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Let's Get It Right!
Have a look at some new ideas, or rather, a different look at old ideas.
If you would like a comment on a teaching, mail us and ask, for we may have a different way of seeing it.
The latest addition is at "B" Revised: June 02, 2004.
#1 Let’s call things by their right names
A "fall" into sin is really a "leap", for there is always a "way out".
1 Corinthians 10:13
There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
Therefore Adam did not "fall", he "leapt!
PP.056.001 What caused Adam’s sin?
An expression of sadness came over the face of Adam. He appeared astonished and alarmed. To the words of Eve he replied that this must be the foe against whom they had been warned; and by the divine sentence she must die. In answer she urged him to eat, repeating the words of the serpent, that they should not surely die.
She reasoned that this must be true, for she felt no evidence of God's displeasure, but on the contrary realized a delicious, exhilarating influence, thrilling every faculty with new life, such, she imagined, as inspired the heavenly messengers.
PP.056.002
Adam understood that his companion had transgressed the command of God, disregarded the only prohibition laid upon them as a test of their fidelity and love.
There was a terrible struggle in his mind.
He mourned that he had permitted Eve to wander from his side. But now the deed was done; he must be separated from her whose society had been his joy. How could he have it thus?
Adam had enjoyed the companionship of God and of holy angels. He had looked upon the glory of the Creator. He understood the high destiny opened to the human race should they remain faithful to God. Yet all these blessings were lost sight of in the fear of losing that one gift which in his eyes outvalued every other.
Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator -- all were overborne by love to Eve. She was a part of himself, and he could not endure the thought of separation.
He did not realize that the same Infinite Power who had from the dust of the earth created him, a living, beautiful form, and had in love given him a companion, could supply her place. He resolved to share her fate; if she must die, he would die with her. After all, he reasoned, might not the words of the wise serpent be true? Eve was before him, as beautiful and apparently as innocent as before this act of disobedience. She expressed greater love for him than before. No sign of death appeared in her, and he decided to brave the consequences.
He seized the fruit and quickly ate.
When we sin, it is because we have "chosen" to do so by rejecting the Holy Spirit's plea to be saved from it. This is what we must confess when we come to ask for forgiveness.
#2 Let’s know things by their right times
The year 2,000 (Y2K)
The 2,000th year since Christ was born has already been and gone!!! Christ came into this world in what we would call 4BC, in September/October, so the 2,000th year was 1996 or 1997, whichever you prefer. All the dire religious predictions regarding the millennium will be found to be groundless. (There may be some problems with computers, but they are not religious problems).
We teach that Christ was baptised in 27AD and died at Calvary in 31AD which gives us the end of the 70th week of Daniel 9 as 34AD when Stephen was stoned. Yet we are told that Jesus was 30 years old when He was baptised.
Luke 3:22-23
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.
And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli...
It is from these dates that we calculate the cleansing of the sanctuary in 1844, which is the whole reason for our church's existence. Therefore we need have nothing to do with the world's preoccupation with the new millennium.
#3 Let’s see things from the right angle
Christ's second coming is NOT based on time!! As God's followers it is important that we should get this right. Also, events in the world are NOT indicators that time is short, or running out, UNLESS the church is doing its job.
We repeat, time is NOT running out!!
We should not be looking to the world to give us our information when we have the Source already with us. He is standing at the door and waiting for us to open it!! Revelation 3:20. When He invites Himself to "supper" at our place He is asking our co-operation in the work.
John 4:31-35
In the mean while His disciples prayed Him, saying, 'Master, eat.' But He said to them, 'I have meat to eat that you know not of'. Therefore said the disciples one to another, 'Has any man brought Him ought to eat?'
Jesus said to them, 'My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work. Say not you, There are yet four months, and then comes harvest? behold, I say to you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.'
Years ago the work should have been finished!!!!
Great Controversy 457.002
The history of ancient Israel is a striking illustration of the past experience of the Adventist body. God led His people in the advent movement, even as He led the children of Israel from Egypt. In the great disappointment their faith was tested as was that of the Hebrews at the Red Sea. Had they still trusted to the guiding hand that had been with them in their past experience, they would have seen the salvation of God.
If all who had labored unitedly in the work in 1844, had received the third angel's message and proclaimed it in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts. A flood of light would have been shed upon the world. Years ago [remember, this was written in 1888!] the inhabitants of the earth would have been warned, the closing work completed, and Christ would have come for the redemption of His people.
Here you have abundant evidence that time is NOT the issue for we are already 154 years late. The harvest is "overripe or dried (margin)" Revelation 14:15. What is the issue then? You and I doing our work. And what is that? To warn the world of the impending judgment of the living as advised in the three angels' messages. Not the judgment of the dead, because that has been going on since 1844, but the judgment of the living which has not yet commenced.
When we do that, then all the other things will fall into place.
#4 Let’s identify things by their right names
Are you sure that the ten "toes" of Daniel chapter 2 represent the ancient kingdoms of Europe? That is, the Heruli, Goths etc.Three of those nations are no longer with us.
See the article "The Ten Toes" for more on this point.
#5 Should we separate from the other "Christians"?
2 Corinthians 6:16-18
And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Wherefore [for this reason] come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.
Why should we be separate and different from all the other churches? How can we be separate from them? (Did you notice why we should be separate?) What's wrong with wanting to be recognized as "Christian" by the Evangelicals? Do we really "stand at the foot of the same cross"? Or did "Babylon" fall in 1844? And are we supposed to be warning the world about the additional
"corruptions which have been entering the various organizations that constitute Babylon, since that message was first given"? GC 603.
GC.382.003
Babylon is said to be "the mother of harlots." By her daughters must be symbolized churches that cling to her doctrines and traditions, and follow her example of sacrificing the truth and the approval of God, in order to form an unlawful alliance with the world.
The message of Revelation 14, announcing the fall of Babylon must apply to religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt.
Since this message follows the warning of the judgment, it must be given in the last days; therefore it cannot refer to the Roman Church alone, for that church has been in a fallen condition for many centuries.
Furthermore, in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation the people of God are called upon to come out of Babylon. According to this scripture, many of God's people must still be in Babylon. And in what religious bodies are the greater part of the followers of Christ now to be found? Without doubt, in the various churches professing the Protestant faith.
At the time of their rise these churches took a noble stand for God and the truth, and His blessing was with them. Even the unbelieving world was constrained to acknowledge the beneficent results that followed an acceptance of the principles of the gospel. In the words of the prophet to Israel: "Thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord God."
But they fell by the same desire which was the curse and ruin of Israel -- the desire of imitating the practices and courting the friendship of the ungodly. "Thou didst trust in thine own beauty, and playedst the harlot because of thy renown." Ezekiel 16:14, 15.
GC.383.001
Many of the Protestant churches are following Rome's example of iniquitous connection with "the kings of the earth" -- the state churches, by their relation to secular governments; and other denominations, by seeking the favor of the world. And the term "Babylon" -- confusion -- may be appropriately applied to these bodies, all professing to derive their doctrines from the Bible, yet divided into almost innumerable sects, with widely conflicting creeds and theories.
See the article "The Basic Facts" for more details.
#6 The third beast of Revelation chapter 13
Have you considered that there are THREE beasts in Revelation chapter 13? There is the beast of verses 1 and 2, which has the ten crowns on its horns, and the beast of verse 11 which has lamb-like horns. We normally identify the first beast as the papacy and the second as the United States of America. But what about the THIRD beast? The "image" of the first beast.
It is the second beast which asks the people ("saying to them") that they should make another beast which looks like the first one. If you were to walk to a photocopy machine with a picture in your hand and then make a copy of that picture, what would you have? Yourself as the originator (#1), the original photo (#2), AND A COPY, OR IMAGE, OF THAT PHOTO (#3)!
Beasts represent Satan working through nations or civil powers, and in Revelation 17 one is said to ridden by a woman, which is a symbol of a church. So there we have civil authority being directed by a religious system.
It is the THIRD beast of Revelation 13 which produces the death decree of verse 15 and we know this to be a worldwide phenomena inspired by churches. Thus this third beast is a picture of all the nations of the world led by all their religions. It begins with the Protestant churches of the United States but ends with ALL the world wondering after the first beast, the papacy.
If you would like to suggest some new ways at looking at old ideas then mail them to us and we will consider them. We don't promise to publish your thoughts unless we agree with them (but you can do that for yourself anyway). We do promise to keep your identity secret, and we won't go into a long process of disagreeing with you! You have every right to your own opinions.
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