Straining at gnats …

[B/W Photodude]

It seems that many discussions here get very torturous over minor issues such as who the sons of God are, did angels create new creatures with humans, and any number of other things that we cannot possible even know the answer to in this lifetime. EGW referred to it as "caviling over themes of little importance." I could say more about the angels creating new creatures with humans, but it is not important.

I know many do not really accept EGW as having any truth beyond what the Bible says, but she was given visions which many believe came from God and which some feel very blessed to have the understanding of things as illuminated thru the messages she was given to pass on to the rest of God's people. However, as one internet saying goes right now, many have not seriously studied their Bibles, EGW, and other writers in the SDA faith, and it shows!

One of the concerns I have is that knowing prophecy will save no one. It is worthy of consideration that probably no one understands prophecy and all those other issues as well as Satan and look where he is destined to end up! (I often wonder  what demons, who may be looking over my shoulder as I write think, when they are reminded of their destiny.*)

I hear people all the time saying as they give their latest prophecy interpretation, "Gotta get ready, the Lord is coming." Problem is, little time is spent in explaining what you need to do to get ready! I suspicion those so encouraging others to "get ready" have no clear idea how to do that themselves!

Just sayin'

*Remember when the demons asked Jesus, just before He sent them into the pigs, "Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

 

[JoeMo]

B/W, I don't agree with everything you post, but I DO compliment you for the non-hostile way that you present stuff.  I truly respect that.

3 hours ago, B/W Photodude said:

It seems that many discussions here get very torturous over minor issues such as who the sons of God are, did angels create new creatures with humans, and any number of other things that we cannot possible even know the answer to in this lifetime.

I agree that we get tangled in the weeds frequently here.  Some of us find certain subjects "important" that others do not find important. I have personally found my "sons-of god = fallen angels" theme important.  It has helped my understand other passages like Matt. 24:36-38, 1 Peter 3:18-20, and Jude 5 - 7.  I understand that it may not be important to others in their understanding, but it helps me get my head around some otherwise puzzling scriptures.

That being said, I truly appreciate how you put things, whether or not I accept them.  I must say that they way you present things gives me pause to seriously consider your points.

You have helped me in realizing that - although I don't accept everything EGW says, - I appreciate much more of what she says than I previously realized.  Thanks!

[B/W Photodude]

7 hours ago, JoeMo said:

B/W, I don't agree with everything you post, but I DO compliment you for the non-hostile way that you present stuff.  I truly respect that.

That being said, I truly appreciate how you put things, whether or not I accept them.  I must say that they way you present things gives me pause to seriously consider your points.

You have helped me in realizing that - although I don't accept everything EGW says, - I appreciate much more of what she says than I previously realized.  Thanks!

Well, thank you, JoeMo! I don't really enjoy fighting. If I did, more fun would be had going to some antifa rally!

I have read quite a bit of EGW. In the last 3-4 years I have gone all the way thru Conflict of the Ages, currently up to vol 5 of the Testimonies (which are more chilling than I imagined  ), and several other single books.  However, I frequently look up quotes only to find them in the periodicals. I am wondering if I am going to have to read the green books next! 

What does concern me is that the reading of EGW is getting to very low levels among church members today. I have been informed by one pastor after a ministerial meeting that readership of EGW in the church has dropped to only about 2% of church members even read the writings. All that said, EGW herself said if people seriously studied their Bibles, her writings wouldn't have been needed. I don't believe that means all of her writings, I suspect that much of her writings such as the Testimonies is what she was referring to. 

7 hours ago, JoeMo said:

I agree that we get tangled in the weeds frequently here.  Some of us find certain subjects "important" that others do not find important. I have personally found my "sons-of god = fallen angels" theme important.  It has helped my understand other passages like Matt. 24:36-38, 1 Peter 3:18-20, and Jude 5 - 7.  I understand that it may not be important to others in their understanding, but it helps me get my head around some otherwise puzzling scriptures.

I do have some serious doubts about the angel human offspring issue. I just do not see how in a biological sense it is even possible. Angels are not "carbon based" units. They are spirits which capabilities beyond anything we humans are capable, even when they have gone bad for a long time. The only evil angel-human creature out there is a demon possessed human. Further more, to produce an amalgamation, if you will, of angels and humans would have to be a whole new life form. I personally do not believe it is even possible as technically God is our Creator and gives us every breath we take. I do not really think He would permit such an occurrance. The moral consequences of that are mind boggling. Technically, if such as creature did occur, they would have to be eligible for salvation. But evil angels are not. How do you save half of a creature? As i noted before, many of these scenarios would be great scripts for scifi movies, but I do not see them happening in God's universe.

[BlessedMan]

12 hours ago, B/W Photodude said:

"Gotta get ready, the Lord is coming." Problem is, little time is spent in explaining what you need to do to get ready!

I can certainly relate to that. I am still waiting to hear exactly what would equal "being ready."

IMO the "sons of God" thing is only important because it shows more insight to God's dealings with us, as human beings. Its not important to know exactly who they are; the context is whats important, and thats really the only reason I can think of to realize that they are not "supernatural."

38 minutes ago, B/W Photodude said:

Angels are not "carbon based" units.

on average, we have enough carbon is us to make 6 pencils. (if my memory serves me correctly on that point)

12 hours ago, B/W Photodude said:

One of the concerns I have is that knowing prophecy will save no one.

IMO there are some ways this might not be true; and I don't necessarily mean as in specific dilineation of a given prophecy - once again; I would refer to over-all context. As we know, 1 Pet 1;19 I think it is, prophecy is called "a light that shines in a dark place," and the only context I know of for this kind of "Light" would be Jesus. Jesus IS that very Light, He is the Light of the world," and this is where so much of prophecy can be found in error. They don't lead to or speak of Jesus as the central point of said prophecy.

EGW wrote one simple paragraph that explains this well: "there is one great central truth in the searching of the scriptures, Christ and Him crucified. All other truths are invested with power & influence according to their relation to this theme." And this is the very point where much of what we call "prophecy" fails the test of scripture.  Many prophecies, in effect, don't point people to Christ; rather, they are mired in an "us and them" attitude that mocks what Christ came to earth for in the first place. Many of the prophecies floating around out there really have nothing to do with "Christ and Him crucified, never-mind having that as the CENTRAL building block. (Gal 6:14, etc).

The only light that would meet the specs given in 1 Pet 1 is mentioned by Isaiah:

Quote

Isa 60:1  Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Isa 60:2  For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
Isa 60:3  And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

Its not really "prophecy" without that kind of Light. JESUS alone is THAT Light "that is come into the world."

[B/W Photodude]

34 minutes ago, BlessedMan said:

on average, we have enough carbon is us to make 6 pencils. (if my memory serves me correctly on that point)

"carbon based units" is an old "Saturday Night Live" reference to humans!

34 minutes ago, BlessedMan said:

EGW wrote one simple paragraph that explains this well: "there is one great central truth in the searching of the scriptures, Christ and Him crucified. All other truths are invested with power & influence according to their relation to this theme." And this is the very point where much of what we call "prophecy" fails the test of scripture.  Many prophecies, in effect, don't point people to Christ; rather, they are mired in an "us and them" attitude that mocks what Christ came to earth for in the first place.

Certainly prophecy has its place and should be studied. But sometimes I wonder if people aren't just using prophecy to figure out when the last train is leaving the station to be saved. But one prophecy that is foreboding is that those who delay "getting ready" will be passed by the Holy Spirt during the Latter Rain. 

I tend to think much of prophecy is for rear view observation and not so much for predicting. What I learned of end times events decades ago is nothing like what the events of today look like. I suspicion that many more amazing things will be happening before we really even get into the thick of last day events of prophecy.

[BlessedMan]

5 minutes ago, B/W Photodude said:

I tend to think much of prophecy is for rear view observation and not so much for predicting.

100% agree!

[B/W Photodude]

On December 10, 2019 at 12:46 PM, JoeMo said:

You have helped me in realizing that - although I don't accept everything EGW says, - I appreciate much more of what she says than I previously realized.  Thanks!

When you speak, your words echo only across the room or down the hall. But when you write, your words echo down the ages. - Bud Gardner

I have met people who were very serious Bible students who did not like to read/study EGW. But they think you should sit there and listen them pontificate regarding their opinions! I find the writings of them who are now longer with us to be a way for them to continue to be a part of the discussion.

[stinsonmarri]

On 12/10/2019 at 8:42 AM, B/W Photodude said:

It seems that many discussions here get very torturous over minor issues such as who the sons of God are, did angels create new creatures with humans, and any number of other things that we cannot possible even know the answer to in this lifetime. EGW referred to it as "caviling over themes of little importance." I could say more about the angels creating new creatures with humans, but it is not important.

I know many do not really accept EGW as having any truth beyond what the Bible says, but she was given visions which many believe came from God and which some feel very blessed to have the understanding of things as illuminated thru the messages she was given to pass on to the rest of God's people. However, as one internet saying goes right now, many have not seriously studied their Bibles, EGW, and other writers in the SDA faith, and it shows!

One of the concerns I have is that knowing prophecy will save no one. It is worthy of consideration that probably no one understands prophecy and all those other issues as well as Satan and look where he is destined to end up! (I often wonder  what demons, who may be looking over my shoulder as I write think, when they are reminded of their destiny.*)

I hear people all the time saying as they give their latest prophecy interpretation, "Gotta get ready, the Lord is coming." Problem is, little time is spent in explaining what you need to do to get ready! I suspicion those so encouraging others to "get ready" have no clear idea how to do that themselves!

Just sayin'

*Remember when the demons asked Jesus, just before He sent them into the pigs, "Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?"

 

The Bible says:

 All Scripture given by INSPIRATION of YAHWEH, indeed is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of ELOHIYM may be complete, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2Ti 3:16,  17

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.  2Ti 4:2 -5 

This is just two, there are many more!

Blessings!