The Character of Godadv-apocalypse.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/6/9/16694276/7-14...ceive the new light of truth which Hiram Edson, W. R. L. Crosier and Dr. F. B. Hahn subsequently brought

The Character of God

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Vol. 3, No. 1 July 2014

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The Sanctuary

Co-perception

A Time of Trouble

The Peru Mission

Spiritual Detox

A “Problem”

Quotation

The Africa Mission

The Project

Miscellany

“I have looked upon You

in the sanctuary

to see Your power and Your glory”

(Psalm 63:2, Amplified).

The Sanctuary doctrine was among the first to be un-derstood and adopted by the disappointed Millerites. It is true that only a few held to the belief that something significant had occurred among them, and only they were open to re-ceive the new light of truth which Hiram Edson, W. R. L. Crosier and Dr. F. B. Hahn subsequently brought to them in the days follow-ing the great disappoint-ment of October 22, 1844. As they contemplated and studied this new doctrine, they were amazed to dis-cover that in it God clearly gave informa-tion about the plan of salvation. The life

and death of Christ, His presentation to the Father, the ceremony welcoming Him back to heaven, the pouring out of Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost—all were included. As they looked at the Sanctuary, they saw the gospel come alive with mean-ing, flashing forth its radiance along-many paths.

They found that the Sanctuary is about me, about the individual, and how the Spirit wants to live in me, making me His temple and teaching me heavenly things that will separate my affections from the world. They found that the Sanc-tuary is about the Blessed One who came as an innocent

Lamb to sacrifice His life in trade for my own—not as an earthly trader, seek-ing his/her own advantage, but as a heavenly trader, where He would be enabled by that trade to give eternal life to His sheep. He is the Hero of the

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THE PILLARS OF THE FAITH

& THE CHARACTER OF GOD

By Marilyn Campbell

Sanctuary, where His eternal pres-ence could be seen in the sacrifice, in the High Priest, in the Lamp-stand, in the Showbread, in the In-cense of the golden altar, in the Ten Commandments and all throughout the sanctuary. The Millerites saw themselves in the Sanctuary services, realizing that their ministry had ushered in the true, antitypical Day of Atonement. The Sanctuary was the type, telling the future order of things. These types were fulfilled, not only as to the event, but as to the time. On the fourteenth day of the first Jewish month, the very day and month on which for fifteen long centu- ries the Passover lamb had been slain, Christ, having eaten the Passover with His disci- ples, instituted that feast which was to commemorate His own death as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” That same night He was taken by wicked hands to be crucified and slain. And as the antitype of the wave sheaf our Lord was raised from the dead on the third day, “the first fruits of them that slept,” a sample of all the resurrected just, whose “vile body” shall be changed, and “fashioned like unto His glorious body” (Verse 20; Philippi ans 3:21).

In like manner the types which relate to the second ad-vent must be fulfilled at the time pointed out in the sym-bolic service. Under the Mo-saic system the cleansing of the sanctuary, or the great Day of Atonement, occurred on the tenth day of the seventh Jew-ish month (Leviticus 16:29-34),

when the high priest, having made an atonement for all Israel, and thus removed their sins from the sanctuary, came forth and blessed the people. So it was believed that Christ, our great High Priest, would appear to purify the earth by the destruction of sin and sinners, and to bless His wait-ing people with immortality. The tenth day of the seventh month, the great Day of Atonement, the time of the

cleansing of the sanctuary, which in the year 1844 fell upon the twenty-second of October, was regarded as the time of the Lord’s coming. This was in harmony with the proofs already presented that the 2300 days would termi-nate in the autumn, and the

Vol. 3, No. 1 Page 2

conclusion seemed irresistible. (Great Controversy, pp. 399-400). Thus, through the Sanctuary we know the approximate time of Christ’s second coming. Are we cor-rect to conclude that it will be in the autumn?

Solemn Ceremony

And the Sanctuary gives us the strange story of the scapegoat, virtu-ally the last act before the censer was

thrown down (Early Writings, p. 279), symbolic of close of proba-tion, and the Feast of Tabernacles, type of eternity. What can we glean from this solemn ceremony? On the Day of Atonement the High Priest brought two identical goats to

the Tabernacle and cast lots to de-cide which goat would represent the Lord and which would represent Azazel, the scapegoat. The Lord’s goat they would sacrifice as a sin offering for the congregation. But with hands placed on its head, they confessed the forgiven sins of the righteous over the scapegoat, repre-senting Satan, and sent it away into the desert “in the care of a man ap-pointed for the task” (Lev. 16:21, NIV). “The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a solitary place; and the man shall release it in the de-sert” (Lev. 16:22, NIV). Azazel did not die or shed any blood through-out this solemn ceremony; he in no way atoned for anyone’s sins.

Azazel

If Passover stood for Christ’s death, the Wave Sheaf meant His resurrec-tion, Pentecost meant the falling of

the Rain, the trumpets, the show-bread the Lampstand, indeed, the Tabernacle itself all meant some aspect of the gospel that God wished us to understand, what does

the scapegoat ceremony represent? It comes at the end of Israel’s cere-monial year and immediately be-fore close of probation and Feast of Tabernacles, symbolizing heaven. Our early church pioneers inter-preted the scapegoat ceremony as a revelation of God’s final disposi-tion of sin. The forgiven sins of the righteous are confessed onto the scapegoat, and then it is led out to an uninhabited place never more to enter the camp of Israel (GC 420). But I sometimes wonder—Could there be more? Other features of Israel’s ceremo-nial year God’s people have under-stood. Only the scapegoat cere-mony, coming so immediately be-fore “eternity” we have not clearly understood. Like other aspects of

the Sanctuary ser-vices, the scape-goat ceremony meant something; God did not just throw it in to take up space. Perhaps now the broader interpretation of that ceremony is opening to us. Here are some fea-tures of the scape-goat ceremony with their possible meanings for you to consider. The Day of Atonement

is alternately called The Day of Judgment. The casting of lots be-tween the Lord’s goat and the scapegoat signifies a time of choice and decision for the


people of earth. Each individual makes up his or her own mind whether sufficient evidence exists that God is a benefactor who never kills, never conducts Himself dishon-orably, never puts fear or anger within the heart of His creatures. For the first time the people understand Who they have been rejecting. God’s character will be correctly presented, as, for the first time, He presented it within the context of the gospel in Eden to Adam and Eve.

“The message proclaimed by the angel flying in the midst of heaven is the everlasting gospel, the same gospel that was declared in Eden” (2SM 106).

When the First Angel of Revelation 14, with a loud cry, preaches the gos-pel antitypically, the gospel message will be complete. Decisions focus around and about God. “The hour of His judgment has come.” This is the Day of Judgment, and in judging God, they judge themselves, and the judgment of the living takes place. The High Priest, the Levites, and other workers employed by the Sanc-tuary were ultimately actors or “cardboard cutouts,” telling the story of the gospel. Their work ultimately unfolded into reality, when Jesus walked the earth. When the living Christ walked among them, when faith became sight, when their cere-monies gave way to reality, they did-n’t recognize their Savior when He stood before them. Is it possible that one day Azazel will step out of this desert theater and become reality, as Satan appears on earth to impersonate Jesus? Is it pos-sible that he will come to combat the power of the COG message and

that he will be removed forever from the “camp of Israel” by “a man appointed for the task,” sanc-tuary-speak for you and me—born again Christians who know the character of God and can teach it with clarity and power? The Talmud tried to correct an ob-vious “error” in the scapegoat cere-mony. They “improved” (as they believed) on it by specifying the scapegoat should be disposed of by throwing it over a cliff. (Yoma 7:4)

But it was no error that, as set out in the word, the scapegoat did not die. God specified he should not be killed in the ceremony, because God does not destroy—not even Satan. In the end it will be confirmed that sin kills; God does not.

The Sabbath

What about the Sabbath, which Ellen White says is to be empha-sized, drawing a line between the saved and the lost in earth’s last great crisis.

In the time of the end every di-vine institution is to be restored. The breach made in the law at the time the Sabbath was changed by man, is to be repaired (PK 678. See also EW 33).

Sister White never directly empha-sized the message of God’s charac-ter of love;1 therefore, she had no opportunity to tell us how it fits into the framework of the last days. But if “every divine institution is to be restored” in the last days, would-n’t that include the truth about God’s character? Wouldn’t the mes-sage of God’s character of love trig-ger concern over the Sabbath, when


something new. Their eyes fasten on Satan in a new way they haven’t heretofore experienced. Finally they realize who was guilty during all those years that God took the blame. Finally the gospel is com-plete. 1Although she made oblique references to

it, which we are just finding today, she did-

n’t and couldn’t address it openly. Her min-

istry, so full of tensions with leadership, so

packed with speaking appointments and

private letters to individuals did not allow

her time to take up this highly disputed sub-

ject.

the people see that it is still in force and their own eternal prospects de-pend upon how they relate to it?

What is this solemn ceremony on the Day of Judgment/Atonement trying to teach us? Is not the ever-lasting gospel given on the Day of Judgment? In the final days before eternity the focus of the world’s in-habitants will change. They will see Christ as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Rev.13:8) as before, but now they see

Therefore it is necessary to be in

subjection, not only because of

wrath, but also for conscience's

sake (Romans 13:5).

I know that I am jumping around in these verses a little bit, but I find that to be very helpful to perceive and grasp more of the important connections that make up the context for these instructions. It is only in properly understanding the context and carefully examining the fabric and its composition that I can come to a correct view of what this passage is really teaching. Of course, it is also important to keep my spirit open to the impressions from God who is the One that inspired this to be written in the first place. I just looked up the Greek for the word conscience and got a real sur-prise. I found this word quite differ-ent than what I had expected and actually very exciting. It literally means co-perception with lots of subtle nuances underlying that. The implications of this are stunning and enlightening.


Meaning of Conscience First of all, I discovered this means that conscience is a part of me that accesses another perception not of my own to join with mine to make it more complete. In fact, as I went deeper into the roots of this word I found that it is a combination of two things. First is coming to un-derstand something with the assis-tance of the other consciousness that makes up the “co” part. Con-

science is the uniting of my perception with God's percep-tion. Then the word in-cludes the idea of receiv-ing clandestine informa-

tion or to be privy to important missing information that makes my perceptions much more complete. This act of uniting is also an impor-tant aspect of the meaning of this word. The union is a very close union that de-notes compan-ionship, resem-blance, posses-sion, becoming an instrumentality and all of this to create complete-ness. This appar-ently is primarily

COCOCOCO----PERCEPTIONPERCEPTIONPERCEPTIONPERCEPTION

By Floyd Philips

for the purpose of having a more perfect understanding or percep-tion than would be possible of myself. This is a rather different view of conscience than what I am used to hearing. And in this verse Paul is saying that we need to be moti-vated by much more than fear, which is often one of the first emotions to get us to act or be motivated to change something in our life. It seems evident that fear is certainly one of the primary motivations used by earthly au-thorities to induce compliance, but that is not really the relation-ship that God desires to have with us. Just as we crave a much deeper relationship of love and compan-ionship with our children that goes far beyond outward confor-mance to our rules out of fear of punishment, so God intensely de-sires us to move past the simplis-tic, cowering motivations of fear that is sometimes needed to get our attention initially, and move far beyond that into a relationship of co-perception with Him.

No Authority Except From God This is rather interesting when placed together with the declaration in verse 1: there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are es-tablished by God. What Paul is really describing in these verses is our proper relationship to God, not just to the poor demonstrations of au-thority that we see here on earth. When we perceive, or better yet co-perceive, that any and all true au-thority is in some essence a demon-stration of God, albeit very confus-ing or distorted at times, then we will be able to enter into the posi-tion of having no fear of authority. (v. 3) Given this thought, maybe fear is an indicator or symptom of how much I do not yet have heaven's perspective merged with my perspective.

This ability to be free of fear is not dependent on the inferior authori-ties we have to deal with being proper demonstrations of God's authority. They may be very corrupt and abusive and unjust; the authori-ties in Jesus day certainly fit that description. But Jesus was never afraid of authorities and that is be-cause He demonstrated this princi-ple of co-perception with His Fa-ther just as we are invited to do. Jesus was the ultimate demonstra-tion of how to be in subjection to authorities while not surrendering His integrity or rupturing His rela-tionship with His Father in the slightest degree. He was continu-ously perceiving everything through the vantage point of Heaven's per-spective using the co-perception of the Holy Spirit so that He would even say about those abusive au-thorities, Father, forgive them for they don't really know what they are doing.

It is very often the case that au-thorities do not really know what they are doing. We are all living with the severe mental handicap of sin and separation from God's per-spective. But anyone alive has the option of listening to the inner voice of a greater Mind who can see what we can never see with our own perceptive abilities. And if we will choose to submit our percep-tions to be corrected and enhanced supernaturally by the mind of the Holy Spirit, especially in our deal-ings with authority according to this passage, then we will finally be able to become free of fear and will be able to move far beyond that into a much deeper relationship of intimacy and co-perception with the perfect Source behind all au-thority. And when we do this we can then be empowered to experi-ence the very presence of God in new dimensions never before imagined. My Prayer

God, this is very fascinating and intrigu-ing to me, but I want it to go much deeper than that and become a reality in my heart. I don't want to just know about this wonderful insight but far more im-portantly I want it to be a description of my own experience. I ask You to mentor me in how to have co-perception with Your mind and heart. Help me to listen more carefully and accurately and will-ingly to the perceptions that Your Spirit is offering me all through the day and not lean on my own understanding. Dwell in my heart today and bring me into right relationship and attitudes toward authori-ties so that my life can be completely free of all fear of them. Do this for Your glory and for Your reputation.


A Time of Trouble

God bears long with the rebellion and apostasy of His subjects. Even when His mercy is despised and His love scorned and derided, He bears with men until the last resource for leading them to repen-tance is exhausted. But there are limits to His forbearance. From those who to the end continue in obstinate rebellion, He removes His protecting care. Providence will no longer shield them from Satan’s power. They will have sinned away their day of grace. God keeps a reckoning with the nations. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without His notice. Those who work evil toward their fellow men, saying, How doth God know? will one day be called upon to meet long-deferred vengeance. In this age a more than common contempt is shown to God. Men have reached a point in inso-lence and disobedience which shows that their cup of iniquity is almost full. Many have well-nigh passed the boundary of mercy. Soon God will show that He is indeed the living God. He will say to the angels “No longer combat Satan in his efforts to destroy. Let him work out his malignity upon the children of disobedi-ence; for the cup of their iniquity is full. They have advanced from one degree of wickedness to another, adding daily to their lawlessness. I will no longer interfere to prevent the destroyer from doing his work.” This time is right upon us. The Spirit of God is being withdrawn from the earth. When the angel of mercy folds her wings and departs Satan will do the evil deeds he has long wished to do. Storm and tempest, war and bloodshed,—in these things he delights, and thus he gathers in his harvest. And so completely will men be deceived by him that they will declare that these calamites are the result of the desecration of the first day of the week. From the pul-pits of the popular churches will be heard the statement that the world is being pun-ished because Sunday is not honored as it should be. And it will require no great stretch of imagination for men to believe this. They are guided by the enemy, and therefore they reach conclusions which are entirely false. (RH 9/17/1901)

Good evening, It is late here in Alaska. Almost midnight. But the urgency of the times has been continually weighing on our hearts. We have been in a lot of prayer for the last few days con-cerning a trip to South America. A little more than a month ago we sent out an email relaying the situa-tion in detail.

The trip to South America is not just a Living Waters mission trip. It is a United [Adventist] Brethren mission trip. UBC is having a pres-ence in the South American field through this trip.

In the last email we thought it would be God's plan for us to make a trip in the fall after Idaho camp. After the email was sent we realized that our passports were expiring soon. We sent them off to get re-newed. During that time of waiting some things transpired. Several job offers arose and Isaac applied. All the jobs applied for were hiring in the fall (end of Aug.-Sept.) and even if he doesn't get hired on to any of the jobs he has applied for he still has his winter job to lean on, which would begin the 2nd of September. This caused a problem in our plans to South America after camp Idaho. It seemed that a trip before camp might be God's plan. So as we con-tinued to wait for the passports, we

prayed. A little later in the week four of us went down to the river to pray. Although Spencer didn't know about Isaac's fall job hiring situa-tion he said that he had thought during the week that a trip before camp Idaho might be best. His thoughts harmonized with ours and we prayed for clarity on the matter.

Three weeks went by. Two days ago I went to town with Araceli as we both had errands. On our post office stop we found the passports had arrived. As we headed to the store Spencer happened to phone, not knowing that the passports had arrived. He had gone on-line and looked up tickets. We had not bothered looking up prices during the month prior since we did not have the passports in hand. But


The Peru Mission By Sandy Workman [email protected]

that day, while we were in town, he had decided to look for tickets. On Kayak.com he found tickets for a multiple-destinations trip (Anchorage, Alaska to Lima, Peru (10 days), Colombia (three weeks), Spokane, Wa. (for Idaho camp) and back to Alaska for around $1,250 per person. It was an incredible price. Dates: (July 2-Aug.1-6). We

began to pray hard. It was not our plan to do this trip at this particular time frame. I person-ally am prone to feel overwhelmed. And yet God seems to have been preparing us with the mind to go forward. Through the lessons of the past we see the workload increased during those critical times of earth's history. The following quote also came to our attention tonight as we prayed and planned. Sometimes various ways and purposes, different modes of operation in con- nection with the work of God, are about evenly bal- anced in the mind; but it is at this very point that the nicest discrimination is necessary. And if anything is accom- plished to the purpose, it must be done at the golden moment. The slightest inclination of the weight in the balance should be seen, and should determine the matter at once. Long delays tire the angels. It is even more excusable to make a wrong decision sometimes than to be continually in a wavering position; to be hesitating, sometimes in- clined in one direction, then in another. More perplexity and wretchedness result

from thus hesitating and doubting than from some times moving too hastily. I have been shown that the most signal victories and the most fear- ful defeats have been on the turn of minutes. God requires promptness of action. De- lays, doubtings, hesitation, and indecision frequently give the enemy every advantage. . . .

The timing of things may tell much in favor of truth. Victories are frequently lost through delays. There will be cri- ses in this cause. Prompt and decisive action at the right time will gain glorious triumphs, while delay and neglect will result in great failures and positive dishonor to God. Rapid movements at the critical moment often disarm the enemy, and he is disappointed and vanquished, for he had expected time to lay plans and work by artifice.

God wants men con- nected with his work in Bat- tle Creek whose judgment is at hand, whose minds, when it is necessary, will act like the lightning. The greatest promptness is positively necessary in the hour of peril and danger. Every plan may be well laid to accomplish certain results, and yet a delay of a very short time may leave things to assume an entirely different shape, and the great objects which might have been gained are lost through lack of quick fore- sight and prompt dispatch. Much may be done in training the mind to overcome indolence. There are times when caution and great deliberation are necessary; rashness would be folly. But even here, much has been lost by too great hesitancy. Caution, up to a certain point, is required; but hesitancy and policy on particular occasions have been

more disastrous than would have been a failure through rashness.

—Gospel Workers ,Vol. 3, p. 496 (emphasis supplied)

We need to go forward. Tickets prices are only going up, this is why we are asking for your re-sponse by morning.

At this time five are impressed to travel. We are desiring some com-

mitment from the world field, whether individual territories were to pledge a one-time fixed amount…or possibly space it over a period of time. We feel it is im-portant at this late hour of earth's history to avoid debt. However, we do see God's leading.

Once again, this trip is not just a Living Waters mission trip but it is United Brethren having a presence in the South American field.


We have no time to lose. The end is near. The passage from place to place to spread the truth will soon be hedged with dangers on the right hand and on the left. Everything will be placed to obstruct the way of the Lord's messengers, so that they will not be able to do that which it is possible for them to do now. We must look our work fairly in the face, and advance as fast as possible in ag- gressive warfare. From the light given me of God I know that the powers of darkness are working with intense energy from beneath, and with stealthy tread Satan is advancing to take those who are now asleep, as a wolf taking his prey. We have warnings now which we may give, a work now which we may do; but soon it will be more difficult than we can imagine. —Christian Service, p. 79

Second Report There are those who are wondering about the South America trip. I am sorry for the lack of communication since my last email. We have been super busy.

Tickets were purchased. We went forward in faith, trusting that the Lord will provide. There are several territories who have pledged dona-tions, and two individuals who have already sent funds, so we are thank-ful for them responding quickly to the impression of God. We pray that all may stay prayerful for the leading of God in this mission.

“Through most wonderful

workings of divine providence, mountains of difficulty 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” (PK 223).

We will be leaving on June 26 from Anchorage, Alaska. We will be in Lima, Peru until the 13th of July and then heading to Colombia (the interior). We head back to the states on the 1st of August and then to camp Idaho on the 7th.

In Peru we will be having studies every night out of Mama T's home for the sev-enteen days we are there. That's what it looks like so far. There are non-SDA families which have been studying with Mama T for the last few months and we will be doing studies at these homes as well. She also wants us to speak at a local SDA church several times, so our time in Lima will be packed.

We will be in Colombia about eighteen days. There are MANY open doors for home studies and so our prayer right now is for the Lord to might-ily prepare hearts and to show us where we should spend most of our time. The villages that we have to visit are spread out and two and a half weeks goes by pretty quickly. We want to make the most of the trip. We will be in guerrilla territory but according to our family members things are more at peace than they have

ever been in fifty years so we are seeing that God has been in the timing of this trip. (cont’d on p. 10)


We have planned an event for May 2015 to reveal the ever expanding good news of the all-loving character of God. Pastor Stevan Mircovich of Corner-stone Community Church in Coquit-lam has asked me to help him organ-ize a “Spiritual Detox.” Of course, I was honored, but I also recognize the extreme sacredness of this en-deavor to all of us. Those of us who believe the character of God message also know wholeheartedly that God wants this message to go to the world.

Six Speakers For this event we have invited six speakers—Brian Zhand, Greg Boyd, Brad Jersak, Sigve Tonstad, Brad Cole and Herb Montgomery—three SDA speakers and three non-SDA speakers. These presenters use Jesus Christ as their lens for under-standing the Bible and the character of God. We are thinking we may still have room for one more God-appointed speaker. Perhaps someone younger to attract the youth or someone who used to hold to a more traditional picture of God and has had a paradigm shift, preferably

someone prominent in mainstream Christianity who would have the power to influence attendance at this event. If you think you may know just the person, we would love to hear from you.

We need your PRAYERS and SUP-PORT! Here are the things we need to get done:

• Website design and formatting for promotional purposes

• Plan and find fi-nancial support to promote the event

• Find the right venue.

First things first. Since the best venues tend to be booked up many months in advance, this will be a crucial part of the event. We

have decided to go with a theater style venue in Vancouver that will hold at least five hundred people. This will not be held in a church to give us a wider audience appeal. We will most likely be selling tickets for a nominal price so that we can gauge public response but will have some kind of free

(Cont’d on p. 17)

Spiritual Detox Coming to Vancouver May 2015!

By Nicole Beauchesne

I will be giving many studies and also [be] translating for Isaac's stud-ies. Please pray for the health of my lungs and vocal cords.

Just a quick and very brief report on Living Waters.

• My mother is busily making daily phone calls to Colombia, setting up home studies and getting a feel for what is going to happen there. Things are really looking positive so we are thanking God.

• I personally have been studying, here in Alaska, with a lady who is very excited about what she is learning and I am sad to leave right at this moment when things are progressing so amazingly, but I do see God's hand clearly in the up-coming trip. She wanted prophecy so we began with Daniel and it has been...well, I will just say, God is really working. So please pray for this situation. It has been very im-pressive how God is moving. She is a sincere seeker—one of those "gems."

• Isaac has been spending much time in house-to-house labor and also visiting those who have very poor health whom he has met at work, praying with them and sharing brief 10-20 minute studies. It has been a lovely and positive experi-ence. There are a few couples who have kept him up until one a.m. but that has been a blessing consid-ering the lack of godliness


in this wealthy mecca. All and all, house-to-house labor has been a very positive approach. Valdez, Alaska is not a place where much can be done for the Kingdom if you don't leave your comfort zone and get familiar with the inter-course of the home circle. And that is an understatement. People here make a lot of money and although some may be religious, they would rather you come to them than go to church or leave the comforts of their own homes. The dynamics are completely different here than any other place we have had to labor, and house-to-house work has done more than anything else that we have seen thus far.

• During the month of May Araceli (Living Waters treasurer) traveled to her younger brother's graduation in Oregon and then over for a three week visit with her family in Idaho. Upon arriving back to Alaska she gave the Sabbath ser-mon, giving a report of what God had done during the trip. I did my best to type out and keep up with her as she gave her message. It was so absolutely touching to me that I have attached the minutes to this email. I have had no time to edit it so it is a bit choppy and a few places I had trouble keeping up with her, but I believe you will be blessed. Please take a moment to read it!!! (We were really moved by the story of her Catholic grandfa-ther coming to the Sabbath.)

Areceli’s Sermon

God has called all men, women and children to be his witnesses - Isaiah

43:10

Every single person is called to be a witness for God. A witness is a person or a legal instrument that testifies of the truth and nothing but the truth. There was a man (Pilate) who asked Jesus, “What is truth?”

John 8:32 - When we are witness-ing for the truth and they receive our testimony they will be made free.

John 14:6 – Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.”

Jesus is the truth. The truth is a man. We are to witness and give the true testimony of Jesus. Revela-tion 12:17 It is a real privilege to reveal God and His ways. Being here in Alaska for the past two years I have been receiving a lot of truth. On my trip I knew I would not stay in Idaho but I knew it was time to put into practice all that I was learning.

I want to share a short report of all that happened while I was in Idaho. I landed in Portland for my brother’s graduation. Lots of fam-ily was there. My cousin was in tur-moil. She was having a hard time. I wanted to help her. I wanted to pray with her but didn’t know how she would take it. I asked her if I could pray with her and it didn’t go well. She told me that the God thing doesn’t work for her and she is happy it works for me but it does not for her. It made me feel bad.

She said a lot of hurtful things. I had really wanted to help her. I went and prayed by myself. I didn’t know how to respond to all the things she said. I had a real trial. As I prayed I realized I could not af-ford to respond in an offended way. I knew I needed to meet her where she was and put all my hurt feelings aside. I remembered all I had studied with Sandy, Alyssa and Herme in recent studies about God meeting us where we are. I went back in and told her “I love you and I know you are having a hard time.” It really helped the situation and she was somewhat better.

The next day was Sabbath and I got up early because I was going to church with Camille. When I saw my cousin and her husband I just acted as if nothing had happened.

When I got to Idaho I was dis-turbed as I found out more of what

was happening in my cousin’s life. One day I went online to Sandy’s blog and started reading the book The ABC’s to Bible Prayer that she had posted. I read the chapter on infatuation. I found some amazing promises to claim. 1 John 5:16 if any man see his brother sin a sin that is not unto death... and in the book Testimonies to Ministers: “Jesus sees His true church on the earth, whose greatest ambition is to co-operate with Him in the grand work of saving souls. He hears their prayers, presented in contri-tion and power, and Omnipotence cannot resist their plea for the sal-vation of any tried, tempted...” ah ha, I thought, God cannot resist

my prayer. Gen. 3:15 came to mind as well and with these promises I prayed for my cousin and her hus-band and his drug addiction. I talked with God, claiming that promise in the testimonies. I thanked him and said


amen. The very next day my cousin’s husband got pulled over by the cops. He was in jail for about a week. He got out but is on proba-tion. A week after this happened my cousin came out of hiding, she was ashamed, and she shared with me that she felt for the first time that she has her husband back. Because of that horrible thing that happened he was able to get treated. I was praising God! God had answered my prayer. My cousin began open-ing up little by little. I was so happy.

I will go back to my third day in Portland. We went to an SDA church on Alaska Street. There was a Spanish and English session. They switch services and so we got to participate in Sabbath class twice. Camille and I got to share many things. In the English class we talked of the children of Israel mur-muring and complaining and the things we shared touched a lady’s heart and she invited Camille to come back.

Camille invited me to lunch and I got to talk to her parents. I told all the amazing things God has done in our life, my husband and I, and how God opened up the doors to keep the Sabbath at work. I told them all about the trials and a disturbing phone call we got one day and how my husband was attacked with – “how are you going to support your family! etc...” I was sharing all of this with Camille’s family and it was such a blessing to share all of this with them. Another Sabbath Camille and I got together. I messaged my friend Josh and asked him when church started

He didn’t respond so Camille sug-gested we meet up with one of her friends at Gem State [SDA Acad-emy]. I walked into a teen youth group. I was disappointed at what they were doing. Just playing games and not interested in Bible study. After church I spent the day with my mom. I went to a first commun-ion. I really wanted to share truth. I went with my mom and spent time with extended family.

My cousins from California showed up. They asked me how I met my husband. I told them it was a long story and I told them they probably didn’t want to hear it. But they all did so I told the story. They were amazed! There were like six of them and they were all amazed. One of my cousins started to ask me ques-tions on what the difference be-tween their Catholic beliefs and our beliefs. I was overwhelmed at all the info that would mean I would have to share so we left that for another time.

One cousin asked me for relation-ship advice. I was able to share some things with him and it was

really good to share little bits and pieces with my family.

The first week there my friend Monica messaged me. She wanted to get together. We met the follow-ing week at a restaurant. She in-vited another friend. I got to min-gle and share and [get] caught up. The following day they wanted to visit another friend who was going through a lot. So we went. The next day they invited me to go to

the park, to have a BBQ. Lots of kids were present. Before everyone arrived I was reading Ezekiel 3:16-21 on my Bible app.

Ezekiel is appointed to be a watchman. He [God] made him a watchman for the house of Israel. ...when I shall say to the wicked...but his blood shall I require at thy hand...etc.. I was in the

car [when] I was reading this. I was like “OH NO. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ME!” I prayed and asked the Lord to give me words to comfort my friends, words to speak to them. My friends got veggie burgers and gluten-free bread for me. It was such a surprise. I felt really loved. We ate and spent time playing in the park. One of my friends and her boy-friend asked me if I had seen the movie Noah. I said no. They told me it was a biblical movie. I asked them to tell me about it. They began to relay the movie to me. I said, “Wow, that is really different than the Bible.”


So I began to relay the story. I went into Job, showing how God is the fountain of life and when they asked God to depart, God had to respect their choice. I talked of Rev. 7 and how the angels are holding back the winds of strife. I shared that in the flood there was a letting loose of the winds of strife to a certain degree. I shared about Bible language. It was a long conversation but good. They asked me if I believed in the rapture. I said no. Meanwhile I no-ticed that the young man was tex-ting all the while. Well, he was tex-ting all I was saying to another friend. Another big event happened!!! I wanted to get together with my cousin Teresa. We started having character of God studies. Natalie stopped coming. I gave studies that Sandy and Isaac had given me in Peru. They were impacted by the studies. Teresa invited her sister one day and she was so impacted by the

studies that she came to all the rest of the studies I did after that. Josh found out about the studies. Josh

is the boy who came to my house when I was contemplating going to Peru with Isaac and Sandy. He came to the studies and was really im-pacted and got super excited. He continued coming. After I did the wrath of God study, Teresa’s brother went through a huge trial and Teresa was able to share the wrath of God study with him and it was amazing! I am going to now continue to share over Skype. . . .

I was going to share a video clip but the time is up. So I will share one last thing. I was at the dinner table translating into English one of Sandy’s studies that she gave in Peru. My grandpa came and sat down next to me. He said he had a question.

He asked me about the days of creation. He asked me what God created on each day. He said, “I have a book, an old one, that my dad gave to me.” He brought it out and shared with me. It was on creation. I looked at the first part and we started to compare the Bi-ble with the book. He said, It says here that God rested on the sev-enth day and he asked me why eve-ryone rests on Sunday and this book is saying [it] differently. I got really excited. I was amazed at how he had come to the conclusion on his own. One of the things that stimulated his interest was that he noticed Saturday in Spanish is “Sabado” (Sabbath). He asked me questions on the virgin Mary. That is when I messaged Isaac asking him questions and texts. My mom was in the kitchen and she said “I

asked the priest about that and he told me that that was all changed.” So I shared that the change was not biblical though. She didn’t say anything else about it. I showed my grandpa all about the Ten Com-mandments. It was very exciting. So this is a summary of what hap-pened on my visit. It was encour-aging to see that there are sincere seekers that want to do God’s will although they have not come to the whole truth. When they hear it they accept it in a moment. There were trials but my family was more receptive to the way I eat and they allowed Bible studies to be done out of their home!


A “Problem” Quotation

“The same destructive power exercised by holy angels when God commands,

will be exercised by evil angels when He permits” (GC 614).

Some Adventists believe this quotation contradicts the character of God message. But those who be-lieve God is nondestructive see no difficulty whatever here. They need only ask the questions: 1) How do holy angels destroy? And 2) What is the “command” of God to holy an-gels to destroy.

Holy angels destroyed Job when God gave them the command to “Release” the hedge about him. His command to holy angels in Egypt to “Release” allowed evil angels access to various aspects of the arsenal of nature and finally to Egypt’s first-born (Exodus 12:23; Psalm 78:48, KJV). God even “struck” His own Son by commanding holy angels to “Release” Him to destruction.

The activity described in the above quotation could be a simultaneous action described in the best terms available to the writer at the time, considering that time for a fuller un-derstanding of the character of God had not yet come.

Anyone reading the setting on pages 614 and 615 of Great Contro-versy will see that EGW is support-ing our position in this matter. She would not write in support of our alternate view in such a clear way and then, in the middle, throw in a statement diametrically opposing it. This quotation by no means ne-gates the character of God message and the weight of inspired testimony still confirms it.

“Light is a blessing, a universal blessing, pouring forth its treasures on a world unthankful, unholy, demor-alized. So it is with the light of the Sun

of Righteousness. The whole earth, wrapped as it is in the darkness of sin and sorrow and pain, is to be lighted with the knowledge of God’s love.

From no sect, rank, or class of people is the light shining from heaven’s throne

to be excluded” (PK 71).

Since the African ministry trip to Kenya, completed in January of 2014, there has been continued advance-ment in the work field. A home church was planted at Kerala

the home of John Orina, with lead-ership and support by church treas-urer, Nathan Onduma and their families. They meet weekly to study and fellowship and continue to make an imprint in their commu-nity. They have set up some basic church organization and struc-ture and have a group of elders as a core support system. There is a continual need for support, bibles and literature to be used in their study sessions, as they share truths from God’s Word.

In addition to this local church work, two full time gospel minis-ters, Br. James Ongiri and Br. David Tumbo, have continued shedding light on God’s character, in Kenya. Brother James travels quite extensively to teach, preach

and support study groups. He dis-tributes literature and helps offici-ate various church group needs. He has done some travelling to neighboring African countries, be-sides his work in Kenya. When not travelling, he attends with the newly planted Kerala. Brother David is based out of the Gucha district and serves a church group there with his two brothers, Rich-ard and Albert. He also works with the Massai tribe in southeast Kenya. This work has landed him in jail, in the past, as the local gov-

ernment resists any Christian that would be perceived as a threat


The Africa Mission

By Nicola Straub

to the traditional nomadic and spiritualistic lifestyle of this indige-nous people group. Despite all challenges, David feels strongly to obey God rather than man and continues to teach local church groups and also conducts a prison ministry in the Kilgoris area.

As a follow up to the last trip, Sis-ter Swany Dittmann was called to return to Kenya to conduct a medi-cal missionary training seminar for the month of June, where she is currently ministering the health message. She is accompanied by her husband Shawn who teaching massage as a therapeu- tic health technique. We have al-ready received good feedback from these meetings and look forward to providing a full report in the next newsletter.

There are plans in place to have a

full week-long camp meeting near

Nairobi, in December 2014. The

groups that met in Ngong as ar-

ranged by Brother Samual

Njuguna and also the groups from

the Kisii area are all being invited

to participate, and it could be

quite a large camp meeting.

Prayer, financial support, materials

and ministry workers for this

event are very much in need. Any-

one interested in this event can

contact Sis. Nicola Straub or Br.

Demetrius Leach via the truthinje-

sus.org web site. Thanks for your

continued interest in and prayers

for this mission field!

Welcome to Dave Wood of Montana, the newest mem-ber of our team! Dave will serve as narrator for our various projects, including the recent produc-tion, “A New Look at the Char-acter of God” video, providing a male voice-over to make our videos more professional. This month we have completed six scripts, including:

• God: Ultimate Blame-taker For the Universe

• The Wrath of God

• A Biography of God

• The Problem & the Solution

• Where Did Jesus Go When He Died?

• Jesus Died For You

We have completed two additional pamphlets:

• God: Ultimate Blame-taker For the Universe [Attached]

• The Wrath of God [Attached]


Still to come are scripts/pamphlets on the following topics:

• The Wars of Israel

• The Fall of Jericho (and the Flood, Sodom, Egyptian

Plagues, etc.)

• The Great Conflict of the

Ages

• Alternate End Game

• The Final Fire

If you think of a dimension of the COG message that is not represented here but that

you think would make a good topic, please advise. We can’t think of eve-rything without your help! Christopher Leach has been hard at work on our animation, and look at the cute characters he has made for our You- Tube advertis- ing video.

THE VIEW FROM MY CORNER OF THE VINEYARD

The Project

By Marilyn Campbell

Our future plans at the moment are that when Christopher com-pletes the animation he is presently working on, he will review the scripts I have done, and the one(s) he wants to work on will be adapted for his characters.

Praise the Lord! I just want to give a shout of praise to the Lord for enabling this pro-ject and giving me such good help-ers, without whom I could not possibly complete this endeavor. I am so grateful!

Why This Newsletter? I want to address the question of, Why this newsletter? Why does it come to you every two months? I think, perhaps, we individually have our hearts, minds and ears tuned in to God. We are listening and very much aware of Him, of His voice, of His instructions to us. In spite of this, in spite of our working independently, motivated by the voice of God alone, there has not been such a united move-ment since

perhaps the Millerites of 1844.

But we still have the need to realize that this is a world-wide movement, and God is moving hearts all over the globe to realize that He is beau-tiful in character, not a sissy but a loving God without a mean bone in His body, and we have been charged, collectively, with making Him known. Adventists inside and Adventists outside the church, non-Adventists who now rejoice in this message. It is my hope that this newsletter will help keep us together as we realize the activity going on all over the world, as we see what the Lord has called men and women to do to make Him known, as we approach the point of critical mass. This is a humble effort to keep you informed, encouraged, and excited about the prospects before us and what your brothers and sisters in the faith are doing towards ushering in the second coming of our Lord. So . . . I know there are other groups out there doing what they can toward this goal. I extend an invitation for other groups to write and tell us about themselves, how they came to know this message, and what they are doing to share it.

And please remember to support these projects with your prayers and offerings.


MISCELLANYMISCELLANYMISCELLANYMISCELLANY

Camp Meetings

Guyana —July 4-12 Jamaica—July 25-August 2 CampIdaho—August 8-16

Phone or email Swany Ditman, 208-245-6941, [email protected] during the month of July to make arrangements.

YouTube Activity Like-Subscribe-Share

From Demetrius Leach’s Channel

https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingGospelTruth/videos

The Healing Power of Forgiving Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=cWOHnBU1na8

Never Alone http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=LF0nmfwUWZg

From TFFG Florida Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJRtbVl8hFjB4QkHBAnwKgg

Our Picture of God

https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=dW0MoLP1dTg

From Marilyn’s Channel http://youtu.be/hMaItpis72c

Good Sermons by Greg Boyd

One reader’s comment: “I want to share one of the best presentations on the book of Job I have heard. I have listened to many sermons on Job and have learned much, but this really puts it together pro-foundly.”

http://whchurch.org/sermons-

media/sermon/twisted-scripture-the-book-of-job

Other Greg Boyd sermons

http://whchurch.org/sermons-media/sermon/shadow-of-the-cross

http://whchurch.org/sermons-media/sermon/gods-shadow-activity

Tim Jennings, M. D., is offering three of his videotaped seminars FREE to those within the U.S., Canada, and Australia/New Zea-land. Go to his website for the par-ticulars.

http://comeandreason.com/

Pastor Ian Hartley’s seminar at White Rock, BC, is on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/whiterockadventist Materials are available from Nicole Beauchesne, [email protected]

Anyone interested in studying Revelation might want to check out my website, where the Seals, An-gels, Trumpets, and Plagues are all charted. Many surprises. http://www.4Adventists.com. Go to the top, horizontal menu, click on More, click on Prophecy.


(From p. 9)

hand out (most likely a book on the topic of God’s character) at the door. Website. We want to drive the public to the website where we will be setting the tone for what the event is all about. We hope to re-cord some short video clips of the speakers asking thought provoking questions that are intended to get the viewer to question their current belief system such as, “Would a lov-ing God really condemn you to eternal hell fire for choosing the wrong path?” or, “Did God really send the flood?” etc. If building or design-ing a website is your area of expertise and you would like to vol-unteer your services we would love to talk to you. Promotion. If you have ideas or exper-tise in this area, we are all ears.

Financial. At this point we are moving forward in faith; therefore, if you or anyone you know believes that this event is important and would like to support it finan-cially, we welcome your help. Guidance. We know God works through the human agent but we also do not want to get in the way of what God wants to accomplish through this event. Please pray that we remain open and humble to His will and that the right people come together in a cohesive manner to

make this a spirit- and truth-filled experience for all attendees. That needs to be done and the time will go quickly.

If you would like to help or think you have something valuable you would like to share please email Nicole at [email protected]. Please include “Spiritual Detox” in your subject line.

“Their ideas of

God molded their own character” (DA 604).

Documents

The Character of Godadv-apocalypse.weebly.com/uploads/1/6/6/9/16694276/7-14...ceive the new light of truth which Hiram Edson, W. R. L. Crosier and Dr. F. B. Hahn subsequently brought