John Thiel mp3

“Take the world but give me Jesus” how well do we understand what we were singing?

Is Jesus really where our full affections lie? The sweetest comfort of my soul? Can you truly sing while billows roll? These are things we sing when we come to experience many times, is it real? To view his constant smile. To trust in his cross, until face to face my lord I see.

The Elijah message today is the Spirit of Prophecy that many Adventists do not want to hear. The Adventist church can’t see they have let Jezebel in. They are a lukewarm church that puffs itself up. This is why Adventists who seek to call those out of Babylon are in great danger themselves but can’t see it. It’s the rich and increased with goods syndrome.Jezebel and her origins in the Christian Church that have crept into Adventism. The Elijah message is seeking to cause us to look honestly at ourselves. Are we really prepared to follow Jesus all the way?

The Basis of the Elijah Message

1 Kings 18:21And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.

There is a depth from these words as we seek to understand their application. The problem of Israel under King Ahab and his disgusting Jezebel, the people were trying to be loyal to these unholy people and at the same time, be loyal to God.

We have seen that the message of Elijah applies to us in this time. Modern Israel. Where did Jezebel come into the story of the Christian church of modern Israel?

As we come to Gods church in the period of Thyatira, Jesus is revealing to His church at that time something about their danger they are subject to.

This is an important conclusion. I will give unto everyone according to their works. As He was speaking to his church at that time, what was his church being affected by? By this woman Jezebel. The Jezebel of Elijah’s time is here referred to in that period of time that there is a woman which is teaching. A woman representing a church which is teaching idolatry. Jesus like Jezebel did in the time of Elijah.

Modern Israel is addressed in the words of Jesus to the seven churches. We all know what modern Jezebel is. The adulterous woman identified and expressed as Jezebel the church.

Revelation 17:1 And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters:  2 With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

Revelation 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.  4 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: 5 And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. 6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration.

We understand this woman don’t we? Anyone who looks at the priesthood of the catholic church will immediately recognise the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and gold and decked with precious stones.  Dressed like that. You see the bishops of the different parts of the Roman church dressed in scarlet. The cardinals. Dressed in scarlet and purple. This is the woman, the church that has been leading the people into confusion as it was in Elijah’s time. Halting between two opinions. Baal joined together with God.

The papal church sitteth upon many waters. Waters means many people. She is influencing the people of the world. She is a whore. She commits adultery with the kings of the earth. She is a church that mingles politics with religion. She persecutes Gods people in the dark ages.

This influence of Jezebel has affected the history of the church through to our time. We have grown up with the surrounding influences of a religious world that has mingled the pure doctrines of the Bible with the doctrines of Baal. Read how the Laodicean church period is affected by Jezebel. The Elijah message is halting between two opinions. I will deal with her according to her works:

Revelation 3: 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

I gave her opportunity; Jezebel. That is when you look at the period of Pergamos which is where the church was drifting into Paganism. I gave her space to repent but she would not repent. She became Jezebel. He comes to us today. Do you realise that you are betwixt and between. Do you realise that you are lukewarm? Which is partially hot for me but also cold towards me and warm towards Jezebel? Is that possible?

Lukewarm – halting between two opinions. Not all for God and not all for Baal; lukewarm. In respect to what? I know your works. Indeed, according to your works, you are halting between the two. You are two timing. That is what adultery means.

Fornication and Two Timing

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

This was written to the church that was already in the time of James starting to play handies with the world. You are behaving like an unfaithful woman to her husband. The Lord said I am your husband and what are they doing? Their relationship with the world became so powerful in the period of Pergamos, the Lord called for repentance, and they didn’t. They were so connected with Rome in it’s pagan surrounds, that when Constantine combined Christianity with this empire, it was not a pure Christianity that he put forth.  It was uniting the world with God. Baal/pagan worship, Baal worship with Christianity.  When you read the history, Constantine introduced into the church the worship of God on the venerable day of the sun.  Baal worship, sun worship, Jezebel, turning the hearts of the people towards Baal.

Elijah’s call was to that time and to the Christen church now – Follow if the Lord be God, follow him or if Baal, then follow him. Don’t bring the two together in your works. Don’t combine the works of both. What does it looks like when you combine the works of both? The world in following Baal in following God is powerfully expressed. There is much detail we can glean. He makes a point, listen carefully.

Deuteronomy 4:1 Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.

What is He talking about of what Gods people are meant to do with his statutes? To do them. That has to do with works. To do that:

Deuteronomy 4: 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the LORD did because of Baalpeor: for all the men that followed Baalpeor, the LORD thy God hath destroyed them from among you.

The words of God here pinpoint the doing of the works of Gods will and ways. As you read His word, don’t add to it and don’t take anything from it. This is the problem in the Christian world. They add or take according to their comfort/interpretation. They add or take away. God says; don’t do that. Watch what I did to those who were following Baal. You saw what I did. Those that were not following Baal who didn’t do, you cleave to me. You are alive now, the rest are dead.

You are not to add or take away, you are to do what I say. Can you hear modern prophets of Baal today saying something? Those who are cleaving to God to do what He tells them to do, those who do not take away or add. What do modern Baal worshipers teach? Can you hear them? You are trying to get to heaven by works. Can you see the twist? The evil suggestions that are coming through the Baal prophets of today.

Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; 49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

This is the sad story of the Laodicean ministry that He spues out because they are by their works demonstrating that they are eating and drinking with the drunken. Drinking of the wine of Babylon/Jezebel.

What Does it Look Like to Follow Baal?

We touched on it a little bit. The Elijah message says if Baal be God, then follow him. It doesn’t say worship, it says follow.

The Hebrews while Moses was up in the mountain receiving the law, they were doing what? Worshipping the golden calf. They were dancing around that. In Exodus 32, what were they doing as they were worshipping following that pagan rite of worship of the golden calf?

Exodus 32:6 And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 7 And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves:

They have combined my service with idolatry. Fornication. They were celebrating singing and dancing.

Exodus 32:17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear. 19 And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses’ anger waxed hot,

Baal worshippers sing. What did he see? Dancing and singing.

Exodus 32:25 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)

Can you see the associations of Baal worship? What do the people do? Same as they did in the time of Baal Peor where Baalam confused the Israelites. They saw him as a prophet. When he called them together for Baal worship, he got them to come and enjoy the festivities. Eating, drinking, dancing, playing, sports. This what Baal worship and Baal adoration is all about. That’s what it looks like. Festivities, sports playing. People have to work to make money but once work is done, we go and celebrate. We want to have fun and enjoy ourselves. Instead of working for Jesus, they look for their next game. All they talk about is their sports and some outing and festivities.

What did the church do? It combined pagan festivities with Gods festivities. Christmas. The date of Christmas has nothing to do with the birth of Jesus. It has to do with the birth of Mithra. Easter, another festivity. It’s all in the Bible. The merchants make themselves rich by the delicacies of the Christian church. This is what Baal worship looks like.

How often, in our own day, is the love of pleasure disguised by a “form of godliness!” A religion that permits men, while observing the rites of worship, to devote themselves to selfish or sensual gratification, is as pleasing to the multitudes now as in the days of Israel. And there are still pliant Aarons, who, while holding positions of authority in the church, will yield to the desires of the unconsecrated, and thus encourage them in sin.1 CC 97.5

That’s alright, I know you people are a bit bored with the all the rigorous restrictions of Gods word; lets have fun and combine the two together. That is what I grew up with in the Adventist church with. There is a combination of the fun and pleasure put together with religion. It is a continuation of the early Christian church from the period of Thyatira and before. That’s what it looks like, sensual gratification and the pliant worship. The pliant men who claim to be in authority of God. Then we come to another important quote to show what it looks like:

This idolatry on the part of ancient Israel was an offense to God; but are there not idols just as offensive cherished in our families and in our churches today—idols which have the same influence upon us as did the golden calf upon the Israelites? On the part of God’s professed people there is a manifest disregard of the warnings given by Peter: “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning….” 7BC 941.11

Part of Baal and golden calf worship has to do with what we dress with. 

Men professing godliness offer their bodies upon Satan’s altar and burn the incense of tobacco to his satanic majesty. SL 31.1

Have you ever seen ministers of the gospel smoking? I have. Some of them still smoke even though they know it’s not healthy. Did you notice what Sr White calls smoking. Offering incense to his Satanic majesty.

Does this statement seem severe? Certainly, the offering is presented to some deity. As God is pure and holy, and will accept nothing defiling in its character, He must refuse this expensive, filthy, and unholy sacrifice; therefore we conclude that Satan is the one who claims the honor. SL 31.1

That’s what Baal worship looks like. Among all the other things. Let’s come back to the adornment.

All matters of dress should be strictly guarded, following closely the Bible rule. Fashion has been the goddess who has ruled the outside world, and she often insinuates herself into the church. The church should make the Word of God her standard, and parents should think intelligently upon this subject. When they see their children inclined to follow worldly fashions, they should, like Abraham, resolutely command their households after them. Instead of uniting with the world, connect them with God.43 CG 430.2

Dress is associated with either following God or Baal. Is it a matter of dress and undress with Baal and the extenuation of nakedness or it is the dress of Gods way that is plainly laid out in the Bible for us to follow? What was it that we were admonished in our scripture reading? To do all of Gods laws and commandments; to do them.

It was by associating with idolaters and joining in their festivities that the Hebrews were led to transgress God’s law and bring His judgments upon the nation. So now it is by leading the followers of Christ to associate with the ungodly and unite in their amusements that Satan is most successful in alluring them into sin.. PP 458.2

That’s what happened in the papal Thyatira and Pergamos period. It’s effective upon the Laodicean today.

“Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean.” 2 Corinthians 6:17. God requires of His people now as great a distinction from the world, in customs, habits, and principles, as He required of Israel anciently.. PP 458.2

Customs/habits; isn’t that all to do with works? We are to make the same distinction as Israel was called upon.

If they faithfully follow the teachings of His word, this distinction will exist; it cannot be otherwise. The warnings given to the Hebrews against assimilating with the heathen were not more direct or explicit than are those forbidding Christians to conform to the spirit and customs of the ungodly. Christ speaks to us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15. “The friendship of the world is enmity with God; whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” James 4:4. The followers of Christ are to separate themselves from sinners, choosing their society only when there is opportunity to do them good. PP 458.2

Not to join in their social behaviour, only when you can do them good.

We cannot be too decided in shunning the company of those who exert an influence to draw us away from God. While we pray, “Lead us not into temptation,” we are to shun temptation, so far as possible. PP 458.2

If God is our choice, what did Elijah say? If the Lord be God, follow Him.  Don’t follow Baal anymore. That was Deuteronomy 4. We read that you are not to add or to take away from Gods word. You are to do everything that God requires of you. If you want to follow him, it’s to do with what you’re doing. Just like if you follow Baal, you are doing what they are doing. Don’t add to my word, don’t take away from it. Take it as it reads. Make it your choice if God is your god. What does it say in Deuteronomy 8:3? What should we live like?

Deuteronomy 8:3 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.

What are we doing? We are to live our life, our works according to what Gods word is telling us to do. That’s a simple as we need to understand.

You know that son, I have decided to follow Jesus. How many sing that beautiful song and they are following Baal as well. That’s why it says, you know not how wretched miserable, poor, blind and naked you really are.

The world in the hands of the Baal worshippers of the time of the Catholic church and how it has affected the protestant churches and how it’s affecting Gods church in the Laodicean period, we still have the same problem as in the day of Elijah. If I have decided to follow Jesus, what does that look like? What does that mean?

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Tell me, what does it mean in practical terms to behold Jesus? What does it mean? What does it look like that Jesus is everything to you and you have chosen to follow Him?  You’re going to look at Him, you’re going to follow Him.

Beholding Christ means studying His life as given in His Word. We are to dig for truth as for hidden treasure. We are to fix our eyes upon Christ. When we take Him as our personal Saviour, this gives us boldness to approach the throne of grace. By beholding we become changed, morally assimilated to the One who is perfect in character. By receiving His imputed righteousness, through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we become like Him. The image of Christ is cherished, and it captivates the whole being (Manuscript 148, 1897). 6BC 1098.1

You’re all for God and you’ve given up all of Baal. No in between. Question, is that what you are doing?  Jesus says to us in Laodicea, I know you’re works. You don’t realise that according to your works, you are naked, you are in need of eye salve. You are in need of everything. You have been influenced by Jezebel. By Baal worship.  Its what you are I are doing that we are to examine ourselves by the Word of God. We live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Every Word. Don’t add to it, don’t take away from it.

I have made my decision and I have decided to follow Jesus. In the ministry in doing so, I know what Jesus meant when He said in Matthew 24; those who will be faithful servants who will cleave to God and not follow Baal, what did He say will their fellow servant do? He will smite them. I know that experience very well. I have decided to follow Jesus and in this ministry, I have and continue to convey every Word of God so that those who will decide to follow Jesus all the way, will have an example in myself as Apostle Paul said; “follow me as I follow Christ.”

I am saying to you, don’t worry about following me as a person, follow me as I follow the pioneers; what they practised as the standard of true Adventism. That’s what my ministry is being called for.  To follow those who have gone before us in following Jesus. 

The message of Elijah comes to us at this time loud and clear, relevant for us. So loud as I have shared it here at this time.

Malachi 4: 4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments. 5 Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:  reat and dreadful day of the LORD. 6 And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.

Our time. Just before the coming of Jesus. Because what has happened to the church? It’s been influenced by Jezebel and Laodicea doesn’t even know it’s wretched, miserable, poor blind and naked.  The Elijah message is to be presented.

The Elijah Message of Today

You know I believe I know who the Elijah of today is? Sr White’s writings. Very plain. I am sharing them with you. Every sermon I preach. I do not put forth my own opinion. I read it from the Spirit of Prophecy or from the bible as it reads. This is the time where the Elijah message is to be presented in all it’s power. To do what? Not only to bring us into full harmony of Gods way and will in these last days, but to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to their fathers. This detail is our next and final consideration.

Most people don’t even understand what that means because they don’t associate it with what Elijah said.  Why halt ye between two opinions? Follow one or the other. 

What’s that got to do with turning the hearts of the fathers to the children?  We want to understand that. May God continue to exercise our minds in harmony with the Elijah message for this day. I thank God for it. This is what this ministry is all about. No other reason but:

“I have to decided to follow Jesus,

The world behind me, the cross before me,

No turning back, no turning back.”

Oh how glibly that song is sung. Practise is totally different to that.

God bless us to understand.

Amen.