The Desire of Ages--59--Priestly Plottings

[Richard Myers]

Amen my dear Brother!  Soon we shall be the persecuted ones.

 At this council Christ's enemies had been deeply convicted. The Holy Spirit had impressed their minds. But Satan strove to gain control of them. He urged upon their notice the grievances they had suffered on account of Christ. How little He had honored their righteousness. He presented a righteousness far greater, which all who would be children of God must possess. Taking no notice of their forms and ceremonies, He had encouraged sinners to go directly to God as a merciful Father, and make known their wants. Thus, in their opinion, He had set aside the priesthood. He had refused to acknowledge the theology of the rabbinical schools. He had exposed the evil practices of the priests, and had irreparably hurt their influence. He had injured the effect of their maxims and traditions, declaring that though they strictly enforced the ritual law, they made void the law of God. All this Satan now brought to their minds.   

Sadly, too many ordained ministers in our churches are not happy when they see the true gospel message being taught. Like with the Jewish leaders they will rise up against the those teaching the truth.

"I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this will cause a shaking among God’s people. The testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. This testimony must work deep repentance, and all that truly receive it will obey it and be purified."  1Testimonies pg 181.

Too often around the world we see the dead are burying the dead which causes great problems in our churches. The rebellion in the unions comes about not without cause. The gospel has  been perverted and as it was in Ellen White's day, so it is today. Many have been taught they are saved in their unconfessed sins.

The new birth is a rare experience in this age of the world. This is the reason why there are so many perplexities in the churches. Many, so many, who assume the name of Christ are unsanctified and unholy. They have been baptized, but they were buried alive. Self did not die, and therefore they did not rise to newness of life in Christ (Manuscript 148, 1897). { 6BC 1075.7 }

[Dorine]

His life had been one of persecution and insult. Driven from Bethlehem by a jealous king, rejected by His own people at Nazareth, condemned to death without a cause at Jerusalem, Jesus, with His few faithful followers, found a temporary asylum in a strange city. He who was ever touched by human woe, who healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and speech to the dumb, who fed the hungry and comforted the sorrowful, was driven from the people He had labored to save. He who walked upon the heaving billows, and by a word silenced their angry roaring, who cast out devils that in departing acknowledged Him to be the Son of God, who broke the slumbers of the dead, who held thousands entranced by His words of wisdom, was unable to reach the hearts of those who were blinded by prejudice and hatred, and who stubbornly rejected the light.

We are not to become discouraged because all those we minister to do not accept Jesus. We are not to keep silent because there are those who do not believe and try to silence truth when in our midst. We are not to fear the outcome of proclaiming and living truth. Jesus is our example and it won't be long before those who speak boldly in love for God will be treated just as He was. It has started and will grow stronger. Keep looking up, holding on to Jesus, pray earnestly, study God's word and share. He will not let us go. It is time to cross over into the Promised Land. May we not get distracted by all that is happening in the world and in the church. There are souls to be saved for the kingdom of heaven.

[Beacon]

"At this council Christ's enemies had been deeply convicted."

"The Holy Spirit had impressed their minds. But Satan strove to gain control of them."

"He urged upon their notice the grievances they had suffered on account of" Christ. How little He had honored their righteousness."

"He presented a righteousness far greater, which all who would be children of God must possess. Taking no notice of their forms and ceremonies,"

"He had set aside the priesthood."


"He had refused to acknowledge the theology of the rabbinical schools."

"He had exposed the evil practices of the priests, and had irreparably hurt their influence."

"He had injured the effect of their maxims and traditions, declaring that though they strictly enforced the ritual law, they made void the law of God. All this Satan now brought to their minds."

"Truth was not popular in Jesus day! Is it any different today in our generation!!"

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

[font=arial


]
1
Just taste and see that the Lord is good;
Just taste and see that the Lord is good.
He’s good for you, as He is for me;
So whatever you do, just taste and see.
2
Just call O Lord—He’ll change your life;
Just call O Lord He’ll change your life.
Amazing grace He will afford;
If in every place You call O Lord.
3
You’ll feel real love coming into your heart;
You’ll feel real love coming into your heart.
You’ll sense a flow from God above;
And You will know you’ve found real love.
4
So praise the Lord for His life in you;
Yes, praise the Lord for His life in you.
Something of Christ He has outpoured
Into your life; so praise the Lord
[/font]
[/b][/font][/color]

[Dorine]

Bethany was so near Jerusalem that the news of the raising of Lazarus was soon carried to the city. Through spies who had witnessed the miracle the Jewish rulers were speedily in possession of the facts. A meeting of the Sanhedrin was at once called to decide as to what should be done. Christ had now fully made manifest His control of death and the grave. That mighty miracle was the crowning evidence offered by God to men that He had sent His Son into the world for their salvation. It was a demonstration of divine power sufficient to convince every mind that was under the control of reason and enlightened conscience. Many who witnessed the resurrection of Lazarus were led to believe on Jesus. But the hatred of the priests against Him was intensified. They had rejected all lesser evidence of His divinity, and they were only enraged at this new miracle. The dead had been raised in the full light of day, and before a crowd of witnesses. No artifice could explain away such evidence. For this very reason the enmity of the priests grew deadlier. They were more than ever determined to put a stop to Christ's work.

It is a sad fact that history does repeat itself. When we stand for Jesus and the truth He teaches we will be shunned, hated and even persecuted. We must always look to Jesus and follow in His footsteps. He will lead and guide us through very stormy conditions. We may suffer scratches and bruises and maybe our very lives but no one can take Jesus from us. Jesus needs us to carry on His mission; searching and finding souls for His kingdom through ministering to the needs of lost souls.

[Richard Myers]

Amen dear sister! History does and will repeat itself. America the beautiful will speak as a dragon and attempt to put to death all who stand in the way the leaders of the world. Their argument is that it is better that a few die so that the Earth not perish. In reality Satan has full control of Babylon and they are not concerned about Mother Earth, but about their own inability to support their lie about the Sabbath. The only way to save themselves is to put to death those who follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Better that one man perish than that the whole nation be destroyed.  In declaring that one man should die for the nation, Caiaphas indicated that he had some knowledge of the prophecies, although it was very limited. But John, in his account of this scene, takes up the prophecy, and shows its broad and deep significance. He says, "And not for that nation only, but that also He should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad." How blindly did the haughty Caiaphas acknowledge the Saviour's mission!   

On the lips of Caiaphas this most precious truth was turned into a lie. The policy he advocated was based on a principle borrowed from heathenism. Among the heathen, the dim consciousness that one was to die for the human race had led to the offering of human sacrifices. So Caiaphas proposed by the sacrifice of Jesus to save the guilty nation, not from transgression, but in transgression, that they might continue in sin. And by his reasoning he thought to silence the remonstrances of those who might dare to say that as yet nothing worthy of death had been found in Jesus.   

Sadly, how many today follow the same lie that we are saved in sin, not from sin? Many leaders argue against many transgressions, but how many stand up against the predominate teaching that we are saved in sin. Very few. And thus His church remains in a Laodicean condition. Priestly plottings have buried the truth that we never hear Paul's preaching that those who bring a false gospel into His church are accursed. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:6-9

[Dorine]

  While the council was at the height of its perplexity, Caiaphas the high priest arose. Caiaphas was a proud and cruel man, overbearing and intolerant. Among his family connections were Sadducees, proud, bold, reckless, full of ambition and cruelty, which they hid under a cloak of pretended righteousness. Caiaphas had studied the prophecies, and although ignorant of their true meaning, he spoke with great authority and assurance: "Ye know nothing at all, nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not." Even if Jesus were innocent, urged the high priest, He must be put out of the way. He was troublesome, drawing the people to Himself, and lessening the authority of the rulers. He was only one; it was better that He should die than that the authority of the rulers should be weakened. If the people were to lose confidence in their rulers, the national power would be destroyed. Caiaphas urged that after this miracle the followers of Jesus would likely rise in revolt. The Romans will then come, he said, and will close our temple, and abolish our laws, destroying us as a nation. What is the life of this Galilean worth in comparison with the life of the nation? If He stands in the way of Israel's well-being, is it not doing God a service to remove Him? Better that one man perish than that the whole nation be destroyed. 

Someday Caiaphas will face the results of his actions and so will all who harbor this same attitude even today. As we keep Jesus in our hearts, walking with Him, talking  and listening to Him our motives will be pure and holy and fear will not keep us from standing boldly for Him. There are souls to bring to Christ everywhere even in our own families. May we constantly co-operate with the agencies of heaven to show to others the joy and peace that can be theirs if they just come to Him in faith and humility accepting His invitation to trust and obey Him.

[Richard Myers]

Amen dear Sister Dorine!   Soon Caiaphas will be raised from his grave to witness the coming of His Messiah, our Savior.

There is a mighty earthquake, “such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great” ( Revelation 16:17, 18). The firmament appears to open and shut. The glory from the throne of God seems flashing through. The mountains shake like a reed in the wind, and ragged rocks are scattered on every side.... The whole earth heaves and swells like the waves of the sea. Its surface is breaking up. Its very foundations seem to be giving way. Mountain chains are sinking. Inhabited islands disappear. The seaports that have become like Sodom for wickedness are swallowed up by the angry waters.... Great hailstones, every one “about the weight of a talent,” are doing their work of destruction ( verses 19, 21) ....Graves are opened, and “many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth ... awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” ( Daniel 12:2). All who have died in the faith of the third angel’s message come forth from the tomb glorified to hear God’s covenant of peace with those who have kept His law. “They also which pierced Him” ( Revelation 1:7), those that mocked and derided Christ’s dying agonies, and the most violent opposers of His truth and His people, are raised to behold Him in His glory, and to see the honor placed upon the loyal and obedient.—The Great Controversy, 636, 637 (1911).

If the people were to lose confidence in their rulers, the national power would be destroyed. Caiaphas urged that after this miracle the followers of Jesus would likely rise in revolt. The Romans will then come, he said, and will close our temple, and abolish our laws, destroying us as a nation. What is the life of this Galilean worth in comparison with the life of the nation? If He stands in the way of Israel's well-being, is it not doing God a service to remove Him? Better that one man perish than that the whole nation be destroyed.  whole nation be destroyed.  DA 539. 

The sin and ruin of the nation was due to their religious leaders. So it will be today. The sin and ruin of all nations will be due to their religious leaders. They all have the opportunity to follow the law of God, but choose to follow the laws of man and reject the simple truth that God gave us the Sabbath that we might rest from our labors and remember our God of great power who spoke the world into existence and who breathed life into man. In the Word of God we read the truth about which day is the day of rest, the only day God has blessed. "And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." Gen. 2:2,3.

The law of God clearly spells out which day we are to rest on. It is not the first day, but the seventh day. The ten commandments was never changed. The moral law always was and always will be. God does not change. "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."  Exodus 20:8-11.

As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday, the persistent refusal of a small minority to yield to the popular demand will make them objects of universal execration. It will be urged that the few who stand in opposition to an institution of the church and a law of the state ought not to be tolerated; that it is better for them to suffer than for whole nations to be thrown into confusion and lawlessness. The same argument eighteen hundred years ago was brought against Christ by the “rulers of the people.” “It is expedient for us,” said the wily Caiaphas, “that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” John 11:50. This argument will appear conclusive; and a decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. Romanism in the Old World and apostate Protestantism in the New will pursue a similar course toward those who honor all the divine precepts. l the divine precepts. GC88 615. 

[Richard Myers]

Yes, time is running out!  Jesus knew the same in His day. As read today, we see he denounced the false leaders. So it must be today. Yet, there seems to be a lack of interest to do so even though we have rebellion at the highest level. Millions leave the church, yet hardly anything is done to remove the false teachers. All who teach a false gospel are accursed, but never have I heard these verses quoted. Why not?

     At this council Christ's enemies had been deeply convicted. The Holy Spirit had impressed their minds. But Satan strove to gain control of them. He urged upon their notice the grievances they had suffered on account of Christ. How little He had honored their righteousness. He presented a righteousness far greater, which all who would be children of God must possess. Taking no notice of their forms and ceremonies, He had encouraged sinners to go directly to God as a merciful Father, and make known their wants. Thus, in their opinion, He had set aside the priesthood. He had refused to acknowledge the theology of the rabbinical schools. He had exposed the evil practices of the priests, and had irreparably hurt their influence. He had injured the effect of their maxims and traditions, declaring that though they strictly enforced the ritual law, they made void the law of God. All this Satan now brought to their minds.   
     Satan told them that in order to maintain their authority, they must put Jesus to death.

[JimB]

Jesus had now given three years of public labor to the world. His example of self-denial and disinterested benevolence was before them. His life of purity, of suffering and devotion, was known to all.

And we too can live a life like this if we will consent to have our lives to be ruled by the Spirit!

[Dorine]

  Jesus had now given three years of public labor to the world. His example of self-denial and disinterested benevolence was before them. His life of purity, of suffering and devotion, was known to all. Yet this short period of three years was as long as the world could endure the presence of its Redeemer.   

His life had been one of persecution and insult. Driven from Bethlehem by a jealous king, rejected by His own people at Nazareth, condemned to death without a cause at Jerusalem, Jesus, with His few faithful followers, found a temporary asylum in a strange city. He who was ever touched by human woe, who healed the sick, restored sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, and speech to the dumb, who fed the hungry and comforted the sorrowful, was driven from the people He had labored to save. He who walked upon the heaving billows, and by a word silenced their angry roaring, who cast out devils that in departing acknowledged Him to be the Son of God, who broke the slumbers of the dead, who held thousands entranced by His words of wisdom, was unable to reach the hearts of those who were blinded by prejudice and hatred, and who stubbornly rejected the light.

If we as a people had lived as Jesus did while on earth our time on this earth would have been cut short also because the world would not have tolerated us any longer than it possibly could. We are a stubborn and selfish people and God is showing me through the hardships of life just how selfish my human nature is. He's coming very soon whether we are ready or not. Every day is preparing us for that moment. Stay faithful and by God's grace "Never Give Up."