The Placement of Half Hour silence of Ezekiel 9

Recently, as the Spirit guided, we were involved in a few studies concerning the “placement” of half hour silence of Ezek.9.

Before we delve into that, one of the study presenters made a good and often overlooked point concerning Ezekiel 9. That is that we as present truth believers all too often teach that Ezekiel 9 is primarily about the church judgment–the slaughter. But, if we take time to notice, Ezekiel 9 is much more.

The chapter deals with the marking as well. This part of the Scripture is just as important to deal with as the result of those not receiving the mark. Brother C, the presenter said —

“I must start by saying we must never make it appear that Christ is unjust so when we read any statement that talks about Ezekiel 9 we must say that Ezekiel 9 is inclusive of both sealing and then a Slaughter there must be a time given to the people prior to him cutting them down.”

So our first point in this post is that we should keep in mind that any study we do about Ezekiel 9, unless it’s about a specific point, we should spend time dealing with the saving aspect–the marking.

That being said we will now deal with the time placement of this most solemn church judgment.

The questions we will address is–

1. When does the half hour silence take place?
2. Does it take place during or after the first judicial session (Judgment for the dead) or does it take place during the second session (Judgment for the living)?
3. Does the Rod message give us a good idea on this question?

This matter came about while listening to brother C’s phone conference study. Frankly, he made some interesting points backed up by the Rod and Scripture. However as I listened something did not click. He was fuzzy in a few areas. So I decided to look further into this subject.

Actually I had already had a good study of this matter with another brother, brother R, and this led me to discover a clear idea of when the placement of the half hour silence comes.

As with any study, we are to find and use specific references to back up our ideas, lest we be found inserting our own tubes into the Spirit of Prophecy bowl.

Brother C left many with the idea that the half hour silence really is not the Ezekiel 9 church judgment but “the time absorbed in closing one session and preparing for another” per Track 15. Which we as present truth believers know, flies in to face of what we generally know as established truth.

Yes Tract 15 does say, “The truth therefore is trouble-free: Between the Judgment of the dead and the Judgment of the living stands the half-hour silence, the time absorbed in bringing the first Judicial session to a close and in preparing for the second session.”(Page 67)

We cannot go into all the points he made to try to establish his views but we wanted to point this out and then we can further see how this cannot be. It appeared that brother C was trying to teach that the half hour silence is a “preparation time” versus the actual slaying of the unsealed ones in the church.

Ok let us get down to business. First in order to do a serious study we should know the Rod quotes that pertain to Rev. 8:1

Tract 3, p.47 , Tract 5,p.32, Tract 9, p.54, Tract 15, p.17-18,64-67, SRod vol.1, p.127, SRod vol. 2, p.214,  SC vol.2,no.5-6,p.10, SC vol.2, no.11, p.6, SC vol.3, no.1, p.10

We suggest you review all of these to get a good view of the issue.

Our first reference is so plain that to misunderstand it means that Truth cannot make sense to us–

“Revelation 8:1, speaking of the silence in Heaven for the space of half an hour, proves to be the event of the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9. At which time “shall Michael stand up.” It is at this juncture that Christ puts on His garments of vengeance and surprises the hypocrites in Zion. See “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, p. 690.(2 SC, no.5,6. p.10)

“proves to be the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9”.  In plain and clear words we see that the half hour silence is the fulfillment of Ezekiel 9.Let us note, as mentioned above, Ezekiel 9 starts with the sealing(marking), which began to take place in 1929-1930. So there has been many years in which Ezekiel 9 has taken place, the sealing part that is.

The next statement really helps us nail down “when” the fulfillment part takes place.

WHEN ARE THE TARES JUDGED?

Question No. 1:

   “If the investigative judgment for the living does not begin till after Ezekiel Nine, please tell me when the ‘tares’ in the S.D.A. church are judged, for they are living when the sealing message comes.”

Answer:

   We have no special light on this question other than that the judgment of the living begins after the slaughter of Ezekiel Nine
and if the “tares” must be judged in the period of the dead, then they must be judged, their names blotted out, after the slaughter and just before the commencement of the judgment of the living saints. (SC, vol.2, no.11, p.6)

Wow! Did we catch what is said here? It appears that the final act within the first session, the judgment of the dead, is the fulfillment of Ezek.9. This indicates that the judgment execution happens WITHIN the half hour silence, and prior to the official opening of the second session when the voices resume.

Also let us stop and think for a moment. We all know that Ezekiel 9 is described as the Lord’s “strange act” (Isaiah 28:21). Now who among us really thinks that heavenly beings will be talking while the Lord commissions His angels to slay the masses? Of course not! This act MUST require all heavenly beings observing it to be–silent!

It would be similar to the president holding a news conference to declare war and people in  the room are holding conversations while he speaks. A tremendous dis-respect to the leader and disdain to his authority.

Let’s clarify this a little more. In correspondence to brother R, the point was made–

“But John, having been shown the entire judicial proceeding, describes the Judgment in three parts, in three different sittings: one before the half hour’s silence (Rev. 8:1), one after it, and a third one during the thousand years (Rev. 20:11, 12).  This truth is seen from the following facts:

   During the period of the six seals, while the first session of the Judgment is on, the four beasts rest not day and night, saying, “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Rev. 4:8. 

But when the seventh seal is opened,there is silence in heaven (the beasts hold their peace, also the “lightnings,” the “thunderings,” and the “voices” cease — Rev. 4:5) “about the space of half an hour.” Rev. 8:1. 

The silence clearly  reveals that the first session of the Judicial  proceedings comes to a close, and that the second session commences after the silence is over.” (Tract 15, p.17-18)

Notice it says , “The silence clearly  reveals that the first session of the Judicial  proceedings comes to a close..”  

The term “comes to a close” certainly leaves room for the fact that , as the Rod indicated , Ezek. 9 execution of judgment, can take place at the close of the first session, prior to the beginning of the second.It does not say it is–closed.

“As we have seen, the silence divides the two pre-millennial Judicial sessions, the one for the dead and the other for the living, and the fire from the heavenly altar, the voices, lightnings, and thunderings, descend to earth.”(Tract 15, p.65)

Again, this division must be looked at as the “comes to the close” of the first session, and the act of the slaying takes place within it. The Lord appears to jam much work into this half hour(7 days), as not only the slaying but the preparation is occurring during this short span of half hour–7 days approx.

Additionally, the pieces start to all come together when we realize that the parable of the 10 virgins shows that some foolish “virgins” (SDA members) will be alarmed and realize they are lost. The only way they can be alarmed is when something startles them and shocks them.

We all know that nearly all of the current SDA leaders and teachers are neither alarmed or worried, even if they hear the Rod message and Ezekiel 9! Neither do they now come to us to buy the oil of present truth.

The half hour which is 7 days gives the lost some time to come to their shocking realization that they failed to “buy” the necessary oil. Then they go to those who possess the oil and beg for an understanding of what happened (Ezek.9). Read SRod, vol. 2, p.180-186.

This is another study all in itself, but we can see that the message does answers all our questions as to time placement of the half hour. So let us be deep thinkers and close studiers so that it can truly be said of us —

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.” (John 16:13)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An In-depth Study of 2 TG , No. 37 (Part 2 of 2)

In this part 2 post we shall be specifically looking at two areas of our specific study quote mentioned in part 1 – (2 TG, no.37, p.14-15)

1. What is meant by “This law, of course, we today must not observe, except in antitype..”?
2. What is meant by “But since we are living in the Christian era, if we should now observe the typical sacrificial law and system, we should thereby demonstrate unbelief in Christ, Who has come.”?

Obviously we need a correct and true understanding of these statements as they give us a serious warning from the Lord.

One of the most used statements to justify the feast keeping is point 1. They say, “See, we are to observe the feast days because there is an anti-type observance.” Then they go on to say that keeping the feast days today, in anti-type, means observing the days but without the sacrifices. This apparently honors the Lord in their thinking.

But the following Inspired statement says one of us, the feast keepers or us who do not subscribe to them, are one of the two parties, the deceived party.

“Also in these scripture (Rev. 6:14-17), asserts the Spirit of Truth, “two parties are brought to view.  One party permitted themselves to be deceived, and took sides with those with whom the Lord has a controversy.  They misinterpreted the messages sent them, and clothed themselves in robes of self-righteousness.” — Testimonies, Vol. 9, p. 268.

“In these verses are pictured the fate, the fear, and the smitten conscience of all who are not able to stand in the day of the Judgment of the living, the great and dreadful day of the Lord — the wrath of the Lamb in the great “time of trouble such as never was” (Dan. 12:1), the day following the appearance of the antitypical “Elijah the prophet” (Mal. 4:5) — yes, the day in which those who have not clad themselves in the wedding garment, are cast into outer darkness, there to gnash their teeth (Matt. 22:11-13).” (Tract 15, p.57)

The question is– is feast keeping a way of showing a false self-righteousness? One of us, them or us, will fulfill “are not able to stand in the day of the judgment of the living..”We must get to the bottom of this because this issue is–salvational!

Ok  what is meant by the observance in “anti-type”, our point 1? Does the message clearly tell us? Yes it does.

Here is the Rod explanation of obeying the ceremonial days in anti- type–

1) The prophet speaks about our issue and lays foundations–

“..the Truth of the Judgment of the Living, the which is to forever separate the wheat from the tares (Matt. 13:30), the good fish from the bad (Matt. 13:47, 48), the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:32), and the wise virgins from the foolish ones (Matt. 25:1-12). These shall “no more pass through” the church, declares the scripture, they are “utterly cut off.” Thus urging Judah, the church, to keep this antitypical atonement feast and to perform her vows to God so as to be found worthy of escaping the judgments of God.( TG, Vol. 1 No. 3, p.15)

2) Does the prophet tell us what the meaning of to “keep they solemn feasts” mean?

“Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts [the truth of the sanctuary], perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off.” Nah. 1:15. (Tract 4, p.61)

AH! The restoring prophet said that to keep the feasts we must have the “truth of the sanctuary.”

 

3) What is the “truth of the Sanctuary” or  “Sanctuary truth”?

The Bible is the revelation of creation and redemption in Christ – Creator and Redeemer. Therefore, the Sabbath and the Sanctuary constitute “The Truth.” (See Hebrews 9:10, 4:4-10.) Thus these two doctrines are coupled together, cannot be separated, and bear the whole truth.   “How do we keep the Sanctuary truth? It is kept, not in type, but in anti-type. By faith we believe that Christ, our High Priest, in the heavenly sanctuary is officiating in our behalf, as it was taught in type by the earthly sanctuary, built by Moses. As Israel complied with the requirements of its service in the type, so we must in the anti-type. Thus we “proclaim the truth [Sabbath and Sanctuary] more fully.” (2 SROD, p.138-139)

So by faith we are observing the Sanctuary truth , not by TYPE (literal observance) as the people of Moses’ day did.

So what does the above God Inspired words really tell us?

1) Tract 4, page 61 establishes what keeping feasts mean = observing and believing the truth of the sanctuary
2) What does that mean? “By FAITH we believe Christ, our high Priest, IN THE HEAVENLY SANCTUARY IS OFFICIATING IN OUR BEHALF.  Moses and his followers were the TYPE observance and now we observe IN THE ANTI-TYPE.
3) Anti type is what? Believing in CHRIST doing the services in our behalf, not us performing  and keeping the feasts in type (regardless of sacrifices or not)
4) We notice the prophet makes no reference to any separation from sacrifices and  non-sacrificial ceremonial observance–none what so ever!

Now, let us look at point 2.

Obviously the prophet is warning us that we will show “unbelief in Christ” should we observe the Ceremonial “system”. Ok, let us ponder this warning thoroughly .

In 1844 our church was founded by the Lord. Ever since then has performing animal sacrifices been a concern for us as a people? Absolutely not! This practice is so far removed that to even warn us as a people with — “we today must not observe” as pertaining to animal sacrifices would be an insult to our intelligence and understanding, correct?

This would be on par as the Apostles warning the people to keep the Sabbath. We know that they did not write of this in the Holy Word, as it was well understood that the 4th Commandment was to be observed and obeyed. In fact this absurd idea is often promoted by the Sunday keepers as to why we don’t need to keep the Sabbath!

So what is the point here? It is that when the prophet warned us not to observe the Ceremonial system, he was NOT talking about sacrifices!

It was about the only other issue applicable here– Ceremonial observance without the sacrifices! There can be no other sensible deduction.

So there we have it, two solid points to confront our mis-guided brothers and sisters who may come to us with this mis-guided understanding.

Let us be prepared to “..be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear..”(1 Peter 3:15)

“…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)

 

 

An In-depth Study of 2 TG , No. 37 (Part 1 of 2)

Once again we are led by the Spirit who guides into all Truth to discuss a familiar topic , a truly important topic to know and be grounded in today.

Let us first go back to the very beginning, the time of Adam and Eve. Their lesson is one that we can use to help show Satan’s long tried and too often successful method of twisting and supplanting God’s truth.

The very first supplanting came when Eve , along with Adam was told by God in no uncertain terms to “not eat” of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and if they did they would “surely die.”

Satan later caught Eve alone close to the tree and then after engaging her about the tree Satan sprang his first twisting of God’s word upon his first victim and said “You will NOT surely die.”

This same ploy has been used ever since, and that is to make God’s word say something it clearly does not say. In other words — to say something opposite of what God means it to say. All to the detriment of his victims, those who employ his method, and those who follow the teachers of this method, his handy supplant servants.

Recently we were involved once again in an email study. It was only a few days but it turned out to be the motivation for a report on the above Timely Greeting report.

As we have pointed many times, one  of the leading snares today is that of the feast keeping doctrine. Recently we heard that the leader of the Bashan group, bro. Trevor Bingham has invited a large feast keeping group, who also claim to profess the Rod, to their large property to share together the Passover feast days  as one big family of believers. Yes, this is correct and not a typo!

What bro. Trevor and his council seem to forget is that Scripture clearly condemns inviting those who teach and practice damnable doctrines (ie. feast keeping as a requirement today) into our home.

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. (2 John 1:10-11)

In the following report we will show conclusively that the observance of the feasts days as a requirement of the Lord is indeed a doctrine that professes “unbelief in Christ.” A damnable doctrine indeed!

As present truth believers it is truly alarming how feast keeping has grabbed hold of not only a sizable SDA following but a DSDA following as well.

The leader of the aforementioned feast keeping group is the same one we had the short email study with. We’ll call him brother G. A likable man who clearly has a very good knowledge of the Scriptures. I cannot say the same for his ability to understand the Rod though. You see, to know by memory the Inspired words and yet not be able to put it altogether in truth, is not showing a good foundational knowledge but rather a surface knowledge and an inability to be “guided into all truth”.

Ok, let’s look at the single best and clearest Rod statement concerning the issue of keeping or not keeping the feast days today.

“You know by now that Malachi, chapters 3 and 4, prophetically speak to the people of today, to the people just before the great and dreadful day, to the people to whom anti-typical Elijah the prophet is sent.  And what wise counsel does the Lord give through Malachi? — He says, “Remember ye the Law of Moses My servant.”  Which law? — The law of “statutes and judgments” which the Lord commanded “in Horeb.” 

Since this is God’s faithful advice to His people of this day, we would do well to restudy this law of Moses, and to remember it, for we cannot disregard His counsel and still expect His blessings.

   Broadly speaking, the law of Moses consists of three parts.  The first is the Ceremonial law, the law of the temple — the sacrificial law.  This law, of course, we today must not observe, except in antitype, for it foreshadowed things to come, particularly Christ’s first advent. 

Thus it is that if we had lived in Old Testament times and had failed to comply with the sacrificial law and system of that day, we would thereby have demonstrated unbelief in Christ, Who was to come.  But since we are living in the Christian era, if we should now observe the typical sacrificial law and system, we should thereby demonstrate unbelief in Christ, Who has come.

 

   And so, as this law was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14), we need not, and must not, observe it now.” (2 TG, vol. 2, no.37, p.14-15)

We need to really break this down and see exactly what God intends for us to know about this injunction. Let us start by pointing out the specific points that are contained therein.

1. These Inspired references are for “the people just before the great and dreadful day.” That is us.
2. The only “law” we are told to remember is that of “The law of “statutes and judgments” which the Lord commanded “in Horeb.” Which most importantly contains the 10 Commandments as well.
3. The first of the three laws of Moses was the “Ceremonial law” which obviously was a general term to include the whole system, the ceremonies and the sacrifices together (this will become clear as we go).
4. The Ceremonial law  “..was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14), we need not, and must not, observe it now.” We have to get to the bottom of this statement because God is telling we MUST NOT do something which indicates a serious command.

Next post we will go into what the Ceremonial law is that we must not observe now. If we do Inspiration says we show “unbelief in Christ.” Which is something all of us, and that includes Davidians, definitely do not want to be found doing!

We will show a most useful explanation and understanding that can be used to any and all who proclaim this false teaching.

What about the “Solemn Assembly”? (Part 2 of 2)

The last reference we shall look at is —

Joel 2:10, 11 — “The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: and the Lord shall utter His voice before His army: for His camp is very great: for He is strong that executeth His word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?”

   Having announced how great and dreadful the day is to be, the Lord is making this plea:

Joel 2:12-14 — “Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: and rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth Him of the evil.  Who knoweth if He will return and repent, and leave a blessing behind Him; even a meat offering and a drink offering unto the Lord your God?”

   God’s plea is that we prepare to meet the day; that now as sincere Christians who realize that for such an hour as this has this message of mercy come to us, we penitently return unto Him.

Joel 2:15, 16 — “Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.”

   In these verses, as in Joel 2:1, the command is given to blow the trumpet in Zion.  This second trumpet, however, is not to announce the day of God, but to sanctify both a fast and the people, to call a solemn assembly, from which not one is to be excluded from the assembly. ( 2 Timely Greetings, Vol. 8, No.21-22)

We can gleam some important points here:

1. Again we see that the solemn assembly is pre-Ezek. 9.Prior to describing the important verse 2:15 we read “..now as sincere Christians who realize that for such an hour as this has this message of mercy come to us, we penitently return unto Him.” 
2. The prophet then shows us that this assembly is not the announcement of “the day of God” but to assemble a solemn assembly and sanctifying a fast and people.

Once again we see that whatever this assembly was to be, and we do not know the full clarity of it, it was to take place in the days of Mt. Carmel. No where , and we repeat–no where, do we find any indication that the solemn assembly was to be yet future (after the days of Mt. Carmel) to be called to a location within the USA (as some teach).

We are well aware of the many Davidians who say , “We must some day have a solemn assembly, gather in one place (organization) and do this.” But that is grasping at the wind. Inspiration shows ONLY a prior fulfillment. Yes, we don’t know exactly how it took place or even if it did as the prophet had hoped, but we cannot be dogmatic and say that we are to do this in the future.

Ultimately this solemn assembly should be happening now among all true sighers and criers of the sins “done in the midst”, wherever they gather for the assemblies (church or other). So there is a spiritual part of this, along with the necessity to fast when led by the Spirit.

We found an excellent definition for us to consider–

What is a solemn assembly?

A solemn assembly is a biblical term for gathering the corporate body of Christ to bow before God for inspection by Jesus, the Head of the church. A solemn assembly is a gathering of the body of Christ to:

• Confess – to admit corporate sins,

• Repent of our sins – “turn from our wicked ways,” (See 2 Chronicles 7:14), and

• Return to our first love in recommitment to wholehearted devotion to God. (See 2 Chron. 16:9, Acts 3:19, Rev. 2:4-5).

Sounds like a true and righteous solemn assembly, wouldn’t you say?

NOTE: We did not review any writings from the “new codes” concerning this subject, as many are aware these were not authorized by the prophet and should not be relied upon.

What about the “Solemn Assembly”? (Part 1 of 2)

Recently we had a fellowship phone conference meeting. After the study was given we opened up the call to the Q and A session. One sister brought up a very often asked question among us Davidians–

“When and how is the Solemn Assembly to take place?”

This author was not well-studied on this subject and needed to prayerfully “hit the books” as they say to try to get a helpful answer to this question.

To begin with , this subject is based primarily on the following Scripture.

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly:Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.”(Joel 2:15-16)

There are some questions we need to address:

1. When does this solemn assembly take place, before the church judgment or after?
2. Are God’s people to be gathered in one place at one time?
3. What does this assembly consist of? What’s the purpose?
4. Could this assembly mean a type of symbolic gathering?

We’ll look at those questions and see if the Lord’s restoring Rod shows us a clearer path as to the meaning of this assembly.

Unfortunately we did not find any SOP references except a simple repeating of the Scripture. There are 3 Rod references we found that we can use. We’ll go over each as to the earliest recorded date first.

1- 2 SC, no.9, p.2 (1936)

2- 9 SC, no. 1-12, p.21 (1943)

3-  2 TG, no.8, p.21-22 (1947)

 

(1936) –“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breast: let the bridegroom of forth of His chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare Thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?” (Joel 2:15-17.)

Joel’s prophecy above quoted must meet its fulfillment in the time when probation’s hours are fast closing, for the Word says, “Let the bridegroom go forth of His chamber, and the bride out of her closet.”

The term, “let”, means to allow it to be so; and as the bridegroom is Christ at the time when He is to be crowned or married to the New Jerusalem — His bride — (Rev. 21:9), this scripture can not meet its fulfillment at any time other than when this event, to which all heaven and earth have been looking forward, is about to take place.

Therefore, the Lord is urging us to “blow the trumpet in Zion” (the church), and to hasten the time of crowning Him King of kings and Lord of lords — the time in which He closes His mediatorial work, — “goes forth of His chamber” — the Most Holy place.

The command, “Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts,” signifies a complete separation from the world of “old and young, both maids and little children, and women” “that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof” (Ezek. 9:4,6):

and being prophetically made to the church (Zion), this command evidences the fact that when the trumpet shall blow in fulfillment of this scripture, it will find Zion, His church, unsanctified and commingled with the world. Therefore, comes the call for sanctification.

The conditions further prove that this scripture meets its fulfillment now, because the church at the present time has, by her institutions, entangled herself with the institutions of the world, but we thank the Lord that years ago the “Spirit of Prophecy” predicted that “somebody was to come in the spirit and power of Elijah” (“Testimonies to Ministers,” p. 475), and that “God will have men who are true to duty. At the right time He sends His faithful messengers to do a work similar to that of Elijah.” (“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. 5, p. 254.)

The foregoing prophecies are now becoming history, and this prophetic organ “The Symbolic Code,” proves to be the mouth piece of the Elijah message, leading hundreds of S.D.A.’s in the work of helping this message to restore the defunct and decadent institutes of the Christian religion; for, as it is written, “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things” (Matt. 17:11), and “in the time of the end, every divine institution is to be restored.” — “Prophets and Kings,” p. 678.) (2 SC, no.9, p.2)

The facts from the above stand out as follows:

1. The solemn assembly happens pre-Ezekiel 9 based on- “..when the trumpet shall blow in fulfillment of this scripture, it will find Zion, His church, unsanctified and commingled with the world. Therefore, comes the call for sanctification.”   
2. Joel 2:15-17 appears to have already been fulfilled, at least the    first application of it because- “The conditions further          prove that this scripture meets its fulfillment now..      The foregoing prophecies are now becoming history.   

(1943) — Of necessity, then, Mt. Carmel Center is being built as a base of operations for training and fitting workers to carry this special message to the church; for educating deserving youth; for caring for worthy poor, aged, widowed, and orphaned; and for ministering to the sick and infirm according to God’s plan. It has heard God’s double charge to it:

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isa. 58:1.

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, call a solemn assembly. Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.” Joel 2:15, 16.

When it has accomplished this “closing work for the church” (Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 266), then those “who have overcome every temptation in the strength of the Mighty One,” who have sighed and cried and escaped the destruction, will “be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them.” Zech. 12:8.

Davidians, indeed!–“a great people and a strong” (Joel 2:2), “clad in the armor of Christ’s righteousness,…’fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners,’… to go forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer.”–Prophets and Kings, p. 725.

Thus are the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists to gather all the saints to the house of the Lord.

Before we delve into this statement, we should talk about an important ingredient for all of God’s chosen messengers. What is that ingredient? Hope. From reading the above it is clear that brother Houteff, the prophet, was hopeful that his camp would survive the day of the Lord (Ezek.9) and the subsequent Kingdom setup.

Had this hope not been there, we can only imagine the potential for discouragement. This same hope has been allowed to exist in the prophets since days of old.

We know, for example, that the prophet Paul had this same hope. We read in 1 Thes. 4:16 —

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 

From this we can see that Apostle Paul thought he would be alive at the coming of the Lord. But that unfulfilled hope did not make him any less of a prophet.  Same with brother Houteff.

We this understanding we look at the reference.

First, it is clear that this word indicates that the old Mt. Carmel camp was to be the place of a “solemn assembly”. And that it was to be fulfilled during “that” day. When we couple this with the first reference we can clearly come to the conclusion that whatever solemn assembly means  the camp appears to have had one or by extension–more than one.

In fact we can with confidence say that the prophet’s assemblies many times were indeed–solemn. Being the straight truth with the upcoming church judgments. No laughter, no careless and gleeful worldly talk, etc.

The last sentence – “Thus are the Davidian Seventh-day Adventists to gather all the saints to the house of the Lord” is pertaining to post Ezekiel 9 as opposed to the first parts of the reference. In other words after the solemn assembly, after the “closing work for the church”.

Next post we’ll look at the last reference and make our final summary.

The Anti-Typical David (Part 4 of 4)

In wrapping up our 4 part series we shall take a look the issue of  whether this subject is a salvation issue or not.

Is this issue something we should be dogmatic about?

First we’d like to review an important lesson from the Rod in regards to being careful not to get so worked up on an issue that we mount the judgment seat and warn and condemn others over a Bible subject.

One of the controversial subjects in the Scriptures is the 3 days and 3 nights issue of Jesus’ last days/nights and death (Sign of Jonah). The Rod teaches us beautifully how we can comprehend this subject. Yet gives us a balanced warning —

"...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.19-20)

We find this illuminating on several counts. First, the Rod tells us there are certain subjects that once we know about them, we are “neither better nor worse off so far as” our Christianity is concerned.

The second point is they ARE subjects that are essential to discuss and come to a solid understanding. These are those that require something of us, to “practice the truths which they teach.”

The third point is very important. We can get dogmatic against those who don’t necessarily have the understanding that we do and then use this as a wedge to stop associating with them!

NOTE: There is an exception to this point and that is when someone like Lennox Sam implies through his website and his followers, that he will be the anti-typical King David. This is blasphemous and should be opposed as necessary.

In other words dear brethren, we can mount the judgment seat over an issue we should be careful not to.

The Rod is clear–

“All we are called to do is to teach and practice the Truth for today, to let the people make up their own minds for or against It.  We are not to force them into anything.

..We have no right to enforce our opinions and our views upon others.  Just because others do not come up to our expectations and ideals, is by no means good reason to condemn them in order to help them.  Far from it. 

“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, Who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” 1 Cor. 4:5. (1 TG, no. 22, p.29)

Do we see this subject of who will be the anti-typical David as requiring us to practice this truth? No, just a knowledge of it much as the knowledge of Jonah!

Now, do we clamp up once we have studied this issue thoroughly and have a good idea who the man will be to rule in the kingdom? Of course not.  We certainly can share our understanding but those who condemn others because they cannot either understand or firmly agree with us on this issue, most likely will be tempted of Satan to stop fellow-shipping with a brother or sister!

A perfect example is our King. He knew that the disciplines were woefully ignorant of His true mission (to teach the Truth not to bring in the Davidic kingdom). They mis-understood who/when would be the king in the long prophesied Davidic kingdom! Yet he bore with them until they finally realized what the plan was.

“So when they came together, they asked Him, “Lord will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?Jesus replied, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority.”(Acts 1:6-7)

In closing my brethren, this subject is truly a fascinating one and requires us to study thoroughly the issue. But we must remember that Satan is very crafty and he knows this is a classic example of a wedge that he can use to divide the brothers and sisters. Let’s not fall for the trap and just teach the truth and “let the people make up their owns minds for or against it.”

As this report concludes, it appears the Brother Victor Houteff shall be the anti-typical King David, but time will confirm this at that time, Lord willing.

Of all the things we as Davidians should know, we must be on guard to be unified as much as possible. Then when the church judgment is past then shall the 144,000 “appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.”   — Hallelujah!

 

The Anti-Typical David (Part 3 of 4)

In our last two posts we solidly established from Inspiration the following:

1. The anti-typical David will be neither Christ or David the ancient “man after the Lord’s heart”.
2. When God brings them to their own land (Israel)at that time(not before) the children of Judah and Israel will “appoint themselves one head”.
3. The 144,000 shall seek both Christ and David their king. Indicating two authorities in the pre-Mil. theocratic kingdom rule.

But now we shall look at the possibility of option 4–Victor T. Houteff.

The Rod says-

Hos. 1:11 — “Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.”

   Here we are definitely told that in the latter days, God’s saints, without a sinner among them, are to be gathered together from the four corners of the earth, and be organized into a Theocratic government, of which antitypical David is to be the king. (2 TG, No.21, p.7)

Let’s analyze this important statement. We see that this appointing of the anti-typical David is known as the “day of Jezreel”. This is a big clue.

Our next question logically is– who and what does this Jezreel represent?

As present truth believers we need to research the Rod to get the light on this. In so doing we come to a startling confession and acknowledgement.

Based on the Hosea chapter 1 and 2 prophecy the Rod says–

“Say ye unto your brethren, Ammi; and to your sisters, Ruhamah. Plead with your mother, plead: for she is not My wife, neither am I her husband: let her therefore put away her whoredoms out of her sight, and her adulteries from between her breasts.” Hos. 2:1, 2.

   From this we see that Jezreel, the one addressed, is symbolical of a prophet who is  to command his “brethren, Ammi,” and his “sisters, Ruhamah,” to go to their “mother” and plead with her to reform. 

The names, Ruhamah and Ammi, represent a brother and a sister (singular), but in commissioning Jezreel to speak to them, the Lord designates them in the plural, —  “brethren” and “sisters,” embracing the entire church membership. (Tract 4, p.50-51)

So Jezreel represents a –prophet. Does the Rod identify this prophet?

“Also if you know of other open-minded, free-thinking, Truth-seeking brethren, I shall appreciate your mentioning how many, and If they wish you may send in their names and addresses either for our mailing list or for a private interview, or for both.  You may address me:

   V. H. Jezreel, H. B.
   Mt. Carmel Center
   Waco, Texas”                                            (Jezreel Leters, No.1, p.8)

Illuminating! Brother Houteff tells us he should be known as –V.H. Jezreel H.B. This is quite significant.

But it gets more interesting —

“Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.” Hos. 1:11.

   Hosea’s aforequoted vision not only projects God’s tearing down His ancient (typical) Kingdom, and His consequently scattering His people world-wide, thus causing them, to lose their identity and to become assimilated by the Gentile nations during these many centuries, but also projects the glorious restoration of His Kingdom (the antitype), and His subsequently gathering into It His people from all nations, while He is closing the work of the gospel. 

Moreover the contents of Hosea’s timely vision decisively point out that this great world-wide work of ingathering cannot begin till “Jezreel” appears on the scene.  And who can sanely suppose that Satan will let this crowning, eleventh-hour achievement of the gospel come to pass without a last-ditch encounter with the mightiest forces of darkness? 

Nor may anyone even for a moment suppose that the Almighty did not foreknow the situation and did not provide the means by which to meet it, one of which is the allegorical name Jezreel, the pen name for His eleventh-hour agent. 

Through this simple expedient (unfamiliar name) Heaven disarms the opposition, secures a welcome reception for the Recruiter (the voice of Jezreel), and thereby enables It to survive the waste basket and stove, and thus to reach minds confused by falsehood, and hearts hardened by prejudice.

 

   Thanks to this means of victory over Satan’s conspiracy, not only the elect but even the whole earth as well “shall hear Jezreel,” and “great,” therefore, “shall be the day of Jezreel.” Hos. 2 22; 1:11.  (A detailed exposition of Hosea’s entire prophecy can be secured upon request.) (WHR, p.64-65)

This is hard to deny. we see that the prophecy prediction is —not only the elect but even the whole earth as well “shall hear Jezreel,” and “great,” therefore, “shall be the day of Jezreel.”

The Rod cannot be controverted. We now see with all the blazing light that Victor T. Houteff, who the Lord has established as “Jezreel” is to proclaim the final gospel and the elect AND the world “shall hear Jezreel”.

But also in the above reference we see that “this great world-wide work of ingathering cannot begin till “Jezreel” appears on the scene.

This means that brother Houteff, who is resting in the grave , will be raised in the Special Resurrection (Dan.12:2-3) and then to appear on the scene. The pieces are coming together.

More evidence of a “raising up” the anti-typical David.

Ezek. 34:23, 24 — “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.  And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.”

The self-centered shepherds against whom the prophet is told to write, are to be replaced by one shepherd, David.  When this takes place God’s people will then have but one shepherd.  This, of course, cannot be Christ Himself, for Inspiration never calls Him David, but rather It calls Him the Son of David. 

Since God’s people have always had, and still do have many shepherds, the truth stands out as clear as crystal that the David of verses 23 and 24 is yet to come, and that the shepherds whom Inspiration addresses are in particular those whom David is to succeed.

   Ezekiel, then, was not given a vision of the shepherds in his day, nor of those before his day, but of the shepherds after his day — the day in which God raises up this antitypical David to feed His hungry and neglected flock. 

God’s people shall then no longer serve strangers, “But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.” Jer. 30:9.  Here we see that not only Ezekiel, but Jeremiah also was given a vision of this same truth.  Yes, all the prophets.”( 2 TG, no. 2, p.14-15)

Ah, did you catch that? “The day in which God RAISES UP this anti-typical David..”

We know that at this raising up it will be in the time when , “God’s people shall then no longer serve strangers..”

A time when God’s people, in the kingdom, shall no longer serve strangers!

Next we have some Tract evidence. In the Tract “The Leviticus”, the preface says–

“Provisional in set-up as well as in name, the Davidian Seventh-day Adventist Association exists solely to accomplish a divinely appointed work within the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, wherein it therefore strictly confines its activities. 

As its work therewithin draws to a close, and the “servants of our God” (Rev. 7:3) are sealed, its name will be changed (Isa. 56:5; 62:2; 65:15) and its purpose and its work will become all-embracing to the gospel (Matt. 17:11; Acts 3:21, Isa. 61:4-7).  Then its Constitution and By-Laws as herein codified will become fully operative.”

The Rod shows that it’s Constitution and By-Laws will be the government set up in the kingdom, a Theocracy. Now who else in the list of candidates is thoroughly familiar with this government order but Victor Houteff? If the Rod declares that it’s Constitution and By-Laws will be God’s order in the kingdom, does it not make sense that the same president of the DSDA, whom God spoke to, will also be the one to run it when it will “become fully operative?”

In conclusion, we see that the preponderance of evidence shows that brother Victor T. Houteff can be the only logical choice based on the Rod. There are additional angles we can come to this same conclusion such as the Zerubbabel study but we think the evidence is more than clear already.

Due to the length we will have to make one more part to finish on the subject whether this is salvational issue or not. In other words, can we be lost if we don’t rightly know who the anti-typical David will be?

The Anti-Typical David (Part 2 of 4)

 

In the last post we showed how the Rod undeniably shows that the anti-typical David will be neither Christ or David the ancient “man after the Lord’s heart”.

Now we shall turn to the last two options. But before we do that something has come up this week in a Skype fellowship meeting we had. We had a study on this subject and several brothers added their thoughts. One brother made the interesting point that “yes, brother Victor was the anti-typical David, but he fulfilled that role while he was alive.”

This brother then went on to say that after Ezekiel 9 and when the saints get into the kingdom, the 144,000 will represent the anti-typical David. In other words, there will not be a “man” to be on the kingdom throne in the pre-millennial kingdom. Although he didn’t come right out and say it, it sounded like he was siding with the option one (Christ will sit on the kingdom throne albeit invisibly).

He quoted Rev. 14:4 , “These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes.” As some evidence that the 144,000 will listen only to Christ and not need a physical leader, a man to rule on the throne.

So we need to first expose this line of reasoning from a “Thus sayeth the Lord”.

Ezek. 34:13 — “And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the inhabited places of the country.”

   In the days of this antitypical David God gathers His flock from all the countries where they have been scattered, and brings them into their own land.  God will no longer leave them in the mountains and the hills of the Gentiles. 

“Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.  Afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.” Hos. 1:11; 3:5. (TG, vol. 2, no. 2, p.17-18)

Here we see unmistakable proof when this anti-typical David rules.

1. When God brings them to their own land (Israel)
2. At that time the children of Judah and Israel will “appoint themselves one head”.
3. The 144,000 shall seek both Christ and David their king. Indicating two authorities in the kingdom rule.

Ezek. 34:30, 31 — “Thus shall they know that I the Lord their God am with them, and that they, even the house of Israel, are My people, saith the Lord God.  And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God.”

   God does not forsake His flock.  He tenderly calls them “My flock,” and reassures them that He is their God.  He will, without fail set one shepherd to accomplish what a multitude of shepherds have failed to do.  Now is your opportunity to feast on “meat in due season,” at the hand of God’s chosen shepherd, or starve on husks at the hand of a multitude of shepherds.”

After showing Ezek 34:26-29 which clearly explains the actual pre-millennial kingdom time, the prophet says “He will, without fail set one shepherd to accomplish what a multitude of shepherds have failed to do.” 

This shows that in the time when this anti-typical David is set up, it is the beautiful kingdom time and not the time when brother Houteff was alive in this pathetic cold dreary world. We really don’t need to go further on this point, for to do so would be asking for more than truth. This is ample proof of a “thus sayeth the Lord.”

Now let’s looks at option three. Will a new person be the anti-typical David?

In searching the Rod and Scripture we do not have any direct or near direct quotes that indicate this. However there is a deduction we need to clear.

Reviewing these quotes —

“In this part of the prophecy, you see, we are told that after they have sojourned among the Gentiles for “many days” without a king, and without any sign of identification (having been entirely lost sight of as a nation and as a people), they shall finally have antitypical David rule over them.  This would not be ancient David as he was already dead when this prophecy was made.” (2 TG, no.43, p.17) 

“As ancient David is in his grave, the king here promised must be an antitypical David, just as the Elijah of Malachi 4:5 must be an antitypical Elijah.  Otherwise, in order to fulfill the prophecies, ancient David must necessarily rise from his grave, and ancient Elijah descend from Heaven.” (Tract 9, p.43)

So here we see that one could say, “Well, VTH says that David was dead and thus eliminated and therefore VTH died as well, so that eliminates VTH.” And if one goes further he could say that because the Rod eliminates Christ and David, and VTH, then that would leave a new unknown person to take the throne, because there is “one shepherd” promised regardless.

True, this could be a possibility but we must look at the last option to know for sure whether option 3 is the leading  option.

So we have learned that the time in which the anti-typical David will rule is the time of the pre-millenial kingdom in Israel. And that there is a possibility that a new person could sit on the throne. However we must look at the last option is see the whole picture.
(Due to the next post’s length we’ve made this a 3 part post. In our last post we’ll look at the last option. Could the anti-typical David be Victor T. Houteff? And the very important point of whether this is a salvational issue.)

The Anti-Typical David (Part 1 of 4)

  We Davidians are very familiar with the subject of who will be the anti-typical David. This has been much discussed and surmised for many decades. Why? Well as we’ll see the issue is not at all black and white. But it can be made clear to those who “study to show yourself approved unto God..”

To briefly summarize there are generally 4 different assessments of just who the future David will be:

1. Christ Himself
2. David (raised from the dead)
3. Unknown person
4. Victor T. Houteff 

We shall break down each of the assessments. We will look at the specific Inspired references addressing each of the claimants.

In order to view whether Christ Himself is to be the anti-typical David we must go to the Elijah message that is to “restore all things” , that is to clear and restore all truth that all of us, including Davidians, need straightened out. We’ll mark each point.

1) Ezek. 34:23, 24 — “And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them, even My servant David; he shall feed them, and he shall be their shepherd.  And I the Lord will be their God, and My servant David a prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it.”

   The self-centered shepherds against whom the prophet is told to write, are to be replaced by one shepherd, David.  When this takes place God’s people will then have but one shepherd.  This, of course, cannot be Christ Himself, for Inspiration never calls Him David, but rather It calls Him the Son of David.

Since God’s people have always had, and still do have many shepherds, the truth stands out as clear as crystal that the David of verses 23 and 24 is yet to come, and that the shepherds whom Inspiration addresses are in particular those whom David is to succeed.” (Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, no.2, p.14-15)

Here we see one unmistakable clue and it cannot be misunderstood. “This, of course, cannot be Christ Himself, for Inspiration never calls Him David, but rather It calls Him the Son of David.”

2) Hos. 3:4, 5 — “For the children of Israel shall abide many days without a king, and without a prince, and without a sacrifice, and without an image, and without an ephod, and without teraphim: afterward shall the children of Israel return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.”

 

  ” In this part of the prophecy, you see, we are told that after they have sojourned among the Gentiles for “many days” without a king, and without any sign of identification (having been entirely lost sight of as a nation and as a people), they shall finally have antitypical David rule over them.  This would not be ancient David as he was already dead when this prophecy was made. 

Neither could this promised David be Christ Himself, for Christ is the son of David (Matt. 22:42), not David himself; and if He shall, moreover, sit on the throne of David (Lu. 1:32), then David must have a throne for Him to sit on.”(Timely Greetings, vol.2, No.43, p.16-17)

Again for additional clarity Inspiration  makes it clear again– “Neither could this promised David be Christ Himself, for Christ is the son of David (Matt. 22:42), not David himself;”

“The Lord will work in no less miraculous a manner now to free His people from being ruled by a worldly organization. He will command the work Himself in the same manner as He did in Moses’ and David’s day.

…In the days of Moses and in the days of David, when the Lord had the work in His Own hands, He spoke to the people through Moses and through David, and thus He ruled. In like manner will He, at this time, rule the work when He takes the reins in His Own hands.

…It is generally understood that when Christ visibly appears, the nations will die by the brightness of His coming, and thus the wicked will have no chance for either the Lord to speak to them or they to speak to Him. Furthermore, according to the parable, He sits on the throne of His glory instead of sitting on the clouds as in 1 Thess. 4:17.

Therefore, the throne of His glory is His kingdom where He, invisible to the nations, sits on the throne and gathers all nations before Him as recorded by the prophet Isaiah also, saying: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.” (Isa. 2:2.) (SC, vol. 4, no.10-12, p.6)

This is indicating that Christ, our true King will sit upon the throne in the kingdom, but invisibly. He shall, as in the days of Moses and David, rule through his shepherd.

Brethren let’s not be unbelieving and doubtful on His clear Elijah message word. Our Lord himself will not be the anti-typical David. All who hold to this view are guilty of the following warning–

“The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible have been involved in doubt and darkness by learned men, who, with a pretense of great wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a mystical, a secret, spiritual meaning not apparent in the language employed. These men are false teachers.” (GC, p.598)

 

Ok now lets look at the second option. Is the original David to be raised up to rule the future pre-millennial kingdom in Israel, yes or no?

3) “As ancient David is in his grave, the king here promised must be an antitypical David, just as the Elijah of Malachi 4:5 must be an antitypical Elijah.  Otherwise, in order to fulfill the prophecies, ancient David must necessarily rise from his grave, and ancient Elijah descend from Heaven.” (Tract 9. p.43)

Again, this is very clear. David , in order to complete the type/anti-type truth just as Elijah is to, cannot be the type and anti-type–both. If  this were so then likewise, brother Houteff could not be the anti-type because Elijah would need to return, which the Spirit of Truth obviously does not teach.

4) “..we are told that after they have sojourned among the Gentiles for “many days” without a king, and without any sign of identification (having been entirely lost sight of as a nation and as a people), they shall finally have antitypical David rule over them.  This would not be ancient David as he was already dead when this prophecy was made.” (TG, vol. 2, No. 43, p.17)

Language cannot be any clearer– “This would not be ancient David as he was already dead when this prophecy was made.”

5) Having abode “many days without a king” (their lot from the days of their captivity in Babylon even to this very day), “the children of Israel shall…afterward” (sometime in the future), says the scripture, “…return, and seek the Lord their God, and David their king; and shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days.” Hos. 3:4, 5.

   But as David, the king of ancient Israel, had been dead for many years when this prophecy was made, and as it has never been fulfilled, he was the type of the David to come.

   Accordingly, it is those who “fear the Lord and His goodness [the Christian Israelites] in the  latter days” (our time), who shall appoint one “head” or “king” — the antitypical David.”(Tract 8. p.13)

What we find interesting here is that Inspiration says that those who in these last days “shall appoint one “head” or “king”–anti-typical David. In other words the ones who are familiar with the truths from His Elijah message (144,000) will do this appointing. But no doubt from the direction of the Lord.

 

To conclude part one of this report let’s summarize–

The Inspired word clearly shows that neither Christ, our ultimate and final King, nor David, the original ancient king will be the “anti-typical king David.” Those who hold on to this false idea clearly are not “jumping abroad the Truth train”, but rather are suspiciously following down another road. One that the Spirit of Truth is not guiding them.

If they continue to hold on to their false ideas after reading the above mentioned CLEAR words of Inspiration , then they should at least remove themselves from preaching  the Rod. But they also face a more worrisome future–

“No one is lost for believing a false interpretation of a prophecy before the truth of it is revealed, provided the false interpretation does not draw him away from some other truth.  Such individuals, however, are in great danger because, as history reveals, very few who become thus involved in error are willing to humble themselves by renouncing their errors and accepting the truth when it is made known. 

They are consequently in constant peril of sinning against the Holy Ghost.  And being acutely aware of this, Satan misinterprets the prophecies before they are divinely revealed.  He realizes full well that many, unwilling to be corrected and to exchange their errors for revealed truth, will thereby be led to eternal ruin.  All-important, therefore, is the need that the student of the truth fortify himself with all honesty and humility as the light of truth is now turned searchingly on Popular Theories.”(Tract 5. p.7)

So we see that once we are pointed out to the truth, we have no more excuse to teach or believe contrary to it. The truth of this anti-typical David is that it is neither Christ or the original David. Let’s proclaim this and jump on the truth train.

…To be continued in part two.

 

 

 

 

 

3 Important questions from the Field

We as workers in His vineyard come across many questions asked of us during our work. If we are active, there are more questions obviously. So what we’d like to do is submit some questions that we find timely and give some helpful answers.

 

Question 1–  I am a believer in the Lord and His present truth message. But I have not been regular in my Tithes. I feel my close relationship with Him is enough. Am I on safe ground?

This is a very precarious position. Look at what Inspiration says —

“Prayer offered ever so often and ever so earnestly will never be accepted by God in the place of our tithe. Prayer will not pay our debts to God.” — “Messages to Young People,” p. 248. (SC, vol. 2, no. 10, p.12)

That is powerful! Even if we have what we think is a good prayer relationship, it is not accepted by God. This shows the magnitude of the importance of paying our Tithes.

Question 2—   I’m a firm believer in the “those with” the 144,000 that will survive the church judgment. Is not all the many quotes in the Rod enough evidence to prove  that?

Yes, there are many quotes that “appear” to support the understanding that others besides the 144,000 from the SDA church survive. However if one truly desires to know the truth, they will find a preponderance of evidence showing that there can be no “living” those with from among the SDA church.

We have completed a 7 part post (called–The 144,000 Truth) on this blog showing that there is approximately  10 to 1 references supporting only 144,000 living sealed from the SDA church at judgment time. So the weight of evidence is very strongly in favor of no–those with.

Additionally we did a supplement post called (“Identifying those with”)** which we pointed out the following key point that really strikes a blow to those who promote their so-called “supporting evidence” of the those with.

We notice that almost all of the believers in the those with theory like to quote many references that were written by the prophet prior to 1944. For example this classic–

“All that are found members of the church up to the fulfillment of Ezekiel Nine will either receive the seal and be a part of or with the 144,000, or else be left without the seal and fall under the “slaughter weapons” of the “five men.”(SC, vol. 2, no.5-6, p.8)

Now if we are surface readers who have not studied ALL the SRod then we could very well think that there are to be others from the SDA church who survive (sealed) , along with the 144,000.

That quote was made in June of 1936. There are other references that appear to show the same evidence made prior to 1944.

But if one buys into this idea, then he comes head on to the following made AFTER all those quotes were written —

“Notwithstanding the fact that “in the closing work” for the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, only 144,000 are to be sealed (Answerer, vol. 3, Q-54)(1944)

A fact? Yes!  The Rod says it is a FACT that only 144,000  are to be sealed. So this alone destroys their false ideas.  Prophet  brother Houteff , dispells all thinking that his prior quotes meant that there will be others who are sealed in the SDA church. No , he meant it totally different from what some like to twist it into.

For more clarity see the post mentioned **.

Question 3–  I do not pay tithes because I find that all the major DSDA groups today are teaching error and or misapplied the tithes. How can we support such wrongs?

This question really has two parts. 1) We should closely examine the so-called “Storehouses” of the organizations claiming to be proclaiming the Lord’s Rod message (Micah 6;9).

We should know that they are not “adding or subtracting” to the message. We should know that they are a true organization, meaning they have a council, following the Rod in organizational/group rules and laws, etc.

For example we know of some brethren who have the questioners same attitude and then say to us. “We consider ourselves a storehouse because we do all the right things and teach the right things.” They try to justify themselves for not supporting the real organizations.

That brings us to what constitutes teaching the “right things”. We say that ALL the ORIGINAL Rod writings should be taught.

Organizations like Lennox Sam’s  and Ariel D.’s who add and subtract SO MANY things of the Rod, should definitely be avoided.

The one area that the Lord has guided us here on HEARYETHEROD that is a common question point is–the new codes. Yes, we agree that they should not be taught, BUT we are led to believe that this is not a salvational issue and the Lord has allowed this grey area to exist.

When one truly looks at the issue of new codes, we find that the main basic misunderstanding is that of the Assyrian confederacy. Meaning that the new codes show a different time line of certain end time events.

So we would not hold this against our two big DSDA organizations –Waco and Mt. Dale. Additionally, we praise the Lord that some members of these organizations are seeing the light and shunning the new codes. We are discovering this and know that the Lord will  not hold back the full blaze of light for all those who want the truth, despite the misunderstandings on later code references.

This confusion is similar to back in Paul’s day. he was often trying to straighten out this group and that group, for this or that error. yet he often did not condemn them but reached out in love to help them.He left in the King’s hands the results.

About the second point, which is the justification of holding back the Tithes. Both the SOP and Rod are too clear to misunderstand this issue.

“Some have been dissatisfied and have said: “I will not longer pay my tithe; for I have no confidence in the way things are managed at the heart of the work.” But will you rob God because you think the management of the work is not right?

Make your complaint, plainly and openly, in the right spirit, to the proper ones. Send in your petitions for things to be adjusted and set in order; but do not withdraw from the work of God, and prove unfaithful, because others are not doing right.” (Testimonies, vol. 9, p.249)

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

Answerer Book 4                                  46

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.

We hope these answers have helped to clarify some issues. The time is so short, we must come into line with what the Lord’s last message requires of us–God bless.