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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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 11th day of the 3rd month of God's Sacred Calendar in the estimated year 6016 Anno Mundi. The fall holy day season begins with Trumpets Sabbath in about 4 months starting the evening of the 1st day of the 7th month (Monday, September 17th on the 2012, Gregorian Calendar, beginning sunset on Sunday, September 16th). 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!
It is appropriate this week, after Pentecost, one of God's holy days, has been followed by Memorial Day, one of man's holidays, to consider some words on the subject. 4 These are the holy days of IAUA, holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. My attention was drawn, by a surprising source, to some quotes from Ellen White. It was surprising because I do not like what this guy preaches, I don't like his preaching style, and I don't like him as a person because of what I know about his history and some other things. It was only by some complicated circumstances I even heard what he said. I was electrified when I realized the depth of the material. By the way, when I say I don't like him it is not anything personal but for some theological disagreements. The EGW quote was lamenting the effect of worldly holidays in the book Special Testimonies On Education (1897), which were reprinted in Fundamentals of Christian Education, and are reprinted in part in many other places. In this country, Satan has in a most striking manner enthroned himself to control the leading men in the government of the nation. The education which they have received from childhood is erroneous. Many things are regarded as essential which have a most injurious effect upon the people. The many holidays have had a baleful influence upon the minds of the youth; their effect is demoralizing to the government, and they are entirely contrary to the will of God. They have a tendency to encourage an artificial excitement, a desire for amusement. The people are led to squander precious time which should be employed in useful labor to sustain their families honestly and keep clear of debt. The passion for amusements and the squandering of money in horse-racing, in betting, and various similar lines, is increasing the poverty of the country, and deepening the misery that is the sure result of this kind of education. {SpTEd 86.1} {FE 311.3}God's holy days do not encourage an artificial excitement, a desire for amusement. Never can the proper education be given to the youth in this country, or any other country, unless they are separated a wide distance from the cities. The customs and practises in the cities unfit the minds of the youth for the entrance of truth. The liquor-drinking, the smoking and gambling, the horse-racing, the theater-going, the great importance placed upon holidays,-- all are a species of idolatry, a sacrifice upon idol altars. If people conscientiously attend to their lawful business upon the holidays, they are regarded as mean-spirited and unpatriotic. The Lord cannot be served in this way. Those who multiply the days for pleasure and amusement are really giving patronage to liquor-sellers, and are taking from the poor the very means that should purchase food and clothing for their children, the very means that, used economically, would soon provide a dwelling-place for their families. These evils we can only touch upon. {SpTEd 87.1} {FE 312.1}Holidays are a species of idolatry! It is not the correct plan to locate school buildings where the students will have constantly before their eyes the erroneous practises that have molded their education during their lifetime, be it longer or shorter. These holidays, with all their train of evil, result in twentyfold more misery than good. In a large degree the observance of these days is really compulsory. Even persons who have been truly converted find it difficult to break away from these customs and practises. Should schools be located in the cities or within a few miles from them, it would be most difficult to counteract the influence of the former education which students have received in regard to these holidays and the practises connected with them, such as horse-racing, betting, and the offering of prizes. The very atmosphere of these cities is full of poisonous malaria. The freedom of individual action is not respected; a man's time is not regarded as really his own; he is expected to do as others do. Should our school be located in one of these cities, or within a few miles of it, there would be a counter-working influence constantly in active exercise to be met and overcome. The devotion to amusements and the observance of so many holidays, give a large business to the courts, to officers and judges, and increase the poverty and squalor that need no increasing. {SpTEd 87.2} {FE 312.2}Holidays are evil! Through the observance of holidays the people both of the world and of the churches have been educated to believe that these lazy days are essential to health and happiness; but the results reveal that they are full of evil, which is ruining the country. The youth generally are not educated to diligent habits. Cities and even country towns are becoming like Sodom and Gomorrah, and like the world in the days of Noah. The training of the youth in those days was after the same order as children are being educated and trained in this age, to love excitement, to glorify themselves, to follow the imagination of their own evil hearts. Now as then, depravity, cruelty, violence, and crime are the result. {SpTEd 92.2} {FE 317.1}As in the days of Noah... The youth in this country require more earnest spiritual labor than in any other country we have yet visited. Temptations are strong and numerous; the many holidays and the habits of idleness are most unfavorable for the young. Satan makes the idle man a partaker and co-worker in his schemes, and the Lord Jesus does not abide in the heart by faith. The children and youth are not educated to realize that their influence is a power for good or for evil. It should ever be kept before them how much they can accomplish; they should be encouraged to reach the highest standard of rectitude. But from their youth up they have been educated to the popular idea that the appointed holidays must be treated with respect and be observed. From the light that the Lord has given me, these days have no more influence for good than would the worship of heathen deities; for this is really nothing less. These days are Satan's special harvest seasons. The money drawn from men and women is expended for that which is not bread. The youth are educated to love those things which are demoralizing, things which the word of God condemns. The influence is evil and only evil continually. {SpTEd 97.1} {FE 320.3}Holidays are a worship of heathen deities! Now what does she say about holidays for God? Further quotes from the book Special Testimonies On Education (1897) first printed in the pamphlet Special Testimonies for Ministers and Workers -- No. 5 (1896) Would it not be well for us to observe holidays unto God, when we could revive in our minds the memory of His dealing with us? Would it not be well to consider His past blessings, to remember the impressive warnings that have come home to our souls so that we shall not forget God? The world has many holidays, and men become engrossed with games, with horse-races, with gambling, smoking, and drunkenness. They show plainly under what banner they are standing. They make it evident that they do not stand under the banner of the Prince of Life, but that the prince of darkness rules and controls them. Shall not the people of God more frequently have holy convocations in which to thank God for his rich blessings? Shall we not find time in which to praise Christ for his rest, peace, and joy, and make manifest by daily thanksgiving that we appreciate the great sacrifice made in our behalf, that we may be partakers of the divine nature? Shall we not speak of the prospective rest in the paradise of God, and tell of the honor and glory in store for the servants of Jehovah? "My people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting-places." We are homeward-bound, seeking a better country, even a heavenly. {SpTEd 80.1} {SpTA05 11.1}She goes even further and starts using a word that will raise hackles among modern Adventists. Festivals!? Shall we not keep holy festivals unto God? Shall we not show that we have some enthusiasm in his service? With the grand, ennobling theme of salvation before us, shall we be as cold as statues of marble? If men can become so excited over a match game of cricket, or a horse-race, or over foolish things that bring no good to any one, shall we be unmoved when the plan of salvation is unfolded before us? Let the school and the church henceforth have festivals of rejoicing unto the Lord. {SpTEd 82.1} {SpTA05 13.1}It is a well spent study to do an advanced query on the EGW CD for "holiday*" and read the 194 paragraphs found. Be adventurous and read some context! May the Holy Spirit inspire your study. Are you still caught up in the idolatry of worldly holidays or are you learning to celebrate God's holy days? 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
Next: 2012-06-08 Faith and Works |
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Revised 2012-06-08 |