| Author | Message | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 623 Registered: 7-2004 |
An SDA (who tells me very matter-of-fact that his salvation is secure only through the blood of Jesus) sent me the following email: ********************************************************** Will Jesus Come in 2006? With the dawn of 2006 I have received a number of e-mails where people ask the question: I wonder if Jesus will come in 2006? Or wouldnít it be nice if Jesus were to come in 2006. Yes, it would be nice, but it is simply not going to happen. Those who study Daniel, Revelation, and the Spirit of Prophecy know that there is far too much that needs to transpire for Jesus to come in 2006. The gospel needs to be preached in all the world. This is close to being accomplished. National Sunday laws need to be enacted in the USA and then in the entire world. Persecution of Godís people needs to take place crescendoing in the Death decree which culminates in God announcing the day and the hour of Christís second coming. Daniel 12 and Revelation tells us that from the enactment of the Sunday Laws until the death decree is carried out 3 ‡ years will transpire. So Jesus canít come for at least 3 ‡ years. With this said, we need to remember that if we were to die, that for us, in a sense, Jesus has come. Because the next thing we will be conscious of, will be the Second Coming of Christ. So in this sense Jesus could come in 2006 for us, but not for the world in general. Because of this we need to be ready moment by moment for His Second Coming. So, we should be asking ourselves the question, am I ready if my probation were to close today, or sometime in 2006, not will Jesus come in 2006 or even in the next 2 or 3 years. It would also be appropriate to ask the question, will Sunday Laws come into effect in 2006? For a study on this topic you can go to: http://www.geocities.com/salvation_2005/daniel/ *********************************************************************** Here is my reply to him: With all due respect, please do not consider me when sending out these emails. My rest in Jesus is SO much bigger than spending anytime wondering and worrying if I am ready. Praise Jesus for His saving grace and death on the cross. Through His mercy to cover my sins with his precious blood, I have complete peace as I rest in His grace. The fact that SDAs believe they know all there is to know about the end of this world keeps them from a thriving, daily rest in Him. I lived 40+ years with all these facts that you sent me. I never had the complete peace and contentment I now have. I have no doubt in my mind that His grace is sufficient for me. I praise Him daily I no longer fear ìbeing readyî. Hallelujah!!!! Denise ****************************************************************** His reply in return was short - "I am sorry my email upset you." Did my reply sound upset? I thought I was praising God for His grace and the freedom and joy His grace brings to my life! Oh my heart aches for those still in bondage! | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2207 Registered: 3-2004  |
Denise, Denise, Your answer was fine and Biblical. It was how your friend perceived the answer through his veil over his ears and mind. I think, if it was me, I would reply, "I was not upset, I was just telling you that I do not worry about that anymore. I have a daily rest in Jesus everyday." I pray about all SDAs, just as you do. I am to have lunch with an SDA friend in a couple of weeks. I have not seen her since I quit going to her church. Diana | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3229 Registered: 12-2003  |
Denise, your answer was not upset. It did, of course, hit at the core of your Adventist friend's Achille's heal: the deep fear of not being sure, of not KNOWING he is saved. It is the fear that results from refusing to abandon TRADITION in favor of trusting Jesus alone. He may not acknolwedge or even be completely conscious of his fear, but it is fear nonetheless. His head may believe the words about being saved entirely by faith in Jesus' finished work, but his spirit is still loyal to the bondgae of Adventism, and the reality of freedom and security are not accessible when one's spirit is still bound to the deception. I believe their deep fear and insecurity cause Adventists to react with this defensiveness when we express our certainty and peace. In spite of their words, they do no have that peace and certainty, and our confidence shines the light of conviction on their private anxiety. Rather than face the fear and figure out what's behind it, they try to "turn off the light" by telling themselves our confidence is mere bravado. I'm so sorry, Denise. Of course, I know you already know all this! But it continues to be painful when those we have known and loved for so long retaliate against us instead of addressing the message. Colleen | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 730 Registered: 1-2003 |
My SDA brother-in-law and his wife came to visit us and it was Sunday and I was going to go to church. We got into a Sabbath debate and the old..."Sabbath was established from creation" and not when the 10 Commandments were given. And I said...really...and they said..."it's a weekly anniversary to meet with God...it's like your spouse...if you ignored your anniversary, how would that make your spouse feel?" And then they said, "Adam and Eve rested." And I said, "Adam and Eve didn't work." And then I said, "the bible only says God rested." And I read the verse to them and the conversation ended. I also asked them what happens if you don't "keep" it as the SDA do...or keep it period. They both admitted that is doesn't cause you to lose salvation. Where do they get all this extra biblical stuff that sounds good but isn't scripturally based???!!! Anyway, my husband and I went to church and had several really weird cool experiences that let us know that God wanted us there. It was really amazing. | ||
| Dt Registered user Username: Dt Post Number: 75 Registered: 4-2005 |
Pheeki, What a great rejoinder "What happens if you don't keep it"? That is really the crux of the issue isn't it? DT | ||
| Belvalew Registered user Username: Belvalew Post Number: 879 Registered: 7-2004 |
Is this Adventist fear-mongering? Any time I hear about the necessity of a Sunday law before Jesus can return for his Church I want to laugh. Since we know that the day of worship is not longer an issue that makes this requisite laughable. I think I've said it before, but I have a picture in my mind of Adventists arguing with Jesus and telling him that he can't come just yet because we have not yet had a Sunday law that involves a death threat for those who do not obey it. We live in an increasingly material world. I simply do not foresee a law that will take away the ability to merchandise on one day each week. Not going to happen, particularly here in the US. The internet as a purchasing resource cannot be regulated in that manner. It has become a 24/7 open market and I cannot see it being closed down one day a week. Let's get real! | ||
| Pheeki Registered user Username: Pheeki Post Number: 733 Registered: 1-2003 |
Excellent point. Internet shopping is available 24x7...Just like our rest in Christ!! | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3234 Registered: 12-2003 |
Great point, Belva! Colleen | ||
| Zjason Registered user Username: Zjason Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2005 |
Some years ago I read Marvin Moore's book Global Crisis or something along those lines, in which he speculates something catastrophic ocurring which would capture the attention of the world. and in the devastation that follows the Angel of Light appears and says that the Sabbathkeepers are the cause of the continuing devastation...well, and what follows I'm sure you all know well...So is something like that unrealistic? Again, it was merely speculation on Moore's part, but I suppose anything's possible... | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2220 Registered: 3-2004 |
Even before I gave up Adventist and became a Christian, I decided, and I am sure it was God, that I was not going to be concerned about what the SDA church teaches about the end of the world. I told God, I trust you to take care of me and my family. And I still believe God will take care of me every day. Whatever the future holds, God will take care of me. Diana | ||
| Wolfgang Registered user Username: Wolfgang Post Number: 32 Registered: 10-2005 |
amen Diana,that's what I have come to claim as well,like you even before I left the church,He's coming back ready or not ,no matter what. One statement that used to drive me crazy though and I know you all have heard it,it's the one that "we have to finish the work before He can come back"this would male my skin crawl. | ||
| Flyinglady Registered user Username: Flyinglady Post Number: 2224 Registered: 3-2004 |
I had forgotten that "we have to finish the work before He can come back". Thank God all we have to do trust and love Jesus. What ever we do because we love Him is not our works trying to get us into heaven. He will take care of the rest. Diana | ||
| Wolfgang Registered user Username: Wolfgang Post Number: 33 Registered: 10-2005 |
amen.Im sooooooo thankful He's not counting on me to finish the the "work" somedays I cant be trusted to do my own work!! I know it's a guilt tactic the pastorss must be taught in seminary,what used to surprise me was how many amens they used to get when they said it.Dawn |
