Warnings!

[Gibs]

This Thread will be for any warnings you would like others to see you feel are pertenet for our time, the last time.

Let them be from the SOP or the Holy Word.

I will start with this one from Sister White.

Manuscript 37, July 8, 1900, (see also UL 203)

"In the day when everyone shall be rewarded according to his work has been, how will transgressors appear in their own sight as for a few moments they are permitted to see the record of their life as they have chosen to make it regardless of the law which through eternal ages will govern the universe? They will then see what God desired them to do. They will realize that they should have used their blood-bought privileges in behalf of truth and righteousness. They will see that instead of placing their talents and influence on the side of rebellion, thus strengthening the forces of the enemy, they should have devoted their powers to being and doing good....

In the day of judgment men will see what they might have become through the power of Christ. They will see the robbery that they have practiced toward God. They will realize that they have apostatized from their Creator. They will see the good they might have done, but did not do. They utterly refused to be made better. The efforts put forth in their behalf were in vain. They knew the claims of God, but they refused to comply with the conditions laid down in His word. By their own choice they were united with demons. The power given them to use in God's service they used in the service of self. They made self their God, refusing to submit to any other control. They deceived themselves, and made themselves contemptible in the sight of God....

Fallen men and fallen angels are sure to join in a desperate companionship. He who fell because of apostasy works constantly against goodness and obedience. He is leagued with those who refuse to keep God's law. In the day of judgment, all this opens before the impenitent. Scene after scene passes before them. As plainly as the light of the noonday sun, they see what they might have been, had they cooperated with God instead of opposing Him.

The picture cannot be changed. Their cases are forever decided. They must perish with the one whose ways and works they followed.

A flash will come to all lost souls. They will see clearly the mystery of godliness, which during their lifetime they despised and hated. And fallen angels, endowed with higher intelligence than men, will realize what they have done in using their powers to lead human beings to choose deception and falsehood. All who have united with the deceiver, all who have learned his ways and practiced his deceptions, must perish with him....The Lord Jesus looks pityingly upon them and says, "Depart." At that time Zechariah, Chapters 3 and 4 will be understood.

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.

[Gibs]

Useful Occupation is needed,

Perils of Idleness.

--"I have been shown that much sin has resulted from idleness. Active hands and minds do not find time to heed every temptation which the enemy suggests, but idle hands and brains are all ready for Satan to control. The mind, when not properly occupied, dwells upon improper things. Parents should teach their children that idleness is sin. {AH 284.2}

There is nothing which more surely leads to evil than to lift all burdens from children, leaving them to an idle, aimless life, to do nothing, or to occupy themselves as they please. The minds of children are active, and if not occupied with that which is good and useful, they will inevitably turn to what is bad. While it is right and necessary for them to have recreation, they should be taught to work, to have regular hours for physical labor and also for reading and study. See that they have employment suited to their years and are supplied with useful and interesting books. {AH 284.3}

The Surest Safeguard Is Useful Occupation.--One of the surest safeguards for the young is useful occupation. Had they been trained to industrious habits, so that all their hours were usefully employed, they would have no time for repining at their lot or for idle daydreaming. They would be in little danger of forming vicious habits or associations. {AH 284.4}

If parents are so occupied with other things that they cannot keep their children usefully employed, Satan will keep them busy. {AH 285.1}

Children Should Learn to Bear Burdens.--Parents should awaken to the fact that the most important lesson for their children to learn is that they must act their part in bearing the burdens of the home. . . . Parents should teach their children to take a common-sense view of life, to realize that they are to be useful in the world. In the home, under the supervision of a wise mother, boys and girls should receive their first instruction in bearing the burdens of life. {AH 285.2}

Not many are getting that today and it is wondered why the young are drifting away.

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.

[Gail]

I can identify with the idleness one!

[Gibs]

A Long Trying Hour is Coming!

The Safeguard of the Christian

"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 takes the world captive. By the Bible testimony these will detect the deceiver in his disguise. To all the testing time will come. By the sifting of temptation the genuine Christian will be revealed. 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? Satan will, if possible, prevent them from obtaining a preparation to stand in that day. He will so arrange affairs as to hedge up their way, entangle them with earthly treasures, cause them to carry a heavy, wearisome burden, that their hearts may be overcharged with the cares of this life and the day of trial may come upon them as a thief. {DD 42.3}

As the decree issued by the various rulers of Christendom against commandment keepers shall withdraw the protection of government and abandon them to those who desire their destruction, the people of God will flee from the cities and villages and associate together in companies, dwelling in the most desolate and solitary places. Many will find refuge in the strongholds of the mountains. Like the Christians of the Piedmont valleys, they will make the high places of the earth their sanctuaries and will thank God for "the munitions of rocks." Isaiah 33:16. But many of all nations and of all classes, high and low, rich and poor, black and white, will be cast into the most unjust and cruel bondage. The beloved of God pass weary days, bound in chains, shut in by prison bars, sentenced to be slain, some apparently left to die of starvation in dark and loathsome dungeons. No human ear is open to hear their moans; no human hand is ready to lend them help. {DD 42.4}

Will the Lord forget His people in this trying hour? Did He forget faithful Noah when judgments were visited upon the antediluvian world? Did He forget Lot when the fire came down from heaven to consume the cities of the plain? Did He forget Joseph surrounded by idolaters in Egypt? Did He forget Elijah when the oath of Jezebel threatened him with the fate of the prophets of Baal? Did He forget Jeremiah in the dark and dismal pit of his prison house? Did He forget the three worthies in the fiery furnace? or Daniel in the den of lions? {DD 43.1}

"Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands." Isaiah 49:14-16. The Lord of hosts has said: "He that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye." Zechariah 2:8. {DD 43.2}

I can see we are close but none know exactly how close!

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.

[Gibs]

This one is assurrance and a warning,

"His servant Moses felt his insufficiency for the great work before him and pleaded, with an earnestness that seemed almost presumption, for the presence of God to be with him. But instead of receiving a reproof, the earnest pleader receives the reply “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest”an assurance that all his burdens may be rested upon God. But the mind of Moses is so burdened with the tremendous weight of the responsibilities resting upon him that he approaches still nearer to God, and his request is pressed still further. The answer from God is “I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken; for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” {CTr 117.3}

Encouraged by his success, Moses ventures still further—a holy boldness he possesses, until it reaches a point that is incomprehensible to poor, finite human beings. The servant of God has been, through prayer, approaching nearer and nearer to God, and now [makes] a request such as no mortal human had ever dared to make—“I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.” Will God thrust aside His servant now for his apparent presumption? The third time the answer comes, “I will make all my goodness pass before thee.” . . . {CTr 117.4}

Oh, what condescension on the part of God! That hand that made the worlds takes the mighty man of faith and puts him in a cleft of the rock, that He may show him His glory, and make all His goodness to pass before him. . . . {CTr 117.5}

The most brilliant intellect, the most earnest study, the highest eloquence, can never be substituted for the wisdom and power of God in those who are bearing the responsibilities connected with His cause. . . .God has made every provision for workers to have the help that He alone can give. If they allow their work to hurry, drive, and confuse, so that they will have no time for devotional thought or for prayer, they will make mistakes. If a standard is not lifted up by Jesus Christ against Satan, he will overcome those who are engaged in the important work for this time.—Manuscript 6, 1879. {CTr 117.6}

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.

[Gibs]

Is the day of the LORD to be desired? Maybe so in that it will end this reign of sin. But for the darkness that has come that the saints will some live through it will not!

Am 5:14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

Am 5:15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

Am 5:16 ¶ Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing.

Am 5:17 And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD.

Am 5:18 Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light.

Am 5:19 As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him.

Am 5:20 Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?

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.

[JoeMo]

Gibs,

Isn't the gospel the good news? I don't see any good news here, just warnings and threats for anyone who is not "perfect". If I am idle, I may be sinning. Today was Sabbath. I was pretty idle. I taught a Sabbath School Class (recreation to me); and then went to a Bible Study taught by someone else. The took a nap. All very restful to me. Is there a difference between idleness and rest? Christ invites us to come to him if we are weary and heavy laden; and He will give us rest. If I quit striving, am I idle? How many people are blessed and drawn to God when all you do is try to scare them into abject submission?

[Robert]

Isn't the gospel the good news?

[Gibs]

Robert, JoeMo, this thread is not about the Gospel, the good news, hang in there and I may just do one on that.

Our LORD is also so good as to give to his people warnings and they are many and on many aspects. You are welcome to bring up a warning He gives through the SOP or the Bible that pleases you.

Here is one that is not so much of a warning but a pointing out, a prophecy really but in a way a warning.

1Jo 2:18 ¶ Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

OK, I see that this way, the time before was the time of the Jews,

After the 70'th week began the time of the Gentiles and it is and will be the last time.

Lu 21:24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

Lu 21:25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

Lu 21:26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Lu 21:27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

Lu 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Lu 21:32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

Don't we know this may well be that generation.

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.

[JoeMo]

Gibs says:

"Robert, JoeMo, this thread is not about the Gospel, the good news"

JoeMo responds:

Why would you want to post anything but the gospel (good news) of salvation? Why would you want to post a whole thread dedicated to inspire fear of God? Why would you want to try to scare people into submission to God?

Fear is a tactic used by the devil, not by God. God is love; and it is the kindness of God that brings us to salvation - not fear.

When you read Revelation, who is it that uses fear to coerce man into compliance? The serpent and the beast! Fear of the serpent and the beast is what sway people into submission to the evil one. God has, does, and always use love as motivation. He comes in glory to rescue the saints. He comes to rescue his children. Destruction of those who seek to harm His children is simply a by-product of rescuing His kids.

Maybe I need to start a thread called "Encouragements!" to counter the discouragement of this thread.

[Gibs]

JoeMo,

For the same reason they are in the Bible and the SOP. Our Spiritual diet must not be all "SMOOTH" things. We do need a balanced diet. They are warnings of "slippery" slopes Satan has set up for the unsuspecting ones. It's like some people watch where they are placing their feet so they don't fall and others never do and fall all the time and get hurt.

He who is Spiritually awake will work to awaken others,

Eze 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Eze 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

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.

[Robert]

JoeMo,

For the same reason they are in the Bible and the SOP. Our Spiritual diet must not be all "SMOOTH" things. We do need a balanced diet.

We need a little fear, right? That will keep us nice and afraid of God.

Ellen White states that such a religion is worth nothing. In fact open apostasy is not as bad as getting with God because we are afraid of His wrath.

[Gibs]

Robert, The kind of fear that gives real reverance to our God and Saviour, and all our love to him our hearts can muster.

Then we please Him naturally.

We have a warning there is no assurance when we are in sin.

No less obedience is expected of us than that of Adam. The requirement for salvation remains the same from beginning to end.

This thread is about warnings and it appears you are out of place in this one.

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.

[Gibs]

This warning message brings out there can never be unity with the apostate!

From Sister White.

"The Bible declares that before the coming of the Lord there will exist a state of religious declension similar to that in the first centuries. "In the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 2 Timothy 3:1-5. "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." 1 Timothy 4:1. Satan will work "with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness." And all that "received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved," will be left to accept "strong delusion, that they should believe a lie." 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11. When this state of ungodliness shall be reached, the same results will follow as in the first centuries. {GC 444.1}

The wide diversity of belief in the Protestant churches is regarded by many as decisive proof that no effort to secure a forced uniformity can ever be made. But there has been for years, in churches of the Protestant faith, a strong and growing sentiment in favor of a union based upon common points of doctrine. To secure such a union, the discussion of subjects upon which all were not agreed--however important they might be from a Bible standpoint--must necessarily be waived. {GC 444.2}

Charles Beecher, in a sermon in the year 1846, declared that the ministry of "the evangelical Protestant denominations" is "not only formed all the way up under a tremendous pressure of merely human fear, but they live, and move, and breathe in a state of things radically corrupt, and appealing every hour to every baser element of their nature to hush up the truth, and bow the knee to the power of apostasy. Was not this the way things went with Rome? Are we not living her life over again? And what do we see just ahead? Another general council! A world's convention! Evangelical alliance, and universal creed!"--Sermon on "The Bible a Sufficient Creed," delivered at Fort Wayne, Indiana, Feb. 22, 1846. When this shall be gained, then, in the effort to secure complete uniformity, it will be only a step to the resort to force. {GC 444.3}

When the leading churches of the United States, uniting upon such points of doctrine as are held by them in common, shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result. {GC 445.1}

The beast with two horns "causeth [commands] all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Revelation 13:16, 17. The third angel's warning is: "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God." "The beast" mentioned in this message, whose worship is enforced by the two-horned beast, is the first, or leopardlike beast of Revelation 13 - - the papacy. The "image to the beast" represents that form of apostate Protestantism which will be developed when the Protestant churches shall seek the aid of the civil power for the enforcement of their dogmas. The "mark of the beast" still remains to be defined. {GC 445.2}

After the warning against the worship of the beast and his image the prophecy declares: "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Since those who keep God's commandments are thus placed in contrast with those that worship the beast and his image and receive his mark, it follows that the keeping of God's law, on the one hand, and its violation, on the other, will make the distinction between the worshipers of God and the worshipers of the beast." {GC 445.3}

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.