Study Reading # 5: The Message to the Laodiceans

1. Answerer #1, pp. 5-38

THE ANSWERER'S INTRODUCTORY

CONCERN

DO YOU KNOW?

Dear Brethren in Laodicea, do you know that prophecy positively declares that the people of God in the Laodicean church are in a critically dangerous condition and know it not? Well, Brethren, whether or not you realize it, whether or not you believe it, that precisely is the case. And if you hope to enter into eternal life, you must believe it, and that without delay. Whatever else you may believe or disbelieve, this one thing you must believe, "for it is the True Witness who speaks, and his testimony must be correct." --Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 253. {ABN1: 5.1}

And remember that above all people, the Laodiceans should not only be the last but the least inclined to criticize, for they themselves, says the True Witness, are "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked," without so much even as suspecting it, but instead blissfully imagining that they are "rich, and increased with goods, and" in "need of nothing." Rev. 3:17. How, then, can they be in a position truly to know anything about others! {ABN1: 5.2}

Think, Brethren, and rouse to life! This voice, pleading with you to awake and avert the Enemy's pitfalls cannot possibly

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be the Enemy's voice! Remember that the Lord "surprises us by revealing His power through instruments of His own choice, while He passes by the men to whom we have looked as those through whom light should come. God desires us to receive the truth upon its own merits,--because it is truth."--Testimonies to Ministers, p. 106. {ABN1: 5.3}

"No matter by whom light is sent, we should open our hearts to receive it with the meekness of Christ....We should all know what is being taught among us; for if it is truth, we need it."--Gospel Workers, p. 301. {ABN1: 6.1}

"The great danger with our people has been that of depending upon men, and making flesh their arm. Those who have not been in the habit of searching the Bible for themselves, or weighing evidence, have confidence in the leading men and accept the decisions they make; and thus many will reject the very messages God sends to His people, if these leading brethren do not accept them."--Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 106, 107. {ABN1: 6.2}

"He will use men for the accomplishment of His purpose whom some of the brethren would reject as unfit to engage in the work."--The Review and Herald, Feb. 9, 1895. {ABN1: 6.3}

In the light of these warnings, will you not take time carefully and prayerfully to

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ascertain whether or not God is leading in this reformatory work? He has promised to all who will do this, that He will not leave them in darkness but will guide them into all Truth. So will you not take Him at His Word, and try Him? {ABN1: 6.4}

We plead with you to, for already "the agencies of evil are combining their forces, and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world," says Inspiration, "and the final movements will be rapid ones....The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah....Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis....Soon everything that can be shaken will be shaken, that those things that can not be shaken may remain.... {ABN1: 7.1}

"It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be

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constant communication between heaven and earth."--Testimonies, Vol. 9, pp. 11, 13, 15, 16. {ABN1: 7.2}

In view of these solemn realities even now looming before our eyes, no longer, Brother Sister, hide yourself in the darkness. Stand in the light, lest you stumble and fall and not be found. Come, take time, and

Let Us Reason Together. {ABN1: 8.1}

The Laodicean church, the last of the seven churches (Rev. 2, 3), being figurative of the Christian church in her last period, our time, the message on record to her is therefore the last message to the church. So, plainly, if there is any Bible subject essential for the church to study, the message to the Laodiceans certainly is. {ABN1: 8.2}

Although satisfied with their attainments, the Laodiceans who believe and take God at His Word will not question Him concerning their condition but will, whether they see it or not, acknowledge that they are in a "sad deception," "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind and naked." Having honestly made this acknowledgment, they will, in consequent obedience to the True Witness' counsel to buy of Him eyesalve which He alone can supply, anoint their eyes with it and be able to see. {ABN1: 8.3}

Those, though, who recline in the false

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security of self-complacence, will pay no attention to the warning counsel, and will as a result lose everything--be spued out! Yet how few does this dread threat alarm! How few does it impel to find out where the trouble lies and how they stand! How few, indeed, does it even trouble! And O how few incline to inquire into it for fear that it may rebuke their evil course and deprive them of some sinful pleasure which they dearly cherish! Surprisingly few yet all too truly. {ABN1: 8.4}

Then, too, there being instilled in them great fear of false prophets, and not at all awakened in them any expectation of true ones (although there can be no false where there are no true), they are now therefore almost beyond reach. And behind their careless attitude is seen the truth that "the pains of duty and the pleasures of sin are the cords with which Satan binds men in his snares" (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 53), while behind the deeply instilled fear of false prophets, is seen the false watchman's carefulness to keep them from coming in contact with the messengers whom God has sent to them. {ABN1: 9.1}

Our deep concern, therefore, is that there awaken an interest in you, dear Laodicean, to go to the bottom of the matter, to make sure of your salvation. So will you not be sensible and courteous enough to sit down with this lightbearer in humble,

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impartial, prayerful study which must repay you many, many times over what you put into it? Remember, there is a divine law that converts every honest effort into joy, a personal experience with God, and eternal life. So will you not start now to measure yourself, no longer by what you think you are or will be but by what the Lord says you are and must be? Begin your investigation with the ensuing

Seven Questions. {ABN1: 9.2}

1. Who is Laodicea?

2. Whom does the angel represent?

3. What is meant by being wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked?

4. What is it to be "lukewarm"?

5. Why does God prefer one either cold or hot rather than lukewarm?

6. What is the eyesalve?

7. Should Laodicea fail to repent, how would her shame be uncovered? {ABN1: 10.1}

The Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, describes the condition of each of the seven churches the last of which is the Laodicean. These churches, admittedly, portray the Christian church in seven different periods; the seventh, Laodicea, depicting her in the period just before the "harvest,"

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the last in which the "wheat and tares" are comingled, and the one in which she is to experience the separation of the bad from among the good (Matt. 13 :30, 47-49). {ABN1: 10.2}

Since in her every section, the church must be true to her name (it alone being her identification), we shall therefore consider the question:

Who is Laodicea? {ABN1: 11.1}

Laodicea may be infallibly recognized amidst the many "isms" of Christendom by the work she is doing--declaring the judgment. Indeed, this mark of identification is pointed out by the very name Laodicea, compounded of the two Greek words lao and dekei, the one meaning "people," also "speak," the other meaning "judgment," the two in one meaning the people declaring judgment. The church therefore, which declares, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come" (Rev. 14:7), is evidently the one called Laodicea. And it is almost as well known outside Seventh-day Adventist circles as within, that the Seventh-day Adventist church is endeavoring to carry the judgment message of Revelation 14:7, and is therefore unchallenged in her claim to the title, Laodicea. {ABN1: 11.2}

Since, therefore, the Seventh-day Adventist church is the only one proclaiming

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the judgment, and since each of the seven messages is addressed to the angel of the respective churches, the message to Laodicea is accordingly addressed

To the Seventh-day Adventist Angel. {ABN1: 11.3}

According to Revelation 1:20, the "candlesticks" symbolize the churches, and the "stars" the angels (leaders) who have charge over the churches. Being the attendants of the churches, the angels are thus seen to be the ministry, whose responsibility is to have the lamps trimmed, filled with oil, and burning brightly, so that the church may give light to all about her. {ABN1: 12.1}

Accordingly, as the Laodicean angel, him to whom the condemnatory message is sent, is symbolical of the ministry in Laodicea, he should consequently be the more anxious to discover where the trouble lies, for he is, says the Lord,

Wretched, Miserable, Poor, Blind, and Naked. {ABN1: 12.2}

With a ministry wretched, miserable, poor blind, and naked, what church (candlestick) could possibly stay lighted? And with her light thus gone out or but flickering dimly, how could she lighten the world as God has set her to do? Through the eyes of the True Witness, therefore,

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the tragedy of Laodicea is starkly seen--"sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people" (Testimonies, Vol. 2, p. 337) while a sin-benighted world plunges on hell-bent in its darkness! O what a piteous plight! And yet it is so utterly overlooked! {ABN1: 12.3}

With both ministry and laity in such a pitiful state of darkness, it is clear to be seen that though the Laodicean church is the last in the order of the seven churches, God cannot through her lighten the world and prepare His people for the Kingdom when she is in darkness and unprepared herself. Hence the necessity of a new order, a new ministry, as predicted in Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 80, and in Zephaniah 3:11, 12. {ABN1: 13.1}

Then it will come to pass that "only those who have withstood temptation in the strength of the Mighty One, will be permitted to act a part in proclaiming it [the Third Angel's Message] when it shall have swelled into the Loud Cry."--The Review and Herald, No. 19, 1908. {ABN1: 13.2}

In the light of these facts, the prophetic message to the angel of the Laodiceans must obviously be brought and proclaimed by someone other than the angel himself. But this, of course, is the very thing that neither the ministry nor the laity expect or wish to happen. For the sake of the faithful, nevertheless, it is happening. {ABN1: 13.3}

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So since God's Word says that the ministry of the Laodicean church is wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked, and that neither they nor the laity are aware of the fact, it lends heavy emphasis to the statements: "Sleeping preachers preaching to a sleeping people!" (Testimonies, Vol. 2. p. 337); "the message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception."--Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 253. {ABN1: 14.1}

Although they are in this horrible predicament, one which should make them tremble and fear, and give anything to get out of, yet they continue

Lukewarm--Neither Cold Nor Hot. {ABN1: 14.2}

When one finds himself in a climate which is neither cold nor hot, but lukewarm, a temperature desired and sought by all, there he basks as a pauper become a prince! So it is with the Laodiceans, as represented in prophecy, though their supposed riches are nothing but a death trap! {ABN1: 14.3}

To rescue one from such a terrible deception is a task which calls for the utmost wisdom not only because the victim is blindly inured to the perilous condition he is in, while his rescuers are endeavoring to save him from perishing, but also because he considers them as his enemies, false prophets, instead of as his friends and deliverers, messengers from God! {ABN1: 14.4}

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From the life line, the saving message which they pleadingly hold forth to him, he recoils. And consequently by his attitude against them, he shouts: Away, away, I am rich and increased with goods: I have need of nothing; I have all the truth. "I am satisfied with my position. I have set my stakes, and I will not be moved away from my position whatever may come."--Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, p. 65; Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 28. {ABN1: 15.1}

In protesting that they are not wretched (not unhappy), not miserable (not troubled), not poor (not in need of truth), not blind (not benighted or illiterate), not naked (not without the righteousness of Christ), the Laodiceans are contradicting the True Witness, rejecting His counsel, and discrediting His remedy--

The Eyesalve. {ABN1: 15.2}

As only the "salve" will heal them from their deadly Laodicean malady, hence if they fail to avail themselves of the cure (by searching for truth as for hidden treasure) and to apply it (to repent), they will be spued out. O, Brother, Sister, will you not call for the "salve"? or will you continue in your wretchedness, miserableness, poverty, blindness, and nakedness, and thus compel Him to spue you out and to

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Uncover Your Shame? {ABN1: 15.3}

That your shame, Brethren, might not appear to all, God has long forborne to expose to the world the sins which you have cherished and kept under cover. Not forever, though, will He forbear. So for your soul's sake, argue no longer that you have all the Truth; cease adding sin to sin; repent, and return to Him; He will just as gladly accept you and make a feast for you as did the father in the parable welcome back his prodigal son and make a feast for him. {ABN1: 16.1}

Be not like the Jew. But open your heart; cast out its pride, its prejudice, and its self-conceit; let these not deprive you of eternal life at such a late hour as this. If you repeat the mistake of the Jews, your shame and your loss will be as much greater than theirs as are your light and your opportunities and privileges. Yea, beyond comparison! So do not fail, we plead with you, to end your long Laodicean sickness and poverty, and no longer imagine that you are

Rich, Increased With Goods. {ABN1: 16.2}

Never do you even so much as intimate that you have all the buildings, all the institutions, all the money, all the workers, all the converts you need! Your only boast is of having no need of more truth! This attitude, therefore, the Lord says, is the way

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in which you are saying, "I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." It is the source of your trouble, and the thing which He expects you to confess and to repent of. {ABN1: 16.3}

The angel's (the ministry's) mistaken claim of being rich and increased with goods and in need of nothing, does not make him a liar, but rather shows him to be a victim of ignorance and delusion. But his thinking that he has and knows all the Truth, makes his condition even more perilous than a liar's, for a liar knows that he is lying. O awake, Brother, Sister, awake! awake! {ABN1: 17.1}

Do As Did Nathaniel.

Come and see! {ABN1: 17.2}

See what? Laodiceans, rich and increased with goods, and in need of nothing, with the excuse that the need to take care of the material things of life (Luke 14:15-19) forbids their accepting the invitation? {ABN1: 17.3}

Indeed not! {ABN1: 17.4}

See the Laodiceans from the streets and lanes--"the poor, and the maimed and the halt, and the blind" (Luke 14:21), gladly availing themselves of the remedy! {ABN1: 17.5}

But, alas, not all who come, remain, for "when any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then

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cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side." Be not like him, but make the effort required to understand the Truth. And others, "when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word," are offended. These are they "that received the seed into stony places." Neither be like them; be rooted in the Truth. "But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Matt. 13:19-23. {ABN1: 17.6}

Though the "bad" along with the "good" are still coming (for we are yet in the period in which the wheat and the tares, the good and the bad fish commingle), you need not be of the tares or of the "bad fish." Be of the wheat, do as the "good": lay aside your own thoughts and ways, then take the Lord's, for He says: "...My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways...For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." Isa. 55:8, 9. {ABN1: 18.1}

And finally, never be like a Pharisee who can see the mote in his brother's eye, but cannot see the beam in his own (Matt. 7:3). For after all "Who art thou?" asks the Lord. Art thou thyself not a Laodicean? How "judgest" thou "another man's

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servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand." Rom. 14:4. {ABN1: 18.2}

Never mind the other fellow, Brethren; you have barely enough time to look after yourself. And moreover, do not measure the Truth with the rod of man, but with the Rod of God: "Hear ye the Rod, and [Him] Who hath appointed it" (Mic. 6:9), urges the Lord. {ABN1: 19.1}

Will you not take His counsel? If you will, then without further delay, send your name and address for Present Truth literature--the feast which, though worth everything, will cost you nothing. And besides being the only cure for your Laodiceanism, it will thrill and satisfy your hungry soul with something truly rich and extraordinary ! {ABN1: 19.2}

Then all of us together "shall have spiritual eyesight to discern the inner courts of the celestial temple. We shall catch the themes of song and thanksgiving of the heavenly choir round about the throne. When Zion shall arise and shine, her light will be most penetrating and precious songs of praise and thanksgiving will be heard in the assemblies of the saints....As we apply the golden eye-salve, we shall see the glories beyond. Faith will cut through the heavy shadow of Satan, and we shall see our Advocate offering up the incense of His own merits in our behalf. When we

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see this as it is, as the Lord desires us to see it we shall be filled with a sense of the immensity and diversity of the love of God."--Testimonies, Vol. 6, p. 368. And then we shall no longer ask:

Whose Advice Is To Be Followed? {ABN1: 19.3}

Now we want you to know that we truly appreciate your concern for our spiritual welfare, as expressed in many of your criticisms, and we assure you that we fully realize that, be we wrong, your advice is surely as valuable to us as, be we right, our advice is to you. So we are confident that you will be agreed with us that we must settle the question,

Who Is Who? {ABN1: 20.1}

To begin our investigation, it is necessary in fairness to both sides, to take into account the experiential knowledge of each. {ABN1: 20.2}

In view of our long experience with the Third Angel's Message in its first part, as well as in its present addition (Early Writings, p. 277), as brought in The Shepherd's Rod, as against yours in the first part only, we are constrained to believe that the possibility of your being wrongly led by the angel of the Laodiceans, is greater than the possibility of our being wrongly led by the Rod. {ABN1: 20.3}

Were you in a position, such as we are in, to be fully informed in both messages,

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--in both the one of 1844 and the one of today,--then the possibility of your being right and of our being wrong, as against the possibility of your being wrong and of our being right, would be about equally balanced. Inasmuch, though, as you are conversant with the former only, it is more probable that our position carries a greater percentage of possibility of being correct than does yours. {ABN1: 20.4}

Moreover, whether the Rod is right or wrong "the angel of the church of the Laodiceans" is as the Lord Himself has made acutely clear, in a sad, fearful, and terrible deception (Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 253, 254, 260), and about to be spued out. {ABN1: 21.1}

In view, therefore, of the consequent greater responsibility resting upon us, we cannot be less interested in you than you are in us. And you cannot afford to be less mindful of our advice to you than we can afford to be of yours to us. {ABN1: 21.2}

And finally, believing that you are as honest as we are, we are confident that you will candidly and carefully weigh every word herein. {ABN1: 21.3}

Our being, as you know, unswerving adherents of the Bible and of Sister White's writings, full-fledged Seventh-day Adventists we are sure that both the Bible and Sister White's writings support the Rod one hundred percent. All three, therefore,

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we see in perfect harmony with one another with the Rod giving "power and force" to the message as given since 1844. (See Early Writings, p. 277.) {ABN1: 21.4}

In view of our sustaining this solid conviction, you can readily understand that your rejecting the Rod on the grounds that it is out of harmony with Sister White's writings, is not at all to us the actuality it seems to you. {ABN1: 22.1}

Then, too, having every reason to believe that our minds are fully rational, we accordingly have every reason to believe that we are no less able than others intelligently to study both the Bible and Sister White's writings. So let us, as Christians who really want to know the truth, together begin

Examining Both Your Position And Ours. {ABN1: 22.2}

To begin with, is it not correct that the Christian's textbook is the Bible? If your answer to this fundamental question is in the affirmative, then it compels us to study Sister White's writings in the light of the Bible, not the Bible in the light of her writings. This, in fact, she herself plainly says:

"Only those who have been diligent students of the Scriptures, and who have received the love of the truth, will be shielded from the powerful delusion that

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takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony [not by hers], these will detect the deceiver in his disguise.... Are the people of God now so firmly established upon His word that they would not yield to the evidence of their senses? Would they, in such a crisis, cling to the Bible, and the Bible only?"--The Great Controversy, p. 625. {ABN1: 22.3}

Clearly, therefore, her work must never be interpreted in such a way as to contradict the Bible but always to clear it. If you undeviatingly follow this absolute rule of interpretation, you can never possibly have any trouble with the Rod or with any message the Lord may ever send. {ABN1: 23.1}

Your interpretations of many of Sister White's writings, most notably, perhaps, those concerning the Kingdom, being manifestly contradictory to the prophecies of the Bible, cause the one who accepts her writings to doubt the Bible, and the one who holds to the Bible to be set against her writings, thus bringing in dispute and schism among the brethren. Such interpretations, one-sided and division-making, are therefore grievously unfair not only to the Bible and to Sister White's writings but also to yourself, and consequently to the cause of Truth. {ABN1: 23.2}

So you will, we trust, see that while you are intentionally endeavoring to prove only the Rod wrong, you are in reality unwittingly endeavoring to prove Sister White

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at odds with the Bible--a work which is scattering from Christ rather than gathering to Him. {ABN1: 23.3}

As both your and our doctrinal positions must be in perfect harmony with the Bible, we are therefore asking you to harmonize your position on the Kingdom with Daniel 2:44; Jeremiah 51:20; Hosea 3:4, 5; Isaiah 2:1-4; Micah 4:1-6; Isaiah 11:12-16; Jeremiah 30:18, 21; 31:2-13; 32:37; Ezekiel 37:15-28. {ABN1: 24.1}

We hold it to be a simple, self-evident truth that as the stone (Dan. 2:34) is symbolical of the Kingdom, and that as It smites the toes of the image, It necessarily must be set up before It smites them, just as Daniel said: "In the days of these kings [toe-kings: the kings of today] shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom." "In the days of these kings," cannot mean after their days. And unless the Kingdom is set up (brought into being), It cannot smite the nations. {ABN1: 24.2}

If, moreover, Judah and Israel (both kingdoms) are not gathered together into one kingdom, as the prophecies say they will be (Ezek. 37:15-28), then how can they be His "battle-ax" (Jer. 51:20)? And how can the prophecies be fulfilled? {ABN1: 24.3}

It is equally self-evident that the "many days" (Hos. 3:4, 5) are the long years from the time the Kingdom went down until It shall finally be set up again. Wherefore the word "return" cannot mean

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anything other than that those dispersed "many days" are to go back to the land whence they were taken captive. {ABN1: 24.4}

This, furthermore, is the only position, consistent with all relevant Bible doctrines, that gives assurance of fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 2 and that of Micah 4. {ABN1: 25.1}

Again: from Isaiah 11 we see that the Lord is to "set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people" (Isa. 11:11), and that when He does so, He will prepare a way for them "like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." Isa. 11:16. {ABN1: 25.2}

And Jeremiah testifies that the Lord "will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap....and their nobles shall be of themselves and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them." Jer. 30:18, 21. {ABN1: 25.3}

To Ezekiel, moreover, "thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land." Ezek. 37:21. {ABN1: 25.4}

The Bible is either right or wrong. If you believe It is right, take It to heart, and take your stand upon It, at least upon such open passages as the ones herein quoted--scriptures which need no interpretation. {ABN1: 25.5}

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And certain it is that God will accept no excuse for anyone's trying to side-step them, so plain and positive are they. Neither will anyone succeed in escaping God's judgments by endeavoring on the one hand to dodge through what he thinks to be loopholes in the Rod, and by endeavoring on the other hand to set up in Sister White's writings, obstacles to take cover behind. {ABN1: 26.1}

Such vain attempts today will leave the perpetrators no more excusable (in fact, less so) than the vain efforts of the Jews yesterday left them in their attempt to discover loopholes in Christ's work by the use of Moses' writings. {ABN1: 26.2}

If one's excuse be that the Rod's teachings are not found in Sister White's writings, no more will he be vindicated in rejecting its voice on such grounds than are the Jews for fighting and rejecting the New Testament Scriptures on the grounds that they are not found in the writings of the prophets. {ABN1: 26.3}

If you are really a sincere and faithful believer in both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy, you will obey this counsel: "...if a message comes that you do not understand, take pains that you may hear the reasons the messenger may give."--Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, p. 65, Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 29. {ABN1: 26.4}

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Your integrity in renouncing the sealing message on the ground that it contradicts Sister White's writings, will be tested by your response to her urging you to reason with the messenger rather than to reason with his enemies. {ABN1: 27.1}

What to some of you may seem to set this or that teaching of the Rod squarely in contradiction to Sister White's writings, is not half so plausible as is that which to all appearances sets the Lord's statement in Matthew 10:23 solidly in contradiction to His promises. "Ye shall not," say the Scriptures, "have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come." But the apostles did go preaching the gospel not only to the cities of Israel but also to "every creature which is under heaven" (Col. 1:23), and as yet the Son of man is not "come," though 1900 years have passed since that time. Christ must have spoken the truth, but it is not understood, just as many points in connection with Present Truth are not understood, and hence in most cases are misconstrued. {ABN1: 27.2}

When Moses wrote the first part of the Bible he was not given the privilege to write the whole Truth which God intended to reveal to His people. Later in the Old Testament period came Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, et al. Then in the New Testament period came John the Baptist, Christ, the apostles, the reformers, Miller, and Sister

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White, each one in turn teaching truths which could not, however, be maintained by Moses' writings. This is the divine rule of unfolding truth. And only to one's own loss will he refuse to acknowledge that it is operative the same today as ever, even though the message today is derived entirely from the inspired writers before it. {ABN1: 27.3}

Though there is much more to be said on these matters, suffice these lines for the present, for unless for your life's sake you respond to them, more would be only a weariness to you and a loss of time to us. {ABN1: 28.1}

Our sincere prayer and earnest hope, therefore, is that the valuable, irretrievable time expended in this effort of good will and deep concern for your souls, will be the means of bringing you to rejoice in the glorious hope which the Rod sets before you. May your heart yet be responsive to the "Lord's voice," which still "crieth unto the city,...hear ye the Rod, and Who hath appointed it." {ABN1: 28.2}

If you are resolved now to comply with this injunction, and with the one in Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, p. 65, to take pains to hear the reason the messenger may give, and to ask questions on the message, whether with respect to the Bible or to Sister White's writings, be assured that we shall welcome hearing from you, and shall gladly do our honest best to clear whatever is involved. {ABN1: 28.3}

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

WHAT IS LAODICEA'S TROUBLE?

Question No. 1:

What is wrong with Laodicea and what is the remedy?

Answer:

Describing her condition in present-day language, Inspiration declares: {ABN1: 29.1}

"The message to the church of the Laodiceans is a startling denunciation, and is applicable to the people of God at the present time.... {ABN1: 29.2}

"The people of God are represented in the message to the Laodiceans as in a position of carnal security. They are at ease, believing themselves to be in an exalted condition of spiritual attainments.... {ABN1: 29.3}

"What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciaton

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of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks and his testimony must be correct."--Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 252, 253. {ABN1: 29.4}

"I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen, and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people. {ABN1: 30.1}

"I saw that the testimony of the True Witness has not been half heeded. The solemn testimony upon which the destiny of the church hangs has been lightly esteemed, if not entirely disregarded. "--Early Writings, p. 270. {ABN1: 30.2}

"...our own course of continual backsliding has separated us from God. Pride, covetousness, and love of the world have lived in the heart without fear of banishment or condemnation. Grievous and presumptuous sins have dwelt among us. And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing, and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders. {ABN1: 30.3}

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"The church has turned back from following Christ her Leader, and is steadily retreating toward Egypt. Yet few are alarmed or astonished at their want of spiritual power. Doubt and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated. God has spoken to you. Light has been shining from his word and from the testimonies, and both have been slighted and disregarded. The result is apparent in the lack of purity and devotion and earnest faith among us."--Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 217. {ABN1: 31.1}

That Laodicea is the typical name for the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, every Seventh-day Adventist knows, and yet none care to do anything about it! Instead, all are satisfied that they have all the truth to carry them clear through! {ABN1: 31.2}

To prolong their lukewarm condition indefinitely, the Demon power has perfected a thermos-covering composed of an impervious layer of prejudice, self-confidence, and the fear that someone is trying his best to deceive them by word or by literature. Hence most of us, as Seventh-day Adventists, do not discuss or read Bible truths that are advocated by anyone not approved by the angel of Laodicea--the conference prelates. Consequently, such ones cannot

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be reached with a message from heaven today any easier than could the Jews in their day. Nevertheless, the All-knowing One commanded: {ABN1: 31.3}

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." Rev. 3:14-18. {ABN1: 32.1}

So when in Revelation 2:5 the Lord sternly addresses one group of leaders, warning them that unless they repent and do their first works He will come unto them quickly and remove the candlestick out of their control, He makes that fate entirely conditional on their own response to His cutting rebuke. {ABN1: 32.2}

But later, to the Laodicean leadership (angel), He makes an even more drastic

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decree, an unconditional, unequivocal, sharp and final statement, that He will spue them out thus bringing the Laodicean church government to an abrupt and cataclysmic climax. At this very time, then, the church is to undergo a thorough house-cleaning, a change of administration and organization, even as anciently the Kingdom was "rent from" Saul and given to David (1 Sam. 15:28). {ABN1: 32.3}

And just as David, the eighth son of Jesse, was not chosen until the succession of his seven brothers had one by one passed in review, so the "house of David" (Zech. 12:8; Testimonies Vol. 5, p. 81), the church freed from "the tares," the eighth church in the New Testament succession, was not to come into being until the succession of seven had passed one by one. (See Tract No. 8, Mt. Sion at the Eleventh Hour.) {ABN1: 33.1}

Clearly, the "angel" and the church here addressed, necessarily represent two parties--the ministry and the laity. But the one directly addressed and condemned is the angel, the one in charge of the laity. The True Witness' "startling denunciation," therefore, though not exempting the laity, is expressly and particularly for the sake of the ministry. So, especially should they, most of all, take heed and lay well to heart the great ethic that the Master Shepherd will let no sheep go carelessly tended, to fall into the abyss, if He can help it. {ABN1: 33.2}

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But since, as under-shepherds, they have long and grievously been thus derelict, the Lord years ago promised that He would shortly "take charge of the flock Himself."--Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 80. {ABN1: 34.1}

In a forecast of this complete change-over from the Laodicean inertia, the Spirit of Truth solemnly affirms: "God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins in His own hands. The workers, will be surprised..."--Testimonies to Ministers, p. 300. {ABN1: 34.2}

Again, we read that God will put aside those who are "self-sufficient, independent of God," and whom "He cannot use," and will disclose to view those "precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal."--Testimonies, Vol. 5, pp. 80, 81. {ABN1: 34.3}

Thus even more accurately does sacred history repeat itself than does profane history. And the terrifyingly irrevocable words of the prophet Samuel to Saul, come ringing down the ages with double finality to the Laodiceans: {ABN1: 34.4}

"The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou. And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for He is not a man that He should repent." 1 Sam. 15:28, 29. {ABN1: 34.5}

The Laodicean lukewarmness--the satisfied notion of being rich and increased

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with goods, of having the truth, and even of adding to it--is nothing less than pure self-complacency. It is thus that the Laodiceans are "wretched and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked' (Rev. 3:17), mistakenly believing that they are rich and increased with goods. But critical as is this deception, it need not be fatal if only they will humble themselves and "buy" the "eyesalve" offered them that they may see their nakedness, then repent, seek forgiveness, and advance in truth. But, alas, their lukewarm (satisfied), not hot or cold (dissatisfied), state of being makes it as hard for them to acknowledge their condition as it was for the Jews in Christ's time. {ABN1: 34.6}

WHY THE NEED OF REVIVAL AND REFORMATION?

Question No. 2:

If the church is God's dearest object upon earth (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 20) and if He is leading her, why the need of "a revival and a reformation"?

Answer:

Since the church is indeed God's dearest object on earth, He often has to admonish, rebuke, and chasten her so as to bring her to maintain the high standard which He has set for her. And though her history is but one long, sad record of sinning and repenting, sinning and repenting, yet the Lord has borne with her in the infinite patience and longsuffering of Divine love

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so beautifully illustrated in the parable of the prodigal son. And finally in this love indescribable, He "gave Himself" (Gal. 1:4) for her in the person of His only begotten Son. But this supreme sacrifice notwithstanding, she has never yet fully appreciated His undying love for her. Even now, the Saviour pathetically declares that He has somewhat against her, and admonishes her by strong words to repent and sit down with Him in His throne (Rev. 3:14-21), making clear the inevitable fate of all who fail to heed His counsel (Rev. 3:16). But, tragically, she has not heeded it, and so He "brings against ministers and people the heavy charge of spiritual feebleness, saying, 'I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.'"--Christ Our Righteousness, 1941 Edition, p. 121. {ABN1: 35.1}

Thus God, in His boundless, all-discerning love for His church, "'calls for a spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation. Unless this takes place, those who are lukewarm will continue to grow more abhorrent to the Lord, until He will refuse to acknowledge them as His children. {ABN1: 36.1}

"'A revival and a reformation must take place under the ministration of the Holy Spirit. Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life, a quickening of the powers of mind and heart, a resurrection

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from spiritual death. Reformation signifies a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices. Reformation will not bring forth the good fruit of righteousness unless it is connected with the revival of the Spirit. Revival and reformation are to do their appointed work, and in doing this work they must blend.'" --Ibid. {ABN1: 36.2}

In these inspired statements, three facts stand out in bold relief: (1) God sends this clarion call first to the ministers, and then to the laity; (2) He makes a positive declaration that He will spue out of His mouth all who fail to give heed to it, and to enter into a "spiritual revival and a spiritual reformation"; and (3) He makes clear that such a movement means "a reorganization, a change in ideas and theories, habits and practices." Clearly, then, the church must experience a threefold change before she can ever look forth "fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners," going "forth into all the world, conquering and to conquer."--Prophets and Kings, p. 725. {ABN1: 37.1}

God is to rule in His church now as He did in Moses' time: "The government of Israel was characterized by the most thorough organization, wonderful alike for its completeness and its simplicity. The order so strikingly displayed in the perfection and arrangement of all God's created works was manifest in the Hebrew economy.

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God was the center of authority, and government, the sovereign of Israel. Moses stood as their visible leader, by God's appointment to administer the laws in his name. From the elders of the tribes a council of seventy was afterward chosen to assist Moses in the general affairs of the nation. Next came the priests, who consulted the Lord in the sanctuary. Chiefs, or princes, ruled over the tribes. Under these were 'captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, and captains over fifties, and captains over tens;' and lastly, officers who might be employed for special duties."--Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 374. {ABN1: 38.2}

If "the same principles of piety and justice that were to guide the rulers among God's people in the time of Moses and of David, were also to be followed by those given the oversight of the newly organized church of God in the gospel dispensation" (Acts of the Apostles, p. 95), and if man cannot improve upon God's governmental rule, then why should we not pattern after it? Hence the need of "a revival and a reformation." {ABN1: 38.1}

As restorers of every Divine institution, we are glad to announce to the readers of Present Truth, that besides the literature of "revival," they may now also obtain that of "reformation," our organizational publication, The Leviticus of The Davidian Seventh-day Adventists. {ABN1: 38.2}

2. Answerer #1, pp. 69-75

WHAT SAITH THE SPIRIT UNTO LAODICEA?

Question No. 5:

Does not Laodicea in her lukewarmness present in a consummate way the dangerous condition which the apostle Paul warns against when he says: "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall"? {ABN1: 69.2}

Answer:

Sacred history is repetitious with the tragic lesson that when a people go wrong, as did Israel in Elijah's and again in Christ's time, they are no longer sensible of their being wrong. Likewise repetitious is the even more tragic lesson that such a people have always misconstrued God's efforts to bring them to a realization of their errors. So once they are led astray from the teachings of the prophets, and

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captivated by new and magnetic human leadership, their liberation and correction become almost impossible. (See Prophets and Kings, pp. 121-126.) {ABN1: 69.3}

In varying ways, the fatal weakness which has characterized every Movement, from that of Israel to that of Laodicea, has been in "laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works." Heb. 6:1. And what is still more basic, and more urgently to the point, is that each Movement alike failed to progress from one message to the next, and to go on to reach its final goal of transcendental attainments in divine knowledge. Instead, each fell from the heights of its own early rich experience, back down to spiritual poverty, because it failed to keep pace with the Truth. Each Divinely called Movement came to a standstill where it contentedly satisfied itself that it was yet in the sanctified steps to the Mount of Perfection, that it was "flourishing, and that peace and spiritual prosperity" were "in all [its] borders" (Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 217), when in reality, quite the opposite was the truth. So follows Laodicea, thinking she is all right when she is all wrong. {ABN1: 70.1}

Never in the violent history of this sin-deluged world has so great a danger and so great a necessity confronted the church. In this all-enveloping peril, "what does God say in regard to His people? -- 'But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they

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are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore.' (See also Isaiah 43.) These are prophecies that will be fulfilled."--Testimonies to Ministers, p. 96. {ABN1: 70.2}

"What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong!"--Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 252, 253. {ABN1: 71.1}

Again, it is written in Proverbs 29:18 (margin), "Where there is no vision, the people is made naked." {ABN1: 71.2}

Here in more extensive relief is the picture of a people who have indeed lost their "vision" (the supernatural guidance afforded by the living voice of the prophetic gift resident among them), but who realize it not. More amazing still, they have evidently introduced their own inventions (idols) as substitutes for the things of God. This they have done so gradually that they are quite as unaware of it as they are that many have not availed themselves of the volumes of the Spirit of Prophecy--their very "eye-sight." And where others have had these volumes of vision lying all around them, they have let them go either unread or unheeded and therefore "unappreciated."-- Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 217. Thus it is in this sense more than in any other that they have become blind--no longer even expecting any further revealed

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truth to give power and force to their message (Early Writings, p. 277). Yet they still flatter themselves that they are in the inner circle of God's favor! {ABN1: 71..3}

"The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and his testimony must be correct."--Testimonies, Vol. 3, p. 253. {ABN1: 72.1}

If the thinking processes of the Laodiceans were not in dire need of a complete spiritual overhauling and re-orientation, they would not "think they are all right when they are all wrong," think that they are "rich" when in reality they are desperately "poor"--destitute of truth and righteousness! {ABN1: 72.2}

Accordingly, nothing but a message with "healing in its wings" will heal the Laodicean mind of its spiritual sickness. In this hour of the church's crisis, "those who have been timid and self-distrustful, will declare themselves openly for Christ and

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his truth. The most weak and hesitating in the church, will be as David--willing to do and dare."--Testimonies, Vol. 5, p. 81. Why?--Because they have the promise that "there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness. {ABN1: 72.3}

"And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land. " Zech. 13:1, 2. {ABN1: 73.1}

"For in that day every man shall cast away his idols...which your own hands have made unto you for a sin...Turn ye unto Him from Whom the children of Israel have deeply revolted." Isa. 31:7, 6. {ABN1: 73.2}

"In that day shall the Lord defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the Lord before them." Zech. 12:8. {ABN1: 73.3}

The Spirit's Voice through Isaiah is now also crying aloud: "Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean....How beautiful upon the mountains are the

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feet of Him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!" Isa. 52:1, 7. {ABN1: 73.4}

The same Voice through Nahum also pleads: "Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off." Nah. 1:15. {ABN1: 74.1}

But in all her history, the church as a whole has never accepted a message from heaven. The call therefore comes to each individual member. Each must decide for himself. No one should allow himself to be influenced by another. And "no one has a right to shut away the light from the people. When a message comes in the name of the Lord to His people, no one may excuse himself from an investigation of its claims....It was from pursuing this very course that the popular churches were left in partial darkness, and that is why the messages of heaven have not reached them."--Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, p. 65; Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 28. {ABN1: 74.2}

"But we see that the God of heaven sometimes commissions men to teach that which is regarded as contrary to the established doctrines. Because those who were

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once the depositaries of truth became unfaithful to their sacred trust, the Lord chose others who would receive the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and would advocate truths that were not in accordance with the ideas of the religious leaders. And then these leaders in the blindness of their minds, give full sway to what is supposed to be righteous indignation against the ones who have set aside cherished fables. They act like men who have lost their reason. They do not consider the possibility that they themselves have not rightly understood the Word. They will not open their eyes to discern the fact that they have misinterpreted and misapplied the Scriptures, and have built up false theories, calling them fundamental doctrines of the faith."--Testimonies to Ministers, pp. 69, 70. {ABN1: 74.3}

Since the Laodiceans are already in the greatest deception, then for any one of them to decline to investigate a claimant to truth for fear of being deceived in so doing, is to stultify reason. To investigate and to study is one's only salvation--his only hope of getting out of his present "sad," "terrible," "fearful" deception (Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 253, 254, 260), and his only hope of protection in keeping him from plunging into the abyss. So he must study as never before! And in so doing he will find that this is the beginning of the very message he must have in

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order to clear the scales from his eyes and break the invisible, but none-the-less real, shackles of inertia and self-exaltation in which the Enemy holds him bound. {ABN1: 75.1}

3. Timely Greetings, Vol. 1, #8

LAODICEAN OR DAVIDIAN -- WHICH?

TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF,

MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTS

SABBATH, SEPTEMBER 28, 1946

MT. CARMEL CENTER

WACO, TEXAS

This afternoon I am to answer the question: How do I know that I am not still a Laodicean, that I am now a true Davidian? In order intelligently to discuss this question, we must first have a mental picture of what Laodiceans are like, and what Davidians must be like. I shall read {1TG8: 17.1}

Rev 3:14-18 -- "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My Mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." {1TG8: 17.2}

What is wrong with the angel of Laodicea? -- He is lukewarm. He is neither cold nor hot. The Lord recommends that he be either cold or hot, -- uncomfortable, in search of something better rather than

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stay lukewarm, well contented with his spiritual attainments, supposedly rich and increased with goods (with Truth). Not knowing that he is spiritually poor, blind and naked, he is warned of it by the All Knowing One and asked to repent. If the Lord's own warning fails to change his mind, then the only thing left for the Lord to do is to spue him out of His mouth. {1TG8: 17.3}

By the words, "I am rich, and increased with goods," the angel of Laodicea is saying that he has good understanding of the Bible and has the "Testimonies for the Church," and that these make him rich. And that in addition to these, he has other denominational publications, his increase. He thus deceives himself that he has the whole truth to carry him right on through the Pearly Gates, that he needs nothing more. The Lord's counsel, however, that he buy of Him gold that is tried in the fire so that he may be rich, unveils the fact that the Laodiceans' riches are not "pure gold," and that their so-called increase is not an increase of Truth, but worthless, uninspired interpretations not tried in the fire. {1TG8: 18.1}

The angel of Laodicea is naked, too. He has not the wedding garment on he has not the righteousness of Christ. And his being naked, not having on any clothes, denotes that he has no righteousness save his own -- the righteousness with which he was born -- his bare skin. Moreover, he is spiritually blind. And that for his ailment the Lord's eyesalve is the only remedy. If he would but take the Lord's counsel and apply the salve to his ailing eyes, he could then see. {1TG8: 18.2}

What is represented by the salve? First let us see what makes a man spiritually blind. The One Who knows even the number of hairs on our heads, points out that if the "light that is in thee be darkness,

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how great is that darkness!" Matt. 6:23. If negligence of making proper use of spiritual light makes the offender blind, then something having power to arouse in him zeal to discover his true condition, is his only remedy. Only such an eyesalve can possibly open his eyes. Let me concretely illustrate: {1TG8: 18.3}

Individuals often write to the office saying: "I heard so much against 'The Shepherd's Rod,' and what I heard made me unmercifully prejudiced. But I happened to get hold of one of your little tracts,...and for courtesy's sake, I thought I'd see what it is about. But as I read a few pages of it, and as my eyes began to open, I read the whole tract. I am now anxious to read the rest of your books. Will you please send me whatever reading matter you can?" {1TG8: 19.1}

Another such Providential incident came to our attention from far-away China: "I picked up half of your booklet (Tract No. 13) on the street, and my wife a few days later picked up the other half beside the curb of the same drive. I pieced them together, and got your address. I am deeply interested in all it contains, and am anxiously waiting to hear from you. Could you tell me everything that will help me find my joy?" {1TG8: 19.2}

These truth-searching brethren obviously represent those who can be pried out of their Laodiceanism. Their experiences well illustrate that the "salve" represents Inspiration's timely Truth. {1TG8: 19.3}

Now let me tell you of another class of individuals from whom I often hear. Listen to what they say: "Please keep your 'Rod' to yourself, take my name from your mailing list. I am not in the least interested in what you are doing. Your booklets go into the

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fire just as soon as they come. I never read them and I never will -- no, not a line. I am satisfied [lukewarm] with my religion. I belong to the true remnant church and I expect to go with it. How dare you try to deceive me?" {1TG8: 19.4}

Another says: "Please do not send me any more of your literature, as I am satisfied with my own views." {1TG8: 20.1}

This kind of talk is typically Laodicean. It perfectly expresses their lukewarmness. The Lord, though, is against their attitude. Is there anything which could more completely and more quickly sever one's communication line with God forever than an attitude of having all the Truth and of having need of no more? If the language in the letters from which I have just read to you does not say, "I am rich, and in need of nothing more," then what could say it? {1TG8: 20.2}

This group of Laodiceans will never, never have their eyes opened, will never be anything but wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. They can never be reached by Heaven, not even by the Lord Himself. If they thus continue, then the only thing Christ can do is to spue them out of His mouth, never again to mention their names at the Throne of Grace. Anything new from the Bible that is brought out by anyone but themselves, even though purported to be through Inspiration, they hastily brand "deception," though they are already in a gross self deception. They read the Bible with the hope of finding proof by which to disagree with everyone but themselves. {1TG8: 20.3}

Let me illustrate: I may be on the way to the bank with a million dollars, and I may seriously believe that I am a millionaire. But suppose the banker tells

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me, "Your money is counterfeit," and suppose I have no other. Then how rich would I be? -- I would be as rich as is the angel of Laodicea. Just such an eye-opening experience is what the Laodiceans need. Unless something like it happens to them, they will forever think that they are rich and in need of nothing more. Some say, though, not long hence, the heavenly Watcher Himself will demonstrate to them face to face that their gold is not tried in the fire. Then their eyes will be opened, but not soon enough to do them any good. {1TG8: 20.4}

What they now see at a distance, appears to them for sure to be the "sea of glass." But when they get to the end of the way, and take a close look, they will in indescribable grief and with quivering voice cry out "Mirage, mirage! Not the sea of glass!" Then will they be anxious to know the Truth; and will pay anything to get It, but it will be too late and they will, to change the figure, get to the door only to hear the Voice from within say, "I know you not." Matt. 25:12. {1TG8: 21.1}

By a person's facial characteristics we are able to identify his race; and similarly we can judge one's profession by the type of clothes he wears: If a person wears fine clothes and is not decked with everything he can put on, we judge him to be a business man. If he wears lower grade clothes and has on his body every trinket he can pin on, then we judge him to be a cheap sport. If he is clothed in overalls, we judge him to be a laborer. If he is dressed otherwise, we judge him to be a white-collar worker. But if he wears no clothes, then no one but God can tell what he is. Such is a Laodicean. {1TG8: 21.2}

Now, if the white garment represents Christ's righteousness, then if one has on no garment at all,

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is naked, then whose righteousness would he have? -- self- righteousness, only the skin in which he was born. The Laodicean's nakedness represents just that, but they know it not. In all respect, I realize this is saying much, but it is not saying too much, because it is the Lord Who says it. {1TG8: 21.3}

He invites the Laodiceans to buy of Him gold, the kind that is tried in the fire (inspired Truth), so that they might be truly rich. He invites them to put on the wedding raiment, so that they be not cast into "outer darkness," there to weep and to gnash their teeth. If they do not accept his invitation now -- yes, now -- their nakedness will be exposed and they thus put to shame. {1TG8: 22.1}

If you do the opposite of what the Laodiceans do, then of course you cannot still be a Laodicean. And it is just as easy to know whether you are a Davidian or not. To find out if you are a Davidian, you must first know what a Davidian is. Well, briefly stated, a Davidian is recognized by his garment, by the source from which he gets it, and by what he gives in exchange for it. The prophet Zechariah explains: {1TG8: 22.2}

Zech. 3:1-4 -- "And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." {1TG8: 22.3}

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The first one to be given the garment is Joshua, the high priest, the highest official in the church. If he has not the garment, then no one else has it either. From this we see that the genuine revival and reformation starts at the head, not at the feet, and that before one is given the right to put the garment on, his iniquity is taken away -- he repents of his sins, and the Lord blots them out. Satan, though, is right there to resist and accuse him; but, thanks be to God that the Lord is also there to rebuke the enemy. Do you catch the lesson, Brother, Sister? While you are getting the garment you will have to meet strong opposition. But what of it? Is it too much to stand firmly for Truth and righteousness when the majority forsake? And how else shall you become a hero for God? (Read Matthew 5:10-12.) {1TG8: 23.1}

The apostles and the prophets not only withstood opposition from their own brethren, but they even gladly died for their white garment. You, though, are not now asked to give up your life, but to save it. The "tables" are now reversed. The Lord will not permit you to be consumed by the flame. He is to rescue you as a "brand plucked out of the fire." {1TG8: 23.2}

From this we see that the Joshua of today is having his filthy garments exchanged for white robes, for the righteousness of Christ. {1TG8: 23.3}

Zech. 3:5 -- "And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by." {1TG8: 23.4}

Not only is he clothed in a white garment, but he is also crowned with a fair mitre. And what could such a mitre denote other than the authority vested

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in him as Heaven's appointed ruler? As such he is clothed from his head to his feet," and the angel of the Lord stood by." What a gift! and what a bodyguard for one to have in a world such as ours! In spite of it, though, human beings are very slow and hesitant to take their stand on the Lord's side. Most of them had rather lean on a man. {1TG8: 23.5}

Zech. 3:8 -- "Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth My servant the Branch." {1TG8: 24.1}

Not only Joshua, but also those who sit before him (the congregation) are admonished to hear this charge. And what kind of men are they? -- Men wondered at. This symbolism shows that at the fulfillment of this prophecy the angel of the church of the Laodiceans is no longer in charge of the Lord's house, and that God's people are to be made up wholly of men wondered at! {1TG8: 24.2}

Obviously, then, as a result of this revival and reformation within the Laodicean church, another church emerges of which Joshua is in charge, not the angel of Laodicea. In it there are to be neither "tares" (Matt. 13:30), "bad fish" (Matt. 13:47, 48), or "goats" (Matt. 25:32). The Laodicean, the seventh, is the last that is commingled with hypocrites, saints and sinners. {1TG8: 24.3}

Who is to bring this revival and reformation, this great change? -- The BRANCH. And according to Isaiah 11:1 to 5, the Branch is the Lord, the Son of David. We shall now read- {1TG8: 24.4}

Zech.3:9 -- "For behold the stone that I have laid before

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Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day." {1TG8: 24.5}

Those who sit before Joshua are "men wondered at." As such they are depicted by the "stone" (church, or Kingdom) that is in Joshua's sight. It has seven eye-perfect vision. When this purification of the church takes place then the sin in the land is quickly removed -- "in one day." {1TG8: 25.1}

Here is seen genuine revival and reformation accompanied by the purification of the church. The Lord is to have a pure church and a clean people. {1TG8: 25.2}

Zech. 3:10 -- "In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree." {1TG8: 25.3}

"In that day," in the day this purification takes place, the gospel work is to be quickly finished by having every member of the Lord's house call his neighbor to his own patch of land, to that which God has pre-ordained that everyone should have. Every member, therefore, is to be a missionary in one capacity or in another. This indeed is the layman's movement that shall finish the gospel work. {1TG8: 25.4}

The statement, "Call every man his neighbor under the vine and under the fig tree," appears also in Micah 4. It teaches the same thing that Zechariah teaches. {1TG8: 25.5}

This subject, however, does not stop with Zechariah three, it continues on. {1TG8: 25.}

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Zech. 6:11 -- "Then take silver and gold, and make crowns, and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech, the high priest." {1TG8: 26.1}

The angel is commanded to take silver and gold, and to make crowns -- not one, but more than one. These are set upon Joshua's head. {1TG8: 26.2}

Zech. 6:14 -- "And the crowns shall be to Helem, and to Tobijah, and to Jedaiah, and to Hen the son of Zephaniah, for a memorial in the temple of the Lord." {1TG8: 26.3}

Verse 14 reveals that Joshua is to pass the crowns on to his helpers whom the Lord Himself names. This is to be a memorial, an everlasting reminder in the temple of the Lord. {1TG8: 26.4}

What can all this mean? -- Just this: Joshua is Heaven's appointed judge, ruler. He himself is crowned as such. And in response to the Lord's Own command, Joshua crowns (authorizes) his helpers whom the Lord Himself names. In other words, as members of "the house of David," Joshua authorizes them to engage in the work. So, Joshua is responsible to the Lord, but his helpers are responsible to Joshua. Here is seen an organization having a Leader and an under leader -- the Lord and Joshua. Thus it is that whatever is to be bound on earth, is also to be bound in Heaven (Matt. 16:19.) {1TG8: 26.5}

As concretely as Heaven can make it, this symbolism depicts that God's people in this final work are not to labor at cross purposes. All are to speak the same thing. So it is that His "Watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion." Isa. 52:8. Then His people shall be

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called "The Holy people, The redeemed of the Lord," "Sought out, A city not forsaken" (Isa. 62:12). {1TG8: 26.6}

Zech. 6:12 -- "And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and He shall grow up out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the Lord." {1TG8: 27.1}

Joshua is well instructed that the burden and the ingenuity for building this spiritual temple, belongs to Him Whose name is "the BRANCH." He is to grow out of His place. To Him be the glory. He alone is to be exalted. He is to build the temple of the Lord. {1TG8: 27.2}

Zech. 6:13, 15 -- "Even He shall build the temple of the Lord; and He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.... And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the Lord, and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God." {1TG8: 27.3}

Thus shall the prophecies of Isaiah, chapters two and four, also the fourth chapter of Micah be fulfilled. {1TG8: 27.4}

Finally, how do we know for certain that this message was planned and recorded especially for the church of today? -- We know it from the fact that the revelation of these scriptures is now, never before, unveiled and proclaimed. Now its proclamation makes known that the Lord "is taking the reins in His Own hands" (Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 300); that the time of the purification of the church (the Judgment of the Living in the house of God -- 1 Pet. 4:17) is at hand (Testimonies, Vol. 5, pg. 80); that the purified ones, the 144,000 (the wheat) -- Rev. 14:1 are to be put in the barn (Matt. 13:30), no longer to be commingled with the tares; that an innumerable multitude from

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all nations (Rev. 7:9), are to be brought to the house of the Lord (Isa. 66:19, 20). {1TG8: 27.5}

You, yourself, can now answer the question as to whether you are a Davidian or still a Laodicean. If you are satisfied with yourself, with your spiritual attainments, with your man-made gospel program; if you think that the Lord is speaking to you by whatever happens to "click" in your mind; if you think you have all the Truth, and that you have need of nothing more; if you think that everyone who does not have your stamp of approval on his belief, is a false prophet; and if you are in constant fear that someone is everlastingly trying to deceive you because he teaches something new; if you never give it a thought that you may be slamming your door against a Truth-bearer who may be bringing to you the Lord's "eyesalve," and the "wedding garment" -- if you do all these or any part of them, then you must be as good a Laodicean as you can possibly be, not a Davidian. {1TG8: 28.1}

But if you are aware that your garments are filthy, and your iniquity not blotted out; if you realize that you are to walk in God's ways as He directs through the Joshua of today, if you are all for God and not at all for self or for the world, then, of course, you either are, or are beginning to be, a Davidian. If you have not attained to all of these, you should see that you do; and if you already have, then keep advancing in the light, and for certain you shall finally stand on Mt. Zion with the Lamb. {1TG8: 28.2}

Now take the counsel of the Lord, and no longer be like a piece of bark drifting in the sea with every wind of doctrine. {1TG8: 28.3}

"...The people of God are represented in the message

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to the Laodiceans as in a position of carnal security. They are at ease, believing themselves to be in an exalted condition of spiritual attainments.... {1TG8: 28.4}

"What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and his testimony must be correct." -- Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 3, pp. 252, 253. {1TG8: 29.1}

We have no right to judge a man

Until he's fairly tried;

Should we not like his company,

We know the world is wide.

Some may have faults -- and who has not?

The old as well as young;

Perhaps we may, for aught we know,

Have fifty to their one.

--Joseph Kronthal

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Trust And Obey

When we walk with the Lord

in the light of His Word,

What a glory He sheds on our way!

While we do His good will,

He abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear,

not a sorrow we share,

But our toil He doth richly repay;

Not a grief nor a loss,

not a frown nor a cross,

But is blest if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove

the delights of His love,

Until all on the altar we lay,

For the favor He shows,

and the joy He bestows,

Are for them who will trust and obey.

--J.H. Sammis

4. Answerer #4, PP. 18, 19, question 82

SPUED OUT, OR CAST OUT?

Question No. 82:

Please explain the following statement from "The Shepherd's Rod," Vol. 1, p. 153: "Now to His people He gives one year to make good." {ABN4: 18.3}

Answer:

The foregoing statement simply means that God limited the leaders of Laodicea to one year in which to accept the sealing message and to carry it to their respective churches. Upon their failing to do so by the end of this limited period of grace, He rejected them as His servants. And now, if any of them accept the additional

18

message (Testimonies to Ministers, p. 106; Gospel Workers, p. 304), and desire to carry it to the laity, they may do so only under the direction of the present message--the "reorganization" spoken of in Christ Our Righteousness, 1941 Edition, p. 121. {ABN4: 18.4}

5. Timely Greetings, Vol. 2, #20

THE LAODICEANS PERISH WITHOUT THE "MESSAGE TO THE LAODICEANS"

TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T. HOUTEFF,

MINISTER OF D. SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

SABBATH, DECEMBER 27, 1947

MT. CARMEL CHAPEL

WACO, TEXAS

Rev. 3:15-17 -- "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." {2TG20: 18.1}

"What greater deception can come upon human minds than a confidence that they are right, when they are all wrong! The message of the True Witness finds the people of God in a sad deception, yet honest in that deception. They know not that their condition is deplorable in the sight of God. While those addressed are flattering themselves that they are in an exalted spiritual condition, the message of the True Witness breaks their security by the startling denunciation of their true condition of spiritual blindness, poverty, and wretchedness. The testimony, so cutting and severe, cannot be a mistake, for it is the True Witness who speaks, and his testimony must be correct." -- Testimonies, Vol. 3, pp. 252-253. {2TG20: 18.2}

When people are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked as are the Laodiceans, and do

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not know it, then the only title that can be given them is "Deceived," yet ironically the Laodiceans are the people most fearful of being deceived! They think themselves in need of nothing, although the Lord Himself says that they are in need of everything. They think themselves rich and increased with goods. What goods? -- Not money, I am sure, for right along we hear them calling for money, even begging for it. {2TG20: 18.3}

It is with supposedly sufficient Bible Truth that they are satisfied. They are confident that they have all the revealed Truth they need to take them through to the Kingdom. This is their great deception. They do not know their great need of Truth now while the Church is about to enter upon the final phase of her work. They do not realize that this next phase of the Church's work cannot be carried on with her old phase of Truth. The Church now can no more do without the additional message (Early Writings, pg. 277) than could she at the closing of the Old Testament era have entered the Christian dispensation with the Old Testament ceremonial Truth isolated from the Gospel. {2TG20: 19.1}

But, sad to say, to speak to the Laodiceans of more Truth than what they already have is to incur their greatest displeasure: and the idea that they need no more Truth, that they have it all, and that someone is always trying to deceive them, has been drilled into them as deeply as it can be drilled. This has made them prejudiced and suspicious of everyone who dares approach them with something new. This is what puts them in as bad a position as the Jews of old. Plain it is that if the Laodiceans choose thus to remain lukewarm, satisfied in their deception, they shall be spued out and forever

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left without hope. {2TG20: 19.2}

Rev. 3:18 -- "I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." {2TG20: 20.1}

The gold tried in the fire obviously represents inspired Truth for this time, the only truth that saves, the only kind God would sell. And what can be the white raiment which the True Witness urges them to buy, if not the righteousness of Christ? {2TG20: 20.2}

And what must one do to obtain these? -- We shall find the answer in-- {2TG20: 20.3}

Mic. 6:5--"O My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the Lord." {2TG20: 20.4}

Here we are admonished to remember Balak's question and Balaam's answer if we would know the righteousness of the Lord. Let us turn to-- {2TG20: 20.5}

Num. 24:17-24 -- "I shall see Him, but not now: I shall behold Him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come He that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and

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said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. And he looked on the Kenites, and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwellingplace, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. Nevertheless the Kenite shall be wasted, until Asshur shall carry thee away captive. And he took up his parable, and said, Alas, who shall live when God doeth this! And ships shall come from the coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Asshur, and shall afflict Eber, and he also shall perish for ever." {2TG20: 20.6}

Obviously this is a prophecy of Christ having taken "the reins in His own hands." Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 300. Such is His Righteousness that we are urged to know. Concretely speaking, knowing the righteousness of Christ is knowing whole-heartedly that in the latter days He is to take the Scepter, that He is to reign; that at the outset He is to smite the "corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth"; that Edom and Seir shall be a possession for His enemies; that Israel shall do valiantly; that He shall have dominion, and so on. According to Scripture, this is our righteousness of Christ if we know it. And he who realizes that the reign of Christ and His kingdom is not something intangible, not something imaginary floating in space, as it were, somewhere across hell, but a real thing, as real as any of the kingdoms today, will immediately inquire, as did the Apostle Paul, "What wilt Thou have me to do Lord?" This we shall again see from the prophecy of Micah-- {2TG20: 21.1}

Mic. 6:6, 7--"Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with

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calves of a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" {2TG20: 21.2}

This inquiry by the people in the unfolding of this scripture reveals what they think would be most pleasing to the Lord. They think a gift of some kind from material things is perhaps the most acceptable gift they can offer for the remission of their sins. We with our own eyes actually see this very thing throughout our churches. This same condition obtained in the days of Christ's first advent: The Jews were very particular about paying tithe even on the minutest item of income, on such as mint, anise, and cummin, but they omitted "the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith." Matt. 23:23. Honest tithing was to their credit, said the Lord, but tithing should never replace judgment, mercy, and faith. This same answer comes to us today through the prophet Micah: {2TG20: 22.1}

Micah 6:8 -- "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" {2TG20: 22.2}

Once having caught the vision of the great need for revival and reformation, God's people are willing to do almost anything, even to sacrificing their first-born. {2TG20: 22.3}

For further information Inspiration advises-- {2TG20: 22.4}

Mic. 6:9 -- "...Hear ye the rod, and Who hath

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appointed it." {2TG20: 22.5}

These are God's answers to the question, "Wherewith shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before the high God?" {2TG20: 23.1}

Since we are asked to do "justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with [our] God," it must be that we as a people are not practicing these things, that there is dishonesty, inconsiderateness, and pride. We are glad, though, that we are not hopelessly condemned for our iniquities, but that we are invited to give them up, to forsake them, if we expect to stand on Mount Zion with the Lamb. {2TG20: 23.2}

Through the prophet Ezekiel we are shown wherein we abuse the gift of mercy and justice: {2TG20: 23.3}

Ezek. 34:21, 22, 31 -- "Because ye have thrust with side and with shoulder, and pushed all the diseased with your horns, till ye have scattered them abroad; therefore will I save My flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between cattle and cattle.... And ye My flock, the flock of My pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God." {2TG20: 23.4}

The diseased, the weak, are of course those who are less influential, and for one reason or another are unable to hold their own. These are pushed and horned out by the stronger, the unjust and unmerciful class, the class who control the work. This class is nevertheless eventually to be judged. {2TG20: 23.5}

There is but one safe course to pursue if we would find favor with the Lord, and that course is out lined by the prophet Isaiah: {2TG20: 23.6}

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Isa. 7:21, 22--"And it shall come to pass in that day, that a man shall nourish a young cow, and two sheep; and it shall come to pass, for the abundance of milk that they shall give that he shall eat butter: for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land." {2TG20: 24.1}

Imagine one cow and two sheep supplying with butter and honey all who are left in the land! Since a literal cow and two sheep could not possibly do this, we must agree that they are symbolical of something which is not only capable of producing an abundance of milk, but is able also to preserve the lives of its patrons. {2TG20: 24.2}

There is but one thing that consists of three such parts (two sheep and a young cow) that is capable of keeping the world alive, and that is the Bible -- unfolded by the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit that leads into all Truth. The two sheep, not being young, and two of a kind, must be symbolical of the Bible Itself, both Old and New Testaments. The cow being young and larger in size, is obviously symbolical of something of later origin, and more voluminous than the Bible itself. Hence it is none other than the published works of the everliving Spirit of Prophecy -- the inspired interpretation of the Scriptures. {2TG20: 24.3}

Those that are left in the land, therefore, when Christ takes His scepter to reign, are those who live on the butter and honey which only the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy can supply. All others are to perish with the modern Edomites and Moabites. {2TG20: 24.4}

In the same symbolical prophecy we are shown

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that Christ Himself learned the difference between right and wrong by studying the Scriptures: {2TG20: 24.5}

Isa. 7:14, 15 -- "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall He eat, that He may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good. {2TG20: 25.1}

No one would deny, as mentioned in our last week's study, that this is a prophecy of Christ's first advent. And as we have the record that His diet was not of dairy butter and of bee honey, not restricted as was John the Baptist's, also by the fact that no literal butter and honey has the efficacy of compelling anyone to choose the good and to refuse the evil, it all proves that the "butter and honey" are symbolical of the Word of God, that Christ Himself learned from the Scriptures to choose the good and to refuse the evil. {2TG20: 25.2}

Here you see that one needs a daily supply of spiritual butter and honey if he is to sustain his spiritual life. That is, yesterday's meal could not take the place of the meal today -- no, no more than Noah's inspired message for his day, can take the place of the inspired message of the Kingdom today. {2TG20: 25.3}

Only the Heaven-sent message for today can save the people of today. This is just as real and as true and as logical as it is to say that the living cannot be judged with the message of the judgment of the Dead. Yes, "blessed is that...faithful and wise servant, whom His Lord hath made ruler over His household, to give them

25

meat in due season." Matt. 24:45, 46. {2TG20: 25.4}

To further realize that we need to study in order to recognize the abominations that surround us, and to know how to avoid them, I shall read from Testimonies to Ministers, pg. 445: {2TG20: 26.1}

"This sealing of the servants of God [the 144,000] is the same that was shown to Ezekiel in vision. John also had been a witness of this most startling revelation." {2TG20: 26.2}

Ezek. 9:4-6 -- "And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others He said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at My sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house." {2TG20: 26.3}

When the day approaches for this scripture to be fulfilled, then its truth must be the "meat in due season" for the people at that time. Nothing else can take its place. And so we see that as Nineveh was spared by the message to it, so the Laodiceans can only be saved by the "Message to the Laodiceans." {2TG20: 26.4}

From the following we see that the message to the Laodiceans is to bear fruit, that many will learn to choose the good and to refuse the evil: {2TG20: 26.5}

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"In the time when his wrath shall go forth in judgments, these humble, devoted followers of Christ will be distinguished from the rest of the world by their soul-anguish, which is expressed in lamentation and weeping, reproofs and warnings. While others try to throw a cloak over the existing evil, and excuse the great wickedness everywhere prevalent, those who have a zeal for God's honor and a love for souls, will not hold their peace to obtain favor of any. Their righteous souls are vexed day by day with the unholy works and conversation of the unrighteous. They are powerless to stop the rushing torrent of iniquity, and hence they are filled with grief and alarm. They mourn before God to see religion despised in the very homes of those who have had great light. They lament and afflict their souls because pride, avarice, selfishness, and deception of almost every kind are in the church." -- Testimonies, Vol. 5, pg. 210. {2TG20: 27.1}

Since we now clearly see that the Laodiceans perish without the message to the Laodiceans, we should hold fast to the Truth for this time, and win our crown of life, and in addition to it we shall be credited with a good harvest of souls and with the commendation "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Matt. 25:23. {2TG20: 27.2}