The Signal to Begin

And he said unto me, Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. Daniel 8:14.
We should be earnest students of prophecy; we should not rest until we become intelligent in regard to the subject of the sanctuary, which is brought out in the visions of Daniel and John. This subject sheds great light on our present position and work, and gives us unmistakable proof that God has led us in our past experience. It explains our disappointment in 1844, showing us that the sanctuary to be cleansed was not the earth, as we had supposed, but that Christ then entered into the most holy apartment of the heavenly sanctuary, and is there performing the closing work of His priestly office, in fulfillment of the words of the angel to the prophet Daniel.
The 2300 days had been found to begin when the commandment of Artaxerxes for the restoration and building of Jerusalem went into effect, in the autumn of 457 B.C. Taking this as the starting point, there was perfect harmony in the application of all the events foretold in the explanation of that period in Daniel 9:25-27…. The seventy weeks, or 490 years, were to pertain especially to the Jews. At the expiration of this period, the nation sealed its rejection of Christ by the persecution of His disciples, and the apostles turned to the Gentiles, A.D. 34. The first 490 years of the 2300 having then ended, 1810 years would remain. From A.D. 34, 1810 years extend to 1844. “Then,” said the angel, “shall the sanctuary be cleansed.”
Our faith in reference to the messages of the first, second, and third angels was correct. The great waymarks we have passed are immovable. Although the hosts of hell may try to tear them from their foundation, and triumph in the thought that they have succeeded, yet they do not succeed. These pillars of truth stand firm as the eternal hills, unmoved by all the efforts of men combined with those of Satan and his host. We can learn much, and should be constantly searching the Scriptures to see if these things are so.
The Faith I Live By p. 208
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Prayer Requests
—-Please pray for Eileen, Mike, and Larry. Lou passed away yesterday. Rose
—-Please pray for John who is recovering from a bad heart attack. Rose
—-Going to have cataract surgery on my left eye tomorrow and my right eye in two weeks. I would appreciate prayers. Carol
—-My niece pass away in a car accident on the 9th. Please, keep my sister and her family in your prayers. Eric
—-The General Conference voted the organization of a Revival And Reformation committee in 2010. I ask your fervent prayers for the R&R Committee as they meet next Monday. Please pray for every member. It is time for R&R. Pastor Rich
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Dear Friends
Yesterday was a very difficult for Eileen, Mike, and her father-in-law, Larry. Her mother-in-law, Lou, passed away. As she talked to me on the phone, how I wished I could have given her a comforting hug. How difficult it is for a mother to have her child (even though she’s an adult) hurting. It makes me feel so helpless. If I could, I would take their pain away and make it all better.
Watching our loved ones going through trials of any kind helps us realize in a small way the pain our Heavenly Father must have as He sees His children experiencing physical or emotional pain. How He would love to give us the comfort we so much need. How His Great Heart of Love must ache as He watches us struggling through life. How He would love to take complete control of our situation and make it all right, but He will not force us to allow Him to do so. Instead, He waits to be asked to take control.
Jesus reminds us, “Without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5 Without Jesus dwelling within us, all our efforts against the trials and pain that beset us are in vain. Solomon experienced this. He had started out his reign so well, but through wrong influences and choices his life was a failure. How disappointed he made the True King of Israel. Looking back over his life, Solomon commented, “Vanity of vanities; all is vanity. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit. Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” Ecc 3:2, 14, 17
Praise God, He does not leave us to fight our battles alone! If we come to Him, He will give us the help we so desperately need! Moreover, He has promised that He will change us into His image. However, this changing often comes through life’s hard experiences.
Jesus, alone, can save us from all of the pain the evil one heaps upon us. Jesus, alone, gives our life true meaning. “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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matt 11:28
May we allow our Heavenly to take all of our pain away. May we come to Him just as we are and allow Him to fashion us into His image. May we so live that as we look back over the years of our life we will not see vanity as did Solomon, but we will be able to declare as did Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” is my prayer. 1 Tim 4:7, 8
Rose