Remember the Sabbath! It is a Delight!

Remember the Sabbath. Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, that people were never created to serve the Sabbath. It is and was and always will be a precious thing of delight, something given to you, and me, and all of us, a Sabbath rest for the people of God. It is not a burden, though the false teachers attempt to make it so, they claim you have been "liberated from Sabbath keeping" -- the next thing? Possibly that you have been "liberated" from Grace!
Think about it, if someone who knew nothing about the Bible was stranded on a deserted island with only the Bible to read, he'd never know a thing about the thousands of years of man's traditions that have grown up to obscure the Truth in the Bible. This castaway would learn about the Sabbath of God, and He would be happy to have such a blessing in such a lonely world. He would do his very best to figure out exactly WHEN was the seventh day, the Sabbath!

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Happy Sabbath

p.s. Happy New Year, too! ,

Hillary Clinton to gay teens: "Tomorrow Will Be Better"

Hillary Clinton to gay teens: 'Tomorrow Will Be Better'
By Ed O'Keefe



Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton speaks directly to gay and lesbian teenagers in a new video produced at the urging of State Department employees.

Clinton calls recent suicides by gay teenagers "a reminder that all Americans have to work harder to overcome bigotry and hatred."

"Hang in there and ask for help," she says to teens being bullied because of their sexuality. "Your life is so important -- to your family, your friends, and to your country. And there is so much waiting for you, both personally and professionally -- there are so many opportunities for you to develop your talents and make your contributions."

"Here at the State Department, I am grateful every day for the work of our LGBT employees who are serving the United States as foreign service officers and civil servants here and around the world," she says later. "It wasn't long ago that these men and women would not have been able to serve openly, but today they can -- because it has gotten better. And it will get better for you.

"So take heart, and have hope, and please remember that your life is valuable, and that you are not alone. Many people are standing with you and sending you their thoughts, their prayers and their strength. Count me among them. Take care of yourself."

The video was shot and produced quickly after members of the group Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies contacted State Department Counselor Cheryl Mills asking for the secretary to speak out, said Michelle Schohn, a spokeswoman for the group.

Schohn noted that Clinton was one of the first public figures to speak publicly about gay teen suicides, raising the issue during a Gay Pride Month speech at the State Department in June:

I think that each and every one of you not only professionally, particularly from State and USAID in every bureau and every embassy and every part of our government, have to do what you can to create that safe space, but also personally to really look for those who might need a helping hand, particularly young people, particularly teenagers who still, today, have such a difficult time and who still, in numbers far beyond what should ever happen, take their own lives rather than live that life. So I would ask you to please think of ways you can be there for everyone who is making this journey to defend not only human rights globally, but to truly defend themselves and their rights. The struggle for equality is never, ever finished. And it is rarely easy, despite how self-evident it should be.

A State Department spokesman did not return requests for comment on the video.


By Ed O'Keefe October 20, 2010; 8:00 AM ET
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John Lindsay and New York snowstorm: A chilling lesson for Michael Bloomberg

Jon Swaine

Jon Swaine is the Daily Telegraph's New York correspondent. He was a member of the MPs' expenses reporting team.

John Lindsay and New York snowstorm: A chilling lesson for Michael Bloomberg

By Jon Swaine World Last updated: December 30th, 2010



Can the Mayor of New York recover from Bloomberg's Snowstorm? (Photo: Getty)

A blizzard dumps tonnes of snow on New York, crippling large sections of the city. Outer borough residents go for days without seeing a snow plough, and complain furiously as people begin to die. The mayor, a popular, party-switching chap tipped as a future US presidential candidate, suddenly finds his administration – which was slow to react – is in crisis. The year? 1969.

Forty-one winters later and, to use Mark Twain’s expression, history is rhyming. As he attempts to finally get a grip on the “snowpocalypse” continuing to blight the city, Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York, may have one name running through his mind: John Lindsay.

Mr Lindsay was in charge when, on a Sunday in February, 15 inches of snow fell on the city, exceeding the expectations of the national weather forecasting agency (unlike this week, when they were spot-on). To make matters worse his environmental protection chief was stuck upstate and much of the city’s snow-clearing equipment was in disrepair.

The results were catastrophic. In all, 42 people died and 288 were injured. Schools were closed, everything was cancelled. The city’s transport system ground to a halt and (like this week) emergency services could not reach stricken people stuck in their homes. Mr Lindsay soon came under fire for his underwhelming response. The blizzard became known as Lindsay’s Snowstorm.

While plenty of residents have vented their anger at the mayor on local media this week, Mr Bloomberg has so far avoided a single blow as devastating as the one delivered to Mr Lindsay by Ralph Bunche, a senior US diplomat at the United Nations.

Dr Bunche happened to live in Kew Gardens, Queens, and wrote to Mr Lindsay to tell him what he could see. “We have never experienced such neglect in snow removal as now,” he said. “The snowstorm came on Sunday. This message is sent Wednesday morning. In all that period no snowplow has appeared on our street or in our vicinity.

“There are no buses, no taxis, no mail, newspaper or other deliveries, and there have been no trash or garbage collection since last Friday. The shelves of our neighborhood grocer are empty. As far as getting to the United Nations is concerned, I may as well be in the Alps.”

The mayor was suddenly minded to visit Queens, where he was roundly abused by people attempting to dig themselves out of the snow. A woman told him he should be ashamed of himself. Later that year, he lost the Republican primary for the mayoral election.

Mr Lindsay’s career was not immediately destroyed by his eponymous blizzard. He was re-elected as an independent mayor (Mr Bloomberg has already done that) and served a full second term. But it never quite recovered. After becoming a Democrat, he failed to win his new party’s nomination for the 1972 presidential election, earning a miserable 1.23 per cent of primary votes in the contest eventually won by George McGovern. At just 52, he retreated from public office and took up acting, novel-writing and media punditry. At least one historian ranks him New York’s worst mayor of the 20th century.

Mr Bloomberg has repeatedly stressed he is not interested in running for president. But rumours persist that he would launch a bid as an independent if or when the political conditions indicate that he could win. If the chaotic aftermath of the Blizzard of 2010 – or should that be Bloomberg’s Snowstorm? – lasts much longer, he may be waiting a long time.

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"But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day"

14And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

15When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)

16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:

17Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house:

18Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.

19And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!

20But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day:



21For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

22And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.

Matthew 24:14-22.

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Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth

9Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah.

10Hear the word of the LORD, ye rulers of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.

11To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.

12When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

13Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

15And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

16Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

Isaiah 1:9-17.

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Not a stone is to be moved in the foundation of this truth

At this crisis all are called upon to take their position. We must stand apart from those who are determined to make shipwreck of the faith. We must not sell our Lord at any price. We are to refuse to listen to the sophistries that have been brought in to make of no effect the truth for this time. Not a stone is to be moved in the foundation of this truth--not a pillar moved. . . . The time has come when even in the church and in our institutions, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. But God will keep that which is committed to Him. . . . Through those who depart from the faith the power of the enemy will be exercised, to lead others astray.--Letter 237, 1904, pp. 5, 6. (To Brother Butler, July 14, 1904.) {7MR 188.1}

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God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it

1Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them.

2And 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.

3And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

Genesis 2:1-3.

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Blessed Mary - Mother of the Son of God

Column
By Donna Haerich




And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb… Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” (Luke 1:42, 45).


In that tiny babe of Bethlehem, both God and Mary gave to the world a gift of themselves. “To assure us of His immutable counsel of peace, God gave His only-begotten Son to become one of the human family, forever to retain His human nature.” (1) So it was not mere happenstance that the infant Jesus carried the genetic make-up of his mother Mary, a legacy that would be his throughout eternity.

Just who was this woman, Mary, whom the Almighty Son of God would not only voluntarily take on her DNA but be willing to lay helpless, vulnerable and trusting in her arms?

One of the most striking characteristics of Mary was her adventurous spirit, her proclivity for always being where the action was. She certainly could not be classified as a homebody. In fact, if Scripture is to be believed, she was seldom at home at all! Every mention of Mary places her in a different geographic location. (2)

Following the angel’s visitation, she left Nazareth and went to Judea to see her cousin, Elizabeth. Three months later, she returned to Nazareth to face Joseph with the news of her pregnancy. Their dilemma resolved, they journeyed together to Bethlehem and arrive just in time for Jesus’ birth. Within thirty-three days, Mary walks to Jerusalem to dedicate her firstborn and hears a prophetic message directed specifically to her.

Shortly thereafter, she, Joseph and the young child leave Palestine altogether. As expatriates it is possible they lived for a time among the large Jewish community in Alexandra , Egypt, assimilating the Greek language and taking advantage of the scholarly atmosphere that thrived in that region.

Returning to Nazareth, via Judea, the record reflects that it was family custom to go down to Jerusalem for the yearly celebrations. As an active participant, Mary was not hesitant to speak out openly when confronting her son who just happened to be standing among the temple scholars.

When Mary is mentioned next, she is in Cana of Galilee coordinating a wedding. After this event Scripture says that she went down to Capernaum for a few days and then returned to Nazareth… via Jerusalem.

Once back in Nazareth, her sons urged her to return to Capernaum with them in hopes that her influence would be persuasive in convincing Jesus to stop his foolish activity before he endangered himself and others. Mary did not bring Jesus home. In fact there are indications that she left Nazareth for good and joined the group of women who accompanied Jesus thus becoming an apostolic witness to his miracles and teachings.

Mary was there at the cross and at the empty tomb. She witnessed his ascension and was present in the upper room when the Holy Spirit descended. When tongues of fire rested on her head, she praised God and prophesied as she had in the beginning when the Spirit overshadowed her at Jesus’ conception. The woman who gave birth to the Son of God also helped give birth to the movement that would carry His good news to the world.

Tradition has it that Mary accompanied the apostle John in his travels living for a while with him in the city of Ephesus. I like to believe that she is the “elect lady” to whom John addressed his second letter -written to encourage the “children” of her ministry and edify the believers who met in her home-church. (3)

Luke’s carefully researched and documented account of the nativity has details that only Mary would have known. He records her song of the mysteries of incarnation and election – that God would become one with the humble and that she would be chosen to participate in that purpose. What she treasured and pondered in her heart is the very essence of the Christmas story we enjoy today.

Mary, a sensitive, creative poet who sang the Magnificat and recalled the Angel’s Song; Mary, a reflective, insightful student of Scripture and history, whose son’s education was admired and praised by leading scholars; Mary, an adventurer, world traveler, boldly courageous in a society that dictated the woman’s role; this is the blessed woman whom God chose be mother, friend and disciple of his Son. (4)

1.Ellen White, The Desire of Ages, Pacific Press Publishing Association, page 25>
2.Matthew 2:11, 13-15, 21-23, 49,50; 27:56,61 Mark 8:31-35; 15:40,47 Luke 1:26,39,56; 2:5, 22,34, 41, 58; 8:1-3; 23:55, 56; 24:1 John 2:1, 12, 13; 19:25,27 Acts 1:12, 14, 2:1-4
3.Addressed to “the elect lady” whom John loves as do “all who know the truth” fits Mary. Other phases connect the message to Mary: “Just as you heard it from the beginning” “Do not lose what you have worked for, but receive a full reward.” “Who abides in the teaching has BOTH the Father and the Son.” (And yes, I am aware of the ‘dating problem’.)
4.This article on Mary has been expanded from a short essay previously published in the Journal, Ponderings. Volume 2. No 6, Page 15.

Comments


Very nice. I am always glad when I see Protestants unafraid to reflect on the person of Mary. She has so much to teach us.

Posted by: Fr. Jim (not verified) 24 December 2010 at 5:37

Source: http://www.spectrummagazine.org/article/column/2010/12/24/blessed-mary-mother-son-god
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A Great Reformation

"The enemy of souls has sought to bring in the supposition that a great reformation was to take place among Seventh-day Adventists, and that this reformation would consist in giving up the doctrines which stand as the pillars of our faith, and engaging in a process of reorganization. Were this reformation to take place, what would result? The principles of truth that God in His wisdom has given to the remnant church, would be discarded. Our religion would be changed. The fundamental principles that have sustained the work for the last fifty years would be accounted as error. A new organization would be established. Books of a new order would be written. A system of intellectual philosophy would be introduced. The founders of this system would go into the cities, and do a wonderful work. The Sabbath of course, would be lightly regarded, as also the God who created it. Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.'

Selected Messages, Vol. 1, pp. 204, 205.

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Where is the Church

Adventist Church to mark 150th anniversary of its name
Heritage leader urges reflection on its significance, modern impact

21 Sep 2010, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Ansel Oliver/ANN

As the Seventh-day Adventist Church prepares to mark 150 years of the denomination's name on October 1, leaders are urging members to reflect both on the name's significance and the impact they've made in their local community.


When church pioneers met in 1860 to name their movement, David Hewitt introduced the name "Seventh-day Adventist," which became the name of the publishing work, and ultimately the church itself. [photo courtesy White Estate]

It was in 1860 that pioneers meeting in Battle Creek, Michigan chose the name for a movement that had about 2,500 adherents in Northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Today, that movement has more than 16 million adult baptized members and operates the largest Protestant network of schools and hospitals worldwide.

Regarding the name selection, Adventist Church co-founder Ellen White later wrote, "The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind."

"Seventh-day" refers to the denomination's day of worship, taken from the Fourth Commandment in the book of Exodus. "Adventist" refers to the Second Advent of Jesus, or the Second Coming.

"I think the name has been used through the years in a very positive way because its members have decided to make a difference here and now in anticipation of the Second Coming," said Jim Nix, board chair of Adventist Heritage Ministry, a church corporation that preserves denominational historical sites.

Nix, who is organizing the anniversary commemoration, said he hopes members will spend time on Sabbath, October 2 reflecting what it means to continue the legacy of the name leaders took in 1860. Additionally, he is urging members to consider what difference the name is making in their community.

"I'm afraid that if some Adventist churches closed, nobody would notice," Nix said. "Some people may not like that conclusion, but if that's the case maybe they can think about what they can do to make a real difference in their local area."

Though the name came to describe the church, it was originally chosen for the early movement's publishing work. In 1860, leaders called a general meeting, which brought together 25 ministers, with church co-founder James White urging the formation of an organization that could legally own a publishing house. Without a legal name, however, it could accomplish little.

Many favored "Church of God," including White, but some soon found the name presumptuous. Besides, other movements were already employing the name.

David Hewitt, a Battle Creek resident, then introduced and formally proposed the name "Seventh-day Adventist," which would come to brand not only the publishing work, but the movement itself.

Nix says he is proud to belong to the 150-year-old movement. "You go to a family reunion and you're all Jones or a Smith and you feel a sense of pride. We're all Seventh-day Adventists, and that's my spiritual family name," he said.

"This church has done some great things over the past 150 years. Let's use this anniversary to think about how we can do more," Nix said.

For more information, visit 150sda.org.

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Sadly things like this trademark infringement will further diminish our witness in the world because the leadership thinks that they are protecting the Truth by bringing litigation against commandment keeping brethren who have separated from the apostasy that the the GenCon leadership have neglected to reprove..


SDA NEWS RELEASE and EMERGENCY RELIGIOUS LIBERTY CONFERENCE INVITATION

February 16, 2010, a Day of Infamy at Guys, TN

The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist attorneys, escorted by a Federal Marshal and Creation Seventh Day Adventist Church defense attorney will visit the CSDA Church house located at Guys, TN on Old Hwy 45 (at Stateline) on February 16, 2010. Their purpose will be to enforce a Permanent Injunction and Contempt Order handed down by Judge J. Daniel Breen, U. S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee Eastern Division. It is so ordered that the Plaintiffs (General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists) take down the CSDA Church signage and remove all “offending articles” including “all labels, signs, packages, wrappers, receptacles, and advertisements bearing the SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST mark, or bearing the words SEVENTH-DAY or ADVENTIST, or the acronym SDA, either together, apart, or as part of, or in combination with any other words, phrases, acronyms or designs, or any mark similar thereto or likely to cause confusion therewith, and all plates, molds, matrices, and other means of making the same” with all expenses charged to the Defendant.

From Tennessee:

Creation church of Seventh-Day & Adventist church property is destroyed and incarceration of members threatened through direct legal trademark enforcement by the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists.

An excerpt of an appeal by the CSDA church:

…, we stand convicted by conscience, and find ourselves compelled to protest the actions of the General Conference in both registering its trademarked name and bringing litigation against those it considers to be heretical, thus employing the strong arm of civil government against conscientious dissenters such as ourselves.

The GC of SDA retained the law firm of Adams and Reese (it’s Nashville office) to prosecute this case. Ellen G. White has the following to say regarding such lawsuits:

When troubles arise in the church we should not go for help to lawyers not of our faith…These men [SDAs who hire lawyers not of our faith] cast aside the counsel God has given, and do the very things He has bidden them not to do. They show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and in heaven their names are registered as one with unbelievers. Christ is crucified afresh, and put to open shame. Let these men know that God does not hear their prayers. They insult His holy name….III SM 299

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Below is a link to the news story:

http://dailycorinthian.com/view/full_story/6372953/article-Creation-Seventh-Day-Adventist-Church-members-protest-court-order?instance=main_story_left

The defendant has been ordered to pay attorney’s fees and costs of $35,567 to the plaintiff. Sad, sad times. How low will the GC go?

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Jesuit James Martin talks about Christmas Consumerism on Fox Morning Show

December 21st, 2010

This morning, Jesuit Father James Martin, cultural editor for America magazine and author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, appeared on the Fox & Friends show to discuss if the true meaning of Christmas is being lost due to consumerism and the focus on shopping in our society. Father Martin said during the program that “people feel really overwhelmed by the consumerism and they have a hard time carving out a spiritual space for Christmas”. During the interview, Martin discussed how using overtly Christian themes like “believe”, which are associated with Christmas and are now just being used to market goods, disassociates the religious aspects of the holiday.

You can watch the interview with Martin here.


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Lunar Sabbath EXPOSED

There has been a new doctrine floating about Sabbath keeping Christians the last few years that I honestly thought would never go as far as it has when I saw it rear its ugly head in my neck of the woods back a couple of years ago. But then, I do understand we are very near the end. Therefore I also understand why certain doctrines will be allowed to flourish. The Lord needs to find out who among us are truly seeking to follow Him and His truth instead of the world and its lies. As prophesied, a shaking must occur so that the wheat can be distinguished from the tares to facilitate the gathering into the Lord's barns. So, every wind of doctrine will come upon us to see who is truly on the straight and narrow and who is on the wide path to destruction. The Lord needs unity in the church to allow the Latter Rain to do its prophesied work. Just like the apostles before us, who too were in disagreement for 10 days before the former rain fell on Pentecost, we too will have to decipher what is truth from what is error before being blessed with that outpouring that brings about the necessary blessings that will give rise to a better harvest of souls.

Ephesians 4:13-15, "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"
If you were to do a search online for "Lunar Sabbath" you will come up with many websites preaching this error. What you will find right off is how none of them seem to agree with the other nor do any have a handle on their own strange doctrines. Like the Roman Catholic church, they not only mix truth with error to draw people in, they have much confusion within their ranks as well. It's literally impossible to find one Lunar Sabbath preacher that agrees with another. At first, when I came across one I assumed they would all be on the same page. So I started to do an in depth study of their doctrinal statements so as to take it apart step by step by using precept upon precept as well as line upon line as Isaiah the prophecy says is the proper way to learn doctrine.

Isaiah 28:9-10, "Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:"
Problem was, after doing an in depth study on this Lunar Sabbath theology on one ministerial wesbite, I came across another ministry that preached it, but they neither agreed on certain points. Worse yet, both came up with strange new twists on the Truth that made it impossible to address them simultaneously. As I looked further I found there was another.. then another.. then another. So, I scrapped the study based on the first one because it was clear to me now. The demonic spirit of Sanballat the.Horonite from Nehemiah's day was very active in this end time falderal. I wasn't about to run around chasing rabbits on this one. It became quite clear that I would end up writing a book on how they are in error if I were to go verse by verse and twist by twist on each website. So.. instead I opted rather to simply show why their idea for a weekly Sabbath based on the moon were completely impossible using Scripture that bluntly spoke out against their false doctrine. You see.. this is why it is so important to read your Bibles daily. Lies like this Lunar Sabbath doctrine would never gain ground if the soil of the heart is well nourished by the Word of the Creator God. And by the way. I know that as this page becomes known by the Lunar preachers, I will be inundated with emails filled with new theories and twists that seek to defend their strange doctrine from yet another point of view. So, I expect this page will grow in size as time goes on.

IN A NUTSHELL:


One thing these Lunar preachers do seem to agree on is they believe the weekly seventh day Sabbath is always observed on the same days of the month each and every month. 99% of them agree these dates to be the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th. I say 99%, because I actually found one site that claims the dates should now be the 7th, 14th, 21, and 28th. Once such Lunar preacher actually goes so far as to offer a $10,000 reward to anyone who can pinpoint a weekly Sabbath on any other day than by the phases of the moon. And one that used to be a friend of this ministry before falling for Roman SDA theology is offering $1 million dollars to anyone that can prove him wrong on this. From what I discovered, it has been exposed as error, but none have been able to receive the money. So, recently he removed the offer.

Most Lunar preachers also agree that these Lunar weekly Sabbaths always land on the previously mentioned dates without exception each and every month without fail, even during a leap year. One site creates a "non-day" that helps to manipulate their findings so as to fit their doctrine since the inexact orbit of the moon changes twice a year. And one Lunar Sabbath website goes so far as to say that the weekly Sabbath is determined only upon the phases of the moon and not by the counting of days one through seven. And finally, another website states every week always begins after the new moon worship day, therefore allowing for the creation of "non-days" to fix the broken weekly cycle.

In short, their theology suggests that with each month the Sabbath will then fall on a different day of the week thanks to the afore mentioned dates. In other words, it's not about the seventh day Sabbath as much as it is about the 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th day Sabbath. So, does the Word of God suggest this to be a valid doctrine?

Biblical reasons the moon cannot dictate Sabbath...

The Bible says ork is done on the first day of the new moon
Sabbath is calculated by phases of the moon, not by counting one through seven?
The term "Sabbath of the Lord" proves they are in error
The word "Sabbath" in Leviticus 23
The term "High Sabbath"
The manna was gathered 6 days
Creation week exposes the Lunar Sabbath error
Commandment #4 confirms the Lunar Sabbath is error
The word "moon" comes up in the KJV Bible 51 times and not once is it associated with the weekly Sabbath
According to the Lord, the "moon" was appointed for seasons
There is no need of the "moon" in Heaven, yet in Heaven we will keep Sabbath
Some Lunar preachers claim Lev 23 is speaking of all 12 months, but it only speaks of 2
Some claim there is a "non-day" each month
Same side of the moon always faces Earth
New Light will never contradict old Light
...More to come


Reason #1: The Bible says work is done on the first day of the new moon.

One of the most agreed upon doctrines of the Lunar preacher is, seeing how the new moon points to the arrival of the Sabbath, and each month starts with a new moon, that day is a Sabbath that is to be kept holy. Therefore, as it is clearly outlined in Commandment #4, work can never be done on the Sabbath. Therefore, if the Lunar Sabbath is a true Sabbath sanctioned by the Creator God, then no work would ever be allowed on such a day. However, the Word of God does not agree with the Lunar preachers. In fact, it doesn't agree with them on many occasions!

Genesis 8:13, "And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and, behold, the face of the ground was dry."
Exodus 40:17, "And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up."
Numbers 1:1, "And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,"
Numbers 33:38, "And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the LORD, and died there, in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month."
Ezra 10:16, "And the children of the captivity did so. And Ezra the priest, with certain chief of the fathers, after the house of their fathers, and all of them by their names, were separated, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter."
Ezra 7:9, "For upon the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon, and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him."
Not only is Noah working on the first day of the month, but all the other verses declare that traveling and other work related activities on this day were also allowed by our God. How can this be if in fact the first day of any month is always to be considered a holy Sabbath "without exception?"

Reason #2: Sabbath is calculated by phases of the moon, not by counting one through seven?

Most of the Lunar preachers do agree that the Sabbath is not to be calculated by counting one through six and then declaring Sabbath has come on day seven. However, the word of God is filled with many passages that do just that.

Exodus 16:26, "Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none."
Exodus 20:9,10,"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:"
Exodus 20:11, "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 23:12, "Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed."
Exodus 31:15, "Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death."
Exodus 34:21, "Six days thou shalt work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest: in earing time and in harvest thou shalt rest."
Exodus 35:2, "Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death."
Leviticus 23:3, "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings."
Deuteronomy 5:13-14, "Six days thou shalt 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, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou."
Ezekiel 46:1, "Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened."
Matthew 28:1, "In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre."
Luke 13:14, "And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day."
If the Sabbath is never to be calculated as the seventh day after counting off the six working days before it, then why I ask are there so many Bible passages doing just that? In fact, in creation week itself we find that our Creator Himself worked six literal days and then rested on the seventh day which He then set apart for holy use from that day forward to commemorate His work.

Genesis 2:2-3, "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."
By the way, this is why the Devil is actively seeking to create a new Sabbath today that is based on created items like the moon rather than the Creator of the moon. If He can pull the mind away from the Creator and put it on creation instead, he can get them to believe anything at all. Just so you know, the word "sanctified" means to "set apart for holy use." The Sabbath is just that! A holy day each and every week.

Reason #3: The term "Sabbath of the Lord" proves they are in error

There are only four places in the entire Bible where the term "Sabbath of the LORD" is used. Those three verses are...

Exodus 20:10, "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:"
Leviticus 23:3, "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings."
Leviticus 23:38, "Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD."
Deuteronomy 5:14, "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, nor thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy manservant and thy maidservant may rest as well as thou."
As Christians we know that Exodus 20:10, and Deuteronomy 5:14, where the term "Sabbath of the Lord" is found are two places of the Old Testament where the Ten Commandments are recited. The only other places this term appears is in Leviticus 23:3 and Leviticus 23:38 to show the difference between the Sabbaths mentioned in chapter 23 of Leviticus were annual Sabbaths, or "feast days" as they are called still to this day, and the weekly Seventh Day Sabbath Commandment #4 speaks of. All Lunar preachers stand mute when this fact is brought forward.

Notice why they cannot refute this Biblical fact.

Leviticus 23:2, "Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts."
Leviticus 23:3, "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings."
Notice how in verse two it states the chapter is about to discuss the "feast of the LORD" which are to be "holy convocations" for the people of Israel. Then, to ensure the people do not mix the weekly Sabbath with the annual Sabbath the Lord reminds them of the weekly seventh day Sabbath by stating in verse three that "six days" will be work days and the "seventh day" is the "Sabbath of the LORD." That is a direct quote from Exodus 20:10 and Deuteronomy 5:14! Everyone knew their Bible verses back then quite well. Quoting from the Law would make it bluntly clear which commandment was being highlighted to them. To further verify this as fact, the very next verse gets back on track regarding the feass days that were to be discussed in that chapter.

Leviticus 23:4, "These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons."
In today's language one can imagine how this would have been said. For example, I can easily see it saying, "we are going to discuss feast days today, but before doing so, please understand that these feast days are not to nullify the seventh day Sabbath we have already learned from the commandments received at Sinai. So, concerning the feasts, let me say this..." Then, as we see Leviticus doing, the annual feast days were listed from this point forward. But when done listing them, we see the seventh day Sabbath once again being brought to attention here. Twice in the same book no less! Once at the start of the annual feast day instructions, and once when done instructing.

Leviticus 23:38, "Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD."
The Lunar preachers base their entire doctrine for a Lunar Sabbath from Leviticus chapter 23. But two verses are always suspiciously missing from their explanations. As we learned earlier, we saw that verse #3 was a reminder that the following feast day Sabbaths discussed and listed in the chapter were not to take away from the weekly Sabbath that comes after working six days each week. But if you notice, in Leviticus 23:38 it also says the Sabbaths listed in all the previous verses are all, "Beside the sabbaths of the LORD,” further confirming the difference between the two. Another point to ponder here is that Commandment #4 is AGAIN being quoted here in Leviticus 23:38 directly after discussing the feast days! Notice the term "sabbaths of the LORD" in that passage!

Reason #4: The word "Sabbath" in Leviticus 23

Leviticus 23:3, "Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings."
There is one distinguishing feature of the way the word "Sabbath" is used in Leviticus 23 that all Lunar preachers seem to ignore. In Leviticus 23:3, when it speaks of the weekly Sabbath, it uses the exact same word Commandment # 4 uses when speaking of the Sabbath of the LORD. That word is the Hebrew word Shabbath. (shab-bawth - Strong’s # 7676) However, in Leviticus 23:24 & 39 when speaking of a feast day, or annual Sabbath, it uses the word Shabbathown. (shab-baw-thone – 7677) Two different words are used here, and no one seems to have picked up on this! This fact alone proves the weekly Sabbath, and the feast day Sabbaths are two different types of Sabbath altogether. One is to be held after working six days, and the other is dictated by annual feast days.

Reason #5: The term "High Sabbath"

John 19:31, "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away."John 19:31, "The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away."
All Lunar preachers declare that all the feast days mentioned in Leviticus 23 are in fact speaking of the weekly Lunar Sabbath. However, as we just saw in John 19:31, there was what's called a "high day" or as it is called today, a "high Sabbath." A high Sabbath occurs when an annual, or feast day Sabbath lands on the seventh day Sabbath. This is something one can verify by simply asking any Orthodox Jew to this day. Therefore proving again the feast day Sabbaths, and weekly Sabbaths mentioned in Leviticus were of two different natures. One was weekly, and the other annual.

Reason #6: The manna was gathered 6 days

Not only was the manna supplied by the Lord to get the people of God off the poisonous diet of Egypt and back on the heavenly diet of Eden, it was also used to re-ignite their obedience to keeping the seventh day Sabbath. While in slavery for 400 years in Egypt they eventually forgot about keeping Sabbath. This is one of the main reasons Moses was sent to ask Pharaoh to let the people go to worship God in the desert. Nowhere in the entire book of Exodus is the term "moon" or "new moon" used! Seriously, query the word "moon" in your KJV Bible software and you will not see it mentioned a single time anywhere in the book of Exodus! That being said, once the people were free of Pharaoh, how did the Lord re-introduce them to His Sabbath?

Exodus 16:26, "Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none."
Exodus 16:35, "And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan."
Each and every week for 40 years they were taught to work 6 days and then rest on the seventh day Sabbath. Not one time was the moon ever mentioned, taught, or even considered as part of their lessons for the entire 40 years in that desert .

Some Lunar preachers also say at the end of the month you need to keep a double or triple sabbath. But nowhere do we see this mentioned anywhere for the entire forty years they were in that desert either. Nowhere does the Lord instruct Moses to speak about moons or even new moons. If in fact this Lunar Sabbath doctrine was truth sent from our Creator, why didn't the Lord mention moons or new moons when re-educating His chosen people back into Sabbath obedience? Yes, the instructions held in Leviticus were penned later, but still. if the moon was to dictate Sabbath from day one, then why didn't the Lord mention it at all for 40 whole years? Especially since they were a captive audience walking with Moses who was blessed as a teacher? If the Sabbath was truly dictated by phases of the moon, then Moses would have known right off, and he would have not only instructed the people, he would have penned the instructions in the Torah for all of us to read. And if he didn't do it, the Lord most assuredly would have instructed him to do so before letting them keep the very first Sabbath! Yet they kept the Sabbath each 7th day for 40 straight years! That's 2080 Sabbaths they kept during that time for the Lord. DO you know what this means? The Lunar Preachers are suggesting the Lord kept back a truth from them just like the serpent told Eve in the Garden!

As far as I can see, this Lunar Sabbath is the same method of lies used 6000 years ago! And fittingly so I might add. It all started with the devil lying about how to obey God 6000 years ago, and right before it all ends he is again lying about how to obey God today!

Reason #7: Creation week exposes the Lunar Sabbath error

Genesis 1:14-19, "And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day."
Genesis 2:1-3, "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 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."
The Lunar preachers declare the moon dictates the start of Sabbath. Hoever, the moon, which is the "lesser light to rule the night" was created on DAY FOUR. The Sabbath was created on DAY SEVEN! It's that easy to see on this one. Nowhere in creation week, or on day seven when God rested do we see the moon in any phase being mentioned regarding the sanctification of the seventh day. In short, it's simply not true.

Reason #8: Commandment #4 confirms the Lunar Sabbath is error

Exodus 20:8-11, "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."
Colossians 2:14-16, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:"
If you notice, Exodus 20:8-11 explains the proper method of calculating the Sabbath. Six literal working days, and then the seventh day of the Sabbath of the Lord was to be kept. Now notice the passage from Colossians 2:14-16 above. As you can see, when speaking of Sabbath days, it mentions meat and drink offerings, as well as new moons associated with the annual Sabbath days from Leviticus 23, the very chapter the Lunar preachers draw their erroneous doctrine from. This is the most simple way to show there are two type of Sabbaths in Scripture. One is weekly, as per Commandment #4 in Exodus 20:8-11, and then one is annual that the Lunar preachers use from Leviticus 23. But here's the key. Both Colossians 2, and Leviticus 23, agree point by point on what to do on annual feast day Sabbaths. They both speak of meat and drink offerings as well as new moons. However, if you notice when looking at Commandment #4 in Exodus 20:8-11, nowhere do we see what Leviticus and Colossians speak of. It's that easy to see if you look closely. Nowhere in Commandment #4 do we see meat and drink offerings or new moons being mentioned at all when it comes to how we keep the seventh day Sabbath. This proves the annual Sabbaths in both Leviticus and Colossians are not the same as the one mentioned in Exodus 20.

Reason #9: The word "moon" comes up in the KJV Bible 51 times and not once is it associated with the weekly Sabbath

Notice the following verses and you will see that there is not a single instance wherein the Sabbath and the MOON are connected! However, as you go through these passages you will see the "moon" is in fact associated with Baal worship many times in the Scriptures!

Genesis 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
Deuteronomy 4:19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
Deuteronomy 17:3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
Deuteronomy 33:14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put forth by the moon,
Joshua 10:12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
Joshua 10:13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
1 Samuel 20:5 And David said unto Jonathan, Behold, to morrow is the new moon, and I should not fail to sit with the king at meat: but let me go, that I may hide myself in the field unto the third day at even.
1 Samuel 20:18 Then Jonathan said to David, To morrow is the new moon: and thou shalt be missed, because thy seat will be empty.
1 Samuel 20:24 So David hid himself in the field: and when the new moon was come, the king sat him down to eat meat.
2 Kings 4:23 And he said, Wherefore wilt thou go to him to day? it is neither new moon, nor sabbath. And she said, It shall be well. (NOTE: "Sabbath" mentioned here is an annual or "feast day" Sabbath as Psalms 81:3 listed below describes it.)
2 Kings 23:5 And he put down the idolatrous priests, whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense in the high places in the cities of Judah, and in the places round about Jerusalem; them also that burned incense unto Baal, to the sun, and to the moon, and to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.
Job 25:5 Behold even to the moon, and it shineth not; yea, the stars are not pure in his sight.
Job 31:26 If I beheld the sun when it shined, or the moon walking in brightness;
Psalms 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
Psalms 72:5 They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations.
Psalms 72:7 In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth.
Psalms 81:3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.
Psalms 89:37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
Psalms 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
Psalms 121:6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
Psalms 136:9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Psalms 148:3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
Ecclesiastes 12:2 While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain:
Song of Solomon 6:10 Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?
Isaiah 3:18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon,
Isaiah 13:10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.
Isaiah 24:23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.
Isaiah 30:26 Moreover the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that the LORD bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the stroke of their wound.
Isaiah 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Isaiah 60:20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Isaiah 66:23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. (NOTE: This passage separates the "moon" from the "sabbath by using the word, "and" between them distinguishing a difference between the two. All Sabbath keepers, including Lunar preachers agree, there is a weekly and an annual Sabbath in Scripture. The annual "feast day Sabbaths" being done away with at the cross, as Colossians 2:14-17 confirms.)
Jeremiah 8:2 And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
Jeremiah 31:35 Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name:
Ezekiel 32:7 And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.
Ezekiel 46:1 Thus saith the Lord GOD; The gate of the inner court that looketh toward the east shall be shut the six working days; but on the sabbath it shall be opened, and in the day of the new moon it shall be opened. (NOTE: Again, the weekly Sabbath and the "new moon" Sabbath are purposely separated.)
Ezekiel 46:6 And in the day of the new moon it shall be a young bullock without blemish, and six lambs, and a ram: they shall be without blemish.
Joel 2:10 The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
Joel 2:31 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come.
Joel 3:15 The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining.
Amos 8:5 Saying, When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell corn? and the sabbath, that we may set forth wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit? (NOTE: Again, the weekly Sabbath and the "new moon" Sabbath are purposely separated.)
Habakkuk 3:11 The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.
Matthew 24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mark 13:24 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light,
Luke 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
Acts 2:20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
1 Corinthians 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: (NOTE: The "meat, drink, holydays, and new moons" are never associated with the weekly Sabbath and always associated with the annual feast day Sabbaths.)
Revelation 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood;
Revelation 8:12 And the fourth angel sounded, and the third part of the sun was smitten, and the third part of the moon, and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it, and the night likewise.
Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars:
Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Reason #10: According to the Lord, the "moon" was appointed for seasons

Psalms 104:19 He appointed the moon for seasons: the sun knoweth his going down.
If the moon was appointed for the "Sabbath" as the Lunar preachers teach; our Lord would never have penned Psalm 104:19 in this way. And what season is David speaking of here? In Psalms 81:3 he says, "Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day." This further verifies the fact the weekly Sabbaths were not to be lumped in with the annual, seasonal, or feast day Sabbaths. For the Lunar preachers to say the moon appoints the Sabbath, is to call the Lord our God a liar as Satan did in Eden 6000 years ago.

Reason #11: There is no need of the "moon" in Heaven, yet in Heaven we will keep Sabbath.

Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Here we see the Lord is stating that in the city of New Jerusalem, (Heaven) the Sun or the moon are not needed because the Father and the Son do light the city with their eternal brilliance. If in fact the Sabbath was to be instituted, appointed, or even guided by the phases of the moon, then the Sabbath would never be kept in Heaven since the Lord says the moon is not needed there. However, notice what Isaiah says regarding worship services in Heaven...

Isaiah 66:22-23, "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD."
Yes, the "new moon" in mentioned here, but as we look at the context as well as the 51 passages in "Reason #9" above, we see that the new moons here are in fact feast days and the Sabbath mentioned here by Isaiah is in fact the weekly Sabbath. Plus, the word "Sabbath" used here in Isaiah 66:23 is the exact same Sabbath used in Leviticus 23:3. As we saw in "Reason #4" above, that word "Sabbath" is from the Hebrew word Shabbath. (shab-bawth - Strong’s # 7676) However, in Leviticus 23:24 & 39 when speaking of a feast day, or annual Sabbath, it uses the word Shabbathown. (shab-baw-thone – 7677) Two different words are used here. One means weekly Sabbath and one means annual Sabbath.

Reason #12: Some Lunar preachers claim Lev 23 is speaking of all 12 months, but it only speaks of 2

According to some Lunar preachers, it is believed that the Leviticus is the crux for the weekly Sabbath for all 12 months. But how I ask is this possible when Leviticus 23 only covers month #1 and month #7? Notice if you will the only verses in Leviticus wherein the months are dated.

Leviticus 23:5, "In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover."
Leviticus 23:24, "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation."
Leviticus 23:27, "Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD."
Leviticus 23:34, "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD."
Leviticus 23:39, "Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath."
Leviticus 23:41, "And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month."
If the weekly Seventh day Sabbath is to be dictated by that which is penned in Leviticus 23, then how is it Leviticus chapter 23 only speaks of feast days in month #1 and then later month #7? Where I ask are the instructions for months 2,3,4,5,6,8,9,10,11, & 12 if in fact Leviticus 23 is our annual guide for all 12 months of the year? Are we to believe our Lord forgot to mention these months somehow? No, methinks it is the safer assumption to believe mankind is being forgetful here. After all, Commandment #4 doesn't start with the word "REMEMBER" for no reason. Our Lord knew His people would be taught to forget it. All this Lunar theory proves is the prophetic statement in Commandment #4 has been fulfilled! (Not to mention the Sunday Sabbath keepers of course)

Reason #13: Some claim there is a "non-day" each month

Some Lunar groups believe there is a blank, or "non day" each week or multiple times during a week to make up for the fact the moon does not keep a perfect 30 day cycle. It keeps a 27.32 day true orbital period and a synodic period of 29.53 days. The differences have to do with the fact that not only is the moon orbiting Earth, it is also orbiting the Sun. Therefore two gravitational fields are reeking havoc on it's trajectory. Therefore, this causes many problems for them simply because the Lord created a perfect 7 day weekly cycle without considering the moon at all in its calculation. So, in order to make up the difference, every now and then they will have a non-day. But you can look from Genesis to Revelation and you will not find a single verse in the Bible that mentions such a day or even hints at such a day.

Reason #14: Same side of the moon always faces Earth

For six thousands of years, the same side of the moon has always faced planet Earth perfectly synchronized with its orbital period and rate of rotation irregardless of two gravitational stresses from the Sun and the Earth. To this day scientists cannot explain this phenomenon, and mathematicians will tell you that it is almost infinitely improbable that just such a phenomenon can be found anywhere in the Universe on any planetary system known to man. And yet, the planet we the people of the Creator God all happen to be living on has this happening as the norm. That being said, how is it possible when we have a Creator God that is infinitely superior to man's intellect, who can create a moon that can face the planet it orbits in such a unique way, why couldn't this very same Creator make a weekly cycle to match a unique lunar orbit, if in fact it was so important to do so seeing how it's supposed to guide the very Sabbath this Creator made on day seven? If He can make a moon face the earth with two gravitational pulls upon it, along with a true as well as a synodic orbit, then He could have easily made that moon to be full each seventh day! But He didn't.

Reason #15: New Light will never contradict Old Light

This is of course one of the easiest lies to expose, if in fact the one seeking guidance is a firm believer in the Word of God, for it is plainly written...

Isaiah 8:20, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
In other words, "new light" will never contradict, or go against old light. EVER! For example. For thousands of years the Old Testament was the only Light given to the people of God. Then Jesus Christ came and the New Testament was penned. There is not a single Bible verse in the New Testament that contradicts or goes against any verse in the Old Testament. In fact, if there were, there would have been an uproar in the Christian Church 2000 years ago and every Pharisee and Sadducee that hated the Lord Jesus would have milked the contradictions for all their worth so as to snuff our Christianity in it's infancy! As you just witnessed, there are MANY evidences found in both the Old and New Testament that prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the "new light" of the Lunar preachers is nothing but dark words from an "angel of light." And who is that angel?

2 Corinthians 11:14, "...Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
Nowhere in all 66 books of the Word of our every living God do we see a weekly Lunar Sabbath mentioned in any way shape or form in any kind of detail, small or great, whatsoever. The entire doctrine has come about by twisting doctrine, removing passages, and even adding items to make it appear to work.

I have to ask, why would the very God that wrote the Bible which mere children can understand, yet at the same time refuse to make something so important crystal clear to His people? What the Lunar preachers would have us believe is that this is new light and they are somehow super blessed with wisdom to be able to see something no believer has ever seen for six thousand years. If the Lord can prophesy events down to the exact year, as he did often in the book of Daniel, why would He be unable to explain such a doctrine as this, if in fact it was so important? No, I'm not buying it. Especially now when the mark of the beast is about to be enforced. A prophetic event that is directly based on trying to convince people the Sabbath has changed. All I see with the Lunar preachers is another method by which Satan can muddy the doctrinal pool so as to keep some on the fence thoroughly confused enough on the subject of the Sabbath.

What amazes me about all this is, there is so much evidence to prove the Lunar Sabbath keepers are wrong, yet they choose to ignore it. This cannot be a mistake brothers and sisters. Something this graphic has to have been prophesied! Seriously, when we look around and see all sorts of strange doctrines being believed by Sabbath keepers today, it becomes more and more obvious that there is an allowed confusion in the church so as to differentiate who among us will follow the Lord, and who will follow Satan via the prodding of mankind. Is it any wonder when the scriptures speak of the workings of Satan right before the end of all things that such a thing is to be running rampant among those that do not have a love of the Truth written within the Oracles of God.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-11, "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:"
This is what prophecy calls the shaking! This Lunar Sabbath doctrine is riding the exact same coattails of the "one God" doctrine, the doctrine that says Jesus isn't a God, the trinity doctrine, the doctrine that says the Holy Spirit doesn't exist, the secret rapture doctrine, the 1000 years of peace doctrine, or the seven year tribulation doctrine just to name a few. And I do mean "a few." I have literally thousands of pages on this site exposing everything from the false teaching that there is eternal life in Hell, to speaking in tongues as well as a bevy of other strange doctrines created to confuse the people. The wheat and chaff are being thrown absolutely every wind of doctrine to see who it is that will stand firm in the Truth found in the Word of God, and who will be tossed away when the lies of Satan are embraced. Psalms 1:3-5 says, "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."

We the remnant people strive unto the perfection that is in Christ Jesus. That being said, we will never allow anything that is not found in Scripture to sway us off that path of righteousness that Christ has set before us. Still, we will be tested to make sure we are truly His people in these last days. We need to come together as one before the Lord comes. This is His way of making sure we do just that. This is also why Paul said in Ephesians 4:14, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" We must, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." -2 Timothy 2:15
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Source

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Winter in America

From the Indians who welcomed the pilgrims
And to the buffalo who once ruled the plains
Like the vultures circling beneath the dark clouds
Looking for the rain
Looking for the rain

Just like the cities staggered on the coastline
Living in a nation that just can't stand much more
Like the forest buried beneath the highway
Never had a chance to grow
Never had a chance to grow

And now it's winter
Winter in America
Yes and all of the healers have been killed
Or sent away, yeah
But the people know, the people know
It's winter
Winter in America
And ain't nobody fighting
'Cause nobody knows what to save
Save your soul, Lord knows
From Winter in America

The Constitution
A noble piece of paper
With free society
Struggled but it died in vain
And now Democracy is ragtime on the corner
Hoping for some rain
Looks like it's hoping
Hoping for some rain

And I see the robins
Perched in barren treetops
Watching last-ditch racists marching across the floor
But just like the peace sign that vanished in our dreams
Never had a chance to grow
Never had a chance to grow

And now it's winter
It's winter in America
And all of the healers have been killed
Or been betrayed
Yeah, but the people know, people know
It's winter, Lord knows
It's winter in America
And ain't nobody fighting
Cause nobody knows what to save
Save your souls
From Winter in America

And now it's winter
Winter in America
And all of the healers done been killed or sent away
Yeah, and the people know, people know
It's winter
Winter in America
And ain't nobody fighting
Cause nobody knows what to save
And ain't nobody fighting
Cause nobody knows, nobody knows
And ain't nobody fighting
Cause nobody knows what to save

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The servants of Christ should beware lest, in seeking to prevent discord, they surrender the truth

The servants of Christ were to prepare no set speech to present when brought to trial. Their preparation was to be made day by day in treasuring up the precious truths of God's word, and through prayer strengthening their faith. When they were brought into trial, the Holy Spirit would bring to their remembrance the very truths that would be needed.

A daily, earnest striving to know God, and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, would bring power and efficiency to the soul. The knowledge obtained by diligent searching of the Scriptures would be flashed into the memory at the right time. But if any had neglected to acquaint themselves with the words of Christ, if they had never tested the power of His grace in trial, they could not expect that the Holy Spirit would bring His words to their remembrance. They were to serve God daily with undivided affection, and then trust Him.

So bitter would be the enmity to the gospel that even the tenderest earthly ties would be disregarded. The disciples of Christ would be betrayed to death by the members of their own households. "Ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake," He added; "but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved." Mark 13:13. But He bade them not to expose themselves unnecessarily to persecution. He Himself often left one field of labor for another, in order to escape from those who were seeking His life. When He was rejected at Nazareth, and His own townsmen tried to kill Him, He went down to Capernaum, and there the people were astonished at His teaching; "for His word was with power." Luke 4:32. So His servants were not to be discouraged by persecution, but to seek a place where they could still labor for the salvation of souls.

The servant is not above his master. The Prince of heaven was called Beelzebub, and His disciples will be misrepresented in like manner. But whatever the danger, Christ's followers must avow their principles. They should scorn concealment. They cannot remain uncommitted until assured of safety in confessing the truth. They are set as watchmen, to warn men of their peril. The truth received from Christ must be imparted to all, freely and openly. Jesus said, "What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops."

Jesus Himself never purchased peace by compromise. His heart overflowed with love for the whole human race, but He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls,--the souls He had purchased with His own blood. He labored that man should be true to himself, true to his higher and eternal interest. The servants of Christ are called to the same work, and they should beware lest, in seeking to prevent discord, they surrender the truth. They are to "follow after the things which make for peace" (Rom. 14:19); but real peace can never be secured by compromising principle. And no man can be true to principle without exciting opposition. A Christianity that is spiritual will be opposed by the children of disobedience. But Jesus bade His disciples, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." Those who are true to God need not fear the power of men nor the enmity of Satan. In Christ their eternal life is secure. Their only fear should be lest they surrender the truth, and thus betray the trust with which God has honored them.

The Desire of Ages, pp.355-356.

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"But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers"

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1Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?

2Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

4If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.

5I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?

6But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.

7Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?

8Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

9Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:1-11.
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The Devil's Trio - Part 1 · May 01, 2002

The Devil's Trio - Part 1 · May 01, 2002 X
By Elder Lawrence Nelson

In our last two sermons we have discussed two members of the devil’s trio. The first is the ten-horned beast of Revelation 13, which the Bible clearly identifies to be the papacy. The second is the lamb-like, two-horned beast found in the same chapter which is the United States of America, established as a Protestant nation and described as becoming so apostate as to join hands with the papal power of Catholicism.

In this message I will discuss the third member which comprises the devil’s end-time trio which the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy reveal to be spiritualism. The following quotation from Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 451 reveals what we are to expect from this evil, last-day union of the Papacy, apostate Protestantism and spiritualism. “When Protestantism shall stretch her hand across the gulf to grasp the hand of Roman power, when she shall reach over the abyss to clasp hands with spiritualism, when, under the influence of this threefold union, our country shall repudiate every principle of its Constitution as a Protestant and republican government, and shall make provision for the propagation of papal falsehoods and delusions, then we may know that the time has come for the marvelous working of Satan and that the end is near. As the approach of the Roman armies was a sign to the disciples of the impending destruction of Jerusalem, so may this apostasy be a sign to us that the limit of God’s forbearance is reached, that the measure of our nation’s iniquity is full, and that the angel of mercy is about to take her flight, never to return.”

With this sad, heartbreaking introduction, let us pray. Our loving Father, in the name of Jesus we plead for divine guidance as we discuss this third power of spiritualism, which is an intricate member of the devil’s end-time trio. We realize that we are attacking the very dragon himself, which in Thy Word describes Satan as being able to produce wonder-working miracles of deception for the purpose to honor his papal mark of authority – Sunday worship. We plead that Thou wilt awaken Thy sleeping church to this danger. Help each member to become such students of Thy Word, through divine guidance, that we shall be able to resist this deceiving power of Satan and gain victory over his delusions, for we must discern truth from error. This we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Let us now turn to the scriptures where we find this third part of the trio – spiritualism – which comprises the devil’s trio. Let us read Revelation 13:13, 14 and Revelation 16: 14, 15. “And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.” “And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.”

We begin with a question: “What major belief is held in common by the religions of this world (except God’s remnant) which makes it absolutely impossible to resist the power of spiritualism?” – We will find the answer in The Great Controversy p. 551. “The doctrine of natural immortality, first borrowed from the pagan philosophy, and in the darkness of the great apostasy incorporated into the Christian faith, has supplanted the truth, so plainly taught in Scripture that, ‘the dead know not anything.’”

This false doctrine of man’s consciousness in death opens the door for the supposed spirits of the dead to communicate with the living. This becomes a secret channel used by Satan to perform miracles by the impersonation of evil angels to deceive anyone who believes in the immortality of the dead. Inspiration informs us the coming of the Lord is to be preceded by “the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10.

The apostle John, describing the miracle-working power that will be manifested in the last days declares, “He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do.” Revelation 13:13, 14. “No mere impostures are here foretold. Men are deceived by the miracles which Satan’s agents have power to do, not which they pretend to do.” Great Controversy p. 553.

Let us never underestimate what Satan is planning to do with his miracle-working power in this end time for we are told, “That mighty being who could take the world’s Redeemer to an exceedingly high mountain and bring before Him all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them, will present his temptations to men in a manner to pervert the senses of all who are not shielded by divine power.” Great Controversy p. 554. Can you imagine what it will be like when Satan appears as Christ performing unbelievable miracles to prove that he has changed the seventh-day Sabbath to Sunday worship and that all must keep Sunday holy – the first day of the week? Have you considered the result? The answer is very obvious. The entire world will be turned against Seventh-day Adventists with satanic zeal to force them to comply or die.

Consider the devil’s preparations that all will accept the manifestations of spiritualism as divine. In Great Controversy p. 556 we read, “Spiritualism, which numbers its converts by hundreds of thousands, yea, by millions, which has made its way into scientific circles, which has invaded churches, and has found favor in legislative bodies, and even in the courts of kings — this mammoth deception is but a revival, in a new disguise, of the witchcraft condemned and prohibited of old.”

I can testify to this by personal knowledge. During the months I spend in Europe while engaged in the General Conference youth work it became evident to me that spiritualism was spreading all through Europe. In Zurich, Switzerland while preparing for the Youth World Congress for all of our young people I was astonished to discover that this city, which for so many years had been a haven of Protestantism, had now become the European center of spiritualism.

In England, where men like John Knox had led tens of thousands to believe in Jesus Christ, I was amazed to find so many Protestant churches had become beer parlors. Still more astounding was to see many churches of the reformation now jammed to the doors in spiritualistic worship while England’s great cathedrals were practically empty. It is no wonder that the witchcraft of Harry Potter was born in England and is now sweeping the world with its sorcery – capturing the children’s imaginations with curiosity about ghosts and headless coachmen. They dwell on such themes as demons sucking out the soul, with blood oozing on the floor, of drinking such blood to obtain spiritual vitality, of werewolves portrayed as having good characters. These books are filled with lying, teaching the youth to be disobedient and even portraying the murder of parents by youth. This is all a product of spiritualism.

In reports of world news we learned that the recent motion picture of Harry Potter brought in more money in its box office during the first week than any other picture in past history. Satan is thus preparing the youth – even the small children – to be captured by his satanic miracles, which are to prove that he has the authority to change the Sabbath to Sunday worship. How do I know all this? Have I read these books? – No, indeed I have not. But I receive my information from authoritative book reviews.

Great Controversy p. 558 says, “There are few who have any conception of the deceptive power of spiritualism and the danger of coming under its influence. Many tamper with it merely to gratify their curiosity. They have no real faith in it and would be filled with horror at the thought of yielding themselves to the spirits’ control. But they venture upon the forbidden ground, and the mighty destroyer exercises his power upon them against their will. Let them once be induced to submit their minds to his direction, and he holds them captive. It is impossible, in their strength, to break away from the bewitching, alluring spell. Nothing but the power of God, granted in answer to the earnest prayer of faith, can deliver these ensnared souls.”

Now, let us take time to discuss the greatest spiritualistic movement in the world today, which is found within the Roman Catholic Church. Fifty-five thousand of the priests belong to the Marion movement, which believes and teaches that the apparitions of Mary are divine revelations. Millions upon millions of Catholic believers are captivated by the miracles performed by “Mary” and are convinced that her predictions are from God. It is common knowledge that crowds of fifty- to seventy-thousand often attend her apparitions. These messages from Mary usually originate with visionaries in every part of the globe. And why not, for the present pope, John Paul II, claims to hold daily communication with Mary and urges his followers to pray to her every day.

What’s even more amazing, Protestantism is beginning to give their attention to these apparitions because so many of the predictions are coming to pass. More and more the music of Catholicism is used in their music service. And why not, for the customs of Rome are found in Protestant homes in the Catholic nativity scenes every December 25. Not only Christmas but Easter, St. Valentine’s Day and Halloween have become part of apostate Protestantism.

But the most significant change in today’s spiritualism is to be found in the messages to Mary in her apparitions. Satan has not been asleep. He has taken note of how God has led His church out of the apostate Protestantism in the early 1800’s by giving His church a prophet to direct and counsel its leadership. Satan envisioned a prophet in his church could help him capture the world, so Mary has now been proclaimed the prophet of Catholicism. But what is more amazing is the wording found in Mary’s apparitions in discussing and predicting end-time prophecies.

She speaks continually using words and phrases that are so familiar to Seventh-day Adventists which are found in the Spirit of Prophecy. But there is one vast difference – Satan does not use scripture to explain scripture as Ellen White; instead the devil offers his false interpretations completely changing the meaning of God’s Word.

In a book, The Thunder of Justice , written by Ted and Maureen Flynn, (in which Malachi Martin wrote the forward and was published by Maxwell Communications), I discovered some four hundred pages containing hundreds of Mary’s predictions. This modern prophet of Catholicism speaks in her apparitions of end-time events as mentioned in the scripture – especially that of Revelation, in which she often uses words or similar expressions that are given by Ellen White when discussing these end-time prophecies.

I will now give you a partial list of these words and phrases used in Mary’s apparitions. I will not take time to give the page references but you can obtain the book and see for yourself. As I give these worded descriptions, you will note how Satan, through Mary’s voice, follows the expressions of Ellen White – that is, of course, if you are a student of the Spirit of Prophecy.

In Mary’s apparitions she discusses and explains the following: The Three Angels’ Messages – word for word; that Rome is to become the seat of the Antichrist; that the United States is to suffer defeat and national ruin. She often expresses a shortness of time; she mentions coming great famines and earthquakes. She tells of seeing tall buildings in New York falling down. (May I add here that this prediction was given nine years before September 11, 2001. Are you amazed? – So am I).

I continue: She tells of martyrs in the last days and of personal appearances of apostles such as Peter and Paul who will convince men of the truth. She also mentions that almost none will be ready for Christ’s Second Coming, and of Satan bringing fire down from heaven, and that God’s true church will be horribly persecuted. Mary tells of great miracles that will take place, of supernatural signs that cannot be explained by science, and signs in the sun, moon and stars that will be seen, and that there will also be a second Pentecost of divine power just before Jesus comes. Are you startled? – So am I.

Let me continue: Message after message stresses the need for conversion, victorious living, repentance, prayer and holiness. She speaks of the final battle between God and Satan that will be fought to the finish and that the Antichrist will be defeated. She speaks of so little time left to prepare for the final judgment and that we must keep all the commandments. Are you overwhelmed? – So am I. But there is much, much more. She speaks of the dragon, the beast with the ten horns, and the beast like a lamb and of the 666 – even of Satan appearing as Christ. She discusses the seal of God in the forehead and of the man with the writer’s inkhorn in his hand found in Ezekiel the ninth chapter; and of angels of heaven who will tell God’s chosen people what to do and that the angels will feed them. Do I hear you say, “This is unbelievable!” Well, I felt the same, but having read these things with my own eyes – it is absolutely true.

Now tell me, why would Satan speak through Mary of such end-time truths? – Because he intends to mislead Seventh-day Adventists by proving that the papacy is God’s true church and has a prophet with divine guidance to prove it. And what is more startling, Mary has stated that she is planning on coming into your home to prove that she is the true prophet. Satan knows the scriptures more than any person on earth. I wouldn’t be surprised if he could quote God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. He is planning, one of these days, to personally face us with these false interpretations which he has given through Mary concerning end-time prophecies, to disprove what God’s prophet wrote as the correct meaning. I beg you, take note. We will never, never be able to resist these evil interpretations of spiritualism unless we are filled with the Holy Spirit and know what God has spoken in His Word and substantiated by the divine light in the Spirit of Prophecy.

It may come as a big surprise to some of you, as it did to me, to learn that God has warned us that in the end-time crisis Satan will bring his teachings of spiritualism into our own Seventh-day Adventist Church. In Manuscript Releases , Volume 7, p. 188 I read, “The time has come when even in the church and in our institutions, some will depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” At times I have been astonished to see and to learn of those who I thought were faithful members who have now left the faith. We have a tendency to shrug this off with the words, “This is the shaking time,” but have we ever questioned what is the actual cause of so many departing from God’s church? Inspiration tells us that it is the work of spiritualism.

Now I hear you ask: “ How can spiritualism accomplish such results within God’s church?” In Testimonies to Ministers p.112 she reveals the shaking will commence with the introduction of false theories into the church. Somehow most of us have over looked the fact that the devil has changed his methods from that of holding intercourse with evil spirits, which are condemned by the scriptures, to what now appears to be open acceptance of Jesus and His teachings. I quote, “It is true that spiritualism is now changing its form and, veiling some of its more objectionable features, is assuming a Christian guise. Even in its present form, so far from being more worthy of toleration than formerly, it is really more dangerous, because a more subtle, deception. While it formerly denounced Christ and the Bible, it now professes to accept both. But the Bible is interpreted in a manner that is pleasing to the unrenewed heart, while its solemn and vital truths are made of no effect. Love is dwelt upon as the chief attribute of God, but it is degraded to a weak sentimentalism, making little distinction between good and evil. God’s justice, His denunciations of sin, the requirements of His holy law, are all kept out of sight. The people are taught to regard the Decalogue as a dead letter. Pleasing, bewitching fables captivate the senses and lead men to reject the Bible as the foundation of their faith. Christ is as verily denied as before; but Satan has so blinded the eyes of the people that the deception is not discerned. There are few who have any conception of the deceptive power of spiritualism and the danger of coming under its influence.” Great Controversy p. 557, 558.

In many of our churches “love preaching” is the usual weekly diet fed to the members month after month. I receive many letters telling of this and stating that the law of God is seldom, if ever, mentioned. Having been an evangelist for many years I discovered it is absolutely impossible to have a sound conversion of anyone without preaching God’s law which leads to conviction and repentance. You may be surprised that it was one of God’s faithful leaders who pointed out to me that this “love preaching” without the law was of spiritualism.

As I pondered this truth I began to realize that Satan is using spiritualism today by entering our homes and urging us to become curious about some “new light” that we receive in the mail. Numerous pamphlets, papers, sheets of mimeograph, even books arrive in my home each week all intended to question my belief – hoping that I will think I have been following a false doctrine. Let me tell you something, I never read such material and quickly throw it into the garbage where it belongs, for God has counseled us, “Listen not a moment to the interpretations that would loosen one pin, remove one pillar, from the platform of truth. Human interpretations, the reception of fables, will spoil your faith, confuse your understanding, and make of none effect your faith in Jesus Christ. Study diligently the third chapter of Revelation. In it is pointed out the danger of losing your hold upon the things that you have heard and learned from the Source of all light.” Manuscript Release, Volume 1, p. 54, 55.

In a recent book by Colin and Russell Standish entitled Spiritism in the Seventh-day Adventist Church I would like to quote from page 28. “Our church is now experiencing an embolden attack upon the pillars of our faith, even by some men in high positions. Some are claiming that the sanctuary message and the investigative judgment are figments of the imagination of Sister White, that 1844 is a myth, that there is no actual sanctuary in heaven, and that Christ began the High Priestly ministry in AD 41. These amazing denials of Seventh-day Adventism all point to the fact that spiritism has dramatically eroded the church.”

In Christian Leadership p. 62 Ellen White tells us, “When men standing in the position of leaders and teachers work under the power of spiritualistic ideas and sophistries, shall we keep silent, for fear of injuring their influence, while souls are being beguiled?” This is the reason why I could no longer preach in the churches of the Oregon Conference. I was doing my best to defend our believers from the inroads of spiritism but I learned that many of our administrators find it more important to uphold false pastors and leaders than the salvation of God’s flock who are being led astray.

Let me read again from the book written by the Standish brothers on p. 29. “No matter how insignificant we may feel ourselves to be, no matter how ineffective may be our protest, God is calling on us today to do what we can to warn our fellow church members against the beguiling influence of Satan in the church. If men, claiming to be pastors, teachers and ministers of the gospel, are teaching damnable heresies, there is a solemn obligation to meet them, oppose them, and warn the flock against them. High office does not give men the right to brandish their satanic sophistries before the people. It is a false concept of loyalty that is all too common that leads men and women to remain silent in such a time of spiritual crisis.”

Inspiration reveals with unmistakable clarity, “Modern spiritualism is but a revival in a new form of the witchcraft and demon worship that God condemned and prohibited of old. It is foretold in the scriptures which declare that ‘in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.’

“Paul in his second letter to the Thessalonians points to the special working of Satan in spiritualism as an event to take place immediately before the second advent of Christ. Speaking of Christ’s Second Coming he declares that it is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. And Peter describes the dangers to which the church was to be exposed in the last days says that as there were false prophets who led Israel into sin, so there will be false teachers, ‘who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them…and many shall follow their pernicious ways.’ 2 Peter 2:1,2. Here the apostle has pointed out one of the marked characteristics of spiritualistic teachers.” Patriarchs and Prophets p. 686.

Did you notice from this quotation that those who are bringing such heresies into the church Ellen White speaks of them as spiritualistic teachers? How few among us – and I include myself, who somehow never envisioned this amazing fact – realize that those who teach spurious philosophies and doctrines are agents of spiritualism. Listen, “The line of distinction between professed Christians and the ungodly is now hardly distinguishable. Church members love what the world loves and are ready to join with them, and Satan determines to unite them in one body and thus strengthen his cause by sweeping all into the ranks of spiritualism. Papists, who boast of miracles as a certain sign of the true church, will be readily deceived by this wonder-working power; and Protestants, having cast away their shield of truth, will also be deluded. Papists, Protestants, and worldlings will alike accept the form of godliness without the power, and they will see in this union a grand movement for the conversion of the world and the ushering in of the long-expected millennium.” Great Controversy p. 588, 589.

There is an abundance of evidence that this ecumenical movement of today is causing many to sin like the children of Israel. This Ecumenical movement is determined that we become like the churches of Babylon. From every corner of the globe I hear that it is being preached that we can sin until Jesus comes. This is none other than the doctrine of spiritualism, which is deceiving the majority of our churches. Everyone who accepts the false teaching that Christians can sin until Jesus comes has accepted the lie of spiritualism which Satan presented to Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

And what’s so amazing, it is not uncommon today to hear people who believe that Christ had the power to keep His people from sinning being told that they are legalists. Let me tell you that the Bible leaves no doubt as to this divine power of God. In Jude 24 I read, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.

“Satan is striving to gain every advantage. He desires to secure, not only students, but teachers. He has his plans laid. Disguised as an angel of light he will walk the earth as a wonder-worker. In beautiful language he will present lofty sentiments. Good words will be spoken by him, and good deeds preformed. Christ will be personified, but (and keep this in mind) on one point there will be a marked distinction. Satan will turn the people from the law of God. Notwithstanding this, so well will he counterfeit righteousness, that if it were possible, he would deceive the very elect.” Fundamentals of Christian Education p. 471, 472.

Believe me, spiritualism would become the most mighty, convincing power ever devised by the devil to captivate the whole world and force all to worship Satan as the god of this earth. Let us focus our thoughts once more on Revelation 13:13, 14. “And He doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.”

Keep in mind that the devil has never forgotten the contest that he once lost with the Eternal God in the days of Elijah the prophet. Satan utterly lost the battle when God brought fire down out of a clear and cloudless sky in answer to Elijah’s prayer to reveal who is the actual God and Owner of the earth, exposing every false claim of Baal worship. This divine manifestation is recorded in the book of 1 Kings of the Old Testament and described with added detail in Prophets and Kings chapters ten and eleven in which the following battle between God and Satan is revealed by divine interpretation.

Apostasy had become so universal in the days of Ahab, king of Israel, that Elijah thought himself to be the only one left who had not participated in pagan sun worship. Yet we are told that God had a faithful remnant of seven thousand who had not bowed their knee to Baal. The apostasy prevailing in Ahab’s day was the result of many years of evil doing. Step by step, year after year, Israel had been departing from the right way. For generation after generation they had refused to make straight paths for their feet and at last the majority of the people had yielded themselves to the leadership of the power of darkness.

This is why God visited His people with severe judgments. The predictions of Elijah were meeting with terrible fulfillment for he had declared, “As the Lord God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.” 1 Kings 17:1. For three years there had been neither dew nor rain. Mount Carmel was chosen by God for this final contest. This mountain had been a place of beauty, clothed with groves of beautiful trees and never-ending springs, with meadows filled with exquisite flowers – but now all this was under a withering curse.

The elders of Baal and Ashteroth stood under leafless, dead trees and there remained one broken-down altar of Jehovah. It was at this place that Elijah commanded King Ahab to bring all Israel, together with his army and 450 prophets of Baal. In anxious expectation the people wait for Elijah to speak. Looking first upon the broken-down altar of Jehovah and then upon the multitude Elijah cries out in clear, trumpet-line tones, “How long halt ye between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.” 1 Kings 18:21.

While Israel on Carmel was filled with doubt and hesitation, the voice of Elijah again breaks the silence. “I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God.” 1 Kings 18:22 – 24. The proposal of Elijah is so reasonable that the people cannot well abate it so they find courage to answer, “It is well spoken.”

Outwardly bold and defiant, but with terror in their guilty hearts, the false priests prepare their altar, laying on the wood and the victim and then they begin their incantations. Their shrill cries echo and re-echo through the forest and the surrounding heights as they call on the name of their god saying, “O Baal, hear us.” The priests gather about their altar and with leaping and writhing and screaming, with tearing of their hair and cutting of the flesh, they beseech their god to help them. The morning passes, noon comes, and yet there is no evidence that Baal hears the cries of his deluded followers. There is no voice, no reply to their frantic prayers. The sacrifice remains unconsumed.

Finally the time of the evening sacrifice arrives and Elijah calls for the people to come near. They watch as he repairs the broken altar of the Lord. He digs the trench that is to be filled with sixteen barrels of water. Then, bowing reverently before the unseen God, he offers a simple prayer, “Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be know this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word. Here me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the Lord God, and that thou hast turned their hearts back again.”

No sooner is the prayer of Elijah ended than flames of fire, like brilliant flashes of lightning, descend from heaven upon the upreared altar consuming the sacrifice, licking up the water in the trench, and consuming even the stones of the altar. The brilliancy of the blaze illuminates the mountain and dazzles the eyes of the multitude. The people on the mount prostrate themselves in awe before the unseen God. They dare not continue to look upon the heaven-sent fire for they fear that they themselves will be consumed. They cry out with one voice, “The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.” 1 Kings 18:39. Thus a remarkable decision was reached. The prophets of Baal are now put to death. Satan has been defeated.

The devil has never forgotten this fire from heaven, which awakened and changed the minds of all Israel to acknowledge and obey God. Ever since that day Satan has been studying the elements of nature. He has been putting into practice his knowledge with ever-increasing power. He now awaits the moment when he, not God, will bring fire down from heaven to deceive all that he is god of this world and he will demand that all Seventh-day Adventists be destroyed.

How can Satan do this? In this end-time, just like it was in the days of Elijah, God has a small remnant in number who will publicly challenge Satan’s attempt to control this world. They will fearlessly preach the Three Angels’ Messages of warning and reveal to the world the falsehoods of papal teachings. With mighty conviction born of the Holy Spirit’s latter rain a large number will take their place with God’s people. Praise the Lord!

As this battle develops Satan will succeed in causing all religions of the world to join in his Ecumenical movement to unite against God’s commandment-keeping people who are the only obstacle to his kingship of this world. The devil now decides to appear as Christ who has promised to return the second time. And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14). He bears the appearance of Christ in every particular. (Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 698).

And in Great Controversy p. 624, 625 we read, “Satan himself will personate Christ….In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. Revelation 1:13-15. The glory that surrounds him is unsurpassed by anything that mortal eyes have ever beheld. The shout of triumph rings out upon the air: ‘Christ has come.’…He heals the diseases of the people….He claims to have changed the Sabbath to Sunday, and commands all to hallow the day he has blessed. He declares that those who persist in keeping holy the seventh day are blaspheming his name by refusing to listen to his angels sent to them with light and truth.” And as proof, Satan now commands fire to come down from heaven so all may believe that he has the power of divinity.

As in the day of Elijah, by calling down fire from heaven, he will command the people to accept the papal mark of authority, the mark of the beast, or be killed. Make no mistake, this fire is real. In Great Controversy p. 553 we read, “Men are deceived by miracles which Satan’s agents have power to do, not what they pretend to do.” This devilish fire will be a consuming fire, destroying whatever Satan chooses to destroy. The blaze of this fire will illuminate the earth for miles around. It will so dazzle the multitude surrounding the devil that the people will prostrate themselves before him proclaiming that the devil is God. With fear and trembling, the people are afraid that the fire will consume them also. Now, fully deceived by the miracle, they are ready to destroy the people of God who disbelieve. But praise the Lord, God will protect His faithful.

I ask you: Will you stand faithful? – Only if you have learned now, today, to live by faith. And this kind of faith comes only by much prayer and total obedience to God’s every command; trusting that God will save you because you have totally surrendered yourself to God. Only then, will you pass the final test for, “the just shall live by faith.”

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