Author Topic: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand  (Read 14512 times)

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Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #20 on: April 07, 2018, 04:00:22 AM »
Christ is calling to our hearts today. He calls us to behold Him in His loveliness, and to trust Him so that we can experience true repentance. Repentance is a gift from God (Acts 5:31), and comes to us in beholding God's goodness (Romans 2:4). Let us learn the lesson for our time, even as it was appropriate when Jesus first walked the earth.

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Mark 1:14, 15.

The call to "repent" is to characterize every step of our lives toward heaven. But anything Jesus gives us repentance for ensures us of a richer gift of His grace, for He always has something better for us than what we had before! Trust Christ completely today and find in Him all in all!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

JimB

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #21 on: April 07, 2018, 05:10:28 AM »
“The Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants and prophets.” While “the secret things belong unto the Lord our God,” “those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.” Amos 3:7; Deuteronomy 29:29. God has given these things to us, and His blessing will attend the reverent, prayerful study of the prophetic scriptures

God hasn't left us to "feel" our way through the dark. He has revealed to us what will happen and when through His prophets and as we prayerfully study the prophecies His blessing will be upon us to help us understand. The more we understand the better off we will be. Here is why I say this, there is a teaching in some corners of Christianity that say God's people will be secretly raptured up before the time of trouble. How confused they will be when this doesn't happen? We may not have to understand every little nuance of prophecy to be saved but the more we understand the better off we will be. This knowledge combined with a saving relationship with Christ will get us through the end times...and even now in our daily struggles.
By communion with God in nature, the mind is uplifted, and the heart finds rest.  {DA 291.1}

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #22 on: April 07, 2018, 07:34:13 PM »
Amen, Pastor Sean and Jim.  How very important is a knowledge of the Bible.

     The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God, and they knew not the time of their visitation. The years of the ministry of Christ and His apostles,—the precious last years of grace to the chosen people,—they spent in plotting the destruction of the Lord’s messengers. Earthly ambitions absorbed them, and the offer of the spiritual kingdom came to them in vain. So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men’s thoughts, and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift-coming kingdom of God.


How many today verbally express their unbelief about the soon coming of Jesus? Very sad indeed. But, because God has entrusted the truth to His church, we can be certain that Jesus is even at the doors!
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #23 on: July 03, 2018, 02:37:49 AM »
What a blessing that we can feast upon the grace of a merciful Savior, one whose life and teachings are clearly revealed to us in His word, and by the beautiful revelation of His experience in The Desire of Ages. As we meditate upon the matchless excellence of Jesus' character, our souls are uplifted and prepared for greater revelations of His loveliness!

"As Jesus traveled through Galilee, teaching and healing, multitudes flocked to Him from the cities and villages. Many came even from Judea and the adjoining provinces. Often He was obliged to hide Himself from the people. The enthusiasm ran so high that it was necessary to take precautions lest the Roman authorities should be aroused to fear an insurrection. Never before had there been such a period as this for the world. Heaven was brought down to men. Hungering and thirsting souls that had waited long for the redemption of Israel now feasted upon the grace of a merciful Saviour." {The Desire of Ages, page 232, paragraph 4}

Heaven has come down to us in Christ, and as we receive Christ, we are brought by faith into the very presence of God! Grace is the active agency that transforms us from sinner to saint, from enmity to God to wholehearted love that springs from an appreciation of His character. When we know God as it is our privilege to know Him, our life is an outflow of joyful, loving obedience--a life in which by faith all of the fruits of the Spirit are seen and not one is missing. Christ has the grace you need today to face whatever situation that presses upon you. Look to Him and live! 
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #24 on: July 03, 2018, 05:22:04 AM »
Amen, Pastor Sean!  What opportunities we have to know Jesus and to be His faithful witnesses!  The Kingdom of God is truly at hand for the world. It begins today in the heart if we will allow the Holy Spirit to come into the heart.

It is not an easy thing to go against the flow of the world. And, it is often difficult to accept and share the truth in the church.

As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience.


This is very true, but there is something new astir today. The Holy Spirit is being poured out in God's church. While whole churches may turn from the truth, or even a whole conference, the denomination will not be broken up. The Seventh-day Adventist organized church will remain even though there is a terrible shaking taking place which will separate the wheat from the tares.

Unlike past history, it is not necessary for believers today to leave God's last end time church. One may have to leave his local church, for many are far removed from where they ought to be. But, even then, unless children are involved, we are to be His witnesses in these unconverted churches. God's grace is sufficient. We must let the Spirit lead. Then we shall have love, joy, and peace no matter what surrounds us.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #25 on: September 28, 2018, 04:51:21 AM »
Let us spend our precious probationary time dwelling upon the infinite loveliness of Jesus, helping others prepare for His imminent return by a life that reveals His presence--all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing! May we not harden our hearts, but have impressible hearts that the Holy Spirit can continually move upon and through to be a blessing to this world! The universe is watching!

"The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God, and they knew not the time of their visitation. The years of the ministry of Christ and His apostles,—the precious last years of grace to the chosen people,—they spent in plotting the destruction of the Lord’s messengers. Earthly ambitions absorbed them, and the offer of the spiritual kingdom came to them in vain. So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men’s thoughts, and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift-coming kingdom of God." {The Desire of Ages, page 235, paragraph 2}
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #26 on: September 28, 2018, 06:44:25 AM »
Yes Pastor Sean, so it is today with many in God's  church.
 
The Sanhedrin had rejected Christ’s message and was bent upon His death; therefore Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the people who had been instructed in the law, and turned to another class to proclaim His message, and to gather out those who should carry the gospel to all nations.

Christ is bringing into His church those who are open to the gospel truth. We thank Jesus for those leaders in the church who are faithful to the gospel message. Those who have closed their minds have hardened their hearts and are moving further and further away from the simple truth of the power of God's grace to save to the uttermost all who come to Christ.

As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented. Often those who follow in the steps of the Reformers are forced to turn away from the churches they love, in order to declare the plain teaching of the word of God. And many times those who are seeking for light are by the same teaching obliged to leave the church of their fathers, that they may render obedience.

Yes, few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. But, there is a difference as to what God is doing today. We may have to leave our local church, but we do not have to leave the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We are living in the time of the end. We are the last church. God is not going to start another church. This church will see revival and reformation. There is no prophecy saying it will be cut off as was Israel, to the contrary, we read in Ezekiel that the power of the Spirit can and will be breathed upon His modern day "Israel" and the dead dry "bones" will get up and walk in the light of His glory and grace. "So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army. Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel." Ezekiel 37:10,11.

God is pouring "living water" upon His church. It will be cleansed, all who will allow it. "Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not [this] for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake, which ye have profaned among the heathen, whither ye went. And I will sanctify my great name, which was profaned among the heathen, which ye have profaned in the midst of them; and the heathen shall know that I [am] the LORD, saith the Lord GOD, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you." Ezekiel 36:22-25.

Amen!!

The people of Galilee were despised by the rabbis of Jerusalem as rude and unlearned, yet they presented a more favorable field for the Saviour’s work. They were more earnest and sincere; less under the control of bigotry; their minds were more open for the reception of truth.


And, here lies the truth that we need to pray about. Are we open to the reception of truth? When we find truth that cuts across the natural heart, will we repent and walk in the light? There are many in the church who need to be re-baptized, and will see this and accept God's grace. They will be part of the organized church and take the last message or warning and mercy to a world soon to perish. Let us be a part of that great movement to prepare a people to receive Jesus as His soon coming!
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Dorine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #27 on: December 24, 2018, 05:50:28 AM »
"As the message of Christ’s first advent announced the kingdom of His grace, so the message of His second advent announces the kingdom of His glory. And the second message, like the first, is based on the prophecies. The words of the angel to Daniel relating to the last days were to be understood in the time of the end. At that time, “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” “The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:4, 10. The Saviour Himself has given signs of His coming, and He says, “When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.” “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

We should be the happiest people alive. We are about to enter our heavenly home. We are just strangers here with the gospel message to spread to the world. This message is based on the prophecies. I was reminded this morning of one of our pastors that announced to us in a meeting that he does not preach prophecy because prophecy does not save. I am still shocked by this statement. These prophecies are especially important in these last days. If they are important to Jesus shouldn't they be important to us? “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:31, 34, 36."
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #28 on: December 24, 2018, 09:01:15 AM »
Amen, Dorine! We are so close to our heavenly home! There are so many more to invite to join us in the experience!!

Jesus loves us so much that He has given us every ray of light from His word to prepare us for His soon coming, and to give certainty and boldness to the proclamation of the everlasting gospel, for our faith is not based on suppositions, but clearly fulfilled prophecies that are anchored in the cross of Christ! May we not be like the Jews who misinterpreted and misapplied God's word, but of those who, like the noble Bereans (during Paul's ministry), were willing to search the Scriptures daily so we can know for ourselves the reality of what God has given us in Christ!

"The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God, and they knew not the time of their visitation. The years of the ministry of Christ and His apostles,—the precious last years of grace to the chosen people,—they spent in plotting the destruction of the Lord’s messengers. Earthly ambitions absorbed them, and the offer of the spiritual kingdom came to them in vain. So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men’s thoughts, and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift-coming kingdom of God." {The Desire of Ages, page 235, paragraph 2}

The nearness of Christ's coming is not the primary motivation to live in readiness for His return and to share His message with others. What attracts us is His love, and I was reminded of this today as I read in Patriarchs and Prophets as well: "Love to God is the very foundation of religion. To engage in His service merely from hope of reward or fear of punishment would avail nothing. Open apostasy would not be more offensive to God than hypocrisy and mere formal worship." {Patriarchs and Prophets, page 523, paragraph 1} Amazingly, it was just such religious formalism and hypocrisy that Jesus met with in His ministry, and the apostles met with from the Jews after Jesus died and rose to heaven. Are we any better? Unless we have Jesus continually in our souls filling us with all of the fruits of the Spirit so that not one is missing we are unconverted and lost (no matter how much we profess to know). Thus, if we continue to profess a religious experience but have not the abiding presence of Jesus in our souls, we inevitably do degenerate to one of the other selfish motives for following Christ--hope of reward or fear of punishment. May we keep our eyes steadfastly fixed upon Christ who alone can give and maintain the real reason for following Him--His selfless love that is beyond comprehension!!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Beacon

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #29 on: December 24, 2018, 11:01:01 AM »
How blessed we are to have "THE WORD of GOD" which has been preserved at such great cost in human lives and to be able to see how ACCURATELY the prophecies have been FULFILLED regarding God's great eternal plan to rescue all of us. No wonder our enemy Satan "is going about seeking whom he may devour" by causing the people of earth to be so distracted/derailed away from Jesus. He (Satan) knows the the "Fullness of Time" has come for the soon return of Jesus. God sends us this warning in Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares." I pray that we will not be focusing on the attractions of this earth ( like the religious leaders of Christ's day ) because they are all going to pass away. How I love the words of that simple chorus that says..." Turn your eyes upon and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."  Although we don't know the day and hour of His appearing we do know from the prophetic way marks that we living at the very edge of that event. Be of good courage my brothers and sisters around the world Jesus is coming soon.   
Look up and listen for the shout.

Beacon

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #30 on: March 20, 2019, 11:26:06 PM »
"If the leaders in Israel had received Christ, He would have honored them as His messengers to carry the gospel to the world. To them first was given the opportunity to become heralds of the kingdom and grace of God. But Israel knew not the time of her visitation. The jealousy and distrust of the Jewish leaders had ripened into open hatred, and the hearts of the people were turned away from Jesus."

How sad it was...The King of Kings - Lord of Lords came to this earth after 4,000 yrs of prophetic messages given to His people and  " They knew not the time of His viisitation.

"So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men’s thoughts, and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift-coming kingdom of God.“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.While we are not to know the hour of our Lord’s return, we may know when it is near. “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6.
 
We are living in the time period of the Laodicean church just before the second coming of our Lord and Saviour and the devil is doing his best to distract and destroy God's remnant people because he knows his time is short. The question is....Do we know OUR TIME IS SHORT?? The Bible says... "Satan is going about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour"!! But we need to focus on the Lamb of God who said... "All Power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." We need to have a strong personal relationship with Him who has the POWER to SAVE..Do not focus on the Lion - focus on the Lamb...




Look up and listen for the shout.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #31 on: March 21, 2019, 06:06:07 AM »
Amen, Beacon! We need Jesus, the Lion who says to us to fear God and give glory to Him, and Jesus the gentle Lamb who laid down His life to save us as a sacrifice. We need both mercy and justice, we need a complete revelation of Christ's character, so we can be brought to true repentance! By beholding we become changed! When we are changed by God's grace, we are miraculously converted and sustained by God's grace, and the fruit of God's grace in our lives is that all of the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives--not one will be missing!!

"The burden of Christ’s preaching was, 'The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the gospel.' Thus the gospel message, as given by the Saviour Himself, was based on the prophecies." {The Desire of Ages, page 233, paragraph 1}

As we see the message for our time, as the prophecies unfold before our very eyes, we can rejoice in His power to bring us to repentance! Jesus is about to come and the condition of our world is indicating that while the devil has but a short time, we also have a short time to cooperate with Christ in giving the last message of mercy and repentance to the world! Let us behold Christ, looking to His word, and anchoring our faith in that which cannot change!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Dorine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #32 on: March 21, 2019, 07:49:54 AM »
What a blessing to read each comment this morning. There is something spiritually uplifting sharing with each other the thoughts that the Holy Spirit has revealed to us.

I was impressed this morning with the thought that Jesus always reaches out first. He doesn't hide Himself and expect us to go looking for Him. The following quote points out this very thought. If the people were in ignorance it was because they chose to not believe what God was revealing to them through the prophets, scripture and then Jesus Himself.

It is no different today. I've even heard people say, "don't tell me; if I don't know I won't be held responsible." When you study the Sanctuary service you find out that this attitude is not acceptable to God and we will be held accountable for the things we had the opportunity to know but didn't bother to find out.

May we not only appreciate the tender compassion, long suffering and gentle attributes of our Saviour but may we come to appreciate the warnings He gives us to keep us from spiritual danger and destruction. His love is portrayed just as strongly in His warnings as in His mercy.

"The Messiah’s coming had been first announced in Judea. In the temple at Jerusalem the birth of the forerunner had been foretold to Zacharias as he ministered before the altar. On the hills of Bethlehem the angels had proclaimed the birth of Jesus. To Jerusalem the magi had come in search of Him. In the temple Simeon and Anna had testified to His divinity. “Jerusalem, and all Judea” had listened to the preaching of John the Baptist; and the deputation from the Sanhedrin, with the multitude, had heard his testimony concerning Jesus. In Judea, Christ had received His first disciples. Here much of His early ministry had been spent. The flashing forth of His divinity in the cleansing of the temple, His miracles of healing, and the lessons of divine truth that fell from His lips, all proclaimed that which after the healing at Bethesda He had declared before the Sanhedrin,—His Sonship to the Eternal."
.......“Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:31, 34, 36.
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #33 on: March 21, 2019, 09:14:58 PM »
Amen, Sister Dorine! God does have a remnant that believe Jesus and the prophecies. All are without excuse. The time of the Savior's coming was written many years before He came. His death and the giving of the gospel to the Gentiles all was revealed in prophecy. The fact that the seventh and last church would be in a Laodicean condition, but would see revival and reformation is all revealed in the prophetic record. Also, we who believe the Record, know that Jesus is coming soon, just as some knew of His first coming.

The burden of Christ’s preaching was, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the gospel.” Thus the gospel message, as given by the Saviour Himself, was based on the prophecies. The “time” which He declared to be fulfilled was the period made known by the angel Gabriel to Daniel. “Seventy weeks,” said the angel, “are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy.” Daniel 9:24. A day in prophecy stands for a year. See Numbers 14:34; Ezekiel 4:6. The seventy weeks, or four hundred and ninety days, represent four hundred and ninety years. A starting point for this period is given: “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks,” sixty-nine weeks, or four hundred and eighty-three years. Daniel 9:25. The commandment to restore and build Jerusalem, as completed by the decree of Artaxerxes Longimanus (see Ezra 6:14; 7:1, 9, margin), went into effect in the autumn of B. C. 457. From this time four hundred and eighty-three years extend to the autumn of A. D. 27. According to the prophecy, this period was to reach to the Messiah, the Anointed One. In A. D. 27, Jesus at His baptism received the anointing of the Holy Spirit, and soon afterward began His ministry. Then the message was proclaimed. “The time is fulfilled.”
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Pastor Sean Brizendine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #34 on: June 16, 2019, 03:09:38 AM »
Today is Father's Day, and nothing would bring more joy to our Heavenly Father than for us to behold His character in His Son, Jesus, whose infinite sacrifice makes available to all of us the gift of eternal life, so that we can awake out of the deathly sleep of selfishness (by surrendering the whole heart for Him to cleanse by His grace, making it pure and holy through His Spirit), in order that we may awake to the reality that Jesus is SO SOON TO RETURN! Our Heavenly Father LONGS to be with us in person, so let us proclaim the soon coming of Jesus in word and in deed by living lives that reflect His character! He is uniting His people in the loveliness of Jesus, even as promised:

"And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God" (Revelation 14:1-5).

The greatest "Father's Day" gift we can offer our Heavenly Father is to offer up our lives as living sacrifices that He may prepare us to be among the 144,000, living victorious in Christ, whose blood shed for us and whose imputed and imparted righteousness alone can make us partakers of the divine nature whereby all of the fruits of the Spirit are seen in our lives without one missing as we gladly obey the holy law of God! Lift up the trumpet, for Jesus is COMING AGAIN!!!

"'But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.' While we are not to know the hour of our Lord’s return, we may know when it is near. 'Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.' 1 Thessalonians 5:4-6." {The Desire of Ages, page 235, paragraph 3}

Jesus' coming is VERY NEAR for what He foretold is COMING TO PASS RAPIDLY!!
"When we live by faith on the Son of God, the fruits of the Spirit will be seen in our lives; not one will be missing." {The Desire of Ages, 676.4}

Dorine

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #35 on: June 16, 2019, 05:30:43 AM »
Amen Pastor Sean. As we celebrate Father's day with our earthly father's may we give glory to our heavenly Father who is longing to welcome His children home, to live with Him through out eternity. What a glorious thought to meditate on today.

".....We have reached the period foretold in these scriptures. The time of the end is come, the visions of the prophets are unsealed, and their solemn warnings point us to our Lord’s coming in glory as near at hand."

It seems that the closer we come to the return of our Saviour the more indifferent many are to their deep spiritual need. God is calling each one to believe and follow Him. I can't imagine the awful horror that will strike the hearts of those that think all is well when in fact they are facing destruction. All we can do is to be daily connected to Jesus ourselves, pray and be available for God to use us to share His love and mercy for each one. We plant the seed by word and deed and the Holy Spirit does the convicting and the harvesting. May we be faithful servants following in the footsteps of Jesus.
But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press  toward the mark. Phil. 3:13,14

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #36 on: June 16, 2019, 07:06:24 AM »
Yes, dear sister, God is withdrawing the Spirit from the Earth. Hearts are becoming ever harder. But, at the same time He is pouring out His Spirit upon His church and bringing in the lost sheep. It will be slow at first because the church is not ready. The last steps will be rapid ones, so we ought not be disappointed that this begins slowly.  Do we see the end is near? If we love Jesus supremely we will. The prophecies are just about finished.

As Pastor Sean has pointed out, the 144,000 are being prepared to live through the time of trouble such as never was without a Mediator. What will enable them to do this without sinning? It is a knowledge of the love of God that will, just as it enabled Jesus to go through Gethsemane and the cross.

This chapter is a warning and a promise, depending on our spiritual state. Many do not understand the danger they are in.

It was Gabriel, the angel next in rank to the Son of God, who came with the divine message to Daniel. It was Gabriel, “His angel,” whom Christ sent to open the future to the beloved John; and a blessing is pronounced on those who read and hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things written therein. Revelation 1:3.
“The Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants and prophets.” While “the secret things belong unto the Lord our God,” “those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever.” Amos 3:7; Deuteronomy 29:29. God has given these things to us, and His blessing will attend the reverent, prayerful study of the prophetic scriptures.
As the message of Christ’s first advent announced the kingdom of His grace, so the message of His second advent announces the kingdom of His glory. And the second message, like the first, is based on the prophecies. The words of the angel to Daniel relating to the last days were to be understood in the time of the end. At that time, “many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.” “The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” Daniel 12:4, 10. The Saviour Himself has given signs of His coming, and He says, “When ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.”


Amen! Lift up the trumpet and loud let is ring. God's trumpets have sounded and are ringing loudly.
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.

Beacon

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #37 on: June 16, 2019, 09:44:18 AM »
"If the leaders in Israel had received Christ, He would have honored them as His messengers to carry the gospel to the world. But Israel knew not the time of her visitation. To them first was given the opportunity to become heralds of the kingdom and grace of God. The jealousy and distrust of the Jewish leaders had ripened into open hatred, and the hearts of the people were turned away from Jesus.The Sanhedrin had rejected Christ’s message and was bent upon His death; therefore Jesus departed from Jerusalem, from the priests, the temple, the religious leaders, the people who had been instructed in the law, and turned to another class to proclaim His message, and to gather out those who should carry the gospel to all nations." 

Do we know the time of Our Visitation? Sadly, I must say " NO" for it seems that the Majority of our Leaders and Membership are preoccupied with the things of this world both Spiritually and Physically. But it does NOT have to be that way!! Oh that we may earnestly read and heed the invitation of Jesus and heed His call BEFORE OUR PROBATION CLOSES.

Ezekiel 18:31  Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?

Ezekiel 33:11
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 
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Beacon

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #38 on: September 08, 2019, 07:14:01 PM »
"The Jews misinterpreted and misapplied the word of God, and they knew not the time of their visitation. The years of the ministry of Christ and His apostles,—the precious last years of grace to the chosen people,—they spent in plotting the destruction of the Lord’s messengers. Earthly ambitions absorbed them, and the offer of the spiritual kingdom came to them in vain. So today the kingdom of this world absorbs men’s thoughts, and they take no note of the rapidly fulfilling prophecies and the tokens of the swift-coming kingdom of God."


How blessed we are to have "THE WORD of GOD" which has been preserved at such great cost in human lives and to be able to see how ACCURATELY the prophecies have been FULFILLED regarding God's great eternal plan to rescue all of us. No wonder our enemy Satan "is going about seeking whom he may devour" by causing the people of earth to be so distracted/derailed away from Jesus. He (Satan) knows the the "Fullness of Time" has come for the soon return of Jesus.

God sends us this warning in Luke 21:34 "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
"

I pray that we will not be focusing on the attractions of this earth ( like the religious leaders of Christ's day ) because they are all going to pass away. How I love the words of that simple chorus that says..." Turn your eyes upon Jesus and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace."  Although we don't know the day and hour of His appearing we do know from the prophetic way marks that we living at the very edge of that event. Be of good courage my brothers and sisters around the world Jesus is coming soon.  

Look up and listen for the shout.

Richard Myers

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Re: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand
« Reply #39 on: September 09, 2019, 06:19:11 AM »
Amen Brother Beacon!  Jesus is even at the doors!!   I think we have preached the gospel to Israel so very long that it is time to spend more time preaching to the world!

We can see by the signs of the times that most of prophecy has been fulfilled. That the world is speaking one language is another powerful revelation that the kingdom of God is at hand.

Gabriel gave the message to Daniel that the time was right for the coming of Jesus and His baptism and death. God has given the news of the second coming of Christ also. Daniel tells us that we are living in the time of the end. We are told that the wise shall understand these signs of His coming. We need to understand there is a change in the air. We are to live in a different manner today. We have reached the time foretold that Jesus will come to take us home. We are not in darkness that we would be overcome. Let us no sleep as others, but watch and be sober!

Let us sound the trumpet, warn the people, that the end is so very near! The seven trumpets in Revelation tell us that the end is near. The last of the trumpets is warning Babylon to turn from her sins, but she will not. America as the leader of the rebellion is no longer going to be protected. We saw this with the falling of the Trade Towers.
"...the Lord has protected us so wonderfully these 225 years. And since 1812, this is the first time that we've been attacked on our soil and by far the worst results. And I fear, as Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defense, said yesterday, that this is only the beginning. And with biological warfare available to these monsters -- the Husseins, the Bin Ladens, the Arafats -- what we saw on Tuesday, as terrible as it is, could be miniscule if, in fact -- if, in fact -- God continues to lift the curtain and allow the enemies of America to give us probably what we deserve." Falwell

He was right, but he did not mention that false religion has opened the door to Satan. That the warnings to Babylon in Scripture have not been heeded. That America not only has rejected Protestantism, but so have professing Protestants. When the pope stood in the halls of Congress with two Catholics standing behind him on his left and on his right, we may know that the end is near. The Sunday law may be passed and the US Supreme Court with a majority of Catholics sitting on her bench will allow the Constitution to be shattered.

As the light and life of men was rejected by the ecclesiastical authorities in the days of Christ, so it has been rejected in every succeeding generation. Again and again the history of Christ’s withdrawal from Judea has been repeated. When the Reformers preached the word of God, they had no thought of separating themselves from the established church; but the religious leaders would not tolerate the light, and those that bore it were forced to seek another class, who were longing for the truth. In our day few of the professed followers of the Reformers are actuated by their spirit. Few are listening for the voice of God, and ready to accept truth in whatever guise it may be presented.


Praise God there is a remnant within His church that will accept the truth, have accepted the truth and will give the gospel message to the world. There is one last warning message that is going forth to a world soon to perish. There are honest seekers of truth that will hear and follow the message. Let us be about our business of finding them!
Jesus receives His reward when we reflect His character, the fruits of the Spirit......We deny Jesus His reward when we do not.