“The Tools Make the Man”

Some of us who are experienced craftsmen know the old saying, “The tools make the man.” Yet this saying can apply to our work in the Lord’s vineyard. Where would we be without the Bible, SOP, or the Shepherd’s Rod books? These “tools” certainly make our work much more effective in spreading our King’s final message of Elijah to our SDA church.

One of the greatest and most helpful tools around for us present truth believers, is the Scriptural Index produced by the Salem DSDA organization.  Within the book is Scriptural,Rod and SOP Indexes with a small section of Misc. Index. This Index is truly a Godsend and an important tool to know, use and spread the Lord’s message.

The Rod explains what comprises the message and our way to teach it —

“The Bible and the books of the Spirit of Prophecy being the sole source of The Shepherd’s Rod message, therefore when the Rod is taught, the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy are taught. And since none but the Spirit of Truth who transmitted  the mysteries of Inspiration can interpret them, then those who attempt to teach them without  this Inspired interpretational authority inevitably fall into the forbidden practice of private interpretation (2 Pet. 1 :20)–the great evil which has brought Christendom into its present almost-boundless state of schism and consequent confusion, strife, and impotency.

   As we dare not follow in such a path, we must therefore, as teachers of The Shepherd’s Rod (the official publications of the Davidian Seventh-day Association), teach only in the light of the Rod those passages which in one way or another need to be interpreted. Thus only will all Present-truth believers ever become of the same mind, seeing eye to eye and speaking the same things (1 Cor. 1:10; 1 Pet. 3:8; Isa. 52:8).

   And such as do choose to engage in private  interpretation are respectfully asked to desist from teaching in the name of the Rod and at its expense. Let them like honest men, teach in their own names and at their own expense.” (Answerer, vol. 5, p.55-56)

“We are sorry that some have put forward private interpretations of the message which have troubled the minds of others. Yet it seems unfair to call the message to task because of the unwarranted ideas advanced by some. This is like making the Third Angel’s Message answer to the world for the doctrinal extravagances of the many time-setters that have been in our midst.

We endorse no teaching or position not found in the publications of the SRod or authorized by this office, as is plainly declared on the first page of the Symbolic Code for October (No. 4).” (SC, vol. 1,no.7, p.6-7)

“The Scriptures plainly declare that no one can possibly interpret the Word of God privately without the aid of Inspiration (2 Pet. 1:20, 21). Those who, without the Spirit of God, undertake to interpret the messages the Lord sends to them, “will make shipwreck of faith,” and will find themselves serving Satan instead of serving Christ.” (SC, vol. 5, p.2-3)

Ok, so we all should know the dangers of self interpretation yet so often we hear some Davidian “Joe Teacher” give a lesson on a certain subject of present truth. They make it a phone study, a written report, a YouTube video, etc. Yet too many times we are left in more confusion than before. But this should not be! What did they forget?

Yes, they forgot to check what was already said about their subject matter. If their report teaches a different interpretation than what is taught by the Rod then corrections should at once be made, lest they be found not “loving the truth” (2 Thes. 2:10).

That is where the Index is indispensable. Ok so what are some of the practicable ways we can use the Index?

Well, let’s say brother  Tom asks us for our opinion of  Isaiah chapter 15, he wants to know about Moab? We pick up the Index and check what is said about that chapter. What? Nothing! Inspiration does not tell us anything. So we have nothing for brother Tom and let him know that God does not have anything from the present truth message for us about this chapter.

On the other hand sister Joan asks about what Isaiah 66:15-20 means. We check and there is about 145 references in the Rod! We then pursue some verses and soon there we find an excellent definition of what those words mean. Joan is given the ” thus sayeth the Lord” and we stay within Inspiration as teachers-a win win all around!

In closing my brethren, there is no excuse for the serious Rod student to be without this tool that will help you immensely. The message is what we are to go by (GCS, p.8) and when we have/use the tools available, our work in His vineyard really becomes much easier and less worrisome of private interpretation.

NOTE: The aforementioned Index does have some new code references which we do not believe are to be relied upon as “Inspired”. See our report here –
https://hearyetherod.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/the-codes-whats-the-facts/

Seeing through the Tithe Dilemma (Part 2 of 2)

Before we address our last two questions, let’s review the above quote of God. This week the Lord reminded me of something very profound in His word. Do we see the “Test me on this” part?

Do we really realize that this is a promise, even a urging promise, to us to–see if the Lord will keep His word as to great blessings? Yes it is!

That means that this should be a great indication we are doing the right thing in returning our tithes. In other words the Lord will confirm He is behind our actions in the proper tithing. He must keep His word.

It’s amazing how deep God’s word is when we take notice of each and every word and sentence and BELIEVE it.

A friend told me something I have always remembered when I first came into the SDA church. “Robert, your best testimony is your own personal testimonies.”

So let me briefly say that before I was a faithful tithe payer, my own personal business was doing fairly good, but not overly so. I was an “also ran” in a large field of appliance repairmen. However, once I started to pay the tithes on a weekly basis to the storehouses the Lord has guided, I started to see a great increase in the monthly income. It was sure and steady and has continued to this very day! We are rated number one by the people in our large city of approx. 800,000.

We are convinced that this is the fulfillment of the Malachi promise of the Lord. So yours truly isn’t just posting here some fanciful ideas, we have been witness to His word becoming reality. The way we have paid the Lord’s tithes–He has blessed and it’s real.

This promise is real my brethren, and it is my prayer that you believe this and truly consider this issue seriously. If we are preaching to the choir, praise the Lord, but if not we pray that no longer will present truth believers wallow around in this issue and get down to business!

This issue should be view from a business view point. Money kept track of DAILY, if you are self employed. If not, then it should be as required when the checks come in. This post is helpful in doing your calculations –http://shepherds-rod.org/answerers/answerer4.htm#47

One last thing before we move on to our next question, this promise of the Lord comes with the understanding that we are walking in the light of the Lord (signing and crying and keeping His holy 10 commandments). If we are still stealing, lying, coveting, etc. then we are a regular transgressor and this promise may not apply even though we tithe (There is a Rod reference in the Codes and will post it when we locate it).

3. Where is the “storehouse” today, as there are many so-called Davidian organizations?

As we mentioned in part one this question is very far reaching and requires much study from many angles.

First, let us identify and thus eliminate what cannot be a storehouse. The Lord’s Rod shows us the prime example.

This issue is thoroughly covered in Question No. 97 titled “CANNOT MY HOME BE HIS “STOREHOUSE”?  (Answerer, vol. 4, p.44-45).

So those who do make their own home their own personal tithe dispensary ( and those who teach this) are blatant trespassers and are fooling themselves.As the Rod says they are “seriously handicapping the Lord’s work, bleeding and subverting His treasury, and thus disorganizing His work and reducing the church to a mere shell..” (Ibid p.45)

So if it cannot be a home, or by extension private individuals, then it must logically be an organization. One that is established with an executive council, and existing members, printing abilities, Bible workers,  etc. In other words one that has the set up similar to the original Davidian organization of the original Mt. Carmel. The prophet’s model should be THE model.

Next, the organization should teach and promote the original SRod message. This we will touch more on as we discuss the various current organizations.

Before we go into specifics on the organizations, we want to emphasis that  this post is primarily for those who are abiding in the Lord’s counsel and not attempting to “police” any organization (publicly or privately) , nor withdraw from tithing due to our own perceptions that the work  is not done right. These references should be helpful in this regard–

SC, vol.2, p.7, SC, vol.1, no.14, p.9, Testimonies vol. 9, p.249, Tract 4, p.43-44, Answerer vol. 4, Q-98,

Ok , let’s now review some current organizations and give our imput. But keep in mind that these are our suggestions and each should, under prayer and even fasting, seek the Lord to see how He guides you.

Salem–

There is no doubt brother Don Adair has done some very good things in Davidia  through the years. In fact I am blessed often by reading one of his many reports on different subjects of the message. Additionally, his organization produces the finest Rod Scriptural Index in Davidia we believe.

However, the Rod makes clear that the understanding of the 144,000 is a salvational issue (SRod, vol. 1, p.14, SRod Tract 1, p.5). And Mr. Adair has been the leading proponent on the “those with” living SDA members who survive the church judgment of Ezek.9. Which we believe is false and not in the Lord’s Rod.

Therefore we cannot, in good conscience advocate this organization as a storehouse due to this teaching. See our posts on the 144,000 issue.

Bashan —

Again, this organization has some teachings that we cannot advocate. However, we want to stress that if an organization teaches something that is salvational and in error, then that should automatically eliminate it as a storehouse. How do we know if the issue is salvational? Logically we check the Rod. For instance the 144,000 issue IS salvational as per the aforementioned references.

Bashan was founded by MJ Bingham. And those of us who have studied know that he was the beginning teacher of the “those with” issue. So today, they, along with Salem are the two leading organizations promoting this false doctrine.

There are other teachings such as the “porter” prophet who must be leading the flock and speak inspired words of guidance. We should all know as Davidians that VTH was to be the last prophet to the SDA church (GCS and Jezreel Letter no. 9). So we cannot advocate this organization as a storehouse.

Brother Trevor Bingham is very active now in a “unity crusade”, yet we have not seen any public declarations of renouncement of error on their part. IF we see that we can by all means reconsider this situation.

UPA7.org– 

For those of you who have followed this blog you may be familiar with our running saga with the leader of this group–Eric Edstrom.

There has already been much said about him and his group (see our post “The Sad Saga Continues” Part 1 and 2). So those who want to see the reasons we can’t support this organization please read our two part post. We point at least two reasons we cannot support this group.

Wavesheaf  Ministries (Also known as the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists Association)–

The leader of this organization, Lennox Sam, was once a part of Waco assoc. He had a falling out of some doctrinal issues such as the new codes.

But he has formed his own group and teaches , among other things, TWO Ezekiel 9’s,  one to the DSDA first “11th hour church” (day of reckoning), and the second one to the SDA church “9th hour church”. Also that the remnant people of God must have a “living” anti-typical kind David. Although he does not say he is this future king, he does so by silence when his followers say or indicate this.

Bottomline this organization is a classic example of “adding and subtracting” from the Rod. This is definitely not a storehouse in our estimation.

Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Organization of RedBluff/Yucaipa–

This group is headed by brother Tony Dugo, with one of the originators of the group sister Wanda as the figure head leader.

We do not have all the information we would like on this organization so we cannot logically advise yea or nay. We do know that they place a big emphasis on the new codes and very often send reports based on the “pre” Jacob’s time of trouble. Which is not primarily advocated in the original codes.

Mountain Dale —

Before we comment on this organization, by way of disclosure, this is the group that the Lord guided us to into the message. We heard our very first report of the Rod by listening to brother Glenroy Matthews “144,000, who are they”? online back in 2011.

We truly believe that this is one of God’s storehouse organizations, producing all the Rod literature. They are teaching the straight Rod. Yes, they do promote the new codes, but as we pointed out in our recent post “The Sad Saga Continues, Part 2”  we do  not believe this is a salvational issue.

They are very active and spreading the message around the world and have the original model of a executive council, printing division, a bible workers working in the field, etc.

Do they have short comings? Yes they do. Such as a real need of aged, sick and nursery home care. But we are following counsel of the Lord to make our complaint known , then after that it’s on the organization leaders not us (SC, vol.2, p.7).

Mt. Carmel, Waco —

This organization is , as we know, the sister organization of Mountain dale. They have broken away and stand as an independent organization. The support and  complaint issues are basically the same as Mt. Dale. This org is very good with updates such as news from the vineyard.

This organization is VERY active in spreading the message. Many think that, behind Bashan, it has the second largest membership in Davidia. The de facto leader, brother Archer and I have met twice in the last 4 months and we have been impressed with his efforts to go to studies within the USA and around the world in order to recruit new believers to the Lord’s message.

Yes, like Mt. Dale there is the great need of elder and sick care,  but the vast amount of work coming out of them is enough for us to jump on board. We believe this is a storehouse of the Lord.

 

4. Should there be only one storehouse today?

It is amazing how , when one believes in His word, His promise of the Spirit of Truth “guide you into ALL truth” is applicable and able to be seen. This guiding should amaze and astound us!

Last Sabbath we were in church and as the sermon was a typical peace and safety message, as I often do I turned to present truth. I opened up the Testimonies book and started reading. The page found was exactly what was needed. It was about how the “publishing houses” are not to be under one singular control. Let us read.

“The Lord does not design that the workers in His institutions shall look to or trust in man. He desires them to be centered in Him.

Never should our publishing houses be so related to one another that one shall have power to dictate as to the management of another. When so great power is placed in the hands of a few persons, Satan will make determined efforts to pervert the judgment, to insinuate wrong principles of action, to bring in a wrong policy; in so doing he can not only pervert one institution, but through this can gain control of others and give a wrong mold to the work in distant parts.

Thus the influence for evil becomes widespread. Let each institution stand in its moral independence, carrying on its work in its own field. Let the workers in each feel that they are to do their work as in full view of God, His holy angels, and the unfallen worlds.” (Testimonies ,vol.7, p.173)

We cannot find at this point Rod references for more than one storehouse, but we should know that the storehouse represents the house(s) where His meat is stored and then dispensed. Today as we have explained in our discussion of the organizations, there is more than one that we believe meets the storehouse qualifications.

But let make a clear distinction. There may be several storehouses in God’s vineyard but that does not mean that it can request and accept tithes. Q-97, vol. 4 of Answerer warns us clearly.

In summary, the flock has been scattered after the head on the model storehouse (VTH) died. We can only see the hand of the Lord separating the work to different places of the US. Therefore, yes , we do believe there is more than one storehouse today.

In closing brethren, let us take seriously this salvational issue. And step forward and do the right thing. we can only make our suggestions and the real decision to each of you must come from prayer and fasting and to be “guided into all truth” (John 16:13).

One thing is certain, we cannot murmur and spread accusations against what God has clearly made and allowed. The following is great counsel.

“If the Conference business is not managed according to the order of the Lord, that is the sin of the erring ones. The Lord will not hold you responsible for it, if you do what you can to correct the evil. But do not commit sin yourselves by withholding from God His own property.”(EGW’s counsel and practice on Tithe, p.4)

 “Let none feel at liberty to retain their tithe, to use according to their own judgment. They are not to use it for themselves in an emergency, nor to apply it as they see fit, even in what they may regard as the Lord’s work.” (Testimonies, vol. 9, p.247)

Let all those who fear the Lord take heed, as this is a life and death matter.

“There is great need of instruction concerning the obligations and duties to God, especially in regard to paying an honest tithe.” (Testimonies, vol. 9, p.250)

NOTE: WE HAVE AN UPDATE STUDY ON THE STOREHOUSE?HEADQUARTERS ISSUE IN THE FOLLOWING 5 PART REPORT —

Following Our Storehouse History (Part 1 of 5)

Seeing through the Tithe Dilemma (Part 1 of 2)

In the above word of God, we all should be truly joyful because God gives a promise that each one of us, upon obeying its injunction, “will not have room enough for it”. Great blessings!

But let us not kid ourselves, today we have so much confusion on many aspects of the tithes situation. And why shouldn’t we? We should all know that any of God’s truths are fair game for the great deceiver and he certainly has muddied the waters here on the Tithe subject for us today.

This issue is so important that the Lord has warned us as follows-

“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.”(Testimonies, vol. 1, p.198)

Now we cannot escape this brethren, we will not escape the Lord’s wrath if we do not remain faithful in tithe paying. So it is with this very solemn warning that we now approach this topic. We have prayed before posting this that we should present this based solidly on His word. Not our ideas but a “thus sayeth the Lord”.

There are several questions we shall address.

1. Is this tithe subject important, even essential to us as present truth believers?

To address this question , first we must understand that should we get this issue wrong, doing the wrong thing according to the Lord, is to be placed in a dangerous position. Therefore we need to know just how important this issue is to us, in this way we shall indeed “fear the Lord” in holding His word deep in our heart.

“To rob God in tithes and offerings is a violation of the plain injunction of Jehovah, and the works the deepest injury to those who do it; for it deprives them of the blessing of God, which is promised to those who deal honestly with Him.” (Testimonies, vol. 5, p.644)

“..we know of no Scriptural authority for exempting from the tithe any income, however small. All, poor as well as rich, are given the privilege of returning to the Lord His own. Many with a “mite” income are paying both a first and second tithes and in return are receiving a rich bestowal of blessing.” (Answerer Vol. 5, p.86, Q-158)

"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);.."(Tract 10. p.20)

The tithe is the Lord’s, and those who meddle with it will be punished with the loss of their heavenly treasure unless they repent.(Testimonies, vol. 9, p.250)

“For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from Mine ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Those who plead that they cannot understand this plain and decisive statement–which, if they are obedient, means so much to them in blessings which will be received, when even the windows of heaven will be opened and blessings poured out to overflowing–are not honest before God. Their excuse that they did not know the will of God will be of no avail for them in the great day of judgment.”(Testimonies to Minsters, p.306)

2. Does the message show us a transfer of the “storehouse” from the Seventh-day Adventist organization to the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist organization?

Yes, there are clear words of God through our last prophet that this transfer is  official and complete.

“The instructions in The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 251, “Pay your honest tithe and offering to your church, and feel that ‘IT IS’ your Father’s house,” came near the close of 1930, before the leading brethren, as a denomination, had rejected the sealing message.  Clearly, then, The Shepherd’s Rod has faithfully discharged its duty in refusing to accept any tithes or offerings until after the books were scattered throughout the denomination,  and after the brethren began bitterly to oppose the message.

Now, though, since the opposition is no longer passive, but intensely active, and the proclamation of the message supremely urgent, the only course open is apparent.  It will take an army of workers, including the tithes and offerings, to reach the people.

   Consequently, as our leading brethren have inadvertently shown themselves unworthy

Tract 4                            66

stewards of God’s “storehouse” for the time of the “Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message,”  He has transferred the “candlestick” and is also calling for the tithes and offerings to be transferred into “His storehouse” of Present Truth.”

3. Where is the “storehouse” today, as there are many so-called Davidian organizations?

Ah, now THIS is the trillion-dollar question among us as present truth believers today! We admit that this one question is perhaps the most difficult of all the questions about tithe paying today.

There is no doubt that from many  viewpoints one cannot help but be confused here. With over a dozen Davidian organizations in our midst today, which one, if any, can we rightly call the “storehouse”?

This question is very involved and we will properly address it in a separate post. This question and another will be addressed on part two.

The Sad Saga Continues (Part 2)

In part 2 we will go into some of the specific reasons brothers like Eric Edstrom condemn associations like Mt. Dale, Waco and IGADSDA to see if they are real reasons to murmur and spread their accusations around Davidia. We’ll focus on the main accusations , and the others we’ll let the people make up their own mind.

Publish the new codes –To get some history on this situation we suggest you review this post- https://hearyetherod.wordpress.com/2013/01/13/the-codes-whats-the-facts/

First, this issue must be understood as a very mis -understood and confusing issue with many factors. For instance there are many DSDA , including the two original members sister Bonnie Smith  and brother Don Adair who believe that the new codes were indeed brother Houteff’s sermons. Sister Smith firmly remembers some of the actual sermon addresses in the new codes.

We believe that “some” of them were most likely his sermon addresses. For instance take some time to read this new code and see the depth and truly amazing truths spoken here. http://shepherds-rod.org/symbolic/SC13No5and6.htm

So this is not a black and white issue, this much is sure.

This all being said, those of us who have studied this issue know all too well that the new codes currently circulating have missing pages within them, which leads to suspect credibility. The complete original copies  of the new codes are found at  Carroll Library at Baylor University, Waco Texas.
The reason that not all the new codes are published is the obvious errors posted in some of them.

It is also important to understand that not all the members of Waco and Mt. Dale believe in the new codes. For example, we know of one of the long time leaders of Mt. Dale, who upon serious study has changed his belief in them and declaring them of “historical value” and not inspired value.

This also is our stance. While we cannot support them as inspired, we can support them as historical and whatever blessing can be received from them such as the great Sabbath report in volume 13, no.5-6 shown above.

So are the unpublished (by VTH) codes truth or not? The simple answer , we believe, is yes and no. So what are we do to about this situation? Are we to do as Eric Edstrom does and condemn the organizations for their advocating the new codes, when such great controversy and mis-understandings exist?

We cannot mount the judgment seat as Edstrom has. For one thing to condemn the organizations for this new code controversy, is to put a broad condemnation stroke upon the rest of the work going on with these organizations.

Those who condemn Waco, Mt. Dale and IGADSDA, need to step back and understand that it is the “Spirit of Truth” that guides us  into “all truth”(John 16:13). We can make suggestions based on our knowledge of the situation but to broadly condemn an organization for this , we believe, is to mount the judgment seat when Christ has allowed this controversy to exist. Most likely to test our “study to show yourselves approved” ability.

As we mentioned in part one, how did Edstrom come into this message? Which of the “condemned organizations” was God working through so that he could learn this message? Waco, Mt. Dale or Salem?

Further, are we to think that God has not brought any of his servants (part of the 144k) through these organizations?  NO ONE can be deceived if they hunger after truth, even if they belong to organizations that are not perfect in their understandings.

“God will not let you be deceived if you really hunger and thirst after righteousness, if you really want to know the Truth, for He is anxious that you keep up with His progressively revealed Truth.  There is therefore no danger for one to be deceived by coming in contact with error, but there is a great danger for staying in darkness by not coming in contact with fresh Truth.” (1 TG, no. 12, p.18) 

So what is the real problem here with the published new codes? From what we can gather it seems to be that the new codes teach that the “Jacob’s time of trouble” comes before the Ezek. 9 church judgment. Is God going to condemn people like sister Bonnie Smith for thinking that Jacob’s time of trouble comes before Ezek. 9? Woe! We do not dare want to go down that road!

Further we know from the Lord’s Rod that not all teachings or understandings , whether we truly understand them or not,  is salvational. Let us read–

"...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.

After one acquires all the knowledge necessary pertaining to the sign of Jonah, he is neither better nor worse off so far as his Christianity is concerned, without taking into account the time wasted if his conclusions on the subject be wrong.

   But what is still worse, should a group of people who are rightly proclaiming all the revealed doctrines, disagree with these zealous preachers of sign of Jonah, as to what "the heart of the earth" may mean, the latter will in most instances not only forsake fellowshiping with their brethren, and cease helping to proclaim the more important doctrines, but will also become so obsessed with their pet idea that their minds cannot comprehend much else." (Tract 10, p.20-21)

Bottomline, once again we urge brother Edstrom and all those like him to come down from their judgment seat and realize that they too will be judged , just like all of us and it is better to keep your eyes on your own work than to condemn others where the issue is allowed by the Lord for His own reasons.

Headquarters and storehouse issue –This issue is also quite a controversial and involved issue. We have made a post concerning this issue in regards to the controversy of the headquarters issue between Mt. Dale and Waco https://hearyetherod.wordpress.com/category/the-headquarters-dilemma/

It really has no clear answers except if you happen to believe brother Edstrom’s view. In his presentations, he makes it clear (although he doesn’t say it directly) that there is no real true storehouses today except his own. He has found all the light on this subject and one should at once escape the “false organizations” and run to his.

We mentioned in part one that we had good solid “Thus sayeth the Lord” reasons for not supporting Edstrom’s organization and this storehouse issue is a prime one.

In his UPA7.org site he advocates that present truth believers print their own literature from their home or office. This in itself is not a bad thing, and can be helpful if one is set up to do it.

However, Edstrom seriously crosses the line with his announcement–““Meanwhile the real work of getting the original SRod literature out as the leaves of autumn under a multitude of independent storehouses under the control of the Holy Spirit lies languishing in the dust in large part because of Rob Peralta’s hatred of the truth that comes from upa7.org.”

(Note: Edstrom made these original remarks and subsequently has now changed them but they are strictly what was said by him.)

Here we see that Edstrom advocates “a multitude of independent storehouses.” This suggests that anyone who desires can call their own home a  — storehouse. Please read part one and find what the message says about this matter.  This teaching by Edstrom is in direct violation of the Lord’s Rod therefore we cannot support his organizations.

Additonally, Edstrom has condemned our work on Truth Tellers and as such why in the world would we advocate a brother who clearly mounts the judgment seat against our work? Thanks but no thanks, we’ll not lead others to a divisive spirit among us that may be thus contaminated with this same spirit.

This whole saga started on his account, judging us as a “thief” for making a post on the “Special Resurrection”. This we have dealt with here –https://hearyetherod.wordpress.com/category/false-circulating-email/

IRS 501c3 issue–  We do agree this is a quagmire and is a prickly thorn in the side of the SDA and DSDA. However, we need to step back and ask this very important question–

Has this issue stopped the Elijah messengers from spreading His message? NO!!  We all know that the SDA has greatly limited the message from going to the people via the leaders. The prophecy of Hosea tells us all about it. Yet, no 501c3 issue has caused present truth believers any harm to spread the message–yet. So what is happening here? THE FOUR WINDS ARE HELD BACK! That’s right, the angel’s are holding back the government, even the issue of 501c3, and any other people or thing from denying the people access to the message!

So this is an issue , yes, but not one that God has allowed to hinder the work.

In his recent post, we’d like to comment on Edstrom’s following blast against brother Archer–

“…counterfeit Waco Association under the control of Norman Archer who will continue to block the Truth for his selfish gratifications at the expense of the poor innocent souls  who are starved from the complete original unadulterated SRod message.” 

We have never had the chance to meet brother Archer until just recently (within the last three months). We had heard some murmuring about him and we had our suspicions. But about three months ago we got a call from brother Archer asking if we could have a meeting soon. We gladly accepted.

Brother Archer and another brother came to our city a couple weeks later and we met for lunch at a local restaurant. Long story short, I was quite surprised to hear his outlook on the message today and what was going on in the field. He spoke glowingly about the upcoming meeting in Loma Linda where they would be having about a dozen people from some SDA churches. They were going to hold some prophecy studies and seemed excited that it was an opportunity to spread the Lord’s Elijah message to the SDA.

Again about a month later we held a second meeting and once again I was impressed with his dedication to doing more studies for the SDA people. Bottomline is that all I heard was great love for the brethren. No “Waco is the only storehouse” or “You must join Waco” etc. etc.

Now I ask this question –How many meetings is Edstrom putting on monthly to reach the SDA brethren? When was the last time he reported from the field his work in meeting and studying with the brethren like brother Archer does regularly? We rest our case!

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” (Matt.7:5)

In closing, we find nothing more than the following inspired words describing the condition of those who , like brother Edstrom and the Pharisees of old are/were truly blinded.

“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!(Matt.23:24)

“Satan has his work to accomplish, and he brings his power to bear most strongly at the great heart of the work. He seizes men and women who are selfish and unconsecrated, and makes of them sentinels to watch the faithful servants of God, to question their words, their actions, and their motives, and to find fault and murmur at their reproofs and warnings. Through them he creates suspicion and jealousy, and seeks to weaken the courage of the faithful, to please the unsanctified, and to bring to nought the labors of God’s servants.” (Testimonies, vol. 4, p.194)

 “Accusers of the brethren are not few, and they are always active when God is at work and His servants are rendering Him true homage. They will put a false coloring upon the words and acts of those who love and obey the truth. They will represent the most earnest, zealous, self-denying servants of Christ as deceived or deceivers. It is their work to misrepresent the motives of every true and noble deed, to circulate insinuations, and arouse suspicion in the minds of the inexperienced. In every conceivable manner they will seek to cause that which is pure and righteous to be regarded as foul and deceptive.

But none need be deceived concerning them. It may be readily seen whose children they are, whose example they follow, and whose work they do. “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16. Their course resembles that of Satan, the envenomed slanderer, “the accuser of our brethren.” Revelation 12:10. (Great Controversy, p.519-520)

“As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”(Titus 3:10-11)

“There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.” (Proverbs 6:16-19)

Let us pray one for another. There is really very little time and those among us who are at the head of the work will be judged more strictly(James 3:1), and yours truly needs your prayers as well. May the Lord guide you into “all truth” (John 16:13).

The Sad Saga Continues (Part 1)

Unfortunately, the passing of time still has not awoken a very misguided and divisive brother, his name is — Eric Edstrom. Recently we posted a HearyetheRod post entitled, “A missing Tube”. In it, we pointed out some startling facts which as truth seekers we simply can’t ignore.

Shortly thereafter we were led by the Spirit to warn this brother of his mistaken idea that brother Houteff drew only six tubes entering the Golden bowl, when in fact the original Tract 6 Chart shows clearly–seven tubes entering.

Further, we built the case that as brother Houteff announced to the world his drawing in Tract 6 was an “exact” reproduction of Zechariah’s vision, by this clear and unmistakable evidence, the Chart must/did show seven tubes per the vision.

Our warning was posted on his website “Whyperish.org” link- http://whyperish.org/2013/07/the-golden-bowl-revisted/

He responded to our comment as follows —

“Cease ye from man whose breath is in his nostrils” — Isaiah 2:22
You are following a hallucination coming at the hands of B. Albert Graham. Your folly will be exposed shortly.–The Publishers”

Hallucination? Did brother Graham draw that Chart or brother Houteff? We should point out that this is a photocopy of the original Tract that came directly from brother Sydney Smith (one of the original members) and is as original as it gets.

The real hallucination lies in Edstrom’s failure to open his eyes. In our post ALL  should see clearly, from the original Tract, the seven tubes entering the top of the golden bowl.https://hearyetherod.wordpress.com/2016/05/20/a-missing-tube/

Shortly after he posted a report exposing our so-called “folly” in a post called “Can Error correct Error and lead to Truth” and a video on YouTube ( the post can be seen in the above Whyperish link under recent posts).

We read this report and true to form from his prior posts lambasting our work, we were amazed at the half-truths, innuendos, misguided ideas, and the twisting of the facts.

First, before we begin, we would like to point out that we entitled this post as the “sad saga” because this situation truly is —sad.

On the one hand, Edstrom has done much good work in Davidia, producing good historical reports, and some present truth articles that were quite good. But due to his continual divisive and judgmental accusations of the brethren he is, we believe, destroying with his left hand what his right hand has built.

We all remember as kids going to the beach and building a most beautiful sand castle and after a short while we completely destroyed it. This case we believe, spiritually speaking, is quite similar.

Ok let’s look at his report.

First, we’d like to address his last point —

“Meanwhile the real work of getting the original SRod literature out as the leaves of autumn under a multitude of independent storehouses under the control of the Holy Spirit lies languishing in the dust in large part because of Rob Peralta’s hatred of the truth that comes from upa7.org.”

NOTE: The above exact words were what Edstrom said on his original post, however since we published this report he has since changed these words to read something different in his report. Apparently, this has struck a truth cord and caused him to rethink what he said.

Unbelievable. Do we not see that Edstrom attempts to exalt yours truly with the power to hold back the Holy Spirit’s work? This truly is amazing and bordering on blasphemy (exalting a human with power above and beyond the Holy Spirit).

Are we to think that RP has done such a powerful job against truth that Edstrom’s own site “lies languishing in the dust” because of the defeat of the Holy Spirit?

Perhaps he would do well to remember Inspiration’s words concerning this matter–

“For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.”(2 Cor. 13:8)

“If the LORD does not build a house, then those who build it work in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)

Let us review what the Word says about this–

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” (John 16:13)

It is the Holy Spirit’s job to guide into all truth, and as such any site or report, that speaks truth, the Holy Spirit will guide to that–“He will guide you into all truth..”

Apparently something is holding the Holy Spirit back from Edstrom’s site because as we see , it is not man but the Holy Spirit that guides us to go where truth is and no one or thing can stop this work! Edstrom stating his  “publish at home” website idea is not doing well is no fault but his own, as we’ll show in these reports.

He needs to stop looking around and pointing fingers at others and “determine to know the worst of your case”(SG, vol. 1, p.264) to know why his site is doing so poorly. Therein will lie his answer- studying self.

Additionally, we find a particularly troubling point in that Edstrom is promoting the idea that there should be individual “storehouses”. He is encouraging individuals to take upon themselves, presumably within their own houses, the idea that they can be a “storehouse”. And this leads to withholding the Lord’s Tithes to further the work according to our own ideas.

This is going directly against the Lord’s Rod as shown here–

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?

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!

   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.

   “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.(Answerer , vol. 4, p.44-45)

While the idea of where we should put our Tithes today is another study all in itself, Edstrom should realize that the above Answerer clearly shows that our own homes should not be encouraged to be a “storehouse”. This indeed results “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.”

The whole basis for his report to suggest people publish their own material stems from the fact that he proclaims that there is no true storehouse today and that God somehow has left Davidia to wallow around as best it can. What folly indeed!

This is a transparent crafty design to imply that only Edstrom’s organization is the true storehouse and should receive the Lord’s Tithes by all true Davidians today.

Further the Lord knows all about the shortcomings within the few longtime organizations — Waco, Mt. Dale and IGDSDA for example. This is way before Edstrom came on the scene many years later(in the late 90’s we believe).

One may ask these serious questions —

1. How did Edstrom come into this message?

2. Which organization that he condemns was the one from which he read the Lord’s Rod through their literature?

3. Did the Holy Spirit use a “false DSDA organization” to bring him into the message?

4. Where would he be today if each of the current longtime DSDA organizations, which he condemns, had never published Rod literature?

He needs to step back and think deeply about what he is doing.

IS IT MY DUTY TO SET RIGHT THE LORD’S TREASURY?

Question No. 98:

   Should we pay our tithe to the “storehouse” if we know that it is not used rightly?

Answer:

   Knowing that our tithe belongs to God’s storehouse, our greatest burden should be to see that it is faithfully paid there. Nowhere in the Bible do we find that the Lord has laid upon any tithe payer the policing of the channels through which these funds pass.

The Lord’s treasury is under His control, and if He Himself should not see fit to correct an abuse in the handling of His money, certainly we could not correct it however hard we might try. If we guard carefully that part of His work which He entrusts to us, our only concern will be to find out where His “storehouse” is, and then faithfully to deposit His money there. He has not made us responsible for its use; that, He will personally take over–even as He is now “taking the reins in His own hands.”

   When the Promised Land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, the tribe of Levi received no land for an inheritance, as did the eleven tribes. Instead, the Lord decreed that the tithes of the other tribes were to go to the Levites. This was their inheritance. It was actually their own.

And just as they, as the tithe receivers, had no right to dictate to the others, the tithe payers, what to do with their own increase after it had been tithed, so the tithe payers had no right to dictate to the tithe receivers what to do with the tithe. Each tribe was itself to be accountable to the Lord for that which He had entrusted to it. Thus it must be today.(Answerer, vol. 4, p.46-47)

Now to the idea that we “hate” UPA7 and Edstrom. A few years ago, we were led by the Holy Spirit to publish the first Wikipedia article concerning the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists.See here — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Davidian_Seventh-day_Adventist

Very shortly after it appeared worldwide on Wikipedia, Edstrom inserted his own recommendation of UPA7.org onto our site. He did not stop there,  he further inserted one of his other sites “Shepherd’s Rod Speaks. org”. We should point out that Wikipedia site brings in well over 2000 views each month.

So today, and for the last couple years, two of his websites appear on our worldwide article under “original message” references. Did we fight this and try and eliminate his sites from our article? No we did not. Where’s the hatred? It’s not there.

Contrary to Edstrom who has time and again rebuked and condemned people in public venues for “stealing” his work and/or not giving him credit for something he thinks he deserves credit, implying that he has some type of ownership of the Rod truth (certain reports such as the Special Resurrection, and original Mt. Carmel camp pictures which were sister Bonnie Smith’s for example), we kindly allowed his information to be added to our work. We are not holding back anyone from access to his websites.

Strangely, Edstrom on his own UPA7 website , has this report from brother Houteff saying —

“He rejoices over the good fortune of others, and loves to have others receive credit for something he himself may have accomplished. He expects his credit from the Lord only. What his right hand does his left hand is kept in the dark about (Matt. 6:3, 4).” (A Letter Included With The Original Certificate of Fellowship Card )

In closing this part one, we believe that what he really is upset about is the fact that we do not actively promote his websites along with the ones he condemns.  There are very good Biblical reasons for that and we’ll go into this more in part two. Additionally we’ll look at some of his reasons why he condemns the current long time DSDA organizations and why we think it’s a big mistake to do so.

“There is nothing selfish or narrow in the religion of Christ. Its principles are diffusive and aggressive. It is represented by Christ as the bright light, as the saving salt, as the transforming leaven. With zeal, earnestness, and devotion the servants of God will seek to spread far and near the knowledge of the truth; yet they will not neglect to labour for the strength and unity of the church. They will watch carefully lest opportunity be given for diversity and division to creep in.

There have of late arisen among us men who profess to be the servants of Christ, but whose work is opposed to that unity which our Lord established in the church. They have original plans and methods of labour. They desire to introduce changes into the church to suit their ideas of progress and imagine that grand results are thus to be secured.

These men need to be learners rather than teachers in the school of Christ. They are ever restless, aspiring to accomplish some great work, to do something that will bring honour to themselves. They need to learn that most profitable of all lessons, humility and faith in Jesus.

Some are watching their fellow labourers and anxiously endeavouring to point out their errors, when they should rather be earnestly seeking to prepare their own souls for the great conflict before them. The Saviour bids them: “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”(Testimonies, vol. 5, p.238)

 

The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Angel of Revelation 14

As Seventh-day Adventists most of us are familiar with the first, second and third Angel’s messages. But when it comes to the fourth, fifth and sixth angel most of us do not have a clear understanding.

This is something we should not be ignorant about because the Lord in His infinite wisdom sent His Elijah prophet to us to explain the deep things of the Revelation.

The primary reason for this post is two-fold. One, to illuminate a little more about these angels. Two, to clear up a false teaching that is going around by some so-called “present truth” believers, that because Victor Houteff (Shepherd’s Rod) was the fourth angel and the Bible says there are two angels to follow (5th and 6th), then there must be another prophet(s) to come after VTH with another message to the SDA church. And because the sixth angel does not speak “cry aloud”, then by deduction it is supposed the fifth Angel must be a prophet that has a message.

We have noticed this frequent  mis-understanding lately on present truth Facebook groups, by those using this idea to bolster their belief that another prophet was to come after VTH.

Before we start, let us point out again that in order to stay within the hedge of Inspiration, we must always review what is said in the Lord’s restoring message–the Rod. Let us take out our SRod index and see what is said about our issue.

The Scripture that discusses the angels is located in Rev.14:14-19, let us read–

“14- And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle. 15- And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.

16- And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. 17- And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18- And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.

19- And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.”

The 4th and 5th angel are found as:

1. Fourth angel (15th verse)
2. Fifth angel (18th verse)

Note: the angel of verse 17 is known as the 6th angel, but he does not have a message(does not cry out)  although he is one of action.

Concerning the Scripture (Rev 14:14-19) the Rod references  found are as follows:

1. Sym.Code. vol. 2, no.12, p.8
2. Shep. Rod, vol. 1, p.104
3. Tract 3, p.48
4. TG, vol. 2, no.44, p.37-38
5. Shep. Rod , vol. 1, p.15

The first two references do not address our issue in identifying the angels, so we need to study references 3, 4 and 5.

“The angel’s message of Revelation 7–the angel ascending from the east–is as important as the first, second, and third angel’s messages of Rev. 14:6-11.  It must be understood and given to the people at the right time, as also the mighty angel of Rev. 18:1.  The loud cry must come at a given time.  This angel of Revelation 7, can not be the third angel, for John’s explanation of them differ. 

The three angels of Revelation 14 are flying in the midst of heaven, or where the sun stands at noon, but the one of Revelation 7, is ascending from the east, or the rising of the sun.  The message of this angel has never been understood at any time, nor proclaimed by this denomination or any other people, and only theories have been advanced.  It is evident that this truth, as other truths, must come at the right time.” (SRod, vol. 1, p.15)

Our prophet shows that this message of this fourth angel was never understood until it was prophetically revealed. And we know this revelation came in 1929 as the following shows–

“In 1844, as all Seventh-day Adventists know, Sister White was given a vision of the 144,000 signalizing the sealing angel’s starting his ascent from the east (Rev. 7:2-4).  From then on he was ascending, and the saints were awaiting his arrival.  Finally, in 1929, through the Sabbath School Lessons the Lord announced throughout the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination that the angel had arrived.” (SRod, pocket, p.10)  

Additional help on this angel is found in SOP –

“We are to throw aside our narrow, selfish plans, remembering that we have a work of the largest magnitude and highest importance. In doing this work we are sounding the first, second, and third angel’s messages, and are thus being prepared for the coming of that other angel from heaven who is to lighten the earth with his glory.”(Testimonies, vol. 6, p.406)

“I saw angels hurrying to and fro in heaven, descending to the earth, and again ascending to heaven, preparing for the fulfillment of some important event. Then I saw another mighty angel commissioned to descend to the earth, to unite his voice with the third angel, and give power and force to his message. Great power and glory were imparted to the angel, and as he descended, the earth was lightened with his glory.

The light which attended this angel penetrated everywhere, as he cried mightily, with a strong voice, “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.” The message of the fall of Babylon, as given by the second angel, is repeated, with the additional mention of the corruptions which have been entering the churches since 1844.

The work of this angel comes in at the right time to join in the last great work of the third angel’s message as it swells to a loud cry. And the people of God are thus prepared to stand in the hour of temptation, which they are soon to meet. I saw a great light resting upon them, and they united to fearlessly proclaim the third angel’s message.” (Early Writings, p.277)

So we should all be well grounded in the understanding of the fourth angel’s message– the Shepherd’s Rod publications.The reformation and sealing message of the 144,000.

Before we go further let us establish that, with the exception of the sixth angel,  these “angels” are not symbolical of either a literal angelic being or a literal human being. They are “messages” given from God.  Let us read —

“The angels are represented as flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming to the world a message of warning, and having a direct bearing upon the people living in the last days of this earth’s history. No one hears the voice of these angels, for they are a symbol to represent the people of God who are working in harmony with the universe of heaven. Men and women, enlightened by the Spirit of God and sanctified through the truth, proclaim the three messages in their order.” (2 Selected Messages, p.387)

Further we see in Revelation 14 that five distinct messages are brought to the church and the world —

“All classes of second advent believers agree, that the angel brought to view in the 6th, and 7th verses of this chapter, represents the advent message, to the church and world. If this is true, then all five of the angels brought to view in this chapter, represent five distinct messages, prior to the advent, or we are left without a rule to interpret this chapter.” (A Word to the Little Flock, p.10-11, or p.15 in later additions)

So we see that the fifth angel must have a message as well. And they all occur some time prior to the advent, otherwise known as the “second coming” of Christ.

In regard to the sixth angel, this one cannot represent a message as pointed out already.

As mentioned one of the primary reasons  for this post is to expose the false idea that one of the two other angels after the fourth is to be a message brought by a prophet to the SDA church.

For example, as an administrator of the very first Rod Facebook group called Truth Tellers, we have learned over time how to notice key words or phrases that indicate that someone wants to bring on TT the teaching of other prophets to come after VTH.

One of attempts is to show that the Spirit of Prophecy is to have a living prophet at all times in the church (even though they know that during the dark ages of hundreds of years no living prophet existed in God’s church). Then they go further and say things like this message we received–

“I would first point out that VTH is the 4th angel, not the 5th angel of Rev. 14. Do you agree?”

Many of these people don’t really know what they believe, let us now point out the folly of their thinking.

Let’s look at our last angel to investigate–the fifth angel.

Point number one: Let us answer this question–
When does this fifth angel arrive, before the Lord on the cloud does His reaping or after He does it?

For review let’s look at it once more —

” 15- And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. 16 – And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.  17- And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. 18- And another angel having authority over the fire came out of the altar, and he called in a loud cry to the one having the sharp sickle, saying, “Put forth your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, because its grapes have fully ripened.”

The answer is very clear — it is AFTER the Lord reaps in the first reaping (the 144,00). So the message of the fifth angel does not take place prior to Ezek.9. This effectively makes mute any idea that there is to be a prophet in the church today with a message, even the fifth angel. Yes, the fifth angel has a message but it is after the church purification and therefore will be a message to the world.

The Rod confirms this timing of events–

“Here we are again told that there are two reapings, one by the Son of Man, and another by an angel.  The reaping by the Son of Man precedes the reaping by the angel.  “Son of Man,” therefore, gathers the firstfruits, and the angel gathers the second fruits.  (The vines, not the fully ripe grapes, he casts in the wine press.)” (TG, vol. 2, no. 44, p.37)

After the message of the fifth angel goes out, he gives the order to the action angel, the 6th,  because the vine is “fully ripe”(world’s reaping) unlike the limited “ripe” condition (SDA church reaping) when the Lord does the initial reaping.

All those that use the fifth or sixth angel to point out as evidence that a prophet is to come to the SDA church prior to Ezek. 9 simply are foggy thinkers who have a false agenda to proclaim.

In closing my brethren let us not hold on to false fables which are built on a sandy foundation but rather to the solid foundation of the Lord and His word.

 

 

A Missing Tube?

(CLICK TO ENLARGE)

One of the long running controversies in Davidia land is the case of the so-called missing tube in the Zechariah Four Chart. And frankly we too were confused and bewildered for a while about this issue. But thankfully our Lord has promised–

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.”(John 16:13)

Here we see that if we are in real connection with the Most High we are guided into all truth. Now, let us look at the truth of this tube matter.

First, there is no doubt that several different Charts exist showing several different colors, type styles, and pictorial representations of the Zechariah vision.

Make no mistake the prophet drew the original and that Chart design should and must be used as our teaching Chart.

The above picture is a photo copy of an original Track six. On page 18 we see the Chart. Please click on it to enlarge. Now let us look closely at the Chart.

Notice under the large left pipe you will see that the Golden Bowl outline is interrupted by what is clearly TWO TUBES. When we add those two tubes with the others we get–seven tubes! No doubt about it. So apparently the often mis-diagnosed 5th tube (left to right) coming out of the 5th candlestick curves around in back of the bowl and comes out the opposite side of the bowl.

This mis-understanding and oversight has caused some brothers to insist that “only” six tubes enter into the bowl.

When a brother showed the above original Chart to us on a FB Rod group we were quite astounded. We had to do a double take even triple take. It is not difficult to see this if one closely examines the Chart, especially upon magnification. So this leads us to the question–Why the controversy about this issue?

From what we can gather it stems from a select few brethren (namely from Eric Edstrom of UPA7.org , Why Perish.org and Shepherd’s Rod Speaks.org) who have promoted mis-construed ideas and false assumptions  based on altered Charts. Even some have claimed to show “digitally enhanced” views of Zech. 4 yet they strangely do not clearly show the two tubes under that left pipe as shown above by the original Chart on Tract six. And their “enhancements” deceptively leave out certain markings made by the prophet as shown in the original.

It seems there has been some so-called “enhancements” to the Zech. 4 Chart that for one reason or another deviates from the original two tubes tucked under the left pipe, and in it’s place put a space and/or the bowl outline where there is neither in the original Chart as depicted in Tract six. So much for “enhancements”!

Additionally, we have concrete proof from the words spoken by the prophet himself. Let us look at the Rod and what the prophet said about his Chart. It is found in TG, vol. 1, no.14, p.17–

“Zech. 4:1-4 — “And the angel that talked with me came again, and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou?  And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and has seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof: and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof.  So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my Lord?”

   The illustration here exhibited, you note, is an exact reproduction of Zechariah’s symbolism.  In order that our study be simplified and vivid, we shall study the chapter along with the illustration.” (TG, vol. 1, no. 14, p.17)

The prophet says that the Chart drawn by him is an “exact reproduction of Zechariah’s symbolism.” So there is no doubt that the Chart must and does show seven “pipes” because that is the exact amount of pipes Zechariah says exists upon the “top thereof.”

Unfortunately some in Davidia have added to the original Chart by adding another tube near the top middle of the bowl in their remodeling of the Chart. We know the intentions mean well as it was done for the sake of Mother due to the lack of clarity and often mis-diagnosis of the original. However the original ALREADY shows the seven tubes–we do not need to improve on Inspiration.

Let us now see what the prophet himself says about the  seven tubes in more detail —

The Seven Golden Tubes

“If the “golden bowl” is that which contains the inspired interpretation of the Scriptures or the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy, and the lamps or churches are supplied with oil from the bowl through the seven golden tubes, then the ministry is represented by the tubes, whose duty is to feed the entire church with the inspired Word of God only.

This fact also is proven by the “Spirit of Prophecy,” as we read: “The golden oil represents the Holy Spirit.  With this oil God’s ministers are to be constantly supplied, that they, in turn, may impart it to the church.” — Id.,p. 188.  Note, the seven tubes (Ministry) draw the oil from the golden bowl, not direct from the olive trees (Scriptures).

This divinely illustrated lesson is too plain to be misunderstood, or its meaning misconstrued.” (SRod, vol. 2, p.285)

We see clearly Inspired words– “the lamps or churches are supplied with oil from the bowl through the seven golden tubes.

A timely question to now ask would be– Do we have evidence that brother Houteff took very seriously his work in drawing the Charts? Was he pin point accurate or was his work just kind of a loose composition?

We have the evidence to show he was pin point accurate here–

“The next thing to note is the event which caused the Book to be opened.  For a ready comprehension, I have reproduced a pen drawing of the event.  And I may mention that I have been very careful to pen it exactly as John describes it.

Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, No. 12 25

For lack of space, though, the myriads of angels round about the throne are missing in the drawing.  Here is the drawing:..”

We see that the prophet took very serious his work in producing the Charts — “I  have been very careful to pen it exactly as John describes it.” 

Further if all was not to be put into the Chart as it should be done, the prophet made sure to point it out, “the myriad of angels round about the throne are missing in the drawing.”

Logically, a missing tube, which we would argue is more obvious, would be pointed  out just as the missing angels were.

Then we have this as well–
“Any interpretation of symbolical prophecies that do not perfectly fit the explanation given is never to be depended upon.” (SRod, vol. 2, p.30)

Please keep that reference firmly in mind as we look at the following description.

Ok, lastly let us look at unmistakable evidence that the Lord shed plain description of what the symbolism shows–

Let us now summarize the lesson by the aid of the illustration. Here we see a candlestick (a church) all of gold, the finest of all candlesticks (no “tares” in it). It constitutes the remnant (those that are left after the sinners are done away with) which indeed keep the commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ, the Spirit of Prophecy (Rev. 12:17; 19:10).

Before we go further, let us note that the words spoken must match his drawing– by the aid of the illustration.    We know that the following descriptions must match his written illustration.

This fine candlestick is fully trimmed and burning. The two golden pipes (God’s inspired interpreters) store the golden oil in the golden bowl (Spirit of Prophecy publications). And the seven tubes (the entire ministry) convey from the golden bowl the golden oil to the seven golden lamps (to the entire laity).

Under this perfect system of preparing, and dispensing the Word of God, “meat in due season,” to His people, there need be no fear that the reservoir will run dry, or that the lamps will grow dim. This is the only system, moreover, that can make the church perfect, without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing — a people without guile in their mouths, all seeing eye to eye,

Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 14 22

all saying the same thing. Truly “a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like.” Joel 2:2. This beyond doubt is the mighty power that lightens the earth, it is the Loud Cry. Indeed this symbolism reveals the church at the time she is endowed with the Spirit of Prophecy and with the righteousness of Christ.

This fine candlestick is fully trimmed and burning. The two golden pipes (God’s inspired interpreters) store the golden oil in the golden bowl (Spirit of Prophecy publications). And the seven tubes (the entire ministry) convey from the golden bowl the golden oil to the seven golden lamps (to the entire laity).

Under this perfect system of preparing, and dispensing the Word of God, “meat in due season,” to His people, there need be no fear that the reservoir will run dry, or that the lamps will grow dim. This is the only system, moreover, that can make the church perfect, without spot, wrinkle, or any such thing — a people without guile in their mouths, all seeing eye to eye,

Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, No. 14 22

all saying the same thing. Truly “a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like.” Joel 2:2. This beyond doubt is the mighty power that lightens the earth, it is the Loud Cry. Indeed this symbolism reveals the church at the time she is endowed with the Spirit of Prophecy and with the righteousness of Christ.”

No doubt about it, this symbolism depicts the “perfect system” in the time of the Loud Cry. Is there to be six tubes coming from the Golden Bowl in the time of the Loud Cry? Absolutely not! Seven is the number of perfection and we must stand firmly upon God’s word and chart as drawn by brother Houteff.

Let us no longer be confused but stand upon the strong foundation of Truth here, my brothers and sisters. People like Eric Edstrom are simply wanting to promote something unique for the sake of a following and to self exalt themselves–don’t be fooled. See beyond their tricks. (see our post- Sad Saga, part 1 and 2)

Time is so short we don’t have time to proclaim confusion and false ideas to one another. Mother is watching let us not forget.

For those who continue to claim that there is only six tubes entering the bowl, let them cease from their unrighteous teachings and come over to the side of Truth before it’s too late.

“..those who advocate error will say, “The Lord saith,” “when the Lord hath not spoken.” They testify to falsehood, and not to truth.” (Testimonies to Ministers, p.43)

“..those who desire to know the truth must carefully mark every word, otherwise they will never comprehend the truth and, as a consequence, they will be driven by the winds as the waves of the sea until the winds cease blowing (probation closes), and they be left to sink down in their sins as do the waves in the sea.” (SC, vol. 2 no.7-8, p.10)

Not only every word but we should mark each and every mark written on the Charts to know the Truth as well. May the Lord bless and guide you into all Truth.

(Special thanks to brother Brian Graham for bringing this original Tract to our attention)

Lennox Sam — “Two Churches, DSDA and SDA” Part 2 of 2

In continuing our post we shall now look at the other references of which Lennox Sam uses to teach that there are two separate and distinct churches. As mentioned we are attempting to review these because we want to know whether he indeed is professing truth as it is written in the Lord’s Rod, or whether they are kindling of his own private ideas and purposes.

The next reference he uses is found in Tract 4, p.57 and 66.

“Through this personified prophecy, we see that the Lord is not now calling forth a “new”  denomination, even though the ministry continues to take the membership rights from the adherents of this reformatory message.  Consequently, for its successful delivery to the entire sisterhood of churches, our banding ourselves into a body of workers as a movement within a movement, has been forced upon us.  In brief, we are to confine  our message strictly to the old organization, as did the apostles with their message.  For the first three and a half years after the resurrection, they were commissioned to put forth

Tract 4                            57

all their effort in behalf of their parent organization only, the last in the Old Testament  period; likewise, the Davidians are commissioned to put forth an all-out effort in behalf of their  parent, the Laodicean organization, the last in the New Testament period.”

*********************************

The instructions in The Shepherd’s Rod, Vol. 1, p. 251, “Pay your honest tithe and offering to your church, and feel that ‘IT IS’ your Father’s house,” came near the close of 1930, before the leading brethren, as a denomination, had rejected the sealing message.  Clearly, then, The Shepherd’s Rod has faithfully discharged its duty in refusing to accept any tithes or offerings until after the books were scattered throughout the denomination,  and after the brethren began bitterly to oppose the message.  Now, though, since the opposition is no longer passive, but intensely active, and the proclamation of the message supremely urgent, the only course open is apparent.  It will take an army of workers, including the tithes and offerings, to reach the people.

   Consequently, as our leading brethren have inadvertently shown themselves unworthy

Tract 4                            66

stewards of God’s “storehouse” for the time of the “Loud Cry of the Third Angel’s Message,”  He has transferred the “candlestick” and is also calling for the tithes and offerings to be transferred into “His storehouse” of Present Truth. 

The above is quite packed with present truth and particularly truth about our church situation. Let us carefully review what is said.

The clear points are thus:

1. We as DSDA are not a new denomination.
2. We must bond together to proclaim a movement WITHIN a movement.
3. We are to CONFINE OUR MESSAGE TO THE OLD ORGANIZATION (SDA Church).
4. An ALL-OUT EFFORT toward the Laodicean church NOT towards the DSDA “church”as Lennox Sam says.
5. The storehouse of truth no longer rests with the SDA church but is now with the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists.

Wow, is not the above facts clear? We see that although LS uses the above Inspired references they not only teach contrary to his ideas they explicitly show that we are specifically called to warn and teach Mother, the SDA church. That is our job , our calling as Elijah messengers.

If one is to believe LS then one has to change all the above instructions, instead teach that they are saying that we as DSDA must–

1. Proclaim our message to DSDA, not the “old organization.”
2. We should no longer involve ourselves in SDA studies of present truth but rather make our movement an outside movement(DSDA studies with DSDA), as opposed to Inspiration’s call for a “within” movement.
3. Use the fact that because we now pay our Tithes to the DSDA storehouse, we now can abandon Mother (SDA church) because we are a separate church with a separate message.

His last reference is White House Recruiter, p.33–

“Everything that can be done against God’s message of today will be done with even a greater vengeance than was manifest against Heaven’s message in the days of Christ’s first advent, for the Devil knows that if he loses now, he loses forever — that he is to have no other chance. Unparalleled, therefore, is the urgency that every eleventh-hour church member now quickly and solidly brace himself against the Enemy’s effort to deliver a knockout blow.  We must be alert, too, to realize that the blow is to come from surprisingly unsuspected foes — from professed friends of the gospel, who are no less pious than were priests in Christ’s day.  It is, moreover, but to be expected that the Adversary will employ every agency possible to prevent the Lord from disclosing to view His now obscure 144,000 first-fruit servants, who are to go gather in the second fruits (Rev. 7:9).  The Enemy will try everything conceivable to confuse, becloud, and cover up the Truth, especially on the subject of the 144,000.”

We suppose that LS uses this reference because the Rod calls us an “eleventh hour church member”. However, the Inspired words above teach opposite his teachings as we’ll explain.

As shown already, we know that WITHIN the SDA church exists the DSDA movement, which the Rod calls the “eleventh hour church”. Yet although it calls us this NO WHERE in all the Rod does it tell us to come out of the SDA church and go proclaim a message only to the DSDA! This is Lennox Sam’s great error!

It’s no secret that once one becomes a follower of LS, Mother our beloved church is put on the back burner. In fact the LS movement for the most part abandons all proclaiming of the Elijah message to Mother!

In closing, we have reviewed all the references LS uses to base his “two churches” ideas. As shown there is absolutely no basis from Inspiration to proclaim that the DSDA is a separate and distinct church with a separate message solely to itself.

Satan is busy trying to get us off the straight and narrow, and Lennox Sam’s teachings not only take us off this path, they will plunge us into the abyss! Brothers and sisters be on guard, we have no time to waste with false teachings and following a man who clearly is trying to inject his own pipe into the Golden Bowl.

“..Satan’s supreme effort at at this hour must be to cause the time to be wasted and the work undone.” (Answerer, vol. 1, p.6, Q-4)

 

Lennox Sam — “Two Churches, DSDA and SDA” Part 1 of 2

One of the key teachings of Lennox Sam is the idea that there now exists “two churches” consisting of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist church. This is one of his main doctrinal beliefs and other beliefs stem from it. Let us read what appears on his website under “Supplemental Beliefs in the Shepherd’s Rod Message”.

• That the Seventh-day Adventist Denomination, modern Israel (twelve tribes), consist of two churches; the Ninth-hour Church (S. D. A. Church) and the Eleventh-hour Church (D. S. D. A. Church); coincident with ancient Israel after the death of King Solomon, namely Judah and Israel. Thus, the D. S. D. A. Church is a church within a church or a “movement within a movement”, whatever the movement is, so is the movement within the movement. Pursuant to Matt 20:6; SR2: 93.2; TN4: 57.4, 66.3; WHR: 33.2.

Now obviously the above statement uses the selected Inspired references to back up his beliefs. And we are assuming that Sam shows us the best he’s got due to the fact that these only are used in his supremely important “supplemental beliefs”.So let us now examine each of those references to see if they indeed show two different churches, each separate and distinct from the other.

To begin we shall look at the first one-  Matthew 20:6

“About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ he asked.”

Obviously LS sees in this Word a basis of promoting his belief in –two churches. On the face of it, we know that requires a gigantic far-fetched stretch. There must be more to it, in other words teachings connected to it to use it as a basis for his doctrine. LS must somehow use his interpretive analysis to use it thus.

But how about using the Rod Scriptural Index? The reference book that shows ALL statements by Inspiration (SRod writings) in connection with Matt. 20:6? Yes, I think we’d all agree this should be our mode of operation to arrive at the truth of this matter.

In review of Matt.20:6 references the Rod uses we find–

A. 2 TG 43:7  B. WHR, p.13, 24-25  C. 8 Tract, p. 60  D. 2 SR, p.9

E. Entering Wedge, p.48  F.2 SR, p.222, 229-231  G. 2 TG 18:22

H. MCTC , p.5  I. Leviticus, p.5  J. FB, p.28

Obviously due to time and space we cannot go over each one of these references in detail, but we ask each reader to review each one of these. You, too, if being guided by the Spirit of Truth, will find absolutely NO REFERENCE  to the idea of two churches being separate from one another as LS tries to surmise.

Yes the message says the DSDA is a “movement within a movement” but the key word is–within. LS tries to say our movement is –without. He teaches the current present truth is the imminent DSDA purification as opposed to the long-established Rod teaching that the SRod message is to “Mother” our SDA church.

As we mentioned LS has to promote the idea of two churches because of his other teachings that stem from this. Such as his teaching that the “Eleventh hour Church” (DSDA) must have a first Ezekiel 9 church judgment that is prior to the “ninth hour Church”(SDA). This study of his is known as –the reckoning. This teaching is also one of his prominent teachings listed in his supplemental beliefs. We may delve into this in a later post, but rest assured the holes in that teaching are just as wide and far-fetched as the two churches idea.

Let us examine his second reference —  SRod, vol. 2, p.93

“As it has been proven, and generally accepted that the “seven churches” of Revelation, chapters two and three, represented the history of the church in the Christian era, it is evident that the church was split in seven sections.  The Laodicean being the last, she is also in danger of falling according to the testimony

Shepherd’s Rod book, Vol. 2                     92

of the true Witness: “So then because thou are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Rev. 3:16.)  God has sent message after message to give light upon His written Word.  They were intended to correct error, rebuke sin, and reprove the sinner; but the leaders of each section threw out the messages, and the few who were willing to sacrifice all for the truth were forced to part from the churches and march on with the light. 

Were the leaders willing to correct their errors and purify the church, there would have been but one section.  By the denial of the truth each section cut itself off from the mighty arm of God.  Thus, not one of these churches have had additional light on the Scriptures other than that which was imparted to them by the founders of each movement.  

The fact proves the prophetic Word of God correct, and the older the section the greater the condemnation.  Therefore, these churches are represented by the “heads”; the “blasphemy” over them, denotes their fall.  Should they refuse this last call also then the revelation of these facts would be against them, and will bring their final ruin.” (SRod, vol. p.93)

Now it is not spiritual rocket science to see the following clear points made by Inspiration in regards to the SDA church.

1. There  are “seven” churches representing the history of the Christian era.

2. The “Laodicean church” is the last church, the seventh.

3. The last church, the SDA,  is in danger of rejecting it’s specific                 message given it.

So where is the basis for LS using this quote to say there are “eight” churches during the Christian era? It is no where to be found, unless one is seriously handicapped by lack of the Spirit of Truth working in their life!

Additional evidence clarifying the DSDA as part of the SDA is found in Sym. Code, vol. 2, no. 5, p.10.

“I have never taught nor published anything to the effect that there is to be another church besides the seven churches of the Revelation, chapters Two and Three. These seven prophetic sections of church history cover the period while the wheat and tares are growing together.

However, we do teach that the last, the Laodicean, is to be purified, and that this pure state of the seventh church is symbolized by the candle-stick of the fourth chapter of Zechariah which, true enough, is the eighth in number so far as candlesticks are concerned and which, though in one sense must be an eighth church, in another sense is still the seventh because it is made up purely of the members from the Laodicean church — the first fruits — before the ingathering of the second fruits, and that the tares, or those who failed to receive the seal are destroyed by the slaughter weapons as shown to Ezekiel in vision.

Thus the last of the seven churches emerges from an undesirable state into a glorious one without becoming a new denomination.” (See “The Shepherd’s Rod,” Vol. 2, p. 284).

So we see that while one can say that the “purified” SDA church (post Ezek. 9) produces the “eighth” church, it is still of the seventh. A “movement WITHIN a movement” to produce the “ingathering of the second fruits.”

In closing our  first part of our study, we see that Lennox’s Sam’s foundation is simply built on his own fallacious ideas. So far there appears absolutely no SRod foundation on which to cling to his private ideas, lest one goes down a road the Rod clearly warns us–

“Everything that can be done will be done to distort the Truth and thus distract and dishearten believers and draw their attention to something other than the message of Elijah.

   Thus will be the Devil’s deal while the day of God is approaching, and while Elijah is making the announcement of it as the scroll unrolls and while the prophecies concerning the day of God are being unsealed.   His work and his interpretation of the prophecies for the great day will identify him as the promised Elijah the prophet (“Testimonies to Ministers,” p. 475), and this will enrage the Devil as never before. 

Nevertheless, one’s only safety will be in the teaching of Elijah, for there will be no other voice of timely Truth and authority to whom one may turn.  Any others will lead their victims blind-folded into perdition.” (GCS, p.7-8)

The Sealed fate of the Israelites–Murmuring

In the story of the great exodus of  Moses leading God’s people out of Egypt, we look back and see the great sin– murmuring.

As we know the Lord time and again did great and miraculous things in front of their eyes yet STILL that did not remove their spirit of unbelief. Oh how sad! But what is just as sad is that today this spirit is still very much alive and has taken a root not only in the SDA but also in the DSDA.

We as present truth believers, as we know, have been given the highest and brightest light on the planet. The truth known by us cannot be surpassed yet Satan and his angels, through their wiles have  led some of us to do the very thing that cause out Lord to reject His people of old–murmur.

Let us review that first exodus.

“And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron: and the whole congregation said unto them, would God that we had died in the land of Egypt! or would God we had died in this wilderness! And wherefore hath the LORD brought us unto this land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should be a prey? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.”(Numbers 14:2-4)

Here we see clearly that the people had rejected God’s chosen leader, thereby rejecting the Lord! As we continue to read the sorrowful story of these people we realize that there survived only TWO adults over the age of 20 that made it to the promise land–Joshua and Caleb.

So all of us should know the ramifications of unbelief as exposed by murmuring , right? You would think, but as we open our eyes and ears today we realize that this same murmuring has not changed or disappeared among us. Let us look at two current examples.

Brother D is a long time believer of the Lord’s Rod. He has studied it well for about 30 years. He prides himself in knowing the ins and outs of the prophecies as expounded upon by our last prophet–Victor Houteff.

Sister H  is a fairly newbie to the message of the hour. She is still studying it and is learning it well. Yours truly has supported her in her efforts to get material (books, Tracts, etc.).

We found out that brother D has some phone conference studies and we began to listen. Very well done we thought, despite our disagreement in some of the points presented. So we invited sister H to come and listen.

Soon sister H was thrilled to listen in to the studies. Later she requested to speak to brother D and they soon did.

The subject of Tithes as we all know is very important. And during their conversation this subject had come up. We had given sister H good helpful advice and material guiding her to the fact that despite our financial condition or circumstances, we MUST NOT neglect our Tithes.

Well, apparently our long time Rod believer has other ideas. He led our sister to understand that the current main organizations are not doing the right things and are therefore unworthy of our Tithes. In other words “just hold on to them and do as you think is right.”

In other words he was influencing her to NOT be faithful in Tithe paying due to what he perceives as “wrong doing”, not doing this right or the other.

Now this is exactly the opposite of what the message teaches as evidenced here–

IS IT MY DUTY TO SET RIGHT THE LORD’S TREASURY?

Question No. 98:

   Should we pay our tithe to the “storehouse” if we know that it is not used rightly?

Answer:

   Knowing that our tithe belongs to God’s storehouse, our greatest burden should be to see that it is faithfully paid there. Nowhere in the Bible do we find that the Lord has laid upon any tithe payer the policing of the channels through which these funds pass.

   The Lord’s treasury is under His control, and if He Himself should not see fit to correct an abuse in the handling of His money, certainly we could not correct it however hard we might try. If we guard carefully that part of His work which He entrusts to us, our only concern will be to find out where His “storehouse” is, and then faithfully to deposit His money there. He has not made us responsible for its use; that, He will personally take over–even as He is now “taking the reins in His own hands.”

   When the Promised Land was divided among the twelve tribes of Israel, the tribe of Levi received no land for an inheritance, as did the eleven tribes. Instead, the Lord decreed that the tithes of the other tribes were to go to the Levites. This was their inheritance. It was actually their own.

And just as they, as the tithe receivers, had no right to dictate to the others, the tithe payers, what to do with their own increase after it had been tithed, so the tithe payers had no right to dictate to the tithe receivers what to do with the tithe. Each tribe was itself to be accountable to the Lord for that which He had entrusted to it. Thus it must be today. (Answerer vol. 4, p.46-47)

Further, what this truly amounts to is –murmuring! This brother no doubt has convinced himself that because God’s leaders are not doing the right thing, he is justified to make his own house the Lord’s storehouse. Again we read–

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?

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!

   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.

   “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. (Answerer, vol. 4, p. 44-45)

Do we truly think that our murmuring today is somehow different? Somehow excusable? No!

Our Lord’s word applies –

“I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3)

Let us look at our second case, that of sister C.

She is also a long time “professed” believer in the Rod. She has been very active in the Lord’s latest avenue of spreading His final message-Facebook.

But over the years we have noticed one unmistakable trait. That is that she neglects to post studies or other helpful encouraging present truth  for criticizing and discouraging comments. Time and again when our studies have been about Tithes, she has always been the first to make comments condemning the main current organizations for their “wrong doing.”

Yet privately when warned repeatedly that she is murmuring, she has rejected the idea that she is doing wrong. Just as with brother D, she too has exalted her own position and declared that “she” is entitled to dispense the Tithes as “she” sees fit.

Wow! Blindness is indeed Satan’s handy work! But what makes this especially sad is that these are not people who are ignorant of His last message. They know the Rod or at least should know it.

“There is a certain element whom even God Himself cannot convince that He has taken the reins in His Own hands.  They never take orders from any but themselves.  Such independent ones will continue to question and criticize everything in which they themselves have no part.  So regardless of their profession, of what they think or say, they are not God’s people.  His real people, He declares, are able to take orders even from women and children.” (TG, vol.1, no.5, p.20-21)

In closing my brothers and sisters, let us not be like the Israelites, who questioned and criticized God’s work. Their murmuring was their undoing, let it not be ours.