Tag: judgments

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Old Covenant / New Covenant

The question is often asked: What is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant? What changed when Jesus died on the cross?

First, we must understand that there is an Eternal Covenant that is foundational to all others. Simply stated it is this: God says, “I will fulfill my promises to you if you do my will.” All of His people from Adam to Noah to Abraham to Jacob knew what God’s will was. They followed it and He blessed them. Then came the Israelite nation recently delivered from slavery. They had lost the knowledge of His will and needed reminders and careful discipline to help them live in His will. So God instituted the written Code of Conduct—the Torah—with everything spelled out carefully to reduce misunderstandings. Included in the Torah was the Ten Commandments as the basic standard of morality (Exodus 20 & Deuteronomy 5); the Statutes and Judgments, to explain and illustrate the Ten Commandments (given mostly in Exodus 21-23 and Deuteronomy, and interspersed throughout Leviticus and Numbers); and the Ceremonial / Sacrificial system as a remedy for the breaking of the Law—the symbols of the Gospel for that time (given primarily in Leviticus).

The Covenant with the Jews was originally something like this:

the Parties involved—God and Israel

the Promise—Jehovah would be their God; they would be His special people; they would receive an inheritance

the Terms or Conditions of the Covenant—obedience to God’s Laws

But there was a problem.

For finding fault with them (the people), he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Hebrews 8:8.

There was a fault, but it was not with the Terms of the Covenant. God’s Laws are perfect; His Statutes are right; His Commandments are pure; His Judgments are true and righteous altogether (Psalm 19:7-9). The fault was not with God. The fault was with the people involved. They kept breaking the Terms of the Covenant. They were not obedient. Their hearts were not in harmony with God. They continued to bring their sacrifices but God wanted something beyond that.

Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 1 Samuel 15:22

What changed when the Messiah came?

And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. Daniel 9:27

This prophecy predicts the Messiah’s coming, His ministry, and His death. It tells us that the sacrifices and oblations ceased. That was the change that occurred at the cross. The book of Hebrews explains more about the change as Paul describes several things that are better—better sacrifices, a better Priest, a better Sanctuary, better promises.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. Hebrews 4:14

But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. Hebrews 8:6

But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Hebrews 9:11

For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:13, 14

It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. Hebrews 9:23

Here we can see that Jesus brought in what was “better”:

He is a better High Priest for many reasons, including the fact that He was sinless, ever-living, etc.

The better promises involve, on God’s part, a better inheritance (heavenly rather than earthly) and, on Jesus’ part, His commitment to fulfill God’s will perfectly (John 8:29; Hebrews 10:7, 9) contrasted with man’s disobedience.

He ministers in a greater Tabernacle in Heaven, made by God Himself.

His blood is far superior to any animal blood, able to purify more than the flesh, actually cleansing the conscience, the deepest source of sin by revealing to us the terrible effect sin has had on God (we killed Him) and His continued encompassing love for us.

His sacrifice is far superior because He is the Son of God (nothing could be greater or better) so He only needed to do it once for all.

Paul was writing to Jewish Christians explaining the changes that the cross introduced. What did he mean when he spoke of a “new covenant” or “new testament?” Why was a new one needed? Because the old established only a temporary remedy for sin and pointed forward to the true, complete remedy—Jesus Christ. The Jews viewed the remedy that they had been given as all that was needed, rather then looking, by faith, through the sacrifices to the One they foreshadowed—Jesus, the Messiah. So they went on breaking God’s Laws and bringing sacrifices perpetually, not stopping to realize that they needed a change of heart to truly follow God’s will in spirit rather than merely in letter.

Jesus came to take humanity’s place in the Covenant as our Substitute. The New Covenant is between God, the Father, and Jesus, the Son, who completely fulfills all the Conditions of the Covenant for us and will receive all the Kingdom Promises. He became our surety, our guarantee, that all the Terms would be fulfilled. When we have Jesus living in our hearts, we become heirs to the Kingdom with Him. He also brings about a change in our character by instilling God’s Laws in our hearts and minds through the power of His Spirit so that we will be in harmony with God and can also fulfill the Terms of the Covenant.

The terms of the “old covenant” were, Obey and live: “If a man do, he shall even live in them” (Ezekiel 20:11; Leviticus 18:5); but “cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them.” Deuteronomy 27:26. The “new covenant” was established upon “better promises”–the promise of forgiveness of sins and of the grace of God to renew the heart and bring it into harmony with the principles of God’s law. “This shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts. . . . I will forgive their iniquity, and will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:33, 34. (Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 372)

So the change at the Cross was to replace erring humans with the perfect One—Jesus—and to replace the Sacrifices, Priests, and earthly Tabernacle system with Jesus, the BETTER Sacrifice and High Priest in the Heavenly Temple. He is the One who was always the true fulfillment of that system. The Hebrews had come to regard the Sacrifices as an end in themselves, but it was only by faith that true forgiveness and atonement were received. Salvation has always been by faith, as we know from Hebrews 11. It was by faith that Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

What changed at the cross was the remedy for breaking the Law, not the Law itself. All the Laws are still intact—the Ten Commandments and the other Laws given through Moses. Nothing was changed except what we are specifically told was changed. The prophecy of Daniel 9 and the book of Hebrews tell us what was changed.

To put it simply: The difference between the Old and New Covenants is Jesus, the True Remedy for the sins of man. What was foreshadowed in the Tabernacle system became a reality.

Did the Terms of the Covenant change? No! There was never a problem with the Terms. They are still obedience and cooperation with God.

Under the new covenant, the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old. The conditions are, and ever have been, based on perfect obedience. (Ellen White, Letter 216, 1906)

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name: Romans 1:5

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2 Corinthians 10:5

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. 1 Peter 1:2

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Revelation 22:14

There are those who say that the Terms of the Covenant have changed, that God’s Laws are not part of it anymore, that everything is by Grace, meaning that God is more lenient now, not as strict as He was before. But where does the Bible say that? Jesus said He didn’t come to change any of God’s Laws (Matthew 5:17-19) and we are not given permission to change anything.

Here is a principle we must follow: God does not change. (Malachi 3:6) What He establishes does not change unless He Himself changes it. If the Bible doesn’t tell us that He changed something, then it remains.

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Deuteronomy 12:32

For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. Revelation 22:18, 19

The Laws of God have not been changed. Not the Ten Commandments nor the specifications given in the Statutes and Judgments. The only thing that changed was the remedy for sin. The shadows were replaced by Jesus, the fulfillment and true Remedy.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. Hebrews 8:10, 11

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Putting the Ladder on the Right Wall

In the article, The Ladder Against the Wrong Wall, we looked at the link between the Gospel in Galatians, the Loud Cry, and the “Law of Moses.” The message was given in 1888 and was rejected, which kept the people from receiving the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and from entering the Heavenly Canaan. Please read that document first so you will better understand this one. It is very important if we do not wish to repeat their history.

We saw a connection between the theology of George Butler and our current theology. We got a glimpse of the teachings of E. J. Waggoner and A. T. Jones, which many of us have never really heard. The message in 1888 was not just Righteousness by Faith, but much more.

Here is a brief overview of some of the differences between George Butler’s theology and that of Jones and Waggoner:

Butler taught that the whole Law of Moses was a heavy yoke and was nailed to the Cross, and that Paul was teaching in Galatians that it was to be observed only in the Jewish dispensation before the Cross.

Jones and Waggoner taught that Paul was not referring to a certain part of the Law that could not save us but that all Law was powerless to save us; that sin was the heavy yoke; and that his (Paul’s) descriptions comparing “before” and “after” (Galatians 3:23-26) were not dispensational–ie. Jewish era vs. Christian era–but were referring to the personal experience of life in sin vs. life in Christ.

Which understanding shall we choose?

As a quick review, I will quote a few paragraphs from the previous article that we shared.

from a letter by A. T. Jones to C. E. Holmes, May 12, 1921–

“I can’t now name anyone who accepted the truth at that 1888 meeting openly – besides Ellen White [obviously]. But later many said they were greatly helped by it. One Battle Creek leader said at that meeting after one of Dr. Waggoner’s meetings: “Now we could say amen to all of that if that is all there were to it. But away down yonder there is still something to come. And this is to lead us to that . . . And if we say amen to this we will have to say amen to that, and then we are caught . . . ” (quoted in “Exposing the Skeleton in the SDA Closet of 1888” by Norman Bradley)

What was the “this” and the “that”?

In 1893 when the subject of pork eating was being discussed using the statute in Deuteronomy 14:8, “Uriah Smith explicitly rejected the applicability of the Mosaic distinction: “We believe there is better ground on which to rest [the prohibition on pork] than the ceremonial law of the former dispensation, if we take the position that that law is still binding, we must accept it all, and then we have more on our hands than we can easily dispose of.” (MR 852 2.1)

“. . . then we are caught” and “. . . then we have more on our hands than we can easily dispose of.” What is the subject here? It cannot be merely “Righteousness by Faith” which had been a pillar of Protestantism for centuries before 1888. What I came to understand as I studied these things was that this issue was not merely Righteousness by Faith, friends. It had to do also with the Law of Moses and its applicability to the Christian dispensation. Butler and other leaders, who were ready to dispose of the Law of Moses, based their assumptions on the idea that the Law in Galatians was the Ceremonial Law that was no longer binding. They included everything given through Moses except the Ten Commandments in this disposal. So the real issue in 1888, I believe, was the Law of Moses and its binding claims on Christians today.

from Ellen White–

In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern the everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law. (Review and Herald 05-06-75)

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 (Letter 3, 1905). (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, Vol. 1, p. 1110)

We are told in the above quotes that the Laws given to Moses at Sinai were not to pass away but were binding upon us as long as time should last and contained rules that must be obeyed. (I would like to refer you to a prior Zion’s Covenant article, sent out May 11, 2010, called “Statutes and Judgments,” that discusses God’s system of Law in more detail. If you did not receive it, you can find it at www.godsfoodforlife.org Click on Zion’s Covenant in the Menu on the left side of the screen for a list of the articles.)

Putting the Ladder Back on the Right Wall

In this article, I would like to put the ladder back on the right wall. We really must if we wish to reach our desired destination, the Heavenly Canaan. Let’s take a look at Scripture to learn more about the message that will prepare God’s people to meet Him. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 11:15

For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:1-6

What day is being described here that burns like an oven when all the wicked become as stubble and are burned up? It is the end of the world, Jesus’ second coming, and the destruction of the wicked.

What comes just before the dreadful Day of the Lord? The message of Elijah, who turns the hearts of the fathers to the children and the children to the fathers.

What is this prophet’s message? Remember the Law of Moses with the statutes and judgments. It is really very simple, friends.

What is the “Law of Moses?” The word for Law in Malachi 4:4 is “Torah.” Here are some other verses where this word appears.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them. Exodus 24:12

This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth: To make a difference between the unclean and the clean, and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten. Leviticus 11:46, 47

If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul. Deuteronomy 30:10

These are just a few examples of how this word is used in the Old Testament. As you can see, it refers to the Ten Commandments, to health laws, and to the Book of the Law which Moses heard from God and wrote down as a permanent record for later generations. I went through and looked at each one of the 219 times that this word is used in the Old Testament and found that it refers specifically to the Book of the Law written by Moses 70 times, to Law in general 83 times, to the Ten Commandments specifically 5 times, as well as other Laws from the Statutes and Judgments numerous times. The prophecy in Malachi 4 is reminding us that everything Moses wrote is critically important for these last days.

What does the Spirit of Prophecy tell us?

The closing words of Malachi are a prophecy regarding the work that should be done preparatory to the first and the second advent of Christ. This prophecy is introduced with the admonition, “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.

“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord; and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (The Southern Watchman, 03-21-05, para. 1 & 2)

John, as a prophet, stood forth as God’s representative, to show the connection between the law and the prophets and the Christian dispensation. Like Malachi, he pleaded with the Jews: “Remember ye the law of Moses, . . . with all the statutes and judgments.” His work and ministry pointed back to the law and the prophets, while he, at the same time, pointed the people forward to Christ as the Saviour of the world. He called upon them to “behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (The Southern Watchman, 03-21-05, para. 7)

He (John the Baptist) was a representative of those living in these last days to whom God has entrusted sacred truths to present before the people to prepare the way for the second appearing of Christ. (Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3, p. 61)

The “Elijah Message” for the last days is the same as John the Baptist’s message. His message was “Remember the Law of Moses with the Statutes and Judgments.” In the above quotes, what is the message we are told to give? The same message that John gave. “Remember the Law of Moses with the Statutes and Judgments.” Does this include the Ten Commandments? Of course it does. Does it include the other Laws God gave that explain and reinforce the Moral Law? Absolutely! Remember the whole Torah! I think it is significant that the Hebrew word for “remember” in Malachi 4:4 is the same word as is used in Exodus 20:8 where we are told to “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”

In consequence of continual transgression, the moral law was repeated in awful grandeur from Sinai. Christ gave to Moses religious precepts which were to govern the everyday life. These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law. (Review and Herald, 05-06-75, para. 10)

Who decides what is still binding? Does the church? Do we as individuals?

What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it. Deuteronomy 12:32

There is no finite man that lives, I care not who he is or whatever is his position, that God has authorized to pick and choose in His Word. (SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 919, para. 2)

Did you catch that? We are forbidden to add or take away from what God has given as His laws! Absolutely no man has the right to do this. So who decides what is to be obeyed in the Christian era? God alone. If Scripture does not say that something ended at the cross, then it continues. If Scripture says that something was finished, then it no longer applies

Galatians does not say that the Law ended at the Cross. It merely says that the Law cannot save us. It never could. Its role has always been to point us to our Savior and to show us what righteous living is. By faith in Jesus, we can partake of the Divine Nature and live the perfect Law of love, the foundation of God’s government. This is true freedom, freedom from the bondage of sin. This is the message of Galatians.

The book of Hebrews is a thorough explanation of what was changed at the cross. Read it carefully. It speaks of the Sacrifices–Christ was a better Sacrifice. It speaks of the Temple Services–we now have a Heavenly Temple. It speaks of the role of the High Priest–Jesus is now our High Priest.

We are told in other places that circumcision was changed. Baptism has replaced it.

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. Colossians 2:11, 12

We are told that the Passover lamb was replaced with bread and juice.

And he said unto them, With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you before I suffer: For I say unto you, I will not any more eat thereof, until it be fulfilled in the kingdom of God. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves: For I say unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the kingdom of God shall come. And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. Luke 22:15-19

Some people say that the Passover was finished at the Cross. But our Lord called the service He did with his disciples “Passover” and said it would be fulfilled in the Kingdom. It was the lamb sacrifice that ended at the Cross, being replaced by the symbolic bread and juice.

The Covenant Renewed–

In the last days of this earth’s history, God’s covenant with His commandment-keeping people is to be renewed. (Prophets and Kings, p. 299)

God wants to renew His Covenant with us. He wants to pour His Spirit upon us. What is required to again be in Covenant with God?

Under the new covenant, the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old–perfect obedience. Under the old covenant, there were many offenses of a daring, presumptuous character, for which there was no atonement specified by law. In the new and better covenant, Christ has fulfilled the law for the transgressors of law, if they receive Him by faith as a personal Saviour. “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” Mercy and forgiveness are the reward of all who come to Christ trusting in His merits to take away their sins. In the better covenant we are cleansed from sin by the blood of Christ (Letter 276, 1904). (SDA Bible Commentary, Volume 7, p. 931, para.10)

Faith in our Savior, Jesus, and obedience to the Torah, the same as in the times of Israel, are still the requirements for us to be in Covenant with God today.

The minds of the people, blinded and debased by slavery and heathenism, were not prepared to appreciate fully the far-reaching principles of God’s ten precepts. That the obligations of the Decalogue might be more fully understood and enforced, additional precepts were given, illustrating and applying the principles of the Ten Commandments. These laws were called judgments, both because they were framed in infinite wisdom and equity and because the magistrates were to give judgment according to them. Unlike the Ten Commandments, they were delivered privately to Moses, who was to communicate them to the people. (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 310)

The light given me is that we are to study more than we do the instruction given to Moses by God after He had proclaimed the law from Sinai. The ten commandments were spoken by God Himself, and were then written on tables of stone, to be preserved till the judgment should take place. After the giving of the law, God gave Moses specifications regarding the law. These specifications are plain and explicit. No one need make a mistake.

In the day of judgment we shall be asked whether we have lived in harmony with these specifications. (Australasian Union Conference Record, 03-25-07)

Did you catch that? We will be judged by these Laws. Have we lived in harmony with them? How can we live in harmony with Laws we don’t accept or study?

Friends, if we want to stop wandering in the wilderness, then we must start to live the Elijah Message. We must put our ladder on the right wall. These Laws were not all nailed to the Cross. Only a very few came to an end at that time.

Each of the Ten Commandments has other Laws that enforce, illustrate, and apply them. Which ones reinforce the Sabbath?

Again the people were reminded of the sacred obligation of the Sabbath. Yearly Feasts were appointed, at which all the men of the nation were to assemble before the Lord, bringing to Him their offerings of gratitude and the first fruits of His bounties. The object of all these regulations was stated: they proceeded from no exercise of mere arbitrary sovereignty; all were given for the good of Israel. The Lord said, “Ye shall be holy men unto Me”–worthy to be acknowledged by a holy God. (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 311)

Remember: The Laws that reinforce the Ten Commandments are still binding.

Someone will say: “Surely, if this is truth and we are to do these things, our church fathers would have understood it and been doing them.” Would they?

Wonderful possibilities are open to those who lay hold of the divine assurances of God’s word. There are glorious truths to come before the people of God. Privileges and duties which they do not even suspect to be in the Bible will be laid open before them. As they follow on in the path of humble obedience, doing His will, they will know more and more of the oracles of God. (Testimonies for the Church, Volume 8, p. 322)

This was written after the essential doctrines of the SDA church were firmly in place. There is more to come!

The question has been asked me, “Do you think that the Lord has any more light for us as a people?” I answer that He has light that is new to us, and yet it is precious old light that is to shine forth from the Word of truth. We have only the glimmerings of the rays of the light that is yet to come to us. We are not making the most of the light which the Lord has already given us, and thus we fail to receive the increased light; we do not walk in light already shed upon us. (Selected Messages, Book 1, p. 401, 402)

We have only the glimmerings of the rays of light. That was written in 1890. Have we advanced since then? I’m afraid we have stagnated where our church fathers were. Can we have favor with God in this state?

When God’s people are at ease and satisfied with their present enlightenment, we may be sure that He will not favor them. It is His will that they should be ever moving forward to receive the increased and ever-increasing light which is shining for them. The present attitude of the church is not pleasing to God. There has come in a self confidence that has led them to feel no necessity for more truth and greater light. We are living at a time when Satan is at work on the right hand and on the left, before and behind us; and yet as a people we are asleep. God wills that a voice shall be heard arousing His people to action. (Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5, p. 708)

Friends, the time is here to go forward with the Loud Cry. We must give the Elijah Message. We are told what that Message is. Let us look at it one more time.

Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse. Malachi 4:4-6

Let these sayings sink down into your ears: Luke 9:44

*All emphases and highlighting in quotes were supplied by the author of this article.