IAUA End Time Ministry
Preparing for the End of Time
The Lord is Coming! Are you ready?
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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 pray this newsletter finds you in good health and happy in the service of IAUA. This is the 26th day of the 2nd month of God's Sacred Calendar in the estimated year 6016 Anno Mundi. Pentecost Sabbath is in 1 week and 2 days starting the evening of the 6th day of the 3rd month (Sunday, May 27th on the 2012, Gregorian Calendar, beginning sunset on Saturday, May 26th). An amazing thing occurs in the Gregorian Calendar years of both 2011 and 2012. Those who follow the Millerite Calendar (Spring New Moon Rule) and the Jewish Calendar agree with the Spring Passover Rule dates my research, and others, has determined for the Gregorian Calendar dates of God's Sacred Calendar!
Disagreement is a somewhat never-ending constant when you keep all of God's Law and witness to your belief. Continuing comments from the LinkedIn discussion introduced with the question: Is the Seventh-day Adventist church no longer a movement, but simply a denomination that is stuck in it's ways? There has been extensive editing to shorten and focus the presentation.
jesse roquios • To the question Frank started, I think so. Try asking any pastor any topic that is not within the fundamental belief, most probably you will get a sermon but doesn't really answer your question, e.g. the feasts. I had a very interesting session with one of our younger pastors here where we discussed the feasts and why we don't observe it. The usual answer of we are under the new covenant and not under the law was the response. I pointed out that communion service actually originated from Christ's observance of the passover. Why we join in celebrating christmas every 25th of December when we don't believe on it to the extent that we have christmas cantatas, is another aspect I think that has been taken for granted. My observation is instead of spreading the gospel. not only us but other denominations as well, the idea of indoctrination is practiced believing that what we believe in( our doctrine) is the truth. The idea of conversion has taken over the spirit of witnessing.
Frank T. Clark • Jesse, It is interesting to compare the similarity of responses when you ask SDA pastors about the feasts and the response of a typical Sunday pastor when you ask them about the Sabbath. It is also amusing to hear SDA pastors criticize Sunday pastors for picking and choosing which commandments they ignore. Then you realize SDA pastors pick and choose which of God's statutes they ignore (Leviticus 23). (Now I am going to really get in trouble.) Then you hear a feast-keeping SDA pastor explaining why they don't observe God's command to wear tassels (Numbers 15:37-41) or why they shave (Leviticus 21:5). When you truly love God and submit to everything He asks us to do you no longer need to offer explanations or excuses. Then we will really have a movement!
Daniel Murray • Having studied and considered the position on feast days, I have come to the conclusion that they are not to be kept post the death of Christ. My reasoning for this is simple: God has promised to write His law in our hearts and minds, and in so doing we will obey His law. There's a process that we need to go through to allow the law to be written there, which is essentially the putting away of sin. But the simple fact is that God's law will be in our hearts. So here's the thing. Why does Paul go to great lengths to explain salvation by grace alone? If we are saved by faith, what can keeping the feasts do for us that the power of Christ can't? The outward attempts of righteousness were condemned by Christ, yet here people are saying those same events should be kept today. This makes no sense in the overall plan of redemption. Christ has redeemed us from the power of sin; victory is there for us if only we believe in the power of Christ. Any outward works of righteousness that do not lead to the righteousness of Christ being imputed to us are, in my opinion, exactly that - works of our own righteousness. And we all know that our righteousness is as filthy rags. I'm not saying the feasts aren't important to understand; they are. But when we accept the love God has for us and realise that He expects nothing more of us than to allow His Spirit into our hearts so that He can create a clean heart and a right spirit within us (which inevitably involves the writing of God's law in our heart), all other acts are of no effect. Why be judged in meat and drink and in new moons and sabbaths when all such things do not in any way present us more favourably to God?
Robin Willison • Just to continue the previous line of thought, as Frank says, people who believe the 10 Commandments have been done away with think they are a burden and we have been set free from trying to bear a burden to be saved by the blood of Christ. The same argument is made about the feast days. The argument is that they are a burden and we have been set free from that burden by the blood of Christ who fulfilled all OT requirements. I think that the difference with which we perceive the laws of the OT is over how we see the Law of God in general. If any law is a burdensome restriction it is because our carnal nature does not want to be restricted by doing what we are told. On the other side, if we truly love our Lord we want to glorify Him in every way. Then we see the 10 commandments not as burdensome restrictions but as promises, as God telling us the dimensions of what it means to love God with all our heart and soul and mind and how to love our neighbour as ourselves. We will also see that the OT feast days are not a burdensome restriction but are designed to keep the plan of salvation ever fresh in our minds and what our Lord has done for us. Each one has a special application to God's last people as Christ became our Passover Lamb, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost etc. Then we will desire to know more about how Christians can keep these days in order to learn more about the sacrifice made for us and God;s plan for the final cessation of sin in the universe. We dont observe feast days to develop merit before God. Daniel says 'when we accept the love God has for us and realise that He expects nothing more of us than to allow His Spirit into our hearts.' When we have done this, we want to learn as much about Him as He has revealed to us and as the Holy Spirit wants to lead us into, and He has much to teach us through the feast days as He also wants to teach us through the weekly sabbath which is listed in the list of feast days in Leviticus 23.
Patrick Stevenson • Good comment Daniel. I have no problem with those who wish to observe/celebrate the feast days God gave to Israel so that as a nation they would be a continual witness and gospel pedagog to the other nations of earth. Certainly more biblically consistent than Christmas and Easter, which are adaptations of Pagan feasts. I would have a problem with someone attempting to "guilt" others into the practice of these things. I believe you are correct to observe that Christ has fully become the end of those shadows and is the reality of them. But if you want to organize your life around them for the pedagogical value of it, go for it! ((:
Frank T. Clark • Daniel, I hesitate to respond to your questions after reading Patrick's comment "I would have a problem with someone attempting to "guilt" others into the practice of these things." I hope my attempts to share my great love for our Saviour are not perceived as "guilt". 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. "Why does Paul go to great lengths to explain salvation by grace alone?" Because salvation is by the grace of God alone. What do you do after you are already saved? You follow in obedience to cooperate with the working out of His salvation in your life. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. "If we are saved by faith, what can keeping the feasts do for us that the power of Christ can't?" It can transform us. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. "But when we accept the love God has for us and realise that He expects nothing more of us than to allow His Spirit into our hearts so that He can create a clean heart and a right spirit within us (which inevitably involves the writing of God's law in our heart), all other acts are of no effect." This was not a question but my response is this, my act of obedience in response to His love has the effect of transforming my heart and soul. I already quoted the verse in John 14:15 of what our Saviour also expects when we allow His Spirit into our hearts. Jesse, Robin, Do you notice any similarity of Daniel's comment about the feasts to a typical Sunday pastor's comments about the Sabbath? Its all about grace and not the law... I apologize if I have offended anyone or caused them to feel "guilt" because my love for our Saviour has led me to complete obedience to His Law and a willingness to witness to His transforming power by the guidance of His Law of Love.
Daniel Murray • Ah, but Frank, you've missed the fundamental issue. Not once did I say it was all grace and no law. Rather, it's all grace and all law; God's laws written in our hearts! And if they are written in our hearts we will obey them because they become natural to the converted. Keeping the feasts is in no way related to this! And none of the verses that you have quoted prove what you are saying anymore than they disprove what I am saying. Be very careful about 'pushing' feast days onto people - this is not supported by scriptural evidence nor is it Seventh-Day Adventist in nature. Strong words, perhaps, but someone needs to state this for the record.
Patrick Stevenson • I haven't noticed anyone on this discussion "guilting" anyone. My comment re anyone attempting to drive others to keep the feast day by arguments of guilt were hypothetical. The huge difference between the SDA pastor who argues for the seventh-day Sabbath, but not for the feast days is that the feast days were all a "shadow" of things to come, ie the life, ministry, sacrificial death, resurrection and heavenly ministry of Chirst. The 7th day Sabbath is without fail invoked as a celebration of the past mighty acts of deliverance by God, starting with creation when Christ the creator brought forth the created order from "chaos" (rough equivalent of the Hebrew of Genesis). The feasts pointed forward to things to come, the 7th day sabbath celebrates the mighty acts of God in the past. (Of course, in celebrating what God has done in the past we also look forward to what He will do in the future...like writing His law on our hearts!)
F. Pietravalle • Robin, here is something from the pen of inspiration, that supports you statement: The great sin of God's ancient people was their disregard of the commandments of the Lord, and especially their disregard of the day that God had sanctified and blessed. Because of their disregard of his commandments and ordinances, the Lord removed his defense from them, and permitted their enemies to afflict them and scatter them. Has the Lord changed? Did his holy commandments need to be amended? -- Not at all. He says, "My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that has gone out of my lips." Has, then, the Majesty of heaven, the Governor of the universe, no law?-- Only Satan's sophistry could induce men to entertain such a thought. {ST, October 2, 1893 par. 6}
Frank T. Clark • Daniel, We will have to agree to disagree because I believe it is supported by scriptural evidence and I am first a follower of the Bible and only secondly a Seventh-day Adventist. Strong words, perhaps, but someone needs to state this for the record. Patrick, I am glad to hear your comment about "guilt" was hypothetical. I know I have a tendency to sound critical and though I try hard to not to be I don't know if I am successful. Though I do know there are some who are clearly far more critical than I and are easy to recognize as going too far.
jesse roquios • Yes Frank, I pointed that matter that it is the same reasoning the protestants are using for not keeping the Sabbath. Yes salvation is by grace through faith, not keeping the sabbath or the feasts or doing good works or paying tithes faithfully. But, because of your faith you will keep the commandments do good works, pay tithes you will have grace----salvation, as simple as that I think.
Daniel Murray • Frank, there is no such thing as agreeing to disagree. There is only one truth - and in reality we should get together to study the Bible together in the presence of the Holy Spirit. We don't have that opportunity, so I think it best I drop out of this conversation. Not defeated, but hopefully having stated clearly that the readers of this page must look deeper into the Word of God than simply take your word on things. And that's not meant in a disrespectful way - the same applies to all erring mortals, myself included! But there is only one truth, and the Spirit will teach us that truth. We must first be willing to lay aside all preconceived notions and study the Word as a child. Only then will we see the truth as it is in Christ. This is promised in the Bible, so I am confident that the Spirit will teach me if I am genuinely willing to learn. He will teach us all if we are genuinely willing to learn. I don't believe in the new theology of the SDA organisation, I believe in the original doctrines that founded God's Church for the end of time. We do not need to be SDA to be saved, Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus." If we are faithful we will be saved, regardless of the 'church' we grew up in. The Bible can be no clearer on the character of those who will be saved. My sincere hope is that we are all saved. Is keeping the feast days a salvation issue? You decide. For me, I will be saved if I fully submit my life to Christ. Not that it is about being saved, but about loving Christ.
jesse roquios • Daniel, hope you reconsider not to drop out of this discussion. You have very good points which deserve consideration. Let the Holy Spirit work on your witnessing.
Frank T. Clark • Daniel, Agreeing to disagree means that we will accept each other as brothers, the children of God and continue to discuss issues and study, as you mentioned, with the understanding that we do not agree on this issue. We can continue to discuss details of this issue if it is possible to do so without discord or set the issue aside as one that requires the ongoing teaching of the Spirit to reconcile, as you also mentioned. I agree strongly with your statement we should take the word of no man but investigate the Word: "... having stated clearly that the readers of this page must look deeper into the Word of God than simply take your word on things." I have witnessed to my understanding of the Word with some quotes from the Word. You have witnessed to your belief also. I agree strongly the Spirit will draw all true students and followers into agreement on the Word. It will take some time but the Word promises there will be 144k who are in agreement and shortly thereafter there will be a great multitude, then the end will come. This is agreeing to disagree. I hope you will reconsider whether there is any such thing. We agree about the purpose and end result. We disagree about our current position but continue to work together. I love this quote which puts it all into perspective. "We have many lessons to learn, and many, many to unlearn. God and heaven alone are infallible. Those who think that they will never have to give up a cherished view, never have occasion to change an opinion, will be disappointed. As long as we hold to our own ideas and opinions with determined persistency, we cannot have the unity for which Christ prayed." {RH, July 26, 1892 par. 7} Part of an incredible article entitled "Search the Scriptures".
In any of this discussion it is instructive to substitute the word feasts with the word Sabbath. Do you believe the Spirit will lead us through disagreement? I pray we may all continue to seek love, peace, and unity in truth preparing for the soon coming of IAUShUO (ee-ah-oo-shoo-oh) Messiah, the Son of God.
Frank T. Clark
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