The prophecies in the eighteenth of Revelation will soon be fulfilled. During the proclamation of the third angel’s message, “another angel” is to “come down from heaven, having great power,” and the earth is to be “lightened with his glory.” The Spirit of the Lord will so graciously bless consecrated human instrumentalities that men, women, and children will open their lips in praise and thanksgiving, filling the earth with the knowledge of God, and with His unsurpassed glory, as the waters cover the sea.
Those who have held the beginning of their confidence firm unto the end will be wide-awake during the time that the third angel’s message is proclaimed with great power. During the loud cry, the church, aided by the providential interpositions of her exalted Lord, will diffuse the knowledge of salvation so abundantly that light will be communicated to every city and town. The earth will be filled with the knowledge of salvation. So abundantly will the renewing Spirit of God have crowned with success the intensely active agencies, that the light of present truth will be seen flashing everywhere.
There is to be, at this period, a series of events which will reveal that God is Master of the situation. The truth will be proclaimed in clear, unmistakable language. As a people, we must prepare the way of the Lord, under the overruling guidance of the Holy Spirit. The gospel is to be given in its purity. The stream of living water is to deepen and widen in its course. In all fields, nigh and afar off, men will be called from the plow and from the more common commercial business vocations that largely occupy the mind, and will be educated in connection with men of experience. As they learn to labor effectively, they will proclaim the truth with power. Through most wonderful workings of divine providence, mountains of difficulties will be removed, and cast into the sea. The message that means so much to the dwellers upon the earth will be heard and understood. Men will know what is truth. Onward, and still onward the work will advance, until the whole earth shall have been warned. And then shall the end come.
Maranatha p. 218
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Prayer Requests
—–Asking for prayer. I’m currently leading a bible study in my home. . . . In the last few weeks the attack of the enemy has really intensified. Granted he has been attacking all along but it’s just getting worse. My boyfriend has even been under attack. . . . At this point we have someone in the church attacking our character. Jesus had the same thing happen so that isn’t really shocking. I’m sure various people have dealt with this many times before. If you don’t mind please keep me, my family, Tom and the 4 ladies that are in the bible study in your prayers. I would greatly appreciate it. J
—– Please pray for the friends and family of Robin who passed away. Rose
—–Prayers for the family, friends and community surrounding Josh and Vanessa Ellis, the Youth Pastors at Eastpointe Church in Puyallup. Today, along with infant son Hudson, they tragically lost their lives at the 410/Angeline underpass. Carol
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Dear Friends,
When I was a little girl, my mother would never eat potato chips. My grandmother never bought them, but on Saturday mornings my mother would take me to a restaurant in town where they always served them with every meal. One day, I happened to notice that she didn’t eat them and asked why. She told me a story that made me not want to eat them either.
When she was a teenager, she had worked in a potato chip factory. This was before the many health regulations that we have now, and this factory was very dirty. There was dirt and grime everywhere. Worse still, the cat that the owner had to keep down the mouse population used to walk through the unpackaged chips that were on a table waiting to be packaged. When my mother told the manager about it, he said, “Put the chips in the bags anyway. No one will ever know.”
Just like that factory owner, we often think that we can get away with hidden sins. We think that our secret is safe and no one will find out what we do behind closed doors or what we think in our mind, but that is not the case. Isaiah observed, “The show of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves.” Isa 3:9 How true the words that Moses declared so long ago, “be sure your sin will find you out.” Num 32:23
Moreover, there is a Heavenly Watcher Who sees everything we do, hears everything we say, knows our thoughts and attitudes. We cannot hide from Him. Paul tells us, “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.” Heb 4:13 David observes, “O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.” Psalm 139:1-12
Whether we try to hide our sin as the potato chip company owner or whether our sin is quite evident, “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23 We are so weak and helpless and unable to cleanse ourselves. “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” “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 putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Isa 64:6; 1:5,6 We cry out as did Paul, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Praise God we have a Saviour Who promises, “I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.” Jer 33:8 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. Matt 11:28,29
May we go to our Dear Redeemer for the cleansing that we need, accepting the grace that He so freely offers, allowing Him to lead us in the way everlasting. (Ps 139:24) May we heed Paul’s advice, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Eph 5:15,16 May we keep so near to the our Dear Saviour that all of our thoughts, all of our words, all of our actions will be pleasing in His sight.
Rose