Increased Light? On What?

[skyblue888]

Among the theories in circulation in regard to the 144,000 is the one which holds that these will be selected from the Adventist church, will be judged and sealed, and then in turn go out and during the loud cry win the great multitude to the truth.

Really, it is quite surprising the number of groups who hold to this view in one modified form or the other. However, a careful and honest searching through the evidences in the prophetic word shows that this position is not sound.

The principle argument used to support this view is based on Revelation 14:3. "These were redeemed from among men, being the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb."

This clearly states that the 144,000 will be the first fruits of the earth's harvest. In the fifteenth verse of the same chapter, as Christ is descending in the clouds of heaven, the "angel" coming out of the temple says to Him who is sitting on the cloud with the sickle in His hands, "Thrust in Thy sickle and reap; for the time is come for Thee to reap, for the harvest of the earth is ripe."

From this it is assumed that the harvest is the gathering of the saved in the last days when the latter rain falls and ripens the harvest of the earth for the coming of the Son of Man.

In the type of the harvest there are first fruits which are reaped first, after which the main body of the harvest is garnered. So it is reasoned that the 144,000 are reaped first and then after that the great multitude as the second fruits.

Analyzing this reasoning shows that the expression "first" here is in the light of a point of time. That is, the special group come to full maturity and perfection at a point of time ahead of the rest of the harvest which matures a little later and will also be harvested a little later.

Such is the theory which, not only does not find support in the Word of God, but is also at variance with the symbolism from nature. While it is true that in some crops such as citrus and even some kinds of grapes there is a small proportion of choice fruit which ripens ahead of the rest and can be harvested ahead of the rest, this is not true in the wheat and barley fields which are used as the symbols here.

You do not go out and take off a sheaf or two of ripened firstfruits before the latter rain, as the above theory suggests, and then at the end of the latter rain go out and harvest the rest.

Instead, the farmer waits till the latter rain has done its full work and the whole field is a golden harvest brown, then he takes a first fruit sheaf from the rest which is also ready for the harvest. The very fact that he can reap the first fruits is at the same time the indication that the rest is also ready.

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[skyblue888]

The real meaning of the word "first fruit" is a spiritual one which has no connection with a point of time whatsoever. This truth is made very plain indeed in the Scriptures as we shall proceed to see. We are to keep in mind that the Bible has its own language and is its own interpreter of that language. When the Bible uses the word "first fruits," it is seeking to give us a certain message through that symbolism. There is a very real danger that the reader will fail to comprehend the intended message, so, to leave us with no excuse, the word is used elsewhere within a context which leaves no doubt whatsoever as to what the word is intended to mean. In this way the Bible is its own interpreter.

The important thing is to understand that once we have found what the Bible means when it uses a certain word, that the meaning and use is consistent throughout the inspired word. That is to say, the meaning of "first fruits" cannot be one thing in one place and then something else in another.

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[skyblue888]

Let us go elsewhere in the word to see how the word "first fruits" is used apart from the 144,000. There is a truly plain and clear-cut example, the fact that Jesus Christ is stated to be the "first fruits" of those who had died and needed to be resurrected to eternal life. There are three Scriptures in particular which speak of this. The first we shall quote from 1 Cor.15:20:

"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept."

The other two read thus: "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithfull witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth." Revelation 1:5,6.

"And He is the Head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the first born from the dead; that in all things He might have pre-eminence." Col.1:18.

A moment's reflection will show at once that the Bible does not intend that we understand that His being the first fruits, the first born, or the first begotten from the dead, to mean that that He was the first One to be raised, and that after His resurrection all the rest follow, for He was by no means the first to be raised from the dead, so far as first in point of time is concerned.

Before He came forth from the dusty tomb there were seven others who had raised before Him. Moses was the first in point of time, so that if time was a factor, then Moses and not Christ should have been designated as the first fruits of them that slept. After Moses, the others in their order are as follows:

The son of the widow of Zarephath, as raised through the prayer and faith of Elijah. 1 kings 17:17-24.

The Shunemite's son of Elisha's day. 2 Kings 4:34-37.

Jairus' daughter, Mark 5:23-43.

The widow of Nain's son, Luke 7:11-18;

and Lazarus, John 11:1-46.

Yet, despite the fact that Jesus was actually the eighth to be raised from the dead, He is designated as being the first fruits of them that slept, the first begotten of the dead, and the first born from the dead. This does not mean that we have a contradiction except between what the Bible is actually saying and what we think of the word "first fruits" as meaning.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

In what sense, then, was Jesus in actual fact the first fruits of them that slept, the first begotten from the dead, and the first born from the dead?

As we can plainly see, it is not in respect to a point of time. One could reason next that He is the first fruit in point of quality and excellence, and this is true, but still fails to really come to the point of the message to be contained in this symbolism.

Let us return again to the symbolism as it is found in nature in the field of grain which has come to the point where it is ready for the harvest.

In the land of Israel God had ordained a symbolic service called the FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS in which the people were required to bring an offering of the field before they could reap the rest of the harvest.

"From the harvest fields the first heads of ripened grain were gathered, and when the people went to Jerusalem to the Passover, the sheaf of first fruits was waved as a thank offering before the Lord. Not until this was presented could the sickle be put to the grain, and it be gathered into sheaves." Desire of Ages,786.

Likewise, until Jesus had died and been raised from the dead, the remainder of the harvest could never be reaped, and there could be no resurrection for anyone. The evidence for this is given in 1 Cor.15:13-18.

"If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."

Thus, in the clearest possible terms Paul has stated to the Corinthians, to us, and to all men the truth that without the resurrection of Jesus there could be no resurrection for anyone. More than this, there could not even be deliverance from sin.

But how can this be? Was not the sacrifice of Jesus for sins upon the cross full, ample, and complete?

There is not the least question but that it was, and there is nothing which needs to be added to it in order to bring salvation, but it has to be remembered that what Jesus won on the cross He alone is the Custodian and the Administrator of.

On the cross, by His shed blood, "He obtained eternal redemption for us," Hebrews 9:12, but what He obtained there, He took with Him, as in the very nature of the situation He had to do, right down into the tomb with Him. He alone could do that, just as He is the One and only One who could pay the supreme price for the salvation of mankind.

Therefore, if the devil could have held the Saviour in the tomb, then all that Jesus was and is the Custodian of would have been held there in the tomb with Him, where it could not do the slightest amount of good for anyone in the whole world. In other words, all would have been lost, the plan of salvation would have been made of none effect, and we would indeed be without God and hope in the world, or, to put it in the words of Holy Writ, "If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."

Therefore, any "gospel" which preaches only the death of Christ as being the full message falls short of that which is the real and the full gospel.

sky

[Gibs]

Sky, A quote from EGW on His resurrection,

Over the rent sepulcher of Joseph, Christ had proclaimed in triumph, “I am the resurrection, and the life.” These words could be spoken only by the Deity. All created beings live by the will and power of God. They are dependent recipients of the life of God. From the highest seraph to the humblest animate being, all are replenished from the Source of life. Only He who is one with God could say, I have power to lay down My life, and I have power to take it again. In His divinity, Christ possessed the power to break the bonds of death. . . . {CSA 43.7}

As Christ arose, He brought from the grave a multitude of captives. The earthquake at His death had rent open their graves, and when He arose, they came forth with Him. They were those who had been co-laborers with God, and who at the cost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth. Now they were to be witnesses for Him who had raised them from the dead. . . . {CSA 44.1}

But those who came forth from the grave at Christ’s resurrection were raised to everlasting life. They ascended with Him as trophies of His victory over death and the grave. . . . {CSA 44.2}

To the believer, Christ is the resurrection and the life. In our Saviour the life that was lost through sin is restored; for He has life in Himself to quicken whom He will. He is invested with the right to give immortality. The life that He laid down in humanity, He takes up again, and gives to humanity. “I am come,” He said, “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”“Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”“Whoso eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 10:10; 4:14; 6:54. {CSA 44.3}

To the believer, death is but a small matter. Christ speaks of it as if it were of little moment. “If a man keep My saying, he shall never see death,”“he shall never taste of death.” To the Christian, death is but a sleep, a moment of silence and darkness. The life is hid with Christ in God, and “when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” John 8:51, 52; Colossians 3:4. 68 {CSA 44.4}

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[skyblue888]

Thanks Gibs for these quotes. And now we are to focus on the 144,000 who are said to be the first fruits. Rev.14:4.

A dead Saviour cannot save us at all. He had to come forth from the tomb and ascend into the Sanctuary above, by virtue of which ministry, He served at the right hand of the Father. He "is able to save them to the uttermost who come unto God by Him seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Hebrews 7:25.

"The intercession of Christ in our behalf is that of presenting His DIVINE MERITS in the offering of Himself to the Father as our substitute and surety; for He ascended up on High to make atonement for our transgressions." Faith & Works,105.

When He opened the grave on the resurrection morning, He opened it for all of the redeemed of all time. That resurrection was the key to all the rest, just as the sheaf of first fruits was the key to the rest of the harvest.

It is in this sense that Jesus was the first fruits of them that slept. It was not, as we have seen, anything to do with time, for when it comes to a point of time we see that He was by no means the first to come forth from the tomb, nor was it a question of quality, although without doubt He is the pre-eminent One of all those who come forth from the grave. He was the first fruits in the sense that His resurrection had to take place before the bars of death could be broken and the rest of the children of men who have availed themselves of salvation could be delivered from death.

The question could be raised that if this is so, how is it that some did come forth from the prison house before Jesus had gone into it and actually broken its bars? Jesus Christ is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, and while He did not actually die until the cross, yet His life was so completely committed to it that to all intents and purposes it was already done. Those resurrections, therefore, were accomplished on the certainty of Jesus gaining the victory in actual fact when the battle was finally fought out.

But, should He have failed in His human nature, as in the Garden of Gethsemane He feared that He would, then God would have had to deliver even those who had been raised back to the tomb for Satan could and would claim them as his lawful captives.

With what intense interest, then, must Enoch and Elijah have followed the scenes upon this earth as the Saviour contended with Satan until He was finally laid in the sepulchre! They were a part of the harvest, and their being gathererd permanently into the heavenly garner depended upon the successful bringing in of the first fruits.

Thus, the Word of God makes very clear and plain just what is meant by the expression, "the first fruits". Having thus established so clearly the meaning of the word through this illustration and situation, then the Bible, being totally consistent with itself, will use the word "first fruits" elsewhere with the same meaning exactly, as in this place at which we have just looked. The one is the key to the understanding of the other; the moving from the known to the unknown.

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[skyblue888]

Equipped as we now are with the understanding of the type of the first fruits and of the fulfillment of that type in the case of Jesus as the first fruits of them that slept, we are able to travel a stage further to the point where we can understand how it will be that the 144,000 will be the first fruits.

In the very first case we have seen that the point of time has nothing to do with their being the first fruits. We have seen that if the point of time was the deciding factor with Jesus being the first fruits, then He never could have been. The honor instead would have passed to Moses who was the first in time to be raised from the dead.

Likewise, if the point in time is to be the deciding factor with the 144,000, then they could never be the first fruits, for they will not be the first ones in time to receive the seal of the living God. In referring to the seal here, we mean the second and final seal by which the righteous one is designated as ready for the harvest. The 144,000 are not the first ones in point of time to receive this seal but in fact are the very last in point of time.

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[skyblue888]

In 1844, the sealing work began in which the righteous dead received the second and final seal while they rested in their dusty beds and were thus designated as being certified for the great harvest on the resurrection day. That sealing work began right back with the very first believer to die in the days of Adam and progressed till it was taking care of each of those who died in the faith of the third angel's message as fast as each one ended his or her sojourn.

Yet, to say that the sealing work began in 1844, while it is true in the general sense, is to overlook the fact that all those who already are in Heaven, such as Moses, Enoch, and Elijah, together with the martyrs of the Old Testament who were raised with Jesus and went to Heaven with Him, must have received the second and final seal before they could enter the heavenly courts.

There is coming a time when the very last of the righteous dead will have been judged and sealed and the sealing work will pass to the righteous living--those who are to be the 144,000. And when that time comes they will be the only ones left who are to be sealed at all, so then, when it comes to a point of time, they will not be the first to be sealed at all but the very last.

If in order to qualify as the first fruits, they would have to be the first to be sealed, then they could never qualify. One might argue that of those who are living they will be the first, but even this is not true, for Enoch and Elijah both received the final seal while living and were translated to Heaven as a result.

As we have learned from the study of the order of last day events, no one among the living can receive the second and final seal until they have faced and passed the great final test which comes at the very end of probationary time, just before the beginning of the time of Jacob's trouble.

This fact immediately puts an end to the idea that a certain class will receive the final seal at the beginning of the latter rain to go out and gather the rest of the harvest, who will, in turn, make up the great multitude. Such an idea is far from the truth and is a denial of the very principle involved in the question of what the first fruits mean.

Therefore, in the very nature of the case, just as it was in the experience of Christ as the first fruits, the 144,000 will never qualify as the first fruits if it is to be a matter of precedence in time.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

In the last posts we saw that the 144,000 cannot be the first fruits because of any precedence in point of time but because through them Christ will accomplish a work without the successful accomplishment of which there can never be a harvest of the rest (general resurrection).

To understand this we need to be clear on the legal issues at stake in the great controversy itself, so that we shall comprehend what the devil is seeking to accomplish and what the Lord must accomplish before the closing of the great controversy.

That there is something very much at stake in the matter of the perfection of the 144,000 while still living, and that upon that work hinges the fate of all the righteous in all ages, as well as the security and the prosperity of the universe, is made clear from the following statement.

"Satan numbers the world as his subjects, he has gained control of the apostate churches; but here is a little company that are resisting his supremacy. If he could blot them out from the earth, his triumph would be complete." 5 T 472-473.

The context shows that it is speaking of that time when the devil has gained control of the whole world, and only a tiny remnant remain in defiance of his determination to rule the world and break the plan of salvation. The setting is the closing scenes of the great day of atonement when only the 144,000 are left alive of all who are the faithful of God.

The only hope he has of being able to blot them out from the earth is to break their faith in the saving power of God and thus lead them into sin at a time when the sanctuary service is closed and the ministry for sin is ended. If he could do this, then he could and would destroy them out of existence and if he could do that then his triumph would be complete. In other words he would be the victor in the great controversy of the ages. he would have proved his point and thus would have proved God to be the liar in the situation.

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[skyblue888]

From the beginning of the great controversy, Satan has declared that the law of God is unjust, oppressive, and self-serving so far as God is concerned, and therefore cannot be obeyed by any created being. He made this "discovery" when he stood in the very light of God's presence and, beginning to look upon his own brightness and talent and seeing himself as being worthy of a position far better and higher than that which had been assigned to him, naturally thought at first that the Lord would see him as he saw himself and would elevate him to a position of equality with Christ.

But as time went by, he saw no evidence on the part of the Lord that He would give to him the position which, in his own eyes, he felt was worthy of himself.

Instead of checking to see if he really was what he thought he was, he then revised his attitude to the law of God and decided that the Lord was keeping him down so that he could preserve a special place and position for Himself and for His Son Jesus Christ. Thus he "discovered", because of his now warped and self centered view of matters, that the law of God was designed to serve a self-serving God, and was not for the happiness of the creatures at all but only to bind them in slavish bondage to the supreme power of God and the Son.

So it was that he purposed in his heart that if the Lord would not give him that which he deemed as being rightfully his and what he considered was being withdrawn from him by a selfish and self-serving God, he would rise up and take it by force. He reasoned that his reaction was entirely justified and the only possible course to take once he realized that he had been "deceived" as to the true character of God, whom he now looked upon as being a master imposter.

It therefore became a conviction with him that the law of God could not truly be kept at all and that those who were obeying it were only doing so because they were in the tyranny of a terrible bondage. But let those created beings only be awakened to the great "discovery" he had made, and they with him, would end forever their servitude to God and the Son.

That this is so is not a matter of guesswork or of mind reading on our part, for the devil has come right out and said it.

sky

[skyblue888]

Look at the incident over Job in the Old Testament. There the evil one presented himself at the counsel of the Sons of God and was challenged by the Lord over the integrity of Job.

"Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and eschews evil?" Job 1:8.

In his reply Satan did not deny that Job was serving God, but he came right out and said that he was doing it only because he did not realize the true character of God. Job was so deceived that he saw God as Lucifer once saw Him, as a benefactor of His children, but let the Lord show his real character and let Job see that character as One who was an oppressor, and then Job would curse God to His face.

"Then Satan answered, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face." verses 9-11.

Thus Satan declared that rebellion is inevitable should the created beings once become aware of the true nature of the situation. With this conviction firmly in his mind, he went to work to assist the unfallen angels to a realization of their situation, and was successful in enlisting one third of the heavenly host over to his side in full and open rebellion against God. This was a significant victory on his part and gave him a great start in the now long standing controversy.

The gaining of the one third of the angel host was bad enough, if that is all that he did gain, but in actual fact the whole of the heavenly host were deceived in part and until the cross of Calvary followed God with some reservations. Up until that time there was the question in their minds that perhaps, after all, the devil was correct and that the Lord was deceiving them to a certain extent at least.

"Not until the death of Christ was the character of Satan clearly revealed to the angels or to the unfallen worlds. The archapostate had so clothed himself with deception that even holy beings had not understood his principles. They had not clearly seen the nature of his rebellion." Desire of Ages, 758.

to be continued

[Gibs]

Sky, and men today with Satan declare His Law of Love is unjust and cannot be kept. Men need and must have Christ's Love and indwelling to see and know different.

Men since the cross have witnessed the truth of Satan and should be satisfied as the Angels are now about God and His absolute just justice and the requirements are not galling at all but each and every one is totally for out good.

Without Christ man has no power to overcome and see through the great well oiled orator of deceit.

Now, today is the day of preparation to stand through the time coming and at hand and that time is short I am very sure.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[skyblue888]

Sky, and men today with Satan declare His Law of Love is unjust and cannot be kept. Men need and must have Christ's Love and indwelling to see and know different.

Men since the cross have witnessed the truth of Satan and should be satisfied as the Angels are now about God and His absolute just justice and the requirements are not galling at all but each and every one is totally for out good.

Without Christ man has no power to overcome and see through the great well oiled orator of deceit.

Now, today is the day of preparation to stand through the time coming and at hand and that time is short I am very sure.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Absolutely Gibs. I agree with you except that what the angels and the other worlds saw at the cross was not so obvious for the inbahitants of this world. And that is why the controversy has been allowed to continue. Not until this is accomplished for humanity through the 144,000 will the end come and the general resurrection take place.

This is what the battle of Armageddon will be all about. It will be fought between the 144,000 (Christ'character being reproduced in them) and Satan's character being manifest through his instruments.

At the time of the fifth plague the eyes of the whole world will be opened and then and then only will the great controversy be brought to an end for then Satan will have lost all his supporters as prophesied in Daniel 11:45 and Revelation 17.

sky

[skyblue888]

Look at the incident over Job in the Old Testament. There the evil one presented himself at the counsel of the Sons of God and was challenged by the Lord over the integrity of Job.

"Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and eschews evil?" Job 1:8.

In his reply Satan did not deny that Job was serving God, but he came right out and said that he was doing it only because he did not realize the true character of God. Job was so deceived that he saw God as Lucifer once saw Him, as a benefactor of His children, but let the Lord show his real character and let Job see that character as One who was an oppressor, and then Job would curse God to His face.

"Then Satan answered, Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his substance increased in the land. But put forth Your hand now, and touch all that he has, and he will curse You to Your face." verses 9-11.

Thus Satan declared that rebellion is inevitable should the created beings once become aware of the true nature of the situation. With this conviction firmly in his mind, he went to work to assist the unfallen angels to a realization of their situation, and was successful in enlisting one third of the heavenly host over to his side in full and open rebellion against God. This was a significant victory on his part and gave him a great start in the now long standing controversy.

The gaining of the one third of the angel host was bad enough, if that is all that he did gain, but in actual fact the whole of the heavenly host were deceived in part and until the cross of Calvary followed God with some reservations. Up until that time there was the question in their minds that perhaps, after all, the devil was correct and that the Lord was deceiving them to a certain extent at least.

"Not until the death of Christ was the character of Satan clearly revealed to the angels or to the unfallen worlds. The archapostate had so clothed himself with deception that even holy beings had not understood his principles. They had not clearly seen the nature of his rebellion." Desire of Ages, 758.

to be continued

"Satan saw his disguise torn away. His administration was laid open before the unfallen angels and before the heavenly universe. He had revealed himself as a murderer. By shedding the blood of the Son of God, he had uprooted himself from the sympathies of the heavenly beings. Henceforth his work was restricted. Whatever attitude he might assume, he could no longer await the angels as they came forth from the heavenly courts, and before them accuse Christ's brethren of being clothed with the garments of blackness and the defilement of sin. The last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken." Desire of Ages,761.

This statement clearly states that the last link of sympathy between Satan and the heavenly world was broken by his murdering Christ upon the cross of Calvary.

Now there is a decided difference between having a sympathy WITH and having a sympathy FOR another party. For there to exist a sympathy with or between two parties, there must be a sharing of the same attitudes and thoughts or, at the very least, a conceding that what the other man believes and does has a certain measure of justification, while on the other hand you can have sympathy for a person because of the very unfortunate situation in which he finds himself, without in the least degree symathizing with his ideology and way of life.

Thus today we can and should feel very sorry even for the devil, by which we show sympathy for him, but at the same time there must not be the least sympathy between him and ourselves over anything which he believes and does.

Right up to the crucifixion, when the love of God and the character of God appeared at their very best, while the character of Satan appeared at its every worst, the unfallen beings had not entirely lost their sympathy for the sophistries of Satan, but with that revelation of the two contending parties, Satan lost everything, so far as sympathy from the heavenly world was concerned.

Agree?

sky :)

[skyblue888]

I should add this:

At the cross, tremendous ground had been gained by the forces of righteousness, but the battle was not yet won. Heaven had been secured it is true. Every dweller there had come to see for themselves the true nature of Satan's character and arguments, and had gladly acknowledged the fact and had taken definite action to give him not the least degree of entertainment at all.

Now the same battle must be brought to finality upon this earth so that men, both good and evil, would wholly see that Satan is the great deceiver and wholehartedly acknowledge the truth of it.

A certain situation had to be reached before the victory could be gained by which the heavenly host were fully released from Satan's deceptions, and it took all of four thousand years to do it.

Likewise, a certain situation will have to be reached before the end can come, with the complete revelation to sinful man as well as to the righteous, of the real character of Satan.

Christ was the Champion who gained the victory on Calvary, and He will again be the One who will gain the final victory; the instruments in His hands being the 144,000. What had been done in the one great battlefield, the struggle for the allegiance of the UNFALLEN beings, must now be done again in the struggle for the minds of the FALLEN beings.

As Christ fulfilled the role of the first fruits in the first such great battle, so He will again have His first fruits in the reproduction of Himself in the 144,000.

Agree?

[skyblue888]

When Adam sinned in the garden of Eden, Satan exulted, for now he could point to the fact that perfect angelic nature and perfect human nature were not proof against the temptation to sin. It took only one encounter, the work of a few minutes, to overthrow Adam and Eve in their perfect Eden home. Satan thought that now he had a secure base of operations against the government of Heaven until the words were spoken:

"I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed; it shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel." Gen.3:15.

From that moment on, the effort of Satan has been to abolish righteousness out of the earth by destroying the people of God off the face of it, and many times he has come perilously close to succeeding. Again and again he has led Israel into sin, and thus, "he hoped to establish the claim put forth when he rebelled in Heaven--that the requirements of God were unjust and could not be obeyed. Even Israel, he declared, did not keep the law." Desire of Ages,29.

Then Jesus came in that very same human nature which had failed so miserably before, and now weakened by four thousand years of degeneration, demonstrated that the law could be kept in every particular under the most terrible possible pressures and conditions and still be for the betterment and happiness of those who kept it, thus proving that God was not unjust, arbitrary, or unkind in making such laws for His creatures.

Satan knew that he now stood to lose all, and that everything depended upon his breaking down the human nature of Jesus and causing Him to sin. Therefore, after losing battle after battle, there came the time when the final battle was to be fought out on the cross.

Satan knew that this was a do or die effort, that he either lost all or won all in this struggle, and so, at the cost of the full exposure of his character, he flung all that he had into a mighty effort to destroy the Son of God spiritually and morally--and lost.

The Son of God triumphed over the devil, proving forever the justice and love of God. Having won that victory, He became the first fruits of them that slept.

[skyblue888]

No longer able to get any hearing from the loyal angels, the devil turned his attention to the one remaining battle-field, this earth. Whereas before the cross he divided his time and energy between the earth and the angels and the unfallen worlds, now he concentrated it all upon men and women down here, for which reason it is written:

"And I heard a loud voice saing in Heaven, Now is come salvation and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down which accused them before God day and night... Therefore rejoice, ye heavens and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time." Revelation 12:10-12.

His whole time, energy, and effort is now devoted to the objective of causing those who profess to be the children of the Kingdom to sin so that he can destroy them off the face of the earth and thus prove his point that human nature cannot obey the law at all.

Now it is true that Jesus, in our human nature, did obey the law, but the enemy perverts the truth of this by spreading abroad the teaching that he was not really human as we are, but that He possessed qualities and powers of which the average person knows nothing, and that He could not sin.

And down through time the sad picture is that even those who profess to be the children of God have failed Him again and again, and thus have given credence to Satan's great lie. Before the great controversy can finally be resolved, before the wicked can be led to voluntarily acknowledge that God is the Just One and the Holy One, there must be a people living upon this earth who will demonstrate that under the most forbidding circumstances the law can still be kept for the betterment and welfare of the human family.

Again and again the Lord has sought to gather together such a people, and each time the devil has succeeded in bringing the great work of revival and reformation to an apparent though never complete end. If he could have at any time done this, then he would have gained the victory, for he would have proved that unrighteousness is stronger than truth and thus would have won his argument.

Finally, the Lord will have a people in whom will be perfectly reproduced the charater of Jesus. In desperation Satan sees what this means, and as he did at the cross, he will gather together all his powers and resources in a mighty determination to blot this righteous people from the face of the earth. He knows that he either wins now or he loses forever, there will never be another opportunity.

The two great forces which have been joined in battle so many times before now will enter the lists for the last time in a do or die struggle from which there will be no retreat till the victory is won by the one or the other.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

But, as it was at the cross, so again Satan will utterly fail, and as it was then, so it will be again at tremendous cost to himself. Then the price he paid was the complete exposure of himself to the dwellers in the heavenly courts, by which he lost any sympathy which had existed between them.

Again the price he will pay for the loss will be the complete exposure of himself, not this time before the heavenly host, for that has already been done, but before the dwellers upon the earth.

Briefly, here is the development of it as revealed in the sure word of prophecy.

Satan will lead the rulers of the earth to pass the death decree against the true and the holy and then will lead on the hosts of wicked men to destroy the people of God. Things come to the place where "with shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to rush upon their prey, when lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of the night, falls upon the earth (fifth plague). Then a rainbow, shining with the glory from the throne of God, spans the heavens and seems to encircle each praying company. The angry multitudes are suddenly arrested. (drying up of the River Euphrates) Their mocking cries die away. The objects of their murderous rage are forgotten. With fearful forebodings they gaze upon the symbol of God's covenant, and long to be shielded from its overpowering brightness." The Great Controversy, 635,636.

Then the voice of God speaks and delivers His people, and it is at this time that "there is a terrible awakening of those who have lost all in the great conflict of life... The people see that they have been deluded. They accuse one another of having led them to destruction; but all unite in heaping their bitterest condemnation upon the ministers. Unfaithful pastors have prophesied smooth things; they have led their hearers to make void the law of God and to persecute those who would keep it holy. Now in their despair, these teachers confess before the world their work of deception." The Great Controversy,654,655.

"The multitudes are filled with fury.'We are lost," they cry, "and you are the cause of our ruin;' and they turn upon the false shepherds. The very ones that once admired them most will pronounce the mist dreadful curses upon them. The very hands that once crowned them with laurels will be raised for their destruction. The swords which were to slay God's people are now employed to destroy their enemies. Everywhere there is strife and bloodshed." 656.

This is the drying up of the great river Euphrates which must be done so that the way of the Kings of the East might be prepared. This is to say that the Kings of the East, whom we know from our study to be Christ and His armies, cannot come until the way has been prepared for them to come, and that preparation is the drying up of the waters of the symbolic Euphrates, which is the total withdrawal of the support which the devil will have gained at that time. "He shall come to his end, and none shall help him." Daniel 11:45. He will be divested of human support then as he was of heavenly sympathy at the crucifixion.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

And it will have to be that way before the final victory in the great controversy can be gained by the Lord and His armies, for it is of the nature of the law of God that His people serve Him, not because they have to, but because they have a personal conviction that His way is the only right and true way. Conviction is based upon knowledge, and is gained by experience. Therefore, the devil must fully reveal himself before men, as well as before angels, before the victory is won and the conviction is truly gained that the Lord is right and true.

To bring matters to this pass, to cause things to develop to this point, is not the work of a moment. It requires a people who will live righteously. "The beauty adorning the inner temple will be seen in every soul in whom the Saviour dwells. Men will be captivated by the glory of an abiding Christ." C.O.L.420

These will be as a standing rebuke to the enemy of all righteousness. The very existence of such a people will call forth from Satan the fiercest possible opposition which will mount in intensity as he seeks by every means to destroy them.

Thus he will be forced to the point where he will overreach himself and will give to the wicked, as well as to the righteous, such a true picture of himself as to cause all to withdraw their support from him. At the same time, the demonstration will be given by the righteous that the law can be kept to advantage by those who are living in the weakest flesh of all time.

Not until this is done can the righteous of all the ages (great multitude) be called forth from the tomb and the living translated into the kingdom. But when it is done as the Word so plainly says, the way of the Kings of the East will have been prepared and the end will come.

Thus it will be that just as the death and resurrection of Jesus accomplished something by which alone the door of eternal life could be secured to all the rest, so the victory of the 144,000 will accomplish something by which alone the end can come and the redeemed of all ages--the great harvest--will be gathered into the heavenly garner.

Today they rest in their dusty beds awaiting that harvest; the harvest which depends on that generation, which shall be the 144,000, being true and faithful all the way to final victory.

It is in this sense that they are the first fruits, just as it was in the same sense that Jesus was the first fruits of them that slept.

May God help us to see the responsibility of our own generation being that which will rise to all that God expects of His people, so that the work at last be finished in the gaining of the eternal decision in the last great conflict with the powers of darkness.

sky

[skyblue888]

As we have seen before, the very reason why the Lord has permitted the great controversy to go on all these years is to that the real character of Satan will stand revealed. We have studied how this will be done, and have seen that it will be accomplished by the living in fallen humanity, the perfect righteousness of the law of God by a remnant of people in these last days, as it was by Jesus in the same fallen humanity in His day.

Then, in the face of this unimpeachable and inconquerable righteousness, the evil one will be forced to so reveal himself as to lose even the support of those nearest and dearest to him. Already, as we have seen, that purpose of the great controversy has been achieved for the unfallen beings of heaven and the other worlds, but it has not yet been accomplished for mankind.

But accomplished, it must be. If there is one thing we have to understand, it is that the Lord is never going to bring the great controversy to an end until the purpose for which it was allowed to go on is fully and finally accomplished.

Until that objective is reached, even though it should take another thousand years, which let us praise the Lord it will not, as the sure word of prophecy assures us, the controversy must and will go on. When, on only when, the objectives have been reached will it come at last to its end.

Until that time, the great multitude will remain in their dusty beds awaiting the final victory and the full revealing to men of the true character and work of Satan to the point where even his followers will withdraw all support from him. This is to be accomplished by the full and complete dedication of a remnant by the power and leadership of Christ. These will be, as it were, the key in the hand of Christ to unlock the prison house and set the prisoners free.

In other words, until they have come to full fruition, then the rest of the harvest cannot be reaped. This is to say that those of us who have professed to be the children of the Lord but have failed to come to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus, even though He has provided all the means necessary, are preventing the early harvest of that great multitude which await in their graves the rerurrection morning.

to be continued

[skyblue888]

Sometime at last the Lord is going to have a people. John heard the sealing of them, as recorded in Revelation 7. When at last He does in very fact have them, then through them the objectives of the great controversy will be finally and fully achieved, and then there is nothing to delay the gathering of the harvest and the end of this world's history.

Therefore, exactly as portrayed in Revelation 7, with the sealing of the 144,000, the wrath of Satan is excited to its limits, his self-exposure is complete, and the work is finished.

Then at once appear the great multitude. In other words, the whole arrangement of the information of Revelation 7, shows that the 144,000 are the first fruits, in the sense that when through them the final objectives of the great controversy have been achieved, the rest of the harvest can, and will, at once be reaped.

What a responsibility rests upon those who claim to be the people of the Lord at the present time, to put away sin and wrong of every and any kind, to live, through the faith that lays right hold upon the merits of the World's Redeemer, the fullness of His righteousness (Eph.3:14-19) and to plan, not for time, but for eternity.

The dead righteous cry out from their dusty beds: "How long, O Lord, how long?" And His answer must always be, "Until I have a people through whom at last can be achieved the final objectives of the great controversy. Then, O great multitude, the first fruits will have been gathered, and your reaping will come in the releasing of you all from your graves."

May the Lord of Heaven find in His people of this generation the faithful and chosen company for whom He is searching.

Can we cath a vision of the implications and the responsibilities of this hour and rise to it? May God help us to do just that before we join those in their dusty beds instead and wait there until at last some other righteous generation rises to do what we might have done but failed to do.

sky

[Gibs]

Sky, Yes and Amen,

It sure is a serious getting ready time for the people of God. It is the time His must be filled, filled yes with His Spirit and indwelling and fully consecrated to His will and our love as His Love.

May all be Blessed by His indwelling Presence.

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[skyblue888]

Thanks Gibs and the good news is:

"Some seem to feel that they must be on probation and must prove to the Lord that they are reformed, before they can claim His blessing. But these dear souls may claim the blessing even now. They must have His grace, the Spirit of Christ (the blessing), to help their infirmities, or they cannot form a Christian character. Jesus loves to have us come to Him just as we are, sinful, helpless, dependent." Faith & Works,38.

In other words:

"He who will lay hold of Christ's righteousness need not wait one moment that he himself may blot out his own sins. He need not wait until he has made a suitable repentance before he may take hold of Christ's rigthteousness. We do not understand the matter of salvation. It is just as simple as ABC. But we don't understand it." Ibid,64.

So what are we to do?

"Present your case (sinful, helpless, dependent) before God pleading the merits of the blood shed for you upon Calvary's cross." Ibid,106.

As we plead the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour, we are drawing nigh to God and He is drawing nigh to us.

"Faith is the condition God has seen fit to promise pardon to sinners. Not that there is any virtue in faith whereby salvation is merited but because faith can lay hold of the merits of Christ, the remedy provided for sin." Ibid,100,101.

What say you Gibs?

sky :)

[Gibs]

Sky,

Yes the Remedy for sin, not only for sins of the past but overcoming!

And that Remedy Is Jesus Christ, true and faithful to forgive at true repentance and then His indwelling Word and Spirit, His Strength to overcome and Spirit to discern truth from error that we too may walk the streets and byways of this fallen world, in it but not of it as He did as one of us.

He did not leave us powerless!

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

[Samie]

Sky,

Yes the Remedy for sin, not only for sins of the past but overcoming!

And that Remedy Is Jesus Christ, true and faithful to forgive at true repentance and then His indwelling Word and Spirit, His Strength to overcome and Spirit to discern truth from error that we too may walk the streets and byways of this fallen world, in it but not of it as He did as one of us.

He did not leave us powerless!

1Jo 4:4 ¶ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

As I had explained in other related threads, repentance before forgiveness is distortion of the gospel. It is forgiveness that enabled man to repent.