False gods False glory – An Analysis of Deuteronomy 13
DEUTERONOMY 13 – FALSE GODS FALSE GLORY
Introduction
Much can be written on this chapter and the prevailing differing views on what constitutes true worship and how it will play in the end time events but a short article will suffice for your edification.
THE SETTING
I have always wondered why the book of Deuteronomy was written when the very things therein are in Numbers; but God reveals his word to us in his time and to me this revelation is not late but timely when there is much controversy of the truth about God, Christ and the Holy Spirit. It was after forty years of wondering in the wilderness, the terrible wilderness and those who had rebelled against God had died and here was a new generation and it behooved Moses to retell the story of Numbers to them. I believe this is where David got the idea of retelling also his generation of the same things when the heathens were raging, the people imagining vain things and the children of Israel were whoring after baalim:
Psalms 2:7: –
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
The central point of the psalm and the only narrative portion states, “I will tell [RECOUNT] of the decree”. This statement involves a repetition of a prior decree. In fact, according to the literary structure of the Psalm, this original decree takes place in Heaven, with that reality forming the basis for earthly coronations. Thus, a metaphorical application to Davidic kings as “sons” or “begotten” does not rule out a literal reality in Heaven. In fact, the Psalm appears to be arguing the Davidic metaphor on the very basis of a literal reality! The further you go back towards the beginning of the world, the more can be seen the importance of literal sonship, especially in the role of the firstborn. The firstborn took the role of heir to the family and priesthood. Only later did the role of the firstborn pass to such as the Levites or the Davidic line. At this time, the ideas of “son” “begotten” and “firstborn” became metaphoric, yet they were based on a prior reality. [REFER THIS METAPHORICAL REALITY SENSE TO 1KINGS 1:32-48 AND THE ATTEMPT BY ADONIJAH AND SATAN TO USURP THE THRONE OVERSHADOWING THE SONSHIP OF CHRIST AND TRYING TO USURP THE THRONE – ISAIAH 14:12-20 THEN YOU WILL SEE THE BEAUTY OF PSALMS 2
The verb in the narrative sentence is the Hebrew sâphar (ספר) which means “tell, recount, declare. “In the Piel stem, [Piel Stem is a method used in learning Hebrew to express an intensive type of action with an active voice] the iterative concept, ‘recount,’ takes on the added idea of ‘tell,’ ‘declare,’ ‘show forth.'” In all the ways it is used in this form, it carries the idea of repeating or recounting something that has happened in the past.
But why does Moses in Deuteronomy 13 write as if this current generation was the same who committed the sins? Because they were repeating the same things their forefathers did when this current generation was on the boarders about to cross and enter the land of Canaan. Now, this is the impression I got. The things of 1888 have to be repeated to this new generation because they have started repeating 1888 story on the borders of heavenly Canaan. They have not only forgotten what their forefathers in the beginning taught and believed but as their forefathers drifted into reactionary theology and started embracing foreign gods to avoid being called a cult and be considered Christians, this generation has engaged into cementing falsehood and revising history in the name of advancing in truth. Truth which is totally not built on the old but a replacement of it.
Jeremiah 6:16: –
Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Who is there ask of the old paths? The wilderness wandering was not only ordained as a judgment upon the rebels and murmurers, but it was to serve as a discipline for the rising generation, preparatory to their entrance into the Promised Land. There’s nothing new under the sun. People are not even concerned they are about to miss heaven forever!
Hosea 12:13: –
And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.
2Chronicles 20:20: –
And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Is not a wonder that in this wilderness as we journey forth just bout to the borders of heavenly Canaan no one is ready to stand and tell the remnant and professed church to believe in the Lord and prophets hence we are not established and are not ready to prosper in possessing the inheritance!
An Analysis of Deuteronomy 13
Deuteronomy 13:1-3: –
1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, 2: And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3: Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
The special counsels which follow arose out of the general precept contained in De 12:32; and the purport of them is, that every attempt to seduce others from the course of duty which that divine standard of faith and worship prescribes must not only be strenuously resisted, but the seducer punished by the law of the land. This is exemplified in three cases of enticement to idolatry. Here, anti-typically, a prophet, loosely is some notable person in authority , in office entrusted in feeding the flock with truth as revealed from the Lord. Should the aim of such a one be to seduce the people from the worship of the One True God and His Son, he is an impostor and must be put to death. No prodigy, however wonderful, no human authority, however great, should be allowed to shake their belief in the divine character and truth of a religion so solemnly taught and so awfully attested (compare Galatians 1:8).
Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that person, or that dreamer. Notwithstanding, look upon him as a liar, and not as a true prophet: for God cannot contradict himself, nor do any thing to persuade men to forsake him, and give his worship to another.
Isaiah 9:15: –
The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.
Moses shows that he still pursues his intention (in this chapter, as well as all the foregoing), to establish them in the belief and worship of one God, according to the first commandment, from which nothing was more likely to seduce the Israelites, than false prophets amongst them, who were the great instruments of establishing the foulest idolatry in Israel, as appears from 1Kings 18:19, where we read of no less than four hundred prophets of Baal, and four hundred and fifty prophets of the groves, that is, of other false gods, particularly Astarte, as Mr. Selden conjectures, in his Syntagma 2, De Diis Syris, cap. 2. And there could not be a greater demonstration that a man was a false prophet, than if he endeavored to draw them to the worship of other gods, or if he pretended to speak in the name of any other God Deuteronomy 18:20, or if he commanded them to offer such sacrifices as God abhorred.
For the Lord your God proveth you, That there might be an open and public discovery made, whether they sincerely loved God or not, or were steadfast in their religion. So Maimonides in his More Nevochim, par. 3, cap. 24. “God would make known to the nations of the world the measure of your faith, in the truth of this law, and of the approbation wherewith you apprehend it,” &c. For it had been a great weakness to suffer even a miracle to shake their faith, after it had been confirmed by so many miracles.
Deuteronomy 13:4-9: –
4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5: And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. 6: If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; 7: Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; 8: Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him: 9: But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.
Piety and duty must overcome affection or compassion, and an accusation must be lodged before a magistrate. As Israel constituted ecclesiastical and civil power, so by a legal process by such persons was to be filed. And that not the highest, but in the court of twenty-three, who might proceed against him, as Mr. Selden observes, lib. 3, De Synedr. cap. 6. The only difficulty was, how to prove him guilty who enticed another secretly (as the text saith), and not before witnesses. To which the Jews answer, That he who was enticed was to dispose some persons as secretly near to the place of their next meeting, who might hear all he said, and testify it in court. But what can be said of the modern Israel? Doesn’t their books witness against them? For this thing has not been done in secret but in public. And because vengeance belongs to God for we are not under theocracy, what are we supposed to do? This later.
Deuteronomy 13:10-18: –
10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11: And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you. 12: If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, 13: Certain men, the children of Belial, are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known; 14: Then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you; 15: Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. 16: And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the LORD thy God: and it shall be an heap for ever; it shall not be built again. 17: And there shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand: that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers; 18: When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
In case of the general defections of any place of idolatry, the judgment upon it is here determined.It is supposed the city had been inhabited by the Israelites, and that they are universally turned to idolatry, at the instigation of some daring sinners, the children of Belial; bad examples are dreadfully contagious. In this case, on information, which must be carefully made, without passion or prejudice, if the fact appeared true before the Sanhedrim, admonition was first given them to repent, say the Jews, by two wise men, which if they refused, the whole congregation camped against the city. The few faithful, if such were found, would no doubt save themselves by flight; the rest were universally devoted to destruction; their city, and all their goods, utterly burnt; not the least article might be reserved, on pain of death, but the place made a dunghill for ever, as a monument of righteous vengeance.
The law in this chapter has been represented as stern and sanguinary, but it was in accordance with the national constitution of Israel. God being their King, idolatry was treason, and a city turned to idols put itself into a state, and incurred the punishment, of rebellion. It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. [Lamentations 3:22].
Ecclesiastes 8:11-13: –
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. 22: Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: 13: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.
The great Sanhedrin, who only could take cognizance of this crime, were upon this information to send some, on whose fidelity they could rely, to examine the truth of the report which was spread abroad, concerning the defection of a city to the worship of other gods; who were to use their utmost care and diligence in this inquisition, and, by all possible means, endeavor to find whether or not the information was true. For it was a matter of great concernment, that neither the innocent should suffer, nor apostates go unpunished. But the punishment being so dreadful, there was the greater exactness used to be certain of the crime; and there were likewise a great many temperaments (as Mr. Selden calls them) found by the Jewish lawyers partly from the nicest interpretation of every syllable in these verses, and partly from the pretended tradition of their elders), whereby they mitigated the sharpness of this law. For they would not proceed upon it to destroy a city, though they found them idolaters unless the seducers were two, or more; and those also men, not women; because the law here speaks in the plural number, of certain men, children of Belial. As if their forsaking God was not a crime, whether they were persuaded to it or not by others. They say, also, it was not to be a mere town, or village, but a city; because the words here are in one of thy cities, in which there were more than a hundred houses: if there were fewer, it was no city in their account, and so escaped. They who seduced a city also were to be of the same city; because it is said here, These men of Belial are gone out from among you. All which are mere quirks, which have no solid reason in them. They are all mentioned together in the title Sanhedrin, set forth by J. Coch, cap. 11. sect. 4, and by Maimonides more largely, in his Avoda Zara, and our Selden, lib. 3, De Synedr. cap. 5. n. 2.
Brethren we are not just talking or a mere city or single nation but a universal matter involving the Israel of God. The whole city was to be destroyed, destroying it utterly, In the Hebrew the word is, Thou shalt make it a cherem, or “an accursed thing.” And so the LXX(Septuagint) (not available), where the Vulgar translates it as we do, “Thou shalt utterly destroy it;” which is consonant to the notion of the Hebrew word (see Selden, lib. 1, de Synedr. cap. 7. p. 131). So that if any righteous man had any thing therein at that time, it was to be destroyed, as the very words are in the title Sanhedrin, cap. 11. sect. 5. But it is to be supposed, that all who feared God would remove their effects, together with themselves, from so wicked a place, before sentence was pronounced against them. On the contrary, they say, the goods of the idolaters, wheresoever they were found, whether within the city or without, were to be burnt.
Malachi 4:1: –
For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
Gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street Into the market-place, as the Jews interpret it. Or, if it had none, they were to make a spacious place, into which all the spoil and the house-hold stuff was to be brought, and fire set to it, to it, as an anathema, or cursed thing. And shalt burn with fire the city, For the vindication of God’s honor, and preserving men in their allegiance to him. R. Simeon, in the title Sanhedrin, interprets it in this manner, sect. 6. “Thus saith the Lord, If you do justice upon a city full of idolatry, I will account it, as if you had offered a whole burnt-offering unto me.”
There shall cleave naught of the cursed thing to thine hand: They were not to take the smallest part of the spoil to their own use. “For as long as the wicked are in the world (say the Jews in the forenamed title Sanhedrin), the fierce anger of God will remain in the world; but when they are removed the wrath of God also will cease.” Now the wickedness of purloining any thing that was a cherem, as the Hebrews call it, or an accursed thing, appears in the story of Achan, who brought all Israel into danger by it, as we read in the seventh of Joshua. And Saul is an eminent example of it also, for he lost his kingdom for this sin (1Sa 15:3,9,19,26, &c.).
That the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger, This explains, in part, what he means, when he bids them burn the city and the spoil, “for the Lord their God,” i.e. to pacify the Divine Majesty, who was highly incensed by such a wickedness. The punishment of which was, indeed, very terrible, but very necessary; because the crime was of so high a nature, that it struck at the very foundation of their religion and government. They were not to fear any want of people, by cutting off such a multitude; for God promises to increase them by this loss. We fear if we separate from such people and refuse their help we shall die of want and our ministry to preach the three angels messages will stagnant; but here the Lord assures them “When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God. The LORD will turn from the fierceness of his anger, and shew thee mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as he hath sworn unto thy fathers. The example of Ezra will serve us here better:
Ezra 8:21-23. “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way; because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. So we fasted and besought our God for this, and he was entreated of us.” {4bSG 72.2}
The prophet and these fathers did not consider them the worshipers of the true God, and though they professed friendship and wished to help them, they dare not unite with them in anything relating to his worship. When going up to Jerusalem, to build the temple of God and to restore his worship, they would not ask help of the king to assist them in the way, but by fasting and prayer sought the Lord for help. They believed God would defend and prosper his servants in their efforts to serve him. The Creator of all things needeth not the help of his enemies to establish his worship. He asks not the sacrifice of wickedness, nor accepts the offering of those who have other gods before the Lord. {4bSG 72.3}
We often hear the remark, You are too exclusive. As a people we would make any sacrifice to save souls, or lead them to the truth; but to unite with them, to love the things that they love, and have friendship with the world, we dare not, for we should then be at enmity with God. {4bSG 73.1}
The Israel of God in these last days are in constant danger of mingling with the world, and losing all signs of their being the chosen people of God. Read again Titus 2:13-15. We are brought down to the last days, when God is purifying unto himself a peculiar people. Shall we provoke God as did ancient Israel? Shall we bring his wrath upon us by departing from him and mingling with the world, and following the abominations of the nations around us? {4bSG 74.1}
The Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself, and this consecration to God, and separation from the world, is plainly declared and positively enjoined in both the Old and New Testaments. There is a wall of separation which the Lord himself has established between the things of the world and the things he has chosen out of the world, and sanctified unto himself. The calling and character of God’s people are peculiar. Their prospects are peculiar, and these peculiarities distinguish them from all people. All of God’s people upon the earth are one body, from the beginning to the end of time. They have one Head that directs and governs the body. The same injunctions rest upon God’s people now, to be separate from the world, as rested upon ancient Israel. The great Head of the church has not changed. The experience of Christians in these days is much like the travels of ancient Israel. Please read 1 Corinthians 10, especially from the 6th to the 15th verse. {4bSG 74.2}
“… Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say.” {4bSG 74.3}
The world is ripening for its destruction. God can bear with sinners but a little longer. They must drink the dregs of the cup of his wrath unmixed with mercy. Those who will be heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ to the immortal inheritance, will be peculiar. Yes, so peculiar that God places a mark upon them as his, wholly his. Think ye that God will receive, honor and acknowledge a people so mixed up with the world that they differ from them only in name?. {4bSG 77.4}
Thoughts on The Spirit
So thorny has been this issue of God the Holy Spirit. A language foreign to the bible and inspiration either by construction or deduction. An assumed doctrine by false prophets in Israel. In passing I add the following.
From eternal ages it was God’s purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a TEMPLE FOR THE INDWELLING of the Creator. Because of sin, humanity ceased to be a temple for God. {DA 161.1}
1Corinthians 3:16: –
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the SPIRIT OF GOD DWELLETH IN YOU?
Hebrew 10:5: –
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a BODY HAST THOU PREPARED ME:
Hebrews 9:14: –
How much more shall the blood of Christ, WHO THROUGH THE ETERNAL SPIRIT offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
Galatians 4:6: –
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Romans 8:15: –
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16: The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
1Peter 1:11: –
Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
Observation
- The INDWELLING of God is the Holy Spirit
- Sin marred the plan and Christ incarnates and a body is prepared to restore that plan
- Through that eternal spirit “THE INDWELLING OF GOD” Christ overcomes sin
- Now the Father sends that “INDWELLING” with the perfection of His Son called the Spirit of the Son as a Third Person of the Godhead to overcome sin to rejoin humanity with divinity.
- Adam was originally son of God because of that “INDWELLING” but lost it now we are made sons again by adoption
- When the spirit is in our heart it testifies as it testified in the Old Testament hence the reason Christ says the spirit will testify. The Spirit testifies through us in conformity of the word [John 14:23], we are the channel.
Hence
Does not God say he fills immensity of space? We answer, No. Ps.cxxxix,7,8. Whither shall I go from thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there, etc. God by his Spirit may fill heaven and earth, etc. Some confound God with his Spirit, which makes confusion. Ps.xi,4. The Lord is in his holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, etc. Hab.ii,20; Ps.cii,19. For he hath looked down from the height of his Sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth. 1Pet.iii,12. For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers, etc. Ps.lxxx,1. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. Ps.xcix,1; Isa.xxxvii,16. {March 7, 1854 JWe, ARSH 50.9}
If we then say we have God the Holy Spirit, Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of God and all of them inhabits us, then man is possessed with three different spirits and that will make of none effect
Ephesians 4:4
There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
The Holy Spirit, which proceeds from the only-begotten Son of God, binds the human agent, body, soul, and spirit, to the perfect, divine-human nature of Christ. This union is represented by the union of the vine and the branches. Finite man is united to the manhood of Christ. Through faith human nature is assimilated with Christ’s nature. We are made one with God in Christ. {1SM 251.1}
Our German and Danish and Swedish brethren have no good reason for not being able to act in harmony in the publishing work. Those who believe the truth should remember that they are God’s little children, that they are under His training. Let them be thankful to God for His manifold mercies and be kind to one another. They have one God and one Saviour; and one Spirit–the Spirit of Christ–is to bring unity into their ranks. {9T 189.3}
What we want is the spirit of Jesus. When we have this, we shall love one another. Here are the credentials that we are to bear: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. We need to pray more; and when we have Christ abiding in the soul, his spirit in me will harmonize with his spirit in you; and he who controls our minds, controls also the heavenly intelligences, and they co-operate with us. Then in every council you will have the presence of One mighty in counsel. Jesus will be there. There will be no contention, no strife, no stirring up of the worst passions of the heart. What we want is to find refuge in Jesus. What we want is to be converted: And O, how I have longed for the converting power of God to go through our assemblies! {1888 903.10}
Abiding peace, true rest of spirit, has but one Source. It was of this that Christ spoke when He said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you.” John 14:27. This peace is not something that He gives apart from Himself. It is in Christ, and we can receive it only by receiving Him. {MH 247.1}
An End Time Issue
Hope you have not forgotten about the setting of the rehearsal of the story of the Israelites in the wilderness. The new generation was about to enter in Canaan and any kind of idolatry was prohibited for them to be able to go and possess it. Hence this is a setting of an end time issue. We read of a king who will do according to his will and worship foreign gods unbeknown to his fathers and entice the world to follow suit.
Daniel 11:36-39: –
And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37: Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 38: But in his estate shall he honour the God of forces: and a god whom his fathers knew not shall he honour with gold, and silver, and with precious stones, and pleasant things. 39: Thus shall he do in the most strong holds with a strange god, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory: and he shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the land for gain.
Whatever the verses are talking about, this is paganism, heathenism and atheism combined against True Bible Religion. We have a more sure of prophecy the history will be repeated.
Many of the prophecies are about to be fulfilled in quick succession. Every element of power is about to be set to work. Past history will be repeated; old controversies will arouse to new life, and peril will beset God’s people on every side. Intensity is taking hold of the human family. It is permeating everything upon the earth. . . . {Mar 30.4}
Study Revelation in connection with Daniel, for history will be repeated. . . . We, with all our religious advantages, ought to know far more today than we do know. {Mar 30.5}
We have no time to lose. Troublous times are before us. The world is stirred with the spirit of war. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place. The prophecy in the eleventh of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Much of the history that has taken place in fulfillment of this prophecy will be repeated. In the thirtieth verse a power is spoken of that “shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.” [Verses 31-36, quoted.] {13MR 394.1}
Scenes similar to those described in these words will take place. We see evidence that Satan is fast obtaining the control of human minds who have not the fear of God before them. Let all read and understand the prophecies of this book, for we are now entering upon the time of trouble spoken of: [Daniel 12:1-4, quoted.] {13MR 394.2}
Whatever the power be we are assured in Daniel 11:30 will be grieved and return. We are in such time we see this history being repeated. In combination with Revelation we are told: –
The world is filled with storm and war and variance. Yet under one head–the papal power–the people will unite to oppose God in the person of His witnesses. This union is cemented by the great apostate. While he seeks to unite his agents in warring against the truth he will work to divide and scatter its advocates….{7T 182.2}
The papal power is the mystery Babylon of Revelation 13, 17 and 18. What does Rome say that her central god is? What is this mystery that is the central doctrine of the whore?
“The mystery of the Trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic Faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the Church.” Handbook For Today’s Catholic, page 16
“In the unity of that one Only God of the Babylonians, there were three persons, and to symbolise that doctrine of the Trinity, they employed, as the discoveries of Layard prove, the equilateral triangle, just as it is well known the Romish Church does at this day.” –The Two Babylons ; Alexander Hislop, Chapter II
“Now this is the Catholic faith; We worship one God in the Trinity and the Trinity in unity, without either confusing the persons or dividing the substance; for the person of the Father is one, the Son’s is another, the Holy Spirit’s is another; but the Godhead of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is one, their glory equal, their majesty coeternal.” Athanasian Creed. New Catechism p. 67, 68
234 The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is the central mystery of Christian faith and life. It is the mystery of God in himself. It is therefore the source of all the other mysteries of faith, the light that enlightens them. It is the most fundamental and essential teaching in the “hierarchy of the truths of faith”. http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c1p2.htm
“Because “it is a day dedicated by the apostles to the honor of the most Holy Trinity.” Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, April 4, 1854
Its great affront then to find that What Babylon teachers is now our core fundamental belief that would make you be disfellowshipped if you go against it when the Israel of God had to have a different God from the gods of other nations. This end time issue though concealed between Sabbath and Sunday goes beyond that to the false worship and view of the God of believers and false worshipers. To find the following in our publication should call an action as in Deuteronomy 13:
“The oneness in nature and character of the three persons of the Godhead raises the very useful question of prayer, praise and worship. … But what about direct prayer to the Holy Spirit? While we have no clear example of or direct command to pray to the Spirit in Scripture, doing so does have, in principle, some implicit Biblical support. … it only seems logical that God’s people can pray directly to and worship the Holy Spirit.”
The Trinity, p. 273
“Adventist beliefs have changed over the years under the impact of ‘present truth.’ Most startling is the teaching regarding Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Many of the pioneers, including James White, J.N. Andrews, Uriah Smith, and J.H. Waggoner, held to an Arian or semi-Arian view … that is, the Son at some point in time before the Creation of our world was generated by the Father … the Trinitarian understanding of God, now part of our fundamental beliefs, was not generally held by the early Adventists. Even today a few do not subscribe to it.” (William G. Johnsson in the Adventist Review, Jan. 6, 1994 p.10)
“The first advent of Christ gives us a much clearer insight into the triune God. John’s Gospel reveals that the Godhead consists of God the Father…God the Son… and God the Holy Spirit… a unity of three co-eternal persons having a unique and mysterious relationship.” Seventh-day Adventists Believe…, p. 23)
Now this would not be a problem at all if we were dealing with texts in the bible that are hard to understand but to add the following is a great sin:
FROM FERNANDO L. CANALE- The Handbook of Seventh Day Adventists theology, SDA Encyclopedia Vol. 12, p.138. states that, “Doctrine of God”, The concept of the Trinity namely the idea that the three (3) are one (1) is not explicitly stated BUT ONLY ASSUMED“
“While no single scriptural passage states formally the doctrine of the Trinity, it is assumed as a fact by Bible writers and mentioned several times…“Only by faith can we accept the existence of the Trinity.” (RH, Special Issue on Bible Doctrines,30-7-1981)
“The role of the trinity in a doctrine of God always raises questions. One reason is that the word itself does not appear in the Bible, nor is there any clear statement of the idea. But the Bible does set the stage for its formulation, and the concept represents a development of biblical claims and concepts. So even though the doctrine of the trinity is not part of what the Bible itself says about God, it is part of what the church must say to safeguard the biblical view of God.”(Richard Rice, The Reign of God, An Introduction to Christian Theology from a Seventh-day Adventist Perspective, p. 60)
Trues seekers of truth are being censored and thrown out of the churches because of suppositions. The rebuke of the prophetess rests upon us:
Christ says that there will be those in the church who will present fables and suppositions, when God has given grand, elevating, ennobling truths, which should ever be kept in the treasure house of the mind. When men pick up this theory and that theory, when they are curious to know something it is not necessary for them to know, God is not leading them. It is not His plan that His people shall present something which they have to suppose, which is not taught in the Word. {Ms26-1901}
TYPE ANTITYPE – INTRODUCTION OF FALSE GODS NEAR TO CANAAN, INTRODUCTION OF FALSE GODS NEAR TO THE ANTITYPICAL LAND OF PROMISE
Satan was determined to keep his hold on the land of Canaan, and when it was made the habitation of the children of Israel, and the law of God was made the law of the land, he hated Israel with a cruel and malignant hatred and plotted their destruction. Through the agency of evil spirits strange gods were introduced; and because of transgression, the chosen people were finally scattered from the Land of Promise. This history Satan is striving to repeat in our day. God is leading His people out from the abominations of the world, that they may keep His law; and because of this, the rage of “the accuser of our brethren” knows no bounds. “The devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:10, 12. The antitypical land of promise is just before us, and Satan is determined to destroy the people of God and cut them off from their inheritance. The admonition, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation” (Mark 14:38), was never more needed than now. {PP 688.3}. The word of the Lord to ancient Israel is addressed also to His people in this age: “Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them;” “for all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord.” Leviticus 19:31; Deuteronomy 18:12. {PP 689.1}
Work of the Third Elijah
Malachi 4:4-6: –
4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.5: Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
Third Elijah then has to remember the law of Moses to lead the children back to what their fathers believed before apostasy. Elijah has to bear the Message of Moses to the world and what is it?
Deuteronomy 6:14: –
Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you;
Deuteronomy 7:1-6: –
When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; 2: And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: 3: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4: For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. 5: But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire. 6: For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
Of us it’s recorded in the testimonies:
In a special sense Seventh-day Adventists have been set in the world as watchmen and light bearers. To them has been entrusted the last warning for a perishing world. On them is shining wonderful light from the word of God. They have been given a work of the most solemn import–the proclamation of the first, second, and third angels’ messages. There is no other work of so great importance. They are to allow nothing else to absorb their attention. The most solemn truths ever entrusted to mortals have been given us to proclaim to the world. The proclamation of these truths is to be our work. The world is to be warned, and God’s people are to be true to the trust committed to them. They are not to engage in speculation, neither are they to enter into business enterprises with unbelievers; for this would hinder them in their God-given work. {9T 19.1, 2}
How the second angels message [Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication] can be proclaimed when we have entered a marriage with her is a wonder to me. No wonder we have never proclaimed the first one for we don’t know who to worship and give glory or maybe it go forth in truest sense because with a message we have a wrong interpretation of it.
A curse revealed to Moses and Elijah due to false worship
The Lord only came to put a curse on Israel when they went after other gods and repeats the same to the people living under the third Elijah. Unless their heart are turned to the true worship of their fathers, then what will follow is a curse:
Deuteronomy 11:26-28: –
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27: A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you this day: 28: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known.
Malachi 4:5, 6: –
5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: 6: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.
The children of Israel had to overthrow these false gods and their altars and not even go to these places neither bring there their tithes and offerings and Elijah had to rebuilt the altars and reinstitute the worship of true God from baalim Israel
Deuteronomy 12:2-7: –
2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places, wherein the nations which ye shall possess served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree: 3: And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. 4: Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. 5: But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: 6: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: 7: And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.
True worship restored
1Kings 18:21-38:
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word…..30: And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. 31: And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name: 32: And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: …36: And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. 37: Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. [Malachi 4:5, 6]. 38: Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. 39: And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
Shall the third Elijah less?
In this time of well-nigh universal apostasy, God calls upon His messengers to proclaim His law in the spirit and power of Elias. As John the Baptist, in preparing a people for Christ’s first advent, called their attention to the Ten Commandments, so we are to give, with no uncertain sound, the message: “Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come.” With the earnestness that characterized Elijah the prophet and John the Baptist, we are to strive to prepare the way for Christ’s second advent (SW March 21, 1905).
Principles of Separation
If the reformers saw anything apart from the truth would imperil the faith of their children, what are current reformers doing?
As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience. {DA 232.2}
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” Isaiah 8:20. The people of God are directed to the Scriptures as their safeguard against the influence of false teachers and the delusive power of spirits of darkness. Satan employs every possible device to prevent men from obtaining a knowledge of the Bible; for its plain utterances reveal his deceptions. At every revival of God’s work the prince of evil is aroused to more intense activity; he is now putting forth his utmost efforts for a final struggle against Christ and His followers. In principle
After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children. To secure peace and unity they were ready to make any concession consistent with fidelity to God; but they felt that even peace would be too dearly purchased at the sacrifice of principle. If unity could be secured only by the compromise of truth and righteousness, then let there be difference, and even war. {GC 45.3}
Now, those who have had years in this same experience, know not God nor Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and should such go forth as representatives of Jesus Christ? These men will never give the right mold to other minds; they have not grown up to the full stature of men and women in Christ. They simply have the name of Christians but are not fitted for the work of God, and never will be until they are born again, and learn the A.B.C. in true religion of Jesus Christ. There is a little hope in one direction: Take the young men and women, and place them where they will come as little in contact with our churches as possible, that the low grade of piety which is current in this day shall not leaven their ideas of what it means to be a Christian. {12MR 333.1}
Some think it strange that I write, “Do not send your children to Battle Creek.” I was instructed in regard to the danger of the worldly influence in Battle Creek. I have written hundreds of pages regarding the danger of having so large a sanitarium, and of calling so many people together in one place. The young people in Battle Creek are in danger. They will come in contact with error. Years ago I did not think that they would meet these errors right in the sanitariums; but when “Living Temple” came out, and some of our ministers told me that there was in it nothing but what I had been teaching all my life, I saw how great the danger was. I saw that blindness had fallen upon some who had long known the truth. I pray that the Lord will open the eyes of these ministers, that they may see the difference between light and darkness, between truth and error. {SpTB07 35.1}
Conclusion
What is the implication of all these things? Why should this be a core issue to be addressed? Why is idolatry condemned? Jeremiah answers: –
Jeremiah 2:11: –
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Idolatry is exchange of glory which is character. Without the character of God no one will see heaven. Note,
- All who depart from God will surely perish.
- We are bound to show our abhorrence against all Popish idol-worship, with all infidelity and irreligion.
- Though sinners, through their quality or multitude, may be now above the sword of human justice, they will shortly find they are with the reach of God.
- Re:19:20: And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
If this be the end of all falsehood and idolatry, then we need to seek the Lord in prayer so much to help come to the worship of the True God and leave every form of idolatry. May the Lord have mercy on us and in the simplest language of the Bible teach us his will and what is true. Neither do we only pray for the power of rejecting what is evil but a spirit of doing that which true. Amen.
Blessings
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