The Desire of Ages--3--"The Fullness of the Time"

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

We are not the only ones who are looking forward to the second coming of Jesus. Just as the Jews were not the only ones looking forward to the coming of Christ the first time, Seventh-day Adventist Christians are not the only ones looking forward to His second coming in glory! God is preparing many souls to meet Him in peace!!

We can find glorious hope in the words of prophecy that are true and inspired of God! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be seen in our lives as we walk in faithfulness to Christ in appreciation of His promises to come again and take us to heaven!

"Outside of the Jewish nation there were men who foretold the appearance of a divine instructor. These men were seeking for truth, and to them the Spirit of Inspiration was imparted. One after another, like stars in the darkened heavens, such teachers had arisen. Their words of prophecy had kindled hope in the hearts of thousands of the Gentile world." {The Desire of Ages, page 33, paragraph 1}

God is faithful to kindle hope in our hearts and the hearts of others about His coming! Praise the Lord!!

[Richard Myers]

Amen!! Many know there is something very wrong in the world today. Many also can understand a common language, English. And we as a people ought to understand that those who speak English have been given a great advantage. With that comes great responsibility. Have we read all of the light given to us? Let us find all who are seeking for truth and tell them of the One who is the King of all kings.

"When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son." Providence had directed the movements of nations, and the tide of human impulse and influence, until the world was ripe for the coming of the Deliverer. The nations were united under one government. One language was widely spoken, and was everywhere recognized as the language of literature. From all lands the Jews of the dispersion gathered to Jerusalem to the annual feasts. As these returned to the places of their sojourn, they could spread throughout the world the tidings of the Messiah's coming.

The fullness of the time has come!

[JimB]

At this time the systems of heathenism were losing their hold upon the people. Men were weary of pageant and fable. They longed for a religion that could satisfy the heart. While the light of truth seemed to have departed from among men, there were souls who were looking for light, and who were filled with perplexity and sorrow. They were thirsting for a knowledge of the living God, for some assurance of a life beyond the grave.

Society today may not be in an exact place as back then but its similar. People recognize something is wrong and are trying to correct it through politics. There are also a lot of hurting people desiring for something better. The harvest is ripe and there is a need for more workers. Even 11th hour workers!

Matt 9:37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;       
 
9:38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

[Beacon]

"The history of the Israelites presents before us the great danger of deception. Many have not a sense of the sinfulness of their own natures, nor of the grace of forgiveness. They do not wish to be disturbed."

"They have occasionally selfish fears, occasionally good purposes, some anxious thoughts and convictions. But they have not a depth of experience, because they are not riveted to the Eternal Rock. This class never see the necessity of reproof. Sin does not appear exceedingly sinful, for the reason that they are not walking in the light, as Christ is in the light."

"The way may be rough, but we have no time to spend in thinking about our difficulties. When we bemoan the hardness of the way, we turn from the path of faith. God is leading us, and he can make us fully able to go up and possess the promised land."

"He declares, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Are "WE" willing to keep all His commandments?? If not "WE" will not be able to inter in through the gates to the Holy City of God!! Let's pray for a thankful willingness to obey!!

======================
1
When we walk with the Lord
  In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
  While we do His good will,
  He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
 
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
  But to trust and obey.
2
Not a shadow can rise,
  Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
  Not a doubt or a fear,
  Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3
Not a burden we bear,
  Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
  Not a grief or a loss,
  Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4
But we never can prove
  The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
  For the favor He shows,
  And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5
Then in fellowship sweet
  We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
  What He says we will do;
  Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Lyrics:John Henry Sammis (1846-1919)
Music:Daniel Brink Towner (1850-1919

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Beacon and Brother Jim. We do indeed have a very lot in common with Israel. Israel did not keep the commandments of God. Many churches today do not see the need to not sin.

 The people whom God had called to be the pillar and ground of the truth had become representatives of Satan. They were doing the work that he desired them to do, taking a course to misrepresent the character of God, and cause the world to look upon Him as a tyrant. The very priests who ministered in the temple had lost sight of the significance of the service they performed. They had ceased to look beyond the symbol to the thing signified. In presenting the sacrificial offerings they were as actors in a play. The ordinances which God Himself had appointed were made the means of blinding the mind and hardening the heart. God could do no more for man through these channels. The whole system must be swept away. 

[Dorine]

With intense interest the unfallen worlds had watched to see Jehovah arise, and sweep away the inhabitants of the earth. And if God should do this, Satan was ready to carry out his plan for securing to himself the allegiance of heavenly beings. He had declared that the principles of God's government make forgiveness impossible. Had the world been destroyed, he would have claimed that his accusations were proved true. He was ready to cast blame upon God, and to spread his rebellion to the worlds above. But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it. Though corruption and defiance might be seen in every part of the alien province, a way for its recovery was provided. At the very crisis, when Satan seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came with the embassage of divine grace. Through every age, through every hour, the love of God had been exercised toward the fallen race. Notwithstanding the perversity of men, the signals of mercy had been continually exhibited. And when the fullness of the time had come, the Deity was glorified by pouring upon the world a flood of healing grace that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn till the plan of salvation should be fulfilled.

We are living in a time where good is evil and evil is good. The gospel has been perverted and souls are being taught that righteousness is the ideal but it really doesn't make a difference in the long run. Profession, feelings, and emotions are what is driving so many to their eternal ruin. Only those who are reading, praying and sharing will hate sin and experience victory in their lives and have a peace that only comes from being united with Jesus.

[Beacon]

"The history of the Israelites presents before us the great danger of deception. Many have not a sense of the sinfulness of their own natures, nor of the grace of forgiveness. They do not wish to be disturbed."

"They have occasionally selfish fears, occasionally good purposes, some anxious thoughts and convictions. But they have not a depth of experience, because they are not riveted to the Eternal Rock. This class never see the necessity of reproof. Sin does not appear exceedingly sinful, for the reason that they are not walking in the light, as Christ is in the light."

"The way may be rough, but we have no time to spend in thinking about our difficulties. When we bemoan the hardness of the way, we turn from the path of faith. God is leading us, and he can make us fully able to go up and possess the promised land."

"He declares, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”

Are "WE" willing to keep all His c?? If not "WE" will not be able to inter in through the gates to the Holy City of God!! Let's pray for a thankful willingness to obey!!

======================

1
When we walk with the Lord
  In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
  While we do His good will,
  He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
 
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
  But to trust and obey.
2
Not a shadow can rise,
  Not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
  Not a doubt or a fear,
  Not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
3
Not a burden we bear,
  Not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
  Not a grief or a loss,
  Not a frown or a cross,
But is blest if we trust and obey.
4
But we never can prove
  The delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
  For the favor He shows,
  And the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
5
Then in fellowship sweet
  We will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
  What He says we will do;
  Where He sends, we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.

Lyrics:John Henry Sammis (1846-1919)
Music:Daniel Brink Towner (1850-1919)

[Dorine]

With intense interest the unfallen worlds had watched to see Jehovah arise, and sweep away the inhabitants of the earth. And if God should do this, Satan was ready to carry out his plan for securing to himself the allegiance of heavenly beings. He had declared that the principles of God's government make forgiveness impossible. Had the world been destroyed, he would have claimed that his accusations were proved true. He was ready to cast blame upon God, and to spread his rebellion to the worlds above. But instead of destroying the world, God sent His Son to save it. Though corruption and defiance might be seen in every part of the alien province, a way for its recovery was provided. At the very crisis, when Satan seemed about to triumph, the Son of God came with the embassage of divine grace. Through every age, through every hour, the love of God had been exercised toward the fallen race. Notwithstanding the perversity of men, the signals of mercy had been continually exhibited. And when the fullness of the time had come, the Deity was glorified by pouring upon the world a flood of healing grace that was never to be obstructed or withdrawn till the plan of salvation should be fulfilled.

For being so intelligent and knowledgeable Satan sure is foolish.  But that is what sin does. It destroys our reasoning abilities and logic and goes against all that is pure and true. Satan must have been shocked at the knowledge that Jesus the King of the universe was to come to this earth to die for those trapped in Satan's snare. It's a thrilling event that fills those open and searching for truth with joy and gratefulness and strength to carry on in faith and trust.

[Richard Myers]

Amen dear Sister Dorine! It is truly amazing that so many who have been entrusted with the truth can be so far removed from that truth. Israel was to be a warning to us, the seventh and last church. Israel is a ensample for those whom the end of the world is come.

      For hundreds of years the Scriptures had been translated into the Greek language, then widely spoken throughout the Roman Empire. The Jews were scattered everywhere, and their expectation of the Messiah's coming was to some extent shared by the Gentiles. Among those whom the Jews styled heathen were men who had a better understanding of the Scripture prophecies concerning the Messiah than had the teachers in Israel. There were some who hoped for His coming as a deliverer from sin. Philosophers endeavored to study into the mystery of the Hebrew economy. But the bigotry of the Jews hindered the spread of the light. Intent on maintaining the separation between themselves and other nations, they were unwilling to impart the knowledge they still possessed concerning the symbolic service. The true Interpreter must come. The One whom all these types prefigured must explain their significance.

     Through nature, through types and symbols, through patriarchs and prophets, God had spoken to the world. Lessons must be given to humanity in the language of humanity. The Messenger of the covenant must speak. His voice must be heard in His own temple. Christ must come to utter words which should be clearly and definitely understood. He, the author of truth, must separate truth from the chaff of man's utterance, which had made it of no effect. The principles of God's government and the plan of redemption must be clearly defined. The lessons of the Old Testament must be fully set before men.   

He did His work and made the plan of salvation so very clear that a child can understand. But, sin has once again become a science, and vice is consecrated as a part of religion. God has not given up on us. He has promised that He will pour clean water upon His church. "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." Eze. 36:25. Like the valley of dry bones, this promise is for His Church. Not all will be revived, but He will have a church that has ceased to sin. Those dead dry, dry,dry bones will get up and walk!