By John Thiel

Scripture Reading: Hosea 12:13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.

Holy Jesus day by day, lead us in the narrow way.

All through my life I have been exposed to Adventism and sung these hymns and it used to puzzle me in my early youth and even later if Jesus is going to lead me in the narrow way. Jesus himself leading me in the narrow way, how is he going to do that? I was brought up with the Bible and yes the Bible would be the one who would lead me but being brought up in the conflicts of these last days with so called Bible religion it came to my understanding what I read was different to what others read in regard to interpretation.

Do I really know if Jesus is leading me? We are in need of Gods direct intervention in these last days of preparation. We have been contemplating that we are on the borders ready to enter into the Promised Land. We saw that the Hebrew’s were led from Egypt to the Promised Land by a visible leader.

Hosea 12:13 And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved. 

In the study of the Hebrew wilderness wanderings of Gods people, we observed in that research:

1 Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples (FIGURES), to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples (TYPES): and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

The Hebrew wilderness wanderings were types and figurative in reference to those who were dwelling in the ends of the world.  Jesus came to release the Israelite’s from Egypt’s spiritual captivity. He was leading them to the Promised Land. The Hebrew wilderness wanderings were a figure. We see in Hosea by a prophet God let Israel out of Egypt and by a prophet he was preserved.

Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

Moses was a type of this other prophet.

Deuteronomy 18:16 According to all that thou desiredst of the LORD thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the LORD said unto me, They have well [spoken that] which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. 19 And it shall come to pass, [that] whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require [it] of him.

The children of Israel were shaking when they saw the smoke and the loud voice form the mountain giving in the Ten Commandments. They said please don’t let God talk to us like that, we prefer you Moses, we are going to melt away. God says yes, I will raise a prophet from among your own brethren like unto Moses so you will hear my words from myself as my words are going to be in his mouth.

Who Was This Prophet Like Moses?

Stephen the deacon tells us just before he was stoned. Stephen was questioned why the apostles were doing what they were doing;

Acts 7:37 This is that Moses, which said unto the children of Israel, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear. 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and [with] our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

Who is Stephen talking about? The one who was in the wilderness with the angel, who was it? It was none other but Jesus Christ himself.  Stephen spoke of this at his stoning;

Stephen was questioned as to the truth of the charges against him, and took up his defense in a clear, thrilling voice that rang through the council hall. He proceeded to rehearse the history of the chosen people of God, in words that held the assembly spell-bound. He showed a thorough knowledge of the Jewish economy, and the spiritual interpretation of it now made manifest through Christ. He began with Abraham, and traced down through history from generation to generation, going through all the national records of Israel to Solomon, taking up the most impressive points to vindicate his cause. {3SP 296.2}

He showed that God commended the faith of Abraham, which claimed the land of promise, though he owned no foot of land. He dwelt especially upon Moses, who received the law by the dispensation of angels. He repeated the words of Moses which foretold of Christ: “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear.” He presented distinctly before them that the sin of Israel was in not heeding the voice of the angel, who was Christ himself. {3SP 296.3}

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 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;

Moses spoke and led the children of Israel and in these last days Jesus speaks and is leading his people to the Promised Land. Just as God led Israel from Egypt by a prophet and by a prophet preserved Israel so the Israel that was typified by the national Israel is led and preserved ever since by Christ himself. As it was Christ typified and represented by Moses so ever since Christ has returned to heaven and ever since Christs first advent, the Disciples of Christ were used to represent Christ as the one leading Gods people. The New Testament Israel is now being led to the heavenly Canaan.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Jesus represented himself on Mount Sinai when he gave the Ten Commandments. Jesus came as a prophet among his own brethren so he could speak the law without frightening them. The same Jesus is leading Gods people today as he led them via Moses who was a prophet like unto Jesus. The book of Revelation is an example of John. Jesus is using John like he used Moses. What is the book of Revelation?

Revelation 1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified [it] by his angel unto his servant John:

Can you see the same exact scenario? The angel that spake to Moses was the same angel that Jesus was. John received the messages of Jesus Christ at the hand of the angel.

The Testimony of Jesus Christ

Revelation 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. 3 Blessed [is] he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time [is] at hand.

The time of the end is at hand. Jesus the prophet used the angel, who used John to convey his message of leading them from Egypt right through the wilderness to the heavenly Canaan.

Moses was a type of Christ. He himself had declared to Israel, “The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto Him ye shall hearken.” Deuteronomy 18:15. God saw fit to discipline Moses in the school of affliction and poverty before he could be prepared to lead the hosts of Israel to the earthly Canaan. The Israel of God, journeying to the heavenly Canaan, have a Captain who needed no human teaching to prepare Him for His mission as a divine leader; yet He was made perfect through sufferings; and “in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted.” Hebrews 2:10, 18. Our Redeemer manifested no human weakness or imperfection; yet He died to obtain for us an entrance into the Promised Land. {PP 480.1}

As Moses was faithful in all his house so also Jesus the son of his own house was faithful. There is a direct connection between Jesus and Moses so God could lead Israel out of Egypt by a prophet and preserve them to gain the Promised Land so that we today may be led by Jesus in the same fashion.

Revelation 1:2 Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

By this statement we see in Revelation 19 Jesus is identified to us as a personal guide leading us to the Promised Land. The very angel that was speaking to John the revelator, that very angel, it may have been the angel that was speaking to Moses, was the one that john thought he could bow down and worship as he thought this is my Jesus.

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See [thou do it] not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Moses Today

Jesus speaking to us and leading us to the Promised Land is being done in precisely the same way as Jesus led the people to the Promised Land through the wilderness through the hand of Moses and the angels together with Jesus. Jesus will lead Israel safely to the heavenly Canaan as he did in type and he does so as he did through Moses today. The disciple apostle Paul identifying with this principle. What does apostle Paul say?

In Christ’s Stead

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

What were the disciples?  As Moses, in Christ’s stead.  There was John the Revelator in the place of Moses.  Right through to the end to the close of time the revelator unveiled the future so Gods people could be led by the revelation of Jesus Christ.  The whole book of Revelation is the wilderness wanderings to the end.  Like the disciples right to the end God will have his representatives in Christ’s stead.

Malachi 4:5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:

What does he say just before the dreadful day of the coming of the Lord, what does he send?

A Prophet

Those who are to prepare the way for the second coming of Christ are represented by faithful Elijah, as John came in the spirit of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ’s first advent.  {3T 62.1}

There will be people carrying the position of Elijah and Moses at the end.  Recall the transfiguration of Christ.  Who was with him?  Elijah and Moses.  Elijah was translated to heaven before seeing death and Moses after. We see God establishing prophets for people of the last day as the typical.  There was John the Baptist who was in the place of Moses leading the people in preparation for the coming of the prophet that would rise up among them. That prophet rising up was Jesus Christ speaking through his disciples and people that are working on behalf of him – in Christ’s stead.   As John the Revelator was in Christ’s stead he has his people right through to the end who are a people who to prepare Gods people for the coming of Jesus.

Preparation to Cross the Border into the Heavenly Canaan

At such a crucial time Jesus will preserve his people and lead them.  I have thought for many years how Jesus will lead his people so distinctly.  Is it Jesus? I can’t see him?  He is in heaven he is not here but according to the way he was with the Hebrews he was there.  He is with the people as he was back then through his servants right through to the end a people that would be in existence as his messengers preparing the people of God for his coming among this people.

1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and [in] all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, [that ye may be] blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

When Jesus Christ comes we must be blameless and without sin as Joshua told the people sanctify yourself as tomorrow you will be going into the Promised Land.  Here a people are given the testimony of Christ as they wait to go into the Promised Land so that you come behind in no gift waiting of the coming of Jesus Christ.  As you are preparing and waiting, Christ will confirm you unto the end.  He Jesus will do that.  How will he do it?

1 Corinthians 1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

All through the study of God’s Word Jesus will lead his people and he will prepare them for his coming.  He will personally speak to his people leading them.  As he personally speaks and directs them so they may be blameless, how does he do it?  By the Spirit of Prophecy being the testimony of Jesus in his people.  In Moses, John the Baptist, John the Revelator, Apostle Paul and all the apostles.  All those whom he has selected as messengers for the people.  Now in these last days he has never changed his course and he is still doing it. To be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus we need him, we need Jesus, the testimony of Jesus to delineate to us every detail that he wants us to be instructed by.

By A Prophet Was Israel Preserved

Because he does this work through a prophet.  Here is the careful guidance of the Holy Spirit to tell us how we should be very careful as to his leading through the prophet.

1 Thessalonians 5:19. Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful [is] he that calleth you, who also will do [it].

We are to be sanctified before we enter into the Promised Land.  By a prophet he brought them out of Egypt and by a prophet he preserved them.  If that is what God has done in the typical, he will do it in reality.  Therefore he says be careful, don’t quench the spirit, don’t despise prophesying instead prove all things because the very God of peace will preserve you and find you blameless. If we today would not despise prophesying’s we will be able to detect the testimony of Jesus if we will prove all things and hold fast to that which is good.  We know we live in a time where many people profess to be prophets.  There is the Mormon prophet Joseph smith. He wrote a book and he arose just at the time when God rose up a prophet.  All through the Pentecostal churches you have prophets.  You have prophets where ever you look.  Don’t quench the spirit – prove.  If they don’t speak according to the law and the testimony there is no light in them.  In Deuteronomy Moses was talking on this subject and he made a stipulation to test the prophets;

Deuteronomy 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other Gods, even that prophet shall die. 21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

That test on its own can also be made similar by Satan’s prophets as well.  Recall when Moses threw down the rod and Pharaohs prophets also threw down their rods and they can also it can be similar.  Some prophets prophesy and it happens such as Nostradamus.

Nostradamus

Some drunken French soldiers were at the grave of Nostradamus and decided to open it and when they did on his chest was the date of his opening and the drunken soldiers shrivelled.  This test is to be compared with other tests.  If they speak not according to the law, you don’t have to worry about it.  They need to be tested by their particular manifestations of what they say whether it agrees with all of the Bible.  Our assurance lies in diligently examining and proving all things as to which is Go’ds messenger and prophet as he speaks through such as John the revelator and so on.

Ellen White

Recall that Jesus was speaking as a revelation of his own testimony.  Notice what he said when he spoke to Ellen G White.

My Saviour declared me to be His messenger. “Your work,” He instructed me, “is to bear My word. Strange things will arise, and in your youth I set you apart to bear the message to the erring ones, to carry the word before unbelievers, and with pen and voice to reprove from the Word actions that are not right. Exhort from the Word. I will make My Word open to you. It shall not be as a strange language. In the true eloquence of simplicity, with voice and pen, the messages that I give shall be heard from one who has never learned in the schools. My Spirit and My power shall be with you.  {1SM 32.2}

Jesus set her apart to reveal things to the erring ones. Many people have said I can’t understand the Bible, it’s difficult to understand.  Jesus made sure it would be understood by giving us the Spirit of Prophecy.  Ellen White only went to school for two years and after that she didn’t return.  She was wounded by a school mate.

“Be not afraid of man, for My shield shall protect you. It is not you that speaketh: it is the Lord that giveth the messages of warning and reproof. Never deviate from the truth under any circumstances. Give the light I shall give you. The messages for these last days shall be written in books, and shall stand immortalized, to testify against those who have once rejoiced in the light, but who have been led to give it up because of the seductive influences of evil.”  {1SM 32.3}

What were those books written for?  Both to instruct the people but also to reveal to those who were once in the light that they have been seduced and that it may be a testimony against them.  Did you notice that Jesus stipulated that this messenger was not speaking her own ideas and opinions?  She was carefully told to repeat what Jesus had spoken to her so it is not you that speaketh but it is the Lord.  It says don’t quench but prove all things.  You can imagine how Ellen G White felt she was consistently bombard with questions if she was from the Lord or not.

“Yet now when I send you a testimony of warning and reproof, many of you declare it to be merely the opinion of Sister White. You have thereby insulted the Spirit of God. You know how the Lord has manifested Himself through the Spirit of prophecy. Past, present, and future have passed before me. I have been shown faces that I had never seen, and years afterward I knew them when I saw them. I have been aroused from my sleep with a vivid sense of subjects previously presented to my mind and I have written, at midnight, letters that have gone across the continent, and arriving at a crisis, have saved great disaster to the cause of God. This has been my work for many years. A power has impelled me to reprove and rebuke wrongs that I had not thought of. Is this work of the last thirty-six years from above or from beneath? …  {1SM 27.1}

Recall in those days travel was slow.  Ellen White wrote a letter sent by snail mail and it arrived on the day of the crisis for someone.  There was also a man in South Africa who didn’t want to read the letters she wrote him.  When his wealth fell away he read the letters and in them were the stories of his demise exactly spelt out.  Does it sound similar to Nostradamus?  But he got his visions from the tripod through the crystal ball while Ellen G White received her visions as Bible prophets did in a state of visionary unconsciousness.  She didn’t breathe, she had supernatural power and she held up a huge Bible for several hours.  The prophets of the Bible had visions different to the prophets of the heathen.  Nostradamus looked into the tripod which was satanic divination.

This has been my work for many years. A power has impelled me to reprove and rebuke wrongs that I had not thought of. Is this work of the last thirty-six years from above or from beneath?  {1SM 27.1}

That challenge she leaves us to consider.  Do we want to be ready for Jesus to come?  Do we want him to preserve us blameless?  Then he has spoken to us today.  It has been written in books and our insurance lies in diligently adopting principles in the eloquence of the simplicity in these books.  Use her writings as a reference library.  When you go to a library you don’t become overwhelmed by all the books do you?  You pick out different subjects.  That is what you do with the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy.  Any question on any topic that you know you need, search the topic by the words of that topic.  We are very blessed today with the Ellen G White estate CD that we have on computer.  Press in faith if you are lacking and read.  If you don’t know how to keep the Sabbath and you want to know the detail input Sabbath.  If you want to know about food, diet, dress, homelife, marriage and sexuality it is all there in the eloquence of simplicity.  Politics, education, child rearing, there is an answer in those words pointed out by Jesus Christ to bring us to a state as it says of blamelessness.  Jesus has spoken and you will learn that he can lead you to the Promised Land.

How Readest Thou?

One of the sad aspects just like with the Bible people will read Ellen G Whites writings and will come to weird conclusions.  Why?  To prevent this consider the following aspects to gain a correct message written in the eloquence of simplicity.  Here is one of the dangers;

Human minds vary. The minds of different education and thought receive different impressions of the same words, and it is difficult for one mind to give to one of a different temperament, education, and habits of thought by language exactly the same idea as that which is clear and distinct in his own mind. {1SM 19.1}

Ellen G White is trying to write and people reading it will be affected by their background, education and upbringing.

Yet to honest men, right-minded men, he can be so simple and plain as to convey his meaning for all practical purposes. If the man he communicates with is not honest and will not want to see and understand the truth, he will turn his words and language in everything to suit his own purposes. He will misconstrue his words, play upon his imagination, wrest them from their true meaning, and then entrench himself in unbelief, claiming that the sentiments are all wrong.  {1SM 19.1}

People do this with me.  They say John you said this. I reply I didn’t say that.  I recall saying something like that and it gets twisted.  You need to be careful of this with Ellen G White writings.

This is the way my writings are treated by those who wish to misunderstand and pervert them. .{1SM 19.2}

If something you are reading doesn’t suit you, I don’t like what I’m reading, you will seek to put a congenial twist to those words.  Be careful how you read her writings.  You may be a person prone to fanaticism and you will read those writings and will make a rigid rule out of them.  Ellen White says don’t do that.

They turn the truth of God into a lie. In the very same way that they treat the writings in my published articles and in my books, so do sceptics and infidels treat the Bible? They read it according to their desire to pervert, to misapply, to willfully wrest the utterances from their true meaning. They declare that the Bible can prove anything and everything, that every sect proves their doctrines right, and that the most diverse doctrines are proved from the Bible.  {1SM 19.2}

That is what they do with Ellen G White writings as well.  Exactly the same.  Be careful how you read.  Read with an honest mind to respect the meaning of the originator of those words.  Know where they are coming from, not where you are coming from because that is how you will misread.

There are some who, upon accepting erroneous theories, strive to establish them by collecting from my writings statements of truth, which they use separated from their proper connection, and perverted by association with error. Thus seeds of heresy, springing up and growing rapidly into strong plants, are surrounded by many precious plants of truth; and in this way a mighty effort is made to vindicate the genuineness of the spurious plants.–Letter 136, 1906, pp. 3, 4. (To Brethren Butler, Daniells, and Irwin, April 27, 1906.)  {5MR 154.1}

Here they misread Sr White’s writings by doing what?  They separate a quote from its proper connection.  In other words if you take out a paragraph, people say it’s alright to have a Christmas tree and you will read and it sounds exactly what it is saying.  I went to its connection of which they only took out a certain passage.  She didn’t say it’s ok to have a Christmas tree in your house.  She meant something slightly different but you can only see it by reading the whole gist of her statement.  Be careful how you read.  If it’s on its own you can be in danger of having it out of its original connection.

A Very Common Problem

This is a very common problem where people miss the true meaning of Sr White’s writings.  When you read a book and read a huge amount in one go you get mental indigestion. You should only read an amount your mind can handle.  If you read a large amount it will go over your head.  You are only to read a small amount in her writings and ponder it.  The writings of Ellen G White are very packed with very much information.  I recall a man I was studying with years ago who was intelligent.  He learnt to fast read.  I gave him the book Steps to Christ and he faithfully tried to read the book and said oh no I can’t read this book, I can’t make head of it.  He had tried to fast read it.  There was so much in there that he couldn’t fast read.  I explained how to read it – thought after thought with careful consideration in each paragraph.

He did it and discovered this is not a book I can fast read.  The books in the world only have small material in a lot of words while the Spirit of Prophecy has a lot of material in a few words.  You can’t crowd your mind with too much.  After having proved all things and examined the prophet closely and we see it is a true prophet and is the prophet that is leading his people from Egypt to the Promised Land, we see it is Jesus Christ who uses human instrumentalities.  When he chose to give Ellen G White visions in the same way of the prophets of old the description of the experience of being in vision is the same as when Ellen G White was in vision. A clairvoyant doctor visited Ellen White who said she has the same mesmerisms as he had.  She went into vision and she would swoon and fall into the arms of someone who caught her.  She would then arise and no one could stop her from moving. She would read the Bible without looking but pointing.  This clairvoyant came and he noticed she didn’t breathe and he turned and ran as the spirit in him was contrary to this.  He wanted to leave but they held the door and said you wanted to take her out of vision but he said no and he wanted to leave.  Was that a clear revelation of the two spirits?  There is much written in examining the prophet.

Because I asked that question, Lord Jesus how you will lead me, guide me and tell me exactly what I need to know?  At that time I was a sceptic of some of the writings of Ellen G White.  I loved Steps to Christ, Desire of Ages and Great Controversy. It was all lovely but the testimonies oh no.  They told me I was to be vegetarian and I didn’t like that and I would have to dress differently.  I didn’t like a lot of things she said and I argued against them.  The Lord brought me right down to examine the prophet and I thought it was marvellous.  At that time I was being influenced by teachers who were undermining the Spirit of Prophecy.  The Wednesday crucifixion people nearly had me.  I asked them about Ellen G White and they told me she was mesmerised.  As they said that I was drawn into careful examination.

When I saw the detail I realised she wasn’t mesmerised but taken over by a spirit.  I asked one of these people about Ellen G White, was she of God or the devil?  He didn’t want to lose me and he said she was mesmerised.  I said she had visions where she wasn’t breathing but walking and talking, was that mesmerism?  Can a person do that?  I was able to dismiss this deceptive person.  I asked myself the question was she from above or beneath and I concluded that she had to be from above.  I had to read her writings and swallow my own opinions. What I share with you is the message of preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ as described in the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy.  From here onwards we continue to examine every detail that is necessary for us to be ready for Jesus to come.  By taking what Jesus the prophet is doing to lead and preserve us unto his coming.  May God help us to not only follow carefully but to make it our own as we keep on searching his Word.

Amen.