The Desire of Ages--Final Chapter--"To My Father, and Your Father"

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

We get to be part of one family, even though the rest of the family is in heaven and the vast realms of the universe. While we are here on earth, let us ever keep heaven in view by faith, for Jesus has victoriously ascended there as our High Priest and Representative before the Father! He has conquered Satan and is giving us the victory He won as we surrender all to Him and allow His grace and strength to be made perfect in our weakness! Such an abiding experience with Jesus will produce in our character all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing as we have the privilege of rendering true obedience to all of God's Ten Commandments because He loved us and gave Himself for us! With God all things are possible!!

"From that scene of heavenly joy, there comes back to us on earth the echo of Christ's own wonderful words, 'I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.' John 20:17. The family of heaven and the family of earth are one. For us our Lord ascended, and for us He lives. 'Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.' Hebrews 7:25." {The Desire of Ages, page 835, paragraph 2}

Soon Jesus will return in like manner as He ascended to heaven, and we will meet Him in the air with all the redeemed who have been resurrected and translated, having the eternal joy of being with our God forever along with all the eternal family!! Hallelujah!!

[Richard Myers]

Amen!!! We long to see Jesus face to face!! And if we have seen Him we have known the Father! Would you like to have the Father's arms encircle you?

     The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6. 

Justice is satisfied! What does that mean? Sadly many, far too many, do not understand how much Jesus had to suffer in order for justice to be satisfied. How much did Jesus have to suffer? He had to suffer until the price for our salvation was enough, and the pain that every unrepentant  sinner shall suffer when raised from the grave after the thousand years. We are thankful for what we just read,  but do we understand why Jesus sweated blood in Gethsemane and why the cup trembled in His hand? How much pain did Jesus have to bear? After suffering, He went to His Father to find out if He had suffered enough? What was His reply? "justice is satisfied."

How much does the wicked one have  to suffer? For every sin done in the flesh. Does this mean pain? Pain for how long? Until justice is satisfied. Is God fair? Absolutely! Not one second longer or one second shorter. Perfect justice. The sinner will not burn for eternity as many have been taught. How long then? Until justice is satisfied. Add up the sins of the whole world and that is how long Jesus had to suffer, until justice is satisfied. Does this draw you closer to Jesus? It ought to because He bore the pain for you and me. We see this at the cross where mercy and truth have met together. Neither justice nor mercy were done away with. Because Jesus paid the price in suffering that belonged to us, He was able to forgive all who have been transformed into saints through His love. Such love! Wonder O heavens and be astonished O Earth!!

[Richard Myers]

It's hard to believe that we have come to the end of another reading of "The Desire of Ages". Each reading brings such blessings as we behold the loveliness of Jesus. As we have watched Him ascend into heaven through today's chapter I am filled with such gratitude for all He has done to make salvation available to each one of us.  What a future we have to look forward to. We are soon to be united with Jesus and all of heaven. Sin will never again arise. How my heart longs for that day. So until that day......

"From that scene of heavenly joy, there comes back to us on earth the echo of Christ's own wonderful words, "I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." John 20:17. The family of heaven and the family of earth are one. For us our Lord ascended, and for us He lives. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25. "

[Richard Myers]

"The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are 'accepted in the Beloved.' Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. 'Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.' Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, 'Let all the angels of God worship Him.' Hebrews 1:6."

" Satan is vanquished" He is a defeated foe!! Those who surrender to Jesus NOW can rest assured that if they remain faithful in their earthly journey, they also will join the heavenly throng when Jesus comes to take His children home. There will be no more suffering, pain and sorrow. No more death!! All the trials of this life are behind them -- FOREVER MORE " What joy it will be to be with Jesus. When we turn our eyes upon Jesus the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the Light of His Glory and Grace.

THANK YOU JESUS FOR THE AWESOME PLAN OF REDEMPTION EXECUTED FOR PLANET EARTH SO THAT ONCE AGAIN THE UNIVERSE WILL PULSE IN HARMONY WITH IT'S CREATOR AND SIN WILL " NEVER RISE AGAIN" John 3:16 SAYS .." For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

What temporary sinful pleasure would we, you and I , exchange for what Jesus has made possible ?? Let us today renew our commitment to Jesus and by His grace be ready to celebrate with Him an eternity that will be beyond our imagination. [/color][/b]

[Beacon]

"Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race."

"This pledge Christ has fulfilled."

"When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares:...

Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.

 "The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied".

"Satan is vanquished.""

Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6.

"Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified."

"Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6."

Yes.! Jesus paid it all and all to Him we owe. Are "YOU" - "Am I"  Willing make to make Him King of Kings & Lord of Lords in our life?

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


1
I hear the Savior say,
“Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all.”
    Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
  He washed it white as snow.
2
Lord, now indeed I find
Thy pow’r, and Thine alone,
Can change the leper’s spots,
And melt the heart of stone.
3
For nothing good have I
Whereby Thy grace to claim—
I’ll wash my garments white
In the blood of Calv’ry’s Lamb.
4
And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
“Jesus died my soul to save,”
My lips shall still repeat.

Lyrics:Elvina Mable Reynolds Hall (1822-1889)
Music:John Thomas Grape (1834-1915)


HAPPY SABBATH TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon!!

Happy Sabbath!! Why fear? In the light of Christ's victory over Satan, His ascension to heaven, and His glorious work there as our High Priest with the prophetic assurance of what He said would take place before His second coming, we need not fear. We need to remember what God has said to us and how He has led, and keep looking up to Jesus who is able to save each soul to the uttermost from sin and make such a soul a true reflection of His pure, holy character because the new heart and mind Jesus gives us by the Holy Spirit is stronger than the fallen nature we are compassed with until Christ gives us a new, glorified body. Partaking of the divine nature by the promises of God, all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be reflected in a life of true obedience to all of God's commandments! Praise God!!

"The disciples no longer had any distrust of the future. They knew that Jesus was in heaven, and that His sympathies were with them still. They knew that they had a friend at the throne of God, and they were eager to present their requests to the Father in the name of Jesus. In solemn awe they bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance, 'Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.' John 16:23, 24. They extended the hand of faith higher and higher, with the mighty argument, 'It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.' Romans 8:34. And Pentecost brought them fullness of joy in the presence of the Comforter, even as Christ had promised." {The Desire of Ages, page 833, paragraph 1} 

Ask for God's will in your life, and trust He will lead you in it day by day, moment by moment, for He is gracious and faithful!

[Richard Myers]

Yes, my dear brothers, we may rejoice as did Jesus and our heavenly Father. Jesus has paid it all!  Today we read of the greatest story ever told.

  Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music.
     There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son, the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion,--all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King.
     But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.
     The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6. 

We are those "struggling ones" who are accepted in the Beloved!  We are the ones to whom is entrusted the sacred oracles of God and the last warning message  to go to the world. We can rejoice that we carry the greatest message ever given to the world, a message of glad tidings upon which the hopes of the human family for time and for eternity depend.   

[Dorine]

"When the disciples went back to Jerusalem, the people looked upon them with amazement. After the trial and crucifixion of Christ, it had been thought that they would appear downcast and ashamed. Their enemies expected to see upon their faces an expression of sorrow and defeat. Instead of this there was only gladness and triumph. Their faces were aglow with a happiness not born of earth. They did not mourn over disappointed hopes, but were full of praise and thanksgiving to God. With rejoicing they told the wonderful story of Christ's resurrection and His ascension to heaven, and their testimony was received by many."

This will be the experience of all who have been with Jesus. With surrendered heart and by the power of the Holy Spirit we live above the distractions of this sinful world. Sickness, pain, sorrow, persecution, nothing will separate us from the love and care of God because He has promised to ever be with His children. Let's hasten the Lord's return by continually seeking the lost and introducing Jesus to them by our words and our lives.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Sister Dorine!

What an amazing homecoming! When Jesus went to heaven after finishing His ministry on earth as our atoning sacrifice, imagine the indescribable experience the Father and the Son had in that warm, longed-for embrace!

"The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are 'accepted in the Beloved.' Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. 'Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.' Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, 'Let all the angels of God worship Him.' Hebrews 1:6." {The Desire of Ages, page 834, paragraph 3}

The Holy Spirit is impressing our hearts and minds to appreciate these eternal realities! As we appreciate the infinite value of salvation and the incredible gift of being adopted into the Godhead family in Christ as the Lamb's wife, it is SO ENCOURAGING to know and experience true conversion with the vitalizing power of the word of God changing our focus from the temporal things that pass away to the eternal purpose God in repopulating heaven and revealing His character in the universe! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in every converted life that lives in complete surrender to the will of God by having Christ abide in the heart, the hope of glory!

[Beacon]

"He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents."

"He rejoices over one with singing."

"Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race."

"This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24."

" The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished."

"Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6"

Praise the Lord - He was victorious!! Now, let "US: renew our commitment to the One who paid it all!!

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
1
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.
  I surrender all,
  I surrender all.
All to Thee, my blessed Savior,
    I surrender all.
2
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
3
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.
4
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power,
Let Thy blessing fall on me.
5
All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame.
Oh, the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory to His name!

Lyrics:Judson W. Van de Venter (1855-1939)
Music:Winfield Scott Weeden (1847-1908

God Bless You and Your Families as we journey day by day through the Desire of Ages . Please journey with us again as we start over and perhaps tell others about this great way to reinforce our earthly journey with Jesus.

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear friends! What a way to end this most beautiful Book!

  There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise. There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son, the representatives of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion,--all are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and to glorify their King.
     But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming. He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents; who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24.
     The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews 1:6.