By John Thiel, The Consummation of the Everlasting Covenant Conference, Study 3, mp3

Since the fall it has been the quest of humanity to find security. Security, is that a big word nowadays? Why? Because there is much happening that is taking away the security of the human race. It is not a very violent time whether it be in human interactions and relationships or in nature, security is the key word today. The scripture says something in regards to this urgent perusal of security.

Psalm 127:1 A Song of degrees for Solomon. Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh [but] in vain.

We have countless security companies today watching. If the Lord is not keeping and watching and protecting they are a security team in vain. The reality of the human race is powerfully expressed. The only place of security is outlined. Psalm 103:15 [As for] man, his days [are] as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. 16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. 17 But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children; 18 To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them. 19 The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.

We are all as grass and as the flower of the field and we are all going to whither and come to nothing unless the mercy of the Lord which is from everlasting to everlasting is extended to us. The Covenant The everlasting rock who knew what would arise and in Jesus Christ in whom he chose, He knew the people. We are all as grass and as the flowers of the field. We are all going to whither and come to nothing unless the mercy of the Lord which is from everlasting to everlasting is extended to us. From everlasting to everlasting. The everlasting covenant and its consummation, the covenant of mercy. What was in Isaiah 55:58? The mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting. King David was a specimen of God’s mercy. That specimen, I will make with you that everlasting covenant, who fear him and his righteousness unto the children’s children.

The Sure Mercies Of David Psalm 89:20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him.

He’s talking to all of God’s people. Here is the panoramic view of our study, the final consummation is here delineated.

Psalm 89:24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him.

It keeps on shining upon us, the everlasting covenant directly connected from one scripture to the next. The rock of my salvation, let us explore the actual application of the fastness of a rock. In nature, the rocky outcrops, the munitions of rocks.

These towering mountains belong to God; He presides over their rocky fastnesses. {OHC 251.2} The massive rocks and towering mountains that rise in the distance are not the result of chance. They speak in silent eloquence of One who sits upon the throne of the universe, high and lifted up. {OHC 251.3}

How did those rocky mountains come into existence? When God sent the flood, the earth buckled and threw up this mountain. Who is the rock? The rocky mountain? Someone higher than that.

God is Himself the Rock of Ages, a refuge for His people, a covert from the storm, a shadow from the burning heat. He has given us His promises, which are more firm and immovable than the rocky heights, the everlasting hills. The mountains shall depart, and the hills shall be removed; but His kindness shall not depart, nor His covenant of peace be removed from those who by faith make Him their trust. If we would look to God for help as steadfastly as these rocky, barren mountains point to the heavens above them, we should never be moved from our faith in Him and our allegiance to His holy law. {OHC 251.4}

Do you need security? Do you need a rocky fastness? Then the rocky mountains point to him. This is the psalmist, David.

Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Lead me. When my heart is overwhelmed. If you follow carefully through this theme, you will appreciate these words. We will be in danger of being so overwhelmed that we will not survive. That is coming very soon. In many people’s lives it’s happened already. It is then that we must understand and know the rock of our salvation. To pour out your heart upon the assurance, the security that is denoted by rock. The psalmist called upon the Lord like this.

Psalm 71:3 Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.

Isn’t that were the cities were built? As fortresses in days of old. Jerusalem is just in such a position, up on a high rocky platform. It was so hard for the enemy to take it. Was that rocky rock a fastness unless the Lord looked after it? We know Titus managed to conquer it because the Lord was not their rock.

Psalm 62:2 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved.

When you are moved, rattled and affected by storms of life, he says it’s alright, you will not be greatly moved.

Psalm 62:6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

This is personally David’s experience. God’ speaks to us individually when we read our bibles. He draws near to us. He says I will make an everlasting covenant. He is saying look how David was relying upon me. Now you rely upon me like he did. Everything written is a personal statement from God to each one of us. A personal everlasting mercy, extended to you individually. If you and I individually enter into that rock, plunge myself upon and into him unreservedly, what happens?

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:  5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

Each one of us individually hiding in the rock will find ourselves hiding in Jesus with others in there. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world. Us in him. That takes us back to the serpents seed and the woman’s seed being singular. One. Every individual hiding in the rock is the picture here laid out before us. It becomes a multiple singularity. Isn’t that the Godhead? We are to be heirs of God. Joint heir together with Christ, the rock. Think about it. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children. There is such a thing as predestination.

Study it in Daniel. Before anybody existed he told the story of these kings and people would come. He had it all in his mind and let it all out in Daniel 11. There in that vast time from everlasting the covenant of his mercy was in his mind in Jesus Christ and you and if we make him our rock. In Jesus Christ. There he was. In his mind. He knew you and me from everlasting. He knew the decisions and choices you and I will make upon the arrival of the scene of actions. Follow every thought in these words.

Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will,

Now we must be ready to receive this mysterious thing.

Ephesians 1:9 …according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: There in ages passed he predestinated the things of the end. Ephesians 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Do you understand this? These words are pulsating. It is so precious what is contained in these words. I hope we will see this. The assurance is what? The everlasting rock who knew what would arise. In Jesus Christ he knew the people who would take hold of Jesus Christ and predestined everything before it ever happened. Is he an assurance? Is he a rock? What a rock. What a mental stability and security comes from that. As you open your heart to this, is there any reason at any time, no matter how horrible the winds of strife are wrenching upon your heart, is there any time you need to give up? What does this remind you of in regards to Jesus’ parables? The rock, this everlasting covenant is what Jesus powerfully alluded to. This was not just a parable. This was the very thing that we have been reading in Ephesians. The everlasting covenant.

Matthew 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Doesn’t this parable become more than a parable? The everlasting covenant, he who accepts this, takes hold of Jesus, in the mind of God was predestines to deal with every element of corruption and sin for eternity. If you pay attention to this, you will be a house upon a rock.

Matthew 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

A rock that was more secure than any rock on earth; the everlasting covenant. God’s trying to tell us, look at it.

Isa 28:16 Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste. 17 Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place.

Here is the parable again, but more than a parable. Hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies. Refuge? They have their refuge in rocks, you who depend upon lies. What are lies? False doctrines. It says in proverbs, lest thou be found a liar. A refuge in false doctrines. It is a refuge, people think they’re safe but their building on sand and now on the rock, the everlasting covenant. Let us exclaim together with the psalmist.

Psalm 18:2 The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

This language is to the fortresses that were built against the enemies. The Lord is my fortress, my rock, the sure foundation. Can you say that intelligently, not just emotionally? A lot of people say Lord, Lord, and the rock will not be under them. It must be the living truth. All this in Christ, and what is there in Christ for you and me? It’s called the atonement. Multiply we are in him and that is many people at one in him at one with him. When we are overwhelmed by anything, by the sense of our sinfulness, how many times people come to me and say I can’t anymore and some don’t as they are too independent for counsel and they drift away and turned their back from the things they once loved. Why? Because they are overwhelmed by their sinfulness. Here is the rock of the atonement that was in the everlasting covenant in the mind of God. Here is the rock of the atonement.

Psalm 40:12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me.

Is He being overwhelmed? Who’s speaking? Is it Jesus?

Psalm 40:7 Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,

The Nature of Christ

Is He at one with the overwhelmed? He is. As He is at one with the overwhelmed, take it in, believe it. He was on Golgothas hill crying my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? He died of a broken heart, but He says:

Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Respecteth not? Are we not to respect all men? No. You cannot respect those who turn to lies. You cannot. Jesus said, blessed is that man that maketh the Lord his trust. Don’t trust the arm of flesh. Respecteth not the proud nor such as turn aside to lies. We are to respect the rock Jesus Christ in every respect. Jesus one with us with our sin needs to be respected as much as His holiness needs to be respected if we are going to benefit by the rock, by that security. When everything falls down around you, when everything is against you, when every sin is pressing in upon your memory, all of a sudden, God stirs your whole memory of your past before you. That’s what He did to Jesus by stirring His genetic make up of His flesh.

The sins of the people were the sins that came upon Him as he made those sins as though they were his own, they were more than the hair of His head. He died a broken heart, but he waited upon the Lord. Is that what you’re prepared to do? Then you are in Christ Jesus. Then you are going to be brought up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay and your feet will be set upon a rock. This rock, this reality, is strangely an anathema to the natural mind. I’m today no longer ministering in a church that calls itself the Reform Movement. Why? Because Psalm 40:12-14 is an anathema to that organisation and the Seventh Day Adventist church and every other organisation today. What is an anathema? It is a powerful word, it’s an impossible thing, it cannot be, it is totally improbable, it grates upon the nerve, anathema. That’s what you experience when you proclaim this nature of Christ, this rock.

1 Corinthians 1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them,

While we still have our natural man dictating us and we still permit that to govern our life, we will regard these things as foolishness. That is exactly what they have made me to feel wherever I have studied with ministers. Oh John, you poor fellow; foolish. I’ve had to battle through all these suggestions of foolishness. You know what it’s like when some very influential people make you feel like a penny farthing? You think, they ought to know? An me? What do I know? I’ve had to flee to the Lord, I read it, it seems to be what you are saying but they don’t seem to agree. Lord help me here.  Then you see, the Lord says it, I can’t deny it. It’s written here. So I’ve had to say goodbye. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to. I would not respect those that turn to lies. To those rejecting the story of the everlasting covenant in all its dimensions, are spoken of in Isaiah 8.

Isaiah 8:14 And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel,

Who? To both the houses of Israel. Remember Israel, they were twelve tribes. They split up into the ten and the two. The two were more faithful than the ten. But both of them stumbled at the stumbling stone. Go to today’s organisational revelations and you’ve got exactly the same. Start from the modern Israel of 1844, they were all together then came the split. Now there we have two houses of Israel. Is it going to be any different? It is written here He is a stone of stumbling to both the houses of Israel. If we are going to build upon the rock, we will build upon a thus saith the Lord and nothing will rattle you. You will be secure.

Romans 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion (Where? Zion is the church) a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

In the church there is the stumbling stone. Only those who believe on the everlasting covenant in all its dimensions will not be ashamed.

1 Peter 2:7 Unto you therefore which believe [he is] precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, [even to them] which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Can you see what is meant? It is not just an imaginary stumbling stone; it is the word that they stumble over. Being disobedient whereunto also they were appointed, Predestination. God knew them as he knew all the people through Daniel 11. He knows those who believed and those who don’t and they were appointed to regard the rock as a rock of offence. Strange language but I better believe it. If I start to explain it around as so many theologians do, they explain away the hard reality of what is written in those words and I get very distressed when I see people doing that. Oh it doesn’t quite mean it like that, it means there is a slight deviation come on, doesn’t it say somewhere else that God is such a loving person?

He is a loving person of course but we have to get a right understanding of His loving and His wrath way and what it is all about. Here we see that this rock that we are studying that is precious to those who believe this wonderful everlasting gospel, those who believe make up one class of people and those who stumble over that rock, they become the other class. Where did those two classes start? The serpents seed; Cain and the woman’s seed; Abel. As Cain slew Abel, so this has happened all through the ages.

By this history the Lord would teach everybody that His Word is to be implicitly obeyed. Cain and Abel represent two classes—the wicked and the righteous, those who follow their own way and those who conscientiously keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment. . . . {CTr 35.5} Abel did not try to force Cain to obey God’s command. It was Cain, inspired by Satan and filled with wrath, who used force. Furious because he could not compel Abel to disobey God and because God had accepted Abel’s offering and refused his, which did not recognize the Saviour, Cain killed his brother. {CTr 35.6}

The stone of stumbling? This is the most bizarre experience you will make. If you are going to follow Jesus explicitly, you will be exposed to Cain’s experience. Your own wife, husband, father or mother will do what the brother did to the brother. Your own church brethren who stumble over the rock, will do the same thing. Cain, that class of people, they were Pharisees that crucified Christ.

The two parties represented by Cain and Abel will exist till the close of this earth’s history. The well-doer, the obedient, does not war against the transgressor of God’s holy law. But those who do not respect the law of God oppress and persecute other people. They follow their leader, who is an accuser of God and of those who are made perfect through obedience. . . . The spirit that leads people to accuse, condemn, imprison, and put to death other people has waxed strong in our world. It is this spirit that always works in the children of disobedience.—Manuscript 136, 1899. {CTr 35.7}

This is a very interesting thing when it reveals itself in the church. The church says you are not doing what the church dictates. We have the word of God and we will make sure you will do and if you don’t, we will persecute you whether it be by disfellowshipment or anything else. The principle of disfellowshipment is very poorly understood when you study it according to Gods word. People do not understand the true spirit of disfellowshipment. There is a dictatorial manner of disfellowshipment or a Godly manner of disfellowshipment. Two different principle’s altogether.

I know the experience well as I’ve had to do it many times in the past and it is never that the church stands over the person saying, you are not obeying us, you are out. It is never like that. That is Cain in the church. Follow the appreciation of the process to the consummation. That word was not carelessly chosen by the translators of the Bible because the word consummation is the word that describes the processes that take place that finally come to their conclusion.

Psalm 94:21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. 22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God [is] the rock of my refuge. 23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; [yea], the LORD our God shall cut them off.

How? In their own wickedness. This process will be clearly laid out before us that these two classes will come to the point where they will meet, and in meeting one another the destructive predatory nature of the wicked will shake and rattle your experience. That is what is written. They shall gather themselves against the soul of the righteous but as they do the Lord is our defence. Understand that principle.

Psalm 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

What was the rock? The everlasting covenant. God the rock of ages which Jesus Christ came to demonstrate in giving Himself and showing the way who would believe but He became a stumbling stone, a rock of offence. We will come to the time of trouble and we will need to know the real hiding place. The pavilion the sanctuary, the rock, the mountain. Behold the rock of salvation. Build upon Him and secure your eternal future.