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,
Greetings on this day of preparation for the weekly Sabbath. I hope this newsletter finds you in good health and happy in the service of the Lord. This is the 26th day of the 5th month of God's Sacred Calendar. It is four weeks and five days until the beginning of the Fall Sacred Holydays starting with the evening of the 1st day of the 7th month which is Trumpets Sabbath (Thursday, September 13 on the 2007 Gregorian calendar). I want to offer a rebuttal to one of the excuses I occasionally hear about why some of the statutes do not apply to our time. The variations of this argument are that the particular statute did not exist at creation or it did not exist at Sinai in the Ten Commandments or was added later. This is mostly used against the yearly Sabbaths because this is the most disputed of the statutes. The argument that the yearly Sabbaths were not mentioned before Sinai has two weaknesses. The weekly Sabbath is not mentioned either between creation and Sinai for the same reason. The word Sabbath does not even appear until Exodus 16:23. This is because it is assumed background knowledge known to the reader. It is the same reason that it is also observed in the New Testament that both the weekly and the yearly Sabbaths are rarely mentioned. Secondly, there are some references that probably refer to the yearly Sabbaths for those willing to consider the plain word of God whether it agrees with their view or not. Consider that the word translated "seasons" in the following verse is the identical Hebrew word that refers to the yearly Sabbaths in Leviticus 23. Genesis 1:14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: The sun, moon, and stars are certainly the signs that determine the yearly Sabbaths. I am not a Hebrew scholar but referring to Strong's concordance a literal translation might be "Let them signal appointed times, days, years". When Lot entertained angels he gave them unleavened bread. I suspect it was during the time of Unleavened Bread Sabbath. The Bible does not refer to unleavened bread except in the context of a yearly Sabbath, religious observance, or rarely some other solemn occasion. Why is it explicitly noted here? Genesis 19:3 And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat. Joseph appears to have celebrated Trumpets Sabbath in Egypt.
Psalms 81:3-5
Whether a particular statue existed before it was written that God specified it or not is not proof that it does not apply later. It is stated numerous times in the Bible that God does not change. When God specifies a requirement He does not change His mind later. A requirement does not change unless it is clearly stated that it changes. There is also likely to be a stated reason why, as in the case of the sacrifices. Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Paul offers at least one observation about added laws. Galatians 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Ellen White spoke clearly of the added laws because of sin. "The principles of the ten commandments existed before the fall, and were of a character suited to the condition of a holy order of beings. After the fall, the principles of those precepts were not changed, but additional precepts were given to meet man in his fallen state." {3SG 295.2} "If the law of God had not been transgressed there never would have been death, and there would have been no need of additional precepts to suit man's fallen condition." {3SG 295.3} "In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern the everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law." {RH, May 6, 1875 par. 10} "The principles were more explicitly stated to man after the fall, and worded to meet the case of fallen intelligences. This was necessary in consequence of the minds of men being blinded by transgression." {RH, May 6, 1875 par. 13} "After the transgression of Adam the principles of the law were not changed, but were definitely arranged and expressed to meet man in his fallen condition." {ST, March 14, 1878 par. 3} I am going to keep God's added laws even if they didn't exist before creation or were not included in the Ten Commandments. There is a clear directive from God that the sacrificial law was completed with the sacrifice of the Messiah. Paul spent a significant portion of the book to the Hebrews explaining clearly in great detail why the sacrificial law was over. Paul clearly pointed to the transfer of focus to the heavenly temple. Paul clearly pointed to the Messiah as becoming the only High Priest. Paul clearly taught that the circumcision of adult males was over. This is no surprise or mystery because that was only required to eat the sacrifice of the Passover lamb which was ended.
Exodus 12:43-48
It is very dangerous to claim that Paul taught that any other part of God's law was abolished. This would make Paul worse than antichrist who would only change the laws and times but not abolish them. In reviewing this topic it occurred to me what a little thing it was when Eve ate the forbidden fruit. Modern theologians would reason, "What can possibly be wrong with eating a piece of fruit? This certainly does not apply after the crucifixion." This is a clear indication that even the smallest of God's laws are not to be taken lightly.
Matthew 5:17-19
What we might consider one of the least of God's laws is a little thing called the tzitzit. This statute was apparently one of the latest if not the last of the statutes to be "added". It is particularly interesting that it was given as a result of a "Sabbath" violation.
Numbers 15:37-41
I am not willing to turn my back on the smallest part of God's law. When I am convicted by God of truth, I dare not disobey. It is one thing to break one of God's law through our human weakness or lack of knowledge or lack of understanding. It is quite a different thing to casually deny the validity of God's law and willfully disregard even one. It is also important to avoid judgment of those who truly do not understand all of God's truth. It is not our place to be critical and judgmental of anyone.
Acts 17:30-31
Are you prepared to face God at that appointed day? Is the Holy Spirit pricking your heart with some dismissed and forgotten truth? Will your heart become calloused so that the prompting of the Holy Spirit is no longer heard? I pray that we may all continue to seek love, peace, and unity in truth preparing for the soon coming of IAUShUO (ee-uh-oo-shoo-oh) Messiah, the Son of God. Shabbat Shalom,
Frank T. Clark
Next: 2007-08-17 When Error Confronts Truth |
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Revised 2007-08-17 |