Seventh-day Adventists and George Floyd protests (Black Lives Matter)

Seventh-day Adventist leaders – George Floyd is not about racism, it’s about Marxists forcing their anti-Christian lawlessness on everyone.

My SDA Church leaders have been bending over backwards this month in order to show that they are in-step with the Progressive agenda. Ostensibly it is about anti-racism. But looking at the evidence, it is not about racism as much as it is about Progressives trying to create a crisis in order to get people to come over to their side. And their side is not only racist, but anti-Christian Communism, and pro-lawlessness.

George Floyd had the police called on him by a store owner because he tried to pass a fake $20 bill. When the police arrived, he decided to not obey them, so they used force in order to make him comply. A video captured the scene where he says “I can’t breathe”. He died in the vehicle on the way to the hospital. He was found to have fentanyl in his bloodstream and was Corona virus positive.

The video makes it look like the officer is intentionally trying to kill Mr. Floyd, so many people got angry. This is when professionally trained Marxists jumped up and started marching, rioting, looting and burning. Of course many others just joined in for the thrill of it, and many more stayed away from it. A large portion, if not most of the buildings that were destroyed and shops that were looted were owned by black people. And they killed several black people, including a retired police officer, who were trying to protect their property. This is how we can know positively that the George Floyd riots are not about racism.

Black Lives Matter is a brilliant name for a group, as anyone saying that they don’t agree with them is automatically labelled “racist”, and can get kicked off of websites, or even lose their jobs. Saying the obviously correct thing as a Christian, that “All Lives Matter” brings the same results. So what do they believe?

“We are self-reflexive and do the work required to dismantle cisgender privilege”

“We engage comrades”

“We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.”

“We foster a queer-affirming network. When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking, or rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual (unless s/he or they disclose otherwise).”

The pictures you’ve just seen all show Seventh-day Adventists marching in SUPPORT of what this anti-Christian group believes. I know some of those marching don’t KNOW that they support that, but that is because they are being played by an organization to achieve devilish goals, without even realizing it.

We SDAs should be vocal in denouncing such an organization, but instead, we are publicly applauding them! For what? To have the applause of men/women/queers etc. One SDA university has even made a scholarship in George Floyd’s name, showing that they want our young people to emulate a man who was in jail several times, pointed a gun at a pregnant woman, tried to pass counterfeit money, resisted arrest etc.

Where was the outcry when our churches were shut down? There were zero marches then, so by marching now, we are showing that following what the world thinks is important is more important than our churches. We are known by our actions.

God will judge for these things, and I don’t want to be anywhere near any of these Judases in God’s remnant church when the slaughtering angel goes forth to do his work – IN Jerusalem.

Satan is getting his ducks in a row, and sadly, many in our Church are obliging him by lining up without him even using any force at all! What will we do when all that hatred (and yes, there is hatred on the Conservative side too), is directed at us SDAs for keeping the Sabbath of the Lord? Instead of marching for our rights to attend church on Sabbath, here we are breaking the Sabbath by marching with the world, supporting we know not what! If we think we can follow the world in its ungodly ways now in order to be praised, and then suddenly turn and follow Jesus when they start coming for us, we are going to have a big reality check.

I believe Ellen White was shown the time we are entering into, and wrote about what our SDA Church would do:
“Nothing would be allowed to stand in the way of the new movement. The leaders would teach that virtue is better than vice, but God being removed, they would place their dependence on human power, which, without God, is worthless. Their foundation would be built on the sand, and storm and tempest would sweep away the structure.” SPTB02 p.54.

I’m calling on our SDA leaders – please repent and turn back to following the lowly God-man from Galilee – Jesus Christ, the one who never marched in any political event, and who always stood up for the oppressed in the proper manner.

Jeff Pippenger prophesies Muslims will bomb Nashville on July 18, 2020

Well, Jeff Pippenger seems to have really gone overboard this week. His “Future for America” group put a full page ad in the Nashville Tennessean prophesying that some Islamic group will detonate a nuclear weapon in Nashville Tennessee on July 18, 2020. I met the man once in Holland in 2006, and agreed with most of his teaching, but his insistence on the 2520 which started from nowhere and went nowhere, and his brush off of my personal visit to him where I showed him something from Ellen White’s writings that contradicted his position, made me realize he was not on the straight and narrow.

Here is the nearly complete article:
(RNS) – The editor of the Nashville Tennessean has vowed to investigate how a full-page ad predicting a nuclear attack by Muslims purchased by a breakaway Seventh-day Adventist group ran in the paper.

A version of the ad from Future for America, a “prophecy ministry” based in Arkansas, ran on Sunday (June 21). The ad featured a photo of Pope Francis and Donald Trump in front of an American flag and was filled with dire warnings and a few Bible verses. Its authors claim that Trump will be the last president of the United States and that Trump’s feud with Democrats was predicted by the Bible.

“We are under conviction to not only tell you but to provide evidence that July 18, 2020, Islam is going to detonate a nuclear device in Nashville, Tennessee,” the ad began. It also included a link to a detailed Bible study and website.

On Sunday afternoon, after a backlash appeared on social media, Michael A. Anastasi, vice president and editor of the Tennessean, denounced the ad and said an investigation was underway. The paper reported that its advertising policies forbid hate speech.

“The ad is horrific and is utterly indefensible in all circumstances. It is wrong, period, and should have never been published,” Anastasi told the Tennessean. “It has hurt members of our community and our own employees and that saddens me beyond belief. It is inconsistent with everything the Tennessean as an institution stands and has stood for.”

Bible prophecy teacher Jeff Pippenger of Future for America told Religion News Service in an email that he wrote one version of the ad and a friend from Ireland wrote a different version of the ad, which ran earlier in the week.

Pippenger said the ministry paid for the ad, which he said was inspired by the work of Ellen White, one of the co-founders of the Seventh-day Adventist church.

He said that he and the others behind the ad consider themselves Seventh-day Adventists, “though some such as me have been removed from their membership by the Adventist Church because of our prophetic beliefs.” The ad itself also criticizes what it calls the “backslidden Seventh-day Adventist Church.”
Religion news service article here

“The Travels of Sir John Mandeville” book review

“The Travels of Sir John Mandeville” book review B

This book is said to be written by someone who was probably of some rank as a knight in France, but who lived in England a long time. It starts out with his voyage in the year 1322. How much of the book is based on his eye-witness accounts, and how much is based on what others told him (probably when drunk), is anyone’s guess. But in reading the book, it becomes obvious that no single person could have possibly seen all the places of even those places that are not obviously science fiction.

The English in the version I read was quite old, and I learned a new word (to me): “housel” while reading this book. Some people say that this book had, after the Bible, the biggest impact on the development of the English language in its time frame, up to about the time of Shakespeare. It is very interesting (but difficult) to read, as it has many fantastic stories, and is said to have had a great impact on later European, especially English thinking about the rest of the world. There is no doubt some truth in it, but there are so many ridiculous things, that one is tempted to lump it all together as the trash of a superstituous period in the Dark Ages, but if one reads with a mind to understand the people of that era, one can see that there is a desire for adventure and incredible things that matches our current society’s desire to be entertained with science fiction movies and TV shows. So how much of this book was treated as fact back then, and how much was treated as fiction, I don’t know.

Personally, I read the book because I was searching for travelogues written by people who visited Jerusalem before 1800. I’ve read several now written by people in the mid 1800s, but wanted to get something before that, so I could compare. This volume didn’t really meet my expectation in that line, as there is very little regarding Jerusalem itself, and it is mostly from a Catholic viewpoint, as the writer obviously is a died-in-the-wool Roman Catholic. Irritatingly, he even quotes Bible in Latin, as if that were some kind of holy tongue. And yes, in his day, it no doubt was seen as a holy tongue by the RCC. He says he wrote the book all in Latin, translated it into French, and then into English.

Here are some interesting quotes that also give a flavor for what kind of book it is:

” In that city (Alexandria) was Saint Catherine beheaded: and there was Saint Mark the evangelist martyred and buried, but the Emperor Leo made his bones to be brought to Venice.”
This is information, whether true or not, but gives an idea of what people 600 years ago probably believed about Mark’s end.

“in that chapel sing priests, Indians, that is to say, priests of Ind, not after our law, but after theirs; and alway they make their sacrament of the altar, saying, Pater Noster and other prayers therewith; with the which prayers they say the words that the sacrament is made of, for they ne know not the additions that many popes have made; but they sing with good devotion.”
He is talking about how there were a couple Christian groups from India in Jerusalem at that time! Of course “India” back then was much larger than it is today, probably stretching all the way including most of modern-day Saudi Arabia, but still it is interesting, and lends more force to the idea that Thomas went to India and evangelized the people there before he was martyred.

“And nigh that altar is a place under earth forty-two degrees of deepness, where the holy cross was found, by the wit of Saint Helen, under a rock where the Jews had hid it. And that was the very cross assayed; for they found three crosses, one of our Lord, and two of the two thieves; and Saint Helen proved them by a dead body that arose from death to life, when that it was laid on it, that our Lord died on. And thereby in the wall is the place where the four nails of our Lord were hid: for he had two in his hands and two in his feet. And, of one of these, the Emperor of Constantinople made a bridle to his horse to bear him in battle; and, through virtue thereof, he overcame his enemies,”
The parts about what later people did is probably true, showing some of the extreme superstition existing then, and also showing at least one reason why God hid the true crucifixion and other spots in Jesus’ life, because humans would idolize the physical, to the neglect of the spiritual.

“And there beside is the place where our Lady appeared to Saint Thomas the apostle after her assumption, and gave him her girdle. And right nigh is the stone where our Lord often-time sat upon when he preached; and upon that same he shall sit at the day of doom, right as himself said.”
There are many places where he shows his devotion to the Virgin Mary.

“Also a seven mile from Nazareth is the Mount Cain, and under that is a well; and beside that well Lamech, Noah’s father, slew Cain with an arrow. For this Cain went through briars and bushes as a wild beast; and he had lived from the time of Adam his father unto the time of Noah, and so he lived nigh to 2000 year.”
Really weird!

“And he said me, “Truly nay! For ye Christian ne reck right nought, how untruly to serve God! Ye should give ensample to the lewd people for to do well, and ye give them ensample to do evil. For the commons, upon festival days, when they should go to church to serve God, then go they to taverns, and be there in gluttony all the day and all night, and eat and drink as beasts that have no reason, and wit not when they have enough. And also the Christian men enforce themselves in all manners that they may, for to fight and for to deceive that one that other. And therewithal they be so proud, that they know not how to be clothed; now long, now short, now strait, now large, now sworded, now daggered, and in all manner guises. They should be simple, meek and true, and full of alms-deeds, as Jesu was, in whom they trow; but they be all the contrary, and ever inclined to the evil, and to do evil. And they be so covetous, that, for a little silver, they sell their daughters, their sisters and their own wives to put them to lechery. And one withdraweth the wife of another, and none of them holdeth faith to another; but they defoul their law that Jesu Christ betook them to keep for their salvation. And thus, for their sins, have they lost all this land that we hold. For, for their sins, their God hath taken them into our hands, not only by strength of ourself, but for their sins. For we know well, in very sooth, that when ye serve God, God will help you; and when he is with you, no man may be against you. And that know we well by our prophecies, that Christian men shall win again this land out of our hands, when they serve God more devoutly; but as long as they be of foul and of unclean living (as they be now) we have no dread of them in no kind, for their God will not help them in no wise.”…

“Alas! that it is great slander to our faith and to our law, when folk that be without law shall reprove us and undernim us of our sins, and they that should be converted to Christ and to the law of Jesu by our good ensamples and by our acceptable life to God, and so converted to the law of Jesu Christ, be, through our wickedness and evil living, far from us and strangers from the holy and very belief, shall thus appeal us and hold us for wicked livers and cursed.”
Here he is quoting what probably a Mongol leader told him. He tells how simply those people lived, and shows admiration for many aspects of their lives.

He often mentions the “Great Chan”, which no doubt is the emperor of China then, who was fabulously wealthy. Reading the account, even taking into consideration his penchant for exaggeration, it is clear that whoever told him about the Chan’s court and manner of living, saw it as much more advanced in everything than the Europeans’ of the day, except that only a few of his court were Christian.

“And some men say, that in the isle of Lango is yet the daughter of Ypocras, in form and likeness of a great dragon, that is a hundred fathom of length, as men say, for I have not seen her. And they of the isles call her Lady of the Land. And she lieth in an old castle, in a cave, and sheweth twice or thrice in the year, and she doth no harm to no man, but if men do her harm. And she was thus changed and transformed, from a fair damosel, into likeness of a dragon, by a goddess that was clept Diana. And men say, that she shall so endure in that form of a dragon, unto [the] time that a knight come, that is so hardy, that dare come to her and kiss her on the mouth; and then shall she turn again to her own kind, and be a woman again, but after that she shall not live long.”

“In one of these isles be folk of great stature, as giants. And they be hideous for to look upon. And they have but one eye, and that is in the middle of the front. And they eat nothing but raw flesh and raw fish.

“And in another isle toward the south dwell folk of foul p. 134stature and of cursed kind that have no heads. And their eyen be in their shoulders.

“And in another isle be folk that have the face all flat, all plain, without nose and without mouth. But they have two small holes, all round, instead of their eyes, and their mouth is plat also without lips.

“And in another isle be folk of foul fashion and shape that have the lip above the mouth so great, that when they sleep in the sun they cover all the face with that lip.

“And in another isle there be little folk, as dwarfs. And they be two so much as the pigmies. And they have no mouth; but instead of their mouth they have a little round hole, and when they shall eat or drink, they take through a pipe or a pen or such a thing, and suck it in, for they have no tongue; and therefore they speak not, but they make a manner of hissing as an adder doth, and they make signs one to another as monks do, by the which every of them understandeth other.

“And in another isle be folk that have great ears and long, that hang down to their knees.”
These are several examples of “science fiction”, meant, I believe, to amuse and titillate his readers with ridiculous stories.

According to Mandeville, Amazonia was a kingdom next to Chaldea, an island nation that only allowed females in it.

He tries to explain how worshiping images is different from worshiping idols (because idols are of imaginary things, he says!)

“And so say they of the sun, because that he changeth the time, and giveth heat, and nourisheth all things upon earth; and for it is of so great profit, they know well that that might not be, but that God loveth it more than any other thing, and, for that skill, God hath given it more great virtue in the world. Therefore, it is good reason, as they say, to do it worship and reverence.”
Here he’s making excuses for sun worship…….

I learned quite a bit about old English, old thinking (Prester John etc.), some probable facts about various places, and old tales in this book. It is very clear how superstitious Roman Catholic believers were. Yet in all that, there is quite a bit of tasty information to mull over, making this book worth the time to read.

Seventh-day Adventist leaders bow to anarchists over George Floyd’s death

It’s really sad to see how so many of God’s church’s leaders bow down to the god of public opinion and media frenzy. This post is in response to articles on the Adventist Review, who deleted nearly all of my comments to their articles.

Right now, Adventist Review has at least 5 articles all of which support the false narrative of “anti-racism”. They are:
1. https://www.adventistreview.org/this-intractable-lie
2. https://www.adventistreview.org/deeds-not-only-words
3. https://www.adventistreview.org/the-work-of-god-will-not-be-finished-until-we-demonstrate-gods-love
4. https://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story14966-i-am-determined-oakwood-will-continue-to-be-a-center-of-empowerment-and-witness
5. https://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story14938-only-connection-with-god-can-overcome-global-rise-in-evil

Number 1 is by Wintley Phipps, who has served as the SDA church’s official representative to the U.S. Congress. In it, he talks about how much money he’s made, and moving into an upscale majority-white neighborhood. His claim to racism is that the FBI stopped and asked him questions about drugs because he flies so much. Yes, and white people get stopped and asked too. He also writes: “the shocking savagery of the Puritans and Pilgrims”, which is denigrating the founders of this country, which God has told us thru Ellen White is the greatest country on earth. He also approvingly quotes Nelson Mandela, a renowned Communist who killed many people to achieve his political goals.

Number 2 is by Ella Smith Simmons, a Vice President of the General Conference of SDAs. She writes: “the loss of my great-uncle to the ravages of emotional despair in his inability to cope with unchecked societal injustices”. Yes, so have white people. This idea of blaming all the bad things in life on SOMEBODY is a symptom of someone who is not studying and believing the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. She also says not to “only pray”, in the sense that prayer isn’t very effective……

Number 3 is by North American Division president Dan Jackson. He writes: “a horrible illustration of what happens when men feel that they are superior to others”. Or maybe the police officer was trying to do his job? This brings up one of the clearest sins in all of these “pro George Floyd” articles – they have ALL judged before the time, something Jesus has expressly told us not to do. America used to be a place where people were considered innocent until proven guilty. But with everyone loving Hollywood and a good story, emotions is what holds sway now among many. So when they see a picture or video of something that looks horrible – rush to judgment, and forget about Jesus Christ’s words.

Number 4 is by Oakwood College’s president. It is not worth quoting anything, as it is basically what you can read in any newspaper about how all Blacks are supposedly trodden down by whites. Right. Like that can be easily disproven by just opening your eyes and looking around you. How much does this black man earn? No doubt it’s 5 to 10 times above the average American salary. Phipps? – a multi-millionaire. GC vice president? No doubt well off too, much, much richer in material things than I ever will be (on this earth). There was even a black president in America for 8 years, and by this man’s omission admission, he was complicit in tramping down black people.

Number 5 is by Ted Wilson, also judging before the time.

Where is the outrage when literally thousands of the least of these my brethren are ripped out of their mommy’s wombs and thrown in the trash can every day? No? Nothing? You mean it’s only when the frenzied media barks that God’s remnant church wags its tail? Is it because the little ones aren’t going to loot, rob, steal, burn, shame, or otherwise doing something to you that you don’t like? Where were the strong denouncements of Christians being murdered in Nigeria? Oh, that’s right. They aren’t newsworthy, because they don’t fit the media’s agenda of creating a frenzy to make people emotionally unstable so they will do things they would normally not think of doing – like abolishing police departments.

And that’s what these George Floyd riots are all about – they’re not about racial injustice, but about having power over others. How can I say such a thing? Look at the facts: Many states in America were in lockdown over the corona virus up to this point in time. It was deemed “unsafe” to have protests against the lockdowns, and even Christian churches were closed. But now suddenly everybody is cool with gathering for protests, ignoring what they had said and written literally just days earlier about how bad pastors were for wanting to hold church services.

Of course we should not have racism. Jesus never condones it, even a jot. That should be a “given” among people following Jesus, but as is apparent from all these articles, not just many of the laypeople, but the authors of the articles themselves still haven’t learned the lesson.

Several people killed in the riots were black people. Many, perhaps most of the businesses burned to ground were owned by black people. Media outrage? No, almost nothing, like it was acceptable collateral damage to get to the goal of Satan – anarchy which leads to much killing which leads to a dictator which leads to world control.

And to see SDA leaders playing right into Satan’s hands….it’s beyond sad. It’s evil.

I call on all us SDAs who are complicit in bowing down to the howling mob now to repent, or their end will be even worse than it was for the average Christian during the French Revolution.

黙示録 動画 きれいなスライドショーで字幕読みながら理解しやすい

黙示録は遠い昔の出来事とか遠い未来の預言とか言われて来たけど、映像をみながら聖霊の導きで自分で判断するのは神様が望んでる事ではないでしょうか。口語訳の黙示録をそのまま丸ごと載せて、適切な映像で新しい発見もあるかも知れない。

This is the entire Book of Revelation with Japanese subtitles, in a slide show.

どうか神様の言葉が理解され、世の終わりのために準備して、イエス・キリストの輝く顔の中でずっと永遠に暮らせるように祈っています。
「これらのことをあかしするかたが仰せになる、「しかり、わたしはすぐに来る」。アァメン、主イエスよ、きたりませ。」

66 in 55


?
Since I only had 6 hours of work last week, and church is closed, I decided to use the time to do something I’ve thot of doing for many years – just sit down and read the Bible from cover to cover. To be exact, it took me 55 hours 15 minutes to do it. This was the 12th time to go thru the whole Bible, but usually takes a year or two to read it all the way thru. The New Testament I’ve read over 30 times, but the Old only 12. Below are the impressions that I either received newly, or were reinforced, or lost by this quick read.

1. God clearly shows us that what he wants us to do in order to please him, is to keep his Commandments, Statutes, and Judgments in the OT, and to believe in Jesus as the Son of God while keeping his Commandments in the New.

2. I saw a little more clearly why many people think the God of the OT is different from the God of the New. That’s never made any sense to me, as Jesus himself said the OT speaks of him, and we know he was the Rock that was leading Israel etc., but the contrast is there – a God who destroys in the Old, and almost never destroys in the New, until Revelation/end of the world. One reason I can think of for this difference, is that God had a physical kingdom back then, and often worked in the open too, so to protect his people, he had to physically fight for them, and punish them when necessary. Now that his kingdom is spiritual, he of course still works, but it is not so obvious to everybody.

3. While I still believe God is a God of absolutes, I got a strong feeling that he is actually quite lenient/loose (merciful?), not willing that any should perish, but that all that possibly can, will be saved. For example, David had one of his top 30 warriors killed so he could have his wife, and yet God not only forgave him, but made his son thru that woman not only the richest king ever in Israel, but even Jesus himself was born thru that lineage! And then the thing with Judah going to a harlot, having kids by his daughter-in-law etc. seems like he should have been killed by God like his two sons, but instead, God greatly blessed that union and yes, Jesus Christ came thru that lineage!!! There are very few accounts that show where the Israelites kept all the commandments, statutes, and judgments, yet they were still his chosen people up until the day that they put the Son of God on the cross……

4. I have always believed that everything in the Bible was universally true in all situations, but in the last couple of years I’ve started to wonder about that position, and this read reinforced the belief that while some things, like the 10 Commandments, are universally true, many things in the Bible are just for certain situations it seems. One of the most famous examples is where in Proverbs it says not to answer a fool, and in the exact same verse says to answer a fool! Others are to spread your bread on many waters, while other places say not to waste any bread. We should treat others like we want to be treated, yet there are times when God’s people are told to take the heads off their enemies. We are told to not take vengeance on our enemies, yet the Holy Spirit expressly empowered some of God’s people to take vengeance on their enemies.

5. Whoever says that the Bible is just the ideas of God written the best that inspired men could do, has not read the Bible with understanding. Never, ever is that position even hinted at. Never. In great contrast, many, many times it says “My words”, or “the word of the Lord”, or “the voice of God”, etc. The Bible must be read while under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, or it will never be the voice of God to the soul, which it must be if it is ever going to change and purify the heart.

6. The Bible is mostly a history book. It’s a history of mostly God’s people from creation to the end of the world and into the New Earth. There are sections that are more like prose and poems and instruction for life, etc., but basically it is about God’s chosen people, with quite a bit about those nations that have a direct influence on those people.

7. I really like the book of John even more after this read. Like I said earlier, the Bible is mostly a history book, but then John comes with “In the beginning was the Word”. Tingle! Really, it was a pleasant shock to read that straight truth. I like Revelation too, and this time felt more affinity with Jeremiah. I do like Genesis, Psalms, and Daniel (!) very much too. Books I’m not fond of are the “minor” prophets who talk about foreign countries (Obadiah), Proverbs, and this is the first time I really didn’t think much of Job either. Job’s friends have what appears to be lots of good points to me, while Job just complains about being born. But the main issue of whether God always materially supports his followers is decided in favor of Job, who contends that he does not. God’s argument in favor of him doing what he feels like seems a bit weak too. Which leads me into number 8.

8. The Bible is getting dated rapidly. For thousands of years people could relate to it (if they could get access to it!), but here in the 21st century, it is hard to get a grasp of what they are even talking about. I still remember a Japanese friend around year 2000 who agreed with me to memorize the 23rd Psalm, and she asked if pouring oil on someone’s head was a bad thing or what. So many customs and ways of living are totally foreign to us. I mean, if someone found a coin in their house today, they would lose all their friends if they got all excited when finding it, and went and told them all to rejoice with her about it! And what’s this about sheep? Many people have never even seen a sheep, let alone know what it’s lifestyle is like, and what they represent. Much of the OT is about various countries fighting each other, as that’s what countries used to do when there was no one superpower. But since WWII at least, there have been very, very few country to country invasions where the object was to take and plunder everything. So it’s hard to even understand many of the things written in the Bible about building walls around cities, closing the gates, setting up watchmen, trusting in horses, etc. In a world of airplanes, cars, missiles, electricity and so on, who cares about a horse or a sword, and what do they really mean anyway, as horses are just for racing, and swords are just in museums…… To me, this is one more reason why number 9.

9. Jesus must come back soon. Everything points to it. There is no new Bible being written, and the Bible that is, is looking more and more obsolete every day. Yes, those who are seeking the Lord will understand the prophecies, and know that we are living in the toes of the great image (or very near the toes), so the time must be near. Of course all the Bible is for their help and instruction, as the Bible is not only for everyone in all of history, but especially for the 144,000 who will be alive on the earth to see their Lord come in the air.

And Jesus will come back soon to take his faithful home. His “quickly” is not as we usually define “quickly”, but as his holy words speak to us as we read today, “quickly” means to those of us here in the 21st century. He will come back. He will do good to his followers. He will keep his words.

“And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:3-5.

“…there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.” 1Kings 8:56.

May we eat his flesh and drink his blood daily, and be ready to live forever with him in glory. Amen.

Generational change – brought to you by Corona Virus

Prediction on how Corona will change the world (written
April 14, 2020).

OK, I admit that’s a pretty audacious title, but here’s my prognistations on how the Corona (Covid-19, Wuhan flu, Chinese, Bat etc.) virus will change the world.

First and foremost, it will lead to a loss of freedom. There are many instances already observed, where citizens allow their freely elected representatives to tell them by force of law that they cannot leave their homes, cannot have people come into their homes, must wear a mask in public, are arrested for attending church services etc. At the beginning of 2020, if you had said any of these things would ever happen in America, most everyone would have said you were a lunatic conspiracy theorist. Yet here we are. Some countries are worse, like in India where they have beaten some people to death for going outside their homes, and some are much better like in Japan, where the govt. just urges people to stay home as much as possible, and only in the big cities.

Now I’m not going to go into dissecting whether the response is justified or not, but generally I see the “cure” of lockdowns, as being worse than the disease. The fact that people are acquiesing to the government telling them everything they can and cannot do, is what is a game-changer for democratic societies. People who use their constitutional freedoms of speech and gathering and redress of grievances are being vilified now for working against “the common good”.

You’ve waited patiently for the prediction part. 🙂
1. Cash will disappear. Cash is perhaps the number one non-religious object to put everybody on the same plane. Doesn’t matter the color of your skin, your nationality, religion, age, looks, whatever, cash is the great equalizer. Cash has been under attack for this very reason for quite some time now, and I remember reading in Communist China, nearly 80% of individual transactions are made by electronic payment now. Other countries are working to increase their percentages too, but free people have instinctively resisted going gung-ho for a cashless society. Now, as I see cashiers at convenience stores and supermarkets wearing spit guards, face masks, and rubber gloves, it shows that the days of cash are numbered. This will work very well for the Mark of the Beast, where one cannot buy or sell without the Mark. I remember going to India in 1998, and it hit me hard how there is no possible way people way out in the sticks who don’t even have electricity in their whole village will give a hoot about any mark, if you have cash. But now, even India’s remote villages are all electrified, and the govt. is working hard to make everyone have an electronic bank account. In advanced countries where things are much more interconnected, it would be a relatively simple thing to turn a switch on or off somewhere in order to allow or prevent someone from buying or selling, if cash was not allowed.

Why I’m not a pillar

Why I’m not a “pillar” in the church

Reading Ellen White’s letters where she calls on church members to grow and take responsibilities in the church, and listening to the book of Galatians this morning got me to thinking about why am I not a “pillar” in the church. At this age and love for the cause of God, it wouldn’t be unusual for me to be an elder or deacon in the church. So why am I not?

My family was always on the “fringe” of the church. Since my mom was involved with Robert Brinsmead and the Awakening (until it went into error) our family was basically ostracised from the church. The only church function my parents ever did, was once or twice my father was called on to pray up on the platform. That’s it. Of course I was never called on to do anything either.

After college I moved to Atlanta, and was given some responsibility in the church there. I remember being scared to death when I gave my report after Sabbath School once, and that’s the last time I did anything on the platform there. After moving to Japan there was nothing given me to do, and I’m not one to seek for it either. In 1999 I became English school director at the church-run school, so organized worship programs once a month on Friday nights in the school lounge. Never was there a call to do anything else in the church tho. When they kicked out my homeless friends, I quit going there, and bounced around to several different churches, and also started spending some Sabbaths at home.

In 2005 I went travelling around many countries spreading the 1858 Great Controversy book, and many churches were happy to have me give studies or even sermons in their churches.

After coming back to Japan in 2011, I finally was welcomed at the Kobe church, and told them I could give a mission report which I did once, which was the end of my church-related functions there too, except for twice I year when I lead my English school students in a song and Bible recitation at VBS and Christmas time. I go to church there only 7 or 8 times a year, and started going to another little church last year around once a month or so. Most Sabbaths I spend at home, reading Ellen White’s Letters and Manuscripts, watching Bible vidoes, etc.

I know it would be best if I would use my God-given skills to uplift God’s remnant church in more of a direct manner. I also know that I’m not cut out to be a leader. I believe I’m a good teacher, but not a leader of men. We are also told not to go where we know error will be taught, which is why I’m not too interested in going to church anywhere.

What Would Jesus Do? Really, would he go sit week after week listening to error? Would he go and sit silently in the pews, then go quietly back home? This type of church-goer is what is seen as the “ideal” in most of our SDA churches around the world – oh, and don’t forget the tithes and offerings!! Come to think of it, Jesus was on the “fringe” too. He was given opportunity to speak in church, and he used the opportunity to speak truth. It made them so mad that they tried to push him over a cliff for it. I wonder if they ever invited him back to speak??? He spent most of his time travelling around here and there, never staying long in one place. hmmm.

In my heart, I want to see the church that God set up, this Seventh-day Adventist church, become stronger and stronger, being a shining light of truth in this world wrapped in the darkness of error. But it seems like we’ve become rich and increased with goods, in need of nothing except our “organization”, so I will always be a fringe member. If we aren’t careful and heed the testimony of the True Witness, Jesus will spue us out of his mouth. His Holy Spirit will work where it is unhindered, and he will bypass the organization if necessary in order to finish the work of preparing a people to stand in that great day.

Even so, may we all be at our post of duty wherever it is, leading others to eternal life in Jesus Christ. Amen.

Does sunlight change our gut microbiome?

This article highlights recent research suggesting that sunlight can help those with gut problems (like me?), but it only seems to help those with vitamin D deficiency. For the past several years I’ve actively sought out lots of sunshine in the winter months, as I found it really helped lessen the tightness in my chest. I also started taking vitamin D pills per a friend’s recommendation, and that works very well too.

It’s very interesting how God created our bodies to interact with the environment, and even work most of the time in a sinful, cursed world.

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/326782.php#4

Seventh-day Adventist Church makes statement on abortion

In 1992 the SDA Church leaders made an “Official Guidelines on Abortion” document. It was supportive of abortion, thus casting a huge, dark blot on her record. Many supporters tried to play it down as “not being the officially voted on position by the church as a world body”, but it was of course the de facto official position as witnessed by myself in two letters to President Ted Wilson regarding this satanic support for killing Jesus in the womb. I’m also aware of several people who left the church over this issue. I didn’t go quite that far, but came to the point where I refused to recognize Ted Wilson as my spiritual leader.

Well, that’s been changed now in the 2019 Annual Council. The new position is much more biblically based, and makes it emphatic that all the Bible quotes on the subject support life of all innocent humans, including those in the womb. However, in what was most surely a sop to those running SDA hospitals, there is one paragraph that leaves in wiggle room allowing abortion. Worryingly, church leaders showed their reticence to give full support to the document by emphasizing that it is not the church’s official position.

Besides that one paragraph, what troubles me about this new document, is the attitude of President Wilson towards it. He says that this is not to be used to “judge” anybody. Well, we certainly judge church members (and rightly so) if they habitually smoke or beat on the their family members (domestic violence). So why are we putting smoking and DV on a worse plane than killing Jesus in the womb?

God will judge Laodicea righteously for these things, and I pray that if this church founded by God himself doesn’t repent in ashes and turn from this grievous sin completely, that he will judge us with fire and burn down many of our institutions that support killing God.

Here is a link to the new statement on abortion by our SDA church:
SDA statement on abortion

Seventh-day Adventist Church started by God 175 years ago today

On the 10th day of the 7th month, 1844 (October 22) Daniel’s 8:14 prophecy of the 2300 “evenings mornings” was fulfilled, and Jesus finished his work in the Holy Place, and started his work in the Most Holy Place to cleanse the Sanctuary. That signal led the start of the judgment of the dead.

The Day of Atonement is the 10th day of the 7th month according to God’s calendar (see Leviticus 23), which is October 9, 2019. Exactly 175 years have passed since God, in effect, formed his remnant church – the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

We don’t know how soon he will change to the judgment of the living, but when the 10 Commandments are brought forth, that will be the signal.

May we repent of all our sins, and keep all of God’s Commandments, Statutes, and Judgments, which includes all his holy days.

Peculiar people on the narrow, gettin’ rid of ways of pharoah

I’ve written several lines of Christian rap code now, but it took a good SDA Sister to awaken me to the possibility that I could write a whole song. Moving these words thru my brain while riding the bicycle etc. gives me encouragement to stand peculiar for another day, even when it seems nobody around you cares. Jesus does😂
If anyone can put this to music that would be a blessing.
_______________________
Peculiar people on the narrow,
gettin’ rid of ways of pharoah,
scorned & laughed by friend and foe,
keepin’ eyes on the goal.

World likes them man-made doctrines,
Sunday, immortal soul, all go to heaven,
do away with God’s law,
his love’s unconditional anyhow

can’t keep,
path too steep,
I’ve done enough,
all you need is love.

Look at that little group,
cain’t even tell they all duped,
try’na make it to heaven by works,
let’s hit em where it really hurts,
in the pocketbook,
sock em to it,
keep Sunday or you lose,
the right to use,
your MONEY.

Peculiar people on the narrow,
gettin’ rid of ways of pharoah,
scorned & laughed by friend and foe,
keepin’ eyes on the goal.

simple and healthy – no meat coffee or tea,
just following the God-man from Galilee,
who didn’t work his way to heaven,
just followed the law even keepin’ out leaven.

always keep,
his commands are deep,
lookin’ to do more,
a heaven’s in store.

savin’ funds and sendin’ ’em to missions,
out we go for souls we fishin’,
bringin’ the poor inside our home,
massagin’ rich folks’ hearts of stone.
admittin’ freely our need,
of a Savior to bleed,
wash from sin’s smear,
better than money, conscience is clear.

Peculiar people on the narrow,
gettin’ rid of ways of pharoah,
scorned & laughed by friend and foe,
keepin’ eyes on the goal.

Avoiding movies no alcohol here,
pride is the biggest sin we fear,
don’t need no rolex wrapping our bones,
happy no longer keepin’ up with the Jones.

Keepin’ up with Jesus,
his love frees us,
from our guilt,
by what he spilt.

Prayin’ for our enemies,
blessin’ those who persecute,
shootin’ them a love arrow,
so they’ll repent and join these….

Peculiar people on the narrow,
gettin’ rid of ways of pharoah,
scorned & laughed by friend and foe,
keepin’ eyes on the goal.
______________________

Did Ellen White always enclose what the angel said in quotes?

Did Ellen White always enclose in marks of quotation what the angel told her?

“As I have before stated, the length was not given me in inches, and I was not shown a lady’s boot. And here I would state that although I am as dependent upon the Spirit of the Lord in writing my views as I am in receiving them, yet the words I employ in describing what I have seen are my own, unless they be those spoken to me by an angel, which I always enclose in marks of quotation. As I wrote upon the subject of dress the view of those three companies revived in my mind as plain as when I was viewing them in vision; but I was left to describe the length of the proper dress in my own language the best I could, which I have done by stating that the bottom of the dress should reach near the top of a lady’s boot, which would be necessary in order to clear the filth of the streets under the circumstances before named.” Review and Herald 1867-10-08.

Many people, in trying to show me where I’m wrong in believing God gave the words for the Bible writers and Ellen White to write, often quote this. It is pretty powerful, actually definitive if true, so lets check it out.

Checking Broadsides and her first two books “Christian Experience and Views of Ellen G. White”, and “Supplement” we see that it is true that everywhere it says an angel said something, that what he says in in quotation marks.

But when we get to her third book: “The Great Controversy Between Christ and His Angels, and Satan and His Angels”, we see soon, in chapter 3: [Said my accompanying angel, He is in close converse with his Father.] No quotation marks there at all. But if this is just once or twice, we might need to admit that it is possibly an editing or printing mistake. However, in the same chapter it says: [Said the angel, Think ye that the Father yielded up his dearly beloved Son without a struggle?] without quotation marks. Maybe it’s just in chapter 3? No. Here is something from chapter 19: [I heard an angel ask, Who of the family of Adam have passed that flaming sword, and have partaken of the tree of life?]

So in checking this statement, we find that it is not true as written. Words are spoken to her by an angel, and they are not enclosed in quotation marks.
What are the possibile reasons for its untruthfulness?

1. Perhaps Ellen White wrote the quotation marks in the original, but the editors or somebody removed them.
2. Perhaps Ellen White forgot what she did, and is stating an untruthful thing unwittingly.
3. Perhaps Ellen White is stating an untruthful thing.

Whatever the case, we are left with very unpleasant choices.

This exercise shows that we must be good Bereans, and not just take one witness in a dispute, but take two or three witnesses, just as the Bible says to do. And yes, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

First Christian rap

The ancient Israelites were told by God to teach their children the truths he gave them. One of the most effective ways to do this was by using songs and poetry.

In today’s culture, a large portion of children (and adults) aren’t able to tell others what they really believe. They’ve heard many sermons, and read many books, but it just doesn’t “stick”.

Also, church has become more and more feminized, leading many young men to avoid Christianity altogether. But real Christianity is a warfare requiring the power and bravery of young men.

In this vein I became acquainted with Christian rappers. Sure, many of them are basically like secular rappers without the dirty language. Some of them give a nice, helpful message. Some give good Christian truths. And some of them are preachers on a par with David (in my opinion), giving the straight truth in a hard-hitting way that many people (especially young men) can relate to.

The first Christian rapper to get an album at #1 on the charts was Lacrae. Many of his songs are uplifting. Recently NF also got to #1, but his lyrics are hard to tell if they are even Christian sometimes. Trip Lee (an actual pastor) is the real deal. If you can watch his video “Sweet Victory” without tearing up, then you need to check your relationship with Jesus. The song “IDK” sounds like it could have been written by David himself, just updated for today’s life. Mynista, also a real minister, has faster raps, with even more intensity and hard truth. “Blood” and “Like a Sparrow” go round and round in my mind, giving me courage and strength to carry on.

Well, why should I just let others do it? Don’t I have something to tell the world too? Starting a couple of months ago, I’ve been emailing a few to those close to me. There was no feedback on them for a while, but recently 4 different people expressed their opinion, even trying their own, making me want to reach even more people with them here on this blog.

Many of the raps will be Seventh-day Adventist teachings. All comments are welcome.

Ready all Staggernauts? Here we fly!

Jesus sweatin’ blood,
drippin’ from his pores,
start usin’ it to judge,
October 22, 1844.

Black holes turn bright, scientists confused

Scientists have allowed their belief in Evolution to so twist their minds, that the craziest, contradictory stuff can be spouted by them with apparently no concern for common sense or the English language.

Case in point: today I saw an article on the “Science Alert” website (not a spoof website) with this ridiculous quote:

The black hole was so bright I at first mistook it for the star S0-2, because I had never seen Sgr A* that bright. Over the next few frames, though, it was clear the source was variable and had to be the black hole. I knew almost right away there was probably something interesting going on with the black hole.

Our Galaxy’s Supermassive Black Hole Has Emitted a Mysteriously Bright Flare

But this is what passes for science these days….
Bright black holes