In our last part 3 we will look at the final categories and then make the summary.
Specific clear weightful references —
“Notwithstanding the fact that “in the closing work” for the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, only 144,000 are to be sealed, according to Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 266..” ( 3 Ans, p.26)
It is difficult to find a more weightful statement than this. Notice that it is the Rod who says that it is a –FACT. We are told to be close reasoners and logical thinkers. Can we honestly throw this statement out and deny that Inspiration is calling it a fact that ONLY 144,000 will be sealed from the SDA church?
Many of the more weightful statements will be found in the “escape” references but for a clear example —
“As God called out Israel from Egypt anciently, just so now, God is calling His church out from worldlings and worldliness, to be a separate, peculiar people to His honor and glory. This does not mean another movement, but it does mean that God is to deal with the entire body, and those who escape are Israel, the 144,000.” ( SRod, vol. 1, p.107)
Entire body? This is so clear and plain, that we would truly have to be spiritually blind to not see it. The ENTIRE church will have how many escape?
The 3 Charts —
One of our classic Charts. There is ONE STONE, not one stone with bits of tiny stones accompanying it. The Mountain as we know is the SDA denomination and one stone is cut out of it.
“Beyond question, therefore, the 144,000 guileless servants of God (Rev. 14:5), composing the government of God in its beginning, the stone which smites the image, and which subsequently becomes a great mountain that fills the whole earth, are instrumental in the eventual overthrow of all earthly governments. ” ( 2 TG, no. 46, p.31)
One number , the beginning government cut out –144,000.
On the bottom right we see who comes from the Laodicean church –the first fruits, the 144,000.
At the completion of the first fruit harvest, the two wave loaves are the finished product– the 144,000.
An eyewitness —
As we have posted before, we were blessed to spend some time on numerous occasions with sister Bonnie Smith. When we asked about the teaching of the 144,000 and those with, she was firm, that the teaching that says there will be others sealed from the SDA church (those with) was NOT something brother Houteff taught. She said it came from MJ Bingham. we know, of course, that Don Adair was a student of Bingham before they had a falling out. He took this doctrine and it basically became an obsession with him. This is the primary reason Mt. Dale broke off from Salem.
Progression of time of the references —
Later references come with more light and in some cases that is true. For instance, we know in the early SRod statements that Rod says that the stone is Christ and supported the common understanding at that time (2 SR, p.161-162).
What can we know about the 144,000 doctrine in the progression of time?
Question: “Will those who are now accepting the S.D.A. faith during this sealing time be among the 144,000, or fall in the slaughter of Ezekiel 9?”
Answer: All that are found members of the church at the fulfillment of Ezekiel Nine will either receive the seal and be of the 144,000, or else be left without and fall under the “slaughter weapons” of the “five men.” Only those who “sigh and cry for all the abominations” in the church will escape from the destruction. (1 SC, no. 11-12, p.9) (May-June 1935)
Two groups only — the 144,000 and those to perish.
Question: “Will all but the 144,000 of the present S.D.A. denomination actually be slain in the separation?”
Answer: All but those who do not receive the mark or seal, old or young, male or female, will fall under the slaughter weapons of the angels. (Ezek. 9:6.) Only those who sigh and cry for all the abominations in the midst thereof will receive the mark. (verse 4.) John saw 144,000 sealed (marked). If others from within the S.D.A. denomination besides the 144,000 should escape, it is not known to us. (1 SC, no.15, p.9 ) (Sept. 1935)
A clear statement showing the Rod does not know of any others besides the 144,000 escaping the SDA church judgment. So we have two clear statements in 1935 in harmony which each other.
But one year later in the same Symbolic code literature, we find this —
“All that are found members of the church up to the fulfillment of Ezekiel Nine will either receive the seal and be a part of or with the 144,000, or else be left without the seal and fall under the “slaughter weapons” of the “five men.” ( 2 SC, no. 5-6, p.8) (May-June 1936)
So did the Rod do a 180-degree turn and now state that there will be more than 144,000 who escape the church judgment after giving the two prior SC refs?? No, it cannot be. How do we know?
Simply because if the 2 SC , no 5-6, p.8 statement above is now telling us MORE than the 144,000 will escape the Ezek. 9 judgment, then how would we harmonize the reference with the later date “escape” quotes? So many of them say ONLY 144,00 escape after the 1936 SC quote. You see we can’t be speaking out of both sides of our mouth–one number is correct, the others are additions to His word(punishable by Rev. 22:18-19).
The “escape” references — (20)
We found 20 references ( you may find more) showing that 144,000 are the only number to escape from the judgment in the house of God, the first fruit harvest. Also note, and VERY important, is that NO OTHER NUMBER IS EVER GIVEN EXCEPT 144,000 escaping.
If we were to take some of those disputed references that the “those with” crowd uses, as showing more than 144,000 sealed in the church at Ezek. 9, would they not have to escape as well? If so why doesn’t the Rod says things such as “an undisclosed number escapes” or “144,000 escape and those with them”, etc.
At this point let us look at counsel —
“Moreover, whatever interpretation we may place on any statement in reference to any truth, must be in harmony with every other statement on the subject.” ( 3 SC, no. 1, p.11)
So far we have been able to harmonize ALL statements of the few references that the “Those with” crowd brings to the table. Now, we stand upon the counsel’s statement but do they? Can they be obedient to that counsel? No, they cannot, for they can never harmonize the overwhelming statements to the few, it can only work the other way around!
As we’d like to condense the length of this post, we will show the escape references without posting each and every quote as written out. You are encouraged to research them for your own study.
SRod volume refs (5)
Volume 1 — p.30, p.102, p.107, p.153, p.218
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Tract refs (6)
Tract 1 — p.23
Tract 2 — p.23
Tract 3 — p.69-70
Tract 4 — p.50
Tract 5 — p.88
Tract 14 — p.19-20
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Misc. Tract refs (3)
SRod Tract — p.20
WHR Tract — p.23, p.25
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Jezreel Letters (1)
N0. 2 — p.7
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Symbolic Codes (1)
Volume 1, no. 15, p.9
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Timely Greetings (4)
Volume 1 — no. 11, p.11, no.25, p.11, no.52, p.20-21
Volume 2 — no.15, p.9
SUMMARY —
We have done the Lord’s counsel —
“The weight of evidence” is the only fair and final criterion worthy of a Christian who must ever make an investigation for himself concerning purported truth.” ( 1 Ans, p.77)
After thoroughly investigating the matter, here is the outcome. We found 59 references from all our literature that shows ONLY 144,000 marked from the SDA church at Ezek. 9. The disputed references were 7 and they were explained and harmonized with the other 54 because we took in context their true meaning. 3 Charts also confirm our true understanding of this issue. In closing, our arch enemy has foisted upon us his counterfeit but those who “study to show themselves approved…” we know it is indeed a counterfeit!
NOTE; When we say “only” we mean either the Rod mentions “only 144,000” or states just 144,000 in the statement with no other number given–thus that would mean “only” as well.
“Those who are sealed (marked) and escape the ruin are the ones who constitute the number which prophecy declares to be the 144,000.”( SRod, vol. 1, p.30)
HearYeTheRod 