John Thiel mp3
Matthew 28:18 to 20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.’ Amen.
If you were singing that hymn with understanding, then you are looking for the answer to that question: Where is the flock? Where is the fold where Jesus is caring for his flock? And as we were singing that hymn, did you notice there that we were singing about that outside of this security, outside of this beautiful reposing shelter of God’s beautiful flock and the beautiful place where His sheep are feeding?
While we hunger and thirst, and where contentions and woes and fierce conflicts are raging, where does God protect us from that? Not in the arguments of the many different denominations today claiming they have the truth and these don’t, and so on and so on. Where can we be absolutely confident that this is the place, the church, that Jesus said, this is my church, these are my people?
God’s End Time Church Identified
In the time in which we are living, it’s the time of the end and we have a surrounding current of uncertainty of God’s true church. This is what we need to address clearly in our mind; that wherever we find ourselves, as this message goes worldwide, wherever we find ourselves, are we sure that this is my resting place? This is the true fold where Jesus the shepherd is caring for his flock?
Song of Solomon is talking about churches because in the scripture, a woman is a church, and many different women are different churches. All holding on to different ideas—aren’t we surrounded with that? But according to the scripture, there is only one that He calls His own, not all those other ones. They are all claiming to be Christian churches. He says, My dove, my undefiled, is but one.
Many Doctrines
This statement really throws light on this:
There are many doctrines current in our world. There is many a religion current that numbers its thousands and tens of thousands —today, millions— but there is but one that bears the superscription and the stamp of God. There is a religion of man and a religion of God. We must have our souls riveted to the eternal rock. Everything in God’s world, both men and doctrines and nature itself, is fulfilling God’s sure word of prophecy and accomplishing his grand and closing work in this world’s history. Manuscript Releases, Volume 12, page 324
There are many doctrines. You hear this teaching and that teaching, and you wonder, Which one is true, Lord? Where can we be assured? As it says, there is but one that bears the superscription and stamp of God. We’ve got to differentiate between the religion of man and the religion of God. That’s what we have to try and find our way.
The Samaritan Woman’s Question
The scripture that I want to just introduce right here now are the words again of John 4 that describes the perplexity that existed not only in these times but existed back in the time of Christ. Because there Jesus was at the well asking for a drink of water of the Samaritan woman in John 4. Notice what this Samaritan woman was perplexed with in her question to Him. See whether we can’t truly identify here where she says:
John 4:20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain…
She’s talking about Samaria.
John 4:20 And you say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
People are Confused Today
The woman at Samaria was confused: “You are a Jew. I’m a Samaritan. I believe that this is where we should worship, and you believe you should worship there.” Besides the Samaritans and the Jewish church, in the Jewish church there were many factions as well. There were the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, and there are many others of independent companies that believe differently to the mainstream.
(Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots. Other Groups & Influences – Samaritans, Herodians, Various sects and teachers: Judaism was diverse, with independent rabbis and movements interpreting the law differently.)
Both the houses of Israel; there was a split: Samaritans and Jews, the ten tribes and the two tribes.
The Law and the Testimony
Both the houses of Israel get confused now.
Isaiah 8:14-16 For a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and many among them shall stumble and fall and be broken and be snared and be taken. Bind up the testimony. Seal the law among my disciples.
Here is a direct pointing to the true disciples. How can you know?
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
There are so many doctrines. How do you know among all the doctrines, among all the things that are being taught, whether there is the light that you’re receiving there, that that is the light? How do you know? If they speak not in harmony with the law and the testimony.
What’s the testimony? In this setting, it’s very much what is written in Revelation. The testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy. There is the law, and that is often identified as a testimony, the ark of the testimony. But this is not now the law. The law and the testimony is to be the reality there—the law and the testimony. If they don’t speak in harmony with the law and all the testimony of the prophecies, that’s what is written.
The Apostolic Pattern
We see that today we have the same problem as the people had in the time of the apostles, because there the apostles were opposed by all these different other factions. But those that received the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the Pentecostal outpouring and then went forward to proclaim the message under the power of the Holy Spirit, the people responded.
See what is identified in Acts 2 as the problem that the people were facing then that we are to learn from today. this is directly in consequence of the preaching under the outpouring of Pentecost.
Acts 2:41-42 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized. And the same day there were added unto them about 3,000 souls, and they continued steadfastly in the Apostles’ doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread and in prayers.
What is the most salient part of this scripture that tells us what God is trying to tell us here where our security is, or where was it back there? It says they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine. Are you getting a lead? The Apostles’ doctrine.
When Jesus said to the woman, The day is coming where you should worship neither in this mountain or in the other, but those who worship him in spirit and in truth. Now we are coming to the statement, Seal the law among my disciples. My disciples are giving you the pure doctrine.
Those 12 apostles, the 120 who was receiving the Pentecostal outpouring, they went forward to proclaim what Jesus said in our scripture reading. What did He say to the apostles in our scripture reading? Jesus—the words of Jesus here are loaded with important detail.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go you, therefore…
All power has given unto me. Now you go forward because of that. Because I have imparted to you my doctrine. For three years they were learning, and then at Pentecost it all came together. Jesus gave to them those doctrines, that set of teachings, Jesus wanted that to continue to the very end of the world. Is that what it said? He is saying that.
Mattthew 28:18 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and I’m going to be with you even unto the end of the world.
Where are we today? And that’s why this subject is so important now. Who is He with? I am with you —those who are standing on the doctrine of the apostles. Isn’t that what we conclude here? Is that a wrong conclusion? I am with you even unto the end of the world. All the doctrines that Jesus communicated with the apostles would continue as the true doctrines to the end of the world. That’s the picture.
Credentials from Christ
To the disciples, the Saviour made them his ambassadors and gave them their credentials. 8T 14.2
What a statement that is—credentials. They were just fishermen. They didn’t go to the schools of the prophets of the Jews at that time. They didn’t have any doctorate degree, because they had doctorate degrees at their time as well. They didn’t have any of that. Jesus gave them their credentials.
If afterward they should be challenged and asked by what authority they, unlearned fishermen, went forth as teachers and healers, they could reply, He whom the Jews crucified but who rose from the dead appointed us to the ministry of His word, declaring all power is given unto me in heaven and earth. Christ gave His commission to His disciples as his chief ministers, the gospel from age to age. 8T 14.2
What does this say? What is there in these words of Jesus? I am with you unto the end of the world. Go and teach everything I have shown you. Down through succeeding generations, right down from age to age to the very end, there is where Jesus is amongst them. I will be with you from the disciples right through to the end.
Jesus’ Prayer for Unity
John 17:14-17 I have given them thy word
That’s it. Go and teach what I have taught you,
John 17:14-17 I have given them thy word. And the world hath hated them because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Neither—now comes a very important little connection. He’s talking about them and remember what He said; “I will be with you until the end of the world. Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their Word. Go and teach them what I have taught you. I have given them thy word. I pray for them and for everyone else the succeeding generations right through to the end, that they all may be one as our Father in heaven.”
The Model Church
This is absolute truth that we have to identify and recognise, because God is here identifying for us.
The prayer of Christ is not only for those who are now his disciples Reflecting Christ page 199.4
At that time when He was praying for them, that’s what she’s referring to
…but for all those who shall believe on Christ through the words of his disciples, even to the end of the world. Reflecting Christ page 199.4
This is what the apostles held as the doctrines. Those that would join them would join the apostolic doctrines. Here this statement brings us through Christ right through to this time that we can identify perfectly where his church is.
The Bible sets before us a model church. They are to be in unity with each other and with God. Reflecting Christ page 199.4
We are to be at unity with the apostles. We are to be at unity with their doctrine, not any newfangled construction of the church, but the church established back there.
The Rock and the Keys
What has He declared to that church? As we have been reading from the Spirit of Prophecy, all succeeding ministers right through to the end—what does Jesus say in Matthew chapter 16? Jesus asked them, because in His time the people were still confused, the great majority. You know, oh, Jesus is this or Jesus is that.
Matthew 16:15-19 But whom say you that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said: Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him: Blessed are thou, Simon Bar-jona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say unto thee that thou art Peter thou art a stone…
A person.
Matthew 16:15-19 and upon this rock. (Jesus Christ) I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
The church that Jesus Christ built with the apostles and the generations thereafter, that the apostles and disciples were the architect of that pure message and that pure doctrine under the Holy Spirit. He says, “I give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven.”
Matthew 16:15-19 The gates of hell shall not prevail against that church.
What is that telling you? Will the church ever be lost? The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. You come through the dark ages—we know so well the perversion of doctrine that has come into the church, into the papal church in the dark ages—but God’s church would continue in all that darkness. The gates of hell shall not prevail against it. God’s pure doctrines would continue to go right through to the end. I’m with you till the time of the end. My dove, according to Song of Solomon, my dove, my undefiled, is but one. One all the way through.
The Woman in Revelation 12
Prophetically, you can identify it. There, in the beginning, you had the faithful church that understood.
Revelation 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of 12 stars.
Here is a very clear metaphorical picture of the church. A woman dressed with the sun. What is the moon? The moon is a reflection from the sun. She stands upon the moon, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars. Twelve tribes of Israel dressed with the sun and standing upon the Old Testament reflection of the pure gospel.
Revelation 12:6:And the woman fled into the wilderness.
Because this church gave birth.
Revelation 12: 2 She being with child cried, travailing in birth and pain to be delivered.
Then she gave birth.
Revelation 12: 5 She brought forth a man-child who was to rule all the nations with the rod of iron, and her child was caught up unto God and to his throne. 6 And the woman fled into the wilderness where she had a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.
Through the Dark Ages. Notice here that this is still the same church, the same woman, fed with the pure doctrines all the way through the dark ages. Still there, still there.
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.
People wondering with all the different churches now that we finally arrived at—in Song of Solomon, threescore queens and fourscore concubines and virgins without number —years of formation of multiple denominations, all arguing over the doctrine, while the pure doctrines were being taught.
The Faithful and Wicked Servant
Does Jesus warn us of the time just before His coming that He is warning people that you should watch that you don’t get caught out? Yes, it’s easy to get caught out in the multiple churches of today. What does Jesus say here?
Matthew 24: 44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. 45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
Matthew 24:48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, ‘My lord delayeth his coming’
Where does he say that? Does he preach that? No, he says it in his heart. So how does he demonstrate what he’s saying in His heart?
Matthew 24:49 And they shall begin to smite his fellow servants and to eat and drink with the drunken. 50 And the lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him and in an hour that he is not aware of, and shall cut him asunder,
In the midst of this multiple denominational picture that we are surrounded by, there is a company of people who are declaring the coming of Jesus and in that company of people, there is a faithful and there is a wicked servant. The wicked servant is still claiming that he’s preaching the coming of Jesus, but in his heart, it’s being delayed and he hasn’t got the pure message anymore. That’s the picture.
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
Is this where the picture stops? What does Jesus continue to deal with here in this whole presentation? He continues in chapter 25. Having just mentioned the faithful servant and the unfaithful servant, then He says at that very time:
Matthew 25:1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins which took their lamps and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 6 At midnight there was a cry made: ‘Behold, the bridegroom cometh!’
Is that some other company? Isn’t that just what Jesus said? There’s a faithful servant that gives meat in due season. What is the meat in due season? I asked the question to myself many times. Are the messengers that have the pure doctrine right through to the end— I’m with you right through to the end —these people are the ones who are waking the virgins up. How clear does this picture describe His church? The end-time church. Is that the ten virgins?
The Wedding Procession
Christ is seated upon the Mount of Olives. The sun has set behind the mountains, and the heavens are curtained with the shades of evening. In full view is a dwelling house lighted up brilliantly as if for some festive scene. The light streams from the openings, and an expectant company wait around, indicating that a marriage procession is soon to appear. In many parts of the East, wedding festivities are held in the evening. The bridegroom goes forth to meet his bride and brings her to his home. By torchlight, the bridal party proceed from her father’s house to his own, where a feast is provided for the invited guests. Christ’s Object Lessons, page 405.
Which is the bridegroom and the bride? What in the Bible is the bride? Isn’t that the church? Are these five wise and five foolish virgins part of the bridal party at this stage? They’re waiting for the bridal party. Get the picture?
Lingering near the bride’s house are ten young women robed in white. Each carries a lighted lamp and a small flagon for oil. All are anxiously watching for the appearance of the bridegroom. There is a delay. Hour after hour passes. The watchers become weary and fall asleep. At midnight the cry is heard: ‘Behold the bridegroom cometh! Go ye out to meet him.’ The sleepers, suddenly awaking, spring to their feet. They see the procession moving on, bright with torches and glad with music. They hear the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride. The five wise virgins trim their lamps and go forth, but five have neglected to fill their flasks with oil. They did not anticipate a long delay, etc. They asked, give us your oil, for our lamps are gone out. But the waiting five with their freshly trimmed lamps have emptied their flagons. They have no oil to spare. Not so, lest there be not enough for us. But go ye rather to them that sell and buy for yourselves. Christ’s Object Lessons, page 405.
This parable is loaded with information for the church of the last days. What do we see here?
The Faithful and Wise Servants
I want to read another quote from Desire of Ages that really throws a powerful light on it. It is talking about this faithful company, right?
There are those who are watching for the Lord are purifying their souls by obedience to the truth. With vigilant watching, they combine earnest working. Because they know that the Lord is at the door, their zeal is quickened to cooperate with the divine intelligences in working for the salvation of souls. These are the faithful and wise servants who give the Lord’s household their portion of meat in due season. They are declaring the truth that is now specially applicable. As Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Moses each declared the truth for his time, so will Christ’s servants now give the special warning for their generation. DA 634.2
Lo, I am with you even unto the end of the world. What did we just see in the parable? The bride with the bridegroom and the foolish virgins and the wise virgins are sleeping and are awakened by the company with which Jesus is. Get the picture?
The wise virgins say to the foolish, we haven’t got enough for you; go and buy. Where are they going to buy? They’re not joining the bridal party. Where are they going to buy? Maybe from the wicked servant or the other companies. They know that according to this—they think they’ve got the oil now. They’ve got their oil burning. They come to the door, and the door has been shut. The company that was with the wise virgins with the company and the light had gone in and probation had closed.
Those who have been obedient to God’s commandments will unite with the company of the saints in the light. They shall enter in through the gates into the city. TM 234.2
Looking for Apostolic Truth
In the time in which we live now, we have just been able to see what we are looking for. We are looking for the exact truths that the apostles taught. We are looking not at the different doctrines that are being torn apart by the theological colleges of today. We are looking for those whom Christ gives credentials to by this picture that is painted for us in the scriptures here, where He says, “I am with you even unto the end of the world.”
In this present time, the words of Jesus in John 10 are very relevant again, as they always have been, but very starkly so.
John 10:14-16 I am the good shepherd and know my sheep and am known of mine. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one-fold and one shepherd.
Can you see the picture of the wise virgins that are being called into the fold, that are called, that will join the bridal party? They will hear my voice. They will keep my commandments. Because amongst all these different churches of today, there are people who still believe the Ten Commandments are important. As they believe in that, and the bridal party goes past their vision, they say, here it is. I can see, this is where the shepherd is. I can hear the shepherd’s voice. I can recognise the shepherd’s voice. He says, “I have many sheep in other folds that are not of this fold.” They will be brought together, and there will be one-fold and one shepherd. That’s the picture.
As we go through our experiences in these last days, we are looking for what the apostles were teaching. Get it very clear—remember what the apostle John said in 1 John 1:1-4 we have touched, we have handled, we know by experience. If you will be part of us, we will have fellowship together with one another.
The Church on Earth and in Heaven
In conclusion, this church in accumulation over the centuries—remember what He said in chapter 16? Remember what the apostles said there? What He said to the apostles, sorry. He said, “whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven.” The church on earth and the church in heaven are one.
Those who are under the Apostles’ doctrine will be part of that army that has gone through all ages, the faithful army and they have their headquarters where? Hebrews 12. Where do we come to when we come to that church?
Hebrews 12:22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.
What is the headquarters of that church? In New Jerusalem. God’s true church that on earth works together with the church in heaven.
Conclusion
I trust that the scrutiny that we are making in God’s word here will give you an answer in your own mind. What are you looking for? The identity of the pure set of doctrines that have been held from the very beginning that Jesus taught. As we come through the history, we will identify the church that stands on that platform right through to now.
