Category Archives: The Church of God
Are You A Protestant?
By John Thiel
I ask the question, are you a Protestant? If we want to know what it means to be a Protestant, study Protestantism. As you look this subject, there are some very pertinent messages in Revelation. In the study of the seven churches Jesus speaks to his faithful children. You will notice that the messages that were given in the successive generations can be applicable to us now as they were given to churches of the past.
Balaam thought the best way to get the booty from the king was to corrupt Israel and he did that. He brought in the women from outside. He brought in sacrificing to idols to accept the ways around them. This is what the Christian church in the time of Pergamos was falling into. A worldly flood was coming into the church. This is as much as important for us to understand it so won’t happen to us and also so that there won’t be a cause for us to fall.
Pergamos Didn’t Repent
The very thing that was warned in Pergamos was now happening in Thyatira in that church called Jezebel. I gave her space to repent and she repented not. God gives a very clear message here of what Gods church must avoid. Read the rest of this entry
The Nature of the Remnant Church
By John Thiel
We are considering among the many different aspects the nature of the remnant church, the nature of the people, the type of personalities and qualities they are to have. This nature is beautifully expressed;
Zephaniah 3:13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.
Here is the kind of character that the remnant church is to have. The remnant of Israel, the remnant church will do no iniquity, there will be no sin. Do you measure up? They are not affected by the fallen churches;
Revelation 14:4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, [being] the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
This is the 144,000, the remnant who are to stand before God in the last days. As you read these words and you realise you want to be among that number, it is daunting.
Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Read the rest of this entry
The Closing Scenes of the Remnant Church
By John Thiel
Zephaniah 3:12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.
Do you sense within yourself that this is the end? That we are living on the final stages of this world? Do you sense this because true children of God rely not on their senses but on every word that proceeds from God? It is my purpose to search Gods word, his revelation regarding his remnant people.
Zephaniah 3:11 In that day shalt thou not be ashamed for all thy doings, wherein thou hast transgressed against me: for then I will take away out of the midst of thee them that rejoice in thy pride, and thou shalt no more be haughty because of my holy mountain. 12 I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. 13 The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies; neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid. 14 Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem. 15 The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out thine enemy: the king of Israel, [even] the LORD, [is] in the midst of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. 16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: [and to] Zion, Let not thine hands be slack. 17 The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. 18 I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden. 19 Behold, at that time I will undo all that afflict thee: and I will save her that halteth, and gather her that was driven out; and I will get them praise and fame in every land where they have been put to shame. 20 At that time will I bring you [again], even in the time that I gather you: for I will make you a name and a praise among all people of the earth, when I turn back your captivity before your eyes, saith the LORD.
Consider the remnant. How they come into prominence, how they rise. As we read, you notice what transpires as these remnant people rise.
Zephaniah 3:18 I will gather [them that are] sorrowful for the solemn assembly, [who] are of thee, [to whom] the reproach of it [was] a burden. Read the rest of this entry
5. Summary of Old and New Testament Prophecies
By John Thiel, Prophetic Sketches of the Remnant Church Seminar, Study 5, mp3
Our purpose is to scan the Old Testament and New Testament prophecies and interface them. Also to look at the important points of Gods remnant people in history. We have observed the over arching prophetic sketch of Genesis 3:15 which Apostle Paul spoke of in Romans.
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
We have established the above is the work of Christ and his soldiers, his remnant people.
Romans 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.
What is he referring to? Malachi. When Satan and the wicked will be ashes under the feet of the saints. We want to understand the wide ranging principle of this for the final remnant. Examine the method when Christ bruised Satan’s head and how this bruising by Christ of Satan’s head is to flow on to the remnant. Remember the faithful remnant of Revelation. This is the New Testament sketch. Read the rest of this entry
The True Witness Testifies
By John Thiel
We all acknowledge that JESUS is the head of His visible church. As we live at a time of unprecedented confusion of church organizations who claim to be God’s visible church; does it do us well if we really enter the arena of contestants with that claim? How does the Head of the church teach us to think?
“If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true.” John 5:31, 32. Read the rest of this entry
How Many Shall Be Saved?
A question was posed to Jesus.
Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you [yourselves] thrust out.
The question we want to study is how many shall be saved? We shall address this question but also consider whether we are among the truly gracious in this world. We shall make these truths as clear as possible and straight to the point. The scripture reading calls for a straight to the point approach and so do the times in which we live.
Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
There is a broad path and many of this world go down that path because straight is the way that leadeth unto life and few there be that find it. The scripture is saying there is a broad road that leads to destruction, to hell. The majority, the large populace go down that road. There is a gate and few people actually find the gate. Out of those few that find it, there are fewer still that enter in as we compare with the scripture we just read. Read the rest of this entry
The Loud Cry Via the Church Triumphant
By John Thiel, mp3
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Read the rest of this entry
3. Light in a Dark Place of the Church Militant
By John Thiel, Light in a Dark Place Seminar, Study 3, mp3
Scripture Reading: Zephaniah 3:1 Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
We are living in dark, trying times for God’s genuine people, and we need God’s word to illume our pathway. The light that shines in a dark place must illuminate our pathway. In our previous study we looked at a personal dark spot, which is our human heart where God brings Jesus into close, inward proximity, so that in the dark place of our heart the light of Jesus, His face, His truth, can shine. In this study we want to examine the dark place in the church militant. This may sound strange. In God’s church? Is there a dark place in the church militant? How does the scripture that we have been quoting relate to the subject of the church militant? Read the rest of this entry
Loyalty to the Church of God
Isaiah 49:8 Thus saith the LORD, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages; 9 That thou mayest say to the prisoners, Go forth; to them that [are] in darkness, Show yourselves. They shall feed in the ways, and their pastures [shall be] in all high places. 10 They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. 11 And I will make all my mountains a way, and my highways shall be exalted. 12 Behold, these shall come from far: and, lo, these from the north and from the west; and these from the land of Sinim. 13 Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. 14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me. 15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of [my] hands; thy walls [are] continually before me.
The Lord has a people on earth and they are accumulatively called Zion. They have been blessed and redeemed by the one spoken of in Isaiah 49:8 who in an acceptable time was heard as he was hanging on the cross. He was preserved and uplifted again and given for a covenant of the people to release the prisoners. As we read above, the prisoners didn’t feel like being released as Zion said the Lord has forsaken me and my Lord has forgotten me. We then see the object lesson of a woman caring for her suckling child. The Lord cares for us through his church, through his woman he cares for his children as has been demonstrated in past years, the faithful children have been forsaken by the woman. She became an harlot. But God is still caring even though the church played the harlot. This reality is written of all through Isaiah. Read the rest of this entry
Is the Church Infallible?
Regarding the testimonies, nothing is ignored; nothing is cast aside; but time and place must be considered. Nothing must be done untimely. {1SM 57.2}
Seventh-day Adventists say it does not matter how far they go in apostasy, they are still the church of God. Sr White said the SDA church is not Babylon. At the time when Sr White said that, the Adventist church was still teaching correct messages. She made it clear that it was the commandment-keeping people that made the church the church of God.
Again I say, The Lord hath not spoken by any messenger who calls the church that keeps the commandments of God, Babylon. {2SM 68.3}
God has a church upon the earth who are His chosen people, who keep His Commandments. TM page 61. Read the rest of this entry
Oil In Their Vessels
By John Thiel
The experience of Gods people just prior to the coming of Jesus has been given a parable. A parable we are familiar with. Dealing with the subject of his imminent coming of this period we read Matthew.
Matthew 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. 24:43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
From that point Jesus begins to enlarge some detail of what he is trying to say. Then with this concept he continues with this parable. He is talking about that period of time when people need to watch and be careful because in an hour as you think not the Son of man cometh.
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. 25:2 And five of them were wise, and five [were] foolish. 25:3 They that [were] foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 25:4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 25:5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 25:6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 25:8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, [Not so]; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 25:11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 25:12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. Read the rest of this entry
Five Celestial Messengers
By John Thiel, mp3 (incomplete)
So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still Will lead me on.
O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till The night is gone,
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!
We are longing so much to meet and to be in peace with those angels in eternity. God’s people have cried throughout the ages, How long, O Lord. However just prior to His coming there are very few who cry that. Those who claim to be preaching the coming of Jesus are saying, My Lord delayeth His coming. No one wants to say that if they are longing for His soon coming. For us, we live in the closing scenes. We live in the time of the voice of Revelation 18:4. Verse 4 is part of the Revelation 18 angel (from verses 1 to 4) which has been sounding ever since 1888, and the powerful conveyance of pure truth has taken place ever since that time, and it is swelling to a loud cry. The final loud cry is verse 4:
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. Read the rest of this entry
Are you a Candidate for the Church Triumphant or Rich and Increased with Goods?
By John Thiel
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Here are the candidates. If any man open the door I will come in and sup with him. Who will He sup with? Who is to be encouraged here? Not the people who are already self encouraged – I’m part of the church I’m a member of Gods church, I’m increased with goods I have need of nothing. The message to the church of Laodecia is for those living in our time today. God is speaking to the leadership of the church.
Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 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. 3:17 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:
The lukewarmness makes God nauseous. The claim is made by his church here:
Jeremiah 7:4 Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, [are] these. Read the rest of this entry
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