New Moon Meeting: August 04, 3:05 EST
Peace, Hope and Love in the Gospel
Zahakiel: Well, I think this is everyone, so are we set to begin?
Israfel: Yes.
Crystle: Yes.
Annetta: Hi.
Barbara: Yes.
Qinael: Yes.
Gabriel: Yes.Pastor “Chick”: Kim said she is trying to get Terra online with us.
Qinael: Okay.
Zahakiel: Oh, all right. We’ll wait a little bit, then.
Dumah: Well...she can’t right now.
Qinael: One moment, I’m going to check on Yahoo for someone...
Zahakiel: Ok.
Qinael: Okay, go ahead.
Zahakiel: All right, may I have a volunteer to open the meeting with a prayer?
Qinael:
Alright, I will. Zahakiel: Thanks :)
Qinael: Father, we come before you on this New Moon in love and humility...
We acknowledge this day especially that all that we have and are is but a reflection that flows forth from your Throne, to your Son, and to us finally, that it may be a light unto the world. We give thanks that though our light is not our own, we may have even greater confidence in it for that very reason, that the light is perfect, and that we are ever being perfected that we may show it forth with no taint or unknown corruption.
We thank you for this day to come together and learn, to search ourselves and our brethren for any defects, and the promise that you will guide our eyes and lips in this process for thy children’s sakes, and the sake of those we see in the world.
In the name of Yahshua we pray and give thanks, amen.
Zahakiel: Amen :)
Annetta: Amen.
Crystle: Amen.
Gabriel: Amen.
Barbara: Amen.
Pastor “Chick”: Amen.
Israfel: Amen.Zahakiel: Okay :) This week we are going to talk about the Gospel, what it is, what it means, and what it is going to look like in these last days.
This last thing, what it looks like, is very important, because a lot of people are in the world claiming to know the Gospel, to love it, to live it, to teach it… yet we find that the members of this Church are few. There is a difference between us and the rest of the world, even the rest of the Christian world, and we are going to see that the difference is in the Gospel we teach, and the Gospel of everyone else.
So what is the Gospel?
Zahakiel: You know I like these studies to be interactive, so I’ll start by turning it over to all of you early. What is the Gospel?
Qinael: The gospel is the “good news” of salvation, Christ’s death for us and what it means to us, as broadly put as possible... The life that he gives us, and the testimony of it.
Annetta: It is love.
Zahakiel: Hm :) Those are both very good answers. We’re actually going to look at both of those definitions today.
Let’s start with the first answer given. The most basic meaning of “Gospel” is “good tidings,” or “Good news.” But as Luke has said, it is good news about a specific thing. Mankind may live and not die, because we have been shown the way to life, and Yahshua the Messiah said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)
But you know, the Bible talks about different kinds of Gospels. Some are true, but some are false. Paul wrote to the members of the early church warning them, “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
“For if he that cometh preacheth another Yahshua, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” (2 Corinthians 11:2-4)
Zahakiel: The Corinthians were hearing another gospel, one different than the one taught by the apostles, and they were receiving it, because it sounded pleasant. If a Gospel is going to be effective, though false, it must still sound like good news, or else it will be a useless counterfeit. We are told that the messengers of Satan will come in a most pleasing form, speaking words that sound loving and gentle, “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2 Corinthians 11:14) You see how in the same chapter, 2 Corinthians 11, Paul explains to the congregation that not everything that appears to be light is actually light.
Here is an example...
Many of us here have studied a little bit on the subject of creation and evolution. We have heard it explained that when worldly scientists wish to convince students of the truth of the evolution theory, they will show changes between generations, like people becoming shorter, or taller, or their hair changing. They will say, “See, you are different from your parents.” When the child acknowledges the obvious truth of that statement, they will be told, “This is evolution in action.”There is a point here, and it is this: “evolution” simply means change. We are different from our parents, and they are different from theirs. But this is not “evolution” in the sense that is commonly understood, certainly not the sense secular science seeks to convey. The meaning is swapped in midstream, and thus the student is led to believe a lie, based on what appears at first glance to be very good arguments.
Let’s look at how that works with the Gospel.
Dumah: Ok.
Zahakiel: The Gospel is good news. It is about Christ, and it is the revelation of Yah’s love for mankind. But now, if we do not define our terms we can be misled, even by the right words. A messenger may bring a gospel of hope, peace and love… but we have to define what these are. Let us look at these three things one at a time, because we need to understand what these things are to understand the Gospel that brings them.
First, hope.
Does spreading hope mean that we give people the impression that if they do not turn from their known sins they have a “chance” at Heaven? Can Yah’s infinite mercy be accepted into a heart with no soft place, no open doorway? Yah longs to forgive the sinner. His heart will break for every individual who is ultimately lost, but Yah is love, and sin is the opposite of love. When He reveals Himself to the groaning creation in the final judgment, there will be place for only one: love or sin. Our hope is this, that through Yahshua we will be clean of all sin, and fit to stand in His presence. Our confidence is that through the victory we ARE, and that is good news indeed.
But if we simply say we are here to spread “hope” but we do not give others the means by which to grasp that hope, we are teaching “another Gospel,” and giving a false hope. Our Father says this, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
Yah does love everyone, but His hatred for sin demands that He be just, and those who reject Him, the source of all life, find the only alternative to be death. That is not His desire, for He desires all to be saved, but it is the natural outworking of cause and effect. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) It is only one or the other.
Dumah: Yes.
Zahakiel: Again Yah tells us, “When I say unto the wicked, ‘Thou shalt surely die;’ and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Ezekiel 3:18)
If we see someone in sin, and we say to them, “Don’t worry, everything will be just fine,” are we spreading hope?
Dumah: No.
Zahakiel: No. On the surface, we seem to be… but do we pray for the healing of a sick relative if the cure is within our grasp? James tells us, “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, ‘Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled,’ notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?” (James 2:15, 16) James is addressing this very issue… a false kind of hope. The Gospel is about true hope, about the vision of a universe free from sin, a life free from the bondage to iniquity, a God who loves us so much that He sacrificed His most precious Gift to provide for us a way out.
Zahakiel: But if we say, “God will forgive” and neglect to point to the Cross, which involves self-denial and a walk of sanctification, we are not bringing the Gospel, but a false hope. Our invitation must be the “word” mentioned in this verse: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, ‘This is the way, walk ye in it,’ when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” (Isaiah 30:21) Yah has given us His Spirit to guide us into all truth, and He has given us a responsibility to share that great blessing with others.
Now, we touched on this a little last meeting: we cannot mop another person’s floor. We cannot “fix” anyone else, but we are our brothers’ keepers, and if we see a brother struggling under a load, we offer to assist with his burden. If we are struck with a conviction by the Spirit that we must share a fault with another, bringing it to his attention, our revelation to him or her will be the very voice of Heaven; and it will be the voice of hope. We have understood this to be one of the great blessings of the New Moon time, for example.
Zahakiel: Are there any questions at this point?
Barbara: None here.
Dumah: Sounds good.
Qinael: I have none.
Israfel: No.Zahakiel: All right. So we have a view here of “hope” as it relates to the true hope of the Gospel. What about peace? Does peace mean getting along with everyone?
Dumah: No.
Zahakiel: Does it mean fitting in, going with the flow?
Mark: No.
Gabriel: :)
Israfel: No.
Dumah: Nope.
Zahakiel: Right. We aren’t to start fights, we can’t cram the Gospel down anyone’s throat, but at the same time, the message we bring is about peace in the inward man, not an absence of conflict in the outer world. Yahshua told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27) If we are going to bring a Gospel of peace, we must define our terms, and then we must make sure that our definitions match the Word of Yah.
Are we spreading peace, or are we simply seeking to avoid dissention, disagreement or controversy? Now, we need to be careful there… the Master said, “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” (Matthew 5:9) I do not want anyone to get the idea from these words that controversy is anything pleasant, or anything we seek. But I can guarantee you, if you are walking in the path of Yahshua, you will find controversy. Perhaps it is better said thus: It will find you. If you are doing something right, you will meet with opposition.
If you can drift from congregation to congregation in this broken world without incident, if you find that you can fellowship “peacefully” with a variety of groups all teaching different variations of doctrine and practice for an extended period of time… something’s wrong. This was not the kind of peace Yahshua experienced, and it is not the kind of peace He has promised His followers.
As they were leading the Redeemer to His death, He said to those who were lamenting over His lot, “if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry?” (Luke 23:31) Again, He said, “Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:20) And once more, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
Zahakiel: Our peace comes, not in an absence of troubles here, but in the blessed hope of His appearing. Here peace and hope (our first topic) are tied together, and cannot be separated.
If the Gospel one teaches promises prosperity and peace here on earth of an earthly kind, it is not of our Savior, for He said, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” (John 18:36)
The application there was that the followers of Christ will not fight for position, or advantage, or even for protection of their earthly “things,” and we have certainly applied that to false religions in our message, but the general principle is of note here. If our idea of “peace” means no conflict with the powers of the world, the false teachers and those who walk after the flesh, we need to compare our definition to that found in the Bible and then revise it.
The Psalmist tells us, “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” (Psalm 119:165) I do not think any of us would dispute that the prophets loved the Law of Yah. According to the Scriptures, the prophets had “great peace,” as the word is defined by the Almighty. But look at their experiences! When Yahshua said that He gave peace, “not as the world giveth,” He was not speaking idly. They were stoned, they were sawn in half, they were ridiculed, chased out of town, starved, put in prison, you name it. And worse… they were assaulted by the very people to whom they were sent to instruct in the Good News.
Jonah was one of the few prophets sent to non-Israelites, yet how did they receive him? They repented. It was the very people who one would hope should appreciate the spirit of prophecy the most, and the gift of communication with the Creator… these had the hardest time accepting the Oracles.
Stephen said to the Hebrews of his day, “Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers.” (Acts 7:52) Yet while those today who call themselves Christians wonder at the blindness of the Israelites 2000 years ago, what do they say to us, when we say to them, “Be healed, go in peace and sin no more?”
That kind of peace they do not want, and they crucify us with their words, when they should be crucifying “self.” Sometimes they try to crucify us with their actions too… anything to still the voice of infinite conviction. “You mean you want me to live with NO sin? What about you, are you saying you’re perfect?” Pastor, Luke, myself and others could fill your afternoon with stories of our experiences when we try to bring the peace of Yahshua to those whom you would think would be most appreciative...
But as wise Solomon said, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)
Zahakiel: Is everyone understanding so far?
Qinael: <nods.> I am, yes.
Mark: Yes.
Zahakiel: Ok :)
Israfel: Yes.
Dumah: <nods.>Zahakiel: Ok :)
Now Annetta said, simply enough and accurately enough, that the Gospel is “Love.” That it is, IF our definition of the word matches the Scriptures’. Love, as we know, is more than just a feeling. Love, as we know, is more than just a set of actions. It is a worldview, a way of life. It is... hard to define using human language.
Gabriel: :)
Zahakiel: We can just say, “Yah is love,” and be perfectly correct, but like the pharaoh of Egypt, those who hear us may well ask, “Who is Yahweh?” If Yah is love, then we can understand what love is by looking at what He says about Himself in the history of His dealings with mankind. In fact, I would go so far as to say that this is the only way we can really know, and be certain that we know.
We have His creation of the universe. We have His sorrow over the sins of His creatures – but His punishment of transgression nonetheless.
Gabriel: Agree.
Zahakiel: We have His patience with erring humanity, sending message after message – often knowing that the immediate effects would be wasted. I say immediate, because nothing with Yah is ever truly wasted. We are told, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
Not only were the warnings given, though those who heard them often refused to listen, but WE have the benefit of reading these warnings today, and seeing the effects of heeding or not heeding. Everything our Father does was carefully considered with infinite wisdom to produce the best possible results. The Bible defines the outworkings of love very clearly. This is a well-known passage, and Adventists have been counseled to meditate on these words on a daily basis: “Charity suffereth long…”
Zahakiel: Oh, and bear in mind when you read this that the term “Charity” here is the word “Agape,” and is used to describe that perfect, selfless, Christian love that springs forth from the perfect love of Yah. It is not given as a result of some kindness from the one to whom it is directed, and it is not given to produce like feelings in others. To put it more simply, if we show Agape to someone, it is not because they did something to “deserve” it from us, and we do not share it with them with the intention of getting a good response. It exists from us to others, regardless of who they are or how they receive it.
Here is that passage, and let me insert Agape for Charity, which has come to mean something else since the time this document was translated into English:
Zahakiel: “Agape suffereth long, and is kind; agape envieth not; agape vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Agape never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
Paul concludes the chapter by saying that after everything else is gone, “And now abideth [or remains] faith, hope, agape, these three; but the greatest of these is agape.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Zahakiel: Now that we see the principles, let us look at the application. As we asked for peace, so we can ask for love; does love mean getting along with everyone? Does it mean pleasant fellowship and the sharing of good feelings? Ideally, “in a perfect world” as they say – yes.
We always hope that when we love others they will respond in kind. We always pray that those we already love will understand what we say to them and, regarding the Gospel, we hope they will respond with faith. In practice, we find ourselves often giving, but often misunderstood for our gift. Again we have the examples of the prophets. Did not Elijah love the wicked king Ahab, who called him the “troubler of Israel?”
Dumah: Yes.
Zahakiel: Did not Jeremiah love the ones he was warning, who cast him into prison and threw him down a well? Did not Zechariah love the ones who stoned him to death between the temple and the altar? But most significantly, what of Christ?
Yahshua was the very manifestation of the Gospel, the spirit of love in human flesh, but it was written of Him, “He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” (John 1:11)
If we want to be sure, absolutely sure, we are teaching the Gospel in its true strength, with a right understanding of hope, faith, peace, and love, we must look at the way the good news was lived out in the life of the Son of Yah.
Gabriel: AMEN!
Zahakiel: First, though, a slight detour. :)
Let’s look at the way the Gospel is outlined in the very last Book of the Bible. We believe we are in the last days, and we can read in the Bible that the Good News came in different ways and at different times. It is written, “Yah, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds.” (Hebrews 1:1, 2)
In Revelation we see a special gathering take place, a gathering of a most holy people from a most wicked time, and the means by which they are gathered has been called the “Three Angels’ Message.” It is also called the “Everlasting Gospel,” the very subject we are examining. Here it is:
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the Everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear Yah, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.’
“And there followed another angel, saying, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, ‘If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of Yah, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.’” (Revelation 14:6-11)
Zahakiel: Say when you have read all this :)
Qinael: Done.
Gabriel: Done.
Crystle: Okay.
Barbara: Done.
Mark: Ok.
Dumah: Alright.
Pastor “Chick”: Finished.
Israfel: Ok.Zahakiel: Okay :)
Now, these three things are called the Everlasting Gospel, yet we have just been talking about the Gospel as a message of good news, of peace, love, and hope. I would submit to you that the Gospel has never changed throughout the generations and that these three angels’ message, strange as it seems at first glance, IS a message of peace, love and hope. In fact, it is the only true and complete message of peace, love and hope that exists today.
“Fear Yah, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters,” says the first angel. You tell me, then… how peace, love and hope enter into this idea.
Dumah: Peace... because an end is made of sin.
Zahakiel: Yes :) Anything else?
Dumah: Love... because the goodness and mercy of Yah is revealed in that He does not force His love on anyone...but gives them what they deserve through righteous judgment.
Crystle: Hope... is that we will be able to stand in His presence knowing that through the victory we are cleansed of sin.
Barbara: And love, because when this is shared with someone so that the individual can find this peace with Yah, that is true agape love.
Gabriel: As we reverence God and give Him glory the God of love gives us inner peace.
Zahakiel: Yes. Those are all very good answers :) The first thing I saw was similar to Gabriel’s answer as well... that only by knowing and worshipping Yah we can truly experience peace, and love and hope. All that you have said is very true.
All right... The second angel tells us, “Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” Now, how is that related to the virtues we have been discussing? It might be good to understand what Babylon is here, at least in a general sense. But what say you about this one?
Crystle: The world cannot know these virtues because they know not Yah and have not wanted to hear.
Dumah: Love always conquers evil… this is revealed in the fall of Babylon… the love of Yah is more fully manifested in contrast to Babylon.
Zahakiel: Both good :) Any others?
Qinael: Peace, in that Babylon, which caused the confusion and drunkenness cited in the verse, is no more a plague to mankind in doing so.
Dumah: Amen.
Zahakiel: <nods.> Yes.
That’s one of the basic ideas I drew from it as well: Babylon is “confusion,” a multitude of voices. It is the “broad way,” on which most, even most religious people, are traveling. On this path, there can be no peace, no lasting love and, ultimately (since sin mars the path) no hope.
Gabriel: Yes.
Dumah: Yah does not perpetuate suffering.
Pastor “Chick”: What I see is that the “world system” of things (confused and mixed up) has shown what it can do for humans.
Zahakiel: Yes... and it’s not pretty.
Pastor “Chick”: And, the “everlasting gospel” shows what YAH has done and can do for humans.
Zahakiel: Amen :)
That system of Babylon need no longer have power over men, for Yah has provided a way out.
Gabriel: Good stuff.
Zahakiel: All right, so we are looking at why the 3 Angels’ Message is called the “Everlasting Gospel.” One more part to go.
The third angel bears the longest, and certainly the most direct, message: “If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of Yah, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb; and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”
Zahakiel: For this study we need not get into the details of what the mark IS, so much as what it means and why this message is a message of hope, and peace, and love. What do you all think of this one, as it relates to the “Good News” about Yah?
Barbara: This message (warning) saves us from the opposite of hope, peace, and love, as we heed it.
Zahakiel: Yes.
Dumah: This was very hard for me at first...to see love in the lengthened torture of certain people who burn longer for committing more sin...but as I know now...it is MERCIFUL...because it is a warning to us of the NATURAL results of sin… so that we will not have to suffer the effects.
Zahakiel: Ah, that is very important. I am glad you have understood that :) The way Yah deals with sin is very revealing of His character... and it’s something we very much need to understand.
Any other thoughts on the 3rd Message?
Pastor “Chick”: I see a “spirit”... It is the “spirit of force” which expresses itself like a brute beast...
Zahakiel: Right :)
Dumah: Huh?
Pastor “Chick”: It is common in the “natural man” which is devoid of the “everlasting gospel.” We are shown what the result of maintaining that “natural man” will be.
Dumah: Oh...I see.
Zahakiel: Right :) Taking the mark is a rejection of true faith, true rest, and an acceptance of the powers of Satan allied with this world, basically receiving his “spirit,” which is that of force. Those who choose the world for their defender and who stand under the banner (or mark) of this unholy union, receiving the mark of his name are rejecting the virtues we discussed. That is the basic idea.
The mark shows the difference between those who love the world and those who love Yah, so in a very real way it is similar to the 1st Message. It is about who we worship, to whom we submit. It is written, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15) This verse sums up nicely why the third message is a message of love, and the other two virtues as well.
One accepts the mark of the beast because of a love for the world. The mark is formed of the world, with the world, and for the purpose of entrapping souls in worldly things, treasures, kingdoms, reputations – “names” as the Bible would put it. The first tower of Babel was constructed because men said independently of Yah, “let us make us a name.” (Genesis 4:11) To make a name for “yourself,” is basically self-worship. And you remember we spoke a lot about that last month.
But Yah has a name HE wants to call His people: “In His days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, YAHWEH OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jeremiah 23:6 – emphasis already present) To make a name for one’s self is to turn aside the name Yah desires we bear, and the name, in whatsoever form it has taken, has always been a banner that means “Yah is our righteousness.”
He has always given His people a name: Sons of God, Israel, Nazarines, Christians, Protestants, SDAs, CSDAs… and aside from demonstrating that Yah Himself is our Savior and Justification, it has always been a name that has set us apart from the errors current to the time in which we are; and Adventism in particular has always emphasized this Gospel, that of these three angels, in their message to the world.
To return from the detour, I pointed out that we can KNOW we are understanding the Biblical terms properly if we can find a way to show them exemplified in the life of Yahshua. The principles of the Everlasting Gospel, these three angels’ message, were indeed revealed in His life.
Zahakiel: First, praising Yah the Creator.
Everything Yahshua did was to praise His Father in Heaven. He said, “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” (John 5:30) In another sense, Luke records, “And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to Yah.” (Luke 6:12)
Now, the Redeemer applied this first angel’s message in two ways, both internally and externally. He not only praised the Creator Himself, but He also caused others to praise Him by His acts of healing and teaching. When He healed the paralytic, “immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified Yah, saying, ‘We never saw it on this fashion.’” (Mark 2:12)
The Son of Yah also raised the dead; and this application is significant, because in order to praise Yah one must be alive. “For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth.” (Isaiah 38:18, 19)
Now, in these last days we apply the first angel’s message the same way.
We live our lives abiding in Yahshua. We are told, “Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.” (1 John 3:6) We can not do this of our own power, and like the Son we each say, “I can of my own self do nothing.” We give glory to the Creator, who made the world, and placed a Seed in us that is incorruptible.
Like the Savior, we also apply it outward. The dead cannot praise Yah, and the spiritually dead can no more praise Him than the physically dead. We raise the dead; our message of victory over sin gives life to those who may think they live, but are dead. If one walks a path of righteousness according to his or her sight, but does not have the testimony that he/she is born again, and sins not – that individual is dead, and cannot obey this Gospel. But our message brings hope, it gives peace, it brings forth love. It is the first angel’s message.
Zahakiel: Babylon is fallen. The second angel’s message warns of the collapse of a system. Christ’s ministry did this, and dramatically.
“And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Yahshua went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting. And when He had made a scourge of small cords, He drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables, and said unto them that sold doves, ‘Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.’
“And His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.’” (John 2:13 – 17)
Of His teachings as they related to the Pharisees He said, and we saw the first verse of this passage earlier, “Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.” (John 15:20 – 22)
Our message brings judgment to false systems. As I mentioned earlier, every evangelist of this movement has been routinely attacked for “daring” to declare the good news that “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:36) It is written that the Dragon, Satan, is wroth with the Bride, the Church, because Her members have the “testimony of Yahshua the Messiah.” (Revelation 12:17) If we did not bring the message, the true Gospel, we would not be hated. Our message is not true because we are hated, of course, but we are hated because our message is true.
Because we say, like Christ, “I do always those things that please my Father,” (John 8:29) we reveal the utter uselessness of every false Gospel. Because we say, as it was said of Christ, “We are tempted in all points,” but at the same time we do not commit willful sin, we are branded malefactors, as even our Lord. Because we say “Yah has a people, and His people are here,” we arouse the great wrath of those who worship their own opinions and doctrines to the exclusion of Gospel order and Biblical truth. In fact, that statement often excites more opposition than even our message of victory :)
The one thing Satan fears is that we will actually gather the saints of the Most High into one place, one faith, one Barn; because when we do this – and we WILL, mark my words – his dominion is at an end. The day is here, and he has brought weapons without number to bear to prevent it.
Zahakiel: All right, the final part:
The third angel’s message tells us to avoid the mark of the beast. Avoid the systems under which there is no rest, come out from among those who take their banner under the power of the worldly governments, systems, and those who have satanic spirits. Christ did this. His mission was to Redeem mankind from the dominion of Satan and the chains of the “natural man.”
On an organizational level, the completion of His earthly ministry signaled the end of a system, and the beginning of a new kingdom, a renewed Covenant. When His disciples went out to preach in His name, Peter said to the members of the previous, fallen system, “‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahshua the Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as Yahweh our Elohim shall call.’ And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, ‘Save yourselves from this untoward generation.’
“Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:38 – 42)
Zahakiel: Let it be understood among you, and seen clearly by the application of the Message in the life of Christ and His disciples: following the Everlasting Gospel results in the souls of the faithful being gathered together, baptized and united in doctrine and fellowship, in one place; that is the ultimate fulfillment of the Great Commission.
Pastor “Chick”: Amen.
Zahakiel: Paul says to the early Church, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Yahshua the Messiah, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (1 Corinthians 1:10)
Because we have the Three Angel’s Message, because we have the Gospel, the Good News that spreads true peace, true hope and true love, we are the people who will fulfill that lofty promise. We are the people who are completing that work even now, and because we see it done before in the life of the Master, so we are assured we will accomplish it, and “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for He is faithful that promised.” (Hebrews 10:23)
Pastor “Chick”: Hallelu-YAH.
Zahakiel: :)
Now to close, I would like to end with this thought...
Our message is often harsh, and like Christ’s, for it is the same message, it offends those who have their minds set on the flesh. You can see John 6:53 – 66 for a good example of this. Our Good News is truly THE good news, yet it is quite different from the smooth messages and the feel-good theology popular in the world today.
Unless you eat the flesh of our Master and drink of His blood – unless you become ONE with Him through the infinite sacrifice He made on the Cross, and understand all that this entails, (John 6 speaks of this matter) you have no part with Him, or with us. This great truth will separate the chaff from the wheat; it will reveal the tares, and it will attract with powerful cords the good ears of the harvest. The true Gospel comes with a warning, and it is a hard, often heartbreaking task for the workers in the vineyard to bear it. Yet we do it, and we do it with a smile and no complaint, because…
Because each of these workers, each one of these faithful servants, is a part of the Bride of Christ, and can say with everlasting hope and most blissful peace, “He brought me to the banqueting house, and His banner over me was love.” (Song of Solomon 2:4)
Are there any questions?
Qinael: I have none.
Barbara: None here.Dumah: Not here...but could you elaborate on what you said earlier about people who do all the outward things right...but don’t confess with their tongues that they have the victory?
Zahakiel: Ah, very well :) I think it was before you came to New Moon meetings with us, but one of our previous talks touched on that a bit. I have it archived if you would like to look it over. But the basic idea was this: What is in a man’s heart comes out of his mouth. If we are redeemed, and walking in victory, our testimony will be of that victory.
Why would someone say, “I always try, but sometimes fail,” if he does not “sometimes fail?” The world has conditioned people, maybe especially Christians, to think of “humility” in a very wrong way.
Dumah: Right.
Zahakiel: To be humble does not mean to think false things about yourself. If you are living in Yahshua and have a message to bear, bear it.
Dumah: :) Thanks.
Zahakiel: Okay :)
Pastor “Chick”: And, the “what if” god is the one that tends to make Christians, and esp. SDAs shy to speak up for YAH.
Zahakiel: <nods.> We have seen that one many times.
Dumah: What do you mean?
Zahakiel: Well, they say, “I believe all you teach about the victory, but what if I sin anyway?”
Dumah: Oh... right.
Zahakiel: They have already encoded doubt into the equation.
Like everything else, as long as your definition of the words you use match Yah’s you can be assured you’re going the right way.
Dumah: You didn’t mention the law as a definition for love... is there a reason for that?
Zahakiel: The Law, as a transcript of Yah’s character, gives us the outworkings of love as surely as 1 Corinthians 13 :) If one loves, he will do all these things mentioned there, certainly.
Dumah: Is love greater than the law?
Qinael: Love is the fulfilling of the law.
Zahakiel: There is no “greater” where Love and Law are concerned.
Pastor “Chick”: The Law of YAH is deeper and wider than any written code.
Dumah: Ah… ok...this is what I’m trying to grasp.
Gabriel: So, when in 1 John 2:1 we reed of the “if,” this in your understanding is in reference to sins of ignorance?
Zahakiel: Partly, but not exactly, Gabriel. That has more to do with the tense of the word John uses. We can go over that in a bit if you like, but what John wrote was to those who were already erring from the path due to accepting false doctrines. And the word “sin” is the same word and tense translated in Romans as “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) So John writes, “And if any man have sinned, we have an Advocate with the Father.” This is not speaking of continual, current sins, but if we realize we “have” been in sin, we do not despair, for Christ is our Redeemer :)
John of all people does not introduce doubt into faith. “These things I write to you that you do not sin,” he says.
Gabriel: Do you get this from the Greek construct?
Zahakiel: Yes. And from the verses around it. John speaks of those who walk in darkness, those who claim fellowship but have done things of which they have not yet repented.
Crystle: So does this mean that everyone needs to be bold when witnessing, or are there varying degrees?
Zahakiel: There are degrees, but boldness is certainly a part of it :)
Well, this is as good a place as any to close our official meeting. May I have another volunteer to pray for us?
Pastor “Chick”: Dear Father...
Thank you for this season of refreshing... Thank you for revealing the 3 angels’ messages in the Person of YAHshua. Thank you for the TRUE gospel of peace, love, hope, faith, etc...
Gabriel: Amen.
Pastor “Chick”: Thank you that Babylon IS truly fallen, and now we see the difference in truth and falsehood, so that we may make an intelligent decision to follow You in spirit... Thank you for writing your laws in ours hearts that we may perfectly reflect the character of YAH, and herald the effectual third angel’s message to a lost and dying world.
Dumah: Yes, Father.
Pastor “Chick”: Bless each soul that has participated in this holy time, and may we all be joined as ONE HEART unto that “perfect day” and forevermore. In YAHshua’s holy name,
Amen!!Zahakiel: Amen :)
Qinael: Amen.
Barbara: Amen.
Crystle: Amen.
Gabriel: Amen.
Dumah: Amen.
Israfel: Amen.
Mark: Amen.Zahakiel: All right, I will close this window now to seal the transcript, and I will prepare it for mailing, hopefully by tonight. I will still be online, though, if anyone has something to ask or say. Yah bless you all :)
Qinael: <waves.> Yah bless.
Pastor “Chick”: Thanks, Bro. David.
Barbara: Thank you and Yah bless you, too.
Gabriel: God’s speed!
Mark: Thank you again.
Crystle: Thank you.
Zahakiel: <waves.>
