The Early and the Latter Rain

Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. Joel 2:23.

There is to be in the churches a wonderful manifestation of the power of God, but it will not move upon those who have not humbled themselves before the Lord, and opened the door of their heart by confession and repentance. In the manifestation of that power which lightens the earth with the glory of God, they will see only something which in their blindness they think dangerous, something which will arouse their fears, and they will brace themselves to resist it. Because the Lord does not work according to their expectations and ideal, they will oppose the work. "Why," they say, "should we not know the Spirit of God, when we have been in the work so many years?" Because they did not respond to the warnings, the entreaties, of the messages of God, but persistently said, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing." 

Talent, long experience, will not make men channels of light unless they place themselves under the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness, and are called, and chosen, and prepared by the endowment of the Holy Spirit. When men who handle sacred things will humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, the Lord will lift them up. He will make them men of discernment--men rich in the grace of His Spirit. Their strong, selfish traits of character and their stubbornness will be seen in the light shining from the Light of the world. "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent." If you seek the Lord with all your heart, He will be found of you. 

There must be no neglect of the grace represented by the former rain. Only those who are living up to the light they have will receive greater light. Unless we are daily advancing in the exemplification of the active Christian virtues, we shall not recognize the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain. It may be falling on hearts all around us, but we shall not discern or receive it.

The Angel of Revelation 18

And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. Rev. 18:1.

The prophecies in the eighteenth of Revelation will soon be fulfilled. During the proclamation of the third angel's message, "another angel" is to "come down from heaven, having great power," and the earth is to be "lightened with his glory." The Spirit of the Lord will so graciously bless consecrated human instrumentalities that men, women, and children will open their lips in praise and thanksgiving, filling the earth with the knowledge of God, and with His unsurpassed glory, as the waters cover the sea. 

Those who have held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will be wide-awake during the time that the third angel's message is proclaimed with great power. During the loud cry, the church, aided by the providential interpositions of her exalted Lord, will diffuse the knowledge of salvation so abundantly that light will be communicated to every city and town. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of salvation. So abundantly will the renewing Spirit of God have crowned with success the intensely active agencies, that the light of present truth will be seen flashing everywhere. 

There is to be, at this period, a series of events which will reveal that God is Master of the situation. The truth will be proclaimed in clear, unmistakable language. As a people, we must prepare the way of the Lord, under the overruling guidance of the Holy Spirit. The gospel is to be given in its purity. The stream of living water is to deepen and widen in its course. In all fields, nigh and afar off, men will be called from the plow and from the more common commercial business vocations that largely occupy the mind, and will be educated in connection with men of experience. As they learn to labor effectively, they will proclaim the truth with power. Through most wonderful workings of divine providence, mountains of difficulties will be removed, and cast into the sea. The message that means so much to the dwellers upon the earth will be heard and understood. Men will know what is truth. Onward, and still onward the work will advance, until the whole earth shall have been warned. And then shall the end come.

The World Against God's People

The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. Rev. 12:17.

Our people have been regarded as too insignificant to be worthy of notice, but a change will come. The Christian world is now making movements which will necessarily bring commandment-keeping people into prominence. 

The whole world is to be stirred with enmity against Seventh-day Adventists, because they will not yield homage to the papacy, by honoring Sunday, the institution of this antichristian power. It is the purpose of Satan to cause them to be blotted from the earth, in order that his supremacy of the world may not be disputed. 

Every position of truth taken by our people will bear the criticism of the greatest minds; the highest of the world's great men will be brought in contact with truth, and therefore every position we take should be critically examined and tested by the Scriptures. Now we seem to be unnoticed, but this will not always be. Movements are at work to bring us to the front, and if our theories of truth can be picked to pieces by historians or the world's greatest men, it will be done. 

We must individually know for ourselves what is truth, and be prepared to give a reason of the hope that we have with meekness and fear, not in a proud, boasting, self-sufficiency, but with the spirit of Christ. We are nearing the time when we shall stand individually alone to answer for our belief. 

We shall be attacked on every point; we shall be tried to the utmost. We do not want to hold our faith simply because it was handed down to us by our fathers. Such a faith will not stand the terrible test that is before us. We want to know why we are Seventh-day Adventists, what real reason we have for coming out from the world as a separate and distinct people. . . . 

The powers of darkness will open their batteries upon us; and all who are indifferent and careless, who have set their affections on their earthly treasure, and who have not cared to understand God's dealings with His people, will be ready victims. No power but a knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus, will ever make us steadfast; but with this, one may chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight.

The Beginning of the End

Evil on evil! says the Lord the Eternal--it is coming, the hour has come, the hour is striking, and striking at you, the hour and the end! Eze. 7:5, 6, Moffatt.

Fearful is the issue to which the world is to be brought. The powers of earth, uniting to war against the commandments of God, will decree that all, "both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond," shall conform to the customs of the church by observance of the false sabbath. All who refuse compliance will be visited with civil penalties, and it will finally be declared that they are deserving of death. On the other hand, the law of God enjoining the Creator's rest day demands obedience, and threatens wrath against all who transgress its precepts.
With the issue thus clearly brought before him, whosoever shall trample upon God's law to obey a human enactment, receives the mark of the beast; he accepts the sign of allegiance to the power which he chooses to obey instead of God. . . . 

The Sabbath will be the great test of loyalty; for it is the point of truth especially controverter. When the final test shall be brought to bear upon men, then the line of distinction will be drawn between those who serve God and those who serve Him not. While the observance of the false sabbath in compliance with the law of the state, contrary to the fourth commandment, will be an avowal of an allegiance to a power that is in opposition to God, the keeping of the true Sabbath, in obedience to God's law, is an evidence of loyalty to the Creator. While one class, by accepting the sign of submission to earthly powers, receive the mark of the beast, the other, choosing the token of allegiance to divine authority, receive the seal of God. 

Heretofore those who presented the truths of the third angel's message have been often regarded as mere alarmists. . . . But as the question of enforcing Sunday observance is widely agitated, the event so long doubted and disbelieved is seen to be approaching, and the third message will produce an effect which it could not have had before.

All Nations Follow America's Lead

When all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up. Dan. 3:7.

History will be repeated. False religion will be exalted. The first day of the week, a common working day, possessing no sanctity whatever, will be set up as was the image at Babylon. All nations and tongues and peoples will be commanded to worship this spurious Sabbath. This is Satan's plan to make of no account the day instituted by God, and given to the world as a memorial of creation. 

The decree enforcing the worship of this day is to go forth to all the world. 

As America, the land of religious liberty, shall unite with the papacy in forcing the conscience and compelling men to honor the false Sabbath, the people of every country on the globe will be led to follow her example. 

Foreign nations will follow the example of the United States. Though she leads out, yet the same crisis will come upon our people in all parts of the world. 

Nations will be stirred to their very center. Support will be withdrawn from those who proclaim God's only standard of righteousness, the only sure test of character. And all who will not bow to the decree of the national councils and obey the national laws to exalt the Sabbath instituted by the man of sin, to the disregard of God's holy day, will feel, not the oppressive power of popery alone, but of the Protestant world, the image of the beast. 

The season of distress before God's people will call for a faith that will not falter. His children must make it manifest that He is the only object of their worship, and that no consideration, not even that of life itself, can induce them to make the least concession to false worship. To the loyal heart the commands of sinful, finite men will sink into insignificance beside the word of the eternal God. Truth will be obeyed though the result be imprisonment or exile or death.

Your Judgment Day

Scripture: "Stop judging, and you will never be judged. Stop condemning, and you will never be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven." Luke 6:37

 

Don't Judge Me

Don't you hate being judged? Ugh, I hate it. In fact, I go to great lengths to avoid it, but still I feel like others are always focusing on my flaws. You know, judgment is a soul toxin, maybe one of the worst. I might compare it to drinking lead; it just sits there in your soul like a weight, poisoning everything. But today, Jesus is giving you the remedy to avoid being judged, one you might not have heard. In fact, if you're like me, you might have been doing just the opposite, unknowingly heaping more and more judgment in your life. But today we can start to reverse that. So first, I need you to answer a question for me...

 

Answer This

If you were facing a trial and had the option of being either in the defendant's shoes (the one being judged) or the prosecutor's shoes (the one doing the judging), which would you choose? If you were me, you would choose the prosecutor's chair, because that is the one safe from judgment, right? WRONG. Jesus said it's actually the opposite. And I want you to read a story with me to prove it.

"The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught committing adultery. They made her stand in front of everyone and asked Jesus, 'Teacher, we caught this woman in the act of adultery. In his teachings, Moses ordered us to stone women like this to death. What do You say?' They asked this to test Him. They wanted to find a reason to bring charges against Him. Jesus bent down and used His finger to write on the ground. When they persisted in asking Him questions, He straightened up and said, "The person who is sinless should be the first to throw a stone at her." Then He bent down again and continued writing on the ground. One by one, beginning with the older men, the scribes and Pharisees left. Jesus was left alone with the woman. Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Where did they go? Has anyone condemned you?" The woman answered, "No one, Sir." Jesus said, "I don't condemn you either. Go! From now on don't sin." (John 8:3-11)

 

Let It Sink In

Imagine that you're her. Think of your worst sin, the thing you most desperately want to keep from other people. I know I have mine. Now imagine that all the authorities in your life have brought you to face your punishment before God and everyone else. How do you feel? Probably like me, terrified! But then instead, Jesus gets down off of the Judge's chair, walks over to your accusers, and says, "Well, which one of you are perfect? You can be the one to cast the judgment." And then one by one, they drop their charges. Then He walks over to you, and He says—and this is actually what He is saying to you now—"I don't condemn you either. Go and be free of your sin."

 

Judge Not, and You Will Not Be Judged

You see, out of all the people in the story with Jesus, only one received His forgiveness—the one facing judgment, not casting it. As long as you are in the judgment seat, Jesus says you are actually going to receive it the most! "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1-2 It's like you are trying to dig your way out of a ditch, but with every pile of dirt you shovel out, one more is piled in. That's what happens when you judge others. In fact, Jesus goes on to say that the bad you see in others are actually your own flaws: "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Matthew 7:3-5 It's like you were sitting in your house, noticing everyone's flaws out the window, but what you don't realize is that you're not looking at a window, but a mirror. And every judgment you cast on "others" is actually one you're casting on yourself.

 

The Remedy

So what's the remedy? The antidote to judgment is actually mercy. That's what Jesus showed with the adulterous woman. Actually I shouldn't call her that; I should more rightly call her the forgiven woman. Because when she was at her lowest, Jesus showed her mercy, and it gave her forgiveness. The Bible says, "Mercy triumphs over judgment." James 2:13 In a fighting match, mercy is stronger than judgment. So if you are feeling clogged up with judgment-for yourself and for others-God wants you to take a mercy pill. He wants you to first accept the mercy He is offering you, and then start to give it to others. He wants you to put yourself in the position of the adulterous woman and not in the position of her judges. Because as you give mercy, you will receive it in return.

 

Take a Mercy Pill

Take God's mercy pill today...and start to take it everyday. Every time you start to judge someone, just pause and take a dose of God's mercy instead. Think of how many of your flaws Jesus has forgiven. Let it flow through your soul and touch others in return. For example, today I was at the grocery store, and started to judge the woman in front of me. But then I started to think instead of all the good things about her, and I started to feel mercy for myself too! It's the same for you: you can start to live a life of mercy for yourself and others.

The Sealing and the Latter Rain

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 2 Tim. 2:19.

Before the work is closed up and the sealing of God's people is finished, we shall receive the outpouring of the Spirit of God. Angels from heaven will be in our midst. 

Our heavenly Father claims not at our hands that which we cannot perform. He desires His people to labor earnestly to carry out His purpose for them. They are to pray for power, expect power, and receive power, that they may grow up into the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. 

Not all members of the church are cultivating personal piety; therefore they do not understand their personal responsibility. They do not realize that it is their privilege and duty to reach the high standard of Christian perfection. . . . Are we looking forward to the latter rain, confidently hoping for a better day, when the church shall be endued with power from on high and thus fitted for work? The latter rain will never refresh and invigorate the indolent, who do not use the powers God has given them. 

We are in great need of the pure, life-giving atmosphere that nurtures and invigorates the spiritual life. We need greater earnestness. The solemn message given us to give to the world is to be proclaimed with greater fervency, even with an intensity that will impress unbelievers, leading them to see that the Most High is working with us, that He is the source of our efficiency and strength. . . . 

Are you using all your powers in an effort to bring the lost sheep back to the fold? There are thousands upon thousands in ignorance who might be warned. Pray as you have never prayed before for the power of Christ. Pray for the inspiration of His Spirit, that you may be filled with a desire to save those who are perishing. Let the prayer ascend to heaven, "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations" (Ps. 67:1, 2).

The Seal of God and the Mark of the Beast

Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. Isa. 8:16.

The living righteous will receive the seal of God prior to the close of probation. 

The sign, or seal, of God is revealed in the observance of the seventh-day Sabbath, the Lord's memorial of creation. . . . The mark of the beast is the opposite of this--the observance of the first day of the week. 

Sunday keeping is not yet the mark of the beast, and will not be until the decree goes forth causing men to worship this idol Sabbath. The time will come when this day will be the test, but that time has not come yet. 

No one has yet received the mark of the beast. The testing time has not yet come. There are true Christians in every church, not excepting the Roman Catholic communion. None are condemned until they have had the light and have seen the obligation of the fourth commandment. But when the decree shall go forth enforcing the counterfeit Sabbath, and the loud cry of the third angel shall warn men against the worship of the beast and his image, the line will be clearly drawn between the false and the true. Then those who still continue in transgression will receive the mark of the beast. 

If the light of truth has been presented to you, revealing the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and showing that there is no foundation in the Word of God for Sunday observance, and yet you still cling to the false Sabbath, refusing to keep holy the Sabbath which God calls "my holy day," you receive the mark of the beast. When does this take place? When you obey the decree that commands you to cease from labor on Sunday and worship God, while you know that there is not a word in the Bible showing Sunday to be other than a common working day, you consent to receive the mark of the beast, and refuse the seal of God. 

In a little while every one who is a child of God will have His seal placed upon him. O that it may be placed upon our foreheads! Who can endure the thought of being passed by when the angel goes forth to seal the servants of God in their foreheads?

God's People Brought to the Test

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matt. 7:22, 23.

We need not be deceived. Wonderful scenes, with which Satan will be closely connected, will soon take place. God's Word declares that Satan will work miracles. He will make people sick, and then will suddenly remove from them his satanic power. They will then be regarded as healed. These works of apparent healing will bring Seventh-day Adventists to the test. Many who have had great light will fail to walk in the light, because they have not become one with Christ. 

I saw our people in great distress, weeping, and praying, pleading the sure promises of God, while the wicked were all around us, mocking us, and threatening to destroy us. They ridiculed our feebleness, they mocked at the smallness of our numbers, and taunted us with words calculated to cut deep. They charged us with taking an independent position from all the rest of the world. They had cut off our resources so that we could not buy nor sell, and referred to our abject poverty and stricken condition. They could not see how we could live without the world; we were dependent upon the world, and we must concede to the customs, practices, and laws of the world, or go out of it. If we were the only people in the world whom the Lord favored the appearances were awfully against us. They declared that they had the truth, that miracles were among them, that angels from heaven talked with them, and walked with them, that great power, and signs and wonders were performed among them, and this was the Temporal Millennium, which they had been expecting so long. The whole world was converted and in harmony with the Sunday law, and this little feeble people stood out in defiance of the laws of the land, and the laws of God, and claimed to be the only ones right on the earth. 

God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan would counterfeit any miracle that might be worked.... They are to take their stand on the living Word--"It is written."

Christian in Name Only?

Political leaders aren't the only hypocrites when it comes to claiming to be Christian while acting far differently.

For years America prided itself on being a Christian nation. And while the nation may still claim this, the lives of its people tell a far different story. Consider a few facts that reveal how far the country has fallen:

• More than 40 percent of all U.S. births are out of wedlock, and among women under 30 it's well over half.

• Excluding miscarriages, 22 percent of all pregnancies in the United States are ended by abortion.

• By age 45, an estimated 30 percent of American women will have had an abortion.

• Almost half of all marriages end in divorce, and divorce rates are almost the same among those who call themselves Christian.

• Marriage and family are the building blocks of society, yet barely half of all adult Americans (51 percent) are married, and an ever-increasing number choose to simply live together outside of marriage.

• Nearly half of all Americans (48.5 percent) live in households receiving some kind of government aid. More than a third live in households receiving food stamps, subsidized housing, welfare or Medicaid.

• Although 85 percent of U.S. households own a Bible—and most have more than one—more than half (54 percent) cannot name its first five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).

• Almost half of Americans (46 percent) say they read the Bible only once or twice a year.

• A majority of Americans (60 percent) can't name the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and an even greater number (63 percent) can't name more than half of the Ten Commandments.

As Matthew 7:20
tells us, "By their fruits you will know them."

I Will Break the Pride of Your Power

Has God already begun to break the pride of American power?

"Economies can be rebuilt, armies can be repopulated, but once a nation’s pride is gone it can almost never be restored" (Michael Savage, Trickle Down Tyranny , 2012, p. 1). These words are powerfully reminiscent of what God told the people of ancient Israel if they persisted in their sins: "I will break the pride of your power" (Leviticus 26:19
).

For those with eyes to see, the strength of this powerful biblical passage is finding its greatest fulfillment in our time.

Both Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 constitute the "blessings and curses" chapters of the Bible. The blessings are for obedience to God, while the curses are for dis obedience. Both chapters are prophetic.

Prophecy is often dual in nature. What is foretold may find fulfillment in two or even more occasions. There are many dual prophecies that have been fulfilled to some degree in the past but still await greater fulfillment in the future.

Has God already begun to break the pride of American power?

In mid-April Kwasi Kwarteng, a Conservative Party member of the British Parliament, wrote, "The Arab Spring, the threat of Iran as an emerging nuclear power, the continuing violence in Syria and the American reluctance to get involved there, have all signaled the weakness, if not the end, of America’s role as a world policeman" ("As Britannia Ceased to Rule, So Will America," International Herald Tribune, April 18, 2012).

Whenever we scan the national headlines, we see repeated warnings that the prophecy of broken pride in America’s national power is beginning to be fulfilled—and may be on the verge of accelerating with frightening speed if the nation doesn’t take drastic steps to repent and change its self-destructive course.

Satanic Miracles.

There shall be arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matt. 24:24.

The enemy is preparing to deceive the whole world by his miracle-working power. He will assume to personate the angels of light, to personate Jesus Christ. So far as his power extends, he will perform actual miracles. Says the Scripture: "He . . . deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do," not merely those which he pretends to do. Something more than mere impostures is brought to view in this scripture. But there is a limit beyond which Satan cannot go, and here he calls deception to his aid and counterfeits the work which he has not power actually to perform. In the last days he will appear in such a manner as to make men believe him to be Christ come the second time into the world. He will indeed transform himself into an angel of light. He will come personating Jesus Christ, working mighty miracles; and men will fall down and worship him as Jesus Christ. We shall be commanded to worship this being, whom the world will glorify as Christ. Just before us is "the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth." Revelation 3:10. All whose faith is not firmly established upon the word of God will be deceived and overcome. Satan works "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness" to gain control of the children of men, and his deceptions will continually increase. But he can gain his object only as men voluntarily yield to his temptations. Those who are earnestly seeking a knowledge of the truth and are striving to purify their souls through obedience, thus doing what they can to prepare for the conflict, will find, in the God of truth, a sure defense. "Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee" (verse 10), is the Savior’s promise. He would sooner send every angel out of heaven to protect His people than leave one soul that trusts in Him to be overcome by Satan.

Satan Personates Christ

Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. Luke 21:8.

"In this age antichrist will appear as the true Christ, and then the law of God will be fully made void in the nations of our world. Rebellion against God's holy law will be fully ripe. But the true leader of all this rebellion is Satan clothed as an angel of light. Men will be deceived and will exalt him to the place of God, and deify him. But Omnipotence will interpose, and to the apostate churches that unite in the exaltation of Satan, the sentence will go forth, `Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her.'" 

Disguised as an angel of light, he [Satan] will walk the earth as a wonder-worker. In beautiful language he will present lofty sentiments. Good words will be spoken by him, and good deeds performed. Christ will be personified, but on one point there will be a marked distinction. Satan will turn the people from the law of God. 

He will declare that the Sabbath has been changed from the seventh to the first day of the week; and as lord of the first day of the week he will present this spurious Sabbath as a test of loyalty to him. 

It is impossible to give any idea of the experience of the people of God who shall be alive upon the earth when celestial glory and a repetition of the persecutions of the past are blended. They will walk in the light proceeding from the throne of God. By means of the angels there will be constant communication between heaven and earth. And Satan, surrounded by evil angels, and claiming to be God, will work miracles of all kinds, to deceive, if possible, the very elect. God's people will not find their safety in working miracles, for Satan will counterfeit the miracles that will be wrought. God's tried and tested people will find their power in the sign spoken of in Exodus 31:12-18. They are to take their stand on the living word: "It is written." This is the only foundation upon which they can stand securely.

The Continuous March of Folly

Human lust for power seems to be a prime cause of misgovernment within leaders—the will of one person to exert rule over others, no matter what form that may take.

"Know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed." With these words, a little-known Swedish chancellor during the strife of the Thirty Year's War of the 1600s, Count Axel Oxenstierna, effectively put forth a maxim that explains much of the crisis in today's world leadership.

And in the words of America's second president, John Adams, "While all other sciences have advanced, government is at a stand; little better practiced now than three or four thousand years ago."

I encountered these quotes while reading famed historian Barbara Tuchman's The March of Folly: From Troy to Vietnam, a masterfully insightful book written in 1984. Tuchman chronicled the folly of governments from the ancient world to more modern times.

Misgovernment, she wrote, is of four kinds. First is tyranny or oppression, of which history provides so many well-known examples. Second is excessive ambition. Among those cited is Germany's twice-attempted rule of Europe by a self-conceived master race. Third is incompetence or decadence. Czar Alexander II, last of Russia's Romanov dynasty, is a prime example. Finally she lists folly or perversity.

 

History is full of examples of each of these kinds of misgovernment. Common to all, it seems, is the unbridled lust for power that, once attained, can result in disastrous consequences that endures for generations. There is a principle from Scripture that confirms the long-lasting effects of doing wrong, both personally and collectively: "The Lord is longsuffering and abundant in mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He by no means clears the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generation" (Numbers 14:18
).

Tuchman retells the biblical story of Rehoboam, son of Solomon, who succeeded his father in the 10th century B.C. to the throne of Israel, a nation composed of 12 tribes descended from the patriarch Jacob.

Rehoboam was determined to continue Solomon's heavy burden of taxation despite pleas from representatives of the people who sought relief and fairer treatment from government. His act of folly led to the threat of secession by the 10 northern tribes who gathered around the town of Shechem, the political center of the revolt. Rehoboam immediately traveled to Shechem to confront the rebellion. When met by a delegation and after hearing their demands for a new wage and work contract, he asked for three days to consult with advisors and return with an answer.

Rehoboam, young and energized with the sense of power and authority, heard two completely contrary sets of advice. His older counselors advised renegotiation of terms and to "speak good words to them." More good will would be gained, they said, and "they will be your servants forever" (1 Kings 12:7
).

Rejecting this course, he turned to his younger advisors, men he had grown up with—of his own generation. Seeking the favor of the young king and falling into the habit of obsequious counselors to this day, they advised against any new contract provisions.

You can imagine some young speechwriter offering this slogan for which Rehoboam would be forever known: "Whereas my father put a heavy yoke on you, I will add to your yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scourges" (verse 11).

Upon hearing this speech, the northern 10 tribes instantly broke off talks and moved to form a separate nation, no longer tied to the royal house of David—the dynasty of rulers descended from David. "To your tents, O Israel! Now, see to your own house, O David!" became the rallying cry (verse 16).

All other attempts at reconciliation were rejected, and a new nation was formed. The tribes selected a man named Jeroboam to be king. He reigned for 22 years, and there was continual strife between him and Rehoboam the entire period. After a 200-year period of decline and religious apostasy, the 10-tribed nation of Israel was taken captive by the Assyrian Empire and disappeared into the mists of history, to emerge at length in a modern form.

The kingdom of Judah lived on, eventually overtaken by Babylon. The descendants of that nation are the Jewish people—some of whom now dwell in their ancient homeland under the flag of the state of Israel. Even today the land is not without conflict, as the Jewish state must contend with the claims of indigenous Arabs and the enmity of surrounding Arab nations, resentful of their presence, their prosperity and their heritage. The consequences of Rehoboam's folly has left its mark through almost 3,000 years of history.

Human lust for power seems to be a prime cause of misgovernment within leaders—the will of one person to exert rule over others, no matter what form that may take. If John Adams' insight about government is still true—and current events and trends make it evident it is—then we should not expect this world to dramatically change in that respect, no matter what any politician might promise. "Hope and change" is still an ephemeral vision.

Yet times will ultimately change. Isaiah foretold the coming of One who will bring that change—the greatest Leader who was ever born, of the lineage of David, who will soon return to this earth to rule:

"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this" (Isaiah 9:6-7

)

Until then the burden is on each of us, with His help, to monitor our character, curb our ambition, avoid corruption and mature emotionally. Doing this will help us develop the character of a leader like Jesus Christ.

Get More by Giving

Scripture: "Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." Luke 6:38

 

Missing Out

Lately, I've been realizing that I've been missing out on so much that's right in front of me, because I've been so focused on what I don't have. It's like if you were starving and had someone bring you a great meal with a lid on top, but you're so focused on your neighbor eating his sandwich, that you don't even notice! You have this amazing meal in front of you, but it goes to waste because you're so transfixed on what others have. I have been living this way, and I believe God wants me to stop. Because this habit, where you want what you don't have and aren't happy with what you do have, is called covetousness, and it's actually a soul toxin.

 

What is a "Soul Toxin?"

A soul toxin is something you are doing (knowingly or unknowingly) that is causing sickness in your soul. For example, if I lived in a smog-filled city, my lungs would be always filled with toxins, making it hard for me to breathe, run, and enjoy life. But smog is fairly invisible, and unless someone tells me about it, I'm going to keep breathing it in! And suffering. Maybe you feel that way in your soul. You feel always on-edge, nervous, worried, and unhappy. This is indication of a soul toxin, and it's just what Jesus came to help you with. In fact, Jesus was criticized for hanging out the most with needy, "soul-toxic" people. He told His critics,

"Healthy people don't need a doctor; those who are sick do. I've come to call sinners, not people who think they have God's approval." (Mark 2:17)

So if you think that you have too many issues to be liked (or even loved!) by Jesus, you're in for a surprise: He came just for you.

 

The Soul Doctor

Now, because Jesus made our souls, He knows how they work best. He knows the things that are toxic for you, and the things that are going to make you thrive. It's like going to the best doctor in the world who knows just how the body works and can tell you the best things to eat and do to live an amazing, vibrant life. That's what Jesus is for you: Your Soul Doctor. And covetousness is one of the things He said is very toxic for your soul. He said, "Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own." Luke 12:15

 

Am I Greedy?

Now, when I hear the word "greed," I automatically think of just money. But that's not all you can be greedy for. What about wanting someone else's life? Wishing you looked like them, had their family, or had their luxuries? That's how God defines coveting: Jealousy wanting anything someone else has. He said, "You must not covet your neighbor's house. You must not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor." Exodus 20:17 I know I have been so guilty of this, looking to other people as better off than me, thinking, "If I could just have their money, their spouse, their house...I could be happy."

 

Covetousness Symptoms

Here are some signs you might be dealing with this soul toxin (I have them all!):

• You are never satisfied
• You are constantly wishing things were different
• You can't be happy for others' blessings

 

What's the Remedy?

I hate when someone tells me what's wrong with me but not how to fix it. It's so depressing! But Jesus doesn't do that to you. He teaches about the soul toxin and the soul remedy. After explaining that "Life is not measured by how much you own," He says, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35 This is the cure for covetousness: Giving! I want you to do 2 things with your body. First, I want you to clench up your fists as tight as you can get them. How does that feel? Stressful? Tense? That's the position of covetousness. Your whole body is saying, "I want! I want! I want!" and you've never happy. But now, I want you to relax your arms out right in front of you, with your palms open. Hold them like that for a couple seconds, closing your eyes and breathing in and out. How do you feel? Peaceful? Happy? That is the feeling of contentment and giving, the soul remedy that Jesus is prescribing for you today.

 

Bring in the Health

Let's take Jesus' remedy this week. What if we purposefully went through this week not thinking, "How much can I get?" but instead, "How much can I give?" Think how beautiful our existence together would be! And we can start that now, you and me, and our whole big group. This week, let's see what we can give to others. It can be a hug, a word of encouragement, money or clothes to someone in need, or a thank-you card. In fact, let's start by giving to each other in the Comments! Write your prayer or what's on your heart, and then find someone else's comment and reply back to them with a prayer or encouragement. I truly believe that Jesus' remedy of giving is going to free us of the burden of covetousness.

The Church Appears About to Fall

But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Isa. 49:14, 15.

Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out--the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place. None but those who have been overcoming by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony will be found with the loyal and true, without spot or stain of sin, without guile in their mouths.... The remnant that purify their souls by obeying the truth gather strength from the trying process, exhibiting the beauty of holiness amid the surrounding apostasy. 

I know that the Lord loves His church. It is not to be disorganized or broken up into independent atoms. There is not the least consistency in this; there is not the least evidence that such a thing will be. Those who shall heed this false message and try to leaven others will be deceived and prepared to receive advanced delusions, and they will come to naught. 

I am encouraged and blessed as I realize that the God of Israel is still guiding His people, and that He will continue to be with them, even to the end. 

We cannot now step off the foundation that God has established. We cannot now enter into any new organization; for this would mean apostasy from the truth. 

The church, soon to enter upon her most severe conflict, will be the object most dear to God upon earth. The confederacy of evil will be stirred with power from beneath, and Satan will cast all the reproach possible upon the chosen ones whom he cannot deceive and delude with his satanic inventions and falsehoods. But exalted "to be a Prince and a Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins," will Christ, our representative and head, close His heart, or withdraw His hand, or falsify His promise? No; never, never.

The United States in Prophecy

I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. Rev. 13:11.

One nation, and only one, meets the specifications of this prophecy; it points unmistakably to the United States of America. 

Here is a striking figure of the rise and growth of our own nation. And the lamb-like horns, emblems or innocence and gentleness, well represent the character of our government, as expressed in its two fundamental principles, Republicanism and Protestantism. 

The Lord has done more for the United States than for any other country upon which the sun shines. Here He provided an asylum for His people, where they could worship Him according to the dictates of conscience. Here Christianity has progressed in its purity. The life-giving doctrine of the one Mediator between God and man has been freely taught. God designed that this country should ever remain free for all people to worship Him in accordance with the dictates of conscience. He designed that its civil institutions, in their expansive productions, should represent the freedom of gospel privileges. 

But the enemy of all righteousness has designs upon God's purpose for this country. He will bring in enterprises that will lead men to forget that there is a God. Worldliness and covetousness, which is idolatry, will prevail through the working of the archdeceiver, till the law of God, in all its bearings, shall be made void. 

I have been shown that Satan is stealing a march upon us. The law of God, through the agency of Satan, is to be made void. In our land of boasted freedom, religious liberty will come to an end. 

When our nation, in its legislative councils, shall enact laws to bind the consciences of men in regard to their religious privileges, enforcing Sunday observance, and bringing oppressive power to bear against those who keep the seventh-day Sabbath, the law of God will, to all intents and purposes, be made void in our land; and national apostasy will be followed by national ruin.

A View of the Shaking

For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel. Eze. 38:19.

I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads.... 

Evil angels crowded around, pressing darkness upon them to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and thus they be led to distrust God and murmur against Him. Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed upward. Angels of God had charge over His people, and as the poisonous atmosphere of evil angels was pressed around these anxious ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness.

As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts and light up their countenances. Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless.... The angels of God... went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. . . . But His angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them.

I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness of the Laodiceans. . . .

My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. . . . The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. . . .

I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. It had effect....I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, "It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel."

America and the Decline of the British Empire: A Comparison

What lessons does this hold for America in terms of the British decline experience?

The accompanying article points out that the American nation is largely descended from one of the sons of the biblical patriarch Joseph, Manasseh. But Joseph had a second son, Ephraim, whose descendants spread the British Empire around the world.

Notice these remarkable words from Newsweek International 'seditor Fareed Zakaria about the role of the once-great British Empire: "In fact, Britain has arguably been the most successful exporter of its culture in human history. Before the American dream, there was an 'English way of life'—one that was watched, admired and copied throughout the world. And also thanks to the British Empire, English spread as a global language, spoken from the Caribbean to Cape Town to Calcutta" ("The Future of American Power," Foreign Affairs, May-June 2008, p. 20).

This year marks the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth, 60 years on the British throne. It is a far cry from June 22, 1897, which marked Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee—when one fourth of humanity around the globe, 400 million people, celebrated a holiday to mark the occasion throughout the world in an empire "on which the sun never set."

At the time, many believed the British Empire would last forever. It did not.

Bled dry economically by two enormously costly world wars in the first half of the 20th century, Britain had little choice but to gradually surrender its empire without a fight.

What lessons does this hold for America in terms of the British experience? Zakaria further stated, "No analogy is exact, but the British Empire in its heyday is the closest any nation in the modern age has come to the United States' position today."

Kwasi Kwarteng, Conservative Party member of the British Parliament, made this comparison: "America's position today reminds me of Britain's situation in 1945. Deep in debt and committed to building the National Health Service and other accoutrements of the welfare state, Britain could no longer afford to run an empire . . . Deficits and debts have been more damaging to dreams of empire than any genuine shift in ideology" ("As Britain Ceased to Rule, So Will America," International Herald Tribune, April 18, 2012).

Britain's Boer War in South Africa (1899-1902) conjures up parallels with Iraq and Afghanistan today. The British won out in the end, but sustained heavy losses in both manpower and prestige. America has gotten by in an overall sense, but being bogged down in these two Middle Eastern nations for such a long time with no clear victory, plus the massive costs in money and manpower, have been highly damaging.

Following the British example will be no easy task.

During the last 60 years or so, Britain has played a fairly good hand in overseeing its own decline. The country has cooperated with the sudden rise of America to world leadership and become a reliable ally the United States could really count on. With little protest, Washington quietly took over many British naval bases in the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific.

But it will not be an easy task for Americans to follow suit in their hearts and minds. Decline will not sit well, and accommodation to other nations will prove very difficult. America has been so strong for so long, and its people holding such a pampered position, that inevitable decline in their standard of living will be an ugly, messy and dangerous affair.

It also doesn't help that, as former National Security Advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski pointed out in his 2012 book Strategic Vision: America and the Crisis of Global Power, "The uncomfortable truth is that the United States public has an alarmingly limited knowledge of global geography, current events and even pivotal moments in world history" (p. 52). The Good News magazine strives to help fill this critical knowledge gap to help readers understand where the world—and this nation in particular—is going.

Healing for Your Soul

Scripture: "Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Jesus, Matthew 11:28

 

Is Your Soul Troubled?

I know you've been battling a lot of things in your soul. Worry about your future, regret over mistakes, consuming fear about what others think about you. It can be so overwhelming. God does not want you to live this way. He has a spacious, green, beautiful land for your soul to rest in, and He is inviting you into it. I want you to read the following promise from God to you out loud, and insert your name into it, because it's exactly what God wants to do for you.

The Lord is _______'s shepherd, ________ shall not be in want.
He makes _________ lie down in green pastures,
He leads _________ beside quiet waters,
He restores __________'s soul. (Psalm 23:1-3)

 

Restoration for Your Soul

How is your soul doing? If you were to get a check-up, what would the doctor say? Fearful? Sad? Anxious? Your soul is the place where you really exist-your deepest, truest self. It is where you hold your memories, thoughts about yourself, and perception of the world around you. Think of your soul as the soil of your life: its health determines how much can grow in your life. If you have hard, dry soil, even if you plant all the best seeds, they will not be able to grow. Maybe you have been dealing with that kind of dryness in your soul. You try to feed yourself with good things, like the Bible or church or good friends, but still you feel empty and dry, and the things you want aren't growing.

 

God Wants to Prosper Your Soul

God wants to change all that. He actually wants to prosper your soul. 3 John 1:2 says, "Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers." I want you to imagine 2 landscapes: 1 is dry and barren, with trees with tiny, shriveled-up branches, and all around gray; the other is green, lush, with so many different trees and crops, and little streams running throughout it. The latter is His promise to you, and I want you to insert your name again:

The LORD will comfort _________again and have pity on _________'s ruins.
___________'s desert will blossom like Eden, __________'s barren wilderness like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found there. Songs of thanksgiving will fill the air. (Isaiah 51:3)

 

The Problem

There may be things in the soil of your soul that are rocky and dry, making it so that the things you want to grow there can't. An example of a rock would be something or someone you've been unable to forgive (maybe even yourself!) or coveting what other people have. These things act as barriers to the beautiful things God wants to plant in your life. Think of them as toxins for your soul. It's like if you were trying to eat really healthy but were also ingesting a little bit of poison with every meal. No matter how much water you drink, you're still going to feel awful.

 

Let's Go on a Healing Cleanse

I want us to experience true prosperity of soul by removing the bad things in our life and replacing them with the good things God has for us. Every week, we are going to learn about a new soul toxin and its remedy. God has amazing prescriptions for each of the things that are troubling you now (anxiety, anger, depression, etc.), and I believe He wants to lead us into experiencing deep health for our souls. Do you want to go on a health cleanse for your soul with me? I need this just as bad as you. If you are in, please write your heart-cry to God about the health you desire for your soul in the Comments. I'll start with my own prayer for me and for you:

Lord, I want You to heal my soul. All the things that have troubled me and kept me from living the life you have for me, please remove them. I am giving You full-access to my soul; please let the verses above come true for me and for the person reading this. Let us experience the prosperity of soul while we are still on this earth. Teach us the keys to live healthy. In Jesus' name, amen.

The lost and tarnished coin.

Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? - Luke 15:8

After giving the parable of the lost sheep Christ spoke another, saying, "What woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?"

In the East the houses of the poor usually consisted of but one room, often windowless and dark. The room was rarely swept, and a piece of money falling on the floor would be speedily covered by the dust and rubbish. In order that it might be found, even in the daytime, a candle must be lighted, and the house must be swept diligently.

The wife's marriage portion usually consisted of pieces of money, which she carefully preserved as her most cherished possession, to be transmitted to her own daughters. The loss of one of these pieces would be regarded as a serious calamity, and its recovery would cause great rejoicing, in which the neighboring women would readily share.

"When she hath found it," Christ said, "she calleth her friends and her neighbors together, saying, Rejoice with me, for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth."

This parable, like the preceding, sets forth the loss of something which with proper search may be recovered, and that with great joy. But the two parables represent different classes. The lost sheep knows that it is lost. It has left the shepherd and the flock, and it cannot recover itself. It represents those who realize that they are separated from God and who are in a cloud of perplexity, in humiliation, and sorely tempted. The lost coin represents those who are lost in trespasses and sins, but who have no sense of their condition. They are estranged from God, but they know it not. Their souls are in peril, but they are unconscious and unconcerned. In this parable Christ teaches that even those who are indifferent to the claims of God are the objects of His pitying love. They are to be sought for that they may be brought back to God.

The sheep wandered away from the fold; it was lost in the wilderness or upon the mountains. The piece of silver was lost in the house. It was close at hand, yet it could be recovered only by diligent search.

This parable has a lesson to families. In the household there is often great carelessness concerning the souls of its members. Among their number may be one who is estranged from God; but how little anxiety is felt lest in the family relationship there be lost one of God's entrusted gifts.

The coin, though lying among dust and rubbish, is a piece of silver still. Its owner seeks it because it is of value. So every soul, however degraded by sin, is in God's sight accounted precious. As the coin bears the image and superscription of the reigning power, so man at his creation bore the image and superscription of God; and though now marred and dim through the influence of sin, the traces of this inscription remain upon every soul. God desires to recover that soul and to retrace upon it His own image in righteousness and holiness.

How does the Shepherd feel?

As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. - Ezekiel 34:12

In the parable the shepherd goes out to search for one sheep--the very least that can be numbered. So if there had been but one lost soul, Christ would have died for that one.

The sheep that has strayed from the fold is the most helpless of all creatures. It must be sought for by the shepherd, for it cannot find its way back. So with the soul that has wandered away from God; he is as helpless as the lost sheep, and unless divine love had come to his rescue he could never find his way to God.

The shepherd who discovers that one of his sheep is missing does not look carelessly upon the flock that is safely housed, and say, "I have ninety and nine, and it will cost me too much trouble to go in search of the straying one. Let him come back, and I will open the door of the sheepfold, and let him in." No; no sooner does the sheep go astray than the shepherd is filled with grief and anxiety. He counts and recounts the flock. When he is sure that one sheep is lost, he slumbers not. He leaves the ninety and nine within the fold, and goes in search of the straying sheep. The darker and more tempestuous the night and the more perilous the way, the greater is the shepherd's anxiety and the more earnest his search. He makes every effort to find that one lost sheep.

With what relief he hears in the distance its first faint cry. Following the sound, he climbs the steepest heights, he goes to the very edge of the precipice, at the risk of his own life. Thus he searches, while the cry, growing fainter, tells him that his sheep is ready to die. At last his effort is rewarded; the lost is found. Then he does not scold it because it has caused him so much trouble. He does not drive it with a whip. He does not even try to lead it home. In his joy he takes the trembling creature upon his shoulders; if it is bruised and wounded, he gathers it in his arms, pressing it close to his bosom, that the warmth of his own heart may give it life. With gratitude that his search has not been in vain, he bears it back to the fold.

Thank God, He has presented to our imagination no picture of a sorrowful shepherd returning without the sheep. The parable does not speak of failure but of success and joy in the recovery. Here is the divine guarantee that not even one of the straying sheep of God's fold is overlooked, not one is left unsuccored. Every one that will submit to be ransomed, Christ will rescue from the pit of corruption and from the briers of sin.

Desponding soul, take courage, even though you have done wickedly. Do not think that perhaps God will pardon your transgressions and permit you to come into His presence. God has made the first advance. While you were in rebellion against Him, He went forth to seek you. With the tender heart of the shepherd He left the ninety and nine and went out into the wilderness to find that which was lost. The soul, bruised and wounded and ready to perish, He encircles in His arms of love and joyfully bears it to the fold of safety.

Religion is also for Children

But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. - Matthew 19:14

In the children who were brought in contact with Him, Jesus saw the men and women who should be heirs of His grace and subjects of His kingdom, and some of whom would become martyrs for His sake. He knew that these children would listen to Him and accept Him as their Redeemer far more readily than would grown-up people, many of whom were the worldly-wise and hardhearted. In teaching, He came down to their level. He, the Majesty of heaven, answered their questions and simplified His important lessons to meet their childish understanding. He planted in their minds the seeds of truth, which in after years would spring up and bear fruit unto eternal life.

When Jesus told the disciples not to forbid the children to come to Him, He was speaking to His followers in all ages --to officers of the church, ministers, helpers, and all Christians. Jesus is drawing the children, and He bids us, "Suffer them to come;" as if He would say, They will come, if you do not hinder them.

Let not your un-Christlike character misrepresent Jesus. Do not keep the little ones away from Him by your coldness and harshness. Never give them cause to feel that heaven would not be a pleasant place to them if you were there. Do not speak of religion as something that children cannot understand, or act as if they were not expected to accept Christ in their childhood. Do not give them the false impression that the religion of Christ is a religion of gloom, and that in coming to the Saviour they must give up all that makes life joyful.

As the Holy Spirit moves upon the hearts of the children, co-operate with His work. Teach them that the Saviour is calling them, that nothing can afford Him greater joy than for them to give themselves to Him in the bloom and freshness of their years.

Relief of Physical Suffering

And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matt. 10:7, 8. 

Perilous times are before us. The whole world will be involved in perplexity and distress, disease of every kind will be upon the human family, and such ignorance as now prevails concerning the laws of health would result in great suffering and the loss of many lives that might be saved. . . . 

As religious aggression subverts the liberties of our nation, those who would stand for freedom of conscience will be placed in unfavorable positions. For their own sake, they should, while they have opportunity, become intelligent in regard to disease, its causes, prevention, and cure. And those who do this will find a field of labor anywhere. There will be suffering ones, plenty of them, who will need help, not only among those of our own faith, but largely among those who know not the truth. 

The medical work done in connection with the giving of the third angel's message, is to accomplish wonderful results. It is to be a sanctifying, unifying work, corresponding to the work which the great Head of the church sent forth the first disciples to do. 

Calling these disciples together, Christ gave them their commission: . . . "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." "Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." Matthew 10:7, 8, 16. 

It is well for us to read this chapter and let its instruction prepare us for our labors. The early disciples were going forth on Christ's errands, under His commission. His spirit was to prepare the way before them. They were to feel that with such a message to give, such blessings to impart, they should receive a welcome in the homes of the people. 

God reaches hearts through the relief of physical suffering. A seed of truth is dropped into the mind, and is watered by God. Much patience may be required before this seed shows signs of life, but at last it springs up, and bears fruit unto eternal life. How slow men are to understand God's preparation for the day of His power!

Work the Cities from Outposts

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 2 Cor. 6:17. 

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.

As far as possible, our institutions should be located away from the cities. . . . It is not God's will that His people shall settle in the cities, where there is constant turmoil and confusion. Their children should be spared this; for the whole system is demoralized by the hurry and rush and noise. The Lord desires His people to move into the country, where they can settle on the land, and raise their own fruit and vegetables, and where their children can be brought in direct contact with the works of God in nature. Take your families away from the cities is my message.

The truth must be spoken, whether men will hear, or whether men will forbear. The cities are filled with temptation. We should plan our work in such a way as to keep our young people as far as possible from this contamination.

The cities are to be worked from outposts. Said the messenger of God, "Shall not the cities be warned? Yes; not by God's people living in them, but by their visiting them, to warn them of what is coming upon the earth."

When iniquity abounds in a nation, there is always to be heard some voice giving warning and instruction, as the voice of Lot was heard in Sodom. Yet Lot could have preserved his family from many evils had he not made his home in this wicked, polluted city. All that Lot and his family did in Sodom could have been done by them, even if they had lived in a place some distance away from the city. Enoch walked with God, and yet he did not live in the midst of any city polluted with every kind of violence and wickedness, as did Lot in Sodom.

He [Enoch] did not make his abode with the wicked. . . . He placed himself and his family where the atmosphere would be as pure as possible. Then at times he went forth to the inhabitants of the world with his God-given message. . . . After proclaiming his message, he always took back with him to his place of retirement some who had received the warning.