this New Age idea which is just a repeat of the world’s first lie, (Gen 3:4) which was also used in the world’s first seance. (1 Sam 28:7-15).
The serpent duped Adam & Eve into thinking that “ye shall NOT surely die.” And this lie is being repeated almost everywhere today.
Christians need to remember it was the devil who said this, NOT Jesus or the Bible. (Gen 3:4-5). The Bible clearly reflects the fact that we shall surely die. The Bible says it happens to everyone “once” (Heb 9:27) and that death is “the last enemy to be destroyed,” (1 Cor 15:26) so why would Bible believing Christians say that only part of us goes to heaven and never dies, and the other part of us is mortal and “dies?” Strobel should know better than to use things we have coined as “Near Death Experiences” as a part of the alleged Bible “evidence” for his opinion that we go straight to heaven when we die.
Are there other texts that would agree with Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 ? Lest someone suspects “cherry-picking” I offer the following: Job 14:21, Isa 63:16, Job 7:8-10, Eccl 1:11, Eccl 2:16, Eccl 8:10, Isa 26:14.
The Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23) If we go to Heaven as soon as we die then this cannot be true! But God, who alone is immortal, will grant eternal life to His redeemed. The Bible says nothing about part of us being mortal and the other part immortal. No one is immortal in whole or in part until the second coming of Jesus. (see 1 Cor 15:50-54) Until that day death is an unconscious state for all people because they wait for the resurrection when those who have died in Christ will be resurrected TOGETHER with those who remain and are alive at His second coming. (see 1 Thes 4:13-18). Verses 15-18 emphasize strongly that When Christ, who is our life, appears, the resurrected righteous and the living righteous will be glorifed and caught up TOGETHER (at the same time) to meet their Lord IN THE AIR. Now, if we were to believe that when people die they go straight to heaven, then we have a real problem with the Bible’s account of the resurrection. Essentially, there is no need for a resurrection if we go straight to heaven when we die.
The Sadducees said there was no resurrection. (Mat 22:23, Mark 12;18, Luke 20:27) Jesus said “Jesus said to her, I am the Resurrection and the Life! He who believes in Me, though he die, yet he shall live.” (John 11:25) The Bible explains the reason we cannot believe that people go straight to Heaven when they die, because then there is no need for a resurrection either:
But if Christ is proclaimed, that He was raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is worthless, and your faith is also worthless. And we are also found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified of God that He raised Christ; whom He did not raise if the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ is not raised. And if Christ is not raised, your faith is foolish; you are yet in your sins. Then also those that fell asleep in Christ were lost. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1 Cor 15:12-19)
The second resurrection, the resurrection of the unrighteous, will take place a thousand years later. (Job 19:25-27; Psalms 146:3-4 ; Eccl 9:5-6; Eccl 9:10; Dan 12:2; Dan 12:13; Isa 25:8; John 5:28-29; John 11:11-14; Rom 6:23; Rom 16:1-27; 1 Cor 15:51-54; Col 3:4; 1 Thes 4:13-17; 1 Tim 6:15; Rev 20:1-10.)
There are several stories in the Bible that many Christians have been taught “prove” that we go to heaven as soon as we die. Lets take a look at one of the more popular ones.
WORLD’S FIRST SEANCE WITH THE WITCH OF ENDOR
The Philistine army moved into Shunem, set up its camp, and made ready to attack Israel. His mood far from optimistic, King Saul positioned Israel’s army on nearby Mount Gilboa. In the past, the assurance of God’s presence had enabled Saul to lead Israel against its foes fearlessly. But he had turned from serving the Lord, and when the apostate king had tried to contact God about the outcome of the impending battle, God had refused to communicate with him. The ominous fear of the unknown morrow weighed heavily upon Saul. If only Samuel were here. But Samuel was dead and could no longer counsel him. Or could he?
Locating a medium who had escaped his earlier witch hunts, the tall king stooped to inquiring through her about the outcome of the next day’s battle. He requested:
“Bring up Samuel for me.”
During the seance the medium “‘saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.’” (1 Sam 28:13) This spirit, that the witch thought was a god, informed the apostate king that not only would Israel lose the war,but that he and his sons would be killed in that battle the very next day. (see 1 Samuel 28). The prediction came true. But was it really Samuel’s spirit that made the prediction? How could a medium, condemned by God, or an apostate king have power over the spirit of Samuel-God’s prophet? And where did Samuel come from-why did his spirit arise “out of the earth” if its true that we go to heaven as soon as we die?
What had death brought to Samuel? If it wasn’t Samuel’s spirit that spoke to Saul, who or what was it? If we believe that one goes straight to heaven as soon as we die, then we are left with no way to prove from scripture of what sort the spirit is that we are engaging with. I have had Christians who have read Strobel’s book, for example, and they just told me
“Oh I would know if it was an evil spirit!”
But exactly HOW would they know? Intuition? Really?
Let us see some more of what the Bible teaches on the subject of death, communication with the dead, and the resurrection
HARMONY THROUGHOUT THE SCRIPTURES
Many honest Christians who have not studied the complete teaching of the Bible on death have been unaware that death is a sleep until the resurrection. They have assumed that various passages support the idea that the spirit or soul has a conscious existence after death. Careful study reveals that the consistent teaching of the Bible is that death causes the cessation of consciousness. In Eden we read from the book of Genesis how that mankind does not “have a soul,” but rather, we are a soul.
The Bible says that God breathed into the first pair and ONLY THEN did they “become a living soul.” (Gen 2:7)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Cor 1:3-4, NIV)
Its OK
I remember the day like it was just yesterday. My late wife was riddled with cancer, hair all messed up, in her pajamas, couldn’t eat because she was so sick. I put my arms around her carefully, and gave her a kiss.
I told her I loved her and asked for her hand in marriage.
She was so shocked, and she looked at me with a tear or two and said “why would you want to marry someone like me?”
She even told me that I could leave the relationship if I wanted to so that I would not have to look after her when she really got sick.
I said something like
“well I know you are not OK, but I still can see who you are, and thats who I love.”
“And THAT is OK.”
“The sicker you get, the more I will love you.”
And the rest of our time together was filled with true love, and a closeness that I know I will experience again in God’s time. Now I know, it’s OK to not be OK. I am me. I am who I am. I am not all the terrible things that have happened to me. And neither was my wife.
Today, I rejoice that our experience, our story, our not being OK, is now something that can encourage and comfort others across the country. I actively support cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers because of the terrible things my wife and I had to go through.
It is my experience that
“just as I am is all God has ever wanted.”
When we are weak, He is strong. (2 Cor 12:9)
Jesus. He will carry you too. (Isa 46:4). And you don’t have to be OK. Not one of your tears is ever wasted. (Psalms 56:8).
And now I look for stories of others who are not OK. The power of story telling is energized with light and love. This is what I will bring to my next love. To my next story.
“Just as you are is all I want.”
Here below is an amazing story of someone who has a wonderful way of telling people “Its OK” when its not OK. I have no idea what this lady’s beliefs are, but she has a powerful statement to make to those of us today who are not really OK.
This young lady sings an amazing story, the story of her life, and of dealing with cancer. This is what she said about whats happening to her:
“Its important that everyone knows I am so much more than the bad things that happen to me”
– by Night Bird
It is my prayer that this post will encourage and inspire cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. There is power in story telling. Please share your story below in the comments section at the bottom of this page. We would love to hear it. And would be honored to share it with others on this web site.
“…From now on, the name of the city will be THE LORD IS THERE.” (Ezekiel 48:35, ERV)
from glory to glory
Here is where Ezekiel tells us that the Divine Presence should be in the city of which he speaks; and should be there so fully and so powerfully, that it should give rise to this special name for the city itself; and that the very name, “Jehovah shammah,” should remind all of us even today of the beautiful glorious Being who had condescended to make this city his habitation. Jesus came down that we might go up! Jesus was treated as we deserve that we might be treated as he deserves. All things are eventually made right by the cross:
To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be Just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Rom 3:26)
The book of Ezekiel begins by describing the holiness of God that Israel had despised and ignored. As a result, God’s presence departed from the Temple, the city, and the people. The book ends with a detailed vision of the new Temple, the new city, and the new people—all demonstrating God’s holiness. The pressures of everyday life may cause us to panic, to focus on the here and now and thus forget God.
That is why prayer, study of God’s Word, and worship is so important; it takes our eyes off our current worries, gives us a glimpse of God’s holiness, and allows us to look toward his future Kingdom. God’s presence makes everything glorious, and worship brings us into his presence. God’s presence is all we really need.
In the last verse of Ezekiel, the prophet has in view an ideal city; whether in any material form it is to be realized, we must wait to see. But this will be its prominent characteristic, that God will be there. A great voice will be heard out of Heaven, saying,
“Behold, the tabernacle of God is with humanity, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people; and God Himself shall be with them and be their God.”
There is comfort in this for the sorrowful; because where God is, there cannot be sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. God shall wipe away all tears from off all faces. No cypress-trees line the streets of that city; no dirge intrudes upon the glad singing of praise; no sob or groan will be possible.
There is comfort for the doubting and perplexed. Truly devoted souls sometimes walk in darkness and have no light, learning to walk by faith. But there “where God is” all mysteries will be unraveled, all problems solved, every question answered; there will be no night, no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God shall lighten it, and the Lamb shall be the lamp thereof.
Here, “where God is” Ezekiel foresees the return of God in all His glory to His people! Praise The Lord!
Those who do what is right will praise your name; those who are honest will live in your presence. (Psalms 130:13, ERV)
If we could see ahead into the future, perhaps like this Christian writer this is what we might see:
Soon I heard the voice of God, which shook the heavens and the earth. There was a mighty earthquake. Buildings were shaken down on every side. I then heard a triumphant shout of victory, loud, musical, and clear. I looked upon the company, who, a short time before, were in such distress and bondage. Their captivity was turned. A glorious light shone upon them. How beautiful they then looked! All marks of care and weariness were gone, and health and beauty were seen in every countenance.
Their enemies, the heathen around them, fell like dead ones; they could not endure the light that shone upon the delivered, holy ones. This light and glory remained upon them, until Jesus was seen in the clouds of heaven, and the faithful, tried company were changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, from glory to glory. And the graves were opened, and the saints came forth, clothed with immortality, crying, “Victory over death and the grave”; and together with the living saints they were caught up to meet their Lord in the air, while rich, musical shouts of glory and victory were upon every immortal tongue. {EW 272.3}
GOD is good, a hiding place in tough times. He recognizes and welcomes anyone looking for help, No matter how desperate the trouble. But cozy islands of escape He wipes right off the map. No one gets away from God. (Nah 1:7-8, Message)
To people who refuse to believe, God’s presence, His second coming, seems as a punishment, like an angry fire. To those who love him, God’s mercy is a refuge, “a very present help in trouble,” supplying all their needs without diminishing our supply. But to God’s enemies he is an overwhelming flood that will sweep them away.
The relationship we have with God is up to us. What kind of relationship will you choose?
The words of Christ to the Pharisees come home with power to every living soul to whom the light of the Sun of Righteousness has been revealed. To those who have caught a glimpse of celestial truth, to whom have come some rays of enlightenment, is the warning given. For your souls’ sake do not turn away and be disobedient to the heavenly vision.
You may have seen something in regard to the righteousness of Christ, but there is truth yet to be seen clearly, and that should be estimated by you as precious as rare jewels. You will see the law of God and interpret it to the people in an entirely different light from what you have done in the past, for the law of God will be seen by you as revealing a God of mercy and righteousness.
The atonement, made by the stupendous sacrifice of Jesus Christ, will be seen by you in an altogether different light. You will see sin in its heinous character. But this the Jews did not desire to see. Jesus said to them things like:
“Ye will not come unto me that ye might have life.”
“For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest their deeds should be reproved.”
“Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness of the truth. But I receive not testimony from man; but these things I say, that ye might be saved.”
Jesus appeals to them to recall the deep conviction that was upon them under the messages of John. Jesus said:
“[John The Baptist], He was a burning and a shining light; and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. But I have a greater witness than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you; for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.”
The witness of the Father had been given. THIS witness is our doctrine, our warning. Our comfort. Our hope.
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water; and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him; and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” {ST, November 13, 1893 par. 2}
This is what God told us:
God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life, but whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12, ERV)
ANYONE who believes in God’s Son as BOTH Savior and Lord has eternal life now. This is the promise. God’s promise is for YOU.
In the life of the disciple John true sanctification is exemplified. During the years of his close association with Christ, he was often warned and cautioned by the Savior; and these reproofs he accepted. As the character of the Divine One was manifested to him, John saw his own deficiencies, and was humbled by the revelation. Day by day, in contrast with his own violent spirit, he beheld the tenderness and forbearance of Jesus, and heard His lessons of humility and patience. Day by day his heart was drawn out to Christ, until he lost sight of self in love for his Master. The power and tenderness, the majesty and meekness, the strength and patience, that he saw in the daily life of the Son of God, filled his soul with admiration. He yielded his resentful, ambitious temper to the molding power of Christ, and divine love wrought in him a transformation of character. {AA 557.1}
In striking contrast to the sanctification worked out in the life of John is the experience of his fellow disciple, Judas.
Like his associate, Judas professed to be a disciple of Christ, but he possessed only a form of godliness. He was not insensible to the beauty of the character of Christ; and often, as he listened to the Saviour’s words, conviction came to him, but he would not humble his heart or confess his sins. By resisting the divine influence he dishonored the Master whom he professed to love.
John warred earnestly against his faults; but Judas violated his conscience and yielded to temptation, fastening upon himself more securely his habits of evil. The practice of the truths that Christ taught was at variance with his desires and purposes, and he could not bring himself to yield his ideas in order to receive wisdom from heaven. Instead of walking in the light, he chose to walk in darkness. Evil desires, covetousness, revengeful passions, dark and sullen thoughts, were cherished until Satan gained full control of him. {AA 557.2}
John and Judas are representatives of those who profess to be Christ’s followers. Both these disciples had the same opportunities to study and follow the divine Pattern. Both were closely associated with Jesus and were privileged to listen to His teaching. Each possessed serious defects of character; and each had access to the divine grace that transforms character. But while one in humility was learning of Jesus, the other revealed that he was not a doer of the word, but a hearer only. One, daily dying to self and overcoming sin, was sanctified through the truth; the other, resisting the transforming power of grace and indulging selfish desires, was brought into bondage to Satan. {AA 558.1}
Such transformation of character as is seen in the life of John is ever the result of communion with Christ. There may be marked defects in the character of an individual, yet when such a one becomes a true disciple of Christ, the power of divine grace transforms and sanctifies them. Look to Christ, behold the attractive loveliness of His character, and by beholding you will become changed into His likeness. The mist that intervenes between Christ and the soul will be rolled back as we by faith look past the hellish shadow of Satan and see God’s glory in His law, and the righteousness of Christ. {6BC 1097.3}
Enoch kept the Lord ever before him, and the Inspired Word says that he “walked with God.” He made Christ his constant companion. He was in the world, and performed his duties to the world; but he was ever under the influence of Jesus. He reflected Christ’s character, exhibiting the same qualities of goodness, mercy, tender compassion, sympathy, forbearance, meekness, humility, and love. His association with Christ day by day transformed him into the image of Him with whom he was so intimately connected. Day by day he was growing away from his own way into Christ’s way, the heavenly, the divine, in his thoughts and feelings. He was constantly inquiring, Is this the way of the Lord? His was a constant growth, and he had fellowship with the Father and the Son. This is genuine sanctification {6BC 1097.7}
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Cor 10:3-5)
Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, humanity will trust that he truly knows how to help those who are being tempted. (Heb 2:18, Remedy New Testament)
Beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, we are changed from glory to glory, until we are is like Him whom he adores. (2 Cor 3:18)
“From Glory To Glory.” That’s my new name! (Exodus 28:29, Rev 2:17, Rev 3:12)
Today, may we all choose to live now in that city called
