Month: November 2021

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 30

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 57)

The Kind of Sufferings of Christ at Calvary Foretold in Prophecy

“In the sufferings of Christ upon the cross, prophecy was fulfilled. Centuries before the crucifixion, the Savior [through His chosen pen men] had foretold the treatment He was to receive. He said, ‘Dogs have compassed Me: the assembly of the wicked have enclosed Me: they pierced My hands and My feet. I may tell all My bones: they look and stare upon Me. They part My GARMENTS among them, and cast lots upon My VESTURE.’ Ps. 22: 16-18, KJV.

“The prophecy concerning His garments was carried out WITHOUT COUNSEL OR INTERFERENCE from the friends or the enemies of the Crucified One. To the [Roman] soldiers who had placed Him upon the cross, His CLOTHING was given. Christ HEARD the men’s contention as they parted the garments among them. [However] His TUNIC [vesture] WAS WOVEN THROUGHOUT WITHOUT SEAM, and they said, ‘Let us NOT REND IT, but CAST LOTS for it, whose it shall be.’

“In another prophecy the Savior declared, ‘Reproach hath BROKEN MY HEART; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take PITY, but there was NONE; and for COMFORTERS, but I found NONE. They gave Me also GALL for My meat [food]; and to My THIRST they gave Me VINEGAR [fermented wine] to drink.’ Ps. 69: 20, 21. [see John 19: 23, 24, 29, 30; Matt. 27:48].

To those who suffered death by the cross, it was permitted to give a STUPEFYING POTION, to deaden the sense of pain! This was offered to Jesus, but when He had tasted it, He REFUSED IT. [Why?] He would receive nothing that would BECLOUD HIS MIND. His FAITH must keep fast hold upon God [the Father]. THIS WAS HIS ONLY STRENGTH. To BECLOUD His senses would give Satan an ADVANTAGE.”- E.G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 746.

What a perfect example of uncompromising temperance! Christ nailed to the cross and dying, refusing anything that would mercifully help relieve the unbearable pain but would becloud His pure mind and morally-undefiled yet badly bruised body. Again, the perfect example on what it means to preserved one’s body as the “temple of the Holy Spirit!”

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 29

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 56)

It is written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin

“In the mouth of two or three witnesses truth is established” is directly repeated over a dozen times beginning in Deut. 17:6 and on to Revelation 11.

However, indirectly and principle-wise; it is exemplified and spiritually magnified in even more significant situations, such as what follows during what I would describe as the non-pareil Calvary Moment of the Plan of Salvation. Notice [all emphasis mine]:

“As soon as Jesus was nailed to the cross, it was lifted up by strong men, and with great violence thrust into the place prepared for it . . . Pilate then wrote an inscription in HEBREW, GREEK, and LATIN, and placed it upon the cross ABOVE THE HEAD OF JESUS. It read, “JESUS OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS.’

This inscription IRRITATED the Jews. In Pilate’s [Roman] court they had cried, ‘CRUCIFY HIM,’ ‘WE HAVE NO KING BUT CAESAR.’ John 18;15. They had declared that whoever would acknowledge any other king was a TRAITOR. Pilate WROTE OUT the sentiment they had expressed.

NO OFFENSE WAS MENTIONED, except that Jesus was the King of the Jews. The inscription was a virtual acknowledgement of the ALLEGIANCE OF THE JEWS TO THE ROMAN POWER.

It declared that whoever might claim to be the KING OF ISRAEL would be judged by them WORTHY OF DEATH. THE [Jewish] PRIESTS HAD OVERREACHED THEMSELVES.

When they were plotting the death of Christ, Caiaphas [the Jewish high priest then] had declared it EXPEDIENT that ‘ONE MAN SHOULD DiE TO SAVE THE NATION’ [John 11: 50, 51]. But Now their HYPOCRISY was revealed [publicly, nationally. universally, eternally].

IN ORDER TO DESTROY CHRIST THEY HAD BEEN READY TO SACRIFICE THIER NATIONAL EXISTENCE! [In declaring their exclusive allegiance not to God, but to Rome their cruel and corrupt national enemies!]

“The priests [religious leaders] saw what they had done and asked Pilate to CHANGE THE INSCRIPTION. They said, ‘Write not, The King of the Jews, but that He said, I am the King of the Jews.’

But Pilate was ANGRY WITH HIMSELF because of his former weakness, and he thoroughly DESPISED the JEALOUS and ARTFUL priests and rulers [ominously prescient of the emerging phenomenon, yet prophesied politicization of religion, or religion being used as a tool for political gain, until it fully ripens into the great final apostasy of the state uniting with the church to enact and enforce the mark of the beast as the law of the land. See Revelation 13].

“Pilate replied coldly, ‘WHAT I HAVE WRITTEN. I HAVE WRITTEN.’

What was taking place here? “A HIGHER POWER than PILATE [representing the state or civil power] or the JEWS [representing the church or religious powers-that-be] had directed the placing of the inscription above the head of Jesus. In the providence of God it was to AWAKEN THOUGHT, AND INVESTIGATION OF THE SCRIPTURES. The place where Christ was crucified was NEAR [not within] the city. Thousands of people from all lands were then at Jerusalem, and the inscription declaring JESUS OF NAZARETH IS THE MESSIAH would come to their notice. IT WAS LIVING TRUTH, TRANSCRIBED BY A HAND THAT GOD HAD GUIDED.”- E. G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 745, 746

Indeed even the most powerful mortal or superpower “can do nothing against, but for the truth” (2 Cor. 13: 8). The chosen people led by their religious, definitively, irrevocably, religiously, legally, publicly and CORPORATELY CHOSE to reject the CHOSEN ONE OF GOD, the “Son of David,” “the only-begotten Son of God,” as prophesied the patriarchs and prophets, particularly Isaiah, Daniel, declares by John the Baptist as verily their Messiah, the Anointed One, verily the antitypical sacrificial Lamb of God, and prophesied KING (who would establish His spiritual KINGDOM of righteousness in earth), falsely accused, illegally tried, and condemned to die by crucifixion, rendered even more excruciating in its gross public humiliation.

But prophecy and truth will certainly “come to pass” in God’s time and way, and prevail over Satan and his unnumbered agencies. Almighty God moved upon the chosen people’s national enemy, the pagan Roman power to declare in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin that Jesus IS the promised Messiah, the King of all who accept His kingdom of grace and righteousness!

The antitypical attempt to change the original “inscription” was the Antichrist’s attempt “to change times and laws” and transfer the sanctity of the Sabbath to Sunday by “the man of sin,”’and in the very near future, the very likely “changing” by amendment, the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights, to make way for the legislation and enforcement of a religious law enforcing the mark of the beast.

Are you sure you know what it is? If not, it’s high to awake out of spiritual slumber, and examine what you think you know by “It is Written,” the Holy Scriptures—-not the “traditions of the elders,” the “teachings of men,” or mere self-serving “private interpretations.”

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 26

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 55)

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

As Christ was being nailed to the cross,”The Savior made NO MURMUR OF COMPLAINT. His face remained CALM AND SERENE, but great drops of sweat stood upon His brow. There was NO PITYING HAND to wipe the death dew from His face, NOR WORDS of sympathy and unchanging fidelity to stay His HUMAN HEART.

“While the [Roman] soldiers were doing their fearful work, Jesus PRAYED FOR HIS ENEMIES, ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.’ His mind passed from His suffering to the SIN OF HIS PERSECUTORS, AND THE TERRIBLE RETRIBUTIONS THAT WOULD BE THEIRS.

No curses were called down upon the SOLDIERS who were handling Him so roughly. No vengeance was invoked upon the PRIESTS AND RULERS who were GLOATING over the accomplishment of their purpose. Christ PITIED them in their ignorance and GUILT. He breathed only a plea for their forgiveness – ‘for they know not what they do.’

“Had they known what they were putting to TORTURE One who had come to save the sinful race from eternal ruin, they would have been seized with remorse and guilt BUT THEIR IGNORANCE DID NOT REMOVE THEIR GUILT; FOR IT WAS THEIR PRIVILEGE TO KNOW AND ACCEPT JESUS AS THEIR SAVIOR.

Some of them would yet see their sin, and repent, and be converted. Some with their IMPENITENCE would make it an IMPOSSIBILITY FOR THE PRAYER OF CHRIST TO BE ANSWERED FOR THEM.

“That prayer of Christ for His ENEMIES embraced the WORLD. It took in EVERY SINNER that had lives or should live, from the beginning of the world to the end of time. UPON ALL RESTS THE GUILT OF CRUCIFYING THE SON OF GOD.

To all forgiveness is freely offered. ‘Whosoever will’ may have peace with God, and inherit eternal life.”- E.G. White, Desire of Ages, pp. 744, 745.

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
November 24

THE SANCTUARY DOCTRINE EXPLAINS THE WAY OF SALVATION OF THE GOSPEL (Part 53)

A Stranger Helps Bear Christ’s Literal Cross

The New Testament identifies him simply as “Simon of Cyrene.” (Matt. 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23: 26). He was one of the eight other better-known “Simons” in the Bible, none of whom and neither did any of the Twelve disciples, bear that singular distinction throughout eternity that this “Simon” perform for Jesus in His very last bloody steps to the cross!

“The crowd that followed the Savior saw His weak and staggering steps, but they MANIFESTED NO COMPASSION [ a crowd made up of the “chosen people”]. They taunted and reviled Him because HE COULD NOT CARRY THE HEAVY CROSS.

Again the burden was laid upon Him, and again He fell fainting to the ground. His PERSECUTORS saw that it was IMPOSSIBLE for Him to carry His burden further. They were PUZZLED to find no one who would bear the humiliating load.

The JEWS themselves could not do this [why?] because the DEFILEMENT would prevent them from keeping the Passover [what gross spiritual blindness of worshipping the form and rejecting its substance!]. None even of the mob that followed Him would STOOP TO BEAR THE CROSS [of and with Jesus, the Creator and Savior of the world!].

“At this time a STRANGER, Simon a Cyrenean, coming in from the country, meets the throng. He hears the taunts and ribaldry of the crowd; he hears the words CONTEMPTUOUSLY repeated, ‘Make way for the KING Of THE JEWS!’ He stops in astonishment at the scene; and as HE EXPRESSES HIS COMPASSION, they [the crowd] seize him and place the cross upon his shoulders.

“Simon had HEARD about Jesus. His sons were BELIEVERS in the Savior, but he himself was NOT a disciple.” [What became of Simon after this unforeseen, sudden, and mob-enforced cross-bearing]?
The bearing of the cross was BLESSING to Simon, and he WAS EVER AFTER GRATEFUL FOR THIS PROVIDENCE.

[Here’s why!] It led him [thereafter] to ‘take upon himself the cross of Christ FROM CHOICE and ever CHEERFULLY stand beneath its BURDEN.” – E. G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 742.

Jesus said, “If any man will come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF and TAKE UP HIS CROSS and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). The heavy burden that all must take up and bear who voluntarily and willingly “follow the Lamb withersoever He goeth” is the crucifixion of the flesh and self; self-denial and self-sacrifice; it is resisting temptation, and “overcoming even as Christ overcame” “the love and things of the world,” the “lusts of the eye and of the flesh” and the devil “by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony” (Rev. 3:21; 12:11).

The carnal “old man” must die and the “new man” or “new creature in Christ’s” be born again “of water and the Spirit” to “walk thereafter “in the newness of life in the Spirit.”

(To be continued). Bless all, NMF.