Leaderboard

Sounds like the HS is withdrawn slowly - one person at a time. That seems very plausible to me. But when does it reach "critical mass" - "cup is full"? What decides this point? There were babies and young children in the cities that Joshua destroyed. My own belief is that Satan would have claimed some right of control, over these children. Bringing such children into the camp of Israel would have brought the Curse with them. Doesn't mean these children will remain forever un-save-able. They can be resurrected at the 8th millennium with "the rest of the dead" (all who lived and died in ignorance of the true God and Christ). At that time, Christ will have dominion over all the earth, (and everything/every one on the earth). Curses carried from generation to generation - a sort of ownership claimed by Satan - will no longer apply. At that time each resurrected individual will have the opportunity to choose whom he will serve. Those resurrected to judgment and execution at the Second Coming - already chose to serve The Evil One. I think Daniel 12:7 gives the answer. Daniel 12:7 "Then I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever, that it shall be for a time, times, and half a time; and when the power of the holy people has been completely shattered, all these things shall be finished." (NKJ) What would it mean to "shatter" "the power of the holy people" ?? How do they stop someone who is filled with the Holy Spirit? The only ways I can think of, are imprisonment and/or death. All the disciples except John, were martyred. Some were imprisoned - all in an effort to silence them. It seems to me, that the moment when the LAST WITNESS is killed or is in solitary confinement - THAT is when it's over (for this age). Jeremiah - the only/last "witness" for the LORD, was thrown into a pit to die. He was finally pulled out, just as Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. Revelation describes the last "two witnesses". They are martyred, then resurrected by a "voice" from Heaven, and "they ascended to heaven in a cloud". I believe this is the Second Coming, because "in the same hour there was a great earthquake" (the one that splits the Mount of Olives) and the 7th trumpet sounds. (Read Rev 11:11-15 without a chapter break.) The "two witnesses" are not just two men. I believe they will be/are Smyrna and Philadelphia (the church of the martyrs and the church of brotherly love), the last two lamps on the Lamp Stand of the heavenly Tabernacle, depicted in the vision of John.

This is making assumptions that may or may not be true. As Seventh-day Adventists we understand things happening before creation week which are important in the issues of the Great Controversy. While Mrs. White DOES talk some more about this because it is important in the Great Controversy, it is implied in the words translated "Without form and void" and the waters of chaos. While it is possible for man and Dinosaurs to have existed together and they being destroyed at the flood, we are also open to the possibilities that they may have played a role in the pre-creation week things that were going on here in helping the angels and beings on the other worlds decide what side of the Great Controversy to be on.

I'm with Joe, in believing their were/are TWO divine beings. "God" IS our Father, and our Father IS "God". He is the ORIGINAL divine being. "God" beget another divine being, from out of Himself. This second divine being "God" called "My Son". Jesus called Himself "the Beginning", so I believe that His begetting WAS "the Beginning". The Son was exactly like His Father in every way. God the Father created THROUGH His Son. He then communicated with the creation THROUGH His Son. He reconciles us to Himself THROUGH His Son. He also judges THROUGH His Son, and will heal THROUGH His Son. The Father - in fact - does everything, THROUGH His Son. The Son then incarnated (with the help of His Father, Heb. 1:6). He took the form and the nature of a male human being. Before incarnating He "emptied Himself" of all divine powers. During His sojourn on the earth, the only divine power available to "the Son" was the infilling of the Holy Spirit (His Father - Matt 1:18&20). Jesus did say, "The Father who dwells in me, does the works" (John 17:5), and "You Father are in Me" (John 17:21). After completion of His assignment on the earth, the Son returned to His Father in Heaven. The Father then "glorified" His Son, restoring to Him to that glory He once shared with His Father. The Father restored to His Son those divine powers He had given up, to incarnate as a human. The Son then baptized His followers on earth with His spirit presence. This is my belief. I do not believe it is a salvational issue - at least not for those who have not clearly understood it. I have completed my series of studies on "The Trinity Question". Anyone interested can find the series on prophecyviewpoint.com.