Jeremiah 8:20 The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
When studying the Bible, we must of necessity take into consideration what God does, when He does it, why He does it, and how He does it, for when this approach is used, it gives us a window into the mind of God and better prepares us to understand His purposes.
In addition, the study of what persons refer to as His providences, will shed great light on things to come, and whereas, under normal circumstances, we may overlook some sacred truths, when God’s ways are studied in an in-depth manner, things that were hidden in darkness, suddenly become plain.
Gems of truth must be dug for like hidden treasure, and they usually do not lie on the surface, therefore as we may study line upon line, and precept upon precept, let us never forget that the study of God’s movements via His providences, would give us deep insights into His character, His ways, and His means. Let’s read:
Hebrews 5:13 For every one that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14 But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
1st Corinthians 2: 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things yea, the deep things of God.
Having said that, let us turn to deep thoughts in the Bible. It should concern us, that of all the people available back then in the days of Elijah, that God would send His servant to reside with a widowed woman, who was poor as you can get, and living in a heathen nation. This providence of God is of particular concern, not only because she wasn’t a Hebrew, but because at that time, there were other faithful persons among the remnant who had not bowed the knee to Baal.
Even though the apostasy of Israel had reached epic proportions, yet there were still a few thousand folk who had not subscribed to the prevailing apostasy, and being in the minority, as they always would be, God took notice, and made mention of them when Elijah mistakenly thought he was the only remaining faithful person. Let’s read:
1st Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel, all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath not kissed him.
Therefore, the question of concern is, “Why didn’t God send His servant Elijah to stay with any one of the other faithful remnant people, but instead sent him to a foreign land, to a woman who was not a blood descendant of Jacob? Could it be just a mere coincidence, or is The Lord, through this singular providence, seeking to teach us some solemn truth? Let’s read:
1st Kings 17:7 And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land.
8 And the word of the Lord came unto him, saying,
9 Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongs to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.
It is worthy of note, that Elijah was at this very time, preparing for the contest on Mt, Carmel which was to take place between the commandments of God and the commandments of men and thus, he would be sustained by the providences of God through the woman of Zidon, who would take care of all Elijah’s food, and shelter. Very interesting! In fact, this strange providence of God did not go unnoticed by Jesus, as He delivered one of His earlier sermons given in the temple at Jerusalem.
At that time, He referenced the fact that a prophet of God is not usually accepted by his or her kindred, and because of the unwarranted animosities manifested towards them they are at times instructed to “turn to the gentiles.” Let’s read:
Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.
25 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
Before we proceed it is necessary to have some historical context, so as to fully grasp the meaning of that move on the part of God. At that time, the Hebrew people were divided into the northern and southern kingdoms.
The northern kingdom under the rule of Ahab and the notorious Jezebel, had descended deep into an abyss of idolatry of the darkest hue, while the tribes of Judah and Benjamin had comprised the southern kingdom, in which was to be found the written law of God, and the ark of His testimony. Let’s read:
1st Kings 12:1 And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
2 And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was yet in Egypt, heard of it, (for he was fled from the presence of king Solomon, and Jeroboam dwelt in Egypt;)
3 That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spoke unto Rehoboam, saying,
4 Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore make thou the grievous service of thy father, and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, lighter, and we will serve thee.
6 And king Rehoboam consulted with the old men, that stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, and said, How do ye advise that I may answer this people?
7 And they spoke unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be thy servants forever.
8 But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him, and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, and which stood before him.
9 And he said unto them, What counsel give ye that we may answer this people, who have spoken to me, saying, Make the yoke which thy father did put upon us lighter?
10 And the young men that were grown up with him spoke unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou speak unto this people that spoke unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it lighter unto us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
11 And now whereas my father did lade you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke: my father hath chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king had appointed, saying, Come to me again the third day.
13 And the king answered the people roughly, and forsook the old men's counsel that they gave him.
16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents.
17 But as for the children of Israel which dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
19 So Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.
21 And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah, with the tribe of Benjamin, an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam the son of Solomon.
Thus, it was, that the twelve tribes of Israel were divided into two distinct entities, the tribes of Judah and Benjamin under Rehoboam to the south, and the other ten tribes under Jeroboam, to the north, which gradually departed from the true worship of Jehovah, and who then set up an alternative system and times of worship, to try to dissuade their members from ever joining ranks with the southern tribes.
It is worthy of note, that this move on the part of Jeroboam was made for self-preservation reasons, and as a result, he set in motion a train of adverse circumstances that paved the way for the likes of Jezebel and Ahab to take substitute worship to the next level. Let’s read:
1st Kings 12:26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David.
27 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.
28 Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
31 And he made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.
32 And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.
33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel.
There are four, critically important areas of worship that were targeted by the king Jeroboam: [1] The object of worship. [2] The place of worship. [3] The time of worship. [4] The minsters of worship.
Let’s start with the first one.
[1] The Object of worship.
1st Kings12:28 “The king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, behold
thy gods, O Israel”
[2] The place of worship.
1st Kings 12:28 “It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem.”
29 And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.
30 And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
[3] The time of worship.
1st Kings 12:33 So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart.
[4] The minsters of worship.
1st Kings 12:31 And he made a house of high places and made priests of the lowest of the people which were not of the sons of Levi.
Whenever the four areas mentioned are interfered with or altered, contrary to God’s instructions it will be just a matter of time before there’s total collapse and apostasy as was seen in the northern kingdom under the auspices of Ahab and Jezebel.
Do you know, that in our day, those same four areas have been targeted, because the object of worship has been changed from being the God of heaven, to images, to relics, and to idols, real and phantom, as can be observed in how the concepts and practices of worship have evolved over the years.
[The Great Controversy pp 583] It is as easy to make an idol of false doctrines and theories as to fashion an idol of wood or stone. With many, a philosophical idol is enthroned in the place of Jehovah; while the living God, as He is revealed in His word, in Christ, and in the works of creation, is worshiped by but few.
Thousands deify nature while they deny the God of nature. Though in a different form, idolatry exists in the Christian world today as verily as it existed among ancient Israel in the days of Elijah. The God of many professedly wise men, of philosophers, poets, politicians, journalists—the God of polished fashionable circles, of many colleges and universities, even of some theological institutions—is little better than Baal, the sun-god of Phoenicia.
The place of worship has also been changed in our day, for when persons ask about the house of God, it is not clear what is being referred to. Let’s take for example the following passages: Psalms 122:1 I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Isaiah 56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer, for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Deuteronomy 12:13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt offerings in every place that you see.
14 But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt offerings, and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.
The time of worship has also been changed for it is an undisputed fact that the overwhelming majority of earth’s Christians now worship on the first day of the week, instead of the seventh day, as The Lord has ordained for time and for eternity. Let’s read:
Daniel 7: 25 And he shall speak great words against the Most-High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
Revelation 13: 4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
12 And he exercises all the power of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Revelation 14: 6 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,
7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, 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.
9 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,
10 The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation.
11 And the smoke of their torment ascends up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receives the mark of his name.
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors; and their works do follow them.
And last but not least is the change that has taken place with the ministers of worship, for just as the king made minsters and priests of the lowest of the people, just so, known pedophiles, and persons who are leading alternative lifestyles are now delivering the word from the pulpit.
2nd Corinthians 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Therefore, just as it was in the days of the southern and northern kingdoms, there are really only two remaining branches of Christianity today. There’s a southern kingdom, represented by those who have, and are supposed to be following the law of God.
The northern kingdom in our day is represented by apostate Christianity, who like Ahab, have forsaken the commandments of The Lord, and have instead instituted the laws of men. Thus, Elijah was sent to the northern kingdom, and not to the southern. To put it bluntly, the Elijah message in our day will be primarily heading north, not south! Let’s read:
1st Kings 18: 17 And it came to pass, when Ahab saw Elijah, that Ahab said unto him, Art thou he that troubles Israel?
18 And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the Lord, and thou hast followed Baalim.
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
36 And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God.
This brings us to the title of our Bible study today: “A Bit of Bad News” Those to whom Elijah is sent represent two main groups of people: [1] The woman of Zidon, who is a representative of those persons who are following God to the best of their ability, but do not have a distinct knowledge of God’s laws, and His truths. Let’s read:
1st Kings 17:24 And the woman said to Elijah, Now by this I know that thou art a man of God, and that the word of the Lord in thy mouth is truth.
[Prophets And Kings pp 129] This woman was not an Israelite. She had never had the privileges and blessings that the chosen people of God had enjoyed; but she was a believer in the true God and had walked in all the light that was shining on her pathway. And now, when there was no safety for Elijah in the land of Israel, God sent him to this woman to find an asylum in her home.
The Elijah message, which the remnant, Sabbath- keeping people of God claim to have, is not to be given primarily to the Southern kingdom; it is meant and intended primarily for the Northern kingdom, which means that the loud cry, which we read of in Revelation 14, is not primarily for SDA’s who should already have God’s law enshrined into their hearts and doctrines. It is Sunday-keeping Christians that the message is primarily intended for, to bring them back to the knowledge and obedience of God’s law.
Therefore, many of us who are now sitting on the fence, and who may be waiting for the loud cry to make a last-minute rush for the door, when the mark of the beast is instituted, might find out too late that the harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.
In fact, if we will receive it, by the time Revelation 14 swells to a loud cry, the probation of most of us would have already been closed, for as the scripture clearly states, judgment must begin at the house of God. In other words, it starts with those who know better and it ends with those who were in darkness. Let’s read:
1st Peter 4:17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begins at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
Ezekiel 9:3 And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side;
4 And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
5 And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite.
6 …But come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.
The “Ancient men” referenced in the previous verse are those who had a knowledge of God’s will, such as the elders, deacons, bishops, preachers and the teachers. Next in line came the congregation who had been instructed in the laws and principles of God’s kingdom, and who knew God’s will.
Therefore, to put it as plainly as possible, the Bible predicts a mass exodus of God’s people from the truth, just around the same time that the loud cry of Elijah’s message will begin to inundate the entire world. This is the bad news! It does not have to be that way, but the Bible predicts it will take place.
The riddle.
Numbers 14:31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which ye have despised.
Those of us who have been playing church for many years, could find ourselves destitute of The Holy Ghost, who alone is able to enable us to survive the time of the latte rain. Elijah survived on Mt Carmel because he was loaded, and those who will survive spiritual Mt Camel in our day must of necessity also be fully loaded. Let’s read:
Joel 2: 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month.
28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.
29 And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.
[L.D.E. pp 182] The broken ranks will be filled up by those represented by Christ as coming in at the eleventh hour. The time of God's destructive judgments is the time of mercy for those who now have no opportunity to learn what is truth. Tenderly will the Lord look upon them. His heart of mercy is touched, and His hand is still stretched out to save, while the door is closed to those who would not enter. Large numbers will be admitted who in these last days hear the truth for the first time.
{C.E.T pp 228} Standard after standard was left to trail in the dust, as company after company from the Lord's army joined the foe, and tribe after tribe from the ranks of the enemy united with the commandment-keeping people of God.
(C.E.T pp177) My attention was then turned to the company I had seen, who were mightily shaken. I was shown those whom I had before seen weeping and praying in agony of spirit. The company of guardian angels around them had been doubled, and they were clothed with an armor from their head to their feet. They moved in exact order, like a company of soldiers.
Joel 2:1 Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;
2 A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.
7 They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks.
11 And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?
[C.E.T pp 177] I heard those clothed with the armor speak forth the truth with great power. I asked what had made this great change. An angel answered, “It is the latter rain, the refreshing from the presence of the Lord, the loud cry of the third angel.”
Now is a time of deep soul-searching, a time above all others when we must, as the Bible instructs, work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, for God stands ready to work within us to will, and to do His good pleasure.
It does not have to be all bad news, for the gospel brings hope and present opportunity for all those who would shake off the shackles of materialism, sensualism, and all the other isms, and schisms that seek to inundate our minds, and cause us to focus on things which do not satisfy.
Let us therefore zip up our boots, and do that which has too long been neglected. Let all the families and individuals seek God earnestly each day for grace to help in time of need, so that we can live victoriously on a continuum.
Those things which consume valuable amounts of time, while our devotions to God, and the hour of prayer sit on the back burner, are to be routed to a subservient place on our totem poles, so that our relationship with God, which is what matters most, may not suffer violence and neglect because of our mixed-up priorities.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that should keep us in step, and in tune with the urgency of the moment, and may God help all of those who will take up the mantle of service and godliness in every area of our lives. Let’s read:
Romans 13:11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
God Bless!