Category: Devotionals

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Devotionals

HOW THE HERULI ARIAN ‘HORN’ WAS ‘PLUCKED UP BY ITS ROOTS’ BY THE ‘LITTLE HORN’ OF DANIEL 7: 8.

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

HOW THE HERULI ARIAN ‘HORN’ WAS ‘PLUCKED UP BY ITS ROOTS’ BY THE ‘LITTLE HORN’ OF DANIEL 7: 8.

“Pope Silverius died on the 2nd of March, 483, whereupon Odovacar (Odoacer, king of the Heruli) made a false move…..It was very important for him to control the choice of a new Pontiff…..He desired a Pope well disposed to himself. When the preliminary assembly failed to agree in the choice of a candidate, the Pretorian Prefect, Cecina Basilius, suddenly intervened in Odovacar’s name, and declared that no election would be valid without the King’s voice…..After this the Assembly was summoned to sanction the decree and decide the election, which resulted in favor of Felix II  (483-492), the candidate recommended by Odovacar.” -The Barbarian Invasion of Italy, p. 148, (1902). “His interference in the Papal election has cast into the Roman Church the seed of a deep and threatening distrust towards him.” – Ibid, p. 147.

“Rome could never forgive such an affront, and through its faithful ALLY, the emperor, another Barbarian nation, the OSTROGOTHS, were called in to destroy the hated Heruli…..—

“Villari says that THEODORIC at the head of the Ostrogothic hordes entered Italy in the autumn of 488, backed by the authority of the emperor and the Roman Church. Because of the discord that had now broken out between Odovacar and the Pope had weakened the former and consequently made him less formidable, after 2 disastrous battles he retreated toward the city of Rome for safety from the Ostrogoths, but ‘the gates of Rome were shut in his face, and the inhabitants of Italy began to show him marked hostility…..The Roman Church had TAKEN ADVANTAGE of all these causes of discontent in order to EXCITE the populace against him; and before long it was openly said that the CLERGY had organized a general CONSPIRACY against him…..in the style of the Sicilian Vespers.”- The Barbarian Invasion of Italy, 2-vol. ed. of 1880. Vol. I, pp. 153-156.

“Villari continues: ‘On the 5th of March, 493, Theodoric entered Ravenna in triumph, all the CLERGY coming forth to meet him, chanting Psalms, with the ARCHBISHOP at the head of the procession.’ -The Barbarian Invasion of Italy, Vol. I, p. 158. TEN DAYS LATER ODOVACAR WAS MURDERED IN COLD BLOOD.

“Hodgkin points out that this coming of the archbishop to meet the Ostrogoths was STAGED so as to ‘impress vividly on the minds both of Italians and Ostrogoths that Theodoric came as the FRIEND of the Catholic Church.’- ‘Italy and Her Invaders.’ – Ibid, pp. 244, 255. Hodgkin further states that the Roman clergy were PRIVY to a terrible SECRET PLOT of murdering the the followers of Odovacar all over Italy.’ – Ibid, 225, 226.

“The Heruli disappeared from history. Thus the first of the three ‘horns’ of Daniel 7:8 was ‘plucked up by the roots,’ and history leaves no room for doubt but that the Papacy THROUGH its allies engineered this act because of its opposition to Arianism.” – Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, pp. 39, 40.  Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

‘GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN’

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

‘GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOODWILL TOWARD MEN’

“Oh that today the human family would recognize that song!” And wonder why there is no peace on earth and goodwill among the nations and  kingdoms of the earth!

That “peace on earth” and “goodwill toward men” sung by the angelic choir of heaven with the humble shepherds out in the fields only as their audience on earth, while the whole heavenly universe rejoiced, can only be understood, appreciated and possessed when we turn our attention away from the frenetic world around us and focus on the following:

“The story of Bethlehem is an exhaustless theme. In it is hidden ‘the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God.’ Rom. 11:33. We marvel at the Savior’s sacrifice in exchanging the THRONE of heaven for the MANGER, and the companionship of adoring ANGELS for the BEASTS of the stall.

“Human pride and self-sufficiency stand rebuked in His presence Yet this was but the  BEGINNING of His wonderful CONDESCENSION. It would have been an almost INFINITE HUMILIATION for the Son of God to take man’s nature, even when Adam stood in his INNOCENCE in Eden.

“But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by FOUR THOUSAND YEARS OF SIN. Like every child of Adam, He accepted the results of the working of the great LAW OF HEREDITY. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a HEREDITY to share our SORROWS and TEMPTATIONS, and to give us AN EXAMPLE OF A SINLESS LiFE…….

“To meet a bitterer conflict and a more fearful risk, God gave His only begotten Son, that the path of life might be made sure for OUR LITTLE ONES. “Herein is love.’ Wonder, O heavens! and be astonished, O earth!” (Desire of Ages, pp. 48, 49).

I will not greet you with a Merry Christmas but with this message that is much better, more truthful, uplifting, encouraging and edifying!
God bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

MORE REVELATIONS ON THE ‘SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN’ OF THE LAST DAYS

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MORE REVELATIONS ON THE ‘SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN’ OF THE LAST DAYS

“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.” Rev. 2:9, KJV. “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” Rev. 3:9.

A synagogue, according to Webster’s Collegiate Edition Dictionary (1967) is: “A congregation of Jews met for the purpose of worship; a Jewish place of worship.”

According to the gospels it was the Jewish Sanhedrin representing the people and the nation who condemned and had Jesus Christ, the “Lord of the Sabbath,” crucified by their Roman oppressors. In these last days the counterfeit sabbath, Sunday, has been egregiously called the “Lord’s day,” or as stated in Sunday law bills introduced to Congress in the late 1800s to early 1900s, the most infamous of which were the Blair Sunday law bill and the Breckinridge Sunday law bill, the “American Sabbath.” Now note the following carefully:

“I would speak words of warning to the brethren of our churches [back in 1895], for I fear that many are acting the part of the slothful servant who hid his lord’s talent in the earth [in the parable]. His sin was the SIN OF NEGLECT, the sin of failing to IMPROVE the great treasure is knowledge that were committed to his trust. God has given precious light to HIS PEOPLE (like ancient Israel and the Jewish people) with which to enlighten the world, and ARE NOT MANY treating it with INDIFFERENCE and ACTING as though the heavenly gift were of LITTLE consequence?? FAIR WEATHER DISCIPLES [as with ‘fair weather friends’] will NOT ANSWER to the Lord’s call in the TIME OF PERIL TOWARD WHICH WE ARE HASTENING. It will take those who not only HEAR, but DO the words of Christ to be active disciples [Rom. 12:11 quoted]. A new energy proceeding FROM BENEATH IS TAKING POSSESSION OF THE WHOLE SYNAGOGUE OF SATAN.” E. G. White, Manuscript 6, Feb. 21, 1885/ UL 66.

“John the Baptist declared to the Jews [in the time of Christ, and the spiritual, antitypical ‘sabbath-keeping’ Jews today] that their standing before God was to be decided by their CHARACTER and LIFE.  PROFESSION WAS WORTHLESS, if their life and character WERE NOT IN HARMONY WITH GOD’S LAW, THEY WERE NOT HIS PEOPLE.” – Ibid, DA 107.

“Profession alone is nothing. Names are registered upon in the CHURCH BOOKS upon earth, BUT NOT IN THE BOOK OF LIFE [in heaven].” Ibid, Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 304.

“A profession of Christ [or “Christian”] is not enough to enable one to stand in the TEST OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT [the pre-advent or investigative judgment began in 1844 at end of the 2300 day prophecy of Dan. 8:14].” Ibid, Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 18.

More tomorrow, God willing. Bless all, NMF. 

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Devotionals

THE TRUE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS, SAME AS THE ORIGINAL

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE TRUE CHURCH IN THE LAST DAYS, SAME AS THE ORIGINAL

We take a parenthetical break from the progressive detailed history of the prophesied “falling away” of the early church to refresh our minds on what the Bible says and describes the true and faithful church after its shaking and sifting:

Eph. 5:27: “Having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, holy and without blemish” as the purified  “bride of Christ.”

1 Tim. 3:15; Rev. 3:12: They are “the pillar and ground of truth” of the spiritual “temple.”

Rom. 8: 8, 14: “They walk [live, move, and have their being] not after the flesh but after the Spirit.”

1 Pet. 2:9: They are “a chosen generation, royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar [separate from the world and unhinge of the world] people, a royal priesthood.”

Rev. 14:12; 19:10; 12:17: The true “remnant who keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus” and have the “spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus.”

Luke 17:21: The “kingdom” and kingship of God is within them.”

John 14:12: James 1:22: They are “doers,”!doing the works of Jesus, not “works of the flesh.”

Rev. 14: 1-12: They live and give the three angels’ messages (to the world aground them).

Matt. 16:18; 1 Pet. 2:6-8: Their faith, hope and character are based, developed, and founded upon the Rock, both Christ Himself by the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit and  the written Word abiding in their minds and hearts.

Hereunder are quotes from the inspired pen:
“From the beginning, FAiTHFUL souls have constituted the CHURCH on earth.” E. G. White, Acts of the Apostles, p. 11.

“The church on earth, composed of those who are FAITHFUL and LOYAL TO GOD, is the TRUE TABERNACLE whereof the Redeemer is the MINISTER. God, and not man, pitched this tabernacle on a high and elevated platform.” Ibid, 7 BC 931.

“Consider, my brethren and sisters, that the Lord has A PEOPLE, A CHOSEN people, HIS CHURCH, to be His own, His own fortress, which He holds in a sin-stricken, revolted world; and He intended that NO AUTHORITY should be known to it; no laws acknowledged by it, but HIS OWN.” Ibid, TM 16.

“There is no other church than the assembly of those who have the WORD of God, and are PURIFIED by it.” Ibid, 4 SOP 237.

“Those who KEEP God’s commandments, those who live NOT by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, COMPOSE THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD.” Ibid, 7 BC 949.
More follows tomorrow, God willing. Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

BY WHOM, WHEN AND HOW THE SABBATH WAS TRANSFERRED TO SUNDAY

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

BY WHOM, WHEN AND HOW THE SABBATH WAS TRANSFERRED TO SUNDAY

What was the response of the bishops assembled at the Council of Nicene to Constantine’s perverted concept of conversion that he sent as an instruction to them? Does the record say they prayed to God for enlightenment, guidance and direction, as under shepherds and men of God should always do? No! Instead:

“The bishops were only TOO WlLLING to follow the emperor’s instructions. and the result was DISASTROUS to the church. J. A. W. Neander in the following paragraph some of the results of this policy:

‘Such were those who, without any real interest whatsoever to the concerns of religion, living half in Paganism and half in an outward show of Christianity, composed the CROWDS that thronged the CHURCHES on the festivals of the Christians, and the THEATERS on the festivals of the Pagans.’ – ‘History of the Christian Religion and Church,’ Vol. II, Sec. 3, Part I, Div. 1, par. 1, p. 233. Boston. 1855.

“No wonder Rev. H.H. Milmann exclaims:
‘Is this Paganism approximating to Christianity, or Christianity degrading to Paganism under another form??’- Ibid, p. 412.

“Eusebius, bishop of Caesarea, and an admirer of Constantine,  co-operated with him in bringing ‘the venerable day of the Sun’ into the Christian church. Speaking of POPE SYLVESTER, CONSTANTINE, and HIMSELF [Eusebius], he says:

“All things whatsoever that it was a duty to do on the Sabbath these things WE have transferred to the Lord’s day, as more appropriately belonging to it, because it has a PRECEDENCE and is FIRST in rank and more honorable than the Jewish Sabbath. For on that day, in making the world, God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light.’ – ‘ Commentary on the Psalm;’ quoted in ‘Literature on the Sabbath Question,’ Robert Cox, Vol. 1, p. 361.

“Eusebius evidently used the strongest argument he knew as proof for Sunday keeping: but advocates of this new holiday had probably not yet considered the IDEA that Christ’s RESURRECTION would be an argument in favor of Sunday-keeping, so he used creation instead!”

Many Christians today are using the latter reason as to why they keep Sunday! No wonder the papacy’s question as to why they keep Sunday instead of the Sabbath, as the Bible clearly teaches, remains unanswerable Biblically! Only the truth can set man free from the bondage of error and sin! Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

APOSTASY: PREPARED THE WAY OF THE PAPACY FIRST, THEN THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

APOSTASY: PREPARED THE WAY FOF THE PAPACY FIRST, THEN THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come [Christ’s second advent], except there come a falling away [apostasy] first, and the man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” 2 Thess. 2:3, KJV.

“When the early church became corrupted by departing  from the simplicity of the gospel and accepting heathen rites and customs  [as we have been tracking in church and secular history] she LOST the Spirit and power of God; and in order to CONTROL the consciences of the people, she sought the support of the secular power. The result was the PAPACY, a CHURCH that CONTRoLLED the power of the STATE and employed it to further her own ends, especially the PUNISHMENT OF ‘HERESY.’

“Whenever [and wherever] the church has obtained secular power, she had employed it to punish DISSENT from HER doctrines. PROTESTANT CHURCHES [whether Evangelical, Pentecostal, or Apostolic, etc.] that have followed in the steps of Rome in forming alliance with WORLDLY POWERS have manifested a similar desire to RESTRICT LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE. An example of this is given in the the long-continued persecution of dissenters in the CHURCH OF ENGLAND. During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, THOUSANDS of nonconformist ministers were forced to FLEE from their churches, and many, both of pastors and people, were subjected to FINE, IMPRISONMENT, TORTURE, AND MARTYRDOM.

“It was apostasy that led the EARLY CHURCH to seek the aid of civil government, and this prepared for the development of the Papacy—-THE BEAST. Said Paul [2 Thess. 2:3 quoted]. So apostasy IN THE CHURCH will prepare the way for the IMAGE TO THE BEAST.

“Satan will work with all power and deceivableness of unrighteousness.’ 2 Thess. 2:9,10. His working is plainly revealed by the RAPIDLY increasing darkness, the MULTITUDINOUS errors, heresies, and delusions in these last days. Not only is Satan leading the WORLD captive, but his DECEPTIONS are leavening the PROFESSED CHURCHES of our Lord Jesus Christ. The GREAT APOSTASY [in these professed Christian churches] will develop into DARKNESS DEEP AS MIDNIGHT. To God’s [faithful and true] people it will be a night of trial, a night of weeping, a night of persecution for the TRUTH’S SAKE. But out of that night of darkness God’s LIGHT will shine!” – E. G. White, Maranatha, p. 165.

The time of test is rapidly approaching! “Quit ye like men and be strong” “in the Lord and in the power of His might.” Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

CONSTANTINE’S STRATEGY TO MAKE ‘CONVERTS’ IN HIS AMALGAMATED SCHEME

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

CONSTANTINE’S STRATEGY TO MAKE ‘CONVERTS’ IN HIS AMALGAMATED SCHEME

“Having obtained a glimpse of the opposition of God’s people [represented at that time and stage of church history by the Waldenses] to this [prophesied] ‘falling away,’ let us now return to our subject, to get a view of the NOVEL means Constantine employed to make converts in accordance with his amalgamation scheme. Edward Gibbon says:

‘The hopes of wealth and honors, the example of an emperor, his exhortations. his irresistible smiles, diffused conviction among the VENAL and OBSEQUIOUS crowds which usually fill the apartments of a palace…..As the lower ranks of society are governed by limitation, the CONVERSION of those who possessed any EMINENCE of birth, of power, or of riches, was soon followed by DEPENDENT multitudes. The salvation of the COMMON PEOPLE were PURCHASED at an easy rate, IF it be true that, in ONE YEAR, TWELVE THOUSAND MEN were baptized in ROME…..and that a white garment, with 20 pieces of gold, had been promised by the emperor to every convert.’ – ‘The Decline and Fall,’ chap. 20,
par.18.

“Constantine gave the following instruction to the BiSHOPS at the Council of Nicaea [ever heard of the Nicene Creed?], which shows his constant policy:——‘In all way UNBELIEVERS must be saved. It was not everyone who would be converted by LEARNING and REASONING. Some join us from desire of MAINTENANCE, some for PREFERMENT; some for PRESENTS; NOTHING IS SO RARE AS A REAL LOVER OF TRUTh (repeat:‘nothing is so rare as a real lover of truth!’]. We must be like physicians, and accommodate our medicines to the diseases, our teaching to the different minds of all.’- ‘Lectures on the History of the Eastern Church.’ Arthur Penrhyn Stanley, D. D., Lecture 5, p. 271, NY: 1875.” – C. Edwardson, Facts of Faith, pp. 113, 114. Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville, TN: 1943.

Any conversion other than by the conviction of the conscience, enlightenment of the mind and change of heart by Holy Spirit in either the spoken or written Word, is either a “half-convert,” or none at all. Such is the “form” not the  substance.  We must be genuinely born-again or else the “old man” is still alive, not dead, waiting to manifest itself again when the opportunity arises, particularly during crises, emergencies and “mini” and “little” times of trouble! Bless all, NMF  

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Devotionals

CONSTANTINE & POPE SYLVESTER COLLABORATE

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

CONSTANTINE & POPE SYLVESTER COLLABORATE

The Roman Emperor Constantine represents the State and Pope Sylvester represents the Church.

“Dr. Lewis quotes from Dr. Schaff a very fitting conclusion in his remarks regarding Constantine: ‘And down to the end of his life he retained the title and dignity of PONTIFEX MAXIMUS, or high-priest of the heathen hierarchy. His coins bore on the one side the letters of the NAME OF CHRIST, on the other the SUN-GOD, and the inscription, ‘SOL INVICTUS’ [Invincible Sun].’—Ibid, p. 10.

“That the Christians at this time were still keeping the Sabbath can be seen from the following statement of Hugo Grotius, quoted by Robert Cox, F. S. A. Scot.: ‘He refers to Eusebius for proof, that Constantine, besides issuing his well-known edict that labor should be suspended on Sunday, enacted that the people should not be brought before the law courts on the SEVENTH DAY of the week, which also, he adds, was long observed by the PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANS as a day of religious meetings…..And this, says he, ‘REFUTES those who think that the Lord’s Day [Sunday] was substituted for the Sabbath—a thing NOWHERE mentioned either by Christ or His apostles.’ – ‘Opera Omnia Theological,’ Hugo Grotius (died 1645), (London, 1679); quoted in ‘Literature of the Sabbath Question,’ Cox, Vol. I, p. 233. Edinburgh: Maclachlan & Stewart, 1865.

“Pope Sylvester co-operated with Constantine to bring PAGANISM into the Christian church (especially Sunday-keeping). This caused the TRUE Christians to have REPUGNANCE for him. The WALDENSES believed that he (Pope Sylvester) was the ANTICHRIST.  Dr. Peter Allix, quotes the following from a prominent Roman Catholic author regarding the Waldenses:

‘They say that the blessed Pope Sylvester was the Antichrist, of whom mention is made in the Epistles of St. Paul, as being the son of perdition, who extols himself above everything that is called God; for, from that time, they say, the Church PERISHED……He lays it down also as one of their opinions, ‘That the law of Moses is to be kept according to the letter, and that the KEEPING OF THE SABBATH……and other legal observances, ought to take place.’ – ‘Ecclesiastical History of the Ancient Churches of Piedmont,’ p. 169. Oxford. 1831, p. 154 in the edition of 1690.” – Facts of Faith, C. Edwardson, pp. 112, 113.   Bless all, NMF