Author Topic: The Desire of Ages--23--The Kingdom of God is at Hand (Read 14625 times)

Dorine · « **Reply #40 on:** September 09, 2019, 06:45:06 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.” “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.

What a message of warning and encouragement. We do not need to be taken by surprise and the scriptures tell us what we need to know and do to be prepared. After going through Dorian the last couple of days I appreciate even more what it means to be prepared for the coming storm. If we wait until it's upon us it will be too late to protect ourselves and our families. As we face the coming storm of end times we need to be preparing our hearts for the coming of the Lord. Daily preparations of bible study, prayer, soul searching, sharing the good news of salvation to others will keep us prepared as we 'watch and wait' and work. Just as it takes effort and work preparing for a hurricane so does it spiritually. We work and God works. He gives us the energy, endurance, wisdom and knowledge to accomplish our part. It all comes from Him. Our part may be little but it's important.

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #41 on:** September 09, 2019, 07:27:06 AM »

What a blessing with this spiritual fellowship!

Prophecy is such a gift that reveals Jesus!!

“'The Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the 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." {The Desire of Ages, page 234, paragraph 3}

God is so gracious to give us Scripture that reveals Christ and helps us to be ready for what is coming upon the earth! Jesus is coming again very soon and He desires us to understand what is taking place in these closing times! That is why it is so well for us to study Daniel and Revelation together as Christ's coming in glory is so clearly revealed, and the events that lead up to it!

Beacon · « **Reply #42 on:** December 03, 2019, 07:32:17 PM »

"Today the kingdoms 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...

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #43 on:** December 04, 2019, 10:20:01 AM »

Amen, Brother Beacon!! We need a living connection with Jesus so we may walk with Him moment-by-moment as Jesus is SO SOON TO RETURN in power and great glory!!!

"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.' '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." {The Desire of Ages, page 234, paragraph 4}

Let us live ever as if Jesus were TRULY COMING in our lifetime and put all our focus on preparing for His return by helping others be ready for His coming!! Lift up the trumpet!! Jesus is coming again!!!!!

Dorine · « **Reply #44 on:** December 04, 2019, 10:26:20 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.

This is such a comforting truth for me. Marvelous prophetic messages have been given to us to keep us informed of events that have taken place and those yet to come. There are many things not revealed to us but what about the ones that are. We are to be spending time in God's word studying the prophecies if we are to receive the blessings God promises. They are fascinating, enlightening and grounding. Yes they take serious concentration but the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth and we will hunger for more. At my age I do not retain the things I read for long. That's why it is necessary to review over and over again. To see how God has fulfilled his prophecies in the past gives us confidence to believe that He will lead us to the end just as He promises.

Richard Myers · « **Reply #45 on:** December 04, 2019, 12:58:32 PM »

Amen Sister Dorine, Pastor Sean, and Brother Beacon! God tells us before hand what is coming upon the Earth. Today's reading is pointedly for us to know that Jesus is coming soon. Not that He might be coming soon, but by the prophecies we know His coming is near. Sadly many say it may not be soon because He has not yet come when others thought He would.

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.

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #46 on:** February 29, 2020, 05:56:53 AM »

God loves to tell us what He is going to do, that as He does it, our relationship with Him will be strengthened, and we will be prepared for what He has in store. We can be grateful that all of the Scriptures are a revelation of Christ, and that as we study the prophecies that point to His soon return, we can be encouraged to live a life of continual surrender in union and communion with Christ that reflects all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing!

“'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.” {The Desire of Ages, page 234, paragraph 3}

What a blessing to have prophetic certainty of what God has promised, and to be able to live our lives in harmony with the light shining brightly from heaven as we allow Christ to live in and through us, the hope of glory!

Richard Myers · « **Reply #47 on:** February 29, 2020, 06:39:37 AM »

Amen Pastor Sean! God knows the end from the beginning and our faith is indeed strengthened when we see what He has written come true! Today's reading expresses the truth that when truth came to Israel they rejected it, most did. They had the truth, as we today have the truth. But, it does no good to ignore, thus rejecting it as did Israel. What shall we say about today?

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.

So it is today. So many in different religions will have to come out of their religious systems including Christian churches. But, unlike Israel, God's church today is the last church. Many question as to His power or will to cleanse it. In His Word He says He will pour clean water upon His filthy church. Do you accept or reject His Word in regards to His intention to cleans the "House of Israel"? We are the last of the seven churches spoken of in the Book of Revelation. The prophet Ezekiel in chapters 36 and 37 tell us what He will do with the church that has brought reproach upon His name. This is called grace and it is what transforms sinners into saints. Believe it.

Beacon · « **Reply #48 on:** February 29, 2020, 08:00:32 AM »

"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.” “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.

Are You --- Am I , Paying attention to the fast fulfilling signs of His SOON RETURN? Are WE searching our hearts? Are WE pleading with God to cleanse our Soul Temple? Are WE concerned about those in our families, and friends, who don't know that the FINAL CALL is NOW being given to the inhabitants of earth and is NOW sounding? Brothers and Sister Let Us Awake from our sleep while the door of mercy is still open.

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #49 on:** May 26, 2020, 05:16:24 AM »

Each day we are making choices that reveal our true priorities! Do we choose Jesus first? It is by beholding Him in His loveliness that we come to accept His imputed righteousness and allow Him to work out in us His imparted righteousness that brings all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing in our lives! Let us choose what is spiritual and eternal over the things that are quickly passing away! During the Covid-19 pandemic, it has become evident how rapidly life as we know it can change. May we allow this season of preparation for the coming of Christ to help our focus be on His word, prayer, and the witness that will always result from the union and communion of soul that comes as we surrender unreservedly to 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}

Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming! Let us allow the Holy Spirit to teach us today how we may be about our Father's business and do the will of God thoroughly and faithfully, so that others will receive the everlasting gospel of His grace that has power to transform sinners into saints!

Beacon · « **Reply #50 on:** May 26, 2020, 08:53:36 AM »

"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."

Are ( WE )--"LONGING FOR THE TRUTH " ? NOT JUST A KNOWLEDGE OF IT - BUT A VITAL DAILY LIVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS!!

Beacon · « **Reply #51 on:** August 21, 2020, 06:16:36 AM »

"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.” “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.

Are You --- Am I , Paying attention to the fast fulfilling signs of His SOON RETURN? Are WE searching our hearts? Are WE pleading with God to cleanse our Soul Temple? Are WE concerned about those in our families, and friends, who don't know that the FINAL CALL is NOW being given to the inhabitants of earth and is NOW sounding? Brothers and Sister Let Us Awake from our sleep while the door of mercy is still open.

----------------

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #52 on:** August 21, 2020, 07:13:17 AM »

Amen, Brother Beacon!! Time is short!!

Jesus wants us to understand what is happening in our world and what is so soon to come to pass. As Jesus ministers in the sanctuary in heaven, ministering cleanse the record of those who have confessed and forsaken their sin in true repentance by beholding His loveliness and yielding the entire heart and mind to Him, how He longs to give us the moral courage to stand victorious in the closing moments of earth's history! All who yield in total faith surrender by His grace will be filled with all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing! As the seven last plagues described in Revelation 16 will fall upon the world after Jesus finishes His high priestly ministry in the heavenly sanctuary, only those who have received the seal of the living God (applied by the Holy Spirit, and which is seen in keeping all of the commandments of God, including the fourth commandment that enjoins us to remember the Sabbath of the seventh day to keep it holy) will be spared the unutterable agony of those judgments that fall upon the wicked without mercy. Oh, let us make use of the time of probation now! Let us search the Scriptures that we may see Jesus high and lifted up, and in beholding Him, have every desire and aspiration bound up with His plan to save the world from the ruin that is so swift to come!!

"'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." {The Desire of Ages, page 234, paragraph 2}

God is not trying to hide things from the world. He desires ALL to be saved! But alas, how few are willing to yield to Him! Let us not grow discouraged in the good fight of faith, but keep presenting Christ as the center of prophecy, studying the books of Daniel and Revelation together as they give us PRESENT TRUTH that Jesus is SO SOON TO COME--an event that is the ultimate deliverance of the righteous, but that which destroys the wicked by the brightness of His coming, for sin cannot exist in the full glorious presence of God. There is still time to repent! Look to Jesus even now, and there is still hope!! What wondrous love God has manifested in being SO SO PATIENT with us and with our world--but soon His judgements will fall in full measure, and now is the day of salvation!!

Richard Myers · « **Reply #53 on:** August 21, 2020, 07:32:49 AM »

Amen Pastor Sean! Jesus has told us ahead of time when His coming is very near. As Brother Beacon has pointed out, it is time for the church to awaken! Jesus is even at the doors!!!

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.
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.

It is not the world that delays the coming, but we have not done that which must be done before Jesus can come. There will be a people who will go through a time of trouble such as never was without a Mediator. We have not prepared for the second coming. Many do not believe they can cease sinning. Do you understand that all who love Jesus with the whole heart will not hurt Him? Sin hurts Jesus.

Dorine · « **Reply #54 on:** August 22, 2020, 06:19:51 AM »

"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."

Such a sad truth. Unless we are spending that hour everyday in humble surrender to God we too will not recognize that Jesus is coming very soon nor will we be ready for that great event.

Richard Myers · « **Reply #55 on:** November 16, 2020, 07:32:30 AM »

Amen dear Sister Dorine! How many times must we repeat this? Until God has a people who have ceased to sin and He can stand up and walk out of the heavenly sanctuary. Few understand that we are the ones who have delayed His coming.

“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.

So, likewise, today the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand:

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. 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.

What must we do? We must give glory to God by living a sanctified life, the the world will know there is a God in heaven (Ezekiel 36:22-37). How can we do this? Jesus tells us to buy of Him gold which is tried in the fire which is faith that works by love, and white raiment which is His righteous character that He will give (impart) to all who will give Him the whole heart, and eye salve that our blindness as a people will be healed. He stands at the door of so very many hearts seeking entrance. He says to the Seventh-day Adventist Church "repent." We can only do this when we trust God with all we are and all we have. As we behold His grace we shall be transformed into His image! Then will He come!

Pastor Sean Brizendine · « **Reply #56 on:** November 16, 2020, 07:36:51 AM »

Amen, Brother Richard!

Jesus is coming soon! Now is the time to look upon Him by faith ministering as our High Priest in the sanctuary in heaven where He is blotting out the record of the repented and confessed sins of His people whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life! May we earnestly seek to invite as many as possible to come to Christ, accept the salvation so freely offered, and thus experience in our characters the transformation that is manifest in all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing!

"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.' '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." {The Desire of Ages, page 234, paragraph 4}

To truly live in readiness for Jesus coming means to be in constant union and communion with Him and allow us to go about our Father's business to give the final everlasting gospel call revealed in Revelation 14:6-12 which when truly accepted will bring forth a people whose lives are in harmony with the faith of Jesus and the commandments of God!

Beacon · « **Reply #57 on:** November 16, 2020, 10:12:33 AM »

"Today the kingdoms 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..

Dorine · « **Reply #58 on:** November 16, 2020, 11:36:03 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."

I just finished the book "Christ In His Sanctuary". What a blessing it has been and what an honor that God would reveal to us these beautiful prophecies. It is true as it says that those who prayerfully study them will be blessed. God's kingdom is like no other. Everything beautiful will be there and His government will be ruled by love. May we never allow the cares and distractions of this life pull us away from the most glorious event about to take place, the imminent return of Jesus. Keeping our eyes on Him continually, He will carry us 'home'.

Dorine · « **Reply #59 on:** February 11, 2021, 06:16:42 AM »

"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.” “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.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."
We are standing on the banks of Jordon ready to pass over. But many are not ready to cross. God is appealing to each one to come to Him and be saved. He's doing all He can to wake up the sleeping saints to be part of that end time revival that is to take place in preparation of Christ's return. Hearts must be turned to God in full surrender reflecting all the attributes of His character. Then the gospel can be preached also through the transformed lives of His people.