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I agree with the lines in bold. Jesus IS "pleading in our behalf". He is NOT pleading with His Father. He is pleading WITH us. We are the ones who need to change. God does not change. And yes - we should confess our sins and receive forgiveness BEFORE Jesus ENTERS the Most Holy Place for the final Day of Atonement. Once the High Priest ENTERED the Most Holy Place on the Day of Atonement - no more sins could be forgiven. The LORD would "cut off" every one who did not prepare for that DAY, and maintain a humble attitude ON that DAY. What is it, hch, that you want to discuss? Time periods?

Rachel said: People who physically die, are NOT yet "dead" - to God, because He can resurrect them to continued life. Jesus said: John 11:26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die" (NKJ). Obviously millions who have believed in Jesus, have physically died. Jesus was speaking of the "second death" - the eternal death from which there is no resurrection. Jesus called the first death - "sleep". Millions of believers are sleeping in the dust. They are not "dead" to God, because He can wake them.

The following is a statement from the North American Division of SDAs and published in NAD News Points, today, June 16, 2018. “Suffer the Little Children …” – An Appeal From the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America As Jesus was preaching in Israel, parents started to bring their young infants for Him to bless. The disciples became frustrated with this and started to push the parents away. Jesus responded with words that ring true today: “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein” (Luke 18:16-17, KJV). Recent events in the United States have brought the news of young children being separated from their parents as they cross our borders. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America joins other faith-based groups in expressing concern over these actions, and it is deeply worried when biblical texts are used by those in power to affirm them. We strongly encourage all political parties to quickly seek a joint resolution that will not only bring these separated families back together, but also keep this from ever happening again. We affirm the right of our government to protect its borders and enforce the law; but it is a moral obligation of this country to protect all who cross our borders. Romans 13:10 guides us with these words: “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” Please join us in praying for the families that are currently separated and fearful for those they love. May they soon find peace and joy in each other’s arms.

I will sugest that it should be noted that both the North American Division of SDAs and the Pacific Union Conference have chosen to release a statement that some will say is political during the hours of the Sabbath. Perhaps the Sabbath is more for "good works" than some have recognized in the past. I also note with interest that comment in both releases related to the misuse of Scripture to support the political agenda.

I think I said, "to God". Physical death "is sleep" TO God, because HE can "wake" them. Resurrection is something ONLY God can do. That's why, "to HIM" - physical death is LIKE "sleep" is TO us.

In what sense then would those be believed in Jesus, "never die"? That was 2000 years ago! Of course they physically died. But that is just "sleep" to God, as it was to Christ.

Nowhere in that specific verse, but it is straightforward to conclude from the context of other scriptures that Jesus was speaking of the second death. He obviously resurrected people who had suffered the first death. At His resurrection, many other graves were opened and saints resurrected from the grave.

In Numbers 6 where it describes the Nazarite vow it specifies that a person who takes the vow will not eat anything produced by the grapevine, not even seeds or skins. The Nazarite vow was a special vow that wasn't normally required for people following God's Law of Moses. It was for people who wanted to do something extra to set themselves apart for God for a time. Samson was set apart by God for a special role, starting before he was born. His parents were instructed that he should follow requirements that were similar to the requirements for a Nazarite vow -- no cutting of the hair, eating nothing from the grapevine.

I came across a great lecture by Lyle Albrecht about the History of the Secret Rapture! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlxWdO9pWPY

The baker does not seem to believe moral law is silent in this case. He would probably disagree with many on this forum believing that his personal and religious conviction does have moral value. He is not forcing anyone to share his values, only to practise his own.

The fuller context! You copied one sentence from a paragraph and copied it to another. Misleading....both sentences are accurate, but when put together in your post it takes the reader down the road to perhaps the wrong conclusion of what the writer of the article was trying to say....like campaign adds!!! "At stake" means the possibility of, as the writer wrote. at stake in danger of being lost (Cambridge Dictionary) A fair numbers of posters in these forums often take the view that various events can lead to an 'end time event' or some other 'slippery slope' happening. I can very well see others, considering the conservative religious climate, trying to use this decision in a attempt to make "activity that can be considered artistic or custom".....flowers, haircuts, catering, make-up, clothing, hotel stays, and the list goes on." It all depends on ones point of view. It can just start with one small win but there are more waiting in the wings. Time will tell. Discrimination is not a matter of many, in order to be true, it is true if just one is.

(The below was copied from the article" “The time of trouble is about to come upon the people of God. Then it is that the decree will go forth forbidding those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord to buy or sell, and threatening them with punishment, and even death, if they do not observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath” (Last Day Events 257.4, emphasis added). What is at stake in the bakery case is quite literally the ability of sexual minorities to buy and sell." This is NOT about the rights of sexual minorities to buy and sell. There are PLENTY of other bakeries in Denver who would have baked a wedding cake for a gay couple. There are even some excellent Middle Eastern Bakeries here run by Muslims. Why didn't they look for a cake at one of them? Or any of the hundreds of bakeries (including Christian bakeries) that would bake a cake for a gay couple. Now, if a significant number of the Christian (and other anti-gay) bakers in Denver formed a coalition determined not to sell products to gay couples, that would be discrimination. I would not be surprised if this baker wasn't targeted by the gay community here in Denver because of his strong religious stance - right or wrong.

I am likely one of the individuals you are talking about. I don't totally "disregard EGW; I just question her when I can't find anything in scripture to back up what she says. I don't disregard the Holy Spirit; I just question the "personhood" of the HS. The Holy Spirit is as real to me as the Father and Son; it's just not a Person (IMHO). Just because an author is not an Adventist does not make him/her wrong or a heretic. Sometimes I have a difficult time following your logic. If everyone here thought exactly the same way everyone else thought there would be no discussion except unanimous "likes". As rudywoofs says, "when the choir sings in unison, there is no harmony".

Wars and violence and has very much been a part of Christianity for most parts of it's Own history. Until the State stepped in and said you cant do that. I don't think the State is inclined to stop it this time. The State says it's Christian.