May 11, 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
MT. SINAI’S TERRORS REPRESENT THE SCENES OF JUDGMENT
Mankind fears not what they should and fears what they should not. See Exodus chapter 19 leading to the giving of the law in chapter 20.
Instead of “fearing God and giving glory to Him for the hour of His Judgment has come,” they continue to brazenly transgress and trample upon His law by which the world, globally, is, and will be judged. Notice the relationship of Sinai and the Judgment—it is infinitely more fearful than this covid-19 pandemic:
“The time is not far distant when God will arise to vindicate His insulted authority.’ The Lord cometh out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity.’ (Isa.26:21). ‘But who may abide the day of His coming? And who shall stand when He appeareth?’(Mal. 3:2).”
“The people of Israel, because of their sinfulness, were forbidden to approach the mount when God was about to descend upon it to PROCLAIM His law, lest they should be consumed by the burning glory of His presence.”
“If such manifestations of His power marked the place chosen for the proclamation of God’s law, HOW TERRIBLE must be His tribunal when He comes for the execution of these sacred statutes! How will those who have trampled upon His authority endure His glory in the great day of final retribution?”
“The terrors of Sinai were to represent to the people the scenes of the Judgment. The sound of a trumpet summoned Israel to meet with God. The voice of the archangel and the trump of God shall summon, from the whole earth, both the living and the dead to the presence of their Judge. The Father and the Son, attended by a multitude of angels, were present at the mount of Sinai. (And) at the great Judgment day, Christ will come ‘in the glory of His Father and His angels.’(Matt. 16:27). He shall then sit upon the throne of His glory, and before Him shall be gathered all nations.”
“When the divine presence was manifested upon Sinai, the glory of the Lord was like DEVOURING FIRE in the sight of all Israel. But when Christ shall come in glory with His holy angels, the WHOLE earth shall be ablaze with the terrible light of His presence. [Ps. 50:3,4; 2 Thess. 1:7,8 quoted.].”
“Never since man was created had there been witnessed such a manifestation of divine power as when the law was proclaimed from Sinai [Ps. 68:8 quoted]…”
“When Moses [a type of Jesus, the Law giver] came from the divine presence in the mount, where he had received the tables of the testimony [the law], guilty Israel could not endure the light that glorified his countenance. HOW MUCH LESS can transgressors look upon the Son of God when He shall appear in the glory of His Father, surrounded by all the heavenly host, to execute judgment upon the transgressors of His law and the rejecters of His atonement!l Patriarchs & Prophets, pp. 349, 340.
The last message and work entrusted to the faithful remnant is to proclaim the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus in light of His Judgment! That message and work should never be set aside or toned down in the fear of man and the covid-19 global pandemic. To do so is unfaithfulness!! Therefore “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” NMF