FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
‘THE HOUR OF TEMPTATION’ THAT IS COMING UPON THE WORLD
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write;. . . . Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Rev. 3: 7,10, KJV.
What is this “hour” of global “temptation” that will “try” or test mankind? No, it isn’t the Covid pandemic or any other coming prophesied various types of cataclysms and disasters. It is much worse but we need to know what it is so we are intellectually and spiritually prepared to meet it.
I thank God for the Spirit of prophecy, which is the testimony of Jesus.” Rev. 19:10. It is also “the Spirit of truth.” John 14:17. Without this last prophetic gift given to the remnant, they would be deceived by Satan’s “subtility,” by which he convinced one third of the angels in heaven to join his rebellion against the government of God, and “deceived the woman,” Eve, the type of the church.
So read this and consider yourself blessed to be warned, thus forearmed:
“JUST BEFORE US is ‘the hour of temptation,’ which shall come upon the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.’ All whose faith is NOT FIRMLY ESTABLISHED upon the word of God WILL BE [not maybe it might] DECEIVED and OVERCOME.
Satan ‘works with deceivableness with unrighteousness’ to gain control over the children of men; and his deceptions will continually increase. But he can gain his object ONLY as men VOLUNTARILY YIELD to his temptations.
Those who are EARNESTLY SEEKING a knowledge of the truth, and are STRIVING TO PURIFY their souls through obedience, thus doing what they can to PREPARE for the conflict, in the GOD OF TRUTH [versus ‘the father of lies’], a sure defense. ‘Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I will also keep thee,’ is the Savior’s promise. He would sooner send EVERY ANGEL out of heaven to protect His people, than leave one soul that TRUSTS in him to be overcome by Satan.
“The prophet Isaiah brings to view THE FEARFUL DECEPTION [not disease] which will come upon the WICKED, causing them to count themselves SECURE FROM THE JUDGMENT OF GOD. [Isa. 28:15 quoted. Read it please!].
In the class here described are INCLUDED those who in their STUBBORN IMPENITENCE comfort themselves [not the Holy Spirit doing the ‘comforting’] with the assurance that there is to be NO PUNISHMENT FOR THE SINNER; that all mankind, it matters not how corrupt, are to be EXALTED TO HEAVEN, to become as ANGELS of God. [Ever heard that today? Indeed!].
“But still more emphatically are those making a covenant with death and an agreement with hell [how?]- who renounce the truths which Heaven has provided as a DEFENSE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, and accept ‘THE REFUGE OF LIES’ offered by Satan in its stead,—-the DELUSIVE PRETENSIONS OF SPIRITUALISM.
“Marvelous beyond expression is the BLINDNESS of this generation. Thousands reject the word of God as unworthy of belief, and with eager confidence receive the deceptions of Satan.” – Great Controversy, 1911 ed., p. 560.
Heads up, dear brethren! While the climax of this “hour of temptation” is yet ahead, the major deceptive doctrines included in it are already in place:
1. That there is no more judgement; once saved-already saved
2. That regardless of one’s moral character at death, he immediately goes to heaven and even becomes an “angel” or even a “guardian angel,” etc.
Make sure you know what the climax of this “hour of temptation” will be, lest assuming and presuming in Peter-like self-confidence, you fail to fully arm your minds NOW, TODAY with a clear and definite array of scripture weapons of “It is written,” “Thus saith the Lord.”
(More follows tomorrow). Bless all, NMF.
