Bible Insights

 Bible Insights

Signs, Symbols & Definitions

 

 

“I take the Bible just as it is, as the Inspired Word. I believe its utterances in an entire Bible…”

 

Selected Messages Book 1 pg 17.3

 

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

 Proverbs 25:2

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: 

Isaiah 28:9, 10

It is no light matter to substitute for God’s revealed will opinions and assertions, dreams, symbols, and figures, from human, finite beings. Our actions, words, spirit, and influence are watched and criticized. Those whom God has chosen to be His ministers are to settle solidly into His Word, and let the Word of God be their authority.

{Lt66-1894.24} – Ellen White

 

Last Revision: December 21, 2022

 

 

Selected Messages

If we would have the spirit and power of the third angel’s message, we must present the law and the gospel together, for they go hand in hand. As a power from beneath is stirring up the children of disobedience to make void the law of God, and to trample upon the truth that Christ is our righteousness, a power from above is moving upon the hearts of those who are loyal, to exalt the law, and to lift up Jesus as a complete Saviour. Unless divine power is brought into the experience of the people of God, false theories and ideas will take minds captive, Christ and His righteousness will be dropped out of the experience of many, and their faith will be without power or life. Ministers are to present Christ in His fulness both in the churches and in new fields, that the hearers may have an intelligent faith. The people must be instructed that Christ is unto them salvation and righteousness. It is Satan’s studied purpose to keep souls from believing in Christ as their only hope; for the blood of Christ that cleanseth from all sin is efficacious in behalf of those only who believe in its merit, and who present it before the Father as did Abel in his offering. {GW 161.3, 162.1}

The third angel’s message is the proclamation of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. The commandments of God have been proclaimed, but the faith of Jesus Christ has not been proclaimed by Seventh-day Adventists as of equal importance, the law and the gospel going hand in hand. I cannot find language to express this subject in its fullness. “The faith of Jesus.” It is talked of, but not understood. What constitutes the faith of Jesus, that belongs, to the third angel’s message? Jesus becoming our sin-bearer that He might become our sin-pardoning Saviour. He was treated as we deserve to be treated. He came to our world and took our sins that we might take His righteousness. Faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus. {1888 217.3-4}

Let every one who claims to believe that the Lord is soon coming, search the Scriptures as never before; for Satan is determined to try every device possible to keep souls in darkness, and blind the mind to the perils of the times in which we are living. Let every believer take up his Bible with earnest prayer, that he may be enlightened by the holy Spirit as to what is truth, that he may know more of God and of Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Search for the truth as for hidden treasures, and disappoint the enemy. The time of test is just upon us, for the loud cry of the third angel has already begun in the revelation of the righteousness of Christ, the sin-pardoning Redeemer. This is the beginning of the light of the angel whose glory shall fill the whole earth. For it is the work of every one to whom the message of warning has come, to lift up Jesus, to present him to the world as revealed in types, as shadowed in symbols, as manifested in the revelations of the prophets, as unveiled in the lessons given to his disciples and in the wonderful miracles wrought for the sons of men. Search the Scriptures; for they are they that testify of him. {1888 1073.7}

 

 

Jesus’ manner of teaching was beautiful and attractive, and it was ever characterized by simplicity. He unfolded the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven through the use of figures and symbols with which his hearers were familiar, and the common people heard him gladly; for they could comprehend his words. There were no high-sounding words used, to understand which it was necessary to consult a dictionary. He illustrated the glories of the kingdom of God by the use of the experiences and occurrences of earth. In compassionate love and tenderness he cheered and comforted and instructed all who heard him; for grace was poured upon his lips that he might convey to men in the most attractive way the treasures of truth. {CE 126.3}

Elder E. J. Waggoner had the privilege granted him of speaking plainly and presenting his views upon justification by faith and the righteousness of Christ in relation to the law. This was no new light, but it was old light placed where it should be in the third angel’s message…. What is the burden of that message? John sees a people. He says, “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12). This people John beholds just before he sees the Son of man “having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle” (Verse 14). The faith of Jesus has been overlooked and treated in an indifferent, careless manner. It has not occupied the prominent position in which it was revealed to John. Faith in Christ as the sinner’s only hope has been largely left out, not only of the discourses given but of the religious experience of very many who claim to believe the third angel’s message. {3SM 168.1-2}

I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, “Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.” {EW 118.1}

Everything in the universe calls upon those who know the truth to consecrate themselves unreservedly to the proclamation of the truth as it has been made known to them in the third angel’s message. That which we see and hear in the world calls us to our duty. The working of satanic agencies calls every Christian to stand in his lot and place. {Lt7-1904.21}

Camp-Meetings The means and talents that God has given His people must not be wasted in desultory effort. Decidedly and earnestly His work is to be carried forward. At our camp-meetings present truth is to be presented in clear lines. The third angel’s message is to find its place in the world. Daniel is to stand in his lot and place, bearing his message that the time of the end is near. {PUR November 6, 1902, par. 2}

…The third angel’s message must be strengthened and confirmed. The eighteenth chapter of Revelation reveals the importance of presenting the truth in no measured terms but with boldness and power…. There has been too much beating about the bush in the proclamation of the third angel’s message. The message has not been given as clearly and distinctly as it should have been.—Manuscript 16, 1900. {Ev 230.2}

The theme of greatest importance is the third angel’s message, embracing the messages of the first and second angels. All should understand the truths contained in these messages and demonstrate them in daily life, for this is essential to salvation. We shall have to study earnestly, prayerfully, in order to understand these grand truths; and our power to learn and comprehend will be taxed to the utmost.—Letter 97, 1902. {Ev 196.1}

Thus the message of the third angel will be proclaimed. As the time comes for it to be given with greatest power, the Lord will work through humble instruments, leading the minds of those who consecrate themselves to his service. The laborers will be qualified rather by the unction of his Spirit than by the training of literary institutions. Men of faith and prayer will be constrained to go forth with holy zeal, declaring the words which God gives them. The sins of Babylon will be laid open. The fearful results of enforcing the observances of the church by civil authority, the inroads of Spiritualism, the stealthy but rapid progress of the papal power,—all will be unmasked. By these solemn warnings the people will be stirred. Thousands upon thousands will listen who have never heard words like these. In amazement they hear the testimony that Babylon is the church, fallen because of her errors and sins, because of her rejection of the truth sent to her from Heaven… {GC88 606.2}

God’s purpose in giving the third angel’s message to the world is to prepare a people to stand true to Him during the investigative judgment. This is the purpose for which we establish and maintain our publishing houses, our schools, our sanitariums, hygienic restaurants, treatment rooms, and food factories. This is our purpose in carrying forward every line of work in the cause.—Manuscript 154, 1902, 4. (“Instruction to Men in Positions of Responsibility,” October 24, 1902.) {1MR 228.2}

God had committed to His people a work to be accomplished on earth. The third angel’s message was to be given, the minds of believers were to be directed to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ had entered to make atonement for His people. The Sabbath reform was to be carried forward. The breach in the law of God must be made up. The message must be proclaimed with a loud voice, that all the inhabitants of earth might receive the warning. The people of God must purify their souls through obedience to the truth, and be prepared to stand without fault before Him at His coming. Had Adventists, after the great disappointment in 1844, held fast their faith and followed on unitedly in the opening providence of God, receiving the message of the third angel and in the power of the Holy Spirit proclaiming it to the world, they would have seen the salvation of God, the Lord would have wrought mightily with their efforts, the work would have been completed, and Christ would have come ere this to receive His people to their reward. But in the period of doubt and uncertainty that followed the disappointment, many of the advent believers yielded their faith…. Thus the work was hindered, and the world was left in darkness. Had the whole Adventist body united upon the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, how widely different would have been our history! {Ev 695.2-3}

 

December 10, 1871, I was again shown that the health reform is one branch of the great work which is to fit a people for the coming of the Lord. It is as closely connected with the third angel’s message as the hand is with the body. The law of Ten Commandments has been lightly regarded by man, but the Lord would not come to punish the transgressors of that law without first sending them a message of warning. The third angel proclaims that message. Had men ever been obedient to the law of Ten Commandments, carrying out in their lives the principles of those precepts, the curse of disease now flooding the world would not be. {CCh 214.2}

I am instructed to say to health-reform educators, Go forward. The world needs every jot of the influence you can exert to press back the tide of moral woe. Let those who teach the third angel’s message stand true to their colors.—Testimonies For The Church 9:112, 113 (1909). {Ev 264.1}

The health reform, I was shown, is a part of the third angel’s message, and is just as closely connected with it as are the arm and hand with the human body. I saw that we as a people must make an advance move in this great work. Ministers and people must act in concert. God’s people are not prepared for the loud cry of the third angel. They have a work to do for themselves which they should not leave for God to do for them. He has left this work for them to do. It is an individual work; one cannot do it for another. “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Gluttony is the prevailing sin of this age. Lustful appetite makes slaves of men and women, and beclouds their intellects and stupefies their moral sensibilities to such a degree that the sacred, elevated truths of God’s word are not appreciated. The lower propensities have ruled men and women. In order to be fitted for translation, the people of God must know themselves. They must understand in regard to their own physical frames, that they may be able with the psalmist to exclaim, “I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” They should ever have the appetite in subjection to the moral and intellectual organs. The body should be servant to the mind, and not the mind to the body.—Testimonies for the Church 1:486, 487, 1867 {CD 32.2-33.1}

…The subject of health reform is a great subject, an important subject, and this missionary work is to be carried into the highways and byways of life. The third angel’s message is present truth for 1898, and the health question is as closely connected with that message as the arm is with the body. Therefore light must be given as to the best methods of introducing health reform. Meat is the greatest disease breeder that can be introduced into the human system. But you cannot teach health reform unless you present the most inexpensive methods of living. The enemy must have no advantage in any line. The Lord can only bless those who are keeping every precept He has given in relation to this life. {Ms105-1898.10}

The health reform is as closely related to the third angel’s message as the arm to the body, but the arm cannot take the place of the body. The proclamation of the third angel’s message, the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus, is the burden of our work. The message is to be proclaimed with a loud cry, and is to go to the whole world. The presentation of health principles must be united with this message, but must not be independent of it, or in any way take the place of it. “I was shown that the strong presentation of the health line of work is causing it to absorb more attention than should be given to any one branch… {Ms122-1899.57-58}

…To make plain natural law, and urge the obedience of it, is the work that accompanies the third angel’s message, to prepare a people for the coming of the Lord. {CD 69.2}

…The medical missionary work is to be connected with the work of the third angel’s message, as the hand is connected with the body; and the education of students in medical missionary lines is not complete unless they are trained to work in connection with the church and the ministry. {GCDB March 2, 1899, par. 31}

The message of the first angel and the message of the second angel had been sounded in the proclamation of the Advent message, and now the message of the third angel began to sound. Under this message the significance of the Seventh-day Sabbath began to dawn. {EW xx.1}

His influence as far is the Sabbath is concerned is the same as that of the Seventh-day Baptists. Separate the Sabbath from the message, and it loses its force and power, but the Sabbath connected with the message of the third angel and the testimony of Jesus—the whole taken together—cannot be overthrown. They have a power and force which affects and convicts the unbeliever and infidel and brings them out with some strength to stand and live and grow and flourish. {Ms3-1862.12}

This is the message given by God to be sounded forth in the loud cry of the third angel. The sign or seal of God is the observance of the seventh day Sabbath, the Lord’s memorial of His work of creation. “The Lord spake unto Moses saying, Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep; for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.” [Exodus 31:12, 13.] Here the Sabbath is clearly defined as a sign between God and His people. {Ms1-1897.15}

The third angel’s message is to be given with power. The power of the proclamation of the first and second messages is to be intensified in the third. In the Revelation John says of the heavenly messenger who unites with the third angel: “I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory. And he cried mightily with a strong voice.” Revelation 18:1, 2. We are in danger of giving the third angel’s message in so indefinite a manner that it does not impress the people… {PM 387.1}

As the ministration of Jesus closed in the holy place, and He passed into the holiest, and stood before the ark containing the law of God, He sent another mighty angel with a third message to the world. A parchment was placed in the angel’s hand, and as he descended to the earth in power and majesty, he proclaimed a fearful warning, with the most terrible threatening ever borne to man. This message was designed to put the children of God upon their guard, by showing them the hour of temptation and anguish that was before them. Said the angel, “They will be brought into close combat with the beast and his image. Their only hope of eternal life is to remain steadfast. Although their lives are at stake, they must hold fast the truth.” The third angel closes his message thus: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” As he repeated these words, he pointed to the heavenly sanctuary. The minds of all who embrace this message are directed to the most holy place, where Jesus stands before the ark, making His final intercession for all those for whom mercy still lingers and for those who have ignorantly broken the law of God. This atonement is made for the righteous dead as well as for the righteous living. It includes all who died trusting in Christ, but who, not having received the light upon God’s commandments, had sinned ignorantly in transgressing its precepts. {EW 254.1}

Many who embraced the third message had not had an experience in the two former messages. Satan understood this, and his evil eye was upon them to overthrow them; but the third angel was pointing them to the most holy place, and those who had had an experience in the past messages were pointing them the way to the heavenly sanctuary. Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels’ messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary. These messages were represented to me as an anchor to the people of God. Those who understand and receive them will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan. {EW 256.2}

The faith of Jesus and the testimony of Jesus are blended. They are to be clearly presented to the world. But in God’s Word we are shown the consequence of proclaiming this message. “The dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” [Revelation 12:17.] A refusal to obey the commandments of God, and a determination to cherish hatred against those who proclaim these commandments leads to the most determined war on the part of the dragon, whose whole energies are brought to bear against the commandment-keeping people of God… {Ms1-1897.17}

It was Christ that spoke to His people through the prophets. The apostle Peter, writing to the Christian church, says that the prophets “prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.” 1 Peter 1:10, 11. It is the voice of Christ that speaks to us through the Old Testament. “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10. {PP 366.3}{TM 114.1}

 

 

 

The law of God and the Spirit of Prophecy go hand in hand to guide and counsel the church, and whenever the church has recognized this by obeying His law, the spirit of prophecy has been sent to guide her in the way of truth. Revelation 12:17. “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” This prophecy points out clearly that the remnant church will acknowledge God in His law and will have the prophetic gift. Obedience to the law of God, and the spirit of prophecy has always distinguished the true people of God, and the test is usually given on present manifestations. {LLM 33.4-5}

Sabbath, March 24th, 1849, we had a sweet, and very interesting meeting with the Brethren at Topsham, Me. The Holy Ghost was poured out upon us, and I was taken off in the Spirit to the City of the living God. There I was shown that the commandments of God, and the testimony of Jesus Christ, relating to the shut door, could not be separated, and that the time for the commandments of God to shine out, with all their importance, and for God’s people to be tried on the Sabbath truth, was when the door was opened in the Most Holy Place of the Heavenly Sanctuary, where the Ark is, containing the ten commandments. This door was not opened, until the mediation of Jesus was finished in the Holy Place of the Sanctuary in 1844. Then, Jesus rose up, and shut the door in the Holy Place, and opened the door in the Most Holy, and passed within the second vail, where he now stands by the Ark; and where the faith of Israel now reaches. I saw that Jesus had shut the door in the Holy Place, and no man can open it; and that he had opened the door in the Most Holy, and no man can shut it (See Revelation 3:7, 8.): and that since Jesus has opened the door in the Most Holy Place, which contains the Ark, the commandments have been shining out to God’s people, and they are being tested on the Sabbath question. {PT August 1, 1849, par. 2-3}

Our work is to proclaim the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. “Prepare to meet thy God” [Amos 4:12], is the warning given to the world. It is a warning to us individually. We are called upon to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us….{17MR 23.2}

…The third angel’s message must be proclaimed as present truth, the facts concerning the Lord’s Sabbath must be made known. It must be shown that the seventh-day Sabbath is the Lord’s memorial of creation. We went to every place in which we could find an opening, presenting the Scripture evidences for the observance of the Lord’s Sabbath. This truth has always been made prominent in our teachings. {Lt38-1906.8}

The third angel’s message calls for the presentation of the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and this truth must be brought before the world; but the great Center of attraction, Jesus Christ, must not be left out of the third angel’s message. By many who have been engaged in the work for this time, Christ has been made secondary, and theories and arguments have had the first place. The glory of God that was revealed to Moses in regard to the divine character has not been made prominent… [QUOTES FROM Exodus 33:19; 34:6, 7.] {Ms84-1894.1}

It is the third angel’s message that bears the true test to the people. Satan will lead men to manufacture false tests, and thus seek to obscure the value of, and make of none effect, the message of truth. The commandment of God that has been almost universally made void, is the testing truth for this time. The Sabbath of Jehovah is to be brought to the attention of the world, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear. The word of the Lord, by the prophet Isaiah, declares to the men of this time, “Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the Sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.” The Lord has said that the Sabbath was a sign between him and his people forever. The time is coming when all those who worship God will be distinguished by this sign. They will be known as the servants of God, by this mark of their allegiance to Heaven. But all man-made tests will divert the mind from the great and important doctrines that constitute the present truth. {RH May 29, 1888, par. 5}

…Time has not been a test since 1844, and it will never again be a test. {EW 74.2}

Several have written to me, inquiring if the message of justification by faith is the third angel’s message, and I have answered, “It is the third angel’s message, in verity.”—The Review and Herald, April 1, 1890. {1SM 372.2}

The Lord in His great mercy sent a most precious message to His people through Elders Waggoner and Jones. [See Appendix.] This message was to bring more prominently before the world the uplifted Saviour, the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. It presented justification through faith in the Surety; it invited the people to receive the righteousness of Christ, which is made manifest in obedience to all the commandments of God. Many had lost sight of Jesus. They needed to have their eyes directed to His divine person, His merits, and His changeless love for the human family. All power is given into His hands, that He may dispense rich gifts unto men, imparting the priceless gift of His own righteousness to the helpless human agent. This is the message that God commanded to be given to the world. It is the third angel’s message, which is to be proclaimed with a loud voice, and attended with the outpouring of His Spirit in a large measure. {TM 91.2}

…The message of Christ’s righteousness is to sound from one end of the earth to the other to prepare the way of the Lord. This is the glory of God, which closes the work of the third angel. {6T 19.1}

This Scripture represents the character of the people of God for these last days. The everlasting gospel is to be preached, and it is to be practiced in true missionary work carried forward not after the wisdom that men may devise, but after the wisdom of God. All who walk in safe paths are to understand that the third angel’s message is of consequence to the whole world and must be carried to the world in clear, straight lines, and in its distinctive features, as Christ revealed it to John. {Ms139-1903.8}

 

“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people. Saying with a loud voice, Fear 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. “And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his work in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: and the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever; and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name. Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” [Verses 6-12.] This is the message we have to bear; this is the work we have to do. This is the message God has kept before the Seventh-day Adventist people. The truth of this message will not decrease, but will increase in force and importance as we are brought down to the close of the work of God on earth. We have no time to lose. {Ms139-1903.9-10}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How to Study the Bible

 

When Luther was accused of preaching novelties, he declared: “These are not novelties that I preach. But I affirm that the doctrines of Christianity have been lost sight of by those whose special duty it was to preserve them; by the learned, by the bishops. I doubt not indeed that the truth has still found an abode in some few hearts.” “Poor husbandmen and simple children in these days understand more of Jesus Christ than the pope, the bishops, or the doctors.” When Wm. Miller was charged with showing contempt for the doctors of divinity, he pointed to the word of God as the standard by which all doctrines and theories must be tested; and, knowing that he had truth on his side, he went forward in his work undismayed. In every age, God has called his servants to lift up their voices against the prevailing errors and sins of the multitude. Noah was called to stand alone to warn the antediluvian world. Moses and Aaron were alone against king and princes, magicians and wise men, and the multitudes of Egypt. Elijah was alone when he testified against an apostate king and a backsliding people. Daniel and his fellows stood alone against the decrees of mighty monarchs. The majority are usually to be found on the side of error and falsehood. The fact that doctors of divinity have the world on their side does not prove them to be on the side of truth and of God. The wide gate and the broad road attract the multitudes, while the strait gate and the narrow way are sought only by the few. {4SP 213.2-214.1}

 

Those who are engaged in proclaiming the third angel’s message are searching the Scriptures upon the same plan that Father Miller adopted. In the little book entitled “Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology,” Father Miller gives the following simple but intelligent and important rules for Bible study and interpretation: {RH November 25, 1884, par. 23}

 

1. 1. Every word must have its proper bearing on the subject presented in the Bible;

• Mat 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

 

2. 2. All Scripture is necessary, and may be understood by diligent application and study;

• 2 Tim 3:15-17

 

3. 3. Nothing revealed in Scripture can or will be hid from those who ask in faith, not wavering;

• 29:29. Matt.10:26,27. 1Cor.2:10. Phil.3:15. Isa.14:11. Matt.21:22. John 14:13,14; 15:7. James 1:5,6. 1John 5:13,14,15.

 

4. 4. To understand doctrine, bring all the scriptures together on the subject you wish to know, then let every word have its proper influence; and if you can form your theory without a contradiction, you cannot be in error;

• 28:7-29; 35:8. Prov.19:27. Luke 24:27,44,45. Rom.16:26. James 5:19. 2Pet.1:19,29.

 

 

 

5. 5. Scripture must be its own expositor, since it is a rule of itself. If I depend on a teacher to expound to me, and he should guess at its meaning, or desire to have it so on account of his sectarian creed, or to be thought wise, then his guessing, desire, creed, or wisdom is my rule, and not the Bible.”

• 19:7,8,9,10,11; 119:97,98,99,100,101,102,103,104,105. Matt.23:8,9,10. 1Cor.2:12,13,14,15,16. Eze.34:18,19. Luke 11: 52. Mal.2:7,8.

 

The above is a portion of these rules; and in our study of the Bible we shall all do well to heed the principles set forth. {RH November 25, 1884, par. 24-25}

 

Note: Ellen White, the prophetess, endorses William Miller’s Bible study rules in the book “Views of the Prophecies and Prophetic Chronology”. There are nine more rules found in his book which include the Scripture proofs for the rules. Please read the following rules.

 

6. God has revealed things to come, by visions, in figures and parables, and in this way the same things are often time revealed again and again, by different visions, or in different figures, and parables. If you wish to understand them, you must combine them all in one.

• 89:19. Hos.12:10. Hab.2:2. Acts 2:17. 1Cor.10:6. Heb.9:9,24. Ps.78:2. Matt.13:13,34. Gen.41:1-32. Dan.2,7. and 8. Acts 10:9-16.

 

7. Visions are always mentioned as such.

• 2Co 12:1  It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
• Gen 15:1, Dan 2:19; 7:2; 8:1

 

8. Figures always have a figurative meaning, and are used much in prophecy, to represent future things, times and events…

• 2:35,44. 7:8,17. Rev.17:1,15. Ps.119:105. Ezek.4:6.

 

9. Parables are used as comparisons to illustrate subjects, and must be explained in the same way as figures by the subject and Bible.

• Mark 4:13  And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?

 

10. Figures sometimes have two or more different significations, as day is used in a figurative sense to represent three different periods of time. If you put on the right construction it will harmonize with the Bible and make good sense, otherwise it will not.

• Day can involve indefinite or definite time or one day can equal 1000 years. (Ecc 7:14, Eze 4:6, 2 Peter 3:8)

 

11. How to know when a word is used figuratively. If it makes good sense as it stands, and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, then it must be understood literally, if not, figuratively.

• Revelation 12:1,2; 17:3-7

12. To learn the true meaning of figures, trace your figurative word through your Bible, and where you find it explained, put it on your figure, and if it makes good sense you need look no further, if not, look again. (No principle proof given from Bible)

 

13. 13. To know whether we have the true historical event for the fulfilment of a prophecy. If you find every word of the prophecy (after the figures are understood) is literally fulfilled, then you may know that your history is the true event. But if one word lacks a fulfilment, then you must look for another event, or wait its future development. For God takes care that history and prophecy doth agree, so that the true believing children of God may never be ashamed.

• 22:5. Isa.45:17,18,19. 1Pet.2:6. Rev.17:17. Acts 3:18.

 

14. The most important rule of all is, that you must have faith. It must be a faith that requires a sacrifice, and, if tried, would give up the dearest object on earth, the world and all its desires, character, living, occupation, friends, home, comforts, and worldly honors. If any of these should hinder our believing any part of God’s word, it would show our faith to be vain. Nor can we ever believe so long as one of these motives lies lurking in our hearts. (No principle proof given, but he gives an explanation from pages 20 to 21.

 

Note: Every rule should be well studied, in connexion with the scripture references, if the Bible student would be at all benefited by them.

 

More from the Spirit of Prophecy:

 

As our physical life is sustained by food, so our spiritual life is sustained by the word of God. And every soul is to receive life from God’s word for himself. As we must eat for ourselves in order to receive nourishment, so we must receive the word for ourselves. We are not to obtain it merely through the medium of another’s mind. We should carefully study the Bible, asking God for the aid of the Holy Spirit, that we may understand His word. We should take one verse, and concentrate the mind on the task of ascertaining the thought which God has put in that verse for us. We should dwell upon the thought until it becomes our own, and we know “what saith the Lord.” {DA 390.4}

 

In His promises and warnings, Jesus means me. God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that I by believing in Him, might not perish, but have everlasting life. The experiences related in God’s word are to be my experiences. Prayer and promise, precept and warning, are mine. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20. As faith thus receives and assimilates the principles of truth, they become a part of the being and the motive power of the life. The word of God, received into the soul, molds the thoughts, and enters into the development of character. {DA 390.5}

 

 

 

God will communicate by His own Spirit with the soul. Pray as you study, “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law,” Psalm 119:18. When the teacher will rely upon God in prayer, the Spirit of Christ will come upon him, and God will work through him by the Holy Spirit upon the mind of the student. The Holy Spirit fills mind and heart with hope and courage and Bible imagery, which will be communicated to the student. The words of truth will grow in importance, and will assume a breadth and fullness of meaning of which he has never dreamed. The beauty and virtue of the word of God have a transforming influence upon mind and character; the sparks of heavenly love will fall upon the hearts of the children as an inspiration. We may bring hundreds and thousands of children to Christ if we will work for them.332 {CCh 205.3}

 

…The infinite love and mercy of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, calls for the most serious and solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the character of our dear Redeemer and Intercessor. We should meditate upon the mission of him who came to save his people from their sins. As we thus contemplate heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow stronger, and our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence in Jesus, and a daily, living experience in his power to save to the utmost all that come unto God by him. {CE 57.2}

 

 

Guideline Principles for Studying Prophecy

 

There are two general types of prophetic writings: nonapocalyptic prophecy as found in

Isaiah and Jeremiah, and apocalyptic prophecy as found in Daniel and the Revelation.

These differing types have different characteristics:

 

(a) Nonapocalyptic prophecy addresses God’s people; apocalyptic is more universal in

scope.

 

(b) Nonapocalyptic prophecy often is conditional in nature, setting forth to God’s people the alternatives of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience; apocalyptic emphasizes the sovereignty of God and His control over history.

 

(c) Nonapocalyptic prophecy often leaps from the local crisis to the end-time day of the

Lord; apocalyptic prophecy presents the course of history from the time of the prophet to the end of the world.

 

(d) Time prophecies in nonapocalyptic prophecy generally are long, for example, 400

years of Israel’s servitude (Gen. 15:13) and 70 years of Babylonian captivity (Jer. 25:12). Time prophecies in apocalyptic prophecy generally are phrased in short terms, for example, 10 days (Rev. 2:10) or 42 months (Rev. 13:5). Apocalyptic time periods stand symbolically for longer periods of actual time.

 

Apocalyptic prophecy is highly symbolic and should be interpreted accordingly. In

interpreting symbols, the following methods may be used:

 

(a) Look for interpretations (explicit or implicit) within the passage itself (for example,

Dan. 8:20, 21; Rev. 1:20).

 

(b) Look for interpretations elsewhere in the book or in other writings by the same

author.

 

(c) Using a concordance, study the use of symbols in other parts of Scripture.

 

(d) A study of ancient Near Eastern documents may throw light on the meaning of

symbols, although scriptural use may alter those meanings.

 

The literary structure of a book often is an aid to interpreting it. The parallel nature of

Daniel’s prophecies is an example.

 

“New and Old Testaments are not understood by finite minds as they will be. The Bible is a progressive book; the communication of intelligence grows with the opening of God’s Word to the understanding.” – {Ms16-1889.9} – Ellen White

 

 

 

 

 

Powerful Types of Parallelism

 

Synonymous Parallelism: The first half of a verse will make a statement, and the second half will essentially say the same thing in different words.

 

Psa 19:8  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

 

Psa 24:3  Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

 

Synthetic Parallelism: Related thoughts are brought together to emphasize similarities, contrasts, or other correlations. The 2^nd line will add more to the first.

 

Psa 24:4  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

Psa 24:5  He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

 

Antithetic Parallelism: The second line is the opposite of the idea in the first line.

 

Psa 1:6  For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

 

Psa 73:26  My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

 

Emphatic Parallelism: Repetition used for emphasis. (think of ‘verily, verily’)

 

Deu 6:5  And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

 

Climactic Parallelism: Part of one line, either a word or phrase, is repeated in the second and other following lines, until a theme is developed culminating in a main idea or statement. The idea is built up and reaches the bottom line statement.

 

Hab 3:17  Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

Hab 3:18  Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Understanding Figures of Speech

 

Simile: The likening of one thing to another (usually translated using the English words “like” or “as”.

 

Psa 90:4  For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.

 

Mat 23:27  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward …

 

Metaphor: An implied comparison between two objects without the use of “like” or “as”.

 

Psa 3:3  But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.

 

Mat 5:13  Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted?…

 

Hyperbole: An exaggeration to make or reinforce a point.

 

Mat 5:29  And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

 

Luk 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

 

Hendiadys: The combination of two or three things to express the same meaning.

 

Tit 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

Irony: Stating one thing while meaning the exact opposite.(8) When used to taunt and ridicule irony is called sarcasm.

 

Jdg 10:14  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation. (IDOLS CAN’T SAVE PEOPLE-Isaiah 46:1-2)

 

Mat 27:29  And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! (soldiers said this sarcastically…yet Jesus is King of kings)

 

Euphemism: The substitution of a cultured or less offensive term for a harsh one.

 

Gen 4:1  And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain… (SEX)

 

Gen 15:15  And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age. (DEATH)

 

 

 

Types of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament

 

• Adam
  Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:45
• Abel
  Genesis 4:8Genesis 4:10 ; Hebrews 12:24
• Abraham
  Genesis 17:5; Ephesians 3:15
• Aaron
  Exodus 28:1; Hebrews 5:4 Hebrews 5:5 ; Leviticus 16:15 ; Hebrews 9:7 Hebrews 9:24
• Ark
  Genesis 7:16; 1 Peter 3:20 1 Peter 3:21
• Ark of the Covenant
  Exodus 25:16; Psalms 40:8 ; Isaiah 42:6
• Atonement, sacrifices offered on the day of
  Leviticus 16:15Leviticus 16:16 ; Hebrews 9:12 Hebrews 9:24
• Brazen serpent
  Numbers 21:9; John 3:14 John 3:15
• Brazen altar
  Exodus 27:1Exodus 27:2 ; Hebrews 13:10
• Burnt offering
  Leviticus 1:2Leviticus 1:4 ; Hebrews 10:10
• Cities of refuge
  Numbers 35:6; Hebrews 6:18
• David
  2 Samuel 8:15; Ezekiel 37:24 ; Psalms 89:19 Psalms 89:20 ; Philippians 2:9
• Eliakim
  Isaiah 22:20-22; Revelation 3:7
• First-fruits
  Exodus 22:29; 1 Corinthians 15:20
• Golden candlestick
  Exodus 25:31; John 8:12
• Golden altar
  Exodus 40:5Exodus 40:26 Exodus 40:27 ; Revelation 8:3 ; Hebrews 13:15
• Isaac
  Genesis 22:1Genesis 22:2 ; Hebrews 11:17-19
• Jacob
  Genesis 32:28; John 11:42 ; Hebrews 7:25
• Jacobs ladder
  Genesis 28:12; John 1:51
• Joseph
  Genesis 50:19Genesis 50:20
• Joshua
  Joshua 1:5Joshua 1:6 ; Hebrews 4:8 Hebrews 4:9 ; Joshua 11:23 ; Acts 20:32
• Jonah
  Jonah 1:17; Matthew 12:40
• Laver of brass
  Exodus 30:18-20; Zechariah 13:1 ; Ephesians 5:26 Ephesians 5:27
• Lepers offering
  Leviticus 14:4-7; Romans 4:25
• Man
  Exodus 16:11-15; John 6:32-35
• Melchizedek
  Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 7:1-17
• Mercy-seat
  Exodus 25:17-22; Romans 3:25 ; Hebrews 4:16
• Morning and evening sacrifices
  Exodus 29:38-41; John 1:29 John 1:36
• Moses
  Numbers 12:7; Hebrews 3:2 ; Deuteronomy 18:15 ; Acts 3:20-22
• Noah
  Genesis 5:29; 2 Corinthians 1:5
• Paschal lamb
  Exodus 12:3-6Exodus 12:46 ; John 19:36 ; 1 Corinthians 5:7
• Peace offerings
  Leviticus 3:1; Ephesians 2:14 Ephesians 2:16
• Red heifer
  Numbers 19:2-6; Hebrews 9:13 Hebrews 9:14
• Rock of Horeb
  Exodus 17:6; 1 Corinthians 10:4
• Samson
  Judges 16:30; Colossians 2:14 Colossians 2:15
• Scape goat
  Leviticus 16:20-22; Isaiah 53:6 Isaiah 53:12
• Sin offering
  Leviticus 4:2Leviticus 4:3 Leviticus 4:12 ; Hebrews 13:11 Hebrews 13:12
• Solomon
  2 Samuel 7:122 Samuel 7:13 ; Luke 1:32 Luke 1:33 ; 1 Peter 2:5
• Tabernacle
  Exodus 40:2Exodus 40:34 ; Hebrews 9:11 ; Colossians 2:9
• Table and show bread
  Exodus 25:23-30; John 1:16 ; 6:48
• Temple
  1 Kings 6:11 Kings 6:38 ; John 2:19 John 2:21
• Tree of life
  Genesis 2:9; John 1:4 ; Revelation 22:2 ; Matthew 10:1
• Trespass offering
  Leviticus 6:1-7; Isaiah 53:10
• Vail of the tabernacle and temple
  Exodus 40:21; 2 Chronicles 3:14 ; Hebrews 10:20
• Zerubbabel
  Zechariah 4:7-9; Hebrews 12:2 Hebrews 12:3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bible Insights

 

ONE (God, unity)

• God is one LORD or Lord (Deut 6:4, Mark 12:29, 32, 1 Cor 8:4, Gal 3:20)
• There is none good but one, that is, God. (Matt 19:17, Mark 10:18,Luk18:19)
• One God shall justify the circumcision by faith and uncircumcision through faith (Rom 3:30)
• One God and one mediator between God and men (1Tim 2:5)
• The people of God should lift their voice to God with one accord (Act 4:24)

 

TWO (witness, certainty)

• Two or three witnesses to testify (Deut 17:6, Deut 19:15, Matt 18:16, 2Cor 13:1, 1Tim 5:19, Heb 10:28) *two are better than one (Ecc 4:9-11)*
• God’s two witnesses (OT + NT) prophesy 1260 years (Rev 11:3)
• Two false witnesses came forward in Christ’s trial (Matt 26:60)
• A dream was given to Pharaoh twice to demonstrate that the events foretold would definitely take place (Gen 41:32)
• Witness of men and the witness of God. The witness of God is greater. (1John 5:9)
• Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)

 

THREE (strength, heavenly power, Godhead)

• Threefold cord is not quickly broken (Ecc 4:12)
• Three that bear witness in earth which are the Spirit, water and the blood. These three agree in one (1 John 5:8)
• To be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost (Matt 28:19)

 

FOUR (totality, the whole world, restoration)

• Four corners of earth (Isa 11:12) (Rev 7:1) *N,S,E,W*
• Four corners of the land (Eze 7:2) [see land]
• Four corners of a great sheet knit at the four corners (Act 10:11; 11:5)
• Four corners of the house (Job 1:19) [see house]
• Four corners of the court (Eze 46:22)
• Four corners of the settle (Eze 43:20; 45:19)
• Restoration (Ex 22:1, 2 Sam 12:6, Luke 19:8)

 

FIVE (JC, Bible truth, divide) [see bread]

• Loaves of bread (1Sam 21:3, Matt 14:17, 19, 16:9, Mark 6:38, Luke 9:13)
• Barley loaves (John 6:9,13)
• Five types of offerings: trespass, sin, peace, meat, burnt (Lev 7:37)
• Five wise and five foolish virgins (Matt 25:1-5)
• Complete victory (2King 13:15-19)

 

SIX (# of man)

• God created Adam and Eve on the sixth day of creation week (Gen 1:27-31)
• The number of the beast is the number of a man – 666 (Rev 13:17-18)
• Complete victory (2King 13:15-19)

SEVEN (perfect whole, perfection, completeness)

• (perfect whole. – Lt110-1902.10, perfection – COL 243.1, completeness – AA 585.3)
• Seventh day Sabbath (Gen 2:2) *marks the finished work of creation*
• Seven churches, seven spirits, seven stars, seven lamps (Rev 1:4, 3:1, 4:5)
• Seven evil spirits or devils in Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9, Luke 8:2, 11:26)
• Unity is the sure result of Christian perfection. {RH April 26, 1881, par. 12}
• God will not cast away a perfect man and He will not help an evildoer (Job 8:20)

 

EIGHT (change of heart, resurrection, newness)

• Circumcision (Lev 12:3, Luk 1:59, Php 3:5) [see circumcision]
• Resurrection {RH July 7, 1896, par. 2}
• Newness of life (Rom 6:4)
• The eight in the Review represented new material. In the Signs some were new materials entirely; a few were reprints of Review or earlier Signs articles…{3BIO 150.2}

 

NINE (longevity, majority)

• Early humans lived upwards of 900 years (Gen 5 and 9)
• 99 sheep, 99 just persons, majority (Luke 15:4,7)
  • Majority don’t show gratitude (Luk 17:17)

 

TEN (judgment, tribulation / testing)

• Judged by the standard of 10 Commandments (Jam 2:9-12)
• 10 virgins *represents church of judgment* (Matt 25)
  • Judgment begins at the house of God (1 Pet 4:17)
• 10 plagues fell on Egypt as a judgment from God (Ex 7-11)
• 10 days tried in prison in undergoing personal tribulation (Rev 2:10)
• 10 horns are one great confederacy of Satan’s forces which support the papacy. All the corrupt powers that have apostatized from allegiance to the law of Jehovah. The Sabbath will be the great issue. (Rev 17:12-14) {Ms24-1891.15-17}

 

ELEVEN (God’s people after trial)

• Joseph’s dream of 11 stars making obeisance to him (Gen 37:9-11)
• Eleven disciples left after Judas’ betrayal and suicide (Matt 28:16)
• Tabernacle curtains (Ex 26:7-8, 36:14, 15)

 

TWELVE (God’s people before trial, JC’s body of believers and leadership)

• Sons of Jacob were twelve (Gen 35:22)
• 12 tribes of Israel (Gen 49:28) and 12 princes of Israel (Numb 1:44)
  • Dedication of the altar included twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls and twelve spoons of gold (Num 7:84)
• Solomon had 12 officers over all Israel (1King 4:7)
• Jesus had 12 disciples (Matt 10:1; 11:1, 20:17, Luke 6:13, 9:1)
• Matthias chosen to replace Judas (Act 1:26)

TWENTY (a turning)

• A turning – when the next generation is born or signifying a change to come
  • Num 1:22,24; Ex 30:14; Num 26:65; 32:11-13)
• Ezekiel turned four times. On the fourth turning, he saw Jewish religious leaders worshipping the sun. (Eze 8:1-16)
  • Lord visits iniquity on the fourth generation (Gen 15:16, Ex 20:5, 34:7, Num 14:18, Deut 5:9, 2 Kings 10:30, 15:12)

 

THIRTY (divinity or authority or strength or betrayal)

• Jesus was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (Zech 11:12-13, Matt 26:15, 27:3, 9)
• Jesus was about thirty years old when He began ministry (Luke 3:23)
• The disciples rowed about thirty furlongs (John 6:19)
• Ebedmelech the Ethiopian brought 30 people to rescue Jeremiah (Jere 38:10)
• Jair the judge had thirty sons, thirty colts and thirty cities (Judg 10:3-4)
• Ibzan had 30 sons and 30 daughters (Judg 12:8,9)
• Abdon had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on 70 ass colts (Judg 12:13-14)
• thirty sheets and thirty change of garments (Judg 14:12)
• thirty men killed (Jugd 14:19)
• David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. (2Sam 5:4)
• In 2 Samuel 23, there is a group of thirty men who were special fighters. The group sometimes numbered more than thirty men.
• Solomon’s provision for one day was thirty measures of fine flour (1 King 4:22)

 

FORTY (generation or testing time)

• A generation (Psa 95:10; Num 32:13; Heb 3:8-10; Acts 13:36)
  • Lord visits iniquity on the fourth generation (Gen 15:16, Ex 20:5, 34:7, Num 14:18, Deut 5:9, 2 Kings 10:30, 15:12, Deut 25:3)
• A testing time (Num 14:33,34; Deut 8:2, Mark 1:13)
  • God sustains us through the testing time (Deut 8:4; 29:5)
  • God was angry with those who had sinned in the wilderness experience (Heb 3:17)
• Land had rest 40 years (Judg 3:11; 5:31; Eze 29:11)
• David reigned for 40 years (2Sam 5:4)

 

SEVENTY (lifespan or captivity to Christ or Satan)

• The days of our years are seventy and add ten if we are strong (Psa 90:10)
• Seventy elders received God’s spirit (Num 11:25)
• Jesus appointed seventy evangelists who went out to work in pairs and had the power of God (Luke 10:1,17)
  • Guarded by the power of God through faith (1 Pet 1:5)
• Seventy men of the ancients of the house of Israel (Eze 8:11)
• Gideon has seventy sons (Judg 8:30)
• Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria (2 King 10:1)
• Lifespan of a king considered to be 70 years (Isa 23:15)
  • The days allotted to the one king or kingdom, are seventy years; Tyre, with the rest of the conquered nations, shall continue in a state of subjection and desolation to the end of that period. (Isa 23:15)
• Abimelech received seventy pieces of silver (70 brothers who he betrayed) out of the house of Baalberith and he hired foolish people which followed him (Judg 9:4-5)
• Could represent captivity like being under the control of Babylon (Jere 25:11; Dan 9:2, 24; Zech 7:5)
• Seventy years. “Forty years” and “seventy years” are the chief representatives in Scripture of an indefinite time. The week of creation seems to have given to seven its quasi-sacred character, which passed from the primary number to the corresponding decimal one. The sacred use of “seventy” appears first in the “seventy elders” who accompanied Moses to the covenant-feast on Sinai (Exo_24:9). After this, “seventy ’talents are mentioned as the weight of the bronze offerings for the tabernacle (Exo_38:29), and “seventy” shekels as the weight of the silver bowls offered by the heads of tribes when the tabernacle was set up (Num_7:13-85). The “indefinite” use, of “seventy” is most apparent in such expressions as that of Gen_4:24, “If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, surely Lamech seventy and sevenfold;” and that of Mat_18:22, “I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” “Seventy” seems also to be indefinite in Exo_15:27; Num_33:9; Jdg_1:7; Jdg_12:13; 2Sa_24:15; 1Ki_5:15 : 1Ch_21:14, etc.

 

EIGHTY (blessed lifespan)

• A human lifespan after sin *70 + 10* (Psa 90:10)
  • Some people live longer or shorter – as a general figure 80 years of life can be expected
• There are four seasons and a time for everything (Ecc 3:1-12)
  • A human lifecyle goes through four periods of 20 years each
    • Spring 0-20; Summer 20-40; Fall 40-60; Winter 60-80
    • birth, prime of life, degeneration/preparation, end of life/death

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12 STARS

• work of 12 disciples which crowned early years of NT church
  • (Luke 6:13, Deut 10:22, Dan 12:3)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 3:13-15: Jesus ordained twelve disciples to preach, heal and cast out devils

 

24 ELDERS

• The saints who arose from their graves at Christ’s resurrection
  • Matt 27:52, 53, Eph 4:8 *first fruits*

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 5:6-8: Jesus is in the midst of the elders and they worship Him (John 1:29, 36)

 

3 ANGELS

• people of God who carry the banner of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus
  • {2SM 387.1, GC312.1, 2MR270.3}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 14:6: The first angel’s message shares the everlasting gospel. It is Christ’s gospel (2 Cor 2:12) and He is with His messengers even to the end of the world (Matt 28:19,20)

 

4 BEASTS of Rev 4:7

• 4 phases of Christ’s Ministry
  • [see face of a lion, calf/ox, man, flying eagle]

 

4 CARPENTERS

• four carpenters are four leaders who overcame the four horns (Zech 1:20,21)
  • compared to the 4 chariots in Zech 6:1-3, 6:6,7
  • 1^st. Nabopolassar, 2^nd Cyrus, 3^rd Alexander the Great and 4^th Ptolemy
  • These four agencies were used by the Lord in restoring His people and the house of His worship (PK 581.1)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 6:3: Jesus was a carpenter, a son of a carpenter. Jesus is our Leader and the Captain of our salvation (Isa 55:4, Heb 2:10)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 BRANCH CANDLESTICK

• God’s church (Rev 1:20, Ex 25:32, John 15:4,5)
• Candlewick going out is as extinction/total death (Isa 43:17; Job 17:1)
• The strong shall be as tow (candlewick), and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. (Isa 1:31)
  • Tow – the coarse or broken part of flax, or hemp. It means here that which shall be easily and quickly kindled and rapidly consumed. As tow burns and is destroyed at the touch of fire, so shall the rulers of the people be consumed by the approaching calamities.

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 8:12; 9:5; 1:9; 15:4,5: Jesus is the light and central branch

 

 

JESUS IS THE GREAT NUMBERER

~ Gen. 40:8; 41:15-16; Deut. 29:29; Dan. 2:19-23, 26-28 ~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABIDE

• dwell (Psalm 15:1)
• Christ’s words are to abide in us (John 15:7)
  • the word of Christ is to dwell in us richly in all wisdom (Col 3:16)
  • teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord
• If we keep the commandments, we shall abide in Christ’s love (John 15:10)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 15:4-7: We are to abide in Jesus. When we abide in Jesus, we get what we ask.

 

ABOMINATION

• Egyptians view shepherds as abominations (Gen 46:34)
• Unclean animals (Lev 11)
• Sexual perversions like having sex during a woman’s menstruation, adultery, incest, homosexuality and bestiality (Lev 18, 20)
• Idols and idolatry (Deut 7:25,26, 27:15, 32:16)
• Sorcery and necromancy (Deut 18:10, 11)
• The hire of a whore and price of a dog as a consecrated gift (Deut 23:18)
• Cross dressing (Deut 22:5)
• All that do unrighteousness (Deut 25:16)
• Forwardness (Prov 3:32, 11:20)
• False balance (Prov 11:1) (Prov 20:10, 23)
• Lying (Prov 12:22)
• Prayers of the wicked (Prov 15:8)
  • When the person has turned away from the law of God (Prov 28:9)
  • Need pure prayers (Job 16:17)
• The way of the wicked (Prov 15:9)
• Thoughts of the wicked (Prov 15:26)
• Pride (Prov 16:5)
• He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just Prov 17:15)
• False worship, human sacrifice (Jere 32:35)
• Abomination according as they loved (Hos 10:10)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 Peter 2:21-24: Jesus did not have any association with abominations. Yet, all our iniquities were laid upon Him. (Isa 53:6)

 

AGREEMENT

• Covenant (Isa 28:15,18)
  • Tables of the covenant (Ex 34:28, Deut 9:9)
  • Ten Commandments (Ex 34:28; Deut 4:13)
  • Sanctified by the blood of the covenant (Heb 10:29)
  • By blood (death) a testament (agreement) is strengthened or ratified (Heb 9:16-22)
• Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)

 

ALOES

• Gladness (Psa 45:8)
• Death (John 19:39)
  • Compared to grave (Hos 13:14)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 19:39: Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes of an hundred pounds to embalm Jesus with.

 

ALTAR

• altar is God (Psa 43:4, Heb 13:10)
• a witness (Josh 22:28,34)
• worship (false or true) (2King 18:22, 2Chron 32:12, Act 17:23)
• made many altars to sin (for sinning) (Hos 8:11,13)

 

ALTAR OF BURNT OFFERINGS

• Altar of burnt offering before the door of the sanctuary and the laver was between the altar of burnt offering and the sanctuary (Ex 40:6-7)
  • Had four corners with four horns overlaid with brass (Ex 27:2)
    • Blood placed upon four horns (Ex 29:11-12)
  • A sin offering was offered for atonement and whatsoever touched the altar was holy (Ex 29:36-37)
  • On the east side facing towards the main gate there was a place for ashes and they were placed on the east side of the altar of burn offering (Lev 1:16, 6:10-11)
    • The wicked will be ashes under the righteous’ feet (Mal 4:1-3, Eze 28:18-19, Rom 6:23, Rev 21:8)
  • Burning all night into the morning – always burning (Lev 6:9,12-13)
  • Wood was burned (Lev 6:12) [see wood]
  • When there was a removal of the ashes the priest changed his garments (Lev 6:10-11)
  • Animal was laid on it like Jesus was slain on the cross (John 1:29)

 

ALTAR OF INCENSE

• prayers of God’s people (Rev 5:8)
• incense is as prayer (Psa 141:2)
• offerings or gifts are pleasing like incense (Philip 4:18-19)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 17: Jesus prayed to the Father for His disciples and those who would later believe on Him. He prayed:
  • To keep them from the evil
  • To sanctify them through the truth/the word
  • For unity amongst themselves and with Him
  • To be made perfect in unity
    • Unity is the sure result of Christian perfection. {RH April 26, 1881, par. 12}
  • That the Father loves them
  • That they will be with Him
  • That they will behold His glory
  • That the love of the Father may be in them and Christ in them
• Mark 11:17: Jesus’ house [see house] is supposed to be a house of prayer and not a den of thieves. It is never to be made a den of thieves (Luke 19:46)
• Luke 22:45: When Jesus rose up from prayer, he found His disciples sleeping for sorrow.

 

AMBASSADORS [see messengers]

• Of peace (Isa 33:7)
  • Psa_72:3  The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
• Faithful ambassadors (Prov 13:17)
• Messengers (Prov 13:17)
  • Wicked messengers (Prov 13:17)
  • Swift messengers (Isa 18:2)
  • God’s messengers don’t conceal God’s message (Job 6:10)
  • God’s wrath is kindled when we don’t speak truth about God or Bible doctrine (Job 42:7)
• …Different periods in the history of the church have each been marked by the development of some special truth, adapted to the necessities of God’s people at that time. Every new truth has made its way against hatred and opposition; those who were blessed with its light were tempted and tried. The Lord gives a special truth for the people in an emergency. Who dare refuse to publish it? He commands His servants to present the last invitation of mercy to the world. They cannot remain silent, except at the peril of their souls. Christ’s ambassadors have nothing to do with consequences. They must perform their duty and leave results with God. {GC 609.1}
• As the opposition rises to a fiercer height, the servants of God are again perplexed; for it seems to them that they have brought the crisis. But conscience and the word of God assure them that their course is right; and although the trials continue, they are strengthened to bear them. The contest grows closer and sharper, but their faith and courage rise with the emergency. Their testimony is: “We dare not tamper with God’s word, dividing His holy law; calling one portion essential and another nonessential, to gain the favor of the world. The Lord whom we serve is able to deliver us. Christ has conquered the powers of earth; and shall we be afraid of a world already conquered?” {GC 610.1}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 4:17: Jesus was a messenger. A preacher of righteousness.
• Luke 10:16: Jesus said to His followers “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.”
  • Those that despise the word will be destroyed (Prov 13:13)

 

 

ANCHOR

• Truth {RH August 1, 1899, Art. A, par. 10}
• Faith {ST May 2, 1895, par. 6}
• …The righteousness manifested in the character of Christ was forever to be the anchor, the saving hope, of the world. Every soul who chooses Christ can say with faith, “The Lord my righteousness.” {1SM 348.1}
• The pillars of our faith. Confidence in present truth. God is our only hope. {3T 226.1}
• Hope (Heb 6:18-19)
  • Christ’s intercessory work in the heavenly sanctuary for us
  • He is doing everything possible and making everything available to save us from our sins
    • {CIHS 145.2 – 146.1} {DA 794.6} {MYP 89.1}
  • We have a mighty foe to contend with; but an Almighty Friend to protect and strengthen us in the conflict. If we are firmly fixed upon the present truth, and have our hope, like an anchor of the soul, cast within the second vail, the various winds of false doctrine and error cannot move us…{PT March 1, 1850, par. 2}
  • Prisoners of hope (Zech 9:12)
• Many saw the perfect chain of truth in the angels’ messages, and gladly received them in their order, and followed Jesus by faith into the heavenly sanctuary. These messages were represented to me as an anchor to the people of God. Those who understand and receive them will be kept from being swept away by the many delusions of Satan. {EW 256.2}

 

ANGELS [see ministers]

• Ministers to the heirs of salvation (Heb 1:14)
• When we entertain strangers, we may be entertaining angels (Heb 13:2)
• Men are a little lower than the angels (Psa 8:5)
• God rides upon cherubim (figurative) (Psa 18:10)
• As man came forth from the hand of his Creator, he was of lofty stature and perfect symmetry. His countenance bore the ruddy tint of health and glowed with the light of life and joy. Adam’s height was much greater than that of men who now inhabit the earth. Eve was somewhat less in stature; yet her form was noble, and full of beauty. The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory, such as the angels wear. So long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to enshroud them. {PP 45.3}
• God created man for His own glory, that after test and trial the human family might become one with the heavenly family. <And to every man is given his work to receive the mind of God.> It was God’s purpose to repopulate heaven with the human family, if they would show themselves obedient to His every word. Adam was to be tested, to see whether he would be obedient <as the loyal angels> or disobedient. If he stood the test, his instruction to his children would have been only of loyalty. His mind and thoughts would have been as the mind and thoughts of God. He would have been taught by God as His husbandry and building. His character would have been molded in accordance with the character of God. But Adam did not endure the test. Satan, the fallen prince, was jealous of God. He determined through subtilty, cunning, and deceit, to defeat God’s purpose. He approached Eve, not in the form of an angel, but as a serpent, subtle, cunning, and deceitful. With a voice which appeared to proceed from the serpent, he spoke to her, and his conversation was of that character which wise and wicked angels use through various agencies today. As Eve listened, the warnings God had given faded from her mind. She yielded to the temptation, and as she tempted Adam, he also forgot God’s warnings. He believed the words of the enemy of God. In Eden, Satan used the serpent as his instrument. Today he makes use of the members of the human family, striving by means of every species of cunning and deception to hedge up the path of righteousness cast up for the ransomed of the Lord to walk in. {Lt91-1900.3-5}
• The vacancies made in heaven by the fall of Satan and the angels who sympathized with him will be filled by the redeemed of the Lord. {Lt100-1895.26}

 

ANGER

• hot displeasure (Psalm 6:1)
• not having delight in God’s word makes God angry (Jere 6:10,11)
  • people are delivered because they delight in God (Psa 18:19)
• like fire because of bad/evil deeds (Jere 21:12)
• Ecc 5:6  Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
• Ecc 7:9  Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 3:5: What makes Jesus angry is the hardness of our hearts
  • A hard heart is one that resists God’s will (Rom 9:17-19)

 

ANGLE/HOOK

• Cord (Job 41:1, Jere 38:13)
  • Used to catch fish (Hab 1:14,15) [see fish]
• Satan’s angles:
  • Affliction (Job 36:8)
    • Can occur because of transgression of God’s law (Lam 1:5)
  • Sin (Prov 5:22)
  • Lies (Isa 5:18)
    • Comes as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
    • Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)
  • God’s angle:
    • Love (Hos 11:4)
      • Loving kindness is His fishing lure (Jere 31:3)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 63:9: In our affliction, Jesus is afflicted. He feels our sufferings and cares about what we experience.

 

APOCRYPHA

• I then saw the Word of God pure and unadulterated, and that we must answer for the way we received the truth proclaimed from that Word. I saw that it had been a hammer to break the flinty heart in pieces, and a fire to consume the dross and tin, that the heart might be pure and holy. I saw that the Apocrypha was the hidden book, and that the wise of these last days should understand it. I saw that the Bible was the standard book, that will judge us at the last day. I saw that heaven would be cheap enough, and that nothing was too dear to sacrifice for Jesus, and that we must give all to enter the kingdom. I heard an angel say, think ye God will place His seal where there is an idol? No, no. {1LtMs, Ms 4, 1850, par. 13}
• (Putting the Bible on Augusta Stowell:) Study it, study it, take it, believe it, walk out on it, the Word of God, faith, the Book of books, the all-seeing eye! Tremble before the Lord of hosts. Look ye, the mind has been filled, it has been engrossed with trash. Cast it off, bear it away. Walk carefully before thy God. Keep thine eye steady upon thy God, faith, faith, faith, faith, faith. Take it as the man of thy counsel, take it as a hammer, a fire it will consume the dross, it will consume the tin, too much trash, cast it out. (Taking the large Bible containing the apocrypha:) Pure and undefiled, a part of it is consumed, holy, holy, walk carefully, tempted. The Word of God, take it (Marion Stowell), bind it long upon thine heart, pure and unadulterated. How lovely, how lovely, how lovely. My blood, My blood, My blood. O the children of disobedience, reproved, reproved. Thy word, thy word, thy word, a part of it is burned unadulterated, a part of the hidden book, a part of it is burned (the apocrypha). Those that shall despitefully tread [treat?] that remnant would think that they are doing God service. Why? because they are led captive by Satan at his will. Hidden book, it is cast out. Bind it to the heart (4 times) bind it, bind it, bind it, (laying the Bible on Oswald Stowell) let not its pages be closed, read it carefully. Snares will beset on every side, take the strait truth bind it to the heart (3 times) let everything be cast out. 1LtMs, Ms 5, 1849, par. 6-8
• I saw that the heavenly host were filled with indignation at this bold work of Satan. I inquired why all these delusions should be suffered to take effect upon the minds of men when the angels of God were powerful, and if commissioned, could easily break the enemy’s power. Then I saw that God knew that Satan would try every art to destroy man; therefore He had caused His word to be written out, and had made His purposes in regard to the human race so plain that the weakest need not err. After having given His word to man, He had carefully preserved it from destruction by Satan or his angels, or by any of his agents or representatives. While other books might be destroyed, this was to be immortal. And near the close of time, when the delusions of Satan should increase, it was to be so multiplied that all who desired might have a copy, and, if they would, might arm themselves against the deceptions and lying wonders of Satan. I saw that God had especially guarded the Bible; yet when copies of it were few, learned men had in some instances changed the words, thinking that they were making it more plain, when in reality they were mystifying that which was plain, by causing it to lean to their established views, which were governed by tradition. But I saw that the Word of God, as a whole, is a perfect chain, one portion linking into and explaining another. True seekers for truth need not err; for not only is the Word of God plain and simple in declaring the way of life, but the Holy Spirit is given as a guide in understanding the way to life therein revealed. {EW 220.1-2}
• Do you desire to destroy the covenant between yourselves and your God? “A perpetual covenant” means just what it says. “It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever;” God declares, “for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested, and was refreshed.” [Verses 16, 17.] This is our evidence. You will see ere long that there will be those who will become weary of hearing repeated the things that they ought to do but do not desire to do, and they will change the wording of the Bible. We know what the Lord says in Revelation about those who do that. “A perpetual covenant” is a perpetual covenant. {21LtMs, Ms 146, 1906, par. 28}

 

ARCHANGEL

• Jesus (Jude 9, 1 Thess 4:16, John 5:28)

 

ARK OF THE COVENANT

• God’s throne (Ps 80:1)
• Jesus Christ (Psa 132:8, Num 10:33)
  • Remember what’s in the ark and think of Christ. (Manna/rod or branch/10C)
  • hidden manna (Rev 2:17)
• …The ark is a symbol of the presence of God. In clear, steady rays the light shines from it to the world. The time has come when the law of God is to be proclaimed with strong, decided utterance. The world is to be warned, and I beseech those who know the truth to do all in their power to sound the warning, “Prepare to meet thy God.” [Amos 4:12.] The temple of God was opened in heaven in answer to the prayers of His people, and by terrible things in righteousness will He reveal His power. {Ms166-1902.9}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 5:34: Jesus taught never to swear by heaven because it is God’s throne
• Matt 19:27,28: Peter asked what he would get after forsaking all he had. Jesus told him that when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, so would Peter and the disciples sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
• Matt 25:31: When Jesus comes in His glory and all the holy angels with Him then He will sit upon the throne of His glory.

 

ARROWS [see seed] [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub] [see famine]

• Arrows of the Lord’s deliverance / arrow of deliverance (2King 13:17)
• God has His arrows and quiver (Lam 3:13)
• God’s judgments (Deut 32:23, Psa 7:13, 64:7)
• Troubles (Deut 32:23)
• Famine (Eze 5:16)
• Children (Psa 127:4)
  • Children are not born with original sin – innocent (Rom 9:11)
  • God is responsible for taking children out of the womb safely (Psa 22:9)
  • There are foolish children (Jere 4:22)
  • There are cursed children (2 Peter 2:12-15)
  • There are backsliding children (Jere 3:14, 22)
  • There are strange children (Psa 144:7)
    • Strange children are offspring of a strange woman (Judge 11:1,2, Isa 54:1, Prov 6:24; 23:27)
    • Strange children do not inherit (Judges 11:2)
    • When Israel was in apostasy, they begat strange children (Hos 5:7)
    • Strangers were known to come into the Lord’s house (Jere 51:51) (Eze 44:7)
  • Of Belial (Judges 20:13; Deut 13:13) [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub]
    • Infidels (2 Cor 6:15)
    • Don’t know the Lord (1Sam 2:12)
    • Connected with sexual immorality (Judges 19:22)
    • Liars/false witnesses (1 King 21:10-13)
      • Like mighty men (Jere 50:36)
      • Deceitful-speak lies (Prov 14:5, 25)
      • Their testimonies don’t agree with one another *not the same* (Mark 14:56)
    • Nabal was a son of Belial (1 Sam 25:25)
    • Sheba was a son of Belial (2 Sam 20:1)
    • There are daughters of Belial (1 Sam 1:16)
      • Drink alcohol (1 Sam 1:13-16)
    • Of hell (Matt 23:15)
    • Of pride (Job 41:1,34)
    • Of disobedience (Eph 2:2,5; 5:6; Col 3:6)
    • Of transgression (Isa 57:4)
    • Of iniquity (Hos 10:9)
    • Of wrath (Eph 2:3)
    • Of flesh (Rom 9:6-8)
    • Of the desolate (Isa 54:1)
    • Of murderers (2King 14:6)
    • Of the married wife (Isa 54:1)
      • God is married to His people – even the backsliding people of God (Jer 3:14)
      • Married in righteousness judgement, loving kindness, mercies and faithfulness (Hos 2:19-20)
      • As a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so did the house of Israel depart from God. They perverted their way and forgot the Lord their God. (Jer 3:20-21)
    • Of the adulteress/sorceress/whore (Isa 57:3)
    • Of whoredoms (Hos 1:2)
    • Of night and darkness (1 Thess 5:5)
    • Of day and light (1 Thess 5:5)
    • Of God (Deut 14:1)
      • Peacemakers (Matt 5:9)
        • Psa_72:3  The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
        • Christ’s followers are sent to the world with the message of peace. Whoever, by the quiet, unconscious influence of a holy life, shall reveal the love of Christ; whoever, by word or deed, shall lead another to renounce sin and yield his heart to God, is a peacemaker. MB 28.1
      • Do righteousness and love people (1 John 3:10)
        • By love, serve one another (Gal 5:13)
      • Made equal to the angels as children of the resurrection (Luke 20:36)
      • Scattered abroad (John 11:52)
      • Heirs and have liberty (Rom 8:16-21)
      • Made children of God by faith in Christ (Gal 3:26)
    • Children of the promise and not children of the flesh are counted as the seed (Rom 9:6-8)
    • In the closing scenes of this earth’s history many of these children and youth will astonish people by their witness to the truth, which will be borne in simplicity, yet with spirit and power. They have been taught the fear of the Lord, and their hearts have been softened by a careful and prayerful study of the Bible. In the near future many children will be endued with the Spirit of God, and will do a work in proclaiming the truth to the world, that at that time cannot well be done by the older members of the church. {CT 166.4}
  • Followers of God (Isa 49:2)
    • God’s children are near to Him (Psa 148:14)
    • Have the spirit which is of God (1 Cor 2:12)
    • Rather than complaining about the punishment of their sins, God’s children should search and try their ways, turn again to the Lord and confess their sins (Lam 3:39-40)
      • True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. {SC 38.1}
    • Isaiah the prophet was as an arrow in the Lord’s quiver (Isa 49:1-2)
    • Liars are like sharp arrows (Prov 25:18)
    • Deceitful words (Jere 9:8)
      • John 8:44 à Satan’s arrows are lies. His followers use deceit.
        • Comes as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
        • Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)
      • Num 23:19, Titus 1:2, Heb 6:18 à God doesn’t lie therefore God’s arrows must be truthful words – truth. (Hab 3:9, 2 Thess 2:8, Rev 19:15, Heb 4:12)
    • Bitter words (Psa 64:3) [see sepulchre]
      • To the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet (Prov 27:7)
    • Lightning (Psa 144:6) [see lightning]
    • Make bright (polish) the arrows (Jere 51:11, Eze 21:21)
    • By giving expression to suspicion, jealousy, and discontent, they yield themselves as instruments to Satan. Before they realize what they are doing, the adversary has through them accomplished his purpose. The impression of evil has been made, the shadow has been cast, the arrows of Satan have found their mark. Distrust, unbelief, and downright infidelity have fastened upon those who otherwise might have accepted Christ. Meanwhile the workers for Satan look complacently upon those whom they have driven to skepticism, and who are now hardened against reproof and entreaty. They flatter themselves that in comparison with these souls they are virtuous and righteous. They do not realize that these sad wrecks of character are the work of their own unbridled tongues and rebellious hearts. It is through their influence that these tempted ones have fallen. {COL 340.3}
    • The history of the past shows an active, working devil. He can no more be idle than harmless. Satan was found in only one tree to endanger the safety of Adam and Eve. He planned to attract the holy pair to that one tree, that they might do the very thing God had said they should not do—eat of the tree of knowledge. There was no danger to them in approaching any other tree. How plausible his speech! He laid hold of the very arguments which he uses today,—flattery, envy, distrust, questioning, and unbelief. If Satan was so cunning at first, what must he be now after gaining an experience of many thousands of years? Yet God and holy angels, and all those who abide in obedience to all the Lord’s expressed will, are wiser than he. The subtlety of Satan will not decrease, but the wisdom given to men through a living connection with the Source of all light and divine knowledge will be proportionate to his arts and wiles. {5T 504.1}
    • The unsullied purity of the childhood, youth, and manhood, of Christ which Satan could not taint, annoyed him exceedingly. All his darts and arrows of temptation fell harmless before the Son of God. And when he found that all his temptations prevailed nothing in moving Christ from the steadfast integrity, or in marring the spotless purity of the youthful Galilean, he was perplexed and enraged. He looked upon this youth as an enemy that he must dread and fear. {2Red 26.1}
    • I rejoice in Jesus today. We have, my husband, walked for more than thirty years side by side in the trials and conflicts of life amid temptations and the buffetings of Satan—his arrows aimed at us to wound and destroy, but Jesus has been our defense. Satan has been repulsed. The Spirit of the Lord has lifted up a standard for us against the enemy. Our sun is westering, but it will not set in darkness. Jesus ever liveth to make intercession for us. We will in the latter days of our pilgrimage repose in God and wait upon Him. If we walk with God, our faith will grow brighter and brighter unto the perfect day. And the reward of the faithful will [be] ours at last. {Lt42-1878.12}
    • The only safeguard against evil is the indwelling of Christ in the heart through faith in His righteousness. It is because selfishness exists in our hearts that temptation has power over us. But when we behold the great love of God, selfishness appears to us in its hideous and repulsive character, and we desire to have it expelled from the soul. As the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ, our hearts are softened and subdued, the temptation loses its power, and the grace of Christ transforms the character. {MB 118.3}
    • When the rabbis learned of the presence of Jesus at Matthew’s feast, they seized the opportunity of accusing Him. But they chose to work through the disciples. By arousing their prejudices they hoped to alienate them from their Master. It was their policy to accuse Christ to the disciples, and the disciples to Christ, aiming their arrows where they would be most likely to wound. This is the way in which Satan has worked ever since the disaffection in heaven; and all who try to cause discord and alienation are actuated by his spirit. {DA 275.1}
    • If these will crucify fleshly lusts which war against the soul, they will get out of the way, where the arrows of truth will pass harmlessly by them. But while they indulge lustful appetite, and thus cherish their idols, they make themselves a mark for the arrows of truth to hit, and if truth is spoken at all, they must be wounded. Some think that they cannot reform, that health would be sacrificed should they attempt to leave the use of tea, tobacco, and flesh meats. This is the suggestion of Satan. It is these hurtful stimulants that are surely undermining the constitution and preparing the system for acute diseases by impairing Nature’s fine machinery and battering down her fortifications erected against disease and premature decay. {1T 548.1}

 

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 49:1, 2: Jesus was destined to be born of the virgin Mary. Jesus’ words are like a two edged sword. He was an arrow in the Father’s quiver.
• Matthew 24:27: The 2^nd coming of Jesus Christ will be like when lightning from the sky going from east to west streaks across the sky.
• Luke 10:18: Jesus warned His people that Satan fell from heaven like lightning
• Isaiah 49:15,16: Jesus doesn’t forget His people
• When harassed with temptations and evil thoughts, there is but One to whom you can flee for relief and succor. Flee to Him in your weakness. When near Him, Satan’s arrows are broken and cannot harm you. Your trials and temptations borne in God will purify and humble, but will not destroy or endanger you. {2T 92.3}
• Yet we should not lose courage when assailed by temptation. Often when placed in a trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us. But it was the Spirit’s leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. When God brings us into trial, He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. Jesus did not presume on God’s promises by going unbidden into temptation, neither did He give up to despondency when temptation came upon Him. Nor should we. “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.” He says, “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 50:14, 15. {DA 126.3}

 

ASS/DONKEY [see wild ass]

• White asses – sit in judgment (Judg 5:10)
• Compared to Israel (Isa 1:3)
  • God’s people – know the Lord as their master
• A donkey in heat is compared to Israel committing idolatry *spiritual fornication is idolatry* (Jere 2:23,24)
• Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again. (Deut 22:4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATONEMENT [see soap]

• The words atone, cleanse, reconcile, purify, purge, pardon, sanctify, hallow, forgive, justify, redeem, and blot out are used to signify bringing into favor with God. The word atonement in Hebrew is copher and when applied to sin it means to cover, expiate, to atone or make satisfaction for something. When applied to the sinner himself, copher implies being covered, protected from punishment or a rendered ransom. When the Greek version of the Old Testament is examined, atonement is translated ilasmos which means propitiation. In the sense of ‘to make an atonement’ the Greek word exilaskoniai is given which means to render propitious. (J.M. Stephenson, The Atonement, (Rochester: Advent Review Office, 1854), 4.)
• But clearer light came with the investigation of the sanctuary question. They now saw that they were correct in believing that the end of the 2300 days in 1844 marked an important crisis. But while it was true that that door of hope and mercy by which men had for eighteen hundred years found access to God, was closed, another door was opened, and forgiveness of sins was offered to men through the intercession of Christ in the most holy. One part of His ministration had closed, only to give place to another. There was still an “open door” to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ was ministering in the sinner’s behalf. Now was seen the application of those words of Christ in the Revelation, addressed to the church at this very time: “These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” Revelation 3:7, 8. It is those who by faith follow Jesus in the great work of the atonement who receive the benefits of His mediation in their behalf, while those who reject the light which brings to view this work of ministration are not benefited thereby. The Jews who rejected the light given at Christ’s first advent, and refused to believe on Him as the Saviour of the world, could not receive pardon through Him. When Jesus at His ascension entered by His own blood into the heavenly sanctuary to shed upon His disciples the blessings of His mediation, the Jews were left in total darkness to continue their useless sacrifices and offerings. The ministration of types and shadows had ceased. That door by which men had formerly found access to God was no longer open. The Jews had refused to seek Him in the only way whereby He could then be found, through the ministration in the sanctuary in heaven. Therefore they found no communion with God. To them the door was shut. They had no knowledge of Christ as the true sacrifice and the only mediator before God; hence they could not receive the benefits of His mediation. The condition of the unbelieving Jews illustrates the condition of the careless and unbelieving among professed Christians, who are willingly ignorant of the work of our merciful High Priest. In the typical service, when the high priest entered the most holy place, all Israel were required to gather about the sanctuary and in the most solemn manner humble their souls before God, that they might receive the pardon of their sins and not be cut off from the congregation. How much more essential in this antitypical Day of Atonement that we understand the work of our High Priest and know what duties are required of us. GC 429.2-430.3
• The divine Son of God was the only sacrifice of sufficient value to fully satisfy the claims of God’s perfect law. The angels were sinless, but of less value than the law of God. They were amenable to law. They were messengers to do the will of Christ, and before him to bow. They were created beings, and probationers. Upon Christ no requirements were laid. He had power to lay down his life, and to take it again. No obligation was laid upon him to undertake the work of atonement. It was a voluntary sacrifice that he made. His life was of sufficient value to rescue man from his fallen condition. {RH December 17, 1872, par. 4}
• I wish I could present this matter before our people just as I view it—the great offering made in behalf of man. Justice asked for the sufferings of a man. Christ, equal with God, gave the sufferings of a God. He needed no atonement Himself. It was for man—all for man…. His depth of agony was proportionate to the dignity and grandeur of His character. Never shall we see and comprehend the intense anguish of the sufferings of the spotless Lamb of God until we feel how deep is the pit from which we have been delivered, how grievous the sin of which humanity is guilty, and by faith grasp the full and entire pardon. {UL 219.4}
• The acceptance of Christ’s atonement is the groundwork of true faith. To those who repent and confess their sins, the Holy Spirit, the author of all sanctification, will give grace to speak kind, tender, respectful words. Those who will look long enough into the divine mirror to see and despise their sins, their unlikeness to the meek and lowly Jesus, will have strength to overcome. All who truly believe will confess and forsake their sins. They will co-operate with Christ in the work of bringing their hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong under the control of the divine will, so that sin shall not have dominion over them. Looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of their faith, they will be changed into His likeness. They will grow up into the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. {Lt21-1901.41}
• He will look upon no trembling suppliant without raising him up. He who through His own atonement provided for man an infinite fund of moral power, will not fail to employ this power in our behalf. We may take our sins and sorrows to His feet; for He loves us. His every look and word invites our confidence. He will shape and mold our characters according to His own will. {COL 157.2}
• When we pursue a course to lessen mental and physical vigor—in eating, drinking, or in any of our habits—we dishonor God, for we rob Him of the service He claims of us. When we indulge appetite at the expense of health, or when we indulge habits which lessen our vitality and mental vigor, we cannot have a high appreciation of the atonement and a right estimate of eternal things. When our minds are beclouded and partially paralyzed by disease we are easily overcome by the temptations of Satan. Eating of unhealthful food to gratify the appetite has a direct tendency to unbalance the circulation of the blood, cause nervous debility, and as the result there is great lack of patience and true, elevated affection. {Lt27-1872.5}
• …Connect firmly with Christ, and present the truth as it is in Him. Hearts cannot fail to be touched by the story of the atonement. As you learn the meekness and lowliness of Christ, you will know what you should say to the people; for the Holy Spirit will tell you what words to speak. Those who realize the necessity of keeping the heart under the control of the Holy Spirit will be enabled to sow seed that will spring up unto eternal life. This is the work of the evangelistic canvasser. {6T 325.1}
• Let us study God’s law in connection with the work of Christ. Man broke the law. Christ came to this earth to make an atonement for transgression. His atonement was complete in every part. As He hung on the cross, He could say, “It is finished.” The demands of justice were satisfied. The way to the throne of grace was opened for every sinner. {ST July 31, 1901, par. 8}
• The kingdom of grace was instituted immediately after the fall of man, when a plan was devised for the redemption of the guilty race. It then existed in the purpose and by the promise of God; and through faith, men could become its subjects. Yet it was not actually established until the death of Christ. Even after entering upon His earthly mission, the Saviour, wearied with the stubbornness and ingratitude of men, might have drawn back from the sacrifice of Calvary. In Gethsemane the cup of woe trembled in His hand. He might even then have wiped the blood-sweat from His brow and have left the guilty race to perish in their iniquity. Had He done this, there could have been no redemption for fallen men. But when the Saviour yielded up His life, and with His expiring breath cried out, “It is finished,” then the fulfillment of the plan of redemption was assured. The promise of salvation made to the sinful pair in Eden was ratified. The kingdom of grace, which had before existed by the promise of God, was then established. GC 347.2
• The intercession of Christ in our behalf is that of presenting His divine merits in the offering of Himself to the Father as our substitute and surety; for He ascended up on high to make an atonement for our transgressions. “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 2:1, 2). “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). {FW 105.3}
• As Christ at His ascension appeared in the presence of God to plead His blood in behalf of penitent believers, so the priest in the daily ministration sprinkled the blood of the sacrifice in the holy place in the sinner’s behalf. The blood of Christ, while it was to release the repentant sinner from the condemnation of the law, was not to cancel the sin; it would stand on record in the sanctuary until the final atonement; so in the type the blood of the sin offering removed the sin from the penitent, but it rested in the sanctuary until the Day of Atonement. {PP 357.4-5}
• The intercession of Christ in man’s behalf in the sanctuary above is as essential to the plan of salvation as was His death upon the cross. By His death He began that work which after His resurrection He ascended to complete in heaven. We must by faith enter within the veil, “whither the forerunner is for us entered.” Hebrews 6:20. There the light from the cross of Calvary is reflected. There we may gain a clearer insight into the mysteries of redemption. The salvation of man is accomplished at an infinite expense to heaven; the sacrifice made is equal to the broadest demands of the broken law of God. Jesus has opened the way to the Father’s throne, and through His mediation the sincere desire of all who come to Him in faith may be presented before God. {GC 489.1}
• God had committed to His people a work to be accomplished on earth. The third angel’s message was to be given, the minds of believers were to be directed to the heavenly sanctuary, where Christ had entered to make atonement for His people. The Sabbath reform was to be carried forward. The breach in the law of God must be made up. The message must be proclaimed with a loud voice, that all the inhabitants of earth might receive the warning. The people of God must purify their souls through obedience to the truth, and be prepared to stand without fault before Him at His coming. {Ev 695.2}

 

ATTIRE

• God (Jere 2:32)

 

AUTHOR / WRITER [see pen] [see Lord]

• Pen of writer (Judg 5:14)
• Ready writer (Psa 45:1)
• Writer’s inkhorn (Eze 9:2,3)
  • Ink is the Holy Spirit (2Cor 3:3)
  • Oil out of the rock (Job 29:6)
  • lead in the rock (Job 19:24; Psa 45:1)
• The sin of Judah was written with a pen of iron with a point of a diamond on the table of their heart (Jere 17:1)
• Out of Zebulun came those who handle the pen of the writer (Judg 5:14)
• Ezra was a ready scribe…a writer (Ezra 7:6,11)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 5:9: Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to those that obey Him
• Hebrews 12:2: Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith
• Hebrews 8:10; 10:16: God promises to write the law in His people’s hearts
  • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)
  • Ink is the Holy Spirit applied to the hearts of men (2Cor 3:3)
• 1 Corinthians 14:33: God is not the author of confusion, but of peace

 

AXE [see trees] [see root]

• Compared to a saw (Isa 10:15)
• Word of God (Psa 74:6, Jere 23:29, Hos 6:5)
• A nation-Assyria. Used as an instrument of punishment (Isa 10:15)
  • Refuse to turn back to God – Assyria takes over (Hos 11:5)
• Hewing down is compared to the haughty being humbled (Isa 10:33)

 

 

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 1:1: Jesus is the Word and He through the power of His word can change people’s hearts
• Luke 11:27,28: In a rebuke to Mary adoration, Jesus said “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

 

BAAL

• Principal male deity of the Phenicians corresponding to Bel or Bolus of the Babylonians.
• Priests and prophets were consecrated to his service (2King 10:19)
  • Mattan was a priest of Baal (2King 11:18)
  • apostate priests commit lewdness (Hos 6:9) [see scum]
• Worship of the sun, moon and stars (2 Kings 21:3; 23:4,5)
• Incense and prayers were offered (Jere 7:9, 1 King 18:26)
• Worshippers prostrated themselves and kissed the idol (1 King 19:18)
  • Perhaps they kissed the hand toward the sun
• Danced with shouts, cut themselves with knives (1 King 18:26-28)
• Offerings vegetable (Hos 2:8)
• Offerings animal (1King 18:23)
• Offerings human (Jere 19:5)
• Ordinary symbol of Baal was a bull
• Connected with the worship of Ashtoreth who they called the queen of heaven (Judg 2:13) [see grove]
  • We are on safest ground for popular religion with Jeremiah 44:15–19 and Ezekiel 8:14, according to which there were women who worshipped the ‘queen of heaven’ (possibly some form of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, or a sun-goddess) and Tammuz, a fertility-god. Amos (5:26) accuses the ‘the house of Israel’ of worshipping Sakkuth and Kaiwan, gods which have been connected with the cult of Saturn. Another god referred to in Jeremiah 32:35 and elsewhere is Molech, evidently a Canaanite god of the underworld to whom people offered human sacrifice in the valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem (Day 1989). And of course there is abundant evidence of the worship of the storm-god Baal at popular and official level. – A Handbook of Ancient Religions Edited by John Hinnells pg. 250
• House of Baal (2King 2:27)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BAALZEBUB / BEELZEBUB [flies] [arrows] [seed] [woman] [oppressor] [see thief]

• Lord of the flies or Lord of filth
• Also known as Belial (2 Cor 6:15)
• Prince of the devils which is THE DEVIL=Satan (Matt 12:24)
  • Devilish wisdom includes bitter envying and strife and is not an example of true religion. Where envying and strife is seen it is devilish wisdom at work. When devilish wisdom is at work, there is confusion and evil (James 3:14-16)
    • God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Cor 14:33)
  • A devil in the synagogue (Luke 4:33)
  • Judas Iscariot described as a devil (John 6:70-71)
• The Tempter (1 Thess 3:5)
• Sisera is a symbol of Satan (Judg 5:20, Rev 12:7-9)
  • Satan uses civil powers to persecute God’s people (Rev 2:10)
  • Fleshly people will persecute spiritual people (Gal 4:29)
  • Flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit is contrary to the flesh (Gal 5:17)
• 2 Powers: of Satan or of God (Act 26:18)
• Satan is the enemy and adversary (Matt 13:39, 1 Pet 5:8)
  • The last enemy that will be destroyed is death (1 Cor 15:26)
  • Before Christ died and rose again from the grave, the devil had power over death on earth (Heb 2:14)
• Satan is the destroyer who brings suffering, sickness and death
  • 1 Cor 10:10, {CH 168.2, 588.2}
  • Makes the world as a wilderness and destroys cities (Isa 14:12, 17)
• Prince of this world and of the power of the air (Eph 2:2)
  • Whoever is a friend of the world is God’s enemy (Jam 4:4)
  • Cast out (John 12:31)
    • Rev 12:7-9 * Lucifer’s work was restricted when he was first cast out of heaven. His work became further restricted because his evil character was further revealed. He could no longer await the angels as they came from the heavenly courts and before them accuse Christ’s brethren. (DA 761, PP42)
    • Accuser of the brethren (Rev 12:10)
  • Satan savours the things of men (Mark 8:33)
  • Has nothing in Jesus Christ (John 14:30)
  • He is judged (John 16:11)
  • Responsible for the spirit of the world which is the spirit of antichrist (1 Cor 2:12, 1 John 4:3)
    • Works in the children of disobedience (Eph 2:2)
  • Prince over his wicked children (Isa 14:12, 21; Act 13:10, John 8:44, 1 John 3:10)
    • Children of disobedience (Eph 2:2, 5:6, Col 3:6)
      • Do the works of the flesh in breaking the law of God (Gal 5:19-21) [see fruits]
      • By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners… (Rom 5:19)
    • Children of wrath (Eph 2:3)*receive 7 last plagues-Rev 15:1
    • Children of pride (Job 41:1,34)
    • Children of transgression (Isa 57:4)
      • Are the seed of falsehood
    • Children of iniquity (Hos 10:9)
    • Children of the flesh (Rom 9:6-8)
      • are not the seed (Rom 9:6-8)
    • Children of the desolate (Isa 54:1)
    • Children of the adulteress/sorceress/whore (Isa 57:3)
    • Children of whoredoms (Hos 1:2)
      • Whoredom: departing from the Lord / unfaithfulness (Hos 1:2)
    • Children of night and darkness (1 Thess 5:5)
    • Children of Belial (Judges 20:13; Deut 13:13)
      • Infidels (2 Cor 6:15)
      • Don’t know the Lord (1Sam 2:12)
      • Connected with sexual immorality (Judges 19:22)
      • Liars/false witnesses (1 King 21:10-13)
        • Like mighty men (Jere 50:36)
        • Deceitful-speak lies (Prov 14:5, 25)
        • Their testimonies don’t agree with one another *not the same* (Mark 14:56)
      • Nabal was a son of Belial (1 Sam 25:25)
      • Sheba was a son of Belial (2 Sam 20:1)
      • There are daughters of Belial (1 Sam 1:16)
        • Drink alcohol (1 Sam 1:13-16)
      • They are cursed children (2 Pet 2:12-15)
      • They are foolish children who are wise to do evil (Jere 4:22)
    • Synagogue (church) of Satan (Rev 2:9, 3:9)
    • Satan deceives the whole world (Rev 12:9)
      • We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor 2:11)
    • Satan fills peoples’ hearts with lies. When people lie, they are sinning against the Holy Spirit and of course God. The individual is ultimately responsible for the lies they tell. (Act 5:3-4)
    • It is Satan’s purpose to attract men and women to the cities, and to gain his object he invents every kind of novelty and amusement, every kind of excitement. And the cities of the earth today are becoming as were the cities before the Flood. {CL 14.1}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SATAN’S GROUND

 

1. Connecting with unbelievers — Adventist Home p. 67.2
2. Reading the writings of infidel authors — Adventist Home p. 413
3. Intemperance — Christian Education p. 175
4. Yielding to Satan’s suggestions — Counsels on Health p. 166
5. Indulging the appetite — Counsels on diet p. 22.4
6. Utilizing electric and or magnetic healing — Counsels on Health p. 459
7. Mind control techniques — Messages to Young People p. 60
8. Partaking of spurious healings — 2 Mind, Character, and Personality p. 700
9. Hypnotism — 2 MCP p. 715.4
10. 10. Making our friends among the ungodly — Patriarchs and Prophets 204
11. Making excuses for our selfishness — 2 Special Messages p. 350
12. Mind sciences — 2 SM p. 350
13. Over confidence in one’s knowledge — 1 Testimonies p. 428
14. Overbearing in personality — 4 Testimonies p. 431
15. Involving one’s self in amusements — The Bible Echo, Oct 15, 1894
16. Impulsive actions in discipline of children puts the children onto Satan’s ground as a response to this impulsive action of the parent. Australian Signs of the Times — March 1903
17. When we tamper with that which we should denounce — Review and Herald Aug. 11, 1903 open letter
18. Attending assemblies of spiritualists unless to warn others of their danger — Signs of the times Sept. 3, 1894
19. Rebellion — Signs of the Times De. 13, 1899; Our Besetting Sins
20. Speculating investments — 4 Testimonies p. 600
21. Discouragement — Christian Leadership 64.2
22. Disobedience — D.A. 129
23. Inappropriate expulsion from schools — Fundamentals of Christian Education 277,8
24. Miracles in our sight — MYP 61.1
25. Lack of self effort to overcome — Testimonies to Ministers 453
26. Allow the mind to come to the superficial and unreal — MYP 252.3
27. Satan’s theories — Letter 175, 1904
28. Seeking pleasure among those who fear not God — PP 204
29. Railing accusation — Reflecting Christ 70.6
30. Criticism — Sketches from the Life of Paul 233,4
31. Self rightness, argumentative nature — 1 Testimonies 428
32. Fretting, faultfinding — 4 Testimonies 341
33. Careless, unconcerned when one should be — 4 T. 460
34. Accusing the Brethren — Misc. Collections Spalding and Magan
35. Fretful, impatient — 21 Manuscript releases 1501-1598 (1993)
36. Married men placing much attention to married and unmarried girls —18 Manuscript releases 1301-59
37. Wrong choice in reading material — 5 Manuscript Releases 347-418

 

 

 

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 16:23: Satan is offensive to Jesus. Satan does not love the things of God, but the things of men…worldly things
• Mark 1:13: Satan tempted Jesus
• Matthew 4:10: Jesus overcame Satan by knowing and applying Scripture.
• Luke 11:18: Jesus was accused of casting out devils through Satan’s power.
• Luke 13:16: Satan binds his captives in suffering. Jesus came to set the captives free and so He delivered the sorrowful on the Sabbath day.
• Acts 26:18: Jesus opened the eyes of the blind turning people from the power of Satan and placing them under the power of God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a heavenly inheritance.
  • when the heart turns to the Lord, spiritual blindness is taken away (2 Cor 3:15-16)
  • those who lack faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love are blind (2 Pet 1:5-9)
• Luke 9:1: Jesus gave His disciples power and authority over all devils and to cure diseases.
• Luke 10:17: The devils are subject to Christ’s followers through Jesus’ name.
• Romans 16:20: The Prince of Peace, the God of peace, Jesus Christ will bruise Satan under our feet shortly.

 

BABY / INFANT [see milk] [see tower]

• Spiritual babies require the first principles of the oracles of God (Heb 5:12)
• Spiritual babies only teach the first principles of the oracles of God and are unskilful in the word of righteousness. (Heb 5:13)
• Growing to maturity involves exercising the senses to discern both good and evil (Heb 5:14)
  • The thing that is hid is revealed by God (Job 28:11)
  • Interpretations belong to God (Gen 40:8)
  • the things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned (1Cor 2:14)
    • by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1Cor 2:13)
    • by comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isa 28:9-10)
    • The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual. SC 89.3
  • God reveals secrets and communicates insights to His people (Dan 2:28-30)
    • Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel that the “spirit of the holy gods is in thee” (Dan 4:18)
    • Belshazzar’s queen told him “There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.” (Dan 5:11)
      • An excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel (Dan 5:12)
    • God has often employed angels to communicate important truths to men, or has made them the medium of communicating his will. (Dan 7:15-16) – Compare Rev_1:1; Act_7:53; Heb_2:2
    • Inspiration of God gives understanding (Job 32:8)
    • All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16)
    • The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel form a habit of mind. To gain through them the power of entering into the deeper meaning of other proverbs. (Prov 1:1,6)
    • No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. – No man wrote save in the power of the Holy Ghost, and no man must venture to interpret save in the same power of the Holy Ghost. It is not any man’s own word. It is God, not the prophet himself, who thereby interprets things till then unknown. (2 Pet 1:20-21)
  • As newborn babies, we should desire the sincere milk of the word so that we will grow thereby (1Pet 2:2)
    • A child that is weaned from its mother’s milk is one who behaves wisely and controls themselves (Psa 131:2)
  • Simple people (Matt 11:25)
  • Carnal people (1Cor 3:1)
  • A child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right (Prov 20:11)
  • At times, God’s people were very ignorant about spiritual things. They were wise to do evil and had little knowledge of good. They were regarded as having no knowledge of good (Deut 1:39, Jere 4:22)
  • Blood of the innocents (children/child sacrifice) (Jere 2:34, 19:4)
  • When boys become men, they put away childish things (1 Cor 13:11)
    • Children are in bondage to the elements of the world (Gal 4:3)
      • The word rendered “elements” (sing. στοιχεῖον stoicheion), properly means a row or series; a little step; a pin or peg, as the gnomen of a dial; and then anything “elementary,” as a sound, a letter. It then denotes the elements or rudiments of any kind of instruction, and in the New Testament is applied to the first lessons or principles of religion; Heb_5:12. It is applied to the elements or component parts of the physical world; 2Pe_3:10, 2Pe_3:12. Here the figure is kept up of the reference to the infant Gal_4:1, Gal_4:3; and the idea is, that lessons were taught under the Jewish system adapted to their nonage – to a state of childhood. They were treated as children under tutors and governors. The phrase “the elements of the world,” occurs also in Col_2:8, Col_2:20. In Gal_4:9, Paul speaks of these lessons as “beggarly elements,” referring to the same thing as here.
      • the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (1 John 2:16)
      • walking according to the course of the world – living to satisfy the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind (Eph 2:1-3)
      • yielding our members as servants to uncleanness and iniquity – elements of the world are sin – we want to be free from sin (Rom 6:16-22)
      • rudiments of the world include human/worldly philosophies and traditions of men (Col 2:8, 20-23)
    • In knowing evil, we ought to be innocent like children, but in understanding we ought to be strong (1 Cor 14:20)
    • Men should be strong (1 Cor 16:13)
    • David told Solomon to be strong and show himself a man (1King 2:2)
    • Christian men are courageous. They fight the battles of the Lord and commit everything into His hands (2Sam 10:12)
    • Men gird up their loins (Job 38:3)
      • To gird up the loins, is a phrase which has allusion to the mode of dress in ancient times. The loose flowing robe which was commonly worn, was fastened with a girdle when men ran, or labored, or engaged in conflict. The idea here is, “Make thyself as strong and vigorous as possible; be prepared to put forth the highest effort.”

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 10:21: Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.”

 

BABYLON

• Meaning: gate of the gods and/or confusion
  • Where there is envying, strife and selfishness there is confusion and every evil work (Jam 3:16)
    • God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Cor 14:33)
  • The spirit in us lusteth to envy (Jam 4:5)
• A woman that rides the beast [see woman] [see beast] (Rev 17:1-5)
  • Is the lady of kingdoms (Isa 47:5, Rev 17:18, Dan 2:37)
• A great city (Rev 14:8) [see strong city]
  • A golden city (Isa 14:4)
    • New Jerusalem was also a city of gold. Babylon is like a counterfeit. (Rev 21:18, 21)
  • Babylon and her daughter are personified cities
    • Babylon the nation and Babylon the city
  • Compared to the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah (Isa 13:19)
  • A stone was bound to the book filled with evil tidings against Babylon and was thrown into the midst of the Euphrates (Jere 51:60-64; Rev 18:21, Matt 18:6, Mark 9:42, Luk 17:2)
  • Come out of Babylon! (Jere 51:6, 45; Rev 18:1-4)
  • King of Babylon represents Lucifer/Satan (Isa 14:4,12)
    • The king used divination (Eze 21:21)
    • He made his arrows briqht – Rather, he shook his arrow; a mode of divination much in practice with the Arabians. It was usual to place in some vessel three arrows, on one of which was written, “My God orders me;” on the other, “My God forbids me;” on the third was no inscription. These three arrows were shaken together until one came out; if it was the first, the thing was to be done; if the second, it was to be avoided; if the third, the arrows were again shaken together, until one of the arrows bearing a decided answer should come forth.
    • He looked in the liver – It was the practice both of the Greeks and the Romans (derived from the Etruscans) to take omens from the inspection of the entrails (especially the liver) of animals offered in sacrifice.
      • Kings may cast lots but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord (Prov 16:33)
      • God can turn kings’ hearts in whatsoever direction He wants (Prov 21:1)
    • The daughter of Babylon noted as a threshing floor (Jere 51:33)
    • The daughter of Babylon will be destroyed (Psa 137:8)
    • Kings of Israel and Judah etc. and many of God’s people were carried away to Babylon because of their transgressions (1Ch_9:1)
    • Babylonians/Chaldeans’ cry is in the ships (Isa 43:14)
      • Naval power – exulted in their ships
    • Achan sinned against God by taking a “goodly” Babylonish garment (Josh 7:20-21)
    • In ancient times it [the pentagram] was a magic charm amongst the people of Babylon. – Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated by Cathy Burns pg.50
    • Pope Urban VIII also had a seal that included bees. We are told: “This seal was used for magical purposes by Pope Urban VIII, a seventeenth century leader of the Catholic Church who wickedly became involved in astrology and occult rituals. The bee has long been the symbol of the harlot of Mystery Babylon, the religious system of the Antichrist to come (Rev. 17). A triangle of three bees represents the pagan unholy trinity (Lucifer, his queen and their son, the Antichrist).” – Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated by Cathy Burns pg.148
    • A former witch, Mason, and Satanist explains: “However, the two-fingers TOGETHER mudra symbolizes:
      • “1) the Masonic/Gnostic Law of opposites. The need for both dark and light, good and evil, pain and pleasure which is exemplified in such Masonic icons as the ‘Master’s Carpet,’ which is intended to be a black and white checkerboard. This is rooted in Persian dualism (the doctrine that there is a god of good and a god of evil; and that both gods are equal in power and are necessary to the equilibrium of the cosmos), and is totally un-Biblical…. “
      • b) These also symbolize the ‘Abba’ or ‘Father Current’ of Magic and the ‘Aima’ or ‘Mother Current’ of Magic. These currents or ‘lines of power’ come down to us through the centuries from Babylon and Nimrod….
      • “In Satanism, that gesture is known as the sign of ‘The Bowman.’ It is a symbol of the anti-Christ. This Bowman/anti-Christ association IN THE OCCULT… is because of the connection between the Homed God of witchcraft and the hunt. A popular name for the Homed God in England is, in fact, Heme the Hunter.”
      • – Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated by Cathy Burns pg.250
    • “All rings were once magical or sacred. Even goddesses and gods wore rings; Babylonian mythology is replete with stories of the rings of Shamash and Marduk. Rings have also been linked to the zodiac, the yin/yang and the

‘magic circle’ of magicians and Wiccans. Their magical history is complex and fascinating. – Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated by Cathy Burns pg. 323

• The Encyclopedia of Religion mentions that “‘Allah’ is a pre-Islamic name…corresponding to the Babylonian Bel.” – Masonic and Occult Symbols Illustrated by Cathy Burns pg. 424
• In later periods there are isolated instances of henotheism, that is, describing certain individual gods as aspects or even bodily parts of a more important god, as in this hymn addressed to the Babylonian deity Marduk (Foster 1996: 598):
  • Sin is your divinity, Anu your sovereignty,

Dagan is your lordship, Enlil your kingship,

Adad is your might, wise Ea your perception,

Nabu, holder of the tablet stylus, is your learning.

 

A Handbook of Ancient Religions Edited by John Hinnells pg. 190

 

• Marduk, the national god of Babylon, may originally have been a storm deity. Through syncretism with Asalluhi, a god of magic, son of Enki, he became a god of healing and magic and took over many functions of Ea. – A Handbook of Ancient Religions Edited by John Hinnells pg. 193
• The gods might reward good behaviour or they might be exploitative, indifferent or capricious, as in this characterization of the Babylonian god Marduk (Foster 1996: 309):
  • His scourge is barbed and punctures the body,

His bandages are soothing, they heal the doomed.

He speaks and makes one incur many sins,

On the day of his justice sin and guilt are dispelled.

 

A Handbook of Ancient Religions Edited by John Hinnells pg. 201

 

• In second-millennium Babylonia, some temples, such as the temple of the sun-god at Sippar, included residential complexes for sequestered women of local wealthy families. These have sometimes been compared to the cloisters of the Christian world. – A Handbook of Ancient Religions Edited by John Hinnells pg. 209
• Herodotus 1.199 describes temple prostitution in the cult of “Aphrodite” (Mylitta) at Babylon: all “women were required at least once to have intercourse with a stranger within the temple precinct.” He mentions “similar rituals in Cyprus,” at the sanctuaries of Aphrodite at Amathous and Paphos (Paleopaphos). The Acts of St Barnabus refers to a religious procession and “lewd” doings near the Aphrodite sanctuary at Paleopaphos; Justin (Epit. Hist. 18.5, quoting Pompeius Trogus) says “the Cypriots send their young women before marriage to the seashore to get money by prostitution” (cf. Ennius, Euhemerus 134–8; OVID, Met. 10.238–46). Strabo (6.2.6) claims temple prostitution not only for the Paleopaphos sanctuary (his text mirrors Herodotus’s closely) but also for other sanctuaries of Aphrodite, at Corinth, Locri Epizephyrii, and at Eryx, Sicily (cf. Diodorus Siculus 4.83). At Corinth there were “more than a 1,000 sacred prostitutes, whom both men and women dedicated to the goddess,” Aphrodite (Strabo 8.6.20; cf. 12.3.36; cf. Athenaeus 13.573f–574c). Where these prostitutes practiced is not known, probably not at the small temple to Aphrodite on the top of Acrocorinth (elevation 575m; Pausanias 2.4.7). – Sex in the Ancient World by John Younger pg 165
• CONNECTION WITH HINDUISM: Now Oldenberg believes not only that Varuna and Mitra were the Moon and the Sun, but that the Adityas, essentially identical with the Amesha Spents, were the planets. He assumes still further that the whole set, originally, were not Indo-European divinities at all, but that they were borrowed by the Aryans from a Shemitic people presumably the Babylonians far enough advanced in astronomical knowledge to observe the interrelations of sun, moon, and the planets. – The Religion of the Veda by Maurice Bloomfield pg. 133-134

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 1:17: From the carrying away into Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations
• Revelation 14:8: Part of Christ’s gospel message is the 2^nd angel’s message saying Babylon is fallen
• Revelation 16:19: Jesus is God and He will pour out His wrath upon great Babylon (John 10:30)

 

BACKSLIDING

• Sin (Jere 14:7)
• Has to do with idolatry which is spiritual infidelity (Jere 3:6)
• Causes of backsliding include:
  • Cherishing deceit (Jere 8:5)
  • Following own ideas, opinions and impressions (Jere 7:24)
  • Rejecting God’s word (Jere 8:9)
• Backsliders tend to justify themselves (Jere 3:11)
  • Considered to be backsliding children (Jere 3:14, 22)
• Some people are bent on backsliding (Hos 11:7)
• God will cut off those that have backslidden and those who have not sought Him (Zeph 1:4,6)
• When we repent, God promises to heal our backslidings (Jere 3:22; Hos 14:4) There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)

 

BALAAM

• At one point in time, God’s people held the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication. (Rev 2:14)
• The error of Balaam for reward (Jude 1:11)
  • The reward of iniquity doesn’t pay (Act 1:18)
• Balaam was once a good man and a prophet of God; but he had apostatized, and had given himself up to covetousness; yet he still professed to be a servant of the Most High. He was not ignorant of God’s work in behalf of Israel; and when the messengers announced their errand, he well knew that it was his duty to refuse the rewards of Balak and to dismiss the ambassadors. But he ventured to dally with temptation, and urged the messengers to tarry with him that night, declaring that he could give no decided answer till he had asked counsel of the Lord. Balaam knew that his curse could not harm Israel. God was on their side, and so long as they were true to Him no adverse power of earth or hell could prevail against them. But his pride was flattered by the words of the ambassadors, “He whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.” The bribe of costly gifts and prospective exaltation excited his covetousness. He greedily accepted the offered treasures, and then, while professing strict obedience to the will of God, he tried to comply with the desires of Balak. {PP 439.2}
• Balaam “loved the wages of unrighteousness.” 2 Peter 2:15. The sin of covetousness, which God declares to be idolatry, had made him a timeserver, and through this one fault Satan gained entire control of him. It was this that caused his ruin. The tempter is ever presenting worldly gain and honor to entice men from the service of God. He tells them it is their overconscientiousness that keeps them from prosperity. Thus many are induced to venture out of the path of strict integrity. One wrong step makes the next easier, and they become more and more presumptuous. They will do and dare most terrible things when once they have given themselves to the control of avarice and a desire for power. Many flatter themselves that they can depart from strict integrity for a time, for the sake of some worldly advantage, and that having gained their object, they can change their course when they please. Such are entangling themselves in the snare of Satan, and it is seldom that they escape. {PP 439.5}
• The greatest sin which now exists in the church is covetousness. God frowns upon his professed people for their selfishness. His servants have sacrificed their time and their strength to carry them the word of life, and many have prized it just as highly, and no more, as their works have shown. If they can help the servant of God just as well as not, they sometimes do it; but he is often left to pass on, and but little done for him. But if they employ a day laborer, he must be paid full wages. But the self-sacrificing servant of God labors for them in word and doctrine; he carries the heavy burden of the work on his soul; he patiently shows from the word of God the dangerous errors which are hurtful to the soul; he enforces the necessity of immediately tearing up the weeds which choke the good seed sown; he brings out of the storehouse of God’s word things new and old to feed the flock of God. All acknowledge that they have been benefited; but the poisonous weed, covetousness, is so deeply rooted they let the servant of God leave them without administering of their temporal things. They have prized his wearing labor just as highly as they act. Says the True Witness, “I know thy works.” {2SG 236.1}

 

BANDS / CORDS

• Of affliction (Job 36:8)
• Of sin (Prov 5:22, Isa 5:18)
  • Strengthened by mocking particularly at sin (Isa 28:22, Prov 14:9)
• Of love (Hos 11:4)
  • If mocking at sin strengthens one’s enslavement to sin than exalting in obedience and Jesus must strengthen the bands of love
• Silken cords of affection {GC 597.1}
  • Parental, filial, conjugal or social
• Can be made stronger (Isa 28:22) [see fool]
• Can be weakened or broken by fire (Judg 15:14; 16:9)
• A donkey has bands (Job 39:5) [see wild ass] [see ass/donkey]

 

BANNER

• Of love (Song of Sol 2:4) {RH May 30, 1907, par. 1}
• Of the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (CM 122.2)
• Of truth and religious liberty (AA 68.2) {PUR July 6, 1905, par. 3}
• Of the third angel’s message (CH 594.2)
• Of temperance (2SM 226.3)
• Of the cross (AA 370.1)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 John 4:8-10: God is love. God so loved us that although we were sinners Christ died for us.
• John 14:15: Lovers of Jesus keep the commandments of God.
• 1 Corinthians 16:22: If any man does not love Jesus, let him be Anathema, let him be separated from the church
• Galatians 2:20: Christ is to live in us by faith. We are to live by the faith of the Son of God who loves us and gave himself for us.
• John 17:17: Jesus prayed that His people would be sanctified by the truth and the word is truth
• Luke 21:34: Jesus taught that we should be temperate. No overeating and no drinking alcohol.
• 1 Corinthians 1:17, 18: Christ sent Paul to preach the gospel. He preached the cross for it is the power of God
• Matthew 10:38: Those that refuse to take up a life of self-denial, sacrifice and service which characterised every step Christ took to the cross, are not worthy of Jesus.
• Matthew 16:24: Jesus says to us to take up a life of self-denial and follow Him.
• Luke 14:27: whosoever does not take up a life of self-denial, and rather chooses self-indulgence cannot be Jesus’ disciple.

 

 

BAPTISM

• Only one baptism which God approves of (Eph 4:5)
  • Minister and candidate both in the water (Acts 8:36-38)
  • Immersion
    • “much water” John 3:23
    • The people passed through the SEA (Ex 14:21-22)
      • (1 Cor 10:2)
    • Quickly immersed and lifted out (Matt 3:13-17)
    • In the name of the Father, Son & Holy Ghost (Matt 28:19)
  • Of repentance (Mark 1:4, Luke 3:3, Acts 13:24)
    • With water (Matt 3:11)
  • Of John (Mark 11:30, Luke 7:29, 20:4)
    • He baptized with the baptism of repentance (Acts 19:4)
  • Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire (Matt 3:11, Luke 3:16) [see fire]
    • Jesus didn’t baptize with water while on earth, but His disciples did (do) (John 4:1-2)
  • A figure of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 3:21, Rom 6:3-6)
  • Baptism – washing away of sins while calling on the name of the Lord (Act 22:16)
  • It’s the answer of a good conscience toward God (1 Pet 3:21)
  • The ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper are two monumental pillars, one without and one within the church. Upon these ordinances Christ has inscribed the name of the true God. {6T 91.1}
  • Christ has made baptism the sign of entrance to His spiritual kingdom. He has made this a positive condition with which all must comply who wish to be acknowledged as under the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Before man can find a home in the church, before passing the threshold of God’s spiritual kingdom, he is to receive the impress of the divine name, “The Lord our Righteousness.” Jeremiah 23:6. {6T 91.2}
  • Baptism is a most solemn renunciation of the world. Those who are baptized in the threefold name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, at the very entrance of their Christian life declare publicly that they have forsaken the service of Satan and have become members of the royal family, children of the heavenly King. They have obeyed the command: “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, … and touch not the unclean thing.” And to them is fulfilled the promise: “I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17, 18. {6T 91.3}
  • Baptism is a most sacred and important ordinance, and there should be a thorough understanding as to its meaning. It means repentance for sin, and the entrance upon a new life in Christ Jesus. There should be no undue haste to receive the ordinance. Let both parents and children count the cost. In consenting to the baptism of their children, parents sacredly pledge themselves to be faithful stewards over these children, to guide them in their character building. They pledge themselves to guard with special interest these lambs of the flock, that they may not dishonor the faith they profess. {6T 93.3}
  • Before they receive the ordinance, ask them if it is to be their first purpose in life to work for God. Then tell them how to begin. It is the first lessons that mean so much. In simplicity teach them how to do their first service for God. Make the work as easy to be understood as possible. Explain what it means to give up self to the Lord, to do just as His word directs, under the counsel of Christian parents. {6T 94.1}
  • …Bring the requirements of the gospel to bear upon the candidates for baptism. {6T 95.2}
  • Whenever possible, let baptism be administered in a clear lake or running stream. And give to the occasion all the importance and solemnity that can be brought into it. At such a service angels of God are always present. {6T 97.2}
  • The one who administers the ordinance of baptism should seek to make it an occasion of solemn, sacred influence upon all spectators. Every ordinance of the church should be so conducted as to be uplifting in its influence. Nothing is to be made common or cheap, or placed on a level with common things. Our churches need to be educated to greater respect and reverence for the sacred service of God. As ministers conduct the services connected with God’s worship, so they are educating and training the people. Little acts that educate and train and discipline the soul for eternity are of vast consequence in the uplifting and sanctifying of the church. In every church, baptismal robes should be provided for the candidates. This should not be regarded as a needless outlay of means. It is one of the things required in obedience to the injunction: “Let all things be done decently and in order.” 1 Corinthians 14:40. {6T 97.3-4}

 

BARS OF A CASTLE

• Contention (Prov 18:19)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Philippians 1:15-17: Some preach Christ out of envy and strife. Some of good will. One preaches Christ out of contention and another out of love.
  • Pro 18:6-7  A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
    • When one is able to control their mouth, they then are able to control their whole body (Jam 3:2)
  • Preaching out of envy and strife is likely to stir up heated disagreement. Emotionally charged arguments are like bars of a castle. It’s hard to bend the arguments of your opponent in your favour when he is angry.
• Philippians 1:18: Although Christ is preached out of envy and strife sometimes, we can still rejoice because Christ is preached.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BARBER’S RAZOR that comes upon our heads

• God’s Word (Eze 5:1, Heb 4:12).
  • Every word of God is pure (Prov 30:5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 1:1: Jesus is the Word and He through the power of His word can change people’s hearts

 

BASHAN

• Bulls of Bashan compared to wicked people which killed Jesus (Psa 22:12)
• Fatlings of (Eze 39:23
• Rams of the breed of (Deut 32:14)
• Oaks of (Isa 2:13)
• Og, the king of Bashan, was at Ashtaroth (Josh 9:10; 12:4)

 

BEAR

• People/person (Isa 59:11)
• Robbed of her cubs= Folly (Prov 17:12)
• Robbed of her cubs (2)=bitter warlike men
• Ranging bear=wicked ruler over the poor (Prov 28:15)
• Compared to God (Lam 3:10)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 2:10: Jesus is a mighty warlike man even the Captain of our salvation who destroys the wicked off of the earth.

 

BEAST

• Kingdom/world power (Dan 7:17 *23* to 25, GC443.1-.2, 448.3).
  • Kingdom is made up of people (Psa 102:22; 105:13)
• Note that a kingdom is a civil power
  • Satan uses civil powers to persecute God’s people (Rev 2:10)
  • Fleshly people will persecute spiritual people (Gal 4:29)
  • Flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit is contrary to the flesh (Gal 5:17)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 4:17  The kingdoms of this world are going to pass away. Jesus warned the people saying “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BEAST (2)

• Person/People (Psa 49:12)
• Person that doesn’t understand (Psa 49:20) (Psa 73:22)
• Beasts groan and are perplexed because of a lack of pasture (food) (Joel 1:18)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 1:29: Jesus is symbolized as a beast or an animal. Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. Sometimes people don’t understand many things, but Jesus understands all things.

 

BED [see couch]

• Grave (Job 17:13, Psa 139:8, Isa 57:1-2)
  • Compared to death (Hos 13:14)
• Worship (Isa 57:7,8)
• Inside house (Psa 132:3) [see house]
• Of love (Eze 23:17)
  • Fornication/spiritual adultery
• Stately bed (Eze 23:41)
• Policies (Isa 28:20)
  • Short bed signifies insufficiency
• Bed or couch (Job 7:13, Psa 6:6)
  • Bed or couch was green (Song Sol 1:16) [see emerald / green]
• The righteous die sometimes because great evil is to come in the future. God in His mercy removes them from great suffering to come. (Isa 57:1-2)

 

BEE [see brier] [see thorns] ß negative connotation, bees have both (-) & (+)

• Amorites came out against God’s people and chased them as bees do (Deut 1:41-45)
• Pagan nations surrounded the Psalmist and his nation like a swarm of bees. They were quenched like the fire of thorns. (Psa 118:10-12)
• In the land of Assyria (Isa 7:18)
• Swarm of bees and honey in the carcase of a lion (Judge 14:8)
• Bees sting: 1 Corinthians 15:56àSting=kentron=poison sting. It is the sting of death. The sting of death is sin for the wages of sin is death *Rom 6:23 + Jam 1:15*
  • Scorpions also sting (Rev 9:10) [see scorpions]
• Bees produce honey [see honey]
• Deborah means bee – orderly systematic instincts (Judg 4:4, Isa 7:18)

 

BELT

• Of truth (Eph 6:14)

 

BESOM / BROOM

• Of destruction (Isa 14:23)
• House should be swept and in good order (Matt 12:43,44; Luke 11:24-26)
• Sweep the house to find the lost piece of silver *coin* (Luke 15:8-10)

 

BIRDS [see net]

• People (Psa 124:7, Prov 6:5; 27:8, Luke 12:24)
  • Cyrus as a ravenous bird (Isa 45:1; 46:11)
• All birds entered the ark in sevens (Gen 7:3)
• Clean and unclean birds (Deut 14:20)
• Speckled or spotted birds can represent God’s backslidden heritage (Jere 12:9) [see spots]
• Deceit (Jere 5:27)
• In vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird (Prov 1:17)
• Babylon the great is the habitation of devils, the hold of every foul spirit and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird (Rev 18:2)
  • Some of God’s people are still in Babylon and need to be called out so they will not be partakers of Babylon’s sins, and that they receive not of her plagues. (Rev 18:4)
  • Babylon is a house – church – filled with people – who are being deceived and are deceived
• Job 28:7  There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:
  • The thing that is hid is revealed by God (Job 28:11)
• Abram drove the fowls away from the carcases (Gen 15:9-11)

 

BITTER [see sweet]

• Misery (Job 3:20)
  • Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of and the sorrow of the world works death (2 Cor 7:10)
• Evil and darkness (Isa 5:20)
• Sharp (Prov 5:4) [see “sword” – relating to sorrow]
• To the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet (Prov 27:7)

 

BLASPHEMY

• Claiming to forgive sins which is God’s work and not man’s (Mark 2:5-7)
• Claiming to be God when only a man (John 10:30-33)

 

BLESSING

• God blesses and desires that we become a blessing to others (Gen 12:2-3)
• Becoming a mother and having a child are blessings (Gen 17:16)
• Blessing is connected with having a big family or great lineage (Gen 26:24)
• Blessing of heaven, of the dep, of the breasts and of the womb (Gen 49:25)
• The Lord blesses our food, water and takes sickness away (Ex 23:25)
• The Lord blesses in all work (Deut 14:29)
• The Lord blesses the righteous with favour (Psa 5:12)
• The Lord blesses those who fear Him (Psa 115:13)
• The Lord blesses with peace (Psa 29:11)
• While we are alive, we should bless the Lord at all times (Psa 34:1, 63:4)
• Some bless with their mouth but they curse inwardly (Psa 62:4)
• Bless and do good to those that hate you and pray for them too (Matt 5:44, Luke 6:28)
• Bless the persecutors (Rom 12:14)
• Jesus came to bless us in turning us away from our iniquities (Act 3:26)
• Cup of blessing (1 Cor 10:16)
• Poor in spirit are blessed (Matt 5:3)
• Mourners are blessed (Matt 5:4)
• Meek are blessed (Matt 5:5)
• Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are blessed (Matt 5:6)
• Merciful are blessed (Matt 5:7)
• Pure in heart are blessed (Matt 5:8)
• Peacemakers are blessed (Matt 5:9)
  • Christ’s followers are sent to the world with the message of peace. Whoever, by the quiet, unconscious influence of a holy life, shall reveal the love of Christ; whoever, by word or deed, shall lead another to renounce sin and yield his heart to God, is a peacemaker. {MB 28.1}
• The persecuted are blessed (Matt 5:10)
• The hated are blessed (Matt 10:11)
• Those not offended of Christ are blessed (Matt 11:6)
• Blessed when we can spiritually see and hear (Matt 13:16)
• Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord (Matt 21:9)
• Workers in the gospel are blessed (Matt 24:46)
• Those who don’t follow the ungodly are blessed (Psa 1:1)
• Those who trust the Son are blessed (Psa 2:12, 34:8)
• Those who are forgiven are blessed (Psa 32:1)
• No guile – blessed (Psa 32:2)
• Don’t respect the proud and those who turn to lies – blessed (Psa 40:4)
• Consider the poor – blessed (Psa 41:1)
• Chastened and taught out of God’s law – blessed (Psa 94:12)
• Blessed when we keep judgment and do righteousness at all times (Psa 106:3)
• Delight in the commandments – blessed (Psa 112:1)
• Upright are blessed (Psa 112:2)
• Those who are undefiled – walk in the law are blessed (Psa 119:1)
• More blessed to give than to receive (Act 20:35)
• REVELATION
  1. Read, hear, keep prophecy of this book – blessed (Rev 1:3)
  2. Those that die in the Lord are blessed (Rev 14:13)
  3. He who watches and keeps his garments is blessed (Rev 16:15
  4. They who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb are blessed (Rev 19:9)
  5. Blessed and holy are those in the first resurrection (Rev 20:6)
  6. Keep the sayings of this Rev prophecy – blessed (Rev 22:7)
  7. They that do His commandments are blessed (Rev 22:14)
• God blesses with spiritual blessings (Eph 1:3)
• Blessed hope – 2^nd coming (Tit 2:13)
• Blessed are those who have not seen JC yet have believed (John 20:29)
• Blessed when people separate you from their company and speak evil of you (Luke 6:22)
• Hear the word and keep it – blessed (Luke 11:28)

 

BLOOD [see soap]

• Reconciliation (Lev 6:30)
• Jesus’ blood (Matt26:28, Heb 9:22)
• Is connected with life (Prov 1:18, Lev 17:11)
• Through JC blood there is forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14)
  • Pardon and cleanse are synonymous (Jere 33:8)
• Redeemed by Jesus’ blood (Rev 5:9)
• Sanctified by Jesus’ blood (Heb 13:12)
  • Sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb 10:11)
  • By one offering, Jesus Christ perfected and sanctified (Heb 10:14)
• Sanctified by the blood of the covenant (Heb 10:29)
• By blood (death) a testament (agreement) is strengthened or ratified (Heb 9:16-22)
• by the blood of the covenant, God rescues prisoners out of the pit where in it there is no water (Zech 9:11)
• We should not eat animal fat and blood (Lev 3:17; 7:23,26)
• Blood of war on the girdle and in shoes (1King 2:5)
• God has made of one blood all nations of men (Act 17:26)
  • God is not far from everyone of us (Act 17:27)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 26:28: Jesus’ blood figuratively cleanses us from sin. His sacrifice made a way for us to be saved. When sin is finished it brings forth death. Through Christ’s blood sacrifice, we have the chance to inherit eternal life. Through studying, thinking on and practicing the word of life, we will receive eternal life. (Jam 1:15, John 6:53,54; Philippians 2:16)

 

BLOT

• Shame (Prov 9:7)
  • Pride goes before shame (Prov 11:2)
  • Opposite of glory is shame (Hab 2:16)
  • The unjust have no shame (Zeph 3:5)
• Blot out means to erase and get rid of something (Ex 32:32-33, Deut 9:14)
• Blotting out of transgressions / sin (Psa 51:1,9, Jere 18:23)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 12:2: Jesus despised the shame of his death which He suffered willingly to save you and I. He was mocked and shamed as a heinous criminal for us. (Luke 18:32)

 

 

 

 

BLUE / SAPPHIRE

• 10 Commandments/law of God (Numb 15:38-40)
• Truth (Psalm 119:151, 1 John 2:4)
  • {SSP 344.3}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 9:20-22: On the border or hem of Christ’s garment there may have been a ribbon of blue. She reached out to Jesus, the Lawgiver and Great Physician, and she was healed.

 

BOND

• Of iniquity (Act 8:23) [see iniquities] [see gall]
• Of peace (Eph 4:3)
• Of perfectness is charity (Col 3:14)

 

BONES

• House of Israel/people [see house] [see Israel] (Eze 37:11)
  • The house of Israel goes into captivity for their iniquity and trespasses against God (Eze 39:23)
  • The spirit of God is poured out on the house of Israel (Eze 39:29)
• Bones full of sin of his youth (Job 20:11)
• A merry heart does good like a medicine but a broken spirit dries the bones (Prov 17:22)
• Broken bones connected with sadness/depression/grief (Psa 51:8)
• Increase in age connected with broken bones (Lam 3:4)
• Dead body came into contact with Elisha’s bones and the body received life (2King 13:21)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Numbers 9:12, Psalm 34:20, John 19:33-36: Jesus’ bones were intact. None were broken

 

BOOKS

• The Lord gave the word and great was the company of those that published it. (Psa 68:11)
• Publish peace. Publish salvation and bring good tidings. (Isa 52:7)
• The gospel must first be published among all nations (Mark 13:10)
• Book of generations (genealogies) (Gen 5:1)
• Events were written in books to memorize important events (Ex 17:14)
• Book of the covenant (Ex 24:7)
  • In the house of the Lord (2Ki_23:2)
• Curses written down in a book (Num 5:23, Deut 29:21)
• Book of the wars of the LORD (Num 21:14)
  • War incident – book of Jasher (Josh 10:13, 2Sam 1:18 )
• Book of the law (Deut 30:10; 31:26)
  • Jos_1:8  This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
  • Blessings and cursings in it (Josh 8:34)
  • Of God (Josh 24:26)
  • Ezra the scribe brought the book of the law of Moses out and stood before the congregation. He read from morning to midday. Both men and women were gathered together. They were attentive to the book of the law. Ezra stood on a pulpit of wood which they made for the purpose. And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. Beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. (Neh 8:1-7)
    • they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. (Neh 8:8)
    • Ezra was a ready scribe…a writer (Ezra 7:6,11)
  • The king should read it all the days of his life that he may learn to fear the Lord, keep his words and do them. He will remain humble and will have a long life (Deut 17:18-20)
• Books make up the complete Bible.
  • Psa_40:7  Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
  • Heb_10:7  Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
• Baruch recorded Jeremiah’s words to Judah and the Lord’s house in a roll of a book. Jeremiah the prophet’s message was read in the Lord’s house on the fasting day. (Jere 36:1-8)
  • Jehudi got the roll, read four leaves, cut it and threw it in the fire. Jehudi, the king and his servants didn’t take the message seriously and rejected the Lord’s messenger. (Jere 36:23-24)
  • Jesus read from the “Bible” in a synagogue on the Sabbath. (Luke 4:16)
  • The Bible and the SOP go hand in hand. We can present them together to the Lord’s people.
• King Artaxerxes had a book of records (Ezra 4:15)
• And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (Ecc 12:12)
  • God writes books (Ex 32:32)
  • The wicked write books containing evil and witchcraft (Act 19:19)
• Understand by books (Dan 9:2)
• Paul used books (2 Tim 4:13)
• Since the investigative judgment began, the books have been opened. (Dan 7:10, Rev 20:12)
  • Judgment begins at the house of God (1 Pet 4:17)
• Of life (Psa 69:28; Php_4:3, Rev_3:5; 13:8; 17:8; 20:12; 20:15; 21:27; 22:19)
  • The righteous are recorded in the book of life
  • Luke 10:19, 20. To be enrolled in the book of life is the

highest honor given mortals. C.O.L. 299.

• 4:3. Names of faithful workers recorded. D.A. 313, 638.
• 32:33. Names of those who cling to sin will be removed.

G.C. 483, 486.

• 3:5. Names of the faithful retained. G.C. 484.
• 13:8; 17:8. Wicked are not recorded. G.C. 483.
• 20:15. None will be saved whose names are not recorded in the book of life. Isa. 4:3, margin; Ps. 69:28; Heb. 12:23; Dan. 12:1.

• Of remembrance
  • 3:16-18. The book of remembrance records thoughts and victories gained. D.A. 637; G.C. 481
• God’s book
  • 56:8. Our wanderings and tears of repentance are

recorded in God’s book. G.C. 481.

• 87:4-6. Place of birth and influences that go to make up

our characters.

• 139:15, 16. The members of our body are written in the

Lord’s book.

• 2:1-5. A man’s life is written so accurately that if he

professes one thing and lives another, he treasurers up wrath

against the day or wrath. G.C. 487.

• Of death
  • 17:13. Those who forsake God are written in the earth, or

book of death. E.W. 52; G.C. 661.

• Hosea 13:12; Job 14:17. Sins sealed up.
• 32:32-36. Sins of the wicked are all laid up in store

until the day of punishment. G.C. 666.

• In Job’s final appeal he said “Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.” (Job 31:35-36)
• Brother M. was requested to lead out in the conference. He did so by presenting an illustration showing the relation which the law, sin and the gospel sustain to one another. Placing three books on the table to represent these three, he said; “We will suppose that the law is done away; we will remove the law (removing that book which stood for the law). Sin is the transgression of the law. When there is no law, there (10) is no transgression, no sin. We will remove sin. (taking away the book which stood for sin) Where there is no law, and hence no sin, there is no need of the gospel (removing the last book). What have we left? Brother M. then spoke decidedly upon the immutability of the law of God, and its sacred claims upon every member of the human family. The meeting lasted till past 11 p.m. {EA 130.4}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 21:24-25 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
• John 1:1-17: Jesus is the Word made flesh.

 

BORN AGAIN

• Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3)
• By the word of God (1Pet 1:23)
  • Begotten by the word of truth (Jam 1:18)
  • Engrafted word saves the soul (Jam 1:21)
• Through faith – receive strength to conceive (Heb 11:11)
• “Born again” means a transformation, a new birth in Christ Jesus. {RH April 13, 1897, par. 13}
• Many who speak to others of the need of a new heart do not themselves know what is meant by these words. The youth especially stumble over this phrase, “a new heart.” They do not know what it means. They look for a special change to take place in their feelings. This they term conversion. Over this error thousands have stumbled to ruin, not understanding the expression, “Ye must be born again.” {YI September 26, 1901, par. 2}
• When Jesus speaks of the new heart, he means the mind, the life, the whole being. To have a change of heart is to withdraw the affections from the world, and fasten them upon Christ. To have a new heart is to have a new mind, new purposes, new motives. What is the sign of a new heart?—A changed life. There is a daily, hourly dying to selfishness and pride. {YI September 26, 1901, par. 5}
• “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by (obedience to) the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.” [1 Peter 1:23.] Every human agent that shall be an overcomer must experience the decided change that is represented as “being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible.” This new birth means a work done through receiving Jesus Christ, the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever. When supernatural truths are taken by the divine Spirit and impressed upon the human heart, shining in bright rays of new light and new conception into the chambers of the mind, man’s senses are awakened to co-operate with God in the divine work. {Ms63-1900.8}
• This is my trouble, knowing that every church member, children of the fallen Adam, must either be born again or never see God. Saith our Lord to all who repent, “A new heart will I give thee”—that is, a new birth. [Ezekiel 36:26.] Let us act in full confidence and trustfulness. The Lord suffers our faith to be tested, that we may know how to endure the trying of our faith. I have, in contemplation of my work as God’s messenger, to repeat over and over the messages given me, notwithstanding so little heed is given to the messages God has sent. While the messages of error and pleasing fables of which God has warned in His Word are accepted, the warnings through the messenger He has used to open before them dangers which concern the welfare of their souls are not regarded. They give heed to deceiving spirits and refuse the messages of correction. {Lt352-1905.7}
  • If we overcome our trials and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we endure the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold, and are stronger and better prepared to meet the next. But if we sink down and give way to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker and get no reward for the trial and shall not be so well prepared for the next. In this way we shall grow weaker and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan at his will. We must have on the whole armor of God and be ready at any moment for a conflict with the powers of darkness. When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty, but will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy. Oh, that all could see these things in their true light and endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus! Then would Israel move forward, strong in God, and in the power of His might. {EW 46.2}
• By constant obedience those who are born again are fitted for service. The entire being is to be placed under the molding, fashioning hand of God, that physical, mental, and spiritual perfection may be attained. Christians are to grow to the full stature of men and women in Christ. {RH January 14, 1902, Art. A, par. 9}

 

BOTTLES / VESSELS [see dross]

• The book of life (Psa 56:8) [see fish]
• In the smoke *a person/people* (Psa 119:83)
• Hearts compared to new bottles (Job 32:19,20)
  • Filled with wine, relieve pressure by speaking truth
• Of wrath (Rom 9:22)
• Of mercy (Rom 9:23)
• Of heaven (Job 38:37)
• Nation – Moab was broken like a vessel in which God had no pleasure (Jere 48:38)
• People (2 Tim 2:19-21, Lam 4:2, Jere 13:12,13)
  • Filled bowls (Zech 9:15)
  • Burning lips utter warm words of love and affection, but when the heart is wicked these lying words are useless like an earthen vessel covered with silver dross. (Prov 26:23) [see wicked]
• Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. (Prov 26:23)
• Israel (Hos 8:8)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 5:38: Jesus taught that new wine belongs in new bottles.
  • New wine makes the maids glad (Zech 9:17)

 

BOTTOMLESS PIT

• In Luke 8:30-31 – deep in Greek is abussos – abyss or bottomless
  • Rom 10:7 – used to refer to the grave
  • Note that in Revelation “bottomless pit” is abussos phrear
• An angel from heaven has the key to bottomless pit (Rev 20:1)
• Satan is cast into the bottomless pit for 1,000 years (Rev 20:2,3)
• The angel of the bottomless pit is named in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. (Rev 9:11)
• A beast comes out of the bottomless pit and makes war against the two witnesses (Rev 11:7)
  • “When they shall have finished [are finishing] their testimony.” The period when the two witnesses were to prophesy clothed in sackcloth, ended in 1798. As they were approaching the termination of their work in obscurity, war was to be made upon them by the power represented as “the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit.” In many of the nations of Europe the powers that ruled in church and state had for centuries been controlled by Satan through the medium of the papacy. But here is brought to view a new manifestation of satanic power. {GC 268.3}
  • It had been Rome’s policy, under a profession of reverence for the Bible, to keep it locked up in an unknown tongue and hidden away from the people. Under her rule the witnesses prophesied “clothed in sackcloth.” But another power—the beast from the bottomless pit—was to arise to make open, avowed war upon the word of God. {GC 269.1}
  • “The great city” in whose streets the witnesses are slain, and where their dead bodies lie, is “spiritually” Egypt. Of all nations presented in Bible history, Egypt most boldly denied the existence of the living God and resisted His commands. No monarch ever ventured upon more open and highhanded rebellion against the authority of Heaven than did the king of Egypt. When the message was brought him by Moses, in the name of the Lord, Pharaoh proudly answered: “Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto His voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2, A.R.V. This is atheism, and the nation represented by Egypt would give voice to a similar denial of the claims of the living God and would manifest a like spirit of unbelief and defiance. “The great city” is also compared, “spiritually,” to Sodom. The corruption of Sodom in breaking the law of God was especially manifested in licentiousness. And this sin was also to be a pre-eminent characteristic of the nation that should fulfill the specifications of this scripture. {GC 269.2}
• That the expression “bottomless pit” represents the earth in a state of confusion and darkness is evident from other scriptures. Concerning the condition of the earth “in the beginning,” the Bible record says that it “was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep.” [The Hebrew word here translated “deep” is rendered in the Septuagint (Greek) translation of the Hebrew Old Testament by the same word rendered “bottomless pit” In Revelation 20:1-3.] Genesis 1:2. Prophecy teaches that it will be brought back, partially at least, to this condition. Looking forward to the great day of God, the prophet Jeremiah declares: “I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down.” Jeremiah 4:23-26. {GC 658.3}
• Here is to be the home of Satan with his evil angels for a thousand years. Limited to the earth, he will not have access to other worlds to tempt and annoy those who have never fallen. It is in this sense that he is bound: there are none remaining, upon whom he can exercise his power. He is wholly cut off from the work of deception and ruin which for so many centuries has been his sole delight. {GC 659.1}

 

BOW & ARROW

• preparing for or speaking lies (Jere 9:3)
• deceitful bow- God’s backslidden people (Psa 78:56,57)
  • *doesn’t shoot straight, disappoints the archer*
• Gog had his bow in his left hand and his arrows in his right hand

(Eze 39:1-3)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 2:2: Jesus warned of false apostles found to be liars, and liars will die the second death (Rev 21:8)

 

BOWING WALL & TOTTERING FENCE

• mischievous/violent people that are headed for judgment (Psa 62:3-4)
  • those that seek mischief will experience mischief against them (Prov 11:27)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 12:36: Every idle word that mischievous and violent people have spoken will be known by God, and they will have to give an account of their words.

 

 

 

 

 

BRANCH

• People (Rom 11:17-21)
  • Broken off because of unbelief
  • Natural branches are the Hebrew Israelites (Rom 11:24)
• The ancient and honourable (Isa 9:14,15)
• Jesus Christ (Jere 23:5,6; 33:15,16, Isa 11:1-4, Act 13:22,23, Matt 3:16, Rev 1:16, 2:16, 19:15, 21)

 

BRASS

• impudence and sin, warlike. (Isa.48:4. Jer.6:28-29, Mic 4:13)
• base metal – lackluster / corrupt people / evildoers (Jere 6:28-29, Isa 1:4, Eze 22:20)
• dross metal – The inhabitants of Judea are described as a mass of the baser metals intermixed with the impure residue of silver. The good silver had been drained out of Judah by death or exile, and those who remained had altogether become a compound of wickedness. (Eze 22:18)
• Brass out of stone (Job 28:2)

 

BREAD

• Of deceit (Prov 20:17)
  • Is sweet but it turns out not so pleasant in the end.
• Of sorrows (Psa 127:2)
• Of adversity (Isa 30:20) *appears synonymous w/affliction*
• Of affliction (1King 22:27, 2Chron 18:26)
  • Affliction/punishment teaches us to keep God’s law (Psa 119:71)
  • And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort. The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin. Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ. We are to humble the soul before God. The ways of the Lord are obscure to him who desires to see things in a light pleasing to himself. They appear dark and joyless to our human nature. But God’s ways are ways of mercy and the end is salvation. Elijah knew not what he was doing when in the desert he said that he had had enough of life, and prayed that he might die. The Lord in His mercy did not take him at his word. There was yet a great work for Elijah to do; and when his work was done, he was not to perish in discouragement and solitude in the wilderness. Not for him the descent into the dust of death, but the ascent in glory, with the convoy of celestial chariots, to the throne on high. {DA 301.1}
• Of heaven (Psa 105:40)
  • Num 11:9  When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
• Of men (Eze 24:17)
• True bread – the Father gives true bread (John 6:32)
• Eating of bread can refer to making your home (Amos 7:12)
• word of God (Psa 104:15, Matt 4:4)
  • Those that despise the word will be destroyed (Prov 13:13)
  • Lord preserves His word (Psa 12:6,7)
• Unleavened bread of sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:8)
  • Serve God in sincerity and in truth: and put away our idols (Josh 24:14)
• people (Psa 14:4, 53:4)
• flesh (Psa 78:20)
• strengthens people’s hearts (Psa 104:15)
• Don’t eat the bread of those who have an evil eye (Prov 23:6)
  • Those that pursue riches have an evil eye (Prov 28:22)
• Has been bruised (Isa 28:28)
• Bread connected to and compared with stone (Luke 11:11)
• He that works his land will be satisfied with bread (Prov 12:11)
• Break bread from house to house (Acts 2:46)
• When meat is cut off, there is no joy and gladness from the house of God (Joel 1:16)
• By the means of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread (Prov 6:26)
  • For a piece of bread a man will transgress (Prov 28:21)
  • Give up possessions and freedom for bread (Gen 47:19)
• The Psalmist wrote that his heart was so smitten and withered like grass that he forgot to eat his bread (Psa 102:4)
• Heart is comforted with a morsel of bread (Judg 19:5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 Peter 2:21-22: Jesus was perfect and He did not practice deceit.
• Isaiah 53:3: Jesus was a man of sorrows
• John 6:51: Jesus is the bread of heaven even living bread
  • Jesus is the true bread even the bread of life (John 6:33, 35, 48)
• John 1:1,14: Jesus is the word of God made flesh
• Matthew 8:20: Jesus was man that had no permanent home and no great comforts
• Isaiah 63:9: In our affliction, Jesus is afflicted. He feels our sufferings and cares about what we experience.
• Luke 24:35: Jesus was all of a sudden recognizable when breaking bread

 

BREAK

• dash (Psalm 2:5,8)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 4:6: Satan tempted Christ by misquoting Psalm 91 which refers to angels bearing Christ up so He doesn’t dash His foot
• Psalm 34:20: None of Christ’s bones were broken

BREASTPLATE

• Of righteousness (Eph 6:14, Isa 59:17)
• Of faith and love (1 Thess 5:8)

 

BRIDE

• Jerusalem (Isa 62:5)
• God’s people (Jere 2:32)

 

BRIDEGROOM

• Sun (Psa 19:4,5)
  • which is a symbol of Jesus à Mal 4:2, Matt 9:14,15
• God (Isa 62:5)
• Friend of the bridegroom is John the Baptist (John 3:29)
  • Our work is the same as that given to John the Baptist (8T 9)
  • He was to bear to the world an unflinching testimony in reproving and denouncing sin (2SM 147)
  • In his mission the Baptist had stood as a fearless reprove of iniquity, both in high places and in low (DA 215)
  • All who are truly engaged in the work of the Lord for these last days wll have a decided message to bear (8T 9)
• Those who wait for the Bridegroom’s coming are to say to the people, “Behold your God.” The last rays of merciful light, the last message of mercy to be given to the world, is a revelation of His character of love. The children of God are to manifest His glory. In their own life and character they are to reveal what the grace of God has done for them. The light of the Sun of Righteousness is to shine forth in good works—in words of truth and deeds of holiness. {COL 415.5-416.1}

 

BRIER [see bee] [see thorns] [see enemies]

• Thorns of the wilderness (Judg 8:7,16)
• Thistle: person or kingdom (2King 14:9-10)
• Corrupt mischievous evil-doing people (Mic 7:2-4)
• Thorns compared with bramble bushes and these compared/contrasted with trees (Luke 6:44) [see trees]
• Abimelech compared to a bramble. He was a murderer and traitor to his brothers (Judg 9:15)
• Lazy people are void of understanding. The slothful vineyard owner has a vineyard full of thorns and his stone wall is broken down (Prov 24:30-32)
  • He is wise in his own conceit (Prov 26:16)

 

BRIGANDINE [see breastplate] [see helmet] [see sword] [see shield] [see shoes]

• Coat of chain mail (Jere 46:4, 51:3)
• Armour of righteousness (2 Cor 6:7)

 

 

 

 

 

BRINGETH

• maketh (Psa 33:10)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 21:5: Jesus will make all things new.

 

BROTHERLY KINDNESS

• “And to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness.” [2 Peter 1:6, 7.] Do we understand what brotherly kindness means? As those whom Christ has died to redeem, we should be like a family of brothers and sisters. We should treat one another kindly, tenderly. How does God regard those whom He desires to redeem? We read that He “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” [John 3:16.] {Ms41-1908.19}

 

BUD

• People (noun) (Eze 16:7)
• To spring forth (verb) (Isa 61:11)
• Gone forth (verb) (Eze 7:10)
• Water prompts seed to bud (Job 14:9, 38:27)
• Rain and snow provide water for plants to bud – gives seed to the sower and bread to eater (Isa 55:10)
• Bud is to be perfect before the harvest (Isa 18:5)
• Israel will blossom and bud (Isa 27:6)
• No stalk, no bud, no meal (Hos 8:7)
• Aaron’s staff budded (Num 17:8)
• Bud à blossom à fruit (Gen 40:10)
• Blossomed = budded, rod = pride, morning-rod-bud (Eze 7:10)

 

BURDEN [see sin]

• Iniquity which is also sin (Psa 38:4, 18)
  • Because of the burden of our iniquities/sins we are unable to look up (Psa 40:12)
  • our sins are burdensome to God (Isa 43:24)
• Sin is a burden – we ought to lay our sins aside (Heb 12:1)
  • We ought to strive against sin (Heb 12:4)
• Experience heaviness (burdened) through manifold temptations (1 Pet 1:6)
• Bear one another’s burdens and in so doing fulfil the law of Christ (Gal 6:2)
  • Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. (Jam 5:16)
• Every man shall bear his own burden (Gal 6:5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 53:4-6: Jesus was a burden bearer. He carried our griefs and our sorrows. He carried our sins to the cross.
• Matthew 11:28: Jesus said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

 

BURNT OFFERINGS

• humility (Psa 51:16,17)
• serve the Lord with all humility of mind (Act 20:19)
• must willingly offer ourselves (Judg 5:2,9)
• The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psa 51:17)
• God didn’t give victory to the Israelites until they fasted, and gave burnt offerings and peace offerings (Judg 20:18-28)
  • To have victory over the enemies of righteousness, we should fast, pray, confess and forsake our sins.
• To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats. (Isa 1:11)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 18:4: Jesus taught that we should humble ourselves.
• Matthew 11:29: Jesus is humble. Meek and lowly of heart.
• Hebrews 9:7,14: The humble Jesus offered Himself to die for the errors of the people

 

BUTTER [see remnant]

• words (Psa 55:21)
• strong teaching (because when milk is boiled down the fat becomes more concentrated) [see milk]
  • milk is churned to produce butter (Prov 30:33) [see churning]
• butter and honey combined are needed to refuse evil and choose good (Isa 7:15) [see honey]
• wash steps with butter is figurative of cleansing one’s life by the word (Job 29:6, Psa 119:9) *washing akin to pruning – washed and pruned by the word (John 15:3; 17:17)
  • washing can represent putting away evil/stop doing evil (Isa 1:16)
  • Judas Iscariot was not washed spiritually – not clean (John 13:10-11)
  • Jesus Christ washes – those who are not washed have no portion with Him (John 13:8)
    • The Lord washes away the filth of the daugheters of Zion and purges the blood of Jerusalem by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning (Isa 4:4)
  • Wash our hands in innocency (Psa 26:6)
• May also cause those who are tired to sleep (Judg 4:19,21; 5:25)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 7:29: Jesus is the great Teacher and He taught as one having authority. Jesus knew how to refuse evil and choose good.
  • God teaches us how to behave properly (Isa 28:26)
• Luke 4:31,32: He taught on Sabbath days with power

 

 

CALDRON

• City (Eze 11:11)

 

CALL / CALLING

• Priest is called to take on the work (Heb 5:1-4)
• 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. {1SM 389.2}
  • …He who has this faith gives diligence to make his calling and election sure. {Lt13-1897.22}
  • 2 Peter 1:10à. Is there an election? Certainly. Not that you will be elected, whether you are overcomers or not, but that you will make your calling and election sure, by words, by actions, by an excellent character, that you may live in the family as God would have you live. {Ms153-1904.57}
• The question will come up, How is it? Is it by conditions that we receive salvation? Never by conditions do we come to Christ. And if we come to Christ, then what is the condition? The condition is that by living faith we lay hold wholly and entirely upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. When we do that, then we work the works of righteousness. But when God is calling the sinner in our world, and inviting him, there is no condition there; he is drawn by the invitation of Christ and it is not, “Now you have got to respond in order to come to God.” The sinner comes, and as he comes and views Christ elevated upon that cross of Calvary, which God impresses upon his mind, there is a love beyond anything that is imagined that he has taken hold of. And what then? As he beholds that love, why he says that he is a sinner. Well, then, what is sin? Why at once he has to come here to find out. There is no definition given in our world but that transgression is the transgression of the law; and therefore he finds out what sin is. And there is repentance toward God; and what then?—why, faith toward our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that can speak pardon to the transgressor. Christ is drawing everyone that is not past the boundary. He is drawing him to Himself today. No matter how great that sinner is, He is drawing him. If the sinner can get his arm fixed upon the cross of Calvary, then there is no conviction of sin. What is he there for? Because the law has been transgressed, and he begins to see that he is a sinner; and Christ died because the law was transgressed. And then he begins to look to the righteousness of Christ as the only thing that can cleanse the sinner from his sins and from his transgressions. {1SAT 121.2-3}

 

CAMEL

• burden bearers (2 King 8:9)
• messengers (Esther 8:10)
• rich people (Matt 19:24)
  • have many friends (Prov 14:20)
• as the sand by the sea (Judg 7:12)
  • ornaments on their necks – chains on their necks (Judg 8:21,26)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 53:4-6: Jesus was a burden bearer. He carried our griefs and our sorrows. He carried our sins to the cross.
• Matthew 4:17: Jesus was a messenger. A preacher of righteousness.
• Revelation 19:11-16: Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. He holds in His grasp the riches of the universe. His riches are unsearchable (Eph 3:8)

 

CANDLE

• of the Lord (Prov 20:27)
• life (Prov 20:27; 24:20)
  • no power of ourselves to retain our life (Ecc 8:8)
• Christians (Matt 5:14-16)
• Candlewick going out is as extinction/total death (Isa 43:17; Job 17:1)
• The strong shall be as tow (candlewick), and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and none shall quench them. (Isa 1:31)
  • Tow – the coarse or broken part of flax, or hemp. It means here that which shall be easily and quickly kindled and rapidly consumed. As tow burns and is destroyed at the touch of fire, so shall the rulers of the people be consumed by the approaching calamities.
• I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil. (Zeph 1:12)
  • Jerusalem was the capital and representative of the whole nation.
  • Candles here are a figure showing the intensity of the search that the enemies of Judah will carry out in order to slaughter or capture as many as possible.
  • On their lees or “on their dregs.” This indicates that the people were hardened in their iniquitous ways. The professed followers of the Lord in the days of Zephaniah did not realize, as many Christians do not realize today, that there must be no relaxation in our spiritual warfare this side of heaven. No one should rest content with his present spiritual attainments. Only as we show continual progress are we living up to our God-given opportunities. Complacency is the greatest enemy of a living Christian experience. They had a false concept of God. It always results in a wrong pattern of conduct. The people here referred to were practically deists. They agreed there was a God but conceived of Him as an absentee Ruler who cared little for His people and paid little attention to them. His promises of blessing and warnings of punishment were alike meaningless. He was no different from the gods of the heathen.
  • God lights my candle (Psa 18:28)
    • God makes my way perfect (Psa 18:32)
    • The Lord lights us up by His word (Isa 9:8)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 20:28: Jesus gave His candle, gave His life for all of us.
• John 17:2: Jesus gives eternal life to His people
• Revelation 2:7: Jesus gives us access to the tree of life

 

CATERPILLARS

• People (Jere 51:14, 25-27)
• Men of war (Jere 51:12-14)
• Rough/shaggy caterpillars represent false prophets (Zech 13:4)
  • Come up as the horses (Jere 51:27)

 

CATTLE [see sheep] [see yoke]

• People (Joel 1:18, Eze 34:17, 31, Jere 31:18)
• Some bullocks are unaccustomed to the yoke and they are chastised in order to learn to bear the yoke (Jere 31:18)
• Herds of cattle are troubled/perplexed because of a lack of pasture (food) (Joel 1:18)
• There is a picture representing a bullock standing between a plow and an altar, with the inscription, “Ready for either,” ready to toil in the furrow or to be offered on the altar of sacrifice. This is the position of the true child of God—willing to go where duty calls, to deny self, to sacrifice for the Redeemer’s cause. {MH 502.5}

 

CEASETH

• fail (Psalm 12:1,7)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 16:17: Jesus promised that not one tittle of the law would fail.
  • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)

 

CEDAR AND PALM TREES [see righteous] [see trees]

• the righteous (Psa 92:12)
  • trees whither because joy diminishes (Joel 1:12)
• mighty people (Zech 11:2)
• Cedars of Lebanon can also represent Assyrians (Eze 31:3)
• Palm branches represent triumph/victory (GC 665.2)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 7:17,18: Jesus taught that good trees can only bring good fruit and corrupt trees can only bring evil fruit.
• 1 John 2:1: Jesus Christ is righteous.
• 1 Peter 1:19: Jesus is perfect. Totally without blemish and without spot was His perfect sacrifice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CENSER

• In the golden censer of truth as presented in Christ’s teachings, we have that which will convict and convert souls. Present, in the simplicity of Christ, the truths that He came-to this world to proclaim, and the power of your message will make itself felt. Do not present theories or tests that Christ has never mentioned, and that have no foundation in the Bible. We have grand, solemn truths to present. “It is written,” is the test that must be brought home to every soul. {AUCR April 1, 1904, par. 11}
• From town to town, from city to city, from country to country, the warning message of present truth is to be proclaimed, not with outward display, but in the power of the Spirit, by men of faith. In the golden censer of truth, as presented in the Scriptures, there is that which will convict and convert souls. As the truth that our Saviour came to this world to proclaim, is presented in the simplicity of the gospel, the power of the message will make itself felt. In this age, a new life coming from the Source of all life is to take possession of every faithful laborer. O, how little do we comprehend the breadth of our mission! We need to have earnest, determined faith, and unshaken courage in the Lord. Our time to work is short, and we are to labor with unflagging zeal. {RH November 29, 1906, par. 19}
• I beseech those who are laboring for God not to accept the spurious for the genuine. We have a whole Bible full of the most precious truth. We have no need for supposition or false excitement. In the golden censer of truth as presented in Christ’s teachings, we have that which will convict and convert souls. Present in the simplicity of Christ the truths that He came to this world to proclaim, and the power of your message will make itself felt. Do not present theories or tests that have no foundation in the Bible. We have grand, solemn tests to present. “It is written” is the test that must be brought home to every one. {Ms145-1903.11}

 

CHAIN

• pride (Psa 73:6)
• connected with the ornament of grace
  • c1 instruction of the father, c2 law of the mother (Prov 1:9)
• Christ, His character and work, is the center and circumference of all truth. He is the chain upon which the jewels of doctrine are linked. In Him is found the complete system of truth. {Lt63-1893.19}
• The humanity of the Son of God is everything to us. It is the golden linked chain which binds our souls to Christ, and through Christ to God. This is to be our study, Christ was a real man, and He gave proof of His humility in becoming a man. And He was God in the flesh. {Ms67-1898.8}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 7:21-23: Jesus said “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man”.
• Matthew 11:29: Jesus set an example. He was meek and lowly. Totally humble.
• Luke 2:40: As a child, Jesus had the ornament of the grace of God. He did not depart from His Father’s instructions and He was the best son a mother could have.

 

CHAIN OF DEPENDENCE

• It is the plan of God that every church and every conference shall cherish the feeling of reciprocal dependence. We are to build one another up in the most holy faith, seeking the impartation of the Holy Spirit, that light may be reflected in clear, bright rays. Shall the sacred chain of dependence, which binds men together, be looked upon as slavery? Shall we allow the enemy to enter to cause discord and separation, to rob families of happiness and the church of usefulness? Shall we allow him to use us to prevent the great and blessed work of reformation? Who can say, It is well with my soul, while evil thinking and evil speaking are allowed to rule in the heart, causing disunion and strife? {Ms97-1901.32-33}

 

CHAIN OF LOVE

• Christians are to be united, not in fault-finding and criticism, but in fellowship, in dependence one upon the other, bound by the golden links of the chain of love. If they will unite in partaking of the divine nature, they will be bound to the throne of God. This must be the case if we are ever to meet the Lord Jesus. There must be a receiving of the attributes of pure, holy, sanctified characters, such characters as man would ever have possessed had he remained loyal and true to God. By an intelligent understanding of the Word of truth, we may understand the character of Christ. We must have that faith that works by love and purifies the soul from all objectionable hereditary and cultivated tendencies to imperfection of character. {Lt366-1907.14}

 

CHAIN OF OBEDIENCE

• Those who in the face of these specifications refuse to repent of their transgressions will realize the result of disobedience. Individually we need to inquire, In observing a day of rest, have I drawn my faith from the Scriptures, or from a spurious representation of truth? Every soul who fastens himself to the divine, everlasting covenant, made and presented to us as a sign and mark of God’s government, fastens himself to the golden chain of obedience, every link of which is a promise. He shows that he regards God’s Word as above the word of man, God’s love as preferable to the love of man. And those who repent of transgression, and return to their loyalty by accepting God’s mark, show themselves to be true subjects, ready to do His will, to obey His commandments. True observance of the Sabbath is the sign of loyalty to God. {Ms63-1899.11}
• The plan of salvation combines the holy influences of past and present light. These influences are bound together by the golden chain of loving obedience. Receiving Christ by faith and bowing in submission to God’s will constitutes men and women sons and daughters of God. By the power which the Saviour alone can give they are made members of the royal family, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. {Lt122-1901.11}
• But only as we live in obedience to His word can we claim the fulfillment of His promises. The psalmist says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm 66:18. If we render to Him only a partial, halfhearted obedience, His promises will not be fulfilled to us. {MH 227.1}

 

CHAIN OF PROPHECY

• In the revelation that Christ gave are linked together in a chain of truth the important messages of warning that are to be given to the world before Christ’s second coming. The last message of mercy is to be proclaimed where it has never yet been heard. The workers are to labor with such self-denial, such self-sacrifice, that the message will be borne to those who have not heard it. As a people, we claim to be giving the third angel’s message to the world. But many are smothering this message. O how God’s plans have been turned aside for the plans of men! {Lt110-1902.11}
• …Young men should attend who desire to become educated for any line of work, who have capabilities and see the necessity of learning more and still more where we stand today in prophetic history, uniting link after link in the prophetic chain, even from Genesis to Revelation. Christ is the Alpha, the first link, and the Omega, the last link, of the gospel chain, which is welded in Revelation. These young men will not have fixed habits of wrong, or defects in disposition and character that will make them inflexible. {Lt98a-1897.49}
• Some will take the truth applicable for that time, and place it in the future. Events in the chain of prophecy that had their fulfillment away in the past are made future, and thus by these theories the faith of some is undermined. {Ms31-1896.6}
• Those who passed over the ground step by step in the past history of our experience, seeing the chain of truth in the prophecies, were prepared to accept and obey every ray of light. They were praying, fasting, searching, digging for the truth as for hidden treasures, and the Holy Spirit, we know, was teaching and guiding us. {Ms31-1896.9}
• But those who have set themselves to study out new theories have a mixture of truth and error combined, and after trying to make these things prominent, have demonstrated that they have not kindled their taper from the divine altar, and it has gone out in darkness. According to the light God has given me, you are on the same track. That which appears to you to be a chain of truth is, in come lines misplacing the prophecies and counterworking that which God has revealed as truth. The third angel’s message is our burden to the people. It is the gospel of peace and righteousness and truth. Here is our work, to stand firmly to proclaim this. We need now to have every piece of the armor on. {Ms31-1896.11-12}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIN OF REDEMPTION

• The whole plan of salvation is a noble theme which is but dimly comprehended by the Christian world. Man, as now taught by men who claim to have a knowledge of the Scriptures, can never know the extent of his fallen, degraded condition. But the work and mission of Christ will reveal the truth as it is in Jesus. Man can only know the depths to which he has sunk by the wondrous chain of redemption employed to draw him up. When the theory, artfully formed by Satan, that the law of Jehovah is not binding upon the human family, is adopted and taught, man’s terrible ruin is eclipsed to his senses, so that he cannot discern it. Then God has no moral standard by which to measure character and govern the heavenly universe, the worlds unfallen, and this fallen world. The extent of our ruin can only be discerned in the light of the law of God exhibited in the cross of Calvary. {Ms58-1897.13}
• Christ, the Author of truth, did not disdain to present truths that were old and familiar. The great purpose of His mission was ever kept in view. When this purpose could be served by the repetition of familiar truths, He employed them. By unsanctified minds, many of these truths had been disconnected from their true position and had been employed to strengthen error. Christ recovered and replaced them as links in the great chain of redemption. {Ms53-1900.8}

 

CHAIN OF TRUTH

• Ellen White wrote: “I am now looking over my diaries and copies of letters written for several years back, commencing before I went to Europe, before you were born. I have the most precious matter to reproduce and place before the people in testimony form. While I am able to do this work, the people must have these things to revive past history, that they may see that there is one straight chain of truth, without one heretical sentence, in that which I have written. This, I am instructed, is to be a living letter to all in regard to my faith.” {Lt329a-1905.3}
• …Theoretical discourses are essential, that all may know the form of true doctrine and trace the chain of truth link by link until they see it in its completeness…{Ms57-1911.6}
• And for the same reason Christ’s disciples of 1897 do not comprehend important matters of truth. So dull has been the comprehension of even those who teach the truth to others that many things cannot be opened to them until they reach heaven. It ought not to be so. But as men’s minds become narrow, they think they know it all, and set one stake after another in points of truths of which they have only a glimpse. They close their minds as though there were no more for them to learn, and should the Lord attempt to lead them on, they would not take up with the increased light. They cling to the spot where they think they see a glimmer of light when it is only a link in the living chain of truths and promises to be studied. They know very little of what it means to follow in the footsteps of Christ. {Ms143-1897.29}
• The harmonious relation of truth, like links in a chain, will, just as fast as the mind is quickened by the Spirit of God to comprehend light and in humbleness of mind appropriate it, be dispensed to others, and give the glory back to God. The development of truth will be the reward to the humble-hearted seeker who will fear God and walk with Him. The truth which the mind grasps as truth is capable of constant expansion and new developments. While beholding it, the truth is seen in all its bearings in the life and character, and becomes more clear and certain and beauteous. As the mind grasps it in its preciousness, it becomes elevated, ennobled, sanctified. {Ms143-1897.30}
• God is leading out a people and establishing them upon the one great platform of faith, the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. He has given His people a straight chain of Bible truth, clear and connected. This truth is of heavenly origin and has been searched for as for hidden treasure. It has been dug out through careful searching of the Scriptures and through much prayer.—Testimonies for the Church 3:445-47. See Early Writings, “A Firm Platform.” You must never, never seek to lift one pin, remove one landmark, that the Lord has given to His people as truth.—(Ms., December 18, 1898.) {Ms135-1901.44-45}
• By reading and searching out scripture references, you will see the chain of truth, and will see new beauties in the word of God. While you make the Scriptures more your study, and become more familiar with them, you will be better fortified against the temptations of Satan. When inclined to speak, or act, wrong, some scripture will come to arrest you, and turn you right. It is not natural for the heart to love the Bible; but when it is renewed by grace, then the mind will feast upon the rich truths and promises contained in the word of God. {AY 79.2}
• When the teachings of Christ are but dimly comprehended, the whole life and character will testify to the fact. The teachings of Christ will be seen in a far different aspect when the soul falls upon the Rock and is broken. When the soul is filled with self-esteem and self-importance there is no place for the Word to find entrance. The teachings of Christ are very nice, he thinks, but not necessary to practice. Christ’s lessons will bear close study. One truth comprehended in its simplicity will prove a key to a whole treasure house of truth. Christ is the great mystery of godliness. He is as the Master scattering the golden grains of truth, which require tact, skill, and deep laborious search to pick up and link together in the chain of truth. The Word is the treasure house of truth. It puts in our possession all things essential for our preparation for entrance into the city of God. {Ms8-1898.10}
• William Miller discovered the chain of truth. “Link after link of the chain of truth rewarded his efforts, as step by step he traced down the great lines of prophecy. Angels of heaven were guiding his mind and opening the Scriptures to his understanding.” {CIHS 74.2}
• Christ’s parables are links in the chain of truth that unites man with God, and earth with heaven. {COL 17.2}
• The parables uttered by our Lord have a significance which but few discern. Leading from the natural kingdom to the spiritual kingdom, they are links in the chain of truth that connects man with God and earth with heaven. Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He illustrated truth by natural things, that He might lead up to the high and eternal. He used humble representations, that He might place before the eyes of men the precious gems of truth. By this form of presenting truth, He was educating His disciples in regard to God’s processes in the natural world. {Ms34-1898.8}
• The truths of God’s word are likened to jewels. They are to be brought into one perfect chain of truth. They don’t lie upon the surface. {see CE 85.2}
• The plain chain of truth has been dug out and presented in publications and from the desk…{Lt8-1863.2}
• The chain of truth is harmonious. Link after link unites in a great whole {see Lt23-1862.25}
• In the fear of God, people should present a harmonious chain of truth. {see Lt8-1863.2}
• Many will discover the lost links in the chain of truth, and they will see a beautiful harmony in the whole. They will have a fresh experience, being assured that He whom they trusted has not forsaken them and left them in darkness. “The Lord will command his loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me.” [Psalm 42:8.] {Lt22-1890.4}
• Jesus elevates the believer by the golden chain of truth and binds them to His eternal throne.” {see Lt85-1891.4}
• Our Forerunner hath for us entered within the vail, and yet, by the golden chain of love and truth He is linked with His people in closest sympathy. {Lt63-1893.61}
• Plead with God to convict you of every practice which draws your thoughts and affections from God. God has given His holy law to man as His measure of character. By this law you may see any defect in your character and overcome it. You may sever yourself from every idol and link yourself to the throne of God by the golden chain of grace and truth. {Ms49-1895.4}
• Christ came in the form of humanity to live the law of God. He was the Word of life. He came to be the gospel of salvation to the world, and to fulfill every specification of the law. Jesus is the Word, the guidebook, which must be received and obeyed in every particular. How necessary that this mine of truth be explored, and the precious treasures of truth be discovered and secured as rich jewels. The incarnation of Christ, His divinity, His atonement, His wonderful life in heaven as our Advocate, the office of the Holy Spirit—all those living, vital themes of Christianity are revealed from Genesis to Revelation. The golden links of truth form a chain of evangelical truth, and the first and staple link is found in the great teachings of Christ Jesus…“Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood” (that is, continue to receive the words of Christ, and practice them) “hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.” [John 6:53-56.] “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” [1 John 3:24.] {Lt67-1895.14}
• They do not make a right application of the Scriptures, and thus they frame theories that are not correct. It is true that they quote an abundance of Scripture, and teach much that is true; but truth is so mixed with error as to lead to wrong conclusions. Yet because they can weave Scripture into their theories, they think they have a straight chain of truth. Many who did not have an experience in the rise of the messages, accept these erroneous theories, and are led into false paths, backward instead of forward. <This is the enemy’s design.> {Ms32-1896.21}

 

CHAFF [see ungodly]

• ungodly (Psa 1:4)
  • sinners (Psa 1:5)
    • The unjust have no shame (Hab 3:5)
  • enemies (Psalm 3:7)
• people in apostasy (Hos 13:2,3)
• follow ungodly lusts (Jude 1:18, 2 Pet 1:4)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 3:11,12: Jesus will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. All of the ungodly will be destroyed at the end of time. (2 Pet 3:7)
• Romans 5:6: Jesus died for the ungodly so that by accepting Him they may be saved from unquenchable fire.

 

CHALDEANS [see Babylon]

• Babylon (Isa 13:19, 47:1; Eze 23:14-17, Ezra 5:12, EP73.1) [see Babylon]

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 1:17: From the carrying away into Babylon to Christ are fourteen generations
• Revelation 14:8: Part of Christ’s gospel message is the 2^nd angel’s message saying Babylon is fallen
• Revelation 16:19: Jesus is God and He will pour out His wrath upon great Babylon (John 10:30)

 

CHARIOTS

• Of salvation (Hab 3:8)
• Angels (Psa 68:17) [see lightning]
  • They do God’s commandments (Psa 103:20)
  • Artaxerxes, who styled himself as the king of kings, said whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done (Ezra 7:12, 23)
• Torches (Nahum 2:4)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 1:20; 2:13,19: The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph guiding him and ensuring Christ’s safety
• Matthew 5:17-20: Just as Jesus Christ’s angels keep the law of God so did Jesus keep and teach the law of God.

 

 

 

 

CHASTISE

• Correct, teach knowledge (Psa 94:10)
  • Preachers teach knowledge from the words of truth (Ecc 12:9,10)
  • Teaches us out of the law (Psa 94:12)
  • God tries us through the word (Psa 105:19)
  • God corrects man for iniquity with rebukes (Psa 39:11)
  • The chastening of God isfor our profit so that we can be partakers of His holiness (Heb 12:5-11)
  • Learn to keep God’s law when we are punished (Psa 119:71)
  • Happy is the person whom God corrects (Job 5:17)
• Our petition to the Lord should be “correct me, but with judgment and not in thine anger…” (Jere 10:24)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 4:16,17: Jesus was a preacher of righteousness and He taught on the Sabbath day out of the law

 

CHICKEN / HENS

• People – even God’s people (Matt 22:37, Luk 13:34)
• Cockcrowing – third night watch (Mark 13:35, Matt 26:34, 75; Mark 14:30, 72)

 

CHRISTIANITY

• The heart in which the love of Christ abides will constantly manifest more and more refinement; for the spring of life is love to God and man. Christ is Christianity. This is glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. This is the carrying out of God’s purpose. {GW 282.4}
• Jesus took upon Himself man’s nature, that He might leave a pattern for humanity, complete, perfect. He proposes to make us like Himself, true in every purpose, feeling, and thought—true in heart, soul, and life. This is Christianity. Our fallen nature must be purified, ennobled, consecrated by obedience to the truth. Christian faith will never harmonize with worldly principles; Christian integrity is opposed to all deception and pretense. The man who cherishes the most of Christ’s love in the soul, who reflects the Saviour’s image most perfectly, is in the sight of God the truest, most noble, most honorable man upon the earth. {5T 235.3}
• The heart in which the love of Christ abides, will constantly manifest more and more refinement, for the spring of the life is love to God and man. This is Christianity. This is “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” [Luke 2:14.] This is the carrying out of God’s purpose. Divine harmony, worthy of the wisdom and mercy which God has manifested to men! True Christian growth tends upward to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. True culture, real refinement of thought and manners, is better obtained through the lessons in the school of Christ, than through the most labored, pains-taking effort to observe forms and set rules, when the heart is not under the holy discipline of the Spirit of God. {CE 200.1}
• It is conscientious attention to what the world terms “little things” that makes life a success. Little deeds of charity, little acts of self-denial, speaking simple words of helpfulness, watching against little sins,—this is Christianity. A grateful acknowledgment of daily blessings, a wise improvement of daily opportunities, a diligent cultivation of intrusted talents,—this is what the Master calls for. {YI January 17, 1901, par. 2}
• The gospel is a message of peace. Christianity is a system, which, received and obeyed, would spread peace, harmony, and happiness throughout the earth. The religion of Christ will unite in close brotherhood all who accept its teachings. It was the mission of Jesus to reconcile man to God, and thus to his fellow-man. But the world at large are under the control of Satan, Christ’s bitterest foe. The gospel presents to them principles of life which are wholly at variance with their habits and desires, and they rise in rebellion against it. They hate the purity which reveals and condemns their sins, and they persecute and destroy those who would urge upon them its just and holy claims. It is in this sense—because the exalted truths it brings, occasion hatred and strife—that the gospel is called a sword. {4SP 47.2}
• The beauty of his well-ordered life and godly conversation inspires faith and hope and courage in others. This is Christianity in practice. Seek to be an evergreen tree. Wear the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. Cherish the grace of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness. This is the fruit of the Christian tree. Planted by the rivers of water, it always brings forth its fruit in due season.45 {ML 50.3}
• The attributes most prized by Jesus are unselfish love and purity. “Every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.” “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” The entire law is fulfilled in him who loves God supremely and his neighbor as himself. This is the revelation of God through Jesus Christ to the world. It is Christianity—glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will to men. The work Christianity is designed to achieve in the world is not to depreciate the law of God, not to detract from its sacred dignity in the slightest degree, but it is to write that law in the mind and heart. When the law of God is thus implanted in the soul of the believer, he is approaching eternal life through the merits of Jesus. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” “I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it; that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.” The object of the gospel is met when this great end is achieved. Its work from age to age is to unite the hearts of his followers in a spirit of universal brotherhood, through belief of the truth, and thus establish heaven’s system of order and harmony in the family of God on earth, that they may be accounted worthy to become members of the royal family above. God, in his wisdom and mercy, tests men and women here, to see if they will obey his voice and respect his law, or rebel as Satan did. If they choose the side of Satan, putting his way above God’s, it would not be safe to admit them into heaven; for they would cause another revolt against the government of God in the heavenly courts. He who fulfills the law in every respect, demonstrates that perfect obedience is possible. {RH July 21, 1891, par. 13}

 

CHRISTIAN COURTESY

• Love without dissimulation, hating evil and holding on to what is good, showing affection to one another with brotherly love {Ms180-1901.18}

 

CHRISTIAN MANLINESS

• Let everyone who professes Christ seek to overcome all unmanliness, all weakness and folly. Some men never grow up to the full stature of men in Christ Jesus. They are childish and self-indulgent. Humble piety would correct all this. Pure religion possesses no characteristics of childish self-indulgence. It is honorable in the highest degree. Then let not one of those who have enlisted as soldiers of Christ be ready to faint in the day of trial. All should feel that they have earnest work to do to elevate their fellow men. Not one has a right to rest from the warfare to make virtue desirable and vice hated. There is no rest for the living Christian this side of the eternal world. To obey God’s commandments is to do right and only right. This is Christian manliness. But many need to take frequent lessons from the life of Christ, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. “Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” You are to show a growth in the Christian graces. By manifesting meekness under provocation and growing away from low earthliness you give evidence that you have an indwelling Saviour, and every thought, word, and deed attracts men to Jesus rather than to self. There is a great amount of work to be done and but little time in which to do it. Let it be your lifework to inspire all with the thought that they have a work to do for Christ. Wherever there are duties to be done which others do not understand because they do not wish to see their lifework, accept them and do them. {5T 597.1}
• The real difficulty has been a want of heart work, of sincere, earnest seeking of God. All pretense is vain. Deficiencies in human character can only be detected and overcome by self-examination and seeking the Lord in prayer. Obstacles in hereditary and cultivated tendencies that seem impossibilities may be overcome by steady, determined effort, working to the point, and never, never giving up. It is life, spiritual life, or death with you. Persevere in your efforts. If you fail again and again, do not be discouraged. Imperfections in education as to what constitutes true manliness and true womanliness in the Christian life is the cause of many failing and falling. When you leave the school you will need to place yourselves daily under the watchcare of God. Never suppose you are sufficient to be wise and good of yourself. God will take charge of you if you will commit your souls to His keeping. Do not ever undervalue the impressions you have received during this term of school, as the Scriptures have been opened to you and precious light has shone forth in distinct and clear lines. Be on guard, and read the text I have been seeking to impress upon your minds, in Ephesians 6:10-12. Read also James 4:2, 8. {Ms177-1897.40-41}
• A Christian is a Christlike man, a Christlike woman, who is active in God’s service, who is present at the social meeting, whose presence will encourage others Religion does not consist in works, but religion works; it is not dormant (Letter 7, 1883). {7BC 935.13}
• My dear fellow workers, be true, hopeful, heroic. Let every blow be made in faith. As you do your best, the Lord will reward your faithfulness. From the life-giving fountain draw physical, mental, and spiritual energy. Manliness, womanliness—sanctified, purified, refined, ennobled—we have the promise of receiving. We need that faith which will enable us to endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. As you fix your eyes upon Him, you will be filled with a deep love for the souls for whom He died and will receive strength for renewed effort. {Ms24-1904.26}
• Men who are harsh and censorious often excuse or try to justify their lack of Christian politeness because some of the Reformers worked with such a spirit, and they claim that the work for this time requires the same spirit; but this is not so. A spirit which is calm and under perfect control is better in any place, even in the roughest company. A furious zeal does no good to anyone. God did not select the Reformers because they were overbearing, passionate men. He accepted them as they were, notwithstanding these traits of character; but He would have placed tenfold greater responsibilities upon them had they been of humble mind, having their spirits under control of reason. While ministers of Christ must denounce sin and ungodliness, impurity and falsehood, while they are sometimes called to rebuke iniquity among the high as well as the low, showing them that the indignation of God will fall upon the transgressors of His law, yet they should not be overbearing or tyrannical; they should manifest kindness and love, a spirit to save rather than to destroy. 4T 486.2

 

CHRISTIAN WOMANLINESS

• Girls should be taught that the true charm of womanliness is not alone in beauty of form or feature, nor in the possession of accomplishments; but in a meek and quiet spirit, in patience, generosity, kindness, and a willingness to do and suffer for others. They should be taught to work, to study to some purpose, to live for some object, to trust in God and fear him, and to respect their parents. Then, as they advance in years, they will grow more pure minded, self-reliant, and beloved. It will be impossible to degrade such a woman. She will escape the temptations and trials that have been the ruin of so many. {HR December 1, 1877, par. 11}
• A Christian is a Christlike man, a Christlike woman, who is active in God’s service, who is present at the social meeting, whose presence will encourage others Religion does not consist in works, but religion works; it is not dormant (Letter 7, 1883). {7BC 935.13}
• The Christian woman is a gentlewoman. On her lips is ever the law of kindness. She utters no hasty words. To speak gentle words when you are irritated will bring sunshine into your hearts and make your path more smooth. A schoolgirl, when asked for a definition of meekness, said, “Meek people are those who give soft answers to rough questions.” Christ says, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” They will be fit subjects for the kingdom of heaven, for they are willing to be taught.—The Review and Herald, April 7, 1904. {WM 153.1}
• When I have seen Christian women leading out in temperance campaigns, presenting to liquor inebriates a pledge to abstain from all intoxicating drinks, I have thought that it would also be well for them to present to every Christian woman a pledge to abstain from all needless display and extravagance in dress. By dressing simply, thus saving time and means, Christian women can do much to help the temperance cause. The means thus saved will clothe the destitute, feed the hungry, and will help to close the door against liquor drinking. Those who are simple in dress have time to visit the afflicted, and to pray with and for them. On all Christians rests a solemn duty to economize, that they may be better able to help those in need. We do not discourage neatness in dress. Correct taste is not to be despised nor condemned. Our faith, if carried out, will lead us to be so plain in dress, and zealous of good works, that we shall be marked as peculiar. But when we lose taste for order and neatness in dress, we virtually leave the truth; for the truth never degrades, but elevates. When believers are neglectful of their dress, and are coarse and rough in their manners, their influence hurts the truth. “We are,” said the inspired apostle, “made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.” All heaven is marking the daily influence that the professed followers of Christ exert upon the world. My sisters, your dress is telling either in favor of Christ and the sacred truth or in favor of the world. Which is it? Remember that we must all answer to God for the influence we exert. {RH November 17, 1904, par. 9-10}

 

CHURNING

• Is the word miyts in Prov 30:33 and is equal to wringing and forcing

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 14:15: Jesus compelled no one to keep His law out of force. Rather, out of love Jesus encourages us to keep His commandments

 

CINNAMON

• Connected with the anointing oil [see oil] (Ex 30:23-25)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 16:1, Luke 23:56: Cinnamon is a spice. Before the Sabbath day, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome prepared sweet spices to anoint the body of Christ. They kept the Sabbath holy. After Sabbath, they went to go anoint Christ, but discovered He had risen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CIRCUMCISION [see Jew]

• Circumcision of the heart and of the flesh (Eze 44:9)
  • The uncircumcised of heart and flesh do not enter the sanctuary (Eze 44:9)
• Token of God’s covenant (Gen 17:11)
• A change of heart towards loving God (Deut 30:6, Jere 4:4)
  • If this does not happen, then God says He will come forth like fire and burn because of the evil of people’s doings. (Jere 4:4)
  • If this does happen, then people will live. God promises to circumcise His people’s hearts (Deut 30:6)
  • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)
• Removing of rebelliousness and stubbornness from the mind & life (Deut 10:16)
• Putting away sin, forgiveness of sins and baptism (Col 2:11-13)
• Circumcision is good only as you keep the law of God. If someone breaks the law of God circumcision is made uncircumcision (Rom 2:25)
• A real spiritual Jew is one who has circumcision of mind and life and keeps the law of God (Rom 2:25-29)
• Hill of foreskins (Josh 5:3)

 

CITY [see caldron]

• Person (Jere 1:18; 20:16)
• God’s people/disciples (Matt 5:14)
• Like wealth (Prov 18:11)
• Evildoers built cities (Isa 14:12, 20, 21)
• Cain built the first city called Enoch (Gen 4:17)
• The beginning of Nimrod the hunter’s kingdom included the city of Babel (Gen 10:8-10)
• Babylon – a golden city (Isa 14:4)
• New Jerusalem – a golden city (Rev 21:18, 21)
• It is Satan’s purpose to attract men and women to the cities, and to gain his object he invents every kind of novelty and amusement, every kind of excitement. And the cities of the earth today are becoming as were the cities before the Flood. {CL 14.1}

 

CLAY

• People (Job 10:9, Isa 64:8, Jere 18:6)
• Princes (Isa 41:25)
• Houses of clay (Job 4:19)

 

CLEAN AND ENDURING

• true and righteous (Psalm 19:9)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 14:6: Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life.
• 1 John 2:1: Jesus Christ is righteous.
• 1 John 5:20: Jesus is the true God and eternal life. Eternal life is in Christ (1 John 5:11)

 

CLOAK

• Zeal (Isa 59:17)
• Zeal can provoke many people to do what’s right (2 Cor 9:2)
• Of maliciousness (1Pet 2:16)

 

CLOUD [see dew] [see rain]

• People (Job 7:9)
• Without water they can represent the wicked/infidels (Jude 1:5-12)
  • People in apostasy (Hos 13:2,3)
• Drop rain (Job 36:28)
• Cover light (Job 36:32)
• Bright light in them (Job 37:21)
• Directed by His counsels (Job 37:12,13)
  • Destruction and oppression comes as a result of following one’s own counsels (Hos 11:6)
    • Where there is no vision, the people perish (Prov 29:18)
    • Hos_4:6  My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
    • And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then God sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. (Job 38:8-12)
  • The day of the Lord is a cloudy day and it’s also a day of the heathen       (Eze 30:3)
  • By his knowledge the clouds drop down the dew (Prov 3:20)
  • Clouds from the west signify rain is coming (Luke 12:54)

 

COALS

• contentious person (Prov 26:21)
• of fire=jealousy (Song of Sol 8:6)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 12:29: God is an all-consuming fire
• Exodus 34:14: God is a jealous God
• John 10:30: Jesus is God and therefore He is an all-consuming fire and jealous.

 

COINS OR PIECES OF SILVER

• People (Judg 9:4,5, Luke 15:8-10)
• Abimelech received seventy pieces of silver (70 brothers who he betrayed) out of the house of Baalberith and he hired foolish people which followed him (Judg 9:4-5)
• The lords of the Philistines promised 1100 pieces of silver for Delilah to betray Samson (Judg 16:5)
• 1100 shekels of silver stolen and then restored to build an idol (Judg 17:2-4)

 

COLD OF SNOW [see snow]

• faithful messenger that preaches God’s truths [see messengers] [see snow] (Prov 25:13)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 9:2,3: Peter, James and John saw Christ transfigured before them. Jesus Christs’ raiment was shining and pure white like snow.
• Matthew 4:17: Jesus was a messenger. A preacher of righteousness.

 

COLD WATERS

• good news (Prov 25:25) *gospel means good news*
• waters wear the stones (Job 14:19)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 4:23: Jesus preached the good news of the kingdom while healing people.

 

COMMON FIRE / STRANGE FIRE [see sacred fire]

• man’s principles + his ways (Lev 10:1)
• We may present pure doctrines, yet if our work is mingled with self, it depreciates the truth, so that our offering is pronounced by God “strange fire.” [Leviticus 10:1.] It strengthens the prejudice of those who know not the truth, for they judge of our doctrines by the words and works of those who advocate them. {10LtMs, Lt 7, 1895, par. 2}
• The spirit of selfishness is strange fire which should not be mingled with God’s sacred service. {12LtMs, Ms 25, 1897, par. 8}
• But strange fire has been offered in the use of harsh words, in self-importance, in self-exaltation, in self-righteousness, in arbitrary authority, in domineering, in oppression, in restricting the liberty of God’s people, binding them about by your plans and rules, which God has not framed, neither have they come into his mind. All these things are strange fire, unacknowledged by God, and are a continual misrepresentation of his character. {SpTA09 14.2}
• I have been having a marked experience in light given that what our people need is the Holy Spirit of God to cleanse away the defilement of unkind rubbish of talk and passing judgment. Until this is done, all the counsels that we may have will prove a detriment. Unless they are a savor of life unto life, they will be a savor of death unto death. The lips need to have the living coal placed upon them to cleanse away the self-assured conversation which hurts souls and is spoiling the work of God. It is the strange fire that many are handling, and Christ’s words to them in the 13th chapter of John, and in the 14th and 15th and 17th chapters, are not heeded. {17LtMs, Lt 264, 1902, par. 11}
• “Every moment divine power must be combined with human effort, else common, strange fire will be offered instead of the sacred. True faith is an active, working principle. It works by love and cleanses the soul from every moral impurity. Keep a constant guardianship over your individual selves, else strange fire will be offered—human passion proceeding from human prejudice. Weed out from your conversation every careless word. Remember that by your words you will be justified, and by your words condemned. {10LtMs, Ms 17, 1895, par. 4}
• The same men have been kept in office as directors of boards until, under their own management and their own opinions, common fire is used in the place of sacred fire of God’s own kindling. These men are no more called Israel, but supplanters. They have worked themselves so long, instead of being worked by the Holy Spirit, that they know not what spirit impels them to action. The college at Battle Creek would be better if it had been only one half as large, and if the other half had been located far from Battle Creek. The spiritual blindness which rests upon human minds seems to be deepening. There are men handling sacred things who are unconverted. All such should be replaced by men who not only have a knowledge of the truth, but who practice the truth, and have respect enough for the Bible to obey a “Thus saith the Lord.” Many of the men who have long been connected with the Office and with other important lines of work are really ignorant of the influence of the decisions they make. If they had a sense of the importance of these decisions, and comprehended what they mean with reference to the work, they would be far more modest in advancing ideas and voicing by their vote the propositions others make. {11LtMs, Lt 100, 1896, par. 5-8}
• choosing a course of selfish indulgence, of levity, love of pleasure, sporting, jesting, and cheap, common talk. This is well represented as strange fire. The holy fire, the incense of prayer, must daily be offered before God. The Holy fire represents the Holy Spirit mingling with their prayers that gives them their efficiency. Jesus’ merits alone can make any of our prayers acceptable to God. Therefore we need to walk humbly with him, in all meekness and lowliness of mind, knowing our weakness, and that of ourselves our prayers would go no higher than our heads. We are to come to God with a reverent spirit, and humble ourselves before Him. And the Holy Spirit will mingle with our prayers, as the holy fire placed upon the censer sent up a cloud of sweet perfume to God. {12LtMs, Ms 16, 1897, par. 17}
• I have had conversation with W. C. White. He was presenting before me the necessity of our people heeding the voice of the General Conference. Then I said, “WCW, it is time you should understand that, [notwithstanding] the opinion that has prevailed, the General Conference so-called is no longer the voice of God. It has become a strange voice, and they are building strange fire. God does not speak through them. The work that is being done in the General Conference is a strange work. {9LtMs, Ms 114, 1894, par. 1}
• The minister who mixes story-telling with his discourses is using strange fire. God is offended, and the cause of truth is dishonored, when his representatives descend to the use of cheap, trifling words. {RH December 22, 1904, par. 5}
• You have been using strange fire. The only remedy is to quench it as soon as possible. {17LtMs, Ms 167, 1902, par. 13}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 7:6-8: Jesus condemned teaching for doctrines the commandments of men
  • Sunday sacredness is the chief teaching of man’s commandments as it is a day of man’s devising – not God’s.

 

CONFESS CHRIST

• We must understand what it is to confess Christ, and wherein we deny him…The powerful purifying influence of truth in the soul, and the character of Christ exemplified in the life, are a confession of Christ. If the words of eternal life are sown in our hearts, the fruit is righteousness and peace…We shall not be able to exhibit in our character the life of Christ, or the sanctifying influence of the truth, only by constant watchfulness and persevering and almost unceasing prayer. {4bSG 93.2}
• True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. {SC 38.1}

 

CONFOUNDED

• brought to confusion (Psa 35:4)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 Corinthians 14:33: Jesus is God, and God is not the author of confusion

 

CONSPIRACY / CONFEDERACY

• The question has been asked, What do you mean by a confederacy? Who have formed confederacies? You know what a confederacy is—a union of men in a work that does not bear the stamp of pure, straightforward, unswerving integrity. {Ms29-1911.51}
• There was a conspiracy among the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem. They went back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear God’s words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah had broken God’s covenant which God made with their fathers. Spiritual apostasy. (Jere 11:9,10). A conspiracy here referred to is an unlawful treasonous alliance.
• There was a conspiracy of Jerusalem’s prophets. A conspiracy here referred to is an unlawful treasonous alliance. (Eze 22:19, 25) [see prophets]
• In the Hebrew, confederacy (qesher) is the same as conspiracy (qesher) in Isaiah 8:12. God counselled His people, through the prophet Isaiah, not to become conspirators with the backslidden people seeking help from heathen nations. (Isa 8:11,12) Isaiah was not to yield to the popular trend away from God. Syria and Israel had conspired together, or were “confederate,” against Judah (ch. 7:2, 5, 6), and Ahaz, on his part, had formed an alliance with Assyria against Israel and Syria (2 Kings 16:7–9).
• There were more than 40 Jews which banded together in a conspiracy against Paul (Acts 23:12,13). A conspiracy here referred to is a secret banding together of people to do harm. An evil plot.

 

CONVERSION

• Requires spiritual perception of sight and hearing and keen understanding (Isa 6:10, Matt 13:15)
• Repentance and conversion needed for the blotting out of sins (Act 3:19; 28:27)
• Conversion and the forgiveness of sins go hand in hand (Mark 4:12)
• Conversion involves being like children in the way of believing and trusting in their heavenly Father (Matt 18:3)
• When people are converted they should strengthen the brethren (Luke 22:32)
• Converts are redeemed with righteousness (Isa 1:27)
• Unless we obey God at whatever cost, unless we walk in His way, overcoming all selfishness, we are not truly converted. A profession of faith alone will not save any soul. The profession must be accompanied by practical Christian work. {Ms29-1911.55}
• …We need the simple faith in Christ that works by love and purifies the soul. Faith in Jesus, if it is genuine faith, always means conversion. He who has this faith gives diligence to make his calling and election sure. {Lt13-1897.22}
• Genuine conversion brings us daily into communion with God. There will be temptations to meet, and a strong undercurrent drawing us from God to our former state of indifference and sinful forgetfulness of God. No human heart can remain strong without divine grace. No man can remain converted unless he takes care of himself and the Master has a care for him. Unless the heart holds fast to God, and God holds fast to him, he will become self-confident and exalted and will surely stumble and fall. {Lt52-1874.4}
• …The new life that comes to the soul through conversion, comes through communion with God, and produces God-likeness in the character. Love, peace, joy, faith, gratitude and hope spring up in the renewed soul…{Ms75-1895.5}
• And when the teacher, the missionary, loses sight of Christ, the Pattern, when selfishness finds a place in the heart so that words are spoken, and actions performed, that are unbecoming to a child of God, there is need of a genuine conversion of heart, a transformation of character. All prejudice, and selfishness must die. All vain thoughts and jealousies must become extinct because we have an indwelling Saviour. The Lord must not be made to serve with our sins. {Lt4-1892.22}
  • All heaven was given in that one gift, Jesus Christ. Well, what is His name? Saviour. What is the definition of Saviour? One that saves us from our sins. Well then, let us take Him with all that His name signifies, a Saviour, and let us have not only a casual faith, but let us have that faith that fastens to the only source of power, the only One that can save us from sin. We may stay away from Him and talk of our sin, but that will not do any good. There is not any Saviour in that [any] more than when the brazen serpent was lifted up in the wilderness. You remember the call was given—the invitation, Look and live. {Ms41a-1894.2}
• True conversion is a change from selfishness to sanctified affection for God and for one another. Will Seventh-day Adventists now make a thorough reformation, that their sin-stained souls may be cleansed from the leprosy of selfishness? {Ms16-1901.47}
• …True conversion is a change of heart, of thoughts and purposes. Evil habits are to be given up. The sins of evil-speaking, of jealousy, of disobedience, are to be put away. A warfare must be waged against every evil trait of character. Then the believing one can understandingly take to himself the promise: “Ask, and it shall be given you.” Matthew 7:7. {6T 95.1}
• Shall we not teach our children that willing obedience to the will of God proves whether those claiming to be Christians are Christians indeed? The Lord means every word He says. Christ died that the transgressor of the law of God might be brought back to his loyalty, that he might keep the commandments of God, and His law as the apple of His eye, and live. God cannot take rebels into His kingdom; therefore He makes obedience to His requirements a special requirement…{Ms64-1899.7}
• Let no one suppose that conversion is the beginning and end of the Christian life. There is a science of Christianity that must be mastered. There is to be growth in grace, that is constant progress and improvement. The mind is to be disciplined, trained, educated; for the child of God is to do service for God in ways that are not natural, or in harmony with inborn inclination. Those who become the followers of Christ find that new motives of action are supplied, new thoughts arise, and new actions must result. But they can make advancement only through conflict; for there is an enemy that ever contends against them, presenting temptations to cause the soul to doubt and sin. Besides this ever vigilant foe, there are hereditary and cultivated tendencies to evil that must be overcome…{CE 122.1}
• …Let us go forward, and not backward. We want a new conversion daily. We want the love of Jesus throbbing in our hearts, that we may be instrumental in saving many souls. {RH June 10, 1880, par. 14}
• The steps in conversion, plainly marked out, are repentance, faith in Christ as the world’s Redeemer, faith in his death, burial, and resurrection, shown by baptism, and his ascension on high to plead in the sinner’s behalf…{YI February 1, 1874, par. 4}
• In true conversion, the sinner is first convicted of his real condition. He realizes that he is a transgressor of God’s law and that the Lord has claims upon him which He will not relinquish. He sees that the connection between himself and God has been broken, but that if he repents of his transgression, confesses his sin, and takes hold by faith upon the grace of Christ, the connection that has been broken will be restored. {Ms17-1888.10}
  • True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. {SC 38.1}
• A man is not converted unless his appetite and diet correspond with his profession of faith. {16LtMs, Ms 93, 1901, par. 13}

 

CONVERTING THE SOUL

• making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7)
• the law of the Lord is perfect and converts the soul (Psalm 19:7)
• The one who is attempting to convert someone should have their sins forgiven, a pure mind, right mentality, the Holy Spirit and knowledge of Scripture (Psa 51:9-13)
  • They turn the sinner from the error of his way and save a soul from death and hide numerous sins (James 5:20)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 18:3: Jesus warned that only those who are converted will enter the kingdom of God.
• Luke 21:31.32: Jesus prayed for Peter and knew that when Peter was converted that He could strengthen his brethren.

 

CORN / GRAIN

• People (Amos 9:9)
• Withered corn (Joel 1:17)
• Corn shall make the young men cheerful (Zech 9:17)

 

CORN OF HEAVEN

• manna i.e. Word of God (Matt 4:4)
  • don’t withhold it (Prov 11:26)
  • hidden manna (Rev 2:17)
  • Num 11:9  When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
• angel’s food (Psa 78:24,25)
• Jesus (Psa 78:24,25, John 6:48-51) {EP 204.3-.4}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• As in the above references. Jesus is the corn of heaven.

 

 

 

 

CORNER STONES

• Daughters of God *polished* (Psa 144:12)
• Waters wear the stones (Job 14:19)
• Chief corner stone is Jesus Christ (Eph 2:20, Act 4:10-11)

 

COTTAGE

• Or booth in a vineyard
• Daughter of Zion (Isa 1:8) [see Zion]
• Earth (Isa 24:20)
  • Also compared to a drunkard

 

COUCH [see bed]

• Jeroboam won Damascus for Israel and that place was compared to a couch. A couch is a symbol of listless ease and security. It is also a symbol of ease and luxury. (Amos 3:12; 6:4-7)
• Covenant – of day and night (Jere 33:20,25)
• Bed could also be couch in Song of Solomon 1:16

 

COUNSEL [see perfume] [see teach]

• Devices (Psa 33:10)
  • We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor 2:11)
• The Lord gives counsel (Psa 16:7)
• God’s counsels are faithfulness and truth (Isa 25:1)
  • Destruction and oppression comes as a result of following one’s own counsels (Hos 11:6)
  • darken counsel by words without knowledge (Job 38:2)
• The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves by not being baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29,30)
• In the multitude of counselors there is safety (Prov 24:6)
  • Be aware of wicked counsellors who imagine evil against the Lord (Nah 1:11)
• God overturns the counsels of the wicked (Job 5:13)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 22:15, 27:1: The Pharisees, chief priests & elds counselled together to see how they can entangle Jesus in His words, and put Jesus to death.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

COVENANT [see salt] [see EGW Encyclopedia by Denis Fortin pg. 1084)

• Ten Commandments (Ex 34:28; Deut 4:13)
• The law of God written in people’s hearts (Jere 31:32-33, Heb 8:9-10, 10:15-16)
  • Perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah
    • Insight: {ST December 15, 1887, par. 1}
  • Note also that the law of God is a reflection of Christ’s character

Characteristic	What God is	What the Law is
Good	Luke 18:19 (John 10:11)	1 Timothy 1:8
Holy	Isaiah 5:16 (Mark 1:24)	Romans 7:12
Perfect	Matthew 5:48 (1Peter 2:21-22)	Psalm 19:7
Pure	1 John 3:2,3 (1 John 3:2-3)	Psalm 19:8
Just	Deuteronomy 32:4 (Matt 27:24)	Romans 7:12
Faithful	1 Corinthians 1:9 (Rev 19:11)	Psalm 119:86
True	John 3:33 (Rev 19:11)	Psalm 19:9
Spiritual	1 Corinthians 10:4 (1 Cor 10:4)	Romans 7:14
Righteous	Jeremiah 23:6 (1 John 2:1)	Psalm 119:172
Love	1 John 4:8 (John 10:30; Rom 8:35-39)	Romans 13:10
Unchangeable	James 1:17 (Hebrews 13:8)	Matthew 5:18
Eternal	Genesis 21:33 (John 10:17-18)	Psalm 111:7,8

• by the blood of the covenant, God rescues prisoners out of the pit where in it there is no water (Zech 9:11)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 4:8-10: Jesus only worshipped God
• Colossians 1:12-15, Hebrews 1:3: Jesus is the image of the invisible God
• Matthew 6:7, Matthew 15:9; John 5:36; 10:25: Jesus taught His followers not to use vain repetitions and not to worship God in vain. Jesus didn’t take His Father’s name in vain. He lived a perfect life and represented the perfection of the Father on earth.
• Matthew 12:8, Luke 4:16; 23:50-54: Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus kept the 7^th day Sabbath holy while alive and in His death.
• Luke 2:49-52: Jesus honoured His heavenly Father and was subject to his earthly parents too.
• Matthew 12:9-13; Luke 7:11-15; John 12:1: Jesus raised people from the dead. He was no murderer, but a restorer.
• Matthew 5:27-28; Ephesians 5:23: Jesus condemned adultery. He has never divorced His bride – His church.
• Matthew 13:54-55; Mark 6:3; Matthew 19:17-18: Jesus wasn’t a thief. Jesus worked with his earthly father and did honest work as a carpenter most of his life. He condemned theft.
• 1 Peter 2:22; John 8:45-46; John 14:6: Jesus told the truth and He is the truth.
• Isaiah 53:1-2; 2 Corinthians 8:9: Jesus didn’t covet earthly wealth and earthly dress. He left Heaven and became poor so that we through His poverty might be rich.

 

 

CRIMSON JASPER/RED

• *note that jasper can be yellow, red, brown or green*
• The forgiveness of sins through Jesus. (Isa 1:18) (Act 5:30,31)
  • {SSP 344.3}

 

CROWN

• Virtuous woman (Prov 12:4)
• Knowledge (Prov 14:18)
• Riches (Prov 14:24)
• Of pride (Isa 28:1,3)
• Of royalty (Esth 2:17)
• Of holiness (Lev 8:9)
• Of pure gold (Rev 14:14, Est 8:15. Psa 21:3)
  • God sets it upon the king’s head.
• Of twelve stars (Rev 12:1)
• Of thorns (Matt 27:29)
• Of rejoicing (1 Thess 2:19)
• Of righteousness (2 Tim 4:8)
• Of life (Jam 1:12, Rev 2:10)
• Of glory (Prov 4:9, 1 Pet 5:4)
  • Or beauty is compared to Jerusalem (Isa 62:1-3)
• Lose a good crown by sin (Lam 5:16)
  • When the crown is lost, glory is stripped away (Job 19:9)
• Saved people are like stones of a crown (Zech 9:16)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Jesus is married to a virtuous woman which is His church. Jesus is rich as King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is holy and He wore a crown of thorns so that we could be made holy. Jesus Christ and whole heaven rejoices over one sinner that repents. Jesus is righteous. He has life unborrowed and underived. He is glorious.
  • Rich people have many friends (Prov 14:20)

 

CRY

• prayer (Psalm 17:1)
• of destruction (Jere 48:5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 11:35: Jesus cried and He also prayed for His people (John 17)
• Matthew 27:46: Jesus cried out on the cross with a loud voice for you and I.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CUP

• A cup of the Lord and a cup of devils (1 Cor 10:21)
  • Satan has a cup and God has a cup
  • Cup of the Lord’s right hand (Hab 2:16)
• of blessing (1 Cor 10:16, Luke 22:20)
  • communion of the blood, the new testament
  • described as the cup of the Lord (1 Cor 11:25-28)
• of cold water (Matt 10:42, Prov 25:25, Rev 14:6)
  • the good news gospel
• of salvation (Psa 116:13)
• of consolation (Jere 16:7)
  • In this season of conflict and trial we need all the support and consolation we can derive from righteous principles, from fixed religious convictions, from the abiding assurance of the love of Christ, and from a rich experience in divine things. We shall attain to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus only as the result of a steady growth in grace. 5T 105.1
• of joy (Psa 23:5)
  • The Lord makes us joyful. He can even turn the heart of kings to favour God’s people. (Ezra 6:22)
• of astonishment (Eze 23:33)
  • kos shammah which means the cup of ruin or destruction
• of trembling/the Lord’s fury (Isa 51:17, 22, Jere 25:15, Rev 16:19)
  • the fury or judgment of God is likened to a rebuke from God (Isa 51:20)
  • the wrath of God is the 7 last plagues (Rev 15:1)
• of indignation (Rev 14:10)
• of suffering and trial (Matt 20:22-23)
  • bitter cup of trials that purify and cleanse {EW 46.2-47.2}
  • “I saw that this bitter cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance, and prayer, and that it will have its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus receive it, and God will be honored and glorified…” {EW 47.1}
  • Yet we should not lose courage when assailed by temptation. Often when placed in a trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us. But it was the Spirit’s leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. When God brings us into trial, He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. Jesus did not presume on God’s promises by going unbidden into temptation, neither did He give up to despondency when temptation came upon Him. Nor should we. “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.” He says, “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 50:14, 15. {DA 126.3}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Jesus offers salvation to all who come to Him. Through His Comforter, He offers consolation.
• Matthew 2:10: The wise men rejoiced to see the star above the infant Jesus.
• Matthew 28:8: The two women rejoiced to discover that Jesus had risen. What joy should it bring us that Jesus has power over death!
• 2 Thess 1:7-10: The judgment is coming. Those who refuse Christ’s salvation will come to utter ruin and be destroyed.
• Jam 2:19: The devils know to tremble at the presence of God. Have we learned the fear of the Lord?
• Rev 6:14-17: Those who cling to sin will be fearful of the Lord’s coming. Those who put away their sins will rejoice at the 2^nd Advent of Christ.
• Matt 20:22-23: Before we can have eternal life we need drink the bitter cup and have a Christ-like experience for ourselves.

 

CUT OFF

• is to be rooted out (Prov 2:22)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 5:27-30: We need to root out the sins in our lives such as lust, murder and pride.

 

DARKNESS

• God dwelt in the thick darkness of the cloud of His glory (1King 8:11-12)
  • Links: 2 Chron 6:2; Isa 60:2; Ex 20:21; Deut 3:22; Joel 2:2)
• the day of the Lord (Amos 5:18-20)
  • by the wrath of the lord the land is darkened (Isa 9:19)
• power/influence of Satan (Acts 26:18)
• Power of darkness – deeds of treachery and violence (Luke 22:53).
• unrighteousness (2 Cor 6:14)
  • there is no unrighteousness with God (Rom 9:14)
  • all unrighteousness is sin (1John 5:17)
  • Sin is Satan’s attribute, and it is always leagued against good. The spirit of Cain is manifest in all false religions. Satan’s work is to condemn and destroy, to take away man’s liberty and destroy his life. Transgression always leads men to act as Satan’s agents, to carry out his purposes against God and righteousness. {ST March 21, 1900, par. 13}
  • The actions of men created a condition of things based upon false, godless principles. The fear of God became almost extinct. Men sold themselves to work wickedness, and they oppressed all who did not meet their own measure. Physical suffering caused by spiritual oppression, the control of conscience by human enactments, began in the days before the flood. The same spirit is waiting an opportunity to force its hideous, satanic principles into every church. Pride, ambition, selfishness give birth to envy, evil-surmising, the desire to compel men to bow to human ideas. This spirit feeds upon that which gives it life and existence. Introduced in any degree into our churches, it will bring spiritual death. Any man, be he minister or layman, who seeks to compel or control the reason of any other man becomes an agent of Satan to do his work; and in the sight of the heavenly universe, he bears the mark of Cain. In Noah’s day brute force was the prevailing influence in the world. By threatened punishment, men intimidated other men. God saw that evil was reaching a fearful pace, and after granting man a probation of one hundred and twenty years, he swept the race off the face of the earth, saving only Noah and his family. {Ms29-1911.59-61}
  • This is the scene that is presented to me. But the church must and will fight against seen and unseen foes. Satan’s agencies in human form are on the ground. Men have confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts. These confederacies will continue until Christ shall leave His place of intercession before the mercy seat, and shall put on the garments of vengeance. Satanic agencies are in every city, busily organizing into parties those opposed to the law of God. Professed saints and avowed unbelievers take their stand with these parties. This is no time for the people of God to be weaklings. We cannot afford to be off our guard for one moment. {CET 229.2}
• folly/foolishness (Ecc 2:13)
• ignorance (Eph 4:18)
• drunkenness/sleep (1Thess 5:7)
• works of darkness are to be reproved
  • are made manifest by light (Eph 5:11,13)
  • Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.(2 Tim 4:2)
  • When full of power by the spirit of the Lord, we will have judgment and might to declare to God’s people their transgression and sin (Mic 3:8)
  • I am very sure that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiritual blindness, is because they will not receive correction. Many have despised the reproofs and warnings given them. The True Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, and proud, and lovers of sin, are ever assailed with doubts. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue and mark of intelligence in them to be unbelieving and questioning, and quibbling. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and teachable spirit. All should decide from the weight of evidence. RH September 16, 1873, par. 10
• wicked or evil life (Prov 4:19)
• evil (Isa 5:20)
• alienation from the life of God (Eph 4:18)
• light is short because of darkness (Job 17:12)
• by light able to walk through darkness (Job 29:3)
• can’t order speech because of darkness (Job 37:19)
  • darken counsel by words without knowledge (Job 38:2)
• when pride comes into the foolish heart that heart is darkened (Rom 1:21-22)
• A guide of the blind compared to a light for people in darkness (Rom 2:19)
  • People in darkness are spiritually blind (Rom 2:19)
  • when the heart turns to the Lord, spiritual blindness is taken away (2 Cor 3:15-16)
  • those who lack faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love are blind (2 Pet 1:5-9)
• A light for people in darkness is compared to an instructor for the foolish and a teacher of babies (Rom 2:20)
  • People in darkness are foolish and spiritual babies
• Men love darkness because of their evil deeds. They don’t want their deeds revealed, examined or scrutinized. (John 3:19,20)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 4:12-17: Jesus is the light of the world. Those that sat in sin under the influence of Satan in the land of Zabulon saw a great light. They saw Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12). As the people lived wicked foolish lives, they eventually came to know the Saviour and His message of repentance.
• Matthew 27:45, 46: As Jesus hung upon the cross, darkness came upon the land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour. Jesus suffered the wrath of God for us.

 

DAUBING WITH UNTEMPERED MORTAR [see smooth things]

• Seeing vanity and divining lies (Eze 22:28; Isa 30:10)
  • Comes as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
  • Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)
• Rebellious people and rejectors of the law of God don’t desire right messages, but rather request and demand smooth things (Isa 30:10)
  • Those who cave in to the popular demand to prophesy smooth things are men pleasers and are not considered servants of Christ (Gal 1:10)
• Mortar can represent princes (Isa 41:25)

 

 

 

DAY [see night] [see darkness]

• Sobriety and wakefulness (1 Thess 5:6-8)
• one thousand years (Psa 84:10, 90:4)
• a watch in the night (Psa 90:4)
• one year (Num 14:34, Eze 4:6)
• If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble because he sees the light of this world (John 11:9)
  • Have to walk while we have the light. If we don’t, darkness will come upon us. Those that walk in darkness don’t know where they are going. While we have light, believe in the light, that we may be the children of light (John 12:35-36)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 1:14,15: After John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. He preached that the time was fulfilled. Jesus preached prophecy.

 

DECEIT [see poison/venom]

• Balances of deceit (Hos 12:7)
  • Falsifying the balances by deceit (Amos 8:5)
• evil (Psa 50:19)
• falsehood (Psa 119:118)
  • The fruit of lies is wickedness and iniquity (Hos 10:13)
    • Eat this fruit because you trust in yourself and other people – great ones
  • the wicked practice it (Prov 12:5)
  • casting firebrands, arrows and death is compared to practicing deception (Prov 26:18,19)
  • hate oftentimes is the root of deceit (Prov 26:24)
    • deceit is used to disguise their hatred (Prov 26:26)
  • there are prophets which share the deceit of their own hearts (Jere 23:26)
    • their lies cause people to err (Amos 2:4)
    • Comes as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
    • Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)
  • There are people who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit (Zeph 1:9)
  • When a man thinks of himself to be something, when he is nothing, deceives himself (Gal 6:3)
  • Don’t be deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Gal 6:7)
    • He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Cor 9:6)
  • Some people look to lies as their refuge and hide themselves under falsehoods (Isa 28:15)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 19:16-19: Jesus taught to keep the commandments especially the ones that deal with our relationship with each other. Jesus taught that we shouldn’t lie.
• Mark 14:55,56: Chief priests, people that should have been the best practitioners of the law, were people who brought false witnesses against Jesus.

 

DECLARE

• showeth, to show (Psalm 19:1)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 17:25,26: Jesus declared the Father’s name so that the love that Christ had would be in His people
• 2 Corinthians 4:4: Jesus is the image of God. When we look upon Christ we see God.
  • Everything that causes us to see the weakness of humanity is in the Lord’s purpose to help us to look to Him, and in no case put trust in man or make flesh our arm…. We become changed into the image of that upon which we dwell. Then how important to open our hearts to the things that are true and lovely and of good report!—Letter 63, 1893. (Our High Calling, 248.) {2MCP 790.1}

 

DECLARE INIQUITY

• sorry for sin (Psalm 38:18)
• confess sins to the Lord in order to be justified (Isa 43:24-26)
  • True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. {SC 38.1}
• destroyed because of iniquity (Isa 64:7)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 John 1:9: When we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us of all our sins.
• Psalm 66:19: If we regard iniquity in our hearts the Lord will not hear us.
• Titus 2:13,14: Jesus redeems us from all iniquity.

 

 

DEEP [see water] [see sea] [see ship]

• In Luke 5:4 – deep in Greek is bathos – means profundity, extent or mystery
  • 1Co 2:10  But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things *bathos* of God.
• In Luke 8:30-31 – deep in Greek is abussos – abyss or bottomless
  • Rom 10:7 – used to refer to the grave
• Ocean/sea/body of water (2 Cor 11:25) *buthos*

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 2:10: Jesus is the captain of our salvation. He runs the church ship.
  • He told Simon to launch out into the deep and let down the net (Luke 5:4)
  • Simon responded that he would let down the net at Christ’s word (Luke 5:5)

 

DEMONS

• When people worship idols, they are worshipping demons and paying homage to Satan. They shall not sacrifice לשעירים lasseirim, to the hairy ones, to goats. The famous heathen god, Pan, was represented as having the posteriors, horns, and ears of a goat; and the Mendesians, a people of Egypt, had a deity which they worshipped under this form. Herodotus says that all goats were worshipped in Egypt, but the he-goat particularly. It appears also that the different ape and monkey species were objects of superstitious worship; and from these sprang, not only Mendes and Jupiter Ammon, who was worshipped under the figure of a ram, but also Pan and the Sileni, with the innumerable herd of those imaginary beings, satyrs, dryads, hamadryads, etc. etc., all woodland gods, and held in veneration among the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Devils – The word in the original is the “shaggy goat” of Lev_4:23. But it is sometimes employed, as here, to denote an object of pagan worship or a demon dwelling in the deserts 2Ch_11:15; Isa_13:21; Isa_34:14. The worship of the goat, accompanied by the foulest rites, prevailed in Lower Egypt; and the Israelites may have been led into this snare while they dwelt in Egypt. (Leviticus 17:6-7, Deut 32:15-20, 2 Chron 11:15, 1 Cor 10:19-21, Revelation 9:20)
• Demons have doctrines. They promote error and false systems of worship (1Tim 4:1)
• They believe that there is one God. Demons tremble at the dreadful expectation of their total annihilation (Jam 2:19)
• Often, people sacrificed their children to demons (Psa 106:37)
• When David played heavenly music, the evil spirit left Saul (1Sam 16:23)
• Evil spirits influence people to commit murder (1Sam 19:9-10)
• God permitted or suffered a lying spirit to influence the prophets. The Scriptures repeatedly represent God as doing what, in the course of his providence, he only permits or suffers to be done. Nothing can be done in heaven, in earth, or hell, but either by his immediate energy or permission. This is the reason why the Scripture speaks as it does. (1Kings 22:23)
• We need to belong to Jesus Christ in order to cast out demons. Christians need to be recognized by God first before the demons will recognize their authority to cast them out. Demons can possess people to commit acts of violence and self harm. (Act 19:14-16, Matt 8:28, 31-32, Mark 5:5, Luke 9:39)
• Demons are often associated with death and destruction (Matt 8:28, 31-32)
• Demonic possession led to nakedness and homelessness (Luke 8:27,29)
• Possession may be accompanied by supernatural strength (Luke 8:29)
• Possession may be accompanied by illness or disorder such as blindness (Matt 12:22)
• Demons can speak through the individual they are inside of. They recognize the authority of Jesus Christ. (Matt 8:29, Luke 4:41)
• Many demons can inhabit a person (Mark 5:5-9, 16:9, Luke 8:2,30)
• Demons can be present during church services. They may disrupt the service at the preaching of God’s Word. (Mark 1:23-24, Luke 4:33-34)
• Demons are unclean – as they chose to inhabit swine (Matt 8:31-32)
• When demoniacs are cured, they sit at the feet of Jesus. They are no longer naked, but are clothed, and are in their right mind. They receive healing. (Luke 8:35-36)
• Those that receive healing from Jesus become evangelists for Him (Luke 8:38-39)
• Babylon becomes a home for devils (Rev 18:2)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 8:16, 12:28: Jesus cast out devils by His word and His Spirit
• Luke 11:20: Jesus cast out devils by the finger of God [see finger of God]
• Matthew 10:8: Jesus commanded His disciples to cast out devils
  • Mark 16:17-18: Real believers in Jesus Christ will cast out devils in Christ’s name, speak different languages, survive dangerous situations and heal the sick by the laying on of hands.
  • Luke 9:1, 10:17: Authority and power to cast out demons given by Jesus Christ.
• Mark 1:34: Jesus suffered not the devils to speak because they knew him
• Mark 9:38: Cast out demons in Jesus Christ’s name
• Luke 9:42: In the presence of Christ, demons may become more violent

 

DESTROY

• put out one’s name (Psalm 9:5)
• those who are destroyed go a whoring (Psa 73:27)
• people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge, rejection of knowledge and forgetting the law of God (Hos 4:6)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 3:5: If we overcome, Jesus will not blot out our names from the book of life

 

 

 

 

 

DEW [see cloud]

• Goodness / faithfulness (Hos 6:4)
• doctrine/teaching (Deut 32:2-3)
• Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39. 1Cor 12:13)
  • Note that true teachings are accompanied by the working of the Holy Spirit (Eph 6:17)
  • Note that God gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey Him (Acts 5:32)
  • Note that a lack of the Holy Spirit is demonstrated by God’s people plunging into amusements, match games, and pugilistic performances (SpTEd 218.1)
• Favour (Prov 15:12) [see wall]
  • Is as the latter rain (Prov 16:15)
  • He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. (Prov 28:23)
  • To obey the commandments of God is the only way to obtain His favor. “Go forward” should be the Christian’s watchword. {4T 27.4}
  • Artaxerxes, who styled himself as the king of kings, said whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done (Ezra 7:12, 23)
• Lord (Hos 14:5)
• Remnant of Jacob (Mic 5:7)
• Referred to as drops of the night (Song of Sol 5:2)
• By his knowledge the clouds drop down the dew (Prov 3:20)
• people in apostasy compared to dew (Hos 13:2,3)
• No dew, no rain and a drought because the Lord’s house is in poor condition (Hag 1:9-11)
• Num 11:9  When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 John 5:6-8: Jesus came by water and blood. As the Father, the Word and the Holy Spirit agree in one, so does the Spirit, water and blood.

 

DILIGENCE

• “All diligence” means much. It means a daily diligence….{Lt144-1903.22}
• But though Christ is everything, we are to inspire every man to unwearied diligence. We are to strive, wrestle, agonize, watch, pray, lest we shall be overcome by the wily foe. For the power and grace with which we can do this comes from God, and all the while we are to trust in Him, who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. Never leave the impression on the mind that there is little or nothing to do on the part of man; but rather teach man to cooperate with God, that he may be successful in overcoming. Let no one say that your works have nothing to do with your rank and position before God. In the judgment the sentence pronounced is according to what has been done or to what has been left undone (Matthew 25:34-40). {1SM 381.3-4}

DIRT [see mire]

 

DISH

• Butter in a lordly dish (Judg 5:25)
• Jerusalem (2King 21:13)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 26:23; Mark 14:20: Judas dipped his hand in the dish signalling that he was the one to betray Christ.

 

DIVINE NATURE

• By faith in God’s promises we obtain the divine nature (1Pet 1:3-4)
• Before it is forever too late, study the Scriptures with prayer. Let all church members cease to speak the language of condemnation and begin to work intelligently to obtain the pearl of great price—the meekness and lowliness of Him who took humanity upon Himself, that human beings might be partakers of the divine nature. Let there be heard no unkind comments about others. Let each one remember that his own case needs to be cured by a practice of the precepts found in the Word of God. Let no soul exalt himself or herself. Let not one word be spoken to disparage others. Seek instead to speak words that will bring courage and hope to those who are perishing out of Christ. {Lt6-1907.7}
• May the Lord help you to understand His Word. If you will heed and practice this Word, you will become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Let our ministers and teachers seek knowledge from the one true source. Let them seek the Lord with much prayer, earnestly searching His Word to find the hidden treasure. Now, just now, is the golden opportunity to understand the truths of the Word, and let this opportunity be improved by all. Let the book of Daniel be read and its instruction heeded. {Lt6-1907.9}
• As we partake of the divine nature, hereditary and cultivated tendencies to wrong are cut away from the character, and we are made a living power for good. Ever learning of the divine Teacher, and daily partaking of the divine nature, we co-operate with God in overcoming Satan’s temptations. God works and man works, that the sacred union may exist, that man may be one with Christ as Christ is one with God. Then we sit together with Christ in heavenly places. The mind may rest in peace and assurance in Jesus Christ. Why then, we may ask, do we not have more of the Holy Spirit? Because we do not abide in Christ, eating His flesh and drinking His blood. All who eat the heavenly bread will have eternal life. “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk even as he walked.” [1 John 2:6.] God has given us every facility, every grace. He has provided the very riches of heaven’s treasure, and it is our privilege to draw continually from the capital. But we do not avail ourselves of this privilege. The apostle exhorts us, “And besides this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue (which will demonstrate the purity and holiness of your character) and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance, patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” [2 Peter 1:5-7.] {14LtMs, Ms 11, 1899, par. 12-13}
  • Those who eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God will bring from the books of Daniel and Revelation truth that is inspired by the Holy Spirit. They will start into action forces that cannot be repressed. The lips of children will be opened to proclaim the mysteries that have been hidden from the minds of men.—The Review and Herald, August 17, 1897. {Ms142-1901.11}
  • The truth should be woven into our life, that it may influence our spirit and govern our actions. I declare to you in the name of the Lord, that the ministry must be elevated. We are not anything like as efficient as we might be. Some of the ministers do not teach the truth as it is in Jesus. They do not eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God. Christ says, “The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” His words must become a part of our very life; then we shall offer fervent, effectual prayers with that faith which will bring returns. Then if ministers see that their labors are not effectual to the saving of souls, they will fast and pray, and the Holy Spirit will come upon them. They will work diligently to correct what may be wrong in their character. The sincerity of their prayers will be determined by the earnest efforts they make to place themselves in right relation to God. When they see in themselves sins and wrongs that must be confessed and renounced, they must exercise faith that when they repent of their sins, God forgives; that renovating power is given to the soul. By faith, living faith, the victory will be gained. In this work there should be no indolence indulged in, for God calls upon men for the exercise of every power, that he may work with their efforts. Man can never be saved himself, or be an instrument for the salvation of others, until he exercises living faith, and with determined effort acts his part in the work of God. He must take hold upon the strength of Christ, which will subdue every unholy passion, and enable him to conquer self. God has given to his people the light of great and solemn truths. He has opened to their understanding the mysteries of salvation; and if these truths are not improved, the favor of God will be withdrawn. {RH February 25, 1890, par. 9}
  • Our bodies are composed of what we eat; and by partaking of nourishing food, we have good blood, firm muscles, and vigorous health. So in our spiritual nature, we are composed of what we dwell upon. If we take the lessons which Christ has given us, and make them practical, living out his instructions, we are then eating the flesh and drinking the blood of our Saviour, and becoming more and more like him in life and character. In this way we come to know that his going forth is prepared as the morning. How is that? When the day dawns, the light is faint and subdued; but as the sun rises, its light increases and strengthens, until its rays reach the perfect day. This is the way in which the Christian’s light is to increase. We are to know more of Christ today than we knew yesterday; we are to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour; we are to trust him more in trial and difficulty, looking to him as the author and finisher of our faith. In sorrow and temptation we are to realize that he is touched with the feeling of our infirmities; that he was a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; that he was wounded for our transgressions, and by his stripes we are healed. {RH April 14, 1891, par. 12}
  • Much is being said regarding the impartation of the Holy Spirit, and by some this is being so interpreted that it is an injury to the churches. Eternal life is the receiving of the living elements in the Scriptures and doing the will of God. This is eating the flesh and drinking the blood of the Son of God. To those who do this, life and immortality are brought to light through the gospel, for God’s Word is verity and truth, spirit and life. It is the privilege of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour to feed on the Word of God. The Holy Spirit’s influence renders that Word, the Bible, an immortal truth, which to the prayerful searcher gives spiritual sinew and muscle. {2SM 38.4}
  • To eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ is to receive Him as a personal Saviour, believing that He forgives our sins, and that we are complete in Him. It is by beholding His love, by dwelling upon it, by drinking it in, that we are to become partakers of His nature. What food is to the body, Christ must be to the soul. Food cannot benefit us unless we eat it, unless it becomes a part of our being. So Christ is of no value to us if we do not know Him as a personal Saviour. A theoretical knowledge will do us no good. We must feed upon Him, receive Him into the heart, so that His life becomes our life. His love, His grace, must be assimilated. {DA 389.3}
  • The Word of God contains our life insurance policy. To eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God means to study the Word and to carry that Word into the life in obedience to all its precepts. Those who thus partake of the Son of God become partakers of the divine nature—one with Christ. They breathe a holy atmosphere, in which only the soul can truly live. They carry in their lives an assurance of the holy principles received from the Word: their lives are worked by the power of the Holy Spirit, and they have an earnest of the immortality that will be theirs through the death and resurrection of Christ. Should the earthly body decay, the principles of their faith sustain them; for they are partakers of the divine nature. Because Christ was raised from the dead, they grasp the pledge of their resurrection, and eternal life is their reward. {22LtMs, Lt 82, 1907, par. 12}
• It requires prayer, it requires faith, it requires understanding to become a partaker of the divine nature. But as we obtain this experience, we are not benefiting ourselves alone, we are giving to all around us an evidence that all may be partakers of the divine nature; all may be overcomers.—Manuscript 49, 1909, 5, 6. (“Partakers of the Divine Nature,” Sermon, June 6, 1909.) If we will take hold of the life of Christ and study His teachings, He will show us how to accept the attributes of His divine nature.—Manuscript 85, 1909, 9. (“Lessons of Self-Denial, Trust, and Cooperation,” October 29, 1909.) {8MR 291.3-4}

 

DOG [see swine] [see sword]

• whore (Deut 23:17,18)
  • Deuteronomy 23:18 – “dog” = keleb – a male prostitute
• heathen, wicked transgressors (Psa 59:5,6)
• fool turning to his folly (Prov 26:11)
• Greeks / Phoenicians / Canaanite race – the uncircumcised, heathen (Mark 7:26-28, Matthew 15:22, DA 399.2)
• Unfaithful watchmen are quiet sleeping dogs (Isa 56:10)
  • Greedy dogs (Isa 56:11)
• evil workers and the concision (Philippians 3:2)
• those who crucified Christ literally and those who crucify Him spiritually (Psa 22:16, John 19:13-16,23, Matt 27:20, Heb 6:6, Rom 6:23)
• grabbing a dog by the ears is like passing by and getting involved in other people’s problems (Prov 26:17)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 15:21-28: A woman of Canaan came to get help from Jesus because her daughter had a devil. She had so much faith in Christ that even though she was referred to as a dog, she accepted it and still desired Christ and believed on Him. By faith in Christ, spiritual dogs can change and be favoured by Christ.

 

DOOR

• mouth/lips (Psa 141:3)
  • Ecc 5:2-7  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words. When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
• slothful person (Prov 26:14)
• little sister (Song of Sol 8:9)
• of faith (Acts 14:27) [see emerald/green] [see gold/yellow]
• Maaseiah the son of Shallum, the keeper of the door (Jere 35:4)
• Jesus Christ (John 10:7-9)
• Judge stands before the door (Jam 5:9)
• The temple and sanctuary had two doors and each had two leaves just like the heart is divided into left and right. God wants to write His law on the tables of our hearts. (Prov 7:2,3, 2 Cor 3:3, Heb 8:10, 10:16) [see heart]
• Of faith (Act 14:27)
• Of hope (Hos 2:15)
• Judge stands before the door (Jam 5:9)
• I was then bidden to take notice of the two apartments of the heavenly sanctuary. The curtain, or door, was opened, and I was permitted to enter. In the first apartment I saw the candlestick with seven lamps, the table of shewbread, the altar of incense, and the censer. All the furniture of this apartment looked like purest gold and reflected the image of the one who entered the place. The curtain which separated the two apartments was of different colors and material, with a beautiful border, in which were figures wrought of gold to represent angels. The veil was lifted, and I looked into the second apartment. I saw there an ark which had the appearance of being of the finest gold. As a border around the top of the ark, was most beautiful work representing crowns. In the ark were tables of stone containing the ten commandments. {EW 251.3}
• In chap 1:10, John says, I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day. He was in vision on that day. Again he says, chap 4:2, And immediately I was in the Spirit. Hence we conclude that chap.iv commences a second vision. The illuminating influence of the Holy Spirit came upon John gradually. He first sees a door opened in heaven, then hears a trumpet voice, then immediately, in close connection, is lost to all earthly things, being wrapped in a vision of things in heaven. He entered the first apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and saw the throne of God, and describes the appearance of him that sat upon it. Before the throne of God were seven burning lamps of fire. The candlestick, with its seven burning lamps, was in the first apartment of the earthly sanctuary. Exodus 25:31, 32; 26:35; 37:17-23; 40:24; Leviticus 24:4; Numbers 4:9; 8:2; 1 Chronicles 28:15; 2 Chronicles 4:20; 13:11. These burning lamps in the earthly and in the heavenly sanctuaries, during both dispensations, represent the Holy Spirit in all its operations, here called the seven Spirits of God. The four and twenty elders, we conclude, were selected from the multitude of captives, of the good and holy of past ages held captives by death, but raised from the dead at the resurrection of Christ, Matthew 27:52, 53, and taken up to heaven at his ascension. Ephesians 4:8, margin. This multitude were raised for some wise purpose, and they doubtless have an important part to act. And the fact that the four and twenty elders are represented in chap 5:8, as every one of them having golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints, may justify the conclusion that they are assistants in the priesthood of Jesus Christ. {ARSH June 24, 1862 28.4-6}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• As referred to above. Jesus is the door, the way, to everlasting life.
• Job 22:22: We should receive the law from His mouth and lay up His words in our hearts.

 

DOVE

• Holy Spirit (Luk 3:22, Mark 1:10)
• Person/people (Psa 55:6, Song of Sol 2:14, 5:2, 6:9, Isa 38:14)
• Turtledove=Person/people (Psa 74:19)
• Silly dove without a heart is compared to Ephraim (Hos 7:11,12, 11:11)
  • Instead of calling to God they seek Egypt and Assyria – without good sense
  • Refuse to turn back to God – Assyria takes over (Hos 11:5)
• Jemima in Job 42:14 means dove, handsome as the day
• Birds wander for lack of meat (Job 38:41) [see meat/food]

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• As referred to above, Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism, and He came down upon Him in the form of a dove

 

DRAGON [see poison/venom]

• Found in Pharaoh’s rivers [see Egypt] [see river] (Eze 29:3)
  • Pharaoh compared to a whale (Eze 32:2)
• Dragons in the waters (Psa 74:13) [see water]
• Compared to king of Babylon (Jere 51:34)
• Satan (Rev 12:9) [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub]
• 2^nd sense: paganism {GC88 438.2}
• 3^rd sense: secular civil powers (Eze 29:2,3, Rev 19:19,20, TM 38)
  • Satan uses civil powers to persecute God’s people (Rev 2:10)
  • Fleshly people will persecute spiritual people (Gal 4:29)
  • Flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit is contrary to the flesh (Gal 5:17)
• Kings and rulers and governors have placed upon themselves the brand of antichrist, and are represented as the dragon who goes to make war with the saints—with those who keep the commandments of God and who have the faith of Jesus. In their enmity against the people of God, they show themselves guilty also of the choice of Barabbas instead of Christ.{TM 38.2}
• Red dragon (Rev 12:3)
  • Rome flew the eagle and red dragon as their standards
  • Herod derived power from Rome

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 12:1-4, Matthew 2:13-18: Mary gave birth to the SEED Jesus Christ. Herod was angry and killed many children. Out of jealousy he sought to kill Jesus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DROSS [see bottles/vessels] [see vessels] [see furnace]

• Waste material (Prov 25:4)
• People/sinners (Eze 22:18-20)
  • The unjust have no shame (Hab 3:5)
• Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. (Prov 26:23)
• silver dross is litharge or lead monoxide which forms a glaze upon the earthen vessel and makes the vessel smooth and pleasant to the touch while beneath the material is rough and cheap. (Prov 26:23)
  • the enemy – referring to Pharoah and his army were compared to lead and stone that sinks to the bottom (Ex 15:10,5)

 

DUST [see gold]

• Flesh, sand (Psa 78:27)
  • People (Isa 48:19, Hab 1:9)
  • Judah and Israel as the sand by the sea (1King 4:20)
• Enemies (Psa 68:1,2)
• People (Psa 103:14)
• Dunghill (Psa 113:7)
• Strangers, impressive people, chaff (Isa 29:5)
• The clouds are the dust of God’s feet (Nah 1:3)

 

EAGLE [see feathers]

• The Lord (Deut 32:11-12)
• Vitality (Psa 103:5, Isa 40:31)
• Pride / prestige (Oba 1:4)
• Swift ships – swiftness /speed (Job 9:26, 2Sa_1:23, Jere 4:13)

 

EARS OF CORN

• corn likened to people that fail in the judgment (Job 24:24)

 

EARTH

• world (Isa 24:4)
• inhabitants of the world (Psalm 33:8)
  • Men of the world (Psa 17:14)
• all the earth sought Solomon (1King 10:24)
• the whole world lies in wickedness (1John 5:19)
  • wickedness burns as the fire (Isa 9:18)
  • its abomination for kings to commit wickedness (Prov 16:12)
  • when God’s judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Isa 26:9)
• The Lord will destroy sinners out of the world…never to exist again (Isa 13:9)
• The Lord will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity (Isa 13:11)
• note that in Rev 17:15 waters represent people and there is much more water in the world than dry land therefore earth represents minimal population and water equals dense population
• in the world we have trouble (John 16:33)
• Christians are in the world but not of the world like Jesus Christ was (John 17:14)
• Jesus spoke openly to the world. He didn’t teach in secretly. (John 18:20)

 

EARTHLY SANCTUARY

• type of heavenly (Heb 8:1,2,5),

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 3:1: As there was a high priest in the earthly sanctuary so is there Jesus Christ our High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary.
  • Hebrews 7:26: Jesus Christ became human. He was holy and harmless. He was undefiled, separate from sinners and made high.

 

EGGS [see serpent] [see treasure]

• Riches (Isa 10:14, Jere 17:11)
• Counsels and plans (Isa 59:5)
  • The plans of evildoers are not easily known
  • When the plans are fully developed, their true nature is revealed
  • God overturns the counsels of the wicked (Job 5:13)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 11:12-13: Jesus said “Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

 

EGYPT [see furnace]

• Gentiles (Jere 46:1,2)
• Atheism and/or disobedience (Ex 5:2) [see waves]
  • Also described here in this reference Psalm 12:4
  • Some of the fathers of Israel didn’t believe in God (Exodus exp.) (2King 17:14)
• Antilaw, antisabbath, antiworship (Ex 5:4-8)
• Nature worship à In worship of God there was sacrifice of animals. Egyptians didn’t like this because they worshipped some animals. Almost every production of nature was an object of their religious worship. The abomination of the Egyptians – That which they abominate to see killed, because they worshipped them as gods. (Ex 8:25-26)
• The strength of Egypt is sin (Eze 30:15) [see waves]
• House of bondage (Ex 13:3,14; 20:2; Deut 5:6; 6:12)
• Treasures in Egypt (Heb 11:26)
  • Treasures of wickedness (Prov 10:2, Mic 6:10)
    • Not good
    • Pleasures of sin for a season (Heb 11:25)
  • Fine linen from Egypt (1 King 10:28, Prov 7:16, Eze 27:7)
    • Fine linen is the righteousness of saints so the opposite must be true. The antithesis of the fine linen of Christ’s righteousness must be the self-righteousness of Satan from atheism and paganism (Rev 19:8, Isa 64:6, 14:12-14)
  • The Assyrian was going to smite God’s people with a rod after the manner of Egypt (Isa 10:24)
  • Flies are found in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt (Isa 7:18)
  • By a prophet, the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt (Hos 12:13)

[see Israel]

• Egypt erred in every work as a drunken man staggering in his vomit (Isa 19:14)
• I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not. (Jude 1:5)
• Moses refused to be a son of Pharoah (Heb 11:24)
• By faith, forsake Egypt (Heb 11:27)
• Solomon united himself with Egypt by taking Pharaoh’s daughter as his wife (1King 3:1)
  • The people of God sometimes looked to Egypt as their ally. Uniting with Egypt does not bring success; rather, it brings failure (Isa 31:3)
  • Instead of uniting with atheism, adopting secular worldly policies and living in disobedience, God’s people should turn to Him from whom they have deeply revolted (Isa 31:6)
• Egyptians are men and not God (Isa 31:3)
  • Their horses are flesh and not spirit (Isa 31:3)
• Pharaoh was the title of the king of Egypt. Israelites sometimes looked to Egypt – Pharoah’s army for help against the Chaldeans/Babylonians. (Jere 37:7)
  • Many Egyptian pharaohs of the time boasted of their military valor and victories, as did their western Asiatic counterparts. But the interactions were not purely hostile; all kings realized the benefits of diplomacy. They formed a “Club of the Great Powers,” whose members exchanged diplomatic messages, gifts, and brides. – A History of Ancient Egypt by Marc Van De Mieroop
  • Raneb introduced the worship not only of the sacred goat of Mendes but also of the sacred bull of Mnevis at the old sun-worship centre of Heliopolis.
  • 5th Dynasty Pharaohs are known as the Sun Kings
  • Amenhotep III had recognized the growing power of the priesthood of Amun and had sought to curb it; his son was to take the matter a lot further by introducing a new monotheistic cult of sun-worship that was incarnate in the sun’s disc.
    • Chronicle of the Pharaohs by Peter A Clayton
  • From eight sources connected with kingship and its writings, Assmann reconstructed a remarkable ancient Egyptian written composition, with no ancient title, called by him The King as Priest of the Sun. One key passage states why the creator sun-god Ra installed the nswt, “king,” on earth (Assmann 2001, 3–6):
    • the Sun-god installed the king on the earth of the living, for ever and eternity,
    • to judge between people and to satisfy the gods,
    • to create what is Right,
    • to annihilate what is Evil,
    • giving offerings to the gods, voice-offerings to the blessed dead.
  • For about a century, 2500–2400 bc, pyramid complexes for kings were paired with separate structures, called Sun Temples in Egyptology, but intended to support the cult of the king.
  • For the king, there are also depictions of accompanying lion, with name. However, the king seems to be a separate category of being: from 3000 to 1100 bc, burials of kings are out of all proportion to others, and second-millennium BC word lists separate nesyu, “kings,” from netjeru, “deities,” and remetj, “people” (Gardiner 1947). These and other writings divide people into three groups, apparently on the principle of concentric circles around the king: an innermost circle of bodyguard and closest courtiers is called the henmemet, written with sun disk and rays, and so often translated sun people; the middle circle, still close to the king, is p‘at, often translated nobility or elite; and the rest of humanity is rekhyt, often translated populace. Animals and plants are absent from this section of word lists, but the prominence of animals and birds in the iconography of deities warns us against assuming the separation of human from animal, just on the basis of that one genre of writing.
  • The distinctive feature of kingship—of both sun-god in the sky and mortal king on earth—was the protective force depicted as cobra rearing with swollen neck, ready to spit fire against any potential enemy.
    • Uraeus: serpent-image that protruded just above the forehead in most royal crowns and headdresses; the original meaning of the Greek word uraeus may have been ‘she who rears up’ – The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt by Ian Shaw
  • DEITY: Hathor Woman with cow horns and sun disk, cow/cow-headed woman
    • Lana Troy has shown how ancient Egyptian queenship operated, not as a royal family in the dynastic European sense, but as a gendered machine for prosperity on the model of sovereign sun Ra/King and feminine complements Hathor/Nut.
  • DEITY: Wadjyt Rearing cobra, lion-headed woman, woman with cobra and sun disk
  • In history of religion, a ritual declamation in the first person of divine characteristics and deeds is often called an aretalogy (from

Greek arete, “virtue,” in the sense of good deed or character). The psychological impact of reciting such words may have been overpowering, as the speaker started from such a direct assertion as “I am Isis”—a formula extensively deployed in writings for good health (see Chapter 5). Similar statements recur in writings for eternal life (Chapter 6), where one of the most widely attested compositions identifies the speaker as the creator (Coffin Text 335 = Book of the Dead chapter 17, Allen 1988, 31):

• The word comes to be, all is mine (or I am the all),

in my existence alone.

I am the sun in his first appearances,

I am the great god who comes to be out of himself.

 

• Exploring Religion in Ancient Egypt by Stephen Quirke

 

**my note** – the religion of Egypt was one that deifies humanity. The individual becomes a god to himself/ herself.  ~ Atheism: there is no God except me. (Psa 14:1 – fools says in his hear that there is no God)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 2:15: Jesus came out of Egypt. We should follow His example (1 Peter 2:21)
• Luke 7:16,17: People referred to Jesus as a great prophet
• Hebrews 5:9: Jesus Christ is the Author of salvation to those that obey Him

 

ELECTION

• Of grace (Rom 11:5)
• Of God (1 Thess 1:4)
• 2 Peter 1:10à. Is there an election? Certainly. Not that you will be elected, whether you are overcomers or not, but that you will make your calling and election sure, by words, by actions, by an excellent character, that you may live in the family as God would have you live. {Ms153-1904.57}
• 2 Peter 1:11à “If ye do these things you shall never fall.” Have you got your life insurance policy? Here it is. Here is the eternal life insurance policy, and we want that. That is the election that Christ wants us to have. We shall never fall, but we shall have an abundant entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. {Ms153-1904.58-59}
• Christ is able to save to the uttermost all who come to Him in faith. He will cleanse them from all defilement in they will let Him. But if they cling to their sins, they cannot possibly be saved; for Christ’s righteousness covers no sin unrepented of. God has declared that those who receive Christ as their Redeemer, accepting Him as the One who takes away all sin, will receive pardon for their transgressions. These are the terms of our election. Man’s salvation depends upon his receiving Christ by faith… {Ms142-1899.14}
• Here are the graces of the Spirit that come to every one that is clinging to Christ. Hold fast to Christ; never let go of Christ. Look upward constantly, look heavenward, and you will step off, “for so an entrance shall be administered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” [Verse 8.] Here is your life policy. Have you got it? Have every one of you taken the life policy? It is an abundant entrance into the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If [you] practice these virtues, [you] shall never fall. Why that is an insurance; there is the election of God on the condition of practice, and there is no other election in the Bible. Election is within our reach. “If ye do these things ye shall never fall.” [Verse 10.] {Ms49-1894.42}

 

ELIJAH

• A type of John the Baptist (Mark 9:11-13)
  • Our work is the same as that given to John the Baptist (8T 9)
  • He was to bear to the world an unflinching testimony in reproving and denouncing sin (2SM 147)
  • In his mission the Baptist had stood as a fearless reprove of iniquity, both in high places and in low (DA 215)
  • All who are truly engaged in the work of the Lord for these last days wll have a decided message to bear (8T 9)
• Elijah message restores all things (Mark 9:12)
• Taken up to heaven by whirlwind (2King 2:1,11)
• Had a mantle. When struck upon water, the Jordan river was divided (2 King 2:8,14)

 

ELISHA

• A type of Jesus Christ {PK 240.2}
• A Shunammite (2King 4:8-12)
• Gehazi was his servant – appeared to be covetous and a liar (2King 4:12; 5:20-27)
• He did teaching and healing. Faith is required for healing (Mark 9:22-24)
• Took up the mantle of Elijah (2King 2:14)
• Elisha went across Jordon river on dry land like in the Exodus (2King 2:14)
• Poured water on the hands of Elijah (2King 3:11)
• When the minstrel was played, the hand of the Lord came upon him (2King 3:15)
  • Minstrel: sometimes a stringed instrument – melody
    • Can refer to flue player or minstrel piper (Matt 9:23, Rev 18:22)
  • Dead body came into contact with Elisha’s bones and the body received life (2King 13:21)

 

EMERALD / GREEN [see door]

• Faith {EW 81.1} (Matt 6:28-30) *grass is green*
• Hope (Psa 52:8, 33:18, 1 Pet 1:3){SSP 344.3}

 

ENEMIES [see wax]

• dust, dirt (Psalm 18:40-42)
• smoke (Psa 68:1,2)
• God’s enemies are as wax (Psa 68:1,2)
  • Are those who continue on in trespasses (Psa 68:21)
• son of wickedness (Psa 89:22)
• bees (Psa 118:12)
• thorns (Psa 118:12) [see brier] [see thorns]
  • God’s enemies are thorns and drunkards (spiritual app.) (Nah 1:18)
• Of the cross of Christ
  • Lovers of pleasure, don’t care about spiritual things, absorbed with worldly things (Philip 3:18,19)
    • Those that love pleasure will be poor (Prov 21:17)
  • Friendship of the world is enmity with God. Whoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (Jam 4:4)
  • Enemies in mind (Col 1:21)
  • Become Christ’s enemies through wicked works (Col 1:21)
• Enemies blaspheme God’s name. (Psa_74:10)
• Lord’s enemies are described as drunkards (Nah 1:8-10)
• Satan is the chief enemy (Matt 13:39)
• Children of the devil are enemies of all righteousness and pervert the right ways of the Lord (Act 13:10)
  • Enemies of God corrupt the word of God (2 Cor 2:17)
  • We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor 2:11)
  • Devilish wisdom includes bitter envying and strife and is not an example of true religion. Where envying and strife is seen it is devilish wisdom at work. When devilish wisdom is at work, there is confusion and evil (James 3:14-16)
    • God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Cor 14:33)
  • Enemy in the way who lay in wait by the way (Ezra 8:22, 31)
    • All those that seek God receive good from Him. His power and wrath is against all them that forsake Him.
  • Sometimes God’s people find enemies by telling the truth because some people don’t want to hear the truth (Gal 4:16)
    • Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
  • Enemies may arise from one’s own household (Mic 7:7, Matt 10:21,36) [see house]
    • When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. (Isa 59:19)
  • When your enemy is hungry give him bread and water (Prov 25:21) [see bread] [see cold waters] [see water]
  • Smitten before the enemy because of sin (1King 8:33)
  • The Lord reserves wrath for His enemies. He is slow to anger and great in power and He will not at all acquit the wicked. (Nah 1:2-3)
  • The Lord’s people can’t overcome their enemies until they take away the accursed thing from among them (Josh 7:13)
    • Those who hold onto the accursed thing will be burned with fire because they have transgressed the covenant and wrought folly in Israel (Josh 7:15)
  • When one casts off that which is good, the enemy pursues them (Hos 8:3)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 5:44: Jesus taught that we should love and bless our enemies
• Luke 11:23: Jesus said “He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth.”
• The religion of Jesus is endangered. It is being mingled with worldliness. Worldly policy is taking the place of the true piety and wisdom that comes from above, and God will remove His prospering hand from the conference. Shall the ark of the Covenant be removed from this people? Shall idols be smuggled in? Shall false principles and false precepts be brought into the sanctuary? Shall antichrist be respected? Shall the true doctrines and principles given us by God, which have made us what we are, be ignored? Shall God’s instrumentality, the publishing house, become a mere political, worldly institution? This is directly where the enemy, through blinded, unconsecrated men, is leading us. {Ms29-1890.9}
  • In the truths of His word, God has given to men a revelation of Himself; and to all who accept them they are a shield against the deceptions of Satan. It is a neglect of these truths that has opened the door to the evils which are now becoming so widespread in the religious world. The nature and the importance of the law of God have been, to a great extent, lost sight of. A wrong conception of the character, the perpetuity, and the obligation of the divine law has led to errors in relation to conversion and sanctification, and has resulted in lowering the standard of piety in the church. Here is to be found the secret of the lack of the Spirit and power of God in the revivals of our time. {GC 465.1}

 

ERROR / ERR

• Spirit of error (1John 4:6)
  • a perverse spirit (Isa 19:14)
  • perverse people hate God and His followers (Prov 14:2)
• Consumption of spiritual alcoholic/fermented wine brings a perverse spirit and contributes to error (Isa 19:14; 28:7)
• The spirit of whoredoms caused God’s people err (Hos 4:12)
  • Whoredom: departing from the Lord / unfaithfulness (Hos 1:2)
• Lies caused God’s people to err (Amos 2:4)
  • Comes as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
  • Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)
  • Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. (Prov 19:27)
• A great error is believing that God is God of the dead (Mark 12:27)
  • God is the God of the living (Matt 22:32, Luke 20:38)
  • God alone has immortality (1Tim 6:15-16)
  • He gives eternal life (John 10:28, Acts 17:28)
• The error of Balaam for reward (Jude 1:11)
  • The reward of iniquity doesn’t pay (Act 1:18)
• Graven images and/or idols are the work of errors (Jere 10:14,15)
• Judgment of God can come because of error (2 Sam 6:7)
• Vile person utters error (Isa_32:6)
• People who engage in sexual perversion will receive punishment for the error which they have made (Rom 1:27)
• People who live in error (2 Pet 2:18)
• People err in their heart (Psa 95:10) [see heart]
• People who devise evil err (Prov 14:22)
• Proud people err from the commandments of God (Psa 119:21)
  • Those who err from God’s statutes will be trodden down (Psa 119:118)
• People can be led away with the error of the wicked (2 Pet 3:17)
  • Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. (Prov 19:27)
• The prophets of Samaria caused people to err (Jere 23:13)
• False prophets made God’s people err (Mic 3:5)
• Leaders can lead people and nations in to error (Isa 3:12; 9:16)
  • Perhaps like a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. (Isa 30:28)
• Manasseh made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to err, and to do worse than the heathen, whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel. (2 Chron 33:9)
• People err because they don’t know the Scriptures and they don’t know the power of God (Matt 22:29, Mark 12:24)
• He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. (Jam 5:19,20)
• The presidents and princes couldn’t find any error in Daniel (Dan 6:4)
• Do not err (Jam 1:16)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 9:7; 11-15: The High Priest offered for the errors of the people. Jesus is our High Priest and He offered Himself for us once. He mediates for our errors with His own blood.
  • Hebrews 7:26: Jesus Christ became human. He was holy and harmless. He was undefiled, separate from sinners and made high.
• 1John 2:1:  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

 

EUNUCH

• Isaiah 56:4-5: A spiritual eunuch is one that
  • Keeps God’s law including the 7th day Sabbath
  • One who has stopped doing evil and does what God likes
  • They take hold of God’s covenant. [see covenant]
  • Often given great authority and responsibilities. They also did great things.
    • Acts 8:27, Jeremiah 52:25; 38:7-8
  • If our workers were walking close with God, they would see the situation and would feel that it is no matter of rejoicing to bring a child into the world. A blessing is pronounced upon the eunuchs who keep the Sabbath, etc. Isaiah 56:3-5. The time has come when, in one sense, they that have wives be as though they had none. God wants us to be consistent people, our works corresponding with our faith. … I am thoroughly disgusted with the course of our preachers and workers. They seem to think one of the important branches of the work is first to get as many children into the world as possible; then if they can give the remnant of their thoughts and ability to the work, they are doing all God required of them. We shall need a voice like John the Baptist, to show my people their transgressions and the house of Israel their sins. {Ms34a-1885.10-12}

 

EVIL

• deceit (Psa 50:19)
• lying (Psa 52:3)
• doing evil is akin to not going fully after the Lord (1King 11:6)
• don’t follow evil and avoid it, don’t pass by evil, turn from it, pass away (Prov 4:14-15, 27)
• wicked (Prov 14:19)
  • wickedness burns as the fire (Isa 9:18)
  • Pleasures of sin for a season (Heb 11:25)
  • wickedness does not deliver those that are given to it (Ecc 8:8)
  • its abomination for kings to commit wickedness (Prov 16:12)
• bad (Jere 24:2, 3)
• death (Deut 30:15)
• whoso keeps the commandment shall feel no evil thing (Ecc 8:5)
• Moses warned the Levites that evil will befall them in the latter days; because they would do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger through the work of their hands. (Deut 31:29)
• wise men foresee evil and hide themselves (Prov 22:3)
  • Great men are not always wise (Job 32:9)
• Rejoicing in pride is evil (Jam 4:16)
• Overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21)
• In heaven itself this law was broken. Sin originated in self-seeking. Lucifer, the covering cherub, desired to be first in heaven. He sought to gain control of heavenly beings, to draw them away from their Creator, and to win their homage to himself… {DA 21.3}
• …Selfishness is the root of all evil.—Letter 113a, 1897. {Ev 633.4}
• Many things are registered as sins in the book of heaven which men do not call sin. Selfishness and covetousness are at the foundation of all sins, and yet many are not convicted of the sin of selfishness, because it is a part of their nature, and they do not listen to the reprovings of the Holy Spirit. They judge their brethren, thinking to remove a mote from their brother’s eye, when they have a beam in their own eye which must be removed before they can see clearly to extract the mote from their brother’s eye. The work of correcting our fellow men, and especially of correcting our brethren in the faith, is a work that requires wisdom from God. It requires a growing experience in spiritual things in order that spiritual things may be called by their right name. The Lord has not placed any man on the judgment seat to judge his brother and to define the character of his sin. {13MR 270.3}
• The reason why God’s people are not more spiritual minded, and have no more faith, I have been shown, is because they are narrowed up with selfishness…. It is not the abundance of your meetings that God accepts. It is not the numerous prayers, but the right-doing, doing the right thing, and at the right time.—Testimonies for the Church 2:36. {ChS 40.3}
• Note: I / my – Satan was filled with covetousness, pride, selfishnesss (Isa 14:12-15)
  • God brings down high looks (Psa 18:27)
• Satanic/Babylonian Concept: Let’s make a name for ourselves (Gen 11:4)
• Jesus’ disciples fought over who would be the greatest. They coveted first place like Satan did. They had the root of all evil in their natures. (Matt 18:1-5, Mark 9:33-37, Luke 9:46-48)
• All coveting is not bad. The command tells us not to covet another’s belongings; however, there are heavenly things we can covet. (Ex 20:17, 1Cor 12:27-31)
• The best thing to covet is love (1 Cor 12:31-13:1-8)
  • Note that love is humble and selfless – seeks to benefit and uplift others
• True greatness is not about how I can be number one, but uplifting to the world that Jesus is number one (John 3:30)
• Self exaltation will lead to failure, but humility brings true success (Matt 23:11-12, Mark 9:35)
• Holy promotion comes from Jesus Christ. He is responsible for uplifiting us to a position of prominence (Psalm 75:6-7, Luke 14:10-11, John 3:27-30)
  • When wisdom is exalted, promotion will follow. (Prov 4:7-9)
  • Wisdom is Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:24,30)
    • Knowing Him/sharing Him with the world and the cross of Calvary (Eph 1:17, John 12:32, 3:14, 30)
  • Wisdom is given to us by studying, teaching and preaching Bible truths (Prov 18:4, John 4:10-14, 6:63, 1 Cor 2:13)
  • Gentleness (anvah-meekness/humility) – makes one great (2Sa_22:36, Psa 18:35)
• To be great and truly converted one must:
  • Be a servant and not a proud king
  • Be humble – not to exalt self and covet the first place
    • (Matt 18:1-5)
  • Grace is given to the humble (Prov 3:34)
  • God is with the humble (Isa 57:15)
• Jacob, reviewing his life-history, recognized the sustaining power of God—“the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil.” Genesis 48:15, 16. {Ed 147.4}

 

 

 

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Study carefully the divine-human character, and constantly inquire, “What would Jesus do were He in my place?” This should be the measurement of our duty. Do not place yourselves needlessly in the society of those who by their arts would weaken your purpose to do right, or bring a stain upon your conscience. Do nothing among strangers, in the street, on the cars, in the home, that would have the least appearance of evil. Do something every day to improve, beautify, and ennoble the life that Christ has purchased with His own blood. {MH 491.1}

 

EVILDOERS [see city]

• wicked (Psalm 26:4,5)
  • don’t follow them (Prov 4:14)
• workers of iniquity (Psalm 37:1, 94:16)
• have not seen God (3 John 1:11)
• God will not help them (Job 8:20)
• Clothed with shame (Job 8:22)
  • Opposite of glory is shame (Hab 2:16)
• Never renowned (Isa 14:20)
• Have a house (Isa 31:2) [see house]
• Evildoers built cities (Isa 14:12, 20, 21)
• They study destruction and their lips talk mischief (Prov 24:1-2)
• We should not tolerate those who are evil (Rev 2:2)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 6:35,36: God is kind to the unthankful and the evil. He is merciful.
• Revelation 2:1-2: Jesus likes the fact that His people can’t tolerate evildoers

 

EVIL MAN

• violent man (Psa 140:1)
  • violent man is also a wicked man (psa 140:4)
• seeks rebellion (Prov 17:11)
• study/plan destruction/violence and their lips/thoughts talk of mischief (Prov 24:2)
• they don’t understand judgment (Prov 28:5)
• those that devise evil will be called a mischievous person (Prov 24:8)
  • those that seek mischief will experience mischief against them (Prov 11:27)
• We should not tolerate those who are evil (Rev 2:2)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 6:35,36: God is kind to the unthankful and the evil. He is merciful.
• Revelation 2:1-2: Jesus likes the fact that His people can’t tolerate evildoers

 

 

 

 

 

EYESALVE

• Revelation 3:18 – Greek: kollourion = a cake or plaster upon the eyes
• Salve: adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores
• Oil used for healing (James 5:14)
• Oil makes the face to shine (Psa 104:15) [see oil for more insights]
• Seven eyes are the seven Spirits (Rev 5:6) [see seven]
  • Artaxerxes had seven counsellors (Ezra 7:14)
  • Eye of God (Ezra 5:5, Psa 33: 18,19)
• The law of God converts / restores the soul. It makes one wise. It enlightens the eyes. (Psa 19:7-8)
• The Word of God is to be our spiritual food. “I am that bread of life” (John 6:48), Christ said…. The world is perishing for want of pure, unadulterated truth. Christ is the truth. His words are truth, and they have a deeper significance than appears on the surface, and a value beyond their unpretending appearance. Minds that are quickened by the Holy Spirit will discern the value of these words. When our eyes are anointed with the holy eyesalve, we shall be able to detect the precious gems of truth, even though they may be buried beneath the surface. {RC 111.2}
• …They will feel the necessity of buying gold, which is pure faith and love; white raiment, which is a spotless character made pure in the blood of their dear Redeemer; and eyesalve, which is the grace of God and which will give clear discernment of spiritual things and detect sin. These attainments are more precious than the gold of Ophir. {3T 254.2}
  • Paul had the grace of God. The grace of God was with him. The grace of God laboured in the work of soul saving (1 Cor 15:10, Act 15:4)
• How important it is that we understand our privileges, that we know that the Holy Spirit will work in our behalf, and that we gladly receive the golden oil from heaven, which is the grace of our Lord Jesus Jesus will communicate his grace to every repenting, believing soul. We need to become better acquainted with the terms upon which salvation will be ours, and better understand the relation which Christ sustains to us and to the Father. He has pledged himself to honor his Son’s name as we present it at the throne of grace. We should consider the great sacrifice that was made in our behalf, to purchase for us the robe of righteousness, woven in the loom of heaven. He has invited us to the wedding feast, and has provided for every one of us the wedding garment. The robe of righteousness has been purchased at infinite cost; and how daring is the insult to Heaven when one presents himself as a candidate for entrance at the wedding feast, when wearing his own citizen’s dress of self-righteousness! How greatly he dishonors God, openly showing contempt for the sacrifice made on Calvary! Of such a one it is written, “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.” No one will taste of the marriage supper of the Lamb who has not on a wedding garment. But John writes, “Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” Then before it is eternally too late, let each one go to the heavenly Merchantman for the white raiment, the eyesalve, the gold tried in the fire, and the oil of heavenly grace. Let no one put off the day of preparation, lest the call be made, “Go forth to meet the bridegroom,” and you be found as were the foolish virgins, with no oil in your vessels with your lamps. {YI January 30, 1896, par. 2}
• To be without the graces of the Spirit of God is sad indeed; but it is a more terrible condition to be thus destitute of spirituality and of Christ, and yet try to justify ourselves by telling those who are alarmed for us that we need not their fears and pity. Fearful is the power of self-deception on the human mind! What blindness! setting light for darkness and darkness for light! The True Witness counsels us to buy of Him gold tried in the fire, white raiment, and eyesalve. The gold here recommended as having been tried in the fire is faith and love. It makes the heart rich; for it has been purged until it is pure, and the more it is tested the more brilliant is its luster. The white raiment is purity of character, the righteousness of Christ imparted to the sinner. This is indeed a garment of heavenly texture, that can be bought only of Christ for a life of willing obedience. The eyesalve is that wisdom and grace which enables us to discern between the evil and the good, and to detect sin under any guise. God has given His church eyes which He requires them to anoint with wisdom, that they may see clearly; but many would put out the eyes of the church if they could; for they would not have their deeds come to the light, lest they should be reproved. The divine eyesalve will impart clearness to the understanding. Christ is the depositary of all graces. He says: “Buy of Me.” {4T 88.2}
• …Those who accept the message given, will heed the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans, and will buy the gold, which is faith and love; the white raiment, which is the righteousness of Christ; and the eyesalve, which is spiritual discernment. Says Christ, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:19, 20). {11MR 290.3}
• This is what the church in Ligonier wants [lacks], and must have, or it would [be] better [if it had] never been raised up; for they are a curse to the truth they profess. They need to seek white raiment, which is a pure and spotless character; they need eyesalve, that they may clearly see their own defects of character, the lack of the grace and Spirit of God. {12MR 281.4}
• The church of God is to shine as a light to the world, but Jesus is the illuminator, and He is represented as moving among His people. No one shines by his own light. The Lord God Almighty, and the Lamb, are the lights thereof. The message given us by A. T. Jones, and E. J. Waggoner is the message of God to the Laodicean church, and woe be unto any one who professes to believe the truth, and yet does not reflect to others the God-given rays. Elder Smith, had you been unprejudiced, had not reports affected you and led you to bar your heart against the entrance of what these men presented; had you, like the noble Bereans, searched the Scriptures to see if their testimony agreed with its instruction, you would have stood upon vantage ground, and been far advanced in Christian experience. {Lt24-1892.36}
• I am very sure that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiritual blindness, is because they will not receive correction. Many have despised the reproofs and warnings given them. The True Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, and proud, and lovers of sin, are ever assailed with doubts. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue and mark of intelligence in them to be unbelieving and questioning, and quibbling. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and teachable spirit. All should decide from the weight of evidence. RH September 16, 1873, par. 10

 

EXACT

• afflict (Psa 89:22)
• The Lord does not afflict willingly – doesn’t enjoy it (Lam 3:33)
  • When we are afflicted so is the Lord. He understands our trials and feels for us (Isa 63:9)

 

FACE OF AN EAGLE

• eagle represents judgment, royalty, foreign power, coming upon land as eagle

 

FACE OF MAN

• a priest has to be from among the people, Jesus was a man and High Priest. He was taken from among us

 

FAITH [see trust]

• Belief and abiding trust (Heb 11:1,6)
  • Trust is as confidence – don’t put all your confidence in a human guide. Rather, put your trust in the Lord (Mic 7:5, Psa 118:8-9)
• By works faith is made perfect (Jam 2:22)
• The Lord knows them that trust in Him (Nah 1:7)
• law of faith (Rom 3:27)
• justified by faith (Rom 3:28)
• By faith we stand (2 Cor 1:24)
• faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17)
• The holy scriptures make people wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Time 3:15)
• obtain faith through the righteousness of God and Jesus Christ (2 Pet 1:1)
• The righteousness of God is by faith of Jesus Christ (Rom 3:22)
  • Justified by the faith of Jesus Christ (Gal 2:16)
  • Faith in the ability of Christ to save us amply and fully and entirely is the faith of Jesus. {Ms24-1888.43}
• Whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23)
  • The sinner’s faith in Jesus saved her (Luke 7:50)
• Build up ourselves in the most holy faith (Jude 1:20)
• A faithful man is a godly man (Psa 12:1)
• By faith, forsake Egypt (Heb 11:27) [see Egypt]
• Believe through grace (Act 18:27)
• Through faith – receive strength to conceive (Heb 11:11)
• Faith, in itself, is an act of the mind. Jesus Himself is the Author and the Finisher of our faith. He gave His life for us; and His blood speaks in our behalf better things than spoke the blood of Abel, which cried unto God against Cain the murderer. Christ’s blood was shed to remit our sins. {Ms21-1891.30}
• Saving faith is total commitment of soul and body to God. {Ms6-1889.77}
  • Faith, saving faith, is to be taught. The definition of this faith in Jesus Christ may be described in few words: It is the act of the soul by which the whole man is given over to the guardianship and control of Jesus Christ. He abides in Christ and Christ abides in the soul by faith as supreme. The believer commits his soul and body to God and with assurance may say, Christ is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. All who will do this will be saved unto life eternal. There will be an assurance that the soul is washed in the blood of Christ and clothed with His righteousness and precious in the sight of Jesus. Our thoughts and our hopes are on the second advent of our Lord. That is the day when the Judge of all the earth will reward the trust of His people.—Manuscript 6, 1889. {2MCP 531.1}
• Faith is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ and appropriate His merits which is the remedy for sin. {DA 175.4}
• Faith is trusting God—believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good. Faith acknowledges His ownership and accepts its blessing. {Ed 2531-.2}
  • Trust awakens trust {DA 183.4}
• When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be borne in mind. There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith. The existence and power of God, the truth of His word, are facts that even Satan and his hosts cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that “the devils also believe, and tremble;” but this is not faith. James 2:19. Where there is not only a belief in God’s word, but a submission of the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to Him, the affections fixed upon Him, there is faith—faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of God. And the heart that in its unrenewed state is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be, now delights in its holy precepts, exclaiming with the psalmist, “O how love I Thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97. And the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us, “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:1. {SC 63.2}
• By faith man believes that he receives the righteousness of Christ. {Ms21-1891.29}
• Confound not faith and feeling together. They are distinct. Faith is ours to exercise. This faith we must keep in exercise. Believe, believe. Let your faith take hold of the blessing, and it is yours. Your feelings have nothing to do with this faith. When faith brings the blessing to your heart, and you rejoice in the blessing, it is no more faith, but feeling. {1T 167.2}
• But faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption. For presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. Faith claims God’s promises, and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God, and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequence of their sin. It is not faith that claims the favor of Heaven without complying with the conditions on which mercy is to be granted. Genuine faith has its foundation in the promises and provisions of the Scriptures. {DA 126.1}

 

FALL [see night] [see darkness] [see light]

• destruction (Prov 16:18)
• spoil (Zech 11:2)
• ruin – fall because words and actions are against the Lord (Isa 3:8)
• from high position to low position, from honour to dishonour, from righteousness to sin (Eze 28:12-16; Isa 14:12, Luk 10:18)
• by own wickedness (Prov 11:5; 28:18)
  • wickedness does not deliver those that are given to it (Ecc 8:8)
  • the just may fall into sin, but they rise again (Prov 24:16)
  • its abomination for kings to commit wickedness (Prov 16:12)
• Unrighteous anger leads to a sullen resentful disposition (fallen countenance) (Gen 4:5,6)
• Fall by iniquity (Hos 14:1)
• Fall by transgression (Hos 14:9)
• Judas Iscariot fell by transgression (Acts 1:25)
• Satan fell from heaven (Luke 10:18)
  • Satan was perfect until iniquity was found in him. He had sinned and so had fallen away from God (Eze 28:14-16)
    • A state of perfection is the absence of sin
  • As with Satan, so with humans. Humans fall by iniquity and transgressions (sin) (Hos 14:1,9)
• People without understanding fall (Hos 4:14)
  • The Bible connects the pouring out of God’s spirit with making known (giving understanding) of His words (Prov 1:23)
  • Comforter (the HS) teaches truth to us (John 14:26)
• A just man falls seven times, but rises again (Prov 24:16)
• If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble because he sees the light of this world (John 11:9)
  • Have to walk while we have the light. If we don’t, darkness will come upon us. Those that walk in darkness don’t know where they are going. While we have light, believe in the light, that we may be the children of light (John 12:35-36)
• If a man walks in the night, he stumbles because there is no light in him (John 11:10)
• By faith we stand (2 Cor 1:24)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Jude 1:24,25: The only wise God is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory

 

FALLING ON FACE

• reverential awe, went on knees lowered head to knees, touched earth with forehead-humiliation + reverence

 

FALSE PROPHETS [see prophet] [see tail] [see wolves]

• Apostate Protestantism (Rev. 19:20; 13:11-14, See YouTubeàGC-God’s Law Immutable-watch @ 28:18 called Kairos Oct 24, 2017)
• Speak perverse things to get followers for themselves (Act 20:30)
• They see false burdens (Lam 2:14) [see burden]
• God’s church in apostasy loves the lies of false prophets (Jere 5:31)
  • Spoke well of false prophets (Luke 6:26)
• They share the deceit of their own heart (Jere 14:14)
• Speak a vision of their own heart and make people vain (Jere 23:16)
• Make people to trust in lies which is teaching rebellion against God (Jere 28:15, 16; 29:30-32)
• Their lies make people err (Amos 2:4)
  • Comes as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
  • Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)
• Teach the way of damnation (Acts 16:17)
• Know a false prophet when what they say or teach does not happen (Deut 18:21-22)
• Slain with the sword (1King 19:1)
• a snare of a fowler (Hos 9:8)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 6:26: Jesus said “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”

 

FALSE SYMPATHY

• False notion that to indulge and not restrain is wisdom {CG 179.2}
• The basis of mesmerism is human sympathy.
  • Mesmerism/false sympathy accompanies the multitudes of false teachers {JUBST August 7, 1845, pg 165.6}
• False sympathy must die. It commenced in heaven at the fall of Satan, and has existed ever since. This sympathy has blunted the straight testimony. It pleases Satan well. {15MR 335.1-3}

 

FAMILY [see house]

• The Father/Husband is head of the Mother/Wife and children (Eph 5:22-25)
• When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. (Psa 27:10)
• He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. (Prov 19:26)
• Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. (Prov 20:20)
• Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old. (Prov 23:22)
• Whoso robbeth his father or his mother, and saith, It is no transgression; the same is the companion of a destroyer. (Prov 28:24)
• There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother. (Prov 30:11)
• The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. (Prov 30:17)
• Noah was moved with fear. In response, he prepared an ark to the saving of his house (family) (Heb 11:7)
• Children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. (2 Cor 12:14)
• Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord. (Eph 6:1, Col 3:20)
  • When parents’ orders are against God or contrary to Scripture, then children ought to obey God rather than men. (Act 5:29)
• We are never alone. Whether we choose Him or not, we have a companion. Remember that wherever you are, whatever you do, God is there. Nothing that is said or done or thought can escape His attention. To your every word or deed you have a witness—the holy, sin-hating God. Before you speak or act, always think of this. As a Christian, you are a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly King. Say no word, do no act, that shall bring dishonor upon “that worthy name by the which ye are called.” James 2:7. {MH 490.3}

 

• FATHER
  • Master (Mal 1:6)
    • A master can also refer to a teacher like in John 13:13-15. A true teacher teaches by example.
      • God teaches us how to behave properly (Isa 28:26)
      • God teaches us how to profit (Isa 48:17)
    • The Lord is Master and Owner over His people (Isa 1:3)
  • Satan is the Father of the wicked (John 8:44)
  • God is our Heavenly Father (Psa 89:26, Matt 5:45, 48, Tit 1:4)
    • He is a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows (Psa 68:5)
    • Jesus is the mighty God and everlasting Father (Isa 9:6)
    • Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14)
  • Hear the instruction of the Father/father (Prov 1:8)
  • Keep His commandment (Prov 6:20)
  • Like a father, the LORD pitieth them that fear him. (Psa 103:13)
  • Father instructs, punishes and reforms children (Deut 8:5)
  • Father corrects children (Prov 3:12, 29:17)
  • God corrects man for iniquity with rebukes (Psa 39:11)
    • Our petition to the Lord should be “correct me, but with judgment and not in thine anger…” (Jere 10:24)
  • The Lord does not afflict willingly – doesn’t enjoy it (Lam 3:33)
    • When we are afflicted so is the Lord. He understands our trials and feels for us (Isa 63:9)
  • He makes a barren woman a mother of children (Psa 113:9)

 

• MOTHER
  • A leader (Judg 5:7)
  • Mother of Sisera (Judg 5:28)
    • Stars fought against Sisera (Judg 5:20)
  • Mother of harlots (Rev 17:5)
  • Mother of the righteous (Rev 12:1-2)
  • Don’t forsake the law of your mother (Prov 1:8, 6:20)
    • Two different mothers, two different fathers, two different laws (Father is lawgiver)
    • Law of God (Psa 37:31, Ex 24:12, Ex 20)
      • Law of righteousness (Rom 9:31)
      • Christ is the end of the law as a way of righteousness to everyone who has faith (Rom 10:4) *does not negate necessary obedience*
    • Laws/commandments of men (Matt 15:9, Mark 7:7)
      • Turns people away from the truth (Tit 1:14)
    • the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping (Prov 19:13)
    • “doors” of my mother’s womb (Job 3:10)
    • A mother teaches prophecy (Prov 31:1)
      • Just like Paul we should reason with people out of the Scriptures on the Sabbath day. (Acts 17:2)
      • Produce our cause.
      • Bring strong reasons.
      • Show the former things (history) – examine them.
      • Show the fruits or results of those historical events.
      • Show how that history is repeating.
        • Isaiah 41:21-23; Ecc 1:9-10, 3:15; 1 Cor 10:11
      • Demonstrate that Jesus is Christ (Acts 17:3)
    • Bears children (Song of Solomon 8:5)

 

• SON
  • Jesus is the Son of the living God (Matt 8:29, 14:33, 16:16)
    • In Him we live, move and have our being (Act 17:28)
    • When people don’t believe in the Son of God, they will not see eternal life and the wrath of God is upon them. (John 3:36)
  • Son abides in the house forever (John 8:35)
  • Sons of God are heirs of God through Christ (Gal 4:6,7)
  • Judas Iscariot was the son of perdition in Jesus’ group (John 17:12)
    • He was Simon Peter’s son (John 13:2, 26)
  • A son of perdition is revealed after the falling away (2Thess 2:3)
    • Man of sin
  • Servant (Mal 1:6)
  • A wise son heareth his father’s instruction (Prov 13:1)
    • He keeps the law (Malachi 2:6-7; Prov 28:7)
  • A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent. (Prov 15:5)
    • Those that despise the word will be destroyed (Prov 13:13)
    • Regard reproof in order to receive honour (Prov 13:18)
    • The prudent man looks well to his going and the simple (stupid) person believes every word people say (Prov 14:15)
  • A wise son maketh a glad father (Prov 15:20)
    • He that wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30)
  • A foolish man despiseth his mother. (Prov 15:20)
  • A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him. (Prov 17:25)
  • A foolish son is the calamity of his father (Prov 19:13)
  • Whoso loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. (Prov 29:3)
  • A child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. (Prov 29:15)
  • A foolish son is the heaviness of his mother (Prov 10:1)
  • Rather than complaining about the punishment of their sins, God’s children should search and try their ways, turn again to the Lord and confess their sins (Lam 3:39-40)

 

• DAUGHTER
  • There are daughters of Belial (1 Sam 1:16)
    • Drink alcohol (1 Sam 1:13-16)
  • The daughter of Babylon noted as a threshing floor (Jere 51:33)
    • will be destroyed (Psa 137:8)
  • Daughter of Zion (Isa 1:8) [see Zion]
    • is Jerusalem (Isa 10:32, 52:2)
  • Daughters of God are polished corner stones (Psa 144:12)
  • Rather than complaining about the punishment of their sins, God’s children should search and try their ways, turn again to the Lord and confess their sins (Lam 3:39-40)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 12:50; Mark 3:35: Jesus said, “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
• Matthew 10:34-37; Luke 12:49-53:  Jesus said “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”
• Luke 18:29-30: Jesus said “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”
• Through all His life here He was unappreciated and misunderstood, even by the members of His own family. Satan was constantly suggesting to His brethren, the sons of Joseph, criticisms of the One who seemed so unlike themselves. Every solicitation to evil was refused by Him, because He would not be persuaded to accept wrongdoing, or to deviate in the slightest from “It is written.” He seemed to have Scripture treasured in heart and mind. He seldom rebuked their course of action, but always had a word from God to speak to them—“It is written.” But His brethren did not want Him to always pursue an undeviating course of right doing, and were constantly seeking to make Him like themselves, saying, There would be no harm in gratifying us in this or that action. Had Christ conceded even once to the wishes and desires of His brethren with regard to wrong doing, He would have failed as a perfect Pattern, failed to carry out the plan made in the councils of heaven. The world would have been irrevocably lost. Had He allowed any license or excuse for sin or for the evil passions of human nature, Satan’s controversy would have terminated. He would not have worked so determinedly, through the brethren of Christ and through the priests and rulers of Israel, to make the life of Christ as unpleasant as it could be made. But He would not yield, and His undeviating justice and integrity were commented upon with a sneer. Provoked and exasperated as His patience, forbearance, and kindness, they termed it cowardice, saying, You are afraid to do this; you dare not do this or that wrong action. But He answered in words not His own, “It is written, ‘When sinners entice thee, consent thou not.’” [Proverbs 1:10.] {Ms2-1896.8,9,11}

 

 

 

 

FAMINE [see arrows] [see fish]

• lack of hearing words of God/bible (Amos 8:11-13)
  • a person who doesn’t hear doesn’t have any reproofs to share (Psa 38:14)
  • I am very sure that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiritual blindness, is because they will not receive correction. Many have despised the reproofs and warnings given them. The True Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, and proud, and lovers of sin, are ever assailed with doubts. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue and mark of intelligence in them to be unbelieving and questioning, and quibbling. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and teachable spirit. All should decide from the weight of evidence. RH September 16, 1873, par. 10
• cause skin to be black (Lam 5:10)
  • black is like obscurity, darkness, night (Prov 7:9)
  • unchanging (Jere 13:23)
    • careless (Eze 30:9)
  • When the land sins against God by trespassing grievously, God will send a famine (Eze 14:13) [see land]
  • Famine can be caused by lack of rain, plague of locusts or epidemic (2 Chron 7:13) [see locust] [see water]
    • When there is no rain because of sin, if God’s people pray and confess God’s name and turn from their sin God will forgive them. He will teach them the good way and send rain (2 Chron 6:26-27)
    • When there are spiritual locusts and diseases and if God’s people turn to God and pray, He will forgive their sins and render to every person according to all their ways (2 Chron 6:28-30)
      • Turn to the Lord with all your heart and with fasting, weeping and mourning (Joel 2:12)
      • God will gather the sorrowful for the solemn assembly (Hab 3:18; Leb 23:27-32)
    • People will not have enough “food” because they have left off to take heed to the Lord. (Hos 4:10)
    • During a siege, every one eats the flesh of his friend *famine* (Jere 19:9)
    • When there is want and famine, people flee into the wilderness in order to live off the scanty resources there (Job 30:3)
    • The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish (Prov 10:3)

 

 

 

 

 

FANATIC

• While all the hosts of sin are earnest, zealous, sanguine in advancing their cause, and are stirred by a power from beneath, shall not those who stand in defense of truth manifest earnestness and zeal and enthusiasm? What if the sincere worker for God should be called a fanatic? This is the name that those who have been truly devoted to God have ever been called upon to bear. But infidels have been heard to say, “If I believed what Christians profess to believe, I would be far more zealous than they are.” Since even infidels see in the man who is stigmatized as an enthusiast the only consistent Christian, shall we take a neutral position? {RH March 14, 1893, par. 13}
• I plainly stated at the Jackson camp meeting to these fanatical parties that they were doing the work of the adversary of souls; they were in darkness. They claimed to have great light that probation would close in October, 1884. I there stated in public that the Lord had been pleased to show me that there would be no definite time in the message given of God since 1844; and that I knew that this message, which four or five were engaged in advocating with great zeal, was heresy. {2SM 73.2-3}
• God calls upon his people to walk with sobriety and holy consistency. They should be very careful not to misrepresent and dishonor the holy doctrines of truth by strange performances, by confusion and tumult. By this, unbelievers are led to think that Seventh-day Adventists are a set of fanatics. Thus prejudice is created that prevents souls from receiving the message for this time. When believers speak the truth as it is in Jesus, they reveal a holy, sensible calm, not a storm of confusion. {GCB April 23, 1901, Art. A, par. 19}
• The experience of some had been obtained among a class of religious fanatics who had no true sense of the exalted character of the work. The religious experience of this class of professed Seventh-day Adventists was not reliable. They had not firm principles underlying all their actions. They were self-confident, and boastful. Their religion did not consist in righteous acts, true humility of soul, and sincere devotion to God, but in impulse, in noise and confusion, spiced with eccentricities and oddities. They had not felt, neither could they feel, the necessity of being clothed with Christ’s righteousness. They had a righteousness of their own, which was as filthy rags, and which God can in no case accept. These persons had no love for union and harmony of action. They delighted in disorder. Confusion, distraction, and diversity of opinion were their choice. They were ungovernable, unsubdued, unregenerated, and unconsecrated, and this element of confusion suited their undisciplined minds. They were a curse to the cause of God and brought the name of Seventh-day Adventists into disrepute. {2T 553.2}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 10:19-21: The Jews accused Jesus of being mad (crazy)
• Acts 26:24-25: After Paul had reasoned with Festus about Jesus Christ, Festus said loudly that Paul was crazy. Paul was in fact speaking words of truth and soberness

 

 

FAST

• The importance of fasting is seen in the number of positive references in the Old and New Testaments (Ju. 20:26; 1 Sa. 1:6-7;7:6; 31:13; 2 Sa. 1:12; 1 Ki. 21:27; 2 Ch. 20:3; Ezr.8:21-23; Ne. 1:4; 9:1-2; Es. 4:16; 9:3; Ps. 35:13-14;69:10-11; Is. 58:6-8; Je. 36:9; Joel 1:14; 2:12, 15; Jn.3:5; Da. 9:3; Mt. 4:2; 6:17-18; 9:14-15; 17:21; Mk.9:29; Lk. 2:37; Ac. 13:2; 14:23; 1 Co. 7:5; 2 Co. 6:5;11:27).
• Fasting is one of the ways whereby a minister of Christ approves himself (2 Co. 6:4-10).
• The Lord Jesus Christ made a definite promise about fasting (Mt. 6:17-18).
• The Lord Jesus said very plainly that His disciples would fast after His departure (Mt. 9:14-15).
• Prayer with fasting is the only spiritual practice which is to interfere with the physical aspect of the marital relationship (1 Co. 7:1-5).
• Fasting is necessary for breaking down certain demonic strongholds (Mt.17:18-21).
• When Should We Fast? (1) Fast when sorely tempted (Mt. 4:2). (2) Fast when wisdom is earnestly desired (Da. 9:3). (3) Fast when help and protection are needed (Ezr. 8:21-23; 2 Ch. 20:3; Je. 36:9). (4) Fast when victory is desired in seemingly impossible situations (Es. 4:10-17; 9:31; Ne. 1:4). (5) Fast when something is earnestly desired from God and the answer has not come through prayer alone (1 Sa. 1:6-7). (6) Fast when in mourning for loved ones or the defeat of God’s people (2 Sa. 1:12). (7) Fast when new ministries are launched and when men go forth to proclaim God’s Word and battle spiritual enemies (Ac. 13:2-3; 14:23). (8) Fast when involved in spiritual ministry (2 Co. 6:5; 11:27). (9) Fast during times of special repentance, confession, and revival (Joel 1:14-15; 2:12; 2:15; Ne. 9:1-2).
• Difficult points of present truth have been reached by the earnest efforts of a few who were devoted to the work. Fasting and fervent prayer to God have moved the Lord to unlock His treasuries of truth to their understanding. Wily opponents and boasting Goliaths have had to be met, sometimes face to face, but more frequently with the pen. Satan has urged men on to fierce opposition, to blind the eyes and darken the understanding of the people. The few who had the interest of the cause and truth of God at heart were aroused to its defense. They did not seek for ease, but were willing to venture even their lives for the truth’s sake. {2T 650.2}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FAT

• sin (Lev 7:1-5) (Jere 5:27,28) (Psa 37:20)
• the proud have greasy hearts (Psa 119:69-70)
• In the work of redemption there is no compulsion. No external force is employed. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, man is left free to choose whom he will serve. In the change that takes place when the soul surrenders to Christ, there is the highest sense of freedom. The expulsion of sin is the act of the soul itself. True, we have no power to free ourselves from Satan’s control; but when we desire to be set free from sin, and in our great need cry out for a power out of and above ourselves, the powers of the soul are imbued with the divine energy of the Holy Spirit, and they obey the dictates of the will in fulfilling the will of God. The only condition upon which the freedom of man is possible is that of becoming one with Christ. “The truth shall make you free;” and Christ is the truth. Sin can triumph only by enfeebling the mind, and destroying the liberty of the soul. Subjection to God is restoration to one’s self,—to the true glory and dignity of man. The divine law, to which we are brought into subjection, is “the law of liberty.” James 2:12. {DA 466.4-5}

 

FEAR

• can mean to honour (Mal 1:6)
  • Through breaking the law we dishonour God (Rom 2:23)
• godly fear (Heb 12:28)
• willfully sinning while having a knowledge of the truth brings fear of judgment (Heb 10:26,27)
  • it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:31)
    • In Him we live, move and have our being (Act 17:28)
  • there is no fear in love and perfect love casts out all fear (1John 4:18)
    • there is a reverential fear for God the Father, but when a man is made perfect in love there is no more a slave-like fear to a powerful Being (1John 4:18)
  • false fear is learned through accepting human precepts (Isa 29:13)
    • the fear of man brings a snare (Prov 29:25)
  • Noah was moved with fear. In response, he prepared an ark to the saving of his house (family) (Heb 11:7)

 

FEAR OF THE LORD AND HIS JUDGMENT

• fine gold or honey and honeycomb (Psa 19:9-10)

 

FEAR OF THE LORD

• God is to be feared, worshipped and given sacrifices (2King 17:36)
  • See [true worship]
  • We are to give God our lives in service to Him (Rom 12:1)
  • The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. (Psa 51:17)
  • By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Heb 13:15)
  • Doing good and communicating your faith are good sacrifices (Heb 13:16)
  • Made by fire (Josh 13:14)
• Job is a good example of one who feared the Lord (Job 1:1)
  • He was conceived at night (Job 3:3)
  • H strengthened the weak (Job 4:3)
  • Upheld others (Job 4:4)
• The fear of God involves refraining from bad language and lying. It also involves doing good and departing from evil. The fear of God motivates people to seek peace. (Psa 34:11-14)
• While we walk in the fear of the Lord, we receive the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Act 9:31)
• We learn to fear God by hearing His words and we should teach our children the fear of the Lord (Deut 4:10)
• We learn to fear the Lord by reading/studying our Bibles (Deut 17:18,19)
• Can be falsely taught by people’s teachings (Isa 29:13)
• judgments of the Lord (Psalm 19:9)
• stand in awe “reverence” (Psalm 33:8)
  • Another precious grace that should be carefully cherished is reverence. True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the Unseen the heart of every child should be deeply impressed. The hour and place of prayer and the services of public worship the child should be taught to regard as sacred because God is there. And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor, the feeling that inspires it will be deepened. {Ed 242.4}
• When the people didn’t fear the Lord, lions came and killed the children of Israel. When they had no fear of the Lord, it showed that they didn’t know God (2King 17:25,26)
• The heathen were concerned about the Jewish people so they sent a Jewish priest/Levite to teach the people how to fear the Lord (2King 17:27-28)
• by fear of the Lord and humility there are riches, honour and life (Prov 22:4)
• We should fear God because
  • God is watchful over the righteous and listens to them (Psa 34:15)
  • God is against people who do evil (Psa 34:16)
  • The Lord kills and makes alive. He humbles and exalts people (1Sam 2:6,7)
  • The fear of the Lord tends to life (Prov 19:23)
    • Prolongs life (Prov 10:27)
  • The fear of the Lord and humility brings riches, honour and life (Prov 22:4)
  • He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great. (Psa 115:13)
  • Those who fear the Lord are happy (Prov 28:14)
• We should fear the Lord all day long (Prov 23:17)
• When we forsake the Lord, it is evident that we don’t have the fear of God in us. No fear of God leads to correction through suffering from sin/the results of sin. (Jere 2:19)
• Those who don’t fear God will be blotted out of remembrance (Deut 25:17-19)

 

FEATHERS [see hair]

• Nebuchadnezzar’s hair had grown like eagle’s feathers (Dan 4:33)
• Great eagle full of feathers of different colours (Eze 17:3,7)
  • Israel made a coat of many colours for his son Joseph (Gen 37:3, 23, 32)
• Wings of a dove covered with silver, yellow and gold (Psa 68:13)
• Lord shall cover you with his feathers and under his wings you will trust (Psa 91:4)

 

FERMENTATION

• sin + death (DA 653.2)

 

FIG TREE [see figs] [see fountain] [see wind] [see sieve]

• A tree is likened to a kingdom (Dan 4:10-12)
  • God’s people compared to figs (Jere 24:1-5)
    • God’s people belong to His kingdom
    • A tree is likened to a ruler (Judg 9:7-20)
  • God’s church or people under investigative judgement (Nah 3:12, Mark 11:13)
  • Strongholds/fortresses (Nah 3:12)
  • There is hope for trees. When they are cut down and the root stays a long time in the earth, through the scent of water it will bud and grow. (Job 14:7-9)
  • a mighty wind shakes the fig tree and it casts its untimely figs (Rev 6:13)
    • wind has a cleansing or purging effect (Job 37:21)
      • Rebels and those that break God’s law will be purged out from among His people (Eze 20:38)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 21:19: Jesus was upset when the fig tree didn’t have any fruit

 

FIGS [see stars]

• people, rulers-religious rulers (Jere 24:1-5,8, 29:17-19, Hos 9:10)
• angels (Isa 34:4, Rev 6:13,14; Matt 16:27)
• figs compared with grapes (Luke 6:44)
• good figs and naughty/evil figs (Jer 24:1-3)
• untimely figs are shaken off of the fig tree (Rev 6:13)

 

 

 

 

FILTHY RAGS [see rags]

• our own righteousness (Isa 64:6) [see righteousness]

 

FINE LINEN

• righteousness of saints, linen as righteousness (Rev 19:7-8)

 

FINGER OF GOD

• symbol of God’s power and authority
• Henceforth the people were to be honored with the abiding presence of their King. “I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God,” “and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by My glory” (Exodus 29:45, 43), was the assurance given to Moses. As the symbol of God’s authority and the embodiment of His will, there was delivered to Moses a copy of the Decalogue engraved by the finger of God Himself upon two tables of stone (Deuteronomy 9:10; Exodus 32:15, 16), to be sacredly enshrined in the sanctuary, which, when made, was to be the visible center of the nation’s worship. {PP 314.1}
• Of all diseases known in the East the leprosy was most dreaded. Its incurable and contagious character, and its horrible effect upon its victims, filled the bravest with fear. Among the Jews it was regarded as a judgment on account of sin, and hence was called “the stroke,” “the finger of God.” Deep-rooted, ineradicable, deadly, it was looked upon as a symbol of sin…{DA 262.1}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 11:20: Jesus said “But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.”

 

FIRE [see baptism] [see furnace]

• Flames (Joel 1:19)
  • God’s voice controls fire and shakes the wilderness (Psa 29:7-8)
• God answers by fire (1King 18:24)
• prophet’s words given to him by God (Jere 5:14)
• Word of God (Jere 23:29, Isa 30:27, 33,{Ms5-1849.6})
  • Melts (Psa 147:18)
  • God’s tongue is like a devouring fire (Isa 30:27)
  • His words should produce spiritual heart burn when we commune with Christ and study the Bible (Jere 20:9, Luk 24:32)
  • As we commune with eachother and reason together, Jesus draws near (Luk 24:14, 15, Jam 4:7,8)
    • Jesus takes an interest in what we talk about (Luk 24:17)
  • God (Deut 4:24, 9:3, Heb 12:29)
  • Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3,4)
  • God’s ministers/angels (Psa 104:4, Heb 1:7)
  • Fire represents strife in this reference (Prov 26:20,21)
  • Wickedness (Isa 9:18)
  • Fury (Lam 2:4; Nah 1:6) or wrath (Eze 22:21)
  • Trials/troubles (Isa 48:10) – comfort à1Cor 10:13
    • Yet we should not lose courage when assailed by temptation. Often when placed in a trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us. But it was the Spirit’s leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. When God brings us into trial, He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. Jesus did not presume on God’s promises by going unbidden into temptation, neither did He give up to despondency when temptation came upon Him. Nor should we. “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.” He says, “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 50:14, 15. {DA 126.3}
    • The true way of dealing with trial is not by seeking to escape it, but by transforming it. This applies to all discipline, the earlier as well as the later. The neglect of the child’s earliest training, and the consequent strengthening of wrong tendencies, makes his after education more difficult, and causes discipline to be too often a painful process. Painful it must be to the lower nature, crossing, as it does, the natural desires and inclinations; but the pain may be lost sight of in a higher joy. {Ed 295.3}
  • Consumes those that cast away the law of God (Isa 5:24)
  • In Zion (Isa 31:9) [see Zion]

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 12:29: Jesus is God and He is a consuming fire

 

FIREBRAND

• Torch
• People saved from destruction (Amos 4:11, Zech 3:2)

 

FISH [see whale] [see water] [see famine] [see net] [see fishermen]

• People (Ecc 9:12, Matt 4:19, Mark 1:17, Amos 4:2, Hab 1:14)
• Good/just fish and Bad/wicked fish (Matt 13:47-50)
  • Good fish go into vessels
    • Another term for vessel is bottle. God’s book is compared to a bottle (Psa 56:8)
  • Fish stink because there is no water. They die for thirst. (Isa 50:2) [see water]
  • When Simon let down his nets into the deep at Jesus’ word, he caught a great multitude of fishes (Luke 5:4-6)
    • A great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed (Act 14:1)
    • A great multitude of people worship the Lord (Rev 7:9)
      • Nearest the throne are those: (GC 665.2)
        • who were once zealous in the cause of Satan, but were rescued and followed their Saviour with deep, intense devotion
        • who perfected Christian characters in the midst of falsehood and infidelity
        • who honored the law of God when the Christian world declared it void
        • who were martyred for their faith throughout all ages
      • When Simon fell down at Jesus’ knees, confessed his sinfulness acknowledged Jesus as Lord, Jesus replied to Simon by letting him know that he will catch people (Luke 5:8-10)
        • Simon, James and John forsook all and followed Jesus (Luke 5:11)
      • Fish compared and contrasted to a serpent (Luke 11:11)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 17:27: Jesus said that one should go fishing to find a source of revenue
• Matthew 5:6: Jesus said “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
• John 4:13-15: Jesus has living water to give to those who are thirsty. Those who drink Jesus’ water will never thirst.
• John 6:35: Jesus said “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
• John 7:37: Jesus cried on the last day and the great day of the feast saying “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink”

 

FISHERMEN [see fish] [see net] [see angle/ hook]

• People who fish for fish (Matt 4:18-19)
  • Fishermen are made *given the training, experience and skills necessary to catch fish (Mark 1:16-17) [see fish]
    • His subjects are those who are partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And this grace is given them of God. Christ does not find his subjects fitted for his kingdom, but he qualifies them by his divine power…{RH March 26, 1895, par. 1}
  • When Simon fell down at Jesus’ knees, confessed his sinfulness acknowledged Jesus as Lord, Jesus replied to Simon by letting him know that he will catch people (Luke 5:8-10)
    • Simon, James and John forsook all and followed Jesus (Luke 5:11)
  • Ministers (Matt 4:18, Mark 1:16, John 21:15-19)
  • Fishers compared with hunters *water vs land* (Jere 16:15-16)
  • When Simon let down his nets into the deep at Jesus’ word, he caught a great multitude of fishes (Luke 5:4-6)
    • A great multitude of Jews and Greeks believed (Act 14:1)
    • A great multitude of people worship the Lord (Rev 7:9)
      • Nearest the throne are those: (GC 665.2)
        • who were once zealous in the cause of Satan, but were rescued and followed their Saviour with deep, intense devotion
        • who perfected Christian characters in the midst of falsehood and infidelity
        • who honored the law of God when the Christian world declared it void
        • who were martyred for their faith throughout all ages

 

FLATTER

• Lie (Psa 78:36)
  • Burning lips utter warm words of love and affection, but when the heart is wicked these lieing words are useless like an earthen vessel covered with silver drops. (Prov 26:23)
  • Don’t’ believe flattery because there are many things God hates that the person is cherishing (Prov 26:25)
• Don’t give flattering titles (Job 32:22)

 

FLESH

• People (Eze 11:11)
• Body – too much studying weakens the body (Ecc 12:12)
• Being in the flesh means living for sin (desiring lawlessness more than righteousness) (Rom 7:5, 17-19)
  • Through breaking the law we dishonour God (Rom 2:23)
• Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul (1Pet 2:11)
  • Rom_7:5  For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

 

FLIES [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub]

• Wicked (John 8:44)
• Devils/demons (Matt 12:24)
  • Another term for devil is unclean spirit (Luke 9:42)
  • Devilish wisdom includes bitter envying and strife and is not an example of true religion. Where envying and strife is seen it is devilish wisdom at work. When devilish wisdom is at work, there is confusion and evil (James 3:14-16)
    • God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Cor 14:33)
  • Found in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt (Isa 7:18) [see Egypt]
  • Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour (Ecc 10:1)
  • SATAN IS LORD OF THE FLIES à While 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 also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant.” Isaiah 24:4, 5. {GC 589.3}
    • … As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of man shall be revealed. The Lord is removing His restrictions from the earth, and soon there will be death and destruction, increasing crime, and cruel, evil working against the rich who have exalted themselves against the poor. Those who are without God’s protection will find no safety in any place or position. Human agents are being trained and are using their inventive power to put in operation the most powerful machinery to wound and to kill. {8T 49.3}
    • Satan is intensely active in these last days, doing his work of destroying souls and making attractive the road that leads to death. He prepares his agents, wheels them into line, and sets them to work to deceive and destroy. Men who are not on the side of God are on the enemy’s side. They are bold and defiant. Many deny the existence of God. There are knots of infidels binding in bundles ready to burn. They strengthen the hands of one another in their wickedness. They take counsel of their own hearts that are impressed by the originator of all evil. They assemble in council to devote their God-given powers to devise means to uproot the knowledge and reverence of God out of the human heart. They are plotting the suppression of the truth and put all their plans to work to increase darkness, disobedience, and error. {Ms15-1885.1}
    • The strength given to Christ in the hour of bodily suffering and mental anguish in the Garden of Gethsemane, has been and will be given to those who suffer for his dear name’s sake. The same grace given to Jesus, the same comfort, the more than mortal steadfastness, will be given to every believing child of God, who is brought into perplexity and suffering, and threatened with imprisonment and death, by Satan’s agents. Never has a soul that trusts in Christ been left to perish. The rack, the stake, the many inventions of cruelty, may kill the body, but they can not touch the life that is hid with Christ in God. {ST June 3, 1897, par. 14}
    • This is the scene that is presented to me. But the church must and will fight against seen and unseen foes. Satan’s agencies in human form are on the ground. Men have confederated to oppose the Lord of hosts. These confederacies will continue until Christ shall leave His place of intercession before the mercy seat, and shall put on the garments of vengeance. Satanic agencies are in every city, busily organizing into parties those opposed to the law of God. Professed saints and avowed unbelievers take their stand with these parties. This is no time for the people of God to be weaklings. We cannot afford to be off our guard for one moment. {CET 229.2}
    • The actions of men created a condition of things based upon false, godless principles. The fear of God became almost extinct. Men sold themselves to work wickedness, and they oppressed all who did not meet their own measure. Physical suffering caused by spiritual oppression, the control of conscience by human enactments, began in the days before the flood. The same spirit is waiting an opportunity to force its hideous, satanic principles into every church. Pride, ambition, selfishness give birth to envy, evil-surmising, the desire to compel men to bow to human ideas. This spirit feeds upon that which gives it life and existence. Introduced in any degree into our churches, it will bring spiritual death. Any man, be he minister or layman, who seeks to compel or control the reason of any other man becomes an agent of Satan to do his work; and in the sight of the heavenly universe, he bears the mark of Cain. In Noah’s day brute force was the prevailing influence in the world. By threatened punishment, men intimidated other men. God saw that evil was reaching a fearful pace, and after granting man a probation of one hundred and twenty years, he swept the race off the face of the earth, saving only Noah and his family. {Ms29-1911.59-61}

 

FLOCK

• Group of sheep (Psa 78:52)
• God’s people (Psa 77:20, Eze 34:31)
• Supposed to be holy (Eze 36:38, 1 Peter 1:15,16; Lev 11:44)
• Gentiles (Mic 5:8)
• Amos was made a prophet as he worked with his flock (Amos 7:14, 15)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 10:11: Jesus is the good shepherd and He gave His life for His flock.
• Luke 12:32: Jesus said, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

 

FLOCKS & CORN

• people that rejoice and sing before the Lord
  • (Psa 65:13, Isa 44:23,24, 55:10-12, Job 24:24)
  • Know the state of your flocks and look well to you herds (Prov 27:23) [see sheep]
  • When landmarks are removed, flocks and food are also taken away (Job 24:1,2,13)
    • A boundary mark is a landmark that lays out a path to the house (Job 38:20) (Deut 19:14, 21:17, Prov 22:28, 23:10) [see house]

 

FLOOD [see water] [see seas]

• Compared to Egypt (Jere 46:8) [see water]
  • Pharaoh compared to a whale (Eze 32:2)
• Seas (Psa 24:3)
• Enemy comes like a flood (Isa 59:19)
  • The ungodly (Psa 18:4) [see ungodly]
• Compared to the wrath of God (Isa 54:9)

 

FLOURISH

• Grow up (Psa 90:3-6)

 

FOOL

• The fool hath said in his heart, “There is no God”. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. (Psa 14:1; 53:1)
  • The words “there is” are not in the original. The literal rendering would be either “no God,” “nothing of God,” or “God is not.” The idea is that, in his apprehension, there is no such thing as God, or no such being as God. The more correct idea in the passage is, that this was the belief of him who is here called a “fool;” and it is doubtful whether the language would convey the idea of desire – or of a wish that this might be so; but still there can be no doubt that such is the wish or desire of the wicked, and that they listen eagerly to any suggestions or arguments which, in their apprehension, would go to demonstrate that there is no such being as God. The exact state of mind, however, indicated by the languaqe here, undoubtedly is that such was the opinion or the belief of him who is here called a fool. If this is the true interpretation, then the passage would prove that there have been people who were atheists. The passage would prove, also, in its connection, that such a belief was closely linked, either as a cause or a consequent, with a corrupt life. It is only a wicked man who finds pleasure in an argument to prove that there is no God, and the wish that there were no God springs up only in a bad heart.
• Pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them. And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?  (Psa 73:6-11)
  • In a time of apostasy, the ancients of the house of Israel say in their heart “The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth…” (Eze 8:12) à religious men who believe that God isn’t around – practical atheism
• Foolish people belittle God daily (Psa 74:22)
  • Wise people search the Scriptures daily (Act 17:11)
• A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. (Prov 9:13)
• Foolish women are home destroyers (Prov 14:1)
• Ignorant person (Psa 73:22)
• Brutish person (Psa 49:10, 92:6, 94:8)
  • They hate reproof (Prov 12:1)
  • Mock at sin (Prov 14:9)
  • Those that trust in their own hearts are foolish (Prov 28:26)
• Compared to a horse and ass (donkey) (Prov 26:3)
• Compared to a dog going to its own vomit (Prov 26:110
• Trust in their own heart (Prov 28:26)
  • Proverbs 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
• Become angry easily (Ecc 7:9)
• Known by their many rash and hasty words (Ecc 5:2,3)
• Churl (Isa 32:5-7)
  • Their instruments are evil
  • Makes wicked devices
  • Destroy with lying words
• He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool. (Prov 10:18)
• Those that blaspheme God’s name (Psa 74:18)
• Foolish women encourage men to curse God and die (Job 1:9)
• Foolish people are unprepared and Jesus doesn’t know them (Matt 25:2-12)
• They don’t know how to get to the city (Ecc 10:15)
• They don’t take sin seriously (Prov 14:9)
• They don’t like to depart from evil (Prov 13:19)
• Song of fools (Ecc 7:5)
• A fool’s heart is at his left (Ecc 10:2)
• Leave from the presence of a foolish person (Prov 14:7)
• Fools are slow of heart to believe all that prophets have spoken (Luk 24:25)
• “Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.” R.V. In the Old Testament the word “fool” is used to designate an apostate, or one who has abandoned himself to wickedness. Jesus says that whoever shall condemn his brother as an apostate or a despiser of God shows that he himself is worthy of the same condemnation. Christ Himself, when contending with Satan about the body of Moses, “durst not bring against him a railing accusation.” Jude 9. Had He done this, He would have placed Himself on Satan’s ground, for accusation is the weapon of the evil one. He is called in Scripture, “the accuser of our brethren.” Revelation 12:10. Jesus would employ none of Satan’s weapons. He met him with the words, “The Lord rebuke thee.” Jude 9. {MB 57.2-3}
  • If a wise man contendeth with a foolish man, whether he rage or laugh, there is no rest. (Prov 29:9)
  • A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself. (Tit 3:10-11)
  • The will of God is that with well doing we silence the ignorance of foolish men (1 Pet 2:15)

 

FOOLISH

• Avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (Tit 3:9)
• Foolish and unlearned questions should be avoided because they gender strife. (2 Tim 2:23)
• Its foolish to boast of yourself (2 Cor 12:11)
  • Sometimes circumstances and necessity that are imposed on us require us to speak of ourselves.
• If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. (Pro 30:32)
• Wrath kills the foolish (Job 5:2)
• Foolish nation (Rom 10:19)
• Foolish talking prohibted (Eph 5:4)
• foolish and hurtful lusts (1 Tim 6:9)

 

FOOLISHNESS [see vomit]

• Folly (Prov 14:24)
• Sin (Psa 69:5)
• Even the thought of foolishness is sin (Prov 24:9)
• Foolishness of man perverts his way and his heart frets against the LORD (Prov 19:3)
• Trusting in the heart is foolish (Prov 28:26)
• If thou hast done foolishly in lifting up thyself, or if thou hast thought evil, lay thine hand upon thy mouth. (Pro 30:32)
• Christ crucified is for the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness. (1 Cor 1:23)
• For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)
• The foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Cor 1:25)
• The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (1 Cor 3:19)

 

FOOTSTOOL [see throne]

• Of our God (1Chron 28:2)
• Of gold fastened to the throne (2Chron 9:18)
• Worship at God’s footstool (Psa 99:5, 132:7)
• Enemies (Psa 110:1, Matt 22:44, Mar 12:36, Luk 20:43, Act 2:35, Heb 10:13)
• Earth (Isa 66:1, Matt 5:35, Act 7:49)
• The Lord does not remember his footstool in the day of his anger (Lam 2:1)
• Those that have respect of persons will direct the poor to sit under the footstool (James 2:3)

 

FOUNDED

• established (Psalm 24:3)

 

 

FOUNTAIN [see tree] [see fig tree] [see vine]

• of life is the fear of the Lord (Prov 14:27)
• of living waters is God (Jere 2:12,13; 17:13)
• Jerusalem (Jere 6:6,7) [see Jerusalem]
• Compared to a fig tree and vine (James 3:12, John 15:1,5 – JC)
  • As a fruit tree yields fruit, so a fountain yields water.
  • No fountain can both yield salt and fresh water (James 3:12) [see water]

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Zechariah 13:1, John 1:29, Ephesians 1:7: Jesus Christ is the living fountain and His blood washes away our sins
• Revelation 21:6: Jesus will give the overcomers the waters of the fountain of life freely

 

FOWLER

• Satan (John 8:44) *as fowlers set snares for birds so does Satan make lies to catch people.*
• Evil, strange, whorish and adulteress woman (Prov 6:26)
  • She is a hunter
• In Prov 6:5 hunter is supplied and is synonymous with the fowler and bird is synonymous with human being.
• False prophet (Jere 14:14, Matt 24:24, 2 Peter 2:1) *Satan uses human agents to tell his lies. By extension, false teachers are fowlers and snares*

 

FOX [see grapes]

• Prophets that prophesy out of their own hearts
• Foolish prophets that follow their own spirit
  • Eze 13:2-4
  • Won’t be saved (Eze 13:9)
• People in general (Matt 8:20)
• When the mountain of Zion is desolate, foxes walk upon it (Lam 5:18)
  • Children are desolate because the enemy prevailed (Lam 1:16)
• Isa 2:3-moutain of the Lord, house of God
• 1 Tim 3:15- house, church
• Isa 51:16- zion, people

• Foxes have holes/dens (Matt 8:20)
• Fox is the shortest word with a value of 666 in English Gematria
  • F=6 O=60 X=600
    • Luke 13:32 or 1332 = 666 x 2
  • Background: Gematria is a numerological system by which Hebrew letters correspond to numbers. It was developed by practitioners of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 8:20: The foxes have holes, but Jesus had nowhere to lay His head.

 

FRIEND

• Guide (Mic 7:5)
• A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Prov 18:24)
• Show pity (Job 6:14)
• Friendship with the world is enmity with God. Friends of the world are enemies of God (James 4:4)
• Don’t make friends with angry people (Prov 22:24-25)
• Rich people have many friends (Prov 14:20)
  • Wealth makes friends (Prov 19:4, 6)
  • Worldly riches don’t last forever (Prov 27:24)
• Those that love pureness of heart will be friends with the king (Prov 22:11)
• Faithful are the wounds of a friend (Prov 27:6)
  • Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Prov 27:5)
• A man’s friend gives sweet hearty counsel (Prov 27:9)
• A man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. (Prov 27:17)
  • Don’t be deceived – evil communications (homilia – companionships – homily) corrupt good manners (1 Cor 15:33)
• Friends speak to eachother face to face (Ex 33:11)
• The captivity of Job was turned when he prayed for his friends. He was given twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)
• Some people use others as friends (Judg 14:20)
• Abraham was a friend of God (James 2:23)
• Spiritual Israel and Jacob – the seed of Abraham is God’s friend (Isa 41:8)
• During a siege, every one eats the flesh of his friend *famine* (Jere 19:9)
• Caesar’s friend à people don’t remain friends with the state when they refuse to reject Jesus (John 19:12)
• Friend of the bridegroom is John the Baptist (John 3:29)
  • Our work is the same as that given to John the Baptist (8T 9)
  • He was to bear to the world an unflinching testimony in reproving and denouncing sin (2SM 147)
  • In his mission the Baptist had stood as a fearless reprove of iniquity, both in high places and in low (DA 215)
  • All who are truly engaged in the work of the Lord for these last days wll have a decided message to bear (8T 9)
• Samson used a person as his friend. He wasn’t really his friend, but was likely using him for personal gain of some kind. (Judg 14:20)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 11:19 & Luke 7:34: The Jews called Jesus a friend of publicans and sinners
• John 15:15: Jesus said to His disciples “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.”
• John 15:13: Jesus said, “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
• John 15:14: Jesus said, “ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
• Psalm 41:9, John 13:26-27: Sometimes familiar friends betray others like how Judas ate with Jesus and betrayed Him with a kiss.
• Proverbs 17:17: A friends loves at all times. Jesus always loves us.
• Acquaint yourself with God and good shall come (Job 22:21)

 

FRUITS [see pomegranates]

• Works (Prov 10:16; 31:31, Jere 32:19, Matt 7:15-20,16:27)
  • God is responsible for the good that we do – He has wrought all our works in us (Isa 26:12)
  • When we believe Jesus we will do the same works that He did (John 14:12)
• Results (Php 1:22)
• The fruit of lies is wickedness and iniquity (Hos 10:13)
  • Eat this fruit because you trust in yourself and other people – great ones
• A child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and whether it be right (Prov 20:11)
• Actions and words reveal what’s in the heart (Rom 2:14-15, Matt 7:16-20, 12:34, Luke 6:45)
• Good fruits are the characteristics of the Spirit of God (Gal 5:22-23)
  • love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance
    • Psa_72:3 The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
  • Heavenly wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)
• Bad fruits are the characteristics of the spirit of the enemy or lusts of the flesh (Gal 5:17-21) [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub]
  • Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelling
  • Wars, strife and fighting arise from the lusts of unsanctified hearts (James 4:1) (Matt 15:18)
  • Earthly, sensual, devilish wisdom includes bitter envying and strife and is not an example of true religion. Where envying and strife is seen it is devilish wisdom at work. When devilish wisdom is at work, there is confusion and evil (James 3:14-16)
    • God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Cor 14:33)
  • Summer fruits are compared to grapes [see grapes] *grapes are fruits* (Mic 7:1,2)
  • Tree of life has twelve fruits (Rev 22:2)
    • 12 tribes, 12 disciples *fruits can represent people*
  • Fruits of righteousness (Philip 1:11)
  • Those that bear fruit, the Father purges or prunes so that they will bring forth more fruit (John 15:2)
    • Purged/pruned through the word (John 15:3; 17:17)
      • Sprigs are cut off with pruning hooks (Isa 18:5)
        • The shoots; the small limbs on which the grape is hanging, as if a man should enter a vineyard, and, while the grape is ripening, should not only cut off the grape, but the small branches that bore it, thus preventing it from bearing again. The idea is, not only that God would disconcert their “present” plans, but that he would prevent them from forming any in future. Before their plans were matured, and they obtained the anticipated triumph, he would effectually prevent them from forming such plans again.
      • SIN NO MORE: Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (John 5:14; 8:11) – God prunes His people so that they will not bear fruits of evil any longer.
    • Glorify the Father by bearing fruit – those that bear fruit are Christ’s disciples (John 15:8)
      • Jesus glorified the Father by finishing the work (John 17:4)
      • Jesus Christ’s meat was to finish God’s work (John 4:34)
    • Can only bear fruit when we abide in Jesus Christ. Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:4)
      • Abide in Jesus by keeping His commandments (John 15:10)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 7:16-18, 20: Jesus taught that good trees can only bring good fruit and corrupt trees can only bring evil fruit. We will understand people by their fruits/works.
• James 5:7: The husbandman is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth. He has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

 

FURNACE [see heart] [see dross] [see fire]

• affliction (Isa 48:10, Matt 3:11)
  • Can occur because of transgression of God’s law (Lam 1:5)
  • The Lord does not afflict willingly – doesn’t enjoy it (Lam 3:33)
  • When we are afflicted so is the Lord. He understands our trials and feels for us (Isa 63:9)
  • Affliction/punishment teaches us to keep God’s law (Psa 119:71)
  • And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort. The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin. Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ. We are to humble the soul before God…{DA 301.1}
  • The true way of dealing with trial is not by seeking to escape it, but by transforming it. This applies to all discipline, the earlier as well as the later. The neglect of the child’s earliest training, and the consequent strengthening of wrong tendencies, makes his after education more difficult, and causes discipline to be too often a painful process. Painful it must be to the lower nature, crossing, as it does, the natural desires and inclinations; but the pain may be lost sight of in a higher joy. {Ed 295.3}
    • Mourners exalted to safety (Job 5:11)
    • God will gather the sorrowful for the solemn assembly (Hab 3:18; Leb 23:27-32)
  • We are now living in the great day of atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart…{CIHS 187.1}
  • “And repent.” [Revelation 3:3.] The life we live is to be one of continual repentance and humility. We need to repent constantly, that we may be constantly victorious. When we have true humility, we have victory. The enemy never can take out of the hand of Christ the one who is simply trusting in His promises. If the soul is trusting and working obediently, the mind is susceptible to divine impressions, and the light of God shines in, enlightening the understanding. What privileges we have in Christ Jesus! {Ms92-1901.6}
• Only as we delight in God’s law, shall we survive affliction (Psa 119:92)
• tries hearts (Prov 17:3)
• in Jerusalem (Isa 31:9) [see Jerusalem]
• Egypt is compared to an iron furnace (Jere 11:4; 1King 8:51) [see Egypt]

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 63:9: In our affliction, Jesus is afflicted. He feels our sufferings and cares about what we experience.

 

GALL

• Misery (Lam 3:19)
• Through sadness the heart is made better (Ecc 7:3)
• Gall of bitterness (Act 8:23) [see bond]

 

 

GARDEN

• a fenced in garden is compared to a sister or spouse [see woman]
• a spring shut up
• a fountain sealed
  • Song of Sol 4:12
• Sinners are a garden without water (Isa 1:28-30)
• The righteous are a garden with water (Isa 58:11, Jere 31:12)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 18:1-6: After Jesus crossed the brook Cedron, He went into a garden and there He was betrayed.

 

GARMENT / CLOTHING / ROBE [see moth] [see rain]

• of violence (Psa 73:6)
• of righteousness (Psa 132:9, Isa 61:10, Job 29:14)
• of self righteousness (Isa 59:6)
• of salvation (Psa 132:16, Isa 61:10)
• of praise (Isa 61:3)
• of shame (Job 8:22)
  • Opposite of glory is shame (Hab 2:16)
• of cursing (Psa 109:18)
• of vengeance (Isa 59:17)
• holy garments for glory and beauty (Ex 28:2, 40)
  • array with majesty, excellency, glory and beauty (Job 40:10)
• Babylonish garment or mantle (Josh 7:21)
• fleece garment helps to stay warm (Job 31:20)
• shining garments (Luk 24:4)
• kingdom, piece of garment – a tribe (1King 11:29-31)
  • Kingdom is made up of people (Psa 102:22; 105:13)
• person (Job 13:28)
  • people that condemn the just will wax old as a garment and the moth shall eat them up (Isa 50:9)
• robe is compared to judgement and diadem (Job 29:14)
• Jesus wore a gorgeous robe (Luk 23:11)
• beautiful garments are a symbol of strength (Isa 52:1)
• we are to rend our hearts not our garments (Joel 2:13)
• hate the garment spotted by the flesh (Jude 1:23)
• false prophets change their appearance by wearing a rough garment intended to deceive (Zech 13:4)
• keeper of the wardrobe (2King 22:14)
• white apparel (Act 1:10)
• God will punish those who are clothed in strange apparel (Zeph 1:8)
• Clothed with humility (1Pet 5:5)
• Everything worn by the priest was to be whole and without blemish. By those beautiful official garments was represented the character of the great antitype, Jesus Christ. Nothing but perfection, in dress and attitude, in word and spirit, could be acceptable to God. He is holy, and His glory and perfection must be represented by the earthly service. Nothing but perfection could properly represent the sacredness of the heavenly service. Finite man might rend his own heart by showing a contrite and humble spirit. This God would discern. But no rent must be made in the priestly robes, for this would mar the representation of heavenly things. The high priest who dared to appear in holy office, and engage in the service of the sanctuary, with a rent robe, was looked upon as having severed himself from God. By rending his garment he cut himself off from being a representative character. He was no longer accepted by God as an officiating priest. This course of action, as exhibited by Caiaphas, showed human passion, human imperfection. {DA 709.1}
• Let the children be taught that as they open their minds to pure, loving thoughts and do loving and helpful deeds, they are clothing themselves with His beautiful garment of character. This apparel will make them beautiful and beloved here and will hereafter be their title of admission to the palace of the King. His promise is: {AH 536.5}
• God looks from heaven upon your course with displeasure. You are feeling yourself to be rich and increased with goods and having need of nothing when you are wretched and blind and poor and miserable and naked. But the true Witness graciously invites you to buy now before it shall be too late—gold that you may be rich, eyesalve that you may see, and white raiment, pure and faultless character, that you may be clothed and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear. For the day of God will present every man’s case as it is. Those who have not cherished the graces of the Spirit of Christ, but [have] been preoccupied and elevated in self-will, have a fearful awakening. I dare not withhold this matter from you. {Lt17-1879.7}
• 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 which all must possess who shall be accounted fit guests for the wedding. {COL 307.1}
• … Take My forgiveness, My peace which I freely give you. I will clothe you with My own righteousness,—the wedding garment,—and make you fit for the marriage supper of the Lamb. When clothed in My righteousness, through prayer, through watchfulness, through diligent study of My word, you will be able to reach a high standard. You will understand the truth, and your character will be moulded by a divine influence; for this is the will of God, even your sanctification.”(The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 3:1162.) {Pr 241.2}
• … If you will lay the foundation for your character in a pure, virtuous life, seeking help and strength from God, your character will not be like the moth-eaten garment, but it will be firm and solid. {YI December 15, 1886, par. 3}
• Let the youth and the little children be taught to choose for themselves that royal robe woven in heaven’s loom—the “fine linen, clean and white” (Revelation 19:8), which all the holy ones of earth will wear. This robe, Christ’s own spotless character, is freely offered to every human being. But all who receive it will receive and wear it here. Let the children be taught that as they open their minds to pure, loving thoughts and do loving and helpful deeds, they are clothing themselves with His beautiful garment of character. This apparel will make them beautiful and beloved here, and will hereafter be their title of admission to the palace of the King. His promise is: {Ed 249.2-3}
• …And yet the very ones that profess to be washed by the blood of Jesus, spilt for them, can dress up, and decorate their poor, mortal bodies, and dare to profess to be the followers of the holy, self-denying, humble Pattern. O, I wish that all could see this in the light that God sees it, and showed it to me. It seemed too much, too much for me to bear, to feel the anguish of soul that I felt as I beheld it. “God’s people,” said the angel, “are peculiar, such He is purifying unto Himself.” I saw that the outside appearance was an index to the heart. When hung with ribbons, collars and needless things, it plainly shows that all this is in the heart, and unless that such persons are cleansed from their corruption, they can never see God, for the pure in heart alone will see Him. {RH January 13, 1863, par. 2}
• But our clothing, while modest and simple, should be of good quality, of becoming colors, and suited for service. It should be chosen for durability rather than display. It should provide warmth and proper protection. The wise woman described in the Proverbs “is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with double garments.” Proverbs 31:21, margin. {MH 288.1}
• Our dress should be cleanly. Uncleanliness in dress is unhealthful, and thus defiling to the body and to the soul. “Ye are the temple of God….If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy.” 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17. {MH 288.2}
• In all respects the dress should be healthful. “Above all things,” God desires us to “be in health”—health of body and of soul. And we are to be workers together with Him for the health of both soul and body. Both are promoted by healthful dress. {MH 288.3}
• It should have the grace, the beauty, the appropriateness of natural simplicity. Christ has warned us against the pride of life, but not against its grace and natural beauty. He pointed to the flowers of the field, to the lily unfolding in its purity, and said, “Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” Matthew 6:29. Thus by the things of nature Christ illustrates the beauty that heaven values, the modest grace, the simplicity, the purity, the appropriateness, that would make our attire pleasing to Him. {MH 289.1}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 5:36: Jesus taught in a parable that “No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.”
  • Prov 26:7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
    • useless to their possessors
    • The foolish give a parable with great inequality and uncomeliness.
  • Prov 26:9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
    • As a thorn is in a drunkard’s hand, which he cannot manage cautiously, but employs to his own and others hurt. So – As unprofitable, and, by accident, hurtful to himself and others.
    • As such a weapon so used may do mischief to the man himself or to others, so may the sharp, keen-edged proverb when used by one who does not understand it.
  • Galatians 3:27: We must put on Christ

 

GATES

• praise (Isa 60:18)

 

GENERATION

• forty years (Psa 95:10; Num 32:13; Heb 3:8-10; Acts 13:36)
• perverse and crooked/untoward generation (Deut 32:5; Act 2:40)
• forward generation (Deut 32:20)
• evil generation (Deut 1:35)
• wicked generation (Matt 12:45)
• wicked and adulterous generation (Matt 16:4)
• adulterous and sinful generation (Matt 8:38)
• faithless generation (Matt 9:19)
• faithless and perverse generation (Luke 9:41)
• a stubborn and rebellious generation; a generation that set not their heart aright (Psa 78:8)
• the LORD hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath. (Jer 7:29)
• generation of vipers (Matt 3:7; 12:34; 23:33)
• God promises to preserve His people from the evil and wicked generation for ever. This generation, or this race of detractors, flatterers, and oppressors. The idea is, that that entire generation was eminently wicked, and that none but God could deliver the poor and the needy from their designs. Forever – That is, “constantly,” or as long as they would need the divine protection. God would not interpose and save them from the “present” trouble, and then leave them to the designs of their enemies, but he would “always” interpose as often as there was any need of his help. That is, they were now, and would be at all times, entirely safe. They had nothing to fear, for God was their refuge and their help. (Psa 12:7)
• God is in the generation of the righteous (Psa 14:5)
• Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. (Psa 24:3-6)
• a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (1Pet 2:9)
• the generation of the upright shall be blessed. (Psa 112:2)
  • the wicked try to kill those of upright conversation and their devisings backfire on them (Psa 37:14-15, 32)
• God saw Noah as righteous in a wicked generation (Gen 7:1)
• God will visit the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation. (Ex 34:7)
  • With unerring accuracy the Infinite One still keeps an account with all nations. While His mercy is tendered with calls to repentance, this account will remain open; but when the figures reach a certain amount which God has fixed, the ministry of His wrath commences. The account is closed. Divine patience ceases. There is no more pleading of mercy in their behalf. {5T 208.2
  • …The time is coming when in their fraud and insolence men will reach a point that the Lord will not permit them to pass, and they will learn that there is a limit to the forbearance of Jehovah. {9T 12.3}
• Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land. The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the LORD in their third generation. (Deut 23:7-8)
• A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD. An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever: (Deut 23:2-3)
• Pro_30:11  There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
• Pro_30:12  There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
  • washing can represent putting away evil/stop doing evil (Isa 1:16)
• Pro_30:13  There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
• Pro_30:14  There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

 

GIFT

• Jesus Christ is a gift (Jam 1:17, John 6:33-35)
• Holy Spirit is a gift (Act 2:38, 8:18-20, 10:45)
• Repentance is a gift from God (Acts 5:31, 2 Timothy 2:25)
• Righteousness (Rom 5:17,18)
• Victory over sin (1Cor 15:56-57)
• Eternal life (Rom 6:23)
• Prophecy (1 Cor 13:2)
• Salvation by grace (Eph 2:8)
• Grace (Eph 3:7)
  • God gives grace to the humble (Jam 4:6)
  • Paul had the grace of God. The grace of God was with him. The grace of God laboured in the work of soul saving (1 Cor 15:10, Act 15:4)
  • “As the man is, so is his strength.” The usefulness of our lives is not to be gauged by what we say or have or think, but by what we are. It is not gift but grace that leaves the deepest dint upon other lives. If you want to be strong in the arm, you must be pure and true at heart. (Judg 8:21)
• Precious stones are gifts (Prov 17:8)
  • Man’s gift makes him great (Prov 18:16)
  • Precious jewels are lips of knowledge (Prov 20:15)
  • To find out more about precious stones visit these references: The Saints’ Inheritance pg 83 to 84 & {ARSH April 2, 1857, p. 172.3-19} {HBS 285}
• Wisdom is a gift. God gave Solomon wisdom and the wisdom was the gift of making right decisions and giving decisions (judgment) (1King 3:28)
• Gift of inheritance – possession /money (Eze 46:17, Deut 16:19)
• 1Ti 4:13-14  Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.
  • The word which is here used, is rendered “gift” in every place in which it occurs in the New Testament. It is found in the following places, and with the following significations: deliverance from peril, 2Co_1:11; a gift or quality of the mind, 1Co_7:7; gifts of Christian knowledge or consolation, Rom_1:11; 1Co_1:7; redemption or salvation through Christ, Rom_5:15-16; Rom_6:23; Rom_11:29; the miraculous endowments conferred by the Holy Spirit, Rom_12:6; 1Co_12:4, 1Co_12:9,1Co_12:28, 1Co_12:30-31, and the special gift or endowment for the work of the ministry, 1Ti_4:14; 2Ti_1:6; 1Pe_4:10. The “gift” then referred to here was that by which Timothy was qualified for the work of the ministry. It relates to his office and qualifications – to “every thing” that entered into his fitness for the work. It does not refer “exclusively” to any influence that came upon him in virtue of his ordination, or to any new grace that was infused into him by that act, making him either officially or personally more holy than other people, or than he was before – or to any efficacy in the mere act of ordination – but it comprised “the whole train of circumstances” by which he had been qualified for the sacred office and recognized as a minister of religion. All this was regarded as a “gift,” a “benefit,” or a “favor” – χαρισμα charisma – and he was not to neglect or disregard the responsibilities and advantages growing out of it.
• the gift” (χάρισμα charisma,) in the Greek, without the article, means “endowment” of any kind, but especially that conferred by the Holy Spirit. Here it seems to refer to every kind of endowment by which we can do good to others; especially every kind of qualification furnished by religion by which we can help others. It does not refer here particularly to the ministry of the word – though it is applicable to that, and includes that – but to all the gifts and graces by which we can contribute to the welfare of others. All this is regarded as a gift, or charisma, of God. It is not owing to ourselves, but is to be traced to him. (1 Pet 4:10)
• A gift makes room for a person and brings them before great men (Prov 18:16)
• Every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.  (1 Cor 7:7)

 

GIRDLE

• curious girdle of the priest was made with fine twined linen and coloured gold, blue, purple and scarlet (Ex 28:8) [see gold, blue, purple, scarlet]
• connected to Elijah (2King 8:9)
  • Elijah message restores all things (Mark 9:12)
• used to carry sword (2 Sam 20:8)
• righteousness and faithfulness (Isa 11:5)
• strength (Isa 22:21)
• truth (Eph 6:14)
• marred linen girdle represents backslidden Israel (Jere 13:9-11)
• Blood of war on the girdle and in shoes (1King 2:5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 1:13: Jesus has a golden girdle.

 

GIVE THANKS

• praise (Psalm 35:18)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 12:42, 43: Many chief rulers secretly believed Jesus but they kept quiet because they loved the praises of men more than the praise of God.

 

GLORIFICATION

**there appears to be two glorifications:

1. Of character before the 2^nd Advent
   1. This is reproducing the character of Christ
2. Of body at the 2^nd Advent
   1. Receiving brand new bodies without any defilement of sin

• There will come a time that Jesus shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (2 Thess 1:8-10)
• Christ will sanctify and cleanse His church with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Eph 5:26-27)
  • He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. (Mal 3:3)
• …This is what we have labored for. He has come! He has come, and we will glorify Him. Now let us glorify Him here. We will learn the glorification that we must get here. We must press the battle to the gates and overcome by the blood of the Lamb. {Ms112-1909.23}
• And we are to be sharers in His glory; for Christ says, “The glory which thou givest me I have given them.” What is that glory? The character of Christ. Can we ask any greater endowment?…{PC 106.2}
• I saw that God could carry on his work without any of man’s help; but this is not his plan. The present world is designed as a scene of probation for man. He is here to form a character which will pass with him into the eternal world. Good and evil are placed before him, and his future state depends upon the choice he makes. Christ came to change the current of his thoughts and affections. His heart must be cut off from his earthly treasure, and placed upon the heavenly. By his self-denial, God can be glorified. The great sacrifice has been made for man, and now man will be tested and proved to see if he will follow the example of Jesus, and make a sacrifice for his fellowman…{4bSG 37.3}
• In the intercessory prayer of Jesus with his Father, he claimed that he had fulfilled the conditions which made it obligatory upon the Father to fulfill his part of the contract made in Heaven, with regard to fallen man. He prayed: “I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. [That is, he had wrought out a righteous character on earth as an example for men to follow.] And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” In this prayer he farther goes on to state what is comprehended by the work which he has accomplished, and which has given him all those who believe on his name. He values this recompense so highly that he forgets the anguish it has cost him to redeem fallen man. He declares himself glorified in those who believe on him. The church, in his name, is to carry to glorious perfection the work which he has commenced; and when that church shall be finally ransomed in the Paradise of God, he will look upon the travail of his soul and be satisfied. Through all eternity the ransomed host will be his chief glory. {3SP 260.2}
• …Jesus is our center. He is the parent stock that bears the branches. In Him our eternal life is centered. The words that He has spoken unto us are spirit and life, and those who feed upon his Word, and are doers of his Word, represent Him in character. His patience, meekness, humility, and love pervade their hearts. Jesus said, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” If we are indeed grafted into the true vine, we shall bear fruit similar to that of the parent stock. {SWk 52.2}
• It is the privilege and the duty of every Christian to maintain a close union with Christ, and to have a rich experience in the things of God. Then his life will be fruitful in good works. When we read the lives of men who have been eminent for their piety, we often regard their experiences and attainments as beyond our reach. But this is not the case. Said Christ: “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me.” “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.” [John 15:8, 4, 5.] The prophets and apostles did not perfect Christian character by a miracle. They used the means which God had placed within their reach, and all who will put forth a like effort will secure a like result. {4SP 305.1}
• True sanctification comes through the working out of the principle of love. “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16. The life of him in whose heart Christ abides, will reveal practical godliness. The character will be purified, elevated, ennobled, and glorified. Pure doctrine will blend with works of righteousness; heavenly precepts will mingle with holy practices. {AA 560.1}
• “When the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.” Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own. {COL 69.1}
• The resurrection of Jesus was a type of the final resurrection of all who sleep in Him. The countenance of the risen Saviour, His manner, His speech, were all familiar to His disciples. As Jesus arose from the dead, so those who sleep in Him are to rise again. We shall know our friends, even as the disciples knew Jesus. They may have been deformed, diseased, or disfigured, in this mortal life, and they rise in perfect health and symmetry; yet in the glorified body their identity will be perfectly preserved. Then shall we know even as also we are known. 1 Corinthians 13:12. In the face radiant with the light shining from the face of Jesus, we shall recognize the lineaments of those we love. {DA 804.1}

 

GLORY [see hair] [see feathers]

• Character
  • Glory connected with name (Ex 33:18,19)
  • Declaration of name was the proclamation of traits (Ex 34:5-7)
  • …I know that if he had been looking to Jesus, thinking of Jesus, talking of His love and imitating His character, the stamp of Jesus would be upon him and not the human impress of finite beings who, in words, manners, and spirit, but faintly represent the Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world… The more ministers are in the company of Christ by communing with Him, the more they will be fastened to Christ. Catching His holy looks and copying His holy ways, they will be transformed into His image. They may be truly said to represent Jesus Christ…Study Christ. Study His character, feature by feature. He is our Pattern that we are required to copy in our lives and our characters, else we fail to represent Jesus, but present to the world a spurious copy. Do not imitate any man, for men are defective in habits, in speech, in manners, in character. I present before you the Man Christ Jesus. You must individually know Him as your Saviour before you can study Him as your pattern and your Example. {Ms24-1888.31-32} (Hebrews 3:1)
  • …It is one thing to talk the law, and it is another thing entirely to practice it. It is the doers of the law that shall be justified before God; for those who do the law represent the character of God, and lie not against the truth. {SpTA03 12.1}
  • The mental and moral powers which God has given us do not constitute character. They are talents, which we are to improve, and which, if properly improved, will form a right character. A man may have precious seed in his hand, but that seed is not an orchard. The seed must be planted before it can become a tree. The mind is the garden, the character is the fruit. God has given us our faculties to cultivate and develop. Our own course determines our character. In training these powers so that they shall harmonize and form a valuable character, we have a work which no one but ourselves can do. {4T 606.2}
  • The formation of a noble character is the work of a lifetime and must be the result of diligent and persevering effort. God gives opportunities; success depends upon the use made of them. {PP 223.1}
  • Let them be taught that the true test of character is found in the willingness to bear burdens, to take the hard place, to do the work that needs to be done, though it bring no earthly recognition or reward. {Ed 295.2}
• God of glory (Act 7:1) à glory – light (Rev 21:23, Isa 60:1, 19)
• The glory of the God of Israel comes from the east, and the earth shines with His glory (Eze 43:2)
• The glory of the Lord fills the house (Eze 43:4,5) [see house]
• By the glory of the Father we walk in the newness of life (Rom 6:4)
• When we behold the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor 3:18, Gen 1:26, 5:3)
• Giving glory to God
  • Confessing our sins to God (Josh 7:19)
    • True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. {SC 38.1}
  • Fully trusting in and believing God. Being strong in faith. (Rom 4:20-21)
  • In what you eat, drink and do (1Cor 10:31)
    • Note: faith without works is dead (Jam 2:17)
  • Don’t give God glory leads to death (Act 12:23)
  • To give glory to God is to reveal His character in our own and thus make Him known. And in what ever way we make known the Father and the Son, we glorify God. {Ms16-1890.93}
  • It is your privilege, dear young friends, to glorify God upon the earth. In order to do this, you must direct your minds away from things that are superficial, frivolous, and unimportant, to those that are of eternal worth. {YI October 8, 1896, par. 1}
• We should sing and give praise, even with our glory (Psa 108:1)
• When the crown is lost, glory is stripped away (Job 19:9)
• Opposite of glory is shame (Hab 2:16)
• Through trial and persecution the glory – the character – of God is revealed in His chosen ones (AA 576.4)
• And today God is still using His church to make known His purpose in the earth. Today the heralds of the cross are going from city to city, and from land to land, preparing the way for the second advent of Christ. The standard of God’s law is being exalted. The Spirit of the Almighty is moving upon men’s hearts, and those who respond to its influence become witnesses for God and His truth. In many places consecrated men and women may be seen communicating to others the light that has made plain to them the way of salvation through Christ. And as they continue to let their light shine, as did those who were baptized with the Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, they receive more and still more of the Spirit’s power. Thus the earth is to be lightened with the glory of God. {AA 53.2}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 1:2-3: Jesus Christ is the Father’s image/glory
• James 2:1: Jesus Christ is the Lord of glory
• Acts 9:15: Chosen vessels bear Jesus’ name

 

GODLINESS

• Godliness is the fruit of Christian character…{PCP 19.3}
• …“What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11). “In all holy conversation” signifies that in all matters we are to be holy; and that means wholly the Lord’s. Make no reserve. Therefore, all that I have, and all that I do, and all that I say, is to be as a God-bought subject of Jesus Christ. The redemption money has been paid as the price of my soul, and instead of being a slave of Satan, I am to be indeed the child of God. I am His servant. Then shall we not every one of us draw in even cords with Christ? Shall we not yoke up with Him? Shall we not bear our end of the yoke? {9MR 53.2}
• Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever the profession, no man has pure love to God unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But we can never come into possession of this spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is the love of Christ in the heart. When self is merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. The completeness of Christian character is attained when the impulse to help and bless others springs constantly from within—when the sunshine of heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the countenance. {COL 384.2}
• To possess true godliness means to love one another, to help one another, to make apparent the religion of Jesus in our lives. We are to be consecrated channels through which the love of Christ flows to those who need help…He who approaches nearest to obedience to the divine law will be of the most service to God. He who follows Christ, reaching out after his goodness, his compassion, his love for the human family, will be accepted by God as a worker together with him. Such a one will not be content to remain on a low level of spirituality. He will constantly reach higher and higher. {RH May 13, 1909, par. 6}
• The gospel of Christ means practical godliness, a religion which lifts the receiver out of his natural depravity. He who beholds the Lamb of God, knows that he takes away the sins of the world… {RH April 30, 1895, par. 2}
• Practical Christianity means, not working for God now and then, but continuously. It means being laborers together with God. A neglect to reveal this practical righteousness in our lives is a denial of the faith and of the power of God, and makes of but little effect His principles of Godliness. Such negligent Christians become fault-finders, at discord with their brethren, and pronouncing judgment against many good works. They are spiritual paralytics. Those who thus refuse to exercise for Christ the capabilities and powers of the soul, are lukewarm Christians, neither cold or hot, and they are nauseating to Christ. He cannot endure their unsanctified traits of character. Their lives bear the evidence I do not care to confess. The confession may never be made until it is made in awful agony, when it is too late for wrongs to be righted. {GH April 1, 1905, Art. C, par. 13-14}
• The gospel of Christ becomes personality in those who believe, and makes them living epistles, known and read of all men. In this way the leaven of godliness passes into the multitude. The heavenly intelligences are able to discern the true elements of greatness in character; for only goodness is esteemed as efficiency with God. {CE 97.1}

 

GODLY

• faithful (Psalm 12:1,7)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 2Timothy 3:12: All that will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
  • Christianity – everywhere spoken against (Act 28:22)
• 1 Corinthians 1:9, 10:13: God is faithful.
• Revelation 1:5: Jesus Christ is the faithful witness

 

GOLD / YELLOW

• faith (1Pet1:7) & love (Gal 5:6) [see emerald/green]
  • The gold mentioned by Christ, the True Witness, which all must have, has been shown me to be faith and love combined, and love takes the precedence of faith… {2T 36.2}
  • White gold [see white/chalcedony]
    • …They will feel the necessity of buying gold, which is pure faith and love; white raiment, which is a spotless character made pure in the blood of their dear Redeemer; and eyesalve, which is the grace of God and which will give clear discernment of spiritual things and detect sin. These attainments are more precious than the gold of Ophir. {3T 254.2}
    • The thing that is hid is revealed by God (Job 28:11)
    • Interpretations belong to God (Gen 40:8)
    • the things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned (1Cor 2:14)
      • by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1Cor 2:13)
      • by comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isa 28:9-10)
      • The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual. SC 89.3
    • God reveals secrets and communicates insights to His people (Dan 2:28-30)
      • Nebuchadnezzer said to Daniel that the “spirit of the holy gods is in thee” (Dan 4:18)
      • Belshazzar’s queen told him “There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.” (Dan 5:11)
      • An excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel (Dan 5:12)
    • God has often employed angels to communicate important truths to men, or has made them the medium of communicating his will. (Dan 7:15-16) – Compare Rev_1:1; Act_7:53; Heb_2:2
    • Inspiration of God gives understanding (Job 32:8)
    • All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16)
    • The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel form a habit of mind. To gain through them the power of entering into the deeper meaning of other proverbs. (Prov 1:1,6)
    • No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. – No man wrote save in the power of the Holy Ghost, and no man must venture to interpret save in the same power of the Holy Ghost. It is not any man’s own word. It is God, not the prophet himself, who thereby interprets things till then unknown. (2 Pet 1:20-21)
  • Pure faith and love are found in the character {CCh 52.1}
  • need faith to be healed (Acts 14:9,10)
  • hearts are purified by faith (Acts 15:9)
  • [see door]
• commandments (Psa 119:127)
• knowledge of God (Prov 8:10, 16:16)
  • reject knowledge à God rejects individual (Hos 4:6)
  • reject His law à God forgets the person (Hos 4:6)
  • those who glorify God and are afflicted are not forgotten (Isa 49:3, 7, 13-16)
• person/people (Job 23:10, 22:24, Isa 13:12, Mal 3:3) [see dust]
• sons of Zion (Lam 4:2)

 

GOLD CHAIN

• authority, 10 Commandments
  • (Dan 5:16-17, Prov 1:8-9
  • *golden link of 10 C*, Prov 3:1-3
• A golden chain, the mercy and compassion of divine love, is passed around every imperiled soul… {COL 202.1}
• A golden chain—the mercy and compassion of divine power—is passed around every one of these imperiled souls…{Ms34-1893.57}

 

GOOD

• Life (Deut 30:15)
• righteousness (Psa 52:3) – glory, honour and peace follow (Rom 2:10)
• honey is good (Prov 24:13) [see honey]
• the righteous (Prov 14:19)
• a soul without knowledge is not good (Prov 19:2)
• Overcome evil with good (Rom 12:21)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 19:17: Jesus said “Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.”

 

GOODMAN [see householder/home owner]

• God’s people (Matt 24:43,44; Luke 12:39,40)
• The strange woman says, “For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey: He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.” (Prov 7:19,20)
• Some people thought Jesus was a good man and others thought He was a deceiver (John 7:12)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Jesus Christ/God (Matt 19:17. John 10:30, Matt 24:43-44)

 

GOSPEL

• True and false/perverted (Gal 1:6-9), LP 188.2
• Christ’s gospel (1 Cor 9:12,18; 2 Cor 4:4; 2:12)
• God’s gospel (2 Cor 11:7, 1 Thess 2:9)
• Everlasting gospel means the good news from the beginning. The good news from the beginning of creation was the promise of a Saviour who would be born from a woman. He would overcome Satan. Through that Saviour every child of God could overcome Satan as He overcame.
  • Rev 14:6, Gen 3:15, John 19:17,18, 1 Pet 2:21, Rom 16:20
• Lose our lives for Jesus Christ and the gospel (Mark 8:35)
• Stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel (Php_1:27)
• The gospel must first be published among all nations (Mark 13:10)
  • Publish peace. Publish salvation and bring good tidings. (Isa 52:7)

 

GOURD

• Nineveh (Jonah 4:10-11)

 

GOVERNMENT

• Lord is Governor over all the nations (Psa 22:28)
• God removes kings and sets them up (Dan 2:21)
• Sometimes rulers are not set up by God, but by a wicked people (Hos 8:4)
  • Sometimes God allows a bad ruler to govern, but God can remove him as He pleases (Hos 13:11, Isa 1:23,26)
    • “You chose it so I let you have it” God gives us freedom to choose. (Josh 24:15)
  • There are many wicked people in a kingdom when a vile ruler is exalted (Psa 12:8)
  • When the wicked rule, people groan (Prov 29:2)
• Overthrown by bribes and corruption (Prov 29:4)
• Pro 14:28  In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.
• We should obey just government and pay taxes. Rulers are ministers for God who punish evildoers. We do well when we obey the laws of the land. (Rom 13:1-6, 1 Peter 2:13-14)
• Jesus paid temple taxes (Matt 17:24-27)
• When laws/rules/mandates conflict with God’s law and requirements, then we are to obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:27-29)
  • Unrighteous decrees / laws have been given in the past (Isa 10:1)

 

GRACE

• justified freely by God’s grace (Rom 3:23,24)
• justified by His grace and made heirs (Tit 3:7)
• God gives grace to the lowly (Prov 3:34)
• Heart established with grace (Heb 13:9)
• Believe through grace (Act 18:27)
• By grace we are saved through faith (Eph 2:7-8, Act 15:11)
• Grace brings salvation and teaches:
  • Deny ungodliness and worldly lusts
  • Should live soberly, righteously and godly presently
  • We should look for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ
    • Titus 2:11-14
  • Grow in grace (2 Pet 3:18)
    • Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness,—all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly,—by abiding in Him,—that we are to grow in grace…{SC 69.1}
  • God gives grace to the humble (Prov 3:34, Jam 4:6)
  • Grace is a gift (Eph 3:7)
    • God gives grace to the humble (Jam 4:6)
    • Paul had the grace of God. The grace of God was with him. The grace of God laboured in the work of soul saving (1 Cor 15:10, Act 15:4)
  • Great grace (Act 4:33)
  • Throne of grace (Heb 4:16)
  • Spirit of grace (Zech 12:10; Heb 10:29)
  • God of all grace (1 Pet 5:10)
    • Perfects us
  • Grace of life (1 Pet 3:7)
  • There is a true grace which means there is a counterfeit grace (1 Pet 5:12)
  • Word of his grace builds up and gives inheritance among all them that are sanctified (Act 20:32)
  • The grace of Christ is the only antidote or preventive of evil…{CG 188.2}
  • When the limit of grace is reached, God will give His command for the destruction of the transgressor. He will arise in His Almighty character as a God above all gods, and those who have worked against Him in league with the great rebel, will be treated in accordance with their works. {1SAT 225.4}
    • God’s spirit will not always strive with man (Gen 6:3)
  • Grace is unmerited favor, and the believer is justified without any merit of his own, without any claim to offer to God. He is justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, who stands in the courts of heaven as the sinner’s substitute and surety. But while he is justified because of the merit of Christ, he is not free to work unrighteousness…{ST March 20, 1893, par. 6}
  • Grace is an attribute of God exercised toward undeserving human beings. We did not seek for it, but it was sent in search of us. God rejoices to bestow His grace upon us, not because we are worthy, but because we are so utterly unworthy. Our only claim to His mercy is our great need. {MH 161.2}
  • God’s grace is the Spirit of Christ {SC 52.2}
    • It is the Spirit of unselfish love and labor for others {COL 67.3}
    • God’s spirit will not always strive with man (Gen 6:3)
  • Sin affects the entire being; so also does grace. “If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the spirit is life because of righteousness.” [Verse 10.] “If Christ be in you,” if His Holy Spirit is an abiding principle in the soul, it will be revealed by works of righteousness. The soul derives its nourishment from Christ, the same as the physical body is nourished by food; and thus it is strengthened, and finally comes to partake of the same divine nature. {Lt8-1891.7}
  • Every converted soul has a work to do. We are to receive grace in order to freely give grace. We are to let the light shine forth from the bright and morning Star, to shed forth light in works of self-denial and self-sacrifice, following the example that Christ has given us in his own life and character…Love means spiritual growth after the divine model. Christ has given us a pattern in his own example. He would bind his followers to one another and to himself. Their oneness with Christ makes them love one another; for love is the sure fruit of unity with Christ. Christ declared that their love one for another was a sure badge of their discipleship. He is the root, his disciples are the branches. {HM August 1, 1896, par. 2}
  • But though Christ is everything, we are to inspire every man to unwearied diligence. We are to strive, wrestle, agonize, watch, pray, lest we shall be overcome by the wily foe. For the power and grace with which we can do this comes from God, and all the while we are to trust in Him, who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. Never leave the impression on the mind that there is little or nothing to do on the part of man; but rather teach man to cooperate with God, that he may be successful in overcoming. Let no one say that your works have nothing to do with your rank and position before God. In the judgment the sentence pronounced is according to what has been done or to what has been left undone (Matthew 25:34-40). {1SM 381.3-4}
  • As yet the disciples were unacquainted with the Saviour’s unlimited resources and power. He said to them, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name.” John 16:24. He explained that the secret of their success would be in asking for strength and grace in His name. He would be present before the Father to make request for them. The prayer of the humble suppliant He presents as His own desire in that soul’s behalf. Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven. It may not be fluently expressed; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers, and He will present it to the Father without one awkward, stammering word, beautiful and fragrant with the incense of His own perfection. {DA 667.3}
  • …As a child asks his mother or father for bread when he is hungry, so the Lord would have you ask Him for the things which you need. If your sins are heavy upon your heart, you are to come to God and say, “For Christ’s sake, forgive my sins.” Every sincere prayer will be heard in heaven, and every earnest petition for grace and strength will be answered.—(The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1892.) {Pr 241.3}

 

GRAPES

• The people of Israel [see Israel] (Hos 9:10)
• Grapes are fruits [see fruits]
• Wild grapes (Isa 5:1-4)
• People (Isa 63:3-6, Mic 7:1,2)
• Breasts compared to clusters of grapes (Song Sol 7:7,8) [see tower]
• Foxes ate grapes (Isa 17:6) [see fox]
• Grapes compared with figs (Luke 6:44)

 

GRASS

• Green herb (2King 19:26)
• people ((2King 19:26; Job 5:25; Psa 90:3-5, 102: 11, 129:4-6,Isa 40:7, Job 5:25, Mic 5:7, 1Pet 1:24, Luke 12:28)
• wicked (Psa 92:7)
• those that hate Zion (Psa 129:6)
• hypocrites and those people who forget God are like grass that withers away (Job 8:12-13)
  • when the heart is exalted, the people tend to forget God (Hos 13:6)
  • hypocrites in heart heap up wrath (Job 36:13)
• Grass with thorns are rejected (Heb 6:7-8)
• Grass needs water to grow (Job 8:11)

 

GRASSHOPPERS

• people (Isa 40:22, Num 13:33, Hab 1:14)
• princes and captains (Nahum 3:17)
• Midianites, Amalekites and children of the east (Judg 6:3-5)

 

GREEN OLIVE TREE

• Person (one who trusts in the mercy of God) (Psa 52:8)
• Children *olive plants* (Psa 128:3)
  • Sons as plants (Psa 144:12)
• There is hope for trees. When they are cut down and the root stays a long time in the earth, through the scent of water it will bud and grow. (Job 14:7-9)

 

GROVE [see Baal] [see house]

• Called Asherah which was the name of the Phoeniecian goddess
  • Goddess was also worshipped by the Philistines and Zidonians
    • Zidon: identified her as a moon
    • Assyria: known as Venus
    • Arabia: Athtar
    • Phoenicia: Ashtarte
    • Babylon: Ishtar
    • North Africa: Tanith
  • Known as the queen of heaven (Jere 7:18)
  • Worshipped together with Baal (Judg 2:13, 1 Sam 12:10, 2 King 21:3; 23:4,5)
  • We are on safest ground for popular religion with Jeremiah 44:15–19 and Ezekiel 8:14, according to which there were women who worshipped the ‘queen of heaven’ (possibly some form of the Babylonian goddess Ishtar, or a sun-goddess) and Tammuz, a fertility-god. Amos (5:26) accuses the ‘the house of Israel’ of worshipping Sakkuth and Kaiwan, gods which have been connected with the cult of Saturn. Another god referred to in Jeremiah 32:35 and elsewhere is Molech, evidently a Canaanite god of the underworld to whom people offered human sacrifice in the valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem (Day 1989). And of course there is abundant evidence of the worship of the storm-god Baal at popular and official level. – A Handbook of Ancient Religions Edited by John Hinnells pg. 250
  • Worship included weeping for Tammuz (Eze 8:14)
    • Ritual weeping with a choice of sacrifice of hair or chastity
  • Fertility god
  • Also called Dido which means love
• There was a mountain of corruption built by Solomon in honor of Ashtoreth (2King 23:13)
  • The mount of corruption was presumably located on the southern slope of the Mt. of Olives, evidently so called by way of contempt, to show the detestation of the abominable idol worship carried on to the east of the holy Temple.
  • We must be partakers of the divine nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Pet 1:4)
    • Ungodly lusts (Jude 1:18) – there is corruption in the world because wicked people follow the ungodly lusts of their wicked hearts
  • There were hangings for the grove made by women nearby the houses of sodomites (2King 23:7)
    • Should take away the Sodomites out of the land (1King 15:11-12)
  • Israel was scattered because the people made groves (1King 14:15)

 

GUIDE [see friend]

• Friend (Mic 7:5)
• Guide of the blind compared to a light for people in darkness (Rom 2:19)
• Compared to an instructor for the foolish and a teacher of babies (Rom 2:20)
• Guides lead people to Bible truth (Act 8:30-35)
• The consistent life, the patient forbearance, the spirit unruffled under provocation, is always the most conclusive argument and the most solemn appeal. If you have had opportunities and advantages that have not fallen to the lot of others, consider this, and be ever a wise, careful, gentle teacher. {MH 494.2}
• But though Christ is everything, we are to inspire every man to unwearied diligence. We are to strive, wrestle, agonize, watch, pray, lest we shall be overcome by the wily foe. For the power and grace with which we can do this comes from God, and all the while we are to trust in Him, who is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by Him. Never leave the impression on the mind that there is little or nothing to do on the part of man; but rather teach man to cooperate with God, that he may be successful in overcoming. Let no one say that your works have nothing to do with your rank and position before God. In the judgment the sentence pronounced is according to what has been done or to what has been left undone (Matthew 25:34-40). {1SM 381.3-4}

 

HAIR [see sharp razor] [see glory] [see feathers]

• Glory, covering (1Cor 11:15) or beauty (2 Sam 14:25-26)
  • Beauty of old men are their grey hair – wisdom, experience, prudent counsels vs. strength and agility (Prov 20:29)
  • The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness. (Prov 16:31)
• Strength (Judg 16:17, 22, 28) or Vitality (Judg 13:5, Lam 4:7, Gen 25:25)
  • Samson had seven strands of braided long hair (Judg 16:13, 19)
  • Greater the age; the less strength one has (Hos 7:9)
• Baldness – mockery or shame (2 King 2:23, Isa 3:17, 24)
• People – even God’s people (Eze 5:1-4)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Daniel 7:9: Jesus’ hair is as white as pure wool.
• Matthew 5:36: Jesus said “Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.”

 

HAMMER

• Workmen’s hammer (Judg 5:26)
  • Used to drive the nail or tent peg into Sisera’s forehead
• Word of God (Jere 23:29)
• Babylon (Jere 50:23)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 11:27,28: In a rebuke to Mary adoration, Jesus said “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

 

HANDS

• actions/works(Ecc.9:10, Psa 9:16)
• those who have clean hands get stronger and stronger (Job 17:9)
• right hand of fellowship (Gal 2:9)
• laying on of hands then reception of Holy Spirit (Act 8:17-18)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 19:13-15: Jesus laid His hands on children and prayed for them.

 

HAPPY / HAPPINESS

• God brings happiness (Psa 144:15; 146:5)
  • Happy are the men and servants which stand continually by the King and hear His wisdom (1King 10:8)
    • Receiving wisdom brings happiness (Prov 3:13,17,18)
  • The Lord makes us joyful. He can even turn the heart of kings to favour God’s people. (Ezra 6:22)
• Having children brings happiness (Gen 30:13, Psa 127:4-5)
  • Pro_23:24  The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him.
  • Pro_29:15  The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.
  • Pro_19:26  He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.
• Being corrected by God brings happiness (Job 5:17)
• Enjoying the results of your work brings happiness (Psa 128:2)
• Caring for others brings happiness (Prov 14:21)
• Whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he. (Prov 16:20)
• Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief. (Prov 28:14)
  • A hardened heart will not prosper (Job 9:4)
  • A hard heart is one that resists God’s will (Rom 9:17-19)
• Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Prov 29:18)
• Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth. (Rom 14:22)
• But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (1 Peter 3:14)
• If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. (1 Peter 4:14)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 13:17: By following what Jesus teaches, happiness is the sure result.

 

HARLOT [see whore]

• Strange woman (Judg 11:1-2)
• apostate church (Eze 16:2,15)
• more than one harlot and harlots have houses (Jere 5:7) [see house]
• strange woman (Judge 11:1,2)
  • Love for strange women made Solomon’s heart imperfect (1King 11:1-4)
• Tyre (Isa 23:15)
  • Prince of Tyre & King of Tyrus: A General Movement Represented—I ask our people to study the twenty-eighth chapter of Ezekiel. The representation here made, while it refers primarily to Lucifer, the fallen angel, has yet a broader significance. Not one being, but a general movement, is described, and one that we shall witness. A faithful study of this chapter should lead those who are seeking for truth to walk in all the light that God has given to His people, lest they be deceived by the deceptions of these last days (Special Testimonies, Series B, No. 17a, p. 30). {4BC 1162.8}
• Israel liked to play the harlot *act like one* (Hos 4:15)
  • Whoredom: departing from the Lord / unfaithfulness (Hos 1:2)
• A faithful city can become a harlot (Isa 1:21)
  • There is hope. An unfaithful city can repent (Isa 1:25-27)
• Whosoever is joined to a harlot is one with her (1 Cor 6:15-17)
• By the means of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread (Prov 6:26)
  • For a piece of bread a man will transgress (Prov 28:21)

 

HART

• person (Psa 42:1, Lam 1:6)

 

HAUGHTY

• pride (Prov 16:18)
  • root of fighting is pride (Prov 13:10)

 

HEAD

• Ancient and honorable (Isa 9:15)
  • Is the branch (Isa 9:14,15)
• When the whole head is sick, the whole heart is faint. This condition signifies a sinful nation, people filled with inquity, a seed of evildoers, corrupt children who have forsaken the Lord and backslidden. (Isa 1:4,5)

 

HEAL

• forgiveness (Psa 103:3)
• need faith to be healed (Acts 14:9,10)
• God heals (Ex 15:26; Psa 147:3; Isa 30:26; Hos 11:3; 14:4)
• God will take away all sickness and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt upon us when we keep God’s commandments, statutes and judgments (Deut 7:11,12,15)
• Pray and lay hands on the sick and there will be healing (Act 28:8)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Acts 9:34: Jesus makes us whole – He heals us
  • He laid hands on people and they were healed (Mark 6:5, Luke 4:40)
• On many occasions Jesus Christ healed sick people and forgave their sins.

 

HEALTH HOME

• The Health Home is the means of reaching many souls that would not otherwise be reached. Christ represents Himself as the Good Shepherd, and to those who follow Him He says, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” [Luke 12:32.] {Lt58-1898.16}
• A sanitarium is sometimes called a health home {see: Lt84-1898.5-6} {Ms183-1899.13}
• Ellen White seems to differentiate between a sanitarium and health home{Lt73-1899.18}
• “I am glad we shall have, not a hospital, but a health home…”
• While Ellen White was in Australia, she worked as a Christian medical missionary. At times she made her home in Cooranbong an asylum for the sick and afflicted. Her secretary, who had received a training in the Battle Creek Sanitarium, stood by her side, and did the work of a missionary nurse. {see: RH July 26, 1906, par. 17 & Lt75-1899.11-13}
• Sister McEnterfer is nurse and physician for all the region round about. She has been called upon to treat the most difficult cases, and with complete success. We have at times made our house a hospital, where we have taken in the sick and cared for them. I have not time to relate the wonderful cures wrought, not by dosing with drugs but by the application of water. We use charcoal largely, making it into poultices. It destroys the inflammation and removes the poison. We are teaching the ignorant how to become intelligent and keep well. {Lt74-1899.14}
• We learned also that we must not call our building a hospital. If we do this, we shall come under the supervision of the medical authorities, shall be forced to observe special laws, and employ a physician, perhaps of their own choice. We shall call it a Health Home, and shall not make it as large as we had planned. We shall try to build it within one thousand pounds. This will not include the furnishing, which perhaps will be an extra expense. We shall not appropriate more than we can possibly help, for we must have something to establish the work in Western Australia…When our numbers are increased, there will be means enough to sustain the work. Then a school must be established and a church built, and workers sent to this field. You can judge how we feel as we see so many places calling for workers and have none to send. {Lt75-1899.2}
• We can move only as fast as our means will let us…{Lt3-1896.5}
• Having two or three bedsteads in one room is all a mistake. Privacy must be respected. {Lt10-1899.1}
• Sometimes a health home must stand second to the school interest…{see: Lt50-1898.3}
• In regard to [the] Health Home, I cannot see anything very flattering in patients as yet. But it is no use to look on the discouraging side. We must walk by faith. We must talk faith and act faith and live faith. {Lt188-1897.2}
• Now patients are coming into the Health Home so fast that they have been obliged to hire another house, but they have no money with which to furnish the rooms for the patients…{Lt19-1898.6}
• Physicians, nurses, bookkeeper and manager {Lt84-1898.5}{Ms175-1897.79}{Lt204-1897.2}
• …These brothers have been taking treatment at the Health Home, where the workers seek to instill the truth as they labor for the health of the patients. If these poor souls can see and understand that Christ is their only safety, they will see that they are not compelled to sin, that their own consent must first be gained by the arch deceiver. They will see by faith that Christ alone is the one who can protect them from the enemy. {Lt58-1898.10}
• All should have an intelligent knowledge of the human frame, that they may keep their bodies in the condition necessary to do the work of the Lord. Those who form habits that weaken the nerve power and lessen the vigor of mind or body, make themselves inefficient for the work God has given them to do. On the other hand, a pure, healthy life is most favorable for the perfection of Christian character and for the development of the powers of mind and body. {RH December 1, 1896, Art. A, par. 9}

 

HEAR

• Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17) [see converting the soul]
  • The Lord of hosts sends through His Spirit His words by the prophets (Zech 7:12)
  • Holy Spirit fell upon those who heard the word (Act 10:44)
  • There was the baptism of the Holy Spirit by receiving the word (Act 11:15-16)
• Those who hear and do the law shall be justified (Rom 2:13)
• The person that turns away from hearing the law will not have his prayers accepted by God (Prov 28:9) [see converting the soul]
  • When people refuse to listen, they will cry and God won’t hear them just as when God cried out to them and they would not hear Him. (Zech 7:11,13)
    • By refusing to listen, their hearts become as adamant stone (Zech 7:11,12)
    • People don’t have enough and don’t increase because of not listening to the Lord (Hos 4:10)
    • People wander in the wilderness because they don’t listen to the Lord (Hos 10:17)
  • God speaks in a still small voice (1King 19:12-13) (GW92 266.2, PK 169.1, 2 SM 316.1, RH Feb 12 1889.4, Aug 6 1895.7)
    • Still small voice directs one’s duty (12LtMsMs177 1897 par 42)
    • Therefore, it is imperative that people carefully listen to God
    • words of wise men are heard in quiet (Ecc 9:17)
  • God speaks at different times and in various ways through His prophets (Heb 1:1)
  • There will be a famine for hearing the words of the Lord (Amos 8:11)
  • Some people hear God’s word but do not perceive it nor understand it (Matt 13:14,15)
    • The thing that is hid is revealed by God (Job 28:11)
    • Interpretations belong to God (Gen 40:8)
    • the things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned (1Cor 2:14)
      • by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1Cor 2:13)
      • by comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isa 28:9-10)
      • The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual. SC 89.3
    • God reveals secrets and communicates insights to His people (Dan 2:28-30)
      • Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel that the “spirit of the holy gods is in thee” (Dan 4:18)
      • Belshazzar’s queen told him “There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.” (Dan 5:11)
        • An excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel (Dan 5:12)
      • God has often employed angels to communicate important truths to men, or has made them the medium of communicating his will. (Dan 7:15-16) – Compare Rev_1:1; Act_7:53; Heb_2:2
      • Inspiration of God gives understanding (Job 32:8)
      • All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16)
      • The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel form a habit of mind. To gain through them the power of entering into the deeper meaning of other proverbs. (Prov 1:1,6)
      • No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. – No man wrote save in the power of the Holy Ghost, and no man must venture to interpret save in the same power of the Holy Ghost. It is not any man’s own word. It is God, not the prophet himself, who thereby interprets things till then unknown. (2 Pet 1:20-21)
      • He that is of God hears God’s words (John 8:47)
    • People need to hear and understand God’s message in order to be converted and have their sins forgiven (Mark 4:12)
    • God speaks once and even twice yet people don’t perceive it (Job 33:14)
      • This happens because we are dull of hearing (Heb 5:11)
      • Those who don’t hear God’s message have no reproofs to give out (Psa 38:14)
    • We need to mark (identify and take interest) in God’s word and then hear it or understand it (Jere 23:18)
    • God gives a person ears to hear (Deut 29:4)
    • When you worship God and do His will, He hears you (John 9:31)
    • The ear tests words just as the mouth tests meat/food (Job 12:11)
    • We should spare our words. Listen more than we speak and speak concisely. (Prov 17:27,28; 18:13)
    • Uncircumcised ears – resistant to Holy Spirit (Act 7:51)
    • Receive the Spirit and do miracles by the hearing of faith (Gal 3:2-5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 11:27,28: In a rebuke to Mary adoration, Jesus said “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”

 

HEART [see thoughts] [see table]

• Oven (Hos 7:6)
• mind (Dan 5:20, Job 17:11, Prov 23:7, 2 Cor 3:14-15) [see door]
  • transformed by the renewing of the mind (Rom 12:2)
  • when the heart turns to the Lord, spiritual blindness is taken away (2 Cor 3:15-16)
  • those who lack faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love are blind (2 Pet 1:5-9)
• mind of the Lord/mind of Christ (Lev 24:12, rom 11:34, 1Cor 2:16)
• mind of the Spirit (Rom 8:27)
• wise hearted – are those who have been filled with the spirit of wisdom to make priestly garments (Ex 28:3)
• God knows the hearts of men (Acts 1:24; 15:8)
  • The Lord searches our hearts (Prov 21:2, Act 8:21)
    • Jesus knows everyone’s minds (John 2:24-25)
    • Jesus searches our hearts (Rev 2:23)
    • All things are open to Jesus (Heb 4:13)
    • Jesus knows what we will do (John 6:5-6)
  • The Lord weighs our motives (Prov 16:2)
  • The Lord tries our hearts (Prov 17:3) [see furnace]
  • God inclines our hearts unto Him (1King 8:58)
• As man thinks in his heart so is he (Prov 23:7)
  • “As the man is, so is his strength.” The usefulness of our lives is not to be gauged by what we say or have or think, but by what we are. It is not gift but grace that leaves the deepest dint upon other lives. If you want to be strong in the arm, you must be pure and true at heart. (Judg 8:21)
• Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of God and to do it and to teach in Israel statues and judgments. He taught those who didn’t know truth. (Ezra 7:10, 25)
• A wicked heart is like a potsherd covered with silver dross. (Prov 26:23)
• Imagination of man’s heart is evil form his youth (Gen 8:21)
• No one should imagine evil in their hearts against their neighbour (Zech 8:17)
• We should wash our hearts from wickedness that we may be saved. We should rid ourselves of vain thoughts. (Jere 4:14)
  • The heart being cleansed leads to purity – w/o sin (Prov 20:9)
• Murderous heart is one that rejects Jesus Christ’s word/truth (John 8:37)
  • Murderous hearted people are led by the Devil (John 8:38-44)
• Heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked (Jere 17:9)
  • The human heart is full of evil and madness (Ecc 9:3)
  • Commune with your heart upon your bed (Psa 4:4)
  • ponder the path of your feet (Prov 4:26)
  • we should not trust in ourselves but in God (2 Cor 1:9)
• Wicked thoughts of the heart can be forgiven (Act 8:22)
• don’t set heart on iniquity, punished if one does (Hos 4:8,9)
• whoredom takes away heart (Hos 4:11)
  • zenuth=adultery {figuratively: infidelity & idolatry}
  • Whoredom: departing from the Lord / unfaithfulness (Hos 1:2)
• double heart (Psa 12:2)
  • double minded man is unstable in all his ways (Jam 1:8)
  • we don’t really love God when our heart is not with Him (Judge 16:15)
• can be divided – a faulty / guilty heart (Hos 10:2)
• trusting in the heart is foolish (Prov 28:26)
  • we should not trust in ourselves but in God (2 Cor 1:9)
• a whorish heart (Eze 6:9)
• plague of own heart (1King 8:38)
  • 39 – God knows every man’s heart
• perverse heart (Prov 12:8)
  • perverse people hate God and His followers (Prov 14:2)
  • the wicked boast of his heart’s desire (Psa 10:3)
• stony heart (Eze 11:19; 36:26; Job 41:24)
  • Can make the heart to be like an adamant stone (Zech 7:12)
  • A hardened heart will not prosper (Job 9:4)
  • A hard heart is one that resists God’s will (Rom 9:17-19)
  • Job 23:16  For God maketh my heart soft, and the Almighty troubleth me:
  • God’s word is like a hammer that breaks rock into pieces (Jere 23:29) It discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart (Heb 4:12)
  • The change is effected not by might and power, but by the Spirit (Zech 4:6)
• heart is hardened through
  • the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:13)
  • pride (Dan 5:20)
  • pride + turning from the commandments (Neh 9:16)
  • when the heart is exalted, the people tend to forget God (Hos 13:6)
  • A hardened heart will not prosper (Job 9:4)
  • The proud don’t seek God – God is not in all his thoughts (Psa 10:4)
• Uncircumcised heart (Act 7:51)
  • The uncircumcised of heart and flesh do not enter the sanctuary (Eze 44:9)
• Reprobate (castaway / unapproved / corrupt) mind: one that does not like to retain the knowledge of God – those given over to idolatry and sexual perversions have this mind (Rom 1:23-32, 2 Tim 3:8, Jere 6:30)
  • reject knowledge à God rejects individual (Hos 4:6)
  • reject His law à God forgets the person (Hos 4:6)
  • those who glorify God and are afflicted are not forgotten (Isa 49:3, 7, 13-16)
• Worldly covetous heart is not right in the sight of God (Act 8:20-21)
• People can turn to God feignedly – in a false manner (Jer 3:10)
• Hot heart *angry* (Deut 19:6, Psa 39:3)
• Tender (sensitive) heart (2King 22:19)
• True heart (Heb 10:22)
• Perfect heart (1King 8:61)
  • Walk in God’s statutes and keep His commandments (1King 8:61)
  • Then He called to the throne “a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14)—not one who was faultless in character, but who, instead of trusting to himself, would rely upon God, and be guided by His Spirit; who, when he sinned, would submit to reproof and correction. {PP 636.2}
    • Distrustful of self, reliance on God, willingness to be led/guided by the Holy Spirit, submissive – to reproof and correction
  • Love for strange women made Solomon’s heart imperfect (1King 11:1-4)
  • God gets angry when our hearts turn away from Him (1King 11:9)
  • Integrity of heart (1King 9:4; see: Psa 25:21 + 26:1)
  • God’s thoughts are higher than ours (Isa 55:8-9)
  • God gives people hearts to perceive and reason (Deut 29:4, Isa 1:18)
    • We should desire to reason with God and obtain His understanding (Job 13:3)
    • God put wisdom in Solomon’s heart (1King 10:24)
    • Just like Paul we should reason with people out of the Scriptures on the Sabbath day. (Acts 17:2)
      • Use the Bible
      • Produce your cause.
      • Bring strong reasons.
      • Show the former things (history) – examine them.
      • Show the fruits or results of those historical events.
      • Show how that history is repeating.
        • Isaiah 41:21-23; Ecc 1:9-10, 3:15; 1 Cor 10:11
      • Demonstrate that Jesus is Christ (Acts 17:3)
    • God puts gladness – joy – happiness in hearts (Psa 4:7)
  • a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgement (Ecc 8:5)
    • Wise men foresee evil and hide themselves (Prov 22:3)
    • A wise man’s heart is at his right (Ecc 10:2)
    • Great men are not always wise (Job 32:9)
  • hearts are purified by faith (Acts 15:9, Prov 20:9)
  • heart is made glad by wine (Psa 104:15) [see wine]
  • heart is strengthened by bread (Psa 104:15) [see bread]
  • heart is made better by the sadness of the countenance (sorrow) (Ecc 7:3)
    • the salutary grief for our own sinfulness—the godly sorrow of 2Cor 7:10
    • He who has witnessed another’s bereavement of a loved one or a funeral or a death will consider it seriously (Ecc_9:1), and draw from it profitable conclusions concerning the brevity of life and the proper use to make thereof.
  • A merry heart doeth good like a medicine (Prov 17:22)
    • Cheerfulness of spirit tends to physical health. A physician always tries to keep his patient in good spirits, and when he discerns that he is weighed down by some mental burden, he wisely seeks to lighten that as well as to administer remedies to the body.
  • Heart established with grace (Heb 13:9)
  • the heart of man answers to man (Prov 27:19)
    • reciprocity of soul
      • just as the water will give back to you the exact expression which you gave to it—the frown or the smile, the hideous or the pleasing—so human hearts will treat you as you treat them.
      • As in the outline water trembles, and is uncertain, so also are hearts. The lesson is: Trust not!—Luther.
    • Mercy and truth to written upon the table of the heart (Prov 3:3)
      • Preserves the king (Prov 20:28)
      • The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord (Prov 21:1)
      • We are kings and priests unto God (Rev 1:5,6; 5:9-10)
    • Law of God must be in the heart (Psa 37:31; 40:8)
      • Job 22:22: We should receive the law from God’s mouth and lay up His words in our hearts.
      • Law of God to be observed with the whole heart (Psa 119:34)
        • Caleb and Joshua followed the Lord with their whole heart (Numb 32:12)
        • Caleb inherited the Promised Land because he wholly followed the Lord. We only inherit the heavenly Promised Land when we wholly follow the Lord. (Deut 1:36; Josh 14:8-9,14; Heb 11:16; 12:22)
      • God promises to write His laws in our hearts (Heb 8:10; 10:16)
      • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)
    • Guard the heart with all diligence because out of it comes the issues of life (Prov 4:23)
    • Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt 12:34)
    • Adam hid his sin in his heart (Job 31:33)
    • Rend our hearts not our garments (Joel 2:13)
    • When the whole head is sick, the whole heart is faint. This condition signifies a sinful nation, people filled with inquity, a seed of evildoers, corrupt children who have forsaken the Lord and backslidden. (Isa 1:4,5)
    • One who has respect of persons is a judge of evil thoughts (Jam 2:1-4)
    • A wise man’s heart is at his right and a fool’s heart is at his left (Ecc 10:2)
    • God saves the upright in heart (Psa 7:10)
      • The pure in heart will see God (Matt 5:8)
      • the wicked try to kill those of upright conversation and their devisings backfire on them (Psa 37:14-15, 32)
    • Fools are slow of heart to believe all that prophets have spoken (Luk 24:25)
    • The Scriptures declare, “By thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” [Matthew 12:37.] And not only our words and actions, but our thoughts, make up the picture of what we are. Then let every soul be good and do good. Let the picture made of you be one of which you will not be ashamed. Every feeling we cherish makes its impress upon the countenance. God help us to make our record in our families what we would wish it to be in the heavenly record. Remember that God is taking your picture. Set an example which you will not be ashamed to have others follow. Guard your words and actions. Let all you do and say be straightforward and honorable. Then, “when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then we shall also appear with Him in glory.” [Colossians 3:4.] {Lt78-1901.17}
    • You should keep off from Satan’s enchanted ground and not allow your minds to be swayed from allegiance to God. Through Christ you may and should be happy and should acquire habits of self-control. Even your thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of God and your feelings under the control of reason and religion. Your imagination was not given you to be allowed to run riot and have its own way without any effort at restraint or discipline. If the thoughts are wrong the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character. When you decide that as Christians you are not required to restrain your thoughts and feelings you are brought under the influence of evil angels and invite their presence and their control. If you yield to your impressions and allow your thoughts to run in a channel of suspicion, doubt, and repining you will be among the most unhappy of mortals, and your lives will prove a failure. {5T 310.1}
    • The law of God, as presented in the Scriptures, is broad in its requirements. Every principle is holy, just, and good. The law lays men under obligation to God; it reaches to the thoughts and feelings; and it will produce conviction of sin in every one who is sensible of having transgressed it requirements. If the law extended to the outward conduct only, men would not be guilty in their wrong thoughts, desires, and designs. But the law requires that the soul itself be pure and the mind holy, that the thoughts and feelings may be in accordance with the standard of love and righteousness. {RH April 5, 1898, par. 1}
    • The work of Satan is to interpose his sophistry, his lying statements, to lead men to believe a lie rather than the words of God, which are the truth. It is thus that he leads men into presumptuous sins. Satan is ever at work to keep out of our minds the doctrine of the cross of Christ; for this is the counter-influence through which sin is to be vanquished and man be brought back to his allegiance to the law of God. {RH Sept29,1891,par. 3}
    • “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” I repeat the words of John, “Behold the Lamb of God.” We are to contemplate the character of Christ. We are to meditate upon the cross of Calvary; for it is the unanswerable argument of Christianity. The message we are to bear to the impenitent, the warning we are to give to the backslider, is, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” Those who bring the message to the soul may turn aside from the truth, but he who would be saved must keep his eye on Jesus. By beholding Christ he will learn to hate sin, that has brought to his Redeemer suffering and death. By beholding, his faith becomes strong; and he comes to know “the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.” The sinner sees Jesus as He is, full of compassion and tender love; and by beholding the manifestation of his great love toward fallen man, in his sufferings on Calvary, he is transformed in character. {BEcho Nov 1, 1893, par. 1}
    • To know God is, in the scriptural sense of the term, to be one with Him in heart and mind, having an experimental knowledge of Him, holding reverential communion with Him as the Redeemer. Only through sincere obedience can this communion be obtained. Where this communion is lacking, the heart is not in any sense a temple of God, but is controlled by the foe, who is working out his own purposes through the human agency. Such a man, whatever his profession or claims, is not a temple of the Holy Spirit. The experience is perfected by fruit-bearing. He who does not bear good fruit in words and deeds, in the strength of elevated, ennobling principle, is as a bad tree. The fruit that he bears is unpalatable to God. His professed knowledge of Christ is a falsehood, a deception. {Ms120-1903.12-13}

 

HEATHEN

• people (Psa 2:1, 18:43)
• people that don’t know God (Psa 79:6, Jere10:25)
• the kingdoms that don’t call upon God (Psa 79:6, Jere 10:25)
• wicked (Psalm 9:5)
• wicked transgressors (Psa 59:5)
• Egyptians (Psa 80:8)
  • Strength of Egypt is sin (Eze 30:15)
• The heathen rage against God’s people (Psa 2:1-2; Act 4:25-27)
• Due to the apostasy of God’s people, the heathen were described as entering the congregation and holy places from which even a Jew who was not a priest was excluded. (Lam 1:10)
• The heathen were concerned about the Jewish people so they sent a Jewish priest/Levite to teach the people how to fear the Lord (2King 17:27-28)

 

HEDGE

• Wall [see wall] (Isa 5:5, Hos 2:6, Eze 13:5 + 10)
• When you break a hedge a serpent will bite (Ecc 10:8)
• Every house needs a hedge (Eze 13:5)
• Must make up the hedge (Eze 22:30)

 

HEIFER

• Backsliding heifer is like Israel (Hos 4:16)
• Ephraim (Hos 10:11) *note* can be obedient
• Samson’s treacherous wife (Judges 14:18)
• Egypt was compared to a very fair heifer (Jere 46:20)
  • Pharaoh compared to a young lion and whale (Eze 32:2)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Numbers 19, Deuteronomy 21:1-9, Hebrews 9:13: Red heifer is a symbol of Jesus Christ

 

HELL

• Destruction (Job 26:6)
• The sorrows of hell are like the pains of death (2Sam 22:6, Psa 18:4,5; 116:3)
• Hebrew: Sheol-like in Prov 5:4,5
  • Job 21:32-Sheol=grave/tomb
  • 2 Sam 22:4-7-hell-Sheol-context is fear of dying, being killed by enemies
• Greek: Gehenna like in Matthew 5:29-30
  • Transliteration of ge’ben hinnom which is the valley of Hinnom
  • This was the place outside Jerusalem where garbage and animal carcases rotted and burned
  • When everything was done burning, they covered the ashes over with earth never to be seen again
• Greek: Hades like in Acts 2:25-32
  • Comes from two Greek words= a meaning not and idein meaning to see. = not seen or unseen
  • Means the realm of the dead or where the dead are
  • Dead people are placed in GRAVES
  • This is the grave like the equivalent of Sheol
  • David lived in the hope of the resurrection of the righteous looking forward to be being brought out of his grave at the 2^nd Advent of Christ
  • Jesus didn’t rest in the grave forever, but He took up His life again and was raised from the dead.
  • See Habbakuk 2:5à “his desire as hell, and is as death”
  • See Isaiah 28:18 à “And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand…”

 

HELLFIRE

• Greek: Gehenna Pur like in Matthew 18:9
  • Gehenna fires didn’t burn continually. Therefore, the everlasting fire mentioned in verse 8 is everlasting in its effects. The wicked will be burned up never to exist.
  • See Malachi 4:1,2

 

HELMET [see breastplate] [see shoes] [see sword] [see shield]

• Salvation (Eph 6:17, Isa 59:17)
• Hope of salvation (1 Thess 5:8)

 

HEMLOCK

• Equivalent to wormwood [see wormwood]
  • See Hos 10:4 and Amos 6:12

 

HIGH HILL

• hill of God, hill of Bashan (Psa 68:15)
• hill of foreskins (Josh 5:3)

 

HIGHWAY

• of the upright is to depart from evil (Prov 16:17)
  • God made man upright but men find many inventions (Ecc 7:29)
    • An upright man is perfect, fears God and avoids evil [see evil] (Job 1:1,8)
    • Bloodthirsty men hate the upright (Prov 29:10)
    • Upright men are laughed to scorn (Job 12:4)
    • Sinful men fall to the devices of Satan (2Cor 2:11) [see counsel]
    • the wicked try to kill those of upright conversation and their devisings backfire on them (Psa 37:14-15, 32)
  • Of holiness (Isa 35:8)
  • Of obedience {6T 93.4}

 

HILL

• holy place (Psalm 24:3)

 

HOLINESS [see righteousness]

• true holiness (Eph 4:24)
  • must mean there is counterfeit holiness (false kind)
• The Lord is glorious in holiness (Ex 15:11)
• God has called us to holiness (1 Thess 4:7)
• We should be partakers of God’s holiness (Heb 12:10)
• Without holiness, a person will not see the Lord (Heb 12:14)
• High Priest had a plate of pure gold tied to his mitre with blue lace which read “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” on the forehead. It was like the engravings of a signet. (Ex 28:35-37)
• Upon the bells of the horses “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD” (Zech 14:20)
• We should worship God in the beauty of holiness (1 Chron 16:29, Psa 29:2; 96:9)
• Beauties of holiness (Psa 110:3)
• Give thanks in remembrance of God’s holiness (Psa 97:12)
• Singers should praise the beauty of holiness (2 Chron 20:21)
• Sanctified themselves in holiness (2 Chron 31:18)
• God sits upon the throne of his holiness (Psa 47:8)
• The mountain of his holiness (Psa 48:1)
• Habitation of holiness and God’s glory (Isa 63:15)
• God has spoken in his holiness (Psa 60:6)
• Holiness characterizes God’s house (Psa 93:5) [see house]
• The people of God’s holiness (Isa 63:18)
• The way of holiness (Isa 35:8)
• Israel was holiness unto the Lord (Jere 2:3) [see Israel]
• We serve God in holiness and righteousness (Luke 1:74,75)
• Our body should be servant to righteousness unto holiness (Rom 6:19)
• God has promised holiness (Obadiah 1:17)
• We cannot heal people by our own power or holiness (Act 3:12)
• Spirit of holiness (Rom 1:4)
• Holiness is a constant agreement with God, the shaping of the life in conformity to Christ. The soul windows are kept open towards the Sun of Righteousness. Live for God. You can live in simplicity of mind, cherishing the meekness of Christ. The Lord Jesus’ command to you is “Learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” [Matthew 11:29.] {Lt172-1897.3}
• Holiness is not rapture: it is an entire surrender of the will to God; it is living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father; it is trusting God in trial, in darkness as well as in the light; it is walking by faith and not by sight; it is relying on God with unquestioning confidence, and resting in His love. {AA 51.2}
• Holiness is not rapture; it is the result of surrendering all to God; it is doing the will of our heavenly Father. When the children of Israel were encamped on the borders of the Promised Land, it was not enough for them to have a knowledge of Canaan, or to sing the songs of Canaan. This alone would not bring them into possession of the vineyards and olive groves of the goodly land. They could make it theirs in truth only by occupation, by complying with the conditions, by exercising living faith in God, by appropriating His promises to themselves, while they obeyed His instruction. {MB 149.1}
  • To obey when it seems the hardest is true surrender to God. This will quicken your moral nature and subdue your pride. Learn to submit your will to God’s will, and you will be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. {Ms12-1888.13}
  • the sacrifice of our ideas, our will, is necessary if we would be one with Christ in God. All we have and are must be laid at Christ’s feet. Shall we not give up all selfishness, and learn the lesson of abiding in Christ? {Ms17-1899.25}
• Holiness is within the reach of all who reach for it by faith, not because of their good works, but because of Christ’s merits. Divine power is provided for every soul struggling for the victory over sin and Satan. {Ms113-1902.25}

 

HONEY [see butter] [see remnant]

• knowledge of wisdom (Prov 24:13-14)
  • Teaches us out of the law (Psa 94:12)
• God’s word (Psa 119:103)
  • Every word of God is pure (Prov 30:5)
• Pleasant words (Prov 16:24)
• Prophecy (Rev 10:9,10)
  • Isaiah 42:8-9 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
  • Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
  • Spirit of truth guides people into all truth and shows people things to come (John 16:13)
  • Just like Paul we should reason with people out of the Scriptures on the Sabbath day. (Acts 17:2)
    • Use the Bible
    • Produce your cause.
    • Bring strong reasons.
    • Show the former things (history) – examine them.
    • Show the fruits or results of those historical events.
    • Show how that history is repeating.
      • Isaiah 41:21-23; Ecc 1:9-10, 3:15; 1 Cor 10:11
    • Demonstrate that Jesus is Christ (Acts 17:3)
  • Fear of the Lord and His judgements (Psa 19:10)
  • Counterfeit honey is spread by the strange woman (Prov 5:3, Judge 11:1,2)
    • Error comes from a counterfeit spirit (2 Cor 11:4)
      • Spirit of the world (1 Cor 2:10-13)
      • Spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:3)
    • Eat sufficiently (Prov 25:16)
      • Those who are full don’t want it, but those who are hungry will appreciate even that which is bitter (Prov 27:7)
    • What is sweeter than honey and what is stronger than a lion? (Judg 14:18)

 

 

 

 

 

 

HORN

• Power (Hab 3:4)
• Kingdoms (Zech 1:19 *ex. Babylonians, Medes & Persians, Macedonians and Romans*)
• King or kingdoms (Dan 8:21)
  • Kingdom is made up of people (Psa 102:22; 105:13)
• Mouth or speaking (1 Sam 2:1, Prov 18:21)

 

HORRIBLE PIT

• miry clay (Psalm 40:2)
• a narrow pit is a whore (Prov 23:27)
• by the blood of the covenant, God rescues prisoners out of the pit where in it there is no water (Zech 9:11)

 

HORSE

• person/people (Psa 147:10, Zech 14:20, Jere 2:3. Ex 28:35-38, 1Pet 2:9, Isa 63:13, Joel 2:4, Hab 3:15)
• fool (Prov 26:3)
• warlike animal (Job 39:19-25)
• woman compared to a company of horses (Song of Sol 1:9) [see woman]
• upon the bells of the horses “HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD” (Zech 14:20)
• fed horse in the morning is symbol of fornicating people (Jere 5:7,8)
• adultery/sexual immorality (Jere 5:8)
• During apostasy, the kings of Judah dedicated horses to the sun at the entering in of the house of the Lord. (2King 23:11)
  • When reformation occurred, the horses were taken away and the chariots of the sun were burned with fire (2Kings 23:11)

 

HOUR

• Third hour – 9am
  • Jesus was crucified on the third hour Friday (Mark 15:25)
  • It was around the third hour that Pentecost, the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit, occurred. (Act 2:4-15)
  • Not considered a time when people are usually drunk (Act 2:14-15)
  • Of the night is 9pm (Act 23:23)
    • A time of greater secrecy, and to elude the cunning, active malice of the Jews who would seek to harm Paul.
  • Sixth hour – 12 noon
    • Jesus sat on Jacob’s well at the sixth hour (John 4:6)
    • The Jews called out to crucify Jesus and rejected him at the sixth hour (John 19:14-15)
    • At the sixth hour, Peter prayed and went into vision (Act 10:9-10)
  • Seventh hour – 1pm
    • The healing hour àJohn 4:49-54  The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house. This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.
    • Its lawful to heal on the seventh day of the week – the Sabbath (Luke 14:1-6)
  • Ninth hour – 3pm
    • Hour of prayer (Act 3:1)
      • Psalm 55:17  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.
        • There may have been three portions of the day dedicated to special prayer. All three encompass a whole day so anytime during the whole day a person can pray too. (1Thess 5:17)
      • Cornelious fasted and prayed in his house. At 3pm an angel visited him and gave him instructions. (Act 10:30-31)
      • From the sixth hour to the ninth hour there was darkness over the land (Matt 27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44)
      • At the ninth hour Jeus cried My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? (Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34)
    • Tenth hour – 4pm
      • Jesus called the first disciples around that time (John 1:35-42)
    • Eleventh hour – 5pm
      • An hour before the time when most of the Jews stopped working
      • Eleventh hour vineyard workers (Matt 20:6-7)
      • About the eleventh hour, every man that was hired received a penny – the hour of reward perhaps (Matt 20:9)
    • Twelfth hour – 6pm
    • 12 hours of day / 12 hours of night (John 11:9)

 

HOUSE [see landmarks] [see wall] [see holiness]

• Inheritance (Lam 5:2)
• The world (Matt 5:14-16)
  • …The light which God had given to His church is not to be hidden under a bed or a bushel; it is to be put on a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house. The house represents the world. While some are looking with suspicion upon the work of Dr. Kellogg, what work are they themselves doing? …{Lt44-1898.11}
  • should be swept and in good order (Matt 12:43,44; Luke 11:24-26)
  • wicked spirits ruin the house (Matt 12:45)
  • sweep the house to find the lost piece of silver *coin* (Luke 15:8-10)
• kingdom (Mark 3:24,25)
  • Kingdom is made up of people (Psa 102:22; 105:13)
• dwelling (Job 39:6, Isa 4:5)
  • can become barren like a wilderness
• of God’s glory (Isa 60:7)
  • The glory of the Lord fills the house (Eze 43:4,5)
  • Holiness characterizes God’s house (Psa 93:5)
• the church/a church (1Tim 3:15)
  • the Holy Spirit is to appoint overseers to feed the church of God (Act 20:28)
  • woe pronounced against joining houses/churches together (Isa 5:8) *think ecumenism/ecumenical movement*
  • don’t trouble your church (Prov 11:29)
  • through wisdom a church is built and understanding makes it strong (Prov 24:3)
  • through idleness of the hands the church falls apart (Ecc 10:18)
  • by knowledge the chambers are filled with precious and pleasant riches (Prov 24:4)
    • chambers refer to a dwelling place (Jere 22:13)
  • need to prepare before building a church (Prov 24:27)
  • can build a house by unrighteousness (Jere 22:13)
    • there is no unrighteousness with God (Rom 9:14)
  • foundation of the church are the apostles, prophets and Jesus Christ (Eph 2:19-22)
    • If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psa 11:3)
    • signs of an apostle are wrought in patience, signs, wonders and mighty deeds (2 Cor 12:12)
  • should be swept and in good order (Matt 12:43,44; Luke 11:24-26)
  • wicked spirits ruin the house (Matt 12:45)
  • sweep the house to find the lost piece of silver *coin* (Luke 15:8-10)
  • Synagogue (church) of Satan (Rev 2:9, 3:9)
  • Assemble together in God’s church as the signs of the 2^nd coming intensify and the 2^nd coming draws near (Heb 10:25)
• holy temple (Psa 65:4)
  • of God’s glory (Isa 60:7)
  • The most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands (Act 7:48)
  • The Lord is in His holy temple – let all the earth keep silence (Hab 2:20)
  • human body (1 Cor 3:16,17; 2 Cor 5:1-4, Eph 2:19-22; Lev 14:4-6, 49-52)
    • should be swept and in good order (Matt 12:43,44; Luke 11:24-26)
    • wicked spirits ruin the house (Matt 12:45)
    • sweep the house to find the lost piece of silver *coin* (Luke 15:8-10)
  • Spiritual house
    • Is built of lively stones which are an holy priesthood of consecrated people (1Pe_2:5)
  • nest, a church, a temple etc. (Psa 84:2, 104:17, Hab 2:9)
    • nest is a place (Prov 27:8)
    • nests compared with holes (Matt 8:20)
      • holes are essentially dens
      • foxes have dens (Matt 8:20)
      • cockatrice’s/viper’s den (Isa 11:8)
      • dragon’s den (Jere 9:11; 10:22)
      • lion’s den (Dan 6:7,12,16,19,24; Amos 3:4)
        • mouths of dens (Dan 6:17)
        • have seal of king and of lords
      • den of robbers (Jere 7:11)
        • tabernacles of robbers (Job 12:6)
        • robbers of churches (Act 19:37)
      • den of thieves (Matt 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46)
        • murderer is as a thief (Job 24:14)
          • The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…(John 10:10) He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)
            • Jesus is the door of the sheepfold (John 10:1-9)
          • Satan is a murderer and grand thief (John 8:44). He has followers that enter into the sheepfold to steal, kill and destroy.
          • Prov 29:24  Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul…
          • Judas Iscariot was a thief (John 12:1-6) A son of perdition (John 17:12)
            • See also 2 Thess 2:3
          • thief’s house (Zech 5:4)
        • tabernacle (Prov 14:11)
        • of Jesus’ Father (John 2:16) *in reference to temple*
          • has many mansions (John 14:2) *in heavenly city of God*
        • of Jesus (Heb 3:6)
          • If we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end, we are Jesus’ house.
        • of God (Luke 6:4, Heb 10:21)
          • prophets of God helped build the house of God (Ezra 5:2)
          • builded with great stones in three rows (Ezra 5:8, 6:4)
          • made up of lively stones – people (1 Pet 2:5, 4:17)
          • timber laid in the walls (Ezra 5:8) [see wood] [see wall]
        • of sacrifice (2 Chron 7:12)
        • of bondage – Egypt (Ex 13:3,14; 20:2; Deut 5:6; 6:12)
        • of the wicked [see wicked] (Prov 21:12, Mic 6:10)
          • the curse of the Lord is in their house (Prov 3:33)
          • Treasures of wickedness (Mic 6:10, Prov 10:2)
            • Not good
            • Pleasures of sin for a season (Heb 11:25)
          • of liars (Zech 5:4)
          • of the proud is destroyed (Prov 15:25)
          • of the prince (Job 21:28)
          • of mourning (Ecc 7:2)
          • of mirth/pleasure (Ecc 7:4)
          • of bondage (Judg 6:8)
          • Prison house (Judg 16:21,25; 2 Chron 16:10, Isa 42:7)
          • of merchandise (John 2:16)
          • of joy (Isa 32:13)
          • of wisdom [see wisdom] has seven pillars (Prov 9:1)
          • of prayer (Matt 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46)
            • can be made a den of thieves
          • Ahab built an ivory house (1King 22:39)
            • Ivory houses shall perish (Amos 3:15)
          • associated with vineyard (Ecc 2:4)
          • is a vineyard (Isa 5:7)
          • a cage (Jere 5:27)
          • houses of prophets (1 Sam 9:18)
          • house of Job (Job 42:11)
            • ate bread in that house
          • house of Baal (2King 10:27)
          • house of Nisroch (2King 19:37)
          • draught house (2King 10:27)
          • house of Esau will be stubble (Obadiah 1:6)
            • the wicked will be ashes under the feet of the righteous (Mal 4:3)
          • house of Jacob-God’s people
            • they are forsaken by God because:
              • negative influences from the east (Isa 3:18-24)
              • soothsayers
              • pleased by strange children
                • Isa 2:6
              • The house of Israel goes into captivity for their iniquity and trespasses against God (Eze 39:23)
                • Unrighteous ministers led the house of Israel into iniquity

(Eze 44:10-12)

• When God’s people were in apostasy, the lowest people were ordained priests (1King 12:28-31; 13:33)
• apostate priests commit lewdness (Hos 6:9) [see scum]
• Like people like priest (Hos 4:9)

• Ezekiel commanded to show the house to the house of Israel that they be ashamed of their iniquities (Eze 43:10)
  • If they become ashamed of all that they have done, Ezekiel was to educate them and record that education for others to benefit from (Eze 43:11)
• Despite Israel being full of sin, God does not forsake them (Jere 51:5)

• The spirit of God is poured out on the house of Israel (Eze 39:29)
• No dew, no rain and a drought because the Lord’s house is in poor condition (Hag 1:9-11)
• Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand (Matt 12:25, Mark 3:25)
  • a house divided against a house falleth (Luk 11:17)
• There are people who fill their master’s house with violence and deceit (Zeph 1:9)
• Deceitful and wicked people should not be kept in the house. (Psa 101:7)
  • You cannot keep evil people in your family without them exerting an evil influence over your children. (1 Cor 15:33)
  • Those who teach and live out the love of God, love for people and exalt the keeping of the commandments of God should stay in the house (2 John 1:4-11)
    • Those who don’t bring this doctrine are not to be received into the house and neither should they be bidden God speed
      • Those who bid them God speed become partakers of their evil deeds
    • There is such a thing as a several house which is a sick house.
      • Uzziah had a leprosy and stayed in the sick house separated from the house of the Lord (2 King 15:5; 2Chron 26:21)
      • Godliness is becoming more and more rare. Unless the divine leaven of renovation works in the church, little will be done to convert souls who will be not only consumers, but producers. The church is now as a vast hospital, filled with the spiritually sick. The future of the church depends on the efforts made by the members to understand the sinfulness of selfishness, and their willingness to take the remedy that will cure the disease. Let a reformation take place, that those who accept the truth in the future may not be contaminated by the corrupting influence of selfishness. As Seventh-day Adventists we must reach a higher standard. God brings against His professing people a terrible charge: {PUR August 14, 1902, par. 5-6}
    • Can be shaken out of the house. àThe leaders of Israel were exacting usury upon the people. They were oppressing their own people. At the message of Nehemiah, they promised to stop exacting usury. He SHOOK his lap and said “so God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied.” (Neh 5:10-13)
    • Sodomites have houses (2 King 23:7)
      • When the children of Israel apostatized, the houses of the sodomites were located close by the house of the Lord
      • This is where women wove hangings of the grove [see grove]
    • Harlots’ houses (Jere 5:7)
    • Pharisee’s house (Luke 7:36)
      • Offer no special courtesies to Jesus (Luke 7:41-50)
    • Pharaoh had a house (Act 7:9,10)
    • House of Lydia (Act 16:40)
    • House of Jason (Act 17:5)
    • House of Justus (Act 18:7)
    • House of Philip the evangelist (Act 21:8)
    • House of Priscilla and Aquila (Rom 16:3-5, 1 Cor 16:19)
    • House of Chloe (1 Cor 1:11)
    • House of Stephanas (1 Cor 16:15)
    • House of Nymphas (Col 4:15)
    • House of Onesiphorus (2 Tim 1:16)
    • House of Noah *Noah’s family* (Heb 11:7)
      • To save his house, he built an ark by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith
    • a man’s house is his heritage (Mic 2:2)
      • If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. (1 Tim 5:8)
      • Married women should guide their houses along with their husbands (1 Tim 5:14)
    • A bishop must ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity (1Tim 3:1-4)
      • A man who can’t rule his own house is not fit to care for the church of God (1 Tim 3:5)
      • Moses was faithful in all his house. (Heb 3:2)
    • law of the house: the top of the mountain and all around it is holy(Eze 43:12)
      • there was a mountain of corruption built by Solomon in honor of Ashtoreth (2King 23:13)
        • The mount of corruption was presumably located on the southern slope of the Mt. of Olives, evidently so called by way of contempt, to show the detestation of the abominable idol worship carried on to the east of the holy Temple.
      • We must be partakers of the divine nature, and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Pet 1:4)
        • Ungodly lusts (Jude 1:18) – there is corruption in the world because wicked people follow the ungodly lusts of their wicked hearts
      • if you lean on a wall in the house, a serpent may bite [see serpent] (Amos 5:19)
      • a house needs a hedge (Eze 13:5)
      • He who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house *speaking of Jesus* (Heb 3:1-3)
        • Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psa 127:1)
        • Every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. (Heb 3:4)
        • House is built by wisdom (Prov 24:3)
          • By knowledge it is filled with riches (Prov 24:4)
        • Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house. (Prov 24:27)
          • Do nothing without a plan. Prepare and get the estate in order before erecting a house on it.
          • Don’t enter a marriage and make a family hastily. Make adequate preparation (Ex 1:21, Deut 25:9, Ruth 4:11)
        • In a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (2 Tim 2:20)
        • When God’s messengers/prophets are rejected and persecuted by God’s own people then the house is left desolate (Matt 23:37-38)
          • Fleshly people will persecute spiritual people (Gal 4:29)
          • Flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit is contrary to the flesh (Gal 5:17)
        • Those who have devils for a long time usually do not live in houses (Luke 8:27)
        • The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. (Act 19:16)
          • Without the Holy Spirit, without the breath of God, there is torpidity of conscience, loss of spiritual life. Unless there is genuine conversion of the soul to God; unless the vital breath of God quickens the soul to spiritual life; unless the professors of truth are actuated by heaven-born principles, they are not born of the incorruptible seed, which liveth and abideth forever. Unless they trust in the righteousness of Christ as their only security; unless they copy his character, labor in his spirit, they are naked; they have not on the robe of righteousness. The dead are often made to pass for the living; for those who are working out what they term salvation after their own ideas, have not God working in them to will and to do of his good pleasure. {RH December 3, 1908, par. 10}
        • The master of the house shuts the door (Luke 13:25)
        • Daily in the temple and in every house, the apostles taught and preached Jesus Christ (Act 5:17-42)
        • Teach from house to house (Act 20:20)
          • Taught repentance toward God anf diath toward Jesus (Act 20:21)
          • Teach whole counsel of God (Act 20:27)
        • At one time, Paul dwelt in his own hired house (Act 28:30)
        • Paul taught from house to house (Act 20:20)
          • Don’t gossip from house to house (1 Tim 5:13)
        • Paul and Silas spake unto the Philippian jailer the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house. (Act 16:32)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 11:15-18: Jesus cleaned out His house for it was made a den of thieves.
• John 2:16-17: Jesus was filled with zeal over the poor condition of His house.
• Luke 12:49-53:  Jesus said “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three. The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”
• Luke 18:29-30: Jesus said “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake, Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.”
• God has a church. It is not the great cathedral, neither is it the national establishment, neither is it the various denominations; it is the people who love God and keep His commandments. “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” [Matthew 18:20.] Where Christ is even among the humble few, this is Christ’s church, for the presence of the high and holy One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church. Where two or three are present who love and obey the commandments of God, Jesus there presides; let it be in the desolate place of the earth, in the wilderness, in the city enclosed in prison walls. The glory of God has penetrated the prison walls, flooding with glorious beams of heavenly light the darkest dungeon. His saints may suffer, but their sufferings will, like the apostles of old, spread their faith and win souls to Christ and glorify His holy name…{Lt108-1886.17}
• Hebrews 3:6: We are Jesus Christ’s house
• Hebrews 10:21: Jesus Christ is High Priest over the house of God
  • Hebrews 7:26: Jesus Christ became human. He was holy and harmless. He was undefiled, separate from sinners and made high.

 

HOUSEHOLDER/HOME OWNER [see goodman]

• Every scribe/scholar which is instructed in the kingdom of heaven

(Matt 13:52)

• He is to bring out of his treasure things new and old (Matt 13:52)
• He is to sow good seed (Matt 13:24-27)
• He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Cor 9:6)
• Has a vineyard (Matt 20:1)
  • Plants a vineyard (Matt 21:33)
  • James 5:7: The husbandman is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth. He has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.
  • He that gathers in the summer is a wise son, but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame (Prov 10:5)
  • He that wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30)
  • Lazy people are void of understanding. The slothful vineyard owner has a vineyard full of thorns and his stone wall is broken down (Prov 24:30-32)
    • He is wise in his own conceit (Prov 26:16)
  • Has labourers (Matt 20:1)
  • Watchful, observant over his affairs (Matt 20:1-9)
• Ezra was a ready scribe…a writer (Ezra 7:6,11)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 21:33-46: Jesus is the grand householder
• John 15:1: Jesus is the true vine and the Father is the husbandman.
• James 5:7: Jesus or the Father, like the husbandman, is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth. He has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

 

ICE

• connected with snow, what snow is (Psa 147:16,17)
• morsels
  • food/sweet words (Prov 23:8, 16:24)
  • preaching the word of God by extension (Psa 119:103, Matt 4:4, Rom 10:15)

 

IDOLATRY

• covetousness (Col 3:5)

 

INCENSE

• prayer (Psa 141:2, Rev 8:4)
• offerings (Philip 4:18)
• when a person turns away from the law, their prayers are an abomination (Prov 28:9)
• As yet the disciples were unacquainted with the Saviour’s unlimited resources and power. He said to them, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name.” John 16:24. He explained that the secret of their success would be in asking for strength and grace in His name. He would be present before the Father to make request for them. The prayer of the humble suppliant He presents as His own desire in that soul’s behalf. Every sincere prayer is heard in heaven. It may not be fluently expressed; but if the heart is in it, it will ascend to the sanctuary where Jesus ministers, and He will present it to the Father without one awkward, stammering word, beautiful and fragrant with the incense of His own perfection. {DA 667.3}
• …As a child asks his mother or father for bread when he is hungry, so the Lord would have you ask Him for the things which you need. If your sins are heavy upon your heart, you are to come to God and say, “For Christ’s sake, forgive my sins.” Every sincere prayer will be heard in heaven, and every earnest petition for grace and strength will be answered.—(The Youth’s Instructor, July 7, 1892.) {Pr 241.3}
• If ever there was a need of soul-stirring prayers and sermons, it is now. The end of all things is at hand. O that we could see as we should the necessity of seeking the Lord with all the heart! Then we should find Him. May God teach His people how to pray.—(God’s Amazing Grace, 92.) {Pr 26.2}

 

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 11:15-18: Jesus’ house is a house of prayer.

 

INIQUITIES

• Bond of iniquity (Act 8:23) *bond = sundesmos: joint tie (ligament) or uniting principle indicating control*
• diseases (Psa 103:3)
• heavy burden (Psalm 38:4)
  • our sins are burdensome to God (Isa 43:24)
• sin (Psa 32:5, 38:18, 51:2, 103:10, Hos 12:8)
• secret sins *note sins is supplied* (Psa 90:8)
• Because iniquity and violence abounds the law is slacked (Hab 1:3-4)
• people are destroyed because of their iniquities (Isa 64:7)
• remember iniquity = people are punished for their sins (Hos 9:9)
• connected with the left side (Eze 4:4)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Acts 3:26: Jesus turned people away from their iniquities.
  • He will not do iniquity (Hab 3:5)
    • The remnant of Israel will not do iniquity (Hab 3:13)

 

INSTRUCT [see guide] [see friend]

• guide (Psalm 32:8)
• It is teaching; it is encouraging; it is explaining; it is exemplifying; it is correcting (De. 4:36; 32:10; 2 Ki. 12:2; Ne. 9:20; Ps. 32:8; Pr. 1:2, 3, 7-8; 4:1, 13; 5:12, 13; 6:23; 8:10, 33; 10:17; 12:1; 13:1, 18; 15:5, 32, 33; 16:22; 19:20, 27; 21:11; 23:12, 23; 24:32; Is. 8:11; 40:14; Je. 17:23; Mt. 13:52; Ac. 18:25; 2 Ti. 2:25).
• teach (Isa 28:26)
  • God teaches us how to profit (Isa 48:17)
• Turned 2. Repented 3. Instructed – Brought to one’s senses by suffering. – We turn to God, repent and receive instruction from the Lord.(Jere 31:18-19)
• A person’s attitude toward instruction is a chief indicator of his spiritual condition (Pr. 1:7; 10:17; 12:1; 13:1; 15:5, 32)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 1:79: John the Baptist guided people to the Great Light, Great Guide, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ISRAEL [see arrows][see seed] [see fruits] [see Jerusalem] [see Zion]

• Of God (Gal 6:16)
• Compared to a bad wife (Jere 3:20)[see woman]
  • God withdraws His presence until they repent (Hos 5:6,15)
• God’s people (Psa 50:7, 81:8)
  • God’s people in apostasy love the lies of false prophets (Jere 5:31)
  • Some revolt against God (Isa 31:6)
  • Known to destroy themselves (Hos 13:9)
  • They fall by iniquity (Hos 14:1)
  • Some like to play the role of a harlot (Hos 4:15)
  • Because of apostasy, they raise strange children (Hos 5:7) [see arrows]
    • These children are corrupters and will be rejected unless they repent (Jere 6:28-30)
  • At one point in their backsliding, God said all of them were uncircumcised in heart (Jere 9:26)
  • At one point, described as a sinful kingdom (Amos 9:8)
  • All sinners in the sinful kingdom will be sifted out and die (Amos 9:8-10) These rebels will be purged out of God’s church (Eze 20:38)
  • False prophets make the people err (Mic 3:5)
    • Unrighteous ministers led the house of Israel into iniquity (Eze 44:10-12)
    • When God’s people were in apostasy, the lowest people were ordained priests (1King 12:28-31; 13:33)
    • Apostate priests commit lewdness (Hos 6:9) [see scum]
    • Like people like priest (Hos 4:9)
    • Lies cause God’s people to err (Amos 2:4; 1King 13:11,18)
      • Comes as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
      • Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)
    • Prophesying in Baal causes God’s people to err

(Jere 23:13)

• Compared to Ethiopians [see spots] (Amos 9:7)
  • Ethiopians are careless (Eze 30:9)
  • Slain by the sword (Zeph 2:12)
• Children of Israel were men of war (1King 9:22)
• Not literal Israel anymore but spiritual Israel (Jere 31:36)
• Spiritual Israel are those who have clean hearts (Psa 73:1)
• Not everyone is of Israel. Children of the promise and not children of the flesh are counted as the seed (Rom 9:6-8)
  • Acts 17:24-29: we are God’s children by creation, but human beings created in the image of God were stolen by Satan thus becoming children of the world. Those who accept Christ are children by redemption. That’s what counts. We have a choice in whose children we are.
• Israel destroyed itself (Hos 13:9)
• Some of the fathers of Israel didn’t believe in God (Exodus exp.) (2King 17:14)
  • Left the commandments of the Lord, made to idol calves, made grove, worshipped the host of heaven, served Baal, caused their children to pass through the fire, used divination and enchantments (2King 17:16-17)
• Children of Israel did secretly the things that were not right (2King 17:9)
• When the people didn’t fear the Lord, lions came and killed the children of Israel. When they had no fear of the Lord, it showed that they didn’t know God (2King 17:25,26)
• Despite Israel being full of sin, God does not forsake them (Jere 51:5)
• To dwell alone – no union with idolaters (Num 23:9)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 2:6 & 15:24: Jesus is ruler over Israel and He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel

 

IVORY

• **seems to be a symbol of power and wealth**
• Horns of ivory and ebony (Eze 27:15) [see horn]
• Solomon’s throne made of ivory overlaid with best gold (1 King 10:18)
  • Best gold is pure gold (2Chron 9:17)
• Ahab made an ivory house (1 King 22:39)
  • Houses of ivory will perish (Amos 3:15)
• Ivory palaces (Psa 45:8)
• Tower of ivory (Song Sol 7:4)
• Ashurites made benches of ivory (Eze 27:6)
• Beds of ivory (Amos 6:4)
• Vessels of ivory (Rev 18:12)

 

JERUSALEM [see Israel] [see Zion] [see dish]

• Synonymous with Zion (Isa 4:3)
• Set up as a tower and fortress (Jere 6:27)
• Set up to try the way of people (Jere 6:26,27)
• God’s people (Isa 65:19, Micah 1:9)
• Supposed to bring good tidings (Isa 40:9)
• The uncircumcised and unclean were coming in, but a time would come when that would stop happening (Isa 52:1)
• Ruined because their words and actions are against God (Isa 3:8)
• Their leaders cause them to err (Isa 3:12)
  • By their lies and lightness (Jere 23:32)
• Need to hear God’s word in order to be turned from their evil way (Jere 23:22, 28)
• Jerusalem was compared to a menstruous woman (Lam 1:17)
  • Menstruation viewed as an unclean thing (Lev 15:24-33)
• Jerusalem was compared to a land that was not cleansed (Eze 22:19, 24)
  • Pardon and cleanse are synonymous (Jere 33:8)
• There was a conspiracy of her prophets. A conspiracy is an unlawful treasonous alliance. (Eze 22:19, 25) [see prophets]
• A city of truth (Zech 8:3)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34: Jesus wept as He stated the facts of Jerusalem’s apostasy. He longed to gather His people like little chickens are gathered under hen’s wings. Sadly, His people refused.

 

JEW [see circumcision]

• Wear a ribbon of blue on the borders of their garments reminding of the law of God (Numb 15:38-39)
• Often forgot God’s requirements and took wives from other nations around them (Neh 13:22-25)
• They were hated and had enemies. They were also subject to a death decree (Esth 3:6-13)
• Jews sometimes had rule over those that hated them (Esth 9:1-3)
• A real spiritual Jew is one who has circumcision of mind and life and keeps the law of God (Rom 2:25-29)
• Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. (John 4:9)
  • It was an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed Peter and all Christians that they should not call any man common or unclean. (Act 10:28)
  • Salvation is for everyone who accepts Christ and obeys His commandments (Rom 10:11,12 + 2:25-29, Gal 3:28, Col 3:11)
• Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you (Zech 8:23)
• Jews were known to have false prophets even one named Barjesus (Act 13:6)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 2:1-2; 27:11, 37: Jesus is King of the Jews.

 

 

 

JEWELRY

• Wearing jewelry was a sign of apostasy (Hos 2:13)
• Wearing jewelry showed that the people were not God’s people (Judges 8:22-25)
• Turning to God and uniting with Him demonstrated by taking off jewelry (Gen 35:2-5)

 

JOY [see bread] [see oil] [see voice]

• triumph (Job 20:5)
  • joy of the hypocrite is for a moment
• gladness (Psa 105:43)
• rejoice (Isa 65:19, Hab 3:18)
• houses of joy in the joyous city (Isa 32:13)
• voice of joy (Jere 33:11)
• oil of joy (Isa 61:3)
• Joy in the Holy Ghost by the Holy Ghost (Rom 14:17, 15:13, Gal 5:22)
• with heavenly power comes joy (Luke 10:17)
• The ransomed of the Lord obtain joy and gladness (Isa 35:10)
• The cleansing from iniquity of Judah and Israel shall be to God a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations (Jere 33:7-9)
• God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy (Ecc 2:26)
• Joy and gladness come from the house of our God (Joel 1:16)
• In God’s presence is fulness of joy; at His right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Psa 16:11)
• When the wise men saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy (Matt 2:10)
• The Lord shall appear to our joy (Isa 66:5)
• Joy comes in the morning (Psa 30:5)
• Go to the house of God with the voice of joy and praise (Psa 42:4)
• They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psa 126:5-6)
• To the counsellors of peace is joy. (Prov 12:20)
• Receive curses of God because we serve God w/o joyfulness (Deut 28:46-47)
• Eat thy bread with joy and drink thy wine with a merry heart (Ecc 9:7)
• God’s word was unto Jeremiah the joy and rejoicing of his heart (Jere 15:16)
• Receive God’s word with joy (Matt 13:20, Luke 8:13)
• I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. (3 John 1:4
• Pray with joy (Php 1:4)
• Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (Isa 12:2-3)
• The father of a fool hath no joy. (Prov 17:21)
• He that begetteth a wise child shall have joy of him. (Prov 23:24)
• It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. (Prov 21:15)
• sing for joy of heart, cry for sorrow of heart, howl for vexation of spirit (Isa 65:14)
• The trees of the field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men (Joel 1:12)
• Many would rejoice at the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:13-14)
• When Mary, the mother of Jesus, greeted Elizabeth, John the Baptist leaped for joy in Elizabeth’s womb (Luke 1:44)
• The great tidings of joy was brought about by the message that a Saviour would be born (Luke 2:8-11)
• Rejoice and leap for joy when people hate you, separate from you, reproach you and slander you because your reward is great in heaven (Luke 6:22-23)
• Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth (Luke 15:7,10)
• The conversion of the Gentiles brought joy unto the brethren (Act 15:3)

 

JUDGE

• God (Psa 75:7)
• God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to Paul’s gospel (Rom 2:16)
• Judge stands before the door (Jam 5:9)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 12:47, 48: Jesus’ words will judge people.

 

JUDGEMENTS OF THE LORD

• gold, honey and honeycomb (Psalm 19:10)

 

JUSTIFICATION

• forgiveness of sins (Acts 13:37-38)
• cannot be justified by the law of Moses (Acts 13:39)
• justified freely by God’s grace (Rom 3:23,24)
• justified by His grace and made heirs (Tit 3:7)
  • Justification is wholly of grace and not procured by any works that fallen man can do…{FW 20.1}
• Justified by works (Jam 2:24-26)
• But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrenderof the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul. {FW 100.1} (James 2:21-24)
  • To obey when it seems the hardest is true surrender to God. This will quicken your moral nature and subdue your pride. Learn to submit your will to God’s will, and you will be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. {Ms12-1888.13}
  • the sacrifice of our ideas, our will, is necessary if we would be one with Christ in God. All we have and are must be laid at Christ’s feet. Shall we not give up all selfishness, and learn the lesson of abiding in Christ? {Ms17-1899.25}
• The present message—justification by faith—is a message from God; it bears the divine credentials, for its fruit is unto holiness…{1SM 359.1}
• …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. {1SM 389.2}
• …Having done all we can on our part, our doing cannot save us. But there is something that will save us, and that is the power of God. Connection with the power of God is our only salvation. There is not one of us but what ought to lay hold of the subject of justification by faith. It means ten times more, yes, a hundredfold more than many of us seem to realize. We are to feel that we have not a particle of dependence, not a particle of trust in ourselves; we are to trust in the living God, in His power, in His might, and in His grace to keep us, or we shall fall. {Ms1-1890.10}
• As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ’s atonement in his behalf, and accepts this atonement as his only hope in this life and the future life, his sins are pardoned. This is justification by faith. Every believing soul is to conform his will entirely to God’s will, and keep in a state of repentance and contrition, exercising faith in the atoning merits of the Redeemer, and advancing from strength to strength, from glory to glory. {Ms21-1891.32}
• Pardon and justification are one and the same thing. Through faith, the believer passes from the position of a rebel, a child of sin and Satan, to the position of a loyal subject of Christ Jesus, not because of an inherent goodness, but because Christ receives him as His child by adoption. The sinner receives the forgiveness of his sins, because these sins are borne by his Substitute and Surety. The Lord speaks to His heavenly Father, saying: “This is My child. I reprieve him from the condemnation of death, giving him My life insurance policy—eternal life—because I have taken his place and have suffered for his sins. He is even My beloved son.” Thus man, pardoned, and clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ’s righteousness, stands faultless before God. The sinner may err, but he is not cast off without mercy. His only hope, however, is repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the Father’s prerogative to forgive our transgressions and sins, because Christ has taken upon Himself our guilt and reprieved us, imputing to us His own righteousness. His sacrifice satisfies fully the demands of justice. Justification is the opposite of condemnation. God’s boundless mercy is exercised toward those who are wholly undeserving. He forgives transgressions and sins for the sake of Jesus, who has become the propitiation for our sins. Through faith in Christ, the guilty transgressor is brought into favor with God and into the strong hope of life eternal. {Ms21-1891.33-35}
• “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Justification means It means that the heart, purged from dead works, is prepared to receive the blessing of sanctification…{ST December 17, 1902, par. 3}
• Justification means the saving of a soul from perdition, that he may obtain sanctification, and through sanctification, the life of heaven. Justification means that the conscience, purged from dead works, is placed where it can receive the blessings of sanctification. {Ms113-1902.26}
• As the penitent sinner, contrite before God, discerns Christ’s atonement in his behalf and accepts this atonement as his only hope in this life and the future life, his sins are pardoned. This is justification by faith. Every believing soul is to conform his will entirely to God’s will and keep in a state of repentance and contrition, exercising faith in the atoning merits of the Redeemer and advancing from strength to strength, from glory to glory. {FW 103.1}
• In much of the service professedly done for God, there is self-emulation and self-exaltation. God hates pretense. When men and women receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, they will confess their sins, and pardon—which means justification—will be given them; but the wisdom of human agents who are not penitent, not humbled, is not to be depended on; for they are blinded in regard to the meaning of righteousness and sanctification through the truth. When men are stripped of self-righteousness, they will see their spiritual poverty… {Lt173-1902.13}
• Here the truth is laid out in plain lines. This mercy and goodness is wholly undeserved. The grace of Christ is freely to justify the sinner without merit or claim on his part. Justification is a full, complete pardon of sin. The moment a sinner accepts Christ by faith, that moment he is pardoned. The righteousness of Christ is imputed to him, and he is no more to doubt God’s forgiving grace. {RC 78.3}
• Grace is unmerited favor, and the believer is justified without any merit of his own, without any claim to offer to God. He is justified through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, who stands in the courts of heaven as the sinner’s substitute and surety. But while he is justified because of the merit of Christ, he is not free to work unrighteousness. Faith works by love and purifies the soul. Faith buds and blossoms and bears a harvest of precious fruit. Where faith is, good works appear. The sick are visited, the poor are cared for, the fatherless and the widows are not neglected, the naked are clothed, the destitute are fed. Christ went about doing good, and when men are united with him, they love the children of God, and meekness and truth guide their footsteps. The expression of the countenance reveals their experience, and men take knowledge of them that they have been with Jesus and learned of him. Christ and the believer become one, and his beauty of character is revealed in those who are vitally connected with the source of power and love. Christ is the great depositary of justifying righteousness and sanctifying grace. {ST March 20, 1893, par. 6}
• The only definition the Bible gives of sin is that it is “the transgression of the law.” While we are to repent toward God for the transgression of the law, we are not to look to the law for remission of sins, or for justification. Neither are we to imagine that repentance for past sin will be all-sufficient; for in order to be saved, we must have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. When we accept Christ as our sacrifice, our substitute, our righteousness, then we behold the Father in a different light from that in which too many have regarded him in the past…{RH July 5, 1892, par. 8}
• …But Christ has made a way of escape for us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ’s character stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just as if you had not sinned. {SC 62.2}

 

KEEP

• preserve (Psalm 12:1,7)

 

KEY

• power, jurisdiction (Matt 16:19, Luke 11:52)
• key of knowledge (Luke 11:52)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 1:18: Jesus has the keys of hell and death
• Revelation 3:7: Jesus has the key of David. He shuts and no one can open. He opens and no one can shut.

 

KING

• God is King over all the earth (Psa 47:2,7)
  • King of Righteousness (Heb 7:2)
  • King over all gods (Psa 95:3)
    • We are like God. His representatives. (Psa 82:6)
  • He works salvation in the midst of the earth (Psa 74:12)
  • Mind of the king is unsearchable (Prov 25:3)
  • Happy are the men and servants which stand continually by the King and hear His wisdom (1King 10:8)
• Sing praises with understanding unto the king (Psa 47:6,7)
• Zion sits in the North and is the city of the great King (Psa 48:2)
• King of terrors (Job 18:14)
  • The terror of the Lord (2 Cor 5:10-11)
  • Knowing how much the Lord is to be feared; what an object of terror and alarm it will be to stand at the judgment-seat; how fearful and awful will be the consequences of the trial of that day. The Lord Jesus will be an object of terror and alarm, or it will be a subject inspiring terror and alarm to stand there on that day, because:

(1) He has all power, and is appointed to execute judgment;

(2) Because all must there give a strict and impartial account of all that they have done;

(3) Because the wrath of God will be shown in the condemnation of the guilty.

• King has a palace (Psa 45:15)
• King has a table (Song Sol 1:12) [see table]
• Held in the galleries (Song Sol 7:5)
• King has enemies (Psa 45:5)
• King has a daughter who is glorious within and her clothing is made of gold (Psa 45:13)
• God prolongs the king’s life (Psa 61:6)
• In the multitude of people is the king’s honour but the lack of people is the destruction of the prince (Prov 14:28)
• The king’s favour is toward a wise servant, but his wrath is against him that causeth shame (Prov 14:35)
  • Pro_20:2  The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.
  • Pro_19:12  The king’s wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass.
  • The wrath of a king is as messengers of death (Prov 16:14)
• In the light of the king’s countenance is life and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain (Prov 16:15)
• A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. (Pro_20:8)
• A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. (Pro_20:26 )
• Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. (Pro_20:28)
• The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. (Pro_21:1)
• He that loveth pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend. (Pro_22:11)
• My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change: (Pro_24:21)
• Take away the wicked from before the king, and his throne shall be established in righteousness. (Pro_25:5)
• A preacher and a king (Ecc 1:12)
• Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? (Ecc 8:4)
• Curse not the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter. (Ecc 10:20)
• We are kings and priests (Rev 1:5,6; 5:9-11)
  • God is greater than man (Job 33:12)
  • God establishes kings (Job 36:7)
    • He commands people to turn away from iniquity (Job 36:10)
  • Kings search out a matter (Prov 25:2)
    • Cause must be searched out (Job 29:16)
    • Curse causeless shall not come (Prov 26:2)
  • Kings establish land by judgment (Prov 29:4)
  • Kings faithfully judge the poor and their thrones will be established forever (Prov 29:14)
  • Bad kings hate the prophesying of God’s prophets (1King 22:8)

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Psalm 24:8-10: the Lord is King of glory
• Psalm 10:16, Revelation 17:14; 19:16: Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.

 

KISS

• Love & affection (Song Sol 1:2, 1 Pet 5:14)
  • Psa_2:12  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
• betrayal/betrayal of Christ (Luke 22:48)
  • betrayal upsets Jesus (John 13:21)
• deceit (Prov 27:6)
  • lies cause people to err (Amos 2:4)
    • Comes as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
    • Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 22:47,48: Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss.
  • Kiss the son (Psa 2:12)

 

LADDER

• Jacob’s ladder is Jesus Christ (Gen 28:12, John 1:51)

 

LAMB

• Person/people (Jere 11:19)
• Christ’s followers are as lambs among wolves (Luke 10:1-3)
• Jesus (John 1:29,36, 1 Peter 1:18,19)
• A customary present (Gen_38:17; Luk_15:29). This was expressive of social good feeling, and was meant to be a means of reconciliation. This indicated a generous and honourable nature. He was willing to forgive and forget the past. (Judg 15:1)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAMPS

• Seven lamps of fire – seven Spirits of God (Rev 4:5)
  • Seven eyes – seven spirits (Rev 5:6)
• word of God, Bible knowledge (Psa 119:105, COL 406.3)
• 10 Commandments (Prov 6:23)
• Sure word of prophecy (2 Pet 1:19)
  • Isaiah 42:8-9 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
  • Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
  • Spirit of truth guides people into all truth and shows people things to come (John 16:13)
  • Just like Paul we should reason with people out of the Scriptures on the Sabbath day. (Acts 17:2)
    • Produce our cause.
    • Bring strong reasons.
    • Show the former things (history) – examine them.
    • Show the fruits or results of those historical events.
    • Show how that history is repeating.
      • Isaiah 41:21-23; Ecc 1:9-10, 3:15; 1 Cor 10:11
    • Demonstrate that Jesus is Christ (Acts 17:3)
  • A son (1King 15:4, 11:36)
  • The Lord (2 Sam 22:29)
  • Salvation (Isa 62:1)
  • Despise lamp=feet will slip/be at ease (Job 12:5)

 

LAND [see woman] [see house]

• Heritage (Jere 12:15)
• Likened to a wife (Jere 3:1)
• God’s people (Joel 2:18)
• Shall be married (Isa 62:4,5)
  • Married in righteousness judgement, loving kindness, mercies and faithfulness (Hos 2:19-20)
• The land is polluted by wickedness (Jere 3:2)
  • From the prophets of Jerusalem unclean acts go forth into the land (Jere 23:15)
  • The land is defiled by people doing things their own way rather than God’s way. When this is done, it is as if the land is an impure woman (Eze 36:17)
  • The land is polluted by idolatry (Eze 36:18)
  • Disease arises due to sin in the land / committed by individuals (Hos 4:2-3)
• The land mourns because of ungodliness (Jere 23:10)
• When the land sins against God by trespassing grievously, God will send a famine (Eze 14:13) [see famine]
• Kings establish land by judgment (Prov 29:4)
• When God’s people humble themselves, and pray, and seek God’s face, and turn from their wicked ways; then He will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2 Chron 7:14)
• He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread (Prov 12:11) [see bread]
• The upright dwell in the land and the perfect remain in it (Prov 2:21)
  • Upright men are laughed to scorn (Job 12:4)
  • the wicked try to kill those of upright conversation and their devisings backfire on them (Psa 37:14-15, 32)
  • The wicked will be cut off from the earth and the transgressors will be rooted out of it (Prov 2:22)
• He that works his land will be satisfied with bread (Prov 12:11)
• Should take away the Sodomites out of the land (1King 15:11-12)
• Don’t be mindful of the old country rather desire a better country even a heavenly land (Heb 11:15-16)

 

LANDMARKS [see house] [see vine]

• A boundary mark is a landmark that lays out a path to the house (Job 38:20) (Deut 19:14, 27:17, Prov 22:28, 23:10) [see house]
• When landmarks are removed, flocks and food are also taken away (Job 24:1,2,13)
• Princes of Judah behaved like people who remove landmarks
  • Receive the wrath of God (Hos 5:10)
• If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psa 11:3)
• You must never, never seek to lift one pin, remove one landmark, that the Lord has given to His people as truth.—(Ms., December 18, 1898.) {Ms135-1901.44-45}

 

LAVER

• water=cleansing from sin/ new birth/Jesus living water (Titus 3:5, John 4:14),

 

LAW

• testimony (Psa 19:7, 78:5)
• 10 Commandments (Ex 31:18; 24:12, Deut 4:13)
  • …It is one thing to talk the law, and it is another thing entirely to practice it. It is the doers of the law that shall be justified before God; for those who do the law represent the character of God, and lie not against the truth. {SpTA03 12.1}
• Of kindness (Prov 31:26)
• The royal law is “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (James 2:8)
• When people forgot the law, they were destroyed (Hos 4:6)
• Those that forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the contend against the wicked (Prov 28:4)
• The people become oppressed and broken when they turn away from the law (Hos 5:11)
• Because iniquity and violence abounds the law is slacked (Hab 1:3-4)
• The doers of the law shall be justified (Rom 2:13)
• Those who break the law dishonour God (Rom 2:23)
• Job 22:22: We should receive the law from God’s mouth and lay up His words in our hearts.
• What is law? It is an expression of the divine will, and expression of the character of God. What is service? It is the work that human agents are to do for Christ. By wearing His yoke of obedience, we may be laborers together with God. Through perfect obedience and service Enoch walked with God, wearing Christ’s yoke. The life in which the mind, soul, heart, and strength are given to God is mingled with the example of Christ, and forms a part of the divine plan. {Lt89-1897.36}
  • Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)
• The warning is for all time. Christ’s act in cursing the tree which His own power had created stands as a warning to all churches and to all Christians. No one can live the law of God without ministering to others. But there are many who do not live out Christ’s merciful, unselfish life. Some who think themselves excellent Christians do not understand what constitutes service for God. They plan and study to please themselves. They act only in reference to self. Time is of value to them only as they can gather for themselves. In all the affairs of life this is their object. Not for others but for themselves do they minister…{DA 584.1}
• My brother, in this life we are to prepare for the future immortal life. This is our work. We are to become familiar with the Levitical law in all its bearings; for it contains rules that must be obeyed; it contains the instruction that if studied will enable us to understand better the rule of faith and practice that we are to follow in our dealings with one another. No soul has any excuse for being in darkness. Those who receive Christ by faith will receive also power to become the sons of God. {Lt3-1905.11}
• In the place of the bribes he offered Christ, Satan comes to God’s people in this age of the world with the laws of nations in his hands, declaring: “I now have matters arranged. You must worship me, or else your rights of protection from the world will be withdrawn from you.” By many, the Sabbath of the fourth commandment is made void, being treated as a thing of naught, while the spurious Sabbath, the child of the papacy, is exalted. In the place of God’s laws are elevated the laws of the man of sin—laws that are to be received and regarded as the wonderful golden image of Nebuchadnezzar was by the Babylonians. Forming this great image, Nebuchadnezzar commanded that it should receive universal homage from all, both great and small, high and low, rich and poor. Alike in heaven and on the earth Satan has always claimed homage from Christ. That which he had failed to gain in heaven he was determined to gain on the earth, from the human family. But Christ came to this earth as a man, here to meet and overcome the enemy. And when Satan presented a bribe to induce the Saviour to worship him, the Son of God repulsed him and came out of the conflict victoriously. This victory was won for us. We, too, may repulse the enemy at every step. {Ms24-1891.19-21}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Acts 1:2: Jesus Christ, through the Holy Spirit, gave commandments

 

LEAF

• Person/people (Isa 64:6)
• the hosts of heaven compared to falling leaves and falling figs (Isa 34:4; Rev 6:13,14; Matt 16:27)
• events – even last days events (Matt 24:32-33)
  • Important prophecies regarding the sons of Jacob were to be fulfilled in the last days, i. e., in times remote from that period, and consequently to their posterity, and not to themselves, or to their immediate families. – antitypical sons of Jacob (Gen 49:1-27)
  • All nations will flow into the Lord’s house in the last days (Isa 2:2, Mic 4:1)
  • Spirit will be poured out (Act 2:17)
  • Perilous times: terrible people within and without (2Tim 3:1-9)
  • Scoffers / skeptics etc. (2 Pet 3:3-7)
  • Rich will be getting richer (Jam 5:3)
• leaves are for medicine (Eze 47:12)
• leaves from the tree of life are for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2)
• Adam and Eve both ate of the fruit, and obtained a knowledge which, had they obeyed God, they would never have had,—an experience in disobedience and disloyalty to God,—the knowledge that they were naked. The garment of innocence, a covering from God, which surrounded them, departed; and they supplied the place of this heavenly garment by sewing together fig-leaves for aprons. This is the covering that the transgressors of the law of God have used since the days of Adam and Eve’s disobedience. They have sewed together fig-leaves to cover their nakedness, caused by transgression. The fig-leaves represent the arguments used to cover disobedience. When the Lord calls the attention of men and women to the truth, the making of fig-leaves into aprons will be begun, to hide the nakedness of the soul. But the nakedness of the sinner is not covered. All the arguments pieced together by all who have interested themselves in this flimsy work will come to naught (The Review and Herald, November 15, 1898). {1BC 1084.4-5}
• A fig leaf apron will never cover our nakedness. Sin must be taken away, and the garment of Christ’s righteousness must cover the transgressor of God’s law. Then when the Lord looks upon the believing sinner, He sees, not the fig leaves covering him, but Christ’s own robe of righteousness, which is perfect obedience to the law of Jehovah. Man has hidden his nakedness, not under a covering of fig leaves, but under the robe of Christ’s righteousness. {Ms145-1897.6}
• Without the Holy Spirit, without the breath of God, there is torpidity of conscience, loss of spiritual life. Unless there is genuine conversion of the soul to God; unless the vital breath of God quickens the soul to spiritual life; unless the professors of truth are actuated by heaven-born principles, they are not born of the incorruptible seed, which liveth and abideth forever. Unless they trust in the righteousness of Christ as their only security; unless they copy his character, labor in his spirit, they are naked; they have not on the robe of righteousness. The dead are often made to pass for the living; for those who are working out what they term salvation after their own ideas, have not God working in them to will and to do of his good pleasure. {RH December 3, 1908, par. 10}
• Mark the cursing of the fig tree, representing the Jewish nation, covered with leaves of profession, but no fruit to be found thereon… {10LtMs, Lt 35, 1895, par. 9}

 

LEAVEN

• Of sincerity and truth (1 Cor 5:8)
  • The leaven of truth is a living principle, and it is to be exercised in the little things and exert an influence over the daily life. But many act as if the truths of God’s Word did not exist. The same love of self, the same selfish indulgence, the same temper and hasty speech, is seen in their lives as in the worldling. The same sensitive pride, the same yielding to natural inclination, the same perversities of character, are seen as if the truth were totally unknown by them. They have closed the windows and drawn the blinds of the soul, and shut out the sunshine of the righteousness of Christ, and then complain that they have no joy, no assurance and happiness, in believing the truth. But the sin lies at their own door. They have not hidden the leaven of truth in the heart. {13LtMs, Ms 82, 1898, par. 40}
• Of sin (malice and wickedness) (1 Cor 5:8) (Gen 39:9)
• The Lord will not serve with the selfish indulgence of these men and women. Had they clothed themselves with modest apparel, as the Holy Spirit has specified they should do, they would have had the blessing of God. The atmosphere surrounding their souls would not be as a spiritual malaria to others who newly come into the faith. Such examples of show and of the love of dress, of following the fashions of this degenerate age,—this leaven of pride and extravagance is gathering to itself, until the whole lump will be leavened. Let the money expended for bicycles be invested in the cause of God. {SpTA10 19.2}
• of Sadducees (Matt 16:6)
  • the leaven of Pharisees and Sadducees is their doctrine (Matt 16:11,12)
• of Herod & Pharisees (Mark 8:15)
  • is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1)
  • Christ was interrupted on this occasion as on many similar occasions. And he wished his disciples to listen to the words he had to say, and not allow anything to attract and hold their attention. Therefore he warned them, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisee, which is hypocrisy.” They feigned a desire to get as close as possible to the inner circle. As the Lord Jesus presented truth in contrast to error, the Pharisees pretended to be desirous of understanding the truth, yet they were trying to lead his mind in other channels. Hypocrisy is like leaven, or yeast. Leaven may be hidden in the flour, and its presence is not known until it produces its effect. By insinuating itself, it soon pervades the whole mass. Hypocrisy works secretly, and if indulged, it will fill the mind with pride and vanity. There are deceptions practiced now similar to those practiced by the Pharisees. When the Saviour gave this caution, it was to warn all who believe in him to be on guard. Watch against imbibing this spirit, and becoming like those who tried to ensnare the Saviour. {GCDB February 17, 1897, par. 3}
• kingdom of God (Luke 13:20,21)
• a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump (1 Cor 5:6, Gal 5:9)

 

LEFT SIDE + LEFT HAND

• evil, misfortune, disappointment, unrighteousness, chosen, support (Matt 25:33-46, Judg 3:15, 20:16, EP 393.2, Lev 14:15-16, Prov 3:16, Song 2:6)
• fool’s heart is at his left (Ecc 10:2)
• iniquity (Eze 4:4)

 

LEOPARD

• compared to an Ethiopian
• symbol of stagnancy, of no change
  • Jere 13:23
  • Ethiopians are careless (Eze 30:9)
    • Slain by the sword (Zeph 2:12)
  • Speed/swiftness (Hab 1:8)
  • compared to the Lord (Hos 13:7)
  • symbol of watchfulness or omnipresence as applied to God (Hos 13:7)

 

LEPROSY

• A symbol of sin (2 Chron 26:16-19, Numb 12:1-10)
  • The plague of sin begins in the heart *mind/head* (Lev_13:44, Matt 15:18-20; Mark 7:20-23)
• Those for whom you labor are your brethren in distress, suffering from physical disorders and the spiritual leprosy of sin. If you are any better than they, it is to be credited to the cross of Christ. Many are without God and without hope in the world. They are guilty, corrupt, and degraded, enslaved by Satan’s devices. Yet these are the ones whom Christ came from heaven to redeem. They are subjects for tenderest pity, sympathy, and tireless effort, for they are on the verge of ruin. They suffer from ungratified desires, disordered passions, and the condemnation of their own consciences; they are miserable in every sense of the word, for they are losing their hold on this life and have no prospect for the life to come. {CH 385.2}
• The work of Christ in cleansing the leper from his terrible disease is an illustration of His work in cleansing the soul from sin. The man who came to Jesus was “full of leprosy.” Its deadly poison permeated his whole body. The disciples sought to prevent their Master from touching him; for he who touched a leper became himself unclean. But in laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement. His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy was cleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy of sin,—deep-rooted, deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power. “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores.” Isaiah 1:5, 6. But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His presence has healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean,” shall hear the answer, “I will; be thou made clean.” Matthew 8:2, 3, R. V. {DA 266.1}
• In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ “gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father.” Galatians 1:4. And “this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” 1 John 5:14, 15. “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. {DA 266.2}

 

LIE / LIARS [see error / err] [see false prophets]

• Satan is a liar and father of it (John 8:44)
• Satan can influence people to lie. Satan fills peoples’ hearts with lies. When people lie, they are sinning against the Holy Spirit and of course God. The individual is ultimately responsible for the lies they tell. (Act 5:3-4)
• God knows if we are lying or not (2 Cor 11:31)
• If we say we have not sinned, we are liars. (1John 1:10)
• Those that say they know God, but don’t keep His commandments are liars (1John 2:4)
  • 1Jn_1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
• Those that deny Jesus Christ as the Messiah are liars (1John 2:22)
• Those that say they love God, but hate their brother are liars (1John 4:20)
• Those that don’t believe God make God out to be a liar (1John 5:10)
• God cannot lie and He doesn’t lie (Titus 1:2, Num 23:19)
• God’s people are not liars (Isa 63:8)
• Those that lie will not be in the Lamb’s book of life nor will they enter the holy city (Rev 21:27)
• Those outside the holy city are liars (Rev 22:15)
• Liars will die the 2^nd death (Rev 21:8)
• Some say they are apostles, but are not. They lie. (Rev 2:2)
  • signs of an apostle are wrought in patience, signs, wonders and mighty deeds (2 Cor 12:12)
• Some say they are Jews, but are not. They lie. (Rev 3:9)
• The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. (Titus 1:12)
• David said hastily that all men are liars (Psa 116:11)
• Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom 3:4)
• A sword is upon the liars (Jere 50:36)
  • Like mighty men
• No lie is of the truth (1John 2:21)
• A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies. (Prov 14:5)
• A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. (Prov 17:4)
• House of liars (Zech 5:4)
• Lies may come as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
• Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 Corinthians 1:9, 10:13: God is faithful.
• Revelation 1:5: Jesus Christ is the faithful witness

 

LIFE INSURANCE POLICY

• 2 Peter 1:2-11 {Lt65-1898.42}{Lt321-1905.15-21} {Lt86a-1893.34} {Ms49-1894.42}
• Verses 8,10,11 – These words show us how we may obtain an eternal life insurance policy. Do you not want this? {Lt170-1902.10}
• Verse 10. Now just remember these points, just keep them in your mind. It is your eternal life insurance policy. Verse 11. There it is, the everlasting life insurance policy. How much better is that than to spend your life here in order to gain a little property and to insure yourself that you have something. {Ms118-1909.3-4}
• Verse 11. Isn’t that your life insurance policy? Improve it, for Christ’s sake improve it. {Ms183-1907.29}
• Here is your life insurance policy. “If ye do these things ye shall never fall.” {Ms62-1901.29}
  • If you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, you will never fall…{Ms77-1902.40}
  • If the workers will take hold of the faith of Christ, and in humbleness of mind seek daily to bring into the life—into the words and actions—the sanctification imparted by the Spirit of God, they shall never fall…{Lt22-1911.27}
  • Oh, for Christ’s sake, respond to the invitation given you by the Saviour. “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things”—living on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace, building up day by day a pure, refined, noble character—“ye shall never fall; for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” [Verses 10, 11.] {Lt137-1904.12}
  • Here is our life insurance policy. It is an everlasting kingdom that we are to receive. I would that every one of you should understand what it means to secure this life insurance policy to the kingdom of our God. It means that you shall be doers of the Word, that you shall work out your salvation with fear and trembling. I pray that God may help us to understand our great privileges and advantages…We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, adding grace to grace, until we are victorious over every sin. {Ms17-1909.24}
• …And we want every one of us to be in that position that we shall appreciate what it means, the life insurance policy, by living on the plan of adding grace to grace. {Ms118-1909.6}
• If you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, you will never fall; “for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” [Verse 11.] This promise is an eternal life insurance policy, and it is offered to every one of us. {Ms77-1902.40}
• “Give diligence to make.” You are to make it. Here is not an election independent of you, but you are to make your election sure. “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.” [Verse 10.] These are your life insurance policy papers, it is life insurance papers that you will have that life which measures with the life of God. “For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” Do you believe it? I do. “For so an entrance” (now you are to find what your insurance policy papers will give). “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.” [Verses 10-12.] {Ms229-1902.62-63}
• “Give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” [2 Peter 1:10, 11.] Here are your life insurance papers. This is not an insurance policy, the value of which some one else will receive after your death; it is a policy that assures you a life measuring with the life of God—even eternal life. O what an assurance! what a hope! Let us ever reveal to the world that we are seeking for a better country, even a heavenly. Heaven has been made for us, and we want a part in it. We cannot afford to allow anything to separate us from God and heaven. In this life we must be partakers of the divine nature. Brethren and sisters, you have only one life to live. O let it be a life of virtue, a life hid with Christ in God! Unitedly we are to help one another gain perfection of character. To this end, we are to cease all criticism. Onward and still onward we may advance toward perfection, until at last there will be ministered unto us an abundant entrance into the heavenly kingdom. {Ms106-1904.19-21}
• “Wherefore the rather, brethren, given diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” [Verse 10.] Our eternal life insurance policy is found right in these words, and we want you to study them carefully. “Ye shall never fall.” Ought we not then to work right to the point? “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” [Verse 11.] Will you not pledge yourselves to God to serve Him and Him alone? I do not ask you to pledge yourselves to one another. Pledge yourselves to God. Let Him be the one who will hear your promise that you will press steadily forward in the way to heaven. Holy angels will watch over you, and the golden oil, which the two olive branches empty through the two golden pipes, for the perfection of God’s people, will be imparted to you. {Ms68-1905.13-14}
• Here is our eternal life insurance policy, and Peter plainly sets forth that those who would receive it must come to Jesus and appropriate to themselves His matchless charms…{Ms95-1909.28}
• Those only who walk humbly with God are approved by Him. Let us build ourselves up, through Christ, in the most holy faith. The truth of God alone is invincible. Those who profess to believe the Scriptures need now to know where they are standing. I call upon those who have been leaders in the work of God to find out whether they are submitting to the great Leader. It is dangerous for a man to attempt to lead unless he is following the Great Medical Missionary. If your spirit, your words, your methods of labor are not Christlike, if your business transactions are not irreproachable, do not go on without repentance and reformation, looking upon yourself as a safe leader. What you need is Christ Himself. He will take away your sinful tendencies and will put in their place His own attributes of character. He died to save every human being. He will receive all who come to Him confessing and forsaking their sins and will give to them transformation of character. He offers to all the eternal life insurance policy. The everlasting covenant is sealed with the blood of His crucifixion. Through His sacrifice on Calvary He makes peace for us. In Him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. He is the divine storehouse of all light. He alone can prepare us to enter the gates of the holy city. {Lt221-1903.13}
• Here is the eternal life insurance policy, bestowed on all who will heed the instruction given. Eternal life is the reward of faithful, diligent watching and working. “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” [Verse 11.] Living on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace, your life insurance policy is secure. If faithful, you will receive the reward of eternal life. {Lt52-1906.37}
• Fathers and mothers, it is time for you to wake up, as John the Baptist was awakened. It is time for you to begin to understand where you are. You want the life insurance policy. And you can have it if you will. How? By a life of obedience to all of God’s law. And if you will be obedient to His law, you shall have that life insurance that no one can take away from you. No one can deprive you of it. You will have to give it up of your own account if you lose it. {Ms142-1906.27}
• “To an inheritance.” [1 Peter 1:4.] Yes, riches, riches that we cannot specify. But it will be one with Christ. We shall be one with Christ, an heir of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. That is our life insurance policy. Well now, are you going to join the enemy’s army, or are you going to come right into the ranks, right now? Are our young people to be looked after?…{Ms142-1906.28}
• If you will keep these things in remembrance, and do as He has told you, why, He says, “an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Saviour Jesus Christ.” Now there is your eternal, everlasting life insurance policy. I want you to take that chapter and read it and read it until you understand it…{Ms164-1907.32}
• What Jesus says to those who refuse His life insurance policy see: {Lt147-1903.12}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Deuteronomy 30:20: We ought to cleave unto the Lord because he is our life and length of our days.

 

LIGHT [see lamps] [see day] [see night] [see darkness]

• A son (1King 15:4, 11:36)
• The Lord (Mic 7:8)
• God’s people (Matt 5:14; Philip 2:14, 15)
  • John the Baptist was a burning and shining light (John 5:33, 35)
  • Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt 5:16)
• sure word of prophecy (2 Pet 1:19)
  • Isaiah 42:8-9 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
  • Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
  • Spirit of truth guides people into all truth and shows people things to come (John 16:13)
  • Just like Paul we should reason with people out of the Scriptures on the Sabbath day. (Acts 17:2)
    • Produce our cause.
    • Bring strong reasons.
    • Show the former things (history) – examine them.
    • Show the fruits or results of those historical events.
    • Show how that history is repeating.
      • Isaiah 41:21-23; Ecc 1:9-10, 3:15; 1 Cor 10:11
    • Demonstrate that Jesus is Christ (Acts 17:3)
  • understanding, the law, righteousness, Jesus
    • (Psa 119:130, 119:105, Prov 6:23, Isa 8:20, Psa 37:6, 2 Cor 6:14, Isa 58:8, Mic 7:9, John 8:12, Isa 60:19,20; 62:1)
    • Inspiration of God gives understanding (Job 32:8)
      • God will enlighten people (Psa 18:28)
    • People without understanding fall (Hos 4:14)
    • Understanding is also discretion and it preserves (Prov 2:11)
  • glory (Rev 21:23, Isa 60:1, 19)
  • By His light we walk through darkness (Job 29:3)
  • Wisdom (Ecc 2:13)
  • The path of the just *their life gets brighter* (Prov 4:18)
  • Light is short because of darkness (Job 17:12) [see darkness]
  • God’s judgments (Hos 6:5)
  • Men reject light because of their evil deeds. They don’t want their deeds revealed, examined or scrutinized. (John 3:19,20)
  • Those that do truth come to the light. (John 3:21)
  • If a man walks in the day, he doesn’t stumble because he sees the light of this world (John 11:9)
    • Have to walk while we have the light. If we don’t, darkness will come upon us. Those that walk in darkness don’t know where they are going. While we have light, believe in the light, that we may be the children of light (John 12:35-36)
  • The Lord lights us up by His word (Isa 9:8)
    • He promises to light our candle (Psa 18:28)
    • Light us up not just by any words but goodly words (Gen 49:21)
  • I have had the question asked, What do you think of this light that these men are presenting? Why, I have been presenting it to you for the last forty-five years—the matchless charms of Christ. This is what I have been trying to present before your minds. When Brother Waggoner brought out these ideas in Minneapolis, it was the first clear teaching on this subject from any human lips I had heard, excepting the conversations between myself and my husband. I have said to myself, It is because God has presented it to me in vision that I see it so clearly, and they cannot see it because they have never had it presented to them as I have. And when another presented it, every fiber of my heart said, Amen. {6LtMs, Ms 5, 1889, par. 38}
  • The prejudices and opinions that prevailed at Minneapolis are not dead by any means; the seeds sown there in some hearts are ready to spring into life and bear a like harvest. The tops have been cut down, but the roots have never been eradicated, and they still bear their unholy fruit to poison the judgment, pervert the perceptions, and blind the understanding of those with whom you connect, in regard to the message and the messengers. When by thorough confession you destroy the root of bitterness, you will see light in God’s light. Without this thorough work you will never clear your souls. You need to study the Word of God with a purpose, not to confirm your own ideas, but to bring them to be trimmed, to be condemned or approved, as they are or are not in harmony with the Word of God. The Bible should be your constant companion. You should study the testimonies, not to pick out certain sentences to use as you see fit, to strengthen you assertions, while you disregard the plainest statements given to correct your course of action. There has been a departure from God among us, and the zealous work of repentance and return to our first love, essential to restoration to God and regeneration of heart, has not yet been done. Infidelity has been making its inroads into our ranks, for it is the fashion to depart from Christ, and give place to skepticism. <With many,> the cry of the heart has been, “We will not have this man to reign over us.” [Luke 19:14.] Baal, Baal, is the choice. The religion of many among us will be the religion of apostate Israel, because they love their own way, and forsake the way of the Lord. The true religion, the only religion of the Bible, that teaches forgiveness only through the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, that advocates righteousness by the faith of the Son of God, has been slighted, spoken against, ridiculed, <and rejected.> It has been denounced as leading to enthusiasm and fanaticism. But it is the life of Jesus Christ in the soul, it is the active principle of love imparted by the Holy Spirit, that alone will make the soul fruitful unto good works. The love of Christ is the force and power of every message <for God> that ever fell from human lips. What kind of a future is before us, if we shall fail to come into the unity of the faith? {6LtMs, Ms 61, 1890, par. 30-32}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 4:12-17: Jesus is the light of the world. Those that sat in sin under the influence of Satan in the land of Zabulon saw a great light. They saw Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12). As the people lived wicked foolish lives, they eventually came to know the Saviour and His message of repentance.
  • He is the great light (Isa 9:2)
• Luke 12:35: Jesus said, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning”

 

LIGHTNING

• Arrows (Psa 144:6, 2 Sam 22:15) [see arrows]
• Chariots and torches (Nah 2:4)
• Angels (Eze 1:14; 28: 12-18, Luke 10:18, Job 38:35, **Rev 4:5; 8:5 *note voices*)
  • Their messages enlighten the world (Rev 14:6-12, Psa 77:18; 97:4)
• Comes with rain (Jere 51:16 [see rain]

 

LILY OF THE VALLEYS

• Jesus Christ (ST Feb 7, 1878. Art A. par 7)
• Lily can represent people (Luke 12:27,28; Hos 14:5)
• Compared to Israel (Hos 14:5)

 

LION

• Great lion (Joel 1:6)
• God (Lam 3:10, Hos 5:14)
• Jesus, lion of the tribe of Judah, David king of tribe (Jesus as lineage), king, royalty
  • (Rev 5:4-7. Prov 19:12, 20:2)
• The righteous and boldness (Prov 28:1)
• The devil (1Pet 5:8)
• Roaring lion=wicked ruler over poor people (Prov 28:15)
• Ravening lion=a conspiracy of prophets spiritually devouring souls (Eze 22:25)
  • Leaders in apostasy have a tendency to harm their followers (Zech 11:3-6)
• Young lions = shepherds or leadership (Zech 11:3)
• A lion in the forest crying out against God is compared to God’s backslidden heritage (Jere 12:8)
• A destroyer of the Gentiles (Jere 4:7)
• The remnant of Jacob compared to a young lion (Mic 5:8)
• A man of God who disobeys the word of the Lord is killed by the lion (1King 13:26)
• When the people didn’t fear the Lord, lions came and killed the children of Israel. When they had no fear of the Lord, it showed that they didn’t know God (2King 17:25,26)
• What is sweeter than honey and what is stronger than a lion? (Judg 14:18)

 

LITTLE HORN [see horn]

• Papacy (Dan 7:8, 24,21,25; 7:7,8; Rev 13:5)

 

LOCUST [see famine]

• Unstable person (Ps 109:23)
• Wicked bad rulers (Nah 3:15-17)
• Carried by the wind of false doctrine (Eph 4:14)
• Come in ranks (Prov 30:27)
• When there are spiritual locusts and diseases and if God’s people turn to God and pray, He will forgive their sins and render to every person according to all their ways (2 Chron 6:28-30)

 

LODGE

• In a garden is compared to the daughter of Zion (Isa 1:8) [see Zion]

 

LORD

• rock, fortress, deliverer, God, strength, buckler, high tower, salvation (Psalm 18:2, 31) (Psa 62:6-8) (Psa 78:35)
  • Oil out of the rock (Job 29:6)
  • lead in the rock (Job 19:24; Psa 45:1)
• sun, shield (Psa 84:11)
• Father (Psa 103:13)
• My goodness/mercy (Psa 144:2)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 32:1-2: Jesus is King of kings and a man who is as a shadow of a great rock in a weary land.

 

 

 

 

 

LOVE

• God is love (1John 4:8,16)
• Love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1John 4:7)
• Love of God is placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5)
• Those that love pureness of heart will be friends with the king (Prov 22:11)
• 1Jn 4:9-12  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
• Jesus Christ loved His own which were in the world. He loved them to the end (John 13:1)
• But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected (1John 2:5)
• Jesus taught that when we don’t love Jesus we won’t keep His sayings (John 14:24)
• For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1John 5:3)
• Jesus said “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15)
• When the wicked made void God’s law, the Psalmist declared that he loved God’s commandments above fine gold (Psa 119:126-127)
• The Psalmist wrote:
  • Psa_119:97  MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
  • Psa_119:113  SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
  • Psa_119:163  I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love.
• Great peace have they which love God’s law: and nothing shall offend them. (Psa 119:165)
• Love the truth and peace (Zech 8:19)
• Love covers all sins (Prov 10:12)
• Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Rom 13:10)
  • It’s sin to despise your neighbour (Prov 14:21)
• If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: (Jam 2:8)
• Jesus Christ commanded that we love eachother (John 13:34-35)
  • Artaxerxes, who styled himself as the king of kings, said whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done (Ezra 7:12, 23)
• Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
• When brethren are imprisoned or in adversity of some kind put yourself in their position (realize what they are going through –care) and care for them (Heb 13:3)
• Keep (guard) ourselves in the love of God (Jude 1:21)
• Provoke unto love (Heb 10:24)
• Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world (1John 2:15)
• Those that love pleasure will be poor (Prov 21:17)
• Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Prov 27:5)
• What is the joy of the Christian?—It is the result of the consciousness of the presence of Christ. What is the love of the Christian?—It is the reflection of the love of Christ. It is the effect of the operation of the Holy Spirit. Looking to the cross of Calvary, we see Jesus dying for the sins of the world, in order that by his death, life and immortality might be brought to light in behalf of the contrite soul. Jesus is all in all, and without him we can do nothing. Without Christ, spiritual life would be impossible. But this union of Christ with the soul is the union which Satan is ever seeking to disturb, and through yielding to his temptations, the soul that once was united to Christ may become assimilated to the world, and have no relish for the bread of eternal life. The provision from the table of the Lord, the heavenly manna, is not relished; and the world-loving soul loathes the corn of heaven, and hungers and thirsts for the praise and flattery of the world. The applause of men is the food that is relished by the perverted appetite of the Christless soul. Infatuated by a Satanic ambition to have the supremacy, professed followers of Christ are led on from one delusion to another until eternity is lost out of their reckoning. But he who lives godly in Christ Jesus will have no relish for the forbidden praise of men. {RH December 4, 1894, par. 7}
• Hearts that are filled with the love of Christ can never get very far apart. Religion is love, and a Christian home is one where love reigns and finds expression in words and acts of thoughtful kindness and gentle courtesy.2 {AH 94.2}
• The most careful cultivation of the outward proprieties of life is not sufficient to shut out all fretfulness, harsh judgment, and unbecoming speech. True refinement will never be revealed so long as self is considered as the supreme object. Love must dwell in the heart. A thoroughgoing Christian draws his motives of action from his deep heart love for his Master. Up through the roots of his affection for Christ springs an unselfish interest in his brethren. Love imparts to its possessor grace, propriety, and comeliness of deportment. It illuminates the countenance and subdues the voice; it refines and elevates the whole being. {MH 490.1}
• Love means spiritual growth after the divine model. Christ has given us a pattern in his own example. He would bind his followers to one another and to himself. Their oneness with Christ makes them love one another; for love is the sure fruit of unity with Christ. Christ declared that their love one for another was a sure badge of their discipleship. He is the root, his disciples are the branches. {HM August 1, 1896, par. 2}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 3:19: As many as Jesus loves, He rebukes and chastens them.

 

 

 

 

LUKEWARM / LUKEWARMNESS

• The church is composed of imperfect, erring men and women, who call for the continual exercise of charity and forbearance. But there has been a long period of general lukewarmness; a worldly spirit coming into the church has been followed by alienation, faultfinding, malice, strife, and iniquity. 5T 104.3
• Those who separate from God and lose their spirituality, do not fall back all at once into a state which the true Witness calls lukewarm. They conform to the world little by little. As its influence steals upon them, they fail to resist it and maintain the warfare. After the first step is taken to have friendship with the world, darkness follows and they are prepared for the next. At every step they take in the downward course darkness gathers about them, until they are enshrouded. As they conform to the world they lose the transforming influence of the Spirit of God. They do not realize their distance from God. They think themselves in good case because they profess to believe the truth. They grow weaker and weaker, until the Spirit of God is withdrawn, and God bids his angels, Let them alone! Jesus spues them out of his mouth. He has borne their names to his Father; he has interceded for them, but he ceases his pleadings. Their names are dropped, and they are left with the world. They realize no change. Their profession is the same. There has not been so glaring a departure from the appearance of right. They had become so assimilated to the world that when heaven’s light was withdrawn they did not miss it. RH November 26, 1861, par. 2
• The Laodicean message applies to the people of God who profess to believe present truth. The greater part are lukewarm professors, having a name but no zeal. God signified that He wanted men at the great heart of the work to correct the state of things existing there and to stand like faithful sentinels at their post of duty. He has given them light at every point, to instruct, encourage, and confirm them, as the case required. But notwithstanding all this, those who should be faithful and true, fervent in Christian zeal, of gracious temper, knowing and loving Jesus earnestly, are found aiding the enemy to weaken and discourage those whom God is using to build up the work. The term “lukewarm” is applicable to this class. They profess to love the truth, yet are deficient in Christian fervor and devotion. They dare not give up wholly and run the risk of the unbeliever, yet they are unwilling to die to self and follow out closely the principles of their faith. 4T 87.1
• The only hope for the Laodiceans is a clear view of their standing before God, a knowledge of the nature of their disease. They are neither cold nor hot; they occupy a neutral position, and at the same time flatter themselves that they are in need of nothing. The True Witness hates this lukewarmness. He loathes the indifference of this class of persons. Said He: “I would thou wert cold or hot.” Like lukewarm water, they are nauseous to His taste. They are neither unconcerned nor selfishly stubborn. They do not engage thoroughly and heartily in the work of God, identifying themselves with its interests; but they hold aloof and are ready to leave their posts when their worldly personal interests demand it. The internal work of grace is wanting in their hearts; of such it is said: “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.” 4T 87.2
• The Lord has rich blessings for the church if its members will seek earnestly to arouse from this perilous lukewarmness. A religion of vanity, words devoid of vitality, a character destitute of moral strength,—these are pointed out in the solemn message addressed by the True Witness to the churches, warning them against pride, worldliness, formalism, and self-sufficiency. To him that says, “I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,” the Lord of heaven declares, Thou “knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” But to the lowly, the suffering, the faithful, the patient, who are alive to their weakness and insufficiency, are given words of encouragement: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.” The True Witness says to all: “I know thy works.” This close scrutiny is over the churches in California. Nothing escapes His searching gaze; their faults and errors, their neglects and failures, their sinful departure from the truth, their declensions and shortcomings—all are “opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” 5T 484.2
• I was shown the low state of God’s people; that God had not departed from them, but that they had departed from Him, and had become lukewarm. They possess the theory of the truth, but lack its saving power. As we near the close of time, Satan comes down with great power, knowing that his time is short. Especially will his power be exercised upon the remnant. He will war against them, and seek to divide and scatter them, that they may grow weak and be overthrown. The people of God should move understandingly, and should be united in their efforts. They should be of the same mind, of the same judgment; then their efforts will not be scattered, but will tell forcibly in the upbuilding of the cause of present truth. Order must be observed, and there must be union in maintaining order, or Satan will take the advantage. 1T 210.2
• The dead and heartless performance of duty does not make us Christians, we must get out of a lukewarm condition and experience a true conversion or we shall fail of Heaven. T26 123.1
• Remember that an example of lukewarmness, carelessness, and indifference, is contagious. It is reproduced in a multitude of ways, and iniquity abounds. Many are bound about with worldliness, and apostasy is congealing the very life-blood of the soul, because of the coldness of ministers professing to be watchmen upon the walls of Zion. Earnest spirituality, and the quickening influence of the Spirit of God, will set men to work, not lazily, but most earnestly, to warn men to escape the perils which threaten to destroy them. RH December 18, 1883, par. 19
• I address Christians living in our large cities: God has made you a depository of truth, not to retain it, but to impart it to others. You should visit from house to house as faithful stewards of the grace of Christ. As you work, devise, plan, new methods will constantly present themselves to you; and by use, the powers of your intellect will be increased. Lukewarm and slack performance of duty is a sin against the souls for whom Christ has died. A great work is to be done in our cities, if we would find the pearls buried in the debris there. Some may work quietly, creating an interest, while others speak in halls. 10LtMs, Ms 45, 1895, par. 4
• Many of our people are lukewarm. They occupy the position of Meroz, neither for nor against, neither cold nor hot. They hear the words of Christ, but do them not. If they remain in this state, he will reject them with abhorrence. Many of those who have had great light, great opportunities, and every spiritual advantage, praise Christ and the world with the same breath. They bow themselves before God and mammon. They make merry with the children of the world, and yet claim to be blessed with the children of God. They wish to have Christ as their Saviour, but will not bear the cross and wear his yoke. May the Lord have mercy upon you; for if you go on in this way, nothing but evil can be prophesied concerning you. T31 72.3
• Halfhearted Christians are worse than infidels; for their deceptive words and noncommittal position lead many astray. The infidel shows his colors. The lukewarm Christian deceives both parties. He is neither a good worldling nor a good Christian. Satan uses him to do a work that no one else can do. 18LtMs, Lt 44, 1903, par. 31
• All who work for God in our land should have the Martha and the Mary attributes blended. Self and selfishness must be put out of sight. God calls for earnest women workers, who are prudent, warm-hearted, tender, and true to principle. He calls for persevering women, who will think far less of self and their personal conveniences, who will take their minds from self, and center them on Christ, speaking words of truth, praying with the persons to whom they can obtain access, laboring for the conversion of souls. Lukewarm, self-indulgent, self-centered, covetous souls will be found to be the chief stumbling blocks to the work of God. Those are to be found in every enterprise that God has instituted. 11LtMs, Lt 5, 1896, par. 15
• …Many, I saw, were flattering themselves that they were good Christians, who have not a single ray of light from Jesus. They know not what it is to be renewed by the grace of God. They have no living experience for themselves in the things of God. And I saw that the Lord was whetting His sword in heaven to cut them down. Oh, that every lukewarm professor could realize the clean work that God is about to make among His professed people! Dear friends, do not deceive yourselves concerning your condition. You cannot deceive God. Says the True Witness: “I know thy works.” The third angel is leading up a people, step by step, higher and higher. At every step they will be tested. 1T 189.2
• Let church members pray unitedly. With fervent prayer let them make known their requests to God, believing that it is their privilege to advance in spiritual experience, to live to the glory of God and for the saving of precious souls ready to perish, thus acting as the helping hand of God. Then they have a convincing argument in favor of the truth, for God works with them. Jesus is their sufficiency. With earnest zeal they work harmoniously under the divine Head, provoking one another to love and to good works. The lukewarm are led to work with spiritual zeal, the desponding are encouraged to trust in God. 16LtMs, Ms 96, 1901, par. 10

 

 

 

MANTLE

• Of confusion and shame (Psa 109:29)
• Signifies rulership or authority (1 Sam 15:27,28)
• Mantle of ministry (1 King 19:19-21)
  • Ministry of the saints (1 Cor 16:15)
  • Ministry of prophets (Hos 12:10)
• Babylonish garment or mantle (Josh 7:21)
• Rod [see rod or staff] (2 King 2:8, 13,14) (Ex 14:16, 17:5, 7:20)

 

MEAT / FOOD [see milk] [see butter] [see honey]

• Words of God (Job 23:12, Jere 15:16)
  • Engrafted word saves the soul (Jam 1:21)
  • He that is of God hears God’s words (John 8:47)
  • When you hear Jesus Christs’ word and believe God, you’ll have life (John 5:24)
• Labour for meat that endures unto everlasting life (John 6:27)
  • Jesus Christ’s words are eternal life (John 6:63,68)
    • When we obey His message/keep His words, then no eternal death (John 8:51)
    • When we continue in Jesus Christ’s word, we are His disciples and have the promise of eternal life (John 8:31, 51)
  • God gives meat in due season (Psalms 104:24-27; 145:14-15)
  • The truths of Scripture at the right time (Psa 145:15, 1 Cor 3:2, Heb 5:12,14)
    • Pro_10:21  The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
    • Pro_10:32  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
    • A word spoken in due season / at the right time is very good (Prov 15:23)
    • Princes eat in due season (Ecc 10:17)
    • Faithful and wise servants / stewards give meat in due season (Matt 24:45, Luke 12:42)
    • the tongue of the learned is given to us by God so that His messengers can speak a word in due season (Isa 50:4)
    • The Holy Spirit appoints overseers to feed the church of God (Act 20:28)
  • The ear tests words just as the mouth tests meat/food (Job 12:11)
  • Deceitful meat/food (Prov 23:3)
  • Strong meat are strong truths for those who have not backslidden, and for those who are able to correctly discern between good and evil (Heb 5:11-14)
  • Meat must profit the receiver (Heb 13:9)
  • When there is famine, the children suffer (Lam 4:4)
  • When meat is cut off, there is no joy and gladness from the house of God (Joel 1:16)
  • Ants prepare meat in the summer (Prov 30:24,25)
  • Jesus’s meat/food was to the will of God and that was to finish His work (John 4:34)
    • Jesus glorified the Father by finishing the work (John 17:4)

 

MERCY SEAT

• In the most holy place (Ex 26:34)
• two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth (Ex 25:17)
• two cherubim in the two ends of the mercy seat (Ex 25:18-20)
  • The sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. (Eze 10:5)
• pure gold (Ex 37:6)
• God meets with man there (Ex 25:22)
  • I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat. (Lev 16:2)
• cloud of the incense covers the mercy seat (Lev 16:13)
• blood of bullock and sin offering goat sprinkled on mercy seat seven times (Lev 16:14-15)
• confess + forsake of sins=mercy (Prov 28:13, Lev 16:15, Matt 26:28, Heb 9:22),

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 6:36: Jesus said “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

 

MESSENGERS [see ambassadors]

• of death (Prov 16:14)
• of cruelty (Prov 17:11)
• faithful messenger is like the cold of snow [see snow] [see cold of snow]
• ambassadors (Prov 13:17, Isa 18:2)
  • Wicked messengers (Prov 13:17)
  • Swift messengers (Isa 18:2)
  • God’s ambassadors don’t conceal God’s message (Job 6:10)
  • God’s wrath is kindled when we don’t speak truth about God or Bible doctrine (Job 42:7)
• God sent messengers to His people because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place (2Chron 36:15)
  • But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy. (2Chron 36:16)
• Messengers of the churches and the glory of Christ (2 Cor 8:23)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 4:17: Jesus was a messenger. A preacher of righteousness.
• Luke 10:16: Jesus said to His followers “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.”
  • Those that despise the word will be destroyed (Prov 13:13)

 

 

MICE (MOUSE)

• 5 golden mice, 5 golden emerods, 5 lords of the Philistines, 5 cities
  • Trespass offering (1Sam 6:4,5,18)
• Unclean (Lev 11:29)
• Eating mice is not good (Isa 66:17)

 

MILK [see meat/food] [see butter] [see honey] [see darkness] [see baby] [see tower]

• the foundational teachings of the word of God (1 Peter 2:2)
  • If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do? (Psa 11:3)
  • those that ONLY know and ONLY teach foundational doctrines are spiritual babies (Heb 5:13)
• When famine happens, the children suffer (Lam 4:4)
• Causes sleep for those who are tired (Judg 4:19, 21)
  • So also does butter (Judg 5:25)

 

MILLSTONE

• Deut 24:6  No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge: for he taketh a man’s life to pledge.
  • If a man were deprived of that by which food for the sustaining of life could be prepared, his life itself would be imperiled.
  • a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15)
• While Abimelech was fighting, a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull. (Judg 9:52,53)
• A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all (Rev 18:21)
• The sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in Babylon (Rev 18:22)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Chief corner stone is Jesus Christ (Eph 2:20, Act 4:10-11)
• Jesus gives us eternal life (John 10:28)
• Genesis 3:15: Jesus is the Seed which would crush Satan’s head.
• John 19:17: Jesus was crucified on the hill called Golgotha
• Romans 16:20: Jesus will crush Satan under our feet shortly
• Lively stones are God’s people, holy priesthood (1Pet 2:3-6)
  • Luke 10:19: Jesus gave authority to His followers over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy
• Matthew 18:6: Jesus said “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

 

 

 

 

 

MINISTERS [see shepherd] [see pastors]

• Lord’s ministers (Joel 1:9)
  • They pray what is found in Joel 2:17
  • The character of a Christian minister outlined: Acts 20:17-35
• hosts of God that do His pleasure (Psa 103:21, 148:2)
• angels (Psa 104:4, Heb 1:7)
• God’s ministering angels described as flames of fire (Heb 1:7)
• of Christ are stewards of the mysteries of God (1 Cor 4:1)
• gospel workers of old described as ministers of the new testament (2 Cor 3:6)
• gospel workers of old described as ministers of God (2 Cor 6:4, Joel 2:17)
• The Holy Spirit appoints overseers to feed the church of God (Act 20:28)
• Watch for souls as they that must give an account – true shephereds do this joyfully (Heb 13:17)
• false apostles and deceitful people can mischievously take on the appearance of ministers of righteousness (2 Cor 11:13-15)
  • apostate priests commit lewdness (Hos 6:9) [see scum]
    • signs of an apostle are wrought in patience, signs, wonders and mighty deeds (2 Cor 12:12)
  • righteous authorities are God’s ministers (Rom 13:6)
  • Priests of the Lord are also ministers of God (Isa 61:6)
    • Like people like priest (Hos 4:9)
    • We are priests of God (Rev 1:5,6)
    • Levites were known as the priest class (Jere 33:21)
    • Teach God’s people the difference between the holy and common and cause people to discern between the unclean and the clean

(Eze 44:23)

• Help settle disputes (Eze 44:24)
• Are to be gentle and bent on bestowing love while looking to the welfare of the flock (1 Thess 2:7,8) [see flock] [see shepherd]
• Urge, comfort and direct as a father (1 Thess 2:11)
• A minister of God is a labourer in the gospel (1 Thess 3:2) [see gospel]
• Unrighteous ministers led the house of Israel into iniquity

(Eze 44:10-12)

• When God’s people were in apostasy, the lowest people were ordained priests (1King 12:28-31; 13:33)
• Apostate priests commit lewdness (Hos 6:9) [see scum]
• Like people like priest (Hos 4:9)
• Lies cause God’s people to err (Amos 2:4, 1 King 13:11,18)
  • Comes as a package of good words and fair speeches in order to deceive the hearts of the simple (Rom 16:18)
  • Some people are bewitched (baskaino) away from truth. The liar can mislead by pretences, as if by magic arts; to fascinate; to influence by a charm. People may not be led by reason and by sober judgment, but be led by some charm or fascination. Charm and fascination may take people away in this manner from what people may previously embrace as true, and what they had the fullest evidence was true. This drawing away from truth likely leads to disobedience. (Gal 3:1)
• Prophesying in Baal causes God’s people to err

(Jere 23:13)

• Regard yourselves as missionaries, first of all, among your fellow workers. Often it requires a vast amount of time and labor to win one soul to Christ. And when a soul turns from sin to righteousness, there is joy in the presence of the angels. Think you that the ministering spirits who watch over these souls are pleased to see how indifferently they are treated by some who claim to be Christians? Should Jesus deal with us as we too often deal with one another, who of us could be saved? {MH 493.5}

 

MIRE [see swine] [see sinners] [see sin]

• Wicked cast up mire (Isa 57:20)
• Sin/evil (2 Pet 2:19-22)
• Satan puts things in it (Job 41:30)
• Enemies (2 Sam 22:41-43; Psa 69:14)
• Hypocritical nation (Isa 10:6)
• The female enemy of the righteous (Mic 7:10) [see enemies, see Babylon, see harlot, see woman]

 

MOON

• Sacrificial system of OT (Heb 10:1, Jere 31:35)

 

MORAL ICEBERGS

• men and women who never confess their wrongs because it is out of the line of their education to do this
• Educate the young converts to keep away from such company.
  • Through the study of sciences that are of satanic origin, they have frozen their souls. {Lt188-1905.21}
• unsympathetic and unimpressible
• cold, sunless, dark, and forbidding.
  • {Lt21-1888.21}

 

MORSELS [see meat/food] [see honey] [see milk] [see butter]

• food/sweet words (Prov 23:8, 16:24)
• preaching the word of God by extension (Psa 119:103, Matt 4:4, Rom 10:15)

 

MOTH

• they destroy/corrupt (Job 4:19, Matt 6:19,20; Luk 12:33)
• eat garments (Job 13:28, Isa 50:9, 51:8)
• build houses (Job 27:18)
• God or prophet which brings destruction (Hos 5:12) [see sword]
• Wicked man (Job 27:13,18)

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 2:16; 19:21: Jesus will consume the wicked with the figurative sword of His mouth

 

MYRRH

• Gladness (Psa 45:8)
• Death (John 19:39)
  • Compared to grave (Hos 13:14)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 2:7-11: Three wise men gave myrrh as a gift to the newborn Jesus Christ.
  • Need to walk with wise men to be wise (Prov 13:20)
  • Wise men foresee evil and hide themselves (Prov 22:3)

 

MYSTERY

• Of iniquity (1 Tim 3:9, 16)
  • Working now (2 Thess 2:7)
• Of godliness (2 Thess 2:7)
• Of God, Father and Christ (Col 2:2)
• Of Christ is revealed by the Spirit now (Eph 3:4,5)
  • Deut 29:29, Psa 25:14, Prov 3:32, Amos 3:7, Matt 13:11,35, Mark 4:11
• Kept secret (Rom 16:25, 26, Col 1:25-27)
• Christ’s mystery is revealed by Spirit through Christ (2 Cor 3:12-18)
• Not knowing the mystery of Christ leads to crucifixion of Jesus Christ (1Cor 2:7-10)
• Paul made known the mystery (Eph 6:19)
• Mystery of God is finished when the 7^th angel begins to sound (Rev 10:7)

 

MY SOUL

• My life (Psalm 26:9)
• My darling (Psalm 22:20)

 

NAIL

• Eliakim the son of Hilkiah was as a nail in a sure place (Isa 22:20-25)
  • Nails used to fasten things in place
• The remnant was as a nail in a sure holy place OR nail used as a metaphor of a constant and sure abode. Ezra seems to have regarded the Temple as a pledge of their permanence, and a means of increased life and vigour… (Ezra 9:8)
• Words of the wise given by one shepherd (Ecc 12:11, Mark 12:29, Gal 3:20) [see shepherd]
• …a word in season will be sent home by the Holy Spirit as a nail in a sure place…{CCh 67.1}
• You need to gather every ray of light that you can find upon the essential points of truth, and then when you are speaking, make the most of these points. Give them all the force you can by presenting them in a clear, concise manner, fastening down the evidence on these points like a nail in a sure place. Make a straight, clear application, and then call for a decision. {18MR 43.2}
• Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery, or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s word is, they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. An understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness. {GC 599.2}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 22:20-23: A prophecy of Jesus Christ

 

NAME [see seal] [see ointment]

• Solomon had fame and a grand reputation concerning the name of the Lord (1King 10:1)
• We should prefer having a good name rather than riches (Prov 22:1)
• Character (Exodus 34:5-7) [see strong tower]
• The Lord’s name is the LORD of hosts (Isa 54:5)
• The Lord’s name is The God of hosts (Amos 5:27)
  • Genesis 32:1-2  And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
    • A captain of that host (Josh 5:13-15)
      • This was Jesus Christ because Joshua was not reprehended for worshipping (Rev 22:8-9) (Rev 12:7-9) (Heb 2:9-10)
    • The Lord’s name is Jealous (Ex 34:13-14)
      • We can’t be partakers of the Lord’s cup and table and at the same time partake of the devil’s cup and table. This provokes the Lord to jealousy (1 Cor 10:21-22)
      • Elijah had been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts because the children of Israel had forsaken His covenant, thrown down His altars, and slain His prophets (1King 19:9,14,15)
      • Paul had godly jealousy over the Corinthian church because he had espoused them to one husband that he may present them as a chaste virgin to Christ (2Cor 11:2)
    • The Lord’s name is Holy (Isa 57:15)
    • Psalms 113:3  From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.
    • Name of the Father/God written in foreheads (Rev 14:1; 22:3-4)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 2:13: Being faithful to Jesus’ name involves not denying His faith
• John 20:31: We have life through Jesus Christ’s name

 

 

NET [see snare – Eze 12:13] [see birds]

• Affliction (Psa 66:10,11)
  • Can occur because of transgression of God’s law (Lam 1:5)
  • The Lord does not afflict willingly – doesn’t enjoy it (Lam 3:33)
  • When we are afflicted so is the Lord. He understands our trials and feels for us (Isa 63:9)
  • Affliction/punishment teaches us to keep God’s law (Psa 119:71)
  • And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort. The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin. Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ. We are to humble the soul before God…{DA 301.1}
    • Mourners exalted to safety (Job 5:11)
    • God will gather the sorrowful for the solemn assembly (Hab 3:18; Lev 23:27-32)
  • We are now living in the great Day of Atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart…{CIHS 187.1}
  • “And repent.” [Revelation 3:3.] The life we live is to be one of continual repentance and humility. We need to repent constantly, that we may be constantly victorious. When we have true humility, we have victory. The enemy never can take out of the hand of Christ the one who is simply trusting in His promises. If the soul is trusting and working obediently, the mind is susceptible to divine impressions, and the light of God shines in, enlightening the understanding. What privileges we have in Christ Jesus! {Ms92-1901.6}
• Gospel (Matt 4:19, Mark 16:15, Rom 1:1)
• Evil net (Ecc 9:12) [connect with Gal 1:6,7]
  • Can represent death/sudden death or destruction
• Priests/Israel/Judah in apostasy (Hos 5:1)
  • When God’s people were in apostasy, the lowest people were ordained priests (1King 12:28-31; 13:33)
  • Like people like priest (Hos 4:9)
• Used for hunting (Mic 7:2)
  • Implies the use of strategy and skill
• Fishermen wash their nets (Luke 5:2)
• Nets need to be repaired and made perfect (Matt 4:21)
• In vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird (Prov 1:17)
• It is harder to reach the hearts of men today than it was twenty years ago. The most convincing arguments may be presented to sustain the truth, and yet sinners seem as far from repentance and conversion as ever. The work of saving souls is no child’s play. It requires earnest, untiring labor to wrench the prey of Satan from his grasp. But God will sustain his servants in the work which he has himself committed to their hands. Said Christ to the first disciples, as they toiled upon the sea of Galilee, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” When the gospel net is cast, let there be a watching by the net, with tears and earnest prayer. Let the workers determine not to become discouraged; and not to let go the net until it is drawn ashore, with the fruit of their labor. Sometimes, indeed, we may say with Peter, “We have toiled all the night and have taken nothing,” but still it is the Master’s command, as of old, “Let down the net on the right side of the ship,”—work on in faith, and God will give success. {ST March 16, 1882, Art. A, par. 13}

 

NETTLES

• Vile, base fools (Job 30:7,8)
• Similar to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah (Zeph 2:9)

 

NICOLAITANS

• The doctrine is now largely taught that the Gospel of Christ has made the Law of God of no effect; that by “believing” we are released from the necessity of being doers of the word. But this is the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which Christ so unsparingly condemned… Those who are teaching this doctrine today have much to say in regard to faith and the righteousness of Christ; but they pervert the truth, and make it serve the cause of error. They declare that we have only to believe on Jesus Christ, and that faith is all-sufficient; that the righteousness of Christ is to be the sinner’s credentials; that this imputed righteousness fulfils the law for us, and that we are under no obligation to obey the law of God. {ST February 25, 1897, par. 6-7}
• It is our work to know our special failings and sins, which cause darkness and spiritual feebleness, and quenched our first love. Is it worldliness? Is it selfishness? Is it the love of self-esteem? Is it striving to be first? Is it the sin of sensuality that is intensely active? Is it the sin of the Nicolaitans, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness? Is it the misuse and abuse of great light and opportunities and privileges, making boasted claims to wisdom and religious knowledge, while the life and character are inconsistent and immoral? Whatever it is that has been petted and cultivated until it has become strong and overmastering, make determined efforts to overcome, else you will be lost. It is these cherished sins, abhorrent to God, that make enfeebled moral courage, and leave you to choose to walk apart from God, while you retain a miserable, heartless, outward form. Once the soul was all aglow with love for Jesus; but all this is changed. The great Head who moves in the midst of his candlesticks will never be without a church. There will be faithless ones who will go out from us because they were not of us. There will be apostasies. But “nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.” There will be those who are evil, who hold the truth in unrighteousness, who are sensual, who are controlled by the master-worker in all evil, who will have to be separated from the church. {RH June 7, 1887, par. 16}
• “Both Epiphanius, and Irenoeus before him, say of the Founder of the Nicolaitans: ‘ Being ashamed of his own Remissness, he audaciously pronounced, that no one, who was not lascivious every Day could be Partaker of eternal life.’ — ” Therefore those Gnostics, after a Debauchery, were used to boast of their Happiness, as having done a meritorious Thing: and when they had their Will on a complying Female, they told her ‘ she was now a pure Virgin’; though she was daily corrupted, and for many Years together.” – Occult Theocracy by Lady Queensburough Vol. 1 pg 121

 

NIGHT [see darkness] [see fall]

• Power of Satan/satanic influence (Act 26:18)
• Unrighteousness (2 Cor 6:14)
• Every valiant man should have his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night (Song of Sol 3:8) [see sword]
• When people are cut off (Job 36:20) [see cut off]
• If a man walks in the night, he stumbles because there is no light in him (John 11:10)

 

NO SOUNDNESS

• no rest (Psalm 38:3)

 

NOUGHT / NOTHING

• none effect (make something useless) (Psalm 33:10)

 

OAKS [see trees]

• of Bashan
• people (Isa 2:12,13)
• There is hope for trees. When they are cut down and the root stays a long time in the earth, through the scent of water it will bud and grow. (Job 14:7-9)

 

OIL [see joy] [see shield] [see rebuke]

• From the olive tree – the fatness wherewith people honour God and man (Judg 9:9)
• Pure beaten olive oil used to fuel the 7 branch candlestick light (Ex 27:20, Lev 24:2)
• Of gladness (Psa 45:7, Heb 1:9)
• comes out from the Rock (Job 29:6)
• Holy Spirit (Zech 4:1-6, Rev. 4:5)
  • By association: sanctification of the Spirit (Lev 8:12)
    • Change of character and life (1 Sam 10:6, Eph 3:16,17)
    • When someone has the Spirit, they will have the graces or the fruit of the Spirit of God: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance (Gal 5:22-23)
  • God’s words (Psa 55:21)
    • Every word of God is pure (Prov 30:5)
  • Makes man’s face to shine (Psa 104:15)
  • Reproof is excellent oil (Psa 141:5)
    • Holy Spirit is good (Psa 143:10)
    • Holy Spirit reproves of sin (John 16:8,9)
    • When full of power by the spirit of the Lord, we will have judgment and might to declare to God’s people their transgression and sin (Mic 3:8)
    • Those who refuse reproof err (Prov 10:17)
    • Reproof of life (Prov 15:31)
    • When reproof is heeded, a person receives understanding (Prov 15:32)
  • Counterfeit spread by the strange woman (Prov 5:3, Judge 11:1,2)
    • Counterfeit spirit (2 Cor 11:4)
      • Spirit of the world (1 Cor 2:10-13)
      • Spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:3)
    • Can be carried into Egypt (Hos 12:1)
      • Strength of Egypt is sin (Eze 30:15)
    • When anointed with oil, God’s servants were consecrated to His service (Lev 21:10, Acts 2:38)
      • When anointed with the Holy Spirit, people have power to do good and works of healing (Act 10:38)
      • If we don’t do good, sin lies at the door (Gen 4:7)
    • Satan is working with all his hellish power to quench that light which should burn brightly in the soul and shine forth in good works. The words of God to Zechariah show from whence the holy golden oil comes, and its bright light which the Lord kindles in the chambers of the soul gives light through good works to the world. Satan will work to quench the light God has for every soul by casting his shadow across the pathway to intercept every ray of heavenly light. He knows that his time is short. The people of God must cleave to God, else they will lose their bearings. If they cherish hereditary and cultivated traits of character that misrepresent Christ, while professedly His disciples, they are represented by the man coming to the gospel feast without having on the wedding garment, and by the foolish virgins which had no oil in their vessels with their lamps. We must cleave to that which God pronounces to be truth, though the whole world may be arrayed against it. {Ms140-1901.12}
    • 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 psalmist says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105. The oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Thus the Spirit is represented in the prophecy of Zechariah. “The angel that talked with me came again,” he says, “and waked me, as a man that is wakened out of his sleep, and said unto me, What seest thou? And I said, I have looked, and behold a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and his seven lamps thereon, and seven pipes to the seven lamps, which are upon the top thereof; and two olive trees by it, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side thereof. So I answered and spake to the angel that talked with me, saying, What are these, my lord? … Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts…. And I answered again, and said unto him, What be these two olive branches which through the two golden pipes empty the golden oil out of themselves? … Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” Zechariah 4:1-14. {COL 406.3}
    • From the two olive trees the golden oil was emptied through the golden pipes into the bowl of the candlestick, and thence into the golden lamps that gave light to the sanctuary. So from the holy ones that stand in God’s presence His Spirit is imparted to the human instrumentalities who are consecrated to His service. The mission of the two anointed ones is to communicate to God’s people that heavenly grace which alone can make His word a lamp to the feet and a light to the path. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6. {COL 408.1}
    • Christ represents the condition of the church members. Five of them were wise and five of them were foolish. The foolish took no oil (grace) in their vessels with their lamps. How will this state of things so alarming continue? Will the one-half of the majority ever remain in ignorance and bondage to doubts and to fear and to temptations, ever confessing their bad habits and continue [in their] sins but never forsaking them? Wasting their own precious probationary time and keeping the minds of others in uncertainty, squandering their moral forces upon picking flaws in them, doing mischief, spoiling souls and churches by their talking of the inefficiency of laborers. But when their own field is examined, notwithstanding, they obtained their own wisdom as superior to any other. There are found tares, cockles, and poisonous weeds. They are tearing to pieces, sowing seeds of doubts, but contributing nothing of spiritual gospel work to strengthen the things that remain. They are Satan’s right-hand managers, and they flatter themselves because of propensities to find out and condemn, calling it spiritual eyesight. It is exactly of the quality the devil has possessed since he was expelled from Eden. They have changed captains and do not know it. What have those men and women done to build up the Health Retreat? Manifold and dear-bought experience has demonstrated that while members of our churches are climbing on the judgment seat to condemn and expose the weaknesses of one another, God has spoken to you in California. Will you hear His voice? Some will, some will not. While they are so fully occupied in weeding others’ gardens, the precious graces are dying in their own churches and the church becomes a body of darkness and death. How many scenes have angels looked upon where children of God have mingled with the strife of tongues in the war of human unholy passions, prejudices and criminations. {Ms60-1890.16-17}
    • Many have not developed a Christlike character in the daily life and conversation. They have not lived for the Lord Jesus and for Him alone, daily gaining a fitness to unite with those who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. There are many church members who have not cherished love and respect for one another. Let the members of our churches in Australasia now obtain oil for their vessels with their lamps—the holy oil of experience gained by developing Christlike traits of character. {Lt6-1907.6}
    • The oil so much needed by those who are represented as foolish virgins, is not something to be put on the outside. They need to bring the truth into the sanctuary of the soul, that it may cleanse, refine, and sanctify. It is not theory that they need; it is the sacred teachings of the Bible, which are not uncertain, disconnected doctrines, but are living truths, that involve eternal interests that center in Christ. In him is the complete system of divine truth…{RH September 17, 1895, par. 8}
      • 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, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up. This class are represented also by the stony-ground hearers. They receive the word with readiness, but they fail of assimilating its principles. Its influence is not abiding. 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. Their service to God degenerates into a form. “They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.” Ezekiel 33:31. The apostle Paul points out that this will be the special characteristic of those who live just before Christ’s second coming. He says, “In the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves; … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5. {COL 411.1}
    • All who would advocate the principles of truth need to receive the heavenly oil of love. Under all circumstances reproof should be spoken in love. Then our words will reform but not exasperate. Christ by His Holy Spirit will supply the force and the power. This is His work. {COL 337.1}
    • We need a thorough reformation in all our churches. The converting power of God must come into the church. Seek the Lord most earnestly, put away your sins, and tarry in Jerusalem till ye be endowed with power from on high. Let God set you apart to the work. Purify your souls by obeyingthe truth. Faith without works is dead. Put not off the day of preparation. Slumber not in a state of unpreparedness, having no oil in your vessels with your lamps. Let none leave their safety for eternity to hang upon a peradventure. Let not the question remain in perilous uncertainty. Ask yourselves earnestly, Am I among the saved, or the unsaved? Shall I stand, or shall I not stand? He only that hath clean hands and a pure heart shall stand in that day. {TM 443.2}

 

OINTMENT [see name]

• Unity (Psa 133:1-2)
  • Unity is the sure result of Christian perfection. {RH April 26, 1881, par. 12}
• Oil and blood of Christ (Ex 29:21, John 1:29, Rev 1:5,6)
• Oil & Holy Spirit (Psa 133:2, Luke 4:18, Act 10:38)
• Holy Spirit and power (Act 10:38)
• Sweet hearty counsel (Prov 27:9)
• Good name (Ecc 7:1, Song of Sol 1:3) [see name]
• Wounds are softened with ointment / oil (Isa 1:6)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 11:1, 2; 12:3: Mary the sister of Martha anointed Jesus’ feet with costly ointment.

 

OPPRESSOR [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub] [see wicked]

• Those who have not set God before them (Psa 54:3)
• Satan
  • Psa 72:1-4 *the king’s son is Christ, He came to judge the poor, save the children of the needy and overcome Satan*
  • Isa 14:4,12 *king of Babylon called the oppressor and compared to Lucifer*
  • The poor are needy (Psa 113:7)
• A prince that does not have understanding (Prov 28:16)
• Wicked (Job 27:13)
• We are not supposed to envy the oppressor and never to choose his ways (Prov 3:31)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Acts 10:38: Jesus set the oppressed free. The devil is the oppressor.

 

ORNAMENT

• Of grace (Prov 1:9)
  • Instruction of the father and law of the mother
  • Wisdom gives the ornament of grace and is compared to a crown of glory (Prov 4:9)
• God (Jere 2:32)
• People (Isa 49:17,18)

 

OSTRICH

• Cruel people (Lam 4:3)
• Birds wander for lack of meat (Job 38:41)

 

 

OWL

• Person/people (Psa 102:6)
• Birds wander for lack of meat (Job 38:41)

 

OX / CALF [see ox treading out corn]

• Person/people (Jere 11:19)
• Knows its owner (Isa 1:3)
  • God’s people – the owner is the Lord
• Much increase by strength of the ox (Prov 14:4)
• God takes care of the ox (other animals too) (1 Cor 9:9, Matt 10:29-31, Luke 12:6,7)
• Thou shalt not see thy brother’s ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again. (Deut 22:4)
• Render the calves of my lips = confession of sins (Hos 14:2)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Jesus, a clean working animal, burden bearer (Jere 11:19, Isa 53:7,8, John 1:29, Acts 8:32-35)

 

OX TREADING OUT CORN [see corn of heaven] [see ox/calf]

• Person/people (Jere 11:19)
• people preach/teaching/doing Bible work
  • (Ex 25:4, Psa 144:14, 1Tim 5:17,18, 1 Cor 9:1-14)
• Those who send out the ox and ass are blessed (Isa 32:20)
• God takes care of the ox (other animals too) (1 Cor 9:9, Matt 10:29-31, Luke 12:6,7)
• Ox goad: words of the wise (Judg 3:31, Ecc 12:11)
  • God is only wise and so is Christ. The ox goad can represent God’s word – Scripture (Rom 16:27; 1 Tim 1:17; Jude 1:25; 2 Tim 3:16)
• Cursed is the person who does the work of the Lord deceitfully (Jere 48:10)
  • Gal_3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
    • Deu 21:22-23  And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
  • Unicorn is a wild ox (symbol of strength too – Num 23:20-22)
    • Will we blindly trust them and leave the work to them alone? (Job 39:9-12)
  • There is a picture representing a bullock standing between a plow and an altar, with the inscription, “Ready for either,” ready to toil in the furrow or to be offered on the altar of sacrifice. This is the position of the true child of God—willing to go where duty calls, to deny self, to sacrifice for the Redeemer’s cause. {MH 502.5}

 

PARABLES

• Riddle (Eze 17:2)
• Proverbs (John 16:25,29)
  • The proverbs of Solomon help us understand other proverbs (Prov 1:1,6)
  • Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs: and his songs were a thousand and five. And he spake of trees, from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that springeth out of the wall: he spake also of beasts, and of fowl, and of creeping things, and of fishes. And there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth, which had heard of his wisdom. (1 King 4:32-34)
  • God gives a wise preacher wisdom that he might be a teacher of others. He does not utter whatever comes into his mind, but seriously ponders both his matter and words. He sets forth proverbs and explains them using appropriate words and Bible truths (Ecc 12:9-10)
  • As is the mother, so is her daughter (Eze 16:44)
• An excellent teaching tool that Jesus used (Mark 4:2)
  • He taught them with parables as they were able to understand and apply them (Mark 4:33, John 16:12)
• We should listen attentively to parables (Psa 49:4)
• Its okay to give parables (Psa 78:2)
• “Parable” (mashal), sententious saying, the enunciation of which, as well as the recital of stories, was always a great feature in Eastern companies, and afforded a test of a man’s ability. A fool fails in the exhibition; he misses the point of the wise saying which he produces; it falls lame from his mouth, affords no instruction to others, and makes no way with its hearers. (Prov 26:7)
• As a thorn is in a drunkard’s hand, which he cannot manage cautiously, but employs to his own and others hurt. So a parable given by a fool is as unprofitable, and, by accident, hurtful to himself and others. (Prov 26:9)
• Jesus tells us when he is speaking in parables (every parable is announced as one) When Jesus spoke in parables, sometimes he would reveal the meaning of the parables to his disciples. His inner circle got the truth plainly, and those outside didn’t receive the explanation (Mark 4:10-13, 34)
  • Walk in wisdom toward them who are on the outside of the faith (Col 4:5) We should have a good report of them who are on the outside. (1 Tim 3:7)

 

 

 

PARTRIDGE [see eggs] [see bird]

• Corrupt wealthy people; fools (Jere 17:11)
• It is worthy of remark that the Arabs, observing that partridges, being put up several times, soon become so weary as not to be able to fly; they in this manner hunt them upon the mountains, till at last they can knock them down with their clubs. David was being pursued by Saul in like manner. (1 Sam 26:20-21)
• The well known little contemptible and troublesome insect, the flea, seems to be so called from its agility in leaping and skipping, from para, “free,” and raash, “to leap, bound.” David, by comparing himself to this insect, seems to import, that while it would cost Saul much pains to catch him, he would obtain but very little advantage from it. In this text, partridge and flea are connected as relating to David’s experience. (1 Sam 26:20-21)

 

PASSPORT

• It is not only the wise, the great, the beneficent, the teachers of Bible doctrines, that will gain a passport into the heavenly courts; not only the busy workers, full of zeal and restless activity. No; the pure in heart, in whose lips there is found no guile; the peacemaker, who is actuated by the Spirit of an abiding Christ; the humble worker, whose highest ambition it is to do God’s service—these will gain an abundant entrance. {Lt68-1896.15}
• Higher education is an experimental knowledge of the plan of salvation, and this knowledge is secured by earnest and diligent study of the Scriptures. Such an education will renew the mind and transform the character, restoring the image of God in the soul. It will fortify the mind against the deceptive whisperings of the adversary, and enable us to understand the voice of God. It will teach the learner to become a co-worker with Jesus Christ, to dispel the moral darkness about him, and bring light and knowledge to men. It is the simplicity of true godliness—our passport from the preparatory school of earth to the higher school above. {CT 11.1}
• All self-righteousness must be given up, for we have no righteousness of ourselves. It is the gift of God; therefore we should not be exalted, or by any means pretentious, for it is an offense to God. What have we that we have not received? Man cannot rely upon himself for anything good or righteous. Christ, only Christ and His righteousness, will obtain for us a passport into heaven. {Lt6b-1890.17}
  • The rabbis counted their righteousness a passport to heaven; but Jesus declared it to be insufficient and unworthy. External ceremonies and a theoretical knowledge of truth constituted Pharisaical righteousness. The rabbis claimed to be holy through their own efforts in keeping the law; but their works had divorced righteousness from religion. While they were punctilious in ritual observances, their lives were immoral and debased. Their so-called righteousness could never enter the kingdom of heaven. {DA 309.1}
  • There are those who are always seeking to engage in controversy. This is the sum of their religion. They are filled with a desire to produce something new and strange. They dwell upon matters of the smallest consequence, exercising upon these their sharp, controversial talents. Idle tales are brought in as important truths, and by some they are actually set up as tests. Thus controversy is created, and minds are diverted from present truth. Satan knows that if he can get men and women absorbed in trifling details, greater questions will be left unheeded. He will furnish plenty of material for the attention of those who are willing to think upon trifling, unimportant subjects. The minds of the Pharisees were absorbed with questions of no moment. They passed by the precious truths of God’s Word to discuss the traditionary lore handed down from generation to generation, which in no way concerned their salvation. And so today, while precious moments are passing into eternity, the great questions of salvation are overlooked for some idle tale. {1SM 170.4-5}
  • Controversy arises because there is no truth, mercy and knowledge of God in the land (Hos 4:1)
• You are not to examine your feelings and put any dependence upon your emotions, for they may be as varied as the wind, but take to your heart this one promise and you will find it a passport to all the rich treasures of heaven. You are precious to the heart of Christ and He speaks saying unto you, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” [Matthew 11:28.] There is no perhaps or maybe about this promise. The “I will” of Christ is an assurance that cannot be made any stronger. He speaks further saying, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” [Verses 29, 30.] {Lt35-1894.5}
• If you walk carefully before God, those who believe in Christ will respect you for Christ’s sake. Jesus receives and welcomes you as His own friend. He loves you, He has pledged Himself to open before you all the treasures of His grace for your appropriation. He says, “At that day ye shall ask in My name, and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.” [John 16:26, 27.] He virtually says, Make use of My name, and it will be your passport to the heart of My Father and to all the riches of His grace. “Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it to you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.” [Verses 23, 24.] “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” [John 14:13.] You should educate the soul to have implicit trust in God, for what we need is more faith. {Lt92-1895.44}
• May God help us to be converted. May He help us to realize that all our possessions are His, lent us to prove and try us, to see if we will act as children of God. Let us be converted daily, or we shall never, never dwell in His presence. The grace of God can ennoble us, leading us to count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. If we are deficient in this knowledge, let us place ourselves where we can obtain it. The fundamental principles of God’s government are His highest concern. He cannot and will not forgive sin at the expense of His justice, His holiness, His truth. But He assures us that there is no sin He will not pardon if we repent and ask forgiveness, presenting the efficiency of Christ’s merits. He is our mediator. There is no other name given under heaven by which men may be saved. His name is our passport to the throne of grace. {Ms38-1904.94}
• …The Majesty of heaven, the only-begotten Son of the true and living God, opened the way for you to come to Him, by giving His life as a sacrifice on Calvary’s cross. But while He suffered all this for you, He is too pure, He is too just, to behold iniquity. But even this need not keep you away from Him; for He says, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Let perishing souls come to Him just as they are, without one plea, and plead the atoning blood of Christ, and they will find acceptance with God, who dwelleth in glory between the cherubim above the mercy seat. The blood of Jesus is a never-failing passport, by which all your petitions may find access to the throne of God.—“Christian Education” (Supplement), 1893. {FE 251.2}
• Only those who receive the seal of the living God will have the passport through the gates of the holy city. But there are many who take upon themselves responsibilities in connection with the work of God who are not wholehearted believers, and while they remain thus cannot receive the seal of the living God. They trust in their own righteousness, which the Lord accounts as foolishness and presumption. {Lt164-1909.6}
  • The same angel who visited Sodom is sounding the note of warning, “Escape for thy life.” The bottles of God’s wrath cannot be poured out to destroy the wicked and their works until all the people of God have been judged, and the cases of the living as well as the dead are decided. And even after the saints are sealed with the seal of the living God, His elect will have trials individually. Personal afflictions will come; but the furnace is closely watched by an eye that will not suffer the gold to be consumed. The indelible mark of God is upon them. God can plead that His own name is written there. The Lord has shut them in. Their destination is inscribed—“God, New Jerusalem.” They are God’s property, His possession. {TM 446.1}
  • Will this seal be put upon the impure in mind, the fornicator, the adulterer, the man who covets his neighbor’s wife? Let your souls answer the question, Does my character correspond to the qualifications essential that I may receive a passport to the mansions Christ has prepared for those who are fitted for them? Holiness must be inwrought in our character. {TM 446.2}

 

PASTORS [see shepherd] [see minister]

• Jeremiah the prophet described himself as a pastor.
  • Pastors follow the Lord (Jere 17:16)
  • Pastors according to God’s heart will feed the people with knowledge and understanding (Jere 3:15)
• Pastors can become brutish and turn away from following the Lord. This leads to downfall and a scattering of God’s people (Jere 10:21; 23:1-2)
  • They destroy God’s church (Jere 12:10)
  • They drive people away and don’t visit the people (Jere 23:1-2)
  • The sin against God (Jere 2:8)

 

PEACE OFFERINGS

• Represent sacrifice/atonement of Christ (Lev 3:1-11, John 1:29,36)

 

PEARLS [see treasure]

• Represent precious things. Pearls are mineral deposits. Think precious stones [see stones] (Rev 17:4, 18:12-16, Matt 13:45)
• Goodly pearls compared with treasure. Special truths of the Bible (Matt 13:44-46, 7:6)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Jesus is the pearl of great price (Matt 13:46)

 

PELICAN

• Person/people (Psa 102:6)
• Birds wander for lack of meat (Job 38:41)

 

PEN [see Lord] [see author/writer]

• Iron pen (Job 19:24)
  • Diamond point (Jere 17:1)
• Tongue compared to a pen of a ready writer (Psa 45:1)
  • Should purpose not to transgress (Psa 17:3)
  • A hind – a doe – let loose gives goodly words (Gen 49:21)
• Zebulun produced eminent statesmen, and men of literature who could handle the pen (Judg 5:14)
• Man’s pen (Isa 8:1)
  • Pen of scribes is in vain (Jere 8:8)
• Penknife (Jere 36:23)
• Lead in the rock (Job 19:24; Psa 45:1)
  • Oil out of the rock (Job 29:6)

 

PERCEIVE

• God sends signs to help us recognize our sins (1 Sam 12:17)
• God gives us the right mindset (Dan 5:20) to recognize truth (Deut 29:4)
• God passes by us and at times we don’t recognize His presence (Job 9:11)
• God speaks once and even twice but man doesn’t recognize it (Job 33:14)
  • Principle: the need for repetition of Bible truth
• We need to mark (identify and take interest) in God’s word and then hear it or understand it (Jere 23:18)
• The Proverbs of Solomon help us to discern Bible truths (Prov 1:1-2)
  • A wise teacher gives good heed, and seeks out, and sets in order many proverbs (Ecc 12:9)
  • The thing that is hid is revealed by God (Job 28:11)
  • Interpretations belong to God (Gen 40:8)
  • the things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned (1Cor 2:14)
    • by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1Cor 2:13)
    • by comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isa 28:9-10)
    • The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual. SC 89.3
  • God reveals secrets and communicates insights to His people (Dan 2:28-30)
    • Nebuchadnezzar said to Daniel that the “spirit of the holy gods is in thee” (Dan 4:18)
    • Belshazzar’s queen told him “There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.” (Dan 5:11)
      • An excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel (Dan 5:12)
    • God has often employed angels to communicate important truths to men, or has made them the medium of communicating his will. (Dan 7:15-16) – Compare Rev_1:1; Act_7:53; Heb_2:2
    • Inspiration of God gives understanding (Job 32:8)
    • All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16)
    • The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel form a habit of mind. To gain through them the power of entering into the deeper meaning of other proverbs. (Prov 1:1,6)
    • No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. – No man wrote save in the power of the Holy Ghost, and no man must venture to interpret save in the same power of the Holy Ghost. It is not any man’s own word. It is God, not the prophet himself, who thereby interprets things till then unknown. (2 Pet 1:20-21)
  • We comprehend the love of God through the sacrifice of Christ (1 John 3:16)
  • Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery, or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s word is, they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. An understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness. {GC 599.2}

 

PERFECT

• Sure (Psa 19:7)
• Satan fell from heaven (Luke 10:18)
  • Satan was perfect until iniquity was found in him. He had sinned and so had fallen away from God (Eze 28:14-16)
    • A state of perfection is the absence of sin
  • As with Satan, so with humans. Humans fall by iniquity and transgressions (sin) (Hos 14:1,9)
• Just men are made perfect (Heb 12:23)
• God will make His people perfect and strengthen them (Psa 18:32, Heb 13: 20-21)
  • His gentleness makes them great (Psa 18:35)
  • God will not cast away a perfect man and He will not help an evildoer (Job 8:20)
  • If I said I was perfect, I’d be proven perverse (Job 9:20-21)
    • Job was perfect, but he didn’t realize it per se (Job 1:1)
  • Give up covetousness or the love of the world to be perfect (Matt 19:21)
  • Every one that is perfect shall be as his master. (Luke 6:40)
  • Christ in the human-being results in perfection (John 17:23)
    • Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1Jn_3:9)
      • John 15:3-7  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
      • Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
      • Jud 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
      • Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory—character—of Christ, will be received into the Paradise of God. Everyone who by faith obeys God’s commandments, will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. Mar 224.4-5
      • The word of God (Luke 8:11)
        • Murder rises in the heart when the word has no place in the individual (John 8:37)
        • He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Cor 9:6)
      • A perfect man reaches the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ (Eph 4:13)
        • We should press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ (Php 3:14-15)
      • To present people perfect to Jesus, we must preach Christ, warn and teach others (Col 1:28)
        • Be sure your sin will find you out. (Num 32:23)
          • Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. (Psa 107:17)
          • And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then God sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. (Job 38:8-12)
        • 2Ti 3:16-17  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
          • No fear of God leads to correction through suffering from sin/the results of sin. (Jere 2:19)
          • Our petition to the Lord should be “correct me, but with judgment and not in thine anger…” (Jere 10:24)
        • The trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (Jam 1:3-4)
        • One who controls what they say under duress is perfect (Jam 3:2)
        • Unity is the sure result of Christian perfection. {RH April 26, 1881, par. 12}
        • The manifestation of hatred never breaks down the malice of our enemies. But love and kindness beget love and kindness in return. Although God faithfully rewards virtue and punishes guilt, yet he does not withhold his blessings from the wicked, although they daily dishonor his name. He allows the sunshine and the showers to fall upon the just and the unjust, bringing alike worldly prosperity to both. If a holy God exercises such forbearance and benevolence toward the rebellious and the idolatrous, how necessary it is that erring man should manifest a like spirit toward his fellow-men. Instead of cursing those who injure him, it is his duty to seek to win them from their evil ways by a kindness similar to that with which Christ treated them who persecuted him. Jesus taught his followers that they should exercise a Christian courtesy toward all who came within their influence, that they should not be forgetful in deeds of mercy, and that when solicited for favors, they should show a benevolence superior to that of the worldling. The children of God should represent the spirit that rules in Heaven. Their principles of action should not be of the same character with the narrow, selfish spirit of the world. Perfection alone can meet the standard of Heaven. As God himself is perfect in his exalted sphere, so should his children be perfect in the humble sphere they occupy. Thus only can they be fit for the companionship of sinless beings in the kingdom of Heaven. Christ addresses to his followers these words that establish the standard of Christian character: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.” {2SP 224.1}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 5:48: God the Father is perfect.
• 1 Peter 2:21-22: Jesus Christ did no sin. He is perfect.
• Hebrews 13:20-21: Jesus Christ makes perfect.

 

PERFUME [see instruct] [see guide] [see friend] [see counsel] [see teach]

• Sweet hearty counsel (Prov 27:9) [see ointment]

 

PHARISEE

• They say and do not – hypocrisy / hypocrites (Matt 23:2-3)
• They do their works to be seen – actors (Matt 23:5)
• Love the chief seats in the synagogues – proud & ambitious (Matt 23:6)
• Leaven of Herod & Pharisees (Mark 8:15)
  • is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1)
• The Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves by not being baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29,30)
• Matthew 22:15: The Pharisees counselled together to see how they can entangle Jesus in His words.
• Is the strictest sect of Judaism (Act 26:5)
• “To whom shall we go?” The teachers of Israel were slaves to formalism. The Pharisees and Sadducees were in constant contention. To leave Jesus was to fall among sticklers for rites and ceremonies, and ambitious men who sought their own glory. The disciples had found more peace and joy since they had accepted Christ than in all their previous lives. How could they go back to those who had scorned and persecuted the Friend of sinners? They had long been looking for the Messiah; now He had come, and they could not turn from His presence to those who were hunting His life, and had persecuted them for becoming His followers. {DA 393.5}
• Phariseeism permits of self-complacency, and those who are self-righteous, appear to have a form of piety, but at heart they are corrupt. They may talk of their hope of heaven, when, in fact, they have not taken the first step toward heaven. {ST August 13, 1894, par. 5} (1^st step is repentance)
• The rabbis counted their righteousness a passport to heaven; but Jesus declared it to be insufficient and unworthy. External ceremonies and a theoretical knowledge of truth constituted Pharisaical righteousness. The rabbis claimed to be holy through their own efforts in keeping the law; but their works had divorced righteousness from religion. While they were punctilious in ritual observances, their lives were immoral and debased. Their so-called righteousness could never enter the kingdom of heaven. {DA 309.1}
• There are those who are always seeking to engage in controversy. This is the sum of their religion. They are filled with a desire to produce something new and strange. They dwell upon matters of the smallest consequence, exercising upon these their sharp, controversial talents. Idle tales are brought in as important truths, and by some they are actually set up as tests. Thus controversy is created, and minds are diverted from present truth. Satan knows that if he can get men and women absorbed in trifling details, greater questions will be left unheeded. He will furnish plenty of material for the attention of those who are willing to think upon trifling, unimportant subjects. The minds of the Pharisees were absorbed with questions of no moment. They passed by the precious truths of God’s Word to discuss the traditionary lore handed down from generation to generation, which in no way concerned their salvation. And so today, while precious moments are passing into eternity, the great questions of salvation are overlooked for some idle tale. {1SM 170.4-5}
  • Controversy arises because there is no truth, mercy and knowledge of God in the land (Hos 4:1)
• Talk, pharisaism, and self-praise are abundant; but these will never win souls to Christ. Pure, sanctified love, such love as was expressed in Christ’s lifework, is as a sacred perfume. Like Mary’s broken box of ointment, it fills the whole house with fragrance. Eloquence, knowledge of truth, rare talents, mingled with love, are all precious endowments. But ability alone, the choicest talents alone, cannot take the place of love. This love must be manifested by God’s workers. Love for God and for those for whom Christ has died will do a work that we can scarcely comprehend. Those who do not cherish and cultivate this love cannot be successful missionaries. {6T 84.2-3}

 

PHYSICIAN

• Jesus Christ (Luke 4:23, Matt 9:11-13)
  • For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. (Job 5:18)
• Luke (Col 4:14)
• Of no value are liars (Job 13:4)

 

PILGRIMS / STRANGERS

• Converted Christians are pilgrims and strangers (1 Pet 2:11)
• Moses was as a stranger in the land of Madian, where he begat two sons. (Act 7:29)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 25:34-35: Jesus, the King, is like a stranger.
• John 1:10:  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

 

PILLARS [see pomegranates]

• People/leaders (Gal 2:9, Jere 1:18)
• Overcomers are like pillars in the house of God (Rev 3:12)
  • When meat is cut off, there is no joy and gladness from the house of God (Joel 1:16)
• The house of wisdom has seven pillars (Prov 9:1)
• Pillars can be hollow (Jere 52:21)

 

PIT [see whore] [see harlot]

• Compared to water flood, the deep/ocean/sea (Psa 69:15)
• The grave (Prov 1:12)
• Ditch (Psa_7:15)
• A whore or strange woman (Pro_23:27)
• If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch (Matt 15:14)
  • People in darkness are spiritually blind (Rom 2:19)
  • when the heart turns to the Lord, spiritual blindness is taken away (2 Cor 3:15-16)
  • those who lack faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love are blind (2 Pet 1:5-9)

 

PLOWSHARE

• truth, Word of God {Ev 321.2}
  • (Isa 2:4, Mic 4:3, Joel 3:10, Eph 6:17, Heb 4:12) (Psa 74:5,6, Jere 23:29, Mark 8:24, Matt 3:9,10, GW92 90.2, 15MR 161.2, {Ms50-1886.4} {Ms5-1849.6})
• Plow iniquity and sow wickedness – reap what you sow (Job 4:8)
  • He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Cor 9:6)

 

PLUMBLINE

• Examination of conduct (Amos 7:7,8)

 

POISON / VENOM

• Of dragons (Deut 32:33)
  • Is the venom of asps (snakes) which is wine [see wine]
• Words of the wicked (Psa 140:3)
• Deceit (Rom 3:13) [see deceit]
• 1 Corinthians 15:56àSting=kentron=poison sting. It is the sting of death. The sting of death is sin for the wages of sin is death *Rom 6:23 + Jam 1:15*
  • Scorpions also sting (Rev 9:10) [see scorpions]

 

POMEGRANATES [see fruits] [see brass] [see pillars]

• 1 Samuel 13:1-24 à Now Saul, who had been sitting under the pomegranate tree, became very zealous, and made a law, saying, “Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.” [Verse 24.] Jonathan and his armorbearer, who had through God wrought deliverance for Israel—for they were in stern conflict and hand to hand battle—became weak through hunger. This rash oath of Saul’s was a human invention. It was not inspired of God, and God was displeased by it, for the people were weary and faint with hunger. {Lt16-1897.49}
  • Psa_119:139  My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
  • Isa_59:17  For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
    • Armour of righteousness (2 Cor 6:7)
  • Priestly garments included pomegranates (Ex 28:33-35)
  • Brass pomegranates placed on pillars of the Temple (1 King 7:20, 2King 25:17, Jere 52:22) [see brass] [see pillars]
  • Zeal of God (Rom 10:2)
    • Zeal can provoke many people to do what’s right (2 Cor 9:2)
  • Jewish tradition teaches that the pomegranate is a symbol for righteousness, because it is said to have 613 seeds that corresponds with the 613 mitzvot or commandments of the Torah.
  • Fruitfulness, blessing, and prosperity (Numbers 13:23; Deuteronomy 8:8).
  • The presence of pomegranate trees was symbolic of a nation’s financial and material wealth (Joel 1:12; Haggai 2:19). The grumbling Israelites mentioned the lack of pomegranates as a sign that God had deserted them: “Why did you bring the Lord’s community into this wilderness, that we and our livestock should die here? . . . It has no grain or figs, grapevines or pomegranates” (Numbers 20:4–5).
  • The pomegranate may represent Israel. They were battered on the outside like the pomegranate’s peel but able to bless others from within.
  • It appears that perhaps God does not give us insight into His reasons for using pomegranates symbolically, but we know that everything He does has a purpose (Isaiah 46:9–11).

 

POT

• Bloody city – Jerusalem (Eze 24:2,6)

 

POTTER [see clay]

• God (Lam 4:2, Isa 64:8, Jere 18:6)
• Has a house (Jere 18:2,6) [see house]

 

POWER

• The preaching of the cross is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18) {AA 241.3}
• Christ is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24)
• Faith should stand in the power of God (1 Cor 2:5)
  • Guarded by the power of God through faith (1 Pet 1:5)
• We are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation (1 Peter 1:5)
• Where the word of a king is there is power (Ecc 9:4)
• The kingdom of God is not in word, but in power (1 Cor 4:20)
• We will live with Jesus by the power of God (2 Cor 13:4)
• Jesus promised that we would receive power from the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8)
  • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)
  • When full of power by the spirit of the Lord, we will have judgment and might to declare to God’s people their transgression and sin (Mic 3:8)
  • The time of the Holy Spirit’s power is the time when in a special sense the heavenly gift is sought and found…{COL 118.3}
• Sin has power {COL 266.2}
• Wisdom is power (Ecc 7:12, Jere 10:12)
  • Christ is the power and wisdom of God (1 Cor 1:24)
  • The gospel is the power and wisdom of God, if it is correctly represented by those who claim to be Christians. {CE 147.1}
• Worldly POV: money is power (Ecc 7:12){AH 195.3}
• Christian POV: love is power {AH 195.3}
• A knowledge of true science is power, and it is the purpose of God that this knowledge shall be taught in our schools as a preparation for the work that is to precede the closing scenes of this earth’s history. The truth is to be carried to the remotest bounds of earth, through agents trained for the work. But while the knowledge of science is power, the knowledge that Jesus came in person to impart is still greater power. The science of salvation is the most important science to be learned in the preparatory school of earth. The wisdom of Solomon is desirable, but the wisdom of Christ is far more desirable and more essential. We cannot reach Christ through a mere intellectual training; but through Him we can reach the highest round of the ladder of intellectual greatness. While the pursuit of knowledge in art, in literature, and in trades should not be discouraged, the student should first secure an experimental knowledge of God and His will. {CT 19.1-2}
• …The power of God’s love and grace constrains us to come. {COL 235.1}
• …The winning power of His love compels souls to come in…{COL 235.2}
• The creative energy that called the world into existence is in the Word of God. This Word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One. It transforms the nature and recreates the soul in the image of God. {ST April 11, 1906, par. 7 }
• In every command and in every promise of the word of God is the power, the very life of God, by which the command may be fulfilled and the promise realized. He who by faith receives the word is receiving the very life and character of God. {COL 38.1}
• …Knowledge of God brings power. It is by the virtue of the Word of God, as we put its truths into practice, that we are enabled to accomplish any good thing. Simplicity and godly sincerity win God’s commendation. The grace of Christ revealed in the daily experience shows that His words have been eaten and have become a part of the life. {Ms113-1902.27}
• Strength of character consists of two things—power of will and power of self-control…{CG 161.4}
• The will is the governing power in the nature of man, bringing all the other faculties under its sway. The will is not the taste or the inclination, but it is the deciding power, which works in the children of men unto obedience to God, or unto disobedience.1 {CG 209.1}
• There is wonderful power in silence.12 {CG 247.2}
• It is through the social relations that Christianity comes in contact with the world. Every man or woman who has received the divine illumination is to shed light on the dark pathway of those who are unacquainted with the better way. Social power, sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, must be improved in bringing souls to the Saviour. Christ is not to be hid away in the heart as a coveted treasure, sacred and sweet, to be enjoyed solely by the possessor. We are to have Christ in us as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, refreshing all who come in contact with us. {MH 496.2}
• It is through the social relations that Christianity comes in contact with the world. Every man or woman who has tasted of the love of Christ and has received into the heart the divine illumination, is required of God to shed light on the dark pathway of those who are unacquainted with the better way. Every worker in that sanitarium should become a witness for Jesus. Social power, sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, must be improved to win souls to the Saviour. {CH 399.2}
• We should all become witnesses for Jesus. Social power, sanctified by the grace of Christ, must be improved in winning souls to the Saviour. Let the world see that we are not selfishly absorbed in our own interests, but that we desire others to share our blessings and privileges. Let them see that our religion does not make us unsympathetic or exacting. Let all who profess to have found Christ, minister as He did for the benefit of men. {DA 152.4}
• His subjects are those who are partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And this grace is given them of God. Christ does not find his subjects fitted for his kingdom, but he qualifies them by his divine power…{RH March 26, 1895, par. 1}

 

POWERFUL WICKED PEOPLE

• green bay tree (Psalm 37:35)

 

PRAYER

• supplication (Psa 6:9)
• involves spoken words (Psa 54:2)
• sitting (Neh 1:4)
• standing (Mark 11:25)
• bowed down (Ex 34:8-9)
• hands up (1 Tim 2:8)
• kneeling (Luk 22:41)
• lying down (Matt 26:39)
• The captivity of Job was turned when he prayed for his friends. He was given twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)
• We don’t have what we want because we don’t ask and we don’t have because we ask amiss so that we can consume it upon our lusts (Jam 4:2-3)
• When afflicted we should pray (Jam 5:13)
• Prayer of faith (Jam 5:15)
• Pray for one another (Jam 5:16)
• Cornelius’ prayers and alms (good deed/ giving to the poor) came up as a memorial before God (Act 10:4, 31)
  • A woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she broke the box, and poured it on Jesus’ head. What she had done was recorded in the Bible as a memorial (Mark 14:3-9, Matt 26:13)
• Christ, our Mediator, and the Holy Spirit are constantly interceding in man’s behalf, but the Spirit pleads not for us as does Christ, who presents His blood, shed from the foundation of the world; the Spirit works upon our hearts, drawing out prayers and penitence, praise and thanksgiving. The gratitude which flows from our lips is the result of the Spirit striking the cords of the soul in holy memories, awakening the music of the heart. {Ms50-1900.16}
• 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. Prayer brings the heart into immediate contact with the Well-spring of life, and strengthens the sinew and muscle of the religious experience. Neglect the exercise of prayer, or engage in prayer spasmodically, now and then, as seems convenient, and you lose your hold on God. The spiritual faculties lose their vitality, the religious experience lacks health and vigor. {GW 254.4}
• The idea that prayer is not essential is one of Satan’s most successful devices to ruin souls. Prayer is communion with God, the Fountain of wisdom, the Source of strength, and peace, and happiness. Jesus prayed to the Father “with strong crying and tears.” Paul exhorts believers to “pray without ceasing,” in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, making known their requests to God. “Pray one for another,” James says. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Hebrews 5:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16. {CCh 152.3}
• To those who desire prayer for their restoration to health, it should be made plain that the violation of God’s law, either natural or spiritual, is sin, and that in order for them to receive His blessing, sin must be confessed and forsaken. {Pr 234.3}
• The Lord desires His servants to improve in their manner of praying. He inquires, Where is the vivifying influence of your prayers? He does not accept the tame, lifeless, lengthy prayers, which are so destitute of His Spirit. He calls for a reformation, else He will remove the candlestick out of its place. He desires the candle to burn brightly, sending forth light to all parts of the world. When the Church turns fully to the Lord, lifeless, spiritless prayers will no more be heard. I urge my ministering brethren to improve in their manner of praying. This can and must be done. I must say to them, The shorter you make your spiritless prayers, the better will it be for the congregation. It is generally the case that the less of heaven’s vitality there is in a prayer, the more lengthy it is. Do not spend a long time in prayer before a congregation unless you know that God is inditing the prayer. Let the prayers made in public be short and full of earnestness. The effectual, fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much; but the prayer uttered in a low, monotonous tone and spiritless manner is not accepted by God. The voice of prayer should rise to God from hearts burdened by a sense of need. Let there be a revival of the Holy Spirit, that your prayers may be filled with the power of heaven. {RH January 14, 1902, Art. A, par. 10-11}
• If you feel in no danger, and if you offer no prayer for help and strength to resist temptations, you will be sure to go astray; your neglect of duty will be marked in the book of God in heaven, and you will be found wanting in the trying day. {CCh 184.3}
• What is it to be a Christian?—It is to be Christlike; it is to do the works of Christ. Some fail on one point, some on another. Some are naturally impatient. Satan understands their weakness, and manages to overcome them again and again. But let none be discouraged by this. Whenever little annoyances and trials arise, ask God in silent prayer to give you strength and grace to bear them patiently. There is a power in silence; do not speak a word until you have sent up your petition to the God of heaven. If you will always do this, you will soon overcome your hasty temper, and you will have a little heaven here to go to heaven in. {RH November 19, 1908, Art. A, par. 18}
• From the secret place of prayer came the power that shook the world in the Great Reformation. There, with holy calmness, the servants of the Lord set their feet upon the rock of His promises. During the struggle at Augsburg, Luther “did not pass a day without devoting three hours at least to prayer, and they were hours selected from those the most favorable to study.” In the privacy of his chamber he was heard to pour out his soul before God in words “full of adoration, fear, and hope, as when one speaks to a friend.” “I know that Thou art our Father and our God,” he said, “and that Thou wilt scatter the persecutors of Thy children; for Thou art Thyself endangered with us. All this matter is Thine, and it is only by Thy constraint that we have put our hands to it. Defend us, then, O Father!”—Ibid., b. 14, ch. 6. {GC 210.1}
• Difficult points of present truth have been reached by the earnest efforts of a few who were devoted to the work. Fasting and fervent prayer to God have moved the Lord to unlock His treasuries of truth to their understanding. Wily opponents and boasting Goliaths have had to be met, sometimes face to face, but more frequently with the pen. Satan has urged men on to fierce opposition, to blind the eyes and darken the understanding of the people. The few who had the interest of the cause and truth of God at heart were aroused to its defense. They did not seek for ease, but were willing to venture even their lives for the truth’s sake. {2T 650.2}
• As Christ is our example in all things, if we imitate his example in earnest, importunate prayer to God that we may have strength in his name who never yielded to the temptations of Satan to resist the devices of the wily foe, we shall not be overcome by him. Children and youth, if you would be kept from the paths of sin, as you are not experienced in discerning the devices of Satan, your only safety is in prayer. Lay open all the secrets of the heart to the search of the infinite Eye, and plead with God to make you pure and strong, and to arm you completely for the great conflicts of life. Faith grows by conflicts with doubt; virtue gathers strength by the resistance of temptation. {YI April 1, 1873, par. 3}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PREACH

• Jonah was told by God to preach to Nineveh with God’s message (Jonah 3:2)
  • Jesus said the Ninevites repented (Matt 12:41)
• Nehemiah was accused of appointing prophets to preach of him as a king (Neh 6:5-7)
• John the Baptist preached the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4)
  • Preached in the wilderness of Judea (Matt 3:1)
  • Our work is the same as that given to John the Baptist (8T 9)
  • He was to bear to the world an unflinching testimony in reproving and denouncing sin (2SM 147)
  • In his mission the Baptist had stood as a fearless reprove of iniquity, both in high places and in low (DA 215)
  • All who are truly engaged in the work of the Lord for these last days wll have a decided message to bear (8T 9)
• Preaching repentance and the remission of sins began at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47)
• Spirit of the Lord God is needed in order to preach good tidings to the meek (Isa 61:1)
• God sends preachers to preach the gospel of peace and bring glad tidings of good things (Rom 10:15)
  • They should live of the gospel (1 Cor 9:14)
• The Holy Spirit will direct the minister on where to preach the word (Act 16:6)
• God may direct His people through visions on where to go and preach the gospel (Act 16:10)
• Preach to the people in prison (1 Pet 3:19)
• Peter announced to the Gentiles that Jesus commanded him and the disciples to preach to the people and testify that it is Jesus which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. (Act 10:42)
  • Artaxerxes, who styled himself as the king of kings, said whatsoever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be diligently done (Ezra 7:12, 23)
• Apostles taught and preached Jesus Christ in the temple and in every house (Act 5:42; 17:3)
• Preach to people to turn from vanities to the living God which made heaven, earth and the sea and all things that are therein (Act 14:15)
• For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath day. (Act 15:21)
• Preach the gospel (Rom 1:15, 15:20, 2 Cor 10:16))
  • Not to preach with wisdom of words (1 Cor 1:17)
    • Words should be easy to understand (1 Cor 14:9)
  • The preaching of the cross is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18)
  • Preach Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:23)
  • Woe unto the preacher who does not preach the gospel (1 Cor 9:16)
  • Make the gospel of Christ without charge (1Cor 9:18)
  • Preach Christ’s gospel (2Cor 2:12)
• Preach the word of faith (Rom 10:8)
  • When the word is preached, it needs to be mixed with faith in those that hear (Heb 4:2)
• Preach the word, be ready in and out of season. Make sure to reprove, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine (2 Tim 4:2)
  • Preach God’s word faithfully (Jere 23:28)
  • Grievous words stir up strife (Prov 15:1)
  • Those that despise the word will be destroyed (Prov 13:13)
• Philip preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ. He also baptized both men and women (Act 8:12)
  • When men go out with the burden of the work and to bring souls into the truth, those men are ordained of God, [even] if [they] never have a touch of ceremony of ordination. To say [they] shall not baptize when there is nobody else, [is wrong]. If there is a minister in reach, all right, then they should seek for the ordained minister to do the baptizing, but when the Lord works with a man to bring out a soul here and there, and they know not when the opportunity will come that these precious souls can be baptized, why he should not question about the matter, he should baptize these souls. This is the very work [described in the Scriptures], as I have been writing on the life of Christ in regard to these [believers] being scattered, how because of the persecution they went everywhere preaching the Word of God; they were preaching the gospel everywhere, and as souls were raised up they were baptized. Philip was not an ordained minister, but when the eunuch began to inquire about this matter, Philip opened to him the Word, and then what? He says, “What doth hinder my being baptized?” [Acts 8:36.] Sure enough, what did hinder? It was not considered that anything hindered, and Philip went down and baptized him. Well, there are these things that need to be considered before men shall ever go into these countries, and if you are going to have the ordained ministers from what we have now, the ordained ministers will be few and far between. There must be men that shall be commissioned or encouraged by our brethren to go out, and if they feel that it is best to have these men ordained—some of them—why, ordain them; but if not, let them go out and let them do to the very best of their ability. They are conscientious men and are accountable to God. We must not put men into straight jackets that are going out to proclaim the gospel of peace among those that are in midnight darkness and idolatry and all these things. And we must lead these men with our prayers, earnest prayers, and our hearts to go with them, and bid them Godspeed, and for the Lord to prosper them. That is what we must do. {Ms75-1896.4-6}
• Philip preached Christ to the Samaritans and an Ethiopian (Act 8:5, 25, 35)
• Philip preached in cities (Act 8:40)
• Paul and Barnabas taught and preached the word of the Lord with many others (Act 15:35)
  • Paul preached Christ and that Jesus is the Son of God (Act 9:20)
  • Paul preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus (Act 9:27)
  • Paul preached the word of God at Berea (Act 17:13)
  • Paul preached Jesus and the resurrection (Act 17:18)
  • Paul preached the gospel of God (2 Cor 11:7)
  • Paul preached a long time (Act 20:9)
  • Paul’s speech and preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power (1 Cor 2:4)
• When Saul was persecuting Christians, they went everywhere preaching the word (Act 8:4, 11:19)
• Don’t preach self, but Jesus (2 Cor 4:5, Act 11:20)
  • Can preach Christ of envy, strife, contention and not sincerely (Php 1:15,16)
  • Some preach of good will (Php 1:15)
  • Preach Christ with warnings and teach every man in all wisdom (Col 1:27-28)
    • Be sure your sin will find you out. (Num 32:23)
      • Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. (Psa 107:17)
      • And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then God sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. (Job 38:8-12)
    • Preach the kingdom of God along with teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence (Act 28:31)
    • If Christ is not risen, the preaching is vain (1 Cor 15:14)
      • *should teach the resurrection and the proofs around it*
      • Preach through Jesus the resurrection from the dead (Act 4:2)
    • Don’t preach a perverted gospel (Gal 1:7-9)
    • Preach the gospel among the heathen (Gal 1:16)
    • Preach among the Gentiles (Gal 2:2, Eph 3:8)
    • The everlasting gospel is to be preached (Rev 14:6)
    • Preach righteousness (Psa 40:9,10)
    • Preach the forgiveness of sins (Act 13:38)
    • Preach peace by Jesus Christ for He is Lord of all (Act 10:36, Eph 2:17)
    • When the preacher preaches some will believe (1 Cor 15:11)
      • God establishes the believer according to the gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began (Rom 16:25)
    • Preaching is the tool through which souls are saved (1 Cor 1:21)
      • The word is manifested through preaching (Tit 1:3)
    • Speak the word without fear (Philip 1:14)
    • Cursed is the person who does the work of the Lord deceitfully (Jere 48:10)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 24:14: Jesus said “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.”
• Luke 4:18: Jesus fulfilled Isaiah 61:1 and more
  • Preached the gospel to the poor
  • Healed the broken-hearted
  • Preached deliverance to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind to set at liberty them that are bruised
    • when the heart turns to the Lord, spiritual blindness is taken away (2 Cor 3:15-16)
    • those who lack faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love are blind (2 Pet 1:5-9)
  • Preached the acceptable year of the Lord (vs. 19)
• Luke 4:22: gracious words proceeded out of his mouth
• Luke 4:32: People were astonished at his doctrine. He taught and preached with power
• Jesus preached the word (Mark 2:2)
• Matthew 4:17: Jesus preached “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
  • Jesus directed His disciples to give the same message (Matt 10:7)
    • Preached that men should repent (Mark 6:12)
    • Repentance and remission of sins should be preached in Jesus name among all nations (Luke 24:47)
  • Jesus ordained 12 disciples to go and preach (Mark 3:14)
    • They preached everywhere, Lord worked with them and word was confirmed with signs (Mark 16:20)
  • They were to preach the gospel to every creature in all the world (Mark 16:15)
  • Jesus directed “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.” (Matt 10:27)
• Matthew 11:1: Jesus taught and preached in cities
  • Preached the kingdom of God (Luke 4:43)
  • Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom, healed every sickness and disease among the people (Matt 9:35)
  • He sent his disciples to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick (Luke 9:2, 60)
  • Healing everywhere (Luke 9:6)
  • Preached in synagogues and cast out devils (Mark 1:39)
• Mark 1:38: Jesus preached in towns
• Matthew 9:35: Jesus preached in villages
• Luke 8:1: Preached throughout every city and village
• Luke 4:15: Jesus taught in synagogues
  • His custom was to into the synagogue on Sabbath to read from the Torah (Luke 4:16)
  • He taught people on the Sabbath days (Luke 4:31)
  • He taught Bible prophecy (Luke 4:17-21)
    • Isaiah 42:8-9 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
    • Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
  • Spirit of truth guides people into all truth and shows people things to come (John 16:13)
  • Just like Paul we should reason with people out of the Scriptures on the Sabbath day. (Acts 17:2)
    • Produce our cause.
    • Bring strong reasons.
    • Show the former things (history) – examine them.
    • Show the fruits or results of those historical events.
    • Show how that history is repeating.
      • Isaiah 41:21-23; Ecc 1:9-10, 3:15; 1 Cor 10:11
    • Demonstrate that Jesus is Christ (Acts 17:3)
  • Jesus taught near lakes (Luke 5:1)
  • Jesus taught from out of Simon’s ship (Luke 5:3)
  • People crowded around Jesus to hear the word of God (Luke 5:1)

 

PREACHER

• Solomon was a preacher (Ecc 1:1,12)
  • He wrote that all is vanity (Ecc 1:2; 12:8)
  • Follow vanity = become vain (2 King 17:15)
• Find out the account. They search diligently (Ecc 7:27; 12:9)
• Wise preachers (Ecc 12:9)
  • He that wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30)
  • Opposite must also be true à foolish preachers
• A wise preacher is a teacher of knowledge
  • He gives good heed, and seeks out, and sets in order many proverbs (Ecc 12:9)
  • Col_3:16  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
  • The apostles were teachers and they taught people (Act 5:18-21, 25, 28, 42)
  • Teachers receive the greater condemnation (Jam 3:1)
• Finds/uses acceptable words out of what is written even words of truth (Ecc 12:10) **source is the Holy Scriptures**
• Paul wrote, “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! ” (Rom 10:14-15)
• Paul was ordained a preacher. A preacher is a teacher (1Tim 2:7; 2Tim 1:11)
• Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet 2:5)
• Noah was a faithful preacher of righteousness, and day after day his warning voice was heard. Day after day the people saw his faith demonstrated in the building of the ark. And at first some received the message, but the restraint of righteousness was obnoxious to them, and they threw off everything that disturbed their carnal indulgence. {14LtMs, Ms 150, 1899, par. 41}
• Those who sincerely believe and teach the word of God must expect to be received by the world with no greater favor than was the ancient preacher of righteousness. Those who lived in Noah’s day despised his prophecy. Scientists quieted the fears of the people by assuring them that it was impossible for his predictions to be fulfilled; they were but the delusive fancies of an imbecile old man. But the unbelief and mockery of the people did not hinder the event. The God of science manifested his power in a manner which has astonished the philosophers of every age. The laws of nature cannot prevent the fulfillment of God’s word. The law is never greater than the Law-giver, nor are the things created greater than the Creator. As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the days of the Son of man. As men are warned of impending judgment, thousands will say, It cannot be. They will despise the truth, make light of prophecy, and deride the teacher of righteousness. One will turn aside to his farm, another to his merchandise, and care for none of these things. {ST February 16, 1882, par. 6-7}
• In Noah’s day the inhabitants of the old world laughed to scorn what they termed the superstitious fears and forebodings of the preacher of righteousness. He was denounced as a visionary character, a fanatic, an alarmist. “As it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.” Men will reject the solemn message of warning in our day, as they did in Noah’s time. {4T 308.2}
• Noah was a Christian. He unflinchingly endured the test of his faith. He was righteous in his day, and is called a “preacher of righteousness.” Christ was the Way for the antediluvian church; He was the Way for the patriarchs, for the prophets, and He is the Way for the Christian church today. Christ is brought to view in the Old Testament Scriptures as a personal Saviour. And the same Christ who was the Way in the Old Testament Scriptures declares in the New, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” {ST January 10, 1900, par. 7}
• As God sent his servant to warn the world of the coming flood, so he sent chosen messengers to make known the nearness of the final Judgment. And as Noah‘s contemporaries laughed to scorn the predictions of the preacher of righteousness, so in Miller‘s day many, even of the professed people of God, scoffed at the words of warning. {GC88 338.3}
• As the scenes of the future were opened to his view, Enoch became a preacher of righteousness, bearing God’s message to all who would hear the words of warning. In the land where Cain had sought to flee from the divine presence, the prophet of God made known the wonderful scenes that had passed before his vision. “Behold,” he declared, “the Lord cometh with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds.” [Jude 14, 15.] {GW 52.4}
• Enoch also was a preacher of righteousness, and sought to turn men from their evil ways. For three hundred years he walked with God, giving to the world the example of a pure and spotless life, one which was in marked contrast with the lives of the men of that self-willed and perverse generation, who openly disregarded God’s holy law, and boasted of their freedom from its restraints. But his testimony and his example were alike unheeded; because men loved sin better than holiness. Enoch served God with singleness of heart; and the Lord communicated to him his will, and through holy vision revealed to him the great events connected with Christ’s second appearing. And then this favored servant of the Lord was borne to Heaven by angels without seeing death. {ST April 22, 1886, par. 4}
• Individuals Sought Out Enoch for Prayer—Enoch became a preacher of righteousness, making known to the people what God had revealed to him. Those who feared the Lord sought out this holy man, to share his instruction and his prayers.—(Patriarchs and Prophets, 86.) Pr 123.3
• The Greater Enoch’s Labors, the More Earnest His Prayers—In the midst of a life of active labor, Enoch steadfastly maintained his communion with God. The greater and more pressing his labors, the more constant and earnest were his prayers. He continued to exclude himself, at certain periods, from all society. After remaining for a time among the people, laboring to benefit them by instruction and example, he would withdraw, to spend a season in solitude, hungering and thirsting for that divine knowledge which God alone can impart.—(Patriarchs and Prophets, 86, 87.) Pr 123.4
• When the Pharisees and Sadducees flocked to the baptism of John, that fearless preacher of righteousness addressed them: “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.” These men were actuated by unworthy motives in coming to John. They were men of poisonous principles and corrupt practices. Yet they had no sense of their true condition. Filled with pride and ambition, they would not hesitate at any means to exalt themselves and strengthen their influence with the people. They came to receive baptism at the hand of John that they might better carry out these designs. {5T 225.2}
• He chose Elijah as a preacher of righteousness, a man who would be ruled and guided by the Holy Spirit. And working under God’s direction, Elijah accomplished a grand and noble work. {6LtMs, Ms 31, 1889, par. 77}
• Solomon, when making his appeal and declaration as a preacher of righteousness, presented the prospect of a judgment to come. “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter,” he said, “Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil.” [Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14.] {15LtMs, Lt 131, 1900, par. 12}
• They hate the light; they despise the faithful preachers of righteousness, who speak evil and not good of them, and who rebuke them for their sins as openly as these sins were committed. {14LtMs, Ms 10, 1899, par. 16}
• If you would grow in the knowledge of Bible truth, that you may become a thorough workman that needeth not to be ashamed, you must from the Scriptures furnish yourself for all good works that you may become an able preacher of righteousness. {3LtMs, Lt 53, 1876, par. 22}
• When plied with the arguments and suggestions of such advisers, it would be well for us each to inquire, “Should I, who am a Christian, a child of God; one called to be the light of the world, a preacher of righteousness; who have so often expressed my confidence in the truth and the way in which the Lord has led us,—should I unite my influence with those who bitterly oppose the work of God? Should I, a steward of the mysteries of God, open to his worst enemies the counsels of his people? Would not such a course embolden the wicked in their opposition to the truth of God and to his covenant-keeping people? Would not such concession prevent me from opening my lips in exhortation, warning, or entreaty, in my own family or in the church of God? If Paul or Peter were placed in similar circumstances, would he thus betray a sacred trust? Would not even men of the world despise me? Would they not scorn to be diverted from their life-work by difficulties or perils?” Satan will work by any and every means which he can employ to discourage the active servants of God. If the shepherd can be beguiled from his duty, then the way is clear for wolves to scatter and devour the sheep. {ST January 3, 1884, par. 16-17}
• In the life of Jesus we have a perfect example. In all things we are to practice His virtues, and we are to be preachers of righteousness, to endeavor to win to Jesus Christ all within the sphere of our influence. {20LtMs, Lt 293, 1905, par. 35}
• Spies were upon the track of these early preachers of righteousness, who caught up every word where there was the least chance to wrest the meaning. Paul, the great apostle to the Gentiles, was an especial object of wrath. His work and its results were falsely stated. His enemies sought to excite the malice of both Jews and Gentiles; and had it not been for the care of God, through the ministration of holy angels, his life would have been sacrificed long before it was, and his work cut short. {ST August 5, 1886, par. 10}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRESUMPTION

• The word – זד zêd – means properly that which is boiling, swelling, inflated; then proud, arrogant; with the accessory notion of shameless wickedness or impiety. Presumptuous sins are sins which proceed from self-confidence; from reliance on one’s own strength. The word does not mean open sins, or flagrant sins, so much as those which spring from self-reliance or pride. Presumptuous sins are sins committed against knowledge, against the checks of conscience, and the motions of God’s spirit. Sins committed not through frailty or surprise, but those which are the offspring of thought, purpose, and deliberation. Sins against judgment, light, and conscience. (Psa 19:12-13)
• The mistakes that are the natural result of blindness of mind are, when pointed out, no longer sins of ignorance or errors of judgment; but unless there are decided reforms in accordance with the light given, they then become presumptuous sins. {5T 435.3}
• The work of Satan is to interpose his sophistry, his lying statements, to lead men to believe a lie rather than the words of God, which are the truth. It is thus that he leads men into presumptuous sins. Satan is ever at work to keep out of our minds the doctrine of the cross of Christ; for this is the counter-influence through which sin is to be vanquished and man be brought back to his allegiance to the law of God. {RH September 29, 1891, par. 3}

 

PRINCE

• Jacob to Israel – as a prince you have power with God and men and prevailed (Gen 32:28)
• Moses compared to a prince and judge (Ex 2:14)
• Each prince given a rod – 12 (Num 17:6, Gen 17:20, 25:16)
• Head of a house (Josh 22:14, Job 21:28)
• As a prince, approach God (Job 31:37)
• A populous kingdom is a sign that he (a prince or king) rules well, since strangers are hereby invited to come and settle under his protection and his own subjects live comfortably. It is a sign that he and his kingdom are under the blessing of God, the effect of which is being fruitful and multiplying. (Prov 14:28)
• Not to lie (Prov 17:7)
• Persuaded by long forbearing (Prov 25:15)
• A prince without understanding is a great oppressor (Prov 28:16)
• Seraiah was a quiet prince (Jere 51:59)
• Prince of the eunuchs (Dan 1:7)
• Prince of the devils – Satan (Matt 9:34, 12:24)
• Prince of this world – Satan (John 12:31, 14:30, 16:11)
• Prince of the power of the air – Satan (Eph 2:2)
• Princes of Pharaoh (Gen 12:15)
• Princes of Philistines (1 Sam 18:30, 29:3)
• Princes of provinces (1King 20:15)
  • Princess among provinces (Lam 1:1)
• Princes and rulers of Israel intermarried with heathen (Ezra 9:2)
• Spirit of princes (Psa 76:12)
• Don’t put all your trust in princes (Psa 146:3)
• By God princes decree justice (Prov 8:15)
• By God princes rule (Prov 8:16)
• No alcohol for princes (Prov 31:4)
• Rebellious princes were companions with thieves (Isa 1:23)
• Princes likened to kings (Isa 10:8)
• Princes likened to merchants (Isa 23:8)
• Princes of the sanctuary (Isa 43:28)
• Princes likened to harts that find no pasture (Lam 1:6)
• Princes likened to wolves that destroy souls for dishonest gain (Eze 22:27)
• Princes likened to roaring lions (Zeph 3:3)
• Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion and authority of their own (Matt 20:25)
• Prince’s daughter (Song Sol 7:1)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 9:6: Jesus is the Prince of Peace
• Acts 3:15, 5:31: Jesus is the Prince of Life
• Revelation 1:5: Jesus is the Prince of the kings of the earth
• Daniel 8:25: Jesus is the Prince of princes

 

PRISONER

• The poor *God’s prisoners* (Psa 69:33)
• Paul – a prisoner of Jesus Christ (Eph 3:1, Phm 1:1,9)
• Paul – a prisoner of the Lord (Eph 4:1, 2 Tim 1:8)
• Prisoners of hope (Zech 9:12)
• The devil (through his agents) casts believers into prison (Rev 2:10)

 

PROPHETS [see head] [see tail] [see false prophets] [see seer]

• Spiritual men (Hos 9:7)
• Ministry of prophets (Hos 12:10)
• The Lord of hosts sends through His Spirit His words by the prophets (Zech 7:12)
  • Those whom God has sent speak words of God (John 3:34)
  • A man that is not sent of God can do nothing (John 9:33)
• God’s people were known for mocking God’s messengers and misusing the prophets (2Chron 36:16)
• Lord’s prophets, prophets of Baal and prophets of the groves (1King 18:13)
• Some were married (2King 4:1)
• Some were young men (2King 9:4)
• Can be types or shadows of Christ (Heb 1:1,2)
  • Luke 7:16,17: People referred to Jesus as a great prophet
• Teach the way of salvation (Act 16:17)
  • God’s way is in the sanctuary (Psa 77:13)
• God’s prophets are shown the iniquities of God’s people (Hab 1:3)
  • Because iniquity and violence abounds the law is slacked (Hab 1:3-4)
• Show God’s people their abominations and sins (Eze 16:1,2)
• Bring Israel out of Egypt (Hos 12:13)
  • By a prophet they were preserved
• No prophet is accepted in his own country (Luke 4:24)
  • No honour in their own country (John 4:44)
• God speaks at different times and in various ways through His prophets (Heb 1:1)
• The Lord reveals his secrets to His prophets (Amos 3:7)
• Spirit of truth guides people into all truth and shows people things to come (John 16:13)
• Those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever that we may do all the words of the law (Deut 29:29)
• Bad kings hate the prophesying of God’s prophets (1King 22:8)
• God’s prophets sometimes receive communications on the watchtower (Hab 2:1-2)
• There are light and treacherous prophets (Hab 3:4)
• God’s prophets assisted in building the house of God (Ezra 5:2)
  • Built with great stones in three rows (Ezra 5:8, 6:4)
• Tests of a true prophet
  • Live a godly life (Matt 7:15-20)
  • Called to service by God (Isa 6:1-10; Jere 1:5-10, Amos 7:14,15)
  • Speak and write in harmony with the Bible (Isa 8:19,20)
  • Predict events that will come true (Deut 18:20-22)
  • Have visions and dreams (Num 12:6)
• Physical evidences of a prophet in vision
  • Initially lose physical strength (Dan 10:8)
  • May later receive supernatural strength (Dan 10:18-19)
  • Not aware of earthly surroundings (Dan 10:5-8, 2 Cor 12:2-4)
  • No breath in the body yet alive (Dan 10:17)
  • Able to speak (Dan 10:16) & Eyes open (Num 24:4)
• Jeremiah was a prophet and he referred to himself as a pastor (Jere 17:16)
• Fools are slow of heart to believe all that prophets have spoken (Luk 24:25)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Deuteronomy 18:15-18, Acts 3:20-26, Luk 24:19: Jesus was that great Prophet the Son of God raised up to turn the people away from their iniquities. He is mighty in word and deed.
  • God’s ministers model themselves after Jesus Christ who turned people from their iniquities (Act 3:26)
  • They speak and teach in the name of Jesus (Act 4:18)
  • They speak of things seen and heard (Act 4:20)
  • With boldness they speak the word (Act 4:29)
• Hebrews 3:1-3: Moses is a type of Jesus Christ (figure etc.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

PROTESTANT / PROTESTANTISM

• They protest against disobedience to God’s law and exalt obedience to the Lord. (Jere 11:6-8)
• The appeal to men’s reason aroused them from their passive submission to papal dogmas. Wycliffe now taught the distinctive doctrines of Protestantism—salvation through faith in Christ, and the sole infallibility of the Scriptures. The preachers whom he had sent out circulated the Bible, together with the Reformer’s writings, and with such success that the new faith was accepted by nearly one half of the people of England. {GC 89.1}
• “The principles contained in this celebrated Protest … constitute the very essence ofProtestantism. Now this Protest opposes two abuses of man in matters of faith: the first is the intrusion of the civil magistrate, and the second the arbitrary authority of the church. Instead of these abuses, Protestantism sets the power of conscience above the magistrate, and the authority of the word of God above the visible church. In the first place, it rejects the civil power in divine things, and says with the prophets and apostles, ‘We must obey God rather than man.’ In presence of the crown of Charles the Fifth, it uplifts the crown of Jesus Christ. But it goes farther: it lays down the principle that all human teaching should be subordinate to the oracles of God.”—, b. 13, ch. 6. The protesters had moreover affirmed their right to utter freely their convictions of truth. They would not only believe and obey, but teach what the word of God presents, and they denied the right of priest or magistrate to interfere. The Protest of Spires was a solemn witness against religious intolerance, and an assertion of the right of all men to worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences. {GC 203.4}
• We have been looking many years for a Sunday law to be enacted in our land; and now that the movement is right upon us, we ask, Will our people do their duty in the matter? Can we not assist in lifting the standard, and in calling to the front those who have a regard for their religious rights and privileges? The time is fast approaching when those who choose to obey God rather than man, will be made to feel the hand of oppression. Shall we then dishonor God by keeping silent while His holy commandments are trodden under foot? While the Protestant world is by her attitude making concessions to Rome, let us arouse to comprehend the situation, and view the contest before us in its true bearings. Let the watchmen now lift up their voice, and give the message which is present truth for this time. Let us show people where we are in prophetic history, and seek to arouse the spirit of true Protestantism, awakening the world to a sense of the value of the privileges of religious liberty so long enjoyed.—Testimonies for the Church 5:716. The people of our land need to be aroused to resist the advances of this most dangerous foe to civil and religious liberty.—The Spirit of Prophecy 4:382. Shall we sit with folded hands, and do nothing in this crisis? … God help us to arouse from the stupor that has hung over us for years.—The Review and Herald, December 18, 1888. {ChS 163.1-3}
• We are engaged in an important and an essential work, and we must carry on an aggressive warfare. We are to stand for true Protestant principles; for the policies of the papacy will edge their way into every possible place to proscribe liberty of conscience. Every eye should now be single to the glory of God. Those who have been seeking to undermine the confidence of our people in the testimonies of the Spirit of God, and in the leadings of Providence in our work, will one day be revealed as having acted a part similar to that of Judas. Judas was tempted and tried, but not rising above these temptations, he lost ground, and finally went so far as to betray his Lord. Christ permitted Judas to go with the other disciples on their evangelistic tours, but on these occasions, Judas often manifested a spirit of superiority. He sought to exercise authority over his brethren. This spirit, unchecked, opened the way for the enemy to work upon his heart and mind, until at length he went so far as to betray his Saviour with a treacherous kiss. There are today, among the professed people of God, some who are walking in the same path; and unless they are converted, they will one day be numbered with the open enemies of God’s work for this time. {RH September 9, 1909, par. 7-8}
• Purity of life, unwearying diligence in study and in labor, incorruptible integrity, and Christlike love and faithfulness in his ministry, characterized the first of the Reformers. {GC 94.1}

 

PROVOKE

• Grieve (Psa 78:40)
• Provoke unto love (Heb 10:24)

 

PULPIT [see tower]

• MIGDAL OR MIGDALAH – translated as pulpit in Nehemiah 8:4. It was made out of wood. Migdal or migdalah can mean tower or castle **also translated as flower once**

 

PURPLE

• riches (Luke 16:19)
• royalty (John 19:2-3)

 

PUT TO SHAME

• turned back (Psalm 35:4)
• Opposite of glory is shame (Hab 2:16)

 

RAGS [see filthy rags]

• drowsiness clothes a man with rags (Prov 23:21)
• all our righteousness are as filthy rags (Isa 64:6)
  • we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAIN [see cloud] [see water] [see garment/clothing/robe]

• God gives rain and sends water (Job 5:10)
• God withholds rain or lets it go (Job 12:15)
• early and latter rain (James 5:7)
• former and latter rain (Jere 5:24; Hos 6:3; Joel 2:23)
• small rain is the dew or early rain or former rain upon the tender herb (Deut 32:2, Jere 5:24)
  • Num 11:9  When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
• Great rain (Job 37:6) – must be the opposite and greater than the small rain
  • Time of revival and repentance when there was a great rain (Ezra 10:9-17)
• showers is the latter rain upon the grass (Deut 32:2, Jere 3:3, 14:22; Zech 10:1)
  • we should ask for it in the time of the latter rain (Zech 10:1)
  • there shall be showers of blessing (Eze 34:26)
• favour (Prov 16:15) [see wall] [see dew]
  • He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. (Prov 28:23)
  • To obey the commandments of God is the only way to obtain His favor. “Go forward” should be the Christian’s watchword. {4T 27.4}
• Holy Spirit [see water]
• Lord (Hos 6:1-3) + Lt 66-1894.18
• God’s word (Isa 55:10,11)
  • Every word of God is pure (Prov 30:5)
• Rain righteousness (Hos 10:12)
• angry countenance and backbiting drives away rain (Prov 25:23)
• No rain because of sin (1King 8:35)
  • When we cast away all our idols/sins, then God will send rain (Isa 30:22-23)
• No dew, no rain and a drought because the Lord’s house is in poor condition (Hag 1:9-11)
• Wasn’t until the people’s hearts turned back to God and the false prophets slain that rain came (1King 18:36-41)
• sweeping rain is compared to the poor oppressing the poor (Prov 28:3)
• comes with lightning (Jere 51:16) [see lightning]
• Clouds from the west signify rain is coming (Luke 12:54)
• North wind drives away rain (Prov 25:23)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Job said, “And they waited for me as for the rain; and they opened their mouth wide as for the latter rain.” (Job 29:23)
  • Job means: he who returns
    • Jesus is returning to this earth (John 14:1-3)
  • Job means also: enemy
    • Jesus was hated as an enemy is hated (John 7:7; 15:18)
  • Job means also: The Persecuted
    • Jesus was persecuted (John 15:20)
    • Fleshly people will persecute spiritual people (Gal 4:29)
    • Flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit is contrary to the flesh (Gal 5:17)

 

RAINBOW

• a symbol of the covenant/agreement/promise between God and man that God would never destroy the earth by a flood again (Gen 9:12-17)
  • Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)
• a symbol of God’s kindness and mercy (Isa 54:9,10){PP 107.1,2}
• combination of mercy and justice or mercy and judgment or mercy and truth or righteousness and peace (Rev 4:2,3) (Psa 89:14) (Psa 85:10){Mar 326.3} {SSP 95.1}
• As the bow in the cloud is formed by the union of the sunlight and the shower, so the rainbow encircling the throne represents the combined power of mercy and justice… It is the mingling of judgment and mercy that makes salvation complete. It is the blending of the two that leads us, as we view the world’s Redeemer, and the law of Jehovah, to exclaim, “Thy gentleness hath made me great.”… {RH December 13, 1892, par. 7}
• bow – the glory of God (Eze 1:28)
• The rainbow above the throne is the righteousness of Christ. The glory of the law is Christ and He came to magnify the law… {RH December 13, 1892, par. 6}
• …God is at work upon human minds; it is not man alone that is working. The great illuminating power is from Christ; the brightness of his example is to be kept before the people in every discourse. His love is the glory of the rainbow encircling the throne on high. {RH December 13, 1892, par. 5}
• promise of forgiveness {SSP 95.2}
• *SPECIAL NOTE* look up all the colours of the rainbow

 

RAGE

• Jealousy is the rage of a man (Prov 6:34)
• When a wise man contends with a foolish man, there is not rest whether the foolish man rages or scoffs (mocks, laughs etc.) at what the wise man has to share (Prov 29:9)
  • He that wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30)

 

RAZOR

• used for cutting hair-when one cut their hair it was a sign of repentance, bitterness of heart and mourning (Eze 27:31)
• judgment (Isa 7:20)

 

REBELLION

• witchcraft (1Sam 15:23)
  • side note: stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry

 

 

 

REBUKE [see oil]

• Chasten (Psa 6:1 also compare Rev 3:19 *note Greek is different*)
• Voice of thunder (Psa 104:7)
• God corrects man for iniquity with rebukes (Psa 39:11)
  • the fury or judgment of God is likened to a rebuke from God (Isa 51:20)
  • Our petition to the Lord should be “correct me, but with judgment and not in thine anger…” (Jere 10:24)
• If you see a person sin, or know him to be addicted to any thing by which the safety of his soul is endangered, you should mildly and affectionately reprove him, and by no means permit him to go on without counsel and advice in a way that is leading him to perdition. In a multitude of cases timely reproof has been the means of saving the soul. Speak to him privately if possible; if not, write to him in such a way that himself alone shall see it. It’s not loving to ignore and not reprove someone living in sin. (Lev 19:16-18)
  • I am very sure that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiritual blindness, is because they will not receive correction. Many have despised the reproofs and warnings given them. The True Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, and proud, and lovers of sin, are ever assailed with doubts. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue and mark of intelligence in them to be unbelieving and questioning, and quibbling. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and teachable spirit. All should decide from the weight of evidence. RH September 16, 1873, par. 10
• Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. (Prov 9:8)
• A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke. (Prov 13:1)
  • He keeps the law (Malachi 2:6-7; Prov 28:7)
• The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke. (Prov 13:8)
• But to them that rebuke him shall be delight, and a good blessing shall come upon them. (Prov 24:25)
• Open rebuke is better than secret love. (Prov 27:5)
• It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools. (Ecc 7:5)
• He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. (Prov 9:7)
• He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue. (Prov 28:23)
• A rebuke unheeded will end in destruction and one’s name put out (Psalm 9:5)
• Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.(2 Tim 4:2)
  • Public wrongs which threaten the prosperity of the church and the cause should be publicly rebuked (see: 2T 15.2)
  • Don’t rebuke elders and other church members sharply, but rather entreat them like family members. (1Tim 5:1,2)
  • Those that sin, rebuke before all so that they may all fear (1Tim 5:20)
  • One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (Titus 1:13,13)
    • Paul directs Titus to rebuke a certain class sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. Men and women who, with their different organizations, are brought together in church capacity have peculiarities and faults. As these are developed, they will require reproof. If those who are placed in important positions never reproved, never rebuked, there would soon be a demoralized condition of things that would greatly dishonor God. But how shall the reproof be given? Let the apostle answer: “With all long-suffering and doctrine.” Principle should be brought to bear upon the one who needs reproof, but never should the wrongs of God’s people be passed by indifferently. {3T 358.3}
    • There will ever be a spirit to rise up against the reproof of sins and wrongs. But the voice of reproof should not be hushed because of this. Those whom God has set apart as ministers of righteousness have solemn responsibilities laid upon them to reprove the sins of the people. Paul commanded Titus, “These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” There are ever those who will despise the one who dares to reprove sin. But when required, reproof must be given. Paul directs Titus to rebuke a certain class sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. And how shall the reproof be given? Let the apostle answer: “With all long-suffering and doctrine.” The one at fault must be shown that his course is not in harmony with the word of God. But never should the wrongs of God’s people be passed by indifferently. Those who faithfully discharge their unpleasant duties under a sense of their accountability to God, will receive his blessing. {ST September 16, 1880, par. 16}
    • Again he says: “There are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers. … Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith. … They profess that they know God, but in works they deny him, being abominable and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.” [Titus 1:10, 13, 16.] There is a work to be done in faithful dealing one with another, that sin may not pass as righteousness. Plain facts must be stated, that evil workers may not be left to deceive through false statements. This work is not to be neglected. Said Christ to His disciples, “Behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves,” who claim to be religious but who are not. [Luke 10:3.] The wolves here referred to are those who have entertained a wolfish disposition to tear and devour the flock of God. But if these very wolves will see their wrong, and will humble themselves before God, if they will put on their robes of Christ’s righteousness, He will accept their repentance and transform their characters. {Ms89-1898.27-28}
    • …If any speak one word of flattery to you, rebuke them sharply. Tell them that Satan has troubled you with that for some time, and they need not help him in his work. {1T 437.1}
  • When full of power by the spirit of the Lord, we will have judgment and might to declare to God’s people their transgression and sin (Mic 3:8)
  • Some people will hate the individuals which give rebukes and speak uprightly (Amos 5:10)
    • Upright men are laughed to scorn (Job 12:4)
  • …Many professed Christians look upon men who do not reprove and condemn wrong, as men of piety and Christians indeed, while they think that those who stand boldly in defense of the right, and will not yield their integrity to unconsecrated influences, lack piety and a Christian spirit. Those who stand in defense of the honor of God and maintain the purity of truth at any cost will have manifold trials, as did our Saviour in the wilderness of temptation. While those who have yielding temperaments, who have not courage to condemn wrong, but keep silent when their influence is needed to stand in defense of the right against any pressure, may avoid many heartaches and escape many perplexities, they will also lose a very rich reward, if not their own souls. Those who are in harmony with God, and who through faith in Him receive strength to resist wrong and stand in defense of the right, will always have severe conflicts and will frequently have to stand almost alone. But precious victories will be theirs while they make God their dependence. His grace will be their strength. Their moral sensibility will be keen and clear, and their moral powers will be able to withstand wrong influences. Their integrity, like that of Moses, will be of the purest character. {3T 302.1-2}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 11:27,28: In a rebuke to Mary adoration, Jesus said “blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.”
• Luke 17:3-4: Jesus said “Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”
• Revelation 3:19: As many as Jesus loves, He rebukes and chastens them.

 

RECONCILIATION

• Reconciliation means that every barrier between the soul and God is removed, and that the sinner realizes what the pardoning love of God means. By reason of the sacrifice made by Christ for fallen men, God can justly pardon the transgressor who accepts the merits of Christ. Christ was the channel through which the mercy, love, and righteousness might flow from the heart of God to the heart of the sinner. “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” {ST March 13, 1893, par. 8}
• The first step in reconciliation to God is the conviction of sin. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” 1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20. In order to see his guilt, the sinner must test his character by God’s great standard of righteousness. It is a mirror which shows the perfection of a righteous character and enables him to discern the defects in his own. The law reveals to man his sins, but it provides no remedy. While it promises life to the obedient, it declares that death is the portion of the transgressor. The gospel of Christ alone can free him from the condemnation or the defilement of sin. He must exercise repentance toward God, whose law has been transgressed; and faith in Christ, his atoning sacrifice. Thus he obtains “remission of sins that are past” and becomes a partaker of the divine nature. He is a child of God, having received the spirit of adoption, whereby he cries: “Abba, Father!” {GC 467.3-4}

 

REDEEMETH / REDEMPTION

• crowneth (Psa 103:4)
• compared with ransom (Hos 13:14)
• redemption of the soul is precious (Psa 49:8)
• with Christ there is plenteous redemption (Psa 130:7, Rom 3:24), 1 Cor 1:30
• redemption of the body – receiving the new body (Luke 21:25-28, Rom 8:19-23, Eph 4:30)
• redemption through the blood is the forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7, Col 1:14)
  • redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet 1:18-19)
• Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13)
  • Sinners are committed for trial. They must answer to the charge of transgressing God’s law. Their only hope is to accept Christ, their Substitute. He has redeemed the fallen race from the curse of the law, having been made sin—a curse—for mankind. Nothing but his grace is sufficient to free the transgressor from bondage. And by the grace of Christ all who are obedient to God’s commandments are made free. {AUGleaner Aug 19, 1903, par. 7}
  • None but Christ could redeem man from the curse of the law. He proposed to take upon Himself the guilt and shame of sin,—sin so offensive in the sight of God that it would necessitate separation from His Father. Christ proposed to reach to the depths of man’s degradation and woe, and restore the repenting, believing soul to harmony with God. Christ, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, offered Himself as a sacrifice and substitute for the fallen sons of Adam, though in this offering all heaven was involved in infinite sacrifice. {ST December 15, 1914, par. 10}
  • How can we be enthusiastic over earthly, common things and not be stirred with this picture—the cross of Calvary, the love that is revealed in the death of God’s dear Son that perishing souls may not be held under the bondage of sin, the curse of the law? {6LtMs, Lt 27, 1890, par. 5}
  • “Your eyes shall be opened,” said the tempter. But what an opening it was! “Ye shall know good and evil.” [Verse 5.] That knowledge was obtained, but what a knowledge it was! The curse of sin was the knowledge they gained. Eve coveted the thing God had forbidden, she revealed a distrust of God and of His goodness, and a desire to be independent and do as she thought best. Eve offered the fruit to Adam and became his tempter. She would be a god. She would be a law unto herself. She would acknowledge no restraint. But that apparently smallest sin constituted her a transgressor of the law of God. {13LtMs, Ms 21, 1898, par. 32}
• the Angel redeems from all evil (Gen 48:16)
  • the redeemed are holy people (Isa 62:12)
  • the 144,000 – the redeemed of the earth are without fault and have no guile (Rev 14:3-5)
  • Jacob, reviewing his life-history, recognized the sustaining power of God—“the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil.” Genesis 48:15, 16. {Ed 147.4}
• redeemed through God’s greatness (Deut 9:26)
• redeemed through God’s great power (Neh 1:10)
• redeemed with judgment / righteousness (Isa 1:27)
• The Lord redeems us out of adversity / distress (2 Sam 4:9, 1 King 1:29)
• “Learn of Me,” says Jesus; “for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest.” We are to enter the school of Christ, to learn from Him meekness and lowliness. Redemption is that process by which the soul is trained for heaven. This training means a knowledge of Christ. It means emancipation from ideas, habits, and practices that have been gained in the school of the prince of darkness. The soul must be delivered from all that is opposed to loyalty to God. {DA 330.2}
• Jesus died to save his people from their sins, and redemption in Christ means to cease the transgression of the law of God, and to be free from every sin; no heart that is stirred with enmity against the law of God, is in harmony with Christ, who suffered on Calvary, to vindicate and exalt the law before the universe. {ST July 21, 1890, par. 5}
• Not to see the marked contrast between Christ and ourselves is not to know ourselves. He who does not abhor himself can not understand the meaning of redemption. To be redeemed means to cease from sin. No heart that is stirred to rebellion against the law of God has any union with Christ, who died to vindicate the law and exalt it before all nations, tongues, and peoples. Pharisaic self-complacency and bold assumptions of holiness are abundant. There are many who do not see themselves in the light of the law of God. They do not loathe selfishness; therefore they are selfish. Their souls are spotted and defiled. Yet with sin-stained lips they say, “I am holy. Jesus teaches me that the law of God is a yoke of bondage. Those who say that we must keep the law have fallen from grace.” {SW April 23, 1907, par. 2}
• The judgments of God are in the land. Divinity and humanity are to combine in the carrying out of God’s great plan for the recovery of sinners. God has given us His truth, that we may act our part in the accomplishment of the grand object for which the plan of redemption exists. {18LtMs, Lt 251, 1903, par. 11}
• The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us “partakers of the divine nature,” and His life declares that humanity, combined with divinity, does not commit sin. The Saviour overcame to show man how he may overcome. All the temptations of Satan, Christ met with the word of God. By trusting in God’s promises, He received power to obey God’s commandments, and the tempter could gain no advantage. To every temptation His answer was, “It is written.” So God has given us His word wherewith to resist evil. Exceeding great and precious promises are ours, that by these we “might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4. {MH 180.5-181.1}
• He clothed His divinity with humanity, that divinity might touch humanity; and that humanity could hopefully lay hold of divinity, to have that power that they could escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Not one of us needs to fall, if we will lay right hold of the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour… {21LtMs, Ms 144, 1906, par. 4-5}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Galatians 4:4,5: Jesus redeemed those under the law. He redeems us from all iniquity (Titus 2:14)

 

REED [see try / test] [see gold] [see rod or staff]

• John the Baptist compared to a reed shaken with the wind (Matt 11:7; Luke 7:24)
• Israel, as a reed is shaken in the water, was to be smitten (1 King 14:15)
• A broken reed is compared to Pharaoh (2King 18:21; Isa 36:6) [see Egypt]
  • Pharaoh compared to a young lion and whale (Eze 32:2)
• A reed was placed in Christ’s right hand as a symbol of authority / royalty / kingship but used for mockery (Matt 27:29)
• Reed was also used for measuring (Eze 40:3)
  • Measure means to assess, evaluate, quantify, appraise or gauge
• Golden reed used for measuring (Rev 21:15,16)
• A reed like unto a rod (Rev 11:1)

 

REFUGE

• God (Psa 46:1, 7, 11; 48:3)
• Of lies (Isa 28:15,17)

 

REJOICING THE HEART

• enlightening the eyes (Psalm 19:8)

 

RELIGION

• Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)
• If any person among the believers seems to be religious and does not control their mouth, but deceives their own heart, that person’s religion is vain (James 1:26)
• Bible religion covers much more ground than a mere profession of godliness. It means that you must search diligently how you may use your entire being to the best account. Thus before men and angels you may show your loyalty to Jesus. In your life, in your methods and plans, you are to study how you can best advance His work and glorify His name in our world, crowning with honor, with the greatest love and devotion, the Father who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believed in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. He is too high, too holy, to be repaid for any of His mercies, which are continual and widespread. {Ms60-1898.29}
• Religion is not to be worn merely as a cloak in the house of God, but religious principle must characterize the entire life. {CCh 211.4}
• Religion consists in doing the words of Christ; not doing to earn God’s favor, but because, all undeserving, we have received the gift of His love. Christ places the salvation of man, not upon profession merely, but upon faith that is made manifest in works of righteousness. Doing, not saying merely, is expected of the followers of Christ. It is through action that character is built… {MB 149.2}
• Religion is obedience to God’s law, and Satan will so deceive minds that have not been open to receive the truth that truth will be regarded as error, righteousness as sin…{Ms75-1886.34}
  • The essence and flavor of all obedience is the outworking of a principle within—the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer, doing right because it is right. When the Word of God is a burden because it cuts directly across human inclinations, then the religious life is not a Christian life, but a tug and a strain, an enforced obedience. All the purity and godliness of religion is set aside. But adoption into the family of God makes us children, not slaves. {Lt135-1897.22}
• True Bible religion is an outflowing of the love of God for fallen man…—Testimonies for the Church 6:378, 379, 1900 {CD 442.2}
• True religion is nothing short of conformity to the will of God, and obedience to all things that he has commanded; and in return, it gives us spiritual life, imputes to us the righteousness of Christ, and promotes the healthful and happy exercise of the best faculties of the mind and heart…We have only to obey and believe. And his commandments are not grievous; obedience to his requirements is essential to our happiness even in this life.—The Review and Herald, May 27, 1884. {3SM 150.4}
• True religion is the imitation of Christ. Those who follow Christ will deny self, take up the cross, and walk in His footsteps. Following Christ means obedience to all His commandments. No soldier can be said to follow his commander unless he obeys orders. Christ is our model. To copy Jesus, full of love and tenderness and compassion, will require that we draw near to Him daily. O how God has been dishonored by His professed representatives (Letter 31a, 1894)! {7BC 949.3}
• True religion will induce its advocates to go forth into the highways and byways of life. It will lead them to help the suffering, and enable them to be faithful shepherds going forth into the wilderness to seek and to save the lost, to lead back the perishing sheep and lambs. {SWk 39.1}
• Bible religion means constant work. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” We are to be zealous of good works; be careful to maintain good works. And the true Witness says, “I know thy works.” {6BC 1111.5}
• Religion is founded upon love to God, which also leads us to love one another. It is full of gratitude, humility, long-suffering. It is self-sacrificing, forbearing, merciful, and forgiving. It sanctifies the whole life and extends its influence over others. {4T 223.1}
• Hearts that are filled with the love of Christ can never get very far apart. Religion is love, and a Christian home is one where love reigns and finds expression in words and acts of thoughtful kindness and gentle courtesy…{5T 335.2}
• A sickly, dwarfed religion is the result of neglecting to follow the revealed light of the Spirit of the Lord. Energy and love increase as we exercise them, and the Christian graces can be developed only by careful cultivation. {4T 192.2}
• The religion of Christ refines and dignifies its possessor, whatever his associations or station in life may be. Men who become enlightened Christians rise above the level of their former character into greater mental and moral strength. Those fallen and degraded by sin and crime may, through the merits of the Saviour, be exalted to a position but little lower than that of the angels. {4T 294.3}
• The greatest triumph given us by the religion of Christ is control over ourselves. Our natural propensities must be controlled, or we can never overcome as Christ overcame. {4T 235.1}
• The precious blood of Jesus is the fountain prepared to cleanse the soul from the defilement of sin. When you determine to take Him as your friend, a new and enduring light will shine from the cross of Christ. A true sense of the sacrifice and intercession of the dear Saviour will break the heart that has become hardened in sin; and love, thankfulness, and humility will come into the soul. The surrender of the heart to Jesus subdues the rebel into a penitent, and then the language of the obedient soul is: “Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” This is the true religion of the Bible. Everything short of this is a deception. {4T 625.2}
  • To obey when it seems the hardest is true surrender to God. This will quicken your moral nature and subdue your pride. Learn to submit your will to God’s will, and you will be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. {Ms12-1888.13}
  • the sacrifice of our ideas, our will, is necessary if we would be one with Christ in God. All we have and are must be laid at Christ’s feet. Shall we not give up all selfishness, and learn the lesson of abiding in Christ? {Ms17-1899.25}
• Genuine religion is based upon a belief in the Scriptures. God’s Word is to be believed without question. No part of it is to be cut and carved to fit certain theories. Men are not to exalt human wisdom by sitting in judgment upon God’s Word. The Bible was written by holy men of old, as they were moved upon by the Holy Spirit; and this Book contains all that we know for certain and all that we can ever hope to learn in regard to God and Christ… {Ms21-1891.28}
• The one great evidence of spiritual growth is that we love to obey Christ, and come into sweet union with Him who makes us sit together in heavenly places with Christ. God requires us to be doers of His Word, and not hearers only. In order to attain a high standard in religious experience, we must cultivate the meekness and lowliness of Christ. We must love obedience; we must love righteousness because it is of heavenly extraction. {Lt135-1897.19}
• The religion of Jesus is endangered. It is being mingled with worldliness. Worldly policy is taking the place of the true piety and wisdom that comes from above, and God will remove His prospering hand from the conference. Shall the ark of the Covenant be removed from this people? Shall idols be smuggled in? Shall false principles and false precepts be brought into the sanctuary? Shall antichrist be respected? Shall the true doctrines and principles given us by God, which have made us what we are, be ignored? Shall God’s instrumentality, the publishing house, become a mere political, worldly institution? This is directly where the enemy, through blinded, unconsecrated men, is leading us. {Ms29-1890.9}
  • In the truths of His word, God has given to men a revelation of Himself; and to all who accept them they are a shield against the deceptions of Satan. It is a neglect of these truths that has opened the door to the evils which are now becoming so widespread in the religious world. The nature and the importance of the law of God have been, to a great extent, lost sight of. A wrong conception of the character, the perpetuity, and the obligation of the divine law has led to errors in relation to conversion and sanctification, and has resulted in lowering the standard of piety in the church. Here is to be found the secret of the lack of the Spirit and power of God in the revivals of our time. {GC 465.1}
• From the beginning, false religion has bewitched and captivated minds, and the more false the religion, the greater man’s devotion to it. A religion is tested by what it does for the receiver. However boastful the claims of a religion may be, if it bears not the divine credentials, it is from beneath. No matter how many subscribe to it, or what wealth is lavished upon it, if it bears no fruit to God’s glory, it is spurious, fit only to be consumed by the fire of God’s wrath when He gathers His wheat into His garner. The truth as it is in Jesus does not make men cold, unsympathetic, unforgiving. It does not lead men to say to an erring brother, I am holier than thou. God is not only just, He is a God of love. A religion that is from above will make men kind and loving. “The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, [gentle, and] easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” [James 3:17.] {6LtMs, Ms 31, 1889, par. 27-29}
• Be sure never to respond in kind to any injustice. True religion never fosters ideas or develops character after the attributes of Satan. False religion teaches men to place a cheap estimate upon human beings whom Christ has regarded of such value as to give His own life for them. False or mistaken Christianity is always careless of human needs, sufferings, and rights. {9LtMs, Lt 81, 1894, par. 7}
• A religion that develops a cold, iron, hard-heartedness is a false religion. {9LtMs, Lt 81, 1894, par. 8}
• Trial and persecution will come to all who, in obedience to the Word of God, refuse to worship this false sabbath. Force is the last resort of every false religion. At first it tries attraction, as the king of Babylon tried the power of music and outward show. If these attractions, invented by men inspired by Satan, failed to make men worship the image, the hungry flames of the furnace were ready to consume them. So it will be now. The Papacy has exercised her power to compel men to obey her, and she will continue to do so. We need the same spirit that was manifested by God’s servants in the conflict with paganism. Giving an account of the treatment of the Christians by the emperor of Rome, Tertullian says, “We are thrown to the wild beasts to make us recant; we are burned in the flames; we are condemned to prisons and to mines; we are banished to islands,—such as Patmos,—and all have failed.” So it was in the case of the three Hebrew worthies; their eye was single to the glory of God; their souls were steadfast; the power of the truth held them firmly to their allegiance to God. It is in the power of God alone that we shall be enabled to be loyal to him. {ST May 6, 1897, par. 16}

 

REMNANT

• of Israel (Isa 10:20-22)
• very small (Isa 1:9, 10:18,19)
• highway for the remnant (Isa 11:16)
• eat butter and honey (Isa 7:22)

REPENTANCE

• repentance is a gift from God (Acts 5:31, 2 Timothy 2:25)
• the goodness of God leads people to repent (Rom 2:4)
• John the Baptist and Paul shared the same repentance message (Matt 3:7,8; Mark 1:4; Luke 3:7,8; Act 26:20)
• Godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of and the sorrow of the world works death (2 Cor 7:10)
• God has has granted repentance unto life for the Gentiles (Act 11:18)
• Repentance for sin is the first step in conversion. Repentance is an intense hatred of sin in all its forms. Phariseeism permits of self-complacency, and those who are self-righteous, appear to have a form of piety, but at heart they are corrupt. They may talk of their hope of heaven, when, in fact, they have not taken the first step toward heaven. {ST August 13, 1894, par. 5}
• Repentance includes sorrow for sin and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life. {SC 23.2}
• Repentance is turning from self to Christ; and when we receive Christ so that through faith He can live His life in us, good works will be manifest. {MB 87.3}
• Through repentance and faith we are rid of sin, and look unto the Lord our righteousness. Jesus suffered, the just for the unjust. {NL 23.1}
• In order to obtain the righteousness of Christ, it is necessary for the sinner to know what that repentance is which works a radical change of mind and spirit and action…{NL 23.2}
• To believe in Christ, we must come to Christ and follow Him. Repentance toward God means the confession and forsaking of all sin. It means laying hold of Christ as a personal Saviour, and continuing to hold fast to Him as the chief Good. He is our Prince, our Saviour. Only through Him can we approach the Father. 16LtMs, Lt 81, 1901, par. 14 Loving Him day by day and hour by hour, eating His flesh and drinking His blood, taking Him as the man of our counsel, living by every word that proceedeth out of His mouth,—only thus can we win heaven. {16LtMs, Lt 81, 1901, par. 15}
• As the claims of God’s law are brought to bear upon human hearts, many will be convicted of transgression. When they learn that repentance means pardon, they will have the sweet spirit of religious fellowship in the hope of the gospel. {16LtMs, Lt 160, 1901, par. 12}
• Repentance means a change of heart, a change of mind. {19LtMs, Lt 277, 1904, par. 1}
• True repentance means a daily change of heart, a turning the face to the Sun of Righteousness. This leaves no chance for self-exaltation, no opportunity to trust to our own wisdom. When the cleansing, refining process shall take place, and continue its daily work upon our hearts, we shall go forward. But as long as difficulties arise, and we look at the discouragements, we shall not advance. We must brace up the soul in God, and we shall endure the seeing of Him who is invisible. {16LtMs, Ms 140, 1901, par. 30}
• Repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ are the fruits of the renewing power of the grace of the Spirit. Repentance represents the process by which the soul seeks to reflect the image of Christ to the world. In the prayer that Christ offered just before His crucifixion, He said, “Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Thy name: … and now come I to Thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have My joy fulfilled in themselves. {Lt155-1902.25}
• We often sorrow because our evil deeds bring unpleasant consequences to ourselves; but this is not repentance. Real sorrow for sin is the result of the working of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit reveals the ingratitude of the heart that has slighted and grieved the Saviour, and brings us in contrition to the foot of the cross. By every sin Jesus is wounded afresh; and as we look upon Him whom we have pierced, we mourn for the sins that have brought anguish upon Him. Such mourning will lead to the renunciation of sin. {DA 300.3}
  • Mourners exalted to safety (Job 5:11)
  • God will gather the sorrowful for the solemn assembly (Hab 3:18; Leb 23:27-32)
• Many are confused as to what constitutes the first steps in the work of salvation. Repentance is thought to be a work the sinner must do for himself in order that he may come to Christ. They think that the sinner must procure for himself a fitness in order to obtain the blessing of God’s grace. But while it is true that repentance must precede forgiveness, for it is only the broken and contrite heart that is acceptable to God, yet the sinner cannot bring himself to repentance, or prepare himself to come to Christ. Except the sinner repent, he cannot be forgiven; but the question to be decided is as to whether repentance is the work of the sinner or the gift of Christ. Must the sinner wait until he is filled with remorse for his sin before he can come to Christ? The very first step to Christ is taken through the drawing of the Spirit of God; as man responds to this drawing, he advances toward Christ in order that he may repent. The sinner is represented as a lost sheep, and a lost sheep never returns to the fold unless he is sought after and brought back to the fold by the shepherd. No man of himself can repent, and make himself worthy of the blessing of justification. The Lord Jesus is constantly seeking to impress the sinner’s mind and attract him to behold Himself, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world. We cannot take a step toward spiritual life save as Jesus draws and strengthens the soul, and leads us to experience that repentance which needeth not to be repented of. {1SM 390.1-2}
• The people of God must move understandingly. They should not be satisfied until every known sin is confessed; then it is their privilege and duty to believe that Jesus accepts them. They must not wait for others to press through the darkness and obtain the victory for them to enjoy. Such enjoyment will last only till the meeting closes. But God must be served from principle instead of from feeling. Morning and night obtain the victory for yourselves in your own family. Let not your daily labor keep you from this. Take time to pray, and as you pray, believe that God hears you. Have faith mixed with your prayers. You may not at all times feel the immediate answer; but then it is that faith is tried. You are proved to see whether you will trust in God, whether you have living, abiding faith. “Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.” Walk the narrow plank of faith. Trust all on the promises of the Lord. Trust God in darkness. That is the time to have faith. But you often let feeling govern you. You look for worthiness in yourselves when you do not feel comforted by the Spirit of God, and despair because you cannot find it. You do not trust enough in Jesus, precious Jesus. You do not make His worthiness to be all, all. The very best you can do will not merit the favor of God. It is Jesus’ worthiness that will save you, His blood that will cleanse you. But you have efforts to make. You must do what you can on your part. Be zealous and repent, then believe.{1T 167.1}
• “And repent.” [Revelation 3:3.] The life we live is to be one of continual repentance and humility. We need to repent constantly, that we may be constantly victorious. When we have true humility, we have victory. The enemy never can take out of the hand of Christ the one who is simply trusting in His promises. If the soul is trusting and working obediently, the mind is susceptible to divine impressions, and the light of God shines in, enlightening the understanding. What privileges we have in Christ Jesus! {Ms92-1901.6}

 

REPROACH [see sin] [see transgression]

• Sin is a reproach to any people (Prov 14:34)
• Shame (Psa 69:7)
• Scorn and derision (Psa 44:13)
• The reproach of Egypt (Josh 5:9)
• The foolish man reproaches God daily (Psa 74:22)
• Breaks the heart (Psa 69:20)
  • He that oppresses and mocks the poor reproaches the Maker / Creator / God (Prov 14:31, 17:5)

 

RICHES [see wealth]

• honour (Prov 11:16)
• redemption price (Prov 13:8)
• wisdom/life (Prov 14:24)
• humility and fear of the Lord (Prov 22:4)
• by knowledge you get riches (Prov 24:4)
• perish by evil (Ecc 5:14)
• Worldly riches don’t last forever (Prov 27:24)
• Jesus has riches of his grace (Eph 1:7)
  • Unsearchable/so many/ so deep (Eph 3:8)
  • Riches of His glory (Eph 3:16) [see glory]
  • Christ in you the hope of glory (Col 1:27)
    • God in you (1 Cor 15:25)
    • Christ in me and glorify God in me (Gal 1:16,24)

 

 

 

 

RIGHT

• side of favor, honor, success
  • (Ps 16:8,11; 108:6; 110:5; Matt 25:31-34; Gen 35:18,Luke 1:11)
• A wise man’s heart is at his right (Ecc 10:2)
• Right side may include some iniquity (Eze 4:4-6)

 

RIGHT HAND

• righteousness + victory over sin/death
  • (Psa 48:10, Isa 41:10, Psa 98:1)
• Holy arm (Psa 98:1)
• Can be corrupt and called a right hand of falsehood (Psa 144:8, Isa 44:20)
• Right hand of fellowship (Gal 2:9)
• Wise man’s heart is at his right hand (Ecc 10:2)
  • A wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment (Ecc 8:5)
    • a time to keep silence, and a time to speak (Ecc 3:7)
  • Wise men foresee evil and hide themselves (Prov 22:3)
  • Great men are not always wise (Job 32:9)
• Right side may include some iniquity (Eze 4:4-6)
• Sunday observance + restrictive laws are the right arm of Satan’s strength {4SP 338.2}
• Publishing press is the right arm of SDA strength {RH May 16, 1882, par. 8}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 25:34: Those on the right hand of Christ receive the kingdom.

 

RIGHTEOUS [see cedar and palm trees] [see trees]

• Clean (Job 15:14)
• Palm trees, cedars of Lebanon (Psa 92:12)
• Cedars of Lebanon are full of sap (Psa 104:16)
• Fir trees are where the storks are (Psa 104:17)
  • Ephraim/people compared to green fir tree (Hos 14:8)
  • Fir trees terribly shaken (Nah 2:3)
• Their desire is granted (Prov 10:24)
• Should be without iniquity (Eze 33:15)
• The righteous give and don’t spare (Prov 21:26; 22:9)
• Good is repaid to the righteous (Prov 13:22)
• A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast (Prov 12:10)
• There is coming a time when all people will be righteous (Isa 60:21)
  • Context of the Earth made new and only the saved dwell there.

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 John 2:1: Christ is righteous.

 

 

 

 

 

 

RIGHTEOUSNESS

• Gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17,18)
• All of God’s commandments are righteousness (Psa 119:172)
• obedience (Rom 6:16,17)
  • obey from the heart
  • Learn obedience through suffering (Heb 5:8-9)
  • Through breaking the law we dishonour God (Rom 2:23)
• right doing (1 John 3:7) {COL 312.2}
  • by faith–fully convinced of promisesàable to perform (Rom 4:21)
• holiness (Psa 145:17) [see holiness]
  • yield our members as servants tor righteousness unto holiness (Rom 6:19)
  • the new man is created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph 4:24)
• holiness is likeness to God and God is love, if we love Jesus we keep his commandments – righteousness is love (Psa 145:17, Lev 19:2, 1John 4:16, John 14:15)
• cleanness of hands (Psalm 18:20,24)
• he that speaks truth shows righteousness (Prov 12:17)
  • the tongue of the wise is health (Prov 12:18)
  • the tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright (Prov 15:2)
  • a good word makes the heart glad (Prov 12:25)
  • a word spoken at the right time is very good (Prov 15:23)
    • a time to keep silence, and a time to speak (Ecc 3:7)
    • a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment (Ecc 8:5)
      • a wise man’s heart is at his right (Ecc 10:2)
    • Yield our body as servant to righteousness in order to grow in holiness (Rom 6:19)
    • Righteousness keeps people who are upright in the way (Prov 13:6)
    • the effect of righteousness is quietness and assurance (Isa 32:17)
    • In every nation, he that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of Jesus (Act 10:35)
    • Servants of righteousness to God (Rom 6:18)
    • Their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. (Isa 54:17)
    • [Quoted Romans 4:3,4] Righteousness is obedience to the law. The law demands righteousness, and this the sinner owes to the law; but he is incapable of rendering it. The only way in which he can attain to righteousness is through faith. By faith he can bring to God the merits of Christ, and the Lord places the obedience of his Son to the sinner’s account. Christ’s righteousness is accepted in place of man’s failure, and God receives, pardons, justifies, the repentant, believing soul, treats him as though he were righteous, and loves him as he loves his Son. This is how faith is accounted righteousness; and the pardoned soul goes on from grace to grace, from light to a greater light. …{RH November 4, 1890, par. 7}
    • The essence and flavor of all obedience is the outworking of a principle within—the love of righteousness, the love of the law of God. The essence of all righteousness is loyalty to our Redeemer, doing right because it is right. When the Word of God is a burden because it cuts directly across human inclinations, then the religious life is not a Christian life, but a tug and a strain, an enforced obedience. All the purity and godliness of religion is set aside. But adoption into the family of God makes us children, not slaves. {Lt135-1897.22}
    • Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God, and “God is love.” 1 John 4:16. It is conformity to the law of God, for “all Thy commandments are righteousness” (Psalm 119:172), and “love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:10). Righteousness is love, and love is the light and the life of God. The righteousness of God is embodied in Christ. We receive righteousness by receiving Him. MB 18.1
    • We are to consider the sufferings of Christ to make for us an end of sin, that we may not continue in sin. By His own life of perfect obedience, Christ imputes to the believing soul His righteousness that meets all the demands of the law. At the same time it exacts obedience of me and of you, so that we can stand before a holy, sin-hating God, and not feel his curse, because Christ our substitute and surety has obeyed the law and imputed to us his righteousness. We are complete in Christ. {Lt91-1895.8}
      • Man cannot be towed to heaven; he cannot go as a passive passenger. He must himself use the oars, and work as a laborer together with God. There are many who profess to be Christ’s followers, and yet are not doers of His Word. They do not relish this Word, because it presents service which is not agreeable to them. They do not relish the wholesome reproofs and close, earnest appeals. They do not love righteousness, but are mastered and tyrannized over by their own erratic, human impulses. {Lt135-1897.21}
      • I am very sure that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiritual blindness, is because they will not receive correction. Many have despised the reproofs and warnings given them. The True Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, and proud, and lovers of sin, are ever assailed with doubts. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue and mark of intelligence in them to be unbelieving and questioning, and quibbling. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and teachable spirit. All should decide from the weight of evidence. RH September 16, 1873, par. 10
      • …The only condition Christ imposes on those who come to Him for riches and to be clothed with His righteousness is obedience to His commandments. The true, strong, joyous life of the soul begins when Christ is formed within, the hope of glory. The law is found by the obedient soul to be a law of perfect liberty, liberty to lay hold by faith upon the hope that is sure and steadfast. {Ms44-1898.32}
        • God in you (1 Cor 15:25)
      • The rabbis counted their righteousness a passport to heaven; but Jesus declared it to be insufficient and unworthy. External ceremonies and a theoretical knowledge of truth constituted Pharisaical righteousness. The rabbis claimed to be holy through their own efforts in keeping the law; but their works had divorced righteousness from religion. While they were punctilious in ritual observances, their lives were immoral and debased. Their so-called righteousness could never enter the kingdom of heaven. {DA 309.1}
        • There are those who are always seeking to engage in controversy. This is the sum of their religion. They are filled with a desire to produce something new and strange. They dwell upon matters of the smallest consequence, exercising upon these their sharp, controversial talents. Idle tales are brought in as important truths, and by some they are actually set up as tests. Thus controversy is created, and minds are diverted from present truth. Satan knows that if he can get men and women absorbed in trifling details, greater questions will be left unheeded. He will furnish plenty of material for the attention of those who are willing to think upon trifling, unimportant subjects. The minds of the Pharisees were absorbed with questions of no moment. They passed by the precious truths of God’s Word to discuss the traditionary lore handed down from generation to generation, which in no way concerned their salvation. And so today, while precious moments are passing into eternity, the great questions of salvation are overlooked for some idle tale. {1SM 170.4-5}
        • Controversy arises because there is no truth, mercy and knowledge of God in the land (Hos 4:1)
      • Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery, or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s word is, they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. An understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness. {GC 599.2}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Romans 3:22: Righteousness of God is by faith in Jesus Christ.

 

RING

• Zerubbabel called a signet or ring (Ha 2:23)
• Authority/rulership (Gen 41:41-42; Esther 3:10,11; 8:2)
• Applied as a seal (Esther 3:12; 8:8,10)
• Restoration (Luke 15:22)

 

 

RIVER [see water]

• Watersprings (Psa 107:33)
• Peace (Isa 48:18)
• People (Jere 46:8)
• King of Assyria’s army (Isa 8:7)
• Glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream (Isa 66:12)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 32:1-2: Jesus is King of kings and a man who is as rivers of water in a dry place.

 

ROARING OF A LION

• King’s wrath (Prov 19:12)
• Fear of the King (Prov 20:2)

 

ROD OR STAFF [see reed]

• Of pride (Prov 14:3)
• Of wrath (Lam 3:1)
• Of wickedness (Eze 7:11)
  • wickedness does not deliver those what are given to it (Ecc 9:8)
• Of the wicked (Isa 14:5)
• Word/Jesus/God strength/power
  • (Psa 2:9, 23:4, 110:1-6, 119:49-50, Prov.13:24, 22:15, 2 Tim 3:16, Eze 20:37, Mic 6:9, Numb 24:17, Jere 10:16; 51:19)
• Stripes *the rod gives stripes* (Psa 89:32)
• Don’t withhold correction from a child, he won’t die when you beat him with the rod *note spiritual context*, it delivers his soul from hell (sheol-grave) (Prov 23:13-14)
  • No fear of God leads to correction through suffering from sin/the results of sin. (Jere 2:19)
  • Our petition to the Lord should be “correct me, but with judgment and not in thine anger…” (Jere 10:24)
• Rod is compared to a staff (Isa 10:15)
• Rod is compared to a whip and bridle (Prov 26:3)
• Rod and reproof give wisdom (Prov 29:15)
• Compared to Assyria (Isa 10:5)
  • The Assyrian was going to smite God’s people with a rod after the manner of Egypt (Isa 10:24)
  • Refuse to turn back to God – Assyria takes over (Hos 11:5)
• Tribe (Num 17:2-6, Gen 49:28, Ex 24:4; 28:15-21, Rev 21:12)

 

ROE

• A wife is a woman and she is compared to a roe (Prov 5:18)
• Person/people (Prov 6:5)

 

 

 

 

ROOT [see trees] [see axe] [see gall] [see wormwood]

• Man, woman, family or tribe can bear gall and wormwood (Deut 29:18)
• Life (Job 29:19,20 – root used as metaphor)
  • Connect with Christ connection and John 1:4

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 53:1-5: Jesus Christ

 

ROOT OF BITTERNESS

• envy, distrust, jealousy, and even hatred, hostile, antagonistic, and distressful heart, a heart that entertains feelings of disaffection
  • (Heb 12:15, Jere 4:18, Deut 29:18, {2MCP 639.2}, COL 85.1, {LS 326.1-.1}, {4BC 1142.3-.4} {4T 489.1}{CH 453.1})

 

ROSE OF SHARON

• Jesus Christ (RH August 14, 1894, Art A. par 9)

 

RUN THROUGH A TROOP

• leap over a wall (Psalm 18:29)

 

SABBATH

• fourth commandment (Ex 20:8-11)
  • Remember to keep it holy
  • Day of rest
  • Memorial of creation
• fourth commandment shows up in the New Testament (Heb 4:4-11)
• from even to even (Lev 23:32)
  • sunset to sunset (Mark 1:32)
• a holy convocation, no work (Lev 23:28-31)
  • holyday (Psa 42:4)
• Sabbath keeping is a sign of God’s people and reminds us that God is the one that sanctifies us (Ex 31:13, Eze 20:12,20)
• it is a good thing and right thing to heal people on the Sabbath day (Luke 13:14-17)
• Paul preached on the sabbath (Act 13:13-42,44)
• Paul reasoned out of the scriptures on the sabbath days (Act 17:1-2)
• The female followers of Jesus kept the seventh day Sabbath. They visited Christ’s tomb on the first day of the week (Matt 28:1)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 19:14, 31, 42, Luke 23:54, Matthew 27:62-66, 28:1: Jesus Christ was crucified on the preparation day which is the day before the Sabbath. Jesus kept the Sabbath in His death.
• Mark 6:2, Luke 4:16: Jesus taught on the Sabbath. It was His usual routine to go to church on the Sabbath.

 

 

 

SACRED FIRE [see common fire]

• God’s principles + HS (Lev 6, 10:1)
• The sacred fire of God’s love would make men tender and kind and sympathetic toward those in peril. Those who indulge in sharp, overbearing words, are really saying, I am, holier than thou. Do you not see my exalted position? {SpTA09 12.3}
• Anciently it was a great sin for the people of God to give themselves away to the enemy, and open before them either their perplexity or prosperity. It was a sin in the ancient economy to offer upon a wrong altar. It was sin to offer incense kindled from a strange fire. We are in danger of co-mingling the sacred and the common. The holy fire from God is to be used in our efforts. The right altar is Christ. The true fire is the Holy Spirit. This is our inspiration. It is the Holy Spirit that leads and guides the man and makes him sure in counsel. If we turn aside from God’s chosen ones and from God to inquire at strange altars, we shall be answered according to our works. {9LtMs, Ms 41, 1894, par. 41}
• choosing a course of selfish indulgence, of levity, love of pleasure, sporting, jesting, and cheap, common talk. This is well represented as strange fire. The holy fire, the incense of prayer, must daily be offered before God. The Holy fire represents the Holy Spirit mingling with their prayers that gives them their efficiency. Jesus’ merits alone can make any of our prayers acceptable to God. Therefore we need to walk humbly with him, in all meekness and lowliness of mind, knowing our weakness, and that of ourselves our prayers would go no higher than our heads. We are to come to God with a reverent spirit, and humble ourselves before Him. And the Holy Spirit will mingle with our prayers, as the holy fire placed upon the censer sent up a cloud of sweet perfume to God. {12LtMs, Ms 16, 1897, par. 17}

 

SAINT

• Those that have made a covenant with God by sacrifice (Psa 50:5) [see fear of the Lord]
• Those that believe (2 Thess 1:10)
  • We believe through grace (Acts 18:27)

 

SALT [see covenant]

• Valley of salt (2King 14:7)
• Covenant of salt (Lev 2:13)
  • 2Ch_13:5  Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
• affliction of heart (mind), putting away sin, the righteousness of Christ (D.A 439, Lev 2:13, Mark 9:47-79)
  • We are now living in the great Day of Atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart…{CIHS 187.1}
  • And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort. The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin. Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ. We are to humble the soul before God…{DA 301.1}
    • Mourners exalted to safety (Job 5:11)
    • God will gather the sorrowful for the solemn assembly (Hab 3:18; Lev 23:27-32)
  • Jesus’ disciples (Matt 5:13)
  • Salt mixed with water and the water was healed (2King 2:21-22)
  • In the ritual service, salt was added to every sacrifice. This, like the offering of incense, signified that only the righteousness of Christ could make the service acceptable to God. Referring to this practice, Jesus said, “Every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.” “Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.” All who would present themselves “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God” (Romans 12:1), must receive the saving salt, the righteousness of our Saviour. Then they become “the salt of the earth,” restraining evil among men, as salt preserves from corruption. Matthew 5:13. But if the salt has lost its savor; if there is only a profession of godliness, without the love of Christ, there is no power for good. The life can exert no saving influence upon the world. Your energy and efficiency in the upbuilding of My kingdom, Jesus says, depend upon your receiving of My Spirit. You must be partakers of My grace, in order to be a savor of life unto life. Then there will be no rivalry, no self-seeking, no desire for the highest place. You will have that love which seeks not her own, but another’s wealth. {DA 439.2}

 

SANCTIFICATION

• Sanctified by God the Father (Jude 1:1)
• Sanctified through the truth (John 17:17)
• Sanctified by faith that is in Christ Jesus (Act 26:18)
• Sanctified by Jesus’ blood (Heb 13:12)
  • Sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (Heb 10:11)
  • By one offering, Jesus Christ perfected and sanctified (Heb 10:14)
• Sanctified by the word of God and prayer (1Tim 4:5)
• Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ (1 Pet 1:2)
• True sanctification is a Bible doctrine. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonian church, declares: “This is the will of God, even your sanctification.” And he prays: “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly.” 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:23. The Bible clearly teaches what sanctification is and how it is to be attained. The Saviour prayed for His disciples: “Sanctify them through Thy truth: Thy word is truth.” John 17:17. And Paul teaches that believers are to be “sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:16. What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Jesus told His disciples: “When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth.” John 16:13. And the psalmist says: “Thy law is the truth.” By the word and the Spirit of God are opened to men the great principles of righteousness embodied in His law. And since the law of God is “holy, and just, and good,” a transcript of the divine perfection, it follows that a character formed by obedience to that law will be holy. Christ is a perfect example of such a character. He says: “I have kept My Father’s commandments.” “I do always those things that please Him.” John 15:10; 8:29. The followers of Christ are to become like Him—by the grace of God to form characters in harmony with the principles of His holy law. This is Bible sanctification. {GC 469.2}
• The sanctification set forth in the Sacred Scriptures has to do with the entire being—spirit, soul, and body. Here is the true idea of entire consecration. Paul prays that the church at Thessalonica may enjoy this great blessing. “The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:23). {SL 7.1}
• True sanctification is an entire conformity to the will of God. Rebellious thoughts and feelings are overcome, and the voice of Jesus awakens a new life, which pervades the entire being. Those who are truly sanctified will not set up their own opinion as a standard of right and wrong. They are not bigoted or self-righteousness; but they are jealous of self, ever fearing lest, a promise being left them, they should come short of complying with the conditions upon which the promises are based. {SL 9.1}
• True sanctification is harmony with God, oneness with Him in character. It is received through obedience to those principles that are the transcript of His character. And the Sabbath is the sign of obedience. He who from the heart obeys the fourth commandment will obey the whole law. He is sanctified through obedience. {CCh 261.4}
• We should consider the words of the apostle in which he appeals to his brethren, by the mercies of God, to present their bodies “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” This is true sanctification. It is not merely a theory, an emotion, or a form of words, but a living, active principle, entering into the every-day life. It requires that our habits of eating, drinking, and dressing, be such as to secure the preservation of physical, mental, and moral health, that we may present to the Lord our bodies—not an offering corrupted by wrong habits, but—“a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.” {RH January 25, 1881, par. 22}
• God requires that His people shall be temperate in all things. Unless they practice temperance, they will not, cannot, be sanctified through the truth. Their very thoughts and minds become depraved. {Ms1-1875.2}
• Obedience to all the commandments of God is the only true sign of sanctification. Disobedience is the sign of disloyalty and apostasy. {HM July 1, 1897, Art. A, par. 14} …Obedience is the sign of true love. Christ and the Father are one, and those who in truth receive Christ will love God as the great center of their adoration, and will also love one another; and in so doing they will keep the law. {RH October 26, 1897, par. 7}
• The truth as it is in Jesus is obedience to every precept of Jehovah. It is heart work…Bible sanctification is to know the requirements of God and to obey them. There is a pure and holy heaven in store for those who keep God’s commandments. It is worth life-long persevering, untiring effort…{Ms58-1897.21}
• Let those who profess to be Christians remember that profession will not save them. The life which Christ alone can give is given upon condition of obedience, an obedience which takes in the whole man,—mind, heart, soul, and strength. This is true sanctification. “This do, and thou shalt live,” is the only genuine definition of sanctification. {ST August 2, 1899, par. 2}
  • Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. à This do, and thou shalt live.

(Luke 10:27, 28)

• It’s sin to despise your neighbour (Prov 14:21)

• The Word has made the statement, “I am the Lord that do sanctify you” if you observe the Sabbath. [Verse 13.] This is the only true sanctification in the Scriptures—that which comes from God because of obedience to His commandments…{Lt8-1898.7} …We build on Christ by obeying His word. It is not he who merely enjoys righteousness, that is righteous, but he who does righteousness…{MB 149.1}
• I was instructed that I must ever urge upon those who profess to believe the truth, the necessity of practising the truth. This means sanctification, and sanctification means the culture and training of every capability for the Lord’s service. {RH July 26, 1906, par. 11}
• Entire conformity to the will of our Father which is in heaven is alone sanctification, and the will of God is expressed in His holy law. The keeping of all the commandments of God is sanctification. Proving yourselves obedient children to God’s Word is sanctification. The Word of God is to be our guide, not the opinions or ideas of men.—The Review and Herald, March 25, 1902. {3SM 204.2}
• True sanctification is nothing more or less than to love God with all the heart, to walk in His commandments and ordinances blameless. Sanctification is not an emotion but a heaven-born principle that brings all the passions and desires under the control of the Spirit of God; and this work is done through our Lord and Saviour. {FW 87.1}
• True sanctification comes through the working out of the principle of love. “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16. The life of him in whose heart Christ abides, will reveal practical godliness. The character will be purified, elevated, ennobled, and glorified. Pure doctrine will blend with works of righteousness; heavenly precepts will mingle with holy practices. {AA 560.1}
• The soul needs cleansing. The love of the truth sanctifies the soul. Sanctification is not the work of a moment; it is the result of a yielding of the heart to Christ, an acceptance of the conditions of salvation—a process that God will carry forward day by day, steadily, progressively, never ending, but ever blending heart with heart, soul with soul; a refining process going on day by day, in God’s own way, in doing His will, until all true believers are complete in Him. This is the work that is to be done by every believer. {Lt192-1903.17}
• Spurious sanctification does not glorify God but leads those who claim it to exalt and glorify themselves. Whatever comes in our experience, whether of joy or sorrow, that does not reflect Christ and point to Him as its author, bringing glory to Him and sinking self out of sight, is not true Christian experience. {FW 87.2}
• In the Word of God the honest seeker for truth will find the rule for genuine sanctification. The apostle says: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit…. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you” (Romans 8:1-9). {FW 97.2}

 

SANCTUARY

• Made in order for God to dwell among His people (Ex 25:8)
• God’s way is in the sanctuary (Psa 77:13)
  • Way of salvation (Act 16:17)
• Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary (Psa 96:6)
• God sends help from the sanctuary (Psa 20:2)
• The earthly sanctuary was patterned after the heavenly sanctuary (Ex 25:8,9, Heb 8:2,5)
• Altar of burnt offering before the door of the sanctuary and the laver was between the altar of burnt offering and the sanctuary (Ex 40:6-7)
  • Had four corners with four horns overlaid with brass (Ex 27:2)
    • Blood placed upon four horns (Ex 29:11-12)
  • A sin offering was offered for atonement and whatsoever touched the altar was holy (Ex 29:36-37)
  • On the east side facing towards the main gate there was a place for ashes and they were placed on the east side of the altar of burn offering (Lev 1:16, 6:10-11)
    • The wicked will be ashes under the righteous’ feet (Mal 4:1-3, Eze 28:18-19, Rom 6:23, Rev 21:8)
  • Laver was made of brass (Ex 38:8)
  • Laver was filled with water for washing so that the priests wouldn’t die (Ex 30:18-20)
    • Need to be born again of water and of the Spirit to enter the kingdom of God (John 3:5, Tit 2:11-12, Matt 1:21, Tit 3:5-6)
    • washing can represent putting away evil/stop doing evil (Isa 1:16)
  • After the 1^st veil, there was the Holy Place (Heb 9:3)
    • the candlestick, the table, and the shewbread (Heb 9:2)
    • table of shewbread was made of pure gold and wood, had a crown of gold, four rings of gold on the four corners that are on the four feet of the table, there were dishes, spoons, covers and bowls of pure gold (Ex 25:23-30)
      • we are like vessels (2Tim 2:20-21)
    • bread was prepared for every Sabbath (1Chron 9:32)
    • 12 cakes in two rows of six with pure frankincense upon each row and the priests ate the bread in the holy place (Lev 24:5-9)
    • Candlestick was of all gold with a bowl on the top of it with seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps (Zech 4:1-6)
    • Altar of incense burned incense (Ex 30:7-8)
      • made of shittim wood and had four horns (Ex 30:1-2)
      • blood placed upon the horns (Lev 4:7)
    • regular priests went into the Holy Place (Heb 9:6)
  • After the 2^nd veil, there was the Most Holy Place or Holiest of all (Heb 9:3)
    • had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; And over it the cherubims of glory shadowing the mercy seat (Heb 9:4,5)
      • hidden manna (Rev 2:17)
    • only the high priest entered there (Heb 9:7)
      • high priest cleanses God’s people on the day of atonement at the end of the day of judgment (Lev 16:20-22, 29,30)
    • The sanctuary question is a clear and definite doctrine as we have held it as a people. You are not definitely clear on the personality of God, which is everything to us as a people. You have virtually destroyed the Lord God Himself. {Lt300-1903.7}
    • We cannot for a moment have any misrepresentation upon these solemn and important subjects of truth which have been the faith of our people since 1844. This means much to us…{Lt300-1903.9}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• A new and living way – enter MHP, through the veil – JC flesh (Heb 10:19-20)
  • Jesus Christ appears in the presence of God for us (Heb 9:24)
• The Shekinah had departed from the sanctuary, but in the Child of Bethlehem was veiled the glory before which angels bow. This unconscious babe was the promised seed, to whom the first altar at the gate of Eden pointed. This was Shiloh, the peace giver. It was He who declared Himself to Moses as the I AM. It was He who in the pillar of cloud and of fire had been the guide of Israel. This was He whom seers had long foretold. He was the Desire of all nations, the Root and the Offspring of David, and the Bright and Morning Star. The name of that helpless little babe, inscribed in the roll of Israel, declaring Him our brother, was the hope of fallen humanity. The child for whom the redemption money had been paid was He who was to pay the ransom for the sins of the whole world. He was the true “high priest over the house of God,” the head of “an unchangeable priesthood,” the intercessor at “the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 10:21; 7:24; 1:3. {DA 52.3}
• God commanded Moses for Israel, “Let them make Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them” (Exodus 25:8), and He abode in the sanctuary, in the midst of His people. Through all their weary wandering in the desert, the symbol of His presence was with them. So Christ set up His tabernacle in the midst of our human encampment. He pitched His tent by the side of the tents of men, that He might dwell among us, and make us familiar with His divine character and life. “The Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.” John 1:14, R. V., margin. {DA 23.3}
• Luke 3:21-22: Jesus was baptized – laver
• John 1:29,35; 19:16-18: Jesus was killed for an atonement – altar of sacrifice
• John 6:35: Jesus is the bread of life – table of shewbread
• John 12:46: Jesus is the light of the world – candlestick
• Hebrews 4:14; 5:8-10: Jesus is the High Priest – high priest

 

SCARLET

• cleansing of sin/forgiveness of sin – SIN (Isa 1:18, Rev 1:5, 1 John 1:1-9)
• royalty and wealth (Matt 27:28,29; Lam 4:5, 2 Sam 1:24)
• conquest (Nah 2:3; Rev 12:3)

 

SCEPTRE

• of righteousness (Heb 1:8)
• golden sceptre (Esth 5:2)
• right sceptre (Psa 45:6)
• staff (Isa 14:5)
• strong rod (Eze 19:14)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Numbers 24:17: Balaam prophesied that a Sceptre (a ruler) would arise from Israel

 

 

 

 

 

SCORPIONS [see poison/venom]

• chastise with scorpions (1King 12:11,14)
• rebellious, impudent people (Eze 2:3-6)
  • They take counsel, but not of God; and cover with a covering, but not of God’s spirit, that they may add sin to sin. (Isa 30:1)
  • Lying people that will not hear the law of the LORD (Isa 30:9)
  • They look to the seers and desire smooth things preached to them…they prefer deceit rather than truth (Isa 30:10)
    • Those who cave in to the popular demand to prophesy smooth things are men pleasers and are not considered servants of Christ (Gal 1:10)
  • under the influence/power of the enemy (Luke 10:19)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 10:19: Jesus gave authority to His followers over scorpions and serpents and over all the mighty strength of the enemy
• Luke 11:12-13: Jesus said “Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”

 

SCUM

• lewdness (Eze 24:12,13) *Zammah – mischief*
• apostate priests commit lewdness (Hos 6:9)
  • Like people like priest (Hos 4:9)

 

SEAL [see name] [see Sabbath]

• A seal attached to a document makes it legal. A legal seal gives name of person issuing seal, also his title and territory. In this text Ahasuerus was the name, king and title, and Persia the territory over which he ruled. (Esth 8:8)
• Sign and seal are synonymous (Rom 4:11)
  • Circumcision is as a seal of the righteousness of the faith (Rom 4:11)
  • Heir of the world through the righteousness of faith (Rom 4:13)
• The seal of earthly rulers is attached to their laws to make them binding upon their subjects. The seal of God is attached to His law to make it binding upon all His subjects. (Isa 8:16)
• The law is to be sealed among Jesus’ disciples (Isa 8:16)
• Sabbath keeping (Ex 31:13; Eze 20:12, 20)
• name of God (Rev 7:3, 14:1)
• victory over sin (2Tim 2:19)
• Set to his seal (ἐσφράγισεν).—Attested by this very fact his belief in the words of Christ as the truth of God. (John 3:33-34)
• Sealing is a mark of the authenticity of a writing. Him hath God the Father sealed – By this expression, our Lord points out the commission which, as the Messiah, he received from the Father, to be prophet and priest to an ignorant, sinful world. As a person who wishes to communicate his mind to another who is at a distance writes a letter, seals it with his own seal, and sends it directed to the person for whom it was written, so Christ, who lay in the bosom of the Father, came to interpret the Divine will to man, bearing the image, superscription, and seal of God, in the immaculate holiness of his nature, unsullied truth of his doctrine, and in the astonishing evidence of his miracles. But he came also as a priest, to make an atonement for sin; and the bread which nourishes unto eternal life, he tells us, Joh_6:51, is his body, which he gives for the life of the world; and to this sacrifice of himself, the words, him hath God the Father sealed, seem especially to relate. It certainly was a custom, among nations contiguous to Judea, to set a seal upon the victim which was deemed proper for sacrifice. (John 6:27)
• In order to have the wax take a clear, strong impression of the seal, you do not dash the seal upon it in a hasty, violent way; you carefully place the seal on the plastic wax and quietly, steadily press it down until it has hardened in the mold. In like manner deal with human souls. The continuity of Christian influence is the secret of its power, and this depends on the steadfastness of your manifestation of the character of Christ. Help those who have erred, by telling them of your experiences. Show how, when you made grave mistakes, patience, kindness, and helpfulness on the part of your fellow workers gave you courage and hope. {MH 494.3}
• I then saw the third angel. Said my accompanying angel, “Fearful is his work. Awful is his mission. He is the angel that is to select the wheat from the tares, and seal, or bind, the wheat for the heavenly garner. These things should engross the whole mind, the whole attention.” {EW 118.1}

 

SEAS [see water]

• floods (Psalm 24:3)
• people *because people compared to water* (Job 7:12; Isa 17:12, Rev 17:15, Psa 93:3)
  • God will bring His people out from the multitudes (Psa 68:22)
• Job (Job 7:12)
• Troubled sea are the wicked (Isa 57:20)
• The abundance of the sea shall be converted unto God (Isa 60:5)

 

SEE

• God sees everything both the evil and the good (Prov 15:3)
• God has pure eyes and can’t tolerate iniquity (Hab 1:13)
• Sin blinds people (Zeph 1:17)
  • when the heart turns to the Lord, spiritual blindness is taken away (2 Cor 3:15-16)
  • those who lack faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love are blind (2 Pet 1:5-9)
• eye of God (Ezra 5:5, Psa 33:18,19)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 65:1, John 3:14,15; 12:32, 3:30, 1 Cor 15:31: Jesus tried to call people to Him. “Behold me, behold me.”

 

 

SEED [see arrows] [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub] [see bud]

• Royal seed (2King 11:1)
• Pedigree/lineage (Ezra 2:59)
  • A special generation will declare Christ’s righteousness (Psa 22:30-31)
  • Psa 24:3-6  Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
• This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah. Children (Psa 89:29-30; Isa 48:19))
  • God’s children are those who fear Him (Psa 103:13)
  • God’s children are those that are near to Him (Psa 148:14)
    • Have the spirit which is of God (1 Cor 2:12)
  • They do His 10 C and receive His mercy (Psa 103:17,18)
    • *note: children of obedience*
  • There are children of disobedience (Eph 2:2, 5:6, Col 3:6)
    • Do the works of the flesh in breaking the law of God (Gal 5:19-21)
  • Children of wrath (Eph 2:3)*receive 7 last plagues-Rev 15:1
  • Children of the flesh are not the seed (Rom 9:6-8)
  • Children of the promise are counted as the seed (Rom 9:6-8)
  • There are strange children (Psa 144:7)
    • Strange children are offspring of a strange woman (Judge 11:1,2, Isa 54:1, Prov 6:24; 23:27)
    • Strange children do not inherit (Judges 11:2)
    • When Israel was in apostasy, they begat strange children (Hos 5:7)
    • Strangers entered the Lord’s house (Jere 51:51)

(Eze 44:7)

• There are foolish children (Jere 4:22)
• There are cursed children (2 Peter 2:12-15)
• There are backsliding children (Jere 3:14, 22)
• Of pride (Job 41:1,34)
• Of transgression (Isa 57:4)
• Of iniquity (Hos 10:9)
• Of the desolate (Isa 54:1)
• Of the married wife (Isa 54:1)
  • God is married to His people – even the backsliding people of God (Jer 3:14)
  • Married in righteousness judgement, loving kindness, mercies and faithfulness (Hos 2:19-20)
  • As a wife treacherously departs from her husband, so did the house of Israel depart from God. They perverted their way and forgot the Lord their God. (Jer 3:20-21)
• Of the adulteress/sorceress/whore (Isa 57:3)
• Of whoredoms (Hos 1:2)
• Of night and darkness (1 Thess 5:5)
• Of day and light (1 Thess 5:5)

• Children are not born with original sin – innocent (Rom 9:11)
• Through faith – receive strength to conceive (Heb 11:11)
• Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1Jn_3:9)
  • Fruit tree yields fruit and seed is in itself (Gen 1:11)
  • John 15:3-7  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
  • Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
  • Jud 1:24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
  • Our lives may seem a tangle; but as we commit ourselves to the wise Master Worker, He will bring out the pattern of life and character that will be to His own glory. And that character which expresses the glory—character—of Christ, will be received into the Paradise of God. Everyone who by faith obeys God’s commandments, will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. Mar 224.4-5
• The word of God (Luke 8:11)
  • He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. (2 Cor 9:6)
  • He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psa 126:6)
    • Sheaves represent people (Gen 37:6-8, Amos 2:13, Mic 4:12)
    • Breaking up fallow ground a symbol of rending the heart in contrition and repentance (Jere 4:3, Hos 10:12, Joel 2:13)
    • Seed to be sown in the heart (Matt 13:19, Luke 8:12)
    • The water is needed for the seed to spring forth. Sow the word of God by the power of the Spirit in people’s hearts (Isa 44:3, John 7:38-39, Eph 6:17)
  • Murder rises in the heart when the word has no place in the individual (John 8:37)
• Not to sow your vineyard with different seeds. If done, the fruit will be defiled (Deut 22:9, Lev 19:19)

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Galatians 3:16, 19: The righteous Seed is Christ

 

SEEK

• Search (Prov 2:4)
• Those who seek for glory, honour and immortality patiently continue in well doing (Rom 2:7)
• God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Heb 11:6)
• When we draw close to God, He draws closer to us (Jam 4:8)
  • The Father draws us to Jesus Christ (John 6:44, 65)
• When we seek God, the promise is that we shall live (Amos 5:4)
  • You’ll find God when you search for Him with all your heart (Jere 29:13)
  • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)
• Should seek honour that comes only from God (John 5:44)
• Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of God and to do it and to teach in Israel statues and judgments. He taught those who didn’t know truth. (Ezra 7:10, 25)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 19:10: Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.

 

SEER [see prophet] [see false prophet] [see wolves]

• Prophet (1 Sam 9:9)
  • They have a ministry of their own (Hos 12:10)
  • The Lord of hosts sends through His Spirit His words by the prophets (Zech 7:12)
    • Those whom God has sent speak words of God (John 3:34)
    • A man that is not sent of God can do nothing (John 9:33)
  • Prophets have houses (1 Sam 9:18)
  • God’s prophets sometimes receive communications on the watchtower (Hab 2:1-2)
  • The work of the prophet is to edify the church (1 Cor 14:4,5)
  • Can represent the church’s eyes (Isa 29:10)
  • Sometimes they testify against God’s people and urge them to turn away from their evils ways and keep the law (2King 17:13)
  • False seers speak smooth things, prophesy deceits (Isa 30:10)
  • Spirit of truth guides people into all truth and shows people things to come (John 16:13)
• The name Dorcas indirectly means seer
  • She made coats and garments and she was full of good works and alms deeds (Act 9:36, 39)
• I am very sure that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiritual blindness, is because they will not receive correction. Many have despised the reproofs and warnings given them. The True Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, and proud, and lovers of sin, are ever assailed with doubts. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue and mark of intelligence in them to be unbelieving and questioning, and quibbling. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and teachable spirit. All should decide from the weight of evidence. RH September 16, 1873, par. 10

 

SEPULCHRE

• Compared to an open quiver (Jere 5:16)
  • A quiver holds arrows [see arrows]
  • Arrows are compared to bitter words (Psa 64:3)
    • To the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet (Prov 27:7)
  • A quiver or sepulchre can represent our mouths or words
• Flattery (Psa 5:9)
• Deceit/poison of snakes (Rom 3:13)
• White washed sepulchres are hypocrites, look good on the outside but on the inside they are filled with filth (Matt 23:26,27)`
  • Whited wall – pretends to uphold the law of God but doesn’t keep it himself (Act 23:3-3)
  • Congregation of hypocrites is desolate (Job 15:34)
  • hypocrites in heart heap up wrath (Job 36:13)
  • the worldly man judges others but commits the same offenses that others are committing (Rom 2:1-3)

 

SERPENT [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub] [see whale]

• Dragon, Satan, The Devil (Rev 12:9, 20:2)
• Also known as leviathan, piercing serpent, crooked serpent (Isa 27:1)
• God created the crooked serpent (Job 26:13)
  • Satan was created perfect but iniquity (crookedness) developed (Eze 28:15)
  • Prov 26:10  The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
• The most subtle creature (Gen 3:1)
• Seduces and deceives (Gen 3:13)
  • Alcohol wine bites like a serpent (Prov 23:32)
  • Minds are corrupted by the subtlety of the serpent (2 Cor 10:3)
  • We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor 2:11)
• Dan-the son of Jacob and tribe (Gen 49:17)
  • A serpent by the way bites the horse’s heels so that the rider falls backwards [see horse]
  • The adder is the cerastes or horned serpent, of the color of the sand, and therefore, not easily recognized, that inflicts a fatal wound on him that unwarily treads on it. The cerastes has its name from two little horns upon its head, and is remarkable for the property here ascribed to the shephiphon. It is intimated that this tribe should gain the principal part of its conquests more by cunning and stratagem, than by valor; and this is seen particularly in their conquest of Laish, Judges 18, and even in some of the transactions of Samson, such as burning the corn of the Philistines, and at last pulling down their temple, and destroying three thousand at one time, see Jdg_16:26-30.
• Fiery serpent represents Jesus Christ
  • Jesus was lifted up (John 3:14,15, Matt 27:40-42)
  • He became sin for us so that we may live (2Cor 5:21)
  • May God give us wisdom to know how to move in these evil times, for we are in the midst of hungry wolves and tigers who are seeking whom to devour. We are so desirous to know just how to move. We do not want to enter into controversy, which often tends to evil. Neither do I want to vindicate myself, unless it is positively necessary for the good of the cause of God. We want now and ever the wisdom of the serpent and the harmless character of the dove. O God, give us Thy Spirit in these times of trial! {4LtMs, Ms 23, 1885, par. 1}
  • We must work in prayer and love, with faith and unwearied patience, hoping all things and believing all things, having the wisdom of the serpent and the meekness of the dove, in order to win souls to Christ. {LS 211.2}
  • I told him that the best and wisest plan would to be to dwell upon subjects that would arouse the conscience. He could talk upon practical godliness, devotion and piety, and present the self-denial, self-sacrificing life of Jesus as our example until they will see the contrast between that and their self-indulgent life and become dissatisfied with their unchristian lives. Then present to them the prophecies; show them the purity and binding claims of the law of God; not one jot or tittle of this law is to lose its force, but hold its binding claims upon every soul to the end of time. When the law of God is made void, when the Christian world is joined with the Catholic and the worldly in making of none effect the commandments of God, then God’s chosen people arise to defend the law of Jehovah. This is the guile that Paul used; this is the wisdom of the serpent and harmlessness of the dove. When we come to a community acquainted with our faith, this cautious course need not be pursued; but in every case special efforts should be made to come close to hearts by personal labor. Avoid running down the churches. Do not let the people receive the idea that your work is to tear down; it is to build up and to present the truth as it is in Jesus. Dwell much upon the necessity of vital godliness. {4LtMs, Lt 23, 1885, par. 18-19}
  • Tactful Methods, Not Deception—You need not feel that all the truth is to be spoken to unbelievers on any and every occasion. You should plan carefully what to say and what to leave unsaid. This is not practicing deception; it is to work as Paul worked. He says, “Being crafty, I caught you with guile.” You must vary your labor, and not have one way which you think must be followed at all times and in all places. Your ways may seem to you a success, but if you used more tact, more of the wisdom of the serpent, you would have seen much more real results of your work.—Letter 12, 1887. Ev 125.5
  • The disciples must show no severity in word or action. While they must ever cultivate the wisdom of the serpent in seeking to save the souls of their fellow-men, they must be as harmless as doves. {ST July 25, 1900, par. 1}
  • To have the wisdom of a serpent, and the harmlessness of a dove, is a very wonderful acquirement. {5LtMs, Ms 14, 1887, par. 10}
• Serpents are likened to the nations that are afraid of God, not because they respect Him, but because of suffering judgment (Mic 7:15-17)
  • The Serpent *the Devil* casts out water like a flood [see water] (Rev 12:15)
  • Dwells in the sea [see sea] (Isa 27:1)
• Die when you eat snakes’ eggs (Isa 59:5) [see eggs]
• Satanic people (Matt 23:33)
• Scribes and pharisees, hypocrites and fools likened to serpents and vipers (Matt 23:23, 33)
• Fish compared and contrasted to a serpent (Luke 11:11)
• A babbler (Ecc 10:11)
• When Jerusalem is backslidden, God said he would send serpents among them that will bite them (Jere 8:5,17)
• PHARAOH: The distinctive feature of kingship—of both sun-god in the sky and mortal king on earth—was the protective force depicted as cobra rearing with swollen neck, ready to spit fire against any potential enemy. – Exploring Religion in Ancient Egypt by Stephen Quirke

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Genesis 3:15: Jesus is the Seed which would crush Satan’s head.
• John 19:17: Jesus was crucified on the hill called Golgotha
• Romans 16:20: Jesus will crush Satan under our feet shortly
• Luke 10:19: Jesus gave authority to His followers over serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

• Seventh-day:
  • Points to the 7^th day Sabbath
    • A people who exalt the law of God in both its moral and natural aspects (10 C & Health Reform)
    • The day of rest that marked off the finished work of creation à a people who will like their Maker finish the work of the gospel in these last days
    • Sign that God sanctifies us – a sanctified people à God will have His people be fully sanctified totally reflecting the glory – character of God
    • He will sanctify us body, soul and spirit – total
    • Seven signifies perfection. Jesus is perfecting a special people that will be ready for Heaven
  • Day – SDA are children of light and not of darkness
• Adventists:
  • People looking forward to and hastening the imminent 2^nd Advent of Jesus Christ
• No name which we can take will be appropriate but that which accords with our profession and expresses our faith and marks us a peculiar people. The name Seventh-day Adventist is a standing rebuke to the Protestant world. Here is the line of distinction between the worshipers of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark. The great conflict is between the commandments of God and the requirements of the beast. It is because the saints are keeping all ten of the commandments that the dragon makes war upon them. If they will lower the standard and yield the peculiarities of their faith, the dragon will be at peace; but they excite his ire because they have dared to raise the standard and unfurl their banner in opposition to the Protestant world, who are worshiping the institution of the papacy. The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind. Like an arrow from the Lord’s quiver, it will wound the transgressors of God’s law, and will lead to repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. {GRC 50.2-3}
• We are Seventh-day Adventists. Are we ashamed of our name? We answer, No, no! We are not. It is the name the Lord has given us. It points out the truth that is to be the test of the churches.-Letter 110, 1902.(Written July 7, 1902.) {GRC 51.1}
• We are Seventh-day Adventists, and of this name we are never to be ashamed. As a people we must take a firm stand for truth and righteousness. Thus we shall glorify God. We are to be delivered from dangers not ensnared and corrupted by them. That this may be, we must look ever to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.-Letter 106, 1903.(Written May 20, 1903.) {GRC 51.2}
• …In the name of the Lord we are to identify ourselves as Seventh-day Adventists. If any one among us is ashamed of our colors, and wishes to stand under another banner, let him do so as a private individual, not as a representative of Seventh-day Adventist medical missionary work. Let us take our position as Seventh-day Adventists. The name is a true expression of our faith. I am instructed to call upon God’s people to bring their actions into harmony with their name, of which they have no need to be ashamed. The Seventh-day Adventist faith will bless whenever it is brought into the character-building. {BCL 52.5-6}
• Seventh-day Adventist! The name is true to the letter. And the Lord calls for a decided reformation among His people. God desires His servants to be known by their religious belief. {Lt51-1901.18}
• Seventh-day Adventists, who profess to be looking for and loving the appearing of Christ, should not follow the course of worldlings. These are no criterion for commandment keepers. Neither should they pattern after first-day Adventists, who refuse to acknowledge the claims of the law of God and trample it under their feet. This class should be no criterion for them. Commandment-keeping Adventists occupy a peculiar, exalted position. John viewed them in holy vision and thus described them: “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” {2T 450.1}
• Seventh-day Adventists, above all other people in the world, should be patterns of piety, holy in heart and in conversation…Should they who make so high a profession indulge in sin and iniquity, their guilt would be very great. The Lord reproves the sins of one, that others may take warning and fear. {2T 451.2}
• …Seventh-day Adventists have been chosen by God as a peculiar people, separate from the world. By the great cleaver of truth He has cut them out from the quarry of the world and brought them into connection with Himself. He has made them His representatives and has called them to be ambassadors for Him in the last work of salvation. The greatest wealth of truth ever entrusted to mortals, the most solemn and fearful warnings ever sent by God to man, have been committed to them to be given to the world; and in the accomplishment of this work our publishing houses are among the most effective agencies. {7T 138.2}
• God has called His church in this day, as He called ancient Israel, to stand as a light in the earth. By the mighty cleaver of truth, the messages of the first, second, and third angels, He has separated them from the churches and from the world to bring them into a sacred nearness to Himself. He has made them the depositaries of His law and has committed to them the great truths of prophecy for this time. Like the holy oracles committed to ancient Israel, these are a sacred trust to be communicated to the world. The three angels of Revelation 14 represent the people who accept the light of God’s messages and go forth as His agents to sound the warning throughout the length and breadth of the earth. Christ declares to His followers: “Ye are the light of the world.” To every soul that accepts Jesus the cross of Calvary speaks: “Behold the worth of the soul: ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’” Nothing is to be permitted to hinder this work. It is the all-important work for time; it is to be far-reaching as eternity. The love that Jesus manifested for the souls of men in the sacrifice which He made for their redemption, will actuate all His followers. {5T 455.2}
• …We are not to cringe and beg pardon of the world for telling them the truth; we should scorn concealment. Unfurl your colors to meet the cause of men and angels. Let it be understood that Seventh-day Adventists can make no compromise. In your opinions and faith there must not be the least appearance of wavering: the world has a right to know what to expect of us, and will look upon us as dishonest, as hiding ourreal sentiments and principles out of policy, if we carry even the semblance of being uncommitted till the popular voice has pointed out the safe way. {Ms16-1890.61}
• God’s people are to be distinguished as a people who serve Him fully, nobly, wholeheartedly, taking no honor to themselves, and remembering that by a most solemn covenant they have bound themselves to serve the Lord, and Him only. {Ms132-1903.13}

 

SHADOWS

• Types or symbols of heavenly realities (Col 2:14, 16,17, Heb 8:5; 10:1)
• Shadows of mountains as if they were men (Judg 9:36)

 

SHARP RAZOR [see hair]

• a mouth that speaks about devising plans of destruction while working deceitfully *lying* (Psa52:2)

 

SHEAVES

• people (Mic 4:12)

 

SHEEP [see cattle] [see garment/clothing/robe] [see rain]

• person/people (Psa 119:176) (John 21:16,17, Isa 53:6)
• God’s people like a flock (Psa 78:52)
• The people of His pasture (Psa 79:13, 100:3)
  • Know the state of your flocks and look well to you herds (Prov 27:23)
  • May have defects (Deut 17:1)
  • The beasts grown and the herds of cattle are troubled because of a lack of pasture (food) (Joel 1:18)
• Gentiles (Mic 5:8)
• Produce fleece which is used in garments (Job 31:20)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Good shepherd knows sheep. There is one shepherd (John 10:14, 16)
  • Shepherd must bring sheep in and hear his voice *vs. 3 + 16
• Jesus is the great shepherd (Heb 13:20)
• Jesus is the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36)

 

SHELTER

• God (Psa 61:3)
• embrace the rock for want of a shelter (Job 24:8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHEPHERD [see pastors] [see ministers] [see prophet]

• Cyrus is described as a shepherd which built the foundation and temple (Isa 44:28)
  • He comes from the North (Isa 41:25)
  • In Isaiah 41:2, he is said to have been raised up ‘from the east.’ Both were true. Cyrus was born in Persia, in the country called in the Scriptures ‘the east,’ but he early went to Media, and came from Media under the direction of his uncle, Cyaxares, when he attacked and subdued Babylon. Media was situated on the north and northeast of Babylon.
• Shepherd of Israel is God/Jesus Christ and God dwells between the cherubim (Psa 23:1, 80:1) (Ecc 12:11) (1 Peter 2:21-25)
• Jesus feeds, gathers and carries us near to His heart. He gently leads His ministers as they lead baby Christians (Isa 40:11)
• Shepherd has a specific garment (Jere 43:12)
• When there is no shepherd, scattering happens
  • Israel was scattered because the people made groves (1King 14:15)
• Feed the flock and not only themselves
  • Pro_10:21  The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
  • Pro_10:32  The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.
• Strengthen the sick and heal the sick
• Bind up the broken hearted
• Bring back those who are driven away
• Seek the lost
• Don’t rule with force and cruelty
• Search and seek the scattered flock
  • Eze 34:1-11
• The great shepherd divides the sheep from the goats (Matt 25:32)
• True shepherds enter in through the door (John 10:2)
• Jesus is the good shepherd, pastors give their lives for the sheep (John 10:11)
• Bad shepherd leaves the sheep when he sees the wolf coming (John 10:12)
• Good shepherd knows his sheep (John 10:14)
• Shepherd must bring sheep in and hear his voice
  • One fold, one shepherd (John 10:16)
• Jesus is the great shepherd (Heb 13:20)
• Jesus is Chief Shepherd who gives the crown of glory (1 Pet 5:4)
  • The shepherd is the stone of Israel (Gen 49:24)
• Moses stood up to help water the flock (Ex 2:17)
• Shepherds have tents [see house] (Song Sol 1:8)
• Shepherds are watchmen
• To be awake and alert
  • Known to slumber (Nah 3:18)
• Righteous (1 Cor 15:34)
• Supposed to understand
• Not to look to their own way
• Not to look for personal gain
  • Isa 56:10-11
• Watch for souls as they that must give an account – true shepherds do this joyfully (Heb 13:17)
• Abide in the field and keep watch during the night (Luke 2:8)
• Truth is revealed to them
• They share truth with others
• Glorify God and praise Him
  • Luke 2:15-20
• As Jesus is our great shepherd, He is also our High Priest. Therefore under shepherds should have these qualities
  • Law of truth in their mouth, no iniquity, turn many people away from iniquity, seek the law and are messengers of the Lord of hosts [see messengers]
• Bad shepherds can lead people astray (Jere 50:6)
• Foolish or evil shepherds have their tools **which are Satan’s devices** (2Cor 2:11)
  • they don’t visit the doomed/perishing
  • they don’t seek the young *newly converted*
  • they don’t heal the broken
  • they don’t feed those who are seeking truth
  • a worthless/cheap shepherd leaves the flock
    • Zech 11:15-17
  • Leaders in apostasy have a tendency to harm their followers (Zech 11:3-6)
• Unfaithful watchmen are shepherds that are greedy, without understanding and selfish (Isa 56:10,11)

 

SHIELD [see oil] [see sword] [see helmet] [see shoes] [see breastplate]

• salvation (Psalm 18:35)
• the Lord (Psa 59:11)
• of faith (Eph 6:16)
• shields were greased with fat or oil before being used in battle (Isa 21:5)

 

SHIP [see woman]

• made out of trees (Eze 27:5) [see trees] [further understanding see stones]
• ship was used for fishing (John 21:3) [see fish]
• fishermen are on ships [see fishermen]
• a woman compared to merchants’ ships (Prov 31:10,14) [see woman]
  • could represent wealth and business (Psa 107:23)
• Noah was moved with fear. In response, he prepared an ark to the saving of his house (family) (Heb 11:7)
• Ships are driven by the wind and steered with a governor or helm.
  • The helm is likened to the tongue or words (Jam 3:4-5)
  • The tongue can be unruly and evil and full of poison (Jam 3:8) [see poison/venom] [see wine]
• Babylonians/Chaldeans’ cry is in the ships (Isa 43:14)
  • Naval power – exulted in their ships
• the helm on a ship is compared to the tongue – speech (Jam 3:4)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Hebrews 2:10: Jesus is the captain of our salvation. He runs the church ship.
  • He told Simon to launch out into the deep and let down the net (Luke 5:4)
  • Simon responded that he would let down the net at Christ’s word (Luke 5:5)
• Luke 5:3: Jesus taught out of Simon’s ship

 

SHIPWRECK

• Those who put away faith and having a good conscience make shipwreck of themselves (1Tim 1:19)
• Paul suffered literal shipwreck three times (2 Cor 11:25)

 

SHOCK OF CORN

• Person/ death of the righteous, going to grave right with God, dying at a good age, heap of sheaves, stack of corn* (Job 5:26)

 

SHOES

• the Gospel (Eph 6:15)
• Blood of war on the girdle and in shoes (1King 2:5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 1:7: John the Baptist felt unworthy to unloose the latchet of Christ’ shoe

 

SIEVE [see fig tree + figs] [see wind]

• Of vanity (Isa 30:28)
  • Shav – destruction, ruin, guile
    • *We can deduce from this text that in one sense all the nations of the world will be sifted in what Isaiah calls the sieve of vanity. In this sense, vanity is used as a broad term to characterize anything which is not profitable to eternal salvation. Perhaps even less sincere Christians will understand that the worldlings will not be participants in the kingdom of heaven, unless they hold the false belief that everyone will be saved.*
    • The doctrines of devils (guile-faleshods and lies), like a cleansing wind, will blow away all the untimely figs out of God’s church. They will be shaken out by accepting heresies.
    • Under the winds of strife, persecution, and turmoil, those who are professed Christians but are not true grain in the church will be blown away.
  • For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. (Amos 9:9)
    • All are sifted out who have not grown in their Christian experience and therefore are useless in terms of witnessing to the gospel of Christ. All will fall through the sieve who have quieted their conscience, taking comfort in the false assurance that their failure to gain the victory over sin will be covered by Christ’s robe of righteousness. Yet, Amos is commissioned to make it plain that no pure, fully developed grain will be lost, for he says, “yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.” This is great assurance to all who love their Lord and their fellow man.
    • God is determined to save all who are worthy to be saved.
      • The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)
      • Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
    • The days are fast approaching when there will be great perplexity and confusion. Satan, clothed in angel robes, will deceive, if possible, the very elect. There will be gods many and lords many. Every wind of doctrine will be blowing. Those who have rendered supreme homage to “science falsely so called” will not be the leaders then. Those who have trusted to intellect, genius, or talent will not then stand at the head of rank and file. They did not keep pace with the light. Those who have proved themselves unfaithful will not then be entrusted with the flock. In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient, independent of God, and He cannot use them. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 80)
    • The Lord has faithful servants, who in the shaking, testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. In the day time we look toward heaven but do not see the stars. They are there, fixed in the firmament, but the eye cannot distinguish them. In the night we behold their genuine luster. (Ibid., pp. 80–81)
    • I saw that we are now in the shaking time. Satan is working with all his power to wrest souls from the hand of Christ and cause them to trample underfoot the Son of God. An angel slowly and emphatically repeated these words: “Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” Character is being developed. Angels of God are weighing moral worth. God is testing and proving His people. (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, p. 429)
  • THREE MAJOR STAGES OF THE SHAKING
    • Introduction of false teachings into the church (TM 112)
    • Many rise up against the straight testimony of the True Witness (1T181)
    • Fiery trials complete the purifying of God’s church (2SM 368, 5T 136, 4T 89)
      • Don’t think it is a strange thing to go through fiery trials – rejoice becasuse you are joining in the sufferings of Jesus Christ (1Pet 4:12-13)
    • Those who are left will be called holy. They will have Christlike characters and victory over sin (Isa 4:3-4)

 

SIGN OF JONAS/JONAH

• Jesus Christ’s preaching, death and resurrection. (Matt 12:39-42; Luke 11:29-32)
• “And He sighed deeply in His spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign?” “There shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.” As Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the whale, Christ was to be the same time “in the heart of the earth.” And as the preaching of Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so Christ’s preaching was a sign to His generation. But what a contrast in the reception of the word! The people of the great heathen city trembled as they heard the warning from God. Kings and nobles humbled themselves; the high and the lowly together cried to the God of heaven, and His mercy was granted unto them. “The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation,” Christ had said, “and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.” Matthew 12:40, 41. {DA 406.3}

 

SILVER [see coins]

• People (Psa 66:10, Mal 3:3, Luke 15:8-10)
  • Take away the waste from the silver and you will have a vessel for the finer (Prov 25:4)
• Wicked people are reprobate silver which are rejected (Jere 6:28-30)
• God’s word (Psa 12:6)
  • Every word of God is pure (Prov 30:5)
• Wisdom (Prov 2:1-4)
  • Better than rubies, silver and fine gold (Prov 3:13-15)
  • Tree of life (Prov 3:18)
    • Jesus said “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63)
    • Must we wait until we are translated before we eat of the leaves of the tree of life? He who receives into his heart the words of Christ knows that it means to eat the leaves of the tree of life. Christ declared, “The bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto Him, Lord, ever more give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. … This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, shall have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. … I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever, and the bread that I will give him is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. … Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. … It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” [John 6:33-35, 40, 51, 54-57, 63.] {Ms103-1902.2}
    • When the believer, in the fellowship of the Spirit, can lay his hand upon truth itself, and appropriate it, he eats the bread that comes down from heaven. He enters into the life of Christ and appreciates the great sacrifice made in behalf of the sinful race. The knowledge that comes from God is the bread of life. It is the leaves of the tree of life which are for the healing of the nations. The current of spiritual life thrills the soul as the words of Christ are believed and practiced. Thus it is that we are made one with Christ. The experience that was weak and feeble becomes strong. It is eternal life to us if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. {Ms103-1902.3-4}
    • Sin brings physical and spiritual disease and weakness. Christ has made it possible for us to free ourselves from this curse. The Lord promises, by the medium of truth, to renovate the soul. The Holy Spirit will make all who are willing to be educated able to communicate the truth with power. It will renew every organ of the body, that God’s servants may work acceptably and successfully. Vitality increases under the influence of the Spirit’s action. Let us, then, by this power lift ourselves into a higher, holier atmosphere, that we may do well our appointed work. {RH January 14, 1902, Art. A, par. 8}
    • The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life (Prov 11:30)
  • Instruction (Prov 8:10)
  • Obedience {PK 409.3}
  • the tongue [see tongue] of the just (Prov 10:20)
    • Should purpose not to transgress (Psa 17:3)
  • understanding (Prov 16:16)
  • can be diluted (Isa 1:22)
  • wasn’t valuable during Solomon’s reign (1King 10:21)
  • Abimelech received seventy pieces of silver (70 brothers who he betrayed) out of the house of Baalberith and he hired foolish people which followed him (Judg 9:4-5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 Corinthians 4:10: We are wise in Christ

 

SIN [see mire] [see reproach] [see spots] [see transgression] [see wrinkle]

• Leasing – falsehood / sin (Psa 4:2, 5:6)
• Sin is like spiritual debt (Luke 7:41,42,47, Rom 6:23)
• Mighty sins (Amos 5:12)
• transgression of the law (1 John 3:4, Rom 4:15)
  • What is to bring the sinner to the knowledge of his sins unless he knows what sin is? The only definition of sin in the Word of God is given us in 1 John 3:4. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” The sinner must be made to feel that he is a transgressor…{OHC 141.3}
  • The only definition the Bible gives of sin is that it is “the transgression of the law.” While we are to repent toward God for the transgression of the law, we are not to look to the law for remission of sins, or for justification. Neither are we to imagine that repentance for past sin will be all-sufficient; for in order to be saved, we must have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ…{RH July 5, 1892, par. 8}
• unrighteousness (1 John 5:17)
  • those who have pleasure in unrighteousness are damned (2Thess 2:12)
  • there is no unrighteousness with God (Rom 9:14)
  • God does not have pleasure in wickedness neither will evil live with Him (Psa 5:4)
• Iniquity is synonymous with sin (Psa 51:2; Isa 1:4)
  • going our own way is akin to doing iniquity (Isa 53:6, 57:17)
    • defilement comes by going our own way (Eze 36:17)
    • Satan beckons us to take his way (Lt 113, 1890, par. 18)
    • Satan was cast out of heaven because he determined to have his own way (RH, December 22, 1910 par. 9)
  • Fall by iniquity (Hos 14:1)
  • Destroyed because of iniquity (Isa 64:7)
  • God corrects man for iniquity with rebukes (Psa 39:11)
  • by mercy and truth iniquity is purged (Prov 16:6)
    • mercy and truth met together on the cross (Psa 85:9-11)
    • Preserves the king (Prov 20:28)
    • We are kings and priests unto God (Rev 1:5,6; 5:9-10)
  • God’s prophets are shown the iniquities of God’s people (Hab 1:3)
    • Because iniquity and violence abounds the law is slacked (Hab 1:3-4)
  • unbelief (John 16:8,9)
    • can’t enter because of unbelief (Heb 3:18-19; 4:6)
    • We believe through grace (Acts 18:27)
    • If people don’t believe in Jesus Christ and that He is Son of God, they will die in their sins (John 8:19-21)
  • Pride (Prov 21:4)
  • Whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom 14:23)
    • The sinner’s faith in Jesus saved her (Luke 7:50)
  • Despising your neighbour (Prov 14:21)
  • thought of foolishness (Prov 24:9)
    • [see foolishness] thoughts of transgression are sin
    • Adam hid his sin in his heart (Job 31:33)
  • Knowing to do good and not doing it is sin (James 4:17)
    • If we don’t do good, sin lies at the door (Gen 4:7)
  • Sins of presumption are knowingly doing what is wrong and willfully violating God’s law (Deut 1:41-43)
  • Wishing a curse upon someone is sin (Job 31:30)
  • Intermarriage – believers with non believers is sin. The Israelites and their priests married pagans. Princes and rulers had been chief in this trespass. (Ezra 9:1-4)
  • Respect of persons (partiality) is sin (Jam 2:9)
  • Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it was an error: wherefore should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands? (Ecc 5:6)
  • Be sure your sin will find you out. (Num 32:23)
    • Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted. (Psa 107:17)
    • God punishes us less than our iniquities deserve (Ezra 9:13)
    • And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; Then God sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity. If they obey and serve him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. But if they obey not, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. (Job 38:8-12)
  • When we act too quickly, we may end up sinning (Prov 19:2)
  • God withheld Abimelech from sinning against Him – when we let Jesus into our lives and invite His Spirit – God will give us power to overcome sin (Gen 20:6, 2 Thess 2:6)
    • the love of Christ constraineth us (2Cor 5:14)
    • the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Rom 5:5)
      • We are àstrengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Eph 3:16-19)
    • the spirit within me constraineth me (Job 32:18)
    • Must ask in faith for strength to overcome hereditary and cultivated tendencies to sin. The promise is that we will receive what we need. (Psa 138:3, 1John 5:14, Eph 3:20-21)
  • Every person is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and trapped. When lust has conceived it brings forth sin and sin when it is finished brings forth death (James 1:14,15)
  • Blinds people (Zeph 1:17)
  • Sins keep good things away from God’s people (Jere 5:25)
  • Our iniquities/sins separate us from God. When we cherish sin, God does not hear our prayers (Isa 59:2)
    • People who walk after ungodly lusts are sensual. They separate themselves from God and do not have the Spirit (Jude 1:18,19)
  • Sin brings with it shame and confusion (Jere 3:25)
    • God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Cor 14:33)
  • God is angry when we sin. He doesn’t like sin (Isa 64:5)
  • If you see a person sin, or know him to be addicted to any thing by which the safety of his soul is endangered, you should mildly and affectionately reprove him, and by no means permit him to go on without counsel and advice in a way that is leading him to perdition. In a multitude of cases timely reproof has been the means of saving the soul. Speak to him privately if possible; if not, write to him in such a way that himself alone shall see it. It’s not loving to ignore and not reprove someone living in sin. (Lev 19:16-18)
  • Holy Spirit convicts people of sin (John 16:8,9)
    • Holy Spirit must impresses conviction – convicted by own conscience (John 8:9)
  • Those who commit sin become the servants of sin and they don’t abide in the house forever [see house] (John 8:34, 35)
  • He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil is originator of sin. Whoever is born of God does not commit sin. He cannot sin because he is born of God (1 John 3:8,9)
    • He guards himself and the wicked one doesn’t touch him (1John 5:18)
  • There is no man that doesn’t sin (1King 8:46)
  • All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)
  • Judah was removed because of sin (Lam 1:8)
  • And the fat of the sin offering shall he burn upon the altar. (Lev 16:25)
    • Wickedness burns as the fire (Isa 9:18)
  • Every man shall be put to death for his own sin (Deut 24:16)
  • The soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Eze 18:20)
  • Dead to sin (Rom 6:1-2)
    • Don’t serve sin (Rom 6:6)
    • Resist sin and strive against it (Heb 12:4)
    • When one is dead to sin they are freed from sin (Rom 6:2,6,7)
  • Sin has no dominion over the believer because he/she is under grace (Rom 6:14; Titus 2:11-14)
  • Servants of sin are free from righteousness (Rom 6:20)
    • Instead we should be servants of righteousness to God (Rom 6:18)
  • When we sin willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there is no more sacrifice for sins, but a fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation (Heb 10:26-27)
  • Smitten before the enemy because of sin (1King 8:33)
    • Solution was to repent: (1King 8:47-48)
      • Turn to God, confess His name, pray, supplicate
    • No rain because of sin (1King 8:35)
    • SIN NO MORE: Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (John 5:14; 8:11)
    • Revival and reformation (Ezra 9:8-9)
      • There was a great rain during a revival. This happened while they were separating from sin. (Ezra 10:9,13)
    • Children of Israel did secretly the things that were not right (2King 17:9)
    • No one need look upon the sin against the Holy Ghost as something mysterious and indefinable. The sin against the Holy Ghost is the sin of persistent refusal to respond to the invitation to repent. If you refuse to believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, you love darkness rather than light, you love the atmosphere that surrounded the first great apostate. You choose this atmosphere rather than the atmosphere that surrounds the Father and the Son, and God allows you to have your choice…{RH June 29, 1897, par. 9}
    • We need to understand that imperfection of character is sin.{COL 330.2}
    • The question will come up, How is it? Is it by conditions that we receive salvation? Never by conditions do we come to Christ. And if we come to Christ, then what is the condition? The condition is that by living faith we lay hold wholly and entirely upon the merits of the blood of a crucified and risen Saviour. When we do that, then we work the works of righteousness. But when God is calling the sinner in our world, and inviting him, there is no condition there; he is drawn by the invitation of Christ and it is not, “Now you have got to respond in order to come to God.” The sinner comes, and as he comes and views Christ elevated upon that cross of Calvary, which God impresses upon his mind, there is a love beyond anything that is imagined that he has taken hold of. And what then? As he beholds that love, why he says that he is a sinner. Well, then, what is sin? Why at once he has to come here to find out. There is no definition given in our world but that transgression is the transgression of the law; and therefore he finds out what sin is. And there is repentance toward God; and what then?—why, faith toward our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that can speak pardon to the transgressor. Christ is drawing everyone that is not past the boundary. He is drawing him to Himself today. No matter how great that sinner is, He is drawing him. If the sinner can get his arm fixed upon the cross of Calvary, then there is no conviction of sin. What is he there for? Because the law has been transgressed, and he begins to see that he is a sinner; and Christ died because the law was transgressed. And then he begins to look to the righteousness of Christ as the only thing that can cleanse the sinner from his sins and from his transgressions. {1SAT 121.2-3}
    • The first step in reconciliation to God is the conviction of sin. “Sin is the transgression of the law.” “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” 1 John 3:4; Romans 3:20. In order to see his guilt, the sinner must test his character by God’s great standard of righteousness. It is a mirror which shows the perfection of a righteous character and enables him to discern the defects in his own. The law reveals to man his sins, but it provides no remedy. While it promises life to the obedient, it declares that death is the portion of the transgressor. The gospel of Christ alone can free him from the condemnation or the defilement of sin. He must exercise repentance toward God, whose law has been transgressed; and faith in Christ, his atoning sacrifice. Thus he obtains “remission of sins that are past” and becomes a partaker of the divine nature. He is a child of God, having received the spirit of adoption, whereby he cries: “Abba, Father!” {GC 467.3-4}
    • To those who desire prayer for their restoration to health, it should be made plain that the violation of God’s law, either natural or spiritual, is sin, and that in order for them to receive His blessing, sin must be confessed and forsaken. {Pr 234.3}
      • True confession is always of a specific character, and acknowledges particular sins. They may be of such a nature as to be brought before God only; they may be wrongs that should be confessed to individuals who have suffered injury through them; or they may be of a public character, and should then be as publicly confessed. But all confession should be definite and to the point, acknowledging the very sins of which you are guilty. {SC 38.1}
    • Instead of criticizing and condemning others, say, “I must work out my own salvation. If I co-operate with Him who desires to save my soul, I must watch myself diligently. I must put away every evil from my life. I must overcome every fault. I must become a new creature in Christ. Then, instead of weakening those who are striving against evil, I can strengthen them by encouraging words.” We are too indifferent in regard to one another. Too often we forget that our fellow laborers are in need of strength and cheer. Take care to assure them of your interest and sympathy. Help them by your prayers, and let them know that you do it. {MH 492.3}
    • Nothing in this world is so dear to God as His church. With jealous care He guards those who seek Him. Nothing so offends God as for the servants of Satan to strive to rob His people of their rights. The Lord has not forsaken His people. Satan points to the mistakes that they have made and tries to make them believe that thus they have separated themselves from God. Evil angels seek in every way to discourage those who are striving for victory over sin. They hold up before them their past unworthiness and represent their case as hopeless. But we have an all-powerful Redeemer. Christ came from heaven in the guise of humanity to live the principles of righteousness in this world. He was endowed with power to minister to all who would accept Him as their Redeemer, to succor the repentant ones who were convinced of the sinfulness of sin. “We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” [Hebrews 4:15.] {Lt136-1910.7,8}
    • “If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous.” [1 John 2:1.] How careful is the Lord Jesus to give no occasion for a soul to despair. How He fences about the soul from Satan’s fierce attacks. If through manifold temptations we are surprised or deceived into sin, He does not turn from us and leave us to perish. No, no, that is not our Saviour. Christ prays for us. He was tempted in all points like as we are; and having been tempted, He knows how to succor them that are tempted. Our crucified Lord is pleading for us in the presence of His Father at the throne of grace. This atoning sacrifice we may plead for our pardon, our justification, and our sanctification. The Lamb slain is our only hope. Our faith looks upon Him, grasps Him as the One who can save to the uttermost, and the fragrance of the all-sufficient offering is accepted of the Father. Unto Christ is committed all power in heaven and in earth, and all things are possible to him that believeth. Christ’s glory is concerned in our success. He has a common interest with all humanity. He is our sympathizing Saviour. {Lt9a-1891.19}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15: Jesus never sinned
• Acts 3:20-26: Jesus was that great Prophet the Son of God raised up to turn the people away from their iniquities.
• 1 John 3:8: The Son of God was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.
• Hebrews 8:6,7,12: Jesus promises through His word that He will be merciful to His people’s unrighteousness
  • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)

 

SINNERS [see mire]

• There is no man that doesn’t sin (1King 8:46)
  • The unjust have no shame (Hab 3:5)
• All have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23)
• bloody men (Psalm 26:9)
  • don’t consent to their enticing (Prov 1:10)
  • don’t envy them (Prov 23:17)
  • don’t desire to be with them (Prov 24:1)
  • hate the upright (Prov 29:10)
    • Upright men are laughed to scorn (Job 12:4)
  • the wicked try to kill those of upright conversation and their devisings backfire on them (Psa 37:14-15, 32)
• hypocrites (Isa 33:14)
  • hypocrites and those people who forget God are like grass that withers away (Job 8:12-13)
  • when the heart is exalted, the people tend to forget God (Hos 13:6)
  • Congregation of hypocrites is desolate (Job 15:34)
  • hypocrites in heart heap up wrath (Job 36:13)
• they will be taken by the woman whose heart is snares and nets and her hands as bands (Ecc 7:26) [see woman, see snares, see nets]
• accursed (Isa 65:20)
• murmurers, complainers, walk after own lusts, prideful, unite with people to gain an advantage, don’t have the Spirit and speak against the Lord (Jude 1:14-19)
• Sinners think it strange that saints run not with them to the same excess of riot and thus speak evil of saints (1 Peter 4:3-4)
• To the sinner, God gives travail. The sinner will leave that which he had to those who are good before God. (Ecc 2:26)
• Wickedness overthrows the sinner (Prov 13:6)
  • wickedness does not deliver those that are given to it (Ecc 8:8)
• Evil pursues the sinner (Prov 13:21)
• The way of transgressors is hard (Prov 13:15)
• Sinner’s wealth is left to the just/righteous (Prov 13:22)
• Sinners do good to people who do good to them (Luke 6:33)
• Sinners lend to sinners (Luke 6:34)
• Sinners are the great debtors (Luke 7:41-50)
  • Are spiritually bankrupt and need forgiveness of their sin debts
• The Lord will destroy sinners…never to exist again (Isa 13:9)
• All the sinners among God’s people which say no evil will come upon them will be destroyed by the sword (Amos 9:10)
• King Saul was directed to destroy the Amalekites, who were sinners, but he didn’t obey God (1 Sam 15:16-18)
• He which converts a sinner from the error of their way will save a soul from death and hide a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20)
• We have the fullest faith in laboring for sinners to be converted, but we have not a particle of light from God to regard sinners as saints, and those who love God, our brethren, regard as sinners because sinners mistrust them and complain and murmur against them. “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ hath also loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather the giving of thanks.” [Ephesians 5:1-4.] Here is where there is something that is essential to be set right: If Jesus should stand in the gentlemen’s bathroom, He would purge it from its uncleanness and unholy conversation and its low cheap sentiments that proceed from unsanctified lips and impure hearts, “neither filthiness, nor foolish talking.” O, what examples in words and deportment have been given unbelievers! {Lt17a-1891.17}
• All disunion, all selfish thoughts, words, and actions, are the fruit of the working of an unholy spirit upon the mind. Under the influence of this spirit, words are spoken which do not reveal the Saviour. Christ is not formed within, the hope of glory. Those who live thus are sinners, tho they may be counted as saints. They are without faith. They do not practise the principles of Christ. Many who claim to be Christians commit grievous sins because they do not eat the bread that came down from heaven. {ST October 3, 1900, par. 14}
• God has great blessings to bestow upon his people. They may have the “peace of God, which passeth all understanding.” They “may be able to comprehend with all saints [not sinners, who are transgressors of God’s law] what is the “breadth, and length, and depth, and height,” of the love of Christ, being “filled with all the fullness of God.” But it is only to those who are meek and lowly of heart that Christ will thus manifest himself. The ones whom God justifies are represented by the publican rather than by the self-righteous Pharisee. Humility is Heaven-born; and none can enter the pearly gates without it. All unconsciously, it shines in the church and in the world, and it will shine in the courts of Heaven. {ST February 26, 1885, par. 13}
• The goodness and love of God subdues the heart, and then man becomes a channel to communicate these divine impressions to his fellow-men. Thus in Christ he is a fruit-bearing branch. No man, saint or sinner, liveth to himself. {ST December 21, 1891, par. 7}
• Christ’s death on the cross was one of willing obedience, else in it there would have been no merit; for justice would not punish in the place of the sinner an innocent being who was unwilling to bear the penalty. It was the Saviour’s full and free acceptance of the penalty that made His sacrifice wholly acceptable in every point. So the sinner must freely surrender his own will to God, and accept Christ as his substitute and surety. He must rely upon Him as the only one who can change a sinner to a saint. God calls upon us to acknowledge our guilt and accept pardon from Christ, revealing our sincerity by copying His way and doing His will. Of the one who does this the words are spoken, Ye are complete in Him, not having your own righteousness, but the righteousness which is of Christ by faith. {ST August 22, 1900, par. 8}
• It was by associating with idolaters and joining in their festivities that the Hebrews were led to transgress God’s law and bring His judgments upon the nation. So now it is by leading the followers of Christ to associate with the ungodly and unite in their amusements that Satan is most successful in alluring them into sin. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean.” 2 Corinthians 6:17. God requires of His people now as great a distinction from the world, in customs, habits, and principles, as He required of Israel anciently. If they faithfully follow the teachings of His word, this distinction will exist; it cannot be otherwise. The warnings given to the Hebrews against assimilating with the heathen were not more direct or explicit than are those forbidding Christians to conform to the spirit and customs of the ungodly. Christ speaks to us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15. “The friendship of the world is enmity with God; whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4. The followers of Christ are to separate themselves from sinners, choosing their society only when there is opportunity to do them good. We cannot be too decided in shunning the company of those who exert an influence to draw us away from God. While we pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” we are to shun temptation, so far as possible. {PP 458.2}
• The wisdom and excellence revealed in the character and deportment, express the true beauty of the man; and it is the inner worth, the excellency of the heart, that determines our acceptance with the Lord of hosts. How deeply should we feel this truth in the judgment of ourselves and others. We may learn from the mistake of Samuel how vain is the estimation that rests on beauty of face or nobility of stature. We may see how incapable is man’s wisdom of understanding the secrets of the heart or of comprehending the counsels of God without special enlightenment from heaven. The thoughts and ways of God in relation to His creatures are above our finite minds; but we may be assured that His children will be brought to fill the very place for which they are qualified, and will be enabled to accomplish the very work committed to their hands, if they will but submit their will to God, that His beneficent plans may not be frustrated by the perversity of man. {PP 638.1}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 9:22-25: The Jews referred to Jesus as a sinner.
• Matthew 11:19 & Luke 7:34: The Jews called Jesus a friend of publicans and sinners.
• Luke 7:37-39: A woman, who was a sinner, went behind Jesus and washed Jesus’ feet with her own tears, wiped His feet with her hair, kissed His feet and anointed His feet with ointment from an alabaster box.
• Luke 7:41-50: Jesus is the Great Creditor. Sinners are the great debtors.
• But not to any class is Christ’s love restricted. He identifies Himself with every child of humanity. That we might become members of the heavenly family, He became a member of the earthly family. He is the Son of man, and thus a brother to every son and daughter of Adam. His followers are not to feel themselves detached from the perishing world around them. They are a part of the great web of humanity; and Heaven looks upon them as brothers to sinners as well as to saints. The fallen, the erring, and the sinful, Christ’s love embraces; and every deed of kindness done to uplift a fallen soul, every act of mercy, is accepted as done to Him. {DA 638.4}

 

SLEEP [see wine] [see milk]

• sin (1 Cor 15:34)
• slothfulness causes sleep (Prov 19:15)
• don’t love sleep (Prov 20:13)
• children of men (Psa 90:3-5)
• peace (Psa 4:8)
• death (Job 14:12, Matt 9:24, Mark 5:39, John 11:11-12, 1 Thess 4:14)
• spirit of slumber (Rom 11:8)
• can be drunk on the spirit of deep sleep (Isa 29:9-12)
• God sometimes speaks to us in dreams (Gen 31:11, 24, 1King 3:11-15, Job 33:14-16)
• The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. (Jere 23:28)
• When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. (Psa 126:1)
• It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams (Act 2:17)
• As dreams are generally the effect of the business in which we have been engaged during the day; so a multitude of words evidence the feeble workings of the foolish heart. (Ecc 5:3)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 8:22-25: Jesus slept while in a ship on the stormy sea
• Ephesians 5:14: Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

 

SMELL

• Appreciate (Amos 5:21)

 

SMOKE

• God’s enemies (Psa 68:1,2)
• irritating lazy person (Prov 10:26)
• people in apostasy (Hos 13:2,3)

 

SMOOTH THINGS [see daubing with untampered mortar]

• deceit and wrong messages (Isa 30:10; Eze 22:28) [see deceit]
  • may include false burdens (Lam 2:14)
• men pleasers which preach smooth things are not servants of Jesus Christ (Gal 1:10)
• Mortar can represent princes (Isa 41:25)

 

SNARE [see net]

• trap (Job 18:10)
• of the devil (1 Tim 3:7, 2 Tim 2:26)
• Lies (Prov 18:7,8)
  • Compared to wounds (Prov 26:22)
• Ungodly are as snares (Psa 18:4,5; Josh 23:13, Hos 5:1, Prov 22:5)
• False prophet (Hos 9:8, Isa 30:8-12)
• Net (Psa 140:5, Job 18:8) [see net]
• Evil net (Ecc 9:12) [see net in connection with Gal 1:6,7]
  • Can represent death/sudden death or destruction
• Gin (Psa 140:5)
• Transgression (Prov 29:6)
• Fear of man brings a snare (Prov 29:25)
• Evil time (Ecc 9:12)
• Riches (1 Tim 6:9)
• Destruction (Lam 3:47)
• Snares are laid for people who reprove sin (Isa 29:21)
  • Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.(2 Tim 4:2)
  • When full of power by the spirit of the Lord, we will have judgment and might to declare to God’s people their transgression and sin (Mic 3:8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

SNOW [see cold of snow]

• White like clean washed wool (Psa 147:16)
  • White refers to purity (Lam 4:7, Psa 51:7)
    • Cleansing away of sin (Isa 1:18)
  • Wool connected with Christ (Rev 1:14, Dan 7:9)
• Word of God/Scripture (Isa 55:10, 11)
  • Pure (Psa 12:6, Prov 30:5)
  • From heaven (sky) (John 6:31-33, Matt 4:4)
  • Water based (John 7:37-39, Eph 6:17)
• By the breath of God frost is given and water is frozen (Job 37:10) [see wind]
  • Breath of the Lord compared to a stream of brimstone (Isa 30:33)
• Leprous as snow (Ex 4:6, Num 12:10)

 

SOAP [see atonement] [see blood]

• Used for washing (Jere 2:22)
• Washing our steps with butter is figurative of cleansing one’s life by the word (Job 29:6, Psa 119:9) *washing akin to pruning – washed and pruned by the word (John 15:3; 17:17)
  • washing can represent putting away evil/stop doing evil (Isa 1:16)
  • Judas Iscariot was not washed spiritually – not clean (John 13:10-11)
  • Jesus Christ washes – those who are not washed have no portion with Him (John 13:8)
    • The Lord washes away the filth of the daugheters of Zion and purges the blood of Jerusalem by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning (Isa 4:4)
  • We should wash our hearts from wickedness that we may be saved. We should rid ourselves of vain thoughts. (Jere 4:14)
  • The blotting out of sin is connected with washing away of iniquity and the cleansing away of one’s sins (Psa 51:1-2)
  • Jesus Christ washes us from our sins in his own blood (Rev 1:5)
  • Christ’s blood is like soap. Through JC blood there is forgiveness of sins (Col 1:14, Lev 24:25)
    • Its precious (1Pe_1:19)
    • Robes are made white in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:14)
  • Jesus is like a refiner’s fire or fuller’s soap. (Mal 3:2)
    • The fire is as soap so soap can represent…
      • God’s fury/wrath (Jere 4:4)
      • prophet’s words given to him by God (Jere 5:14)
      • Word of God (Jere 23:29, Isa 30:27, 33,{Ms5-1849.6})
        • Melts (Psa 147:18)
      • Holy Spirit (Acts 2:3,4)
      • God’s ministers/angels (Psa 104:4, Heb 1:7)
      • Trials/troubles (Isa 48:10) – comfort à1Cor 10:13

 

 

 

SODOM

• Sodomites were wicked sinners (Gen 13:12)
• Both young and old were wicked (Gen 19:4, 5)
  • Practiced sexual immorality
  • Fornication, going after strange flesh (Jud 1:7)
• The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah are examples to those who should afterward live ungodly (2 Pet 2:6)
• The iniquity of Sodom is pride, fullness of bread, abundance of idleness and not strengthening the hand of the poor and needy (Eze 16:49)
• We are living in a time when the world is represented as Noah’s time, and as in the time of Sodom. I am constantly shown the great dangers to which youth, and men and women who have just reached manhood and womanhood, and also men and women of mature years, are exposed, and I dare not hold my peace. There is need of greater refinement, both in thought and association. There is need of Christians’ being more elevated and delicate in words and deportment. {CH 363.2}
• “The great city” is also compared, “spiritually,” to Sodom. The corruption of Sodom in breaking the law of God was especially manifested in licentiousness. And this sin was also to be a pre-eminent characteristic of the nation that should fulfill the specifications of this scripture. According to the words of the prophet, then, a little before the year 1798 some power of satanic origin and character would rise to make war upon the Bible. And in the land where the testimony of God’s two witnesses should thus be silenced, there would be manifest the atheism of the Pharaoh and the licentiousness of Sodom. {GC 269.2-3}

 

SONS OF GOD [see stars]

• Compared to morning stars (Job 38:7)
• reps of unfallen worlds
  • (Job 1:6, Heb 1:2, 11:3)
• Those who receive Christ become the sons of God (Joh_1:12)
• Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. (Rom_8:14)
• Are to be manifested (Rom_8:19)
• Those who are sons of God are blameless, harmless, without rebuke, lights in the world and obviously upright (Php_2:15)

 

SPARROW [see birds] [see net]

• Person/people (Psa 84:3, 102:7, 104:17)
• Birds wander for lack of meat (Job 38:41) [see meat/food]

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 10:29-31: Jesus said we are more precious than many sparrows

 

 

 

 

 

 

SPEAK

• command (Psalm 33:9)
• God’s voice is powerful and full of majesty (Psa 29:4)
  • Controls fire and shakes the wilderness (Psa 29:7-8)
• God speaks in a still small voice (1King 19:12-13) (GW92 266.2, PK 169.1, 2 SM 316.1, RH Feb 12 1889.4, Aug 6 1895.7)
  • Still small voice directs one’s duty (12LtMsMs177 1897 par 42)
  • words of wise men are heard in quiet (Ecc 9:17)
• God speaks at different times and in various ways through His prophets (Heb 1:1)
  • Job 22:22: We should receive the law from His mouth and lay up His words in our hearts.
• Holy Spirit teaches the believer what to say just as the Lord taught Moses what to say (Luke 12:11-12; Ex 4:11-15)
  • The Holy Spirit speaks (Act 8:29, 10:19, 1Tim 4:1)
• Grace is poured into the lips (Psa 45:2)
• Every man is to speak truth to his neighbour (Zech 8:16)
• Speaking using the right words is very powerful (Job 6:25)
  • Don’t conceal God’s message (Job 6:10)
  • God’s wrath is kindled when we don’t speak truth about God or Bible doctrine (Job 42:7)
  • Even when family and friends and the majority are against you, speak the truth in love and don’t keep silent (Job 31:34)
  • Can’t order speech rightly because of darkness (Job 37:19)
  • darken counsel by words without knowledge (Job 38:2)
• The enemies of the followers of God speak evil about God’s people (Psa 41:5, 109:20, 1 Pet 3:16)
• We shouldn’t speak evil of the ruler of God’s people (Act 23:4,5)
  • Those that walk after the flesh in the lusts of uncleanness and despise government are presumptuous, self-willed and are not afraid to speak evil of dignities (2Pet 2:10)
• We shouldn’t speak evil of any man (Tit 3:2)
• Oftentimes, people speak evil of things which they don’t understand (Jud 1:10)
• While being evil, it is nearly impossible to speak truly good things (Matt 12:34)
• Voice of doves (Nah 2:7)
• Voice of messengers (Nah 2:13)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 7:26: Jesus spoke boldly
• John 7:46: Never a man spoke/taught as Jesus did
• The more we talk of Jesus, the more we shall reflect His divine image. By beholding we become transformed. We need to bring Christ into our religious experience. When you assemble together, let the conversation be on Christ and His salvation…. The more we talk of Jesus the more of His matchless charms we shall behold. {Mar 331.4}

 

SPEAR

• pruning hook or scythe or sickle (Joel 3:10,13)

 

SPIRIT

• of truth (Eph 4:4, 1 John 4:6)
  • guides people into all truth
  • shows things to come – prophecy (John 16:13)
  • glorify Jesus (John 16:14)
• of error (1 John 4:6)
• of wisdom (Eph 1:17, Ex 28:3)
  • workmanship, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord (Ex 31:3, 35:31, Isa 11:2)
  • The leaders in our schools should be men and women of quick intuitions, who have the Spirit of God to aid them in reading character, who have managing ability, who can understand different phases of character, and display tact and wisdom in dealing with varied minds. {TSS 94.1}
• of judgment and of burning (Isa 4:4)
• of adoption (Rom 8:15,23)
• of holiness (Rom 1:4)
• of grace (Zech 12:10; Heb 10:29)
• of meekness (Gal 6:1)
• of sleep (Isa 29:10)
  • can be drunk on the spirit of deep sleep (Isa 29:9-12)
• of slumber (Rom 11:8)
• of heaviness (Isa 61:3)
• of whoredoms (Hos 4:11)
  • this spirit is right in the midst of the people (Hos 5:4)
• of the world (1 Cor 2:12)
• of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:19)
• of God (1 Cor 2:12)
  • only 1 Spirit of God (Eph 4:4)
  • Holy Spirit goes inside (Isa 63:11, Num 27:18)
    • Given to those who obey God (Act 5:32)
  • causes rest (Isa 63:14)
  • the things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned (1Cor 2:14)
    • by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1Cor 2:13)
    • by comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isa 28:9-10)
    • The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual. SC 89.3
  • The thing that is hid is revealed by God (Job 28:11)
  • Inspiration of God gives understanding (Job 32:8)
  • Holy Spirit teaches the believer what to say just as the Lord taught Moses what to say (Luke 12:11-12; Ex 4:11-15)
  • The Lord of hosts sends through His Spirit His words by the prophets (Zech 7:12)
  • filled with power by the Spirit to declare sins of the people (Mic 3:8, Isa 58:1 + 2 Tim 4:2)
  • Holy Spirit inspires and motivates (Judg 13:25)
  • Holy Spirit provides strength (Judg 14:6; 15:14)
    • Stephen was full of faith and filled with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit gives power. He worked miracles and did great wonders among the people. (Act 6:5, 8)
  • Love of God is placed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Rom 5:5)
  • Rebels vex the Holy Spirit (Isa 63:10)
  • Jesus Christ had fullness of Spirit (John 3:34)
  • He (the HS) spoke and gave directions to the apostles while they ministered to the Lord and fasted. He calls people to serve. (Act 13:2, 8:29)
  • Holy Spirit instructed the disciples on what to share with Paul (Act 21:4)
  • Through the laying on of hands the Holy Spirit was given (Act 8:18, 13:3-4)
  • The Holy Spirit made the Ephesian elders overseers to feed the church of God with Bible truth (Act 20:28)
• God is a Spirit (John 4:24)
• He is the God of the spirits of all flesh (Num 27:16)
• God abides in us by the Spirit which he has given commandment keepers (1John 3:24)
• People who walk after ungodly lusts are sensual. They separate themselves from God and do not have the Spirit (Jude 1:18,19)
• Receive the Spirit and do miracles by the hearing of faith (Gal 3:2-5)
• when the spirit is poured out, God’s words are made known (Prov 1:23)
  • when reproof is given, need to turn from sin to have the spirit poured out upon you
  • Comforter (the HS) teaches truth to us (John 14:26)
• an evil spirit brings disaffection (Judg 9:23)
• David took up a harp and played an evil spirit out of Saul (1Sam 16:23)
  • Since an evil spirit can be sent out of a person using music, so can an evil spirit be sent into a person using music.
  • Wicked/licentious music associated with evil spirit
  • Holy music associated with Spirit of God
• Based on context, spirit (lowercase “s”) can mean life.
  • Compare: Rom 7:6 with Rom 6:4
  • The consistent life, the patient forbearance, the spirit unruffled under provocation, is always the most conclusive argument and the most solemn appeal. If you have had opportunities and advantages that have not fallen to the lot of others, consider this, and be ever a wise, careful, gentle teacher. {MH 494.2}
• While the wind is itself invisible, it produces effects that are seen and felt. So the work of the Spirit upon the soul will reveal itself in every act of him who has felt its saving power. When the Spirit of God takes possession of the heart, it transforms the life. Sinful thoughts are put away, evil deeds are renounced; love, humility, and peace take the place of anger, envy, and strife. Joy takes the place of sadness, and the countenance reflects the light of heaven. No one sees the hand that lifts the burden, or beholds the light descend from the courts above. The blessing comes when by faith the soul surrenders itself to God. Then that power which no human eye can see creates a new being in the image of God. {DA 173.1}
  • To obey when it seems the hardest is true surrender to God. This will quicken your moral nature and subdue your pride. Learn to submit your will to God’s will, and you will be made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light. {Ms12-1888.13}
  • the sacrifice of our ideas, our will, is necessary if we would be one with Christ in God. All we have and are must be laid at Christ’s feet. Shall we not give up all selfishness, and learn the lesson of abiding in Christ? {Ms17-1899.25}
• Young men and women who are truly converted, will depart from all iniquity. Those who are not pure in heart, have no hold upon divine power, they are not partakers of the divine nature, and they will prove ready victims to Satan’s suggestions and temptations. They will not show fidelity under trial; but when they are rebuffed, they will become discouraged, because God does not work with their efforts. The high and holy One who inhabiteth eternity will not put his Holy Spirit into unclean vessels. Those who have not a proper sense of the character of the work for these last days, should not aspire to a place in the cause of God. If they see the offensive character of sin, and hate it as the vile thing it is, and come to Jesus in contrition, purifying their souls by obedience to the truth, then they may be intrusted with some part in the work. If they place their will on the side of God’s will, putting forth the energy with which God has endowed them, he will receive them and shed his grace in their hearts. But if those who have become weak in physical and moral power by evil works, seek a place in the work of God, they should be advised to employ themselves in manual labor. Such employment will be more favorable for the working out of their salvation. They should rely wholly on Christ for his grace to overcome. Those who have enfeebled their physical and mental powers by evil practices, need to walk very humbly before God. God reads the heart, he weighs the character, and is acquainted with every man’s work. He gives his Spirit in proportion to the consecration and self-sacrifice manifested by those who engage in his work. Heaven is ashamed of many who are engaged in all branches of the work, and especially is Heaven ashamed of those who are called to the sacred desk, and yet who do not try to do their best. Many read newspapers and periodicals and books, and neglect the study of their Bibles. They do not wrestle with God in the closet, for the help which he alone can give. They go forth to their work spiritless and without Christ. Ministers go before their congregations, presenting fragments of a long-used discourse, instead of a fresh portion of meat in due season for the people. They drift into dry, controverted subjects, and the flock of God is unfed. {RH May 20, 1890, par. 8-9}

 

 

 

 

SPIRITUAL JEWS & GENTILES [see circumcision][see Egypt]

• A real spiritual Jew is one who has circumcision of mind and life and keeps the law of God (Rom 2:25-29)
  • A converted Seventh-day Adventist. One who honestly and fully receives the gospel.
• Gentiles compared to a flock (Mic 5:8)
• Gentiles compared with Egypt (Jere 46:1,2)
• Gentiles in the flesh – under the dominion of the flesh, subject to the control of carnal appetites and pleasures. (Eph 2:11, Rom 7:5)
• Gentiles are alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart (Eph 4:17-18)
• Idolators who in their adoration of idols were worshipping devils (1 Cor 12:2, 10:20)
• Gentiles were under sin (Gal 2:15)
  • Jews and Gentiles both (Rom 3:9)
• The Gentiles represent the world (Rom 15:11, 1 John 5:19)
• Princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion and authority of their own (Matt 20:25)
• Glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream (Isa 66:12)
• The Greeks and the Jews represent the two great classes who receive or reject and pervert the gospel. Bother are mistaken as to that which constitutes spiritual religion. “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men: and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise: and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty; and base things of the world, and things that are despised, hath God chosen: yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things which are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.” [1 Corinthians 2:14; 1:24-29.] {13LtMs, Ms 50, 1898, par. 2}
• I read in the first chapter of Colossians, beginning at the twenty-fifth verse, “Wherefore I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Now, Gentiles represent the world. What is it that we are to do? We are to “make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the world, which is Christ in you the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.” [Verses 25-29.] {5LtMs, Ms 13, 1888, par. 72}
• In the parable, the son who refused to go represented the Gentile world; and the class who said, “I go, sir,” represented the Pharisees. Christ had just cleansed the temple of those who defiled it with forbidden traffic. Divinity had flashed through humanity, and men had seen the glory and power of God manifested before them. The people brought their sick and suffering ones to the courts of the temple, and Jesus had healed them all. As he had traveled toward Jerusalem, the multitude had spread their garments in the way, and had strewn his path with palm branches, and they had proclaimed his praises, singing, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Though the rejoicing ones had not dared to carry their acclamations to the very gate of the temple fearing the priests and rulers, the children had taken up the song, and were praising God in the temple, and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” {RH April 9, 1889, par. 3}
• The Gentile world was represented by the leafless, fruitless fig trees. The Gentiles were destitute, as were the Jews, of godliness, but they had not claimed to be in favor with God. They made no boast of exalted spirituality. They were blind in every sense to the ways and works of God, With them the time for figs was not yet. They were still looking forward to a day which would bring them light and hope. {ST February 15, 1899, par. 8}
• Mark the cursing of the fig tree, representing the Jewish nation, covered with leaves of profession, but no fruit to be found thereon. The curses pronounced upon that fig tree, which represents the moral, thinking, living agent, cursed of God, living as were the Jews for forty years after this event, yet dead. Mark [that] the trees representing the Gentiles, were not covered. They were leafless, making no pretension to having the knowledge of God. Their time of fruit-bearing was not yet. {10LtMs, Lt 35, 1895, par. 9}

 

SPOTS [see birds] [see sin] [see wrinkle]

• Compared to Ethiopian skin
  • Symbol of sin (Jere 13:23, 1 Pet 1:19, 2:22, 2 Cor 5:21, Eph 5:27)
  • Fairness/beauty (Esth 1:11) – without spot (Song Sol 4:7)
    • Beauty departed – strength gone (Lam 1:6)
  • the unjust, those that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Spots are presumptuous, self-willed people that are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. Natural brute beasts (2 Pet 2:9-13) *since spots are a symbol of sin, those that hold onto sin become identified with it* {DA 107.4}
  • filthy dreamers (Jud 1:8-12)
    • clouds without water [see water]
    • trees with withered fruit or without fruit [see trees, see fruits]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STARS [see sons of God] [see figs]

• sons of God (Job 38:7)
• people (Deut 1:10, 10:22, Dan 12:3)
  • One of the curses for disobedience: “ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.” (Deut 28:62)
• Morning star (Rev 2:28)
  • Jacob, reviewing his life-history, recognized the sustaining power of God—“the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil.” Genesis 48:15, 16. {Ed 147.4}
• wandering stars are wicked people/infidels (Jude 1:5-13)
• no star is the same (1Cor 15:41)
• The time is not far distant when the test will come to every soul. The observance of the false sabbath will be urged upon us. The contest will be between the commandments of God and the commandments of men. Those who have yielded step by step to worldly demands and conformed to worldly customs will then yield to the powers that be, rather than subject themselves to derision, insult, threatened imprisonment, and death. At that time the gold will be separated from the dross. True godliness will be clearly distinguished from the appearance and tinsel of it. Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness. Those who have assumed the ornaments of the sanctuary, but are not clothed with Christ’s righteousness, will then appear in the shame of their own nakedness. {PK 188.1}
• A falling away happens first before the man of sin or son of perdition is revealed (2 Thess 2:3)
  • God our Saviour is able keep us from falling (Jude 1:24,25)
• angels (Rev 1:20, 12:7-9, DA 834, GC 518, 6T 456)
  • created by God (Col 1:16)
    • Prov 26:10  The great God that formed all things both rewardeth the fool, and rewardeth transgressors.
  • the hosts of heaven compared to falling leaves and falling figs (Isa 34:4; Rev 6:13,14; Matt 16:27)
• stars fought against Sisera (Judg 5:20)
• star of the god Remphan (Act 7:43)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 2 Peter 1:19: the day star is to arise in our hearts
• Rev 22:16: Jesus is the morning star

 

STATUTES

• commandment (Psalm 19:8)

 

 

 

 

 

 

STONES

• great, costly and hewed stones (1 King 5:17)
• White stone (Rev 2:17)
• God’s house built with timber and stones (1 King 5:18)
• lively stones are God’s people, holy priesthood (1Pet 2:3-6)
  • saved people are like stones of a crown (Zech 9:16)
• Chief corner stone is Jesus Christ (Eph 2:20, Act 4:10-11)
• Stones cry out when those who should speak remain silent (Luke 19:40)
• Precious stones are gifts (Prov 17:8)
  • Man’s gift makes him great (Prov 18:16)
  • Precious jewels are lips of knowledge (Prov 20:15)
  • To find out more about precious stones visit these references: The Saints’ Inheritance pg 83 to 84 & {ARSH April 2, 1857, p. 172.3-19} {HBS 285}
• Precious stones represent good works {PK 409.3}
  • In God’s book of rememberance people’s lives are recorded (including their good works) (Mal 3:16-18, Rom 2:1-5, GC487)
  • Mat 6:19-21  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
  • The reward, the glories of heaven, bestowed upon the overcomers, will be proportionate to the degree in which they have represented the character of Christ to the world. “He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly.” Thank God that it is our privilege to sow on earth the seed that will be harvested in eternity. The crown of life will be bright or dim, will glitter with many stars, or be lighted by few gems, in accordance with our own course of action. Day by day we may be laying up a good foundation against the time to come. By self-denial, by the exercise of the missionary spirit, by crowding all the good works possible into our life, by seeking so to represent Christ in character that we shall win many souls to the truth, we shall have respect unto the recompense of reward. It rests with us to walk in the light, to make the most of every opportunity and privilege, to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, and so we shall work the works of Christ, and insure for ourselves treasure in the heavens. RH January 29, 1895, par. 5
  • Yet there will be no one saved in heaven with a starless crown. If you enter, there will be some soul in the courts of glory that has found an entrance there through your instrumentality. Then why not entreat the Lord to put upon you his Spirit, that you may be able to awaken an interest in the truth in the minds of those around you? Think of your neighbors and friends and relatives who are out of Christ. Think of those you have left in various foreign lands; how much do you care for their souls? You should be so filled with love for the lost that you cannot forbear working for the salvation of souls. What you need is Jesus. He says, “Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” If the rich blessing of Jesus is in your hearts, you will be able to refresh others. ST June 6, 1892, par. 2
• Bread connected to and compared with stone (Luke 11:11)
• Enemy is subdued by the accurate use of sling stones (Zech 9:15, 1Sam 17:40, Judg 20:16)
• Waters wear the stones (Job 14:19)
• Brass out of stone (Job 28:2)
• Took Selah (the rock) by war (2King 14:7)
• Can make the heart to be like an adamant stone (Zech 7:12)
• A great stone set up under an oak by the sanctuary of the LORD
  • It was a stone of witness lest the people deny God (Josh 24:25-27)
• The shepherd is the stone of Israel (Gen 49:24)

 

STORK

• a bird and birds represent people (Psa 104:17, Ecc 9:12, Psa 124:7, Prov 6:5, 27:8)

 

STRANGE SLIPS [see arrows-strange children]

• slips are plant grafts
• strange grafts are installed because of forgetting God (Isa 17:10)

 

STREET

• way (Prov 26:13)

 

STRONG CITY

• Wealth (Prov 18:11)
• Brother offended (Prov 18:11)
• A broken city without walls is compared to a person who has no self-control (Prov 25:28) [see wall]

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Certain cities were places of refuge where people could go to be safe in. Just like Jesus is our refuge.

 

STRONG TOWER

• God (Psa 61:3)
• God’s name [see name] (Prov 18:10)

 

STUBBORNNESS

• Iniquity and idolatry (1Sam 15:23)

 

 

 

 

 

STUBBORN AND REBELLIOUS GENERATION

• People whose hearts are not set aright and their spirit is not steadfast with God (Psa 78:8)
• A generation that curses their father, do not bless their mother, see no need to repent, proud, teeth like sword and knives and don’t care for the pure [see teeth] [see sword] (Prov 30:14)
• They take counsel, but not of God; and cover with a covering, but not of God’s spirit, that they may add sin to sin. (Isa 30:1)
• Lying people that will not hear the law of the LORD (Isa 30:9)
• They look to the seers and desire smooth things preached to them…they prefer deceit rather than truth (Isa 30:10)
  • Those who cave in to the popular demand to prophesy smooth things are men pleasers and are not considered servants of Christ (Gal 1:10)
• Far from righteousness (Isa 46:12)

 

STUMBLING BLOCK

• Of iniquity is love for money (Eze 7:19, 1 Tim 6:10)

 

SUMMER FRUIT [fruit]

• People (Mic 7:12)

 

SUN

• bridegroom, strongman, Jesus, gospel, righteousness
  • (Psa 19:4-5, 84:11, Mal 4:2, Acts 4:12, Psalm 19:4,5)
• Christ’s brightness shone above the sun (Act 26:13-15)
• Friend of the bridegroom is John the Baptist (John 3:29)
  • Our work is the same as that given to John the Baptist (8T 9)
  • He was to bear to the world an unflinching testimony in reproving and denouncing sin (2SM 147)
  • In his mission the Baptist had stood as a fearless reprove of iniquity, both in high places and in low (DA 215)
  • All who are truly engaged in the work of the Lord for these last days wll have a decided message to bear (8T 9)
• Let them that love the Lord be as the sun (Judg 5:31)
• About five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east worshipped the sun toward the east. (Eze 8:16)
  • God has not commanded His people to worship the sun, moon and stars (Deut 17:3)
  • Sunday is named for the ‘sun’. In 321 C.E., Constantine decreed that Sunday would be observed as the Roman day of rest: “On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed…”

 

SWALLOW [see sparrow] [see birds] [see net]

• Person/people (Psa 84:3, Psa 104:17, Isa 38:14)

 

SWINE

• Backsliders/sinners (2 Pet 2:20-22)
  • Also paralleled beside dogs [see dog]
• Wallow in mire (2 Pet 2:22) [see mire]
• Unclean (Lev 11:7, Deut 14:8)
• Devils possessed swine (Matt 8:31-32)
• Not to cast pearls before swine (Matt 7:6)
• People who feed swine (Mark 5:14, Luke 15:15)

 

SWEET [see bitter]

• Light and good (Isa 5:20)

 

SWORD [see wicked] [see dog]

• Paw of the dog (Psalm 22:20)
• Bible/Gospel Truths (Heb 4:12, Eph 6:17, Hos 6:5)
  • God’s words (Psa 55:21)
  • Every word of God is pure (Prov 30:5)
  • The high praises of God are a two-edged sword (Psa 149:6)
• tongue/speech (Psa 57:4)
  • Should purpose not to transgress (Psa 17:3)
• The sons of Zion are as the sword of a mighty man (Zech 9:13)
• The wicked (Psa 17:13)
  • People are God’s hand (Psa 17:14)
• false witness- a sword, maul and arrow (Prov 25:18)
  • Deceitful-speak lies (Prov 14:5, 25)
    • A false sword/another gospel (Gal 1:6,7)
    • Their testimonies don’t agree with one another *not the same* (Mark 14:56)
  • SaulàThe civil power or the wicked. (Psa 17:13)
    • The sentiment that the wicked ARE the “sword” of God, or the instruments, though unconsciously to themselves, of accomplishing his purposes, or that he makes them the executioners of his will, is undoubtedly favored by such passages as Isa_10:5-7 and should be properly recognized. The passage could also refer to the sword being a symbol of God’s deliverance rather than just referring to the wicked or civil power as being tools used for deliverance or punishment.
    • Men of the world (Psa 17:14)
  • judgments upon wicked (Deut 32:41,42, Jer 46:10, Rev 19:13, 15, 21)
  • judgment or vengeance upon those that hate Jesus (Deut 32:41)
  • plowshare (Joel 3:10)
  • of the wilderness (Lam 5:9)
    • Those who were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness (Jere 31:2)
  • The end of a strange woman is bitter as wormwood and sharp as a two-edged sword (Prov 5:4)
  • Sufferings and sorrow (Psalms 42:10,11; Luke 2:35 + John 19:25)
  • Jesus met Satan with the words of Scripture. “It is written,” He said. In every temptation the weapon of His warfare was the word of God. Satan demanded of Christ a miracle as a sign of His divinity. But that which is greater than all miracles, a firm reliance upon a “Thus saith the Lord,” was a sign that could not be controverted. So long as Christ held to this position, the tempter could gain no advantage. {DA 120.1} – E.G.W
  • In God is our strength. Pray much. Prayer is the life of the soul. The prayer of faith is the weapon by which we may successfully resist every assault of the enemy. {ST August 24, 1904, par. 9} – E.G.W
  • With a song, Jesus in His earthly life met temptation. Often when sharp, stinging words were spoken, often when the atmosphere about Him was heavy with gloom, with dissatisfaction, distrust, or oppressive fear, was heard His song of faith and holy cheer. {Ed 166.1}– E.G.W

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 10:34; Luke 12:51: Jesus came to bring a sword signifying division.
• Revelation 1:16: A figurative sword comes from the mouth of Christ.

 

TABERNACLE [see house]

• holy hill, the tabernacle of God is in the holy hill (Psalm 15:1)
• of robbers (Job 12:6) [see thief]
  • robbers of churches (Act 19:37)
• or bribery or corruption (Job 15:34)
• of Moloch and Chiun (Amos 5:26)
• tabernacle of witness in the wilderness (Act 7:44)
• human body (2Cor 5:1-4; 2 Peter 1:13-14)
• The Jewish tabernacle was a type of the Christian church. It was a wonderful structure, made in two parts, the outer and the inner, one open to the ministration of all the priests, the other to the high priest alone, who represented Christ. {ST February 14, 1900, par. 1}
• The church on earth, composed of those who are faithful and loyal to God, is the “true tabernacle,” whereof the Redeemer is the minister. God, and not man, pitched this tabernacle on a high, elevated platform. This tabernacle is Christ’s body, and from north, south, east, and west, He gathers those who shall help to compose it. {ST February 14, 1900, par. 2}

 

TABLE [see heart] [see vomit]

• Satan has a table and God has a table (1 Cor 10:21)
• Jezebel’s table (1 King 18:19)
• Solomon’s table (1King 4:27)
• Table of the heart (Prov 3:3, 7:3)
  • Sin of Judah was written on their heart and upon the horns of their altars with pen of iron (Jere 17:1)
  • Mercy and truth to written upon the table of the heart (Prov 3:3)
    • Preserves the king (Prov 20:28)
    • We are kings and priests unto God (Rev 1:5,6; 5:9-10)
  • Law of God must be in the heart (Psa 37:31;40:8)
    • Law of God to be observed with the whole heart (Psa 119:34)
    • Caleb and Joshua followed the Lord with their whole heart (Numb 32:12)
    • Caleb inherited the Promised Land because he wholly followed the Lord. We only inherit the heavenly Promised Land when we wholly follow the Lord. (Deut 1:36; Josh 14:8-9,14; Heb 11:16; 12:22)
  • God promises to write His laws in our hearts (Heb 8:10; 10:16)
  • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)
• Priests that despise God’s name say the table and food are contemptible (Mal 1:6,7,12)
  • Those that despise the word will be destroyed (Prov 13:13)
  • When God’s people were in apostasy, the lowest people were ordained priests (1King 12:28-31; 13:33)
  • apostate priests commit lewdness (Hos 6:9) [see scum]
  • Like people like priest (Hos 4:9)

 

TABLE OF SHEWBREAD [see table] [see four] [see six] [see twelve] [see gold]

• represents Jesus the living bread (John 6:35,51)

 

TAIL [see false prophets]

• false prophets which teach lies (Isa 9:15)
  • they are the rush (Isa 9:14,15)

 

TASTE

• The ear tests words just as the mouth tests meat/food (Job 12:11)
• discernment (2 Sam 19:35, Job 6:30)
  • The thing that is hid is revealed by God (Job 28:11)
  • Interpretations belong to God (Gen 40:8)
  • the things of the Spirit of God are spiritually discerned (1Cor 2:14)
    • by comparing spiritual things with spiritual (1Cor 2:13)
    • by comparing Scripture with Scripture (Isa 28:9-10)
    • The mind will enlarge if it is employed in tracing out the relation of the subjects of the Bible, comparing scripture with scripture and spiritual things with spiritual. SC 89.3
  • God reveals secrets and communicates insights to His people (Dan 2:28-30)
    • Nebuchadnezzer said to Daniel that the “spirit of the holy gods is in thee” (Dan 4:18)
    • Belshazzar’s queen told him “There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods.” (Dan 5:11)
      • An excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel (Dan 5:12)
    • God has often employed angels to communicate important truths to men, or has made them the medium of communicating his will. (Dan 7:15-16) – Compare Rev_1:1; Act_7:53; Heb_2:2
    • Inspiration of God gives understanding (Job 32:8)
    • All scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Tim 3:16)
    • The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel form a habit of mind. To gain through them the power of entering into the deeper meaning of other proverbs. (Prov 1:1,6)
    • No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. – No man wrote save in the power of the Holy Ghost, and no man must venture to interpret save in the same power of the Holy Ghost. It is not any man’s own word. It is God, not the prophet himself, who thereby interprets things till then unknown. (2 Pet 1:20-21)
  • taste and see that the Lord is good (Psa 34:8)

 

TEACH [see instruct] [see guide] [see friend] [see perfume] [see house]

• give instruction (Prov 9:9)
• Spirit of truth guides people into all truth and shows people things to come (John 16:13)
• Holy Spirit teaches the believer what to say just as the Lord taught Moses what to say (Luke 12:11-12; Ex 4:11-15)
• Teach from house to house (Act 20:20)
• When you do the Father’s will, you will know if a doctrine/teaching is from God or not (John 7:16-17)
  • Jesus always did the Father’s will – He always did those things that please Him (John 8:29)
  • When you worship God and do His will, God hears you (John 9:310
• Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of God and to do it and to teach in Israel statues and judgments. He taught those who didn’t know truth. (Ezra 7:10, 25)
• When you are a teacher of others, don’t forget to teach yourself. Remember to practice what you preach. (Rom 2:21)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 3:2: Jesus Christ was a Teacher from God
• John 7:46: Never a man spoke/taught as Jesus did
• Luke 4:15, 16, 31: Jesus taught on Sabbath days.
• John 6:5-6: Jesus asked questions to test His disciples
• John 6:45: Those who have heard/learned of the Father come to Jesus Christ
• John 7:16: Jesus taught His Father’s doctrines
  • He was taught by His Father (John 8:28)
• John 16:25: Jesus taught in proverbs *figures of speech*
• John 18:20: Jesus didn’t teach secretly. He taught in the temple and in synagogues.

 

 

 

TEETH [see wrinkle]

• spears and arrows (Psa 57:4)
• swords or knives (Prov 30:14)
• people (Prov 25:19, Song Sol 4:2, 6:6)
• whited with milk (Gen 49:12)
• cleanness of teeth is famine (Amos 4:6)
• unfaithful man is like a broken tooth (Prov 25:19)
• hands (Job 13:14)
• retributive punishment (Ex 21:23-24, Deut 19:21, Lev 24:20)
  • the person that caused a blemish in a person would suffer a blemish himself as punishment
  • This teaching was given as a rule to regulate the decisions of judges. They were to take eye for eye, and tooth for tooth, and to inflict burning for burning. As a judicial rule it is not unjust. Christ finds no fault with the rule as applied to magistrates, and does not take upon himself to repeal it. But instead of confining it to magistrates, the Jews had extended it to private conduct, and made it the rule by which to take revenge. They considered themselves justified by this rule to inflict the same injury on others that they had received. Our Saviour remonstrates against this. He declares that the law had no reference to private revenge, that it was given only to regulate the magistrate, and that their private conduct was to be governed by different principles. Jesus confines himself to smaller matters, to things of comparatively trivial interest, and says that in these we had better take wrong than to enter into strife and lawsuits. The first case is where we are smitten on the cheek. Rather than contend and fight, we should take it patiently, and turn the other cheek. This does not, however, prevent our remonstrating firmly yet mildly on the injustice of the thing, and insisting that justice should be done us, as is evident from the example of the Saviour himself. See Joh_18:23. The second evil mentioned is where a man is litigious and determined to take all the advantage the law can give him, following us with vexatious and expensive lawsuits. Our Saviour directs us, rather than to imitate him rather than to contend with a revengeful spirit in courts of justice to take a trifling injury, and yield to him. This is merely a question about property, and not about conscience and life. (Matt 5:38-42)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TEMPT / TEMPTATION

• tempt God- when we lust after something and pressure God to give it to us (Psa 106:14)
• God cannot be tempted with evil nor does He tempt anyone (Jam 1:13)
  • God tests people (Deut 8:2, Jere 17:10, Psa 7:9, 11:4,5, Job 7:18, Jam 1:2-3, 1 Cor 3:13)
  • Satan tempts people (Matt 4:1-3)
• Every person is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and trapped. When lust has conceived it brings forth sin and sin when it is finished brings forth death (James 1:14,15)
• Experience heaviness (burdened) through manifold temptations (1 Pet 1:6)
• What is temptation?—It is the means by which those who claim to be the children of God are tested and tried. We read that God tempted Abraham, that he tempted the children of Israel. This means that he permitted circumstances to occur to test their faith, and lead them to look to him for help. God permits temptation to come to his people today, that they may realize that he is their helper. If they draw nigh to him when they are tempted, he strengthens them to meet the temptation. But if they yield to the enemy, neglecting to place themselves close to their Almighty Helper, they are overcome. They separate themselves from God. They do not give evidence that they walk in God’s way. Thus the Lord determines character. Thus he decides whether we are obedient or disobedient. He does not do this for his own enlightenment; for he reads all things as an open book. He does it that the secret motives of men’s hearts may be manifest, that his true witnesses may be strengthened, that others may become intelligent in regard to the ways and works of God as contrasted with the ways and works of the enemy. Temptations will pour in upon us; for by them we are to be tried during our probation. This is the proving of God, the revelation of our own hearts. There is no sin in having temptation; but sin comes in when temptation is yielded to. {ST May 27, 1897, par. 1-3}
• Temptation is allowed to come upon us to discover the character we possess and to improve our defects. There are continual solicitations to sin which are disguised to deceive and allure the soul to ruin. Satan will transform himself into an angel of light, and he is constantly plotting to rob God of His glory in the destruction of souls. I beseech of you for your soul’s sake to resist the devil that he may flee from you. {3LtMs, Lt 42, 1879, par. 8}
• Temptation is not sin; the sin lies in yielding. To the soul who trusts is Jesus, temptation means victory and greater strength. {Ms113-1902.20}
• Temptation will come upon all the children of God. James writes: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” The word does not say that we are to count it all joy when we fall under temptation, but when we fall into temptation. It is not necessary to fall under temptation; for temptation comes upon us for the trying of our faith. And the trying of our faith worketh patience, not fretfulness and murmuring. If we put our trust in Jesus, he will keep us at all times, and will be our strength and shield. We are to learn valuable lessons from our trials. Paul says, “We glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Many seem to think that it is impossible not to fall under temptation, that they have no power to overcome; and they sin against God with their lips, talking discouragement and doubt, instead of faith and courage. Christ was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin. He said, “The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.” What does this mean?—It means that the prince of evil could find no vantage ground in Christ for his temptation; and so it may be with us. “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” {RH May 19, 1891, par. 2-3}
• Temptations often appear irresistible because, through neglect of prayer and the study of the Bible, the tempted one cannot readily remember God’s promises and meet Satan with the Scripture weapons. But angels are round about those who are willing to be taught in divine things; and in the time of great necessity, they will bring to their remembrance the very truths which are needed. Thus “when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” [Isaiah 59:19.] {GC88 599.3}
• When temptations assail you, as they surely will, when care and perplexity surround you, when, distressed and discouraged, you are almost ready to yield to despair, look, O look, to where with the eye of faith you last saw the light; and the darkness that encompasseth you will be dispelled by the bright shining of his glory. When sin struggles for the mastery in your soul, and burdens the conscience, when unbelief clouds the mind, go to the Saviour. His grace is sufficient to subdue sin. He will pardon us, making us joyful in God. {RH October 1, 1908, par. 5}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 4:1: Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.

 

TENTS [see house]

• of wickedness (Psa 84:10)
  • wickedness does not deliver those that are given to it (Ecc 8:8)
• church (1 Tim 3:15, 2 Chron 10:16)
• Paul, Aquila and Priscilla were tentmakers (Acts 18:1-3)
• Tent of Jael (Judg 4:17)
• Nail – tent peg (Judg 4:21)
  • That which holds up a tent like pillar holds up a house
  • Driven by a hammer into Sisera’s forehead

 

 

 

THIEF

• Robber (Oba 1:5)
• Troop of robbers (thieves) compared to a company of priests (Hos 6:9)
  • apostate priests commit lewdness (Hos 6:9) [see scum]
  • Like people like priest (Hos 4:9)
• compared to the house of Israel (Jere 2:26)
• Robbers have tabernacles (Job 12:6)
• Thief has a house [see house] (Zech 5:4)
• murderer (Job 24:14)
• robbers of churches (Act 19:37)
• In the dark adulterers, murderers and thieves dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. (Job 24:14-16)
• John 10:1,10: Satan appears to be thief because he stole God’s children, kills and destroys. [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub]
• Judas Iscariot was a thief (John 12:4-6)
• when you consent with a thief, you become a partaker of his adulteries (sins)
• When you partner up with a thief it shows you don’t value your own soul and that you love the ways of death (Prov 29:24)
• Jesus’ 2^nd coming is like a thief (Rev 3:3 16:15)
  • Christ’s followers will not be surprised (1 Thess 5:4)

 

THINGS OF ESAU

• First mentioned in Obadiah 1:6
  • Things of Esau will be searched out
  • God knows the secrets of the heart and will search them all out (Psa 44:21, Jere 17:10)
• House of Esau will be stubble (Obadiah 1:18)
• Most of his story found here: Genesis 25:25-27:38
• Isaac made known to his sons these privileges and conditions, and plainly stated that Esau, as the eldest, was the one entitled to the birthright. But Esau had no love for devotion, no inclination to a religious life. The requirements that accompanied the spiritual birthright were an unwelcome and even hateful restraint to him. The law of God, which was the condition of the divine covenant with Abraham, was regarded by Esau as a yoke of bondage. Bent on self-indulgence, he desired nothing so much as liberty to do as he pleased. To him power and riches, feasting and reveling, were happiness. He gloried in the unrestrained freedom of his wild, roving life. Rebekah remembered the words of the angel, and she read with clearer insight than did her husband the character of their sons. She was convinced that the heritage of divine promise was intended for Jacob. She repeated to Isaac the angel’s words; but the father’s affections were centered upon the elder son, and he was unshaken in his purpose. {PP 178.1}
• When Esau, coming home one day faint and weary from the chase, asked for the food that Jacob was preparing, the latter, with whom one thought was ever uppermost, seized upon his advantage, and offered to satisfy his brother’s hunger at the price of the birthright. “Behold, I am at the point to die,” cried the reckless, self-indulgent hunter, “and what profit shall this birthright do to me?” And for a dish of red pottage he parted with his birthright, and confirmed the transaction by an oath. A short time at most would have secured him food in his father’s tents, but to satisfy the desire of the moment he carelessly bartered the glorious heritage that God Himself had promised to his fathers. His whole interest was in the present. He was ready to sacrifice the heavenly to the earthly, to exchange a future good for a momentary indulgence. {PP 179.1}
• “Thus Esau despised his birthright.” In disposing of it he felt a sense of relief. Now his way was unobstructed; he could do as he liked. For this wild pleasure, miscalled freedom, how many are still selling their birthright to an inheritance pure and undefiled, eternal in the heavens! {PP 179.2}
• Ever subject to mere outward and earthly attractions, Esau took two wives of the daughters of Heth. They were worshipers of false gods, and their idolatry was a bitter grief to Isaac and Rebekah. Esau had violated one of the conditions of the covenant, which forbade intermarriage between the chosen people and the heathen; yet Isaac was still unshaken in his determination to bestow upon him the birthright. The reasoning of Rebekah, Jacob’s strong desire for the blessing, and Esau’s indifference to its obligations had no effect to change the father’s purpose. {PP 179.3}
• Esau had lightly valued the blessing while it seemed within his reach, but he desired to possess it now that it was gone from him forever. All the strength of his impulsive, passionate nature was aroused, and his grief and rage were terrible. He cried with an exceeding bitter cry, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” “Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?” But the promise given was not to be recalled. The birthright which he had so carelessly bartered he could not now regain. “For one morsel of meat,” for a momentary gratification of appetite that had never been restrained, Esau sold his inheritance; but when he saw his folly, it was too late to recover the blessing. “He found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrews 12:16, 17. Esau was not shut out from the privilege of seeking God’s favor by repentance, but he could find no means of recovering the birthright. His grief did not spring from conviction of sin; he did not desire to be reconciled to God. He sorrowed because of the results of his sin, but not for the sin itself. {PP 181.2}
• Because of his indifference to the divine blessings and requirements, Esau is called in Scripture “a profane person.” Verse 16. He represents those who lightly value the redemption purchased for them by Christ, and are ready to sacrifice their heirship to heaven for the perishable things of earth. Multitudes live for the present, with no thought or care for the future. Like Esau they cry, “Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die.” 1 Corinthians 15:32. They are controlled by inclination; and rather than practice self-denial, they will forgo the most valuable considerations. If one must be relinquished, the gratification of a depraved appetite or the heavenly blessings promised only to the self-denying and God-fearing, the claims of appetite prevail, and God and heaven are virtually despised. How many, even of professed Christians, cling to indulgences that are injurious to health and that benumb the sensibilities of the soul. When the duty is presented of cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, they are offended. They see that they cannot retain these hurtful gratifications and yet secure heaven, and they conclude that since the way to eternal life is so strait, they will no longer walk therein. {PP 181.3}
• Multitudes are selling their birthright for sensual indulgence. Health is sacrificed, the mental faculties are enfeebled, and heaven is forfeited; and all for a mere temporary pleasure—an indulgence at once both weakening and debasing in its character. As Esau awoke to see the folly of his rash exchange when it was too late to recover his loss, so it will be in the day of God with those who have bartered their heirship to heaven for selfish gratifications. {PP 182.1}
• Esau lusted for a favorite dish, and sacrificed his birthright to gratify appetite. After his lustful appetite had been gratified he saw his folly, but found no space for repentance though he sought it carefully and with tears. There are very many who are like Esau. He represents a class who have a special, valuable blessing within their reach,—the immortal inheritance, life that is as enduring as the life of God, the Creator of the universe, happiness immeasurable, and an eternal weight of glory,—but who have so long indulged their appetites, passions, and inclinations, that their power to discern and appreciate the value of eternal things is weakened. {2T 38.1}
• Esau had a special, strong desire for a particular article of food, and he had so long gratified self that he did not feel the necessity of turning from the tempting, coveted dish. He thought upon it, making no special effort to restrain his appetite, until the power of appetite bore down every other consideration and controlled him, and he imagined that he would suffer great inconvenience, and even death, if he could not have that particular dish. The more he thought upon it, the more his desire strengthened, until his birthright, which was sacred, lost its value and its sacredness. He thought, If I now sell it, I can easily buy it back. He bartered it away for a favorite dish, flattering himself that he could dispose of it at will and buy it back at pleasure. But when he sought to buy it back, even at a great sacrifice on his part, he was not able to do so. He then bitterly repented his rashness, his folly, his madness. He looked the matter over on every side. He sought for repentance carefully and with tears, but it was all in vain. He had despised the blessing, and the Lord removed it from him forever. You have thought that if you should sacrifice the truth now, and go on in a course of open transgression and disobedience, you would not break over all restraint and become reckless, and if you should be disappointed in your hopes and expectations of worldly gain you could again interest yourself in the truth and become a candidate for everlasting life. But you have deceived yourself in this matter. Had you sacrificed the truth for worldly gain, it would have been at the expense of life everlasting. {2T 38.2}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THORNS [see bee] [see brier] [see enemies] [see wicked]

• Thorns of the wilderness (Judg 8:7,16)
• Thistle: person or kingdom (2King 14:9-10)
  • Kingdom is made up of people (Psa 102:22; 105:13)
• People (Isa 33:12)
• wicked (Num 33:55) (Isa 27:1-4) (Nahum 1:7-10) (Mic 7:2-4, Judg 9:14-20)
• heathen nations like thorns in the eyes (Josh 23:13)
• messengers of Satan (2 Cor 12:7)
• sons of Belial (2 Sam 23:6) [see arrows] [see Baalzebub/Beelzebub]
• Thorns compared with bramble bushes and these compared/contrasted with trees (Luke 6:44) [see trees]
• Abimelech compared to a bramble. He was a murderer and traitor to his brothers (Judg 9:15)
• Grass with thorns are rejected (Heb 6:7-8)
• the cares of this world, pleasures of this life and the deceitfulness of riches (Matt 13:22, Luk 8:14)
• Lazy people are void of understanding. The slothful vineyard owner has a vineyard full of thorns and his stone wall is broken down (Prov 24:30-32)
  • He is wise in his own conceit (Prov 26:16)
• He that keeps his soul will be far from thorns (Prov 22:5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew27:29: Jesus wore a crown of thorns for us.

 

THOUGHTS [see heart]

• God’s thoughts are higher than ours (Isa 55:8-9)
• As man thinks in his heart so is he (Prov 23:7)
  • “As the man is, so is his strength.” The usefulness of our lives is not to be gauged by what we say or have or think, but by what we are. It is not gift but grace that leaves the deepest dint upon other lives. If you want to be strong in the arm, you must be pure and true at heart. (Judg 8:21)
• Not good to follow own thoughts (Isa 65:2)
• Don’t choose your own ways (Isa 66:3)
• Backsliders are filled with their own ways (Prov 14:14)
• Hearts/minds (Dan 5:20) need to be washed from wickedness in order to be saved (Jere 4:14, 18)
  • wickedness does not deliver those that are given to it (Ecc 8:8)
  • ponder the path of your feet (Prov 4:26)
  • washing can represent putting away evil/stop doing evil (Isa 1:16)
• The results of people’s wicked thoughts will surely come as evil upon them because of a rejection of God’s law + words (Jere 6:19)
• Wicked thoughts of the heart can be forgiven (Act 8:22)
• don’t think upon a maid – no adultery of the mind (Job 31:1)
• Thoughts of the diligent tend to plenteousness (Prov 21:5)
• No one should imagine evil in their hearts against their neighbour (Zech 8:17)
• Bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5)

 

THRONE

• Heaven (Act 7:49)
• proper throne is established by righteousness (Prov 16:12)
  • established by taking away the wicked from before the king (Prov 25:5)
• of iniquity
  • those who sit frame mischief by a law (Psa 94:20)
  • those that seek mischief will experience mischief against them (Prov 11:27)
• of ivory overlaid with gold, having six steps with 12 lions – 2 on each step (1King 10:18-20)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Acts 2:30: Christ sits upon a throne.

 

TIME

• Job asked “Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling?” (Job 7:1)
• Time to plead (Job 9:19)
• Time of life (2King 4:16-17)
• Time of old age (Psa 71:9)
• Our time is short (Psa 89:47)
  • Don’t be wicked and foolish. Why should you die before your time? (Ecc 7:17)
  • For man also knoweth not his time (Ecc 9:12)
• Time of reformation (Heb 9:10)
• Time when God may be found (Psa 32:6)
• time to favour Zion, set time (Psa 102:13 *13-22) [see Zion]
• time of much rain (great rain) (Ezra 10:9-13)
  • at the time of great rain there was revival and repentance
• time of the latter rain
  • we should ask for this rain (Zech 10:1)
• time of harvest (Prov 25:13, Matt 13:30, Rev 14:15)
• time of wheat harvest – about the month of May (Judg 15:1)
• time of trouble (Job 38:23, Psa 27:5)
  • God is the saved’s strength in the time of trouble (Psa 37:39)
  • Those who consider the poor will be saved in a time of trouble (Psa 41:1)
  • Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint. (Prov 25:19)
  • At the transfiguration, Jesus was glorified by His Father. We hear Him say: “Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” Thus before His betrayal and crucifixion He was strengthened for His last dreadful sufferings. As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel. I saw that God will in a wonderful manner preserve His people through the time of trouble. As Jesus poured out His soul in agony in the garden, they will earnestly cry and agonize day and night for deliverance. The decree will go forth that they must disregard the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and honor the first day, or lose their lives; but they will not yield, and trample under their feet the Sabbath of the Lord, and honor an institution of papacy. Satan’s host and wicked men will surround them, and exult over them, because there will seem to be no way of escape for them. But in the midst of their revelry and triumph, there is heard peal upon peal of the loudest thunder. The heavens have gathered blackness, and are only illuminated by the blazing light and terrible glory from heaven, as God utters His voice from His holy habitation. {1T 353.3-4}
• time of God’s anger (Psa 21:9)
• time of evil (Psa 37:19)
• when the law of God is made void, it is time for God to work (Psa 119:126)
• the time appointed to blow the trumpet is on the solemn feast day (Psa 81:3)
• the time of the singing of birds (Song Sol 2:12)
• a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgement (Ecc 8:5)
  • Wise men foresee evil and hide themselves (Prov 22:3)
  • A wise man’s heart is at his right (Ecc 10:2)
• Satan has a short time (Rev 12:12)
• Great day of the Lord (Zeph 1:14)
• Day of wrath and of trouble and distress (Zeph 1:15)
• Day of trumpet and alarm (Zeph 1:16)
• Often times God turned away his anger and did not stir up all his wrath because He is full of compassion (Psa 78:38)
• To everything there is a season and a time (Ecc 3:1,17)
• To every purpose there is time and judgment (Ecc 8:6)
• there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt. (Ecc 8:9)
• The sky opened and shut and was in commotion. The mountains shook like a reed in the wind and cast out ragged rocks all around. The sea boiled like a pot and cast out stones upon the land. And as God spoke the day and the hour of Jesus’ coming and delivered the everlasting covenant to His people, He spoke one sentence, and then paused, while the words were rolling through the earth. The Israel of God stood with their eyes fixed upward, listening to the words as they came from the mouth of Jehovah and rolled through the earth like peals of loudest thunder. It was awfully solemn. At the end of every sentence the saints shouted, “Glory! Hallelujah!” Their countenances were lighted up with the glory of God, and they shone with glory as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The wicked could not look upon them for the glory. And when the never-ending blessing was pronounced on those who had honored God in keeping His Sabbath holy, there was a mighty shout of victory over the beast and over his image. {EW 285.2}

 

TORCHES

• chariots (Nah 2:4)

 

TRANSGRESSION [see reproach] [see sin]

• sin is the transgression of God’s law (1John 3:4)
• iniquity (Psa 89:32) *iniquity is sin*(Psa 51:2)
  • going our own way is akin to doing iniquity (Isa 53:6, 57:17)
    • defilement comes by going our own way (Eze 36:17)
  • Satan beckons us to take his way (Lt 113, 1890, par. 18)
    • Satan was cast out of heaven because he determined to have his own way (RH, December 22, 1910 par. 9)
  • by mercy and truth iniquity is purged (Prov 16:6)
    • mercy and truth met together on the cross (Psa 85:9-11)
      • Rom_5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
      • Gen 19:15-16  And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city. And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.
      • Exo_34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
      • Joh_14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
    • Preserves the king (Prov 20:28)
    • We are kings and priests unto God (Rev 1:5,6; 5:9-10)
  • those who love transgression love strife (Prov 17:19)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Daniel 9:24, Mark 1:15: The time to make an end of transgression was fulfilled at the beginning of Christ’s ministry in AD27.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TREASURE [see pearls]

• silver (Prov 2:4)
• in the house of the righteous there is much (Prov 15:6)
• fear of the Lord (Isa 33:6)
• knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6,7)
• In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3)
  • treasures of wisdom and knowledge
• The reproach of Christ (Heb 11:26)
• God brings the wind out of His treasures (Jere 10:13, 51:16) [see wind]
  • Winds of doctrine (Eph 4:14)
• Of wickedness (Prov 10:2, Mic 6:10) [see Egypt]
• Those that love wisdom and Jesus Christ will inherit substance and He will fill their treasures (Prov 8:21)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 12:33-34: Jesus said, “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
• It is through the social relations that Christianity comes in contact with the world. Every man or woman who has received the divine illumination is to shed light on the dark pathway of those who are unacquainted with the better way. Social power, sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, must be improved in bringing souls to the Saviour. Christ is not to be hid away in the heart as a coveted treasure, sacred and sweet, to be enjoyed solely by the possessor. We are to have Christ in us as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, refreshing all who come in contact with us. {MH 496.2}

 

TREES [see wood] [see cedar and palm trees] [see ship] [see fountain]

• Compared to pasture (Joel 1:19)
• Of Eden (Eze 31:9, 16)
• Of life
  • Fruit of the righteous (Prov 11:30)
  • Good hope realized (Prov 13:12)
  • Wholesome tongue
    • Perversity in speech is a breach in the spirit (Prov 15:4)
  • Wisdom (Prov 3:13,18)
  • Literal tree of life is in the midst of the paradise of God (Rev 2:7)
    • Has twelve manner of fruits (Rev 22:2)
    • Those that do the commandments have right to the tree of life (Rev 22:14)
    • The overcomers get to eat the fruit of the tree of life in the paradise (presence) of God (Rev 2:7)
    • I then saw Jesus leading His people to the tree of life, and again we heard His lovely voice, richer than any music that ever fell on mortal ear, saying, “The leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations. Eat ye all of it.” Upon the tree of life was most beautiful fruit, of which the saints could partake freely. In the city was a most glorious throne, from which proceeded a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal. On each side of this river was the tree of life, and on the banks of the river were other beautiful trees bearing fruit which was good for food. {EW 289.1}
    • All come forth from their graves the same in stature as when they entered the tomb. Adam, who stands among the risen throng, is of lofty height and majestic form, in stature but little below the Son of God. He presents a marked contrast to the people of later generations; in this one respect is shown the great degeneracy of the race. But all arise with the freshness and vigor of eternal youth. In the beginning, man was created in the likeness of God, not only in character, but in form and feature. Sin defaced and almost obliterated the divine image; but Christ came to restore that which had been lost. He will change our vile bodies and fashion them like unto His glorious body. The mortal, corruptible form, devoid of comeliness, once polluted with sin, becomes perfect, beautiful, and immortal. All blemishes and deformities are left in the grave. Restored to the tree of life in the long-lost Eden, the redeemed will “grow up” (Malachi 4:2) to the full stature of the race in its primeval glory. The last lingering traces of the curse of sin will be removed, and Christ’s faithful ones will appear in “the beauty of the Lord our God,” in mind and soul and body reflecting the perfect image of their Lord. Oh, wonderful redemption! long talked of, long hoped for, contemplated with eager anticipation, but never fully understood. {GC 644.3}
    • Must we wait until we are translated before we eat of the leaves of the tree of life? He who receives into his heart the words of Christ knows that it means to eat the leaves of the tree of life. Christ declared, “The bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto Him, Lord, ever more give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst. … This is the will of Him that sent Me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, shall have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. … I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever, and the bread that I will give him is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. … Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh My blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh, and drinketh My blood, dwelleth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me, even he shall live by Me. … It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing; the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life.” [John 6:33-35, 40, 51, 54-57, 63.] {Ms103-1902.2}
    • When the believer, in the fellowship of the Spirit, can lay his hand upon truth itself, and appropriate it, he eats the bread that comes down from heaven. He enters into the life of Christ and appreciates the great sacrifice made in behalf of the sinful race. The knowledge that comes from God is the bread of life. It is the leaves of the tree of life which are for the healing of the nations. The current of spiritual life thrills the soul as the words of Christ are believed and practiced. Thus it is that we are made one with Christ. The experience that was weak and feeble becomes strong. It is eternal life to us if we hold the beginning of our confidence firm unto the end. {Ms103-1902.3-4}
    • Sin brings physical and spiritual disease and weakness. Christ has made it possible for us to free ourselves from this curse. The Lord promises, by the medium of truth, to renovate the soul. The Holy Spirit will make all who are willing to be educated able to communicate the truth with power. It will renew every organ of the body, that God’s servants may work acceptably and successfully. Vitality increases under the influence of the Spirit’s action. Let us, then, by this power lift ourselves into a higher, holier atmosphere, that we may do well our appointed work. {RH January 14, 1902, Art. A, par. 8}
  • Of righteousness (Isa 61:3)
  • Good trees and corrupt trees
    • Good trees=good fruit; Corrupt trees=corrupt fruit (Luke 6:43)
      • Good man out of the treasure of his heart brings out that which is good
      • Evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bring out that which is evil
      • Out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks (Luke 6:45)
    • Every tree is known by his own fruit (Luke 6:44)
      • Those that bear fruit, the Father purges or prunes so that they will bring forth more fruit (John 15:2)
      • Purged/pruned through the word (John 15:3; 17:17)
      • Sprigs are cut off with pruning hooks (Isa 18:5)
        • The shoots; the small limbs on which the grape is hanging, as if a man should enter a vineyard, and, while the grape is ripening, should not only cut off the grape, but the small branches that bore it, thus preventing it from bearing again. The idea is, not only that God would disconcert their “present” plans, but that he would prevent them from forming any in future. Before their plans were matured, and they obtained the anticipated triumph, he would effectually prevent them from forming such plans again.
      • SIN NO MORE: Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (John 5:14; 8:11) – God prunes His people so that they will not bear fruits of evil any longer.
    • Fruitful wife/woman (Psa 128:3)
      • Joseph is a fruitful bough (young tree), even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: (Gen 49:22-23)
    • Thorns and bramble bushes compared/contrasted with trees (Luke 6:44)
    • people (Mark 8:24, Amos 2:9, Eze 36:8, Jere 17:7,8, Song of Sol 2:3, Isa 56:3, 61:3, Judg 9:7-20)
      • the tree of the field is man’s life (Deut 20:19)
        • a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15)
      • Ephraim/people compared to green fir tree (Hos 14:8)
      • Fir trees terribly shaken (Nah 2:3)
      • “all the trees of the field shall clap their hands” (Isa 55:12)
    • A man that does not associate or join with sinners (Psalm 1:1-3)
      • don’t consent to their enticing (Prov 1:10)
    • wood is compared to a liar and contentious man (Prov 26:20,21)
    • Moved by wind (Isa 7:2) [see wind]
    • Wither because joy is reduced (Joel 1:12)
      • A Holy Spirit reduction (Gal 5:22)
    • Ungodly men compared to trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots (Jude 1:1-12)
    • Axe must be laid to the root of the trees (Matt 3:10-12, Luke 3:9-11)
    • There is hope for trees. When they are cut down and the root stays a long time in the earth, through the scent of water it will bud and grow. (Job 14:7-9)
    • As the days of a tree so are the days of God’s people (Isa 65:22)
    • Those who dare alter the word (King’s command) would be hanged on timber (Ezra 6:11)
      • Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 6:3: Jesus was a carpenter, a son of a carpenter. He shaped wood according to His will. Jesus is our Leader and the Captain of our salvation (Isa 55:4, Heb 2:10)

 

TRUE WORSHIP

• True worshippers (John 4:23)
• Jesus knew that their hopes were to be disappointed. He had come to teach them of something far better than they had sought. He had come to restore the true worship of God. He was to bring in a pure heart religion, that would manifest itself in a pure life and a holy character. {SJ 59.5-60.1}
• The power of Christ alone can work the transformation in heart and mind that all must experience who would partake with Him of the new life in the kingdom of heaven. “Except a man be born again,” the Saviour has said, “he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that can lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will lead to watchfulness. It will purify the heart and renew the mind, and give us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. {9T 156.1}
• Here is declared the same truth that Jesus had revealed to Nicodemus when He said, “Except a man be born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3, margin. Not by seeking a holy mountain or a sacred temple are men brought into communion with heaven. Religion is not to be confined to external forms and ceremonies. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that will lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us a willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. It is the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit every sincere prayer is indited, and such prayer is acceptable to God. Wherever a soul reaches out after God, there the Spirit’s working is manifest, and God will reveal Himself to that soul. For such worshipers He is seeking. He waits to receive them, and to make them His sons and daughters. {DA 189.2}
• True worship consists in working together with Christ. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this: To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” The love of Christ dwelling in the heart, will be manifested in earnest effort to accomplish the work which Jesus came to do. Kind words, deeds of benevolence, of tender care for the needy and the afflicted,—this is the fruit that grows naturally upon the good tree. {HM July 1, 1891, par. 3}
• “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” When our hearts are tuned to praise our Maker, not only in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, but also in our lives, we shall live in communion with Heaven. Our offering of grateful thanks will not be spasmodic, or reserved for special occasions; there will be gratitude in the heart and in the home, in private as well as in public devotion. This constitutes the true worship of God. {YI December 31, 1896, par. 6}
• Here is a lesson for the discontented wishers, who refuse to take up the simple duties of life, and consume their time in trying to make themselves happy in following their own inclinations. Christ denied all selfish desires, all worldly aggrandizement and avaricious ambition. Pride and envy, resentment and jealously, were excluded from his heart. He was always awake to the necessities of suffering humanity. The Father, whose eye can discern the least taint of imperfection, looking into the inner sanctuary of the soul, saw nothing but purity, excellence, and divine loveliness. This is true worship; and the life of Christ is the pattern which we are to copy. {Ms80-1896.8}

 

TRUMPET

• Shout – sound of a trumpet (Psa 47:5)
• Trumpets were made out of ram’s horn (Joshua 6:4-6, 8, 13)

Joh_1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Isa_58:1  Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.

• Message to repent and receive forgiveness of sins through Christ. A Christ centered message that points out the sins of God’s people.

• Trumpets were used in war to summon soldiers and direct them (Numbers 31:6-Phinehas, Judges 6:34-Gideon, Judges 7:8-22 – his soldiers)

2Ti 2:3-4  Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2Co_10:4  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

• God teaches our hands to war (Psa 18:34)

• Trumpets were used to warn of danger approaching

Joe 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;

2Pe_1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

• Prophetic message
• Isaiah 42:8-9 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.
• Isaiah 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
• Spirit of truth guides people into all truth and shows people things to come (John 16:13)
• Just like Paul we should reason with people out of the Scriptures on the Sabbath day. (Acts 17:2)
  • Produce our cause.
  • Bring strong reasons.
  • Show the former things (history) – examine them.
  • Show the fruits or results of those historical events.
  • Show how that history is repeating.
    • Isaiah 41:21-23; Ecc 1:9-10, 3:15; 1 Cor 10:11
  • Demonstrate that Jesus is Christ (Acts 17:3)
• Two silver trumpets were used for calling the assembly and for the journeying of the camps (Numbers 10:2,7)
  • God’s words are compared to silver purified seven times (Psa 12:6).
  • The Bible is divided into two witnesses: Old and New Testaments
• Trumpets were blown on the great day of atonement (Isaiah 27:13)
  • Since Oct. 22, 1844, we have been in the antitypical Day of Atonement. Message of heart searching and putting away all our sins.
• Trumpets were used in worship (Psalm 81:3,4)
  • The first angel’s messages gives a call to worship God that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. A message calling the world to worship God on the day He set apart in the beginning. The 7^th day Sabbath!

 

TRUST [see faith]

• Put confidence in something or someone (Mic 7:5)
  • Trust is as confidence – don’t put all your confidence in a human guide. Rather, put your trust in the Lord (Mic 7:5, Psa 118:8-9)
• When you praise God, surely you’ll also trust Him & His word (Psa 56:4)
• Shouldn’t be a fool by trusting in your own heart (Prov 28:26)
  • Proverbs 12:15  The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
• Trust awakens trust {DA 183.4}

 

TRUTH

• Love the truth and peace (Zech 8:19)
• God of truth (Deut 32:4) *He is holy (Psa 99:3, 5, 9)
• God is true (John 3:33)
• Jesus Christ (John 14:6,17)
  • Who is the Word (Logos) (John 1:1,14)
  • Receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls (James 1:21)
• Holy Spirit (John 16:13)
  • Error comes from a counterfeit spirit (2 Cor 11:4)
    • Spirit of the world (1 Cor 2:10-13)
    • Spirit of antichrist (1 John 4:3)
  • Scriptures (John 17:17)
    • Receive with meekness the engrafted word which is able to save your souls (James 1:21)
  • God’s law (Psa 119:142)
  • 10 Commandments (Psa 119:151)
    • True love rejoices in the truth (1 Cor 13:4-6)
    • Buy the truth and don’t sell it. (Prov 23:23)
  • Every man is to speak truth to his neighbour (Zech 8:16)
  • He that speaks truth shows righteousness (Prov 12:17)
    • the tongue of the wise is health (Prov 12:18)
    • Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. (Gen 49:21)
    • a good word makes the heart glad (Prov 12:25)
    • a word spoken at the right time is very good (Prov 15:23)
      • a time to keep silence, and a time to speak (Ecc 3:7)
      • a wise man’s heart discerns both time and judgment (Ecc 8:5)
      • Wise men foresee evil and hide themselves (Prov 22:3)
      • A wise man’s heart is at his right (Ecc 10:2)
      • Great men are not always wise (Job 32:9)
    • Receive nothing except it be given from heaven (John 3:27)
    • Truth shall make us free (John 8:32)
      • The Son of God makes us free (John 8:36)
    • Sometimes God’s people find enemies by telling the truth because some people don’t want to hear the truth (Gal 4:16)
      • Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
      • Fleshly people will persecute spiritual people (Gal 4:29)
      • Flesh wars against the Spirit and the Spirit is contrary to the flesh (Gal 5:17)
    • Lying against the truth “is claiming to believe the truth while the spirit, the words, the deportment, are representing the attributes of Satan and denying Christ. To surmise evil, to be impatient and unforgiving, is lying against the truth. Love, patience, long forbearance, are in accordance with the principles of truth. Truth is ever pure in its operations, ever kind, breathing a heavenly fragrance unmingled with selfishness.” {Ms11-1888.16}(James 3:13,14)
    • All heaven was represented to me as beholding and watching upon the Sabbath those who acknowledge the claims of the fourth commandment and are observing the Sabbath. Angels were marking their interest in, and high regard for, this divine institution. Those who sanctified the Lord God in their hearts by a strictly devotional frame of mind, and who sought to improve the sacred hours in keeping the Sabbath to the best of their ability, and to honor God by calling the Sabbath a delight—these the angels were specially blessing with light and health, and special strength was given them. But, on the other hand, the angels were turning from those who failed to appreciate the sacredness of God’s sanctified day, and were removing from them their light and their strength. I saw them overshadowed with a cloud, desponding, and frequently sad. They felt a lack of the Spirit of God. {2T 704.3}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TRY / TEST [see reed]

• To try means to test (Heb 11:17)
• To “try” means to test just as the ear tests words and the mouth tests food. (Job 12:11; 34:3)
  • Test can mean examination, assessment, evaluation, appraisal, investigation, inspection or analysis
• The Lord tries the righteous and sees the reigns and the heart (Jere 20:12)
  • He tries the reigns and the heart (Jere 11:20)
  • God knows your heart (Luk 16:15)
• God left the surrounding nations around Israel from destruction. He did this because He used them to test Israel and to see if they would keep His commandments or not. Also, the heathen nations were left so that the Israelites might not forget military discipline, but habituate themselves to the use of arms, that they might always be able to defend themselves against their foes. Had they been faithful to God, they would have had no need of learning the art of war; but now arms became a sort of necessary substitute for that spiritual strength which had departed from them. (Judg 3:1-4)
• We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God (Act 14:22)
• The trying of faith works patience (James 1:3)
• For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory (2Co 4:17)
• When successfully tried, we will receive a crown of life (James 1:12)
• We are tested when unjustly imprisoned (Rev 2:10)
• Paul went through many trials including whippings, beatings, stonings, and shipwreck. He suffered perisl of waters, robbers, countrymen, heathen, in cities, in the wilderness, in the sea and among false brethren. He was tired, in pain, watching, hungry, thirsty, fasting in cold and nakedness. (2 Cor 11:24-27)
• Paul took pleasure in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, persecutions and distresses. He suffered for Christ’s sake and acknowledged then when he was weak he was made strong. (2 Cor 12:10)
• God tests people (Deut 8:2, Jere 17:10, Psa 7:9, 11:4,5, Job 7:18, Jam 1:2-3, 1 Cor 3:13)
  • Satan tempts people (Matt 4:1-3)
• Test those who say they are apostles to see if they really are who they say they are – their profession (Rev 2:2)
• Don’t think it is a strange thing to go through fiery trials – rejoice because you are joining in the sufferings of Jesus Christ (1Pet 4:12-13)
• To “try” also means to test. All things are to be shaken that can be shaken, that those who cannot be shaken may remain. But the test and trial brought upon us must not lead to much talk. “Be still, and know that I am God.” [Psalm 46:10.] The Lord is seeking to draw men to Himself by the cords of love. Ever be kind, patient, and self-respectful, whatever may be the opinions of others. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Your trials will then become blessings. {Lt146-1897.13}
• “To try” often means to weary, to perplex, to harass, to provoke; but it is the inspiration of Satan that leads those who claim to know and believe the truth to do this work. {Lt146-1897.12}
• What is temptation?—It is the means by which those who claim to be the children of God are tested and tried. We read that God tempted Abraham, that he tempted the children of Israel. This means that he permitted circumstances to occur to test their faith, and lead them to look to him for help. God permits temptation to come to his people today, that they may realize that he is their helper. If they draw nigh to him when they are tempted, he strengthens them to meet the temptation. But if they yield to the enemy, neglecting to place themselves close to their Almighty Helper, they are overcome. They separate themselves from God. They do not give evidence that they walk in God’s way. Thus the Lord determines character. Thus he decides whether we are obedient or disobedient. He does not do this for his own enlightenment; for he reads all things as an open book. He does it that the secret motives of men’s hearts may be manifest, that his true witnesses may be strengthened, that others may become intelligent in regard to the ways and works of God as contrasted with the ways and works of the enemy. Temptations will pour in upon us; for by them we are to be tried during our probation. This is the proving of God, the revelation of our own hearts. There is no sin in having temptation; but sin comes in when temptation is yielded to. {ST May 27, 1897, par. 1-3}
• A refining, purifying process is going on among the people of God, and the Lord of hosts has set his hand to this work. This process is most trying to the soul, but it is necessary in order that defilement may be removed. Trials are essential in order that we may be brought close to our heavenly Father, in submission to his will, that we may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. God’s work of refining and purifying the soul must go on until his servants are so humbled, so dead to self, that when called into active service, they may have an eye single to the glory of God. Then they will not move rashly from impulse, and imperil the Lord’s cause because they are slaves to temptation and passion, because they follow their carnal desires; but they will move from principle and in view of the glory of God. The Lord brings his children over the same ground again and again, increasing the pressure until perfect humility fills the mind, and the character is transformed; then they are victorious over self, and in harmony with Christ and the Spirit of heaven. {RH April 10, 1894, par. 2}
• The purification of God’s people cannot be accomplished without suffering. God permits the fire of affliction to consume the dross, to separate the worthless from the valuable, in order that the pure metal may shine forth. He passes us from one fire to another, testing our true worth. True grace is willing to be tried. If we are loath to be searched by the Lord, our condition is one of peril. God is the refiner and purifier of souls. He places us in the heat of the furnace, that the dross may be forever separated from the true gold of Christian character. Jesus watches the test. He knows just what fire of temptation and trial is needed to purify the precious metal, in order that the radiance of divine love may be reflected. {RH April 10, 1894, par. 3}
• It is by close, testing trials that God brings his people near to himself; for in trial and temptation he discovers to them their weakness, and teaches them to lean upon him as their only help and safeguard. When this result is attained, his object is accomplished, and his tried servants are prepared to be used in every emergency, to fill important positions of trust, and to accomplish the grand purposes for which their powers were given them. God takes men upon trial, and he proves them upon the right hand and upon the left, until they are educated, trained, and disciplined for his use. {RH April 10, 1894, par. 4}
• Trials will come upon us that are originated by the prince of evil. The enemy will contend for the life or the usefulness of the servants of God, and will seek to mar their peace as long as they remain in the world. But his power is limited. He may cause the furnace to be heated, but Jesus and holy angels watch the precious ore; and to the trusting Christian, grace will be found sufficient, and nothing but the worthless dross will be consumed. The fire kindled by the enemy can have no power to destroy the true gold. At times the powers of darkness gather about the soul and shut Jesus from our sight, and we wait in sorrow and amazement until the cloud passes over. While under the trial, these seasons are terrible. Hope seems to fail, and despair seizes upon us. But in these dreadful hours we must learn to trust, to depend wholly upon the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour, and cast our souls in their helplessness and unworthiness upon him who is mighty to save unto the uttermost all who come unto God by him. We shall never perish while we do this, never. {RH April 10, 1894, par. 5}
• We need not be astonished at trial. Peter says, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” {RH April 10, 1894, par. 6}
• … Jesus was placed where His character would be tested. It was necessary for Him to be constantly on guard in order to preserve His purity. He was subject to all the conflicts which we have to meet, that He might be an example to us in childhood, youth, and manhood. {DA 71.1}
  • Christ was the only sinless one who ever dwelt on earth; yet for nearly thirty years He lived among the wicked inhabitants of Nazareth. This fact is a rebuke to those who think themselves dependent upon place, fortune, or prosperity, in order to live a blameless life. Temptation, poverty, adversity, is the very discipline needed to develop purity and firmness. {DA 72.2}
• Yet we should not lose courage when assailed by temptation. Often when placed in a trying situation we doubt that the Spirit of God has been leading us. But it was the Spirit’s leading that brought Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. When God brings us into trial, He has a purpose to accomplish for our good. Jesus did not presume on God’s promises by going unbidden into temptation, neither did He give up to despondency when temptation came upon Him. Nor should we. “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.” He says, “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the Most High: and call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.” 1 Corinthians 10:13; Psalm 50:14, 15. {DA 126.3}
• Every act of life, however small, has its bearing for good or for evil. Faithfulness or neglect in what are apparently the smallest duties may open the door for life’s richest blessings or its greatest calamities. It is little things that test the character. It is the unpretending acts of daily self-denial, performed with a cheerful, willing heart, that God smiles upon. We are not to live for self, but for others. And it is only by self-forgetfulness, by cherishing a loving, helpful spirit, that we can make our life a blessing. The little attentions, the small, simple courtesies, go far to make up the sum of life’s happiness, and the neglect of these constitutes no small share of human wretchedness. {PP 158.2}
• Trial will come to you. Thus the Lord polishes the roughness from your character. Do not murmur. You make the trial harder by repining. Honor God by cheerful submission. Patiently endure the pressure. Even though a wrong is done you, keep the love of God in the heart. “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.” {YI June 26, 1902, par. 8}
• Learn obedience through suffering (Heb 5:8-9)
• To live such a life, to exert such an influence, costs at every step effort, self-sacrifice, discipline. It is because they do not understand this that many are so easily discouraged in the Christian life. Many who sincerely consecrate their lives to God’s service are surprised and disappointed to find themselves, as never before, confronted by obstacles and beset by trials and perplexities. They pray for Christlikeness of character, for a fitness for the Lord’s work, and they are placed in circumstances that seem to call forth all the evil of their nature. Faults are revealed of which they did not even suspect the existence. Like Israel of old they question, “If God is leading us, why do all these things come upon us?” It is because God is leading them that these things come upon them. Trials and obstacles are the Lord’s chosen methods of discipline and His appointed conditions of success. He who reads the hearts of men knows their characters better than they themselves know them. He sees that some have powers and susceptibilities which, rightly directed, might be used in the advancement of His work. In His providence He brings these persons into different positions and varied circumstances that they may discover in their character the defects which have been concealed from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. Often He permits the fires of affliction to assail them that they may be purified. {MH 470.2-471.1}
• The true way of dealing with trial is not by seeking to escape it, but by transforming it. This applies to all discipline, the earlier as well as the later. The neglect of the child’s earliest training, and the consequent strengthening of wrong tendencies, makes his after education more difficult, and causes discipline to be too often a painful process. Painful it must be to the lower nature, crossing, as it does, the natural desires and inclinations; but the pain may be lost sight of in a higher joy. {Ed 295.3}
• Opposing circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. One barrier broken down will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press in the right direction, and make a change, solidly, intelligently. Then circumstances will be your helpers and not your hindrances. Make a beginning. The oak is in the acorn. {6T 145.2}
• Remember that you will never reach a higher standard than you yourself set. Then set your mark high, and step by step, even though it be by painful effort, by self-denial and sacrifice, ascend the whole length of the ladder of progress. Let nothing hinder you. Fate has not woven its meshes about any human being so firmly that he need remain helpless and in uncertainty. Opposing circumstances should create a firm determination to overcome them. The breaking down of one barrier will give greater ability and courage to go forward. Press with determination in the right direction, and circumstances will be your helpers, not your hindrances. {COL 331.4}
• Test and trial will come to every soul that loves God. The Lord does not work a miracle to prevent this ordeal of trial, to shield His people from the temptations of Satan. If they are tempted severely, it is because circumstances have been so shaped by the apostasy of Satan that temptations are permitted in order that characters may be developed that will decide the fitness of the human family for the home in heaven, characters that will stand through all the pressure of unfavorable circumstances in private and public life, and though tried by every species of Satan’s temptation, through the grace of God grow brave and true, and firm as a rock to principles, and come forth from the fiery ordeal of more value than the golden wedge of Ophir. Those who have such characters God will endorse with His own superscription as His chosen elect. The firmness manifested by Daniel must be shown by God’s children. All temptations to depart from pure and holy principles must be unhesitatingly rejected. There must be a firm adherence to right principles. As a people we are to stand unmoved by all Satan’s delusions, even when he comes as an angel of light. Thus may we constantly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. {Ms57-1896.22-23}
• It is coming in contact with difficulties that will give you spiritual muscle and sinew. You will become strong in Christ if you endure the testing process, and the proving of God. But if you find fault with your situation, and with everybody around you, you will only grow weaker. I have seen people who were always finding fault with everything and everybody around them, but the fault was in themselves. They had need to fall upon the Rock and be broken. They felt whole in their own self-righteousness. The trials that come upon us, come to prove us. The enemy of our souls is working against us continually, but our defects of character will be made manifest to us, and when they are made plain, instead of finding fault with others, let us say, “I will arise and go to my Father.” When we begin to realize that we are sinners, and fall on the Rock to be broken, the Everlasting arms are placed about us, and we are brought close to the heart of Jesus. Then we shall be charmed with his loveliness, and disgusted with our own righteousness. We need to come close to the foot of the cross. The more we humble ourselves there, the more exalted will God’s love appear. The grace and righteousness of Christ will not avail for him who feels whole, for him who thinks he is reasonably good, and is contented with his condition. There is no room for Christ in the heart of such a person; for he does not realize his need of divine light and aid. {RH August 6, 1889, par. 4-5}
• When trial comes, as it will, do not worry or complain. Silence in the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. “Then are they glad because they be quiet.” Remember that underneath you are the everlasting arms. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” He is guiding you into a harbor of gracious experience, and he bids you. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (RH June 20,1907, par. 8)
• For them all, Peter’s experience had a lesson. To self-trust, trial is defeat. The sure outworking of evil still unforsaken, Christ could not prevent. But as His hand had been outstretched to save when the waves were about to sweep over Peter, so did His love reach out for his rescue when the deep waters swept over his soul. Over and over again, on the very verge of ruin, Peter’s words of boasting brought him nearer and still nearer to the brink. {Ed 88.5}
• “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” The very atmosphere is polluted with sin. Soon God’s people will be tested by fiery trials, and the great proportion of those who now appear to be genuine and true will prove to be base metal. Instead of being strengthened and confirmed by opposition, threats, and abuse, they will cowardly take the side of the opposers. The promise is: “Them that honor Me I will honor.” Shall we be less firmly attached to God’s law because the world at large have attempted to make it void? {5T 136.1}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Revelation 2:1-2: Jesus approved that the church tested those who made a profession of faith to see if they were really apostles

 

TONGUE

• Sword (Psa 64:3)
• Pen (Psa 45:1)
• Fire (Jam 3:6)
  • God’s tongue is like a devouring fire (Isa 30:27)
  • His words should produce spiritual heart burn when we commune with Christ and study the Bible (Jere 20:9, Luk 24:32)
  • As we commune with each other and reason together, Jesus draws near (Luk 24:14, 15, Jam 4:7,8)
    • Jesus takes an interest in what we talk about (Luk 24:17)
  • Compared to a fountain and fig tree
    • Blessing – sweet water – figs
    • Cursing – bitter water – olive berries (fruit which fig trees are not supposed to produce – strange fruit) (Jam 3:10-12)
  • Mouth (Psa 50:19) (Psa 78:36)
    • Mouth compared to a door (Psa 141:3)
    • Mouth compared to a person who has separated themselves the precious from the vile (Jere 15:19) The vile is that which is evil (sin or sinful) or repugnant and detestable (Jere 29:17, Lam 1:11)
      • Jesus said He was the door (John 10:7-9)
      • Jesus did no sin. There was nothing vile in Him for God is light and there is no darkness in Him. (1 Peter 2:21-22)
    • A wholesome tongue is a tree of life (Prov 15:4)
    • Deceitful tongue is lying lips (Psa 120:2)
    • Naughty tongue is false lips (Prov 17:4)
    • the tongue of the wise uses knowledge aright (Prov 15:2)
      • lips of the wise dispense knowledge (Prov 15:7)
      • Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. (Gen 49:21)
    • the tongue of the wise is health (Prov 12:18)
    • the tongue of the learned is given to us by God so that His messengers can speak a word in due season (Isa 50:4)

 

TOWER [see pulpit] [see books] [see wood] [see trees]

• MIGDAL OR MIGDALAH – translated as pulpit in Nehemiah 8:4. It was made out of wood. Migdal or migdalah can mean tower or castle **also translated as flower once**
  • Tower of the watchmen (2King 18:8)
    • There are watchmen on towers (2 King 9:17; 18:8)
      • Watchmen are to declare what they see coming (Isa 21:5,6)
      • Stand upon the watchtower in the day time and set in the ward whole nights (Isa 21:8)
        • God’s prophets sometimes receive communications on the watchtower (Hab 2:1-2)
      • Declare Babylon is fallen, is fallen… (Isa 21:9)
      • Watchmen warn that the morning and night is coming (Isa 21:12)
      • Blow the trumpet to warn the people (Eze 33:6)
        • Warning included a message to prepare for battle à arm themselves and grease their shieldsàshields were greased with fat or oil before being used in battle (Isa 21:5)
      • Ezekiel set up as a watchman to share God’s word and warn the people (Eze 3:17; 33:7)
    • Gammadims (warriors) are on towers (Eze 27:11)
  • Tower of Babel
    • Top was to reach to heaven and by the city and tower they wanted to make a name for themselves (Gen 11:4,5)
  • Tower of Edar (Gen 35:21)
    • Tower of the flock (Mic 4:8)
    • a tower between Bethlehem and Hebron, near which Jacob first halted after leaving Bethlehem
    • Mic 4:8 – used as a designation of Bethlehem, which figuratively represents the royal line of David as sprung from Bethlehem.
  • Tower of Penuel (Judges 8:9,17)
  • Tower of Shechem (Judg 9:46-49)
  • Tower of Meah (Neh 3:1)
  • Tower of Hananeel (Neh 12:39, Zech 14:10)
  • Towers of Tyrus (Eze 26:4)
    • King of Babylon was going to bring his axes against the towers of Tyrus (Eze 26:7-9)
  • Tower built in the Lord’s vineyard (Isa 5:1-2)
  • God’s church is compared to a woman who’s breasts are like towers (Song Sol 8:10) [see milk]
  • Protection (2 Sam 22:3, 51)
  • Salvation (Psa 144:2)
  • God’s character (Prov 18:10, Ex 33; 34)
  • Breasts were compared to towers (Song Sol 8:10) [see grapes]

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Psalms 61:1-3: God was like a strong tower for David
  • His cheeks are as sweet flowers (towers) (Song Sol 5:13)

 

UNGODLY [see chaff] [see flood]

• enemies (Psalm 3:7)
• sinners (Psalm 1:4,5, Jude 1:15)
  • don’t consent to their enticing (Prov 1:10)
• They say, “How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?” (Psa 73:11-12)
  • Similar to Pharaoh’s attitude (Ex 5:2)
• follow ungodly lusts (Jude 1:18, 2 Pet 1:4)
• They do ungodly deeds which they ungodly commit. They speak against the Lord (Jude 1:15)
• Ungodly men turn the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and deny the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 3:11,12: Jesus will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire. All of the ungodly will be destroyed at the end of time. (2 Pet 3:7)
• Roman: 11:26,27: Jesus, the Deliverer, shall turn away ungodliness
• Romans 5:6: Jesus died for the ungodly so that by accepting Him they may be saved from unquenchable fire.

 

VAIN PEOPLE

• dissemblers/liars (Psalm 26:4,5)

 

VALLEY

• of decision/judgment (Joel 3:14)
• of Hamon-gog (Eze 39:11)

 

 

 

VESSELS [see bottles/vessels] [see dross]

• of wrath (Rom 9:22)
• of mercy (Rom 9:23)
• vessels of a potter (Rev 2:27)
• great and small (2Chron 36:18)
• holy vessels of God (1Chron 22:19)
  • be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD (Isa 52:11)
• all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD (1Chron 28:13)
• Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon, and put them in his temple at Babylon. (2Chron 36:7)
• the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD (2Chron 36:10)
• all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD (Josh 6:19)
• all manner vessels of ivory, and all manner vessels of most precious wood, and of brass, and iron, and marble (Rev 18:12)
• vessels of bulrushes (Isa 18:2)
• the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel (1Sam 21:5)
• all king Solomon’s drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon (1King 10:21)
• nations (Rev 2:26,27)
• Israel (Hos 8:8)
• heathen (Psa 2:8,9)
• people in general (2 Tim 2:20-21, 2 Cor 4:6,7, 1Thess 4:4)
• body (1 Thess 4:4)
• Moses sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry (Heb 9:19-21)
• sprinkled with anointing oil to sanctify them (Lev 8:10,11)
• sprinkled with hyssop water of separation (Num 19:17-21)
• a broken man is like a broken vessel (Psa 31:12)
• vessels of honor and dishonor (Rom 9:21)
• dross to be taken away (Prov 25:4)
• clean vessels come into the house of God (Isa 66:20)
• to bear God’s name (Acts 9:15)
• women are weaker vessels (1 Pet 3:7)
• pleasant vessels are shepherds of Israel or the principal of the flock (Jere 25:34)
• are broken when God is not pleased with them (Jere 48:38)
• every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the Lord of hosts (Zech 14:21) [see Jerusalem]
• Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. (Prov 26:23)

 

VILE PERSON [see sinners]

• speak villainy, heart works iniquity, practice hypocrisy
• utter error against the Lord (Isa 32:6)

VINE [see landmarks] [see seed]

• Noble vine is a right seed (Jere 2:21)
• Strange vine is a degenerate plant (Jere 2:21)
• Israel in its apostasy was described as an empty vine (Hos 10:1)
  • Emptiers empty God’s people and damage vine branches (Nah 2:2)
• God’s people (Psa 80:8, 105:33, John 15:1-5)
• Inhabitants of Jerusalem (Eze 15:6)
• Fruitful wife/woman (Psa 128:3)
  • Joseph is a fruitful bough (young tree), even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: (Gen 49:22-23)
• Remnant of Israel (Jere 6:9)
• Those that bear fruit, the Father purges or prunes so that they will bring forth more fruit (John 15:2)
  • Purged/pruned through the word (John 15:3; 17:17)
    • Sprigs are cut off with pruning hooks (Isa 18:5)
      • The shoots; the small limbs on which the grape is hanging, as if a man should enter a vineyard, and, while the grape is ripening, should not only cut off the grape, but the small branches that bore it, thus preventing it from bearing again. The idea is, not only that God would disconcert their “present” plans, but that he would prevent them from forming any in future. Before their plans were matured, and they obtained the anticipated triumph, he would effectually prevent them from forming such plans again.
    • SIN NO MORE: Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (John 5:14; 8:11) – God prunes His people so that they will not bear fruits of evil any longer.
  • Glorify the Father by bearing fruit – those that bear fruit are Christ’s disciples (John 15:8)
  • Can only bear fruit when we abide in Jesus Christ. Without Him we can do nothing (John 15:4)
    • Jesus is the true vine and we are the branches (John 15:5)
    • Abide in Jesus by keeping His commandments (John 15:10)
  • There is a grape gatherer (Jere 6:9)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 15:1: Jesus is the true vine and the Father is the husbandman.
• James 5:7: The husbandman is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth. He has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

 

 

 

 

VINEGAR

• irritating lazy person (Prov 10:26)
  • acidic – hard on teeth
• Jesus did not support using vinegar (Matt 27:34)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 27:34: Jesus refused to drink vinegar

 

VINEYARD [see householder/ home owner] [see house] [see thorns] [see wall]

• House (Ecc 2:4, Isa 3:14, 5:1-8)
• Supposed to take care of one’s own vineyard (Song Sol 1:6)
• Noah was a husbandman and planted a vineyard (Gen 9:20)
• He that gathers in the summer is a wise son, but he that sleeps in harvest is a son that causes shame (Prov 10:5)
  • He that wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30)
• Lazy people are void of understanding. The slothful vineyard owner has a vineyard full of thorns and his stone wall is broken down (Prov 24:30-32)
  • He is wise in his own conceit (Prov 26:16)
• Not to sow your vineyard with different seeds. If done, the fruit will be defiled (Deut 22:9, Lev 19:19)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Luke 20:9-18: Jesus is Lord of His vineyard
• John 15:1: Jesus is the true vine and the Father is the husbandman.
• James 5:7: Jesus or the Father is the husbandman and He is waiting for the precious fruit of the earth. He has long patience for it, until he receives the early and latter rain.

 

VIOLENCE

• The Lord hates the wicked and the person that loves violence (Psa 11:5)
• We should not watch or observe wicked things (Psa 101:3)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Deuteronomy 4:24, 9:3, Hebrews 12:29 and Isaiah 33:14,15: Those who turn away from hearing violence and turn away from seeing evil will dwell with God forever.

 

VOICE OF GOD

• The sound of the cherubims’ wings was heard even to the outer court, as the voice of the Almighty God when he speaketh. (Eze 10:5)
• God’s voice is powerful and full of majesty (Psa 29:4)
  • Controls fire and shakes the wilderness (Psa 29:7-8)
• God speaks in a still small voice (1King 19:12-13) (GW92 266.2, PK 169.1, 2 SM 316.1, RH Feb 12 1889.4, Aug 6 1895.7)
  • Still small voice directs one’s duty (12LtMsMs177 1897 par 42)
  • When trial comes, as it will, do not worry or complain. Silence in the soul makes more distinct the voice of God. “Then are they glad because they be quiet.” Remember that underneath you are the everlasting arms. “Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him.” He is guiding you into a harbor of gracious experience, and he bids you. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (RH June 20,1907, par. 8)
  • words of wise men are heard in quiet (Ecc 9:17)
• God speaks at different times and in various ways through His prophets (Heb 1:1)
  • Job 22:22: We should receive the law from His mouth and lay up His words in our hearts.
• We perish because we are not obedient to the voice of the Lord (Deut 8:20)
• The follower of Christ will meet with the “enticing words” against which the apostle warned the Colossian believers. He will meet with spiritualistic interpretations of the Scriptures, but he is not to accept them. His voice is to be heard in clear affirmation of the eternal truths of the Scriptures. Keeping his eyes fixed on Christ, he is to move steadily forward in the path marked out, discarding all ideas that are not in harmony with His teaching. The truth of God is to be the subject for his contemplation and meditation. He is to regard the Bible as the voice of God speaking directly to him. Thus he will find the wisdom which is divine. {AA 474.2}
• The word of the living God is not merely written, but spoken. The Bible is God’s voice speaking to us, just as surely as though we could hear it with our ears. If we realized this, with what awe would we open God’s word, and with what earnestness would we search its precepts! The reading and contemplation of the Scriptures would be regarded as an audience with the Infinite One. 6T 393.2
• This case is placed on record for our benefit. Just what took place in Pharaoh’s heart will take place in every soul that neglects to cherish the light and walk promptly in its rays. God destroys no one. The sinner destroys himself by his own impenitence. When a person once neglects to heed the invitations, reproofs, and warnings of the Spirit of God, his conscience becomes seared, and the next time he is admonished, it will be more difficult to yield obedience than before. And thus with every repetition. Conscience is the voice of God, heard amid the conflict of human passions; when it is resisted, the Spirit of God is grieved. {5T 120.1}
• The disease at the heart of the work poisons the blood, and thus the disease is communicated to the bodies they visit. Yet, notwithstanding the sickly, diseased state of things at home, some have felt a great burden to take the whole of believing bodies under their parental wings. But if the institutions which God has established have spiritual discernment, they will not concede to these paternal propositions. It is not in the order of God that a few men shall manage the great interests throughout the field. Many of the men who have acted as counsellors in board and council meetings need to be weeded out. Other men should take their places, for their voice is not the voice of God. Their plans and devisings are not after the order of God. The same men have been kept in office as directors of boards until, under their own management and their own opinions, common fire is used in the place of sacred fire of God’s own kindling. These men are no more called Israel, but supplanters. They have worked themselves so long, instead of being worked by the Holy Spirit, that they know not what spirit impels them to action. The college at Battle Creek would be better if it had been only one half as large, and if the other half had been located far from Battle Creek. The spiritual blindness which rests upon human minds seems to be deepening. There are men handling sacred things who are unconverted. All such should be replaced by men who not only have a knowledge of the truth, but who practice the truth, and have respect enough for the Bible to obey a “Thus saith the Lord.” Many of the men who have long been connected with the Office and with other important lines of work are really ignorant of the influence of the decisions they make. If they had a sense of the importance of these decisions, and comprehended what they mean with reference to the work, they would be far more modest in advancing ideas and voicing by their vote the propositions others make. {11LtMs, Lt 100, 1896, par. 5-8}
  • Lay all your plans before God, to be carried out or given up, as His providence shall indicate. Accept His plans instead of your own, even though their acceptance requires the abandonment of cherished projects. Thus the life will be molded more and more after the divine example; and “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. {7T 44.5}

 

1896: The voice from Battle Creek, which has been regarded as authority in counseling how the work should be done, is no longer the voice of God; but it is the voice of—whom? From whence does it come, and where is its vital power? This state of things is maintained by men who should have been disconnected from the work long ago. These men do not scruple to quote the word of God as their authority, but the God who is leading them is a false god. {17MR 185.3}

1898: I have so much desired that you would visit us in Australia; but it has been some years since I have considered the General Conference as the voice of God… {Lt77-1898.1}

1901:Yet we hear that the voice of the Conference is the voice of God. Every time I have heard this, I have thought that it was almost blasphemy. The voice of the Conference ought to be the voice of God, but it is not, because some in connection with it are not men of faith and prayer, they are not men of elevated principle. There is not a seeking of God with the whole heart; there is not a realization of the terrible responsibility that rests upon those in this institution to mold and fashion minds after the divine similitude. {Ms37-1901.18}

1909: At times, when a small group of men entrusted with the general management of the work have, in the name of the General Conference, sought to carry out unwise plans and to restrict God’s work, I have said that I could no longer regard the voice of the General Conference, represented by these few men, as the voice of God. But this is not saying that the decisions of a General Conference composed of an assembly of duly appointed, representative men from all parts of the field should not be respected. God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority. The error that some are in danger of committing is in giving to the mind and judgment of one man, or of a small group of men, the full measure of authority and influence that God has vested in His church in the judgment and voice of the General Conference assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of His work. {Ms38a-1909.13}

• The Scriptures are the voice of God.
• Only as the General Conference is led by church members from all parts of the earth assembled in a General Conference then it is the voice of God.

• The sky opened and shut and was in commotion. The mountains shook like a reed in the wind and cast out ragged rocks all around. The sea boiled like a pot and cast out stones upon the land. And as God spoke the day and the hour of Jesus’ coming and delivered the everlasting covenant to His people, He spoke one sentence, and then paused, while the words were rolling through the earth. The Israel of God stood with their eyes fixed upward, listening to the words as they came from the mouth of Jehovah and rolled through the earth like peals of loudest thunder. It was awfully solemn. At the end of every sentence the saints shouted, “Glory! Hallelujah!” Their countenances were lighted up with the glory of God, and they shone with glory as did the face of Moses when he came down from Sinai. The wicked could not look upon them for the glory. And when the never-ending blessing was pronounced on those who had honored God in keeping His Sabbath holy, there was a mighty shout of victory over the beast and over his image. {EW 285.2}
  • At the transfiguration, Jesus was glorified by His Father. We hear Him say: “Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” Thus before His betrayal and crucifixion He was strengthened for His last dreadful sufferings. As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel. I saw that God will in a wonderful manner preserve His people through the time of trouble. As Jesus poured out His soul in agony in the garden, they will earnestly cry and agonize day and night for deliverance. The decree will go forth that they must disregard the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and honor the first day, or lose their lives; but they will not yield, and trample under their feet the Sabbath of the Lord, and honor an institution of papacy. Satan’s host and wicked men will surround them, and exult over them, because there will seem to be no way of escape for them. But in the midst of their revelry and triumph, there is heard peal upon peal of the loudest thunder. The heavens have gathered blackness, and are only illuminated by the blazing light and terrible glory from heaven, as God utters His voice from His holy habitation. {1T 353.3-4}
• When the voice of God turns the captivity of His people, there is a terrible awakening of those who have lost all in the great conflict of life. While probation continued they were blinded by Satan’s deceptions, and they justified their course of sin. The rich prided themselves upon their superiority to those who were less favored; but they had obtained their riches by violation of the law of God…{GC 654.1}

 

VOMIT [see foolishness]

• Folly (Prov 26:11)
  • Sin (Psa 69:5)
• Paralleled with mire (2 Pet 2:22) [see mire]
  • It is sin based on the verses preceding 22.
• Egypt erred in every work as a drunken man staggering in his vomit (Isa 19:14)
• Vomit fills the tables because of people consuming wine and strong drink (Isa 28:7-8) [see table]

 

WALK

• God knows our steps (Job 31:4)
• To do what pleases God, follow His path and follow His example (Deut 10:12)
• To obey God and His laws (1King 8:61)
• Enoch walked with God and never died (Gen 5:22-24)
  • In the midst of a world by its iniquity doomed to destruction, Enoch lived a life of such close communion with God that he was not permitted to fall under the power of death. The godly character of this prophet represents the state of holiness which must be attained by those who shall be “redeemed from the earth” (Revelation 14:3) at the time of Christ’s second advent. Then, as in the world before the Flood, iniquity will prevail. Following the promptings of their corrupt hearts and the teachings of a deceptive philosophy, men will rebel against the authority of Heaven. But like Enoch, God’s people will seek for purity of heart and conformity to His will, until they shall reflect the likeness of Christ. Like Enoch, they will warn the world of the Lord’s second coming and of the judgments to be visited upon transgression, and by their holy conversation and example they will condemn the sins of the ungodly. As Enoch was translated to heaven before the destruction of the world by water, so the living righteous will be translated from the earth before its destruction by fire…{PP 88.3}
• Noah walked with God and did die (Gen 6:9)
  • Saved man (2 Peter 2:5)
• Can two walk together, except they be agreed? (Amos 3:3)
• Possible to walk in the sins of your father (1King 15:3)
• God promises to live and walk in us (2 Cor 6:16)
  • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)
• Those who walk uprightly will be saved (Prov 28:18)
  • Upright men are laughed to scorn (Job 12:4)
  • the wicked try to kill those of upright conversation and their devisings backfire on them (Psa 37:14-15, 32)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 10:30, 13:15, 1 Peter 2:21: Jesus set the example that we should follow.

 

WALL [see house, see hedge]

• Law of God/10Commandments (Isaiah 58:12,13àbreak=separation), (Isaiah 59:1-4àbreak in the law of God *note iniquity separates us from God [see sin])
  • The breach in the wall is the major break in the law of God which is the Sabbath/4^th commandment àcomparatively few people/churches/denominations keep the 7^th day Sabbath
• A wall can also be considered a hedge (Isa 5:5, Hos 2:6)
  • When one breaks a hedge, a serpent bites (Ecc10:8) *insight derived from leaning on a wall and a serpent bites* (Amos 5:19)
• the woman in Song of Sol 8:10 declares that she is a wall and only then was she favoured [see woman]
• salvation (Isa 60:18)
• a poorly built wall is destroyed by stormy wind (Eze 13:13-14) [see wind]
  • the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall (Isa 25:4)
• high wall is likened unto conceit (Prov 18:11)
• Lazy people are void of understanding. The slothful vineyard owner has a vineyard full of thorns and his stone wall is broken down (Prov 24:30-32)
  • He is wise in his own conceit (Prov 26:16)
• In their selfwill, Simeon and Levi digged down a wall (Gen 49:6)
  • They slew a man – Shechem himself, and many others; and to effect that, they digged down a wall, broke the houses to plunder them, and murder the inhabitants.

 

WAR [see enemies] [see hands] [see arrows] [see breastplate] [see helmet] [see sword] [see shield] [see trumpet]

• The LORD is a man of war (Ex 15:3)
• Children of Israel were men of war (1King 9:22)
• Time of trouble compared to a day of battle and war (Job 38:23)
  • At the transfiguration, Jesus was glorified by His Father. We hear Him say: “Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” Thus before His betrayal and crucifixion He was strengthened for His last dreadful sufferings. As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel. I saw that God will in a wonderful manner preserve His people through the time of trouble. As Jesus poured out His soul in agony in the garden, they will earnestly cry and agonize day and night for deliverance. The decree will go forth that they must disregard the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and honor the first day, or lose their lives; but they will not yield, and trample under their feet the Sabbath of the Lord, and honor an institution of papacy. Satan’s host and wicked men will surround them, and exult over them, because there will seem to be no way of escape for them. But in the midst of their revelry and triumph, there is heard peal upon peal of the loudest thunder. The heavens have gathered blackness, and are only illuminated by the blazing light and terrible glory from heaven, as God utters His voice from His holy habitation. {1T 353.3-4}
• For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph 6:12)
• The devil is the enemy (1 Peter 5:8)
• The Lord’s people can’t overcome their enemies until they take away the accursed thing from among them (Josh 7:13)
  • Those who hold onto the accursed thing will be burned with fire because they have transgressed the covenant and wrought folly in Israel (Josh 7:15)
• with good advice make war (Prov 20:18)
• with wise counsel make war and in the multitude of counselors there is safety (Prov 24:6)
  • Be aware of wicked counsellors who imagine evil against the Lord (Nah 1:11)
• Wisdom is better than weapons of war (Ecc 9:18)
• Soldiers should be devout (Act 10:7)
• Good soldiers endure difficulties (2Tim 2:3)
• No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. (2Tim 2:4)
  • Jesus chooses His soldiers
  • No soldier in spiritual warfare entangles himself in worldly affairs
• The Lord has His armoury and has weapons of indignation (Jere 50:25, Isa 13:5)
• For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)  (2Cor 10:3-4)
  • Sword, spear, bow, axe, hammer [see these in this book]
• Wear the whole armour of God so that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Eph 6:11)
  • Armour of righteousness (2 Cor 6:7)
• Blood of war on the girdle and in shoes (1King 2:5)
• Took Selah (the rock) by war (2King 14:7)
• War/fighting/strife originate with man’s lusts (Jam 4:1)
• Every battle of the warrior is with confused noise and garments rolled in blood (Isa 9:5)
• Isa 54:17  No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
• God left the surrounding nations around Israel from destruction. He did this because He used them to test Israel and to see if they would keep His commandments or not. Also, the heathen nations were left so that the Israelites might not forget military discipline, but habituate themselves to the use of arms, that they might always be able to defend themselves against their foes. Had they been faithful to God, they would have had no need of learning the art of war; but now arms became a sort of necessary substitute for that spiritual strength which had departed from them. (Judg 3:1-4)
• Jesus Christ’s kingdom is not of this world. His servants don’t fight on earth to protect their King. Not with arms for their weapons are not carnal, but spiritual. Instead of literal swords, we use the sword of the Spirit. The word of God. (John 18:36)
• Pray much. Prayer is the life of the soul. The prayer of faith is the weapon by which we may successfully resist every assault of the enemy.—(The Signs of the Times, August 24, 1904.) {Pr 62.2}

 

WATER [see river] [see sea]

• God gives rain and sends water (Job 5:10)
• Strange waters (2King 19:24)
• sweet water is fresh water (James 3:11-12)
• bitter water is salt water (James 3:11-12)
  • To the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet (Prov 27:7)
• waters wear the stones (Job 14:19)
• Iniquity (Job 15:16)
  • God commands people to turn away from iniquity (Job 36:10)
• Instability (Gen 49:4)
• Populations/people (Rev 17:15, Isa 17:12, 13)
• strange children (Psa 144:7)
• doctrine/teaching (Deut 32:2-3)
• Deep waters are words (Prov 18:4)
  • Can also be counsel/plan (Prov 20:5)
• cold water is good news (Prov 25:25) *gospel means good news*
• Flowing brook is a wellspring of wisdom (Prov 18:4)
• judgment and righteousness (Amos 5:24)
• Holy Spirit (John 7:37-39. 1Cor 12:13, Prov 1:23, Isa 44:3)
  • Note that true teachings are accompanied by the working of the Holy Spirit (Eph 6:17)
• Corrupt spring and troubled fountain is compared to a righteous man falling down before the wicked (Prov 25:26)
• Friends that deal deceitfully are compared to a brook or stream that passes which is blackish, dark, turbid and muddy (Job 6:15)
• The righteous are compared to a water spring that doesn’t stop pouring forth water (Isa 58:11)
• Wickedness (Jere 6:7)
• Troubled water=wicked (Isa 57:20)
• Of lifeàChrist’s words (DA 454.1, John 6:63, Eph 5:25-27, John 17:17, John 15:1-3)
• Of afflictionàtrouble (Isa 30:20) (1King 22:27, 2Chron 18:26)
  • Can occur because of transgression of God’s law (Lam 1:5)
  • The Lord does not afflict willingly – doesn’t enjoy it (Lam 3:33)
  • When we are afflicted so is the Lord. He understands our trials and feels for us (Isa 63:9)
  • Affliction/punishment teaches us to keep God’s law (Psa 119:71)
  • And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort. The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin. Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ. We are to humble the soul before God…{DA 301.1}
  • The true way of dealing with trial is not by seeking to escape it, but by transforming it. This applies to all discipline, the earlier as well as the later. The neglect of the child’s earliest training, and the consequent strengthening of wrong tendencies, makes his after education more difficult, and causes discipline to be too often a painful process. Painful it must be to the lower nature, crossing, as it does, the natural desires and inclinations; but the pain may be lost sight of in a higher joy. {Ed 295.3}
    • Mourners exalted to safety (Job 5:11)
    • God will gather the sorrowful for the solemn assembly (Hab 3:18; Lev 23:27-32)
  • We are now living in the great Day of Atonement. In the typical service, while the high priest was making the atonement for Israel, all were required to afflict their souls by repentance of sin and humiliation before the Lord, lest they be cut off from among the people. In like manner, all who would have their names retained in the book of life should now, in the few remaining days of their probation, afflict their souls before God by sorrow for sin and true repentance. There must be deep, faithful searching of heart…{CIHS 187.1}
• Of Noahàwrath of God (Isa 54:9, Hos 5:10)
• Nineveh was compared to a pool of water (Nah 2:8)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 32:1-2: Jesus is King of kings and a man who is as rivers of water in a dry place.
  • It is through the social relations that Christianity comes in contact with the world. Every man or woman who has received the divine illumination is to shed light on the dark pathway of those who are unacquainted with the better way. Social power, sanctified by the Spirit of Christ, must be improved in bringing souls to the Saviour. Christ is not to be hid away in the heart as a coveted treasure, sacred and sweet, to be enjoyed solely by the possessor. We are to have Christ in us as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life, refreshing all who come in contact with us. {MH 496.2}
• Matthew 5:6: Jesus said “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
• John 4:13-15: Jesus has living water to give to those who are thirsty. Those who drink Jesus’ water will never thirst.

 

WAVES

• Righteousness (Isa 48:18)
• Wicked/infidels (Jude 1:5-13)
• Doubters/skeptics (James 1:6,7) [see Egypt]

 

WAX [see enemies]

• God’s enemies (Psa 68:1,2)
  • Are those who continue on in trespasses (Psa 68:21)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Psalm 22:14: Christ’s heart melted like wax inside Him. So much pain, sorrow and grief.

 

WAY

• Acts/doings (Psa 103:7)
• Of God (Act 18:26)
• Of the Lord (Jere 5:4)
  • Is strength to the upright (Prov 10:29)
• Of righteousness (Prov 12:28; 16:31)
  • Righteousness keeps people who are upright in the way (Prov 13:6)
• Of holiness (Isa 35:8) [see highway]
• Of peace (Luk 1:79)
  • Psa_72:3  The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness.
• Of life and death (Jere 21:8, Prov 2:19) [see prophets]
• The way of life is above to the wise that he may depart from hell beneath. (Prov 15:24)
• Of life is narrow (Matt 7:14)
• Reproofs of instruction are the way of life (Prov 6:23)
  • The people who are in the way of life obey instruction (Prov 10:17)
  • a person who doesn’t hear doesn’t have any reproofs to share (Psa 38:14)
  • I am very sure that the greatest reason why the people of God are now found in this state of spiritual blindness, is because they will not receive correction. Many have despised the reproofs and warnings given them. The True Witness condemns the lukewarm condition of the people of God, which gives Satan great power over them in this waiting, watching time. The selfish, and proud, and lovers of sin, are ever assailed with doubts. Satan has ability to suggest doubts and devise objections to the pointed testimony that God sends, and many think it a virtue and mark of intelligence in them to be unbelieving and questioning, and quibbling. Those who desire to doubt will have plenty of room. God does not propose to remove all occasion for unbelief. He gives evidence, which must be carefully investigated with a humble mind and teachable spirit. All should decide from the weight of evidence. RH September 16, 1873, par. 10
• Of salvation (Acts 16:17) [see false prophets]
  • Logically there must then be a way of damnation
  • Way of death and damnation is broad (Matt 7:13)
• Ways of light (Job 24:13)
• Ways of darkness (Prov 2:13, 4:19)
  • Choose darkness because deeds are evil and hate light (John 3:19,20)
• Way of evil (Prov 28:10)
• Way of good – God teaches the good way (1King 8:36)
• God promises to give one way (Jere 32:39)
  • There has not failed one word of all God’s good promise (1King 8:56)
• A new and living way – enter MHP, through the veil – JC flesh (Heb 10:19-20)
  • Jesus Christ appears in the presence of God for us (Heb 9:24)
• Job 28:7  There is a path which no fowl knoweth, and which the vulture’s eye hath not seen:
  • The thing that is hid is revealed by God (Job 28:11)
• God’s ways are higher than ours (Isa 55:8-9)
• Enemy in the way who lay in wait by the way (Ezra 8:22, 31)
  • All those that seek God receive good from Him. His power and wrath is against all them that forsake Him.

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 14:6: Jesus is the way

 

WEALTH [see riches]

• Strong city and high wall (Prov 18:11)
• Makes friends (Prov 19:4)
  • Rich people have many friends (Prov 14:20)
• Worldly riches don’t last forever (Prov 27:24)
• The Lord gives us power to get wealth (Deut 8:18)
• Be content with what you have (Heb 13:5)
• Give according to what you purpose in your heart – give cheerfully because God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7)
• All things come from God and we give Him what is already His (1 Chron 29:14)
• Get blessings when you give tithe (Mal 3:10)
• A gift makes room for a person and brings them before great men (Prov 18:16)
• Liberal soul is made fat. When you give water, you will also receive water for yourself (Prov 11:25)
  • Luk 6:38  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
• When you consider the poor, God will save you and take care of you even in your sickness (Psa 41:1-3)
• When you have pity upon the poor, you are actually lending ot the Lord and God promises to repay you (Prov 19:17, 22:9)
• When you give to the poor, the promise is that you will not lack (Prov 28:27)
• He that has mercy upon the poor will be happy (Prov 14:21)
• Don’t withhold good to whom it is due when it is in the power of you hand to do it (Prov 3:27)
• Mercy and truth is given to those who devise good (Prov 14:22)
• Give to those who ask you for help (Luke 6:30)
• The righteous give and don’t spare (Prov 21:26)
• Hating covetousness prolongs your life (Prov 28:16)
• Work to make wealth (Prov 14:23)
  • When you don’t work you shouldn’t eat (2 Thess 3:10)
• God gives strength to get wealth (Deut 8:18)
• Be diligent in business (Prov 22:29)
• Owe no man anything (Rom 13:8)
• Don’t co-sign or go into debt (Prov 22:7, 26,27)
• The wicked borrow and don’t pay (Psa 37:21)
• Count the cost of a project or of doing business before you start (Luke 14:28)
• The foolish spend too much (Prov 21:20)
• In buying and selling, don’t oppress people (Lev 25:14)
• A false balance is an abomination (Prov 11:1)
• Direct/open business dealings (Matt 5:37)
• The love of money is the root of all evil (1 Tim 6:10)
• In the last days, business men and business women will heap up wealth, make large monopolies, and abuse their labourers in the sense of keeping back fair wages – fraudulent practices. They condemn and kill the just – murderers in heart and life. (James 5:1-6)
  • Fearful woe is upon those who defraud others, don’t pay just wages and use people. (Lev 19:13, Jere 22:13, Mal 3:5)
• The desire to accumulate wealth is an original affection of our nature, implanted there by our Heavenly Father for noble ends. If you ask the capitalist who has directed all his energies to the one object of securing wealth, and who is persevering and industrious to add to his property, with what design he thus labors, he could not give you a reason for this, a definite purpose for which he is gaining earthly treasures and heaping up riches. He cannot define any great aim or purpose he has in view, or any new source of happiness he expects to attain. He goes on accumulating because he has turned all his abilities and all his powers in this direction. There is within the worldly man a craving for something that he does not have. He has, from force of habit, bent every thought, every purpose in the direction of making provision for the future, and as he grows older, he becomes more eager than ever to acquire all that it is possible to gain. It is natural that the covetous man should become more covetous as he draws near the time when he is losing hold upon all earthly things. All this energy, this perseverance, this determination, this industry after earthly power is the result of the perversion of his powers to a wrong object…{RH March 1, 1887, par. 9}

 

WELL

• The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life (Prov 10:11)
• Salvation (Isa 12:3)
• Dig well with their staves by the direction of the lawgiver (Num 21:18)
• As we receive physical strength by partaking of earthly food, so we are made strong by eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ. “This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” Not only does Christ give us the bread of life; but the water of life, which he gives, is as a well of water, springing up into everlasting life. It possesses life-giving properties and purifying efficacy; for it proceeds from the throne of God. {YI November 11, 1897, par. 6}
• To all who are athirst, Christ presents the water of life, that we may drink freely when we are thus athirst. Christ will be in us a well of water, springing up unto eternal life. Then our words will be full of truth and grace; and as we minister, we shall be prepared to bring blessing to others. Have faith in God. 22LtMs, Lt 396, 1907, par. 5

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
• John 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

WHALE [see fish] [see serpent]

• Person/people (Job 7:12)
• Pharaoh compared to a whale (Eze 32:2)
• Jonah was swallowed by a big fish or big whale (Matt 12:40; Jonah 1:17)

 

 

 

 

 

WHITE / CHALCEDONY [see gold]

• Purity (Lam 4:7, Psa 51:7)
• Cleansing away of sin (Isa 1:18)
  • {SSP 344.3}
• Whiteness signified ripeness (John 4:35)
• White stone (Rev 2:17)
• Overcomers get to walk with Jesus Christ in white – they are worthy – their names remain in the book of life (Rev 3:4-5)
  • Jesus Christ is our example for how to have victory over sin – overcome (Rev 3:21)
• Whited wall – a person who pretends to uphold the law of God but doesn’t keep it himself (Act 23:3-3)

 

WHIRLWIND [see wall]

• judgment (Psa 58:3-11)
• destruction (Prov 1:27)
• connected with chariots (Jere 4:13) [see chariots]
• has a scattering effect (Zech 7:14)
  • Israel was scattered because the people made groves (1King 14:15)
• Elijah was taken up to heaven by a whirlwind (2King 2:11)
• Lord answered out of the whirlwind (Job 38:1)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 32:1-2: Jesus is King of kings and a man who is our hiding place from the wind and a shelter from the tempest.

 

WHORE [see harlot] [see woman] [see fowler] [see pit]

• evil and strange woman (Prov 6:24-26, Judge 11:1,2)
  • Love for strange women made Solomon’s heart imperfect (1King 11:1-4)
• the law of God reveals who the woman is and protects against her lies [see flatter] (Prov 6:23-24)
• adulteress (Prov 6:26)
  • she eats, wipes her mouth and says that she has done no wickedness (Prov 30:20)
• hunter (Prov 6:26)
• In the dark adulterers, murderers and thieves dig through houses, which they had marked for themselves in the daytime: they know not the light. (Job 24:14-16)
• has specific attire (Prov 7:10)
• subtle of heart like the serpent (Prov 7:10, Gen 3:1)
• loud, stubborn [see stubborn], doesn’t stay in her house [see house]
• she is known as a foolish woman that is loud, simple, knows nothing, calls people to her
  • the men that come to her are naïve
  • “stolen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant”
  • The men don’t know that men die when they visit her
  • Prov 9:13-18
• She is described in Revelation 17
• She has children (Isa 57:3) [see seed] [see arrows]
  • Children of whoredom (Hos 1:2) *note that the wife of whoredom in Hosea 1 and NOT Revelation 17 is a symbol of God’s people in apostasy* *thankfully she comes back to her senses, whereas the whore in Rev 17 does not*
  • Whoredom takes away the heart (Hos 4:11) [see heart]
  • Whoredom: departing from the Lord / unfaithfulness (Hos 1:2)
• She has daughters. (Psa 137:8, Zech 2:7)
• Whosoever is joined to a harlot is one with her (1 Cor 6:15-17)
• By the means of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread (Prov 6:26)
  • For a piece of bread a man will transgress (Prov 28:21)

 

WICKED

• those who hate instruction (Psa 50:16, 17)
  • they won’t get understanding (Prov 15:32)
• unrighteous (Psa 71:4)
• cruel man (Psa 71:4)
• hypocrite (Job 20:5)
  • hypocrites and those people who forget God are like grass that withers away (Job 8:12-13)
  • when the heart is exalted, the people tend to forget God (Hos 13:6)
  • Congregation of hypocrites is desolate (Job 15:34)
  • hypocrites in heart heap up wrath (Job 36:13)
• son of wickedness (Psa 89:22)
• deaf adder/snake (Psa 58:4)
  • scribes and pharisees, hypocrites and fools likened to serpents and vipers (Matt 23:23, 33)
• grass (Psa 92:7)
• dross (Psa 119: 119)
  • silver dross is litharge or lead monoxide which forms a glaze upon the earthen vessel and makes the vessel smooth and pleasant to the touch while beneath the material is rough and cheap. (Prov 26:23) [see bottles/vessels]
• violent (Psa 140:4)
  • violence covereth their mouths (Prov 10:11)
• oppressors (Job 27:13) [see oppressor]
• transgressors (Prov 2:22)
• naughty people (Prov 6:12)
• scorners (mockers) (Prov 9:7)
• don’t follow them (Prov 4:14)
  • leads neighbour into a way that’s not good (Prov 16:29)
• their way is as darkness (Prov 4:19)
• they desire evil (Prov 21:10)
• their work tends toward sin (Prov 10:16)
• their hearts are of little worth (Prov 10:20)
  • They say in their heart that God has forgotten them and doesn’t see them. They despise God and don’t believe that He will investigate their lives. (Psa 10:11-13)
  • Double heart (Psa 12:1-2)
• will not inherit the earth (Prov 10:30)
• fall by their own wickedness and naughtiness (Prov 11:5,6)
  • wickedness does not deliver those that are given to it (Ecc 8:8)
  • they are snared by their own actions (Psa 9:16)
• their counsels are deceitful (Prov 12:5)
  • their counsels sound like what is found in these references:
    • Job 21:7, 14-16, 22:15, 17,18
  • God overturns the counsels of the wicked (Job 5:13)
  • Destruction and oppression comes as a result of following one’s own counsels (Hos 11:6)
• speak forwardness (Prov 10:32)
• speak lies (Psa 58:3)
• they don’t like the upright (Prov 29:27)
  • Upright men are laughed to scorn (Job 12:4)
  • the wicked try to kill those of upright conversation and their devisings backfire on them (Psa 37:14-15, 32)
• seduce the righteous (Prov 12:26)
  • wrong judgment occurs when the righteous are surrounded by the wicked (Hab 1:4)
• seducers get worse over time (2 Tim 3:13)
• when favour is shown them, they still won’t learn righteousness (Isa 26:10)
  • when God’s judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Isa 26:9)
• they have no peace (Isa 48:22)
• God will not acquit them (Nah 1:3)
• set snares and traps (Jere 5:26) [see snare]
• there are wicked treasures (Mic 6:10) [see treasure]
• have a house (Mic 6:10; Prov 21:12)
  • dwelling places (Job 21:28)
  • the curse of the Lord is in their house (Prov 3:33)
• they like to dance and party (Job 21:7,11,12)
• they don’t want to know God’s ways (Job 21:14)
• they don’t fear God (Ecc 8:13)
• they see no benefits to serving God and praying to Him (Job 21:15)
• they try to circumvent or manipulate the judicial process in order to get what they want (Act 19:35-39)
• the whole world lies in wickedness (1John 5:19)
  • when God’s judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Isa 26:9)
• a wise king scatters the wicked (Prov 20:26)
  • Those that forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the contend against the wicked (Prov 28:4)
• the wicked and him that loveth violence God hates (Psa 11:5)
• The Lord will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity (Isa 13:11)
  • The wicked shall not be unpunished (Prov 11:21)
  • Turned into hell (Psa 9:17)
  • they will be burned to stubble and chaff (Job 21:7, 18, Mal 4:2)
• The wicked are reserved to the day of destruction and will be brought forth to the day of wrath (Job 21:30)
• God does not have pleasure in wickedness neither will evil live with Him (Psa 5:4)
  • its abomination for kings to commit wickedness (Prov 16:12)
• triumphing of the wicked is short and the joy of the hypocrite is for a moment (Job 20:5)
• When wickedness is great in the world, the harvest is ripe (Joel 3:13)

 

WICKED TRANSGRESSORS [see enemies] [see wax]

• heathen (Psa 59:5) [see heathen]
• son of wickedness (Psa 89:22)
• wicked (Prov 2:22)
• their perverseness will destroy them (Prov 11:3)
  • perverse people hate God and His followers (Prov 14:2)
• the strange woman increases transgressors (Prov 23:28, Judge 11:1,2)
  • Love for strange women made Solomon’s heart imperfect (1King 11:1-4)
• The Lord will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity (Isa 13:11)

 

WILDERNESS [see serpents] [see scorpions] [see famine] [see water] [see bread]

• desert (Psa 78:40, 102:6)
• dry ground (Psa 107:33)
  • land of drought (Hos 13:5)
• field (Joel 1:19)
• seclusion {GC 54.2}
• church in the wilderness (Act 7:38)
• When there is want and famine, people flee into the wilderness in order to live off the scanty resources there (Job 30:3)
• God’s people were taken through the wilderness in order to humble them, test them and to help them discover what was in their hearts (Deut 8:2)
• In the great and terrible wilderness there were fiery serpents, scorpions, drought and lack of water (Deut 8:15)
• Fed in the wilderness with manna (Deut 8:16)
  • Num 11:9  When the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.
  • hidden manna (Rev 2:17)
• Perish in the wilderness because of not being obedient to the voice of the Lord God. (Deut 8:20)
• People wander in the wilderness because they don’t listen to the Lord (Hos 10:17)
• Those who were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness (Jere 31:2)
• God’s voice controls fire and shakes the wilderness (Psa 29:7-8)

 

WILD ASS *donkey*

• Ephraim/people (Hos 8:9)
  • Jealous of liberty, selfish and stubborn

 

WILL OF GOD & WILL OF THE GENTILES

• Psalm 40:8  I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
  • Matthew 7:21  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
  • Matthew 19:17  And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
    • People who go to Heaven are those who do the will of God which is keeping His commandments.
  • 1 Peter 4:1-2  Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
  • The will of the Gentiles is living in the pleasures of sin. (1 Pet 4:3, Eph 2:11, Rom 7:5)
    • When people live the will of God, the spiritual Gentiles will think it strange that they run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of them (1 Pet 4:3-4)
  • The law of God given from Sinai is a copy of the mind and will of the Infinite God. It is sacredly revered by the holy angels. Obedience to its requirements will perfect Christian character, and restore man, through Christ, to his condition before the fall. {The Review & Herald September 27, 1881, par. 17} – Ellen White

 

WIND [see snow] [see wall] [see whirlwind]

• vanity, strife, destruction, life, desperate words, work of Spirit,
  • (Isa 57:13, Rev7:1-3,Jere 25:31-33; 51:1, Job 7:7; 6:26, John 3:7,8, 2 Pet 1:21)
• Words (Job 8:2, 6:25-26)
• doctrine (Eph 4:14)
  • good (Prov 4:2, 1 Tim 4:6, 2 Tim 3:16) or bad (1 Tim 4:1)
• Iniquities/sin (Isa 64:6)
• Prophets without the word of God (Jere 5:13)
• Angels (Heb 1:7)
• The human heart is moved as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind (Isa 7:2)
• The wind goes toward the south and up to the north and whirls about continually. Has a cyclical pattern. (Ecc 1:6)
• South wind signifies hot weather/heat (Luke 12:55)
• the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall (Isa 25:4)
• a mighty wind shakes the fig tree and it casts its untimely figs (Rev 6:13)
• wind has a cleansing or purging effect (Job 37:21)
  • Rebels and those that break God’s law will be purged out from among His people (Eze 20:38)
• 4 WINDS
  • John sees the elements of nature—earthquake, tempest, and political strife—represented as being held by four angels. These winds are under control until God gives the word to let them go. There is the safety of God’s church. The angels of God do His bidding, holding back the winds of the earth, that the winds should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree, until the servants of God should be sealed in their foreheads.45 {Mar 266.3}
    • There is danger, decided danger, for all who shall link themselves up with the political parties of the world. There is fraud on both sides. God has not laid upon any of our people the burden of linking up with either party. We are under Christ’s banner, and every one who names the name of Christ is to depart from all iniquity. Sorrow and trial will come. The faith of every one is being tested. But our Lord is truth; He is love, and His scepter stretcheth over the universe. Surprises await every one. We know not what political crisis will come next. But in regard to the political agitators, the word of the Lord to us is, “Go not ye after them.” [Luke 21:8.] True wisdom will not lead us to follow the example of the foolish rich men of the parable. True wisdom is revealed in seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. {11LtMs, Ms 43, 1896, par. 8}
  • Soon the four winds of heaven will be loosed, and in every part of the globe there will be dissension, strife, war, bloodshed. Satan is stirred with intensity from beneath. The power of God will be the defense of His people until their warning message will have been proclaimed to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. {Ms165-1902.14}
  • Now is the time for us to do our appointed work. Now is the time for us to reveal living faith. I ask you to prepare for what is coming upon the earth—plagues, war, and confusion of nations. I pray that the Lord may hold the four winds until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads. We have no time to halt between two opinions. Let us do the work that must be done in these last days—set our own hearts in order, that they may be purified, refined, elevated, and ennobled. {Lt115-1899.3}
  • Everything in the world is in an unsettled state. The nations are angry, and great preparations for war are being made. Nation is plotting against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. The great day of God is hasting greatly. But although the nations are mustering their forces for war and bloodshed, the command to the angels is still in force, that they hold the four winds until the servants of God are sealed in their foreheads.37 As yet the four winds are held until the servants of God shall be sealed in their foreheads. Then the powers of earth will marshal their forces for the last great battle. How carefully we should improve the little remaining period of our probation! 38 {Mar 243.2-3}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 32:1-2: Jesus is King of kings and a man who is our hiding place from the wind and a shelter from the tempest.

 

WINE [see poison/venom]

• Wine of astonishment (Psa 60:3)
• Wine of violence (Prov 4:17)
• Wine cheers God and man (Judg 9:13)
• Babylon’s wine makes people foolish (Jere 51:7, Hos 9:7) [see foolish] [see foolishness]
• Alcoholic wine and strong drink when consumed causes one to forget the law and pervert judgment (Prov 31:4,5)
  • Drunkards are drinkers of alcoholic wine (Joel 1:5)
  • Lord’s enemies are described as drunkards (Nah 1:8-10)
• Consumption of spiritual alcoholic/fermented wine brings a perverse spirit and contributes to error (Isa 19:14)
  • Transgress by wine (Hab 2:5)
• Made sick with wine (Hos 7:5)
• THE ANTIDOTE TO BABYLON’S WINE, FOOLISHNESS, PERVERSE SPIRIT AND ERROR IS GOD’S WORD – words of truth (Act 26:24-25)
• Can be diluted – watered down wine (Isa 1:22)
• God’s wine makes glad men’s hearts (Psa 104:15)
• BEST wine causes the lips of those that are asleep to speak (Song of Sol 7:9) [see sleep]
  • lips of the wise dispense knowledge (Prov 15:7)
• New wine is found in the cluster and a blessing is in it (Isa 65:8) [see grapes]
  • Tiyrowsh [#8492]– fresh grape juice as just squeezed out (rarely referred to as fermented wine)
  • 1 Cor 10:16 – cup of blessing, Christ was not serving liquor, He was serving fresh grape juice
  • New wine makes the maids glad (Zech 9:17)
• the blood of grapes (Gen 49:11)
  • the life of the flesh is in the blood (Gen 9:4, Lev 17:11,14)
• life of Jesus (new wine=new life) (life of Christ)
  • (1 Cor 10:16, Matt 26:27-28, Lev 17:11,14, Eph 1:7, 2 Cor 1:20-22, Col 1:27)
  • spiritual living is what God requires (2T 264.3)
    • commit a text to memory daily that spiritual life may exist in your soul (LDE 67)
    • Many feel that no blame should be attached to forgetfulness. This is a great mistake. Forgetfulness is sin. It leads to many blunders and too much disorder and many wrongs. Things that should be done ought not to be forgotten. The mind must be tasked; it must be disciplined until it will remember. {3T 12.1}
  • doctrine
    • (Ecc 2:3, Isa 28:7, Psa 116:13, Rev 14:8, 17:1-2)
    • False doctrine puts God’s prophets and rulers to sleep (Isa 29:9-13) [see sleep]
    • Many a portion of Scripture which learned men pronounce a mystery, or pass over as unimportant, is full of comfort and instruction to him who has been taught in the school of Christ. One reason why many theologians have no clearer understanding of God’s word is, they close their eyes to truths which they do not wish to practice. An understanding of Bible truth depends not so much on the power of intellect brought to the search as on the singleness of purpose, the earnest longing after righteousness. {GC 599.2}
    • The Bible should never be studied without prayer. The Holy Spirit alone can cause us to feel the importance of those things easy to be understood, or prevent us from wresting truths difficult of comprehension. It is the office of heavenly angels to prepare the heart so to comprehend God’s word that we shall be charmed with its beauty, admonished by its warnings, or animated and strengthened by its promises. We should make the psalmist’s petition our own: “Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law.” Psalm 119:18. Temptations often appear irresistible because, through neglect of prayer and the study of the Bible, the tempted one cannot readily remember God’s promises and meet Satan with the Scripture weapons. But angels are round about those who are willing to be taught in divine things; and in the time of great necessity they will bring to their remembrance the very truths which are needed. Thus “when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isaiah 59:19. {GC 599.3}
    • The mind must be restrained, and not allowed to wander. It should be trained to dwell upon the Scriptures, and upon noble, elevating themes. Portions of Scripture, even whole chapters, may be committed to memory, to be repeated when Satan comes in with his temptations. The fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah is a profitable one for this purpose. Wall the soul in with the restrictions and instructions given by inspiration of the Spirit of God. When Satan would lead the mind to dwell upon earthly and sensual things, he is most effectually resisted with “It is written.” When he suggests doubts as to whether we are really the people whom God is leading, whom by tests and provings he is preparing to stand in the great day, be ready to meet his insinuations by presenting the clear evidence from the word of God that this is the remnant people who are keeping the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. {RH April 8, 1884, par. 4}

WINEVAT

• Grapes=people (Lam 1:15, Rev 14:19,20)
• Jesus apparel is red (Isa 63:2,3)
• When the press is full and the vats overflow it’s like wickedness is great in the world and the harvest is ripe (Joel 3:13)
• See also 13LtMs 166 1898.4

 

WINGS

• speed (Jere 4:13, Heb 1:6-9)

 

WISDOM

• personified as God (Psa 41:13, 90:2, 106:48)
• personification by extension is Jesus Christ (Isa 9:6, John 10:30)
• God put wisdom in Solomon’s heart (1King 10:24)
  • Should ask for wisdom in faith (Jam 1:5-6)
• God gave Solomon wisdom and the wisdom was the gift of making right decisions and giving decisions (judgment) (1King 3:28)
• God gave Solomon wisdom, understanding and largeness of heart/generosity (1King 4:29)
• We should ask God for wisdom (Jam 1:5) – ask in faith (Jam 1:6)
• the fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom (Prov 15:33)
  • by the fear of the Lord people depart from evil (Prov 16:6)
  • Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. (Prov 19:27)
• fools die for want of wisdom (Prov 10:21)
• those who measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves among themselves are not wise (2 Cor 10:12)
• a poor man’s wisdom is despised and his words are not heard (Ecc 9:16)
• words of wise men are heard in quiet (Ecc 9:17)
• a man’s wisdom makes his face to shine (Ecc 8:1)
• He that wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30)
• Need to walk with wise men to be wise (Prov 13:20)
• Wise men foresee evil and hide themselves (Prov 22:3)
• The prudent man looks well to his going and the simple (stupid) person believes every word people say (Prov 14:15)
• Great men are not always wise (Job 32:9)
• Earthly, sensual, devilish wisdom includes bitter envying and strife and is not an example of true religion. Where envying and strife is seen it is devilish wisdom at work. When devilish wisdom is at work, there is confusion and evil (James 3:14-16)
  • God is not the author of confusion, but of peace (1 Cor 14:33)
• Heavenly wisdom is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17)
• Wisdom is better than weapons of war (Ecc 9:18)
• By earnest prayer and dependence upon God, Solomon obtained the wisdom which excited the wonder and admiration of the world. But when he turned from the Source of his strength, and went forward relying upon himself, he fell a prey to temptation. Then the marvelous powers bestowed on this wisest of kings only rendered him a more effective agent of the adversary of souls. {GC 509.3}
• The idea that prayer is not essential is one of Satan’s most successful devices to ruin souls. Prayer is communion with God, the Fountain of wisdom, the Source of strength, and peace, and happiness. Jesus prayed to the Father “with strong crying and tears.” Paul exhorts believers to “pray without ceasing,” in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, making known their requests to God. “Pray one for another,” James says. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” Hebrews 5:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:16. {CCh 152.3}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• God is only wise and so is Christ. God imparts wisdom to man through His word – Scripture (Rom 16:27; 1 Tim 1:17; Jude 1:25; 2 Tim 3:16)

 

WISER *to get* [see teach] [see counsel]

• to increase in learning (Prov 9:9)
• And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. (Ecc 12:12)

 

WISE PERSON

• just person (Prov 9:9)
• one who keeps the law (Prov 28:7)
• depart from evil (Prov 14:16)
• He that wins souls is wise (Prov 11:30)
• inherit glory (Prov 3:35) [see glory]
• Those that rule their own spirit are wise. He never talks of his superior wisdom, but he reasons from cause to effect. To rule the spirit is to keep self under discipline; to regulate every word and deed by God’s great standard of righteousness; to reveal a character pure and undefiled. It means to firmly resist evil and make painstaking effort to win God’s approval. He looks to Jesus. He always sets the Lord before him. {Lt87-1901.13}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• God is only wise and so is Christ. God imparts wisdom to man through His word – Scripture (Rom 16:27; 1 Tim 1:17; Jude 1:25; 2 Tim 3:16)

 

WITHERETH

• cut down (Psa 90:6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WITNESS [see altar] [see stone] [see wrinkle]

• my witness is in heaven and my record is on high – record in heaven and witness is God (Job 16:19, Ecc 5:2)
  • God is my witness (Rom 1:9)
  • God is my record (Philip 1:8)
  • there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one (1 John 5:7)
• At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. (Deut 17:6, Heb 10:28)
• At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. (Deut 19:15, Matt 18:16, 2 Cor 13:1, 1 Tim 5:19)
• witnessing of oneself is not a true witness (John 5:31)
• John the Baptist’s witness was true (John 5:32-33)
  • John the Baptist was a burning and shining light (John 5:33, 35)
  • Our work is the same as that given to John the Baptist (8T 9)
  • He was to bear to the world an unflinching testimony in reproving and denouncing sin (2SM 147)
  • In his mission the Baptist had stood as a fearless reprove of iniquity, both in high places and in low (DA 215)
  • All who are truly engaged in the work of the Lord for these last days wll have a decided message to bear (8T 9)
• The Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies is a true witness (Tit 1:12,13) *honest statement*
• Nature is a witness of the living God – nature declares the glory of God. He has given a demonstration of his existence and of his moral character. (Act 14:15-17)
  • God is not far from every one of us (Act 17:25-27)

 

• Faithful witness
  • The LORD (Jere 42:5)
  • Jesus Christ (Rev 1:5, 3:14)
  • Will not lie (Prov 14:5)
    • God/Jesus Christ does not lie (Num 23:19)

 

• True witness
  • The LORD (Jere 42:5)
  • Jesus Christ (Rev 1:5, 3:14)
  • Delivers souls (Prov 14:25)
  • Those that seek the Father’s glory are His true witnesses and no unrighteousness is in them (John 7:18) – Jesus speaking of Himself

 

• False witness
  • Will utter lies (Prov 14:5)
  • Give a false report (Ex 23:1)
  • Unrighteous (Ex 23:1)
  • God hates a false witness (Prov 6:16,19)
  • Shows deceit (Prov 12:17)
  • Shall perish (Prov 21:28)
  • a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow. (Prov 25:18)
  • originates with an evil heart (Matt 15:19)
  • false reports usually do not agree together (Mark 14:56)

 

• Deceitful witness
  • Speaks lies (Prov 14:25)

 

• Ungodly witness (Prov 19:28)

 

• Witness of men and the witness of God. The witness of God is greater. (1John 5:9)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• 1 Corinthians 1:9, 10:13: God is faithful.
• Revelation 1:5: Jesus Christ is the faithful witness

 

WOLVES [see false prophet] [see seer]

• Fierceness (Hab 1:8)
• unconverted like Benjamin (Gen 49:27)
  • a warlike tribe, strong and daring
  • He was warlike by character and conduct Judg. 20–21, and among his descendants are Ehud, Saul, and Jonathan. (Judg 3:15, 1Sam 9:1-2, 13:2)
• unpleasing princes of Israel (Eze 22:18, 27)
• Ninevah’s judges (Zech 2:12-3:3)
• False prophets
  • Matt 7:15, Jere 14:13-15, Lam 2:14, Matt 24:11, 24, Luke 6:26, 2 Peter 2:1, 1 John 4:1)
  • Come in among the believers, may even come up among the believers (Acts 20:29,30)
• There is a work to be done in faithful dealing one with another, that sin may not pass as righteousness. Plain facts must be stated, that evil workers may not be left to deceive through false statements. This work is not to be neglected. Said Christ to His disciples, “Behold I send you forth as lambs among wolves,” who claim to be religious but who are not. [Luke 10:3.] The wolves here referred to are those who have entertained a wolfish disposition to tear and devour the flock of God. But if these very wolves will see their wrong, and will humble themselves before God, if they will put on their robes of Christ’s righteousness, He will accept their repentance and transform their characters. {Ms89-1898.28}

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WOMAN [see house] [see whore] [see harlot] [see pit]

• There are careless women (Isa 32:9-11)
• A great woman makes a dwelling place for Elisha (2King 4:8-12)
• church (Jere, 6:2, Isa 51:16, 2 Cor 11:2)
• God’s church/people were compared to a wife of whoredoms while they were in apostasy (Hos 1:2)
  • Whoredom: departing from the Lord / unfaithfulness (Hos 1:2)
• Pure woman: God’s church (Eph 5:22,23, Rev. 19:7,8) God’s people (Isa 26:17-19)
  • A virgin is a pure woman (Song of Sol 6: 9)
    • She looks forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, terrible as an army with banners
    • Israel (Joel 1:6-8)
  • She is a virtuous woman whose price is far above rubies
    • Does good to her husband
    • Seeks wool and flax
    • Works diligently
    • At night she gives food to her household and maidens [see house]
    • She plants a vineyard [see vineyard]
    • Strong
    • She knows what she has is good
    • Her candle stays lit at night [see candle]
    • Helps the poor and needy
    • She looks after her own household too
    • They are clothed in the winter with scarlet [see scarlet]
    • Her clothing is silk and purple [see purple]
    • Her husband is known
    • She makes fine linen, sells it and delivers girdles [see fine linen] [see girdle]
    • Clothed with strength and honour
    • Wise and teaches the law of kindness
    • Not idle
    • Her children call her blessed and her husband praises her
      • Prov 31:10-31
    • She is in pain ready to deliver her child (Rev 12:1,2)
  • Evil woman: strange woman (Prov 6:24) [see harlot]
    • The strange woman has a house with a door (Prov 5:8)
      • Her house [see house] is the way to the grave/death (Prov 7:26,27)
      • She is a killer (Prov 7:26,27, John 8:44)
      • She is contentious and angry (Prov 21:19)
    • Strange woman is a narrow pit (Prov 23:27)
    • she is known as a foolish woman that is loud, simple, knows nothing and she calls people to her
    • the men that come to her are naïve
    • she says “stolen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant”
    • The men don’t know that men die when they visit her
    • Prov 9:13-18
    • Her heart is snares and nets. Her hands are like bands
      • Ecc 7:26
    • She has rebellious children (Isa 30:1)
      • Her children are the majority on earth (Isa 54:1)
      • Her sons do not inherit (Judg 11:2)
      • They lie and refuse the law of God
      • Despise God’s word
        • Those that despise the word will be destroyed (Prov 13:13)
      • Like to hear deceit
      • Trust in fraud
        • Isa 30:9-12
      • There are more than one strange woman (Prov 23:33) *see [whore + harlot]*
      • Vine (Psa 128:3)
      • A wife is a woman and she is compared to a hind ~ doe (Prov 5:18,19)
        • Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words. (Gen 49:21)
      • A wife is a woman and she is compared to a roe (Prov 5:18,19)
      • wives are weaker vessels (1 Pet 3:7)
      • Bondwoman
        • Agar or Hagar
        • Sinai or Jerusalem (literal Israel/Judaism)
        • 1^st Covenant which leads to bondage
          • Ishmael
            • Persecutor
            • Child of the flesh
          • GALATIANS 5:19-21
        • Free woman
          • Sarah
          • Calvary (SOTC 38.1) or New Jerusalem (spiritual Israel/Christian church)
          • 2^nd Covenant which leads to freedom from sin
            • Isaac
              • Persecuted
              • Child of the Spirit (Eph 1:13, Gal 3:14)
            • GALATIANS 5:22,23
          • Jerusalem was compared to a menstruous woman (Lam 1:17)
            • Menstruation viewed as an unclean thing (Lev 15:24-33)
          • A woman in travail…
            • In pain (Psa 48:6; Jere 6:24, 22:23)
            • Experiencing sorrow (Jere 13:21)
            • Connected with Jacobs’ time of trouble (Jere 30:6-7)
              • Connected with freedom from bondage – yoke taken off and bonds burst (Jere 30:8) – see yoke see bonds
              • As the Sabbath has become the special point of controversy throughout Christendom, and religious and secular authorities have combined to enforce the observance of the Sunday… a decree will finally be issued against those who hallow the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, denouncing them as deserving of the severest punishment and giving the people liberty, after a certain time, to put them to death. The people of God will then be plunged into those scenes of affliction and distress described by the prophet as the time of Jacob’s trouble. “Thus saith the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace…. All faces are turned into paleness. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.” Jeremiah 30:5-7. {GC 615.2-616.1}
              • Jacob’s night of anguish, when he wrestled in prayer for deliverance from the hand of Esau (Genesis 32:24-30), represents the experience of God’s people in the time of trouble…On reaching the borders of the land, he was filled with terror by the tidings of Esau’s approach at the head of a band of warriors, doubtless bent upon revenge. Jacob’s company, unarmed and defenseless, seemed about to fall helpless victims of violence and slaughter. And to the burden of anxiety and fear was added the crushing weight of self-reproach, for it was his own sin that had brought this danger. His only hope was in the mercy of God; his only defense must be prayer. Yet he leaves nothing undone on his own part to atone for the wrong to his brother and to avert the threatened danger. So should the followers of Christ, as they approach the time of trouble, make every exertion to place themselves in a proper light before the people, to disarm prejudice, and to avert the danger which threatens liberty of conscience. {GC 616.2}
              • The path to freedom from sin is through crucifixion of self, and conflict with the powers of darkness. Let none be discouraged in view of the severe trials to be met in the time of Jacob’s trouble, which is yet before them. They are to work earnestly, anxiously, not for that time, but for today. What we want is to have a knowledge of the truth as it is in Christ now, and a personal experience now. In these precious closing hours of probation, we have a deep and living experience to gain. We shall thus form characters that will insure our deliverance in the time of trouble. The time of trouble is the crucible that is to bring out Christ-like characters. It is designed to lead the people of God to renounce Satan and his temptations. The last conflict will reveal Satan to them in his true character, that of a cruel tyrant, and it will do for them what nothing else could do, up-root him entirely from their affections. For to love and cherish sin, is to love and cherish its author, that deadly foe of Christ. When they excuse sin and cling to perversity of character, they give Satan a place in their affections, and pay him homage. {RH August 12, 1884, par. 10-11}
              • At the transfiguration, Jesus was glorified by His Father. We hear Him say: “Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in Him.” Thus before His betrayal and crucifixion He was strengthened for His last dreadful sufferings. As the members of the body of Christ approach the period of their last conflict, “the time of Jacob’s trouble,” they will grow up into Christ, and will partake largely of His spirit. As the third message swells to a loud cry, and as great power and glory attend the closing work, the faithful people of God will partake of that glory. It is the latter rain which revives and strengthens them to pass through the time of trouble. Their faces will shine with the glory of that light which attends the third angel. I saw that God will in a wonderful manner preserve His people through the time of trouble. As Jesus poured out His soul in agony in the garden, they will earnestly cry and agonize day and night for deliverance. The decree will go forth that they must disregard the Sabbath of the fourth commandment, and honor the first day, or lose their lives; but they will not yield, and trample under their feet the Sabbath of the Lord, and honor an institution of papacy. Satan’s host and wicked men will surround them, and exult over them, because there will seem to be no way of escape for them. But in the midst of their revelry and triumph, there is heard peal upon peal of the loudest thunder. The heavens have gathered blackness, and are only illuminated by the blazing light and terrible glory from heaven, as God utters His voice from His holy habitation. {1T 353.3-4}
            • Sudden destruction comes like when a woman experiences labour pains (1 Thess 5:3)
            • The daughter of Zion experiences birth pains and labours to bring forth a child (Mic 4:9-10, Rev 12:1-2)
              • She is a comely and delicate woman. (Jere 6:2)
              • The voice of the daughter of Zion bringing forth her first child says “Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.” (Jere 4:31)
                • Among God’s people there are found wicked men that set traps to catch sincere believers. They use deceit like the great liar and murderer Satan. They also are exceedingly wicked and seem to do well financially (Jere 5:26-28, John 8:44)
                • It truly is a wonderful and horrible thing that is committed among God’s people. The wicked men prophesy falsely and bear rule by their means. The congregations love it. (Jere 5:30-31)
              • A great red dragon waits to devour the child (Rev 12:3-4)
                • Great red dragon type 1: Herod the King who ruled under the authority of Rome sought to kill all the children under 2yrs old during the time of that Christ was to be born. (Matt 2:16-18)
                • Great red dragon type 2: Rome – Roman soldiers put Christ to death – The draco (“dragon” or “serpent”, plural dracones) was a military standard of the Roman cavalry.
                • Great red dragon type 3: Papacy and the churches which follow her errors – the seat of the Papacy is in Rome – RC Church
                • Great red dragon type 4: After Pagan Rome fell, the lands were divided into 10 major kingdoms or 10 major European tribes
                • Great red dragon type 5: 10 toes/10 kingdoms are the world powers who have apostatized against God’s law that give their power to the beast and its image
                • Great red dragon type 6: Satan (Rev 12:9, 20:2)
              • The child is Christ (Rev 12:5; Acts 1:6-11)
                • Christ is to be born in His people (Col 1:27, Gal 4:19, Rom 8:9-10, 1 Thess 4:13-17)
                  • Having the mind of Christ/character of Christ reproduced (Php 2:5,1 Cor 2:16, 2 Cor 13:5)
                • Zec_2:10  Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion: for, lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the LORD.
                • Zec_9:9  Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
              • Women may forget their own children, but God won’t ever forget them (Isa 49:15)
              • Midianitish women were the ones who lured the Israelites into sin at Peor (Num 31:1-2, 15, 16)
              • Thus Satan used an unconsecrated woman to sway the heart of the king, and through the king to cause all Israel to sin. It is a terrible thing to be an instrument in the hands of Satan. Satan chooses women, for he can use them more successfully than he can men. {Ms29-1911.48}
              • I was shown Isa. 3:12: “As for my people, children are their oppressors and women rule over them.” I saw that this text applies to these last days of peril. Children are not generally controlled. They are suffered to come up with their wills unsubdued. They are indulged in pride and at last the parents must yield to them. Children receive the sympathy of their mothers, and the mothers affect the fathers. Satan comes more readily to the women and children and works through them to influence the fathers, and then unitedly, without an opposing influence, they imperceptibly slide downward, and yet have a name to live; but they are dead. No name, I saw, of such stands registered in the book of life. Their professions are the same, yet God never counts by the profession. The acts, the works, the fruits testify to whom they belong. They are servants of the world, slaves to fashion, and the opinions of unbelievers have much weight with them. Those who have moral courage and the living principle within them will decide to be peculiar, to take their position and stand firmly. {1LtMs, Lt 16, 1861, par. 25}
              • “As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.” Women and children rule in these perilous times, and they are unconsecrated and lead the wrong way. I saw that it was time for God to work and set things in order. {1LtMs, Lt 20, 1861, par. 11}

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• John 16:21:  “A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.”

 

WOOD [see trees] [see tower]

• People (Jere 5:14)
• Wood is compared to a liar and contentious man (Prov 26:20,21)
• Those who dare alter the word (King’s command) would be hanged on timber (Ezra 6:11)
  • Galatians 3:13  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Mark 6:3: Jesus was a carpenter, a son of a carpenter. He shaped wood according to His will. Jesus is our Leader and the Captain of our salvation (Isa 55:4, Heb 2:10)

 

WORD OF TRUTH

• Gospel of salvation (Eph 1:13)
• It shall not return unto God void, but it shall accomplish that which He pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto He sent it. (Isa 55:11)

 

 

 

 

WORKERS OF INIQUITY

• bloody men (Psa 59:2)
  • hate the upright (Prov 29:10)
  • the wicked try to kill those of upright conversation and their devisings backfire on them (Psa 37:14-15, 32)
• evildoers (Psa 94:16)
• their end will be destruction (Prov 10:29)
  • fall by iniquity (Hos 14:1)
• The Lord will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity (Isa 13:11)
  • He commands people to turn away from iniquity (Job 36:10)
• Love genuine love to Jesus Christ will lead directly to hearty obedience of all the law of God, and there will be the deepest repentance whenever they break, or teach men by their example to break one of the least of God’s commandments. Ministers who soothe the consciences of the people by participating with them in transgression through any cause, are rejoicing in iniquity. And when Christ comes, to judgment, the stoutest hearts, the most confident boasters of religious attainments while breaking the law of God, will faint and fail, every excuse will then be silenced, every heart corrupt in its disobedience will be revealed just as it is. There will be recriminations with the companions in pouring contempt upon the law of God; but the heaviest denunciations will come upon the unfaithful minister who professed to be sent of God to show them the way of salvation. Tempter and tempted will suffer condemnation according to their responsibility and the wrong that they have done in leading souls to transgression. Of all the crimes that God will visit none are in His sight so grievous as those who tempt and encourage others in sin. God would have His ministers ever in all places show themselves decidedly on the Lord’s side, loyal and true to His commandments in a rebellious world, thus rebuking the disobedient however difficult or contrary to the natural feelings. “Those that honor me,” saith God, “I will honor.” God looks to those who bear His commission to be true and faithful, and to exalt the dignity of his claims.—The Signs of the Times, May 20, 1880. {PaM 97.4}

 

WORM

• person/people (Job 25:6, Psa 22:6; Isa 41:14, Mic 7:17)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Psalm 22:6; Isaiah 53:3: Just as David complains of being a reproach and despised, so was Jesus despised and rejected of men.
• Matthew 12:8, Mark 2:28, Luke6:5: The Son of man is Lord of Sabbath

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORMWOOD

• bitterness (Lam 3:15)
• death *was so bitter that it was looked upon as a poisonous herb rather than a medicinal plant* (Prov 5:4,5, Rev 8:11)
• affliction and misery [see gall] (Lam 3:19)
  • Can occur because of transgression of God’s law (Lam 1:5)
  • The Lord does not afflict willingly – doesn’t enjoy it (Lam 3:33)
  • When we are afflicted so is the Lord. He understands our trials and feels for us (Isa 63:9)
  • Affliction/punishment teaches us to keep God’s law (Psa 119:71)
  • And for those also who mourn in trial and sorrow there is comfort. The bitterness of grief and humiliation is better than the indulgences of sin. Through affliction God reveals to us the plague spots in our characters, that by His grace we may overcome our faults. Unknown chapters in regard to ourselves are opened to us, and the test comes, whether we will accept the reproof and the counsel of God. When brought into trial, we are not to fret and complain. We should not rebel, or worry ourselves out of the hand of Christ. We are to humble the soul before God…{DA 301.1}
• apostate prophets will be/are fed this (Jere 23:14,15)
• turning away from God/idolatry (Deut 29:18)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Isaiah 63:9: In our affliction, Jesus is afflicted. He feels our sufferings and cares about what we experience.

 

WRATH

• displeasure (Psalm 2:5,8)
• 7 last plagues (Rev 15:1)
• Through the Lord’s wrath the land is darkened (Isa 9:19)
• Wrath kills the foolish (Job 5:2)
• God distributes sorrows in His anger (Job 21:17)
• Wrath brings punishment of the sword (Job 19:29)
• The wicked are reserved to the day of destruction and will be brought forth to the day of wrath (Job 21:30)
• God’s wrath is kindled when we don’t speak truth about God or Bible doctrine (Job 42:7)
• The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness (Rom 1:18)
• The Lord reserves wrath for His enemies. He is slow to anger and great in power and He will not at all acquit the wicked. (Nah 1:2-3)
• hypocrites in heart heap up wrath (Job 36:13)
• God gets angry when our hearts turn away from Him (1King 11:9)
• Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD’S anger.
• God’s people were known for mocking God’s messengers and misusing the prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose and there was no remedy (2Chron 36:16)
• We should be slow to wrath. (Jam 1:19)
• Man’s wrath doesn’t work the righteousness of God (Jam 1:20)
• God’s wrath endures for a moment (Psa 30:5)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 27:45, 46: When Jesus hung upon the cross from the sixth to ninth hour, there was darkness.

 

WRINKLE [see spots] [see sin] [see witness] [see teeth]

• A witness against the person
  • Leanness (emaciation / weakness) within leads to wrinkles without (Job 16:8)
• A blemish. Christ wants to present to the world a glorious church. A glorious body of believers who are without wrinkle. (Eph 5:27)
• Jesus was a lamb without BLEMISH (1 Pet 1:19)
  • He did no SIN (1 Pet 2:21-22)

 

YOKE

• on jaws (Hos 11:4)
  • a bridle in the jaws of the people, causing them to err. (Isa 30:28)
• of transgressions (Lam 1:14)
• of bondage (Gal 5:1)
• of service (1King 12:4)
• of iron (Deut 28:48)

 

CHRIST CONNECTION

• Matthew 11:29,30: Jesus has a yoke
  • All who would possess a perfect Christian character must wear the yoke of Christ. If they would sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, they must learn of him while on this earth…{ST November 5, 1896, par. 16}
  • “Take My yoke upon you,” Jesus says. The yoke is an instrument of service. Cattle are yoked for labor, and the yoke is essential that they may labor effectually. By this illustration Christ teaches us that we are called to service as long as life shall last. We are to take upon us His yoke, that we may be co-workers with Him. The yoke that binds to service is the law of God. The great law of love revealed in Eden, proclaimed upon Sinai, and in the new covenant written in the heart, is that which binds the human worker to the will of God. If we were left to follow our own inclinations, to go just where our will would lead us, we should fall into Satan’s ranks and become possessors of his attributes. Therefore God confines us to His will, which is high, and noble, and elevating. He desires that we shall patiently and wisely take up the duties of service. The yoke of service Christ Himself has borne in humanity. He said, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8. “I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” John 6:38. Love for God, zeal for His glory, and love for fallen humanity, brought Jesus to earth to suffer and to die. This was the controlling power of His life. This principle He bids us adopt. {DA 329.2-3}
  • If you will seek the Lord and be converted every day; if you will of your own spiritual choice be free and joyous in God; if with gladsome consent of heart to His gracious call you come wearing the yoke of Christ,—the yoke of obedience and service,—all your murmurings will be stilled, all your difficulties will be removed, all the perplexing problems that now confront you will be solved. {MB 101.3}
  • …But no human being can wear the yoke of submission and obedience who does not learn daily in the school of Christ…{RH October 23, 1900, par. 8}
  • …Do you want the abiding presence of Christ in your family? Then you must obey the Word, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.” As you take upon you Christ’s yoke of restraint and obedience, you will by individual experience find rest. Lift Christ’s yoke, not a yoke of your own manufacture, which will always be galling. “Ye shall find rest unto your soul,” He declares. “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” In Christ’s school learn perfectly the lessons of meekness and lowliness of heart. Seek to do His will and to glorify His name…. {8MR 440.1}
  • The great testing time is right upon us, when every human being will take sides. Christ’s words are definite. “He that is not with me,” wearing My yoke of restraint, and lifting My burdens of obedience, “is against me.” [Matthew 12:30.] All who have given themselves unreservedly to Christ will not deny Him in their words, in their dress, in their spirit, or by their influence. If they know the man, they will do Him service with every jot of influence they possess. {Lt19-1897.33}
  • What is law? It is an expression of the divine will, and expression of the character of God. What is service? It is the work that human agents are to do for Christ. By wearing His yoke of obedience, we may be laborers together with God. Through perfect obedience and service Enoch walked with God, wearing Christ’s yoke. The life in which the mind, soul, heart, and strength are given to God is mingled with the example of Christ, and forms a part of the divine plan. {Lt89-1897.36}
  • The yoke is placed upon the oxen to aid them in drawing the load, to lighten the burden. So with the yoke of Christ. When our will is swallowed up in the will of God, and we use His gifts to bless others, we shall find life’s burden light. He who walks in the way of God’s commandments is walking in company with Christ, and in His love the heart is at rest. When Moses prayed, “Show me now Thy way, that I may know Thee,” the Lord answered him, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.” And through the prophets the message was given, “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Exodus 33:13, 14; Jeremiah 6:16. And He says, “O that thou hadst hearkened to My commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.” Isaiah 48:18. {DA 331.1}

 

YOUNG MAN / MEN

• one who doesn’t have understanding gets into trouble with the harlot woman (Prov 7:7-10)
  • remember that the law of God gives understanding (Prov 6:23)
  • the man void of understanding has a vineyard grown over with thorns and the stone wall is broken down (Prov 24:30,31) [see thorns] [see wall]
• the word of God makes young men strong and able to overcome the wicked one (1 John 2:14)
• young man is compared to an ox (Prov 7:22)
  • ox can represent Bible worker, minister etc. [see ox treading out corn] a weak Bible worker/minister/Christian who doesn’t understand God’s law nor the Scriptures in general yields to the whorish woman (Prov 7:21,22)
• young man/men/ gospel worker/minister/Christian void of understanding of God’s law and Scripture is considered a fool (Prov 7:22)
  • they need the rod (Prov 10:14) [see rod or staff]
• young man who falls prey to the whore is like a bird caught in a snare [see snare]

 

ZION [see Israel] [see Jerusalem] [see time]

• God’s people (Isa 51:16)
  • God establishes His people (Isa 14:32)
  • Children of Zion (Joel 2:23)
• The sons of Zion are as the sword of a mighty man (Zech 9:13)
• The Lord is supposed to be in Zion (Jere 8:19, Joel 3:17, 21)
• When the Lord dwells in Zion, Jerusalem will be holy (Joel 3:17)
  • Strangers will stop coming in.
• Seems to be synonymous with Jerusalem (Isa 4:3)
• Daughter of Zion is Jerusalem (Isa 10:32, 52:2)
• There are sinners and hypocrites in Zion (Isa 33:14)
  • hypocrites and those people who forget God are like grass that withers away (Job 8:12-13)
  • when the heart is exalted, the people tend to forget God (Hos 13:6)
  • Congregation of hypocrites is desolate (Job 15:34)
  • hypocrites in heart heap up wrath (Job 36:13)
• Zion is to bring good tidings (Isa 40:9)
• God will place salvation in Zion (Isa 46:13)
• Compared to a comely and delicate woman (Jere 6:2)
• She is a woman in travail ready to give birth (Jere 4:31)
• On mount Zion there is deliverance (Obadiah 1:17)

 

 

Bible Insights Dec 21 2022