Revisiting “All Details” of Matt.20 Parable, Part 1

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As we see the subject of Matt:20 parable being discussed among present truth believers, the Lord in His wonderful way “supped” (Rev. 3:20) once more with us. Things were made much more clearer as to whether we are in the 11th hour or whether we are pre-11th hour.

As we have mentioned many times before in our correspondance with brethren on this subject, this is one of those subjects we must “go deep” and weigh it, as there are conflicting statements. This is similar to the “Those with” subject. You will find several references that seem to say one view and others saying another view, seemingly contradictory.

If the Lord said through SOP and the Rod the following counsels, then it must be  we CAN find the weight of the subject. This is important, as some are propping up their ideas without explaining the opposite  view and harmonizing it. We found that continually in our correspondance with brethren on the “Those with” subject in the past.

“Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives candid evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and teachable spirit, and all should decide from the weight of evidence.”(Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p.675)

“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) 

“In considering the several scriptures bearing on this point and on the kindred points in question, we must base our conclusions solely on the weight of evidence, so that we may not only know all the truth, but also teach nothing but the truth” (Tract 9, p.6)

“Some who are anxious to risk Present Truth on the weight of what one inspired statement seems to say or imply, are thereby presumptuously or very ignorantly overlooking the “weight of evidence.” Others are doing this through shortsightedness, while still others are doing it to prop up certain cherished ideas of their own.” (3 Ans, p. 41-42)

Now let us begin by addressing an issue that has come up in the discussion. That is, this subject is a “salvational” issue. Meaning we had better be on the correct side of the question of whether we are in the 11th hour or not. This issue we feel is a “How readest thou?” (Luke 10:26) meaning that due to the confusing and conflicting statements we cannot believe the Lord would hold those accountable for siding with one view (although incorrect) because of the many statements that seem to back up that view. The lesson on Tract 10 “Sign of Jonah” guides us and explains —

"Suffice it to say that our experience in gospel publishing work teaches us that many who have spent almost  countless hours of precious time in confusing the subject of the sign of Jonah, have spent but very little time in studying more essential subjects such as the prohibition against private interpretations of the Scriptures (2 Pet. 1:19, 20); the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev. 19:10); the Sabbath (Ex. 20:8-11); baptism (Matt. 3:15; Acts 2:38); the Kingdom (Isa. 2:2), the slaughter of Ezekiel 9, tithe paying (Mal. 3:10); although these vital subjects call for performance, -- a duty to practice the truths which they teach, -- whereas the sign of Jonah demands nothing." (Tract 10, p.20)

What does saying we are in or pre- 11th hour gain us? What does that change our message now to the church? Nothing. God’s workers in the church vineyard now are still to proclaim the message of the “judgment for the living” for the SDA church is soon to begin (1 Peter 4:17) along with reformation and the understanding of the 144,000 (SR, vol.1, introduction).

Now contrast that to the subject of the 144,000 sealing in the SDA church. The Rod clearly points the understanding of this subject as salvational. 

“If we do not understand the subject of the 144,000, we may not be sealed, for it would be worthless to understand it after the sealing, just as it would be of no value to understand the beast and his image after his work on earth is finished.” (SRod,  Vol. 1 p.14)

“Some day this subject must be understood, for Inspiration makes no useless statements, and it cannot be in the Bible for a trinket.  It must be understood before the number (144,000) is made or it would be of no value.  When understood, it will guide the feet of the 144,000 in the straight path just as the first, second, and third angel’s messages have led thousands of souls to Christ.”(SRod, vol. 1, p.14)

“The primary purpose of The Shepherd’s Rod is to unlock the long-concealed mystery concerning the ever-challenging and much discussed subject of the 144,000 (Rev. 14:1), with the central object in view of bringing about among God’s people that “thorough reformation” foretold by the Spirit of Prophecy (Testimonies, Vol. 8, p. 251)….

 …Its dominant doctrinal concern being the truth of the 144,000, and a correct understanding of it being a life-and-death matter to all, the Rod unfolds it from several different angles, each urging the Denomination to prepare for the glorious deliverance of the saints and against the inglorious destruction of the sinners as foretokened by the marking and slaying recorded in Ezekiel 9.” (SRod Tract, p.5-6)

There are quite a few brethren , we find, who error in the 144,000  subject, particularily on the total  amount of those sealed in Ezek.9 from the church. In other words the amount said to be sealed from “all the tribes of children of Israel”(Rev. 7:4)  is incorrect in their view. Serious indeed!

But after a deep study of this Matt.20 lesson, as to what hour we are in, this can be subjective and our brothers who mount the judgment seat and say “You must get this right or you will be lost” we caution this proclamation. Nevertheless, as we study this issue, we feel it has one view as being correct.

In our next report , part 2, we’ll begin our detailed study of Matt.20, as the Rod has told us —

“(If you wish to study the parable in all its details, you may do so by reading The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 2, pp. 222-239.)” (2 TG, no.43,p.11  – published in 1949 and reprinted in 1953)

In that section, we discover strong evidence of how we can determine whether we are now in the 11th hour, or whether we are pre-11th hour. By God’s grace, we will see that the weight of the correct postition can be found.

To conclude, it is very unfortunate some have discussed this issue as a way of degrading our Pre-11th Hour Ministry work, but the Lord is good and those willing and able to “rightly divide the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15) will not be shaken by such short-sightedness.

 

Update on the latest Controversy with UPA7

Well some of our brethren may be asking “What happened now with Pre-11th hour Ministry and UPA7?” That’s a great question brethren. For those who have followed both our groups, you’re aware that over the last few months UPA7 and us have made joint YouTube presentations, collaborating together for the message of the hour.

However things have taken a strange turn the last couple weeks, so what happened? In this report we’ll break down what has transpired. 

We have to go back to September of 2024, yours truly received a FB chat message from our brother Edstrom. As many know, over the years we have had quite a public back and forth on many subjects. Some of it  was quite critical towards each other. The subjects of the Kingdom travel, God’s  organization structure today, who  is entitled to collects tithes, and so forth were our topics.

So in the message we received, Edstrom said he wanted to make a “peace treaty”. This we viewed, was a good first start to having honest discussions and possibly reconciling our differences, at least study them out together. After all there is only one Truth on prophecies and Bible subjects.

So we accepted his offer and we talked a few days later. A Long conversation as one would expect, as we had to catch up and express his peace treaty. We always should remember what the Word says —

“If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (Romans 12:18)

So very soon after this, our communication became more frequent. Phone calls and FB chat messages mostly. Soon plans were made to do a joint Bible study on the Fundamental Beliefs. Pre-11th hour had already begun to put the word out that probably the best starting point in unifying Davidia, was to have meetings with other DSDA groups, with the goal of understanding and agreeing to our FB’s. Surprisingly, many DSDA “say” they believe in them yet teach otherwise. For example, JTT comes before Ezekiel 9. The FB’s show otherwise.

We did our presentation of the FB’s with UPA7 this  Sept. The meeting was a success and the synergy was excellent. One of the points highlighted is that in order to believe the FB’s, one must throw out the idea of a Flying Chariot picking up the saints and zooming them over to the kingdom. This idea and FB no.7 “..the time of Jacob’s trouble (Jer. 30:7) for the 144,000, the sons of Jacob, logically develops on their way home (Gen. 32:1, 24)”  cannot be harmonized. This was one of the subjects Edstrom and myself discussed in our prior YouTube presentations. He supported the Chariot travel idea, we did not. 

Then after this we decided to do a part 2, but this time focusing on Florence Houteff and the new code debacle over our history. This as well was rewarding and many were blessed and enlightened.

In the last presentation we did together , one of the UPA7 brethren brought up the question about our name “Pre-11th Hour  Ministry” and implied we should reconsider it. We mentioned we’d be happy to discuss this topic at a later date. Later brother Edstrom reached out to us indicating he had something to show us. It was the decades old (I mean back in the 90’s) Nosworthy situation, whereby he sent off warning letters to the government bascially starting the whole Waco fiasco  with Koresh and his cult.

But his main point was to have us reconsider our name and how it was not good for spreading the message of the hour as a group name. We kindly responded that we were not concerned, as Nosworthy’s name was “Pre-11th hour Bible study” and though similar in name ,God would protect His work and that Nosworthy’s work was not God’s work at all. 

The same logic can be applied to our name Davidian Seventh-day Adventists. Just because Koresh tainted the word “Davidian”, do we now change it? Let’s be firm , God is able to protect His work no matter how the enemy tries to tear it down. We do not capitulate.

Our main goal is to reach Mother (SDA church) and 99.9% of Adventists have no clue concerning this issue. It’s a non-issue, and why bring this controversy up as the relevance is not there. Brother Edstrom was stirring up a hornet’s nest when it did not need to be stirred up. He soon made a video bringing it up in the public forum. And most unsettling is his portrayal as our Ministry being spiritually tainted both by the name and the idea we are not in the 11th hour yet.

So now we are where we are.  We ofcourse, on our end, wish only the best for our brother, but we won’t stand down from proclaiming the truth.

There are serious doctrinal issues  that exisit between our groups, with the main one being how God is organizing His work today. Our groups had talked on possibly setting up private studies on this issue, we will have to wait and see if that can still be accomplished.

But we are clear, we cannot support UPA7’s ideas that we are in the scattering period and that each must fend for himself. That small groups of brethren, even individuals, who produce the original Rod message can be entitled to collect tithes. This is ignorance and disobedience of the Lord’s Rod counsel —

CANNOT MY HOME BE HIS “STOREHOUSE”?

Question No. 97:

Is it Scriptural for one to retain and personally use his tithe and offerings in order to carry on the gospel work in his own community, according to his own plans? { ABN4: 44.3 }

Answer:

Nowhere in the Scriptures do we find permission to use the Lord’s money at our own discretion. The only justification for so doing would be sheer inability, for some reason to send it to the Lord’s “storehouse.” Should one voluntarily, though, engage in such a practice then he would set the wrong example before others. And if following in his lead, others assume the same right, their course must inevitably result in seriously handicapping the Lord’s work, bleeding and subverting His treasury, and thus disorganizing His work and reducing the church to a mere shell, while her members are hiring themselves as laborers in the Lord’s vineyard, helping themselves to the Lord’s money, and running without having been sent! What a Babylon that would be! { ABN4: 44.4 }

Though the Lord commands, “Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse” (Mal. 3: 10), He does not say to bring all the offerings. Thus, He shows that if we would engage in some personal charity or missionary activity, we should sustain it from offerings, not from the tithe. { ABN4: 45.1 }

“Angels keep a faithful record of every man’s work, and as judgment passes upon the house of God, the sentence of each is recorded by his name, and the angel is commissioned to spare not the unfaithful servants, but to cut them down at the time of slaughter….And the crowns they might have worn, had they been faithful, are put upon the heads of those saved by the faithful servants….”Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 198. { ABN4: 45.2 }

In closing, we’ll be publishing an indepth report on the 11th hour question. As stated, brother Edstrom has brought this out for discussion and we must dig deep upon the many references, charts and symbols to weigh  this matter  out.