April 1, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
AS THE COVID-19 CRISIS IS A GLOBAL ISSUE OF CONCERN SO WILL THE FINAL CRISIS.
“We are to be put on view to the world, and to angels, and to men.” 1 Cor.4:9, Bible in Basic English.
There is a difference between “cure” and “solution” in the present context of this Covid-19 pandemic. If a cure is not quickly found but instead more calamities follow in its train, prophecy tells us what happens next: the final blame game is resorted to by those who themselves are responsible for causing them— as in the time of apostate king Ahab and Elijah. The ones who will be blamed are those faithful to God’s law, the Bible Sabbath in particular.
What will be the proposed SOLUTION? One that will restore God’s favor, bring the calamities to an end, and restore TEMPORAL peace and prosperity? Make the so-called Christian sabbath or the “Lord’s day” be enacted and enforced as a law of the land.
Now this: “A power from beneath is working to bring about the last great scenes in the drama…. Transgression has almost reached its limit. Confusion wills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human beings [this covid-19 crisis??]. The end is very near. We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as overwhelming surprise.”(Maranatha 138).
“The perils of the last days are upon us, and in our work we are to WARN the people of the danger they are in [starting with ourselves]. Let not the solemn scenes which prophecy has revealed be left untouched. If our people were half-awake, if they realized the nearness of the events portrayed in the Revelation, a reformation would be wrought in our churches, and many more would believe the message.
We have no [more] time to lose. God calls upon us to WATCH for souls as they must give an account.” TM 117, 118. “As men depart further and further from God, Satan is permitted to have power over the children of disobedience [both young and old]. He hurls destruction among men. There is calamity by land, and sea…Satan resolves to CHARGE this upon those who refuse to bow to the IDOL which he has set up. His agents point to Seventh-day Adventists as the CAUSE of the trouble. These people stand out in defiance of law [only after enacted and enforced], they say. “They desecrate Sunday. Were they compelled to obey the law for Sunday observance, there would be a CESSATION of these terrible judgments.” RH July 16, 1901.
There are much more I must share with you, as my accountability to God, in the next text messages. Let’s hope and pray that the inability to assemble to meet in church worship due to the mandated social distancing efforts to mitigate the pandemic is only temporary. If not, we may have met for the last time in that last Sabbath service. And we will remember that Sabbath day.
Home churching, which I am very familiar with, is now our only recourse held via our website—until, hopefully, God in His mercy will grant us another short respite allowing us to meet again. If and when, I know you will treasure it more than we ever did.
The outpouring of the latter rain is even closer now on those who have prepared their hearts and lives for it during times of prosperity. God is in control, do not interfere. Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. NMF