Category: Daily Manna

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE WATCHMEN’S SPECIAL MESSAGE AND DISTINCTIVE WORK THAT PREPARES FOR THE CLOSE OF EARTH’S PROBATION

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE WATCHMEN’S SPECIAL MESSAGE AND DISTINCTIVE WORK THAT PREPARES FOR THE CLOSE OF EARTH’S PROBATION

“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel, therefore hear the word from My mouth, and give them warning from Me.” Ezekiel 3: 17, KJV. (read verses 18-27): and 33: 1-33..

And the faithful watchmen should never forget that: “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain.” Ps. 127:1.

This is another parenthetical pause from our progressive daily series on the three “horns” and the “little horn” of Daniel 7. It is necessary to be constantly reminded that we are on a definite mission, not some rag-tag band, with a specific work and goal to accomplish, not guesswork or a trial-and-error endeavor. The quote below is specifically for those who identify themselves as “Seventh-day Adventist” or members of the commandment-keeping remnant church of prophecy.
In brief but concise and comprehensive words here it is for your records:

“In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as WATCHMEN and LIGHT BEARERS. To them has been entrusted the last warning
for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a WORK of the most solemn import—-the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is NO other work of greater importance. They are to allow NOTHING else to absorb their attention.

“The MOST solemn truths EVER entrusted to MORTALS have been given us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these TRUTHS is to be our work. The world is to be WARNED and God’s people are to be TRUE to the trust committed to them.

“They are not to engage in SPECULATION, neither are they to enter into BUSINESS enterprises with UNBELIEVERS for this would HINDER them in their God-given work.

“Christ says of His people, ‘Ye are the LIGHT of the world.’ Matt. 5:14. It is not a small matter that the counsels and plans of God have been so clearly opened to us. It is a wonderful PRIViLEGE to UNDERSTAND the will of God as REVEALED in ‘the sure word of prophecy.

“This places on us a HEAVY responsibility. God EXPECTS us to impart to others the KNOWLEDGE He has given us. It is His purpose that DIVINE and HUMAN instrumentalities shall UNITE in the proclamation of the WARNING message.” – E. G. White, Testimonies. Vol. 9, p. 19.

“Unto whom much is given much is required.” In the Bible greater privileges equals greater responsibility and accountability, not exclusive entitlements and favors for “God is no respecter of persons.”
Blessings for the day, NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE ARIAN AFRICAN VANDAL ‘HORN’ PLUCKED UP BY THE ROOTS

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE ARIAN AFRICAN VANDAL ‘HORN’ PLUCKED UP BY THE ROOTS

“Treachery, which with Rome and her allies has always been a JUSTIFIABLE WEAPON, was here used IN THE service of the [Roman Catholic] Church by her dutiful son. Justinian [the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire] sent an army of 200,000 trained men under the leadership [of command] of Belisarius to conquer the Vandals WITHOUT declaring war, and UNBEKNOWN to Gelimer, king of the Vandals. The historian Villari says:

‘Belisarius landed on the African coast at nine days march from Carthage (the Vandal capital]. He did not ASSUME the attitude as a conqueror, but came, he said, as the DELIVERER of the Catholics and Romans, the clergy and proprietors, who were all equally oppressed by those foreign barbarians, the heretic Vandals.’ – ‘The Barbarian Invasion of Italy,’ Vol. I, p. 198.

“Thus Belisarius [commander of Justinian’s army] won the enthusiastic support of a large part of the population [beware of the popular majority]. To UNDERMINE the zeal of the Vandal leaders FOR THEIR KING, he [Belisarius] sent the ‘leading men of the Vandals’ a letter from Justinian, stating that he intended only to dethrone the usurping king, who was tyrannizing over them, and to give them back their LIBERTY. The letter reads:

‘It is not our purpose to go to war with the Vandals nor are we breaking our treaty with Gaiseric [a bare-faced lie]. We are only attempting to overthrow your tyrant,who making light of Gaiseric’s testament keeps your king a prisoner….Therefore join us in FREEING YOURSELVES from a tyranny so wicked, that you may enjoy PEACE AND LIBERTY. We give you pledge IN THE.NAME OF GOD that we will give these BLESSINGS.’…..The overseer of the public post DESERTED and delivered all the horses to Belisarius.’ – ‘History of the Later Roman Empire,’ J. B. Bury, Vol. II, p. 130. London. The Macmillian Co., 1925.

“But Justinian never intended to keep his SOLEMN OATH to grant them liberty, and the people soon found Rome the SEVEREST of tyrants.

“In 533 A. D. the Byzantine general Belisarius landed in Africa. The Vandals were several times defeated, and Carthage was entered on Sept. 15, 533…..In the next year Africa, Sardinia, and Corsica were restored to the Roman Empire. As a NATION, THE VANDALS SOON CEASED TO EXIST.’ – ‘Nelson’s Encyclopedia, Vol. XII, art. ‘Vandals,’ pp. 380, 381. New York. 1907.

“Religious INTOLERANCE accompanied the imperial restoration in the West [Roman Empire]. In Africa, as in Italy, Arians were spoiled [destroyed] for the BENEFIT of the Catholics, their churches were destroyed or ruined, and their lands confiscated.’ – ‘Cambridge Medieval History,’ Bury, Gwatkin, and Whitney, Vol. II, p. 44. NY: 1913.” (Facts of Faith, pp. 42, 43.

Bless all as we familiarize ourselves with details of church history in the light of prophecy. This is part of the comprehensive Third Angel’s message for the last days. NMF

Categories
Daily Manna Devotionals

WHILE MULTITUDES PINE FOR THE “PAST” AND YEARN FOR THE “NEW,” HERE’S WHAT THE REMNANT SHOULD KNOW

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

WHILE MULTITUDES PINE FOR THE “PAST” AND YEARN FOR THE “NEW,” HERE’S WHAT THE REMNANT SHOULD KNOW

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be: and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there ANYTHING whereof it may be said, See this is NEW? It hath been ALREADY of old time, which was BEFORE us.” Ecclesiastes 1: 9,10, KJV

“The Roman Catholic Church, with all its ramifications throughout the world, forms one vast organization, under the control, and designed to serve the interests, of the Papal See. It’s millions of communicants, in every country [and nation] of the globe, are INSTRUCTED to hold themselves as BOUND TO ALLEGIANCE TO THE POPE. Whatever their NATiONALITY or their GOVERNMENT, they are to regard the authority of the CHURCH as ABOVE all other. Though they may take the oath pledging their loyalty [and ‘allegiance’] to the STATE, yet back of this lies the VOW OF OBEDIENCE TO ROME, absolving them of every pledge INIMICAL to her [The papacy’s] interests.

“HISTORY testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to INSINUATE herself into the affairs of NATIONS: and having gained a FOOTHOLD, to further her own aims, even at the RUIN of princes and people.

“In the year 1204, Pope Innocent III, extracted from Peter II., king of Arragon, the following extraordinary oaths: ‘I, Peter, king of Arragonians, profess and promise to be faithful and obedient to my Lord, Pope Innocent, to his Catholic successors, and the Roman Church, and to faithfully preserve my kingdom in his obedience, defending the Catholic faith, and persecuting heretical probity.’ (Doe longs, ‘History of Romanism,’ b. 5, ch. 6, sec. 55). This is in harmony with the claims regarding the power of the Roman pontiff [popes], that ‘it is lawful for him to DEPOSE emperors, and that “he can ABSOLVE subjects from their allegiance to unrighteous rulers.’

“And let it be remembered, that it is the BOAST of Rome that she NEVER CHANGES. The principles of Gregory VII, and Innocent III, are STILL the principles of the Roman Catholic Church. And had she but the POWER, she would put them into PRACTICE with as much vigor NOW as in PAST centuries [Never forget the Dark Ages!].

“Protestants (today’s Christian mainstream] little know what they are doing then they propose to accept the AID of Rome in the work of SUNDAY EXALTATION. While they are bent on the accomplishment of THEIR purpose, Rome is aiming to RE-ESTABLISH her power, to RECOVER her lost supremacy [from 538 to 1798 A.D.].

“Let the principles be once established in the UNITED STATES, that the CHURCH may employ or control the power of the STATE [which the new makeup of the Supreme Court and silent “Christian majority” of politicians, legislators, lawmakers and powerful pundits are now in strategic offices and positions], that religious observance may be ENFORCED by SECULAR laws; in short, that the authority of church and state is to DOMINATE THE CONSCIENCE, and the TRIUMPH of Rome in this country [America] is ASSURED.

“God’s Word has given the warning of the [real] IMPENDING DANGER [not COVID, China, Iran, North Korea, Islam, invading space aliens, global warming, socialism, communism, etc.]; let this be UNHEEDED and the Protestant world [mainstream Christianity] will learn what the purposes of ROME really are, ONLY when it is TOO late to escape the SNARE! She [The RCC] is silently growing into power. Her DOCTRINES are exerting their influence in LEGISLATIVE halls, in the CHURCHES, and in the HEARTS [and minds] of men.

She is piling up her lofty and massive structures, in the SECRET RECESSES of which her FORMER PERSECUTIONS WILL BE REPEATED. Stealthily and unsuspectedly she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when THE TIME SHALL BE GIVEN FOR HER TO STRIKE. All that she desires is vantage ground [in America], and this is ALREADY being given her.

“We shall soon SEE and FEEL what the purpose of the ROMAN ELEMENT [as in Romanism\ is. Whoever shall believe and obey the Word of God, will hereby incur reproach and persecution.” – Great Controversy, 1911 ed., ‘Aims of the Papacy,’ ch., pp. 580, 581.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed, if one takes heed. Bless all and grow in the knowledge of the Lord and His testing truths starting this first calendar day of 2021. NMF