FRIDAY MORNING MANNA
September 19, 2014
Nathaniel Fajardo
Email:[email protected]
Biblical Numerology, NUMBER TWO- Part 2
Can two walk together unless they be agreed? Amos 3: 3, N.K.J.V
“The majority are usually found on the side of error and falsehood. The fact that doctors of divinity have the world on their side does not prove them to be on the side of truth and of God. The wide gate and the broad road attracts multitudes, while the strait gate and narrow way are sought only by a few [Matt. 7: 13, 14; Luke 13: 23, 24.].”- E.G. White, Spirit of Prophecy, Vol. 4, 1884 ed., p. 214.
See Genesis 3: 1-24 on the temptation and fall of man. God’s Word plainly teaches that where eternal realities and consequences are concerned, there are only two classes, two choices, and two final rewards. This principle of opposites and absolutes by way of comparison and contrast were established from the first to the last day of creation week. After the fall, it took on eternal consequences. Adam and Eve, by their own free-will choice—not because of nature–disobeyed God, thus separating themselves from the Creator.
The first chapter of the divine Book of Beginnings preserves for all time and all mankind the basic principle of two classes—either by division, distinction, or separation. It says: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” verse 1. The heavens is not the earth, and vice versa.
He made a distinction between: “light and darkness.” Verses 2-4; “day and night,” verse 5; “morning and evening,” verses 5, 8, 13, 19, 23, 31; “waters above and waters below,” verses 6-8; “dry land and the seas,” verses 6-9; “the greater light (the sun) to rule the day and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night,” verses 15-18; only two sexes, “male and female,” verses 26, 27; 5:2; “man and woman,” chapter 2: 18, 20-23; “husband and wife,” ch. 2: 24, 25. See Mark 10: 6-9.
The union of man and woman in marriage was the first divine institution, followed by the Sabbath institution, the weekly memorial day of Creation. The sacred marriage between one man and one woman represents the mysterious union of humanity with divinity in Christ His adopted humanity in the incarnation. The true, commandment-keeping church is His bride. In the type we read: “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” In the antitype, Paul continues, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” Eph. 5: 31, 32.
Paul reiterates the divine distinction between the two and the dire consequences of co-mingling or reversing the divinely-appointed roles of male and female, and points the out the eternal consequences of its transgression. See Romans 2:18-32; 1 Cor. 6: 9, 10.
Because of God’s unfathomable love and omniscience, the divine comprehensive plan of redemption/salvation of the eternal gospel, “prepared from the foundation of the world,” instantly went into effect when Eve and Adam sinned, that is, “the moment there was a sinner there was a Savior.”
The foundation of all prophecies and promises in the Bible included the introduction of the new principle of enmity or hatred against Satan, the master deceiver, “father of lies and murderer from the beginning.” John 8: 44. The Creator declared to Satan, disguised then as a serpent (the most beautiful animal before it was cursed to crawl on its belly) in the presence of Adam and Eve: “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your [Satan’s] head, and you shall bruise His heel.” This, to our first parents, was the promise of redemption to be wrought through Christ, the Creator.
Thus, no rational human being, regardless of religion, race, culture, education, or station in life, can ever plead the excuse when he finally stands before “the judgment seat of Christ” (Rom. 14: 10; 2 Cor. 5: 10; cf. John 5:22) that because of fallen, sinful human nature and the carnal flesh and mind with its sinful propensities inherited from Adam and Eve’s fall, that he is either (a) predestined to be lost from birth or (b) on the other extreme, to be eternally and unconditionally saved when he was first “saved,” known as the “once-saved-always-saved” doctrine.
Universalism teaches as well that all mankind will eventually saved; that (a) a good and loving God won’t condemn the wicked to eternal torment in their (idea) of hell (b) after period of cleansing in the afterlife, God will free all in those in “hell” and reconcile them to Himself (c) after death another probation time is given to unrepentant to choose God (e) implies that there are many ways to get to heaven. All these fail to stand the closest scrutiny of the Holy Scriptures and are thus exposed as false and counterfeits.
The life-long battle and struggle against sin, Satan and the fierce temptations of the clamors of the flesh through the new principle of enmity implanted by the Holy Spirit in the heart of the penitent believer begins only when the sinner, by enlightened choice willingly, voluntarily, and humbly enlists under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel “to fight,” not the ISIS/ISIL or any so-called “terrorists” or “national enemies,” but “the battle of the Lord where champions are few”– against the prince of this world, Satan—the primary dragon (Rev. 12: 9), and his unnumbered evil hosts, both invisible evil spirits and visible human agencies on earth, particularly the beast and antichrist of prophecy and his rapidly-forming image identified in Revelation 13.
During the Dark Ages, the “blood of martyrs was the seed of the gospel.” So will it be in the very near future when the faithful ones of the commandment-keeping remnant church will once again “prophesy in sackcloth,” under the power of the latter rain, enlightening the earth with the knowledge of God’s glory” (Rev. 18) until earth’s probation closes.
E.G. White wrote in The Great Controversy, Chapter 30, “Enmity Between Man and Satan, 1911 edition, pp. 505-7 (emphasis mine):
“Gen. 3: 15 quoted. The divine sentence pronounced against Satan after the all of man was also a prophecy, embracing all the ages to the close of time, and foreshadowing the great conflict to engage all the races of men who should live upon the earth.
“God declares, ‘I will put enmity.’ This enmity is not naturally entertained. When man transgressed the divine law, his nature became evil, and he was in harmony, not in variance, with Satan. There exists naturally no enmity between sinful man and the originator of sin. Both became evil because of apostasy.
The apostate is never at rest, except as he obtains sympathy and support by inducing others to follow his example. For this reason fallen angels and wicked men unite in desperate companionship. Had not God especially interposed, Satan and man would have entered into an alliance against Heaven; and instead of cherishing enmity against Satan, the whole human family would have been united in opposition to God.
“Satan tempted man to sin, as he has caused angels to rebel, that he might thus secure co-operation in his warfare against Heaven. There was no dissension between himself and the fallen angels as regards their hatred of Christ; while on all other points there was discord, they were firmly united in opposing the authority of the Ruler of the universe. But when Satan heard the declaration that enmity should exist between himself and the woman, and between his seed and her seed, he knew that his efforts to deprave human nature would be interrupted; that by some means man was to be enabled to resist his power.
“Satan’s enmity against the human race is kindled because, through Christ, they are objects of God’s love and mercy. He desires to thwart the divine plan for man’s redemption, to cast dishonor upon God, by defacing and defiling His handiwork; he would cause grief in heaven and fill the earth with woe and desolation. And he points to all this evil as the results of God’s work in creating man!
“It is the grace that Christ implants in the soul which creates in man enmity against Satan. Without this converting grace and renewing power, man would continue the captive of Satan, a servant ever ready to do his bidding. But the new principle in the soul creates conflict where hitherto had been peace. The power which Christ imparts enables man to resist the tyrant and usurper. Whoever is seen to abhor sin instead of loving it, whoever resists and conquers those passions [of the carnal nature] that have held sway within, displays the operation of a principle wholly from above.
“The antagonism that exists between the spirit of Christ and the spirit of Satan was most strikingly displayed in the world’s reception of Jesus. [John 1: 1-14, etc.]. It was not so much because He appeared without worldly wealth, pomp, or grandeur that the Jews were led to reject Him. They saw that He possessed power which would more than compensate for the lack of the outward advantages.
But the purity and holiness of Christ called forth against Him the hatred of the ungodly. His life of self-denial and sinless devotion was a perpetual reproof to a proud and sensual people. It was this that evoked enmity against the Son of God. Satan and evil angels joined with evil men. All the energies of apostasy conspired against the Champion of truth.
“The same enmity is manifested toward Christ’s followers as was manifested toward their Master. [Matt. 10: 21, 22; John 15: 20-25; 16: 1-4, etc.]. Whoever sees the repulsive character of sin, and in strength from above resists temptation [not justifies or excuses it], will assuredlyarouse the wrath of Satan and his subjects. Hatred of the pure principles of truth, and reproach and persecution of its advocates, will exist as long as sin and sinners remain. The followers of Christ and the servants of Satan cannot harmonize. The offense of the cross has not ceased. ‘All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.’ 2 Timothy 3: 12, K.J.V.” (To be continued next week).