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 28th day of the 8th month of God's Sacred Calendar in the year 6011 Anno Mundi. It is about five months or 19 weeks and one day until the Spring Holy Days begin with Passover and the evening of the 15th day of the 1st month in the year 6012 Anno Mundi, which is the first Unleavened Bread Sabbath (Sunset on Saturday, March 22 on the 2008 Gregorian calendar). Some have suggested that "Anno Homini" is a better term to refer to the year since creation. Some material on my website that I obtained from another source uses this terminology. A simple web search will reveal that while there are some who use this term, the term "Anno Mundi" is the same thing and is far more widely used and known. On two consecutive Friday nights in a recently broadcast revival series there were questions about Christmas observance. It was amazing that the same question was dealt with twice. I was very disappointed to hear the response. I will summarize my understanding of what they said. Yes, Christmas is not the birth of Christ. Yes, Christmas is a pagan holiday. Yes, we are not given any direction by God or the Bible to observe a birthday. BUT! Don't you love those "BUT"s? Then Christmas was praised as a wonderful holiday that we should observe and promote. I am not going to say any more. I was also very disappointed on the first Friday night to hear over and over again repeated that the observance of part of God's Law, the "Law of Moses", specifically the "feasts", does not apply any more. Even my wife was upset at the way he hammered on the subject. It was ironic that on the next Friday night the emphasis repeated over and over was that God's Law is eternal and does not change. Go figure...
Desire of Ages
That the law which was spoken by God's own voice is faulty, that some specification has been set aside, is the claim which Satan now puts forward. It is the last great deception that he will bring upon the world. He needs not to assail the whole law; if he can lead men to disregard one precept, his purpose is gained. For "whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." James 2:10. By consenting to break one precept, men are brought under Satan's power. By substituting human law for God's law, Satan will seek to control the world. This work is foretold in prophecy. Of the great apostate power which is the representative of Satan, it is declared, "He shall speak great words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand." Dan. 7:25. {DA 763.1} I have been doing a lot of reading on the website for "The Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists". In particular I was recently reading the section on "Independent Ministries". Some of the most interesting links are: http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/desmondfordtheology.htm http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/Independent%20Ministries/HopeInternationalRpt.htm What impressed me the most was the realization that those who believe in all of God's Law could easily face the same rejection and criticism described here. It is extremely important that those who disagree with what the church is teaching be very careful to maintain a proper attitude. God accepts us as he accepts others, and as he accepts the church. None of us are perfect. The example of the Messiah is to show the love of God. Patience, understanding and tolerance are what we should manifest. I am not talking about tolerance of sin. I am talking about tolerance of ignorance and misunderstanding. Act 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: When an individual has been taught a lie for many years by people they respect it will take a long time for them to understand and accept the truth. We need to have patience and love for others who struggle as we have also struggled.
I Timothy 1:12-15
We need to show the love of God to those who are ignoring His law. We are to avoid controversy, attacks, and criticism. We are not to confront those who are teaching error in an attitude of criticism.
The Acts of the Apostles
But gradually a change came. The believers began to look for defects in others. Dwelling upon mistakes, giving place to unkind criticism, they lost sight of the Saviour and His love. They became more strict in regard to outward ceremonies, more particular about the theory than the practice of the faith. In their zeal to condemn others, they overlooked their own errors. They lost the brotherly love that Christ had enjoined, and, saddest of all, they were unconscious of their loss. They did not realize that happiness and joy were going out of their lives and that, having shut the love of God out of their hearts, they would soon walk in darkness. {AA 548.1} As a witness for Christ, John entered into no controversy, no wearisome contention. He declared what he knew, what he had seen and heard. He had been intimately associated with Christ, had listened to His teachings, had witnessed His mighty miracles. Few could see the beauties of Christ's character as John saw them. For him the darkness had passed away; on him the true light was shining. His testimony in regard to the Saviour's life and death was clear and forcible. Out of the abundance of a heart overflowing with love for the Saviour he spoke; and no power could stay his words. {AA 555.2} Consider carefully the reminders that the Messiah avoided controversy. From the time when the parents of Jesus found Him in the temple, His course of action was a mystery to them. He would not enter into controversy, yet His example was a constant lesson. {DA 89.6} Though Jesus recognized Satan from the beginning, He was not provoked to enter into controversy with him. Strengthened with the memory of the voice from heaven, He rested in His Father's love. He would not parley with temptation. {DA 119.3} While Jesus made it plain that He was under no obligation to pay the tribute, He entered into no controversy with the Jews in regard to the matter; for they would have misinterpreted His words, and turned them against Him. Lest He should give offense by withholding the tribute, He did that which He could not justly be required to do. This lesson would be of great value to His disciples. Marked changes were soon to take place in their relation to the temple service, and Christ taught them not to place themselves needlessly in antagonism to established order. So far as possible, they were to avoid giving occasion for misinterpretation of their faith. While Christians are not to sacrifice one principle of truth, they should avoid controversy whenever it is possible to do so. {DA 434.4} We need to lean very heavily on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to know when to speak and when to remain silent. Our own personal practice and example is the best witness. The time and place for action and the results are in God's hands not yours or mine. Does Satan tempt you to dispute and controversy? Is your motivation to share truth in love with those who are ready and willing to listen? 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: 2007-12-21 The Ark of the Covenant |
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Revised 2007-11-09 |