Category: Bible Truths

For many Christians, the Old Testament is an enigma. The God represented therein is stern and oppressive. The language is hard and the commands, at times, seem brutal. We will cite a few examples. These are in no wise a comprehensive list,  nor is intended to be.  Here are a few statements with which people have difficulty. “(Numbers 15:32-36 [KJV])

And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.  And they put him in ward, because it was not declared what should be done to him.  And the LORD said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.  And all the congregation brought him without the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died; as the LORD commanded Moses.

(Deuteronomy 21:18=21 [KJV])
If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother, and [that], when they have chastened him, will not hearken unto them:
Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him, and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place; And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son [is] stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; [he is] a glutton, and a drunkard.
And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die: so shalt thou put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear.

(Leviticus 20:9-10 [KJV])
For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood [shall be] upon him. And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man’s wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

(Leviticus 20:11-12 [KJV])
And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion; their blood [shall be] upon them.

(Leviticus 20:13-14 [KJV])
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them. And if a man take a wife and her mother, it [is] wickedness: they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they; that there be no wickedness among you.

(Leviticus 20:15-16 [KJV])
And if a man lie with a beast, he shall surely be put to death: and ye shall slay the beast.
And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast: they shall surely be put to death; their blood [shall be] upon them.

Recently, Israel Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu quoted the passage from First Samuel chapter 15.
(1Samuel 15:2 [KJV])
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I remember [that] which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid [wait] for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt. Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
Reading these verses paint a picture of an extreme God who seems to delight in death. Yet it is evident that the Christ of the New Testament is of an entirely different character.
I remember watching a debate with Sam Harris and Rick Warren, and Rick quoted 1 John 4:8
“God is love,” to which Sam asked what was lovely about Tuberculosis and other sclerosing diseases. To which Rick Warren could give no reasonable answer.

Lee Strobel In his book The Case for Faith, chronicled the story of Charles Templeton, a mighty evangelist who gave up on the Christian faith. This man is considered the father of mass evangelism, for he would fill stadiums by his preaching. In fact, the Rev Billy Graham would frequently travel with him.

As Lee Strobel interviewed Charles Templeton, he asked the question, why he (Templeton) rejected Christianity and the God of Christianity? Templeton responded, it was a photograph.  A photograph from Life Magazine of a black woman in Northern Africa holding a dead baby in her arms and looking up to heaven.  He stated that the country was experiencing a devastating drought and all she needed was a little rain. “I looked at it and I thought, “is it possible to believe that there is a loving or caring creator when all this woman needed was rain?”  “How could a loving God do this to that woman? Who runs the rain? I don’t, you don’t.  He does – or that’s what I thought.  But when I saw that photograph, I immediately knew it is not possible for this to happen and for there to be a loving God. There was no way. Who else but a fiend could destroy a baby and virtually kill its mother with agony – when all that was needed was rain?”

In a civil moral society, the above statements are difficult to accept or understand. Therefore, many have rejected the Bible and most Christians have reached the conclusion that segments of the Bible cannot be accepted. In spite of these difficulties, we know that God is loving and merciful.   For most Christians, the attribute demonstrated by Christ in the New Testament are wonderful, yet it was the same Christ in the Old Testament.

(Hebrews 13:8 [KJV])
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

(Malachi 3:6 [KJV])
For I [am] the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

(John 5:46 [KJV])
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me.

(Hebrews 3:8-11 [KJV])
Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:

When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.)

(1 Corinthians 10:1-4 [KJV])
Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

(1 Corinthians 10:9 [KJV])
Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.

(Isaiah 33:22 [KJV])
For the LORD [is] our judge, the LORD [is] our lawgiver, the LORD [is] our king; he will save us.

(James 4:12 [KJV])
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Christ is the lawgiver, the one represented as the protector and savior of mankind throughout the Old Testament.  He is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and John the Baptist speaking of Him, says, “behold the lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.”

(Isaiah 63:9 [KJV])
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.

All those difficult statements in the Old Testament were directed by Christ. Is He inconsistent? We have already quoted that Christ changes not, He is also omniscient, knowing all things. How should we relate to those questions? In the case with Charles Templeton, the inability to find a reasonable answer led him to reject Christianity and God. I firmly believe that there are no inconsistencies with God, therefore the answers are found in the word, The Holy Bible.

To be continued… Watch out for Part Two.

Hello Readers!

How precious is the gift of time.  We exist in time, and it would be impossible to accomplish anything in this life without it. Our past, present and future lives are marked and influenced by time.  Our very aging process is marked by our birthdates, our relationships are held more precious by how long we have known each other, the events that influence our emotions and behaviour are also marked in time.  For example, do you remember this date, 9/11.  Do you remember what you were doing when you heard?  How you felt? Who alerted you or how you found out?

In my devotion this morning, the thought of time crossed my mind because the past few weeks during my bible study class and early morning prayer, the shortness of our remaining time prior to the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ is taking on a greater focus and the urgency of preparation for what lies just ahead.

I recalled reading the excerpt that I share below.  It is one that we should read several times because it is so true and impactful.  I pray that as I share it with you that it alerts us to how precious and important the use of our time before God.

Excerpt from Christ Object Lessons (COL) by E. G. White, chapter: Talents, pages 342-348.

            “Our time belongs to God. Every moment is His, and we are under the most solemn obligation to improve it to His glory. Of no talent He has given will He require a stricter account than of our time. COL 342.1

The value of time is beyond computation. Christ regarded every moment as precious, and it is thus that we should regard it. Life is too short to be trifled away. We have but a few days of probation in which to prepare for eternity. We have no time to waste, no time to devote to selfish pleasure, no time for the indulgence of sin. It is now that we are to form characters for the future, immortal life. It is now that we are to prepare for the searching judgment. COL 342.2

The human family have scarcely begun to live when they begin to die, and the world’s incessant labor ends in nothingness unless a true knowledge in regard to eternal life is gained. The man who appreciates time as his working day will fit himself for a mansion and for a life that is immortal. It is well that he was born. COL 342.3

We are admonished to redeem the time. But time squandered can never be recovered. We cannot call back even one moment. The only way in which we can redeem our time is by making the most of that which remains, by being co-workers with God in His great plan of redemption. COL 342.4

In him who does this, a transformation of character takes place. He becomes a son of God, a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King. He is fitted to be the companion of the angels. COL 342.5

Now is our time to labor for the salvation of our fellow men. There are some who think that if they give money to the cause of Christ, this is all they are required to do; the precious time in which they might do personal service for Him passes unimproved. But it is the privilege and duty of all who have health and strength to render to God active service. All are to labor in winning souls to Christ. Donations of money cannot take the place of this. COL 343.1

Every moment is freighted with eternal consequences. We are to stand as minute men, ready for service at a moment’s notice. The opportunity that is now ours to speak to some needy soul the word of life may never offer again. God may say to that one, “This night thy soul shall be required of thee,” and through our neglect he may not be ready. (Luke 12:20.) In the great judgment day, how shall we render our account to God? COL 343.2

Life is too solemn to be absorbed in temporal and earthly matters, in a treadmill of care and anxiety for the things that are but an atom in comparison with the things of eternal interest. Yet God has called us to serve Him in the temporal affairs of life. Diligence in this work is as much a part of true religion as is devotion. The Bible gives no indorsement to idleness. It is the greatest curse that afflicts our world. Every man and woman who is truly converted will be a diligent worker. COL 343.3

Upon the right improvement of our time depends our success in acquiring knowledge and mental culture. The cultivation of the intellect need not be prevented by poverty, humble origin, or unfavorable surroundings. Only let the moments be treasured. A few moments here and a few there, that might be frittered away in aimless talk; the morning hours so often wasted in bed; the time spent in traveling on trams or railway cars, or waiting at the station; the moments of waiting for meals, waiting for those who are tardy in keeping an appointment—if a book were kept at hand, and these fragments of time were improved in study, reading, or careful thought, what might not be accomplished. A resolute purpose, persistent industry, and careful economy of time will enable men to acquire knowledge and mental discipline which will qualify them for almost any position of influence and usefulness. COL 343.4

It is the duty of every Christian to acquire habits of order, thoroughness, and dispatch. There is no excuse for slow bungling at work of any character. When one is always at work and the work is never done, it is because mind and heart are not put into the labor. The one who is slow and who works at a disadvantage should realize that these are faults to be corrected. He needs to exercise his mind in planning how to use the time so as to secure the best results. By tact and method, some will accomplish as much in five hours as others do in ten. Some who are engaged in domestic labor are always at work not because they have so much to do but because they do not plan so as to save time. By their slow, dilatory ways they make much work out of very little. But all who will, may overcome these fussy, lingering habits. In their work let them have a definite aim. Decide how long a time is required for a given task, and then bend every effort toward accomplishing the work in the given time. The exercise of the willpower will make the hands move deftly. COL 344.1

Through lack of determination to take themselves in hand and reform, persons can become stereotyped in a wrong course of action; or by cultivating their powers they may acquire ability to do the very best of service. Then they will find themselves in demand anywhere and everywhere. They will be appreciated for all that they are worth. COL 344.2

By many children and youth, time is wasted that might be spent in carrying home burdens, and thus showing a loving interest in father and mother. The youth might take upon their strong young shoulders many responsibilities which someone must bear. COL 345.1

The life of Christ from His earliest years was a life of earnest activity. He lived not to please Himself. He was the Son of the infinite God, yet He worked at the carpenter’s trade with His father Joseph. His trade was significant. He had come into the world as the character builder, and as such all His work was perfect. Into all His secular labor He brought the same perfection as into the characters He was transforming by His divine power. He is our pattern. COL 345.2

Parents should teach their children the value and right use of time. Teach them that to do something which will honor God and bless humanity is worth striving for. Even in their early years they can be missionaries for God. COL 345.3

Parents cannot commit a greater sin than to allow their children to have nothing to do. The children soon learn to love idleness, and they grow up shiftless, useless men and women. When they are old enough to earn their living, and find employment, they work in a lazy, droning way, yet expect to be paid as much as if they were faithful. There is a worldwide difference between this class of workers and those who realize that they must be faithful stewards. COL 345.4

Indolent, careless habits indulged in secular work will be brought into the religious life and will unfit one to do any efficient service for God. Many who through diligent labor might have been a blessing to the world, have been ruined through idleness. Lack of employment and of steadfast purpose opens the door to a thousand temptations. Evil companions and vicious habits deprave mind and soul, and the result is ruin for this life and for the life to come. COL 345.5

Whatever the line of work in which we engage, the word of God teaches us to be “not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord.” “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might,” “knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for ye serve the Lord Christ.” Romans 12:11; Ecclesiastes 9:10; Colossians 3:24.” Amen.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 [KJV])

“Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29 [KJV])

“Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in [their] heart; and they have not known my ways.” (Hebrews 3:10 [KJV])

These scripture reference points introduce an issue that always arises among believers. Reading the scriptures but applying our faulty understanding and yet insisting that others yield to our understanding.  The Spirit of the Lord has declared that must not be so.

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed [be] the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.” (Jeremiah 17:5 [KJV])

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7 [KJV])

 “O LORD, I know that the way of man [is] not in himself: [it is] not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10:23 [KJV])

“After this He went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples: and they continued there not many days. And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.”  {John 2:12}, {Desire of Ages (DA) 154.1}  
In this journey, Jesus joined one of the large companies that were making their way to the capital. He had not yet publicly announced His mission, and He mingled unnoticed with the throng. Upon these occasions, the coming of the Messiah, to which such prominence had been given by the ministry of John, was often the theme of conversation. The hope of national greatness was dwelt upon with kindling enthusiasm. Jesus knew that this hope was to be disappointed, for it was founded on a misinterpretation of the Scriptures. With deep earnestness He explained the prophecies, and tried to arouse the people to a closer study of God’s word.  {DA 154.2}  

As I write, there is a great conflict going on between Israel and the Palestinians.  The term “from the river to sea” is often used, with the intention of violence with its usage.  Truly, God spoke these words to Abraham in Genesis 15.

(Genesis 15:17-18 [KJV])
“And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.  In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates.”

 The question to ask is what did Abraham understand by this?. The promise was twofold.  If Abraham and his seed would remain faithful to the Lord, then the Lord would grant them this land.  However, faithfulness was lacking on the part of Abraham’s children.  The consequences of this was, all the great powers that rule over Israel actually controlled from the river to the sea.

 In 2 Kings 24, we see both Egypt and Babylon had dominion over that particular area. 

(2 Kings 24:7 [KJV])
And the king of Egypt came not again any more out of his land: for the king of Babylon had taken from the river of Egypt unto the river Euphrates all that pertained to the king of Egypt.

AT Jones in his booklet “Christian Patriotism (CHPA)” shares Abraham’s understanding of the promise. Please consider his argument.

When God said to Abraham, “Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee,” Abraham “went out, not knowing whither he went.” Hebrews 11:8. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 18.1}

God had not yet shown to him the land or country into which he was to go, and which was to be his. So far, the Lord had only promised to show it to him. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 18.2}

There were three things, however, which Abraham must do before he could fairly expect God to show him the country which He had promised, and which was to be his. First, he was to get out of his country; secondly, from his kindred; thirdly, from his father’s house. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 18.3}

He left his country; but when he did so, his father and his kindred went with him to Haran, and dwelt there. There his father died; and now, separated from his father’s house, he went on to the land of Canaan. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 18.4}

But there accompanied him yet one of his kindred– Lot, his brother’s son. While Lot was with him, and he was thus not separated from his kindred, though separated from his country and his father’s house, the time did not come for God to show to him the land, nor the country which He would give him. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 18.5}

But there came a day when Lot should be separated from him. Lot chose all the plain of the Jordan, and journeyed east, and “they separated thus, one from the other.” Genesis 13:11. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 19.1}

And just then it was that God showed Abraham the land which He had promised to show him, the country which should be his. “And the Lord said unto Abraham, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward; for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed forever.” Genesis 13:14, 15. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 19.2}

And the country which the Lord then showed to Abraham, and which He there promised him should be his for an everlasting possession–that country embraced the world; for “the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.” Romans 4:13. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 19.3}

Therefore, when at the word of the Lord Abraham lifted up his eyes to see what the Lord would show him, he saw “the world to come,” which is to be the everlasting possession of all them which be of faith. For “if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 19.4}

And from that day forward Abraham “sojourned in the land of promise as in a strange country,” looking for “a better country, that is, an heavenly,” and looking “for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:9, 16, 8. For, though God promised that He would give to Abraham that land, and to his seed after him, yet as long as he was in this world God really “gave him none inheritance in it, no not so much as to set his foot on.” Acts 7:5. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 19.5}

So also dwelt Isaac and Jacob, heirs with Abraham of the same promise, accepting with Abraham separation from every earthly State and country, confessing “that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth,” looking for the country which God had prepared for them, and the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 21.2}

And that they accepted this freely of their own choice, by faith in God, is shown by the fact, as recorded: “Truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11.15, 16. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 21.3}

This dealing of God with Abraham, and the record of it, were for the instruction of all the people who would believe God, from that time to the world’s end. For Abraham was the called, the chosen, the friend of God, the father of all them that believe. And all “they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” Galatians 3:9.

Further: “Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy Seed, which is Christ.” Galatians 3:16. Therefore the promises recorded and referred to in the scripture, “To Abraham and his Seed,” are always to Abraham and Christ, and to Abraham in Christ. And, therefore, “if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:29. {1900 ATJ, CHPA 22.1} Amen.

Dear friends, it has been a while since a recent blog was posted and we do apologize. We have certainly been negligent in being consistent but know that we are sincere in our efforts. Much has been going on but amid all of that, God has shown His care and faithfulness. We praise Him. We also hope that all has been well with you.

This post is a dive into the sacredness of the Sabbath, the rest that it represents for us who are living towards the end of time and God’s desire and intention to restore his people and the earth to sinless perfection. This excerpt is taken from the book, Living by Faith. A compilation of works by A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner. This is chapter 41 entitled, A New Creation. Please enjoy:

True Sabbath keeping means rest in the Lord – depending on Him as the Creator, who is able to create you a new creature in Christ Jesus.  This thought is worthy of further consideration. Let’s recall a few plain statements of Scripture.

God has made His wonderful works to be remembered. Psalms 111:4.

He wants you to remember His wonderful works, in order that you may know His power, because His power is known by His works. Romans 1:20.

It is necessary for you to know the power of God, in order that you may be saved, because the Gospel is the power of God to salvation to everyone that believes. Romans 1:16. It is by the power of God, through faith, that you are kept. 1 Peter 1:5.

The Sabbath is a memorial that God gave you of His wonderful works. “And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it, because that in it He had rested from all His work which God created and made.”  Genesis 2:3.  “The seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”  Exodus 20:10, 11.

Since the Sabbath is the memorial of the wonderful works of God, and God is known by His works, it follows that the Sabbath gives the knowledge of God. And so, He says: “And hallow My Sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between Me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God.”  Ezekiel 20:20.

But to know God is to know Him as He is. It is to know that He is love (1 John 4:16), that He is of great compassion (Lamentations 3:22), that He is merciful (Psalms 103:8, 11, 17), that He delights in mercy (Micah 7:18), that He takes no pleasure in the death of any (Ezekiel 33:11), that He has interposed Himself for your salvation (Hebrews 6:13-20), and that He is able to do all that He has promised.  Romans 4:21; Ephesians 3:20. In short, to know God is to know Jesus Christ, “for in Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9), and God is manifested only in Christ.  John 1:18. “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.” 2 Corinthians 5:19.

Christ is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24. Therefore the works of God, by which the power of God is known, make Christ known to you. This is evident enough, because “by Him were all things created.” Colossians 1:16. “All things were made by Him.” John 1:3. And since the Sabbath is the memorial of creation, it is the memorial of the power of Christ. But Christ is your Savior. “He was manifested to take away our sins.”    1 John 3:5. Therefore the Sabbath is for the purpose of letting you know the power of Christ to save you from sin. This we also plainly read: “Moreover also I gave them my Sabbaths, to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.”  Ezekiel 20:12.

When God had finished the six days of creation, He “saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good.”  Genesis 1:31. This look included us. “God made man upright.”  Ecclesiastes 7:29. Since the Sabbath is the memorial of a perfect creation it shows the power of God to create a perfect earth, and perfect people to dwell in it.

“They shall go to confusion together that are makers of idols. But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation; ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end. For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it. He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited; I am the LORD; and there is none else. I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth; I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye Me in vain; I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.”  Isaiah 45:16-19.

Notice carefully what this text says. “The makers of idols will be ashamed and confounded, but Israel will be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation.” Why? Because the Lord made the earth to be inhabited; He did not make it in vain. If it were not inhabited, it would have been made in vain. But He showed in the beginning what kind of people He designed to inhabit the earth. He made the earth to be inhabited by perfect beings. Now since He did not make it in vain, it is going to be inhabited by just the kind of people that He made to inhabit it in the beginning. He is going to save people out of the earth, making them perfect, to inhabit the earth forever. He will make the earth new for their habitation. See Revelation 21:1, 5; 22: 1-5; 2 Peter 3:13.

Therefore, the Sabbath is both a memorial and a pledge. It is a sign that God made everything perfect in the beginning and it is a pledge that He will restore all things to perfection as they were in the beginning.  He will create a new earth. What does that mean? It means that the earth is to be restored to the condition that it was in when it was first created. It was then a new earth, and God is going to make it new again. But it will be inhabited, for the Lord did not make it in vain. And it will be inhabited by perfect people. Only righteousness will dwell on the new earth.

The Sabbath reminds you that God made the earth by His power. The Sabbath also makes Jesus known to you as the One by His power will create you as a new creature in Christ to dwell on the new earth.

So, the Sabbath is the seal of a perfect creation, both in the beginning, and at the last. Keeping the Sabbath means perfect submission to the will of God, so that His will may be done on earth as it is done in heaven. It means for you to give the Lord His way with you, so that He can make you to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made you accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:5, 6.

The Sabbath is God’s rest. It is the rest which God entered into when He ceased from His work and left His word to uphold that which it had created. That rest He gave to the first humans in Eden.  That same rest He gives now to all who will accept Him. It is the rest in which you are to be saved, as the Lord says, “In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength.”  Isaiah 30:15. It is resting on the power which made the heavens and the earth, and which still holds them up. It is the rest which in the beginning was connected with the new earth, and so having that rest is the assurance of rest in the earth when it is again made new. And so, it is fitting that when the earth is made new, the Sabbath will be observed by all flesh. See Isaiah 66:22, 23.  End of excerpt.

I sincerely hope that you have been blessed and from this reading have a greater appreciation for the Sabbath and what it means to our salvation.  The Love that God has for us is clearly revealed. May God richly bless you.

“No man shall have for himself particular gods of his own; no man shall worship by himself any new or foreign gods, unless they are recognized by the public laws.”—Cicero.

The Great Empires of Prophecy, from Babylon to the Fall of Rome (GEP), by A. T. Jones, 348.4

What are the limits of civil authority from the standpoint of natural right and divine authority?

I pondered these questions while doing my devotion and thinking about things taking place in this world in which we live.  Many changes have taken place within the past few years which have given rise to startling trends in behavior from those who are voted to govern to those who cannot govern themselves. 

With the examination of these trends, are we going back to a time in history that we found so oppressive and antihuman that we have buried it so deep to have forgotten the lessons learnt?  To the extent that, having forgotten, we are now reverting to the same behaviors that were then abhorrent. 

What do you think?  Let me share an excerpt from a book that I read.  The Limits of Civil Authority (LCA) by A. T. Jones.

THERE seems to be in this country at the present time an urgent need of a better understanding by the public, upon the subject of the boundaries of the domain of popular government; for there are indications of an ignorance upon this point which cannot fail to be attended with grave wrongs to individuals and evils to the State. The principle that “the majority must rule,” is the correct one, but is not of universal application. There is danger that it may be extended altogether too far; for it must be evident to all, that the majority cannot prescribe rules for the minority in everything, no matter how small that minority may be. If it can, there is no such thing as individual rights, for that which is subject to the will of a majority is not a right. A right is something which, in its very nature, is inherent in the one possessing it, independent of the will of all other persons. Otherwise it would be but a mere privilege, such as a superior might grant to an inferior, and take away again at his pleasure; and the saying would be true that “might makes right.” But it is one of the fundamental principles of our government, that “all men are created equal.” It is not the prerogative of any one to be lord over any other, to prescribe rules by which he must live. They are equal in this, that all have an equal right to think and act as suits their inclinations. But this right is limited by the fact that all are equal, which forbids each to do anything that would encroach upon the rights of his neighbor. For that which would interfere with the rights of others is not a right. Rights cannot conflict. Rights run in parallel lines, never crossing, never clashing. LCA 1.1

All individuals have rights. The Declaration of Independence declares that “all men are created equal,” “and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights;” that among these are “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;” and the same great truths are embodied in the fundamental principles of English and American law. (See Cooley’s Edition of Blackstone’s Commentaries, book 1) and these rights are a necessary consequence of the fact that all men are created equal. This fact gives to each one equal authority, and leaves no one with any natural authority over and above another. No man gets his rights and liberties from his fellows, but from his Creator, who, as the Declaration of Independence says, endowed him with them; and therefore only his Creator can rightfully take them away. Otherwise than this, he can be deprived of them only by forfeiture for misconduct. LCA 2.1

The purpose of governments, as the Declaration of Independence asserts, is to protect these rights,—the rights of the individual. Governments are not instituted merely to run themselves, to become rich and great and powerful at the expense of the individuals composing them, and to perpetuate themselves regardless of the wishes of the governed; but to protect each individual in the enjoyment of his rights. The individual could not well protect himself against all others, so each delegates his right in this respect to certain ones chosen to make laws and preserve peace and order, and who are backed up by the power of the people who choose them. This is what constitutes government in its republican form,—the delegation of the power and authority of the people, the individuals, to their representatives. And this is done, directly or indirectly, by means of an election, in which each individual has an equal voice. The people do the governing, and those chosen to office are but the servants of the people, to carry out their will, and not in any sense rulers over them. LCA 2.2

Governments should, therefore, exercise themselves in doing what they are instituted to do; viz., protect the people in the enjoyment of their rights; and outside of this they have no legitimate authority whatever; for governments, in their popular form, are but the expression of the will of the majority. The majority can and must rule in the sphere which governments are instituted to fill, in prescribing the manner in which the purpose of the government—the protection and preservation of individual rights—shall be carried out, whether that government be municipal, State, or national. Beyond this the majority has no right to go. And let it be remembered that while popular governments represent the will of the majority, they are instituted to protect the rights of the minority,—the individual. The moment therefore that the government undertakes to regulate an individual’s conduct in matters which do not concern the rights of others, it begins to do just the opposite of that which it was instituted to do, since it begins to invade, not protect, the rights of the minority. LCA 3.1

When, therefore, we hear it said that Mr. A. or Mr. B. must stop doing as he does, because in this country the majority must rule, it is proper to stop and inquire whether his conduct pertains to that upon which the majority have the right to speak. If his conduct is an infringement upon the rights of his neighbors, if it is an infringement of the will of the majority in that which concerns the equal rights of all citizens, it must be regulated by their will. But if not, the individual is within the sphere of his own rights and liberties, so far, at least, as his fellow-men are concerned, and no one has the right to molest him, however foolish or unwise his conduct may appear to others. He is outside the lines which mark the limitations of majority rule. LCA 3.2

But there are other considerations that enter into this question. Man’s first and highest allegiance in all things is due to his Creator; therefore the domain of conscience is one which human government, whether of one or of many, has no right to invade. No man can surrender his conscience to the keeping of another, and maintain his loyalty to God; but as a responsible moral being, he must remain loyal to his Creator at whatever cost, even at the sacrifice of life itself. In such cases the word of the Lord is: “Whosoever will save his life shall lose it; and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:25  God’s word is, “Thou shalt not go with the multitude to do evil.” This places every man on his own responsibility, and shows that a question of duty toward God, a question of conscience, is a question with which majorities and minorities have nothing to do. LCA 4.1

The first and great commandment in the divine law is supreme love to God. The test of love is obedience: “If ye love me,” says the Saviour, “keep my commandments.” John 14:15 And again we are told in the divine word that “by this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.” 1 John 5:2, 3.  Hence, the commandment to love God is in effect a command that we obey him. And this the divine law says alike to every man. “We know,” says the apostle, “that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law; that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Romans 3:19  LCA 4.2

But while God demands man’s first and best affections, he throws the safeguards of his law around his creatures, and to each moral being he says, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” Matthew 22:39  But at an early period in the history of the race, man rebelled against the law of his Creator. The divine injunction of equal love for fellow-creatures no longer afforded the protection necessary, and so God ordained that men should organize for the protection and securing of their own natural rights. This we call civil government. But this in no way supersedes the divine government; it does not in any measure release the individual from obligation to obey the divine law. It simply provides a way whereby men may compel their fellows to yield to them that which is their due. LCA 5.1

Notwithstanding the ordinance of civil government, God is still the great moral Governor; to him every soul is responsible; to him every free moral agent must give account. To permit any power whatever to come between the individual and God, would destroy individual responsibility toward God. if it were the province of the State to enforce the law of God, the individual would naturally seek to know not the will of God but the will of the State. The effect would be to put the State in the place of God, just as the papacy puts the pope in the place of God. On the other hand, had God not committed to man the conservation of his own natural rights, one of two things would have happened; either vengeance for transgression against human rights would have been so swift and certain as to defeat the very object of God in making and in leaving man free to choose or refuse his service, or else punishment would have been so long delayed as to afford no protection to those in need of it. Civil government as it exists is an absolute necessity for a race of social free moral agents, in a state of alienation from their Creator. LCA 5.2

It is evident from the facts stated that there never can be any conflict between legitimate civil authority and the claims of the divine law. And yet the fact remains that there have been many and serious conflicts. Civil governments have frequently required of their subjects that which the divine law forbids, and have forbidden that which the divine law requires. Why is this? The answer is that those in power have either willfully or ignorantly exceeded their legitimate authority. Were this not true, it would have been the duty of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to have fallen down and worshiped the great image set up by Nebuchadnezzar in the plain of Dura, and God would not have delivered them out of the furnace into which they were cast. It would likewise have been Daniel’s duty to have refrained from asking any petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of the king only, when so commanded by his earthly sovereign; and God would not have sent an angel and closed the mouths of the lions into whose den he was cast for his disregard of civil authority. But God did deliver Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and he did vindicate Daniel’s course, thus declaring in an unmistakable manner, and in thunder tones, that he alone is Sovereign of the conscience, that to him alone is unqualified allegiance due, and that he alone is the moral Governor of the universe. LCA 6.1

Nor are these instances cited isolated cases in which the devoted servants of God have, in the face of death, chosen to obey God rather than men. The Bible and the history of the Christian Church are full of such cases. This principle was well understood and was fearlessly announced by the apostles who had received it from the Lord himself, couched in these matchless words, “Render unto Cesar the things which are Cesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” Matthew 22:21 And when commanded by the civil rulers to refrain from doing something which Jesus had commanded, “Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” And again, Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 4:19  Such must be the Christian’s answer to-day to any and every demand that conscience be subordinated to civil authority. The Christian can go to prison or to death, but he cannot disobey God even at the behest of the greatest of civil powers. His invariable answer must be, “We ought to obey God rather than men.” 

This excerpt gives much food for thought, but you cannot deny the truth or common sense of it. 

I will end with a quote that I used in a previous blog post over a year ago, but is so applicable to this discussion.  It was written by Thomas Jefferson, who was the third President of the USA.

Here is the statement:

“The spirit of the times may alter, will alter.  Our rulers will become corrupt, our people careless.  A single zealot may commence persecution, and better men be his victims.  It can never be too often repeated, that the time for fixing every essential right on a legal basis is while our rulers are honest, and ourselves united.  From the conclusion of this war we shall be going downhill.  It will not be necessary then to resort every moment to the people for support.  They will be forgotten, therefore, and their rights disregarded.  They will forget themselves, but in the sole faculty of making money, and will never think of uniting to effect a due respect for their rights.  The shackles, therefore, which shall not be knocked off at the conclusion of this war, will remain on us long, will be made heavier and heavier, till our rights shall revive or expire in a convulsion.” 

Thomas Jefferson, Notes on Virginia, Query XV11. In American State Papers page 101. 

The justification of the righteous in the judgment must precede the resurrection which is called “the resurrection of the just.” By this designation our Lord speaks of the resurrection of the righteous. Luke 14:14. Paul states that this resurrection shall be at the coming of Christ. 1Corinthians 15:23,51-54; 1Thessalonians 4:16-18. {1890 John Nevins Andrews (JNA), The Judgment. Its Events and their Order (JEO) 19.2}

“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:36,37. {1890 JNA, The Judgment. Its Events and their Order (JEO) 19.3}

The justification of the judgment must be when the righteous are accounted worthy of a part in the first resurrection. But before they are thus justified in the judgment they give an account of their words. And this being true, it follows that God preserves a record of the words which we speak; also that our evil words  are not blotted out until this account has been rendered. But the acquittal and the blotting out do, of necessity, precede the gift of immortality to the righteous at the advent of our Lord. {1890 JNA, JEO 19.4}

The decision of the judgment in the case of the righteous must be when the blotting out of their sins takes place. {1890 JNA, JEO 20.1}

For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:14. {1890 JNA, JEO 20.2}

God brings the conduct of men into the judgment by means of books of record. They are judged “out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Revelation 20:12,13. {1890 JNA, JEO 20.3}

But the sins of the righteous are blotted out before the coming of the Lord. Acts 3:19,20. And it is manifest that their sins cannot be brought into the judgment after they are thus blotted out. But the righteous are to be judged as really as are the wicked. Ecclesiastes 3:17. It follows, therefore, that their judgment must be at the time of the blotting out of their sins; for then there is an end made forever of the record of their transgressions. Now it is manifest that when this final work is wrought, it will pertain only to those who have fully repented of their sins, and have perfectly accomplished the work of overcoming. This work of blotting out sins brings our Lord’s priesthood to an end. He must be priest till then. He is not needed as priest after that. But when our Lord does blot out the sins of his people, he must present their cases individually before his Father, and show from the “book of remembrance” that they have severally repented of their sins, and have completed their work of overcoming. Then the Father accepts the statement thus made, and the evidence thus presented in the case of each one, and bids the Son to blot out the record of that person’s sins. This is manifestly the very time and occasion at which the righteous are accounted worthy of the resurrection to immortality. Their sins are thus brought into the judgment through their High Priest, and through him the righteous render account of their sins to the Father. This account being accepted, their sins are blotted out, and themselves pronounced just before God. This is the justification of the judgment. {1890 JNA, JEO 20.4}

 There is a time for blotting out the names of some from the book of life, and of confessing the names of the others before the Father. {1890 JNA, JEO 21.1}

“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5. {1890 JNA, JEO 21.2}

The time of blotting out names from the book of life precedes the deliverance of the saints. For at the time of that event everyone shall be delivered “that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1. Thus the fearful threatening of Exodus 32:32,33; Psalms 69:28; Revelation 22:19, is executed in the removal of names from this book before the coming of Christ. Those who overcome are the ones who have their sins blotted out. But those who fail to overcome have their names stricken from the book of life. The examination of their record must, therefore, precede both these acts of blotting out, for the express purpose of determining whether they shall have their sins blotted out, or have their names removed from the book of life. We have seen that it is at this very point that the righteous give account of their sins through their High Priest, who, from the book of God’s remembrance, shows that they have repented, confessed, forsaken, and overcome, their sinful course; also that they are thus acquitted and justified in order that they may have a part in the resurrection to immortality. Here is also the very act of the Saviour in confessing the names of his people before his Father and the holy angels, that shall close our Lord’s priesthood and place his people where they shall be forever free from all their sins. For when the book of God’s remembrance is found to prove that the person under examination is an overcomer, it is then the part of the Saviour to confess his name before his Father and the holy angels, and the part of the Father to give judgment that that person’s sins be blotted from the record. Surely it is of some account to us that we have part in the fulfillment of the promise, “I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Revelation 3:5; Matthew 10:32; Luke 12:8. {1890 JNA, JEO 21.3}

 The righteous are not done with their sins till they have rendered account in the judgment. Ecclesiastes 3:17; 12:14; Matthew 12:36,37. The only account that they can render is to show that they have made perfect work of repentance and of overcoming. This must be done before they are blotted out of the record above. Our Advocate with the Father must hold his office till he has saved his people from their sins. 1 John 2:1; Matthew 1:21. He cannot close this work till he has seen them accepted in the judgment. Whence it follows that his office of Advocate will constrain him to confess their names before the tribunal of his Father, and to show that their sins should be removed from the books. {1890 JNA, JEO 22.1}

When our Lord has thus finished his work as priest, his people are prepared to stand in the sight of God without an atoning sacrifice. The following texts make this very clear:- {1890 JNA, JEO 23.1}

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again; he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:18,19. {1890 JNA, JEO 23.2}

The Lord, in the promise of the new covenant, says: “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sins no more.” Jeremiah 31:34. {1890 JNA, JEO 23.3}

Paul, quoting Jeremiah, says: “Their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12. {1890 JNA, JEO 23.4}

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” Isaiah 43:25. {1890 JNA, JEO 23.5}

“In those days, and in that time, saith the Lord, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found; for I will pardon them whom I reserve.” Jeremiah 50:20. {1890 JNA, JEO 23.6}

When these prophetic declarations are accomplished, we shall no longer need an Advocate, Intercessor, Mediator, or High Priest. Our sins will never after that exist even in the record of the court of heaven.

Our lost innocence will then have been recovered, and we shall then be like to the angels of God, who walk in their original uprightness. {1890 JNA, JEO 23.7}

The accomplishment of this work of blotting out the sins of those who overcome is marked by a declaration of awful solemnity:- {1890 JNA, JEO 24.1}

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still; and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” Revelation 22:11,12. {1890 JNA, JEO 24.2}

These words virtually announce the close of our Lord’s work as High Priest. They cannot be uttered till he, as our Advocate, has secured the blotting out of the sins of his people at his Father’s tribunal. Yet we have seen that this work of blotting out is accomplished before he comes the second time without sin unto salvation. Hebrews 9:27,28. The text under consideration is in exact harmony with these facts. The solemn announcement, “He that is unjust, let him be unjust still; . . . and he that is holy, let him be holy still,” is followed by these words: “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” The final work of our Lord for the removal of his people’s sins does therefore precede his return in the clouds of heaven to reward every man according to his works. {1890 JNA, JEO 24.3}

The disappointment of 1844 among Advent believers concerning the coming of Messiah, and subsequent regrouping as the understanding of the sanctuary developed, led the believers to diligently search out their mistake. From this development, the Seventh Day Adventist movement was later formed. As the Sanctuary became the focus of study, a series of truth were established, among them, The Investigative Judgment. To this topic, most Protestant came to view as a ‘face saving devise’.  Over the years many have stumbled over the idea that there is a need of an investigative judgment. This is quite unfortunate. There is abundant evidence for the investigative judgment.  There can be no just judgment without prior investigation.

In his article on “The Judgment, its Event and Their Order (JEO)” JN Andrews (JNA) clearly laid out the argument why there is a ‘Book of Life’, and the ‘Book of Remembrance’.  It is from these that all life reviews take place and then judgment is executed.  That is investigation.  We will now allow this pioneer to speak.

CHAPTER 2 – EXAMINATION OF THE BOOKS

The Book of Life – The Book of Remembrance – Blotting out of Sins – Blotting out of Names – Judgment Precedes Resurrection – A Solemn Decree – Closing Work of Our High Priest

THE existence of records, or books, in heaven and their use in the judgment, is plainly revealed. Thus Daniel says, “The judgment was set, and the books were opened.” Daniel 7:10. And John says: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” Revelation 20:12. {1890 JNA, JEO 15.1}

It is evident that the utmost importance is attached to the blotting out of the sins of the righteous from these books. When they are blotted out they can never rise up in the judgment against those who committed them; for men give account to God only for those things contained in the books. It is therefore certain that no individual can have his sins blotted out until the close of his probation. But when this work is wrought there must be an examination of the books for this very purpose. {1890 JNA, JEO 15.2}

The book of life is to be examined before the resurrection of the just. The words of Daniel render this point perfectly clear: {1890 JNA, JEO 15.3}

“And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1. {1890 JNA, JEO 15.4}

We have seen from other texts that the investigation and decision of the judgment in the cases of the righteous precedes the advent of the Saviour. We have also seen that there is a time before the coming of Jesus when the sins of the righteous are blotted out from the books of God’s remembrance. This is decisive proof that these books are subjected to examination before the Saviour comes again. But we have now another important fact. The book of life is examined before the deliverance of the saints. Daniel says, “At that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.” The book must, therefore, be examined before the resurrection of the righteous to immortal life. This is another convincing proof that the investigation of the cases of the righteous precedes the first resurrection. This book is referred to in the following passages: Exodus 32:32,33; Psalms 69:28; 87:6; Isaiah 4:3; Ezekiel 13:9; Daniel 12:1; Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Hebrews 12:23; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12,15; 21:27; 22:19. {1890 JNA, JEO 16.1}

The book of life is the final means of determining the cases of the righteous in the judgment; for all are delivered who are at the time of deliverance found written in it. But before this book is made the final source of appeal, it is itself to be tested by the books of God’s record. For all the names which are entered in this book of life, of those who fail to overcome, are to be blotted out. Yet it is the record of these persons’ lives that is to cause their names to be stricken from the book of life. Exodus 32:32,33; Psalms 69:28; Revelation 3:5. We must, therefore, conclude that before the final examination of the book of life in the case of the righteous, there is a prior examination of the books of God’s record to determine (1) whose record of repentance and of overcoming is such that their sins shall be blotted out, and (2) to ascertain from this book who have failed in the attempt to overcome, and to strike the names of all such from the book of life. When the books of God’s remembrance are thus examined, and the sins of the overcomers blotted out, and the names of those who have not overcome are removed from the book of life, that book becomes the final test, and an examination of its pages concludes the work of investigation preparatory to the deliverance of the saints. {1890 JNA, JEO 16.2}

We have seen that though the book of life is the final book of reference to determine who shall have part in the first resurrection, yet it must itself first be examined by the book of God’s remembrance, for the removal of the name of every person who has not completed the work of overcoming. {1890 JNA, JEO 17.1}

1. The book called “the book of remembrance” is written expressly for the righteous, and is the book which shall determine, in their cases, the decision of the judgment. This book is particularly referred to in the following passages: {1890 JNA, JEO 17.2}

“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Malachi 3:16-18. {1890 JNA, JEO 17.3}

“Thou tellest my wanderings; put thou my tears into thy bottle; are they not in thy book?” Psalms 56:8. {1890 JNA, JEO 18.1}

“Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.” Nehemiah 13:14. {1890 JNA, JEO 18.2}

The book of God’s remembrance mentioned in these texts pertains only to the righteous; yet it appears to be a different book from the book of life; for though that book belongs alone to the righteous, it seems to be simply the record of their names (Luke 10:20; Philippians 4:3; Revelation 3:5; 13:8; 17:8), while the book of remembrance is the record of their good deeds. Malachi 3:16-18; Psalms 56:8; Nehemiah 13:14. But should we conclude that the book of life is identical with the book of God’s remembrance, it will not essentially change this argument, for it would still follow that the record of the good deeds of the righteous, if it shows that they have overcome all their faults, and perfected the graces of the Spirit of God in themselves, is that which determines that their names shall be retained in the book of life, and their sins blotted out of the books which record them. But if the record be not such as God can accept, then their names must be removed from that book (Exodus 32:32,33; Psalms 59:28; Revelation 3:5), and the record of their good deeds also be blotted out, to be no more remembered. Nehemiah 13:14; Ezekiel 3:20. {1890 JNA, JEO 18.3}

The book of God’s remembrance contains the names of all who enter the service of God, and of such only. Yet not every one of these follows on to know him. Many that set out to overcome do not complete the work. That record, however, will show just how far they advanced in overcoming, and how and when they failed. As it contains simply the good deeds of the righteous, it will show their acts of repentance, confession, obedience, and sacrifice recorded therein. When the work is complete, then this record shows them prepared for the examination of the judgment. This, therefore, is the book out of which the cases of the righteous are to be decided, and from whose record they are to be accounted worthy of that world and the resurrection from the dead. {1890 JNA, JEO 19.1} End of excerpt.

There is a third book involved in the investigative judgment which is a record of the sins of men. A record of those who have never acknowledged the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind and have walked contrary to the gospel. Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36, 37; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Isaiah 65:6, 7.   

This third book will be covered in greater detail in a subsequent blog on the Investigative Judgment which will elaborate on the points given above. 

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that [were] on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15 [KJV])

“And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word”.  (1 Kings 18:21 [KJV])

“Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three [things]; choose thee one of them, that I may [do it] unto thee.”  (2 Samuel 24:12 [KJV])

For most people in the world the idea of ‘liberty of conscience’ is only a phrase that does not stir much thought or emotion.

Protestants and especially Seventh Day Adventists, often advocate the thought of liberty of conscience but only from a religious standpoint.  Adventists see liberty of conscience from the standpoint that one day the laws of the United States will change and force them to worship contrary to their religious beliefs.

 It is this meager view that caused prominent Adventist scholars to openly suggest that the vaccine mandate did not violate conscience; therefore they sided and encouraged their congregation to take the shot. Two questions arise from this discourse.

(1)What then is Liberty of Conscience?

(2)And what foundation does it stand on?

Liberty of Conscience is the fundamental or absolute right of the individual to choose without any added pressure from anyone.  Therefore, it stands to reason that he/she must understand that they have the same obligation and must extend the same reciprocal right to his/her neighbor.  (Galatians 5:13-14 [KJV])  “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

In sharing this view, a friend of mine bluntly checked me and stated that the definition is too broad.  What about the criminal mind he exclaimed, should not his liberty of conscience be checked? My reply is that anyone who will violate another’s conscience has already lost his. They may not understand the principle at stake; wherein, if one man’s right of conscience is violated, then all men’s rights of conscience are violated.  This is not democracy, where majority rules.  This is a true republican principle where one man’s right is equally weighed to the law as the majority.  This is the principle that made the USA great with equality before the law.

Allow me to share a scenario, two individuals going about their separate businesses come in contact with one another e.g. in a grocery store.

 A little chitchat takes place and some interest is generated. Numbers are shared and a friendship is developed. Those individuals reach a place of comfort with one another and decided to share one another (become intimate). Using the same female for an example. The next evening she arrives at her door and as she places her key in the lock, someone (a male) rushes up behind her and places a gun at her head threatening her. He forces himself upon her although he never physically harms her with the weapon.  He then proceeds to do the same acts that she enjoyed the evening before.  Yet with this act, her entire mind and body recoils and she gets up from this scenario scarred possibly for life.  Remember the same act was done, what is the difference? Every aspect of her is violated, for it was not her choice.

 The Bible relates a story of a similar incident.  See 2 Samuel 13:1-14.

Therefore, when one is threatened that he or she must do or take something against their will, this is a violation of conscience, regardless of who does it.  The pandemic was a clear example and because many had no problem with the mandate, they were willing to violate and crucify every other who did not share their opinion.  Therefore, the pandemic showed that for the majority there is no such thing as liberty of conscience.  What are the implications?  A loveless society.  A society of Cain’s.  (Genesis 4:8-9 [KJV]) “And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him. And the LORD said unto Cain, Where [is] Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: [Am] I my brother’s keeper?”

Question two must be answered.

The foundation of liberty of conscience is the love of God.

“God is love.” 1 John 4:16. His nature, His law, is love. It ever has been; it ever will be. “The high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity,” whose “ways are everlasting,” changeth not. With Him “is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Isaiah 57:15; Habakkuk 3:6; James 1:17.  {Patriarchs and Prophets (PP) 33.1}

The law of love being the foundation of the government of God, the happiness of all intelligent beings depends upon their perfect accord with its great principles of righteousness. God desires from all His creatures the service of love–service that springs from an appreciation of His character. He takes no pleasure in a forced obedience; and to all He grants freedom of will, that they may render Him voluntary service. {PP 35.1}

At the creation of man, God made the man upright, in His own image, clothed with His own glory, reflecting His own character. Our first parents, though created innocent and holy, were not placed beyond the possibility of wrongdoing. God made them free moral agents, capable of appreciating the wisdom and benevolence of His character and the justice of His requirements, and with full liberty to yield or to withhold obedience.  {PP 48}

“God placed man under law, as an indispensable condition of his very existence. He was a subject of the divine government, and there can be no government without law. God might have created man without the power to transgress His law; He might have withheld the hand of Adam from touching the forbidden fruit; but in that case man would have been, not a free moral agent, but a mere automaton. Without freedom of choice, his obedience would not have been voluntary, but forced. There could have been no development of character. {PP 49}

“If it be asked. Could not God have made the man so that he could not sin?  The perfectly safe and true answer is, He could not. That is, He could not so make him a man: so to have made him would have been to make him unintelligent, a mere animal machine, incapable of morals. For to have made the man so that he simply could not sin, would have been equally to make him so that he could not do right. It would have been to make him so that he could not choose: and to have made him unable to choose would have been to make him incapable of virtue. Freedom of choice is essential to morals. God made man to be moral. Therefore He made him free to choose. And He forever respects that of which He is the Author, the freedom of choice in man. He Himself will never invade a hair’s breadth the freedom of man to choose for himself.  {1903 ATJ, PBE 128.3}

After sin, mankind by nature became totalitarian, eager to rule or dominate others.  Do as I say but not as I do.  The world reels with the wickedness and wretchedness of that philosophy. The word of God is clear, “O LORD, I know that the way of man [is] not in himself: [it is] not in man that walketh to direct his steps. (Jeremiah 10:23 [KJV])

(Matthew 20:25-28 [KJV])

“But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

As this loveless society marches forward, every crime imaginable continues to occur daily, with little understanding of why. Only the very few understand that they are their brother’s keeper, and the rights endowed by the Creator was given to safeguard society.  May God grant us the eye salve, wisdom, understanding and boldness to be true educators that some may be rescued from this fast-moving train to perdition.

“Wisdom [is] the principal thing; [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding”. (Proverbs 4:7 [KJV])

The world over prides itself with the intellectual achievement of many and thus calls these people, wise.  These wise often find themselves as counsellors to Kings, Presidents, or other Heads of State.  The question is, are these counsellor’s counsel, reliable and trust worthy?

  The Bible declares “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.  Where [is] the wise? where [is] the scribe? where [is] the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1 Corinthians 1:19-20) 

History proves this true.  Egypt was the greatest military power and nation at the time of Joseph and all their wise men could not decipher Pharaoh’s dream.  It took a lowly slave, who is devoted to Jehovah to explain what all their wise men could not.  In the day of Daniel we read, “Then the king commanded to call the magicians, and the astrologers, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, for to shew the king his dreams. So they came and stood before the king. (Daniel 2:2 [KJV]). 

They answered again and said, Let the king tell his servants the dream, and we will shew the interpretation of it. The king answered and said, I know of certainty that ye would gain the time, because ye see the thing is gone from me. But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, [there is but] one decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me, till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye can shew me the interpretation thereof.  The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king’s matter: therefore [there is] no king, lord, nor ruler, [that] asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.  And [it is] a rare thing that the king requireth, and there is none other that can shew it before the king, except the gods, whose dwelling is not with flesh. For this cause the king was angry and very furious, and commanded to destroy all the wise [men] of Babylon. And the decree went forth that the wise [men] should be slain; and they sought Daniel and his fellows to be slain.  (Daniel 2:7-13 [KJV])

Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.

The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth [it is], that your God [is] a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.  Then the king made Daniel a great man, and gave him many great gifts, and made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon, and chief of the governors over all the wise [men] of Babylon. (Daniel 2:46-48[KJV])

 The intervention of the Lord God Almighty through his servant Daniel clearly demonstrated that all wisdom is found in God.  The books of Psalms, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes confirmed this truth along with many other New Testament books.

With such clear understanding, the world chooses to ignore God’s word while boasting of their great wisdom.  Hear the great Apostle Paul; “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [him] not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things”. (Romans 1:21-23 [KJV])

We here insert a quick analysis of Elder Waggoner on wisdom.  Please read, enjoy and share

How to Get Knowledge

“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets; she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates; in the city she uttereth her words, saying, how long, ye simple ones, will you love simplicity? and the scorners delight In their scorning; and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.” Proverbs 1:20-23. {1893 EJW, HTGK 1.1}

This is the language of the Lord Jesus Christ, “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3. This means that there is nothing of any kind whatever that is worthy to be called wisdom, which is not to be found in Christ. Read 1 Corinthians 1:22-24: “For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” That is, the wisdom which the Greeks sought after, is contained only in Christ. Because they sought it in themselves, and not in Christ, the wisdom which they had became foolishness. Out of Christ, it is impossible to find true wisdom. {1893 EJW, HTGK 1.2}

True wisdom consists in knowing God. “Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord which exercise lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness, in the earth; for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23, 24. To know God is the sum of all scientific knowledge; for Christ, who is the only manifestation of God, is the Source of all creation. “O the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!” For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things.” Romans 11:33, 36. Christ is the beginning, the head, or source, of the creation of God. Revelation 3:14. He is “the firstborn of every creature.” Colossians 1:1-5. “For in Him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through Him, and unto Him; and He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16, 17. Therefore the study of natural science must begin and end with the study of God in Christ. {1893 EJW, HTGK 1.3}

But Christ is the righteousness of God. Righteousness is the character of God. Therefore no one can know God without knowing His righteousness; and so the study of true science reveals the righteousness of God. And this is wisdom, for “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:7. The knowledge of the righteousness of God is connected with the knowledge of the works of God that we see with our eyes; for the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation, and the power of God is seen in the things that are made. Romans 1:16, 20. Therefore when the Bible speaks of wisdom and knowledge, it means not only the wisdom and knowledge which would be counted as such by men, but also “all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” {1893 EJW, HTGK 2.1}

All this is summed up in the words of Moses to the children of Israel: “Behold I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” Deuteronomy 4:5, 6. They who keep the commandments of God, not in form merely, but in fact, will have wisdom which will excite the wonder of people who do not recognize the source of knowledge. {1893 EJW, HTGK 2.2}

And now that we have seen what wisdom is let us note the words with which this article begins, to see how it may be obtained. The Lord says, “Turn you at My reproof; behold I will pour out My Spirit unto you, I will make known My words unto you.” That is; those who listen to heed the reproofs of the Lord, will know His words, which are wisdom. “For the Lord giveth wisdom, out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6. {1893 EJW, HTGK 3.1}

The reproofs of the Lord are by the Spirit of the Lord and are given, not for the purpose of taunting us with our failures, nor for the purpose of causing us to cringe in terror before Him, but that we may turn from our sins to righteousness. Before He went away, Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit as a Comforter, and the first thing that He was to do was to convince the world of sin. This He does by revealing the righteousness of God. These reproofs come in various ways, according to the sin and the peculiarity of the person. They are not simply of a general nature, but they come home to the individual, pointing out specific acts of wrong, and saying “Thou art the man.” {1893 EJW, HTGK 3.2}

It is naturally a severe trial to anyone to receive a sharp reproof, because it cuts directly across self. But no matter how cutting it may be, and even though the Lord has allowed the knowledge of our failing to come to us through an unfriendly source, it is the part of wisdom to heed it. To heed it means to forsake the evil, and that can be done only through Christ; for it is the blood of Christ alone that cleanses from all sin. “If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. The promise is that those who turn at the reproof of wisdom shall have the words of wisdom made known unto them. {1893 EJW, HTGK 3.3}

Not only will such an one have the words of the Lord,-the words of wisdom,-told to him, but he will have them made known to him. In this is found the secret of the failure of many to understand the Bible. They are cherishing some sin, or they are unwilling to keep all the commandments of God, and consequently they cannot know the meaning of the words of wisdom. Self stands in the way. Christ said that if any man had a mind to do the Father’s will, he should know of the doctrine. John 7:17. “The meek will He guide in judgments; and the meek will He teach His way.” Psalms 25:9. {1893 EJW, HTGK 4.1}

Surely the result is worth all that it costs, even though the lesson be a trying one. The pain comes only in the letting go of self. When one has once yielded fully to the Lord; the reproofs of the Lord are pleasant. When self is dead, it cannot be hurt by them. Then instead of mourning over the reproof, because of wounded pride; or even in despondency, he will delight himself in the increased knowledge of God. Try it, all you who wish that you might understand the Bible. Let your doubts go to the winds. Let your own foolish wisdom, which would lead you to hesitate to receive the word of God, if it is contrary to your preconceived opinion, give place to the meekness of wisdom. In short, let your own opinions go entirely, and do not try to draw conclusions according to your own wisdom, but let God teach you at every step of the way. When you cannot see how a certain statement harmonizes with another, do not get impatient, and begin to doubt, but wait in faith, and God will explain it to you. Do not be afraid of waiting awhile. It may be that the Lord has some other lesson for you to learn before you can understand this one. But while you are, waiting, wait only on the Lord, and His words will explain themselves. “Consider what I say; for the Lord shall give thee understanding in all things.” 2 Timothy 2:7. {1893 EJW, HTGK 4.2}