The Work for Our Time

We are entering into the fall season. The myriad leaves are drying and changing colours of vibrant hues, shimmering as they fall in sweet clusters. The chilling, ruffling breezes from the North whisper peacefully through the trees. But seasons vary and change, as untamed, aimless, hurricanes burst their way through a devastating fatal path, confusing and terrifying the masses as it relentlessly shrieks from the South.

But, another season is coming, a sickly, ominous season. A season of great trial is just before us. Prophecies are rapidly being fulfilled. Furthermore, strange things are happening in our painful, yet noble history of woes, and which are recorded in the Books of Heaven. Everything in our giddy, blundering world is in agitation, shaking, full of confusion, fear insecurity, murmuring, no-time, busy, indifference. Everyone wants a change, any kind of change, but a change! Everyone is clamoring for a change; a change for the better. But, we know this kind of change is not coming. “The wicked will become more wicked. The wicked will not seek God.” (Dan. 12:10; Ps. 10:4). It is a troubled world we live in. It is an inescapable fact! We knew it was coming, didn’t we? Well, now it is here, still in all its beauty, but mixed with ugliness.

Dreamily, financial markets, furthermore, are wavering and ready to collapse without notice. Shameful, tyrannical governments, too, are ready to collapse. What does all of this mean? Well, it is simply and clearly found in Matthew 24 and 25. All the signs of the soon coming of Jesus Christ; His second advent, can be easily found and described here. “Wars, and rumours of wars.” The nations are angry. The nations are exploiting the naïve, home-loving citizens. “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteneth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord; the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.” Zeph. 1:14.

Events, too are changing rapidly to bring on the Day of the Lord, the Day of the Lord’s wrath. But, already when nation is rising against nation, kingdom against kingdom, religion against religion, there is not a general war, yet. As yet, “the four winds are being held back by the angels until the servants of God shall be sealed in their foreheads.” (Isa. 56:6; Rev. 1:1) Then the great powers of the earth will marshal their forces for the last great battle…Armageddon.
Who, now, reads the warnings? The signs are all there. But, unfortunately, the attitudes are not sound. Therefore, let us heed Zephaniah’s sound warning call to repentance: “Gather yourselves together, yea, gather together, O nation not desired. Before the decree bring forth, before the day pass like the chaff, before the fierce anger of the Lord come upon you, before the day of the Lord’s anger come upon you. Seek the Lord, all ye meek of the earth, who have kept his ordinances; seek righteousness, seek meekness; it may be ye shall be hidden in the day of the Lord’s anger.” Zeph. 2:1-3.

Satan is busy laying plans for the last mighty conflict, when all will take sides; one side or the other. After the gospel was proclaimed in the world, nearly 2000 years ago, Satan presents to men and women the same enticing scene that he presented to Jesus Christ. In a wonderful and spectacular manner, he causes kingdoms of the world in their glory to pass before them, in all their tempting array. Then he promises to all who fall down to worship him. Thusly, he seeks to bring men under his dominion and captive power…which he is accomplishing.

Satan is working to make himself God and destroy all who oppose him. Today, it is obvious to those who understand, and are faithful, that the world is bowing down before him. Satan’s power is received as the power of God by the careless and indifferent ones. Prophecy is being rapidly fulfilled, that, “All the world wondered after the beast.” (Rev. 13:3).

We see, hear, and read of men in their blindness boast of wonderful progress, enlightenment, new light, prosperity, knowledge, inner power, break-throughs, aura, meridians of energy, wearing haloes of light, etc. But, to God are revealed inward guilt, immorality, perversion.

In Rev. 3:17, we can clearly see the state of man today and his attitudes. “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”
God and heaven sees all, knows all, and watches all; an earth filled with violence and crime. Also, wealth is obtained by every kind and species of robbery, not robbery of men only, but unknowingly, perhaps, robbery of God. Are you robbing God? How? From God in your tithes. Your test of faith. Men are using His means, His blessings, His promises, to gratify their selfishness. Everything they can recklessly take to minister to their greed. Avarice (misery plus greed), sensuality, pleasure-seeking, prevail today.

Men have accepted Satan’s characteristics and attributes, the first great deceiver, liar and murderer. They have accepted him as God, yet, and thereby have his spirit. (1 John 4:3). Moreover, Satan now controls all of the apostate churches today.

The apostle John, that old sage of Patmos in Greece, saw all of this very moving and painful scene, from inside a lonely, damp cave, some 1900 years ago. He saw it all as if the whole world was ready and willing to ignorantly lose their precious souls.

We are living and experiencing the same elements of society as in the days of Noah and Sodom, that ultimately destroyed them, and will similarly devastate our world and the hope of eternal salvation for mankind.

But, John also saw a small company of God’s commandment keeping people, and who resisted Satan. They had on the foreheads, the seal of the living God, and he said, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14:12). “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth; for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid.” Zeph. 3:12, 13.

When the wakening, harsh storm of God’s wrath breaks upon the sleeping world, it will be a terrible revelation for souls to find their house is being swept away, wiped out, because it is built on sand. The warning must be given them before it is too late. We should feel now the responsibility and the privilege of giving the truths that God has given us for this time. Now is the last time for the warning to be given! The warning is found in the Third Angel’s Message. (Rev. 14:6-12). It is the imperative and solemn duty of God’s people to proclaim it. It is a hard, terse message! But, it must be unsparingly given, now. Many precious, worthy lives are at stake. “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt. 19:26).

There is a special power also in the presentation of the truth at the present time. But, how long will it continue? Only a little while. If there ever was a crisis, it is now. All are deciding now their eternal destiny. All have to make a choice soon. God or Belial!

Men have to be aroused and awoken to realize how solemn, how serious, how important it is, these times, these seasons. It is almost like putting your hand on the Bible and taking a solemn oath, for the nearness of the day whereupon human probation ends is upon us.

The Third Angel is to go forward with great power to prepare a people to stand in the days of peril. The Loud Cry! The Midnight Cry! Do not ignore these words, this work, and just go home, or treat it with little importance. In addition, what is the Lord’s command to His servants? “Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thy self from thine own flesh?” (Isa. 58:7). Poverty is the number one problem in the world today. It is evident, massive and pathetic! Furthermore, another command from the Lord: “Teaching them to observe all things, whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20). From this, it is very clear what our mission and joyful duty is. Arise, and go forth. “Fear not little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Matt. 12:32).

What more? Do not enter into any union with the world or compromise with the world. Many think, for some reason, that by doing this we can accomplish more. If anyone, however, stands in the way of this work they will displease God. No truths that we know should be weakened. What do we mean by this? God has precious ones in the church; tares among the wheat. God, however, does not give you the right to say who are the tares and who are the wheat. We may feel that we can condemn the faults of others, but, we have greater faults, we must realize, that others see. Nothing must impede our work for this time, whatsoever, with petty diversions, divisions, discriminations.

We have the old land-marks, the old paths of Truth, Experience and Duty. (TED). And, “Thus saith the Lord, Stand in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk in it, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” (Jer. 6:16). “Consider the days of old, the years of ancient times.” (Ps. 77:5); “thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.” (Isa. 25:1).

Moreover, we have the prophecies for the last days (Dan. 2, 8, 9; Rev. 14:6-8, 16, 18). We are the “bread of life”. We are the “mills” for those starving for salvation, which by confession and repentance, can humbly receive the truth as it is in Jesus Christ.

Still further, we have the towering pillars of our abiding faith – the Commandments, Marriage, Prophesy, Vegetarianism, Tithe, Sanctuary, Health Reform, Fellowship, Sabbath, Spirit of Prophesy, and Jesus Christ’s Second Advent. No other church preaches these truths or has such an urgent or turbulent message. Although these pillars are tottering, but immovable, they are our strength. If we leave or shake one of the pillars, apostasy from the truth will follow.

We are to stand firmly in defense of our principles, boldly in full view of the world. “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” (Isa. 59:19). Will you be prepared and have the courage and will to do this?

I remind you of the aggressive movements being made for the restriction of religious liberty, to ruthlessly force men to honour the false Sabbath, the Sabbath-Sunday. God’s sanctified memorial has been torn down, trampled on, and in its place a false Sabbath has been subtly placed. A false Sabbath with no sanctity, no blessing, no rest. It is God’s people who are being called upon to repair this flagrant breach man alone has created. “And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” Isa. 58:12.

The time is soon coming when God’s people will feel the barbarous hand of persecution. And, while the powers of darkness are stirring up things here on earth, the Lord God will be sending us enormous power from above to meet the emergency by arousing us to exalt the Law of Heaven. That is why Jesus Christ came, to magnify the Law, not destroy or change it. (Ex. 31:13; Isa. 42:21). Moreover, we read further, “And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.” (Acts 19:17). Likewise, God’s people have the blessed and lofty work of magnifying both the Law and Jesus Christ today, in our time.

We need prayer, fervent, wrestling prayer, like we have never prayed before, or ever! More than preaching. “There are few who rightly appreciate or improve the precious privilege of prayer.” Test. Vol. 5, p.200. Why should the sons and daughters of God be reluctant to pray, when prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence?” SC, pp. 94,95. “Prayer is the breath of the soul. It is the secret of spiritual power. No other means of grace can be substituted, and the health of the soul be preserved.” GW, pp. 254,255.

But, still, many wonder why their prayers are so feeble, dry, lifeless, wavering. Or, why their Christian experience is so dark and uncertain. Let us read Isa. 58:6,7 for an answer and recipe for the weak and fainthearted, the doubting, trembling soul. “Is not this the fast that I have chosen – to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? When thou seest the naked, that thou cover him: and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” Prayer, again, is the battle.

Hastily and readily arise! Help someone! Someone out there needs help! Is the Spirit of God working in you, in us, in our church, our families, our community?

“For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” What now then is your season, your time, your purpose? How did one react to this question? As the apostle Paul stood before Felix the Governor, and made his defense. And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, “Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.” (Acts 24:25). What is a convenient season, again, for us?

It is my wish and desire that each of us will stand before the throne of God, one day, because we received the love of the Truth, that we might be saved, and now to carry out all of the above, and thereby do THE WORK FOR OUR TIME.
AMEN.

John Theodorou, USA