Statement of Beliefs

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Contents One True God Creation Word of God Sin Salvation Righteousness Significant Issues Prophecy The Fourth Commandment - Sabbath State of the Dead Resurrection Statutes Growth and Acceptance I have no general disagreement with the Seventh-Day Adventist fundamental beliefs. Those fundamentals fall short of all of God's truth. I believe many in the Adventist church have: Lost the goal of advancing in understanding of God's Word. Lost the prophetic urgency of the Second Coming. Lost the focus of the Gospel Commission. Degenerated into institutional self-preservation. My statement of these problems is somewhat exaggerated. It is somewhat beyond the depth of the actual extent of the problem. The reality these problems exist is nevertheless correct. These problems are most evident in many North American churches. My statement of beliefs is similar to those of the Adventist church. It is given extended with additional Biblical truth. These statements have my own emphasis, purpose and organization.

One True God The one true God is the omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent creator of the universe. Genesis 1:1-2:25 I use the term God and Godhead somewhat interchangeably because the translations of the Bible use the word God even though it is more accurate to use the word Godhead. I never use the word Trinity to refer to the Godhead. Trinity is a word created by the RCC to describe their doctrine. I do not wish to be committed to any confusion in their doctrine. The Godhead is composed of three different persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The members of the Godhead are perfectly united, identical in nature and purpose though physically different. They are also different in function and ministry. 16 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16-17 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Matthew 28:19 9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? 10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 14:9-11,16-18 The person of God the Father is the omniscient source of all which is love, all which is true, and all which is good. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. I John 4:8 18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Mark 10:18 Even the Revelation of Jesus Christ came from the Father. 1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Revelation 1:1 The person of the omnipotent Son of God is the creative source, sent to the world to bring the light of truth and pay the penalty of death for sin. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:3 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Matthew 28:18 The omnipresent Holy Spirit is a distinct person of the Godhead which convicts the world of sin, empowers believers for service, and distributes spiritual gifts according to His will. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16:7-14 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. I Corinthians 12:4-11

Creation God created this world for us to live in joy and happiness, sharing with Him forever. 15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. Genesis 2:15 God created the entire universe from nothing. 1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2 16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. Genesis 1:16 God created the universe in six literal days of approximately 24 hours and on the seventh day He rested. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. Genesis 2:2 The duration of sin and death in the universe is approximately six thousand years followed by a thousand years of rest on the earth while the righteous are in heaven. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, Revelation 20:4-7

Word of God God reveals Himself through His Son which is the visible Word and the Bible which is the written Word of His inspired witnesses. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. John 1:1-5 The Bible is the inspired Word of God and contains instruction for all aspects of life. The Bible is composed of 66 books in the current grouping of books, chapters, and verses and two volumes I like to call the Original (Old) and the Renewed (New) Testaments. 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: II Timothy 3:16 Understanding of the Bible comes through the Holy Spirit. The Bible must be understood as a whole. One part of the Bible does not contradict another. When a verse seems to contradict the rest of the bible, it is because the verse is not uderstood. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. John 14:26 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. John 16:13 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 The Bible is the only rule of authority which is to be followed above any man-made rules and traditions. 29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 The Holy Spirit is only given to those who obey God. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. Acts 5:32 There are many other valuable sources of study. These must always be tested against the Bible as final authority. 20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Isaiah 8:20 The rules of man are to be obeyed when they do not contradict the Word of God. 1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. Romans 13:1-2

Sin Satan is the source of everything hateful, all deception, and all which is bad. 12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Isaiah 14:12-14 2 Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou hast said, I am a God, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God: 3 Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel; there is no secret that they can hide from thee: 4 With thy wisdom and with thine understanding thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: 5 By thy great wisdom and by thy traffick hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches: 6 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God; 7 Behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations: and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness. 8 They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. 9 Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. 10 Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised by the hand of strangers: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD. 11 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, 12 Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. 13 Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14 Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. 16 By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou hast sinned: therefore I will cast thee as profane out of the mountain of God: and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. 17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. 18 Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. 19 All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more. Ezekiel 28:2-19 7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, 8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. 9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. Revelation 12:7-9 The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was the test of obedience to truth. Disobedience leads to death. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. Genesis 2:16-17 Satan tempted Eve and the human family fell into sin. Satan's lies brought sin and death into the world. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. Genesis 3:4-5 The first promise given of the destruction of Satan by the seed of the woman. 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:15 Death is the complete obliteration of all a person is. 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3:19 The entire world was destroyed by flood, because of sin, except for eight people and a sampling of the world's animals which were preserved by God in the ark. 17 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. 19 And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female. Genesis 6:17-19

Salvation Salvation from sin comes by belief in the Messiah. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16 The Messiah was born of a virgin. 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Matthew 1:18 The Messiah is the Word become flesh. 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ... 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:1,14 The Messiah lived a sinless life, died on a cross, bearing the sin of mankind as a substitutionary sacrifice for all men. 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. II Corinthians 5:21 The Messiah is the only provision for final reconciliation to God. Because of God's grace, not our works, man is justified by faith. The work of the Messiah in our lives results in repentance and a change of action. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 5:1 3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. II Peter 1:3-11 The Messiah rose bodily from the dead. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. Matthew 28:6-7 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: Acts 1:3 The Messiah ascended to the right hand of the Father. 19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. Mark 16:19 The Messiah intercedes as our Great High Priest. 14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:14 The Messiah will personally and visibly return from Heaven to gather the righteous. 7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7

Righteousness True belief in the Messiah means studying His life and His words from the scripture. This will set us free from sin. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:31-32 Studying scripture reveals truth. This truth sets us free from sin. This results in love for the Messiah and appreciation of His sacrifice. 32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32 True love for the Messiah means obeying the instructions in the Bible. 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:15-21 We must be earnestly seeking to know and understand truth. 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: Matthew 7:7 We must pray for the illumination of the Holy Spirit. 169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word. Psalm 119:169 Every individual must study the Bible truths for themselves. We cannot depend on any other person or organization as the source for our beliefs. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Holy Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11 All of God's Law is to be obeyed by all of mankind. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:21 17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:17-19 The statutes of God are to be obeyed by all of mankind. The statutes were not nailed to the cross. 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. Genesis 26:4-5 What we call the "Law of Moses" was recorded by Moses but it is still the Law of God. 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Malachi 4:4 The Messiah also commanded obedience to the Law of Moses and to learn from those who taught it. 1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. Matthew 23:1-3 The life of a disciple is a life of love, faith, and hope. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. I Corinthians 13:13

Significant Issues The following significant issues require special mention. These issues are at the heart of the Three Angels' Message, the Third Elijah Message, and the Fourth Angel's Message. As prophecied, a great apostasy resulted in much loss of truth. These messages are the restoration of those truths.

Prophecy God has revealed the future in prophecy. 7 Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. Amos 3:7 The first words of Daniel recording the great apostasy which would initially prevail 1260 years and continue until the Lord's return. 8 I considered the horns, and, behold, there came up among them another little horn, before whom there were three of the first horns plucked up by the roots: and, behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of man, and a mouth speaking great things. 21 I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them; 25 And 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 until a time and times and the dividing of time. Daniel 7:8,21,25 The first words of Paul mentioning the great apostasy in the New Testament which would appear before the Lord's return. 3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. II Thessalonians 2:3-4 In the Dark Ages, through centuries of apostasy, times and laws were changed and the truth lost.

The Fourth Commandment - Sabbath The most important truth which was lost was the observance of God's weekly Sabbath. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:8-11 The seventh day weekly Sabbath was instituted at creation before sin entered the world. 2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Genesis 2:2-3 The seven day weekly cycle began at creation and has continued uninterrupted and preserved by the power of God through the observance of His people. 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. 3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings. Leviticus 23:1-3 The seventh day (Saturday) is God's Sabbath. Even in death the Messiah rested on the Sabbath. He rose on the first day. If you know what day is the first day of the week then you know what day is the seventh. 9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mark 16:9

State of the Dead The first lie of Satan which has been repeated in many different ways even to this day. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: Genesis 3:4 Death is the complete obliteration of all a person is. 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. Genesis 3:19 The state of the dead is described as being asleep in the grave. It is a dreamless sleep from which only God can waken them. 16 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. Deuteronomy 31:16 During His ministry on earth the Messiah again described death as a sleep. 11 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. 12 Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. 13 Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. 14 Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. John 11:11-14 The dead have no consciousness and no communication with the living. 5 For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten. 6 Also their love, and their hatred, and their envy, is now perished; neither have they any more a portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun. 10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest. Ecclesiastes 9:5-6,10

Resurrection Closely related to the state of the dead in the grave is the resurrection of the dead at the end of time. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. John 5:28-29 The righteous are resurrected at the second coming. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 Immortality is not bestowed until the resurrection. 51 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 The wicked dead are raised a thousand years after the second coming. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. Revelation 20:5-6

Statutes All of God's law to keep mankind from evil was given after the fall. This law was known but not recorded until Moses. God specified additional statutes to explain in greater detail the observance of the commandments. 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Malachi 4:4 The most significant statutes were the yearly sabbaths to add to the observance of the weekly sabbath. 1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts. Leviticus 23:1-2

Growth and Acceptance There are stages of spiritual growth beginning with the most basic. Growth must continue through Bible study to increase our knowledge of God and His law. 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. Hosea 4:6 Acceptance and understanding is required between those who are at different stages in their growth. These principles are clearly indicated in a controversy of the early church. Do not harass new believers. 19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God: Acts 15:19 Certain basics are required. 20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. Acts 15:20 More will be learned in time. 21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day. Acts 15:21 An illustrative example of stages of growth. Basics must be taught from the start. As wisdom increases additional truths are grasped. With greater understanding and commitment is an increased desire to obey the guidance of God. Touching unclean meat is a sin. Eating animal flesh is not wise. It is undesirable to consume any animal products. A parallel, illustrative example of acceptance. Judgement and criticism is a sin. Emphasizing obedience to rules and regulations without a solid foundation of the love of God is not wise. It is undesirable to pressure people to conform to things they do not yet understand. Next: Mission Statement

Revised 2018-05-29