Grace Unlimited Ministries

Benefit Concert for New Reality International

2010-08-18T21:08:00.000-07:00

Please join us for a benefit concert.

When: October 9, 2010, 7 PM
Where: North Cascade Seventh Day Adventist Church

Grace Unlimited Ministries is sponsoring a benefit concert for the medical and humanitarian work the nonprofit organization New Reality International is doing in Haiti. All proceeds will go toward the purchase of medicine and food, and sponsorship of education for the children of Haiti. Featured in the program will be the Cascade Women's Chorale, founded and directed by Denice Grant. Guest soloists are guitarist Benjamin Dameron, guitarist Joel Mickelwait, harpist Alyssa Brandt, and soprano Iva Rauch.
Childcare provided.
To learn more about New Reality International go to www.newrealityinternational.org

THE FIRST ANGEL MESSAGE

2010-03-16T22:41:00.000-07:00

Revelation 14:6-7 describes a message of great significance that is to be preached to the whole world. This is a message of such importance that it will reach every nation, kindred, tongue and people. It will be given in a loud voice, so that all may have the opportunity to respond to it one way or another:

"And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Rev 14:6,7)

What exactly is the "everlasting gospel?" Some will say that it is the life and death of Jesus Christ which took place two thousand years ago. Then how is it an "everlasting" gospel? The word gospel comes from the Greek word evangelion and it means "good news." What is the everlasting good news?
Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ came to give us the everlasting good news, and the good news was the report He gave to the world concerning who God is, and what kind of love He has toward us:

"I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do." (Joh 17:4)

"I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word." (Joh 17:6)

"Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee." (Joh 17:7)

"For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me." (Joh 17:8)

"O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me." (Joh 17:25)

" And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them." (Joh 17:26)

"I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation." (Psa 40:10)

The everlasting gospel is the good news of the love of God toward the human race, an everlasting, unquenchable love. It is a love that has the ability to transform us, heal us from all mental, spiritual and physical disease, and lift us up to a level of existence beyond anything we can imagine. No eye has seen or ear has heard what this love is like, and what it is capable of doing in our lives. This love pieces together our fragmented selves, making us whole again. This love heals us from all the violence we have suffered, and forgives all the violence we have inflicted. It bring peace to the soul, and frees us to truly love each other and live in peace with each other.

Only God's love can achieve this in our lives. It lifts us from hopelessness and despair, and gives us life and the prommise of a future. The everlasting gospel would heal the whole world, if only it were accepted and believed.
The first angel message also has information that is of vital importance to us about who God is. It says that we are to "fear God and to give glory to Him." First of all, we must understand that the Bible often uses the imperative "fear" in the sense that we are to "be in awe of" God, rather than afraid of Him. Why are we to fear, or be in awe of God and give glory to Him? The answer is given:

"for the hour of his judgment is come."

The hour of whose judgment is come? The hour of God's judgment is come. God has been misunderstood throughout whole history of the human race. The proof that this is a correct statement is that when God came to earth He was not recognized. In order to see God, we must see Jesus: God is humble as Jesus was, gentle, loving, meek, mild, non-violent. God does not use violence of any kind. He treats us in an inteligent way, not in an autocratic or manipulative way. He only wants our love. Instead recognizing Him as God, the human race rejected and killed Him. Now, at this time in the history of the earth, we are judging God and deciding who He really is. This is happening in each one of us. As we come to our own conclusions we will 'fear' Him, give glory to Him, and worship Him because we will come to know that He is the one

"that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters."

Not only has He made all things, but He has also loved all things with an everlasting love. All that God does is an act of love and a gift of love. This earth was lovingly made for us. All things were made for our happiness, for our well-being. God loves us even now in our present fallen condition. Most of us think that God is looking down at us with displeasure and condemnation. That is the farthest thing from the truth. God is like an eager, solicitous parent, yearning to get a response from us, to be acknowledged and loved back. There is absolutely no condemnation in God toward us. Listen to His bold declaration of love for us:

"For God so loved the world!

That He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever...whosoever, that means you and me, believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Listen to Him again, pleading that we may understand just how much He loves us:

"The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." (Jer 31:3)

And listen again as He pleads, as He tells us that nothing can stand between us and His love for us, as He pleads for reconciliation:

"I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." (Isa 44:22)

Return unto me!

Is this the God that so many run from in fear of punishment? This God is asking us to return to Him. He is not ordering us, He is not hunting us down, He is asking us!

The eternal gospel tells us that God our maker respects us. He is the one who gave us the inalienable right of freedom of choice. This God respects our freedom of choice, and rather then force us into a relationship with Himself, He would rather draw us to Him by love. The description of how God tried to reach humanity in the past still applies to us today:

"When Israel was a child, then I loved him, and called my son out of Egypt.

As they called them, so they went from them: they sacrificed unto Baalim (the god who does not respect us, but who punishes and rewards in order to manipulate us), and burned incense to graven images. I taught Ephraim also to go (walk), taking them by their arms; but they knew not that I healed them. I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat(food) unto them." (Hos 11:1-4)

It is God, the one who has loved us with an everlasting love, who keeps us alive, who aides us in our daily struggles, who gives us the strength to keep going when we would rather give up; it is He that protects us from destruction on every level. It is He who gives any meaning whatsoever to this life:

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed." (Psa 103:2)

The first angel message of Revelation 14 tells us to fear this God, to give glory to Him and to worship Him. The only reason we would do any of that is because of what David wrote:

"Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name." (Psa 63:3)

God wanted to make sure that we would never forget that He is a creator; He knew that we would be deceived into thinking that He was someone rather different then what He really is. He knew we would see Him as a hard master, a punishing, destroying God. Therefore, He gaves something that was meant to remind us always that He was a creator and friend, and not destroyer and enemy: He gave us a day to be a sign between us forever.

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 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: 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." (Ex.20:8-11)

The fourth commandment points us back to a Creator God who is pure, who is not tainted by anything that is evil. This God we are to fear and give glory to and worship. And what a joy it is to do so for He indeed is deserving of all praise!

2009-10-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

WE ARE ALL JUSTIFIED

God blotted out our sins at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ died for our sins (2Co_13:3-4), for the sins of the whole world (1Jn_2:2). Christ Jesus the Lord has paid the price in full of all our wrong doing. Christ died, the Just One for the unjust (He for us), that He might bring us to God (1Pe_2:24). When we put our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as our only God and Saviour we receive forgiveness of sin and life everlasting.

In these last days God is talking to us through Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone. Heb 1:1-3:

"God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high."

We must study the life of Jesus and His dealings with human beings, if we want to understand this subject. Watson, C.S.Lewis, or any other human being are not the authorities we are to look to, but Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ only.
In Isaiah 43 Jesus addresses this issue of concentrating on our sins, when He, even He, is the one that blotts them out, and will not remember them anymore. Isa 43:21-25 :

"This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise. But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel. Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense. Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins."

In Psalms 50:7-14 we read:

"Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee: I am God, even thy God.I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me. I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds. For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the fieldare mine.If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof. Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me."

If Jesus stated in the old testament that He blotts out our sins and remembers them no more, are we to continually weary Him by constantly dwelling in them? Are we so incredulous of His love for us? Do we not dishonor Him by bringing them into His presence again and again? Look carefully at Heb 10:1-21:

"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. If the law could in any way convey the immensity of the love of God for us, then we would no more have conscience of sins, for the love of God cleanses us from all sin. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, 'Lo, I come to do thy will, O God.' He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God."

He offered 'one' sacrifice for 'sins', for ever. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

'This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,' saith the Lord, 'I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.'

'After those days' refers to the death of Christ for us, the monumental evidence of God's love for us. Heb 10:18-27:

"Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin."

The Greek word for remission is 'afesis'=freedom, pardon, deliverance, forgiveness, liberty. Once we know we are forgiven, we need no more offer any sacrifices for sin, for as in doing so, we show that we have no faith in the love of God for us.
Verses 19-22:

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

We are to have our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, in other words, we are to let go of that guilt that hangs over everyone of us. Verses 23-27 :

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works, Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries."

God wants us to be free to love Him without fear, in a type of relationship which is filled with trust, and not the fear that we will be rejected at any moment. As parents, are we constantly bringing to the surface our children's shortcomings? If so, what kind of relationship do we have with them? And do we need our children to ask us for forgiveness before our hearts can forgive them? Are they not already forgiven by our love for them? In Jeremiah He says that there will be a group on earth, in the end time, a remant that will know that He has cleansed our slate completely when He died on the cross for us: (this 'days' and 'time' refers to the end time, for it is in the context of the fall of babylon, the system of errors and deceit as shown in Rev 17:1):
Jer50:20:

"In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve."

The Greek word for 'sin' is ἁμαρτάνω hamartanō, pronounced ham-ar-tan'-o and the Strong's definition is: "Perhaps from G1 (as a negative particle) and the base of G3313; properly to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize), that is, (figuratively) to err, especially (morally) to sin: - for your faults, offend, sin, trespass."

The great 'sin' of the children of Israel was the fact that they 'missed the mark', they 'erred' in their hearts about God's character, promises, love, forgiveness, and by so doing they did not 'share in the prize.' We are admonished not to make the same mistake. Consider the following passage in Hebrews chapter 3:1-19, and follow the progression of what the definition of 'sin' is:

"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness:
When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief."

Act 3:19: "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord."

The Greek word for 'repent' is μετανοέω metanoeō, pronounced met-an-o-eh'-o and the Strong's definition is: From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): - repent.

We are to have a change of mind first of all regarding God and rather then feel condemned by Him we are to know we are forgiven. The repentance from evil works is the result of having made peace with God, and our lives are transformed by love, and not fear of condemnation or punishment. We are to enter into 'rest', Hebrews 4:1-16:

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 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. 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. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

2009-07-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

The Last Crisis-by Loren James
“We are living in the time of the end. The fast-fulfilling signs of the times declare that the coming of Christ is near at hand. The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude.”{9T 11.1}
“The agencies of evil are combining their forces and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones.”{9T 11.2}
“On one occasion, when in New York City, I was in the night season called upon to behold buildings rising story after story toward heaven. These buildings were warranted to be fireproof, and they were erected to glorify the owners and builders.”
“Higher and still higher these buildings rose, and in them the most costly material was used. Those to whom these buildings belonged were not asking themselves: "How can we best glorify God?" The Lord was not in their thoughts.”{9T 12.1}
“The scene that next passed before me was an alarm of fire. Men looked at the lofty and supposedly fire-proof buildings and said: "They are perfectly safe. But these buildings were consumed as if made of pitch. The fire engines could do nothing to stay the destruction. The firemen were unable to operate the engines.”{9T 13.1}

We couldn't have a more accurate description of the destruction of the twin towers on September 11, 2001. Don’t miss the title of this chapter, "The Last Crisis." We now know that we are in the “Last Crisis” at the end of time. The destruction of the Twin Towers is God’s warning that the end is near, “And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall” (Isaiah 30:25, KJV). Water is often used in the Bible as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, which is beginning to be poured out in increasing power. When the twin towers fell, there was a great slaughter. More is yet to come.
EGW accurately described the events of 9/11 2001. This event marks the entry into the “Last Crisis.” Let's see how she describes the second event in “The Last Crisis:”

“There are not many, even among educators and statesmen, who comprehend the causes that underlie the present state of society. Those who hold the reins of government are not able to solve the problem of moral corruption, poverty, pauperism, and increasing crime. They are struggling in vain to place business operations on a more secure basis.”{9T 13.3}

The next event in “The Last Crisis”, our government leaders make a vain attempt to solve bank, insurance, auto company, and other business failures. There is exactly seven years, to the day, between the first two events. Our loving Father, through his faithful messenger, has made it clear that they will not succeed:

The world is stirred with the spirit of war. The prophecy of the eleventh chapter of Daniel has nearly reached its complete fulfillment. Soon the scenes of trouble spoken of in the prophecies will take place.{9T 14.2}
"Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. . . . Because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.”
“Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate. . . . The mirth of tabrets ceaseth, the noise of them that rejoice endeth, the joy of the harp ceaseth." Isaiah 24:1-8. {9T 14.3}

EGW says that, "The world is stirred with the spirit of war." We couldn't ask for more precise words to describe our time. Wars and rumors of war give the news commentators more material than they can fit into the nightly news.
In these beginning pages of volume 9 of The Testimonies, In the section, “The Last Crisis,” the Lord has lovingly given us an accurate description letting us know that we are in the last moments of earth’s history. Our last day prophet, in another article, also tells us what to expect as a result of the financial crisis:
“In India, China, Russia, and the cities of America, thousands of men and women are dying of starvation. The monied men, because they have the power, control the market. They purchase at low rates all they can obtain, and then sell at greatly increased prices. This means starvation to the poorer classes, and will result in a civil war. There will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, everyone that shall be found written in the book. . . . Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”--Ms 114, 1899. (General manuscript, untitled, typed August 13, 1899.){5MR 305.4} [Civil War starts before Jacob’s time of trouble.]

Transgression has almost reached its limit. Confusion fills the world, and a great terror is soon to come upon human beings. The end is very near. We who know the truth should be preparing for what is soon to break upon the world as an overwhelming surprise.{8T 28.1}

Rev 3:16, 17 “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked…”

“I was shown the inhabitants of the earth in the utmost confusion. War, bloodshed, privation, want, famine, and pestilence were abroad in the land. As these things surrounded God's people, they began to press together, and to cast aside their little difficulties. Self-dignity no longer controlled them; deep humility took its place. Suffering, perplexity, and privation caused reason to resume its throne, and the passionate and unreasonable man became sane, and acted with discretion and wisdom. My attention was then called from the scene. There seemed to be a little time of peace. Once more the inhabitants of the earth were presented before me; and again everything was in the utmost confusion. Strife, war, and bloodshed, with famine and pestilence, raged everywhere. Other nations were engaged in this war and confusion. War caused famine. Want and bloodshed caused pestilence. And then men's hearts failed them for fear, ‘and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth.’” (1T 268.1,2)

Egypt's 7 Years Of Famine Earth’s 7 Last Years Genesis, chapters 41-47, History Repeats
In Genesis 41 we read about Pharaoh's dream regarding the seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. God gave Joseph understanding of the vision:

Genesis 41:26-32 “The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years; the dreams are one. “And the seven thin and ugly cows which came up after them are seven years, and the seven empty heads blighted by the east wind are seven years of famine.” This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do. “Indeed seven years of great plenty will come throughout all the land of Egypt; “but after them seven years of famine will arise, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine will deplete the land. “So the plenty will not be known in the land because of the famine following, for it will be very severe. 32“And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. (NKJ).
Genesis 45:6, 7 “For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. “And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. (NKJ).
Genesis 47:13-21 Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought; and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.” Then Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.” So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year. When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. “Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.”
Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. (NKJ).

Egypt's seven years of plenty and seven years of famine form a template for our time. Egypt is a symbol of the worldly system. Egypt had seven years of Prophesied plenty. So have we. Then Egypt entered seven years of famine. During the second lean year Israel moved into the land of Goshen, away from the cities. The Egyptians ran out of bread and the money. The money failed! Our money will soon fail. The Egyptians bartered their livestock, which was their remaining wealth. Then they sold their bodies and lands to Joseph, so Pharaoh owned all the land and all the people. Joseph moved all the people into the cities. And the Egyptians became Pharaoh’s slaves. We will see the same things. The parallels with our time are too striking to miss. Slavery will be revived:

“But many of all nations and of all classes, high and low, rich and poor, black and white, will be cast into the most unjust and cruel bondage. The beloved of God pass weary days, bound in chains, shut in by prison bars, sentenced to be slain, some apparently left to die of starvation in dark and loathsome dungeons. No human ear is open to hear their moans; no human hand is ready to lend them help.”{GC 626.1}

Executive Order 11000 allows the government to mobilize civilians into work brigades under government supervision.
Executive Order 11004 allows the Housing and finance Authority to relocate communities, build new housing with public funds, designate areas to be abandoned, and establish new locations for populations.
The Lord's messenger tells us that our current financial crisis will never be solved. She also tells us that the rich and powerful men of the earth control the market and will oppress the poor to the point of starvation. These conditions will result in a civil war. Now is the time to make sure of our salvation by spending a thoughtful hour meditating on the self-sacrificing love of Jesus. Now is the time to get out of the cities. Now is the time to find a piece of land where you can grow your own food.
We have had precisely seven years of plenty, from 9/11/2001 to 9/11/2008. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, (D, Penn) Chairman of the House’s Capitol Markets Subcommittee recently discussed on C-SPAN the reasons for the massive bailout:

“Why did we do that? We did that because look, I was there when the Secretary of the Treasury and Chairman of the Federal Reserve came and talked with members of Congress about what was going on, it was about September the 15th…Here’s the facts and we don’t even talk about these things.”
“On Thursday at about 11 am the Federal Reserve noticed a tremendous drawdown of money market accounts in the United States to the tune of 550 billion dollars, being drawn out in the matter of about an hour or 2. The Treasury opened up its window to help, pumped 105 billion dollars in the system and quickly realized they could not stem the tide. We were having an electronic run on the banks. They decided to close the operation, close down the money accounts and announce a guarantee of $250,000 per account so there wouldn’t be further panic out there. If they had not done this, their estimation was that by 2 o’clock that afternoon, 5.5 trillion dollars would have been drawn out of the money market system of the United States, would have collapsed the entire economy of the United States, and within 24 hours the world economy would have collapsed.”

Notice that Representative Paul Kanjorski says that, on Thursday about September the 15th, there was a tremendous drawdown… of $550 billion. The Thursday before September 15th was the 11th. On Thursday morning September the 11th, our current financial crisis began, precisely 7 years after September the 11th, 2001. Many economists have warned that our current monetary system will soon fail. The Bible agrees. The Spirit of Prophecy (9T 11-17) confirms that September 11, 2001 marks our entry into the “Last Crisis.” This supports 9/11/2001 as the beginning of the 7 years of plenty, which ended on 9/11/2008. Our 1st lean year ends in the fall of 2009.
Our civil and religious leaders have not prepared us for the seven lean years. Note that after two of the lean years the Egyptian's money and bread failed. We are nearing the end of the first year of seven lean years, years of famine. (The Hebrew year ended after the harvest, about September/October).
Between now and the end of the second year, our monetary system will fail, and the people will not have bread. Then the people of the land will barter any items of value for food, as the Egyptians bartered their valuable cattle for food. When these valuables run out, the people of the world will sell their land and souls to the rulers for food. The rulers of Egypt transferred vast amounts of wealth from the people to the government. We see the same thing happening today, the largest transfer of wealth ever. History is repeating. The bankers have learned from history, have we? “The monied men, because they have the power, control the market.” Ms 114, 1899
1. In 1906-7 the elite created a bank panic. Leading financiers such as J.P. Morgan took advantage and acquired vast amounts of wealth. The Federal Reserve was set up in 1913. This vast wealth was used to finance WWI, which began in 1914. The elite also used the people’s war weariness and this ill-gotten wealth to set up the League of Nations, which was an early attempt at a world government.
2. The banking elite created the 1929 financial crash. Again, vast amounts of wealth changed hands. Chase Bank funneled these ill-gotten gains into Nazi Germany, which built a huge war machine and started WWII. After WWII the elite again capitalized on people’s war weariness to start the United Nations, another attempt at a world government.
3. We are currently in the largest financial crisis of all time. Wealth has been transferring hands at phenomenal rates. EGW tells us that after the destruction of the tall buildings in New York, we can expect an unsolvable financial crisis, and then, “The world is stirred with the spirit of war.” Wearied with war and facing financial ruin the peoples of the world will accept, yes, even beg for a world government to control banking and bring in lasting peace.
Brothers and sisters, now is the time to prepare our souls and our land to withstand the coming economic and money system failure. God has graciously warned us ahead of time. Failure to heed this warning will have dire consequences for body and soul. Pray and take steps to develop Christ-like characters, and to move out of the cities and suburbs and God will honor your faith with success.
1.Spend time meditating on Christ and his sacrifice for us.
2. Pray and do. Sell your place in the city.
3. Find a plot of land that has enough water and soil to grow a large garden.
4.Prepare your land and then your house. Proverbs 24:27, “Prepare your outside work, make it fit for yourself in the field; and afterward build your house.”

Gideon, Judges 6-8
Judges 6:1-4 Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains. So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them. Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance [food] for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey. (NKJ).

Again, in this story we see seven years of famine, this time brought about by the oppression of the Midianites, [Contention in Hebrew]. Note that Israel had to live in the mountains during these seven years.

Judges 6:8-10 …The Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage; and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land. Also I said to you, I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But you have not obeyed My voice.”

This is the Laodicean message! As a church, we have not obeyed the voice of God. When God speaks to man He often tells us “do not fear.” We should not fear the false gods or apostate men. We hear the admonition not to fear three times in this story. At the end of time, we mustn’t fear the gods of this earth or men.

Judges 6:11 Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites. (NKJ).

The winepress is a symbol of tribulation. Gideon is harvesting amidst tribulation. Gideon is a symbol of the remnant. Persecution, before the time of Jacob’s trouble will seem to limit, but actually facilitate the harvest. Also pay attention to timing. Gideon is harvesting just before the destruction of the Midianites. We too will participate in the harvest (the loud cry of the fourth angel) just before the destruction of the seven last plagues falls on the vast multitudes gathered to destroy the remnant. In Judges 6:11-16 The Lord God gives Gideon a commission to save Israel.

Judges 6:21-24 Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. And the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight. Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.” Then the Lord said to him, “Peace be with you; do not fear, you shall not die.” So Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it The-Lord-Is-Peace. To this day it is still in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

Gideon prepared a goat and unleavened bread, sanctuary symbols of Christ. The second time, the Lord says, “do not fear.” “Perfect love casts out fear,” (1John 4:18). In the end times this encouragement is especially important. Gideon builds an altar (worship) when he gets a view of the God of peace.

Judges 6:25 Now it came to pass the same night that the Lord said to him, “Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it; (NKJ).

The second bull (mentioned three times), of seven years has lived just during the years of famine for Israel. The second seven years in Egypt were also years of famine, symbolized by the lean cows.
God instructs Gideon to tear down the altar of Baal and the wooden idol, which he does by night for fear of men with ten servants. The tearing down of these false gods, (Sunday sacredness, etc), brings on a cry for Gideon’s death in verse 30. But Joash (Yaweh helps) reverses the sentence. Gideon’s act results in a new name (character), after he has gotten rid of the idols. So too, we will have new characters when we get rid of our idols.

Judges 6:34, 35 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon; then he blew the trumpet, and the Abiezrites[The Father is Help] gathered behind him. And he sent messengers throughout all Manasseh, who also gathered behind him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali; and they came up to meet them. (NKJ).

Gideon receives the Holy Spirit, just before the tribulation, to prepare him for the crisis. So too, we will receive the Holy Spirit in latter rain power just before our last crisis. Manasseh means, “he causes forgetfulness.” God forgets our sins, and longs to end the sufferings of his people. Lets cooperate with Him, as did Gideon. Then Gideon sends messengers to three tribes. Asher means “happy.” Asher had rich pastures and royal dainties. Happy are those who come to the battle on the side of the Lord. Zebulun means Longed for dwelling. God longs to dwell with us, and we with Him, enabled by the latter rain. Naphtali means “obtained by wrestling.” Just like Jacob his father, we too must obtain our experience with the Lord by wrestling as we approach Jacob’s time of trouble. We must overcome every cultivated and inherited tendency to sin. Then Gideon puts God to the test with a fleece, and both times God comes through. We can trust our God as we approach the battle.

Judges 7:2, 3 And the Lord said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ “Now therefore, proclaim in the hearing of the people, saying, Whoever is fearful and afraid, let him turn and depart at once from Mount Gilead.” And twenty-two thousand of the people returned, and ten thousand remained.

None of us can save ourselves. Let us give God the glory. Again God brings up the issue of fear. The fearful turn back, the vast majority. The army was still too numerous for God’s glory; only those who lap with the tongue can be used. Their heads are up, indicating watchfulness. And the water of the Spirit must purify the tongue.
In verses 10-15, God yet again seeks to alleviate fear in His follower. He provides a dream involving a loaf of barley striking the Midianite army—symbolizing the rock of Daniel’s vision—the body of Christ takes out the enemy, by standing and watching the Lord work. There are three major harvests in the Hebrew economy: the barley, the wheat and the grape harvests. The barley is the earliest, which represents the remnant, the 144,000. The wheat harvest comes later, the general harvest. The trampling of the grapes symbolizes destruction of the wicked.

Judges 7:19-22 So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the outpost of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just as they had posted the watch; and they blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers that were in their hands. Then the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the pitchers—they held the torches in their left hands and the trumpets in their right hands for blowing—and they cried, “The sword of the Lord and of Gideon!” And every man stood in his place all around the camp; and the whole army ran and cried out and fled. When the three hundred blew the trumpets, the Lord set every man’s sword against his companion throughout the whole camp; and the army fled to Beth Acacia, toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath. (NKJ).

In the dark of the night, in beginning of the middle watch the battle is engaged. They broke the pitchers, symbolizing the breaking of self and sin. They blew their trumpets, which points to the time of the plagues when God will no longer restrain human passions. Every man’s hand will be against his fellow. The blowing of Gideon’s trumpets symbolizes the end of human probation.

God will use His enemies as instruments to punish those who have followed their own pernicious ways whereby the truth of God has been misrepresented, misjudged, and dishonored.--PC 136 (1894). {LDE 242.3}
Already the Spirit of God, insulted, refused, abused, is being withdrawn from the earth. Just as fast as God's Spirit is taken away, Satan's cruel work will be done upon land and sea.--Ms 134, 1898. {LDE 242.4}
The wicked have passed the boundary of their probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one.--GC 614 (1911). {LDE 242.5}

Jacob’s Wives, 14 Years, The Time of Trouble
Genesis 28-33
The story of Jacob and Laban has similar elements of time. It has 14 years (two seven year periods) and a time of trouble. Jacob symbolizes the 144,000. Women represent the church. In Genesis 29:10, Jacob removes the stone covering the well, and waters three flocks of sheep. God’s remnant remove the obstacles to the living water of the Holy Spirit and they too water flocks of sheep, that is the people with an ear to hear. Laban represents Satan and those who oppose God’s work for His church. Jacob, the body of Christ, the 144,000 could have gone home after seven years, but Laban deceived him and he was given the wrong wife! The remnant too have been longing to go home, but His right, perfected wife hasn’t been made ready. We need to prepare ourselves by being in Christ. Get ready, get ready, get ready! When the bride is ready, we’ll go home!
Notice that Laban defrauded Jacob, changing his wages ten times. We too will come under economic oppression, the buy and sell decree. Also, Laban acted as Jacob’s enemy, an enemy from within. Our worst enemies will also be from within.
Jacob was delayed. He had to work another seven years. After he had been given the right wife he was able to start home. Jacob fled toward the “mountains of Gilead,” (mass of testimony). When Christ’s bride, the remnant are ready, when they reflect His image, His character, when they have His law written in their hearts, they’ll be ready to head home, just as Jacob was. The remnant will flee to the mountains of testimony. Notice in the story that God spoke to Jacob in a dream (Genesis 31:3, 13), confirming that it was time for him to go home. This parallels the story of Gideon. The Lord sent a prophet to Israel with an admonition just before their deliverance. Will we too have a prophet to speak to us just before our deliverance? Before Jacob reached home he had a time of wrestling, “Jacob’s time of trouble.” We too will first have to wrestle, spiritually through Jacob’s time of trouble. Jacob had to face a large enemy army that threatened to destroy him and his loved ones. We too will face a large army that will threaten to destroy us. Jacob was saved out of his time of trouble. We will be saved out of our time of trouble too. Jacob, after his night of wrestling received a new name. We too will receive a new name.
There are also parallels in the story of Jericho and Ezekiel chapters 20-39.

Buy or Sell
Revelation 13:16-18And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. KJV

But the stern tracing of the prophetic pencil reveals a change in this peaceful scene. The beast with lamblike horns speaks with the voice of a dragon, and "exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him." Prophecy declares that he will say to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast, and that "he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name." Thus Protestantism follows in the steps of the Papacy.{ST, November 1, 1899 par. 5}
It is at this time that the third angel is seen flying in the midst of heaven, proclaiming: "If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation." "Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." In marked contrast to the world stands the little company who will not swerve from their allegiance to God. These are they of whom Isaiah speaks as repairing the breach which had been made in the law of God, they who are building the old waste places, raising up the foundation of many generations.{ST, November 1, 1899 par. 6}

We as Adventists should know the following events are tied together as to cause and time with “the third angel flying in the midst of heaven”:
1. God’s remnant are cleansed from every cultivated and inherited defect.
2. The remnant are sealed.
3. The Holy Spirit is poured out in “Latter Rain Power.”
4. The 3rd Angel’s swells into the “Loud Cry.”
5. As soon as the remnant are sealed, the shaking comes.
6. The Mark of the Beast Test.
Please note that it is at the time of the Buy and Sell decree , not the National Sunday Law that the 3rd angel is seen flying in the midst of heaven! Don’t miss the following EGW quote that shows that the mark of the beast test comes at the buy and sell decree.

The time is coming when we cannot sell at any price. The decree will soon go forth prohibiting men to buy or sell of any man save him that hath the mark of the beast. We came near having this realized in California a short time since; but this was only the threatening of the blowing of the four winds. As yet they are held by the four angels. We are not just ready. There is a work yet to be done, and then the angels will be bidden to let go, that the four winds may blow upon the earth. That will be a decisive time for God's children, a time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. Now is our opportunity to work.{5T 152.2}

"He causeth all, both small and great . . . to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads." Not only are men not to work with their hands on Sunday, but with their minds are they to acknowledge Sunday as the Sabbath. "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of this name."{PH086 6.3}
"And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird. For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich through the abundance of her delicacies. And I heard another voice from heaven. saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities. Reward her even as she rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which she hath filled, fill to her double."{PH086 7.1}

The converting power of God can transform inherited and cultivated tendencies; for the religion of Jesus is uplifting. "Born again" means a transformation, a new birth in Christ Jesus. {AH 206.1}

Just as soon as God's people are sealed and prepared for the shaking, it will come. Indeed, it has begun already.--4BC 1161 (1902). {LDE 219.4}
At the transfiguration, Jesus was glorified by His Father. We hear Him say: "Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him." Thus before His betrayal and crucifixion He was strengthened for His last dreadful sufferings. As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, "the time of Jacob's trouble," they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel.{1T 353.3}

Jesus’ ministry lasted 3 ½ years. About nine months before the cross, He was transfigured to strengthen Him to endure His great sacrifice. The “body of Christ” will receive the latter rain to strengthen them just before they pass through Jacob’s time of trouble.

For three years and a half the disciples were under the instruction of the greatest Teacher the world has ever known. By personal contact and association, Christ trained them for His service {AA 17.2}

Christ's ministry lasted only three years, and a great work was done in that short period. In these last days, there is a great work to be done in a short time. While many are getting ready to do something, souls will perish for the light and knowledge. {3T 37.3}

Hoarded wealth will soon be worthless. When the decree shall go forth that none shall buy or sell except they have the mark of the beast, very much means will be of no avail. God calls for us now to do all in our power to send forth the warning to the world.--RH March 21, 1878.{LDE 148.2}
In the last great conflict in the controversy with Satan those who are loyal to God will see every earthly support cut off. Because they refuse to break His law in obedience to earthly powers they will be forbidden to buy or sell.--DA 121, 122 (1898).{LDE 148.4}

Wonderful events are soon to open before the world. The end of all things is at hand. The time of trouble is about to come upon the people of God. Then it is that the decree will go forth forbidding those who keep the Sabbath of the Lord to buy or sell, and threatening them with punishment, and even death, if they do not observe the first day of the week as the Sabbath.{RH, November 19, 1908 par. 12}

Satan says . . . "For fear of wanting food and clothing they will join with the world in transgressing God's law. The earth will be wholly under my dominion."--PK 183, 184 (c. 1914).{LDE 149.1}

For a time the oppressors will be permitted to triumph over those who know God's holy commandments. . . . To the last, God permits Satan to reveal his character as a liar, an accuser, and a murderer. Thus the final triumph of His people is made more marked, more glorious, more full and complete.--3SM 414 (1904).{LDE 153.2}

These unions are one of the signs of the last days. Men are binding up in bundles ready to be burned. They may be church members, but while they belong to these unions they cannot possibly keep the commandments of God, for to belong to these unions means to disregard the entire Decalogue.{2MR 179.1}

Soon there is to be trouble all over the world. It becomes everyone to seek to know God. We have no time to delay. . . .{LDE 153.3}
God's love for His church is infinite. His care over His heritage is unceasing. He suffers no affliction to come upon the church but such as is essential for her purification, her present and eternal good. He will purify His church even as He purified the temple at the beginning and close of His ministry on earth. All that He brings upon the church in test and trial comes that His people may gain deeper piety and more strength to carry the triumphs of the cross to all parts of the world.--9T 228 (1909).{LDE 153.4}

I saw that God has honest children among the nominal Adventists and the fallen churches, and before the plagues shall be poured out, ministers and people will be called out from these churches and will gladly receive the truth. Satan knows this; and before the loud cry of the third angel is given, he raises an excitement in these religious bodies, that those who have rejected the truth may think that God is with them.--EW 261 (1858).{LDE 158.1}
Before the final visitation of God's judgments upon the earth there will be among the people of the Lord such a revival of primitive godliness as has not been witnessed since apostolic times. . . . The enemy of souls desires to hinder this work, and before the time for such a movement shall come, he will endeavor to prevent it by introducing a counterfeit. In those churches which he can bring under his deceptive power, he will make it appear that God's special blessing is poured out; there will be manifest what is thought to be great religious interest. . . .{LDE 158.2}

The "time of trouble, such as never was," is soon to open upon us; and we shall need an experience which we do not now possess and which many are too indolent to obtain. It is often the case that trouble is greater in anticipation than in reality; but this is not true of the crisis before us. The most vivid presentation cannot reach the magnitude of the ordeal. In that time of trial, every soul must stand for himself before God. "Though Noah, Daniel, and Job" were in the land, "as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness." Ezekiel 14:20.{GC 622.4}

Unless we understand the importance of the moments that are swiftly passing into eternity, and make ready to stand in the great day of God, we shall be unfaithful stewards. The watchman is to know the time of night. Every thing is now clothed with a solemnity that all who believe the truth for this time should realize. They should act in reference to the day of God. The judgments of God are about to fall upon the world, and we need to be preparing for that great day. {6T 407.1}

The people of God need to study what characters they must form in order to pass through the test and proving of the last days. Many are living in spiritual weakness and backsliding. They know not what they believe. Let us read and study the twelfth chapter of Daniel. It is a warning that we shall all need to understand before the time of the end. There are ministers claiming to believe the truth who are not sanctified through the truth. Unless a change comes in their lives, they will say, "My Lord delayeth His coming." {15MR 228.2}

Out of the Cities
So long as God gives me power to speak to our people, I shall continue to call upon parents to leave the cities and get homes in the country, where they can cultivate the soil and learn from the book of nature the lessons of purity and simplicity. The things of nature are the Lord's silent ministers, given to us to teach us spiritual truths. They speak to us of the love of God and declare the wisdom of the great Master Artist. {AH 146.3}
Again and again the Lord has instructed that our people are to take their families away from the cities, into the country, where they can raise their own provisions; for in the future the problem of buying and selling will be a very serious one. We should now begin to heed the instruction given us over and over again: Get out of the cities into rural districts, where the houses are not crowded closely together, and where you will be free from the interference of enemies. {AH 141.4}

"Out of the cities! out of the cities!"--this has been my message for years. {CH 231.2}
Do not consider it a privation when you are called to leave the cities and move out into the country places. Here there await rich blessings for those who will grasp them. {AH 141.3}
Erelong there will be such strife and confusion in the cities, that those who wish to leave them will not be able. {Mar 180.4}
As God's commandment-keeping people, we must leave the cities. As did Enoch, we must work in the cities but not dwell in them.-- Evangelism, pp. 78, 79. (1899) {CL 30.4}
Light has been given me that the cities will be filled with confusion, violence, and crime, and that these things will increase till the end of this earth's history.--7T 84 (1902). {LDE 110.3}
When God's restraining hand is removed, the destroyer begins his work. Then in our cities the greatest calamities will come.--3MR 314 (1897). {LDE 111.1}

The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments.--Ev 29 (1910). {LDE 111.5}

The Lord has enlightened us in regard to what is coming upon the earth that we may enlighten others, and we shall not be held guiltless if we are content to sit at ease, with folded hands, and quibble over matters of minor importance. . . . {3SM 388.6}
The people must not be left to stumble their way along in darkness, not knowing what is before them, and unprepared for the great issues that are coming. There is a work to be done for this time in fitting a people to stand in the day of trouble, and all must act their part in this work. They must be clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and be so fortified by the truth that the delusions of Satan shall not be accepted by them as genuine manifestations of the power of God. . . . {3SM 389.1}

Loren James unselflove@yahoo.com
PO Box 448
Elk City, Id 83525

2008-12-13T21:28:00.000-08:00

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall rest under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of Jehovah, my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him I will trust.
Surely He will deliver you from the fowler's trap and from the destroying plague.
He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall trust. His truth shall be your shield, and buckler.
You shall not fear the terror by night; nor because of the arrow that flies by day;
nor for the plague that walks in darkness, of the destruction laying waste at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; it shall not come near you.
Only with your eyes you shall look and see the reward of the wicked.
Because You, O Jehovah, are My refuge; if You have made the Most High Your dwelling-place,
no evil shall befall You, nor shall any plague come near Your dwelling.
For He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You in all Your ways.
They shall bear You up in their hands, lest You dash your foot against a stone.
You shall tread on the lion and adder; the young lion and the jackal You shall trample underfoot.
Because He has set His love on Me, therefore I will deliver Him; I will set Him on high, because He has known My name.
He shall call on Me, and I will answer Him; I will be with Him in trouble; I will deliver Him, and honor Him.
With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.
Psalm 91

UNDERSTANDING THE CHERUBIM AND THE MEANING OF THE COALS OF FIRE

2008-12-10T21:38:00.000-08:00

By Denice Grant

The Bible clearly and consistently describes God as dwelling between, above, and among the cherubim, and emphasizes that He is the creator of the earth:
"And the people sent to Shiloh, and they took from there the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubs. And the two sons of Eli were there with the ark of the covenant of God, Hophni and Phinehas." 1Sa 4:4

"And David rose up and went, and all the people with him, from Baal-judah, to bring up the ark of God from there which is called by the Name, the Name of Jehovah of Hosts, who dwells above the cherubs." 2Sa 6:2

"And Hezekiah prayed before Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah the God of Israel, who sits above the cherubs, You are God Himself, You alone, to all the kingdoms of the earth; You have made the heavens and the earth." 2Ki 19:15

"And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath-jearim of Judah, to bring up from there the ark of Jehovah God, who dwells among the cherubs, where the Name was called on." 1Ch 13:6

"O Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, who dwells between the cherubs, You are He, God, You alone to all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made the heavens and the earth." Isa 37:16

"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You leading Joseph like a flock; shine forth, You dwelling between the cherubs." Psa 80:1

God told Moses He would meet and speak to him between the cherubim:

"And you shall make two cherubs of gold; you shall make them of beaten work from the two ends of the mercyseat. And make one cherub from the end here, and one cherub from the end there. You shall make the cherubs from the mercyseat, on its two ends. And the cherubs shall be spreading out wings above, covering the mercyseat with their wings, and their faces each toward its brother; the faces of the cherubs shall be toward the mercyseat. And you shall put the mercyseat on the ark from above. And you shall put the testimony into the ark, which I shall give to you. And I will meet you there, and will speak with you, above the mercyseat, from between the two cherubs which are on the ark of testimony, all which I shall command you concerning the sons of Israel." Exo 25:18-22

In the book of Numbers we read that God did speak to Moses there:

"And when Moses went into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from the mercy-seat which is on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubs; and He spoke to him." Num 7:89

Notice that God speaks from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubs which are on either side of the ark of the testimony.

In Ezekiel we see this same format, the cherubims, above their head a throne, but here, under and between the cherubim instead of the mercy seat and the ark with the tablets of stone, there are coals of fire. In Eze. 10:1-9 it reads:

"Then I looked, and, behold, in the firmament that was above the head of the cherubims there appeared over them as it were a sapphire stone, as the appearance of the likeness of a throne. And he spake unto the man clothed with linen, and said, Go in between the wheels, even under the cherub, and fill thine hand with coals of fire from between the cherubims, and scatter them over the city. And he went in my sight. Now the cherubims stood on the right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner court. Then the glory of the Lord went up from the cherub, and stood over the threshold of the house; and the house was filled with the cloud, and the court was full of the brightness of the Lord's glory. And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. And it came to pass, that when he had commanded the man clothed with linen, saying, Take fire from between the wheels, from between the cherubims; then he went in, and stood beside the wheels. And one cherub stretched forth his hand from between the cherubims unto the fire that was between the cherubims, and took thereof, and put it into the hands of him that was clothed with linen: who took it, and went out. And there appeared in the cherubims the form of a man's hand under their wings. And when I looked, behold the four wheels by the cherubims, one wheel by one cherub, and another wheel by another cherub: and the appearance of the wheels was as the colour of a beryl stone." Eze 10:1-9:

In Isaiah we get a glimpse of what the coals of fire represent:

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims; each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said, I, Woe is me! for I am undone: because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Then flew one of the seaphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thy iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, here am I send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people , Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and the healed." Isa 6:1-10

The coals have a cleansing effect, it takes away the iniquity and purges sin. In Proverbs we see how this cleansing takes place:

"If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink; for thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the Lord whall reward thee." Pro 25:21

Paul confirms it in Romans:

"Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head." Rom 12:20

In the Songs of Solomon:
"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is stong as death; jealousy is cruel(or fierce) as the grave: the coals thereof as coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame." Son 8:6

Coals of fire represent the unconditional agape love of God, which is also the meaning of the mercy seat. His fiercely tenatious love for us, that is willing to go to the grave for us. That is His character.

The Sanctuary is the dwelling place of the name of God, or, the character of God. We know that because the tablets of stone were in the ark, between the cherubs, under the mercy seat, and the commandments are a transcript of His character, which is love:

"But the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience, and faith not pretended." 1Ti 1:5

God's character has been defamed by an enemy who has done wickedly 'in' the sanctuary:

"Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly 'in' the santuary." Psa 74:3

"They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of Thy name to the ground." Psa 74:7

"O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?" Psa 74:10

"Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name." Psa 74:18

As we know, Lucifer was a covering cherub 'in' the sanctuary, and he walked in the midst of the stones of fire:

"You were the annointed cherub that covers, and I had put you in the holy heights of God, where you were. You walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. By the multitude of thy merchandise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, and thou has 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." Eze 28:14

The stones of fire are the same as the coals of fire. God had placed Lucifer in the holy heights of God, in His throne room, high and lifted up. He walked among the stones of fire, so this means that he knew the perfect agape love of God.

God dwellt between, above, among, Lucifer and the other covering cherub. As a covering cherub, Lucifer was a spokesman for God (Gabriel, who took over Lucifer's position was a spokesman, connecting God to the human race, "And the sound of the cherubims' wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh.") and thus in a perfect position to misrepresent God's character in order to achieve his own agenda.

In Genesis, the cherubim are said to guard the Tree of Life with a flaming sword. The sword is not a literal sword as humans understand sword, but the word of God is the sword. It is flaming because it is embued with the fiery love of God.

"And He drove the man out. And He lodged the cherubs at the east of the Garden of Eden, and the flaming sword whirling around to guard the way of the Tree of Life." Gen 3:24

Other meanings of the word 'guard' (shamar in Hebrew) is keep, preserve, save. As the spokesmen for God, the cherubim 'preserve' the way of the Tree of Life, imparting its principles to humanity. The King James says that the sword 'turned every way.'

Jesus is the light that would light all people.

DENICE'S CD "IF MY PEOPLE , WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL PRAY...THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN

2008-12-08T22:31:00.000-08:00

Price: $20.00 per CD. To order write to pituca7@hotmail.com
1. If My people
2. His Eye Is On The Sparrow
3. By Our Love
4. It Is Well With My Soul
5. Be Not Afraid
6. On Eagle's Wings
7. Jesus Paid It All
8. By Grace Alone
9. Arise My Love
10. Were You There
11. He's Always Been Faithful
12. How Long Has It Been
13. The Love Of God
14. Break Thou The Bread Of Life
Piano/Keyboards/Vocals: Denice Grant
Guest Vocal: Ingrid Vyhmeister
Cello: Mary Walters
Oboe: Janet Putnam
Bagpipes: Tyrone Heade
Orchestrations: Denice Grant, Roy Naden
Recording and Mixing Engineer: Michael Vossler
Impact Video & Audio Productions
Issaquah, WA 425-445-5340
Piano Recording Engineer: Michael Matesky
Opus 4 Studio, Seattle
Art Work by: Michael Vossler
Producer: Roy Naden
Contact Information:
Denice Grant: pituca7@hotmail.com
Michael Vossler: mvsstudio@aol.com

For an audio sample of "Break Thou The Bread Of Life" see video bellow: "In the Beginning...The True Character of God"

OUR GOD IS A CONSUMING FIRE

2008-12-08T17:45:00.001-08:00

By Brad Cole

Christian beliefs about the fate of the wicked fall into two broad categories:

· A literal burning hell in which the sinner is punished for all of eternity. This view is associated
with the belief that the soul is immortal.

· Less common is the belief that the suffering of the wicked lasts only for a period of time. This
view is referred to as “annihilationism”. In this model, God is typically described as destroying
(or annihilating) them after a brief period of conscious suffering by fire.

In this paper, I will try to express another way of understanding the fire that is described in the book of Revelation and elsewhere in scripture. Although this is not a view held by many, I hope that the reader will briefly consider another possibility – perhaps one that will harmonize these words of Jesus on the subject of fire: “I came to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already kindled.” (Luke 12:49)

Why does it matter?

Does the fate of the wicked really matter that much to our understanding of God and the plan
of salvation? After all, if we are rejoicing with God and our friends in heaven, why should we be
concerned about a multitude of rebels who are suffering in pain? I heard a sermon recently in which the pastor pointed to the verse in Revelation that describes “the sea of glass mixed with fire” (Revelation 22:4). His interpretation was that those in heaven will always be able to look down and to see what should have been our fate: “Look what God would have done to me were
it not for the death of Jesus!” The view of a God who must torture his sinful children for all of eternity, “to satisfy justice” cannot help but contribute to our picture of who God is in character.

For example, imagine that you were told about a man that lives in your town. He is described to you as kind, gentle, and humble man. Stories are recounted of what he has done for the poor and the outcasts of society and you learn that he has even built a large home just for you on the back of his property, filled with the most wonderful things that you can imagine. After 15 minutes of glowing praise, you ask, “What would happen if I refused to like this man, despite his goodness? What would he do to me?” With some hesitancy the reply comes, “His sense of justice would demand that you be burned to death on the back lawn of his property.”

If that were the reality, would you still be impressed with the stories about the man’s kindness? Would you want to live in the house that he built for you or would you rather move as far away as possible? Would not all the stories about the man’s goodness and love become entirely swept away by the horror of what he does to his enemies?

Of course, some would say, “It doesn’t matter whether that offends you or not. All that matters is what the Bible says about the destruction of the wicked.” And, while I agree that the Bible is our inspired textbook for understanding this subject, my point for now is just to say that this subject contributes to our picture of God’s character perhaps more than any other. Since “eternal life is to know God” our passion must be to know His character as deeply as possible. What God does to His enemies is one critically important window into the character of God.

God Himself is the Fire

This passage in Revelation is, for many, the key text for an eternally burning hell: “A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 – NIV)

I believe that this passage is a wonderful opportunity to explain the reality of what happens to the wicked even though to many it would seem to make it very clear that the wicked are tortured forever and ever by burning sulfur. But first, a critical point to our understanding of what this fire is all about. The book of Revelation is not a stand alone book that we can understand independent of the previous 65 books of the Bible for this book is largely composed from the Old Testament. Large passages derive from the books of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Joel, and many others. In addition, the book of Revelation opens with the words that “this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ”. In other words, Revelation must be seen through the lens of Jesus Christ and a proper understanding of this book will reveal something very important to us about God. The book, with all its symbolism, is meant to clarify, not mystify, who God is in character.

With that in mind, it is important to understand that the imagery of Revelation 14 comes directly from Isaiah, chapter 34, which describes the destruction of Edom :

“The rivers of Edom will turn into tar, and the soil will turn into sulfur. The whole country will burn like tar. It will burn day and night, and smoke will rise from it forever. The land will lie waste age after age, and no one will ever travel through it again. Owls and ravens will take over the land. The LORD will make it a barren waste again, as it was before the creation.” (Isaiah 34:9-11 – GN)

Is the country of Edom still burning? Did God destroy Edom by fire? In fact, even to a person reading this passage during Isaiah’s time, would they assume that the land would burn forever and that smoke would ascend forever if owls and ravens will “take over the land”? This is obviously a poetic description that Edom would be destroyed forever which should invite us to bring the same meaning to the passage in Revelation. But, there is another very important clue in the Revelation 14 passage. Read very carefully:

“A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: ‘If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name.” (Revelation 14:9-11 – NIV)

Notice that those who are experiencing torment are “in the presence of the holy angels and of the lamb.” There is obviously some symbolism involved here as Jesus is not actually a lamb, but are the angels and Jesus really standing in the fire with the wicked? That is what the passage would suggest. Here, I believe is the key point! Jesus (who is God of course) IS the fire! Not a fire like the ones we ignite with matches of course, but yet the Bible again and again uses fire as the symbolic description of God’s immediate presence: “Because the LORD your God is like a flaming fire.” (Daniel 4:24 – GN) “For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29 – GN)
“God, the light of Israel , will become a fire. Israel ’s holy God will become a flame, which in a single day will burn up everything, even the thorns and thistles” (Isaiah 10:17 – GN)

As I will describe, the immediate presence of God is tortuous to some – but not because He is a literal fire that burns up flesh. God does not exude any hostility towards his rebellious children. This is rather describing a psychological discomfort that involves intense guilt and shame as sinful and selfish individuals enter into the presence of a God who is selfless love personified.

The presence of God

There are several examples in scripture of individuals who have experienced God’s presence.

Isaiah

This was the experience of Isaiah:

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on his throne, high and exalted, and his robe filled the whole Temple . Around him flaming creatures were standing, each of which had six wings. Each creature covered its face with two wings, and its body with two, and used the other two for flying. They were calling out to each other: ‘Holy, holy, holy! The LORD Almighty is holy! His glory fills the world.’ The sound of their voices made the foundation of the Temple shake, and the Temple itself became filled with smoke. I said, ‘There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes I have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.’ Then one of the creatures flew down to me, carrying a burning coal that he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs.” (Isaiah 6:4-6 – GN)

Notice that Isaiah did not exclaim, “God, you are so bright and hot that I am burning up!” No. Isaiah saw the beautiful glory and goodness of God and by contrast saw with an intense clarity his own sinfulness. His lips were touched with a burning coal, but notice again the symbolism involved as the coal was not harmful to his flesh: “He touched my lips with the burning coal and said, ‘This has touched your lips, and now your guilt is gone, and your sins are forgiven.’ Then I heard the Lord say, ‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’ I answered, ‘I will go! Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:7-8 – GN)

The intense shame and guilt experience by Isaiah is what God described to Moses with these words: “But you may not look directly at My face, for no one may see Me and live.” (Exodus 33:20 – NLT) God was not saying, “If you look at My face, I’ll kill you!” Rather, God is saying, “In your state of rebellious separation from My kingdom of other-centered love, the full face-to-face exposure to My goodness and love is actually harmful.” The destructive element of beholding God face-to-face does not come from God, but rather from within the sinner.

Moses

We need to use many examples to drive this point home. Moses saw the glory of God at the burning bush. But were the leaves of the bush consumed? Our children watched a movie recently on the life of Moses and I loved how the movie portrayed the burning bush. After God’s burning glory departed Moses walked over and picked a leaf. It was completely unharmed! God’s fiery presence apparently does not burn leaves. A little later on God came as a fire onto Mount Sinai : “The glory of the Lord rested on Mount Sinai …And the glory of the Lord appeared to the Israelites like devouring fire on the top of the mountain.” (Exodus 24:16-17 – GN)

Were the trees on the top of the mount consumed by the fire? Did God’s presence spark a massive forest fire? There is no record of this.

God’s glory also filled the tent in the wilderness, but is there ever a record of the sheets spontaneously bursting into flames? No, this is an altogether different kind of fire. Moses reflected this glory when he came from the LORD’s presence: “Whenever Moses went into the Tent of the LORD’s presence to speak to the LORD, he would take the veil off. When he came out, he would tell the people of Israel everything that he had been commanded to say, and they would see that his face was shining. Then he would put the veil back on until the next time he went to speak with the LORD.” (Exodus 34:34-35 – GN)

These were not 3rd degree burns in the face of Moses. Rather, the reflected glory of God in his face caused distress in the people – very similar to the experience of Isaiah, no doubt. Out of consideration for the people, Moses considerately put a veil over his face.

Nabad and Abihu

And the story of the rebellious sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, also reinforces this view:

“Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu…disobeyed the LORD by burning before Him the wrong kind of
fire…So fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD. Then Moses said to Aaron, ‘This is what the LORD meant when He said, 'I will display My holiness through those who come near Me. I will display My glory before all the people.’ And Aaron was silent. Then Moses called for…Aaron’s cousins…He said to them, ‘Come forward and carry away the bodies of your relatives from in front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp.’”

Don’t read on! “Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and burned them up…” If you were
Aaron’s cousins and were given the command to carry them outside the camp, what would you predict would be left of their bodies? What would you predict would be left of their clothes? Read on! “So they came forward and picked them up by their garments and carried them out of the camp, just as Moses had commanded.” (Leviticus 10:1-5 – NLT)

The fire that emanates from the very presence of God is apparently not harmful to clothes or flesh, but yet these 2 rebellious men could not stand in the presence of God.

Job

Job also saw God in all his glory, and like Isaiah he was acutely aware of his own guilt: “In the past I knew only what others had told me, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. So I am
ashamed of all I have said and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6 – GN)

Daniel

Is there a more righteous saint in the Bible than Daniel? But yet, his experience in the presence of God had this effect: “I looked up and saw someone who was wearing linen clothes and a belt of fine gold. His body shone like a jewel. His face was as bright as a flash of lightning, and his eyes blazed like fire. His arms and legs shone like polished bronze, and his voice sounded like the roar of a great crowd. I was the only one who saw the vision. Those who were with me did not see anything, but they were terrified and ran and hid. I was left there alone, watching this amazing vision. I had no strength left, and my face was so changed that no one could have recognized me. When I heard his voice, I fell to the ground unconscious and lay there face downward. Then a hand took hold of me and raised me to my hands and knees; I was still trembling. The angel said to me, ‘Daniel, God loves you. Stand up and listen…” (Daniel 10:5-10 – GN) The friends that Daniel was with fled in panic, while Daniel is described as acutely aware of his own sinfulness, “…my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.” (Daniel 10:8 – ASV). I love the fact though that the angel immediately reassures Daniel with these comforting words: “God loves you”.

John

John, who walked with Jesus for over 3 years, later saw Him in all His glory. He had a similar response as Daniel: “When I saw him, I fell down at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid!’” (Revelation 1:17 – GN) Once again, isn’t it wonderful that God is so quick to say, “I love you” and “Don’t be afraid!” But once again, no one turns to God and says “It’s too hot in here. My flesh is starting to burn.” Rather, these individuals are experiencing psychological discomfort, guilt and shame.

Lucifer

Before His rebellion, Lucifer flourished in the presence of God’s glory: “I ordained and anointed you as the mighty angelic guardian. You had access to the holy mountain of God and walked among the stones of fire.” (Ezekiel 28:14 – NLT) “The stones of fire” is describing the very presence of God and the sinless Lucifer dwelt unharmed with his Creator.

The destruction comes from within

Notice very carefully the description of Satan’s destruction just a few verses later: “You defiled your sanctuaries with your many sins and your dishonest trade. So I brought fire from within you, and it consumed you. I let it burn you to ashes on the ground in the sight of all who were
watching” (Ezekiel 28:18, NLT).

The destructive element in God’s presence does not emanate from God, but rather from within the sinner. The destructive “fire” that will end of the life of Satan comes from within his own selfish and rebellious heart. To me, this passage in Isaiah is one of the most compelling on this subject: “But the LORD says, ‘Now I will do something and be greatly praised. Your deeds are straw that will be set on fire by your very own breath. You will be burned to ashes like thorns in a fire. Everyone, both far and near, come look at what I have done. See my mighty power!’ The sinners in Zion are terrified; trembling grips the godless: ‘Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? Who of us can dwell with everlasting burning?’ He who walks righteously and speaks what is right…” (Isaiah 33:11-15 – CEV, NIV)

This passage is describing the fear and dread that the wicked experience in the presence of God who appears to them as “the consuming fire” and the “everlasting burning”. They ask, “Who of us can dwell with the everlasting burning?” But notice that the reply comes that “He who walks righteously and speaks what is right” can dwell in the presence of God!

This passage in Psalms also describes the two classes of people that will one day stand in God’s
presence: “As wax melts in front of the fire, so do the wicked perish in his presence. But the righteous are glad and rejoice in his presence; they are happy and shout for joy.” (Psalms 68:2 – GN)

For some, God’s presence is tortuous; for others it is a place of great joy and happiness. We see this same relationship once again in the book of Malachi, where the wicked perish in His presence, while to others that same presence brings great happiness, joy and healing: “The LORD Almighty says, ‘The day is coming when all proud and evil people will burn like straw.
On that day they will burn up, and there will be nothing left of them. But for you who obey me, my saving power will rise on you like the sun and bring healing like the sun’s rays. You will be as free and happy as calves let out of a stall.” (Malachi 4:1-2 – GN)

When the fire of God is understood in this way, both heaven and hell are seen to be the same place. That is, both heaven and hell are a Person. For some, it is heaven to dwell in the presence of Love Personified; for others, it is hell. God’s love is very hot indeed: “Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death…Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, nor will rivers overflow it. (Song of Solomon 8:6-7)

Courage in the presence of God

John describes the individuals who will stand in the presence of God this way: “Yes, my children, remain in union with him, so that when he appears we may be full of courage and need not hide in shame from him on the Day he comes…We know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is” (1 John 2:28, 3:2 – GN)

When God returns, those who already live in union with him will have courage for they will know that the glorious One who stands before them is just like Jesus in character – kind, gentle, humble, and supremely forgiving. These individuals are settled into the truth about the kind of Person God is. And, by daily dwelling in the presence of the God of love, it is a law that we become like the God we love, trust and admire: “We shall be like him, because we shall see him as he really is!”

The central characteristic of God’s friends in the last generation is that they will see God as he really is. That is, they are fully settled in the picture of God that Jesus came to bring and by beholding the true God it is an unavoidable natural consequence that we are changed into His image: “All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater degree of glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18 – GN)

The fire is eternal

I grew up in a church that preached annihilationism and I recall some pastors going to great lengths to explain that the soul is not immortal and to quickly add the “good news” that “the fire won’t last forever”. “The wicked will only burn for as long as they deserve.” But if the “eternal fire” is ultimately the very presence of God, then the fire really is eternal – an eternal fire of intense love and goodness that will never be extinguished! By contrast though, the suffering of
the wicked in God’s presence is short and does not last forever, but yet the fire of God’s love will burn on.

And here is the best part! God’s friends will dwell in His presence for all of eternity. Just as Lucifer was described as walking among the stones of fire, John described heaven as “…what looked like a sea of glass mixed with fire” (Revelation 22:4). Once again, this refers to the very presence of our God and the righteous will dwell in the unveiled glory of God – face to face! I believe that the reason Jesus would say, “I came to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already kindled” is that He desires more than anything to experience with each one of us a deeply personal face-to-face relationship. Jesus came in order to restore and to heal us that we may enter into His presence and experience this incredible intimacy and friendship with God:
“But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence.” (Colossians 1:22 – GN)

What God has desired more than anything from the moment Adam and Eve fled from His presence, is to wrap His arms around His children once again. How significant then that the end of the great controversy is described with these words!

“They will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. There shall be no more night, and they will not need lamps or sunlight, because the Lord God will be their light, and they will rule as kings forever and ever.” (Revelation 22:4-5 – GN)

Some quotes from others on this subject

“This is not an act of arbitrary power on the part of God. The rejecters of His mercy reap that which they have sown. God is the fountain of life; and when one chooses the service of sin, he separates from God, and thus cuts himself off from life. He is ‘alienated from the life of God.’ Christ says, ‘All they that hate Me love death.’ Ephesians 4:18; Proverbs 8:36. God gives them existence for a time that they may develop their character and reveal their principles. This accomplished, they receive the results of their own choice. By a life of rebellion, Satan and all who unite with him place themselves so out of harmony with God that His very presence is to them a consuming fire. The glory of Him who is love will destroy them.” (DA 764)

“We are not to regard God as waiting to punish the sinner for his sin. The sinner brings the punishment upon himself. His own actions start a train of circumstances that bring the sure result. Every act of transgression reacts upon the sinner, works in him a change of character, and makes it more easy for him to transgress again. By choosing to sin, men separate themselves from God, cut themselves off from the channel of blessing, and the sure result is ruin and death.” (Letter 96, 1896)

“God does not stand toward the sinner as an executioner of the sentence against transgression; but He leaves the rejectors of His mercy to themselves, to reap that which they have sown.” (GC 56) “Could those whose hearts are filled with hatred of God, of truth and holiness, mingle with the heavenly throng and join their songs of praise? Could they endure the glory of God and the Lamb? No, no; years of probation were granted them, that they might form characters for heaven; but they have never trained the mind to love purity; they have never learned the language of heaven, and now it is too late. A life of rebellion against God has unfitted them for heaven. Its purity, holiness, and peace would be torture to them; the glory of God would be a consuming fire. They would long to flee from that holy place. They would welcome destruction, that they might be hidden from the face of Him who died to redeem them. The destiny of the wicked is fixed by their own choice. Their exclusion from heaven is voluntary with themselves, and just and merciful on the part of God” (GC 542, 543).

"THE MAGIC FLUTE: DUALITY AND THE SERPENT IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN"

2008-12-07T23:16:00.001-08:00

By Denice Grant

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 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.” [1] Genesis
“ When looked at closely, death is the true goal of our lives, and so for a number of years I’ve familiarized myself with this true friend of man to such an extent that his image is not only no longer a source of terror to me but is comforting and consoling! And I give thanks to my God that He has given me the good fortune of finding an opportunity – you understand what I mean-of realizing that death is the key to our true happiness. – I never go to bed without thinking that –young as I am-I may no longer be alive the next morning- and yet no one who knows me can say that I’m sullen or sad in my dealings with them- and for this blessing I give daily thanks to my creator and with all my heart wish that all my fellow creatures may feel the same.”[2] Letter from Mozart to his father
“Kings are forced to do people harm so that good may emerge.” [3] Epitaph to Joseph II

View notes at end.

Written in the midst of momentously revolutionary philosophical, cultural, and religious shifts taking place in western belief systems, The Magic Flute stands as a work of art that betrays and portrays not only the sentiments of the age, but a conflict of universal proportions, dating back to the very beginning of recorded time as found in the book of Genesis in the Hebrew scriptures. Seen as the embodiment of Enlightenment ideals[4], The Magic Flute has been studied from many angles in an effort to shed light on its often-perceived chaotic libretto and to distil its central message. Among these, more recently there have been studies regarding ‘recognition’[5] as an explanation for the sudden and unaccounted shift in the characters of Sarastro and The Queen of the Night; other studies focus on gender roles[6] and racial issues[7], and fairy-tale versus Masonic debates[8], to name a few. A work universally beloved by children and adults alike, Mozart’s opera has been viewed as shallow nonsense by some, and as cryptic Masonic[9] or Rosicrucian[10] mysticism by others. This paper will focus primarily on the element of duality found in the opera as it relates to the Enlightenment ideal of individual freedom, and approach it from yet another perspective, which to my knowledge has not yet been explored, one that bases its premises on biblically derived principles, and which, if truth be told, will probably raise more questions than answer them.
From the very first line of the opera one cannot help but make a parallel with the blatant symbolism of Schikaneder’s libretto to a theme that appears at the beginning of the scriptures themselves:

(Rugged cliffs. To the left in the foreground a cave.)
(Tamino rushes in with a bow but no arrow.)
Help! Oh, help! Or else I am lost.
Of the cunning serpent a certain victim.
Merciful gods! It even now approaches.
(A large serpent follows Tamino)
Oh, save, oh, protect me![11]

The serpent[12] has ever been a symbol of destruction and terror. The first mention of the serpent in the biblical account is found in Genesis 3:1: “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made.[13] And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?[14] And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.[15] And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 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.”[16]
The tree in question was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and its significance can be fully understood only within the context of creation:
“And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”[17]
“And God said, Let the waters, bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. “[18]

The account of God’s modus operandi in the act of creation reads with a seemingly child-like simplicity, but at a closer look it reveals a profound principle clearly observable to this today: “the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind.” Likewise “the moving creature that hath life…after their kind.” In other words, every species in the vegetable and animal kingdoms was given an individual genetic code of its own, and the ability to reproduce itself, and only itself: having seed in itself, and according to its own kind, so that a pear tree would produce pears, a fig tree, figs, etc…The test of the tree is a very simple test and is, therefore, its fruit: a tree shall be known by its fruit.[19]
Among all the trees in the garden, two in particular receive special mention: “And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food: the tree of life also in the midst of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”[20]
Trees, in themselves, have no meaning in the arena of philosophical endeavors. They must be viewed as symbols of greater concepts, just as the serpent must be viewed as a symbol of something greater than a slithering reptile. The tree of life, falling in line with the aforementioned principle, that of producing fruit ‘according to its kind’, is then a symbol that represents those principles by which God himself operates, and its fruit is “life.”
The tree of the knowledge of “good and evil” [21] stood distinctly apart from the “tree of life” and from the rest of all created things, in that it served as a symbol to represent a set of principles that were foreign to all of God’s creation, for the fruit it produced was not ‘after its own kind’; it produced both ‘good’ and ‘evil’, a hybrid mixture, a confusing duality, and it was therefore easily discernible and recognizable as foreign to the rest of the creation upon which God had passed the pronouncement of being “good.”
The two trees then stand diametrically opposed as evidenced by their fruit, even though they were physically situated right next to each other. And if one was “good” (the tree of life, representing the set of principles by which God operated, thus giving life ), and the other, not “good”, (the tree of good and evil, representing the serpent’s set of operating principles, which, if one ate it would cause death), then a curious question arises: what is the ‘good’ of “good and evil?” It is easy to see that ‘evil’ is not “good”, but to think of ‘good’ as not being “good” as well stretches the mind a bit. Taking this line of thinking to its logical conclusion, then the first component of the hybrid fruit, ‘good’, does not stand by itself as “good”, but is part of the pairing of “good and evil” and as such it must necessarily not be “good” but evil, for it is also the cause of death, together with its twin half, ‘evil.’
God had warned Adam and Eve that if they ate of the hybrid fruit, or in other words, espoused this set of dualistic, hybrid principles, they would enter into a realm that would certainly, without question, in a most emphatic ‘surely’, bring death to them and by extension to the world, as a consequence of the working out of those very principles. The serpent cunningly contradicted Him and said that they would “not surely die: 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.” The serpent then represents the knowledge of “good and evil” as something highly desirable, a pursuit of knowledge, an enlightenment that would trasport them to a higher state, and would be ‘as gods ‘. [22]
The fact that the two trees not only stood next to each other, but side by side in the middle of the garden is of extreme importance, for in that fact is seen one of God’s operating principles, and one which bestows upon mankind at the same time great value and responsibility: freedom of choice. Even while knowing that “good and evil” would cause death, God allowed it to exist side by side with His own principles, rather than banish it out of sight, or still more drastically, destroying it altogether. He gave Adam and Eve a warning, but respected their free will.
Being the true opposite of the tree of “life” then, “good and evil” embodies that which is the opposite of freedom of choice: force, coercion and violence of any kind. It also becomes a judge of man’s behavior, arbitrarily rewarding good behavior, and likewise punishing bad behavior. If these value judgments are taking place in the hybrid-realm of the serpent, it is clear then that they do not originate from God, who does not and has never punished anyone: “for He makes the sun to rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust,”[23] providing life to all alike regardless of merit, as merit is defined in human terms.[24] One more principle taught by Jesus will help to seal this understanding: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city of house divided against itself shall not stand.”[25] The kingdom of ‘good and evil’ is inherently divided against itself. Ritter’s epitaph to emperor Joseph II is a perfect example of the thinking involved in this principle: “Kings are forced to do people harm so that good may emerge.” In this line of thinking the end justify the means, and the value of the individual is lost.
Having set in place that the principles of the domain of ‘good and evil’ are characterized by force, coercion, violence, and arbitrary reward and punishment as behavioral correctives, then consider the statement of Jessica Waldorf in regards to The Magic Flute: “Though fashioned from a fairy-tale, its high minded theme is that of enlightenment. And its plot, the dramatic representation of this theme, is that of an individual’s quest for knowledge. In keeping with the central theme – as I am not the first to observe – the opera is replete with metaphor and symbolism that contrast light and dark, from characters who represent one or the other (Sarastro and the Queen of the Night, for example), through actions and dialogue that dramatize the conflict between them, to imagery that underscores the theme. Day and night, knowledge and ignorance, truth and falsehood, good and evil, love and hate, friendship and enmity, forgiveness and revenge: all stand opposed in the opera.”[26]
According to Waldorf the opera is clearly divided into two opposing sides: the positive and the negative. Air, light, day, knowledge, truth, love, friendship, forgiveness are on the positive side along with their representative characters: Sarastro, Tamino, Pamina, Papageno and Papagena, and the Three Youths. On the negative side are the Queen of the Night, Monostatos, the Three Ladies, who are characterized by darkness, night, ignorance, deception, hate, enmity, revenge. But what Waldorf neglects to point out is that duality resides in each and every one of the characters. From this new perspective, everyone carries both “good and evil” within themselves, and there is no one who is “good” in the original sense as it relates to the tree of life. So duality resides within, and not outside, as in a group of characters versus another.
It would be very interesting to apply the test of the ‘fruit of the tree’ to each of these characters to see how they fare, but that would lengthen this study considerably. So let’s take Sarastro and the Queen, who are normally seen as the archetypes of light and darkness, the strongest characters on either side of the spectrum.
Portrayed as the wise beneficent priest, Sarastro is a perfect case study, and as it happens, meets all the criteria of the domain of ‘good and evil’: he uses force and violence, therefore removing freedom of choice (we first learn of him as essentially a terrorist, kidnapping Pamina in order to supposedly protect her from her own mother, and apparently, appallingly, before Tamino enters the picture, giving her to Monostatos: “for thou already lovs’t another, to love I will never compel thee” !) Sarastro is all about power and he inevitably becomes a dictator, ruling people’s lives and choosing what is and what is not good for them, including their own happiness. As he arbitrarily punishes Monostatos with seventy-seven bastinado stripes for trying to seduce Pamina, the cast itself agrees with this assessment as they all sing in unison: “Long live Sarastro, the sage divine! He justly punishes and rewards.” His treatment of the Queen and Pamina is particularly cruel and arbitrary, as by his own admission he holds them in is power:
Pamina:
O Lord, ‘tis true that I am guilty,
That I from your power wished to flee.
The guilt rests not only on me-
The wicked Moor desired my love,
Therefore, O sire, I fled from thee.
Sarastro:
Arise, my love, and happy be,
For without further questioning thee,
I know the secret of thy heart.
For thou already lov’st another,
To love I never will compel thee,
And yet I cannot give thee freedom.
Pamina:
My filial duty calls me,
For my mother-
Sarastro:
Is in my power.
Your happiness would all be ended
Were I to give you up to her.
Pamina:
The name of mother sounds so sweet,
‘Tis she…
Sarastro:
A haughty woman,
Only a man should guide your hearts.
Without him, woman is accustomed
To wend her way out of her sphere.

Sarastro’s power over the lives of Pamina and the Queen leave them destitute of that priceless gift of freedom of choice, taking away their dignity and rendering them mere objects whose lives need to be directed as he sees fit. Interestingly, God predicted that this would be the fate of the woman under the new paradigm introduced by the serpent, where muscle force prevails: “thy desire shall be to your husband, and he shall rule over you.”[27] This was no arbitrary punishment from God, but a statement of the consequences of choosing the principle of “good and evil.” Physically weaker, the woman would be dominated by man, who now lacking the principles of the “tree of life” would oppress her by force. Sarastro not only rules and holds the lives of Pamina and the Queen in his hands, he also dictates to Pamina how she should feel about her own mother, breaking the bond between mother and child by character assassination and slander.
Kristi Brown Montesano has seen quite clearly through the real character of Sarastro, and when refuting Alfons Rosenberg’s[28] standard evaluation of Sarastro’s conventionally perceived wisdom in his book Die Zauberflote, she puts things in perspective: “Focusing on mythic images, Rosenberg ignores the historical evidence, which has more commonly demonstrated the father’s tyrannical enforcement of a “will to authority” in order to protect his rule and his interests.”[29]
Brown-Montesano goes on to say: “[the] kind of essentialist-symbolic reading – all too common with Die Zauberflote – merely reinforces the opera’s day-versus-night propaganda, but here is the shocking truth: there is no such balanced dualism in the opera, for there is nothing even close to a parity of power. Sarastro is always in control; indeed, both he and the Queen of the Night attest to her relative powerlessness. All of the poetic discourse on birth and rebirth and on the dangers of the innately destructive, essence-devouring, supernatural Mother is strangely at odds with the actual Queen, who never wields the kind of power that Sarastro does, much less the potency of a truly “terrible goddess.” She does not appear to have magical powers or military resources; after Pamina is taken, she does not raise an invading army, but pins her hopes on an almost total stranger – Tamino – merely because he is a man and therefore has a better chance of slipping into Sarastro’s temples. In a sense, then, this Queen is defined by her lack of power. She is a sovereign (and a mother) backed into a corner – her marginal, mountainous province on the outskirts of civilization. Even after her only child and heir, Pamina, goes to the “other side,” the Queen fights for the kingdom she has been denied.”[30]
The Queen on her part, is motivated by “good and evil” as well, for her intentions are altruistically and self-centered at the same time. She not only desires to get Pamina back (as any good mother would do), but by so doing she desperately hopes to gain revenge as well. She is moved by fiery rage at Sarastro, as is anyone who is oppressed by force. Her first words betray her as a loving, bereft mother, but also a very angry, powerless one:
Queen:
O tremble not, beloved son!
You’re innocent, devout and wise.
A youth like you does sure know best
A mother’s heart to put to rest.
For I am doomed to mourn and sorrow.
My daughter left me in dismay;
With her my happiness has vanished,
A scoundrel bore my child away.
I still see her shiver,
Tremble and quiver,
I still hear her shrieking,
In vain for aid seeking.
I had to see her stolen from me,
“Oh help!” was all the poor child said
Alas! In vain was all her pleading,
Too weak, O heaven, was my aid!
Sarastro’s negative side – power, force, violence, control – are easily perceived. But Sarastro also has his good side, as he rewards: he gives Papagena to Papageno and Pamina toTamino. Consider Brown-Montesano’s following paragraph:
“Pamina’s admittance into the company of Initiates is fundamentally dependent on Tamino; however outstanding her qualities, it is her status as Tamino’s chosen helpmate that opens the temple doors to her. Sarastro himself alludes to this subordinate role when he convenes with his fellow priests to gain support for Tamino’s candidacy. He first explains, “this youth will tear from himself the veil of night and look into the sanctuary of greatest light. To watch over this virtuous man, to offer him the hand of friendship, should be one of our most important duties this day. Only after the priests have given their approval to accept Tamino as an initiate does Sarastro mention Pamina’s role in the matter: “However, evil prejudice (represented by the Queen) must disappear, and it will disappear as soon as Tamino takes possession of the greatness of our difficult Craft. The gods have intended Pamina, the gentle, virtuous maiden, for the gracious youth; this is the main reason why I took her from her proud mother…Tamino, the sweet youth, will ally himself with us and, as an Initiate, will be the reward of virtue and the punishment of vice.”[31] And she concludes: “Tamino explicitly acknowledges the objective of his initiation – with Pamina functioning as prize, not peer – declaring to the Speaker, “May the teachings of wisdom be my victory, Pamina, the sweet maiden, my reward.”[32]
As the embodiment of The Enlightenment’s ideals of freedom and wisdom, The Magic Flute has become a contradiction of terms, and its full significance can only be revealed with greater in-depth probing, especially as it relates to death, a theme for another enterprise. For now it suffices to conclude that the duality ‘within,’ which is found in Mozart’s opera, is a universal state of being, of which we are all far too familiar with.

[1] Genesis 2:16-17 taken from the King James Bible (KJV)
[2] Cliff Eisen, ed., Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a Life in Letters (London: Penguin Books, 2006), 527. Letter written to Leopold on the occasion of Mozart’s hearing of his father’s eventually fatal illness.
[3] Epitaph written by Joseph Ritter in 1791 to emperor Joseph II found in: Paul D. Bernard, “Jesuits and Jacobins: Enlightenment and Despotism in Austria” in Mozart’s Operas, ed. Daniel Heartz (Berkeley: University of California Press., 1990), 275.
[4] Reason and wisdom expressed through freedom were the ideals of the Enlightenment. One of the seminal thinkers of the Enlightenment was Emmanuel Kant (1724-1804), who held that “for enlightenment all that is needed is freedom. And the freedom in question is the most harmless of all – namely, to make public use of one’s reason in all matters.” For further reading on Kant’s views see Michael Clarke, “Kant’s Rhetoric of Enlightenment,” The Review of Politics, 59 (1997): 53-73. See Bibliography for further electronic sources. For a point of view on the role of social ranking in the Enlightenment as it relates to The Magic Flute see Rose Rosengard Subonitk, “Whose “Magic Flute?” Intimations of Reality at the Gates of the Enlightenment,” 19th-Century Music, 15 (1991): 132-150.
[5] See Jessica Waldorf “The Music of Recognition: Operatic Enlightenment in The Magic Flute.” Music and Letters, 75 (1994): 214-235.
[6] For an in-depth look of female characters in Mozart’s operas see Kristi Brown-Montesano, Understanding the Women of Mozart’s Operas (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007), and Judith A. Eckelmeyer, The Cultural Context of Mozart’s ‘Magic Flute’ (New York: The Edwin Mellen Press, 1991)
[7] Malcom S. Cole “Monostatos and His ‘Sister’: Racial Stereotype in Die Zauberflote and Its Sequel.” The Opera Quarterly 21(2005)
[8] See Buch, David in the Bibliography.
[9][9] The foremost proponent of Masonic elements in the opera is Jacques Chailley whose book “The Magic Flute, Masonic Opera” is widely referenced. See bibliography.
[10] The importance of Rosicrucian influence in the opera has been for the most part discredited.
[11] All excerpts from the libretto are taken from The Authentic Librettos of the French and German Operas. New York: Crown Publishers, 1939.
[12] In the book of Revelation chapter 12:9, the serpent, also known as the dragon, is identified as “that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan.” (In the Greek the words for dragon, serpent, Devil, and Satan, are respectively, drakon [a fabulous kind of serpent, (perhaps as supposed to fascinate)], ophis [related to optonomai optomai (to gaze, that is, with eyes wide open as at something remarkable)(thorough the idea of sharpness of vision)a snake, figuratively (as a type of sly cunning) an artful malicious person, especially Satan-serpent], diabolos [a traducer, specifically satan, false accuser, slanderer], and satanas [the accuser], Strong’s Dictionary.
[13] The passage clearly positions the serpent as a creature along with all other creatures God had made.
[14] The serpent proved its cunningness by the deceitfull twist in its question to Eve: “Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” when what God had really said was that they could eat of every tree in the garden except of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
[15] If God warned that eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil would produce death, than it is fair to conclude that before Eve ate of the tree there was no death.
[16] Flavius Josephus’ account of the encounter with the serpent reads: “God therefore commanded that Adam and his wife should eat of all the rest of the plants, but to abstain from the tree of knowledge; and foretold to them that if they touched it, it would prove their destruction.…[the serpent] showed an envious disposition, at his supposal of their living happily, and in obedience to the commands of God; and, imagining that, when they disobeyed them, they would fall into calamities, he persuaded the woman, out of a malicious intention, to taste of the tree of knowledge, telling them, that in that tree was the knowledge of good and evil; which knowledge when they should obtain, they would lead a happy life, nay, a life not inferior to that of a god.” Flavius Josephus, antiquities of the Jews and a History of the Jewish Wars Etc. (Philadelphia: David McKay, Publisher, undated)

[17] Genesis 1:11-12, KJV.
[18] Ibid. verses 20-22.
[19] Part of the teachings of Jesus taken from Mathew 12:33.
[20] Genesis 2:9, KJV.
[21] For a discussion on various interpretations of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil see Frederick Carl Eiselen, "The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil," The Biblical World, 36 (1910): 101-112.
[22] It is interesting to note that according to Gen.1:26 God had already made man in His image, or rather, in their image, for the reading states “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion” (over all creation); so in a sense man was already in a higher state ‘as gods’, or at least possessing a godlike character.
[23] Part of the teachings of Jesus, Matthew 5:45. KJV.
[24] This is what is referred to as God’s agape love. See Paul Rigby and Paul O’Grady, Agape and Altruism: Debates in Theology and Social Psychology, Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 57(1989):719-737.
[25] Mathew 12:25, KJV.
[26] Jessica Waldorf, “The Music of Recognition: Operatic Enlightenment in The Magic Flute.” Music and Letters, 75 (1994): 215.
[27] Gen. 3:16. KJV. The Good News Bible reads:”you will still have desire for your husband, yet he will rule over you.”
[28] Alfons Rosenberg, Die Zauberflote (Munich, 1964).
[29] Kristi Brown-Montesano, Understanding the Women of Mozart’s Operas (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2007), 86.
[30] Ibid, p. 86.
[31] P.128 Brown Montesano.
[32] Ibid. 129.

Isaiah 14 describes the kingdom ruled by the principle of the knowledge of good and evil as a kingdom of slavery, and Satan, the one who rules over it, as the opressor:

And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, 4: That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 5: The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 6: He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 7: The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. 8: Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. 9: Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 10: All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 11: Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. 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. 15: Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 16: They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms; 17: That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? 18: All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 19: But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 20: Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned.

IN THE BEGINNING...THE TRUE CHARACTER OF GOD

2008-12-07T21:47:00.000-08:00

By Ozzie and DeniceGrant

It is important to go to the beginning, to the book of Genesis, in order to understand God's principles as they are fist laid out in the act of creation. This video was made in an attempt to show that God is light, and only light. In Him there is no darkness at all. The music is from Denice's CD called "If my People, Who are Called by my Name...Shall pray"