Blog Archives - WELCOME TO THE JOY OF TROY

February 19, 2020

2/19/2020

A BEAUTIFUL DECEPTION

        Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.--Galatians 1:8

    In the future great watchfulness will be needed. There is to be among God's people no spiritual stupidity. Evil spirits are actively engaged in seeking to control the minds of human beings. Men are binding up in bundles, ready to be consumed by the fires of the last days. Those who discard Christ and His righteousness will accept the sophistry that is flooding the world. Christians are to be sober and vigilant, steadfastly resisting their adversary the devil, who is going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

    Men under the influence of evil spirits will work miracles. They will make people sick by casting their spell upon them and will then remove the spell, leading others to say that those who were sick have been miraculously healed. This Satan has done again and again....

    Satan comes down as a beautiful angel and presents lovely pictures before the eyes of those who have so perverted their ways before God that they do not see what they are or know what they need. The enemy has come down with great power, to work with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish. God calls for repentance and reconversion. (Letter 259, November 23, 1903)

REFLECTION: Those who are determined to exalt themselves must be blotted out....

[God's people] will come to the fountain...and apply the cleansing blood of Christ to their poor, sin-sick souls. God grant that they may make no delay in securing the advantages that He has prepared for all who love Him and keep His commandments. (Letter 259, November 23, 1903)

February 18, 2020

2/18/2020

IN THE DAYS OF NOAH

        As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: they ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all.--Luke 17:26-27

    Because of frequent triumphs, Satan is becoming more bold and defiant in his rebellion against God. The rapid development of evil, the confusion among the laboring classes reveal that men are rapidly taking sides. They are being bound up in bundles to be burned. The labor unions are quickly stirred to violence if their demands are not complied with. Plainer and plainer is it becoming that the inhabitants of the world are not in harmony with God.

    No scientific theory can explain the steady march of evil workers under the generalship of Satan. In every mob wicked angels are at work, rousing men to commit deeds of violence. Satan seems to have taken control of the minds of men. Murder, robbery, wickedness of every kind reveal the leadership of the great enemy of souls.

    In the day of Noah, violence filled the land, and thus Christ has told us that it will be in the last days. The history of the old world is to be repeated. The perversity and cruelty of men will reach such a height that God will reveal Himself in His majesty. Very soon the wickedness of the world will have reached its limit, and as in the days of Noah, God will pour out His judgments.

    But even when wickedness is at its height, we may know that our Helper is close by our side. (Letter 250, November 16, 1903)

REFLECTION: The inhabitants of the antediluvian world turned from Jehovah, refusing to do His holy will. They followed their own unholy imagination and perverted ideas. It was because of their wickedness that they were destroyed; and today the world is following the same way. It presents no flattering signs of millennial glory. The transgressors of God's law are filling the earth with wickedness. (The Desire of Ages, 633)

February 17, 2020

2/17/2020

UNDER WHOSE BANNER DO YOU STAND?

        Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slave whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?--Romans 6:16

    One thing is certain: Those Seventh-day Adventists who take their stand under Satan's banner will first give up their faith in the warnings and reproofs contained in the Testimonies of God's Spirit....

    Some who are now voicing Satan's suggestions will come to their senses. There are those in important positions of trust who do not understand the truth for this time. To them the message must be given. If they receive it, Christ will accept them and will make them workers together with Him. But if they refuse to hear the message, they will take their stand under the black banner of the Prince of darkness. (Letter 156, July 27, 1903)

    Men will exalt and rigidly enforce laws that are in direct opposition to the law of God. Though zealous in enforcing their own commandments, they will turn away from a plain "Thus saith the Lord." Exalting a spurious rest day, they will seek to force men to dishonor the law of Jehovah, the transcript of His character. Though innocent of wrongdoing, the servants of God will be given over to suffer humiliation and abuse at the hands of those, who, inspired by Satan, are filled with envy and religious bigotry....

    When Christ suffered for the human race, He felt neither remorse, despair, or hatred. Far different will be the feelings of the sinner who has not availed himself of Christ's atoning sacrifice. Too late, he will realize what he has lost by refusing to accept the salvation of God. His heart will then be filled with an agony of remorse and despair, even though still fired by satanic hatred against God. (Manuscript 87, August 11, 1903)

REFLECTION: Read how to Peter, in prison and condemned to death, God's angel appeared;...read of that scene on the sea, when the tempest-tossed soldiers and seamen, worn with labor and watching and long fasting, Paul the prisoner, on his way to trial and execution, spoke those grand words of courage and hope: "Be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you."...

    These things were not merely that we might read and wonder, but the same faith which wrought in God's servants of old might work in us. In no less marked a manner than He wrought then will He work now wherever there are hearts of faith to be channels of His power. (Education, 256)

February 16, 2020

2/16/2020

OBEY AND LIVE

        Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.--Genesis 2:17

    But, poor, repentant mortals, hear the words of Jesus, and believe as you hear: "And He answered (the accusing charge of Satan) and spake unto those (angels) that stood before Him (to do his bidding), saying, Take away the filthy garments from him." I will blot out his transgressions. I will cover his sins. I will impute to him My righteousness. "And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." [Zechariah 3:4.]

    The filthy garments are removed; for Christ says, "I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee." [Verse 4.] The iniquity is transferred to the innocent, the pure, the Holy Son of God; and man, all undeserving, stands before the Lord cleansed from all unrighteousness, and clothed with the imputed righteousness of Christ. Oh, what a change of raiment is this!

    And Christ does more than this for them: "And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by. And the angel of the Lord protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in My ways, and if thou wilt keep My charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by." [verses 5-7.]

    This is the honor that God will bestow on those who are clothed with the garments of Christ's righteousness. With such encouragements as this, how can men continue in sin? How can they grieve the heart of Christ?...

    Two classes have ever been before the world--the obedient and the disobedient, the genuine and the counterfeit. Amid all the temptations and the deceptions of Satan, let everyone remain loyal to all of God's commandments. (Manuscript 125, December 9, 1901)

REFLECTION: Like the angels, the dwellers in Eden had been placed upon probation; their happy estate could be retained only on condition of fidelity to the Creator's law. They could obey and live, or disobey and perish. God had made them the recipients of rich blessings; but should they disregard His will, He who spared not the angels that sinned, could not spare them; transgression would forfeit His gifts and bring upon them misery and ruin. (Patriarchs and Prophets, 53)

February 15, 2020

2/15/2020

ACCUSER OF THE BRETHREN

        Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.--Zechariah 3:1

    Those who honor God and keep His commandments are subject to the accusations of Satan. The enemy works with all his energy to lead persons into sin. Then he pleads that on account of their past sins, he should be allowed to exercise his hellish cruelty on them as his won subjects. Of this work Zechariah has written, "And he showed me Joshua the high priest"--a representative of the people who keep the commandments of God--"standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him." [Zechariah 3:1].

    Christ is our High Priest. Satan stands before Him night and day as an accuser of the brethren.  With his masterly power he presents every objectionable feature of character as sufficient reason for the withdrawal of Christ's protecting power, thus allowing Satan to discourage and destroy those whom he has caused to sin. But Christ has made atonement for every sinner. Can we by faith hear our Advocate saying, "The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire?" [Verse 2.]

    "Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments." [Verse 3.] Thus sinners appear before the enemy who, by his masterly deceptive power, has led them away from allegiance to God. With garments of sin and shame the enemy clothes those who have been overpowered by his temptations, and then he declares that it is unfair for Christ to be their Light, their Defender. (Manuscript 125, December 9, 1901)

REFLECTION: The work of Satan as an accuser began in heaven. This has been his work on earth ever since man's fall, and it will be his work in a special sense as we approach nearer to the close of this world's history....

Every manifestation of God's power for His people arouses the enmity of Satan. Every time God works in their behalf, Satan with his angels works with renewed vigor to compass their ruin. (Christ's Object Lessons, 167-168)

February 14, 2020

2/14/2020

DECEPTIVE LIGHT

        He is driven from light into darkness, and chased out of the world.--Job 18:18

    The Word of God declares that when it suits the enemy's purpose, he will through his agencies manifest so great power under a pretense of Christianity that, "if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." [Matthew 24:24]. The enemy is revealed in persons to whom he has given power to work miracles. He creates sorrow and suffering and disease. Seeming to change his attributes, apparently he heals those whom he himself has tortured....

    Deceptions of every kind will be invented. So-called higher critics will set their ingenious minds to work in an attempt to invalidate the Word of God. But there is a Higher Critic, greater than any human mind....

    Zechariah pictures the elect of God, showing their allegiance to His holy law in a time of unrivaled depravity, when by pen and by voice the so-called Protestant world shows marked contempt for the law of God, revealing by its actions that they have decided not to recognize His standard as the rule of life....

    Men are fast becoming imbued with an intense hatred of even hearing the law mentioned. They are fast approaching the bounds set by a longsuffering God. Soon the limits of His grace will be reached. Then He will interfere, vindicating His own name and before all the world magnifying His law as holy, just, and good, as unchangeable as His own character.

    The eye of the Lord is upon His people. They will suffer for the truth's sake. Not always have they been firm and true to principle. Some have erected idols and served them. This has separated them from God. (Manuscript 125, December 9, 1901)

REFLECTION: Among the most successful agencies of the great deceiver are the delusive teachings and lying wonders of spiritualism. Disguised as an angel of light, he spreads his nets where least suspected. If men would but study the Book of God with earnest prayer that they might understand it, they would not be left in darkness to receive false doctrines. But as they reject the truth they fall a prey to deception. (The Great Controversy, 524)

February 13, 2020

2/13/2020

WORK TOGETHER WITH ONE ACCORD

        When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.--Acts 2:1

    The inhabitants of the world have largely given themselves into Satan's control. He acts as the god of earth. Human beings, wholly given over to evil, cooperate with him in his conspiracies, helping him to carry out his plans against the government of God....

    Among the people of God there is to be no dissension, no controversy, and no warfare against one another. The forces of righteousness are to be a unit in their conflict with evil. All the strength of God's people is to be directed against the forces of the enemy. The will of every child of God is to be placed on the side of God's will. Satan's strong efforts against good, the terrible hatred of his agencies against God's agencies, show the need of union and harmony among the forces of righteousness.

    A terrible contest is before us. We are nearing the battle of the great day of God Almighty. That which has been held in control is to be let loose. The angel of mercy is folding its wings, preparing to step down from the golden throne and leave the world to the control of Satan, the king they have chosen, a murderer and a destroyer from the beginning.

    The principalities and powers of earth are in bitter revolt against the God of heaven. They are filled with hatred against all who serve Him, and soon, very soon, is to be fought the last great battle between good and evil. The earth is to be the battlefield--the scene of the final contest and the final victory. Here, where for so long Satan has led men against God, rebellion is to be forever suppressed...

    God's people are to bear a bold, decided testimony for the truth, unfolding the purposes of God by the witness of pen and voice. In place after place they are to proclaim the message of God's Word, arousing men and women to comprehend the truth. (Letter 153, October 26, 1901)

REFLECTION: Putting away all differences, all desire for the supremacy, [the disciples] came close together in Christian fellowship. They drew nearer and nearer to God, and as they did this they realized what a privilege had been theirs in being permitted to associate so closely with Christ. Sadness filled their hearts as they thought of how many times they had grieved Him by their slowness of comprehension, their failure to understand the lessons that, for their good, He was trying to teach them. (The Acts of the Apostles, 36-37)

February 12, 2020

2/12/2020

NO MORE TEARS

        The sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.--Matthew 24:30

    The signs of the times--the wars and rumors of wars, the strikes, murders, robberies, and accidents--tell us that the end of all things is at hand. God's Word declares, "As the days that Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage,, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be." (Matthew 24:37-39).

    How true a description this is of the condition of the world today. The daily papers are full of notices of marriage after divorce--the marriage condemned in the words of the Savior--full of accounts of amusements and games, of pugilistic contests in which human beings main and disfigure one another to exhibit their brutal strength.

    Under their great leader Lucifer, men are educating themselves to represent him. Who can doubt the truth of the prophet's words, "The wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand." (Daniel 12:10). There is an awful development of moral degeneracy. Under the guidance of Satan, man have lost their horror for bloodshed and murder....

    It is not only human agencies filled with the spirit of Satan that are arrayed against God. Satan himself stands at the head of his army, striving with all his power to perfect the force over which he rules, that he may wreak his vengeance on God's people. Knowing that his time is short, he has come down with great power, to work against all that is good. He fills the minds of his instrumentalities with hatred against God and with an intense desire for revenge. In the Scriptures he is represented as walking up and down as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (Letter 153, October 26, 1901)

REFLECTION: Christ is coming with clouds and with great glory. A multitude of shining angels will attend Him. He will come to raise the dead, and to change the living saints from glory to glory. He will come to honor those who have loved Him, and kept His commandments, and to take them to Himself. He has not forgotten them nor His promise. There will be a relinking of the family chain....A little longer, and He will wipe all tears from our eyes. (The Desire of Ages, 632)

February 11, 2020

2/11/2020

TIME TO AWAKE

        Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.--1 Corinthians 15:34

    We need to be wide-awake that we may distinguish between the true and the false. Movements will be made by religious organizations which, though apparently designed to benefit the world, are not in accordance with God's mind. In these movements we are to take no part. Many will give them their sympathy, thereby becoming entangled....Many will agree to half-concealed plans, and will find themselves working on the enemy's side.

    The Lord desires His servants to be wise in regard to the working of the enemy, to know when to speak and when to keep silent....In all that we do or say we are to be guided by the inspired record. "Thus saith the Lord," is to be our rule of action. That which God forbids we are not to endorse. The instruction of His Word is to be brought into every transaction of life....

    The Lord desires those who take part in His work to be men of spiritual understanding, sensible men who will follow His way and make known His will. Their voices are to be heard amid the din and confusion of unconsecration. Those in the synagogue of Satan will profess to be converted, and unless God's servants have keen eyesight, they will not discern the working of the power of darkness. (Letter 98, June 19, 1901)

REFLECTION: Satan is working in the atmosphere; he is poisoning the atmosphere, and here we are dependent upon God for our lives--our present and eternal life. And being in the position that we are, we need to be wide awake, wholly devoted, wholly converted, and wholly consecrated to God. But we seem to sit as though we were paralyzed. God of heaven, wake us up! (Selected Messages, Book 2, 52)

February 10, 2020

2/10/2020

WHEN WILL THESE THINGS BE?

        Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, "These things which you see--the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.--Luke 21:5-6

    God has a storehouse of retributive judgments, which He permits to fall upon those who have continued is sin in the face of great light. I have seen the most costly structures erected, and supposed to be fireproof. And just as Sodom perished in the flames of God's vengeance, so will these proud structures become ashes....Man's pride will be buried with the treasures he has accumulated by fraud. God will avenge the widow and orphans who in hunger and nakedness have cried to Him for help from oppression and abuse. And the Lord keeps a record of every action of good or evil.

    The time is right upon us when there will be sorrow in the world that no human balm can heal. The flattering monuments of men's greatness will be crumbled in the dust, even before the last great destruction comes upon the world.

    The words of Revelation 18 will be fulfilled. Is not this description enough to cause all who read it to fear and tremble? But those who do not love the light, who will not come to the light lest their deeds be reproved, will not follow on to know the Lord. By their attitude they say, I want not thy way, O Lord; I want my own way....

    In the twenty-first chapter of Luke, Christ foretold what was to come upon Jerusalem, and with it he connected the scenes which were to take place in the history of this world just prior to the coming of the Son of Man in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory....

    Let all remember that these words were among the last Christ gave his disciples....In these sacred, solemn warnings the danger signal is lifted. It is this instruction that church members and the people of the world need; for it is present truth. (Letter 20, January 28, 1901)

REFLECTION: Peter, John, James, and Andrew came to [Jesus] as He sat upon the Mount of Olives. "Tell us," they said, "when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world?" Jesus did not answer His disciples by taking up separately the destruction of Jerusalem and the great day of His coming. This entire discourse was given, not for the disciples only, but for those who should live in the last scenes of this earth's history. (The Desire of Ages, 628)