CHAPTER 30
ADDITIONAL NOTES

#l-Just as Christ was not appreciated by the Jews in their day, because He had no “form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.” Isa; 53:2. So, today, our wonderful heavenly Father is not valued or appreciated in the character message, for we do not go deep enough. The sanctuary had many colors, such as blue, purple, scarlet and white and silver and gold. But, the covering of the sanctuary itself was of badger’s skins, which was not an attractive color, a dark, close to black color. So one had to go into the sanctuary itself, to appreciate its beauty and understand its meaning. David wrote: “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their [the wicked] end.” Ps. 73:17.

So it is with the Father. Until you see inside of His heart and know His real character, you cannot understand how He will finally deal with sin and sinners in the end time. When the wicked see the beauty and holiness and love and purity of Christ and the Father at the end of the world, in the final judgement after the millennium, it will be such a “burning” revelation to them that they will not be able to resist His love. The Bible tells us that “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess.” Phil. 2:10, 11. Let us go into the sanctuary today and learn the truth about God and receive His character now, so we may dwell with the devouring fire ...and with everlasting burnings ...thine eyes shall see the king in his beauty [and live, not die, if you are like Him]. Isaiah 33:14,17.

#2-The cleansing or justifying of the sanctuary in heaven is symbolic of the cleansing and sanctifying experience in the believer here below in this age. We will not be lost in this age, because we have sins on the books in heaven. We will be lost because there is still sin in our hearts. It is only on the books because it is in the heart, in the mind of believer who has refused God’s salvation. But each of us may be cleansed today. Even now, through the blood of Jesus, we can be made whole. As the “abomination that maketh desolate” moves forward in our midst, let us stand firm “in the (most) holy place.” Matt. 24:15. A fuller understanding of the sanctuary message is necessary for us to become like Jesus and stand through the last days of this eon or age before Jesus comes and the 1,000 years begins. It has everything to do with understanding the character of God. The final atonement and perfection of the believer is being debated today, but not experienced. The Lord will demonstrate His perfection of character in each believer who submits to His love. The sanctuary message proves God does not destroy, but gives life. Life from above: from the sanctuary, where Jesus intercedes for us. Even the scapegoat going into the wilderness to die “alone” shows that God does not kill Satan. The sins that are laid upon him separate him from the life giver. It is his own sins that unfit him to be restored in this age. But the great “Age of the Ages” is coming, after the 1,000 years, when he will be fully converted and restored to the Father’s throne. That is an important and vital meaning of the symbolism of the scapegoat.

#3-Luke 11:52 is a woe upon the legal experts of the gospel. The “lawyers” of the gospel are forever arguing and explaining, but never teaching the Truth; which is Jesus: Because, THE TRUTH is not a set of beliefs or doctrines or rules and regulations, but the TRUTH IS JESUS CHRIST. While the ministers are debating, the people are perishing. Jesus said, WOE UNTO YOU, LAWYERS for ye have taken away THE KEY [JESUS] of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. The final message and its preachers will be opposed mainly by those who profess to know the law, but do not know Jesus. They will be our worst persecutors.

#4-Luke 12:10-The reason the Holy Spirit does not forgive when it is sinned against is because the person will not ask to be forgiven. This simply means that once a person shuts out the voice of God from his or her mind for the last time, there is no more help or hope. Here again God takes the blame and says “I left you. I rejected you. I won’t help you anymore, for you have rejected my Spirit. Now you have had it.” That is the way some people interpret it, but that is not the way it is. Unless you are really wanting to know what God is like, you will not find Him. You must “search for Him with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13.

#5-In Ex. 28:39-43, we see God’s specific instruction regarding the garments the priests should wear as they go into the sanctuary. Their naked bodies were to be covered. If they did not carefully obey, they could die. Would God destroy them or Satan? If the latter, it only proves that Satan was in the sanctuary at all times waiting for a slip-up so he could accuse them and receive permission (as he did with Nadab and Abihu) to destroy them. It only proves the Divine protection of the Law of God and how important it is to obey it in letter, as well as in Spirit.

#6-The curse of God is simply the absence of His Holy Spirit in the life. It is refusing to let God direct your life so you will receive His blessings instead of the devil’s curses. Proverbs 5-6 are two chapters young men should read carefully. They speak of the results of unfaithfulness.

Today, it could also apply to young women who get involved with other women, as well as men, so it is for both sexes. See Romans 1:18-28. But in Proverbs 5:11, we read of one of the results of sexual waywardness (promiscuity or licentiousness). “Lest afterwards you groan in anguish and in shame, when syphilis [literally disease] consumes your body.” The word consume does not necessarily mean to “burn up” with literal fire, but also has the meaning of disease. Take for example, this verse: “Before Him (Jesus at His coming) went the pestilence, and burning coals *(or diseases) went forth at His feet.” Habakkuk 3:5. Marginal reading.

#7-The “DAY OF VENGEANCE,” is when God permits the accounts to be settled. Every man’s sword will be raised against his neighbor, and God can no longer protect or restrain. In Solomon’s writings again, he warns men against going out with another man’s wife, as the man will get even at all costs. For “JEALOUSY IS THE RAGE OF A MAN: (whose wife has been stolen or slept with) THEREFORE HE WILL NOT SPARE IN THE DAY OF VENGEANCE.” Proverbs 6:34.

#8-On Zechariah 14:12 we have additional information regarding the plague which will destroy the people who gather themselves to fight against Jerusalem (God’s People) in this age. “Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue shall consume away in their mouth.” KJV. The next verse says, “THEY WILL BE SEIZED WITH TERROR, PANIC-STRICKEN FROM THE LORD [notice how God gets the blame here], and will FIGHT AGAINST EACH OTHER IN HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT.” v. 13. NOW IN THIS SAME CONNECTION, NOTICE THIS EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK, “THE ATOM SPEAKS,” which is out of print now, as far as I know, but the author quotes from a John Hershey’s work called “HIROSHIMA.” Here is the account of what people looked like after the atom bomb went off in this Japanese city in 1945. “Mr. Tanimoto found about twenty men and women on the sands pit ...they were too weak to lift themselves (into his boat). He reached down and took a woman by the hand, but her skin slipped off in huge, glove-like pieces: He was so sickened by this that he had to sit down for a moment. Then he got out into the water and, though a small man, lifted several of the men and women, who were naked, into his boat. Their backs and breasts were clammy, and he remembered uneasily what the great burns he had seen during the day had been like: yellow at first, then red and swollen, with the skin sloughed off, and finally, in the evening, suppurated (cracked and oozing pus) and smelly. With the tide risen, his bamboo pole was now too short and he had to paddle most of the way across with it. On the other side, at a higher spot, he lifted the slimy living bodies out and carried them up the slope away from the tide. He had to keep consciously repeating to himself ‘these are human beings.’ It took him three trips to get them all across the river. When he had finished, he decided he had to have a rest, and he went back to the park. When he had penetrated the bushes, he saw there were about twenty men, and they were all in exactly the same nightmarish state: their faces were wholly burned, their eye sockets were hollow, the fluid from their MELTED EYES HAD RUN DOWN THEIR CHEEKS. (They must have had their faces upturned when the bomb went off. Perhaps they were anti-aircraft personnel). Their mouths were a mere swollen, pus-covered wound, which they could not bear to stretch enough to admit the spout of the teapot. So Father Kleinsorge got a large piece of grass and drew out the stem so as to make a straw, and gave them all water to drink that way. One of them said, ‘I cannot see anything.’ Father Kleinsorge answered, as cheerfully as he could, ‘there’s a doctor at the entrance to the park. He’s busy now, but he’ll come soon and fix your eyes, I hope.’” See also Joel 2:30 for a reference to the atom bomb in end times.

#9-Read through I Kings 22 carefully and you will see how God deals with the angels: He lets them have a part in his “JUDGMENTS,” or His decisions. See verses 19-23. These angels who withdrew_ from Ahab so he would be deceived by the false prophets of Baal are called “lying Spirits,” but we know God’s angels do not lie. Neither do they steal or kill. They obey God’s laws. Ps. 103:20. Notice also, that Ahab was given about 3 to 31/2 years to repent after chapter 21, where it is recorded how he stole Naboth’s vineyard and had him killed through the treachery of his wife, queen Jezebel. There is your state power: Ahab, the king, letting the church (woman or Jezebel, false religious system or Baal worship or Beast system, Rev. 17, 18) carry out its murders with the states approval. It ends in death for both the church and the state. But, God did not kill Ahab. He was destroyed, as was Jezebel, by their own people who turned against them. God’s angels withdrew their protection, and allowed the “lying spirits,” of Satan to move in and deceive Ahab and thus lead him on to destruction. In other places they are referred to as “destroying” angels. Psalm 78:49. By withdrawing, as they did in Micaiah’s day. Study the parallels in the life of Jesus, regarding the 3 1/2 year periods, and in the book of Revelation re: the time of His return. God will reveal to you what He wants you to know, if you seek Him in humbleness and contriteness of heart. See I Thess. 5:1-6. Although we will not know the exact time of Jesus’ return, we can know the season, just as Jesus knew when His ministry was to begin when He learned that John the Baptist was preaching at the Jordan river. The Father will announce the day and hour of His son’s return. Matt. 24:36.

#10-Notice some additional places and situations in which God takes the blame. Ezekiel 14:9-God says He deceives false prophets and then destroys them just as in case of the 450 prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel with Elijah. Ezekiel 20:25 tells us God gives people “bad” or “not good” judgments and statutes. What it means is that whatever God allows or permits the people to have, because they demanded it, the Lord says that He gave it to them. He is accepting the responsibility for letting them have what they demanded. i.e. divorce laws; laws for making war; laws for having a king, laws for eating flesh food. He gave them a “bad” king-Saul, but actually it was a man “after their own heart.” David, however, was a man after God’s own heart. Ezekiel 5:13 shows Jesus’ love. “Mine anger (withdrawing) shall be accomplished, and I will cause my fury to rest upon them, and I will be comforted: and they shall know that I the Lord have spoken it in my zeal, ...” In His zeal to save them and show them His matchless love. Haggai 2:22 shows how God destroys by permitting people to kill each other, Cf. Jer. 25:31-33. In the book of Zephaniah, even though the Lord is warning the people that He is the one who is killing them, He also tells the “meek” to seek Him, so they might be hid in the day of the “Lord’s anger.” Zeph. 2:3. And in Nahum 1:1-3 God tells us about His “burden,” for Nineveh. Just think of it. God had a burden for a great city. Strong’s 4853. The Hebrew word is “Massa.” It means to have a desire. Do you have a desire for any cities? A desire for them to know God and His salvation? Do you desire for them to have a better way of life and to be saved when Jesus comes again? The Bible tells us that God is “jealous, and the Lord revengeth;” He is also “furious.” Oh, friend, can you see how God hides His true character in all of these adjectives which describe what He permits and takes the blame for, in order to shield us, as well as Satan and the evil angels? Can’t you see that? “THE LORD IS SLOW TO ANGER, AND GREAT IN POWER, AND WILL NOT AT ALL ACQUIT THE WICKED: THE LORD HATH HIS WAY IN THE WHIRL WIND AND IN THE STORM, AND THE CLOUDS ARE THE DUST OF HIS FEET.” Nahum 1:3. Through it all, God works out His will. He knows all things ahead of time—Isaiah 46:9, 10. Nothing takes Him by surprise. Everything that happens is not God’s will, but nothing can happen to defeat His will. He has His own way in the end, the way He planned it from the beginning, by absorbing all of our sorrow and pain on the cross. He never interferes with anyone’s free moral agency or choice, and yet He always does everything just right and perfect. And someday all will bow down and admit He was absolutely right in the way He did it. See Phil. 2:10 and Rev. 15 and 16. Do you realize that everything is happening just as it should? And that at any given time in the history of the universe, everything is happening just as it should? In the final analysis this will be understood perfectly, Jer. 23:20, Gen. 49:1. ISN’T JESUS WONDERFUL!!

#ll-The Jews multiplied animal sacrifices, instead of humbling their hearts in repentance for their sins. A great system was developed over the centuries and became a most lucrative business for the Jewish hierarchy. The Pharisees feared Christianity would do away with this system. So, it is today. Many leaders fight the truth about God’s love, for the people would become revived and give Jesus their time and talents in service to Him for humanity, in ways the church leadership does not approve of, (such as going out on your own as a radio preacher, or a lay-worker evangelist, etc.) In order to make money off of the people, the leadership in times past, as well as today, must make up hundreds of rules, regulations and policies, which do not lead us to love and adore our Creator, but maintain our loyalty and allegiance to the organization. Sin is not rebuked from the pulpit, but the people are many times led to believe that God will be pleased with them if they give large donations. The impression is left that this will make up for the lack of personal labor for souls, and strict obedience to the law of God. Thus man again has a vast monetary system built on the guilt and disobedience of the people.

#l2-How does God make war? Rev. 19:11, 15, shows that God makes war with His Word, which comes out of His “mouth,” which is His Holy Word. Beloved, there is a spiritual warfare we must fight in this life if we are to overcome and receive the character of Christ. Listen to this excellent quotation, from one who knew the SAVIOR intimately, as to how Christ’s beautiful character was formed while on earth. “We are forming characters for heaven. No character can be complete without trial and suffering. We must be tested, we must be tried. Christ bore the test of character in our behalf that we might bear this test in our own behalf through the divine strength He has brought to us. Christ is our example in patience, in forbearance, in meekness and lowliness of mind. He was at variance and at war with the whole ungodly world, yet He did not give way to passion and violence manifested in words and actions, although receiving shameful abuse in return for good works. He was afflicted, He was rejected and despitefully treated, yet He retaliated not. He possessed self-control, dignity, and majesty. He suffered with calmness and for abuse gave only compassion, pity and love. Imitate your Redeemer in these things. Do not get excited when things go wrong. Do not let self arise, and lose your self-control because you fancy things are not as they should be. Because others are wrong is no excuse for you to do wrong. Two wrongs will not make one right. You have victories to gain in order to overcome as Christ overcame. Christ never murmured, never uttered discontent, displeasure, or resentment. He was never disheartened, discouraged, ruffled, or fretted. He was patient, calm, and self-possessed under the most exciting and trying circumstances. All His works were performed with a quiet dignity and ease, whatever commotion was around Him. Applause did not elate Him. He feared not the threats of His enemies. He moved amid the world of excitement, of violence and crime, as the sun moves above the clouds. Human passions and commotions and trials were beneath Him. He sailed like the sun above them all. Yet He was not indifferent to the woes of men. His heart was ever touched with the sufferings and necessities of His brethren, as though He Himself was the One afflicted. He had a calm inward joy, a peace which was serene. His will was ever swallowed up in the will of His Father. Not my will but Thine be done, was heard from His pale and quivering lips.

We long and pray that the grace of God may come into your hearts. We want you to make an entire surrender to God...May God help you to walk humbly and carefully is our prayer.” Letter 51a, 1874. EGW.

#l3-Jeremiah 23:19, 20, tell us that the “anger” of the Lord will be understood in the last days. The anger of the Lord shall not return, until He has performed the thoughts of his heart: (holy thoughts) in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.” Jer. 23:20.

#l4-Because of Christ’s suffering and death, even those who refuse his suffering are being protected. God’s love is unconditional. Because of this, He loves every human being the same whether they believe in Him or not. He therefore has a legal right to make life as painless as possible for each of His creatures and He loves to do it for each of them, hoping that they will eventually repent and accept His salvation. And even if they don’t and are lost (for this age) the sufferings He and His Father went through will make their final death less painful. This is part of the mystery of His love which_ is in keeping with His Eternal plan of the ages.

#15-Neither God the Father, nor His Son nor the Holy Spirit have ever once hurt or killed an evil angel, including Satan himself, the chief of the devils. Why then should we blame the God family for the death of any human beings? Are you willing to indict God for murder on the basis of circumstantial evidence? Satan and his angels are much more guilty than we and therefore, should by all rights be the first to be killed, not us, yet none of them have ever been hurt or killed!

#16-Christ is our “burden-bearer.” David tells us, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Ps. 55:22. And Peter tells us, “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” I Pet. 5:7. Isaiah says, “Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows:” Isa. 53:4. Jesus rode upon a donkey or ass when He entered Jerusalem, Matt. 21:1-9. If Christ came to reveal the Father, and we are to pray now to the Father, in Jesus’ name, then truly it is the Father who bears our burdens in His Son’s name. As we think about the symbolism of the donkey or ass, we can see that this donkey fitly represents the Father as our burden-bearer. We might even paraphrase Paul’s love chapter thusly; at least verse 7 of I Cor. 13. “The Father beareth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” Surely the Father’s name has been slandered more than we could ever know. It is said that in the Satanic mass of witchcraft ceremonies that the leader is supposed to lean over and expose his buttocks so the participants might give him what is called the “kiss of shame.” There is an expression which is actually dirty American slang or even cussing. It is the expression people use when they become angry at someone and tell them to “kiss my donkey,” only they don’t say donkey. Do you see, dear heart, how this reflects directly upon the Father’s name and character? He is our donkey, our burden-bearer and such an expression is a slander against Him. How very careful we should be not take His name in vain, even to the extent of saying “gosh,” or “golly,” or “gee-whiz,” or “jeez,” etc., for all of these are corruptions of God’s name and we thus are taking his name and character in vain and breaking the third commandment.

#l7-Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.” Ps. 2:12. This verse sounds like Jesus is going to get mad and kill us if we don’t “Kiss” Him. But is this what it means? Of course not, for it would be out of harmony with the Jesus of the New Testament and we know that God never changes, Mal. 3:6 and Heb. 13:18. What the Father is really saying here is, “Come and get married to my Son, Jesus. For if you don’t marry Him, He will be forced to give you up to your own thoughts and ways, You will force Him out of your life and break His heart and mine too. Oh, Please don’t do this to us and to yourself. You will destroy yourself and perish along the roadside of life all alone and lonely.” God’s anger and wrath is when He is forced to permit Satan to have an influence and/or an effect upon our minds and bodies which very often leads to sorrow and sickness and death. God does not smite people on the cheek bone or break their teeth, (Psalm 3:7), but He permits Satan to do that and then takes the blame for it. Cyrus “smote” Babylon and yet God called Cyrus His “ANOINTED.” See Isa. 45:1.

#18-1n Ezek. 9, God is pictured as commanding both the sealing and the slaughter of the people in Jerusalem. Because the good and bad angels both belong to God He can speak as if His “permission” to destroy is a command when in reality they are only being allowed to destroy because God has been forced out of the wicked people’s lives. Proverbs 8:8 proves that God cannot speak death. James 1:17. But as usual, He accepts the responsibility for it.

#19-Satan, not God, destroyed the Egyptian army in the Red Sea by bringing “a strong east wind.” Exodus 14:21. In Exodus 10:13 Satan brought the plagues of locust with an east wind. Hosea 13:15. We see an “east wind,” drying up the spring. In Habakkuk 1:8, 9; the Chaldeans are compared to the “violence” of the “east wind.” Rev. 9:3, 7, 11 identify the locusts and their “king.” Locusts clearly represent evil angels there. I Kings 19:11 tells us God was not in the violent wind that “rent the mountain.” Satan opened up the Red Sea as a trap to destroy Israel when he saw the “pillar of the cloud” protected Israel. But God used the east wind for a way of escape and let Moses think the wind was a divine act. When Satan saw he could not kill Israel in the sea he began to attack the Egyptians as God had not commanded them to go into the sea. Satan inspired them to go for the wrong reason so he would have a legal right to destroy them. See also Isa. 10:20, Ps. 17:13, Ps. 35:5, 6, Ps. 83:14,15, Ps. 143:3, Ps. 78:49.

Satan is a double crosser. He is a liar, swindler and a deceiver. He breaks his promises and finally destroys all who serve him. That is precisely what he did to the Egyptian army. The above Scripture which reveal his modus operandi but also show God delivers His people. Isa 10:20; Psalm 17:13; Psalm 35:5, 6; Psalm 83:14, 15; Psalm 143:3. God's “destroying wind” is Satan. Psalm 78:26 & Hosea 12:1. Satan knew very well God's power and that he would not be able to stop God's plan to deliver Israel.

“About six hundred thousand on foot that were men, beside children. Exodus12:37. “So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel...from twenty years old and upward...Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.” Numbers 1:46; 3:39. The margin says that this would be a population of about 2,450,000. Even if there were only four to a family that would make over 2 million souls. Satan decided that if he could not hurt or kill the Israelites, he would gladly destroy as many Egyptians as possible with the ten plagues. Exodus 12:23 clearly shows that it was the “Destroyer,” (Satan), who killed all the first born with plague #10. If he could lead the whole Egyptian army (600 chariots plus horses and men) with murder in their hearts to pursue after Israel, he would have a “legal right” to destroy them. And that is exactly what he did. He knew that if he could entice Pharaoh to pursue Israel, with murder in his heart he would have a legal right to destroy the whole army. See Obadiah 15; Isa 14:17; Jer 6:26, 27; 2:30. Actually, the very day that Pharaoh threatened Moses' with death, Exodus 10:28, Satan had a legal right to kill Pharaoh and all of his people. But the Lord only allowed the first born to die whose parents did not put the blood on the door posts. As soon as Israel left Egypt Satan inspired Pharaoh to chase after him to either re-capture and/or kill as many of them who resisted. But the Lord opened up the Red Sea with a “strong East Wind.” Exodus 14:21. I Kings 19:11-13 proves that God does not bring the “wind.” The East Wind is always a destructive force in the Bible. Ex 10:13; Hosea 13:15; Hab 1:9. And so the East wind which opened the Red Sea for Israel's deliverance and escape became a tomb for Pharaoh and his army. The DOUBLE CROSS was successful.

#20-ln I Sam. 8:6, Satan put the idea into the people’s minds to cry out for and demand a king like the heathen nations around them. God permitted them to have King Saul. Neither Samuel nor the people in those days fully understood God’s character. When Satan was permitted to bring thunder (Psalm 78:48, I Sam. 12:17) even Samuel thought God was doing this. The holy angels themselves did not understand fully under how Satan operated until Jesus came in the flesh. The prophets’ understanding of God’s nature was progressive. Samuel cut King Agag in pieces with the sword. God did not tell him to do it. He just thought God was that kind of a person, the same as Elijah did. I King 18:40.

#21-The carnal mind is enmity against God. Rom. 8:7. It does not “know” God, whom to know is “life eternal,” John 17:3. The carnal mind wants justice; and desires to “get even,” and demands “its rights.” By contrast, the spiritually minded person knows only mercy. He does not try to get even or stand up for his rights. He doesn’t “resist” those who would persecute him, James 5:6. He “turns the other cheek,” Matt. 5:39, loves his enemies, does good to those who hate him and prays for them. Matt. 5:44. The angel of justice, Satan, is the god of get even, who always carries a grudge and never forgives or forgets anything. But, Jesus is the angel of mercy who forgives all freely and never keeps record of any wrongs. The record is only in the minds of those who are carnally minded, Col. 1:21.

#22-What Satan fears most in the great controversy is “flesh mediums.” That is, human beings who will communicate God’s true character of love to the universe by the way they live. When Satan saw Jesus come in the flesh, he knew that his kingdom was being threatened and in deep trouble, and attempted to kill Jesus by destroying all the little babies at Bethlehem. Matt. 2:16-18. That was just the beginning of Satan’s war against Christ while He was on earth.

#23-Abraham, Job and all the patriarchs of the Old Testament knew God only as a monarch or king, not as a loving father, until they experienced Him. Abraham learned this through his temptation to sacrifice Isaac.

Job may have learned of God’s mercy and love after his pride was broken and he prayed for his friends. Job 42:10. The Old Testament patriarchs had faith in God and His justice as a king and judge. God was just, no matter what He did, because He was the supreme ruler and no one had the right to question his authority. They had absolute faith in God on this level of comprehension and understanding, but Jesus showed us that God is not just an “angry judge” who always does right. He is also a loving Father who never gets angry, and lets us judge ourselves. John 12:47, 48. We have the privilege of knowing the Father as Jesus did. This is called the “faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12.

#24-Re: The Restoration of the Defiled Temple. Recently a doctor friend called and talked to me about the “daily” of Dan 8:13, 14. He said he had learned that the word “sacrifice” was a supplied word. As a result of his call I began reading those two verses and praying for understanding. Slowly, the Lord has answered my prayer. My understanding of it now is that Christ is the first saint and the second saint must be Gabrielle. The question that came to my mind was: “Why would the second saint be asking ‘How long?’” Then, it occurred to me that Gabrielle and Michael are on a need to know basis and only knew what the Father revealed to them. The reason I say this is because before Jesus returned to heaven He told His disciples, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.” Acts 1:7. NKJV. “But of that day and hour knows no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Matt 24:36. The word cleansed can also be translated “Justified” or “Vindicated” “Restored,” or “set Right.” Then I thought about the basic or real meaning of the sanctuary. Jesus and the Father are our sanctuary or temple, our safe dwelling place. “He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1. In Judges 13:18 the angel said his name was “Secret” or “Wonderful.” Christ is the wonderful numberer of Daniel and Revelation.

So, if it is the “Temple” which is to be restored and vindicated, and God is our temple and we are His temple and abiding place, as Jesus prayed in John 17 “You in us and we in you” then the restoration or cleansing of the Temple is simply the vindication of God's name and character, which has to do with answering all the charges Satan has made against God's name, character and government, i.e. all the lies he has told which has caused the sanctuary or temple to be defiled, dirty and in need of cleansing.

So, when God's name is totally cleared by restoring the image of Himself in His people, and they become as one, then the sanctuary will truly be cleansed, vindicated and restored. mfc.

I sent the above letter to a fellow researcher on Dan 8:14 and he replied that he agreed with me and had believed the same thing for the last 20 years.

#25-When the Lord told Moses to “set bounds,” Exodus 19:16-25, to keep the people from breaking through, He was simply warning them that Satan, the “lord of breaches,” would have a legal right to kill them if they came up into the thick darkness where “god was.” Now, if Christ had been the one who would “break forth” upon them, then He should have said, “lest I break forth upon you.” But, He didn’t, for it was Satan He was trying to warn them against, i.e., the “god of breaking forth.”

Paul tells us there are many “lords” and many “gods.” I Cor. 8:5. Many evil angels and men claim deity. I understand that in Britain all aristocracy is referred to as “Lord.” Anyone who has ever been a Lord can still claim and use the title. And so, in the Old Testament, we find Satan, on occasion, assumed the title of Lord or God and spoke as if he were God, even to Moses as we have already seen in this book.

#26-I think that when you approach the subject/topic of Michael and Gabrielle like you would the topic of the Sabbath and/or State of the dead, God does not kill and other topics and just piece together little by little the evidence it is pretty clear that Michael and Gabrielle were twins “brought forth” together and that they became angels to try and help the angels understand what was going on with the creation of this world, etc. and to put down the rebellion of Lucifer. There is a teaching that Lucifer has a spouse also, and her name is Lilith. This is also the name of a night demon who kills babies. I don't know if is possible to prove that or not. Who knows if the angels have partners or not? Is it possible that the 7th commandment, forbidding adultery, has a wider application than we have realized? Luke 20:36 is referring to the saved being “equal to the angels,” in the sense that they are no longer subject to death. This subject deserves a lot more study. The Father knew all things ahead of time. Jesus took it all by faith and believed the Father's word and obeyed Him in all things and desired to come and die for us. It was no doubt a terrible struggle for the Father to give up His son...so can you imagine the Father weeping and the Mother as well??? And what about His Sister Spouse? Was it Gabrielle in the Garden of Gethsamane who stood between Jesus and the mob as a bright light and they all fell back? I believe it was. She must have been dying a thousand deaths watching her brother-husband being so terribly treated and then on the cross all alone for six hours. That is really heart wrenching to say the least. I don't think we even know 5% of God's suffering or what really went on or what is going on even now. I think the only way for Gabrielle and Jesus to get back together is for her (Holy Ghost) to possess or inhabit the Elect and that is how she will finally get married to Jesus. Beloved, is it possible that this is what the wedding feast of the Son is all about? One person told me that the Wedding was when Jesus, the Lamb, becomes one with or married to the Holy Ghost. After much study and prayer on this thought I finally concluded that the marriage supper of the lamb is when the Holy Ghost totally possesses each human temple of the Elect as she has been doing slowly through the ages but will totally complete in this final age and that is when the church, as a corporate and mature body of believers will be ready for the wedding supper of the Lamb. The New Jerusalem, God's people, will become the bride of Christ. May the Lord help each of us to cooperate with the Lord by submitting totally to His will so this wonderful wedding may soon take place and we all can go home to heaven with Him.

#27-Satan's final effort to deceive and completely destroy the human race is soon to be manifested in a most dramatic fashion in this last age or eon before the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that the false always comes just before the true. In recent years new age type books have been published regarding the origin of the human race. The authors have attempted to prove that beings (gods, if you please) from outer space, other planets, far advanced in science and technology, have visited planet earth and started the human race with two beings whose progeny (offspring or children) now populate this planet. The Christian Bible in Genesis 1-3 calls these first two beings Adam and Eve. Although these New Age versions of earth's beginnings vary the one theme they do agree on is that planet earth was not created by God/Elohim/Jehovah/Yahweh or any other of the other various titles/names assigned to the Hebrew God of the Old Testament. They teach that mankind has evolved from this original species and that these gods from outer space, the creators, have visited this planet throughout history to check up on their creation to see how they are doing. These visitations have become more frequent since 1945 which was the advent of the atomic/nuclear age. These gods claim to be coming back to earth now to save mankind from destroying himself. One inspired writer exposed this end-time deception with these words: "Fearful sights of a supernatural character will soon be revealed in the heavens, in token of the power of miracle-working demons. The spirits of devils will go forth to the kings of the earth and to the whole world, to fasten them in deception, and urge them on to united with Satan in his last struggle against the government of heaven. By these agencies, rulers and subjects will be alike deceived. Persons will arise pretending to be Christ Himself, and claiming the title and worship which belong to the world's Redeemer. They will perform wonderful miracles of healing and will profess to have revelations from heaven contradicting the testimony of the Scriptures.

"As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviour's advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have yet beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: ‘Christ has come! Christ has come!’ The people prostate themselves in adoration before him, while he lifts up his hands and pronounces a blessing upon them, as Christ blessed His disciples when He was upon the earth. His voice is soft and subdued, yet full of melody. In gentle, compassionate tones he presents some of the same gracious, heavenly truths which the Saviour uttered; he heals the diseases of the people, and then, in his assumed character of Christ, he claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day which he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth. This is the strong, almost overmastering delusion. Like the Samaritans who were deceived by Simon Magus, the multitudes, from the least to the greatest, give heed to these sorceries, saying: This is ‘the great power of God.’ Acts 8:10. But the people of God will not be misled. The teachings of this false Christ are not in accordance with the Scriptures. His blessing is pronounced upon the worshipers of the beast and his image, the very class upon whom the Bible declares that God's unmingled wrath shall be poured out.” “The Great Controversy Between Christ and Satan.” Pages 624, 625. Most UFO researchers date the beginning of these outer space manifestations in the year 1947 when a pilot reported seeing saucer like aircraft in the Pacific Northwest in the vicinity of the state of Idaho. He referred to them as “Flying Saucers” and the name stuck. Scientists have referred to them simply as Unidentified Flying Objects. The military has denied their existence from day one. Several books by Christian and non Christian writers alike have clearly shown that there is a definite link between these so-called space beings and the occult due to the fact that their communications are the same, such as automatic writing, use of the Ouija board, channeling messages through human beings while in a trance like state and so forth. Because of the tremendous amount of publicity via literature and Hollywood movies, sightings and abductions, there has been a paradigm shift in public opinion from outright skepticism and unbelief to curiosity and a desire to know more about this modern day phenomenon. When the world comes to its final crisis Satan will be ready to manifest himself as the Christ who has come to save the world. That time is not far distant, but at hand.

1. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is love.” I John 4:7-8. Therefore, if God is love, “GOD DESTROYS NO MAN.” COL 84. MAN DESTROYS HIMSELF AND SATAN DESTROYS. Texts to look up & Read: Malachi 3:6: Hosea 11:8, 9; John 10:10; I Cor 10:10; Luke 13:15; Acts 10:38; Hebrews 7:26. There is no text in the four gospels which states that Jesus ever hurt or killed anyone, which proves what He is really like. Pure logic tells us if He never killed or destroyed while He was here with us for 33 years, which is the fullest revelation of who God the Father really is, then it stands to reason and logically proves that He has never hurt or killed anyone, because God never changes. Mal 3:6; Ps 89:34; James 1:17; Heb 13:8. Finally, God does not break His own law. It is impossible for God to lie, Hebrews 6:18, which is #9, “Thou shalt not bear false witness.” #6 says, “Thou Shalt not Kill or murder.” In the original the Hebrew word translated “kill” is the same as the one translated “murder.” God does not break His law in order to uphold His law. He is not a law breaker. Therefore, God does not kill. “God Destroys no man.” COL 84.

2. GOD DID NOT COMMAND THE ANIMAL SACRIFICE SYSTEM OF THE OLD TESTAMENT BUT ONLY PERMITTED IT. Matt 9:13; Matt 12:7; Hosea 6:6, 7; Psalm 40:6-8; Amos 5:24; Deut 22:5; Isaiah 1:10-12; Isa 66:1-4; Jeremiah 7:21, 22; I Cor 10:18-21.

GOD PERMITTED IT BUT DID NOT COMMAND IT AND WHEN JESUS DIED HE ABOLISHED THE WHOLE SATANIC SYSTEM WHICH OFTEN LED TO CHILD SACRIFICE AND THE SACRIFICE OF VIRGINS.

3. THERE ARE “TWO LORDS” IN THE OLD TESTAMENT. THE WORDS LORD AND GOD ARE ONLY TITLES AND ARE NOT GOD'S TRUE NAME. SATAN OFTEN WAS ALLOWED TO ASSUME THOSE TITLES OF LORD AND GOD AND IN THE NAME OF GOD COMMANDED ISRAEL TO SLAUGHTER AND KILL, ETC. THAT IS WHY JESUS SAID TO THE JEWS IN JOHN 8:44, “YE ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL.” BECAUSE THEY ATTRIBUTED AND BLAMED THE TRUE GOD, JESUS CHRIST AND HIS FATHER, FOR WHAT SATAN WAS ACTUALLY DOING. JESUS TOOK THE BLAME ON CALVARY AND FORGAVE THEM ALL ANYWAY. IN GEN. 22 ABRAHAM WAS COMMANDED TO GO AND KILL HIS ONLY SON, ISAAC AS A HUMAN SACRIFICE. Which Lord do you think would ask a father to kill his own son? Satan is the god of this world: 2 Cor 4:4; Eph 2:2; 2 Sam 24:1; I Chron 21:1; John 8:44. Exodus 19:18-25; Ex 24; Ex 32:1-14. Gen 22:1-3.

4. Universal Reconciliation or Universal Restoration or Universal Salvation: Rev 5:12; Rev 15:1-4; Psalm 22:26-29; 2 Peter 3:9; Phil 2:5-11; Eph 1:9-12; Eph 3:9-11; I Cor 3:10-15; Rev 21:25. The gates of the city, New Jerusalem, never close.

5. The Harvest Principle. Jesus told the parable about the wheat & the tares in Matt 13 and explained that the Harvest is the “End of the World.” There are three phases of the harvest. 1) Barley. 2) Wheat. 3) Grape. This harvest will take place during the last 3 years of this age. The Barley is another name for the Elect, Matt 24:24. There are at least 24 names or designations for this group.

6. This level deals with the female image of God. I have not written very much on this yet as it is still in the process of being revealed. *See Additional Note #26.

7. This last level deals with the final transformation and translation of God's Elect at the close of the first three and half years of this age. The Elect will be translated at the time of the death decree which is explained in Revelation 11, 12, 13 and 14 as well as Dan 11 and 12.

#29-Many people believe that God the Father planned the death of His son. But let's find out whose idea it really was. “Christ's betrayal, trial, and crucifixion were all planned by the fallen foe. His hatred, carried out in the death of the Son of God, placed Satan where his true diabolical character was revealed to all created intelligences that had not fallen through sin. The holy angels were horror-stricken that one who had been of their number could fall so far as to be capable of such cruelty. Every sentiment of sympathy or pity which they had ever felt for Satan in his exile, was quenched in their hearts. That his envy should be exercised in such revenge upon an innocent person was enough to strip him of his assumed robe of celestial light, and to reveal the hideous deformity beneath; but to manifest such malignity toward the Divine Son of God, who had with unprecedented self-denial, and love for the creatures formed in His image, come from heaven and assumed their fallen nature, was such a heinous crime against heaven that it caused the angels to shudder with horror, and severed forever the last tie of sympathy existing between Satan and the heavenly world (3SP 183, 184).”  5BC 1149, 1150.

#30-Now, we are ready to go back to Mt. Sinai to learn more about the Ten Commandment law that was given by the hands of angels. The first time God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Ex. 3:2, the Bible says that the bush was not consumed by this fire. When Jesus appeared among men the only kind of fire he taught and spoke about was the fire of His love and truth that burned in the hearts of men. But when the law was given Deut. 5 tells us that “the mountain did burn with fire,” which seems to indicate a literal fire because the elders spoke to Moses about it they were so afraid. “We have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth. Now therefore why should we die? For this great fire will consume us: if we hear the voice of the Lord our God any more, then we shall die.” Deut. 5:23-25. So, it would seem that both kinds of fire were in the mountain...the literal kind from Satan and the non-literal kind from Jesus. Certainly the voice that spoke and the smoke and the lightnings and shaking of the mountain was not from Jesus because Isa. 14:16, 17 identify Satan as the one “that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms?” Paul even confirms this in Hebrews 12:18-24 where he contrasts the law given at Sinai with the peaceful kingdom of Mt. Sion. “For you are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest...so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake: But you are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,...And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” When God speaks it is with a still small voice, very quiet and humble.

The voice that thundered out the Ten Commandments was not a still small voice. It was very frightening. All of Israel were totally terrified. No wonder the Jews in Christ's day did not accept Jesus as the Messiah. How could this man be the God of Israel? He is too quiet and humble. We want the thunderous God of Sinai with all of its power, glory, fear and bluster and with all of its signs and wonders. But Jesus was there in the mountain with Moses and Satan the same as He was with Elijah later on. In Exodus 24 we gain some more insights about this same mountain top experience. Notice in vs. 1 that the true Lord tells Moses to come up “unto the Lord,” but to “worship ye afar off.” Jesus did not want them to get too close to this Lord because this God is a killer. John 8:44.

This was the same warning Jesus had given Moses in Ex. 19:21. “And the Lord (Jesus) came down upon Sinai, on the top of the mount:...And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge (order or tell) the people, lest they break through unto the Lord (Satan) to gaze, and many of them perish, And let the priests also, which come near to the LORD, sanctify themselves, lest the LORD break forth upon them.” Moses argues with Jesus on this point so Jesus again tells Moses: “let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the Lord (Satan) lest he (Satan) break forth upon them.” Ex. 19:24. Then in Ex. 23:20, 21 Moses is warned again about this Angel that was to “keep thee in the way...Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgressions: for my Name is in him. But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak;” v. 22. Ok, here we have the key point in all of this explanation about the law given at Sinai. Even though the voice that was bellowing out these Ten Laws was not the actual voice of Jesus Christ, as we know Him in Matt. 5, speaking in a very kind and loving tone of voice (remember God never changes, Mal. 3:6) God intended for the children of Israel to understand that this was His voice and His law that He was ordaining. Now there is another key word. Everything that God “ordains” is said to be from Him. We are told that “God ordained the thorn and the thistle.” “Steps to Christ,” page 1. He also “ordained” the animal sacrifice system which was not His perfect will which He did not speak at all. But He allowed it and permitted it and claimed that it was His law for whatever He allows He claims to be doing. “Obey his voice, and do all that I speak.” Ex. 23:22. This is obviously why Jesus had to come in a body of flesh so that all of mankind, the angels, fallen and unfallen, as well as all the inhabited universe could see and hear theunvarnished, total, perfect will of God the Creator so no created being could ever have any doubts about His true character. And it was all planned out ahead of time down to the smallest detail.

In Exodus 24:1-18 we have another example of the two laws. From vs. 1-11 you have the animal sacrifice system...the ceremonial law. In vs. 9-11 you have a being appearing to them claiming to be God. Of course, Moses and everyone obviously thought this was the true God. But because the true God was invisible at this time the being that appeared to them was the pretender God...the imposter God. But He was allowed to do it for that was the true God's will for Israel at that stage. He was also involving Lucifer (Satan) in the symbols pointing to the coming of the Redeemer. Because the Bible tells us that Jesus never gives up hope... “Beareth all things, believeth all things, endureth all things and hopeth all things,” Jesus was obviously hoping that Lucifer would have a change of heart somewhere along the way. Of course, we know He didn't. Neither did Israel. In fact, their hearts only became harder with every animal they slaughtered. This is a most fascinating aspect of God's character. That He is always hoping against hope that people will do the right thing. This is brought out in Isa. 63. Read the whole chapter. “For He said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of His presence saved them: in His love and in His pity He redeemed them; and He bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed His Holy Spirit: therefore He was turned to be their enemy, and He fought against them.” Isa. 63:9, 10. Notice that Jesus claims to be their enemy even though it was Satan who was their enemy...He is always a friend to sinners. And it says that He fought against them. Again He takes the blame for Satan fighting them but you could also say that He was resisting them, as He resisted Balaam on his donkey.

In Ezek. 20:24, 25 we find God saying that because they did not execute His judgments and despised His statutes, and had polluted His Sabbaths, and went after idols He allowed them to receive bad laws. But notice how He says that He gave it to them Himself. “Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord.” “Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee:” Jer. 2:19.

We are now ready to go to the Mount of Olives with Jesus as He announces the laws of His kingdom or government. Matt. 5 records not only the Beatitudes but the ushering in of God's perfect law in the flesh through the first perfect medium, Jesus Christ. This was the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise of Jer. 31 that God would write His perfect and ultimate covenant in our hearts. The concepts Jesus spoke revealed for the first time in the history of the world the great depth and breadth of the love of God. “Blessed are themerciful: for they shall obtain mercy.” Matt. 5:7. “Blessed are the pure in heart...blessed are they which are persecuted...” Such an idea had never been expressed before. “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” vs. 7-12. No man had ever spoken such beautiful words before.

Now let's notice v. 17. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” There are basically two schools of thought on this verse. The first simply explains that Jesus did indeed fulfill the law of Moses, which included the Ten Commandments, by nailing them to the cross. But when He rose from the grave on the first day of the week, He reinstated nine of the commandments, except the fourth one (Sabbath), which He replaced with Sunday. Of course, I do not believe this theory.

The second theory is that Jesus abolished all of the law of Moses except for the Ten Commandments, which was never part of the ceremonial law in the first place. Therefore, He did not abolish or do away with the Sabbath, which is a memorial of Creation. I have always basically agreed with this second theory even though I have never felt it totally answered the objections of the critics. But up to now it has been adequate, mainly because the Ten Commandment law was placed inside of the ark, representing the mind/conscience. But now with a greater understanding of the four levels of the character of God we can give a much better answer without sacrificing any of our beliefs. We are simply expanding on it which is what present truth does...it is a dynamic that never stops progressing.

Let me use another illustration. The old model T Ford was glorious in its time. But the day came when the model A came out and later on even newer models each a little better than the one before. And each new model had a glory of its own but the newer ones were somehow always more glorious causing the former models to “fade away.”

And that is how Paul explains the “glory” of the law of Moses which he calls the “ministration of condemnation or death.” vs. 7, 9. He is clearly talking about the Ten Commandments because it was the only one written in two tablets of stone. In our eagerness to defend the Sabbath commandment we have fallen into a serious error of trapping ourselves into the same legalistic administration the Jews of Christ's day trapped themselves into by refusing to move into the heart of Jesus where the original “law of God” resides in all of its blazing glory. “For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory. For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory on account of the glory that surpasses it.” 2 Cor. 3:9, 10. People today are no longer driving model T Fords. Why? Because they have something much more “glorious.”

Now, let's go to 2 Cor. 3, where Paul clearly teaches that the Ten Commandments was the “ministration of death, written and engraved in stones,” simply because the law can never save us. Furthermore, he tells us that this “ministration of condemnation” v. 9 (although glorious in its day) has been “abolished.” This is the KJV and I believe the word “abolished” does not give the correct rendering of Paul's meaning. I like the NAS better which uses the phrase “fading away.” This correlates with what Jesus said in Matt. 5:17. “I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” The KJV uses the word “destroy” instead of “abolish.” What did Jesus mean when He said that He did not come to “destroy” the law? This is where an understanding of the original Greek word is so important. “Kataluo” is the Greek word Jesus used in Matt. 5:17. It means to literally destroy or dissolve or overthrow. Jesus said that was not what he had come to do. Instead he said that He had come to “fulfill” (Greek is Pleroo) meaning to “level up, finish, complete, fully preach, perfect.” Of course, this is just what Jesus did. How appropriate and fitting that He was a carpenter who knew how to level, plumb and square which was just what He did with the law in stone. This brings to my mind a prophecy of Isaiah in which all wrongs would be made right and all problems would be solved... everything would be made perfect, before and during the coming of the Messiah. “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isa. 40:3-5. This was also a prophecy of the work of John the Baptist as a forerunner of the Messiah. Yet, even John the Baptist did not understand the nature and character of the Messiah...His real mission and work. John tried to bring a revival of true godliness to Israel, to prepare their hearts to receive the message and work of the Messiah. And that is our work today as well. What a difficult and almost thankless task it seems to be at times. Yet, how exciting it is to see the character message developing year by year and the power it has to change lives in those few who do accept it.

Another illustration the Lord brought to my mind today to help me understand how He has been perfecting His true law of love in our hearts from the very beginning is that of a picture puzzle. We all have put a puzzle together at some time or other in our lives. I remember the ones I used to help my grandpa put together back in Indiana when I was about nine or ten years old. How exciting it was to see the picture developing little by little. It usually took us several days to put one together so we had time to guess and wonder what it was because some of them didn't have the picture on the top of the box or the box had been lost. But that is a good illustration of how the story of the Great Controversy is slowly being understood as one generation after another keeps putting more and more of the pieces of the puzzle together. And here we are now, the last generation putting the final pieces of the puzzle together...seeing the complete character of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

#31-Hi Pastor Mike,

In my devotions today, I noticed a similarity between the words of the Lord God of Gen. 2, 3 and the words of King Saul in 1 Samuel 14: 24-29, 37-39, 43, 44. These verses tell us that King Saul was acting under Satan's deceptions of pride and self glory. Saul says, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and until I have avenged myself on my enemies.” Jonathan did not know of it and ate some honey and his eyes were enlightened. But the people would not eat for they feared the oath. When God did not answer Saul's inquiry or prayer he became enraged and said, “If this sin is in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” When the lot points to Jonathan, Saul says, “You shall surely die.”

Now compare this spirit and words with the Lord God of Gen. 2 and 3. Genesis 2:17. “...for in the day you eat from it, you will surely die.” Gen. 3:2, 3. Eve says to the serpent, “From the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat, but from the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat from it or touch it or you will die.’”

After the Lord God confronted Adam and Eve about eating His forbidden Fruit, He says to the serpent, “Because you have done this, Cursed are you more than all cattle...” To the woman he said, “I will greatly multiply your pain...and your husband will rule over you.” And to Adam Hesaid, “Cursed is the ground because of you...both thorns and thistles it will grow for you...for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”

This tells me that the Lord God of Gen. 2 and 3 and King Saul have a similar spirit of threatening people with death and cursing them. This leads me to believe that this Lord God is actually the fallen angel Lucifer pretending to be God. And the innocent, and harmless serpent is used by Jesus to break Satan's power over the holy pair. It's too bad they lost faith in God when they ate the fruit. Romans 14:23. “But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.”

Both of these stories have to do with the death threat from eating good food that has been cursed by the “Lord God, or King.” Also notice James 3:9,10. “With our mouth we bless God our Father and then we curse men made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.” NAS Bible.

So I thought you would be interested in these findings. God bless you always. Del.

#32-How and when did the rite of circumcision begin? First of all, Jesus clearly stated that circumcision was “of the fathers,” predating Moses. We know that God never changes but here is a law which was reversed by the Jerusalem council in 52 AD. Acts 15:1-29 is a detailed account of this council at which Peter testified that the Holy Spirit had been given to the Gentiles the same as to the Jews. The reason this council was held was because some believers from Judea were teaching that unless you were circumcised you could not be saved. Peter answered this argument by saying: “And He (Jesus) made no difference between us and them, but cleansed their (Gentiles) hearts by faith [that is, by a strong and welcome conviction that Jesus is the Messiah]...Now then, why do you try to test God by putting a yoke on the necks of the disciples, such as neither our forefathers nor we [ourselves] were able to endure? But we believe we are saved through grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.” James then made a speech concluding: “Therefore, it is my opinion that we should not put obstacles in the way and annoy and disturb those of the Gentiles who turn to God.” Acts 15:19. Amplified Bible.

We know that God never changes, therefore, He would not give this law of circumcision and then lead the early church to abolish it. “The Holy Spirit saw good not to impose the ceremonial law on the Gentile converts, and the mind of the apostles regarding this matter was the mind of the Spirit of God.” Acts of the Apostles, page 194.

So, how did circumcision begin? It is first mentioned in Gen 17:10 as a token of the covenant between God and Abram. The question we must ask is “which GOD” told Abram to mutilate his body in this way? And why would God need to give him two tokens of the same covenant? The first covenant the Lord gave to Abraham was based on a change of his name from Abram to Abraham, meaning “father of nations.” This was a very simple, faith covenant that God would keep His word and bless Abraham with many children. But the carnal heart is always seeking some kind of works of the flesh that they can perform, and Satan is always waiting nearby to give it to them. Paul tells us that Abraham was commended by God for his faith before he was circumcised. So, he did not need this extra proof. The “lord” who spoke to Abram in Gen 17:9 was lord Satan, the god of this earth.

Earlier in Gen 15:1-6 God had promised that his children would be as numerous as the stars of heaven. But in v 8 we see that later on Abraham's faith wavered and he demanded a sign, which was a sign of doubt and unbelief. So, lord Satan was allowed to step in and give Abraham the carnal sign of killing animals or blood sacrifice, Gen 15:7. And he (lord Satan) said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of the Ur of the Chaldees...” He was then instructed by lord Satan to sacrifice some animals. As a result of this betrayal of trust Satan was permitted to bring a “horror of great darkness upon him.” v 12. Abraham was shown the terrible things Satan would do to his seed. In v 17 the “smoking furnace” represented Satan and the “burning lamp” (flaming torch) was Christ, Psalm 119:105. Just as soon as the words of doubt came out of Abraham's mouth, Satan had a legal right to assert himself and give Abraham the sign he wanted. We know from Isaiah 1:10-12 and Isaiah 66:1-4 and especially Jeremiah 7:22 that God never gave the animal sacrifice system in the first place. “For I spake not unto your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt.” Paul also tells us that the Levitical law was not perfect and was therefore changed to the Melchisedec priesthood. He says in Hebrews 7:16-22 that this law was not only a carnal commandment but that it was weak and unprofitable but that Jesus was made a surety of a better testament or covenant. What an honor and privilege we have of working together on this project and mission. Thank you, my friend for your prayers and donations of love to help me keep on keeping on.

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