Puritan Corner - ....but Shadows...

“......Better than fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children,
or the company of any, or all earthly friends. These are but shadows; but the enjoyment of God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun.”

by Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy... Jude 1:24

Not a Good Omen for the Unbeliever

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

 

"Let not the unbeliever rejoice over the fallen state of the church,  

---for it is an omen of no good to the world. 

Q: If the truth has lost its power upon its professed friends, what can its enemies hope for?" 

M.E. Cornell

IN the NEWS - How Target went all Gen. 6:5

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis 6:5

"Target’s shareholders lost $9 billion in stock market value because

the suite mixed its professional duties with its personal agendas, including advocacy for transgenderism.

The poster boy for this high-risk policy is Target’s vice president for brand marketing, Carlos Saavedra. He moonlights as a board member of an advocacy group for K-12 transgenderism and gay status. The group, titled GLSEN, is an acronym chosen by the teachers who formed the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education

Network in 1990.

Target’s website says Saavedra “leads Target brand stewardship & campaign development for initiatives including Holiday, Back-to-School/College, Target Run, Discovery, Inclusive Marketing, and Digital & Social Engagement.”

He works alongside Jennifer Breeden Okun, the senior vice president for design and packaging at Target. She touts her identity as a pro-transgender “She/Her” on LinkedIn, where she also displays the merged symbols of Target and gay advocacy." Breitbart

Creation Moment 5/31/2023 - Mathematical Works of His Fingers : ⅟₂₀ × ⅟₂₀ × ⅟₂₀ … 329 times

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers... 

Psalm 8:3

"Just think about one essential machine that copies the DNA

instructions for making each protein. Then let’s take just one protein component of that machine, less than 10% of the total. This protein is 329 amino acids in length. 

Q: What would be the chance of getting this one protein by chance, assuming that the correct, and only the correct, amino acid ingredients were present?

A: Calculate it this way: ⅟₂₀ × ⅟₂₀ × ⅟₂₀ … 329 times! This is a probability of 1 in 10⁴²⁸ … a number with 428 zeros after the 1! 

 

***Even if every atom in the universe (10⁸⁰—a number with 80 zeros) represented an experiment for every molecular vibration possible (10¹² per second) for the supposed evolutionary age of the universe (14 billion years = 10¹⁸ seconds), this would allow ‘only’ 10¹¹⁰ experiments—a long, long way short of the number needed to have a ghost of a chance of getting just this one protein to form, let alone the over 400 others needed. 

 

--It’s no wonder that Richard Dawkins admits that scientists might never work out how life could arise by natural processes." CMI

What the Sabbath was APPOINTED FOR

"THOSE who observe the Sabbath of the Bible, are able to present as
its foundation, a divine institution. 

"God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it." Gen.ii,3. 

To sanctify is "to separate, set apart, or appoint to a holy, sacred, or religious use." Webster."  

J.N. Andrews

Creation Moment 5/30/2023 - Since the Week of Creation

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Exodus 20:11

 

"The great God in His days of creation and day of rest, measured off the first cycle as a sample for successive weeks till the close of time.  On the seventh day of the first week God rested from His work, and then blessed the day of His rest, and set it apart for the use of man. 

The weekly cycle of seven literal days, six for labor, and the seventh for rest, which has been preserved and brought down through Bible history, originated in the great facts of the first seven days." 

E.G.W.

MEMORIAL DAY 2023

 Joab scolds David for disrespecting his military men

And Joab came into the house to the king, and said, Thou hast shamed this day the faces of all thy servants,

which this day have saved thy life,

and the lives of thy sons and of thy daughters,

and the lives of thy wives,

In that thou lovest thine enemies,

and hatest thy friends.

For thou hast declared this day,

that thou regardest neither princes nor servants:

for this day I perceive, that if Absalom had lived,

and all we had died this day,

then it had pleased thee well. 

 Now therefore arise, go forth, and speak comfortably unto thy servants:

for I swear by the LORD, if thou go not forth, 

there will not tarry one with thee this night:

and that will be worse unto thee than all the evil

 that befell thee from thy youth until now.

 

Then the king arose, and sat in the gate.

And they told unto all the people, saying,

Behold, the king doth sit in the gate. 

And all the people came before the king:

2 Samuel 19:5-8

SDA Issues - What will SDA's do in Russia IF this happens?

And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. Gen. 2:2, 3

 

IF...and only IF...Russia does this, and IF it is a mandatory Monday-Saturday (Sabbath) work week ... what will Russian SDA's do?

 

"Russian state-backed media and business groups have petitioned the Economic Ministry to authorize a six-day week for workers in the face of the economic demands of the war, apparently without additional pay....Russian propagandist Margarita Simonyan mooted that citizens should work for two extra hours in munitions factories each day, after their regular jobs." Ukrin

The Only Sabbatic institution

 God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it. Genesis 2:3 

 

"As God has never taken this blessing from the seventh day, and has never given to secular purposes the day which he here "set apart to a holy use," the original institution still exists. 

As He has never sanctified another day as a weekly Sabbath, 

the Sabbath of the Lord is the only Sabbatic institution." 

 J.N. Andrews

 

Creation Moment 5/29/2023 - Inferences erroneously drawn from facts observed in nature have . . .

“Inferences erroneously drawn from facts observed in nature have . . . led to supposed conflict between science and revelation; and in the effort to restore harmony, interpretations of Scripture have been

adopted that undermine and destroy the force of the word of God. 

 

Geology has been thought to contradict the literal interpretation of the Mosaic record of the creation. Millions of years, it is claimed, were required for the evolution of the earth from chaos; and in order to accommodate the Bible to this supposed revelation of science, the days of creation are assumed to have been vast, indefinite periods, covering thousands or even millions of years. 

 

Such a conclusion is wholly uncalled for. 

The Bible record is in harmony with itself and with the teaching of nature. Of the first day employed in the work of creation is given the record, “The evening and the morning were the first day.” Genesis 1:5. And the same in substance is said of each of the first six days of creation week. Each of these periods Inspiration declares to have been a day consisting of evening and morning, like every other day since that time. 

 

In regard to the work of creation itself the divine testimony is, “He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:9. 

 

Q: With Him who could thus call into existence unnumbered worlds, how long a time would be required for the evolution of the earth from Chaos? 

Q: In order to account for His works, must we do violence to His word?” E.G.W.

IN the NEWS - Latest Excuse for no E.T. by Secularists

"Why haven’t we found aliens yet? After all, we’ve spent millions and millions of dollars searching the skies for signs of life. And yet . . . nothing. 

But the reason we haven’t found aliens yet is because climate change

killed all the aliens. No, wait, it’s because we were created in a laboratory by an advanced alien race.

No, wait, we haven’t found aliens because . . .“Humanity missed the party?” According to a new study on black holes and their impact on the formation of stars, “we, as advanced life, might be relics from a bygone age in the universe.” The author claims “advanced life peaked billions of years ago.” 

Why? Because of the way black holes supposedly behave and influence star formation (which is itself an unproven hypothesis with a lot of problems). 

The result is fewer stars. Fewer stars mean fewer planets, which means fewer possibilities for advanced life. But the effect extends beyond the rates of star and planet formation. Since the galaxy’s gas is heated, it can give off a halo of X-rays that permeates the galaxy and affects the chemistry of planets, which can inhibit their habitability.

Yes, it’s another excuse (among many) for why we haven’t found alien life yet. You see, in the evolutionary worldview, there simply must be other intelligent life. We just can’t be that special. 

Sadly, secular scientists look at the incredible splendor and order of the cosmos, the complex language system of DNA, and the complexity of life on earth, and say, “Hmm, there’s no God, no Creator, but I wonder if we’re alone?”

God, our Creator, who exists outside of His creation, and He has plainly revealed Himself through what He has made and through His perfect Word. Anyone who ignores his fingerprints is simply suppressing the truth . . . and many are placing their faith in aliens instead." AIG

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:18–20)

The True Meaning of the Cleansing of the Sanctuary

".....if we turn to Lev.16:15 - "And he shall make an atonement for the holy place because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins." etc.; see also 29-34 verses, particularly the 30th verse. 

 

Then the true meaning of the cleansing of the sanctuary is, Christ our high priest in the sanctuary which the Lord pitched and not man; Heb.13:2, that is, the new Jerusalem in the heavens, making atonement, or blotting out the sins of His true waiting people; and while He is doing this, they are in their trial. 

 

"Here is the patience of the Saints," as it was in the type referred to, with this difference - their day and trial and atonement was "from even to even," just twenty-four hours, whereas ours is to be until God roars out of Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem, then Jerusalem will be holy, the atonement will be finished. - Joel 3:16,17 - God's people be cleansed, sealed, and the captivity of Zion turned. His will be the shaking of the Heavens and the earth, the sea and all nations." Joseph Bates

The Coming Storm

"A storm is coming, relentless in its fury and unimaginable in its scope. It is destined to affect every person on planet earth. 

Daniel, describes it: “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time” (Daniel 12:1).

--Unfortunately, most of earth’s inhabitants are unaware of the true
nature of this conflict of apocalyptic proportions. 

--Even fewer are prepared for what is about to come upon this world as an overwhelming surprise.

--While men and women are  

engrossed in the cares of this world, 

consumed with the challenges of day-to-day survival, 

and overwhelmed by a plethora of mindless entertainment, 

events are being orchestrated that, while promising peace, safety, and unity, will result in chaos, confusion, relentless tyranny, and

slaughter beyond the human imagination.

As the oldest continuing, absolute monarchy in the history of humanity, Catholicism certainly has the experience, organization, and influence to ensure victory in its quest for world domination. 

 

Ellen G. White, a late nineteenth-century Bible commentator, whom the Smithsonian Institution recognized as one of the most popular religious writers and one of the most significant Americans of all time, shares this insightful thought: “The Roman Catholic Church, with all its ramifications throughout the world, forms one vast

organization under the control, and designed to serve the interests, of the papal see. Its millions of communicants, in every country on the globe, are instructed to hold themselves as bound in allegiance to the pope. Whatever their nationality or their government, they are to regard the authority of the church as above all other. Though they may take the oath pledging their loyalty to the state, yet back of this lies the vow of obedience to Rome, absolving them from every pledge inimical to her interests. History testifies of her artful and persistent efforts to insinuate herself into the affairs of nations; and having gained a foothold, to further her own aims, even at the ruin of princes and people” (E.G. White, The Great Controversy, pg. 580).

 

The Biblical prophets Daniel and John, under the inspiration of the Creator God, outlined and portrayed the rise and demise of this entity, which many writers have identified as the antichrist power of Bible prophecy. 

Beginning with the ancient world power of Babylon, John and Daniel traced the rise of this massive religious/political entity down through the ages, from Babylon to Media Persia to Greece. Both seers delineated the prophetic timeline leading to the rise of Imperial Rome, out of which arose the Roman Papacy.

John speaks of her power and influence: “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 17:2). Then he reveals her ultimate demise: “And the kings of the earth, who have committed fornication” and lived deliciously with her, shall bewail her, and lament for her, when they shall see the smoke of her burning; standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come.  And the merchants of the earth shall weep and mourn over her; for no man buyeth their merchandise anymore” (Revelation 17:2; 9–11). God’s servant went on to detail the intricate relationship the Roman Papacy will have with the political and economic interests of the world just before her fall.

 

Dr. John Robins, Christian minister and authority on Catholicism’s role in international politics, paints this revealing picture in his book, Ecclesiastical Megalomania: “Ayn Rand was right when she wrote in 1967, ‘The Catholic Church has never given up the hope to re-establish the medieval union of church and state with a global state and global theocracy as its ultimate goal’. 

The climate change crisis is the engine that drives Francis’ grand

plan for control of the New World Order. It is his Trojan Horse. This is made abundantly clear in his encyclical, Laudato Si. His later encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, repeats the principles of Laudato Si and provides additional details while demanding the cooperation of all. Cathonomics, the assigned name of Rome’s New World Order system of governance, completes the blueprint undergirding the Roman Papacy’s ultimate design for establishment and rulership."

Aubrey Duncan/AdventMessenger

Creation Moment 5/28/2023 - Infidel Geologists & the 4th Commandment

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:11

“Infidel geologists claim that the world is very much older than the

Bible record makes it. . . . And many who profess to believe the Bible record are at a loss to account for wonderful things which are found in the earth, with the view that creation week was only seven literal days, and that the world is now only about six thousand years old. 

These, to free themselves of difficulties thrown in their way by infidel geologists, adopt the view that the six days of creation were six vast, indefinite periods, and the day of God’s rest was another indefinite period; making senseless the fourth commandment of God’s holy law. Some eagerly receive this position, for it destroys the force of the fourth commandment, and they feel a freedom from its claims upon them.” E.G.W.

Types of False Christ's in the Church Today

REAL CHRIST: Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. 

John 1:29

"False Christs

• Hippie Jesus:  Teaches everyone to give peace a chance,

  

  imagine a world without religion, and helps us remember all you need is love, man.
• Hipster Jesus:  Encourages us to reach our full potential, reach for the stars, and buy a fair trade pumpkin spice free range latte.
• New Spirituality Jesus:  Hates religion, churches, pastors, priests, and doctrine; and would rather have people out in nature, finding the god within and listening to ambiguously spiritual authors.
• Revolutionary Woke Jesus:  Teaches us to rebel against the status quo (church), stick it to the man, and blame things on whiteness and patriarchy.
• Guru Jesus:  A wise inspirational teacher who believes in you and helps you find your enlightened center. He also recommend yoga.
• Rainbow Jesus:  He makes no distinction between heterosexual and homosexual.  He created LBGTQ+ people complete with temptations and moral failure.  They are pretty much perfect.  All they need to do is act on their unholy urges.  Rainbow Jesus makes everything holy."
  Gery Waggoner/Fulcrum7

IN the NEWS - BGEA calls for Sunday Sacredness

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God... Exodus 20:10

"The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) published an article titled “Taking Bach Your Sabbath” and featured Cissie Graham Lynch, the granddaughter of Billy Graham. Cissie Graham Lynch shared the following points about Sunday: 

“Why is this one of the Ten Commandments that we have no problem

breaking in our lives and in our relationship with the Lord?” asks Lynch. “It’s because our culture says it’s OK. Our culture has redefined what Sunday should look like.... God gave us the Sabbath for a reason,” Lynch shared on the podcast. “When we don’t take a day of rest, we will not be ready physically, spiritually, and emotionally to face the days ahead.” 

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association makes the case that everyone’s health would benefit from having Sunday off. At the same time, they want us to set this day aside to reconnect with God. This is talking about worship. The BGEA is saying that we cannot “recuperate” or “reclaim” Sunday rest unless we preserve this day for worship. 

 

***Sunday rest lacks Biblical support and the conviction that comes from the Holy Spirit. That is why Sunday rest must be mandated by human law.

“In both the Old and the New World, the papacy will receive homage in the honor paid to the Sunday institution, that rests solely upon the authority of the Roman Church. Since the middle of the nineteenth century, students of prophecy in the United States have presented this testimony to the world. In the events now taking place is seen a rapid advance toward the fulfillment of the prediction.

With Protestant teachers there is the same claim of divine authority for Sundaykeeping, and the same lack of Scriptural evidence, as with the papal leaders who fabricated miracles to supply the place of a command from God. The assertion that God’s judgments are visited upon men for their violation of the Sunday-sabbath, will be repeated; already it is beginning to be urged. And a movement to enforce Sunday observance is fast gaining ground” (Great Controversy, pp. 578, 579/E.G.W.)." AdventMessenger

Creation Moment 5/27/2023 - The Judgment Requires a "CREATOR"

"The message of the three angels flying in midair in Revelation 14 announces that “the hour of His judgment has come.” (Rev. 14:7, NKJV).

Since we were created by God with the capacity to make moral

choices, we are responsible for the decisions we make. 

If we are all just the products of time and chance, what we do is determined by the same forces that made us what we are. We do what our molecules determine that we will do. Determinism inevitably follows scientific materialism, and determinism means that we are not free moral agents and cannot be held responsible or accountable for our actions.

Q: How does the concept of a judgment make sense, when every “decision” we think we have made was actually just the interplay of chemical and physical forces? 

Judgment can be real only if we were, and are, free moral agents who have the choice to do wrong or do right. All concepts of judgment and morality, right and wrong, crime and punishment, ultimately rest on a belief in a Creator God who created us with free moral agency, with the free choice and the ability to choose right or wrong."

David Read/Fulcrum7 

The "Really" File - (Gen. 6:5 mania)

And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. Genesis  6:5

"Calls to boycott The North Face have followed the outdoor brand’s

release of a transgender ad featuring a drag queen encouraging customers to “come out” with the brand.

 In an Instagram post Wednesday, outdoor recreation products company The North Face presented its “Summer of Pride” campaign featuring drag queen and intersectional environmentalist Pattie Gonia, a self-described “real-life homosexual.”

In the ad, the “drag artist” is seen calling on viewers to “come out” in nature with the brand.

 “Salt Lake City, we’re coming for you,” Gonia states, calling for

From the "Really" File

viewers to “come outside and celebrate the beautiful LGHGTV community.”

The matter comes as several well-known corporations are under fire for pushing a woke agenda. 

 On Monday, Dodgers President Stan Kasten proudly announced the team was reinviting the radical anti-Christian transgender group, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, to its Gay Pride night festivities so the team could bestow a “Community Heroes” award on them......the Walt Disney Co. invited drag queen Nina West to the world premiere of its live-action The Little Mermaid on Monday at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, as it, too,  continues to aggressively push LGBTQ ideology in its entertainment for children." Breitbart

REALLY?

IF THIS DOESN'T SAY IT ALL.....

And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord GOD: 

Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, 

between rams and goats.  

Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the residue of your pasture—and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet?  

 And as for My flock, 

they eat what you have trampled with your feet, 

and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.   

Ezekiel 34:17-18

 

"The time has fully come when darkness is called light, and light is called darkness. We are living in an age when sham liberality is extolled; when those who scatter falsehood, false doctrines, and soul-destroying heresies are received and exalted by society, and the most terrible deeds of iniquity are glossed over and excused on the plea of charity. 

Even the voices from the pulpits of our land are saying, “It shall be well with the transgressor.” 

--Sin is not dealt with as a thing of fearful consequence, destined to bring inevitable ruin upon those who persist in its indulgence. 

--It is not pictured in its abhorrent character before the people of the world. 

Smooth things are prophesied by false teachers, and the multitudes are resting in their sin, unmindful of the solemn warnings and examples of the word of God. The time has come when we should sigh and .. cry for all the abominations that are done in the land."

E.G.W.

Creation Moment 5/26/2023 - Ponder This

For in him we live, and move, and have our being..... Acts 17:28

"The Naturalists have been engaged in thinking about Nature. 

They have not attended to the fact that they were thinking. 

The moment one attends to this it is obvious that one’s own thinking cannot be merely a natural event, and that therefore something other than Nature exists. 

The Supernatural is not remote and abstruse: it is a matter of daily and hourly experience, as intimate as breathing."  C. S. Lewis