IAUA End Time Ministry
Preparing for the End of Time
The Lord is Coming! Are you ready?
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IAUA End Time Ministry |
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Preparing for the End of Time | |
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in
IAUA
(ee-ah-oo-ah) our Father,
I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and happy in the service of the Lord. Another reader comments: ----- It takes me a while to get my letters out but I just wanted to comment on this one. I refer to the Annual Sabbaths as time periods, because that is what they are, they are time periods for a 24 hour period, so how is it possible to think of them as the sacrifices being offered, they are the time periods that sacrifices were offerered in, like the 7th day Sabbath, it is a time period, not the sacrifice. Does this make sense to you? Just wondering. ----- My reply: ----- I understand what you are saying. I don't think the disagreement is based on seeing the annual sabbaths and the sacrifices as literally the same thing. Rather they are seen as being linked such that the end of the sacrifices means the end of the annual sabbaths. The interesting aspect of this discussion, which I have never seen before, is that apparently the validity of the statutes appears to be accepted. However the annual sabbaths, which are usually considered part of the statutes, are grouped with the Sacrificial Ceremonial Law. The Sacrificial Ceremonial Laws are universally recognized, by those who believe in the sacrifice of the Messiah, as ending at the cross. It is interesting to note that Ellen compared camp meeting to the Feast of Tabernacles. "The forces of the enemies are strengthening, and as a people we are misrepresented; but shall we not gather our forces together, and come up to the feast of tabernacles? Let us not treat this matter as one of little importance, but let the army of the Lord be on the ground to represent the work and cause of God in Australia. Let no one plead an excuse at such a time. One of the reasons why we have appointed the camp-meeting to be held at Melbourne, is that we desire the people of that vicinity to become acquainted with our doctrines and works. We want them to know what we are, and what we believe. Let every one pray, and make God his trust. Those who are barricaded with prejudice must hear the warning message for this time. We must find our way to the hearts of the people. Therefore come to the camp-meeting, even though you have to make a sacrifice to do so, and the Lord will bless your efforts to honour his cause and advance his work." {BEcho, December 8, 1893 par. 5} ----- The original comment continues: ----- Couple questions for our continuing discussion. It is true that there were more sacrifices on the Sabbath than any other day during the week. But the sacrifices were added almost as if it were an after thought. The Sabbath has existed since the creation of the world. Its beginnings are from an environment without sin. The Sabbath is part of the ten commandments that were written by the finger of God in stone. The overwhelming majority of the presentations of the Sabbath in the Bible have nothing to do with the sacrifices. (I haven't done a recent study, but my impressions are that the only verse in the Bible that links the Sabbath with sacrifices is Numbers 28:9, 10. If you know of others please let me know.) This is not the case with the feasts in which practically every passage in the Bible that deals with the keeping of the feasts mentions the sacrifices. (Right now I am not aware of a single passage that doesn't mention the sacrifices in connection with the feasts. It might just be a problem with my memory, so if you know of one share.) When the feasts were instituted, the sacrifices were a key part. This is not the case with the Sabbath. And therefore in my mind makes the sacrifices on Sabbath irrelevant to the issue. Can you provide references for the places where Paul describes observing the annual Sabbaths? References from other NT writers are also welcome. ----- My response: ----- The sacrifices were indeed added to the Sabbath after sin. Marriage and Sabbath are the two great institutions given from creation before sin. It was not my intent to link the sacrifices and the Sabbath. I only intended to show that there was an association. In the same way, I believe the feasts are associated and not linked to the sacrifices. A semantic distinction valid to me which as you state "in my mind makes the sacrifices on Sabbath irrelevant to the issue". It may be that there is no passage that does not describe the feasts and the sacrifices in association. The Feast of Tabernacles in Leviticus 23:39 does not appear to mention sacrifices. Feasts mentioned after the crucifixion: Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. Acts 18:21 But bade them farewell, saying, I must by all means keep this feast that cometh in Jerusalem: but I will return again unto you, if God will. And he sailed from Ephesus. Acts 20:6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. Acts 20:16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. I Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened [bread] of sincerity and truth. I Corinthians 16:8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. It may be of interest to note that the Messiah never offered a sacrifice but apparently observed the feasts. I believe that the Messiah fully practiced all that the Scriptures taught except the sacrifices. I believe that as my example I will do whatever He did. ----- May we all find peace and unity in the soon coming of IAUShUO (Ee-ah-oo-shoo-oh) Messiah, the Son of God.
Frank T. Clark
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