Month: March 2024

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Special Message

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 25: THIS SPIRITUAL DISEASE IS NOT HOPELESS (No. 7)

SPECIAL MESSAGE TO WGM TEAM PARTNERS:
March 29, 2024

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 25

THIS SPIRITUAL DISEASE IS NOT HOPELESS (No. 7)

Jesus sadly said to the self-confident and hypocritical spiritual leaders of His time, “They that be whole need not a Physician.”

All who profess to be Christ’s followers and “water-baptized members” of the remnant church in the these last days need to “stay awake and slumber not” by earnestly desiring and diligently seeking the daily “baptism of the Holy Spirit with fire” that cleanses and purifies the heart and mind, not the physical body.

Because Biblical salvation is individual, all who would be at last eternally saved need to individually—not corporately, never vicariously, but as in partaking of physical food and water for nutrition and health—daily “eat Christ’s flesh and drink His blood,” meaning, “study His Word to show ourselves approved unto God,” and then correspondingly live out the self-denying, self-sacrificing life of Christ as the Example and Pattern, daily, one day at a time.

Thus, by working and overcoming by the empowering grace imparted by the Holy Spirit and ministry of the angels that excel in heaven-borne strength, the character-shaping imaging principle silently works in transformative power so that the individual daily grows into the image-likeness of the character of the yet-invisible Jesus Christ.

By these spiritually-alive, dynamic process and work the true believer and commandment-keeping saint steadily gains by growth in intellectual and spiritual knowledge, understanding, wisdom, and sanctification “unto the measure of the stature of the perfection in Christ Jesus.” He “keeps his conscience void of offense towards God” and thereby obtains “the peace that passeth understanding” and Christ’s “rest” afforded to all “who takes His yoke and learns of His meekness and lowliness of heart.” Indeed, “He will beautify the meek with salvation.”

The spiritually “wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” lukewarm, Laodicean believer in this seventh and last church stage has only one hope left in Christ: humbly and without delay, fully accept the divine Physician’s diagnosis, submit and yield to Him, and comply with His prescribed life-saving cure and full regimen to maintain and enhance the spiritual health thereafter until one receives “the seal of God in their foreheads.”

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

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Mid-week Manna

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No. 4: THE SECOND ‘WAY OF ESCAPE” AFTER THE FALL

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 27, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No. 4

THE SECOND ‘WAY OF ESCAPE” AFTER THE FALL

The first way of escape envisioned by the omniscient Mind of the omnipotent Godhead (“let US make man in OUR image and in OUR likeness”) in and through Christ the Creator, for the only creature created or “made in the image and likeness of God—-should he fail the first test of free moral agency by disobedience to the word of law of his Maker—was not to ignore, set aside, amend, negate, “make of none effect, or worse, do away with that law, but to put divine ENMITY between him and Satan the serpent, the tempter, “the father of lies and murderer from the beginning, the author of sin, the transgression of God’s law.

This most fundamental of all Bible truths we have already established. Though created sinlessly perfect, the creature called man, was divinely endowed, intrinsically “wired” if you will, with a will, the power of choice, verily the governing power in man to choose intelligently, freely, willingly, and voluntarily to adore and worship his Creator by and through loving obedience to His word,

His law which is an expression of His will and thought, standard of His character-image, and the rule of His everlasting in heaven and the universe. This was and is the true foundation of the first, fullest, and most comprehensive meaning of “relationship.” There was none before it, and everything after it—the relationship of the only creature created in the image and likeness of the Creator of heaven and earth. Every other form of relationships are but branches of this main trunk as it were, downstream end products, or worse but yet prophesied as part of the great controversy between Christ and Satan, abominable corruptions and perversions.

In these lasts days of earth’s history of mankind’s second and last probation, it is one of Satan’s
most cunning counterfeits and truth-destroying means of deception—relationships with a cornucopia of its variables with everyone and everything else but with the first of all that could possibly be in the beginning: between creature and his Creator.

The second “way of escape” is described as follows. We quote again from The Cross and Its Shadow by Stephen Haskell, pp. 20, 21, for additional emphasis (all emphasis and bracketed words mine):

 “Before man was placed on trial [man’s first probationary testing time] the LOVE of the Father and that the Son for him was SO GREAT that CHRIST [the Creator] PLEDGED HIS OWN LIFE AS A RANSOM if man should be overcome by the temptations of Satan. Christ was ‘the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world’ (Rev. 13:8) [Calvary prophesied before Creation].

This wonderful truth was made known to our first words spoken by the Lord to SATAN, ‘It (the Seed of the woman) shall BRUISE THY HEAD, and thou shalt bruise His heel.’ [Christ’s ‘heel’ would be bruised by Satan at Calvary, but Satan’s head will be finally eternally ‘bruised’ by Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords at the end of the millenium when he and all the fallen angels and wicked are finally destroyed by the ‘cleansing fires of the last days.

 “In order that man might realize the ENORMITY OF SIN THAT WOULD TAKE AWAY THE LIFE OF THE SINLESS SON OF GOD, he was required to bring an INNOCENT lamb, confess his sins over its head [not feet or heels], then with his OWN HANDS TAKE ITS LIFE, a type of Christ’s life. This sin-offering was burned [nothing was left it it but ashes], typifying that through the DEATH of Christ ALL SIN would be FINALLY DESTROYED by the FIRES at the last day. [Malachi 4: 1-3). The Cross and Its Shadow.

Note this: It was not the cruel “nails of Rome” driven through Christ’s sinlessly undefiled hands and feet into the wooden tree instigated through the hatred and false accusation of His chosen people that killed Jesus: it was the SINS of mankind, for “the wages of sin is death,” and Christ “was made sin for us, who knew no sin.”

Death by crucifixion was the “manner” by which He would be “condemned to die, not by beheading, hanging, strangulation, public burning, quartering, firing squad, or by any other form or method of public execution for enhanced dramatic effect for whatever reason.

Crucifixion was the means by which “all men would be drawn to Him,” that is, attention would be drawn towards Him like no other more intellectual, historical, or even miraculous means. That He, “the holy One of Israel,” the spotless Son of God, would be literally “lifted up,” suspended between heaven and earth,” crucified between two legitimately-determined-and condemned criminals was “truth greater than fiction,” more virally compelling the most finely-spun conspiracy.

It is from this platform that the true meaning of the Cross of Christ has and should be taught in the Third Angel’s Message, earth’s final, merciful warnings!

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

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Special Message

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 24: THIS SPIRITUAL DISEASE IS NOT HOPELESS (No. 6)

SPECIAL MESSAGE TO WGM TEAM PARTNERS:
March 24, 2024

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 24

THIS SPIRITUAL DISEASE IS NOT HOPELESS (No. 6)

From the beginning it is in His mysterious long-suffering love that God sends humble, faithful and courageous messengers to give unflattering rebukes to save from certain ruin those afflicted with and guilty of specific spiritual maladies. Such are the messages addressing the conditions specific to each of the seven stages of the church, revealed in Revelation chapters 2 and 3.

It is the reaction to these messengers bearing their messages that reveal whether they truly love, honor, and worship God or merely “have the form of godliness and deny its power. Such are “fair weather” disciples who will choose convenience over conviction in the time of test.

To such this truism especially applies in the coming “hour of temptation that will try all that dwell on the earth” (Rev. 3:10). It states: “He who is willing to give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserves neither.”

Note carefully the following:
“Those who are reproved by the Spirit of God should not rise up against the humble instrument. It is God, and not an erring mortal, who has spoken to save them from ruin.” E. G. White, 3T 257 (1873).

 “It is NOT PLEASING to human nature to receive reproof; nor is it possible for the heart of man, UNENLIGHTENED by the Spirit of God, to realize the NECESSITY of reproof or the BLESSING it is designed to bring. As man yields to temptation, and indulges in sin, his MIND becomes darkened. The moral sense is PERVERTED. The warnings of CONSCIENCE is disregarded, and its voice is LESS CLEARLY heard. He gradually LOSES to a power to DISTINGUISH between right and wrong, until he has NO TRUE SENSE of his standing before God. He may observe the FORMS of religion and ZEALOUSLY maintain its doctrines, while DESTITUTE of its spirit. His condition is described by the True Witness: ‘Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. . . . “ 

 “When the Spirit of God, by message of REPROOF, declares this to his condition, he CANNOT SEE that the message is true. Is he therefore to reject the warning? NO. God has given sufficient evidence, so that all who DESIRE to do so may satisfy themselves as to the CHARACTER of the Testimonies; and, having acknowledged them to be FROM GOD, if is their DUTY to accept reproof, even though they themselves DO NOT SEE the sinfulness of their course. If they fully realized their condition, what would be the need of reproof? Because THEY KNEW IT NOT, God mercifully sets it before them, so that they may REPENT AND REFORM before it shall be too late. 

“Those who despise the warning will be left in BLINDNESS to become SELF-DECEIVED: but those who heed it, and zealously go about the work of SEPARATING THEIR SINS FROM THEM in order to have the needed graces, will be OPENING the door of their hearts that the dear Savior may come in and dwell with them.” Ibid, 3T 257 (1873).”

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No. 3 : THE VERY FIRST ‘WAY OF ESCAPE’

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 20, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No. 3

THE VERY FIRST ‘WAY OF ESCAPE’

This brings us right back to a subject we just covered as a series yet now with added insight and enlightenment, as can only be expected from God’s inexhaustible mine of truth! Quoting from Haskell’s The Cross and its Shadow, pp. 19-21 (emphasis mine):

“To every voyager on the storm-tossed sea of life, the Lord has given a COMPASS which, if rightly used, will safely guide him into the eternal haven of rest [the ‘place’ Christ went ‘prepare’]. It was given to our first parents at the GATE of Eden. The compass CONSISTS of the following words, which were spoken by the Lord to Satan: “I will put ENMITY between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed.’ [Gen. 3:15]. 

 “In EVERY HEART God has planted [even as He ‘planted’ the garden of Eden for Adam and Eve] an enmity to sin [the transgression of the law’], which, IF HEEDED, will lead to righteousness and eternal life. Any man, whatever his station or rank in life, who will ABSOLUTELY FOLLOW the divine compass placed in his heart, will 1) accept Christ as his Savior [from sin and sinning] and 2) be led into the sunlight of God’s love and approval (John 1:9). 

“As the result of our first parents’ eating of the forbidden fruit, over all the earth hung the gloom of the divine decree [the ‘curse of sin’], ‘In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt die’ (Gen. 2:17, margin). The marks of death and decay were soon seen in the falling leaves and withered flowers. There was NO ESCAPING the decree, ‘the wages of sin is death’ (Rom. 6:23). 

“But a ray of light penetrated the darkness when God spoke the following words, ‘It (the Seed of the woman) shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel’(Gen. 3:15). These words revealed the fact that for those who would CHERISH THE ENMITY AGAINST SIN which God had placed in the heart, there was a WAY OF ESCAPE FROM DEATH. They would live, and Satan would die; but BEFORE his death he would ‘bruise the heel’ of the Seed of the woman. This was necessary in order that the DEATH OF SATAN might be made sure, and that MANKIND MIGHT ESCAPE ETERNAL DEATH.

“In order that man might realize the ENORMITY of sin, which would TAKE THE LIFE of the sinlesss Son of God, he was required to bring an INNOCENT LAMB, confess his sins over its head, then with HIS OWN HANDS take its life, A TYPE of Christ’s LIFE. 

 “This SIN-OFFERING was BURNED, typifying that through the DEATH of Christ all sin would FINALLY be destroyed at the FIRES OF THE LAST DAY (Mal. 4: 1-3).” End quote.

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

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Special Message

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 23: THIS SPIRITUAL DISEASE IS NOT HOPELESS (No. 5)

SPECIAL MESSAGE TO WGM TEAM PARTNERS:
March 16, 2024

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans – Part 23

THIS SPIRITUAL DISEASE IS NOT HOPELESS (No. 5)

See Luke 9:18-26 first for fuller context. Then this (emphasis mine):
“And He said to them all, If any man will come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, and follow Me. For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life FOR MY SAKE, they shall SAVE IT. For what is a man ADVANTAGED, if he gain the WHOLE WORLD, and lose himself, or be cast away? verses 23-25. Compare to Matt. 16: 24-27; Mark 8: 34-38 to further synoptically magnify the subject scripture-wise. Now this:

 “There are a LARGE NUMBER   OF PROFESSING CHRISTIANS who do not really FOLLOW Jesus. [Why? How?] They do not BEAR THE CROSS BY PROPER SELF-DENIAL AND SELF-SACRIFICE. Although making a great profession of being earnest Christians, they weave into the fabric of CHARACTER so many of the threads of THEIR OWN IMPERFECTIONS that the beautiful pattern [of Christ’s life example of self-denial and self-sacrifice] IS SPOILED. 

“Of them Christ says, ‘You boast of being rich and increased with SUPPOSED  spiritual attainments. In REALITY you are neither cold nor hot, but are FILLED WITH VAIN CONCEIT. Unless converted, you CANNOT be saved; for you would MAR heaven with your UNSANCTIFIED WISDOM. I CANNOT endorse your SPIRIT and your WORK. [Why?] You do not act according to the DIVINE EXAMPLE. You are following a PATTERN merely of your OWN INVENTION. Because you are lukewarm, I will spew you out of My mouth.’ 

“Let us thank the Lord that while this class is SO NUMEROUS, there is still TIME FOR REPENTANCE. Jesus says, ‘I, your Redeemer, know your WORKS. I am familiar with the MOTIVES that prompt you to declare BOASTINGLY in regard to your spiritual condition, [Rev. 3: 17 quoted]. 

“Those who are in this condition are WILLINGLY IGNORANT. They do not discern the real character of SIN. By their wrongdoing they CONSTANTLY MISREPRESENT THE CHARACTER OF CHRIST AND PUT HIM TO AN OPEN SHAME. [cf. Heb. 6:4-6]. Professing to have a knowledge of the truth, they act in spirit as NOVICES. They do not seem to understand the truth that must be EXPRESSED IN WORD AND DEED to show a DECIDED DIFFERENCE between ‘him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.’ 

 “They are FALSE CLAIMANTS of EVERY Christian blessing and privilege, when, as Christ’s representatives, they are NOT RICH in spiritual grace or in works. They are ‘wretched, poor, blind, maimed. What a position to be in! THEY STAND IN THEIR OWN LIGHT. [fuller meaning of ‘neither cold nor hot!’]. 

“But not withstanding their willful ignorance, they are NOT left by the Lord WITHOUT ADDED WARNINGS and counsel.” -Ibid, Manuscript 138, 1902 (note the date again and see where we stand today).

Once again, “Today, if you will hear His voice of warning and counsels, persist not in this deadly “lukewarm” spiritual condition! This last church spiritual condition is, at its core and substance, self-deception.

Self, not Christ is uplifted though His name and teachings are profusely professed. Self is not crucified by self-denial and self-sacrifice. The “old man” is is yet alive, reasserting itself every so often. The “new man in Christ Jesus” cannot be “born again” unless this “old man” is crucified dead even as Christ died “the death of the cross.”

Rather it is “the form of godliness” and physical “sign of the cross” and “stations of the cross” rituals that are displayed, not the “garment of Christ’s righteousness” which only enmity/hatred for sin and love of Christ and His commandments can produce. To such putting on the whole armor of God has no meaning at all; they cannot be real soldiers rallying under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel “fighting the good fight of faith” of the “battles of the Lord where champions are few.”

Once more, prideful lukewarmness will never pass muster during this ongoing most-solemn judgment hour session in heaven. All are weighed in the balances of the sanctuary, not “once saved always saved.”

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No 2 :THE WAYS OF ESCAPE PROVIDED FROM THE FALL

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 13, 2024

The Law of God and the Cross of Christ Series – No 2

THE WAYS OF ESCAPE PROVIDED FROM THE FALL
    “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man [beginning with the first Adam to Christ, ‘the second Adam’] but God is faithful, who will not suffer [permit] you to be tempted above that which are able; but will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it [not yield, cave into, ensnared].” 1 Cor. 10: 13, KJV (all words in brackets mine).

    In divine love and wisdom, omniscient God Creator provided “ways to escape” sin, the transgression of His law and its “wages” which is eternal death, while preserving the everlasting nature and immutability of His law which is the transcript of His character, the foundation of His eternal throne, the rule of His kingdom.  The “Way of ways” of course is Jesus Christ the Creator, “the Word from the beginning” who was “made flesh and dwelt among us” in the “great mystery godliness” manifested to men and angels in His incarnation (John 1:1-3, 14; 3:16; 1 Tim. 3:16). Indeed, “He is THE WAY, the truth, and the life.”

     Thus, it is only in and through Christ that all the other “ways of escape” for the sinner are found, namely: the remedial plan of salvation/redemption in type and antitype: the former as 1) the gospel in symbols in  force during the Old Covenant, Mosaic, Jewish dispensation and its ceremonial systems of the Old Testament period. All surrounded and centered upon the earthly sanctuary and its services
2) the antitypical Christian dispensation of the New Testament period. All center now upon the heavenly sanctuary made up of the holy and most holy places under the New Covenant, where Christ as merciful High Priest has been interceding since His ascension and is currently Judging His professed people on earth by the records of the books of heaven.

     Nevertheless, whether during the Mosaic Old Testament dispensation beginning with the fall in Eden or the present   Christian Era, the “way of escape” of the Gospel plan, being “everlasting,” is the same, stated as follows:
     “The gospel is a system of practical truths destined to work great changes in the human character. If it does not work the transformation in life, in habits, and practice, IT IS NO TRUTH to those who claim to believe it. Man must be sanctified through the truth. Said Jesus, ‘Thy word is truth’ (John 17:17). Unless the truth of God shall lift up man out of his depravity, his intemperate and profligate habits, and make him REFLECT THE IMAGE OF GOD, he is lost!” -E.G. White, Letter 14, Mar 13. 1885.

    “The central power of the earth is a demon [Satan himself]. His throne is in the MIDST of the world, where should have been seen the throne of God. He [Satan] has been patronized by the church, for the church has been conformed to the world, and is living IN TRANSGRESSION OF THE HOLY LAW OF GOD.

     “Christ gave Himself to RANSOM man from the POWER of the destroyer. By becoming the sin-Bearer HE BROKE the power of Satan. He says, ‘I will become the Center of the redeemed world. ‘All holy agencies,’ saith God, ‘will I set in operation to oppose the armies of the INVISIBLE foe, to destroy his power. The eternal agency of the Holy Spirit shall RESCUE man from the EFFECTS of sin, and RESTORE in him the image of God.’ . . . The Lord will not let His human treasure with Christ, its Head, go into the enemy’s ranks without EVERY EFFORT made in their behalf. [But] THEIR ONLY HOPE IS TO DO DO THE COMMANDMENTS. This is THE GOSPEL which has been sounding down along the lines TO OUR TIME.” Ibid, Letter 78, Jan. 20, 1900.

Next MWM we will consider the very first “way of escape” given to Adam and Eve, God willing. Bless all, NMF,

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Special Message

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans- Part 22: THIS SPIRITUAL DISEASE IS NOT HOPELESS (No. 4)

SPECIAL MESSAGE TO WHM TEAM PARTNERS:
March 8, 2024

Straight Testimony to the Laodiceans- Part 22

THIS SPIRITUAL DISEASE IS NOT HOPELESS (No. 4)

It become terminal unless the warnings mercifully given are ignored, made light of, or rejected. Now note the dates of each particular testimony below and consider ourselves warned by the Lord:

 “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 [by the Holy Spirit]. Now [year 1900] more than ever before, are seen pride, worldly ambition, self-exaltation, double-dealing, hypocrisy, and deception. MANY are speaking ‘great, swelling words of vanity,’ saying, ‘I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.’” Yet they are miserable, poor, blind, and naked.’” Review & Herald, Sept. 25, 1900.

 “Those whom Christ WARNS have some excellent qualifications, but they are NEUTRALIZED by all who have a DISEASED self-love, self-deception, self-justification for gross neglect [for what?] TO HELP BRETHREN IN THE SERVICE OF GOD by encouraging words and deeds. [Jesus warned, “Inasmuch as ye have done it to the least of My BRETHREN, ye have done it to Me.’]. There is a DEAD FLY in the ointment. They are BEING WEIGHED by One who never makes a mistake. He tells the result of ACTIONS which demonstrate that the LOVE OF CHRIST IS NOT an abiding principle in the soul. [Indeed, ‘By their fruits ye shall know them.’]. 

  “God calls upon you ALL to learn from Christ His meekness. Put away your faculty for seeing the MISTAKES OF OTHERS. TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO YOUR OWN DEFECTS. Your self-righteousness is NAUSEATING to the Lord Jesus Christ [Rev. 3:15-18 quoted]. These words apply to the CHURCHES and many of those in POSITIONS of trust in the work of God.” EGW Manuscript 108, 1899. Yes, as far back as 1899 this Laodicean testimony was already sounding. But have they been heeded? 

 “Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart” for tomorrow is not assured to anyone.

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

THE LAW OF GOD AND THE CROSS OF CHRIST SERIES

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
March 6, 2024

THE LAW OF GOD AND THE CROSS OF CHRIST SERIES

It was sin, the transgression of God’s immutable law, that necessitated the Cross of Christ the incarnated Creator and Lawgiver, whereby He would “magnify the law and make it honorable” (Isa. 8:20).

We launch this series with an excerpt from the Introduction of “The Cross and Its Shadow” by Stephen Haskell, published 1914 (emphasis mine):

“In the government of God, law is the basis upon which everything is made to rest. Law is the foundation of God’s throne, the stability of His government and character, and the expression of His love and wisdom. 

 “Disobedience of this law caused the fall of LUCIFER [into Satan, ‘the enemy of God and man’] and his host [one third of the angels in heaven]. Disobedience to God’s commands by ADAM and EVE opened the floodgates of woe upon the world, and plunged the whole human family into impenetrable [spiritual] darkness. 

“But divine love has conceived a plan whereby man might be REDEEMED. This plan was revealed in [the first prophecy and] promise, ‘I will put ENMITY between thee [the serpent as the first disguise and medium of Satan] and the woman [Eve, then Mary, as a symbol of the true woman-church of the ages against which “the dragon makes war with,” and between thy seed [the children of disobedience] and her seed [Christ first, then the faithful of the seven churches during the Christian Era, then the end-time  “remnant of her Seed who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus,’ Rev. 12: 17; cf. 19:10]; It [the ‘Seed’ Christ Jesus] shall bruise thy [Satan’s] head, and thou shalt bruise His heel.” Gen. 3:15, KJV. 

“Since the divine law is as sacred as Himself, only one equal with God could make atonement [or ‘propitiation’] for its transgression. Hence, the seed of the woman could refer to none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. In this promise to our first parents a GLEAM OF HOPE PENETRATED THE GLOOM that enveloped the minds of the [now] sinful pair, and when A SYSTEM OF SACRIFICE was made known to them that DEMANDED THE LIFE OF AN INNOCENT VICTIM, they could see more clearly the IMPORT of the promise [and prototypical prophecy],—-that it involved the DEATH OF GOD’S DEAR SON TO ATONE FOR THEIR SIN AND MEET THE CLAIMS OF THE BROKEN LAW. 

“Through this system of sacrifices, THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS reached back to the beginning [of the first-ever lamb offered at Eden, its skin used by God to cover the naked bodies of Adam and Eve which they tried to cover in vain with literal fig leaves, representing their own works of a bloodless sacrifice]. 

“It was the REFLECTION FROM THE CROSS that reached back to the [long-lived[ ANTEDILUVIAN AGE, and kept alive the hope of the FAITHFUL FEW in those years of weary waiting. It was faith in the CROSS [of Christ’s future sacrifice at Calvary] that sustained NOAH and his family during that terrible experience when God was punishing the world [with the Flood] for the TRANSGRESSION OF HIS HOLY LAW.

 “It was a knowledge of the CROSS and its significance that caused ABRAHAM to forsake his country, his kindred, and his father’s house, and sojourn with his sons in a land of strangers. It is written of him, ‘He believed in the Lord [and His promised sacrifice prefigured in the typical sacrificial offerings and animals, lambs in particular] and He accounted it to him for righteousness.’ 

“In prophetic vision, MOSES was permitted to see the CROSS OF CHRIST, and understand more fully the significance of the BRAZEN SERPENT he lifted up in the wilderness for the healing of the people. It was this view that took away the STING of punishment of his own sin [of striking the rock twice in anger over Israel’s incessant murmuring and complaining,  instead of once as God instructed him], and reconciled him to the decree that, ‘he must die in the mount, and be gathered [buried] with his people.’ 

“The simple system of sacrifices instituted by the Lord in the beginning to SYMBOLIZE, or PREFIGURE, CHRIST, was almost totally LOST SIGHT OF during the BONDAGE of the children of Israel in Egypt. Upon their return to Canaan [after the 40-year wilderness wandering] Moses, by divine direction, gave them a MORE ELABORATE SYSTEM, designated in the Scriptures as the ‘SANCTUARY AND ITS SERVICES.’ This earthly  sanctuary, with EVERY MINUTIA of its construction, equipment, and service, was to be built and operated in harmony with THE PATTERN OF THE HEAVENLY [Sanctuary] shown to him in Mount Sinai.

Every form, ceremony, and detail of this service had a significance, and was designed to give the WORSHIPPER a more complete understanding of the GREAT REMEDIAL SYSTEM [of the true and whole gospel of Jesus Christ!].” (end of excerpt)

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