Month: April 2023

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
April 19, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 16

This is a special “parenthetical” information so vital to our current series. I urge all who desire to quickly advance in the understanding and knowledge of the comprehensive nature, application, reach, scope and magnitude of the “enmity” that God immediately “put between the serpent and the woman and their respective seeds,” just before the first couple and the father and mother of humankind were banished from Eden because of the first experiment by free moral agents with disobedience and the first experience of its incurred guilt. Genesis 3:15.

The abundant and profound enlightenment of the combined historical and spiritual truths of the subject is revealed in The CONFLICT [enmity] OF THE AGES Series comprised of five books, all penned by Ellen G. White, my favorite author next to writers of the 66 books of the Bible.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I have and continue to be blessed by the assisting enlightenment of these books in my quest to understand the present, testing truths of the Bible gospel for these last days. This and a compelling conviction to share in waning hours of earth’s probation and in preparation for the stupendous climax of the enmity and controversy between Christ and Satan and their respective agencies and followers, is all I am interested in. I am in no capacity or manner an agency of the publishers of these books and therefore don’t receive nor am interested in receiving any commendations, much less any form of commissions if any of these books are purchased from the publishers or from anyone. The only “reward” I may receive, if “faithful to the end,” is what Jesus promised, “Behold, your reward is in heaven,” not here on fallen earth.

From my personal library, here are the books, bound in dark, red cloth and the summary highlights of each as printed on the last page of the Patriarchs & Prophets, written by editors of the publisher, Pacific Press Publishing Association, Mountain View, CA, 1819, 1913 (all emphasis mine):

“THE CONFLICT OF THE AGES SERIES By Mrs. E. G. White:

“A series of five intensely interesting volumes dealing with the GREAT CONFLICT between the forces of good and the forces of evil, from the inception of the rebellion in heaven to the time when ‘sin and sinners are no more.’ Each volume is complete in itself, INSOFAR as it deals with its special period of time and its special subject. TO READ THE VOLUME CREATES THE DESIRE TO COMPLETE THE SERIES.” The Publishers.

This is exactly what happened to me years before I ever read these specific lines in fine print in this early edition, just this week! The very first volume I got to fully read of this series was The Great Controversy, 1884 original edition, or Vol. 4 of the Spirit of Prophecy, abbreviated as “4SOP.”

It immediately opened my eyes and mind and jump-started a compelling desire to study and really understand the Bible and the prophetic books of Daniel and Revelation. It’s high time to awake from our spiritual stupor and slumber. “The night is far spent.” The time of the churches’ and mankind’s final test is so much nearer now “than when we first believed,” i.e.. If we even ever did of the genuine gospel!
As prophesied, the ear-pleasing, sin-excusing counterfeits are virally-spreading in the end-time deceptions during these closing hours of earth’s probation.

It’s time to closely, critically, humbly, and honestly examine and prove ourselves, not others, “whether we are really in” and “have the faith of Jesus.”

The five volumes and their highlights will be given in next week’s MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
April 12, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 15

DELIVERED OUT OF ANTITYPICAL SPIRITUAL LIONS

“At my first defense no one took my part, but all forsook me. . . .But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me; that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear [the gospel]: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the LION.” 2 Tim. 4:16, 17, R.V.

Who said/wrote these words, and under what circumstances? Apostle Paul, writing of his own trial at the court of the ROMAN Caesars! The Roman or “Romish element” is ever present throughout the great controversy between truth and error till it’s astounding climax, revealed in the inter-linked, end-time prophecies of Daniel and Revelation! The lion is the animal “beast” symbol of Rome.

“Continuing His instruction to His disciples [and first evangelists of the Christian dispensation], Jesus said, ‘BEWARE of men’ [meaning] They were not to put implicit confidence in those who KNEW NOT GOD, and open to them their counsels; for this would give Satan [‘the enemy of God and man’] and his AGENTS an ADVANTAGE. Men’s inventions often COUNTERWORK God’s plans.

“Those who build the TEMPLE of the Lord [the spiritual kingdom/church/bride] are to build according for the pattern shown in the mount [to Moses],—the divine similitude. God is DISHONORED and the gospel BETRAYED when His servants depend on the counsel of who are NOT under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.[‘By their fruits ye shall know them’]. Worldly wisdom is ‘foolishness with God.’ Those who rely on it will SURELY err.

“‘They will deliver you up to councils. . . . yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for My sake, for a testimony to them and the Gentiles.’ Matt. 10: 17, 18, R.V. PERSECUTION WILL SPREAD THE LIGHT. [‘The blood of martyrs was the seed of the gospel’ for over a thousand years starting in 538 A.D. in the Old World]. The servants of Christ will be brought before the GREAT MEN OF THE WORLD, who, but for this, might never hear the gospel. The truth has been MISREPRESENTED to these men. They have listened to FALSE CHARGES concerning the faith of Christ’s disciples. Often their ONLY means of learning its true character is the TESTIMONY of those who are BROUGHT TO TRIAL for their faith [not because of any evil or wicked deeds].

“Under EXAMINATION they are required to answer, and their judges to LISTEN to the testimony borne [as in ‘the word of their testimony’]: ‘It shall be given you,’ says Jesus, ‘in that same hour WHAT ye shall speak. For it is NOT ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father, which speaketh IN you.’ As the Holy Spirit of God ILLUMINATES the minds of His servants, the TRUTH will be presented in its DIVINE power and preciousness.

“Those who REJECT the [cutting, unpopular, yet present, testing] truth will stand to ACCUSE AND OPPRESS the disciples. But UNDER LOSS, SUFFERING, and even DEATH, the disciples are to REVEAL THE MEEKNESS of their divine Example. Thus will be seen the CONTRAST between Satan’s agents and the representatives of Christ. The Savior will be LIFTED UP before the rulers of the people [‘the kings and great men of the earth’].”

“The disciples were not endowed with COURAGE AND FORTITUDE OF MARTYRS UNTIL SUCH GRACE is needed. Then the Savior’s promise was fulfilled. [Here are examples]:

“When Peter and John testified before the Sanhedrin council, men ‘marveled; and took knowledge of them, that THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.’ Acts 4:13. Of Stephen it is written that ‘all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the FACE OF AN ANGEL.’ Men ‘were NOT ABLE to resist the WISDOM AND THE SPIRIT by which he spake.’ Acts 16: 15, 10.

“And PAUL, writing of his own trial at the court of Caesars, says, ‘At my first defense no one took my part, but ALL forsook me. . . But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me: that THROUGH me the MESSAGE might be FULLY proclaimed, and that the Gentiles might hear; and I was DELIVERED OUT OF THE MOUTH OF THE LION.’ 2 Tim. 4:16,17, R.V.” -E. G. White, Desire of Ages, p. 354, Apr. 1950, Pacific Press Publishing Asso. (All emphasis and words in brackets mine). 

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
April 5, 2023

God’s Saving Enmity
Part 14

HOW THE ‘PRiNCE OF PEACE’ IS ALSO THE CAUSE OF DIVISION IN THE WORLD

   “Shortly BEFORE His crucifixion, Christ bequeathed to His disciples a LEGACY OF PEACE. ‘Peace I leave with you,’ He said, ‘not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14: 27).

   “This peace is NOT the peace that comes through CONFORMITY to the WORLD [meaning, its standards, methods, philosophies, principles, strategies, tastes, trends, styles].

   “Christ said of Himself, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace but a sword.” (Matt. 10: 34). THE PRINCE OF PEACE, HE WAS YET THE CAUSE OF DIVISION. He who came to proclaim glad tidings and create hope and joy in the hearts of men, OPENED A CONTROVERSY that burns deep and arouses intense passions in the human heart.

   “And He warns His followers, ‘In the WORLD, ye shall have TRIBULATION.’ ‘They shall lay their hands on you, and PERSECUTE you, delivering you up to the SYNAGOGUES [or churches, religious tribunals], and into PRISONS, being brought forth before kings and rulers for MY NAME’S SAKE.’ Ye shall be BETRAYED both by PARENTS, and BRETHREN [fellow church members], and KINSFOLKS [relatives], and FRIENDS; and some of you shall THEY cause to be put to DEATH.’ (John 10: 33; Luke 21: 12, 16, KJV).

   “This prophecy has been fulfilled in a marked manner. Every INDIGNITY, REPROACH, and CRUELTY that Satan could instigate in human hearts [see above for who many are and will be] to devise, has been visited upon the followers of Jesus [particularly during the Dark Ages of papal supremacy, 538-1798 A.D.]

    “And it will be AGAIN FULFILLED in a marked manner; [why?] “For the carnal heart is STILL AT ENMITY WITH THE LAW OF GOD, and will not be subject to His commands’ [See Rom. 8: 6-9]. The WORLD is no more in harmony with the PRINCIPLES of Christ TODAY than it was in the days of the apostles!

    “The SAME HATRED that prompted the cry, ‘Crucify Him! Crucify Him!’ the SAME HATRED that led to the persecution of the disciples, STILL WORKS IN THE CHILDREN OF DISOBEDIENCE [against the Decalogue]. The SAME SPIRIT which in the Dark Ages consigned men and women to prison, to exile, and to death, which conceived the exquisite torture of the INQUISITION, which planned and executed the MASSACRE OF ST. BARTHOLOMEW [in France], and which kindled the FIRES OF SMITHFIELD, is still at work with MALIGNANT ENERGY IN UNREGENERATE HEARTS [although they have the ‘appearance and form of godliness’].

   “The HISTORY OF TRUTH has ever been a record of STRUGGLE between right and wrong. The proclamation of the [genuine] GOSPEL has ever been carried forward in the WORLD in the face of OPPOSITION, PERI, LOSS, AND SUFFERING.” – Mrs. E. G. White, Acts of the Apostles, 1911, pp. 84, 85, Pacific Press Publishing Asso. (All emphases  and bracketed words mine).

To be continued next MWM, God willing. Bless all, NMF.