Month: February 2024

SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR WGM TEAM PARTNERS:
February 15, 2024

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 14

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAODICEAN MESSAGE THRU THE YEARS (Fourth Part)

  1900 - “Self-exaltation is a dangerous element. It TARNISHES everything it touches. It is the OFFSPRING of pride, and it works SO INGENIOUSLY that, unless guarded against, it will take possession of the THOUGHTS and control the ACTIONS. The Laodicean message must be proclaimed with POWER; for NOW MORE THAN EVER before, are seen PRIDE, WORLDLY AMBITION, HYPOCRISY, and DECEPTION.” - Ibid, RH Sept. 5, 1900/7 E. G. W BC 963.

Like begets like and reproduces itself after its own kind. Thus Self-exaltation is an offspring of pride, and “pride goeth before a destruction; a haughty spirit before a fall. It “tarnishes,” corrodes, erodes everything it touches of our heart, mind, character, and personality—the so-called “spirit” of man. Indeed, now more than ever before, spiritual and carnal pride, worldly ambition, “the love of the world and things of the world, the lust of the eye and the flesh”, hypocrisy, dishonesty, deception, and “living a lie” are not only found in a doomed world hastening on to its destruction just like the antediluvian world, but as fearfully prophesied, in the churches and Christian mainstream. God’s supposed people are hardly that “chosen generation, royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people” for they have become so much like the world in their practices and lives. No wonder the straight testimony to the Laodiceans must be “proclaimed with power,” i. e., under the unction of the Holy Spirit.

Much earlier, in 1887, God’s humble messenger already warned the remnant church members:
“We have far more to fear FROM WITHIN THAN WITHOUT. The hindrances to strength are far greater FROM THE CHURCH ITSELF than from the world! . . . What is our condition in this fearful and solemn time? Alas, what PRIDE is prevailing in the church, what HYPOCRISY, what DECEPTION, what love of DRESS, FRIVOLITY, and AMUSEMENTS, what desire for SUPREMACY!” – Ibid, RH Mar. 22, 1887/ 1 SM 122, 125.

It is with a deepening sense of urgency that I am sharing with any who are still interested, what—by prayer, due diligence, patience, and painstaking research and studies through the years up to this very moment—truly opened my eyes, and mind to unalloyed, unvarnished, incisive truths that cut to the heart, convicted my conscience but also revealed “the way of escape,” “the divine standard that God will raise “when the enemy shall come in like a flood” that threatens to overwhelm and drown me! No, it is isn’t and never will be a “peace-and-safety,” “once-saved-always saved,” “once in grace-always in grace” message but “to the law and the testimony,” verily, “the straight testimony to the Laodiceans.”

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

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February 12, 2024

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 13

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAODICEAN MESSAGE THRU THE YEARS (Third Part)

1899 – “The Laodicean message applies to all who PROFESS to keep the law, and yet are NOT DOERS of it. We are not to be SELFISH in anything. Every PHASE of the Christian life is to be a REPRESENTATION of the life of Christ. If it is not, we shall hear the terrrible words “I KNOW YOU NOT.’ Ibid, Oct. 17, 1899.

Note the following:
1) A mere “profession” of any thing is not the same as its actual “possession.” It may only be a performative “form of godliness but denies in substance “its power thereof.” Jesus made the difference plain between “saying” and “doing” in His parable of the two sons.
2) The Ten Commandments is an unbreakable unit, thus, “to break one is to break all.” The Jewish nation in Christ’s time zealously preserved, observed, and enforced by their religious authorities and own laws the inviolable sanctity of the seventh-day Sabbath—to the point that they even condemned Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath himself, of breaking the Sabbath by healing the sick. In fact, it was on the very Sabbath day that they plotted to kill Him! They honored and worshipped the seventh DAY Sabbath over the LORD of the Sabbath of creation.
3) Christ’s purpose and earthly mission as the promised “seed” and Messiah through His “great mystery of godliness” incarnation and “once and for all” sacrifice by crucifixion was in fact “to magnify THE LAW and make it honorable” by His own LIVING EXAMPLE. Only thus could He enable, empower, and expect the INDIVIDUAL, who considers and obeys Jesus as his PERSONAL Savior, to “overcome even as He overcame. “By their fruits ye shall know them.” The old covenant was made with Israel as a nation. But the new covenant is made with the individual. Thus, “work out your OWN salvation with fear and trembling for it is God that worketh IN YOU, both to WILL [i., e., to exercise one’s power of choice as a free moral agent] and to DO [willingly and lovingly obey] His good pleasure.” The “hope of glory” is “Christ IN you.” Col. 1: 26, 27.
4) This is one of the passages that helped me better understand Matt. 7: 1-29, particularly verses 21-23, and know, intelligently and spiritually as to what Jesus meant, to who it applies,and why. Indeed, “to the law and testimony” is the way the truth is to be established, not by “selfish,” that is, self-justifying, self-serving, self-pleasing interpretations perpetrated by cultural tradition and corporate institutional mentality, instead of the precious “individuality of man where true religion is concerned.

To be continued. Bless all, NMF.

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February 10, 2024

The Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 12

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAODICEAN MESSAGE THROUGH THE YEARS
(Second Part)

1898 – “The message to the Laodicean church comes home to those who do not apply it to themselves.” Ibid, Letter 60, 1898/Counsels to Writers & Editors, p. 99.

Note this: If, for whatever self-justifying reason or lame excuse, we do not humbly accept the divine Physician’s solemn, yet truthfully incisive diagnosis of this soul-destroying malignancy of self-deceived spiritual ignorance (“knowest not that thou art. . . .?”), then it is the very evidence that it applies to us, and are suffering this spiritual malady.

When I first read this Testimony many years ago in my search for the details of present truth, I could hardly believe my eyes! I had to prayerfully read and analyze it over and over again, “comparing it line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little there a little” with the wealth of directly and indirectly related Bible and SOP references in the broader context of the already-revealed end-time, deadly deceptions and unnumbered schemes of Satan for the churches. It surely opened my blurred and even blind spiritual eyes of discernment! But I did not reject it, as humiliating and painful as it stung my pride and ignorance of God’s infinite wisdom and perfect ways.

But the complete antidote and perfect cure for this malignant spiritual disease of the seventh church, accompanies the diagnosis is at by the very same Physician of physicians! There is absolutely no other cure or solution to any and all of the soul-corrupting and conscience-defiling spiritual diseases, maladies, and illnesses of the church in all its seven stages to be found anywhere and with anyone outside of the Father in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit as revealed only “to the law and the testimony” (Isa. 8:20), the Bible and the “Spirit of Prophecy which is the Testimony of Jesus” for these closing hours of earth’s probation.

Indeed, the Word admonishes us: “Examine yourselves; prove your own selves whether you are really in the faith [of Jesus].” Because “the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked.”

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

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February 8, 2024

The Straight Testimony to Laodiceans – Part 11

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LAODICEAN MESSAGE THROUGH THE YEARS

Notice the changing content and “tone” of the straight testimony to Laodiceans by the year they were issued, which I found in the course of close study and research. For want of space, they are not comprehensive but are clearly indicative of the deteriorating spiritual condition of those afflicted by this specific spiritual malady. Now this (emphasis mine):

1887— “Are we hoping to see the whole church revived?! That time will never come. . . . we must enter into that work INDIVIDUALLY.” – E.G. White, Review & Herald (RH) Mar. 22, 1877.

1889 — “The message to the Laodicean church is applicable to OUR CONDITION. How clearly is pictured the POSITION of those who THINK they have all the truth, who take PRIDE in the knowledge of God, while its SANCTIFYING power has NOT been felt in their lives. The fervor of the love of God is WANTING in their HEARTS [though professed in the lips], but it is this very fervor of love that makes God’s people the light of the world.” RH July 23, 1889. (NOTE: “If any man love the world and the things that are in the world the love of the Father is not in him.”)

1892 — “The Laodicean message has been sounding [since it became applicable in the seventh and last church of Revelation!]. Take this message in ALL of its phases and sound of forth to the PEOPLE wherever Providence opens the way. Justification by faith and the righteousness of Christ are the THEMES to be presented to a PERISHING WORLD.” Ibid, Letter 24, 1892.

1894 — “The message to the Laodicean church is HIGHLY APPLICABLE to us AS A PEOPLE. It has been placed before us for a LONG TIME but had NOT been heeded as it SHOULD have been. When the work of REPENTANCE is earnest and deep the INDIVIDUAL members will ‘buy the rich goods of heaven’ [the perfect righteousness of Christ that become the “fine, white linen which is the righteousness of the saints,” the “wedding garment” to be worn at the “wedding supper of the Lamb.”].

1894 — “Many [not all] are Laodiceans, living in SPIRITUAL DECEPTION. They clothe themselves [like guilty Adam and Eve] in garment of their OWN righteousness [antitypical ‘fig leaf’ covering], IMAGINING themselves to be ‘rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing,’ when they need DAILY to learn of Jesus, His meekness and lowliness, else they find themselves BANKRUPT, THEIR WHOLE LIFE BEING A LIE.” Ibid, Letter 66, 1894.

1897 — “I tell you IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, that those who have had GREAT LIGHT are TODAY [note the date] IN THE STATE described by CHRIST in His message to the Laodicean church. They THINK they are rich and increased with goods, and FEEL they have need of nothing. CHRIST [through the Holy Spirit in the written Word] SPEAKS TO YOU. Hear, O hear, IF you have any regard for YOUR SOULS, the WORDS of the great Counselor, and ACT upon them! [Rev. 3:18 quoted].” Ibid, Letter 5, 1897.

1898 — “Love of self EXCLUDES the love of Christ. Those who live for SELF are ranged UNDER THE HEAD OF THE LAODICEAN CHURCH [certainly not Jesus!] who are lukewarm, neither cold nor hot. The ardor of the first love [for God and His law] has LAPSED INTO SELFISH EGOTISM. The love of Christ in the heart is expressed in ACTIONS. If love for Christ is DULL, the love for those for whom Christ has died will DEGENERATE. There may be wonderful APPEARANCE for zeal and ceremonies, but this is the SUBSTANCE OF THEIR SELF-INFLATED religion. Christ represents them as NAUSEATING to His taste. [‘I will spue thee out of My mouth.’]” Ibid, Manuscript 61, 1898.

I hope and pray that if any one of you, like me, when I first studied this startling messages continuing to this very moment, have been “awakened,” humbled, and convicted by these pointed yet healing messages that you will not harden your hearts while you still can “hear His still small voice” speaking to your conscience! I will continue this dated messages next time, God willing. Bless all, NMF.

SPECIAL MESSAGE TO WGM TEAM PARTNERS:
February 1, 2024

The Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 10

PONDER UPON THIS AWESOMELY-SOLEMN TRUTH

 “We are in the [antitypical] great day of atonement, when our sins are, by confession and repentance, to go BEFOREHAND to judgment. God does NOT NOW ACCEPT a tame, spiritless testimony from His MINISTERS. Such a testimony would NOT BE PRESENT TRUTH. The message for THIS TIME must be ‘meat in due season’ to feed the church of God. But Satan has been seeking GRADUALLY to rob this message of its POWER. [Satan is the father of lies, master deceiver, thief and robber!], that the people may NOT BE PREPARED to stand in the day of the Lord. 

 “In 1844 our great High Priest entered into the Most Holy PLACE of the heavenly sanctuary, to BEGIN the work of investigative judgment. The cases of the RIGHTEOUS DEAD have been passing in review before God [as recorded in the book of records]. When that work shall be completed, judgment is pronounced upon the LIVING. How precious, how important are these SOLEMN MOMENTS! Each of us has a CASE pending in the court of heaven. We are INDIVIDUALLY to be judged according to the ‘deeds done in the BODY.’ [2 Cor. 5:10, etc.]. 

 “In the typical service [during the OT ceremonial law of the Mosaic dispensation], when the work of the atonement was performed by the high priest [starting with Aaron] in the most holy place of the EARTHLY sanctuary, the people were required to AFFLICT their souls before God, and CONFESS their sins, that they may be ATONED FOR AND BLOTTED OUT. 

“Will any less be required of us in this ANTITYPICAL day of atonement [that begun on October, 1844], when Christ [our merciful High Priest, Advocate, Intercessor, Mediator, and righteous Judge] is pleading in behalf of His people, and the FINAL, IRREVOCABLE DECISION is pronounced upon every case [in heaven]?

 “What is our [spiritual] condition in this fearful and solemn time? Alas, what PRIDE is prevailing in the church, what HYPOCRISY, what DECEPTION, what LOVE OF DRESS [fashion], FRIVOLITY [‘trifling, jesting and joking’], and AMUSEMENTS, what desire for the SUPREMACY! All these sins have clouded the MIND, so that ETERNAL THINGS HAVE NOT BEEN DISCERNED. 

“Shall we not search the SCRIPTURES [Bible and SOP; not the social media and internet], that we may KNOW WHERE WE ARE in this world’s history? Shall we not become INTELLIGENT in regard to the WORK that is being accomplished FOR US [by Christ in heaven and the Holy Spirit, on earth] at this time, and the POSITION that we as sinners should OCCUPY WHILE this work of atonement is GOING FORWARD? 

“If we have regard for OUR souls’s SALVATION, we must make a DECIDED CHANGE. We must seek the Lord with true [not shallow, feigned, pretended, reactionary, performative] penitence; we must, with DEEP contrition of soul CONFESS [not excuse, justify, rationalize, worse, ignore] that they may be BLOTTED OUT [‘when the times of refreshing’ of the latter rain ‘shall come from the PRESENCE of the Lord.’ Acts 3:19]. 

“We must no longer remain upon the ENCHANTED GROUND. We are fast approaching the CLOSE OF OUR PROBATION. Let every soul inquire, HOW DO I STAND BEFORE GOD [not before our fellow mortal sinners]. We know not HOW SOON OUR NAMES MAY BE TAKEN IN THE LIPS OF CHRIST, AND OUR CASES BE FINALLY DECIDED. 

“What, O what will these decisions be! Shall we be counted with the righteous, or shall we be numbered among the wicked?” -E. G. White, Selected Messages, vol. 1, 124, 125. (All emphases and bracketed words mine). 

This is part of the unvarnished core truths the present, testing truth for this very time that few are emphasizing. It was thus prophesied. But by divine power and grace I hope to stay focused, remain faithful and true to this calling to the end in spite of its given consequences. Christ promised, “Rejoice, for your reward is in heaven [not on earth].” Bless all, NMF.