I Should Not Have Been Born

One of the greatest stories of the bible is the exodus from Egypt and the experiences of Israel. As I read and study these inspired writings I see that I not only worship a God who hears prayers but who also hears prayers.

And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. – Exodus 3:7, 8


The Lord delivered ancient Israel from the bondage of Egypt and led them through the wilderness into the earthly Canaan, or the "promised land." Even though I am thrilled by God’s leading in the wilderness the sad truth is that not every who left Egypt made it to Canaan. How was it possible that the very people that were crying day and night for deliverance failed to see the Promised Land? Sad but it is a fact even today. Not everyone who has been delivered from the bondage of sin will welcome Jesus as His personal Saviour.

Perhaps the question that deserves our attention is--How did it all happen? Moses speaking he says

[There are] eleven days' [journey] from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.)—Duet 1:2

And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea. –Duet 1:19

Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.—Duet 2:1

What made them to turn back?


And the LORD'S anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the LORD, was consumed.—Numbers 32:13.

Out of about two million people who left Egypt to Canaan only two made it, Joshua and Caleb. It very interesting to also note that the exodus movement is typical of the gathering of modern Israel out of the darkness of modern Egypt and spiritual Babylon to lead them into the heavenly Canaan.

The prophet of the remnant church commenting on these verses she had this to say…

“It was not the will of God that Israel should wander forty years in the wilderness; he desired to lead them directly to the land of Canaan, and establish them there, a holy, happy people. “—GC p 458

“For forty years did unbelief, murmuring, and rebellion shut out ancient Israel from the land of Canaan. The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan.…It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord's professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years.” 1SM p 69

It appears that we are repeating the history of the children of Israel. And the problem did not start now as early prior as 1888 Ellen G. White was shown that time was short . Please take note of the dates of the quotes…
Because time is short, we should work with diligence and double energy. Our children may never enter college.--3T 159 (1872). {LDE 36.4}

It is really not wise to have children now. Time is short, the perils of the last days are upon us, and the little children will be largely swept off before this.--Letter 48, 1876. LDE 36

In this age of the world, as the scenes of earth's history are soon to close and we are about to enter upon the time of trouble such as never was, the fewer the marriages contracted the better for all, both men and women.--5T 366 (1885). LDE 37

The hour will come; it is not far distant, and some of us who now believe will be alive upon the earth, and shall see the prediction verified, and hear the voice of the archangel and the trump of God echo from mountain and plain and sea to the uttermost parts of the earth.--RH July 31, 1888. LDE 37

I know that if the people of God had preserved a living connection with Him, if they had obeyed His Word, they would today be in the heavenly Canaan. --General Conference Bulletin, March 30, 1903.

It is clear from the above quotes that we should not have been born. But here we are today let us not repeat the mistakes that our fathers made. We live in times when truth is rejected , error accepted, families disconnected, youth misdirected , immoral people respected, communities crime infected and only chaos is expected but God wants us to shine as lights in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.

Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.”-COL p 69.


How Long Will the Mansions Be Empty…

MY CONVERSATION WITH GOD

Vince: So God, From 2 Peter 3:9, I understand that You are not willing that anybody at all should die, but what I want to know is this hell fire everyone seems to go on about. What's the go with that?

God: Oh yes, Hell fire, yes, a lot of people teach about that, but you know what the funny thing is? I'll tell you in Hebrews 12:29, why dont you look it up.

Vince: Okay, I have it here, Hebrews 12:29: "For our God [is] a consuming fire."

God: Hey, you are doing well! I am a consuming fire to sin wherever it is.

Vince: Okay, that is fair enough, but what about the wicked and Sinners burning forever and ever without end. So in other words, do they just feel pain forever?.

God: Ah, Malachi 4:1-3 (KJV): "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.

Vince: Oh right, so what exactly am I ment to pick out?

God: Tell me, if the wicked are in a state as it says in Malachi 4:1-3, will they by alive for eternity? It says that the wicked will be as "stuble", and "And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet", I don't know about you, but ashes under the soles of your feet doesn't sound like someone that is alive. Just from that one verse, you could say that the wicked will eventually die and disappear, not live forever in pain and turmoil.

Vince: Oh right, but what if that is just the one verse that mentions the wicked actually destroyed and not living forever in punishment?

God: Psalms 37:10, "For yet a little while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be]."

Vince: I see, so the wicked will eventually not exist, and as the says in the last part of that verse, you might try finding the wicked, but "it shall not be", or you will not find them, because they "will not be" or will cease to exist.

God: Exactly and here is just a few more, because I know that you are one that needs more proof at times.

Vince: Oh, there are more verses?

God: Psalms 37:20, "But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD [shall be] as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away."

Vince: Okay, fair enough

God: Oh, and Psalms 37:36, (speaking of the wicked) "Yet he passed away, and, lo, he [was] not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found."

Vince: Okay okay, I get it now, but what about the passages in the Bible like Matthew 25:46?

God: Well, you read from your Bible and tell me what it says

Vince: okay, it says, "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal."

God: You just answered your question

Vince: What? How?

God: Note that the text says "everlasting punishment". It is a single punishment whose effect lasts forever, i.e. the punishment will be everlasting.

Vince: Okay, you are seriously going to have to explain that one God

God: That's alright, read Jude 1:7 "Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Vince: Well what do you know, it even says that Sodom and Gomorrha were examples of what happens to the wicked

God: And notice how it says that they suffered the vengeance of eternal fire? Tell me, is Sodom and Gomorrha still burning today?

Vince: ummm... No, Oh, now I get you, it's this whole the "effects of the punishment or fire is eternal" thing the Bible is talking about right?

God: Exactly, Sodom and Gomorrah are examples of everlasting punishment and eternal fire. These cities lie in ruins today.

Vince: That reminds me of 2 Peter 2:6 "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned [them] with an overthrow, making [them] an example unto those that after should live ungodly. . ."

God: That is right, and I even went to the extent of adding that Sodom and Gomorrha were examples of what happens to the wicked.

Vince: Oh yes, I am beginning to get the picture now.

God: Now try Matthew 3:11, 12 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and [with] fire: Whose fan [is] in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire". In other words, the fire cannot be quenched or put out until it completes its work of totally eradicating sin from the universe.

Vince: Oh, now it is getting more clearer

God: Jeremiah 17:19-27 ". . .Thus saith the LORD. . .if ye will not hearken unto me . . . then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched."

Vince: Oh, I see that it said that Jerusalem was destroyed with unquenchable fire

God: Right, Jerusalem was destroyed by an unquenchable fire which human hands could not put out. It completed its work of totally destroying Jerusalem, yet Jerusalem is not burning today

Vince: And why didn't I see it this clearly before?

God: All you had to do was read the Bible and hold a conversation with me

Vince: So please explain more to me this concept of eternity, eternal fire etc.

God: Revelation 20:10 "And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet [are], and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever". This has always been the big one, but it means that the wicked will be destroyed forever. Forever does not always mean endless existence but is literally translated "until the end of age".

God: To illustrate, in Exodus 21:6 "hen his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever". The slave here is required to serve his master forever, or in other words, as long as he lives.

Vince: Oh! Now I get it!

God: There are many examples of this, even in 1 Samuel 1:22,28, Samuel was presented before the Lord to serve God forever. We know that Samuel isn't alive today. Forever here once again means, for as long as he lives

Vince: Thank you God.

God: Vincent study my Word always and keep in touch every second…….and Very soon you will be with Me forever.

GOOD-BYE PLANET EARTH

“Goodbye Planet Earth” what a nice title for a sermon just before we leave the planet earth. Oh what a day that will be when we shall say goodbye planet earth, see you in a thousand years when you have been created anew. That's the day when we shall bid farewell to this world of sorrow and sin. Yes they will be joy, the joy of seeing Jesus Christ.

This title does not only revive the hope of seeing my Saviour face to face but it also reminds me of the man who longed to see Jesus come during his life time. This man is none other than Robert H. Pierson. I believe it was this excitement and a longing for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ that made him to author the book “GOOD-BYE PLANET EARTH”

His love to see Jesus come is also revealed by his appeal at the 1973 Annual Council. He appealed to the church for a revival and a reformation of true godliness but unfortunate because of the lack of interest by both laity and leadership to this appeal was later described by him as "the greatest disappointment in my life".

His disappointment is seen in the following poem…

In my dream one night I seemed to be
In the earth made new by the crystal sea.
I walked and talked with my Saviour dear,
And viewed the mansions so bright, so clear.
Their beauty was breathless, so gloriously fair
But alas, not a soul was dwelling there.

‘They are all empty'–twas my Masters voice
‘Not My will,' He choked–‘'tis my people's choice.
Long years ago I would have brought them home
Earth's jaded paths no more to roam.
But I'm not just sure that they want to come;
The tinseled world still appeals to some.
I long to have my saved ones here
Right by My side, so near, so near.
Instead I wait, and wait , and wait,
While My loved ones down there still hesitate.'

‘Twas now my turn some words to say,
As we walked and talked on the heavenly way.
‘How long, dear Lord, have we made You wait
To welcome us in through that pearly gate
Long years ago should the work be done
And God's loved ones home with His blessed Son.
Dear Saviour God, what can we do
To haste that homeward flight with You?

‘How can I tell them on earth down there
How much You love, how much You care?
How You long to fill these mansions here
With precious souls to You so dear?
Lord, tell me now, what can I say?
To make them want to haste that day?'

The Saviour paused as he made reply
‘Remind them now why I went to die,
‘Twas to bring them home to be with Me
To fill these mansions, oh, can't they see
How much each one of them mean to Me
I must have them all for eternity!'

Now I'm back on earth–yet twas all so real
My heart still burns with my Lord's appeal.
His poignant words ring in my ears
I long to assuage my Saviour's fears--
‘I'm just not sure that they want to come
The tinsled world still appeals to some--
My friends, do we truly long to go home today,
Or are we quite content in our world to stay?
By Robert H. Pierson


As I contemplate on these words and think about Jesus' love “John 3:16” I also think of the words of one of the most helpful bible commentaries...

"Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ is perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own."~Christ's Object Lessons, page 69

The questions is How long will the mansions be empty

Why Empty Mansions

Someone may ask why the blog title “Empty Mansions”. I must admit that this is not the title I had in mind at first when I started this blog. “ALMOST HOME” was the choice after the quote that has always been ringing at the back of my mind since I have been redeemed. In the book “Our High Calling” chapter 361 E G White said:

The time of tarrying is almost ended. The pilgrims and strangers who have so long been seeking a better country are almost home. I feel as if I must cry aloud, Homeward bound! Rapidly we are nearing the time when Christ will come to gather His redeemed to Himself.--Review and Herald, Nov. 13, 1913.

Yes we have a home up above; a home where there is no sorrow, no grief, no tears and all is in perfect harmony.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. –Rev 21; 4

In John 13 when Jesus told His disciples that He was about to leave planet earth, the disciples they could not rejoice. Fear fell upon them. Jesus looking upon them with divine love gave them words full of hope. He pointed them away from "the things which are seen," to "the things which are not seen." 2 Corinthians 4:18. From earthly exile He turned their thoughts to the heavenly home.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. –John 14:1-3

These are the words that have brought hope to every follower of Christ throughout all generations. This is the hope that burns within our hearts. And it is not a "hanging on hope" or "nothing left what else can I do hope". It is not a "wishful thinking hope". This is the blessed hope and it is rooted and grounded in the God of heaven the Author of hope. The book The Great Controversy records the most thrilling words ever:

“The coming of the Lord has been in all ages the hope of His true followers. The Saviour's parting promise upon Olivet, that He would come again, lighted up the future for His disciples, filling their hearts with joy and hope that sorrow could not quench nor trials dim. Amid suffering and persecution, the "appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ" was the "blessed hope." When the Thessalonian Christians were filled with grief as they buried their loved ones, who had hoped to live to witness the coming of the Lord, Paul, their teacher, pointed them to the resurrection, to take place at the Saviour's advent. Then the dead in Christ should rise, and together with the living be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. "And so," he said, "shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18.”—The Great Controversy p302

Yes this is the hope that burns within our hearts. Jesus gave the words about 2000 years ago and yet here we are today still longing for a day without death and a dawn that will wipe away the darkness. And mansions that await God’s people are still empty. How long will the promised mansions be empty? This is the question that prompted this blog.

THE TRIUMPH OF TRUTH

The whole world is in a state of retaliation.
Countless sins are committed with each rotation.
This is the cause of all retardation.
What follows after is more retrogration.
This may be called the age of modernization.
But the need continually increases for moralization.
Everywhere we look we see self–centralization,
When what is needed most is self–renunciation.

Satan is the cause of indignation.
He is the author of Babylon’s intoxication,
And seeks to keep God’s character in obscuration
To misrepresent God is his sole occupation;
And he never reveals his own reputation.
But the wise will avoid his deserved destination.

Now, Christ our Savior came to make reclamation
Of this sinful world in all its degradation.
His work was to make a complete revelation
Of God’s character in each situation,
And to make a sacrifice for our salvation.
All this was accomplished in Christ’s incarnation.
His perfect life destroyed all speculation,
For the angelic host were granted satisfying verification.
The Almighty’s character was given it’s rightful recognition.

Now only men needed the same restoration
From Satan’s deception and depreciation.
You know he is angry with much determination
To bring mankind to certain devastation.
Whoever is wise to shun damnation
Will listen to His words of exhortation.
Mankind isn’t headed for complete annihilation,
Because God has His people in every single nation.
These people, you see, have gone beyond justification;
For all have experienced total sanctification
In God’s judgment hour called investigation.

This is the process of entire extermination
Of all that’s called sin to its foundation.
They have all been made new, a recreation.
These are God’s people for His vindication,
And for His holy character, a grand manifestation.
Satan has no power or manipulation
Over these people of God in any location
Now you probably wonder the identification
Of the people portrayed in this illustration.

They can be found in God’s Revelation,
In chapter fourteen of much familiarization.
An interesting study without limitation
Is the hundred forty four thousand for God’s glorification.
A profound responsibility rests upon this population,
To be to the world a perfect representation,
To give God’s true character reconciliation,
And to the people of the earth this realization.

So let’s put to an end all procrastination,
For near is the end of our probation.
Short is the time of our liberation,
And nearer and nearer is the great tribulation.
The rapidity of the last movements is beyond imagination,
As the upswing begins its intensification.

Know and understand the interpretation.
Study to know without any cessation.
This age we are in is the last generation,
So come to the Lord in deep humiliation.
Be always ready for the great translation,
On the day of heaven’s glad celebration,
Where we shall spend the thousand year vacation.


This is the the amazing summary of the great controversy.