An Outline by Donn Leiske
A God You Can Trust Hebr. 6:17-19 NIV Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain.
One Prophet In Trouble 1917 - The trying experiences that came to God's people in the days of Esther were not peculiar to that age alone. The revelator, looking down the ages to the close of time, has declared, "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 Christ." Revelation 12:17. Some who today are living on the earth will see these words fulfilled. The same spirit that in ages past led men to persecute the true church, will in the future lead to the pursuance of a similar course toward those who maintain their loyalty to God. Even now preparations are being made for this last great conflict.
PK.605.002
1888 - The hour will come; it is not far distant, and some of us who now believe will be alive upon the earth, and shall see the prediction verified, and hear the voice of the archangel, and the trump of God echo from mountain and plain and sea, to the uttermost parts of the earth. RH.1888-07-31 ( years ago)
1856 - I was shown the company present at the Conference. Said the angel: "Some food for worms,* some subjects of the seven last plagues, some will be alive and remain upon the earth to be translated at the coming of Jesus." 1T.132.001 ( years ago)
1860 - A conference was held at Battle Creek in May, 1856... At the conference a very solemn vision was given me. I saw that some of those present would be food for worms, some subjects for the seven last plagues, and some would be translated to heaven at the second coming of Christ, without seeing death. 2SG 207, 208 ( years ago)
cf Guinness World Book of Records officially lists Jeanne Clament (in Oct 18, 1995, on her 120th birthday) as oldest recorded living human
The Problems: Can the writings of EGW be trusted? If one of her prophecies did not happen, is she a liar and a false prophet? If the message was not from God, then who was it from? If EGW is not a prophet, then can SDA be false teachings? Or does it make God the liar?
Another Prophet In Trouble Jonah 3:1-4 Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: "Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you." Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city --a visit required three days. On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.
Jonah 3:10-4:3
The Problems: Can the writings of Jonah be trusted? If one of his prophecies did not happen, is he a liar and a false prophet? If the message was not from God, then who was it from? If Jonah is not a prophet, then can the Bible be trusted? Or does it make God the liar? If God's word cannot be trusted, maybe Jesus will never return as he promised? If Christianity is a lie, then maybe we should just party because there is nothing to look forward to but death. (John Lennon's song "Imagine": "Image there's no heaven, above us only sky.")
Answers: Yet Nineveh, wicked though it had become, was not wholly given over to evil. He who "beholdeth all the sons of men" (Psalm 33:13) and "seeth every precious thing" (Job 28:10) perceived in that city many who were reaching out after something better and higher, and who, if granted opportunity to learn of the living God, would put away their evil deeds and worship Him. And so in His wisdom God revealed Himself to them in an unmistakable manner, to lead them, if possible, to repentance. PK 265
"...though the event predicted did not come to pass, yet the message of warning was nonetheless from God. And it accomplished the purpose God designed it should. PK.273.001
Jer. 18:7-10 If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it.
The angels of God in their messages to men represent time as very short. Thus it always been presented to me. It is true that time has continued longer than we expected in the early days of this message. Our Savior did not appear as soon as we hoped. But has the word of the Lord failed? Never! It should be remembered that the promises and threatenings of God are alike conditional. 1SM 67
Would we be mad at God if he skipped the 7 last plagues?
We may be surprised how the final, prophetic events happen.
cf Flood
Had the antediluvians believed the warning, and repented of their evil deeds, the Lord would have turned aside His wrath, as He afterward did from Nineveh. But by their obstinate resistance to the reproofs of conscience and the warnings of God's prophet, that generation filled up the measure of their iniquity, and became ripe for destruction.
PP.097.003
Conclusion God wishes that no one should perish. God will do anything He has to to convince us to be saved. Everything God does is in our best interest and in an effort to save us.
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