THE RAINBOW OF GOD’S GLORY, GOD’S
REMNANT PEOPLE & JOSEPH
Ezekiel 1:28, Psalms
3:3
God’s Glory Looks Like A Rainbow. God’s
Rainbow of Glory Is Given As A Shield and a Coat Of Many Colors Encircling His
People As A Sign Of His Favor. Like
Joseph’s Coat Of Many Colors Was Given To Him As A
Sign Of His Father’s Favor.
“All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the
clouds on a rainy day. THIS IS WHAT THE GLORY OF THE LORD LOOKED LIKE to me. When I saw it, I fell
face down on the ground, and I heard someone's voice speaking to me.” (NLT) Ezekiel
1:28 “And I saw the glory of the God of
Israel coming from the East. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and
the land was radiant with his glory.”
Ezekiel 43:2 “But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD.”
Numbers 14:21
“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right
hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.”
Revelation 1:17. "As he came near the place where I was standing, I was
terrified and fell prostrate. "Son of man,"
he said to me, "understand that the vision
concerns the time of the end." Daniel 8:17
“…Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs
the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple
worship and the promises.” Romans 9:4. "For ye have not received the
spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption,
whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15. "And not only they, but
ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our
body." Romans 8:23.
“Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in
a cloud, with a rainbow above his head;
his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.” Revelation
10:1
“I have set my rainbow in the clouds,
and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” Genesis 9:13
“Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake, do not disgrace the throne of
thy glory: remember, break not thy covenant with us.” Jeremiah 14:21
How does
Joseph’s coat of many colors and his dreams parallel to God’s people and the “professed
- in name only” “Christians” today?
Joseph was given a coat of many colors as a sign of his Father’s favor. God’s GLORY looks like a rainbow
and is given to His remnant people today as a sign of God’s favor and a
shield. Psalm
3:3.
“As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day
of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness round
about. This was the appearance of the likeness of the GLORY
of the Lord.” Ezekiel
1:28. God’s glory looks like a rainbow! God’s
glory is a coat of many colors for those who seek to put on Christ’s
righteousness. It is a shield to those who love God and strive to serve Him
alone in all they eat, think, say and do, to the glory of God.
God’s people,
the Remnant who are striving to be overcomers are surrounded by God’s glory,
like a coat of many colors. Encircled
by a rainbow of blended mercy
and justice, God’s people are given a coat of many colors and divine influences
as a sign of God’s favor. “When Christ came into the world, he said, “… but a body
have you prepared for me;” Hebrews 10:5. Jesus wants to inhabit us, live inside the midst of us and
surround us with His rainbow of glory as promised so long ago, as he inhabited
or dwelt in the human body God prepared for Jesus. The rainbow coat of glory encircling the remnant of God represents the
combined power of mercy and justice. Mercy invites us to enter through the
gates into the city of God, and justice is sacrificed to accord to every obedient
soul full privileges as a member of the royal family, a child of the heavenly
King.
"Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in
battle." Psalm 24:8 "But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine
head." Psalm 3:3.
The
rainbow of promised glory encircling the remnant who are striving to overcome
sin is an everlasting testimony that "God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life" (John 3: 16). It testifies to the universe that God
will never forsake His people in their struggle with evil. It is an assurance
to us of strength and protection as long as the throne itself shall endure. The
rainbow of promise is an assurance to every humble, contrite, believing soul,
that his life is one with Christ, and that Christ is one with God. The wrath
of God will not fall upon one soul that seeks refuge in Him. God Himself has
declared, "When I see the blood, I will pass over you." "The
bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the
everlasting covenant" (Ex. 12: 13; Gen. 9: 16).
1. 
Genesis 49:22-26 (KJV) "Joseph is a fruitful
bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: The
archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: But his bow
abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of
the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who
shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth
under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: The blessings of thy father
have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of
the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him
that was separate from his brethren."
Separate
from modern professed Adventists/Christian’s who “say” they are “Adventists/Christians”
but are not. Revelation 2:9 says, “I know thy 
works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art
rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say
they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue
of Satan.” “Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews,
and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship
before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” Revelation 3:9. Remember all
the sheaf’s bowed to Joseph’s Sheaf in his dream?
“Glory ye in
his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that
seek the LORD.” 1 Chronicles 16:10. "Give unto the LORD, ye kindreds of the people,
give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come
before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." 1 Chronicles
16:28-29.
“Everyone who has a realizing sense of what it means
to be a Christian, will purify himself from everything
that weakens and defiles. All the habits of his life will be brought into
harmony with the requirements of the Word of truth, and he will not only
believe, but will work out his own salvation with fear and trembling, while
submitting to the molding of the Holy Spirit.”—The Review and Herald, March 6,
1888.
Jesus Accepts Our Intentions
“When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are
put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man’s best
service, and HE MAKES UP FOR THE DEFICIENCY WITH HIS OWN DIVINE MERIT.
But He will not accept those who claim to have faith in Him, and yet are
disloyal to His Father’s commandment. We hear a great deal about faith, but we
need to hear a great deal more about works. Many are deceiving their own souls
by living an easygoing, accommodating, crossless
religion. But Jesus says, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross, and follow me.”—The Signs of the Times, June 16, 1890.
"There is before the church (individual people
who love God and keep His comandments) the dawn of a
bright, glorious day, if she will put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness,
withdrawing from all allegiance to the world. God calls upon
His faithful ones, who believe in Him, to talk courage to those who are
unbelieving and hopeless. Turn to the Lord, ye prisoners of hope. Seek
strength from God, the living God. Show an unwavering, humble faith in His
power and His willingness to save. When in faith we take hold of His strength,
He will change, wonderfully change, the most hopeless, discouraging outlook. He
will do this for the glory of His name." PROPHETS AND KINGS, PAGE 260
"I turn my face to the Sun of Righteousness, and dwell with pleasure
upon the Saviour’s willingness to pardon my sins and sanctify my soul. It is by
beholding that we may reflect Christs image. The
transforming power of grace can make me a partaker of the divine nature. On
Christ the glory of God has shone, and by looking upon Christ, contemplating
His self-sacrifice, remembering that in Him dwells all the fulness
of the Godhead bodily, the believer is drawn closer and closer to the Source of
power. His love in our hearts leads us to seek for lost sheep. By working to
win souls to Christ, believers give evidence of their love for Him. The path
that He trod is the one in which His children will choose to follow." MANUSCRIPT
RELEASES VOLUME NINETEEN [NOS. 1360-1419], PAGE 295.
Chapter 40—God’s People Delivered
When
the protection of human laws shall be withdrawn from those who honor the law of God, there will be, in different
lands, a simultaneous movement for their destruction. As
the time appointed in the decree DRAWS NEAR (To kill all those who do not keep Sunday Holy – the mark of the
beast - and worship the trinity of gods), the people will conspire to root out
the hated sect (little flock).
It will be determined to strike in one night a decisive blow, which
shall utterly silence the voice of dissent and reproof.
The
people of God—some in prison cells, some hidden in solitary retreats in the
forests and the mountains—still plead for divine protection, while in every
quarter companies of armed men, urged on by hosts of evil angels, are preparing
for the work of death. It is now, in the hour of utmost extremity,
that the God of Israel will interpose for the deliverance of His chosen.
Saith the Lord; “Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is
kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth ... to come into the mountain of
the Lord, to the Mighty One of Israel. And the Lord shall cause His glorious
voice to be heard, and shall show the lighting down of His arm, with the indignation
of His anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, and
tempest, and hailstones.” Isaiah
30:29, 30.
With
shouts of triumph, jeering, and imprecation, throngs of evil men are about to
rush upon their prey, when, lo, a dense blackness, deeper than the darkness of
the night, falls upon the earth. Then a RAINBOW, SHINING WITH THE GLORY from the throne of God, spans the heavens AND
SEEMS TO ENCIRCLE EACH PRAYING COMPANY. The angry multitudes are suddenly arrested. Their mocking
cries die away. The objects of their murderous rage are forgotten. With fearful
forebodings they gaze upon the symbol of God’s covenant and long to be shielded
from its overpowering brightness.
By the people of God a voice, clear and melodious, is heard,
saying, “Look up,” and lifting their eyes to the heavens, they behold the bow
of promise. The black, angry clouds that covered the firmament are parted, and
like Stephen they look up steadfastly into heaven and see the glory of God and
the Son of man seated upon His throne. In His divine form they discern the
marks of His humiliation; and from His lips they hear the request presented
before His Father and the holy angels: “I
will that they also, whom Thou hast given Me, be with
Me where I am.” John
17:24. Again
a voice, musical and triumphant, is heard, saying: “They come! they come! holy,
harmless, and undefiled. They have kept the word of My
patience; they shall walk among the angels;” and the pale, quivering
lips of those who have held fast their faith utter a shout of victory.
It is at midnight that God manifests His power for the
deliverance of His people. The sun appears, shining in its strength. Signs
and wonders follow in quick succession. The wicked look
with terror and amazement upon the scene, while
the righteous behold with solemn joy the tokens of their deliverance.
Everything in nature seems turned out of its course. The streams cease to flow.
Dark, heavy clouds come up and clash against each other. In the midst of the
angry heavens is one clear space of indescribable glory, whence comes the voice
of God like the sound of many waters, saying: “It is done.” Revelation
16:17.” –{The Great Controversy, Page 635-636}
THE RAINBOW OF PROMISE ENCIRCLING THE THRONE ON HIGH IS AN EVERLASTING PROMISE
Encircled by a Rainbow
Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne
. . . and there was a rainbow round about the throne. Rev. 4: 2, 3.
The rainbow of promise
encircling the throne on high is an everlasting testimony that "God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3: 16). It
testifies to the universe that God will never forsake His people in their
struggle with evil. It is an assurance to us of strength and protection as long
as the throne itself shall endure.
As the
bow in the cloud is formed by the union of the sunlight and the shower, so the rainbow encircling the throne
represents the combined power of mercy and justice. It is not justice alone
that is to be maintained; for this would eclipse the glory of the rainbow of
promise above the throne; man could see only the penalty of the law. Were there
no justice, no penalty, there would be no stability to the government of God.
It is
the mingling of judgment and mercy that makes salvation full and complete. It
is the blending of the two that leads us, as we view the world's Redeemer and
the law of Jehovah, to exclaim, "Thy gentleness hath made me great"
(2 Sam. 22: 36). We know that the gospel is a perfect and complete system,
revealing the immutability of the law of God. . . . Mercy invites us to enter
through the gates into the city of God, and justice is sacrificed to accord to
every obedient soul full privileges as a member of the royal family, a child of
the heavenly King.
By
faith let us look upon the rainbow round about the throne, the cloud of sins
confessed behind it. The rainbow of promise is an assurance to every humble,
contrite, believing soul, that his life is one with Christ, and that Christ is
one with God. The wrath of God will not fall upon one soul that seeks refuge in
Him. God Himself has declared, "When I see the blood, I will pass over
you." "The bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I
may remember the everlasting covenant" (Ex. 12: 13; Gen. 9: 16). From God's
Amazing Grace - Page 68
JOSEPH’S TWO DREAMS
OF HIS SHEAF STANDING TALL, AND THE REST BOWING TO HIS STRAIGHT SHEAF, AND THE
SUN MOON AND STARS.
9 “Behold,
I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say (professed) they are Jews
(Adventists or professed “Christians” in name only), and are not, but do lie;
behold, I will make them to come and
worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.” Revelation
3:9 (KJV)
"You think, that those who worship before the saint's feet, (Revelation 3:9), will
at last be saved. Here I must differ with you; for God shew me that this class were professed
Adventists, who had fallen away, and `crucified to themselves the Son of
God afresh, and put Him to an open shame.' And in the `hour of temptation,'
which is yet to come, to show out every one's true character, they will know
that they are forever lost; and overwhelmed with anguish of spirit, they will bow at the saint's feet"
A Word to the Little Flock, p 12.
How much time is involved from the synagogue of Satan worshiping at the feet of
the saints, until the coming of Christ?
"...a
number of days, the Synagogue of Satan worshiped at the saints feet"
Day-Star articles, p 22, February 27, 1846, Ellen Harmon White.
"Soon our eyes were drawn to the east, for a small black cloud had
appeared, about half as large as a man's hand, which we all knew was the sign
of the Son of man" Early Writings, p 15.
"Soon
appeared the great white cloud, upon which sat the Son of man. When it first
appeared in the distance, this cloud looked very small" Early Writings, p
286.
So the 7 last
plagues do not take a "long" time to fall upon the unrepentant wicked
(not 3 1/2 years), nor is the mental anguish of the saints prolonged a
"long" time during the time of Jacob's trouble (not 1260 days or 42
months).
The time
involved--from probation closing until Christ's coming--is not
"long," but "soon." Remember, "Probation is ended a short
time before the appearing of the Lord in the clouds of heaven" Great
Controversy, p
490.
So, what are we to do now?
"Let us strive with all the power that God has
given us to be among the hundred and forty-four thousand." Bible Commentary, vol
7, p 970 col 2.
“There was one, however, of a widely
different character—the elder son of Rachel, Joseph, whose rare personal beauty
seemed but to reflect an inward beauty of mind and heart. Pure, active, and
joyous, the lad gave evidence also of moral earnestness and firmness. He
listened to his father’s instructions, and loved to obey God. The qualities
that afterward distinguished him in Egypt—gentleness, fidelity, and
truthfulness—were already manifest in his daily life.
His mother being dead, his affections clung the more closely to the father, and
Jacob’s heart was bound up in this child of his old age. He “loved Joseph more
than all his children.”
But even this affection was to become a
cause of trouble and sorrow. Jacob unwisely manifested his preference for
Joseph, and this excited the jealousy of his other sons. As Joseph witnessed
the evil conduct of his brothers, he was greatly troubled; he ventured gently
to remonstrate with them, but only aroused still further their hatred and
resentment. He could not endure to see them sinning against God, and he laid
the matter before his father, hoping that his authority might lead them to
reform.
Jacob carefully avoided exciting their
anger by harshness or severity. With deep emotion he expressed his solicitude
for his children, and implored them to have respect for his gray hairs, and not
to bring reproach upon his name, and above all not to dishonor God by such
disregard of His precepts. Ashamed that their wickedness was known, the young
men seemed to be repentant, but they only concealed their real feelings, which
were rendered more bitter by this exposure.
The father’s
injudicious gift to Joseph of a costly coat, or tunic, such as was
usually worn by persons of distinction, seemed to them another evidence of his
partiality, and excited a suspicion that he intended to pass by his elder
children, to bestow the birthright upon the son of Rachel. Their malice was
still further increased as the boy one day told them of a dream that
he had had. “Behold,” he said, “we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo,
my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves
stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.”
“Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?” exclaimed his
brothers in envious anger.
Soon he had another
dream, of similar import, which he also related: “Behold, the sun and the moon
and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” This dream was interpreted as
readily as the first. The father, who was present, spoke reprovingly—“What is
this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren
indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?” Notwithstanding the
apparent severity of his words, Jacob believed that the Lord was revealing the
future to Joseph.
As the lad stood before his brothers,
his beautiful countenance lighted up with the Spirit of inspiration, they could
not withhold their admiration; but they did not choose to renounce their evil
ways, and they hated the purity that reproved their sins. The same spirit that
actuated Cain was kindling in their hearts.” PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS, PAGE
209-210
THE
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
December 18, 1879
The Great Controversy Between
Christ and His Angels and Satan and his Angels
Chapter 15—Jacob and Joseph
By Mrs. E. G. White
Of the twelve sons of Jacob, the
one for whom he had special love was Joseph; for he was the son of his beloved
wife Rachel, and one of the children of his old age. He was a son of remarkable beauty.
His oldest sons had arrived at manhood, and had developed unhappy traits of character. There was continual strife
among the eleven; they were neither just nor benevolent toward each other. The
envy and jealousy which were cherished by the several mothers making the family
relation very unhappy, were instilled by word and
example into the minds and hearts of the children, who grew up revengeful,
jealous, and uncontrollable. They would not endure provocation, for they had
too long cherished hatred and revenge. These evils will ever be found to be the
result of polygamy. Each of the mothers is envious and jealous lest her own
children shall not receive due attention from the father; and again they
experience bitterness and discontent whenever they are made to feel that
another is preferred before them. Children who grow up together surrounded by
such elements are most likely to indulge in resentment for every supposed
slight, and revenge for any imaginary wrongs. There is that in polygamy which
dries up human affection, and tempts to the loosening of ties which should be
held sacred.
Jacob’s life was made very bitter by the conduct of
his sons. Joseph had another spirit; he was cheerful and happy, and possessed
great love for his father whose heart was bound up in his child. This
preference for Joseph was unwisely manifested, and called out the revengeful
disposition of his other sons. When Joseph saw the wicked course pursued by his
brethren he remonstrated with them; but they hated him for his entreaties, and
for daring to reprove them who were so much older than he, and accused him of
being a spy upon their actions. As Joseph saw that his words and entreaties
only excited wrath against himself, he laid the plans and evil purposes of his
brethren before his father, which gave him knowledge of many things he
otherwise would not have known. The fathers of children among the Hebrews were
made responsible in a great degree for the sins of their children, when they
were left without the exercise of authority and restraint. When the father’s
solicitude was expressed to his sons in a voice tremulous with grief, and he
implored them to have respect for his gray hairs and not make his name a
reproach, and to be despised because of their course, the sons felt sorry and
ashamed before their father, because their wickedness was known, but felt
envious and jealous of Joseph because he had informed his father of their
course of sin. Jacob flattered himself that his sons repented of their
wickedness, and he trusted they would reform.
Jacob
unwisely gave expression to his love for Joseph in making him a present of a coat of beautiful colors (rainbow colors?).
This only increased the hatred of his brothers against him; for they thought
Joseph had stolen their father’s affections from them, and they considered
themselves ill treated and deprived of their father’s confidence and love. They
did not see that their own wicked course was a continual shame and disgrace to
his gray hairs, and that his affections centered upon Joseph because of his
purity and true excellence of character.
The Lord
gave Joseph a dream which he related; Jacob would have been
alarmed had he suspected the hatred and malicious feelings
this dream aroused in the hearts of his sons against his beloved
child. Joseph dreamed that while they were all engaged binding
sheaves of grain, his sheaf arose and stood upright, and the sheaves
of all the rest stood round about and bowed before his sheaf. No sooner
was his dream related than they all understood its significance. His
brothers exclaimed with indignation, “Shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?”
Their hatred toward him burned deeper in their hearts than before. Soon the
Lord gave Joseph another dream of the same import, but more
strikingly significant. This dream he also related to his father and
his brethren. He said, “Behold I have
dreamed a dream more, and, behold, the sun and the moon and the
eleven stars made obeisance to me.” The interpretation of
this dream was quite as quickly discerned as was that of the first.
“And his father rebuked him, and said unto him, what is
this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy
brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his
brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.”
Like a youthful prophet Joseph stood
before them in the simplicity of virtuous innocence, his beautiful countenance
lighted up with the spirit of inspiration. His brethren could but admire his
purity and goodness; but they did not choose to leave their wicked course and
become virtuous and noble like him. The spirit that actuated Cain was fastening
upon them. Like him they hated their brother because he was innocent and
righteous and beloved of his father, while they were wicked and a source of
grief to their father as Cain was to his father.
Joseph’s father had confidence that the Lord was
revealing the future to his son; but his words of apparent severity did not
satisfy his elder sons, for the voice of tremulous affection betrayed his true
feelings. He called to mind the promise of God to Abraham, to Isaac, and to
himself. His heart had been grieved and disappointed in his older sons, but as
he saw the qualities of mind possessed by Joseph, his hopes centered in him. He
hoped that God would wonderfully bless him, the eldest son of his beloved
Rachel. The favor with which Jacob regarded Joseph could not be concealed, and
the GORGEOUS COLORED COAT which he
had given him was a clear evidence to his sons of his partiality. This they
thought gave them sufficient reason for harboring jealousy, hatred, and revenge
in their hearts.
These brothers were obliged to move
from place to place in order to secure better pasturage for their flocks, and
sometimes they did not see their father for months. At one time Jacob directed
them to go to Shechem, a place which he had
purchased. After they had been gone some time, and he had received no word from
them he feared that evil might have befallen them, knowing that they were near
where their cruelty had been practiced upon the Shechemites.
So he sent Joseph to Shechem to find his brethren,
and bring him word of their condition. Had Jacob known the true feelings of his
sons toward Joseph, he would not have trusted him alone with them; but they had
concealed their wicked purposes from him.
When Joseph arrived at the place where his father
supposed his brethren were, he did not find them. As he was traveling from field to
field in search of them, a stranger learned his errand and told him they had
gone to Dothan. He had already traveled fifty miles, and, a distance of fifteen
more lay before him. This was a long journey for the youth; but he performed it
cheerfully, desiring to relieve the anxiety of his beloved father, and longing
to see his brethren who were enshrined in his affections. But he was illy repaid for his love and obedience.
At length he saw his brethren in the distance
and hastened to greet them. They also saw him coming, his gay colored coat making him easily recognized; but as they
beheld it, their feelings of envy, jealousy, and hatred, were
aroused. They did not consider the long journey he had made on foot to meet
them; they did not think of his weariness and hunger, and that as their brother
he had claims upon their hospitality, their tender consideration and brotherly
love. The sight of that coat which
signalized him in the distance filled them with a Satanic
frenzy. “And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them,
they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold,
this dreamer cometh.”
There seemed to be a common feeling of deadly hatred
in their hearts. They had engaged in carnage and destruction until their
feelings had become calloused. The indulgence of one known sin deadens the
conscience so that it is more easily overcome with the next temptation. Thus
step by step the course of sin and transgression is pursued until there is a
harvest of crime through the indulgence of the first sin. These men regardless
of the consequences, had passed on from stage, to
stage hardening their hearts in the indulgence of sin until they had to all
intents and purposes the spirit of Cain. They were enraged that Joseph had
heretofore informed against them, and they looked upon him as a spy.
They had ere this decided that if a
favorable opportunity offered they would slay him; the proposition was made, “Come now, therefore,
and let us slay him, and cast him into
some pit, and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall
see what will become of his dreams.”
This terrible purpose would have been carried out had
not Reuben shrunk from participating in the murder of his brother. He plead for Joseph, showing with clear arguments what guilt
would ever rest upon them, and, that the curse of God would come upon them for
such a crime. He proposed to have him cast alive into a pit, and left there to
perish, meaning to take him out privately and return him to his father. He left
their company, fearing that his feelings would betray his design.
Joseph came on,
glad and joyful that the object of his long search was accomplished. But, instead of a pleasant
greeting, he met only scorn, abuse, and fierceness of looks which terrified
him. He was immediately seized, and the
coat which had created so much hatred, was stripped from him with the most
taunting remarks. He had never before received such treatment and he
expected his brethren would immediately kill him. His mind runs back to his
home, his father, and the blessing he had received as he parted from him, and
then he anticipated the sorrow he would feel at his death and the guilt of his
murderers. He entreated them to spare his life, but all to no avail; he was
helpless in the hands of infuriated men whose hearts were insensible to pity,
and whose ears were deaf to the cry of anguish. But the eye of God was upon
him, and Joseph’s cries of distress reached his throne. His brethren thrust him
into a dark pit and then sat down to enjoy their customary meal. But while they
were eating, they saw a company of Ishmaelites (Ishmaelites today:
Islam. The word Islam means 'submission' – in the Bible called “Scorpions” &
“Locusts” the Caliphate similar to the Papacy… Watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xCdehrV96U) approaching, and Judah, who was beginning to regret
what had been done, suggested that here was an opportunity to sell their
brother and obtain money, which would be better than leaving him to perish in
the pit; for said he, is he not our own flesh? Then, too, Judah thought that he
could be disposed of by being removed entirely from them. All agreed to the
proposition of Judah; Joseph was drawn up out of the pit, and heartlessly sold
as a slave.” THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES January 8, 1880.
You
also think, that Michael stood up, and the time of trouble commenced, in the
spring of 1844.
The
Lord has shown me in vision, that Jesus rose up, and shut the door, and entered
the Holy of Holies, at the 7th month 1844; but Michael's standing up (Dan.
12:1) to deliver his people, is in the future.
This
will not take place, until Jesus has finished his priestly office in the
Heavenly Sanctuary, and lays off his priestly attire, and puts on his most
kingly robes, and crown, to ride forth on the cloudy chariot, to "thresh
the heathen in anger," and deliver his people.
Then
Jesus will have the sharp sickle in his hand, (Rev. 14:14) and THEN THE SAINTS
WILL CRY DAY AND NIGHT TO JESUS ON THE CLOUD, TO THRUST IN HIS SHARP SICKLE AND
REAP.
This
will be the time of Jacob's trouble, (Jer. 30:5-8) out of which, the saints
will be delivered by the voice of God.
I
believe the Sanctuary, to be cleansed at the end of the 2,300 days, is the New
Jerusalem Temple, of which Christ is a minister. The Lord shew me in vision, more than one
year ago, that Brother Crosier had the true light, on the cleansing of the
Sanctuary; and that it was his will, that Brother C. should write out the view
which he gave us in the Day-Star, Extra, February 7, 1846. I feel fully authorized by the Lord, to
recommend that Extra, to every saint.
Even those whose course has been most
offensive to Him He freely accepts. When they repent, He imparts to them His
divine Spirit, and sends them forth into the camp of the disloyal to proclaim
His mercy. Souls that have been degraded into instruments of Satan are still,
through the power of Christ, transformed into messengers of righteousness and
are sent forth to tell how great things the Lord hath done for them and hath
had compassion on them. "My Praise Shall Be Continually of Thee." The
gifts which the gospel offers are not to be secured by stealth or enjoyed in
secret. Not only did the demoniacs tell their own households and neighbors
about Jesus, but they went throughout Decapolis, everywhere declaring His power
to save and describing how He had freed them from the demons."Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, That I am God." Isaiah
43:12. Jesus, but they went throughout Decapolis, everywhere declaring His
power to save and describing how He had freed them from the demons."Ye are
My witnesses, saith the Lord, That I am God."
Isaiah 43:12.
It is so
tempting to worry when we are under trials and cares, but this beautiful
reading from Steps to Christ on page 86 is very uplifting!! It is my sincere
prayer that we can all take courage from these beautiful words!!~~ “From the
stars that in their trackless courses through space follow from age to age
their appointed path, down to the minutest atom, the things of nature obey the
Creator's will. And God cares for everything and sustains everything that He
has created. He who upholds the unnumbered worlds throughout immensity, at the
same time cares for the wants of the little brown sparrow that sings its humble
song without fear. When men go forth to their daily toil, as when they engage
in prayer; when they lie down at night, and when they rise in the morning; when
the rich man feasts in his palace, or when the poor man gathers his children
about the scanty board, each is tenderly watched by the heavenly Father. No
tears are shed that God does not notice. There is no smile that He does not
mark.
If we would but fully believe
this, all undue anxieties would be dismissed. Our lives would not be so filled
with disappointment as now; for everything, whether great or small, would be
left in the hands of God, who is not perplexed by the multiplicity of cares, or
overwhelmed by their weight. We should then enjoy a rest of soul to which many
have long been strangers.
As your senses delight in the
attractive loveliness of the earth, think of the world that is to come, that
shall never know the blight of sin and death; where the face of nature will no
more wear the shadow of the curse. Let your imagination picture the home of the
saved, and remember that it will be more glorious than your brightest
imagination can portray. In the varied gifts of God in nature we see but the
faintest gleaming of His glory. It is written, "Eye hath not seen, nor ear
heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath
prepared for them that love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9.
Genesis 37:1-10 ESV / Jacob lived in the land of his father's
sojournings, in the land of Canaan. These are the
generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the
flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah
and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a
bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other
of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of
many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than
all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. Now
Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even
more. ...
Joel 1:1-20 ESV / The word of the Lord that came to Joel,
the son of Pethuel: Hear this, you elders; give ear,
all inhabitants of the land! Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the
days of your fathers? Tell your children of it, and let your children tell
their children, and their children to another generation. What the cutting
locust left, the swarming locust has eaten. What the swarming locust left, the
hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust
left, the destroying locust has eaten. Awake, you drunkards, and weep, and
wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it is cut off
from your mouth. ...
Revelation 14:1 ESV / Then I looked, and behold, on Mount
Zion stood the Lamb, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's
name written on their foreheads.
Romans 12:1-21 ESV / I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by
the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this
world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may
discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For
by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself
more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each
according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we
have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we,
though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
...
John 5:19 ESV / So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I
say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the
Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.
Psalm 40:6-8 ESV / In
sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, but you have given me an open
ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required. Then I said,
“Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight
to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
Revelation 15:2-5 ESV / And I saw what appeared to be a sea of
glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its
image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps
of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and
the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the
Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not
fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will
come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” After this I
looked, and the sanctuary of the tent of witness in heaven was opened,
Revelation 13:5-7 ESV / And
the beast was given a mouth uttering haughty and blasphemous words, and it was
allowed to exercise authority for forty-two months. It opened its mouth to
utter blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his dwelling, that is,
those who dwell in heaven. Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to
conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and
language and nation,
Revelation 12:17 ESV / Then the dragon became furious with the
woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep
the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. And he stood on the
sand of the sea.
Revelation 12:4 ESV / His tail swept down a third of the
stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the
woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child he might
devour it.
Revelation 5:13 ESV / And I heard every creature in heaven
and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them,
saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor
and glory and might forever and ever!”
Hebrews 4:12 ESV / For the word of God is living and
active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and
of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions
of the heart.
2 Thessalonians
2:8-12 ESV / And
then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the
breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The
coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false
signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing,
because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends
them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that
all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in
unrighteousness.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV / For
we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the
spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 5:1-33 ESV / Therefore be imitators of God, as
beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for
us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all
impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of
place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that
everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an
idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ...
2 Corinthians 2:14-17 ESV / But thanks be to God, who in Christ
always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance
of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among
those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance
from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is
sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's
word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we
speak in Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:1-31 ESV / Now
concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You
know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you
were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit
of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except
in the Holy Spirit. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and
there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; ...
Romans 9:22-26 ESV / What if God, desiring to show his wrath
and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath
prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for
vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he
has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? As indeed he
says in Hosea, “Those who were not my people I will call ‘my people,’ and her
who was not beloved I will call ‘beloved.’” “And in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my
people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’”
Romans 8:28 ESV / And
we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for
those who are called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:18-23 ESV / 2 helpful votes
For
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing
with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation
waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the
creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who
subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its
bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of
God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the
pains of childbirth until now. ...
Romans 1:18-25 ESV / For
the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and
unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For
what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation
of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give
thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish
hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ...
Acts 17:24-28 ESV / The God who made the world and everything
in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,
nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself
gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And he made from one man
every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined
allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way
toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for
“‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets
have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
Acts 2:1-47 ESV / When
the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly
there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the
entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared
to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy
Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under
heaven. ...
John 20:22 ESV / And
when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy
Spirit.
John 17:1-26 ESV / When Jesus had spoken these words, he
lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify
your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over
all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is
eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you
have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave
me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence
with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. ...
John 16:9-11 ESV / Concerning
sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go
to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the
ruler of this world is judged.
John 16:1-33 ESV / I
have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put
you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you
will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because
they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have
said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I
told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning,
because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you
asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ ...
John 15:5 ESV / I am the vine; you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears
much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
John 9:4 ESV / We must work the works of him who sent
me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.
John 3:8 ESV / The wind blows where it wishes, and you
hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it
is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Luke 24:32 ESV / They said to each other, “Did not our
hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us
the Scriptures?”
Matthew 12:43 ESV / “When the unclean spirit has gone out
of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none.
Matthew 5:44-48 ESV / But I say to you, Love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is
in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good,
and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love
you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And
if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not
even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Romans 5:15-19 ESV / But the free gift is not like the
trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace
of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for
many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the
judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift
following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's
trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive
the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through
the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for
all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all
men. For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the
one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
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