Whole Gospel Ministries

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

June 3, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE IN HIS MYSTERIOUS DEALINGS WITH THE ‘MYSTERY OF INIQUITY’ 

TEXTS: “Forever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.” “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Ps. 119: 89; 19: 7, KJV. 

We resume quoting from Ellen G. White’s Great Controversy, 1911 edition, pp. 487-8 (all emphasis provided):

   “Satan had artfully presented his side of the question, employing SOPHISTRY AND FRAUD to secure his objects. His power to DECEIVE was very great, and by disguising himself in a cloak of falsehood he had gained an ADVANTAGE. Even the loyal angels could NOT FULLY DISCERN his character, or see what his WORK was leading. 

    “Satan had been so highly honored, and all his acts had been clothed in MYSTERY, that it was DIFFICULT to disclose to the angels the true nature of his work. 

    “UNTIL FULLY DEVELOPED, SIN WOULD NOT APPEAR THE EVIL IT WAS. Heretofore it had no place in the UNIVERSE of God, and HOLY BEINGS had NO CONCEPTION of its nature and malignity. THEY COULD NOT DISCERN THE TERRIBLE CONSEQUENCES THAT WOULD RESULT FROM SETTING ASIDE THE DIVINE LAW. 

    “Satan had, at first, concealed his work under a specious profession of LOYALTY TO GOD.  He claimed to be seeking to promote the HONOR of God, the STABILITY of His government, and the GOOD of all the inhabitants of heaven. While instilling DISCONTENT into the minds of the angels under him [one third of the angelic host], he had artfully made it appear that he was seeking to REMOVE DISSATISFACTION. 

   “When he urged that CHANGES BE MADE IN THE ORDER AND LAWS OF GOD’S GOVERNMENT, it was under the pretense that these were necessary in order to preserve HARMONY in heaven!”

NOTE: the latter reminds me of that perverted principle: “Thesis, Antithesis, Synthesis.”

Translation: Create the problem; prepare the solution; control the situation. 

     “In His dealings with SIN, God could employ ONLY righteousness and truth. Satan COULD USE what God COULD NOT—flattery and deceit. He had sought to FALSIFY the word of God, and MISREPRESENTED His plan of government before the angels, claiming that God was NOT JUST IN LAYING LAWS AND RULES upon the inhabitants of heaven; that in requiring submission and obedience from His creatures, He was seeking merely the EXALTATION of Himself.

    “Therefore, it must be DEMONSTRATED before the inhabitants of HEAVEN, as well as of ALL THE WORLDS, that GOD’S GOVERNMENT WAS JUST, HIS LAWS PERFECT. 

    “Satan had made it appear that he himself was seeking to promote the good of the universe. [Therefore] THE TRUE CHARACTER OF THE USURPER, AND HIS REAL OBJECT, MUST BE UNDERSTOOD BY ALL. HE MUST HAVE TIME TO MANIFEST HIMSELF BY HIS WICKED WORKS.”’- End extract. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

May 27, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

TEXT: “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, THY WILL be done in earth, AS IT IS in heaven.” Matt. 6: 9-13; Luke 11: 2. 

God’s omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence, purposes, will, and dealings with fallen mankind and earth may even be better understood and appreciated by this revelation of His long-suffering patience,  merciful, yet righteous dealings with Lucifer in his rebellion in heaven—even before man and earth were created! Indeed, “Our “Father’s will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” He “changeth not,” is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” “from everlasting to everlasting.”

We resume where we left off

last week on Great Controversy, 1911 GC 496-7 “his liberty was to be abridged.”….

    “From MISREPRESENTATIONS  of the words of Christ, he (Lucifer) passed to PREVARICATION AND DIRECT FALSEHOOD, accusing the Son of God of a design to HUMILIATE him before the INHABITANTS OF HEAVEN. He sought also to make a false issue BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THE LOYAL ANGELS. All whom he did not subvert and bring fully to his side, he accused of INDIFFERENCE to the interest of heavenly beings. The very work which he himself was doing, he charged upon those who remained true to God. 

    “And to sustain his charge against God’s INJUSTICE toward him, he resorted to MISREPRESENTATION of the words and acts of the Creator. It was his policy to PERPLEX the angels with subtle arguments concerning THE PURPOSES OF GOD. Everything that was SIMPLE he shrouded in MYSTERY, and by artful perversion CAST DOUBTS upon the plainest statements of Jehovah. His high position, in such close connection with the divine administration, gave him greater force to his representations, and MANY were induced to unite with him in rebellion against HEAVEN’S AUTHORITY.

     “God in His WISDOM, permitted Satan to carry forward his work, until the spirit of rebellion RIPENED into active revolt. It was NECESSARY for his plans to be fully developed that their TRUE NATURE AND TENDENCY might be seen by all. Lucifer, as the anointed cherub, had been highly exalted; he was greatly beloved, and his INFLUENCE over them was strong. 

    “God’s government INCLUDED not only the inhabitants of heaven, but ALL THE WORLDS that He had created; and Satan thought that if he could carry the ANGELS OF HEAVEN with him in rebellion, he could carry ALSO THE OTHER WORLDS.” (end extract from GC 496-7). 

For the other inhabited “worlds” and “dominions” other than earth’s dominion in God’s immeasurably vast universe, see Heb. 1: 3; 11: 3; cf. Dan. 7: 27; Col. 1:16. 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

May 20, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration, Not Superstition or Tradition

ORIGIN OF DISCONTENT, DISSATISFACTION, PRIDE, DECEPTION, TRUTH-PERVERSION, TRAITORS 

Texts: “Only by pride cometh contention. . . . “Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Prov. 13:10; 16: 18, KJV. 

We resume from where we left off last week quoting from Ellen G. White’s Great Controversy, 1911 edition, pp. 495-6 (all emphasis, bracketed words and numbers provided):

     “The spirit of discontent had never been known in heaven. LUCIFER HIMSELF DID NOT KNOW AT FIRST TO SEE WHITHER HE WAS DRIFTING; he did not understand the NATURE OF HIS FEELINGS. 

     “But as his dissatisfaction  was proved to be without cause, Lucifer was CONVINCED that he was in the wrong, that the divine claims [of God’s law] were JUST, and that he ought to acknowledge them as such BEFORE ALL HEAVEN. 

    “Had he done this, HE MIGHT HAVE SAVED HIMSELF AND MANY ANGELS [in fact and truth, one third of the heavenly host under his direct command while Christ is the Archangel, His name and title being Michael, the Commander-in-Chief of the heaven’s army of angels]. 

    “He [Lucifer] had NOT at this time FULLY cast off his allegiance to God. Though he had FORSAKEN HIS POSITION AS COVERING CHERUB, yet if he had been WILLING to return to God, acknowledging the Creator’s WISDOM, and satisfied to fill THE PLACE appointed him in GOD’S GREAT PLAN, he would have been RE-INSTATED in his office [as covering cherub of God’s ‘great white throne’!] 

    “But PRIDE forbade him to submit. He persistently defended his own course, maintained that he had NO NEED OF REPENTANCE, and fully committed himself, in THE GREAT CONTROVERSY, to his Maker! [herein lies the spirit-nucleus, the core-substance of the ‘drama of the ages,’; ‘the cosmic conflict’ between Christ and Satan over God’s law, the foundation of His everlasting throne and kingdom!].

    “All the powers of his master-mind were bent on the work of DECEPTION, to secure the SYMPATHY of the ANGELS THAT HAS BEEN UNDER HIS COMMAND. Even the fact that Christ had WARNED AND COUNSELED him, was perverted to serve his traitorous designs. 

   “To those whose loving trust BOUND THEM MOST LOYALLY TO HIM [1/3 of the angels], Satan had represented that he was [1] wrongly judged, that [2] his position had not been respected, and that [3] his liberty was to be abridged.” (End extract) 

If Lucifer and the angels he had initially deceived by perverting truth in heaven were given time to repent and be restored to God’s favor and their positions—before they had exceeded the boundaries of God’s mercy when it meets His righteousness and justice—how much more for fallen, sinful mankind—who are subject to God’s saving grace, power, and plan of redemption to which angels were not similarly provided for in God’s wisdom! 

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

May 6, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

‘THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY’ STARTED IN HEAVEN

TEXT: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts your thoughts.” Isaiah 56:8, KJV. 

We resume from last week’s quote from the Great Controversy (all emphasis and bracketed words provided):

    “But there was one who chose to PERVERT this freedom [in heaven; before earth was created]. SIN ORIGINATED with him, who, NEXT TO CHRIST, had been the most honored of God, and who stood HIGHEST IN POWER AND GLORY in among the inhabitants of heaven. [heaven is the home of angels]. 

    “Before his fall, LUCIFER WAS FIRST OF THE COVERING CHERUBS, holy and undefiled. ‘Thus saith the Lord God: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.’ ‘Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast CREATED, TILL INIQUITY was found in thee.”(Eze. 28: 12-15, 17). 

    “Lucifer might have remained in favor with God, beloved and honored by all the ANGELIC HOST [often Biblically described as “the clouds of heaven”] exercising his noble powers to bless others and glorify his Maker. 

   “But, says the prophet, ‘Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.’ Little by little, Lucifer came to indulge a DESIRE FOR SELF-EXALTATION. [Eze. 28:6; Isa. 14: 13, 14, KJV quoted]. 

     “Instead of making God SUPREME in the AFFECTION AND ALLEGIANCE of His creatures, it was Lucifer’s endeavor to win their service and homage to himself. And COVETING the honor which the infinite Father had bestowed upon His Son, this PRINCE OF ANGELS aspired to power which it was the prerogative of CHRIST ALONE to wield. 

    “All heaven had rejoiced to REFLECT the Creator’s glory [of His character and image] and to show forth His praise. And WHILE God was thus honored, all had been PEACE AND GLADNESS. 

    “But a note of DISCORD now marred its celestial harmonies. The service and exaltation of SELF, CONTRARY TO THE CREATOR’S PLAN, awakened forebodings of evil in MINDS to whom God’s glory was supreme. [angels have angelic minds, as man has a human mind; but all subject to the law of God]. 

    “The HEAVENLY COUNCILS pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him [1] the GREATNESS, [2] the GOODNESS, and [3] the JUSTICE of the Creator [and the Redeemer after the fall of man in Eden!], and [4] the SACRED, UNCHANGING NATURE OF HIS LAW. God Himself had established the ORDER of heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker, and bring ruin to himself. 

    “But the WARNING, GIVEN IN INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed JEALOUSY of Christ to prevail, and he became the more determined. PRIDE IN HIS OWN GLORY NOURISHED THE DESIRE FOR SUPREMACY. The high honors conferred upon Lucifer, were not appreciated as a GIFT OF GOD, and called forth NO GRATITUDE to the Creator. 

    “He gloried in his brightness and exaltation, and aspired to be EQUAL WITH GOD. He was beloved and reverenced by the heavenly host. Angels delighted to execute his commands, and he was CLOTHED WITH WISDOM AND GLORY above them all. 

    “Yet the Son of God was the acknowledged SOVEREIGN OF HEAVEN, AND ONE IN POWER AND AUTHORITY WITH THE FATHER. In all the counsels of God, Christ was a participant, while Lucifer was NOT PERMITTED thus to enter into THE DIVINE PURPOSES. ‘Why,’ questioned this mighty angel, ‘should Christ have the supremacy? Why is He thus honored above Lucifer?” (End excerpt from The Great Controversy, 1911 edition, The Origin of Evil, chap. 29, by Ellen G. White, pp. 493-5. 

How awesomely precious it is to fallen, sinful, finite mortals like me, to be privileged, and thus honored undeservedly, to be given an infinitely honest and true revelation of what happened in HEAVEN, the home of angels and the Godhead—and the angelic origin and originator of the “mystery of iniquity”, and Christ’s earliest dealings with it! This alone reveals the character of God before He even created the earth and man! And since He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” we should delight to know, how, as the Redeemer and Savior of fallen man, His divine will powers forward His Plan of Redemption for fallen man and the final and eternal disposal of all that is evil and sinful—both “root and branches.”

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

‘THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY’ STARTED IN HEAVEN

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

May 6, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

‘THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY’ STARTED IN HEAVEN

TEXT: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts your thoughts.” Isaiah 56:8, KJV. 

We resume from last week’s quote from the Great Controversy (all emphasis and bracketed words provided):

    “But there was one who chose to PERVERT this freedom [in heaven; before earth was created]. SIN ORIGINATED with him, who, NEXT TO CHRIST, had been the most honored of God, and who stood HIGHEST IN POWER AND GLORY in among the inhabitants of heaven. [heaven is the home of angels]. 

    “Before his fall, LUCIFER WAS FIRST OF THE COVERING CHERUBS, holy and undefiled. ‘Thus saith the Lord God: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering.’ ‘Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day thou wast CREATED, TILL INIQUITY was found in thee.”(Eze. 28: 12-15, 17). 

    “Lucifer might have remained in favor with God, beloved and honored by all the ANGELIC HOST [often Biblically described as “the clouds of heaven”] exercising his noble powers to bless others and glorify his Maker. 

   “But, says the prophet, ‘Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.’ Little by little, Lucifer came to indulge a DESIRE FOR SELF-EXALTATION. [Eze. 28:6; Isa. 14: 13, 14, KJV quoted]. 

     “Instead of making God SUPREME in the AFFECTION AND ALLEGIANCE of His creatures, it was Lucifer’s endeavor to win their service and homage to himself. And COVETING the honor which the infinite Father had bestowed upon His Son, this PRINCE OF ANGELS aspired to power which it was the prerogative of CHRIST ALONE to wield. 

    “All heaven had rejoiced to REFLECT the Creator’s glory [of His character and image] and to show forth His praise. And WHILE God was thus honored, all had been PEACE AND GLADNESS. 

    “But a note of DISCORD now marred its celestial harmonies. The service and exaltation of SELF, CONTRARY TO THE CREATOR’S PLAN, awakened forebodings of evil in MINDS to whom God’s glory was supreme. [angels have angelic minds, as man has a human mind; but all subject to the law of God]. 

    “The HEAVENLY COUNCILS pleaded with Lucifer. The Son of God presented before him [1] the GREATNESS, [2] the GOODNESS, and [3] the JUSTICE of the Creator [and the Redeemer after the fall of man in Eden!], and [4] the SACRED, UNCHANGING NATURE OF HIS LAW. God Himself had established the ORDER of heaven; and in departing from it, Lucifer would dishonor his Maker, and bring ruin to himself. 

    “But the WARNING, GIVEN IN INFINITE LOVE AND MERCY, only aroused a spirit of resistance. Lucifer allowed JEALOUSY of Christ to prevail, and he became the more determined. PRIDE IN HIS OWN GLORY NOURISHED THE DESIRE FOR SUPREMACY. The high honors conferred upon Lucifer, were not appreciated as a GIFT OF GOD, and called forth NO GRATITUDE to the Creator. 

    “He gloried in his brightness and exaltation, and aspired to be EQUAL WITH GOD. He was beloved and reverenced by the heavenly host. Angels delighted to execute his commands, and he was CLOTHED WITH WISDOM AND GLORY above them all. 

    “Yet the Son of God was the acknowledged SOVEREIGN OF HEAVEN, AND ONE IN POWER AND AUTHORITY WITH THE FATHER. In all the counsels of God, Christ was a participant, while Lucifer was NOT PERMITTED thus to enter into THE DIVINE PURPOSES. ‘Why,’ questioned this mighty angel, ‘should Christ have the supremacy? Why is He thus honored above Lucifer?” (End excerpt from The Great Controversy, 1911 edition, The Origin of Evil, chap. 29, by Ellen G. White, pp. 493-5. 

How awesomely precious it is to fallen, sinful, finite mortals like me, to be privileged, and thus honored undeservedly, to be given an infinitely honest and true revelation of what happened in HEAVEN, the home of angels and the Godhead—and the angelic origin and originator of the “mystery of iniquity”, and Christ’s earliest dealings with it! This alone reveals the character of God before He even created the earth and man! And since He is “the same yesterday, today, and forever,” we should delight to know, how, as the Redeemer and Savior of fallen man, His divine will powers forward His Plan of Redemption for fallen man and the final and eternal disposal of all that is evil and sinful—both “root and branches.”

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

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

April 29, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

THE STATE OF HEAVEN AND THE UNIVERSE BEFORE THE ENTRANCE OF EVIL AND SIN

TEXT: “Remember this, and shew yourselves men: bring it again to mind, O ye transgressors. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” Isa. 46: 8-10, KJV.

The Bible, the Word of God, countless other divine revelations to “the world, man, and angels,” is the sacred record of the history of the creation of planet EARTH which God made to be “the first dominion” of MAN—the crowning of God’s work of creation and creative power. Man alone was “made in the IMAGE of God, and after His LIKENESS”—not any of His numberless “ministering spirits” angels, neither any of the intelligent beings in all the other worlds in the universe! 

We are privileged and blessed to be regaled with what was in eternity past in heaven and the universe before the earth was! 

We continue quoting from “the lesser light that points to the greater light” of the Bible, from the inspired pen of Ellen G. White, in her book The Great Controversy, 1911 edition, pp. 483-4 (all emphases and bracketed words provided):

   “Before the entrance of evil, there was peace and joy THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE. All was in PERFECT HARMONY with the Creator’s will. Love for God was SUPREME, love for one another IMPARTIAL. 

     “Christ the Word, the only begotten of the eternal Father, was one with the Father—ONE in NATURE, in CHARACTER, and in PURPOSE, the only Being in all the UNIVERSE that could enter into the COUNSELS AND PURPOSES of God. 

    “By Christ, the Father wrought in the CREATION OF ALL HEAVENLY BEINGS. [Col. 1: 16 quoted in the original]; and to Christ, EQUALLY with the Father, ALL HEAVEN gave allegiance. 

     “The LAW OF LOVE being the foundation of the GOVERNMENT of God, the HAPPINESS of all created beings depended on their PERFECT ACCORD with its GREAT PRINCIPLES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

    “God desires from all His creatures the SERVICE OF LOVE, HOMAGE [worship; allegiance; adoration; obedience] THAT SPRINGS FROM AN INTELLIGENT APPRECIATION OF HIS CHARACTER. He takes no pleasure in a FORCED ALLEGIANCE, and to all He grants FREEDOM OF WILL, that they may render Him VOLUNTARY service.” (End of extract). 

We will both be reminded, taught, enlightened, and yes, warned as to when, where, what, why, and who broke this heavenly and universal peace and harmony! Only the “truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth can set us free and be eternally saved! 

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