The Adventist Polarization
Despite our best efforts as believers in Present Truth, we as Seventh Day Adventists have not become all that God is intending for us to be. This is never by God's design or choices, but rather because of ourselves, particularly in the United States. Human nature has often been on the opposite end of God's will even with the best intentions and desires to obey. Sin and Satan have certainly had their way.
Today, lets see some examples of this common problem that has plagued humanity, and still will except we maintain our consecration and submission to God and His will:
King David cursed for numbering then vs the unnumbered 2nd fruits
2 Samuel
24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
24:2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
24:10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
24:16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
24:17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.
Here we see the account of King David who, of his own desire, numbered the Kingdom. This would seem to be a harmless deed to perform as a king, and yet God took exception and sent the Prophet Gad to offer three punishments to King David (2 Sam.24:12-13) for doing so. The eventual result being the death of 70,000 Israelites (2 Sam.24:15) shows the severity of distance between God and David, the man after His own heart.
King David had numbered the people before, and no such sign of Gods displeasure occurred. So why now is the same act different?
One possibility is that at the time of this numbering of the people, King David was ruling God's people on the throne in the promised land which is the prophetic type to the future Kingdom of God in the promised land with anti-typical King David ruling the 144,000 and then the great multitude which no man can number. And since no man in vision has been able to number the 2nd fruits, it must be that God intends us to understand that group of people exactly that way.
Without meaning any harm to God or His Eternal Truths, David seems to have interrupted Gods business with his own, thereby sinning against God. And just as the prophecy of the great multitude will be fulfilled during the Judgment of the Living, in which God will be dealing with sin in more immediate terms, we see that God dealt with sin immediately then. This fact also shows why we must first be sealed and have our sinful nature replaced with the righteous nature upon entering The Holy Land which God will set up (Ezekiel 36).
How careful must we each be! How close to our Savior and Lord must we become! Only those closely connected individually to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit can know clearly what God will and will not approve of.
Disciples choose Judas' successor vs Christ choosing Paul
Acts
1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
1:16 Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take.
1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], show whether of these two thou hast chosen,
1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles
22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
22:7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
22:9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
22:10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
22:11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
22:12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt [there],
22:13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
22:15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
When Peter believed that the number 12 was to be maintained in the discipleship and eventual Apostleship, he was not in error. After all, 12 is a Scriptural number and quite specifically so to Israel.
In doing their best to meet that design, the disciples cast lots and believed God had chosen Matthias. And yet, Matthias has no significant record of his works or travels after his appointment.
Christ' 12 man discipleship and Apostleship was maintained at His appointment of Saul, later to become Paul. Just as Christ Himself chose each man according to the will of God during His life ministry on earth, He has and is still able to choose whom He will then and now.
And after Christ' appointment, Paul not only became the author of many of the New Testament Scriptures that have become our Standard of Faith, he also saved countless souls and planted as many churches as he could in Gods service until the Emperor Nero took his life.
Although no harm came from Peter's leading the discipleship to make an appointment, it is evidently clear that God's will was of a different mind than that of Peter. In fact, the Apostle Paul was used to correct the Apostle Peter with God's direction:
“But when certain Jews who were zealous for the ceremonial law, came from Jerusalem, Peter injudiciously changed his deportment toward the converts from paganism. A number of the Jews "dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation." This revelation of weakness on the part of those who had been respected and loved as leaders, left a most painful impression on the minds of the Gentile believers. The church was threatened with division. But Paul, who saw the subverting influence of the wrong done to the church through the double part acted by Peter, openly rebuked him for thus disguising his true sentiments. In the presence of the church, Paul inquired of Peter, "If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" Galatians 2:13, 14.
Peter saw the error into which he had fallen, and immediately set about repairing the evil that had been wrought, so far as was in his power. God, who knows the end from the beginning, permitted Peter to reveal this weakness of character in order that the tried apostle might see that there was nothing in himself whereof he might boast. Even the best of men, if left to themselves, will err in judgment. God also saw that in time to come some would be so deluded as to claim for Peter and his pretended successors the exalted prerogatives that belong to God alone. And this record of the apostle's weakness was to remain as a proof of his fallibility and of the fact that he stood in no way above the level of the other apostles.” Acts of the Apostles p.198
What momentous times those were for Christians to work and live! And thanks be to Gods Loving Instruction and the Apostles humility and commitment to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Certainly this is a good example for all Seventh Day Adventists alike.
Millerite 2nd advent now kingdom later vs kingdom now 2nd advent later
William Miller believed as did others in his time that when Jesus Christ returned to the earth it would be the beginning of the millenium, which essentially meant the Kingdom of God reining on earth for a thousand years. And also there were other men teaching and believing that we as believers would begin the thousand years of peace and prosperity and then Christ return at the end of the thousand years in Miller's day.
Miller's conviction held true and spread through the Advent movement, only to be disappointed. And ever since then we as Seventh Day Adventists still expect the soon return of Jesus Christ.
But with the unrolling of the scroll (6 Testimony p.17) it has become more clear the differences in what we have expected and what we should now expect. And neither Miller or his fellow Christians of a different view were able to get out of their own way, despite not meaning any disrespect or harm to God or His Word.
We now know that Christ will indeed come to set up His Kingdom for us, but it will not be the visible Coming in the clouds (Revelation 1:7) but rather an invisible visitation (Zechariah 14:4) Read whole chapter. Therefore, men expected Christ to come in the clouds and set up His Kingdom for 1000 years, but God has never purposed this. The disciples wanted the same thing in their day also (Acts 1:6 and 7) but it was not to be done in their time. Says the Spirit of Prophecy:
“The disciples of Christ were looking for the immediate coming of the kingdom of His glory, but in giving them this prayer Jesus taught that the kingdom was not then to be established. They were to pray for its coming as an event yet future. But this petition was also an assurance to them. While they were not to behold the coming of the kingdom in their day, the fact that Jesus bade them pray for it is evidence that in God's own time it will surely come.”
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.107
Laodicea in need of everything vs Laodicea in need of nothing
While The Millerites did not have the benefit of the Spirit of Prophecy as we now do, still more is the need of every drop of Inspiration Christ shall give to every soul.
Despite the efforts made by several men and women over the last 200 years, the message Christ proclaimed concerning Laodicea is still unpopular and not heeded. This may be the best example of the polarization between God and us as a people and church.
Christ has testified to us through 2 messengers who received direct Inspiration that we are modern day Laodiceans, and that we think we are in need of nothing but in fact we are in need of everything. Neither the Spirit of Prophecy alone, or the Shepherd's Rod alone, are enough. They were designed to work together marvelously, to shed light upon the Holy Scriptures and therefore give spiritual food to us as His Peculiar people so we will grow and bloom into a beautiful creation. Every one of the 144,000 will most certainly fit this description.
But instead, man made ideas have been brought in and mixed with Gods Truth. This shows that whether a person might believe in one message or both messages there is a severe lack in admitting to ourselves that we are in a desperate state as a people and as individuals. And until we can honestly, humbly come to ourselves, God, and each other, and know for a certainty that we are a real danger to ourselves and each other but want to be changed into something different than we are, God will chastise us or leave us alone all together and look for another. “Will my candle stick been replaced?” should be a question worth asking ourselves in the deepest and most sincere humility.
Kingdom 1st advent vs Kingdom 2nd advent
Likewise is this article true for leaders and flock alike in our beloved church. As Seventh Day Adventists we owe everything to God. And although it is never spoken of, God can do whatever He wants without the possibility of anyone stopping Him by force. He will do exactly what He says.
Ezekiel
36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].
36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
36:29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
36:30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
36:31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
36:32 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.
36:33 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause [you] to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.
36:34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
36:36 Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.
Can God lie? Has He ever been proven to be untrustworthy? How is it the church tells all other denominations and non-christians in the entire world that the Bible is the Inspired Word of God and yet they then tell you and I that these verses aren't true? That this prophecy in the Bible will not happen?
In Christs' day the disciples desired this very Kingdom found in Scripture and who wouldn't want it? It is spoken of over and over again by the prophets in the Bible. But they wanted to rule the earth and be free from the Roman occupation of Israel. They did not have the correct motives and did not have all the present truth for their time until Christ spent 40 days with them before ascending to Heaven. (Acts 1:2-11)
And so it is that when Jesus was not to set up His Kingdom they very much wanted it, and now that it is to be set up modern Israel doesn't even believe it! One of the greatest promises to be found in all of Scripture and the pastors say it will not happen! In each case, both with the leaders and laymen now as well as the disciples, we are polar opposite to the will of God.
Let us each pray often and deeply about what, when and how our christian experience is becoming. If we as Seventh Day Adventists do not do this now, God will do it for us but we will not like how He does it. And even then, it may be too late. Let us be as magnets that pull tightly together and are difficult to separate, and not polarized against our Creator, our spiritual Husband to be, and our Friend.
Amen.
Today, lets see some examples of this common problem that has plagued humanity, and still will except we maintain our consecration and submission to God and His will:
King David cursed for numbering then vs the unnumbered 2nd fruits
2 Samuel
24:1 And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.
24:2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.
24:10 And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
24:16 And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.
24:17 And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father's house.
Here we see the account of King David who, of his own desire, numbered the Kingdom. This would seem to be a harmless deed to perform as a king, and yet God took exception and sent the Prophet Gad to offer three punishments to King David (2 Sam.24:12-13) for doing so. The eventual result being the death of 70,000 Israelites (2 Sam.24:15) shows the severity of distance between God and David, the man after His own heart.
King David had numbered the people before, and no such sign of Gods displeasure occurred. So why now is the same act different?
One possibility is that at the time of this numbering of the people, King David was ruling God's people on the throne in the promised land which is the prophetic type to the future Kingdom of God in the promised land with anti-typical King David ruling the 144,000 and then the great multitude which no man can number. And since no man in vision has been able to number the 2nd fruits, it must be that God intends us to understand that group of people exactly that way.
Without meaning any harm to God or His Eternal Truths, David seems to have interrupted Gods business with his own, thereby sinning against God. And just as the prophecy of the great multitude will be fulfilled during the Judgment of the Living, in which God will be dealing with sin in more immediate terms, we see that God dealt with sin immediately then. This fact also shows why we must first be sealed and have our sinful nature replaced with the righteous nature upon entering The Holy Land which God will set up (Ezekiel 36).
How careful must we each be! How close to our Savior and Lord must we become! Only those closely connected individually to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit can know clearly what God will and will not approve of.
Disciples choose Judas' successor vs Christ choosing Paul
Acts
1:15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
1:16 Men [and] brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
1:17 For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
1:18 Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
1:19 And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
1:20 For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take.
1:21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
1:22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
1:23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.
1:24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all [men], show whether of these two thou hast chosen,
1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
1:26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles
22:6 And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me.
22:7 And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.
22:9 And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me.
22:10 And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.
22:11 And when I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of them that were with me, I came into Damascus.
22:12 And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt [there],
22:13 Came unto me, and stood, and said unto me, Brother Saul, receive thy sight. And the same hour I looked up upon him.
22:14 And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.
22:15 For thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.
When Peter believed that the number 12 was to be maintained in the discipleship and eventual Apostleship, he was not in error. After all, 12 is a Scriptural number and quite specifically so to Israel.
In doing their best to meet that design, the disciples cast lots and believed God had chosen Matthias. And yet, Matthias has no significant record of his works or travels after his appointment.
Christ' 12 man discipleship and Apostleship was maintained at His appointment of Saul, later to become Paul. Just as Christ Himself chose each man according to the will of God during His life ministry on earth, He has and is still able to choose whom He will then and now.
And after Christ' appointment, Paul not only became the author of many of the New Testament Scriptures that have become our Standard of Faith, he also saved countless souls and planted as many churches as he could in Gods service until the Emperor Nero took his life.
Although no harm came from Peter's leading the discipleship to make an appointment, it is evidently clear that God's will was of a different mind than that of Peter. In fact, the Apostle Paul was used to correct the Apostle Peter with God's direction:
“But when certain Jews who were zealous for the ceremonial law, came from Jerusalem, Peter injudiciously changed his deportment toward the converts from paganism. A number of the Jews "dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation." This revelation of weakness on the part of those who had been respected and loved as leaders, left a most painful impression on the minds of the Gentile believers. The church was threatened with division. But Paul, who saw the subverting influence of the wrong done to the church through the double part acted by Peter, openly rebuked him for thus disguising his true sentiments. In the presence of the church, Paul inquired of Peter, "If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?" Galatians 2:13, 14.
Peter saw the error into which he had fallen, and immediately set about repairing the evil that had been wrought, so far as was in his power. God, who knows the end from the beginning, permitted Peter to reveal this weakness of character in order that the tried apostle might see that there was nothing in himself whereof he might boast. Even the best of men, if left to themselves, will err in judgment. God also saw that in time to come some would be so deluded as to claim for Peter and his pretended successors the exalted prerogatives that belong to God alone. And this record of the apostle's weakness was to remain as a proof of his fallibility and of the fact that he stood in no way above the level of the other apostles.” Acts of the Apostles p.198
What momentous times those were for Christians to work and live! And thanks be to Gods Loving Instruction and the Apostles humility and commitment to God through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Certainly this is a good example for all Seventh Day Adventists alike.
Millerite 2nd advent now kingdom later vs kingdom now 2nd advent later
William Miller believed as did others in his time that when Jesus Christ returned to the earth it would be the beginning of the millenium, which essentially meant the Kingdom of God reining on earth for a thousand years. And also there were other men teaching and believing that we as believers would begin the thousand years of peace and prosperity and then Christ return at the end of the thousand years in Miller's day.
Miller's conviction held true and spread through the Advent movement, only to be disappointed. And ever since then we as Seventh Day Adventists still expect the soon return of Jesus Christ.
But with the unrolling of the scroll (6 Testimony p.17) it has become more clear the differences in what we have expected and what we should now expect. And neither Miller or his fellow Christians of a different view were able to get out of their own way, despite not meaning any disrespect or harm to God or His Word.
We now know that Christ will indeed come to set up His Kingdom for us, but it will not be the visible Coming in the clouds (Revelation 1:7) but rather an invisible visitation (Zechariah 14:4) Read whole chapter. Therefore, men expected Christ to come in the clouds and set up His Kingdom for 1000 years, but God has never purposed this. The disciples wanted the same thing in their day also (Acts 1:6 and 7) but it was not to be done in their time. Says the Spirit of Prophecy:
“The disciples of Christ were looking for the immediate coming of the kingdom of His glory, but in giving them this prayer Jesus taught that the kingdom was not then to be established. They were to pray for its coming as an event yet future. But this petition was also an assurance to them. While they were not to behold the coming of the kingdom in their day, the fact that Jesus bade them pray for it is evidence that in God's own time it will surely come.”
Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing p.107
Laodicea in need of everything vs Laodicea in need of nothing
While The Millerites did not have the benefit of the Spirit of Prophecy as we now do, still more is the need of every drop of Inspiration Christ shall give to every soul.
Despite the efforts made by several men and women over the last 200 years, the message Christ proclaimed concerning Laodicea is still unpopular and not heeded. This may be the best example of the polarization between God and us as a people and church.
Christ has testified to us through 2 messengers who received direct Inspiration that we are modern day Laodiceans, and that we think we are in need of nothing but in fact we are in need of everything. Neither the Spirit of Prophecy alone, or the Shepherd's Rod alone, are enough. They were designed to work together marvelously, to shed light upon the Holy Scriptures and therefore give spiritual food to us as His Peculiar people so we will grow and bloom into a beautiful creation. Every one of the 144,000 will most certainly fit this description.
But instead, man made ideas have been brought in and mixed with Gods Truth. This shows that whether a person might believe in one message or both messages there is a severe lack in admitting to ourselves that we are in a desperate state as a people and as individuals. And until we can honestly, humbly come to ourselves, God, and each other, and know for a certainty that we are a real danger to ourselves and each other but want to be changed into something different than we are, God will chastise us or leave us alone all together and look for another. “Will my candle stick been replaced?” should be a question worth asking ourselves in the deepest and most sincere humility.
Kingdom 1st advent vs Kingdom 2nd advent
Likewise is this article true for leaders and flock alike in our beloved church. As Seventh Day Adventists we owe everything to God. And although it is never spoken of, God can do whatever He wants without the possibility of anyone stopping Him by force. He will do exactly what He says.
Ezekiel
36:22 Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went.
36:23 And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I am the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes.
36:24 For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.
36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you.
36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them].
36:28 And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
36:29 I will also save you from all your uncleannesses: and I will call for the corn, and will increase it, and lay no famine upon you.
36:30 And I will multiply the fruit of the tree, and the increase of the field, that ye shall receive no more reproach of famine among the heathen.
36:31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.
36:32 Not for your sakes do I this, saith the Lord GOD, be it known unto you: be ashamed and confounded for your own ways, O house of Israel.
36:33 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from all your iniquities I will also cause [you] to dwell in the cities, and the wastes shall be builded.
36:34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by.
36:35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited.
36:36 Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the LORD build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the LORD have spoken it, and I will do it.
Can God lie? Has He ever been proven to be untrustworthy? How is it the church tells all other denominations and non-christians in the entire world that the Bible is the Inspired Word of God and yet they then tell you and I that these verses aren't true? That this prophecy in the Bible will not happen?
In Christs' day the disciples desired this very Kingdom found in Scripture and who wouldn't want it? It is spoken of over and over again by the prophets in the Bible. But they wanted to rule the earth and be free from the Roman occupation of Israel. They did not have the correct motives and did not have all the present truth for their time until Christ spent 40 days with them before ascending to Heaven. (Acts 1:2-11)
And so it is that when Jesus was not to set up His Kingdom they very much wanted it, and now that it is to be set up modern Israel doesn't even believe it! One of the greatest promises to be found in all of Scripture and the pastors say it will not happen! In each case, both with the leaders and laymen now as well as the disciples, we are polar opposite to the will of God.
Let us each pray often and deeply about what, when and how our christian experience is becoming. If we as Seventh Day Adventists do not do this now, God will do it for us but we will not like how He does it. And even then, it may be too late. Let us be as magnets that pull tightly together and are difficult to separate, and not polarized against our Creator, our spiritual Husband to be, and our Friend.
Amen.
