Get ready, get ready, get ready; our time is running out. We have traveled in the sunshine and in the time of peace for many years, but now the dark clouds are arising all around, as it was in the time of Noah.
The coronavirus disease is killing millions of people. Soon our faith will be severely tested, and the tares will be separated from the wheat. All who do not love the truth will believe a lie, and fall into a strong delusion, which Satan is allowed to bring. The powers of darkness have never been so active as today. Satan is desperately trying to deceive the very elect. All who are not holding fast will be blown away. All who are not sanctified by the truth will be blinded and left in the darkness.
God has been patient with us for a very long time, but soon the time will be up, and all who have a little pride, or a trace of selfishness left, or dissatisfaction, and who still love the world and the things of the world, will leave the people of God and join with the enemy. Also, all who have neglected their duties will do the same.
Do not underestimate the power of our enemy. Do not play with him. He does not come to you in his own form, but as a friend. Satan came as a friend to the angels in heaven, offering them something that God did not give them, and millions of these angels believed that Lucifer really did love them and cared for them.
Satan came to Adam and Eve as a friend, offering them the forbidden fruit, which God did not give them. He said to them, “Ye shall not surely die, ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.” Genesis 3:4–5. Did Adam and Eve die? Yes, they surely did; their children also died, and so it continued for the next 6000 years. So easily was man deceived. One fruit from the forbidden tree, and the price they had to pay for it was very great. They had to leave paradise, and earn their living with sweat in their forehead; sorrow and misery was their lot, until they turned to dust again.
Soon the whole world was deceived. Millions of people gave their allegiance to Satan, and the church of God was down to one family; the Holy Spirit had left everyone else.
Satan triumphed; if he could deceive this last family, the whole world would belong to him, and the plan of salvation would be defeated. But, he was wrong. This one family (Noah and family) survived while all the rest of the millions of people perished in the flood.
After the flood, Satan again deceived the whole world. The church of God was down to a few people.
How did this happen? Did God do nothing to save people? Yes, God did everything possible to save them. The Holy Spirit was striving with people for many years, but they refused to obey the promptings of the Spirit; finally, God had to leave them alone. He said, “My Spirit shall not always strive with men.”
Even though at most times the church of God has been down to a few people, it is still stronger than all the forces of evil and all the powers of darkness.
Later we learn that the salvation of mankind depended on one Man. If He would have failed, all would have been lost. This Man was Jesus Christ. Satan consolidated all his forces against Him. The Roman power joined with Satan to destroy the plan of salvation, by putting to death the children in Bethlehem and the surrounding area. Even the very church of God, the Jewish nation, joined with Satan in his efforts to defeat the plan of God.
Also, His own disciples tried to discourage Him from completing the plan of salvation. If He had committed one sin, even in His thoughts, the whole plan of redemption would have been destroyed, and Satan would have gained complete victory.
But, this one Man could not be defeated. When Jesus cried, “It is done,” Satan knew that he had lost the battle.
Yet, he did not give up the battle. He started to fight against the church of God, more than ever. “Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12
The plan of God, no one can destroy. The great world nations have disappeared, but the church of God remains.
Jesus overcame Satan and his temptations. He overcame sin, and through Him we can also overcome and be victorious. If someone says, “I cannot be perfect,” he makes God a liar, because the same power that Jesus had is available to us all.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9
Do we believe this? The character of God is possible and available to every human being. The only time when God cannot save us is when we sin wilfully. When Christian Sabbath-keepers wilfully cherish even one known sin or one wrong habit, or one neglected duty, they become blinded, and start doubting the plain truth which they once believed.
In the beginning, Adam and Eve had garments of light, but the moment they sinned, they lost them and darkness surrounded them. Their understanding became darkened, and they started accusing others and defending themselves. “And the man said, The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” Genesis 3:12. They did not lose a little of their light, but complete darkness was the result of one sin.
Professed Christians, who for years have resisted the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives, will eventually sin against the Holy Spirit if they refuse to heed His voice and accept His help to overcome every sin. And, as soon as we become thus blinded we become tempters to others, first to the members of our families, and then to the members of the church. All who do not love God will end up in Babylon. All who do not love righteousness will not receive it.
The storm is approaching. Satan is doing his utmost to deceive the children of God. There is one church he is attacking and is angry towards. The rest of the churches belong to him. But, there are honest children of God in the fallen churches, and Jesus said that they will be called out of them. “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold? Them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd.” John 10:16
The work of God will not fail. The church of God will be victorious; the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. There will be a little flock, faithful to God, who love the truth and are faithful, even unto death. But, Satan will not stop deceiving people.
“While Satan is appearing to the children of men as a great physician who can heal all their maladies, he will bring disease and disaster, until populous cities are reduced to ruin and desolation. Even now he is at work. In accidents and calamities by sea and by land, in great conflagrations, in fierce tornadoes and terrific hailstorms, in tempests, floods, cyclones, tidal waves, and earthquakes, in every place and in a thousand forms, Satan is exercising his power. He sweeps away the ripening harvest, and famine and distress follow. He imparts to the air a deadly taint, and thousands perish by the pestilence. These visitations are to become more and more frequent and disastrous. Destruction will be upon both man and beast. ‘The earth mourneth and fadeth away,’ ‘the haughty people . . . do languish. The earth is also defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.’ Isaiah 24:4, 5.” –The Great Controversy, p. 589–590
In this time of the end, we need God’s help more than ever before. We need to pray more and ask for God’s help. Without Him we can do nothing. We need the Holy Spirit.
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made. Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all the virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps have gone out. But the wise answered, saying, No so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily, I say unto you, I know you not.” Matthew 25:1–12
What is the meaning of this very important parable? “The two classes of watchers represent the two classes who profess to be waiting for their Lord. They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith. By the lamps is represented the word of God. . . . The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. . . . In the parable, all the ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. All had lamps and vessels for oil.” –God’s Amazing Grace, p. 214. “But five have neglected to fill their flasks with oil.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 405
“All had lamps, that is, an outward semblance of religion; but only five of them had the inward piety. Five of them were wanting in the oil of grace. The Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, the Holy Spirit, was not abiding in their hearts.” –Sons and Daughters of God, p. 118
All had lamps with oil. All were studying the Word of God and asking the Holy Spirit to guide them, but only five had invited the Holy Spirit into their life, which is represented by the vessels filled with oil.
“Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His.” Romans 8:9
“Here is the greatest deception that can affect the human mind; these persons believe that they are right when they are wrong. . . . They are found wanting when it is forever too late to have their wants supplied.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 417
“The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working. They have not fallen upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, and permitted their old nature to be broken up. . . . The Spirit works upon man’s heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature; but the class represented by the foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work. They do not know God. They have not studied His character; they have not held communion with Him; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 411
“There is a way which seemeth right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
Sometimes people say, “You make us feel so lost!” Praise God, because there is still time to be purified from sin and receive the Holy Spirit into the life. Can you imagine how these sincere people, represented by the five foolish virgins, will feel when Jesus comes and it is forever too late?
Also, we need the wedding garment. “The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, . . . And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: and he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:2, 11–14
“Calling and justification are not one and the same thing. Calling is the drawing of the sinner to Christ, and it is a work wrought by the Holy Spirit upon the heart, convicting of sin, and inviting to repentance.” –Selected Messages, bk. 1, p. 390
We are all called, but only those who have put on the wedding garment will be chosen. What is the wedding garment?
“The parable of the wedding garment opens before us a lesson of the highest consequence. By the marriage is represented the union of humanity with divinity; the wedding garment represents the character all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 307
“To the church it is given ‘that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white,’ ‘not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.’ The fine linen, says the Scripture, ‘is the righteousness of saints.’ Revelation 19:8; Ephesians 5:27. It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.” –Ibid., p. 310
How do we get this imparted character, which is the righteousness of saints?
“By His perfect obedience He made it possible for every human being to obey God’s commandments. When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is submerged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness.” –Ibid., p. 312
“Even your thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of God and your feelings under the control of reason and religion. . . . If the thoughts are wrong the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and the feelings combined make up the moral character.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 310
“Moral perfection is required of all.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 330
“Men may now excuse their defects of character, but in that day they will offer no excuse.” –Ibid., p. 317
“God will accept nothing but purity and holiness; one spot, one wrinkle, one defect in character, will forever debar them from heaven, with all its glories and treasures.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 453
What are spots and defects of character? Since the “thoughts and the feelings combined make up the moral character,” defects must be wrong thoughts and feelings, or wrong attitudes.
“By faith and prayer all may meet the requirements of the gospel. No man can be forced to transgress. His own consent must first be gained; the soul must purpose the sinful act, before passion can dominate reason, or iniquity triumph over conscience. Temptation, however strong, is never an excuse for sin. ‘The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers.’ Cry unto the Lord, tempted soul. Cast yourself, helpless, unworthy, upon Jesus, and claim His very promise. The Lord will hear. He knows how strong are the inclinations of the natural heart, and He will help in every time of temptation.” –Messages to Young People, p. 67
“For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:18
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
“Our heavenly Father measures and weighs every trial before He permits it to come upon the believer. He considers the circumstances and the strength of the one who is to stand under the proving and test of God, and He never permits the temptations to be greater than the capacity of resistance. If the soul is overborne, the person over-powered, this can never be charged to God, . . . but the one tempted was not vigilant and prayerful and did not appropriate by faith the provisions God had abundantly in store for him. Christ never failed a believer in his hour of combat. The believer must claim the promise and meet the foe in the name of the Lord.” –Our High Calling, p. 323
The greatest happiness is to live the life of Jesus, when the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, is with us, and when we are dead to self and we live for Christ. May the Lord help each one of us to overcome the temptations and deceptions of Satan and reflect the image of Jesus fully. Amen.
Timo Martin