Tag: prophecy

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Mid-week Manna

STUDY THE PROPHECIES WITH THE RIGHT SPIRIT, NOT DISSECT CURRENT EVENTS, INDULGING IN POLITICAL PUNDITRY

MID-WEEK MANNA FROM PASTOR NAT’S DESK:
August 3

STUDY THE PROPHECIES WITH THE RIGHT SPIRIT, NOT DISSECT CURRENT EVENTS, INDULGING IN POLITICAL PUNDITRY

“Agitate, agitate, agitate! The subjects which we present to the world [beginning first in our own households, then, in our home churches], must be to us a living reality [not merely doctrinal points to proselytize].

It is important that in DEFENDING the doctrines which we consider FUNDAMENTAL ARTICLES OF FAITH [the great way marks of present truth] we should NEVER allow ourselves to employ ARGUMENTS that are not wholly sound. These may avail to SILENCE an opposer, but they [such arguments] do NOT honor the truth. We should present sound arguments that will not only silence our opponents, but will BEAR THE CLOSEST AND MOST SEARCHING SCRUTINY.

“Whatever men’s intellectual advancement, let him NOT FOR A MOMENT think that there is no need of THOROUGH AND CONTINUOUS searching of the Scriptures for GREATER light. As a PEOPLE, we are called INDIVIDUALLY to be STUDENTS OF PROPHECY [not ‘current events.’].

We must WATCH with earnestness that we may DISCERN ANY RAY OF LIGHT which God shall present to us. We are to catch the FIRST gleanings of truth; and through PRAYERFUL STUDY, clearer light May be obtained, which can be brought before others.

“When God’s people are AT EASE, and satisfied with their PRESENT ENLIGHTENMENT [as in Laodicean, “lukewarm” contentedness and pride], we may be SURE that He will NOT FAVOR them. It is His will that they should be EVER MOVING FORWARD [in spiritual growth of knowledge and wisdom, “increasing in stature and favor with God and man’], to receive the increased and EVER-INCREASING light which is shining on them.

“Brethren, we must sink the shaft deep into the mind of truth. You may QUESTION matters with yourselves and with one another, IF YOU ONLY DO IT IN THE RIGHT SPIRIT; but too often SELF is large, and as soon as investigation begins [in Bible studies, etc.], an UNCHRISTIAN SPIRIT is manifested. This is just what SATAN delights in, but we should come with a HUMBLE HEART to know for ourselves what is truth.

“THE TIME IS COMING WHEN WE SHALL BE SEPARATED AND SCATTERED, and each one of us will have to stand WITHOUT the privilege of communion with those of LIKE PRECIOUS FAITH, and how can you stand UNLESS God is in your side, and you know that He is leading and guiding you?

Please remember this: “Whenever we come to investigate Bible truth [especially during Bible study] the Master of assemblies is with us [in and through the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Godhead, Christ’s only vicegerent on earth from His ascension to His second advent].

The Lord does not leave the ship one moment to be steered by IGNORANT PILOTS. We may receive our orders from the Captain of our salvation.”- E. G. White, Review & Herald, Mar. 25, 1890/CWE 41, 42.

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

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE 1260-DAY PROPHECY (PART 2)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE 1260-DAY PROPHECY (PART 2)

THE ‘NEW ERA’ OF CHURCH-STATE HISTORY USHERED IN 538 A.D.

  1. The reign of [emperor] Justinian is more remarkable as a portion of the HISTORY OF MANKIND, than a chapter in the annals of the Roman Empire or the Greek nation. [Here’s why]: The changes of centuries pass in rapid succession before the eyes of ONE generation….With the conquest of Rome by Belisarius, the history of the ancient city [Rome] may be considered as terminating; and with the defense against Witigis (king of the Ostrogoths, their last of the three Arian ‘horns’) [A.D. 538], COMMENCES the history of MIDDLE AGES [more accurately, the Dark Ages].’ – ‘Grace under the Romans,’ George Finley, pp. 198, 240, Dent edition, revised by author, 1877.
  2. Even the Papacy itself changed [how?], so there was a NEW ORDER of popes after 538 A.D. History relates:

“Down through the centuries all popes are declared SAINTS in the martyrologies. Vigilius (537-555) is FIRST of a series of popes who NO longer bear this title [saint], which is henceforth SPARINGLY conferred. From this time on the popes, more and more enveloped in WORLDLY events, no longer belong SOLELY TO THE CHURCH, they are MEN OF THE STATE.’ – ‘Medieval Europe,’ Belmont and Monod (revised by John Burton Adams), p. 120. NY. H. Holt & Co. 1902.

“From the death of (Pope) Silverius the Roman Catholic writers date the episcopacy of [pope] Vigilius, reckons him therefore among the lawful popes.’ – ‘History of the Popes,’ Vol. II, p. 488, under the year ‘538.’ Dublin: 1751. ‘His [Silverius’] death happened on the 20th of June, 538.’- Ibid, p. 488. Dr. Philip Schaff says: ‘Vigilius, a pliant creature of Theodora, ascended the papal chair UNDER THE MILITARY PROTECTION of Belisarius.’ – ‘History of the Christian Church,’ Vol. iII, p. 327. NY: Scribner’s, 1893.

  1. Dr. Summerbell gives still another reason why we should date the beginning of the Papal supremacy from 538. He says: ‘Justinian….enriched himself with the PROPERTY of all ‘heretics’—-that is, non-Catholics, and gave all their churches to the Catholics: published edicts in 538 compelling all to join the Catholic Church in 90 days or leave the empire, and confiscated all their goods.’ – ‘History of the Christian Church,’ pp. 310,311. Cincinnati: 1873. The same is stated by Samuel Chandler in ‘History of Persecution,’ pp. 142, 143; and by Edward Gibbon. In ‘Decline and Fall,’ chap. 47, par. 24.

“Thus we see that Roman Catholicism was made the STATE RELIGION in 538, and all other religions were FORBIDDEN. What gave special significance to these edicts of Justinian was the fact that he had already in 533 [5 years before] declared the bishop of Rome to be the head of the universal [meaning of the word ‘catholic’], and has subjected all the priests even of the East, under the See of Rome. This fact he wrote to Pope John II in March 15, 533 in the following language: [pp. 11-13 of ‘The Civil Law of Justinian, translated by S. P. Scott, A.M., (in 17 volumes), Book 12.

“Both of these letters appear in the ‘Code of Jusfinianus,’ as well as the following law: ‘Concernjng the Precedence of Patriarchs: ‘Hence, in accordance with the provisions of those Councils, we order that the Most Holy Pope of Ancient Rome shall hold the first rank of all the Pontiffs, but the Most Blessed Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, shall occupy the second place after the Holy Apostolic See of Ancient Rome, which precedence over all sees.’ -Ibid, Vol. XVII, p. 125. (‘Constitutions of Justinian,’ Vol. XVIi, 9th Collection, Title 14, chap. 2.

“The recognition of the Roman See as the highest ecclesiastical authority (cf. Novellae, cxxxi) remained the cornerstone of Justinian’s policy in relation to the West.’ – New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopedia, Vol. VI, art. ‘Justinian,’ p. 286.

“Thus we see that the way had been prepared in 533, in anticipation of the THREE FINAL ACTS which were to occur in 538, when the Arian powers were destroyed, Catholicism made the STATE RELIGION, and the Papacy placed under the protection of the STATE, which gave rise to the long struggle between church and state as to which would be SUPREME.” – ‘Facts of Faith,’ C. Edwardson, pp. 53, 54, 56, 57. Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville 8, TN: 1943.

Possess the ‘faith of Jesus’ by practicing and declaring the “truth as it is in Jesus’ only. NMF

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Daily Manna Devotionals

THE 1260-DAY PROPHECY

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE 1260-DAY PROPHECY

In prophetic time a DAY always stands for a YEAR of 360 days.
See Numbers 14:34 and Ezekiel 4:6 first.

“The little horn of Dan. 7: 8, 25 was to reign for ‘a time and times and the dividing of time.’ This same ‘time, and times, and half a time’ is also mentioned in Rev. 12:14, and in the sixth verse it said to be ‘a thousand three hundred and three score days.’ This prophetic period [of definite time] is therefore literally 1,260 literal years. We shall now show that these 1260 years began in 538 A.D. and invite the reader to notice the FOUR great changes that took place that year:

  1. We have already seen that the little horn symbolized the Papacy, and that the three Arian kingdoms, which stood in its way, were plucked up by the roots, and that the last of these received its deathblow in 538 A.D. through the efforts of Justinian, ‘the faithful son of the Church of Rome.

“History states that the work of Justin and Justinian in elevating the Papacy to power brought on a NEW ERA, introducing the Middle Ages:

“Accordingly, the RELIGIOUS and POLITICAL tendencies of the [Roman] Empire now took SO DIFFERENT a direction so as to positively constitute the dawn of a new era…..Thus at last Rome had TRIUMPHED, after fighting so long with unflinching vigor and WITHOUT yielding a single point.” – ‘The Barbarian Invasion of Italy,’ P. Villari, Vol. I, pp. 177, 178. (Facts of Faith, C. Edwardson, p. 52. Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville 8, TN: (revised) 1943.

More follows, God willing and guiding through His Spirit of prophecy, NMF.

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Daily Manna Devotionals

PROPHECY, NOT PUNDITRY REVEALS WHO AND WHAT THE REAL ENEMIES AND LAST CRISIS AMERICA IS FACING

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

PROPHECY, NOT PUNDITRY REVEALS WHO AND WHAT THE REAL ENEMIES AND LAST CRISIS AMERICA IS FACING

Dear friends, review the spiritual warning given in Rom. 13:11-14 in conjunction with mankind’s final threefold merciful last warnings with this specific prophecy revealing America’a end-time role in the closing scenes of the great controversy. As prophetically symbolized, she starts as a peaceful beast with (two) lamb-like horns” but as ‘truth is stranger than fiction, she metamorphoses into “one speaking [legislating and acting] “like a dragon,” that is, like the composite yet “leopard-like beast” introduced at the opening of Revelation 13.

Wake up, Christian Right, Moral Majority, Christian Nationalists, Patriots (of all stripes and colors), mainstream Christianity, the body politic, the pundits and the people of this greatest of all nations in the New World.

As Jesus Christ declared: “My kingdom is not of this world!” The spiritual kingdom Christ established at His FIRST coming, which prepares incorruptible and immortalized citizens for His final kingdom of glory that is ushered into reign for eternity at His SECOND coming, is not like any of man’s vaunted kingdoms, empires, nation-states, republics, democracies or any monolithic institutions venerated by mortals——which have all crumbled and fill the dustbins of history. So declared “the sure word of prophecy” that will never fail though the heavens and the earth will pass away!

“The prophecy of Revelation 13 that the power represented by ‘the beast with lamb like horns’ shall CAUSE ‘the earth and them which dwell therein’ to worship the Papacy—-there symbolizes by the beast like unto a leopard.’

“The beast with [two lamb-like] horns Is also to say ‘to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an IMAGE to the beast,’ and furthermore, it is to COMMAND ALL, ‘both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to RECEIVE ‘THE MARK of the beast.’ [know what ‘beast’ this is because many ascribe it to everything else but].

“It has been shown that the United States is the power represented by the beast with lamb-like horns, and that this prophecy will be fulfilled WHEN the United States shall ENFORCE Sunday observance, which ROME [the papacy] claims as the SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT of her supremacy. But in this homage [worship by subservience, obedience and compliance and alliance] will not be alone.

“The influence of Rome in the countries that ONCE acknowledged her dominion, is still far from being destroyed [see the Philippines, South America, the once-Balkan states, Europe, the Africas, etc.].” E. G. White, ‘The Great Controversy.’ 1911 ed. ‘Aims of the Papacy,’ chap. 35, pp, 578, 579. Pacific Press Publishing Asso. Mt. View, CA: 1911.

Only the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth “as it is in Jesus” will any sinner be set free from the heavy bondage of darkness of ignorance and error and the galling chains of sin! Bless all, NMF

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Devotionals

THE PROPHESIED ‘FALLING AWAY’ OF THE CHURCH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PAPACY

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE PROPHESIED ‘FALLING AWAY’ OF THE CHURCH AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PAPACY

“The terrible nature of these sensual gratifications of this pagan festivals, in which the leaders of the Church now allowed to members to indulge, a person can hardly imagine TILL the sickening facts are spread before one’s eyes by Livy in (Hist. lib. xxxix, chap. 9-17). The learned Englishman, F.A.S, in his ‘Second Annals,’ Vol. 3, on the ‘Gentile Nations,’ pp. 487-489, says that this ‘most revolting and abandoned villainy’ was so general, that when the Roman Senate has to proceed against its worst features, ‘Rome was almost deserted, so many persons, feeling themselves implicated in the proceedings, sought safety in flight.’

“[Edwarson writes]: ‘A church that will take in members, WITHOUT CONVERSION, and then allow them to CONTINUE in the most putrid corruption, must have LOST all respect for MORALITY (not to say CHRISTIANITY), and cannot be in possession of divine power of the Gospel: which CHANGES the hearts and lives of people.(Rom. 1:16; 2 Cor. 5:17.)

“The apostle Paul had foretold this ‘falling away’ of the Church. (Acts 20: 28-30; 2 Thess. 2:1-7.) And it was during this fallen condition that the Church CHANGED its weekly rest day from the Sabbath to the Sunday.

“Dr. N. Summerbell says: ‘The Roman Church had totally apostatized….It reversed the Fourth Commandment by doing away with the Sabbath of God’s word, and instituting Sunday as a holiday.’- ‘The Christian Church,’ p. 415. Cincinnati: 1873. (From “Facts of Faith, C. Edwardson, pp. 104, 105.

Only “truth as it is in Jesus” can truly “set us free” from the power is sin and the darkness of error and ignorance: this is the true liberty and victory in Christ abiding in the soul!
Bless all, NMF

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Devotionals

PAUL’S PROPHESIED ‘FALLING AWAY’ OR GREAT APOSTASY OF THE EARLY CHURCH

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK: 

PAUL’S PROPHESIED ‘FALLING AWAY’ OR GREAT APOSTASY OF THE EARLY CHURCH 

“Now brethren, concerning the (second) coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you to not too shaken in mind and troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.

Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless THE FALLING AWAY comes first, and THE MAN OF SIN be revealed, THE SON OF PERDITION, who opposes and exalts himself ABOVE all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thess. 2:1-4, NKJV (See verses 5-12).  

Apostle Paul was not only the quintessential apostle to the Gentiles; he was a prophet, too. He foretold of the great apostasy of the Church, described as the “falling away” and the earliest beginnings of the development of the Papacy.

The book of Hebrews was written first to the early Christians who expected Jesus to return soon in their time by revealing to them, and to our time as well, that Christ would not come before the papacy would have been fully exposed by the third angel’s message, and by providing the details of Christ’s penultimate office closing work in the heavenly sanctuary as the merciful High Priest, all-powerful Mediator, Advocate and Intercessor for His faithful followers on earth, and in closing, the righteous Judge of all the earth and mankind.

As Paul wrote in Romans, “For we shally stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”  “So then each one of us shall give account of himself to God.” Rom. 14:10,12. Paul here is echoing and re-emphasizing to the New Testament Christian what Solomon wrote in the Old Testament:   “Let us hear the CONCLUSION OF THE WHOLE MATTER: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the WHOLE DUTY of man.

For God shall bring EVERY WORK INTO JUDGMENT, with every SECRET thing, whether if it be good or whether it be evil.” Eccl. 12:13,14, KJV.   Now, back to more recorded historical details of this great “falling away.”   “Speaking of this great immoral pagan feast [Sun worship] Cardinal Newman says: ‘It certainly is possible that the consciousness of the sanctifying power in Christianity may have acted as a TEMPTATION to sins, whether of DECEIT or VIOLENCE; as if the habit or state of GRACE destroyed the sinfulness of certain acts, or as if THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS.’-‘ Development of Christian Doctrine,’ p. 379. London: 1878.  

Here we see the seeds of the distortion and corruption of the meaning and purpose of ‘grace’ as is taught in the Christian mainstream today! Also, the Jesuit brainchild of “the end justifies the means” finds its earliest origins at time, as an eminent Roman Catholic author, Cardinal Newman, wrote in his book.  More tomorrow. God bless, NMF

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Devotionals

OUTLINE: THE PROPHETIC SECTION OF DANIEL

November 10, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

OUTLINE: THE PROPHETIC SECTION OF DANIEL

II. Prophetic Section, chapters 7-11: 12:13.

A. Daniel’s second prophetic message, 7: 1-28. (Under A). 1. The four beasts and the ‘little horn,’ 7:1-8.  2. Judgment and eternal reign of the Son of man, 7:9-14.  3. Interpretation of the vision by and angel, 7:15-27.  4. Impression in Daniel, 7:28.

B. Daniel’s third prophetic message, ch. 8:1 to 9: 27. (Under B) 1. The ram, he-goat, and horns, 8:1-8.  2. The ‘little horn’ and its wickedness, 8:9-12.   3. The TIME prophecy concerning the CLEANSING of the Sanctuary, 8:13,14.   4. Gabriel interprets the FIRST portion of the vision, 8:15-26.  5. Daniel’s sickness as the RESULT of the vision, 8:27.  6. Daniel PRAYS for restoration and CONFESSES his people’s [the Jews in captivity], 9:1-19.  7. Gabriel interprets the REMAINING portion of the vision, 9:20-27.

C. Daniel’s   fourth prophetic message, ch. 10:1 to 12:13. (Under C)  1. Daniel’s fast, 10: 1-3.   2. The appearance of a ‘certain man’ and the effect on Daniel, 10:4-10.   3. The ‘certain man’s preliminary talk with Daniel, 10:11 to 11:1.   4. A vision concerning future HISTORICAL events, 11:2 to 12:3.   5. The duration of the “wonders;” personal promises to Daniel, 12:4-13.”

There are four parallel visions in Daniel, given in the following: ch.2; ch.7; chs. 8, 9; and chs. 10-12. Take note that each of the four parallel visions end in the Roman element. Repeat, the Roman element, pagan than papal!

May God give all wisdom, skill and understanding as He did with Daniel because Daniel “purposed in his heart” to do God’s will! Bless all, NMF. 

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Devotionals

OUTLINE OF DANIEL, WHICH IS SUPPLEMENTED BY REVELATION TO COMPLETE THE BIBLE PROPHECIES

November, 1 2020
FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

OUTLINE OF DANIEL, WHICH IS SUPPLEMENTED BY REVELATION TO COMPLETE THE BIBLE PROPHECIES

Before going a step further studying the details of the parallel visions of Daniel (ch. 2; 7; 8-9;  10-12), It is indispensable that we see a full view of the book itself, it’s purpose, and why Revelation cannot be properly interpreted, understood and valued in these last days of earth’s history:

The Theme: “The Book of Daniel night appropriately called a handbook of history and prophecy. PREDICTIVE prophecy is a preview of history; history is predictive prophecy PASSING IN REVIEW. The element of prediction [1] enables God’s people to see the things of TIME in the light of ETERNITY, [2] alerts them for effective action [not merely reactionary] at appropriate times, [3] facilitates PERSONAL preparation for the FiNAL crisis, and [4] provides a firm basis for FAITH upon fulfillment of the prediction.

“The four major lines of prophecy in the book of Daniel set forth in BRIEF OUTLINE, against the backdrop 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 the play and counter play of human interest and power and passions, the agencies of the All-merciful One, silently, patiently working out the counsels of His own will’ (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’ (chap. 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 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 ETERNAL LIFE.”- Commentary of the Book of Daniel, A Section of Vol. 4, SDA Bible Dictionary.
(More tomorrow), God bless all, NMF