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Before we engage in prayer I shall read from The Mount of Blessing pages 162, 163. The reading is based on the scripture Give us this day our daily bread. -1TG12 14.1

M.B. pp. 162, 163 — The first half of the prayer Jesus has taught us is in regard to the name and kingdom and will of God — that His name may be honored His Kingdom established His will performed. When you have thus made Gods service your first interest you may ask with confidence that your own needs may be supplied…. Be not dismayed if you have not sufficient for to-morrow. You have the assurance of His promise Thou shalt dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed. -1TG12 14.2

Jesus pulled nothing out of storage so to speak. He received day by day a fresh supply for all His needs for Himself and for His work. Yes everything — topics for His teaching the wine at the marriage the bread to feed the multitude and even the coin to pay the tax. All these He received as He had need of them. Never did He lack a thing. If we make Gods Kingdom our chief business as He did work for It as He worked for It pray as He prayed trust as He trusted — then there will be no reason for us to receive less than He. Heavens wealth will be at our disposal. In fact He assures us: All these things shall be added unto thee. -1TG12 14.3

Now what shall we pray for? — We should pray that our first concern be not essentially that of supplying ourselves with this worlds goods but rather that of advancing the Kingdom of God pray that we may really realize that it is His business and good pleasure to serve our needs and that we make it our business and delight to serve His interests. -1TG12 14.4

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This afternoon we shall resume our study of Zechariah two. Inasmuch however as Zechariah two is a continuation of the story that begins in chapter one we shall commence our study with it. -1TG12 15.1

Zech. 1:20, 21 — And the Lord shewed me four carpenters. Then said I What come these to do? And he spake saying These are the horns which have scattered Judah so that no man did lift up his head: but these are come to fray them to cast out the horns of the Gentiles which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it. -1TG12 15.2

Previously the prophet saw these as four horns as powers that scattered Judah Israel and Jerusalem throughout the Gentile nations but as the angel projected the prophetic view to the time of the end he saw them as four carpenters that is as horns they come to fray and to cast out the horns of the Gentiles from the land of Judah but as carpenters they obviously come to build for Judah. Evidently then when the horns (powers) of the Gentiles are cast out of the land and Gods people are brought into it then the times of the Gentiles shall have been fulfilled. -1TG12 15.3

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After having been shown the symbolism of the four horns and four carpenters the prophets attention was turned to another symbolism. We read about it in the first four verses of chapter two: -1TG12 16.1

Zech. 2:1-4 — I lifted up mine eyes again and looked and behold a man with a measuring line in his hand. Then said I Whither goest thou? And he said unto me To measure Jerusalem to see what is the breadth thereof and what is the length thereof. And behold the angel that talked with me went forth and another angel went out to meet him and said unto him Run speak to this young man saying Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls for the multitude of men and cattle therein. -1TG12 16.2

From the fact that the angel suddenly ordered the young man not to measure Jerusalem is clearly seen that the man on his own initiative had started to do something that was not in Gods plan. Hence his endeavor to measure the city (number its inhabitants) was a mistaken idea of his own or of some other for which he was quickly corrected and definitely told to abandon his trying to measure the city that it would be as a town having no walls no prescribed boundary line because for the multitude of both men and cattle it could not therefore be measured (numbered). -1TG12 16.3

Since Inspiration is looking down to our time and speaking in our terms the young man therefore represents latter day Christian workers (young not ancient) who subject themselves to the reign of uninspired Bible interpreters that limit the Lord imagine that the living saints in the city are to be so few that a man can number them namely 144,000, not considering that these are only the firstfruits (Rev. 14:4) of the great harvest. -1TG12 16.4

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The angels explanation that Jerusalem is to be inhabited by an innumerable multitude of both men and cattle proves that this was news to the young man. When and how in the stream of time is this young man corrected? — The only logical and fair conclusion one can come to is that when the Spirit of Prophecy unrolls the scroll when God raises an interpreter of the Scriptures then it is that such a doctrinal correction can be made. -1TG12 17.5

So important is the living Spirit of Prophecy in the church as the young mans experience proves that regardless of ones zeal sincerity and integrity he cannot rightly serve God without It that even ones best work and intention is bound to be at cross purposes with Gods. It is therefore high time for the church to start believing all the prophets have written knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Pet. 1:20, 21. -1TG12 17.6

Inspiration insists that it is absolutely impossible for one to privately (without the Spirit of Truth) interpret the sealed prophecies. And let us remember that no revealed Truth ever came nor ever will come through the halls of learning. It is therefore of vital importance that you let alone the Angel of the Laodiceans lest you too be spued out (Rev. 3:16). If he chooses to feed on his empty sermons still teaching that the church needs no more Truth that she has enough to carry her through the pearly gate that he can without Inspiration interpret the Scriptures and know what Truth is then let him himself eat his unholy feast. Tell him that you prefer to live on meat in due season (Matt. 24:45) direct from the Throne of God. Now hear Gods plea: -1TG12 17.7

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They which lead thee cause thee to err and destroy the way of thy paths. Isa. 3:12. Turn O backsliding children saith the Lord for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city and two of a family and I will bring you to Zion: and I will give you pastors according to Mine heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jer. 3:14, 15. -1TG12 18.1

Ever have your ears open to any claimant of Inspiration if you are not to repeat the history of the Jews. God will not let you be deceived if you really hunger and thirst after righteousness if you really want to know the Truth for He is anxious that you keep up with His progressively revealed Truth. There is therefore no danger for one to be deceived by coming in contact with error but there is a great danger for staying in darkness by not coming in contact with fresh Truth. Inspirations counsel is thus: -1TG12 18.2

Beloved believe not every spirit but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1. To keep this commandment is just as important as to keep any other. -1TG12 18.3

To be more specific the Laodicean angel assumes that there are to be only 144,000 living saints — a measured or a numbered company — who are to make up the Kingdom. He also believes that no kind of cattle will be taken there all of which is contrary to that which the Heavenly angel revealed: that not a numbered company of living saints but rather a great multitude which no man can number are to be the immediate inhabitants of Jerusalem the Kingdom eternal — the church purified and set apart from the world so that the called ones out of Babylon may find refuge in It. The 144,000 are only the first fruits (Rev. 14:4) and the great innumerable company of saints projected in Revelation 7:9 are the second fruits for where there is no second there can be no first. -1TG12 18.4

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Elders you proudly tell us that the Denomination now numbers nearly a million members and that she has set her goal to double the membership. On one hand you brag about its rapid growth and on the other hand you try to refute The Shepherds Rods teaching on the great multitude of Revelation 7:9 which the Rod proves by the Scriptures that they are the second fruits of the harvest. By your positively holding that the living saints are to be only a few in number only 144,000, and by your bragging about the Denominations growth and multiple thousands of members already in the church you are thus creating a paradox for yourselves and for all your sympathizers. Besides this you admit that the greatest part of the work is yet to be done — that there are millions upon millions even in the United States itself who have not as yet heard so much as the name Seventh-day Adventist much less the everlasting gospel. Plain it is therefore Brethren that at the present rate of growth when the work is finished and Jesus comes to take His church to glory-land the Denomination by then will have grown to several million strong. -1TG12 19.1

Notwithstanding this background that you Elders have yourselves built up yet contrary to it all you teach that when Jesus comes there will be only 144,000 living saints no more If you really believe in your theory of the 144,000, then will you in the Spirit of Christ and at least for your own souls sake take paper and pencil and accordingly figure the percentage of saints and the percentage of tares devils that even now constitute the membership of our churches? Since it already numbers no less than 800,000, and if there be only 144,000 saints in it when Jesus comes then according to this ratio considering the membership at the present time a congregation of 100 members would even now consist of about 18 saints and 82 devils If this be so then what chance for you? And since the officers who run the churches are elected by majority vote do you see who elected them who is in office and who is in control of the churches? Do you wonder then why things are running as they are? -1TG12 19.2

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If it be true that there are to be only 144,000 living saints when Jesus comes and if the membership doubles by the end of 1953 or 1954 as the aim seems to be (though doubtful) then at that rate in 1955 there will be only 9 saints to 91 devils out of every hundred members. Accordingly if the membership doubles several times before Jesus comes to receive His church then there will not be even one saint in a hundred members If this be so then ask yourselves whose church is the church? — the Devils? or the Lords? and where shall He look for it when He comes? -1TG12 20.1

These sad facts stand as high as mountains against your private interpretations Elders and as eye-openers to your flocks. If you therefore continue to say that you are not asleep that your interpretation of the Word is unquestionable that you have all the Truth to take you through the Pearly Gates that you have need of nothing more then there is no hope you are too far gone. -1TG12 20.2

We personally know though that there are many who are not so badly fooled who have not bowed the knee to Baal who have not permitted themselves to be locked in corrals as it were like sheep and cattle by imposters who control and feed the flock of God there with such low grade husks as this study shows. -1TG12 20.3

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Your bragging about the Denominations achievements and of her numerous conversions the world over if it be true Truth now challenges you to honestly answer the questions that here ensue: Why are you giving them hope of a home in the Kingdom if you positively know that they cannot be saved? Is not such an ingathering outright deception and the greatest endeavor to infiltrate the church with tares ever heard of? and is it not spiritual whoredom of the worst kind to fill the church of God with devils? -1TG12 21.1

To cover up the deep slumber that is reflected by the aforesaid figures one minister explained: When the work closes he said there would be in the church many more thousands than 144,000 living saints but rather than being translated the greater number of them will have to die from the plagues or from epidemics before Jesus comes because they could not be good enough for translation although perfect enough for resurrection -1TG12 21.2

What an eye-opener to the laity these outstanding false doctrines17. If the Spirit of Truth cannot now convince you of Truth and righteousness then He never will. It is therefore imperative that you now confess to the laity your guilt of passing out false doctrines that you will no longer fool yourselves or your flocks by wasting time and energy trying trying to measure Jerusalem. Wisdom cries out that you at once take to heart His counsel: -1TG12 21.3

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I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire [inspired Truth] 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 eye-salve [such as this] that thou mayest see. As many as I love I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore and repent. Rev. 3:18, 19. -1TG12 22.1

For your sake these things have been kept away from the public eye but since you have completely scorned every Heaven-sent plea for twenty long years you are now reaping a harvest. Your nakedness you see is already beginning to be uncovered. And if you do not respond to this Truth and turn against the abominations here exposed and gladly accept this plea for reformation then every one will know that your doings Elders are deliberate attempts to deceive the very elect the 144,000, who according to the prophecies that are now unsealed are now almost all in the church. We shall now continue with Zechariahs prophecy of chapter two: -1TG12 22.2

Zech. 2:5 — For I saith the Lord will be unto her a wall of fire round about and will be the glory in the midst of her. -1TG12 22.3

Only a stone wall surrounded Jerusalem in Zechariahs time. But a wall of fire is to surround the Jerusalem of our time the Jerusalem of which Zechariah was instructed to write. It is from this latter Jerusalem that the Lord is to teach us of His ways and to cause us to walk in His paths for declares the gospel prophet …out of Zion shall go forth the law and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Isa. 2:3. Thus the call: -1TG12 22.4

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Zech. 2:6 — Ho ho come forth and flee from the land of the north saith the Lord: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven saith the Lord. -1TG12 23.1

The statement I have spread you abroad as the four winds of heaven cannot be limited to the Jews in Babylon. It embraces universal scattering of Gods people Judah and Israel throughout the lands of the Gentiles. Since the prophecy is directed to our time then the call to come forth and to flee from the land of the north is to be sounded to Gods people at the time the Babylon of Revelation chapter seventeen reigns. The call come forth and flee from the land of the north is parallel with the call Come out of her My people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues. Rev. 18:4. This call cannot be taken to mean that Gods people should merely come out of one building or of one land and go into another where too sin is practiced. The place that they are called to come must be free from sin and thus free from the plagues. Obviously they are called to come to the Kingdom whose immediate citizens are to be the first fruits the 144,000, the church purified and set apart from the world. Then it shall be said to it …henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. Isa. 52:1. -1TG12 23.2

Zech. 2:7 — Deliver thyself O Zion that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon. -1TG12 23.3

Certain it is that the daughter of Babylon cannot possibly be the mother ancient Babylon. Rather she must be the latter day Babylon the Babylon that drives (rules) the scarlet-colored beast (Rev. 17). -1TG12 23.4

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It is plain moreover that all the saints are called to get out of Babylon before the plagues of Revelation 16 fall upon her if they are to be delivered from them. But how can Zion deliver herself if she does not hear the Lords warnings to leave Babylon? It is therefore very urgent that this message reach her ears. -1TG12 24.1

Zech. 2:8 — For thus saith the Lord of hosts After the glory hath He sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of His eye. -1TG12 24.2

God permitted His people to be scattered (spoiled) among the Gentile nations but now He is to send His messengers after them because they that touch them touch as it were the ball of His eye the most sensitive member of the body. His church the glory is His supreme regard. -1TG12 24.3

Zech. 2:9 — For behold I will shake Mine hand upon them and they shall be a spoil to their servants: and ye shall know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me. -1TG12 24.4

Servants spoiling their masters is one of the signs at the time this prophecy is brought to light. And the world knows that labor and management are now engaged in their greatest struggle and that as a result Communism threatens the whole world. -1TG12 24.5

The statement And ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me is used several times in Zechariahs prophecies. We find it twice in verses 9 and 11 respectively of chapter 2, and once in verse 9 of chapter 4. What does it signify? — It definitely implies that at the time these scriptures are unfolded the majority of the people are doubters but that at last they shall know that the Lord has sent this message to them. -1TG12 24.6

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Doubters as a rule wait until there is unquestionable evidence before they acknowledge that the message is from God but it may not do them any good at that late hour. -1TG12 25.1

Zech. 2:10 — Sing and rejoice O daughter of Zion: for lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee saith the Lord. -1TG12 25.2

Obviously this coming of the Lord is not the one in which the saints meet Him in the air (1 Thess. 4:16, 17) for the Lord does not in this scripture say that He comes to receive His people so that they may dwell and reign with Him a thousand years (Rev. 20:4) but that after the sinners have been taken away from among them He comes to dwell with them to protect them from the angry Gentile nations during the time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation. He protects them by a wall of fire round about them. That time of trouble is almost here. The world sees it coming. Do you Brother Sister? And what are you doing about it? -1TG12 25.3

In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem: When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon her assemblies a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the daytime from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain. Isa. 4:2-6. -1TG12 25.4

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Zechariahs coming of the Lord therefore is the same as Michaels standing to deliver all those whose names are written in the Book. Dan. 12:1. Ever remember that the books are open and examined during the Judgment Day. (Dan. 7:10). That our names be found in that Book should now be the most absorbing concern of each of us. -1TG12 26.1

Zech. 2:11 — And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day and shall be My people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me unto thee. -1TG12 26.2

Just as soon as we as a Denomination awake to the fact that many nations shall be joined to the Lord and be His people just that soon will the theory of only first fruits die out. And just as soon as this message reaches every church member just that soon will the purification take place. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. Mal. 3:3, 4. The wicked shall no more pass through her he is utterly cut off. Nah. 1:15. -1TG12 26.3

Now it is clearly seen how narrow our ideas have been of Gods great work and of His way to finish it not knowing that while the work is being completed a great multitude which no man can number out of all nations (Rev. 7:9) will join the mountain of the Lords house and shall be His people (Isa. 2:2). Pray Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as it is [done] in Heaven. The need of a genuine revival and reformation now becomes exceedingly evident. What does revival and reformation mean? — Revival and reformation are two different things. Revival signifies a renewal of spiritual life a quickening of the powers of mind and heart a resurrection from spiritual death and reformation signifies a reorganization a change in ideas and theories habits and practices. — Christ Our Righteousness pg. 121, 1941 edition. -1TG12 26.4

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Finally observe that Zechariah 2 contains the same truth that Isaiah 2, Micah 4, Jeremiah 31, and Ezekiel 36 contain. -1TG12 27.1

Let us continue our study with: -1TG12 27.2

Zech. 2:12 — And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the Holy Land and shall choose Jerusalem again. -1TG12 27.3

This is what the Bible teaches and no one can afford to doubt the Word of God. This being the message of the hour and as all are to be judged by It then if we do not fully accept It we would be in Gods sight naught but cumberers of the ground. Our so-called good works alone will not lead us out of Babylon but our understanding the Truth for this time and implicitly heeding Gods call will. -1TG12 27.4

You remember that while Noah was preaching that a destruction would come from the Almighty he was also preparing a place of refuge — building the ark. Those who doubted Noahs announcement of the flood and who scoffed at the idea that they should enter the ark for safety at a time when there was not even the slightest sign of threatening rain were doubters no longer when the elements of nature were unleased. Then they madly rushed to the ark but to their dismay and utter disappointment they found the door tightly closed against them. Thus all both good and bad who chose to remain outside the ark perished. The antedeluvians experience should serve as a reminder to us that we be not presumptuous as were they. We should instead take to heart the clear warning that is pertinent to this hour for we are told that as it was in the days of the flood so shall it be at the time of the Lords coming. -1TG12 27.5

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The ark of today is Zion and Jerusalem for the law shall go forth of Zion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem. Mic. 4:2. -1TG12 28.1

Zech. 2:13 — Be silent O all flesh before the Lord: for He is raised up out of His holy habitation. -1TG12 28.2

Note carefully what the Word says He is raised not He shall rise. Plainly then when the Lord uttered this prophecy He projected His words into the future speaking in the present tense as though it were at the very time the prophecy was in the process of being fulfilled. Thus the statement He is raised means that now at the revelation of this Truth He is raised and the statement The Lord shall inherit Judah His portion in the Holy Land means that He is yet to inherit Judah the church purified. We are therefore now living between these two points of time — between He has raised up and He shall inherit. -1TG12 28.3

What shall our resolution now be? Shall we close our eyes to these solemn and glorious revelations of events that are now taking place? Shall we still doubt and continue to await results? or shall we arise whole-heartedly and do Gods bidding? Shall His Kingdom or our own homes be made our first interest? If we do not now correct our perverted motives how can we then honestly say Thy Kingdom Come Thy will be done ? and how can you expect the temporal things of life to be added unto you? Matt. 6:33. -1TG12 28.4

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Have we resolved once and forever to serve God not self to study as never before and to put aside all doubting? -1TG12 29.1

Have we resolved once and forever to serve God not self to study as never before and to put aside all doubting? Says the Lord …It is a light thing that thou shouldest be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be My salvation unto the end of the earth. Isa. 49:6. -1TG12 29.2

…He shall judge the world with righteousness and the people with His Truth Ps. 96:13. -1TG12 29.3

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Be tranquil O my soul

Be quiet every fear
Thy Father hath supreme control
And He is ever near.

—

Never of thy lot complain
What ever may befall
Sickness or sorrow care or pain
Tis well appointed all.

—

A Fathers chastening hand
Is leading thee along:
Nor distant is the promised land
Where swells the immortal song.

—

O then my soul be still
Await heavens high decree
Seek but to do thy Fathers will
It shall be well with thee.

—Thomas Hastings

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