God
Refers to His Church
as
Jerusalem
and New Jerusalem
"The Bible for Our
Time.--Never are we absent from the mind of God. God is our joy and our
salvation. Each of the ancient prophets spoke
less for their own time than for ours, so that their prophesying is in force
for us. 'Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are
written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come' (1 Cor.
10:11). 'Not unto themselves, but unto us they
did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have
preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven which
things the angels desire to look into' (1 Peter 1:12).'" E.G. White, Selected Messages, Bk. 3, p. 338.
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Isaiah
62
What is the new name that Jerusalem is called? 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple
of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name
of my God, and the name
of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I
will write upon him my new name.”
Revelation 3:12. Revelation 2:17 – “He that hath an
ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that
overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white
stone, and in the stone a new name
written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Isaiah
4
In the prefigure of Israel’s experience, there were two
Jerusalem’s spiritually—apostate Jerusalem and the true Christian church
which had its headquarters in Jerusalem as well. So when God mentions those
who “remaineth in Jerusalem, and Zion, He is referring to true Zion, true
Jerusalem. This is further evinced by Isaiah’s prophecy that a remnant would
go forth out of Jerusalem and that is exactly what transpired from A.D. 34
and on. The “going out” began with the disciples being gathered out in A.D.
27, Desire of Ages, 232. Then, in from A.D. 34 to A.D. 66, faithful Christians were
gathered out of the apostate Jewish church into home churches all over Judea. Scripture on Home Churches Act 16:32
And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his
house. Act 16:34
And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and
rejoiced, believing in God with all his house. Act 16:40
And they went out of the prison, and entered into [the house of] Lydia: and
when they had seen the brethren, they comforted them, and departed. Act 18:7
And he departed thence, and entered into a certain [man's] house, named
Justus, [one] that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue. Rom 16:5
Likewise [greet] the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved
Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ. 1Cr 1:11
For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them [which are of
the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. 1Cr 16:15
I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the
firstfruits of Achaia, and [that] they have addicted themselves to the
ministry of the saints,) 1Cr 16:19
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the
Lord, with the church that is in their house. In A.D.
66, all faithful Christians fled apostate Jerusalem for the mountains of
Pella: “Not one Christian perished in the
destruction of Jerusalem. Christ had given his disciples warning, and all who
believed his words watched for the promised sign. After the Romans had
surrounded the city, they unexpectedly withdrew their forces, at a time when
everything seemed favorable for an immediate attack. In the providence of God
the promised signal was thus given to the waiting Christians, and without a
moment's delay they fled to a place of safety,--the refuge city Pella, in the
land of Perea, beyond Jordan.” {4SP 32.1} “In the autumn of
A.D. 66, Cestius next concentrated his entire force upon Jerusalem. He arrived during the celebration of the
Feast of Tabernacles, and although it was Sabbath, the Jews abandoned
their religious rites and rushed out to attack Cestius’ troops. To the amazement of both Romans and Jews,
they broke the Roman ranks. Indeed,
Josephus declares that only a flank attack by a force of footmen and cavalry
saved Cestius’ forces. More than 500
Roman soldiers were killed whereas the Jews lost only 22 men (War ii. 198, 2
[519]). At this point Agrippa sent an
embassy to the Jews; their reaction was to attack his representatives,
killing one and wounding the other.
Encouraged by a promise of the royalist party in Jerusalem to open the
gates for him, Cestius then gathered his troops to a fresh assault, and
penetrated as far as the north wall of the Temple. Then an astounding thing happened: Cestius
withdrew his troops, and placed himself strategically in such a poor position
among the Judean hills that the Jews were able to attack him and kill more
than 5,000 infantry and nearly 500 cavalry, including many officers, as well
as to capture much materiel. A Lull in the Storm.—The defeat and withdrawal of Cestius gave many of
the conservative Jews a chance to flee from Jerusalem. Some of them joined Agrippa, others sought
quiet in country places, and still others left the country entirely. It was at this time that the Christians in
Jerusalem fled in accordance with the warning of Jesus recorded in Matt.
24:15-19. According to Eusebius, the 4th-century
historian, the Christians in Jerusalem had been warned by prophets before the
war began that they should leave the doomed city and find refuge at Pella in
Peraea. They now took this opportunity
to make good their escape (Ecclesiastical
History iii. 5, 3).” SDA Bible
Commentary, Vol. 5, 74, 75. Zechariah 1:17 - Cry yet, saying,
Thus saith the LORD of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be
spread abroad; and the LORD shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem. Zechariah 3:2 - And the LORD said
unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke
thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Luke 24:49 - And, behold, I send
the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Some believe they must tarry
in the apostate SDA church until the latter rain outpouring of the Holy
Spirit because of the above verse. But the disciples did not remain in the
apostate Jewish church until the Day of Pentecost when they were endued with
power from on high. Just before that time they were hiding in the upper room
of a house because of their fear of the Jews. Acts 1:8 - But ye shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be
witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,
and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Ezekiel 9
Ezekiel 5
Verse 9 of Ezekiel 5, is sure evidence of the end-time context
of that chapter. Compare verse 9 with Matthew 24:21 and this fact becomes
more pronounced: 9 And I will do in thee that which I have not
done, and whereunto I will not do any more the like, because of all thine
abominations. Ezekiel 5:9. 21 For then shall be great tribulation, such as was
not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be
shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those
days shall be shortened. Modern Israel—Spiritual Jerusalem, the Professing SDA
Church and the Faithful Remnant that Goes Forth Out of that Apostate Church “Those
whom God has chosen for an important work have ever been received with
distrust and suspicion. Anciently, when Elijah was sent with a message from
God to the people, they did not heed the warning. They thought him
unnecessarily severe. They even thought that he must have lost his senses
because he denounced them, the favored people of God, as sinners, and their
crimes as so aggravated that the judgments of God would awaken against them.
Satan and his host have ever been arrayed against those who bear the message
of warning and who reprove sins. The unconsecrated will also be united with
the adversary of souls, to make the work of God’s faithful servants as hard
as possible.”—3 Testimonies, 261. "The
plain straight testimony must live in the church, or the curse of God will
rest upon His people as surely as it did upon ancient Israel because of their
sins. God holds His people, as a body [corporately], responsible for the sins
existing in individuals among them." Testimonies,
vol. 3, p. 269. As members of His church, God holds us each
responsible for its health and well- being. “If God abhors one sin above
another, of which His people are guilty, it is doing nothing in case of an
emergency. Indifference and neutrality in a religious crisis is regarded of
God as a grievous crime and equal to the very worst type of hostility against
God.” —Testimonies, vol. 3, page
281. Corporate responsibility: “For more than a
thousand years the Jewish nation had abused God’s mercy and invited His
judgments. They had rejected His warnings and mercy and invited His
judgments. They had rejected His warnings and slain His prophets. For these
sins the people of Christ’s day made themselves responsible by following the
same course. In the rejection of their present mercies and warnings lay the
guilt of that generation. The fetters which the nation had for centuries been
forging, the people of Christ’s day were fastening upon themselves.” Desire of Ages, 586-7. 1Pe 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts:
and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear: "Study
the 9th chapter of Ezekiel. These words will be literally fulfilled yet the
time is passing, and the people are asleep. They refuse to humble their souls
and to be converted. Not a great while longer will the Lord bear with the
people who have such great and important truths revealed to them, but who
refuse to bring these truths into their individual experience. The time is
short. God is calling will YOU hear? Will YOU receive His message? Will YOU
be converted before it is too late? Soon, very soon, every case will be
decided for eternity. Letter 106, 1909, pp. 2, 3, 5, 7. (To "The
churches in Oakland and Berkeley, September 26, 1909.)" E. G. White Manuscript
Releases Volume One, p. 260. Begin at My Sanctuary -- "Here we see that
the church--the Lord's sanctuary--was the first to feel the stroke of the
wrath of God. The ancient men, those to whom God had given great light and
who had stood as guardians of the spiritual interests of the people, had
betrayed their trust. They had taken the position that we need not look for
miracles and the marked manifestation of God's power as in former days. Times
have changed. These words strengthen their unbelief, and they say: The Lord
will not do good, neither will He do evil. He is too merciful to visit His
people in judgment. Thus 'Peace and safety" is the cry from men who will
never again lift up their voice like a trumpet to show God's people their
transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins. These dumb dogs that would
not bark are the ones who feel the just vengeance of an offended God. Men,
maidens, and little children all perish together." E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 5, 211. Ezekiel 9 slaughter before the close of probation. "It was presented before
me in the following manner: A large company of heathen idolaters bore a black
banner, upon which were figures of the sun, moon, and stars. This company
seemed to be very fierce and angry. I was then shown another company bearing
a pure white banner, upon which was written, "Purity and holiness unto
the Lord." Their countenances were marked with firmness and heavenly
resignation. I saw the heathen idolaters approach them, and there was a great slaughter. The Christians melted
away before them; and yet the Christian company pressed the more closely
together, and held the banner more firmly. As many fell, others rallied
around the banner and filled their places." {EW 211.3} “In some cases, BEFORE the time specified in
the decree, enemies will rush upon the waiting ones to put them to
death.” E.G. White, The 1884 edition
of The Great Controversy, p. 447. “The time
will soon come when the prophecy of Ezekiel 9 will be fulfilled; that
prophecy should be carefully studied, for it will be fulfilled to the very
letter.”— Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 1303. The Signs of the Times, February 12, 1880: “The
desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn warning before the
eyes of modern Israel.” “The desolation of Jerusalem
in the days of Jeremiah is a solemn warning to modern Israel, that the counsels and admonitions given
them through chosen instrumentalities cannot be disregarded with
impunity.” Prophets and Kings, 416. Ezekiel 9 slaughter before the
close of probation "It was presented before
me in the following manner: A large company of heathen idolaters bore a black
banner, upon which were figures of the sun, moon, and stars. This company
seemed to be very fierce and angry. I was then shown another company bearing
a pure white banner, upon which was written, "Purity and holiness unto
the Lord." Their countenances were marked with firmness and heavenly
resignation. I saw the heathen idolaters approach them, and there was a great slaughter. The Christians melted
away before them; and yet the Christian company pressed the more closely
together, and held the banner more firmly. As many fell, others rallied
around the banner and filled their places." {EW 211.3} “In some cases, BEFORE the time specified in
the decree, enemies will rush upon the waiting ones to put them to
death.” E.G. White, The 1884 edition
of The Great Controversy, p. 447. Matthew 22:1-10 is repeated by Ellen White
in Sermons and Talks, Vol. 1, pp. 4-9. In that order of events,
Ezekiel 9 is the same event at Matthew 22:7. According to this scenario, the Ezekiel
9 will be executed
by the Babylonians (fallen churches) before the final cry to the world. Then
the Babylonians are destroyed in an Ezekiel 9 fulfillment against them, The
Great Controversy, pp. 653-656. Notice on page 653 that the context if
Babylon being ripe for destruction, not Jerusalem. Babylon must execute
Ezekiel 9 against Jerusalem first. And that is how it all transpires in
Matthew 22:1-10. Matthew 22 Sermons
and Talks, Vol. 1, pp. 4-9 Called to the Wedding Feast (Sermon by Ellen G. White In
Washington, Township, Iowa, Cir. 1874.) The words which I have selected as a
foundation for a few remarks you will find in the 22nd chapter of Matthew,
beginning at the first verse. [Verses 1-10, quoted.] {1SAT 4.1} The portion of Scripture presented
before us, which I have referred to and have presented before your minds, is
of intense meaning--much more than I am able to explain. It is of great
interest to us, and we should consider it, and let it have due weight upon
our minds. We find by perusing God's sacred Word of inspiration that when the
promised Messiah, the Son of God, came into the world His own people, even
His own nation--the Jews--would not and did not receive Him. As we are told
in the first chapter of St. John, "He came unto His own, and His own
received Him not" (John 1:11). {1SAT 4.2} The provision was made, but they would
not receive it. The Father Himself provided a ransom, even a sacrifice. His
own dear Son submitted Himself to His Father's requirements, came into this
sinful world, became a man of sorrow and acquainted with grief. He went about
doing good, speaking in tones of tenderness, saying in the deepest and most
fervent and sweetest accents ever uttered, "Come unto Me, all ye that
labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you,
and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart"; and He assures us we
shall find rest to our souls. {1SAT 4.3} "Again, he sent forth other
servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my
dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come
unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his
farm, another to his merchandise." -5-
{1SAT 4.4} The great King Himself hath made a
marriage for His Son. He hath sent
forth His servants for many hundreds of years, saying, "Come, for
all things are ready." But how little do they [His people] heed the invitation! They make light of it
and go their ways to their worldly pursuits and worldly pleasures, the same
as they have done for centuries. But the
King sendeth forth His armies and destroys those murders and burns up
their city [church], and we are told in the ninth chapter of Daniel,
the 26th verse, that "the people of the Prince that shall come shall
destroy the city...; and the end thereof shall be with a flood." {1SAT 5.1} "Then saith he to his servants, The
wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore
into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage."
{1SAT 5.2} In the 14th chapter of Luke, verse 16,
we find that there was made a great supper and many were bidden. Servants
were sent forth to say to those that were bidden, "Come; for all things
are now ready" [verse 17]. But they made excuses. {1SAT 5.3} The King of the kingdom hath made a
marriage supper for His Son. He hath sent forth His servants to say to those
which are bidden, "Come to the marriage." The Lord is sending His servants, saying unto all who will hear,
"Come, make ready for the great marriage supper of the Lamb; He is soon
coming to receive all the faithful to the mansions prepared by Him, to
partake of the feast which He hath prepared." He is sending, and hath
been sending His servants for some thirty years past to say unto His people,
"Come, make ready, put on your wedding garments; clothe yourselves with
meekness, humility, and truth, and have yourselves clad in the righteousness
of Christ, that you may be -6- able to appear before Him, and
enter into the guest chamber with those who shall sit with Me at the wedding
of My Son." {1SAT 5.4} All must be clothed with the wedding
garment in order to be accepted, lest we be found speechless. {1SAT 6.1} Is it not of the greatest importance
that we be found having on the robe of righteousness, that we be ready when
the Bridegroom cometh to enter in to the marriage supper? May we heed the
invitation given and make ourselves ready that we may have admittance into
the Master's house, that He say not unto us that none which were bidden shall
taste of His supper. In the parable, those who were bidden heeded not its
invitation, but continued excusing themselves, feasting upon the pleasures of
this world as the masses do at the present time. {1SAT 6.2} The servants of God are inviting and
entreating them to come away from the alluring scenes of this vain and
fleeting world, to make ready for the marriage supper, but they will not
come. We hear them saying, There's no danger; tomorrow shall be as this day
and much more abundant; no need of being disturbed. We must needs attend to
farms and merchandise and the things of this life, lest we lose worldly
interests, and become poor and suffer want. They forget that He who careth
for the little sparrows and clotheth the lilies of the field, careth for the
humble, trusting soul, and will guide and direct all those who are ready to
do His will, and bestow upon His dear children such things as they need. To
all who through patience and perseverance overcome, He hath promised to give
a crown of never fading glory, a robe of righteousness, and an entrance into
the beautiful city of our God. {1SAT 6.3} This same King is sending forth His
servants today. He is inviting His guests, saying, "Come, for all things
are now ready." The Lord of the marriage -7- is soon coming: behold, He is
at the door. Delay not to open the door, lest He turn away from receiving you
and you enter not into the marriage feast. Open the door and receive the
Master, that you may enter into the mansions of everlasting rest and never
fading glory prepared for all those that love Him. Who will make ready for
the coming of Him who hath said, "Behold, I come quickly; and My reward
is with Me, to give to every man according as his work shall be" [Rev.
22:12]. {1SAT 6.4} If we neglect our spiritual interests,
neglect to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable unto God, which is our
reasonable duty, we become entangled with the trifling cares of this life. If
we even once omit our daily duty of calling upon God for His divine aid, His
care and protection, we lose one day's enjoyment. We have not the sweet,
melting influence of God's Holy Spirit attending us through the day, but we
feel cast down and easily discouraged. The enemy of souls is ready to take
advantage [of us] and often does, bringing us into captivity and sin. {1SAT
7.1} We may sometimes be cumbered about much
serving, like Martha; but how much more commendable was the act of Mary, who
sat and listened to the teachings of Jesus. He says, "Martha, thou art
careful and troubled about many things: but . . . . Mary hath chosen that
good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41, 42).
{1SAT 7.2} How many times the things of this vain,
deceitful world come between us and our eternal interests! Temporal things
spring up within our hearts and choke those things which are spiritual. We
permit the enemy of righteousness to persuade us that we should attend to the
things of this life. We now and then neglect greater duties lest we suffer
want. If we faithfully entreat God to -8- give us strength and to
perform temporal duties, and at the same time to give us grace and wisdom to
overcome evil; if we have our hopes centered above and our conversation in
heaven, whence we look for the Son of man who has bidden to the marriage all
who will come: who has gone up on high to prepare mansions for all those who
love and keep His sayings, and has told us He is coming to receive us, we may
enter in to the wedding feast with Him, that where He is there we may be
also. If we turn away from those calls and invitations, what will be the
consequence? {1SAT 7.3} In the 13th chapter of the Acts of the
Apostles, 46th verse, we find that if we put God's work from us, and judge
ourselves unworthy of everlasting life, we have no reason to expect an
entrance into the kingdom. The 24th verse of the 14th chapter of Luke informs
us that "none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my
supper." {1SAT 8.1} The great eternal Father has prepared a
marriage feast for His Son. Will we give heed to His servants who have been
and are being sent forth to proclaim unto us the solemn invitation? Or shall
we make light of it? Oh, why refuse to make ready for the marriage of the Son
of God? There is room for all who will accept the invitation. None can say
[that] those things were not duly represented. Remember, when the good man
returns, those who are ready will go in to the feast and the door will be
shut, and there will be no further entrance, for we read that when "the
master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door" (Luke
13:25), then those who would find admittance will hear the answer, "I
know you not. . . ; depart from Me." {1SAT 8.2} May we heed well the solemn warning and
make ready to enter into the wedding, that His house may be filled. God's
Word informs us, "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" (Rev. 22:14). May we be found faithful, and give diligence to
our calling, and possess the promised reward of the faithful, is my
prayer.--Ms 8, 1874. (MR 900.56) {1SAT 8.3} End Matthew 22 Parable from Sermons and Talks. —rwb |