Endtime Reality Check

“Endtime” Reality Check (Matt 24:14)

            So ‘the end of the world is soon,’ ‘the signs of the times are rapidly fulfilling,’ and ‘final events will soon unravel’, well even generous estimates would reveal that ca. 7,000,000,000 currently, honestly do not know and/or understand this most crucial message of warning. So, you say, they will soon hear about it and be informed, well how about a little “reality check” (cf. here|here) in specifically this temporal regard. 

SDA Racially Divided Conferences

The Lingering Evil in SDA Racially Divided Conferences (Jude 1:18-19)

A more developed statement may or may not be made here on this blatantly ungodly,

unbiblical, and self-evident issue lingering in the Church, however for now it should suffice to say that: since racially divided conference were, due to “hardness of hearts” (Matt 19:7-8; cf. Mal 2:16), ultimately created in order to meet the spiritual, and other various pertinent special needs, of then marginalized and ignored SDA African-Americans (see a most infamous, “watershed” extreme manifestation related here), and certain South Africans (see in SDA Historian, Crocombe’s Blog below), then this cannot possibly still now be a problem/issue/excuse, for either “side,” especially in now 2018 (cf. AR 02-21-08 article...(but AR 07-24-08 opposition by Calvin B. Rock) in here).

The Fallacy of Non-Paid Lay Pastoring

Is Non-paid, Lay Pastoring Really God’s Will? (1 Tim 5:17-18)                  

            Due to common and widespread financial constraints, made worse by the recent economic downturn (a.k.a. “The Great Recession” - see ‘How We Got Here’ [Audio] (Lewis Walton, ASI 2009); see also this (illustrated) presentation by Australian evangelist Herb Kersten), lay pastoring has become more and more popular in some Local Conference policies. Current denominational statistics (p.6) show that as much as 24%-32% of “Evangelistic and Pastoral Employees” who are not “Ordained” or “Licensed”, but classified as “Other”, may be formally recognized/utilized “Lay” Workers.[1] Despite this stance of the Global Church on formal lay “utilization,” there really is no Biblical support for such a plan for the “corporal”/organized work of God. From the times of the Old Testament, the priesthood (i.e., the Levites) were to be “wholly” set apart for the work of ministry. (Num 18:20, 21) They were to be completely taken care of by the tithes and offerings given by the rest of God’s people. In the early days of the SDA Church,

The War In Heaven

"War In Heaven" - An Actual War!

            When it was “explicatively” mentioned by one of my Religion professors at Andrews University, on the day following the NET ’98 presentation mentioned below, that the belief that the “War in Heaven” mentioned in Rev 12:7 was (indeed) not believed by all SDA’s to have been an actual/literal war[1], I thought that this was an exaggeration as, at the very least, the Spirit of Prophecy (SOP) seemed to be quite clear about this being a real, all-out war. However, it does appear that such a belief was, and still is, indeed quite present amongst SDA circles.[2]

Michael the Archangel (cf. Rev 3:12d)

In this blog post I will conveniently (though also merely referentially) coalesce the

various expounding and expositions that I have made in relation to the topic/issue of Michael the Archangel. (See e.g., from here and within this post; -See also the supporting websites listed at the end of this posting: namely here, here, here and here)). These prior discussions should be read to get more details as to what will be succinctly summarily stated here in this present post, and further corroborating points and derived deeper understandings on this subject and its Biblical implications will also be made here.

            And as an great foundational study on the topic of ‘the OT “Angel of the Lord” was “God the Son Jesus Christ”’ see the following excellent, systematic, presentation by Mike Winger, from his entire "How To Find Jesus In the Old Testament" series on this topic:

“Incarnation” does not mean “Creation”

-First of all, to get a quite conflatedly (i.e., with Jehovah Witnesses’ “Theology”) confused “(fantasaical pink) elephant” out of this room, the belief that Jesus was incarnated from the Glorious Divine form that He priorly had with His Father “before the “cosmos” [i.e., and not just ‘created inhabited worlds’) was” (John 17:5, 24) into a more accessible (cf. 1 Tim 6:16) Mighty Angel form, does not at all take anything away from the Full Deity that Jesus inherently had...indeed just as Him later becoming (also necessarily) incarnated (even lower) as a human being likewise did not take anything away from His Divine Nature. (Phil 2:6ff; John 5:26).

The Heart of the Elijah Message (Malachi 4:5,6)

The Heart of the Elijah Message (Mal 4:5-6)

Malachi 4:5-6 which says in the NASB:

"Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”

is copiously cited, and with reason, in Seventh-day Adventist circles as a major part of the Church’s Mission and Message even though that passage is not really precisely understood. It therefore has found a common, almost social, application in that it would come to mean that ‘parents and children would have perfect relationships and/or “see eye-to-eye” on Biblical issues and/or that ‘the youth of the Church would come to be in harmony with the older members of the Church on diverging issues, i.e, dress, music, entertainment, etc,’ or, oddly enough, ‘a lack of social intimacy in SDA families’.[1]  These interpretations/applications do find an, albeit merely homiletical, basis in this text, for “nuclear family dysfunction” was most likely not a crucial problem, if at all, in Israel then, particularly as their then strict and legalistically-hedged, adherence to the Ten Commandments in that post-Babylonian captivity Era, particularly when there was not an ‘“expert’s” sanctimonious loophole’ around the literalistic reading of a Law, (cf. Mar 7:9-13), probably precluded what would be an explicit violation of the letter of the Fifth Commandment. In fact, if that was the object of that Mal 4:5-6 statement, and John the Baptist preached and realized it, then Jesus would soon completely undermine and explode its supposed “nuclear harmony” message (see e.g., Matt 10:34-37|Luke 12:51-53; 14:26ff, 33 = Deut 33:8-10a ff; Matt 12:46-50). Jesus was instead seeking for people who would be boldly singular to restore Israel and God’s Law to God’s initial/original intent and purpose; and it was actually a spurious ‘my parents don’t believe so’ rationalization/excuse that was hindering this ‘collective and Historical Israel restoration’. (Matt 10:38; 11:12|Luke 16:16-17).
            The one exegetically accurate application that has not been seen from this passage is the one that more closely mirrors what this statement was initially meant to address in its historical context, as succinctly explained here.

The Sealing of God's People - Part 2 (Ezekiel 9)

The “Fuller” Seal in God’s Sabbath

            It is clear from Biblical Studies, and from the Spirit of Prophecy (SOP), that the “Seal of God” spoken of in endtime prophecy (Rev 7:3; 9:4; 14:1; cf. 22:4) involves the observation of the 7th Day Sabbath, and thus the law of God. This is in direct opposition to the Mark of the Beast (cf. e.g., Rev 13:16; 14:9; 20:4) which acknowledges a spurious Sabbath, namely Sunday sacredness and effective “lawlessness.” (See also this blog post for more.) However, as it has been seen from a careful study of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, the proper observation of the Biblical Sabbath indeed involves much more than just observing the correct day, in the proper way, but should also lead its observers to do significant works of benevolence towards those in need in the world. (Cf. here). Therefore, if, as it was seen in this post, the events in Ezek 8 which lead up to this prophetic sealing in Ezek 9 speaks of a Remnant People who are seeking to do God’s work through an abominable mixing in of worldly practices, which have all been shown to focus on an adherence to an unbiblical providing/economic system, reflected today in the economic system of Capitalism, then does a Sealing of God’s people in the end time also really depend upon whether or not works of benevolence are done towards those in the world today who are in need?

            The short answer here is a resounding: Yes! as seen in the following supporting Biblical statements.

The Sealing of God's People - Part 1 (Ezekiel 8)

Events Leading Up to the “Sealing of God’s People” (Ezekiel 8)

The Current State of the Church

            It is made unequivocally clear in the Spirit of Prophecy that the Sealing of God’s Servants from among His People in the end-time is “the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision.” (Ezekiel 9), and that  “John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation.” (Rev 7:1-8) TM 445.2; cf. 3T 266.2-267.2; 5T 207.2-212.4; Mar 240. In reading the passage in Ezek 9, it can be seen that the sealing and destruction depicted there is actually the just and direct result of past, blatant transgressions by God’s people, particularly the leaders of Judah. (Ezek 8; cf. 9:6b). If Ezek 9 is indeed a prophecy of what similarly/typically/typologically also transpires in the end with God’s Remnant People, then could it also be that the same transgressions spoken of in Ezek 8, that cause that previous judgement by God, be also committed today by God’s people in the end? The answer, after a careful study of this chapter, and then comparing its issues with the ones in the current Remnant Church today is astoundingly “yes,” and in every detail. This is shown here. It is therefore no surprise that the same unwavering judgement of Ezek 9 is prophesied to also be executed amongst God’s People today.

Advanced Prophetic Symbology

Understanding the Rest of Revelation’s Symbology

           

            Diligent students of Bible Prophecy, especially Seventh-day Adventist, are apt at recognizing that the message of Bible prophecies are predominantly couched in symbols, especially the book of Revelation. Many of these symbols have been rightly identified and interpreted according to the clues provided in the other, and/or alluded to, parts of the Bible, However several of these symbols have not been interpreted and are rather effectively dismissed as mere, empty statements. Yet, careful theological/bible study shows that this is far from the actual case and the key to unlock the rest of this symbology is to also take into full consideration that God is indeed the God of Creation.

SOP - "Spirit of Criticism" Note

9A. Our Final Test - Note #16 (SOP “Spirit of Criticism” - cont’d)

-Due to posting space limitations, the remaining commenting from this main post’s Note #16 on the SOP's “Spirit of Criticism” statements have been continued separately here. When finished, click here to resume reading in the main post.

1874   Scolding is never allowable; reproof and criticism from parents must have their time and place, but should never intrude so far upon the social life of the family as to render the home uncomfortable. A serious word in private will generally cure a fault more easily than many public criticisms. In some families, a spirit of contradiction and discussion mars the harmony; every statement is, as it were, dissected, and the absolute correctness of every word calculated. It interferes seriously with social freedom when unimportant inaccuracies are watched for, and exposed for the mere sake of exposure. Brothers and sisters also sometimes acquire an almost unconscious habit of teasing each other, half in earnest, half in fun. This is particularly uncomfortable for everybody else, whatever doubtful pleasure the parties themselves may experience.  {HR, February 1, 1874 par. 5} 

            While the counsel here is pointedly upon a nuclear family’s interactions, it most definitely extends/applies to a Church Family. And while this counsel is directed to actual children, just going by the application made by the angel in EGW’s vision here (at 1SM 110.1), it certainly comes to manifest itself amongst “grown-up children”, i.e. : “carrying with them the disposition, the habits, and the characteristics which pertain to children” When the expected “adults” in the Church, i.e. the deemed Spiritually mature, usually the positioned leadership, are themselves acting like children, and thus more so are these “grown-up children”, then their unholy influence and spirit defaultly spreads itself upon their respective flock and thus throughout the Church. Hence they become the “False Shepherds” of Ezek 34:1-22, the non-‘Davidic’ kind (Ezek 34:23-24ff), and those who will indeed be pointedly/specially judged by God for have taught/led their assigned flock to regard lightly God’s/Christ’s Full-Gospel/Sabbath mandate and thus ‘trodden it underfoot’ (=EW 36.2).