Tag: God

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: ‘THE MYSTERY OF INIQUITY’ STARTED IN HEAVEN

‘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.

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: THE STATE OF HEAVEN AND THE UNIVERSE BEFORE THE ENTRANCE OF EVIL AND SIN

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.

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: GOD’S PURPOSE FOR NOT QUICKLY ABORTING EVIL AND ITS ORIGINATOR LUCIFER

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

April 22, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR NOT QUICKLY ABORTING EVIL AND ITS ORIGINATOR LUCIFER

TEXT: “The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but the things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deut. 29:29, KJV. 

Having first laid down “the greater light” foundations from the Bible of this profound subject, we now quote excerpts of its magnification from “the lesser light” (all emphasis and bracketed words/numbers provided): 

     “To many minds, the ORIGIN of sin and the REASON for its existence are a source of great perplexity. They see the work of evil, with its terrible results of woe and desolation, and they question HOW ALL THESE CAN EXIST under the sovereignty of One who is INFINITE in wisdom, in power, and in love. Here is a MYSTERY, of which they find no explanation.

    “And in their uncertainty and doubt, they are BLINDED to the truths plainly revealed in God’s word, and ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION. 

    “There are those who, in their inquiries concerning the existence of sin, endeavor to search into that which GOD HAS NEVER REVEALED; hence they find no solution of their difficulties; and such as are actuated by a disposition to doubt and cavil, seize upon this as an EXCUSE for rejecting the words of the Holy Writ.

    “Others, however, FAIL OF A SATISFACTORY UNDERSTANDING of the great problem of evil [due] from the fact that TRADITION AND MISINTERPRETATION have obscured the teaching of the Bible concerning [1] the character of God, [2] the nature of His government, and [3] the principles of His dealing with sin. 

    “It is IMPOSSIBLE to explain the origin of sin so as to give a REASON for its existence. Yet ENOUGH may be understood concerning BOTH THE ORIGIN AND FINAL DISPOSITION OF SIN, to make fully manifest the JUSTICE AND BENEVOLENCE of God in all His dealings with evil.

    “Nothing is more plainly taught in Scripture than that God was IN NO WISE RESPONSIBLE for the entrance of sin [either in heaven or earth]; that there was no arbitrary withdrawal of divine grace, NO DEFICIENCY in the divine government, that gave occasion to the uprising of rebellion. 

    “SIN IS AN INTRUDER FOR WHOSE PRESENCE NO REASON CAN BE GIVEN. IT IS MYSTERIOUS, UNACCOUNTABLE; TO EXCUSE IT IS TO DEFEND IT. Could excuse for it be found, of CAUSE be shown for its existence, it would CEASE to be sin. Our ONLY DEFINITION OF SIN is that given in the word of God; it is ‘the transgression of the law’ [1 John 3: 4]; it is the outworking of A PRINCIPLE AT WAR with the great law of love which is the foundation of the divine government [of God’s everlasting kingdom].”- Ellen G. White, ‘The Origin of Evil,’ ch. 29, Great Controversy, 1911, Pacific Press Publishing, pp. 492-3. 

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration : EVIL AND SIN ORIGINATED IN HEAVEN: WHY GOD DID NOT ABORT IT IMMEDIATELY  

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

April 15, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration 

EVIL AND SIN ORIGINATED IN HEAVEN: WHY GOD DID NOT ABORT IT IMMEDIATELY  

It is almost-to-midnight hour of our “late, great planet Earth” of mankind’s second and last probation. 

Regardless of one’s religious persuasion, faith, belief system, or none at all, and whether you choose to “hear or forbear; to “come now and let us reason together” or postpone “for a more convenient time;” brush off or outright reject, none can ever diminish one iota of this factual truth as fundamental as God and the everlasting gospel. What is it? That “the central power of the earth” since the fall in Eden six thousand years ago, is not a kingdom, nation, empire, “universal secret cabal,” or anything human. It is a demon. Yes, the demon himself. 

Let’s begin from the last of the 66 books of God’s Word, Revelation, that simply traces us back to who, what, where, when, why, and how these all started. Thereafter we will summon the testimonies of the other prophets of the Old Testament, and on to Christ Himself, and the writings of His apostles and messengers in the New Testament. 

Now this (all emphasis and bracketed words provided):

  “And there was WAR IN HEAVEN: MICHAEL and His angels fought against the DRAGON; and the dragon fought and his angels, and prevailed NOT; neither was their place found ANYMORE in heaven. And the GREAT DRAGON was cast out, that OLD SERPENT [cf. Gen. 2: 15-17; 3: 1-24] called THE DEVIL, and SATAN, which DECEIVETH THE WHOLE WORLD: he was cast out INTO THE EARTH, and HIS ANGELS were cast out with him [to the earth].” Rev. 12: 7-9, KJV.

     “MICHAEL.” Christ has many “names” and “titles,” all indicative and descriptive of His various offices, authority, powers, roles, and relations heaven, the whole universe, and to the earth He created, particularly towards man whom He alone He “made in His image and after His likeness,” and in particular, in the great controversy and the Plan of Redemption of the Gospel. 

Most Christian scholars and commentators and their Bible dictionaries (including the SDA Bible Dictionary, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8) say that “Michael the archangel” is “the highest of the  angels”, drawing primarily from the Jewish religious literature such as the Targum of Jonathan as well as the Talmud. 

However, the simple truth is that “Michael the Prince” and “Archangel are Christ’s

 names and titles of authority as the Commander-in-Chief of the angelic host in their capacity as heaven’s army. See references provided here from the inspired pen of Ellen G. White: 

    – Christ is Michael: Desire of Ages, pp. 99, 421; Prophets & Kings, p. 572; Story of Redemption, p. 173. 

    – Heaven’s Prince, Archangel, Sanctified Life, p. 51

    – Moses was raised from the dead by, Desire of Ages, p. 421; Early Writings, p. 164. 

    – When Christ shall stand up as heaven’s Prince and Archangel, Early Writings, p. 36; Great Controversy, p. 613; Life Sketches, p. 117. 

Indeed the great controversy between Christ and Satan started in heaven and with the defeat of Satan and his angels, the cosmic conflict transferred here on earth, beginning with the downfall of man in Eden, merely six thousand years ago. It is soon to end in its prophesied stupendous climax before Jesus finally returns in all His glory in the true second advent! 

Are you preparing and staying prepared and awake? 

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration:GOD’S PURPOSE FOR PERMITTING SIN FIRST IN HEAVEN THEN ON EARTH

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

April 8, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

GOD’S PURPOSE FOR PERMITTING SIN FIRST IN HEAVEN THEN ON EARTH

Scripture Foundations of this sub series: 

   “The secret things belong to the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deut. 29: 29, KJV. 

     “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4. 

    “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust [desires], and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1: 13-15. 

   “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point [any of the ten], he is guilty of all.” James 2: 10. 

   “Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death, by sin; and so death passed into all men, for that all have sinned. For until the  the law, sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed where there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude [likeness] of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of Him [Christ, ‘the last Adam’] who is to come.” Rom. 5: 12- 14. 

Sin, of all places, began in heaven, the home of God and angels! Since Almighty God Creator is in full control of all beings and things created in heaven, earth, and the unfallen worlds and beings in His immeasurable universe, He must have allowed or permitted sin to start in heaven. Why? What divine purpose was to be served by allowing “the mystery of iniquity” to form and break out in heaven, and then continue here on earth for six thousand years now? 

The answers and explanations  to these fundamental questions is the burden of this sub series. We shall source two parallel chapters, namely: “Why was Sin Permitted?”, chapter 1, Patriarchs & Prophets) and “The Origin of Evil,” chapter 29, Great Controversy, 1911 edition; both authored by Ellen G. White. 

I long struggled with these questions and found no satisfactory explanations and reasons offered and propounded by any and many. That is, until in my persistence, I was finally blessed undeservedly by being led by the Holy Spirit to these ‘Testimonies’ and the said chapters. I “return His favors” by sharing these enlightenment by emphasis with all who “have eyes to read, ears to hear, and hearts to yield to the “still small voice” of the Holy Spirit. 

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Prophecy and Fulfilled as History

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

April 1, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Prophecy and Fulfilled as History

DANIEL: GOD’S FAITHFUL REPRESENTATIVE WHILE SERVING 

Quoted below are extracts from Commentary on the Book of Daniel, A Section Of Volume IV of The SDA Bible Commentary, published and copyrighted, 1955, by the Review & Herald Publishing Asso.. Washington, D. C., pp. 750-1 (all emphasis and bracketed words provided).

   “Theme. The book of Daniel might properly be called a handbook on history and prophecy. Predictive prophecy is a PREVIEW OF HISTORY; history is predictive prophecy PASSING IN REVIEW. 

     “The elements of prediction 1] enables GOD’S PEOPLE to see the things of TIME in the light of ETERNITY, 2] alerts them for effective action at appropriate times 3] facilitates personal preparation for the final crisis, and 4] provides a firm basis of FAITH upon the fulfillment of the prediction. 

    “The FOUR MAJOR LINES OF PROPHECY in the book of Daniel set forth in brief outline, AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF WORLD HISTORY,  the EXPERIENCES of God’s people

from the days of Daniel down to the close of time: ‘The curtain is drawn aside, and we behold, above, behind, and through all the play and counterplay of human interest and powers and passions THE AGENCIES OF THE ALL-MERCIFUL ONE, silently, patiently, working out the COUNSELS OF HIS OWN WILL’ (E. G. White, PK 500) 

     “Each of the four lines of prophecy reaches a climax when ‘THE GOD OF HEAVEN’ sets ‘UP A KINGDOM, which shall never be destroyed ‘(ch. 2:44), when the ‘SON OF MAN’ receives ‘EVERLASTING DOMINION’ (ch. 7: 13, 14), when opposition to the ‘Prince of princes’ is ‘broken without hand’ (ch. 8:25), and when GOD’S PEOPLE are delivered FOREVER from their oppressors (ch. 12:1). 

     “The prophecies of Daniel thus provide a DIVINELY CONSTRUCTED BRIDGE from the precipice of time to the boundless shores of eternity, a bridge over which THOSE WHO, LIKE DANIEL, PURPOSE IN THEIR HEARTS TO LOVE AND SERVE GOD, may pass by faith from the uncertainty and distress of the PRESENT LIFE to the peace and security of LIFE EVERLASTING.” (End extract, p. 750). 

And so goes the “Old time religion” song’s challenge and exhortation: “Dare to be a Daniel, dare to stand alone,” with the God of heaven, that is. For “If God be with us, who can be against us?”

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration: PROPHET DANIEL MADE PRIME MINISTER IN BABYLON AND MEDO-PERSIA

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

March 25, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed by Inspiration

PROPHET DANIEL MADE PRIME MINISTER IN BABYLON AND MEDO-PERSIA

Based on the book of Daniel. 

Daniel was always true to God while loyal to his government. Dan. 6: 16-23. He was a high government official for over 70 years under two successive pagan world empires: Babylon (under Nebuchadnezzar, briefly Belshazzar), on to Medo-Persia (under Darius and Artaxerxes). 

We read the following from the KJV Bible: 

    “Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him RULER over the whole province of Babylon, and CHIEF of the governors over all the wisemen of Babylon.” (Dan. 2:48, read 1-49). 

    “So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.”(Dan. 6: 28; cf. Ezra 1:1-11; 2: 1, 2).

The Babylon herein referred to has its spiritual antitype as a major player at the end stages of the church. In Revelation it is a symbol of opposition against Christ and His followers (Rev. 14:8; 16:19; 17:18). Let’s first  consider facts of its secular historical aspect.

Source: SDA Bible Dictionary Complete with Atlas, Commentary Reference Series, Vol. 8, Review & Herald Publishing Asso., WA D.C, 1960, art. ‘Babylonia,’ pp. 108-9 (all emphasis provided): 

    “In the 13th century B.C., the Assyrians. . . invaded Babylonia. . . For 6 centuries Babylonia was more or less an Assyrian dependency. . . Tiglath-pileser III (745-727 B.C. . . made himself king of Babylon under the name of Pul.

    “Sargon II also ruled as king of Babylon, but Sennacherib, tired of the constant rebellions, thoroughly destroyed the city of Babylon. 

    “Esarhaddon rebuilt it.

After which the city experienced its most flourishing period. 

    “In 626 B.C. Nabopolassar, a Chaldean official subject to the Assyrians, declared himself king of Babylon, as one of his tribal relatives, Marduk-apaladdina (the Biblical Merodach-baladan) had done a century earlier. His bid for independence lasted only 18 years, but the new Kindom became a success, and developed into an EMPIRE that soon succeeded that of the Assyrians. 

    “After Nabopolassar had fought against the Assyrians for several years with uneven success, he joined the MEDES, and with their help after a siege of 3 months conquered NINEVEH in 612 B.C.

    “When the conquerors divided the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian king inherited all of MESOPOTAMIA, SYRIA, and PALESTINE. It was necessary for him to fight remnants of Assyrian resistance in Upper Mesopotamia for a few more years, and also the EGYPTIANS, who had helped the Assyrians and who tried to become the masters of SYRIA and PALESTINE.

   “In 605 B.C., NEBUCHADNEZZAR, still crown prince, defeated NECHO OF EGYPT, first at Charchemish and then at Hamath. Late in the summer his father [Nabopolassar] died and he succeeded to the throne. 

   “Annual campaigns in SYRIA and PALESTINE followed. JERUSALEM was taken several times, and after its THIRD CAPTURE in 586 B.C., the rebellious city was DESTROYED AND ITS POPULATION DEPORTED TO BABYLONIA. 

    “Nebuchadnezzar was a strong king and a great builder. He practically rebuilt the city of Babylon, and erected many structures in many cities. After a successful rule of more than 40 YEARS, he was followed by several weak rulers under whose inefficient government the empire DETERIORATED rapidly. 

    “His son Amel-Marduk, the Biblical Evil-merodach, reigned for only 2 years (562-560 B.C.),  and was then assassinated and succeeded by his brother-in-law Nergal-shar-usur, who ruled in Babylon for 4 years (560-556 B.C.). He was followed by his son Labashi-Marduk, who was murdered after a reign of less than 2 months. The murderers put one of the conspirators, NABONIDUS, on the throne. 

    “Nabonidus saw danger from PERSIA [modern-day Iran] and made an alliance against it with EGYPT, LYDIA, and SPARTA. He also campaigned in ARABIA and made Tema in northwestern Arabia his residence for a number of years, while his elder son, BELSHAZZAR, to whom he entrusted the kingship as COREGENT, ruled in Babylon.

   “In October, 539 B.C., only 23 YEARS after Nebuchadnezzar’s death, the empire fell to the hands of CYRUS THE PERSIAN, almost without a fight. Cyrus had forced an entrance into the Mesopotamian valley in the BATTLE OF OPIS, and a few days later the capital city fell to the Persians without a battle, and its fall ended the history of Babylon as an independent power. 

    “The Kindom became a part of the PERSIAN EMPIRE and later was reduced to a province. The territory then fell to ALEXANDER THE GREAT [of Grecia] and belonged successively to the SELEUCIDS, PARTHIANS, SASSANIDS, and others; now it is part of the country of IRAQ.” (End of excerpt). 

With this historical background of the “rise and fall” of the said empires, we can better appreciate Daniel’s recorded “true as steel to principle” and uncompromising faithfulness to God, while excelling in serving in the highest government offices of  successive pagan kings and their empires! 

It only takes one lit candle to dispel the darkness. As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Ye are the light of the world and salt of the earth.”

Are we? 

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

Categories
Mid-week Manna

God’s Purposes Revealed : God’s Men in High Government Positions (Part 1)

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:

March 18, 2026

God’s Purposes Revealed

God’s Men in High Government Positions (Part 1)

JOSEPH TRUE TO GOD WHILE GOVERNOR IN ANCIENT EGYPT’S ATHEISTIC EMPIRE 

For the thrilling account of its fuller history, thus first establishing a firm Biblical foundation with its true contextual background, read Genesis chapters 39-45 on your own Bibles, KJV of RSV. 

We now proceed to quote extracts from E. G. White’s book ‘Patriarchs and Prophets,’ Pacific Press Publishing Asso., 1913, pp. 210-223. (All emphases, bracketed words, and Notes provided): 

    “Arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of the king’s (Pharaoh) guard [by the heathen Ishmaelite traders whom his brothers sold him to], in whose service he remained for 10 years. He was here exposed to temptations of NO ordinary character. He was in the midst of IDOLATRY. The worship of FALSE GODS was surrounded by ALL THE POMP AND ROYALTY, supported by the wealth and culture of the MOST HIGHLY CIVILIZED [yet atheistic and heathen] NATION THEN EXISTING. 

     “Yet Joseph preserved his SIMPLICITY, and his FIDELITY TO GOD. The sights and sounds of VICE were all around him, but he was one who SAW NOT AND HEARD NOT. His THOUGHTS were not allowed to linger upon forbidden subjects. The desire to gain the favor of the Egyptians could not cause him to CONCEAL his principles. 

     “Has he attempted to do this, he would have been OVERCOME by temptation; but he was NOT ASHAMED of the religion of his fathers [the godly patriarchs] and he made no effort to HIDE the fact that he was a worshipper of Jehovah. 

    “‘And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a PROSPEROUS MAN. . . . And his master SAW that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made ALL that he did to prosper in his hand.’ (See Genesis 39). Potiphar’s confidence in him increased daily, and he finally PROMOTED him to be his steward [to the captain of the Pharaoh’s guard/security detail] with FULL CONTROL over all his possessions.  ‘And he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand; and he knew not aught what he had, save the bread which he did eat.’ (Gen. 39).”

Now take note all Christian evangelists, preachers, ministers, pastors, and believers of the popular “prosperity gospel.”

    “The marked prosperity which attended everything placed under Joseph’s care was NOT THE RESULT OF A DIRECT MIRACLE; but his industry, care, and energy were crowned with the DIVINE BLESSING. Joseph attributed his success to the FAVOR of God, and even his IDOLATROUS MASTER accepted this as the SECRET of his unparalleled prosperity. 

     “Without steadfast, well-directed effort, however, success could NEVER had been attained. GOD WAS GLORIFIED BY THE FAITHFULNESS OF HIS SERVANT. It was HIS PURPOSE that in purity and uprightness the BELIEVER in God should appear IN MARKED CONTRAST to the worshippers of idols [in all its variant forms, animate and inanimate, including the idol of self in self-worship, philosophical ideas, opinions, theories, traditions, doctrines that contradict Bible truth] that the LIGHT of heavenly grace might shine forth AMID THE DARKNESS OF HEATHENISM.” (end quote). 

NOTE: These earliest form of ancient heathenism and paganism (religions) entered early Christian church through the “great compromise” and “falling away,” resulting in the development of “the man of sin,” in “the mystery of iniquity,” revealed by Paul as “already at work” in his time! See 2 Thess.2: 1-12, etc. 

Prophecy and history, both

sacred and common (secular) silently witness to the grand truth that God is in control, His divine purposes revealed and fulfilled in the rise and fall of nations and empires till “all is fulfilled” and His eternal kingdom finally rules over the “restored first dominion” of “the new heaven and the new earth.”

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