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Two Groups
By S. J. Crafts.
Jesus describes two groups in the last-day church as "fellow-servants". But will the ‘smiters’ acknowledge those whom they hate to be their fellow-servants? No. They will not acknowledge it; they will deny them.
And yet the fact remains: they are fellow-servants.
What form do the ‘smitings’ (i.e. beatings) take in the beginning?
The violence is manifest at first, just as it was against the prophets of old: "Come, [they say,] and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words." (Matthew 24:49, Jeremiah 8; cf Psalm 15:1-3.)
Thus the first shoots spring up, but of course from those small beginnings "the full corn" of hatred develops.
What else do the ‘smiters’ in the church do? As I have said before, They eat and drink with the drunken. They do as they (the apostates) have done. The ‘smiters’ go to the world to achieve their will against those whom they despise.
But the true government of God does not compel. It does not employ force: "force is the last resort of every false religion" (7BC 976, ST May 6, 1897).
Is the government of God therefore weak? Certainly not. No created thing mocks God, for we all reap what we sow. (Galatians 6:7-8). His laws (both spiritual and physical) are forever in place. And in the end, when the fruits of character are mature, it will be clearly seen who bears the name "Christian" worthily. And in like manner, God will show who bears the name "Seventh-day Adventist" worthily.
It is not for us to fight over our name. (If we do fight over it, then we are in danger. For we show that we have not entered into His rest, and are wretched and pitiable, even though we might flatter ourselves to the contrary. (Revelation 3:17)
Shall the people of God, who professedly believe in the capabilities of God, give Him room to protect that which is His? Or shall we go to civil law instead (without even a blush), endeavouring to save the name that "the Lord has given us"? Shall we save it from reproach?
Shall we save it from the shame of confusion? No. Surely if we try to save our identity in this way, or try to save the honour of our name, we will lose them. But if we are willing to let them be ‘lost’, then we will keep them safe.
Finally, let us understand that the mark (the distinguishing feature) of the Beast is to be presented in some shape, even to us. (See Vol. 3 Selected Messages, 396-7). The seventh day Sabbath is still to be made the test for the people of the world. Sunday is yet to be enforced, and God's Sabbath is yet to be prohibited by civil-religious actions.
Church and state are to combine in the future, to bring these things about. But our people will face the test in regard to the alliance of church and state, just as surely as others will.
It is such a test that we are facing today.
The final great decisions and judgments must begin in the house of God. (1 Peter 4:17-19).
Concerning the harlot, it is written that "her ways are movable". The Image Beast has many faces - and at least one of her faces will be specially adapted to lure God’s remnant people from the Sabbath rest. (See Proverbs 5:1-7) Of this we may be certain.
Who are Seventh-day Adventists? Those who enter into His rest, and can therefore take the spoiling of their goods joyfully. (Hebrews 10:32-38): those who walk in agreement with God, hastening the day of Christ’s return. (Amos 3:3).
These are Seventh-day Adventists indeed.
The end
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But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, "My lord delays His coming; and shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken...
Jeremiah 8:1-3
At that time, says the LORD, they shall bring out the bones of the kings of Judah, and the bones of his princes, and the bones of the priests, and the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves: and they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
And death shall be chosen rather than life by all the residue of them that remain of this evil family, which remain in all the places where I have driven them, says the LORD of hosts.
Psalm 15:1-3 A Psalm of David.
"LORD, who shall abide in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Your holy hill?"
"He that walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart. He that backbites not with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbour, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbour." [Back]
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap. For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. [Back]
Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked... [Back]
For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as to a faithful Creator. [Back]
My son, attend to My wisdom, and bow your ear to My understanding: that you may regard discretion, and that your lips may keep knowledge. [Why?] For the lips of a strange woman [Babylon] drop [drip] as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: but her end is bitter as wormwood [but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, NKJ], sharp as a twoedged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.
Lest you should ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable [constantly changing], that you can not know them. Hear Me now therefore, O you children, and depart not from the words of My mouth. [Back]
Be sure the Sabbath is a test question, and how you treat this question places you either on God's side or Satan's side. The mark of the beast is to be presented in some shape to every institution and every individual. . . .
Every move from the first made by Satan was the beginning of his work to continue to the end to exalt the false, to take the place of the genuine Sabbath of Jehovah. He is just as intent now and more determined to do this than ever before. He has come down with great power to deceive them who dwell on the earth with his satanic delusions. . . .
As we meet the emergency, the law of God becomes more precious, more sacred, and as it is more manifestly made void and set aside, in proportion should arise our respect and reverence for the law. . . .
In the exercise of the longsuffering of God, He gives to nations a certain period of probation, but there is a point which, if they pass, there will be the visitation of God in His indignation. He will punish. The world has been advancing from one degree of contempt for God's law to another, and the prayer may be appropriate at this time, "It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law" (Ps. 119:126). . . .
Individuals to Take Responsibility.--Let not anyone make any proud boast, either by precept or example, to show that he is defying the laws of the land. Make no resolutions as to what persons in different states may do, or may not do. Let nothing be done to lessen individual responsibility. To their God they must stand or fall. Let none feel it is his duty to make speeches in the presence of our own people, or of our enemies, that will arouse their combativeness, and they take your words and construe them in such a way that you are charged with being rebellious to the government, for this will close the door of access to the people. . . .
While we cannot bow to an arbitrary power to lift up the Sunday by bowing to it, while we will not violate the Sabbath, which a despotic power will seek to compel us to do, we will be wise in Christ. . . .
We must say no words, that will do ourselves harm, for this would be bad enough, but when you speak words, and when you do presumptuous things that imperil the cause of God, you are doing a cruel work, for you give Satan advantage. We are not to be rash and impetuous, but always learning of Jesus, how to act in His spirit, presenting the truth as it is in Jesus. . . . [Back]
But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions; partly, whilst you were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst you became companions of them that were so used. For you had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that you have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. [Back]
Can two walk together, except they be agreed? [Back]
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