Tami -

Would you like to do a search on Elijah and the two opinions? I am

thinking that it will come up with the future Valley of Decision.

(1Ki 18:21) And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, 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.

(1Ki 18:22) Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain

a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty

men.

(Joe 3:1) For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall

bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem,

(Joe 3:2) I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down

into the VALLEY OF JEHOSHAPHAT, and will plead with them there for my

people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the

nations, and parted my land.

(Joe 3:11) Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather

yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come

down, O LORD.

(Joe 3:12) Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the VALLEY OF

JEHOSHAPHAT: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round

about.

(Joe 3:13) Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get

you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their

wickedness is great.

(Joe 3:14) Multitudes, multitudes in the VALLEY OF DECISION: for the

day of the LORD is near in the VALLEY OF DECISION.

(Joe 3:15) The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars

shall withdraw their shining.

(Joe 3:16) The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice

from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the

LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children

of Israel.

(Joe 3:17) So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in

Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall

no strangers pass through her any more.

1Ki 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, 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.

Book Of Logos - Looking for TWO OPINIONS

XXVIII. Supplement

Concerning the Spirit of God

2. The Conviction of Righteousness. Christ says that the Spirit convinces "of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness: because I go to my Father." While Christ Himself was among men, He represented truth in a practical manner, I. e., He illustrated with His life the road the Spirit of truth leads the one who walks according to the spiritual sense of the law of God. The one who claims he believes in Christ and still commits injustice is thereby indicating that he does not believe in the Jesus Who obediently to the law and self-denyingly made known the way to the Father. He believes in the lawless one -- in Antichrist.

In making known that the life of Christ leads to the Father, the Spirit reveals righteousness. His road through the valley of darkness led to and into the perfect light. He permitted nothing, neither doctrinal points nor carnal interests, to prevent Him from going farther and farther into the light. He met with contradictions, contempt and relentless opposition, but the light-power kindled and increased in Him by the Spirit surmounted all obstacles, even the suffering and agony of the crucifixion.

Then, in more or less considering the life of Jesus, we ask ourselves: Was it proper that He acted as He did? "Yes," says the Spirit of truth. If I profess to believe in Him, what then is my duty in order to confirm this faith? To walk into the light as He did. Is it not possible for me to get my sins, or transgressions of the law, obliterated in an easier way?

It is at this very stage of the spiritual experience one comes to the fork of the roads, there where the spiritual road divides into two branches, the narrow and the broad way. If the carnal interest is permitted to get the upper hand, the left turn is made, for that road is the broader and more comfortable. Then, when the Spirit holds up the light, showing that self-denial is the condition of continuance on the road of life, the conscience is burning and one stands there "halting between two opinions." At this instance the need of a guiding hand is felt. The Spirit then convinces of righteousness and reminds of the following and similar expressions which He has heard:

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie (neither believe in, nor follow Jesus) , and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light (go forward from point to point), as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (1 John 1: 6, 7.)

This is, as it were, the hand of the Spirit whereby He leads man onward on the right hand road. On this self-denying journey a greater light appears to the traveler from time to time, and thereby he discovers more and more of such as is not right. "All unrighteousness is sin," it says, and due to this discovery the individual severs himself from it by casting aside that which is wrong, and in this manner he is cleansed from all sin through the blood, or life of Christ. And by virtue of this cleansing process he experiences that he is on the way towards the perfect light, guided by the Spirit of truth.

The carnal-minded, to the contrary, is awaiting to be assisted on a road more comfortable to the flesh, and this assistance is not looked for in vain. The pastor, or lay preacher, who is somewhat familiar on this road, holds out his hand, proclaiming to him the gospel of Satan concerning one he calls Jesus. He says:

"You need only believe that Jesus has done everything in your stead and on your behalf. Guard against works, for those who lay stress on works are cursed. You need only keep steadily and immovably to the fact that you are saved, for if once you are saved you ought to realize that you neither can nor ought to add any more to it, for that would be the same as to deny that Jesus had saved you," etc. The world is now full of such infernal proselyters. They remind one of pilots, who at entrances to harbors from the oceans, meet the vessels long before there is any need of it, and there they compete with each other concerning the first chance.

With one single stroke they quench the Spirit and take hold of the guidance themselves. Nothing to them is sin except that which hurts their own carnal interests. These demons in sheepskin clothing destroy all spiritual intercourse between brethren, and instead they substitute socials, concerts and all manner of carnal amusements, having a spiritual appearance.

Just imagine the position of these fiends when by the Spirit they will be exposed before the very ones they have led on the way deviating from the truth! Terrible will be the day both for them and the unhappy ones they have induced to call darkness light and Satan God.

The Messiah and the Anti-Messiah

In the Valley of Decision

The prophet's attention is called to a valley where the people gather together and where they become divided into two different classes and where they finally become separated as when a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He says:

"Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down. 0 Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest Is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The Lord also shall roar our of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel." (Joel 3: 9-16.)

The preceding chapters show that there is a great movement of the people in all parts of the earth on account of a continued drought which causes famine in the land—the period during which the two anointed ones control the world. That state of things, in connection with rebellions and wars, brings the people out in the deserts as at the time when John the Baptist proclaimed the gospel of the kingdom in Judæa. They will then have a chance to hear the invitation to the throne of the Son of man. The kingdom with its power and glory will again be proclaimed, and this time it will become established. In the foreshadowing work, the proclamation met the cross whereon the King was hung, and thereupon followed the Gentile-time. But now there is no such hindrance and the time has come for the throne to be raised and the Son of man to take possession of it as the King of kings.

Circumstances drive the people into the desert—to the valley of decision—and what will take place there? There the proclamation concerning the kingdom, its throne and its King is sounded with a strong voice, and each and every individual has to decide for himself there on which side of the question he will take his stand. An influence for and against the Messianic throne is thrown over the people. Christ or Antichrist—which one will you follow? is the prevailing question. The corresponding scene appeared on Mount Carmel during the time of Elijah.

It is here the prophecy of the Lord in Matt. 25: 31, 32 becomes fulfilled. The believers in the prophetic Word will take their stand on the right side of the Messianic throne and the others on the left or on the denying side.

Behold The Bridegroom

The Political Signs

announcing the coming of Christ as a Deliverer like Moses, are spoken of by the great prophet thus:

"Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy -mighty ones to come down, 0 Lord. Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about." (Joel 3: 9-14.)

Never in all the past ages, has there been such a manufacturing of implements of war and life-destroying means, as in our day. And never before have such fearful cruelties been practiced. The gas

bombs and fire from aeroplanes, were never used before. These inventors and warlords who call themselves "Christians", used these

awful means to kill their "Christian brethren". Neither was the submarine ever employed` before nor the blockade, used to starve the innocent people and their babies, as has been done in this world war. The conquerors have even gone further in sending black

brutes into the: conquered. kingdom to ravish and exterminate the women and destroy the nation.

Let us therefore hear the decree God sends us by the prophet Zephaniah:

"Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the Lord, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indigna­tion, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the Lord, to serve him with one consent." Chap. 3: 8, 9.

The German nation, upon which the most cruel shame is heaped by so-called "Christian brethren", has been made an example of, to show just how the warlords have been doing. to the people of God since the days of Christ. Therefore we will let Jehovah tell us how this evil will end. He continues in the following verses:

"I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie dawn, and none shall make them afraid. Sing, 0 daughter of Zion; shout, 0 Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, 0 daughter of Jerusalem. The Lord hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the Lord, Is in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not; and to Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. I will gather them that are sorrowful for the solemn assembly, who are of thee, to whom the reproach of it was a burden. Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. At that time will I bring you again, even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I'turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the Lord." (Verses 12-20.)

This will result in a real league of nations. Now let us look at another prophecy, defining the approaching event:

Gospel of the Kingdom to Come

THE REPUTATION OF A SERVANT OF TRUTH

Elijah had a reputation still worse than that of the previous servants of truth because he was compelled to testify against Is­rael's own ministers and kings, who had donated their services to Satan, and who called Satan God. These sorcerers ate at the queen's table, and the king constituted their wall of defense for the purpose of hindering the witnesses of truth from living' within the king­dom. The king was the spokesman of the false shepherds and said to the persecuted Elijah, "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" (See 1 Kings 18.) However, Elijah was instrumental in bringing about the death of the real false prophets, in emancipating the people, and in effecting the salvation of the kingdom. You never hear the pastors of our time speak of "the dear Elijah."

A Discourse on the Resurrection and the Translation

Thrones And Jurisdiction

All official positions are created by God through Christ, and for Christ, as we are told by the apostle Paul in Col. 1:16. While the enemies of God are abusing the obligations of their official positions by opposing His witnesses, He is fostering for Himself a staff of honest, truth-loving individuals to take over the official portfolios when the kingdom appears. These men and women, perfected through suffering and obedience to the Word of God, are spoken of by the Revelator in the following words:

"Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Rev. 20:6.)

Faith in Christ places woman on the same level as man with regard to ruling positions in the kingdom.

Jesus became the crown prince of the kings of the earth and God's anointed, through His resurrection. Similarly, through the first resurrection, Christ will anoint His servants, priests and judges for His administrative body. Therefore, a person not included in this glorious resurrection, can have no share in an administrative position, because he would be lacking the necessary preparatory training for his office of perfection. The remainder of the people will remain in their graves until the second resurrection takes place at the end of the Millennium. Thus they will have missed the marriage and been deprived of all the blissful joy experienced by the bride of Christ and her attendants during the Millennium.

The workers in the evening movement, the disciples of Jesus, and the servants in the morning movement, the followers of Christ, who have remained faithful through all temptations, will then in due order receive the following promised reward:

"Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first." (Mat. 19:28 30.)

Christ's chief justices received their training during the time of Jesus' first presence on earth, and He, the High Priest and King of the kingdom, was executed. But during His second presence the priests and kings of His twelve-branched kingdom will be developed. At the time of the imprisonment, judgment, death, resurrection and ascension to heaven of the two witnesses, all of which will require about seven full days, a change in the manner of heaven's warfare will take place. The Elijah-period will then be ended and the Elisha-period ushered in.

It is evident that the candidates for translation approach the sealing process as priests and kings of God when they see their leaders in the heavenly cloud. This is substantiated by reading the history of the foreshadowing acts in 1Ki. 17th and 18th chapters, also Jehovah's command to Elijah in the 19th chapter, verses 15-18, and the anointing of Elisha in 2Ki. 2:9 11.

Book of : FAITH

Conversion

How is it possible for a true follower of Christ to accept and fill positions in this kingdom of sin, which is opposed to the kingdom of the most Holy? It is just as impossible now as it was for the Lord Himself to have become high priest in the sect of the Pharisees, or judge in place of Pilate. Conversion leads in the opposite direction. The compensation-question of the ministers and preachers is the chief propelling force of the whole religious activity. They do within Christendom what the leaders did in Palestine: "They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us." (Mic. 3:10, 11)

They worship Baal, the god of the works of man, in the name of Christ and lead the people to turn from one idol to another. Through this practice of false conversion, the promises of God are mixed with certain conditions fabricated by men. The hypnotic power of Satan, operating through his representatives, the Mammon-preachers, is displayed in works supposed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that the "converts" believe they have felt the power of God. They know nothing concerning God's salvation-conditions, but they continue to live in bondage to the desires and pleasures of this world. In spite of this, the swindlers assure the people that they are "converted," yea, "born again," and "fully saved," if they will only believe it. They are entirely separated from the law and the prophets, and they persecute the Spirit that would lead them to grasp the meaning of and to obey the law and the prophets. As modern converts they are much farther away from the Father than they were as unconverted worldly beings. They make use of the promises of God in the same manner as a drunkard does liquor — when the conscience inflames to a sense of guilt, they console themselves with another promise.

Natural beings hate hypocrisy; but the modern "saved" practice hypocrisy daily in order to hide the truth. Facts prove this. When spirituality takes vent in swindling auctions, bazaars, feasts, night entertainments, and all kinds of transgressions against the law of God in connection with offerings and the erection of temples, the religion that operates there is a religion of thieves and robbers. They acknowledge this to be true when they claim to be saved by "robber-grace."

Before Christ can be revealed, Elijah must come and "turn the heart of the children to their fathers," lest God come and smite the earth with a curse — destroy everything and everybody. Were this work already completed, the faithful of our time would be separated from this theater-spectacle of the present day spiritual Babylon as much as Abraham when he was on Mount Moriah with Isaac on the altar. This was the position of the first congregation, and we shall return there through the work of Elijah.

Surely, a great work lies ahead of Elijah before the people of God will have attained similar circumcision of the heart. This conversion cannot be effected as long as the triune gods of Babylon rule over the people. The unknown God must demonstrate His presence by demolishing, the thrones, walls, towers, and fortifications of their gods before the bewildering power of separation will be broken. But when the power of the idols is broken, the people will understand that the God of Israel is separated from the gods of Babylon; and when they do see that Israel's Elohim is God, it remains for him to "turn their heart." (See 1Ki. 18)

Therefore it must be clear that the modern converting-movements, which have gone over all countries like cyclones, are false. Elijah clearly describes the preceding movements and says that God was not in the strong wind, neither in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but in "a still small voice." (1Ki. 19:9 13)

During the past thirty-five years, one storm of salvation has followed the other; in spite of this, ungodliness continues to increase with every day that passes, like a thermometer that rises in summer heat. The most atrocious criminals are to be found among the so-called "converted" pastors and preachers — Satan has removed from their hearts every natural, childlike feeling for the Word of God. They are slaves of sin.

Those whom God converts get the law written in their minds and placed in their hearts. "And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." (Rev. 14:5) But they do not reach this goal until after the great tribulation. There is where the sword of righteousness completes its work of salvation and severs the last thread that holds the people to this sinful world.

It is written: "They have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb." (Rev. 7:14) In their trials, they have been merged with the Word of God, and the Word has absorbed their flesh — they are, as it were, dead to the world. However, it remains for them to be liberated from the old world by being born into the new world through the power of God.