By John Thiel, mp3

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

To become a member of God’s church there is a preparation and an attainment of standards and an agreement with the faith. Then upon profession of faith and baptism there is an acceptance by the church and then we join. But joining that church we are told:

He has a church, but it is the church militant, not the church triumphant. TM 45.

Our studies of the past have shown that the church triumphant is that of the remnant.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. 12 Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

We have seen by prophetic Revelation that the church triumphant repeats the experience of former generations.

The opposition which Christ received came from his own nation, who would have been greatly blessed had they accepted him. In like manner the remnant church receive opposition from those who profess to be their brethren.  {RH, August 28, 1883 par. 13}

Those in the church militant must brace themselves for mistreatment by their own brethren.

The life of Christ was a life charged with a divine message of the love of God, and He longed intensely to impart this love to others in rich measure. Compassion beamed from His countenance, and His conduct was characterized by grace, humility, truth, and love. Every member of His church militant must manifest the same qualities, if He would join the church triumphant. {FE 179.3}

If you want to join a church, Gods church you need to be thoroughly prepared beforehand and attain to the standards and agree with the faith of that church. Here is a church that the members of the church militant need to finally join. Every member of the church militant must manifest the same qualities of Jesus if they would join the church triumphant. We observe in this statement that the church militant is a preparation school so we can finally join this church triumphant.

Another Church

There were requisites to join the church militant and that was Gods church. God has a church but it is the church militant, not the church triumphant. There is another church to join and we must meet the requisites like we had to meet to join the church militant.

The church militant is not the church triumphant, and earth is not heaven. The church is composed of erring, imperfect men and women, who are but learners in the school of Christ, to be trained, disciplined, educated, for this life and for the future, immortal life.–ST Jan. 4, 1883. {LDE 61.2}

Were you aware of this fact? When you became a member of this church, you joined this church for a purpose to ultimately join another one? In the church that you and I are now in we are being educated, trained and disciplined so that we can ultimately meet the requirements of the church triumphant. Examine the course we must go through in this school. It is a course which requires a willing participation without grizzling and murmuring along the way.

Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure. 14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

Preparation

We are to become blameless and harmless. In this school of the church militant hopefully we have been willing to go through a training program.  Some people think that when they join the church they can be comforted in the thought they are in Gods church and they are going to ride through joyfully. According to God’s Word we are in the church militant to be prepared.

Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 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;

We are to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. What is meant with that? It’s not such an attractive experience – fear and trembling. Not such a riding along in the emotional highs of Christianity.

What does this mean? It means that every day you are to distrust your own human efforts and wisdom. You are to fear to speak at random, fear to follow your own impulses, fear that pride of heart and love of the world and lust of the flesh shall exclude the precious grace the Lord Jesus is longing to bestow upon you. {OHC 91.2}

Fearing and trembling means to become very uncertain of your own impressions. You can’t trust yourself. If you think you can, you are not fearing and trembling.

The text means that the salvation of the human soul requires the will power to be subjected to the divine will power. . . . And it is the very hardest, sternest conflict which comes with the purpose and hour of great resolve and decision of the human to incline the will and way to God’s will and God’s way. {OHC 91.3}

This is the course that we go through in becoming members of the church militant. The fear and trembling means that I’m trembling about myself that I’m not going to make it unless I’m like that. People don’t like that experience of feeling uncertain about themselves. They like to have an understanding about themselves. That is self not trembling. We are walking a very narrow path and we cannot rely upon our impulses, responsive talks, random talking and our human enjoyments. We need to have a higher enjoyment.

A man sees his danger. He sees that he needs a change of character, a change of heart. He is stirred; his fears are aroused. The Spirit of God is working in him, and with fear and trembling he works for himself, seeking to find out his defects of character and to see what he can do to bring about the needed change in his life. .While God is working, the sinner, under the influence of the Holy Spirit works out that which God is working in mind and heart. RH July 7 1904.

Do you like to see your defects of character? It’s not comfortable. But the person working out their own salvation works to find this. In his work to lead us to subject my will to the divine will power, as I’m entering this hard stern conflict, I purpose at the hour of resolve and decision to make Jesus my everything.

A lot of people don’t know what they’re saying when they say Jesus means everything to me. What it means to have Jesus everything in my life under the resolve of the human is to incline my will and way to Gods way. For God to work in me that which I have resolved I want to have and he will help me. How does he help me?  This is the course we enter into when we come into the church militant. In Revelation 12 it says Satan is angry at the woman and the remnant of her seed. He is making war with the remnant. Look at what God is doing so we can become members of the church triumphant;

In this time of trial we need to be encouraged and comforted by one another. The temptations of Satan are greater now than ever before, for he knows that his time is short and that very soon every case will be decided, either for life or for death. It is no time now to sink down beneath discouragement and trial; we must bear up under all our afflictions and trust wholly in the Almighty God of Jacob. The Lord has shown me that His grace is sufficient for all our trials; and although they are greater than ever before, yet if we trust wholly in God, we can overcome every temptation and through His grace come off victorious. {EW 46.1}

Victorious is another word for triumph.

If we overcome our trials and get victory over the temptations of Satan, then we endure the trial of our faith, which is more precious than gold, and are stronger and better prepared to meet the next. But if we sink down and give way to the temptations of Satan, we shall grow weaker and get no reward for the trial and shall not be so well prepared for the next. In this way we shall grow weaker and weaker, until we are led captive by Satan at his will. We must have on the whole armor of God and be ready at any moment for a conflict with the powers of darkness. When temptations and trials rush in upon us, let us go to God and agonize with Him in prayer. He will not turn us away empty, but will give us grace and strength to overcome, and to break the power of the enemy. Oh, that all could see these things in their true light and endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus! Then would Israel move forward, strong in God, and in the power of His might. {EW 46.2}

I thank God for the Spirit of Prophecy that shows us so vividly the course we are going through. Look at what God will do with Satan’s temptations:

God has shown me that He gave His people a bitter cup to drink, to purify and cleanse them. It is a bitter draught, and they can make it still more bitter by murmuring, complaining, and repining. EW 47

What does it say in Philippians 2? Do all things without murmuring or complaining. If we do, then we can conquer.

But those who receive it thus must have another draught, for the first does not have its designed effect upon the heart. And if the second does not effect the work, then they must have another, and another, until it does have its designed effect, or they will be left filthy, impure in heart. EW 47

The church is made up of people who are imperfect and erring so God permits Satan to sift them badly. That is the bitter cup.

I saw that this bitter cup can be sweetened by patience, endurance, and prayer, and that it will have its designed effect upon the hearts of those who thus receive it, and God will be honored and glorified. EW 47

Here is the course, this is what God will do in the church militant. Have you wondered why we have gone through hard times? Have you wondered why certain people can’t stand it anymore and have to flee from this work and live a cushy life? Because they have murmured all the way along. Do you want to be in the church triumphant? Then follow the instructions. This repeated bitter cup is exactly what happened to purify silver and gold.

Malachi 3:2 But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he [is] like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap: 3 And he shall sit [as] a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.

Here is the same story. The repeated bitter cup to purify a people who will stand who have been thoroughly purged as gold and silver, an offering to God that is in harmony with his will and his way.

Isaiah 48:10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.

Not like silver, but the furnace of affliction. In this furnace of affliction let us continue to seek for the amplification of the process of how my will and way is gradually and completely changed into the way and will of God.

God leads His people on step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. 1T 187

We are to carefully look at what are the defects in my character. God says he will help us. He will manifest what is in our heart. God has a photograph of everyman’s character. He reveals to man the defects that mar his life.

Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. 1T 187

If in the church militant we begin to murmur and complain and find my heart opposed to this work, it should convince me that I’ve got some work to do or I’ll be spewed out.

Said the angel: “God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people.” Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. 1T 187

Do you have a cherished idol somewhere? The Lord has to show you that you have. He has to show me. If he’s going to show me my cherished idol shall I shrink from it? Or shall I let it burn away?

Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. 1T 187

As you look back at your life, can see that Jesus isn’t there? You have opportunity to see what causes that.

They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus. 1T 187

But I have received, I thought. I had to admit that so many times, I had received him but only partially. I recently came across another idol that I hadn’t permitted to be burnt out. As I was going along there was a voice that wouldn’t leave me alone until I humbly acknowledged yes. I can feel my system looking for excuses. Do you do that or am I the only one?  Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness. In the church militant, this is going on. This is our course.

Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation. {1T 187.1}

The work is soon to close. The members of the church militant who have proved faithful will become the church triumphant.– Letter 32, 1892. {Ev 707.1}

Do you want to join the church triumphant? Then take hold of the course. Let us look again at the effect it has on the church and people around us and how this church triumphant will come into existence.

Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

I often hear people say, the church triumphant is when we get to heaven. But where are we to shine already? In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation here on earth.

What Actually Is The Loud Cry?

In the midst of a perverse nation Gods people are going to scream.

Daniel 12:9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words [are] closed up and sealed till the time of the end. 10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Don’t just think that this statement refers to the wicked without God. Don’t forget there is that wicked servant in Gods church. The nation of Israel as well as the other nations, Gods people are being purified and made white. Within that company, those that don’t understand what is going on will repulse those who do understand and they that will be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament. They will shine.

Arise and shine for thy light is come and the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon thee.

What is that? God’s character. To come to that is to go through the church militant till we finally reach it and then join the church triumphant. None of the wicked will understand as they don’t want the fear and trembling. The people who want that will shine as identified in Zephaniah.

An Afflicted and Poor People

Zephaniah 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the Lord. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.

A people who are trembling and looking carefully to see where they are still at fault so they kill the very source of it by their fear and trembling and allowing the Lord to work with them according to His good pleasure. Here are they in the midst of the church militant doing this work. As they tremble at every Word that proceeds out of Gods mouth, what will happen to them?

Isaiah 66:2 For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the Lord: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

He who understands this, trembles with fear and trembling in the way we have studied. They are of a contrite spirit, they tremble at His word. What will happen to them?

Isaiah 66:5 Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.

Here is what happened to Christ. It happens to everyone who will join the church triumphant. Here emerges that company through that transaction. The church militant has within it the remnant concentrating on the work of Amos.

Amos 5:2 The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; [there is] none to raise her up. 3 For thus saith the Lord God; The city that went out [by] a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth [by] an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel.

The church militant will repulse the triumphant people.

Zechariah 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It [is] my people: and they shall say, The Lord [is] my God.

They will go through the course. Having gone through the entire course within the church militant in which God permits more to fear from within than without. He permits people to rub shoulders with each other causing all kinds of reactions. In the church militant there are people who will learn from this experience. They will not run away from this course until it happens that the virgin of Israel allows it to happen as they can’t stand their extreme lifestyle. They have come up to every point whether it be dress, health or worldly entanglements that so many in the church see nothing wrong with.

Satan will do anything in this church to twist the facts to make those who are righteous appear dross and those that are dross to appear as righteous. Let the Lord be glorified they will say.

God’s people will stand victorious against the world, the beast and his image; but not just Sunday. How many people concentrate on that and are being moulded by the world whilst claiming they are going to resist the Sabbath/Sunday question?

Sr White says if we are being moulded by the world slowly and unnoticed we will receive the mark of the beast. But if in the church militant we will be moulded by God, we will be repulsed by those being moulded by the world. They will say we are extreme. Ultimately these people will conquer and stand on the sea of glass. After they have stood on earth, they will stand in heaven.

Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, [and] over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous [are] thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true [are] thy ways, thou King of saints.

Where are they? They have been brought into the presence of pure and holy angels because they have been made pure.

In this fast age, reeking with corruption, you are not safe unless you stand guarded. Virtue and modesty are rare. I appeal to you as followers of Christ, making an exalted profession, to cherish the precious, priceless gem of modesty. This will guard virtue. If you have any hope of being finally exalted to join the company of the pure, sinless angels, and to live in an atmosphere where there is not the least taint of sin, cherish modesty and virtue. Nothing but purity, sacred purity, will stand the grand review, abide the day of God, and be received into a pure and holy heaven. {2T 458.1}

The Song of the Lamb

What is this song that they are able to enter such a place?

Upon the crystal sea before the throne, that sea of glass as it were mingled with fire,–so resplendent is it with the glory of God,–are gathered the company that have “gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name.” With the Lamb upon Mount Zion, “having the harps of God,” they stand, the hundred and forty and four thousand that were redeemed from among men; and there is heard, as the sound of many waters, and as the sound of a great thunder, “the voice of harpers harping with their harps.” And they sing “a new song” before the throne, a song which no man can learn save the hundred and forty and four thousand. It is the song of Moses and the Lamb–a song of deliverance. None but the hundred and forty-four thousand can learn that song; for it is the song of their experience–an experience such as no other company have ever had. {GC 648.3}

They have gone through the church militant and experienced everything we’ve read. As they have gone through this, it has wracked their human nature. They have made an experience of purification and they have a song to sing that has to do with that experience and as such no company has ever had.

“These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” These, having been translated from the earth, from among the living, are counted as “the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb.” Revelation 15:2, 3; 14:1-5. “These are they which came out of great tribulation;” they have passed through the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation; they have endured the anguish of the time of Jacob’s trouble; they have stood without an intercessor through the final outpouring of God’s judgments. But they have been delivered, for they have “washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” {GC 648.3}

Do you want to be part of that company? Then what must you do?

The Lord will be with us during this life, if we allow ourselves to be led by His Spirit and do not neglect to glorify His name. We should bring as much of heaven as possible into this life. The light of heaven shining into the heart will be imparted in words of pleasantness, in deeds of kindness. Instead of gossiping, thus creating mischief, let us tell of the matchless power of Christ, and speak of His glory, thus magnifying and lifting up the Lord God of hosts and training ourselves to sing the song of victory in the kingdom of glory. By beginning to sing songs of triumph and thanksgiving now, we may prepare ourselves to sing the song of Moses and the Lamb when we meet on the sea of glass. {UL 306.4}

What are we to do now if we want to be there? I must now learn the song of triumph because the song of triumph is the song of my experience. The details of the battles we have fought are chronicled in our experience. As we articulate the words of our song, they are an experience no one else has ever had apart from the 144,000 as they have gone through the last church militant and have overcome as Jesus has. They will sing the song of the lamb. They overcame and never sinned and learnt by the things which He suffered to be perfect. Let us be there to learn that song now and overcome as He overcame. Learn it now as it won’t be learned then.

There are many who testify daily, I am not changed in character, only in theory. . . . All may through faith gain a conqueror’s crown, but many are not willing to engage in hand to hand warfare with their own imperfect dispositions. They retain attributes which make them offensive to God. Daily they are transgressing the principles of His holy law. If all would only learn the simple lesson that they must take and wear the yoke of Christ and learn of the Great Teacher His meekness and lowliness of heart, they would better fulfill their covenant to love God supremely and their neighbor as themselves. . . . They must begin at the very beginning. Christ says, Take My yoke of restraint and obedience upon you, and learn of Me. . . . The heart will then be made right with God, through the creative power of Christ. Partakers of the divine nature, they are transformed. . . . {HP 162.3}

Right hear and now:

Let us do all things without murmuring and disputing that we may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation among whom you shine as lights in the world.

May this be our resolve and our willing participation.

Amen.