6. Second Advent Herald [When God Stops Winking [Understanding God's Judgments]]

When God Stops Winking:Understanding Gods Judgments

The Voice of Truth in Perilous Times

Issue No. 6SECOND ADVENT Herald

Immutable Law of God Righteousness by Faith Seventh-day Sabbath Victory over SinSanctuary Types and Antitypes Three Angels Messages Non-Immortality of the Soul

Health Reform Christs Fallen Human Nature Ellen White - Gift of Prophecy

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SAH Issue No. 6 In this issue:

When God Stops Winking:Understanding Gods Judgments

Jennifer Jill Schwirzer and Leslie KayCondensed from chapter 10 of the authors A Deep but Dazzling Darkness:

Exploring Gods Dark Side in the Light of His Love, with permission.

Sounds of WarDean Ferrell

Only musical notes are neutral. The elements of music the melodies and rhythms and lyricsare of man, and can range from sacred to profane.

Praying for the Holy SpiritDeWit t S. Osgood

The 120 in the upper room asked for an outpouring of the Spirit. Then the Spirit used them as lighted torches to win three

thousand souls in a single day. Prayer preceded Pentecost.

The Message to the LaodiceansRon Spear

The greatest reason why the people of God are in this state of spiritual blindness is that they will not receive correction.

If I Keep the Sabbath, Ill Lose My Job!Ellen G. Whit e

Men may think they cannot afford to obey God, but they cannot afford to disobey Him.

Defining Religious LibertyJean Handwerk

A true Protestant opposes two abuses of man in matters of faith: the first is the intrusion of the civil magistrate, and

the second the arbitrary authority of the church.

Drink More WaterKaren V erna Carlson, NDHydration of the body is essential for good health.

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SECOND ADVENT H e r a l d

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Board of Directors

Ron Spear, Jean Handwerk, Paul WilliamsMagazine Staff

Executive Editor: Ron SpearManaging Editor: Jean HandwerkSecretary: Joyce BrownLayout/Design: Paul WilliamsNewsletter: Corla Rankin

SECOND ADVENT Herald features present-truth articles concerning historic Seventh-day Adventist prophetic understandings and doctrinal beliefs, current issues and events of consequence to Adventism, religious liberty issues, Seventh-day Adventist history, and health. Our website has more information, and soon will have additional articles that are too long for the magazine, but will be of interest to many.

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From the Editors Desk

O ur work is to strive to attain in our sphere of action the perfection that Christ in His life on the earth at-tained in every phase of character. He is our example. In all things we are to strive to honor God in character. In fall-ing day by day so far short of the divine requirements, we are endangering our souls salvation. We need to understand and appreciate the privilege with which Christ invests us, and to show our determination to reach the highest standard. We are to be wholly dependent on the power that He has promised to give us.

Just before making this requirement, the Saviour said to His disciples: Love your enemies, bless them that curse you. We are to love our enemies with the same love that Christ manifested toward His enemies by giving His life to save them. Many may say, This is a hard commandment; for I want to keep just as far as I can from my enemies. But acting in ac-cordance with your own inclination would not be carrying out the principles that our Saviour has given. Do good, He says,

to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. This scripture illustrates one phase of Christian perfection. While we were yet enemies of God, Christ gave His life for us. We are to follow His example.

I must write still more of the scripture, Love your ene-mies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. . . . Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. I have been deeply impressed by these words. We must understand their real meaning. If we would represent Christs character by obeying this requirement, there would be a great change in evildoers. Many souls would be convicted

of their sinfulness and converted through the impressions made upon them by our refusal to resent the evil actions of those controlled by satanic agencies. We must prayerfully and determinedly work on the Lords side. In all the issues that provoke the soul we should resist the evil and refuse to abuse the evildoer.

Let us daily represent Christs great love by loving our en-emies as Christ loves them. If we would thus represent the grace of Christ, strong feelings of hatred would be broken down and into many hearts genuine love would be brought. Many more conversions than are now seen would follow. True, it will cost us something to do this. If the ministers who preach the word, and those who occupy prominent positions in the medical missionary work, would regard it as their spe-cial duty to practice the teachings of the word in the daily life, bringing themselves under the discipline of the requirements of Christ and working under His authority, their consistent course would lead many to break away from the tyranny of Sa-tans service and to take their stand under the bloodstained banner of Prince Immanuel.

From Medical Ministry, 253-4, emphasis added.

Ellen G. Whit e (1827-1915): The Sev-enth-day Adventist Church believes that when the tests of a true prophet are applied to Ellen White, they confirm beyond doubt that God bestowed upon her the promised gift of prophecy. That gift is one of two prom-inent characteristics of His church in the last days (Rev. 12:17; Rev. 19:10), and indeed, her

prophetic gift was instrumental in the establishment of Seventh-day Adventism. Her inspired writings continue to clarify and uplift the Word of God, as well as provide invaluable health counsel.

As He Is Perfect:Loving Our Enemies

In falling day by day so far short of the divine requirements,we are endangering our souls salvation.

Ellen G. Whit e

Understanding Gods Judgments

Jennifer Jill Schwirzerand Leslie Kay


In mercy to the world, God blotted out its wicked inhabitants in Noahs time. In mercy He destroyed the corrupt dwellers in Sodom. It is in mercy to the universe that God will finally destroy the rejectors of His grace. GC 543.

Condensed from chapter 10 of the authors A Deep but Daz-zling Darkness: Exploring Gods Dark Side in the Light of His Love, with permission. This book explores the seeming contradic-tion between a loving God and His destruction of sinners. All em-phasis is in the original.

M ade in Gods image, we have a seemingly natural im-munity to inflicting death upon our fellow man. Ac-cording to military psychologist David Grossman, Every species, with a few exceptions, has a hardwired resis-tance to killing its own kind. Grossman coined the term killol-ogy to refer to the process of training soldiers to bypass this natural hesitancy. [One sees the same subconscious training possibilities in violent movies and video games.]

If human beings have an internal resistance to violence, how much more the God in whose image we are made? Any hu-mane qualities we possess are inspired by the Spirit of Godhow much more does God Himself recoil from the task of de-struction? Yet He who is the giver of life has at times taken life. While it is true that God has the right to destroy those He has created, this answer alone does not satisfy the sensi-tive hearts quest to understand how a loving God can punish and destroy. We must probe more deeply.

Jewish Thunder, Christian Sunbeams?Often the Old Testament is cited as the home of the angry,

wrath-mongering tyrant, and the New Testament the abode of the peace-loving, placid Messiah. In truth, the New Tes-tament exhibits no shame toward the Old Testament judg-ments, but rather uses them as illustrations of judgments to come. The most direct and forceful of the early judgments are unabashedly said to be prophetic pictures of the final punish-ment of the wicked. The fires of Sodom are said to be exhibited as an example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire (Jude 7). Fortunately, wrath is not an indication of cruelty. It is, like all the expressions of God, a demonstration of pure, selfless love. An examination of the earliest, most extrinsic of divine judgments will bear this out.

Heaven is in turmoil. Lucifers revolution has yielded him a mass of angelic devotees. After a spiritual struggle of un-known length, Lucifer and his angels are thrown down to the earth (Revelation 12:9). This banishment from the courts of heaven marks the end of their opportunity for repentance. There is no turning back , for they have resisted heavens pleading voice until it can no longer be heard. The original Hells Angels are now reserved for judgment and a destruc-tive fire is planned for them and their leader (2 Peter 2:4).

In this alpha of judgments, we see a principle that runs like a thread throughout the story of redemption. God re-serves His most forceful, direct dealings with sin for times

When GodStops Winking:


when the soul is utterly hardened and hopeless. This malig-nant narcissism had rotted the soul of Lucifer and his follow-ers until they had sealed their wills against the God of heaven. Tragically, humans have at times emulated the fallen angels and have brought a similar fate upon themselves.

The FloodScroll forward to life on planet earth. The unthinkable

has happened. The human race has hearkened to the voice of the tempter. Be fruitful and multiply seems to be the only divine command that man obeys. Otherwise, he is in a state of habitual rebellion. The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the Lord was sor-ry. I will blot out man whom I have created, God sighs in frustration (Genesis 5:5-7).

We all know the urge to abandon lost causesprojects, re-lationships and investments that are not giving the expected return. Yet for God, who created man, this urge to destroy con-flicts with the essence of His life-giving nature. He cannot fol-low through without more protracted effort to save.

For 120 years Noah prophesies with his voice and with his hammer. No one is converted. After suffering long with a wicked, unbelieving people, God turns a corner. A century before, He had overlooked their folly, for the times of this ig-norance God winked at; but once they had been fully warned, He command[ed] all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). When they didnt, God responded accordingly. With Noahs last hammer stroke, He stopped winking.

The hatchway of the ark is shut, and the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky (Genesis 7:11). Nature is driven from her placid course by a supernatu-ral hand. Only Noah and his family of eight are left to re-populate the earth.

Sodom and GomorrahScroll forward four centuries. Follow Noahs lineage

through his son Shem for nine generations to the wizened, weathered centurion Abraham. He has just entertained three celestial visitors, one of whom is the Lord.Along with this joyful assurance [that Sarah shall have a son], Abraham re-ceives a message of doom: Sodom is about to be judged for its wickedness. Unfortunately, Abrahams nephew Lot is in that lush, opulent city. Abraham bargains with God, asking,

Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city; wilt Thou indeed sweep it away? (Genesis 18:24). The patriarch affirms the principles of divine justice when he answers his own ques-tion: Far be it from Thee to do such a thing, to slay the right-eous with the wicked. Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly? (Genesis 18:25). God affirms Abrahams assump-tion: if there are only fifty, He will spare the city.

[In fact], God will not destroy the city if there are even ten righteous in it. The problem is that there are fewer than ten. Lots family alone, and barely they, are the only souls in that

vast place who can even tentatively merit the label righteous. God moves to Plan B: Instead of sparing the city, He will evacuate the righteous. Then He will wipe the place out.

The angels visit Lot. Notice that there are two who venture into Sodom, while there were three who visited Abraham. God in His omniscience knew that the city was beyond salvage, but perhaps He wished for His heavenly comrades to see its state with their own eyes.

And see it they did. A group of local thugs demanded the surrender of [Lots] houseguests, stating their intention to rape them. When the argument ensued that almost cost [Lot] his life, the angels struck the perverts blind. One would think this would sober them, but these men were so imbued with evil that they continued to grope for the door. Inside, the angels got down to business with their host. Warning Lot of the imminent destruction of the city, they implored him, in turn, to warn his loved ones. This prompted Lot to attempt to enlist his sons-in-law and married daughters, but to no avail. At sunrise, the angels grasped the hesitant Lot, his two daugh-ters, and his wife, and led them out-side the city.

Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven, and He overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground (Genesis 19:24, 25).

In case we won-der who the source of this incinerat-ing sulfur was, we are told no less than three times in the space of one sentence; the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah brim-stone and fire from the Lord out of heav-en. The only rebel that wasnt turn to ashes was turned to salt.

The ExodusOne more important judgment occurred 400 years later.

The oppressors of Gods people had exhausted the limits of


His forbearance in the country of Egypt, where Gods peo-ple were enslaved. Through the partial judgments of the ten plagues, God attempted to turn Pharaoh from his obstinate course. But rebellion is like a cancer that can be beaten into dormancy by strong medicine, only to spring forth later with a vengeance. Before Pharaohs tears had fully dried, the pain of bereavement was consumed by his unquenchable desire for dominance. His two million slaves would come back to Egypt and resume their toils, he vowed. God even accommodated Pharaohs boldness by leading the freed slaves to the Red Sea, where they were apparently shut in and an easy prey. In this way, God dammed up the flow of human help that He might manifest His own power. Pharaoh forgot about that power and followed hard on Moses trail.

Just as the army closed in, however, the pillar of cloud that had served as a beacon for the hordes traveled around them and interposed itself between Pharaoh and his prey. It blazed on the Hebrew side, illuminating their path, while on the Egyptian side it created a wall of darkness that stayed their progress.

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the Lord swept the sea back.

While the massive walls of water hovered, the sons of Is-rael walked all night on an impossibly dry ocean floor. Like animals driven by blind instinct, incorrigible Egyptians set out after them. But as the morning kissed the earth and the feet of Israel touched the eastern shore, the elements lashed out at the pursuers, prompting memories of Gods power to devastate human schemes. Suddenly they knew that God was fighting for the Hebrews and fighting against them. Before panic could dictate a change of course, Moses stretched out

his rod over the waters, and their immeasurable volumes obe-diently rolled back, swallowing Pharaoh and his drones into their killing depths.

Finding a MotiveThe first three destructive judgments of the Bible are

some of the most direct and forceful accounts of Gods retribu-tion. God Himself is given full credit for these supernatural phenomena. Yet these seemingly aggressive, destructive acts issued forth from a heart of love. While the divine source of these retributive acts cant be denied, we must recognize that they are set apart from human vengeance. When God takes ac-tion against an enemy, it is with principles in place that have but a faint reflection in humanity. Here are a few of the identi-fying characteristics of Gods acts of justice:

Infinite Love: The primary distinguishing factor be-tween Gods pure wrath and human retaliation is the under-lying motive. In the case of human revenge, there is always an element of self-seeking. But when God vindicates Himself,

He is not merely defending Himself as an individual. As the keeper and source of all life, He is defending life itself. In Him we live and move and exist (Acts 17:28). To allow His government to crumble would be to allow at creation, which upon His righteous and benevolent rule, to crumble with Him. At the heart of Gods white-hot anger against sin and its chaos is a fatherly protectiveness toward the order of the cosmos and every being that is made safe by that order.

Unlike human military conquerors, God loves His enemies. Love for the enemy motivates even His acts of destruction. He covets the compassionate and fair treatment of every soul, although sometimes this involves taking life. How can this be so?

Infinite Knowledge: There is a point when a person is better off dead than alive. When God sees that the point of no return has been reached, He sometimes mercifully

God began executing a series of carefully conceived surgical strikes against the Egyptian people, their economy, and their idolatrous belief system, all the while extending offers of mercy.


takes away the life that would only result in the compiling of further guilt and punishment. If allowed to live, they would do nothing but add to their own future retribution.

Infinite Precision: Divine judgments are decidednot according to arbitrary decrees or impulsive outbursts, but according to fixed laws of retributive justice. After extending multiple warnings and invitations to repent of their cruelty and oppression, God began executing a series of carefully con-ceived surgical strikes against the Egyptian people, their economy, and their idolatrous belief system. Gradually ratch-eting up the level of severity from tolerable hardships to out-right devastation, all the while extending offers of mercy, the Lord systematically deprived the Egyptians of all they had im-morally gained through centuries of exploitation. The punish-ment fit the crime in a way that only an infinite intelligence could conceive, and the Egyptians couldnt help but compre-hend. In the end, Pharaoh and his minions paid with their lives for draining away the life of Gods oppressed people.

In the last day, the sin that the lost cherish will be recom-pensed by God Himself. Yet this event will be born of the need to uphold the principles of justice for the good of all. Far from being random, subjective choice on the part of God, the guilt will lie with the individual for the wrath that is stored up to their account. But because of your stubbornness and unre-pentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who will render to every man according to his deeds (Romans 2:5, 6)

Infinite Justice: Cant God just pull the plug? For many whose lives have had little negative impact, this will in-deed be the case. But for those who have inflicted great harm, justice demands that they feel and experience what they caused others to undergo. Paul told the persecuted believers of Thessalonica: For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you (2 Thessalonians 1:6). John echoes this sentiment, addressing the great beast power at the end of the ages, If anyone is destined for captivity, to captiv-ity he goes; if anyone kills with the sword, with the sword he must be killed. (Revelation 13:10). It is only just that the one who causes harm be harmed. If justice were to flinch in the face of these demands, its entire structure would be de-stroyed, and anarchy would ravage the universe. The founda-tion of life itself rests upon the law of God. No form of life could be supported in a universe where that law was compro-mised in any way.

Infinite Mercy: As much as justice demands pun-ishment and death of the guilty one, mercy requires that the guilty one be given salvation, even at infinite cost. While God could not change His law, He could send Jesus to meet its demands. This act of compassionate self-sacrifice will re-main unrivaled for endless ages. It sweeps away all accusations that the righteous government of God reveals a self-centered, exacting autocrat. It will ever stand as a monument, both of Gods unwavering justice and His audacious mercy. The

justice of God alone cannot save. It is His justice coupled with mercy that comprises the love that emptied heaven in order to redeem the world. :

Jennifer Jill Schwirzer and Leslie Kay have each authored other books. Ms. Schwirzer is also a singer, songwriter, and speaker; Ms. Kay is a columnist for the Adventist Review. Their coauthored book A Deep But Dazzling Darkness: Exploring Gods Dark Side in the Light of His Love (2004) was published by Amazing Facts (1-800-538-7275).

As much as justice demands punishment and death of the guilty one, mercy requires that the guilty one be given salvation, even at infinite cost.


T hough Im not a musician, music has been one of the most powerful elements in my life. As a child of the 1960s, the popular music that influenced my genera-tion worked for our degeneration. No one with eyes and ears can deny that music was drawing our nation away from God. But this is not a new tactic.

Early in Isaiahs ministry, in the late 700s BC, he wrote about music in the kingdom of Judah. Isaiah 5:4 speaks of the Lord examining His well-cared-for vineyard. Wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? Verse 12 specifies a wrong use of music being one of those wild grapes: And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they re-gard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the opera-tion of his hands. Therefore my people are gone into captiv-ity, because they have no knowledge: ...Therefore hell hath ... opened her mouth ... and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Isa 5:12-14.

Isaiah noted that the musical instruments typically used by Gods people to glorify God had become vehicles for mans destruction. Instead of a means of exalting the Creator and up-lifting the souls of men, their music reflected their low moral state. It did not turn their hearts and thoughts to God, and they regarded not the work of the Lord.

Amos made a similar observation: Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches [a typical eating position], That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like Da-vid; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. Amos 6:3-6.

Unlike Davids music, though, their music offended God, Who hated their superficial worship of Him and their rejection of His warnings: Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. Amos 5:23.

Isaiahs and Amos compatriots sang and played music to the Lord, but their music did not please Him. Instead, it was part of what caused them to forget the claims of God and the needs of His people. Music can be, and evidently was being, perverted, and God was displeased.

It follows that if their music angered God then, our mu-sic offerings can do the same now. Perhaps its time to study into music, so that we may be sure our music is pleasing to our heavenly Father. Worship Wars

I believe that we are in a war for worship, that God and Satan are musical beings, and that ones music expresses whose side he tends towardGods or Satans. In wars in ev-ery age, musicians have been sent with or in advance of the troops: drummers, flutists, horns, bagpipes, etc. The different tunes have imparted courage, provided cadences for marches, and sounded the signals to charge, retreat or even sleep. In their science of war, U.S. troops use heavy metal or rap mu-sic to confuse the enemy. Today we will look at music as it

Dean Ferrell

Only musical notes are

neutral. The elements of

musicthe melodies and

rhythms and lyricsare of

man, and can range from

sacred to profane.


relates to the war between God and Satan.Is Music Morally Neutral?Music is communication the universal language. So

long as the lyrics are Christian, many claim, it is morally neu-tral and therefore suitable for church or worship. But a distinc-tion must be made between a good use of something and a bad use of it. Food, work, play and music can all serve good or evil. What is being communicated in music? 1Co 15:33 warns us,

Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.Time and circumstances also are factors. We all recognize

that certain music is inappropriate at certain times. For ex-ample, would you play Torn between Two Lovers at a football game or a funeral?

Actually, it is the musical notes themselves that are neutral, but the elements of music the melodies and rhythms and lyr-ics are of man, and can range from sacred to profane. As Eze-kiel 22:26 reads, Her priests have broken My Law and have de-filed My holy things. They have put no difference between the holy and the common, and have not taught between the un-clean and the clean, and have hidden their eyes from My sab-baths, and I am defiled among them. (See also 1 Cor 3:17; 6:19.) Cultural or Age Differences

A person may sing in all sincerity before God in a way that seems disrespectful to one group and lackluster to another. As a result, some claim that music that is acceptable to one cul-tural or age group should be accepted by all, even if it seems inappropriate or even wrong to other groups. The danger of that position is that ones culture or age would determine what is right or wrong. How can this matter be settled?

We know that God is not a respecter of persons, that He loves us as individuals and takes into account what culture and background we come from, or what age we are: This man was born there. (Ps 87:4)

But this man did not stay there. He changed his citi-zenship; he joined himself to Zion. This man applies to all of us. Even though we come to God just as we are, He does not expect us to remain that way. He hews and squares us morally for heavenly citizenship, for companionship with angels, who constantly sing praises to God.

We all hope to join that heavenly choir. So rather than each of us relying on our own wisdom or preferences regarding mu-sic worship styles, let us consult Gods Word to see what He says on the matter, and submit our wills and worship to His preferences. Worship God or Satan through Music

God and Satan share a few commonalities. Both are musi-cal beings. God will joy over thee with singing, (Zeph 3:17); His angels sang during Creation (Job 38:4, 7). To Satan were given tabrets and pipes with which to make music (Ezek 28:13). Before his rebellion, Lucifer used his gift to lead out

in angelic worship of God: Satan had led the heavenly choir. He had raised the first note; then all the angelic host had united with him, and glorious strains of music had resounded through heaven in honor of God and His dear Son. SR 26.

And now both seek our wor-ship through music. Whom will we worship? God Created Musical Beings

The KJV describes Lucifer as created in heaven a perfect mu-sical being, but the NIV, in the same verses, leaves this musical attribute out:

King James Version New International Version

Ezekiel 28:12-13 ... Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardi-us, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workman-ship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

Ezekiel 28:12-13 ...` This is what the Sover-eign LORD says: `You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. 13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: ruby, topaz and emerald, chrysolite, onyx and jasper, sapphire, turquoise and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were prepared.

Might the enemy use the NIV to remove part of his de-scription to hide his musical methods of deceiving and war-ring against Gods people? We note that before his rebellion, Lucifer (Satan) used his gift to lead out in angelic worship of God: Satan had led the heavenly choir. He had raised the first note; then all the angelic host had united with him, and glori-ous strains of music had resounded through heaven in honor of God and His dear Son. SR 26. In the midst of that perfect setting, Lucifer flattered his self esteem till it grew into a de-sire for worship belonging only to Deity!

Jesus says the elect would be deceived if it were possible. Satans agencies use modern Bible versions like the NIV to hide his identity and methods of weakening men. Heres an-other example of that, relating to our topic. The KJV texts


call Lucifer by name. The NIV replaces that specific name with morning star.

King James Version New International Version

Isaiah 14:12-14 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! ... I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the con-gregation, in the sides of the north: ... I will be like the most High.

Isaiah 14:12-14 How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! ... I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assem-bly, ... I will make myself like the Most High.

Confusion is the result of this wording change, because Morning Star is a name Jesus uses to identify Himself in Rev-elation 22:16. In the NIV, that verse reads, I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. The KJV is almost identical. If It Were Possible

What could motivate this confusion resulting from selling the NIV on superior scholarship and ease of reading? Jesus said, If it were possible, deceive the very elect. Not just the elect, but even the very elect. Heavens former master musi-cian won the worship of one third of the angels. Now hes seek-ing ours. Why would he not use his style of music to separate us from God? Our Old Testament shows how a music-based celebration worship strongly displeased God and caused the worshipers captivity and descent into hell.

The fallen choir director knows he has little time left to work. He knows Revelation 12:12: Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. The problem is, do we realize time is short? Do we realize he is using every possible means, including music, to cause us to be lost? Inappropriate worship music is as unac-ceptable as Cains offering.

Why would any of us risk putting a stumbling block in the church, knowing

that so many of us are weak?

God inspired Paul to tell us, at the end of the world, to study the experience of those on the way to the typical prom-ised land. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1Cor 10:6, 11, 31. Worship before the Golden Calf

Why did God direct us to study the tragic experiences of His disobedient people before us? After being surrounded with Egyptian idolatry for centuries, Gods people forgot Him and His law. Moses met with God in the mount for forty days. While God taught Moses the statutes, judgments and gave him the two tables of the covenant, Aaron taught the people something else! And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto.... Ex 32:7-8.

It was a worship service that Aaron dedicated to Jehovah: And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aar-on made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. ... And the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And it came to pass, as soon as he came near to the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: ...Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies.) Ex 32:5-6, 19, 25.

Did God accept this worship service? No. Who is really wor-shipped by default, if God doesnt accept it?Sounds of War

As Moses and Joshua neared the camp, Joshua thought he heard war. And when Joshua heard the noise of the peo-ple as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. Exodus 32:17-18.

What modern singing and music (close-up or from a dis-tance) sound like aggression, war and conflict? Hymns? Or rock, rap, hip-hop, and dance music? Sexual Stimulation

What in this music stimulates the sex drive and makes a person want to celebrate physically, sensually? Daniel and Bernadette Skubik, in their book The Neurophysiology of Rock, wrote, When the beat generates high levels of sensory excita-tion (... due to the ... rhythm and loudness ...) ... the brain is put in a state of stress ... measurable in driving brainwave activ-ity. This driving activity occurs in all people; ... whether one likes or dislikes the musicis not a factor. To force its activity


levels down and to achieve homeostasis, the brain releases the bodys natural opioids ... chemically similar to drugs like morphine. They are used to control the bodys sensitivity to pain. Considerable evidence confirms that rock music gener-ates or enhances sexual arousal by way of this same process ... with the release of gonadotrophins as well as opioids. The result is a strong connection forged between a stressed fight-or-flight drive state and the young persons developing sexual drive, which then invariably links arousal to aggression. It both causes and expresses an increasing association of overt aggression linked to sexuality.

One woman told me, I used to dance to rock music wherev-er it was playing. I didnt always understand the words, but my body understood the beat. That dancing is physical and sen-sual, if not openly sexual, and it easily leads to other immoral activities. I left that world to follow Christ. Now, when I hear that rock beat in a church, calling me back to that lifestyle, I actually have to leave the church to save my soul.Sacred Defiled When Mixed with Profane

The people demanded their cultural Egyptian idol worship, and Aaron tried to compromise by retaining the heathen form but proclaiming it a feast to Jehovah. The worship of Jehovah was defiled as it was mixed with the profane. Celebration mu-sic brought a religious crisis then, as it has now.

Whose side are we on? This crisis in the war for worship de-mands we take a stand. The Bible shows us music and worship is a matter of life and death! Where do you stand?

Do you prefer to remain neutral? Dont forget that if God abhors one sin above another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an emergency. Indif-ference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of

hostility against God. 3T 281.Would you rather not risk offending any-

one in this music controversy? Is it godly love to remain silent in the face of danger? Were living in the judgment hour. Shall we not warn those who celebrate as though the time of trouble isnt coming and the shak-ing and sifting werent already underway?

Therefore my people are gone into captiv-ity, because they have no knowledge: ... Therefore hell hath ... opened her mouth ... and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it. Isaiah 5:13, 14.Reason for Joyous Song

Now, in the end of this war for worship, we need the protection of Gods Spirit and angels. We need every protection we can get. God promises to protect us, but He gives us our work to do. We are to test all influenc-es, including music, and act appropriately.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Thess 5:21-23.

We can have joy; we can sing with humble rejoicing, know-ing Jesus still intercedes for us. We still have time to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord. AA 306. Our music and wor-ship ought to reflect that purified joy and blessed assurance in a sacred God. But it is never time to celebrate using worldly music and worship styles. If they caused death in Moses time, theyll cause spiritual death in ours:

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORDS side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and ev-ery man his companion, and every man his neighbour. And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. Exodus 32:26-28. Idol Worship

Let the Lord not turn away from us, saying as He did once before of others, Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone. Hosea 4:17.

Now, in the end of this war for worship, God gives us our work to do. We are to test all influences, including music, and act appropriately. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the


coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Thess 5:21-23.

Music is the idol which many professed Sabbath-keeping Christians worship. ... It is often made one of Satans most attractive agencies to ensnare souls.

MYP 295

Scripture, history, and medical science show that our mu-sic choices affect us and the church mentally, physically and spiritually. Angels are hovering around yonder dwelling. The young are there assembled; there is the sound of vocal and in-strumental music. Christians are gathered there, but what is that you hear? It is a song, a frivolous ditty, fit for the dance hall. Behold, the pure angels gather their light closer around them, and darkness envelops those in that dwelling. The an-gels are moving from the scene. Sadness is upon their counte-nances. Behold, they are weeping. This I saw repeated a num-ber of times all through the ranks of Sabbath keepers.... Music is the idol which many professed Sabbath-keeping Christians worship.... It is often made one of Satans most attractive agen-cies to ensnare souls. MYP 295. Musics Influence on Mind and Body

What are jazz, rap, hip-hop, rock, and dance songs usually about? Things we could freely do in the sight of God? Look at the lifestyles and the effect of the music on the musicians and their fans. What body parts do these music types move, and what goes on at their concerts? Other than the debased morals of the musicians and fans, what do these music types have in common? They are all controlled by repetitive, heavily synco-pated rhythms, usually by a trap set (drums). This repetition puts the hearer in a semi-trance. This state of mind is not con-ducive to sound judgment.

As a child, I used to sit as close as I could to the drums or rhythm and bass amps when my cousins band came to prac-tice in our garage in Long Beach, CA. I was fascinated with how the music changed my heart and breathing rhythms, as well as made my moods soar.

As I grew older, the types of music people listened to were signals and let me know who I could freely talk to or share drugs with. Beat or rock music was in the background during every moral fall Ive experienced. I suspect Im not alone there.

As an eventual hardcore user of drugs, I was granted deliv-erance from addiction for over a year once, but while driving alone through my home state and looking for a news station, I landed on a classic rock station. Instantly, I was in the same mood I was in the last time I heard that song. I listened to more, and soon I was on the hunt for old friends whom I knew would have the drug I was on the last time I listened to that music.

The music did not make me do it, but it produced a mental and physical atmosphere conducive to bad decisions. For so

many of us who have a sinful past, one of addictive behavior, that type of music is all the trigger and advantage that satanic forces need to bring about our fall.

God lifted me up out of it, but I could have lost my life easily during that fall. My question is, Why would any of us risk put-ting a stumbling block in the church, knowing that so many of us are weak? The music does not need words to carry the message, but let the message of our worship music be one for life, leading to the eternal city, and not one that sounds like it is from the broad way of the world.Every Uncouth Thing

Ellen White wrote, The Lord has shown me would take place just before the close of probation. Every uncouth thing will be demonstrated. There will be shouting, with drums, mu-sic, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so confused that they cannot be trusted to make right decisions. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. The powers of satanic agencies blend with the din and noise to have a carnival, and this is termed the Holy Spirits working. Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted. 2SM 36, 38 (1900); LDE 159.

Is it clear that some worship music has not only the sound, but also the appearance, of evil? That it has elements that re-semble descriptions of sensual pagan religious rituals? What is now our part? Shall we add Christian words to just any melody, then bring it and a drum set into church for worship? We are seeing that some music causes (a) dance, causing an-gels to leave us in darkness; (b) the mind and body to sense and respond to this music as eustress, distress or pain; and (c) hormone and body chemicals to produce aggression and activate sex drives.

It all adds up. This kind of music is spiritually, mentally, morally and physically bad for you. I used to love how heavy rhythm would just take over and change my heart beat. Now I relate to it like an attack on my spirit, soul and body.Conclusion is Obvious

Rock music has been found to cause chemical imbalances in the human body. The bass tones and driving drum beats of modern rock have been proven to demonstrate a reaction with the cerebral-spinal fluid and pituitary gland of the brain. When exposed to rock, the adrenaline and sex glands oversecrete. Their hormonal production is pushed into overdrive. This is why feelings of lust and sensuality wash over everyone there. Since the bodys hormones are imbalanced, it compensates by drawing blood sugar from the brain to bring everything into alignment. Since blood sugar is the primary material used by the brain to feed itself, a lack of decision-making ability is the inevitable result. (Jeff Godwin, Dancing with Demons, 11-12)

Note these effects on the mental powers, and therefore moral decision-making, in the inspired quotation a few para-


graphs ago: There will be shouting, with drums, music, and dancing. The senses of rational beings will become so con-fused that they cannot be trusted to make right deci-sions. A bedlam of noise shocks the senses and perverts that which if conducted aright might be a blessing. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted.

A few pages later, the messenger wrote, Let us give no place to strange exercisings, which really take the mind away from the deep movings of the Holy Spirit. 2SM 42 (1908); LDE 159.

Psalm 34:14 admonishes us to depart from evil, and do good. What does God want and expect from His people? The last sentence of the excerpt from Last Day Events, 159, makes

it plain for all to see: Gods work is ever characterized by calmness and dignity.

May God lead us all in our music choices. :

Dean Ferrell worked first as a Bible instructor then as a pastor in Virginia. More recently, he set up a mission training center and medical clinic in the Philippines and encouraged a youth movement there. Dean and his wife Blanca are now in Virginia; he is available to speak on a variety of issues that face the church and Gods people today: addictions, entertainment, righteousness by faith and prophecy. He can be contacted at [email protected].


A Samaritan woman at Jacobs well asked for living water, and, receiving the Holy Spirit, she became a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14.) Prayer preceded the Sychar revival.

The 120 in the upper room asked for an outpouring of the Spirit. Then the Spirit used them as lighted torches to win three thousand souls in a single day. Prayer preceded Pentecost.

Bible prophecy predicts a spiritual revival. The outpouring of the Spirit in latter-rain power awaits our demand and re-ception. The Holy Spirit, the representative of Himself, is the greatest of all giftsbut God will not pour out His supreme gift in its infinite plenitude upon a prayer-less people. When we beseech the Lord to pity us in our distress, and to guide us by His Holy Spirit, He will never turn away our prayers. (MB 132.) Prayer precedes power; the spirit of grace and supplications (Zechariah 12:10) precedes the refreshing. Prayer is the key of access to heavens storehouse and the boundless resources of Omnipotence. (SC 94, 95.) Nothing supersedes prayer.

The Church must learn to pray before it can expect the promised latter rain, and the Spirit Himself supplies all the motivations and promptings to pray. Ellen White draws upon her own experience to counsel the Church: The Holy Spirit indicts all genuine prayer. I have learned to know that in all my intercessions, the Spirit intercedes for me and for all saints whose intercessions are according to the will of God. ... If we are taught of God, we shall pray in conformity to His re-vealed will, and in submission to His will which we know not.

Jesus is waiting to breathe upon all His disciples, and give them the inspiration of His sanctifying Spirit, and transfuse the vital influence from Himself to His people. Their will must be submitted to His will, they must act with His Spirit. (Letter l1b, 1892.)

The Bible gives us no substitute for prayer. Study, sacri-fice, and service have their place, but unless the soul actually experiences a prayer contact with Him from whom all bless-ings flow, he performs like an airplane that cant get off the groundhe receives no lift.

To receive the Spirit, we must cherish Spirit-implanted promptings to pray. When a person senses an inner urge to pray, he should recognize it as an evidence of the Holy Spirits presence. Let him welcome the heavenly Guest and start pray-ing. Never a sincere desire after God is cherished, however feeble, but the Spirit of God goes forth to meet it. (COL 206.) Everything depends upon our cherishing and responding to these Spirit-implanted nudges.

The place of victorylook for it not in the pulpit or pew, the public forum or shop, the neighborly visit or family circle. Rather, look for it in the place of prayer. The greatest victo-ries gained for the cause ... are gained in the audience chamber with God. (GW 259.) If we would receive the Holy Spirit, we must ask for Him and ask in faith. Shall we heed the following counsel: When Gods people will believe, when they will turn their attention to that which is true, and living, and real, the Holy Spirit, in strong heavenly currents, will be poured upon the church. (MS 21, 1900.)

Make the Bible your prayer book. Clear the kings high-way by prayer. By prayer Elijah closed and opened the heavens, Samson pulled down Dagons temple, and Daniel learned the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream. Hezekiah prayed, and 185,000 Assyrians perished in a night. The church at Marys house prayed without ceasing, and prison doors opened to free Peter. Two men in different cities prayed, the one for light, the other for guidance, and in answer, God by His Spirit directed Peter to Corneliuss home. We cannot overemphasize

Praying for the Holy Spirit

DeWit t S. Osgood


the power of prayer. The greatest blessing that God can give to man is the spirit of earnest prayer. Ambassadors of Christ will have power with the people after they have, with earnest supplication, come before God. (RH Oct. 20, 1896.)

Jesus, on the night of His betrayal, did not want His dis-ciples to think of His own departure as a betrayal of them. He spoke at length of His Successor, the Comforter (Greek, parakletos, meaning one called alongside). He promised, If I depart, I will send him [the Comforter] unto you. John 16:7. An exchange was about to take place: one Comforter (Jesus) would ascend; another Comforter (the Spirit of truth) would descend. Every Christian would have the divine Presence alongside him as a protection and shield. He would lead and guide, teach and confirm, and even help the believer pray.

Some do not know how to pray for the Holy Spirit because of fuzzy thinking or because they hold unscriptural ideas con-cerning the Spirit. Many think of the Holy Spirit as a shadowy, all-pervading influence, an impersonal force like gravity, ether waves, or cosmic rays. But the Holy Spirit shares the Godhead as the third person of the Godhead, and He is as much a person as God is a person. (Ev 617, 616.)

No one can explain the eternal Father, the First Person of the Godhead, for finite cannot grasp the Infinite. Neither can we understand the nature of the Third Person of the Godhead.

The nature of the Holy Spirit is a mystery. The Lord has not revealed it. ... Regarding such mysteries, which are too deep for human understanding, silence is golden. (AA 52.)

The consecrated, however, will seek by earnest prayer for clear perception to discern the office and work of the Holy Spirit. (CSW 40.) The more we know about the ministry of the Spirit, the more we will prize fellowship of the Spirit (Philippians 2:1), and the more we will appreciate the com-munion of the Holy Ghost (2 Corinthians 13:14). As we dwell upon this subject, we should soon begin to sense the Spirits presence as the personal presence of Jesus. Through the Spirit Christ was to abide continually in the hearts of His children. Their union with Him was closer than when He was personally with them. (SC 75.)

Since we do not want more of God any more urgently than He wants all there is of us to be consecrated to His service (Undated MS 73), how can we account for the present spiritual destitution? Perhaps we ourselves have failed to recognize our need of the Spirit. The more we discover our real need, our real poverty, the more we desire the gift of the Holy Spirit. ... It is because we do not see our need that we do not pour forth earnest entreaties ... for the bestowal of the blessing. (MS 3, 1892.) May God open our eyes!

Many speak about our need of the Holy Spirit, and pray about it, and wonder why the showers have not fallen. James and John had an idea prevalent today, that Heavens favors come merely for the asking. James and John thought that for the asking they could have the highest place in the kingdom of God. They did not realize that before they could share Christs glory, they must wear His yoke. (Letter 22, 1902.)

In a vision given to Ellen White December 25, 1865, God solemnly indicted leaders and people: Nearly all who profess

to believe present truth are unprepared to understand the work of preparation for this time. In their present state ... they are wholly unfitted to receive the latter rain. (IT 466.) We ask, In what way has the spiritual condition of Gods people changed since 1865?

Many have drifted along, expecting that the latter rain would fall without any special preparation. Christ has prom-ised the gift of the Holy Spirit to His church. But like every other promise, it is given on conditions. (DA 672.)

Our church members lack faiththey expect the showers to fall sometime, but their faith does not include the actual present. The Spirit always works in the here and now. We may have pentecostal seasons even now, if the people will pray fer-vently, and believe in the promises of God. (ST Feb. 10, 1890.)

At this very hour His Spirit and His grace are for all who need them and will take Him at His word. (8T 20.)

But formal praying and feeble wishing will never bring the latter rain. As a people we need to seek most earnestly for the energizing power of the Holy Spirit. (Letter 200, 1902.) Strong faith and earnest prayer go together. If we obtain the victory we must be earnest ourselves and plead with God for His Holy Spirit. We must talk and pray in faith that we may have the precious anointment of the Holy Spirit. (Letter 230, 1899.)

In every prayer the earnest seeker will experience a new revival. New appreciations of Calvary will arouse new desires to tell the wondrous story. A new awareness of the Spirits presence will infuse new courage for witnessing. A new sense of Christs love and compassion will awaken new aversions to-

ward sinmake every prayer a revival, a personal revival!The words watch and pray hold real significance. Watch-

ing unto prayer means living our prayers before God, that He may answer them, that there may be no inconsistency in our lives. (ISM 117, 116.) Watch by working in accordance with your prayers. ... It is the time of the latter rain. ... Be fervent in prayer, and watch in the Spirit. (TM 512.) Prayer unites


man with his Maker: in prayer man actually teams up with God. Salvation requires his own earnest, willing cooperation. (Letter 135, 1898.) By prayer we enter into a partnership with God. He [man] cannot of himself move one step toward Christ without [sic] the Spirit of God draws him, and this drawing is ever, and will continue until man grieves the Holy Ghost by his persistent refusal. (Ibid.)

The gods of the heathen do not answer prayers, but the God of the Bible does. Israels shepherd king, petitioning the Most High, began his prayer with the phrase O thou that hearest prayer. (Psalm 65:2.) Ellen White says, If you will find voice and time to pray, God will find time and voice to answer. (ML 16.) In emphasizing the importance of prayer Gods last-day messenger supplies the words we may use: Pray, O, pray most earnestly, Put Thy Spirit, Lord, Thy Holy Spirit, within my heart, that I may be sincere in keeping my baptismal vow. (MS 130, 1902.) She advises, Seasons of prayer should be held for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. (Letter 292, 1907.) May God hasten the day when such seasons will become a reality in all our churches.

The writings of Ellen White often counsel us to pray for the Holy Spirit. She even wished for a Joel-assembly of the entire Churchall pleading mightily for the outpouring of the Spirit:

Could there be a convocation of all the churches on earth, the object of their united cry should be for the Holy Spirit. When

we have that, Christ our sufficiency is ever present, we shall have every want supplied. We shall have the mind of Christ. (Letter 114, 1894.) Since such an assembly of all churches at once must wait until after Christs return, we must meet the need in some other way. In response to this appeal, every heart susceptible to the Spirits pleadings should now begin praying for this priceless Gift. Asking for latter-rain blessings pre-cedes receiving. So, in the attitude of prayer and expectancy, let us proceed, assured that wherever a soul reaches out after God, there the Spirits working is manifest, for by the Spirit every sincere prayer is indicted, and such prayer is acceptable to God. (DA 189) :

Dewit t S. Osgood (1895-1975) was pursuing a medical degree when a fuller understanding of the Bible led him to convert from his Methodist background and career path to become a Seventh-day Adventist minister. During his 45-year ministry career, he served as pastor, evangelist, administrator, and conference president. He also had a weekly radio program for 25 years. His many seminars on the Holy Spirit resulted in two books. One book is The Promise of Power. This article is chapter two from Preparing for the Latter Rain, reprinted here by permission from Orion Publishing (800-471-4284) (www.orion-publishing.org).

THE MESSAGE TO THE LAODICEANS

Ron Spear


The greatest reason why the people of God are in this state of spiritual blindness is that they will not receive correction.

C an God save a person in the Laodicean condition? This article will be directed toward an answer to that question.Message to the Laodiceans

We read in the book of Rev. 3:14-21, And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

There are three points to consider in that important message:

1. The Laodiceans do not know that they are poor, blind and naked.

2. The gold tried in the fire is the love of Christ and the faith of Jesus. So without Jesus, love and faith, a Laodicean can never overcome.

3. The promise is only to the overcomer. The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a star-

tling denunciation, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time. It is to be borne to His people by ministers whom He has called to warn the people that it is not a peace-and-safety message. It is not merely theoretical, but practical in every particular. The people of God are represented in this message as in a position of carnal security. They are at ease, be-lieving themselves to be in an exalted condition of spiritual at-tainments. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.

Self-Deceived about Our Spiritual State The messenger of the Lord wrote, What greater deception

can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! The message of the True Wit-ness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplor-able in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by His alarming exposure of their true condition of spiritual blind-ness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and His testimony must be correct.

It is difficult for those who feel secure in their attainments, and who believe themselves to be rich in spiritual knowledge, to receive the message which declares that they are deceived and in need of every spiritual grace. The unsanctified heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. I was


shown that many are flattering themselves that they are good Christians, who have not a ray of light from Jesus. They have not a living experience for themselves in the divine life. They need a deep and thorough work of self-abasement before God before they will feel their true need of earnest, persevering effort to secure the precious graces of the Spirit.

In Need of Much!God leads His people on step by step. The Christian life is

a constant battle and a march. There is no rest from the war-fare. It is by constant, unceasing effort that we maintain the victory over the temptations of Satan. As a people we are tri-umphing in the clearness and strength of the truth. We are fully sustained in our positions by an overwhelming amount of plain Scriptural testimony. But we are very much wanting in Bible humility, patience, faith, love, self-denial, watchful-ness, and the spirit of sacrifice. We need to cultivate Bible holiness. Sin prevails among the people of God. The plain message of rebuke to the Laodiceans is not received. Many cling to their doubts and their darling sins while they are in so great a decep-tion as to talk and feel that they are in need of nothing. They think the testimony of the Spirit of God in reproof is uncalled for or that it does not mean them. Such are in the greatest need of the grace of God and spiri-tual discernment that they may discover their deficiency in spiritual knowledge. They lack almost every qualification necessary to perfect Christian character. They have not a practical knowledge of Bible truth, which leads to lowliness of life and a conformity of their will to the will of Christ. They are not living in obedience to all Gods requirements.

Remove the BlindfoldsIt is not enough to merely profess to believe the truth. All

the soldiers of the cross of Christ virtually obligate them-selves to enter the crusade against the adversary of souls, to condemn wrong and sustain righteousness. But the message of the True Witness reveals the fact that a terrible deception is upon our people, which makes it necessary to come to them with warnings, to break their spiritual slumber, and arouse them to decided action.

In my last vision I was shown that even this decided mes-sage of the True Witness had not accomplished the design of God. The people slumber on in their sins. They continue to declare themselves rich and having need of nothing. Many

inquire: Why are all these reproofs given? Why do the Testi-monies continually charge us with backsliding and with griev-ous sins? We love the truth; we are prospering; we are in no need of these testimonies of warning and reproof. But let these murmurers see their hearts and compare their lives with the practical teachings of the Bible, let them humble their souls before God, let the grace of God illuminate the darkness, and the scales will fall from their eyes, and they will realize their true spiritual poverty and wretchedness. They will feel the necessity of buying gold, which is pure faith and love; white raiment, which is a spotless character made pure in the blood of their dear Redeemer; and eyesalve, which is the grace of God and which will give clear discernment of spiritual things and detect sin. These attainments are more precious than the gold of Ophir.

Too Self-Satisfied to Receive CorrectionI have been shown that

the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiri-tual blindness is that they will not receive correction. Many have despised the re-proofs and warnings given them. The True Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, the proud, and the lovers of sin are ever assailed with doubts. Satan

has ability to suggest doubts and to devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue, a mark of intelligence in them, to be unbelieving and to ques-tion and quibble. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbe-lief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and a teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence.

Far More Self-Sacrifice NeededEternal life is of infinite value and will cost us all that we

have. I was shown that we do not place a proper estimate upon eternal things. Everything worth possessing, even in this world, must be secured by effort, and sometimes by most pain-ful sacrifice. And this is merely to obtain a perishable treasure. Shall we be less willing to endure conflict and toil, and to make earnest efforts and great sacrifices, to obtain a treasure which is of infinite value, and a life which will measure with that of the Infinite? Can heaven cost us too much?

Faith and love are golden treasures, elements that are


greatly wanting among Gods people. I have been shown that unbelief in the testimonies of warning, encouragement, and reproof is shutting away the light from Gods people. Unbelief is closing their eyes so that they are ignorant of their true con-dition. The True Witness thus describes their blindness: And knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. 3T 252-55.

A Great Self-DeceptionThere is a great deception among Gods people. Sixteen

million members of our church dont know they are in the La-odicean state. Yes, God has a few here and there that are plead-ing and praying and bringing their lives into harmony with present truth rather than compromise, but most do not know that they are wretched, miserable, blind and naked. They are sleeping with the confidence that because they are church members, because they pay tithe, because they hold positions in the church, God will save them in spite of their Laodicean state. But God will have a purified holy people. Ye are a cho-sen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. I Pet. 2:9.

We read in 6T 408, To those who are indifferent at this time Christs warning is: Because thou art lukewarm, and nei-ther cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of My mouth. Revela-tion 3:16. The figure of spewing out of His mouth means that He cannot offer up your prayers or your expressions of love to God. He cannot endorse your teaching of His word or your spiritual work in anywise. He cannot present your religious exercises with the request that grace be given you.

The Final HoursThe restraining Spirit of God is even now being withdrawn

from the world. Hurricanes, storms, tempests, fire and flood, disasters by sea and land, follow each other in quick succes-sion. Science seeks to explain all these. The signs thickening around us, telling of the near approach of the Son of God, are attributed to any other than the true cause. Men cannot dis-cern the sentinel angels restraining the four winds that they shall not blow until the servants of God are sealed; but when God shall bid His angels loose the winds, there will be such a scene of strife as no pen can picture. 6T 408.

In this final hour, will our people, our leaders and our pas-tors wake up before it is too late? For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I suc-cored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. II Cor 6:2.

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among Gods people.

I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely dis-regarded. This testimony must work deep repentance; all who truly receive it will obey it, and be purified. CET 176.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable

unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not con-formed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and accept-able, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2.

High Time to AwakeAnd that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to

awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in riot-ing and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. Rom. 13:13.

We must understand in this crisis that church-going or tithe-paying will not save us. It is important to go to church. It is important to pay tithe. But those things have no meaning unless we have the experience that will transform us into the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Are We Gods or Satans?No one can occupy a neutral position; there is no middle class,

who neither love God nor serve the enemy of righteousness. Christ is to live in His human agents and work through their faculties and act through their capabilities. Their will must be

Unbelief in the testimonies of warning, encouragement, and reproof is shutting

away the light from Gods people.


No one can occupy a neutral position;there is no middle class, who neither love God

nor serve the enemy of righteousness.

submitted to His will; they must act with His Spirit. Then it is no more they that live, but Christ that lives in them. He who does not give himself wholly to God is under the control of an-other power, listening to another voice, whose suggestions are of an entirely different character. Half-and-half service places the human agent on the side of the enemy as a successful ally of the hosts of darkness. When men who claim to be soldiers of Christ engage with the confederacy of Satan, and help along his side, they prove themselves enemies of Christ. They betray sacred trusts. They form a link between Satan and the true sol-diers, so that through these agencies the enemy is constantly working to steal away the hearts of Christs soldiers.

Deceiving Others with Our Cherished SinsThe strongest bulwark of vice in our world is not the iniq-

uitous life of the abandoned sinner or the degraded outcast; it is that life which otherwise appears virtuous, honorable, and noble, but in which one sin is fostered, one vice indulged. To the soul that is struggling in secret against some giant temp-tation, trembling upon the very verge of the precipice, such an example is one of the most powerful enticements to sin.

He who, endowed with high conceptions of life and truth and honor, does yet willfully transgress one precept of Gods holy law, has perverted His noble gifts into a lure to sin. Genius, tal-ent, sympathy, even generous and kindly deeds, may become decoys of Satan to entice other souls over the precipice of ruin for this life and the life to come. MB 94.

To Be an OvercomerWhat does it mean to be an overcomer in Christ Jesus? The

answer to that question is found in I Peter 2:15-16: For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Be therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Matt. 5:48.

We can overcome. Yes; fully, entirely. Jesus died to make a way of escape for us, that we might overcome every evil tem-per, every sin, every temptation, and sit down at last with Him. 1T 144.

If we are going to sit down with Christ on his throne, it is only because we have such a rich experience of overcoming every sin, every temptation. Be like Jesus is my song, in the home and in the throng, Be like Jesus all day long. I would be like Jesus.

Church membership and tithe-paying have no saving value unless we are in Jesus Christ. Therefore if any man be in

Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. II Cor. 5:17.

Walking with and Abiding in ChristWalking with Jesus on a daily basis, praying, studying Spir-

it of Prophecy and Bible these are the pieces of armor that we must have in place if we are to stand until the end of time.

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wick-edness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole ar-mor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, where-with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Eph. 6:11-18.

There is one thing the Laodicean must understand. There is no power in himself to be an overcomer. Only in Christ can he overcome. What he must understand is that abiding in Christ is a walking relationship with Jesus on a moment-by-moment basis. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the chil-dren of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. I Jn 3: 9-10.

Words of Hope and EncouragementWalk continually in the light of God. Meditate day and

night upon His character. Then you will see His beauty and rejoice in His goodness. Your heart will glow with a sense of His love. You will be uplifted as if borne by everlasting arms. With the power and light that God imparts, you can compre-hend more and accomplish more than you ever before deemed possible. MH 514.

Dear reader, we are nearing home! The gates of that great city of God are ajar, waiting for us! This wicked planet holds us here, but God is calling to his faithful, obedient people, Get ready! Get Ready! Get Ready! :

Ron Spear continues to add to his 55 years of active service in the Lords cause as pastor, evangelist, field secretary of the Review and Herald, editor and author. Once again he is executive editor of a present-truth magazine. He and his wife Carmen reside in Washington state and travel wherever he has speaking engagements.


If I Keepthe Sabbath,Ill LoseMy Job!

Ellen G. Whit e

Men may thinkthey cannot afford to obey God, but

they cannot afford to disobey Him.

Often when our workers present the testing Sabbath truth to the people, some stand hesitating for fear of bringing poverty and hardship upon themselves and their families. They say, Yes, I see what you are trying to show me in regard to the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath; but I am afraid if I keep the Sabbath I shall lose my position, and shall not be able to provide for my family. And so, many keep their worldly position and disobey the command of God. But these scriptures [Luke 12:1-7] teach us that the Lord knows all about our experiences; He understands about our inconve-niences; and He has a care for all who follow on to know the Lord. He will never allow His children to be tempted above that they are able to bear.

Christ declared to His disciples: Take no thought for your

life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Holding up before them the lily of the field in its beauty and purity, the Saviour continued: Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will He clothe


you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink,

neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the na-tions of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Christ is here teaching a precious lesson in regard to His service. Whatever experiences may come to you, He says, serve God. Whatever inconveniences and hardships you may encounter, trust in the Lord. We have no cause to worry and fear if we take our position for the truth, that we and our fami-lies will suffer. To do this is to manifest unbelief in God. Your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things, the Saviour says. If we would study the Word more faithfully, we would increase in faith. Manuscript 83, 1909.

It is an important time now for these localities where an in-terest has been awakened. A large number are in the valley of decision. O that the Lord will give to His servants wisdom to speak to these souls such words as shall give them courage to confess the truth and surrender their will, their hearts en-tire devotion, to God. We pray that the Lord will inspire with faith these souls who are convinced of the truth, that the sev-enth day is the Sabbath of the Lord, that they shall not confer with their own feelings and let the enemy lead them to decide that the sacrifice is too great.

They will suffer loss in temporal matters, and a helping hand must not be wanting. Many ask, How can we support our families? We shall lose our positions as soon as we decide to keep holy the seventh day and do no work on the Sabbath. Our families, shall they starve? What can we say? Poverty and want are seen everywhere, and honest souls know not what to do. They dare not venture out; yet they are fully convinced that the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord. They know that God blessed the seventh day and set it apart for man to observe as a memorial of His creating of the world in six days and His rest upon the seventh day.1

When we see the difficulties stand-ing like mountains before their souls, the prospect of want to themselves and children staring them in the face, our hearts are pained. Many a one says, I want to observe the seventh day, but as soon as I state to my employer that I have decided to keep the Sabbath, I shall be discharged. Hundreds are waiting to step into any place made vacant. I am sorely troubled. All we can do is to en-courage them to have faith, and pray for them. Oh, sometimes I wish I had a mil-lion dollars. I could use every dollar in

this work. Manuscript 19, 1894.Never need anyone fear that observance of the true Sab-

bath will result in starvation. [Isaiah 58:11, 12; Proverbs 7:2; Isaiah 58:14.] These promises are a sufficient answer to all the excuses that man may invent for refusing to keep the Sabbath. Even if, after beginning to keep Gods law, it seems impossible to support ones family, let every doubting soul realize that God has promised to care for those who obey His command-ments. Manuscript 116, 1902.

It requires moral courage to take a position to keep the commandments of the Lord. An opposer of the truth once said that it was only weak-minded people, foolish, ignorant persons, who would turn away from the churches to keep the seventh day as the Sabbath. But a minister who had embraced the truth, replied, If you think it takes weak-minded persons, just try it. It takes moral courage, firmness, decision, perse-verance, and very much prayer to step out on the unpopular side. We are thankful that we can come to Christ as the poor suffering ones came to Christ in the temple.

You have not dared to trample underfoot the command-ments of God, and have stepped out on unpopular truth, let the result be what it may. Will the Saviour ever turn away to leave you to struggle alone? No, never. But He never told His disciples that they should have no trials, no self-denial to en-dure, no sacrifices to make. The Master was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Ye know the grace of our Lord Je-sus Christ, how that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. We thank God that in your poverty you can call God your Father.


Poverty is coming upon this world, and there will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. There will be wars and rumors of wars, and the faces of men will gather paleness. You may have to suffer distress; you may go hungry sometimes; but God will not forsake you in your suffering. He will test your faith. We are not to live to please ourselves. We are here to manifest Christ to the world, to represent Him and His power to mankind. Manuscript 37, 1894.

In the wilderness, when all means of sustenance failed, God sent His people manna from heaven; and a sufficient and constant supply was given. This provision was to teach them that while they trusted in God, and walked in His ways, He would not forsake them. The Saviour now practiced the lesson He had taught to Israel. By the word of God, succor had been given to the Hebrew host, and by the same word it would be given to Jesus. He awaited Gods time to bring relief. He was in the wilderness in obedience to God, and He would not obtain food by following the suggestions of Satan.In the presence of the witnessing universe, He testified that it is a less calamity to suffer whatever may befall, than to depart in any manner from the will of God.

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. Often the follower of Christ is brought where he cannot serve God and carry forward his worldly enterprises. Perhaps it ap-pears that obedience to some plain requirement of God will cut off his means of support. Satan would make him believe that he must sacrifice his conscientious convictions. But the only thing in our world upon which we can rely, is the Word of God. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Even in this life it is not for our good to depart from the will of our Father in heaven. When we learn the power of His word, we shall not fol-low the suggestions of Satan in order to obtain food or to save our lives. Our only questions will be, What is Gods command? and what His promise? Knowing these, we shall obey the one, and trust the other. The Desire of Ages, 121 (1898).

The enemy was telling you to wait for a more convenient season. He has been on hand with his devices presenting to you the advantages you would gain if you did not keep the Sabbath, and the disadvantages you would realize in keeping

the Sabbath. He has prepared these various excuses why you should not make your decision to be obedient to the law of God. He is a deceiver. He falsifies the character of God, and you have accepted his temptation. All your imaginings have shown distrust of your heavenly Father.

You have thought when you could realize a certain prosper-ity in your business, then you would obey the Sabbath of the fourth commandment. But the Lord requires of every one of His subjects entire obedience. Gods requirements were upon you, and you have been making terms with God. And all the time Satan has been working to make it more and still more impossible as you look at the matter, to decide to keep the Sab-bath. You have been growing less and less susceptible to the movings of the Spirit of God upon your heart. The Lord has given me a message for you and for your children to take up your long-neglected duty, to walk in the light as He is in the light. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind. This do, said Christ of a lawyer, and thou shalt live. This is the voice of God to yourself and to your children. The law of God is good

6. Second Advent Herald [When God Stops Winking [Understanding God's Judgments]]

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Transcript of 6. Second Advent Herald [When God Stops Winking [Understanding God's Judgments]]