I shall read from The Mount of Blessing beginning on page 211 — -1TG46 2.1

The people had been deeply moved by the words of Christ…. His words had struck at the very root of their former ideas and opinions to obey His teaching would require a change in all their habits of thought and action. It would bring them into collision with their religious teachers…. -1TG46 2.2

Since the teachings of Christ require a change in thought and action we should not be surprised if that is what His message of today would require of us. Let us conclude todays reading by turning to page 216. -1TG46 2.3

…He who like the Jews in Christs day builds on the foundation of human ideas and opinions of forms and ceremonies of mans invention or on any works that he can do independently of the grace of Christ is erecting his structure of character upon the shifting sand. The fierce tempests of temptation will sweep away the sandy foundation and leave his house a wreck on the shores of time. -1TG46 2.4

Let us pray for God to help us make sure that the foundation of our faith is built upon Gods Word the solid Rock that we might know that anything short of it will sooner or later fall that we let the Lord have His way in us that we let Him change our habits and practices from what they are to what they ought to be. -1TG46 2.5

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The Servants of God in the Gathering Time

TEXT OF ADDRESS BY V.T HOUTEF,
MINISTER OF DAVIDIAN 7TH-DAY ADVENTISTS
SABBATH, JUNE 21, 1947
WACO, TEXAS

We are to study the forty-ninth chapter of Isaiah. This chapter points out the servants of God in the gathering time their racial lineage and their need for territorial expansion. We shall begin the study with the first three verses. -1TG46 3.1

Isa 49:1-3 — Listen O isles unto Me and hearken ye people from far The Lord hath called me from the womb from the bowels of my mother hath He made mention of my name. And He hath made my mouth like a sharp sword in the shadow of His hand hath He hid me and made me a polished shaft in His quiver hath He hid me and said unto me Thou art My servant O Israel in whom I will be glorified. -1TG46 3.2

The Spirit of God in the person of Israel through the prophet Isaiah declares that Israel was born for no other reason than to be Gods servant and urges that this fact must now be made known throughout the world even to the isles of the sea. -1TG46 3.3

Since Jacob himself was dead long before Isaiah the prophet wrote the truth clearly stands out that the Spirit of God in this scripture speaks not personally to Jacob himself but to his descendants to those to whom this Truth is made known and who now bear the responsibility to broadcast It far and wide plainly then the people in whom the Lord is to be glorified and who again bring Jacob to Him (Isa. 49:3, 5) are themselves too to be made known internationally. They are those who finish the gospel work — the very last. To them the Lord gives a mouth as sharp as a sword. -1TG46 3.4

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These are to be His servants during the gathering of the people the day in which the Lord is glorified. Their being hid as it were in His quiver connotes that their coming into the limelight is to be a complete surprise to all: For the first time the world is to learn that these servants of God are the tail end of Jacobs descendants His hidden servants those who are to gather His people even from the isles of the seas. -1TG46 4.1

Again it is written — In the last solemn work few great men will be engaged. They are self-sufficient independent of God and he cannot use them. The Lord has faithful servants who in the shaking testing time will be disclosed to view. There are precious ones now hidden who have not bowed the knee to Baal. They have not had the light which has been shining in a concentrated blaze upon you. But it may be under a rough and uninviting exterior the pure brightness of a genuine Christian character will be revealed. — Testimonies Vol. 5, pp. 80, 81. -1TG46 4.2

Isa 49:4 — Then I said I have laboured in vain I have spent my strength for nought and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord and my work with my God. -1TG46 4.3

At the outset of their labor the results must be such as to bring almost a complete discouragement. -1TG46 4.4

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They nevertheless know that they are appointed by God and so they leave their judgment their work and success with Him. -1TG46 5.1

Isa 49:5 — And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be His servant to bring Jacob again to Him Though Israel be not gathered yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and my God shall be my strength. -1TG46 5.2

For their encouragement they are told that even though Israel be not gathered (he will however be gathered) yet they shall be glorious in the eyes of the Lord and the Lord God shall be their strength. Since they are now (not at another time but in the day this prophecy is fulfilled) called to bring Jacob to the Lord again it shows that Jacob (the people of God in their Jacobite state) must have departed from the Lord. Now they must be brought back to Him by a mighty revival and reformation. -1TG46 5.3

Isa 49:6 — And He said 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. -1TG46 5.4

This scripture had as its type the time when the Apostles were finally instructed to preach the gospel to Gentiles as well as to the Jews. Now to raise up the tribes of Jacob is first to raise up the first fruits 144,000 — 12,000 out of each tribe of Israel (Rev. 7:3). Moreover to be a light and salvation to the ends of the earth means that these latter-day servants of God are to finish the gospel work are to preach the gospel of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all nations and thus bring the end (Matt. 24:14). -1TG46 5.5

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It is our privilege therefore not only to bring the light of God to the Denomination where the first-fruits (the 144,000 — Rev. 14:4) of the great spiritual harvest are but even to bring the same light to the second fruits to the great multitude that are gathered out of all nations a multitude which no man can number (Rev. 7:9). -1TG46 6.1

Those who are thus privileged are as God Himself testifies the descendants of Jacob the lost tribes of Israel who are now coming to light. -1TG46 6.2

Isa 49:7 — Thus saith the Lord the Redeemer of Israel and His Holy One to him whom man despiseth to him whom the nation abhorreth to a servant of rulers Kings shall see and arise princes also shall worship because of the Lord that is faithful and the Holy One of Israel and He shall choose thee. -1TG46 6.3

The Lord is here seen to speak to a people whom men despise to them whom the nation abhors to servants of rulers — to laymen not to Denominationally recognized ministers. This servant of the Lord the Scripture makes clear is despised and abhorred as much as was the Lord Himself. The hate then that is heaped upon us by our Laodicean brethren must not be a discouragement to us but rather a great encouragement. And Why? — Because the Spirit of the Lord Himself testifies that we are the servants of God for this time that He is to bless our work so much so that even kings shall see our rising and princes also shall come and worship. -1TG46 6.4

Isa 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. -1TG46 6.5

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God has heard us in probationary time a time in which we can be sealed and be preserved for a covenant of the people to establish the earth to inherit the desolate heritages — to restore all things. -1TG46 7.1

Isa 49:9 — That thou mayest say to the prisoners Go forth to them that are in darkness Shew yourselves. They shall feed in the ways and their pastures shall be in all high places. -1TG46 7.2

It matters not where Gods people be nor under what circumstances they be placed they shall nevertheless all hear His servants proclaiming the year of final Jubilee and all are to be let out free all are to share this great ever-increasing spiritual feast. -1TG46 7.3

Isa 49:10, 11 — 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. And I will make all My mountains a way and My highways shall be exalted. -1TG46 7.4

The Lord here guarantees that now in the gathering time there shall be no obstruction of any kind that He is master of the situation. -1TG46 7.5

Isa 49:12 — Behold these shall come from far: and lo these from the north and from the west and these from the land of Sinim. -1TG46 7.6

Gods highway shall be filled and exalted and a multitude gathered from the four corners of the earth shall safely walk therein. -1TG46 7.7

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Isa 49:13 — 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. -1TG46 8.1

Not that the Lord will comfort His people but that He has already comforted them He has filled them with Truth. -1TG46 8.2

Isa 49:14 — But Zion said The Lord hath forsaken me and my Lord hath forgotten me. -1TG46 8.3

Before they are sealed those who are to be the inhabitants of Zion (the 144,000) think God has forsaken them. Gods answer to them though is this: -1TG46 8.4

Isa 49:15 — 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. -1TG46 8.5

Even though some rather than praying for the re-establishing of Zion are actually praying against it nevertheless they too will soon find out that God is entirely for it. -1TG46 8.6

Isa 49:16 — Behold I have graven thee upon the palms of My hands thy walls are continually before Me. -1TG46 8.7

From all natural appearances it seems that God has forgotten Zion the place of His earthly throne that He has left His enemies to abuse His people and to deface Zions exalted hill but the Lord Himself assures that for Zions sake and for her peoples freedom was He nailed on the cross. -1TG46 8.8

Isa 49:17 — Thy children shall make haste thy destroyers and they that made thee waste shall go forth of thee. -1TG46 8.9

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Zions children shall be anxious to get to her but her enemies the sinners will be driven away from her. -1TG46 9.1

Isa 49:18, 19 — Lift up thine eyes round about and behold: all these gather themselves together and come to thee. As I live saith the Lord thou shalt surely clothe thee with them all as with an ornament and bind them on thee as a bride doeth. For thy waste and thy desolate places and the land of thy destruction shall even now be too narrow by reason of the inhabitants and they that swallowed thee up shall be far away. -1TG46 9.2

The word behold calls attention to a goodly number of precious souls already preparing to come. In them shall Gods servants glory. Moreover in spite of the great number of unrepentant sinners that are to be taken away the land shall even then be too narrow because of the great incoming multitude. -1TG46 9.3

Isa 49:20 — The children which thou shalt have after thou hast lost the other shall say again in thine ears The place is too strait for me: give place to me that I may dwell. -1TG46 9.4

From this verse we gather that the children which Zion shall lose are those who refuse to be converted. Her loss though is to be replaced with a great number from all nations and thus shall the land become too narrow. The verses that follow reaffirm this view: -1TG46 9.5

Isa 49:21-23 — Then shalt thou say in thine heart -1TG46 9.6

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Who hath begotten me these seeing I have lost my children and am desolate a captive and removing to and fro? and who hath brought up these? Behold I was left alone these where had they been? Thus saith the Lord God Behold I will lift up Mine hand to the Gentiles and set up My standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth and lick up the dust of thy feet and thou shalt know that I am the Lord: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for Me. -1TG46 10.1

Though we may now be either hated or unknown the day is coming when we shall be comforted. The great men of earth shall then so to speak lick up the dust of our feet. -1TG46 10.2

Isa 49:24, 25 — Shall the prey be taken from the mighty or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee and I will save thy children. -1TG46 10.3

No power in the world shall any longer be able to hold Gods people down in the dust. -1TG46 10.4

Isa 49:26 — And I will feed them that oppress thee with their own flesh and they shall be drunken with their own blood as with sweet wine: and all flesh shall know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the Mighty One of Jacob. -1TG46 10.5

Our enemies shall kill one another with as great zeal as if they had filled themselves with sweet wine. -1TG46 10.6

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Then those that remain shall recognize that the Lord the mighty one of Jacob is our Saviour and Redeemer. Shall we therefore still sleep on? Or shall we arise in the righteousness of Christ and get ready to meet the Lord and to be with Him in His Kingdom? Your opportunity and the time of your decision is now come and cannot be put off. You must take a firm and active stand with this laymens movement in this the work of which is first for the church then for the world. -1TG46 11.1

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