The
Infinite, Unfathomable Love of God
and
The Everlasting Covenant
Part 4
"It is in the quiet crucible
of your personal, private sufferings that your noblest dreams are born and
God's greatest gifts are given in compensation for what you have been through.” Wintley Phipps
The Everlasting Covenant and a Transforming
Knowledge of God
Section 2
Personal Reminiscence
By
J. W. Johnson
[The Covenant Delivered]
(Transcribed from a 1958 audio tape)
[The Personal
Reminiscence tape was first recorded by J. W. Johnson about 1956 or 1957 on a two hour reel-to-reel audio tape, while on a bed of sickness
at home. This was transcribed to written form about 1990, and was subsequently
reviewed, then briefly edited by Bro. Johnson]
J. W. Johnson (1915-1995)
Taken from the book: Panorama of Truth, Vol. II, which is an assembling of the
messages by J. W. Johnson, made by John Wells.
Personal Reflections on Early Experiences
When I first began this series of tapes, I had no intention of producing a
series. I was merely intending to record a few personal thoughts for future
reference, perhaps to be of value to someone, sometime, who might have occasion
to listen to them. I did not have in mind preparing them for any specific
purpose, but it seems that I’m just getting involved in a more complicated
presentation as I proceed. And it occurs to me that perhaps I should continue
and develop this into a series that will contain a record of the essential
truths which I have seen, I believe, under the influence of the Spirit of God,
down through the last seventeen years.
In the light of what has been said on previous tapes, it will be recognized
that these truths are related to the experiences of God’s people in the closing
hours of earth’s history.
It was while I was still back at the college (Canadian Junior College), when I
first began to receive an understanding of our doctrines, that I asked God on
one occasion why it was that I was obtaining an insight into some of our
teachings which apparently went beyond that understood by our teachers. And it
was at that time that God revealed to me the sweeping truth concerning the
return of His prophet Elijah to deliver the everlasting covenant and it was
practically impossible for me to grasp the entire significance of that
statement, when I recognized that He was calling me to fulfil this prophecy.
It must still be recognized, not only by myself but by anyone who may become
concerned with the matter, that I as an individual am but a pattern of
electrical, biological, chemical, physical and other forces; that I am but dust
of the ground, and that if I should turn my heart against God, refuse to become
His servant, that this prophecy will not obtain its fulfillment in my
experience.
God can create any number of human bodies into which He can implant the person,
and nature, and character, and mind of His prophet Elijah. This again will not
be easily accepted until it is understood in the light of some physical facts
which I can present, and will probably do so later.
You will notice that on many occasions as I have been speaking, I have made
references in a promissory way to some future topic which we will discuss. This
gives merely an indication of the complexity of the problem of attempting to
present these things in a manner that can be grasped and comprehended
correctly, and fairly easily. I regret in a way that I
do not possess the ability to command English in a manner that can reproduce
the entire impression as a sort of panoramic picture or series of them, as I
saw them.
In fact, speech is an inadequate tool to do that. At best, we can only present
the various ingredients, and it will remain for the Spirit of God to fulfil the
promise and the word, and guide you into all truth.
I think I’ll attempt now to present a phase of truth which is very pertinently
related to the basic concept of the regeneration, and the unifying agency of
the Sabbath; and to the general principles of salvation. It is the concept of
creation.
Creation – A Personal Stumbling Block
In the early days of my teen-age, creation was the great stumbling block in my
Christian experience. I found it impossible to accept a literal, six day creation in the light of evidences which I saw in
the natural world, that all things appearing on this earth came through a
process of growth and development. And it was not until I reached the College
on that memorable year [1941], that I was privileged to receive an understanding
of the harmony between nature and the biblical account of creation.
I would like to assure you that they do harmonize, and that the key to the
harmonization gives a new meaning to the Sabbath; and that this new meaning is
the one which is directly related to the sealing among the 144,000, and the
regeneration.
It should be evident to any careful observer that creation in the universe of
God normally takes place through the slow and quiet process of evolutionary
growth. That’s how I got here.
A few years ago I did not exist. I was not in this world – and neither were
you. And through the biological union of two tiny cells, containing marvellous
patterns of development (inherited factors), I grew. The absorption of food
materials by my mother under the influence and control of these inheritance
factors, developed into the structure which is now my body. And through this
body the intricate patterns of mentality developed, and I became a person. If
this pattern of biological material is in any way seriously interfered with
then I cease to exist as a person.
It is possible to modify various areas and not destroy the identity of my
personality, but when the pattern is seriously interfered with, then my person
becomes seriously modified. I could give a complete study on this subject, and
there again will probably do so in due course of time.
Scientists Err When They Refuse to Accept
Genesis
The various worlds which are in existence out in the universe are evolving
through various natural processes. And some theories have been advanced as to
how worlds might be created, and it is very possible that some of these
theories approach the truth.
Note by Ron: The Bible and Ellen White speak
about other worlds. Ellen White said that this is the only world that sinned,
and that the non-sinning worlds would never be allowed by God, to come into contact with this world.
Heb 1:2 Hath in these
last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things,
by whom also he made the worlds;
Heb 11:3 Through faith
we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things
which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
End note.
But there is one place where our scientists have blundered. Their observations
may be very nearly correct in many fields. But when they fail to accept the
clear-cut statements of the revealed Word of truth, they will fall into error.
And this they have done – because they have refused to accept the simple
statements in the first chapters of Genesis.
The world was created in six days. We believe that. But I did not believe it
for a long time. And God finally opened my mind to understand the harmony that
exists between the creation of this world, and that of other worlds, and I
found it possible to believe, because it is the most logical concept in the
light of the facts available. You see, in the days before the creation of this
world, far back in the distant past. Christ, the Son of God, was the supreme
Ruler. But He manifested the character of God which was self-sacrificing love.
And at no time was it His habit to display himself or to make a clear-cut issue
of His great power. He was humble. He was the Creator, but He performed His
works of creation through the natural processes of His laws, sometimes
permitting His other created beings to share in the work, even as He does
today.
For you see, God permitted me to have a share in the creation of my children,
not only biologically, but in the molding of their very thinking through our
child training program.
And thus God’s firstborn creature, I mean God’s first created creature other
than His only-begotten Son, was the son of the morning – Lucifer.[1] You see,
the morning is the first part of the day. Lucifer was the first created being.
He was the most exalted; and apparently, Gabriel came next. And these two were
the covering cherubs.
Lucifer unquestionably had the privilege of sharing in various works of
creative art and other worlds. And as long as he was
in harmony with the laws of God, everything went well. But Lucifer manifested a
selfish characteristic, contrary to the character of Christ –much like our
scientists today. Because he saw that creative works were performed through
natural means, he felt that there was no need for Christ as the master Creator.
In fact, if he had any idea that Christ really was the Creator, he could never
have entertained the thought that he could become equal with God.
The temptation to become equal with God grew out of the fact that Christ had a
character of self-renunciation and did not display Himself. And thus, Lucifer
felt that he might possibly be able to institute a new system of government,
and laws which would permit him to indulge his selfishness. And many of the
angels favoured his ideas.
There was only one way that this controversy could be cleared up without
risking allegiance of love. Allegiance to God’s government was purely on the basis of love. If Christ had destroyed Lucifer and
those who sympathized with him, the rest of His creatures would have served Him
because they would have been afraid of Him. It would have been an allegiance of
fear – and thus the controversy began.
Demonstration by
Creation of a Special World
In order to demonstrate that Christ was the true
Creator, He prepared the plans for the creation of a special world; one in
which He would demonstrate that He was the true Creator. Not with the idea of
showing off, or making Himself prominent; but with the
idea of saving the universe from destruction under the influence of Satan.
Satan was not permitted to enter the councils concerning the creation of this
world, and this made him all the more antagonistic.
When Christ was ready, He spoke this world into existence manifesting the
enormous power which God had given Him as the only-begotten Son. There may be
some question as to how long it took Christ to create each day’s work. There
need hardly be any question about that. God labored for six days. It is not
conceivable that He labored for one second on each of those days, and then
rested for 23 hours and 59 minutes and 59 seconds.
Now, even as He expects us to labor diligently for six days and rest on the
seventh, so He labored on each of those six days. And just how much time of
those six days it took Him to create the various articles is not the important
thing, but unquestionably it took the better part of each of those days. And
just what it appeared like when man came on the scene, I cannot tell. But I
rather suspect that man did not just suddenly appear, but that he grew in some
fashion in a very accelerated manner.
Creation of This World
Was by Acceleration of Natural Laws
The creation of this world was accomplished through the use
of natural laws. But they were put to special tests, and the normal
course was very much accelerated. This is perhaps something like what happens
when a miraculous healing occurs. The healing process is greatly accelerated.
Other factors, of course, also enter into it. Christ
will never again make such an accelerate creation – it is not His usual method.
This was a special creation, a unique one, designed to reveal who the true
Creator was.
Then, lest mankind or the universe should ever forget, He instituted a sign of
allegiance and He hallowed the seventh day and honored it. And all those who
remember the seventh day and honor it, are thereby recognizing that they
believe in Christ as the true Creator, even though they may not see any more
miraculous creation than did Lucifer before his fall.
A New Slant on the
Sabbath
This puts a new slant on the Sabbath! It is the sign of faith in the natural
processes of God’s creation. It is a sign that we believe that God created us,
even though we are products of biological forces. We are all different. We
teach our children that God made us. Do we believe it? If we do believe it, we
believe in evolutionistic growth.
When I use the term “evolutionistic” I am aware that it may be misinterpreted.
I’m not using it in the sense of “theories of creation.” I’m using it in the
sense that variations and progressions occur through the use of natural law,
and in this sense it is evolutionistic.
Mankind, as a human race, has evolved from the parents of Adam and Eve – they
were not suddenly snapped into existence. They grew and developed. I think you
will understand this sense.
As I have said, in the light of the reason for this creation and the reason for
its method, it is obvious that such creation will never again occur in this
fashion. If it would, or if it were going to, there would have been no need for
the Sabbath. But now the Sabbath is here, and it will last forever. It will be
a continuous safeguard against the error which Satan made in the first place.
We will always know where creation starts.
How Will God Create
All Flesh Anew?
Adam was the only one of the human race who was ever
created directly from “the dust of the ground.” We are all created from the
dust of the ground, but indirectly, through a complicated series or set of
natural laws. And on the basis of this, it is
perfectly obvious that the resurrection will not occur as a sudden appearance
of bodies popping out of graves in which there were no bodies to start with. If
we want to know how God will create all flesh anew, we merely have to look to the sample of the resurrection, to the One
who represents the first-born and the firstfruits of this great creation – and
that is Jesus. He is the first-begotten from the dead. There is no place in all
the Scriptures where we have any record of anyone coming to life without coming
into a body which already existed, and which came into the world through
natural birth.
Moses was raised while his physical body was still in existence and he was
raised into that same physical body. So were all the others who were
resurrected through the miracles of Christ.
Even Christ Himself, after His death and burial, came forth from the tomb in
the same body. And the tombstone had to be removed before He could get out
because He was a body of flesh and bones. And those who were raised as a token
of the resurrection, at the time that He was raised, (it says that many that
slept in the dust of the earth awoke . . . the earthquake cause the graves to
open, it said) – these were people who had recently died
and the bodies were still in the graves. Otherwise it would have been
unnecessary for the earthquake to break open the tombs. If there had been no
bodies in there, there would have been no need for an earthquake to break them
open. These people could just have appeared without the graves opening. But it
says the graves opened with the earthquake.
Had they been people who had lived a long time ago, whose bodies had been
completely decayed, they would not have been recognized as dead saints. If they
had been ancient men like Abraham or Isaac or Jacob, they would have been
named. But now, it is easily seen that they were saints that were recognized or they would not have been called saints. And if
they were saints who were recognized, they must have been saints who had lived
in that age. If then there is going to be no unique creation in the future, if
all things are going to arise in a manner in which
they have during the past, it becomes clear, that the resurrection must occur
in the same manner that it occurred with Jesus.
Jesus Grew and
Developed From a Tiny Seed
When Jesus left heaven He laid down His life – that
should be clear. When He was but a seed in the womb of Mary He had no memory,
He had no consciousness, He had no body. He had nothing
but an identity written into the inheritance characteristics of the genes in
the little cell. But He grew and He developed, and as
it says in Hebrews 10:17 – “Lo, it is written of me in the volume of the
book; I come. A body hast thou prepared me.” And it was not until Jesus
received the anointing of the Holy Spirit at His baptism that the regeneration
of the person of Christ was as complete as it was going to be in His human
nature.
In fact, it may be that it was still growing during His lifetime, even after
His anointing. The extent of the return of His memory of former things must
have been limited. If He had remembered all things, it would have been
unnecessary for Him to have received instruction from His Father in the early
morning hours of His devotions. And it would have been unnecessary for Him to
receive instruction from Moses and Elias on the Mount of Transfiguration
concerning His sufferings and death. [cf. DA, Chapter 46]. So
it is obvious that He did not have a complete knowledge of His former Self as
He existed in heaven before.
The former Christ of heaven knew all things. He had an eternal memory which did
not fade. He had all power and all wisdom. Christ here on earth had these same
characteristics in a measure. But we are told in the Spirit of Prophecy
in the book Desire of Ages that even the miracles which Christ wrought,
were wrought by the power of God through the agency of the angels (DA 143). In
other words, it was the angels who obeyed His commandments, who obeyed His
word, who performed those miracles.
When Christ existed in heaven above before, He had power over all things.
Precisely what the difference was I am not prepared to analyze. It would almost
appear that Christ originally was able to do anything He wanted to without the
assistance of His created beings. But because of His self-renouncing love, He
took His created beings into fellowship and shared with them the joys of
working in His universe – in creative works and otherwise. But when He was here
on earth, it appears according to this statement [DA 143.2], that Jesus was
dependent upon the co-operation of the angels in order to
perform those miracles.
When Christ Left
Heaven, He Left Something Permanently
This is a rather significant point, for it indicates that when Christ left His
glory in heaven He left something permanently – that when He took upon
Him human flesh when He enshrouded Himself in a human temple, He set strict
limitations upon His nature and structure. The Divine nature flashed through
the human nature. It could not completely enshroud it – and there may be
reasons for this.
In the future world, it is evident through the testimony of the word that the
saints will share His inheritance. He has laid it down and left it to be
divided among them; for as He said: “His body was broken for you.” It was His
great eternal body which constituted His inheritance. That was His
heritage. It was through His body that He performed all. He received all
knowledge through His body and He did all His works through His body. That’s
the way we do it, and we’re made in His image.
We can learn nothing except through the physical senses of our bodies, and we
can do nothing except through the physical muscles of our bodies. And thus, the
new body of Christ will be His saints. And they will become partakers of the
divine body; for they must “eat His flesh and drink His blood.” And as they do
this, they become partakers of that body which was “broken for them,” “for them
to eat,” and the blood “for them to drink;” that they might have eternal life –
the eternal life that Christ laid down for them. It is a substitution. They
receive it only by substitution – He has shared it with them. And thus, He is
the Head of the body and they are the physical parts of the body, and He operates
through them. Through them, He receives; and through them, He gives.
On the “Temple on Mount Zion,” Jesus leads 144,000 to be its residents – only
they are permitted to enter [EW 19.4]. This Sister White saw in vision,
recorded in Early Writings. Since the 144,000 are the “living saints”
before Christ comes (as she also saw) [Early Writings, p. 15], and are
translated; it would appear that the apostles, those
who were the foundation of His church, could not be members of this temple.
This is illogical. There are many reasons for believing that the apostles will
be among the 144,000; and in order for them [thus] to
be, they must be living on the earth at the time that Christ comes.
Acclimation to Modern
Society – A Major Matter to the Saints
There is a special resurrection which occurs just before Christ comes. Some may
feel that this is where they would be raised. But if they were to come forth in
their original garb, with their bearded faces and their ancient language, it
would be necessary for a miracle to occur in order to
harmonize them, and to acclimatize them, and orient them in this modern
environment. Some may feel that this is a minor matter.
I believe it is a major matter. Jesus did not come in that fashion. He came
into this world in the natural way; and that is how the 144,000 will come. All
the overcomers, down through the years of the churches’ history, including the
twelve apostles who were its foundation – these will come forth through the
process of regeneration, the growing up of human bodies in the normal way. But
they will receive the anointing of the Holy Ghost as Jesus did; and this will
bring to them “all truth” which will include the regeneration of the memory of
their former selves.
Let us think about this just a little bit: Jesus gave the promise to the
disciples back there, that when He had gone (and He said He must go away or the
Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth could not come to
them) – this would indicate that there was some connection between Jesus and
the Spirit of truth which made it impossible for the Spirit of truth to be
delivered to the disciples until Jesus should lay some sacrifice on the altar.
You see Jesus became a partaker of the Holy Spirit Himself. But it was not in
His hand to deliver it to the disciples, because He had laid down His original Spirit, which was the Holy Spirit – His body and
blood, as a sacrifice! And through the covenant, the everlasting covenant with
the Father, it was for the Father to deliver this heritage to His disciples.
And so He said, “He would pray the Father” and the
Father would send them the Spirit. This indicates His faith in the Fathers’
fulfilling of the covenant. And He promised the disciples that this Spirit of
truth “would guide them into all truth” [John 16:13]. It did not do so
in the early rain.
An Enormous Truth
Therefore, the promise was not fulfilled to the disciples in those days. It
remains until the closing hours of earth’s history, and the regeneration of the
apostles, to have the fulfillment of the outpouring of the Spirit of truth
which will bring to them a knowledge of all truth.
It is the apostles with the 144,000 who will receive the heritage that Christ
laid down. And there will be reproduced in their minds the knowledge of all
things. This is an enormous truth!
It is only by means of this that the resurrection can take place. There can be
no life, there can be no regeneration of the past, except through the agency of
the Holy Spirit.
And so, the creation of man in the resurrection will be accomplished through
the process of natural law in the form of regeneration, and through the union
of the divine Spirit, which is the “Marriage of the Lamb.” Christ Jesus becomes
married to His saints. And He compares the relation between Jesus and the
church as the relation between husband and wife, or the Head of the body and
the body – and that is, after the 144,000 have gone through their investigative
judgment, their characters have been proved perfect through the merits of the gospel
(power of the gospel) which enables them to do it, even as the character of
Christ had been proved perfect before His anointing at His baptism.
And thus their investigative judgment being completed, their character being
proved adequate; it is possible for Jesus then to leave the heavenly sanctuary.
He is no longer needed as an Intercessor, and He then enters this union which
is portrayed as the “Marriage of the Lamb.” And it is then that the 144,000
take over the priesthood, and they become priests and kings for 1,000 years.
This is another great subject!
The 144,000 are the
Only True Overcomers
The 144,000 are the only true overcomers, the only ones who have reached the
fullness of the stature of Christ, who have availed themselves fully of the
power of the gospel. Many others have accepted Jesus; they are true and
faithful followers of His, but they have not attained unto the stature of perfection.[2]
God has set aside 1,000 years for a work of priesthood on the part of the
144,000. A period in which all those who will come forth in the general
resurrection, who have not attained to the fullness of the stature, will have
an opportunity to study the records of all mankind, and specific records of
those who have not entered into the glory of the first
resurrection. And during this time the 144,000 will officiate in the service of
the priesthood; and not until the 1,000 years are finished will they no longer
be needed in this capacity.
For by the end of the 1,000 years, everyone who has come up in the first
resurrection, and that includes all those who have accepted Jesus as the King
of the universe and as their Saviour – all those who have come up, will have
had an opportunity to grow into the fullness of the stature of Christ. They
would not have come up in the first resurrection if they had not been faithful
in their allegiance to Christ. But some have died before they have reached
perfection. Many have lived an entire lifetime and have still “not attained.”
They are saved by faith – it is a gift of God.[3]
The Danger of Refusing
to Acknowledge Jesus as King & Ruler
Only those who refuse to acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God
and the King, the Ruler – only those will not come up in the first
resurrection. For it would be impossible to operate the government of
heaven without the willing allegiance of its subjects. It is the investigative
judgment which proves whether one is worthy on the merits of his faith to come
forth in the first resurrection. And this judgment occurs before the first
resurrection occurs.
The investigative judgment is actually a literal test
in human bodies on the earth since 1844. Characters of people who have lived
before are superimposed on human bodies, even as the character of Christ was
superimposed on the boy Jesus. And these characters regulate the actions of the
individuals through whom they are being tested. And when the test has
manifested itself and is complete, then it is known who shall be resurrected in
the first resurrection, and who shall not.
Guardian Angels
Identify With the Thoughts and Motives
The guardian angels play an important part in this judgment; for only the
guardian angel has had complete identity with all the thoughts and motives of
the individual’s life. And since the memory of the guardian angel is an eternal
memory (it does not fade, not having been subjected to sin); the record of
every man’s life is kept in the mind of the guardian angel. And it is the angel
who opens the books in the judgment.
And the book which is opened for any individual, is the mind of the angel. The
angel reveals the truth that has been recorded in his mind. He is the only one
who can reveal it. He is the only one who has the record. And therefore, the
angels have a specific part in the investigative judgment. The angels also have
a specific part in the resurrection. Precisely what part they play, I am not
prepared to expose at this time.
Revelations Concerning
the Communion Service
The communion service – I say, the communion service, is rather revealing
concerning the body and blood of Christ. Jesus indicates that He lays His body
down and breaks it for the disciples “to eat” and He divides the blood for them
“to drink.” And He told them that unless they ate this body and drank that blood
(that’s in the 6th chapter of John), they could have no eternal life.
But if they did eat it, they would have eternal life and He would raise them up
at the last day. He also said that the New Testament was in His blood.
The New Testament is the everlasting Covenant, which is the everlasting gospel
of salvation, through the sacrifice of Christ. I know this just sounds like so
many words, but it is tangible, if I could just make it clear the way I can see
it. These literal terms are symbolic of spiritual things. The body and the
blood are not literal ones. We do not become cannibals and eat literal flesh
and drink literal blood, which is forbidden.
This is a spiritual thing. The body is symbolic of the Word of truth, the
everlasting truth. And that would include the memory of things that have
occurred – those things which have been recorded as fact. The blood is symbolic
of the life, for it says that “the life is in the blood.” You shed the blood –
you shed the life.
And we recognize through the help of the SOP, that the life of God, the life
and character of God, is His self-denying love. It is the principle of
self-denying love which is the essence of God. It is the Spirit of God. It is
this principle which is symbolized by the blood.
Now it says the new testament is in His blood, but the new testament is the new
covenant, and this is the gospel. The new covenant then, is tied in with the
blood. But the blood is the emblem of His self-sacrificing love. Therefore, it
is the self-denying love, the principle of self-denying love, which has its
source in the heart of God, and that is the principle of the everlasting gospel
which is to put the law of God in the heart of man.
Now, we are told that the law of life, for earth and heaven, is
self-sacrificing love. Therefore, it all ties together – The New Testament, the
new covenant, the blood of the communion service, the character of God (which
is love), and the Spirit of God which is love. And those who are born of God
cannot sin. And to be born of God means to be born of love. And so love is tied in with victory over sin.
Now let’s take a good square look at it. You’ve had your battles with sin haven’t you? There have been some things in your life
and you’ve made up your mind you’re going to get rid of. And so
you started in. And, the harder you tried, the more confused you got. Just
about the time when you thought you’d made the grade – bingo, you went again!
You haven’t gained complete victory over every sin that you have struggled
against, have you? And yet it says that “if you’re born of God, you cannot
sin.” You see, to be born of God means to be born of love. Alright?
We know that sin is the transgression of the law. There are ten commandments in
that law. Jesus said A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one
another. And He said if you love the Lord your God, and your neighbor as
yourself; all the ten commandments hang on these two, and you’re keeping the
law. The law of God is self-sacrificing love. It is the principle of
self-denying love which is revealed in the ten commandments.
No one can keep the ten commandments unless he has the principle of
self-denying love in his heart. And so, the new commandment involves the birth
in the heart of man of the motivating power of self-denying love. This is the
only power that is strong enough to enable you or anybody else to quit sinning.
You Cannot Fit
Yourself for Heaven by Just Trying
If you’re trying to keep the commandments of God so that you can get to heaven,
you won’t make it. You’re trying to do it by works of righteousness; you’re
trying to fit yourself for heaven. But you don’t get to heaven on the basis of your keeping of the commandments. Let’s
remember that! You get to heaven on the basis of your
faith! If you accept Christ as your Commander and your Saviour; that’s your
ticket. And when you do that, He accepts the penalty for your transgression. He
is the One that takes the responsibility for your mistakes. He’s the High
Priest. He carries the burdens. He has to fix up the
mess of your sin.
And anytime you sin after you’ve accepted Him, and you’ve linked yourself with
Him as a member of His family – anytime you sin and confess your sins, you are
actually causing suffering in His Heart, just like any naughty child does in
the heart of a parent when it continues to transgress. And thus, victory over
sin on your part cannot possibly be a selfish motive. If you’re trying to get
rid of sin, because you think that by doing it you’ll gain your ticket to
heaven, that’s a selfish motive and you just can’t do it. Try it and see!
Love is the Most
Powerful Force in the Universe
On the other hand, if you are filled with love for Jesus because of what He has
done for you, and because the gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of all
your sins (and there may be a lot of them) – if you realize the value of that
gift. And you appreciate it to its fullest extent, you can’t help but love Him
for what He’s done for you. And when you love Him, you want to do something
that pleases Him. And He says: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” And He
says: “If a man love me, he will keep my words.”
There’s the motive. It is the love of Christ that “constraineth
us.” You can’t keep them on any other basis.
Love is the most powerful force in all the universe. It is the force which
initiated the creation of this world and which initiates all creation. And it
is the force which will enable man to overcome His sin, to quit sinning. If you
love a person enough, you’ll do anything for them. If you love Christ enough,
you’ll stop sinning. You’ll stop transgressing His commandments. But in order to do it, you’ve got to have that love – and where
are you going to get it from? That’s a gift too.
Not until you partake of Christ’s sufferings (and that’s a privilege) will you
ever understand what He went through for your sake. He learned obedience
through the things which He suffered; and thus became
the “author of eternal salvation.” And you are going to learn obedience through
the things which you suffer. You don’t have to obey. You’re not forced. But if
you are permitted to partake of His sufferings, then you will discover what He
went through for you – voluntarily! He could have quit at any time. And when
you discover that, you will feel like a heel, to cause Him continued suffering.
And don’t think for one minute that He doesn’t continue to suffer when you sin.
Note by Ron: We are
counselled by the message to Laodicea to buy gold (love and faith) tried in the
fire (of trial and suffering, such as the suffering caused by the shaking, for
example; the suffering caused by the rejection we experience when we make
ourselves a prey by departing from evil, just as it was the righteousness of
Christ that made Him a prey to Satan and his evil hosts. As Christ was rejected
for His righteousness, so will we be rejected, sooner or later, especially at
the time of the Sunday Law.
Isa 59:15 Yea, truth
faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD
saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
Jer 39:18 For I will
surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall
be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the
LORD. End note.
He suffered once for
the sins of the world. But He still suffers when the sins of His children are
taken upon Him. There is a difference between the sins of the world and the
sins of His people which are confessed, and which He takes as a substitute –
that is, as a priest. And this is the gospel – believe me, friend, it is the
gospel!
Note by Ron: Ellen
White says that the sins Satan tempts us to commit are laid upon him (Satan.)
But the sins we commit by our own choice, are laid upon Christ. This is what
Mr. Johnson means by a difference between the sins of the world and the sins of
God’s people which are confessed, and which He takes as a substitute. End note.
And this is the gospel
which is the “power of God unto salvation.” This is the gospel which will save
a man from his sins. Sin is not automatically wiped out. Mrs. White tells us
plainly that “the expulsion of sin from the life is an act of the soul itself.”
[DA 466]. It is up to us to get rid of sin. But we can’t do it in our own
strength.
Not until the New Testament, the new covenant, becomes our possession – not
until the Spirit of God’s unselfish love, is born in our hearts through the
experience of learning to know Jesus and what He did for us, (partly learned
through a partaking of His sufferings) – I say, not until then will we have
sufficient strength, sufficient motivation to cease from sin. And we will
voluntarily cease from sin.
Victory Over Sin is
the Result of the Right Action of the Will
Victory over sin is the result of the will, the right action of the will. We decide
not to sin; and we can make ourselves quit sinning only when we receive the
fullness of the power of the love of God in our hearts. And this is the law of
God which is planted in the heart of flesh, according to the promise of the new
covenant.
The law of God is the law of love and this love is planted in the heart. And it
is not on tables of stone; and we keep the commandments by reason of the motive
of this love. We do not need the tables of stone. We do not have to have the
law laid down on tables of stone.
As I illustrated in the family, we lay down the law to children. We are now
grown up. We live according to the “law of liberty.” “All things are lawful to
us, but not expedient.” We live on the basic principle of self-denying
love—service (voluntary service), obedience to the will and wish of our
Creator. This is a wonderful truth. This is the message which must be delivered
to God’s people!
And when they understand the principle of this love, they will get victory over
sin, if they co-operate.
The Sabbath Symbolizes
Creation Through Natural Law
And one more thing before the end of [this side] of this tape; It is the
principle of creation through natural law which the Sabbath was instituted to
symbolize. In this last day, the devil will perform all sorts of miraculous
things as a counterfeit of what God has done in the past. And the real true
method of God’s functioning in this last day is through natural law, which in
the past has been considered to be evolutionistic and
non-godly.
This is a paradox! The Sabbath is the sign for those who believe in God as
their Creator. And they see how He works through these natural methods, and how
the Spirit of truth reveals all truth to His disciples in this manner; and how
that the creation of the regeneration and the resurrection of the 144,000
occurs in this manner, and they believe that it is of God. It cannot be
counterfeited! No one can counterfeit the restoration of a memory of a former
life. And thus this meaning of the Sabbath becomes a
unique possession of those who are sealed, and none others.
Belief in God as
Creator Through His Natural Laws, Enables the 144,000 to Accept
Their Unique Experience as of God
The literal Sabbath-keeping is but an outward sign. The inner belief in God as
the true Creator through His natural laws is the one which enables the 144,000
to accept their unique experience as of God. And they are sealed completely
when they receive the memory of their former lives.[4]
And when the Apostle Paul will remember in these
last days that he lived with the early church, he will be able to recognize the
fulfillment of his own prophecy – that he would be among those who are living
when Christ comes. [1st Thess 4:15 & 17].
And John the Revelator will be here and he will remember what the seven thunders uttered,
“and will prophesy again before many nations.” And the statement of Jesus that
He might, “remain till He come,” will be fulfilled. These are marvellous truths
and great mysteries!
Satan has used Sunday worship as a sign of the literal resurrection of Jesus.
The counterfeit in this symbol should be obvious in the light of what has been
said.
[The original reel-to-reel audio Tape was turned over at this point to side
“B,” a transcription of which starts on the next page]. A wealthy friend
of Mr. Johnson, by the name of John Wells, had all of
his tapes transcribed into two books entitled Panorama of Truth, Vol’s I and
II.
[*Note: The following side “B” of this audio tape was incorporated by the
author into audio tape/letter #6, now appearing in the written transcriptions.
This other transcript may be found under the sub-title “Small Beginnings” from
pages 203-210, of Volume One of the companion book entitled: “Panorama of
Truth.” Subheading and paragraphing, by the Publishers varies somewhat between
the two transcriptions. The reason for this is that Brother Johnson briefly
edited “Small Beginnings” as found in Volume One, shortly before his demise].
Who Shall Despise the Day of Small Beginnings
Here we are again – another side of a tape. It’s been a couple of days now
since I first began talking to you. I’m still not sure who you are. But I’m
going to keep on talking to you now anyway.
I’ve been thinking a little more about this idea that God’s creative works
begin from very “small beginnings.” It says that, “the kingdom of God is like a
grain of mustard seed,” and that’s one of the tiniest seeds that springs up and
grows into a tree in which the birds have their nests.[5]
A Mustard Tree
It must have been quite a set-up in the original plan where Christ was the
great King of the universe, and Lucifer, along with others, thinking that there
was no need for Christ to be the great King. It must have been that Christ did
not make a great show of His authority; and this would certainly line up with
His character. But the interesting thing to me is the manner
in which He went about to demonstrate the principle on which God’s
government rests; and how that, from the tiniest seed in the womb of Mary, the
great God of the Universe grew up. Maybe you never thought of that.
You know what it says in Isaiah 9:6? It says that this little child, this
little Prince who was born, was to become the One on whose shoulders the
government would rest; and His name would be called Prince of Peace, Wonderful
Counsellor, the Mighty God, and the Everlasting Father.
There was a time I hadn’t noticed what that text said. But it says that this
little child shall become exalted to receive the name of the everlasting Father
and the mighty God. He would be honored with complete authority in the
universe. This is the greatest example of God’s method
of bringing about the creation of His works. Who shall despise the day of small
beginnings?
Note by Ron: Zec 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for
they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the
hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run
to and fro through the whole earth. End note.
Now I would like to bring a few other thoughts to light. And some of these may
be thoughts that we haven’t thought about in this particular
way before either.
It says that the antitypical Day of Atonement began in 1844. It was at that
time that our high priest Christ entered into the Most
Holy of the heavenly sanctuary, and the door to the holy apartment was shut,
and “no man could open it;” and the door to the Most Holy apartment was opened,
and “no man could shut it.” Now there’s a great deal of content in this. But
the work of the high priest in the Most Holy apartment on the Day of Atonement
was instrumental in bringing about the cleansing of the sanctuary. And you know
what the sanctuary had to be cleansed of don’t you? The sins of the people had
been transferred to the sanctuary through the sacrificial services, and the
sanctuary was contaminated, and it had to be cleansed.
The Saints Comprise
the New Tabernacle of God
We could discuss a number of aspects in connection
with this, but I want to suggest one: The sanctuary is identical with the
temple. In the wilderness, the children of Israel had a portable sanctuary that
when they reached their promised land, the sanctuary was replaced by the
temple. But the services were continued in the temple as they had been in the
sanctuary. The sanctuary, or temple, is the dwelling place of God, the place
where He meets with His people.
We have already mentioned that the dwelling
place of God is, in His saints; for it says that we are built up an habitation
of God. Your bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost. Christ is to dwell in
His people through the Holy Ghost.
God’s church is the body of Christ. This is a great tabernacle or temple, the
place where God meets with His people. He will meet with them in their hearts.
According to the old covenant, the law was in the Most Holy Apartment and that
was where the Shekinah glory hovered above the mercy seat. In the new covenant,
God no longer dwells in a tabernacle made with hands; but He with His pure
character of love, which is the origin of the law, will dwell in the hearts of
His people.
He promises to come and make His abode with us. But God cannot dwell in a
defiled temple, a temple in which sin has been recorded. This temple must be
cleansed. The sanctuary must be purified, and the thing that purifies it is the
administration of the blood of the eternal Sacrifice. In the strictest sense,
the tabernacle of God into which He will dwell after the wedding of the Lamb,
is His 144,000 saints. These are the pillars in that new temple [Rev. 3:10-12].
These all live in the days after probation closes.
Note by Ron: This is why God and His people cannot dwell in a defiled
temple (church). Sin defiles and God cannot dwell in the presence of apostasy.
"God has a church. It is not the great cathedral,
(or the super mega church), neither is it the national establishment, neither
is it the various denominations; it is the
people who love God and keep His commandments. 'Where two or three are
gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of
them.' Where Christ is even among the humble few, THIS IS CHRIST'S CHURCH,
for the presence of the High and Holy
One who inhabiteth eternity can alone constitute a church." The Upward
Look, p. 315
End note
by Ron.
In what way can it be said that the sins of the people have been transferred to
this tabernacle? This has been accomplished in the same way that they were
transferred to the physical tabernacle of Jesus when He was here on earth.
Jesus never sinned; and yet He bore in His own body the sins of the world. His
body received these sins through the transmission of the inherited
characteristics of the human race.
Before the days of the fall in the Garden of Eden, Adam had the privilege of
partaking of the fruit of the tree of life. The fruit of this tree made Adam’s
life eternal. The thoughts that were his were permanent. The memories of
experiences which occurred were permanent. There would be no death in Adam as long as he was partaking of the fruit of the tree of
life. When he established a righteous habit, that habit would remain his
possession forever. But as soon as Adam sinned, he set the pattern for an
unrighteous habit. He set a train of action going in his mind which would
eventually end in destruction of the processes of life – that is, the life of
happiness.
For with the entrance of sin into Adam’s nature, there could be no result but
pain and suffering. And had God permitted him to continue to eat of the tree of
life, then his physical life would have been preserved, but his mental and
spiritual nature would have been subjected to an eternity of increasing
suffering. This is something similar to the eternal
hell-fire torment which is taught by some Protestant denominations today – a
situation in which a sinner is pictured to be suffering throughout eternity.
This situation would have prevailed had Adam continued to eat of the tree of
life, but now the tree was removed from his reach.
The 144,000 Will Have
in Their Bodies the Inheritance of Sin
But the pattern of sin had been fixed in his nature and it could not be erased
except through death. The pattern of sin had been transmitted to the
characteristics of inheritance which would be passed on to his children and his
children’s children. In this way the sins of Adam (the sinful nature which he
had created by his own choice), became a permanent possession of the human race. And when Jesus was born, the characteristics
of this sinfulness were in His body as they were in every other human body. And
Jesus bore in His body, the sinfulness of mankind.
In the same way, the 144,000 body temples of the Holy Ghost will have in their
bodies the inheritance of sin. They constitute the sanctuary which will be the
dwelling place of the Holy Ghost. But in their bodies is the record of sin
which has been transferred through the medium of the inheritance
characteristic. It is “in the blood,” as it were. And thus
is the significance of the sprinkling of the blood, and the transference of sin
to the sanctuary.
Now, it is through the sprinkling of blood that the sanctuary is eventually to
be cleansed. The blood which will cleanse the sanctuary is the same blood which
we spoke about before on another tape, or on the other side of this one – (I
don’t recall). The blood contains the life. And the life of God and of His son
Jesus, is self-renouncing love. This is the great principle of life and
creation. Let us fix that thought firmly in our minds!
It is through the sprinkling of the spirit of love that sin is removed from the
life. When Jesus, as seen in vision by Mrs. White, was looking down upon His
faithful saints before the hours of probation had closed – when He was looking
down and saw saints not yet sealed, He turned to His Father and pled: “My
blood, Father, my blood, my blood, my blood.” And there was a bright light that
left the Father and speeded its way toward the earth. This is the gift of the
Spirit of God’s love which will be bestowed upon God’s people, which will be
sprinkled in their hearts. And this is the Spirit which will motivate their
expulsion of sin from the life.
It is not within the power of a man to change his nature. He can create a
habit; he can even destroy a habit with great patience. It is not in his power
to completely change his nature of evil – and this is where the blood comes in.
With the application of the blood of Jesus – the spiritual blood, it becomes
possible for one who has exercised himself in the ways of God to implement his
decision to cease from sin. He no longer will have to struggle against sin. His
sinful nature will be changed. This is a miraculous occurrence. It takes place
inside, in the man’s very spiritual heart. It is a change that is not clearly
manifest on the outside by any written form of evidence.
The only evidence that this miracle transpires is in the sealing effect that it
has upon the life of the individual. He will not be moved. There is no more
temptation for him to sin. He has become victorious over all sin, and the
sinful nature which had been his, has gone. He has been delivered from sin. All
traces of sinfulness are foreign to his nature. This is what it means when it
speaks of the “cleansing of the sanctuary.” And when this sanctuary is finally
cleansed, the work of the High Priest in the heavenly sanctuary, the most holy
apartment which is in a sense symbolic of this temple not made with hands (this
temple of living beings) – when that work is finally finished, He will leave
that sanctuary and He will become married to His saints.
You think these things are farfetched? I acknowledge there are areas that are
not explained. There are discrepancies that seem obvious. In the light of past
experience I can unhesitatingly say, that any discrepancies in these things
will sooner or later be explained by an understanding of greater, and more comprehensive
and superseding panorama of truth.
I’d like to tell you just a little more here: After Adam had been driven from
the Garden, the effects of his eating of the fruit of the tree of life still
clung for many generations after. His life span was almost 1,000 years. But as
time went on, the power of that everlasting life principle depreciated until it
eventually reached a place where any decisions made by a man might become
habitual in his own self. But that habit would not be transmitted to his posterity.
And consequently, it would be impossible for a man to create a sinful nature in
himself which could be transmitted to his posterity. But the sinful nature that
Adam created, runs like a thread right on down through the
human race.
The only way that sin can be expelled from the life is for the power of that
fruit of the tree of life to be restored to him. God cannot restore mankind to
the eating of the fruit of the tree of life until man has completely
demonstrated that he will not misuse that power, and
re-create sin.
The 144,000 Will
Receive Power to Expel Sin From the Life
And thus it is, that after the 144,000 have passed
through their investigative judgment just before the close of probation, and
have proved beyond all doubt that their characters will withstand all the
temptations of the evil one, that they are anointed with the power of the Holy
Ghost, and again partake of that everlasting life principle, which is in the
blood of Jesus Christ. And having partaken of that blood, that New Testament
which is in the new covenant, they receive power to expel sin from the life.
They can neutralize the power of evil. They can create new, righteous habits
that will be everlasting.
I know this may be difficult for some people to follow. I wish I might be able
to explain it more clearly with more details, but I have not the present
capacity. Perhaps God will raise up other minds which will be able to clarify
these matters more positively. Perhaps He has already raised up these minds and
the messages are available somewhere – but I have not seen them.
The 144,000 Will
Collectively Understand “All Truth”
Of one thing I am certain. As God revealed to me many years ago, His Spirit was
promised to His disciples and to His faithful followers. And this Spirit, which
is the Spirit of truth, “will guide them into all truth.” But the fulfilment of
this prophecy was not completed under the outpouring of the “early rain” – we
realize that.
This prophecy will be fulfilled in our day under the outpouring of the latter
rain. And as these Apostles and all the faithful followers of Christ who have
gained the victory over sin will be present in this our generation, the
prophecy will be fulfilled in them. The 144,000, who are God’s saints in the
last day will collectively be endowed with an understanding of “all
truth.”
A Future Work of
Unification Among God’s People
What one does not see, another one will. And there is to be a work of
unification among these people who are scattered throughout our church and
other churches – there is to be a work of unification. There is to be a
marriage union of Christ Jesus, the Head, to His members of His new bodies of
saints, and they twin shall become one flesh (cf. Eph. 2:20-22; 4:8-16; &
5:22-32; also see vol. 7a of [The] SDA Bible Commentary, 985.9 &
986.1 & 2). And the great truth which will unite the hearts of these dear
waiting saints, is the principle of the Sabbath.
There is another phase concerning the 1844 date which I would like to think
about for a few minutes. We are told that the resurrection occurs at the last
trump. This is quite specific. We are also told that there are seven trumpets
to sound, and that the seventh trumpet began to sound in 1844 [cf. Rev. 11:15,
18 & 19 {research also “last trump”}]. This would indicate that in some way
the time for the resurrection to occur began in 1844.
I would ask you to hold in abeyance any temptation to regard this thought as
ridiculous until such time as you have had opportunity
to consider all the related aspects. At the outset I will say that the general
resurrection has undoubtedly not yet occurred. But if the seventh trumpet began
to sound in 1844, and if the resurrection occurs at the sounding of the seventh
trumpet (and some may question this), then it is plain that
the time for the resurrection may be due. [cf. Volume One, p. 81.9 –
82.5].
Let us look at another phase: We note, in the early writings of Sister White,
that the door to the Holy apartment of the sanctuary was closed in 1844, and
that Jesus moved into the Most Holy to officiate there. It should seem obvious
that if the door to the Holy apartment is closed, the services associated with
that apartment, which consisted of the transferring of sins to the sanctuary,
must be completed. While the service is going on in the Most Holy, there is no
service going on in the Holy. The Day of
Atonement was not designed for the transference of sins to the sanctuary, but
for the cleansing of sins out of the sanctuary.
The Reproduction of
Character Who Have Gone Before
If then, no further sins can be transferred to the sanctuary during the
officiating in the Most Holy, what would
become of the sins which would be confessed by people who are born since 1844?
There may be some solutions to this of which I am not aware. But there is one
possibility which presents itself to my mind, and that is this: That since
1844, the investigative judgment began, and the investigative judgment is a
judgment of characters which is worked out in actual human bodies living on this
earth. We have mentioned something about this before.
If that is true, then these who have come to maturity since 1844 are in reality but reproductions of characters that have gone
before, and their sins have already been taken care of. And at
the present time they are going through their investigative judgment;
and the sanctuary is being cleansed.
It would be clear then, would it not, that no new sins would be entering the
sanctuary? The work is one of judgment, analysis, and cleansing. It is by reason
of their choices, brought about through the super-imposition of the righteous
character which was developed in their former existence, that their sins are
overcome. (That is not precisely the way I wish to express it.)
What I mean is: It is through the merits of this character which has been built
up and is now being tested, that they are enabled to make the proper choices in
relation to the temptations which befall them during this “testing time” since
1844.
This period is specifically called the “testing time” in the writings of Sister
White. And it is the period of the investigative judgment as we have already
known. This view would tie together the idea of the testing, and the idea of
the investigative judgment. And it would be obvious that the universe could
observe which people living since 1844 would be worthy of the first
resurrection, and which would not.
The first of the saints down through the
eras of the church – that is, those who have attained to perfection, will come
last in the investigative judgment. And there will be the 144,000*, who will
live on after probation, right on through the second coming of Christ. And they
are to be translated!
*[Consider 1st Timothy 5:24:
“Some men’s sins are open beforehand; going before to judgment, and some men
they follow after.”]
And so, in a sense, the resurrection began in 1844. The resurrection occurs
according to the natural processes of God’s laws. And these generally function
over a period of time. So we
have the restoration of characters in human bodies, and the testing of the
investigative judgment.
The complete resurrection of all parts of the individuals, including their
bodies, and their consciousness, and their memory of their former life – the
complete unit, will not take place until Jesus comes in the clouds of heaven.
But when this does occur, in the light of the things that we have said, it
should seem clear that the resurrection will come into human bodies which are
living and which are grown up in this world.
There will not be a mass destruction of all the human bodies that are existing
in the world at that time, and the reappearance of a completely different set
of bodies out of no place. Those who shall come forth from the graves, will
come forth into the bodies of those who are living or who have recently lived.
There are aspects about this resurrection which I do not understand yet.
But I am convinced that the doctrines which we have been teaching down through
the years, insofar as we understand them to date, are correct. And any future
understanding of these things, any expansion of understanding, must build upon
the “old foundation.”
I am assuming that you understand that there are two groups who are saved.
There are those who have gained the victory over all sin, the 144,000, who are
translated. Then there is also a great multitude which no man can number.
[Space Reserved in 1994 by J. W. Johnson for Further Comment]
Well, I’ve been interrupted a number of times in
making these tapes. I’m still lying in bed, gradually recovering. I haven’t
attempted to make any flowery speech. It has been merely a rambling
reminiscence of things that have passed through my consciousness many times
during the past years. And I’m a little weary now. I think I shall leave this
for awhile. I don’t know when I shall continue. I may never have opportunity to
complete this particular set.
But the truth will be known. God has ways and means of bringing His messages to
His people. And if these things are true, His disciples will learn of them and
understand them. And one day, they will know what is, and what is not the truth
of God. Those things which we have known, the fundamentals of our message and
our doctrines, are true beyond a shadow of doubt.
But the message to the Laodicean people, which is us, should make us sit up and
take notice, and recognize that we do not know it all! We have been very
boastful over the years. Hardly a week goes by but what we don’t do some
bragging about what we have accomplished as a people. I do not think that God
is pleased with this. “Take heed” He says, “for you think you have need of
nothing,” but you’re in a pretty bad condition. “You’re miserable, you’re
actually poor, you’re blind, and you’re naked.”! That’s a pretty strong
denunciation. We must be in a pretty bad way. Don’t you think it’s time we got
down on our knees and humbled ourselves before God? Maybe He can do something
for us.
This thing’s been dragging on a long time. We were supposed to have been in the
kingdom by now – and that’s another matter that can be explained. But we’re not
there yet. Oh yes, the work is expanding; so is the work in other churches.
We’re getting the message around the globe – some of it. People are responding.
We’re telling them how that they have to keep the law.
We’re telling them about these different doctrines.
But, you know, I’ve worked with people day by day – mixed right with them – got
to know them very well, better than some of our own brethren – people who make
no profession of being servants of God. They don’t make any profession of
understanding the Bible; and they’re good people. They’re Christian people, if
you use that term in the sense of Christ-like. And they’ve got more
consideration and kindness and love and service in their make-up (some of them)
than many, many brethren that I have mixed with in our church. And I don’t like
the looks of that. It doesn’t speak very well. There’s only one thing lacking
in these folks that I’m talking about who don’t make any professions; and that
is, they don’t understand the meaning of the gospel of Christ.
They don’t know God, nor His son Jesus. And how can they know if no one has
told them? But they know how to live in most respects. And yet there’s only one
way that man can be saved; and that is that he acknowledges the Son of God. For
he must respect this King of the universe before he can fit in harmoniously in
the government of heaven.
We know these things, and yet our lives aren’t telling the story. We tell it by
mouth. We preach it, and we brag about winning souls – whatever that means. We
get them on the church books as fast as we can. We publish it in the papers,
especially when some important person comes in. And we keep as quiet as we can
about those who go out the back door. We make sure the radio and the newspapers
get the big figures.
Now I’m not being critical of our church. I’m a member of it. [Remember that
these reminiscences were written about 1955-1956]. I’m included with it. But
I’m ashamed of some of the things we do. I think we need to change. I’m not a
reformer. I’m not an antagonist. I have identified myself with this people. I
too am a sinner. But let’s get together on this thing, Brother and Sister.
Let’s do something about this thing, you and I. We
need to. There are reformers all around us who are raising objections to
everything we do. They are picking us to pieces. They find our faults. If these
reformers were so much better than we are, maybe a lot of us would go to their
ranks; but they’re sinners too. We need to all realize it. We need to quit
tearing each other to pieces. Let’s quit tearing each other down. Let’s not
pull each other down in the mud.
Note by Ron: Christ
was a Reformer. Elijah was a Reformer. Luther was a Reformer. Ellen White said:
“We are Reformers.”
If we could be united
with open sin apostasy sinners, we need not have left the fallen churches in
1844.
“We are reformers, and
we are not to accept a human standard but to be governed by the principles of
heaven. It does not become reformers to confine the work of reform to some
special points to the neglect of others. If wealth is brought to the sanitarium
by the sacrifice of one Christlike attribute or principle, souls will be
discouraged, and one soul is worth more than the whole world. Remember that Christ
will deal with you as you deal with those under your care.” {20MR 388.4}
"Christ was a protestant...The
Reformers date back to Christ and the apostles. They came out and separated
themselves from a religion of forms and ceremonies. Luther and his followers
did not invent the reformed religion. They simply accepted it as presented by
Christ and the apostles." E.G. White, Review and Herald, vol. 2,
48, col. 2.
Ellen White said that Isaiah 58 is our
work. She says that the dumb-dog watchmen will NEVER AGAIN show the House of
Jacob their sins, and this is why Ezekiel 9 begins
LITERALLY at His Church, His Sanctuary. 5T 211. Also, we will not be sealed
unless we sigh and cry for all the abominations done in the church, to wit:
“Mark this point with care; those who
receive the pure mark of truth, wrought in them by the power of the Holy Ghost,
represented by the man in linen, are those "that sigh and cry for all the
abominations that are done" in the church. Their love for purity
and the honor and glory of God is such, and they have so clear a view of the
exceeding sinfulness of sin, that they are represented as being in an agony,
even sighing and crying.” {RH, June 8, 1886 par. 2}
End note by
Ron.
Let’s get together and all pull in one direction – up! We need to go up. We’ve
lost sight of some of the basic principles of Christianity. We have a formal
religion to far too great an extent. Everything must go according to the
established, organized pattern. There’s no room for individual thought. There’s
no room for individual work. Not much. We must check in with headquarters.
That’s good. We have to stick together. We have to co-operate and acknowledge those who are in
authority. But maybe those who are in authority sometimes need a little
correction.
Note by Ron: We cannot
be in unity with apostasy:
Our work is an aggressive one, and as faithful soldiers
of Jesus, we must bear the blood-stained banner into the very strongholds of
the enemy. . . . If we will consent to lay down our
arms, to lower the blood-stained banner, to become the captives and servants of
Satan, we may be released from the conflict and the suffering. But this peace
will be gained only at the loss of Christ and heaven. We cannot accept peace on
such conditions. Let it be
war, war, to the end of earth's history, rather than peace through apostasy and
sin. {AG 333.3}
"But while we are required to be Christlike toward those
who are our enemies, we must not, in order to have
peace, cover up the faults of those we see in error. Jesus, the world's Redeemer, never
purchased peace by covering iniquity, or by anything like compromise.
Though His heart was constantly overflowing with love for the whole human race,
He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain
silent while they were pursuing a course which would ruin their souls--the
souls He had purchased with His own blood. He was a stern reprover
of all vice, and His peace was the consciousness of having done the will of His
Father, rather than a condition of things that existed as the result of having
done His duty." The Upward Look, 220.
"We
have a testing message to give, and I am instructed to say to our people,
'Unify, unify.' But we are not to unify with those who are departing from the
faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
With our hearts sweet ad kind and true, we are to go forth to proclaim the
message, giving no heed to those who lead away from the truth." Selected
Messages, vol. 3, p. 412 Series B, No. 2, p. 47.
And lastly, Luke 12:51 -- Suppose ye that I am come to give
peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.
End note by Ron.
I’m not saying these things to pick faults with either our people or our
leaders. I have a large number of friends, good
friends, in this church. I like these people. They are my brethren and sisters.
We have many, many faithful, capable, devoted leaders in our work. The extent
of their work is limited sometimes by the restrictions and regulations that are
placed about them by the necessity of organization. And perhaps these handicaps
have been serious sometimes. But somehow they have
done a good work—they have served God well. Many souls have been blessed by
their ministry. Many have come to know the truth through their work, and they
have helped many a despondent soul.
We need organization. But we must be careful not to let organization become so
complicated, and formality so essential, that we have no room for the Spirit to
move. We speak much about the “closing work,” about the movement and it’s going
forward. And what we have, mainly in mind, is numbers. The more numbers we get
the bigger the movement. But the real work, the real closing work, is the work
of the Spirit of God in the heart of the individual, preparing him to stand
before his Maker, pure and holy. This is the work that you and I should be
doing.
Note by Ron: Does
Christ need an apostate organization? Did He need the Jewish apostate
organization?
"The Lord Jesus will always have
a chosen people to serve Him. When the Jewish people rejected Christ, the
Prince of life. He took from them the kingdom of God and gave it unto the
Gentiles. God will continue to work on this principle with every branch of His
work. When a church proves unfaithful to the work of the Lord, whatever
their position may be, however high and sacred their calling, the Lord can no
longer work with them. Others are then chosen to bear important
responsibilities. But, if these in turn do not purify their lives from
every wrong action, if they do not establish pure and holy principles in all
their borders, then the Lord will grievously afflict and humble them and,
unless they repent, will remove them from their place and make them a reproach.
God is not 'worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing'
(Acts 17:25). E. G. White, The Upward Look, 131.
End note by Ron.
It’s high time now, that we got some things straightened out in our lives. You
still must acknowledge that you are not ready to stand before God without an
Intercessor, and I have no hesitation in acknowledging it, but I am not afraid
of it. If I attempt to prepare myself to meet God because I’m afraid, I’ll
never make it. All those who come to God must fear [respect] Him but not be
afraid of Him.
The drawing card to the heart of God is love, not fear. Love and fear are
absolutely opposites says the Scripture. Perfect love casteth
out fear. And the perfect love which Adam had in the garden was promptly
destroyed when he sinned. The first consequence of sin was fear in the heart of
man; and it’s fear, the emotion of fear, lack of
security, which is responsible for the major part if not all the ills of
mankind, including His sufferings and death.
Fear has filled our hospitals with those who are ill. Fear has made people try
to work out their own salvation. Fear has made many a person keep
the Sabbath outwardly. But preparation to meet God by keeping His commandments on the basis of being afraid, will not work. We think we have an understanding of the truth, but the message of the
True Witness says that “we’re blind.”
And do you know what the last message to this world is going to be? Well, I
don’t need to tell you. You’ve preached it for many years. The last message to
this world is the everlasting gospel. Think about it! It’s the everlasting
gospel, not the doctrines. And you know what the everlasting gospel is; it’s
the power of God unto salvation to all that believe
and it is the message of sins forgiven. That’s what it is! It reveals the love
of God for His people. There’s no fear in that. I’m not afraid then. I should
not be.
Note by Ron: The truth
about the highest good, crowning gift of Christ, and the gospel, involves the
“doctrine,” the truth about the Godhead. There is no gospel without this all encompassing truth.
Much is said against
doctrine nowadays, but the Bible is fraught with positive statements about
doctrine:
Jhn 18:19 The high
priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.
Act 2:42 And they
continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking
of bread, and in prayers.
Act 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you
that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem
with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
Act 13:12 Then the
deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine
of the Lord.
Act 17:19 And they
took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May
we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
Rom 6:17 But God be
thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart
that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 16:17 Now I
beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to
the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
1Co 14:6 Now,
brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you,
except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying,
or by doctrine?
1Co 14:26 How is it
then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a
doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all
things be done unto edifying.
Eph 4:14 That we
henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro,
and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and
cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
1Ti 1:3 As I besought
thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
1Ti 1:10 For
whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there
be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
1Ti 4:6 If thou put
the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of
Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine,
whereunto thou hast attained.
1Ti 4:13 Till I come,
give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1Ti 4:16 Take heed
unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou
shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.
1Ti 5:17 Let the
elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who
labour in the word and doctrine.
1Ti 6:1 Let as many
servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour,
that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.
1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even
the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to
godliness;
2Ti 3:10 But thou hast
fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering,
charity, patience,
2Ti 3:16 All scripture
is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,
for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 4:2 Preach the
word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering
and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time
will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts
shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
Tit 1:9 Holding fast
the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine
both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.
Tit 2:1 But speak thou
the things which become sound doctrine:
Tit 2:7 In all things
shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Tit 2:10 Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may
adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
Heb 6:1 Therefore
leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God,
Heb 6:2 Of the
doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the
dead, and of eternal judgment.
2Jo 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ,
hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the
Father and the Son.
2Jo 1:10 If there come
any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house,
neither bid him God speed:
Rev 2:14 But I have a
few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of
Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things
sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.
Rev 2:15 So hast thou
also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.
Rev 2:24 But unto you
I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and
which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you
none other burden.
End note
by Ron.
And if I am afraid, it is an indication that I do not have sufficient faith in
my Redeemer, and Satan enters my life through doubt. And the moment I doubt, I
become afraid. But now, if I have perfect confidence in my Saviour, I will have
no fear; for I am clean before God, and God accepts me. And the matter of
getting rid of sin is placed on an entirely different basis.
I no longer have to keep the law to be saved. And
while I know that all people who enter the New Jerusalem will be clean people;
will be pure people; will be people who are keeping the law of God and
co-operating with Him – while I know that – I still recognize that I do not
have to keep the law. Those people will be keeping the law not because they have to, but because they want to. And when I get to the
place where I want to keep the law for an unselfish reason and not for a
selfish one, then I will be able to keep it.
But if I want to keep the law for my own selfish – to save my own selfish skin
– I can’t keep it. The reason I can’t keep it is that it is based on
self-renouncing love. And while I may keep the commandments outwardly, very
methodically, like the rich young ruler, I still lack something. Keeping the
commandments, means living the life of self-sacrificing love. And this is the
preparation that we need.
We need the love of Jesus – the love of God in our hearts. And when we are born
of love we will not sin; and we become sons of God. The new birth experience at
conversion, and manifested through the rite of baptism, is but the beginning.
The complete new birth is not accomplished until we are filled with the love of
God, and do not sin.
And so my motive for trying to keep the law is not to save myself, nor to gain
favor with God, nor position. But my motive now is to keep the law of God in order to please my Saviour and to spare Him the
inconvenience and suffering that my sin will cause Him, since He has guaranteed
to accept the penalty of my transgression in order that I may have eternal life
as a free gift. This life is mine, and now I keep the law as best I can, not
for my own sake but for His sake.
The Most Important
Point on These Tapes
This is the most important point which I have talked about on these tapes! This
is the Everlasting Gospel which will swell into a loud cry! It will finish
God’s work in the earth, not by bringing in numbers, but by saving a man from
his sins – by cleansing the sanctuary!
Are you thinking about it? I hope you are. The work of the organized church has
its place. But the final message and the final movement, which will be rapid,
will be accomplished largely by laymen. [cf. 5T 80& 81]. It will be the
individual members who will finish the work of cleansing their soul temples
from sinning.
And it will be the work of the Holy Spirit in the latter rain – the eternal
blood which Jesus relinquished at the cross in dying the eternal death of the
sinner – which Spirit of eternal life returned to the Father in the Most Holy
of the heavenly sanctuary at the time of the cross, to be administered to each
obedient saint at the intercession of Jesus in the latter rain, [that] is the
final delivering of the eternal life blood of Christ to His “new” eternal body
of saints, who now replace the original body in which he lived from eternity.
He gave His original body and blood as an eternal sacrifice, for His saints to
eat and drink, whereof they obtain eternal life in themselves! (John
6:53, 54)
I could say much more, but why should I? I have given you the most important
message. I’ve told you the things that God has made plain to me.
Christ’s Eternal
Sacrifice
But let me elaborate on Christ’s eternal sacrifice:
He volunteered to die the eternal death of the sinner. And after presenting His
disciples with His final profound lesson at the last Passover supper,
explaining how He must die the eternal death of the sinner, and relinquish His
eternal body and blood for them to eat and drink to obtain the eternal life
which had been His, He went to Gethsemane and surrendered His life into the
custody of His Father;[9] and thus could die the eternal death of sinful
humanity on the cross.
The Everlasting
Covenant Delivered!
Herewith I have delivered the Everlasting Covenant. I have revealed its message
– its power. Much thought could be given to it to elaborate upon it, to make it
plainer; but it is all here. And I’m going to close this tape now because it is
just about finished.
Let’s get down on our knees and ask for the Spirit of God’s love to be shed
abroad in our hearts, and we will be victorious for His sake. Remember, many of
our brightest lights will go out. They will cling to the formality of our
religion, be meticulous in keeping the Sabbath—but they will miss the bus.
It must not happen to you. You are saved by faith, but you keep the law because
you love the Saviour. Please, remember it. Let us worship God, who created
heaven and earth. Amen.
End of quoting from Panorama of Truth, Vol. 2.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
[Note: The foregoing recording, Personal Reminiscence, was first put into
written form during the month of September, 1990. It
was transcribed from the original reel-to-reel audio tape which was recorded by
J. W. Johnson in 1957 or 1958. The transcription was reviewed by Bro. Johnson,
in 1994, at which time He did some brief editing, adding several paragraphs,
particularly concerning the sacrifice of Christ.
However, the inter-locking truths spoken of on this tape had been revealed to
Bro. Johnson in 1941-1942 in answer to his original prayer for wisdom (about
1933), when he was but seventeen or eighteen years of age].
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The following is from
Panorama of Truth, Vol. 1, on Regeneration of the 144,000:
The Work in the First
Apartment
And now the work in the first apartment began when He (Christ) ascended to
heaven. The saints were called from each of the generations of the eras of the
church’s history, and the promise was given to the overcomers in each of these.
And now we come to the last period – the Day of Atonement since 1844.
On the Day of Atonement the door to the holy apartment was shut, and the door
to the Most Holy was opened. This would clearly indicate that the work of the
Holy Apartment was completed, and that the transferring of sins to the
sanctuary was finished; and that now the work was one of judgment and cleansing
of sin out of the sanctuary. But if this be true then, how can the sins of
those who are born since 1844, who are born into the Day of Atonement, be taken
care of?[10] If there is no ministry in the holy apartment, obviously there is
a change in the set-up.
The answer to this again will only be understood as it is given in detail, and
this has been done, more or less, on preceding tapes, and we will summarize
here: Those who are born since 1844, are born as bodies into which the
potential character and person of one who has lived before 1844 appears. In
other words these men and women today are
demonstrating, as Jesus did before His anointing, the character of one who has
lived before. And this is being done through the agency of the guardian angel
who now identifies himself and operates through, in this particular
capacity, the one who is now living.
The Testing of
Predestined Characters
In a sense, those who live today are predestined characters, even as Jesus was
predestined, for we are now living in the time of the regeneration and the
judgment of the saints. We are living in the time when the characters of all
those who have come to Christ are being proved. They are being tested. They
must prove worthy or unworthy. None can be raised from the dead in their final
complete and full sense, until the character has been vindicated in the eyes of
the universe; for those who come in the first resurrection are the righteous;
and those who come in the second resurrection are the wicked. And therefore it must be determined, before the resurrection is
completed, who will come in the first one. This can only be determined by the
investigative judgment; and the character is to be proved under the
circumstances existing in the world at this time.
The Bible says that those who are first shall be last; and it is significant
that the overcomers will be the ones who will come forth last, whose characters
will attain to perfection, who will prove their righteousness through their
complete faith and trust in Christ the Saviour, having the faith of Jesus, and
keeping the commandments of God. And these are they who shall be anointed with
the Holy Ghost as Jesus was, and who will come into a knowledge and
understanding of their former existence. They will be raised from the dead in
this, the special resurrection, performed through regeneration; and they will
be translated without seeing death at the second coming of Jesus.
Now the Bible says that all must die, and after this the judgment [Heb. 9:27].
If, according to our present limited view, the 144,000 saints who are
translated, appear for the first time in the last generation, they do not
fulfil this passage of Scripture.
If, on the other hand, these are the characters of those who have lived before,
who are now being tested in the judgment – they have already died. And now they
are being judged; and then they will be translated and completely fulfil all
passages of Scripture in relation to them. You will remember the apostle Paul
speaks of being “with them” who are alive – not with those who are raised from
the death at the second coming [cf. 1st Thess. 4:15-17]. And the apostle John
was to “testify again before many peoples and nations and tongues” [Rev.
10:11], concerning things that were not revealed in his writings; and that
Jesus said of him, “If I will that he remain till I
come, what is that to thee?” [John 21:22].
The Overcomers From Each Era of the Christian Church
Thus, in the lives of these, the overcomers from each of the eras of the
churches’ history, who are now regenerated in the last generation – I say, in
the lives of these, – complete victory over sin will be manifest. This will be
done through the element of faith. The item by which they are judged is their
faith. And their faith will hold no matter how deeply they fall into sin – and
incidentally, Sister White says that
those who have fallen deepest into sin will stand closest to His throne to
praise Him for what He has done. [cf. SC 35& 36].[11] And there is no doubt that
the 144,000 will stand closest to Him at His throne, for they, and they alone,
enter with Him into the temple on Mount Zion [cf. EW 19].
They are a part of the new body structure of Christ of which Jesus is the Head.
They are now the new habitation of God – the dwelling place of God. He says to
the Laodiceans in the promise to them, that if they open the door, He will come
in and sup with them; and they are to be the new habitation. This is the temple
of the Holy Ghost; and God and Christ come to this temple through the
outpouring of the Holy Ghost.
The 144,000 Will
Understand and Come for Cleansing
And so in line with the teaching, which is prevailing
[1961] at the present time to a large extent, that it is now time for us to
come to this most holy apartment of the sanctuary for the final cleansing – I
say, in line with this teaching, there are 144,000 saints living on the earth
today, who are to come through to this experience. And while many will not
understand it – many will not understand it, they are not a part of this temple
in this sense – there will be those who will understand, and who will come and
receive this final cleansing!
We have explained on the other side of this tape and on other tapes how this
cleansing will be brought about – that it is through the delivering of the
message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the everlasting covenant attached to
it – I say, it is through this message that an understanding of the final
victory over sin and an accomplishment of it, will be made.
The other technical parts of doctrine concerning the sanctuary and the
regeneration of the saints since 1844, to go through the investigative judgment
and so on – these are not the essential things. There may be disharmony and
discord in an understanding of these. But the essential thing is the message of
the gospel, forgiveness of sins, and the meaning of the everlasting covenant;
and the final victory over sin, and cleansing of the
soul temple. We have not covered it in complete detail here, but the essential
points are available.
The Reception of the
Kingdom & The Marriage of the Lamb
There is involved in the work of the most holy apartment, the reception of the
kingdom by Jesus, and the marriage of the Lamb. It is doubtful whether this is
too well understood, but undoubtedly, the marriage of the Lamb to His kingdom
refers to His receiving back the authority which, in a sense, He lost under
Satan’s challenge many, many years ago. He is now to be acknowledged the
supreme Ruler of the universe, and this is going to be done by even the 144,000
saints on the earth. They will champion His cause here on earth ‘midst the most
forbidding of circumstances.
These are the saints – these are the bride of the Lamb, for it says that His
kingdom is His saints, or His kingdom is in His saints. It is through them that
he obtains His power once more. This is so, because they constitute the new
body temple or structure of the habitation of God. Christ humbled Himself and
gave up His former body and blood (this is true doctrine), and He came into a
human temple which was to become the fullness of the Head of the new body
structure; “for in Him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” [Col.
2:9]. And His saints constitute the rest of the structure. To these He is
married – they become one flesh.
The Saints Receive of
the Heritage of the Son of God
The saints are to eat the flesh of the Son of God and drink His blood. Of course this is not literally – this refers to receiving
the heritage of His former body and blood which He broke for them, and which He
spilt for them. And Jesus told His disciples, “ere He went to heaven, that “He
would not again partake of this Himself” – He told them this clearly at the
last supper – “until He partook of it with them in the kingdom.” This should be
plain – that as the marriage union takes place between Christ and His saints,
the new structure is brought into one complete unit. It is unified – it is
married – it is fused; and the new governing unit of the universe is born, so
to speak. Christ is in His saints. They are His body. And Jesus is the Head,
and the head operates through the body.
No sensory experience is available to the mind except as it comes through the
channels of the physical body. No executive operation or muscular activity of
the body is possible except – (or should I put it this way) – no decision of
the mind can be executed, except as it is executed through the muscles and
glands and the physical structure of the body temple. This is the new set-up.
Never again can Jesus Christ be accused of assuming a superior position arbitrarily, and dictating to His subjects; for all will go
through His new body of 144,000 saints. These are the only ones that enter into the temple with Jesus; and this is the ruling
body.
But the saints love their Saviour. They have gone through the deepest
experience. They admire Him. They will not do anything [which would wound their
Lord and Saviour]. They have proved on this world, in this earth during the
last closing conflict, that they will refuse to sin, to transgress, to injure
their Lord under any circumstance.
The Ghost of the Body
of Christ Becomes a Part of the 144,000
It is not until after this has been proved that the anointing takes place, and
the Holy Ghost – the Ghost of the [Divine Nature Only] body of Christ which
existed before – will become a part of the 144,000 saints. They will be the
temples of the Holy Ghost. He will come to dwell with them. But their temples
will be pure, for He cannot dwell in an impure temple. I wonder if this is not
plain? These are big words. These are big thoughts; but these are not
delusions. These are thoughts which are clearly portrayed in the Word of God;
and those who would come to God for a clearer understanding of His truth will
receive it. This is His promise.
Let us build, brethren, on a firm foundation. Let us accept the basic doctrines
which we have taught for many years, and let us build
on from there. With the help of the Spirit of God, with humility, a willingness
to learn, and a willingness to obey, God will honor and bless us with a deeper
understanding of His truth.
Something Different
about Sins Confessed Since 1844
And then at the close of the ministration of Christ in the Sanctuary above, as
He is about to leave, He pauses a moment to place upon Satan the confessed sins
of His people since 1844. This would indicate there is something particularly
different about the sins which have been confessed since 1844, than those which were confessed before 1844. In the light of
what I have said previously, I think it may be understood. The former sins were
transferred to the sanctuary, and there recorded.
The sins since 1844 are but the manifestation or the continuation of characters
which have been previously formed; and these sins have been taken care of
through the acceptance by faith of Christ, and the transference of the sins to
the sanctuary. And as the saints are judged in the regeneration period since
1844, these sins no longer need to be transferred to the first apartment of the
sanctuary. Oh no, they are already there – these sins have gone before! [“. . .
going before to judgement;” 1st Timothy 5:24]. These are but the
outworking and continuation of the pattern [of character] that had been
previously set.
The 144,000 – Cleansed
and Without Fault
But in this generation, the character is to be proved victorious over sin. In
the former generation they were overcomers by faith – that is, they believed in
the forgiveness of their sins, and were thus accepted. But had they continued
to live they would have continued to sin. Even Moses, the champion of the old
covenant experience would manifest that.
But now we’re under the new covenant experience. We’re now under the Day of
Atonement when the sanctuary is to be cleansed, and sin is to be expelled from
the life. This is the demonstration which is to take place in the lives of the
144,000: that they will gain the victory over their sins and be cleansed, that
their soul temples will be purified, that they will be without fault before the
throne, that they will be able to stand before God without an intercessor.
Only after this test has been completed and demonstrated can the marriage union
of Christ be completed, and can they be trusted to form a part of the governing
body of Christ. Should they sin in the future, that sin would be registered in
the head of the body – which is Christ. [cf. R&H 10-16-1894, {volume 3 of
the R&H articles, p. 642, column 1.5}]. He will forever remain the surety
for sin; and He will become an eternal sufferer. But the saints will never sin.
Sin will not arise a second time!
Christ staked His
Entire Life for His Saints
Christ has staked His entire life, on the principle of His self-sacrificing
love – that this principle would triumph in the hearts of His saints, that it
would win out in the long run, that it would guarantee that they will never let
Him down. By faith He has placed Himself on trial in such a way, that He can
never again be accused of maintaining His top position arbitrarily. [“The honor
of His throne is staked for the fulfillment of His word unto us.” – COL 148].
The saints will have no other choice of a Ruler. They recognize their
inefficiencies, their inabilities, their weaknesses. They recognize that their
victories and their strength have all been given to them through the power of
Christ’s love. They will never let Him down! Never again will they choose to
sin; and sin could only arise if they did [so] choose. Because sin is a choice,
they will never [so] choose. The power of self-sacrificing love in their hearts
will constrain them to obedience throughout eternity.
The 144,000 – Why
Priests for a Thousand Years?
These 144,000 will be the priests during the thousand years, and during this
time the details of all the lives will be considered. And there will be those
like the thief on the cross who will come up in the first resurrection, who,
had they continued to live in this world, would have continued to sin. There
will be many of these. These all must be educated; these all must learn.
They must be dealt with patiently, and for one thousand years they will have
144,000 priests to assist them in their education. And finally, after the earth
has been completely cleansed by fire at the end of the thousand years, and all
those who have come up in the first resurrection have been grown up into the
fullness of the stature of Christ – the new earth will be established. May God
speed the day!
End of J. Wilfred Johnson’s Treatise.