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"This experience of the Israelites [in departing from Egypt] was written for the instruction of those who should live in the last days. Before the overflowing scourge shall come upon the dwellers of the earth, the Lord calls upon all who are Israelites indeed to prepare for that event." Volume 6, page 195. The twelve tribes of Israel after the flesh are but a type of Israel by the promise (the 144,000). As there were Gentiles among Israel (the type), there would be Gentiles in Israel the true.
The early part of the Christian church (apostolic time) could not be called Israel, for the history of the church then was typified by Isaac, according to Gal. 4:22-31, and as explained on pages 53, 54. Isaac was not called Israel, for he was the father of Jacob, and it was Jacob who was called Israel, therefore, Israel, whatever part of the church it is must come sometime later in the history of the church. Jacob was the father of the twelve tribes of Israel, and if Israel after the flesh is a type of Israel by promise (the true), then let us study the beginning of Israel after the flesh, if we are to locate, or to know of Israel by the promise,--the 144,000.
The journey of Israel down into Egypt could not have been an accident. Whatever the reason for it, God was in it. Joseph said to his brothers (Gen. 45:5): "Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: For God did send me before you to preserve life." Joseph declares that God was the cause for him going into Egypt. God had also told Abraham that he, and his seed would sojourn and be afflicted in a strange land 430 years. But why did God send them into Egypt? Why was Joseph sold at the age of 17, merely a lad, into the hands of cruel Ishmaelites, and lead to a strange land to be re-sold as a slave? We certainly would not make a mistake by thinking that Joseph became faint-hearted on the way. There surely must have been a reason for all this ill treatment.
In Egypt, Joseph was sold to serve as a slave, and later was thrown into the dungeon for a number of years. Why did God lead Israel into that strange land where idolatry prevailed everywhere? God certainly knew that in that land they would become slaves in just a short while. Why would heaven allow God's chosen people to become servants to a nation whose idols were their gods? Why did God permit the lashes of the Egyptian taskmasters to be applied upon the backs of His people? Why would divine love permit the children of Abraham (God's friend) while yet in infancy, to be drowned in the river Nile? Who can say our great God was ignorant of all these things which took place, or that He made a mistake? The only answer that can be offered is, that it was all heavenly designed. But what was it all about? God must have had some special reason and specific purpose for an object lesson to be taught at a certain time. One may say, God did it all to show His power, but, would the all-wise and great God, full of love and mercy, destroy His children to show His power? Not even an earthly, mortal, human father would dare destroy his children to show his power. Who would dare say human beings have greater love or better judgment than the great God, whose mercy is immeasurable, whose love fills the universe, whose wisdom is unsearchable, whose judgment is justice?
Not only His chosen suffered of bondage and cruelty, but the Egyptians as well. At the time of the Exodus movement, at the departure of Israel, the plagues came upon all Egypt, and the nation was nearly ruined. On the night of the Passover, there was death in every dwelling where there was no blood on the door post, and in every stall of beasts.
"And all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die from the first-born of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the first-born of beasts." Ex. 11:5.
Israel journeyed to the Red Sea, and Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the waters were divided. Israel went into the sea, and walked across over dry ground. The Egyptians pursued after them to the midst of the sea, and Moses stretched his hand over the sea, the waters returned, and covered the chariots, horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh which came into the sea after them; "there remained not so much as one of them."
Israel came into the wilderness where they wandered about for 40 years. Thousands of them perished because of unbelief. At the end of the wilderness journey, the people crossed the Jordan. During the time Israel was away from Canaan, the land was thickly inhabited by heathen nations. Israel was compelled to destroy them by the sword in order to possess the land. Think of the loss of life, grief, and suffering: All because God took Israel into Egypt, and brought them back again. God certainly would not destroy His subjects: "just to show His power."
In 1 Cor. 10:11, 12, speaking of the experience of the children of Israel, we read: "Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." If we are the people upon whom the end of the world is about to come, then their ensamples are written for our admonition. This is the reason why God lead the children of Israel into Egypt and back again. Think how great the price to work out the picture. The lessons to be derived from these great examples are far greater than we have ever realized. Many thousands lost their lives to produce the picture, with the intention that many more thousands would be saved than those who perished. Let us therefore carefully study into the lessons that were intended for our learning and admonition.
"Pharaoh dreamed: And, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favored kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favored and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river, And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke....And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: And Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh....Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon....And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: And I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it....And Pharaoh" told the dream to Joseph. "And Joseph said unto Pharaoh....God hath shewed Pharaoh what He is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years;...And the seven thin and ill favored kine that came up after them are seven years....Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt....And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous....And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: The food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number." Gen. 41:1-49.
We shall endeavor to bring enough evidence in this study to show that Israel's experience in Egypt is a photograph of Israel the true (the 144,000) in the Seventh-day Adventist church. "While the exodus movement was a great movement, the second advent movement will be still greater. God will take out a people, not from one nation only, but from every nation under heaven, and He will lead them into the heavenly Canaan. This advent movement, of which the exodus movement was a type, we believe was foretold in prophecy in the following stirring language: 'It shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant of His people, which shall be left.' There shall be a highway for the remnant of His people;...like as it was to Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt." Review and Herald, Oct. 10, 1929, pages 4, 5. "The Exodus Movement is in a way a type [photograph] of the closing work of God under the Advent Movement." "Each movement rises in fulfillment of time prophecy." Certainties of the Advent Movement, by W.A. Spicer. The fact that Israel after the flesh is a type (photograph), their experience must be duplicated by the true, otherwise there can be no type.
God permitted the plenty, as well as the famine. Each one bears the number "seven," meaning "perfect," or "complete." These two sections of time can only mean one thing which is none other than this world in history, in two great divisions; namely B.C. and A.D., with the cross as the dividing line. The seven years of plenty represent the Old Testament period in which time God gave plenty, for by His holy prophets He stored it in the great storehouse, what we today call the Bible. In Matt. 11:13, we read: "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." It is for this reason that Jesus made the above statement, for we have no other thus far.
In the seven years of plenty (B.C.) God stored His word in the Bible to feed the world (Egypt) in the next seven years of famine (A.D.). "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers by the prophets, 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. 1:1, 2. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the old.
Joseph typified Christ. See Patriarchs and Prophets, pages 239, 240. Our God in the Old Testament time (seven years of plenty) spoke to His people in divers manners by His prophets, and commanded these things to be written, with the intention to speak to His people in these last days (New Testament time, or seven years of famine) to each one of us individually by the voice of His Word as found (stored) in the Bible.
"Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: Only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had, and they cried before him, bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." Gen. 41:40-44. No greater favor or honor could Pharaoh have shown to Joseph; and all the Egyptians bowed down to him. As we proceed in this study we shall prove beyond a doubt that Joseph is a perfect type of Christ.
If Joseph typified Christ, and Pharaoh honored Joseph above any man ever honored by any king, and Joseph--and Pharaoh work hand in hand, then Pharaoh must stand for some figure, or type. It would not be hard to determine what Pharaoh represents. That which honored Christ above everything that can be honored upon earth, is what Pharaoh represents.
The church of the apostles honored Christ above everything that can be honored, so much so, that all sacrificed their lives. No greater homage has Christ received upon earth by any other part in the history of His church. By this we understand that Pharaoh represents the apostles' church, or organization. The application made here will prove correct as we advance in this study. (Further explanation upon this subject is given on the last page of this section.)
The dividing line between the seven years of plenty and seven years of famine is the cross. "For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John." Matt. 11:13. Where the seven years of plenty end, the seven years of famine begin. The first year of famine is the beginning of the church of Christ at the time of the apostles. One may ask, Why a famine in the beginning of the Christian church? Did they not get sufficient corn (truth)? Yes, but they got it from the great storehouse (the Bible) in the same way as the Egyptians received their corn in the years of famine,--from the immense storehouse at the hand of Joseph. See pages 15-18.
The seven years of famine began when the Egyptians came to Pharaoh for bread and Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, "Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do...and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians" Gen. 41:55, 56. "And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? For the money faileth....And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: And Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh:...And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field....And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: Let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants." Gen. 47:14-25.
In the beginning of the famine, the Egyptians went to Pharaoh for corn, instead of to Joseph. They were well acquainted with Joseph, for he had been a governor of Egypt for eight years or more. Joseph rode over all the land of Egypt, and every Egyptian bowed down to him. During the years of plenty, it was Joseph who bought the corn from the Egyptians, and it seems strange that they should go to Pharaoh. It must have been by divine providence that they came to him.
It has been explained that Pharaoh represented the church organization or leadership. The Egyptians can not represent anything else but the Gentiles in the days of the apostles. The Gentiles came to the church (Pharaoh) where they were told to go to Joseph (Christ). "What he saith to you, do." That is, the church in her purity without one strange thing in their midst, directed the Gentiles to Christ as their life giver, as Pharaoh directed the Egyptians to Joseph.
"And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: So the land became Pharaoh's." Gen. 47:20. In the preceding verses of the chapter we read the Egyptians spent all their money for corn; and when the money was gone, they gave the cattle in exchange; and when the cattle were gone, they gave the land; and when the land was gone, they sold themselves and became servants to Pharaoh. This is the type, but of the fulfillment of this type, we read in the following texts: "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: Neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: And great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet:...And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas,...a Levite,...Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet." Acts 4:32-37. Thus Jew and Gentile sold all houses and lands and brought the prices and laid them at the apostles' feet, and became servants to the church (Pharaoh).
Again we read Acts 5:1-10, "But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, and kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land?...And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost." Thus any who pretended to sell, and held back part of the price received, in the days of the apostles, died just as those who would not sell all to Pharaoh in Egypt. Jesus said "Sell all and follow Me." Therefore type met anti-type.
"And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh;...And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof." Gen. 47, part of verses 20, 21. This is the type, following is the fulfillment of the type: Acts 8:1, "And Saul was consenting unto his [Stephen's] death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles."
It will be noticed that the apostles were
at home (Jerusalem), and there is no record where the apostles sold their
land. Now we quote the type of the latter: Gen. 47:22, "Only the land of
the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them
of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: Wherefore
they sold not their lands." It is remarkable to note how this coincides
to the smallest details.
Israel arrived in Egypt in the second year of famine. Gen. 45:10, 11, "And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast: And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty." The arrival of Israel in Egypt stands for some symbol in which there must be a lesson. Note that this lesson can not be fore the early part of the Christian church, for Israel came in the second year of famine. The lesson, then, intended here, is for a later period in the history of the church. If we are to know the truth of the incident, and the lesson intended to be derived from it, reference must here be made to the number of souls which entered into Egypt. "And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten." Gen. 46:27.
The Bible says all the souls who came into Egypt were seventy in number. If we can in some way, find the meaning of the number, then we shall understand the lesson. When Moses, with the children of Israel, came to Sinai, he organized the church there, and in organizing, selected seventy elders. This same organization, years later, crossed the Jordan and went into the promised land. There they had the Sanhedrin which was composed of seventy men. Thus, the number "seventy" is a symbol of church organization. The meaning, then, is that there will be a church organization, sometime in the history of A.D. If this is true, then that church which Christ, with the apostles organized must disband, and of necessity be re-organized. This is true, for the Christian church was disorganized in the dark ages during the time of the beginning of papal rule. When again organized, it would partially fulfill Joel 2:32, "And in the remnant whom the Lord shall call." The 2300 days, or years, of Daniel's prophecy in the eighth chapter gives us the entire truth of church history to 1844, until which time there was no call for re-organization. It there had been, or if this call for re-organization had met its fulfillment before 1844, then Daniel's prophecy would have made mention of it. As the prophecy is silent, and there has no prophet of God risen since the church fell into papal power about A.D. 538 to 1844, then the truth of the symbol was yet in the future.
As the prophetic period ended in 1844, the "Most Holy" place in the heavenly Sanctuary was opened, into which Christ entered. If this incident marked the beginning of the atonement, there would have been no better, or more opportune time for a call from heaven than at the end of the great prophetic period; the day of atonement being the most solemn time for the church. Seventh-day Adventists were called out by a prophet, and are practically the only people who believe in the 2300 days. We are the only people who have proclaimed it since 1844, and are now in the atonement, or the time of the judgment. The text for this is here quoted: "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Rev. 14:6, 7. Seventh-day Adventists only can fulfill the type, for just at this time they were called by a prophet of God, to organize as a denomination, and to proclaim the glad news: "This gospel in all the world in this generation." Thus the symbol "seventy" met its fulfillment at that time.
Still another thought on the experience of Israel:--When Joseph's brethren came into Egypt, they went directly to him for corn. "And Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth." Gen. 42:6. The sons of Jacob were strangers in the land and knew not their brother who was a governor. They providentially came not to Pharaoh, as the Egyptians did, for corn, but directly to the right person,--Joseph. In contrast to this, the Egyptians who should have known better, being acquainted with the rule of their country, went to Pharaoh for corn, but their king told them to "go to Joseph. What he saith to you, do." The Egyptians must have known Joseph, being their governor for more than eight years by that time. In the seven years of plenty, it was Joseph to whom they sold the food which he preserved for the time of famine. Joseph rode in Pharaoh's chariot over all the land of Egypt, and all the Egyptians bowed down to him, thus it would have been impossible for them to be ignorant of him. This being a symbol, it can only find its fulfillment in the following narrative:
The Egyptians (Gentiles) went to Pharaoh
(leadership of the apostolic church) for corn. The apostles directed the
Gentiles (converts) to Christ as Pharaoh directed the Egyptians to Joseph,
saying, "Go to Joseph. What he saith to you, do." If this is the meaning
we get from the Egyptians' going to Pharaoh, then the significance of the
sons of Jacob going directly to Joseph means that when that church is re-organized,
the people would have to go directly to Christ (Joseph). The lesson intended
is, that in the beginning of the church in 1845, which had no true leadership
(Pharaoh) to go to, they of necessity went directly to Christ (as the sons
of Jacob came to Joseph).
The Seventh-day Adventist Church which came into existence in 1845 became Israel (the movement from which the true Israel, the 144,000 are made). It will be noticed that the names of the fathers after the flesh, and by the promise coincide. The father's name of Israel after the flesh was "Jacob". So is the name of the father of Israel by the promise (Seventh-day Adventist movement). But one may say, It was Jacob in the former, and James White in the latter. True it is, but the names "Jacob" and "James" are the same. Again, the very first vision Sister White had was about the 144,000, and the aim of this denomination has been to make that number.
The beginning of this denomination was typified by Israel's entrance into Egypt as previously explained. We shall now consider the truth of the land of Goshen. Joseph brought Israel into Egypt and gave them the part of the land to dwell in which was the best land in the country of Egypt, and there Joseph nourished them, their flocks, herds and cattle, and all they had. See Gen. 45:10.
The land of Goshen stand as a symbol of the United States of America in which the church came into existence. While our country is productive like the land of Goshen, the richest in the world, and a Protestant nation, it is the best for missionary work, for it is made up of all nations, and therefore like the land of Goshen, the most productive in Egypt (the world).
In the beginning of the seven years of famine the Egyptians sold all and became servants to Pharaoh, which has reference to the apostles' church and of the Gentiles then, who sold their houses, and lands, and had all things in common, as previously explained. But Israel did not sell any of their possessions, nor did they pay for the food with which Joseph nourished them. Israel, then, represents the church now. In the beginning of the church in 1845, Christ (Joseph) opened the storehouse and gave us all the truth (corn) we could possibly assimilate. Is it not a fact that no other people at any time in the history of the church have received as much truth as God has given us in our time? Line upon line, precept upon precept, instruction upon instruction, have been given us, so that we, as a people, may know and understand the ways of the Lord, obey His voice, keep His charge, commandments, statutes, and laws; thus becoming the "children of Abraham, and heirs according to the promise." When this is realized in the hearts of men then they will fulfill the charge given to Peter. Peter said, "Thou knowest I love Thee." Jesus saith unto him, "Feed My sheep."
"And Pharaoh said unto his brethren [Joseph's], What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. Gen. 47:3. Israel were shepherds which is a symbol of missionaries such as feed the lambs of God. In the early part of the church, the by-word was, "Every Seventh-day Adventist a missionary, and every missionary a preacher." It ought to be so now. "The great struggle has not been between religion and no religion; it is between God's religion and man's religion."--Review and Heralds, Jan. 23, 1930.
"Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph." Ex.1:8. If the first Pharaoh, who exalted Joseph (Christ), represented the leadership in the days of the apostles, then this new Pharaoh must represent the leadership of this present movement at the time this subject became known. Note, this new Pharaoh knew not Joseph (Christ). The meaning is that the leadership of this organization has left following their Master,--"Christ". Volume 5, page 217: "Grievous and presumptuous sins have dwelt among us. And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing, and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders. The church have turned back from following Christ her Leader, and is steadily retreating toward Egypt. Yet few are alarmed or astonished at their want of spiritual power. Doubt and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated." Further explanation of the Pharaohs being types, is given on the last page of this section.
"Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:...Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew....And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor:...And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field." Ex. 1:8-13.
"The children of Israel," said Pharaoh, "are too strong and mightier than we. Let us deal wisely and reduce their strength." So they (Israelites) were drafted from the sheepfolds to the brick yards, and the field, but this did not reduce their strength. Said Pharaoh, "Let us set taskmasters over them to wear them out." Note the application. Pharaoh is the king, the one who rules. The taskmasters in this case could be none other than a class of ministers referred to in Volume 5, page 217: "Doubt and even disbelief of the testimonies of the Spirit of God, is leavening our churches everywhere. Satan would have it thus. Ministers who preach self instead of Christ would have it thus. The testimonies are unread and unappreciated."
No longer is the by-word of Seventh-day Adventists, "every Seventh-day Adventist a missionary; every missionary a preacher," as what it used to be. But, how much per capita? or, have you made your budget? instead of, Have you brought any souls to Christ? Are your church members nearer to Him? It is not meant here that Christians ought not to give for the support of the cause. We ought to give, and give more liberally than we have given in the past, but our gifts ought to come from a willing heart, and not from the result of lashes. The people should be fed with spiritual food so that they would feel the need of giving without overbearing on the subject.
When Moses was about to build the sanctuary in the wilderness, God commanded him, saying: "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering: Of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take My offering." Moses was commanded to take offerings only from those who willingly gave from their heart. We are told by the Spirit of Prophecy that ministers should not put all their efforts and time with the church. Members are not to expect a sermon every Sabbath. Ministers should rather engage themselves in working for outsiders. Read Volume 9, page 140. Have we taken heed to this instruction? For example, we have scores of ministers in Los Angeles and immediate vicinity, but how many public efforts have we? It was announced just a short time ago that there were only two. Thus it has been for some years. What are these ministers doing day after day, and week after week? It seems they are doing nothing but preparing a sermon during six days of the week to preach on Sabbath, and then it is either something to sell, or some particular budget to raise.
How many sermons preached do we read of in Not one. We have polluted the house of God with merchandise even on Sabbath morning, which hour is dedicated as a day of rest to worship God. Volume 1, pages 471, 472: "A great mistake has been made by some who profess present truth, by introducing merchandise in the course of a series of meetings, and by their traffic diverting minds from the object of the meetings. If Christ were now upon earth, He would drive out these peddlers and traffickers, whether they be ministers or people, with a scourge of small cords, as when He entered the temple anciently....Ministers have stood in the desk and preached a most solemn discourse, and then by introducing merchandise, and acting the part of a salesman, even in the house of God, they have diverted the minds of their hearers from the impressions received, and destroyed the fruit of their labor....Their time and strength should be held in reserve, that their efforts may be thorough in a series of meetings. Their time and strength should not be drawn upon to sell our books when they can be properly brought before the public by those who have not the burden of preaching the word [colporteurs].
" 'It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.' These traffickers might have pleaded as an excuse that the articles they held for sale were for sacrificial offerings. But their object was to get gain, to obtain means, to accumulate." Volume 1, page 472.
Our conference is not ignorant of the instruction here given, and the evil which is practised in the churches. At the Autumn Council held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1923, the question of book sales on the Sabbath day was brought forth in connection with other matters, and the following resolution was passed and published: "That all campaigns for the promotion of periodicals or book sales on the Sabbath day be eliminated, and that those responsible for the promotion of these campaigns be directed to the method of house to house solicitation by visiting committees in connection with campaigns for literature sales:
"That we invite our publishing houses to exercise caution circularizing our people on behalf of publishing house projects, and to refrain from sending to church officers matters to be presented on the Sabbath, with previous arrangements with the Local, Union, and General conferences."--Milwaukee Autumn Council, Oct. 9-17, 1923. Review and Herald of Nov. 22, 1923. Read Volume 9, page 260.
We read in Testimonies to Ministers, page 477: "A strange thing has come into our churches. Men who are placed in positions of responsibility that they may be wise helpers to their fellow workers, have come to suppose that they were set as kings and rulers in the churches, to say to one brother, Do this; to another, Do that; and to another, Be sure to labor in such and such a way." Thus Pharaoh has drafted the people from the sheepfold to the brickyards, or the field. The taskmasters, being commanded to oversee the work, urge the bricks (budgets), and wear out the people. The existing sins in the church are passed over and no one cares. Those who do reprove wrongs incur their displeasure. In Volume 3, page 266, speaking of the condition in the church at the time of the sealing (marking) of the 144,000, and the slaughter in the church, we read: "Those who have excused these wrongs have been thought by the people to be very amiable and lovely in disposition, simply because they shunned to discharge a plain Scriptural duty. The task was not agreeable to their feelings, therefore, they avoided it."
"And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. And the taskmasters of the people went out and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: Yet not ought of your work shall be diminished." Ex. 5:6, 7, 10, 11.
Pharaoh will not furnish straw: That is, he will not render any help, but the people must produce the same amount of bricks. In the beginning of this organization (Seventh-day Adventists), the denominational institutions, sanitariums, and hospitals were built for the purpose of caring for our own people (members of the church). After the cause of the patient had been diagnosed, the cause being made known, with instruction, some aid or treatments were to be given. This help was to be rendered whether they were able to pay much, little, or nothing. Such is the work of the good Samaritan.
"In former numbers of Testimonies for the Church I have spoken of the importance of the Seventh-day Adventists establishing an institution for the benefit of the sick, especially for the suffering and sick among us. I have spoken of the ability of our own people, in point of means, to do this; and have urged that, in view of the importance of this branch of the great work of preparation to meet the Lord....
"When I saw those who managed and directed, running into the dangers shown me, of which I had warned them in public, and also in private conversation and letters, a terrible burden came upon me. That which had been shown me as a place where the suffering sick among us could be helped, was one where sacrifice, hospitality, faith, and piety should be the ruling principles. But when unqualified calls were made for large sums of money, with the statement that stock taken would pay large percent; when the brethren who occupied positions in the institution seemed more than willing to take large wages than those were satisfied with who filled other and equally important stations in the great cause of truth and reform; when I learned, with pain, that, in order to make the institution popular with those not of our faith, and to secure their patronage, a spirit of compromise was rapidly gaining ground at the Institute, manifested in the use of Mr., Miss, and Mrs., instead of Bro. and Sister, and in popular amusements, in which all could engage in a sort of comparatively innocent frolic;--when I saw these things, I said, This is not that which was shown me as a institution for the sick, which would share the signal blessing of God. This is another thing. And yet calculations for more extensive buildings were made, and calls for large sums of money were urged. As it was then managed, I could but regard the Institute, on the whole, as a curse....
"Several who came to Battle Creek humble, devoted, confiding Christians, went away almost infidels. The general influence of these things was creating prejudice against the health reform in very many of the most humble, the most devoted, and the best of our brethren, and was destroying faith in my Testimonies and in the present truth...
"The brethren who have stood at the head of this work have appealed to our people for means on the ground that the health reform is a part of the great work connected with the third angel's message. In this they have been right. It is a branch of the great, charitable, liberal, sacrificing, benevolent work of God. Then why should these brethren say, 'Stock in the Health Institute will pay a large per cent,' 'it is a good investment,' 'a paying thing'? Why not as well talk of stock in the Publishing Association paying a large per cent? If these are two branches of the same great closing work of preparation for the coming of the Son of man, why not? Or why not make them both matters of liberality? The pen and the voice that appealed to the friends of the cause in behalf of the publishing fund, held out no such inducements." Volume 1, pages 633-636.
How do our institutions now measure with this straight testimony? Can we say they are charitable, liberal, sacrificing, benevolent institutions? Listen to the enormous profits they make. Presentment is here made of the annual report of St. Helena Sanitarium, as it appeared in the Pacific Union Recorder of April 25, 1929. "The notes payable at the end of 1925, were $60,044 (the cents are not here given). In 1926, they had been reduced to $49,031; in 1927, to $36,321; and at the close of 1928, they were down to $26,415. In three years they were reduced from $60,000 to $33,629. Resources, fixed and current, at the close of 1928, $371,105. The liabilities $45,809. There is a decrease in the liabilities of nearly $5,000. Cash on hand at the close of 1928, $10,749. Present worth, $325,296....The gross income, $456,258. The net income, $437,284. The average daily attendance of patients was 85 plus, and the income from patients direct, $261,363. The net gain $10,439.39."
How could it be possible for an institution to do any charitable work at all, and yet earn $111,988 above its present worth in one single year? Note: Present worth, $325,296. Net income, $437,284 in 1928. But this is not the worst. Our brethren have gone so blind that they think these enormous profits give them a wonderful credit for their wise management, and boast over it, and say that the sanitarium is facing sunshine. Truly our God knew what He was saying when He said the Laodiceans are blind, wretched, and miserable, and poor, and naked, though they think they are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. See the contrast of boasting between the Laodiceans, and other institutions of whom some often think the devil is their leader. Following is the annual report of a mission in Los Angeles for the corresponding year 1928: These items being given free of charge to the needy. "The annual report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1928, shows 527,481 meals served; 137,287 lodgings furnished; laundry service, 53,334 pieces; barber service, 20,394; baths, 12,339; garments distributed, 32,541; 1791 shoes repaired; employment secured for 9,204 individuals; medical aid given to 3,117; while the chapel report shows that during the year 15,340 persons professed salvation in the daily meetings which are continuous from 11 A.M. to 11 P.M., and are conducted by groups from the churches of all denominations." (Copied from a Los Angeles newspaper.)
Is the devil become more charitable than Christ? Why have we gone to sleep? Is it dollars and cents that the Lord wants? Are these things not destroying the confidence of the public in the people of God? Are these things adding or detracting from the fruit of our labor? Are we representing God and carrying the third angel's message to a dying world? Is Christ our pattern and example? Why have we allowed the devil to deceive us? Is not this a call to arouse the people of God to a Christlike service? How long shall we stay asleep? It is bad enough for God's people to turn down one who is not in the faith from receiving the benefits of God at the hand of His people, but it is a thousand times worse to turn down one of Israel, he who would sacrifice and cast his lot with the people of God, faithful in tithe-paying and offerings as the Lord has prospered. If God should permit poverty to overtake such a one with sickness or old age, what do we do with them? Do we send them away and tell them, God bless thee? Is the country hospital for God's people, and God's hospitals for money-making? Is the county farm for God's people, there with the ungodly, and with the unclean on their table as we believe from a religious standpoint, amidst profanity, swine, and tobacco? Is this the kind of place for the child of God, and the temple of the Holy Ghost according to our faith? What kind of answer will we give Him when He comes? Will we hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant," as we read in Matt. 25:35, 36? "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me." Shall this saying be ours, or will we find ourselves at the left hand with the terrible curse as in Matt. 25:41-43, 46: "Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment but the righteous into life eternal."
Quoting Volume 1, page 639: "As early as 1850 this brother became a Sabbath-keeper, and from that date he contributed liberally to the several enterprises that have been undertaken to advance the cause, till he became reduced in property. Yet when the urgent, unqualified call came for the Institute, he took stock to the amount of one hundred dollars. At the meeting at ------- he introduced the case of his wife, who is very feeble, and who can be helped, but must be helped soon, if ever. He also stated his circumstances, and said that if he could command the one hundred dollars then in the Institute, he could send his wife there to be treated; but as it was, he could not. We replied that he should never have invested a dollar in the Institute, that there was a wrong in the matter which we could not help; and there the matter dropped. I do not hesitate to say that this sister should be treated, a few weeks at least, at the Institute free of charge. Her husband is able to do but little more than to pay her fare to and from Battle Creek." Do we have such cases as these at the present time? Do we deal with these people like some farmer deals with his horse? He takes good care of the horse while it is young and doing his work, but when the animal gets old and feeble, he then drives it out in the open field in the winter weather, just at the time the poor horse needs the best of care. Are we not like this hard-hearted farmer who starves his horse in the winter weather, with the frost on the back of the worn-out animal, to save a few bundles of straw? Cruel, is it not? It is left to the reader to answer the question.
"But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel....And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives,...And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women,...if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live." Ex. 1:12, 15, 16. The "midwives" symbolize the church school teachers, who nurse the children in the system of education. You may ask, Is it possible that the devil would attempt to deceive the teachers, and poison the children's minds? The devil is not leaving one string loose. Reference is here made to the Home and School Journal of Christian Education, of Dec., 1929, published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Washington, D.C., and every teacher in the denomination is supposed to be a subscriber of this magazine. The above-mentioned issue is full of Christmas stories, Christmas-keeping, and Christmas programs and gifts, which the teachers are supposed to pass on to the children. As it would be too lengthy to quote it all, only the very last sentence, and the closing words under the paragraph "What Christmas May Always Mean" is quoted here: "And, in general, a baptism of reality, simplicity, and sincerity in the observance of the world's supreme birthday." Think of these words, dear reader. A Seventh-day Adventist paper, published by the General Conference, to exalt the world's supreme idolatrous day to a birthday of Christ, and hand it to the teachers of the denomination.
"But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive." Ex. 1:17. Here we have one good symbol, and let us say, Amen for the teachers "They feared God." We urge you to send your children to the school of the denomination, for it is the best place for them. "The name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah." Ex. 1:15. The meaning of these names are: "Beauty" and "splendor." Indeed it is. It would have been impossible for two midwives to wait on the great multitude of women, but the fact is, that there were only two. The reason for this is to make the symbol perfect, meaning both classes of teachers, male and female, "beauty" and "splendor."
"Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: And the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." Ex. 1:20, 22. The chief object of Pharaoh's scheme was not to reduce the people in number. Had this been his aim, he should have killed the female, for in those days they practiced polygamy. Had he given an order to cast the female children in the river, and save the males, he could have accomplished his purpose, and also added to his slaves for it was the men who produced the bricks. We read in Patriarchs and Prophets, page 242: "Satan was the mover in this matter. He knew that a deliverer was to be raised up among the Israelites; and by leading the king to destroy their children he hoped to defeat the divine purpose." This was the object of the whole affair. As this is a symbol, the application will now be made.
Testimonies to Ministers, page 475, under the chapter entitled "Let Heaven Guide", we read: "Prophecy must be fulfilled. The Lord says: 'Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.' Somebody is to come in the spirit and power of Elijah, and when he appears, men may say: "You are too earnest, you do not interpret the Scriptures in the proper way. Let me tell you how to teach your message." No plainer statement could have been made than this, that we must look for a prophet, or a message in the near future. If this is an inspired statement, then it seems it would be the duty of the watchmen on the walls of Zion to educate and instruct the people that there is a prophet, or a message to look for. But what have we? On the contrary, the general opinion of the entire denomination is, "no prophet cometh, neither is there any message to be expected. We have all the truth, and we need none," is the cry from the camp of Israel. Thus we see how the old enemy has duplicated his underhand deception with the church at the present time. Just as Pharaoh was unconscious of the main purpose of his command, just so by the unconsciousness of the leaders, the shrewd deceiver has attempted to drown the prophet, or the message of reform for the present time. Thus it proves in every instance that the experience of Israel in Egypt is a photograph of Israel, the true. If a prophet, or even a message should come, the church is not ready to accept either. The result may be the same as it was with the Jewish nation and the coming of Christ. How terrible the thought. "While it seemed to the Egyptians in the interests of the empire to hold these people in bondage, the real purpose behind it all was the determination of Satan, the dragon power (Isa. 51:9), to hold the people of Israel in the bondage of sin, and to prevent the work of reform to which God had set His hand as the time of the prophecy came." Review and Herald, January 23, 1930.
Has the devil drowned any of the male children in the river Nile at this time? Where are the men in this denomination? They must be in the river Nile, for it is a symbol of the sins in the world, and that is where we generally find the men; and the women in the church. The question may be asked, What sifted out the men? The Spirit of Prophecy teaches that we should see to it that employment is furnished to new comers in the truth, to make it possible for them to keep the Sabbath. Also to take care of the poor and sick among us. This instruction has been altogether disregarded, with the result that the men are sifted out of the church. Men love the truth as much as women do, but as soon as they hear the truth, they begin to inquire about things. Immediately the difficulty arises, and the question is asked, How can I keep the Sabbath, and yet hold my position? If I should let my position go, can I secure another? Would the church help me find something to do? Would the church render some assistance in case of great need, such as lack of food, clothing, or in case of sickness? All these questions are answered at once with, NO. The result is, the decision is made and the truth is turned down.
If the church had furnished some encouragement along these lines, this position would not have been taken by these newly interested parties, and the result would have been that the men as well as the women would have been in the church. Men being the wage earners, the increase of tithes and offerings, cannot be estimated, and the little expenditure in helps would be but a fragment in comparison. Employment agency would be a great field to the denomination. Not only employment would have been secured from people outside of the organization, but the work among Adventists would be secured by Adventists. Thus the men are "cast" into the world ("Nile"), but the women left ("alive") in the church.
Quoting Ex. 2:2, 3: "And the woman conceived, and bare a son: And when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink." Providence lead the Egyptian princess to the river to wash herself, and after seeing the ark, she sent her maid to fetch it. She saw that the babe wept, and she had compassion on him The sister of the babe stepped to Pharaoh's daughter, and said, "Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee?" On the arrival of the child's mother, Pharaoh's daughter said, "Take this child away, and nurse it for me." And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter at the age of 12, and the princess named him "Moses". The lesson here is, with all the Satanic schemes, it would be impossible to defeat the divine purpose.
As Moses (the type) received the highest education the courts of Pharaoh could produce, after becoming of age he was compelled to choose one of two things: either the throne of Egypt, or to suffer affliction with the children of Israel. Just so, modern Moses (the anti-type) receives the highest education the denomination can produce (when of age) finished education, "professor."
Modern Moses as well being compelled to choose one of two things: Either professor in the world (Egypt) with a large income, fame, and the pleasures of sin for a season or to work for the denomination with a small salary, and suffer affliction with the church (the children of Israel). As Moses (the type) chose the latter, just so Moses the antitype prefers to stay with the denomination, "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt". The statistics of the movement so we are told, show that 90% of the children who go to schools of the denomination remain true to the message. This proves the lesson taught here is correct.