Parallels

[B/W Photodude]

This weeks Sabbath School lesson was very interesting because of the content from Daniel's time, but also the striking parallels to current events. 

Daniel only saw the problems with the temple being rebuilt and the problems that were being encountered in the rebuilding. The angel tells him he has been struggling with the King of Persia for twenty one days or so. This I found to be a new understanding of the text because I had always thought of the King of Persia to be Satan as in the King of this world and thereby being King of Persia. But as the lesson brought out, it really was Satan that the angel was in controversy with until the the First Prince came to help. But they were struggling for control of Cyrus's mind and will. So, in like manner, the great struggle was like unto the Battle of Armegeddon where Jesus is warring with the dark side for the hearts and minds of the people. (Har Meggido, or Mount Carmel was the mountain on which Elijah challenged the people to choose this day whom they would serve)

What the lesson brought out to me is even when we can not see the spiritual war going on, there is tremendous activity unseen to humans. Whenever, a huge disturbance occurs, we can be sure that unseen to human eyes there is a tremendous warfare going on that we can not see. If we only had Elisha to pray that our eyes could be open to see! 

This is where this Sabbath School lesson parallels intense activity in the world that we cannot see today. Yeah, the corona virus has everything messed up in the world and it came on so fast and took over the world. Was it as fast as a thief in the night? We can have our humor in our Facebooks memes about the panic buying of toilet paper while the economy is crashing about us. I highly suspect that in the spiritual realm an extreme amount of activity is going on. I do not believe this is one of the last plagues, but the reactions of the populace is a foreshadowing of things to come. I do not believe it is too far gone for the sleeping virgins to awake and get oil for their lamps, but it is way past time to be casual about God.

The panic is also very strange in that another disease is running amok and has killed over 22,000 people this year and is now virtually ignored. 41 states are still red for high influenza activity by the CDC standards. Large numbers of people still refuse to get their flu shots when 99 percent of the cases this years are covered by the flu shot this year. Probably most of those people died needlessly.

https://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/index.htm

[Gregory Matthews]

Food for thought.

[dgrimm60]

B/W PHOTODUDE

there  are only 2 major  powers  that can  influence this  people  of this word ===   GOD the FATHER===

GOD the  SON  ==== and  GOD the  HOLY SPIRIT  are in the saving business  and  the  Devil and  his  Demons are in

the destroying business we  know that there  is  a  battle going on ==== just  like  Daniel who  had to  have  a  knowing  

relationship with  GOD the  FATHER === GOD the  SON === GOD the  HOLY SPIRIT=== we  in these  last  days  must  also

have  this  knowing relationship===== Daniel  used  his  Faith  and a asked for the  power  thought  prayer ====we also

must  ask for the  power  of the  HOLY SPIRIT  in  our  lives and believe that  HE  is  helping  us ==== It all comes  down

to what  power  will be  influencing our   lives=== with out  people  knowing  about this  battle the people  of this  world

can rely  only on their  understanding=====and  Spiritual  things are  foolishness  to  the people  of this world

 

dgrimm60

 

[BlessedMan]

12 hours ago, B/W Photodude said:

The panic is also very strange in that another disease is running amok and has killed over 22,000 people this year and is now virtually ignored. 41 states are still red for high influenza activity by the CDC standards. Large numbers of people still refuse to get their flu shots when 99 percent of the cases this years are covered by the flu shot this year. Probably most of those people died needlessly.

There is a lot of strangeness to the whole thing, yes. Sort of. From what I have been reading; much of it is not necessary. In researching how the so called covid-19 is spreading, it seems that there are some good reasons for some of the reactions. Its because of how its spread, that calling it a pandemic can be helpful. China and Taiwan, for two examples are close to containing their out breaks, and there is a reason for that. Covid-19 seems to stick very well within clusters of people, and if contained by quarantine, then this is one pandemic that we will actually contain.

WHO declare Covid19 as a pandemic that CAN BE CONTAINED - not a question of if we CAN but if we WILL

Now, what I find really interesting here is that the same health message that I have seen many attempts at explaining away and out of the church, there are some things in it that are now being touted by authorities, as the best ways to prevent transmission of Covid-19.

There are some officials who recently went to Wuhan and other similar places. They are not sick. Ever ask why? Perhaps, the one Adventist Church I read about who proposed "washing of hands" rather than feet for The Lord's supper, would be one thing to do that would help?

How to Fight and Win Against Covid19

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Christ and His disciples did not observe these ceremonial washings, and the spies made this neglect the ground of their accusation. They did not, however, make a direct attack on Christ, but came to Him with criticism of His disciples. In the presence of the multitude they said, "Why do Thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread."  {DA 396.2} 

I would venture to guess that Jesus would wash His hands today.

There are some early reflections in the little red books which point to, historical uses of quarantine/isolation situations; allbeit they likely had only half an idea of the import of what they were doing:

Quote

There are those, of course, who have regular wash-rooms in their house or in a separate building. These are furnished with immense tubs, around which the entire family can gather, if need be, when wash week comes. One room is used exclusively for clean clothes, and one for dirty, and before the soiled ones are put away, they are sprinkled with a powder which prevents them from smelling bad or spoiling.  {HS 244.4}

Perhaps there is great significance in how the Bible & SOP uses the word "hand/s?"

Those who have clean hands and a pure heart shall be able to stand, my grace is sufficient for you  ( {ExV 11.1}

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. (Psalms 24:4)

The following describes perfectly what is working now for responding to Covid-19

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In the study of hygiene the earnest teacher will improve every opportunity to show the necessity of perfect cleanliness both in personal habits and in all one's surroundings. {AH 90.1} 

The very solutions being proposed today in the links above I provided were written about many years ago:
 

Quote

 

Strict habits of cleanliness should be observed. Many, while well, will not take the trouble to keep in a healthy condition. They neglect personal cleanliness, and are not careful to keep their clothing pure. Impurities are constantly and imperceptibly passing from the body, through the pores, and if the surface of the skin is not kept in a healthy condition, the system is burdened with impure matter. If the clothing worn is not often washed, and frequently aired, it becomes filthy with impurities which are thrown off from the body by sensible and insensible perspiration. And if the garments worn are not frequently cleansed from these impurities, the pores of the skin absorb again the waste matter thrown off. The impurities of the body, if not allowed to escape, are taken back into the blood, and forced upon the internal organs.--H. to L., Chap. 4, p. 60.  {HL 143.1}  

620. In regard to cleanliness, God requires no less of his people now than he did of ancient Israel. A neglect of cleanliness will induce disease.--H. to L., Chap. 4, p. 61.  {HL 143.2} 

 

BTW, one of the professors in a link above also says that Covid-19 isnt an "airborne" virus and doesnt transmit that way so stop buying and hoarding all those face masks, unless you are sick and need to prevent others from catching it from you. People who have cancer patients and other sick ones at home are not able to buy the personal care products they need ongoing for their loved ones. People who don't need them have snapped them all up. I cant even buy hand sanitizer which I must have for caregivers that come in. I got lucky and figured out a solution. But many others wont be able to. Covid-19 Panic Not Helping: Its Part Of The Problem

[BlessedMan]

The moral law, spoken from Sinai, cannot have a place in the hearts of persons of disorderly, filthy habits. If the children of Israel could not so much as listen to the proclamation of that holy law without cleanliness of person and clothing, how can its pure precepts be written upon the hearts of those who are untidy in their persons and their homes? . . . {CTr 113.5}
Violent epidemics of fever have occurred in villages and cities that were considered perfectly healthful, and these have resulted in death or broken constitutions. In many instances the premises of the very ones who fell victims to these epidemics contained the agents of destruction, which sent forth deadly poison into the atmosphere to be inhaled by the family and the neighborhood. . . . {CTr 113.6}